Car Dealer Magazine: Issue 187

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

Becca Chaplin, Jack

WELCOME.

Could the recently expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) be the most unpopular policy to have hit the transport sector for decades?

If you listen to some people then the answer to that is a very fervent ‘yes’, while others believe Ulez is absolutely vital to secure cleaner air and prevent deaths. Either way, it’s something that has been politicised and is having a big impact on the general public.

FINANCE MANAGER

Kate Gordon kate@blackballmedia.co.uk

SALES MANAGER

Kevin Day kev@blackballmedia.co.uk

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Michelle Searle michelle@blackballmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @cardealermich

But between the policy-makers and Joe Public lies the car dealer of course. This month, we thought that we’d delve deeper into what Ulez means for the motor trade, with two fascinating pieces on the subject. You can always count on an independent car dealer telling you like it is, and Jack Williams certainly got that. He spoke to a number of traders who told him they are actively turning away non-compliant part-exchanges as they are now ‘a pain’ to sell – it’s an interesting read, to say the least, and you can find it on pages 8 and 9.

Meanwhile, contributor Craig Cheetham reports on Ulez from the other end, quite literally. He tells the story on page 13 of how the expansion of the zone is providing rural car dealers elsewhere in the UK with a golden opportunity to make money and make their customers happy.

While emission zones were being discussed in the UK, I was in Germany looking at some old Mazdas (pictured at top). They weren’t any old Mazdas of course, but the collection owned by the Frey family – one of Germany’s oldest dealers. So fascinated are the family about Mazdas and the rotary engine that they own a museum that’s open to the public, and it’s a mustsee. I tell the whole story on pages 32-39.

And finally, this is my last opportunity to remind you that if you haven’t entered yet for the Car Dealer Used Car Awards 2023, sponsored by Black Horse, then the clock really is ticking. Last month in this column, I urged you to enter if you’d never done so before, and it’s a message you clearly listened to as we’ve received a raft of submissions. We close the nominations period on October 2 so please act now – if you want to learn more, turn to pages 10 and 11.

Until next month, enjoy the issue

JAMES BATCHELOR Associate editor

While emission zones were being discussed in the UK, I was in Germany looking at some old Mazdas.

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DASHBOARD FORECOURT BIG MIKE DATA FILE

‘I wouldn’t say that we’re selling cars at the moment for any more money just because they’re Ulez-compliant.’

‘We could sit here and argue about the pros and cons of EVs until the cows come home.’

‘This is a relatively small update but it does go a long way towards improving the hatchback.’

‘With the automotive industry beginning a second year of growth, recovery is under way with EVs energising the market.’

Volkswagen to ditch ID and GTX brands and keep Golf, Tiguan and GTI names into electric era

• VW will cull ID and GTX brands for more recognisable names

• Golf and Tiguan to appear on future EVs

• GTI and R will be used for performance cars, not GTX

• ‘We’ve taught the world what these names mean’, says VW CEO

by James Batchelor @JRRBatchelor

Volkswagen is set to ditch the ID and GTX brands for more recognisable names from the German brand’s past.

The ID name was revealed in 2016 to herald a new electric era for Volkswagen, with the first production model, the ID.3, arriving four years later.

But, despite more models wearing the ID badge since then, such as the ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs and the forthcoming ID.7 saloon, the name is set for the chop.

Volkswagen is keen to keep familiar names from its past rather than replace them with the ID naming structure, its boss has suggested.

Speaking to Electrifying.com, VW Passenger Cars brand CEO Thomas Schäfer said: ‘Definitely, the names we will carry in the future are Golf, Tiguan and GTI – that is a given. The others we will look at on a case-by-case basis.

‘There will be new Golf and it will be a true Golf…. ID.3 will run out by then and there will be minimal overlap.

‘ID.3 was a name which was necessary to differentiate it from the ICE models. But we probably don’t need that going into the future.’

His remarks came in the same week that Volkswagen pulled the covers off the ID. GTI Concept at the Munich Motor Show – a sportier version of the ID.2 all concept car revealed earlier this year, which previews an ID.2 GTI that’s slated for launch in 2026.

The ID.2 won’t become the next Polo, however.

‘The ID.2 is bigger than a Polo, it’s more than a Polo,’ said Schäfer.

‘We taught our customers that the Polo is a car which costs between €15-25,000 and the ID.2 will start at €25,000.’

The confirmation that the GTI name will remain in VW’s product plans for electric cars will be good news to fans of the German brand’s performance cars.

The names we will carry in the future are Golf, Tiguan and GTI –that is a given.

Thomas Schäfer VW CEO

Volkswagen names that will definitely have a future

VW had previously suggested the GTX name was the ‘GTI for the electric era’. But now it says ditching GTI would be ‘ludicrous’.

Current GTX models feature twin electric motors, boosted power and sportier detailing. The name has already been used on the ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs and is set to appear on the ID.Buzz.

But GTX, too, is set for the chop, said the VW boss.

‘GTI is two-wheel drive. The R is the four-wheel-drive. GTX was just an interim for the battery-electric cars but we will merge it in the long run.

‘For us, it has to be the traditional ones – GTI and R.

‘We have taught the world what these names mean and it would be ludicrous to have to re-educate them.’

The first R-badged electric Volkswagen is expect to appear in 2028 when the firm launches a new electric car platform.

Schäfer’s plans don’t stop there, however. He also revealed that the Seat name will be retired for cars and a ‘new role’ will be sought for Volkswagen Group’s Spanish brand.

‘The future of Seat is Cupra,’ he said, with the German carmaker set to increase its investment in the Cupra performance brand.

The Seat name is rumoured to be retained, though, potentially for mobility products such as e-scooters.

CUPRA TO REPLACE SEAT, VW COO TELLS SHOW DELEGATES

by Jack Williams @JournoJack25

SEAT is to stop making cars and will be fully replaced by Cupra over the coming years as part of a major change of strategy for Volkswagen Group.

The news was announced at the Munich Motor Show, where Volkswagen COO Thomas Schäfer was addressing attendees.

He told delegates that ‘the future of Seat is Cupra’ and said the group was planning to ‘ramp up’ investment in the performance brand. It is now thought that Seat’s more popular models – such as its Leon hatchback – will be rebadged as Cupra when they are next facelifted.

Meanwhile, other models – including the Ibiza supermini – will be phased out at the end of their current lifecycles.

Once the change is made, Autocar reports that bosses will try to retain the Seat name elsewhere – likely to be mobility products such as e-scooters.

It is currently unclear what the switch will mean for Seat’s UK dealer network, but given that the vast majority already represent both brands, retailers will be hoping for minimal disruption.

Explaining the decision, Schäfer said it had become ‘prohibitive’ to continue investing in both Seat and Cupra. Bosses have therefore decided to back Cupra because of its ‘far greater’ earning potential.

He also denied suggestions that the move was linked to a rift with the Spanish government but was down to Cupra’s growing popularity. ‘There are no problems with the government,’ he said. ‘I think it was the right decision in hindsight, but it’s a gamble.

‘I’ve seen lots of new names come up and go but this was a good decision. Cupra is bigger than Alfa Romeo and Polestar, so not just new brands but also old.’ Car Dealer has approached VW Group for comment.

GTX was just an interim for the battery-electric cars but we will merge it in the long run.

Thomas Schäfer

HOW THE EXPANSION OF ULEZ IS AFFECTING USED CAR DEALERS

• Businesses say they are turning away non-compliant part-exchanges as they are now ‘a pain’ to sell

• Owners say profits are increasing as Ulez-compliant stock becomes worth more

• Auto Trader says buyers can still find a bargain while remaining within Ulez boundaries

by Jack Williams @JournoJack25

Used car dealers in London say they are actively turning away diesel partexchanges after the controversial Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) was extended.

As of Auguest 29, the Ulez now includes all of London’s 32 boroughs, including Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon.

It means that motorists throughout the whole capital are now facing a £12.50 daily charge if their car doesn’t comply with emissions standards.

The new rules are being implemented after a legal challenge – led by five Tory councils –failed in the High Court.

To find out how the measures are impacting on London’s car dealers, we spoke to retailers, who say they are already having to adapt.

Independent traders told Car Dealer that the values of non-compliant vehicles have tumbled and the cars are now being sold almost exclusively to buyers who are travelling from outside London.

Meanwhile, some dealers – but not all – say they are seeing the value of Ulez-compliant vehicles shooting up as a result of sky-high demand.

Among the firms to be affected by the changes is McCarthy Cars in Croydon, which now falls within the Ulez.

Director Jim McCarthy told Car Dealer that diesel stock in particular had become ‘a real pain’ to shift.

He said: ‘We have sold cars off the back of it, but what we have ended up with is a few non-Ulez diesels which, to be honest, are a bit of a pain for us to get rid of!

‘No one in London is going to buy them. The whole thing is a joke. The part-exchanges that are coming in – the diesels, mainly – are going to end up sitting here for a while unless someone is willing to travel for them.

‘Wherever we can, we’re trying to send people off to places like WeBuyAnyCar with them as we really don’t want these part-exchanges.’

He added: ‘The way we price cars is based on the market and what places like Cap HPI and Auto Trader are saying.

‘I wouldn’t say that we’re selling cars at the moment for any more money just because they’re Ulez-compliant. Ninety-nine per cent of our stock is Ulez-compliant.’

Another area that now falls under the regulations is Uxbridge, where anger over Ulez was said to be a key factor in the Tories winning the recent by-election.

We’re trying to send people off to places like WeBuyAnyCar with them as we really don’t want these part-exchanges.’

Jim McCarthy McCarthy Cars, Croydon

One of the dealers to feel the impact there is Ashraf Kassam, owner of Kassam Car Sales, who told Car Dealer: ‘The petrol cars are obviously going up in value and we are making more money now.

‘Buying from auction, you do have to pay more, but they are selling for more in the business.

‘Nobody can afford to pay £12.50 a day, and so of course the non-compliant cars are now really just selling to customers from outside London.

‘We are seeing people selling their cars that do not comply, but a lot are then buying new cars, rather than used, to replace them and be able to drive in London.’

Another business to see a change is Cottage Car Sales, a short distance away in Hayes. A spokesman for the outfit told Car Dealer: ‘We’ve seen plenty of people chopping in their older cars and buying compliant stock.

‘Their part-exchanges are now worth less than they would have been before, and the cars they are buying are selling for more than they were previously because demand is so much higher.’

USED CAR BUYERS CAN GET ULEZ-COMPLIANT VEHICLE FOR UNDER £1,500, SAYS AUTO TRADER

IN RESPONSE to the changing boundaries, Auto Trader has been looking at what stock dealers currently have on offer to meet the rules. Its experts found that there were currently 1,520 compliant cars for sale on its platform, within a 50-mile radius of central London, costing under £2,000.

In the same radius, the outfit found 10,553 compliant cars under £5,000 and 65,577 compliant cars overall.

Nationally, 88.9 per cent of all stock was found to be Ulez-compliant, with the cheapest available car being a 2008 Ford Ka Petrol, worth £1,386.

Reacting to the findings, Ian Plummer, commercial director at Auto Trader, said: ‘Now

that the new Ulez expansion is live, it’s important that those with non-compliant vehicles know what their choices are, and the best place to start is by getting a valuation of their current vehicle on sites like Auto Trader.

‘Utilising the newly expanded scrappage scheme might be a good option if your car is worth around the £2,000 mark, but if it’s worth more, then selling it privately or to a dealer might be more fruitful.

‘The greater your budget, the more choice of vehicle you’ll have, but there’s no shortage of affordable petrol, diesel or electric compliant vehicles, with the cheapest compliant models on Auto Trader starting from under £1,500.’

TOP 5 CHEAPEST

ULEZ-COMPLIANT USED CARS

Ford Ka (2008)

Ford Fiesta (2004)

£1,386

Fiat Grande Punto (2007)

Peugeot 207 (2006)

Peugeot 207 (2008)

Source: Auto Trader

£1,481

£1,829

£1,948

£1,953

Now that the new Ulez expansion is live, it’s important those with non-compliant vehicles know what their choices are.

The petrol cars are obviously going up in value and we are making more money now.

