Fancy putting a personal plate on a new model 4x4?

4x4s or SUVs often sport personalised number plates. If you're in the market for a new one in 2017 or 2018, what's coming your way that could tempt you?

Alfa Romeo

This is a big surprise, one of the last manufacturers we'd expect to bring out a bulky off-road machine. They've made the Stelvio look as dramatic and sporty as possible, but a lot will hinge on whether it will handle better than rivals from BMW and Audi.

Skoda

Possibly less likely to attract private number plates, but getting excellent reviews regardless, Skoda's debut SUV will be the best-equipped car they've ever launched. It needs to be, as it will face stiff competition, but caravan magazines are already impressed with it as a towing machine.

SEAT

SEAT's Arona will be a little smaller than the Spanish marque's Kodiaq. It's stylish outside with a clean interior and the badge is perhaps more likely to appeal to people who like private car registrations, particularly the rumoured Cupra performance version.

Toyota

Appearing early in 2017, the new CH-R is a cross-over rather than an SUV, with radical styling and high equipment levels. It will be economical and ecologically friendly, with a choice of a small but turbocharged petrol engine or hybrid drive.

Lynk & Co

Later in the year, perhaps even early 2018, this new brand from Chinese company Geely will launch its first car, an SUV called the 01. This striking car is being developed using the facilities and know-how of subsidiary Volvo so should be robust, super-safe and will look good with cherished number plates.

Land Rover

The replacement for the iconic Defender, the descendant of the original Land Rover launched in 1948, will finally arrive in 2018. The classic shape is likely to be kept, with design cues from the stunning Evoque. Hopefully Land Rover will keep the "go-anywhere" ability of the original rather than tone it down for shopping and school runs.

Rolls Royce

Possibly not arriving until 2019 is a car that will never be seen without personalised number plates. The most expensive 4x4 ever, Rolls Royce's Cullinan is sure to be special. See our other article on the biggest ever order for Rolls Royce.

As soon as you've got your new 4x4, contact us and we'll set you up with the DVLA number plates you need.

SOURCE: https://www.theprivateplateco.co.uk/news/general/fancy-putting-a-personal-plate-on-a-new-model-4x4.html

The Most Exciting Developments From The Geneva Motor Show

The most important event in the car industry: the 2017 Geneva Motor Show was held this week.

Every year, motoring enthusiasts flock to the shores of Lake Geneva in their thousands as manufacturers showcase new designs and concepts, each competing to steal the show. This year was no different, with some groundbreaking developments from the world's biggest car manufacturers.

Here are some of the most exciting things we saw this year:

Range Rover Velar

The all-new SUV is going to be a big hit. Created to plug the gap between the Range Rover Sport and its baby brother, the Evoque, the Velar sits in the middle of the range in terms of pricing, size and performance. It's a bit of a looker, inheriting sleek design language from existing models, with a futuristic, minimalist interior. Priced from around £44,000, the entry-level model will be equipped with a four cylinder diesel engine, while the top-spec, 3.0 375bhp V6 version will cost around £83,000.

McLaren 720S

The legendary British marque has upped the stakes with this one. The 720S is a hypercar of mind-boggling power and performance, with 720 bhp and a 0-60 time of just 2.6 seconds. Not long afterwards it will reach 212 mph. The McLaren 720S promises to be as formidable on the track as its predecessors, with an ultra-responsive chassis and lightning handling.

It's not cheap; the list price begins at £207,900, with an options list that could easily double or treble that figure. But it's a stunning machine and wealthy buyers will undoubtedly snap up every one of them.

2018 Ford Fiesta ST

Driving enthusiasts looking for something a little more practical, without losing the thrill factor, will be excited about the updated Fiesta ST. The ST has long been a favourite among boy racers for its agile steering, its rewarding engine and its affordable price tag. It will likely cost around £18,000, the same as the current version, so buyers might have room in the budget for some private number plates too.

SOURCE: https://www.theprivateplateco.co.uk/news/general/the-most-exciting-developments-from-the-geneva-motor-show.html

The New Peugeot Instinct

Peugeot do have an interesting track record of creating a real mixed bag of concept cars. 

2014's Peugeot Exalt was a fine, solid piece of engineering which although undoubtedly looked "of the future", it wasn't a future too distant or too alien. The Peugeot 20cup which was rolled out in front of disbelieving eyes in 2005 resembled the front end of a car welded onto the back end of a moped. Not a great moment.

Thankfully, the Instinct is closer to the former than the latter example. The stealth bomber good looks and sharp lines certainly give it a slight "other world" look we would expect from a concept car, but like the Exalt, it would not invite laughter being driven into a supermarket car park.

Of course what is really being showcased by the Instinct is the technology. Naturally, autonomy is heavily featured, the Instinct boasts of the highest level of autonomy meaning that it should be every bit as capable in any given situation as a human. You could in theory download different driving styles, allowing you to be driven in the style of Colin McRae, Lewis Hamilton or Richard Hammond whilst eating a bowl of cereal.

Connectivity is a big thing with the "internet of things" being predicted to run our lives sometime soon. Employing Samsung's Artik Cloud has allowed the Instinct to link up to your smartwatch, locks, phone and presumably toaster. In practice this could mean that when you unlock your car door, your house doors automatically lock behind you. Information collected by your smartwatch might suggest that you didn't put enough effort in at the gym so will park you further from your destination forcing you to get out and walk.

The 300hp hybrid powertrain beneath the bonnet is quite a beast and the aerodynamics of the Instinct have clearly been a key consideration in its design. An active spoiler and air blade pop out when the car reaches 56mph to increase downforce and an integrated air duct runs down the length of the car forcing air down a narrow space through the doors and over the rear wheel.

So the Instinct is an interesting concept car. It might not be the most outlandish or even the most ambitious, but it strikes us as being a good guess at tomorrow's cars.

SOURCE: https://www.theprivateplateco.co.uk/news/general/the-new-peugeot-instinct.html