Car Dealer Magazine: Issue 185

PLUS: ALL THE LATEST NEW CAR NEWS AND REVEALS

FIRST DRIVE: ROLLS-ROYCE

MASERATI’S UK BOSS REFUSES TO RULE OUT AGENCY SALES

PLUS: HOW TO STAY SAFE ON AUTO TRADER

• CARWOW CEO STEPS DOWN

• PENDRAGON PAY REVOLT

• BMW’S X1 GETS SPORTIER

• LOOKERS TAKEOVER LATEST

• MG4 XPOWER HOT HATCH

• PETER HORBURY MOURNED

PLUS: WE TRY OUT THE LOTUS ELETRE, POLESTAR 2 AND HONDA’S ZR-V

AWARDS

THE SUPPLIERS & MANUFACTURERS YOU RATED AND SLATED THIS YEAR

FOUNDER

James Baggott james@thebaize.com

Twitter: @CarDealerEd

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

James Batchelor james.batchelor@blackballmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @JRRBatchelor

CHIEF SUB-EDITOR

John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

STAFF WRITER

Jack Williams jack.williams@blackballmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @JournoJack25

MULTIMEDIA MANAGER

Jon Reay jon@blackballmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @JonReay

HEAD OF DESIGN

Graeme Windell graeme@blackballmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @graemewindell

WELCOME.

It’s a well-known fact that television always has a habit of going wrong. While you can’t say the Car Dealer Power awards video is like television, the point remains – it’s never straightforward. We record interviews with all of the winners on video calls and normally they go without a hitch. I say normally because it’s usually a fault at my end of the line as the cat casually walks into shot. Or the wine delivery man rings the doorbell just at the wrong moment.

FINANCE MANAGER

Kate Gordon kate@blackballmedia.co.uk

This year, we had a few connection problems during our call with Mark Roden – Toyota GB’s sales director. Zoom just wasn’t playing ball, but we had to persist as Roden was our star interviewee, since Toyota had clinched the overall Best Manufacturer award.

SALES MANAGER

Kevin Day kev@blackballmedia.co.uk

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Michelle Searle michelle@blackballmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @cardealermich

And I’m so glad that we did persist as it was clear that winning this award meant such a lot to the Japanese carmaker. Toyota rose seven places up the table, knocking Kia off the top spot after a three-year streak, and notched up outstanding scores in all categories. Roden spoke about why the Toyota network is a happy one right now, and it was lovely to hear about how a manufacturer was looking after its partners.

With the interview finally in the bag, it was time to shoot the bulk of the video, and Toyota generously set aside some space at its impressive offices in Epsom. If you haven’t seen the video then it’s certainly worth a watch –you can find it on our website.

Overall though, while Car Dealer Power 2023 featured a couple of shock wins, as always it still honoured the firms that consistently provide outstanding levels of service to dealers. Every year, we feel a huge sense of satisfaction in playing a small part in honouring and perhaps improving this industry in which we all work. You can see all the winners in the special four-page section starting on page 10.

Elsewhere, we’ve had a busy month driving some hugely important new metal, including the fabulously impressive Rolls-Royce Spectre. Enjoy the issue.

JAMES BATCHELOR Associate editor

While you can’t say the Car Dealer Power awards video is like television, the point remains – it’s never straightforward.

IGNITION.

DASHBOARD FORECOURT BIG MIKE DATA FILE

‘Manufacturers will never stop entrepreneurs, businessmen and aristocrats from selling their cars.’

‘There she was, in all her finery, pearl necklace still attached and cardigan as neatly aligned as ever.’ 20

‘Polestar says it doesn’t do facelifts and prefers not to follow other carmakers in lightly updating cars.’ 32

‘Cutting VAT on public EV charging will help make owning an EV fairer and attractive to even more people.’ 48

RESEARCH

• Online car-buying services still behind traditional dealers in eyes of vehicle owners

• eBay Motors Group finds that 62 per cent of buyers expect to part-exchange current vehicle with a dealer

• Despite that, more than half – 57 per cent – of buyers said they got at least one type of online valuation

by Jack Williams @JournoJack25

Most car owners would rather trade in their vehicle with a dealer than use an online car-buying service, new data has revealed.

Swansway has become the latest outfit to offer its own online car buying platform with the launch of its Sell 2 Swansway site

However, a study by eBay Motors Group has suggested that customers may still prefer to do things the old-fashioned way.

Research conducted as part of the group’s latest Consumer Insight Panel found that 62 per cent of in-market buyers were currently expecting to part-exchange at a dealership against the value of their next purchase.

Meanwhile, 38 per cent of the 2,000 people surveyed said they would sell their existing car before buying from a dealer.

The research also showed that dealers remain the preferred destination for online valuations for most owners.

Nearly a third (32 per cent) said they would get an online price from the dealer they expect to buy from, while 22 per cent were more likely get online valuations and offers from dealers they find through car search websites.

A further 21 per cent said they would prefer to speak directly to the dealer they were buying from about part-exchanging their current vehicle, rather than seeking an online valuation.

And when it comes to alternatives to dealer trade-ins, private sales (28 per cent) were just ahead of online car-buying services, such as WeBuyAnyCar (27 per cent).

For buyers choosing to part-exchange with dealers, convenience is the biggest

overall consideration, with respondents saying they value the ease of being able to do everything in one place.

For those selling their current car ahead of buying a replacement, the biggest driver was getting a better price, followed by being in control of the process and having more options.

Reacting to the findings, Lucy Tugby, marketing director of eBay Motors Group, said: ‘Despite the choice of online carbuying services, many of which have become household names, when it comes to part-exchanges, dealers are the go-to destination for most buyers, whether getting valuations online or negotiating in the showroom.

‘While this is welcome news for all dealers, they will still need to work hard to retain this business or see specialist online used car-buying services win it from them.

‘In light of the ongoing shortage of

While this is welcome news for all dealers, they will still need to work hard to retain this business

used cars, a dealer’s ability to retail partexchanges is more important than ever.

‘While our research reveals just how attractive it is for customers to trade in and buy at the same time, over half (57 per cent) of all buyers claim to get at least one type of online valuation.

‘The need to be competitive on valuations remains paramount.’

Lucy Tugby Marketing director of eBay Motors Group

Rolls-Royce bans Spectre buyers from selling them on for a profit to used car dealers

Rolls-Royce customers who attempt to sell their new Spectre models for a profit to used car dealers will be banned from buying another for life.

Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös told Car Dealer that any attempts to cash in on the hugely popular new car will result in them being blacklisted.

Speaking at the launch of the new car in California, he said: ‘I can tell you we are really sanitising the need to prove who you are, what you want to do with the car. You need to qualify for a car and then you might get a slot for an order. [If they sell the car on] they’re immediately going on a blacklist and this is it – you will never ever have the chance to acquire again.’

But despite this, supercar dealer Tom Hartley – known for selling second-hand Rolls-Royce models his entire career – said he had already agreed £50,000 premiums for two Spectres. Hartley said he will have a Spectre for sale at his used car dealership ‘within two weeks of it being launched’.

The new car goes on sale this summer, with first deliveries in the autumn. Spectres start at £330,000 but most will leave the factory gates costing north of £450k.

Hartley said: ‘Money talks and manufacturers will never stop successful entrepreneurs, businessmen and aristocrats from selling their cars. I have already agreed to buy two Spectres from customers. I do

by James Baggott @CarDealerEd

not think it is fair for car makers to tell customers who have spent close to half a million pounds on a car what they can do with it. It’s not right. People’s circumstances change, they could have a genuine reason for the sale, such as financial problems.’

Hartley said the new Spectre – the first electric Rolls-Royce – will enjoy a premium for a short time and some owners will want to cash in on that.

He added: ‘This will be an amazing car, and in London where having one first is important, it will command a premium.

‘But that premium will be short-lived. It’s an “in vogue” situation. People want to be the first with the new toy, which gives people a short window to make a profit.

‘The people who buy these cars are business people and in that world sometimes a healthy profit talks.’

Müller-Ötvös added that some 40 per cent of Spectre buyers are expected to be new to the brand. ‘Many buyers see Spectre as the very first proposition in the ultra-luxury segment to go electric and that is quite something. It’s a similar kind of feeling as in 2007, to carry your very first iPhone in your pocket, to be seen behind the wheel of a Spectre.’

WE DRIVE THE ROLLS-ROYCE SPECTRE

FULL ROAD TEST ON PAGE 28

Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös

Money talks and manufacturers will never stop successful entrepreneurs, businessmen and aristocrats from selling their cars.

MASERATI REFUSES TO RULE OUT AGENCY SALES MODEL

• Maserati won’t follow other Stellantis brands Alfa Romeo and DS into agency – for now, at least

• New retail concept in showrooms has begun with H.R. Owen’s Hatfield dealership

• Maserati expects to double UK sales in 2023

by James Batchelor @JRRBatchelor

Upmarket Italian brand Maserati is ‘keeping an eye’ on agency sales and isn’t ruling out introducing the business model to its UK dealer operation.

Maserati’s general manager for the UK and Scandinavia, Peter Charters, said he’s happy with both the current scale and operations of his UK dealer network – which currently operates in a traditional format – but didn’t dismiss rolling out agency agreements in the future.

Speaking to Car Dealer, he said: ‘As you would expect, 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.’

The agency model sees the car manufacturer selling cars directly to consumers via its main website, often with a no-haggle pricing structure, and the dealer being paid a handling fee.

In theory, it allows the manufacturer to create a consistent sales process across its dealer network, while the dealer can focus on delivering excellent customer service.

Fellow Stellantis brands Alfa Romeo and DS Automobiles have already confirmed they will be switching to agency sales, although a memo leaked to Car Dealer in November 2022 showed Stellantis has delayed introducing the roll-out of agency agreements by six months to January 1, 2024.

At the time of the confirmation, Alfa Romeo’s then-managing director, Damien Dally, said the move was part of major plans to ‘improve customer service and experience’.

Maserati is positioned as Stellantis’s luxury nameplate – and, importantly, above Alfa Romeo and DS Automobiles.

With that in mind, agency sales could be a desirable route for Maserati, as it’s currently in the process of enforcing its place in the luxury car market.

‘We are not committed to it [agency sales], but we’re not saying we’ll never do it,’ Charters told us.

‘Maybe this is where we are slightly different from the other [Stellantis] brands, as we are on such a product offensive and rolling out a completely new retail environment – that’s enough to focus on for the time being.’

He added: ‘We’ll make a decision for the future at some point.’

Maserati currently has a 12-strong dealer network, with a solus site in Ascot, Berkshire, opening imminently.

Its newest dealership is H.R Owen’s posh £30m multi-franchise site in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, which is also the first to show off Maserati’s new ‘retail concept’ that mixes ‘lounge’ and ‘atelier’ vibes.

Peter Charters

Maserati’s general manager for the UK and Scandinavia

down the agency route, which I’m sure they’ll be very successful at, but we’re looking at what works the best.

Maserati Levante and Grecale GT

‘I would say over the last 20 years, maybe more, pretty much all manufacturers have gone for a clinical showroom environment with lighting that shows off the cars to the best of their ability,’ Charters said.

‘But what we’ve seen in our research is that the customer has moved a long way from that.

‘They’re looking for an environment where they feel warmth, they’re relaxed and they’re comfortable – not a high-pressure and clinical environment where they’re sold a car.

‘With our new concept, the customer doesn’t walk into the showroom and is greeted with six cars sitting there.

‘There’s a luxury Italian table with a coffee machine and bar stools around it where they can initially just have a chat – to build up a relationship.

‘Then they walk into the showroom, which is more muted and has a luxury coffee shop feeling.

‘This is where the cars are displayed, but that’s almost the secondary part. There are also opportunities to personalise cars with large screens and 3D visualisations of the cars.

‘We think customers want that warmer, more engaging interaction.’

Charters added that all showrooms will transition to the new retail concept in around two years’ time to keep pace with the fast roll-out of new models.

The Italian company sold 720 cars in the UK last year and expects to double sales in 2023.

