Driven - Issue Six by Vindis Group

Driven 1

Issue 6 September 2016

Contents. 4

Vindis Ducati test ride events.

Take a look at the action from our test ride events at Ducati Cambridge and Ducati Peterborough.

Your route to a new reg.

Have you picked up your new ‘66 reg yet?

6-7

Rise of the SUV.

With style, space and off-road capability our SUVs have it all.

Your brand new Huntingdon Audi.

16-17 The Motability Scheme. If you rely on Motability, rely on Vindis.

Plug in to the future. The Audi Q7 e-tron has arrived.

Get social with the Vindis Group. Join the conversation online.

20-21 A day in the life.

Step into the busy shoes of one of our Group Stock Controllers.

Our builders have been busy, and we can’t wait to reveal our new centre.

22-23 Vindis in print.

A pick-up with a V6 heart.

24-25 The 2016 Audi Showcase. Great cars, great company and a beautiful

Vindis upgrade.

Let’s take a look at the powerful new Volkswagen Amarok.

A new car may be closer than you think.

Meet one of our youngest fans. We met a young man with bags of Volkswagen enthusiasm!

12-15 Life on two wheels. Take a look at our interview with British Superbike Racer, Glenn Irwin.

Join us as we step back in time.

day at Rockinham Motor Speedway.

26-27 Your new vindisgroup.com

We take a quick look around the new online home of the Vindis Group.

28-29 The Bentley Cambridge Experience.

70 customers, six cars, one runway.

30-31 Small cars, big sound. Discover the new up! beats and Polo beats.

Welcome to the September 2016 edition of Driven magazine. It’s hard to believe that we’re heading into the final quarter of the year already, but with the exciting arrival of a new ’66 plate, the launch of our innovative new website and a whole calendar of fun-filled events under our belts so far, it seems we’ve been too busy to notice the summer passing us by. That being said, there’s still so much left to look forward to, not least from the exciting range of new vehicles that will be joining us very soon. The imminent arrival of ŠKODA’s much anticipated large SUV, the Kodiaq, has been keeping our retailers very busy, whilst the hybrid Q7 e-tron is testament to Audi’s Vorsprung durch Technik philosophy. In this issue of Driven you’ll find our insightful interview with British Superbike rider, Glenn Irwin, who you may have met at the launch of our two Ducati stores. Glenn’s racing dedication has seen him ride to a victorious podium finish in superbikes at Thruxton and we couldn’t wait to find out more about his current career with the Paul Bird Motorsport Be Wiser Ducati racing team. We’ve also included a step back in time to our early years as we take a look at Vindis in print, and we discover the rise of the SUV, looking at the popularity of such vehicles over recent years, and the explosion of new models onto the market. Our next issue will be released in the Spring of 2017 so, in the meantime, we hope you have a very happy Christmas and New Year. Of course, we would love to hear from you, so if you have any comments on this issue, or have something you would really like us to cover in the next, please get in touch at driven@vindisgroup.com. Until next time, take care. Jamie Vindis Managing Director, Vindis Group

Vindis Ducati test ride events. Customers join us at Cambridge and Peterborough to test the amazing Ducati range.

t’s been six months since Vindis Group’s venture into the world of motorbikes began with the opening of Ducati Cambridge and Ducati Peterborough. Since then, the team have been very busy. From supporting local events to taking some customers to Silverstone, the aim is to help people experience the beauty and power of Ducati. On Saturday 20th August and Saturday 24th September, the teams at Vindis Ducati held their first test ride events. Customers were invited to take unaccompanied rides of 45 minutes on the model of their

choice from the XDiavel cruiser to the powerful Panigale 1299. Food over the two events was provided by Kura Kura, who served up a sumptuous chicken curry and divine onion bahji’s to our hungry customers. We are very thankful to those who joined us, and if you missed out and are interested in coming to future events, please contact the team at Vindis Ducati. Alternatively, to be kept informed, go to vindisducati.com and join our mailing list to register interest.

Your route to a new plate! As much as we love the summer, and certainly don’t want to wish it away, it’s fair to say that we had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of September and the brand new 66 plate. A new plate is an exciting time for everybody across the group, and it’s clearly much sought after amongst our customers, if the numbers of handovers on September 1st was anything to go by! We all agree here that driving away with a brand new plate is one of the happiest feelings, and whether you had chosen a little Fabia, a sporty Scirocco or a luxurious Bentayga, be assured that we arrived bright and early to lovingly prepare it in our showroom. Hidden undercover it was only a matter of time before our customers arrived to take their new pride and joy home, (although it’s a little tricky to pull a cover off a Volkswagen Transporter van so we lined those up outside in the sunshine instead!) Have you picked up a brand new 66 plate vehicle? We always love seeing where our vehicles go so please do send us some photos of you venturing out in yours to driven@vindisgroup.com. You might even make it onto our Twitter page!

Rise of the SUV

From compact SUVs to all-wheel drive, 7 seater powerhouses there’s no stopping the SUV takeover on British roads. We take a look at why these vehicles have become so popular, and just what our lineup has to offer.

