Car-buying confidence hits new high

THE NUMBER of people who believe they will buy a new car in the next three years has jumped to 71%, according to the latest AA Car Purchase Index; up from 55% last year. Of the 19,786 survey respondents who said they were going to buy a new car, 42% said they would choose a petrol engine, with 38% saying definitely diesel. A further 13% don’t know what fuel type they will opt for, but 7% will choose some kind of hybrid and 1% will go fully electric – a total of exactly 100 respondents.

McLaren P1 – 0-124mph in under 7 seconds & just 375 P1s being built

The new McLaren P1 – to be unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show – will hit 124mph in under 7 seconds. Just 375 being built. McLaren say that the P1 – which we know has 903 bhp – will get to 62mph ‘under 3 seconds’, to 124mph in ‘under 7 seconds’ and to 186mph in ‘less than 17 seconds’.

University of Cincinnati 2008

Students in the Transportation Design track at the University of Cincinnati recently presented their visions for the future of transport. Most of the students were asked to envision a vehicle for use in the year 2030 in a studio course sponsored by General Motors; a brief which asked students to push the design potential of the Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra pickup truck or the Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon SUVs. Two graduating students also presented their visions for the automotive future, using the Volkswagen and Saturn brands as their launching pad.