Professional Driver - January 2015 by Calixa Creative

BUSINESS NEWS, REVIEWS & ANALYSIS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

JANUARY 2015 | VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1 | £4.95

CLEAN WINNER Mercedes-Benz S300L BlueTec Hybrid Professional Driver’s Car of the Year EVENT LAUNCH: ProDriver Live 2015 01_ProDriver_JAN_2015.indd 1

PROFILE:

Quintessentially Driven’s Maseratis 21/12/14 21:14:32

‘Chauffeur Car of the Year.’

Professional Driver QSI Awards 2014

S 300 BlueTEC Hybrid.

A Daimler Brand

The award winning S 300 BlueTEC Hybrid AMG Line L, combines interior luxury with the latest ground breaking technology. And with efficiency figures of just 124g/km*CO2 and up to 61.4 mpg,* it really has redefined standards. Something you can always expect from Mercedes-Benz.

Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per100km) for the S-Class range: urban 16.5(17.1)-60.1(4.7), extra

purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. *Model featured is a S 300 BlueTEC Hybrid AMG Line L Saloon with automatic transmission at £77,120 on-the-road number plates, first registration fee and fuel). Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Please contact your local Retailer for availability. Prices correct at time of print 01/15.

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urban 32.8(8.6)-65.7(4.3), combined 23.7(11.9)-100.9(2.8). CO2 emissions 279-65 g/km.

Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison including optional 20” AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels at £1,130, Driving Assistance Package at £2,300 and Electric panoramic glass sunroof at £1,430 (on-the-road price includes VAT, delivery,12 months’ Road Fund Licence,

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19/12/2014 17:15 21/12/14 21:36:28

ESTATE OF THE ART. PROFESSIONAL DRIVER ESTATE CAR OF THE YEAR. We are proud to announce that the BMW 5 Series Touring has been chosen by chauffeurs and private hire operators as the prestigious Professional Driver â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Estate Car of the Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Particular praise was given to the BMW 520d SE Touring, with this exceptional model achieving 62.8mpg (combined) and just 118g/km CO2 for BIK of just 19%, while offering a luggage capacity of 560 litres. Those are the kind of â&#x20AC;Ť×Šâ&#x20AC;ŹHVSFT UIBU BSF TVSF UP XJO ZPV PWFS UPP

To find out more about our award-winning 5 Series range, please visit www.bmw.co.uk/5series or call 08081 280037.

0Gâ&#x20AC;Ť×Šâ&#x20AC;ŹDJBM GVFM FDPOPNZ â&#x20AC;Ť×Šâ&#x20AC;ŹHVSFT GPS UIF #.8 4FSJFT 3BOHF 6SCBO Ĺ&#x20AC; NQH Ĺ&#x20AC; M LN &YUSB 6SCBO Ĺ&#x20AC; NQH Ĺ&#x20AC; M LN $PNCJOFE Ĺ&#x20AC; NQH Ĺ&#x20AC; M LN CO2 FNJTTJPOT Ĺ&#x20AC; H LN Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

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leader

Uber fallout

Lacking in leadership

T TIMES OF CHANGE, AN INDUSTRY needs strong leadership and fairminded yet firm administration. The taxi and private hire industry is clearly going through choppy waters—but it’s hard to see who’s steering the ship. Transport for London has come in for some stick in recent weeks over its feeble response to Uber’s “metering app”. TfL allowed itself to be bullied into accepting the app and then passed the buck to the High Court rather than having the backbone to refuse to accept a device that, whichever way you look at it, circumvents the rules. TfL could easily have said no, and refused to issue Uber with an operator’s licence until it deleted the metering function from its app—yet it didn’t have the spine to do so. Bet you any money that if TfL had demanded that, Uber would have backed down, redesigned the app and found another way to run its surge pricing. Now we’re in a right legal pickle of taxi driver lawsuits against Uber drivers—cases the High Court doesn’t want to hear, but which are preventing it from making a ruling on the TfL referral. Stalemate. Well done, everybody. Meanwhile, we hear continual complaints that TfL is only too happy to issue licenses to just about any applicant—our Insider column, written this month by a highly respected operator, raises that point. TfL needs to get a grip on things—and grow a pair. Refuse to issue licenses to unsuitable candidates for a start. It’s clear from events elsewhere that licensing authorities are not doing their job. Look at Manchester, where nearly 300 convicted criminals have been allowed to drive cabs. Is that paltry license fee more important than public safety? So it seems.

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Meanwhile in Liverpool we have the absurd situation of Uber being granted a licence while a highly professional local private hire operator, Delta Taxis, has had its revoked. Delta wants to get ahead of the new rules proposed in the Deregulation Bill, which will allow it to operate across more than one territory. This is a firm that has invested heavily in its head office, employs hundreds of support staff and thousands of drivers. So why has it been blocked? The local taxi trade whinged to the Liverpool Mayor, claiming Delta was using an app-based booking system rather than an old-fashioned call centre. Welcome to the 21st century! So council officials stand up to a local company, but you can bet they’ll be cowering in the corner when Uber’s American lawyers start knocking on the door. You can bet that Uber will be doing exactly the things Liverpool council won’t let Delta do. How many actual jobs does Uber create? A few IT wonks? Most of the drivers are self-employed chauffeurs who were doing the job anyway. OK, some people have decided to try their hand as an Uber driver, renting a car and getting a licence. I wonder how many of them will still be doing the job in a year’s time? At the moment, we have a noisy, threatened taxi trade, clinging desperately to its old ways, and a bullying, threatening Uber demanding change at any cost. The decent private hire operators are in the middle—and their voices aren’t being heard. It’s up to regulators such as TfL and local authorities to listen to this “silent majority” too, and apply the rules fairly, but firmly where necessary, across the trade. MARK BURSA, Editor markbursa@aol.com

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contents COVER STORY

» CLEAN WINNER—Professional Driver’s 2014 Car of the Year, the Mercedes-Benz S300L BlueTec Hybrid, on test . . . . . . . . . . 26

NEWS EDITOR

Mark Bursa markbursa@aol.com 01932 858575

ART DIRECTOR

Alan Booth alan.booth@calixa.biz 07817 671973

CONTRIBUTORS

Richard Yarrow, Kim Adams, Ian Robertson, Phil Rule, John Coombes, Gordon Donaldson, Gary Jacobs, David Wilkins, Craig Thomas, Kevin Willis, Peter Panayiotou, Steve Garelick

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mike Valente 07818 418211

WEBSITE

Martin Coombes 01959 547000

PUBLISHER

Paul Webb paulwebb@prodrivermags.com Tel: 01959 547003 SALES James Derbyshire 01959 547000 JamesDerbyshire@prodrivermags.com or sales@prodrivermags.com

CIRCULATION/SUBSCRIBE

Curwood CMS Ltd, The Barn, Abbey Mews Robertsbridge, TN32 5AD 01580 883844 subs@prodrivermags.com ACCOUNTS Janine Derbyshire 01959 547000 janine@prodrivermags.com

EVENTS COORDINATOR

Stephanie Wooden 01959 547000 stephanie.wooden@prodrivermags.com

COMPANY

Managing Director Scott Derbyshire, 01959 547000 scott@prodrivermags.com Prodriver Media Ltd 1 The Courtyard, Market Square, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1AZ—Registered in England No.: 7086172 © 2015 All contents copyright of Pro Driver Media Ltd. BUSINESS NEWS, REVIEWS & ANALYSIS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

JANUARY 2015 | VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1 | £4.95

» » » » » » » » » » » » » » »

TfL “woefully inadequate”, says London Assembly . . . . . Cabbies urged to drop Uber prosecutions . . . . . . . . . . Audi reveals lighter but more spacious new Q7. . . . . . . Uber faces a fight as it launches in Leeds and Liverpool . . Midlothian taxis to have CCTV and audio recorders . . . . New Skoda Superb ready for February launch . . . . . . . Smart move for Fylde Executive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Delta plans court action after Liverpool license blow . . . . Broadway Cars adds 16-seat EVM Sprinter . . . . . . . . . Manchester slammed for licensing 292 criminals since ’07 Insignia provides an eco-alternative for Driven A to B . . . C&C adds Nissan eNV200 and commits to electric future . Openstart offers Prius Plug-in to London PCO operators . . QR Codes to aid safety in Cheltenham taxis. . . . . . . . . Perth Council delays Smart cabs decision . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10 10 10 11 11 11 12 12 12 16 16 16 18 18 18

ROAD TESTS

» FIRST LOOK—New Mercedes-Maybach S-Class . . . . . . . . . . . 22 » FIRST DRIVE—Skoda Rapid Greenline 1.6 TDI 90 . . . . . . . . . . 30 » RUNNING REPORT—Our month with an Audi A8L . . . . . . . . . . 32

CHAUFFEUR PROFILE

» MIGHTY QUIN—Dean Pemberton on Quintessentially Driven’s global deal with Maserati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

SUPPLIER FOCUS

» RAISING THE STANDARD—Chauffeur Training launches the first National Diploma in Chauffeuring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

PRE-LOVED

» BUYER’S GUIDE—Choosing a secondhand Skoda Octavia Greenline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

PRODUCT TEST

» SAT-NAVS—Should you choose a standalone device or use a smartphone app? And which is the best in each category? . . . . 40

THE NEGOTIATOR

» The legal tangle over driving licenses explained by GMB union man Steve Garelick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

THE ADVISOR

» Tax returns must be filed this month—accountant Gary Jacobs explains what you must do to avoid a fine . . . . . . . 44

CLEAN WINNER Mercedes-Benz S300L BlueTec Hybrid Professional Driver’s Car of the Year EVENT LAUNCH: ProDriver Live 2015

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PROFILE:

Quintessentially Driven’s Maseratis

INSIDER

» We welcome a new and well-known chauffeur operator to the Insider hot seat? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

USED CARS FOR SALE

» Grab yourself a chauffeur bargain! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:15:29

#HAUFFEUR 4RAINING !CADEMY

Chauffeur Training Course—new dates coming soon! New ‘IQ Level 3 Organisation Award in Chauffeuring’ Course—£1499 The UK’s first nationally recognised qualification for chauffeurs As part of the five day course Chauffeur Training Ltd have included The Emergency First Aid at Work certification free of charge. Course Director Matt Levu ASyl is a certified First Aid Instructor awarded by the Governing body of Highfields under instruction by A.I.D Ltd. This will enable those attending to not only qualify as Chauffeurs but will, at the same time qualify as First aiders which is a necessary qualification within our Industry

DAY 1 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

■

Intros Objectives of learning Lessons on etiquette Chauffeur professionalism Detailing and DI inspections / Equipment needed Route Planning 1st scheduled trip Attended scheduled trip Driving techniques / Advanced (lifting vision, commentary, acceleration sense, hazards) Return to base debrief

DAY 2

■ Students to conduct briefings on their journeys studied ■ Intro into radios, Convoy driving ■ Plan scheduled trip ■ Details vehicle DI ■ Scheduled trip (student role play) ■ Debrief on road ■ Second scheduled trip (role play) ■ Return to base debrief ■ Use of radios and convoy ■ Intro to CP ■ Visit to private jet terminal at Luton airport

DAY 3

■ Security CP training ■ Searching vehicle (items to find, clean and dirty searching) ■ Use of radios ■ Convoy driving ■ Y turns

DAY 4 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

First Aid Priorities Managing Incidents Basic Life Support Examination of a Casualty Unconsciousness Control of Bleeding Burns and Scalds Regulations First Aid Kits Recording and Reporting

DAY 5

■ Assessment day, pass or fail ■ Scenario would be to collect upcoming star Miss Bessy, Lady N or Lady H from locations and deliver to locations. Drivers will be assessed on all days and feedback will be given during debrief from helpers and course Director. ■ End of course with Steve or Robert NOTE. First Aid Certification is dependent on successful continuous assessment of the student, there is no final exam. Those students who complete the course and are deemed to have reached the required standard are issued with a certificate that is valid for three years. The Emergency First Aid at Work course can be adapted to suit a particular audience and is ideal for lower risk businesses, in line with the Health and Safety (First Aid) regulations 1981. The first aid course is run over one day and includes both theory and practical sessions, in a relaxed atmosphere, designed to boost a candidate’s confidence.

Course Costs—£1499—Book online via credit card now Accommodation available and subject to additional charges Accommodation is in the process of being negotiated with the local hotels. We hope to be announcing those discounted prices soon

info@chauffeur-training.co.uk Tel.: 0333 444 1123 www.chauffeur-training.co.uk

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news

TfL | Uber | Audi Q7

TfL ‘woefully inadequate’ over taxis, says London Assembly Mark Bursa



TRANSPORT FOR London’s performance in regulating the Taxi and Private Hire industry has been slammed as “woefully inadequate” by London Assembly members. The Assembly’s Transport Committee has published the findings of a sixmonth investigation into the state of the trades and TfL’s role as regulator. In the report, TfL is described as a “soft touch” which fails to uphold regulations, especially over whether or

Cabbies urged to drop Uber prosecutions to allow High Court hearing to proceed

not Uber’s app acts as a taxi meter, thus breaching the law. The report said TfL’s reputation had been damaged: “At best, [TfL] failed to present a significantly robust challenge to an operator trying to strong-arm changes to enshrined legislation to suit its own business interests, and at worst, has actively colluded with that operator to create an imbalance in the market.” Rather than simply refuse Uber’s license, TfL referred the issue to the High Court, which has yet to rule on the issue. Committee chair Caroline Pidgeon says recent focus on Uber

“has become a distraction” which has overshadowed the need to address other very serious issues. AMs say TfL will need “to work hard to restore its credibility”. In addition, the report points to TfL’s failure to clamp down on unlicensed ‘marshals’ who take private hire bookings outside venues despite a ban on plying for trade on the street. AMs also want reforms implemented that would make it easier for passengers to complain about a driver or operator as well as assurances that TfL and the Met police have sufficient resources to

uphold regulations. The Assembly also wants to see a clampdown on drivers who refuse to carry disabled passengers and wants to examine ways of incentivising the adoption of wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicles. Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s chief operating officer for surface transport, said: “We will, of course, carefully consider the Assembly’s recommendations and note that many of the areas highlighted are already being worked through in collaboration with the industry.”

