Fleet World November 2012

The leading magazine for fleet decision-makers

November 2012

FLEETW RLD

RECORD BREAKERS 2012 MPG Marathon smashes the 100mpg barrier

inside Risky myths Making your fleet safer

300 miles in an EV Tesla’s corporate cracker

Driven Golf / Clio / Mokka / XF

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The leading magazine for fleet decision-makers

November 2012

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RECRUITMENT For the lastest recruitment vacancies, visit fleetworld.co.uk

RECORD BREAKERS 2012 MPG Marathon smashes the 100mpg barrier

inside Risky myths

Making your fleet safer

300 miles in an EV Tesla’s corporate cracker

Driven

Golf / Clio / Mokka / XF

fleetworld.co.uk

Publisher Ross Durkin ross@eetworldgroup.co.uk Editor Steve Moody steve@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Deputy Editor Natalie Wallis natalie@eetworldgroup.co.uk Motoring Editor Alex Grant alex@eetworldgroup.co.uk Editorial Assistant Katie Beck katie@eetworldgroup.co.uk VFW Editor John Kendall john@eetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Director Anne Dopson anne@eetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Executive Darren Brett darren@eetworldgroup.co.uk Circulation Manager Tracy Howell tracy@eetworldgroup.co.uk Head of Production Luke Wikner luke@eetworldgroup.co.uk Designers Tina Ries tina@eetworldgroup.co.uk Samantha Hargreaves sam@eetworldgroup.co.uk Internet Editor Luke Durkin durks@eetworldgroup.co.uk

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Contents

I’ve just finished leasing my first car, and as my excellent and much-missed Volvo leaves the rather small and insignificant Moody fleet I have to report I’ve been highly impressed by the whole process.

I know in this industry we tend to get a bit grumpy when things don’t exactly pan out as we wanted and there are problems and annoyances along the way, but leasing this car for three years through Lex Autolease, with no bother whatsoever, got me thinking about what an incredibly slick thing this fleet and leasing business is.

I chose a car off a website that I liked the look of, at a good price and spoke to a fine chap at Volvo who did the deal. The car was delivered on time, and ran perfectly, with tax discs and the like always turning up on time, until somebody at Lex rang to organise collection, whereupon it was duly taken away. I’ve had more hassle trying to rent a Batman DVD for a night than a £35,000 XC90 for three years.

So next time you’re tearing your hair out, and I don’t doubt it’s far away, just take a second to think about the incredible logistical and personal investment that goes into this industry.

Yes it’s not perfect, but compared to most it is an incredible thing, dealing with the massed movement, maintenance and running of extremely high value products in a harsh environment (and by that I mean the roads). Am I getting a bit starry eyed? Does the Moody fleet, consisting as it does of one solitary car not qualify me to pass such a judgement? You tell me about the state of the industry and standards of customer care – I’d love to hear your views.

04 A month in fleet 12 Fleet World Barometer Making sense of the eet surveys this month

14 Comment 20 Driven Vauxhall Mokka // VW Golf // Renault Clio // Jaguar XF Sportbrake // Kia Sorento.

32 2012 MPG Marathon Read about the incredible results from the UK’s premier economy driving event.

48 Risky myths Advice to help you manage corporate risk.

52 A different way 300 miles in an EV? It will soon be possible with the launch of the Tesla Model S.

56 Selling 58 Birthday wishes Neal Francis on Pendragon’s 30th anniversary.

60 Fleet Academy 62 To buy or lease 66 Market Overview Fuel Management.

69 SWOT Team New VW Golf and rivals come under the spotlight of the SWOT Team.

74 Fleet update 79 VAN Fleet World Nissan e-NV200 // Kangoo Z.E. // Refrigeration.

90 Fleet on fleet Fleet manager Liz Hollands talks to Tristan Campbell, responsible for Chivas Brothers’ fleet.

®

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32 52 58 84

Certified circulation Jan – Dec 2011 19,619

Steve Moody Editor

November 2012

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A MONTH IN FLEET A skip through the key news and events since the last issue of Fleet World.

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POLICE REPORT ADVISES CLOSER SCRUTINY ON BUSINESS DRIVERS A new report by senior officers has recommended that the police keep closer tabs on business drivers in an effort to reduce work-related road risk.

The report, funded by the Metropolitan Police Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers has called for the introduction of a national standard for the management of work-related road risk and greater involvement by the police in disseminating safety information.

BVRLA chief executive John Lewis, whose organisation contributed to the report, said: 'We wholeheartedly endorse its recommendation for a national standard for the management of work-related road safety.

‘The awareness of work-related road risk has improved in recent years, largely thanks to the efforts of organisations including Brake and Driving for Better Business. A national standard would help focus attention on a single, well-understood framework that would be easier for fleet managers to implement.

‘Asking the police to keep businesses informed about employees’ committing road traffic offences while driving at work makes perfect sense, but we would go further. The BVRLA believes that the police should be given the extra resources to be able to categorise all work-related road accidents and report them to businesses.

‘Companies can then start recording these incidents and reporting them as part of their RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) requirements. The government is currently consulting on the future of the RIDDOR and we will be calling for road accidents to be brought into scope.’

AA DRIVETECH BUYS PEAK PERFORMANCE AA DriveTech, the driver training arm of the AA, has acquired Chesterfield-based driver training specialists Peak Performance for an undisclosed sum.

The company will continue to trade as a separate legal entity and trading operation within the AA business and the Peak Performance management team will remain unchanged.

James Sutherland, Peak Performance's owner and CEO, will continue work with the business and oversee the continued development of the brand in the marketplace.

Commenting on the acquisition, AA DriveTech's MD, Jim Kirkwood, said: ‘This acquisition is part of our strategy to position AA DriveTech as the UK's clear leader in driver education and road safety services.

‘With Peak Performance joining the family, we will not only strengthen our position within the UK fleet driver training and risk management market, but will also have a more visible presence within the northern half of the country.’

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CONFIDENTIAL

THINK-TANK PROPOSES COMPANY CAR BIK SHAKE-UP A Government think-tank has proposed a shake-up in the company car tax system, where a one-off purchase tax based on CO2 emissions is levied in place of annual VED, with that fee included in the BiK system for company cars.

According to the Centre Forum, a think tank appointed by the Government to look into a reform of the VED system, a ”pivot point” would exist, where models above the 1% of lowest emission cars bought the year before would see a charge per g/km that could be between £35 to £50 per g/km. The plan claims cost neutrality, but with expenditure loaded at the front end.

On company cars, the Centre Forum report said the initial charge would be included in the BiK liability.

It claimed: ‘This reinforces the incentive towards low emission vehicles. Since the aim is to make the proposal revenue neutral, we balance this by reducing the benefit in kind percentage liability for cars with average or below average emissions.

‘The Government does not publish the distribution of emissions for new company car sales, but on the basis of overall car sales, and an understanding of the market, it seems likely that revenue neutrality would translate into a 3% point fall in the benefit in kind percentages for cars with emissions of 135g or lower.’

The think-tank claims the plan does not make it more expensive – on average – for a company car driver to run a car, and would reduce the tax liability for low emission cars.

FORD IN MASSIVE EUROPEAN RESTRUCTURING Ford has announced proposals to restructure its Europe manufacturing operations as part of a comprehensive plan to stem huge losses in the region.

The firms has said its European operations could suffer losses of $1bn (£630m) this year and as a result will close its production plant in Genk, Belgium, by the end of 2014, and is likely to announce the end of Transit production at Southampton soon.

The plan would help to address manufacturing overcapacity stemming from a more than 20% drop in industry vehicle demand in Western Europe since 2007.

New vehicle sales in the region have reached a nearly 20-year low this year and are expected to remain flat or fall further next year.

