Car Dealer Magazine: Issue 184

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

WELCOME.

These ‘leader’ columns that open the magazine are normally finally honed words that I’ve spent hours fiddling with, but this month I have to admit I’ve just bashed them out.

I’m writing this during a brief break in our hectic Car Dealer Power results video filming schedule – from interviewing the best suppliers via Zoom to on-location filming at the HQ of the overall winning manufacturer I’ve got repetitive strain injury from saying ‘congratulations’.

FINANCE MANAGER

Kate Gordon kate@blackballmedia.co.uk SALES MANAGER Kevin Day kev@blackballmedia.co.uk ACCOUNT MANAGER Michelle

michelle@blackballmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @cardealermich

But it’s an injury that’s worth it as the industry-leading satisfaction survey is a whopper this year – and it never gets old congratulating the people who are providing the very best service and dealer experience.

The full results will be revealed in next month’s issue, but what I’ll say right now is there are a few shocks – particularly where the manufacturers are concerned.

Anyway, crunching the numbers has come at a very busy time as the Car Dealer team has been on fire covering a seemingly endless output of news this month. In fact, there was so much of it, we struggled to select the best news for you from our website for this issue – especially as we didn’t want to push aside the comment pieces and features that we create specifically for the magazine every month.

One of the highlights of June was a press briefing by JLR – the official new name for Jaguar Land Rover – to which Car Dealer was invited.

We’ve digested every single word that the company’s bosses told us –even the marketing ‘buzzwords’ – and laid bare exactly where this most British of brands is heading. You can read all about it on pages 6 to 10.

We also take a closer look at the Chinese car brands, some of which may be coming over to these shores in the not-too-distant future, and found time to speak to MG Motor UK’s Guy Pigounakis after he invited us to take a look around its HQ and exciting new Cyberster roadster.

As always, we are keen to hear what you think about the latest industry news. Our Car Dealer Forum (you can find it on our website) is the perfect place to leave your opinions, and our email boxes are always open.

I hope you enjoy the issue.

It never gets old congratulating the people who are providing the very best service and dealer experience.

JAMES BATCHELOR Associate editor

Shoreham Vehicle Auctions awarded Electric Vehicle Approved status

Shoreham Vehicle Auctions (SVA) has been awarded Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) status.

The EVA scheme has been developed by the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) to recognise supplier and dealer excellence in the electric vehicle sector. It is endorsed by the Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and the Energy Saving Trust. SVA has rolled out several environmental initiatives over the past 18 months as part of its ambition to achieve net zero status while supporting its external customers. This includes installing 140 solar panels on the roof of its premises which produce 50kW of clean energy daily. These help power 15 chargers that charge the growing

number of EVs being sold at auction and to power SVA’s own company vehicle fleet.

Alex Wright, SVA’s MD, said: “Our plans for becoming a net zero business have been in place for the past three years and we are pleased so many of those initiatives have started to come together. We are virtually 100% energy sufficient thanks to the solar panels and our internal processes have been brought into line with our ISO14001 accreditation.

“We would like to thank NAMA and the EVA for this award. We were pleased to pass the EVA audit with flying colours and like to think we are now the industry’s greenest auction provider,” he added.

‘It’s

JAGUAR LAND ROVER:

WE MUST FIX OUR RELIABILITY IF WE’RE TO MAKE BRANDS A SUCCESS

• Jaguar Land Rover director admits quality needs to be improved

• Its cars are notoriously unreliable and it realises that luxury buyers expect more

• Boss says move away from drive for volume will let firm slow down to focus on quality

by James Baggott @CarDealerEd

Jaguar Land Rover has admitted it must fix its unreliability issues if it’s to make its bold new sales strategy a success.

In an admission that its cars hadn’t been as reliable as it had hoped, the British car maker said this could have come as a result of the firm chasing big sales volumes in the past.

The manufacturer is now switching focus to selling fewer cars at fixed prices and setting up its dealerships in a ‘House of Brands’ style.

These will sell Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar models in their own spaces.

In a briefing with Car Dealer, the manufacturer laid out its plans to cut the number of dealers it has, move to fixed pricing for new car sales and switch from being a volume player to focus on being a luxury car maker.

Andrew Woolliscroft, client care director for Jaguar Land Rover, admitted that the huge transformations the brand will be undergoing will be a ‘challenge’ – and said they won’t be a success unless it fixes its reliability issues.

‘We cannot deliver on our modern luxury strategy without quality products and quality services,’ he told Car Dealer.

‘It just won’t work – so there is an immense amount of pressure.’

Jaguar Land Rover models are notoriously unreliable and its car dealerships are often incredibly busy with warranty work.

The firm’s cars also regularly top unreliability surveys. Last September, the What Car? Reliability Survey found the Discovery (2017-present) to be the most unreliable car in the UK.

Woolliscroft said he wants customers to be able to switch focus to enjoying their cars rather than fixing them.

He said he believes reliability issues ‘have improved’, explaining that since 2020, warranty repairs for the car maker’s latest models have ‘reduced by a third’. But he admitted there were still improvements to be made.

Woolliscroft said: ‘I feel like I can’t really talk about the ownership space without talking about quality – and there’s a huge amount to do in this space.

‘It’d be really naive of me to talk about it without thinking about getting our own house in order first.

Andrew Woolliscroft

Client care director for Jaguar Land Rover

We cannot deliver on our modern luxury strategy without quality products and quality services.

day in, day out. But we’re improving.’

Speaking about why reliability issues crept in to haunt the car maker in the first place, Woolliscroft said this could have been a result of the firm chasing sales.

‘One of the biggest bits for me is we’ve now been able to slow down. It hasn’t just been about volume, volume, volume, new product, new product, new product, because what that means is previously we’ve just been focused on pushing stuff through the pipe as quickly as we possibly can – stuff will then fall over.

‘We haven’t maybe been as robust as we would have wanted to be in procuring our parts – I’m not saying we pushed stuff through too quickly, but naturally, if you’re focused just on volume, it will have consequences.

‘Our previous strategy was very much volume-driven. Reimagine isn’t about volume. While it’s immensely important, it’s more about quality – quality of experience, quality product, quality profit over volume, and that has allowed an absolute refocus.’

Woolliscroft said he believes that the firm has already made changes that are paying dividends and ‘every model year is better than the previous’.

He added: ‘It is getting better.’

‘There’s loads of other proof points. When you look to China and JD Power, we are second and ahead of BMW and Mercedes. I know it’s not a UK survey, but it’s a good indicator that the quality is now starting to be received by our clients.

‘It’s really reassuring to see that effort, that focus, that investment is all starting to pay dividends.’

Jaguar Land Rover is hoping that customer service interactions with dealers will be more pleasant experiences in future and not just about fulfilling a need.

Woolliscroft said its dealers will play a big part in this and will help when it comes to identifying faults quickly so they can be resolved faster.

And the car maker said it is now more focused on making sure its cars are completely ready to launch.

He added: ‘I think, for me, the biggest change is the prioritisation of quality.

‘Now this is the number one deciding factor on whether we’re ready to launch products or not. Not only is it now about are we ready to launch, the question is: Is it ready for the client to experience? Those are things that are maybe really obvious. But they’re things that haven’t been there but are now.’

The JLR director admitted, though, that its car dealership workshops were ‘still full’. He said: ‘The quality is improving. But it will take time for that to be really felt within our workshops. There’s lots and lots to do in this space, but the signs are really positive.’

LAND ROVER NAME IS NOT DEAD

JAGUAR Land Rover bosses have confirmed the Land Rover name will still be plastered on the side of its car dealerships –despite being relegated from its brand line-up.

As part of the firm’s Reimagine strategy, Jaguar Land Rover has been renamed JLR and the firm is moving towards four brands instead of two.

Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar will take the lead, with Land Rover becoming a ‘heritage mark’ for its off-road vehicles.

Unveiling a new corporate identity and logo, the manufacturer confirmed the Land Rover name will still be on cars, dealerships, websites and social media. However, in corporate images released at the same time, the Land Rover badge had been relegated to just a small logo at the bottom – see above.

In a briefing with Car Dealer, executives admitted that there was still ‘work to be done’ to explain how the Land Rover name will be used.

They said Land Rover will now be a ‘trust mark’ and a ‘foundation that underpins all the technology found in our cars’.

In a statement released with the new JLR logo, the firm said:

‘JLR reaffirmed today that the Land Rover brand will remain a key part of the company’s DNA.

‘Land Rover continues as a world-renowned and important heritage mark, remaining on vehicles, websites, social media and retail sites, underpinning the world-class Range Rover, Defender and Discovery brands.’

Andrew Woolliscroft

I think, for me, the biggest change is the prioritisation of quality.

DEALERSHIPS WILL BE CUT AS JLR MOVES AWAY FROM VOLUME SALES

DASHBOARD JAGUAR LAND ROVER: DEALERSHIPS WILL BE CUT AS JLR MOVES AWAY FROM VOLUME SALES

• Firm is moving away from volume sales and focusing on ‘modern luxury’

by James Baggott @CarDealerEd

JLR has confirmed it will be cutting the number of dealers that represent its brands as part of its transformation plans.

In an interview with Car Dealer, the JLR executive team confirmed that the size of the network will have to be reduced as the firm moves from ‘volume player’ to ‘modern luxury brand’.

Unveiling more details of the firm’s Reimagine strategy, acting UK managing director Patrick McGillycuddy confirmed that the JLR network is set to shrink.

He and his executive team also outlined plans to move to agency sales across all its brands by late 2024.

McGillycuddy wouldn’t be drawn on how many dealers will lose their franchise, but confirmed the network will be shrinking.

JLR is implementing a ‘House of Brands’ strategy that will see dealerships split into different areas to focus on Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and, in some cases, Jaguar.

However, not all dealerships will sell Jaguar models as it moves to a premium electric car brand, with its first model costing north of £100k.

Speaking about Jaguar, McGillycuddy said: ‘The brand has been completely repositioned.

‘This is about having a dedicated strategy and a dedicated approach. It’s not just about the product. And clearly as you move to a higher price position, you change how much volume you’ll sell in.

‘That does mean we’ll have a different representation strategy. It’s not appropriate to comment on what that shape or size is yet, because we’re still going through that process with our investment partners around what it looks like.’

Car Dealer reported earlier this year that JLR dealers had been told the brand wants to have just 20 dealerships representing Jaguar.

Vertu Motors has already booked a £1.5m impairment charge as it moves from having six sites selling Jaguars to just one.

McGillycuddy said ‘all partners are aware’ of the manufacturer’s desire to reshape the network. He also confirmed Jaguar will run a number of its own dealerships globally, but said these would be ‘more than just dealerships’.

He added: ‘They are beyond that. They’re about how we represent this brand in its new shape, with a new strategy, a new entity and to re-establish

Land Rover Edinburgh

• Number of Jaguar Land Rover showrooms to be cut – but no word on numbers

• It wants sales to continue to be pull and not push, with cars sold to order

This is about having a dedicated strategy and a dedicated approach. It’s not just about the product.

Patrick McGillycuddy

JLR acting UK managing director Pentland Jaguar

the Jaguar brand – so globally we will have a number of our own stores.’

Pull not push

The acting UK boss – who took over from Rawdon Glover earlier this year – said that as car supply improves following the disruption caused by Covid, the car maker wants to continue building cars to order.

McGillycuddy added: ‘As we moved through that supply disruption, we had a deliberate strategy to focus on building the product that’s most profitable for us and for our partners.

‘So now, as we increase production, part of the strategy is that supply always has to be behind demand.

‘That’s a fundamental shift in our model from pre-Covid times to post-Covid times. And when you fundamentally think about it, pull, not push, is a hallmark of a modern

McGillycuddy said the brand had been forced to change its business model as disruptors from China headed to the UK with an influx of electric cars.

‘There is a lot of change happening. It is more profound than anything in the 100-to-150-year history of our industry – petrol and diesel to electric, hardware to software – and the amount of new disruptors we’re seeing, particularly from China, will mean a phenomenal change,’ he said.

‘We fully anticipate these well-funded, new electric vehicle organisations to come into Europe and to come into Europe at pace, with aggressive plans to grow.

‘So really, when you think about our strategy, we knew we had to change, we knew we had to start to do things differently.’

