Car Dealer Magazine: Issue 195

BANGERS4BEN 2024 SETS ITS SIGHTS FOR ALPS ADVENTURE

PLUS: WE GET BEHIND THE WHEELS OF THE

AUDI A3 AND THE MERCEDES-BENZ CLE CONVERTIBLE BEHIND THE SCENES WITH TOM HARTLEY JNR

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

CONTRIBUTORS

Becca Chaplin, Jack Evans, Cameron Richards, Nigel Swan

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

epending on when you download this issue of Car Dealer and swipe through its pages, you may have a few hours before we close Car Dealer Power 2024 for entries.

The deadline is Friday, May 17 and if you’re reading this in time and haven’t yet filled out the survey then I really do urge you to do so. We’ve had a huge number of entries this year but some categories are pretty neck and neck, with just a couple of votes separating the potential overall winner and a highly commended place, so your vote really does count.

To enter, visit our website and click the ‘Power 2024’ tab at the top of the page – it only takes a few minutes and it’s really important for our industry.

Elsewhere in this issue, Bangers4Ben is back for 2024! The charity event created by Car Dealer and now managed by Automotion Events will see entrants drive down through France to the Alps, into Switzerland and along some of the area’s most famous and challenging mountain passes, through Germany via the Nürburgring and then back home. You can find out how to take part on page 15.

James Baggott has been on the road again for the latest instalment of his Selling Supercars series. This month he visits Tom Hartley Jnr and discovers how Hartley runs the business and what makes him tick. There’s also a video to go with the feature, which you can watch on our YouTube channel – it’s currently one of our most popular videos of the year.

This issue has the latest road tests of major models hitting showrooms as well, and all of the usual news and features.

See you next month.

JAMES BATCHELOR

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IGNITION.

Used car dealer Big Motoring World linked to sale of CarShop sites after Sytner announces huge shake-up

• Sytner revealed to Car Dealer it was making wholesale changes to brand

• Some sites to be rebranded, some sold and at least one possibly closed

• Sources say Big Motoring World is interested in CarShop sites

Sources have linked used car supermarket Big Motoring World with a pre-packaged purchase of some CarShop stores.

Several sources have told Car Dealer that a deal to buy up to four of the CarShop locations is on the cards for the rapidly expanding Big Group.

Executive chairman Laurence Vaughan –who has taken over running the group from ousted founder Peter Waddell – is reported to have told staff that the group is on the cusp of expanding further.

Vaughan was previously chief executive of CarShop owner Sytner. He was appointed to Big in 2022 and holds a number of nonexecutive roles. Both companies declined to comment, though, when contacted by Car Dealer as this magazine was in its final stages of production.

Car Dealer exclusively revealed that Sytner would be drastically shaking up its used car business. It plans to rebrand some stores and possibly close at least one.

The firm also announced that it was in advanced talks with one business to sell a number of its used car showrooms.

A spokesperson for Sytner said: ‘We can confirm that we are in advanced negotiations with an interested party to sell a minority of the CarShop locations

INVESTMENT

by James Baggott @CarDealerEd

as a going concern, as well as potentially closing one location.

‘Our priority, as always, will be to protect as many jobs as possible whilst ensuring that the long-term future success of the business is secured.’

Sources at Big Motoring World Group said staff were under the impression that they were the interested party and that the showrooms could transfer to the company shortly. A spokesperson for Big gave a ‘no comment’ when contacted by Car Dealer, while a spokesperson for Sytner added: ‘We do not comment on speculation.’

Sytner said it is set to rebrand its remaining CarShop stores as Sytner Select Approved Used Car superstores.

CarShop was bought by Sytner for more than £70m in 2017, and in 2021 it rolled out the CarShop brand across the globe.

Sytner is owned by the New York Stock Exchange-listed business Penske Automotive and the firm uses the CarShop brand in America, too.

Last year, Penske revenue topped £23bn and made profits of £863.5m. The UK contributed 31.3% to Penske’s revenue in 2023, while the CarShop outlets in the UK

and US were static, adding 7% to the total.

Sytner’s move follows a glut of changes to the large-format used car supermarket model in the UK, which has seen others exit that area of the market. Steve Young, managing director of the automotive research specialists ICDP, said CarShop was effectively ‘the last man standing’.

Last year, Big bought two Available Car sites and before that bought SW Car Supermarkets. In the past five years, the used car supermarket group has expanded to eight sites, most recently opening a new dealership in Wimbledon.

In March, Big ousted founder Peter Waddell from the group. He has threatened High Court action over his removal from the firm. Waddell still owns two-thirds of the group, with the remainder held by private equity firm Freshstream.

British firm secures £837m funding to develop AI technology for self-driving cars

SELF-DRIVING cars could be moving a step closer after a British technology firm secured almost £840m of funding.

UK outfit Wayve is known as a pioneer of so-called Embodied AI for autonomous driving – effectively, foundation models on which autonomous vehicles are built – enabling them

to learn from and interact with a real-world environment. The firm, founded in 2017, has now bagged some £837m ($1.05bn) to build artificial intelligence (AI) products that can be used to power self-driving cars.

Most of it has been stumped up by Japanese tech giant Softbank, with Nvidia and existing

investor Microsoft also involved. The investment is the largest for a UK AI firm and came just days after the government’s Automated Vehicles Bill was cleared in the House of Commons.

Rishi Sunak said he was ‘incredibly proud’, adding that it was ‘testament to our leadership in this industry’.

FCA could bring in formal redress scheme over motor finance commission scandal

• Financial watchdog is having its work scrutinised by treasury committee

• As part of it, the FCA has spoken about its discretionary commission review

• It has said that one option might be to enforce compensation

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

Aformal redress scheme could be brought in by the UK’s financial watchdog for people who may have been overcharged for motor finance commission.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a review of historical use of motor finance discretionary commission arrangements and sales across several firms in January.

Since then, it has said some companies are almost certainly guilty of commission failings, and finance firms such as Close Brothers and Lloyds Banking Group have been putting aside hundreds of millions of pounds in case they have to fork out.

Now Parliament’s treasury committee, which has been looking into the work of the FCA, has been told by the watchdog that a formal redress scheme is a distinct possibility.

Any such scheme would see motor finance firms that overcharged people forced to pay them damages.

‘It’s one of the options based on the evidence that we receive,’ FCA CEO Nikhil Rathi was reported by Reuters as telling the committee.

He added that the FCA was closely examining complaints about motor finance as well as court rulings and that it was requesting data from firms, with this stage of the process lasting until September.

‘We will then take a view as to what further action may be needed,’ he stated.

But he repeated the warning given in March about some firms almost certainly being guilty of failings, saying: ‘I think it’s unlikely from our work that we’re going to find nothing to report.’

However, he added that he didn’t want the committee to think that it would reach the level of the banks’ misselling of payment protection insurance.

That scandal was among the country’s costliest and ended up with lenders having to fork out some £38bn in damages.

Rathi said it was necessary to ensure that the UK still had a motor finance market that worked, since 78% of households owned a car.

REPORT Government rejects bringing back EV grant

THE government has rejected recommendations to greenlight proposals to accelerate EV takeup that included reintroducing the electric car grant.

It was responding to a wideranging report by the House of Lords’ environment and climate change committee, which outlined suggestions on what’s needed to help the transition and allow the government to hit its ambitious targets.

Among the recommendations in the report, entitled EV Strategy: Rapid Recharge Needed, was the reintroduction of the plug-in car grant, which was axed in 2022.

Published in February, it heard evidence from carmakers, charging firms and car dealers, with inquiry chairwoman Baroness Parminter saying: ‘The evidence we received shows the government must do more to get people to adopt EVs.

‘If it fails to heed our recommendations, the UK won’t reap the significant benefits of better air quality and will lag in the slow lane for tackling climate change.’

The reintroduction of the grant was a key recommendation. The report said it would ‘stimulate the affordable market’ and there should be an ‘exit strategy’ for the grant’s eventual withdrawal, but only after price parity.

But in its response, published on April 19, the government said: ‘All grants are kept under review to ensure the best value for money for the taxpayer.

‘With battery costs reducing and continued innovation, some external forecasts predict that some EVs could be around the same price to purchase as a petrol or diesel car by the end of the 2020s.’ The baroness called it ‘disappointing’.

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

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.

HIGH COURT

Cazoo Group announces administration intention for some of its subsidiaries

• Cazoo Group files notice with Securities and Exchange Commission

• It says administrators are to be appointed for subsidiaries in England

• They include Cazoo Ltd – its marketplace business to which it recently transitioned

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

Failed online retailer Cazoo is to appoint administrators for some of its subsidiaries incorporated in England.

It follows the bombshell statement it made less than a week before in which it told the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) – where it is listed – that it had failed to secure any new funding and could soon fall into administration.

In a statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the USA, Cazoo Group said that notices of intention to appoint administrators had been filed with the High Court here concerning certain material subsidiaries of Cazoo Group Ltd, namely, Cazoo Holdings Ltd, Cazoo Ltd, and Cazoo Properties Ltd.

Cazoo Ltd is its operating subsidiary via which its marketplace business – to which it recently transitioned from online used car sales – is conducted.

The notice gives Cazoo a certain amount of protection, since it means that any creditors are generally prevented from taking debt enforcement action without court permission.

This moratorium will last until administrators are appointed or 10 business days expire without administrators having been appointed.

Once administrators are appointed, an administration moratorium takes effect.

Car Dealer contacted Cazoo for a comment but it failed to respond.

Cazoo Holdings Ltd is a holding company that has no material assets other than an ownership interest in the group’s subsidiaries, while Cazoo Properties Ltd owns the majority of its leaseholds, with each of them being a subsidiary themselves.

The notice to the SEC, which is an independent agency of the US federal government and protects investors as well as enforcing the law against market manipulation, has been made in accordance with the requirements of the UK Insolvency Act 1986 and the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016.

Car Dealer reported as far back as last December that Cazoo had said it faced going under.

The announcement to the NYSE also included news that Cazoo had missed the deadline for reporting its 2023 accounts – because of pressures on management – and that CFO Paul Woolf had left the business. His departure followed that of Cazoo founder Alex Chesterman and former CEO Paul Whitehead, who both left the company in the past few months.

SPECULATION

Could Motors make a swoop for failed used car dealer?

MOTORS has been linked with a deal to buy failed online car retailer Cazoo as the latter teeters on the brink of collapse.

Sky News said that Cazoo’s impending administration could spark a fire sale of its remaining assets, with Motors said to be a ‘leading contender’ to acquire its marketplace operation, including its brand and intellectual property assets.

It isn’t clear at this stage how many other parties are interesting in taking on the stricken operation or how much Cazoo’s remaining assets could be worth.

