Time for a T at Veloce House

Personally, I always think of Veloce as a 'multi fuel' company: petrol and diesel are always present, of course, but tea and coffee are just as vital in keeping the cogs and wheels turning. I'm more of a coffee person, but there's one type of 'T' I'm particularly fond of … the Ford Model T!

The business end of an automotive icon.

Last month, and just a few days before National Tea day (see our previous blog post), we had a visit from author Chris Barker, who came to meet the team at Veloce House, and collect a few copies of his Model T and Sunbeam Alpine Essential Buyer's Guides … so he came in his Model T, of course!

Chris is no stranger to classic and vintage cars. He began his career with Rootes Motors, has owned a Sunbeam Alpine since 1973, and is the owner of this rather splendid 1926 Model T Coupe. Chris worked for Westland Helicopters until his retirement, and was the Chief Designer for the Lynx and AW101 Merlin helicopters, so he's ideally placed to care for a car with such history and pedigree.

Becky, Chris, and Lizzie … it's behind you!

First on agenda was to meet Lizzie Bennett and Becky Martin, the Velocisti who edited and laid-out the Model T and Alpine guides. Chris had also brought clear blue skies with him, so a camera was quickly brandished …

The Coupe still cuts a fine figure.

Us Velocisti do like to appreciate every aspect of a vehicle, so passenger rides all round were called for! If you've never been in a Model T, you may be surprised to hear that it's a surprisingly refined ride. It may not be the speediest of Fords, and the two-seater cabin could be described as 'cosy,' but it has excellent visibility, and on a fine spring day, it's a wonderful way to get from A to B (and back again, of course). 

Two Fords: Model T, and a Focus, behind – separated by 77 years. The newer Ford might be an estate car, but the Model T's boot has almost as much room!

The Model T's 'difficult driving controls' myth was also thoroughly debunked: the controls may not be the same as a modern car, but they're certainly not harder (hey – there's only two forward gears … how hard can it be?). Admittedly, stopping probably takes more skill than moving a Model T, hence the saying "if you can stop a Model T, you can drive a Model T."

Inside the T. A very pleasant place to be.

Coming from an engineering background, Chris undertakes all the work on the Model T himself, and with around 15 million models built between 1908 and 1927, parts old and new are surprisingly easy to come buy. Chris is ideally qualified to talk about the more technical aspects of the T's construction, and was more than happy to provide a guided tour …

Top: the engine features a Giant Power Head cylinder head, for a few more horses.
Bottom left: a very steampunk-looking trembler coil … or 'inductorium,' as they were once known.
Bottom right: wooden wheels … still going strong after 91 years!

We'd all like to thank Chris for giving us an opportunity to get up close to a genuine automotive icon … and we encourage him to visit as often as possible with his cars! Ford Model T and Sunbeam Alpine Essential Buyer's Guides are available now: if you fancy owning a T, or an Alpine, why not pick up a copy? Who knows: you too could become a proud owner … and, yes, you're more than welcome to pop in and say hello (although we might pester you for photos) …

The Essential Buyer's Guide

Ford Model T

All models 1909 to 1927

The Model T Ford is unique. In 1920, more than half the cars in the world were Model Ts, and when production ended in 1927, 15 million had been built. Thousands survive to this day, and there’s a worldwide community of enthusiasts who enjoy the Ford's simple practicality, robustness, and affordability. What’s more, availability parts for cars and trucks is excellent.

This book has been written by two expert enthusiasts with more than 50 years' and tens-of-thousands of miles combined experience of the Model T. It describes all the many variants and changes, and even explains how to drive a Model T – different, but not difficult. It helps you decide exactly what sort of Model T you want, and what to look for when you go to examine one.

More than 70 contemporary and modern photographs accompany and support the text and tables.

V4991 • Paperback • 19.5x13.9cm • £12.99 • 64 pages • 90 picture
• ISBN: 978-1-845849-91-7 • UPC: 6-36847-04991-1

Click here to buy

The Essential Buyer's Guide

Sunbeam Alpine

All models 1909 to 1927

Rootes’ Sunbeam Alpine sportscar was the flagship of its car range. Here, all the various models and production changes are described and illustrated in detail, along with what it’s like to own, drive and live with an Alpine – one of the best engineered, stylish and practical cars of its time, and still satisfying to drive today.

