Cap HPI manufacturer relationships manager Martin Ward scours the globe for the week's insider fleet intelligence.

Monday

To Aston Martin HQ in Gaydon to drive the new Cygnet, a car based on the Toyota IQ.

With the entire interior and most of the body panels removed, it gets Aston Martin-ised.

Seven hides of leather go into the car, all the trims that look like metal, are metal, and the customer can have just about any colour they want, inside and out.

The mechanical bits though have not been changed, which means a standard 1.3-litre engine, chassis, brakes and steering.

The myth about only Aston Martin owners being able to buy one is completely untrue. Anyone with around £31,000 can go into an Aston showroom and order one.

Tuesday/Wednesday

To Benidorm and the Mercedes-Benz Euro Training Seminar. Do the words ‘Mercedes-Benz’ and ‘Benidorm’ go together? Probably not!

A party of fleet guests from around Europe were invited to attend this event designed for European dealers to see some new cars due later this year.

A specific RV provider event focused on four new models that will be coming to the UK this year, including the CLS, now the much-improved SLK, and two we can’t mention.

The SLK is a great looking car now with a new front end, with its large ‘soft-nose’ grille, similar to the SLS AMG making it look more masculine.

It will eventually get a much-needed diesel engine, but not at launch.

The all-new CLS looks so much better, especially the side profile with its new dynamic swage lines and heavily contoured rear wheel arches.

There is also more headroom for rear seat passengers.

Thursday/Friday

To Nice to drive a very confusing car, the all-new Mexican built Volkswagen Jetta.

This four-door lower-medium saloon seems to be well built, drives really well, is comfortable, has a good range of economical engines and a great looking car.

But this type of car has never been adored by the British public, unless it has a BMW, Audi or Mercedes badge on it.

Most manufacturers have tried to sell a booted version of a popular hatch and each has failed miserably.

So will the attractive Jetta appeal any more than the previous generations of Jetta and Bora.

The new car is only five inches shorter than a Passat saloon, so why not buy a Passat?

It does not have the practicality or image of a Golf, so why not buy a Golf?

The Jetta is a huge seller in North America and some other countries, but VW seems intent on selling a few here.
 

 

 

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