Whether you spend a little or a lot of time out and about you’ll have no doubt noticed the number of SUVs (that’s Sport Utility Vehicles) on the roads, both in our cities and further out of town into the traditional home of the SUV. From the small to the large, the SUV is rapidly overtaking the popular hatchback as the vehicle of choice for families of all ages and sizes, helped in no small part by the explosion of new models to the market over recent years. According to JATO.com, in 2016 SUVs accounted for 24.7% of the European market with almost 2 million vehicles sold, a sure sign that they are becoming a sought after addition to the family by more and more of us every year. Those who used to visit their local dealership looking for a small hatchback are

now looking to test drive a compact SUV, and with good reason. With great visibility, and extra safety offered by their larger dimensions they’re a particularly popular choice with parents. What’s more, their large load space will make light work of the next family holiday, therefore, offering a great all-round choice for those looking for their next vehicle. Many SUVs are available with two-wheel drive, which allows customers to buy into the SUV lifestyle, whilst keeping both purchase and running costs down. Although higher ground clearance and an elevated seating position is a pull for those looking to go off-road, many of today’s SUVs have been designed with city living in mind too, meaning they are as sleek and stylish as the rest of the range.

However, don’t be fooled by their good looks. Many SUVs still offer the great off-roading ability you would expect, with a range of assistance systems and the latest technology available, allowing you to drive as comfortably off-road as you can on the commute to work. Take for example the unrivalled Bentley Bentayga, a vehicle with a 600bhp W12 engine with a 0-60mph time of just four seconds, a tow capacity of up to 3500kg and an ability to operate at lateral and longitudinal angles of up to 35°. We think that’s pretty impressive for a vehicle with a hand stitched steering wheel, Wi-Fi connectivity and the option for a built in fly fishing set complete with dehumidifier and fine-china tableware.

permanent all-wheel drive system, as standard, meaning you can drive with confidence on any surface. And if the choice wasn’t enough, the new Q7 e-tron combines space and luxury with hybrid technology, with the ability for fully electric driving. Make sure you catch our article on this electrifying addition on page 18.

Fans of Czech brand ŠKODA can rejoice at the addition of a much larger SUV to the current offering of the popular Yeti, which was named most satisfying car to own in the Auto Express Driver Power survey in 2012, 2013 and 2015. The new ŠKODA Kodiaq, which takes many design features from their recent Vision S Concept, was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and hints at Furthermore, if performance is one of your top priorities an exciting future for ŠKODA SUVs. At 4.7 metres long, and with seats for up to seven people, the Kodiaq offers then Audi have got you covered with the addition of a hugely spacious cabin, the latest driver assistance some popular S and RS models to their SUV range. systems and a choice of five capable engines. We’ve Should your circumstances change, and you find yourself in need of the extra space and off-road ability, got no release date for the Kodiaq at the time of writing but make sure you register your interest at your nearest this means that there’s no need to compromise. The Vindis ŠKODA retailer to be the first in line! RSQ3, SQ5 and SQ7 offer between 326PS and an exhilarating 435PS, and all come with quattro, Audi’s

Your brand new Huntingdon Audi is on the way. If you’ve driven past Washingley Road in Huntingdon recently you may have noticed that Huntingdon Audi is doing its best impression of a building site (diggers and cranes included)! But don’t worry, Huntingdon Audi is still very much open for business, we have just temporarily located next door to our service building whilst we build a brand new, much improved dealership. We’ve been working hard to ensure that our renovations don’t impact on your visit too much, and we would, again, like to thank you for your patience throughout these works. As you turn off the roundabout onto Washingley Road, follow the signs into the car park and towards our temporary sales reception where our lovely team are operating from, you can’t miss us! We are on hand throughout all of these renovations to answer any questions you may have, and be assured that your visit will be as smooth as always. What’s new, we hear you ask? Well, the first phase of building works has brought you a brand new service reception with a customer lounge for a much more comfortable visit, and WiFi and refreshments will be available for all customers. If you have taken time off work for your visit then we’ve got you covered. Printing facilities will be available for you to use so you can keep working should you need to.

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I am hugely excited at the prospect of offering the very latest and best standard of centre for my team to work in and for you to enjoy visiting.

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The second phase of building works has begun on the brand new sales department, which will include a 12-car showroom, so we can really show off the very best of the Audi range, a new configurator room, a shop, office space and an extended and much improved forecourt. We’re also keen to welcome a purpose built valet bay to keep your vehicle as pristine as the day you picked it up. A further two customer consultation bays, a bespoke handover bay for new vehicles and an improved parking layout will follow. Tony Cumberland, Head of Business at Huntingdon Audi commented, “Whilst I know this massive redevelopment has presented challenges for both our customers and the team who work here at Huntingdon Audi we are working hard to keep fuss to a minimum and the service offered to the highest levels you would expect. We are now half way through the project and I am hugely excited at the prospect of offering the very latest and best standard of centre for my team to work in and for you to enjoy visiting for all of your Audi related needs” In the meantime, if you do have any questions, please pop in to see the team, or contact Huntingdon Audi by phone on 01480 454545. We very much look forward to welcoming you to Huntingdon Audi and we can’t wait to show off our brand new dealership.

A pick-up with a V6 heart. You’d be forgiven for thinking that if you need a vehicle with class-leading load space and a tow capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes, then you would have to sacrifice any offering of enjoyable performance from the engine. Now, with the arrival of the new Amarok, it’s clear that compromise isn’t a word that appears in Volkswagen’s new dictionary. The latest generation V6 diesel engines in the new Amarok come with Bluemotion technology as standard, and deliver up to an impressive 224PS and 550Nm of torque, making easy work of your day-to-day tasks. Back-friendly ergoComfort seats and state of the art media and navigation systems add to the luxury of the interior, whilst a range of advanced assistance technologies ensure safety at all times. The new Amarok is easy to love so make sure you contact your local Vindis Van Centre for more information and to register your interest.

