Own stupidity - 2 September 2025
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Welcome to the Motoring Podcast, your weekly discussion of motoring news. This is episode
647 on Tuesday, the 2nd of September 2025. Hello, I'm Andrew, and no, there isn't any
Allen this week, unfortunately. However, this week you will hear one item that will
remind you of the little Dutch boy story. In new car news, you'll learn about one
car that is nearly quicker to 60 than it is to say its name. And in points of
interest, you get to see how enjoyable a car park in the West Midlands can be. But first,
we have a touch of follow-up, and it's to do with the electric car grant. Now, the government
has tightened the EV grant scheme. A few weeks ago, a couple of weeks ago, we talked about
the farce that was the loophole that if one model of the range was under £37,000 and met
all the other eligibility requirements, then all the vehicles that shared the same powertrain
would actually be eligible as well, no matter what the cost. Hence, the Nissan
IRA managed to get in somehow 44,000, I think their most expensive one was. But now the government
has decided that they're going to sort of put a cap on that, and they've decided £42,000.
So only £5,000 over the original eligibility mark is able to get the grant of either £1,500
or £3,750. Insert your own shaking head emoji, your own head-on desk emoji. That's just ridiculous.
What a waste. However, that wasn't the only news that came out. We finally have two cars
that are in Band 1 of the grant, which means that they are eligible for the full £3,750
discount. That is the Ford Puma Gen E and the E Torino Courier. Congratulations to Ford
on that for managing to be the first car maker to have met all the rules. However, as we've
seen with the other ones, other vehicles that have been approved, I'm not sure how tightly
they hit the rules. But there we go. Anyway, on to new news. I'm going to start with
actually some really worrying and bad news, which is that Lotus is to cut 550 more jobs
in the UK, which means it will be cutting roughly 40% of its UK workforce. However, in wonderful
business word salad, it decided that it is actually still committed to Hethel. And I'm
going to quote here from the company statement that is on the Autocut article linked in
the show notes. The proposal is designed to enable Lotus cars to operate with a flexible
and agile business model, allowing it to ramp operations and resources in line with demand
as and when needed. Oh dear. Never mind. It just doesn't look good for Lotus does it
at all for the reasons we've said many times. But now the full debt for the first quarter
of 2025 because we the article that's linked doesn't have details about the first half financial
result which were released on the 29th or 30th of August. And their debts go up to $3.3
billion. They've raised 300 million on a share sale, apparently. It just looks grim
because their sales dropped 42% in the first quarter of the year. I don't know. I don't know
what they do to fix this. I don't know how they manage it because it just doesn't look
like what they're trying to do is working at all. But obviously thoughts with all the
staff members who've been let go. Good luck to everyone in the company. And I hope they
manage to come up with some sort of idea on how they're going to fix things. I really do.
Anyway, moving on. And we're going to go to the Renault group. And the headline news is
that Dacia's CEO, Dennis Levoe has stepped down after four years. He's apparently left
of his own decision. And he has been replaced by Katrin at who was Mercedes Benz vice
president. And she's done a lot of work in Mercedes. She's got 20 odd years
experience in the car industry. And you have to first of all congratulate Levoe on what he
managed to achieve with Dacia. The vehicles they brought out have been a great success.
They're including the latest one, which is the bigster. They have hit a corner of the
market that is really resonated. Dacia often are the top one or two best registered
stroke sale selling cars in Europe every month. They've done a fantastic job there.
But that's not the only changes that have been made within the Renault group. Now that
they have a new CEO, the Renault brand CEO, Fabrice Camberleave is now also being
given the role of chief growth officer for both Renault and Dacia. On top of that,
Philip Brunet has been named as the Renault group's new chief technology officer, which has
taken that piece off Philip Kreef's desk, so he can concentrate on just being just he says,
just being the CEO of performance brand helping going to be interesting watching how
they're going because from certainly from a design perspective, and what appears to be
the capabilities behind it. The Renault group are doing a cracking job right now.
Right, we're going to move on to Stellantis. And this is the news that they have
shelved their level three driver assistance program. As we know, they've
had a new CEO recently, and they have been struggling financially for quite some
time. And the new CEO Antonio Filosa said that he was going to have to make tough
decisions. And this appears to be one of those tough decisions. Because back in February,
the company said this was ready to deploy, which sort of gives the impression that
perhaps it wasn't ready to deploy if they're shelving it because it still
hasn't come out now. And we also have to remember that level three on the SAE
automated and autonomous driving level list is where the first time the car
companies themselves will be held responsible only be held responsible for
the use of their system. Whereas when it comes to level zero, level one and level
two, you as the driver are initially immediately held responsible for any
issue or incident with the car. And they've stepped back from this, it would
appear that they found it too hard to do. It's too expensive. And they still
haven't got anything that they can put on this or put on the road.