Its line-up comprises the GranTurismo four-seat coupe, the Ghibli and Quattroporte saloons as well as the Levante SUV, but it’s recently been bolstered by the 621bhp MC20 supercar and the £60,000 Porsche Macan-sized Grecale SUV.

A pure-electric Grecale Folgore and next-generation GranTurismo will arrive later this year, while 2024 will see the introduction of electric versions of the GranTurismo and MC20 supercar plus a new Quattroporte, which is also expected to be electric.

customers want that warmer, more engaging interaction.’

Peter Charters

Maserati

MC20 supercar

Maserati GranTurismo

Maserati Ghibli

WHO WON WHAT AT THIS YEAR’S AWARDS?

CAR OF THE YEAR

CAR dealers have voted the MG4 the best car of the past 12 months.

this year’s Car Dealer Power saw some real surprises.

The best of the best have been named for 2023 in the Car Dealer Power awards.

Our car dealer readers voted and chose their favourite car manufacturer to represent and the best suppliers to do business with, as well as voting for the top car.

Winners were named in 21 categories and the results announced in the special Car Dealer Power 2023 video, which you can watch by clicking on the link at the top of this special feature.

In the manufacturer awards, Toyota pulled off a dramatic ascent to the top of the league, knocking Kia off the perch after its threeyear winning streak.

Kia finished second and BMW third, the latter rising three places up the table.

Honda was the biggest riser, leaping 15 places from 21st in 2022 to sixth this year, while Mazda, Nissan and Ford also chalked up impressive climbs up the table.

Jaguar was named the worst manufacturer to represent for the second year running, though.

The full results, including detailed scores in the 13 categories for each car maker, can be found on the next pages.

In the supplier categories, winners and highly commended placed firms were named in 19 categories.

Find out who won what in the video above and read what the winners of each category had to say.

Click here to watch Car Dealer Power 2023

The Chinese-built EV scooped the Car of the Year title at Car Dealer Power this year, completing an all-electric sweep that saw the Volkswagen ID.Buzz and BMW i7 highly commended.

The Car Dealer Power Car of the Year title is different from other similarly titled awards handed out by motoring magazines and judging panels, as it’s voted for by car dealers regardless of which brands they represent.

The MG4 came out on top – and by a huge margin. The newcomer has dramatically altered the status quo in the family electric car market, and shown up rivals from leading brands.

MG, owned by Chinese powerhouse SAIC, has been quietly establishing a reputation in the UK for the past decade or so as a carmaker building no-nonsense cars that trade on value for money.

The MG4 marks a changing point, though. It’s still cheaper than its rivals like many Chinese MGs before it, but the difference here is that it beats its competition in many areas.

It’s great to drive, packed with kit, looks stylish and offers a claimed range of up to 281 miles from a full charge. Survey respondents said they loved the MG4’s low price but also how that didn’t equate to an inferior or sub-standard product.

Meanwhile, dealers reported huge interest in the VW ID.Buzz from customers desperate to own the charismatic car, while the BMW i7 is easily the electric limo of the moment.

Click here to see the full coverage and video from this year’s celebration

THE WINNERS

MANUFACTURER

Manufacturer of the Year

Toyota

Car of the Year

MG4

SUPPLIERS

Cleaning Product

Autoglym

Recruitment Agency

Perfect Placement

Used Car Valuations

Cap HPI

Consumer Lead Generation

Auto Trader

Dealer Management System

Spidersnet Autopromotor

Website Provider for Independent Dealers

67 Degrees

Website Provider for Franchised Dealers

Automotive Transformation Group

Provenance Checks

Cap HPI

Warranties

Warrantywise

Paint Protection GardX

Transformation Group

Dealer Management System

Click Dealer

Website Provider for Independent Dealers

Click Dealer

Website Provider for Franchised Dealers

Spidersnet

Warranties

Warranty First & Warranty Solutions Group

Paint Protection

Autoglym Lifeshine

Auction House G3 Vehicle Auctions

Auction House

Manheim

Online Advertiser for New Cars

Carwow

Stock Acquisition

Motorway

Online Advertiser for Used Cars

Auto Trader

Finance (Sub-Prime)

First Response Finance

Finance (Prime)

Close Brothers Motor Finance

Personalised Video

GardX B2See

Extra Mile Award

Spidersnet

Product Innovation

GardX Engage Sales and Service AI

Stock Acquisition

Cartotrade

Online Advertiser for Used Cars

Heycar & eBay Motors Group

Finance (Sub-Prime)

Moneybarn

Personalised Video Vehicles in Video

James Batchelor and James Baggott hosted this year’s Car Dealer Power event

Mark Roden, operations director at Toyota GB, accepts the Manufacturer of the Year award

Spidersnet director Katie Balkham accepts the award for Dealer Management System

Amanda Massey from GardX is thrilled to receive the award for Paint Protection

Toyota has topped the annual Car Dealer Power survey – rising an impressive seven places up our table.

Knocking Kia off the top spot after a three-year winning streak, the Japanese brand took first place in our survey that asks car dealers which manufacturers they think are the best to represent.

Toyota pleased its partners across the board, notching up best-in-survey scores in five categories.

British car brand Jaguar, on the other hand, finished bottom once again. Dismissal scores across eight of the 13 categories in which respondents ranked their brands saw the luxury car firm finish bottom of our survey for the second year running.

Toyota, though, was delighted with its win.

Mark Roden, Toyota director of operations, said: ‘This is fantastic news. It’s brilliant from our point of view to win such an accolade and I hope our retail partners will be just as pleased, too.

‘We like to foster a close, open, honest and transparent relationship with our partners.

‘We are not retailers, they have that experience, so I think they appreciate the ability to help contribute to solutions. Their input is critical to that.’

Steven Eagell, boss of the eponymous dealer group, said he wasn’t surprised Toyota had risen to the top. He told Car Dealer: ‘We genuinely work together as partners. We can discuss and debate things and we’ve got the same aspirations.’

Jaguar dealers lashed out at the recent upheaval at the brand, which has seen JLR confirm it’ll be slashing dealer numbers.

WHERE DID YOUR CAR MANUFACTURER RANK THIS YEAR?

Toyota Overall score 91.5%

FINANCE OFFERS

WARRANTY

Manufacturers not listed here did not reach the minimum threshold of responses in our survey to be included. In 2022, 24 manufacturers were included in the Car Dealer Power survey.

REQUIREMENTS

Cazoo Wholesale is one of the fastest growing wholesale vehicle market places in the UK on a mission to build fully trusted remarketing partnerships.

Offering a huge selection of vehicles through digital only 24 hour auctions, buyers are benefiting from our in depth vehicle appraisals, comprehensive imagery and commitment to service.

With sales split by stock profile and every vehicle imaged and graded to either NAMA or our own LCV standards, motor trade buyers from car supermarkets to smaller independent dealers are feeling the benefit of sourcing used vehicles through our exclusive auctions.

FIXED RATE £280+VAT BUYER FEE

Making things simple and fair

OUR SALE PROGRAMME

Designed to make it as easy as possible to source the stock you need through 24 hour online auctions.

NEW FOR Q3 2023

EVEN

MORE CONFIDENCE AND TRUST WHEN BIDDING!

Covering specific vehicle operations, our 2 day / 500 mile guarantee gives buyers even more reasons to source through our sales. PLUS… the cost is included within our buyer fee so unlike other auctions, you know exactly where you stand and how much profit you stand to make!

With CWAssured, you can trust that vehicles are offered and sold as described on our reports and with a range of remedial options available should anything not stack up or meet your expectations, we are sure that all our buyers will be able to bid in total confidence.

WHAT OUR BUYERS SAY

“Keep on describing them correctly as you are.

After years of buying from a large competitor it is a breath of fresh air to have vehicles turn up and they are as described, and sometimes better.

Cazoo Wholesale has made auction buying simple!”

“Having bought vehicles from Cazoo Wholesale since day one and as a current buyer of dozens per month, I think I am well placed to pass judgement!

As far as vehicle remarketers go, they are the best out there. Accurate descriptions, fair grades, reasonable buyer fees and very good after sales service, ensuring any issues are dealt with fairly and smoothly. I just wish I was the only one who knew about them!”

HOW TO STAY SAFE ON AUTO TRADER

• Auto Trader explains steps users can take to stay safe on platform

•

by Jack Williams @JournoJack25

Auto Trader says it is taking all possible steps to ensure the safety of buyers and sellers after an unscrupulous car dealer was jailed for selling dodgy vehicles on the platform.

Car Dealer reported that Mohammed Sajad ripped off 11 customers by selling them unroadworthy ‘death traps’ for a combined £58,000.

The Birmingham-based conman used Auto Trader and a number of other online platforms, including eBay, Facebook and Gumtree, to flog the motors.

He was jailed for close to three years and Auto Trader has now moved to explain the measures it has in place to prevent fraudsters from exploiting buyers.

A spokesman for the retailer told Car Dealer that the firm was ‘committed to ensuring that customers’ buying and selling experiences are as safe and secure as possible’.

He said that its measures can be broken down into five main categories: monitoring and moderation; collaboration with authorities; dedicated safety and security site; investment in processes and ongoing reviews, and industry leadership.

Here is what Auto Trader says…

MONITORING AND MODERATION

Our dedicated professional security team works 365 days a year to monitor fraudulent and unlawful activity and take appropriate action.

We also encourage customers to identify misleading adverts by placing a ‘report this advert’ function on every advert.

Where we identify adverts which are unlawful and/or breach our moderation policies, we remove them from our site.

COLLABORATION WITH AUTHORITIES

We regularly assist law enforcement authorities to prevent and detect criminal activity and apprehend offenders.

We take preventative and detective action immediately upon becoming aware of issues, using a number of different technologies to monitor for fraud on our site.

We also alert customers if we identify concerns about customers responding to their advert.

Announcement comes after dealer is jailed for using site to sell ‘death traps’

• Bosses say outfit is ‘committed’ to ‘safe and secure’ user experience

Our dedicated professional security team works 365 days a year to monitor fraudulent and unlawful activity and take appropriate action.

Auto Trader

We work with trading standards, and where we identify poor or unwanted behaviour or receive complaints from consumers, we have robust processes in place to ensure we are able to take appropriate action.

DEDICATED SAFETY AND SECURITY SITE

We have invested in a dedicated safety and security site that provides practical advice for each stage of the consumer experience.

The safety and security site is available via the Auto Trader homepage, but there’s also a link to it from every vehicle advert where consumers can find the latest buying and selling checklists.

The safety and security site is regularly updated to highlight latest news, information and alerts, and customers can contact our dedicated security team seven days a week to raise questions and concerns.

By signposting our advice at each stage of the customer journey, we remind all customers not to jeopardise their personal safety and help them make informed decisions when buying and selling online.

Anyone wishing to visit Auto Trader’s safety and security site can do so here

INVESTMENT IN PROCESSES AND ONGOING REVIEWS

We invest in people, technology and processes to prevent scammers defrauding our dealers and consumers.

In practical terms, this involves optimising security settings on all of our systems, validating phone numbers listed on adverts, protecting private sellers’ personal information and installing a two-factor verification on all customers’ accounts.

We work closely with our security team to identify new areas of risk and augment our systems accordingly.

INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP

We collaborate with other classified advert sites to promote industry best practice.

For example, in 2006 we established the Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group (VSTAG), with the aim of bringing together law enforcement, trading standards and other key classified marketplaces to share best pro-active advice to help consumers buy and sell vehicles safely.

In doing so, we introduced a minimum set of industry standards to which most classified players have signed up.

JAILED FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS OVER ‘DEATH TRAP’ CARS

A CAR dealer has been jailed for almost three years after ripping off customers by selling unroadworthy ‘death trap’ vehicles.

Mohammed Sajad, of Vibart Road, Yardley, conned 11 customers out of a combined £58,000 by selling apparently ‘stunning’ cars on a range of online platforms. In reality, the vehicles weren’t fit for the roads, and when repair work was factored in, victims were found to have lost more than £100,000 in the scam.

The 24-year-old admitted conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime and entering into a money laundering arrangement at Birmingham Crown Court earlier this year.

