Tag Archives: proposed

ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS WELCOMES YOUNG ARCHAEOLOGISTS.

  • Rolls-Royce Motor Cars undertakes detailed archaeological survey on the location of its proposed extension
  • Conducted by consultants from Oxford Archaeology, considered one of Europe’s largest and longest-established unbiased archaeology and heritage practices
  • Children from Years 3, 4 and 5 at neighbouring March CE Primary School invited to change into ‘junior archaeologists’ for a day
  • Artefacts discovered through the survey can be shared with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ neighbours later this 12 months

 
“As Rolls-Royce Motor Cars celebrates 120 years of the marque in 2024, we look back to the distant past, of the place we call home, and reflect on how we are a small part of the long history of Westhampnett. This archaeological survey, conducted as part of the due diligence for our recent planning application, is providing new insights into the fascinating story of the area surrounding us. It was a particular pleasure to welcome children from The March CE Primary School; as well as discovering more about the hidden world around them, they were greatly inspired by the Oxford Archaeology team’s amazing work, with a number telling us they’re now considering it as a future career! We look forward to sharing these artefacts with our neighbours later this year.”
Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations and Heritage, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Roman roof tiles, traces of human fingerprints, animal paw prints, pigs’ tooth and pottery shards (or ‘potsherds’) over 2,000 years outdated are amongst greater than 20,000 artefacts unearthed in an in depth archaeological survey carried out on the location of the proposed extension to the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is keenly conscious of the richness and significance of the native space’s historical past. The survey, which started in November 2023, was carried out by consultants from Oxford Archaeology, considered one of Europe’s largest and longest-established unbiased archaeology and heritage practices. As a charitable organisation, it additionally gives instructional actions as a part of its providers. Children from Years 3, 4 and 5 at The March CE Primary School, which adjoins the Home of Rolls‑Royce, had been invited onto the location to see the work at first hand. The staff defined what archaeology is, its significance and methodologies, and the position archaeologists play in uncovering and deciphering the previous.

Working in small teams, the kids had been tasked to assume like archaeologists, piecing collectively potsherds, some courting again to 200 BC, and analyzing a spread of different discoveries. Out on-site, the archaeologists confirmed them proof of earlier settlements in what’s now Westhampnett, together with roads and homes. This helps the kids join with their house space’s lengthy historical past – inspiring future profession aspirations in some instances.

The artefacts are presently present process additional research and cataloguing, to develop a extra detailed image of life within the space over the previous two millennia. One early speculation is that the location was as soon as used for metal-working actions. If confirmed, this might imply Rolls-Royce is definitely persevering with an extended however typically neglected industrial custom on this a part of southern England.

Throughout the method of making ready its planning software, Rolls-Royce has been dedicated to transparency and optimistic engagement with the local people. In this spirit, the artefacts can be positioned on show in a neighborhood venue later this 12 months, permitting residents to realize new and engaging insights into the place they and Rolls-Royce name house.

West Sussex has been inhabited for the reason that early Old Stone Age, or Lower Palaeolithic interval, round 500,000 years in the past. Nearby Chichester was based by the Romans, and Fishbourne Roman Palace, to the west of town, is the most important Roman residence north of the Alps. Chichester was rebuilt and fortified by King Alfred the Great within the 9th Century: its magnificent Cathedral dates from Norman instances. The Home of Rolls-Royce itself stands on a nook of the Goodwood Estate, household seat of the Dukes of Richmond for over 300 years.

Tax hike for pick-ups reversed by UK authorities

One week on from proposed new company car taxes for double-cab pick-up vehicles HMRC has scrapped the plans.

Company automobile scheme customers who purchased or leased a double-cab pick-up truck had been as a result of see the benefit in kind (BIK) funds sky rocket below proposals introduced on 12 February, however in a dramatic U-turn after criticism from farmers and the motor trade it has reversed its determination.

HRMC had introduced that they’d not take into account double-cab pick-up trucks as industrial autos, as their second row of seats allowed them to have a twin perform as a private car.

The change to firm automobile tax BIK for double-cab pick-up vehicles was as a result of be applied on all new purchases or leases from 1 July 2024, and would have meant house owners not paid a flat fee of BIK for all industrial autos and as a substitute be taxed utilizing the emissions-based system used for passenger vehicles.

Double-cab pick-up house owners would due to this fact seemingly have been lumbered with the very best 37% fee of BIK because of the excessive CO2 emissions of most pick-up vehicles.

In a press release, HMRC stated “its existing guidance will be withdrawn” and that double-cab pick-ups would “continue to be treated as goods vehicles rather than cars”. As a outcome, “businesses and individuals can continue to benefit from its historic tax treatment”.

The preliminary determination was as a result of a ruling within the Court of Appeal that said multi-purpose autos like pick-up vehicles are passenger vehicles, after HMRC received a case towards Coca-Cola over the classification of five-seat vans.