AUDI REVEALS LIGHTER BUT MORE SPACIOUS NEW Q7



LONDON TAXI DRIVERS who brought private prosecutions against Uber drivers over the controversial App operator’s “metering” GPS system have been urged by London Mayor Boris Johnson to drop the cases to allow the High Court to rule on the system. The taxi operators, and the London Taxi Drivers Association, have been warned that their refusal to withdraw private prosecutions against drivers working for mini cab app firm Uber is blocking the High Court banning the app. The court will not consider the app issue where related litigation is underway. Transport for London, which regulates both Taxis and minicabs, says the app is legal but asked the High Court to make a final ruling because some aspects of the law are “unclear”. Mayor Johnson suggested it was “clear” what needed to happen if the cab trade’s concerns were to be addressed. But LTDA’s Steve McNamara said: “If we drop the criminal case and the High Court still won’t hear it, we can’t reinstate our summonses because we’re timed out.” He blamed TfL for the mess: “The whole thing is down to TfL’s poor management style. They are so inept as to be embarrassing.”

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Mark Bursa



AUDI WILL THIS MONTH unveil its all-new secondgeneration Q7 SUV at the Detroit Motor Show. The new 4x4 is 325kg lighter and up to 26% more fuel-efficient than the current Q7. It’ll go on sale in the UK in the summer, with order books opening in the spring. UK models will be powered exclusively by 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engines at launch, initially 272PS versions with combined fuel economy of 47.8mpg and CO2 emissions of 153g/km. A 218PS version will follow, and the range will later include a diesel plug-in hybrid, the Audi Q7 e-tron Quattro. This is the first Audi plug-in hybrid with a diesel engine. It offers 373PS of system output and a system torque

of 700Nm It returns the equivalent of up to 166.1mpg, which corresponds to less than 50g/km of CO2. A full battery charge is sufficient for a distance of just under 35 miles. Exterior dimensions have been reduced, but the new Q7 offers substantially more interior room for passengers and luggage. The second row of seats can be moved longitudinally up to 110mm, and

an electrically folding third row is optional. If all seven seats are occupied, the cargo compartment of the new Audi Q7 has a capacity of 295 litres, or 770 litres in load configuration. The fiveseater offers 890 litres. The loading lip is 46mm lower than the previous model, and a powered rear hatch is standard. Other features include an all-digital dashboard display. JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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Uber Leeds/Liverpool | Skoda Superb | Midlothian

Uber faces a fight as it launches its service in Leeds and Liverpool Mark Bursa



UBER HAS LAUNCHED its private car hire service in Leeds, its third UK city, and is preparing to launch in Liverpool in the near future. But Leeds taxi drivers have already staged a protest against the US firm, while Liverpool cabbies have vowed to fight its arrival in the city. Uber already operates in London and Manchester. Paul Landau, chairman of the Leeds cab section of Unite the Union, claimed Uber was not operating a “legitimate service” but was “simply an app downloaded” and questioned how passengers could complain

if they had poor service. But Tom Elvidge, general manager for Uber Leeds, said: “Leeds is a city embracing technology and we view it as a natural fit for launching Uber. The decision to expand to Leeds is a response to the incredible demand we’ve seen. In fact over 20,000 people have downloaded and opened the app in Leeds in the last 12 months.” In Liverpool, Jimmy Bradley, spokesman for the Liverpool Taxi Alliance, said: “If Uber think they’re going to come here like they came into London, they’ve got another thing coming. These drivers could be anyone. And this is an international company based in California taking

money from loyal, local people.” He continued: “It’s just one punch after another, and we’re absolutely sick of it. “I’ve spoken to private hire firms, and they’re suffering too. There’s a complete saturation of taxis in the city, and this is people who have been loyal to Liverpool and built up their companies over 25, 30 years.” Uber’s global expansion plans have hit several snags in recent weeks. In Delhi, India, it has been banned after an unlicensed driver raped a young female passenger. In Spain, the Government has also banned Uber, while Parisian taxi drivers staged another go-slow protest in the French capital in protest against the App-based operator.

news

MIDLOTHIAN TAXIS TO BE FITTED WITH CCTV AND AUDIO RECORDERS TAXI OR PRIVATE CAR HIRE licence holders in Midlothian can now use CCTV and audio recording devices in their vehicles. The new policy is not mandatory but is designed to prevent and detect crime, reduce the fear of crime and enhance the safety of taxi and private hire car drivers, as well as their passengers, according to the licensing authority. If CCTV systems are equipped with a sound recording facility, the function should only be used if there is deemed to be a threat to driver or passenger safety. Recordings will be held either by taxi and private car hire licence holders or a third party service provider. However, requests for images and audio can be made not only by law enforcement agencies and insurance companies, but “other appropriate bodies”.

NEW SKODA SUPERB READY FOR FEBRUARY LAUNCH



SKODA HAS RELEASED THESE thinly disguised spyshots of the all-new Superb, which will be unveiled in Prague next month. The new third-generation Superb is an even larger car than the current model—though the spy shots show a more conventional-looking car than at present. Interior space and boot size have once again increased, and set a new benchmark in the segment, Skoda claims. It shares much of its underpinnings with the new VW Passat, and is likely to have a longer wheelbase, as with the secondgeneration Superb, which uses the LWB China-market Passat platform as a base. It will be unveiled to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in early March, with UK deliveries in the autumn. To date, Skoda has delivered more than 700,000 first- and second-generation Superb models all over the world.

prodrivermags.com | JANUARY 2015

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news

Delta | Fylde | Broadway Sprinter

Smart move for Fylde Executive Mark Bursa



FYLDE EXECUTIVE Cars is bidding to be the first north-western private hire operator to offer a one-person-based car service, using environmentally-friendly Smart fortwo cars. John Coombes, managing director of the west Lancashire operator, has applied to Fylde Council to start running the new service, and if successful could start using the vehicles in the next few weeks. A decision was pending as Professional Driver went to press. Coombes said: “It is something we have been thinking of for a while. We

officer Chris Hambly said have found a significant the vehicles would provide number of journeys are easy access and give lower just one person. The carbon emissions. Smart Cars are easy to “Although the Smart access, easy for the elderly Car appears small, it is and would provide a understood that high reduced running cost.” levels of passenger Only a handful of comfort are found inside services in the country John Coombes and that there is a generuse the vehicles, with ous amount of space in none based in the northterms of head and leg room,” he said. west. He added: “It is effectively a Fylde Executive runs a fleet taxi for one. It would be used across of Volvo and Mercedes executive Lytham and St Annes and for people chauffeur cars from its base at who need transporting to Preston Warton, near Preston. The company train station.” won the Gold Community award at He said the cars would only be the 2-13 Professional Driver Car of in service between 7am and 8pm, the Year Awards. Monday to Friday. Fylde Council

BROADWAY CARS ADDS 16-SEAT EVM SPRINTER



MERCEDES-BENZ CONVERTER EVM HAS delivered a 16-seater Sprinter minibus to private hire operator Broadway Cars, based in Berkshire. The silver Sprinter is based on the Sprinter 5 Series. It has a Euro 6-compliant common rail direct injection diesel engine and manual transmission Passenger entry is via a large sliding door as well as a standard entry door. Broadway Cars has been operating as a taxi and private hire company in West Berkshire for 12 years, covering Newbury, Thatcham, Hungerford, and surrounding villages. It plans to use

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the Sprinter for events, school trips and parties. Owner Nigel Milton praised EVM’s flexibility in being able to deliver him a custom package on time. The Sprinter is finished in the EVM X-Clusive bodystyling, with colour-coded bumpers, side mouldings and front grille, and a chrome pack. Rear hinged doors open 270 degrees, giving excellent luggage access.doors, incorporating a good size boot. Inside, two full length aluminium luggage racks stretch the length of the saloon with full length strip lighting and blue LED night lights, plus individual passenger reading lights and adjustable air ducts.

DELTA PLANS COURT ACTION ON LIVERPOOL LICENSE BLOW Mark Bursa



MERSEYSIDE PRIVATE HIRE operator Delta Taxis has vowed to fight Liverpool council in court after the local authority revoked its licence to operate in the city. The Sefton-based company was issued with a new private hire operator’s licence on November 18 to enable it to take fares in the city. But a condition of this was there had to be a dedicated telephone booking line for Liverpool, separate from the firm’s Sefton operation. Delta’s plans are designed to take advantage of the Deregulation Bill now going through Parliament, which will allow taxi and minicab firms to subcontract business to other firms registered in other areas. This would let Delta dispatch bookings from either its Bootle or Liverpool offices to drivers and cars from both fleets. The authority alleges the Liverpool booking number is not operational and the only way bookings can be made is through a smartphone app. The authority also claims the firm’s Liverpool registered vehicles have door signs which only refer to the app and do not advertise the Liverpool number. Liverpool taxi firms had objected to Delta’s plans, and gained the backing of Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson, who said Delta was unfairly “saturating” Liverpool and taking a living away from cityregistered drivers. Delta has 21 days to appeal to the magistrates’ court against this decision, and will be able to continue to operate in the city during this time. In a statement, Delta said: “Having just received a notice of revocation of private hire operator’s licence from Liverpool city council our legal team have now been instructed to appeal this decision through the appropriate judicial channels. “Both our Sefton and Liverpool operations remain entirely lawful— something we are extremely confident of being able to establish firmly through the courts over the coming months.” Delta is one of the largest private hire fleets in the north-west, with 2,000 drivers on its books. It operates from a bespoke, £3 million control centre in Bootle and takes around 10 million bookings a year.

JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:16:27

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21/12/14 21:35:00

news

Manchester | Driven A to B | C&C Nissan

MANCHESTER SLAMMED FOR LICENSING 292 CRIMINALS SINCE 2007 Mark Bursa



MANCHESTER licensing authorities have been urged to tighten up on driver licensing after a local paper revealed that nearly 300 criminals—including paedophiles and a convicted rapist—had been awarded taxi or private hire licenses. Following a Freedom of Information request, the Manchester Evening News exposed how 292 licenses have been issued to criminals since 2007, including sex offenders, dangerous drivers and violent thugs. The council maintains it turns down applications from convicted criminals, but some have been given the go-ahead despite divulging shady

criminal pasts. A rapist was granted a licence in 2007, and in 2013, four drivers who had been convicted of sex offences were given a licence— including two who were convicted of sexual assault. The figures—which cover 2007 to 2013—include a driver convicted of making ‘sexual contact’ with a girl under 13, another caught ‘soliciting a woman’ and a driver who had sex with a boy under 16. The council refused to release the names of the drivers, citing privacy laws. Paul Brent, chairman of the National Taxi Association, believes sex offenders should not be allowed to hold licences. He said: “For me, anybody with a proven sexual offence shouldn’t be moving vulnerable

people and disabled children around. The city council should make it policy that they don’t grant licences to sex offenders.” Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Broughton, said: “I think these are alarming figures. When I was on the licensing committee there were people who had previous convictions for sex offences, and they simply did not get either private hire or hackney carriage licences. And I can see no reason why that should change.” The city council claimed it had a “robust” system for dealing with criminal cabbies, but told the MEN: “A criminal conviction is not an automatic barrier to holding a licence”. A spokesman said: “We take

C&C ADDS NISSAN e-NV200 AND COMMITS TO AN ELECTRIC FUTURE



PIONEERING CORNWALL-BASED operator C&C Taxis has taken delivery of one of the first all-electric Nissan e-NV200 Combi models to arrive in the UK. The St Austell-based company has added the minivan to its six-strong fleet of battery-electric Nissan Leafs, and the five-seater combi has clocked up more than 1,000 miles in its first month of service. C&C’s fleet manager Mark Richards said the e-NV200 Combi would save £10,000 in fuel bills per year. And the additional versatility and practicality of the e-NV200 Combi has convinced him to commit to

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a long-term strategy of phasing out the company’s remaining diesel vehicles and replacing them all with EVs. Richards said: “We’ve had such great success with our Leafs we decided we were going to buy an e-NV200 the minute we learnt it was going to be launched. It does everything the Leaf does but is much bigger and offers more space. We’ll definitely be ordering more.” Priced from £17,855, including the £5,000 Government Plug-in Car Grant (PICG), the e-NV200 Combi is capable of covering 106 miles on a single charge and can be charged from zero to 80% in 30 minutes.

certain kinds of offences, including dishonesty and sexual offences, incredibly seriously, and it is very rare for people who have committed these offences to obtain a licence. If anyone holding a conviction of this nature applies to us for a licence, they need to not only demonstrate that they have not committed any offences for a significant period, but also to provide us with significant evidence that they are now suitable people to hold a licence.” All Manchester’s 6,372 hackney carriage and private hire drivers must declare criminal convictions in licence applications. It is then up to the city council to check all applications for convictions with the Criminal Records Bureau.

