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Cars

5 Of The Cheapest Trucks Chevrolet Ever Made

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During a tumultuous time in automotive historical past, simply earlier than the oil disaster — when emissions requirements sharply elevated — Chevrolet debuted the LUV. The compact LUV pickup is clearly impressed by the vehicles Japanese producers had been promoting on the time. The LUV stands for “Light Utility Vehicle,” and has a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine. With a smaller engine, the LUV could not deal with the extra rugged duties of a full-size truck, however was extra gasoline environment friendly. LUV consumers acquired 75 horsepower and 88-pound toes of torque, which wasn’t all that spectacular. However, the little truck did obtain over 32 miles per gallon on the freeway, saving drivers cash on the pump.

Not solely was the LUV extra environment friendly by way of gasoline economic system, but it surely was additionally pretty cheap. In 1972, you would drive a brand new LUV off the Chevrolet lot for simply $2,196. Adjusted for inflation, the LUV would price $15,477 right this moment, which is a far cry from the price of a brand new 2024 Chevy Colorado (Chevy’s smallest truck), which begins at $29,500. Fondly remembered, the LUV is the classic mini-truck we wish Chevrolet would bring back.

News

UK “sleepwalking into EV crisis” after authorities price range snub

Car makers have accused the UK authorities of “sleepwalking into an EV crisis” after chancellor Jeremy Hunt snubbed calls from throughout the trade to introduce EV incentives.

During his hour-long spring price range assertion, Hunt introduced nothing to both incentivise shopping for or cut back the price of proudly owning an EV because the UK gears as much as ban new ICE automotive gross sales in 2035.

This lack of EV incentives has been blasted by Stellantis-owned manufacturers Fiat and Vauxhall, the latter a key participant within the UK automotive manufacturing sector.

Vauxhall managing director James Taylor stated the price range “has not delivered the acceleration needed to stop the UK’s transition to electric vehicles from stalling”.

Calls for purchasing incentives have turn into louder for the reason that authorities’s introduction of the ZEV mandate, which legislates that automotive producers should hit an EV sale goal – 22% of their whole gross sales this 12 months.

Car makers argue that non-public patrons ought to get the identical incentives as fleet patrons.

Taylor stated: “Whilst there are robust incentives for firm automotive drivers to make the swap to electrical, together with for these selecting luxurious autos, the non-public purchaser who needs a extra attainable small or household automotive receives nothing.  

“If we are to meet the rightly ambitious targets laid out in the ZEV mandate, then there needs to be incentives for private car buyers to make the switch to electric, as there are in the majority of European nations.”

Damien Dally, UK boss of Fiat (which at the moment gives its personal £3000 grant on EV purchases) was one of the vocal critics of the price range. 

“It’s hugely disappointing that the chancellor has failed to reinstate financial incentives for electric vehicle buyers in today’s budget,” Dally stated.

“The authorities has set the course of journey by imposing the zero-emission automobile mandate and ne-zero goal however is doing nothing to incentivise retail prospects to drive electrical autos.

“The demand for electrical autos is waning and we’re sleepwalking into an electrical automobile disaster. The authorities can be doubtlessly placing its net-zero goal in danger. 

“Without any authorities monetary incentive, there’s no cause for the buyer to make the swap.

“Unfortunately, it seems the switch to electric isn’t a priority for the government.”

Mike Hawes, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), stated: “Government has been eager to guarantee the UK automotive trade’s competitiveness, with help for EV improvement and manufacturing, together with £2.1 billion in autumn’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan, however there may be little to assist client demand. 

News

Vehicle sharing ‘more key’ than EV adoption in climate battle

According to a British firm called Coastr, vehicle sharing is a more significant solution to address the climate crisis compared to the widespread adoption of electric cars. This firm claims to have the technology to make vehicle sharing a reality.

Coastr has developed software that allows automotive firms, such as car rental, car subscription, and car sharing companies, to transition from a traditional, paper-heavy approach to a fully digital system. They argue that currently only 6% of the world’s 2.4 billion vehicles are part of vehicle-sharing programs.