Car Dealer Magazine: Issue 183

PLUS: BANGERS4BEN 2023 HEADS TO IRELAND

FIRST DRIVE

WHY OUR AWARDS REALLY MATTER

INTERVIEW

Rayhanneh Mazinani

BLAZING A TRAIL IN THE MALEDOMINATED AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

NEWS Issue 183 | June 2023

• CAZOO’S SHOCK REVELATIONS

• VW ‘BLOCKING DEALER SALES’

• McLAREN 750S UNVEILED

• LAND ROVER NAME DROPPED

PLUS: WE GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF MASERATI’S GRECALE GT AND THE MINI ELECTRIC CONVERTIBLE

PLUS: THE BIG REVEALS FROM SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW

EVENT PARTNERS

FOUNDER

James Baggott james@thebaize.com

Twitter: @CarDealerEd

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

James Batchelor james.batchelor@blackballmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @JRRBatchelor

CHIEF SUB-EDITOR

John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

STAFF WRITER Jack Williams jack.williams@blackballmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @JournoJack25

MULTIMEDIA MANAGER

Jon Reay jon@blackballmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @JonReay

HEAD OF DESIGN

Graeme Windell graeme@blackballmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @graemewindell

WELCOME.

The charity caper Bangers4Ben is back for another year. The rally, created by Car Dealer way back in 2009, is still going strong and this year it’ll see the teams tackle Ireland.

FINANCE MANAGER

Kate Gordon kate@blackballmedia.co.uk

ADVERTISING

SALES MANAGER

Kevin Day kev@blackballmedia.co.uk

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Michelle Searle michelle@blackballmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @cardealermich

The rules have always been very simple. Teams buy a banger each for less than £750, theme the cars and passengers – the madder, more outrageous and more embarrassing the better – to raise as much money for Ben as possible, then after the rally sell the car at auction and give all the proceeds to Ben.

The charity has always been one that we here at Car Dealer have been keen to support. Ben’s work has changed in recent years from being a benevolent fund to helping people in the automotive industry when they’ve got nowhere else to turn to – intervention stuff, essentially.

Its assistance is always stretched but has been even more so since the pandemic. In February, the charity’s Matt Wigginton told the Car Dealer Podcast how Ben will take around 14,000 calls for help this year; in 2015, that number was 3,000.

So, while Bangers4Ben is always a laugh, there’s also a serious side to it, and whatever money the teams can raise really does help Ben carry on providing essential support. Find out how to take part on pages 16-17.

As I write this, our Car Dealer Power survey entry period is coming to a close (the official deadline is May 21) and hundreds and hundreds of you have taken the time to fill it out. We really appreciate you doing this because it’ll help you – the dealers – receive better service and assistance from your suppliers and manufacturer partners. I’m looking forward to sharing the results with you soon.

Elsewhere in this issue, John Bowman has a fascinating chat with a real trailblazer in our industry, Rayhanneh Mazinani, and hears all about her vehicle sourcing business, plus – as always – we have all the latest industry news.

I hope you enjoy the issue.

JAMES BATCHELOR Associate editor

The charity has always been one that we here at Car Dealer have been keen to support.

IGNITION.

DASHBOARD FORECOURT BIG MIKE DATA FILE

‘The cost of electric cars is still very high. The range of electric cars is still not good enough.’

‘A Corsa with a diesel engine, no turbo and no power steering? Nah, you’re all right, thanks.’

‘It offers fantastic driver and passenger comfort, and with this stonking M60i powerplant is great fun to drive.’

‘To ensure all drivers can benefit from electric vehicles, we need everyone to bolster consumer confidence.’

PRESSURE MOUNTING ON GOVERNMENT TO DROP ‘UNREALISTIC’ 2030 BAN

• Transport select committee member highlights lack of infrastructure and desire for EVs

• Jacob Rees-Mogg calls the deadline ‘absolute madness’

• Research group says ban will cost every household £14,700

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

MPs are adding their voice to rising criticism of the 2030 ban on sales of new cars with petrol and diesel engines.

It follows car industry leaders voicing concerns at our inaugural Live conference in March that the targets aren’t achievable.

There are doubts about sufficient charging infrastructure, and MPs are saying the move to total EV – hybrids are set to be banned in 2035 – is ‘unrealistic’, bearing in mind the cost of the vehicles, the squeeze on household budgets and rising energy costs.

Auto Trader also says interest in new EVs has dropped by nearly two-thirds since the beginning of 2022.

Tory MP and transport select committee member Karl McCartney was quoted online in The Times on April 28 as saying the ban wasn’t ‘realistic’ and that the government ‘shouldn’t force people to do things that really don’t wash’.

He commented: ‘The use of EVs will spread to urban areas but once you get outside the big cities, the situation is very different. There isn’t the infrastructure or the desire.’

The ban was announced in 2020 by then-PM Boris Johnson.

But ex-business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg was quoted in The Times as saying: ‘It’s absolute madness. We are not ready. The petrol engine is an extremely efficient way of providing transport.

‘The charging infrastructure just isn’t there. The cost of electric cars is still very high. The range of electric cars is still not good enough.’

Meanwhile, a report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research queried the benefits of regulation, said The Times.

According to the report, which was commissioned by pro-petrol lobby group Fair Fuel UK, as EVs become more popular and ICE cars become more fuel-efficient there will be ‘significant’ drops in carbon emissions even if there isn’t a ban.

It also says the ban will cost every household £14,700.

The government has set a target of 300,000 public chargepoints to be in place by 2030.

At the beginning of this year, there were just over 37,000, which means only 106,000 will be in place by 2030 if the current rate of installation is maintained.

Vertu Motors CEO Robert Forrester has said he doesn’t believe the 2030 target is achievable.

‘The ban on ICE vehicles in the UK in 2030 will have to move back five or 10 years,’ he tweeted. ‘It is a question of when, not if.’

He spoke out days after industry leaders at our conference voiced their concerns.

Paul Hendy, the boss of Hendy Group, said the ban was a ‘train hurtling towards us down the tracks’ and one that would take some force to stop.

‘Quite frankly, the infrastructure won’t be there. It might be in some cities, but I can’t see it. But who is going to be brave enough to stop it?’

The charging infrastructure just isn’t there. The cost of electric cars is still very high. The range of electric cars is still not good enough.

Jacob Rees-Mogg

Snows Motor Group chief operating officer Neil McCue told the conference he simply ‘can’t see’ the government sticking to its 2030 timescale.

He said: ‘The city where I live, I look at flats and terraced houses – how are people going to charge? Some businesses have chargers but there’s not enough. I don’t see how it is going to work.

‘We are investing millions in infrastructure in our sites and I just don’t see how it is going to work. We’re a mile away from the government’s target.’

Hugh Bladon, of the Alliance of British Drivers, was quoted in The Times as saying: ‘The infrastructure isn’t there and yet the ban is seven years away.’

Car Quay boss Jamie Caple told Car Dealer Live delegates that he’d been planning to step up his company’s used EV offering before the pandemic but ‘crazy’ changes in the market had forced him to rethink things because real ‘uncertainty’ around the used EV market.

‘To see what’s happened is crazy,’ said Caple.

‘I really empathise with new car franchise guys because they’re having to put in all this infrastructure and money and then you’ve got all these cars coming in when there must be a real level of uncertainty about the future of it.’

At least 22 per cent of the cars that manufacturers sell next year will have to be electric or they could be fined up to £15,000 per car they miss their target by, under a new mandate.

The percentage of mandated zero-emission vehicle sales will continue to rise – to 80 per cent in 2030 and all sales in 2035.

INDUSTRY LEADERS’ THOUGHTS

The city where I live, I look at flats and terraced houses – how are people going to charge?

Quite frankly, the infrastructure won’t be there. It might be in some cities, but I can’t see it.’

The ban on ICE vehicles in the UK in 2030 will have to move back five or 10 years.

Neil McCue

Snows Motor Group chief operating

officer

Paul

Hendy Boss of Hendy Group

Robert Forrester Vertu Motors CEO

Click here to watch Car dealers on whether 2030 petrol and diesel ban will remain on track

The ban was announced in 2020 by then-PM Boris Johnson

CONFERENCE

Motor trade titans Peter Vardy and Peter Waddell to headline Car Dealer Live 2024

Car dealer giants Peter Vardy and Peter Waddell will be the headline guests at our next Car Dealer Live conference.

The pair will headline our special event – sponsored by Auto Trader – on March 7, 2024 by taking part in two separate keynote interviews.

Vardy is a franchised and used car specialist who represents brands including Porsche, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover and has also made impressive inroads with his used ‘Carz’ brand.

Waddell is best known for his successful Big Motoring World used car supermarket group, which was due to open its sixth site – in Wimbledon – on May 1.

Vardy and Waddell will feature in two keynote interviews where they will individually share the secrets to their success and very different ways of doing business.

Early bird tickets to the event at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon are available until June 30, 2023, when they will go up to full price. Tickets can be booked on the dedicated Car Dealer Live website.

The motor trade titans will join a host of leading figures at the special event next year.

Other leading car dealers on the panel sessions will include luxury car salesman Tom Hartley, along with H.R. Owen chief technical officer Brett Ward, talking about the ultrahigh-end world of selling supercars.

Swansway director Peter Smyth and Wessex Garages MD Chris Wiseman are also both confirmed to appear on the franchised dealer panel.

Joining the independent car dealer panel will be Alex Jones, chief operating officer of used car supermarket Carbase, with more panellists to be announced soon.

Nigel Hurley, CEO of CarShop, who appeared at this year’s event, said: ‘Car Dealer Live was informative, professionally organised and varied in content.

‘I will certainly be making next year’s event a date in the diary to attend.’

Other guests will be added to all of the panel sessions throughout 2023, including the names of the car manufacturer bosses appearing at the event.

To book tickets, click here or visit

TESTIMONIALS

The panel of experts gave honest and clear feedback on how they saw the challenges and opportunities that we are dealing with right now and what’s coming down the track at us.

Nigel Hurley CEO, CarShop

An excellent opportunity to network and catch up with colleagues from across the business.

Chris Wiseman Managing director Wessex Garages

The day was well structured and broken into bite-sized chunks. Highly recommended.

Jamie Caple Founder, Car Quay

Car Dealer founder James Baggott addresses delegates at this year’s event

EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH AGENDA IN FULL

09:00

Vardy and Waddell will feature in two keynote interviews where they will individually share the secrets to their success and very different ways of doing business.

LUXURY DEALER PANEL

What’s it like dealing with prestige metal and the discerning customers that it attracts? Our panel of specialist dealers reveal all and offer insights into how the luxury end of the market operates.

FRANCHISED DEALER PANEL

FULL LINE-UP TO BE ANNOUNCED. Franchised dealers regularly find themselves at the bleeding edge of new manufacturer initiatives and that’s not likely to change in 2024. Our experienced panel will share their insights into the technological and regulatory changes coming our way in the years ahead.

INDEPENDENT DEALER PANEL

FULL LINE-UP TO BE ANNOUNCED. Independent dealers don’t often have an easy life. With recent challenges such as vehicle electrification, volatile prices and a shortage of stock, our panel will discuss how to remain profitable and relevant in an ever-changing automotive landscape.

MANUFACTURER PANEL

FULL LINE-UP TO BE ANNOUNCED. While agency sales are a hot topic in the new car world, what do car manufacturers have in store for used car buyers? Our panel from across various automotive brands will tackle the burning issues for used car sales in 2024.

Car Dealer Live’s headline sponsor will deliver exclusive insight into its unique data of the used car market. Full details of the research that it’ll be presenting will be announced ahead of the conference.

Arrivals and coffee

09:30

Welcome in auditorium from Car Dealer editor-in-chief

James Baggott

09:35

Keynote interview – Peter Vardy

10:00

Franchised dealer panel –sponsored by ATG

10:30

Auto Trader research session

Car Dealer Live partner Cox Automotive impressed our audience in 2023 and will be back again to deliver more exclusive research in 2024. Full details of its presentation will be announced ahead of the conference.

11:00

Coffee break and networking

11:30

Cox Automotive research session

12:00

Car manufacturer panel –sponsored by Cox Automotive

12:30

ATG research session

13:00

A new partner for our 2024 event, Automotive Transformation Group will be researching the very latest trends in omnichannel retailing and delivering its exclusive data at the event. Full details of the research that it’ll be presenting will be announced ahead of the conference next March.

Lunch

13:45

Keynote interview – Peter Waddell

14:15

Partner research session

14:45

Luxury car dealer panel –sponsored by fourth partner

15:15

Coffee break and networking

15:30

The world’s largest search engine will once again be a partner of Car Dealer Live, where it will share its unique data on how car buyers are searching for their next vehicle.

Independent dealer panel –sponsored by Auto Trader 16:00

Google keynote interview

16:30

Event closes

DONATION MADE TO CHARITY BEN

CAR DEALER donated 10 per cent of the ticket sales from Car Dealer Live 2023 to the automotive industry charity Ben and will be doing the same again next year.

Matt Wigginton, Ben director of partnerships, said: ‘The donation for every ticket booked to the excellent Car Dealer Live event comes at a time when someone from our industry calls Ben every 15 minutes. We couldn’t help those people without vital support such as this from Car Dealer Live. On behalf of everyone who will benefit from the donation, thank you.’