Insignia provides an ecoalternative for Driven A to B LONDON CORPORATE CAR SERVICE DRIVEN A to B has added several Vauxhall Insignias to its corporate fleet in a move to provide a more eco-friendly alternative to its regular fleet of Mercedes E-Class, Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series saloons. Driven A to B was launched last year as an offshoot of Driven Worldwide. It offers airport transfers and one-off city trips as well as journeys to destinations less favourable to London’s Black Cabs, such as late night commuter drives that involve going as far out of Mike Bell London as the Home Counties. Mike Bell, chief executive of Driven A to B, said: “Not only do the new Insignias look exceptionally smart, in corporate grey and discreet Driven A to B branding on the boot, but they have great environmental credentials. The emission levels are slightly higher than a Toyota Prius but the fuel comparison is considerably better, helping us to manage costs as well as our CSR policy, benefits that we can pass on to our customers.” He added: “The feedback from drivers and passengers, even at this early stage, has been overwhelmingly positive. The interior finish is at the same level as all executive types of cars. Boot space exceeds that of the Mercedes E-Class.” Driven A to B is now providing in excess of 3,000 bookings every month from a customer base of more than 50 businesses, numbers that are growing on a daily basis. Late night home runs for Docklands workers are proving extremely popular. JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:16:42

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Openstart | Cheltenham | Perth Smart

QR CODES TO AID SAFETY IN CHELTENHAM TAXIS Mark Bursa



QR CODE TECHNOLOGY HAS been introduced for all licensed taxis and private hire vehicles in Cheltenham. The borough council’s scheme, designed to promote public safety, will see new-style ‘no smoking’ stickers inside cabs that will also have a printed QR Code. The QR Code is linked to the individual vehicle’s public access record and when scanned with any smart phone using free scanning software, will instantly indicate whether the vehicle in question is currently licensed and give other important information such as the name of the proprietor and the licence plate number. Cllr Andrew McKinlay, cabinet member for development and safety, told the Gloucestershire Echo: “This scheme is being rolled out as part of the approved changes to our taxi and private hire licensing policy. QR Code technology is free so there is no additional cost requirement on licence holders. They are already required to display no smoking stickers on their licensed vehicles and this is a better use of that requirement.” He added: “Most people have smartphones these days and through the use of this technology people are able to ensure that the vehicle they are travelling in is properly licensed. It will also help them find and retain important information about the vehicle if they have left any items behind or have a complaint to make.”

Toyota Prius Plug-in offers 15 miles of EV range and can be charged in 90 minutes

Openstart offers Prius Plug-in to London PCO operators Mark Bursa



LONDON RENTAL operator Openstart has ordered 80 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrids. The cars are to be PCO licensed for rental to private hire operators and freelance private hire drivers. These will be the first Prius Plug-ins available for the private hire sector to rent. The Prius Plug-in has a bigger battery pack than a standard Prius, which gives it the potential

for significant emissions-free driving around the capital, thanks to an all-electric driving range of around 15 miles. The lithium-ion battery can be fully recharged in just 90 minutes via a standard EV charge point. Hamid Tehrani, Openstart’s owner and managing director, said: “We have always been pioneers of new technology in the PCO, right from when we first introduced automatic transmission to our fleet, something that’s gone on to become a default feature.” Stuart Ferma, Toyota’s National Fleet

Sales Manager, said: “Prius Plug-in can deliver lower running costs, lower emissions and ease of use in the urban environment. And unlike all-electric vehicles it’s a ‘best-of-both-worlds’ proposition, as the hybrid petrol engine is automatically engaged should energy levels be depleted, or extra power be needed.” Openstart has already taken delivery of 50 of its new Prius Plug-in, joining a fleet that has already added more than 60 standard Prius and Prius+ cars this year.

PERTH COUNCIL DELAYS SMART CABS DECISION A DECISION ON WHETHER TO ALLOW A PERTH operator to license two-seater Smart cars has been delayed until the New Year. Perth and Kinross Council said a “wider discussion” on the un-named operator’s controversial plan was needed. The Smart car plan presented a challenge to the council’s “blue book”, which governs the criteria private hire vehicles must meet. The book states that a private hire car should be either a saloon or estate vehicle with four doors and an engine of not less than 1,300cc. The regulations also dictate that the cars should measure at least 122cm across the back seat. The two-door, two seater Smart has been licensed by other councils, such as Oxford, but the Perth councillors said they were concerned that some female passengers may feel “uncomfortable” at having to sit next to the driver.

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Council solicitor Moina McLaren said: “In considering whether it wishes to license Smart cars for private hire purposes, the committee needs to be satisfied the vehicle is in a suitable mechanical condition, safe and comfortable. “However, there should be no increased risk to passenger safety from the use of a Smart car, as the vehicle will be subjected to the same testing requirements as the rest of the private hire car fleet.” Perth city councillor Peter Barrett [pictured, right] urged members of the committee to reject the application, claiming the Smart car was “simply not even close to being suitable” on account of its lack of boot space and inability to carry disabled passengers with wheelchairs or walking frames. “There are umpteen vehicles capable of carrying four passengers and achieving similar or better levels of fuel economy,” he added.

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21/12/14 21:16:57

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21/12/14 21:34:19

Event

ProDriver LIVE 2015

We Are... going HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO drive all the latest cars and meet vital contacts in the private hire and chauffeur industry Professional Driver is launching ProDriver Live, a business event exclusively tailored to the private hire and chauffeur industry. At this special two-day event to be held on September 14-15, 2015, you’ll be able to: ■ DRIVE the latest new cars with the right specification for the professional driver ■ COMPARE competing cars back-to-back— including all the latest, hottest new models ■ TALK to executives from the car manufacturers and tailor the best deal for your business ■ LEARN about how to run your business more efficiently in an exclusive free seminar programme ■ MEET key suppliers and see the latest products and services aimed at our industry ■ NETWORK with other operators and drivers from all over the UK ProDriver Live is not open to the public—it’s exclusively aimed at executives within the UK licensed Private Hire sector. You’ve just got to be there! Major vehicle manufacturers will attend with fleets of test vehicles for you to try, so you can get up close and personal with all the important new models. You’ll be able to drive them on a circular road route around the venue, including urban, A-road and Motorway driving. And dedicated car company staff who understand

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your needs will be on hand to accompany you on test drives. And because all the leading automakers will be there, you’ll have a rare chance to compare competing cars back-to-back—a much more convenient way of making your vehicle choices than trudging from dealer to dealer. We’re also including a programme of punchy seminars, free to all event visitors, covering vital issues, including technology, legal matters, finance, safety, security and other topics. Our business seminars will be running on both days of the event, offering practical advice and answering questions on a wide range of key issues. And ProDriver Live will feature an indoor hall full of exhibitors, ranging from specialist vehicle providers, finance companies, insurance companies, training firms and computer systems providers. Put the dates in your diary—ProDriver Live will take place on Monday, September 14 and Tuesday, September 15, 2015. We’re holding the event at the well-equipped and convenient Kempton Park racecourse, situated just off Junction 1 of the M3 motorway and 10 minutes’ drive from the M25. If you’re travelling by train, Kempton Park has its own dedicated station, with direct trains to London Waterloo every 30 minutes. ■ Register now to get your FREE ticket for ProDriver Live at www.prodriverlive.com or call Paul Webb on 01959 547003 for further details

JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:17:17

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26/03/2014 13:56 21/12/14 21:38:43

ﬁrst look

Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

’Bach is back

Mark Bursa



Two years after the last car rolled of the line, Mercedes-Benz has decided to revive the Maybach nameplate on a new flagship extra-long wheelbase version of the S-Class. The new car will launch a new Mercedes-Maybach sub-brand from February 2015. Two Mercedes-Maybach S-Class versions will be available. Both use conventional petrol engines—S500 will have a 4.7-litre V8 and the S600 a 6.0-litre V12. The cars will carry a substantial price premium over the top-range, £140,000 Mercedes-Benz S600L, and are likely to be priced closer to the high-performance Mercedes-AMG S-Class models, which run from £150,000 to £180,000. Indeed, like Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach is a sub-brand in the MercedesBenz brand world. The Mercedes-Maybach models feature a further 200mm stretch in wheelbase and overall length —the cars are 5,453mm long and have a wheelbase of 3,365mm. All the stretch is in the rear seat area. They’re built on the same production line as

Maybach S-Class first look 22

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the other Mercedes S-Class models. Mercedes says it hasn’t yet finished stretching the S-Class—executives at the Maybach unveiling in Stuttgart confirmed that an even longer “Pullman” version was being readied for launch in late 2015. This features a further 1m stretch, with an extra “plug” inserted between the front and rear doors, allowing for a third row of seats to be fitted in between the front and rear seats. The Mercedes-Maybach models have redesigned rear doors and a completely new C-Pillar, which is the only place on the car’s exterior that the Maybach logo is displayed. The front centre nappa leather armrests feature embossed Maybach crests. An IWC-designed analogue clock sits in the middle of the dashboard. The bonnet “gunsight”, bootlid, wheel centres and steering wheel all carry the three-pointed star. Maybach is clearly returning under different circumstances, and owner Daimler is reminding buyers that the car is basically a Mercedes. The cars are strictly four-seaters, with individual seats in the rear separated by a large centre console. The interior is extremely opulent, with cross-stitched padded leather on seats, doors and dashboard. In the rear, the Mercedes claims the Maybach S-Class is the world’s quietest production saloon. Other details exclusive to the Maybach versions include innovative voice amplification, which makes it easier for the chauffeur to communicate with the rear seat passengers. The chauffeur’s voice is picked up by a microphone and transmitted through the car’s stereo into the rear—no need for drivers to shout over their shoulders. The rear side profile is the easiest way to distinguish

the Mercedes-Maybach models from the regular longwheelbase S-Class. The rear door has been shortened by 66mm as the triangular window has been relocated into the C-pillar. As a result, the rear seats are situated beyond the door cut-out, Rolls-Royce-style, in a bid to give greater privacy to rear seat passengers. The roof line is taller over the rear seats, giving greater headroom of 963mm compared to 951mm in the regular S-Class. There is also greater rear kneeroom of 325mm against 166mm thanks to the extended wheelbase. The rear seats have a differnet adjustment system, where the back rest is adjusted separately while the footwell and seat reference point remain unchanged. The cushion can be adjusted separately, with inclination and horizontal adjustment combined. For the executive seats, the maximum backrest angle is 43.5 degrees. The most upright backrest position of 19 degrees allows relaxed working in the rear. The reclining seats feature a calf support, which is freely adjustable for length and angle. As standard, the luxury head restraints come with an extra cushion. The Chauffeur package is also part of the standard equipment. A “chauffeur position” for the front passenger seat is one of the key components: the rear seat occupant on the front-passenger side has 77mm more footroom compared with a normal front passenger seat in the furthest forward seat position. In addition to this “chauffeur position”, the front passenger seat can be folded forward and the rear seat placed in an extended recline position for breaks. The Chauffeur package also includes a heel support, which extends from under the front passenger seat. Individual seat functions in the rear, and those of the JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:17:41

ﬁrst test look road chauffeur seat, are electrically operated via the typical Mercedes control panels in the rear doors. The rear armrest has a double cup holder, stowage space and wood trim. The Rear Seat Comfort package includes individually adjustable multi-contour seats, for example, and a massage function including the electrically heated hot-stone massage system used on the S-Class. The centre console in the rear is equipped with innovative thermo cup holders, which can cool or warm drinks over a longer period of time. The console has two airliner-style light alloy tables with leather inserts that can be folded in or out using one hand. To deliver maximum climatic control in the rear compartment, there is a second, standard-fitted Thermotronic automatic climate control system in the rear with two additional climate zones for the rear seats. A control panel on the back of the centre console allows the temperature and air distribution to be set individually for the left and right sides. According to Mercedes, Mercedes-Maybach is not an equipment line. Instead it is “a sub-brand that in future will provide Mercedes-Benz vehicles in an even more exclusive form”—suggesting some form of bespoke build will be a feature of the brand. The top-of-the-range Mercedes-Maybach S600 uses a 5,980cc V12 biturbo engine with an output of 530hp and maximum torque of 830Nm, available from 1,900rpm. The S500 has a 4,663cc V8 biturbo developing 455hp and peak torque of 700Nm. All versions use a new 9-speed 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox. Combined fuel consumption for the S500 is 31.7mpg, while CO2 emissions are 207g/km. the S600 is less frugal at 24.1g/km, and 274g/km, which puts it into the top VED Band M, with first-year road tax of £1,090. A hybrid version, possibly using the plug-in system of the recently launched S500 Hybrid, is possible, but not currently in the plans.

MERCEDES-MAYBACH S-CLASS. MODEL S 500 ENGINE 4.7-litre V8 petrol MAX POWER 455BHP @ 5,250-5,500RPM MAX TORQUE 700NM @ 1,800-3,500RPM COMBINED MPG 31.7mpg 207g/km CO2 EMISSIONS 0-62 MPH 5.0sec TOP SPEED 155mph LENGTH 5,453mm HEIGHT 1,497mm WIDTH 1,899mm WHEELBASE 3,365mm

S 600 6.0-litre V12 petrol 530BHP @ 4,900-5,300RPM 830NM @ 1,900-4,000RPM 24.1mpg 274g/km 5.0sec 155mph 5,453mm 1,497mm 1,899mm 3,365mm

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21/12/14 21:18:02

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21/12/14 21:13:46

road test

Mercedes-Benz S300L BlueTec Hybrid AMG Line

“ Blue, blue, electric blue...”

