Car design news

The Chancellor may have frozen fuel duty for the tenth year running, but drivers face a raft of new changes from April, when the new tax year comes into force. Road tax is rising in line with inflation while local clean air zone charges - which currently only exist in the capital - are set to be rolled out across major UK cities as the crackdown against pollution continues. Elsewhere, proposals are being tabled for a Greater London charge, which would cost drivers £3.50 a day to enter the outer boroughs. "While tax increases and changes in tax law are inevitable and even necessary, if not always welcome," Keith Hawes at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts , said. "It's already been a difficult year for Britain’s motorists, and proposed tax changes are unlikely to make it any easier." Increasing Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) VED, often called road tax, is rising in the new tax year which means you'll have to pay more to keep driving your car. As before, the amount of tax you'll … [Read more...] about Car tax and more big changes that will hit motorists this year – starting on April 1

On Monday, Germany's Federal Court of Justice ruled that the auto manufacturer Audi is not immediately liable to pay compensation for its parent company's role in rigging diesel emissions. Liability could shift to the Volkswagen subsidiary if it can be shown that bosses there knew that unauthorized technology had been installed in vehicles when they put them on the market. Judges had indicated that it would be difficult to prove Audi's liability, as a subsidiary of Volkswagen, in installing the so-called defeat devices from the parent company. What does the court's decision mean? Tens of thousands of vehicle owners in Germany are entitled to damages after a 2020 landmark court ruling on the Volkswagen diesel scandal. However, it was unclear whether the liability could also be applied to Volkswagen's subsidiary Audi. The ruling sends the decision back to lower court judges in the town of Naumburg, who said Audi should also pay out some €20,000 euros ($24,226) plus … [Read more...] about German court rules Audi not liable in VW emissions scandal — for now

A woman's glowing review for a swimsuit that survived a shark attack has gone viral after it was spotted online by an amused shopper. The woman said she was swimming off the North Carolina Coast when she "had an unexpected visitor take a swipe at my lower back". But the J.Crew swimsuit "escaped unscathed", taking the reviewer's "appreciation to a new level" - which seems reasonable. The woman even shared a photo of what appeared to be her lower back after the attack, showing the bruising following the incident. The review has gone viral after it was spotted on J.Crew's website and shared on Twitter by Amy Leigh, where it has been liked and shared more than 50,000 times in a matter of hours. The woman wrote: "I loved this bathing suit from the moment I tried it on, super comfortable and very flattering, but a recent experience took my appreciation to a new level. "I was swimming off the coast of South Carolina when I had an unexpected visitor take a swipe at my lower … [Read more...] about Woman’s review for “10/10” swimsuit she wore during shark attack goes viral

A young woman has died after being hit by a scrambler bike. The pedestrian, 26, passed away four days after a tragic crash while she was out walking in Huyton, Liverpool, on Monday, March 1. Police say a 29-year-old man who was at the wheel is being treated in hospital for injuries and remains in serious but stable condition. The force have also confirmed the case has been referred to the police watchdog. The Independent Office of Police Conduct has been approached for comment, Liverpool Echo reports. Emergency services raced to the scene at about 12.45pm and treated the woman for serious injuries but she tragically died on Friday. Shocked locals speaking after the crash said it was the first of its kind they had seen in the quiet neighbourhood of Huyton. One resident who wished to remain anonymous said: "All of the neighbours were out and I don't think we’ve ever seen anything like this before as it's a quiet residential area. "We’re aware of these things but it … [Read more...] about Woman, 26, dies after being hit by scrambler bike as rider, 29, seriously injured

Former-Audi CEO Rupert Stadler on Wednesday became the first top executive to stand trial in Germany for his role in an enormous emissions-cheating scandal. Stadler, 57, appeared before the Munich district court to answer charges of fraud, falsifying certifications and false advertising. Former Audi and Porsche manager Wolfgang Hatz and two Audi engineers are being tried alongside Stadler, facing charges of fraud. German car giant Volkswagen — whose subsidiaries include Porsche, Audi, Skoda and Seat — admitted in September 2015 that it had installed software to rig emissions in 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide. Criminal proceedings have taken place in the United States over the scandal, leading to the imprisonment of two Volkswagen employees. In Germany, there have been no convictions over the scam. Prosecutors opened the proceedings on Wednesday by reading aloud an over 90-page indictment. The trial is expected to last more than two years. If found guilty, the … [Read more...] about Germany: First CEO faces trial over ‘dieselgate’ scandal