He returned to the dock on June 28 for sentencing and was jailed for two years and 11 months. Judge Tom Rochford was told that a customer who bought a Ford Ka was ‘lucky to be alive’ because of a faulty fuel tank that could have blown up at any time.

A Land Rover Discovery bought by another customer was described as a ‘death trap’ by a mechanic.

The scam, which Sajad ran between 2018 and 2021, was brought to court by Birmingham City Council, whose prosecutor, Mark Jackson, said: ‘The case relates to the defendant’s involvement in a dishonest scheme advertising and selling motor vehicles, many of them unroadworthy and dangerous.

‘The defendant...sold dozens and dozens of vehicles using false business names, identities/forged documents including false service histories. In the main, sales were made online and via telephone. Over and over again, the defendant made dishonest and misleading representations, with victims being given false, misleading and wholly dishonest information.’

During the sentencing hearing, it was revealed that Sajad had been trading under several business names, including Yew Tree Cars, Sam Harrison Cars and Lee Hudson Cars. In reality, he was making his neighbours’ lives a ‘living hell’ by flooding the area with old bangers he was selling online, the Birmingham Mail reported.

Sajad also had a 10-year criminal behaviour order imposed on him, restricting his handling of cars.

We invest in people, technology and processes to prevent scammers defrauding our dealers and consumers.

Auto Trader

LEAD THE CHARGE

ELECTRIFY YOUR STOCK WITH ASTON BARCLAY’S DEDICATED MONTHLY EV SALE

Aston Barclay continues to grow its EV proposition with a regular schedule of dedicated EV sales and a commitment to sharing knowledge and education within the Used Car industry.

Their Desirability Index has recently shown that EV prices are starting to stabilize and data suggests that the drop in Tesla pricing has now made the used Model 3 a popular choice alongside the Renault Zoe. A monthly EV sale currently takes place at Donington Park and is supported by vendors such as Zenith, Santander, TCH Leasing, Octopus and Mobilize. The wide range of EV vehicles available have previously sold from anywhere between £8,000 and £40,000 with an average age of 29 months.

Sean Russell, Director of Marketing, said:

“Our goal is to be the trusted partner by Leading the Charge on EV remarketing. To help achieve this we have recently made a number of investments, including an ongoing staff training programme and dedicated in-house EV expertise. This, coupled with our marketing campaign that busts EV myths is all aimed at helping our Buyers buy and sell electric vehicles with increased confidence.”

JOIN US EACH MONTH AT DONINGTON FOR OUR DEDICATED EV SALE

Check the website for further details: www.astonbarclay.net

Dacia has charmed its way into our lives – and may surprise us further

Dacia is 10 years old. That’s what the press release from Dacia said, and I had to read it twice to believe it because it feels like the Renault-owned Romanian brand has been here forever.

Using that very imprecise metric which is how many cars do you see on the roads – for Dacia, the answer is chuffing loads – it would seem as though we Brits have taken the carmaker to our hearts. Indeed, Dacia has put a figure on it – the 250,000th Dacia (of the current iteration) was sold by dealer Richard Sanders in Northampton only last month

I say ‘current iteration’ because Dacia was in the UK in the 1980s but no-one really remembers and the Dacia of today probably doesn’t want you to remember, either. The Duster of ‘Dacia 1.0’ imported here in 1985 was (consults the internet) a rebadged car of similar Romanian ancestry, originally called the ARO 10. It was designed for farmers and priced at £6,000, which made it some four grand cheaper than the most basic Land Rover 90 of the time. Sounds like the current car in terms of being cheap, but while you’ll find motoring journos like me raving about the Duster of the 21st century, Autocar described the shabby offering of the 1980s as ‘an automotive excrescence so terrible it makes a bus pass look attractive’. And you thought Clarkson was harsh about the Vauxhall Vectra a decade later...

Now that I think of it, I do remember Dacia arriving in the UK a decade ago. The company sent down a Sandero and Duster to our offices, both in entry-level, bargain basement, proper poverty spec ‘Access’ trim. White was the only colour if you’ll remember, the bumpers were unpainted, they had steel wheels, manual windows and a radio was optional. We devoted a large slice of the magazine to the launch (relaunch?) of Dacia, and even took the Sandero on a UK-wide road trip to try to visit as many dealerships from our Hampshire south coast base as we could in 24 hours. I think we gave up by the time we got to Northampton; the backache from the flimsy seat together with the coarse engine noise was just unbearable.

But there was, and I use this word cautiously, character. Even then, 10 years ago, many cars were starting to feel just a little too similar, and by that I mean depressingly excellent at everything. The new Dacias were clearly built to a price, but there was some no-frills charm about them.

With some clever advertising and no-haggle prices, it was no wonder the cars appealed to so many – some people, let’s face it, just want something that’ll keep them dry when they’re going to the shops. While Dacia has gone just a little upmarket these days – you can’t get those poverty specials any more and Sandero prices start at a frankly scandalous £13,795 (I’m joking, by the way) – it’s still a very rational car brand and still peddles an excellent line in respectable, commonsense cars. But what does the future hold?

Dacia will of course go down the electric route – it has to, after all – but as we all know, electric often adds a level of complexity that basic cars such as Dacias aren’t used to, and more importantly, electric can add cost. This month, the firm said it will bring Europe’s cheapest electric car, the Spring, to the UK, but I’m wondering what Dacia does next. It has already shown off its Manifesto concept which, if Dacia can put something vaguely similar into production, will be able to continue this strangely romantic view we Brits have of simple, no-nonsense transport. Citroen has also shown its hand recently with its Oli concept car that does much the same thing as the Dacia Manifesto, but we’ve yet to see a really ingenious and, importantly, cheap electric car that’s a proper car for the next few decades. The jury’s out on who will get there first but my money’s on Dacia.

It’s still a very rational car brand and still peddles an excellent line in respectable, commonsense cars. But what does the future hold?

Big Mike

COMMENT

Personal assistant’s reign of terror hid a secret none of us could have realised

In my last column, I reflected on the life of a former colleague that was very well lived until he was called up by the scrappage scheme and left to ponder his next sale from on high.

Ted’s funeral was obviously sad to attend, but it was also a great opportunity to catch up with some old friends from my 40-plus years in the car trade. Among them was Nigel, the new car sales manager of a Citroen dealership where I was the used car gaffer back in the early 1990s and who was always a good mate and drinking companion.

Over a few beers, we recalled some of the people from those days whom we remembered both most and least affectionately – or on certain occasions, both. Our dealer principal back then was a bloke called Geoff, who was a perfectly reasonable chap if you were allowed access to him. If you needed a bit of wiggle room on your margin or had a customer who needed a bit of extra love to make up for a problem, Geoff would listen and nine times out of 10 you’d be given sufficient trust to make a decision and get on with the business of selling cars.

The problem, though, was that Geoff employed a gatekeeper.

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

Those of you who have worked in main dealerships will know the structure well. The dealer principal is the great almighty, often the owner of the business or a direct descendant. Because he is so busy and important (and it’s usually a he, or certainly was in the Nineties when misogyny was still alive and well and allowed to thrive in the world of car peddling), the dealership employs a personal assistant who often goes above the expected remit of managing his diary and opening his post to instead take over the entire running of the dealership – or that was certainly the case with Moira.

Moira was our DP’s PA, or more correctly, his pet witch, whose sole job, it seemed, was to make every single one of the dealership’s staff feel very small indeed. She was a diminutive and wiry woman, with scraped-back hair and half-moon glasses, over which she could make you cower in the corner with just one withering glare.

She was always immaculately turned out, with a knee-length pencil skirt, sensible shoes and a choice of cardigans in a varied selection of miserable beiges and thunderous greys, depending on her mood when she got out of bed that morning (and woe betide you if it was the wrong side).

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.

‘You won’t be needing your car for two weeks then,’ she would tell the DP wanting a family holiday, as if control of the demonstrator fleet also fell under her command.

Moira was our DP’s PA, or more correctly, his pet witch, whose sole job, it seemed, was to make every single one of the dealership’s staff feel very small indeed.

The look was finished off with a pearl necklace, which quite clearly had cost her more than my average monthly commission – a gift, she told us, from her former boss in appreciation of her ‘work ethic’.

It was Moira you had to ring if you were calling in ill and who would bark down the phone at you if you even dared to employ a croaky ‘phoning-in-sick’ voice, and when it came to getting holiday approved, she would interrogate your reasons for taking time off, irrespective of the fact you had a holiday allowance.

She was an awful woman whom everyone was terrified of, including the DP himself, who once confessed to us that he too had to beg her for time off when he wanted his annual family holiday, only to be greeted with stock Moira phrases such as ‘You won’t be needing your car for two weeks then’, as if control of the demonstrator fleet also fell under her command (which it sort of did).

Imagine our surprise then when Nigel and I wandered up to the bar at Ted’s wake and ordered a couple of pints only for a familiar voice to pipe up from a neighbouring table.

‘I always said that the booze would be the death of you two,’she barked. ‘I’m surprised you’re both alive even now – didn’t do Ted any good, did it?’

There she was, in all her finery, pearl necklace still attached and cardigan as neatly aligned as ever, not looking a day older than she did 30 years previously. That said, she did look about 80 back then, so I guess time had eased its passage after a pretty rampant attack earlier on in her life.

With her was Geoff, our former boss, himself now well into his 70s. And that’s when realisation dawned – three decades after we incurred her wrath on a daily basis. ‘Give them a break, Mum,’ said Geoff. ‘They’re getting on a bit themselves these days.’

Yes, Moira was Geoff’s mother. And also the owner of the dealership group that had employed us all those years ago. Had we not been so misogynistic, we might have realised that at the time….

MG

MG4 XPower electric hot hatch unveiled

MG is introducing its first performance car in almost two decades with the new MG4 XPower hot hatchback.

The MG4 was introduced last year as a new electric hatchback, and quickly gathered praise for its impressive driving experience and low price.

This XPower is a slightly different breed, though, with its twin electric motors developing more than twice the power of the standard car – increasing the output from 200bhp to 429bhp, while torque has jumped from 250Nm to 600Nm.

MG says that allows for a supercar-rivalling 0-60mph time of just 3.8 seconds, making it one of the most powerful hot hatches.

TOYOTA

New C-HR to have hybrid powertrains

CAR NEWS ROUND-UP

A110 S Enstone Edition celebrates F1 team in UK

THE second generation of Toyota’s popular C-HR will be sold exclusively with various hybrid powertrains.

It retains much of last year’s C-HR Prologue concept’s bold styling, including a striking twotone paint scheme, which sees the gloss black roof extend to the full rear section of the car.

Coupe-like styling remains with the C-HR’s sloping rear end, while large alloy wheels of up to 20 inches will be offered.

Flush door handles are a first for Toyota, and the interior includes a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

ALPINE has revealed a special edition of its A110 S sports car in honour of its UK-based F1 team.

Called the A110 S Enstone Edition – Enstone in Oxfordshire being where the firm’s F1 team is based – it gets a number of unique touches reflecting the brand’s motorsport arm.

The special edition has various carbon elements that are used in the firm’s F1 cars.

Just 300 examples are being produced, with each one featuring a numbered plaque as well as a signed certificate of authenticity from the F1 factory.

Evoque gains tech and cabin upgrades

THE Range Rover Evoque has been updated with new features and cabin material.

The exterior now has pixel LED headlights with a new daytime running light design. There are also new exterior accents and colours.

But the largest changes are inside, where there’s a new 11.4-inch curved infotainment display, which can receive over-the-air updates. The interior can now be fitted with a new material called Kvadrat as well – a wool-blend fabric that’s an alternative to leather.

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

ALPINE

BYD

Dolphin brings 265-mile range

CHINESE firm BYD has launched its second new model in the UK – the Dolphin. It brings a range of up to 265 miles courtesy of a 60.5kWh ‘Blade’ battery that is cobalt-free.

BYD says it offers a ‘much higher level of safety’ compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries.

Priced from £25,490 and due to start delivery in the year’s final quarter, the Dolphin will be offered in four specifications – Active, Boost, Comfort and Design.