‘The proposed restructuring of our European manufacturing operations is a fundamental part of our plan to strengthen Ford’s business in Europe and to return to profitable growth,’ said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe.

Ford NEWS

ECO-winners (from l to r) Fiesta driver Andy Dawson, Transport Minister Norman Baker MP and navigator Andrew Marriott

108mpg Fiesta ECOnetic!!!

ACHIEVING more than 100mpg in a 1.6-litre diesel car would count as a noteworthy achievement on the flat surface of a test track, so to do it over 370 miles of real-world driving in challenging weather conditions is no mean feat.

But that is just what former rally drivers Andrew Marriott and Andy Dawson did in a Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi, achieving 108.87mpg to win the 2012 ALD Automotive/Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon, an annual test of fuel consumption for showroom vehicles, which also demonstrates the financial benefits of simple, smarter driving techniques.

This year’s route through the hills of South Wales and the Cotswolds was made more challenging by a bridge collapse and a traffic light failure along the way. Ford’s winning team of Andrew and Andy beat their nearest rival by over six miles per gallon.

The super-frugal Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, which boasts an official combined fuel consumption of 85.6mpg and emissions of 87g/km CO2, proved that smarter driving can dramatically reduce the cost of running a car.

Ford’s ECOnetic technology significantly assists the efficiency of Fiesta and FiestaVan models, by combining Start/Stop technology, combustion and calibration improvements, smart regenerative charging and revised gear ratios among other enhancements.

A Ford Focus Titanium 1.0 EcoBoost achieved 61.93mpg – a near 10 per cent advance on its official combined cycle figure of 56.5mpg – and a Ford Transit Custom T270 achieved 56.04mpg, which was 37 per cent up on its official combined figure of 40.9mpg.

inbrief New 88g/km Focuss The 95PS version of the Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic emits just 88g/km of CO2, and that means the company car driver benefits from a P11D taxation value of only 13%, which will remain at that level until the 20142015 taxation year.

Monthly Benefit in Kind taxation at 20% on the Focus ECOnetic fivedoor car is £40, while a 40% taxpayer will pay £79. Fuel economy is excellent, with the 95PS Focus ECOnetic returning 83.1mpg combined.

For fleet operators the low emissions mean £0 VED, lower employer NI contributions and, because the car emits less than 110g/km of CO2, a 100% writing-down allowance in the first year. An added bonus for many fleets is that the Focus ECOnetic is exempt from the current London congestion charge. Its highefficiency 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine includes friction and combustion improvements and calibration optimisation.

A water-cooled intercooler, updated emissions system with coated diesel particulate filter and special low friction transmission oil all contribute to achieving low CO2 and high mpg.

All-new Transit Custom brings residual value boost RESIDUAL values confirmed for the all-new Ford Transit Custom have provided a further boost for the launch of the recently crowned International Van of the Year 2013.

CAP’s figures indicate a 10.5 per cent improvement in its three-year/60,000-mile RV compared with its predecessor.

A Transit Custom 290S 100PS six-speed 310Nm model has been valued at £725 more than its benchmark rival by CAP - a £1,975 turnaround. At four years and 80,000 miles, Transit Custom RVs are enhanced by £1,500 – moving the new model from being £1,000 behind its benchmark competitor to £500 ahead.

Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain managing director, said: “This is a more stylish and more functional Transit, which also manages to reward owners by retaining more of its value. Thanks to this latest endorsement by CAP, we’re even more convinced that our new Transit Custom will continue the vehicle’s market leading position.”

For further information on any vehicle in the Ford range please contact the Ford Business Centre on 08457 23 23 23, email info@fordfleet.co.uk, or visit www.ford.co.uk/fordfleet

Ford News Feature // 05

A MONTH IN FLEET A skip through the key news and events since the last issue of Fleet World.

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PEUGEOT FLEET SALES TAKE UP RETAIL SLACK New products have contributed to double-digit fleet sales increases for Peugeot’s car and van ranges during 2012, according to the director of Fleet and Used Vehicle Operations, Phil Robson.

He added that some of that growth was due to measures taken to avoid damaging its improving residual values. The carmaker will report a 10% increase in car sales to fleets this year, he said, but supported by a 14% growth in the volume sold to daily rental.

Although unplanned, the move is aimed at minimising captive sales which he believes are a major contributor to the 9.2% growth in the UK’s retail market during 2012 and a looming problem for residual values.

‘We’ve always said we’ll do less daily rental, and since 2006 we’ve done less. This year we’ve done 14% more, but it’s a case of getting a bloody nose, not a broken nose. A pack car with delivery mileage is going to have the worst impact on our business, therefore we do what we can to avoid that,’ he explained.

Robson said the manufacturer’s residuals were improving against the aspirational end of the volume brands. Public sector popularity has contributed to the 208 achieving 62% more orders at the start of Q4 than the 207 had at the same point of 2011, despite not being on sale for a full year. Leasing company business has also grown, up 160% over four years and expected to increase a further 6-10% during 2013.

LCV sales have increased 10% year on year despite a 5% market decline. Flexible leasing is seen as a major growth area, as fleets continue to downsize to smaller vans.

But despite being one of a handful of manufacturers selling electric vehicles, predictions aren’t as ambitious. Peugeot sold 250 of its iOn electric city car this year, mostly to fleets and aided by a reduced lease rate. Robson said they had learned a lot, mainly that pricing was a barrier and that there was no co-ordinated approach to electric vehicle ownership outside Scotland, which hasn’t helped.

CONFIDENTIAL

GROUNDBREAKING SMARTPHONE TRACKING APP COULD CUT TELEMATICS COSTS A groundbreaking new smartphonebased App for fleets could cut costs by almost half compared to installing a bespoke unit in the vehicle as well as reduce fuel and crashes.

Available for Android smartphones now, with Apple and Microsoft mobile devices to follow next year, GreenRoad’s Smartphone Edition App monitors driver behaviour based on risky or fuel-inefficienct manoeuvres including hard braking, cornering or acceleration, as well as logging journey times for expense reports and collecting idling data.

Unlike previous solutions, it uses the device’s built-in GPS and accelerometers to replace a wired-in device, and transmits the journey information via the phone’s data connection. Drivers are given instant feedback about their behaviour via a red, amber and green warning, and the software can run in the background while using a satellite navigation app, flashing up notifications as required.

Each journey can be accessed by the driver to see where they can improve, as well as being fed back to the fleet manager, and the app can also disable physical use of the smartphone while the vehicle is moving. Idling and journey end times are calculated using the phone’s power supply.

ProFleet2 One day, everyone will expect to have this information

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A MONTH IN FLEET A skip through the key news and events since the last issue of Fleet World.

Sign up to our FREE digital newsletter Fleet World Confidential... visit fleetworldsubscriptions.co.uk

CONFIDENTIAL

INBRIEF VAUXHALL AND RED SIGN NEW FLEET DEAL

MERCEDES-BENZ: WE WILL BECOME NUMBER ONE IN PREMIUM FLEET Mercedes-Benz is aiming to increase its UK true fleet sales as part of ambitious plans to become the biggest-selling premium manufacturer in the fleet sector.

The manufacturer has been overhauling its UK fleet offering since head of fleet, Nick Andrews, took over last September, aimed at turning around its declining market share in the premium German sector and increase sales 45% by 2016.

This year, Mercedes-Benz will record a 27% share of the premium German fleet market, with the remainder split almost evenly between BMW and Audi.

Contract hire and leasing will play a big part of this, the firm says. The manufacturer has a 14% share of the premium sector’s contract hire and leasing sales, and while growth will be dependent on the volumes rivals are bringing into the UK Andrews is confident that they can increase this, and is building relationships with the companies to do so. True fleet sales will increase to 44,000 next year, while motability and rental volumes are tightly restricted to protect residual values.

