Fiat Doblo Cargo

Fiat has just launched a new 3 years unlimited mileage warranty offer across its award-winning Doblò Cargo and Combi range and is currently available on all new Doblò Cargos and Combis registered to business users until 31 March. The enhanced warranty increases the mileage period to unlimited rather than 120,000 miles, adds to the existing 3 years’ AA Assurance cover, which includes Roadside Assistance, Home Start, Relay, Relay Plus & European cover.

“This unlimited mileage warranty offer on Doblo Cargo further underlines the confidence that Fiat Professional has in this award-winning vehicle,” says Sebastiano Fedrigo, Director, Fiat Professional UK.

“Since its launch, Fiat Professional’s Doblo Cargo has been very well received for its quality and reliability, both by the media and by customers. This enhancement to the warranty package provides customers with yet another reason to purchase this class-leading van.”

The new Doblo comes in eight different versions – Cargo, Cargo Maxi, Cargo SX, Cargo Maxi SX, Combi, Combi Maxi, Platform Cab and Work Up – offering something for a wide spectrum of commercial vehicle users. The engine line-up is a 1.4-litre 16v 95bhp petrol unit and four MultiJet 16v diesels – 1.3 (90bhp), 1.6 (105bhp), 1.6 MTA (90bhp) and 2.0 (135bhp). 

Start&Stop, which stops the engine automatically whenever traffic conditions bring the van to a complete halt, and restarts it when the driver wants to move off again – is fitted on all Euro 5 Doblo versions to give you up to 15 per cent fuel savings, and the vehicles offer a low CO₂ figure from just 126g/km. Fiat Doblo Cargo contract hire is on the site now.

Fiat Punto GBT

Fiat has now announced pricing for the Model Year 2012 Fiat Punto with a starting price of just £9,990 OTR for the Pop 1.2 8-valve, the new car, which goes on sale in the UK this month. At the top end of the revised Fiat Punto range, you have the highly specified Lounge 1.3 MultiJet version, which costs £15,600 OTR. This model features automatic dual zone climate control, leather steering wheel, front fog lamps, seven airbags, cruise control, ambient interior lighting and electric sunroof as standard.

The 2012 Fiat Punto will be available initially with a choice of six low emissions Euro 5 engines – and with a TwinAir version coming in April – all fitted with Start&Stop as standard. It also comes in a more simplified line-up of three trim levels, similar to the Fiat 500 and forthcoming new Panda – Pop (base), Easy (mid) and Lounge (high). As an extra addition, Fiat also has a sports version based on the Easy level grade called GBT.

The new Punto adds two new engines to the range – an 85hp version of the MultiJet diesel engine and the acclaimed Engine of the Year 85hp TwinAir. The full list will comprise: 1.2 8-valve petrol (69hp), 1.4 8-valve petrol (77hp), 1.4 16-valve MultiAir petrol (105hp and 135hp), TwinAir 0.9-litre petrol (85hp) and 1.3 16-valve MultiJet diesel (75hp and 85hp).

The external styling changes of the 2012 Fiat Punto incorporate fully colour coded front and rear bumpers, while three new exterior colours are introduced: Brit Pop Blue, Tango Red and Underground Grey. Inside you get new sportier seat fabrics and a refreshed dashboard. Standard vehicle equipment in the entry-level Pop model includes remote central locking, electric front windows, driver and passenger airbags, window airbags, radio/CD/MP3 player, electric power steering and height-adjustable driver seat.

Easy trim level adds such equipment as leather steering wheel, 15-inch alloy wheels, and air conditioning. The GBT level additionally gets sport suspension, rear spoiler and side skirts, while the Lounge model adds climate control, front fog lamps, cruise control, ambient interior lighting and electric sunroof.

