VAUXHALL is offering three-year warranties on four models in a three-month trial programme. Vectra, Omega, Calibra and Sintra MPV models will have a three-year/36,000-mile warranty to retail buyers and non-VAT registered companies until the end of May.

Vauxhall chairman and managing director Nick Reilly refused to speculate on long term implications, but expected rivals to react. 'We are testing the market,' he said. 'The programme will stop after three months and we will review it extensively before taking it any further.' Defending his refusal to extend the offer to fleets, Reilly said: 'We have a more bespoke approach for fleet customers. Operators want different packages. We look at claims from fleets outside the 12-month warranty when something unexpected fails.'

Ford, Rover and Peugeot said they would not react to Vauxhall's decision. Rover and Ford said they intended to continue with their one-year warranty. Renault admitted that some of its fleet customers had been given three-year warranties on their cars, but a spokesman said volume related discounts had been cut to take account of the improved warranty.