New Audi A4 Saloon

Audi has released some initial details and images of the new eighth-generation Audi A4 series, which includes the Audi A4 Saloon, the A4 Avant, the A4 allroad quattro and the flagship S4. Since its launch, 39 years ago, the Audi A4 series has sold over ten million models and the A4 is well known for its elegance, sportiness and driving experience.

The Saloon and Avant will both offer the S line exterior package, while the Avant also gets a rear spoiler, plus the interior in the new A4 series has been refined, offering a selection of new steering wheels with chrome high-gloss inlays, for example.

All interior colours, with the exception of black, have been re-coordinated and the upholstery range has also been updated with Fine Nappa leather replacing Valcona leather. Luggage capacity in the saloon is the same at 480-litres (962 litres with rear seats folded) while the A4 Avant and A4 allroad quattro have a capacity of 490-litres and 1,430-litres respectively.

New Audi A4 Avant

In the UK, Audi will offer a choice of five diesel models and four petrol engines for both the Saloon and the Avant. All engines will offer you supercharged direct-injection systems, the start-stop system and the recuperation system as standard, throughout the model range. Six-speed manual transmission is standard on the Saloon and the Avant with front wheel drive, while most variants will offer continuously variable multitronic as an option.

The most economical model is the Audi A4 2.0 TDI with 136 PS which returns 67.3 combined mpg and CO2 emissions of just 112g/km. There is also a A4 2.0 TDI 163 PS engine that returns 64.2 combined mpg and CO2 emissions of 115g/km and these two (available in the Saloon and Avant) are likely to be the favourite models with most company car drivers.

The exact model line-up, full vehicle specifications and prices are yet to be announced, however early indications are that the prices are expected to be similar to the current A4 range.

CLICK for the car leasing deal

The Ford Mondeo 1.6 TDCi Eco Zetec with Start Stop is available on the site now on Ford car leasing (business only) from only £214.94+VAT per month. This comfortable saloon offers a company car driver CO2 emissions of 114g/km and the car returns a respectable 65.6mpg on the combined fuel cycle.

The Ford car leasing offer is based over four years, rental profile of 3 rentals in advance followed by 47 subsequent payments, 10,000 miles per annum on non-maintained vehicle leasing. Other terms will be available on request from our car finance partner.

Jaguar

The new Jaguar 2012 MY (Model Year) has just gone on sale and promises the fastest and most efficient production Jaguars ever created. The new XF 2.2  is diesel is bound to be popular with company car drivers with CO2 emissions at 149g/km, a 0-62mph time of 8.5 seconds, top speed of 142mph and a combined mpg of 52.3.

The improvements to the Jaguar MY12 include extensive panel changes to the XF including the bonnet, front and rear lights and bumpers, front wings, plus improvements to the interior switchgear, navigation system and seats. The XK range also sees a number of changes including a new, larger front grille framed by a set of new headlight units, new front wing vents, new wheel designs and changes to the rear lights. You can also get bucket seats on the XK range for the first time as well.

The XJ model has a few revisions as well, more subtle than radical, with a rear-seat comfort option pack introduced featuring reclining seats, four-way adjustment for the lower back, a massage feature, footrest and winged headrests. Jaguar car leasing on the new range will be loaded shortly.

CO2 emissions price lists

Volkswagen Fleet Services has just launched two new CO2 emissions price lists which will make it simple for any company car driver or fleet manager to quickly find the right Volkswagen car to suit their needs. The first fleet price guide was launched in 2009 and the booklet details all the cars in the Volkswagen range with a CO2 output less than 160g/km, plus P11D values and Benefit-in-Kind tax implications.

The original sub-160 g/km price list has now been joined by a new price list detailing all Volkswagen cars under 120g/km of CO2, as the company continues to drive down their CO2 outputs and due to driver demand for even lower CO2 vehicles.

The sub-160g/km booklet has 16 model ranges detailed from the Fox to the Sharan, and it also includes the Polo Match and new Touran. The sub-120g/km list offers nine model ranges to choose from including the new Golf Cabriolet and the Golf BlueMotion which emit only 99g/km of CO2. If you want to download an electronic version of the new price guides visit www.volkswagen.co.uk/fleet

Searching for the lowest CO2 cars can also be a time consuming exercise so don’t forget to try the Vehicle Type Leasing Shopper. Just select the bodystyle you are looking for i.e. “hatchback”, tick “all manufacturers”  or just the manufacturers you are interested in, choose your CO2 range i.e. 0g/km up to 120g/km for example and then click the “business contract hire” button”. Results will be displayed showing all cars under 120g/km with the least expensive car leasing rental first. You can also amend your results by using the tabs on the left.

TyreSafe

TyreSafe, the non-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about tyre safety, is holding its first ever quarterly communications session on the 7th September, at the Ardencote Manor hotel in Warwick. The session has been designed for TyreSafe members, road safety professionals, fleet managers and HR managers.

