Ignition 2020

Thursday, February 27, 2020 38

NEWBURY NEWS IG ITION SPRING 2020

Newbury Weekly News

Ready, steady, drive... Road safety advice, motoring tips, favourite scenic routes and what the future holds for the automative industr y

Future of driving is EASCY Buzzwords include electrification, autonomous and shared

intelligence, and you’re there. So, rather than fearing that automation will render people redundant, they’ll actually be needed more than ever. What will be vital, however, is the upskilling and retraining of existing staff. More people are opting for AFV vehicles, but… Alternatively fuelled vehicle (AFV) registrations increased in 2016 by almost a quarter, seeing them now assume a still modest There are now more than 60 plug-in models to choose from and almost 15k charge points. Sales have been encouraged, says Society of Motor Manufac- turers and Traders (SMMT), by government incentives and improved finance packages. Nissan claims a Leaf is sold every 12 seconds across Europe. That said, public misconception has seen consumers remain slightly wary of AFVs, favouring traditional fuel options due to fears relating to driving range and the perceived running costs. Altering this perception will be key going forward. The end of the annual service If you’re one of those people who groan at ‘that time of year’ when the car needs to be serviced, then you’ll love this. According the PWC study, in the not-too-distant future, connected vehicles will provide real-time data and receive yearly hard/software updates. They can also tell you when specific elements require servicing. It’s thought that this predictive maintenance may, in theory, spell the end of the annual service as we know it. This will mean a huge change for the auto trade, in terms of after-care provision, but possibly more convenient for drivers of the future. This is just the tip of the automo- tive iceberg and while we may not have created the flying cars depicted in The Jetsons (yet), autonomous, connected, electric, shared vehicles are absolutely still something to get excited about. plentiful before they really take off in the second-hand market.” The survey showed that two thirds of people get their used car from a dealer, with more than half of buyers paying for it in cash, 28 per cent taking out a loan or hire purchase and 10 per cent using a credit card. When it comes to choosing a used car, the most desired feature is a built-in satnav, followed by self-parking, rear-view camera, built-in Wi-Fi and heated seats. Top 10 most desired colours: 1 Black, 2 Silver, 3 Blue, 4 Red, 5 White, 6 Dark blue, 7 Gold, 8 Green, 9 Yellow, 10 Brown 3.3-per-cent market share (hybrids outnumber pure electric cars 4:1).

plus several other schemes worldwide which are bound to reach the UK soon. So fast is this idea spreading, PWC predicts that by 2030, one in three kilometres driven ‘could involve sharing concepts’. What’s more, it offers an unexpected manufacturing opportunity in the form of the development of bacteria-free interiors. Digitisation is disrupting automotive manufacturing The automotive industry may be at its highest level for years, but digitisation is allowing it to strengthen further. The increasing digitisation and automation of manufacturing is moving processes away from manual labour, resulting in production and cost efficiencies (which is already benefiting suppliers by £2.6bn). Systems which allow for the sharing of real-time data analytics, 3D printing, deploy- ment of ‘cobots’ (collaborative robots) and ‘machine vision’ which ascertains safety are all disrupting the traditional production lines. It’s predicted that the adoption of digitisation could add up to £74bn by 2035. However, the UK needs to do more if we’re to compete with other nations. Human skill sets are vital Following on from above, digitisation and automation across the industry bring myriad benefits. What the machines can’t do, however, are the tasks which rely on what’s known as the ‘human skill set’. According to the World Economic Forum, the most important skills in 2020 fall under that category and are complex problem solving, critical thinking and creativity. Throw in some people management and emotional

THE automotive industry is developing at a frighteningly exhilarating pace. Advanced technologies are forcing the sector to adopt new processes, integrate AI and adapt existing skills. The future of mobility, according to a PWC report, is EASCY – electrified, autonomous, shared, connected and yearly updated – transforming the role of the car into a ‘third place’ hybrid, which will combine elements of both the home and workplace. Autonomous vehicles aren’t so scary The Deloitte 2018 UK Automotive Consumer study finds that people are slowly accepting autonomous technology, with consumers in the UK less concerned about safety (49 per cent in 2018 vs 73 per cent in 2017) – a trend that is consistent around the world. However, they still want to see consistent safety track records. PWC expects autonomous driv- ing to account for 40 per cent of overall traffic within the next 12 years. Internet of Things equals connected cars Gadgetry has come a long way since the first satnav was introduced in 2003 by Toyota. connected cars really takes off, given the convenience they’ll offer. We’re talking personalised journeys and advanced infotainment, to algorithm-based insurance premiums and Imagine a car which talks to traffic infrastructure or could tell you when it really requires maintenance? The decline of traditional car ownership Would you let someone else drive your car for money? According to reports, a lot of us would. The car-sharing market is growing rapidly, with a number of concepts hitting the streets. These include Ford’s pay-as-you- go service GoDrive (which offers guaranteed parking in London), and cars on demand club, Zipcar, It won’t be long before the adoption of IoT-enabled vehicle-to-vehicle communication. ALMOST half of Britain’s used car buyers would go green and choose an electric or hybrid model if they had the option, a study shows. The choice of used eco-friendly motors is still relatively limited and they make up a tiny proportion of the country’s 8,000,000 used car sales every year. But 49 per cent of buyers would get an electric, hybrid or plug-in hybrid if they could, compared to 32 per cent wanting petrol models. However, price is still the main consideration for customers, followed by running costs and style, says a study of 2,000 used