EVENT PARTNERS

Alex Jones COO, CarBase

Tom Hartley Director, Tom Hartley Cars

Peter Smyth Director, Swansway

Brett Ward CTO, H.R. Owen

Chris Wiseman MD, Wessex Garages

Peter Vardy CEO, Peter Vardy Group

Peter Waddell CEO, Big Motoring World

‘WINNING A CAR DEALER POWER TROPHY MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE’

• Top Warrantywise exec tells of special place that award has in company’s heart

• It validates that we’re getting things right for dealers, says Rachael Taylor

• The top car manufacturers and suppliers will be revealed in June

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

Winning a Car Dealer Power award shows that suppliers are getting things absolutely right for dealers.

That’s according to Warrantywise – and the firm certainly knows what it’s talking about because it’s scooped the Warranty Provider of the Year trophy, as voted for by dealers, three years running!

It won the title in 2020, 2021 and 2022 – and Warrantywise is going all out to make it a fab four this year.

Dealer sales director Rachael Taylor told us: ‘We’re absolutely entering again!

‘The Car Dealer Power award holds a special place in our hearts, and we believe it has tremendous value in the industry.’

She said: ‘We are beyond grateful to have won the Car Dealer Power Warranty Provider of the Year award for three years in a row!

‘It’s a huge honour, and we want to give a big shout-out to our incredible dealer network for their support.

‘We’re so proud of this accomplishment, but we’re not resting on our laurels. We’ve been investing in our team and our services to make sure we’re always providing the best possible experience for our customers.

‘Our Activate Partner Program and WiseUp Reward scheme have been a blast to launch, and we’re thrilled to see dealers getting rewarded for their hard work.

‘We know there’s stiff competition out there, which is why we’re very grateful for the recognition we’ve received so far.’

She also said why Car Dealer Power is so important within the industry.

‘Participating in Car Dealer Power is incredibly important for us. The awards are widely recognised as a symbol of excellence and represent the highest standards of professionalism and best practice in the industry.

‘Winning the award validates that we’re doing the right things for our dealer network, and it gives us confidence that we’re on the right track.

‘From a dealer’s perspective, they can feel confident knowing that they’re working with a partner who truly understands their needs and is committed to providing exceptional service.

‘Overall, participating in Car Dealer Power is a great opportunity for us to showcase our dedication to the industry and our ongoing efforts to improve our services for our customers.’

Taylor expanded on the fact that Warrantywise was hoping to add to its trophy cabinet

Click here now to have your say in the Car Dealer Power 2023 survey

The Range Rover was Car of the Year in 2022, with the Nissan Ariya and Dacia Jogger runner-up and highly commended respectively.

The awards are widely recognised as a symbol of excellence

Rachael Taylor

Warrantywise dealer sales director

this year, saying: ‘The competition is fierce of course, but we’re up for the challenge.

‘Winning again would be a dream come true, but we know it’s not just about the accolades.

‘It’s also about continuing to improve our services and providing the best possible experience for our customers. So, fingers crossed and let’s see what happens!’

The deadline for completing our awards survey is Sunday, May 21, giving dealers the ultimate chance to have their say and rate the suppliers they do business with, as well as the car manufacturers they represent.

What’s more, it’s all done anonymously, so you can tell it just how it is! Yes, dealers really can say what they think, as only the scores published on our website and in the magazine are shared with the manufacturers.

Brought forward this year to be presented in early summer – like we used to do before the pandemic – these are the only awards voted for by those who matter the most: you, the car dealers.

We use your marks in 13 categories to determine an overall score for each manufacturer and rank them from the best to the worst to represent.

You can rate everything from your manufacturer’s marketing to the requirements that it puts on you as a franchisee.

Last year, Kia won it for the third year running, narrowly beating sister firm Hyundai, which was second, while Suzuki came third. Can Kia manage it for the fourth year in a row? Only YOU can decide! Any car dealer can vote in the Car Dealer Power awards and independents can skip straight to naming the best suppliers to do business with.

As well as the best manufacturers to represent and the best suppliers to partner with, Car Dealer Power also names the Car of the Year, as voted for by Car Dealer’s readers.

The winners will be revealed in a special video to be broadcast on June 28.

SUPPLIERS

• Cleaning Product

• Recruitment Agency

• Stock Acquisition – for providers who help dealers source stock via trade-to-trade or consumer-to-trade channels online

• Auction House – firms that have either a physical or online presence, or both

• Used Car Valuations

• Consumer Lead Generation

• Dealer Management System

• Website Provider for Independent Dealers

• Website Provider for Franchised Dealers

• Provenance Checks

• Warranties

• Paint Protection

• Trade Insurance

• Online Advertiser for New Cars

• Online Advertiser for Used Cars

• Finance (Sub-Prime)

• Finance (Prime)

• Personalised Video

• Extra Mile Award

• Product Innovation

MANUFACTURERS

• Manufacturer of the Year

• Car of the Year

Voting for this year’s awards closes on Sunday, May 21 so don’t delay!

Warrantywise dealer sales director Rachael Taylor with the company’s three Car Dealer Power trophies

We are beyond grateful to have won the Car Dealer Power Warranty Provider of the Year award for three years in a row!

Rachael Taylor

HOW ONE WOMAN BLAZED A TRAIL IN THE MALE-DOMINATED AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Rayhanneh Mazinani has had a challenging journey to reach success in the motoring trade. Hailed as an inspiring woman, she tells John Bowman how she went from cosmetics to cars while fighting professional adversity.

AWest Yorkshire woman is blazing a trail in the vehicle sourcing sector after a radical change in career path and battling against a male-dominated industry.

Rayhanneh Mazinani started her professional life as a sales manager at Debenhams and then with Benefit Cosmetics after gaining a BSc in economics and management in 2014.

But she soon began to grow dissatisfied with her job – and after a few years working in car sales, where she said she found her gender meant she had more to prove, she founded vehicle sourcing and supply firm Trayd in 2021, which has since enjoyed a turnover of almost £7m.

Talking about her pre-automotive career, she said: ‘Retail is typically quite a demanding sector and it’s very underpaid, so although it was leadership and management roles that I had, they were really, really underpaid.

‘At that point in the job there was no progression, there was no incentive to stay, but I was wanting to carry on moving up.

‘Someone said to me, “Try selling cars – you can make a load of money selling cars”.’

So Mazinani traipsed the length of Gelderd Road in Leeds with her CV in hand, asking every dealership for a job.

She didn’t have a driving licence at that point, but still got a couple of job offers with the proviso that she pass her test – which she did within six weeks. And that was it!

‘I fell in love with the motor trade,’ she said. ‘I found it really tough actually – it’s quite a harsh environment compared to other industries.

‘It’s a lot tougher but it toughened me up, which I’m really, really pleased about – it’s one of the best things that ever happened.’

However, she still found herself struggling to progress – as well as finding she had more to prove being a woman in a male-dominated industry.

‘I was absolutely desperate to progress, chomping at the bit, but it just wasn’t fast enough. If I’d applied for a sales manager job they would look more favourably at a man with 20 years more experience.

‘Time in service is a big thing in the motor trade but it’s not necessarily that important.

‘So from there I decided to set up on my own. I’d always wanted to own my own business but I didn’t have the confidence – my main concerns were will I give up? Am I strong enough?

‘I had no money. I didn’t know if I was ready to do it. I lacked a lot of confidence. So it

Rayhanneh Mazinani Trayd founder

I was absolutely desperate to progress, chomping at the bit, but it just wasn’t fast enough.

Ian Langton, production director at GB Railfreight, and Rayhanneh at GB Railfreight’s head office in Peterborough

tough, but I’d become so unhappy in the job that I was in.

‘I now have a really good relationship with the men that I work with.

‘It was actually harder being a sales exec. It’s harder to compete with a man than it is to work opposite a man.

‘I am generalising here, but in a dealership setting, which is really unique and kind of ancient in some ways, it’s quite hard to compete against a man because you do have more to prove. They think you sell cars because, for example, “Oh he bought that car because he liked you.”

‘They kind of take away any intelligence, any strategy, or any kind of all the other things that make you a good salesperson.

‘That was what it was like. You do have to prove yourself.

‘But now, working with men, I really enjoy it. I work with some really talented, really knowledgeable men, who are really good at what they do. They’re really inspiring, and it inspires me.

‘And I don’t think there are many females who do what I do. I don’t think there are many female suppliers. I don’t know of any. I’m not aware of it. There might be but I’m not aware of them.

‘I don’t want to use that as a USP because it makes no difference if you’re male or female, but it’s quite nice.’

Mazinani wasn’t interested in running her own dealership –vehicle sourcing was where she saw her future.

To help her on her way, she received assistance from business support programme Ad:Venture, which gave her access to a business adviser who offered guidance, practical advice, connections and help in accessing grants – something she found invaluable.

Comparing the vehicle sourcing sector to car sales, she said: ‘I prefer to deal directly with businesses. The process is so much more swift and it’s easy to do.

‘You can still build those relationships, but in terms of time and money you can generate more money within a shorter space of time dealing business to business than dealing with the general public.’

And for Mazinani, it’s definitely more about the business than the cars themselves.

‘The car kind of becomes irrelevant when you’re in this industry – it’s all about the

IT’S

ALL

ABOUT CONFIDENCE, SAYS PIONEER

RAYHANNEH Mazinani has found others inspiring but she in turn is now being described as a ‘pioneer’ and ‘inspiring’. So what advice would she give to others – especially women?

‘My advice would be that you can achieve whatever you want to achieve but you need the confidence. It’s all about the confidence.

‘It can be really intimidating going into a big place and sitting with directors or CEOs or heads of business and standing your ground and being able to confidently tell them what you can deliver and what you do.

‘It does require some confidence, but everybody starts in the same place and there is an opportunity there for anyone who wants it.

‘So it’s really about self-belief, being confident, and feeling like you deserve to have some success in your life and you deserve to have an opportunity as much as anyone else, and that’s really important.

‘I do see a lot of women who

Time in service is a big thing in the motor trade but it’s not necessarily that important.

Rayhanneh at Marshalls Volvo Derby with Qashem Miah, head of business – Volvo, Marshall Motor Group

Rayhanneh Mazinani

selling. It’s about your personal skills, how you deal with people, how you’re sourcing cars, how you make sure you’re buying at the right price, how to sell at a high price, how to add value. And relationships are really important, making sure you deliver on what you promise people.

‘There are a lot of issues that buyers have in the market now. There are so many buying channels: you’ve got traditional auctions, you’ve got private customers, you’ve got partexchanges, you’ve got trade-to-trade buying platforms – there is so much choice.

‘But it’s still quite a complicated job. There are still issues with cars, there are still problems with poorly described vehicles, there are still fees, and also the prices fluctuate continuously. So whenever you find somebody who can supply you with vehicles who you know is reliable, does the job, the cars are as described, they do all the buying process for you, you just pay for it and you trust them, you work well with them, it just makes life so much easier.

‘And that’s kind of how the business has grown and built – those relationships and delivering what you say you’ll deliver in what is quite a complicated market to buy in at the minute. But the good thing was that because I had dealt in the retail side, I know what dealers do when cars come in, I know they have to prep them, they have to put a warranty on them, it has to have a service history, etc.

‘Because I knew all of that, it helped me in this role, because I know what I need to look out for, I know what a dealer will spend on a vehicle once it comes to them.

‘So it was important to know every aspect of the business so that you can meet your customers’ needs properly and that you understand your customer properly.’

She added: ‘It’s a fascinating market. It’s not just a case of supply and demand. There’s so much going on in the used car market. It’s the biggest purchase after a house, and because of my background in economics I do find it genuinely fascinating and am really passionate about it.’

How had she been finding things with the well-documented supply problems because of Covid and the war in Ukraine?

‘What it does is it changes the stock profile, or the kind of stock that dealers are looking for. At the moment, a lot of dealers are doing really well with cars that are that little bit older, say in the three-to-five-year segment, with slightly higher mileage. That’s kind of the sweet spot.

My advice would be that you can achieve whatever you want to achieve but you need the confidence. It’s all about the confidence.

Rayhanneh Mazinani

Rayhanneh Mazinani

The car kind of becomes irrelevant when you’re in this industry – it’s all about the selling.

Rayhanneh has a meeting with Alan Thompson, business engagement executive at West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

Rayhanneh Mazinani has built up a business that has enjoyed a turnover of almost £7m in the two years since she started it

‘So month to month it changes, and it is affected by these things. How many new cars are coming through? What’s available? All these things affect it.

‘And it does change what I look for, because I need to make sure that I can supply them with the cars that they will sell really quickly – that’s really important.

‘But it also changes in the finance as well – interest rates, that has an impact on the kinds of cars people are buying, what price range, what age, so again that has an effect on what the retailers are selling, which will have an impact on what I need to supply them with.

‘Because the cost of borrowing is much higher than it has been, it’s changing the kind of cars people are buying, especially with the cost-of-living crisis.

‘So they might be going for cars that are less expensive because their monthly payments have skyrocketed.

‘And because dealers are maybe selling more of the older vehicles or the cheaper vehicles, then the knock-on effect of that is that I need to sell them vehicles that are within that kind of range: a little bit older and a little bit cheaper – interest rates, supply, demand; they all have an impact.’

She’s especially found that when it comes to electric cars. ‘All of a sudden, no dealer wants to buy an electric car, so then I no longer buy an electric car, so it all kind of filters through, and it is really interesting.’

Mazinani added ‘A lot of people supply cars, but to be really good at what you do and to really make an impact and deliver and build a business, you have to have that passion and understanding of the industry.

