Canvey Carriage Company on Toyota HQ move

At Canvey Carriage Company we have lots of Toyotas available, but news has come in today that Toyota plan to move their HQ from Southern California to Dallas, Texas.

After a rumours have been circulating for some time, Canvey Carriage Company can now report that the move will go ahead with an expected move in date to be around early 2017.

Toyota Prius available from Canvey Carriage Company

The Japanese car giant are relocating from Torrance, just outside of Los Angeles, and the move will bring

much of the manufactures operations under one roof. This includes Toyota’s sales, marketing, servicing, advertising and quality control. As well as this some manufacturing operations will be moved to Texas, which currently operates in Kentucky.

The move by Toyota will be staggered, and begin to take place at the end of 2016. Toyota set up in California in 1957, beginning in a shop at a former rambler dealership in Hollywood.

Torrance mayor has described the move as “sad news”. Adding that "Toyota has been an integral part of the city."

Toyota’s move means that all three major Japanese car manufactures, which account for a large proportion of the US auto market share, will have left the state where they first moved in the beginning of their US operations.

Nissan moved most of its operations from Gardena, California, to Franklin, Tennessee, outside Nashville in 2006. Just last year, Honda decided to move a number of executives from Torrance to Columbus, Ohio.

Speaking to employees, Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz said: "Currently, we’re operating as multiple affiliates in a connected-but-independent way. In other words, we still have silos, and that’s slowing our decision-making processes. Our goal is to become not a group of dedicated affiliates, but one company -- One Toyota."

Lentz added: "Many roles will transfer, unchanged, to the new locations. Some new roles will be created, while others may evolve to meet the changing needs of the new organization."

It’s a bold move for Toyota, but one that they must believe will benefit the company going forward.

Canvey Carriage Company discuss Apple CarPlay

Canvey Carriage Company were pleased to hear that Apple has confirmed that their upcoming iOS CarPlay dashboard won’t be limited solely to new cars. Japanese electronics company, Pioneer, who produce dashboard media receivers, have confirmed that they will begin supporting CarPlay this summer.

These receivers will be able to pick up CarPlay in the form of a firmware update to Pioneer’s existing line of NEX units. The receivers range in price from $700 (around £420) to $1,400 (around £840). The upcoming CarPlay support update was announced by Pioneer via press release, with Apple later confirming the news.

This new technology will allow drivers to control iPhone features such as media playback and navigation through Siri. Siri operates through voice commands. They will also be able to use a touchscreen function on their vehicle dashboard. Users must physically tether their iPhone 5, iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C to the units to activate the system. They must remain tethered throughout use. The technology will be able to predict potential journeys based on previous travel and will incorporate apps like Spotify to give users a broader range of services.

Before this announcement was made, rumours were flying around that Mercedes-Benz were looking into aftermarket solutions for CarPlay support. It has now been confirmed that CarPlay will be included in the production of all 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars, as well as the Ferrari FF and the Volvo XC90 SUV. Honda, Hyundai and Jaguar Land Rover are expected to follow suit soon too.

This is all great new for car stereo fitters. The new CarPlay system will have an incredible presence in the car stereo industry and will help to inject some life into what has, in recent years, been a flailing business. This would mark the return of an industry that Apple inadvertently stole with the dawn of the iPod.

Indian Car Sales on the Up

Canvey Carriage Company were today reading about a modest pickup in the number of car sales in India so far this year. After two years of decline, analysts have said they can see a very slight recovery coming in the aftermath of the country’s general election.

In the last financial year, car sales dropped by 5%. This fall came during a period that many are calling the worst period in India’s fledgling auto sector. It comes after a 7% fall in the previous year. However, car sales are expected to increase now that India’s annual economic growth is headed back to 7-8%.

Experts are saying that 2014 won’t be nearly as bad as 2013, but that’s largely because 2013 was a terrible year all round. However, much of the predicted recover depends on the outcome of the election. It is felt that a stable government can do wonders for the economy.

