Alpine to unleash the A110 Sports Car in 2018

Many people believe that inexpensive sports cars are a bit like cheap private plates: non-existent. With the A110 available for €58,500 in Europe, however, things could be about to change when it arrives on British shores in 2018.

Alpine is Renault's sports car division and the A110 is a big deal as it signals the fact that the French firm is looking to bring it back after several years of dormancy. They're not coming back quietly either, with the company promising that the A110 from Alpine will be amongst some of the most exciting cars available. Head of engineering Dawid Twohig is understandably excited, staring that the car will have light steering and feel pretty much the same as a Porsche Cayman does.

They're promising that the A110 is going to be fast too. With a weight of just 1080kg, the car is going to powered by a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine. That means its power to weight ratio is better than what's on offer from the 718 Cayman. Like the Porsche, the Alpine will come with a mid-mounted engine which will drive through a seven-speed paddle shift.

The Alpine is also going to be extremely compact, meaning Renault have designed the A110 with spectacle in mind. Measuring just 4.18 metres in length and 1.25 metres high, the Alpine packs a lot of power into its relatively small frame. Its lack of size doesn't mean that the practicality has been completely compromised; Renault have promised that there will be enough room for a pair of tall adults along with some luggage. If you're a fan of the good old-fashioned glove compartment, however, then you're in for some disappointment as there isn't one in the A110.

The compact design has been engineered to ensure that the weight is kept down. There's also an aluminium chassis and fixed-back seats which have half the weight of the seats in the Megane RS. The weight savings don't stop there, Renault have even thought to overhaul the windscreen washer system so that the washer bottle is half as big as the bottles you would find on a regular car. There's also a new type of parking brake that saves an additional 5kg. All of which means the A110 can go from zero to sixty-two in just four and a half seconds.

The Alpine is currently available to order but no UK prices have been released. If you've got your eye on one, you're going to have to be quick as the launch edition is already sold out and it will only be sold in the UK through a small handful of dealers.

Private Plates for the Renault A110

If you're lucky enough to get your hands on the A110, don't forget to do it justice with its very own private number plate. At The Private Plate Co, we specialise in securing you personalised number plates fast.

SOURCE: https://www.theprivateplateco.co.uk/news/general/alpine-to-unleash-the-a110-sports-car-in-2018.html

Tesla Model S trunk by cchana licensed under Creative commons 5

How Tesla may Become the Biggest Car Brand in the World

Tesla, Inc. are not the biggest car company in the world, they are not even close. Their revenue of $7bn may sound impressive, but it is dwarfed by the automotive giant that is the Volkswagen Group and their approximately $221bn of revenue per year.

The Volkswagen Group have made their empire through the production of great, reliable and affordable cars and also by buying some of the competition owning full, or in part, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT and Škoda. They were also founded in 1937, a long time before Tesla's incorporation in 2003.

While Tesla is clearly not the biggest, they could lay claim to being the most important. It's clear that there is an ever increasing shift towards electric cars, both from a manufacturing standpoint and also a shift in the mentality of the consumer.

Electric cars were gaining a reputation of being difficult, slow and expensive. It may be argued that those three points still remain, but it is clear that they are getting easier, faster and cheaper. As they do, all the traditional manufacturers will get more and more interested in producing their own versions. Of course, a few have tried already, but apart from Nissan, the others just seem to be testing the water.

It feels like there might be a 'Nokia moment' in the automotive industry, a breakthrough in technology that suddenly leaves the established giants having to catch up. Tesla in this regard could end up having the same effect that the iPhone did in the mobile industry - suddenly dominating a market that seemed so solid. The likes of Volkswagen should be wary of becoming the next Nokia.

Tesla's cars are fast, attractive and have great brand appeal. They are electric cars like no other, but they're expensive. That will change though, like with all technologies, they will improve and get cheaper. When they do, Tesla will be at the forefront, ready to capitalise on an increased trust in electric cars.

Electric cars were once seen as a joke, but Tesla is changing that. They will soon be a fashionable status symbol and it wouldn't be a surprise in the near future to see more people trading in their petrol-powered sports cars, and re-registering their private number plates on an electric motor, and being proud of it. There will be a social and cultural revolution with electric cars, and when that happens, Tesla will be in the best position to take advantage.

