As new data shows the number of vehicles stolen has risen by nearly a third in the past three years, a simple plug in device working with a smartphone app will tell a motorist the exact location of their car at any given time, aiding its speedy recovery by the Police.   The Smartplug from connected car service, Smartdriverclub, slots in under the dashboard enabling a range of services, from accident assistance to stolen vehicle tracking as well as insurance.

Penny Searles, CEO of Smartdriverclub says: “The number of vehicles on the road with tracking capabilities is growing exponentially as a by-product of telematics insurance and the growth of connected cars, eliminating much of the work required by the Police in locating stolen vehicles with this technology. We know Police resource is under severe pressure, so being able to take advantage of this technology at zero cost to them, works in everyone’s interests.

“Sadly many stolen vehicles are used in other acts of crime and are usually driven at speed and without care so it is vital the car is recovered quickly.  A simple piece of tech that the driver can add themselves to their car will identify the exact location of the vehicle so that we can alert the Police.  It’s free to insurance customers along with services such as accident support, alerts to mechanical issues and fuel monitoring and has already aided a number of vehicle theft recoveries for our customers.

“The Government has challenged the insurance industry to use technology to de-risk driving and incentivise safer driving.  Smartdriverclub has more than met this challenge. Connected technology in cars can cut accidents, support theft tracking and reduce insurance premiums.  The more motorists that have tracking capabilities, the more chance we have of bringing motor insurance costs down for all.”

Smartdriverclub comprises the following services in one package:

My Mechanic - This will alert a motorist if a car problem crops up, suggest what they can do about it and find a local dealer they can talk to.  This includes TAX and MOT reminders

Crash Assistance - If the customer is in a collision and Smartdriverclub can’t reach the customer on their mobile phone, they will contact the emergency services and direct them to the location.

Stolen Car - An in-car tracker activated by the customer means that if it’s stolen, the Police should know exactly where to look.

My Driving - Motorists can save money on fuel costs by seeing how efficiently their car performs on each journey with a smart driving history that helps them manage fuel use.

My Deals - Customers can save money on everything from servicing to new tyres. Just tap through the app for the latest deal from their dealership.

Value My Car - Smartdriverclub provides a valuation of the customer’s car that’s actually based on their car so that they can use this instant price for better deals and finance.

Where Did I Park? - A handy little map is provided to those that have forgotten where they parked

Business Miles – Business drivers can accurately record their business vs personal miles and download the information directly into their expense forms, confident that it is validated information for mileage claims

Club Insurance –  Preferential rates for good drivers based on their driving behaviour, to ensure customers are not paying for the poor behaviour of others.

Harley-Davidson's big 115th Anniversary is all planned for August 29 - September 2, 2018 in Milwaukee. The event is a call to all motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world to join in the grand, citywide celebration.

The party is not just about a landmark anniversary of a brand that began in a wooden shed over 100 years but a chance for a great party attended by tens of thousands of motorcyclists.

Judging by past events, there will be headliner music, racing, foods of international flavor, museum tours, custom bike shows, marriage ceremony packages, bike parade (which drew 6,000 motorcyclists for the 110th), probably dancing and extreme camaraderie.

The line-up has yet to be announced but at the 110th Anniversary the likes of Kid Rock, Aerosmith, ZZ Top and the Blue Oyster Cult were a few of the 28 headliner acts and 60 bands.

In an age where many of us have satnavs built into our cars or smartphones, one may presume that getting lost while driving is now a thing of the past. But British drivers collectively spend more than seven million* hours lost while driving every month, according to new research from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, released ahead of the August bank holiday, when around 13m cars are expected to be on the roads to enjoy the long weekend.

While 84% of UK motorists have a satnav (up from 54% ten years ago) the research found that in total, a huge 38% admit that they have been lost while driving in the past month – for an average of 28 minutes. And many admit they only have themselves to blame – 60% say they got lost because they weren’t paying attention, 30% say they tried to beat the satnav by trying to take a better route to avoid congestion and 24% just didn’t follow the satnav’s instructions.

The research, which was conducted among 4,500 motorists from the UK, Spain, France, Germany, and Ireland, found that British drivers were the most likely to get lost. And when drivers from the UK do get lost, they’re not comfortable asking for help. Just 42% say that they are prepared to ask for directions when they find they don’t know where they are going.

In most instances, getting lost is little more than an inconvenience, but the consequences can be more serious. One in 20 British drivers (5%) say that they have even called 999 after getting severely lost in their car. And not knowing the way can lead to missing important events and dealing with the unexpected – 5% say they have missed a flight or a wedding, while 4% have had to camp in the car for the night after getting lost.

Given that getting lost can lead to sudden overnight stays and changes of plans, UK motorists may perhaps need to prepare more for the possibility that they may lose their way. In fact, when heading off on a long journey, drivers from the UK are more likely to check that they have a pair of sunglasses in the car (40%) than they are to take extra clothes and blankets (22%) or carry a first aid kit (34%).

Ben Lawson, Vice President of Rental for Europe, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, says: “Even with all the technology at our fingertips, getting lost while driving is still something we all have to deal with. Over the summer, many of us drive abroad on holiday, and in many cases on roads that we are unfamiliar with.  Being prepared in case you do get lost on the road is important, especially as, on average, our research shows that people driving to or during their holidays this summer will be covering more than 500 miles. Closer to home, millions of Brits will be hitting the roads to get away during the bank holiday – and no one wants to start their break off by not being able to find their destination.