Elsewhere, the report also says that Cazoo’s recovery adviser, Teneo, has done a deal with Constellation Automotive, owner of the firm’s previous rival, Cinch. The group has reportedly agreed to take over a handful of remaining Cazoo sites in a deal that would save a number of jobs.

In response to the latest development, a spokesperson for Cazoo said: ‘Our new marketplace model, where consumers can both buy and sell cars, is revenue-generating and performing ahead of expectations, with interest from almost 100 car dealers including many household names.

‘Cazoo has successfully restructured and significantly reduced the cash burn of the group, resulting in a cash position in excess of £95m at April 30, 2024 compared to £113m at December 31, 2023.

‘We are making efforts to secure the next phase of our business and are grateful to our employees for their hard work and commitment.’

Motors has not commented on the speculation.

SELLING SUPERCARS

MEET THE MAN MAKING MILLIONS SELLING SUPERCARS, AS WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES WITH TOM HARTLEY JUNIOR

• Tom Hartley Junior runs one of the most profitable independent used car dealerships in the UK

• His stock includes three Ferrari F40s, an Aston Martin DB4 Zagato plus Formula 1 cars

by James Baggott @CarDealerEd

Selling some of the world’s most exclusive cars to some of the most discerning and demanding clients on the planet takes a special kind of person – and that’s Tom Hartley Junior.

He runs one of the most incredible car dealerships we’ve ever visited, with a stock list that would put some car museums to shame.

Nestled on an unassuming industrial estate in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, the site is an Aladdin’s cave of automotive memorabilia.

From pre-war classics to iconic Formula 1 cars, modern-day hypercars to potent sports cars, Hartley Junior has forged a unique place in the market for his business.

In the latest episode of our Selling Supercars series – which you can watch on YouTube now or by clicking the link at the bottom of this page – he shows us around his business, talks at length about how he built the firm and opens up about the split from his dad.

‘Anything that is collectable or is deemed special in the motoring world is what I like to specialise in,’ explains Hartley Junior in the video.

‘But what makes my business really unique is we like to buy and hold in stock and bear the risk on most of our inventory.’

With an astonishing knowledge of some of the most iconic cars ever made, Hartley Junior has created a business that generates whopping profits.

In his last set of accounts, we reported that he sold just 77 cars in the year but made a staggering £20.1m profit on turnover of £181m – that equates to more than £266,000 profit on each car he sells.

‘I haven’t taken on any debt so I haven’t put myself under any pressure,’ he tells us.

‘So if a car goes from £10m to £7m, it just means the value of my stock goes down, and as it happens I like the cars so much and I believe in all of our cars so much that I probably wouldn’t take a loss, I’d just hold on to it a bit longer.’

Hartley Junior also reveals in the video that he didn’t speak to his dad – the Car Dealer Used Car Awards Lifetime Achievement winner Tom Hartley – for 10 years after leaving the family firm, and still to this day they don’t speak about business.

He explains that the split came about as a result of his love for collectable cars – such as Ferrari 250 GTOs – but he felt these didn’t fit with the cars that the family firm had in stock.

‘My vision at the time was there was an opportunity in the market for somebody to go into

Anything that is collectable or is deemed special in the motoring world is what I like to specialise in.

Tom Hartley Junior

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE TOM HARTLEY JNR VIDEO

the old collectable car world to actively trade those very special cars,’ he explains.

‘Modern supercars are still very much a part of my DNA but my passion is collectable cars.

‘It was a very big decision emotionally because I had poured my heart and soul into that business [his dad’s] and didn’t know anything other than that since I was 11 years old. I missed out on my school education for that business.

‘I was leaving what was an extremely successful business that we all did extremely well in, and to walk away from that business – I didn’t sell my shares, I walked away – I probably had more sleepless nights than I anticipated I would.’

Hartley Junior also opens up about his ambitious plans for his new supercar showroom in the heart of the Cotswolds – located just four miles down the road from the Soho Farm House.

He tells us about the new business while taking us for a ride in a recently refurbished (and sold) Ferrari Dino on the roads around his current site.

‘The showroom we are in at the moment is 9,000 square feet and the new showroom will be 57,000 square feet,’ he explains.

‘It will be based in the car capital of the UK and we’ll also have on site a 150-car stateof-the-art storage facility, a PPF facility and photo studio – we are primed to create the absolute home where all the world’s great cars will be bought and sold.’

Tom Hartley Junior in his amazing showroom

Right: Sir Stirling Moss’s Ferrari F40 and Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren F1

IS IT THE END OF THE ROAD FOR MANUAL GEARBOXES AS THEIR USED CAR RESIDUAL VALUES TUMBLE?

Automatic-only driving tests have increased sharply – as have sales of new cars without a manual transmission. Craig Cheetham considers the repercussions.

Residual values of used cars with manual transmission are in decline, with some models worth as much as 21% less than their automatic equivalents and fewer manual cars for sale in 2024 than ever before – including some manufacturers that don’t offer a manual at all.

Among the manufacturers that no longer offer any new models with manual transmission are Volvo, Mercedes, Jaguar and Lexus, all of which have seen a massive growth in electric and hybrid-powered cars that are only compatible with automatic gears. Meanwhile, Jeep and Land Rover offer only one manual model.

In 2018, there were 194 car models sold new in the UK with a traditional three-pedal transmission, but in 2024 this has dropped to just 98.

One of the reasons behind the shift – and the fall in residual values – is a notable increase in the number of British drivers taking automatic-only driving tests. According to Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) data, there were 87,844 automatic-only driving tests in 2012/3. A decade later (2022/2023), this had increased by a substantial margin of 269% to 324,064.

Meanwhile, SMMT figures show that more than 62% of new cars sold in the UK are now ordered with automatic transmission. In April 2024, 22,717 of the 134,274 new cars sold were battery-electric cars – almost one in six – which are only offered with automatic gearboxes.

According to data from car sales site cargurus.co.uk, the biggest difference in advertised prices between automatic and manual for a four-year-old car can be seen on the Citroen C3 – the average price for a 2020 model with manual gears is £12,442, compared with £15,743 for an automatic model. That’s a difference of 26%.

Other models where automatic models are more valuable include the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Volkswagen Polo. The differences can be seen in trade prices, too, with Cap valuations for all four of the models mentioned being at least 10% greater for those with self-shifting transmission.

Chris Knapman, editorial director at CarGurus, said: ‘Between the increasing consumer demand for cars with an automatic gearbox and the rapid expansion of new EV models coming to market, we could be approaching the end of the road for the manual gearbox.

‘Historically, manual gearboxes have found favour for their lower cost compared with automatics, as well as their more responsive nature and improved fuel economy.

‘However, updates in technology mean that many modern automatics are at least as efficient as a manual alternative, and much more responsive than the systems fitted in years gone by.

‘It is likely that manual gearboxes will continue to hold a special place in the hearts of enthusiast drivers for the greater interaction they offer. And of course, manual cars will continue to be in strong supply on the used market for years to come.

‘For those prepared to change gears themselves, opting for a manual car can also be a shrewd money-saving move, with our analysis showing prices for used models are up to £3,466 (14%) lower on average compared with an automatic.’

SOME OF THE MANUFACTURERS THAT NO LONGER OFFER A MANUAL TRANSMISSION

Updates in technology mean that many modern automatics are at least as efficient as a manual alternative.

Chris Knapman Editorial director, CarGurus

You can benefit from helping to protect resale value of cars

New and used car prices have been rising rapidly in recent years due to a multitude of factors. That means your customers are investing a greater percentage of their income in their vehicles – and during a ‘cost-of-living crisis’ that has caused many to rethink their outgoings.

A car, however, is a necessity for most, providing transport to work, to the shops and for the school run, to name just a few. Therefore, protecting that investment should be paramount, ensuring that your customers’ vehicles retain as much resale value as possible.

When it comes to trading in, vehicle owners want to get the most possible for their car, but scrapes and scratches on the paintwork and alloy wheels or bumps and dents to the bodywork will soon take their toll on the trade-in value. One great way for your customers to protect their investment is with Cosmetic Repair Insurance and Alloy Wheel Insurance, helping them to keep their cars showroom-fresh for longer.

By offering your customers financial protection and peace of mind, your business can also increase satisfaction and retention rates, as well as boost revenue through new routes to market.

Choosing a high-quality provider is paramount. However, using a first-class service reflects positively on your business.

Car Care Plan has been providing award-winning asset protection products for more than 47 years, and its five-star Defaqto-rated Cosmetic Repair Insurance and Alloy Wheel Insurance give thousands of customers peace of mind every year. Ninety-two per cent of customers have awarded Car Care Plan five stars on Trustpilot, with an average score of 4.8 on the consumer review platform.

Car Care Plan has hundreds of mobile specialist repair technicians across the UK, ready to carry out repairs on your customers’ vehicles at a time and place convenient to them. Whether that’s in the company car park or on the drive at home, Car Care Plan’s team will drop by with a mobile van workshop fully equipped with manufacturer-approved paints and materials, on-board power, all-weather canopies and the latest technology to ensure that all repairs are completed to the highest standards.

The industry-leading vehicle aftercare provider has also made booking a repair as easy as possible for your customers through its free smartphone app, available for all iOS and Android devices.

With just a few taps on their phone, customers can submit pictures of the damage on their vehicle and book an appointment for a time, date and location to suit their schedule.

In addition to repairing damage in a timely manner to preserve their vehicle’s value, choosing Cosmetic Repair Insurance and Alloy Wheel Insurance also helps your customers avoid expensive repair bills by spreading the cost throughout the duration of their policy, as well as protect their no-claims bonus by avoiding putting expensive repairs through their car insurance.

To learn more about Car Care Plan’s award-winning vehicle warranty and asset protection products, visit carcareplan.com

Car Care Plan has hundreds of mobile specialist repair technicians across the UK, ready to carry out repairs on your customers’ vehicles.

All pictures are from last year’s Bangers4Ben rally, which was held in Ireland

BANGERS4BEN 2024 SETS ITS SIGHTS FOR ALPS ADVENTURE

BANGERS4BEN 2024 ITINERARY

• Bangers4Ben 2024 details are announced

• Fundraiser will see teams journey through the Alps

• Only 45 places are available so early booking is urged

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

Car dealers are set to ‘do the continental’ for this year’s Bangers4Ben charity rally! Entrants will be covering some 1,500 miles when they head to mainland Europe and the Alps for the event, which takes place between October 5 and 8 and will cover some of the best roads and mountain passes that France and Switzerland have to offer.

Organised once again by Automotion Events, it’ll see the drivers converge on Folkestone for the start of the madcap journey in aid of the automotive charity Ben.

Entrants need to buy a car for no more than £750, then theme, paint or decal it however they like, as well as getting togged up in fancy dress – within legal requirements of course!

Once the rally is over and everyone is back in Blighty, the cars will be donated to be sold at auction, with all proceeds going to Ben and adding to whatever the entrants are able to raise as well.