On the road pricing for the range is as follows and Fiat contract hire prices will be loaded soon:

Fiat 500 TwinAir

The Fiat 500 has just won the City Car honours in the 2012 BusinessCar Awards, for the fourth consecutive year. This award is voted for by the readers of BusinessCar magazine and is decided entirely by the business car industry, carrying with it the approval of the fleet market. The vote was also for the entire 500 range rather than just a specific model showing how extensive the Fiat 500 range is.

“Fiat’s 500 has again proved to be a business car market favourite, and Fiat’s advancement with its TwinAir technology has enhanced the excellent city car’s appeal to the sector,” commented Paul Barker, editor, BusinessCar. “The readers of BusinessCar are obviously fans of the 500’s combination of fun and frugality, having picked it as their favourite city car for the fourth year in a row.”

The Fiat 500 is available with a choice of low CO2 emissions Euro 5 engines, the 85bhp 0.9-litre TwinAir, 69 bhp 1.2-litre and 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol, and the 95 bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel. Fiat 500 contract hire is on the site on all models.

Euro NCAP crash test

Although Geely will not enter the UK market until the end of 2012, the Chinese manufactured Geely Emgrand EC7 has just undergone its Euro NCAP safety testing and has been awarded four stars. The other car models picking up four stars at the same time, were the Jaguar XF, Renault Fluence ZE, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Fiat Panda and MG6 so the Emgrand EC7 is in good company.

When the Emgrand EC7 arrives in the UK it will come with the choice of two body styles, four door saloons and five-door hatchbacks, with a choice of 1.5- or 1.8-litre petrol engines, with an automatic version for the 1.8-litre versions. The car will be priced competitively from around £10,000 and all models will come with  a five-year, 100,000 miles warranty.

Geely Auto UK is in the process of  recruiting its dealer network in readiness for sales to begin by the end of next year and the Euro NCAP results are a major step forward for the brand.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP’s Secretary General said,”These results mark a milestone for the Chinese automotive industry. It is a clear sign that Chinese car makers are building on recent experiences and rapidly investing in better vehicle safety. Even with the upcoming increased demands, five stars are expected to be within reach soon”.

Renault Kangoo Z.E.

The Renault Kangoo Z.E. has just been voted International Van of the Year 2012 by a jury of 22 European journalists who specialise in reviewing light commercial vehicles. The Kangoo Z.E is a 100%-electric van and this is the first time an electric commercial vehicle has won this award.

The Kangoo Z.E saw off competition from some other well known brands including the Iveco Daily, Fiat Ducato and Volkswagen Caddy and was chosen for its zero-emission virtues as well as for its practicality and economical qualities. The Kangoo Z.E has a load volume ranging from 3 cubic metres to 4.6  cubic metres and also keeps the same payload as the standard Kangoo, at 650kg.

The Kangoo Z.E comes in two lengths and three versions and will be arriving in UK dealerships in the 1st December, priced from £16,990 excluding VAT. Contract hire prices on the Kangoo Z.E will be on the site shortly.

Auto Express, one of the UK’s leading car magazines, has found that as many as 50% of car manufacturers are steering clear of offering DAB (digital) radios as either an option or as standard fitment in their new car models. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has named 2015 as the deadline for turning off the analogue radio network and switching to digital. By doing this the vast majority of in-car tuners would cease to work overnight.

The survey was undertaken with 24 mainstream car manufacturers with Citroen, Fiat, Nissan and Hyundai among some of the makers who have shunned the new technology, according to Auto Express. The problem seems to be poor coverage with only 85% of the UK population able to get digital audio broadcasting at present and only 18% of the radio listening population use DAB (according to audience monitoring firm, RAJAR).

A Citroen spokesman said,”No Citroens have digital radio radio fitted (or as an option) and no date has been set as to when this will change”.  An Audi spokeswoman said,”We’ve had negative feedback from customers about poor digital radio coverage. If the broadcasters get the transmitter infrastructure right, then it would be a totally different ball game”.

Digital Radio UK, the body representing broadcasters, manufacturers and retailers, thinks the Government may have to revise the switchover plan from 2015 to possibly 2017. There are fears that a complete switchover would result in the loss of audience meaning it is likely that both analogue and digital will probably run in tandem for a prolonged period.

