london? Archives | AutoDepot

Report: London Mayor Boris Johnson hits Obama’s motorcade with congestion charge

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Cadillac, UK

Cadillac 1 in London

Rules are rules, and they apply equally to everyone – including the President of the United States. Especially when he’s on foreign soil.

After President Barack Obama’s famous Cadillac limousine – known as The Beast – got stuck exiting the US embassy in Dublin, it was shipped across the Irish Sea to England, the next leg of the president’s European road trip. Now the mayor of London is demanding Obama pay the congestion charge for his limo and the rest of his motorcade.

A notorious car nut and onetime automotive journalist, Major Boris Johnson insists that the £10 ($16) charge applies to each of the president’s vehicles, and that the bill is currently being tabulated. The fees are only the latest part of an ongoing dispute between the city’s transportation department and foreign missions like the American embassy, an issue that Johnson reportedly raised directly with Obama during his visit.

London insists that embassies in the British capital city owe some £51 million ($83m) in congestion charges for driving through the city during peak hours, of which the American embassy’s share is estimated at £5.3 million ($8.7m). Diplomats view the fee as a tax from which they are exempt under international law.

London Mayor Boris Johnson hits Obama’s motorcade with congestion charge originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: London Mayor Boris Johnson hits Obama’s motorcade with congestion charge”

Legendary London icon Ace Cafe heads to the States

Filed under: Etc., Motorcycle

If you have even a passing interest in the world of two-wheeled transportation, you likely already know all about Ace Cafe. The place started as a roadside diner, but quickly evolved into a haven for young London bike nuts after World War II. As a result, the name is now synonymous with the café racer phenomenon. Mark Wilsmore took the reins at Ace in 1993 and completely restored the structure in 2001. Now, the little diner serves as a hub for thousands of riders from around the world every day.

Today, Ace Cafe is planning to open outlets here in The Land Of The Free. A total of ten locations are set to spring up across the country soon, and to mark the occasion, Dime City Cycles is throwing a grand-opening celebration in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, May 14.

We typically recoil from the commercialization of something as unique and special as the Ace Cafe, but if anyone can do this and do it right, it’s Wilsmore. The man knows a thing or two about putting together a custom bikers, which leads us to believe the new Aces may actually be a place real riders want to spend time instead of a glorified t-shirt stand. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Legendary London icon Ace Cafe heads to the States

Legendary London icon Ace Cafe heads to the States originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 May 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Legendary London icon Ace Cafe heads to the States”

Geely channels London’s iconic taxi with Englong SC7-RV for Shanghai

Filed under: Wagon, China, Work, Shanghai Motor Show, Geely

Geely SC7-RV

Geely Englong SC7-RV – Click above to view the image gallery

Chinese automaker Geely is part owner of Manganese Bronze, which makes the famous black taxi cabs for the UK and Chinese markets. But while a pricey cab makes sense for the UK, a high-dollar cab in China isn’t always profitable. For that reason, Geely will introduce the Englong SC7-RV next week at the Shanghai Motor Show.

While the instantly recognizable UK taxi does its job well, it utilizes a platform that is totally unique. By contrast, the Englong SC7-RV will reportedly use a platform from Geely’s existing fleet. And since the parts are common and the production will likely occur in China, costs are expected to dip considerably. And if you ask us, the SC7-RV actually manages to look kind of cool. Even better for prospective taxi owners in China, this livery special will likely make it to production.

Gallery: Geely Englong SC7-RV

Geely Englong SC7-RV

[Source: China Car Times]

Geely channels London’s iconic taxi with Englong SC7-RV for Shanghai originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Geely channels London’s iconic taxi with Englong SC7-RV for Shanghai”

Video: Stig does donuts in Mitsubishi Evo-based London taxi

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Mitsubishi

stig driving london taxi

Stig goes round and round in a London Taxi – Click above to watch video after the jump

Top Gear Live is the traveling version of the world’s greatest show about cars. Part of that extravaganza includes The Stig, and he likes to showcase his driving talents to the crowd. One thing that doesn’t require much skill, however, is a burnout. Supply Stiggy with a proper car, let him loose, and the result will be ruined tires, smoke and many cheering fans. Is it that easy if the car being used is a London Taxi?

It is when beneath the glossy black people-mover body sits a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The result is far better than the Cash Cab, and we think the Stig agrees. Click past the jump to watch two clips of the Evo taxi in action. Thanks to all for the tips.