‘And when you have that knowledge or that understanding, people definitely want to buy from you, or buy from you even more, because there’s that confidence there that you understand what you’re selling and why you’re selling it, and I think that’s really important.

‘if you know how to buy a car and you’ve got your buyer there, you can make a good profit on a vehicle if you know what you’re doing and you can do it quickly. If you can do it without fuss and if you know what you’re doing, you can make a lot of money without having to work for anyone else.

‘But I think first of all it’s understanding how complicated it is for your dealer group to buy cars – it is quite a difficult process still, so if you make it easy for people to buy from you then that in itself is a big incentive.’

HOW LINKEDIN PLAYED PART IN SUCCESS

HER website is currently being built, but Mazinani can be contacted via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ rayhanneh/.

She is full of praise for the platform. ‘The whole business to start with has been built on the LinkedIn platform, which sounds a little bit crazy, but LinkedIn is such a powerful tool for businesses.

‘It’s so underrated, but it gives you the power to talk to people that you want to talk to without being there but be really specific.

‘As a platform, it has such huge potential, especially in the motor trade, because although there are thousands of people in it, everyone knows everyone, so it’s really important to be a part of it.

‘I live in Leeds but I work all over the country – Scotland down to London, Portsmouth, everywhere.

‘Large plcs down to small independents, it doesn’t matter –the common denominator is they all need good stock, whether that be cars or vans, and I also do a little bit with private companies, supplying them with vehicles.

‘As a starting point, LinkedIn was fantastic. It was everything. It’s built my business for me, and now I can do all the other things.’

Looking ahead, Mazinani wants to expand Trayd even further – ‘but not too big because I want to maintain the quality’ – while in the short term she is seeking more sources of stock.

‘But ultimately, I think I would like to do a little bit of consultancy at some point, and maybe a little bit of public speaking is something that I’d like to be good at. But that is way, way, way ahead! I can dream, anyway!’ she laughed.

Because of my background in economics I do find it genuinely fascinating and am really passionate about it.’ Rayhanneh Mazinani

BANGERS4BEN 2023 CHARITY RALLY SETS COURSE FOR IRELAND

• Fun rally will be taking in gorgeous landscapes of the Emerald Isle

• Organiser Automotion Events hopes to raise £50,000 for industry charity Ben

• Would-be participants urged to sign up quickly as just 45 places are available

Car dealers taking part in this year’s Bangers4Ben rally will definitely be hoping for the luck of the Irish!

That’s because the location for this year’s event is the Emerald Isle itself.

Previous rallies have had themes such as James Bond, the best of British, and cheese and wine, but for 2023 it’s all about Ireland, as dealers look to raise as much money as possible for the automotive industry charity while having some fun into the bargain.

The madcap rally is taking place from Saturday, October 7 to Tuesday, October 10 and some 1,500 miles will be covered over the four days.

It’ll take in gorgeous Irish landscapes, including the Wicklow Mountains, Sally Gap, Waterford Copper Coast, the Ring of Kerry, plus the Wild Atlantic Way.

Organiser Automotion Events is aiming to raise £50,000, and CEO Andy Entwistle told Car Dealer: ’We’ve been asked to do this one for years. It could be the friendliest Bangers4Ben ever with the famous Irish hospitality!

‘We’re always looking to mix things up rather than just head back to the old favourites, and we think that this could be one of the most amazing drives we’ve ever undertaken.’

All the cars will be auctioned later at BCA Blackbushe to raise even more money for Ben.

There’ll be prizes for the best-themed car, best fancy dress, highest fundraiser, best tweet and most profit at auction.

Commenting on the attraction of Bangers4Ben, Entwistle said: ’Aside from the great work we do for Ben, the friendships and camaraderie make this event something special.

‘Lifelong friendships are made, work stress is left behind for a few days, and you get the challenges of taking a banger round but knowing you have a group behind you that won’t let you fail!’

As far as what rally-goers can expect from this particular trip, he said: ’More of the same fun and silliness! I’ve already seen a couple of the cars and they are epic.

‘But it’ll be a gentler journey than if we’d been hooping down through Europe. We’ll be covering fewer miles but on more scenic routes than normal, and taking in the best of Irish hospitality.’

Dealers are being urged to book quickly as places are strictly limited to 45 cars this year and filling up.

We’re always looking to mix things up rather than just head back to the old favourites, and we think that this could be one of the most amazing drives we’ve ever undertaken.’

Andy Entwistle Chief executive of Automotion Events

All pictures are from last year’s Bangers4Ben when the rally had a James Bond theme

• Pay the entry fee of £1,050 plus VAT per car with driver and co-driver

• Buy a car for less than £750

• Theme, paint or decal your car however you like up to the cost of £750

• Raise as much as you can for Ben

• Choose your fancy dress

• Having completed the rally, donate your car to sell at auction to raise more money for Ben The non-refundable entry fee covers twin accommodation, breakfast, evening meal and AA roadside assistance.

DAY 1

Saturday, October 7

Meet in Holyhead and board the ferry to cross the Irish Sea to Dublin. Then hit the winding roads of the Wicklow Mountains to the town of Wicklow and join the coastal road to an overnight stop in Waterford – home of the famous crystal glassware.

DAY 2

Sunday, October 8

After a hearty breakfast, rejoin the coastal road and head towards Kinsale and the famous Ring of Kerry. This drive has it all –the Atlantic Ocean views, islands in the distance, mountain villages plus fabulous, quirky places to stop at for a bite to eat and drink. Today’s overnight stay is in the town of Killarney on the shores of Lough Leane.

DAY 3

Monday, October 9

This is the longest day on the road. From Killarney, head up to Limerick and on to Doolin to join the Wild Atlantic Way up to Galway. It’s then on to Dublin for the final overnight stop – and perhaps a Guinness or two!

DAY 4

Tuesday, October 10

A morning to explore the city of Dublin – named the friendliest European city on TripAdvisor – or have a lie-in after the long drive the day before. Board the ferry back to Blighty at lunchtime.

Andy Entwistle

We’ll be covering fewer miles but on more scenic routes than normal, and taking in the best of Irish hospitality.

RALLY RULES ARE REALLY SIMPLE

Cyberster could well be a centenary sizzler for modern-day MG

MG has come good on a promise that I thought it would never stick to. It has built a sports car and it’ll be arriving here next year. Before we chew over the finer details of the new Cyberster pureelectric two-seater, just let this sink in: MG is on the cusp of beating the likes of Porsche and Alpine on creating the first proper follow-up to the Tesla Roadster that launched more than 10 years ago.

It’s all coming at the right time, just as if it had been planned this way. There is much debate on exactly when Cecil Kimber founded ‘Morris Garages’ – was it 1923? Or was it 1924? No-one really knows for definite and the internet is awash with threads from angry MG car clubs and owners all disagreeing with each other. MG Motor has decided to cover all bases, for there will be a year of centenary celebrations in 2023 and 2024, and the Cyberster is the rabbit in MG’s hat – it’s effectively an object lesson in MG saying to the world ‘We recognise our history’.

It’s a relief because, let’s face it, the modern MG hasn’t felt like ‘proper’ MG for a very long time. I’m not talking about men on strike standing around braziers or archaic leaky roadsters, but cars that were sporting in some sort of way. Since SAIC has been in charge, there has been a string of low-price and humdrum hatchbacks and crossovers that have sold well, but nothing exciting. Hell, even Austin Rover put red seatbelts in the MG Montego.

MG was the fastest-growing brand in the UK for the first nine months of 2022 on account of its value-for-money electric cars, so it’s doing nicely in its homeland. The modern-day MG owner seems perfectly content in owning a car that’s a far cry from what the brand was known for half a century ago. So, it raises the question why build a sports car?

That question gains further weight when you consider the Cyberster’s, erm, weight. MG’s last sports car was the TF LE500 – a rehashed version of the old MG Rover-era TF. While it wasn’t cheap (they were being knocked out with a £16,400 RRP), it was light at just over 1,100kg and kept fairly true to the classic British sports car genre.

The Cyberster doesn’t. It might have two seats and a fabric roof, but its electric powertrain means this is one lardy way to have the wind buzzing around your tweed cap. The entry-level, single motor car with 309bhp will weigh around 1,850kg; go for the four-wheel-drive version with a stonking 536bhp and you’re looking at a sports car that weighs nearly two tonnes.

It isn’t small either. Far from being a Mazda MX-5 rival, the Cyberster is more BMW Z4 in proportions – and price for that matter. I reckon it won’t kick off for anything less than £50,000. An MGB replacement it certainly ain’t – and the Cyberster name is silly.

Does all of this really matter? While I yearn for a front-engined, rear-wheeldrive back-to-basics MG sports car, the reality is that’s not where the future lies. Yes, the Cyberster is more of a luxurious GT than a dainty roadster, but that’s a consequence of current battery technology. It’ll serve to pepper MG’s future range of cars with a sprinkling of sporting glamour, just like MG has done since 1923 (or was it 1924?).

On a rational level, it’ll set SAIC and MG apart from the other Chinese brands hitting the UK, and on an emotional one, it could pivot MG back to being a maker of sporting, performance cars. The Cyberster might well be a momentous thing.

Its electric powertrain means this is one lardy way to have the wind buzzing around your tweed cap.

Big Mike

COMMENT

Ups and downs of those first cars through the auction block

I’m sure like most of you lot, I tend to spend a lot less time at physical car auctions than I used to – online sales having pretty much taken over from the live halls for quite a lot of general sales. In many ways, though, I miss the excitement and the anticipation of the old-school auction – a situation that was always part of the thrill of the chase.

For example, the first car through. Everyone in the trade knew not to buy the first vehicle through the block on sale night. It was there for two reasons: one, to filter out the excitable private buyer who was ready to bid on the first bargain he could get his hands on, and two, it was often in a condition that – put simply – rhymed with ‘ducked’.

Quite often, it was one of ‘our’ cars – we’ve all made mistakes and bought absolute dogs through the block, and the easiest way to rid yourselves of them was to simply throw them back into the ring. The auction houses knew they were trade cast-offs, and as a result they were often the first three or four lots, sold as ‘general trade sales’ rather than from a named source, and picked up by private punters who not only were unaware what heartache awaited them, but would also probably never set foot in the auction hall again.

OUR MAN ON THE INSIDE SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON THE CAR BUSINESS

Who is Big Mike?

Well, that would be telling. What we can say is he’s had more than 40 years in the car trade so has probably forgotten more about it than we’re likely to know.

Occasionally, though, there was the odd bargain to be had. Twenty years ago, I picked up a 1995 Ford Probe that was the first car through, breaking my own rules. It was ‘privately owned and entered’ rather than a general trade sale, and was simply a punter not wanting the hassle of selling their car to the public. In many ways, I can’t say I blame them – after all, our job would be so much easier without the general public to have to contend with, along with their peculiar ways and often inflated expectations.

But I digress. That one was a real gem, and having poked all around it prior to the sale I bought it confidently for £800 and sold it three weeks later for £3,495. Not a bad return.

I was reminded of it just recently, as once again I found myself drawn to the first car through at a sale with one of the big names. It wasn’t my normal cup of tea – a 23-year-old Vauxhall Corsa that, with the best will in the world, was an utterly miserable specification. It was part of a bulk sale from

I bought it confidently for £800 and sold it three weeks later for £3,495. Not a bad return.

A Corsa with a diesel engine, no turbo and no power steering?

Nah, you’re all right, thanks.

a company that buys any car (no prizes for guessing which one) and was teed up to be first through the block on a Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.

The car in question was a solid white, five-door 1.7D Envoy. If you know your Vauxhalls, you’ll know that translates to a spec so miserly that the only three instruments are a speedometer, fuel gauge and temperature gauge, and that you could show off your fondness for a normally aspirated diesel chugger by impressing your neighbours with your painted steel wheels. Grim doesn’t even begin to describe it.

So why on earth was I – a seasoned trader – drawn to such a miserable expression of turn-of-the-century supermini ownership?

Well, for one simple reason: despite being 23 years old, the Corsa had covered a genuine 9,405 miles from new – the kind of mileage most people bash out in less than a year. Either they rarely had need of or use for a car, or the previous owner realised the misery of it very early on and could barely bring themselves to drive it.

Looking back through the old MOT history, the car had covered 600 miles in its busiest year, and in the past four had done fewer than 100. It was as close to a brand-new Corsa as you’re ever going to find, and with the rise in popularity of events such as Festival of the Unexceptional, and a whole cult following for distinctly average retro cars rising on the back of it, I figured I could buy it for a few hundred quid and pop it off the forecourt for the better part of five grand for someone to take along and win the coveted Concours de l’Ordinaire in the summer.

I also worked out that with an average of 61mpg, the thing had probably only visited a petrol station around 20 times in its entire life, whereas I tend to go that many times in a week. Whoever owned it had clearly never experienced the joys of a Ginsters Buffet Bar for their lunch, and in my view they’ve missed out on years of pork and eggy goodness. But then, perhaps that’s why I get called Big Mike…

Anyway, I didn’t buy it. It sold for £2,050 in the end, which with fees and delivery would have been two and a half grand. Too much of a risk for a car that, if I’d ended up stuck with it, I’d have had to use. I’ll do that all day with an unloved luxury barge, but a Corsa with a diesel engine, no turbo and no power steering? Nah, you’re all right, thanks. There’s a reason nobody wanted to drive it very far, after all.

Either they rarely had need of or use for a car, or the previous owner realised the misery of it very early on.

