Motorpoint – Pulpaddict

Revealed: The best ever automotive innovations

The most important automotive innovations, according to motorists, are multiple airbags, GPS satellite navigation and reversing cameras.

A study of 2,000 adults with a driving licence, commissioned by the nearly new car retailer Motorpoint to celebrate its 25th anniversary, found that three in 10 could not live without the gadgetry in their car, with other popular inventions including power steering and parking sensors.

“Cars have evolved a lot since we opened our first store 25 years ago,” said Mark Carpenter, CEO of Motorpoint.

“Back in 1998, some of the tech we take for granted wasn’t even in development. Even then, it would have been inconceivable that cars could help us park, and smartphones were several years away.”

Top 20 important driving innovations

Multiple airbags
GPS satellite navigation
Reversing cameras
Power steering
Parking sensors
Self-parking systems
Hybrid vehicles
Mass-market electric vehicles
Adaptive cruise control
In-car Bluetooth
Remote central locking
Keyless entry
Tyre pressure monitoring
Electric windows
Wing mirrors that tell you when someone’s in your blind spot
Auto-defrosting windshields
Autonomous cars
Headlights that turn on automatically in the dark
Smartphone integration e.g. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
Heated seats

With technological features being so important to many, the 2020s were named the decade Brits think cars look the coolest, beating the 1960s and 1970s which came second and third.

Almost three in 10 (28 per cent) drivers would love to own a classic car but would struggle without modern day gadgets such as electric windows, wing mirrors which show the blind spot and tyre pressure monitoring.

Top 5 car tech drivers can’t manage without

In-car Bluetooth
LED headlights
Keyless entry
Smartphone integration
Adaptive cruise control

Check Also

Why motorists will waste a million litres of fuel this Easter

More than one in 10 drivers will be setting off on their Easter getaway with …

Cost-of-living crisis: Motorists are holding on to older cars for longer

Home / Auto News / Cost-of-living crisis: Motorists are holding on to older cars for longer

Gareth Herincx

2 days ago
Auto News

The financial squeeze has resulted in a reprieve for cars over 10 years old, a new research suggests.

A survey of 2,000 UK drivers with older cars revealed more than half (57%) will keep their car for longer due to worries about the current economic situation.

However, running an ageing car has, in some cases, caused some motorists financial anguish, with 10% claiming some repair bills have run into the thousands.

Nearly one in 10 aren’t sure how much their older car has set them back, while 21% reckon they’ve spent more on repairs in any given year than they think their entire car is actually worth.

“It’s important when budgeting for a new car to consider maintenance costs, which will be required throughout its life,” said Mark Carpenter, CEO at nearly new vehicle retailer Motorpoint, which commissioned the study.

“In the current climate, many motorists will look to weigh up the pros of hanging on to an older car, which they may own outright, with financing a newer one that may meet their needs for additional space, lower emissions, improved economy, and safety equipment.”

The research also found that almost a third (31%) have had a bill of £400 or more in the past year for an unanticipated but essential maintenance item, while 10% have had a single bill of £1,000 or more.

For people who do foresee a change on their driveway, 57% will go for something pre-owned but newer than their current one.

Lower running costs (24%), improved reliability (13%) and just wanting a change (7%) were the top reasons people would consider switching their older car.

Check Also

Five ways to help avoid a breakdown this winter

The winter months are one of the most challenging times for cars and they are …

Retired nurse wins ‘lucky’ Ford Fiesta

Home / Auto Blog / Retired nurse wins ‘lucky’ Ford Fiesta

Gareth Herincx

3 days ago
Auto Blog

Helen Bartz, from Caerphilly in South Wales, has won her dream car worth £14,000 in Motorpoint’s national ‘Win A Car’ competition.

The retired nurse entered the competition back in late 2021. It ran for seven weeks and was timed to roll out during Motorpoint’s sponsorship of ITV’s popular Sunday night game show, Sitting On A Fortune.

“It was a complete surprise and a bit of shock,” said Helen. “I could not quite believe it when the Motorpoint lady rang me!

“I’ve really enjoyed picking my winning car down at the Newport Motorpoint branch – it’s a Fiesta in Moondust Silver which I love, and I’ve already given the car a name – Lucky!”

Tags car supermarket Ford Fiesta Motorpoint showroom Used car

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.

Check Also

Stay safe over the 12 days of Christmas

We’ve teamed up with road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist to offer a …

Top 10 most unusual items left behind in a car

Gareth Herincx

6 days ago
Auto Blog

A family pet was just one of the more unusual items accidentally left behind in a part-exchange car, according to Motorpoint – the UK’s largest independent car retailer.

The research comes off the back of a big influx of part-exchange vehicles at its network of branches in England, Scotland and Wales, following the successful return of non-essential retail, plus cars from its sister company Auction4Cars.

And, in their excitement to driveaway in their new wheels as quickly as possible, a number of customers have inadvertently forgotten to empty their old vehicle of some of their most prized possessions.

While these have included the usual suspects such as house keys, parking permits, sunglasses, debit and credit cards as well as money and phone chargers, a number of more ‘unusual’ items have been left behind for staff to try and re-unite with their owners.

A dog
A hay bale
A (not so secret) stash of adults DVDs
Underwear
Wedding rings
Hairdressing dolls heads
A tree
False teeth
An uneaten Subway
George Foreman grill

“We are all guilty of leaving things behind when we are in a rush, such as our phones, wallets and keys, so it’s certainly only natural that our customers do the same in the midst of their excitement and eagerness to drive away in their new car,” said Nikki Bamford, Head of Customer Services at Motorpoint.

“We have, however, been left a little bit taken aback with some of the strange things that have been left in some of our customers old cars. Thankfully, we’ve been able to re-unite most items with their rightful, and in the case of the dog, relieved owners.”

Check Also

Dog-friendly car travel tips for your 2021 staycation

With international travel still uncertain, there’s been a surge in demand for staycations this year, …