New Audi A7 Sportback goes high on the ‘want’ list
I’VE always had a bit of a hankering after the Audi A7 Sportback. Those seductive looks, coupe lines, but a touch of practicality have always appealed. I also recall a memorable drive in the S7 version.
But the one thing that always troubled me was the rear three-quarter view. It looked, somehow, unconnected to the front three-quarters or profile views.
Now, though, there’s a second generation model (above). And wow! This looks every inch even more appealing…and that problematic rear three-quarters view looks resolved. High on the ‘want’ list, Julian Rendell has been to try the newcomer. Read his review here: Effortlessly stylish – Audi A7 Sportback review.
And if you want to understand more about the new Audi A7 Sportback, then read our interview with the A7’s Product Manager, Matt Rance.
Fleets need expert advice
The government’s cack-handed way of trying to set the business motoring agenda has really irked me. You might have noticed…
The anti-diesel rhetoric; the chaotic, nonsensical company car tax bandings; the introduction of WLTP and RDE2…Some of it’s well-meaning, and ultimately the direction we need to head in is (sort of) indicated, but the lack of clarity is like decision-making in the dark.
It’s something that the boss of Jaguar Land Rover, Jeremy Hicks (above with microphone), absolutely nailed, saying it was scaring off buyers.
It’s also a subject that Craig McNaughton (pictured left), Corporate Director at the biggest leasing company in the UK – Lex Autolease – has been tackling. In a perceptive piece for our LeasingBrokerNews.co.uk website, Craig explains that managers of fleets, large and small, need expert help. Well worth a read: Fleets need expert advice.
Car buyers hunt for information on electrification
One of the things I took away from our SME Business Motoring stand at the Confused.com London Motor Show was the sheer desire for more information on electrification and leasing. Visitors to our stand (above) were hungry for it – and I hope we helped them on their journey. More about this in my motor show blog.
The other aspect, was that visitors were mustard keen to have a look around the models on our stand: the SME Company Car of the Year Jaguar XF; MINI Countryman PHEV, BMW 530e PHEV, and full electric new Nissan Leaf.
They could, of course, do this at a dealership, but clearly found the prospect intimidating – “so what is your monthly budget for a car, sir/madam?”. I was talking to a neighbour’s son post event over drinks and mentioned this to him. Quick as a flash he said that was why Mercedes-Benz World was so good – you could look at your leisure without the pressure of a sale.
No doubt that’s the reason behind Volvo teaming up with Amazon Prime Now to deliver customer road tests of their Volvo V40 (above, left). It’s a neat way to present a road test – even if it is a bit more structured than your normal Amazon delivery. More here.
If you’re swapping out of a company car, watch out for finance fraud
Perhaps you’re considering ditching your company car to get rid of the company car tax burden – and who can blame you in the current climate? Then here’s something of a sobering thought: the number of used cars sold with outstanding finance has risen to one in three from one in four last year.
It’s not easy, is it? Why should business motoring be this complicated?
Outrageous Civic Type R pick up revealed by Honda
So here’s our Friday fun, then! Well done Honda.
Possibly the quickest pick-up out there says the company with its 0-62mph time below six seconds (although I would remind Honda of Vauxhall’s mad, bad Maloo V8 which scorches to 62mph in a thunderous 4.9 secs).
This is a pick-up based on the Honda Civic Type R. Which sounds sort of crazy anyway. But more than that, Honda’s special projects team has kept the wing and engineered it so that you can still get to the load bed. Bonkers but brilliant. Full details here.
So that’s my business motoring week. I wish you all a very enjoyable Bank Holiday weekend – and good luck to whichever team you are rooting for: rugby, football, motor racing or cycling.