Motoring News
Today, 23 February 2014England's motoring heritage from the air - picture special
From Dagenham to Longbridge, and Coventry to Luton, experience the history of England's motor industry from the air
Although often referred to as "the roaring ’20s", the truth is that by 1920 England's industrial sector was feeling the pressure.Unemployment following the end of the First World War was high, with a reluctance to switch from staple industries like cotton, wool and steel to the new money to be found in emerging industries like car manufacturing.Slowly, however, new factories and technologies meant that Britain was able to join other nations like France and Germany in building cars and commercial vehicles. From 1922 onwards, England was a big player in global car making and, by 1938, was the largest producer of cars in Europe. Take a look through the gallery above to see rare aerial pictures of England's historic motoring landmarks.Daimler, the Motor Mills, Coventry - 1920Daimler's Coventry plant was the first factory in England to make cars commercially. Damiler bought the ground floor of the original mill in 1896, with the Horseless Carriage Co on the second floor and a tyre company on the third. The site was renamed as the Motor Mills, and expanded as business took off nationally. Much of the site has been destroyed due to bombing and redevelopment, but some original buildings, including one of the many office blocks, remain.
read moreVauxhall Mokka Tech Line 1.4 Turbo first drive review
Two-wheel-drive turbocharged Mokka offers a compelling ownership proposition for those not fussed by outright traction, engagement or dynamics
Not everyone needs the additional traction offered by a four-wheel-drive system, and not everyone does the mileage to justify opting for a diesel.This is precisely why you can opt for the Vauxhall Mokka in lighter, less complicated two-wheel-drive form with the brand’s modern, downsized 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine.Besides a substantial saving of £1540 compared to the equivalent four-wheel-drive variant, the claimed average economy climbs from 44.1mpg to 47.1mpg. Emissions also fall, from 149g/km of CO2 to 139g/km, resulting in a £15 reduction in annual road tax costs.This particular example, in Tech Line trim, is also notable for being particularly well equipped. As standard it includes sat-nav, electric windows, a DAB radio, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, dual-zone climate, automatic lights and wipers, and parking sensors.
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