Lexus IS 250C

Lexus has built on its established practises of prestige, quality and high-tech innovation with the launch of their new IS 250C coupe/convertible, which is ready to order now for delivery in July 2009. This new coupe/cabriolet boasts the fastest deploying three-part metal roof which takes 21 seconds to put up or down, making it ideal for the British weather!

As with most cars from Lexus it also comes packed with high levels of standard equipment and safety features.  Leather interior, Bluetooth, 6-CD auto-changer and an 8-speaker audio system, plus 18-inch alloys to name just a few. Add ABS, EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), Brake Assist, Traction Control, Vehicle Stability Control, plus several airbags and you know you are well protected.

Lexus IS 250C

The car is powered by a V6 24-valve DOHC 205 bhp engine with Dual VVT-i and will take you from 0-62 mph in 9.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 130mph (where permitted). Power is transmitted via a six-speed gearbox. Co2 emissions are 219g/km and combined fuel economy is 30.4 mpg. Lexus car leasing prices are available on the whole range now.

TyreSafe, the non-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of defective and worn tyres, has launched a new truck specific section to its website. MoT failures for HGV’s was recorded at 36.5 per cent in 2007/8, as reported by VOSA, with failure due to defective tyres being the second most common defect.

The new web pages are located at www.tyresafe.org and includes guidance and advice on the importance of tyre pressure, tread depth, wheel alignment, regrooving and tyre disposal, together with details of the common causes of tyre damage and wear. A free truck safety handout can also be downloaded off the site with top tips for correct tyre truck maintenance.

Since the Health and Safety Offences Act came into force in January 2009, UK courts how have much greater authority to prosecute businesses for committing offences such as fitting illegal tyres and the maximum penalty is a £20,000 fine. Drivers are also under pressure from VOSA, to ensure they are driving with legal tyres, with drivers risking roadside fines of up to £200 per offence.

Tyre safety is an important factor for any company running a fleet of vehicles, whether you run cars, vans, buses, trucks or other HGV’s.

F1 CAL

When Ferrari North Europe wanted to put the final touches to their brand new California sports car they turned to the DVLA Personalised Registrations for help. The new Ferrari coupe cabriolet will make its UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July the 3rd.

DVLA Personalised Registrations opened up their “F series” plates last year and this provided Ferrari with the perfect opportunity to personalise the car with F1 CAL. 

Richard Gordon, Regional Manager for Ferrari North Europe Ltd said “The California is a ground-breaking car for Ferrari. It’s our first coupe cabriolet with a folding metal roof and front-mounted V8 engine takes our brand into a whole new sector”.

Damian Lawson, DVLA Personalised Registrations’ Marketing Manager said “We are delighted that a DVLA Personalised Registration will feature on the first Ferrari California to arrive on our shores. With Ferrari synonymous with Formula One, F1 CAL, for obvious reasons, shone out from the millions we have in our database as the perfect plate for the California”.

Mitsubishi i MiEV

The innovative all-electric Mitsubishi i MiEV city car is going to play a prominent role in the Government’s recently announced Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator projects being run by the Transport Strategy Board. The Transport Strategy Board is a business led executive non departmental public body, with a mission to promote and support research information and development, plus exploitation of technology and innovation, for the benefit of UK business.

Mitsubishi i MiEV

Twenty five of the first fifty of the i MiEV all-electric Mitsubishi cars will take part in the West Midlands CABLED consortium. A total of approximately 340 vehicles will take part in trials on UK roads over the next six to eighteen months, which start from November this year.

The i MiEV has a top speed of 87mph and a range of well over 80 miles. It can carry four adult passengers and luggage in comfort and will also re-charge from flat to full in 6 hours, via a 240V UK supply. Fast charging from flat to 80 per cent takes 80 minutes and shows how practical the car is.

Lance Bradley, Mitsubishi’s Managing Director, said: ” It is excellent news that the i MiEV will play such a prominent role in this real-world trial. It is a great platform for us to show off our advanced electric vehicle technology, which itself is acting as a catalyst for the many other CO2 lowering environmental technologies we have in the near future”.

Ford Kuga

The weakness of Sterling against the Euro has forced Ford to announce that from the the beginning of July 2009, they will be putting up the prices of their UK range by about 4 per cent. This will apply to all orders placed after the 30th June, so if you are thinking about contract hire leasing a Ford then now is the time to act, before these changes take effect.