Ashraf Kassam Owner of Kassam Car Sales

WINNING HELPS TO DRIVE ESSENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS

Double champion says Used Car Awards are ‘fantastic’ for automotive industry.

by Jack Williams @JournoJack25

The Car Dealer Used Car Awards help businesses make ‘essential’ improvements by opening up new opportunities for growth. That's the verdict of one reigning champion, who says the awards, sponsored by Black Horse, are ‘fantastic’ for the automotive industry.

Steve Dhesi, managing director of SUV Prestige, was named Used Car Dealer Principal of the Year last year and his firm scooped a gong in the Best Used Car Online Sales Experience category as well. Dhesi says the prestige of being a winner has made a noticeable impact on the business this year. ‘Winning both awards really helped promote our brand, both with our clientele as well as opening opportunities for growth and partnerships with other fantastic businesses,’ he told Car Dealer.

‘Winning Best Online Sales Experience helped with the recent shift into people more commonly purchasing vehicles online, and having the accolade to use in our marketing has really given us something to shout about, reassuring potential clients we really are the best at what we do. Match the accolade with our excellent reviews and we are a sales force to be reckoned with!’

Last year’s ceremony saw Wetherby-based SUV Prestige’s first wins at the Used Car Awards and Dhesi says hearing his name read out was a ‘hugely proud’ moment. He's now looking forward to this year’s event, which is being held on Monday, November 27 at The Brewery in London. Dhesi added: ‘We are hugely proud of the achievements of the team being recognised and I’m obviously ecstatic with my personal award.

‘Once back at base, we were able to celebrate our wins with our fantastic team and it was great to see their excitement at their hard work being recognised in this way. I was overwhelmed with congratulatory messages and well wishes from our peers in the industry. We will definitely be re-entering this year for multiple award categories. The business has expanded exponentially since last year.

‘The Used Car Awards are fantastic for the industry, as they help recognise the hard work of so many dealers. The awards are a great way to network and recognise excellence within the industry.

‘Finally, it’s a great way to inspire essential improvements as times continue to evolve within the industry.’

To decide who will come out on top at this year’s Car Dealer Used Car Awards, dealers need to cast their votes.

To be in with a chance of winning one of our coveted trophies, our nominations form needs to be completed and it really couldn’t be easier!

Simply find the category that you’d like to nominate yourself or someone else for on the form and supply the details asked for.

Every entry is assessed and they’re all whittled down to make the nominations list.

To book a place at UCA 2023 and find out more about sponsorship, email our sales team

Nominations close Oct 2

Nominations list revealed Oct 9

Shortlist revealed Oct 23 Awards night Nov 27

KEY DATES FOR THE 2023 AWARDS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

The brace of Used Car Awards trophies won by Steve Dhesi and SUV Prestige last year

The triumphant team from SUV Prestige

For over 30 years we’ve built an established reputation as a flexible and trusted finance provider, and have supported our dealer and broker partners through both good and challenging times.

What I think makes Close Brothers different is that we have a relationship built on trust. It feels like a real partnership - they truly care about my business.

David Wilson Henson Motor Group

DASHBOARD OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR RURAL DEALERS THANKS TO ULEZ EXPANSION

While dealers in the south are turning away non-compliant trade-ins, used car traders in Scotland and Wales are rubbing their hands, finds Craig Cheetham

Specialist dealers in the more rural parts of the UK are tapping into a rich vein of desirable stock as drivers in the south-east of England rush to dispose of cars that don’t comply with the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez).

The introduction of the expanded Ulez across all of London’s boroughs has seen a massive surplus of older vehicles, especially diesels, flood the market, forcing down values and leading to some dealers turning away non-compliant part-exchanges.

But while it’s bad news for some, a few dealers elsewhere in the UK are making the most of the strong supply.

Colin Maconachie runs CMC Specialists in Muir of Ord, nine miles north-west of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, and in the past two weeks he’s received two transporter-loads of SUVs from the south-east, including one entirely of Jeep Grand Cherokees.

‘I’ve been buying from one of the big auction houses,’ he said. ‘Up here, good used 4x4s are worth strong money – we have clean mountain air and no emission zones to worry about, but the winters can be very harsh.

‘I’ve always bought cars in from down south as Highland winters can kill cars off pretty quickly – there’s salt on the roads for four months of the year. But there are rust-free Subaru Foresters, Jeep Cherokees and Land Rover Discoverys coming out of London and those are cars that I can sell really easily, especially when I can show the customers they’re new to the Highlands and haven’t been used hard.

‘A lot of my buyers are farmers who work their vehicles hard and don’t expect them to last forever. They like to know they can get two or three years out of them. The cars I’ve got coming are between 10 and 20 years old with no rust, they’re the best I’ve had in years and I can sell them really quickly because that type of buyer just wants a strong working vehicle that they can get a few years out of.

‘I find the more luxurious models are popular with families, too. I won’t touch Range Rovers as they’re too complicated, but the Jeeps are quite classy and people up here seem to like them.’

Specialist dealers in Wales are reporting similar trends, with one Land Rover specialist, Torfaen-based Andy Like, telling us that he is targeting high-specification Discovery 3s and Range Rover Sports as his core stock.

‘That kind of vehicle is still popular here, and any plans that there were for a Clean Air Zone in Cardiff have been put on hold while people don’t have much money.

‘In rural areas, there probably won’t ever be anything like that. People here need working vehicles. They don’t buy 4x4s as status symbols but now they’re being treated with cars coming out of London with loads of spec.

‘I’ve bought as much stock as I can afford, as it won’t be there forever.’

Colin Maconachie CMC Specialists

A lot of my buyers are farmers who work their vehicles hard and don’t expect them to last forever.

MUNICH MOTOR SHOW ROUND-UP

The format may have harked back to the past but the event’s focus was firmly on the future, says Jack Evans

We saw a return to the ‘old-school’ motor show format with this year’s IAA Mobility event –although you’d probably heard it referred to as the Munich Motor Show. Framed around the future of mobility, this year’s event did have several big reveals from a number of manufacturers.

The emphasis was definitely on electric vehicles this year – in fact, all of the 10 vehicles featured here are battery-powered – but it’s the design of these cars that points towards what we might see on our roads in the future.

BMW Neue Klasse concept

BMW unveiled its ‘Neue Klasse’ at this year’s show, debuting a whole new design process that will dictate the look of many of its upcoming vehicles. The Neue Klasse concept is a 3 Series-sized saloon that is actually pretty tame in comparison with some of BMW’s recent efforts. There are loads of futuristic features, such as a dashboard that throws a second infotainment display on to the windscreen, but the corduroy seats feel particularly old-school.

Tesla Model 3

The upgraded Model 3 was actually a little hidden away at this year’s show – you could’ve quite easily walked past it. But this is one of Tesla’s most important models, recently updated with a slightly more streamlined design than before.

It’s got a whole lot more range, too, with Tesla claiming up to 421 miles from a charge. That’s a decent chunk more than the 374 miles you’d get from the previous car.

BYD Seal U

It was a big day for Chinese firms, with these upstart brands having the biggest presence on the show stands. One that has started really making itself known in the UK is BYD and it launched its new Europebound Seal U in Munich.

It’s essentially an SUV version of the saloon Seal that we’ve already tested, but it’s got that raised ride height that buyers love. It’ll be available with electric and plug-in hybrid setups, too.

Mini Countryman

It was a double-header for Mini, with the new Cooper alongside the latest installation in the Countryman range. Mini has dropped the plug-in hybrid setup that was available on the previous Countryman, too, and it’ll now be available with petrol and fully electric powertrains.

It’s bigger than the old Countryman as well, with more space inside. In addition, you get the same amazing Oled screen as you do in the new Cooper.

.

Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA

Interestingly, the Mercedes Concept CLA wasn’t located in the exhibition centre on the outskirts of Munich but within a dedicated space in the city’s heart so that punters could get nice and close to this striking-looking model.

It hints at a future electric saloon –which could rival the Tesla Model 3, in fact – but keeps the current CLA’s sweeping appearance. However, there are plenty of ‘look at me’ touches, such as the Mercedes star which is integrated into the headlights. Plus, Mercedes claims that it’ll do up to 248 miles on a charge.

Opel Experimental

Ignore the Opel badge, as this Experimental concept will also be hinting towards future Vauxhall models.

It gained a lot of attention at this year’s show, too, thanks to its blocky design and upright stance. There are lots of illuminated sections as well, and we’d expect to see the famous Griffin badge light up on UK-bound versions.

Mini Cooper

Mini had a huge reveal with the new Cooper. It’s ditched the ‘Hatch’ name of its predecessor, and although introduced in electric-only form, there’ll be petrol versions later on.

The front end is classic ‘Mini’ but it’s around the back where things have seen a big change. Meanwhile, there’s a huge central Oled display inside that can be cycled through loads of different modes and appearances.

Cupra Dark Rebel

Cupra was the talk of the town in Munich, as it came to light that the Spanish firm would be taking priority focus over Seat.

It also unveiled its crazy Dark Rebel concept which, although already revealed in digital form, now made its way into the real world.

It hints at a future Cupra-badged sports car and adopts a cool shooting brake design. It’s similar in length to a Porsche 911, too, but is wider than a Range Rover.

Volkswagen ID. GTI Concept

One of the most talked-about cars of the show was Volkswagen’s ID. GTI Concept. Confirmed for production, it’s the best look we’ve had of the future of Volkswagen’s legendary GTI moniker.

Renault Scenic

Renault has completely changed its Scenic for 2023. Gone is the somewhat blocky MPV, reimagined instead as a modern electric SUV.

It’s expected to hit the road next year and should be able to return up to 385 miles on a single charge.

It’s based on the same platform as the Nissan Ariya, in fact, but takes a completely different approach to design – for example, there’s a huge 12-inch display using Google Automotive software.

It’s based on the ID. 2all concept that we’ve seen previously, but we already know that it’s targeting a price of £21,420.

Europe’s carmakers have only themselves to blame for China crisis

COMMENT C

hildren love motor shows. I certainly did – trips to Earls Court and the NEC in Birmingham form part of my earliest memories with cars. I even danced with Michaela Strachan at the launch of the new Ford Focus in 1998. I doubt Michaela cherishes this moment as much as I do, though. But when you have to attend motor shows for a job, the magic quickly evaporates. As a journalist, you’re often shuffled into a hot prefab room made from plywood at the back of a car manufacturer’s glitzy stand to interview their boss. Invariably, they were in a bad mood, or didn’t like British journalists, or some other reason I’d invent to justify why I hadn’t left the interview with a scoop to make the cover of that week’s Auto Express magazine. And if you’re presenting some videos there, prepare for people to walk through your shot. Constantly.

The world has coped quite happily with not having motor shows in Europe for the past few years. Covid put a stop to that for a while and, let’s face it, trekking to another country to see a handful of new cars being revealed under silk sheets and tons of dry ice is just a little dated.

But this year Munich decided to put on a motor show – sorry, a ‘mobility’ show. I was intrigued so went along, and within 10 minutes of setting foot in Hall 1 I was regretting it. There was the same stifling heat and the same bosses irritated that you’re asking questions about future products, but there was definitely a different atmosphere.

Only a handful of carmakers turned up to show off their new electric cars. The rest of the show featured suppliers, electric car battery makers and charging point providers. It was a potent sign that many cars these days are just computers with batteries, and it was bleak. Behind the smaller-than-usual manufacturer stands it was even more bleak, though. Bosses were feeling the heat over the invasion by the Chinese whose cars, with varying levels of confusing and meaningless names, were dotted around everywhere.

Volkswagen used to be the master of motor shows. Go to any big European motor show – Geneva or Frankfurt, say – and the VW stand would be the size of Belgium. Its stands had a confidence to match the firm’s swagger that it was bossing the car business. In Munich, there was a modestly sized ‘Volkswagen Group’ stand encompassing all of its volume brands, but not Seat. Star of the show for VW was its ID GTI Concept – essentially the next Golf GTI. BMW was showing off a concept saloon with a nod to its Sixties era, while over at Mercedes there was a retro-inspired supercar concept.

The big European brands are past worrying about the Chinese; they’re positively panicking. These three concept cars alone showed that they’re resorting to the only thing they can – and that’s heritage.

