Car News
Seat sales forge ahead in 2006
More and more customers are discovering the style and sportiness of SEAT’s range of cars, with UK sales up by over 15% during the first nine months of this year. This is particularly good news for the brand when viewed in the context of a declining UK new car market, down by 3.55% over the same period.
Seat puts the ‘car’ into carnal with new ad campaign
It’s not often that a TV advertisement for a car is banned from being shown before the 9pm watershed – unless, that is, it’s a fun new campaign by SEAT to promote its spacious Altea hatchback.
On-line shopping launched by Owen Developments
Owen Developments, the Oxfordshire based automotive performance enhancing specialists, has just launched their new website where customers can buy on-line.
Volvo Truck and Bus Centre Midlands think bike for parts
Volvo Truck and Bus Centre Midlands have set up their own motorcycle delivery service to beat the traffic and ferry truck and bus parts to customers in an area which stretches from Coventry to Kettering, Worcester and the Cotswolds. The unique and innovative approach is proving both customer-friendly and cost-effective, says Depot Manager Brent Norton. “We are seeing some journey times, such as that to Worcester from Coventry, cut by as much as 25 minutes using the bike compared to a van, without breaking speed limits. The bike is also proving to be more fuel efficient.”
Mitsubishi Motors UK’s sales success continues
Mitsubishi Motors UK has posted new vehicle sales of 10,111 units for quarter three, up 1% against last year, in a market that is down 2%. Mitsubishi is experiencing a significant new model transition period during which it has finished selling Space Star, Carisma and Shogun Pinin whilst Shogun, Shogun Sport and Outlander are all currently being phased out. Despite these changes, fresh products like the new L200 and Colt have ensured a strong sales performance.
Proton Cars UK sales double
Proton Cars UK has again enjoyed another boost in monthly car sales with September 2006 new car registrations continuing the upward trend, achieving sales of more than double September 2005.
Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europe 2006
The seventh and last round of the 2006 Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europe series took place yesterday at the Spanish circuit of Valencia. By coming second, Maserati GB’s Moz Fabris won the Championship title.
A cool £1bn to insure MPH Show
The organisers of this year’s Jeremy Clarkson MPH ‘06 auto-fest are forced to insure the show for £1bn.
Car insurance premiums up again
The cost of car insurance has risen for the second quarter in succession, according to the latest AA British Insurance Premium Index.
Best September ever for Chrysler sales outside of North America
Outside North America, Chrysler Group reported record sales for September 2006 of 20,493 units; an increase of 5 percent over 2005 (19,558 units), and the best September ever for Chrysler Group sales outside of North America. Each of the Company’s brands is represented with a vehicle ranking among the top-three-selling products for the month. The Jeep® Grand Cherokee is the number-one seller in September with 3,760 units followed by Chrysler Voyager and Dodge Caliber with 3,294 and 3,011 units respectively.
Cadillac BLS economy test
The Cadillac BLS 1.9 Turbo Diesel made its debut in the 2006 AA / ALD Automotive MPG Marathon on October 4 and 5. The two Cadillacs taking part achieved overall fuel economy of 55.6 mpg and 52.1 mpg respectively, placing them 2nd and 3rd in class on fuel consumption achieved, over the testing 360-mile route in the West Country.
Fiat Ducato on sale and on show at NEC
Fiat Commercial Vehicles will be an exhibitor at this year’s W6 Working with Wood exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham, (stand No. D27, Hall 17, 8-11 October 2006). W6 is the trade exhibition for businesses working with wood, and is held every two years at the NEC.
Volkswagen Atacama Crafter concept revealed
Volkswagen has revealed a striking off-road vehicle based on the recently-launched Crafter van. Named Atacama, after the desert in South America, the four-wheel drive concept is the product of the Design Centre in Wolfsburg, Germany, and could become a limited production vehicle.
Box clever
There can be few things more irritating than waiting patiently to enter a yellow box junction, only to see cars from the opposite direction "trying their luck" and stopping mid-box - when it's obvious that there is nowhere for them to go.
GPS-based camera detectors are in the clear
Under new proposed laws, which are having their third reading in Parliament on Monday 9 October, speeding motorists will incur fines and penalty points that more closely reflect the severity of their offence – the greater the speed over the limit, the bigger the penalty.