News - Page 2250

NEW technology to help revolutionise journey management for fleets and company car drivers, which will make its debut in the Ford Focus next year, was unveiled by the RAC at the British International Motor Show. A new telematics system, developed by the RAC in conjunction with Nokia and Visteon - Ford's manufacturing components division - was showcased on the RAC stand in a Ford Mondeo.

FIAT believes its new pan-European contract hire and leasing venture with ABN Amro Lease Holdings has got off to a running start and next year expects to double its business. Keith Bowles, managing director of Fiat Auto Contracts, which began operating in June, outlined its success at the British International Motor Show.

ALFA Romeo has confirmed it is to import its 156 model fitted with the 2.4-litre common rail diesel engine. The 156 2.4 JTD will go on sale next March priced similarly to the existing 2.0 Twin Spark - that means on-the-road prices start at around £20,000, it was announced at the Motor Show.

CITROEN is looking to increase its share of solus and dual badge business and woo more user-choosers to its product range. It expects its new line-up of sophisticated diesel engines to lead the fight, Fleet NewsNet was told at the British International Motor Show.

JAGUAR has undercut rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz in launching its new S-type, revealed to the world at the Motor Show in Birmingham. Pre-launch prices, which are unlikely to change significantly before launch next spring, start from £28,300 on-the-road for the base 3.0-litre V6 model, pricing it aggressively against the BMW 528i, which costs £30,880, while the 535i costs £36,890.

DIESEL and liquefied petroleum gas versions of Jaguars could become part of the line-up in future as the manufacturer considers what future environmental legislation will bring. Chairman and chief executive Nick Scheele said at the British International Motor Show: 'I can see us going below 3.0-litre engines in the future, but not as far as having four cylinders. We would have to look at what legislation brings before taking any proposals for diesels off the shelf.'

THE new Jaguar S-type will herald a new era for the luxury car maker and spread its customer appeal, but fleet customers will still remain vital to the company's success, according to chairman and chief executive Nick Scheele. The firm is determined it will become more than 'an annoying buzz in the ear' of German rivals such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, according to Scheele, who launched the new S-class at the Motor Show in Birmingham.

TRAFFICMASTER has teamed up with Jaguar to launch a combined navigation system and congestion warning device in the new S-type, which made its debut at the British International Motor Show. It is the first Jaguar to be specified with a fully integrated, on-board satellite navigation system.

CORPORATE users have already given an enthusiastic reception to Jaguar's new S-type. As the business express model was winning sustained applause at its Motor Show unveiling, corporate operations manager Christine Downton revealed that the company had staged a secret preview for top fleet buyers two weeks ago.

REVITALISED Jaguar is considering a return to the top people's transport sector. The possibility that a car much like the former Daimler limousine could again be made was leaked during a tour of the British International Motor Show by Jacques Nasser, who will become chief executive officer of Ford, the Coventry company's US parent, in January.

THE all-conquering 3-series may be BMW's car star of today, but the German manufacturer clearly has an eye on the future. Its ingenious C1, on display at the Motor Show, is being mooted as the city vehicle of the future, offering the hybrid advantages of both a car and a motorbike.

RECORD UK advance orders have been received for a new Peugeot car - the 206 - which managing director Dick Parham claimed was 'the most important car launched at this year's British International Motor Show'. Parham made his bold claim just minutes before the wraps came off the new Jaguar S-type and the Rover 75 - both making their world debuts in Birmingham.

THE head of Vauxhall has insisted that the Government must classify gas-powered cars in the cleanest category of any graduated vehicle excise duty. Speaking at the Motor Show Nick Reilly, chairman and managing director of Vauxhall, said any environmentally-driven incentives for 'smaller and cleaner cars' must disregard engine size when dealing with dual-fuel vehicles.

VAUXHALL has completely restructured its fleet department to generate greater focus on specific customer groups. The reorganisation has created seven fleet sub-divisions, each one catering for a different sector in the fleet market, the company announced at the British International Motor Show.

VAUXHALL boosted its Astra range at the British International Motor Show with the launch of a saloon model. The unveiling of the four-door coincided with news that the manufacturer has now added a third daily shift to its production schedule at Ellesmere Port to meet massive European demand for the new Astra.