The repercussions of that ruling had meant that the tax “loophole” permitting pick-up vehicles to be classed as industrial autos was forged into doubt, threatening the excessive quantity of gross sales for pick-up vehicles within the UK.

Despite the change of coronary heart, nevertheless, it’s going to solely have an effect on double-cab pick-ups with a payload of multiple tonne. Double-cab pick-ups with payloads under 1000kg, just like the Ford Ranger Raptor, will proceed to be classed as passenger vehicles.

Tesla Might Lock Heated Seats Behind A Paywall

Some car manufacturers have suggested offering subscription services for features like heated seats or access to advanced safety features. BMW was one of the first to consider this, but ultimately backed down after facing significant backlash. However, this hasn’t stopped other companies from exploring similar ideas.

Tesla is now reportedly contemplating adding subscription-based features to its future vehicles. A hacker known as GreenTheOnly delved into Tesla’s upcoming 2023.38 vehicle software update and found that heated front seats and heated windshield wipers could be hidden behind a paywall for new models. Additionally, it was discovered that the Tesla Model Y SUV may have a software-locked battery capacity for the Standard Range trim, potentially allowing for more consistent production across different trims.

This would not be the first time Tesla has placed premium features behind a paywall. In the past, the company has charged for footwell lights in the Model 3, additional battery capacity for older Model S and X vehicles, and even heated seats (which have since been removed).

It’s important to note that these findings from GreenTheOnly are not confirmed. As reported by InsideEVs, Tesla may continue to reduce the base price of the Model 3 to maintain price-based tax incentives. Offering some features as add-ons could support this approach.

Efforts have been made to reach out to Elon Musk for comment, and the story will be updated with his response.

X CEO Confirms Video Calling Is On The Way As Musk Continues Twitter Transformation

According to recent reports, video calls and several other new features are on the horizon for X, the transformed version of Twitter under Elon Musk’s leadership. Though these features have not yet been launched and are either in the proposal stage or in beta testing with select users, they are expected to greatly enhance the platform. Some of the recent additions include creator subscriptions, longer posts of up to 25,000 characters, an Articles tool similar to Substack, and the capability to upload long-form videos.

Video calling seems to be a major focus for the company, as it has actively highlighted these new features. Furthermore, Twitter has witnessed the launch of a new original show by political pundit Tucker Carlson after his departure from Fox News, and Apple has leveraged the platform to promote its sci-fi series “Silo” by uploading the pilot episode. Clearly, video content holds significant importance for X’s future.

In addition to video calls, Twitter’s transformation into X is also centered around online financial tools. The company has recently expressed its interest in developing a stock-trading hub, similar to Robinhood, within the app. Moreover, Twitter intends to establish itself as a digital wallet or online banking service, comparable to the all-in-one platform WeChat. This digital payment feature will allow users to make payments to content creators on the site as well as external third parties.

During an interview, online payments were mentioned alongside video calls as key elements of the company’s future plans. X’s CEO stated, “When Elon announced me joining the company… I was joining him to help him transition Twitter to X, that everything app.” The immediacy and real-time aspect of video calls align with X’s branding and its goal of providing a seamless interface for users to engage with the platform.

NHTSA Pushes for Auto Emergency Braking to Become Standard on Big Trucks and Buses

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently proposed a new rule that would require automatic emergency braking (AEB) on passenger vehicles. Now, the agency is expanding its reach by suggesting that the same rule apply to heavy-duty trucks and buses weighing over 10,000 pounds.

According to NHTSA estimates, this technology could save around 155 lives per year and prevent over 8,800 injuries. The agency’s data shows that approximately 60,000 heavy-duty vehicles are involved in rear-end crashes, and implementing this technology could potentially prevent more than 19,000 of these accidents annually.

Passenger vehicles would also benefit greatly from this technological advancement. NHTSA believes that requiring AEB on all passenger vehicles traveling at speeds up to 62 miles per hour could save a minimum of 340 lives each year and reduce injuries by 24,000.

A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2022 found that pickup trucks equipped with AEB had a 43% lower rate of causing rear-end collisions and a 42% reduction in related injuries. Interestingly, only 8% of registered pickups in 2021 came with AEB as a standard feature. However, several major automakers, including Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Ram, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, now offer trucks with AEB systems as standard.

While technology like AEB undoubtedly saves lives and minimizes injuries, a separate study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also revealed that vehicles equipped with crash prevention technology, including AEB, can be more challenging to repair. The research found that approximately half of the surveyed individuals encountered issues with these features even after completing repairs, raising concerns about their reliability and potentially increasing repair costs over time.

If the proposal for both passenger cars and heavy-duty vehicles is approved, it would take three years for the ruling to go into effect. However, NHTSA has not specified when a final decision will be made, so it may take several more years before customers see these changes implemented in new vehicles, regardless of size, as automakers continue to enhance standard safety features in their latest models.