Vindis Upgrade

Motoring without the downsides. When you buy a new car from Vindis youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll join our exclusive upgrade scheme. This means we will contact you at the opportune time for you to upgrade your vehicle, which could be earlier than you think.

Your needs, your preferences, your way. You can choose to stay in your current model, or, if your circumstances have changed, opt for something bigger or smaller. You can even choose to move across our brands. The power really is in your hands.

No downsides, just simplicity and convenience. Vindis Upgrade, probably the best way of purchasing your next vehicle.

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all upsides when you upgrade.

An exciting day for one of our youngest fans.

f there’s one thing we love at the Vindis Group it’s real enthusiasm and passion. We love listening to stories from our wonderful customers, be it at events or here in our dealerships. We also really appreciate it when you send in photos of you and your new vehicles; it’s a great feeling to know that you’ve taken home the perfect car for you! One day, however, we met a family whose young son is certainly in the running for Volkswagen fan of the year after his visit to Cambridge Volkswagen with his Mum and Dad. Jack Weston, one of our Sales Executives at Cambridge noticed just how enthusiastic Julius was and decided that a special trip to Huntingdon Volkswagen, and our Head Office, was the perfect treat for him.

special indeed, with only 30 of these vehicles originally sold in the UK, so it’s definitely a treat to be able to see one of these vehicles in the flesh. Julius decided that the XL1, and its modern looks, looked very much like the Batmobile and we have to say we agree! Next stop was through the workshop to our parts department, where he had the exciting chance to make his very own personalised number plate. Perhaps one day he’ll have his very own Volkswagen to display it on! To top off a fantastic day, Julius headed upstairs to meet Jamie Vindis, (who was reminded not to forget to shake the hands of all the bears too), and was given his very own goody bag with a Vinnie the Vindis bear to add to the collection. As locals to our Cambridge dealership, they took home four Cambridge United tickets to a game of their choice which we hope they thoroughly enjoy.

That left only one thing for us to do, head down to the Batmobile… sorry, XL1, and get a brilliant photo of young Julius, his bears and his new number plate. As you can see from the picture, the happy grin on his face So, on 4th August, Julius, Mum, Dad and two suggested that it had been an afternoon well much loved Volkswagen teddy bears popped spent, and the family left promising to keep into Huntingdon Volkswagen to meet the us up to date with all their adventures in their team. After a quick look around the current new car. A huge thank you to them for joining range in the showroom Julius quickly decided us on the day, we’re sure Julius is one of the that his favourite car of the day was the head- biggest Volkswagen fans out there. Can any of turning Volkswagen XL1, which is currently you prove us wrong? Send us your stories and on display in our showroom. The XL1 is very photos at driven@vindisgroup.com!

Glenn Irwin

Life on two wheels. We spoke to British Superbike Racer Glenn Irwin about his career so far, his goals for the future, and what he thinks Ducati bring to the world of racing. 12

Photo credit: Jon Jessop Photography

As the son of the Irish motorbike racing champion Alan Irwin, it’s clear that adrenaline and speed runs in the family. Glenn, one of three racing brothers from Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, remembers his love of bikes from an early age; “I don’t remember exactly when my passion for bikes started but I did have my first bike at 3 years of age. I guess that’s where it all started, racing in our back field with lots of neighbours, including Jonathan Rea, current world superbike champion. I got into racing through my dad and family. Dad has won the most races in Irish racing history, my older brother got a motocross bike at three, before I did, and my two younger brothers have all done the same. At the dinner table we just talk bikes, bikes and more bikes.” It’s clear that the route into motorbike racing was inevitable and luckily for the Irwin family,

the talent doesn’t end with dad Alan. Beginning his climb up the ladder to the British Superbike Class, Glenn finished as a runner-up in the 2011 National Superstock 600 Championship, a class for younger riders on 600cc stock bikes. Moving forwards, he placed in the British Supersport Championship from 2012 to 2015 before moving into the British Superbike Championship in 2016. “My first race as a professional was 2015 with Gearlink Kawasaki, who were the first team to sign me without bringing sponsors to pay for my ride. I started that year with a podium and went on to take some wins, but I definitely enjoy the Superbike class the most.” Having moved to the Paul Bird Motorsport Be Wiser Ducati team for 2016, alongside teammate Shane Byrne, Glenn wasted no time in stepping onto the podium at Thruxton, a fantastic achievement for his first season in the Superbike class, we’re sure you’ll agree. With many races now behind him, we asked Glenn which circuits he enjoys the most. “To be honest, Silverstone is one of my favourite tracks, but it was round one this year and a little bit too early for me to make an impression on the superbike. The Ducati is amazing to ride, and definitely more fun than a 600!”