If you’re interested in a quality used car, contact Canvey Carriage Company for details of our full range. You can visit our website or call us on 01268 690015.

Canvey Carriage Company on Noiseless Motors

Canvey Carriage Company were pleased to read about new legislation this week that will make it mandatory for electric cars to make artificial engine noises. This is to aid blind and partially sighted people, to ensure they hear the cars coming, and was voted on in the European Parliament. They also decided that conventional petrol and diesel engines should make 25% less noise than they do currently.

Mandatory “acoustic vehicle alerting systems” (AVAS) will be install in all new electric and hybrid cars to protect vulnerable pedestrians and road users. Groups including Guide Dogs for the Blind have been lobbying for this system for a number of years, since electric and hybrid cars were introduced. All-electric cars, such as the Toyota Prius, currently emit very little sound when they’re in electric-only mode.

Liberal Democrat MEPs have successfully campaigned for the introduction of the AVAS to be a mandatory requirement; previous campaigns suggested a voluntary installation policy. Car manufacturers in the EU will now have five years to implement this change and comply with the ruling. The hope is that road accidents will be reduced, lowering injury and death rates.

It is generally agreed that quiet electric cars will become a common sight on our roads within the next few year, so it’s important to protect the interests of blind pedestrians, children and the elderly, who may be more vulnerable at the roadside. The AVAS will sound very similar to cars with regular combustible engines, which will allow all pedestrians to hear it and judge how safe it is to cross the road.

Conventional passenger cars will also be subject to change in the coming years since the European Parliament ruled to lower conventional passenger car noise by four decibels for cars, vans, buses and coaches, and three decibels for trucks. It is hoped that this will reduce noise nuisances caused by vehicles by around 25%.

Canvey Carriage Company on what the budget means for motorists

Following yesterday’s budget, Canvey Carriage Company decided to bring you a quick run though of what it means for motorists. There were a handful of small measure that will hopefully help Britain’s road users everywhere.

There will be a freeze on fuel duty until spring next year, meaning the rise that was planned for this September has now been abandoned. George Osborne outlined how this freeze would make petrol 20 pence per litre cheaper on average.

There were however, details of an increase in vehicle excise duty, in line with inflation. This means that from the 1st of April, any cars that fall into band D or higher will rise by £5 or more. Vehicle owners will be able to pay for their vehicle excise on a monthly, biannual or annual basis from October 2014. Remaining tax on a car being sold on will no longer be transferrable. 

Osborne also gave details on a £200 million fund for local authorities to repair potholes, which was welcomed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists. UK roads have been hit hard by bad weather over the last few years so every little helps in terms of repairs. The RAC on the other hand have stated that to simply patch up potholes perhaps isn’t enough. They suggested that whole stretches of road need to be resurfaced regularly. They said that patching up potholes is a false economy that leads to more damage to the cars of taxpayers on a year by year basis.

Exemption from car tax for classic cars will move to a 40-year rolling period as of April this year. Models such as the Austin Allegro and the Reliant Robin will qualify for tax exemption, potentially increasing their resale value.

These are largely positive steps for motorists across the country and we should begin to see their benefits in the coming months.

If you’re looking for a new used car, why not check out the Canvey Carriage Company website, where you’ll find our exquisite range of quality used cars. You can also follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook for more stories like this. 

Canvey Carriage Company on Eco-Friendly Cars

At Canvey Carriage Company we understand that fuel economy is an important topic. Potential buyers want to make sure they’re buying a car that will go easy on the bank balance throughout their relationship with it. Car firms are responding to this by producing ever-more fuel efficient cars. It is now common to see new cars returning more than 80 miles per gallon. Low CO2 emissions are also important, and if you purchase an eco-friendly car, you pay lower tax on it. The team at CanveyCarriage Company have compiled a guide to some of the most efficient and cheapest new cars money can buy.

Vauxhall Ampera/Chevrolet Volt - 27g/km

The Chevrolet and the Vauxhall combine an electric-drive and petrol-powered electricity generator for when the circa-40 mile range is exhausted, giving EV motoring without the range restrictions, and a staggering official combined economy figure of 235.4mpg. Pretty impressive!

