Ignition December 2013

Ignition Issue 18 Dec 2013

Car views and news by FleetNews

First drive: Ford Ecosport

Stylish and sporty, but in short supply GO Ford fans face a wait for the Fiesta-based SUV ●

All the latest Fleet sales set to GO pass 1 million mark cars tested ● Reports include BMW i3 Range Fleet share of market on GO ● track to fall to 47.5% for 2013

Extender and VW Passat R Line

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F IR S T DRI V E

RIDING HIGH AND GOING FAST Ford has just 4,000 Ecosports to sell in the UK in 2014

FORD ECOSPORT NEED TO KNOW

■ Sturdy appearance ■ Spacious interior ■ Commanding driving position

B

1.5 TDCi TITANIUM

By Maurice Glover ritain’s biggest car brand is likely to find itself short of supply when its next model is launched in spring. Ford of Britain has been given access to just 4,000 of the Ecosport – expected to be its biggest contender in the burgeoning SUV sector – to sell during 2014.

Developed in Brazil and built in India as part of Ford's moves to manufacture global products, the Ecosport is set for a major role in the showroom as the smaller brother of the smash-hit Kuga SUV launched in May. But demand across Europe means UK customers could face lengthy delivery delays for the latest high-riding, boldly styled alternative to the small family hatchback.

“This type of car seems to have hit the spot with lots of motorists everywhere and B-segment SUV registrations in the UK have shot from under 10,000 three years ago to 75,000 this year,” said Ford marketing director Anthony Ireson.

“But the factory is working flat out and 4,000 units is the maximum volume we can expect to receive over the next 12 months. It took less than 48 hours for 120 limited edition versions to be snapped up when they were offered on Facebook a few weeks ago, so we are very confident about the commercial viability of this car.

“All the indications are that we can achieve volumes way ahead of our allocation, so we’re trying hard to obtain supply more in line with sales of between 15,000 and 20,000 in 2015.”

first drive

Tested this month

sales figures

fuel prices

OUR FLEET

coming soon

Ground clearance is eight inches

The EcoSport comes with voice control for in-car features New IS is more comfortable than before An eight-inch ground clearance and a wading depth of up to 20 inches promises to make the Ecosport more capable away from smooth roads than the Fiesta on which it is based and a tall stance and rear door-mounted spare wheel give it the rugged looks of an off-roader. However, that’s as far as it goes – in Europe, it has front-wheel drive only.

“We think this car will appeal to a professionals in their early 30s who want stylish, sporty transport that is practical but have no ambitions to drive into the wilderness,” said Ireson.

Standing on 16-inch alloy wheels, the five-door Titanium has a comprehensive specification that includes climate control, tyre pressure monitoring, a multifunction steering wheel, all power windows, keyless entry with push-button start, fog lights, trip computer, rake and reach steering, a height and lumbar adjust driver’s seat and rake adjust rear seats. Like other Fords, it comes with voice control for in-car features and is the first model to use it for mobile apps that include the Spotify music streaming service.

Despite the lack of stop-start, the Ecosport is at its most frugal with the latest 1.5-litre turbodiesel motor under its stubby bonnet, but the trade-off is gentle acceleration, although the unit is commendably quiet at cruising speeds. Despite its raised height, body roll stays in check during spirited progress with revised steering and damper settings promoting good roadholding.

For its overall dimensions, this is a spacious model with comfortable seating for five and said to have more generous leg and headroom than rivals that include the Nissan Juke, Vauxhall Mokka and Renault Captur. Load capacity ranges from 310 litres to 1,238 litres.

costs P11D price £16,440 BIK tax band 19% Annual BIK tax (20%) £625 Class 1A NIC £431 Annual VED £0 then £30 RV (4yr/80k) £5,450/33% Fuel cost 10.21ppm Running cost 27.2ppm

spec Engine (cc) 1,498 Power (hp) 90 CO2 (g/km) 120 Fuel economy (mpg) 61.4 Max speed (mph) 99 0-62mph (sec) 14

To compare running costs, click here

T e s t ed t his mon t h

Volkswagen Passat 1.4 TSI R Line

The Volkswagen Passat R Line was introduced as a sportier, more stylish addition to the range.