E-Class Estate gets wider and longer

SF90 XX is a more extreme version of hybrid supercar

FERRARI has revealed a more aggressive, track-focused version of its SF90 supercar – the XX.

It’s the first time the XX suffix has been used on a Ferrari road car. The SF90 was revealed in 2019 as Ferrari’s first proper hybrid supercar, excluding the limited-run LaFerrari.

MERCEDES has released its latest version of the E-Class Estate, bringing even more spaciousness to the practicality focused model.

The E-Class is 28mm wider than its predecessor, while the wheelbase has been extended by 22mm. Mercedes says that means the car can now offer more knee room for passengers in the back and elbow room is also better. The 615 litres offered by the boot is down on the 640 of before but can go up to 1,830 litres by folding down the rear seats.

Sportier version of X1 SUV can reach 60mph in 5.2 seconds

BMW has revealed a sportier version of its compact X1 SUV, bringing a range of styling changes and greater performance.

Known as the M35i xDrive, it’s the first time the X1 has been available in a sportier M guise.

Using the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine as BMW’s M135i hot hatchback, it develops 296bhp and 400Nm of torque.

BMW claims it can reach 0-60mph in 5.2 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 155mph. Pressing on the left-hand gear shift paddle for at least one second also provides a boost function when the car switches to its sportiest settings.

Using a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine mated to a small battery and three electric motors, revisions to both see a 30bhp uplift in power – pushing it up to 1,016bhp.

That allows for a 0-60mph time of just 2.3 seconds, along with a top speed of 199mph.

‘Tiger-nose’ grille on refreshed Picanto

KIA has unveiled a striking new update of its Picanto city car.

The compact hatchback now boasts a new front bumper, ‘tiger nose’ grille and rear light signature as key elements that differentiate this model from its predecessor but which tie it in with the rest of the range.

It’s also available with LED headlights and daytime running lights that give a more noticeable ‘face’ during darkness. All cars come on 14inch alloy wheels, but 15- and 16-inch versions are available as well.

FIAT has entered into the competitive compact electric SUV segment with its 600e.

Building on the existing electric 500 model, the new 600e delivers more space and practicality as well as a range of up to 250 miles on the combined cycle. Fiat says that if the 600e was used predominantly in urban environments, it could travel for up to 372 miles, too.

Thanks to 100kW fastcharging capability, the 600e can also be charged from 0 to 80 per cent in less than half an hour.

BMW

600e expands electric offering

FIAT

Peter Cooper buys Viking Garages

PETER Cooper has bought Southampton-based Viking Garages, adding a Kia franchise to its line-up for the first time.

Viking has sold cars since 1972, and Peter Cooper MD Darren Cooper hailed the acquisition as ‘a significant milestone for the Peter Cooper Motor Group’, saying it was ‘a significant investment in the local community, job creation and economic growth’.

HERE ARE TASTERS OF STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

NEWS DIGEST

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY

Dicksons sets sight on under-35s

ACHIEVEMENT

Starr performance as Swansway Motor Group reaches £100,000 milestone for circus charity

SWANSWAY Motor Group is celebrating reaching the £100,000 mark in donations to a charity that helps disadvantaged and disabled children.

The Car Dealer Top 100 firm has partnered with the non-profit organisation Circus Starr for seven years, raising money from the sale of Motability vehicles, with £25 donated per vehicle sold since 2016. Each donation covers the cost of a ticket for a child and their carer to attend a Circus Starr show, and it’s the first time that an organisation supporting Circus Starr has reached £100,000 in donations.

IN MEMORIAM INVESTMENT

Car designer Peter Horbury dies at 73

A DEALERSHIP is to open a used car showroom aimed at younger drivers who it says are being priced out of the market.

Dicksons of Inverness is spending some £1m on its Carzar venture, which is poised to welcome under-35s from September 1 at the showroom, reported the Press & Journal. MD

Fraser Bryce said: ‘Young people have, to an extent, been left behind by rising vehicle prices.’

Pictured is a CG image of the showroom. Credit: Dicksons of Inverness

REVOLUTIONARY car designer Peter Horbury has died at the age of 73.

During his long career, he rose to fame for his redesign of Volvos from boxy to sleek curves. In January 2023, he was promoted to a senior design role within Geely, parent company to Volvo and Lotus. A statement from Lotus, which he joined in 2021, said he died while visiting colleagues in China, and called him one of the UK’s most influential automotive designers.

TrustFord opens £500k dealership

TRUSTFORD has officially opened the doors to its new dealership in Carlisle following a £500,000 investment.

The state-of-the art facility on the Kingstown Industrial Estate began trading on July 3 and has created upwards of 20 new jobs. They include a general manager spot, which has been filled by Mike Bell, who was promoted internally to lead the new team as the firm looks to focus on retaining expertise.

Viking Garages director Nick Evans is seen shaking hands with Darren Cooper

The new Dacias were clearly built to a price, but there was some no-frills charm about them.

James Batchelor p19

Forecourt: p32

TURMOIL AGREEMENT

Pendragon directors’ pay voted out at AGM

Renault and Geely join forces over tech

PENDRAGON shareholders showed their discontent with the listed car dealer group’s board at its AGM.

The vote for the directors’ pay was the only resolution not approved, with 56.44 per cent of shareholders voting against it.

But CEO Bill Berman, pictured, held on to his role with an equally narrow margin at 58.18 per cent.

Meanwhile, chairman Ian Filby said ahead of the June 30 meeting that he would be quitting after less than two years in the role.

SHAKE-UP

Carwow founder steps down as CEO

RENAULT Group and Geely have signed a joint venture agreement to form a new powertrain tech firm. Both will have a 50 per cent stake, and say its aim is to become the world leader in developing, manufacturing and supplying bestin-class hybrid powertrains and highly efficient ICE powertrains.

An executive team will be based in the new company’s headquarters, which is intended to be established in the UK, to consolidate operations and define future plans.

CARWOW founder James Hind has stepped down as CEO with immediate effect.

Hind, pictured left, who has run the business for 14 years, has handed day-to-day control of the company to chief operating officer John Veichmanis, seen right, who joined the business three years ago.

Carwow told Car Dealer that Hind recently became a father and wanted a better work-life balance.

Hind is said to be taking up an executive director role on the board.

DIRECTORSHIP APPOINTMENT

Stuart Rowley to join Inchcape’s board

FORD’S former head of Europe is joining the board of Inchcape.

Stuart Rowley, who retired from the Blue Oval on December 1 last year after more than two decades with the manufacturer, is to become a non-executive director of the global automotive distributor.

The 56-year-old will join the audit and nomination committees on Monday, July 17. Chairman Nigel Stein said: ‘I am delighted that Stuart is joining the Inchcape board.

Patrick McGillycuddy becomes JLR UK MD

JLR has made Patrick McGillycuddy its new UK managing director.

McGillycuddy had been filling the role on an interim basis since March but now takes the position on a permanent basis after impressing bosses. Effective as of July 6, the former JLR sales director is responsible for all the firm’s UK commercial operations, including leading its National Sales Company as it looks to establish the ‘House of Brands’ model.

‘Polestar has comprehensively updated its sales hit with a particular focus on efficiency.’

Moira was our DP’s PA, or more correctly, his pet witch, whose sole job, it seemed, was to make all the staff feel very small indeed.

Big Mike p20

HERE ARE TASTERS OF STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

Door is opened for rival Lookers bids

NEWS DIGEST

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY

THE door is open for a rival bid to the £465m offer tabled by Canadian firm Alpha Auto Group for Lookers – and a price that’ll pique attention has been outlined too.

Investment firm Schroder – which holds 4.1 per cent of Lookers’ stock – has said it would withdraw consent for the deal if a rival bid ‘which equals or exceeds 110 per cent’ of the current offer is tabled.

That means a bid of around 132p per share could snatch the deal.

TAKEOVER WITHDRAWALS

New sports deals replace Cazoo

ACCOLADE

NISSAN has named Melanie Hayes as its Dealer Ambassador of the Year.

The Motability service specialist at Bristol Street Motors Nissan Ilkeston beat tough competition from the network of around 140 Nissan dealerships across the country to scoop the prestigious prize. She also celebrated picking up a second award as Dealer Ambassador for Quarter Four.

Melanie is pictured with her colleagues plus Chris Marsh, Nissan GB aftersales director, second right, and James Ashley, dealership general manager, right

RAID

Fresh twist in Britishvolt saga

NEW sporting partners have been found to replace two of Cazoo’s biggest sponsorship deals.

The online used car dealer has ended its ‘multi-year deal’ as headline sponsor of the PDC World Darts Championship after just one year, with Paddy Power taking over.

And the England and Wales Cricket Board has found a new main partner for The Hundred, after Cazoo ended its agreement as part of a cost-cutting exercise. The sponsorship has now gone to Compare the Market.

BRITISHVOLT’S new overall owner has been raided by Australian police.

Scale Facilitation subsidiary Recharge Industries took over the beleaguered company earlier this year. But now Australian federal police investigators have raided the offices of Scale, seizing equipment amid concerns that staff hadn’t been paid for around a fortnight.

Scale denies any wrongdoing and says the raid was based on a misunderstanding.

2.5 The weight in tonnes of the Lotus Eletre.

All change with brands at Hendy

HENDY is to ‘move away’ from Toyota and Lexus brands at four of its locations but add two Vauxhall dealerships for the first time.

A leaked email from the group’s chief executive, Paul Hendy, highlighted a number of changes and moves around the group to fill the locations.

Among the changes, it’ll be moving Genesis into its Lexus Poole site, making it one of the first Genesis dealerships in the UK.

Cool stuff that’s right on time for summer

Feature: p37

CEREMONY AGREEMENT SALES

Renault Group UK honours top dealers

Aston Martin and Lucid strike deal Restructure sees loss of Peugeot franchise

BITE-SIZE

Click on the text box for the full story

THE UK’s top-performing Renault and Dacia dealers have been honoured at a glittering awards ceremony in Manchester.

The winners were determined by their performance against a range of key performance indicators spanning sales and customer feedback to aftersales results and digital metrics.

DSG Renault in Morecambe was named Renault’s best retailer. Meanwhile, Mitchells of Lowestoft took the best retailer slot for Dacia.

RELIABILITY

Wooden spoon for Discovery again

A FAMILY-RUN car dealership has lost its Peugeot franchise after more than half a century as a result of Stellantis restructuring.

Fish Brothers in Swindon has represented the French brand since 1969 but will no longer sell new Peugeot vehicles, it said.

Instead, the showroom will sell used cars of a variety of makes and models, meaning the site will stay open and jobs won’t be lost.

The dealership will continue to service Peugeot vehicles.

ASTON Martin has struck a deal for a strategic supply agreement with Lucid Group for initial and certain future battery-electric vehicles made by the British brand.

In return, the US EV maker will receive some 28,352,273 new ordinary shares plus phased cash payments, together worth about $232m (£182m).

If approved by shareholders, it’ll see the US manufacturer take an approximate 3.7 per cent stake in Aston Martin.

RIGHTS

Dealers sought for B-ON franchise

TOP: Tesla’s price cuts helped it become Europe’s best-selling OEM in June. That’s according to latest figures from Jato Dynamics, which said the EV maker won a record volume of 2.63 per cent of the market last month, shifting 29,362 units.

CENSURED: Hyundai and Toyota have been reprimanded by the UK’s advertising watchdog for making ‘misleading’ claims over their EVs. The ASA has banned adverts from both brands as they ‘exaggerated’ how quickly their EVs can be charged.

COURT: Ex-Audi boss Rupert Stadler has been given a 21-month jail sentence suspended for three years and fined 1.1m euros (circa £950,000) after admitting fraud in connection with the carmaker’s diesel emissions scandal.

THE Land Rover Discovery has once again received the unwanted award for the most unreliable used car.

The 2004-2017 model scored just 47.8 per cent in the 2023 What Car? Used Car Reliability Survey, which asked 25,000 owners what they thought of their cars.

The most reliable used car in the survey was the Honda Jazz (20152020) which scored 100 per cent.

