London Taxi Drivers Anger over Olympic Lanes

London taxi drivers have been angered by the introduction of the Olympic Lanes across London, which only allows Olympic traffic through. If any other vehicle should stray into the Olympic lanes then they will face a fine of £130, which is definitely not a pleasant thought.

So the taxi drivers of London had finally had enough and decided to protest; but not just on old day, the day of the Olympic opening ceremony. The protest was scheduled to be at 5:00pm on Friday the 27th of July and take place on Hyde Park Corner; but the police had banned the cabbies from having it at this time, as it could cause serious disruption to the opening event.

The taxi drivers formed a convoy and blocked traffic for over half an hour before they got moved along. The main use for the Olympic lanes is official buses and special Olympic BMW fleets to transport athletes and officials around London.

We have to ask ourselves if this is fair, we understand that this is a special time in London and that the athletes need to get to and from their events, but the rest of the capital also needs to get where they are going. Why should people have to put their lives on hold while this event takes place?

The London black taxi is a real British icon and a symbol of our capital, so why is something that we are proud of being excluded? We suspect that a lot of guests to the Olympics may use the taxis to get around the city, so why should they not have their place in the lanes?

It has been said that some taxi drivers have had a 50% drop in income since the Olympic lanes came into force. With this and the £130 fine if they should accidently end up in one of the games lanes, it is not looking like a good time for the London cabbies.

Want to See a Double-Decker Do Push-Ups?

As we all know Friday is the starting day for the London 2012 Olympic Games, with such a huge event taking place in our country we come to think of Britain and symbols of our great country; but when you think of British symbols I bet a 1957 double-decker bus doing push ups didn’t spring to mind did it?

The artist David Cerny created the push up bus to promote the Olympic Games, although I don’t think we needed any help with that. He took our iconic symbol of London and created an athlete out of it, which is quite impressive when you are working with a huge red double-decker bus!

The bus has officially been named the ‘London Boosted’ and along side performing push ups; it features a voice and video projections. The bus has been fitted with a recorded voice groaning as it performs each push up and videos projecting from the windows.

Two huge arms controlled by an electric engine were fitted onto the big red bus to make it move and perform push ups, then the voice was added and there you have it, our next Olympic athlete is born. The London Boosted can be seen outside of the Olympic House in Islington, we can imagine it is quite a sight, so get along there and have a look!

David Cerny is used to creating more controversial art than this, his previous works have caused a lot of anger across Europe, lets hope that this piece is well received. David wants to see how long the ‘athlete’ can keep exercising for; he hopes that the London Boosted can make it the whole three weeks.

Want to see the London Boosted work out right now? Take a look at this video showing off the athlete and David Cerny taking about his latest work.

Reviewed: Audi R8 Spyder

Audi came roaring into the supercar market recently, brandishing their R8 Spyder to challenge all those who stood against them. Have they prevailed in the market, or is the R8 Spyder doomed for a dusty showroom? Alternative Route investigates the workings of the R8 in this review.

Sporty

This beast comes loaded with two engines guzzling petrol. The first is a 4.2 V8 or, if you fancy more power, a 5.2 V10. If you’re going with the V8, you’re still going to get some extreme speed, boasting a 0-60 in less than five seconds. The V10 is what makes this a monster though, the pull as you press the pedal is incredible, no matter what rev you’re on. 

With all that boom from the engines, you’d think that Spyder has some handling issues – wrong. The chassis matches with the power impeccably, the four-wheel drive Quattro ensures this and the suspension has clearly been meticulously thought through – corners are not a concern for the R8…oh, it’s incredibly comfortable too.

The engines sound like a battle-cry from the Gods. Treat them rough and you’ll get the most out of its voice, melting into the background at speed and, somehow, practically no vibration from the mechanical inner-workings. The Spyder, in our opinion, has no rivals even coming in close to its expertly crafted refinement.

Behind the Wheel

Quality does not suffer any negative views either. The fit and finish of the interior are typical of Audis careful, well-planned nature. No cheap materials, no rattling or dodgy fixings – the R8 is top notch in all honesty, a king of comfort, utter-luxury and comfort. The dials and controls are fairly similar to anyone who has sat in any Audi before, the thrones are low-slung for optimal driving position whilst being able to reach everything at an arms reach. Sporty details have been added, Carbonfibre door pulls, aluminium detailing, flat-bottom steering wheel…it’s got it all.