Mercedes-Benz S300L BlueTec Hybrid AMG Line 26

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road test JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:18:29

d t

road test

Mark Bursa



WITH THE E300 BLUETEC Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz demonstrated it was possible to make an ultra-clean hybrid chauffeur car that didn’t compromise the ability to carry passengers and their luggage. The diesel hybrid E-Class was deservedly voted Professional Driver’s Car of the Year in 2013, and it’s perhaps unsurprising that the S300 BlueTec Hybrid should have emulated this feat in 2014. Mercedes has played it simple—transplanting the same powertrain that powers the E300 BlueTec Hybrid into the bigger S-Class bodyshell. Because the electric motor element of the hybrid drivetrain is fitted between the engine and gearbox, and crucially, because the battery pack is not fitted in the boot, the BlueTec Hybrid Mercedes models don’t have the restricted boot space problem that has crippled sales to chauffeurs of other hybrids such as the Lexus LS600hL and the Infiniti M30h. So with no discernible difference in practicality, what other factors work for and against the hybrid S-Class against the conventional diesel-engined S350 models? It boils down to two factors—refinement and prodrivermags.com | JANUARY 2015

26_ProDriver_JAN_2015.indd 27

running costs. And neither are as clear-cut as you might imagine. As a conventional hybrid rather than a plug-in, there’s no switchable all-electric mode. Rather, the powertrain is integrated like that of a Toyota Prius, combining elements of electric and diesel power and automatically switching between the two. This does mean at times you can run on purely electric power—but only for short distances, and only when the powertrain dictates. It does mean that, with a light right foot, you can move off silently in electric mode—a very useful feature if you’re making early morning pick-ups and collections. A few hundred yards down the road, or if you have to negotiate an up-slope, the diesel will kick in. And when it does, it is quite noticeable— certainly from outside the car. It’s basically the four-cylinder 2.1-litre turbodiesel that features in many Mercedes-Benz models, and it’s not as silky-smooth as the larger 3.0-litre V6 of the S350. But sound insulation inside the S-Class is so good that the rear-seat passenger really would struggle to hear the engine starting once you’re moving—it’s quieter than the CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

BASIC PRICE £72,260 PRICE AS TESTED £103,185 ENGINE 2.1-litre 24v common-rail turbodiesel V6 with integrated electric motor TRANSMISSION 7-speed &G-Tronic automatic, rear-wheel drive POWER 204bhp at 3,800rpm + 20bhp electric drive TORQUE 500Nm at 1,600-1,800rpm ELECTRIC TORQUE 260Nm 0-62MPH 7.6sec CO2 EMISSIONS 120g/km COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY 61.4mpg LUGGAGE VOLUME 510 litres WHEELBASE 3,165mm LENGTH 5,246mm WIDTH 1,899mm HEIGHT 1,496mm TURNING CIRCLE 12.3m FUEL TANK CAPACITY 70 litres VED BAND C WARRANTY 3 years, unlimited mileage Options

360° camera £880; Electric panoramic glass sunroof £1,430; Privacy glass £400; Keyless-Go Comfort Package £1,490; Air-Balance Package £360; Heated/cooled front seats £660; Executive Rear Package £4,335; Front Seat Comfort Package with massage £1,740; Front Seat Memory Package £500; Rear Seat Comfort Package £3,500; Rear Seat Reclining Package £1,500; Driving Assistance Package £2,300; Night View Assist Plus £2,250; Pre-Safe Rear Package £1,230; Six-disc changer £260; Telephone pre-wiring with hands-free £410; Nappa leather upholstery £1,740; Tyre pressure monitoring system £330; Head-up display £1,230; Rear seat telephony £970; Remote control COMAND system £160; SplitView for COMAND system £820; Rear refrigerated compartment £1,130; Warmth Comfort Package £530; Heated windscreen £610; Illuminated door sill panels £160;

21/12/14 21:18:38

road test

Mercedes-Benz S300L BlueTec Hybrid AMG Line

VERDICT

THE MERCEDES-BENZ S300 BlueTec Hybrid is a very worthy champion of the 2014 Professional Driver Car of the Year Awards. In a category where the voting is normally extremely close—Chauffeur Car of the Year—it emerged a clear winner. The hybrid powertrain works just as well in the S-Class as it does in the E-Class, offering a significant fuel saving and much lower CO2 emissions. That must be balanced against a higher cost—it’s a shame that there is no SE trim level with this powertrain—there’s no reason why there shouldn’t be. Even though the S300 BlueTec Hybrid sets a new benchmark for its sector in terms of fuel economy, it isn’t necessarily the cheapest car to run. Mercedes has all year kept supply behind demand on the S-Class, and they’re still not easy to track down in the network. Much keener deals are available on both Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ, while you might reasonably expect BMW to be prepared to do deals as the current 7-Series enters its final year on sale. But none of Mercedes’ rivals can offer such a dramatic eco performance as the S300 BlueTec Hybrid—the car has real appeal to corporate clients looking to source “green” chauffeur cars. Indeed, the only thing greener is the Tesla S, which is nowhere near as opulent inside.

26_ProDriver_JAN_2015.indd 28

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 air conditioning system, and there’s very little to let you know the engine has actually started, even through the steering wheel or accelerator pedal. Indeed, it’s only the fact that the rev counter moves off zero that lets you know it’s running. The other time you end up in electric mode is on long, sweeping A-roads or stretches of motorway where you can lift off the throttle and let the car “sail” on the downhill stretches. This is particularly effective on A-roads where you can run for quite long periods without the diesel engine turning—on a good road surface, the effect is wonderful as the big car hustles silently along. Air suspension gives a superbly smooth ride on the motorway, and a great ability to handle rough urban potholes and speed bumps. Braking helps regenerate the battery too, giving you even more pure electric range. Clearly, you need to adjust your driving style to make the most of the fuel savings on offer. Driving dynamics are excellent, and the S-Class feels super-safe, thanks to features such as the Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control, which now works extremely smoothly and will bring the car to a halt without driver braking. A Lane Departure correction system is very effective, though a little rigorous, forcibly using the car’s electronics to drag you back into lane if you start to “wander”. As for price, the S300 BlueTec Hybrid carries a hefty premium over the most popular S-Class, the S350L SE Line. At a list price of £72,260, it’s almost £10,000 more expensive than the

£62,905 S350L. Partly this is a trim issue—the S300 BlueTec Hybrid is only available with the more expensive AMG trim level—an SE Line version would be around £5,000 cheaper. It’s surprising that Mercedes-Benz hasn’t offered both trim levels, as it does with the E300 BlueTec Hybrid. Mercedes has loaded our test car with every imaginable add-on, swelling the price to a whopping £103,000. You might not want all of these—the boot-mounted refrigerated compartment, accessed via the rear armrest, costs £1,100 and eats into boot space. And you could easily spend several thousand pounds on seating options, such as the rear seat recline package (£1,500) which enables the rear seats to recline up to 43.5 degrees behind the front passenger so those in the rear can fully relax. A £3,500 rear comfort package adds active multi-contour outer seats with dynamic and massage function. And there are some non-standard essentials— privacy glass, or a hearted front screen— that you’ll want to add. The hybrid does offer a significant fuel economy saving. According to Mercedes-Benz’s official figures, the hybrid offers fuel economy of a staggering 61.1mpg combined, whereas the S350’s combined fuel economy is almost 10mpg worse at 51.4mpg. That’s still a really impressive figure for such a big car—10mpg better than the old-shape S350 that the current model replaced at the end of 2013. By that token, higher mileages should bring about a swifter payback on the purchase price. Indeed, according to pence-per-mile running cost data from Fleet Audits, at 50,000 miles JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:18:51

road test a year over a three-year period, the S300L BlueTec Hybrid edges it at 58.9p per mile, against the S350L’s 60.4mpg. The higher the mileage, the wider the gap, as fuel is the biggest variable cost. In reality, our fuel economy didn’t reach the quoted levels. This is invariably the case, such is the lack of correlation between the official bench-tests and actual real-world motoring. Nevertheless, our return was hugely impressive at 42.1mpg overall, at an average speed of 34mph. This rose to 47.8mpg on a predominantly motorway run, averaging 46mph. This compares very favourably with the 33.6mpg we achieved overall on the S350L earlier in 2014, albeit at a slightly lower average speed, signifying more urban motoring and fewer motorway miles. Even so, it’s not unreasonable to expect 7-8 extra miles per gallon on the hybrid—a very worthwhile saving, even with tumbling fuel prices. Outside the performance parameters, there is no compromise to all the good things that we love about the new S-Class. The bigger, bolder grille gives real frontal presence, and we’re grateful that the gunsight grille has survived here. We’d still like it back on the E-Class, please! The more streamlined tail makes the car look smaller from the front three-quarter angle, though the new S is actually bigger in just about every dimension. It’s also 100kg lighter than the old S-Class, and more aerodynamic. A major weight saving comes through a switch to LED lighting throughout the car. The most spectacular feature remains the interior, with its large twin screens and subtle mood lighting, which can be switched through a palette of eight selected colours. The dashboard has no analogue dials at all—it’s basically two 12in wide-screens side by side, one carrying digital speedometer, rev counter and trip information, the other an impressively clear map, together with other selectable information. Meanwhile passengers in the rear can view separate information on the rear headrest-mounted screens. The boot offers 510 litres of space, despite the hoop hinges, which are necessary for motorised opening and closing. The hybrid system has no effect on this, as the battery pack is housed below the rear seat—it doesn’t take up any boot space. The boot can be opened by kicking a foot under the rear of the car. The S300 BlueTec Hybrid offers CO2 emissions of 120g/km, which puts it in VED Band C—tax of just £30 in year one. The S350L by contrast offers 148g/km, down from 164g/km on the old-shape S-Class. prodrivermags.com | JANUARY 2015

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Mercedes-Benz S300L BlueTec Hybrid AMG Line

21/12/14 21:19:04

road test

Skoda Rapid Greenline 1.6 TDI CR 90PS DPF

Skoda Rapid Greenline 1.6 TDI CR 90PS DPF PRICE: £17,815 ENGINE 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel TRANSMISSION 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive POWER 90PS at 4,200rpm TORQUE 230Nm at 1,500rpm 0-62MPH 12.0sec MAX SPEED 114mph COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY 74.3mpg CO2 EMISSIONS 99g/km LUGGAGE VOLUME 550 litres LENGTH 4,483mm WIDTH 1,706mm HEIGHT 1,461 mm WHEELBASE 2,602mm WARRANTY 3 years/60,000 miles SERVICE INTERVALS 20,000 miles/24 months VED BAND A INSURANCE GROUP 13E OPTIONS FITTED: 3 spoke leather steering wheel £150

road test 30

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JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:19:29

road test test road

Maximiser! Mark Bursa



SKODA HAS USED A SIMPLE formula for building its market share in the Private Hire sector. Maximise the bang-to-buck ratio. Over the past decade and a half, Skoda has produced keenly-priced cars that offer a winning combination of roomy interiors and capacious boot space, mated to highly economical and reliable VW Group powertrains. And while the Superb, Skoda’s biggest saloon, has taken the plaudits, more significant sales to the minicab market have been recorded by the compact Octavia. But when the Octavia range was fully refreshed last year, it grew in size significantly—almost moving into Toyota Avensis or Ford Mondeo territory. It moved up in price terms too—no longer was the Octavia seen as a cheaper alternative. Skoda is clever enough these days to realise that a hard-won market share should not be surrendered easily. So, into the space in the market where the old Octavia lived came a new model, the Rapid. Smaller than Octavia, but similar in style, the Rapid is a great entry-level car for a private hire or taxi operator. It offers the same roomy, robust passenger cabin as the old Octavia, plus a whopping 550-litre boot space that puts to shame many much larger and more expensive cars. And like the Octavia, the Rapid looks like a three-box saloon, but is in fact a versatile hatchback. And a surprisingly excellent package it is too, with deceptive amounts of interior and luggage space, all built into a car that’s effectively based on the platform of the Volkswagen Polo and is just 4.48 metres long. We’ve previously driven the 105PS version of the 1.6 turbodiesel engine, but this time we’re in the less powerful 90PS version, in ultraeconomical Greenline trim. This takes fuel economy up to 74.3mpg combined, and brings CO2 emissions down from 114g/km on the 105PS car we tested to 99g/km. That’s Toyota Priusmatching performance, but Rapid Greenline’s £17,815 price tag is more than £4,000 lower than the cheapest Prius. Greenline models are tuned for maximum efficiency. The 15in alloy wheels are fitted with

prodrivermags.com | JANUARY 2015

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low rolling resistance tyres, to squeeze a few extra mpg out of the car, for example. What they don’t have is a surfeit of creature comforts. There’s no sat-nav, or DAB radio. Seats are manual, and fabric-covered. Transmission is 5-speed manual. It’s all a bit basic and minimal. At least our car had air conditioning. The only fitted option is a leather-trimmed steering wheel at a cost of £150. The seats are comfortable, though, and the Rapid’s cockpit is a comfortable and well assembled place for a day’s work. The dashboard may be minimal, but it’s very well assembled, with no rattles or squeaks. Rapid feels solid, above all. The engine is hardly sparking with just 90PS. But there’s plenty of low-end pulling power and the revs rarely creep up to 2,000. Only on the motorway do you notice the lack of a long-legged sixth speed. The ride is a little harsh, but the Rapid has been engineered to cope with less-than-perfect road surfaces, with plenty of suspension travel. There’s very little body roll, and the precise steering makes the Rapid a great car to get through traffic. Operating economics look good too. Inevitably, we didn’t reach the 74.3mpg official combined figure, but 58.9mpg was a mighty impressive return over our test. On a motorway run, we were well into the 60s. What’s the downside? Well, Greenline doesn’t really offer enough of a saving to justify having to live with such a poverty-spec car. You can have the same powertrain in SE trim, for example, which only adds 5g/km to the CO2 emissions figure— 104g/km plays 99g/km. And fuel economy is broadly the same across all the 1.6-litre TDI options—in fact we recorded a slightly higher figure of 60.2mpg overall with the 105PS Rapid Hatchback Elegance we tested last year. And the 90PS Rapid Elegance costs only £150 more than the Greenline at £17,965, for which you get a lot more features: detailed trim, such as chrome and aluminium inserts, parking sensors, cruise control, iPod connectivity, climate control and some useful pockets on the front seat backs, among other improvements. Automatic transmission is also an option at this trim level, though this does rather mess with the CO2 figure, taking it up to 118g/km. However, Satnav is still a £550 option across the range.

VERDICT



IF YOU’VE BEEN RUNNING old-shape Octavias, Rapid will fit your bill admirably. We doubt your customers would feel they were in a smaller car. Luggage space is especially impressive—the deep and surprisingly long boot can take our standard test cases with room for more on top. You could easily carry four large suitcases and still have room for coats and small bags. Greenline trim is a bit basic, but it’s robust and looks hard-wearing. And for an operator that wants to use a proprietary app-based nav system, the lack of a factory-fit sat-nav is less of a problem. Fuel economy is impressive, but there’s perhaps less of a step between Greenline and other models in the Rapid range. If you really have to get below 99g/km for local licensing reasons, Greenline is the only way in the Rapid range that this can be achieved. If you can live with Band B VED instead of Band A, manual Rapids with SE or Elegance trim have the same 90PS engine and emit just 104g/ km. And they offer a lot more in terms of spec. And for the ultimate in eco-Skoda saloons, perhaps you should also consider the Octavia Greenline too. This is Professional Driver’s Private Hire Car of the year for 2014, and as its eco-tech is a generation newer than the Rapid’s, it offers genuinely clean performance—just 85g/km of CO2 and a claimed 88.3mpg on the combined cycle, figures that better many hybrids. Remember too that Rapid is a product of VW Group badgeengineering. Skoda also builds nearidentical versions of the car for sister company Seat as the Toledo. There’s no direct Greenline equivalent, but the 105PS Ecomotive version has similar mpg (70.6 combined) and CO2 (106g/ km) for a very similar price. Worth shopping around, and playing the dealers off each other!