Toyota Prius Plug-in - 49g/km

This is a regular Toyota Prius with the addition of batteries that can be charged from your mains electricity supply. Because they can store more electricity, they allow an all-electric range of up to 15 miles before the petrol engine kicks in. Thanks to this, the official combined consumption figure shoots up, to 134.5mpg.

Toyota Yaris Hybrid – 79g/km, 80.7mpg

The Yaris Hybrid is a combination of a 1.5 litre engine and electric motor drivetrain from the Prius and Auris with the lighter, more compact Yaris body. This lightness makes it even more fuel-efficient than it’s bigger siblings. It averages up to 81mpg and emitting just 79g/km CO2 - Toyota's lowest-ever figure. This car can travel for up to a mile on electric power alone.

Renault Clio 1.5 dCi 90 ECO – 83g/km, 88.3mpg

This car has a 1.5-litre diesel engine that’s capable of 88.3mpg and emits just 83g/km CO2. This is a stylish option for budget-conscious buyers. And when it comes to green credentials, it trumps the VW Polo BlueMotion and Ford Fiesta ECOnetic.

Hyundai i20 1.1 CRDi Blue – 84g/km, 88.3mpg

Hyundai have given their i20 supermini a facelift recently and these revisions include the new super-efficient diesel model, using the firm's excellent 1.1-litre three-cylinder engine. This car emits just 84g/km and averages an impressive 88.3mpg. Hyundai offer a great deal here with the greenest regular-engine road car, for one of the best-value prices on the road.

Canvey Carriage Company on the World's Fastest Cars

Today, Canvey Carriage Company decided to take a look at some of the fastest cars in the world. So hold onto your seats and enjoy the ride!

In 2010, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport reached 267.81 mph, driving straight into the Guinness World Record book. Thirty models were initially produced and five of those had their speed limiter removed to make this mammoth speed achievable. That being said, the standard models still reaches speeds of more than 250mph! Its 8.0-litre W16 engine has four turbochargers and produces 987bhp - 0-62mph takes just 2.5 seconds.

However, in February this year, the Hennessey Venom GT reached 270mph on a track of 3.22 miles. Also going from 0-60mph in just 2.5 seconds, it comes with has a 7.0 liter LS7 Turbocharged V8 Twin Turbo V8 Engine producing 1244 hp, with a price tag of $1,000,000 and up!

The record for world's fastest naturally aspirated road car is still held by McLaren F1, which set a speed of 240mph back in 1993. Unusually this hypercar has a central driver’s seat with passenger seats on either side. It uses a 6.1-litre V12 with 627bhp - quite a bit less than the Veyron, but it does weigh less than the Bugatti too.

As hypercar fans know, the 90s were the golden age. That’s when the top speed war was in full swing between the McLaren F1, the Ferrari F40 and the Porsche 959. Porsche was the first of the three to hold the record with an impressive 195mph. However, the F40 soon overtook it with an incredible attempt at 202.6mph. This was the first time a road car had broken the 200mph barrier.

Until the 90s, the Lamborghini Miura was the fastest road car in the world. Launched in 1966, it was able to reach speeds of over 170mph. Before that, both the Aston Martin DB4 and the Mercedes 300SL had held the record.

As technology improves, the record for world’s fastest car will always be under threat. While the Koenigsegg One:1, which was revealed at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, didn’t beat the Bugatti Veyron or the Hennessey Venom, it’s breaking records of its own. Even if it can't match the ultimate speed record, the One:1 is the world's most powerful road car with 1,322bhp - 22bhp beating the previous champion, the 1,300bhp SCC Ultimate Aero to the top spot.

Canvey Carriage Company on Popular Car Colours

Here at Canvey Carriage Company, we love all things car. This week, we decided to take a look at most popular car colours amongst drivers and why some are more favoured than others.