At a glance...

You’d expect some tech in this, and you’re going to get it. As standard you’ll receive air conditioning, full leather interior, alloy-wheels, a very cool retractable rear-spoiler, sat nav, electric seats…the list goes on.

What’s the dent in your wallet? That’s the big questions. Baring in mind this is a rare, bespoke car – so you’re going to be shelling out. If you opt for lesser Spyder, you’re looking at £96,000, for the big daddy you’re going in at a pocket-burning £117,000 – still fancy it? This is a monster, and monsters are not often kind to the earth, producing a staggering 337 g/km of CO2 – don’t drive this at a Greenpeace rally.

I’m amazed at how Audi have come into the big-boy market so strong, getting practically everything right. Reviews have been almost wholly positive, a rare-treat for any manufacturers. 

Fantastical driven, expertly crafted and built for those who really do love their driving. 

Written by the team at Alternative Route Finance

Plans for New Toll Roads

The government had previously said that no existing road in the country would receive road tolls; well this is not longer the case. New plans have been announced for road tolls to help with the funding for road schemes. Heavily congested areas all over the country could receive the new tolls roads, potentially making a lot of angry road users.

The plans so far are for the A14 which takes traffic from the Catthorpe interchange and a widened section going through Cambridgeshire to be subject to tolls. This is along with other heavily congested areas in the country.

At the next spending review the begin date for construction is set to be decided, but a possible construction start date could be 2018. The government have been in talks for the past year about how best to reduce congestion without causing huge bills. One of the new sections of road which is to be build is set to cost around £1.5 billion, this would be paid for privately and then the costs recovered from the toll charges.

Decisions are still being made about what payment methods the customers will use, how much the toll will cost customers and how far the toll section would stretch. These decisions should not be taken lightly as they will have a big impact on how well received the new toll roads are.

We can safely say that there will be a lot of road user’s who are against the new road tolls, but will it improve the congestion situation? Or is it just another way for the government to make money? And is all of the time and work being put into the new scheme really going to be worth it? Something does need to be done about the congestion situation, that is for sure, but no one can really say if this is the right way to go about solving this difficult issue.

Reviewed: Maserati GranTurismo Sport

Maserati – one of the prestigious vehicle makers who, regretfully, never really seem to be able to hit the benchmark set by the likes of Ferrari, Aston Martin and so on. Much like Alfa Romeo, Maserati have a gleaming past now drabbed in cobwebs – but have the Italian manufacturer bridged the gap of that glorious past which we are all so often frequently reminded of?


The Maserati GranTurismo Sport rolls in to replace both the GranTurismo S and S Automatic – so now there is just sport model sitting firmly in the middle of the base model and the GranTurismo MC. This one arrives in North American show rooms first, so America gets to marvel at its beauty before us Europeans, who will enjoy salivating at the body-work at some point in September.

Stunning Design

The GranTurismo Sport has been made with power and speed in mind, actually beating its more expensive MC Brethren on a lot of test, which leaves us scratching our heads as to why it’s quite a bit cheaper to buy. The MC produces 444 raging horses, whilst the Sport comes kitted with 453bhp.

So what’s the damage to your wallet? This Maserati comes in at a resounding $130,000 – which means it’s easily within my price range…honest.

On the outside the GTS adopts the same presence the MC, sleek, powerful and quick. The biggest changes come with the front-headlights and front airflow vents, with full-LED daytime running lights (becoming ever popular ever since the DS3) and adaptive light control to bath curves with light up to 15 degrees of steering angle to the wheel. A new front splitter has been fitted to increase aerodynamics and effectively drive more air into the compound metal break disc for cooling purposes. Other less noticeable, but still attractive features, are the more pronounced side-skirts and the darker-tinted tail lamps.

The GTS also receives it’s very own, unique colour – in what the Italians are calling ‘Blu Sofisticato’ – you can order the break callipers in the same colour…if you can pronounce it. You’re probably trying now! The ever-popular Maserati Trident gets a gorgeous red-highlight around it on the front grille, portraying a sense of prestige and a tradition within the company for marking only its most powerful models.

