Learners waiting half a year for driving tests amid examiner shortage

Wait list at more than half of Britain's test centres hits six months; national average rockets to five monthsA generation of learner drivers is under threat from spiralling costs, stress and even career damage as the waiting list for a practical driving test balloons to unprecedented size.
Learners now face a wait of more than half a year at 57% of Britain’s test centres, according to new data released by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
DVSA figures state that the number of centr

Cupra may have led development of this electric supermini, but Volkswagen insists that it’s a proper PoloThe new Volkswagen ID Polo drives like a Volkswagen. If you haven’t been paying attention to all things Wolfsburg in recent years, that might seem a curious statement to make. It looks like a Volkswagen and it carries a well-known Volkswagen name, so was there any doubt that it would drive like one?Well, yes. The first wave of Volkswagen’s bespoke electric ID models, while

New city car enters final stages of development; will be one of Europe's smallest electric carsSmart has released the first official pictures of the #2, the incoming successor to the Fortwo, due to arrive late next year.
The electric two-seater will be Smart’s new entry model, slotting below the #1 and #3 crossovers, #5 SUV and #6 saloon.
These new images, released on Monday, show early mules testing the #2's new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA). 
In a

City car enters final stages of development; will be one of Europe's smallest electric carsSmart has released the first official pictures of the #2, the incoming successor to the Fortwo which is arriving late next year.
The two-seater will be Smart’s new entry model, slotting below the #1, #3, and new #5. 
These new images, released on Monday, show early mules testing the incoming EV’s new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA). 
In a first for Smart, the platform is being dev

VIIA concept shown in 2023 could form the basis for a 'dream machine'
As firm expands into Europe and UK, a halo car – possibly a rakish GT – could help to build awarenessChinese manufacturer Changan, which recently entered the UK market, is considering a “dream machine” to help build its brand in Europe.
The state-backed firm traces its roots back to arms manufacturing in the 1860s. It began building Jeeps under licence in the 1950s before developing its own mo

Insiders suggest the new Fabia 130 is a proof of concept for a revival of the vRS hot hatch, axed in 2014Skoda isn’t ruling out a full-blown comeback for the Fabia vRS, despite the hot hatch having been axed in 2014 due to sluggish sales.
The Czech brand told Autocar that a revival remains possible if market conditions swing back in favour of small performance models.
“There are currently no plans to offer a Fabia vRS, but we will continue to monitor customer demand,”

Sharing is caring - especially for car manufacturersWe try to keep our group tests somewhat relevant, so it's not often that a Lamborghini Revuelto and a Skoda Superb meet on the same shoot.
But it eventually happeend because of logistical reasons, which led me to the delightful discovery that the two share a handbrake switch. We sometimes criticise expensive cars for using components from cheaper ones, particularly when it's in a prominent place and the part in question doesn't feel appropriate

Firm cites "limited profitability prospects" as it winds up car-sharing division and ends Duo productionRenault has axed its electric Mobilize Duo quadricycle before bringing it to the UK, citing "limited profitability prospects".
The Duo – effectively a successor to the Renault Twizy – was the flagship for the Renault Group's car-sharing and urban mobility programme: Mobilize.
The brand was established in 2021 with the ambition of becoming a leading name in the field of "everything

GT50 concept was revealed in an Audi video published by German site Stimme
Audi apprentices have turned the 394bhp RS3 into a retro tribute to the legendary 90 quattro IMSA GTOAudi has channeled the spirit of its most legendary race cars for a wild one-off concept that celebrates 50 years of the firm's venerable five-cylinder engine.
The new GT50 concept is the latest creation from Audi's Neckarsulm-based apprentices, who each year create an outlandish one-off concept that pays tribute to a hist

Porsche will install petrol power into its previously electric-only new duoPorsche is preparing to adapt its next-generation 718 Boxster and Cayman platform to accept petrol engines, in an abrupt U-turn on plans for the models to go EV-only.
Production of the fourth-gen Boxster and Cayman ended last month, with new bespoke electric versions due this year. But with EV demand waning, Porsche had already announced it would continue selling "top" variants - tipped to be the RS and GT4 RS versions -

