Tag Archives: Britain

News

Citroën Is So Tired of Britain’s Potholes, It Started Filling Them Itself

Spend five minutes on a British B-road and you’ll understand why suspension technicians never go out of business here. Potholes—craters, really—dot the tarmac like a lunar surface, and drivers have learned to brace for impact as instinctively as they check their mirrors. But Citroën has apparently reached its breaking point.

Rather than simply touting its plush “Advanced Comfort” suspension as a solution to Britain’s busted roads, the French automaker did something unusual: it paid to fix the potholes itself.

A Week of Repairs—On Citroën’s Tab

After filing a Freedom of Information request with 424 local councils across the UK, Citroën discovered what most motorists already suspected: the country’s infrastructure is in deep trouble. How deep? According to the data, 1 in every 20 roads requires immediate repair, and some councils face wait times of years before they’ll make a dent in their backlog.

Shropshire Council estimated it would need three years just to catch up. Pembrokeshire and Clackmannanshire said a full year. And the absolute pothole heavyweights?

  • Dumfries and Galloway: 16,819 reported potholes
  • Derbyshire County: 13,327
  • Shropshire: 8,686

These aren’t roads—they’re geological features.

Citroën’s FOI also asked councils to categorise their road networks into green, amber, and red conditions. “Red” means someone should probably investigate before a wheel falls off. The answer: over 12,000 miles of red-grade road across the UK.

After digesting that grim report card, Citroën put its money where Britain’s asphalt used to be. The brand funded one week of pothole repairs in Gateshead, resulting in 250 square metres of cracked, cratered road being patched.

Citroën’s Message: Local Councils Need More Than Sympathy

“We’re highlighting ongoing problems the UK’s roads are facing,” said Greg Taylor, Citroën UK’s managing director. “More needs to be done… councils need more support.”

He’s not wrong. The government pledged an additional £1.6 billion toward local road maintenance last year. But according to the latest ALARM report, fully clearing the UK’s pothole backlog would take 12 years and £16.8 billion—assuming we don’t add fresh potholes faster than we fill them.

If You Can’t Fix the Roads, Cushion the Ride

This is where Citroën pivots gracefully from civic frustration to showroom opportunity. If the blacktop won’t behave, the French brand suggests driving something designed to soak up the abuse.

The latest C3 Aircross and C5 Aircross come standard with Citroën’s “Advanced Comfort” suspension—those hydraulic bump stops that make speed bumps and broken surfaces feel more like rolling over a thick carpet than a medieval torture device. Add in soft, sofa-like seats and you’ve essentially built a cocoon for anyone forced to commute on Britain’s war-torn roads.

Sure, fixing potholes is ideal. But until the UK closes a £16-billion crater of its own, Citroën seems prepared to patch the problem—or at least help you glide over it.

Source: Auto Express

News

Alfa Romeo Bets Brits Want Cars Without Strings Attached

If you’ve ever regretted a haircut, a dodgy flatshare, or—let’s be honest—a relationship that dragged on way too long, you’re not alone. According to a new study commissioned by Alfa Romeo, the UK is a nation increasingly allergic to commitment. And not just the romantic kind.

The survey of 2,000 British drivers found that nearly a quarter admitted to regretting a major financial decision almost immediately after making it. More than half (54%) confessed they’ve stayed in a relationship they knew was doomed. And while three out of four drivers claimed they’re “decisive,” only 23 percent felt that way when big money was on the line.

In other words, Brits love options—and hate feeling stuck.

It’s no wonder, then, that the same study revealed nearly a quarter of respondents would like to “test drive” not just cars, but entire life choices: new jobs, new cities, even new partners. Fifteen percent said they’d happily swap out their car every six months if given the chance. That’s a staggering number when you consider the average UK car ownership cycle hovers around six years.

Enter: Alfa Romeo FLEX & FREE

Alfa Romeo, never one to miss a cultural cue, has turned this national case of cold feet into a selling point. Its new FLEX & FREE program lets customers drive the brand’s latest compact EV—the Junior Elettrica—for six months, then either switch to another Alfa or walk away with no penalty. Think of it as speed dating, but with Italian sheet metal.

The pitch is simple: you get to dip your toe into electric driving without locking yourself into years of payments or a lifestyle you’re not ready for. And on paper, the Junior makes a convincing first impression: up to 255 miles of WLTP range, fast-charging capability, and the kind of driver-assist tech that makes the daily slog a little less, well, sloggy. All wrapped up in Alfa’s unmistakable style.

“By nature, us Brits can tend to be cautious,” says Jules Tilstone, Managing Director of Alfa Romeo UK. “With FLEX & FREE, we want to make choosing your next car easier and stress-free—especially for those who are considering the move to electric.”

Britain’s Top Ten Test Drives (That Aren’t Cars)

The survey didn’t stop at motoring. It dug into what Brits most wish they could trial-run before committing. Topping the list: relationships (22%), new jobs (21%), and living in a new city (16%). Buying a car only ranked fourth at 12%. Lower down the list? Starting a family (3%) and running a business (2%)—both things you’d think people would want to ease into.

And when asked what they’d swap out every six months if they could, Brits put cars at number three (15%), right behind their wardrobe/hairstyle (19%) and their job (17%). Even phones and tech scored higher than gym routines, commutes, and—awkwardly—partners.

The Big Picture

For Alfa Romeo, this research does more than just justify a new finance plan. It taps into a cultural shift: ownership models are losing ground to subscription, flexibility, and try-before-you-buy. From Netflix to Peloton to car-sharing schemes, people increasingly want access without strings.

The Junior Elettrica might be the right car at the right time. Compact EVs are hot property, but many buyers are still hesitant about charging infrastructure, range, and resale. Offering a six-month escape hatch could lower the psychological barrier.

Will Brits commit to the Junior—or keep swiping until they find “the one”? That’s the gamble Alfa is willing to take. One thing’s clear: in 2025, monogamy is overrated. Even when it comes to cars.

Source: Alfa Romeo

News

Britain: Commitment Issues on Four Wheels (and Everywhere Else)

It turns out Britain has a problem with commitment. And no, we’re not just talking about people who mysteriously “forget” to text back after a date. A new study by Alfa Romeo suggests that as a nation, we’re increasingly allergic to sticking with… well, anything. Relationships, jobs, exercise routines – even cars.

According to the survey of 2,000 drivers, a quarter of us admit to instant buyer’s remorse after a big financial decision. Half of us have stayed in relationships we knew were headed nowhere (we’re looking at you, Dave who won’t do the dishes). And although three-quarters of drivers like to think of themselves as decisive, only 23% actually feel confident when the stakes get serious. Translation: Britain is a country full of people who can order a curry in 30 seconds flat but will spend six months dithering over whether to buy a car.

And that’s the clever part. Because Alfa Romeo, with impeccable timing, has launched something called FLEX & FREE – an ownership scheme designed for the commitment-phobic. Buy a car, live with it for six months, and if you’re not feeling the sparks? Hand it back, swap it for another Alfa, or just walk away. No tears, no messy break-ups, no awkward “it’s not you, it’s me” conversations with your dealer.

The pilot model for this relationship-lite arrangement is the new Junior Elettrica, Alfa’s first compact EV. It’s a handsome little thing – sharp Italian tailoring wrapped around a 255-mile electric range, rapid charging, and the sort of driver assistance tech that means you won’t embarrass yourself parallel parking outside a crowded café. Think of it as a stylish first date: low risk, high reward, and guaranteed to turn heads.

Jules Tilstone, Alfa Romeo UK’s MD, puts it bluntly: “By nature us Brits can tend to be cautious… With the new FLEX & FREE offer we want to help make choosing your next car easier and stress free, especially for those considering the move to electric.” In other words: “Don’t panic. Try it, and if it doesn’t work out, no hard feelings.”

The study also revealed some other gems about our national psyche. Nearly a quarter of Brits wish they could “test drive” a relationship before committing (speed dating but with a warranty?), while 15% would happily swap cars every six months if they could. We’re basically a country built for short leases and trial periods.

Top things we’d most like to test drive before committing?Relationships, jobs, moving cities, even pets. And when it comes to what we’d like to swap out every six months, it’s our wardrobes, hairstyles, jobs, and – yes – our cars. Apparently, 7% of us would like to swap out our partners every half-year too. (Insert your own joke here.)

So, there you have it. Britain is a nation of tire-kickers, serial swappers, and cautious committers. Alfa Romeo’s Junior Elettrica and FLEX & FREE deal might just be the perfect antidote: a no-strings fling with an Italian beauty. Because if you’re going to have commitment issues, you might as well look good while doing it.

Source: Alfa Romeo