The Chinese, with their massive advantages in technology and speed of deploying new products, haven’t just arrived but they’ve seen, conquered and pillaged European customers. As I’m writing this, the European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced an investigation into China’s state subsidies for its EVs. Europe is fretting that the Chinese can launch new cars very quickly and undercut prices of European EVs. The big Euro brands know they can’t compete.

But I think this probe is too late. China began leapfrogging the rest of the world with the development of batteries and EVs ages ago, and the previous arrival and success of the Japanese and South Koreans should have meant the Europeans were prepared, but they’re not. The days of the big motor shows, home to confident Euro car brands, could be gone forever.

James Batchelor

James – aka Batch –started at Car Dealer in 2010, becoming editor in 2013. He then worked for Auto Express and Carbuyer, went freelance in 2020, and became Car Dealer’s associate editor in October 2021.

The big European brands are past worrying about the Chinese; they’re positively panicking.

Big Mike

COMMENT

Size really can be important –as Electric Eddie found to his cost

Electric cars appear to polarise people, with some folk extremely positive and others completely negative about them. Now that the obvious battery pun is out of the way – guilty as, ahem, charged – I’ll be quite honest about my own opinion. Much as I love the smell of exhaust smoke, they’re probably a good thing for air quality, although there are other environmental aspects of their existence that seem to be overlooked, such as the impact of making the things in the first place. I am, therefore, a full-on fence-sitter. I genuinely don’t know if they’re a good thing or a bad thing, but what I do understand is that they’re accompanied by a load of nonsensical jargon and I aim to have retired before having to properly understand it all.

We could sit here and argue about the pros and cons of EVs until the cows come home, but given the lack of cows in Birmingham’s western suburbs, I’d rather not as we could be here a while.

I will, though, share with you the comical experience of a man down the pub who has long been known as Electric Eddie, partly because he was an electric car early adopter, but more because the standard of his conversation is electrifying in the most sarcastic sense of the word. He’s about as exciting as a Conservative party annual conference. In other words, the man is a crashing bore.

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

Who is Big Mike?

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

Anyway, about a decade ago, Electric Eddie bought a Nissan Leaf – back when such things were new and exciting and electric cars had to look super-goofy so you could stand out from the crowd, as opposed to today where electric cars look just like normal cars but with a green stripe on the number plate.

He’s had three Leafs (Leaves?) since, but has recently accelerated the ‘excitement’ of his pub conversation to a new level by going full Tesla on us all. Yes, Electric Eddie has bought the EV fan’s chintzy status symbol in gigantic SUV form (the photo shows it in the pub car park, next to a lovely little old Corsa I’ve got as a PX runner at the moment).

Of course, owning a Tesla is like owning an Apple phone or computer, which means that rather than use an industry standard charging cable, you have to have a special Tesla one, or alternatively join the exclusive club of smug-looking oiks who tend to congregate in darkened corners of motorway service station car parks talking to each other on their apps, as if owning such a car gives you access to some sort of arterial route swingers’ party.

But I digress. Undeterred by what I, personally, would see as a reason to buy a completely different car, Eddie arranged for the charger people to come and replace the unit in his domestic garage with a spangly new Tesla one, ready to boost up his rather expensive new set of wheels. He sold his Leaf while waiting and – bizarrely – had a filthy old diesel-powered Hyundai i30 off me for a few weeks as a PX-to-clear beater on its last legs, pending the delivery of semiconductors (or whatever) to allow his new Tesla to be dispatched.

We could sit here and argue about the pros and cons of EVs until the cows come home, but given the lack of cows in Birmingham’s western suburbs, I’d rather not as we could be here a while.

His excitement was measurable. Come Friday night in The White Swan, he couldn’t wait to give our assemblage of late middle-aged reprobates a weekly update on where his Tesla was, from the production line to on a boat (he even got some ship tracker app thing to show us where in the middle of the ocean it was) to it arriving in the docks in the UK and sitting there for three weeks until someone came along and, I presume, wiped a whole load of seagull poo off it.

The big day arrived a couple of weeks after that, and on the morning of the Tesla’s appearance in one of the leafier parts of Edgbaston, Electric Eddie returned the Hyundai i30 to me in exchange for half of what I’d sold it to him, as per our agreement.

He was giddy with excitement when I gave him a lift home, which almost made me cancel that Friday’s trip to the pub because, inevitably, we would all end up being bored senseless by Eddie’s Tesla-tastic tales of charging and cable types and other associated horrors.

But I’m glad I went.

Walking into the pub that Friday, I was almost immediately greeted by a beaming Electric Eddie.

‘Mike, my friend,’ he said. ‘Just the man! I don’t, er, suppose, perhaps, maybe – and if you haven’t it’s no big deal – but do you still have the Hyundai and can I borrow it for a week or so?’

I nodded my agreement, but only if he’d tell me what was up with the Tesla.

Nothing at all, it turned out – other than the fact that while it would just about fit inside his garage, it wouldn’t do so with his charging unit mounted to the wall and, as such, he was stuck with a Tesla he couldn’t charge and a charger that wouldn’t reach.

Of course, it was all duly sorted in a matter of days by getting his charging apparatus moved (no doubt at further great expense), but we had a riot of a laugh in the pub that night. Each time one of us got a round in, we’d put Eddie’s pint down on the table just a little bit too far away for him to reach it…

Electric Eddie bought a Nissan Leaf – back when such things were new and exciting and electric cars had to look super-goofy

33 Stradale evokes spirit of the ’60s

ALFA ROMEO’S new 33 Stradale has broken cover with a choice of V6 petrol or electric setups.

Designed in the spirit of the original 33 Stradale, which raced during the 1960s, the supercar is a rekindling of Alfa’s ‘fuoriserie’ –custom-built – range of vehicles.

Just 33 examples will be created and all are spoken for.

Inside the two-seater, the cockpit features a minimalist design with a limited number of controls on the centre console.

The steering wheel lacks any buttons, too, while some toggles have been placed on the roof like an aeroplane’s cockpit.

It’s all trimmed in a mixture of aluminium, carbon fibre and leather.

HONDA

CR-V aims to deliver space and efficiency

CAR NEWS ROUND-UP

HONDA’S new CR-V will go on sale priced from £45,895.

It’ll be available in regular and plug-in hybrid flavours, with the latter able to deliver up to 50 miles of electric-only range.

The new CR-V is now larger in all areas, with an extension of 40mm to the wheelbase, helping it to deliver more interior space and better legroom than before.

It’ll also be the first European model to get a development of Honda’s Sensing suite of assistance systems – all part of Honda’s plans to bring traffic accident deaths involving its vehicles to zero by 2050.

Chery brand is latest Chinese car name to set its cap at UK

CHINESE car brand Omoda has confirmed it will enter the UK market later this year.

It’s the latest car firm from China to expand into the UK. MG, now owned by Chinese automotive group SAIC Motor, has been the most successful so far, while BYD and GWM Ora are both also already operating in the UK.

Omoda, a division of Chery, will launch with a single model, the ‘5’ SUV. There’ll be a 194bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol model, while the electric version is expected to bring a range of around 280 miles.

BMW

iX1 line-up broadened with eDrive20

BMW has added an entry-level model to its iX1 electric SUV line-up.

The eDrive20 starts from £44,460 but will still be able to deliver up to a claimed 296 miles from a single charge.

Three specifications will be available, with all reaching 60mph in 8.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 106mph.

All versions come with a 64.7kWh battery, which can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in 29 minutes at a rapid charger. An 11kW home charger will take 6½ hours.

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

Click to watch the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale world premiere

OMODA

HYUNDAI

2024 Passat enters executive territory

VW has revealed its ninthgeneration Passat, which takes the family car into executive territory thanks to enhanced space and quality.

Due to arrive in showrooms in early 2024, the line-up sees the saloon model removed. Instead, it will only be offered as an estate.

It’s a radical departure from its predecessor, inside and out, adopting sleeker styling versus the boxier-looking outgoing model – taking a similar approach to the Arteon Shooting Brake.

Updated i20 hits road from £20,770

GTD revealed as Blue Oval’s most powerful Mustang

FORD has unveiled its most extreme and powerful Mustang with the new GTD.

HYUNDAI’S refreshed i20 has arrived in the UK, bringing with it a sharper design and more standard equipment.

Priced from £20,770, the i20 now features a new shape and pattern for the front bumper and grille, while newly designed 16- and 17-inch alloy wheels are available, too. All cars get LED headlights as standard, while at the back you’ll find Z-shaped LED lights.

All versions now get USB-C charging ports as standard, plus over-the-air map updates for models with satellite navigation.

DB12 Volante unveiled as glamorous new convertible

ASTON Martin has unveiled the DB12 Volante as a stunning convertible version of its new GT car.

Following the reveal of the DB12 in coupe form earlier in the year, the Volante debuted at Monterey Car Week in August, providing a more glamorous, roof-down feel. It’s powered by a 671bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, allowing it to accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 202mph.

The DB12 Volante uses a fabric soft top, featuring eight layers of insulation, that takes just 16 seconds to close electronically and can work at speeds of up to 31mph.

First deliveries are expected before the end of the year.

Based on the latest generation of Mustang, due to arrive in Europe in fairly small numbers next year, the GTD is said to have a very different character to other models in this muscle car’s range. Developed by Ford’s motorsport team ahead of the Mustang returning to Le Mans next year, the GTD uses a bespoke 5.2-litre V8 engine – up from the usual 5.0-litre unit –which is ‘targeting more than 800bhp’.

Q8 gains fresh look and technology

AUDI has given its rangetopping Q8 SUV a styling upgrade while adding a variety of new standard features.

The ‘SUV coupe’ now has a redesigned front grille with vertical inlays, with new front air intakes now integrated into the lower section of the front bumper. All versions now have LED headlights as standard, while top-spec Vorsprung models can get upgraded matrix LED versions. Audi’s laser light tech – which helps increase the full beam range –can also be optioned.

MERCEDES has revamped its electric EQA with a bold new look and a longer range.

Sitting as the smallest electric vehicle in the Mercedes line-up, the EQA debuts a fresh new grille design with an integrated star pattern. The front has been made smoother to aid efficiency, too.

The previous EQA brought a claimed range of 260 miles but aerodynamic upgrades and highly rolling-resistanceoptimised tyres mean the new EQA can travel for up to a claimed 347 miles.

ASTON MARTIN

EQA design upgraded and range extended

MERCEDES

ACQUISITION

Jardine’s US owner swoops on Arden

JARDINE Motors’ American parent company Lithia & Driveway has swooped on another British business.

The firm has bought Arden BMW, Mini and Motorrad in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

The Arden businesses will join the existing Jardine group led by UK regional president Neil Williamson, who said: ‘Bringing the teams together further strengthens our ability to serve customers with these exciting brands.’

Image: Google Street View

RETAIL

Skoda sticks to its agency sales guns

SKODA remains committed to adopting agency sales and is planning to switch to the model for its electric vehicles before the year is out.

That’s according to the firm’s CEO, Klaus Zellmer, who has told Car Dealer that agency is still ‘the name of the game’ for the Czech brand. But he also said Skoda was committed to ‘keeping the dealers’ and the ‘human interface is important’ to the firm, claiming that it was at least as profitable for dealers as the conventional sales model.

HERE ARE TASTERS OF STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

NEWS DIGEST

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY

PETER Waddell has refused to comment on rumours that Big Motoring World is set to buy used car supermarket rival Available Car.

The used car dealer boss told Car Dealer that a deal like that would ‘make us number one in car supermarkets’ but he refused to comment on whether the takeover bid was true or not.

Car Dealer gave Waddell the opportunity to deny the rumours but he wouldn’t be drawn on the matter. Auto Retail Agenda reported that senior staff had been called together for a meeting.

Lookers takeover is given green light

THE takeover of Lookers by Global Auto Holdings has been given the go-ahead by both boards.

A statement issued by Lookers on September 5 said terms had been agreed for its share capital to be bought at the increased offer of 130p per share, valuing it at £504.2m. Assuming there are no stumbling blocks, the deal should be completed by the end of year and will see Lookers taken off the stock market.

Administrators appointed to Onto

ADMINISTRATORS have been appointed to electric car subscription

service Onto.

