Archive for March, 2009
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
Perodua UK Limited, the importer of Piaggio Commercial Vehicles, are delighted to announce that they are now adding the popular Ape range of 3-wheel vehicles to their existing line up of light commercial vehicles in order to appeal to a wider market.
Ape recently celebrated its 60th birthday in Italy as the first Ape was launched in 1948 based on the Vespa scooter. Corradino D’Ascanio, the designer of both the Vespa and the Ape, designed Ape when he realised the demand for a compact light commercial vehicle in Italy. The result of this unique design and Ape’s unbeatable versatility has led to sixty years of success for Piaggio as Ape is now recognised and admired worldwide.
Since the first Ape was introduced, there have been many welcome developments with the range. The first evolution came in 1952 when the displacement of the Ape increased from 125cc to 150cc resulting in a higher load capacity. Then in 1954 the Ape C was launched, which was a small truck able to carry up to 350kg. In 1958, the Ape D came along which was bigger than previous models with a displacement of 170cc and also saw the introduction of the cab complete with doors.
The Ape TM, still in production today, was launched in 1982 and was a completely new concept as the dimensions of the vehicle and cab were bigger resulting in a larger payload, plus the option of a steering wheel made it more comparable to a traditional 4-wheel commercial vehicle. In 1984, the 422cc diesel engine with 5 speed gearbox was introduced further broadening the range.
In 2007, Piaggio reintroduced a limited edition version of the Ape Calessino, a truly unique vehicle of which only 999 will be available. The Calessino was incredibly popular during the 1950’s when Hollywood stars used them as a runabout at exclusive holiday resorts on sunny Mediterranean islands. The latest version is an ideal reinterpretation of the design that was admired in the 1960s with its blue body, wood inserts, cream upholstery and chrome finishes.
Today, Ape is available for the UK market in the 50cc petrol, TM 218cc petrol, TM 422cc diesel and the special Calessino versions. The use of Ape is longer limited to the world of work and is becoming more popular as a method of personal transport.
Ape 50 is available as a Panel Van, Pick Up or Cross and is ideal for deliveries in busy towns as it can travel down narrow streets and park in the smallest of spaces. The most functional use for Ape 50 is as a marketing tool for businesses, as its unique design is guaranteed to attract attention from passers by whether stationary outside a shop or on the move.
Ape TM is available as a Panel Van, Pick Up or Tipper and has a choice of either a 218cc petrol or a 422cc diesel engine. The Tipper and Pick Up also have the option of a steering wheel² or handle bars. TM has an impressive payload for such a compact vehicle and although larger in size than the Ape 50, is still easy to manoeuvre with a turning circle of just 3.4m. The load volume of the Panel Van is a surprising 2.5m³ making it useful for delivering goods.
Calessino is ideal for leisurely drives in the country or by the coast with its fold down hood. The limited edition design makes it perfect for lovers and collectors of the Ape brand.
Prices for the Ape range start from only £3,595*.
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
From tomorrow, UK families will start to pay on average an additional £54 a year in tax on car fuels, the AA warns. In just over 12 months, that could rise to more than £150 extra. Millions of motorists may think this increase is being sneaked through before the Budget.
At midnight tonight, fuel duty and VAT on petrol and diesel rises 2.12 pence per litre. With nearly a third of UK households with two or more cars this means that for a family with two petrol cars, each consuming an average of 1,286 litres of fuel per year, the annual tax burden will increase by £54.53.
From 1 April 2010, following VAT’s return to 17.5 per cent and an inflation + 0.5p fuel duty rise this time next year, a further 4p a litre is likely to be added to the cost of petrol and diesel.
Four out of five drivers have demonstrated their opposition to Wednesday’s fuel duty increase through the AA Populus poll of more than 10,000 AA members. Half of the sample want the Chancellor to freeze fuel duty and 31 per cent want it cut. Only 18 per cent can see any justification for a fuel duty rise to support government spending in any shape or form.
“These April Fuel increases are no joke. It’s a shame that this and other fuel tax increases will severely dent consumer spending and undermine the UK’s economic recovery,” says Edmund King, the AA’s President.
