Industry & Market News

Small businesses can escape London Congestion Charge

Businesses operating in London have the opportunity to save over L2000 per year

Health and safety drives businesses back to company cars

More and more businesses are putting drivers back into company cars. And the popularity of a cash alternative is waning. A Company Car Trends survey found that essential users

Industry & Market News

New Golf GT Sport models

Volkswagen has simplified its Golf range. The sporting GT models - with supercharged and turbocharged 1.4-litre engines - and Sport turbodiesel models, will now be integrated in one range: GT Sport. There will be the choice of 140PS or 170PS power outputs in either petrol or diesel engines. The new models have a GT Sport grille, plus darkened light lenses, and 17-inch alloy wheels. The new GT Sport will be available in three- and five-door bodystyles. The new VW Golf GT Sport range <UL><LI>140PS super- and turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol <LI>170PS super- and turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol <LI>140PS turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel <LI>170PS turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel <LI>Six-speed manual or DSG auto gearboxes <LI>Three-door or five-door bodystyles <LI>On sale from late summer</UL> VW Golf GT TSI road test <UL><LI>For the Business Car Manager road test of the current 170PS 1.4-litre Golf GT TSI model, click <a href="https://www.businessmotoring.co.uk/pages/RoadTests.asp?id=103" title="go to the Business Car Manager Road Test section" target="_blank">www.businessmotoring.co.uk.</a></UL>.

Industry & Market News

Diesel values under pressure

The values of used diesel business cars are wilting. Meanwhile used prices of petrol business cars continue to rise. In the second quarter (Q2) of 2007, the used business car diesel premium has disappeared. The findings are reported by BCA in its latest Pulse auction house commentary. Traditionally, values of used ex-lease diesels have been higher than petrol vehicles, despite their higher mileage. However, the differential has been narrowing, and in Q2 was reversed. <UL><LI>Q2 petrol car average: L7319 <LI>Q2 diesel car average: L7014 <LI>Petrol premium over diesel: 4.3% </UL> . It is the first quarter where average business car petrol prices have exceeded diesel car values.

Industry & Market News

Volkswagen launches new Tiguan 4×4

VW will launch the Tiguan in February next year. The Tiguan is a compact 4x4 model. It boasts a class-leading towing capacity as high as 2500kg. Rivals include the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Two engines will be available at launch: a 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS diesel. And a 1.4-litre TSI 150 PS petrol unit. Later in 2008 a 170PS TDI engine and a further pair of TSI petrol engines will be added. There are two trim levels: S and SE. Standard equipment includes alloy wheels, air conditioning, MP3 compatible CD player, and anti-skid ESP. The Tiguan is available for order now. On-sale date is February 2008. The new VW Tiguan 4x4 line up <UL><LI>S 1.4-litre TSI 150PS 4MOTION 6spd manual L19,370 <LI>S 2.0-litre TDI 140PS 4MOTION 6spd manual L20,500 <LI>S 2.0-litre TDI 140PS 4MOTION 6spd auto tiptronic L21,750 <LI>SE 1.4-litre TSI 150PS 4MOTION 6spd manual L20,670 <LI>SE 2.0-litre TDI 140PS 4MOTION 6spd manual L21,800 <LI>SE 2.0-litre TDI 140PS 4MOTION 6spd auto tiptronic L23,050</UL>

Industry & Market News

Coupe styling for new VW Passat CC

Volkswagen is launching this all-new VW Passat model: the CC. Featuring four-door practicality but graceful coupe-styling, the new VW Passat CC promises style with practicality. The new VW Passat CC is longer and wider than a standard Passat, but has less height. It features a panoramic roof section to provide a light and airy interior. Prices will be announced later. Optional technologies available include Park Assist (which allows the vehicle to guide itself into a parallel parking space with the help of sensors); Lane Assist (a safety system designed to guide the vehicle automatically should it sense the car drifting out of a motorway lane); and Dynamic Drive Control (offering three suspension settings of comfort, normal and sport). There are five engine options: three petrol; two turbo diesel.The VW Passat CC will go on sale this summer. The new Volkswagen Passat CC <UL><LI>Passat CC 1.8-litre TSI 160PS, 184lbs ft, 6sp man, 7sp DSG <LI>Passat CC 2.0-litre TSI 200PS, 206lbs ft, 6sp man or auto <LI>Passat CC 3.6-litre V6 FSI 300PS, 223lbs ft, 6sp DSG auto <LI>Passat CC 2.0-litre TDI 140PS, 236lbs ft, 6sp man, 6sp DSG <LI>Passat CC 2.0-litre TDI 170PS, 258lbs ft, 6sp man, 6sp DSG</UL>

