Many fleets are “slow to recognise the implications” of the arrival of the new EU fuel consumption and emissions test, says Arval. The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) replaces the outgoing New European Driving Cycle and is designed to provide results that are much closer to real world figures. Experts believe it will result in official MPG and CO2 figures rising by … [Read more...]
Retail
Newslines 13 March
McLaren says its forthcoming ‘Hyper-GT ‘codenamed BP23 will achieve the highest top speed of any McLaren yet with the capability to exceed the 243mph of the legendary McLaren F1 road car. Only 106 of the three-seaters will be built and they are already sold to existing McLaren owners for £1.6 M plus local taxes. Audi devotees excited by the e-tron quattro concept - an SUV which is the first … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 March
Dacia has revised its Duster line-up and launched two new trim levels. The new Air trim starts at just £10,995 and features air conditioning, DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, height-adjustable driver's seat, 16-inch wheels, body-coloured front and rear bumpers, electric front windows, USB and AUX connection and front fog lights as standard while the Nav+ trim starts at £13,095 and adds … [Read more...]
Elephant on car forecourts needs moving
There is an elephant on car forecourts, says one industry observer. The Government must stimulate the switch to hybrids and electric cars with the collapsing sale of diesel and a general slowdown in new car sales, said Alex Buttle, director of car buying comparison website Motorway.co.uk. "Again flagging diesel sales are the recurring and seemingly unsolvable problem. Petrol and AFVs sales … [Read more...]
Triple trouble faces car makers at Geneva show
Industry executives meeting at the Geneva motor show this week face testing choices to re-engineer existing vehicles at huge expense, restrict sales of some profitable models, or risk hundreds of millions of euros in penalties. While diesels produce more toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates than gasoline engines, their efficiency has been instrumental in cutting greenhouse gases. As … [Read more...]
Newslines 6 March
The all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class is now on sale, with prices starting from£25,800 for the A 180 d SE. The petrol-powered A 200 starts from £27,500, while the A 250 is available from £30,240 and the new A-Class is initially available in three trims: SE, Sport and AMG Line; and with a choice of three engines, all with a seven-speed automatic gearbox. There is yet another addition to the BMW … [Read more...]
Unique Bridgestone Potenza on hot Renault
The New Renault Mégane R.S. has been updated with state-of-the-art technology for greater agility, efficiency and driving enjoyment including the very latest high performance Bridgestone Potenza S001 tyres. ‘This is a very different vehicle,’ explains Laurent Hurgon, Renault’s development driver for the new model and who said a tailored approach was a must for the New … [Read more...]
Welsh car buyers buck British trend
Wales has bucked the trend and seen new car sales rise in February. Figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showed a 9.389% rise in Welsh registrations last month while the UK as a whole suffered a 2.63% drop. Welsh drivers bought 2,251 new cars in February out of 80,499 in the whole of Britain, but that was better than the 2,058 registered in February 2017 … [Read more...]
UK new car sales still sliding, diesels collapsing
The UK new car market dipped in February, according to figures released this morning by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Some 80,805 new cars were registered, a -2.8% drop compared with February 2017, in what is traditionally one of the quietest months of the year ahead of the March number plate change. Continuing recent trends, demand for petrol and alternatively fuelled … [Read more...]
Write-off changes surprise for some
As we enter the peak period for second hand car sales a survey of 100 consumers by vehicle history checker mycarcheck.com found that 89% were unaware of the recent write-off category changes. In October 2017, the old A, B, C and D categories were replaced with new codes, which focus on safety rather than the cost of repair: A (scrap), B (break), S (structurally damaged repairable) and N … [Read more...]