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A LUXURY car is now able be unlocked without even using keys thanks to a hi-tech new feature.

The motor has left fans shocked as hands are not even needed at all to open the doors.

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Mercedes has unveiled their jaw-dropping new Mercedes-Benz Vision V, which has gained attention on social media.

One influencer shared the exciting new motor on TikTok with a tour of the Vision V.

The display of the car’s door lights up as she walks towards the vehicle, and reads: “Hi Tuesday Le Roux.”

Le Roux then says, “We’ve got face recognition. Let’s scan.”

A camera appears as it scans Le Roux’s face.

This enables the passengers doors of the Mercedes slide open and the front door swings out.

And illuminated side step also comes out making it easier for passengers to climb into the vehicle.

The interior of the Mercedes reveals fully white leather seats and an illuminating floor.

A 65-inch television screen is also able to emeberge from behind the front seats.

“We also have seven projectors all over the car creating a fully immersive experience, including projecting on the windows,” Le Roux adds.

Other features inside the Mercedes is a chessboard that folds out between the passenger seats which are zero gravity, have extendable leg rests, and can be fully reclined.

On the outside, the front grill can light up along with a “world’s first illuminated” Mercedes-Benz star on the bonnet.

And there is no glass at all along the front headlights, which actually contain crystal.

The rim of the wheels also illuminate.

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On the roof are several solar panels, and the back light is illuminated with a ring all around the back of the car – this contains the indicators.

Commenting on the video posted by car and technology influencer Tuesday Le Roux, fans shared their shock by this new motor.

One wrote: “Mercedes Vision V is like my living room.”

Another added: “Is this one car or heaven?”

A third said: “There is only two cars in the world, Mercedes Benz and the other cars.”

The Mercedes-Benz Vision V is set to be a range of luxurious people carriers to launch in 2026.

It will come in a variety of different models, from ultra-luxurious “CEO transport” to seven-seater family cars.

A SMALL British carmaker behind a motor Jeremy Clarkson said could “destroy your face” is set to build a huge new factory in the UK.

Ariel – best known for its Atom motor – will build the new structure to the east of Crewkerne in Somerset on a recently acquired 43-acre site.

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The carmakers gained the land after five years of negotiation, with the new building set to open before the end of 2028 at the cost of “a few million”, Ariel boss Simon Saunders said.

Simon said the cost of building a new factory had rapidly risen since the idea was first floated, meaning the firm may need to seek external funding.

Ariel currently sells two vehicles, the Atom and the Nomad, as well as the Dash bicycle, according to its website.

The Ariel Atom, tested on Top Gear in 2005, was described by Clarkson as “so quick, it can destroy your entire face“.

Since its launch in 2000, it has gone through a number of alterations, with the Ariel Atom 4 – released in 2018 – being the most recent version available to customers.

It was awarded Britain’s Best Driver’s Car by Autocar in 2020.

With building the new site, Simon said he wanted to “move to no ordinary industrial unit”, keeping in style with the unique designs of Atom’s motors.

He explained: “While we’ve been waiting to do the land deal, we’ve investigated quite a few styles – circular buildings that might work well for production efficiency, or others whose design is reminiscent of old farm buildings you already find in this area.

“We need space for what we do now, plus a museum, a showroom and a design office. And it’s got to be efficient.”

The new site will be placed close to Atom’s existing factory, meaning Ariel will be able to keep its pre-existing workforce while also adding around 60 new staff.

It also means production capacity should be able to almost double from just 80 units per year to around 150, reports Autocar.

The huge new complex will house Ariel’s expanded manufacturing operation as well as a showroom, a spacious service and spares operation, long-term parts storage, a museum, and an office space for design and administration.

Ariel is also putting an emphasis on environmental efficiency for its new vehicles, Simon said.

The new factory will be capable of carbon capture, its roof will gather solar energy, water will come from a borehole, and there are plans to plant 8000 trees on the site.

Ariel started out in a tiny studio in Simon’s home before moving to its current site in 2007.

However, since Ariel handles advanced design as well as spares, servicing, repairs and used car sales on top of manufacturing, it has been constrained on space for years.