Styling changes include LED daytime running lights with xenon headlamps, larger 18-inch alloy wheels and a discreet spoiler on the boot lid.

For the same price as the Passat Highline, the R Line also rides 15mm lower than the more comfort-oriented models.

These items give it more kerbside appeal and make it stand out more against some of its newer rivals. The sporty additions do come at some cost, however.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

BMW i3 Range Extender

If you like the idea of electric vehicles, but a useable range of around 80 miles or so just isn’t quite enough, then a range-extender could be a feasible alternative.

We’ve already said the BMW i3 is the best electric vehicle produced to date based on time spent behind the wheel of the standard version.

The cost to customers of adding a two-cylinder motorcycle engine is £3,150.

It adds an extra 86 miles to the i3’s range of between 80 and 100 miles (depending on road and traffic conditions as well as driving style).

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Nissan Juke 1.5 dCi N-Tec

It’s three years since Nissan launched the Juke, the smaller crossover companion to its hugelysuccessful Qashqai, but it still manages to look different to anything else on the road today.

When I first spotted a white one in my rear-view mirror I wondered if NASA’s next-generation moon buggy was coming up behind me. In darker colours it’s a little more subdued.

When the Qashqai first launched in 2007 it spawned a trend for compact crossovers among company car drivers so it’s no surprise that the Juke is also proving popular.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

first drive

tested this month

Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer

sales figures

fuel prices

OUR FLEET

coming soon

Vauxhall has found many admirers of its revised Insignia since the upper-medium challenger was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Currently the best-selling car in its class, the Insignia has been praised for its fuel economy and performance, factors that have helped sales of the model rise 60% over the past 12 months.

A good time, then, to introduce a stablemate to the Insignia, and look to gain more customers in areas outside the standard car’s core target market. Enter the Insignia Country Tourer.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Mercedes E300 Bluetec Hybrid

Mercedes-Benz could be on to a good thing with the E-Class Bluetec Hybrid.

It’s still the only diesel hybrid in the executive car sector, and performance is kind of a halfway house between the 204hp E250 CDI and the 265hp E350 Bluetec, but fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are the lowest of any E-Class model.

The E-Class underwent an extensive mid-life facelift earlier this year. It has a more aggressive front-end and the adoption of the larger grillemounted three-pointed star logo as standard across both SE and AMG Line model series.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Seat Leon ST 2.0 TDI FR

The Leon is proving to be a significant car for Seat. Its previous two generations have been offered only as a five-door hatchback, but the latest version was planned with multiple body styles from its inception.

Seat has long offered a compact estate car in the Ibiza ST and, for a few years at least, it produced a medium-sized estate car in the Exeo ST. In fact, the new Leon ST has a much more practical and roomier luggage compartment.

For a start, the minimum luggage capacity is 587 litres – 145 litres greater than the Exeo ST. CLICK HERE FOR MORE

f l ee t s a l e s f igure s

Sales set to break one million mark Vauxhall leads the way as sector is on target to increase 4.4% year-on-year

A

By Jay Nagley, Redspy Automotive t 79,968, fleet registrations rose by a modest 3.4% compared to a rise in the overall car market of 7%.

That meant the fleet proportion dropped to 50.1%, a couple of percentage points below where it was in November 2012. That has been the pattern throughout the year: 2013 is likely to end with the fleet proportion around 47.5%, which would be 2.6 percentage points below the figure for 2012. In unit terms, the fleet market should hit 1.07 million for the whole of 2013, which would be a rise of 4.4% compared to last year.

At a manufacturer level, Ford dropped 9.3% in November, mostly because of the Focus, which is about as much as Vauxhall rose – 8.6%, largely due to the Zafira Tourer.

BMW had a good month with a rise of 12.5%. That has enabled it to open a large enough gap (more than 2,000 units) to make it unlikely that Audi can overtake it for the full year. However, retail sales of the A1 have put Audi ahead in total sales.

The third German prestige brand, Mercedes-Benz, has been performing strongly, with sales up more than 20% for both the month and the year. However, it is still a fair way behind its two rivals and its publiclystated aim to become the No1 premium brand looks a stretch. Mercedes was talking globally, but the

Vauxhall Zafira Tourer

Audi A1

Fiat 500L

picture in the rest of the world is similar, with Audi and BMW still well ahead.