As well as a refreshed fleet team, with a new website and direct sales programme launched recently, Andrews said products would be helpful. A-Class is expected to be a key conquest model, but early interest has shown it hasn’t alienated existing owners either.

Its core fleet cars, the C and E-Class, aren’t being neglected either. The Executive SE trim, which is based on fleet customers’ feedback, launched in the E-Class earlier this year. From December production this will be available in the C-Class, with a new C220 CDI version emitting 109g/km. The manufacturer is out to prove it can be affordable, as well as being luxurious.

‘We’re serious about fleet,’ Andrews said. ‘We’ve got an ambition to be the number one manufacturer in the premium sector in fleet in the UK, and we won’t be complacent when we get there.

‘We will continue to invest in the right people, processes, products, systems and leasing industry. We want to form a strategic partnership with the leasing industry.’

Vauxhall has signed a new deal with RED, the UK’s second largest driving school, which will see more than 1,000 cars supplied on an annual basis.

> LEX AUTOLEASE 1,000 VEHICLE MEGASALE TOPS £7 MILLION More than 1,200 trade and consumer buyers bought £7.2m worth of Lex Autolease cars and vans during a single sale at Manheim Auctions Colchester.

This year’s event attracted 20% more buyers than in 2011, with 550 ex-fleet and 250 finance cars, as well as 200 commercial vehicles going under the hammer and achieving an overall conversion rate of 90% against an average 98.5% of CAP clean.

> TRG VEHICLE HIRE ORDERS 50 HYUNDAIS trg Vehicle Hire, part of the trg Logistics Group, has taken delivery of the first 23 vehicles from a total order for 50 new Hyundai vehicles.

As part of the company’s fleet renewal programme, first arrivals include eight new i20 Actives, nine i30 Active Hatchbacks and six i40 Premium Saloons.

FSG REBRANDS AS ARI FLEET Fleet Support Group has rebranded as ARI Fleet UK. The name change comes after Chippenham-based FSG was acquired by United States-based ARI in December last year.

Privately-owned ARI was established in 1948 and is the fastest growing fleet management company in North America, having seen the number of vehicles on its books increase to 930,000 this year from 290,000 in 2001.

Geoffrey Bray, who founded FSG 25 years ago and is the chairman of ARI Fleet UK, said: ‘It remains business as usual, although existing and new customers operating cars, vans and trucks will benefit from an even more in-depth range of fleet management services.

‘FSG has prided itself over 25 years on delivering financial savings to its customers and that will continue with ARI Fleet UK. The game-changing technology that ARI is bringing to its UK customers will deliver significant benefits in driver, vehicle and journey management resulting in major savings in terms of total cost of ownership.’

> EARLY ADOPTERS JOIN RECARE RECALL SCHEME LeasePlan and Arval have joined Ford and Volvo as the first users of the freeto-use ReCare safety recall scheme.

Established by online solutions provider Ebbon-Dacs for the BVRLA this provides a single location for all manufacturers to list safety recalls.

November 2012

09

Making sense of the surveys

We've pulled together the pertinent points from the myriad of research done in the fleet industry this month to give you a clearer view of what's really going on...

COMPANY CAR TRENDS Company cars will remain at the centre of business travel for the next five years according to research.

A new question added to the survey, posed to 250 fleet decision makers, was ‘Please rank the following in order of importance for your fleet vision over the next five years?’ The responses were: RANKING (1 is highest) 1 > The continued use of company cars 2 > Increased pool car usage 3 > Alternative travel such as rail and air 4 > Shared company car scheme 5 > Car-free policies such as home working 6 > Outsourced fleet management 7 > Public transport only travel policy

1.94 3.83 3.95 4.15 4.24 4.45 6.18

Gary Killeen, Fleet Services commercial leader for GE Capital UK, said: ‘This is an absorbing insight into the long term thinking of fleet decision makers.

It decisively underlines that businesses believe the company car will still be the key travel tool available to them in the next five years.’

Source: GE Capital UK

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in association with

FUEL SAVING > 25% of UK businesses employing over 1,000 staff have identified reducing fuel expenditure in an effort to cut costs, as their number one fleet priority. In addition, separate research carried out by ALD also revealed that business drivers are also taking steps to reduce their fuel consumption and associated costs. Of the 1,000 business drivers interviewed: > 50% are shopping around for the cheapest fuel. > 65% are reducing their speed and driving more smoothly to save fuel. > 20% are cutting back on mileage driven.

Source: ALD Automotive

Keith Allen, managing director of ALD Automotive UK, said: ‘As the fuel price continues to rise, it has become increasingly important for UK fleet management suppliers to work in partnership with their customers and their drivers in helping deliver initiatives that can provide cost savings from improved fuel management.’

BLUE LIGHT DRIVING MOTORISTS WANT RULE CHANGE FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES

Source: IAM

Almost half of motorists believe that traffic stopped at an incident should keep a lane space free for emergency service vehicles. They also agree that those who fail to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle should be fined.

35% admit they don’t know the current rules on how to deal with an approaching emergency service vehicle.

44% believe that it is unfair to prosecute someone who crosses a red light to let an emergency services vehicle through.

74% of people will pull over where possible when they see an emergency vehicle approaching.

50% would not drive through a red light if an emergency vehicle approached them from behind.

82% of people are aware that it is illegal to cross a red light to let an emergency services vehicle past.

IAM chief executive Simon Best, said: ‘Fining people for pulling into empty bus lanes so that life-saving services can get through is just plain wrong.

‘Most drivers quite rightly want to get out of the way. Simply catching and penalising drivers who break the rules to let emergency vehicles pass will not serve to educate them – people must understand the rules to abide by them.’

CAR REPAIRS A report into the number of car body repairs taking place, and the health of the bodyshop industry.

Between 2002 and 2011, the total number of car body repairs – the majority crash repairs - dropped by over a fifth (21%), and the value of the repair market fell in real terms (accounting for inflation) by 29%.

The increasing fitment of active safety systems to cars is helping to prevent accidents in the first place, but another reason for the decline in repair work is an almost continuous fall in the average annual mileage of cars in the UK. The percentage of owners of insured cars notifying their insurance company of a claim dropped from 19.4% in 2000 to 13.9% in 2011.

Trend Tracker’s lead analyst, Robert McNab, sais: ‘The increasing installed volume of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and Emergency Brake Assist in new cars is likely to reduce the frequency of accidents in normal conditions.’

Source: Trend Tracker

• for the latest daily news from the fleet industry, visit www.fleetworld.co.uk

November 2012

13

COMMENT

Covering all bases Curtis Hutchinson The economy continues to dominate car buying decisions as carmakers look at new ways of engaging with local fleets through their dealers, says Motor Trader editor, Curtis Hutchinson.

‘Brands pulling back from daily rental hope the slack will be taken up through sales to end user fleets.’

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The new car market has been a tough place to operate for most car brands since the onset of the economic downturn. Old ways of doing things have been questioned, revised or jettisoned in the pursuit of holding on to sales and retaining customers. The message coming from many car makers is just how important SME business is and what an essential role local dealers play in facilitating this sector.

Nowadays car manufacturers make a point of saying how much they have cut back on fastchurn, high-volume, low-return daily rental business. These deals may appease factories churning out products but they have a detrimental impact on residual values which affects everyone in the car buying and selling equation.

Brands pulling back from daily rental hope the slack will be taken up by the retail sector and through sales to end user fleets. This is where retention comes into play with dealers expected to deliver increasingly high levels of service to deliver customer satisfaction.

