Do you realise that the UK, from 1st April will change the taxation rates again, in favour of high polluting cars.

• New VED system will net government an additional £1.4 billion over next 4 years
• 2017 road tax rules will add more than £500 to the long-term running costs of Britain’s most-popular and eco-friendly cars
• Buyers of the most-polluting vehicles could save up to £245

The majority of new car buyers will lose out when new road tax rules come into force on 1 April, according to latest research from HonestJohn.co.uk.

The leading consumer motoring site’s figures show that new tax rules will add more than £500 to the add more than £500 of Britain’s most-popular and eco-friendly vehicles, while providing significant benefits for some of the most-polluting cars.

This means the UK’s best-selling car - the Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost 100PS - will cost £540 more to tax over four years, while buyers of the V8 Mustang stand to save £245 over the same period of time. This is despite the fact that the American muscle car emits three times more CO₂ than the efficient Fiesta.

Until now, the government has offered zero VED to entice car buyers into eco-friendly vehicles; however, with 74 per cent of new cars emitting less than 130g/km of CO₂, the government has made a U-turn on its policy and introduced rules to force buyers of new, efficient cars to pay more.

Under the current tax rules, vehicles that emit sub-99g/km qualify for zero VED for the first year and pay nothing for every year after; however, from 1 April 2017 the government will replace the current 13 band tax system with three new bands - zero, standard, premium – plus a surcharge for electric cars with a list price above £40,000.

This means all new cars bought after 1 April with sub-99g/km CO₂ emissions will pay for road tax; a move that will add up to £540 to the long-term running costs of some of Britain’s cleanest and most efficient cars. Even hybrids won’t escape, with buyers of the Toyota Prius paying an extra £405 over four years, while Tesla S buyers will have to pay an additional £930.

However, while buyers of new cars over £40,000 will be forced to pay an extra £310 a year for five years, HonestJohn.co.uk has found a gap in the tax law that allows some of the UK’s most-polluting cars under the £40,000 price limit to benefit.

Buyers of the Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DI-DC automatic, for example, will save £265 over four years, regardless of the fact that the SUV produces a whopping 245g/km of CO₂. It’s a similar story for the Subaru WRX and Nissan 370Z too, with both emitting over 240g/km and saving hundreds under the new system.  

Honest John’s Managing Editor, Daniel Powell, said: “Many motorists are unaware of the changes that are coming for VED, but the fact of the matter is this – the system is changing, and low emissions cars won’t be as tax efficient as they were before. It’s a bit of a mixed message to increase tax on fuel efficient cars while reducing it on less eco-friendly models when the government is trying to increase the uptake of low and zero-emissions cars.”

What’s more, with buyers now rushing to secure a zero-VED car, HonestJohn.co.uk has found that buyers are being given lead times of four to five months for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volvo XC90. Buyers of the popular Fiesta face a three month wait, while Focus orders with the EcoBoost engine stipulate a wait of 3.5 months, making it increasingly difficult to get a tax-free car before the new rules come into force.

Five popular cars hit hard by 2017 VED changes over four years of ownership

1) Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost 100PS Zetec                

Current VED cost over four years: £0

New VED cost over four years: £540

2) Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi 95PS ecoFlex Design

Current VED cost over four years: £0

New VED cost over four years: £540

3) Ford Focus 1.5 TDCi 120PS Zetec

Current VED cost over four years: £0

New VED cost over four years: £540

4) Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion 1.6 TDI 110PS

Current VED cost over four years: £0

New VED cost over four years: £520

5) Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi 110PS Visia

Current VED cost over four years: £0

New VED cost over four years: £540

USA - The Honda Odyssey remains the most popular Minivan for US Buyers for the 7th year.

• Odyssey on pace to be the most popular minivan with individual American car buyers for seventh consecutive year

Arriving at dealerships nationwide just in time for the holidays, the 2017 Honda Odyssey goes on sale Monday December 19 with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)¹starting at $29,850. Odyssey has been the most popular minivan with individual American car buyers for each of the past six years and is leading again in 2016². 

Odyssey also has been the top choice of under-35-year-old minivan buyers in every year since 2010³. 

 

          

The 2017 Honda Odyssey continues to offer class-leading EPA fuel-economy ratings of 19/27/22 mpg⁴city/highway/combined along with a comprehensive selection of premium features. 

The 8-passenger Odyssey maintains the spacious comfort that provides room for everyone along with a host of features that accommodate the lifestyles of American families.