While they may be less easy to spot in the dark, heat up more quickly in the sun and call to mind taxis and hearses, black cars are eternally popular in the UK. However, silver and blue cars continue to outstrip their darker brothers. A recent survey showed that around 29% of cars on the roads are silver, while 23% are blue.

The same survey also suggested that red and green cars have become less popular in recent years and that there was little difference between the sexes  in terms of car colour, though women were slightly more inclined towards blue and green vehicles.

Black cars are apparently more popular in the North East, while silver is preferred in Northern Ireland.  Yorkshire and Humberside tend towards red, and the West Midlands go for white cars. There weren’t many orange cars but they were more likely to be owned by older drivers in the South East. The higher the social status the more likely the driver was to own a silver car.

Does Car Colour Matter?

Canvey Carriage Company understand that cars mean different things to different people. It is true that the colour of your car can indicate various things about your lifestyle.

Status: Some feel that black or white cars denote status whilst those with orange, yellow or purple cars are trying to be whacky.

Sale: When it comes to reselling the car there are still two clear contenders for most saleable colours – silver and black. Sellers of purple or beige cars may struggle. Various police forces switched to silver cars a few years ago to cash in on better resale values.

Spick and span: One of the attractions of silver is the feeling that it is by far the easiest to keep clean or indeed appear to be clean. Black and white cars tend to show up the dirt.

Safest: Lighter colours are felt to be the safest. Yellow, white and then red topped the poll for safety. In bad light some colours are easier to spot than others hence the importance of using your lights when visibility is poor.

Sanest: A motoring psychologist has suggested that owners of beige or pastel coloured cars are more likely to suffer from depression. The happiest drivers have blue metallic cars. Owners of black cars try to top the pecking order whilst white car owners tend to be distant and aloof. Other psychologists suggest that silver denotes prestige and wealth but has a feminine energy; it is related to the moon and the ebb and flow of the tides - it is fluid, emotional, sensitive and mysterious. It is soothing, calming and purifying.

Suits: Some people argue that a certain colour may suit a particular model of car such as a red Ferrari or British Racing Green older MG. Others accept that more quirky cars (2CVs, Beetles) can get away with more exotic colours.

Canvey Carriage Company on Toyota Recall

Canvey Carriage Company read today that Toyota is to recall of 1.9 million Prius hybrid cars due to a fault with speed control. Toyota, the world's biggest car maker said cars may suddenly slow down due to a problem with software. In some cases, they said, the car may even come to a full halt while being driven.

They also said, however, that the fault may simply activate the warning light and cause the car to enter “failsafe mode”. While the cars would still operate, they would do so at a reduced output. If the car was to stop, it would not do so suddenly, instead making a gradual slow before coming to a stop.

The issue centres around the boost converter in the Intelligent Power Module. The boost converter is required when for example you accelerate hard from a standstill. The problem was identified through Toyota’s stringent quality reporting system.

Toyota confirmed it had identified at least 400 faulty vehicles, three-quarters of those were discovered in Japan. The recall will now affect 30,790 Prius cars in the UK and 700,000 in the US. There have been no reports so far of any accidents or injuries relating to this issue, though it is a recurring problem.

All the vehicles that are affected by the software problem will be recalled for a system update. Registered owners will be contacted by Toyota over the next few weeks by post or telephone. They will be invited to take their car to their nearest Toyota garage where a full update will be carried out.

Toyota and other Japanese car firms have suffered a series of high profile recalls in recent years, which has undermined their reputation for quality control. In the US a recall has also been issued on 260,000 2012 RAV4s, Tacomas and Lexus RX 350s over an unconnected potential braking issue. They have also recently announced an end to production in Australia. Read more on that here.

Canvey Carriage Company

Welcome to the new Canvey Carriage Company Blog!

This is the Canvey Carriage Company blog, where we will share the latest trends and stories in the world of motoring.

At Canvey Carriage Company we specialise in used cars and have a huge range of makes and models to suit your budget and lifestyle. We will offer tips and tricks for buying a used car.

We aim to update this blog at least once a week and in the meantime would love to hear from you in the comments box below, or via Twitter.