The Germans’ main rival in the UK, Jaguar Land Rover, had a quiet month. Land Rover is still up for the year (+11.3%), but Jaguar was down for both the month and the year. The big hope is that the lower emission XF diesel, due next year with CO2 emissions of 129g/km, can finally lead to a breakthrough in the four-cylinder executive segment.

Among the volume manufacturers, one of the highest rates of growth has come from Fiat (+51.2% YTD), with the increase coming equally from the 500 and the new 500L. Combined with the Panda, they now account for 85% of total Fiat fleet sales.

At the other end of the scale is Chevrolet, which was down 34.2% for the year, even before its imminent demise was announced. The withdrawal of Chevrolet might lead others to think it leaves a gap in the market for them, but with fewer than 5,000 sales so far this year, it is not much of a gap at which to aim.

first drive

Manufacturer

Vauxhall Ford Volkswagen BMW Audi Mercedes-Benz Nissan Peugeot Hyundai CitroĂŤn Renault Kia Skoda Toyota Fiat Volvo Seat Mini Honda Land Rover Mazda Jaguar Lexus Suzuki Chevrolet Alfa Romeo Mitsubishi Jeep Porsche Dacia Subaru Smart Bentley Chrysler Aston Martin SsangYong Other Total

fleet 2013

12,413 11,901 6,555 6,012 4,716 4,060 3,905 3,567 3,065 2,971 2,727 2,403 2,332 2,013 1,781 1,707 1,359 1,320 1,226 997 845 416 342 342 202 214 104 86 84 66 60 42 29 25 19 14 48 79,968

driven this month

November fleet 2012

11,429 13,120 7,295 5,346 4,381 3,314 4,045 4,080 3,485 2,698 1,877 2,998 1,754 2,475 677 1,444 1,282 1,165 900 1,200 241 557 223 212 274 142 64 62 63 0 25 335 51 47 19 27 24 77,331

sales figures

% change

fuel prices

fleet 2013

OUR FLEET

YTD fleet 2012

coming soon

% change

8.61% 129,989 125,224 3.81% -9.29% 145,526 148,069 -1.72% -10.14% 96,106 96,645 -0.56% 12.46% 69,723 68,837 1.29% 7.65% 67,403 64,412 4.64% 22.51% 52,698 43,780 20.37% -3.46% 52,475 47,963 9.41% -12.57% 54,385 55,866 -2.65% -12.05% 37,956 36,298 4.57% 10.12% 34,997 30,318 15.43% 45.29% 16,130 15,413 4.65% -19.85% 31,366 31,909 -1.70% 32.95% 26,594 21,865 21.63% -18.67% 32,263 31,379 2.82% 163.07% 19,181 12,683 51.23% 18.21% 20,084 17,692 13.52% 6.01% 18,732 18,242 2.69% 13.30% 15,511 17,894 -13.32% 36.22% 22,080 19,745 11.83% -16.92% 14,616 13,136 11.27% 250.62% 9,745 6,123 59.15% -25.31% 6,542 6,678 -2.04% 53.36% 4,214 3,917 7.58% 61.32% 5,561 4,915 13.14% -26.28% 4,887 7,426 -34.19% 50.70% 1,815 3,157 -42.51% 62.50% 1,995 1,248 59.86% 38.71% 889 856 3.86% 33.33% 1,012 801 26.34% 0.00% 476 0 0.00% 140.00% 690 750 -8.00% -87.46% 1,560 2,072 -24.71% -43.14% 366 398 -8.04% -46.81% 1,403 1,284 9.27% 0.00% 284 322 -11.80% -48.15% 223 313 -28.75% 100.00% 589 911 -35.35% 3.41% 1,000,066 958,541 4.33%