Duncan Aldred, managing director and chairman of Vauxhall, makes no bones about the need to pull right back from daily rental deals to concentrate on end-user fleet and retail business. He calls it a ”rebalancing” and is pleased with the results as Vauxhall’s customer satisfaction ratings are gradually improving following a period of heavy investment.

‘We've got a good and proven small business strategy in place with a field team that sees customers direct and helps dealers. It has made big strides for us.

‘We’ll deal direct with the big fleets and deliver through dealers. With small businesses the dealer effectively owns the deal,’ he says.

Local fleet is a big part of a dealer’s portfolio, with Aldred saying sales to businesses running up to 25 cars could account for up to 20% of their retail sales.

Volkswagen’s fleet experience is also

indicative of wider economic trends with businesses holding on to cars longer than before.

‘Over the past six months there has been a deterioration of business confidence,’ admits Robert Hazlewood, Volkswagen’s UK director.

‘By talking to the big leasing businesses we can see the slowdown of genuine end user fleet business. Companies are looking at extending contracts, there is a genuine lack of confidence and fleets are being more prudent in their buying habits,’ he says.

Hazlewood said VW continues to outperform the fleet market but admits it is tough. The SME sector is performing well for the brand, especially after the launch of a programme earlier in the year aimed at strengthening ties between dealers and local fleets.

The scheme provides SMEs with leasing options across VW’s range with quotes accessed through its website. The service is also supported by a national call centre with cars and related services supplied by the local dealer.

It’s not mandatory but, tellingly, most of VW's 215 dealers have signed up for it.

Previously VW’s fleet business had been channelled through 63 accredited dealers.

At the premium end of the spectrum BMW also values the importance of local fleet business. While the big fleet deals are handled direct, with dealers acting as supply agents, its retailers are encouraged to build ties with local businesses.

Significantly BMW is one of the few brands to now feature customer star ratings on its dealer websites. All customers are invited to rank dealers according to sales and service with one to five stars and unedited comments. It's a brave move with the inevitability of dirty linen being seen but it is a welcome development and one that will be welcomed by fleets weighing up who to do business with in the future.

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COMMENT

Going spare The Insider This month, our tame fleet manager bemoans the lack of a fifth wheel.

’We worked out the cost of specifying a spare tyre on all new vehicles far outweighed the cost of the lost productivity.’

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It’s those round black things which are vexing me again, or rather the lack of them.

In recent years, it has become the trend for many motor manufacturers not to fit a spare wheel of any description to their cars. This saves weight, as well as cost, helping to improve fuel efficiency and lower CO2; all very commendable. Sometimes they supply a can of gunky stuff to fill the tyre sufficiently to limp it to a repairer, but I’ve yet to hear of anyone successfully deploying one of those. Run flat tyres will also get you out of trouble, but we don’t have too many of those on our vehicles presently.

For some time now, our drivers had been bemoaning the lack of spare tyres – not to the extent that they self-specify when choosing their car – but complaints were becoming more numerous. Damaged tyres are a fact of life when your working fleet regularly has to drive over rough surfaces or into places where the odd sharp thing is left lying around, and my regular reports show we seem to get more than our fair share.

Unlike the good old days, when the driver hauled the spare wheel out of the boot, jacked up the car and fitted it, these days the car may need recovering to a tyre fitters by the breakdown service, and then wait while a depot either fixes the old one or more often, supplies new, even assuming the required tyre is readily available. And all of that can easily take three hours or more to achieve.

I’m not knocking the tyre depots – they have their regular booked customers to service, and there is a limit to the amount of stock they can carry. And the mobile service they can offer tends to be for pre-bookings rather than emergencies.

But lengthy delays are not good for our business if we are letting customers down at short notice. Customers expect us to provide

a prompt and reliable service in order to carry out their own business and are not interested in our tales of woe. So we pulled some reports on the cost of lost productivity throughout the past year, and the results were quite startling.

We quickly worked out that the cost of specifying fitment of a spare tyre to all new vehicles ordered should far outweigh the cost of the lost productivity; on top of that, while customer satisfaction is much harder to quantify, in this day and age, lost customers are nearly impossible to retrieve, so better to keep them happy in the first place.

Then there was the question of what to do about existing cars with no spare. Our supplier came up with a cost for after-fit and again the figure, taken in one hit but effectively then spread over two to three years of remaining contract (we will chance leaving the oldest cars out of the equation) was really a no-brainer. So this is a good example where spending more initially will save us money in the long run.

It’s not quite the end of the story, of course.

There’s the issue of drivers actually fitting the spare. Now most of our drivers are ready, willing and perfectly able to change a wheel. But we’ve had to set some constraints on when and where they may do so. Not on the motorway hard shoulder, for example. And we’ve had to ensure drivers know how to safely make the change. And where that spare is a space saver there are additional considerations to observe such as maximum distance driven and pace. We’ve no issues over the additional weight, nor space available in the boot. But the cost adds to the P11D value so there are minor tax issues to address.

I wonder how many other fleets have already specified spare wheels as a must have, and whether we will ever return to a situation where manufacturers once again fit them as standard.

DRIVEN

Vauxhall Mokka Destined for big things in retail, but how does Vauxhall’s new crossover fare for fleets? Alex Grant finds out.

SECTOR Crossover PRICE £15,995 – £23,490 FUEL 43.5 – 60.1mpg CO2 120 – 153g/km Of Vauxhall’s recent newcomers, Mokka has perhaps the most logical name. Rather like a menu board at your local coffee house, satisfying the modern car buyer means offering as much choice as possible.

Sometimes, even, finding wants and needs even the end user didn’t know they had.

The latest buzz niche is the compact crossover, a sector in which you’re soon to find most mass-market manufacturers as they launch products to compete for a slice of what’s hoped will be a growth area. Nissan got the sector rolling with the Qashqai, now a runaway success, and followed it with the Juke. Vauxhall has sized Mokka to fit neatly between the two.

While it’s a new market for Vauxhall, Mokka is expected to hit the ground running. Vauxhall expects it to be the second biggest seller, after Corsa, among retail customers. The fleet model mix is slightly different, but 25% of UK Mokkas will be bought by the corporate market.

Beneath the bodywork is a stretched version of the new Chevrolet Aveo’s platform, shared with the forthcoming Chevrolet Trax, and both cars are built in South Korea. Mokka gets its own, arguably better looking, bodywork but isn’t unique to Europe – North America will get it badged as the Buick Encore.

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Despite this, there are plenty of differences under the skin. Chevrolet and Opel use entirely different suspension settings, and Vauxhall has developed its own specifically for UK roads and tastes. The UK chassis wasn’t available to test, but engineers said it will feature slightly lighter and more linear steering than the heavily-centered Opels, and a more compliant suspension setup.

Trax will be offered cheaper than the Mokka, but Vauxhall has the better cabin.

Interior quality has improved dramatically over the last five years in Vauxhalls, and its newest model features Ampera-like dark glossy panels in the dashboard and door cards which feel suitably upmarket. There’s plenty of room front and rear, helped by the high roofline, but the rising beltline does result in a large blind spot.

For drivers, though, the dashboard is let down by a cluttered instrument panel. There are far too many buttons around the infotainment system, and it’s not always obvious what each one does. Many manufacturers are migrating to touchscreens or rotary controllers, and as with most cars in its range Vauxhall could really benefit from following suit to keep drivers’ eyes on the road.

Engines comprise an entry-level 1.6-litre and 1.4 Turbo petrol available with two or four-wheel-drive respectively, and 1.7 CRDi

diesel with optional four wheel drive and automatic gearbox. It’s the diesel which is predicted to be the big seller with fleets, offering CO2 emissions as low as 120g/km, and it’s also the better of the two higherpowered units to drive. The 1.4 Turbo, despite being more powerful, can feel a little blunt.