“Taking an extra £1 off drivers each time they fill up their fuel tank is a £1 taken away from high street and leisure spending that would help revive the economy.
“The vast majority of unemployed, low-income, young, elderly, rural and drivers on fixed incomes are not on tracker mortgages. Their cost of living is likely to have gone up rather than down, and another 2p a litre reduces the monthly budget of a family with two petrol cars by another £4.30. We want motorists to let us know what they think at www.theAA.com/zone and we will feed this back to Government.”
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
Britain’s most powerful police car is a 580PS Audi RS 6 Avant, the latest weapon of choice for the Association of Chief Police Officers Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) in its fight to bring perpetrators of vehicle enabled crime to justice. On loan to the AVCIS from Audi UK, the ten-cylinder super estate with its discreetly but effectively positioned blue lights is used on a covert basis, but is a fully operational member of the fleet.
In the hands of highly skilled advanced police drivers for whom public safety is an absolute priority, the mighty RS 6 Avant is capable of accelerating to 62mph from rest in 4.6 seconds, and of reaching twice that speed in just 14.9 seconds. Where emergency situations demand it, it can reach an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
With the added safeguards of quattro permanent four-wheel-drive and Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) hydraulic damping for optimum control and composure at speed, the RS 6 is able not only to reach the scene of serious organised crime or terrorist offences as quickly as possible, but also to safely apprehend criminals using high-powered vehicles in a bid to evade capture.
Commenting on the association between Audi UK and the ACPO, Director of Audi UK Jeremy Hicks said: “For the RS 6 to be chosen by the ACPO for a task which inevitably involves high speed driving often in close proximity to the general public shows great confidence in the integrity of our cars. Thanks in no small part to quattro drive Audi is renowned for making high performance as accessible, manageable and above all safe as possible, so I think the brand is a natural choice for this kind of application.”
Head of Unit for AVCIS Paul Lambotte said, "We are delighted to be working with Audi UK in the fight against organised criminal groups who use vehicles to attack our community. Audi has a tradition in taking security seriously and has won many awards. It is the only manufacturer to take a further step to support UK Policing by supplying vehicles to us on a partnership basis. This vehicle will make a real difference to our operational activity.”
The many attributes of the Audi RS 6 can be enjoyed – at speeds of up to 70mph where no Autobahn is available – in four-door saloon form for £76,160 OTR or with the 1,660-litre carrying capacity of the Avant body style for £77,730 OTR.
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Monday, March 30th, 2009
Any scrappage scheme must encourage owners to trade up to a newer, cleaner car or van they can afford
The BVRLA has warned the government not to neglect the vitally important used car and van market in its attempts to stimulate the sale of new vehicles.
In a meeting with Treasury Minister Angela Eagle, the association asked that any scrappage scheme include an incentive to purchase used vehicles of at least Euro IV standard that emit no more than 165g/km of CO2.
It called on the government to learn from the errors of the German scrappage scheme, which boosted sales of small foreign cars but did little to help German manufacturers. The German plan also stifled the country’s used car market.
“With the amount of incentive being mooted, most people will still not be able to afford to scrap a vehicle of nine years or older and go out and purchase a shiny new car or van,” said John Lewis, chief executive of the BVRLA.
“Allowing people to buy to a newer, more fuel-efficient vehicle they can afford will have the government’s desired impact of reducing emissions and stimulating the new car and van market, as this trading-up will feed directly through to showrooms.”
In its letter, the BVRLA also asked the government to consider a number of other issues ahead of its 2009 Budget (22 April), which include:
- Imposing a moratorium on plans to increase fuel duty by 1.84p per litre and raise the annual goods and passenger vehicle test fee by 9%
- Postponing this year’s increase in the number of VED bands until 2010/11, when it can be combined with the introduction of the new first year rate. This would involve no cost to the Treasury in 2009/10 and would prevent fleets having to make costly changes to their vehicle management systems at the height of the current recession
- Altering the new business car taxation reform so that the Lease Rental Restriction is applied to the end business user for all daily rental contracts of more than 30 days and is not applied to any rental below this duration. This will not create any additional burden for business users and will fulfil the government’s stated policy objective of applying the LRR to only one lease in a chain
- Clarifying the way the CO2 emissions thresholds are set for taxation purposes. The variety of different thresholds is confusing for companies and employees trying to maximise their tax savings and reduce their carbon footprint.