Roadworks driving safety

DRIVING through roadworks can be nerve-wracking. Narrower lanes, slow traffic and fraying tempers all add to the challenge. But as long as you drive carefully and at a steady speed your journey needn’t be stressful. Here’s some advice from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards Richard Gladman to ensure your motorway journey through n Ideally, you should check the status of any roads you plan to use beforehand. If there are significant amounts of repair works and you think you might get caught up in traffic, consider taking a different route, even if it means covering a few more miles. LOOKERS Group reveals United Kingdom and Ireland’s 27 most idyllic road trips They scoured the length and breadth of Britain and Ireland to bring you the most scenic, adventure-seeking and family-friendly routes. They even factored in how much it will cost you for fuel. Whether you are looking for a family break or a solo journey of discovery, there’s a route to match your needs. They’ve created routes for days out, weekend breaks and even half-term staycations. If you’re looking for things to do, you will find plenty on a 192-mile trip from Chesterfield to Aldeburgh. The two-day route takes in Ferry Meadows Country Park and Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds and has an average fuel cost of just £24.49. For those driving off in an electric-friendly vehicle, a five- day journey from Blackpool to Weston-super-Mare will cost an impressive £12.48. With the money saved on driving costs, UK and Ireland ’ roadworks is as safe and stress-free as possible.

roadwork signs that give you particular instructions. There may also be a temporary maximum speed limit that you will need to adhere to. n Average speed cameras are also common where long-term roadworks are in force – be prepared to slow down throughout. They are there for your safety and the safety of the workforce. Mr Gladman said: “If you can see traffic building up then avoid switching lanes too often. “Changing lanes on extremely busy roads will increase your chances of being involved in a collision and also slows down traffic flow. “So long as you stay alert and plan ahead, your journey should be a safe and stress-free one.” Travel from England’s North East all the way to the Isle of Skye for £102.34 in a journey fit for a giant and visit the Angus MacAskill Museum in Dunvegan. The Isle of Skye native rose to fame for being the world’s tallest non-pathological giant, standing at 7ft 9in. The beauty of Northern Ireland’s Antrim coastline will give thrill seekers the opportunity to cross Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge – a 20m crossing suspended 30m above the sea, from the Northern Irish mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede. Heading south of the border, a week-long excursion around the Emerald Isle takes in Dublin’s Temple Bar, Cork, and Tralee — home of Ireland’s Rose of Tralee International Festival. Check out the Lookers road trip guide at https://www.lookers. co.uk/roadtrip/ and start planning your next journey right now. route into tourist hotspot Weston-super-Mare.

n If there’s no alternative route, give yourself more time to travel and ensure you have plenty of fuel. Running out of fuel is one of the most common reasons for a breakdown on the motorway, so don’t risk running on a low tank. n Maintain a safe following distance of at least two seconds and if other traffic moves into your gap adjust it by slowing very slightly. You won’t add more than a couple of seconds to your journey. n Try and look as far ahead as possible. There may be a lane that’s restricted and marked off by cones. If it’s safe to do so, merge in turn if vehicles are travelling at low speed. n Keep an eye out for any

s 27 most idyllic road trips

“ Predictive

maintenance may, in theory, spell the end of the annual service as we know it

Second-hand buyers turning eco

car buyers. The most common second-hand car bought in Britain today is a metallic black petrol Ford, whereas the car most customers say they want is a metallic black hybrid Audi. Car Finance 247 chief executive Louis Rix said: “Drivers definitely want to be more green because they care about the planet. “Electric and hybrid cars will undoubtedly be a huge area of growth in future. “But price is still the main consideration for most customers – so eco-friendly cars need to become cheaper and more

you should have plenty of money left over to check out Blackpool Pleasure Beach before heading off down to the west coast of Wales. A stop off in Cardiff will give you the chance to explore Cardiff Castle before returning to England for the final leg of the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, County Antrim

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