TO REMAIN

JLR says its Dual Arch dealership concept will remain as part of its new look.

Its dealers invested millions in building the huge showrooms and those that remain with the car maker will be reconfigured to display the four brands.

A presentation showed how one side of the dealer will showcase Range Rovers and the other will be split between Discovery and Defender.

‘Barriers’ for customers such as reception desks will also be removed. The firm says that some dealers have already replaced them with a barista-led coffee bar, which ‘clients have responded well to’.

The main image on this page shows the coffee bar in JLR’s latest dealership in Edinburgh.

Kirsty Griffin, network director and interim sales director for JLR, said pilots are already taking place around the country on the freshly formatted dealerships.

‘We are removing sales desks and replacing them with more comfortable seating,’ she said.

‘They need to be more welcoming and less formal. This is an evolution of the Arch concept,’ she said

Griffin said that even the music and scents in dealerships were being updated to reflect the firm’s new focus on luxury.

Part of the changes are a new workwear look. This means more blue suits and white trainers, with ties ditched in favour of white T-shirts.

There is a lot of change happening. It is more profound than anything in the 100-to-150-year history of our industry

Patrick McGillycuddy

NEW CAR SALES WILL BE FIXED PRICE AND NO HAGGLE FROM 2024

JAGUAR LAND ROVER: NEW CAR SALES WILL BE FIXED PRICE AND NO HAGGLE FROM 2024

• Jaguar to introduce agency sales model across all dealers from next year

• Customers will be able to buy a new car online or in a dealership

• Part-exchanges will be handled by the manufacturer, with details still being hammered out

• Fixed price and no haggling is ‘what luxury brand customers want’, says JLR

by James Baggott @CarDealerEd

JLR will start selling all its cars at fixed prices with no haggling from late 2024, the car maker has confirmed.

The agency sales agreements will see customers pay a fixed price for all new cars – be they ordered online or in a dealership.

JLR will invoice the customer and not the dealership, with the latter left to ‘focus on customer service’.

Unveiling more details of the firm’s Reimagine strategy, acting UK managing director Patrick McGillycuddy told Car Dealer that the firm reckons agency sales are better for the customer.

In a briefing with JLR executives, Car Dealer was told the car maker believes fixed prices are ‘what the customer wants’ and that it’s confident it will work.

Controversially, the manufacturer is also set to take on part-exchanges – but it refused to give details of how this would work.

The executive team also refused to reveal details of the commercial agreement with dealers, but said it was confident they would still have ‘viable businesses’.

JLR is implementing a ‘House of Brands’ strategy that will see dealerships split into different areas to focus on Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and, in some cases, Jaguar. All brands will be sold under this no-haggle pricing policy from late 2024.

Mandi Newitt, JLR’s agency transformation project manager, said customers currently have ‘high expectations’ of dealers but are ‘pessimistic about whether their standards will be met’ and they mistrust them on pricing.

She said: ‘Today, you could go to a retailer, you could get a price for a car and you could go on to the next retailer and be given a completely different price.

‘So there are elements around that that customers mistrust. Our customers want to be offered the right experience.’

Newitt said customers will still be able to order their JLR cars in a dealership, but will also be able to do that online.

She said the changes were about letting customers do the parts of the buying journey they want to online and the parts they want to do in person in a dealership.

It’s absolutely in our interest to make sure our partners make a great return on their investment so they enjoy representing our four brands and they retain and keep the best people to deliver the best possible experiences.’

Patrick McGillycuddy

JLR acting UK managing director

She added: ‘This is about elements being looked after remotely. But physical retail remains critical for us.’

Newitt said JLR believes customers want transparency on pricing and this move will take price ‘off the table’.

‘Customers increasingly want the opportunity to be able to do business on their terms.

‘If you think about other luxury brands, there is no negotiation on price. You go into the store and know exactly what you’re going to pay, and it gives you price comfort. This will allow customers to buy from us in confidence.

‘But the physical retail experience is still a really big part of the process. They want to have a relationship with the brand that they’ve bought into. They want their loyalty recognised on every occasion.

‘So from a retail experience perspective, it needs to be practical and emotional.’

The accusation has been levelled at car manufacturers that agency sales are just a ‘margin grab’ as they’ll be able to take a large chunk out of the sale.

McGillycuddy told Car Dealer: ‘So, I think that’s a fair question, but to be clear, it is commercially sensitive in terms of how we answer that.

‘Everything we’ve spoken about has been about how we make sure we are client-orientated. But it’s also about how we deliver our success both for us and for our partners.

‘It’s absolutely in our interest to make sure our partners make a great return on their investment so they enjoy representing our four brands and they retain and keep the best people to deliver the best possible experiences.’

READ OUR TEST DRIVE OF THE LAND ROVER DEFENDER 130

Forecourt: p28

INSIDE THE £10M RANGE ROVER HOUSE HELPING CUSTOMERS TO PART WITH THEIR MONEY

IN THE quiet village of Radlett, nestled between Elstree and St Albans, a sports field is busy filling up with SUVs worth millions of pounds.

When I arrive, there are already two Lamborghini Urus parked up, two Porsche 911 Turbos and enough Range Rovers to make you think you’d stumbled across the significant others’ car park of a Premiership football team.

But this isn’t football, this is car sales – with a twist.

Two miles down the road, Range Rover has hired a £10m luxury house to show off its new £171,000 Sport SV models to some of the first UK buyers to put deposits down. The buyers, of which there are just 500 in the UK, have been selected by their dealerships for an allocation of the new highperformance Sport SV – the fastest Range Rover ever with a 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 180mph – and this is their first chance to see it.

A man with a clipboard is directing people towards a stream of new Range Rovers that are whisking people away. I get in line and head off there myself.

The house – which was available on Right Move for £10m – had been hired by the brand (no, they wouldn’t tell me for how much) to host customers.

For this visit, I’m allowed to mingle with the buyers – mostly middle-aged men – but not talk to them. However, I do get to experience the same treatment.

The Range Rover House is one of several that will be set up around the world to treat buyers of the car to a first look and give them the chance to configure their vehicle with the help of a product expert.

In one room, I get to try the ‘Body and Soul seat’. This has been designed in conjunction with Coventry University and shakes moobs and middle-aged spread with either relaxing or exciting vibes.

The next room is the home’s swimming pool, but Range Rover has covered it and made it into a lounge for the week. Three displays show off the car’s big brakes, clever suspension and colour palettes.

In the beautifully sculpted garden, the new car is taking centre stage.

The event is paid for by the manufacturer with ‘no cost’ to the dealers, I’m told. Once the customers have specced their cars, the details are sent back to the dealerships for the orders to be finalised.

Sytner’s Jaguar Land Rover dealership in Sunbury

HERE’S WHO’S IN LINE FOR A POWER AWARD THIS YEAR

Shortlist is revealed after votes are cast by Car Dealer readers and the final judging is under way

The firms in the running for this year’s Car Dealer Power awards have been revealed.

The awards – voted for by Car Dealer readers in our online survey – mark the best car manufacturers to represent in the UK and the best motor trade suppliers to do business with.

The winners of the trophies will be named in a special video presentation that will premiere on Wednesday, June 28 at 6pm.

Shortlists for the top car manufacturer and Car of the Year aren’t published, with the full results being announced in the video on the night.

However, Car Dealer can reveal the contenders for the fiercely fought supplier categories.

Thousands of online votes have been received from Car Dealer readers since the survey opened earlier this year. Their comments and votes have been totted up to create our shortlist.

The Car Dealer team are now assessing the entries and judges will confirm the winners.

Cleaning Product

Autoglym

Autosmart

Meguiar’s

Recruitment Agency

Indeed

Perfect Placement

WeRecruit Auto

Used Car Valuations

Auto Trader

Cap HPI

Glass’s

Consumer Lead Generation

Automotive Transformation Group

Auto Trader

Click Dealer Dealer Management System

Click Dealer

Gemini Systems

Spidersnet Autopromotor

Website Provider for Independent Dealers

Car Dealer 5

Click Dealer

67 Degrees

Website Provider for Franchised Dealers

Automotive Transformation Group

Bluesky Interactive Spidersnet

Provenance Checks

Cap HPI

Experian

MotorCheck

Warranties

Warranty First

Warranty Solutions Group

Warrantywise

Paint Protection

Autoglym LifeShine

GardX

Supagard

Auction House

Aston Barclay

G3 Vehicle Auctions

Manheim

Stock Acquisition

Car2trade

Dealer Auction

Motorway

Trade Insurance

Allianz

Aviva Gallagher

Online Advertiser for New Cars

Auto Trader Carwow

What Car?

Online Advertiser for Used Cars

Auto Trader

eBay Motors Group

Heycar

Finance (Sub-Prime)

Evolution Funding

First Response Finance

Moneybarn

Finance (Prime)

Black Horse

Close Brothers Motor Finance

Santander

Personalised Video

CitNOW

GardX b2See

Vehicles in Video

Extra Mile Award

No shortlist. Revealed on awards night

Product Innovation

No shortlist. Revealed on awards night

The winner of the car manufacturer award and the Car of the Year will be revealed on the night.

The special video for this year’s awards will premiere on the Car Dealer YouTube channel at 6pm on Wednesday, June 28

Car hire firm Drivalia has opened a successful franchise at a Nuneaton dealership and is looking to sign up more car retailers as it looks to expand.

Drivalia is the rental, leasing and mobility company of the CA Auto Bank group, in turn part of Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance. Today, Drivalia operates in seven European countries – the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Its ‘Planet Mobility’ integrated mobility system covers vehicle rental, leasing, sharing and subscription.

Drivalia’s first franchise operator is a major milestone for the rental, leasing and subscription company, showing significant progress in its wider commitment to become one of Europe’s leading operators in the new mobility sector. The company is looking to grow from 24 locations to 50 this year in major towns and cities and wants to form partnerships with car dealerships such as Research Garage Group to help it reach that goal.

Alex Hughes, Drivalia’s managing director, said: ‘There are now more ways than ever that motorists can access a car, with many choosing to rent, lease, share or subscribe to a vehicle, rather than buying one.

‘As this trend continues, we want to ensure that we make it as easy as possible for customers to use Drivalia, which means expanding our network across the UK. We believe franchising high-quality, experienced dealerships is an effective and efficient way to do this.’

He added: ‘Welcoming Research Garage Group into our network marks a significant achievement for Drivalia and its expansion plans.

‘It’s thanks to Research Garage Group’s reputation for exceptional customer service and a strong focus on customer satisfaction that Drivalia customers can expect to be well served.’

Having a franchise with Drivalia is very much a ‘plug and play’ operation to make revenue from day one, says UK network and franchise manager Don Delaney.

'The immediate draw for the dealerships is twofold. One: It's a low-risk zero-to-minimal set-up cost. Two: We supply and fit all the operational equipment and signage – including the fleet, which also means there are no holding costs either.'

To support your success, we will provide comprehensive training on our systems and serviceoriented sales techniques. Additionally, we will maintain ongoing communication and support through our dedicated franchise manager.

In exchange, these car rental franchises will serve as sale points for all Drivalia offerings, including short-term and long-term rentals, as well as our new subscription service.

By expanding our business through franchising, we aim to enhance our ability to deliver highquality services across more areas of the country.

This expansion will also facilitate smoother pick-up and drop-off options, as we strive to establish ourselves as the leading provider of mobility solutions throughout the UK.

Target areas for franchise partners

FRANCHISE agreements are available to car dealerships with space and manpower in their showroom to run a car rental desk, as well as a dedicated area to accommodate and prep the rental vehicles.

Areas being targeted for franchises are, but not limited to, Belfast, Carlisle and the north-west of England, Cornwall, Devon, Dundee, the East Riding, Inverness, the Midlands, Newcastle upon Tyne and the north-east of England, Perth, the south coast, Wales, Yorkshire and many more.

CHINA IN YOUR HANDS?

Over the next decade, prepare for an influx of new Chinese car brands in the UK market – but which ones are going to be serious contenders? Craig Cheetham investigates.

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow – and if you want proof of that, you need look no further than the Japanese and South Korean car industries, both of which have gone from nowhere to become global industrial powerhouses, with Europe’s car manufacturers bearing most of the brunt.