Associated with that is a reminder that any level two plus or similarly
marketed thing is not real in terms of SAE levels. The SAE levels are purely
whole numbers. There is no plus, there's no addition, there's no none of that
other stuff. So that is purely marketing. And if they say level two plus what
they're actually trying to deploy is a level three, but not be held
responsible. Just remember that if you see it.
Finally, some good news. And it's in the UK this time. And there is a UK
consortium that has secured 8.1 million pounds of investment to scale
up battery recycling technology. The idea is for them to develop a large
scale process for recovering lithium, nickel and coal bolt from end of life
EV batteries. The consortium is made up of JLR, LiBattery Cycling, WMG at
the University of Warwick and Mint Innovation. This is really important
if we can get to a point where we are actually able to recover the
minerals within batteries, it will reduce our need to dig more and larger
holes in the ground causing the problems associated with that, let alone
the processing and et cetera, et cetera. And it also gives us this more
circular battery economy that we're supposed to be after. And let's not
forget that the EU demands there should be something in the region of
75% of materials must be recycled. And we're supposed to be or car
companies are supposed to be doing that now, I think, or certainly by 2030 at
the very latest. And all the projections when you read reports that say
how good things are going to be in terms of lack of CO2 compounding those
sort of issues, they are all presuming that these using recycled
materials from processes that we do not have at scale yet. We do not
have them at scale across the world. We have some bits that are doing
things, but it's not at the scale that's remotely what's required by
legislation. Just bear that in mind as well. But this is brilliant news.
The project is going to run over three years. It's going to be in the
West Midlands, and it aims to prove, according to this
electrive article, prove battery recycling as a strategic pillar of
the UK's electrification roadmap. Good luck to them. Hope they can
manage that. Right, final article of the first part of the show. And
this is from TechCrunch and the headline reads security researcher
maps hundreds of Tesla mate servers spilling Tesla vehicle data.
Tesla mate is an open source data logger, which allows a Tesla
owner to self host all the data that is sent out from their car. And
it can go back to their own computer. So then they can have a
look at vehicles temperature, battery health charging sessions, as
well as maps that to therefore where it's been, the speed pretty
much in real time. Now there is a security researcher who is
called soy fella Kilich. And he's founder of the cybersecurity
company sword sec. And he's found over 1300 internet exposed
Tesla mate dashboards on the internet. He's fully aware there's
probably made by Mr. made public by mistake. But the information
was stored without needing a password or access to the store
stored data without needing a password. Oh, dear way. This is not
the first time that Tesla mate has had this problem previously in
2022. There were dozens of these dashboards exposed. Just
don't use third party stuff if you can help it. But it does give
you an idea of exactly how much information comes out of your
car. Please, if you have a Tesla and you listen to the show, or
you know someone who does, find out if they're using that and
then tell them to close it down or make it secure at least.
And that is the end of the first part. That means it's
guilt minute. And it's the quick break in the show where we
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last thing you can do is recommend us to your friends
and colleagues. That means we move on to new new car news.
Again, it's still a bit thin on the ground. We are
approaching the Munich Motor Show and so expect stuff to
start coming out. But we will wait until full information
has been released or it is the week of the Motor Show
itself. But the first one is that a Chinese state owned
company is coming to the UK with according to this
article, a Tesla Model Y rival. Chang gang is the company
that is coming here. Apparently, the UK is a primary
market according to Chang gang UK MD Nick Thomas. They are
apparently again, I'm quoting from him from the
article, we're not just launching a new car, but a
fully capable ecosystem to support it along with future
models we will bring to the UK. Okay, looks wise. It's an SUV
that looks like an car. Very much. Dear AI, please design me
an SUV that looks inoffensive. And there you are really. It's
going to have a WLTP range of 295 miles from an 80 kilowatt
hour battery pack. It's got a rear mounted 215 brake horsepower
motor and a 0 to 62 time of 7.9 seconds. Standard kit will
include heat pump, keyless entry and a 15.6 infotainment
touchscreen and heated seats. There's going to be 20 sites
across the UK of that will sell the D Pal SO seven. That's
what this one is going to be. And its prices will start
at 39,990 pounds. Okay, just remember, Chinese state owned. Do
with that information what you will. But they are quite an old
company. They began as an arms manufacturer in 1862. And they
may started making motorized vehicles in 1959. They're one
of the biggest in China actually they sold 2.68 million
models last year in Asia, the Middle East and Russia. They've
got a R&D center also in Birmingham to click the link in the
show notes if you want a nearly 40,000 pound Chinese SUV. Right
moving on and we're going to go to Subaru and this information
came out a while ago, but we just haven't had the space in
the show to talk about it. And we talked initially about the
trail seeker, which is a jacked up electric estate. However,
when it comes to the UK is going to be known as the E
outback, which is probably sensible because that's at least a
name that will be recognized. It's going to have 375 brake
horsepower four by four. And it's going to share the
underpinnings of the Solterra. And it also has just a
fraction more luggage space than the Solterra as well. We're
all fans of a jacked up estate on the show, particularly if
you slap on a load of cladding which they have done
well done Subaru. There's another tick. But they have said
that Subaru has really gone to town on this one. It's going to
feature 70% of Subaru parts and then we built in one of the
company's own factories. Whilst the Solterra is manufactured
by Toyota because that is the twin with the BZ4X. And
don't forget there's the uncharted coming out which
is based on the CHR plus. There's going to be a pair of 201
brake horsepower motors in each axle. 0 to 60 mile per hour is
4.4 seconds. And it's going to have a WLTP combined range of
up to 279 miles, thanks to a 74.7 kilowatt hour battery. It
can be charged up 250 kilowatts. And so 10 to 80% can take
less than 35 minutes. All environmental conditions allowing
it also and this might be important actually for the
market is aiming at it can tow up to 1588 kilograms. It's got
several drive modes as you would expect Subaru have lent into
it being very capable off road as well. So there's snow in
deep mud as well as hill descent control.