The Discovery won the wooden spoon last year as well.

INTERNATIONAL Motors Limited plans to open a 25-strong dealer network selling the electric LCV brand B-ON this year.

It has secured the exclusive distribution rights for the German electric LCV brand in the UK and aims to quickly establish a foothold in the EV delivery van market. It is on the search for urban locations to open dealerships. Franchisees will sell the B-ON Max and Giga models in Box and Pure trim levels.

COLOUR: Fiat is to stop making grey cars – despite it being the most popular colour for five years in a row. CEO Olivier Francois said the move ‘aimed to further reinforce Fiat’s leadership as the brand of joy, colours and optimism’.

LAWSUIT: Ex-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn is said to be seeking more than $1bn (£785m) from the carmaker. He is suing it, two other firms and 12 people for crimes including falsifying evidence, slander and libel. A hearing is set for September.

ROLLS-ROYCE SPECTRE

Power

The all-electric motor produces 576bhp and 900Nm of torque, giving the Spectre a 0-60mph time of 4.4 seconds,

KNOWLEDGE

Rolls-Royce Spectre

Price (as tested): £330,000

Engine: Electric

WHAT IS IT?

Rolls-Royce dabbled in electric propulsion with the 102EX Phantom back in 2011 but surmised after that project that charging would take too long and batteries weren’t good enough. But in the past decade, technology has advanced quickly – and now the 329-milerange Spectre is ready for the road.

WHAT’S NEW?

Pretty much everything – even the Spirit of Ecstasy bonnet emblem has been redesigned with a more aerodynamic profile to reduce drag. The famous Rolls-Royce starlight headlining, which uses tiny LEDs to twinkle at night, has now been extended to the doors and it’s the first Roller to go fully electric. The Goodwood-based business has said it will never produce another car with a combustion engine again.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

Power: 576bhp

Torque: 900Nm

Max speed: 155mph

O-60mph: 4.4 seconds

Range: 329 miles

Emissions: 0g/km CO2

The 102kWh battery can be charged from zero to 100 per cent in 5½ hours on a 22kW charger. While most home chargers are 7kW, Rolls-Royce says it expects owners to have access to faster chargers at home and work.

Owners have told the car maker they actually prefer the benefits of charging as it means they won’t have to visit petrol stations any more and, presumably, be forced to mix with the hoi polloi. Buyers have, on average, access to another seven cars in their garage, so when a trip could potentially cause range anxiety issues they’re expected to use something else.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

This is a car that’s as good to drive as it is to be driven in – and before you ask, yes, most buyers drive themselves around. There were three important character traits that RollsRoyce wanted its new Spectre to demonstrate: Silence, ‘waftability’ and a magic carpet ride. The designers are convinced this is what owners want – that and the ability to accelerate and brake ‘without spilling a drop of champagne in the back’. Yes, really.

While the champagne test wasn’t performed, we did get a good opportunity to drive it on the road and it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between this and a V12. Both are silent and power delivery is remarkably similar. Engineers were told to design a ‘Rolls-Royce first, an electric car second’ and on the road, it’s clear they’ve nailed it. Power is delivered smoothly with no sudden explosive bursts as you’d expect in an EV. It’s linear and relaxing.

The Spectre marks a new electric age for Rolls-Royce and James Baggott was flown out to California to find out just what this luxury EV is like.

As for the wafting and magic carpet ride – these terms describe Spectre perfectly. It’s sumptuous and cosseting on all road surfaces. Our only slight complaint would be the steering – at times it lacked a tiny little bit of feel, but it hardly blots the copybook.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

Spectre is the spiritual successor to the Phantom Coupe and was drawn to resemble luxury sailing yachts. It certainly has similar elegant lines and looks incredibly imposing on the road. The designers told us they were looking to recreate the slab-sided, single hull of a boat. Up front, there’s the huge trademark grille and it’s available in a multitude of colours, including stunning two-tone paint jobs.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

Spectre is packed with clever, luxury touches. These include powered doors that open and close at the touch of a button or when the driver puts their foot on the brake. Rolls-Royce has redesigned the digital dashboard to match the colours of the car and even the sounds have been curated – the indicator noise is said to be a combination of ‘whisky tumblers and the ping of metal from the car’s air vents’.

It’s

TARGET BUYERS:

Incredibly rich entrepreneurs and business people.

THE RIVALS:

BMW i7

Mercedes EQS

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. World’s most luxurious electric car

2. Incredible to drive and be driven in

3. The first Rolls-Royce to go electric

DEAL CLINCHER:

It’s an environmentally friendly luxury car.

Style

The imposing design shows off the elegant lines reminiscent of the hull of a boat.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

Rolls-Royce buyers are ultra-wealthy and used to having whatever they want – and the firm will give it to them. The car maker is cagey about the price, but when pushed the firm says Spectre starts at around £330,000. Few will leave the factory costing less than £450,000, though. That’s down to the huge range of colours, finishes and options.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Auto Express said: ‘The Spectre does enough of what a Rolls-Royce should do to fulfil its brief, with peerless cabin quality and exemplary refinement.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

The Rolls-Royce Spectre is simply joyful to drive. The marque set out to make the world’s most luxurious electric car and has excelled. The ride is wonderful, the power delivery sublime and its looks are a work of art. There are few cars on the road that are quite as perfect as the Spectre – but you’ll certainly have to pay for that privilege. That said, if you need to ask the price, even Rolls-Royce admits you’re probably not the sort of person it’s looking to sell to. For the rest of us, it’s simply a desirable electric car we can only dream of owning.

The ride is wonderful, the power delivery sublime and its looks are a work of art.

packed with clever, luxury touches such as powered doors that open and close at the touch of a button.

Cabin

LOTUS ELETRE

Power

The single motor brings 603bhp and 710Nm of torque, equating to a 0-60mph time of 4.3 seconds.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Lotus

Eletre S

Price (as tested): £104,500

Engine: Electric motor

Power: 603bhp

Torque: 710Nm

Max speed: 160mph

O-60mph: 4.3 seconds

Range: 373 miles

Emissions: 0g/km CO2

WHAT IS IT?

Lotus has already kickstarted its transition to focus directly on electric vehicles with the Evija hypercar, but it’s this – the new Eletre – which is how it plans to enter into the flourishing premium EV market. With some serious backing from parent company Geely, the Eletre is a car jam-packed with technology and cutting-edge features.

WHAT’S NEW?

The Eletre uses a Geely-sourced platform that you’re set to find underneath a number of other models within the group. But with Lotus at the tuning helm, it has a more driverfocused setup with clever damping control to ensure the 2.5-tonne beast stays as level as possible through the bends. The Eletre is one of the first cars to use an infotainment setup that uses technology sourced from computer gaming, meaning it’s sharp and quick to respond. There’s also the option to have this Lotus as either a four- or five-seater.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

From launch, there are three flavours of Eletre – the standard car, Eletre S and rangetopping Eletre R. Separating those two initial specifications is a boost in standard equipment but performance and power remain the same; in the R, things are taken up a level. For this test, however, we’re in the middle-rung Eletre S, where a single motor brings 603bhp and 710Nm of torque, equating to a 0-60mph time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 160mph. But as with any EV, range is king and the Eletre does quite well in this respect. Lotus claims up to 373 miles here, but bear in mind that this can only be achieved on 20inch wheels, which are available as a no-cost option.

WHAT’S IT

LIKE TO DRIVE?

Tthis is one fine-handling model. The steering is sharp and accurate and the regenerative braking is handy with its three modes. It rides pretty well, too. At slower speeds you can feel the suspension struggling to mask the weight, but it’s very accomplished at keeping the Eletre level and honest through the bends. There’s also no piped-in ‘electric’ noise, which is refreshing after several EVs that sound like a Hollywood film when you press the throttle.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

It’s going to divide opinion, this one. The Eletre hits the road with a very distinctive look,

The new Lotus Eletre is the Norfolk-based firm’s latest electric SUV. Jack Evans headed out to Norway to see what it’s got to offer.

TARGET BUYERS:

Lotus fans who want a car that everyone can enjoy.

THE RIVALS:

Tesla Model X

Porsche Cayenne

BMW iX

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Striking design

2. Really clever in-car tech

3. Involving driving experience

DEAL CLINCHER:

Purists might say that this isn’t a ‘true’ Lotus, but as a full-on electric SUV it’s superb.

Style

It’ll divide opinion with its distinctive look and use of angles in its design.

that’s for sure, with all manner of angles here, there and everywhere. There’s some active aerodynamics going on, too, with open-and-close flaps at the front helping to reduce drag when required, thus improving range. There’s very little to tie it to Lotus models of old, apart from a smattering of original Colin Chapman – the founder of Lotus – logos dotted throughout the cabin and on the outside pillar.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

It’s quite dramatic but everything is beautifully finished. The seating position is high but the sports seats are comfortable and nicely supportive. The material quality is great, as it is the general fit and finish. As mentioned, the Eletre can be optioned as either a five- or four-seater, and we’d be tempted to lean towards the former because it lends a little more practicality to this EV and lets you fully lower the seats to expand the boot. You also get more boot space as standard – 688 litres over the four seater’s 611 – which expands to 1,523 litres with the seats down. A useful ‘frunk’ adds an extra 46 litres, too.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

The Eletre certainly commands quite a high price tag but it’s got absolutely loads of technology on board to help justify this. The main focal point is the 15.1-inch Oled screen in the centre of the dashboard. At just 10mm it’s impressively thin, but it’s responsive and accurate with plenty of functionality. You can’t get Apple CarPlay at present – it’s said to be coming via an over-the-air update – but it’s more than user-friendly enough to begin with anyway. There are quite a number of menus, mind you, but it’s good that there are chunky physical controls for the heating. The Eletre is also kitted out with some of the latest assistance systems. At the front and rear you’ll find deployable Lidar setups; they can’t be operated to deliver self-driving functionality at present due to local regulations, but it certainly puts the Eletre in good stead for the future.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Top Gear said: ‘Though this isn’t a familiar Lotus, the Eletre is a very competent attempt at applying Lotus philosophy to a seemingly incongruous product.’ Car said: ‘The Eletre is a fuss-free precision tool and highly impressive.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

The Eletre isn’t just a good electric vehicle, it’s a good car in its own right. Although Lotus might have been behind the pack for EVs, the Eletre has put it firmly out in front and well ahead of rivals who have yet to introduce their own performance EV. Sure, it might not tie in to the original Lotus lightweight philosophy, but the Eletre’s execution, delivery and driving style are everything you’d expect from the team in Hethel.

Inside

The cabin is stuffed full of technology, including a 15.1-inch screen that’s only 10mm in depth.

The Eletre isn’t just a good electric vehicle, it’s a good car in its own right.

POLESTAR 2

THE KNOWLEDGE

Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor

Price (as tested): £51,850

Engine: Electric motor

WHAT IS IT?

The Polestar 2 has clocked up 100,000 sales worldwide since its 2020 launch, 17,000 of which were here in Britain, and has neatly put the Swedish electric performance brand on the map. But in the premium electric executive car market, the pace of change is frantic, and Polestar has comprehensively updated its sales hit with a particular focus on efficiency.

WHAT’S NEW?

Polestar has overhauled the things you don’t see but are really important. There are larger 69kWh and 82kWh batteries and some really significant range and charging speed updates – up to a claimed 406 miles and 205kW DC are now possible. All models have had a boost, with even the entry-level Standard Range Single Motor managing 331 miles on a full charge.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

Power: 295bhp

Torque: 490Nm

Max speed: 127mph

O-60mph: 5.9 seconds

Range: 406 miles

Emissions: 0g/km CO2

Polestar hasn’t stopped there though, as just like the refreshed Volvo XC40 and C40 Recharge SUVs (on which the Polestar 2 is based), the 2 has switched to rear-wheel drive. Powering the rear wheels is a more efficient inverter and motor, which also bring a hefty power increase. Our 82kWh Long Range Single Motor test car now packs 295bhp – before, it had ‘just’ 228bhp – while the Long Range Dual Motor gets a bump of around 13bhp to 416bhp. The latter features a second motor on the front axle, although Polestar keenly points out the Dual Motor version is ‘rear-biased’ and ‘even more fun to drive’. The entrylevel Standard Range makes do with a 69kWh battery and 268bhp.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

So, Polestar has changed quite a lot with its breadwinner then, but get behind the wheel and all those stats and figures just melt away. We drove the Long Range Single Motor and came away feeling that the new 2 drives almost identically to the old one. There’s still strong performance on tap, high grip levels and good steering feel, and while the switch to rear-wheel drive does make the car seem slightly sharper to drive, we’d guess most buyers won’t notice. For the most part, the Polestar 2 remains a quick and accomplished car.