F uel p rice s

6

8

13

1 BIRMINGHAM Diesel 137.74 Unleaded 130.17 LPG 66*

6 EDINBURGH Diesel 138.3 Unleaded 130.46 LPG 72.23

2 BRIGHTON Diesel 138.25 Unleaded 130.58 LPG N/A

7 EXETER Diesel 138.69 Unleaded 131.13 LPG 75.9

3 CAMBRIDGE Diesel 139.83 Unleaded 132.09 LPG 73.65

8 GLASGOW Diesel 135.9* Unleaded 130.76 LPG N/A

4 CARDIFF Diesel 137.54 Unleaded 130.74 LPG 79.9**

9 LEEDS Diesel 139.4 Unleaded 131.6 LPG 66.9

5 DERBY Diesel 139.1 Unleaded 128.9 LPG N/A

10 LIVERPOOL Diesel 136.17 Unleaded 128.83* LPG N/A 11 LONDON Diesel 137.57 Unleaded 130.02 LPG 74.9

9

10 12

5 1 4 7

13 3 11 2

12 MANCHESTER Diesel 140.34** Unleaded 130.1 LPG 70.57 13 NEWCASTLE Diesel 137.7 Unleaded 130.19 LPG 68.9 14 NORWICH Diesel 138.29 Unleaded 132.18** LPG N/A

For full UK fuel price figures Click here * Cheapest ** Most expensive

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our f lee t

AUDI A3 sportback

1.6 TDI SE

Classy hatchback continues to show its 'caring side' with driver alerts Need to know

n Ample room for passengers n Overall test fuel economy of 57.5mpg

costs P11D price £22,320 BIK tax band 14% Annual BIK tax (20%) £625 Class 1A NIC £431 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £7,375/33% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.48 AFR (ppm) 12 Running cost (4yr/80k) 31.3ppm

spec Engine (cc) 1,598 Power (bhp) 147 Torque lb-ft 236 CO2 (g/km) 99 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 74.3 Max speed (mph) 121 0-62mph (sec) 10.9 Test mpg 57.5 Current mileage 8,479 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous A3 Sportback tests

The media screen is positioned in the ideal place

T

By Andrew Ryan he A3 has continued to show its 'caring' side over the past few weeks with two new driver alerts.

Last month I reported that it had offered to use its satellite navigation system to direct me to the nearest filling station when it was running low on fuel.

This month, the most useful alert has been that the windscreen washer fluid needed topping up – a very important thing to know, particularly at this time of year when a combination of low sun and dirt thrown up from vehicles makes it vital to be able to clean your windscreen regularly while driving.

The second alert told me that the battery charge on my phone, which I've connected to the media system by Bluetooth to use both as an MP3 player and a hands-free phone, is low.

This is obviously far less important than knowing you need to top up the washer fluid, but it’s nice to know the car is looking out for me.

During my time with the A3, it has not missed a beat. The cabin is a classy place to both drive and travel in with ample room in the rear for both adults and children.

The pop-up media screen is a particular highlight for me. When the ignition is off, the screen is hidden in the dashboard which gives it a 'clean', spacious feel.

With the ignition on and the screen up, it's the ideal height to glance at, meaning you don't have to take your eye off the road for more than a splitsecond to see the information you're after.

first drive

Tested this month

sales figures

fuel prices

honda cr-v

OUR FLEET

coming soon

1.6 i-dtec se-t

Lightweight SUV gives fleet-friendly emissions and fuel consumption

H

By Gareth Roberts onda billed the launch of its 1.6-litre i-DTEC engine as an exciting new chapter in its history and now, having found it a home in the CR-V, the manufacturer is able to offer an SUV with fleet appeal.

The CR-V boasts some of the lowest fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in the sector, at 62.8mpg and 119g/km respectively, equating to 18% benefit in kind for a 20% taxpayer.

Having achieved a test mpg of 51.3, it will not only rival D-segment models, but could sway C-segment drivers wanting something with a bit more space.

Honda used the lightweight 1.6-litre i-DTEC engine from the Civic and rather than develop a specific, eco-focused derivative, it has simply extended the model's existing line-up.

The downsized engine comprises an aluminium cylinder head joined to an open deck aluminium block, weighing 47kg less than Honda’s 2.2-litre i-DTEC engine.

All the individual components have been redesigned to minimise weight and size and advanced production techniques have helped reduce weight even further.

Meanwhile, the CR-V's exterior styling maintains the same confident stance adopted at the introduction of the fourth generation and retains impressive practicality with up to 1,669 litres of luggage capacity. It also features Honda's easy-fold 60/40 split rear seats that can be stowed flat in one movement.