Mokka feels as solid to drive as the chunky looks suggest. It’s not as agile as a Corsa or Astra, but there’s limited body roll for such a high-sided vehicle and it feels almost as refined as a C-segment car at motorway speeds.

Ultimately this is likely to be more of a user-chooser car than a core fleet offering like Astra or Insignia, but its chunky looks and compact size should make it a popular choice with the lifestyle set. But, much like the coffee it’s named after, there are plenty of choices on the high street if you’re in the market for this particular blend of coffee.

verdict Mokka is timed just soon enough to beat most competitors, but late enough to enter an established sector rather than an unknown. Solid looks and optional four wheel drive may tempt user choosers out of an Astra, but Trax will offer similar attractions and the same economy for less money.

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DRIVEN

Volkswagen Golf Volkswagen hasn’t done anything radical with the new Golf, but why would it, says Alex Grant.

SECTOR Lower medium PRICE £16,330 – £24,625 FUEL 53.3 – 74.3mpg CO2 99 – 123g/km Ageless, classless and robust, six generations and 38 years of the Volkswagen Golf have bred a sense that you always know what you’re going to get from the marque’s biggest-selling model. And it’s this which has helped shift 29 million worldwide, with 1.6 million of those sold in the UK. So it really ought to come as no surprise that the seventh generation Golf, at least visually, isn’t a vast departure from its predecessor. The updated styling is so subtle that it’d be easy for a less keen-eyed motorist to miss the model change in the first place, or dismiss it as a subtle nip-tuck.

That’s doing it a disservice. The skindeep transformation isn’t radical – it never is, and with the Golf’s sales record it’s unlikely to ever be so – but everything underneath is entirely new, and clever with it. This is the first Volkswagen to get the Group’s modular platform, which will allow component sharing between multiple sectors, cutting development costs and paving the way for a diverse range of powertrains in the future. An electric Golf is two years away, and a plug-in hybrid is on the cards too.

For the short-term, though, it’s all very conventional. Engines at launch comprise 1.2 and 1.4-litre TSI petrols with between 85 and 138bhp, and two diesel engines at 1.6 and

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2.0-litres with 103 and 148bhp respectively.

But there’s already new technology to be found here. The 138bhp 1.4 TSI is Volkswagen’s first car with the ability to shut off two of its cylinders when the engine isn’t under load, saving fuel and reducing CO2 emissions to 112g/km. It does so imperceptibly, and there’s no power loss for the extra economy, which could make it a viable alternative to the more expensive equivalent diesel.

Volkswagen is cautiously predicting sales could shift slightly back in favour of petrol engines during the Mk7’s life cycle, but for now diesels are the most popular option for fleets. The smaller engine, a more powerful version of which will power the BlueMotion model from next summer, is likely to be the most popular for business users but wasn’t available to drive at the press launch.

However, the 2.0-litre is a smooth, powerful unit and with 106g/km CO2 emissions it’s tax friendly too. Having shaved 100kg off the kerb weight, drivers familiar with the smaller unit should find it’s a little livelier and more efficient in the new car.

There’s a feeling of effortless practicality and solidity inside. The rear bench folds flush with the boot floor, which now has a compartment for the parcel shelf underneath, and a folding passenger seat is

optional too. A new cubby hole for smartphones or media players, complete with a USB connection, has replaced the ashtray.

Trim levels at launch comprise S, SE and GT, and most UK buyers are expected to opt for at least the mid spec model. All now feature selectable driving modes, and a new touch screen infotainment system upgradeable to include satellite navigation.

This now uses smartphone-esque finger controls, which makes it really easy to use, and the menu only pops up as you’re about to touch the screen, so it doesn’t clutter the display when it’s not in use. Clever stuff.

There are no surprises from the new Golf, and perhaps that’s a good thing. Like each successive generation it’s built on what its predecessor did well and introduced a few new features along the way. You always knew exactly what you were going to get when you chose a Golf, and you still do.

verdict An understated package for a comprehensive under-body transformation, the Mk7 Golf isn’t flashy or radical in its looks, but offers the practicality and solidity buyers have come to expect. This does everything effortlessly well, and should broaden its appeal further as the engine options expand.

BUTCHER? BAKER? CANDLESTICK MAKER?

A PRIME CUT ABOVE THE COMPETITION. THE NEW MINI CLUBVAN. Whatever your trade, you’ll find the combination of 860 litres of load capacity, flat loading floor, 6 lashing points and roof rails to be just the job, while strong standard spec, including air-con and DAB radio proves you really can mix business with pleasure. Furthermore, with CO2 emissions as little as 103g/km, choosing the new MINI Clubvan could be the least taxing decision you’ve ever made.

Find out more at www.minibusinesspartnership.co.uk

MINIMALISM Official fuel economy figures for the new MINI Clubvan Range: Urban 32.1-64.2mpg (8.8-4.4l/100km).

Extra Urban 54.3-78.5mpg (5.2-3.6l/100km). Combined 43.5-72.4mpg (6.5-3.9l/100km). CO2 emissions 152-103g/km.

MINI Business Partnership YOUR COMPANY BENEFITS.

DRIVEN

Renault Clio The fourth generation of the ever-popular supermini is a strong fleet package, says Steve Moody.

SECTOR Supermini PRICE £10,595 – £16,095 FUEL 88.3 – 51.4mpg CO2 83 – 127g/km Renault is claiming that the fourth generation Clio sets new standards in quality, dynamism and efficiency, as well as being bigger yet lighter than its predecessor.

The firm certainly needs its most famous small car – the touchstone of its brand identity – to deliver because generally when the Clio has been good, Renault has been good, and with sales in Europe falling (albeit counteracted by smart investments and strong sales in other markets) it needs strong supermini sales to kickstart its regengeration.

Three engines are available with the new Clio: a 75bhp 1.2-litre petrol, parsimonious 90bhp 1.5 dCi with emissions as low as 83g/km and a three cylinder turbocharged 0.9-litre 90bhp petrol.

Priced from £10,595 to £16,095, the new five-door only version comes in four trim levels, which are a bit on the confusing side, which is often Renault’s wont: Expression, Expression+, Dynamique MediaNav and Dynamique S MediaNav, with ECO versions in Expression+ and Dynamique MediaNav trim levels.

The Clio comes packed with a lot of equipment as standard including a Bass Reflex speaker system, Bluetooth radio with USB port and jack socket, Hill Start Assist, keyless entry and ignition, 7” touchscreen MediaNav infotainment system with inte-

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grated navigation (Dynamique MediaNav and above) as well as safety and comfort features such as driver/passenger/side and curtain airbags, electric front windows and door mirrors, Electronic Stability Control and Electronic Traction Control.

Occupants can make the Clio their own, downloading Apps, music, sending emails and connecting with social media from the optional R-Link system, which costs £450 on Dynamique MediaNav and above. It’s all part of making the car more personal to the driver, and this extends to a selection of stickers, interior trims and wheels too.

Inside, a fully adjustable seating position, clear instrumentation including digital speedo and a stylish wing-shaped dash create a modern, uncluttered look. The Clio has a much larger, more spacious cabin for both front and rear passengers due to a longer wheelbase and wider track, while boot capacity has increased by 12 litres to 300 litres. Yet despite these increases, the new Clio is on average 100kg lighter than its predecessor thanks to innovations such as a thermoplastic tailgate and weightoptimised componentry.

All Clios now have five doors, the market for three door superminis having proved to be extinct and it is noticeable how much more muscular this Laurence van den

Acker-designed car is than the increasingly weedy lines of the last two.

