The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 45 limited edition opens to UK marking 45 years of one of the world’s most iconic and best-loved badges. This sixth generation of the famous model costs from £39,980 with unrestricted performance, sports exhaust, uprated handling, special paint and emblems. Suzuki has introduced an optional six speed automatic transmission for the Vitara 48V and … [Read more...]
Newcomers
Salary sacrifice is saving emissions, reports Arval
Around 89% of cars leased via Arval on salary sacrifice are now an electric vehicle, an increase from just 39% two years ago. Over the same time period, the total number of cars provided using the sustainable mobility specialist’s salary sacrifice scheme, Arval Ignition, has risen by 252%. A figure that includes growth in terms of both existing clients and the creation of new schemes. Richard … [Read more...]
Lamborghini enhance Huracán EVO
Automobili Lamborghini is enhancing the connected services offering in its Huracán EVO models. Lamborghini Connect comprising navigation, comfort, safety and entertainment functions and adds new ‘peace of mind’ services through connection to the Lamborghini UNICA app: a car-finder function, vehicle status report and geofencing functions such as remote speed and valet alerts. It will join the … [Read more...]
UK debut for new Honda EV home charger
Honda is to debut its domestic intelligent charging service – ‘e:PROGRESS’ - in the UK. e:PROGRESS is the most comprehensive and innovative home charging solution from an automotive manufacturer in Europe, and Honda’s first energy management service to be launched in the region. At the heart of e:PROGRESS lies a connected charger and advanced intelligent software developed by … [Read more...]
Newslines 27 April
It’s the 20th anniversary of MINI being assembled in Plant Oxford by BMW Group. In early 2001, production began for MINI body parts in Swindon and on the 26 April the first new MINI rolled off the line in Oxford which has since built over 5 million cars and currently makes MINI 3-Door Hatch, MINI 5-Door Hatch, MINI Clubman and the MINI Electric, all on the same production line. A post mortem has … [Read more...]
Newslines 26 April
The new Fiat 500 electric model coming in a few weeks from £19,995 will self-regulate its battery use. Its range of up to 199 miles includes a monitoring system to cut down secondary power use and provide maximum range when it has about 30 miles left and it can be substantially recharged in 35 mins with a rapid box. The changing working arrangements mean some motorists could get back money from … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: MG5 EV estate
All credit must go to the new MG5 EV Estate. As many manufacturers fall over themselves to produce what are essentially the same pure electric cars in hatchbacks or saloon styles, the MG5 stands out from a crowd of challengers because it has none, at least no pure electric estate cars in this price bracket. The MG5 estate sounds unremarkable but that really shouts out about its ability to be a … [Read more...]
Honda e:HRV further step on electrification this year
Honda is boosting its electric offensive with the introduction of the e:HRV in November. The new generation HRV uses two electric motors driving the front wheels to assist the regular 1.5 litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine but it’s not a plug-in hybrid. The 131ps maximum powertrain develops 253Nm at 4,500rpm and is essentially a boosted version of that in the Honda Jazz and comes as the … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 April
To complement Nissan’s range of striking crossovers, 2022 will see the introduction of the fourth generation all-new X-Trail, whose world debut took place at Auto Shanghai 2021 this week. Like its cousin the All-New Qashqai, it will be based upon the Alliance CMF-C platform, which is the highly advanced architecture which was designed to accommodate Nissan’s advanced e‑POWER powertrain, as … [Read more...]
Fleet emissions sink to record low
The BVRLA has published its latest Quarterly Leasing Survey showing that average CO2 emissions for members’ new car registrations have fallen below 100g/km for the first time ever. During the Q4-2020 reporting period, average CO2 emissions were 98g/km compared to the average UK car fleet of 114.2g/km, highlighting the green credentials of the vehicle leasing sector. BVRLA rental and leasing … [Read more...]