Photo credit: Jon Jessop Photography

ith the Vindis Group’s recent venture into the world of two wheels, and the successful opening of Ducati Cambridge and Ducati Peterborough, we couldn’t wait to delve a little deeper into the world of racing with British Superbike Racer Glenn Irwin.

podium in superbikes at Thruxton. Nobody has ever won in their debut season, so it’s what I’m targeting now.” Racing aside, we’re incredibly lucky to have both car and motorbike enthusiasts at the Vindis Group, and it was a meeting at the Almeria Circuit in Spain that started off the Vindis Group’s relationship with Glenn. Paul Andrew, our Head of Business at both of our Ducati stores, invited Glenn to join us at With the move from Kawasaki to Ducati, we the opening of our first site in Cambridge. asked Glenn what he thinks Ducati bring to the Glenn’s attendance on the day was a fantastic world of racing, and about his thoughts on the opportunity for the local biking community and current line-up. At Vindis, we love how diverse Ducati enthusiasts to really get involved in our the Ducati range is, from the retro style of the Scrambler to the addition of the XDiavel, Ducati’s new venture. Glenn adds; “It was really cool to help launch the Cambridge and Peterborough modern assault on the cruiser world. Glenn Ducati stores. I met some cool and enthusiastic agrees; “Ducati bring so much to the world of racing, like I said at Thruxton, it’s not just an iconic employees and customers.” At the beginning of 2016 we began our official sponsorship of bike but a good sounding, incredibly fast and consistent race bike. The factory in Bologna take Glenn and we’re thoroughly looking forward to working together again going forward. great pride in their machines, and I can see that through our Italian engineers. I have also met Not to be accused of not looking after those the top brass and they really do welcome you into the ‘family’. Many other manufacturers could we sponsor, we recall one day when Paul and Glenn met, and one where Paul was keen to tell learn from them.” Glenn’s bike of choice? “For sure the Scrambler appeals to me for some local us about Glenn’s newfound love of spicy food. Glenn, your side of the story? “Haha, spicy food… commuting but the Panigale is a work of art.” I like a little, perhaps one chilli on the spice guide. But Mr Andrew spiked me the last time we met. I ate a chilli for a dare and then bit into my naan bread to kill the spice, not knowing that he had placed a chilli inside that too!” Away from the racetrack, and having welcomed his son Freddie into the world in July this year, we can imagine that Glenn’s schedule just got that little bit more hectic. Of course, juggling a successful racing career with fatherhood So, is there anyone in particular that Glenn looks is nothing short of a challenge but Glenn is up to in the world of racing? He told us; “It would relishing it, taking the time to put as much effort into his new family as he does into his racing. definitely be the likes of Valentino Rossi for his “Life has got incredibly busy. I am enjoying it longevity at the top, but also Jonathan Rea, though it feels like I prioritise my time much world superbike Champion. I have seen him more. Before, I trained hard but also killed grow up from our back field, he’s definitely an some time, now it’s train harder and much more inspiration.” efficiently, race more efficiently and spend Of course, with so many exciting races under his some quality time with my family. This means the world to me, and my success couldn’t belt so far, there must be a stand out moment happen without my partner Laura.” for his career so far. Glenn tells us; “The most memorable moment has to be my debut

Photo credit: Jon Jessop Photography

Keen to get as much activity into his training regime as possible, we were keen to understand just how committed Glenn is in the lead up to a race. “My training regime is pretty tough. I won’t give away my secrets but every now and again I top up my chest, triceps, shoulder and back muscles. I do a lot of core training, a lot of reactions, squash, swimming, motocross riding and treadmill intervals. Oh, and the odd game of football. This gets fitted in a lot. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” With the British Superbike racing in full swing for the 2016 season, it’s clear that Glenn relishes the competition that this new racing class brings. “My plans for the year ahead are to continue this special moment, we are competing with some of the world’s best riders in British Superbike and coming close to beating them. More podiums would be great but a win would be a dream. I want that win.” With such success on the tracks Glenn has some wise words of advice for all those wanting to follow in his footsteps. Understanding how

difficult it can be to be successful in the world of racing, and indeed just how much commitment it takes to reach such success, Glenn tells us; “What advice would I give? To the kid, always enjoy it, work hard and let your racing do the talking. Concentrate in school, but have a plan B. Racing should be the dream so make it happen. To the parents, don’t fall into the trap of giving the kid too much too soon. Don’t buy success at a young age as having your kid work harder at a younger age will stand them in good stead for when they’re older. Also, it’s important to never ever live your dream through your child.” Glenn continues; “Thanks to the Vindis Group for having me do this interview, it’s an honour to carry such a successful brand on the arms of my race leathers, thank you.” The pleasure has been all ours Glenn, and we hope you’ll join us in wishing him the best of luck in the upcoming racing season, and health and happiness to his young family. We hope to join Glenn again soon, so make sure you join us on our website and social media to keep up to date with all the latest Vindis Ducati news.

The Motability Scheme. If you rely on Motability, rely on Vindis. What is the Motability scheme? Launched back in 1978 the Motability scheme offers people with disabilities the option to lease a vehicle by exchanging some or all of their mobility allowance. It’s a great way of ensuring that you keep mobile and many adaptations come at no extra cost to the owner. The Motability scheme takes the pressure off car ownership, with the hire fee including vehicle tax, maintenance and insurance amongst a range of other benefits. And, if you’re joining the scheme for the first time you can even choose to part-exchange your current vehicle. Organising your next Motability vehicle is easy, so don’t be afraid to give us a call and chat to our Motability Specialists about your options.

What vehicles can I get on the scheme? Whether you’re looking for a vehicle with minor adaptations, or need something with a lot of space, there are plenty of options to ensure that you stay as mobile now as you always have been. Motability is currently available on Audi, ŠKODA and Volkswagen and you can search through available models on the Vindis Group website by visiting www.vindisgroup.com/motability. Amongst a range of information on the scheme, we’ve also got a range of examples to view, detailing any advance payments if applicable, and full terms and conditions. From three door city cars to large 5 door SUVs, we guarantee to have a car to suit. Alternatively, call your local Vindis showroom, (details can be found on the back of this magazine) and ask to speak to the Motability Specialist. We’re always happy to help so get in touch for an informal chat.