SUBARU says it has seen a dramatic growth against the odds in its business and fleet sales operation in the last two years. Despite import restrictions, the company said at the British International Motor Show that sales' figures were more than double those of three years ago, with just under half going to fleets.

VOLKSWAGEN bosses admit they have a major 'rebuilding job to perform' in their relationships with the UK fleet market following the inability to deliver Passat models on time. At the Motor Show, Volkswagen UK director Robin Woolcock admitted that the manufacturer had perhaps lost about half of its expected 30,000 Passat sales last year as a result of well publicised right-hand-drive production and delivery date problems.

NISSAN is set to banish the bland lines of its current model range in a radical shake-up of its cars' design. The company announced at the British International Motor Show that the new Micra and Almera will feature cutting edge styling, while the current Primera is being prepared for major cosmetic surgery rather than a mid-life facelift.

CYCLES, mopeds and electric cars are on Birmingham City Council's stand at the Motor Show to promote the Government's call for viable alternative transport. The authority has already adopted the TravelWise scheme, first launched in Hertfordshire, which promotes alternatives to the car by working with residents, schools and businesses.

FORD has launched a two-year warranty for all used cars sold through the Ford Direct scheme - despite maintaining a one-year warranty on its new vehicles. The used car offer lasts until the end of the year, and prompted some British International Motor Show visitors to ask if Ford has more confidence in its used cars than in its new vehicles.

FORD will launch bi-fuel options on Transit, Mondeo and Focus next year with full sales and support back-up through its national dealer network, the manufacturer announced at the Motor Show. The bi-fuel programme - aimed primarily at high mileage fleets - means that cars and vans fitted can be fitted to use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) - and will benefit from a reduction of up to 50% in exhaust emissions.

LEXUS marked a double debut at the British International Motor Show, unveiling its IS200 executive compact and making its own first appearance as a stand-alone manufacturer out from under Toyota's umbrella. The IS200 will take on the likes of the new BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-class and even the new Rover 75, which is similarly priced in the £20,000 to £25,000 IS200 category.

VOLKSWAGEN will have the millennium Bug with the arrival in the UK next year of the new Beetle which made its UK debut at the Motor Show. However, demand for the all-new Beetle has been so great following its world debut at January's Detroit Motor Show that from next spring Volkswagen UK is to take delivery of 1,000 left-hand-drive models powered by either 2.0-litre 115bhp or TDI 90bhp engines.

HYUNDAI Car UK has told its Korean parent the price must be right for the new XG model for it to be guaranteed a market in the UK. As the new luxury saloon was given its UK premiere at the British International Motor Show, the UK arm revealed it was continuing discussions with the manufacturer to ensure the model was priced 'significantly below' £25,000 when it arrives in this country.

SKODA has broken all its sales records this year and is setting its sights firmly on becoming a major player in the fleet market with plans afoot to expand its range into the executive car and 4x4 markets. The Czech company announced at the Motor Show that it is hoping to sell 20,000 cars this year.

RENAULT has announced its intention to win an even greater share of the fleet market as its sales into the corporate sector reach record levels. Speaking at the British International Motor Show, Benoit Marzloff, managing director of Renault UK, said the company intended to reach its overall fleet penetration of about 8% market share in every sector, from the supermini Clio through to the Megane, Scenic and Laguna.

MERCEDES-Benz believes that with the launch of the S-class it has a range of cars to suit all fleet needs. As the S-class was unveiled at the Motor Show, Adrian Atkinson, Mercedes' key account manager, said the German manufacturer was turning its spotlight on fleets of all sizes.

MERCEDES-Benz is planning to cut supplies of its top-selling C-class model to corporate buyers next year. About 2,000 fewer saloons will be made available to fleets as part of moves by the company to balance retail supplies, corporate sales chief Mike Sands revealed at the British International Motor Show.

MERCEDES-Benz believes it has set new standards in the luxury car market with the new S-class which was unveiled at the Motor Show. The car is packed with innovative technology, some of which has never been seen on a car before.

A WIDER model range and enhanced fleet specific service will help build Volvo's fleet sales to record levels for the new millennium. The manufacturer is planning a new launch every year, the first being the S80, which was on show at the British International Motor Show, including the world debut of the S80 bi-fuel.