Archive for March, 2010
CAP sets mandatory criteria for electric vehicle RV forecasts
CAP has announced the qualification criteria electric vehicles (EV) must meet to enable it to set future residual value forecasts. The announcement comes as part of a major review of the EV sector launched last month by CAP. The review is designed to pool all the knowledge necessary to help potential owners and operators make informed [...]
Nissan to build Leaf electric car in Sunderland
Nissan’s Sunderland plant is to become the third global manufacturing location for its range of electric vehicles as it becomes one of the ‘homes’ for the Leaf - the manufacturer’s five-seater lower medium electric hatchback. Production at the plant will begin in early 2013 and initially about 50,000 vehicles will roll off production [...]
Ford to invest £1.5bn in UK ‘green’ research and production
Ford is preparing to invest £1.5 billion in its four UK facilities over the next five years after securing a £360 million Government loan guarantee. Business Secretary Lord Mandelson announced the £360m backing of Ford’s £450m application to the European Investment Bank (EIB) at the company’s Ford Dagenham site. Support from the UK [...]
Fuel prices set to soar to record levels as investigation is urged
European wholesale petrol prices have rocketed 17% since late January threatening to push UK average pump prices above the July 2008 record, the AA has warned. Now Britain’s largest motoring organisation is calling on the Government to investigate the sudden surge. A weaker pound is aggravating the potential for price rises, with 120p a [...]
Vauxhall extends model ranges with cut-price models
Vauxhall has extended most of its car line-ups with cut-price Expression and ES models promising savings on current entry models of up to £3,675. Five new Expression models, plus new ES models in the Insignia and Astra ranges, are designed to provide corporate and retail customers with a more attractive entry point into each range, and give [...]
September launch for BMW 5 Series Touring
The new BMW 5 Series Touring will go on UK sale on September 18 - six months after this month’s launch of the new saloon model. It will be the fourth generation of Touring models in the 5 Series range and will initially be available in four derivatives - two petrol cars, the 523i (£33,585 on-the-road) and 535i (£39,650), and two diesel [...]
Mercedes launches fixed cost servicing package
Mercedes-Benz has launched an inflation-proof servicing programme designed to offer customers monthly budgeted motoring. Service Care is claimed to provide owners with a convenient way of covering their future servicing requirements from £22.50 per month based on an A-Class manual model being serviced at a Mercedes-Benz official [...]
MiTo moves Alfa to another level with MultiAir engine
Alfa Romeo is celebrating its centenary this year and it coincides with something of a sales renaissance in the UK led by its lively MiTo supermini. Managing director for the Fiat Group in the UK, Andrew Humberstone, said that Alfa last year achieved its best sales result in Britain since 2003 selling 9,067 cars, up from 5,050 in [...]
Facelifted Škoda Fabia and Roomster prices revealed
Škoda has announced prices for its facelifted Fabia, Fabia Estate and Roomster models following their debut at last week’s Geneva Motor Show. On-the-road prices for the Fabia hatchback start at £9,330 for the 1.2 6v 60 bhp model rising to £14,100 for the 1.6 TDI CR 105 bhp Elegance; prices for the Fabia Estate start at £10,425 for the 1.2 [...]
Upgraded new Mazda6 range on sale early
Mazda is aiming to meet strong demand for the Mazda6 from both retail and fleet customers by bringing forward the ‘on sale’ date for the upgraded model. Unveiled last week at the Geneva Motor Show, petrol models will be in dealer showrooms from mid-March and diesel models will arrive during May. The Mazda6 saloon body style and the [...]