21/12/14 21:19:37

long term

Audi A8L 3.0 TDI SE Quattro Tiptronic

Matrix revolution

Paul Webb BASIC PRICE: ENGINE: TRANSMISSION: MAX POWER: MAX TORQUE: MAX SPEED: 0-62MPH: FUEL ECONOMY: CO2 EMISSIONS:

£63,545 2,967cc V6 turbodiesel 8-speed Tiptronic automatic, four-wheel drive 258PS at 4,000-4,250rpm 580Nm at 1,750-2,500rpm 155mph 6.1sec 47.1mpg combined 158g/km

long-term test

Audi A8L 3.0 TDI SE 32

32_ProDriver_JAN_2015.indd 32



THIS IS A CAR THAT I’VE WANTED to drive for a long time. It won 2013 the Professional Driver Chauffeur Car of the Year award, and since then, it’s had a facelift. Now is my chance! First impression? It looked magnificent as the sun shone across the polished black paintwork. This well-specced model had soft-close doors, rear TV monitors, electric seats all round, rear foot rests, rear blinds on back and side windows and an uprated stereo. Everything a working chauffeur could need! But above all, I really wanted to try the amazing front headlights—it’s sad, I know, but the optional Matrix LED headlights are darned impressive! The headlights on all A8 models are already 100% LED, but the optional Matrix system, fitted here, has 25 LEDs in five groups of five in each cluster to make up the high-beam function. And their trick is to stay on all the time without ever blinding other road users or pedestrians. A camera mounted at the top of the windscreen behind the rear-view mirror can detect oncoming vehicles up to around 800m away, or 600m for those you’re following, as tail lights aren’t as bright as headlamps. And then the individual LEDs that would otherwise dazzle other motorists dim or turn off automatically, while leaving the rest of the LEDs on full beam. So when you follow the car in front with your high beams on, that vehicle won’t be illuminated by anything more than your standard headlights, but the verges and oncoming lane will be fully lit. And if a vehicle comes the other way, again the appropriate LEDs dim or turn

off so the other driver sees no more than your regular headlights. The system will also detect pedestrians 80m away, and the LEDs will pulse in their direction to help highlight the potential hazard. Don’t worry, the system won’t be doing this through every town centre at night—the camera also detects streetlights, and together with the GPS, turns off the high-beam headlights in urban areas. The fancy lighting tech is standard on the S8, hybrid and Sport Executive models, so the only downside is they’re a £840 extra on other A8s. Enough larking in the dark with some pricey headlights, what about the rest of the driving experience? You can dial the A8 between Efficiency, Comfort. Auto, Dynamic and Individual settings, but Comfort strikes the best balance. Dynamic is great fun though, making you think your’re in a car half the size with amazing acceleration. But that’s not for chauffeuring comfort or efficiency only. The interior of the A8 is an extremely pleasant space in which to pass the time. Your customers will be more than happy with the electric reclining rear sets, foot rests and control over the front passenger seat. They will be incognito with the side and rear window blinds up and they can watch TV on the large screen should they want to. For the chauffeur, there is more than enough gadgetry to while away those hours waiting to return your customers home. Finally, let’s not forget with that you get four-wheel drive, which means if the weather turns wintry, you’ll still be working while others will be slithering about in their rear-wheel drive rivals. JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:19:52

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Brand new Hybrid plugins available

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25/09/2014 16:48

21/12/14 21:33:36

proﬁle

Mark Bursa

T’S IMPORTANT TO BE DIFFERENT —especially at the top of the market. And for a company like Quintessentially Driven, it’s at the very heart of the business. “When we came into the market we wanted to provide something that nobody had done before,” says managing director Dean Pemberton. “Nobody had used the Jaguar XJ as a high-end chauffeur fleet car back in 2006 when we came in. So we led the way with it.” Nowadays, Jaguars are commonplace in London fleets—so Dean believed it was time for a change again. “We need to keep on innovating—that’s the way we’re set up,” he says. “So about a year ago we started talking— we’d been with Jaguar, but now we need to start looking at other brands. We had a lot of companies coming to us too—Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche with the Panamera.” The suggestion of Maserati came from an unlikely source—Geoff Cousins, ironically a former Jaguar managing director, now a consultant. Dean Pemberton divides his time between Quintessentially’s offices in London

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Quintessentially Driven

DEAN PEMBERTON: “We want to provide something that nobody had done before.”

MIGHTY QUIN and New York, and the New York Motor Show was on at the time. “It was just round the corner from our office, so I ran down there, and went to the Maserati stand and I saw the four-door Ghibli and Quattroporte. I sat in Quattroporte—the headroom and legroom is great in the back and the bootspace is huge. I thought, this could work.” The timing was right—Maserati has been earmarked for growth in the expanded FiatChrysler conglomerate. It’s seen as a Porsche competitor, and as well as the two four-door models, a new Alfieri sports car and an SUV called Levante will be launched in the next 1218 months. Sales are growing—Maserati sold more than 1,000 cars in the UK in 2014, the

first time this milestone has been achieved. The plan is to follow the same path as Quintessentially took with Jaguar—be the first to market, and effectively introduce the brand to the chauffeur sector. The new partnership with Maserati was launched in October at an event at its Central London head office, where customers were given a brief spin in the cars and a chance to see what Quintessentially is all about—cars are only a part of its portfolio of services, which encompasses everything from global private jet charter, to a concierge service that allows customers to arrange reservations at leading restaurants and hotels, and VIP access to a wide range of private members’ club, gyms, bars and spas around the world. JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:20:10

proﬁle

Quintessentially Driven

Four Maserati Quattroporte saloons have initially joined the fleet, and Dean Pemberton says the company could build a fleet of more than 20 of the cars in time. The Maseratis have replaced the Jaguar XJLs as the flagship models of the Quintessentially fleet, and they will carry a modest premium price over Quintessentially Driven’s main fleet of Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Viano models. “We wanted something that would scream lifestyle,” says Dean. “Being chauffeured is a lot more than just being driven from A to B. As with the Jaguar, there was a big push-back at at first, because people wanted the S-Class. But we’ve had very little of that with the Maserati—our customers own Ferraris and Maseratis, and they know what they’re like.” Even though the Maseratis are pitched as premium cars, Dean says they won’t be excessively premium-priced. “It’s not about that—it’s about matching the lifestyle of our customers.” Not all Quintessentially customers want the Maseratis, so S-Class will be staying on the fleet too. “There are some customers who want something less obvious, and the Middle East market is very keen on Mercedes-Benz,” he says.

prodrivermags.com | JANUARY 2015

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Maserati will give the company’s chauffeurs special training on its current product range. And the partnership sees Quintessentially’s drivers promoting Maserati to its customers by distributing handouts to prospective customers, inviting them to test drive a Maserati. Quintessentially Driven runs 32 cars in London, and around 30% of the fleet could be Maseratis by the middle of 2015. “I want to push that up to at least 20-22 cars,” says Dean. “The clientele we have is the clientele Maserati wants to see in its cars.” Dean is also looking at possible using the smaller Ghibli four-door saloon as a lower-priced “premium executive” service in addition to the Quattroportes. “Ghibli has the same rear legroom and height as the BMW-5-series, and the boot is bigger. So it will compete with that mid-tier. It’s something we’re in talks about—it depends on whether Maserati want to hit that market. We’ve got to be careful that we don’t undervalue what we do and undervalue Maserati as a whole.” In the future, Dean believes the Levante SUV will play a role. “We used to run RangeRovers, and we believe the Levante could play a similar role as our SUV,” he says.

Around 30% of the Quintesentially fleet could be Maserati Quattroportes by the middle of 2015. “I want to push that up to at least 20-22 cars,” says Dean Pemberton

The UK launch will be followed with Maserati roll-outs in other markets where Quintessentially Driven has an office, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Monaco, Paris, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore. Altogether, Quintessentially has 60 offices worldwide—and most could have at least one Maserati, Dean believes. “We could have a fleet of more than 100 Maseratis worldwide,” he says. “There’s nothing in the US market that’s exciting—Lincolns are popular, but there’s a need for something more exclusive.” In the UK, the relationship is a long-term deal, and the cars will be replaced after seven months. Each driver is allocated a car and the drivers will treat it “as their own car” he adds. The only outsourced vehicles are some of the Vianos, where six or seven freelance drivers work full-time for Quintessentially. Ultimately, Dean believes Quintessentially Driven is right-sized in the UK. “We used to have 60 cars, and we went for everything. But it’s about the margin—and some of the business wasn’t worth having. So we downscaled, and it was the best thing we did—keep it exclusive.”

21/12/14 21:20:23

supplier focus

Mark Bursa

NE THING’S CERTAIN— you’re always in for an adventure when Steve Sommerfeld and Robert Mroczek are involved. Last time, it was dodging checkpoints and heavy snow in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum, with their chauffeur business, England Limousines. This time, it’s a different mission. I’m picked up outside Waterloo Station by Steve and Robert in a black Mercedes ML350, and we’re off, down South London back streets, for a rendezvous in a car park. We’re meeting The Third Man… This secret squirrel stuff is not an England Limousines job. Instead, we’re here to talk about Chauffeur Training, the offshoot business that Steve and Robert set up a couple of years ago, but which has now taken on a life of its own. And that’s where the Third Man comes in. As we swing into the car park, we’re waved down by a figure in a dark overcoat, a Bluetooth headset on his ear. This is Matt Levu—former Fijian army officer, recently

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Chauffeur Training Academy

TRAINING TEAM: Matt Levu, Steve Sommerfeld and Robert Mroczek: “It’s the biggest thing that’s happened to chauffeuring since PCO Licensing”

TRAINING’S NEXT LEVEL retired Metropolitan Police officer and security consultant. Matt’s on a job— chaperoning a top oil industry executive to a London conference, which is taking place near the Houses of Parliament. We’ve arranged to meet him while his client is schmoozing with oil industry leaders and Government types. Why are we meeting him? Because Matt is the man whose job is to take Chauffeur Training to the next level, with the launch of the first-ever nationally recognised vocational qualification for Chauffeurs. Steve Sommerfeld knows this could be massive: “It’s the biggest thing that’s happened to chauffeuring since the introduction of PCO Licensing,” he says.

Matt met Steve and Robert when he retired from the Police and took one of Chauffeur Training’s courses—20 years’ police experience doesn’t get you a licence, no matter how much specialist advanced driving or close protection work you’ve done. So in order to set up as a security consultant, Matt had to take a set of nationally recognised courses. Afterwards, Matt started doing some jobs with England Limousines, and he proposed how he could update and improve the existing training course by bringing his police experience into play, with the goal of turning it into a nationally recognised diploma. Steve and Robert loved the idea. JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:20:45

supplier focus

Chauffeur Training Academy

“So I started a process of selecting an accreditation agency that would approve the course,” says Matt. He chose IQ Verify, which has been appointed as the awarding body, giving the course the all-important national recognition. As course director, Matt has redesigned the original Chauffeur Course, a process that has taken the best part of a year. “Matt has taken what we’d done and added to it,” says Steve. It’s now been expanded from a twoday course to an extremely comprehensive five-day course, which has been thoroughly vetted by IQ Verify. The first course will be held next month. It’s not cheap at £1,499—but it does cover a huge amount of territory, from basic customer handling skills through advanced driving, including convoy driving and route planning, security training and a full day’s first aid training. On the fifth day, chauffeurs undertake a mock assignment and discover whether they’ve passed or failed. “There’s nobody out there running a course like this—because it’s bespoke,” says Matt. Even the first aid training is extremely important, believes Robert. “Your client could be in trouble—and you could save his life,” he says. The other important element to the development is the opening of a new Chauffeur Training Academy in London’s Docklands. England Limousines has moved out of its rented offices near Stratford and has relocated to a new base, which has classrooms and other training facilities. Matt’s LevSec security consultancy business has also relocated to the same address— he’ll shortly become a ful partner in the Chauffeur Training business. In addition, Chauffeur Training has secured some land near London City Airport which can be used for advanced driver training, making the course very self-contained. “It’s the ideal location—just a stone’s throw from the office,” says Steve. Chauffeur Training has even secured discounted deals from local hotels should anyone taking the course need to stay locally. The potential is considerable, says Steve. “We’re aiming at 10 to 12 chauffeurs on each course, and we’re looking at running two courses a month,” he says. So by the end of the year, more than 200 chauffeurs should have secured a nationally recognised qualification. “It’s open to everybody—ex-military prodrivermags.com | JANUARY 2015

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people with retraining grants, for example. So not necessarily existing chauffeurs,” says Steve. “But for the self-employed chauffeur, you’re going to stand head and shoulders above the next guy if you present your CV with this qualification.” Payment by instalments is also an option, though Steve reckons any chauffeur taking the course will get his money back “tenfold”. The diploma will also have international appeal, says Robert. Overseas chauffeurs in places such as Australia and Dubai find the idea of having a “London chauffeur diploma” appealing. “I even spoke to some friends in

Warsaw and they liked the idea—so long as they could pass the exams!” Robert says: “Today, when you go for a job, you’re asked if you have a PCO license. In future, we want people to ask if you have a National Diploma in Chauffeuring. If you haven’t done it—go and do it, and then we’ll talk.” Matt concludes: “It’s getting recognition for an industry that deserves some.” And with that, his phone rings—his high-profile client is ready to leave, and he’s off to collect him from the hotel, into the night, with maximum discretion…

MATT LEVU: “There’s nobody out there running a course like this, because it’s bespoke”

21/12/14 21:20:54

product tests

Sat-Navs

LOST LEADERS



SATELLITE-NAVIGATION HAS GONE FROM being handy to essential for the professional driver. The key element in that evolution is the addition of traffic monitoring. Before GPS and digital maps, atlases, road books and good old local knowledge got drivers and customers where they needed to be. Sat-nav certainly made that easier but you could still get the job done with a map book. But the ability to steer you around jams and cut journey times is the reason why no working car should be without a sat-nav. The premium cars popular in the industry are pretty much certain to have one as standard but there is still a role for standalone portable navigation devices (PND) and the fast-growing smartphone apps as these are bang up to date. Key players like TomTom and Garmin, plus the app developers, are at the cutting edge of sat-nav technology and move a lot more quickly than car makers. They also have the latest mapping which is unlikely on your two to three-old private hire car. So which to choose between PNDs and smartphone sat-nav apps? PNDs usually offer bigger screens, better sound and more information than the phone alternatives. They are usually easier to operate but you pay heavily for the hardware and they can make an upmarket cabin looks cluttered. Phone apps are easier on the pocket and offer many of the features of a stand-alone unit. The rise of the larger smartphone sees many with bigger monitors than some of the budget PNDs. They will need some sort of holder although this can be a less obtrusive vent mount and some way of charging as sat-nav is power-hungry. The choice between the two types is harder than picking an individual product as the range has shrunk massively since there were more than 100 PNDs on sale. For standalone units the big players are TomTom and Garmin with little opposition. Both have app versions and more competition from the likes of CoPilot, which specialises in providing sat-nav for portable devices. The shrinking of the market has also meant the way the products work has been refined to the point where the differences are small. All the solutions tested here work well and choice may come down to personal preference or requirements. So which is the one to keep your business moving? We hit the road with six apps and four PNDs to find out.

| >| THE TEST...