The Thrones

Heading inside now, you’ll find yourself sitting on new front power seats with integrated headrests and side bolsters to keep you firmly in place should The Stig within us all wish to make a sudden appearance. These are a welcome upgrade, as the previous seats never really seemed quite up to the mark. The entire drivers side of the GTS is ideal for the car, rear knee room is increased too thanks to the concave front seats.

Now for the engine, and my oh my – what have we got here? Roaring in with a massive 4.7LV8, producing 384 pound-feet of torque which peaks at a very cool 4,750 RPM utilising a shared multi-injection system. Phwoar…let’s all calm down for a second.

That Engine.

A new cornering dynamics system has also been set in place thanks to a two-millimetre, thicker rear stabiliser bar which joins up effortless with a next-gen ‘Sports Skyhook’ suspension with double wish-bone structures at all corners of the car. The standard 20inch Pirelli tyres give it an extra bit of finesse too, lifting, dropping and turning masterfully.

This really is a turning point for Maserati. We hope that, with this new monster of a supercar, that the Trident will gleam once again and today’s luxury buyer will see the excitement and expertise that Maserati has put into building the GT Sport.

Written by Alternative Route Finance

New Honda CR-V Announced

 The new Honda CR-V has just been unveiled and is aiming to be a perfect split between a regular car and an SUV. This is to be the fourth generation in the series of SUV’s.  It is expected that the CR-V will go on sale around October for the UK. One thing that will get people talking about this CR-V is that it has a surprisingly low CO2 rating at 99g/km. This really is a big deal for the SUV world, a CO2 this low will really do good things for it's reputation.

The design is quite similar to the previous model, but this version has a more defined look. The new look features a grille that wraps around to the headlights, giving the grille a more smooth look.

A new interior is also part of the revised design making it feel bigger, more airy and more comfortable. You have a choice of two different engines; the 2.2-litre i-DTEC diesel which gives you 149bhp and emits 149g/km CO2. The second option is the 2.0-litre i-VTEC which gives you 148bhp and emits 168g/km. There is set to be a new 1.6 diesel version out some time next year.

This new generation couldn’t come at a better time, a British built car for the great British summer. This year we have many achievements to be proud of, one of these is the level of great vehicles being built right here in the UK.

The new SR-V has provided more head room and better comfort; it also features a larger boot which is always handy. The CR-V gives you everything you need from an SUV but it does have more of a car feel to it. The new CR-V has received some nice improvements, have they really done enough to the new CR-V? The design is very similar to the previous model, so we have to wonder should Honda have done more to keep the next generation alive and kicking?

Porsche GT3 RS - Worlds Slowest Car...?

Thundering through corners at blistering speeds, touch-sensitive controls matched with the rip-roaring of a V12 – that’s the Porsche we all know and love.

The GT3 RS

Using Ultra Light Construction materials, an Austrian car enthusiast has put together the worlds lightest Porsche to date, it happens to be the slowest too – so ignore my previous introduction.

The Ferdinand GT3 RS takes the, well everything, out of Porsche. Constructed with plastic tubing, balsa wood and wheels so slim they’re not even bike-legal, you won’t be thundering round the Nuremberg in this one.

Essentials have been left out of the GT3 RS, and by essentials I mean everything – even the engine. This is a pedal-powered, leg-burning green machine, able to reach 0-60 in, well, never.

On display the Lentos Museum of Art, Linz, Austria – you’ll forgive if anyone who attempts to steal this vehicle as the get-away inside it will be worth the effort. Although if two thieves tried their hand at nabbing this golden beast, they might be able to carry it out – as it weighs just under 100 kilograms.

Draped in a golden finish, that’s duct-tape not paint, the GT3 RS will turn heads when ridden down around your place of residence, albeit quite slow, slightly confused heads.

Producing...0bhp...

It’s important to note here that, although it does replicate that of a Porsche 911 and has the same name of the company’s founder, the GT3 RS has nothing to do with the manufacturer (thank god!).

Recommended to suite drivers who hold James May’s ‘Captain Slow’ ethos mind, anyone who par-takes in the Tour De France and in general anyone who fancies a themselves a bit of a trend-setter – be sure to see if you can get your very own one built.

On a personal note, you may wish to purchase some weights, as if the wind picks up, you may find your Porsche has blown away.

