CAP's manufacturer relationships manager Martin Ward reports on the week's insider fleet intelligence

Tuesday

Down to Peugeot’s HQ in Coventry for a look at the new RCZ coupé which will compete with the Audi TT and Volkswagen Scirocco.

The RCZ is longer than the TT and Scirocco and does have a semi-useful rear seat that would, at a push, squeeze in two adults, but is adequate for small children.

This new stylish coupé is a first for Peugeot – it has not been in this sector before. It should appeal to both fleet and retail buyers. With expected sales of only around 2,800 a year, it should prove successful.

The RCZ is built by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, so quality should be good.

First deliveries are due in May. Jon Goodman, managing director, Peugeot UK, told us that it needs a return of the brand’s confidence.

He said it will return to growth in 2010 and increase market share through offering new models.

Wednesday

The snow we’ve had over the past couple of weeks has seen panic buying of milk, bread, sledges, road salt and… 4x4s!

It’s ironic that 4x4s seem to have been blamed for global climate changes, but get a bit of snow and ice and nobody can get around without one. Even their biggest critics seemed to keep a low profile.

It will be interesting to see if 4x4 sales this year will increase as the public worry about getting around next winter.

Friday

Over to Audi HQ in Ingolstadt to have a look at its A1 concept, with the production version due later this year.

Audi seems to have found an area where there is very little competition – only the Mini and maybe the Alfa Romeo Mito are the real rivals in the premium B segment.

The A1 concept is very stylish, looks good from every angle and will surely be very desirable. We were told the production version looks very similar to it.

The quality of this small three-door hatch was every bit as good as an Audi costing £30,000 more.

At the airport we were picked up by a pre-production, hand-built new A8 – one of only a couple in existence.

I have to say it looks much better in the flesh than in the photographs. In the open in natural light it looks brilliant.

We get to drive the new car next month, so watch this space for my report on Audi’s new large prestige saloon.