If you’re thinking of buying an Alpine, this book will help you decide which model you really want, and learn exactly what to look for when you go to view a car. By using a thorough points-based assessment, you can decide with your head – not your heart – so you can make the right decision, and pay the right price.

Benefit from Chris’ forty years’ of Alpine ownership experience and engineering expertise, all in one book!

V4925 • Paperback • 19.5x13.9cm • £12.99 • 64 pages • 100 pictures
• ISBN: 978-1-845849-25-2 • UPC: 6-36847-04925-6

Click here to buy

A story from Ford … T for Two! Ford employees enjoy a cuppa on national (model) tea day

This month, we have had rather a lot of Ts. Not tea, as in cuppa, but T as in Ford Model T. To kick things off, our first T related post comes from Ford, and is all about National Tea day. Okay, yes, that is tea as in cuppa – read on …

Ford employees marked National T Day with a tea … in a T!

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 21 April, 2017
The TEAm at Ford of Britain’s head office has been embracing Britain’s tea culture this morning – on National Tea Day.

Ford employees at Warley, Essex made the most of their morning by enjoying a cuppa, with the stirring sight of Ford’s very own national t-reasure - the Ford Model T. 

National Tea Day takes place every year in the UK in the month of April, and this year more than 150 employees marked the occasion with their Tea, in a T, in return for a small donation to Ford’s chosen chari-tea, Guide Dogs.

Tea pre-dates the Model T by an “Oolong” time – dating back to the 1600s, compared with the first Model T, which rolled off the Detroit production line in 1908.

The Model T was introduced with a price tag of $850 – more than enough to buy a cup of tea for the entire team at Warley today. 

Model T facts

The Ford Model T was introduced on Oct. 1, 1908. The first Model T had a 20-horsepower, four-cylinder engine and reached a top speed of 45mph.

More than 15,000,000 Model T's were built and sold.  The Model T was the first low-priced, mass-produced car with standard interchangeable parts. The engine design, a single block with a removable cylinder head, became the industry standard. Henry Ford's initiation of mass production of vehicles on the moving assembly line led to lower car prices.

Henry Ford called the Model T "the universal car," a low-cost, reliable vehicle that could be maintained easily. It successfully travelled the poor roads of the era, thanks to its three-point suspension. The Model T came in nine body styles, all on the same chassis. The Model T's agile transmission enabled novices to operate the gears, and was a forerunner of modern automatic transmission designs. Vanadium steel, an alloy manufactured for the company at the direction of Henry Ford, gave the car great strength and durability without extra weight.

For its 100th anniversary, Ford built six Model T's, called T 100, based on the original model. There are no original Model T parts on these cars, but each is interchangeable with the original, including the hand crank located under the radiator. Top end speed of the T 100 is 55 mph, averaging 18mpg.

Chrysler wants us to 'Give a Dog a Job'

• The Chrysler brand‘s new social initiative in partnership with Canine Companions for Independence® and its “Give a Dog a Job” campaign will help raise awareness and support to provide assistance dogs for children, veterans and adults with disabilities
• Fans can follow Canine Companions puppy Foley – tracking his growth and learning about the overall training journey from puppy to fully trained assistance dog – across the brand’s social channels, in addition to Chrysler.com
• Fans can engage with Canine Companions puppy Foley with the #RaisingFoley and #FoleyFriday hashtags on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram beginning Monday, March 13
• Chrysler brand and BraunAbility recently joined forces to design a wheelchair-accessible Chrysler Pacifica minivan, providing the largest interior space as well as the widest door opening and side-entry ramp in the industry

Foley, Canine Companion in training.

March 13, 2017, Auburn Hills, Mich. - Chrysler brand is launching a new online social initiative in partnership with Canine Companions for Independence®, the largest non-profit organization for assistance dogs in the U.S. The initiative will help raise awareness and support for the training and placement of Canine Companions for Independence assistance dogs under the organization’s “Give a Dog a Job” campaign, a fundraising and awareness campaign that helps place them with adults, children and veterans with disabilities. Consumers will first meet Canine Companions puppy Foley, a Golden Retriever, Labrador cross (and the Chrysler brand’s first official PacifiPuppy!) on Monday, March 13, and follow him as he goes through his formal training with his recently assigned puppy raiser. Fans can engage with Foley with the #RaisingFoley and #FoleyFriday hashtags on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

“Through our partnership with Canine Companions for Independence, the Chrysler brand is able to help bring awareness to its ‘Give a Dog a Job’ program through our new online social initiative,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA North America. “As we follow Foley through his journey, fans will get a first-hand look at watching him grow and learn, from puppy training to becoming a fully trained assistance dog, and also gain an understanding of the huge amount of time and resources it takes to train these amazing dogs.”

