New BMW 1 Series

BMW has announced the details of their new second-generation BMW 1 Series compact range, which goes on sale in the UK on the 17th September 2011. All models come with all-new TwinPower turbocharged petrol engines (two) and revised diesel engines (three) and there will also be a new BMW 116d EfficientDynamics 99g/km model (later in the year) that breaks the 100g/km barrier for the first time.

An ECO PRO mode is a new feature on all models, which adjusts BMW’s various on-board systems to maximise efficiency and of course all models benefit from BMW’s EfficientDynamics technology. The new BMW 1 Series is available in either a six-speed manual transmission or a new eight-speed automatic transmission, with the latter available in Sport configuration as well.

Standard specification consists of satin silver interior and Move cloth seats (with other options on interiors available) with three standard and five metallic exterior paint options. The SE specification adds a 6.5-inch flatscreen monitor and is operated by BMW’s innovative iDrive controller, has Bluetooth hands-free facility, USB audio interface and a multi-function leather steering wheel.

There are also two new exclusive models being added, BMW Sport model and BMW Urban model and we will be loading BMW contract hire leasing prices on the new range shortly.

The model options are as follows:

                          * on standard 16-inch wheels

Fiat 500

The 2011 BusinessCar Awards “City Car of the Year” award has gone to the Fiat 500 for the third year running. The car’s great looks, coupled with excellent running costs and residual values, made a real impression on the judges. Paul Barker, editor of BusinessCar said,”Fiat’s 500 has once more proved that business cars can make sense to both the head and the heart. The 500 has great residual values and running costs combined with the ability to put smiles on faces, making it the perfect city car for the corporate market, something BusinessCar readers obviously echo in voting the 500 City Car of the Year”.

The Fiat 500 is available with a wide choice of Euro 5 compliant engines, 85bhp 0.9 TwinAir,69 bhp 1.2-litre and 100 bhp 1.4-litre petrol, and 95 bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel. It is also available in three trim levels, Pop, Lounge and Sport and Fiat contract hire leasing on all models is available off the site now.

New Audi A1 1.4 TFSI 185PS

Audi has added a dual-charged Audi A1 1.4 TFSI 185PS direct-injection petrol engine to their A1 range, combining a supercharger that is active from 1,500rpm, with a turbocharger that comes into play at around 3,500 rpm. This powerful combination offers a 0-62mph time of only 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 141mph (where permitted). Economy is pretty good too, with a combined mpg of 47.9 and CO2 emissions at just 139g/km.

Rear side view Audi A1 1.4 TFSI 185PS

The new model comes with S tronic twin-clutch transmission and S line specification as standard, which features 17-inch alloy wheels and part leather-upholstered seats. This is in addition to the generous Sport equipment level of remote central locking, air conditioning, electric front windows and mirrors, Bluetooth mobile preparation, Driver’s information System and a six-speaker single CD audio system with an auxiliary iPod connection.

This superb new premium subcompact car is also fitted with ESP with limited slip differential, providing agile handling and cornering stability. We hope to have Audi A1 business car leasing prices on this new model loaded shortly.

New Mazda2

Mazda has launched an automatic version of the Mazda2 as part of the recent model upgrade and is expecting large demand from Motability drivers and driving schools. The Mazda2 has always been a favourite when leasing a car through the Motability scheme and this new model is bound to be popular. The Mazda2 will also join Mazda’s special driving school programme alongside the lower-medium sector, Mazda3.

Upgraded Mazda2

The new five-door automatic Mazda2 is being badged as the “TS2 Automatic” and has a four-speed automatic transmission paired to a 1.5-litre engine, returning 44.8 mpg and with CO2 emissions of just 146g/km.

The nine-strong new line-up in the Mazda2 range offers a choice of three petrol (1.3-litre 72ps, 84ps and 1.5-litre 102ps) and one diesel powertrain (1.6-litre 95ps) with four generous equipment levels.

The trim levels are TS, TS2, Tamura and Sport and every model now comes with remote central locking, air conditioning, electric front windows, electric door mirrors, a piano-black centre stack, CD radio with auxiliary jack and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm. Mazda business car leasing is available on the Mazda2 range now.

Peugeot 3008 Crossover with Grip Control

Lots of company car drivers will be looking at 4x4s with the recent snow but may be concerned about the sacrifices to make on emissions (and therefore tax), fuel consumption and insurance costs. However there are some other options when considering a vehicle for driving in winter conditions and once such model is the Peugeot 3008 Crossover with Peugeot’s innovative Grip Control.