There is an entry fee of £1,050 plus VAT per car for a driver and co-driver, which covers twin accommodation, breakfast and evening meal plus AA roadside assistance.

It should be noted that the fee is non-refundable, but if a team is subsequently unable to take part, Automotion Events will try to resell their place. If it’s able to do so, then it’ll return the fee.

Places are strictly limited to 45 cars, so early bookings are advised. To secure a place on the rally, click on the link below.

DAY 1

Starting in Folkestone, the rally will cross to Calais and take the autoroute across northern France, heading to an overnight stop in Nancy before hitting the winding roads of the Alps.

DAY 2

Leaving the autoroute well behind, the teams head into the Alps to drive along some of Switzerland’s most picturesque mountain passes, including the Jaun Pass, Furka Pass and St Gotthard Pass.

DAY 3

The rally makes its way back north through Germany to the last overnight stop at the Nürburgring. Anyone thinking of subjecting their banger to the world-famous circuit do so at their own risk, though. It’s one of the most dangerous roads in Europe and the organisers don’t recommend taking Bangers4Ben cars on it.

DAY 4

Time to leave mainland Europe behind and head back to Calais to set sail for home.

NB: Because of the complexity of the route, the prevailing weather conditions may mean alterations.

NEW SALE CHELMSFORD

You asked. We listened. Following your recent feedback, we are delighted to announce the launch of a new weekly Prime Stock sale at our Chelmsford site. This sale will take place every Friday at 10am and is the perfect place to fill up your forecourt with fresh stock. For more details please visit www.astonbarclay.net or speak to your Buyer Services Executive. JOIN US FOR NEW WEEKLY SALES FRIDAYS 10AM

The Italians aren’t plugged into EVs. Are they right?

The words on this page this month were going to be a eulogy for the Suzuki Swace but they’re not. You may think that’s a blessing, as I was going to bore you with paragraph after paragraph about why it’s so rare to come across a car that’s so fit for purpose as the Swace.

But I’ll save that for another month, for I want to talk to you about something that I’ve been distracted by and I’m probably mulling it over too much. I’m writing this from a lovely hotel balcony at Lake Como, and you don’t have to be Judith Chalmers to know that it’s an expensive part of Italy.

The car of choice really is the Fiat Panda, whether the original or the most recent model.

Nab an outside table at one of the numerous cafes and gelaterias that butt up against each other in every street in every impossibly Italian town on the lake and you’ll see a steady stream of posh metal – their drivers needing their egos to be polished as they do laps of the town in order to be seen by the hoi-polloi such as me.

In the narrow streets of Menaggio, on the eastern side of the lake, you’ll see the odd Defender V8 or Audi RS6 parked up, but if you look closely they are in the minority. The roads are busy with locals just trying to get on with their lives and they don’t drive around in such ostentation.

The car of choice really is the Fiat Panda, whether the original or the most recent model, all battle-scarred to the same degree. Gaffer tape to hold the bumpers together is the new furry dice here.

Stroll down the quieter streets and you’ll find no pseudo premium crossovers. The Pandas jostle for parking spaces with battered Alfa 147s or mouldy first-gen A-Classes. The Italians are famed for their love of cars and their creativity, for on the one hand they can hand-build a V12 Ferrari while also churn out the finest in rational, small city cars.

It took me two days here to realise there are no electric cars, though. Sure, you’ll see the occasional Tesla Model 3 or Audi Q8 E-tron, but the number plates reveal they’ve hopped over the border from France. There are no charging points, no cars proudly showing off their eco credentials with green-banded number plates. Hybrids are popular, but that’s it. The Jeep Avenger is a hit here, but unlike in the UK they’re all of the petrol versions.

Italy is way behind the rest of Europe in being charged up about EVs. The share of pure-EVs and PHEVs in Italy in 2022 was 8.6%. Compare that with France where plug-ins had a 21.6% slice in the same year, the UK at 22.8% and Germany at 31.4% and you can see the scale of the problem. In fact, the 8.6% share was down by 0.7% on the year before.

Various surveys have quizzed Italians on why they’re not making the switch. There’s the usual cost concerns, and lack of charging infrastructure is a major worry, but I think there’s a greater problem. While in the UK we’re obsessed with changing our cars every three years, the typical Italian buys once and then flogs that car until it dies – and even then they’ll find a way to keep it on the road. Visit the ruralist places and it’s wall-to-wall 30-year-old Fiats running around.

Now, before you all write in, the same can be said in the UK. Crumbling Volvo V70s and old Range Rovers held together with straw and dead pheasants are the order of the day, but in general we Brits are more keen to hop into a two-tonne electric SUV on an £800-a-month PCP deal. We’re more of the zeitgeist, but are we fooling ourselves? Italy will have to transition to EVs in the same way the rest of Europe is doing, but as I sit here and see the finest displays of automotive recycling, I’m inclined to think the Italians are doing it right.

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.

Big Mike

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

Intelligence of the artificial kind is no match for wisdom when selling used cars

Call me a grumpy old man by all means (I am one, after all) but I have a new pet hate and it’s driving me round the twist. It’s the robots. Like with many other industries, the second-hand car market is being slowly but surely infiltrated by artificial intelligence, although on recent form I feel I have to question the second part of that. Not least because those who use it are often lacking in much of it themselves.

One thing that’s becoming increasingly more prevalent is the use of AI assistance to create for-sale listings, notably on popular auction sites where there’s now a lazy button that users can press to generate an AI description of the car they’ve got up for sale.

The problem is, a robot that hasn’t seen a particular car can’t really tell you much about it. A professional used car dealer can, but we’ll come to that. First, though, I want to play a game of ‘Guess The Car’.

Number one: This is a great choice for those looking for a reliable and efficient car. The car belongs to the Cars, Motorcycles & Vehicles category and falls under the Vauxhall/Opel and Cars subcategories. This car is perfect for those who value fuel efficiency and reliability. It has been well maintained and is in great working condition. The car has a sleek design and is comfortable to drive.

Yep. You guessed it – it’s a 14-year-old Vauxhall Meriva with 158k on the clock. Efficient(ish), I guess, but I wouldn’t stake my own professional reputation on a small-engined Vauxhall with that kind of mileage lasting forever – and no matter how much I squint, I can’t make a Meriva look sleek even in the most forgiving of my mind’s eyes.

Number two: This is a reliable and sturdy saloon car with a diesel engine. It comfortably seats up to 5 people and has a mileage of 145,000. The car has had 5 previous owners and comes with a partial service history. The exterior is handsome and comes in a sleek black colour, with a right-hand drive and 4 doors. The interior is black and has all the necessary features for a smooth and comfortable ride. The car comes with an MOT expiry of September 2024 to ensure it is fit for the road.

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.

Now, apart from the fact that I’m actually a bit of a stickler for correct grammar and believe that any number below 10 should be written in full, that’s the least of this listing’s issues.

First up, an MOT pass eight months ago does not ensure a car is fit for the road. It could have any number of problems. I also don’t know what all of the necessary features for a smooth and comfortable ride are. I’m assuming the bot means it has seats.

Any ideas as to what the ‘handsome’ machine in question is? Well, of course it’s a 2005 Peugeot 407 – a car that looks like a gurning fish, whose rear end was designed by a different team to those who did the front.

I’m also going to question that ‘fit for the road’ statement again, because

It’s

a 2005 Peugeot 407 – a car that looks like a gurning fish, whose rear end was designed by a different team to those who did the front.

Who is to blame if a robot tells the customer that a car is fit for the road and it turns out to have a potentially dangerous fault? The answer is you.

I don’t think I’d be putting a huge amount of faith in a 19-year-old Peugeot.

On to number three then: ‘This isn’t just a vehicle; it’s a reliable companion that’s ready to create new memories on the road. Every trip in this fun-to-drive car will leave a lasting impression. Contact us today to learn more about this exceptional hatchback.’

I’m all for pushing the boundaries but the car we’re talking about here is a 2008 Perodua Myvi – at one point, Britain’s cheapest car. And while I don’t doubt that it will leave a lasting impression, I can’t see that being an especially positive one for the majority of drivers. A few hardcore fans of budget motoring, perhaps, but in my experience they’re an entirely different breed. I once took a 270,000-mile Perodua in part-exchange from a man who drove it 250 miles a day, but I expect he was the exception to the rule.

Irritating as these listings may be, there’s a serious side to this as well. While a private seller might press the magic listing button as the path of least (laziest?) resistance, if any professional trader does the same, it’s like lifting the ring pull on the biggest can of worms you could wish to eat. Who is to blame if a robot tells the customer that a car is fit for the road and it turns out to have a potentially dangerous fault? The answer is you –because every car that you sell is sold under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which offers the buyer a level of protection for up to six months and also means that you have to ensure the car is fit for the road.

And by that, I don’t mean one that went through an MOT test last September…

I’m all for pushing the boundaries but the car we’re talking about here is a 2008 Perodua Myvi – at one point, Britain’s cheapest car.

CAR NEWS ROUND-UP

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

Cyberster drop-top electric vehicle goes on sale in UK from £54,995 MG

MG has opened up its order books for its new convertible EV, the Cyberster.

From launch there will be two models – the standard Trophy and the top-of-the-line GT.

The Trophy comes with an electric motor that produces 335bhp, has a torque figure of 475Nm and can do 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds.

Revised design for DBX707 revealed ASTON MARTIN

ASTON MARTIN has introduced a revised version of its DBX707 performance SUV, bringing a newly designed infotainment system to the range-topper.

Crucially, Aston Martin has also removed the standard DBX from its range, leaving the 707 as the single option in the brand’s SUV line-up.

It retains the 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 engine of its predecessor, developing 697bhp and 900Nm of torque and sending it through a nine-speed gearbox to all four wheels.

Carbon ceramic brakes remain a standard feature, too.

The GT, meanwhile, comes with dual electric motors that boast a power output of 496bhp, can produce 725Nm of torque and enable the Cyberster to get to 60mph in 3.0 seconds.

The Trophy and GT will come with a 77kWh

PORSCHE

Power increased as Cayenne GTS and Coupe are updated

battery pack offering – subject to final verification and UK type approval – a claimed electric range of 316 miles for the former and 276 miles on a single charge for the more powerful GT. Prices start at £54,995 for the Trophy and rise to £59,995 for the GT.

LAMBORGHINI

Urus SE plug-in can hit 60 in 3.2 seconds

PORSCHE has revealed an updated version of the Cayenne GTS and Coupe with revised engines and styling.

Both cars get a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with increased power and torque figures of 493bhp and 660Nm. Porsche claims 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds, too, alongside a top speed of 171mph.

The transmission has also been revised and now has an eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic gearbox as standard. On the outside, there are now bigger cooling air intakes, black GTS badging on the rear and sides, dark-tinted headlights and taillights plus red brake callipers.