Back in the late 1960s, most Japanese brands were barely heard of in the UK, then along came some canny importers and the rest is history. Now, one of those concessionaires – IM Group – is one of the pioneers of the Chinese import market.

Meanwhile, the longest-established Chinese brand in the UK, SAIC, sits in 9th position in the UK sales charts as of the end of May 2023, its MG brand outselling the likes of Renault, Volvo, Peugeot, Skoda and Citroen during the year to date.

That’s the very same MG brand that 10 years ago was being scoffed at by cynics, many of whom were very doubtful about its existence and said it wouldn’t stand a chance.

However, so far in 2023, it has matched more than 60 per cent of Ford’s sales volume – MG, it would appear, stands for Massive Growth.

And now, many of its domestic rivals are chasing a slice of the pie. After all, as the car industry becomes ever more reliant on battery power and electrical systems, who could be better than the world’s leading supplier of electrical goods to turn the

A subsidiary of Great Wall Motors – itself a brand very briefly sold in the UK with its unsuccessful Steed pick-up – Ora is tipped to be one of the most disruptive new EV brands across Europe.

Ora will be distributed across the UK by IM Group, and its first model – the Funky Cat – is already on sale. IM has a history of developing imported brands, having launched Daihatsu, Subaru and Isuzu into the UK and built up a loyal dealer network over the years, so there’s plenty of scope for Ora to hit the ground running.

The Funky Cat is as quirky as its name suggests, but this is no bad thing. It’s a characterful, high-spec car with adaptive cruise control, 360-degree cameras, LED headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Toby Marshall, sales and marketing director at GWM Ora UK, said: ‘Already, we have had overwhelming interest in the Ora brand and there is no doubt that it will play a pivotal role in accelerating the UK’s

If you live in fear of AI taking over (and don’t we all, just a little bit?), then

The brand’s name is apparently a portmanteau of ‘AI’s on the way’, and with its styling it apes the look and feel of the likes of Tesla’s Model Y, Nissan’s Ariya and the Ford Mustang

Aiways has two models destined for Europe – the flagship U6 and smaller U5 – and is apparently not looking for dealer partners, instead favouring a direct-tocustomer approach.

Maxus

Much as SAIC mopped up the remnants of MG Rover Group in order to relaunch MG, it also picked over the bones of another British stalwart in the late 2000s.

The defunct LDV LCV marque has since been relaunched and rebranded as Maxus, which was the model name of LDV’s last van.

With a fully electric powertrain and 60 dealers, plus some impressive contracts such as VMS Leasing and CitySprint, the brand’s growth is already quick out of the blocks.

Omoda

The premium Omoda brand may be completely new, but Chery Automobile, its parent company, has been going for more than a quarter of a century, selling 1.2m cars in 2022.

Chery recently announced plans to bring the new, prestige Omoda brand to the UK, Australia and mainland Europe and is expected to arrive here next year with its mid-sized crossover, the Omoda 5.

Chery has said it wants to have a dealer network of ‘at least 50’ sites in the UK but will focus on fleet sales to expedite its growth plans.

BYD

BYD is arguably the biggest car company you’ve never heard of, but if you’ve travelled on one of the many electric buses in Britain’s biggest cities, there’s a good chance you’ve already experienced one of its products, thanks to a long-standing alliance with British bus maker Alexander Dennis.

Now, BYD is introducing its car range to the UK, starting with the Atto 3 – a credible rival to the Kia Nero EV and VW ID.3 and a very well-finished and generously equipped SUV.

The brand already has distribution contracts in place with Pendragon and Lookers, giving it major inroads into the UK market, along with a 5,000-unit leasing deal with Octopus Energy.

MG BOSS ON CYBERSTER ORDERS, CHINESE RIVALS AND AN EV SUCCESSOR TO LEGENDARY 6R4

• Exclusive interview reveals big plans for all-electric Cyberster sales

• Guy Pigounakis says electric successor to the 6R4 will debut at Goodwood

• And he gives his thoughts on the Chinese rivals coming to these shores

by James Baggott @CarDealerEd

Some MG dealers are already taking deposits for the forthcoming Cyberster electric sports car – even though the price and date for its arrival have yet to be released. The pure electric sports car – which will have up to 500bhp and be able to hit 60mph in 3.1 seconds when it arrives some time next year – is likely to cost between £50-60k.

MG commercial director Guy Pigounakis told Car Dealer that some dealers are already taking deposits, but so far there are no official orders being taken for the car.

‘It’s proving very popular and some dealers are taking their own deposits,’ he said.

‘We don’t yet know when it will arrive or the exact price but we are hopeful we’ll see it in the spring next year.

’Dealers are building their own order banks so when we release allocation their customers can take those places in the queue.

‘The dealer network is incredibly excited about its arrival.’

Pigounakis is unsure of how many Cybersters MG will sell, explaining it could be anywhere between ‘1,000 or 3,000’ a year.

‘We won’t be pushing sales as we don’t know how many we will get,’ he said.

‘But the car will help us to slightly reposition the brand as an affordable, good-value yet exciting car manufacturer.

‘We’re aiming for the niche sector that MG used to occupy. Cars like the MG ZS 180 were very popular models among a certain sort of buyer and we want to recreate that.’

The Cyberster is a dramatic new model for MG and will see dealer showrooms updated across the country to offer a ‘special experience’ to the different clientele the car is set to attract. Car Dealer was shown a prototype of the car at the brand’s Marylebone showroom in May and it was incredibly impressive. The styling is more striking in the metal than pictures and the design a huge step forward for the brand.

In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview at the firm’s head office, Pigounakis also talked about agency sales, the new model range and his ambitions for the brand.

CHINESE BRANDS

With an influx of new Chinese brands heading to the UK, the MG chief says he thinks the firm is well positioned to increase its market share.

‘There are lots of Chinese brands coming to these shores, but we are already very well established and have a brand that people recognise,’ he said.

GUY PIGOUNAKIS says agency sales have helped MG – thanks mostly to dealers coming to the Chinese car maker from brands planning to introduce it.

‘Make no mistake: agency sales are a land grab of margin,’ he said. ‘I don’t think car manufacturers have really thought about quite what is involved in retailing these cars and dealing with part-exchanges and everything that comes with being a retailer.

‘There’s a reason dealers are good at what they do.’

There had been talk from MG of selling the new Cyberster via an agency sales-style agreement, but Pigounakis said the firm was rethinking this.

‘We might offer it online but it will be sold predominantly by dealers,’ he said.

‘People don’t want to buy cars online. It’s a tiny proportion of the market and just isn’t something that will grow to any great extent.

‘It happened during lockdown because it had to, but when showrooms opened again it turned off like a switch.

‘I truly believe people want to buy from people in dealerships and actually a lot of sales happen because of a dealer, not because of the brand they’re selling.’

struggle to gain market share like MG has as buyers simply ‘don’t know who they are’.

‘Unless they open up a magazine and see an advert for them, why would a car buyer know anything about these brands? It’s going to be an uphill struggle for them,’ said the MG boss.

Pigounakis worked for the car maker back in the MG Rover days and has also had stints at Hyundai and the car dealer group Richmond.

He says his experience in the car industry has helped him have frank conversations with dealers who are looking to invest in MG and said he is now oversubscribed for the open points the firm has.

Currently the brand has 156 dealerships across the UK – up 12 in the past year – but Pigounakis says there will be some change in numbers over the coming months.

‘Several are on notice periods – mostly through their choice not ours – because we have grown and volumes have risen and some dealers are just not set up to cope with that.’

MG sold 31,000 cars in 2020, 50,000 last year and is on target to sell 75,000-80,000 this year. ‘Not all our partners were geared up for the requirements in terms of cash flow and space that these volumes require, so they’ve given us notice,’ added Pigounakis.

But there are plenty of others to fill the gaps.

Pigounakis said he had already had conversations with Jaguar dealers who are set to lose their franchise as part of the luxury car maker’s reduced network plans.

He said some Mercedes dealers were also looking to add MG alongside the premium brand as sales volumes have dipped following the German firm’s switch to agency sales.

One Vertu Mercedes showroom in Beaconsfield is already running MG alongside the premium car maker and Pigounakis said he was in talks with two other Mercedes dealers to do the same.

‘We were surprised how receptive Mercedes was,’ said Pigounakis. He wouldn’t be drawn on whether it had been a similar response from JLR.

‘We don’t ask too much of our dealers and are happy to have it placed alongside other brands,’ he added.

‘In fact, it works really well for us because when customers see our product alongside rivals they often buy ours.’

Pigounakis explained the brand was set to refresh its entire model range in the next 12 months and would soon be rolling out the X-Power high-performance model of the MG4.

‘Sales success is generally driven by new products and we have a lot coming,’ he added.

He said an MG3 hybrid will arrive next year as well as new ZS and HS models.

But as much as he’d like to bring the MG7 to the UK, the petrol-only model won’t make it here.

‘There just isn’t a market for large petrol saloons outside of the German brands,’ he said.

MODERN-DAY 6R4 IS HEADING TO GOODWOOD

MG will showcase a spiritual successor to the Metro 6R4 at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed as it ramps up its sporting credentials.

The race car will be based on the forthcoming X-Power MG4, albeit with no modifications.

But Guy Pigounakis told Car Dealer that it will certainly look the part with race specialists RML

building the vehicle. ‘It will be a modern-day interpretation of the 6R4,’ he said. ‘It will drive up the hill at Goodwood alongside the Cyberster electric sports car.

‘It will have the same motors and batteries as the X-Power MG4 due in the summer, but it will look wildly different.’

THE commercial director is now focused on positioning the brand as a ‘good value’ car maker.

‘We don’t want to be cheap, we want to be good value with lots of options and a sporty edge,’ he told Car Dealer.

‘We want our cars to be desirable, and the X-Power models and Cyberster will help with that.’

He also thinks Cyberster will bring in a lot of new buyers to the MG brand and says the firm needs to capitalise on that.

‘The first buyers will be MG fans who have been waiting years for a new MG sports car.

‘But after that, the buyers will be different. There is nothing else like the Cyberster in the market. There simply are no small electric sports cars out there, so that will give us a big opportunity.

‘We’ve been accused of underpricing it, but it will be £50£60k at today’s prices, adjusted for when it arrives next year, which feels right.

‘Showrooms will need to be upgraded to have a special area for customers buying the Cyberster but we won’t be too strict about that. We just want buyers of the car to have a

Grab your popcorn as carmakers strive to achieve luxury status

W

hen can a car manufacturer be called ‘luxury’? These are the types of thrilling thoughts that go through my mind when I should be paying attention to something far more important. Like driving my precious MG out of the garage without scraping the wing mirror on the wall. Or listening intently to my other half as she says we desperately need insulation panels nailed to our conservatory roof. Both of these have proved to be ruinously expensive. But I’ve got distracted again…

The whole luxury thing is one I’ve been pondering a lot – most recently this week after spending a day with Maserati: that fabled carmaker that has had more reboots than Simon Cowell’s face.

We all take it for granted that brands such as Dior, Gucci and Burberry are truly luxurious, while there’s no question that car brands such as Bentley are pretty posh and always have been. But how do you get into that elite league?

It’s not exactly easy, that’s for sure. Many carmakers have crashed and burned while trying to elevate themselves into the premium world of flashy chrome, soft leather interiors and concierge interiors – you only need to utter the word ‘Vignale’ to Ford and executives start wincing.

But that’s the premium sector. Luxury? That’s a whole different ball game.

JLR is undergoing the mother of all reinventions at the moment. There’s the new JLR name, not Jaguar Land Rover, for starters, and the whole House of Brands concept that to me conjures up images of a fading high street department store rather than an aspirational and luxurious retail experience. And ‘retail experience’ is the important point here.

My day with Maserati included the chance to sit down with its UK boss. Peter Charters has been at the helm since 2020, but neither I nor Car Dealer have had a chance to chat to him because a global pandemic got in the way and, let’s face it, Maserati hadn’t launched a new car for years.

You can read what he had to say in next month’s issue, but essentially both Maserati and JLR have identified that the true luxury customer doesn’t want a traditional dealer experience. For them, the ‘clinical’ – to quote Charters – feeling that showrooms tend to have is not an environment the luxury customer wants to do business in. But coffee bars, configuration walls, personalisation suites and the feeling they’re not being actively ‘sold’ to very much are. It’s about stroking egos, not the indignity of haggling over mudflaps.

