It won’t have gone unnoticed that fuel prices are soaring at an all-time high. While this may be good news for those with investments in commodities or working in the energy sector, the majority of UK citizens are feeling the bite when it comes to domestic bills. It’s also causing many of us to have to pick and choose which journeys we wish to take, with a visit to the fuel pumps an all-too common occurrence.

The spike in fuel prices – which has been exacerbated by international crises in Ukraine and the rising costs of crude oil – has had a significant impact on vehicle sales too, with more and more people looking to make the change to electric power in order to benefit from cheaper running costs. This interest has led to there now being more than half-a-million electric vehicles out on the roads – a figure that is continuing to increase month by month.

“According to research by Zap Map, 22,737 battery-powered cars were registered in June alone,” said Ryan Boorman, EV Specialist at Birchwood Group. “This represents 16.1% of all new car registrations for the entire month. We ourselves have seen interest in both hybrid and fully electric models grow substantially, with more and more customers showing interest in the range of models we have available.”

More choice means greater interest

It’s a growth in the range of models available at the likes of Birchwood Group that is prompting greater interest among modern drivers. “We’re delighted to represent Ford, Kia, and ŠKODA across our dealerships, with each of these manufacturers providing some of the finest electric vehicles around,” adds Ryan Boorman. “This selection already offers something to suit the needs of most drivers, and there’s more to come over the next couple of years.”

He’s not wrong. Ford alone is dedicated to providing nine all-electric vehicles by 2024, with Stuart Rowley, chair, Ford of Europe, saying: “Our march toward an all-electric future is an absolute necessity for Ford to meet the mobility needs of customers across a transforming Europe. It’s also about the pressing need for greater care of our planet, making a positive contribution to society and reducing emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.”

In addition to the new Ford options, ŠKODA will shortly be releasing the all-electric ŠKODA Enyaq Coupé iV which promises an incredible 339-mile range on a single charge.

Awareness driving change

While the rise in fuel prices has undoubtedly been a trigger for increased interest in electric cars, there’s also a level of awareness among motorists to reduce carbon emissions that means more and more people are looking at their options. Newer drivers that may have no experience of petrol or diesel models will be keen to play their part in reducing CO2, while experienced motorists understand the need to lessen the impact on the environment around them. Plus, there are the financial benefits that many are keen to benefit from.

As well as cheaper cost-per-mile compared to petrol and diesel power, electric vehicles provide savings in terms of tax, congestion fees, and even maintenance. This is due to models having fewer moving components that can cause mechanical issues.

The future is now

It goes without saying that adoption of all-electric driving still has a long way to go. But it’s also the case that the change is well underway. As more and more manufacturers continue to introduce more and more models, and accessibility of nationwide charging solutions makes choosing an electric car even more desirable, there’s no reason that the government goal of ceasing the sale of new petrol/diesel powered models by 2030 won’t be achieved.

You can discover more about the many benefits of making the change to electric power by visiting the Birchwood Group website today. Not only does this provide information on the individual models available, it also offers information about the many options and benefits that make it the preferred choice. You can also liaise with on-site experts that will help answer any questions you may have.

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The show also displays the latest technologies that carmakers bring forward. Volkswagen`s main subsidiary Skoda, is also present at the event with one of the most outstanding concepts, which is no other than the 2018 Vision X, kicking off with an advanced design language and high-tech gadgetries.

Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier, has also explained the concept`s new design and advanced characteristics:

“Emotive design, modern drive technology and full-connectivity: with the SKODA Vision X concept study we are presenting our vision of a modern urban crossover. The exterior design provides a concrete view of the third member of the successful SUV family. With the model with will attract even more customers to the SKODA brand going forward.”

From a visual standpoint, the 2018 Skoda Vision X comes with sharp, sculpted and slim lines, attributes that make it the perfect modern crossover, built for family purpose and outdoor activities.

The new 2018 Vision X from Skoda is also extremely powerful, featuring off-road capabilities. It comes with a 1.5-liter G-TEC combustion engine with four-cylinder and turbocharger. It also uses the CNG (compressed natural gas) and al electric motor.

The CNG sends 130 PS and 200 Nm of torque to the front axle, while the electric motor adds another 70 Nm of torque to the rear axle. Also, the all-wheel drive system allows CO2 emissions under 100 g/km.

Inside, the futuristic feel is enhanced by high-end materials and accents on the steering wheel, doors, pillars and dashboard. There is also a tablet-like infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster and two-spoke steering wheel.

The 2018 Skoda Vision X is expected to arrive on the market in spring 2019, with prices to be announced later on this year. Stay tuned!

The post 2018 Geneva: All-New Skoda Vision X Kicks off with Astonishing Design and Latest Technology appeared first on Ultimate Car Blog | The Latest Car News, Reviews, Tuning.

The facelift the Skoda Fabia received has only recently been fully detailed. The car’s debut is planned to happen at the Geneva Motor Show. The car already looked amazing so the new improved aspect could only further build on that impressive side. The engine has been made more relevant. Fuel consumption has been improved and together with this the environmentally friendly nature of the car, as well. You can tell that the Czech people have put a lot of work into the improving of the Skoda Fabia. The result speaks for itself.