This comes after a 2020 Ariel Atom went to auction last year.

Describing a previous version of the car in 2005, Clarkson said he had “never, ever driven anything that accelerates so fast,” describing the Atom as being “fast on an entirely new level”.

The motor started life as a student project at Coventry University before it was originally launched in 2000.

Other iconic versions include the Ariel Atom 500, which is one of the fastest accelerating production cars ever made – taking just 2.3 seconds to get from 0-62mph.

The Ariel Atom was also voted one of Britain’s 50 best cars ever made by a panel of 10 judges earlier this year.

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I’M a big fan of small and simple cars because I like value for money more than I do screens and gadgets.

This BYD Dolphin Surf is small and simple.

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Just press and go.

It’s value for money at £18,650.

And yet it’s got a rotating touchscreen and all those gadgets thrown in anyway.

Where’s the catch?

I can’t see one.

It knocks a Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03 out of the park because it’s a proper car for not much more and it’s comfortably less than the already brilliant-value Renault 5.

Finance from £269 a month with £269 deposit. Or £199 a month with about £3k deposit.

It’ll cost pennies to run.

I reckon many will be bought as second cars but end up being the one owners use the most.

Dolphin Surf has four seats, three with ISOFIX anchor points for the kiddlywinks, and a surprisingly practical boot that’ll swallow the Friday big shop.

Properly comfy seats by the way. Made of “vegan leather” whatever that means.

Big drink holders. Phone storage tray.

Apple CarPlay. Reversing camera.

Adaptive cruise control for your out-of-town runs.

All things that please and all included in the price.

You can even use your little BYD bud as a mobile power bank – running everything from party lights to a fridge.

Now I should spell out that Dolphin Surf comes in two battery sizes.

The entry-level Active gets you a 137-mile battery by the WLTP test and a big enough e-motor to keep you swimming in quick traffic.

Then there’s the £22k Boost nudging 200 miles from the 43kWh battery.

‘BRIM THE BATTERY’

Both use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry for higher levels of durability and safety.

So you can “brim” the battery every time without depleting it.

Both roll on Hankook tyres. Another positive.

Even the lime green paint job is free.

How safe is it? It’s engineered to attain a four-star safety rating.

The body uses 68 per cent high-strength steel and the car is brimming with anti-crash gear.

The car will be made in Hungary soon – and avoid tariffs.

I told you BYD would quickly chime with UK drivers and the Chinese are already outselling Honda, Citroen, Fiat and more.

There are a load of plug-in hybrids coming next, including a junior SUV and a pick-up truck called Shark.

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MOTORING experts have revealed the ten cheapest cars to insure in the UK.

The average insurance premium has increased by a whopping 43 per cent year on year from £284 in 2024 to a shocking high of £941.

Prices have begun to drop over the past few months but the average quote is now sitting around £834, which is still a huge premium.

Experts have now revealed how to get this massive premium down a bit.

They’ve revealed the top ten cheapest cars to insure in the UK to help keep the price of motoring down for everyday Brits.

Not only are the motors cheap to insure but they are affordable for anyone looking to pick up a new car.

The list consists mostly of hatchbacks and super minis but some SUVs do make an appearance.

Skoda Fabia

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The Fabia is reportedly the cheapest of all UK motors to insure.

The little Czech hatchback only costs around £237 a year to insure and can be bought for an impressively low £19,410.

Seat Ibiza

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The Ibiza remains a cheap option since the mark one was introduced to the UK market in 1983.

At only £240 a year and £19,795 to buy the little hatchback remains one of the UK’s best cheap and cheerful models.

Dacia Sandero

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Costing just £240 a year to insure and a very cheap £13,250 to buy, the Romanian motor offers an excellent option for first time drivers.

Only slightly more expensive to insure than the Ibiza the Sandero is a fair sight cheaper to buy than most of the alternatives.

Volkswagen Polo

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The German made Volkswagen Polo is up next with an insurance premium of around £247.

A favourite among first time drivers in the UK the Polo costs just £21,210 to buy.

Volkswagen T-Cross

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Surprisingly the SUV style Volkswagen T-Cross came in next, despite being large it can be insured for just £248.