Strangely, I think Maserati could finally be a success in the UK. The new Grecale, Maserati’s smallest SUV it offers here, is a good effort. It’s not better than a Porsche Macan, but it’s more than good enough at being a luxurious, performance-orientated mid-size SUV, and you can be sure the forthcoming GranTurismo will be achingly desirable. It’s rolling out electric versions of its SUVs and coupes quicker than the other German brands, too, and Stellantis has said the brand needs to be profitable, but that won’t be through shifting cars on cheap finance or to fleets. Profitable and exclusive – that’s the direction.

JLR is following a curiously similar path, particularly with Jaguar. Just like Maserati, it has an illustrious motor racing past, and despite having the odd bout of pastiche styling and customers of an older vintage behind the wheel, there is something about the brand that makes it distinctive.

But can they ever be branded as luxury carmakers? No amount of retail foreplay, ego stroking and configuration walls in showrooms can achieve this. Luxury brands become luxury brands by customers, not by agencies working for car manufacturers. It’s time to get out the popcorn and watch all of this unfold.

We all take it for granted that brands such as Dior, Gucci and Burberry are truly luxurious.

Big Mike

COMMENT

Teflon Ted was nobody’s ‘fuel’ when it came to spotting buyers

Listen up well to this one, young’uns, because it’s from us old stagers that you stand to learn some of the finest tricks of the trade. After all, when you’ve been in the motor trade for as long as I have, you’ll find you’ve got quite a repertoire of tricks. And we all had to learn them somewhere.

I recount this month’s tale with a degree of poignancy, because a few of us in the West Midlands motor trade have just had to say goodbye to a longstanding friend, colleague and rival who, sadly, has just been traded in to the giant car dealership in the sky.

Teflon Ted – so named because despite being subjected to 14 separate fraud investigations during the course of his lifetime, Revenue and Customs couldn’t make a single thing stick – was an absolute legend in these parts, and when I started in the trade he was a sales manager at the Austin-Rover dealership where I was lucky enough to cut my teeth.

At first, I thought that Ted was something of a clairvoyant. I was only recently out of secondary school at the time, so I’d yet to learn some of the nuances of customer behaviour that told you whether they were going to part with their hard-earned or not. Ted, however, seemed to have this incredible sixth sense to know instantly whether to try to ride a deal out or walk away from it within minutes of the customer arriving.

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.

I could never understand it and nor could my fellow salesman Richard –we always used to have a wager of a couple of quid on whether a customer who turned up was a yea or a nay in Teflon Ted’s eyes.

His behaviour was sometimes bizarre, insofar as we’d get a customer turn up who both Richard and I would think was completely reasonable or, indeed, a proper hot prospect.

You know the type: well dressed, articulate, asking all the right questions, looking at all the cars and giving them a proper going over.

The kind of customer you think is fair game and who you’d be quite upfront about trying to sell something to. Yet Ted sometimes just wouldn’t bother.

Other times, you’d have a customer who didn’t look like they had two pound coins to rub together, let alone be interested in spending them, yet after half an hour at our dealership Ted would have them driving off the forecourt in a shiny pre-registered Maestro, oblivious to the fact that the car they’d just bought was probably more old-fashioned than the six-yearold model they’d just traded in.

But I eventually found out Ted’s secret. When I left that dealership after my first couple of years in the trade, I had a proper car dealer’s leaving do – the sort that starts around 4pm on a Friday afternoon and finishes in the early hours of Sunday morning. I miss those days, and I’ll happily share some of the memories of them in future columns, but this one is for Ted…

On the night of my departure from the garage where Ted had been my mentor, I told the old boy about my belief that he had a sixth sense. He

Other times, you’d have a customer who didn’t look like they had two pound coins to rub together, let alone be interested in spending them.

winked at me and said: ‘Mike, nobody has a sixth sense. You tell me, young man, what’s the very first thing I do when someone comes to have a sniff around the lot?’

So I gave it some thought and realised that the first thing he ever did was disappear for a couple of moments before returning.

‘You bugger off somewhere and then come back,’ I replied.

‘That’s right,’ said Ted. ‘I’ll go and have a look at their car before they’ve even had a chance to look at mine.’

Thinking that Ted did so because he liked to prepare for a deal and determine the value of a part-exchange versus his potential margin, I assumed he was just checking out what car they had and what stand-in value he might give for it before committing to a deal on which you’d still get worthwhile commission.

But that wasn’t the case at all.

‘It’s the simplest thing ever, Mike,’ he told me.

‘I check the bloody fuel gauge.’

Baffled, I looked at him quizzically.

‘Well of course I bloody well do. If it’s got more than a quarter of a tank then they’re wasting my time, because nobody’s going to trade in a car that’s still got a decent amount of fuel in it, are they?

‘If it’s running on fumes then there’s a very good chance they’ll be going to work tomorrow in something that’s parked on my lot, but if it’s got half a tank then they’re only here for a look. And tell me, how many times have I ever got it wrong?’

The answer, of course, was none. And now that Ted’s own tank has run dry, his piece of wisdom is something I carry with me every day of my working life.

Now that Ted’s own tank has run dry, his piece of wisdom is something I carry with me every day of my working life.

Ted would have them driving off the forecourt in a shiny pre-registered Maestro, oblivious to the fact that the car they’d just bought was probably more old-fashioned than the sixyear-old model

Electric Enyaq adds Laurin and Klement grade

SKODA has brought in changes to its electric Enyaq, including a flagship Laurin and Klement model.

Known as L&K for short, it’s named after Skoda’s founders and is a trim level found on various models of the Czech firm.

On the Enyaq, it gets specific bumpers in a Platinum Grey finish, while the side skirts are painted in the body colour.

It also has extra chrome styling, such as for the grille and window surrounds, along with Skoda’s ‘Crystal Face’ – an illuminated grille that houses 131 LEDs. Large 20-inch alloy wheels are included as standard, too, while this and future versions will drop the ‘iV’ part from the Enyaq’s name.

VOLKSWAGEN

Pricing announced for Amarok pick-up

CAR NEWS ROUND-UP

VOLKSWAGEN’S eagerly anticipated Amarok pick-up will be priced from £33,000.

It’s been three years since production of the previous model ended and this new version is the first to be based on the underpinnings of the latest Ford Ranger, but the exterior design and interior of the two models are quite different.

The Amarok uses Ford engines, though, with a choice of two 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines and a 3.0-litre six-cylinder unit. Standard equipment includes 17inch alloy wheels, LED headlights plus a 10-inch touchscreen.

CITROEN

Doorless ‘My Ami Buggy’ quadricycle heading to UK

CITROEN is to introduce a new version of its ‘My Ami Buggy’ to the UK.

Citroen produced 50 versions of its funky electric quadricycle for the French market last year. On this Buggy model, there are no doors or roof, but it has new plastic covers to provide an ‘almost closed’ passenger compartment. There’s also a black waterproof canopy plus new frames to help provide a greater shape to the covers. As with the previous model, the Buggy comes in a funky khaki colour with various black elements.

MG

Updated HS SUV goes on sale from £23,495

MG’S revised HS SUV is now on sale from £23,495.

The HS is currently MG’s largest model sold in the UK and has been hugely successful thanks to its low starting price. It’s available purely with a 160bhp 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine as standard. There’s a choice of a manual or dual-clutch automatic transmission too.

Changes as part of this 2023 update see the HS get a much more eye-catching grille, along with new LED lights at the front and back.

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

Revised Touareg can cast ‘a light carpet’

VOLKSWAGEN has unveiled a revised version of its rangetopping Touareg.

Among the changes are new HD matrix headlights incorporating 38,000 LEDs that ‘project a light carpet’ on to the road. There’s also a revised front end incorporating a new grille with an integrated LED light bar that stretches across this SUV’s width.

It has a new light bar at the back, too, as well as upgraded

LBX takes brand into crossover territory

Manual gearbox celebrated with limited 1to6 Edition

MINI is championing the manual transmission with a limitededition version of its John Cooper Works Hatch.

LEXUS has launched into the competitive crossover segment with its LBX.

Arriving as the smallest Lexus in the range, the LBX – which stands for Lexus Breakthrough Crossover – will only be available with hybrid delivering 134bhp and 185Nm of torque when combined.

drive. UK pricing to follow.

New look and longer electric range for best-seller Corsa

VAUXHALL’S best-selling Corsa has had a range of styling and tech upgrades, while the electric version boasts a longer range. The current, sixth-generation Corsa went on sale in late 2019 and was the first to be based on underpinnings shared with cars such as the Peugeot 208. That meant Vauxhall could offer the Corsa Electric, which receives one of the main upgrades as part of this update. The current model’s powertrain with a 134bhp motor and 50kWh battery will stay on sale, but Vauxhall will also introduce a 54kWh option paired to a 154bhp motor, allowing for a range of up to 255 miles – 33 more than the standard car.

The ‘1to6 Edition’ offers drivers an ‘authentic, unfiltered driving experience’, says Mini. Just 150 examples will be coming to the UK – out of a total of 999 globally – with each one priced at £39,600.

It’s powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 228bhp, resulting in a 0-60mph time of 6.1 seconds, and is available with a six-speed manual transmission and one spec.

Outer space inspires special Cullinan

ROLLS-ROYCE has unveiled a special edition of its Cullinan inspired by the boundary between the Earth and space.

The Black Badge Cullinan Blue Shadow references the Karman Line – the boundary 62 miles above the Earth’s surface where outer space begins – as just 62 examples will be available worldwide.

At the Karman Line, the Earth’s atmosphere resembles a blue ‘halo’, which is why the Cullinan incorporates a range of blue accents that give a three-dimensional effect.

BMW has revealed its eighthgeneration 5 Series that has a host of innovations, as well as the option of the electric i5.

Growing in size, the i5 is longer than five metres for the first time and will be offered solely in M Sport grades in the UK. The new 5 Series adopts several cues from the latest 7 Series, including its flushfitting door handles.

Inside is BMW’s new virtually button-free ‘Curved Display’ with 12.3-inch digital dials and a 14.9-inch touchscreen. Both run on the firm’s latest operating system, which has new shortcut buttons and in-built YouTube for when stationary, but a data plan is needed for this.

is tech-laden saloon

James Brearley is new Vardy COO

HERE ARE TASTERS OF STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

NEWS DIGEST

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY

PETER Vardy Group has made exInchcape boss James Brearley its new chief operating officer. Brearley oversaw a huge period of success during his stint as Inchcape CEO between January 2017 and January 2022.

When he stepped down, the dealer group said he was leaving to take up a ‘new challenge’, with rumours later linking him to Constellation Automotive Group. Car Dealer reported that he was being lined up to lead Marshall, but despite the speculation, an appointment never materialised.

Big Motoring World to make big move

LOOKERS has paid tribute to its top employees by throwing a glittering ceremony for them in Spain.

The Car Dealer Top 100 firm‘s Excellence Awards for 2023 recognised what it called ‘the outstanding efforts’ of 21 staff members nominated by their colleagues across the UK and Ireland.

It said this year’s awards were the group’s most successful to date, with almost 1,000 nominations for people working in roles ranging from sales and servicing to customer service, finance, parts and more.

Some 80 finalists and scores of guests attended this year’s gala event in Malaga/

MILESTONE CLOSURE

Dacia sells 250,000 cars in first decade

USED car supermarket group

Big Motoring World is to move its HQ to new premises on the Gillingham Business Park in Kent.

The Car Dealer Top 100 firm’s new head office comes as it prepares for the next phase of its growth plans, said boss Peter Waddell. The new headquarters in Bailey Drive are just a minute from Big Motoring World’s current HQ on Ambley Green.

The new premises have 348 parking slots and more than four times the office space, with 40,000 sq ft available.

BOSSES at Dacia are celebrating after the firm sold its 250,000th car since launching in the UK.

The budget brand arrived in the UK in 2013 and has gone on to win legions of fans with its cheap and cheerful, no-frills offerings.

The landmark motor went to Charlie James, who was stunned to be told the news when he turned up with his family, pictured, to collect their Dacia Jogger Extreme SE from Richard Sanders in Northampton.