Deception can only lead to heartache – and not just when it comes to cars M

ost people never forget their first day selling cars and I’m no exception. What made my day more memorable, though, wasn’t the fact that whereas most salespeople claim that they managed to sell a car (I didn’t) or that while sitting in a queue for the McDonald’s drive-through in a Saab convertible they got their white shirt ruined by a gigantic seagull plop (as happened to another). No, as a singleton at the time, it was a piece of advice bestowed on me by the sales manager that I still remember to this day.

‘See Gary over there? He’s been divorced,’ he said. ‘Nigel, divorced. Me, divorced twice. If I were you, I’d set up a direct debit with the Child Support Agency so that when you finally meet someone, have kids and then inevitably get divorced, you won’t miss the money.’

It must have resonated with me, as for the next decade I threw myself into my career and had no meaningful romantic relationship of any consequence. However, as I approached my mid-30s, I started to explore the – at the time – new world of internet dating.

I found the whole process inspirational from a creative perspective. There was one problem though, and those familiar with the story of Cyrano de Bergerac will understand that the phenomenon isn’t confined to the internet age. The more I wrote before the actual meeting, the bigger the divide between the perception of who I was and the reality. This didn’t mean I was being deceitful, just that the idea of me was in most cases better than the actual me.

The best example of this was with a girl called Kate (not her real name, although I can’t actually remember her name so it could have been).

Kate and I had mailed back and forth frantically in the week leading up to our date. Among the many diverse topics we discussed were what we had in our lunchboxes as children. My favourites were Viscounts and her favourites were Breakaways. Being the thoughtful, romantic type that I am, I thought it’d be funny to bring some Viscounts along as a gift. As I emerged from the car and our eyes locked across the municipal car park of this once-great seaside resort of Teignmouth, I could tell I wasn’t what she was hoping for; the sigh heard round the world if you will.

Not one to give up, I raced round to the back of my doom-blue Skoda Octavia with wheel trims* and revealed the Viscounts. This was the worst power move ever played by a gaming character; like trying to beat the endof-level boss with a Mini Milk.

We walked along the seafront and she said she needed to visit the toilet. ‘Don’t try and escape through the window,’ I called out, my withering comedic sensibility dying on the promenade. Kate did come back, but only as her large backside wouldn’t fit through the window (honestly, I’m not still bitter about it at all) and we endured a painful half-hour while we made petty small talk over a flat lemonade. Kate then looked up and said ‘This isn’t working for me, I’m going to go’, at which point Cupid picked up his arrows and realised he’d fired a stick of Breakaway instead.

I’m not sure what is more sad: my story, or the fact that some used car dealer photography made me reopen these old wounds. Listen, dear dealers: halo lighting and Photoshopping images of your 100k Mercedes is only going to lead to disappointment, trust me…

CASTING AN EXPERIENCED EYE ON THE WIDE AND CHALLENGING WORLD OF MOTOR SALES

James Litton is an automotive retail consultant who always has something to say about the industry he loves.

Not one to give up, I raced round to the back of my doom-blue Skoda Octavia with wheel trims and revealed the Viscounts.

*I picked up the woman who would later become my wife in a three-month-old Mercedes SL500, so lessons were learnt

McLAREN

750S supercar brings added performance

MCLAREN has unveiled a replacement for the 720S supercar – the 750S.

It’s the lightest and most powerful series-production McLaren, with a greater focus on driving fun than before.

Things are centred around the same 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine as you’d find in the 720S, but power has been increased by 22bhp to 740bhp while total torque rises by 30Nm to 800Nm.

As a result, 0-60mph will take just 2.7 seconds in both coupe and Spider versions, while both models will manage a top speed of 206mph. In fact, the coupe will race from zero to 124mph in just 7.2 seconds.

RENAULT

Updated Clio has full hybrid technology

CAR NEWS ROUND-UP

GENESIS

Sleek GV80 Coupe concept displayed

RENAULT’S updated Clio has arrived with a more dynamiclooking exterior and cleanrunning hybrid technology.

It will only be available with a full hybrid powertrain. With 143bhp, the setup combines a 1.6 petrol engine with an electric motor, with the latter being used when the car starts or during lowspeed driving. Renault says the electric motor can be used for up to 80 per cent of city driving, too.

CO2 emissions start from 93g/km. The exterior has new ‘signature lighting’ while Techno and Esprit Alpine spec also come with an ‘airfoil’ in the front grille.

GENESIS has shown off a concept version of a potential GV80 coupe SUV.

The Korean premium brand revealed the concept model at the ‘Genesis House’ in New York – a building dedicated to the brand – ahead of a full debut at the New York Auto Show, which took place between April 7 and April 16.

It’s a sleeker take on Genesis’s current rangetopping SUV model and shows that the brand is eyeing up introducing sportier models in the future.

Manufacturers have been refining their models and producing new ones. We look at some of the results...

Click to watch the new McLaren 750S video

Budget variant joins T-Cross range

#1 will be priced from £35,950

THE new Smart #1 will cost from £35,950 when it arrives in the UK this summer.

The electric SUV – whose name is pronounced ‘hashtag one’ – incorporates a 66kWh battery that enables a claimed range of up to 273 miles, while the 150kW charging capability means a 10 to 80 per cent top-up can be achieved in less than half an hour.

It’ll also be the first car available through Smart’s new direct-to-customer service as well as its nationwide dealer network, giving people both options to buy.

VOLKSWAGEN has strengthened the appeal of its T-Cross compact SUV with a value-orientated trim level.

Move-spec cars get £650-worth of extra features for a £250 premium over the SE version they replace. For example, all models get 16inch alloy wheels as standard and chrome-trimmed bumpers.

Parking sensors are included at this level, added to with twin reading lights, a centre console with gloss black frame and aluminiumeffect pedal covers.

2008 is given fresh design and upgraded technology

PEUGEOT has redesigned its 2008 SUV, bringing in a new exterior look and upgraded in-car systems.

The 2008 was launched at the end of 2019 and has now been updated ahead of its on-sale date this summer.

The exterior has a new wider front end, while a ‘light signature’ first used on the 508 has been integrated. Around the back, the rear lights have been sharpened, too.

Inside is a new design for the 10-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10-inch infotainment screen is now standard.

Defender

range broadened with new spec and engine

THE Defender line-up has been expanded with the introduction of new trim levels and engine.

Central to the additions is the Defender 130 Outbound. Only available with five seats, it’s been designed for adventures and is priced from £80,390.

Thanks to the removal of the rear seats, there’s up to 2,516 litres of storage space. There are also 20-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, while 22-inch versions can be added as an extra.

It’s also gained a new engine in the form of a 5.0-litre supercharged V8, taking it to 60mph in 5.4 seconds.

Next-generation Kona will be bigger

Second car revealed in UK market assault

HYUNDAI says its new secondgeneration Kona crossover will cost from £25,725.

It’s longer, wider and taller, and packed with a range of new technology, including dual 12.3-inch screens and a digital key that lets a smartphone lock and unlock it.

As before, the Kona will be available with a broad choice of powertrains. An electric Kona is on the way, bringing a claimed range of 300 miles, but it’s initially launching with a choice of petrol engines and a hybrid setup.

electric car brand GWM Ora has revealed the second model in its assault on the UK market.

The new car – revealed for the first time in the UK at the Fully Charged Live show in Farnborough – is a D-segment electric saloon to rival the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai’s recently launched Ioniq 6.

It’ll sit above the Volkswagen ID.3-sized Funky Cat that went on sale late last year and will be available from dealers early in 2024. No prices have been given yet.

CHINESE

HYUNDAI

PEUGEOT

LAND ROVER

Click to watch the new Peugeot 2008 video

ACCOLADE

Sytner UK boss is ‘outstanding’

HERE ARE TASTERS OF STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

NEWS DIGEST

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY

SYTNER UK boss Darren Edwards has been named one of the country’s Outstanding Leaders by Autocar.

The boss of the second most profitable car dealer group, according to the Car Dealer Top 100, was handed the title in a ceremony that honoured leading motor industry professionals.

Autocar said that Edwards – who has led Sytner for nine years after starting with the firm in 2004 – generated revenue of £6.8bn in 2022 from its 150 franchises.

WELCOME

Martyn returns as Holden Group MD

Eden Motor Group celebrates staff excellence with inaugural awards after nominations by colleagues

EDEN Motor Group has honoured staff members who go above and beyond.

A total of 21 winners across multiple categories were nominated by their colleagues for the inaugural Excellence Awards in roles from aftersales advisers to sales executives and across all age groups.

Eden CEO Graeme Potts, seen here on the right with some of the winners, said: ‘These awards recognise excellence at the very top level across our company. I hope that our partners, their family and friends are very proud of the recipients of the awards, who represent all of the family-led values we strive for.’

TRANSFORMATION CELEBRATION

Swansway spends £400k on refurb

HOLDEN Group has welcomed back Martyn Webb as its MD for its showrooms in Norwich and the surrounding areas in Norfolk.

Group chairman Tim Holden, pictured left with Webb, said: ‘It was important to me to find the right fit for our business and to maintain our strong family and professional values.’

Webb began his automotive career with Holden Group in 1997 as a sales executive, staying for 10 years. Since then, he has worked for Sytner, LSH Auto and Mercedes-Benz Retail Group.

SWANSWAY Motor Group has completed an extensive refurb of its Cupra Crewe dealership following a six-figure investment.

The dealer group spent £400,000 transforming it into a state-of-the-art retail space. The decision was made after the dealership was one of 56 to switch from being Seat-focused to place more emphasis on Cupra.

Pictured are Swansway director David Smyth, left, with Cupra Crewe head of business Sam Booth

Citroen honours top UK dealers for 2022

HOWARDS Taunton has been named Citroen’s top UK retailer for 2022.

It capped a glittering night for the Somerset dealership as it was also presented with the trophy for Large Retailer League.

The Cube (Citroen United By Excellence) retailer awards recognised the best-performing dealers across various categories, as well as the top sales executives and retailers who had improved the most over the past 12 months.

CEREMONY

MG has come good on a promise that I thought it would never stick to. It has built a sports car and it’ll be arriving here next year.

James Batchelor p19

EXCLUSIVE WARNING

VW ‘blocking sales to unwanted partners’

Stellantis calls for Brexit deal changes

REVELATIONS

SALES of VW Group car dealerships are being blocked by the car maker if they’re not to ‘preferred partners’, it has been claimed. The move has caused some dealers to be offered paltry prices for their businesses.

STELLANTIS has warned it won’t be able to keep its commitment to building electric vehicles in the UK without changes to the Brexit deal. It told a Commons inquiry into the supply of batteries for EV manufacture that its UK investments were in the balance because of the terms of the trade deal. In a submission to the inquiry, the company said the Brexit deal was a ‘threat to our export business and the sustainability of our UK manufacturing operations’.

CAZOO has laid bare just how worried it is about its future in an explosive set of revelations in its latest accounts.

The official documents for Cazoo Holdings Ltd outline the used car dealer’s fears at continuing its operations. The firm says it is absolutely crucial the company’s ‘realignment plan’ – outlined in January this year – is executed, otherwise its future beyond April 2024 could be at risk. Click on the picture box for the full story

PARTNERSHIP SHOWS

Bell Sport & Classic and Morgan ink deal

MORGAN Motor Company has struck a deal with Bell Sport & Classic to open a flagship showroom in Hertfordshire.

The Morgan Hertfordshire dealership will be officially unveiled at the classic and modern performance car specialist’s site in Markyate in the early summer, offering sales and aftersales for all models. Bell Sport & Classic MD Tim Kearns said: ‘We are hugely proud to be working with Morgan.’

Rising star’s tour saved from disaster

MACKLIN Motors stepped in to rescue a singer-songwriter from disaster after he was left without a tour bus for upcoming shows.

VW Group told us: ‘Volkswagen Group works closely with its retail partners to ensure future-proofed, sustainable networks focused on best-in-industry customer convenience.’ Click on the picture box for the full story Turn

Rising star Callum Beattie saw his UK tour plunged into doubt when funding for his bus was pulled at the last minute. However, after seeing the performer’s album Vandals reach number one in the Scottish charts, the dealer group lent the songsmith a hybrid Nissan Qashqai for the 10show tour.

Cazoo’s future past next April ‘at risk’

Everyone in the trade knew not to buy the first vehicle through the block on sale night.

Big Mike p20

‘It offers fantastic driver and passenger comfort, and with this stonking M60i powerplant is great fun to drive.’

Forecourt: p30

SHAKE-UP

Underwoods pulls plug on new sales

HERE ARE TASTERS OF STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

NEWS DIGEST

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY

UNDERWOODS Motoring is to pull out of new car sales entirely after a number of changes with its manufacturer partners.

It follows reports that the group had lost its new car franchises for Skoda and Vauxhall in Colchester, and it has now said it will also lose Kia in the town, with its showroom closing on April 29. The group has represented Kia for more than a decade in Colchester and Glyn Hopkin will take over the franchise in this location.

Image: Google Street View

APPROVED

Hendy to create £5m motor site

A FAMILY-RUN car dealership in West Sussex is celebrating racking up 100 years of partnering with Citroen. Worthing Motors sold its first Citroen vehicle – a 5CV – in 1923 and has been managed by four generations of the Poxon family since it was established by John Poxon. The showroom is now run by great-grandson Richard Poxon, who is the dealer principal and joint managing director – seen left with his father and fellow MD Geoffrey.

