James Scoltock

New driving phenomenon witnessed twice last night. Slip road down to a three lane road. Car leaves slip road and heads straight into the middle lane and just sits there. Barely any traffic, left lane completely empty. Why?

Time to crack out the study books again. Signed up for the JLPT N4 exam at the beginning of July, so need to put my head down for the next few weeks.

Pick a lane Goggle

My nan and grandad bought a brand new Accord in 1989, and to this day I remember it being the smartest, poshest thing I’d ever seen

£400 increase if I renew my car insurance with Hastings. Checked yesterday, £200 cheaper compared to my current policy if I switch to Aviva. So a £600 swing. We all know it’s a broken system, but it never ceases to amaze just how broken.

Birthday’s, even middle-aged ones, are better when the cake looks like a rainbow inside 🌈

First Automotive Engineering Insight newsletter of 2025.

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Definitely a lot of shenanigans. Completely passed me by, not that I'm a regular viewer/listener.

I missed it, what happened?

It'll soon be time to publish the first edition of Automotive Engineering Insight in 2025, but before I do (heads up, it'll be next week), here's the final issue from last year...

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#LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pulse/silico...

Plug-in hybrid cars are essentially pointless and in 2025 it’s high time we all accepted that | Auto Express Alex Ingram explains why he believes that PHEVs aren't all they're cracked up to be

Can’t argue, if you don’t plug a PHEV in they can be terribly inefficient. But, used properly and they’re an amazing bit of kit that can suit a lot of people, especially as a used purchase.

www.autoexpress.co.uk/exclusive/36...

Stepmom and Daughter Blues was a tale of two halves, and personally I wasn’t as taken by the second act. That said it was a bit of fun and ‘kiseki’ was used so often it’s now embedded in my brain…

Cracking, enjoy chap

As a cheeky bonus my better half said if you stick ‘fu’ at the beginning you get unfair ‘fukouhei’.

More of these scintillating posts next week.

I find it incredibly difficult to get words to stick, so I’ve started watching more Japanese TV to try and help. And it has, a bit. I picked up ‘kouhei’ from the drama Unnatural (something I needed the subtitles 95% of the time for) and it’s remembered…

Two things I want to do more of in 2025, cycling and Japanese. A bit difficult to pedal on social media but I can put some Japanese in my timeline (it might help me remember things too). So, the first word is ‘ikigai’ or your reason/purpose for living, but it’s also about doing what makes you happy.

Should you be in Brixton and fancy some Caribbean food: fishwingsandtings.co.uk

Had a week’s trial of Duolingo Max. Being able to interact, even with AI, is a great feature and should help a lot of people. I wonder how many people will pay the subscription though.

Thought I'd take a look at semiconductors for the latest Automotive Engineering Insight Newsletter. Fill your boots with AMD, NXP, Nvidia, Arm and Rapidus...

www.linkedin.com/pulse/silico...

Such a good programme. Shame there are only two series, but it works beautifully.

Sunshine. Bloody missed it. Made the most of the brightness with a mammoth dog walk.

a cartoon of a man and woman behind a podium with the words pay me ALT: a cartoon of a man and woman behind a podium with the words pay me

If you work with freelancers before you have your Xmas party or down tools for the holidays pls pls pls make sure that they are getting paid too - talk to your finance team process that invoice pretty pls #freelancers

😂 I don’t mind Matt, he’s found his niche and it’s worked for him. I would have expected at least one slightly more outlandish colour though.

YouTube video by BBC Archive 1975: FYFE ROBERTSON - Has the CAR Gone TOO FAR? | Robbie | Retro Transport | BBC Archive

Cars, they’ve confounded us for decades

youtu.be/JxM8vxS_yLs?...

Automotive Testing Technology International November Issue Page 52

A piece on Audi's product development restructuring in the latest issue of Automotive Testing Technology International

automotivetesting.mydigitalpublication.com/november-iss...

I had wondered if having a home charger installed could affect house prices, and I guess as EV numbers increase (but before they become the norm) they could.

news.sky.com/story/money-...

Biased because it’s where I was based, but Chiba as a whole is underrated. Lots of great countryside and easy access to Tokyo

Ha, used to work in Noda as a cowboy English teacher back in the day

Recharging the cat: Inside Jaguar’s EV engineering It’s been a hectic few weeks for the Jaguar brand. It hit the headlines when its teaser video for the company’s new look caught the attention of a lot of people.

If you can’t beat them, join them. My slightly less shouty, ranty and completely reactionary thoughts on Jaguar…

www.linkedin.com/pulse/rechar...

Audi in 2015. Seems like a lifetime ago.