Rowcliffes to lose two Stellantis brands

DEALER group Rowcliffes has lost its Vauxhall and Citroen franchises with a month’s notice, according to a statement issued by the business, despite being told its contract would be renewed in June 2023.

It said a ‘perfect storm’ meant it will close its Taunton dealership later this month, adding the decision was a ‘very difficult one’ and ‘not of our making’. Stellantis told Car Dealer: ‘We don’t comment on individual contractual arrangements.’

Lookers honours 21 top-performing staff after almost 1,000 nominations made by colleagues

There’s no question that car brands such as Bentley are pretty posh and always have been. But how do you get into that elite league?

James Batchelor p19

EXCLUSIVE JOBS

Maserati ‘keeping an eye on agency sales’

Matt Johnson team doubles in size

Tom Hartley denies fraud probe charge

MASERATI isn’t ruling out introducing the agency sales model to its UK dealer operation.

It’s Stellantis’s luxury nameplate and above Alfa Romeo and DS Automobiles, which are switching to agency. Speaking to Car Dealer, Peter Charters, general manager for the UK and Scandinavia, said: ‘We are keeping an eye on the agency model. Stellantis is going down the agency route, which I’m sure they’ll be very successful at, but we’re looking at what works the best.’

Grand reopening to mark £1.1m refurb

A FAMILY-OWNED used car dealership in Cumbria has doubled the size of its team after a nearby car retailer changed tack.

Five new members of staff have joined the expanding Matt Johnson Prestige in Barrow-in-Furness after franchise dealership Furness Park became a trade-only operation.

MD Matt Johnson said: ‘I’m over the moon to have been able to offer roles to so many talented individuals.’ The new recruits take the number of team members to 11.

SUPERCAR dealer Tom Hartley has appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court after being accused of withholding information from the Serious Fraud Office.

It is alleged the owner of Tom Hartley Cars withheld information from a fraud investigation into car leasing company Raedex Consortium, which collapsed with debts of £28m.

Hartley, 61, denies the charge and will go on trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court in October.

Pagani partners with Sytner over supercars

AN East Yorkshire Nissan dealership organised a special event to celebrate its £1.1m refurbishment.

Trenton Nissan Hull said it wanted to thank customers for their understanding while the work was carried out, and was due to hold a grand reopening on June 10 and 11.

Bosses said early responses by staff and customers to the fresh look and improved facilities had been positive and they looked forward to showing them off properly.

HYPERCAR maker Pagani has partnered with luxury car dealer group Sytner to open a showroom in Wilmslow.

Sytner will offer sales and servicing for Pagani customers and sees it add yet another luxury brand to its impressive portfolio.

Sytner Group MD Jon Crossley said: ‘We look forward to bringing the exclusive brand experience to our customers from all over and throughout the United Kingdom.’

Now that Ted’s own tank has run dry, his piece of wisdom is something I carry with me every day of my working life.

Big Mike p20

‘The Ioniq 6’s design has been shaped by its need to be bar-as-soap slippery through the air.’

Forecourt: p30

Van Mossel buys Jacksons sites

NEWS DIGEST

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY

DUTCH car dealer group Van Mossel has announced its ‘English takeover’ as it acquires Jacksons and its six locations in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Isle of Wight.

Jacksons represents 29 brands across the sites, from Aston Martin and Bentley to Volkswagen and Volvo, and employs 500 staff who will keep their jobs. The deal has been submitted to the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority and is expected to conclude at the end of July.

TAKEOVER SHOWCASE

Rolls-Royce begins tour of new Spectre

SNOWS Motor Group has been integrating into its local community after agreeing a sponsorship deal with a major food festival on the south coast.

Lexus Hedge End has been named as the main sponsor of the Southsea Food Festival, being staged by Portsmouth City Council on July 15 and 16. Snows already has a major presence in the city, where it represents nine brands. Pictured from left are Paul Playford from the Queens Hotel in Southsea, Jaimie Maddison from Lexus Hedge End, Cllr Steve Pitt and Jo Scrivener from Hampshire Fare

Lawrence Stroll sells £117m of shares

ROLLS-ROYCE has begun a nationwide dealership tour of its new electric Spectre model.

The new coupe, which is the British luxury brand’s first venture into electric cars, made its UK dealer premiere in central London at H.R. Owen before it was due to embark on a tour of Rolls-Royce showrooms across the UK.

Dubbed a ‘super-coupe’, the Spectre is an indirect replacement for the Phantom Coupe and will sit at the top of Rolls-Royce’s line-up.

Stroll has sold £117m of his stake in Aston Martin weeks after Geely doubled its investment.

Stroll and his consortium, Yew Tree, remain the largest shareholder albeit down from 28 per cent to 21.

Geely invested £234m in Aston Martin in May, taking its share to 17.2 per cent. The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund is still the second largest shareholder but Geely is now third.

EMISSIONS

Jobs warning as zone is extended

THE MD of a new and used car dealership in Glasgow has attacked the city council over its low-emission zone expansion, saying businesses such as his will be hit hard.

Henrys Skoda in Kyle Street wasn’t included in the first phase, but the boundary has now been expanded to include where the dealership is. Bruce Henry fears his regular customer base will drop by 11 per cent and jobs could go across the five car businesses in the area.

CANADIAN billionaire Lawrence

Snows gives plenty of food for thought as it signs up to sponsor major festival on the south coast

The star cars to look out for in the movie Fast X

Feature: p34

GETTING FUNKY ANNOUNCEMENT CROSSOVER

Sandicliffe signs up to GWM Ora network

Honda UK to launch ‘light’ agency sales

Cazoo holds talks to restructure debt

BITE-SIZE

Click on the text box for the full story

DEALER group Sandicliffe has signed up to Chinese EV brand GWM Ora. The Car Dealer Top 100 firm officially opened its doors to GWM Ora customers on May 19 at its Nottingham site as part of the manufacturer’s network growth strategy, with plans for 12 new sales sites this year. Sandicliffe CEO Paul Woodhouse said: ‘We’re delighted to be the newly appointed retailer for the GWM Ora brand in the UK. Ora Funky Cat First Edition is going to be a brilliant addition to our showroom.’

DEVELOPMENT

Work starts on £6m TrustFord showroom

HONDA’S UK boss has said it will begin introducing agency sales later this year, rolling it out first with its new electric e:Ny1.

The electric crossover (above), which is only its second electric car, will also be the first model the firm will offer as an option to buy completely online, although it’ll still be sold through dealers.

Rebecca Adamson, head of Honda UK’s car division, told Car Dealer that it would be the ‘very lightest touch’ of agency agreements.

CAZOO has revealed it is in talks to ‘restructure’ its $630m of debt with the bond holders.

In a New York Stock Exchange announcement, Cazoo said it was ‘in discussions with a majority of the holders of its Convertible Notes on a potential debt restructuring’.

Cazoo admitted in its annual accounts that it is seriously worried it is liable to repurchase the $630m notes should its shares cease to trade on the NYSE. It’s already been forced to merge its share capital.

INITIATIVE

Grand milestone for carbon project

A SITE on Scotland’s largest industrial estate is to be turned into a £6m TrustFord showroom, creating more than 40 jobs.

Work has already begun on the bespoke 29,000 sq ft dealership at Hillington Park in Glasgow, which has been pre-let to TrustFord, with completion targeted for the end of 2023. TrustFord says it’ll recruit more than 40 employees when the showroom opens next spring after a high-quality fit-out.

RICH: Cargiant owner Geoffrey Warren is the wealthiest person in the UK to make their fortune from car sales. That’s according to the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, which revealed that Warren, who founded Cargiant in 1976, is now worth £2.552bn.

VOW: Tesla boss Elon Musk says the firm will ‘strongly consider’ the UK when deciding where to build its next gigafactories. Speaking via video link at the Wall Street Journal CEO Council in London, the tycoon said England could be in the mix.

APPOINTMENT: Auto Trader Group has appointed Matt Davies as its new chairman. He will join the board from Greggs, where he has the same role, on July 1 and is expected to take up the position from September 14, succeeding Ed Williams.

MORE than 1,000 automotive workers have now achieved ‘Carbon Literate’ status as the industry looks to increase its awareness of environmental issues.

The scheme, set up by Auto Trader and the Carbon Literacy Project, offers training and support via the specially designed Automotive Carbon Literacy Toolkit. A total of 100 firms have signed up to the initiative, including some of the country’s biggest dealer groups.

PREFERRED: Pentagon Motor Group has announced it’ll be recommending Ohme home chargers for its new and used car sales. The Motus-owned business says it has experienced a sizeable uptake in sales of electrified vehicles.

MILESTONE: Stellantis is celebrating 1.5m Vauxhall Vivaro vans being built at the company’s Luton factory. LCVs using the Vivaro platform were first produced in 2001. The 1.5 millionth van – a Vauxhall Vivaro Prime – went to Virgin Media O2.

LAND ROVER DEFENDER 130

The new 130 has space for eight people, but will everyone on board have a good experience? Jack Evans decides.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Land Rover Defender 130

Price (as tested): £86,785

Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine with mild-hybrid assistance

WHAT IS IT?

Power

The Defenders’s 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel with mild-hybrid delivers 296bhp and 650Nm of torque.

Power: 296bhp

Torque: 650Nm

Max speed: 119mph

O-60mph: 7.1 seconds

MPG (combined): 31.6mpg

Emissions: 234g/km CO2

How do you go about tweaking the Land Rover Defender? Where else do you go after shortwheelbase 90 and long-wheelbase 110 versions? For JLR, that’s the 130. It’s got an extra seat over the 110, bringing eight individual chairs in total.

WHAT’S NEW?

The bulk of the changes surround those extra seating places, but elsewhere things are pretty much tried-and-tested Defender. Measuring 5,358mm in length with the spare wheel equipped, the 130 isn’t compact by any stretch of the imagination. It’s 340mm longer than the regular 110, so be ready to find the largest parking spaces you possibly can. But apart from this growth spurt over the 110, there’s not an awful lot to differentiate the 130 from the rest of the range.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

The 130 we’re testing is powered by a relatively traditional 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine. Granted, it’s got some mild-hybrid assistance to help lower emissions and improve efficiency, but it does feel like a largely ‘usual’ diesel engine. As with all Defenders, you get full four-wheel drive and a suite of off-road assistance systems.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

As you might expect, the driving experience with the 130 is dominated by its size. This comes into play when you’re parking, driving at slower speeds or even just gauging how much space you have when reversing. Parallel parking takes some real effort, despite the variety of sensors and cameras at your disposal.

However, up-and-running things are pretty much straightforward Defender. There’s a tiny bit more chassis shake over lumps and bumps, but at speed the 130 is refined and comfortable. The 3.0-litre diesel engine is a great pairing, too, as it provides wellproportioned acceleration that never leaves the Defender feeling like it’s lacking in power.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

From many angles, the Defender 130 looks like its shorter stablemates – apart from side-on, that is. When looked at from that angle, the 130 does look a little strange to the eye, with the rear, elongated section appearing a little grafted on at the back. The proportions of many of

the panels are the same, but it’s that rear section that does appear a touch heavy – to our eyes, at least.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

Big and spacious, the Defender 130 is definitely a roomy way of getting around. The forward part of the cabin is dominated by chunky, robust stylings and nicely finished materials, while plenty of charging points mean a variety of options for topping up devices.

There are three seats in the second row and three in the rearmost, with all providing a decent amount of leg and headroom. When all the seats are in place there’s still a decent 398 litres of space but fold down both rows and there’s a huge 2,516 litres to play with.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

Prices for the Defender 130 kick off from £73,850, nabbing you an X-Dynamic SE model with 20-inch alloy wheels, 12-way adjustable and heated front seats and a full Meridian sound system as standard, alongside a turbocharged petrol engine. Our test car, in a higherspecification X-Dynamic HSE trim level and equipped with that diesel engine, tipped the scales at £86,785, with a smattering of options such as an extended gloss black exterior

Cabin

The interior offers chunky, robust styling with nicely finished materials. It’s also extremely spacious.

TARGET BUYERS:

Those who find the standard 110 not quite roomy enough.