A Volkswagen T-Cross could be purchased for around £24,895 and offers the most space on the list, perfect for families.

Hyundai i10

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The first Japanese car on the list, the Hyundai i10, can be insured for only £259 and purchased for a modest £16,380.

The most technologically advanced of the motors on this list the i10 offers a slew of futuristic features not available with some of the other options.

Kia Picanto

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The tiny Kia Picanto can be insured for just £250 and bought for only £18,945.

One of the smallest motors on the list the quick little car is a perfect option for the city, learners or first time motorists.

Kia Stonic

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Another Kia, the Stonic, though much larger than the hatchback Picanto, can be insured for around the same at £260.

Buying one is a fair bit pricier though costing motorists around £20,265.

Hyundai i20

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Not to be confused with the much more powerful i20N the Hyundai i20 can be insured for just £282 and purchased for £20,880.

A little larger and more powerful than some other entries on the list the i20 offers a bit of a step up in performance for a bit of a step up in cost.

Toyota Aygo X

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Scraping in at the bottom of the list the Toyota Aygo X can be insured for £307, the only motor on the list to break the £300 mark.

It remains relatively cheap to buy however at around £16,515.

A MAJOR car brand has unveiled a new look for its smallest motor due to be rolled-out later this year.

The tiny Toyota Aygo X has received a mid-life update, with its mini 1.0L petrol engine being swapped out for a hybrid powertrain, borrowed from its big brother, the Yaris.

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When it arrives in the UK later this year, it will be the smallest entirely hybrid car on sale in the country.

Toyota will also discontinue its manual gearbox petrol version, making the Aygo X hybrid-only.

The Japanese carmaker has found a great deal of popularity with its “A-segment” city car, selling nearly 300,000 since they were introduced in 2022.

Now, its refreshed Aygo X could attract even more buyers with its 114bhp 1.5L petrol-electric hybrid setup – borrowed from the larger and more expensive Yaris and Yaris Cross.

However, the design has been adapted from these other motors, due to the Aygo’s tight dimnesions.

For example, while battery cells are usually found parallel in the Yaris, the Aygo X will have them placed as two stacks alongside each other underneath the rear seats.

The auxiliary battery will also be moved under the boot storage in order to not cramp the space inside the tiny motor.

In terms of power, this new hybrid setup churns out a respectable 114bhp, far more than the 71bhp seen in the current Aygo.

Toyota says this means the Aygo X will be able to go from 0-62mph in “less than 10 seconds”.

The new motor is also expected to boast fuel economy figures beyond 70mpg, reports Car Magazine.

On top of this all, Toyota says the new Aygo X will have CO2 emissions of just 86g/km, the lowest of any car that does not need to be plugged in.

The iconic Japanese carmaker has also claimed to have made the Aygo quieter and more comfortable through increased noise insulation, especially on the top-spec model – which will come with thicker glass.

On its exterior, the updated Aygo X boasts new sharp LED headlights as well as a redesigned front bumper.

The motor stretches 76mm longer than its predecessor, primarily to accommodate the larger hybrid powertrain.

On top of a new bonnet, there is also an option to have a retractable canvas roof.

If you’re feeling like splashing out some more cash, there’s also a newly introduced GR Sport trim level for the Aygo X, said to be “inspired by Toyota’s motorsport teams”.

In the cabin, there aren’t many changes to come with the update – although a new seven-inch digital instrument cluster has been added.

There is also expected to be a new wireless smartphone charger for higher-spec cars.

Prices and specifications have yet to be fully announced for the Aygo X, although experts have said to expect a “healthy increase” on top of the car’s current starting price of £16,845.

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THE BRITISH cities with the worst availability and speed of electric vehicle charging have been revealed in new research.

More and more people are making the switch to EVs each passing year, but access to charging infrastructure continues to be a key concern for motorists.

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Cost, speed and access to EV chargers can vary vastly from region to region across the country.

But new data from Available Car has shed light on exactly which cities are the best and worst to drive an electric vehicle.

Researchers looked at the number of charging points per 10,000 people within a five mile radius of city centres.

