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.

New Ford Focus Estate

The new, stylish, Ford Focus Estate has now gone into production in Europe and is likely to be as popular as the Ford Focus five-door model with its range of low-CO2 powertrains and innovative new features. The Ford Focus estate accounts for around 15% of all Ford sales in the UK and 30% across Europe, so this is a key model for the brand.

The estate shares the same wheelbase (2,648mm) as the five-door model but to accommodate the extra load area, the overall length of the car has been extended by 198mm to 4,556mm. This offers you a volume capacity of 476 litres with the rear seats in place. In two seat mode, this increases to 1,502 litres (with the standard mini spare wheel).

The low-CO2 powertrain includes the new 150PS 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost turbocharged direct injection petrol engine plus a range of improved Duratorq TDCi common rail diesel engines, all of which offer better fuel performance compared to the outgoing models.

The 1.6-litre TDCI diesel engine equipped with standard Auto-Start-Stop emits only 109g/km of CO2 and is likely to be a popular choice for many fleet drivers. We should have all the new models loaded soon on Ford contract hire leasing and first deliveries of the new car will start in May 2011.

Volvo

Ultimate Car Control has teamed up with Volvo to offer company car drivers an Excellence in Professional Driving (EPD) training programme. This is the only fully legally compliant driver training programme in the UK and Ultimate Car Control chose Volvo for their safety reputation and innovative new technology. Organisations are now legally obliged (Duty of Care) under Health and Safety legislation to develop company policies that protect their employees if using their car (or van) for work purposes. Ultimate Car Control has reported that companies who have put their fleet drivers through the one-day course have already reported great results. One organisation has already witnessed a drop in accidents by 47% and a 37% drop in insurance premiums. The course involves a classroom-based session covering hazard perception, the effects of drugs and alcohol on drivers as well as explaining how vehicle safety systems such as anti-lock braking systems actually work. The second part of the course  is a dynamic driver training session where drivers learn how to drive in extreme situations and learn how to keep control of their vehicle. If you are interested in finding out more you can contact Ultimate Car Control direct.

Face Facts campaign

The Fleet Safety Forum, a division of Brake (the road safety charity), has launched a new campaign to try to ensure fleet drivers are not under the influence of alchohol or drugs behind the wheel, with a new campaign called “Face Facts”.

The hard hitting poster shows a driver’s face split in half, on the one side unaffected by drugs or alchohol and on the other the side with the tell tale signs. Brake research has shown that at-work drivers are a high risk category for drink and drug driving with more than twice as many at-work drivers admitting to drinking three or more units of alcohol the night before. They also found that nearly a third of at-work drivers admitted to driving first thing after having drunk a lot of alcohol the night before, compared to a fifth of other drivers. One in three drivers also admitted to drug driving.

The Face Facts campaign pack is available free of charge to the first 50 companies who order it and thereafter subscription to the Fleet Safety Forum is available at £90 a year.

Volkswagen Golf Match

Volkswagen is adding the “value for money” Match model to the Volkswagen Golf range, with first deliveries available for the end of June if you order soon. The Match also comes with the newly-available 140 PS BlueMotion Technology model for extra economy and performance.

On top of the SE specification of ABS, ESP, seven airbags, Climatic air conditioning, alarm, cruise control and connectivity to iPod or MP3 player, the Golf Match adds unique 16-inch “Croft” alloy wheels, a leather multifunction steering wheel, DAB digital radio receiver, Bluetooth system, front and rear parking sensors and an RCD 510 touchscreen stereo with six-disc CD autochanger. The new Match will be available in the same engine models as the Golf SE, so you can choose from a 1.4-litre TSI petrol with 122 PS, a 1.6-litre TDI 105 PS or the 2.0-litre TDI with 140 PS.

The BlueMotion Technology Match is based on the 1.6-litre TDI 105 PS offering 68.9 combined mpg and CO2 emissions of 107g/km or the 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS, offering 65.7 combined mpg and CO2 emissions of 114g/km. The latter model is bound to popular with company car fleet drivers with its extra performance and low CO2 emissions. Volkswagen contract hire prices will be on the site soon.