ESC – Electronic Stability Control

Keeping both our staff and our readers up-to-date with driver aids which can protect the motorist in the event of an unforseen occurance on the roads. A story we witnessed recently on the benefits of driving a vehicle fitted with ESC (Electronic Stability Control).

Electronic stability control (ESC) is a computerised technology that improves safety of a vehicle’s stability by detecting and minimising skids. When ESC detects loss of steering control, it automatically applies the brakes to help “steer” the vehicle where the driver intends to go.

Braking is automatically applied to wheels individually, and some ESC systems also reduce engine power until control is regained. ESC does not improve a vehicle’s cornering performance; instead, it helps to minimise the loss of control. According to IIHS and NHTSA, one-third of fatal accidents could have been prevented by the technology!

Why is electronic stability control so important?
Studies have shown that ESC reduced single-vehicle crashes by 34% for cars and 59% for SUVs. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (see link above) estimates that ESC reduces the risk of fatal single-vehicle wrecks by 56% and fatal multiple-vehicle crashes by 32%.

Since 2008, Euro NCAP has been promoting broad fitment of Electronic Stability Control – ESC – by all vehicle manufacturers. Up to 2012 when ESC becomes mandatory for all new cars sold in the EU, each vehicle manufacturer can decide whether or not to make ESC available on a certain model (variant). 

AXA Car Insurance iPhone App

An iPhone app which records all the information drivers must collect if they have an accident has been unveiled by AXA.The new App aims to provide support in the event of a car accident. The iPhone app, which prompts the user to record all the information connected to an incident, also offers the ability to take photos.

The insurer conducted research which found that a worryingly high 66 per cent of drivers are unsure about what action to take if they are involved in a collision with another vehicle. According to the study, 27 per cent would not attempt to swap names, addresses and phone numbers with the other party, or to make a note of their registration plate.

Although AXA found that 84 per cent would look to exchange auto insurance details, this appears to be rendered meaningless by the discovery that just 15 per cent carry their policies in their cars.

Where Can I Get the AXA App?
The application is currently available from the Apple iTunes app store. The new App is one of the first of its kind in the UK and is available free to both AXA customers and non-customers.

Final Post for 2009

This will be the last time that the Homeapproved team will be blogging this year!

Many thanks to all our readers who have visited our blog and the Homeapproved UK Car Insurance website.

Our last few posts both here and on the main website have tried to drive home the need for all motorists to drive sensibly and safely over the Christmas and New Year period.

We look forward to hearing from many of our regular readers next year (and new readers) on all matters motoring and insurance.

Have a great Christams and cracking New Year!

Safe motoring

Regards

Homeapproved Car Insurance Team.

Car Data Check Update

We have recently updated our information on obtaining an online car data check.

As part of our commitment to offering motorists the very best information associated with owning and running a vehicle in the UK, we can provide below a useful guide to obtaining an online car data check.

Obtaining a car history report (before you buy!) can sometimes reveal facts about the vehicle’s past i.e. previous accidents, turned back or ‘clocked’ odometer, failed emission test, flooding, number of owners, etc. To instigate a vehicle check you will often need just the vehicle’s VIN number – (definition: The manufacturer’s serial number as shown on supporting documents).

There are a small number of legitimate and trustworthy companies offering this service in the UK. One of the industry leaders of this service is Experian. AutoCheck can help to narrow the search and will save you time. Once you have identified a few possible cars all you need to do is to enter the registration numbers into AutoCheck and you will receive lots of very useful information. AutoCheck Is Very Comprehensive…..

Importing a Car into the UK – 90 Second Guide

This week we focus our 90 second guide on the subject of importing a new car into the UK. Bringing a vehicle into the country really took off around 10 years ago when all the rumours about rip-off Britian and unfair pricing began to circulate. By using the power of the internet to locate a suitable vehicle, smart buyers dismissed their local dealership and headed of to the EU to save hundreds if not thousands of pounds.

This quick guide will assist you in understanding the legal requirements of importing a vehicle into the UK. All the relevant information can be found in greater detail on the Directgov website – Importing a Vehicle. 

There are procedures you will need to go through and documentation you will need to obtain to register an imported vehicle. If you intend your vehicle to be permanently kept/used in Great Britain (GB) it must be registered and taxed as soon as possible after it arrives in the country.

The vehicle should not be used or kept on public roads until the registration and vehicle tax formalities have been completed.

However, if the vehicle needs to have a single vehicle approval (SVA) or MOT test in order to be registered, the vehicle may be driven to and from the pre-arranged test appointment. Thereafter, the vehicle must be kept off the road until the registration formalities have taken place.

Grey Import
If you have found a car of interest but it has the tag ‘grey import’ this means that the vehicle has never been Type Approved for Europe. Be aware, though, you may have to carry out some small jobs to make the car UK roadworthy.

Registering a previously used vehicle
As part of the registration process, DVLA will need to be sure that an imported used vehicle, that is less than 10 years old meets both European Type Approval standards and UK Construction and Use and Road Vehicle Lighting legislation.

Cars, motorcycles and light goods vehicles first registered in another European member State will need to have a certificate issued by VCA under the Mutual Recognition Scheme. Larger goods vehicles will need full UK Type Approval before they can be registered.

Audi R8 V12 TDI

Following on from our post ‘Detroit Motor Show 2008′, and how car makers are showcasing some extraordinary supercars, we can bring you a short but oh-so-sweet review of the Audi RB V12 TDI.

Audi is presenting a revolution in the top class at the Detroit 2008 North American International Auto Show – the first 12-cylinder diesel engine in a high-performance road sports car. The V12 TDI engine. with a displacement of six litres, powers this R8-based concept car. This unit generates a huge 500PS and 1,000 Nm of torque.

