Millbrook – 2024 !

SMMT Chief, Mike Hawes gives us the annual industry presentation.
…clearly not enough private individuals which could be aided by more government support although electric vehicles will be taxed from April 2025 – incredible !
“Zero emission cars first registered on or after 1 April 2017 will be liable to pay the lowest first year rate of VED (Vehicle Excise Duty) which currently applies to vehicles with CO2 emissions 1 to 50g/km. From the second year of registration onwards, zero emission cars will move to the standard annual rate.” (www.gov.uk)
MG3 Hybrid. A new model at long last with a surprisingly agile feel on Millbrook’s hill circuit. In my view, some interior plastics and rear legroom are dubious.
The new Suzuki Swift includes a lot of kit including a driver’s display screen that will provide a refreshing change from spending all day on a laptop – NOT !
The electric Ora from Great Wall Motors is a good drive and is known as the Funky Cat in China ! Expensive though.
Jeep must have lots of cash as two of their vehicles (according to an instructor) have been drowned on the off-road course by helpless hacks. Clay clods in the wet but as long as you keep momentum, the Rubicon will slide through most of it. Interestingly areas of the course are sandy which was brought in to vary the terrain.
MG3 Hybrid
MG3 display screen showing our driving figures.
A bad day for lawn-mower man, abandoning it by the side of the city circuit. The coldest SMMT test day at this time of year in my memory. That Kia Picanto reached just over 100mph on the little-used Bowl circuit although interestingly, speed increased over one area of it – centrifugal forces or wind speed ?
A discrete display of the ID2 concept which I chanced upon – on my way to the loo !
Electric MG4 replicates the drive of MG3 despite the latter being a hybrid. The company has upped its game even giving an EV BMW estate a run for its money on the hill circuit. Batteries for the MG are supplied by CATL of China – of course.
New Astra courtesy of Stellantis. I’ll keep my 2012 2.0 CDTi thanks as I’ll argue it was the best built without the silly gimmickry you can see above.

Words and photos are copyright of Sotiris Vassiliou

May 2024

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