Mustang Vortech on 2040-parts.com

Vauxhall customers to benefit from Government funding

VAUXHALL customers can now benefit from free installation of a home charging unit for their Ampera extended-range electric vehicles. Following the Government's announcement of funding for owners of electric vehicles (EVs) where they will cover 75 per cent of costs for home charging unit installations up to a maximum of £1,000 including VAT, Vauxhall has now offered to meet the remaining 25 per cent on the same basis for new retail customers taking up the offer. The Government’s £37 million package of benefits also includes additional measures for local authorities to install on-street charging posts and rapid chargers.

Call for reform over road repair funding

FUNDING patterns mean most road maintenance is being carried out in "less-efficient, cold and wet" times, a report from a Government spending watchdog has said. The current pattern of funding, combined with the need to spend money within the financial year, means that most maintenance work goes on between September and March, said the report from the National Audit Office (NAO). It went on: "Although this is less disruptive for road users, it is less efficient than carrying out the work at other times of year because materials can be more difficult to handle in cold and wet conditions, and daylight hours are shorter." The report went on: "As a result of the additional funding for emergency repairs, which is made available at the end of the financial year, almost all highways authorities need extra capacity from the market at the same time, which makes it less likely that they will get value for money." The NAO report said there was a "lack of predictability" over road spending adding that historically, local highway authorities spent more revenue on maintenance, but were now carrying out fewer routine activities such as clearing gullies which are essential to preventing water seeping into roads' sub-structure.

World’s best-selling roadster returns

MAZDA has released details on the brand-new fourth generation MX-5, already the best selling roadster of all time. Launched simultaneously at events in Barcelona, Japan and the USA, the fourth-generation MX-5 is the first to benefit from Mazda’s SkyActiv efficient technology. That means a frugal but powerful petrol engine and a substantial weight saving of 100kg over the previous generation.