Vauxhall Ampera vs Nissan Leaf

Vauxhall have recently announced an entry level version of the Ampera called the Ampera Earth. The Ampera is set to be very good competition for the popular Nissan Leaf. Both of these electric cars have very good features, but which one will come out on top? The cost of the Ampera earth will be £29,995 and this is after the £5000 government electric vehicle grant. The cost of the Leaf is looking a little kinder at £25,990, but not a huge amount of difference there. But the costs of the Nissan Leaf are set to drop in 2013, which should encourage a lot of people to go green.

The big difference between these two cars is the way that they run. The Nissan Leaf like a typical electric vehicle, it uses electricity only and had to be charged when the battery is dead. The charge time of the Leaf is anywhere between 1-15 hours depending on how much charge you need, assuming that you want it fully charged, it is going to take a very long time. The Vauxhall Ampera runs differently, you can charge it up overnight like a regular electric car, but you can put aside your fears of the battery running out as you are able to fill up at the pumps like a regular car. The Ampera runs in zero-emissions mode when it has been charged, but when it runs out it uses regular petrol to charge the electric engine back up.

I think this round goes to the Ampera; it combines convenience with looking after the environment. It also had very low running costs, particularly with shorter journeys as you can stay in zero-emissions mode. But don’t get me wrong, the Ampera has its bad points. The Leaf is much better value for money then the Ampera, the price of the Leaf is already around £4000 less than the Ampera, but it is also better equipped. With the Ampera you get the usual, Digital radio, Climate control, Bluetooth, Cruise control and Keyless entry. But these things are all very standard, anything else you will have as an extra which means more money. The Leaf comes with all of the equipment you could want and need; the only extras available are Solar panels and Parking sensors.

If you are looking to get into the Electric car market then both are good options, but we would recommend the Vauxhall Ampera. It has to be said that having convenience and peace of mind is not something that is found to often with electric cars, but the Ampera is different. As you do not need to worry about your range and the location of the next charging station, you have the freedom you would usually get with a petrol engine. Let’s not also forget that it is good for the environment and cheap to run!

Only time will tell which of these vehicles will win this electric car battle, but for now we have our money on the Ampera.

Mandatory In-Car Breathalysers to come to UK?

As of the 1st of July, it is mandatory for all people in France to carry a Breathalyser testing kit in their vehicle with them at all times. It is hoped that this will reduce the amount of alcohol related accidents and deaths in France. If you do not comply with this new rule then you will receive an 11 euro fine. This new rule will soon become common knowledge among French citizens, but when UK holiday makers travel to France they may be caught out by the rule.
The French drink drive limit is already lower than the UK limit, so this could see a lot of confusion. The UK limit is 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, whereas the French limit is 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.

There have been lots of talks about this new rule coming to the UK, but what would happen if it actually did? It may very well improve the situation we have with drink driving in the UK. But on the other hand it may just cause unnecessary confusion and unfair fines. Something does need to be done about the level of drink driving in the UK, but is this the right way to go about it?

The new rule has only just come into force in France, so we are not yet able to see if it had had a positive or negative effect on drink driving. The fines for not having a breathalyser in France are very small, making us think that it is not really going to be much of reminder for people to carry one with them. However the fines for actually drink driving a much higher, which is some comfort to peoples road safety.

We have to wonder what the fines would be like in the UK for not carrying a breathalyser if this rule was passed, would they be high? Or would they be quite low like France? How would the British public react if this rule was adopted? For the moment the rules in the UK will stay as they are, but we think it is likely that there will be similar changes with our system to try and reduce the drink drive problem, just like France.

Do we really think that carrying a breathalyser with you will change anything anyway? How many people who have had a drink or two are likely to use the device and how many people who did test themselves would think twice about driving? It is very hard to say how much of an impact this would have and what the reaction will be to this.

So if this rule was passed in the UK what would you think?

London 2012 - Olympics To Cause Road Nightmare

Slowly but surely, spectators are descending into London to marvel at the ever-pressing Olympic games. A buzz of excitement has slowly been hitting the streets as more and more fans from all over the world turn our capital into even more of a cosmopolitan paradise. One concern, however, which has been echoing throughout, is congestion on the roads.

Gridlocked London

There is no point in sugar-coating it – London is not the easiest place to be a vehicle owner. Simply walk around the capital and you’re bound to spot a few drivers behind the wheel desperately crooning their heads to find an empty parking space. With more and more people filtering into the city – are we ready for the sudden increased population, or will our roads be in a state of permanent semi-gridlock?