Motor Village Croydon

Fiat Group Automobiles has just opened its doors to Motor Village Croydon which houses four Fiat car brands, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler and Jeep, all under one roof. 

This is one of the first dealerships of its kind and pioneers the way for other showrooms selling multiple car manufacturers at one site. The site is located on Canterbury Road and is an airy, spacious showroom with four distinct areas representing each brand.

Tony Dittli, director, Motor Village Croydon, said,”We started here with Fiat in January and Alfa Romeo came in May. Chrysler and Jeep joined us in July, so it’s continually evolving. We are still developing and learning but I think we have a super showroom site from which to offer quality service and become the reference point for these great brands.

EcoVelocity is holding a green motoring, low carbon festival show, that will run from the 8th-11th September at Battersea Power Station and they have just released some data about the top postcodes for green motoring. According to their research, Camden, Westminster and Islington are home to the greenest motorists.

They studied vehicle registration data from the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) and found that more than one in four cars (28%) registered in the WC postcode, have CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km or less. Portsmouth is the most environmentally friendly town outside the capital. London however has the highest number EV charging points (93) for electric cars so these results are logical and Wales for example has the least number, with only 3 charging points in the entire country.

Here is the list of top postcodes:

If you want to see an interactive map of the locations of all EV charge points across the UK then EcoVelocity show organisers have complied one. The northernmost electric charge point in the country is in the Isle of Lewis, 750 miles from the most southerly one which is in Exeter.

The EcoVelocity show is a dynamic festival of hi-tech and ultra-low carbon vehicles and some of the leading car manufacturers will be in attendance, showing off their latest green models. Citroen,Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, SEAT, Vauxhall,Volvo, Volkswagen and Mia Electric are just some of the names attending. You will find electric cars, hybrids, low-CO2 models as well as a test drive circuit to try them out and further information can be found at www.ecovelocity.com

Finding a low Co2 car to lease can also be a time consuming exercise so try our Vehicle Type Leasing Shopper as you can select the bodystyle you are looking for, i.e. hatchback, tick all manufacturers, then set the range of Co2, choose business contract hire and all models will appear by the least expensive rental.

EcoVelocity Show 2011

The EcoVelocity UK eco motor show is being held at Battersea Power Station in London from Thursday the 8th to Sunday the 11th September. There will be a number of green low-CO2 cars, electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids on show, with manufacturers being represented including Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, SEAT, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

EcoVelocity is going to be a fun interactive day out for all the family with the “SEAT youngs driver programme (11-16 year olds), Honda introducing motorcycling to young children, a Green Supercar paddock and also an Eco-Lab which delves into the science behind eco-motoring.

Gile Brown, Event Founder, commented,”In the absence of the British Motor Show in 2011, EcoVelocity will be the most important and definitely not to be missed motoring event of the year, showcasing the best real-world cars for real-world motorists at a single location”. If you are also thinking of leasing a low CO2 car try the Vehicle Type leasing shopper for a range of the latest models available.

Fiat offers low CO2 cars

Fiat has set new standards in low CO2 emissions having the lowest volume weighted CO2 emissions, according to leading automotive and consulting firm, JATO Dynamics. Fiat Automobiles recorded a CO2 average of just 123.1 g/km placing it at the top off all manufacturer brands for the fourth year running. They are also well ahead of the European target of 130 g/km, which is due to be met by all car manufacturers by 2015.

Fiat also ranked first among the motor groups with a figure of 125.9 g/km and this takes into account all their luxury brands including Ferrari and Maserati. Fiat has had a long-term eco-strategy with technical innovations such as MutliAir, MultiJet and TwinAir engines plus Start&Stop, electronic traction management (Dualogic robotised transmission) and their eco:Drive in-car software. Fiat business contract hire leasing on all Fiat car and van models is on the site now.