OUR TEST FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS THAT provided traffic monitoring and speed camera alerts. Most professional drivers will have some idea of how to get to their destination so key before setting off is seeing where the route is planning to take you. We also wanted immediate or quick access to alternative routes as well as intuitive menus and destination input. We also wanted to be warned if the route took us inside the London congestion charge zone. Our test route took us past six speed cameras which the aps and devices had to spot plus we wanted clear directions and easy to read mapping. The display should also show ETA, speed and the prevailing limit, time and distance to destination. When factoring in price we took into account what you get and any additional cost of traffic and speed camera alerts. All apps were tested on an iPhone 5S.

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TomTom GO 6000 Price: WEB: Rating:

£299.99 www.tomtom.com ★★★★★ best buy

OU GET PLENTY FOR YOUR MONEY WITH THE GO 6000, the flagship of the TomTom range. It’s big with a 6in screen and TomTom makes the most of it with a greyed out progress bar on the right showing all the journey details plus traffic and points of interest (POI) en route. It gave a CCharge warning, has free traffic and European map updates and three months speed cameras (£19.99 a year). Great on the road but the revamped menus could be slicker.

Garmin nüvi 3598 LMT-D Price: £299.99 WEB: www.garmin.com Rating: ★★★★ RECOMMENDED

■ SLIGHTLY SMALLER SCREEN THAN OUR WINNER and much sleeker overall this Garmin has the edge when it comes to selecting routes with a slicker interface including predictive typing, quicker access to alternatives and a massive POI database. Like our winner it can also be voice activated. However, on the road, journey information is limited to speed and a choice of one other detail. It has the edge on price as cameras, traffic and map updates are all free.

TomTom GO 40 Price: WEB: Rating:

£139.99 www.tomtom.com ★★★★

■ THE GO 40 and the Garmin 2699 lack the SIM found in our top two so access live camera and traffic services via a Bluetooth link to your phone. It keeps the initial cost down but does mean you need to check your data allowance. Apart from that price advantage partially accounted for by just Western Europe maps and a smaller screen, it’s the driving experience that makes this our preference but it was close. The progress bar was informative and worked well even on a 4.3in screen.

Garmin nüvi 2699 LMT-D Price: £199.99 WEB: www.garmin.com Rating: ★★★★ ■ JUST LIKE THE GO 40 THIS CONNECTS TO YOUR iPhone or Android handset but this time it is via a free app. This allows accessing live services but also destinations to be sent to the device from the handset. It has the same size screen as our winner but the overall package is much sleeker. Traffic and map updates are free for the life of the device and the current offer also adds two years safety camera alerts. It suffers from the same lack of information on the road as its stablemate and there was no CCharge warning. JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:21:15

Kim Adams

Sat-Navs CoPilot UK & Ire Price: PLATFORMS: Rating:

£19.99 iOS, Android, Windows ★★★★★ best buy

RACKING PRICE FROM PORTABLE DEVICE specialist CoPilot makes some rivals look very expensive. And you miss little with CoPilot as it comes with 12 months free ActiveTraffic (£6.99 a year) plus free camera alerts. The interface is easy to use and intuitive with clear menus. Access to alternative routes is quick plus it warned we were heading for the CCharge zone. On the move the high-contrast design is easy to read and we like the progress bar with jams highlighted although information is limited.

TomTom UK - Ireland Price: PLATFORMS: Rating:

★★★★

£31.99 iOS, Android RECOMMENDED

FREE iOS, Android, Windows ★★★★

■ WHILE BASIC MAPS ARE held on the handset this free app relies on other users’ input to provide real time traffic alerts and speed camera data. No surprise then to see the report button prominent on the display as it’s not just traffic, accidents and road closures that are reported but the maps are also updated. Setting a destination is easy but the route is not shown on the map but just as journey details. It’s the same with alternatives. En route it works well with good journey information. prodrivermags.com | JANUARY 2015

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Sygic Price: PLATFORMS: Rating:

Navigon British Isles £54.99 Price: iOS, Android, Windows PLATFORMS: Rating: ★★★ ■ ONCE A DEVICE MAKER IN ITS OWN RIGHT, RIGHT Navigon is now just an app and part of the Garmin group. It’s one of the best looking apps around with clouds in the sky, bird’s eye view and contrasting orange and black design. It works pretty well too with simple destination input and alternative routes coming up straight away. It’s also quick to stop navigating. But it’s not cheap plus you need to add Traffic Live (£15.99 a year) and Mobile Alert (5.99). Hard to justify when similar apps are much cheaper.

Garmin UK & Ireland £44.99 Price: iOS, Android, Windows PLATFORMS: Rating: ★★★

■ MUCH LIKE ITS PND STABLEMATES THIS SECURES ITS PLACE as our recommended choice thanks to its on road performance with side bar showing delays en route plus the essential journey details—ETA, time and distance to go. We were also warned of the congestion zone and camera alerts were loud and clear. It has the old TomTom interface which works okay but alternative routes are shown one at a time and hard to compare. Initial low price is counteracted by £18.99 for a year’s traffic and £14.99 for speed cameras.

WAZE Price: PLATFORMs: Rating:

product tests

FREE iOS, Android ★★★

■ TOMTOM MAPS ARE AT the heart of this app which is free in its most basic form. It’ll get you from A to B through maps stored on your handset away from any data connection. Upgrade to premium and you get 3D maps, turn-by-turn voice-guided navigation and enhanced guidance. Europe maps are £19.49, HD Traffic £15.49 and speed cams £7.49. Alternatives are immediately offered when selecting a route but some areas of the interface is less intuitive.

■ SPEED CAMERA UPDATES ARE INCLUDED with this app from Garmin, but like subsidiary Navigon, it remains expensive especially when you add a year’s 3D Live Traffic at £15.49. PhotoReal junction view is included and works well leaving motorways and the like. Less good is the brief and quiet safety cam alert. Destination input is quick and includes address book integration but alternative routes are poorly presented and journey information limited to just one element.

| >| THE VERDICT...



Picking a winner is extremely tough as all work well and the differences are small. Among the PNDs, the TomTom GO 6000 just takes the verdict among the all singing and dancing devices thanks to its on road performance and information. The Garmin 3598 was close behind. It has an upmarket look and is easier to use. The quick reacting TomTom just gets the verdict in the smartphone-linked devices. Among the apps the keenly priced CoPilot takes a narrow victory from the comprehensive TomTom and free Waze.

21/12/14 21:21:24

used cars

Skoda Octavia 1.6 TDI CR GreenLine II communicate while on the move. These two optional extras are worth seeking out, though don’t pay much extra over and above a standard car.

Buying one

Background Just a few years ago, the Skoda brand may well have been the centre of a few gags, but the joke is on you if you ignore the terrific value, space and ability that the second generation Octavia offers. Its blend of generous rear legroom and capacious boot means this Skoda goes to the top of the class as a business tool or for family use. Sold as a five-door hatchback and a load lugging five-door estate, the Octavia has earned an enviable reputation as a dependable carry all, featuring proven VW Golf underpinnings and mechanicals, all at a price that is several thousands of pounds cheaper. Here we examine the facelift edition, in its most frugal GreenLine II guise, powered by a 1.6-litre TDI engine developing 104bhp and 250Nm of torque, with stop-start technology as standard equipment. This allows the hatchback edition to emit just 99g/km of CO2, with the estate variants producing 109g/km at launch. Offered as a single trim level, rather than an engine choice, it arrived on sale in January 2011, replacing the short-lived non-stopstart technology equipped GreenLine model. November 2011 marked the occasion when Skoda tweaked the estate version’s CO2 emissions, dropping them down by 2g/km to 107g/km and improving the combined fuel economy figure as a result from 67.3 to 68.9mpg. The Octavia GreenLine II continued on sale until March 2013, when the all-new thirdgeneration Octavia arrived on the UK market. Standard equipment of the GreenLine II model includes 15in alloy wheels, air conditioning, cruise control, leather steering wheel and electric and heated mirrors, as well as electric windows all round and a full range of safety equipment including electronic stability programme, four airbags and traction control, though disappointingly curtain airbags and a spare wheel are both optional extras. Rear parking sensors were a useful optional extra, helping to protect the car from rear end damage when manoeuvring, and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity makes it easy to

40_ProDriver_JAN_2015.indd 40

Despite its modest engine capacity and power output, the 1.6-litre TDI engine delivers pretty good performance, with decent mid-range pull. Acceleration away from the line feels decidedly quicker than the raw on-paper statistics show, and once up to speed, it’s a comfortable, quiet cruiser. Road noise is well contained, and there’s only a light fluffing noticeable from the wind around the front pillars. Tidy handling, a firm, but comfortable ride and decent levels of grip complete what is a safe, grown up and utterly predictable driving experience. All cars are fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox that is light and slots in and out of gear nicely. An automatic transmission was never offered on GreenLine II editions, even as an option. For a twin-clutch DSG automatic version, buyers would have to opt for the regular 1.6-litre TDI engine that misses out on the eco tweaks. All Octavias are capable of soaking up huge mileages providing they have been maintained meticulously, so check the service booklet for the correct stamps and quiz the seller on what work has been carried out. There are plenty of used examples to choose from, so you can afford to be picky, so walk away if the car is in below par condition, or anything doesn’t feel right. The cabin, although plainly styled, is nicely screwed together using good quality materials. There’s generous amounts of space both front and back, and particularly in the boot. The liftback-styling results in a wide, large space, while the estate version is simply enormous, delivering more room than the larger Ford Mondeo with the seats in the upright position. Quite simply, there’s no other car in the segment that can deliver a more affordable way of carrying five passengers in comfort.

What will it cost to run? Large family cars don’t come any cheaper than this to run, with hatchback versions of the Octavia GreenLine II costing nothing to tax each year, and roomier estate editions costing just £20 per annum. Careful driving will see returns of late 60s mpg, with estate versions around the 60 mark. Even if you’re driving swiftly, you’re likely to see at least mid-50s mpg plus on the fuel computer. Servicing requirements are determined by the on board computer, and if the car you’re looking

at it is more than three years old, Skoda offers a more affordable way of maintaining the car. Fixed-price servicing and parts replacement are features of this economy focused programme, with a minor service costing £139 and the major one at £259—an MOT is charged at £39. This represents a considerable saving upon the normal workshop costs. But even at these prices, still make sure that you negotiate with the garage to see if you can get a few extra pounds shaved off the cost, or some freebies thrown in. It’s a cut-throat business and any garage worth its salt won’t want you to walk away and visit the competition. Play one off against another and you’ll soon see the price tumble. Early cars will be outside of the original three year, 60,000 mile warranty, but with cars still being registered mid-way through 2013, there will be some cars around that have a Skoda warranty in force until 2016. If you buy one of these cars, make sure that you either use your local Skoda dealer for servicing, or ensure that your garage is using approved Skoda parts to maintain the warranty should anything go wrong. In the event of a warranty claim, you’ll need to prove that you’ve serviced the car to the standards dictated in the handbook, so keep any receipts and invoices to prove the purchase of the official Skoda parts. The quality of oil is quite crucial to preserve the longevity of the engine, so make sure that the garage knows which lubricants it should be using. Parts prices are pretty cheap compared to similarly sized rivals, so don’t be tempted to cut corners by using pattern parts.

How reliable is it? The 104bhp version of the 1.6-litre TDI engine is fitted to a wide range of different Volkswagen Group products and so any reliability issues would have been solved prior to the engine reaching the Octavia, as the medium-sized Skoda was one of the last models to receive it. Dual mass flywheels and clutches have been known to fail, so when you are out on the test drive, listen for any abnormal sounds and vibrations. The air conditioning system is known to have a few faults crop up, so make sure that it operates properly by checking it on all speeds and ensure that the cabin gets sufficiently cold. A replacement compressor costs an arm and a leg, so if there are signs of problems, walk away. The only remaining niggle is that the optional Bluetooth system doesn’t work with all smartphones, so when you are looking around, make sure that your phone pairs up correctly and you can make telephone calls. JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:21:40

Skoda Octavia 1.6 TDI CR GreenLine II

used cars

Skoda Octavia 1.6 TDI CR GreenLine II > FROM: 2010 onwards > USED PRICES: From £5,900 > BUILT: Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic > SIZE: up to 4,569/2,018mm > LAYOUT: 5-dr hatch/estate, 5-seats, FWD > BOOT SPACE: 585/1,455 litres

Factﬁle ENGINE:

1,560cc, 4-cylinder, 16-valve turbodiesel with particulate filter and stop-start TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual POWER OUTPUT: 104bhp at 4,400rpm MAXIMUM TORQUE: 250Nm at 1,500-2,500rpm TOP SPEED: 119mph 0-62MPH: 11.4sec CO2 EMISSIONS TO NOV 2011: 99g/km (109g/km) CO2 EMISSIONS FROM NOV 2011: 99g/km (107g/km) ECONOMY TO NOV 2011 (urban/extra urban/combined): 60.1/83.1/74.3mpg (55.4/78.4/67.3mpg) ECONOMY FROM NOV 2011 (urban/extra urban/combined): 60.1/83.1/74.3mpg (53.3/80.7/68.9mpg) FUEL TANK SIZE: 55 litres

prodrivermags.com | JANUARY 2015

40_ProDriver_JAN_2015.indd 41

By the numbers...

