A glance at the new Ford Fiesta

Many people on the road have at some point owned a Ford Fiesta. Known and loved for its reliability, variation of models and cheeky good looks, it is little wonder it is the UK's top-selling car again this year.

Making changes to what has essentially become an integral part of the urban landscape is always going to be risky. The Ford Fiesta has seen many significant facelifts since its first incarnation back in 1976, and although one or two of them (particularly the mark five in 2002) raised eyebrows at the time, they have all maintained the perfect balance of familiarity and innovation.

The mark seven, 2017 Ford Fiesta appears to be another case in point. At first glance, we can see a re-sculptured body shape, a standard 1.0-litre engine, a sporty great big hexagonal grille and an exciting advance in onboard technology. The new Fiesta will be available with petrol or diesel engines, with cylinder deactivation an option on the 1-litre petrol Ecoboost. A three cylinder engine with cylinder deactivation - is this a world first? It must be added, however, that the engines manage to churn out an impressive amount of power given their size.

The scaled-down engines have drastically improved both emissions and fuel economy, both increasingly important factors for the car-buying public. The petrol models are listed as having emissions as low as 101g/km and running roughly 65mpg. The 1.5-litre diesel models manage to throw out 85hp and 120hp and are expected to run somewhere exceeding 80mpg.

Industry experts expect Ford to make another addition to the Fiesta family some time later in the form of an exciting (and no doubt impressively overpowered) ST model. Customised accessories and add-ons are also expected to play an integral part of the mark seven, so we can expect contrasting coloured pieces and unusual personalised interior colours that will sit very nicely with personalised number plates.

Information on the car so far suggests that it will handle extraordinarily well as a result of the latest changes. We can expect a far cleaner and more fuel-economical Ford Fiesta next year with a wealth of models and specifications to choose from.

Source: https://www.theprivateplateco.co.uk/news/general/a-glance-at-the-new-ford-fiesta.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/123760891@N03/">Nuova Ford Fiesta 2017 a breve sul mercato Mondiale by automobileitalia licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative commons 4

Jaguar's XKSS - So Authentic it Can't be Driven in the UK

The new Jaguar XKSS comes with a hefty seven figure price tag and took an impressive 10,000 man hours to develop. One would be forgiven for thinking that those investing in one of these luxury machines would spend a considerable amount of time showing them off, but they may find it a mite tricky.

These nine cars are perhaps more deserving of the name 'modern classic' than any other, as they are painstaking recreations of the Jaguar original 1957 model. The cars are so like the originals that they can't be driven on roads in the UK, as they do not meet current safety standards and regulations concerning emissions.

Jaguar wasn't able to secure the road legality necessary for their new model on an inherent basis, meaning the proud new owners of these already astonishingly expensive cars will have to seek legal permission to drive on roads on an individual basis, and at their own expense. If they're unsuccessful, the only places they will be driving their shiny new modern classic is on dirt tracks and and private circuits.

Hardly the setting of choice for such a luscious car.

Regardless of this unfortunate limitation, the Jaguar XKSS is a visual treat. Its interior perfectly recreates that of the original 1957 classic car's. A total of nine 'continuation' cars will be produced by Jaguar to the precise 1957 specifications of the originals. The car manufacturer is relying on original drawings and even recreating some of the techniques used to produce the original cars. Deliveries are set to begin in 2017, but it remains to be seen how widely their owners will be able to show off their sizeable investment.

Far from being an unfortunate mistake, a Jaguar spokesman has made it clear that the engineers behind the new model were aware from the beginning that dedication to the original specifications would preclude making them road-legal.

While the cars are a beautiful site to behold, it is a bold and unusual move on the part of Jaguar, to knowingly roll out a model that doesn't conform to emission laws, at a time when the motor industry is buzzing with excitement of the Tesla Model S and Chevy Bolt - both the pinnacle of electronic and Eco-friendly motoring.

SOURCE: https://www.theprivateplateco.co.uk/news/general/jaguars-xkss-so-authentic-it-cant-be-driven-in-the-uk.html

Ferrari 250 GTO geared up to become the world's most expensive classic car at £45 million

A distinguished blue Ferrari is geared up to become the world's most expensive classic car, with a price tag of £45 million.

The pricey motor is a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, perhaps the most coveted of classic cars. One of only thirty-six of its kind ever made, this particular car was the second in its line to roll off the ramp.

In addition to its rarity, the car has historical value as it was raced at Sebring and Le Mans. Although it is now over half a century old, the feisty motor is still perfectly capable of doing 0 to 60mph in six seconds, and boasts a top speed of over 170mph.