Renault has spent a lot of time and money on the suspension of the new Clio, which has advanced McPherson struts linked to triangular lower wishbones and double bushes at the front and a torsion beam with coil springs at the back. As a result it turns in sharply, is composed through bends and under braking is pretty good too, holding nice and flat, while the steering feel is meaty and the gearchange snappy.

Having said that, the two engines we drove, the three cylinder petrol and diesel are both perfectly good units, with the petrol one full of character and fairly zippy despite its size. For higher mileage fleet drivers, the diesel might suit but it is more expensive and as with all diesel superminis, you’d have to do you sums very carefully to work out if its was worth the extra outlay.

verdict The new Clio is a cracking little car to drive, especially the brilliant new three cylinder petrol engine. With a vastly improved cabin and some quality touches which will help residual values no end, the new Clio is a huge leap forward and is now up among the best in the sector.

The facts.

The sporty new Punto TwinAir 5 dr comes with the revolutionary TwinAir engine.

Which means 74.3 mpg, only 98g/km of CO², 10% BIK rating, no road tax and no London Congestion Charge*.

New Punto TwinAir. From just £179 a month for business users only.

Visit fiat.co.uk/fleet for more info.

fiat.co.uk

Fiat, the car brand with the lowest average CO² emissions in Europe†. Fuel consumption figures for the Fiat Punto TwinAir in mpg (l/100km): Urban 57.6 (4.9); Extra Urban 74.3 (3.8); Combined 67.3 (4.2). CO² emissions 98 g/km.

*100% congestion charge discount is based on the current TFL policy which requires registration with TFL and £10 annual fee. Under current DVLA regulations there is no charge for Vehicle Excise Duty in the first year of registration and every subsequent year. Vehicle Excise Duty rates are reviewed annually by the government and are subject to change. Above rentals based on PuntoTwinAir 5dr on Contract Hire payment profile of 3 rentals in advance (equivalent to £537) followed by 35 rentals of £179. All rentals exclude VAT and maintenance.

Based on 10,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charges apply. Vehicles must be registered with Fiat Contract Hire before 31st December 2012. Offer subject to status, guarantee and/or indemnity may be required. Fiat Contract Hire, 240 Bath Road, Slough, SL1 4DX. †Source: JATO Dynamics. Based on volume-weighted average CO² emissions (g/km) of the best selling brands in Europe, full year 2011.

DRIVEN

Jaguar XF Sportbrake Sue Baker tries Jaguar’s new estate, which the firm hopes will extend its offering to executives.

SECTOR Premium estate PRICE £31,940 – £51,505 FUEL 55.4 – 46.0mpg CO2 135 – 163g/km Svelte body styling and a cabin that is pure theatre have done very well for the Jaguar XF, but the British appetite for estate cars is higher than anywhere else in Europe, and until now there hasn’t been one in the current range, meaning Jaguar knows it has lost out to BMW, Audi and Mercedes in wooing executive customers.

Hence the XF Sportbrake, only the second estate model in Jaguar’s 77 year history. The XF Sportbrake has a new body from the B-pillar backwards, and includes a large single rear tailgate rather than the split two-part arrangement used by some and for some sister company Land Rover products.

With its extended rear roofline, the Sportbrake has 48mm more rear headroom than an XF saloon, and with the rear seats folded it has a very decent 1,970mm of load length that is 1,064mm at its widest point. The maximum cargo capacity is 1,675 litres, plenty roomy enough for large items of leisure kit including sets of golf clubs that can be accommodated sideways across the load space.

The tailgate is power-operated, there are retaining bars on side rails to contain items stowed in the boot, and there are flush aluminium roofrails to take a luggage box on top. Self-levelling air suspen-

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sion is standard. It’s a pretty good package, but there is a flaw. The folded rear seat does not go quite as flat as it ideally should, and leaves a slight rise towards the front. To be fair, though, it doesn’t really hamper the carriage of large items.

The launch test drive included hurtling round a Scottish test track with a full size fridge strapped down in the back, so the arrangement is practical enough.

The Sportbrake engine choice is fourcylinder 2.2 or V6 three-litre diesels, and there is also a V6 three-litre petrol. The 2.2litre, 161bhp diesel is obviously the best business choice, and the optimum engine from a company car taxation viewpoint. In most trim versions, the XF Sportbrake 2.2 diesel has a CO2 output of 135g/km CO2, the same as in the saloon, but with topspec Portfolio trim it is 139g/km.

Long sections of the launch route were over twisty and undulating terrain through the Scottish Borders in a heavy downpour, and on flooding roads with lots of surface water against a plane-catching deadline the XF Sportbrake felt a good place to be. It handles very tidily, is sure-footed and gives confidence in being soundly-engineered for trying conditions.

Performance is pretty good and the car feels adequately powered and nimble. It

certainly felt lively enough over a very demanding Scottish test route, and really only loses out to the bigger diesel unit in flat-out pace and refinement – you are aware of a mild diesel clatter on cold tickover, but it intrudes much less into the cabin when warmed-up and on the move.

Ride quality is excellent, with the suspension sopping up some quite intrusive potholes, and the steering is light and precise. The ZF eight-speed auto transmission feels mostly well matched to the engine, and responds crisply to paddleshift operation. It is just a minor disappointment that the paddles are plastic rather than a more upmarket metal finish.

Prices start from £31,940 for a Sportbrake 2.2 diesel SE, and include an enhanced-spec 2.2 diesel SE Business at £33,990. The diesel range-topper is a Sportbrake 3.0 V6 diesel S Portfolio at £51,505.

verdict Jaguar’s XF Sportbrake is classy and practical, with a stylishly elongated body and a wellexecuted loadspace, and there is no CO2 disadvantage over the saloon in the most business-friendly 2.2 diesel version. Jag’s new estate is good enough to woo user-choosers out of rival German premium estates.

DRIVEN

Kia Sorento It is new, but most of the changes are under the skin, says Danny Cobbs.

SECTOR SUV PRICE £16,895 – £24,795 FUEL 67.3 – 64.2mpg CO2 109 – 116 g/km The clue is in the title; the new Sorento, which helps because, to the untrained eye – or, for that matter, the trained eye – not too much seems to have changed on Kia’s flagship SUV. Actually, that’s not entirely fair because there are lots of differences. They just happen to be well hidden.

Visually, the main changes can be found around the front-end, which now sports a new set of projection headlights and LED running lights. And, although the tailgate still looks very similar to the old one, it too has been completely redesigned to give better access and also

incorporates a smarter rear light cluster.

The interior has had a few tweaks to smarten it up, with softer and more tactile plastics being used throughout. It comes with a lot more standard equipment, including a third row of folding seats, which go some of the way to justify the £1,500 price hike.

In the top spec KX-3 trim, the Sorento is now close to £35,000, which is within spitting of distance of some other premium brand SUVs and perhaps why Kia is being realistic by saying that it expects most sales to come from the mid-range KX-2 CRDi six-speed manual at £28,895.

But it’s the platform underneath which has had the most attention. This is now 18% stiffer, with a 10mm lower ride height and revised 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine - the only unit available in the new car - offering an 11% improvement in efficiency.

These improvements have made a noticeable difference and the engine is now a sweet-thumping 194bhp unit capable of returning 47.9mpg while emitting 155g/km.

As for its handling, it too has been enhanced, yet it still leans into corners too much and lacks the sort of overall finesse expected from a car at this end of the market.

Like every other Kia, it will carry a sevenyear or 100,000 mile warranty. Orders are being taken now for early December delivery.

We’ve got what you need.