The BVRLA is the trade body for companies engaged in the leasing and rental of cars and commercial vehicles. Its members provide short-term self-drive rental, leasing hire and fleet management services to corporate users and consumers. They operate a combined fleet of 2.6 million cars, vans and trucks, buying 44% of all new vehicles sold in the UK. Through its members and their customers, the BVRLA represents the interests of more than two million business car drivers and the 10 million people who use a rental vehicle each year. As well as lobbying the government on key issues affecting the sector, the BVRLA regulates the industry through a mandatory code of conduct. www.bvrla.co.uk
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Monday, March 30th, 2009
Suzuki has some great finance offers across the range including 0 per cent finance*. Our pick of the bunch includes:
Swift 1.3 GL 3 door for OTR £8740, with a deposit of £4375 and 23 monthly payments of £182.29 with 0 per cent finance across 2 years. The swift is rated at four and a half stars on RoadTestReports.co.uk.
Or the Grand Vitara 3 door for OTR £13,250,with a deposit of £5,300 and 35 monthly payments of £220.83 and 0 per cent finance available plus 3 years road tax thrown in. The Grand Vitara is rated at four and half stars on RoadTestReports.co.uk.
Finally the SX4 1.6 GL for OTR £10,990 with a deposit of £5495 and 23 monthly payments of £228.95 and 0 per cent finance plus 3 years road tax. The SX4 is rated three and half stars at on RoadTestReports.co.uk.
Visit ContractHireAndLeasing.com for the best leasing deals on Suzuki cars.
*For full terms and conditions visit www.suzuki.co.uk. Other offers available.
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Monday, March 30th, 2009
Green Earth Technologies, a leading manufacturer and marketer of ‘green’ environmentally safe consumer packaged goods products has developed a green motor oil made from animal fats. ‘G-OIL’ eco engine oil, currently only available in the US. contains no fossil fuels and is made from 100 per cent biodegradeable and environmentally friendly tallow, a byproduct of farming.
Ideal for use lawn and garden equipment, small tractors, generators, steam and pressure washers and pumps, it is also set to find use in motor cars. The American Le Mans Series are among the first to take advantage of this product, having recently signed a two-year agreement with Green Earth Technologies.
“We are very excited to offer a new ‘G’-Branded engine oil to our consumers and retail partners who are increasingly looking for environmentally friendly products,” says Jeff Marshall, Chairman and CEO of Green Earth Technologies.
According to the Environmental Transport Agency it takes three barrels of crude oil to make one barrel of motor oil, but only one barrel of animal fat to produce one barrel of G-OIL.
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “We have not yet had a chance to test this product, but it appears to offer a green and competitively-priced alternative to traditional motor oil.”
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Friday, March 27th, 2009
What could be better than 4 years 0 per cent finance on a fantastic range of cars? How about 5 per cent cashback on the balance financed? Up front, in your pocket. Vauxhall’s amazing ‘You Pay We Pay’ offer is available on a fantastic range of models including Tigra, Meriva, Astra, Astra Sport Hatch, Astra TwinTop and Zafira. But hurry as their great offer expires April 2.
And, you can choose the 0 per cent finance period that suits you best. Financed by GMAC, for more information visit: www.vauxhall.com
For the best deals on Vauxhall cars, visit SaveMoneyOnCars.co.uk
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Friday, March 27th, 2009
Fiat has just announced prices for the eagerly awaited convertible version of its iconic 500 city car, some 15 months after the widely acclaimed supermini’s UK launch.
Starting at just £11,300 OTR, the new Fiat 500 C, which goes on sale here in the summer, represents notable value for lovers of soft-top motoring, and positions the new car comfortably below its benchmark rivals.
Topping the top-down range, a highly specified Lounge version with a larger engine costs £14,100 – an OTR price that includes automatic climate control, rear parking sensors and alloy wheels as standard equipment.