THE RIVALS:

Range Rover BMW X7 Mercedes GLS

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Boatloads of space

2. Refined at speed

3. Still great off road

DEAL CLINCHER:

The 130 is a nice little expansion on the standard Defender recipe – but be aware it is MASSIVE!

Style

The elongated back section gives the Defender 130 the appearance of being a touch too heavy at the rear.

pack (£975) and an Eiger Grey exterior paint (£895) helping to bump up the price. However, the standard equipment that you get with the 130 is already good, so there’s not much need to trouble the options list too much.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Auto Express said: ‘One thing’s for sure: the Defender 130 does provide a generous dollop of additional practicality over the already-cavernous 110 variant.’

Parkers said: ‘We must admit that we grew very fond of it while testing, thanks in no small part to the fact its off-road abilities don’t hinder how good it is on the tarmac.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

You could argue that the arrival of the 130 waters down the spirit of the ‘original’ Defender, but for many people it’ll come as a valuable alternative to the ‘standard’ versions of this car and enable a lot more to come along for the ride.

It’s also remarkably well executed, with a great cabin and a nicely refined driving experience. For most drivers, the 110 will provide more than enough space, but for those motorists who do need that extra people-carrying ability then the Defender 130 is a nicely polished option.

It’s also remarkably well executed, with a great cabin and a nicely refined driving experience.

HYUNDAI IONIQ 6

The Ioniq 6 might look like nothing else on the road, but what else does it have to offer? Jack Evans went for a spin in one.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Price (as tested): £55,035

Engine: Dual electric motors

Power: 320bhp

Torque: 605Nm

Max speed: 115mph

O-60mph: 4.9 seconds

Range: 322 miles

Emissions: 0g/km CO2

Power

With dual electric motors and a 77.4kWh battery the Ioniq 6 produces 320bhp.

WHAT IS IT?

Hyundai has already wowed the electric car sector with its futuristic Ioniq 5, but is it stopping there? No way. The new Ioniq 6 is an EV that looks like nothing else on sale today.

WHAT’S NEW?

Dubbed a ‘streamliner’ by Hyundai, the Ioniq 6’s design has been shaped by its need to be bar-as-soap slippery through the air. Less drag means more range, after all, which is why the 6’s look is as smoothed out as it is. It’s underpinned by Hyundai’s E-GMP modular platform that you’ll find tucked under a variety of the group’s EVs, too, such as the Genesis GV60 and, of course, the Ioniq 5. Inside, we’ve got some clever tech – including ‘digital’ wing mirrors that replace mirrors with screens – and super-speedy charging that means a 10 to 80 per cent charge can be achieved in as little as 18 minutes.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

You can get the Ioniq 6 in two flavours, with either rear- or all-wheel-drive available. Regardless of which one you opt for, there’s a 77.4kWh battery underneath, but the allwheel-drive version – which we’re in – does bring considerably more power at 320bhp over the other’s 225bhp.

There’s not too much to split the two in terms of range, however, with Hyundai claiming up to 339 miles of range in the rear-wheel-drive and 322 miles in the all-wheel-drive.

The all-wheel-drive doesn’t half get a move on, mind you, with zero to 60mph being achieved in 4.9 seconds. You’re able to switch it to rear-wheel-drive-only mode, too, which can help boost the amount of range you get.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

From the very start, the Ioniq 6 feels like a car designed to encourage a little bit of calm and serenity. Of course, there’s some real performance on offer if you’re in the mood to delve a little bit deeper into the throttle pedal’s travel, but for just mooching about, the 6 feels very fine indeed. Body control is good, too, although we’d like to be able to sit a little lower – it’s easy to feel a bit ‘perched’ even with the seat in its lowest setting.

It does feel particularly fast, but the Ioniq 6’s abilities lie in its more ‘general’ characteristics. It’s going to be a great alternative to a traditional petrol or diesel saloon, that’s for sure, while also bringing a sprinkling of character to boot.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

Looks are a very personal thing but we think the aesthetic of the 6 is superb, with its sleek lines and smoothed edges really helping to give it a feel that is fresh and new.

How will it date? Only time will tell on that front, of course. We think that the ubermodern design may show its age rather quickly but, again, it’s only as the years roll by that we’ll be able to find out.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

There’s a nice combination of space and good build quality inside the Ioniq 6. For starters, despite the sloping roofline there’s more headroom than you might imagine, while legroom for those in the back isn’t bad either. Everything has a nice logical placement, too, while vehicle-to-load technology means that you can power domestic appliances via a proper plug below the rear seats of the car.

In terms of boot space, there’s a very respectable 401 litres available, while you also get an extra 45 litres of room in the ‘frunk’ underneath the bonnet. This area is, however, quite shallow, so it can’t really be relied upon for storing larger items.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

There are two main trim levels available for the Ioniq 6 – Premium and Ultimate. There’s also a run-out First Edition model, but it’s those two ‘regular’ specifications that will be a core part of the Ioniq 6’s make-up. Prices kick off from £47,040 for a rear-wheel-drive model in Premium specification, but these models still get dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and a 12.3-inch infotainment display with a digital cockpit of the same size.

Prices crank up considerably when you opt for Ultimate spec, with a dual-range version with ‘digital side mirrors’ chiming in at £55,035. However, we reckon that most drivers would be more than happy with the spec of the Premium version.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Auto Express said: ‘The Ioniq 6 isn’t without the odd foible, but it does manage to feel another step on from the already-impressive 5.’ Car said: ‘There’s much to like with the new 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6, including a spacious and relaxing cabin, well-integrated EV powertrain and the nice balance between rolling refinement and handling dexterity.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

The Ioniq 6 feels like a car to showcase a company that is on a roll. Hyundai has really been knocking it out of the park of late and with the 6 it’s only furthering that achievement. This is an EV that is desirable and executed well, combining elements that are sometimes lost on electric cars.

At the top end it feels a bit too expensive, but in more regular trims the still-wellappointed Ioniq 6 stands as a very accomplished electric car.

TARGET BUYERS:

EV buyers who want a sleek model that looks different to the norm.

THE RIVALS:

Mercedes EQE Polestar 2

Tesla Model 3

Design

With sleek lines and smooth edges, the Hyundai has a fresh and new look.

Inside

Despite the sloping roofline there’s more headroom than you’d imagine.

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Decent range

2. Well-made cabin

3. Lots of new tech

DEAL CLINCHER:

The Ioniq 6 is a continuation of Hyundai’s great EV work –it’s a fine electric car from top to bottom.

The Ioniq 6’s design has been shaped by its need to be bar-as-soap slippery through the air.

ABARTH 500e

Known for its fun Fiat 500-based hot hatches, Abarth is now venturing into the world of EVs with the 500e –Ted Welford tried one out in Italy.

Power

WHAT IS IT?

Abarth’s hot hatches have developed an exceptionally loyal following. But the Italian firm knows it needs to change – that’s why it’s introducing its electric Abarth 500e, which aims to be one of the first genuine EV hot hatchbacks.

WHAT’S NEW?

It’s got a more powerful electric motor, along with various styling changes to give it that more muscular look that’s gone down a treat with buyers. It also has a unique feature called a ‘sound generator’ – essentially a speaker at the back that aims to replicate the distinctive tone of a petrol Abarth’s sports exhaust system.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

The Abarth uses the same 42kWh battery as the regular Fiat 500 but with a more powerful electric motor. While the firm sells more powerful petrol models – and will continue to do so – Abarth says this is about the peak that it can offer with this electric setup. It’s able to charge at up to 85kW, meaning an 80 per cent charge is theoretically possible in 35 minutes.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

Abarths have long been a riot behind the wheel. With a buzzy, turbocharged engine, a silly exhaust system and a weirdly high driving position, they drive like no other car.

The 500e is less thrilling, for sure, although Abarth has at least fixed the driving position, and this is still enjoyable to buzz along in, with a lot more grip than you get from the regular car. By EV standards, it’s nimble and fairly light, although heavy rain on our test drive meant we couldn’t push it too hard.

The sound generator is interesting, however. It’s certainly a novel idea and does help to inject some extra excitement into an EV. When cruising, though, it becomes more of an annoying drone, and you can’t turn it on and off while on the move.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

We’ll borrow the 500e’s designer François Leboine’s description of the car, as there’s no better way of summing it up than a ‘tennis ball’ when painted in the ridiculously bright Acid Green. It’s reassuringly sporty too, and in true Abarth fashion it looks a whole lot meaner than the softer-styled Fiat. Abarth is keen to build its brand appearance, and as a

THE KNOWLEDGE

Abarth 500e

Price (as tested): £34,195

Engine: Electric motor and 42kWh battery

Power: 153bhp

Torque: 235Nm

Max speed: 96mph

O-60mph: 6.8 seconds

Range: 157 miles

Emissions: 0g/km CO2

The electric motor and 42kWh battery produce 153bhp and 235Nm of torque.

Style

The Abarth 500e looks a bit like a tennis ball, thanks to the Acid Green paint job that it’s been given.

result there are fewer of the firm’s ‘Scorpion’ badges. Instead, there is Range Rover-style ‘ABARTH’ lettering to help people ‘spot it from 100m away’, we’re told. The painted textured grille is a cool touch, while the only other thing we’d recommend is choosing the top-spec Turismo model if you like your style, as this brings much smarter 18-inch alloy wheels. Like the Fiat, you can also choose it as a hatchback or a convertible.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

The electric 500e’s interior is a significant step up from the petrol version, both in terms of quality and technology. The new 10.25-inch touchscreen is much better, with slick graphics and an easy-to-use digital instrument cluster.

Turismo models are also adorned in Alcantara. It’s on the seats, steering wheel and even the dashboard, and undoubtedly helps to give the model a far sportier feel. The cheap, hard-plastic door cards let the side down, though, especially on a car of this price.

You won’t be buying this Abarth for its space, although there’s a decent amount of room upfront. The boot is small at 185 litres and adults won’t enjoy sitting in the back.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

The 500e comes in two guises – the standard car and a Turismo model. There’s plenty of equipment from the offset though, such as automatic climate control, a JBL sound system, the aforementioned touchscreen and a digital dial display.

As for pricing, the 500e is by no means cheap, costing from £34,195, and the Cabrio is £3,000 on top of that – pushing a top-spec model over £40,000. Meanwhile, the Turismo commands a steep £4,000 extra but we feel it’s worth the money with its Alcantara interior, fixed glass roof, keyless entry, heated front seats and wireless smartphone charging.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Top Gear said: ‘The 500e shows that the coming of the age of electricity doesn’t mean the ending of the age of the hot hatch.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

The 500e is an exciting first step into the world of EVs for Abarth. Being based on the excellent Fiat model was always going to work in its favour, but with details such as its sportier interior, additional power and brilliantly silly sound generator, it adds that extra fun to day-to-day driving in a way that Abarth has always succeeded at.

We’d stop short of calling it a full-blown hot hatch, though, and it does lack some of the excitement that you get from the petrol model. Then again, no manufacturer is yet to truly make an electric model as enjoyable in this class. But Abarth is certainly the closest yet to cracking the formula – and for that it deserves plenty of praise and consideration.

TARGET BUYERS:

Inner-city drivers who want an EV that stands out from the crowd.

THE RIVALS:

Honda e Mini Electric

Peugeot e-208

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Simulated exhaust sound

2. Quality interior

3. Stylish design adds greater aggression

DEAL CLINCHER:

The best effort yet at making an electric hot hatch.

Inside

The cabin has a sporty feel with the use of Alcantara throughout the interior.

The 500e is an exciting first step into the world of EVs for Abarth.

FAST THE STAR CARS TO LOOK OUT FOR

The Fast and Furious franchise is back with a new instalment! Ted Welford takes a look at the VIP vehicles.

If you’re a petrolhead, films don’t get much better than the Fast and Furious franchise.

It has been bringing joy and excitement to motoring fans for more than two decades, with some of the best car chases and most extreme modifications ever seen in movies. Now the franchise continues with the eagerly anticipated 10th Fast and Furious hit – Fast X.

It opened in UK cinemas on May 19, and ahead of its debut here, we chatted with the two people instrumental in selecting and modifying all the cars you see in the film.