The current team reckon they must have shifted more than 30,000 Citroens down the years.

Ferrari opens new site in 15 years

HENDY Group has won permission to turn a former John Lewis store in Kent into a £5m ‘motor village car dealership’. It submitted its plan for the Kingstanding Business Park site to Tunbridge Wells council at the beginning of the year and the plans have now been approved. The John Lewis at Home store shut in April 2021 but will now become a four-brand business.

Hendy’s Mount Ephraim dealership in the town will shut and staff transfer across.

Image: Google Street View

SYTNER has opened a Ferrari dealership in Glasgow – the first time the Prancing Horse has awarded a new franchise in 15 years.

It means there are now two Scottish locations for Ferrari customers, with the other in Edinburgh and both branded Graypaul. It’s also the fifth Ferrari dealership in the UK for Sytner.

Graypaul Glasgow offers new and used Ferraris, as well as having an aftersales team and workshop.

1,500

Car numbers back to pre-pandemic levels

THE number of cars on Britain’s roads has gone back to 2019’s prepandemic levels, the SMMT said. What’s more, there are now more than a million EVs out there.

Dashboard p16

According to its Motorparc data, car ownership rose by 124,393 units last year to 35,148,045. In 2019, it was 35,168,259. In addition, one in 32 cars now has a plug, amounting to 1,089,241 vehicles – a rise of more than half over the past year and making 3.1 per cent of the parc.

PARC FRANCHISE

The approximate number of miles being covered during this year’s Bangers4Ben rally, which is taking place in Ireland.

100 not out! Family-run Worthing Motors celebrates centenary of Citroen partnership

cool stuff for the great outdoors

From racing bikes to GPS watches –

Feature: p35

REDEVELOPMENT PLEDGE

TrustFord to open Carlisle retail site

TRUSTFORD is to open a retail outlet in Carlisle in July.

The Car Dealer Top 100 firm, which is the UK’s largest Ford dealer group, already has a Parts Plus operation in the Cumbrian city, but this will be its first sales franchise there and will mean a jobs boost.

The existing site on Kingstown Industrial Estate is undergoing a £500,000 redevelopment.

Pictured from left are Jordan Nelson, Becki Robertson, Glen Kenington and Lee Palmer

RENAMED

Vertu rebrands five Volvo dealerships

VOLVO has officially become a Vertu Motors brand as the five dealerships acquired from Helston Garages are renamed.

The dealerships in Barnstaple, Exeter, Taunton, Yeovil and Truro have now come under the Vertu branding.

However, the existing management teams have been kept in place, including Alan Woodland, general manager at Vertu Volvo Taunton, pictured above.

BITE-SIZE

Jeep Avenger aimed at younger customer

JEEP is ‘targeting a younger customer’ with its new electric Avenger but is still committed to a traditional dealership model.

That’s according to Eric Laforge, head of Jeep in Europe, who told Car Dealer that the firm had already received more than 22,000 orders for its new Avenger, with the average age of customers ‘10 years lower than the rest of the range’.

Laforge also committed to a rollout of new branding at dealerships and retraining of dealers.

EXPANSION ACQUISITION

Zeekr announces European launch

Pye Motors buys Furness Park site

Click on the text box for the full story

OPENING: Yeomans has expanded its Nissan offering with a £800,000 showroom in Plymouth. The site, on Durnford Street, is the Car Dealer Top 100 firm’s eighth Nissan dealership, joining others across the south and south-west.

REST: Bowker Motor Group has decided to close on Sundays to give staff a better worklife balance. As of May 14, its showrooms are no longer opening on Sundays on a trial basis that is expected to continue until the autumn.

UNITY: A new industry body to champion the EV charger cause has been formed. Car charging rivals have got together to create ChargeUK – a trade association that will fight for improvements to the country’s electric car charging network.

CHINESE brand Zeekr could be the latest plotting an assault on the UK car market after announcing plans to launch in Europe.

Owned by Geely – the Chinese giant behind Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, London Electric Vehicle Company and Lynk & Co – it’ll launch later this year in Sweden and the Netherlands but added that other countries ‘will quickly follow’.

The brand will launch with the Zeekr 001 and the Zeekr X.

PYE Motors has announced a deal to buy a Barrow-in-Furness site that closed down after nearly 60 years.

Furness Park Sport and Prestige site ceased trading in January, having been founded in 1966, and the site has been vacant ever since.

But Pye has negotiated buying the showroom, so it’ll stay in use by the automotive industry. Bosses say it’ll allow Pye to expand in the area, where it already has a Ford site (pictured via Google Street View).

EXIT: Mercedes has officially withdrawn from Russia but the door has been left open for a possible return. The German brand sold all its assets in the country to Russian dealer group Avtodom, but the deal includes a buy-back option of shares.

DROPPED: JLR has ditched the name Land Rover after 75 years as it switches to its ‘House of Brands’ strategy. The carmaker has said it’ll focus on four brands – Jaguar, Range Rover, Defender and Discovery – but there was no mention of Land Rover.

We walked along the seafront and she said she needed to visit the toilet.

‘Don’t try and escape through the window,’ I called out.

James Litton p23

BMW X7 M60i

Power

THE KNOWLEDGE

BMW X7 M60i

Price (as tested): £115,615

Engine: 4.4-litre V8 petrol

Power: 530bhp

Torque: 750Nm

Max speed: 155mph

O-60mph: 4.7 seconds

MPG (combined): 21.2mpg

Emissions: 277g/km CO2

WHAT IS IT?

How does BMW’s biggest off-roader fare now that it’s had a mid-life facelift? James Baggott took one on a 1,500-mile round trip to the Alps to find out.

This is BMW’s largest off-roader – the German firm’s ultra luxury SUV designed with wellheeled families in mind. The huge SUV joined the BMW line-up in 2019 and was given a mid-life facelift at the end of last year with an updated front end and mild hybrid engines.

WHAT’S NEW?

The X7’s refresh was relatively mild, with most of the attention given to the whopping kidney grille. New daytime running lights and adaptive LED headlights were added, and at the back the lights got a new look too. Inside the curved display is focused towards the driver and showcases a huge amount of information. It also benefits from hand gesture controls, letting you turn the volume of the music up with a twizzle of your finger. However, this is more a passenger pleaser than actually of any use, but is fun to use nonetheless.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

This review focuses on the top-of-the-range model: the M60i xDrive. For our test drive, we travelled across France to the Alps on a 1,500-mile round trip. The engine was remarkably smooth and relaxing for the duration with spades of power in reserve when needed. While big V8s might be fast becoming a thing of the past, there’s a lot to be said for the silky smooth power delivery they can serve up. Fuel economy was impressive too. Officially it will do 21.2mpg on the combined cycle, but we got closer to 30mpg thanks to long stretches of motorway miles. It helps that all engines now come with 48V mild hybrid technology.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

Over the huge distances we covered, the X7 was incredibly relaxing to drive. Despite the car’s huge size, the road and wind noise was noticeable by its absence, and the way the big SUV rides meant we jumped out at the end of our 13-hour drive reasonably fresh. The adaptive air suspension certainly helped. It’s surprising how quickly you get used to the sheer size of the car, and the clever parking cameras and sensors make it pretty easy to slot into spaces. We had a few issues with the radar cruise control, though, as it stopped working a number of times.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

With the two extra seats in the rear boot floor – which rise and lower electronically at the

The X7’s 4.4-litre V8 petrol pumps out 530bhp and 750Nm of torque.

touch of a button – the X7 is noticeably longer than its X5 little brother. But despite this extra length, the proportions are still pleasing on the eye. The huge front grille won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but in the M Sport spec of our test car it certainly looked menacing.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

There’s no doubt this is a luxurious SUV that could easily rival cars costing considerably more. We’d suggest it would give the likes of the new Range Rover and even a Bentley Bentayga a run for their money.

The new curved screen is wonderful to use and offers a huge expanse of space to display information. The 12.3-inch screen behind the steering wheel offers clever touches such as augmented navigation directions that overlay arrows over a live video feed of the road ahead, while the 14.9-inch control display is easy to manipulate.

The display and the software take a little bit of getting used to – but this is no complicated iDrive of old, which used to frustrate owners. The new version simply has so many screens and functions that it can take time to work out where things are.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

Our test model had the Comfort and Ultimate packs added. The first offers heated and cooled cup holders (very useful) as well as heated front and rear seats for £3,750. The Ultimate Pack (£11,000) adds extras including rear window blinds, an incredible Bowers & Wilkins sound system and a panoramic glass roof.

The standard specification is high to start with and includes 21-inch alloys, illuminated kidney grille, ambient lighting and metallic paint. Inside, you get a sports steering wheel, four-zone air con and acoustic glass. Apple CarPlay and a wireless charging tray for your mobile are also included. M Sport models get extra badging and some more design tweaks.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Autocar said: ‘The uncompromising-looking X7 is seriously fast but laudably refined.’ Auto Express called it ‘an expensive and inefficient 2.7-tonne behemoth’.

WHAT DO WE THINK?

There are very few BMW X7s sold every year – less than a thousand, in fact – and that’s a real shame because we think this is a genuine alternative to the likes of a Range Rover. It offers fantastic driver and passenger comfort, is packed with luxurious extras, and with this stonking M60i powerplant is great fun to drive.

Wafting across France was a pleasure in the handsome SUV, and with two children in tow it coped with all the additional space requirements they demanded with ease. The boot is absolutely humongous, we loved the powered third row of seats that rise out of the floor at a touch of a button, and it was very relaxing to drive. If you’re in the market for one of the largest SUVs around, the X7 certainly comes highly recommended.

Design

The proportions are pleasing on the eye and the M Sport spec grille gives the X7 a menacing look.

TARGET BUYERS: Family buyers who need seven seats.

THE RIVALS: Range Rover Bentley Bentayga

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. This is BMW’s biggest SUV

2. It has a bold new look with illuminated grille

3. Interior is refreshed with huge new infotainment screen

DEAL CLINCHER:

It’s a genuine alternative to a Range Rover.

It offers fantastic driver and passenger comfort, and with this stonking M60i powerplant is great fun to drive.

Inside

The cabin can easily rival that of the new Range Rover and Bentley Bentayga.

MASERATI GRECALE GT

Power

The 2.0-litre petrol turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 296bhp and 450Nm of torque.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Maserati

Grecale GT

Price (as tested): £77,280

WHAT IS IT?

Maserati’s mid-size SUV is here to take on the likes of the Porsche Macan and Audi Q5. But in a market as crowded and competitive as this, how can the new Grecale stand out? Well, Maserati aims to do that with a sporty drive, some clever in-car tech plus a healthy dose of practicality all tied in with some classically Italian styling.

WHAT’S NEW?

This new mid-size model has been equipped with some of the latest tech that Maserati has to offer. We’ve got a new screen setup, clever digital dials and some premium materials. This is targeted at the pricier end of the SUV spectrum. But to justify that, Maserati has given the Grecale plenty of top-tier features as well as some interior materials that feel a little more upmarket than you might find from other rivals.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

It’s a reasonably standard 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder which, in this GT model, produces a relatively decent 296bhp and 450Nm of torque. It’s a highly strung thing, mind, with zero to 60mph coming in at 5.4 seconds. The only real downside is efficiency. With Maserati claiming 32.5mpg, the Grecale will chew through fuel more hungrily than other four-cylinder petrols, while CO2 emissions are quite high at between 198 and 208g/km.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

The engine is a surprisingly characterful four-cylinder, with an intriguingly rasping exhaust note coming through alongside pleasing ‘blips’ at gear changes. But it’s also very strong performance-wise, while the eight-speed automatic shifts smoothly and accurately.

We were driving a car with standard springs – with adjustable dampers – and the ride was just on the right side of firm, although a little unsettled over very broken surfaces. We also tested a car with the optional air suspension and, in truth, we found the difference to be negligible – just stick to these springs and save yourself some money.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

Maserati has integrated some of its classic design features – such as the prominent Trident logo and model-specific badging on the flanks – into a car that still looks fresh. The front end with its concave grille and sharp lights might look a little close in design to a certain

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol with mild-hybrid assistance

Power: 296bhp

Torque: 450Nm

Max speed: 149mph

O-60mph: 5.4 seconds

MPG (combined): 32.5mpg

Emissions: 198-208g/km CO2

The Grecale is here to shake up the Maserati brand – Jack Evans discovers if it can make an impact in what is a very congested market.

Style

The Grecale’s design is eyecatching, with neat touches such as the Trident-shaped alloy wheels.

Ford Puma but it’s an eye-catching look overall. We’d just say that the Grecale looks best in brighter colours – plain shades such as silver and grey make it look a little too ‘ordinary’. The Trident-shaped alloy wheels are a particularly neat touch, while silver-coloured elements across the car help to lift the look overall.

WHAT’S

IT LIKE INSIDE?

Spacious and with plenty of room for rear-seat passengers, the Grecale nails the SUV brief in many places. The quality throughout is good, too, although the passenger-side button to unlock the doors did fail on our test car. This slight issue aside, you do get a good initial impression from the inside of the Grecale, with nice large windows helping to give the interior an airy feeling.

At 535 litres, the Grecale’s boot is pretty much on the money – you won’t find that much space in the 488-litre boot of the Porsche Macan, while Audi’s Q5 only slightly trumps it with a 550-litre load area.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

The range kicks off from £55,385 with this standard-output four-cylinder engine in GT specification. For this, you get a full leather interior and fully adjustable electric front seats, a 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster with configurable readouts and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. This main screen is clear, but there are a few too many menus to make it easy to control. Plus, its orientation is a little bit ‘flat’, so it can be tricky to navigate as a driver.