“Our partnership with Chrysler Pacifica, BraunAbility and our 'Give a Dog a Job' campaign brings our mission, the stories of our remarkable graduates and the adventures of Canine Companions puppy Foley to a whole new audience across the country,” says Paul Mundell, CEO of Canine Companions for Independence. “We are deeply grateful for the commitment made to us by these two leaders in adapted vehicles. The upfitted Chrysler Pacifica provides greatly enhanced independence for people with disabilities, especially those who utilize wheelchairs.”

Canine Companions of the future.

Fans will be able to follow Foley (named in honor of actor Scott Foley, an ardent supporter of Canine Companions for Independence) as he starts his path in life to being matched with a person with a disability, including:

• Getting acclimated to the puppy raiser’s home, including new sights and sounds
• Grooming, cradling, playing with feet, ignoring food on the ground
• Celebrating important days like #NationalPuppyDay (March 23), Veterans Day (November 11), and Canine Companions National Graduation Days (May 5, August 4 and November 3)
• Learning early commands, including “shake,” tracking his growth (against a growth chart in the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivan)
• Adventures to the park and play dates with other Canine Companions puppies
• Visits to the vet and vaccinations
• First field trips and learning basic commands at puppy class

“Because of highly trained assistance dogs like my dog Mork, people like me are able to lead more full and independent lives,” said Wallis Brozman, Corporate Marketing Assistant, Canine Companions. “Mork was trained by Canine Companions’ professional instructors in 40 spoken commands and has since learned American Sign Language and approximately 15 new commands. This campaign is educating the public on the unique contributions our service dogs make in the lives of adults, children and veterans with disabilities. The program will also raise funds to allow us to place more exceptional dogs like Mork with people like myself. Without Mork’s help, I didn’t feel like I could safely leave my home. Mork is my independence on four legs.”

It's a tiring job, sometimes.

Under the “Give a Dog a Job” campaign, trained service dogs across the country are empowering wheelchair users daily by completing everyday activities, including getting in and out of their wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Hundreds are currently on the waitlist to receive a trained assistance dog, which is provided to a person with a disability free of charge. It takes two years to fully train a Canine Companions assistance dog, including six to nine months of professional training. To raise, train, place and support a certified assistance dog amounts to a $50,000 investment. Followers can donate at www.driveindependence.org.

Chrysler brand and BraunAbility recently joined forces to design a wheelchair-accessible Chrysler Pacifica minivan providing the largest interior space as well as the widest door opening and side-entry ramp in the industry.

Drive Independence - and Give a Dog a Job.

About Canine Companions for Independence

Canine Companions for Independence provides highly trained assistance dogs free of charge to children, adults and veterans with disabilities. Established in 1975, Canine Companions has trained more than 5,300 assistance dog teams, with six training centers across the country in Northern California, Southern California, Florida, New York, Ohio and Texas, and over 3,000 volunteers nationwide. Canine Companions is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. The result is a life full of increased independence and loving companionship. For more information, visit cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK (2275).

About Chrysler Brand

The Chrysler brand has delighted customers with distinctive designs, craftsmanship, intuitive innovation and technology all at an extraordinary value since the company was founded in 1925.

Whether it is the family-room-on-wheels functionality of the all-new Chrysler Pacifica minivan, the groundbreaking, bold design of the Chrysler 300, or the simple elegance and extraordinary driving experience of the Chrysler 200, Chrysler brand vehicles reward the passion, creativity and sense of accomplishment of its owners. Beyond just exceptionally designed vehicles, the Chrysler brand has incorporated thoughtful features into all of its products, such as the innovative center console with pass through storage and sliding cup holders in the Chrysler 200, the industry-exclusive Stow 'n Go seating and storage system on the Chrysler Pacifica and the fuel-saving Fuel Saver Technology in the Chrysler 300.

