News

Not going green would be a crime, says force

Gloucestershire Constabulary has taken delivery of 75 electric vehicles from Nissan, taking its fleet of zero-emission vehicles to over a fifth and reducing its CO 2 output by more than 190 tonnes a year.

The vehicles include a total of 66 Nissan LEAFs, of which 11 will be marked vehicles, and nine e-NV200s.

The force has estimated that the saving in fuel and maintenance will equate to £136,000 a year.

Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl said: “These new vehicles are a huge step forward for the Constabulary to reduce its carbon and pollution, and meets part of my commitment to ‘A Green and Pleasant County’ that was outlined in my Police and Crime Plan. “The new fleet will save a considerable amount of CO 2 and money, giving Gloucestershire a larger percentage of fully-electric vehicles than any other force. I hope we will be able to build on this great work, and extend its electric fleet to 40 per cent within the next four years.”

Prime spot for exclusive 500

Refreshed Ateca is the ‘cornerstone’ of brand

SEAT is refreshing its successful Ateca with the introduction of the 2020 version.

The revamped vehicle adds a refreshed and more emotional appearance both inside and outside, a fully connected user experience, improved levels of safety, comfort and efficiency. New tech and connectivity will offer a more relaxed experience behind the wheel.

To date over 300,000 units have been sold – 100,000 in 2019 alone – with more than 35,000 in the UK.

“The Ateca is a cornerstone of the our long-term strategy”, said SEAT’s Executive Vice-president for Sales and marketing, Wayne Griffiths. “With the new Ateca 2020, we believe we are in a good position to keep our positive results in the segment”.

Citroën has added to its electrification offensive with a first look at the New ë-C4 – its latest 100% electric vehicle, though petrol and diesel options are available. The new model is looking to consolidate its hold on the C-segment where it took a quarter of all sales in 2019.

Fiat has opened reservations for an exclusive new 500 hatchback, the ‘la Prima’, in an electric format.

Features include a panoramic glass sunroof, a new rear spoiler and a classic tailgate, and there’s a range of up to 199 miles (WLTP). The new model, says Fiat, is a throwback to the original Cinque, the car that brought personality and fun to sustainable urban mobility back after the Second World War.

The high-spec model is marked out by its panoramic glass sunroof which floods the passenger compartment with light, while improving on-board wellbeing. The rear features a classic tailgate and a new more pronounced spoiler, to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Three exclusive paint colours are available: pearlescent Ocean Green; metallic Mineral Grey; and three-layer Celestial Blue.

As standard, the ‘la Prima’ model includes full LED headlights, 17-inch diamond-cut wheels, chrome-plated inserts on the side panels, and dashboard and eco-leather seat upholstery.

Powered by lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 42kWh, the New 500 has a

range of up to 199 miles in the WLTP cycle. To optimise charging time, the New 500 is equipped with an 85kW fast charge system. It takes only five minutes to build up a sufficient energy reserve to travel 30 miles, more than the average daily commute.

Using a fast charger can also power the battery to 80 per cent in just 35 minutes.

The unmistakable silhouette of the New 500 shows off the upper profile of the cabin, combining it with the characteristic tilt of the rear edge. It is a more elegant and sculptural exterior than previous generations, with the design complemented by the characteristic chrome slat above the licence plate, the new FIAT insignia and the symbols and horizontal lines in the tailgate.

The 500 has ‘Level 2’ automation, with a longitudinally and laterally Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (iACC) system braking or accelerating in response to cars, cyclists, pedestrians and Lane Centring keeping the vehicle centred.

The New 500 ‘la Prima’ hatchback – including the fitment of the easyWallbox – is priced at £26,995, including PiCG.