Behind the wheel, the engine provides enough torque to make you forget it's a 1.6 diesel engine. Gear changes are smooth and the ride is comfortable.

It all adds up to a very impressive SUV, which with sub-120g/km emissions is bound to appeal to fleets looking for a substantial car that is frugal and fun.

Need to know

n 119g/km CO2 emissions put CR-V in the 18% BIK band n Test fuel efficiency of 51.3mpg

costs P11D price £25,370 BIK tax band 18% Annual BIK tax (20%) £913 Class 1A NIC £630 Annual VED £30 RV (4yr/80k) £7,150/28% Fuel cost (ppm) 9.98 AFR (ppm) 14 Running cost (4yr/80k) 36.38

spec Engine (cc) 1,597 Power (bhp) 120 Torque (lb-ft) 300 CO2 (g/km) 119 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 62.8 Max speed (mph) 113 0-62mph (sec) 11.2 Test mpg 51.3 Current mileage 1,676 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Aluminium engine parts and redesigned components helped to cut weight

our f l ee t

2.0 TDI highline bluemotion technology

Volkswagen passat Under-inflated tyres may have solved the mystery of falling fuel efficiency Need to know

n Current test fuel efficiency of 49mpg well below trip computer estimate

costs P11D price £23,175 BIK tax band 18% Annual BIK tax (20%) £834 Class 1A NIC £576 Annual VED £0 then £30 RV (4yr/80k) £5,825/25% Fuel cost (ppm) 10.26 AFR (ppm) 14 Running cost (4yr/80k) 35.49ppm

spec Engine (cc) 1,968 Power (bhp) 140 Torque lb-ft 236 CO2 (g/km) 119 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 61.4 Max speed (mph) 132 0-62mph (sec) 9.8 Test mpg 49 Current mileage 12,033

*Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Passat tests

The Passat is an ideal chariot on long journeys

T

By Stephen Briers he Passat has been performing below par recently on fuel efficiency; journeys that previously achieved 54-55mpg have dipped to 49-50mpg, while longer journeys are stuck in the mid-50s.

I put some of it down to the winter weather necessitating longer and stronger blasts from the climate control system, but having read one of our own Fleet News articles about tyre pressures, an alarm bell chimed. And yes, all four tyres were under-inflated, to the tune of 15% or 5psi on average (all four should be 33psi). Figures from tyre suppliers suggest this would lower fuel efficiency by up to 5% – half the drop I’ve actually experienced.

Interestingly, while I’d estimated an average fuel consumption of about 53mpg since my last fill-up based on the journey trip computer, the actual figure after filling up revealed a disappointing 49mpg: 11.22 gallons to travel 552 miles.

I’m now repeating the exercise with a frugal right foot (and correctly inflated tyres) to see whether I can boost this. Fuel aside, the Passat continues to provide stress-free and cost-free motoring, with no niggles or faults. It remains supremely comfortable on all road surfaces and is an ideal chariot on long journeys.

Meanwhile, its cavernous 565-litre boot space came into its own while transporting a Christmas tree back from the local nursery. With rear seats folded, there was ample room for the bushy six-footer.

However, it did remind me how heavy the Passat's boot lid is. There’s no need to go to the gym if you frequently pump it up and down – those arm muscles will be bulging in no time!

first drive

tested this month

sales figures

fuel prices

OUR FLEET

coming soon

2.2 D 150 sport NAV

mazda6 Windscreen replacement delay puts 6 out of action for weeks at least

O

By Luke Neal nly six weeks into custodianship of our Mazda6 and it sits languishing in the office car park. The reason is a crack in the windscreen, which over one week has spread to more than 12 inches long and has now turned 90 degrees and is making its way over to the driver’s side.

It's not a problem to have replaced, if I could get a replacement screen – the current estimate from the glass replacement company is a few weeks, maybe longer. It has been advised that I could continue to drive the car as long as the crack doesn’t impair my vision.

However, as a bonded windscreen is also an integral part of the vehicle body shell and contributes towards overall strength and stiffness, its possible that the 6’s safety could be compromised in the event of a crash.