The Chrysler brand's succession of innovative product introductions continues to solidify the brand's standing as the leader in design, engineering and value. The premium for the Chrysler brand is in the product, not the price.

Follow Chrysler brand and FCA US news and video on:
Company blog: http://blog.fcanorthamerica.com
Company website: www.fcanorthamerica.com
Media website: http://media.fcanorthamerica.com
FCA360: www.fca360.com
Chrysler brand: www.chrysler.com
Chrysler blog: blog.chrysler.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrysler or https://www.facebook.com/FiatChrysler.NorthAmerica/
Flickr: www.flickr.com/chryslerautos or www.flickr.com/chryslergroup/
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/chryslerautos or www.pinterest.com/FCAcorporate
Instagram: www.instagram.com/chryslerautos or  www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chryslerautos or www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA
YouTube: www.youtube.com/chrysler  or  www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo

For more information, please visit the FCA US LLC media site at http://media.fcanorthamerica.com.

New speeding fines for UK motorists

You’ll all be familiar with Honest John, whether from his 20 year stint as motoring agony columnist for The Daily Telegraph, or for HonestJohn.co.uk, the motoring website that helps consumers make informed choices about their cars … or, of course, from Car-tastrophes – 80 Automotive Atrocities from the past 20 years. 

What you may not be familiar with, is that from today, a new speeding fine structure for UK motorists is in force. You can be forgiven for not knowing, as this little bit of law has slipped pretty quietly into legislature … and you’re not alone in your ignorance: Honest John surveyed visitors to it’s website, and found that 84% of respondents were unaware of the new fines structure. 

The new structure allows a magistrate to set a fine that’s linked to an offender’s weekly take-home salary, and even minor offences can incur fines of up to 50% of this … major offences could see a fine of 150%. Here’s what Honest John found … 

Eight out of ten motorists have no idea about new speeding fine structure 

• Drivers caught for most serious cases of speeding could be fined  150% of their weekly income in England and Wales
• This means a motorist earning £50,000 a year would pay up to £355 for creeping over the limit, or £1000 for travelling 41mph in a 20mph limit
• New fines system doesn’t address driver distraction risks, says leading consumer motoring website
• 84% of British motorists are unaware of new speeding fines that come into force today

More than eight out of every ten British motorists are unaware of new speeding fines, which could see someone earning £50,000 pay a fine of £1000* for travelling 41mph in a 20mph limit, according to research carried out by leading consumer motoring website www.HonestJohn.co.uk  

In a survey carried out by the website**, 84% of respondents said they didn’t know what the new sentencing guidelines – which comes into force today, Monday 24th April – meant, while more than half (56%) were completely unaware that the penalties for speeding were changing.

Under new rules laid out by the Sentencing Council, the changes mean that magistrates have the power to fine motorists by up to 150% of their weekly take-home income, while even minor offences can lead to fines of up to 50% of an offender’s weekly income. There will be a cap of £1,000 per offence, or £2,500 if it is committed on a motorway.

HonestJohn.co.uk’s Managing Editor, Daniel Powell, said: 

“While most people agree that excessive speed has no place on our roads, and that greater deterrents are likely to reduce the amount of deaths and injuries related to speeding, the new fines policy appears to have entered the law almost unnoticed.”

The new speeding fine structure gives judges and magistrates the power to fine motorists up to 150% of their weekly income for the worst speeding fines, or up to 50% of their income for creeping over the limit, within 10mph of the prevailing maximum.

While the new rules set the bar for speeding fines, there are no plans to remove the option of Speed Awareness Courses for first time minor offenders. At present, those caught speeding by a small amount are frequently offered a half-day awareness course in lieu of points on their licence, with the courses costing the same as the equivalent fixed penalty. How these will be charged under the new system is as yet undefined.

“While the new fines are clearly a deterrent, the bigger issue here is that prevention is better than cure,” added Powell. “One very real concern is that, while speeding is easier to police, there are greater road safety concerns attached to driver distraction than creeping slightly over the speed limit.

