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Prestigious award for new Fiat 500 EV

The all-new New Fiat 500 has been crowned Best Electric Car at the first ever Marie Claire UK Sustainability Awards.

Praised for its impressive range, iconic design, connectivity features and use of recycled materials, its other awards include Best Small Electric Car for the City by WhatCar? and Auto Express’s City Car of the Year.

For the inaugural Sustainability Awards, the Marie Claire UK team were joined by global experts, thought leaders and activists in sustainability to recognise brands making a difference in an increasingly eco-conscious world.

“New Fiat 500 has what it takes to convert buyers to go electric, offering an impressive range for its size and a slick and modern upgrade to its iconic design,” said Andrea Thompson, Editor in Chief, Marie Claire UK.

“It’s the attention to detail across the board that sets it apart from the competition. From the autonomous driving features and connectivity to the innovative use of recycled marine materials on the interior, this is an agile, efficient and intelligent 500 for a new generation.”

The new 500 is the first fully-electric Fiat designed from the ground up. The car’s best-in-class features include Level 2 Autonomous Driving technologies, a variety of battery options and a driving range of up to 199 miles – the longest range of any electric city car on the market today.

The sustainable philosophy of the New 500 is reflected not only in the electric powertrain but also within the interior. The seats are partly made with Seaqual yarn, the weaving of which produces a material derived from recycled plastic, 10% of which originates from the sea and 90 per cent from land.

Greg Taylor, Fiat UK Country Manager, added: “The arrival of New 500 marks a pivotal moment in making sustainable, connected and autonomous mobility accessible to UK motorists.

“With a host of features such as an all-new infotainment system and Level 2 Autonomous Driving – which is exclusive to New 500 within its segment – as well as four trim levels, there is a New 500 for everyone.”

In recent weeks, the new 500 has additionally won Best Small Electric Car for the City by What Car?, named Car of the Year by Electrifying and has also been recognised by Auto Express as their City Car of the Year.

Do you live in a UK car theft hotspot?

Gareth Herincx

3 days ago
Auto News

Make sure you take steps to protect your vehicle – especially if you live in London and you drive one of Britain’s most popular cars.

Co-op Insurance has carried out a four-year study based on actual claims and nine out of the Top 10 car theft postcodes are located in London.

Top 20 UK vehicle theft hotspots (by frequency of claims)

1. Lambeth

2. Kensington and Chelsea

3. Ealing

4. Southwark

5. Lewisham

6. Wandsworth

7. Greenwich

8. Hounslow

9. Watford

10. Westminster

11. Hammersmith and Fulham

12. Three Rivers

13. Preston

14. Slough

15. Spelthorne

16. Stevenage

17. Barking and Dagenham

18. Havering

19. Peterborough

20. Southampton

*Co-op Insurance, 2016-2020

The research also revealed the makes and models of cars most targeted by criminals, with popular family cars (Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus and Vauxhall Corsa) heading the list.

“Having your car stolen is one of the most distressing experiences a person can endure and sadly, it is still something that blights everyday life, particularly in our cities,” said Paul Evans, head of motor insurance at Co-op Insurance.

“Our claims data shows that car crime rates in London have remained continuously high, but it’s interesting to see that places like Preston and Stockport are also emerging hotspots in the North.”

Top 10 cars with a theft claim reported (as a % of total theft claims)

1. Ford Fiesta

2. Ford Focus

3. Vauxhall Corsa

4. Vauxhall Astra

5. Volkswagen Golf

6. Land Rover Evoque

7. Land Rover Discovery

8. Audi A3

9. Mercedes C Class

10. Audi A4

*Co-op Insurance, 2016-2020

TV consumer champion and former car dealer, Dominic Littlewood, added: “Whether our cars are parked on the driveway or in an urban car park, they are vulnerable to car thieves who are becoming increasingly well organised in targeting the vehicles on their wish list.