The company had struggled after being hit by the falling prices of EVs during the first half of the year, as well as rising interest rates and the squeeze on disposable income.

Teneo Financial Advisory said it would maintain business with existing customers as it explored options, but it wouldn’t comment on the current status of staff.

Big Motoring World boss refuses to rule out rumours he’s buying used car supermarket rival

SPECULATION

The days of the big motor shows, home to confident Euro car brands, could be gone forever.

James Batchelor p17

BMW to invest £600m in UK Mini factories

Swansway marks 20 years in business

BMW is to plough £600m into its UK Mini factories to build new electric cars after securing government cash.

The manufacturer said the money will enable the Cowley plant in Oxford to produce two new electric Mini models, starting in 2026.

Business secretary Kemi Badenoch, who visited the site, wouldn’t comment on speculation that the taxpayer-funded support –which will come from the Automotive Transformation Fund –was worth £75m.

Lloyd group snaps up former Cazoo site

SWANSWAY Motor Group is celebrating its 20th anniversary with competitions and giveaways as well as by doubling staff fundraising donations.

Founded by Michael Smyth (third from left) and joined by his three sons (from left) Peter, David and John, the group now has more than 1,100 employees across 25 dealerships and estimates it has welcomed 250,000 customers.

MIchael Smyth paid tribute to the ‘hard work and dedication’ of staff.

REQUIREMENT

Johnsons forced to close Stellantis site

PODCAST

JOHNSONS Cars was due to close its Dorridge Jeep, Fiat, Abarth and Alfa Romeo site at the end of August after Stellantis said it wanted separate facilities for each brand.

However, because it wouldn’t be able to expand to comply with the new requirement, it said it would be shutting the showroom in Four Ashes Road on August 31.

Franchise director Mary Perkins said the decision hadn’t been taken lightly but all staff had been offered new jobs at other branches.

ZEV MANDATE

Toyota UK boss tells of industry’s fears

THE TEAM FROM CAR DEALER TALK ABOUT THE LATEST NEWS AND INTERVIEWS IN THIS REGULAR PODCAST

CLICKHERE

LLOYD Motor Group has snapped up a former Cazoo site in Newcastle.

The acquisition takes the number of sites operated by the group in the city to four.

Lloyd will turn the 10,808 sq ft premises on Scotswood Road into a used car dealership and vehicle preparation centre later this year, making it the group’s 34th retail and service centre.

It follows similar deals by other groups involving ex-Cazoo sites.

CAR manufacturers are facing a big worry over meeting the government’s upcoming targets for electric car sales.

That’s the verdict of Toyota UK boss Agustin Martin ahead of the ZEV mandate coming in on January 1, 2024. It’ll start at 22 per cent and rise each year to 80 per cent in 2030. ‘Achieving the ZEV mandate is a real worry for everyone,’ he said.

‘It’s much harder to have a strategy on a market that is fixed.’

TO LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF THE CAR PODCASTSDEALER

Driven by

Electric Eddie is about as exciting as a Conservative party annual conference. In other words, the man is a crashing bore. Big Mike p18

‘This is a relatively small update but it does go a long way towards improving the hatchback.’

Forecourt: p28

HERE ARE TASTERS OF STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

DISCOUNT

can get up to £3,500 off EV

Islanders

NEWS DIGEST

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY

CAR dealers on Jersey have joined forces with the island’s government over an initiative that will see up to £3,500 given to people to help them make the switch to EVs.

Launched by the Crown dependency, the Electric Vehicle Purchase Incentive is available until further notice for vehicles costing up to £40,000, can only be accessed via approved retailers and is for 35 per cent of the cost, up to the maximum of £3,500. Islanders can also get £350 towards a charger.

CLOSURES

Seat dealerships to shut as links cut

JCT600 gives Bradford City home games added buzz with remote-controlled mini ball carrier

THERE’S a new star player at Bradford City’s home games and it’s all thanks to JCT600.

The long-standing dealer group sponsor of the Bantams has scored a first with a new remote-controlled ball carrier – a tiny Volkswagen all-electric ID.Buzz. Nicknamed Buzz, it saw its first match action when the League Two club defeated Crewe Alexandra 1-0 over the bank holiday weekend. JCT600 customer experience director Andy Bateman said: ‘We’re thrilled that Buzz will be a permanent fixture. Not only is this an English Football League first but it provides plenty of pre-match entertainment, too!’

PLAN

Application lodged to transform showroom

A PAIR of Seat dealerships

in Belfast are to close after a parting of the ways between the Spanish brand and the Sytnerowned Agnew Group.

The Northern Irish dealer outfit said in a statement that the showrooms would cease trading on September 30. Bosses put the decision down to the group adapting its business model to fit a ‘changing marketplace’.

A spokesman added: ‘As a business we will look at opportunities with additional franchises in the future.’

A PRESTIGE car dealership in east London has lodged a bid to build a new showroom on the site of its current one.

Imperials Hornchurch, in Emerson Park, has applied to Havering Borough Council to tear down the building in Butts Green Road, pictured via Google Street View, and replace it with a three-storey premises wih a car showroom on the ground floor and office space on the first and second levels.

TECHNOLOGY

All change over chips to secure VW supply

THE VW Group is changing how it sources semiconductor chips to ensure supply is secure in the future.

Previously, it relied on Tier 1 component suppliers to buy chips, with these firms being able to choose which chips they used.

It’ll now buy the semiconductors it needs directly from 10 manufacturers and says this will secure itself a ‘leading position’ in the industry ‘in terms of technology as well as competitiveness’.

‘Sometimes managers need harder, closer management, sometimes you just have to point them to where you want to be.’

INSPIRING LEADERS JOHN O’HANLON p44

CHINESE carmaker BYD is to delete the ‘Build Your Dreams’ badging from the majority of its cars sold in the UK.

The manufacturer said it had listened to feedback from its dealers and journalists and will no longer use the wording. While its cars have so far been fairly well praised, the lettering has proved divisive among those buying and selling its cars, the firm told Car Dealer. Some buyers have reportedly been put off buying the cars because of it.

PURCHASE

Takeover of Stephen James is completed

Climb in the saddle for this month’s cool products!

Feature: p40

BITE-SIZE

Snows Volvo site celebrates 40 years

Charles Hurst to add Cupra to portfolio

A SNOWS Motor Group Volvo dealership has celebrated its 40th anniversary with the Swedish manufacturer by unveiling a commemorative plaque.

Snows Volvo Winchester, in Kings Worthy, welcomed Volvo Car UK’s managing director, Kristian Elvefors, to the ceremony at the showroom, which was also attended by Snows CEO Stephen Snow and a number of other senior managers from both firms. Snow told how his company valued the partnership with Volvo.

CHARLES Hurst is investing £2m in a new dealership and is welcoming Cupra to its portfolio.

The Lookers-owned business will open a new Seat and Cupra showroom at its Belfast automotive park later this year. Charles Hurst Group operates eight showrooms in Northern Ireland and two in the Republic of Ireland.

It represents more than 20 brands from Aston Martin to Vauxhall, including the two new Chinese challenger brands, Ora UK and BYD.

LEADERSHIP

Vertu appoints strategy director

HEDIN Automotive has completed its takeover of the Stephen James Group.

Car Dealer reported in July that the Swedish outfit had agreed a deal to buy the BMW and Mini dealer for an undisclosed fee.

The firm has now confirmed that all shares in the dealer group have been transferred to Hedin Automotive Ltd. The group has 400 employees and five showrooms in the south-east of England.

Click on the text box for the full story

EXTRAS: Peter Vardy Group has expanded its MG portfolio after buying the marque’s Aberdeen and Peterhead franchises from Gillanders Motors. They’re the latest addition to its MG portfolio, in the wake of MG dealerships in Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy.

SURGE: Car production in the UK rose by almost a third in July versus a year ago, marking six months of consecutive growth. Latest figures from the SMMT show that a total of 76,451 cars were built during the month – a 31.6 per cent rise.

POLL: Organising a family holiday, paying taxes and going for a job interview are all less stressful than selling a used car, according to a Cazoo survey of 2,000 used car owners. Eighteen per cent said they thought selling their car was ‘stressful’.

VERTU Motors has expanded its senior leadership team by making ex-Nissan man Spencer ClaytonJones its new strategy director.

He will be part of the group’s CEO committee, working with boss Robert Forrester on the strategy around growth, franchising and property. Clayton-Jones, pictured right with Forrester, was most recently director of network development and customer quality at Nissan GB.

COVER: Suzuki has launched an in-house approved used car warranty in a bid to increase customer retention. It offers 12 months of comprehensive cover when buying a vehicle up to eight years old with a maximum of 80,000 miles recorded.

GREEN: JLR is to recycle EV batteries to make a renewable energy storage system. It has teamed up with renewable energy specialist Wykes Engineering to create the storage system by using old batteries from the Jaguar I-Pace.

‘Dream’ is over for most of UK badging

Power

THE KNOWLEDGE

Price (as tested): £38,850

Engine: Rear electric motor with 66kWh battery

SMART #1

Nearly everyone remembers the iconic ‘Smart car’. But what is its modern-day equivalent like? Jack Evans has been finding out.

WHAT IS IT?

It’s the somewhat awkwardly titled new EV that has been created by 50:50 owners Mercedes and Chinese firm Geely. We’ve driven it abroad; now we can see what it’s like in the UK.

WHAT’S NEW?

This Smart might not resemble the city car that thrust this firm into the limelight in 2008 but it’s certainly got some quirky, futuristic touches like the original. There’s the eyecatching ‘floating roof’ design and somewhat face-like front end. There are also some core fundamentals that have been focused on, such as interior space and technology.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

Power: 268bhp

Torque: 343Nm

Max speed: 112mph

O-60mph: 6.5 seconds

Range: 273 miles (WLTP)

Emissions: 0g/km CO2

There are two powertrain options with the Smart – single motor, rear-wheel drive in the ‘regular’ version (which we’re looking at today) or a more potent dual-motor version in the range-topping Brabus. A 0-60mph time of 6.5 seconds means this standard #1 is by no means a slouch, yet Smart says it’ll return up to 273 miles of charge – entry-level Pro+ cars can only manage 260 miles, though, as they do without an efficiency-boosting heat pump. But Smart has also made sure the #1 can accept a speedy 150kW rate of charge, which means a 10 to 80 per cent charge could be done in as little as half an hour. You’ve got different driving modes, too, and can tweak how much regenerative braking is delivered.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

The Smart exudes a kind of planted, reassuringly stuck-on driving feel that you don’t get from many electric vehicles. There’s acceleration aplenty, of course, but above and beyond that, the #1 has very pleasant steering – which can be made weightier via a menu on the main screen – and there’s a decent amount of grip if you’re patient with the throttle. We also had a go in the more powerful Brabus. Save for the additional motor – which brings total power to a faintly absurd 422bhp over the regular model’s 268bhp – there have been few mechanical upgrades, and once you’re making the most of that extra boost, the #1 struggles to maintain its composure, particularly over undulating surfaces.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

Smart has done a good job of translating some of the design of those classic ForTwo and ForFour models into a modern age. The full-width front light bar seems a rite of passage

The rear electric motor and 66kWh battery give a claimed range of 273 miles.

into the electric vehicle segment these days but it does look good, as does the matching fullwidth light bar at the rear. The boxy dimensions not only give the #1 a more, well, Smartlike look, but they also mean there’s more space inside for taller drivers and passengers. The Smart badges on the C-pillars are quite a nice touch, too.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

The cabin is a nice place to be. There are good materials used throughout and everything has been ergonomically placed. It’s a bit of a pain having the controls for the wing mirror adjustment in the screen rather than with dedicated buttons, but that’s a minor niggle.

The seating position for the driver is a little higher than you might think, but it’s fine enough – and there’s plenty of adjustment for the steering wheel, too. Those in the back are treated to a decent level of head- and legroom. The 313-litre boot is on the small side, however, although there is a teeny-tiny ‘frunk’ as well.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

TARGET BUYERS:

People who want a slightly quirky option in the EV segment.

THE RIVALS:

Volkswagen ID.3 BYD Atto 3

Kia Niro EV

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Funky design

2. Spacious interior

3. Plenty of cool tech

DEAL CLINCHER:

The Smart #1 is an accomplished EV that channels a slice of the original.

