Motoring Podcast - News Show

FOLLOW UP: SMART #2 CORRECTION
During the last Special Edition, we got a few details incorrect when discussing the Smart #2. One of our listeners, Tony, kindly pointed this out to us. Thank you, as we try to be correct and if we make a mistake we like to correct it. If you want to listen to the Paris Motor Show episode, click either of these links here.
To 👂 via streaming click 👉 https://www.motoringpodcast.com/episodes/2026/10/23/se716
To 👂 via other services click 👉 mpnewsshow.captivate.fm/list
VOLVO TO CUT WORKFORCE
Volvo will be shedding around 2,500 jobs, mainly in Sweden, following a poor third quarter in 2026. They are aiming at mainly temporary consultants and through “natural attrition”. Håkan Samuelsson, CEO, also has a plan to stop the rot in their sales in China. If you wish to read more, click this Autocar article link here.
BOSCH RESTRUCTURING HIGHLIGHTS SUPPLIER’S STRUGGLES
Bosch is splitting out several of their divisions into independent entities, wholly owned by themselves, as it seeks to try and be more competitive. The Mobility division has announced 900 jobs to go at their Nuremberg site, which is on top of 22,000 redundancies announced last year. For more on this, click the link here to an electrive article.
GOVERNMENT TURNS ATTENTION TO PRIVATE PARKING RULES
The UK Government is releasing a new Private Parking Code of Practice, which is aimed at making it fairer to users and feel a little bit less of a rip-off. There will be longer grace to times, ability to appeal, not be so heavily penalised for typing your registration in correctly and more. The RAC had called for even more steps, which have not been included. To find out the full details, click this Motoring Research article link here.
HONDA TESTING INDUCTION CHARGING WHILST DRIVING
Honda, in collaboration with Taisei and Taisei Rotec, is trialling induction charging but for vehicles on the move. This will mean a power transmitter is embedded into the road with a receiver fitted to the car allowing recharging as the car is driven along. The companies state that real world testing will begin in the spring of 2027. If you want to learn more, click this Top Gear article link here.
OCTOPUS REDUCES FLEET EV CHARGING COSTS
Octopus is reducing the amount it costs fleets to charge their EVs, if signed up to the Octopus Fleet subscription service. This equates up to 30% off. By managing to do this, the company is hoping to gain business. To read more, click this Autocar article link here.
If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -
BMW iX3 M60
BMW has M’d the iX3 and given it a powertrain that supplies up to 604bhp and 645lb ft of the torques. This enables a claimed 0-62mph of 3.9 seconds. Range is down on the rest of the models offered, with a maximum potential of 468 miles, which is still mighty impressive. Prices are yet to be confirmed but the current top of the range costs about £60,000, therefore you can expect a hefty premium to that. Click this EV Powered article link here, for more.
Nissan Kicks
Nissan is going to build the Kicks, their B-segment SUV, in Nissan for the UK and European markets. This will replace the ICE powered Juke, with a hybridised combustion engine powertrain. Details are scant, but it is expected to be in showrooms from summer 2027. Click this Autocar article for more.
iCaur V27
Chery is bringing their fifth brand to the UK, in early 2027, as iCaur launches with the V27, a chunky large off-roader with 450bhp range-extender electric powertrain in its own market. Details are thin on the ground but looking at European markets, the prices could be well below the cheapest Defender. Click this Autocar article here, to learn more.
LUNCHTIME READ AND WATCH: TUTTO BENE HILLCLIMB 2026
The Tutto Bene Hillclimb is an event unlike others. It is not about being the fastest but about enjoying an eclectic mix of cars and seeing them drive. The motto is “slow down to go fast” and that is also the ethos. Click this article link from Classic Trader here, to find out about this fabulous event.
To watch examples of what was there this year, click this YouTube video link here.
To get a hint of the atmosphere, click this YouTube video link here.
LIST OF THE WEEK: SUMMER SCORCHERS
As the weather, in the UK, has turned decidedly grim, we bring you a list that reminds us all that we did have some sunshine earlier this year. Antony Ingram on Hagerty has listed the best cars from the previous famous heatwave year of 1976. Do you agree with the choice made? Click this link to see your options.
AND FINALLY: CAN’T PARK THERE MATE, KIDS EDITION
During the public days of the Paris Motor Show a Mercedes VLE electric van was crashed into a wall from the display stand. That’s an oops, but it gets worse as it was a child who did this due to being able to power up the vehicle and then engage reverse. Maybe someone needs to rethink the whole keyless systems? Click this Carscoops article link to check out the story.

The Paris Motor Show took place between the 12 and 18 October 2026. Alan and Andrew round up the highlights that caught their eye during the week.
For Autocar’s main coverage and report, click this link here.
For Average Joes’s coverage, click this link here.
For a sweep by Autocar, of the new cars being shown, click this link here.
To watch Tim Rodie Drives Stuff tour of the show, click this YouTube link here.
For DefinitetlyNotAGuru’s tour, click this YouTube link here.
To see what the House of Cars channel found interesting, click this YouTube link here.
If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