Subaru has yet to announce pricing but the trail seeker is
likely to be positioned above the Salterra. Next year we get to
see it. And we will round out new new car news with something
really rather ridiculous. And this is the 3 million Lamborghini
fenomeno. I think that's how you pronounce it. It is based on
the Revoluto, which is their hybrid hypercar. Yeah, it's
going to be a limited run no kidding at 3 million. And its
power has been boosted to from from only one thousand and one
brake horsepower in the Revoluto to one thousand and 65
brake horsepower. Thanks to 10 brake horsepower from the engine
that's been redesigned. And also 54 brake horsepower from the
biggest seven kilowatt hour lithium ion battery has been
created especially for this vehicle. It's only going to
weigh 1772 kilograms. And it is going to be the fastest most
powerful Lamborghini ever with a nought 62 sprint time of just
2.4 seconds. So that's 0.1 of a second quicker than the
Aston Martin Valhalla and just 0.1 of a second slower than
the Ferrari SF 90 XS. Well, tops out 280 mile an hour gets
124 mile an hour in 6.7 seconds. Just seems a bit insane,
really. Yeah, they they've limited it down to 30 examples.
29 have already been sold. And the other one is going to the
Lamborghini Museum in Bologna. But do have a click on the
AutoCard article link in the show notes to have a look at
this thing because it is, it is typically Lamborghini is
mad. Absolutely mad. And the stats are insane as well. Cricky.
Okay, now we move on to points of interest and unless you were
under a rock last week, or weren't looking at the internet,
you wouldn't realize that it was Rusteval 2025 at the
British Motor Museum. Alan was there and he got to meet
several people, which is good for him. I wasn't there, which I
am frustrated at because of my own stupidity of not getting
tickets in time. However, it did look a blast. It looked great
fun. The weather held off. There are three videos in the
show notes for this. We have a one from Hubnut. We have one
from Steph, one from furious driving. All those three helped
create the Rusteval. They helped organize it and helped put the
show on. Do click a link to each of the links in the show notes,
do watch their videos, give them some free internet love if you
don't if you can't support them in any other way. And do enjoy
seeing all the mad variety of vehicles that pitched up and
all the people were there. I haven't watched all the videos
yet myself. But I do know that in Hubnuts video you do
get to see Alan's land. Sorry, Lexus. I was going to call it
Land Cruiser then. He's Lexus. Don't forget there is a video on
our YouTube where Alan walks around and points at things at
his Lexus. You can watch that. Do click those links, do have a
look and do put a reminder to get tickets for next year
because it just looks such a fun and happy show. So more of
that, please. Right, list of the week. And as there's only me,
I'm going to pick a slightly smaller one. And this is from
Top Gear and it's titled here are 13 of the strangest concept
cars you've probably never seen. And to be fair, I haven't
seen many of these as a few I have seen. But many I haven't.