Apart from changing the engine of the vehicle, Skoda has also upgraded the car with the latest gadgets and electronic equipment it has developed. As a result, the Skoda Fabia is safer than ever. Connectivity has also been improved. Entertainment seems to reach a whole new level with this new rendition of the Skoda Fabia. With the added equipment it also seems Skoda is targeting the younger generations as potential buyers. This vehicle is one of the few that offers a complete experience, to its driver as well as its passengers.

The outside of the vehicle has been updated with LED lighting systems. The LED system makes the car more visible, while also giving it an improved, fresh look. The vehicle’s overall look could be classified as sharp. The lines and edges used in the design of the body make the Skoda Fabia an aggressive, modern looking car.

The Czechs from Skoda have managed to improve the Fabia in such a way that the car retains its original spirit while also featuring a ton of new features and upgrades. The car’s deign will remain relevant, as a result of all these improvements, for a couple more years. Without a doubt, this new and improved Skoda Fabia will attract new customers. Those that decide to purchase the car will have to choose between the hatchback and station wagon body styles.

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It is about the all-new 2017 Octavia RS 245 both in sedan and estate forms, a special edition set to arrive with increase performance, new mechanics and some special tweaks at the exterior.

As expected, it is based on the Octavia RS and comes equipped with sports lowered suspension which brings it closer to the ground with around 14 mm, adding as well wider wheel arches to accommodate 19-inch custom gloss black alloy wheels.

From a visual standpoint, the new RS 245 is going to be equipped with black front grille, adaptive LED headlights, bespoke front bumper bar with honeycomb intakes, prominent trapezoid exhaust pipes, and deck spoiler, all contributing to the car`s more aggressive look.

Inside, the cabin welcomes you with Alcantara on the bucket seats, perforated leather on the sports steering wheel, the RS badging on the door sills and seats, integrated headrests, black accents with silver trims, as well as the 9.2-inch touchscreen interface.

The car`s main highlight remains under the hood, the 2017 Skoda Octavia RS 245 packing a 2.0-liter turbo-petrol flat-four engine, borrowed from the RS, yet coming with a power boost of 180 kW and 370 Nm of torque.

Even if we are looking here at just 11 kW more than the current RS, it does make a difference when it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h. This means just 6.6 seconds in the sedan and 6.7 in the estate. Both versions are hooked to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The post Skoda Announces Hardcore 2017 Octavia RS 245 at Upcoming Geneva Motor Show appeared first on Ultimate Car Blog | The Latest Car News, Reviews, Tuning.

As the name suggests, the Octavia RS 230 is said to be the most potent version produced by the Czech manufacturer, coming with a 2.0-liter turbo flat-four gasoline burner with 230 horsepower, which brings it closer to the Golf GTI Performance.

The model delivers a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in an outstanding 6.7 seconds, a great performance achieved adding as well some improved mechanics, such as an electronic diff lock and a “front axle inter-wheel lock (VAQ).

In terms of styling, the new Skoda Octavia RS 230 features improved design cues, like new front grille, rear spoiler, exhaust tip at the rear, as well as the 19-inch “Xtreme” alloy wheels, finished in black and which complements the black door mirrors.

Inside, the cabin also welcomes you with a lot of high-end materials, such as leather sports seats with red stitching, three-spoke sports steering wheel, stainless steel foot pedals, adding as well custom door sill strips, lap timer function which is hooked to the multifunctional display.

The carmaker has also released a batch of photos with the all-new Skoda Octavia RS 230 in Australia. Enjoy the ride and don’t forget to tell us what you think about the limited edition!

The post Australia: Skoda Octavia RS 230 Announced with Prices appeared first on Ultimate Car Blog | The Latest Car News, Reviews, Tuning.

Now, a new rendering has popped-up on the web, signed by the same X-Tomi Design, revealing a so called Kodia RS version, meaning a much more potent of the present model.

The rendering comes after AutoExpress interviewed Christian Struber, Board Member for Research and Development at Skoda, of the possibility of releasing a more powerful version, based on some recent reports.

This is what Struber said:

“I have been driving such a car only last week, and it was fantastic. From an engineering perspective, of course we want to give the Kodiaq even more performance, and we’ve been working on this. Now we must wait for the business case”. And the powertrain in question was a diesel.

In case it will be launched, the hardcore Skoda Kodiaq version is also reported to come with a twin-turbo-diesel flat-four engine, the same one found on the Volkswagen Passat, developing a good 240 horsepower, which is way too more potent than the current 2.0-liter TDI with 190 horsepower.

Besides the hardcore version, the carmaker is also planning the introduction of other models within the lineup, like a Sportline or a Scout version.

We are still faraway from seeing a hardcore Skoka Kodiaq but chances are that this might happen in the next period, meanwhile, take a look at the rendering and tell us if you like the looks of the RS envisioned version here!

The post Skoda Kodiak Reported to Come with Upgraded Performance, All-Squeezed from a Twin-Turbo appeared first on Ultimate Car Blog | The Latest Car News, Reviews, Tuning.