In 2005, during the bidding process, the Olympic Committee visited London to scope out these issues and see whether this concrete jungle could cope.

“There we no delays, quite simply” said bid committee boss Sir Keith Mills.

The fleet of vehicles filled with delegates was followed with a Bond-esque approach, GPS and CCTV tracked them for every movement to ensure no delays were present.

“Whenever they approached red traffic lights, we turned them green” Sir Mills added.

Sir Keith Mills Talks

Nothing is being left to chance with the coming games; the organisers are pushing for efficiency. Over 50 roads are planned to be wholly or partly closed-off during the events, traffic lights are to be effectively ‘turned off’ and a fair few of Big Towns side roads are to be conserved for athletes, VIPs and IOC members so they can get from their rather dapper Mayfair hotels to the stadium in, apparently, under 20-minutes.

Further to this, we will see nearly 60 crossings for the pedestrian to be made ‘out-of-action’ and just over 40 bus stops, closed. A planned action, dubbed ‘Traffic Light Phasing’ will be put into place and around 30-miles of special lanes (now to be called ‘The Olympic Route Network’) will be reserved for those of apparent importance, operating from 7.00am to 7.00pm.

The big question being whispered around the country is, and rightly so, is all this planning, effort and money-loss worth it? The cost to the capitals economy is estimated to be, well, enormous. The answer to this questions remains to be seen, road congestion itself is estimated by some to cost the UK an impressive £8 billion a year,

Figures can be misleading of course, a good example being the Governments current suggestion that our motorways may see an increase to 80mph to bring them on par with the a majority of other nations. The organisation ‘No to 80’ is already predicting, if this increase should go ahead, will cost over £1 billion a year, £62.4 million in road casualty costs, £180.4 million in carbon costs and £766.6 million to be from the petrol-pumps. Ignoring the carbon costs for a second, if the people at No to 80 are correct, the only strange statistic is why the Government hasn’t implemented this already – because £766.6 million at the pumps comes in at a champagne-glass-clinking £460million for the treasuries coffers in duties and VAT – what Chancellor is going to say no to that?

Fat Cats?

Debates will undoubtedly come into action with the Olympic Games. Greater London Authority member John Biggs has gone on-record, stating ‘giving priority to Olympic traffic by changing traffic light timing will clearly cause a massive problems.’ Maybe the vision, and soon-to-be reality, of fat cat Olympic sponsors and promoters lauding over their exclusive lanes whilst ‘ordinary’ locals suffer journeys that will be ‘three or four times longer than normal’ will be the smoking gun in reforming the way London drives.   

Have your say on the debate in the comments section below.
This article was written by the team at www.alternativeroutefinance.co.uk

The Best Business Car?

We’re spoilt for choice in today’s automotive market – which can be seen as both a good thing, and at the same time, quite the annoyance.  Today, I aim in this article to help you decide the best car for your business, let’s get to it.

Bringing together a complete hot-pot of classes and styles, but one thing in common about the vehicle to follow is that they are all fantastic additions to you and your fleet.

BMW 3-Series

The overall winner and one of my personal favourites out there right now, is the BM3 3-Series. Offering you the magical mix of both low, competitive running costs, strong performance, low driver taxation and badged with eco-friendly credentials – this is an award-winning vehicle and a great addition to your fleet.

The 3-Series proves that despite the selection of SUV’s and Crossovers, there is still room for the traditional saloon to powerhouse them out of the way - 63mpg, 119g/km c02 and around 800 miles on a tank of diesel thanks to modes such as ECO PRO and Efficient Dynamics. This car ticks all the boxes and, I mean come on, it’s a BMW.

Ford Focus

Ford also have provided business with a good options, the Focus 1.0T EcoBoost. This model has everything the business driver needs; it’s punchy with lots of low-down overtaking urge, smooth on the road due to good suspension and an overall relaxed vibe from the humming engine. A fantastic all-rounder

The i40

If estate vehicles are more your thing, look no further than the Hyundai i40 – take a bow Hyundai. Smartly styled and elegantly gifted with a huge boot that has, apparently, 1,719 litres of room – you’re sure to be able to put your golf clubs in there…and the caddy. Economical engines and a quality cabin with a five-year warranty, the i40 is just a cut above the rest.