“We would advise anyone renting a vehicle to ask the team at the counter for help. If you don’t have a map or your own GPS, companies like Enterprise can rent you one by the day. You can also access our roadside assistance for help in any country, or reach out to one of our local branches if you are lost. In the UK, for example, we have around 450 locations around the country, so we’re never far away and we’re happy to help.”

Some of the most talented design students in the UK, from Central Saint Martins, UAL (CSM), are being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to design a car for the future and win an exclusive internship with Renault’s top designers, based in Paris. For the second year, Renault is teaming up with Central Saint Martins (CSM), a world-leading centre for art and design, to challenge its MA Industrial Design students within this unique contest.

Additionally, a new collaboration sees Renault and designjunction partnering for the first time. designjunction, London’s leading destination that presents more than 200 of the world’s most iconic brands, will showcase Renault’s design philosophy by creating an immersive experience for visitors to the show, to be held 21-24 September in King’s Cross, London.

This year students have been asked to consider ways in which cars may be used and shared in future, when owning a car outright may become less prevalent. The competition requires students to suggest how Renault might use modularity to design a car which can be adapted for many different requirements and for a range of potential drivers.

The winner will spend two weeks at the Renault Technocentre in Paris, working with senior designers and experiencing cutting-edge technology such as a full-size virtual reality suite, which puts the designer right inside the vehicle. Their winning design will go on display at this year’s designjunction exhibition.

Renault’s award-winning concept, the TreZor, will also be on show, housed inside a bespoke interactive structure on the centrally located Granary Square at designjunction. With its welcoming style and services geared towards driving pleasure, this electric GT embodies future mobility and automotive passion. The surrounding stand will take visitors behind the scenes of the concept, highlighting the extraordinary skill and care that went into its creation.

This year’s design competition will be judged by a panel of experts well known in both the design and motor industries, lead by head judge Anthony Lo, Vice-President of Exterior Design at Groupe Renault. Anthony Lo said: “Last year it was really fascinating to see some of the brightest upcoming design talent take on the challenge of how autonomous technology might influence the world of transportation in the future. I’ve been very impressed by the Central Saint Martins students’ creativity, team work and professionalism, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what they produce this year.”

Nick Rhodes, Programme Director, Product Ceramic & Industrial Design, Central Saint Martins said: “Conceptualising futures is a key preoccupation for industrial designers, and having the opportunity to partner in this enterprise once more with Renault as a manufacturer of resolute commitment to design-led innovation is a great challenge and a terrific opportunity for our students.”

Last year’s competition was won by the all-female team behind the Renault Oura, a one-person wearable vehicle suit with a gesture-controlled, virtual reality in-visor display. Following the placement with Renault, team member Lily Saporta Tagiuri, said: “The design centre in Paris was amazing because we got to see a range of design approaches, participate in some of the construction and gain a sense of what it would be like to work there. We also got to talk to the entire design team and present our ideas and get their feedback. I came away feeling really curious and really excited to have seen the concept models. I think I’ve definitely changed my perception of what the automotive world is capable of and where they are moving in the future.”

It's almost time to polish those bikes and head to Daytona Beach for the 25th Anniversary of Biketoberfest® October 19-22, 2017! Organizers are preparing to welcome up to 150,000 riders and visitors from around the world to the four-day motorcycle rally.

At the Official Biketoberfest® Welcome Center on Beach Street, staff will be passing out free (while supplies last) 25th Anniversary collectible Official Biketoberfest® posters, pocket guides and pins, and encouraging visitors to mark their home town on world maps.

“We have a core audience that's been attending this event since the start,” said Lori Campbell Baker, executive director of the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), “and it's not uncommon to see Brazil, Canada, Germany and the UK pinned on the maps. It's amazing to see the international crowd this rally draws, as well as the increase in women riders and sportbikes over the years, and the youth drawn to the rally's signature racing events at Daytona International Speedway.”

Biketoberfest® officially kicks off with a press conference to be held at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, October 19, at 10 a.m. and is open to the public. Held on the Harley-Davidson Thunder Alley Stage next to the FPL Solar Pavilion in the Midway, this fan-friendly area is also a major hub of Biketoberfest® activity. The rally tradition will continue along Main Street, Riverfront Park and Midtown in Daytona Beach, as well as at Destination Daytona and US1 in Ormond Beach, and throughout Volusia County in nearby New Smyrna Beach and DeLand.

City of Wolverhampton Council’s refurbished Civic Centre Car park is officially an award-winner after picking up a major national accolade.

The facility scooped the ‘Best Car Park Refurbishment’ gong at the British Car Parking Awards during a glitzy ceremony held in London last Friday which was hosted by actress and comedian Debra Stephenson.

The award recognised projects that have transformed tired and ageing car parks into safe, attractive and user-friendly facilities.

Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for city environment, said: “These are the Oscars of the car parking world and we are delighted that our Civic Centre Car Park has been given this national recognition.

“The car park has been totally transformed into a bright, modern, welcoming facility that couldn’t be more different from the aging facility we had before.

“Thanks to our investment, we now officially have the best refurbished car park in the whole of the UK and this is something we should be very proud of.”

The award comes after the Civic Centre Car Park was shut for five months last year for a £2 million improvement scheme to give the car park a new lease of life as part of the Future Space Programme.

Essential repairs and maintenance to the 40-year-old car park have been carried out to extend the life of the facility and to provide a vastly better customer experience in a more modern environment.

Much of the work involved behind the scenes structural and engineering work to address concrete erosion and make the car park water proof. Other improvements included lighting, wider spaces, wayfinding signage and payment systems.