Car magazine has also suffered from a cracked windscreen and lengthy delays for a replacement on their Mazda6 Tourer. Car writes: "Current estimates see windscreens landing on the parts shelf a fortnight hence. By then, at the current rate of progress, the crack will have traversed the entire windscreen and, via the driver’s door window, begun to invade my reading glasses.

"What interests me most is how the screen went in the first place. No hurtling aggregate, air rifle pellet or even particularly butch beetle has clattered into it."

Like Car, I also didn’t hear or witness the screen being struck, nor are there marks to indicate this. So it remains to be seen if there is a wider problem with Mazda6 windscreens.

The Mazda6's windscreen will take weeks to replace

Need to know

n Car magazine also reports windscreen crack and replacement delays

costs P11D price £25,540 BIK tax band 16% Annual BIK tax (20%) £817 Class 1A NIC £564 Annual VED £0 then £30 RV (4yr/80k) £6,075/24% Fuel cost (ppm) 9.47 AFR (ppm) 18 Running cost (4yr/80k) 39.8ppm

spec Engine (cc) 2,191 Power (bhp) 150 Torque (lb-ft) 280 CO2 (g/km) 108 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 67.3 Max speed (mph) 131 0-62mph (sec) 9.0 Test mpg 48 Current mileage 15,224

*Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Mazda6 tests

our f l ee t

Seat Leon

1.6 TDI SE

The puzzle of the safety-rich Leon's dashboard 'skittles' is finally solved Need to know

n Entry-level safety pack recognises when driver is tired n Parking system proves its worth in Christmas rush

costs P11D price £18,615 BIK tax band 14% Annual BIK tax (20%) £521 Class 1A NIC £360 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £4,940/27% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.48 AFR (ppm) 12 Running cost (4yr/80k) 27.97ppm

spec Engine (cc) 1,598 Power (hp) 103 Torque lb-ft 184 CO2 (g/km) 99 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 74.3 Max speed (mph) 119 0-62mph (sec) 10.7 Test mpg 64 Current mileage 12,500 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Seat Leon tests

The Leon offers a choice of safety pack options

I

By Maurice Glover t’s been a puzzle for months, but the mystery of the 'skittles' has been solved!

Unlikely as it seems, an image of what look like bowling pins on the dashboard of our Seat Leon turns out to be a reminder to fasten rear seatbelts, according to the manufacturer. The image replaces the trip distance mileage recorder after the ignition is turned on and displays for about half a minute before the recorder returns to the normal readout.

The car’s handbook makes no mention of the display, which bears no relation to the usual seatbelt warning symbol. “It’s a prompt to remind the driver to tell passengers in the rear of the car to fasten their seat belts, as is required by the law,” says a spokesman.

There’s no ambiguity about the rest of the dashboard, which is a model of clarity and puts all safety-related information ahead of the driver and not too far below his or her direct line of vision.

The £115 safety pack option that includes the ‘skittle’ display provides a tiredness recognition system that sounds an alarm gong and displays a teacup in the centre of the instrument panel when it suspects the driver could be ready for a break.

At £430, the optical parking system is a more expensive dashboard display, but is proving useful as festive season shopping puts more pressure on parking and leaves even less room for manoeuvre.

It’s a boon to have a visual representation of objects nearby as well as a display of the predicted path of the car based on the position of the steering and takes all the guesswork out of manoeuvring into the few spaces that are available.

first drive

Tested this month

sales figures

fuel prices

OUR FLEET

coming soon

2.5 SE

lexus is 300h

Lexus targets German rivals with move to 99g/km petrol hybrid saloon

L

By Sarah Tooze exus has set a new CO2 emissions benchmark of 99g/km with its third-generation IS sports saloon, the IS 300h, which recently joined the Fleet News test fleet.

It is the first IS to feature a full petrol hybrid system and sees a move away from diesel after a lukewarm response to the second-generation diesel IS, which was only available as a manual.

From an emissions point of view, it’s a wise move as key rival the BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics automatic emits 109g/km, as does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (although this will fall to 103g/km next year with the launch of the new C-Class).