Aion UT is aimed at the Mini Cooper and Renault 5
GAC subsidiary will arrive in the UK next year with rivals for the Volkswagen ID 4 and Mini Cooper EVsAion will prioritise sustainable growth rather than chasing market share when it comes to the UK next year with a range of electric and plug-in hybrid models, bosses have said.
The Chinese brand will give GAC – China’s fifth-largest car manufacturer – an official presence in the UK for the first time.
It will arri

BMW's third-gen fuel cell system will enter production in 2028Due to enter series production in 2028, BMW's third-generation fuel cell system will be "a milestone in automotive history", says BMW, and "the first-ever series production fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) to be offered by a global premium manufacturer".It may be the first from a premium manufacturer but other FCEV makers include partner and fuel cell development veteran Toyota, which launched the Mirai in 2014 and started

How does the new Macan 4S Electric fare against ICE-powered rivals from Audi and BMW?The ‘profit warning’ is a counterintuitive concept in the modern corporate world. Seems a bit like the idea of a well-signed, buried treasure-related trip hazard, or the threat of sudden and unexpected happiness.
But it means the opposite of all that: and, as we now know, even the most ‘bankable’ of automotive brands can be vulnerable to one. Few brands in the automotive industry hav

Chris Cervenka from Modified Muscle and I had a good conversation about the high sticker prices for new performance cars -- and what those high MSRPs do to car culture.Have you had to put off a sports-car dream because of sticker shock?When I was younger, it wasn't that unusual for folks on a middle-class salary to have a "toy" car. A Fox-body Mustang. A Camaro. A Miata. Something that got driven only a bit during good weather. Now, however, a Mustang GT with all the goodies prices out well into

In 1992 a new Eldorado debuted alongside the flagship Seville, as both models ushered in anew era of styling for Cadillac. With the promise of more technology, luxury, and refinement than ever, Eldorado was supposed to look forward. However, the past was firmly on the mind of Cadillac’s designers as they penned the Eldorado’s exterior. (Note: The light blue Eldorado is a 1991 example in base trim, and the Cotillion White car is a 1992 that’s also a base trim.)That’s not t

Waymo is recalling over 3,000 autonomous taxis, following an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after one of the vehicles illegally passed a stopped school bus. The incident turned out to be anything but isolated, showcasing a major defect in the company's safety programming.
In our earlier coverage, we reported that a Waymo test mule was faulted for having driven around a bus that was actively dropping off children in Atlanta, Georgia. The incident promp

Today's TTAC podcast will speak to the car enthusiasts' heart. Chris Cervenka from Modified Muscle comes on the podcast and discusses the high price of performance cars, and how that hurts car culture.Also, TTAC contributor Matthew Guy and I go over snow brushes for your car and we give our opinions about the NASCAR trial -- unfortunately, we couldn't foresee that they'd settle before we went live. Check back next week to hear Guy and I discuss the outcome of the settlement.We thank Matthew Guy

Self-driving technologies are the new space race with car manufacturers jostling to be the first to achieve fully autonomous vehicles. But the road to get there has been bumpy, with a track record that’s far from flawless. Autopilot helped Tesla become one of the first automakers to introduce advanced driver assistance systems, an innovative technology that’s been available in Tesla vehicles since 2015, expanding to all models by 2019.This feature is an advanced assistance system tha

Known for its sensible, reliable cars, Toyota is a ubiquitous presence in the U.S. Despite this extreme popularity, the thing most Americans don't know is that the Japanese brand kept many of its most luxurious and fun cars for its home market. In another visit to ATOM 2025, the All Toyotas of the Midwest car show, automotive expert Jim Hall walks us through some of the most interesting JDM cars that are on display. From luxury variants of the Toyota Crown to the outrageous gull-wing Toyota Sera

Jameel Motors previews new car franchise for the UK market after establishment of Geely van brand hereJameel Motors, the UK distributor of Farizon electric vans, is already thinking of an expansion with a possible new car franchise.
The Saudi Arabian firm is currently a major distributor for Toyota, Lexus and BYD in more than 10 countries, from Japan to the UAE, as well as Geely-owned Farizon in the UK. 
According to CEO Jasmmine Wong, the introduction of Farizon into th