“If sentencing guidelines for speeding are heading this way, then in an era of more connectivity behind the wheel, we should be addressing concerns around mobile phone use, in-car app and sat nav distractions in much the same way. Harsher fines are a deterrent, but we can’t help but think a better, more modern approach to driver education would have a greater influence on road safety.”

* Fines based on individuals with a standard tax code of 1150L. Take home pay will vary depending on personal circumstances

** Sentencing guidelines survey carried out via www.HonestJohn.co.uk on an independent panel of British driving licence holders aged 18-84 on April 19, 2017. 

John Surtees: legacy of a legend

John Surtees, MBE, OBE, CBE

John Surtees at Goodwood Revival, 2011. 

John Surtees is a name that most fans of motor racing will be familiar with. His racing career spanned 20 years, starting in 1952, but his involvement in racing continued until the end. A regular figure at race meets, circuits, and on TV, Surtees' trademark wide smile, enthusiasm, and energy won him many friends and fans. He won no fewer than 8 title wins, achieved – remarkably – on two and four wheels: a feat that is unlikely to ever be repeated in the modern era of motor racing.

Surtees was born into a family already mad about motorsport, and his first racing appearance came in the sidecar of his father's Vincent – a race that they won … but later disqualified for, for being too young. At 15, he raced in grasstrack competition, and, a year later, went to work for Vincent as an apprentice. The following year, he caught the attention of race goers and works teams alike, by keeping Norton's Geoff Duke honest and on his toes during a race at Thruxton.

With Norton's interest piqued, he was offered sponsorship by its race chief Joe Craig, and Surtees duly responded by beating Duke at Silverstone and Brands Hatch. Despite Norton's racing success, and partly due to it, the company faced financial difficulties, so Surtees accepted an offer from the more financially stable MV Agusta.

In 1956, he won the 500cc world championship, only partly assisted by a six-month ban for Geoff Duke, incurred from Duke's support of a riders' strike for more starting money. Whilst the following year only saw a third place finish for Surtees, Gilera and Moto Guzzi's retirement from GP racing at the end of '57 saw him pilot an MV Agusta to a further three 500cc titles, in 1958, '59, and '60 – as well as the world championships in the 350cc class in the same three years.

Surtees' astonishing career, which aside from his hat trick of class doubles, had seen him claim 250 race wins from 352 starts, had also made Surtees' known to a wider audience, and in 1959, he won BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He is still the only motorcycle racer to have been awarded the honour.

Surtees at the Isle of Man TT. This was his final TT win, the 1960 Senior. When he switched to four wheels, his place at MV Agusta was taken by Gary Hocking. From Racing Line.

In 1960, and despite his initial scepticism, Surtees switched to cars, in part due to MV Agusta's refusal to allow him to ride any other two-wheel marque. Racing against Jim Clark at Goodwood in Formula Junior, a rookie error led to him losing his chance of victory – but he was noticed by Colin Chapman, who signed him up to race in F1: a jump that modern F1 racers would find incomprehensible.

Surtees was immediately competitive, aided by the Lotus 18 of Chapman, but a falling out with Chapman, and fellow driver Innes Ireland, over who would drive beside Clark in '61, saw him walk from Lotus.

Stints for Yeoman Credit Cooper and Bowmaker Lola teams over the next few seasons enabled Surtees to continue to compete. Ferrari had already contacted Surtees, who felt it was too early in his career to drive a 'cavallino rampante.' Despite being told by Enzo Ferrari that he would not ask him again, at the end of a difficult '62 season, Enzo did just that, and Surtees accepted.

Surtees' first F1 win came at the Nürbergring. It was in 1964, however, following victories in the German GP and Monza, that he won his first F1 world championship, in the new V8 Ferrari 158, wearing the livery of NART (North American Racing Team).

The 1964 Mexican Grand Prix saw Surtees take second place,
behind Dan Gurney, and just ahead of team-mate Lorenzo Bandini. From Formula One – The Real Score?

The following year was a disappointment for Surtees, with no victories on the track. In September '65, Surtees crashed whilst practicing in his own Lola T70 at the Mosport Park circuit, Canada, and was in a life-threatenting condition for several days. Amazingly, he recovered enough to be back behind the wheel the of the Ferarri by the start of the '66 season.

Political machinations, and a long-sour relationship with team manager Eugenio Dragoni, eventually led to Surtees jumping ship mid-season to Cooper, whos Maserati V12-powered T/81 took him to victory in Mexico … he even managed to finish second in the title fight to Jack Brabham.