Dennis McCarthy, picture car supervisor in the US, has been creating the cars you see on the screen since 2006 when Tokyo Drift – the third instalment –premiered. Meanwhile, Alex King does the same role for Europe and has been involved with the past two Fast films, as well as the upcoming Gran Turismo movie, set to be released in August.

Combined, up to 200 cars are used in Fast X, with around £5m spent on buying vehicles for the film. When you add the cost of modifications, labour and shipping the vehicles with their crew, more than £10m is spent on bringing them to the big screen. Here’s a rundown on some of the star cars...

Banshee SRT

The Fast franchise is renowned for its tuned, noisy engines, but in Fast X things get quieter with an electric car. It’s no normal EV, though, but Dodge’s monstrous Charger Daytona SRT Banshee concept car.

It’s said to be faster than Dodge’s monstrous petrol Hellcat models ‘in all key performance measures’, says McCarthy. ‘I just wish we’d had a bit more time to put it into an action sequence,’ he added.

1968 Dodge Charger

If you’re a fan of the Fast franchise, the car you’ll have seen plenty of is an original Dodge Charger driven by Vin Diesel’s character Dom Toretto. It’s been a feature since the original The Fast and the Furious from 2001, and returns again for Fast X.

It’s a car Dennis McCarthy is particularly fond of, and after some wild modifications to the Charger in previous films, for the tenth instalment McCarthy said he wanted to ‘bring it back to where it all came from’, with a more traditional look.

‘The car we always put the most effort into will always be Dom’s Charger,’ says McCarthy, with an impressive 14 examples of the classic Dodge used in the filming of Fast X.

Lamborghini Gallardo

Some further exotica is dropped into the film with a Lamborghini Gallardo. Three examples of the V10powered supercar, which each cost around £65,000, were wrapped in a bright chrome gold finish for use in the film, but compared with other examples in the movie, they were left fairly untouched and were said to be ‘straightforward’ to work with while filming, too.

Alfa Romeo GT2000

An Alfa Romeo isn’t the most obvious choice for a Fast movie but the GT2000 is the car Alex King is particularly proud of, describing it as ‘the most exciting car of the film’. Appearing on set in Rome, the vehicle was modified by specialists Alfaholics, based in Somerset. It’s kitted out with a 2.3-litre Ford EcoBoost engine with a Mazda manual gearbox, which King said allowed for ‘full control of the car’ and offered a ‘spectacular drive’.

DeLorean Prototype

There are few more famous film cars than the iconic DeLorean DMC-12 from Back to the Future. Now, ‘new’ DeLorean is back with a less boxy, exotic-looking electric sports car that boasts a range of up to 300 miles. Its role in the film is relatively small but it’s the car of Cipher – a cyberterrorist played by Charlize Theron. McCarthy said that owing to such high demand for the car at the time, they only had access to one for two days of filming.

Datsun 240Z

Tuner cars are integral to Fast, and there are few more popular to tune than the Datsun – or Nissan – 240Z. It’s seen here, mid-flip.

McCarthy said: ‘We brought in a 240Z. You always want a handful of tuner cars. It’s always hard to get everything in there you want, as the movie is only an hour and 30 minutes long, but nonetheless, the 240Z was a great addition.’

Mini Countryman

In true fashion of the franchise, these are no normal examples of this family crossover. King said he bought 10 Countrymans in the UK for the movie before modifying them to ‘look like a proper rally car’. Unfortunately, there aren’t any pictures available of the modified Minis so you’ll have to use your imagination until you see the film.

Hummer H2

If you were to select a muscly ‘baddie’ car, it’s hard to get more intimidating than a Hummer. It was the Hummer H2 that was chosen to be used as the ‘armoured vehicle’ in the film. Handled by King’s UK team, he said it was ‘a lot of fun’ buying the road-going Hummers before stripping and rebuilding them with a muscular, armoured body. Various examples are blown up in the movie.

1966 Chevrolet Impala

The 1966 Chevrolet Impala is the car of choice for Dante Reyes, played by Jason Momoa, who is seeking revenge against Dom for his family’s lost fortune in the fifth Fast film.

It’s painted in a particularly distinctive purple hue and McCarthy said: ‘It comes into a great battle between Dom and Dante. It’s a fourcar race but the Impala is the one that you’re watching.’

Porsche 911 ‘GT3’

Not everything is always as it seems in the film world, especially when it comes to cars. That’s certainly true of Fast X, as the Porsche 911 GT3 (far right) that you see on the screen isn’t a GT3 at all but rather a standard 997-generation example of the 911 done up to look like the sportier version. The reason? A GT3 is about triple the price of a standard 911, so if it’s going to get modified and scraped in filming, there’s little point spending extra if there’s no real need. The ‘GT3’ stars in a street-racing sequence set in Brazil.

COOL STUFF Apple Vision Pro

There have been some big new releases of cool products over the past few weeks to choose from for this month’s line-up! With the height of summer on the horizon, it’s a great time to head out and explore – or, with some of the tech on our list, stay in and enter a virtual world if you prefer.

Oris Holstein Edition £3,300

£2,800

It was only a matter of time before Apple entered the world of virtual reality – and with the Vision Pro, it’s launched into the segment in typically massive fashion, with a set of glasses accompanied by some truly next-generation features and a huge price tag to match. They may look like ski goggles, but the Vision Pro has a 23m-pixel screen that’s controlled by the user’s eyes, hands and voice. It’s set to be a truly immersive experience when it arrives in the UK next year.

Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Series from £750

The watch world absolutely loves to celebrate a birthday and Swiss company Oris is no exception. For its 119th birthday, Oris has created the Holstein Edition – an eye-catching version of its Aquis diving watch that is limited to 250 examples.

Not only does it have a really striking purple

Garmin is one of the biggest names in the active watch segment, proving itself time and time again as a go-to choice for people who want to track all kinds of activities. New Pro versions of its best-selling Fenix 7 have just been released, too, adding a host of clever features.

There’s a new heart sensor that can record various activities and even a ‘hill score’ that grades you based on how quickly you can head up climbs. Plus, there’s a built-in LED torch – and what’s cooler than that?

Apple Macbook Air £1,399

Apple loves to release things in batches, which is why as well as the Vision Pro we’ve got a new update to the popular Macbook Air. The 15-inch laptop gets a speedy M2 chip that is said to make it 12 times faster than the previous Air.

Plus, Apple says it has managed to squeeze 50 per cent more battery life from it, with it now rating the Air for a full 18 hours of use.

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.

BUSINESS NEWS

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

CLOSURES

Bank groups to shut another 63 branches

BUYOUT

Asda chairman gives pledge over food prices

THE chairman of Asda has promised that food prices won’t go up because of a deal to buy the UK business of its sister company, petrol station giant EG Group, for more than £2bn. Lord Stuart Rose said the supermarket group needed to remain competitive. ‘It will not lead to higher prices as a result of this transaction,’ he told reporters following the deal that brings together two parts of the billionaire Issa brothers’ business empire.

ROUTE

BA resumes Beijing flights after three years

BRITISH Airways has operated its first passenger flight between London Heathrow and Beijing since January 2020 after suspending the route because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The airline began operating a regular passenger service to China in 1980 and continued doing so until the sharp drop in demand caused by the Covid-19 crisis.

REDUNDANCIES

TWO of the biggest banking giants are to slash another 63 branches. Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group between them announced a series of closures due to take place later this year or early next year. Barclays will be shuttering 10 branches, while Lloyds is to close 21 Lloyds Bank sites, 15 Halifax and 17 Bank of Scotland. The rising use of online banking is being blamed.

Thousands lose jobs as delivery firm Tuffnells fails

MORE than 2,000 staff will lose their jobs after Sheffield-based delivery giant Tuffnells Parcels Express fell into administration.

The firm has appointed joint administrators at Interpath Advisory after failing to secure funding. Most of Tuffnells’ 2,200 employees, working across its 33 UK depots, will be made redundant, Interpath said. Just 128 staff have been retained. Some 500 contractors are also set to be affected.

SSE to pay £9.8m for breaching licence

ENERGY giant SSE is to pay a £9.8 million penalty after breaching its generation licence, the industry regulator has announced.

Ofgem said a detailed probe found that the FTSE 100 company’s generation arm overcharged the National Grid Electricity System Operator during a time of transmission constraint – for example, when there isn’t enough network capacity to transport power out of an area in which local generation outstrips demand.

HSBC unveils arm centred on ex-SVB UK firm

BANKING giant HSBC has launched a new global division called Innovation Banking housing the former UK arm of Silicon Valley Bank as part of a push into technology and life sciences.

The FTSE 100 lender unveiled the plans at the start of London Tech Week, with the new division centred on SVB UK – which it rescued earlier this year – and newly created innovation teams in the US, Israel and Hong Kong.

EXCLUSIVE

Five things car dealers should consider before Consumer Duty

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

Dealers are being urged to make sure they’re fully prepared for when the Financial Conduct Authority’s new Consumer Duty comes into effect. The rules will set higher and clearer standards of consumer protection across financial services, and will require firms to put customers’ needs first.

They come into force on July 31, and Close Brothers Motor Finance has outlined five key things dealers should be thinking about to ensure they comply with the new regulations.

1. Review your sales processes – Car dealers should consider looking at every aspect of the sales process and customer touchpoints to satisfy themselves that they’re acting at all times to demonstrate that they’re delivering good customer outcomes.

2. Customer communication – Dealers might want to look at all their customer communications material – including their website – for clarity and simplicity. For instance, is the nature of products, their benefits and limitations explained in a way that customers can understand so they’re making informed decisions?

3. Know how you’ll document and review product information – Car dealers could demonstrate how they deliver good customer outcomes by documenting how they regularly review the way they sell their products to make sure customers use the products as anticipated. Dealers should also document the regular training they provide.

4. Customer support – When customers need support from dealers, the FCA will want to know the process for contacting dealerships is clear and simple. Can yours be improved?

5. Customer vulnerability – A key part of the FCA regulations is to protect vulnerable customers of all kinds, so making sure that communications are appropriate for those who are vulnerable, eg, if they have any health conditions or financial issues, is important.

ADVICE

Guide tells people how to get best out of next car

FIRST Response Finance has put together a guide to help people when it comes to buying a car – whether they’re a novice driver looking for their second new car or an experienced driver who is seeking their seventh used vehicle.

Head of finance Jonathan Such said important questions that people should ask themselves before involving others included what type of vehicle would most add value to their life, what their budget was, plus what safety and technology features were important to them.

He added: ‘Fortunately, you have a few options when it comes to how you buy your new vehicle. It could be that you have savings to spend on a new or used car outright, or it might suit your circumstances better to purchase a car through finance. Whichever route you choose, try to stick within your assigned budget.’ And he said people should make sure they ask car dealers about a vehicle’s performance, as well as maintenance and reliability. ‘Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, after all!’ commented Such.

TIME IS MONEY

RICHARD PYGOTT

Sponsorship could see your business move to fast lane

Here at First Response Finance, our business thrives on the long-term relationships we’ve built with our dealer partners. Our dealer managers work hard to build these relationships, gaining a deep understanding of our dealers’ needs. This knowledge enables us to deliver the award-winning service we’re known for in the industry.

So, when we reach out to our dealer partners, it’s not just about asking for their business; we care about their success and want to support them in any way we can.

One of our valued partners, Eden Car Sales, is a close-knit, family-run dealership in Northern Ireland that we’ve had the pleasure of working with for many years. About a year ago, their dealer manager Alesha had a conversation with Charlie Smiley, the owner of the dealership. During their discussions, he mentioned that his son Chris was in search of sponsorship. Intrigued by the opportunity, Alesha contacted our marketing team about First Response Finance supporting Chris Smiley and his racing career.

Chris works at Eden Car Sales, but when he isn’t busy selling cars, he’s out on the track or sharpening his skills in the simulator. With his impressive racing background, including participation in the British Touring Car Championship and the TCR-UK Touring Car Championship series, Chris is a force to be reckoned with! In 2022, he clinched the TCR-UK championship and is defending his title in the current 2023 season.

Sponsoring Chris seemed like a perfect fit for us. It wasn’t until later that we found out that he would be racing the Honda Civic FL5 – a ground-breaking one-of-a-kind prototype for the 2023 season, which is an amazing bonus.