Grip Control is essentially an intelligent traction control system and with special mud and snow tyres, it automatically improves the vehicle’s traction on tricky surfaces such as snow, mud, dirt tracks and wet grass. It also works in conjunction with the car’s ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) to maintain the best possible  traction from both front wheels and has five operating modes as follows;

1. Standard mode- for normal road conditions
2. Snow mode- this adapts the system to gain the best traction when pulling away and returns to Standard mode when you reach 31mph
3. All-terrain – this mode copes with mud, dirt tracks and wet grass by allowing a high level of slip on the least stable wheel when pulling away and providing as much torque to the wheel with the strongest grip level.
4. Sand mode – allows slight wheel slip on both drive wheels.
5. ESP Off – this disconnects ESP and Grip and gives full control to the driver up to 31mph-once you reach this speed, Standard mode is engaged automatically.

Grip Control is available as standard on the Peugeot 3008 SR Crossover and is an option on the Sport and Exclusive HDi 122 & HDi 150 Crossover models. The Grip Control option also includes standard fitment of 215/60 R16 Michelin Latitude Tour HP “Mud and Snow” tyres, which are suitable for off-road use and Peugeot business contract hire can be found now for all Peugeot 3008 models.

Fiat 500

Fiat has just announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show that it is returning to the North American market with the award-winning Fiat 500 car range. The car will be produced in Mexico and the four-seater city car will be available in Pop, Sport and Lounge trim.

Fiat 500

However it comes with only one engine type in the US, the 1.4 100hp MultiAir, plus it is available in 14 exterior colours, 14 colour combinations and materials for the seats, two interiors (black and ivory) and a comprehensive accessory and exclusive option list supplied by Mopar.

Laura Soave, manager of the Fiat brand in North America, said,”The Fiat 500 has always been the right car at the right time. With the new Fiat 500, a truly exclusive car in one of the most rapidly growing segments in North America is being introduced. It offers prestigious Italian design, value and efficiency, all smartly calibrated for our market”. In the UK, Fiat offers a variety of engine options and accessories and Fiat business car lease is on the site now.

Peugeot 3008 Crossover

Peugeot has announced that the Peugeot 3008 Crossover, will benefit from extra vehicle standard specification on the Sport and Exclusive models and a more efficient Euro 5 HDi 112 diesel engine.

The Sport model now gets Peugeot Connect USB with Bluetooth (connecting your compatible phone and iPod/MP3 player to the car), flat folding passenger seat and automatic headlamps and windscreen wipers. The Exclusive model adds Peugeot USB and Bluetooth, flat folding passenger seat, electric folding mirrors, electro-chrome interior mirror and exterior courtesy light as standard.

The Peugeot 3008 will also be available in the new HDi 112 Euro 5 diesel engine and Peugeot business car leasing prices will be updated shortly.

New Lexus CT 200h

The new Lexus CT 200h hybrid small luxury car has four driving styles moods that will match your driving mood. The Lexus CT200h car will be officially unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, from Thursday the 30th September in Hall 4 and this is the first debut car for Toyota in this sector.

Instrument panel in hybrid blue

The new car is powered by a 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol engine, an electric motor and an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission (E-CVT) and offers four selectable driving modes for a Dynamic or Relaxed driving character.

SPORT mode allows full exploitation of the CT 200h’s agile sports handling or there is ECO mode which delivers maximum efficiency. EV (electric mode) offers zero tailpipe emissions and NORMAL places the emphasis on a relaxed drive.  The look of the instrument panel also changes when you select a more dynamic performance changing from hybrid blue to red, plus the hybrid power meter changes to a tachometer.

New Mazda6

The Mazda6 is updated this month with the introduction of a new 19-strong model range offering better fuel economy (by up to 6.4%) and lower CO2 emissions (up to 6.1 %). Business fleets and company car drivers now have a choice of hatchback and estate versions, as the saloon model is no longer available. There are three petrol engine options and three diesel engines, with four equipment levels namely S, TS, TS2 and Sport.

New Mazda6

Upgraded equipment includes “smart ” turn indicators and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) for the S grade and all other models. The TS (and all upward models) gets a rear spoiler, the TS2 (and upwards) gets front and rear parking sensors and Hill Hold Assist (HHA) and the Sport gets swivel-type AFS front lights. Most “essential need” company car drivers will probably lean towards the 2.2D 129ps in TS trim which now emits 138g/km. Mazda contract hire prices will be loaded shortly.

New Mazda6

Mazda has had upgraded the Mazda6 range for 2010  with a restyled front and rear featuring the new Mazda family face. They have also introduced new silver ringed dials and controls in the driver’s instrument binnacle, while the centre console is finished off in a high gloss piano-black trim.

Upgraded equipment in the four models S, TS, TS2 and Sport, include “smart” turn indicators and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), with models further up the range getting a new aerodynamic spoiler, front and rear parking sensors, Hill Hold Assist and active Bi-Xenon AFS front lights.

The new Mazda6 range comes in a choice of six engines, three petrol and three diesel, available with five speed manual or five speed automatic gearboxes. CO2 emissions start from only 138g/km and combined fuel economy from 54.3 mpg. Mazda contract hire prices should be on the site shortly.