Evoque

What about those of you who, rightfully so, just want to look a bit flash in the latest and greatest model? I welcome to you, the Land Rover Evoque. This is currently the UK’s most desired car and carves a new path for 

4x4’s everywhere – style, power and prestige. The 190bhp 2.2litre diesel delivers all the vroom you could ask for, fuse this with the 6-speed auto – this is a fantastic combo. High-quality materials and designed by the best – it’s a winner.

Volkswagen and Porsche Merge Deal

Volkswagen and Porsche have finally come to a deal over their merge, Volkswagen are going to buy the remaining 50.1% of Porsche that they do not currently own, Volkswagen had bought a 49.9% stake Porsche back in 2009.

 This merge of the two car manufacturers is set to happen on the 1st of August. Volkswagen is going to pay 4.46 billion Euros to for the share of Porsche so that they can merge into one. The Volkswagen chief executive has said that the merge will be “good for Volkswagen, good for Porsche and good for Germany as an industrial location”.

Things had not always run so smoothly between Volkswagen and Porsche, the two companies had agreed that they would merge back in 2009 and had said that it would be completed by the end of 2011. This was not to happen as they were faced with some large legal problems. One of the problems that they had both faced is the possibility of a very large tax bill. It was reported that this large tax bill may have been as high as 1 billion Euros, what had understandably put off both the companies.

Things have turned around a bit for the two companies as Porsche had been trying to take over Volkswagen for many years before. In 2009 Porsche had attempted to gain the required 75% stake it needed for the takeover of Volkswagen, but this attempt failed. But it is not all bad news for Porsche; with the merge of the two they will benefit greatly, their sales and production levels are set to rise which can only be good news as they have been through some harder times recently. We think that the merge will mean great things and a bright future for Volkswagen and Porsche, Porsche will be joining other successful Volkswagen brands such as Bentley, Bugatti and Skoda. This should be a very interesting future for the automotive industry.

London 2012 Mini Orchestra

Mini has caught the ever growing London Olympic fever and to celebrate they have performed on orchestra using Mini cars. Mini teamed up with the London Philharmonic orchestra in order to create the musical piece. The horn sounds from nine of the special edition London 2012 Mini’s have been used to create our national anthem, God Save The Queen. This is all to support team Brittan in the London 2012 Olympic Games, lets hope that it works!

Although it may seem like an odd way to show their support to team Brittan, the Mini has been a symbol of Brittan for many years; they are just bursting with British charm. So using the Mini to celebrate Brittan seems appropriate, fun and quirky. It’s also a very good advertisement tactic for the special edition Mini’s. Mini are only going to sell 2012 of the special edition 2012 Mini’s so if they are not already gone, you better get yours quick!

The special edition Mini’s are available in the Union Jack colours, Chilli Red, White Silver and Lightning Blue. They all feature a red white and blue strip which runs over the front to the rear of the vehicle and have the London 2012 logo on the roof, front seats and on the bodywork of the car. The inside of the vehicle also features red, white and blue stitching.

We have to wonder what the queen will think of the orchestra, will she feel inspired of just think it is a load of noise? Well the video of the orchestral national anthem can be seen in bellow, so would you all stand please for our national anthem…
 

Proposed London Grand Prix

How would you like to see the Grand Prix in the capital of England? Well this could soon be a reality as there are plans for a Grand Prix to take place in London. The planned route will show some of the biggest attractions in London such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, and Trafalgar Square. The CEO of Grand Prix management Bernie Ecclestone has said that he will pay more than £35 million to fund these plans for the London Grand Prix.

Bernie Ecclestone has always had hope that one day the Grand Prix would be hosted in London, and for this reason he will put the money needed to fund the event himself. The race course is set to be just over three miles long and was part designed by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. The grand stand is set to have 120,00 people watching the event and will be globally televised. It is said to generate up to £100 Million for our economy. In these times of struggle with our economy that is very good news. With Bernie Ecclestone paying for the event the country will see the full benefits.

Bernie Ecclestone Has said to the Times, “Think of what it would do for tourism, it would be fantastic, good for London, good for England – a lot better than the Olympics.” Maybe he is getting a bit ahead of himself claiming that it will be better than the London Olympics, but it will definitely mean good things for our country.