Our logo and branding are featured on Chris’s car, overalls, helmet and the team’s garage. We are quite hands on too – we attended the TCR-UK pre-season media day at Donington Park, we were at Snetterton Circuit for the season opener and then at Croft Circuit for the last race. We will be attending every race, and many members of our staff will also be there to support him.

This sponsorship has required significant time and effort. We’ve meticulously planned and engaged in numerous meetings and calls to ensure that everything aligns perfectly. Our confidence in this collaboration stems from the fact that TCR is now associated with renowned sports channels such as FreeSports, BT, Sky and Virgin. With TCR UK TV reaching 120 million homes across the UK, Europe and the USA, the exposure for our brand is immense and we couldn’t be more excited.

If you’re attending any of the races, keep an eye out for Chris and members of our team who will be cheering him on. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and developments as we navigate this thrilling journey together.

The exposure for our brand is immense and we couldn’t be more excited.

INDUSTRY VIEWS

NEWS AND THOUGHTS FROM CAR DEALER LIVE

UK

Boss reveals the number of car dealers that will be axed in restructuring plans

Fiat has revealed the number of dealers losing its franchise as part of wider Stellantis network cuts – but has insisted the axe has fallen on those who have ‘underperformed’.

By the end of June, Fiat’s UK dealer network will have been cut by 20 per cent from 125 dealers to 100 – one month later than planned.

Damien Dally Managing director of Fiat

And the closures represent a ‘significant’ proportion of parent company Stellantis’s plans to axe showrooms across the country.

In October 2022, global powerhouse Stellantis revealed to Car Dealer that 138 dealers would get the chop in total as part of drastic plans to streamline its business. Along with wielding the axe on underperforming dealers, the company shuffled its management team, with execs including Alfa Romeo and Jeep UK MD Damien Dally moving to Fiat, Fiat Professional and Abarth.

Six months into the new role, Dally gave Car Dealer an exclusive lowdown on his plans for the Italian brands and the decision to part ways with some retailers.

‘When I came in, it was two weeks of crashlearning on Fiat, and what really, really struck me

AUTO TRADER

was the dispersion of dealers,’ said Dally in our video interview,

‘We have a contingent of really good and committed dealers; our two top quartiles of the network are scoring 99 per cent against a target of 95 per cent for customer satisfaction – they are absolutely hitting it out of the park and doing a home run at the same time.

‘But then we had the bottom quartile who didn’t even swing at the ball.’

When asked if the dealer terminations had begun and how many of the cuts were Fiat dealers, Dally said: ‘It’s imminent and you will see it very shortly.

‘It’s been a two-year process, which would have taken us to the end of May 2023, but due to the nature of the quarter we extended the contracts by four weeks.

‘You are going to see a significant number [lose their Fiat franchise]. “Significant number” means that we’re going to go down from about 125 dealers to about 100.

‘The truth of the matter is I cannot allow the amazing performance of 50 per cent of the network to be impacted by some that are just not playing.’

Omnichannel is still seen as the future of car buying

C

ustomers continue to prefer having digital and physical elements to the car buying process, Auto Trader has said.

Chief operating officer, Catherine Faiers explained how omnichannel – the mixture of digital and physical retailing – is still believed to be the future of

the motor trade, as consumer behaviours continue to adapt.

‘There have been loads of headlines written over the last few years saying that car buying is going to move online – I think there are two important things to consider,’ she said.

‘Firstly, there’s often a

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

What really, really struck me was the dispersion of dealers.

FIAT

difference – and sometimes it can be quite a big difference –between what consumers say they’re going to do and then what they actually do.

‘And secondly, when we ask, consumers most say that they want to do more online.’

UK

SUPPLIER NEWS

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

Dealers fear arrival of Chinese EV brands

MORE than half (51 per cent) of car dealers think the arrival of Chinese EV companies such as GWM Ora will force some established manufacturers out of business.

Startline’s June Used Car Tracker, which quizzed 301 consumers and 55 dealers also shows that 31 per cent believe some existing brands are already falling behind, while 36 per cent say that the next few years will see them fold thanks to tougher competition.

New range to help with Consumer Duty

REGIT says engagement on its website has risen fivefold following its first leap into TV advertising. The website, which calls itself a ‘digital garage for vehicle owners’, is currently being promoted by a TV campaign featuring Reggie the Regit frog to build the Regit brand and promote its tools that help car owners buy, sell and maintain their vehicles. Regit CEO Chris Green said: ‘Our “Digital Garage” helps consumers to quickly check if their car is clean air compliant and road legal.’

Index shows used car retail prices up again

A NEW product range designed to act as a ‘single point solution’ to dealer Consumer Duty compliance has been introduced by iVendi.

The Consumer Duty Lite, Classic and Ultimate packages gather an array of new and existing online tools that together offer a comprehensive response to the requirements of the FCA’s four key outcome areas and three crosscutting rules, said chief commercial officer Darren Sinclair, pictured.

USED car retail prices grew for the 38th month in a row in May as the market enjoyed its biggest boost in six months.

That’s according to Auto Trader’s latest Retail Price Index, which has been studying the latest market trends for the fifth month of the year.

The firm’s analysis found that the average retail price of a used car rose to £17,815 in May, representing a 2.8 per cent year-on-year rise – the biggest since December 2022.

Lloyd group extends auction deal to 2026

LLOYD Motor Group has extended its partnership with Manheim Auction Services until 2026.

The Car Dealer Top 100 firm will continue to remarket thousands of vehicles from the Leeds base of Manheim, which is owned by Car Dealer Live partner Cox Automotive Director Sam Lloyd said: ‘We first partnered with Cox Automotive in 2020 and are extremely pleased with how they conduct business and the performance at the rostrum.’

IVENDI

AUTO TRADER MANHEIM

Reggie TV campaign helps web traffic jump high

This sponsorship has required significant time and effort. We’ve meticulously planned and engaged in numerous meetings and calls.

Richard Pygott p41

STATISTICS

THE LATEST REGISTRATION FIGURES

Ford reclaims best seller title as new car sales rise again in May to set new record

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

New car registrations went up again in May, setting a new record. They jumped by 16.7 per cent year on year, representing 10 months of consecutive growth, according to figures released by the SMMT on June 5.

That period of registration increases marked the longest uninterrupted period of expansion for eight years, said the industry body.

However, May’s figure was still 21 per cent lower than pre-pandemic 2019.

A total of 145,204 units received 23-reg plates in May, led by petrol-powered cars, which now account for 57.1 per cent of the market.

Battery-electric vehicles maintained their second place in the market with a 16.9 per cent share. Plug-in hybrids currently hold a 6.2 per cent share and hybrids a 12.3 per cent slice of the market.

The Ford Puma was May’s best seller with 4,184 registrations, and the compact crossover has now taken over the number one position year to date with 17,312 sales.

It means the Blue Oval is back on top of the sales charts, pushing arch-rival Vauxhall and its Corsa into second place with 17,062 registrations.

The Nissan Qashqai was second in May’s chart with 3,140 registrations and the Vauxhall Mokka third with 3,066.

The SMMT said the new car market was ‘maintaining momentum’, but it again called for wider support to help motorists make the switch to electric.

Chief executive Mike Hawes said: ‘After the difficult, Covid-constrained supply issues of the last few years, it’s good to see the new car market maintain its upward trend, and the fact that growth is, increasingly, green growth is hugely encouraging.

‘Transforming the market nationwide, however, and at an even greater pace means we must increase demand and help any reticent driver overcome any concerns about electric vehicles.

‘This will require every stakeholder – industry, government, chargepoint operators and energy companies – to play their part, accelerating investment to drive decarbonisation.’

It’s good to see the new car market maintain its upward trend, and the fact that growth is, increasingly, green growth is hugely encouraging.

Mike Hawes SMMT chief executive

MAY 2023 MAY 2022

REGISTRATIONS OF NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

THAN 3.5 TONNES

Market enjoys fifth month of growth in a row

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

THE number of LCVs registered in the UK grew by 15.3 per cent last month versus May 2022, reaching 25,359 units.

The latest figures, released by the SMMT on June 5, mean there have been five months in a row of rising deliveries. The industry body said the market was rebounding from a tough 2022 as supply chain problems continued to ease.

However, registrations were still 13 per cent below the pre-pandemic 2019 figure of 29,142 units in May 2019. The battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market was up by 19.7 per cent to 1,041 units – about one in 24 new vans. A total of 7,028 all-electric vans have been registered so far in 2023 – a rise of 15.5 per cent on the same period last year.

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.

VOLKSWAGEN CADDY

James Batchelor gives his honest view on living with the very practical people-carrying VW.

There we are then – no sooner had the Caddy arrived than it was on its way back to Volkswagen to be replaced by another big VW bus.

The Caddy’s replacement is a story for another day, though – here I want to talk to you about my time with Volkswagen’s smallest commercial vehicle. I racked up around 1,000 miles in a few short weeks and I can say, hand on heart, I really enjoyed it.

You might find that surprising as, let’s face it, it’s not the most exciting vehicle in the world. Its functional demeanour is a two-fingered salute to fashionable crossover SUVs that, more often than not, are nowhere near as practical as they make out to be.

Our car was the five-seater short-wheelbase (SWB) version and it easily swallowed up people and things. Despite being the smaller version, the SWB still has a massive 1,100-litre boot and carried the weekly shop with room to spare. It was also very useful for trips to the local tip carrying enormous bags of garden rubbish. Hooks on the side of the boot for shopping and tiedown hooks made the space even more handy, while a large load cover kept items hidden from any prying eyes. Extra drawers under the front seats gave even more storage space.

Speaking of seats, the back seats are wide enough – just – for three passengers, but legroom could be better; the bench doesn’t move, so some of my lankier friends moaned about their knees being squashed up against the backs of the front seats. They didn’t moan about it feeling claustrophobic, though, thanks to the massive glass panoramic roof, which seems good value at £990. However, every passenger I’ve carried in the back of the Caddy – not just the tall ones – said it was very noisy on the move, but that’s always a downside of a boxy van-based peoplecarrier – empty space equals poor acoustics.

The Caddy has the same tech as any other VW and, on the surface at least, gets an impressive level of equipment as standard. Admittedly, this Caddy had the larger touchscreen, digital dials and wireless phone connectivity and charging, all of which are options, but it’s mad to think this level of sophistication is available in a car such as this.

However, while it’s great that this type of tech is available in the Caddy, it’d be great if it didn’t frustrate me so much. The infotainment system is a mess of menus, the temperature and volume controls are sliders under the touchscreen that don’t illuminate at night, and the lanekeep assist had a terrible habit of yanking the steering wheel out of my hands on roads where the line markings were poor – which is virtually every road in the countryside where I live.

What’s more, while I liked the shape and design of the interior, the rectangular touchscreen looked ugly in the swoopy dashboard. And although I know it has commercial vehicle origins, it would have been nice if, for the passenger version, there was just a smattering of squidgy plastics just to break up the unremitting sea of scratchy grey plastic.

I had no complaints with the engine, however. While VW’s fantastic 2.0-litre diesel has become rather unpopular in recent years due to dieselgate, it’s a perfect fit for a vehicle such as this. It was never rough and always returned high 40s for fuel consumption; even the DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox – always a weak link in a diesel VW – behaved itself for most of the time. All in all, it was great to spend some time with the Caddy, and as I handed the keys to the delivery driver, I couldn’t help but think I’m glad vehicles such as the Caddy that dispense with glamour and focus on practicality exist. That’s just as well really as the Caddy has been replaced by its larger brother – but more on that next time.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Volkswagen Caddy

Life SWB 2.0 TDI

122PS 7spd DSG

Price (as tested): £42,441

Engine: 2.0-litre diesel

Power: 120bhp

Torque: 320Nm

Top speed: 116mph

Fuel economy: 54.3mpg (combined)

0-60mph: 11.2 seconds

Emissions: 136g/km CO2

Mileage: 8,225

This month’s highlight: Taking advantage of the capacious boot for the weekly shop as well as trips to the tip.

OTHER CARS WE’RE DRIVING

Mileage: 5,988

The 330e feels like a car for all occasions but with added electrification!

Mileage: 16,220

The CX-5’s ‘Zircon Sand’ shade might be eye-catching but it’s been dividing opinion.

Mazda CX-5

BMW 330e Touring M Sport

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