And there is a wide gambit of concept cars here. Some are more
successful than others, shall we say? Yes, and others you can see
have led to vehicles we've got on the road. But the one I'm
going to choose is a number 13. And it's the Volvo T6 Roadster
from 2005. And wow, you know, when PT did a sort of roadster
thing, I think TV's Paul Cowland has got one. It's along those
vibes, but more so. And it just looks fabulous. Absolutely
wonderful, silly, crazy, what one would hope from concept cars
that are not effectively a production car, just needing some
door handles and wing mirrors on it. Now, this is this all the
cars in there are definitely the we were we are playing with an
idea, or we're just playing. And the Volvo Roadster I think
was just playing and it's wonderful for it. Do click on
the top gear link in the show notes, do have a little look
around and see if you if you to agree with that or which
one would you rather have from the full list? Okay, that means
we have only got the and finally, and it's that time of year
again, the Hot Wheels Legend Tour UK has finished, and they
have selected a winner. And this was done at the NEC, where
they were part of SLAM's UK Gravity Show. And they had seven
cars on display at the show, which was down from 200
entrance. They had a Jaguar Mark seven. There's also a classic
Polo, which won the public vote. But the judging panel was Hot
Wheels designer Charlie Angulo. There was Nicola Hume, there
was Jordan Clark and Matt Armstrong. And between them,
they decided that a heavily modified Benny BMW three series
was the one to represent the UK. And it was an E21 1982 three
series, and it was created by Father and Son team, Paul and
Ethan Foster from Wickford and Essex. And it is suitably Hot
Wheels. It's mad. They have done so much to this. You do click
the motoring research article link in the show notes, because
they crammed a Rover V8, a five liter Rover V8 in there, given
its side exhaust, DTM gearbox, quave limited, differential
adjustable coil overs and Wilwood brakes, as well as so many
aesthetic and cosmetic changes. It is just brilliant. I love
it. I love it. Well, good luck to them. When it gets to
the full legends tour. And hopefully, the Britain can win
once again. And that rounds us out for the show this week.
Parish notes, we're going to be a day early next week. I've got
to go off and do a car thing. So we're going to be recording
on the Monday for release on the Tuesday next week. But after
that, we should be back to some sort of normal ish
schedule again. And that means that all I've got left to
say is that don't forget between now and next week, you
can give us any feedback and share your thoughts with the
show at MotronPodcast.com on Blue Sky, Motron podcast on
Instagram and Facebook and on the contact page of Motron
podcast.com, the hub of all our activities. You can also
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review and rating on Apple podcasts, YouTube or
however your podcast app as you do such a thing. The best
way to get in touch with me is if you search for crack
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LinkedIn, I am there under my full name. If you would
like to get in touch with Alan, the best way is to use Blue
Sky where he is at AJP Bradley. That's B-R-A-D-L-E-Y. We'll be
back very soon. But until then, he's not been Alan Bradley.
I've been Andrew Clues and Safe Motoring.
About this episode
A deep dive into the latest motoring news reveals significant updates, including the tightening of the UK electric vehicle grant, job cuts at Lotus, and leadership changes within the Renault group. Notably, Stellantis has shelved its level three driver assistance program, while a UK consortium secures funding for battery recycling technology. The episode also highlights new car launches, including a Tesla Model Y rival from a Chinese company and Subaru's E Outback. Additionally, the hosts reflect on the recent Rusteval event and discuss the Hot Wheels Legend Tour winner.
Original notes
FOLLOW UP: ECG TWEAK AND FIRST BAND 1 CARS ANNOUNCED
The Government has tightened the loophole where if one vehicle in the range is eligible for the Electric Car Grant (ECG) then all others with the same powertrain configuration are, no matter their price. This has been capped at £42,000. Click this Autocar story link here, to read more.
Additionally, the Government has announced the first two cars to be eligible for Band 1 of the grant and thus the full £3750. The Ford Puma Gen-E and the E-Tournio Courier. Click this Motor Trader article to read more.
LOTUS CUTS MORE STAFFIn the continued troubling news from Lotus there is the announcement that they are cutting another 550 jobs in the UK, roughly 40%. This follows another poor first half to the year, as sales dropped 42%. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.
DACIA LOSE A CEO BUT FIND ANOTHERDenis Le Vot has decided to leave as head of Dacia, with Katrin Adt taking over the reigns. This is one of several changes in Renault Group management. To find out more, click this Autocar article link here.
STELLANTIS SHELVES LEVEL 3 AUTONOMOUS DEVELOPMENTStellantis has pulled the plug on deploying their SAE Level 3 autonomous driving system. In February they were saying it was ready to be rolled out. No reasons have been given but the reality of how expensive it is to developing such systems and the flawed path chosen must be part of the reason. To read more, click this Yahoo! Finance article link here.
BATTERY RECYCLING CONSORTIUM RAISES £8.1MA consortium, made up of JLR, LiBatt Recycling, WMG at Warwick University and Mint Innovation has secured £8.1 million investment for their battery recycling plans. They intend to perfect recovering lithium, cobalt and nickel from end of life EV batteries. Click this electrive article link here to read more.
TESLAMATE SERVERS OPEN TO ALLTeslaMate is a self-hosted data logger for Tesla owners that records all the data that is sent out by the car. A security researcher has discovered he could access thousands of these self-hosted servers and get all the information from the vehicles. To read more, click this link from TechCrunch here.
If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Changan Deepal S07Changan are one of the biggest Chinese car makers, but you’ve probably not heard of them. You will now as they’re coming to the UK, with the Deepal S07, a similar size to the Skoda...
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