For 2017, the Odyssey expands availability of an acoustic windshield to SE and EX-L trims and keeps its enhanced in-vehicle entertainment and convenience capabilities with several premium features found in higher trims:

• Rear Entertainment System (RES)
• Forward Collision Warning
• SiriusXM® Radio
• HondaVACâ in-vehicle vacuum cleaner

The Odyssey was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the Best Minivan for Families for a record-breaking sixth year earlier this year and also earned the 2016 Kelley Blue Book: Best Family Cars of 2016 award. 

TRIM	MSRP1	EPA MPG Rating4 (city/highway/combined)
Odyssey LX	$29,850	19/27/22
Odyssey EX	$33,000	19/27/22
Odyssey SE	$33,950	19/27/22
Odyssey EX-L	$36,500	19/27/22
Odyssey EX-L with RES	$38,100	19/27/22
Odyssey EX-L with Navi	$38,500	19/27/22
Odyssey Touring	$42,755	19/27/22
Odyssey Touring Elite	$45,325	19/27/22

Powertrain

The 2017 Odyssey is powered by a 3.5-liter, 24-valve V-6 engine producing 248 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 250 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm (SAE net). Honda's i-VTEC® valvetrain enhances power delivery while Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) helps maximize fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission that together help the Odyssey receive EPA fuel-economy ratings of 19/27/22 mpg⁴ city/highway/combined and California Air Resources Board (CARB) ULEV-2 emissions certification⁵.

HondaVAC

The Odyssey SE and Touring Eliteâ feature HondaVAC in-vehicle vacuum cleaner system, which is designed to help families keep the Odyssey's interior neat and clean. Engineered for dry use, HondaVAC operates on the vehicle's 12-volt electrical system, and its performance easily surpasses that of a handheld rechargeable vacuums.

Integrated in the rear cargo area of the vehicle, HondaVAC includes an extendable hose that can reach every interior corner of the vehicle. Two separate head attachments expand versatility, while a removable debris canister and replaceable filter bag makes maintaining the vacuum easy. To protect the vehicle battery's state of charge, the HondaVAC runs up to eight minutes when the vehicle's ignition is in Accessory mode – or continuously if the engine is running.

Safety and Driver Assistive Features

The Odyssey utilizes the next-generation of the Honda Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure and makes extensive use of high-strength steel in the A-, B- and C-pillars, roof rails, floor rails, front body area, and front subframe. This results in a very strong front frame and door structure for increased protection in a frontal collision.

Advanced driver-assistive technologies available on the Odyssey include Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW). Using the Odyssey's front camera module, FCW warns of a possible collision with a vehicle detected in front, while LDW notifies the driver of departures from detected lanes⁶. The two systems are packaged together on Odyssey EX-L, Touring and Touring Elite models, and provide visual and audible warnings.

North American Development and Manufacturing

The Odyssey was designed and engineered by Honda R&D Americas in its Los Angeles design studio and Raymond, Ohio, new-model development center.  The Odyssey is produced⁷ exclusively by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln, Alabama.

Mew data shows that Black has become the colour of choice for the majority of the car segments.

Black is the new white for car colour according to latest data produced by automotive experts, cap hpi.

Across a range of different motoring sectors, statistics from the industry’s cap Black Book reveal that drivers are currently favouring black over any other colours or shades with consumers decidedly going ‘white off’ white cars.

The market analysis paints the following picture when it comes to most popular colours across the different motoring sectors:

• Black is the most popular colour in the convertibles market with 21.5% of overall market sales
• A third (29%) of coupe cabriolets sold are black
• Executive car sector gives black the vote (28%)
• Black also tops the sales chart in the large executive (28%) and luxury executive (24%) sectors
• 22% of the mid-range car market favours black
• 23% of the sports market is geared up for black
• A quarter (25%) of SUV sales leads are for black paintwork

Exceptions to the rule include the city car market sector with the most popular colours being red (18%) followed by white (17%) and black (16%). The MPV market favours silver (27%) as does the supermini sector (19%).

Philip Nothard , retail specialist at cap hpi commented: “Black is without doubt the new white. White had become the colour of choice over the past few years but black seems to be back with a vengeance. Black represents a safe choice for motorists as, along with silver and grey, these so called safe colours consistently maintain their value when sold as used.

“The subject of much discussion, many in the trade believe that the popularity of white was down to manufacturer marketing campaigns, whilst others thought it was a trend that started with other desirable products such as white laptops, smartphones and tablets.  Whatever the reason, white seems to have fallen out of favour and black is staging a bit of a fightback –black appears to be appealing to buyers’ financial sensitivities as it represents more of a safe bet in terms of returns later on down the line.”

For consumers buying a petrol or diesel car, the bottom line is that middle of the road colours make the safest investment and it would appear that this has never been truer than at present.  