As with many Italian companies, it’s not hard to go a bit mad with Maserati’s optional extras. Our test car, for instance, chimed in at a chunky £77,280, thanks to extras such as a £2,200 Sonus Faber premium sound system and an £880 surround-view camera. At this price point, the Grecale becomes a little too expensive.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Top Gear said: ‘Maserati’s take on the ubiquitous medium-sized SUV hits plenty of targets, yet feels like a car designed to do just that.’ Auto Express said: ‘For those who have become weary of fast, German SUVs, the Grecale makes for a compelling alternative.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

The Grecale represents an exciting new chapter for Maserati. But why, we hear you cry, is this not a striking new low-slung model from an Italian firm best known for making dazzling sports cars? Well, Maserati does have a few performance-orientated models in the pipeline, and if strong sales of the Grecale enable the Trident brand to create more of these, then we can see how it all works out.

The SUV market might be jam-packed with options, but this is a model that stands out –and for all the right reasons.

Inside

The interior is spacious and nails the SUV brief. Quality is good throughout.

TARGET BUYERS:

Those who want an SUV that is slightly different from the norm.

THE RIVALS:

Audi Q5

Mercedes GLC

Porsche Macan

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Surprisingly strong engine

2. Plenty of equipment

3. Good handling

DEAL CLINCHER:

The Grecale marks a new chapter for Maserati and if it’s a sign of things to come, we’ve very excited.

The SUV market might be jam-packed, but this is a model that stands out for all the right reasons.

MINI ELECTRIC CONVERTIBLE

Following the success of Mini’s Electric Hatch, the firm is back with a new Convertible EV. Ted Welford headed to Mallorca to put one to the test.

WHAT IS IT?

Since it arrived, the Mini Electric has become the firm’s most popular car. One of Mini’s core models is the Convertible, which remains one of the best-selling cabriolets around. Mini has now combined the two to create the Electric Convertible.

WHAT’S NEW?

Available in a single specification, it only gets a few small styling tweaks to set it apart from the regular petrol-powered Convertible.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

The small 32.6kWh battery massively compromises the range – Mini claims 124 miles but you’re looking at a real-world range of just 90-100 miles. Using a 50kW DC rapid charger, it’ll take around 35 minutes to get it to 80 per cent capacity.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

Although it gains around 150kg over the standard Mini Convertible, weighing 1,475kg, it still manages to feel nimble and agile while avoiding some of the ‘shake’ issues that other droptops suffer from. At times, the torque can overwhelm the front wheels, though, leading to the car slightly pulling to one side under full throttle.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

There are small changes to set it apart from the standard version – most noticeably the threepin-plug-style alloy wheels, along with subtle yellow badges. There are various matt-bronze accents, too. But we’re not the biggest fans of the Union Jack-printed canvas roof, which feels a bit much, especially as all Convertibles are made in the Netherlands…

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

The quality is excellent, with plenty of soft-touch materials being used, while full black leather upholstery is included with this Electric model. The cabin is starting to show its age, though.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

Mini is offering it in a single high-end specification with no options and only two colours – Enigmatic Black or White Silver. Features such as heated seats, a Harman Kardon sound system, head-up display and adaptive cruise control mean the level of equipment is generous but so it should be, as this EV costs an eye-watering £52,500.

WHAT

DO WE THINK?

It’s good to drive and has style on its side, while the level of equipment is impressive. But a £50,000-plus price and real-world range of under 100 miles are two numbers that just can’t be ignored. For this reason, it’s hard to recommend. But for those who are happy to bypass what it costs and don’t need to travel far, there are guaranteed to be smiles all around in this Mini.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Mini Convertible Electric

Price (as tested): £52,500

Powertrain: Electric motor and 32kWh battery

Power: 181bhp

Torque: 270Nm

Max speed: 93mph

0-60mph: 8.0 seconds

Range: 124 miles

Emissions: 0g/km CO2

TARGET BUYERS:

Wealthy Mini owners who love the brand.

THE RIVALS:

Fiat 500e Convertible Honda e

Peugeot e-208

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Iconic styling

2. Exclusivity

3. Great around the city

DEAL CLINCHER:

It’s the only true electric convertible you can buy today.

Inside

The cabin is starting to show its age but the quality is excellent – with the use of softtouch materials and leather upholstery.

COOL STUFF

This month we’ve got a real variety of cool items for you to check out.

As the days get brighter, it’s an ideal time to get out and explore, which is why many of the products on this page will help you to experience the great outdoors.

But for good measure, we’ve also got some very snazzy trainers that we reckon are worth a gander.

Canyon CFR Aeroad Tokyo Edition £8,999

CANYON’S CFR Aeroad is the firm’s tip-top racing bike. It’s used by the pros, too, because of its superlightweight nature and cutting-edge drivetrain. The bike only weighs 1.752kg, with components such as a deep-profile seat post helping to shed weight.

But if that’s not enough for you, then the standout Tokyo Edition might be up your street. Inspired by manga art – you might know it from comic books – it’s a racing bike that really stands out from the crowd. The £8,999 starting price definitely stands out, too…

Suunto Vertical GPS watch From £545

IF YOU’RE heading out on an adventure then you’ll want the proper equipment – right down to the watch that you wear. That’s where the Suunto Vertical GPS sports watch comes in, which brings offline maps so that you can go here, there and everywhere.

R5 Turbo Trainers

€265 (circa £230)

TRAINERS and cars go hand in hand, which is probably why Renault has released a new limited-edition pair of shoes designed to link to the new R5 Turbo. The shoes – which are limited to just 960 pairs – each have an NFC chip that contains key information such as their materials and how they were made.

All pairs are full leather and feature an eyecatching colour combination – the laces are a nod to the car’s seat belts, in fact.

It’s solar-powered, too, so there’s no need to charge it up each night, ensuring you’ve always got key information to hand whenever you need it.

TELEVISIONS might spring to mind when you think of Panasonic, but it’s actually a company that has a great handle on the camera market. Its new Lumix S5IIXis a full-frame camera built around a compact body, which means it’s got big-camera quality but is easy to travel with.

It has a 24.2-megapixel sensor for crystal-clear shots, while a flip-out screen makes it great for videoing, too.

Panasonic Lumix S5IIX £1,999

AUTO SHANGHAI 2023

Ted Welford takes a look at the big motor show reveals and announcements from the brands.

China’s first major motor show since Covid restrictions were lifted over there saw a number of important unveils.

The country is the world’s largest car market, and Auto Shanghai 2023, which was held at the city’s National Exhibition and Convention Centre, demonstrated that motor shows are back with a vengeance despite fears the pandemic may have put an end to them. The reveals included plenty from Chinese car brands, but there were a lot of European firms there as well, including Mercedes and Porsche.

Here are our top 10 from the show...

BMW i7 M70

BMW used Auto Shanghai to debut its most powerful electric car –the i7 M70.

This sportier version of the German firm’s flagship electric saloon has twin electric motors that kick out a mighty 651bhp, giving a 0-60mph time of just 3.5 seconds, and boast a 348-mile range.

MG Cyberster

One of the biggest surprises at this year’s Auto Shanghai was MG pulling the wraps off the production-spec version of its Cyberster.

The Chinese-owned brand has been teasing the electric roadster with various concepts for a while, but it was revealed in all its glory at the show.

MG is keeping a lid on the details but says the firm will be celebrating its past sports car heritage with the new model, while also bringing it to the UK in summer 2024.

Lexus LM

This is the upmarket version of Toyota’s Alphard – a large MPV that has never been sold in Europe. However, Lexus says this new LM will go on sale in the UK later in the year. It’s a new type of vehicle for Lexus in Europe and aims to appeal to the chauffeur-driven MPV market as a direct rival to the Mercedes V-Class.

Available with four or seven seats, it can also be specified with a massive 48-inch TV monitor for passengers in the back.

Porsche Cayenne

The Cayenne has been a huge success for Porsche, with the German firm now following it up with a heavily revised version of the current, third-generation car. Its exterior doesn’t look dramatically different but the inside gets a modern makeover, with various new screens – many borrowed from its electric Taycan.

All versions have more power, while the plug-in hybrid models have been significantly enhanced and now claim a range of up to 56 miles.

Polestar 4

Hot on the heels of the Polestar 3 SUV being unveiled, the Swedish electric car maker has now revealed the 4 – a new coupe-SUV that brings a lot of details from its concept cars to production.

The Polestar 4 doesn’t have a rear window as such, with a camera and digital display handling the view out of the back.

The top-spec 537bhp dual-motor version will be Polestar’s fastest car to date, with the firm targeting a range of 372 miles.

BYD Yangwang U9

Chinese manufacturer BYD has only just launched in the UK but it’s massive on its home turf.

It recently pulled the wraps off this radical performance EV, which has now made its motor show debut in Shanghai.

The Yangwang U9 is an electric supercar that can accelerate from 0-60mph in just two seconds.

It also has an advanced vehicle control system that even allows it to be driven with just three wheels.

Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV

Mercedes’ Maybach division offers even more upmarket products than your standard Merc, and since China is one of its biggest markets, the firm has now unveiled its first electric model.

Based on the regular Mercedes EQS SUV, the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV gets a much bolder design as befits Maybach’s other products. There’s also a more luxurious interior, especially for passengers in the back. The twin electric motors pack a mighty 659bhp, while Maybach claims it can give a range of up to 373 miles.

Smart #3

The modern-day Smart is a far cry from the original ‘Smart car’, and this firm is now continuing its offensive with the #3 – pronounced ‘hashtag three’.

This is a new coupe-SUV from the firm that is co-owned by Mercedes and Chinese automotive giant Geely, and boasts a stylish design, hightech interior and an expected range of around 280 miles.

Volkswagen ID.7

Volkswagen is expanding its comprehensive line-up of electric ID models with the ID.7 – an eagerly awaited electric fastback to rival the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2. Boasting various technology advancements for VW, including a new touchscreen display, the ID.7 will also have the firm’s largest electric car battery to date, with the manufacturer claiming a range of up to 435 miles.

Zeekr X

Zeekr didn’t reveal any new models at the show, but it did make a key announcement that this premium EV manufacturer will be introducing cars to Europe by the end of 2023.

It’s a big step for the Chinese firm, owned by Geely, which has made quite a statement in its home market in a particularly small timeframe.

Zeekr says it’ll ‘provide European customers with an innovative, convenient and rewarding EV experience built on a direct-toconsumer business model’ –meaning no formal dealerships are planned.

BUSINESS NEWS

A ROUND-UP OF WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS THE GLOBE

GROWTH

Nisa to expand further with 400 more shops

CLOSURES

Prezzo to shut 46 restaurants and axe 810 jobs

PREZZO is to shut 46 loss-making restaurants after it said it had been hit hard by soaring energy and food costs.

The Italian restaurant chain said about 810 workers were at risk of redundancy as part of the overhaul. The shake-up will leave it with 97 restaurants and about 2,000 staff. Prezzo said it will work to redeploy ‘as many staff internally as possible’ and support others in new opportunities.

HACKED

Cyber attack is set to cost Capita up to £20m

OUTSOURCING firm and government contractor Capita says it will take a hit of up to £20m from a cyber attack that saw some customer, supplier and staff data accessed by hackers. The group said the bill for the March incident will cover specialist fees plus recovery and remediation costs, as well as investment to reinforce its cyber security defences and strengthen its IT security.

HEALTH

NISA is to open a further 400 shops this year as part of a continuing recruitment drive.

The group has already opened 130 stores in 2023 and increased links with wholesale partners, including Greens Retail and MPK.

It opened 473 shops last year, and Nisa boss Peter Batt said the growth was down to its ‘brilliant team’ and strength of its proposition.

Working days lost to sickness leap to record high

THE total number of days lost by UK workers to sickness rose to a record high last year, according to new data.

The Office for National Statistics said that about 185.6 million working days were lost because of sickness or injury during 2022 – almost 25 per cent more than in 2021 and the highest since records began in 1995.

Warning as AI ‘godfather’ quits Google

AI ‘godfather’ Geoffrey Hinton has resigned from his job at Google, telling the New York Times that ‘bad actors’ will use the new AI tech to harm others.

He also told the BBC that the tools he helped create could spell the end of humanity. ‘We’re biological systems, these are digital systems, and...with digital systems you have many copies of the same set of weights, the same model of the world. All these copies can learn separately but share their knowledge instantly.’

John Lewis boss gives pledge on ownership

BACKING Finance Provider of the Year (Sub-Prime)

2013 WINNER THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE!

JOHN Lewis Partnership chairwoman Dame Sharon White has pledged that the historic retailer will always be employee-owned as she won support from staff at a confidence vote over her leadership.

INDUSTRY VIEWS

NEWS AND THOUGHTS FROM CAR DEALER LIVE

Consumer interest in used electric cars is accelerating despite drop in demand for new

While demand for new electric cars is falling, more and more consumers are searching for a used EV.

That’s one of the headlines in Auto Trader’s latest edition of its expansive Road To 2030 report. The automotive marketplace has crunched data and insights from its platform to analyse what’s going on in the new and used electric car market so far in 2023, examining the market dynamics between new and used electric cars, particularly around supply, demand and pricing.

Brand director Marc Palmer said: ‘Demand in the new electric vehicle market has been falling. It’s been coming down since around September 2022 at the time of the mini Budget, increases in interest rates, inflation and electricity prices.