• Fleet Policy Advice • Duty of Care • Vehicle Acquisition • Funding • Grey fleet management • Salary Sacrifice • Maintenance and Servicing • Vehicle Rental • Accident Management • Workshop Management • Vehicle Conversions

You talk, we listen There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach at Venson. We sit down and listen to what you have to say and then we build a fleet programme to meet your financial and operational objectives. That’s because our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We put you first, which means you always feel like the most important person. On top of that, we continually develop new services and give you nothing but the best in customer care. All of which results in a true sense of partnership.

To find out more call 08444 99 1402, email: sales@venson.com or visit www.venson.com

DISCOVER

FREE* 3 DAY TEST DRIVE

• Open to all Company Car Drivers • Choose any current model** • Full insurance cover provided

• Car delivered to and collected from your workplace • No mileage limit • Quick and easy to book

Book your FREE* 3 Day Test Drive today at www.3daytestdrive.co.uk or call 0870 240 4848†

VAUXHALL FLEET Call 0870 010 0651‡ | visit www.vauxhall.co.uk/fleet

Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Vauxhall range: Urban – from 14.4 (19.6) to 313.9 (0.9), Extra-urban – from 27.4 (10.3) to 217.3 (1.3), Combined – from 20.6 (13.7) to 235.4 (1.2). CO2 emissions from 324 to 27g/km. * = Excludes fuel and lubricants; congestion charges; parking and speeding fines and the £250 insurance excess (if applicable). ** = The 3 Day Test Drive programme is for Company Car Drivers only.

It features a wide selection of models from the Vauxhall range (excluding all VXR models and commercial vehicles and subject to availability). Drivers must be aged 25 years or over, have held a full driving licence for at least a year and hold a major credit card. You will need to have your driving licence (and proof of identity (i.e. passport) where the driving licence is not a photocard licence) when your car is delivered. While every effort will be made to ensure that at least 3 days are provided for the test drive, this cannot always be guaranteed due to delivery and collection dates and timings. Available to the UK mainland only. Terms and Conditions apply. † = Telephone lines are open Monday-Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm excluding Bank Holidays. ‡ = Telephone lines are open Monday-Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm excluding Bank Holidays. All calls may be recorded or monitored for quality and/or training purposes. Lifetime Warranty covers lifetime ownership of first car owner, 100,000 mile limit, (eight-year 100,000 mile warranty on the Ampera battery subject to the warranty conditions as outlined in the Vauxhall Ampera service booklet). Annual check required. The warranty excludes wear and tear and serviceable items and the vehicle must be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s servicing schedule to continue the Lifetime Warranty. Terms and conditions apply. Offer available to all Vauxhall passenger cars, (this offer does not apply to car-derived vans) registered from 1 August 2010.

COVER STORY MPG Marathon

TON-UP TRIUMPH Two cars smashed the 100mpg mark at this year’s recordbreaking ALD Automotive • Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon.

Coverage by Steve Moody and Alex Grant.

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ALD Automotive • Shell FuelSave 2012

T

he MPG Marathon is the UK’s longest-running and best-known economy driving event. Featuring a wide range of cars and vans, it is a live demonstration of how both the vehicle itself, and the person behind the wheel, can make a massive difference to an organisation’s spiralling fuel costs and carbon emissions. And it’s a cost nobody can ignore.

Now in its twelfth year, it pits teams of contestants together over a two-day event to push for the best fuel economy.

This year's event started at the stunning Cotswolds Water Park in early October, where competitors pushed for the best economy over two days, on a route covering around 380 miles of British countryside, including A and B roads and motorway driving. Day one took drivers west into South Wales, while day two circumnavigated the Cotswolds and South Midlands.

All 28 vehicles in the event were expertly monitored along the route by TRACKER fleet tracking devices, while all fuel tanks were brimmed with Shell FuelSave petrol or diesel, before and after.

Stunning scenery, skilful driving and the great British weather combined to make it the most memorable MPG Marathon yet, with some truly incredible results – read on to find out more...

MPG on the BBC...

Paul Clifton, transport correspondent for BBC South (below right), took part in this year’s event in a Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost, keeping BBC News viewers informed of his progress each day, along the 380-mile route.

See how he fared on pg 45...

mpgmarathon.com November 2012

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COVER STORY MPG Marathon ALD Automotive • Shell FuelSave 2012

100MPG+ HOW THEY DID IT Trip computer only reads to 99.9mpg...

When 102.21mpg is still not enough!!

I asked to be able to try the Fiesta before the event, to get used to it. The first time I drove it I knew that it was going to give fantastic economy: it rolled freely, cut through the air fantastically well and has the lowered suspension, so it was a joy to drive.

I went for a test drive, using the computer to tell me what economy I was getting – it was then that I found a major Ford design mistake – the fuel consumption gauge only went up to 99.9mpg. At between 42 and 46mph on the flat the gauge was sitting at 99.9mpg!!

The first part of any journey is bad news to fuel economy, as the engine warms up, but by the time we got to the Severn Bridge we had the average sitting at that pesky 99.9. I thought that the route over the Brecon Beacons was going to knock us back, but climbing the 1100ft after Crickhowell in fourth only pulled us back to 93mpg. It was at that point that I began to believe that we could make the magic three figures.

Waiting at the finish was tense, as the computer told us that we had done over 99.9, but was it accurate and if so, how much were we over? The rest is now history – thanks folks, we will be back next year, if invited. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though it required mega concentration.

The aim was to try and win the 2012 MPG Marathon for the fourth year running, plus break that elusive 100mpg. I’d been so close (99.24mpg) before in the smart car, but now we were in the Kia Rio. New car and new challenge.

But, although reasonably confident of a good result, my old friend Andy Dawson was entered, to take the crown from me.

For the event, the weather was good, other than one heavy shower. The route was equally good with an appropriate mix of roads from motorway right through to single width back roads and the terrain supplied a suitably taxing array of climbs, descents and cruising winding roads and straights.

Determined to break that 100mpg barrier, it really was a case of extreme concentration on every gear change, every time I applied the brakes and always planning well ahead. All very obvious things that we all know make a difference, but to achieve exceptional figures, I needed to take exceptional care in all areas.

The drive went to plan, right up to the last leg traffic jam in Stow-on-the-Wold. At that point competitors were given verbal instructions that gave them the freedom to choose any route back to the finish.

At the end, we did break that 100mpg with a very pleasing 102.21mpg. But, my seat-of-the-pants driving simply couldn’t match Andy’s superb eco driving.

ANDY DAWSON

MICK LINFORD

HIGH HOPES Ford Fiesta ECOnetic team were quietly confident throughout the 370-mile course.

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N

DR OW IV IN IN CL G UD ST ES YL E

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COVER STORY MPG Marathon

THE LONELINESS OF A LONG-DISTANCE HYPERMILER W

hat an idiot. In 12 years, many miles, and many countries of driving, I don’t think I’ve ever been more frustrated to see the last chevrons of a missed junction pass me by. Never before have the words “that’s our junction” made my heart sink further.

How annoying.

It’s a simple mistake to make, picking the wrong Severn crossing, particularly when your brain autopilots you onto the one you use on the way home. But it’s not a simple mistake to correct when there’s no easy way back onto the motorway running parallel with the one you’re on.

I’d learned quickly that driving economically or “hypermiling” is a hard, mentally demanding task. It’s a skill which means paying close attention to every touch of the pedals, every turn of the wheel, and watching the road ahead twice as hard for problems, all while maintaining as smooth a line as possible through every corner. Essentially, it’s all the basic mental demands of driving

ALL SMILES but navigational errors soon took their toll on motoring editor Grant’s fuel economy

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on track, but with the added challenge of avoiding the often flaky habits of the full cross-section of the British motoring public.

Peer pressure only adds to the stress.