There is a but: our car’s 20-inch wheels give a firm ride and one that’s noticeably stiffer than a Tesla Model 3’s or even a BMW i4’s. The suspension also has a tendency to translate any thumps straight into the cabin in a very audible fashion. It’s by no means a dealbreaker, though – the 2 is a very enjoyable car to drive.

Polestar has given its executive electric car a comprehensive makeover for 2023. James Batchelor got behind the wheel of one for a spin.

Power

The 82kWh Long Range Single Motor pumps out 295bhp and 490Nm of torque.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

Very similar to the old car, frankly. Polestar has ditched the previous car’s fake grille and replaced it with a ‘SmartZone’, which neatly hides the car’s front-facing camera and radar behind a body-coloured panel and brings the 2 in line with the new Polestar 3 SUV.

It’s a small change but that’s no bad thing, as the 2 still looks razor-sharp like you’d expect from a Swedish car brand. There are some new alloy wheel designs, too

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

We think the 2 probably has the best interior in its class, with its focus on strong design and ease of use. Polestar saw no reason to change things for change’s sake, so there’s still the same great driving position and a lovely use of different materials to give a real quality feel. What has been improved, though, is the Google-based infotainment system, with some of the niggles found in the original car’s now ironed out – it’s a very easy and intuitive system to use now. Space in the back, meanwhile, is average and the panoramic roof (part of a £4,000 ‘Plus’ pack) is a desirable option, as it makes the rear seem larger than it really is. The hatchback boot makes loading items easy and the partitioned boot floor prevents items from rolling around.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

There are no trim levels as you’ll find with many other executive cars, just a standard specification with a handful of option packs available that bundle together features such as an upgraded stereo, panoramic roof and extra safety equipment. So, as standard, there’s an 11.2-inch central touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, heated front seats, a powered tailgate and 360-degree cameras.

Prices start at £44,950 for the 69kWh Standard Range Single Motor, rising to £48,950 for the 82kWh Long Range Single Motor and £52,950 for the Long Range Dual Motor. The Long Range Dual Motor Performance Pack, with its stiffened chassis, tops the range at £57,970.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Autocar said: ‘In short, Polestar hasn’t messed with the 2’s looks but just made it better. Keep those not-facelifts coming.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

Polestar says it doesn’t do facelifts and prefers not to follow other carmakers in lightly updating cars, instead focusing on the tangible benefits to customers. The new 2 is evidence of that thinking, because the changes to the car’s hardware will really matter to those wanting a posh electric executive car.

The Polestar 2 was already a desirable electric car with its stylish design, high levels of tech and quality interior – now it’s even better.

Design

Not much has changed over the older model apart from a new ‘grille’ and new wheel designs

One of the best interiors in its class with great design and ease of use – now even better with improvements to the Google-based infotainment system.

TARGET BUYERS: Family buyers and company car drivers.

THE RIVALS:

Tesla Model 3 BMW i4

Hyundai Ioniq 6

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Cool exterior styling

2. Well-made interior

3. Google infotainment system

DEAL CLINCHER:

Polestar 2 goes further on a charge than all main rivals.

It was already a desirable electric car with its stylish design, high levels of tech and quality interior – now it’s even better.

HONDA ZR-V

Power

The 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is paired with two small electric motors to produce 181bhp and 315Nm of torque.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Honda ZR-V

WHAT IS IT?

As one of three new SUVs being introduced by Honda this year, it’s designed to slot between the HR-V and CR-V as a rival to the Nissan Qashqai.

WHAT’S NEW?

It may be a new model but the powertrain (hybrid-only in Europe) is shared with Honda’s well-established Civic, while the rear suspension is essentially a CR-V. It’s equipped with Honda’s latest safety systems from the offset, while the firm boasts of a ‘saloon-like driving experience’, just with the lofty seating position of an SUV.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

The ZR-V pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two small electric motors. It’s an interesting hybrid setup since the engine powers the motors for most of the time but can also drive the wheels directly when required.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

It never feels overly bulky to drive, while the hybrid system is one of the best currently on the market. It’s smooth and instantaneous with its power delivery and doesn’t suffer from the lag of other hybrid systems, predominantly those featuring a CVT gearbox. Interestingly, the ZR-V doesn’t really have a gearbox at all, although Honda has engineered ‘steps’ to feel like gears that make it more familiar to drive.

It’s a great all-rounder behind the wheel and appears to ride well on its standard 18-inch alloy wheels, but Spain’s smoother tarmac always helps. Refinement is generally excellent as the ZR-V feels quiet on the move, except during harsh acceleration when the engine can get a bit vocal. Through the corners the ZR-V stays flat, while the well-weighted steering in Sport mode means it’s not a bad drive at all on a twistier stretch of tarmac.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

We’ve liked Honda’s design of late, especially with the eye-catching HR-V with its bodycoloured grille, along with the classy Civic. But the ZR-V lacks some of the cohesion of Honda’s other designs and in truth looks a bit like a mash-up of other SUVs on the market, and a bit bland. But the overall design is smart enough, with a relatively subdued grille and L-shaped LED running lights grabbing the attention at the front, while a larger spoiler at

Price (as tested): £TBC Engine: 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine

Power: 181bhp

Torque: 315Nm

Max speed: 107mph

O-60mph: 7.7 seconds

MPG (combined): 48.7mpg

Emissions: 130g/km CO2

Honda is expanding its line-up with the new ZR-V and Ted Welford put it to the test in Barcelona.

Style

The ZR-V lacks some of the coherent design of other Hondas and is a little bland. There’s a Sport trim option, though, that adds spice.

the back helps to give it a sporty stance. There’s a designated Sport trim too, which brings a honeycomb grille and black wheels. At 4.5m long, it’s some 22cm shorter than a current HR-V but much closer to the current CR-V, which is only 6cm longer. That said, the new CR-V is set to increase noticeably in terms of size to further differentiate between the three SUVs.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

The cabin of the ZR-V closely mirrors that of the Civic, and that’s most certainly a good thing. Up front, there’s an easy-to-navigate nine-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, while the general quality is good, with soft-touch materials used in all the areas that matter. There’s a small amount of storage under the area with the gear selector buttons (which the Civic doesn’t get), but it doesn’t seem like the best use of space.

However, the ZR-V will be a great fit for families thanks to plenty of rear seat space for taller passengers, although those in the back do feel quite high up compared with those in the front, who sit a bit lower. On paper, the 380-litre boot seems a bit poky but the room on offer is good. Practical touches such as a parcel shelf that can fit beneath the boot floor and a scratch-resistant material for the boot plastic plus lower door areas show Honda cares about everyday use. This is a car where substance leads over style.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

The ZR-V comes in three trim levels, although we expect the entry-level Elegance trim will bring all the kit most would need. Features such as heated seats, keyless entry and adaptive cruise control are all included.

The mid-range Sport brings more aggressive looks but also electric front seats, wireless smartphone charging and an electric boot. Right at the top of the line-up, the Advance packs a heated steering wheel, full leather upholstery and a Bose sound system.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Car magazine described the ZR-V as a ‘thinking man’s Qashqai’, while Autocar said: ‘The ZR-V is much like the excellent new Civic.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

In the crowded family SUV segment, standing out can be a tough ask. The ZR-V might lack the eye-catching light-up grille of the Hyundai Tucson and the fancy curved displays of the Kia Sportage, but this Honda makes up for that with its sheer quiet brilliance.

Just like the Civic, the ZR-V impresses in most areas – its hybrid powertrain and interior being two real strengths – and doesn’t seem to have any real weaknesses.

We suspect Honda might have quite the hit on its hands when the ZR-V arrives in the UK later in the year.

Inside

The cabin echoes that of the Civic – which is no bad thing. Build is generally good.

TARGET BUYERS:

Families looking for a smaller hybrid SUV.

THE RIVALS:

Ford Kuga

Kia Sportage

Nissan Qashqai

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Efficient hybrid powertrain

2. Generous equipment levels

3. Great interior quality

DEAL CLINCHER: One of the best hybrid powertrains around.

We suspect Honda might have quite the hit on its hands when the ZR-V arrives in the UK later in the year.

COOL STUFF

The summer holidays are fast approaching – and that means families up and down the country will be grabbing the opportunity for some serious leisure and pleasure time. We’ve got a great variety of cool products to check out this month, too, that can help to make the most of any time off.

G-Shock Frogman 30th anniversary £519

G-SHOCK’S range of watches have been the go-to options for people after a rugged and hard-wearing timepiece, while its iconic Frogman has been there for true adventurers as well as watch-wearers who want some really chunky style.

To celebrate 30 years of the Frogman, G-Shock has released a special-edition interpretation of the original. It’s made from an eco-friendly bio-based resin, too, while the solar-powered charging means it’ll never let you down.

Sky Live

£290

or from

£6 per month

EARLIER in the year, Sky launched its Glass setup, which saw a high-definition television kitted out with all of Sky’s services. It means there’s no need for a satellite dish or a separate Sky box – everything is contained within the TV.

Now, there’s Sky Live. It uses a small camera mounted on top of the TV to deliver a range of interactive features.

That means you can make video calls, conduct Peloton-style workouts or even enjoy motion-capture gaming directly through the television. Smart, right?

anniversary

is fully into its 75th anniversary celebrations –and it’s due to be the main event at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, too – but it has also announced a partnership with Xbox to create a limited-edition run of Xbox consoles and controllers.

They’re not available to buy conventionally, either. Instead, you take part in an online sweepstake. That means everyone’s got a fair shot at getting these eye-catching bits of tech, which feature some of Porsche’s iconic racing liveries.

APPLE loves to keep its software up to date and you can expect some great changes shortly. The new iOS 17 setup will add a collaborative playlists function so that you can share your favourite tracks with friends and family via Apple Music.

Plus, a new offline function for Apple Maps is being added. This means you can select an area that you’re heading to and download it directly to your phone.

Apple software updates Free

OHM TIME

Ted Welford takes a look at the types of public charging, their expected charging times as well as their availability.

Hyundai and Toyota have both come under fire recently by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over ads detailing the two firms’ quick charging times

The ASA found that the adverts relating to Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Toyota’s bZ4X were ‘misleading’ because of many variables and limitations at play, especially when it came to the availability of the quickest EV chargers.

But what are the different types of public EV chargers in the UK, how long can you expect a typical EV to charge with each one and what is the availability of each type of charger like? We explain all here...

AC slow charging

– Up to 6kW

There are two main types of EV charger – alternative current (AC) and direct current (DC). The first is used for slower charging, with the latter adopted for quicker speeds.

If you’re in no rush, what’s classed as a ‘slow charger’ is the best bet. These are rated at speeds of up to 6kW and are ideal if a car is parked for an extended period. They are typically found in on-street chargers, including those in lamp posts.

Let’s use Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 as an example. When equipped with the smaller 58kWh battery (an average size for an EV’s battery), it would take 16 hours to complete a charge.

‘Slow’ units are the second-most-popular type of charger in the UK. According to data from Zap-Map, one of the leading EV charging navigation firms, as of the end of May 2023, there were 10,699 slow chargers across Britain.

Slow chargers are typically found on streets. (Kia)

There are various types of public EV chargers available. (Hyundai)

Fast chargers are usually found where cars will typically be parked for a few hours. (Volkswagen)

AC fast chargers – 7kW to 22kW

The most popular type of charger in the UK is what’s known as a ‘fast charger’. Rated between 7kW and 22kW, the smaller number is the most common type. These are often found in places where cars are usually stopped for several hours, such as in shopping centre and workplace car parks.