There are 21-inch alloy wheels in anthracite grey as standard, while the exhausts now have a bronze finish.

LAMBORGHINI has released a more powerful plug-in hybrid version of its Urus SUV.

The Urus SE incorporates a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 producing 611bhp and 800Nm of torque.

An electric motor, meanwhile, delivers an additional 189bhp and

That combination makes it one of the most powerful SUVs to It’s capable of 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds, while a 25.9kWh battery pack should return a claimed 37 miles of electric-only range.

Santa Fe reaches fifth generation

THE fifth generation of Hyundai’s flagship SUV will go on sale later this year.

Santa Fe will have seven seats as standard in the UK, with a six-seat option also available, and will be offered in three trim levels.

Just two engines will be available – a 1.6-litre hybrid with 212bhp and a 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid with 249bhp. Both will use a six-speed automatic gearbox.

The entry-level Premium trim level will cost from £46,775, with Ultimate starting from £50,275 and the top-of-the-range Calligraphy from £57,635.

MINI

Aceman electric crossover unveiled

MINI has unveiled the Aceman crossover that will slot between the smaller Cooper and larger Countryman.

The Aceman E starts thing off with a 42.5kWh battery pack and a claimed electric range of 192 miles, while the SE comes with a 54.2kWh battery pack, enabling an increased claimed range of 252 miles.

Prices will start at £31,800 for the Aceman E in Classic trim and rise to £36,300 for the Aceman SE in Sport trim.

The first deliveries are due in November 2024.

Qashqai is given facelift and has a trim level added as well

NISSAN’S Qashqai has had a facelift, bringing a sharper look and more interior features to the popular crossover.

They include a new front grille in gloss black for the exterior, as well as a fresh set of headlights and triangular bumper slates. There are also new alloy wheel designs and three new paint finishes.

An N-Design trim level has been added, too, with bodycoloured wheel arches and a new set of 20-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, higher spec trim levels such as the N-Design and Tekna+ get Alcantara on the dashboard, door inserts and door armrests.

More for less with Megane E-Tech

powertrains

CITROEN has taken the covers off its new C3 Aircross as a rival to cars such as the seven-seat Dacia Jogger.

A choice of petrol, hybrid and electric powertrains will be on offer with further details to be revealed nearer the car’s launch date later this year.

The updated C3 Aircross has grown in size and now measures 4.39 metres long.

It also shares similar design cues with the new C3, with a vertical front end that houses the Citroen logo. Both petrol and electric versions will sit on the same platform.

RENAULT has cut the price of its Megane E-Tech and added equipment as standard.

The small electric crossover now has a price tag of £33,995 – £500 less than before – with the French manufacturer also boosting the standard spec.

It now boasts a patented heat pump, while the Techno and Iconic trims also receive a 12-inch screen for the OpenR link infotainment system, as well as adaptive cruise control.

The new pump is twice as efficient without affecting the vehicle’s electric range.

MERCEDES says its GT 63 S E coupe will be the fastestaccelerating AMG model yet.

The Performance’s 4.0-litre biturbo engine is mated to an electric motor that will produce 804bhp and 1,420Nm of torque, enabling a 0-60mph time of 2.6 seconds.

The electric motor is positioned at the rear axle and produces 201bhp alone, while it has an electrically switched two-speed transmission. The 6.1kWh battery pack enables a claimed range of up to 8 miles.

RENAULT NISSAN

MERCEDES

CITROEN

Ford showroom to open in Dundee

A NEW Ford dealership is on course to open in Dundee this summer.

The family-owned Your Ford Centre says the building on the 10-acre site in Baird Avenue should be up and running on July 1.

It’ll complement its other dealerships in Kirkcaldy, Cupar, Dalkeith and Peebles.

The site, which will create 25 jobs and is said to have cost £4.5m, replaces an ex-Tesco depot and will also boast a sixbay workshop plus MOT centre.

CULL

Lithia to axe 100s of used car jobs

PENDRAGON’S new US owner is to cut around 250 jobs from the UK dealer group after deciding to kill off the firm’s CarStore used car supermarket brand.

American giant Lithia Motors completed its £397m purchase of Pendragon’s dealerships and leasing business earlier this year and is now setting about a drastic restructure.

According to the Financial Times, the firm is planning to cull the used car supermarket in response to a ‘collapse in the supply of used cars’.

HERE ARE TASTERS OF STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

NEWS DIGEST

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY

Arnold Clark to spread even more good cheer with third wave of funding to help those in need

ARNOLD Clark is once again looking to help those in need with its community fund.

The fund was created in March 2021 to provide financial aid to registered charities and community groups affected by the pandemic, with more assistance given via a second round of funding to help with poverty relief. A third wave has now been launched with three opportunities for 2024: cost-of-living support, communities support and a Gear Up For Sport initiative. Picture shows Arnold Clark ambassador Erin Cuthbert and North Ayrshire food bank co-ordinator Craig Crosthwaite

ACQUISITION

Lloyd expands with Walkingshaw deal

LLOYD Motor Group has completed the acquisition of Workington car dealer N&M Walkingshaw for an undisclosed fee.

The family-run business was founded in 1968 and currently represents Volkswagen and Kia.

It marks its first partnership with VW and sees it expand into an area where it previously had no sites.

MD Sam Lloyd said: ‘The two brands represent an exciting opportunity for us.’

Italy is way behind the rest of Europe in being charged up about EVs.

Aston Martin rejects agency sales model

ASTON Martin remains committed to the traditional dealer model as a switch to an agency set-up would effectively turn sites into ‘prep centres’.

That’s according to director of product and strategy Alex Long, who told Car Dealer that ‘the best model is to maintain a traditional franchise’.

Speaking at the launch of the new Vantage in Seville, Long stated that ‘physical facilities are absolutely part of what we want to do’.

James Batchelor p17

‘The drop-top version of the CLE is still a great choice for those wanting a usable yet premium four-seater cabriolet.’

Dave switches to electric – aged 75

A PENSIONER has proved that it’s never too late to go electric after switching to an EV for the first time.

Dave Gardner, from Portsmouth, has certainly seen some changes in his time behind the wheel but this could be the biggest.

The 75-year-old bought his first car – a 1954 Austin A30 – in 1966 and has owned 25 models since. He now has an all-electric Cupra Born, bought from Snows in Portsmouth.

Dave is pictured on the left with Cupra specialist Peter Owens

Busseys opens its first EV showroom

BUSSEYS has opened its first fully electric vehicle showroom.

The Norfolk-based car dealer, which has traded for more than 100 years, has signed up with BYD – the latest in a long line of UK retailers to partner with the Chinese manufacturer, which has shunned an agency sales model. Customers can now visit the state-of-the-art dealership in Norwich. CEO Paul Bussey said: ‘I am excited to see BYD joining the Busseys family.’

SMMT warns of ZEV shortfall for 2024

CAR makers aren’t on track to meet the terms of the government’s controversial ZEV mandate this year, the SMMT has told MPs.

Appearing before the House of Commons’ transport select committee, the trade body said that the mandated target of 22% for 2024 was likely to prove a bridge too far for manufacturers.

The group predicts that the share of the new car market held by pure-battery electric vehicles will be 19.8% by the end of the year.

Barretts helps lift air ambulance charity

BARRETTS Motor Group has given a tri-county air ambulance charity a major boost in its fundraising appeal to own a helicopter.

The Canterbury-based Car Dealer Top 100 firm has made what’s been described as ‘a significant donation’ to the Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) air ambulance fundraiser as it nears its £1m target.

Hitting that figure will enable KSS to own rather than lease its air ambulance helicopter, saving it some £500,000 a year.

OPENING

Who is to blame if a robot tells the customer a car is fit for the road and it turns out to have a potentially dangerous fault?

Second Yorkshire BYD site for Lookers

LOOKERS has opened a second BYD dealership in Yorkshire.

The showroom in Sheffield follows on the heels of its Middlesbrough stablemate.

General manager Ryan Smith said: ‘It’s a really exciting time for BYD and we’re looking forward to sharing all the exciting things the brand has to offer with our customers. Already, we’ve got more than 80 vehicles on site.’ All of them are new, with used vehicles set to join the stock.

Vehicle ownership hits record high

PLUG-IN vehicles drove the biggest growth in car ownership for seven years to take the number of vehicles on UK roads to a record high last year.

That’s according to new data from the SMMT, which said there were 41,404,589 vehicles last year – an increase of 1.7%.

In 2016, the growth was 2.5%.

The total number of cars on the road rose by 1.6% – 546,800 units – to 35,694,845, after almost half a million new batteryelectric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles were registered.

EXPERIENCE

New showroom type for Renault

RENAULT has opened a new type of dealership to offer a different experience to traditional showrooms.

The ‘rnlt©’ dealership is more akin to a shop and is in the heart of Paris at 104 Boulevard Haussmann. The carmaker intends to open 20 such sites including one in London. Renault calls rnlt© a new ‘point-ofsale concept’, with the name reflecting the different model from traditional showrooms in being ‘modern’, ‘compact’ and a ‘condensation’ of the brand.

HERE ARE TASTERS OF STORIES

NEWS DIGEST

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY

Ex-Lioness captain Jill Scott opens LSH Auto’s flagship BYD store in Westfield London centre

FORMER Lioness captain Jill Scott shared insights into her career when she officially opened LSH Auto’s BYD showroom in London.

The LSH ambassador also answered questions during a special Q&A, hosted by ex-football player and manager-turned-pundit Michael Brown, at the VIP event at the flagship Westfield store in White City – LSH Auto’s first dealership in the capital. Pictured with Jill Scott are, from left, LSH Auto UK MD Vaughan Blackman, Michael Brown and BYD country manager for the UK and Ireland Bono Ge

RETIREMENT

Peter’s bowing out after nearly 50 years

A PARTS adviser at a Ford dealership is retiring after nearly 50 years with the company.

Peter Lewin, who turns 70 in July, is bowing out from Ford Orpington – a Bristol Street Motors dealership – having seen huge changes. He began his career at Ford Bromley in November 1976, starting on the parts desk. ‘The industry has transformed tremendously over the years,’ he said. ‘When I started, everything was written down and kept manually.’

APPOINTMENTS

Snows bolsters Isle

ONE of the Isle of Wight’s biggest dealer groups has reaffirmed its commitment to the region by making two key appointments.

Snows Motor Group is based on the other side of the Solent but it also has a major presence on the island. It has made Tom Dowty sales manager of its used car centre and Vauxhall site, while Lucinda Hall has been made the aftersales manager for BMW, Mini, Fiat, Abarth and Vauxhall on the island.

A cool selection of products for the warmer days ahead

Feature: p32

Stephen James to relinquish its name

THE Stephen James Group is to be rebranded Hedin Automotive.