A senior European lawmaker says the ban is "off the table"; EU expected to officially confirm on TuesdayThe European Union has scrapped its 2035 sales ban on new combustion cars, a senior lawmaker has said.
While yet to be officially announced, Manfred Weber, president of the EPP – the European Parliament’s largest party, confirmed to German newspaper Bild that the plans were “off the table”.
In its place, he said, flexible emission reduction rules will be implemented. "F

Brand will return next summer with new iterations of two of its previous best-sellersMitsubishi has confirmed it will sell the Outlander plug-in hybrid and L200 pick-up in the UK when it returns next summer.
The two models were key parts of the brand’s line-up before it exited the UK in 2021, and it will surely be hoping to rekindle their success with new generations of each car.
The Mk2 Outlander PHEV is a longer, wider and taller proposition than the original, allowing it to offer seven

Roadster, lightweight, GT3 variants are among those planned for the new supercarGenesis will offer a full family of variants of its forthcoming mid-engined Magma GT - including a drop-top and a hardcore GT3 road car. 
Unveiled in concept form, the Porsche 911 and McLaren 720S rival will arrive later this decade as the basis of a new GT3 race car.
But while homologation rules for the class require only 250 road-legal versions to be made, Genesis creative director Luc Donckerwolke confirmed t

I live in a London flat without a garage. Naturally, I've bought a manual-gearbox, soft-top sports car…Having come to terms with the inevitable departure of my Fiat Panda 100HP, I figured it was about time to treat myself to something I'd always wanted: a proper lightweight, rear-driven sports car. 
I’ll admit first that the car I really wanted was a Toyota GT86 – its connection to the ‘AE86’ Corolla really appeals, as does the variety of aftermarket bits &nda

Are you happy that NASCAR, 23XI Motorsports, and Front Row Motorsports have settled their dispute, even though the trial had begun? I acknowledge it won't be an easy question to answer, since we don't know settlement details, so I'd frame it this way -- are you happy the parties settled before the trial went deeper? Or would you rather have had the dispute be decided at trial?You know what to do. Go ahead and sound off below.[Image: NASCAR]Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, fe

Today we have one of those small recalls -- fewer than 100 units -- for you. BMW is recalling 25 units of the 2026 X5, X5 Plug-In Hybrid, X6, and X7 because an incorrectly manufactured instrument panel could interfere with proper deployment of the passenger air bag. Dealers will replace the instrument panel trim at no cost. Since the affected vehicles were not sold to customers, BMW is not issuing owner letters. VINs covered by the recall became searchable on NHTSA’s website on December 4,

NASCAR has been involved in a trial over a major lawsuit brought by race teams 23XI Motorsports and Front Row Motorsports.Retired basketball superstar Michael Jordan is one of the owners of 23XI Motorsports. The two race teams brought the lawsuit because they believed NASCAR was acting like a monopolistic bully -- and because NASCAR asked teams to sign its most recent charter agreement on a Friday with deadline that would allow teams very little time to review the proposal.Current NASCAR star De

2025 Nissan Kicks SR AWD Fast FactsPowertrain2.0-liter four-cylinder (141 horsepower @ 6,000 RPM, 140lb-ft @ 4,000 RPM)Transmission/Drive WheelsContinously-variable automatic, all-wheel driveFuel Economy, MPG27 city / 34 highway / 30 combined (EPA Rating)Fuel Economy, L/100km8.4 city / 6.9 highway / 7.7 combined (NRCan Rating)Base Price$27,680 (U.S.) / $37,691 (Canada)As-Tested Price$32,485 (U.S.) / $38,566 (Canada)Disclaimer: Prices include $1,390 destination charge in the United States and $2

California is presently considering a new tax on all-electric vehicles that would charge motorists a few cents per every mile driven. The idea is being pitched as a way to make up for lost revenues as more residents now drive EVs than ever before. But the initiative is getting some pushback from the locals as government action runs behind schedule.
On Monday,KMPH Fox 26confirmed that the California Department of Transportation (or Caltrans) had nearly completed its pilot program to test the mile

Manufacturer is rethinking how components are designed, manufactured and recycled under the name Tomorrow XXMercedes-Benz has revealed details of a new engineering programme aimed at reducing the embedded carbon footprint of its future cars by rethinking how components are designed, manufactured and recycled.
Called Tomorrow XX, the initiative sets out what the German company describes as a “technical pathway to lower upstream CO2 output” – although most elements remain in earl