Prestige car makers out in force at Silverstone

Prestige car makers, including BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, Jaguar, Land Rover, Infiniti and Volvo, will be out in force at this year’s Fleet World Fleet Show at Silverstone to give fleet decision-makers their first chance to preview some of their latest luxury model launches. 
 
For BMW, April 24 marks a return to the Show alongside sister company, MINI, and will provide a first opportunity to display the new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo. Several new models will also be available to test drive, including the fully electric BMW Active E and new MINI Paceman.
 
Mercedes-Benz, meanwhile, is unveiling the all-new CLA and new E-Class at the Show. Both the CLA, which boasts world-leading aerodynamics and avant-garde coupé design, and E-Class, Mercedes’ most significant model revision yet, will be available to test drive. There will also be opportunities to drive other Mercedes fleet-focused vehicles, including the A-, B-, C-, CLS- and ML-Class.
 
There will be a strong bias towards its latest hybrid models in the Fleet Show offering from luxury car maker, Lexus. Its line-up will include the latest CT200h F-Sport 1800 Hybrid, the GS450h F-Sport 3500 Hybrid and the RX450h SUV F-Sport 3500 Hybrid, along with the IS-F saloon.
 
Audi, which has just announced record global vehicle sales for the first quarter of the year of 369,500 units, up 6.8% on a year ago, will have its latest model line-up at Silverstone.
 
Available for driving are the latest A3 Sportback, A4 Saloon and Avant, A5 Sportback and A6 Saloon and Avant so that fleet buyers can gain a clear impression of the breadth of the range.
 
Meanwhile, Jaguar has announced that it will have its entire vehicle line-up for driving, while the all-new Jaguar F-TYPE sports car will be on display. The eye-catching new model will feature alongside the recently revised Jaguar XF saloon and the new Jaguar XF Sportbrake. The Jaguar XJ will be available to drive, while the latest XK model will remind attendees of its impressive style, comfort and GT pace.
 
Star of the Land Rover line up will be the all-new Range Rover, available to drive in both 3.0 litre and 4.4 litre diesel engine variants.  And alongside the award-winning Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery, will be the recently revised Freelander, all of which will be available to test drive on the Grand Prix and Stowe circuits.
 
Other stand-out prestige models at this year’s event include the stylish new Q50 from Infiniti and Volvo’s V60 Plug-In Hybrid, which reaches 0-62mph in 6.1seconds, has a top speed of 141mph, but produces CO2 emissions of just 48g/km
 
The new prestige models form just part of a 200-car and van line-up from the 21 manufacturers present that will be available for driving at the Show. 
 
Event organiser and managing editor of Fleet World, Ross Durkin, commented: “We are delighted by the representation from the prestige car makers at this year’s Show, many of whom will have new launches for fleet buyers to assess.
 
“For many fleet decision-makers this will represent their first opportunity to test drive some of very latest prestige and luxury models on the two circuits or out on the various road routes that we have made available.”
 
This year’s Show offers fleet visitors a huge choice of experiences, including an indoor exhibition area in the state-of-the-art Silverstone Wing conference centre, which is also the setting for this year’s fleet seminar programme.
 
Sponsored by ARI Fleet UK, the programme includes presentations from the Centre for Automotive Industry Research at Cardiff Business School; CENEX, the Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies; the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research; and global automotive consultancy, Ricardo.
 
For the second year running, Venson Automotive Solutions will be hosting a “Question Time” style panel discussion session where delegates will be able to question a panel of specially selected guests on a wide range of fleet topics.
 
And there will be a Fleet & Mobility Workshop, chaired by Nigel Trotman, Head of Strategic Consultancy at international leasing company, Alphabet.
 
At the same time, the final of the Fleet Driver of the Year competition, organised by ALD Automotive in conjunction with Peak Performance and Toyota & Lexus Fleet Services, will be held live at the Show, with a drive in a Lexus LFA supercar the prize in store for the lucky winner.
 
For more, visit thefleetshow.co.uk.