Parts prices AIR FILTER .............................................................£19.23 BATTERY ................................................................£84.83 BRAKE DISCS – FRONT (EACH) .............................£60.93 BRAKE DISCS – REAR (EACH) ...............................£43.04 BRAKE PADS - FRONT ...........................................£38.64 BRAKE PADS - REAR..............................................£25.27 FUEL FILTER ..........................................................£31.06 HEADLIGHT ..........................................................£111.34 OIL FILTER ...............................................................£9.40

PRICE:....................................................................£8,000 CONTACT:.......................ALS Autos, Ely. (0843 3193558) .......................................................... www.alsautos.co.uk WHERE: ............................................. Ex Lease Car Sales MODEL:...............Octavia GreenLine II 1.6 TDI CR 5-door YEAR/PLATE: ...................................................... 2011/61 MILEAGE: .....................................................73,000 miles COLOUR: .................................................................... Red PRICE:....................................................................£7,300 CONTACT:.................................Car Select Lex Autolease,

All prices quoted are for manufacturer approved parts and include VAT. Savings can be made by buying parts from other aftermarket suppliers, but using them will in most circumstances invalidate any remaining warranty that you may have.

Cars we found online

WHERE: .................................... Franchised Skoda dealer MODEL:............... Octavia GreenLine II 1.6 TDI CR Estate YEAR/PLATE: ...................................................... 2011/11 MILEAGE: .....................................................66,521 miles COLOUR: ......................................................Metallic grey

.......................................... Birmingham. (02475 119883) .........................................................www.carselect.co.uk WHERE: ............................................. Ex Lease Car Sales MODEL:...............Octavia GreenLine II 1.6 TDI CR 5-door YEAR/PLATE: ...................................................... 2011/61 MILEAGE: .....................................................93,000 miles COLOUR: ................................................................. White PRICE:....................................................................£6,989 CONTACT:.......................................Powerlease, Ampthill. ................................................................(01525 405000) ..................................................... www.powerlease.co.uk

21/12/14 21:21:48

the advisor

Taxing matters–Gary Jacobs

GARY JACOBS RUNS DRIVERTAX, AN ACCOUNTANCY FIRM SPECIALISING IN THE TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE BUSINESS GARY@DRIVERTAX.CO.UK

BIG DEADLINE ISA TONIC THE NEW ISA (NISA) WAS ANNOUNCED by the Chancellor as part of the 2014 Budget announcements and came into effect on July 1, 2014. The NISA introduced major changes to the old ISA system by introducing equal limits for cash and stocks and shares. This allows savers the ability to transfer funds from stocks and shares ISAs to cash ISAs allowing far greater flexibility. The NISA has a far more generous annual investment limit of £15,000 an almost tripling of the pre-July 1 2014 cash limit of £5,940, and a significant increase from the old £11,880 allowance for stocks & shares ISAs. These limits are available until the end of the 2014-15 tax year. For the 2015-16 tax year, the limit will increase to £15,240. The Junior ISA investment allowance for the tax year 2015-16 will be raised to £4,080 (from £4,000) as will the Child Trust Fund subscription limit.

42_ProDriver_JAN_2015.indd 42

T’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN—THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING YOUR 2013-14 tax return is January 31, 2015. Taxpayers should also be aware that payment of any tax due should also be made by this date. This includes both the payment of any balance of Self Assessment liability for the 2013/14, plus any payment on account due for the current 2014/15 tax year. The following penalties apply to Self Assessment returns that are filed late: ■ From day one: taxpayers will be charged a £100 penalty even if they have no tax to pay or have paid any tax due on time. ■ From 3 months late: taxpayers will be charged an automatic daily penalty of £10 per day up to a £900 maximum. ■ From 6 months late: taxpayers will be charged additional penalties which are the greater of 5% of tax due or £300. ■ Over 12 months late: there are additional penalties based on greater of 5% of tax due or £300. In serious cases this penalty may be increased up to 100% of tax due. Last year more than 1,500 people filed their Self Assessments returns online on Christmas Day and almost 5,000 taxpayers filed on Boxing Day. Plan early and try to avoid working during the holidays!

Updated child beneﬁt and child tax credits A NEW TABLE OF RATES HAS BEEN published by HM Treasury which sets out thresholds for tax credits, child benefit and guardian’s allowance from April 2015. CHILD BENEFIT ■ The weekly rate of child benefit for the only or eldest child will increase to £20.70 (from £20.50) and the weekly rate for all other children will be £13.70 (was £13.55).

TAX CREDITS ■ The child tax credit child element will increase from £2,750 to £2,780. ■ The child tax credit family element will remain unchanged at £545. ■ The income threshold for the child tax credit increases to £16,105 (from £16,010) per year. ■ The working tax credit childcare elements are unchanged. JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:22:06

classiﬁeds ACCOUNTANTS

INSURANCE SERVICES Direct Chauffeur Line

Drivertax Specialist accountants to the professional driver. Account tax returns, book-keepers, easy payment terms. Tel: 0208 529 2600 www.drivertax.co.uk

Specialist insurance for chauffeurs and executive drivers Tel: 020 8669 4466 Contact: Lawrence King www.dclinsurance.com

CHAUFFEUR TRAINING

Chauffeur Training Ltd. is a London-based company that specialises in the UK’s only nationally-recognised qualification. Contact us: info@chauffeur-training.co.uk Or call 0333 444 1123 www.chauffeur-training.co.uk

• Established in 1963 • Experts in arranging insurance for Chauffeurs, Executives & Private Hire Drivers • Single- & Multi-vehicle policies • Fleets & businesses • Booking ofﬁces • Public & Employers liability • Discounts for Professional Driver Award Winners Telephone 020 8388 6000 (Private Hire Team) info@os-ins.co.uk www..osborneandsons.co.uk

South Essex Insurance Brokers

British Chauffeurs Guild Established 1983 Indefinite membership NOW available by postal applications Guild Membership offers :– Free Employment selection service Temp / Perm – Issue of Guild licence – Recognised Diploma of Merit – Unique and patented Silver Cockade – Issue of our Chauffeur Training Manual (Home Study) Full membership ONLY £294 (Inc VAT) NO HIDDEN EXTRAS Call 020 8641 1740 or Email: bcg.london@btconnect.com or visit www.britishchauffeursguild.co.uk

FINANCE Ethos finance Call Chris brown on +44 (0) 7973 311 842 www.ethosfinance.co.uk

prodrivermags.com | JANUARY 2015

43_ProDriver_JAN_2015.indd 43

PCO Car Hire: Licensed Carriage Hire Are the Preeminent Suppliers of High Specification, Luxury PCO Licensed Vehicles to the Chauffeur Industry. We offer bespoke tailored PCO car rental services to chauffeur companies, motor manufacturers, claims management companies, and insurance companies. T: +44 (0) 845 890 1000 E: enquiries@lchltd.com

SOFTWARE OSBORNE & SONS INSURANCE CONSULTANTS LTD

Chauffeur Training Ltd.

Licenced Carriage Hire (LCH)

SEIB have been Chauffeur insurance and private hire insurance specialists for over 30 years. The insurance cover available ranges from comprehensive to a special limited mileage option. The wide range of Chauffeur and Private Hire Insurance covers offered by SEIB include :- single vehicle insurance for Executive Hire, fleets & limited mileage insurance for older vehicles. Telephone: 01708 850000 Email: enquiries@seib.co.uk www.seib.co.uk

JAGUAR DEALERS Watford Jaguar

The largest Jaguar Chauffeur specialist in the UK. Call or email Simon Posner for your individual quotation & advice 07932 673650 or 01923 815945 simon.posner@spireautomotive.com www.watfordjaguar.co.uk/ chauffeur-programme

PCO LICENSED SELF-DRIVE HIRE Chauffeur Rentals

North London 01707 649090 www.chauffeurrentals.com For all your PCO self drive hire requirements.We are here to help fill the gap. Hires form 1 to 90 days

Catalina Software

Freedom is the software of choice for chauffeurs and executive car companies and is used by many of the leading businesses in the sector Call: (0) 1366 386 611 www.catalina-software.co.uk

SoftSol Ltd

Established since 1995, SoftSol Limited is a UK company providing back office management software solutions to operators in the chauffeur/limo/airport transfer and private hire industry. Tel: 0845 074 0545 www.softsol.ltd.uk

VOLVO DEALERS

Hildenborough and Squire Furneaux Group

> Covering 9 Volvo dealerships across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire Contact Mark Wilson; Tel: 01732 832424; Mob: 07710 614234 Email: corporate@hildenborough.co.uk Web: www.hildenborough.co.uk

Volvo Cars London

Sales of new and used Volvos to retail & business customers in and around the M25 Contact John Wadeson 020 8200 6733 john.wadeson@volvocarslondon.co.uk www.volvocarslondon.co.uk

YOU’RE LOOKING

AT THE SAME

SECTION

AS THE

READERS List your company here for £45 + vat, per issue. Call 01959 547000 and ask for James Derbyshire, who will make sure you’re listed in the February issue

21/12/14 21:22:22

the negotiator

–By Steve Garelick

LICENCE TO CAUSE CHAOS

Government hasn’t thought through the decision to axe the paper counterpart STEVE GARELICK IS BRANCH SECRETARY OF THE PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS BRANCH OF THE GMB TRADE UNION

HEN ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY COULD CAUSE A POTENTIAL problem, it’s helpful to have plenty of advance warning and advice. Remember the “millennium bug”? However, that’s not always the case. In deciding to remove provision of paper licences the DVLA has been sketchy in providing information. It has put back it’s original January 1 deadline but has confirmed that all new driving licences will issued without the paper counterpart from a unspecified date later in 2015. This could still lead to a vast amount of confusion, as the paper counterparts have held details of vehicle entitlements and penalty points—now this will have to be accessed online. Here is an extract from the DVLA’s newsletter: “Currently to meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998, driver data can only be disclosed for driver entitlement checking purposes with the explicit consent of the data subject. Consent is valid for up to three years and, in most cases, is recorded on a paper mandate for audit purposes. “Once the paper counterpart has been abolished the DVLA may no longer need to rely on the driver’s explicit consent to legitimately process their sensitive personal data for driver entitlement checking purposes. “If the DVLA relies on an alternative schedule condition within the DPA, recipients of the data may still need to be able to demonstrate that the data was accessed for a legitimate purpose, and will still need to inform drivers that they intend to request their personal data from the DVLA. Detailed audit requirements will depend on the technical solution adopted.”

This means drivers’ data will not be as secure as before. Any company you allow access to this data could possibly use it for data mining purposes. Drivers are able to go on to the dvla.gov.uk site, and use their National Insurance number, Address and Date of Birth to check their records. This should also give a code should you wish to pass information on to a third party to check licence data. However at the time of writing this attribute was not available. It is a wonder how drivers will manage when renting cars overseas, for example, where the rental company may not have knowledge of this change and in some cases could have no internet access. I have written to TFL on this matter. It is an operator’s duty in this area to check drivers’ licences, but there is no clear guidance on how this will be handled in compliance meetings. When drivers rent vehicles, either the driver will have to log in and demonstrate his licence data. But in instances where vehicles are delivered in the field, such as replacement cars as a result of an accident, there will ■ IT IS INTERESTING THAT be difficulties which may include internet connectivity as well as recording alcohol levels for drink of data. driving have been reduced in Additionally, specific convictions that would stay on a licence will be Scotland. Does this mean a excluded and only available to the authorities. Having a paper counterpart driver using the same DVLA may be considered somewhat old fashioned but it does provide a reliable licence can drive in the rest source of data regardless of the need to be connected to the internet. of the UK if their alcohol It is baffling that with such a fundamental change the public and levels when convicted profession are so unaware and do not realise the implications. Why has in Scotland were at the no formal advice been given to the businesses and individuals who rely on accepted rest of UK levels? driving licences for their daily work? More joined up government The lack of advice from the government and other organisations has been thinking? woeful in regard to how to manage this and to be prepared.