The Smart has some quirky and futuristic touches like the original – the ‘floating roof’ being one of them.

Prices for the #1 kick off at £35,390, which is bang on for the segment. A Tesla Model 3 – which in base specification offers just 45 miles more range – comes in at £42,990, for context. However, Smart has included a broad number of standard features from the off, including 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof and a 12.8-inch touchscreen.

At £38,850, our ‘Premium’ specification car offers leather seats, ambient lighting and a Beats sound system plus a heat pump that increases the range from 260 miles in the Pro+ to 273 miles. There’s just one optional extra throughout the whole line-up – a tow bar.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Top Gear said: ‘It’s yet another competent, inoffensive but slightly limited crossover entering into a very congested market.’ Auto Express said: ‘It’s a practical crossover that’s exactly the kind of car a young, urban brand such as Smart should be making. It just needs a little finessing.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

Standing out in the EV segment is trickier than ever these days but the Smart is definitely on a strong course to achieve this – it’s priced well and has more than enough performance to keep things interesting while majoring on space and ease of use. We’d be inclined to head in the Premium’s direction rather than the entry-level version’s – it’s got more equipment, while the standard-fit heat pump will ensure it’s operating as efficiently as possible.

Style

The Smart exudes a kind of planted, reassuringly stuck-on driving feel that you don’t get from many electric vehicles.

Quality materials are used throughout and everything has been ergonomically placed.

Cabin

Power

VOLKSWAGEN ID.3

THE KNOWLEDGE

Volkswagen ID.3

Base price: £37,115

Engine: Single motor with 77kWh battery

Power: 201bhp

Torque: 310Nm

Max speed: 99mph

O-60mph: 7.7 seconds

Range: 347 miles

Emissions: 0g/km CO2

Volkswagen has tweaked its ID.3 hatchback, but can it compete against newer rivals, asks Ted Welford?

WHAT IS IT?

Volkswagen appointed Thomas Schäfer as its CEO of the passenger cars brand last year and one of his first missions was to fast-track an upgraded ID.3 into production after the original one received a lukewarm reception from press and public.

WHAT’S NEW?

On looks alone, not a huge amount seems to have changed. Mechanically, nothing has altered either, so it’s inside where the bulk of the differences occur. The touchscreen, a major bone of contention previously, is running new software, while VW has worked to improve the cabin quality with more soft-touch materials, too.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

There are two versions of the ID.3 – the Pro and Pro S. The former uses a 58kWh battery allowing for a claimed range of 266 miles, while the latter gets a significantly bigger battery for which Volkswagen claims an impressive 347 miles. We’re trying the Pro S here, but each uses the same 201bhp electric motor, sending drive to the rear wheels. The ID.3 can also charge at up to 170kW, meaning an 80 per cent charge can theoretically take place in just half an hour. Efficiency is one of this Volkswagen’s strong points, too, and 300 miles should be achievable without too much effort.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

Volkswagen hasn’t really changed anything about how the ID.3 drives and we’re fine with that, as this is a very accomplished model in that respect. Even on our test car’s large 20inch alloy wheels, the ride was surprisingly compliant, although you might want to opt for the standard 18-inch rims for maximum comfort. It handles well, too, staying planted to the road even when pushed. This Volkswagen lacks some of the immediacy of rivals such as the MG4 while accelerating, but is more than fast enough in day-to-day driving.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

You’d really have to see a new and old ID.3 parked next to each other to be able to spot the difference, but one of the most obvious changes is that the gloss black strip at the top of the bonnet is no longer there. There are new diagonal air inlets in the front bumper too, along with two new attractive colours – Dark Olivine Green and Costa Azule Blue. Volkswagen

The single motor coupled with a 77kWh battery gives the ID.3 201bhp and 310Nm of torque.

TARGET BUYERS:

Families looking for a practical and sensible electric car.

THE RIVALS:

MG4

Nissan Leaf

Renault Megane E-Tech

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Impressive practicality

2. No larger in size than a Volkswagen Golf

3. Impressive range in Pro S form

DEAL CLINCHER:

Most of the previous ID.3 criticisms have been addressed.

Style

Small design updates to the ID.3 include a revised front bumper and two new colour options.

says it’s tried to give the ID.3 a more grown-up finish – previously, the front bumper and C-pillars above the rear wheels had a strange patterned texture, but both of these details have now been removed.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

On looks alone, the ID.3’s cabin seems largely unchanged. But we’re pleased to report that a lot of the cheaper, low-rent plastics of the old car (such as on the dashboard and door panels) have been removed in favour of new soft-touch materials. It’s really helped to lift the interior and helped to make it feel more ‘VW’, although there’s lots of questionable use of gloss black in all the places where it’s most likely to scratch.

Where the ID.3 can’t be faulted is when it comes to interior space. Despite having a broadly similar footprint to a Golf, there’s significantly more rear seat space inside, while the boot measures a useful 385 litres. Just be aware that if you have the Pro S model, the middle rear seat is removed to accommodate the larger battery.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

As standard, the ID.3 comes with plenty of equipment, including adaptive cruise control, ambient lighting, wireless phone charging and a 10-inch touchscreen. The screen previously attracted criticism for being slow, glitchy and difficult to use on the move. New shortcuts make it significantly better to operate and a completely new screen will arrive in 2024, but we can’t help but feel VW should have waited until then to introduce this ID.3.

The ID.3 starts from £37,115 for the standard battery or £42,115 for the Pro S. There are lots of options available too, which can quickly rack up the price. Our test car came in at over £50,000 thanks to options such as a Driver Assistance Plus Pack (£2,095) and an Exterior Pack (£1,725), and at this price, it looks extortionate.

The ID.3’s main problem comes in the form of the MG4. Choose that car in ‘Extended Range’ form and it’s better equipped, nearly as roomy and just good to drive. But, most importantly, it costs £6,000 less than the Volkswagen.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Top Gear said: ‘The facelift addresses the too-radical-for-some exterior and bare cabin. It’s a nice place to sit now.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

This is a relatively small update but it does go a long way towards improving the hatchback. The higher-quality interior is certainly the best change, but with good driving dynamics and impressive practicality, this Volkswagen remains one of the finest electric hatchbacks available. The trouble is its price, and specifically versus one particular rival. If Volkswagen really is to take the fight to firms such as MG, the price needs to come down a bit. Inside

The quality of materials used in the cabin have been improved and help the car feel more ‘VW’.

This is a relatively small update but it does go a long way towards improving the hatchback.

DACIA JOGGER HYBRID

THE KNOWLEDGE

Dacia Jogger Hybrid

Price (as tested): £23,645

Engine: 1.6-litre petrol with hybrid assistance

Power: 140bhp

Dacia has equipped its seven-seater Jogger with a new hybrid engine. How does it all come together? Jack Evans put one to the test.

WHAT IS IT?

Dacia – like so many other manufacturers – is aware of the need for added electrification in these switched-on times. It’s why the Jogger has been equipped with a new hybrid engine that doesn’t replace the existing petrol-powered model but instead complements the range.

WHAT’S NEW?

Despite fitting that hybrid powertrain and its batteries, the Jogger still keeps its seven-seater configuration. Up front, we’ve got a similar level of technology to the ‘regular’ Jogger, though the main dials have been replaced by an on-trend screen.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

Pinched from the wider Renault group, the 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is combined with two electric motors and a teeny-tiny 1.2kWh battery.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

It’s not quite as pleasant to drive as the regular version, but you can’t fault its efficiency –during our time with it, we were healthily exceeding the claimed fuel economy. It’s superbly good on fuel and should prove cheap to run when you add in the tax-saving low CO2 emissions.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

There’s not a lot going on here to differentiate the Hybrid from the regular Jogger. But we do have Dacia’s new logos at the front and back, while the intricate LED daytime running light designs help to spruce things up.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

We’re not awash with high-end materials inside the Jogger but that’s just fine. The Jogger Hybrid is still impressively cost-focused and everything inside it has been put in with purpose. The plastics, for instance, are pretty harsh but that means they’re durable, while the seats might not be the most bolstered, but they’re comfortable and great for long trips.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

The Hybrid comes with plenty of equipment, with our ‘Expression’ car boasting features such as a reversing camera, eight-inch infotainment display and automatic air conditioning.

WHAT DO WE THINK?

The new Hybrid version of the Jogger feels like a welcome addition to the range. Of course, it hasn’t vastly changed the experience, but the lower emissions show a commitment by Dacia to stay ahead of the game in terms of what its vehicles put out of the exhaust. However, the regular Jogger is hardly a bruiser in the CO2 department and, given its far lower price of £18,295, if you’re after a budget-friendly model that goes hard on space and practicality, then the ‘standard’ car is still one of the best options around.

Torque: 144Nm

Max speed: 111mph

0-60mph: 9.9 seconds

Economy: 56.5mpg

Emissions: 112g/km CO2

TARGET BUYERS: Fans of the Jogger’s design who want a more flexible and punchy engine option.

THE RIVALS:

Skoda Kodiaq

Peugeot Rifter

Hyundai Santa Fe

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Spacious and clever interior

2. Low cost

3. Cheap to run

DEAL CLINCHER:

A hybrid engine strengthens the Jogger’s appeal, but most buyers will be more than happy with the ‘standard’ version.

The materials used in the cabin may not be high end but they’re durable and the seats are comfortable for longer journeys.

At Cazoo Wholesale, we’re proud to offer a service buyers love to tell us about!

I have to say I am absolutely delighted. So far the experience has been a breath of fresh air for the following reasons.

Firstly, the ease of communication with your front of house team starting with ease of opening an a buyers account to the helpfulness of the team and taking the due diligence and professional level of help in making it as painless as totally possible.

The description of the stock is nothing short of accurate and very precise in a transparent format.

When we have experienced any issue with a vehicle or admin its has always been dealt with promptly and reliably by all the team.

We have great confidence to deal with you well into the future and are personally delighted.

Thanks to you and your great team.

The Cazoo Wholesale platform offers buyers simplicity of use – clear & concise, all necessary information is easy to find and the imaging is first class, easily the best amongst the competition.

Vehicle defects / damage are clearly described and again, the clarity of imagery of this gives a buyer confidence in making purchasing decisions along with photos of loose items andn we like the fair / fixed priced fees.

Aftersales support couldn’t be better

Great selection of accurately described vehicles, perfectly photographed and advertised along with quick, efficient and friendly customer service. By far my most preferred method of sourcing used vehicle stock. Highly recommended.

Purchasing from Cazoo Wholesale is simple and straightforward, the single buyers fee is competitive and easy to factor in to costs when purchasing.

The vehicle inspection reports are accurate and the digital imagery is very clear.

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!

I’ve been purchasing over the last couple of months and have been impressed with the CS team as well as the boys in the yard. And will continue purchasing!!

DELIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

There’s a place in Germany that’s like a cathedral to Mazda, thanks to a dealer family’s passion for the marque – James Batchelor had a special tour.

Apiece of paper is waved in front of me. It’s a grainy printout of a car advertised for sale by a classic car dealer in the UK. Then I’m asked if the asking price is ‘reasonable’ and do I know anyone who can look at the car on their behalf? It’s frantic conversations such as this one that have led to me being surrounded by some 50 Mazdas from all around the world.

For some dealers, cars are simply lumps of metal. Each sale is an entry on the company’s balance sheet; figures on the year-end report; profit for the shareholders. But then there’s the Frey family...

To say the Freys are mad about Mazdas is the biggest understatement you could ever make. It’s an addiction that’s lasted for more than 40 years – and it isn’t about to end anytime soon.

Mazda has been headquartered in Hiroshima for over 100 years. But if you want to discover the history of the carmaker, marvel at its rotary engines and ogle some of its most famous (and forgotten) models Mazda has ever made, you needn’t take a flight to the other side of the world but to a medieval city in Germany.

The Freys – Walter and his sons Markus and Joachim – have three successful and highly regarded Mazda dealerships as well as a Peugeot showroom in the area surrounding the city of Augsburg in Bavaria. But their fascination with the Japanese carmaker lies in an old tram depot.