“The sophisticated new 500 C is a faithful yet thoroughly modern ‘take’ on the rich heritage of our sought-after 500, which highlights its strong, attractive personality,” says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK. “It is a car for people who want to express themselves and demonstrate their own personality. I am sure 500 C will make a host of enthusiastic new friends!”
In recognition of British drivers’ enjoyment of convertibles, the UK is the first country in Europe to receive the new 500 C – the car arrives here even before it goes on sale in Italy.
Pop and Lounge versions of the new 500 C will be available at launch. An electrically operated hood, air conditioning, remote central locking, radio/CD/MP3 player, seven airbags and electric door mirrors are standard on all cars, while climate control, ESP stability control, foglights and rear parking sensors are among the principal features incorporated in Lounge models.
Blue&Me, Fiat’s hands-free entertainment, information and communications system, along with eco:Drive, the computer technology which monitors a driver’s style and gives tips on how to save fuel and reduce emissions, is also standard on Lounge versions.
Available in 11 colours – including the newly-created Tech House Grey and RaggaMuffin Red – the 500 C comes with red, ivory or black roof colours. Pop interiors can be specified in either ivory or black finish with red or grey cloth seat colours. Lounge specification offers an ivory or black interior with black or brown cloth seats. Frau Leather is also available as an option.
The new Fiat 500 C is powered by the same frugal, ultra-low emissions and Euro 5 range of engines as are already available in the 500, including 69 bhp 1.2-litre and 100 bhp 1.4-litre petrol units, and the 75 bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel.
Power is delivered through manual or Dualogic (automatic) transmissions while Fiat’s fuel-saving Start&Stop system, which stops the engine automatically whenever traffic conditions bring the car to a complete halt, and restarts it when the driver wants to move off again, will also become available.
Full price list for the Fiat 500 C range is as follows:
1.2 Pop £11,300
1.4 Pop £12,500
1.3 Mjet Pop £12,700
1.2 Lounge £12,700
1.4 Lounge £13,900
1.3 Mjet Lounge £14,100
Search ContractHireAndLeasing.com for the best leasing prices on the Fiat 500
Search SaveMoneyOnCars.co.uk for the best prices on the Fiat 500.
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Friday, March 27th, 2009
It now costs £20 to replace a lost driving licence
A 14 per cent increase in the cost of keeping a driving licence lawful is yet another example of drivers having to pay more for something that could be covered by general motoring taxation, says the AA.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency‘s increase in the fee from £17.50 to £20 to replace a lost licence, meet the requirement to update your photograph every 10 years, have endorsements removed and other services, exemplifies the increasing cost of motoring. In less than a week’s time, fuel duty with VAT goes up another 2.12p per litre.
“The way that DVLA is funded means it must operate a trading fund and charge for its services. We as drivers are not cushioned from the increasing costs of staying lawful, although we pay £46bn a year in motoring taxes,” says Paul Watters, the AA’s head of roads and transport policy.
“The DVLA has collected over £1bn from sales of personalised number plates but Treasury takes most of that. If you add up all the costs of complying with the law such as MOT, licences and road tax they are quite a burden.
“Unfortunately, the DVLA has little choice as it has to live within its means. The economic downturn means it is £20m short, from problems such as people delaying the renewing of driving licences or starting to drive.
“Services from the DVLA have improved, for instance electronic re-licensing, but more still needs to be done. These rises come at a bad time with fuel prices on the rise and the credit crunch.”
DVLA will introduce the new fees from 6 April 2009.
Meanwhile Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has also confirmed price increases for driving tests.
The fee increases will apply to theory and practical driving tests booked on or after Monday (March 30). Fees relating to the Approved Driving Instructor scheme will increase from April 24.
General fee increases include:
Current fee New fee
Car theory test £30.00 £31.00
Car practical test £56.50 £62.00
Motorcycle theory test £30.00 £31.00
Motorcycle practical test £80.00 £90.50 (in October)
DSA chief executive, Rosemary Thew said: “We are doing everything we can to ensure that fees remain as low as possible for our customers – particularly during the current economic climate. Despite this, increases are necessary to cover general running costs, development work and increases in inflation.”