Industry & Market News

Updated Honda S2000 goes on sale

An updated version of the Honda S2000 sports car is now on sale. Suspension setting changes have been introduced to benefit handling stability. Fitted with Honda's high-revving 240PS 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine, the new Honda S2000 features re-tuned dampers, uprated springs and thicker anti-roll bars to improve handling agility and steering responsiveness. Also new on the the 2008 Honda S2000 are a new design of 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels and a new paint colour

Industry & Market News

New Audi A3 Cabriolet prices start from £20,750

The all-new Audi A3 Cabriolet will cost from £20,750. It is the first time Audi has produced a compact open top car. The Audi A3 Cabriolet joins the A4 Cabriolet and TT Roadster models in the Audi range. The Audi A3 Cabriolet's electrically operated canvas hood can be opened in 11 seconds and closed in 9 seconds on Sport and S line versions. The A3 Cabriolet has seating for four and a split/fold rear seat increases the car's usability. There will be two petrol engines powering the A3 Cabriolet range: a 160PS 1.8 TFSI engine and a 200PS 2.0 TFSI engine. And two diesel-engined versions of the A3 Cabriolet: a 105PS 1.9 TDI or 140PS 2.0 TDI. There will be Standard, Sport and S line trim levels. Equipment levels include alloy wheels, air conditioning, powered windows and powered roof deployment. The new Audi A3 Cabriolet can be ordered now; first deliveries commence in May. Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.8 TFSI prices <UL><LI>Standard L22,300 Sport L24,150 S line L25,700</UL> Audi A3 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI prices <UL><LI>Standard L23,660 Sport L25,510 S line L27,060</UL> Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.9 TDI prices <UL><LI>Standard L20,750 Sport L22,600 S line L24,150</UL> Audi A3 Cabriolet 2.0 TDI prices <UL><LI>Standard L22,760 Sport L24,610 S line L26,160</UL> Further information <UL><LI>For a special report on why the Audi A3 Cabriolet and BMW 1 Series Cabriolet make business sense, read <a href="https://www.businessmotoring.co.uk/pages/reportsfull.asp?id=72" title="see Jason King

Industry & Market News

New Honda Accord Tourer pricing

The new Honda Accord Tourer estate will be priced from L20,560 when the model goes on sale in September: L1300 more than the equivalent Accord saloon. There will be three grades: ES, ES GT and EX. The Accord Tourer will continue to feature its automatic tailgate lift mechanism, but it's now quieter in action. With the rear seats upright, the Accord Tourer has 395 litres of space available up to the window line. Using the same measurement, Honda says the Audi A4 Avant has 383 litres; and the load area of the BMW 3 Series Touring is 358 litres. The Accord Tourer's one touch folding mechanism is carried over into the new model. With the seats folded, the luggage area increases to 672 litres up to the window line - enough to take a mountain bike without removing its front wheel. A five-speed automatic transmission is available on both 2.0 and 2.4 petrol models. An automatic diesel transmission is due in 2009. The Honda Accord Tourer goes on sale in September. Honda Accord Tourer prices - petrol models <UL><LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.0 ES L20,560 <LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.0 ES auto L21,860 <LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.0 ES GT L21,410 <LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.0 ES GT auto L22,710 <LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.0 ES GT + SatNav L22,510 <LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.0 ES GT auto + SatNav L23,810 <LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.4 EX L24,560 <LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.4 EX auto L25,860</UL> Honda Accord Tourer prices - diesel models <UL><LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 ES L22,360 <LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 ES GT L23,210 <LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 ES GT + SatNav L24,310 <LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 EX L25,360 <LI>Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 EX GT L26,210</UL>

Industry & Market News

Revised A-Class on sale from July

Mercedes has revised its three- and five-door A-Class range. The updated Mercedes A-Class goes on sale from 17 July. There are no price increases over the outgoing Mercedes A-Class hatchback. But there is added specification, better fuel economy, lower CO2 emissions, and a revised model line-up. The Mercedes A-Class range is now simplified into: Classic SE; Elegance SE; and Avantgarde SE. The Classic, Sport and Turbo variants are deleted from the range. Active Park Assist, which identifies a parking space big enough for the A-Class and when engaged reverses the car into the space, is a new option priced at L550. There will be the choice of four engines: two petrol and two diesel. All are available with the choice of manual or auto transmissions. There is the 1.5-litre A150 and 1.7-litre A170 petrol models. Or 2.0-litre A160 and A180 CDI turbodiesel units. A three-door A160 CDI BlueEfficiency economy model is due later in the year. It promises 62mpg with 119g/km of CO2. Mercedes A-Class prices start from L14,365. Further information <UL><LI>The bigger five-door only Mercedes B-Class has also been revised and goes on sale at the same time. Prices start from L18,840. <LI>Story: <a href="https://www.milesbetternews.com" title="go to Miles Better News website" target="_blank">www.milesbetternews.com</a> </UL>