Nigel Sharp, managing director of Ford of Britain comments “ In common with most of the UK auto industry, Ford is reacting to the sustained weakness of the £ against the Euro. Raising prices in difficult times, and when a scrappage scheme has been introduced, may seem counter-intuitive but with so many of our costs priced in Euros, there is no choice if we are to maintain a viable business”.

The exchange rate for the £ to the Euro has been stable for about ten years, with the £ worth around 1.43 Euros. However with recent exchange rates as low as 1.16 Euros to the pound, this was an unavoidable increase according to Ford. The increase on the cost price for the most popular models, will be about £600-£650 (Ka, Fiesta, Focus, C-Max, Kuga and Mondeo) with Ford S-Max up by approximately £700 and £800 for a Ford Galaxy.

BMW 316d ES Saloon

BMW has launched the cleanest and fuel efficient 3 series car with a new 316d ES Saloon. Powered by a 1,995cc four-cylinder diesel engine this car records 62.8mpg on the combined cycle which is enough to give the car a possible range of 800 miles plus. When you also look at the CO2 output of this new model at 118g/km this vehicle is bound to be a hit with company car drivers.

The car reaches 0-62mph in a respectable 10.9 seconds and has a top speed of 125mph where permitted. Standard specification  includes air-conditioning, multi-function leather steering wheel, front and rear ISOFIX child seat attachments, front foglights and BMW’s EfficientDynamics programme. Power is transmitted to the road by a six-speed manual gearbox and the car goes on sale in September when BMW car leasing prices on this model will be available.

The key facts

Insignia VXR

Vauxhall are showcasing their new 325 horsepower Insignia VXR at the Goodwood Festival of Speed which runs from the 3rd to the 5th July. This new car from Vauxhall will demonstrate its exceptional Adaptive 4×4 chassis, twice a day on Goodwood’s notoriously tricky hillclimb course.

VXR8 Bathurst S

Vauxhall will also be showing a number of other supercars including the supercharged, rear wheel drive 6.2-litre VXR8 Bathurst S Edition, which will be their most powerful production car ever.  Joining this will also be the radical SRV which was first shown at the 1970 Earls Court Motor Show. This SRV had an aerofoil, electric self-levelling suspension and a “manometer” to measure air pressure on the car’s hull and demonstrated how forward thinking Vauxhall was at the time.

VWESCAPE.CO.UK

Volkswagen campers, vans and kombis have become unique style icons over the years and to celebrate this heritage, Volkwagen has launched a new website dedicated to showcase the Caravelle people carrier, Transporter kombi and California camper van.

The new website  also offers users the opportunity to win their own Volkswagen escape in a California, plus much more. Links are provided on the new website to Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and Flickr, where Volkswagen is hoping you will share with people how you “escape to your reality” this summer.

Two highly coloured “Escape” vehicles will be touring the country attending various summer events which are detailed on the website. The first event was held at the Blackheath Bike and Kite Festival in London on the 13th and 14th June, then the Gold Coast Ocean Festival at Croyde Bay in Devon and continues with the Cornwell Holiday Beach Hop from the 24th to 26th July.

Volkswagen has also appointed some sporting brand ambassadors who will be uploading images of themselves in action with their own vehicles. These include windsurfer and Olympic medallist Bryony Shaw, professional wakeboarder Matt Crowhurst and Radio One DJ, Jo Whiley.

Which child car seats?

Which?, the leading independent consumer champion in the UK, has revealed that more than one third of parents (38%) underestimate the age or height at which a child can travel without a child car seat. The law states that an appropriate child car seat must be used when carrying any child up to 135cm (4ft 5inches) or until they reach their twelfth birthday.

When it came to fitting child car seats only 53% of parents (around half) said they completely trust retailers to give them good advice and 43% said a nationally-recognised car fitter’s scheme would make them more likely to trust the advice from retailers.

Richard Headland, Editor, Which? Car, says; It doesn’t matter if they’re 10 months or 10 years old, children need to use child car seats until they’re taller than 135cm or they reach their twelfth birthday. Kids are at risk if they’re not properly secured in a seat appropriate to their weight and height”.

As Child Safety Week begins, Which? has put together an interactive child car safety quiz at which the best child car seats are featured and also offers advice on how to fit them.