Although it would be a very good thing for our country all round, we do have to ask, is it feasible? To have such a large event in London with so many people coming from all around the world to see, with all of the perpetration and the risks? It is estimated that it would take up to five days to set everything up for the event and a further three days to take everything down and get it all back to normal. This means that there would be just over a week of disruption in the capital. We have to ask how this will affect London and will the profits of the event make up for the disruption caused?

Are You Ready for the Future?

Nissan Leaf Blowing up a Storm in Norway

The new eco-car from Nissan, the Leaf, has been proven extremely popular in Norway, statistics have revealed.

The Leaf has taken up 2% of the total marketing in February; an impressive statistic for a vehicle that many thought would simply flop due to the idea that the world is not yet ready to make the switch to electric powered motors.

The Nissan Leaf

Nissan claim that these sales have come directly from comprehensive incentives and a ‘developed charging infrastructure.’

Support from the Norwegian Government have helped Nissan and the Leaf become the second best selling Nissan in Norway, also grabbing a top 10 spot in overall car sales in February. Perhaps this should come as no surprise however, as Norway are known for it’s high level of support in Europe for electric vehicle purchases with zero VAT, new car tax, free parking and exemption from some tolls – as well as the use of bus lanes in the capital, Oslo.

The country boasts thousands of vehicle charging points, and Oslo again has over 3,500 of them – all public and a large chunk of them are free to use.

Paturet, General Manager, Nissan

Olivier Paturet, General manager at Zero Emissions Strategy, Nissan (Europe), was said to be delighted at these latest results. He stated “We are happy to see that the ambition of the Norwegian Government has matched our own with strong support for the widespread introduction of electric vehicles.”

Norway truly are leaps and bounds ahead of many other European countries with their electric vehicle support. Recharging stations are established and accessible, incentives are put in place to promote the sales for a cleaner country and we can truly see that Norway is going to be a leading force when it comes to electric powered vehicles.

So, in 2012 and the years the come – we expect to see some real contenders in the EV market. As of right now, well you still have a lot of options for your money – but where do you start? Below is a list of the ‘voted top-5’ electric vehicles currently on the market and those which are said to be released soon; watch your space, things are about to get a bit shocking.

Vauxhall Ampera:- £33,995

-         The Ampera is an electric car with a bit of a twist. This vehicle runs mostly on a set of lithium-ion batteries – which can be charged from your plugs at home! It provides both petrol and electrical power, giving you that safety net should the juice run dry. You’ve got about 35miles until that’ll happen though!

Toyota Prius Hybrid ‘Plug-in’:- £31,000

-         This vehicle has long been a standing member of the EV range, it’s known for being the grandfather of eco-friendly cars. It has an impressive c02 of just 49g/km and on 134.5mpg, that’s quite the statistic.

Tesla Model S:-  £36,450

-         This will be the first fully electric premium saloon and will go bonnet-to-bonnet, wheel to wheel with the likes of the 5-Series and the E-Classes. Tesla plan to give you the choice of what battery pack you want, offering 160/230/300 miles ranges, which will sweep any range-anxieties under the carpet. You’re gonna have a lot of comfort in this one too, with a planned 17” Dash-mounted displayed with next-gen sat-nav with internet access. How about that for a luxury?

Renault Fluence ZE:- £22,850

-         A cheap alternative thrown in here but for a strange reason. Buying this car means you have to lease batteries from Renault. Sounds a bit crazy right? Not completely. The batteries are leased on what sort of mileage you’ll be doing, for example, if you leased 6,000 worth of batteries (costing you around £88 a month) – then you’d renew when you’d finished those. If this turns you away, think about this:- The Fluence will most likely have stronger resale values than most rivals because its next owner will have no worries about the battery condition.

Say Hello to Karma

Fisker Karma:- £80,000 (ouch!)

-         I say ouch…it’s a lot of money, but is it worth it? The Karma is a beautiful looking (if not a bit sinister) EV. Sleek, shiny, sporty – you’d never guess batteries powered it. You’ll have two electric motors and a 20kWh battery pack will drives each of the rear wheels for up to 50miles, which should be enough for the daily commuters and city dwellers. The stats Fisker have given us are sceptical, but not impossible. They claim 0.60mph will be achieved in under 6 seconds and a top speed of 143mpg – so thrilling too! This one is set to shake the automotive industry, better start saving those pennies.