1967 saw a switch to Honda for two seasons, with whom he gained his last world championship success, at the Italian GP at Monza. A 1969 BRM stint left Surtees frustrated, and he decided to develop his own F1 cars. With Cosworth engines, the cars showed much promise – enough to coax another two-wheeled legend, Mike Hailwood, to its team … Hailwood went on to win the 1972 European Formula Two championship.

Surtees pilots the V12 Honda RA300. From Grand Prix Ford.

The team finally closed shop in 1978, and Surtees retired from the competitive racing circuit. Surtees held the vice-presidency of the British Racing Drivers' Club, a position he used to help continue and encourage British involvement in international motor sport.

Following the death of his son, Henry, caused by a freak accident at a relaunched F2 vent at Brands Hatch, he devoted his time to supporting the Henry Surtees Foundation, an organisation that helps young people with accident injuries, and develop their capabilities.

The charity became Surtees' main work in recent years, and has raised thousands of pounds for air ambulance services, and head injury research. It was in this capacity that Surtees attended many grass-roots events such as Goodwood, leading him become one of the most familiar, popular, and loved figures, even into his ninth decade. In 1996, John was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. He was awarded an MBE in 1959 , OBE in 2008, and CBE in 2016.

On March 10th 2016, John Surtees passed away at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife Jane, and daughters Edwina and Leonora.

To find out more about the Henry Surtess Foundation, follow the link below:

http://henrysurteesfoundation.com

John Surtees photo courtesy Supermac1961 from CHAFFORD HUNDRED, England (Sir John Surtees Uploaded by Sporti) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

What Car? reveals taxing times ahead

This year on 1st April, new rates of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) will be introduced … and they could have quite an effect on the tax you pay for your vehicle … 

What Car? had revealed the biggest car tax rises ahead of the new rules. So who will be most affected, and will you be paying more?

• Some models will command almost 25 times more tax than before
• Even greener hybrids are hit but still qualify for government grants of up to £2,500
• Six out of 10 top sellers incur eye-watering tax increases

Imminent changes to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) mean consumers have just a few days to secure a deal on a new car before tax rates soar by up to 2475%.

Analysis by What Car? has shown that the cost of taxing a car purchased after 1 April 2017 could be up to 25 times more, with even some of the most environmentally friendly plug-in hybrids commanding sharp tax increases.

It’s conventional hybrids such as the Lexus GS300h and RX450h that will be hit hardest, however. These have traditionally been an attractive option for those seeking a luxury car with small-car emissions, because under the outgoing legislation, the GS300h and RX450h cost owners as little as £40 to tax over three years. But under the new rules, that increases to £1,030.

Under the new legislation, only zero-emissions cars costing less than £40,000 will be free to tax, but buyers still have a few days to make significant savings by purchasing before the 1 April deadline, using the new What Car? New Car Buyer Marketplace, which lets people compare discounts from dealers in their area.

In the case of the GS300h hybrid, the near-£1000 hike in the three-year tax bill is made up of a £150 first-year rate based on its CO₂ emissions, followed by two subsequent payments of the new hybrid flat rate of £130 per year, which applies to all vehicles with emissions above 0g/km CO₂.

In addition, all vehicles that cost more than £40,000 are subject to a further £310 a year charge between years two and six. As a result, three-year tax bills on the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Volvo XC90 T8 and Audi Q7 E-tron will also jump from zero to as much as £1,000.

On the up side, the Audi, Mitsubishi and Volvo remain eligible for a government grant of £2,500 thanks to their low CO₂ emissions of less than 75g/km, and if buyers order before the tax hike they could save almost half as much again.

Motorists who flocked to buy one of Britain’s top sellers in the first months of 2017 are also likely to have avoided a hefty tax premium and could still do so if they move quickly. Six of 2017’s top 10 sellers are among the highest risers. Certain derivatives of the Vauxhall Astra, Ford Focus, Nissan Qashqai, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A3 and BMW 3-Series will command an extra tax bill of between £400 and £1,000 over three years.

What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said: “The new tax laws are designed to increase the advantage of running a zero emissions car, but they make things much more complicated and push up the price of many ‘bread and butter’ models. Fortunately, there are still opportunities to get a great deal.