Audi has squeezed a 5.9 litre V12 twin turbo engine into the back of an R8, creating the world’s first diesel-powered supercar. I’ts 500bhp sounds impressive, but the real attention-grabber is the 738 lb ft of torque the engine will generate, which is comfortably more than double the output of the current 4.2 litre V8. Still a concept car, it seems certain to be put into production, so expect it in 2010 after the introduction of a 5 litre V10 petrol version.

TATA Launch £1200 Motor Car

 

Today Tata Motors rolled out their new Nano motor car - the People’s Car. The launch of the People’s Car by Tata Motors is a defining moment in the history of India’s automotive industry.

For the Tata Group, it is the realisation of a pioneering vision to create a breakthrough product globally that rewrites the rules of the small-car business.

The vehicle will sell for 100,000 rupees or $2,500 (£1,277) and enable those in developing countries to move to four wheels. The four-door five-seater car, which goes on sale later this year, has a 33bhp, 624cc, engine at the rear. It has no air conditioning, no electric windows and no power steering, but two deluxe models will be on offer.

Tata will initially make about 250,000 Nanos and expects eventual annual demand of one million cars. The price will be slightly more than the 100,000 once tax and other costs are taken into consideration.

Tata’s small car will get cheap car insurance cover, but funding might turn out to be expensive. According to lenders, interest rates depend on the borrower’s profile, and aspiring buyers of Nano are likely to be those moving up from two-wheelers and hobby customers.

The good news is that insurance for the small car could be available for as low as Rs 2,000 and could fall further if Tata assures insurers of the availability of low-cost spares.

The Nano release comes as India’s domestic car market is predicted to soar in the coming years on the back of the country’s fast-growing economy and increased consumer wealth. Indian car sales are predicted to more than quadruple to $145bn by 2016.

New Cars to Look Out For in 2008

2008 is going to be a busy year for manufacturers launching new models.  With many new cars hitting our showrooms next year consumers will need to carefully narrow down their choices when deciding on which vehicle to buy.

Firstly we can look forward to a barrage of fast and luxurious cars that were designed before the European Union (EU) got to grips with CO2 emission targets. Rolls Royce and Bentley will both be launching coupes, likely to be the most expensive closed cars either has put into mainstream production.

Volkswagen (VW) will not only launch a new Scirocco coupe, but it’s subsidiary Audi will bring the fantastic RS6 to market with a 580bhp engine! Meanwhile BMW readies the new X6 for sale – the most sporting SUV ever to wear the BMW badge. A little quieter over at Mercedes-Benz, although the AMG versions of the new C-Class and SL sports car will be launched.

From Japan, the new Nissan GT-R with 473 bhp will the wowing performance car enthusiasts.  With performance to out gun the Porsche 911 Turbo at half the price the anticipation is palpable. And 2008 should be the year that Lexus finally puts it LF-A supercar into production.  Mazda is also set to launch a new version of its successful RX-8 rotary-engined coupe.

Jaguar will also be going all-out to establish its new XF saloon in the marketplace. Ford will look to follow on from the successful launch of the new Mondeo in 2007 with the all-new Fiesta and a replacement for the much-loved Ka. They will be joined by the Kuga SUV.

2008 will also see the arrival of the much heralded Citroen C5, seemingly one of the most imaginative and interesting family cars of recent times. Vauxhall will launch the Insignia as a replacement for the timeless Vectra and there will be all-new successors to the Honda Jazz and Accord.

Ferrari 430 Scuderia

4308cc V8, 510bhp at 8500rpm, 347lb ft at 5250rpm, 198mph, 0-62mph in under 3.6 seconds, £172,500.

The above numbers really mean nothing in themselves… They say a picture paints a thousand words… so here goes…..

For those individuals who are lucky enough to get behind the wheel of the 430 Scuderia, the experience of driving a Ferrari which laps quicker than an Enzo round the Ferrari test track at Fiorano, is just sensational!

Actual figures state that the 430 Scuderia will lap around Fiorano 2 seconds quicker than the Enzo, ostensibly Ferrari’s ultimate road car.

If the track crudentials of the 430 Scuderia are unquestioned, how does the car perform on the roads?

A stark cabin, leather replaced with Alcantara, ‘technical cloth’ and carbonfibre suggest the 430 Scuderia would struggle with regular road use. However you still get to enjoy electric windows, air-conditioning and high quality stereo – even if the roar of the V8 is music to most enthusiasts ears!

Press a button and the dampers switch to a softer, more resilient mode; not loose or flabby, just more compliant. Now it is possible to go even quicker around lumpy bends because the wheels stay in better contact with the road.

The 430 Scuderia is the fastest ever Ferrari on real roads. It is also the easiest-ever to drive fast! 

Review – Lexus IS-F

Finally Lexus has delivered a true rival to the BMW M3!

The new Lexus IS-F uses a 5.0-litre V8 powerplant to deliver 417bhp at 6600rpm! However, it is one thing chasing the M3, and another to actually catch it. To do this the Lexus will have to deliver superb handling far removed from that of the manufacturers luxury badges and SUV’s.

The IS-F is available with an automatic gearbox only, an eight-speed unit based on the LS460′s transmission. It has ‘manual’ functionality via steering wheel paddles. Although previous Lexuses have not been known for steering feel, the IS-F is by far the company’s best effort to date.

First journalist reports are that the IS-F delivers the goods on the race track. Whether the new Lexus can match the M3 and Audi RS4 on UK roads is another question. The IS-F arrives in the showrooms next spring (2008).