[Source: YouTube via CarScoop]

Continue reading Video: Stig does donuts in Mitsubishi Evo-based London taxi

Video: Stig does donuts in Mitsubishi Evo-based London taxi originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading “Video: Stig does donuts in Mitsubishi Evo-based London taxi”

Parking fines on single London street reportedly reach over $1.5M

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, UK

London Parking Ticket

We can officially quit our whining over our latest parking ticket. Across The Pond, London authorities have begun putting local drivers’ feet to the fire and are raking in record fines as a result. One street even managed to pull down nearly £1 million ($1.6 million at current conversion rates) last year. That’s especially shocking considering that the now infamous Clapham Park Road in the borough of Lambeth is less than half a mile long. According to reports, authorities issued an astonishing 16,800 tickets on that street alone, or about 46 citations per day.

The total amount collected from fines on that particular street tallied over £300,000 ($480,000) higher than the road with the next highest level of parking fine revenue.

Some locals believe that the government is using parking fines to make up gaps in their budget as an illegal revenue generator. Multiple complaints to that tune have already been levied from Barnet to Westminster.

[Source: PistonHeads | Image: Oli Scariff/Getty Images]

Parking fines on single London street reportedly reach over $1.5M originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Parking fines on single London street reportedly reach over $1.5M”

Lorenzo Quinn’s “Vroom Vroom” sculpture arrives in central London

Filed under: Etc., UK, Design/Style, Fiat

Vroom Vroom by Lorenzo Quinn

Vroom Vroom by Lorenzo Quinn – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ever get the feeling that your car is little more than an oversized toy? Lorenzo Quinn evidently did. The sculptor took the very first car he ever bought – an original Fiat 500 – and transformed it into the public display of art you see here.

The installation piece features a four-meter-tall child’s hand and forearm, modeled after that of his own son and crafted out of aluminum, grabbing the Fiat like a giant kid playing with a toy car.

After being displayed in Abu Dhabi and Valencia, Spain, the sculpture has now been installed on Park Lane, a swanky stretch of road in central London characterized by a number of five-star hotels and high-end automobile dealerships. This certainly ought to put things into perspective for the next noble gentleman shopping for a new motor car. Click through the thumbnails below for a closer look in our high-resolution image gallery.

Gallery: Vroom Vroom by Lorenzo Quinn

[Images: Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images for Halcyon Gallery]

Lorenzo Quinn’s “Vroom Vroom” sculpture arrives in central London originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Lorenzo Quinn’s “Vroom Vroom” sculpture arrives in central London”

Volkswagen crafts a London Black Taxi for the future

Filed under: Concept Cars, Work, Volkswagen, UK

Volkswagen London Taxi Concept

Volkswagen London Taxi Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Volkswagen is putting it’s own unique spin on a London icon. The VW London Taxi Concept, which is built upon the Up! city car platform, is an electric cab with an estimated range of 186 miles. Though the overall length of 3,730 millimeters means the Taxi concept is shorter than a VW Fox, its minimal front and rear overhang allow for plenty of room to accommodate the driver and two full-size adult passengers plus luggage. Inside, the Volkswagen London Taxi Concept features touchscreen displays that provide information on the surrounding area and the route being traveled.

Since this is just a concept, it doesn’t conform to current London taxi regulations. However, it does provide a glimpse at what the future might hold for emission-free urban transportation choices.

Gallery: Volkswagen London Taxi Concept

Volkswagen London Taxi Concept

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen crafts a London Black Taxi for the future

Volkswagen crafts a London Black Taxi for the future originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Volkswagen crafts a London Black Taxi for the future”

Prince Charles planning eco-friendly motor show in London?

Filed under: Hybrid, Misc. Auto Shows, UK, Electric

Prince Charles drives a Saab 9-3 BioPower

While fire-breathing performance cars and hot rods are car-show fixtures, there aren’t many environmentally-friendly car shows out there, so Prince Charles is having one in his front yard. The Prince of Wales will open his gardens at Clarence House to the public from September 8-19 (neighboring gardens at Lancaster House and Marlborough House will also open their respective gardens) for what’s being dubbed “The Garden Party to Make a Difference.” Proceeds from the event will support the Prince’s Charities Foundation, whose aim is to help people “lead more sustainable lives and to show what a more energy efficient, cleaner and healthier future could look like.”

The garden party will feature a number of eco-friendly vehicles, music, comedy acts and a race from Glasgow to London pitting the sustainable stallions against the Prince’s royal train, which runs on waste vegetable oil. Entry to the gardens costs £15 (about $23 USD), but the display of green cars is free. Is a green car show worth a trip across The Pond? We’re thinking no – unless of course we can burn some rubber racing Charles’ choo-choo – all in the name of environmental responsibility.

[Source: Auto Express | Image: Saab]

Prince Charles planning eco-friendly motor show in London? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Prince Charles planning eco-friendly motor show in London?”