SOURCE: https://www.theprivateplateco.co.uk/news/general/how-tesla-may-become-the-biggest-car-brand-in-the-world.html

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

The Personalised Number Plates you Need for 2017

For many years, personalised number plates have proved hugely popular. They're a great way of adding personality to your car and truly set it out as one-of-a-kind. They're a status symbol showing that you are far beyond just an average road user. And adding to that, they're chic, stylish and individual.

So what number plates should you be looking at buying for 2017?

For something that truly marks out the year (and even better for you if your name is William or Will), there's "WIL 2017" - it couldn't get clearer than that about why you opted for this plate.

If you want to be more discreet, there's always the possibility of combining the year with your initials - perhaps "17 GV" if your name is Graham Vaughan or "17 PU" if your name is PollyUnderwood (or any other name variations by these initials!). You could also go for "17 BU", "17 DU" and "17 HRC" among others.

2017 may be the year that Brexit is swinging into full action, but if you still want to show your support towards the European Union, there's always "14 EU" or "20 EU" that you could opt for. And if your initials match "EU" then even better - it's a double whammy meaning.

It's also the year that marks Queen Elizabeth's Sapphire Jubilee. As such, why not opt for a number plate that celebrates the monarch - or sets you apart as a queen or king in your own right? With HRH representing His/Her Royal Highness, it'll be as regal as it gets. Options include "7 HRH", "555 HRH", "315 HRH" - and if you want to include the year too, there's the option of "G17 HRH", "F17 HRH" and "W17 HRH" amongst others.

You may want to use your number plate as an opportunity to show how savvy you are with 21st-century street talk and in that case, there's always the option of having 'BAE' on your car number plate. Bae is a word used to denote when someone is a person's boyfriend or girlfriend. You could have 'J17 BAE' to mark both your relationship status and the year (particularly good if it's for an anniversary) or others include 'J40 BAE', 'J22 BAE', 'J50 BAE' and 'J33 BAE' - these are all great if you want to use it to celebrate a special birthday too.

Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you find the personalised number plates you want.

SOURCE: https://www.theprivateplateco.co.uk/news/general/the-personalised-number-plates-you-need-for-2017.html

British Car Production Hits 17-Year High

New data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirms that the UK car industry is in good shape at present, reaching a 17-year high for vehicle production.

A total of 1.72 million new cars rolled off British factory lines in 2016, the highest figures seen since the previous Millennium in 1999. 2016 also saw a boom year for car exporting, with a 10.3 percent rise to 1.35 million vehicles sent overseas.

It's not all good news, however, with the SMMT's latest figures indicating that investment in the UK car industry tailing off, down by a third from £2.5bn in 2015 to £1.66bn in 2016.

Indeed, Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, admits that the record-high car manufacturing figures fly in the face of the "uncertainty" derived by the Brexit vote to leave the European Union (EU).

"We do see companies delaying some investment decisions because of the uncertainty," said Hawes.

The car industry remains a huge contributor to Britain's goods exports, generating revenue of more than £71bn a year. However, concerns are abound that the industry could suffer from restrictive tariffs in the event that a free trade agreement cannot be reached between the UK and the EU members. EU nations purchase over 50 percent of all British-made motor vehicles and failure to obtain a free trade agreement by Prime Minister, Theresa May could hamper future investment in UK car manufacturing.

It's not a case of British vehicle manufacturers sitting around and waiting to discover their fate, however. The SMMT confirmed that companies are working together to discover new and innovative ways to increase the number of British-made components in new cars off the factory lines.

Just two-fifths (41 percent) of components in cars manufactured in the UK are sourced domestically at present. It's believed the industry must work to increase this figure to 55 percent in order to evade unwanted tariffs under conventional free trade agreements. This boost to the UK supply chain would generate up to £4bn in additional revenue.

"Obviously we want to increase local content in cars, but supply chains have been depleted over the years," added Hawes.

Personalised Registration Sales

The sales of personalised registration numbers have also increased over the last 12 months with prices reaching an all time high at DVLA auction. Number plates such as 675 M sold for almost £40,000 and 60 O making over £100,000 clearly indicate that the market is booming. Check out the The Private Plate Company website with over 50 million registrations with prices starting from as little as £59 plus VAT and DVLA fee.

SOURCE: https://www.theprivateplateco.co.uk/news/general/british-car-production-hits-17-year-high.html