Lexus says it favours hybrid over conventional diesel engines for four reasons: performance (the electric motors can supplement the petrol engine when required), reduced emissions (NOx as well as CO2), better fuel economy (when the petrol engine is not being used and when working in conjunction with the electric motor, less fuel is required) and driving experience (seamless and linear acceleration thanks to the combined resources of the petrol engine and the electric motor, as well as near-silent drive when decelerating and at low speeds).

I would agree with Lexus on the performance, emissions and driving experience points, but for me the jury is still out on fuel efficiency.

Our test car isn’t brand new and came to us with about 3,000 miles on the clock.

According to the trip information, its best performance over the past couple of months has been 42.8mpg. That’s more than 20mpg below the official combined figure of 65.7mpg.

It will be interesting to see whether fuel efficiency improves over the next month.

Need to know

n Competitive CO2 emissions at 99g/km n Test efficiency more than 20mpg below official figure

costs P11D price £32,035 BIK tax band 11% Annual BIK tax (20%) £705 Class 1A NIC £486 Annual VED £0 RV (4 year/80k) £8,050 Fuel cost (ppm) 9.04p AFR (ppm) 24 Running Cost (4yr/40k) 42.98ppm

spec Engine (cc) 2494 Power (hp) 141/178 (electric/engine) Torque (lb-ft) 300/221 (electric/engine) Max speed(mph) 125 CO2 (g/km) 99 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 65.7 0-62mph (sec) 8.3 sec Test mpg 42.5 Current mileage 3,369 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

The 300h is the first IS to feature a full petrol hybrid system

our f l ee t

Vauxhall ampera

Electron

Bah humbug! We've had to hand back to keys to our range-extender Need to know

n Ampera's battery offers an average 30 miles on a single charge n Average test fuel economy is 119mpg

costs P11D price £38,940 BIK tax band 5% Annual BIK tax (20%) £389 Class 1A NIC £267 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/40k) £12,825/33% Fuel cost (ppm) 2.6ppm AFR (ppm) N/A Running cost (4yr/40k) 74.36ppm

spec Engine (cc) 1,398 Power (hp) 150 (electric motor) Torque lb-ft 273 CO2 (g/km) 27 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 235.4 Max speed (mph) 100 0-62mph (sec) 8.7 Test mpg 119 (lifetime average 135) Current mileage 13,200 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/40k)

Click here for previous Ampera tests

Our time with the Ampera has been an enlightening experience

C

By John Maslen hristmas is coming, The goose is getting fat, My Ampera’s gone back to Vauxhall, And I’m not very happy about that.

I have spent 3,200 very comfortable and quiet miles in our long-term electric range-extender Vauxhall Ampera over the past few months and its departure has left me feeling decidedly unfestive.

It has been a very revealing and rewarding journey, with one of the most enlightening aspects of long-term EV use being that I am not really looking forward to going back to a standard internal combustion engine.

Fast, silent acceleration and cruising has become an everyday delight. Travel has been so much smoother, less noisy and tiresome than standard cars.

There are clear fuel cost and tax benefits to EV travel, particularly for a company car driver who doesn’t have to worry about the uncertain depreciation curve for alternative fuel cars. The Ampera costs three pence per mile in fuel compared to around 9ppm in an equivalent diesel.

I just think an EV is a nicer car to drive on a daily basis. It’s more relaxing, more comfortable and it’s the quietest ride this side of Santa’s sleigh.

Clearly there are other factors, but I would recommend at least spending some time with the car. You might agree with me that it’s a (Christmas) cracker.

first drive

VOLVO V60

tested this month

sales figures

fuel prices

OUR FLEET

coming soon

D6 HYBRID SE LUX NAV

Connected Drive shows how smartphones will be used in the future

T

By Simon Harris he Volvo had to visit the dealer recently because of a fault using the optional mobile internet provided with our test car.

The Volvo Connected Drive gives the driver access to a number of functions, including streaming music from a Spotify account, internet access and searches via Google via a dongle that can be plugged into a USB socket in the glove compartment.

Trouble using it suggested a visit to the local dealer was needed and the remedy was to order a new SD card for the dongle, and a replacement touchscreen display for the dashboard. Since then both have worked fine, but frustratingly the download speed is nowhere near as fast as it is on my own smartphone.