The move is part of a global corporate shake-up by the Swedish dealership outfit and follows its acquisition of the UK dealership chain last summer

Hedin Mobility Group (HMG) said it wanted to unify its retail division under the brand name Hedin Automotive. Last year, HMG suffered a 60% pre-tax profit fall from 2.194bn kroner (£161m) to 880m kroner (£64.5m).

Brindley signs up Omoda and Jaecoo

BRINDLEY Group has signed an agreement to represent Omoda and Jaecoo in the UK

The Wolverhampton-based dealer group will partner with the Chinese brands from this spring.

The vehicles will be sold from the group’s Cannock dealership as the brands continue with their ambitions for the UK market. Group chairman Che Watson said: ‘We are looking forward to the road ahead with these new manufacturers.’

Stellantis to bring Leapmotor to UK Leaf does its eco bit on Ascension Island

A NISSAN dealer on the south coast has helped put a Nissan Leaf to good use more than 4,000 miles from home.

South West Nissan in Exeter shipped the vehicle out to the Met Office’s remote base on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic.

Jon Davies, a commercial vehicle specialist at the showroom, which is near the Met Office’s HQ in the city, said they’d decided that the time was right to have an eco-friendly car on the isolated island.

PROMOTION

Michelle Roberts to head BMW Park Lane

MICHELLE Roberts has been appointed MD of BMW Group UK’s Park Lane store following the death of Chris Learmonth.

Roberts, who is currently BMW’s marketing director, will take up the role at the flagship site on June 1.

She will be replaced on the same day by Colette Healy, who currently heads the group’s strategy team. Learmonth died suddenly in March. He’d been in charge of the Park Lane showroom since 2016.

STELLANTIS has outlined its plans for Chinese EV brand Leapmotor with the outfit set to land in Britain next year.

Leapmotor will arrive in continental Europe later this year, with the first deliveries in Britain expected in early 2025.

Two models will be brought over at first, starting with the T03 (pictured) – a small five-door supermini that will rival the Fiat 500.

lt’ll also release the C10 saloon to take on the Tesla Model Y.

SPLIT

Drive launches solus Scarborough MG site

DRIVE Motor Retail has opened a standalone MG dealership in Scarborough.

It sees the marque hived off from the nearby site in Seamer Road that it shared with Hyundai, and is the only franchised MG dealership in the area.

Carl Prescott, Drive MG Scarborough general manager, said: ‘This marks a significant milestone for Drive as we continue to expand our services across the UK.’

MEETING: Tesla boss Elon Musk met the Chinese premier in Beijing while the nation’s carmakers showed off their latest EVs at the capital’s motor show. Li Qiang spoke of his hopes of US-China co-operation, saying it would be a 'win-win'.

WARNING: Stellantis has threatened to slash its presence in the UK in response to the ‘terrible’ ZEV mandate. Boss Carlos Tavares suggested that Stellantis may be forced to cut back the number of cars that it sells here as a result.

CUTS: Tesla has reduced its prices in a number of worldwide markets, in a move that could have a major knock-on effect on the value of used EVs. It has cut the price of its Model Y, Model X, Model S and Model 3 cars following a slump in global sales.

TECH: A high-definition screen that lets Aston Martin customers see potential vehicle specifications in realistic detail could be offered to UK dealers. The screen, measuring 10 metres diagonally, delivers a 6k image of an Aston Martin vehicle.

DECLINE: Car production dropped by more than a quarter in March. That’s according to latest figures from the SMMT, which said 59,467 cars were built during the month – down by 27.1% versus a year ago and the first decline since last August.

AUDI A3

Power

The 1.5-litre turbocharged mild-hybrid petrol produces 148bhp and 250Nm of torque.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Audi A3 Sportback Sport

35 TFSI S tronic

Price (as tested): £32,035 Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged mild-hybrid petrol

Power: 148bhp

Torque: 250Nm

O-60mph: 8.0 seconds

Max speed: 140mph

MPG (combined): 50.4

Emissions: 127g/km CO2

Audi has given its A3 Sportback a mid-life refresh, but does the car’s premium appeal remain? James Batchelor took to the road in one.

WHAT IS IT?

Think of a posh and sophisticated hatchback and you’ll likely think of the Audi A3. For 2024, Audi has given its strong seller a little mid-life update to keep it feeling fresh. Here we’re driving the five-door Sportback version for the first time.

WHAT’S NEW?

The refresh is nothing too bold – after all, there was very little wrong with the current A3. The looks have been sharpened with a wider, slimmer ‘frameless’ front grille. The front and rear bumpers have been made to look more aggressive, while the front headlight clusters now feature four different LED day-running light designs, allowing owners to choose their favourite. There are also new colours, new wheels and badging. Other tweaks are mostly to do with the interior and include a slightly different centre console, new door trims with backlighting, ambient contour lights for the centre console and cupholders, plus an updated operating system for the touchscreen.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

There’s no change when it comes to engines, although at launch Audi is restricting the amount of choice. So, for the time being, there’s just a 1.5-litre turbocharged mild-hybrid petrol badged 35 TFSI and a 35 TDI 2.0-litre diesel, both with 148bhp and a seven-speed automatic gearbox. A lower-powered petrol called 30 TFSI will arrive later in the year, along with a company-car-friendly 45 TFSI e plug-in hybrid. While the diesel naturally returns better claimed fuel economy (54.2-57.6mpg vs 49.6-53.3mpg), the petrol coughs out less CO2 (121-130g/km vs 128-137g/km).

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

It may share its underpinnings with a whole host of Volkswagen Group cars, but the A3 has always managed to add an extra layer of refinement to the way it drives. Audi hasn’t played around with how the A3 gets down the road for this update, so there’s still a lovely balance between comfort and predictable, engaging handling. It rides better than a Mercedes A-Class, even in sporty S line trim, and the A3 feels agile, while the tried-and-tested 1.5-litre engine delivers pleasing acceleration and never feels strained – it’s only occasionally let down by the S tronic gearbox, which can feel hesitant at times. A separate drive of the 35 TDI showed the diesel is just as refined with minimal vibration, only underlining how

Style

The subtle update to the A3 includes a new grille, while the front and rear bumpers have a more aggressive look.

suitable it is for high-mileage drivers. The car tested here had Audi’s ‘Progressive Steering’, which is a variable ratio steering rack, and while it comes as standard on the hot S3 version, it isn’t available on the A3 in the UK.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

It’s understandably subtle – Audi doesn’t want to tarnish the car’s sales record, after all. Audi geeks will notice the new front end, which, although undeniably more modernlooking, spoils the sharp, classy design of the outgoing car in our eyes. The new colour palette lifts things, too, but all of this is just personal sentiment – the A3 is still a super stylish choice in the premium hatchback class.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

A raft of little tweaks add an extra layer of interest to a rather serious-looking interior. New backlighting in the door trims and contour lighting around the centre console and cupholders brighten the interior, quite literally, while the centre console has been redesigned with a new gear selector. Audi has added more textured surfaces to the dashboard, which only improves what was a quality-feeling cabin. The infotainment system has been tweaked, too, but you really wouldn’t know it.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

TARGET BUYERS:

Those who think a Golf isn’t posh enough, family buyers and company car drivers.

THE RIVALS:

BMW 1 Series

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

DS 4

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Plush interior

2. Smart styling

3 Neat handling

DEAL CLINCHER:

The appeal of the Audi badge remains as strong as it ever has been.

This mid-life update is nothing groundbreaking, and only really serves to make the A3 look and feel just a little more modern.

The A3 follows most of the Audi range and is offered in Sport, S line and Black Edition trims. Sport, from £32,035, gets LED front headlights, 17-inch alloys, heated front seats, three-zone climate control, ambient lighting, the 10.1-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch ‘Virtual Cockpit Plus’ screen ahead of the driver, and a whole host of safety tech. S line, from £34,315, adds sportier body styling, 18-inch wheels with lowered suspension, LED headlights with customisable day-running light designs, LED rear lights with ‘dynamic’ (sweeping) indicators, leather-like sports seats with ‘S’ branding, and selectable ambient lighting. Range-topping Black Edition cars add 19-inch wheels and black detailing, among other things, and start from £36,015.

WHAT DOES THE PRESS THINK?

Autocar said: ‘Expensive, still, but justifiably and reassuringly so.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

This mid-life update is nothing groundbreaking, and only really serves to make the A3 look and feel just a little more modern. Happily, the old car’s fantastic blend of a classy image, quality interior and enjoyable driving dynamics are untouched, and the A3 offers a more compelling all-round package versus the BMW 1 Series or a Mercedes A-Class. All of this means the A3 will likely continue being a firm favourite for those after a posh hatchback.

Inside

Among the changes in the cabin are subtle lighting for the door trims and centre console, plus new textured surfaces to the dashboard.

MERCEDES CLE CABRIOLET

Power

The 3.0-litre sixcylinder petrol engine produces 261bhp and 400Nm of torque.

The C-Class and CLK Cabriolets were bywords for comfort, hi-tech and luxury open-top cruising – can the new CLE keep up that reputation? Cameron Richards went to Tenerife to find out.

WHAT IS IT?

Designed to offer four-seater luxury with the ability to travel longer distances, the CLE Cabriolet has been created by Mercedes to be refined, comfortable and – above all –engaging to drive.

WHAT’S NEW?

The Cabriolet version of the CLE, like the coupe model, has a new exterior design with a more curved and swooping body, while a longer wheelbase – with an extra 164mm over its predecessor – aims to make the interior more spacious. The fabric hood has been designed to stand up to the very harshest weather, thanks to an insulated multi-layered soft top, while a new and improved ‘AirCap’ system in the top frame of the windscreen lets the air flow over the car at a greater height to reduce drag and wind noise.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

A range of engines are on offer for the CLE Cabriolet including two 2.0-litre in-line four cylinders in the CLE200 and CLE300. A 2.0-litre diesel, meanwhile, is found on the CLE220 D and the top-of-the-line CLE450 comes with a 3.0-litre in-line six petrol. Mild-hybrid tech comes as standard on all versions to help improve efficiency, economy and CO2 emissions.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

We drove the predicted best-seller – the CLE300 – and although the power was plentiful, it was let down by a hesitant automatic gearbox and steering that lacked feel. That said, standard-fit four-wheel-drive helped inspire confidence in the bends and will certainly be a welcome attribute back in the wet and wild UK. The CLE is a heavy car, though, weighing in at 1,985kg, so on a twisty road it feels a little bit out of its comfort zone, with the car wallowing when exiting a corner. But thankfully, the CLE fits the role of the comfortable cruiser well, with the suspension doing a great job of absorbing any lumps and bumps in the road. Combine that with an engine that’s quiet and sedate at speed and you have a drop-top that feels well suited to sweeping bends in the sun.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

To our eyes at least, the CLE Cabriolet is a very elegant and svelte car with lots of freeflowing lines. Although similar to the coupe version, it’ll definitely go down well with those

Price (as tested): £58,750

Powertrain: 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder pretrol

Mercedes CLE300 4Matic

wanting to pose on the city streets. The design of the CLE is nothing out of the ordinary for Mercedes but that’s no bad thing as it keeps the firm’s traditional image of class and luxury all rolled into one. It makes the new car more modern, and the rear tail-lights that merge into the hatch area are a nice touch. It’s just a shame that Mercedes still designs fakelooking exhaust tailpipe exits that make the car look cheap.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

Soft plastics are used throughout and the infotainment screen was clear and easy to use. The space in the back was good with ample legroom, and headroom wasn’t too bad with the roof up, while boot space was also impressive at 385 litres. Other top standard features of the new CLE include Mercedes’ AirScarf, which allows warm air to blow on to the necks of the passengers – very useful in colder months!

