Nationwide Vehicle Contracts brings you the top five car news articles from the week just gone, W/E 25 November 2022
Looking for a quick round-up of this week's motoring news? Here at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, we've compiled the top five stories from the week just gone.
Car news was fairly slow this week compared to the finance-filled news of last week, thanks to the Autumn Statement. Regardless, there were still some interesting stories out there.
Abarth launched their all-new fully electric 500e, the highest vehicle crime spots in the UK were revealed, and BMW announced their most powerful M car yet. Check it all out below.
Abarth launch new fully electric 500e
Abarth is embarking into new territories with the launch of their new, fully electric Abarth 500e. Based on the Fiat 500, the Abarth 500e wants to throw its hat in the ring by adding a sportier edge to the iconic city car.
One of the first things you'll notice is that it looks strikingly similar to a Fiat 500, only way more aggressive. It has a more pronounced front bumper, side skirts, and 18-inch alloy wheels, making for a small yet mighty presence on the road.
Under the bonnet is a front-mounted electric motor, which returns 152bhp and can achieve 0-62mph in just seven seconds. Once inside, you'll find a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the dashboard, leather upholstery, and sports seats.
You'll be at ease when behind the wheel with Abarth's Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, which includes autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, cruise control, and many more.
The UK's highest vehicle crime spots revealed
Research conducted by Northgate has revealed the areas with the highest levels of vehicle crime in the UK by delving into open statistics provided by the Government and local police departments.
The police departments that reported the highest instances of vehicle crime were:
1. Metropolitan Police Service 2. West Midlands Police 3. West Yorkshire Police 4. Thames Valley Police 5. Essex Police
It's no surprise that the Met Police reported the highest levels of vehicle crime, with over 100,000 reported last year. West Midlands comes in next; however, there's a massive drop compared to London, with just over 30,000 vehicle crimes reported.
However, it's not all doom and gloom; the safest areas for your car were also revealed, with the City of London Police reporting the lowest vehicle crime with just six incidents. This was followed by the Dyfed-Powys Police and the Cumbria Constabulary.
2023 BMW 3.0 CSL revealed
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of their M performance division, BMW has announced their all-new, ultra-limited 2023 3.0 CSL.
Under the bonnet, the 3.0 CSL has the most powerful straight-six engine BMW has ever produced for a road car, returning an impressive 552bhp. Matching this is a six-speed manual gearbox which powers the rear wheels alone.
Matching the magnificence under the bonnet is the exterior. Its got an imposing front end with a wide grille, yellow running in the LED headlights, and an eye-catching blue and red livery.
If you like the sound of this, you better act quickly because BMW has announced they're only producing 50 models of the 3.0 CSL.
87% of new cars in the UK don't have a manual handbrake
According to CarGuru's fifth annual report, manufacturers are continuing their switch to electric handbrakes, with Peugeot and BMW amongst the latest to switch.
If looking to buy a new car in the UK, only 13% of them come with a manual handbrake, a 20% drop since 2019. Contributing to this is the discontinuation of popular models which featured a manual handbrake, including the Nissan Micra, Peugeot 108, and Citroen C1, all of which have been terminated in the last year.
One of the main catalysts for change has been the growth of electric vehicles. They've contributed to a 4% drop in manual handbrakes in the last year alone.
Does your car have a manual handbrake?
UK car production grows in October
After a turbulent time in 2022, UK car manufacturing has shown some positive signs, with production growing by 7.4% in October, with 69,524 units leaving factory grounds, thanks to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The rise followed a fall in production figures in September which occurred after four months of consecutive growth, emphasising how unpredictable the automotive market has become.
Although signs of improvement returned in October, production figures show a drop of 48.4% compared to 2019, where 134,669 units left factory gates in the UK.
On the lookout for more motoring news? Check out Nationwide Vehicle Contracts round-up of last week's news.
We are also one of the UK’s leading car leasing brokers, featuring a range of leasing deals available to suit your every need. Curious about car leasing? Check out our comprehensive leasing guides.