Am I eligible to join? If you receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, the Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of the Personal Independence Payment, the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or the Armed Forces Independence Payment then you are eligible to join the scheme. All you need to do is ensure that you have at least 12 months’ award remaining. There is no upper age limit for joining the scheme and parents can join the scheme on behalf of children who have been awarded an allowance. If you yourself do not drive, but do require a Motability vehicle, you can nominate up to two drivers. Please note that nominated drivers under 25 can only drive vehicles in the lower ABI insurance groups and with a brake horsepower of 115BHP or less.

What are Advanced Payments? An Advanced Payment is sometimes required on vehicles where your mobility allowance does not cover the cost of leasing the vehicle. This usually includes vehicles that are much larger and of a higher initial specification. This is a one-off, non-refundable fixed payment at the start of your contract. Many of the vehicles in the range do not require an Advanced Payment so take a good look across the range to choose the best option for you and your family.

What is covered? When you lease a car on the Motability scheme, ownership of that vehicle will be all wrapped up in one worry-free package. The scheme covers a range of benefits to make your life easier including: • • • • • •

A 60,000 mileage allowance over three years. Routine service and maintenance covered by our highly trained technicians at our Vindis Group retailers. This means you get peace-of-mind from receiving unexpected repair bills. Specialist breakdown service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from RAC Motability Assist. Vehicle insurance, similar to what you would expect under a fully comprehensive policy. Many adaptations at no extra cost to the vehicle owner. Vehicle tax is included.

What isn’t covered? • • • •

Fuel and consumables such as screen wash. Certain adaptations. (Please speak to our specialists for more details). Any optional extras on your vehicle that are not standard on your chosen model. Insurance claims where there is a £75 minimum excess on any claim for loss or damage.

Vindis Motability specialists. When you visit your local Vindis showroom, we’ll go out of our way to ensure that your experience is as easy and stress-free as you’d expect. That’s why we have specially trained Motability specialists who can match you with your perfect car, and organise any adaptations that may be needed. Our dealerships are easily accessible and, should you require, our specialists can also provide home visits to discuss your next or your current vehicle. If you have any questions about the scheme or would like to have a chat about any vehicles or adaptations available, please get in touch. We look forward to matching you with your next Motability vehicle.

Plug in to the futurE the new Audi q7 e-tron Audi’s SUV range is the most extensive of all our brands here at Vindis. Amongst a range of Q models, and the addition of S and RS models to suit those looking for performance, the line-up now boasts the very latest in hybrid technology with the Audi Q7 e-tron.

customisable display offers high resolution graphics including navigation, fuel consumption, phone services and media, on top of the usual speedometer and rev counter (all fully digital of course). Further e-tron specific information can be viewed by the driver.

The Q7 e-tron is the first e-tron model provided with quattro, Audi’s permanent all-wheel drive, which provides grip in all weather conditions. Featuring a 3.0litre diesel engine, with 258PS, and an electric motor with a range of up to 34 miles, the Q7 e-tron delivers the performance you’d expect with the economy you wouldn’t; the beauty is in its versatility. In order to remain as efficient as possible energy is recovered through coasting and braking recuperation, turning kinetic energy into electrical energy to charge the battery. Furthermore, the Q7 is fitted with a thermal heat management system, a revolutionary heat pump which recycles waste heat from the motor, which can then be used to heat the cabin without draining the battery. When it comes to charging, plug in to a public charging point or optional home wallbox and you’ll be ready to go in as little as two and a half hours.

Of course, we wouldn’t let you just take our word for it. Auto Express described the vehicle as “quiet, comfortable and supremely relaxing to drive”, saying “the Audi Q7 e-tron does everything you could ask of a premium SUV.” Car Magazine further added “the Q7 e-tron is a convincing application of current plug-in hybrid technology, very refined, sleek inside and tidy to drive.”

The technology in the new Q7 e-tron doesn’t stop there, as the luxurious five seater comes with Audi’s brilliant Virtual Cockpit as standard. This fully

The vehicle comes with enough equipment to keep even the most discerning drivers happy, with a dedicated smartphone app to remotely start the vehicle and climate control amongst a range of exciting features, heated, electrically adjustable front seats, rain and light sensors, hill descent and hill hold assist, voice control, 10 speakers and cruise control as standard. Ready to join the world of e-tron? Visit our dedicated e-tron centre, Northampton Audi for more information and to book yourself a test drive.

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A day in the life...

Meet Alison Gillan, one of our Group Stock Controllers at our Head Office in Huntingdon

Hi Alison! Firstly, please tell us a little bit about yourself. I started with Vindis in May 2014 and I am one of five Group Stock Controllers within the Vindis Group. I have been in the motor trade for seven years with roles including Sales Executive, Administrator and Stock Control. Outside of work I spend a lot of time with my boyfriend, family and friends and of course our dog Olly. I enjoy watching Football, Formula 1, Speedway and many other sports. I also enjoy baking cakes, which my work colleagues test out for me to let me know if they are any good! (Well, it’s a tough job Alison, but someone’s got to do it!)

What did you do prior to your role as a Group Stock Controller? Before I was a stock controller I spent four years as a Vehicle Administrator for Volkswagen, specialising in New and Used Volkswagens and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Prior to this I was a Sales Executive in the motor trade. I started at Vindis as a Stock Controller focusing on the advertising of our used and demo vehicles on the internet. From here I went on to coordinating our Company Car Scheme and then onto stock ordering.