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Thursday, March 26th, 2009
With consumer confidence at an all time low, the automotive industry is struggling to see the light at the end of the global economic downturn. According to an analysis by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (“Deloitte”), the global automotive industry is expected to benefit directly from an injection of around US$50 billion in economic stimulus funds. The funds, however, are just a small percentage of the estimated $3.6 trillion in economic stimulus packages committed by various governments around the world.
“What the automotive industry most needs is to have customers buy again,” says Hans Roehm, global managing partner with Deloitte’s Global Manufacturing Industry Group.
“The government stimulus efforts so far are helpful, but more is required to really boost consumer confidence and drive them back into the showrooms to buy cars. That’s when we will see a real turning point for the industry.”
A substantial portion of the stimulus funds have been committed to stricken auto makers General Motors Corp. (GM), Chrysler LLC and GMAC LLC, the auto-lending arm of GM, as part of the US$700 billion Troubled Asset Relief (TARP) programme in the United States.
“The mix of the direct assistance to automakers and other incentives to spur demand in the market has been a lifeline to industry survival,” says Michelle Collins, automotive industry leader for the Deloitte member firm in the United States.
“However, incentives to increase demand must go hand in hand with measures to increase consumer confidence and to make credit more free flowing to finance consumer purchases and dealer inventory plans.”
The Deloitte’s Global Manufacturing Industry Group’s analysis shows that in markets like China, Italy, France and Germany, consumers are being encouraged to replace their older model vehicles with new ones.
Mike Woodward, Automotive Partner in Deloitte’s UK Manufacturing practice, said: “There has been a lot of discussion around whether a scrappage allowance might soon be introduced in the UK. It has certainly worked well in both France and Germany. New car sales in Germany spiked 22 percent last month, bolstered partly due to the €2,500 subsidy for people who turn in their old car and buy a new one. Based on this evidence it would seem that a similar scheme could also have a beneficial affect in the UK and get car sales rising again.”
In the UK, the Department of Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (“BERR”) recently announced £2.3 billion of funding to provide loan guarantees or loans (in limited instances) to support the ailing UK automotive industry under its Automotive Assistance Programme (the “AAP”). The AAP aims to help ease the financing constraints UK auto makers are currently facing given the lack of liquidity and heightened lending requirements in the banking sector. The hope is that with these financial constraints eased, the automotive industry will be able to develop lower carbon transport and other environmental and energy efficiencies, which should assist them in becoming more competitive and successful in the global market.
Woodward added: “One of the positive aspects of the AAP is that manufacturers of cars, commercial vehicles, mobile construction equipment and the suppliers of components and parts to manufacturers are all eligible within the scheme. This shows that the AAP is meant to look after not only Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) but also the independent suppliers to these companies.
“In addition to the AAP, the Bank of England recently announced their Asset Purchase Facility, where they would purchase up to £50 billion of high-quality assets. The details of the program are still emerging but it will be interesting to see if asset backed securities of auto loans make it onto the list of “eligible assets”. If so, this would provide the financing arms of many of the bigger OEMs with another balance sheet management tool.”
The Deloitte analysis reveals that in nearly all of the 18 markets covered, the economic stimulus effort is expected to increase sales in the smaller car segments. In addition, alternative fuel technology is also an area receiving attention from stimulus packages in markets such as Australia, Canada, China, Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom and United States.
“Innovation is at the heart of the automotive industry”, remarks Kevin Gromley, managing director for Deloitte member firms’ manufacturing industry groups in the Asia-Pacific region. “The stimulus efforts will encourage the automotive companies to continue their product development efforts. And for markets like Australia and China, this support is vital to sustaining the research investments into greener alternative fuel technologies”.
“Incentives like these will translate to consumers spending once more,” adds Roehm. “But it also encourages corporations to take action. Just as an example, the Deloitte member firm in the UK launched a new Deloitte All Employee company car scheme so that all 12,000 employees nationwide can enjoy affordable, environmentally friendly vehicles. It just goes to show that you don’t have to be in the automotive industry to make an impact.”
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