“Buyers still have a small window to snap up a bargain before 1 April, and there are a number of grants for plug-in hybrids at their disposal. Tax aside, valuable savings can be made by using the What Car? New Car Marketplace to get the best possible price.”

The latest deals can be found at www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals.

Top 10 tax increases

Make/Model	Segment	Fuel type	Cost of tax for three years – 2016/17	Cost of tax for three years – 2017/18	Cost increase over three years	Percentage Change over three years
Lexus RC 300h 2.5 F-Sport 2dr CVT Auto	Coupe	Petrol Hybrid	£40	£1,030	£990	2475%
Mercedes-Benz C250d AMG Line Premium 2dr Auto	Coupe	Diesel	£60	£1,060	£1,000	1667%
Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 4Matic Yellow Night Edition 4dr Tip Auto	Coupe	Petrol	£60	£1,060	£1,000	1667%
Lexus RX 450h 3.5 SE 5dr CVT Auto	Large SUV	Petrol Hybrid	£40	£1,030	£990	2475%
Audi A6 3.0 TDI S Line 4dr S Tronic	Executive	Diesel	£60	£1,060	£1,000	1667%
Mercedes-Benz C250d AMG Line Premium Plus 4dr 9G-Tronic	Executive	Diesel	£60	£1,060	£1,000	1667%
Mercedes-Benz E200d AMG Line Premium 4dr 9G-Tronic	Executive	Diesel	£60	£1,060	£1,000	1667%
Lexus GS300h 2.5 F-Sport 4dr CVT	Executive	Petrol Hybrid	£40	£1,030	£990	2475%
Audi A5 2.0 TDI Sport 2dr S Tronic	Conv'tble	Diesel	£60	£1,060	£1,000	1667%
Mercedes- Benz C220d AMG Line 2dr	Conv'tble	Diesel	£60	£1,060	£1,000	1667%

Hybrid tax increases

Make/Model	Segment	Fuel type	Cost of tax for three years – 2016/17	Cost of tax for three years – 2017/18	Cost increase over three years	Percentage Change over three years**
Lexus RX 450h 3.5 SE 5dr CVT Auto	Large SUV	Petrol Hybrid	£40	£1,030	£990	2475%
BMW X5 xDrive40e SE 5dr Auto	Large SUV	Petrol Hybrid	£0	£970	£970	N/A
Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid 5dr Tiptronic S	Large SUV	Petrol Hybrid	£0	£895	£895	N/A
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Quattro e-tron 5dr Tip Auto	Large SUV	Diesel Hybrid	£0	£880	£880	N/A
Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0 PHEV 4hs 5dr Auto	Large SUV	Petrol Hybrid	£0	£880	£880	N/A
Volvo XC90 2.0 T8 Hybrid Inscription 5dr Geartronic	Large SUV	Petrol Hybrid	£0	£880	£880	N/A

UK top sellers

Make/Model	Type	Model’s overall UK sales chart position*	Fuel	Cost of tax for three years – 2016/17	Cost of tax for three years – 2017/18	Cost increase over three years	% Change over three years**
Vauxhall Astra Astra 1.0T 12V ecoFLEX Design 5dr Easytronic	Hatchbck	3	Petrol	£0	£400	£400	N/A
Ford Focus FOCUS 1.5 TDCi 120 ST-Line Navigation 5dr Powershift	Hatchbck	4	Diesel	£0	£400	£400	N/A
Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi Acenta [Comfort Pack/Tech Pack] 5dr	Small SUV	5	Diesel	£0	£400	£400	N/A
Mercedes-Benz C350e Sport Premium 4dr Auto	Executive	6	Petrol Hybrid	£0	£895	£895	N/A
Audi A3 1.6 TDI SE 5dr S Tronic	Hatchbck	8	Diesel	£0	£400	£400	N/A
BMW 340i M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Business Media]	Executive	10	Petrol	£555	£1,400	£845	152%

*Sales figures sourced from SMMT cover February 2017 and refer to the sales performance of all derivatives of that model combined. Source: https://www.smmt.co.uk/vehicle-data/car-registrations/ 

**Where the original tax value was £0, a percentage increase cannot be calculated accurately as there is no value for comparison.