17,000 solar panels to power Toyota’s Derbyshire plant

Toyota’s manufacturing plant at Burnaston in Derbyshire, where the Auris and Avensis are built, will install the biggest solar panel system yet seen in a UK car plant.  British Gas, which will stump up the £10 million cost of installing the solar panels, and Toyota are working together to save 2000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. Once the solar panels are installed, they claim it will save enough energy to build approximately 7000 cars a year.

The Moke is back, baby!

The past two days have been quite an emotional roller coaster. First, we were crushed to hear that the end of the line is fast approaching for the rugged, beloved Land Rover Defender. Next thing we know, we're reading about the resumption of Moke production in China over at Hemmings and everything is sunshine and rainbows once again.

LCV VALUES DEFY POOR CONDITIONS

AN INCREASE in demand for four-wheel drive light commercial vehicles saw LCV values rise during December 2010, according to new figures from British Car Auctions. After reaching a low-point in November, the cold weather inspired a £37, or 0.9 per cent, rise in average LCV values to £4,067. Values were also boosted by a 25 per cent decline in the number of vehicles that came to auction during the month.