As if that wasn't enough, the beautiful little Ferrari has been off the market for twenty years, after it was bought by John Collins, an Ascot-based Ferrari specialist, who has slapped a whopping forty-five million pound price tag on it.

"It is a beautiful Ferrari, the Holy Grail of classic cars, and it has a great racing history having finished sixth overall at Le Mans and first in class at Sebring." Collins said. "I have already had one offer on the car and know there will be interest. It will get you on the Ferrari 70th anniversary tour next year."

Citing the recent presidential election as a reason people would be looking to invest their assets, Collins added that, "this is a lot better than a painting on the wall."

At £45 million, the classic Ferrari 250 GTO is coming in at more than 245 times the price of a brand spanking new Ferrari 488. At 4,500 times the asking price of Britain's most popular car, a Ford Fiesta, it's difficult to fathom how a car can possibly be worth so much money. A combination of rarity, history, and the fact the car is still in tip top condition would seem to have guaranteed it a place in the record books - at least for the time being. If Collins' predictions about the demand for investment opportunities prove to be correct, we may see some more classic motors back on the market in the near future.

Invest in Private Number Plates

If you haven't got £45 million to invest in a classic car then why not consider a personalised number plate. The private Plate Company have over 50 million available from just £50 up to almost £1 million. You can view them all on The Private Plate Company website or call us on 01639 888833.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45629969@N03/">Ferrari by Vineesh Devasia licensed underhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative commons 4

SOURCE: https://www.theprivateplateco.co.uk/news/general/ferrari-250-gto-geared-up-to-become-the-worlds-most-expensive-classic-car-at-45-million.html

All New Tesla Cars now

Today an official video released by Tesla announced that all new models are to be equipped with hardware to enable "fully autonomous" driving modes.

Eight surround cameras will be fitted to all new models to provide 360 degree visibility, as well as twelve updated ultrasonic sensors and a forward facing radar. This means that once the software required is completed and wirelessly installed, the cars should all be fully autonomous enabled. Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, last month announced that fully autonomous Tesla cars should be rolling off the production line by next year. It was announced that all radar equipped Model X and Model S vehicles built in the last two years will get an automatic wireless update, including those in the U.K.

This roll-out is one part of a huge step forward for driverless cars. Autopilot functions have seen a noticeable revamp in the new update and geocoding has been vastly improved, now able to better flag up false negatives into GPS data to be shared with other Tesla vehicles. Lane detection also works much in the same way in that Musk describes as "fleet learning".

Some of the publicity surrounding autonomous cars over the last year has been negative. Collisions involving driverless cars have been regularly making the news; Google had the dubious honour of being responsible for the first crash caused by a driverless car when it ploughed into a California bus earlier in the year.

Although the public is still coming round to the concept of driverless cars, there does still remain a tangible concern with regards to safety. Musk believes that Tesla cars are already the safest on the road, and has recently claimed that the recent updates should further improve safety levels by up to 50%. "It's about improving the probability of safety; we have about 160,000 Tesla cars covering billions of miles, so even if it's one in a billion, there won't be zero injuries or zero fatalities," said Musk.

Also announced was the arrival of the Model S and Model X new 100kWh battery pack. This will make the Model S P100D the fastest accelerating car in production in the world.

Tesla Number Plates

We have a selection of TESLA Number Plates available on our website although they are selling fast. Why not give us a call and see if we can find something suitable for you

original source: https://www.theprivateplateco.co.uk/news/general/all-new-tesla-cars-now-.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/43671133974@N01/">Tesla Motors by Sam Felder licensed underhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/5.0/">Creative commons 5

Why Now is the Time to Invest in a Classic Mini

The classic car market has never been hotter. Take the Aston Martin DB6. Second hand price in 1979: around £15,000. Price at auction in 2016: in excess of £400,000.

Wished you'd bought one way back when? Yes, us too. Everything is perfect in hindsight. Even in a booming market, though, there are still some real opportunities for the canny and careful buyer as we cant all afford to invest in an Aston Martin.

Take the classic Mini. One of the world's greatest car designs was introduced to a slightly incredulous world in 1959, pioneering mass production of transverse engines and front wheel drive, not to mention an extraordinary capacity to swallow people and luggage.

Not just that, but Sir Alec Issigonis, its visionary designer, made it fun to drive. This ensured that when John Cooper got his hands on one, he transformed the Mini from a little shopper to a car capable of winning the Monte Carlo Rally multiple times. A starring role in 'The Italian Job' confirmed the Mini's superstar status as a car that was driven by everyone from Princess Margaret to every one of The Beatles.

Today its prices are higher than ever. The key is finding an example that is ripe for restoration and choosing your restorer with great care. There are always abandoned projects buried in online classifieds - and don't forget the pages of your local newspapers too.