‘However, conversely, we’re seeing demand for used electric cars going up.’

Auto Trader’s latest findings about consumer demand for electric vehicles come as the SMMT revised its forecast

CAP HPI

for total new EV sales in 2023. The industry organisation has cut its full-year EV sales prediction by 0.7 per cent.

Meanwhile, prices for used electric vehicles have been plummeting. Since October last year, used EV prices have been in free fall, with cars such as the Tesla Model 3 losing more than £13k in seven months.

On average, used electric car prices are down 35 per cent, according to trade price experts Cap HPI.

Despite this, Auto Trader has seen a boom in consumers searching for used electric cars on its platform – partly, says Palmer, down to the fact there’s a lot more of them available.

‘We’re seeing demand for used EVs up around 50 per cent year on year.

‘The [negative] headlines are very different from what we see in the data – demand is in rude health. Supply is coming back a lot faster, and that will continue to be the case for a number of years as the market stabilises and finds its level.’

Used car prices fall by one per cent in April as EV values continue to tumble

Used car values in April fell for the first time this year. But in an exclusive video interview with Car Dealer, Cap HPI director of valuations Derren Martin revealed that the drop in values was actually the second-best April performance the firm had ever recorded.

Overall, used cars declined by an average of £200 (one per cent) in the month.

However, taking into account the 2.5 per cent

cumulative rise over the past three months, used car prices have still grown 1.5 per cent this year.

Cap HPI records trade values – the price dealers pay each other before putting a retail margin on top to sell to consumers – for three-year-old used cars with 60,000 miles.

In April, electric cars were the worst performers, with values

dropping 4.7 per cent, petrol cars dropped 0.8 per cent and diesels fell by 0.9 per cent.

But Martin explained that April was a month when used car values traditionally dropped because of a large influx of supply from partexchanges in March.

‘In general, the average during April is a 1.4 or 1.6 per cent-ish drop, so we’re on the positive side of that.’

You can watch all our Car Dealer Live broadcasts by clicking here: cardealermagazine.co.uk/live

Demand in the new electric vehicle market has been falling.

AUTO TRADER

Marc Palmer Brand director at Auto Trader

WE’RE AWARD-WINNING THANKS TO YOU!

This year we’ve won not one, but three awards - an achievement that we are all very proud of.

Our customers voted First Response Finance as the ‘Best Car Finance Provider’ in the Consumer Credit Awards 2022 for the second consecutive year. In addition to that, we’ve won the prestigious ‘Firm of the Year’ award!

The second recognition came from our dealer partners who voted us ‘Finance Provider of the Year (Sub-Prime)’ in the Car Dealer Power Awards. We are honoured to have won this award 8 times!

Vans, cars, motorbikes - it doesn't matter what type of vehicle we’re financing, our award-winning service remains the same.

FINANCE NEWS

Lawyers dropping mis-selling cases over fears they’ll lose

by James Baggott james@blackballmedia.co.uk

Ambulance-chasing solicitors who have been targeting car dealers over mis-sold finance are now backing off. Lawgistics has reported several law firms have recently stood down claims they had made against car dealers.

The motor trade legal firm has spotted a trend among solicitors who tried their luck by sending car dealers threatening letters over car finance mis-selling but have since pulled out as they fear they won’t win.

Car dealers have faced an influx of legal letters in the past two years claiming that the finance commission a dealer earned from a car sale had not been disclosed properly. From January 2021, car dealers have had to make clear how much commission they’ll earn from a finance deal. This includes commission, if they’ll be paid a fee for setting the finance up or any other form of remuneration they may benefit from as a result.

Joel Combes, managing director of Lawgistics, said: ‘We have had a number of these solicitors backing out of cases or “dropping hands” as it’s called. This means that they will be dropping the case with no one liable for costs. This says to me that they’re just not confident they would win. We are seeing more and more of these cases going away.’

Hundreds of car dealers have received similar letters from solicitors who have been chasing these cases. Combes said they had been ‘looking for the next PPI scandal’. He added: ‘The problem was, some dealers paid out and settled these claims and that fuelled the fire and gave the solicitors something to chase.’

Combes advised car dealers not to ignore any such letters. He told Car Dealer: ‘These absolutely need to be tackled and not ignored. But dealers also shouldn’t just pay out. Our advice would be simple: Get some advice from professionals.’

IVENDI

FCA’s deadline ‘signals pressure cooker period’

APRIL’S Financial Conduct Authority deadline signals the start of a three-month ‘pressure cooker’ period for dealers as they move to comply with Consumer Duty.

That’s according to connected motor retail technology firm iVendi, whose CEO James Tew said April 30 was the deadline for when providers of finance products would issue reviews of their existing products, giving dealers just a few weeks –until July 31 – before the regulations take effect.

‘It’s a compressed timeline and is going to create something of a pressure cooker three months for dealers,’ he said.

Tew said a key point for dealers would be deciding on whether to use digital or manual systems to ensure Consumer Duty was being met, emphasising that digital would be better.

He also warned that the July 31 deadline didn’t mean dealers could then take a break, as the process of reviewing outcomes and making changes designed to bring about improvements would then begin.

TIME IS MONEY

A MONTHLY LOOK AT THE WORLD OF AUTOMOTIVE FINANCE AND MARKETING RICHARD PYGOTT

Huge refresh has made things easier online for our partners

Last month, I shared some insights on how dealers can boost their business by spring-cleaning their business and refreshing their brand strategy. And guess what? We took our own advice and launched not one, but two new websites! New websites aren’t something that can be built in a day and are a large change for any business. That’s why we’ve been planning this huge change for nearly 18 months now, and we’re excited to finally share it with you.

Our old website needed a bit of TLC, as it served dealers and consumers and was designed and launched almost a decade ago. It was starting to show its age, and we’ve wanted a separate space exclusively for our dealers for some time now, which is why we decided to design and launch two new websites.

Our new consumer website was designed to provide our consumers with a much better experience, so we’ve put in a lot of work to make sure our new site is cleaner, easier to navigate and more user-friendly.

Our new dealer website is designed to make things easier for our dealer partners and for those who don’t currently work with us. We’ve created a clean, user-friendly site that puts everything dealers need in one place. You’ll find valuable tips, guides and insights on our blog page, so make sure to bookmark it, because it’s updated every two weeks!

Whether you’re a dealer looking for advice on how to increase finance sales, save money on your dealership’s energy bills or how to sell more on social media, we’ve got you covered.

The new website is also the new home for the First Response Finance dealer portal, which allows dealers to send and manage their finance applications with us. You can see updates in real time, and it lets our dealer partners provide their customers with quotes and eSign finance documents.

Plus, we even provide dealers with free customer leads on the dealer portal, so dealers can contact pre-approved and ready-to-buy customers!

Richard Pygott

is digital marketer for First Response.

Call him on 0115 946 6365 or email richard. pygott@frfl.co.uk

If you’re interested in partnering with us or know someone who might be, our onboarding team is available to assist you. Simply visit our Partner with us page on the new dealer website and fill out a brief form to access our onboarding process. Shortly after, one of our team members will be in touch to discuss next steps.

We love feedback at First Response Finance and we’re always looking for ways to improve. If you’ve any ideas or suggestions on how we can make our new website even better, drop us an email. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and check out our new website at dealer.firstresponsefinance.co.uk, and don’t forget to bookmark the new link for the dealer portal and blog page. If you need any help, we’re just a click away!

PARTNER WITH AN AWARD-WINNING COMPANY

New websites aren’t something that can be built in a day and are a large change for any business.

Picture of the month

MORE than 380 Lamborghini models took to Silverstone Circuit on April 29 for a multi-coloured parade lap that set a new record for the brand in the process.

Celebrating the firm’s 60th anniversary, the lap of the 3.7-mile circuit comprised 382 Lamborghinis – the most Lambos on track at once. The previous record was 251 cars at Suzuka in Japan. The parade, led by Lamborghini motorsport pro drivers, included models such as the 400 GT, Miura, Espada and Diablo.

I’m suspicious about customer who wants refund so quickly

Bought a BMW 3 Series 318i auto petrol 2006 with 86k on the clock from BCA. Drove it back to Wiltshire – around two hours’ drive – and noticed a misfire. When I got home, I connected it to my diagnostics kit and it was basically the ignition coil. I had the car listed on Auto Trader and one guy was really interested to view before I could get the work done by my mechanic. I told him of the faults and the misfire but he was still keen to come and view the car. He came down and tried to test-drive but we didn’t get very far because of a loud banging noise coming from the back of the car. I told him I’d get my mechanic to have a look and fix the issues and if he was still interested to come and test-drive again.

My mechanic replaced all four coils plus spark plugs and did a full service on the car, fixing the rear suspension arm. Customer comes again and this time we complete a satisfactory test drive, he pays me cash and some bank transfer, I get the PDI signed saying he’s happy and get him to sign an invoice. Within 40 minutes of selling, though, the customer texts me saying the car has gone into limp mode and just filled up with petrol. He wants his money back. I said that is strange as I ran diagnostics and no faults were showing and I will come down to check what is causing the limp mode. But he isn’t interested in a repair or anything – just wants his money back.

His previous car was a diesel, so I suspect he put diesel in a petrol car, but I can’t be sure unless someone comes and takes a look, but he’s not interested – wants me to collect the car and wants the money back. What would you advise? I feel I have the right to repair if he can prove there was an existing problem that I didn’t make him aware of.

slademotors

You can’t put diesel in a petrol by mistake, as the diesel gun nozzle at the pump won’t fit because it’s bigger than a petrol gun nozzle, so you can rule out misfuelling. Chances are the fault was the same one as before you sold the car and it’s reoccurred. Customer is entitled to a refund as it’s within 30 days. Best never to sell to a customer who knows there’s a fault before purchase, because if the engine light comes on, they will always try to say it’s the same fault as before they bought it.

Rbs

We’ve teamed up with Car Sales Memes to bring you a few of their best captions and slogans each month. Enjoy! Search

them a follow!

SUPPLIER NEWS

A ROUND-UP OF WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS THE UK

2023 ‘is turning out better than expected’

MORE than a third of used car dealers say this year is turning out to be better than they expected – in spite of lingering problems with stock availability.

That’s according to the latest research from motor finance company Startline.

Its Used Car Tracker for April revealed that 35 per cent of the 60 dealers quizzed reckon 2023 is shaping up to be ‘something of a pleasant surprise’.

Longest lead times for vehicles are revealed

SHOREHAM Vehicle Auctions raised more than £40,000 for a children’s hospice during a charity sales week.

Three special auctions were held, with dealers donating customers’ part-exchange vehicles to auction off, as well as making pledges to support families who use the Arundel-based Chestnut Tree House’s facilities. A total of £40,126 was raised, with 17 part-ex cars auctioned.

Money worries having impact on searches

App partnership ‘will streamline sales’

LAND Rover buyers could be forced to wait up to two years for a new car, according to research on lead times.

Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery models are said to be experiencing waiting lists of up to 24 months. The research was carried out by car subscription firm Wagonex, which asked 21 dealerships about lead times on March 28 and 29. The next longest wait on the list is Audi with delays to some models of up to 12 months.

CAR buyers are set to spend more time searching for their next vehicle as concerns over affordability intensify, new data has shown.

A poll of 2,000 people by eBay Motors Group found that more than a quarter (27 per cent) of in-market buyers expect looking for their next car to be more time-consuming, mostly because of rising car prices with 44 per cent citing the issue. Thirty-four per cent wanted to assess running costs.

VEHICLE remarketing platform

Motom has partnered with automotive app provider Pedal in a move that it says will revolutionise the sales process for the app’s users. It has streamlined the sales process, says Motom, allowing vehicle owners on the Pedal app to advertise and sell their vehicle for free via Motom’s wholesale network. Pedal’s users range from consumers to fleet and leasing businesses.

WAGONEX

EBAY MOTORS GROUP MOTOM

Special sales raise £40k for children’s hospice

SHOREHAM VEHICLE AUCTIONS

Our new dealer website is designed to make things easier for our dealer partners and for those who don’t currently work with us.

Richard Pygott p43

THE LATEST REGISTRATION FIGURES

New car market grows for ninth month running but ‘cloud’ looms over EV sales

by James Batchelor james.batchelor@blackballmedia.co.uk

The new car market grew for the ninth month in a row in April, but there’s a ‘cloud’ over future uptake of electric vehicles. Data published on May 4 by the SMMT showed that 132,990 cars were registered the month before – an 11.6 per cent increase on the same month in 2022.

It was the best-performing April for two years, said the organisation, although registrations were still down by more than 17 per cent on 2019’s volumes.

Large fleet registrations grew the most, up 33.1 per cent, while deliveries to private buyers dropped by 5.5 per cent.

Petrol cars remained the best-sellers, accounting for more than 58 per cent of registrations, while battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) were second with a 15.4 per cent share. Meanwhile, one in three registrations in April were of electrified cars (pure electrics, hybrids and plug-in hybrids).

The best-selling car for the month was the Ford Puma with 3,570 registrations, followed by the Vauxhall Corsa (3,203) and Kia’s Sportage (3,073).

The Corsa remains the year-to-date best-seller, with 14,034 registrations to its name, followed by the Nissan Qashqai (13,611) and the Puma (13,128).

The SMMT said 2023 had seen the best start to a year since the pandemic, with the overall market being up by 16.9 per cent in the first four months.