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

Interior

Soft plastics are used throughout, making the cabin a nice place to be. There’s good legroom in the rear as well.

The CLE Cabriolet wasn’t designed to be a B-road basher or a track-day toy for the driving enthusiast.

Style

The CLE has a very elegant look with lots of free-flowing lines. The new rear lights’ design is a nice touch.

TARGET BUYERS:

Those in the market for a luxurious four-seater open-top cruiser.

The CLE Cabriolet is available in four flavours for British buyers with the entry-level AMG Line starting at £53,030 and rising to £61,280 for the Premier Edition. The car we drove was the equivalent of the UK-specced AMG Line Premium, which starts at £58,780. As standard, it features ambient lighting, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, keyless entry and start, heated and ventilated front seats, 20-inch alloy wheels, a sports steering wheel with Nappa leather and blind spot monitoring.

THE RIVALS:

BMW 4 Series Cabriolet

Audi A5 Cabriolet

Porsche 911 Cabriolet

KEY SELLING POINTS: 1. Great looks 2. Decent cabin space

3. Smooth and efficient engines

DEAL CLINCHER:

The CLE Cabriolet has the best interior, with high-quality materials used throughout the cabin, and a refined driving style.

WHAT DOES THE PRESS THINK?

Top Gear said: ‘It looks better than ever, shuttles four adults and their luggage around in relative comfort and even handles tidily while never taking its eye off the ultimate prize: the sort of suppleness that needs to underpin unruffled open-top progress.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

The CLE Cabriolet wasn’t designed to be a B-road basher or a track-day toy for the driving enthusiast. Instead, it’s been set up to be a relaxing cruiser for those sunny road trips down to the south of France. It also has usable back seats and a bigger boot than the Audi A5 cabriolet, making it practical and a genuine four-seater. Also, thanks to standard mild-hybrid technology, the CLE Cabriolet will be a lot cheaper to run than the old C-Class Cabriolet. Although it’s not revolutionary, the drop-top version of the CLE is still a great choice for those wanting a usable yet premium four-seater cabriolet with that three-pointed star pedigree.

SKODA KODIAQ

The original Kodiaq was a smash hit for Skoda. But can the second-gen version deliver the same excellent experience?

Jack Evans put one of them to the test.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Skoda Kodiaq

Price (as tested): £40,205 Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel

Power

The Kodiaq’s 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel produces 193bhp and 400Nm of torque.

Emissions: 168g/km CO2

WHAT IS IT?

Skoda believes it has made a match for the original with this second-generation Kodiaq, which brings more technology and features than before but without losing the spaciousness that made its predecessor so popular.

WHAT’S NEW?

In the interests of boosting interior space, this version of the SUV is bigger than before. In fact, it’s 61mm longer than the car it replaces, bringing 15mm extra headroom to that third row – in seven-seater versions – which means they’re a little more adult-friendly than those in the older Kodiaq. You’ll find the same range of ‘Simply Clever’ features but with a more ‘eco’ twist. Both the umbrellas inside the front doors and the iconic ice scraper behind the fuel filler door are now made from recycled materials, for example.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

The new Kodiaq has a wide range of engines, including an efficient plug-in hybrid that can return a claimed electric-only range of up to 60 miles, which will make it a good choice for business drivers. However, it’s not set to come to the UK until later this year, so we’re driving a more traditional 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel and the more powerful version, too, bringing 193bhp over a less potent 148bhp model with the same engine.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

The older Kodiaq always offered an easy-going and very intuitive driving experience and this new version delivers largely the same style. The steering itself is quite light while the ride is pleasant enough. We drove a car with optional Dynamic Chassis Control – which allows you to firm up or stiffen the dampers – and in their hardest setting the Kodiaq does become a little too rigid, although it does help to control the car’s body roll. Visibility isn’t too bad, either, but over-the-shoulder glances are hampered by the car’s large rear quarter section, while the narrow screen at that back means your view rearwards isn’t the best. The 2.0-litre diesel might be a little agricultural at slower speeds, but it makes up for this by being impressively quiet and smooth when you’re travelling more quickly.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

It’s a somewhat more rounded affair than it was previously, and while looks are always

Style

There are some nice design touches such as squared-off wheel arches and more intricate headlights.

down to the individual, we feel it doesn’t have quite the same visual impact as its more blocky predecessor. There are still some nice touches, mind you, such as the squared-off wheel arches and more intricate headlights. As is the fashion at the moment, there’s also an LED strip connecting the headlights, while at the back is a full-width light bar.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

Space has always been a priority with the Kodiaq and that’s no different here. Those sitting up front have a great view of the road, while the middle-row occupants have plenty of space to enjoy. Head- and legroom levels are excellent, while the numerous pockets and charging ports make this SUV extremely versatile and appropriate for family buyers. Material quality is good, too, and the overall fit and finish is top-notch. Boot space is great, with the seatsup load area growing by 80 litres to 340 litres, or 845 litres with the rearmost seats folded flat. Collapse both rows and you free up an impressive 2,035 litres.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

There’s far more technology on board and the car is jam-packed with features, ranging from a large central touchscreen and virtual cockpit to the two wireless phone-charging slots that are fan-cooled to ensure a high rate of charge without overheating your devices. We’re in a well-equipped SE L version, which will likely be a firm favourite among buyers. It brings 19-inch alloys as standard, alongside matrix LED headlights, a powered boot plus a driver’s seat with an electric memory function. The new ‘Smart Dials’ – standard on all cars – are customisable rotary switches that are a breath of fresh air following the touchscreen-centric approach we’ve seen lately. They’re a breeze to use – particularly on the move – and way better than having everything within the main screen.

WHAT DOES THE PRESS THINK?

What Car said: ‘The latest Skoda Kodiaq follows the same award-winning formula as the original and makes it even better.’ Autocar said: ‘Ultra-spacious and undemanding to use, the new Kodiaq has a wonderful interior and generally drives well.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

Skoda hasn’t rewritten the Kodiaq rulebook with this second-generation car. It’s a recipe that has been finessed and refined, elevating it in all the key areas without diminishing the factors that made the original so successful. It’s pleasing that Skoda hasn’t lost sight of the user-friendly features that the first Kodiaq delivered – the smart dials and logical location of buttons make this a car that’ll be dead easy to get up to speed with. True, it’s risen in price, but there’s so much equipment on board the Kodiaq that it doesn’t feel unreasonable. Add in a whole heap of extra space – and a good range of engines – and it makes this latest Kodiaq just as easy to recommend as before.

Inside

The interior is very versatile with plenty of charging points and pockets to store items, and material quality is good as well.

It’s pleasing that Skoda hasn’t lost sight of the user-friendly features that the first Kodiaq delivered.

TARGET BUYERS: Drivers after a spacious, comfortable and wellappointed family SUV. THE RIVALS:

Tiguan

Santa Fe

X-Trail KEY SELLING POINTS:

Loads of interior space

Refined drive 3 User-friendly interior DEAL CLINCHER: This new version manages to improve the formula with better tech and features while leaving its predecessor’s great driving style intact.

COOL STUFF

We’re quickly ramping through the year, and as the weather attempts to get a little sunnier, it seems that there’s a real increase in the number of great products and devices hitting the market. To save you from scouring the news pages, we’ve picked out some of the most notable ones to have come out recently.

Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX – £220

DANNER has a great level of expertise in creating hard-wearing and long-lasting hiking boots that are ideal for long days on the trail. It has recently sharpened its popular Mountain 600 with a new Leaf GTX model that puts recycleability at its core. In fact, it’s the same price as the standard Mountain 600, but because it’s Danner’s first ‘recraftable lightweight hiker’, the boots can easily be renewed once you’ve worn out the soles.

Tag Heuer Formula 1 Kith – £1,350

TAG’S teeny-tiny plastic Formula 1 Series 1 of the late1980s has gone on to become something of an icon in the watch world. To revive it, Tag has teamed up with fashion and lifestyle brand Kith to bring back this eye-catching timepiece with the same quirky style that made the original such a hit.

In fact, Tag has used the mould of the original case to recast this latest watch, although it’s been updated with a new sapphire-crystal glass face and rubber strap for a more premium feel.

BOSE is one of the biggest names in the audio business, and while it does make some of the very best in-home sound systems, it also has a great background in its outdoor and portable speakers.

One of the latest additions to this latter field is the SoundLink Max, which is a travelfocused speaker that brings big-setup sound. It uses technology that you’d usually find in Bose soundbars but combines this with a rugged rubberised construction and a 20-hour battery life to create a speaker that’ll deliver wherever you go.

Canyon Neuron:ONfly – £4,649

E-BIKES have grown in popularity over recent years, but the usual downside with battery-assisted bicycles is the added weight. Canyon has aimed to combat that with the Neuron:ONfly – a lightweight take on the traditional e-MTB formula.

It’s got Bosch’s new Performance Line SX power system at its core, providing 55Nm of torque and 600W of power. Remarkably, it all comes in at just 19kg, compared with Canyon’s popular Neuron:ON that tips the scales at 23kg.

SUPPLIER NEWS

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

Takeover of tech firm is completed

KEYLOOP has completed its takeover of automotive tech firm ATG for an undisclosed fee.

Car Dealer reported on April 10 that the two companies had reached a ‘definitive agreement’ over an acquisition, and the deal has now been wrapped up. Keyloop says ATG will allow it to accelerate its ‘Experience-First blueprint’.

ATG employs more than 330 people. All its staff, including CEO Tim Smith, will transfer to Keyloop.

Heat is on for Industry Leader Challenge 2024

AUTOMOTIVE industry charity Ben is turning up the heat for this year’s Industry Leader Challenge when a group of senior leaders tackle the Sahara.

Up to 10 teams of two will spend five days in November covering up to 27km a day trekking across the desert in Morocco in the punishing heat to raise a minimum of £20,000 per team. To register an interest in taking part or for more information, email matt.wigginton@ben.org.uk

£1.2bn in completed payments on platform

USED car marketplace Motorway is celebrating notching up £1.2bn in completed payments via Motorway Pay since the platform was launched a year ago.