What do you enjoy the most about your current role? I enjoy the variety my role gives me. My main duty on a day to day basis is ordering new car stock for Audi, Volkswagen and ŠKODA. As you can imagine, it is fun putting all the different options together to build the ‘perfect’ car. From the colours, to the options, to the wheels and interior. During our busiest months (March and September when the new plates arrive) I also help other areas of the department with uploading used and demo cars, Live Chat and aiding in dealer transfer requests from other Audi and Volkswagen dealerships in the country, who require our cars for their customers.

What would you say the most challenging part of your job is? The most challenging part of my role is making sure I keep up to date with new information on our models and current customer trends. We order vehicles up to four months in advance so it is vitally important we are constantly checking and amending our stock to ensure that we have the right vehicles based on our enquiries and what customers are asking for. It makes the whole car buying experience smooth and easy when visiting any one of our dealerships. I try to visit each site as often as I can to gauge the views of the sales teams and managers on how they feel certain models and options are being viewed by our customers.

Can you give us a brief ‘day in the life’ of a Group Stock Controller? A day in the life of a Group Stock Controller starts at 8.30am when I run brand reports to distinguish any vehicles that have been built that need to be transported to the dealerships. I do this for all of our Audi and Volkswagen sites. I then check to make sure we have the relevant vehicles on site to maintain brand standards for showroom, including demonstrator vehicles, and report this to brand. After this I focus on the ordering of the stock. I get reports from the relevant brands which tell me the different models I am able to order, and how many of each one we have allocation for. From this, I can order the cars the dealerships require, making sure I have a variety of colours and specs to fit any customers’ needs and brand targets. Throughout the day I am in constant communication with the sites around any new models that have been launched or any changes that need making on cars. I also spend a lot of time on the brand websites researching and learning new information so that I am able to answer any questions posed to me regarding the different models and options.

Can you tell us about some of the vehicles you have specced? Are there any features that are particularly popular? On average I order around 10,000 cars per year of varying brands, colours and models. This makes the role exciting, with no two vehicles being the same! Each model has its own different features and options that are popular. For example, Audi released the Virtual Cockpit in the last year or so on a few different models, and we have found that this is very popular with both our customers and our employees across the group. This can be found on the A4, TT, Q7, the new A3 and also the Volkswagen Tiguan, where the instrument dials are replacement with a computer screen, so this offers our customers a thoroughly modern driving experience. My favourite car that I have ordered was an RS3 Sportback in Ultra Violet, which is a colour usually found on the Volkswagen Scirocco. It had quite a few options on it including a silver leather interior, Black Styling Pack with black alloy wheels, and an upgraded Bang & Olufsen sound system amongst others. I saw this vehicle when it arrived at our Northampton Audi dealership and it was stunning! Safe to say it wasn’t there long!

What would you say your favourite paint colour is? My favourite colour is definitely Kingfisher Blue. It is a very bright, light blue so it has great impact when you see it driving down the road. I have ordered this colour on a few of our high performance models and it has proved popular with our customers and staff alike.

You’ve got an unlimited budget for any vehicle across the Vindis Group. What would you pick and why? I would pick the new TTRS which is due for launch towards the end of 2016. There is a lot of anticipation around this car and from the pictures that have been released to us from brand, we know this will be very popular! If we can get this in Kingfisher Blue this would be my perfect car.

Vindis in print. A step back to the beginning.

As a group we’re particularly proud of our history in the the local community, and our humble beginnings in Sawston, Cambridgeshire, in 1960. We began life as a small Volkswagen and Audi dealership, founded by Frantisek ‘Frank’ Vindis who had a lifelong passion for cars. Frank spent his early life in the military, finding his way from the Czech Air Force, to the Foreign Legion and finally to the RAF in 1940. Escaping plane crashes and World War II alive Frank decided to call time on his military career and embarked upon an exciting venture in the motor industry. Trading under the family name, and making sure to instil his own very important family values into the business, the rest, as they say, is history. In 1960 Volkswagen were gaining popularity in the UK having imported their 50,000th car and selling on average 16,000 annually. Over time, and with the addition of a number of exciting brands to the Volkswagen Group, the company now sees global success in 153 countries, with over 10 million sales in 2015 alone. As a result, the Vindis Group has grown too, starting in Sawston, where happily we still reside to this day, spreading across six counties, and seeing our recent ventures with Ducati at Cambridge and Peterborough. It’s always great to take a look back at where we started and just how things have changed, so we’ve dug through the archives to bring back some of the very first press adverts and special moments from those early years.

Take a look below at a photograph of what was our second dealership on Station Road in St. Ives,. The image to the right is our opening advert for the site in 1971, when we were joined by actor Lionel Jeffries! Although this dealership has since moved, we still reside in the area with our Commercial Vehicles retailer!

This image is an advert for what were some of our latest vehicles, including the Audi 80 which started at just £5,772! The Audi 80 was launched in 1972, designed to mirror the style and image of the popular Audi 100. It was of a higher standard both inside and out, and had ground breaking new engineering, with a power output ranging from 54 to 84BHP. It was a resounding success and earnt itself the European New Car of the Year award in 1973. It also benefited from Audi’s new EA827 engine, which would go on to become the most produced in the Group’s history. It was soon offered with fuel injection to power the Audi 80 GTE (launched in 1975) which came with 108BHP. This engine was later installed in the Volkswagen Golf to create the iconic GTi. Any Audi A4 owners out there have the Audi 80 to thank as its direct predecessor!

