News - Page 2406

A £26,000 turbocharged Saab has become the first of the Swedish breed to join a UK police force. The 2.3 litre 9000 CD will patrol Kent's motorways and major trunk roads and should cover at least 80,000 miles a year.

JAGUAR remains the favoured car of Britain's top executives but BMW is gaining ground at the expense of the volume manufacturers, according to new research by benefits consultants W F Corroon. While Jaguar rules the roost at chairman/ chief executive level, BMW is becoming increasingly popular among board directors and departmental chiefs.

TOYOTA is to launch its new flagship Camry executive class car at the Motor Show in Birmingham next month. The new car, which boasts new levels of comfort and distinctive styling, will go on sale in the UK before the end of the year.

CHEVIN Computer Systems has won an order for eight of its RoadBASE fleet management systems from the Red Cross. The Red Cross ordered the systems after a demonstration in Geneva and Chevin customised the software to meet specific requirements such as handling multiple currency input for spare parts.

A STRONG fleet market helped dealer group Sanderson Bramall increase profits before tax by 44% to £6.13 million for the six months to 30 June, 1996. The results include a half year contribution from Thrifty Car Rental, which was an associated company last year.

BCH Contract Hire has launched a branded fuel card in conjunction with Overdrive and already signed a deal to supply fuel to a 175-vehicle fleet. Luton-based Huntleigh Healthcare will be the first company to use the card, which is accepted at 12,500 fuel stations.

VOLKSWAGEN has launched a 100bhp hot-hatch version of the Polo. Powered by a 16 valve 1.4 litre engine the car can reach 117mph and sprint to 60mph from rest in 10.5 seconds. Priced at £11,955 on the road for the three door and £12,415 for the five door, the car has an impressive equipment list.

THE AA is warning fleets to ensure they are not ripped off by MoT garages insisting they buy replacement catalytic converters each time a car fails the new emissions test. The emissions test was re-introduced on September 2 following its suspension in February.

Fleet thumbs-up for improved Mondeo and Vectra

Fleet thumbs-up for improved Mondeo and Vectra

Fleet thumbs-up for improved Mondeo and Vectra

Fleet thumbs-up for improved Mondeo and Vectra

Fleet thumbs-up for improved Mondeo and Vectra

Fleet thumbs-up for improved Mondeo and Vectra

LEASE Plan has won a solus pan-European contract to supply vehicles to high street fashion retailers Gap Group. Under the new arrangement, Lease Plan will supply vehicles to Gap personnel in the UK, Germany, France and Holland over the next three years through its Open Calculation scheme.

CONTRACT hire and leasing have declined despite a marked increase in company car acquisition according to new statistics from finance house Barclays Mercantile.

FAILURE to base fleet policy on vehicle whole life costs is costing UK companies thousands of pounds a year. A survey by Fleet Management Services has revealed that 86% of companies with fleets in excess of 50 vehicles do not use a 'pence per mile' system to calculate car costs. While fleet managers pay lip service to the whole life cost philosophy, the majority continue to use either list price or contract hire rental to set their car policy.

A NEW report by The Centre for Exploitation of Science and Technology, an independent research body, claims the UK could save £400 million in car business mileage, and £300 million in car commuting trips through improved fuel use.

NATIONAL Mutual Life has outsourced the bulk of its fleet management to PHH Vehicle Management Services. PHH won the contract as a result of its in-depth knowledge of the financial services sector after a lengthy evaluation process involving a number of key competitors.

TOYOTA has released details of a direct injection petrol engine which will beat a diesel engine's economy and a conventional petrol engine's performance. Conventional fuel-injected petrol engines fire petrol into the intake ports but Toyota's new 2.0 litre units inject it straight into the cylinders.

MERCEDES has announced changes for the S-class coupe. From now on it will be called the CL. A mid-range coupe to be launched in the UK next year will be called the CLK and these two cars will form the Mercedes family of coupes.

MERCEDES-Benz customers will soon be creating their own cars - with the help of the latest computer wizardry. A touch screen allows customers to select a car, change its colour, add leather upholstery and even watch the car of their dreams on the move.

BMW has launched a set of special option packs for the 3 series Coupe, Convertible and Touring models, offering savings over separately purchased items.

VEHICLE management and contract hire specialist Godfrey Davis has launched a new accident management scheme. The Bushey-based company has teamed up with the Accident Management Company to offer customers two levels of cover: firstly, a claims handling service, and secondly, a full risk management package.

CHEMICAL and healthcare giant Bayer has launched a major new driver training programme to reduce road accidents and associated costs. The Drivewise programme is aimed at all employees, and in particular the company's 1,200 fleet drivers, and will be carried out by Peak Performance Management.

DRIVE & Survive is expanding into Europe with the opening of a new office in Prague. The company has also appointed two new directors to head up its European and domestic operations.

LEASE PLAN'S dedicated small fleet leasing scheme is finding favour among small businesses seeking fixed cost financing of their transport requirements. Launched earlier this year, the Pinpoint scheme aims to use big fleet expertise to meet the needs of smaller operators.

THE MVRA has computerised its membership database in a £70,000 investment which will provide fleet operators with rapid access to a tailor-made accident repair network. The system will match the specialisations and capacities of repairers around the UK to the requirements of fleet operators or insurers and overnight compile a suitable network using the client's criteria.

A SURVEY into the type of cars bought by the NHS has revealed that the public sector is more careful with its cash than big businesses. While the NHS spends £75 million a year on its 'company cars', the vast majority of the cash is spent on workhorses like the humble Ford Fiesta according to Cowie Interleasing.

BRITISH Dredging has taken delivery of a 150-strong fleet of Peugeots following its decision to opt for a solus deal and move to diesel vehicles.