TyreSafe will be presenting its plans for the forthcoming year on tyre safety, including the October tyre safety month, so fleet managers can dovetail their own internal tyre safety campaigns to their company car fleet drivers, and employees using their own cars for company business. In addition the Highways Agency will be presenting on their new safety framework, plus a second presentation from Tyresure, who will provide a briefing about impending legislative changes regarding tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).

Attendance at the event is free and you can get further information and registration details by calling TyreSafe on 01787 226995.

New D5 diesel engine

The new Volvo improved D5 diesel engine has been updated to increase power from 205hp to 215hp (depending on the version) and fuel consumption has improved as well with the S80 D5 manual with Start/Stop offering 57.7 mpg and only 129g/km of CO2.  The V70, XC70 and S80 are the first models in the Volvo car range to benefit from the new engine.

Selwyn Cooper, Volvo UK’s national sales manager commented,”We have made these vehicles more enjoyable and as cost efficient as possible to drive. With that comes lower CO2 which means company car drivers have a widened choice of vehicles powered by larger engines without the expected hike in the amount of tax they would have to pay”. We hope to load Volvo car leasing prices on the new models shortly.

New Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV

Mercedes-Benz has released some initial details about their third-generation M-Class which sets a new benchmark in the SUV market. Average fuel consumption across the range has been improved by an average of 25 per cent and CO2 emission figures are equally as impressive as well.

At launch there will be three models available with the likely popular company car favourite being the ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC (diesel) which offers 47.0 combined mpg, CO2 emissions of 158g/km, 204bhp,  a 0-62mph time of 9.0 seconds and a top speed of 130mph.

There is also a new ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC  (V6 diesel) offering you 41.5 combined mpg, CO2 emissions of 179g/km, 258bhp,  a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 139mph. Finally the petrol engine model is the ML350 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY offering 33.2 combined mpg, CO2 emissions of 199g/km, 306bhp, a  0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 146mph.

All cars have the permanent 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system improving performance in both on and off-road and a high standard specification is also promised too. Full UK pricing and vehicle specifications are yet to be announced and the new cars will go on sale in the spring of 2012.

New Astra GTC coupe

Vauxhall’s eagerly awaited new Astra GTC is now ready to order with a choice of four engines, one diesel and three petrol. This new Vauxhall Astra GTC coupe model is set to throw down the gauntlet to the Volkswagen Scirocco and the Renault Megane Coupe and is the third body-style to come off the new Astra’s Delta platform, after the Hatch and Sports Tourer.

The GTC ride height has been lowered by 15mm, the wheelbase extended by 10mm and the car has wider tracks allowing the option larger rims of up to 20-inches. All models come with the Insignia VXR HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut) sophisticated front suspension combined with a Watt’s link rear axle for dynamic stability and handling precision.

The diesel option is a 165PS 2.0-litre CDTi which offers a 0-62mph time of 8.9 seconds, top speed of 130mph where permitted, combined mpg of 57.6 and CO2 emissions of 129g/km and should be popular with company car fleet drivers, with its range of up to 700 miles.

Start/Stop and a six-speed gearbox are also standard on both versions of the 1.4-litre Turbo petrol engine (120PS or 140PS) and you can return 47.9 combined mpg and 139g/km on both models. Top of the engine range is the 1.6-litre Turbo producing 180PS with a top speed of 132mph and in 2012, Vauxhall will launch the VXR model.

Standard specification is pretty generous and includes 18-inch alloy wheels, DAB stereo and USB functionality even on the entry model. Step up to the SRi and you get tinted glass, on board computer, leather trimmed steering wheel and fog lamps and we should be loading Vauxhall contract hire leasing prices very shortly.

CLICK to contact our car finance partner

The Ford Kuga is a great family vehicle, reliable and stylish too, with a real dynamic road presence. Ford Kuga business contract hire is on offer on the site for the Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi 140bhp Zetec 2WD manual , from only £253.58+VAT per month. Combined mpg on this vehicle is 47.9 and CO2 emissions are 154g/km so it also an ideal company car.

The Ford contract hire offer is based on 4 years, non-maintained contract hire, 3+47 rental profile at 10,000 miles per annum. Other terms are available from our car finance partner, Ford Retail Online upon request. Personal car leasing starts from £308.59 including the VAT on the same terms.

The RoSPA and Allianz Commercial has announced they are renewing a two-year partnership to promote effective risk management for any company operating a fleet of vehicles. The two companies have been working together since 2007 and they both offer a range of courses and commercial insurance solutions.

Some new courses have been added for Allianz Commercial Policyholders as follows;

1. ECO-Driving - this course provides advice on how you can change driving techniques to save fuel, reduce CO2 emissions and reduce tyre wear. More information on eco-safe driving is available here.
2. Licence Check- always an issue with company car drivers, this product offers online checking to verify that employees’ driving licences are valid and that they have an entitlement to drive a company vehicle.
3. Driver Profile Managed Service - This product offers a cost and time-efficient method of risk assessment where the RoPSA manages the “back-house” administration.

Every employer that runs a fleet of vehicles, or where an employee drives their own car on business, has a duty of care responsibility to comply with. Full details of all the courses and products available can be found from the RoSPA website.