CHARGING TO THE BEST BEACHES

ENGLANDS's best beaches to visit in an electric car this summer have been revealed in a new study by Citroën UK and Roker and Seaburn beaches near Sunderland on the North east coast have emerged as the most EV-friendly locations for drivers looking for an easy getaway.

To rank the top 10 beaches in England for electric vehicle drivers, Citroën compared how close the highest-rated beaches on TripAdvisor were to the 10 most populated cities in the country, with the requirement that they can be reached using the 219-mile all-electric range of Citroën e-C4 Electric. Additional points were awarded according to the number of public charging points within a two-mile area for each beach.

Roker and Seaburn beaches can be reached from eight major cities, including Birmingham and Liverpool, while the local area contains 13 public electric vehicle chargers. For electric car drivers based in London, second place Brighton beach is a short 53-mile drive away and offers more than 120 public chargers within a two-mile radius.

Third place Bournemouth beach can be reached from six major cities and, although it only has 11 public chargers within two miles, it has the highest number of rapid chargers. Other seaside resorts which made the top ten are Humanby Gap and Whitby, North Yorkshire, Fistral Beach, Newquay and Porthminster Beach, St Ives, Cornwall, Weymouth and Sandbanks, Dorset and Tunnels Beach, Ilfracombe, Devon.

NEW CIVIC TYPE R TEASED

ENTHUSIASTS have little more than a week to wait before Honda unveils its much-anticipated new Civic Type R - and the Japanese maker has issued a teaser picture to whet the appetite.

The world premiere of the latest Type R will take place in the early hours of the morning - 3am to be precise - on Thursday, July 21. This global unveil will showcase the car ahead of its arrival in Europe in early 2023.

This week also marks a day of celebration for Honda, as it's the 50th anniversary of the Honda Civic series, which first went on sale on July 12,1972 while this year also marks a quarter of a century since the crimson Type R badge was first introduced.

USED CAR PRICES STILL ON THE UP

USED cars cost an average of almost 24 per cent more than a year ago, but remain more than 40 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest data from the Auto Trader Retail Price Index.

The index, which is based on daily pricing analysis of around 900,000 vehicles, reveals that the average price of a used car increased 23.7 per cent year-on-year and on a like-for-like basis in June.

Although it's the 27thmonth of consecutive price increases, it marks a further softening in the rate of growth, easing from the 28.4 per cent increase recorded in May, and the all-time high of 32.2 per cent in April.

Used car prices remain exceptionally strong, says Auto Trader, with average used car prices having increased by £3,300over the last two years, and a massive £4,500in the last three.

Even so, the volume of used car enquiries being sent to retailers is up a huge 67 per cent on June 2019. As well as highlighting robust underlying car buying demand, this growth also reflects the change in buyer behaviour to make contact before visiting a forecourt, according to the magazine.

KEEP YOUR PETS COOL IN THE CAR

ROAD safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is encouraging pet owners to ensure their animals are kept cool and safe on car journeys during the current heatwave that's affecting much of the country.

The call comes as forecasters predict continued sunny and warmer weather, with temperatures possibly reaching the high 30s by the weekendâ¦

GEM chief executive Neil Worth urges pet owners to ensure they don't put their animals at risk by leaving them without shade, water or ventilation.

"No one like to see an animal suffering from the heat and panting excessively. So, when the fierce heat strikes, we need to be sure we provide our pets with ways to help them stay cool.

"This is not just a good idea - it's the law. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it's illegal to leave an animal in a hot vehicle. If your dog becomes ill or dies, you are likely to face a charge of animal cruelty.

"This offence can bring a prison sentence of up to six month and/or a fine of up to £20,000."