The 7kW output is the typical output of a specific home EV charger, and with the Ioniq 5, it would take nine hours for a full charge. If you hooked up to a quicker 22kW charger, the time is reduced to six hours.

According to Zap-Map data, there are 24,443 fast charging points currently in the UK.

DC Ultra-rapid charger – 100kW+

If you’re looking to top up an EV’s battery as quickly as possible, it’s an ultrarapid charger that are the ones to find. These are rated from 100kW upwards. They are typically found at motorway service stations, although specific EV hubs are now being set up with banks of these quicker units. Most Porsche dealers also have 350kW units, which are available for use by the public.

It’s worth noting that every EV will have a maximum charging speed, with the most for some older electric cars – or those with a smaller battery – being 50kW, meaning there’s not a lot of point in using an ultra-rapid charger over a standard ‘rapid’ as it won’t charge it any more quickly.

But the Ioniq 5 is one of those that can charge at up to 350kW, which means that in ideal conditions it could take just 18 minutes to charge the battery to 80 per cent capacity. However, the trouble there – as the ASA pointed out – is that there is limited availability of 350kW units.

According to Zap-Map data, there are 3,302 ultra-rapid chargers across the UK but only around 70 locations that have 350kW chargers. The whole of Scotland, for example, has just six places that can deliver such charging speeds, while there are only three in Wales and all of them are in the south.

Rapid chargers are rated up to 99kW. (BP Pulse)

DC Rapid charger – 25kW to 99kW

If you’re looking to speed things up a notch, it’s worth trying to find what’s known as a ‘rapid charger’. These are rated between 25kW and 99kW, although 50kW is the most common output.

Often found in the car parks of supermarkets and fast food outlets, it would take around 45 minutes to charge the Ioniq 5’s 58kWh battery with one of these units, according to Hyundai’s data.

As of May 2023, there were 5,182 rapid electric car charging points across the UK.

The quickest ultra-rapid charging units are only available at a small number of locations. (Hyundai)

BUSINESS NEWS

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

PROPOSALS

Second-class stamps set for inflation link cap

Ikea to pull Mondelēz chocolate from shelves

IKEA plans to phase out products owned by Mondelēz, the company behind Cadbury’s.

The furniture giant said the decision was taken as it tries to replace some of what it sells with its own-brand products.

It means the business will stop selling Marabou and Daim products in the UK. Ikea doesn’t sell Cadbury’s, though, so the move won’t affect that particular brand.

CLOSURES

Boots to shut 300 stores over next year

BOOTS is to shut 300 of its stores across Britain over the next year.

The retailer revealed the raft of closures despite posting stronger sales over the latest quarter.

The move, which it said will affect shops near other sites, will reduce its estate from 2,200 to 1,900 stores.

Boots said there are no proposed redundancies despite the plan, with plans to redeploy affected workers.

PRODUCTION

THE price of a second-class stamp is set to be pegged to inflation until at least 2029, the UK communications regulator has said in efforts to keep letter-sending affordable.

But Ofcom wants to scrap the current price cap on parcel services.

It is consulting on its plans, which it says are to safeguard the universal service, until September, and aims to give its decisions later in the year.

Manufacturing shrinks again as demand drops

THE UK’S manufacturing sector has shrunk once more as producers continue to battle lacklustre demand at home and overseas, leading to nearly a year of decline.

The S&P Global/CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI survey showed a reading of 46.5 in June – down from 47.1 in May. A score below 50 shows the sector has contracted, while anything above 50 indicates growth. The survey has shown a negative reading for 11 months in a row.

Apple is valued at three trillion dollars

APPLE has become the first publicly traded company to close a trading day with a $3trn (£2.36trn) market value.

Apple shares closed 2.3 per cent up at $193.97 (£152.73) on June 30, bringing its market value to $3.04trn. In 1997, it flirted with bankruptcy but can now afford to pay $105bn (£83bn) annually in investor dividends plus repurchases of its stock and still have nearly $56bn (£44bn) in cash at the end of its last fiscal quarter.

JD Sports expanding to Middle East via deal

JD Sports is to launch dozens of stores in the Middle East in the sportswear retailer’s first franchise deal as part of its ambitious growth plans.

The Bury-based retailer has told investors it will expand into the region via a new partnership with Dubai-based company GMG.

It plans to open around 50 stores under the JD brand over the next five years, focusing on locations in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt.

INDUSTRY VIEWS

NEWS AND THOUGHTS FROM CAR DEALER LIVE

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

Used car prices fell by 1.4 per cent in June as the drastic drops in electric vehicle values begin to ease.

Speaking exclusively to Car Dealer Live in a video interview, Cap HPI director of valuations Derren Martin said the drop was slightly ahead of the average fall in June of 1.2 per cent.

However, he added that despite that, there was ‘definitely no price crash coming’, and said the prices will now remain at this new level and fall gently from there.

He put the drop – which compares this month’s prices of three-year-old cars to last month’s – down to a combination of the market ‘getting back to normal’ coupled with the hot weather turning people’s attention away from car buying.

He said: ‘There’s not enough supply [of used cars] to cause a crash and demand won’t be that bad.

‘Yes, people will be focused on paying their mortgage with rising interest rates, but cars are important to people, too – there’s no crash coming.

‘I feel a bit like Michael Fish in 1987 every time I say that, but really there is no crash coming. Values are still 30 per cent ahead of where they

were in 2021 and they are coming down gently.

‘Supply levels are well down on where they were pre-Covid and since then we’ve lost 2.5m cars from the market.

‘We’ve set a new level for used car values and there will be some downward movements, that’s what happens, but we’ve set a new level for them to come down from.’

Cap HPI’s reported fall in trade used car values is at odds with the 0.3 per cent rise witnessed for retail used car prices that Auto Trader revealed the previous week.

Martin said there was often a slight disconnect between trade value falls and the asking prices of used cars on dealer forecourts and he expected retail prices to fall in line soon.

‘June average prices were 1.4 per cent down for three-year-old cars, but older stuff at 10 years old was down 2.6 per cent,’ explained Martin.

‘We’re hearing dealers don’t want to buy work for the cars to be sitting in their workshops and as we’re in a period of deflation they will be losing money while they’re in there.

‘So, good clean cars in nice condition are selling well in the trade and retailers are doing okay with them.’

Yes, people will be focused on paying their mortgage with rising interest rates, but cars are important to people, too –

CAP HPI

Used car prices drop 1.4 per cent in June – but there’s definitely no crash coming

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.

Deposits and payments staying steady despite base rate rises

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

Motor finance deposits and monthly payments have stayed ‘remarkably consistent’ over the past 12 months despite ongoing Bank of England interest increases prompting higher rates for used car buyers.

New figures from iVendi show that a year ago, the average deposit for a used car was £2,859 while the monthly payment was £292. Today, although the base rate has risen from 1.25% to 5.0% over that period, it is largely unchanged at £2,932 and £304 respectively.

However, James Tew, CEO at the motor retail technology firm, said it was notable that during the same period, the average price of a vehicle being bought had fallen by £576 to £16,589. ‘We’ve seen the rises in Bank of England base rates nudging up the cost of motor finance over the past year and, with the current general economic situation, that cannot fail to have an impact on consumer behaviour.

‘Consumers are identifying a remarkably consistent level of deposit and monthly payment with which they feel comfortable and in order to partially offset the higher cost of borrowing, they are opting for lower-priced cars.

‘It’s a really good case study of how individuals can use online tools to arrive at the outcomes that suit them, working through a range of motor finance options and varying the parameters to arrive at a personalised solution.’

Tew added that these types of examples had interesting implications for how dealers and lenders dealt with their Consumer Duty responsibilities. ‘Our experience is proving that a compliant online journey, where the customer is given all the information they need to make an informed choice about their own motor finance needs, is the most effective route to meeting the FCA’s new requirements.’

FLA

Caterpillar boss Karen Page joins board

THE Finance & Leasing Association has appointed Caterpillar Financial Services managing director Karen Page to its board.

Stephen Haddrill, directorgeneral of the FLA, said: ‘I am delighted that Karen has joined us. Her sector expertise will further strengthen the FLA’s insights across the full breadth of the industry.’

Page has been with Caterpillar for more than 21 years, starting off as a parttime collector in the USA and rising through the company to become its MD in October 2020, based in Solihull.

She said: ‘I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve on the board of the FLA, our industry’s valued partner.

‘I’m looking forward to the work we will do together.’

Last year, FLA members provided £148bn of new finance to UK businesses, households and the public sector.

Of that total, £115bn was provided in the form of consumer credit, which included £50bn of motor finance supporting the purchase of 84 per cent of all private new car registrations.

Everybody wins when we put customer at heart of all we do

The FCA’s new Consumer Duty comes into effect on July 31, bringing a renewed focus on ensuring positive outcomes for retail customers. While having the FCA oversee the industry is undoubtedly beneficial, I firmly believe that the treatment of customers should be at the core of every reputable dealership, broker and finance company. Regulations should and need to be adhered to, but prioritising customer satisfaction should be at the heart of what we do as standard.

The motor industry’s main goal should be making customers happy rather than solely focusing on selling vehicles. By doing the right thing, delivering excellent customer service and ensuring the finance products you sell meet the needs and expectations of customers, sales will naturally follow because of genuine care and service.

The current economic climate presents significant challenges and will do for some time, not just for customers but for all of us. It is therefore the industry’s duty to ensure that customers on the forecourt are given more support, options and guidance when committing to short- or long-term financial agreements associated with the vehicles it sells. We should all ensure that what customers buy today shouldn’t put them at harm or in any financial difficulty at any point in the future.

In my opinion, we should go above and beyond to understand every customer’s personal circumstances when buying a car, especially considering the financial commitments involved and the current economic climate. To address customers’ concerns, we must offer vehicles and products that genuinely serve their best interests, providing them with peace of mind.

Many dealers have told me they use certain companies because they pay more commission, are cheaper or because an old school friend works for them. Taking the new Consumer Duty into consideration, I think dealers should be a lot more cautious when choosing which companies they partner with. Companies that may offer the highest commissions, for example, may not always fit your customers’ needs. Every dealer should review the companies they work with, including reviewing their customer service levels and lending practices, to ensure they are delivering what customers need.

I have told countless dealers their online reviews are a great way of measuring how good their dealership is at delivering good customer outcomes. Using and promoting positive reviews of your dealership as part of your marketing strategy is a must, as there is no better wording for an advert than the words of your happy customers.

It’s crucial for the whole industry to view Consumer Duty as a chance to strengthen our commitment to achieving positive customer outcomes. If we prioritise our customers and put them at the heart of everything we do, everybody wins.

By doing the right thing, sales will naturally follow because of genuine care and service.

SUPPLIER NEWS

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

Optimism among used car dealers hits high

DEALER optimism about the used car sector has reached a 14-month high, according to the new Startline Used Car Tracker.

June’s research, which saw 59 dealers quizzed, showed that 64 per cent say they feel positive about the market – a sharp rise from 27 per cent in May and 20 per cent in April.

The figure is the highest since the motor finance company’s research was launched in April 2022, said chief executive Paul Burgess.

Brian takes over as account manager

Second-hand car prices win out over loyalty

MOST used car buyers are motivated by a vehicle’s price rather than a sense of brand loyalty, a new study has shown.

Data collected as part of eBay Motors Group’s latest Consumer Insight Panel found that the starting point for most consumers is finding a car within budget. More than half – 53 per cent – of the 2,000 in-market buyers polled said price was their prime concern when first looking for a car.

Interest in buying EVs goes up, finds survey

BRIAN Feeney has been named as Assurant’s new RAC account manager, looking after the relationship between the two companies in the dealer and aftersales sector.

He said: ‘The consumer propositions that we help used car retailers create through the RAC Dealer Network have been recognised for several years as being market-leading.’ It comprises more than 1,200 used car retailers.