A personal examination is essential and always walk away if there's any serious sign of rust. When Minis rust, they do so with a vengeance. That said, just about everything is replaceable. So many were made that parts are still manufactured and they're easy to source and cheap to buy.

A Mk 1 Mini will give you what you might call "Maximum Issigonis", but be aware that this includes drum brakes all round and a distinctly underpowered 850cc engine. Commercials - pickups and vans - are very sought after, so if you see one at a good price, take a hard look.

Private Plates for Minis

When you've finished the restoration, nothing compares to looking into private number plates to finish off your very special project before you take it to your first show. The world of Minis is a very special one and one that could still prove lucrative.

Getting Personal in the USA with Vanity Plates.

We know them as personalised number plates, but in America, they call them "vanity plates". 

They work on the same principle as they do in the UK, with people paying for a number plate which spells out a favourite word or slogan. In New York, it's currently $60 for a vanity plate, then $31.25 each year to renew it. A 2007 survey, the first of its kind, revealed that there were 9.7 million vanity plates in use across America.

Vanity plates are most popular in the state of Virginia, where 16% of vehicles have one. Hardly a surprise since they only charge $10 for a vanity plate. At the other end of the league table, only 0.5% of vehicles in Texas have personalised plates.

Because American vehicle registrations don't follow the same sort of alphanumeric format as they do in the UK, there's a lot more creativity with personalised plates. You can have around seven characters on your vanity plate, depending on your state of residence, with spaces allowed. Entire words and short phrases are possible, although each state has its own list of banned words. New York has banned "Police" and "God", while Florida has banned "Pimpala". Generally, if your proposed plate features reference to drink, drugs, boasting, race or religion, expect to come across problems when you apply.

It is possible for a plate to be issued, only for it to be recalled if someone complains that it offends them. A vegetarian family, who claimed to be big fans of tofu, registered the plate "ILVTOFU", but the plate was banned. "I GOTTA P" was allowed though, and is a viral image floating around the internet.

Famous Personalised Plates

Personalised plates are also popular with some of our most beloved characters in the movies. The infamous De Lorean from Back To The Future bore the plates "OUTATIME", while Tom Selleck's moustached Magnum PI had "ROBIN1", "ROBIN2" and "ROBIN3".

With one American referring to vanity plates as "minimalist poetry in motion", it looks like these little slices of customisation are going to continue being just as popular across the pond as they are in the UK.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/78428166@N00/">Virginia Vanity Plate by Tobyotter licensed underhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative commons 4

2016's popular cars and 2017's hot models

2016's popular cars and 2017's hot models look great with a private number plate

The latest statistics from the UK auto trade show that the following models of car are the most common purchases around the country. Few drivers want to feel like they are part of the herd, which is why modifications, limited editions and custom versions are increasingly popular. However, if you ended up with a car that's just too common in styling or colour, and it seems strange to say that about the Mercedes C-Class - a new entry in the top 10, then a cherished number plate might make your car stand out.

10. Mercedes C-Class

9. Vauxhall Mokka

8. Mini

7. VW Polo

6. Vauxhall Astra

5. Nissan Qashqai

4. VW Golf

3. Ford Focus

2. Vauxhall Corsa

1. Ford Fiesta

Personalised Number Plates for New Cars

A personalised number plate is just the thing to divert attention from the fact your car might be so popular. With our close proximity to the DVLA, we can offer very fast turnarounds for private plates to make your car a little more distinguished. Of course, your next purchase might have to be a little more exotic to attract some attention.

The hottest cars for 2017, which definitely won't be appearing in a most common car list, are shipping in from around the world to light up British garage forecourts. Most models are already on sale and cover a range of budgets or driver preferences, covering the green and luxury end of the car market.

From Italy, the new Alfa Romeo Giulia (http://www.alfaromeo.co.uk/models/alfa-romeo-giulia) or the Fiat 124 Spider (http://www.fiat.co.uk/124-spider).

From South Korea, the Hyundai Ioniq, the company's first hybrid, EV car (http://www.hyundai.co.uk/new-cars/ioniq).

From Britain, the Jaguar XE (http://www.jaguar.co.uk/jaguar-range/xe/index.html).

From Japan, the Lexus LC (http://www.lexus.co.uk/car-models/lc/lc-500/).

From Sweden, the Volvo S90 (http://www.volvocars.com/uk/cars/new-models/s90).

Whatever new model you pick up next, a personalised car registration will help increase its visibility and can either tie in to your name, business or the make of car itself. They can make a good investment and will definitely add a touch of style to your car, whatever the model or brand. Whatever your next auto adventure, make sure you pick us for your plate. Get in touch today for details.