As a result, the organisation has now revised its full-year prediction from 1.79m cars to 1.83m.

However, behind the optimism, the SMMT expressed concerns over the growth in demand for BEVs.

It said high energy costs and ‘insufficient’ charging infrastructure will likely ‘soften’ demand. As such, the SMMT has revised its expectations of BEVs taking 19.7 per cent of the market this year to 18.4 per cent.

For 2024, the SMMT expects 22.6 per cent of new car registrations will be BEVs – down from the 23.3 per cent forecast in January this year.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: ‘The new car market is increasingly bullish, as easing supply chain pressures provide a much-needed boost.

‘However, the broader economic conditions and chargepoint anxiety are beginning to cast a cloud over the market’s eagerness to adopt zero-emission mobility at the scale and pace needed.

‘To ensure all drivers can benefit from electric vehicles, we need everyone – the government, local authorities, energy companies and charging providers – to accelerate their investment in the transition and bolster consumer confidence in making the switch.’

We need everyone to bolster consumer confidence in making the switch.

Mike Hawes SMMT chief executive

REGISTRATIONS OF NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

THAN 3.5 TONNES

Recovery ‘is in sight for the new van market’

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

The LCV market enjoyed its fourth straight month of growth in April with 22,665 sales, the SMMT has reported.

Registrations grew by 4.9 per cent, regaining ground on pre-pandemic levels.

But with BEV market share for 2023 static at 5.4 per cent, the SMMT has downgraded its anticipated market share of the vehicles for 2023 from 8.6 per cent to 7.4 per cent.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: ‘Four months of growth signals recovery is in sight for the van market, with easing supply chain issues raising confidence and boosting the overall market outlook. Ongoing economic uncertainty, however, must be addressed to help sustain and expand EV uptake.’

REGISTRATIONS OF NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES 3.5  TONNES TO 6.0

TONNES

Figures supplied by SMMT

Figures supplied by SMMT

SUPPLIERS GUIDE

LOOKING FOR A MOTOR TRADE SUPPLIER? YOU CAN FIND THE DETAILS OF SELECTED COMPANIES HERE

Auctions & Trade-To-Trade Sales

BCA

W: bca.co.uk

T: 0344 875 3480

E: customerservices@bca.com

Info: BCA’s remarketing programmes deliver volume, choice and availability for buyers, and speed, efficiency and market-leading returns for sellers.

Automotive E-Commerce

ATG

W: atg.auto

T: 0844 264 3519

Info: Leading provider of retailing solutions, Automotive Transformation Group maximises sales for retailers, OEMs, financiers and fleet suppliers by making car buying easier for their consumers.

Data

Real World Analytics

W: realworldanalytics.com

T: 0808 1890 617

E: auto@realworldanalytics.com

Info: We are a SaaS-based data analytics solution provider for multisite dealers. Our business intelligence tools help customers make faster and better decisions.

DMS

DealerDesk

W: dealerdesk.co.uk

E: contact@dealerdesk.co.uk

Info: Modernise your stock management, advertising, communication, sales and website. DealerDesk provides you with easyto-use tools designed to simplify your dealership management.

Finance

Blue Motor Finance

W: blue.co.uk

T: 020 3005 9331

E: dealersupport@blue.co.uk

Info: Blue is transforming the car finance market, making car ownership simple and flexible and providing motor traders with access to essential finance.

Finance

Close Brothers Motor Finance

W: closemotorfinance.co.uk/

Info: Close Brothers Motor Finance are a specialist finance provider, working with over 8,000 dealer partners to offer flexible finance solutions for car, motorcycle and LCV customers.

Finance

First Response

W: firstresponsefinance.co.uk

T: 0115 946 6317

E: marketing@frfl.co.uk

Info: First Response is an awardwinning UK finance company providing simple financial solutions. Get in touch and let us help increase your profits.

Finance

Forza Finance

W: forzafinance.co.uk

T: 01245 245678

Info: Benefit from Forza Finance’s expertise, choice of products and lenders. Their personal approach will help you achieve higher levels of finance penetration and, ultimately, sell more cars.

HR & People Management

HR Manager

W: hrmanager.co.uk

T: 01480 455500

E: info@hrmanager.co.uk

Info: HR Manager is Lawgistics’ new digital compliance portal designed to assist employers in managing their legal obligations, responsibilities and duties.

Insurance

Tradesure

W: tradesureinsurance.co.uk

T: 0121 248 9313

Info: Providing motor trade insurance to full- and part-time motor traders in the UK, the Tradesure team are reliable professionals who know how to help you.

Key Control

Traka

W: traka-automotive.com

T: 0333 355 3726

E: automotive@traka.com

Info: Bespoke software and electronic key management cabinets to deliver the most effective solution to dealerships to manage their keys and vehicles.

Lead Management

GardX AD-Vantage

W: gardx.co.uk/gardx-ad-vantage

T: 01243 376426

E: goforaspin@gardx.co.uk

Info: The award-winning 360 service offers an engaging display of the vehicle while additionally presenting profitable F&I products to a consumer.

Lead Management

iVendi

W: ivendi.com

T: 0330 229 0028

E: tellmemore@ivendi.com

Info: iVendi delivers a fully connected platform that engages consumers, converts buyers and manages transactions of vehicles online and in the showroom.

Legal & Compliance

Lawgistics

W: lawgistics.co.uk

T: 01480 455500

E: sales@lawgistics.co.uk

Info: The legal experts for the motor trade, giving advice and support to our industry for over 15 years. Not anti-consumer, just pro-trader.

Marketing, PR & Video OnCue Communications

W: oncuecomms.com

T: 020 8125 3880

Info: We are a leading provider of PR, video and events services to the automotive industry. The PR team has a proven track record of securing high-value, big-impact media coverage.

Marketing, PR & Video Marketing Delivery

W: marketingdelivery.co.uk/

T: 01892 599911

E: get.in.touch@marketingdelivery.co.uk

Info: Our SocialStock helps target prospects with tailored stock remarketing and social media advertising tools, and automated lead capture for Facebook.

Oil & Lubricants

Mobil™

W: mobil.co.uk

T: 0800 0857 420

Info: Whether using Mobil 1™ or Mobil Super™, Mobil™ engine oils meet or exceed the latest standards of the oil industry and vehicle manufacturers.

Recruitment

WeRecruit Auto

W: werecruitauto.co.uk

T: 01603 550041

Info: Permanent recruitment – here to assist businesses within the automotive sector find the best fit for their company in terms of skillset, experience and culture.

Stocking Finance

STAR Stocking Finance

W: starassetfinance.com/ stocking-finance

T: 0330 202 0619

Info: STAR Stocking Finance offers simple and flexible stocking finance that enables you to cost-effectively manage the buying and selling of your forecourt stock.

Trade Bodies

Ben

W: ben.org.uk

T: 0808 131 1333

Info: Ben is a not-for-profit organisation that partners with the automotive industry to provide support for life to its people and their families.

Vehicle Photography

Dealer 360

W: dealer360.co.uk

T: 01270 780855

E: nicky.spratt@ukturntables.com

Info: UK makers of photo booths incorporating our turntables for car, van and motorcycle dealers. Our software controls turntable and cameras – a onestop solution.

Vehicle Tracking

Meta Trak

W: metatrak.co.uk

T: 020 8867 2340

E: enquiries@metatrak.co.uk

Info: Total vehicle security. Clever tracking technology, advanced immobilisation, 24/7 monitoring and an easy-to-use app. Security. Connectivity. Peace of mind.

Warranty Providers

Autoprotect

W: autoprotect.co.uk

T: 01279 406888

E: sales@autoprotect.net

Info: AutoProtect offers a full portfolio of award-winning protection products, including GAP. We lead the market with an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot.

Warranty Providers

Car Care Plan

W: carcareplan.com

T: 0344 573 8000

Info: Car Care Plan is a leading provider of motor protection products, trusted around the world to deliver quality protection with integrity and a customer-oriented outlook.

Warranty Providers

Händler Protect

W: handlerprotect.com

T: 0800 088 7889

E: sales@handlerprotect.com

Info: Händler Protect is an exclusive dealer warranty provider. Proud to partner and represent more than 1,000-plus ‘active’ independent motor dealers across the UK each month.

Warranty Providers

Warrantywise

W: warrantywise.co.uk/dealer

T: 0800 001 4551

E: dealers@warrantywise.co.uk

Info: Warrantywise sells over 100,000 warranties per year. Quentin Willson personally designed Warrantywise to be the UK’s best used car warranty.

Warranty Providers

WMS

W: wmsgroup.co.uk

T: 01844 293810

E: sales@wmsgroup.co.uk

Info: Open 24/7, we offer award-winning warranty products for FCA- and non-FCA-registered dealerships.

Website Design & Digital Marketing Bluesky Interactive

W: blueskyinteractive.co.uk

T: 01926 651000

Info: Bluesky Interactive drive dealer websites and digital marketing forward thanks to game-changing innovation, the latest technology and our exceptional relationships with our clients.

Website Design & Digital Marketing Haswent

W: haswent.com

T: 020 3920 6164

E: hello@haswent.com

Info: Composer is a next-gen automotive platform. You have extensive stock management options, and you’ll gain a brilliantly responsive new website.

Website Design & Digital Marketing Spidersnet

W: spidersnet.co.uk

T: 01273 837749

E: hello@spidersnet.co.uk

Info: Websites that are designed to increase the number of customers for dealers. We have solutions for all budgets and needs. All solutions include our DMS Autopromotor.

AUDI RS 4

In the interests of balanced reporting, James Baggott reluctantly handed over the keys of his long-term loan Audi RS 4 to colleagues.

While the Audi RS 4 has certainly won a place in my heart over the past few months, I’ve recently been interested to hear what other people think of it.

So, in the interests of a balanced opinion, I rather reluctantly handed the keys of my long-term loan Audi over to two colleagues.

Interestingly, the feedback I got from them both was mixed. One absolutely loved the fast estate, while the other gave it a somewhat mixed review. I’ll start with the complaints.

‘It’s certainly fast, makes a brilliant noise and the seats are incredibly comfortable,’ said James Batchelor, who has been testing cars for more than a decade. ‘But the ride quality is awful. It goes very well in a straight line but in the corners it’s really underwhelming.’

He went on to moan about the hard tyre walls, but by that point I’d stopped listening. While I agree with his compliments, I have to disagree with his complaints. I’ve found the Audi wonderfully comfortable, and while it might crash over the largest of potholes – seemingly more than a metre deep around these parts – for the majority of the time, I can’t fault it.

Perhaps I had just got used to the ride. I certainly wouldn’t call it awful. Earlier this month, I took the RS 4 on a longer journey – in fact, its longest yet: a near-1,500-mile round trip to the Alps – and I shared the driving with a colleague.

Joe Wallington owns an Audi himself, albeit an older A1, so was looking forward to trying out the comparatively luxurious RS 4 on the trip south.

He spent a lot of our journey to and from Chamonix behind the wheel and loved the ride quality. Perhaps some of this was to do with the super-smooth French autoroutes, but that said, the local roads in and around the ski resort would make some British B-roads look well maintained and there were certainly no complaints there.

He also praised the tech – citing the multimedia system as far improved over his older A1 and a delight to use ‘because it just works’. He said it was comfortable and also pretty spacious, coping with our ski kit and us pretty well.

He did have a couple of moans, though. The winter tyres that Audi kindly shod the vehicle in for the trip were ‘very noisy’ and he also wasn’t a fan of the tub-thumping beat that plays every time you get out of the car. In previous updates, you might remember I moaned about this exit soundtrack myself and I still haven’t worked out how to turn it off.

He’s right about the winters; they were a bit noisy. But I was rather pleased they were on, despite the relative lack of snow in the Alps.

On our last day, the skies opened and the white stuff came bucketing down and those winters gave us both a welcome bit of added confidence, thanks to their improved grip.

To wrap this piece up, I asked both colleagues if they would buy the RS 4 with their own money. At £85k, the high-performance estate is quite expensive and in that price bracket there’s a lot of choice. The results? Well, in football-speak, it was one-all. While Joe said he would, James wasn’t so sure and declined the offer. However, as this is my report I get the casting vote, and I certainly would shell out for one.

Over the past few months, the Audi has proved to be a comfortable, entertaining, classy and incredibly exciting car to drive. So much so that it’ll be sorely missed when Audi comes to prise the keys from my hands. Until then, I’ll be making sure I enjoy the change in the weather and getting out there in the Audi to make the most of it.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Audi RS 4

Price (as tested): £85,000

Engine: 3.0-litre twin turbo petrol

Power: 444bhp

Torque: 600Nm

Top speed: 155mph

Fuel economy: 28.5mpg (combined)

0-60mph: 4.1 seconds

Emissions: 225g/km CO2

Mileage: 3,774

This month’s highlight: Asking James Batchelor for his thoughts on the RS 4 and then deciding not to listen to him.

OTHER CARS WE’RE DRIVING

Mileage: 1,088

After more than a year of waiting, we finally take delivery of ‘our’ new XC40.

Nissan Qashqai

Mileage: 12,535

OV71 ULB has completed some long motorway runs recently, continuing to impress as the odometer works overtime.

Volvo XC40 Recharge

Services that make a difference

At Black Horse, we support dealers with expert knowledge and insight, so you can support your customers.

We underpin everything with straightforward tools and systems to simplify the finance journey and help you grow your business.

Find out how we can help you at www.blackhorse.co.uk