Motoring Newsbriefs

Jun 30 2009 Steve Hughes

HIGHER HIRE THEFTSTHE short-term car rental sector was hit by a recession-induced crime wave last year with a 12 per cent rise in vehicle thefts.

A 22% jump in the number of stolen hire cars during 2008 overshadowed a drop in HGV and van thefts, which fell by 29% and 2% respectively. The total number of hire vehicles stolen rose to a record high of 1,937 in 2008, costing the rental sector £7m in vehicle replacement, recovery charges and lost income.

A higher proportion of small and medium-sized vehicles were targeted and as a result many operators are now fitting tracking devices to volume brands instead of just prestige vehicles.

STEAMING ALONGTHE latest exhibit to go on display at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire is the Grenville steam carriage, believed to be the oldest self-propelled passenger-carrying road vehicle still in working order. It is the best surviving example of the private steam-powered vehicles developed between 1860 and 1890 before the widespread appearance of the motor car.

The Grenville steam carriage was designed in about 1875 by Robert Neville Grenville and built over a period of fifteen years.

It can attain a speed of just under 20mph on a level road.

BACK TO FRONTVOLVO has launched a new range of kiddy seats, which includes a convertible child seat that can be turned around and used either rear or forward facing. It allows a child to be carried safely facing backwards until the age of six, which is an industry breakthrough.

Volvo product manager Jessika Andréasson, says: "Children should travel rearward facing for as long as possible which should prevent serious injury in a crash.

'A child's neck is weak and it is still growing and the head is proportionately larger than that of an adult. When travelling rearward facing, incoming collision forces are spread across the back and head, thus reducing the load on the neck in a frontal impact, which is the most common and often the most dangerous type of collision.'

TAXING TIMESLTI Vehicles has scrapped its oldest taxi to date under the Government's scrappage scheme.

The 20 year old Fairway had clocked up more than 600,000 miles and its owner got a £5,000 discount on a new model of the London taxi, the TX4.

The deal included the £2,000 scrappage incentive and a further £3,000 price reduction.

SEXIST SURVEYWOMEN are at increased risk of being stranded due to poor car knowledge, according to research by Churchill Car Insurance.

The company says that women fail to make the everyday checks that keep their cars in tip-top condition.

Men and women were asked how confident they are when it comes to basic car maintenance skills.

It then put them to the test by asking them to identify points under the bonnet, such as the brake fluid and the windscreen washer fluid reservoirs.

Whilst more than a quarter of men consider themselves to be an expert, only five per cent of women rate themselves this highly.

METER MOTORRENAULT is to make its Kangoo be bop Z.E. prototype electric vehicle available for test drives ahead of the arrival of the production vehicles in 18 months time.

The technology in the concept car is very similar to that of the production vehicles and the company says it is keen to get drivers used to the experience now.

The prototype is powered by a 60hp electric motor and is equipped with a 15kWh battery, which makes it eerily silent to drive.

When the battery-powered Kangoo becomes generally available it will have a range of about 90 miles.