FOLLOW UP: MOTOR FINANCE REDRESS HEARING IN 2027
The date for the hearing of the two complaints into the motor finance redress scheme has been confirmed to take place between 16 and 26 February 2027. The scheme will remain in its current semi-suspended status until after the rulings. There is a potential for the ruling to not take place until the summer of 2027 with compensation expected to take place from 2028. For more on this matter, click this article link from The Law Gazette here.
CHINA REDUCING TAX REBATE FOR EXPORTED NEVS
The Chinese Government has announced that it is reducing the VAT rebate on exporting battery electric and plug in hybrid vehicles. This is associated with the reduction in assistance for ‘future-orientated’ industries. This is bad timing for the car industry of the country as there is a slump in sales, which is adding more pressure on companies. If you wish to read more, click this electrive article link here.
AIRPORT DROP OFF PRICES TO BE INVESTIGATED
The practice of charging drivers to drop off or collect those using an airport has become a source of income for UK sites. However, the prices have increased at a rate that far outstrips what many feel is fair. Now the UK Government has announced it will look into these fees. Fingers crossed the result is they are banned as this does not happen in Europe. If you wish to read more, click this Motoring Research article link here.
POLICE NOW ABLE TO SEIZE YOUR CAR FOLLOWING ACT CHANGE
Section 59 of the Police Reform Act was amended to enable police to seize a driver’s vehicle with an incredibly broad set of criteria. Criteria such as careless driving, inconsiderate driving or unauthorised driving off-road. On top of that if the officer believe conduct that causes or is likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance. Passengers too can be fined for their involvement. You can find out more by clicking this Carscoops article link here.
EURO NCAP SAYS CLIMATE CONTROL CAN STAY ON SCREENS
Euro NCAP has clarified what interactions it believes are safety critical and thus require a physical button and which do not. Climate control and media can be left on touchscreens, as they do not see them as “time-critical tasks” as well as the mind boggling statement “it is also not proven that direct physical input is safer”. Tell that to the UK lawmakers and how drivers are banned from interacting with their phones even in a mount for media etc. If you want to read more, click this EV Powered article link here.
VOLKSWAGEN BATTERY RECALL
VW is preparing itself for a large battery recall in Europe, on top of those already underway in the UK and US. In Europe ID.3, ID.4, ID.7 and ID.Buzz, as well as Cupra Born are the affected models, when they have been built between 2023 and 2025. However, the actual number to be recalled will be lower than currently stated due to it only be a small batch of batter cells that are the issue.
In the UK, the ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo, built between 2022 and 2025 are potentially affected. To find out more, click this electrive article link here.
If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -
Volkswagen ID.3 GTI
The VW ID.3 GTI is the most powerful GTI they have ever produced, by half a horse power! Still most powerful is most powerful. It will come with a single motor and be rear wheel drive, the battery is a 79kWh one which will enable a maximum range of 373 miles. Power is 321bhp and 402lb ft of the torques, which will allow for a 0-62mph time of 5.6 seconds and a maximum speed of 124mph. Click this EVO article link here to read more.
BMW 3-Series
The internal combustion engined version of the 3-Series has now been revealed. Looks wise, we feel its a big wiff. Really struggling with the front end visuals, which are so far from the Neue Klasse concept, making it look like it has been crashed already. Inside it matches the current BMW design. There will be a myriad of options for powertrains, power outputs and costs. Click this Autocar article link here to read more.
Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai have freshened up the very popular Tucson SUV. The front and rear have been sharpened up with new lighting and looks, whilst inside there is a change with a similar small screen for the driver behind the steering wheel and a HUD display. Obligatory large central screen is in place too. No doubt this will sell well. Click this Autocar article link here for more.
LUNCHTIME READ: WINNING NUMBER
Plenty of car makers have chosen to name their cars using only numbers, Driven to Write have catalogued some of them for you to find out more. Very interesting to see the different approaches of brands with some having a high number on the range topper whilst other have it on the entry level one. Click this link here to read more.
LIST OF THE WEEK: 19 ESTATE CARS USED IN MOTORSPORT
Classic & Sports Car bring us another cracking list, this time all about estates that have partaken in motorsport. Be warned this is from the full breadth of motorsport. Do you agree with the choices made? What would you pick? Click this link here to view your options.
Asa we have, for once, remembered to cross promote our own work, here is a link to a video on the Seat Leon ST Cupra 290 Black.
AND FINALLY: CAR ART - TERRY ROSS
Terry Ross is a motoring artist who creates these wonderful sculptures which ooze with speed and drama even though they are a static thing. Click this Classic & Sports Car article link here, to check out some selected works as well as the link to his site which we encourage you to go view as its all fabulous.

In this week’s show, Alan starts with a follow-up on China agreeing to limit the number of hybrid and PHV cars it imports into the EU, and discusses Porsche's forthcoming halo-vehicle and strategy announcements.
Google Maps and Waze are now displaying fuel prices, Freelander is confirmed for the UK - eventually, and TfL makes a bid to regulate “robocabs” in London.
In New New Car News, Alan talks about he likelihood of success of the much-discussed Jaguar Type-01, the Nissan Pixo, and the Bentley Torcal. Lunchtime Read covers the history of the Peugeot 309; there are 10 unusual homologation specials for List of the Week. And Finally covers the importance of removing vehicle liveries.

Alan was invited to the launch of the Peugeot e208 GTi, an electric hot hatch, conveniently close to home. What does he think? Is it a worthy successor to the still-lauded 205 GTi, or is it a pretender? We discuss it in depth in this Special Edition.
Alan’s also done a walk round on YouTube, so you can enjoy him pointing at things while he talks about them. You can find it here: https://youtu.be/GdVyzyeQhs4
If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST