What's new for Planet Auto in 2020

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It's that time of the year again - we've been awarded third place in the best UK automotive blog awards by Car Money: the car finance ninjas. It is quite staggering what has changed in the last year, as we also achieved third place last year. The way we're going, we may well be in first place next year! 
It's been a rather busy couple of months, as you no doubt have noticed, now that we've retrieved our Mercedes-Benz from our former partner. We've also driven a fair few vehicles as well, including the Skoda Kamiq, the BMW 330e, and - obviously - the SsangYong Musso, which we used to tow the Mercedes back, and drop into Autosport International as well.
 
Coming up, we've got the Subaru e-Boxer XV, the Kia e-Niro, the Ford Ranger Raptor, and the Suzuki Ignis...and that's just the tip of the iceberg! 
However, we've also got a car show to go to at the London Olympia, as well as a restoration in the Classic Car and Restoration Show at the Birmingham NEC. 
 
Currently, Annabelle and I are both working on videos - I am putting together a video comparing the J and the K Astra, as well as a review for the 330e, a review for the Musso, and 30 years of premium luxury, watch the video above, where we compare the BMW 330e with the Mercedes W124 - it is quite staggering how advanced our Mercedes was for the time! Both retail for around £48,000.
 
What is coming up this month?  Well, our aim is to put a blog out probably twice a month, just to keep you updated on what we're doing. If you want to watch most of our content, why not go to YouTube and search Planet Auto and you'll find our latest videos. 
 
We have live broadcasts, cinematics, previews, walkabouts around the latest vehicles including the VW ID Buzz, and don't forget we also do put up some content with classic cars: for example the Peel P50. 
We're also going to be uploading a video of the Frisky and lots more show content will be unveiled over the coming weeks.
 
Our YouTube subscribers are flying, with 4,593 subscribers and it goes up daily...we are getting well over 500,000 minutes watched a month, which is around 138,000 views...everything is increasing, it really is!
Watch out for work on our Mk2 Golf, and our 230CE project is well underway. 
 
We've also got something coming up at Santa Pod as well with the Civic - more on that later..
There you go, that's January and February for you!
 
Thanks guys
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PSA and FCA Merger talks underway - LATEST Merger 50/50 going ahead

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Big Automotive news today, the possibility of a massive merger combing the forces Fiat Chrysler Automobiles or FCA and PSA Groupe. That's right, talks are being are held again with the possibility of merger talks with PSA who own Citroen, Peugeot, DS and recently acquired Vauxhall - Opel know, these car companies have been in talks over the last few months previously.

 

FCA has been trying to grow the empire and have held talks with Renault Groupe, talks broke down when neither of the firms could reach an agreement.

 
This merger possibility would build a car giant with a worth of around £40 billiion, a combo of many of world’s biggest car brands. Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Maserati, Lancia, Ram, Chrysler - while Groupe PSA who have recently upped their game with vehicles like the
 The French company owns Citroën, DS, Peugeot and Vauxhall-Opel.
 
 
PSA have also expressed interest in JLR, Jaguar Land Rover and also previously held talks with FCA. Carlos Tavares PSA Boss lead the buy of Vauxhall Opel, and is looking to expand the company.
 

PSA issued a statement this morning saying: “Following recent reports on a possible business combination between Groupe PSA and FCA Group, Groupe PSA confirms there are ongoing discussions aimed at creating one of the world’s leading automotive groups.

 

The merger has been approved and FCA and PSA are going in on a 50/50. It'll be interesting to see how this evolves the automotive giant. 

 

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Springing into the auto year

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It's Spring already, the clocks have gone back and the automotive world is coming to life, as you can see we've been busy reviewing cars as well lining up some of the newest models.

We've lots planned in the coming months including some rather cool automotive events including The Commercial Vehicle Show, London Concours and some invite only events one being Goblin Garage.

 

For more on these events and what the team are getting upto visit our Planet Auto Youtube channel for LIVE streams and car video content.

 

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Can I Jetwash my EV and Hybrid?

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Should I use a garage forecourt car wash for my Hybrid and EV? In a word yes, Istobal have put together answer and info sheet.

 

How to wash an electric or hybrid car, there has been a lot of controversy about this, namely washing any vehicles with electrical sysytems, motors or batteries.

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What a year for Planet Auto, what's coming up?

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That's right it's coming upto to the end of year, 1 month left if you remember we set a target of 1000 subscribers on our channel for EOY.

Well, we achieved our goal 1 month and 1 week before target, and that is thanks to you guys, since then in the last week we have hit 1056, it's flying.

 

Here are a few of our stats, 

Monthly minutes watched currently 209.8K 

Monthly views 50k

 

Now we're over the 1k we are really going to boost our content delievery, with a minimum of 3 videos being published every week on https://www.youtube.com/c/planetautouk 

We've lots coming up in the new year, and for December we are reviewing a 2 Ford models, a Volvo and a Skoda.  

 

This week we have the 9 Speed Honda Civic, Abarth 124 GT and Mazda CX-5 reviews being published.

 

2019 is going to be immense, more drone footage, more live events, more cars and more events.

 

Subscribe to https://www.youtube.com/c/planetautouk 

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Updates October 2019 and the Subaru e-Boxer

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Our latest Subaru e-boxer videos for the Forester and XV from Latvia

 

What a great day namely for one of our cars, we'll get to that though - It's time for an update first things first our 1999 Honda Civic ek4 or Santa pod challenge car as its been dubbed has passed its MOT, it received one advisory for a tire that could do replacing sooner rather than later, not dnagerous though.

 

Mind you that doesn't matter because we are fitting some BBSs from the Mk2 Golf to it next week, they'll look cool combined with the livery, and apart from that it's all go at planet auto HQ.

 

We've lots of things coming up including:-

 

  • Subaru Levorg early next week and a roadtrip to Farnbrough.
  • Forester and XV e-Boxer models Latvia special Michaels last content for the channel
  • Youtube car Reviews being released ASAP are the MG ZS EV, Swift Attitude and New Subaru Forester

 

There's also lots of other cars coming up before Christmas including Mitsubishi, Honda, Vauxhall and Subaru as well as some heritage Honda cars to look forward to.

 

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Want to see what we've been getting upto?

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Here's just one of the things we've attended in the last week, and yes that is Ben Quirk driving a Tommi Makinen Evo VI.

If your wondering why it's all quiet on the western front, well that's because our Youtube Channel Planet Auto is where you'll find our latest adventures as well as our latest car reviews.

Why not here? We aim to keep the page upto date however we can stream LIVE straight to our channel from any events, launches etc we attend.

If your not subscribed please take a look and join us Planet Auto on Youtube

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Updates October

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Coming up we have a number of vehicles on review, including Subaru, SsangYong, Peugeot, MG and more.

We are also catching up on our video content too, you'll find these and more on our Planetauto Youtube channel - videos include

MG ZS EV Road Trip Part One

MG ZS  EV Road Trip Part Two

MG ZS EV Road Trip Part Three

Concours Of Elegance Hampton Court 2019

Mercedes Sprinter Van 116 CDI Review

Part one of the ZS S Electric vehicle 400 mile road trip will follow.

 

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Tour of UK Car Events in Honda Cars, we're now back

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What a crazy week, we've been radio silence for some time, how ever all in a good cause. We've been touring rounding the UK in our Honda press cars, the Jazz Sport and Civic Type R GT visiting the finest car events the UK has to offer, here's what we did:-

Concours of Elegance | Hampton Court, London
Classic and Super Car BCS | Blenheim Palace, Blenheim
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Launch | The Cotswolds
Goodwood Revival | Chichester

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Updates and the Future of Planetauto

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Well what a few months it's been,there are a couple of announcements however let's get to the cool things first.
 
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Auto Blog Winner courtesy of Car Money

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Planet Auto

We are proud to announce that Car Money have crowned us in the Top 11 Car Blog Awards, to read about the awards and see what we wrote please, visit the blog post Best UK Automotive Blog 2018.

If your new to Planet Auto or haven't see our videos, please subscribe to our You Tube Channel Planet Auto UK

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Goblin works garage and Holts blog feature

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This month already is going crazy, we've so far been to the unveiling of the Goblins Works Garage latest project car, a rather funky yet 90's themed dystopian e30 with e46 engine, cambered wheels and custom bodykit created by the Goblins.

Founder of Goblin Works Garage Jimmy De-Ville interview coming soon.
 

We also had one of Ben's and Annabelle's adventures featured in the Holts blog, its well worth a read, it involves Mk2 Golf GTI 16V, driving rain, unfamiliar location and unfriendly lights.
 

Intrigued? Well read all about it here - Holts Driving Stories
 

As for car reviews it has been rather packed everything from New Jimny SZ5 to the BMW X5 M-Sport watch all our latest LIVE streams and car reviews on the Planet Auto YouTube Channel

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London Motor Show 2018 Giveaway

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Here is your chance to grab some tickets the Friday 18th May London Motor Show 2018, we have a few pairs for this is a fabulous event and this time the show is in a new venue the ExCel.

We attended last years show and met some great people, saw some amazing cars and had an amazing time, our highlights included the Clive Sutton Mustang, Liberty Walk McLaren and the unveiling of the MG ZS.

The winners can also have coffee with us at the event and chat cars, we'll pay:)

All you need to do to be in with a chance is subscribe to our Youtube Channel http://www.youtube.com/c/planetautouk and comment on the above giveaway video, thank you.

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Northern Group of Motoring Writers NGMW

Northern Group Of Motoring Writers

Annabelle Quirk Vice Chairwoman
Ben D T Quirk Member