“There are a number of really simple steps that car owners can take to make sure their vehicle doesn’t look so appealing – from simply turning your car wheels to face the kerb and investing in some simple deterrents like steering wheel locks.

“And don’t think it won’t happen to you, cheaper makes and models are becoming more attractive than ever to thieves. It’s also important to get the right car insurance in place so if the worst does happen, you’ll get the money to buy another car quickly and conveniently.”

Find out the car crime rates in your area – https://www.coop.co.uk/insurance/hub/park-smart.

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Hyundai Ioniq 5 crowned ‘Car of the Year’

Gareth Herincx

2 days ago
Auto News

The stunning all-new Hyundai Ioniq 5 has scooped a remarkable four wins at the prestigious Auto Express New Car Awards 2021, including the coveted Car of the Year title.

Hyundai’s acclaimed electric vehicle (EV) also picked up trophies for Premium Electric Car and Mid-size Company Car, as well as the Design Award, as voted for by Auto Express readers.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 wowed the Auto Express judges with its blend of style, comfort, engaging driving experience and cutting-edge technology.

“When we first saw the Concept 45 that previewed the Ioniq 5, we knew it would be something special,” said Steve Fowler, Auto Express editor-in-chief and chair of the judging team.

“We’ve watched the story unfold with huge interest, culminating in a memorable first drive of the car in the UK. It delivers on styling, driver appeal and quality.

“When it comes to the tech, Hyundai has already proven to be a leader in the EV space – and the Ioniq 5 takes it one step further. It’s a brilliant car.”

Remarkably, the Korean brand also won two other categories, taking the Hot Hatch of the Year award for its i20 N, while the Tucson was named Mid-size SUV of the Year.

Ashley Andrew, Managing Director of Hyundai Motor UK, added: “We are absolutely delighted with the six awards bestowed by Auto Express. For the Ioniq 5 to be named Car of the Year alongside three other category wins shows just how far Hyundai has come on its pioneering sustainable mobility journey.

“With the Ioniq 5, we set out to create one of the world’s best electric cars – nothing less. The reaction from our customers, and now from the uncompromising critics at Auto Express, shows we have delivered a industry-beating product.”

Auto Express New Car Awards Winners 2021

City Car of the Year – Fiat 500 Electric
Supermini of the Year – Renault Clio
Family Car of the Year – Skoda Octavia
Estate Car of the Year – Skoda Octavia Estate
Small Company Car of the Year – Volkswagen ID.3
Mid-size Company Car of the Year – Hyundai Ioniq 5
Large Company Car of the Year – Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Small SUV of the Year – Renault Captur
Mid-size SUV of the Year – Hyundai Tucson
Large SUV of the Year – SEAT Tarraco
Small Premium SUV of the Year – Mercedes-Benz GLA
Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year – Land Rover Defender
Large Premium SUV of the Year – BMW X5
Luxury Car of the Year – Bentley Flying Spur
Hot Hatch of the Year – Hyundai i20 N
Coupé of the Year – Alpine A110
Convertible of the Year – MINI Convertible
Performance Car of the Year – Toyota GR Yaris
Affordable Electric Car of the Year – Renault Zoe
Premium Electric Car of the Year – Hyundai Ioniq 5
Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year – Toyota Yaris
Premium Hybrid Car of the Year – Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Pick-up of the Year – Ford Ranger
Electric Van of the Year – Vauxhall Vivaro-e
Van of the Year – Ford Transit Custom
Design Award – Hyundai Ioniq 5
Technology Award – Citroen Ami
Hall of Fame – Adrian Hallmark & Richard Parry-Jones
Car of the Year – Hyundai Ioniq 5

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Dacia reaches 200,000 sales milestone

Dacia has sold its 200,000th car in the UK – just eight years after arriving.

The milestone model for Renault’s Romanian budget brand was an all-new Sandero Stepway Prestige.