Now it has brought out two more features – real-time payments and online withdrawals– that it says will make buying from private sellers easier than ever, at any volume, and will give dealers more flexibility and control. COO James Wilson hailed the platform as ‘a game-changer’.

I think Cazoo over-relied on technology and seriously overlooked the importance of touch and a personal service that most customers still want.

Richard Pygott p39

Partnership with Zuto eases finance journey

CLOSE Brothers Motor Finance has joined Zuto’s marketplace of lenders, enhancing access to its products and digitising the customer journey.

Vehicle buyers can now see rates and gain approval for its products in real time via fintech Zuto’s platform.

It also lets Close Brothers provide quotations to Zuto customers based on soft credit checks and avoid the hard searches that can harm a consumer’s credit rating and eligibility for future loans.

Five-year deal will see upgraded portal

THE RAC’s used car portal is to relaunch later this year after the firm signed a five-year deal with Heycar.

The online new and used car marketplace will take over the running of RAC Cars from June with the launch of an all-new website.

Bosses say that the upgraded platform will be given ‘feature parity’ with Heycar’s own site.

It’s hoped the refreshed offering will have a knock-on effect for the RAC Approved Dealer network.

MOTORWAY

CLOSE BROTHERS

RAC CARS

BUSINESS NEWS

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

Spending and visits up at Mecca Bingo clubs

THE owner of Mecca Bingo has said more people have visited its bingo clubs and spent more money as it shakes off its post-pandemic woes and enjoys a boost in online players.

Rank Group reported a 6% jump in net gaming revenue to £182.3m in the first three months of the year, compared with the same period a year ago. It said the surge was driven by a 5% rise in customer visits and a 7% increase in spend per visit. Mecca has more than 50 bingo clubs.

DISQUALIFICATION

John Barnes banned as company director

FORMER England and Liverpool

footballer John Barnes has been banned from being a company director for three and a half years after his firm failed to pay more than £190,000 in taxes.

John Barnes Media Ltd failed to pay £194,111 in corporation tax and VAT between 2018 and 2020, with HMRC its only known creditor when it ceased trading.

£780m takeover of Co-op Bank is agreed

COVENTRY Building Society has agreed a potential takeover of rival high street lender The Cooperative Bank for up to £780m, the companies have announced. The two groups have been in discussions for several months. It would create a combined group with a balance sheet of £89bn, and would see Co-op Bank return to a mutual ownership structure.

Four deny charges of fraud at Patisserie Valerie COURT

THE former chief financial officer of Patisserie Valerie and three other defendants, including his wife, have denied being part of a plot to commit fraud at the café chain. Christopher Marsh, 49, and Louise Marsh, 56, both of St Albans, Pritesh Mistry, 41, of Leicester, and Nilesh Lad, 51, of Harrow, all denied various charges and were given conditional bail when they appeared at Southwark Crown Court on April 26. The trial date has been set for March 2, 2026.

Trainline breaks £5bn ticket sales mark

TRAINLINE has passed £5bn in ticket sales for the first time, as the aggregator enjoyed a recovery in rail travel in Britain and sharp growth across Europe.

The London-listed company’s pre-tax profit more than doubled to £48m in the year ending February 29, buoyed by an easing in rail strikes, which fell to 25 days from 30 in the previous 12 months. On the back of its European growth, Trainline also passed £1bn in international ticket sales for the first time.

Sensodyne maker to axe jobs in site closure

MORE than 400 jobs are being axed at Sensodyne toothpaste and Advil painkillers firm Haleon as the group revealed plans to shut its only manufacturing site in the UK. The consumer healthcare group, which was spun out of drugs giant GSK in 2022, is shutting its factory in Maidenhead, which will affect the 435 staff at the site. Haleon, which employs nearly 2,000 staff in the UK, will transfer some of the production to its site in Slovakia.

INDUSTRY VIEWS

NEWS AND THOUGHTS FROM CAR DEALER LIVE

All of those trends that either have been in the future or at the edges of the industry are now here.

Catherine Faiers

Auto Trader’s chief operating officer

The three big ‘future’ trends here now in 2024 – and why they’re a huge opportunity

Three major trends that were touted to be in the future and threatened to transform the motor trade are now here and represent an opportunity for car dealers.

That’s the view of Auto Trader, whose chief operating officer discussed how retailers are adapting to unprecedented change in the motor trade, and how the new and used car markets are currently performing.

‘From a market health perspective and overall supply and demand, we’re getting back to more stable conditions,’ Catherine Faiers said.

‘If you take things up a level and think more broadly about the big structural trends impacting our market, then we’re absolutely still in a period of unprecedented change.

There’s this once-in-a-century shift to electric vehicles, the growth in omnichannel retailing, and changes in retailing models with manufacturers looking to sell directly. And then also there are those much longer term trends like autonomous functionality and vehicles, and subscription services.

‘All of those trends that either have been in

the future or at the edges of the industry are now here. The big three trends – electric, omni-channel retailing and the move to agency or direct selling – have now become real.’

Faiers said electric cars would become hugely important for all car dealers as EVs ‘become mainstream’. For omnichannel retailing, Faiers said the industry had moved from an ‘either or’ scenario of purely online ‘disruptors’ and ‘forecourt-led, in-person transaction dealers’, to retailing that combined both.

‘Finally, there’s agency selling. We have seen manufacturers moving to this model, and I think we’ll see a very small number of manufacturers with a pure agency model. But what’s much more likely is manufacturers moving to some kind of franchise-plus or agency-light model..’

She went on to say: ‘This is a period of huge, huge change, but also an opportunity and a chance, I think, for us all to build the businesses that we want for the next decade.’

Elsewhere, Faiers explained Auto Trader’s prediction of May being a strong month in the new and used car sectors.

Here’s how the right finance partner can boost profits for car dealers

Streamlining the buying process for customers is one of the easiest and most lucrative ways to improve a car dealer’s bottom line, believes one of the industry’s leading finance providers.

Source: Cap HPI, December 2023

Oodle Car Finance discussed the challenges facing car dealers right now, and how working with the right partners can see an immediate uplift in profit.

‘Managing cash flow is essential for all businesses, but for car dealers it’s probably the biggest problem they face,’ chief commercial officer Ciara Raison told Car Dealer.

‘Dealers have a lot to juggle – they’re balancing the supply and demand of vehicles through quite unprecedented volatility in both trade and retail prices.

‘They’ve got an uncertain economic and

political climate and wider global issues impacting their businesses, and they’re also working in this ever-shifting landscape –whether that’s regulatory or the advancement and acceleration of technology.’

Working with a supplier that understands this and can offer services and products that make life easier is essential – never more so than when it comes to finance, she added.

OODLE

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

Complaints about credit cards and current accounts go up

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

Complaints relating to current accounts and credit cards increased in the second half of last year, according to latest figures from the City regulator. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recorded 874,568 complaints about credit cards and banking in the second half of 2023 – up by 3.2% compared with the first half of last year.

Grievances about credit cards jumped by 7.5% comparing the first and second halves of 2023 with 217,032 complaints in the second half of last year. Current accounts complaints rose by 1% over the same period, with 515,336 in the second half of 2023.

In the FCA’s insurance category, motor and transport-related gripes increased by 1% to 281,082 in the second half of 2023. The FCA’s figures also showed that investments-related complaints increased, by 3.4% when comparing the second half of 2023 with the first half, with 61,446 recorded in the last six months of 2023.

Overall, in the second half of 2023, financial services firms received 1.87m complaints, which was a decrease of 1% compared with the first half of 2023.

Since the payment protection insurance (PPI) peak in 2020, complaints have remained relatively constant, the FCA said. The percentage of complaints which were upheld decreased from 61% in the first half of 2023 to 58% in the second half of last year.

During the second half of 2023, around £259m was paid out in redress – 10% higher than the first half of last year. The average amount paid as redress was £203 – up from £183 in the first half of 2023.

The FCA publishes complaints data every six months and its figures include submissions from firms reporting 500 or more complaints within a six-month period, or firms reporting 1,000 or more complaints in a year.

New business volumes fell by 7% in March

LATEST figures from the Finance & Leasing Association show that consumer car finance new business volumes fell in March by 7% compared with the same month in 2023.

The corresponding value of new business was 5% lower over the same period. In Q1 2024 as a whole, new business by value and volume fell by 3% and 4% respectively, compared with Q1 2023.

The consumer new car finance market reported new business by value in March that was 2% higher than in the same month in 2023, while new business volumes fell by 5%.

The consumer used car finance market reported a fall in the value of new business in March of 12% compared with the same month in 2023, while new business volumes decreased by 8%.

Geraldine Kilkelly, the FLA’s director of research and chief economist, said that performance of the new car finance market during Q1 was in line with private new registrations, which fell by 9%.

She added that FLA members financed 78.9% of these sales in the 12 months to March 2024.

TIME IS MONEY

Why Cazoo failed and what the car industry can learn

In March, Cazoo announced that it was exiting the used car market, closing all its sites, selling off its remaining stock and shedding thousands of jobs to take on the likes of Auto Trader. Then on May 8, Cazoo Group filed with the courts to place some of its UK subsidiaries into administration.

While I don’t know what form Cazoo will take in the future, it’s pretty clear it is in serious trouble. The impending doom of Cazoo had been prophesied by many in the motor trade for quite a while, including myself in this column quite some time ago. Cinch, which many would point to as its main competitor, announced losses of £181m at the beginning of the year, too.

Cazoo wasn’t the first company to attempt to go all digital with the car-buying public either. Tesco thought it could sell cars and cucumbers to customers in 2011 with Tesco Cars, but that folded in less than a year because it couldn’t sell enough stock. So, if people are buying more and more products and services online, especially with the pandemic only accelerating this trend, why are companies such as Cazoo shutting down or losing millions?

While Cazoo boasted an easy-to-use website and streamlined processes, I personally think it over-relied on technology and seriously overlooked the importance of touch and a personal service that most customers still want.

I also think that most of these online disruptors made the mistake of assuming that customers want digitisation on everything it can be applied to. Yet, I don’t believe that customer behaviour changes as quickly as technology.

But rather than gloating over its demise, especially considering the number of job losses, the motor trade should focus on what Cazoo did right. It had a website that was very easy for customers to use, where searching and inquiring about cars for sale was simple. It also excelled at the logistics side of its business, which also made it easy for customers to arrange delivery of their new car.

Some of this isn’t new to the motor trade. A lot of dealers during the national lockdowns adopted a similar model, and I think it should still be a service that dealers offer to customers.

While I don’t know what form Cazoo will take in the future, it’s pretty clear it is in serious trouble.