Take the pretty unassuming Wertachstraße near the centre of the city, cross the Senkelbach river then immediately turn down a small road and you’ll find the magnificent former tram building dating back to 1897. With large arched windows set in yellow brick walls covered by a vaulted ceiling, it’s like a cathedral to Mazda. And, more specifically, the Freys’ classic Mazda collection.

It’s Markus who found the advert and the discussion over the now-crumpled

A 1993 Mazda 323 Group N rally car

Another quirky Mazda – a 1962 K360 pick-up

Lifetime car dealer Walter Frey established the museum after his Mazda collection grew too large

piece of paper concerns a Mazda MX-5 Le Mans Edition. Only 24 were made to celebrate Mazda’s win at the gruelling 24-hour endurance race in 1991 and, amazingly, the Freys don’t have one. Oh, they’ve stashed away MX-5 racers, special editions, anniversary models and even a Mk2 MX-5 Coupe, but not a Le Mans Edition finished in the same lurid livery of the 1991 Mazda 787b race winner. That, though, is about to change.

But why is this former depot owned by the Freys and stuffed full with Mazdas? Well, to put it simply, because Walter Frey’s collection got too large and he wanted somewhere to store it.

It all started in the early 1970s when Walter wanted to set up shop as a car dealer. He began trading in Ladas and had ambitions of becoming an Opel dealer but was rebuffed by the German carmaker for being too small an outfit. Fascinated by the Wankel rotary engine concept, the solution was to develop his business and start selling NSUs, in particular the Ro80, but by this time the carmaker had been absorbed with Audi and into the Volkswagen Group. So he turned to Mazda, and in so doing became one of Germany’s first dealers.

The collection began humbly enough. Arguably the most mythical Mazda of all, the 110S Cosmo Sport, was sourced from New Jersey in 1980, but while owning one of these glamorous super-coupes would be enough for even the most ardent fan of the rotary engine, it was just the beginning for Walter.

It’s a quiet Friday morning in mid-August and there are just a couple of visitors ambling around the museum. Walter stops and chats with them then leads me around the collection, pausing in front of every exhibit to explain the story of how he and his sons acquired them. ‘Exhibit’ is the wrong word as every car here is driven routinely for events, for weddings, and just for the sheer hell of it. Moreover, Walter winces at the word ‘museum’, too.

‘I didn’t want to start a museum, I just wanted somewhere to store the cars because they were all over the place!’ he chuckles. But a museum it’s become, essentially because of how large the collection is, with space for around 50 cars on display and room for storage underground. The collection numbers around 150 vehicles in total and covers everything from three-wheelers, typical Japanese kei cars, rotary-engined limousines,

I WAS expecting to be shocked at the sheer variety of Mazdas at the museum, but I wasn’t expecting to see a car that I had raced! Recently, Mazda UK gifted the Freys one of its MX-5 racing cars. Built by Jota Sport in 2011, the car was one of a pair made to primarily compete in the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship, with experienced hands Owen Mildenhall and Mark Ticehurst behind the wheel. They were joined by a rota of journalists at different events – and one of them was the highly inexperienced me.

Mazda entered my team mates and me into the Birkett Six-Hour Relay Race at Silverstone in 2014. A blog I wrote for Mazda (which is still online) details exactly how terrifying my stint was in the 74-strong field. I was racing well until the heavens opened, and despite the team telling me to come in and change to wet tyres I stayed out, only to have an enormous spin at Copse Corner. I didn’t crash, but my days as a Mazda works racing driver were never to be repeated.

MAZDA MX-5 GT RACE CAR

I didn’t want to start a museum, I just wanted somewhere to store the cars because they were all over the place! Walter Frey

Walter and Batch study the 1977 Mazda 323 that has been signed by many museum visitors

pick-ups and even a Mazda rotary coach. ‘We spoke to Mazda in Japan and asked if we could open this as a sort of a museum – they said yes. They approached Mazda Germany who weren’t that keen initially, but they were not strong enough to say no!’ Open it did in 2017, and the place has since become a mecca for Mazda fans from all around the world. As we’re chatting, Walter’s face lights up as an NSU Ro80 pulls up in the car park, the owner remarking that he’s on a road trip from Berlin to Switzerland and wanted to call in.

The Freys source cars from all over the world, and if any car needs restoration it’s meticulously revived by their team of mechanics. The wild Autozam AZ-1 with a MazdaSpeed bodykit arrived in boxes and had to be constructed, and as we pause in front of the achingly adorable R360 Coupe, Walter reminisces how that car was sourced from Australia. The story, hilariously, isn’t repeatable as the car required far more restoration than he was initially led to believe (with a few choice English swear words uttered), but watching him looking at the car and smiling, such escapades to find the world’s rarest Mazdas are clearly worth it.

Time is ticking though, and Walter, Markus – who’s been asking even more questions about the MX-5 Le Mans – and I have a date at one of the family’s Mazda showrooms. As we leave, we walk past a group of Dutch petrolheads who’ve just arrived in their fleet of immaculate MX-5s – they’re here for a guided tour, having heard about this shrine to Mazdas deep in Bavaria and simply had to visit.

It’s a short drive to Auto Frey Mazda in Gersthofen, a small district in Augsburg. The dealership sits at the side of a busy crossroads and adjacent to the even more bustling Bundesstraße 2 – Germany’s longest federal highway, which runs to and from the borders with Austria and Poland. The dealership is much like you’d find anywhere in the UK. It’s a two-storey affair, but while the downstairs showroom is full with Mazda’s current line-up, upstairs is empty – a symbol that the dearth of new and used cars is just as prevalent in Germany as it is in the UK.

With Joachim joining us, it’s a chance to discuss the future of the family firm and selling Mazdas in Germany. It’s clear that it’s not just the shortage of metal that

ON LOAN to the Freys is this one-of-a-kind MX-5. The last time I saw this car was at Rockingham Motor Speedway in 2013. We had borrowed it and a whole load of other one-offs – one of which was the notorious Nissan Juke-R – for a special Car Dealer feature. The Superlight was a study into how light you could make an MX-5 and it used a number of carbon-fibre, aluminium and fibreglass-reinforced plastic components. It weighs some 160kg less than a normal MX-5 of the era, and it still looks sensational – like some 1950s sports racer. It was wonderful seeing it again.

MAZDA MX-5 SUPERLIGHT

BATCH’S FAVOURITE SIX CARS

Mazda 121 Haribo

There are special editions and then there are special editions. The 121 Haribo was built in collaboration with the sweetmaker. It only came in this rather fun shade of yellow, but also added a MOMO steering wheel with a golden bear logo, a rear sun shade featuring Haribo bear motifs, and hubcaps designed to look like bears. Oh, and the owners also received a Haribo bear plus 100 bags of golden gummy bears.

R360 Coupe

This, amazingly, was Mazda’s first passenger car. It was an instant success, taking 65 per cent of the kei car market, 15 per cent of Japan’s new car sales, and put Mazda on the map as a carmaker. It was powered by a 356cc fourstroke engine and had impossibly cute looks.

Parkway Rotary

Yes, Mazda made buses, too. The Parkway used a development of the RX-7’s twin-rotor engine and was clothed in a kitsch body large enough for 26 passengers. A rotarypowered bus? Yes, really!

Autozam AZ-1

Designed under its Autozam brand, the AZ-1 was a wild take on the kei class of car. It was powered by an equally tiny 657cc Suzuki-sourced turbocharged engine, and this car features a smart MazdaSpeed bodykit. But the AZ-1 wasn’t a sales success – it launched as Japan

Pathfinder

Mazda expanded operations to other parts of the world in the 1960s and one such country was Burma (now Myanmar). It built the Pathfinder XV-1 there and offered it as a soft-top or as a nine-seater station wagon, mostly to the police, military and government. Some did fall into civilian hands, though, and various examples are still in

This is Walter Frey’s favourite car – but it isn’t actually a Mazda. The firm wanted to compete with the ultra-exclusive Toyota Crown in Japan so it imported this Holden saloon from Australia and fitted a 1.3-litre rotary engine in it. Only 800 were ever made.

Germany shares with the UK but problems with selling electric cars, too.

‘We have started the year well, but now we are finding that people are not sure on what to buy,’ remarks Joachim. ‘Petrol, hybrid or electric? They really don’t know what they should be going for.’

‘This is because of Volkswagen,’ says Marcus. ‘They killed the diesel market, and now people are confused about what to buy next. ‘Two years ago, if you bought an EV you got a lot of money off the price from the government. But every year they have cut and cut [the subsidies] back – it’s now not enough.’

We chat about high targets to sell new cars, the arrival of online car sales and younger buyers’ expectations to transact digitally, and problems finding and retaining technicians.

Some of these hurdles would have been unthinkable in the Seventies when Auto Frey opened for business, while others are themes that have energised and frustrated car dealers for decades, no matter which market they operate in.

But there is one theme that we keep returning to – the Freys’ passion for Mazdas and their customers’ love of buying cars from the family.

They have numerous customers on their books that buy Mazda after Mazda because they like doing business with the trio. In some ways, the Freys are instilling their love for the brand with countless others.

But what of the future? Will the Frey business carry on to the next generation?

‘Hmmm, I think not,’ replies Markus.

‘My daughter? No,’ says Joachim. ‘My son is 12 – maybe there is a chance that he will do it, but it is too early to say. If not, we can sell or we can get a manager. We are not worried.’

Whatever lies in the future, one thing’s for sure: if you buy a Mazda from the Freys, you don’t just get a bunch of flowers as a thank you but also lifetime free admission to Mazda Classic Automobile Museum Frey. And that will never change. As for the MX-5 Le Mans Edition, it was indeed snapped up by the Freys and will soon be heading to Bavaria to go on display in the museum. They’re gonna need a bigger building soon...

We spoke to Mazda in Japan and asked if we could open this as a sort of a museum – they said yes.

Markus Frey shows Batch even more Mazdas – these aren’t currently on public display but are stored in the bowels of the building

Above: Batch in conversation with Walter and his two sons Markus, left, and Joachim

Outside one of the Freys’ three Mazda showrooms in the Augsburg area

Walter Frey

COOL STUFF

As we move towards cooler temperatures and darker nights, it’s easy to think that ‘staying in’ might be the way we’ll all be spending the next few months. But there are still some great opportunities to get out and about – and we’ve got the best of both worlds for you here to make the most of it all!

Ultimate Ears Epicboom £339

THERE’S nothing quite like a new speaker, is there? The ability to enjoy your favourite tunes in crystal-clear sound is a great feeling, so picking a speaker that does your music justice can be tricky.

The Ultimate Ears Epicboom is here to deliver that experience wherever you go.

It’s a portable speaker with a lot of power behind it, while an IP67 rating means that it’s waterproof and dustproof, too. Expect a battery life of around 17 hours – so you could listen to Stairway to Heaven almost 129 times, should you wish!

Specialized Globe Haul ST – £TBC

THE world of cargo bikes has expanded massively in recent years as people see them as a great alternative to smaller cars or public transport as a way of getting round the city.

The Globe Haul ST is one of the latest to arrive. Built by Specialized, it’s an e-bike that can carry up to 190kg of gear, plus it can travel for up to 62 miles with battery assistance. If you’d like a larger version, there’s the even more practical LT – or Long Tail – that can carry even more. Prices are yet to be announced, but Specialized has said it’ll be distributed globally via its online sales channels.

Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven

£399.99

YOU’LL probably have heard of Ninja already – it makes some of the best blenders and air fryers. It also recently dipped into outdoor electric barbecues but is now pushing further with a new model that is a smoker, barbecue and pizza oven. It can cook a full pizza in just a few minutes and has a clever ‘box’ at the back that you fill with wood pellets – this is then used to flavour whatever you’re cooking, rather than powering the machine.

Google Wallet Pass – Free

ANDROID users are set to get a great new feature as part of an update issued by Google.

Accessed via Google Wallet, it means they’ll be able to take a photo of their important cards – such as a library or gym card – and store it within their phone’s wallet.

It just needs the card to have a barcode on it, and Google says the system is as safe as the existing wallet system.

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

BUSINESS NEWS

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

INTERIMS

Lloyds of London sees profit more than double

COLLAPSE

All 12,500 Wilko staff are set to lose their jobs

WILKO shut its first group of shops on September 12 as the dramatic collapse of the high street chain took shape.