Still selling the UK’s cheapest new car (the Sandero range starts at £7,995), Dacia has built a strong reputation, offering buyers practical, robust vehicles at affordable prices.

In 2013, when Dacia launched in the UK, the range was made up of the second-generation Sandero and the first-generation Duster. These models were quickly followed by the Logan MCV.

Of all the Dacia models available, the Sandero Stepway, with its raised ride height and SUV styling cues, makes up around 60% of all Sandero sales.

The 200,000th Dacia was a Sandero Stepway Prestige TCe 100 Bi-Fuel, finished in Iron Blue. The vehicle was purchased by Christopher Simpson, a first time Dacia owner, from Brayleys Dacia in Milton Keynes.

“We’re delighted that Christopher is collecting his new Sandero Stepway from us, like any sale, but even more so as the 200,000th Dacia sold in the UK,” said Jack Bramston, Sales Manager at Brayleys Dacia.

“We’ve been selling Dacias at Brayleys since 2014 and it’s been incredible to be on the brand’s journey of success in the UK. We wish Chris many happy miles in his new Sandero.”

Luke Broad, Head of Sales, Dacia UK, added: “We celebrated 100,000 Dacia sales four years after launching in the UK, and four years later we’ve sold another 100,000.

“We’ve been keeping up the momentum, all while continuing to provide UK customers with the most affordable cars on the market. We’re thrilled that our customers – both new and existing – trust Dacia in providing unrivalled value for money, practicality and low running costs.”

Top 20 cheapest cars to drive in the UK

Home / Auto News / Top 20 cheapest cars to drive in the UK

Gareth Herincx

2 days ago
Auto News

New research by comparison site Uswitch has revealed the cheapest cars to run, breaking down the annual running costs of the country’s most popular motors.

Knowing how much it’s going cost to run a car each year is an important part of any purchase decision, so the study calculated the cost per mile (CPM) and annual running cost (including fuel, insurance, road tax and miles per gallon) against the UK’s average mileage (7,400 miles).

Top 20 cheapest cars to run each year in the UK

Rank	Vehicle	Total Annual Running Cost	Average Cost Per Mile
1	Kia Picanto	£1,372.63	£0.19
2	Citroen C1	£1,383.50	£0.19
3	Peugeot 108	£1,405.32	£0.19
4	Toyota Aygo	£1,418.58	£0.19
5	Toyota Yaris	£1,420.18	£0.19
6	Hyundai i10	£1,439.55	£0.19
7	Toyota Corolla	£1,443.84	£0.20
8	Toyota Prius	£1,446.27	£0.20
9	Fiat 500	£1,448.96	£0.20
10	Suzuki Swift	£1,458.33	£0.20
11	Fiat Panda	£1,467.62	£0.20
12	Volkswagen UP!	£1,481.03	£0.20
13	Honda Jazz	£1,487.20	£0.20
14	Hyundai i20	£1,495.95	£0.20
15	Dacia Sandero	£1,502.50	£0.20
16	Skoda Fabia	£1,510.75	£0.20
17	Kia Ceed	£1,513.12	£0.20
18	Renault Megane	£1,516.57	£0.20
19	Ford Fiesta	£1,526.51	£0.21
20	Mazda 2	£1,526.99	£0.21

“When buying a new car there are many factors that have to be taken into account before making a final decision on which make and model to purchase,” said Joel Kempson, car insurance expert at Uswitch.com.

“However, undoubtedly the most important factor is the costs that come with purchasing a vehicle, not only the cost of the car itself but also the extra cash needed to run it day to day.

“According to our cost per mile (CPM) calculation, the Kia Picanto is the most affordable car to run per mile, making the vehicle a great choice for drivers wanting to save money over the long term.”

Tags cheapest cars citroen c1 cost of motoring fuel Insurance Kia Picanto Peugeot 108 running costs Toyota Aygo Toyota Yaris Uswitch

Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who’s worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.

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