I’m pretty certain that as car connectivity develops, the functions of a driver’s own smartphone will become ever more important in keeping the car connected to the outside world.

Our Volvo On Call app, for example, is certainly proving useful, and I access it a few times a day to manage some of the car’s functions.

As well as mapping charge points and the car’s location should you need to charge it at a point a little way from your eventual destination, you can also check on the car’s charge status and remaining diesel and range.

You can set the timer to precondition the car’s cabin to your desired temperature by the time you’re ready to leave in it. You can also set the preconditioning instantaneously or stop it without going anywhere near the car.

You can also use it to check mileage and fuel consumption and use it to record journeys – useful for keeping an accurate record of business mileage.

Click here to watch a video of the On Call system in action

Need to know n Dealer visit to replace touchscreen n Volvo On Call shows usefulness of apps

costs P11D price £49,220 BIK tax band 5% Annual BIK tax (20%) £984 Class 1A NIC £340 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £9,000/18% Fuel cost (ppm) 4.11 AFR (ppm) 18 Running cost (4yr/80k) 61.67ppm

spec Engine (cc) 2,400 Power (bhp) 285 (engine/electric) Torque lb-ft 472 (engine/electric) CO2 (g/km) 48 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 148.7 Max speed (mph) 143 0-62mph (sec) 6.9 Test mpg 122.8 Current mileage 4,260

*Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Volvo On Call can be used to precondition the car's cabin to your desired temperature

Click here for other V60 Hybrid tests

C OMING S OON

For a f ul l ne w c a r l aunch c a l enda r , cl ick here

Coming soon...

Volkswagen CC R-Line On sale: January Price: From £29,505 What's new: Although the CC – a kind of upmarket version of the Passat – has been around for a few years, Volkswagen is continuing to roll out the more style-focused R-Line range. The CC is the next in line and it will have a lower stance, larger alloy wheels and sharper styling details compared with the standard CC, giving it more kerbside appeal.

CO2 emissions: From 125g/km

Peugeot RCZ-R On sale: January Price: £31,995 OTR What's new: Peugeot has developed a more powerful and driver-focused version of the RCZ coupé, using a 270hp version of the company's turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine. The RCZ-R rides lower than the standard RCZ and benefits from other chassis modifications. A Torsen differential has been added to the car’s specification and the front and rear track have been widened, both to provide improved traction. Other upgrades include revised damper settings and increased stiffness in the springs and anti-roll bar. Aerodynamic efficiency and high-speed stability have been improved, thanks to a new fixed boot spoiler which aids rear downforce. CO2 emissions: 145g/km

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

New models you need to know about in the next few months

Renault Mégane facelift On sale: February Price: From £17,570 OTR What's new: A thorough facelift for Renault's only traditional medium-sector car in the UK makes it more desirable, with new, more efficient petrol engines joining the range alongside the already efficient diesels. The Mégane hatchback, Coupé and Sport Tourer feature a new bumper, new vent grilles and a new bonnet bearing the enlarged Renault logo set against a gloss black background. The models in the Mégane family have also been given a new look with new elliptical headlights and daytime running lights that stretch along the outer edges of the bumper. CO2 emissions: From 90g/km

Mini hatchback On sale: Spring Price: From £15,300 OTR What's new: Initially available as Cooper and Cooper S models, the Mini hatchback is larger and roomier than the model it replaces, with improved rear seat space and a bigger boot. There will be new, more efficient engines, some of which will be three-cylinder units, in a drive to reduce fuel costs for the car. It is expected that lower specification One models will follow.

CO2 emissions: From 98g/km

Nissan Qashqai On sale: March Price: From £17,595 What's new: Although prices are higher than for the outgoing model, company car tax bills will decline, with the most tax-efficient model falling by six BIK tax bands. It's lighter than the current model and comes with a new range of engines with lower CO2, as well as the existing 1.6 dCi. Petrol models use new 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre DIG-T engines, with power of 115hp and 150hp and CO2 emissions of 129g/km and 132g/km respectively.

The 110hp entry-level diesel engine, also used by Renault, has the latest fuel-saving technology and produces a class-leading low of 99g/km. The 130hp 1.6 dCi has CO2 emissions from 115g/km.

CO2 emissions: From 99g/km

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