The new Mercedes-Benz GLE is available to order with prices starting from £55,685 for the GLE 300 d 4MATIC and from £62,300 for the GLE 450 4MATIC when deliveries begin in the spring. The new GLE features a seven-seat configuration for the first time; the latest generation of the MBUX multimedia system; two 12.3-inch display screens; MBUX Interior Assistant; Nappa Leather; Blind Spot Assist; … [Read more...]
Newcomers
Newslines 29 October
The eagerly awaited Volvo V60 Cross Country will be in showrooms early next year from £38,270. The all-wheel-drive model has specific 18-inch alloys, extra bodywork protection, hill descent control and an off-road mode for severe terrain but its also one of the last to get the 190bhp 2.0 D4 diesel engine and eight speed gearbox. The Vauxhall Corsa Griffin is a new high spec city car from … [Read more...]
Brakes applied to car sales across Europe
The European car market recorded the highest monthly decline of the last decade in September 2018, as 1.12 million vehicles were registered – 343,000 less than in September 2017, JATO reported. The drop follows August’s inflated results, which were boosted by an increase in business registrations and stock clearances ahead of the introduction of WLTP on the 1 September. Despite August’s … [Read more...]
Tradelines 24 October
The withdrawal of the Government’s plug-in hybrid grant will add about £2,500 to models and make them no longer commercially viable for many fleets, said Meridian Vehicle Solutions. It has taken the decision to operate its current plug-in rentals but not add further versions when they are due to be replaced. VW has introduced an old-diesel swapping scheme in Germany where 14 cities are … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 October
Ford will stop vehicle production at its Valencia plant for nine days next month due to falling demand for its Kuga, Mondeo, Galaxy and S-Max models. Engine production will also halt for nearly two weeks and follows a three-day stoppage this month. The first Dyson electric cars will be made in a new factory in Singapore where it makes motors and not in the UK where it has a research and … [Read more...]
Low carbon focus at Welsh event
The Welsh Government and the Welsh Automotive Forum in conjunction with Industry Wales are organising a conference on Low Carbon Intelligent Mobility at the Vale Hotel on 29 November 2018. The Miskin-event hosted by Quentin Willson will provide an overview of how electric vehicles, supporting policies along with manufacturing supply chain opportunities and how they can both contribute to carbon … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: VW Touareg R-Line 3.0V6
The trials and repercussions of the Volkswagen Group brands over emissions have been well documented but didn’t stop them becoming the world’s largest manufacturer of vehicles with 10.74-million vehicles produced last year and 4.1-million sold so far this year, writes David Miles. However for annual top-dog global sales it’s a close run thing with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance for … [Read more...]
Newslines 20 October
Production of the Ford GT supercar will be extended approximately two years, to meet overwhelming customer demand. Ford will re-open the application window to customers in selected markets, including the UK, for one month beginning Nov. 8, delivering approximately 1,350 Ford GTs for customers worldwide. Car makers in the UK said they were “hugely disappointed” by the diplomatic traffic jam … [Read more...]
Drivers more likely to ditch diesel next time
The shift away from diesel has more drivers planning to choose an eco-friendly car than ever before, says AA Cars. Looking at people who have used its site, nearly a quarter (22%) claim they are ready to make the switch despite a lot of confusion over Government policies. The AA-Populus poll of over 20,000 drivers shows that this would be a dramatic increase from the 2% of drivers who … [Read more...]
Tradelines 17 October
Following on from the first silhouette images, ŠKODA reveals the name of its new model – the ŠKODA Scala. The name derives from the Latin word ‘scala’ which means ‘stairs’ and is a step forward for the Czech car manufacturer in the compact hatch segment when it launches before 2019 and replaces the Rapid. Audi has been fined the equivalent of £702.54M by German prosecutors for violations … [Read more...]