It came a day after administrators said all the shop, warehouse and support centre workers were set to lose their jobs. Wilko employed 12,500 staff and ran 400 shops but had to hire administrators in August after pressure from weak consumer spending and debts to suppliers.

EXPANSION

Aldi targets 500 more shops after 1,000th

ALDI wants to have 500 more shops in the UK amid ambitious growth plans after Woking hosted the retailer’s 1,000th store opening here.

Britain’s fourth biggest grocer said it set the new target after ‘huge demand’ from people wanting to switch supermarkets for lower prices. It builds on a previous goal of opening 1,200 stores in the UK by the end of 2025.

BREXIT

LLOYD’S of London more than doubled its profit in the first six months of the financial year.

The insurance marketplace said pre-tax profit hit £3.9bn in the first six months of the year – up from £1.8bn a year earlier. Return on investments swung from a £3.1bn loss a year ago to a £1.8bn profit.

Chief executive John Neal hailed its ‘bullet-proof balance sheet’.

Narrow Water Point and Warrenpoint Port seen from Flagstaff Viewpoint on the hills outside Newry where the Newry river flows out to Carlingford Lough. The UK and Republic of Ireland share a border through the lough (Liam McBurney/PA)

Amazon and eBay sellers ‘refusing to ship to NI’

POST-BREXIT trade rules are costing Northern Ireland’s small businesses and consumers the ability to ‘shop around’, with Amazon and eBay sellers refusing to ship there, ministers have heard. DUP MP Jim Shannon warned that Northern Ireland continues to be treated differently under arrangements with the EU, to the detriment of shoppers. Current trade arrangements mean goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland have to undergo rigorous checks.

P&O

to close Liverpool to Dublin route

P&O is to close one of its routes towards the end of the year.

The Liverpool-Dublin route will be axed because of the unavailability of a berth in the Merseyside city for next year, the ferry giant said. The route is served by two P&O ferries making 24 sailings a week and mainly used to transport freight.

P&O said it intends to redeploy the vessels, adding: ‘We are now beginning a consultation process with our employees affected by the intended closure.’

John Lewis group to recruit 10,000-plus staff

THE John Lewis Partnership is recruiting more than 10,000 staff as it starts its preparations for the key Christmas period.

The group, which owns the department store chain and Waitrose supermarket arm, said most of the roles will be temporary. Lisa Cherry, executive director for people, said: ‘We’re hugely proud of the way our two brands have become part of the excitement that surrounds Christmas and this is a great opportunity to be at the heart of that.’

CHRISTMAS JOBS

NEWS AND THOUGHTS FROM THE CAR DEALER PODCASTS

Carwow’s new CEO John Veichmanis has spoken out about his plans for the website after taking over from founder James Hind. Speaking on the Car Dealer Podcast just two months into his role, Veichmanis said he wanted Carwow to become the ‘start point’ for anyone thinking about changing their car.

Hind stepped down as he wanted to spend more time with his family but has remained on the board of the disruptor.

Previously, Veichmanis was chief operating officer, having joined the business three years ago. His first job was to work on the deal to acquire used car selling website Wizzle.

As CEO, he’s looking towards the future and on the podcast spoke about his aim to make Carwow a destination for selling and buying cars.

‘If you think about booking a hotel, for a large swathe of the population, they don’t start with Google, they go to Booking.com. That’s the start point for booking your next holiday or trip.

‘We want to be the destination that customers come to when they want to change cars.’

Veichmanis thinks Carwow is ‘very credible’ with car buyers and can now help them get a value for their existing car as well as help them specify a new model. ‘We can provide customers with a valuation for their car so they can figure out how much they can spend on a new one.’

The website started out as a destination that helped car buyers achieve the best possible deal by allowing dealers to pitch their best price to secure a sale. It caused some controversy in the motor trade and even led to legal battles with manufacturers

Since then, it has built a huge following on YouTube, where its videos consistently clock up millions of views, and it has built a large editorial section on its website to help advise consumers.

It is this that Veichmanis thinks will help Carwow stand out in the future.

With many manufacturers moving towards fixedprice, agency sales agreements with their dealers – set-ups where they have no wriggle room to discount prices – Veichmanis believes the site will grow thanks to its ability to help customers compare and review rival cars.

WAYLANDS AUTOMOTIVE Managing people is about understanding your team

Waylands Automotive boss

John O’Hanlon has spoken about his career and how he learnt that bringing great people into your business such as Daksh Gupta is critical to success.

O’Hanlon built car dealer group Ridgeway and later Waylands into respected and profitable businesses. While at Ridgeway, he hired Gupta who would go on to become a great friend. ‘Daksh was

a phenomenon,’ says O’Hanlon.

‘Sometimes managers need harder, closer management, sometimes you just have to point them to where you want to be, and Daksh didn’t need to learn much from me.

‘I learnt a lot from watching him. We were lucky to take him on. He was that turbo, but you could tell he was bigger than we were.

‘Managing people is about

understanding your team, about knowing when to push and when to just back off and check in regularly with them.’

After the Ridgeway sale in 2016, O’Hanlon took a year out before starting Waylands Automotive with a partnership with Volvo Cars.

He said ‘partnering with great brands’ has been critical to his success. These days he represents Volvo, Kia, MG and Polestar.

New CEO has grand plans for disruptor –and agency sales have a big part to play

We want to be the destination that customers come to when they want to change cars.

John Veichmanis

Carwow’s new CEO

WE’RE AWARD-WINNING THANKS TO YOU!

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

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

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

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

FINANCE NEWS

PREDICTION

2024 used car finance market set to be tougher

A RANGE of factors mean that the 2024 used car finance market is likely to become increasingly competitive.

ANALYSIS

Is the PCP bubble about to burst?

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

The UK’s car finance bubble is on the brink of bursting as demand for new car finance deals slows down dramatically compared with new car sales, says automotive consumer advice site The Car Expert. According to the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA), new business volume dropped by six per cent in the first six months of this year versus last year, despite private new car sales rising by two per cent.

However, the average amount of borrowing per new car in the first six months of 2023 is at a record high of £25,600, said the FLA, which is about three per cent up on last year.

The analysis by The Car Expert could signal that traditional car financing has passed its peak, it said, as personal leasing, salary sacrifice schemes – which provide significant tax savings – and subscriptions rise in popularity.

Editorial director Stuart Masson said: ‘Motorists are increasingly opting for “usership” over ownership as we see demand for traditional car finance dwindle.

‘The reasons for the shift are complex, but part of it is better consumer awareness and because more finance options are springing up to meet customer demand for lower monthly payments and more flexibility.’

He added: ‘In recent years, we have seen growth in leasing (personal contract hire) for private customers, rather than it being the exclusive domain of fleet buyers. There are various reasons for that, but the key issue here is that leasing numbers don’t count towards the FLA’s car finance data as no money is being borrowed – leasing is simply a rental.

‘Likewise, we’re now seeing significant interest and growth in two other types of car funding: salary sacrifice and car subscriptions. These are also forms of leasing or rental, so again they don’t show up in the FLA data.’

That’s the prediction from motor retail tech specialist iVendi, whose chief operating officer Darren Sinclair says that larger volumes of used car sales, an ongoing readjustment of vehicle values plus lenders looking to move into new sectors are all likely to have an impact.

‘Our view is that even if we see a further base rate rise, perhaps by another 0.5 per cent, it is probable that market forces will see motor finance providers start to become more assertive about new business, perhaps as soon as Q1 of next year.

‘This will be thanks to a range of factors, the most important of which is the ongoing “normalisation” of the used car sector.

‘We’ve seen much talk in the last few weeks about readjustments in values as volumes of vehicles entering the market gradually grow, and this is something that will have an impact on the amount of motor finance being borrowed.’

TIME IS MONEY

RICHARD PYGOTT

A MONTHLY LOOK AT THE WORLD OF AUTOMOTIVE FINANCE AND MARKETING

Let’s be honest about customer retention

Terms like openness, honesty, customer focus, teamwork and a winning attitude aren’t just buzzwords for us at First Response Finance; they’re the values upon which our company is built, and they guide us when selecting our staff, serving our customers and collaborating with our dealer partners.

During a recent phone conversation with one of our long-standing dealer partners, they gave me some valuable feedback on an application they had recently submitted to us. Even though we had approved the customer for the finance, they contacted our office shortly after to express an interest in exploring vehicles at a different dealership.

I am sure many in the motor trade know how it feels to lose a sale, and I empathised with him about how frustrating it must be after investing considerable time and effort in attracting the customer. The dealer confirmed that we had made him aware that the customer had asked us about shopping around, and I also reassured him that we are not the only finance company in the country that gets asked this question by customers!

I believe what sets First Response Finance apart from our competitors in this situation is our commitment to openness and honesty with our dealer partners. We tell our dealer partners when a customer asks, so they have time to get back in touch with the customer to see if there is anything else that they can do to save the sale.

If dealers notice that their customers (not just those seeking finance) are making inquiries about a vehicle and then vanishing, it’s likely they’re just shopping around. However, there are steps that dealers can take to foster stronger customer loyalty and improve retention.

Having good conversations with customers is vital, and by listening to customers and understanding what they want to buy and why, dealers can offer a more personalised service to each one. Dealers should also ask them why they are considering shopping around, as their feedback can highlight areas for improvement to reduce lost sales.

When customers seek financing for their purchases, transparency is vital now the Consumer Duty has come into effect.

Richard

Pygott

is digital marketer for First Response.

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

Advising customers of the finance company’s process and keeping them updated on their application’s progress means you not only earn their gratitude and trust but you also reduce the chances of them seeking alternative options.

We want dealers in the motor trade to sell as many vehicles as possible, and in a world where trust can be hard to come by, you can count on First Response Finance to always prioritise openness and honesty. We will always go above and beyond to help our dealer partners get a deal done. It’s not just our promise; it’s who we are.

PARTNER WITH AN AWARD-WINNING COMPANY

When customers seek financing for their purchases, transparency is vital now the Consumer Duty has come into effect.

SUPPLIER NEWS

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

Oliver Grummell made first commercial boss

USED car marketplace Motorway has made Oliver Grummell its first commercial director.

He has joined it after four years at Ocado, where he rose to become head of programme management for North America.

Grummell will lead the commercial and operations teams for the dealer side of the business.

Motorway saw its sales more than double from £841m in 2021 to £1.7bn in 2022.

Value-added product sales up by two-thirds

A CAR finance firm is helping to rewild part of the Highlands and help protect fish in the process. Startline Motor Finance is putting more than £100,000 into a riverwoods project covering 23 riverside hectares in Glen Urquhart that will see more than 8,000 trees planted. The project –undertaken by rewilding charity Trees for Life – includes habitat restoration for salmon and other native fish at risk from rising water temperatures because of a lack of trees to provide vital shade.

MAG remarketing deal extended for two years

DEALER sales of value-added products such as warranties, service plans and MOT insurance have risen by nearly two-thirds, says iVendi.

The motor retail tech firm says since the start of 2021, the number of motor finance applications made via its platform including at least one add-on product have risen by 65 per cent, with the average value of the products going up by 66 per cent to £638. A key part of the rise has been attributed to its Digital Deal product.

CLOSE Brothers Motor Finance has extended its remarketing partnership with Motor Auctions Group (MAG) for a further two years.

It will sell several thousand endof-contract, voluntary terminations, repossessions and non-runners through MAG’s Wednesday physical sales and two online weekly timed sales over the next 12 months.

It also holds closed dealer sales for cars and motorbikes solely for its dealer finance partners.

Sleepout raises cash to help the homeless

COX Automotive staff raised £1,200 for a housing and homelessness charity by holding a sleepout.

It took place at Manheim Auction Services’ Bristol base and was one of a series of events aimed at raising £25,000 this year for charity partner Shelter. Volunteers spent an uncomfortable night in sleeping bags on the auction hall’s draughty floor. A Citroen donated by Hendy Group and auctioned by Manheim contributed another £1,100.

IVENDI

CLOSE BROTHERS

COX AUTOMOTIVE

Taking a walk on rewilding side in Highlands

When customers seek financing for their purchases, transparency is vital now the Consumer Duty has come into effect.