MORE than half of potential car buyers in the UK are considering getting an EV, says a new study. The latest Mobility Consumer Index from EY (Ernst & Young) – one of the Big Four accounting firms –quizzed 15,000 people across 20 nations who were thinking about buying a car. Of the respondents, 1,003 were from the UK, and EY found that 54 per cent of potential buyers in the UK were looking at an electric vehicle.

Strategic partnership will make life easier

AUTOGUARD Warranties and Bumper have announced a strategic partnership to make life easier for their dealer partners and customers. The aftersales firm has integrated the finance company into its WarrantyLogix system for a streamlined experience. In three clicks, dealer partners can register a service contract and Bumper agreement, so can seamlessly track purchased contracts alongside the direct profit generated by them.

EBAY MOTORS GROUP

The motor industry’s main goal should be making customers happy rather than solely focusing on selling vehicles.

Richard Pygott p45

STATISTICS

THE LATEST REGISTRATION FIGURES

New car sales increase for 11th month in a row as June figures show rise of more than a quarter

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

New car sales grew by more than a quarter in June with 177,266 vehicles registered during the month, according to latest figures from the SMMT. Figures published on July 5 show the new car market rose by 25.8 per cent in June versus the same month last year and marked the 11th consecutive month of growth.

The growth was mainly driven by large fleet registrations, which went up by 37.9 per cent to 92,699 units, which the SMMT said reflected the normalisation of supply.

Private demand grew more modestly, though – it was up by 14.8 per cent to 79,798 units.

Deliveries of petrol cars increased by 22.7 per cent to remain the most popular powertrain, while those of hybrids and plug-in hybrids also rose, by 40.1 per cent and 65.5 per cent respectively.

Diesel registrations were down 13.5 per cent but battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations rose again, with the segment up 39.4 per cent as 31,700 buyers chose to get behind the wheel of a zero-emission car – 17.9 per cent of the total market.

The best-selling car in June was the Tesla Model Y with 5,539 units shifted. It was followed by the Ford Puma (5,453) and Vauxhall Corsa (4,146) in second and third place respectively.

Almost a million (949,720) new cars joined UK roads in the first six months of 2023, with total registrations up 18.4 per cent and BEV uptake at record levels with 152,968 deliveries so far this year – some 13 times greater than the same period in 2019 when 11,975 BEVs were registered.

The BEV market share for 2023 now stands at 16.1 per cent, but the SMMT said that with a zero-emission vehicle mandate requiring 22 per cent BEV registrations per manufacturer due to come into force in under six months, more needed to be done to accelerate the transition.

Recharging an EV at home can offer a 60-70 per cent cost per mile saving compared with refuelling a petrol or diesel vehicle, said the SMMT, which urged a cut in VAT on public charging to help quicken uptake.

Drivers who can charge at home pay just five per cent VAT to power up their EV, versus 20 per cent for those who rely on the public network.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: ‘The new car market is growing back and growing green, as the attractions of electric cars become apparent to more drivers. But meeting our climate goals means we have to move even faster.

‘Most electric vehicle owners enjoy the convenience and cost saving of charging at home, but those that do not have a driveway or designated parking space must pay four times as much in tax for the same amount of energy.

‘This is unfair and risks delaying greater uptake, so cutting VAT on public EV charging will help make owning an EV fairer and attractive to even more people.’

The new car market is growing back and growing green.

Mike Hawes SMMT chief executive

Sixth consecutive month of growth

REGISTRATIONS OF NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

LESS THAN 3.5 TONNES

June sees market grow for sixth month in row

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

THE new LCV market rose for the sixth consecutive month in June, growing by 31 per cent to 34,630 units and making it the best June since 2019, according to the SMMT.

A total of 169,926 new vans, pickups and 4x4s were registered in the first half of 2023 – up by 17.7 per cent versus the same period last year to make it the best half-year for four years – thanks to the supply chain shortages easing. In spite of the overall growth, though, demand for battery-electric vans fell by 11.9 per cent during the month to 1,775 units. It brings the total number of all electric vans registered so far this year to 8,803 units – a year-on-year increase of 703 but a market share decline to 5.2 per cent in the year to date versus June 2022’s 5.6 per cent.

REGISTRATIONS OF NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES 3.5  TONNES TO 6.0

TONNES

Figures supplied by SMMT

Figures supplied by SMMT

HEADLINE INTERVIEWS: PETER VARDY & PETER WADDELL

EXCLUSIVE CAR DEALER & MANUFACTURER PANEL SESSIONS

EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH PAPERS FROM AUTO TRADER, GOOGLE & MORE

LISTEN, LEARN AND CONNECT WITH LIKE-MINDED MOTOR TRADE PROS FOR DEALERS AND NON-DEALERS FOR NON-CAR DEALERS FOR TRADING CAR DEALERS ONLY

WATCH ONLINE SUPPLIER TICKET DEALER TICKET

£150

£300

£200

SUPPLIERS GUIDE

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

Auctions & Trade-To-Trade Sales

BCA

W: bca.co.uk

T: 0344 875 3480

E: customerservices@bca.com

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

Automotive E-Commerce

ATG

W: atg.auto

T: 0844 264 3519

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

Data

Real World Analytics

W: realworldanalytics.com

T: 0808 1890 617

E: auto@realworldanalytics.com

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

DMS

DealerDesk

W: dealerdesk.co.uk

E: contact@dealerdesk.co.uk

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

Finance

Blue Motor Finance

W: blue.co.uk

T: 020 3005 9331

E: dealersupport@blue.co.uk

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

Finance

Close Brothers Motor Finance

W: closemotorfinance.co.uk/

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

Finance

First Response

W: firstresponsefinance.co.uk

T: 0115 946 6317

E: marketing@frfl.co.uk

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

Finance

Forza Finance

W: forzafinance.co.uk

T: 01245 245678

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

HR & People Management

HR Manager

W: hrmanager.co.uk

T: 01480 455500

E: info@hrmanager.co.uk

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

Insurance

Tradesure

W: tradesureinsurance.co.uk

T: 0121 248 9313

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

Key Control

Traka

W: traka-automotive.com

T: 0333 355 3726

E: automotive@traka.com

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

Lead Management

GardX AD-Vantage

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

T: 01243 376426

E: goforaspin@gardx.co.uk

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

Lead Management

iVendi

W: ivendi.com

T: 0330 229 0028

E: tellmemore@ivendi.com

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

Legal & Compliance

Lawgistics

W: lawgistics.co.uk

T: 01480 455500

E: sales@lawgistics.co.uk

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

Marketing, PR & Video OnCue Communications

W: oncuecomms.com

T: 020 8125 3880

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

Marketing, PR & Video Marketing Delivery

W: marketingdelivery.co.uk/

T: 01892 599911

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

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

Oil & Lubricants

Mobil™

W: mobil.co.uk

T: 0800 0857 420

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

Recruitment

WeRecruit Auto

W: werecruitauto.co.uk

T: 01603 550041

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

Stocking Finance

STAR Stocking Finance

W: starassetfinance.com/ stocking-finance

T: 0330 202 0619

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

Trade Bodies

Ben

W: ben.org.uk

T: 0808 131 1333

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

Vehicle Photography

Dealer 360

W: dealer360.co.uk

T: 01270 780855

E: nicky.spratt@ukturntables.com

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

Vehicle Tracking

Meta Trak

W: metatrak.co.uk

T: 020 8867 2340

E: enquiries@metatrak.co.uk

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

Warranty Providers

Autoprotect

W: autoprotect.co.uk

T: 01279 406888

E: sales@autoprotect.net

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

Warranty Providers

Car Care Plan

W: carcareplan.com

T: 0344 573 8000

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

Warranty Providers

Händler Protect

W: handlerprotect.com

T: 0800 088 7889

E: sales@handlerprotect.com

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

Warranty Providers

Warrantywise

W: warrantywise.co.uk/dealer

T: 0800 001 4551

E: dealers@warrantywise.co.uk

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

Warranty Providers

WMS

W: wmsgroup.co.uk

T: 01844 293810

E: sales@wmsgroup.co.uk

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

Website Design & Digital Marketing Bluesky Interactive

W: blueskyinteractive.co.uk

T: 01926 651000

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

Website Design & Digital Marketing Haswent

W: haswent.com

T: 020 3920 6164

E: hello@haswent.com

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

Website Design & Digital Marketing Spidersnet

W: spidersnet.co.uk

T: 01273 837749

E: hello@spidersnet.co.uk

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

AUDI RS 6

After living with the RS 4 sports estate for six months, James Baggott upgrades to the fastest of Audi’s load luggers.

If running an Audi RS 4 for six months felt like a lottery win, I can only imagine this is what a Euromillions jackpot feels like. OK, so perhaps that’s a little overdramatic, but I must say I was rather excited when a nice man from Oxfordshire arrived with an RS 6 replacement for my previous long-term loan Audi RS 4.

What’s different about the bigger brother apart from the additional two in its name, I hear you ask? Well, actually rather a lot.

For the uninitiated, the RS 6 is the undisputed king of the sports tourer world. It’s got more power – 591bhp no less, and a stomach-punching 800Nm of torque.

Those figures wouldn’t look out of place on a supercar’s specification and, in fact, they serve up performance that would humble most exotic motors, especially considering it can do it while carrying several sacks full of rubbish for the tip at the same time.

The 0-60mph dash is dispatched in as little as 3.6 seconds and it’ll go on to a limited top speed of 155mph. Compared with the RS 4’s stats of 444bhp, 600Nm and 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds – itself no slouch – you can see the 6 gets some healthy improvements.

While the increase in performance figures might appear small on paper, after a few weeks with the RS 6 it’s become clear that this feels more like a performance car. The throttle is sharper, the exhaust note a little deeper and it’s shockingly rapid off the line.

The eight-speed gearbox can be switched between a normal ‘drive’ and ‘sport’ mode, and in the latter, it sounds louder, changes are swifter and everything feels more assertive. I’m looking forward to some fun drives over the summer, that’s for sure.

The biggest change, though, is the additional space. As much as I loved the RS 4, it was just a little too small at times, especially with a kid’s car seat in the rear.

The problem with the 4 was you couldn’t put the front passenger seat back far enough to make it comfortable when the Isofix seat and base were in position. In the RS 6, there’s lots more space and that additional legroom has certainly been felt by the family.

The other big noticeable difference – apart from the performance, of course – is with the tech. The RS 6 benefits from a far more modern twin-touchscreen multimedia interface and digital dashboard and it’s really rather smart.

The haptic feedback on the buttons is a classy touch and it all seems very logically laid out. I’m still getting used to it, but it makes the car feel a lot more premium than its smaller sibling (not that I had any complaints there).

The RS 6 also looks more menacing than the RS 4. While I loved the smaller car’s proportions and subtle, aggressive lines, the RS 6 has a much wider stance with a lower nose and angular diffuser at the rear.

I’ve already had plenty of compliments about the Ultra Blue colour, too. In a certain light, it shimmers beautifully and several people have said how much they love it – usually while I’m pumping it full of fuel, which is often. If I thought my trips to the pumps were frequent in the RS 4, then I’m soon going to have a bulging points card at my local filling station thanks to the RS 6’s thirst. On a couple of trips around town recently I’ve seen 11mpg. Yes, 11.

However, that said, on longer motorway trips, thanks to 48v technology that shuts down the engine and allows it to coast to save fuel, it manages to achieve high 20s. It’ll be interesting to see how the fuel consumption settles down during my time with the car.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Audi RS 6

Price (as tested): £106,020

Engine: 4.0-litre V8

Power: 591bhp

Torque: 800Nm

0-60mph: 3.6 seconds

Top speed: 155mph

Fuel economy: 22.4mpg (combined)

Emissions: 286g/km CO2

Mileage: 11,256

This month’s highlight: Looking forward to the extra performance from the RS 6, but not the extra trips to the pumps!

OTHER CARS WE’RE DRIVING

Mileage: 11,260

VW’s largest people-carrier arrives, but can it impress as much as our outgoing Caddy?

Honda Civic

Mileage: 14,055

After several months and thousands of miles, the Civic has left a positive lasting impression.

Volkswagen Multivan

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