FINAL

THOUGHT…

44_ProDriver_JAN_2015.indd 44

JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:22:42

chauffeur driven

TO PLACE YOUR FREE ADVERTISEMENT CONTACT PAUL OR IAN ON 01959 547000 NOW AUDI A8 3.0 TDI QUATTRO SE EXECUTIVE LWB ■ 2011Diesel Saloon

Automatic 91454 miles Silver, full colour screen satellite navigation, sat nav, full black leather, paddel shift, 3 spoke s line steering wheel, new shape with led daytime running lights. full dealer, reverse camera, sunroof service history, 6 visits in total last serviced at 72k. HDD sat nav system with DVD player, MMI 3G high and SD card slots, Valcona leather upholstery, Electric tilt/slide sunroof, Adaptive Xenon plus headlights with LED day running lights, Mobile telephone preparation - bluetooth interface, Cruise control, Audi parking system advanced. £20,500

MERCEDES-BENZ VIANO 3.0CDI

ASTON MARTIN RAPIDE 6.0

■ 2011 Diesel MPV Automatic

■ 2012, Petrol, Saloon, Semi-

104000 miles 1-year PCO Licensed Extra Long 18” Alloy Wheels Black Leather Interior Wood Trim Automatic Sliding Doors Rear AirCon Electric Mirrors CD Player, BLACK, 1 owner, Next MOT due 20/11/2015, Full service history, Electric windows, Air conditioning, Parking aid, MP3 player, CD player, Height adjustable driver’s seat, Height adjustable passenger seat, Folding rear seats, Child seat points (Isofix system), Metallic paint, 18” Alloy Wheels, Spare wheel (Full), Power steering, Steering wheel rake adjustment, Steering wheel reach adjustment. £24,850

TEL.: (07880) 923444

TEL.: (0117) 295 7678 JAGUAR XJ 3.0 V6 DIESEL PORTFOLIO ■ 2013, Diesel, Saloon,

Automatic, 16481 miles Ultimate Black, 1 owner, Full service history, Leather, Jet, 20’’ Kasuga alloy wheels, Adaptive xenon headlamps, Blind-spot monitoring, Sports seats, Keyless entry, Meridian surround audio system, Auto-dim interior mirror, Cruise control with automatic speed limiter, Front park aid, Intelligent Stop/ Start, Navigation system, Panoramic glass sunroof, Rear parking aid with touch-screen, Adaptive front lighting, DAB digital radio, LED rear tail lamps, Power boot lid (open and close), Power heated memory door mirrors, Rain sensitive wipers, Rear camera parking aid, Tyre pressure monitor. £38,000

■ 2006, Petrol, Saloon,

Automatic, 24340 miles Blue, 24340 miles, maui blue pearl, with beige leather, disctronic, garage door opener, comand navigation, fridge in rear centre armrest, linguatronic, climate front seats, climate rear seats, rear folding tables, heated steering wheel, bi xenon headlamps, fire extinguisher, keyless go, full main dealer history, central door locking - remote, immobiliser, alarm - remote control, anti-lock brakes, power-assisted steering, head air bags - front/rear, air bag driver, air bag passenger, air bag side - driver/passenger/rear, telephone equipment - fixed, seats electric - driver/passenger - driv, seats heated - front/rear, seating capacity - upholstery leather, climate control. £84,990

MASERATI QUATTROPORTE DIESEL 3.0

■ 2014, Diesel, Saloon,

Automatic, 5624 miles Glacier Silver Metallic, We are part of the Lloyd Motor Group, a family owned business with over 400 cars in group stock. Located just up from St James Park in Newcastle we are easily accessible., 20 inch Double-spoke style 303 M alloy wheels, Alarm system (Thatcham 1), Ambient lighting, Auto dimming and folding exterior mirrors, Automatic air conditioning with 4-zone control, Automatic transmission M Sport leather steering wheel, BMW Assist, BMW Professional loudspeaker system, BMW Professional navigation system, DAB digital radio. £39,990 Gross VAT Qualifying

TEL.: (0191) 499 9685

■ 2014, Electric, Saloon,

Automatic, 695 miles A special order Tesla Model S 85KWh in dark green metallic with tan leather, panoramic electric opening sunroof, tech package with 17” touch screen with 3G internet navigation . Warranty 8 Years unlimited mileage on Battery and Electric Motor, 310 miles range and rapid charge facility. Smart air suspension, Park Assist System, Security Pack, Baggage area cover, Charging Adapter, supercharger enabled & double charger. Tan Leather Nappa seats, Obeche wood matte décor. 19” allow wheels. Driver & passenger & side airbags. A fully loaded car sadly for sale only due to owner’s age!, GREEN, 1 owner, First service is not due, Electric sunroof, £69,500

Automatic, 30 miles Nero Ribelle, Service History, Sabbia Leather, 2987 cc, Electric Windows, Cruise Control, Airbag, Wood Trim, Stereo, On Board Computer, Power Steering, Heated Seats, CD Player, ABS, Climate Control, Traction Control, Electrically Adjustable Seats, Parking Sensor, ESP, Rear parking sensors, Alcantara Headlining, High Gloss Tanganika Wood Trim, Heated Seats Front & Rear, ‘Active Shifting’ Aluminium Paddles on Steering Wheel, Keyless Entry & Keyless Drive, Mica Paint, 20”” Mercurio Design Alloy Wheels, Reversing Camera, Power Rear Sunblind., 64 Reg. £72,990

TEL.: (01793) 937709

MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS 2.1CDI

INFINITI M 3.5 GT PREMIUM

■ 2011, Diesel, Saloon,

■ 2011, Hybrid, Saloon,

Automatic, 29300 miles Metallic grey, immaculate, SatNav, good spec, part leather/part suede. 12 months warranty, 12 months MOT, Last serviced on 01/12/2014 at 29,200 miles, Full service history, Excellent bodywork, Black Part leather interior - Excellent Condition, Tyre condition Excellent, 3 - Spoke Nappa Leather Trimmed Steering Wheel, 8 Speakers, AMG Floor Mats, AMG Sports Steering Wheel, Acceleration Skid Control (ASR), Active Light System, Alarm System, Automatic Climate Control - Two -Zone, Automatically Dimming Rear - View Mirror, Bluetooth Interface for Hands - Free Telephony, Bumpers - Body - Coloured, £19,995

TEL.: (01708) 687670 TESLA MODEL S E 4DR

TEL.: (07887) 777739 OR (07502) 988856

BMW 7 SERIES SALOON 3.0TD 730D M SPORT

TEL.: (023) 80082374 MAYBACH 57 5.5 V12

Automatic, 21000 miles Pearlescent BLACK, A Stunning Aston Martin Rapid, finished in Storm Black (Red Fleck) with rear entertainment system, Bang&Olufsen Sound System, and a FULL Aston Martin Service History., Upgrades - Embroidered Rapide Logo in Headrest, Facia Trim - Full Lenght Piano Black, Rear Seat Entertainment System, Ventilated Seats, Last serviced on 28/10/2014, Full dealership history, Excellent bodywork, Black Full leather interior - Excellent Condition, Tyre condition Excellent, Standard Features - Air Bag Driver, Air Bag Passenger, Air Bag Side, Alarm, Alloy Wheels, Carpet, Central Door Locking, £80,000 no VAT

TEL.: (07930) 151515

Automatic, 45251 miles Metallic Malbec Black, Next MOT due 08/12/2011, Full service history, Excellent bodywork, Black Full leather interior - Excellent Condition, Tyre condition Excellent, Adjustable Steering Column/Wheel, Air Bag Driver, Air Bag Passenger, Air Bag Side, Alloy Wheels, Central Door Locking, Climate Control, Cruise Control, Exterior Lighting, Head Restraints, Headlamp Wash, Immobiliser, In Car Entertainment, Mirrors External, Mirrors Internal, Parking Aid, Power-Assisted Steering, Rain Sensor, Seat Lumbar Support, Seats Electric, Speakers, Steering Wheel Leather, Sunroof Electric. £19,995

TEL.: (0113) 2376640

CHRYSLER 300C SALOON 3.0 V6 CRD EXECUTIVE

BENTLEY MULSANNE 6.75 4DR

■ 2014, Diesel, Saloon,

■ 2010, Petrol, Saloon,

Automatic, 600 miles Black pearlescent, 3.0-litre v6 diesel engine which is both both quick and economical and with imposing style, 19 speakers, 5 speed automatic gearbox, 900 watts, adjustable steering wheel, air conditioning, alarm, alloy wheels, anti-lock brakes, central locking, climate control, computer, cruisecontrol, drivers air bag, drivers armrest, electric seats, electric windows, engine immobiliser, front fog lamps, harman kardon sound system, head rests, headlamp adjustment, headlamp wash, heated seats, ipod preparation, leather interior, nappa leather interior, power hood, power steering, £30,000

TEL.: (01608) 503063

TEL.: (0116) 2025617

Automatic, 29500 miles Rear quarter was damaged in a collision that was a CAT D. All fully repaired and car drives faultlessly. Had a recent full service at Jack Barclays costing 1.5k so it is in pristine condition. Also had 10k worth of work bringing it back to top condition whilst in for the service. The car also benefits from 4 new pirelli tyres. Metallic grey with light sand leather, any inspection welcome and early viewing recommended., GREY, Electric windows, Air conditioning, Satellite navigation, Parking aid, DVD, MP3 player, CD player, Leather trim, Heated seats, Height adjustable driver’s seat. £94,995

TEL.: (020) 81283328

MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS S350L CDI BLUETEC 4DR AUTO

FORD TOURNEO CONNECT GRAND 5DR 1.6 TDCI TITANIUM

LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER 4.4 SDV8 VOGUE SE

■ 2011, Diesel, Saloon,

■ 2014, Diesel, Manual,

■ 2014, Diesel, SUV,

Automatic, 32065 miles Iridium Silver, Call 0141 331 4657, *One Owner Full Service History*, 12 Months Mercedes-Benz Warranty, Parking Distance Control - Front and Rear, Electric Panoramic Sunroof, 7 Speed Automatic Gearbox, 18’’ Alloy Wheels, Speed Limit Assist, COMAND Sat Nav, Heated Front Seats, Speedtronic Cruise Control, Attention Assist, Heated Rear Seats, Air Particle Filter, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Headlamp Wash, Automatic Dimming Mirror, LED Daytime Running Lights, ECO Stop / Start Function, Universal Media Interface, ISOFIX Child Seat Brackets. £27,881

9607 miles

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Panther Black Metallic 1 owner Alarm Alloy Wheel Upgrade Battery DAB Radio Satellite Navigation

■ Front + Rear Parking Sensors ■ Steel Spare Wheel ■ 7 seats, £17,499

TEL.: (01992) 800749

TEL.: (0141) 3314663

TEL.: (01564) 703622

FORD GALAXY 2.0TDCI AUTO 163PS

BMW 5 SERIES SALOON 2.0TD 520D M SPORT

■ 2014, Diesel, Automatic,

■ 2012, Diesel, Saloon,

6717 miles Panther Black m, 1 owner, ‘Ford Power’ starter button, Bluetooth hands free phone with voice control system, Digital clock, Door ajar warning lamp, Electric tailgate release, Ford Convers+, Front and rear park assist, Hydraulic PAS, Lights on warning, Oil pressure warning light, Outside temperature display, Trip computer, Auxiliary input socket, Steering wheel audio controls, ‘Quickclear’ heated windscreen/heated washer jets, Auto dimming rear view mirror, Bi-Xenon headlights w/ static bending lights + headlight washers, Body colour bumpers, 7 seats, £26,589

TEL.: (01322) 470508 prodrivermags.com | JANUARY 2015

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Automatic, 8000 miles Grey, 5 seats, Corris Grey With Contrast Santorini Black Roof, Piano Black Wood Veneer And Ebony Leather, Panoramic Glass Sunroof, 22’’ Style 7 Autobiography Wheels, Deployable Side Steps, Privacy Glass, Detachable Towbar, Advanced Parking Assist, Piano Black Wood Leather Steering Wheel, Front And Rear Winged Headrests, Park Heating, Front Fog Lights, Satellite Navigation, Bluetooth, Front And Rear Heated Seats, Front memory Seats, Rubber Over Mats Including Boot Area, Plus All The Usual Vogue Se Refinements. As New!!, £96,000

Automatic, 33959 miles Carbon Black Metallic, 12V power sockets, 19 inch M Double-spoke style 351M alloy wheels, Alarm system (Thatcham 1), Auto dimming and folding exterior mirrors, Auto dimming rear view mirror, BMW Assist, BMW Professional navigation system, BMW Professional radio with single CD, Cruise control with brake function, DAB digital radio, Dakota Leather interior, Enhanced Bluetooth telephone functionality, Fine brushed aluminium interior trim, First aid kit and triangle, Front and rear park distance control (PDC), Heated front seats, 5 seats, £22,200 Non VAT Qualifying

TEL.: (01428) 852103

FOR SALE PRIVATE REGISTRATION NUMBER

EX 7019 On retention certificate (fees paid) (REMOVED FROM BMW 7 SERIES LWB)

OFFERS AROUND £650 PLEASE Call Derek on 07816 178494

21/12/14 21:23:34

the insider

–By Peter Panayiotou

NO LANGUAGE, NO BARRIER

Standards are slipping —the industry needs to take a stand

EVERYDAY PROBLEMS FROM THE OPERATOR’S POINT OF VIEW...

AS ALL OUR CAMPAIGNING TO REGULATE OUR industry backfired on us? This is the question most frequently being asked by the old timers of our industry. Those of us who were around pre-PCO, and now TFL. Those of us that have spent months of representation to the committees set up by Government to bring in the changes, now feel badly let down. Back in the day, our industry was riddled with ex-criminals and undesirables. We worked hard to eradicate them from our midst, along with the unsafe, unlicensed cars. But now we’re finding that the criminals have been replaced by people who by all rights should have no place among us. These are people who in some cases do not hold a British driving licence, who do not know the Highway Code, and who cannot even read and write English. Instead of taking the opportunity to set professional standards that befit our business, standards that the industry has recommended, and standards that would apply to everyone, the Government has opened everything up so that anyone can participate providing they can afford the price of a licence. As executive chauffeurs, our end of the industry is the front line for businesses that look for investment in our country. Our drivers are the first people a businessman arriving in the UK will meet. We are the first impression, so why would our regulators licence people who cannot make themselves understood, and who do not speak English? Why would private hire companies employ them in the first place? It is my belief that people who have no experience in private hire are being licenced, and this includes operators as well as drivers. And here lies the root of our problem. Operators that have no idea come into the industry with the belief that they will quickly make millions. They buy cheap secondhand cars and hire drivers who cannot get jobs elsewhere. They pay them peanuts because they know nothing. They tell them to buy a Tom Tom sat-nav and send them out to drive clients without giving a thought to the consequences. It’s time for all professional operators to reject this business model. Be the first to say no to people who are not fit for purpose. Let’s go back to the days when everyone was proud to be part of the Private Hire industry. —PETER PANAYIOTOU ■ Peter Panayiotou is CEO of Browns Global, one of London’s leading executive chauffeur operators

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JANUARY 2015 | PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

21/12/14 21:23:54

MatrixHireA3_MarbleArch.pdf

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21/07/2014

13:49

21/12/14 21:33:30

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21/12/14 21:33:24