Richard Pygott p47

STATISTICS

THE LATEST REGISTRATION FIGURES

Electric vehicles and fleet sales supercharged 24% rise in new car sales in August

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

Fleet sales propped up a 24.4 per cent rise in registrations in August, latest figures show. Data published on September 5 by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed that 85,657 cars were registered last month.

That’s a 24.4 per cent rise on the same month last year and confirms the new car market is now entering a second year of growth, said the trade body.

The increase was primarily driven by BEVs (battery-electric vehicles), with registrations rising by a whopping 72.3 per cent over August 2022.

The SMMT warned though that despite the massive boost in EVs, the government still isn’t providing insight into details surrounding the upcoming Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate.

Registrations of plug-in hybrids rose by a similarly impressive 70 per cent during the month, with hybrids rising by 6.8 per cent.

Petrols saw an uptick of 9.8 per cent while diesel continued to slump. Sales of dervs slipped by just over 18 per cent.

Sales to fleets rocketed by over 58 per cent in August, while registrations in the private sector dropped by over eight per cent.

Auto Trader said that flattening retail sales shows the industry is now seeing ‘production exceed[ing] natural demand’.

The Ford Puma was again the month’s best seller, and the crossover strengthened its grip on the year-to-date best sellers chart.

So far this year, Ford has shifted 29,225 Pumas, beating the Vauxhall Corsa (25,692) and Tesla’s Model Y (24,148).

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: ‘With the automotive industry beginning a second year of growth, recovery is under way with EVs energising the market.

‘But with a new Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate due to come into force in less than 120 days, manufacturers still await the details. Businesses cannot plan on the basis of consultations, they need certainty.

‘And now, more than ever, government must match action to ambition, ensuring there are the incentives and infrastructure in place to convince drivers to make the switch.’

With the automotive industry beginning a second year of growth, recovery is under way with EVs energising the market.

Mike Hawes SMMT chief executive

Eighth month of growth in a row LCV news: p52

REGISTRATIONS OF NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

LESS THAN 3.5 TONNES

Sales up again as 16,303 units are shifted

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

THE UK’s LCV market grew for the eighth month in a row in August, rising by five per cent year on year to 16,303 units, latest figures from the SMMT show.

Year-to-date registrations, meanwhile, hit 213,219 – up 19.4 per cent on the 178,626 total achieved during the same period last year. Battery-electric van registrations grew by 18.9 per cent to 1,122 units to take a 6.9 per cent market share during the month. A total of 11,414 zero-emission electric vans have been registered so far this year – up 16.4 per cent on the same period in 2022.

The top-selling LCV in August was the Ford Transit Custom at 1,791 units. It was followed by the Ford Transit at 1,426 and Vauxhall Vivaro at 1,151.

REGISTRATIONS OF NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES 3.5  TONNES TO 6.0

TONNES

Figures supplied by SMMT

Figures supplied by SMMT

SUPPLIERS GUIDE

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

Auctions & Trade-To-Trade Sales

BCA

W: bca.co.uk

T: 0344 875 3480

E: customerservices@bca.com

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

Automotive E-Commerce

ATG

W: atg.auto

T: 0844 264 3519

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

Data

Real World Analytics

W: realworldanalytics.com

T: 0808 1890 617

E: auto@realworldanalytics.com

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

DMS

DealerDesk

W: dealerdesk.co.uk

E: contact@dealerdesk.co.uk

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

Finance

Blue Motor Finance

W: blue.co.uk

T: 020 3005 9331

E: dealersupport@blue.co.uk

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

Finance

Close Brothers Motor Finance

W: closemotorfinance.co.uk/

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

Finance

First Response

W: firstresponsefinance.co.uk

T: 0115 946 6317

E: marketing@frfl.co.uk

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

Finance

Forza Finance

W: forzafinance.co.uk

T: 01245 245678

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

HR & People Management

HR Manager

W: hrmanager.co.uk

T: 01480 455500

E: info@hrmanager.co.uk

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

Insurance

Tradesure

W: tradesureinsurance.co.uk

T: 0121 248 9313

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

Key Control

Traka

W: traka-automotive.com

T: 0333 355 3726

E: automotive@traka.com

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

Lead Management

GardX AD-Vantage

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

T: 01243 376426

E: goforaspin@gardx.co.uk

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

Lead Management

iVendi

W: ivendi.com

T: 0330 229 0028

E: tellmemore@ivendi.com

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

Legal & Compliance

Lawgistics

W: lawgistics.co.uk

T: 01480 455500

E: sales@lawgistics.co.uk

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

Marketing, PR & Video OnCue Communications

W: oncuecomms.com

T: 020 8125 3880

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

Marketing, PR & Video Marketing Delivery

W: marketingdelivery.co.uk/

T: 01892 599911

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

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

Oil & Lubricants

Mobil™

W: mobil.co.uk

T: 0800 0857 420

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

Recruitment

WeRecruit Auto

W: werecruitauto.co.uk

T: 01603 550041

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

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.

These Listings Work!

More Sales For You

W: Your website address

T: 020 8125 3880 (that’s us!)

E: sales@blackballmedia.co.uk

Info: The Suppliers Guide lets dealers find the companies they need to help them with their business. Make sure you’re here. Contact us via the above number or email address.

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.

BMW 330e TOURING

Whenever I think of estate cars, I think of vehicles designed for drivers needing extra space. We’ve just seen the demise of the Volvo estate car in the UK in favour of the firm’s SUVs, but I still think there’s a place for the load-luggers on our roads.

For me, the estate car has always been spot on. I prefer sitting lower down and, although I can understand that those with families and kids in child seats prefer the extra height that an SUV brings when loading little ones in and out, an estate car has always fitted my needs perfectly. In my view, they’re also better for dogs as they’re lower down and therefore it’s easier for hounds to jump in and out.

It’s why I’ve been enjoying the 330e so much. The 3 Series Touring has been a common sight on our roads for decades, and although this modern incarnation has more technology than ever, the fundamentals remain the same. You’ve got a low-slung driving position, plenty of space in the back and a decent boot that is easy to access, thanks to a clever splitopening tailgate.

In fact, it’s that separate section of glass that really elevates the Touring’s accessibility. I can only think of a handful of other cars – including the Toyota Land Cruiser – that offer such a function, but there certainly aren’t any in the estate segment.

The only snag is that because of the batteries in the hybrid 330e, you’re getting 90 litres less boot space than you would in a petrol or diesel version. For me, that’s a shame, as the whole point of an estate car is to have some extra space to play with. But as it stands, it’s still a usable amount of room and it’s helped out with some recent runs to the tip –however, I do think you might appreciate those extra 90 litres if they were around.

One aspect I can’t fault is the general storage in the forward part of the cabin. It’s a niche point, I know, but BMW has fitted some really great bottle-holders in the front doors –they’re large enough for some really big bottles and this stops you from having to store them elsewhere or, in my case, leaving them rolling in the passenger seat footwell.

It’s also been really great for the dog. She sits on the back seats with a harness attached and thanks to that low height it’s a doddle for her to get in and out. Fortunately, we’ve got a large ‘hammock’ cover that drapes over the rear seats, otherwise I don’t think the partAlcantara seats would stand up to much.

In fact, if this were ‘my’ 330e, I’d probably be opting for full leather as it’s easier to clean. However, that’s a £1,300 option, I should add.

The black interior might be quite dark, too, were it not for the panoramic sunroof that’s fitted to this model. It’s actually a £1,190 optional extra but one that I think is well worth adding as it brightens up an otherwise subdued cabin. It’s also quite nice – when for the odd occasion when it isn’t raining here in the UK – that you can open up the roof and let a little air inside. There’s a small spoiler that helps to stop the air from buffeting too much as well.

I’ve not got a huge amount of time left with the 330e, but I’m going to be spending it on really seeing what this plug-in hybrid has to offer and whether or not it’s worth switching over from a petrol or diesel version.

THE KNOWLEDGE

BMW 330e Touring M Sport

Price (as tested): £55,955

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with plug-in hybrid assistance

Power: 289bhp

Torque: 420Nm

Top speed: 143mph

Fuel economy: 138mpg

0-60mph: 5.7 seconds

Emissions: 36g/km CO2

Mileage: 6,700

This month’s highlight: The ease of access for my dog because of the low-slung nature of the 330e.

Estate cars are usually a go-to for room-conscious buyers –but does Jack Evans think that’s the case with the 330e?

VOLKSWAGEN MULTIVAN

THE KNOWLEDGE

Volkswagen Multivan

Price (as tested): £58,253

Engine: 2.0-litre petrol

Power: 201bhp

Torque: 320Nm

It’s big

–

but James Batchelor wanted to know if it was any good at transporting people on holiday.

Our long-term Volkswagen Multivan is settling nicely into my ‘lifestyle’. So far it’s been faultless on the day-to-day grind, carrying bags of shopping from the supermarket and generally being an easy car to live with.

However, I always find you really get to know a car when you take it on holiday. I say ‘lifestyle’ in quote marks because the Multivan really is designed for people with Instagramlike lifestyles – way more so than many SUVs that claim to offer this. And there’s no more ‘lifestyle’ than taking the family to Devon.

This was a family holiday to celebrate the birthday of my other half’s grandfather, and wanting the grandparents to travel 200 miles from their house in Surrey as comfortably as possible, we offered to take them in the big bus.

The rear accommodation is really well thought out, but two features deserve special mention. The centre console can slide from front to rear and it contains a couple of storage cubbies and cupholders. At the press of a button, it rises giving access to two drop-down tables, one on either side. This was great for a mid-journey picnic at the side of the busy A303 (oh, the glamour!).

The glass panoramic roof is a real boon, though. At £1,050 it sounds expensive when you flick through the brochure, but if you’re considering a Multivan it’s a must-have option. You get a massive glass roof that for rear-seat passengers adds light and more opportunities for sightseeing; I lost count of the number of times the grandparents remarked how lovely it was to see the Devon countryside through all the large windows and the roof.

With the two rear seats removed, we had an enormous boot. But this was quickly filled with luggage, the picnic, and not one but two mobility scooters. One of them was a lightweight, fold-up thing but even that was heavy to lift up into the Multivan. However, the low bumper and flat floor meant it was at least easy to manoeuvre the scooter around.

Over the course of seven days, we racked up 900 miles taking the grandparents to numerous landmarks and famous west country tourist hotspots, and each and every mile was comfortable and refined. Unlike the Caravelle which it replaces, the Multivan isn’t based on a commercial vehicle but on the ‘MQB’ car platform which is used for everything from the Volkswagen Golf to the Audi TT. That gives a comfortable and sophisticated ride and neat handling, but also it doesn’t rattle over potholes or feel workmanlike. I’ll admit I was expecting the 2.0-litre petrol engine to return terrible fuel economy but it didn’t. We averaged 30.1mpg over the 900 miles which was mightily impressive, and changed my view that you always need a diesel engine for such journeys.

Just a few weeks later the Multivan was requisitioned for another holiday, this time with a couple of friends for a long weekend in Bruges, and the Multivan slipped through France and into Belgium in sheer style and refinement. The wireless Apple CarPlay was a desirable feature as we used Google Maps instead of the Multivan’s in-built sat nav .

The Multivan was as much at home with snarled-up British A-roads as it was flying along autoroutes, but the glass roof, though brilliant at giving a view of the beautiful Bruges buildings, really likes to heat up the interior – a blind or extra tinting would be welcome. There are just a few short weeks before the Multivan goes back to Volkswagen, and on account of these two holidays, I’m going to be very sad to see it depart. As practical vehicles go, I can’t think of much better than the big VW.

Top speed: 124mph

Fuel economy: 31.4mpg (WLTP combined)

0-60mph: 8.8 seconds

Emissions: 207g/km CO2

Mileage: 12,840

This month’s highlight:

The glass panoramic roof was a real boon when it came to sightseeing while on holiday.

OTHER CARS WE’RE DRIVING

Mileage:

Volvo

Mileage: 3,951

The past month has seen ‘EV life’ become most enjoyable in ‘our’ electric long-termer.

Audi RS 6

The Audi shows its true colours on 900-mile roadtrip to Nurburgring 24-hour race.

12,240

XC40 Recharge

Services that make a difference

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

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

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