These images show the parts department and one of the latest VAG diagnosis machines in the workshop. (We’re happy to say the technology in our workshops now looks a little different to this!) As part of a special, double page feature in the local newspaper this article describes the renovation and opening of the St. Ives dealership. The article reads: “The Audi dealership was offered to [Frank] in 1971 and it was not long before they were joined by Volkswagen in offering the franchise to the firm. They have never looked back since.” Nigel Vindis, (who we can see at the front of the Volkswagen to the right of the article), joined the family business in 1971, having sold his first car at just eight years old. He took up the story with the local reporter: “VAG realised that the St Ives/ Huntingdon area was an open point for their sales and service and they offered the franchise to us because we have proved that we really care about our customers. All we had to do was find a suitable site for our customers which was easily accessible and convenient. We eventually found it… in the form of a British Rail goods shed! The article continues: “We intend to run both branches as a family team... We are going to make sure that our back-up service continues to be as good, if not better than before. Afterall, we never think of ourselves as just a garage.”

Audi Showcase 2016 We arrived at Rockingham Motor Speedway early on a very windy but sunny morning in early August. Pulling into the car park we saw two lines of vehicles, ready and waiting to be collected by our guests for a test drive. Inside, we joined up with the Audi Events Team to prepare for one of our favourite events in the Vindis calendar, the Audi Showcase.

of technology and assistance systems available in each car.

The unaccompanied test drives offered pre-set routes to our guests, which took into account a range of different roads to really show off what the Audi range could do. Our drivers had a full hour to really test out their cars, and we waited back at base to hear their thoughts once they With our first guests arriving at the registration returned from their Audi experience. As each desk, they booked themselves onto the Wet Grip family drove back through the gates, the smiling course and collected the keys to their test drive. faces said it all. There’s nothing really like getting

We made sure they all had a hearty breakfast before they set off, with our catering team on hand to serve up delicious bacon rolls and fresh fruit. Everyone took the chance to take a look at the vehicles on display inside; an eye-catching Q5 with beautiful Porsche Riviera Blue paint and the brand new, sleek S5 Coupe.

out on the open road to get comfortable in a new car, to test out the vehicle’s handling on exciting roads, and the thrilling power available on the motorway! It was fantastic to see so many of our guests bringing their children, who we know are always the most honest when it comes to new cars! One young man decided that the Audi TTS outside on display was his Then there was only one thing to do, and that car of choice, and it just happened to be in his was wave goodbye to the first group, who favourite colour too! Despite his Dad’s insistence jumped into a range of vehicles from the on testing a more sensible family vehicle, in the compact A1 Sportback and sporty S3 Cabriolet, form of the compact Q3 SUV, we couldn’t let him to the luxuriously elegant A8, Audi’s flagship leave without seeing what the Audi Sport range executive saloon. With such a varied range could do. One of our Sales Executives decided of guests amongst us, all looking for different that it was only fair to let him jump in the front of things in their next Audi, we made sure we had the TTS, fold down the roof and make the most enough hands on deck to explain the wide range of his experience at the Audi Showcase.

At the other side of Rockingham Speedway another experience was taking place. The Wet Grip course was run by a team of our trusted pro-drivers and is a fantastic way of learning some expert tips on what to do when your tyres lose traction on a wet or slippery road surface. Having tested the track for ourselves first thing in the morning, we couldn’t wait to get our first group down there, as the information learnt is invaluable. With water jets obscuring your view, and a kick plate to simulate a spin situation we hope our guests left this experience with an understanding of how to regain control of their car, and a newfound confidence should the worst ever happen. Thankfully, all those on the Wet Grip soon got the hang of how to get themselves out of a tricky situation and were soon gliding (reasonably) gracefully along the course as we listened to the squealing tyres of a local car club speeding around the Oval Circuit around us. It was an exciting experience, and we don’t think you can ever beat a visit to the local track! As the late afternoon sun began to set, and we said goodbye to the last of our guests, we were all pleased that the weather had held out for another fantastic day at the Audi Showcase. A favourite amongst our employees too we’re already thinking about what we can do to make 2017 even bigger and better. Of course, next year we’ll have a whole new range of exciting vehicles including the Audi Q2, which we know will be a popular choice for families. This leaves us owing all those who attended the day a huge thank you, it was great meeting so many of you again. Here’s to next year!

The new online home of the Vindis Group.

With the recent renovation of more than a few of our dealerships, we thought it was only fair to continue these renovations online and the decision was made to bring you a brand new vindisgroup.com. As our online home, and the first point of call for many of our new customers, we decided that the time had come to show off a brand new look, and include some new features on our website that you won’t have seen on our old one. So, what’s changed? For those of you who have already visited us online, you’ll notice that the

website has a revamped new look; our new home page is more modern, more responsive and far more intuitive, which makes it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for, every time. Our homepage is also the lively hub of our website, and where you can, if you scroll down the page, see what we’ve been up to both on and offline. Our Facebook and Twitter highlights will be visible, our events pages will be posted here, and any recent news and reviews will be available to see. It means that you’ll never miss an offer or an exciting new model release again.

