News - Page 2166

MANHEIM Auctions has acquired a controlling interest in UK automotive e-commerce company Portfolio for Cars for an undisclosed sum. Manchester-based Portfolio for Cars provides internet and extranet e-commerce applications to motor manufacturers including Volkswagen, Audi, DaimlerChrysler, SEAT, Volvo, Saab, Mitsubishi and Daihatsu, as well as major dealer groups.

VOLVO unveiled its V70 estate and V70 Cross Country (badged XC) in Detroit and simultaneously to more than 200 fleet customers at the London Boat Show at Earl's Court. Orders for all models are being taken now before deliveries of certain models start in March, with further engine options on sale from June.

A DRIVE for greater fleet success by Volvo will be boosted by the arrival of a new saloon range later this year, it was revealed in Detroit. Sized to slot between the compact S40 and the flagship S80 models, the newcomer is to be badged as the S60. Company vice-president Lars Erik Lundin said: 'This sedan will be additional to our range. It will offer significant benefits in terms of ride and handling refinement because it will be based on the S80 platform.'

THE new Lexus LS430 - the replacement for the range-topping LS400 - was revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and will go on sale in Britain in October. Lexus is aiming to be 'the world's leading luxury brand'.

SUBARU has promised sharper handling in a package of changes introduced in a new-look version of the Forester model. Launched simultaneously in Detroit and at the Brussels Motor Show, the car features retuned suspension and a wider rear track.

IMPROVING the interiors of Vauxhall cars is one of the priorities facing General Motors' design gurus, according to Wayne Cherry, vice-president of General Motors design. He said: 'We are very focused on interior design quality. It is the number one priority for the design team responsible for Vauxhall/Opel products.

MAZDA has axed its slow-selling 121 supermini to make way for the facelifted Demio mini-MPV model which goes on sale here in the spring. The 121, a rebadged Ford Fiesta, was produced at Ford's Dagenham plant in Essex.

AVIS Europe has acquired the remaining 66.7% stake in its Dutch joint venture International Car Rental for £5.9 million.

THE RAC Foundation is calling on the Government to introduce a new scheme which will charge utility companies up to £1,000 a day to dig up roads and pavements.

RENAULT is poised to expand into the Asian car market after confirming it is negotiating to buy all or part of South Korea's Samsung Motors.

DEALERSHIP group Alexanders Holdings crashed into the red in the six months to September 30 last year as consumers postponed car purchases in the hope of cheaper prices.

MITSUBISHI has launched a Galant Sport saloon and estate range powered by a 2.5-litre 161bhp V6 engine.

BRITISH Car Auctions achieved its biggest yet turnover at a single auction when it sold all 163 cars entered from Jaguar and Daimler for just under £4.7 million. The millennial sale, which took place at the Coombe Abbey Hotel in Warwickshire on December 14, saw 163 Jaguar and Daimler cars entered direct from the manufacturer, including long and short-wheelbase saloons, XJS and XK8 coupes and convertibles.

BENTLEYS could become a feature of company car parks across the UK as the manufacturer moves to expand its line-up by launching cars costing £80,000-£100,000. And over the next three years Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and Bentley Motor Cars aims to triple production capacity at its Crewe headquarters from 3,300 units a year to 10,000 with the aid of £500 million of investment from parent company Volkswagen.

VAUXHALL is gunning for number one spot in the UK new car market and promising to launch a number of niche models alongside established core sector vehicles. And while the sales expansion will be in 'tenths of percentage points', according to General Motors Europe president Mike Burns, it was possible to overtake Ford as the UK's leading vehicle manufacturer.

NEXT-generation Rolls-Royce models could continue to be built at Crewe when BMW gains control of the company in three years' time. The traditional home of the world's best-known prestige car brand has been added to a short-list of potential locations for an all-new factory, BMW AG management board member Dr Henrich Heitmann revealed at the North American International Auto Show.

ENGLAND took centre stage at the Los Angeles Auto Show as the last all-new Rolls-Royce model likely to be hand-built at the company's Crewe factory was given its world debut. The Rolls-Royce name from midnight on December 31, 2002 will separate from the now Volkswagen-owned Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars and become part of BMW.

THE Jaguar F-Type roadster made a sensational debut at the Detroit Show, as the company revealed that its sales in Germany soared by 50% last year. The record performance of 6,090 registrations fuelled speculation that the company is poised to challenge the Mercedes-Benz SLK and the Porsche Boxster with a compact two-seater reminiscent of the classic E-Type of the 1960s.

A SECOND generation Vauxhall Zafira has been revealed as the Opel Zafira Snowtrekker concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. In unveiling the car - alongside three other General Motors concept vehicles - director of Opel design Hans Seer said the new front end hinted at what the second generation Zafira may look like.

IN the next two years Vauxhall, Saab and Cadillac company car drivers will be checking on up-to-the-minute e-mails, bank details, stock market values and football scores through the internet in their cars. General Motors plans to equip the cars in the next '12-24 months' with the internet accessed through the company's voice-activated OnStar facility, which has yet to be launched in the UK.

GENERAL Motors has formed a strategic alliance with America OnLine (AOL) to bring car shopping, new products and services to consumers across the internet. In announcing the alliance - on the eve of AOL's world headline-grabbing takeover of media conglomerate Time Warner - General Motor's said: 'This strategic alliance marks a major step in online consumer marketing by General Motors and its dealer network.'

THE Ford Motor Company is looking to develop its internet strategy through a marketing partnership with American-based Internet service provider Yahoo! The Yahoo! partnership is one of a number of internet-based alliances formed by Ford ConsumerConnect since its launch in November last year.

FLEET business is to be increasingly crucial to Cadillac as the American luxury car brand expands its UK range from one vehicle to 'five or six' by 2005. Ron Zarrella, president of General Motors North America, said: 'Our intention is to make Cadillac a successful luxury global brand.

GENERAL Motors remains the favourite to buy ailing Korean car maker Daewoo Motors, despite interest from other manufacturers, including chief rival Ford. General Motors has had close ties with Daewoo for a number of years and the Korean marque's move into the car market came with the help of the world's leading vehicle manufacturer.

FORMULA One-style has been brought to the Mercedes-Benz A-class with the launch of the Vision SLA concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. At just over 12ft long, the SLA open top two-seater is powered by the 1.9-litre engine from the A190 and produces 125bhp with a top speed of 130mph.

THE all-new Mini will go on sale in the USA, marking Rover Cars' return into the North American market. BMW bosses say the new Mini will be exported into North America some time in 2001.

INTERNET communication is to be offered as standard on Britain's best-selling fleet car from September. Ford's Focus is set to put the internet on wheels, company chairman and chief executive Jac Nasser revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

PHARMACEUTICAL firm Boehringer-Ingelheim will this month become one of the first fleets in the country to use European crash test ratings as a key factor in its choice lists. The firm has yet to decide on the star rating required for a car to feature on its choice list, but is warning that some models will almost certainly be removed from its fleet policy.

FRIDAY, January 14 marks the deadline for entries to the 2000 Fleet News Awards, the fleet industry's 'Oscars'. Any fleet manager or supply company planning to enter the awards, but concerned that they may miss the deadline, should call Sandra Evitt at Fleet News on 01733 467084.

THIS week marks the first opportunity fleet decision-makers have had to book tickets for Fleet Show 2000, to be held at the NEC, Birmingham from April 4-6.