Added Philip Nothard: “Black, grey and silver have always been in the top five most popular colours, so it’s no huge shock to see that white seems to have lost its crown. Our data shows that middle of the road cars in black are better at holding value than any other colour. Customers are always likely to settle for the safest option and it would appear that they are thinking about what they can get at trade-in time rather than taking any risks with brighter or whiter paintwork.”

HONEST JOHN AWARDS - Ford takes a triple win at the ceremony held in London this year.

Ford claimed three accolades at the 2016 HonestJohn.co.ukreader awards. The UK’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, won Most Popular Small Hatchback; the dynamic Ford S-MAX collected Most Popular MPV and the iconic Ford Mustang declared the Most Popular Convertible.

Most Popular Small Hatchback

Ford sells a new Fiesta in the UK every 60 seconds* and at the end of April 2016, it had topped the UK car sales leader board for 90 consecutive months. Fiesta is available from £10,345 and offers customers a stylish, practical, well-equipped and fun-to-drive supermini.

Dan Harrison, editor of honestjohn.co.uk, said: “As an all-rounder the Ford Fiesta is a hard one to beat, proving equally at home on the motorway as it is around town. Our users also tell us they're impressed by the Fiesta's turbocharged EcoBoost engines, which deliver eager performance.”

Most Popular MPV

The stylish and sporty Ford S-MAX has enjoyed a remarkable run of sales success in Britain, with over 87,000 UK registrations since its 2006 debut. Ford’s latest version of this trend-setting, seven-seat, sports activity vehicle offers a range of more than 20 new technologies, including global debuts for Glare-Free Highbeam,Intelligent Speed Limiter and Ford Adaptive Steering. For the first time, the new S-MAX is also available with Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive (iAWD) system.

Most Popular Convertible

The Ford Mustang – introduced in the U.S. more than 50 years ago – has excited fans across the globe, but has never been available to order with right-hand drive, until now. Almost 4,000 customers have placed and order for a RHD Mustang in just 10 months.

Latest updates to Mustang include the addition of SYNC 3 with 8in colour touchscreen and a new array of colours including White Platinum, Grabber Blue and Lightning Blue.

Dan Harrison, editor of honestjohn.co.uk, said: “The Ford Mustang may be a truly iconic model, yet it has remained elusive for British drivers. So Ford's decision to finally officially sell it here was met with huge interest and enthusiasm. It came as no surprise to us that our audience were keen to read about the new Mustang. Given its affordable price tag, it represents a lot of car for the money, yet is always guaranteed to get attention.”

The honestjohn.co.uk awards are uniquely judged by their website users. The main awards recognise and reward the cars and vans that HonestJohn users search for most on the site. This data comes from the number of page views each review has had over the previous 12 months from April 2015 to April 2016. The site gets around 3 million visits every month with the majority of these users viewing car reviews.

The Skoda Estate becomes the UK's best selling business Estate & the SE Business Greenline III has a BiK of 16%

• The model now has 25% of the true fleet estate segment
• Octavia Estate enjoys year-on-year market share increase of 53%
• SE Business Greenline III version comes with BiK of 16%

The ŠKODA Octavia Estate is the UK’s most popular estate car in the fleet market, according to new data. The multi award-winning model now occupies 25% of the estate segment, and grew its market share by 53% year-on-year. The figures are taken from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ analysis* of fleet sales during 2015.

The continuing popularity of the Octavia Estate is testament to the compelling offer it presents to company car drivers and their employers.

For example, the SE Business 1.6 TDI Greenline III version is available with P11D of just £21,370 and BiK of 16%. This means that it costs employees as little as £57** per month.

Not only that, but each vehicle comes with an impressive array of technology and accessories. In every ŠKODA SE Business model, 16” alloys, an Amundsen touch-screen sat nav and Bluetooth connectivity come as standard.

Furthermore, the Octavia Estate Greenline III provides impressive fuel efficiency of 80.7mpg on the combined cycle, 110PS, 90g/km of CO₂ emissions, and a class-leading 1,740 litres of boot space with the seats down.

Patrick McGillycuddy, Head of Fleet for ŠKODA UK, commented: “There is no doubt that the Octavia Estate has been a revelation in the fleet market. It has the dual benefit of offering fleet managers the compelling financial figures they like to see, whilst also giving user-choosers an impressive assortment of kit to make every day driving more enjoyable.”

The Octavia Estate’s success coincides with a strong year of fleet sales for ŠKODA UK. In 2015, the brand announced a year-on-year spike in sales among corporate and SME clients of 22%.