We’ve also added a handy drop down menu at the top right of the page, where you can quickly access all of the main pages on our website. Whether you’re looking to book a service, visit the Vindis on Demand videos, or just want to look at our careers page, it’s all there in front of you. One of our favourite additions to the website is our virtual garage, where you can add as many vehicles as you like for future reference, (or

perhaps you would like to put together your dream garage, we’re guilty of that too!) Simply add vehicles into the garage by clicking the ‘add to garage’ symbol to the right of the page, and, if you’re still undecided, you can simply reopen your browser at a later date and they’ll be right there waiting for you. It’s a great way of keeping track of any particular vehicles you like or comparing a few options across our brands, if you really can’t decide.

There are so many new features, it would be impossible to explain them all here! Make sure you visit vindisgroup.com to take a look around. And, if there’s anything you would like to tell us, send us an email at driven@vindisgroup.com with your thoughts, we always enjoy hearing from you. In the meantime, we hope you love our new online home as much as we do, your perfect match might be just a click away.

The Bentley Cambridge experience. With such an incredible range of cars across our sites you’ll forgive the petrol heads amongst us for getting excited when we get the chance to take some of our vehicles off the road and really put them to the test. That’s exactly what happened when we organised the Bentley Cambridge Experience back in July, for some of our customers to come along and see just what these vehicles are capable of.

were on hand to explain the clever technology in each vehicle, offering up some fantastic driving tips for our groups.

An old favourite made an appearance at one end of the runway, in which we not only test the driving skills of our guests, but their nerves and trust too! The task was seemingly easy; navigate around our coned off route, avoiding all obstacles. Simple? Now try it blindfolded, with only your carefully chosen partner next to We set up our Vindis marquee, ready to keep up with the demand of tea, coffee and you for instructions. It’s harder than you think! biscuits and then welcomed our first group of We have to say we were impressed with the guests, who we organised into groups, before navigation and driving of all, although a few chauffeuring them over to our very own private cones did become casualties in the early laps. runway. Our pro-drivers each took a team and

At the opposite end of the runway was one of our favourite challenges of the day. We had racked our brains to think of a challenge that was not only a lot of fun, but a learning experience for our customers too. The 0-100 challenge was born, aptly named The Great British Brake Off. This challenge was designed to highlight the difference in stopping distance and time between standard steel and ceramic brakes. Our guests jumped into both vehicles, setting off to 100mph before braking hard back to a standstill. It’s fair to say we were all amazed at just how effective the carbon ceramic brakes were on our Bentley Continental GT V8 S, making a noticeable difference to the already highly capable steel brakes.

team and the incredible Bentley Speed 8, won the 2003 Le Mans 24 Hour Race, a prestigious endurance race requiring ability and reliability from both car and driver. With such talent amongst us it was only fair that we let Guy loose on our guests for some hair-raising drives down the runway. With a race to the bottom and a slalom back to the top, Guy showed us what the cars are capable of in the hands of an expert, demonstrating their incredible grip in the slalom and raw power on the straight run.

We hope that everyone who joined us had a fantastic day out, despite the British weather having a good go at raining on our parade! We know that many of our customers discovered new things about their cars that they never A slalom course completed our morning knew they had, and as we all said goodbye activities, allowing our teams to test out the and brought the day to a close we all agreed handling ability of our vehicles around the cones, the figure of 8 loop and ‘parking space’. that the Bentley Cambridge Experience had been a success. Here’s to next time! Timed by our pro-drivers, we loved seeing just how competitive our teams were, (not that they’d admit it of course!) By mid-morning we had been joined by Bentley racing driver, Guy Smith, who couldn’t wait to get involved with one of our afternoon challenges. Racing for Team Bentley, Guy, his

If you’re looking for a small car with a big personality, then Volkswagen’s latest range might be just what you’ve been searching for. Teaming up with Beats Audio, an icon of the music world, Volkswagen have launched the special edition up! beats and Polo beats, offering an incredible 300W sound system alongside a sporty new look, which is guaranteed to hit all the right notes. The up! beats and Polo beats are each instantly recognisable from their red wing mirrors, tinted glass and exterior styling features including beats lower door decals. The up!’s new 15” ‘Radial’ alloys come with red wheel centre caps whilst the Polo benefits from brand new 16” ‘Syenit’ alloys. Standard features on the range include DAB digital radio, a 300W Beats sound system, red trimmed front and rear carpet mats, colour-coordinated seatbelts, interior chrome trim, Hill Hold function… the list goes on! Each model further comes with its own unique features to ensure you stand out from the crowd and the rest of the range, and we know you’ll love the interior quality and driveability whilst enjoying your favourite music on the sound system. It’s the closest you’ll get to that live music buzz whilst out on the road. The up! beats was launched on the back of the brand new facelifted Volkswagen up! range, which has already received a full 5-star rating from Auto Express, and a win from the Telegraph Car Awards. One of Volkswagen’s bestselling vehicles the new up! now offers a 1.0 litre turbo engine which provides improved performance and efficiency, and a range of eye-catching new colours. The up! beats and Polo beats are the city cars of choice for the discerning driver, and both are already proving to be popular choices. So if you’re a music lover looking to make a big impression on the road be sure to check out the Volkswagen beats range, and of course if you would like to book a test drive please contact your local Vindis Volkswagen retailer.

Small cars. Big sound.

The up! beats and Polo beats

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Ducati Ducati Cambridge 01223 317959 Ducati Peterborough 01733 599959

ŠKODA Vindis ŠKODA Bury St. Edmunds 01284 732160 Vindis ŠKODA Cambridge 01223 507507 Bentley Bentley Cambridge 01223 423515

Vindis Group Fleet 01480 416900 Cambridge TPS Centre Bishop’s Stortford TPS Centre 01223 219100