The all-new Skoda Kodiaq SUV has been already previewed in different spy photos, rumors and reports, with the model to be unofficially unveiled in the first images. And it is exactly what we have all expected: an extremely beautiful SUV, with an evolutionary design and attractive interior.

As we can depict from the leaked images, the Skoda Kodiak is coming with advanced LED headlights, drooping grille, custom front end and other features that wear the Group`s signature.

As most of VW`s new models, the Kodiak also stands on the more advanced MQB platform meaning improved space inside and a wide choice of engines under the hood.

Inside, the cabin comes with the standard five-seat arrangement or optional seven-seat configration, user-friendly center fascia, wide touchscreen for the infotainment system and the latest high-tech gizmos. Not to mention high-quality materials for a more luxury feel.

Moving under the hood, the Skoda Kodiaq SUV will be equipped with a wide array of turbocharged petrol burners and diesels with four-cylinder configurations. Amongst the most potent ones, we could mention the 2.0-liter TSI as well as 2.0-liter twin-turbo diesel, which is the same one equipping the new VW Tiguan.

The Skoda Tiguan is expected to officially launch the seven-seat version SUV in Berlin this evening, with more information to be known at that point. If you love the Kodiak, stay tuned for more info!

The post Skoda`s Kodiak Gets Preview in Leaked Images appeared first on Ultimate Car Blog | The Latest Car News, Reviews, Tuning.

Skoda is not letting the changes go away and is currently working on the next generation of SUVs, designed with the cutting edge technology and extremely impressive performance. And Skoda is planning to “wow” its opponents with the upcoming Kodiaq.

When I first saw the VisionS concept, the very foundation of Kodiaq, I have immediately foreseen an extremely imposing production model. It is big, comes with floating lines and an evolutionary design and means business when it comes to performance.

It will stand on the VW Group`s MQB platform, meaning lightweight materials for improved fuel efficiency and driving dynamics. The platform makes it perfect for a wide array of petrol burners and diesel engines.

Speaking about engine lineup, on the petrol`s side, the Skoda Kodiaq SUV is expected to pack a 1.4-liter TSI with 123 horsepower, followed by a 1.8-liter TSI with 177 horsepower. The diesels compress a 1.6-liter TDI and a 2.0-liter TDI, with 148 horsepower and 187 horsepower, respectively.

The details list is rather scarce at the moment, but we should expect fresh news in October, when the Kodiaq is expected for an official debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Until then, enjoy the spy video with the gorgeous SUV on the track for some rough tests!

The post Skoda Kodiak Gets Caught in Video Spy during Tests appeared first on Ultimate Car Blog | The Latest Car News, Reviews, Tuning.

Back in 1991, on 28 March Skoda signed the contract that allowed it to start building cars based on VW technique. It transformed the Czech car manufacturer into a big international brand, activating in over 100 markets all over the world. During the last period, they built around 1 million vehicles each year! At the time when it signed the agreement, Skoda was producing about 200.000 cars per year. If back then, only two models were built, today, Skoda manufacture over 40 versions. There’s no wonder VW wanted so bad to have this brand in portfolio, especially if we think that its history begins in 1859, when they started produce guns and weapons. Paying 620 million Deutschmarks, the German group bought 31 percent of Skoda, increasing progressively its stake until it became the owner, on 30 May 2000.

Since 1991, when it became a VW brand, Skoda invested more than 11 billion euros in developing new models and expanding the Czech facilities. If in 1991, Skoda had only 600 employees, while now approximately 2.000 people work for them at Mlada Boleslav. The total employees number is 28.500, making from Skoda one of the main brands in Czech Republic. This is the place where, for 121 years without stop, Skoda produced cars. And they did it better every year: in 2015, the production grew by 1.8 percent compared with 2014, while the revenue increased by 6.2 percent.

The post Skoda – VW, 25 Year Of Success appeared first on Ultimate Car Blog | The Latest Car News, Reviews, Tuning.

The concept’s design is influenced by the cubism and the crystal, to create precise lines and a joyful play between shadow and light on the carefully chosen Island-Green body color. Measuring 4.70 m length, 1.91 m wide and 1.68 m tall, it is longer than the Tiguan, to make room for the third seat row.

But probably the most important feature of the concept is its plug-in hybrid powertrain. Developing a total 225 hp, it makes the SUV accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 sec, nearly reaching 200 km/h flat out. This performance is more interesting if we look at the average fuel consumption: 1.9 l/100 km. This means only 45 g/km CO2, which is possible by having an electric range of 50 km. The combined travel distance raises up to 1000 km. The hybrid system is a combination between a 1.4 TSI engine, developing 115 kW an electric motor, capable of 40 kW, which is placed within the DSG transmission. Both of them power the front wheels, sending a total 470Nm (at its peak) to the ground.

However, a second (up to) 85 kW and 270Nm e-motor powers the rear axle, making the VisionS an intelligent AWD, without a mechanical link between the two axles. The 12.4 kWh battery is placed in front of the rear axle. Onboard, there are large displays, allowing the passengers to connect to the network and share information via the infotainment system. Prepare for the VisionS at 2016 Geneva Motor Show, early next month!

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