Richard Pygott is digital marketer for First Response. Call him on 0115 946 6365 or email richard. pygott@frfl.co.uk

Streamlining your dealership’s website, offering a simple-to-arrange click and collect and car delivery service, improving your face-to-face customer’s journey, and making it as simple as possible for the customer will have countless benefits for your customers and your dealership’s bottom line. To find out how we can support your dealership and simplify processes for dealing with sub-prime finance customers, visit our website or give us a call on 0115 671 1755.

STATISTICS

New car sales grow for 21st month in a row but private demand continues to drop

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

New car sales rose in April for the 21st month in a row – albeit by just 1.0% – to reach 134,274 units versus last year. That’s according to the latest data published by the SMMT, which said it was the market’s best April since 2021.

However, uptake was still 16.6% under the pre-pandemic level in what is traditionally a low-volume month following the March plate change – April 2019 saw 161,064 registrations. And the growth was driven entirely by fleets, continuing the trend seen throughout this year, where registrations rose by 18.5% to reach 81,207 units – more than six in 10 of all new cars registered in April. Private sales, meanwhile, fell by 17.7% to 50,458 units, while business registrations dropped by 16.1% to 2,609.

It added that a total of 1.984m new cars are now anticipated to be registered this year, which is a 4.2% rise on last year and 0.5% up on January’s outlook.

Electrified vehicles continued to be the main drivers of market expansion. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) recorded the strongest growth, rising by 22.1% to comprise 7.8% of the market, followed by hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), which were up 16.7% with a 13.1% share of demand.

April was a brighter month for battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations, mainly thanks to what the SMMT called ‘compelling fiscal incentives for businesses’.

Overall, BEV uptake rose 10.7%, pushing up its market share to 16.9%, which the trade body said was a significant uplift on last April’s 15.4%. But the SMMT said urgent action was needed to get private buyers enthusiastic again about making the switch. Fewer than one in six new BEVs bought in April went to consumers.

The SMMT said the lack of government incentives for private motorists was still a barrier that couldn’t be overcome by industry alone. It wants to see similar tax incentives for private buyers that the fleet market is given.

It’s also urging action over infrastructure, calling ‘current levels of infrastructure insufficient to inspire more consumers to go electric’.

Chief executive Mike Hawes said: ‘The new car market continues to grow even in the quieter months, driven primarily by fleet demand.

‘This is particularly true of the electric vehicle sector, where the absence of government incentives for private buyers is having a marked effect.’

He added: ‘Although attractive deals on EVs are in place, manufacturers cannot fund the mass market transition single-handedly.

‘Temporarily cutting VAT, treating EVs as fiscally mainstream not luxury vehicles, and taking steps to instil consumer confidence in the chargepoint network will drive the market growth on which Britain’s net zero ambition depends.’

The

Click here to see our top 10 rolling sales charts for April 2023 to April 2024

new car market continues to grow even in the quieter months, driven primarily by fleet demand.

Mike Hawes SMMT chief executive

LCV NEWS

LCV market enjoys best April for three years

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

DEMAND for new LCVs rose by 5.4% in April as more businesses invested in the latest models, according to the SMMT.

A total of 23,889 new vans, 4x4s and pick-ups were registered – the highest figure for the month since 2021, when 30,440 units were sold, and making it the 16th month of growth in a row.

Fleets invested in vehicles to support local trades, doorstep services and other increasingly vital parts of the logistics sector, said the trade body.

But new battery-electric van uptake fell to 861 units – down 42.4% versus 2023’s uptick in demand.

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

Finance

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.

First Response

W: dealer.firstresponsefinance.co.uk

T: 0115 671 1755

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

Trade Bodies

Ben

W: ben.org.uk

T: 0808 131 1333

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

Vehicle Photography

Dealer 360

W: dealer360.co.uk

T: 01270 780855

E: nicky.spratt@ukturntables.com

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

Vehicle Tracking

Meta Trak

W: metatrak.co.uk

T: 020 8867 2340

E: enquiries@metatrak.co.uk

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

Warranty Providers

AutoProtect

W: autoprotect.co.uk

T: 01279 406888

E: sales@autoprotect.net

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

Warranty Providers

Car Care Plan

W: carcareplan.com

T: 0344 573 8000

Info: 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.

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

Centurion Warranties

W: centurionwarranties.co.uk

T: 0800 368 7420

E: support@cwuk.net

Info: Centurion offers comprehensive aftermarket warranty solutions to motor dealers across the UK who sell first-owned vehicles through to high-end, prestige and sports cars.

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.

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.

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.

NISSAN ARIYA

Dave Brown finds out if this crossover is an ideal battery-powered option

We’re rapidly approaching the second UK anniversary of the Ariya – an example of which recently joined our fleet of long-term loan vehicles.

Having had some experience of driving an electric Nissan in the past (a Leaf hatchback, quite a few years ago), I’ve been very interested to see how Nissan has moved the game on in terms of electric motoring.

For those unfamiliar with the Ariya, it’s essentially an electric crossover that is designed to offer the practicality of a regular SUV as well as the space, comfort and style of a premium city car.

With plenty of room for the whole family (I’ve put it to the test with a full complement of passengers on more than one occasion) and a 250-mile range that’ll take you where you need to go, I’ve found that OW22 AAO ticks a lot of boxes.

It has a nice, sleek shape and a luxurious, lounge-like interior, and there are tasteful nods to the car’s Japanese heritage included within the fixtures and fittings.

Our particular Ariya is equipped with the smaller of the two battery sizes available, with a usable capacity of 63kWh. This should mean that a range of up to 250 miles is typically available on the combined cycle, and although I haven’t quite tested the car to the limit as yet, journeys of 200+ miles are certainly possible.

As I’ve mentioned, I do have a bit of EV experience, so perhaps it’s no surprise that I’ve found charging relatively straightforward.

The number of public charging points is increasing all the time. If I’m out and about, I tend to head for BP Pulse ones if I can. It seems as though there are plenty of them around and the associated smartphone app is easy to use.

At home, I am now the proud owner of a Pod Point Solo 3 charger, kindly installed by an electrician in the family, my future son-in-law Marcus. (Thank you!)

Despite slight initial trepidation about whether everything would work okay, it has proved simple to use. The Pod Point app enables me to manage the car’s charging schedule, match it with our energy tariff and keep track of the costs involved.

Far from daunting, this is actually fascinating to do and has almost become like a new hobby!

As I’ve said, our Ariya has the smaller of the two battery sizes in the range. And as an Advance trim level model, it’s one step up from Engage, which is the entry-level option. With a base price of £43,145, it boasts a couple of optional extras, namely its Akatsuki Copper paint job plus Pearl Black roof at £1,275 and a Sky Pack (in other words, an electric panoramic sunroof) costing £1,295. This makes the total price of our particular model £45,715.

Any negatives during our first couple of weeks behind the wheel? Well, just one, but the car is blameless, to be fair. A puncture sustained on a rough road surface a few days after collection proved annoying but was speedily sorted with the help of the RAC and Kwik Fit.

There’ll be time to explain more about living with our Ariya in future reports, and I’m learning more about its tech and convenience features all the time.

But for now, welcome to the fleet, OW22 AAO – and I’ll try harder to avoid local potholes in future!

THE KNOWLEDGE

Price (as tested): £45,715

Powertrain: Electric motor, 63kWh battery

Power: 214bhp

Torque: 300Nm

0-60mph: 7.3 seconds

Top speed: 100mph

Range: 250 miles (WLTP combined)

Emissions: 0g/km CO2 Mileage: 12,382

This month’s highlight:

Using the Pod Point app to manage the charging schedule, match tariffs and keep track of the costs.

Nissan Ariya 63kWh Advance

The Ariya stops for a top-up

SUZUKI SWACE

Our six months with a Suzuki Swace have come to an end. James Batchelor sums up his time with the hybrid.

That’s it then – our six months in the Suzuki Swace are up. Was the past half-year a time of thrilling, smile-by-mile fun behind the wheel? Forget it. In fact, you can forget everything to do with dynamics and faddish fashion trends, because the Swace won’t be remembered for being stylish either.

Not that it couldn’t entertain me at times. I even came to admire how its design and specification never demanded attention in a traffic jam. No, what the Swace will be remembered for is a level of attention to detail most normal people crave – nothing fell off, the Swace’s hybrid powertrain never broke down, it was cheap to run, immensely comfortable, and being available only as an estate car, wonderfully practical to boot.

Of course, you all know by now that the Swace is little more than a Toyota Corolla minus the Toyota and Corolla badges. So unbothered is Suzuki in trying to disguise the Swace’s parentage that there’s a crude Suzuki badge stuck over the original Toyota one on the boot. Even the same ‘hybrid’ badges are nailed on to the Swace’s front wings as it trundles down the same production line as the Corolla at Toyota’s factory in Burnaston. Some people who have had a lift to the pub have laughed at this, but I, like Suzuki, couldn’t have cared less. Its interior foregoes the trend of having screens that wouldn’t look out of place in John Lewis’s electrical department. There’s a nod to style with a swoop or flash here and a bit of contrasting stitching there, but it’s all well put together. The seat fabric is robust. The switches all work precisely and satisfyingly, and the seats are extremely comfortable.

The back seats are spacious and the boot can easily swallow everything you’d realistically want to carry normally. For the occasional trip to Ikea, the back seats fold down flatly, there are some hidden little cubbies and the boot is well illuminated with long LED strip lighting.

There’s no heated windscreen, but the base of the screen where the wipers sit can be warmed up by pressing a button on the dashboard, stopping them freezing to the glass. And the heated steering wheel and front seats quickly thawed me out during some bitter mornings. Again, it’s the satisfying practical attention to detail that has made living with the Swace so easy.

It isn’t a fast car. It doesn’t rock powerfully on its suspension when you press the throttle, and should you ask too much of the CVT gearbox, you’ll receive a chorus of high revs and noise. But around town the Swace sprints from junctions thanks to its small electric motor, while the whole powertrain does its best to give you electric power when possible for a quiet and relaxing ambience. The steering is surprisingly direct and the handling equally so (although others from Ford and Seat do this better). In terms of balancing an enjoyable driving experience with efficiency, nothing comes close to the Swace. In six months of driving, I routinely beat the claimed 62.7mpg fuel economy figure – I could even coax high80s on trips to Sainsbury’s five miles from home.

All too often, I find myself getting excited about how a car looks or its sound or even the admiring glances it gets in the pub car park, but when living with a Swace you realise this is all meaningless. Sometimes, true satisfaction is having a car that does the job you ask with no complaints. In this regard, the Swace is one of the finest cars I’ve ever spent time with.

This month’s highlight: Looking back at the past six months with ‘our’ Swace and loving that it never broke down and nothing fell off!

OTHER CARS WE’RE DRIVING

Mileage: 16,520

Calm is restored after a recall fixed the CX-60’s iffy steering.

Citroen C5x

Mazda CX-60