They also noted the average cost and time it takes to charge half an EV battery.

The data examines 53 major cities across the UK, excluding London.

Liverpool was found to be the city with the lowest number of chargers, with just two chargers per 100,000 people within a five mile radius of the city centre.

Newcastle barely did better at 2.4 chargers per 100,000, while Bradford and Leeds followed up with 2.6 each.

Smaller cities boasted far better numbers in the EV charging accessibility ranking.

Ripon was the city with the highest number of chargers per 100,000 at 63.1 – far ahead of second placed Salisbury at 43.7.

But simply finding a charger isn’t the only issue EV owners face.

Available Car’s data also highlighted a major regional disparity in the time it takes to charge half a battery.

Leicester is the city found to have the slowest EV charging times – taking an average of 8.25 hours to get to half charge.

Available Car’s report reads: “The city’s slower charging infrastructure highlights the need for investment in faster chargers to support the growing demand for electric vehicles.

“Without quicker charging options, Leicester may face challenges in encouraging more drivers to switch to electric.”

But Leicester EV drivers have some solace – as the survey also found it to cheapest city to charge your car, where a half full battery would cost an average of £12.60.

Brighton & Hove and Portsmouth followed Leicester as the next slowest for charging, 6.24 and 5.67 hours respectively.

Wakefield recorded the speediest charge of the cities surveyed, taking an average of just 0.8 hours.

The researchers used a Tesla Model Y as the benchmark vehicle when gathering the data.

Their report adds: “Making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV) should be an exciting step towards greener, more sustainable driving.

“However, one of the biggest barriers preventing drivers from switching from petrol or diesel to electric vehicles is having to rely on their local charging infrastructure, particularly the time it takes to charge and the cost involved.

“Unlike petrol and diesel drivers, EV owners must navigate the UK’s charging network, where charging speeds and costs vary significantly based on location and charger type.”

AN ICONIC carmaker has been thrown a £1billion lifeline from the UK Government. 

The struggling car maker had announced plans to axe over 20,000 members of staff due to soaring production costs and disappointing sales. 

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Nissan is looking to raise £5.2billion to stay afloat, with UK Export Finance underwriting a £1billion loan – which will support the beleaguered company. 

The manufacturer is planning to cut its number of factories from 17 down to 10. 

This has prompted fears that the brand’s Sunderland factory could be under threat. 

While Nissan has not confirmed the fate of its only UK factory, its CEO Ivan Espinosa has insisted that more electric cars will be produced there. 

It is hoped that the £1billion loan from Nissan’s lenders, underwritten by The Government, will protect the site. 

The huge cash injection is just a fifth of the 1Trillion Yen needed by the company to survive. 

It will also look to issue as much as 630billion yen in convertible securities and bonds, including high-yield and euro notes.

Reportedly, the firm is looking to sell-and-lease-back its Yokohama headquarters alongside several properties in the United States.

The Yokohama site is valued at £500 million and was first opened in 2009.

It has 22 floors and a glitzy gallery, along with thousands of workers who use the site every day. 

Finally, the struggling car manufacturer is eyeing a sale of its stakes in Renault and battery maker AESC Group.

Mr Espinosa has commented in the past on Nissan’s urgent cost-cutting mission. 

He said: “In the face of challenging full-year 2024 performance and rising variable costs compounded by an uncertain environment, we must prioritise self-improvement with greater urgency and speed, aiming for profitability that relies less on volume.”

He added: “As new management, we are taking a prudent approach to reassess our targets and actively seek every possible opportunity to implement and ensure a robust recovery.”

Development on some Nissan models has been paused, whilst the company tries to balance its books. 

Work on all “advanced and post-FY26 product activities” has been paused, though Nissan has not confirmed which particular vehicles will face suspension. 

Mr Espinosa has previously issued a full statement about Nissan’s financial woes.

He said: “This is not something that happened in the last couple of years.

“It’s more of a fundamental problem that probably started back in 2015, when management thought this company could reach [annual global vehicle sales] of around eight million.

“There were heavy investments both in terms of planned capacity as well as in human resources, but the reality today is we are running at around half that volume. And nobody did anything to fix that until now.”