Motoring journalists and eco-drivers are a competitive bunch, and any opportunity to outdo one another behind the wheel is a reason to feel a little pride over the dinner table. It applies whether you’re shaving seconds off a lap time, or pushing for extra decimal points of a mile per gallon at the MPG Marathon.

I was up against seasoned economy drivers – people capable not only of meeting but greatly exceeding the factory figures which so many motorists assume are unachievable. And, with an unplanned 20mile detour on the first leg of the first day at my first ever MPG Marathon, I wasn’t off to the best start. I was also aware that, back at base, TRACKER was receiving live information of my blunder via one of their units installed in the car, fed back as a red

deviation line on the map. What an idiot.

It had all started with a false dose of confidence. Day one would involve nearly 200 miles of driving almost entirely on my home turf, crossing into Wales over the M48 bridge and up towards Abergavenny, then returning back to the Cotswolds via Rosson-Wye. Roads I’m familiar with.

I’m also not completely new to economy driving. I owned a petrol Passat for two-anda-half years, and regularly got that up beyond its claimed fuel efficiency figures, and as an added accolade I set the best efficiency figure of all the journalists at the SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive launch three years ago. For some reason I was feeling rather confident.

Plus I had the right car. The Vauxhall Insignia Biturbo isn’t just a comfortable place to spend two days – on paper it’s also perfect for the event. Driving it with the smaller of its two turbochargers would mean I could keep the rev counter at under 2,000rpm for most of the day’s route. At 55.4mpg combined for

ALD Automotive • Shell FuelSave 2012

Alex Grant set off on the 2012 MPG Marathon confident of eco-driving glory. It didn’t quite go to plan… the Sports Tourer, I wasn’t out to set the best figure of the day, but I had a glimmer of hope that I might at least compete for the best percentage improvement.

But it didn’t quite go to plan. Finding my feet meant we arrived at the first stop averaging 50.9mpg on the clocks, and with 18 miles added to our total distance covered.

Not a great start, but a gentle-footed afternoon at the wheel returned almost 58mpg, and when Katie and I returned to the hotel at the end of day one, there was a quiet confidence that we’d managed somewhere near the official figure.

It didn’t last. Someone on my table at dinner was driving without shoes on to feel the pedals better. Another was keeping the car’s tyres on the shiny, worn bits of tarmac to cut rolling friction. I could almost feel that victory slip through my fingers. We had no chance. My head hit the pillow still plotting how we’d coax our Insignia over that official figure on day two.

Having led the pack out of the hotel on day one, we were at the end of the line for the second half of the event. Day two was rumoured to be the more difficult, not great news for us, and an early start meant the cars were thoroughly covered in dew. Removed by hand, naturally, to avoid wasting fuel.

By the first stop, the Insignia was bearing good news – an average of just under 55mpg on its trip computer, despite a small detour due to a closed road. We rolled into the lunch stop showing nearly 61mpg for the second leg of the day, having bumped up our economy with a stretch of motorway where the Insignia had really come into its own.

The afternoon proved problematic, though. A crash up ahead launched the Marathon runners into a slow-moving queue, stop-starting up a steep hill somewhere in the Cotswolds. This was a disaster for all of us, but especially problematic for a team trying to move nearly two tonnes of family car. We shed 5mpg off our average

figure in less than ten minutes, and our confidence was waning again.

Dispersed by the road closure, it was an hour before we saw another MPG-branded car that afternoon. Flying blind, we’d extended the distance between us and the rest of the pack, finally pulling into the Shell garage for refueling as the team were starting to pack up.

So, marred by inexperience, traffic jams and getting lost, our MPG Marathon debut wasn’t anything to write home about. At 49.86mpg, we achieved the greatest reduction in economy against Vauxhall’s own figures. But I’ve learned a lot. Ease off on the throttle, plan ahead a little bit and it’s not that difficult to make a tank of fuel last longer than usual. And, as a benefit, you get to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings your eco-friendly driving is helping to save.

All I need to do now is find someone who’ll let me near one of their cars for next year’s event.

“Our best MPG figure attained but worst performance in the event will not stop us from going for a winning result in 2013.

As ever, a great route, fantastic sportsmanship and the best social event in the driving calendar.”

Iain Robertson – Peugeot Partner Tepee

November 2012

37

NUM8ER5 G4ME 2012 MPG Marathon in figures 2012

28

77mpg Fuel economy for the Citroën Nemo HDi 75, driven by VAN Fleet World editor John Kendall – the highest result for the LCV class.

16% Average improvement in fuel economy against the published figures. Diesel models averaged a 17% increase, while the three petrol cars averaged a 9% improvement.

The number of competitors in this year’s event, comprising 21 cars and 7 vans.

102.21mpg Fuel economy achieved by Kia’s 1.1 Rio CRDi eco – the second best result in the history of the MPG Marathon, but not quite good enough for top spot...

£45million The annual fuel bill of BT Group, according to fleet manager, Dave Edwards.

25.2

gallons

£164.23 Total fuel cost reduction, based on the average petrol and diesel prices for October from the AA.

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10,641 The combined mileage covered by vehicles competing in the 2012 MPG Marathon event.

Total fuel saved by drivers on the event, when compared to official figures.

COVER STORY MPG Marathon ALD Automotive • Shell FuelSave 2012

Minister gives Government approval to MPG Marathon The 2012 MPG Marathon received official Government approval from Transport Minister, Norman Baker MP (centre, alongside Andy Dawson and Andrew Marriott).

Before the presentation of the trophies, held at the Royal Automobile Club, Mr Baker said that the idea of trying to go the extra mile ‘chimed in very well’ with the work of government, where there was an emphasis on getting the most from the existing transport system, and creating growth while reducing emissions.

Competitors in this year’s ALD Automotive • Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon clearly demonstrated how the use of smarter driving techniques can considerably reduce the amount of fuel used by cars and vans.

The 28 competitors in the MPG Marathon achieved an average 16% improvement over the published fuel consumption figures for their vehicles, with two teams managing over 100mpg in the event.

Mr Baker commented that rising oil prices, advances in engine technology and the UK’s need for energy security were among the drivers for motorists seeking to get better fuel consumption from their vehicles. He said ‘Better fuel consumption makes good economic and environmental sense.’

‘Creating growth and cutting carbon are key aims for the Department for Transport and the MPG Marathon fits in precisely with these objectives. The winners are real achievers – hard-driving heroes,’ he added.

Starship Enterprise

SEALING THE DEAL Shell FuelSave in the tanks was meticulously sealed/unsealed

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Not content with VAN Fleet World editor John Kendall posting the best outright MPG figure for vans (77mpg) at the wheel of a Nemo, Citroen also provided the logistics van for the 2012 event, in the form of the impressive new Dispatch Enterprise.

Having previously praised the capacious nature of Citroen’s Relay on the event, we were a little concerned about fitting all our equipment in, but the Dispatch was a star, proving more than fit for purpose, economical (less so than Nemo, obviously) and, with a full steel bulkhead, very refined.

“Creating growth and cutting carbon are key aims for the Department for Transport and the MPG Marathon fits in precisely with these objectives.”

Norman Baker MP

advertisement feature

SPORTSWAGON STAR The all-new Sportswagon is the latest addition to the cee’d family, offering style, practicality and versatility for fleet drivers

S

pace and comfort do not always go hand in hand, and design is often an afterthought when it comes to high-mileage, multitasking fleet vehicles. Yet with the all-new cee’d Sportswagon, Kia has delivered where other car manufacturers fail, creating a vehicle that has as much appeal for user choosers as it does for fleet managers looking to satisfy environmental and CSR requirements.

With a strong presence on the road, starting from the tip of its Kia family tiger nose grille, the cee’d Sportswagon has dynamic looks rarely found in estate cars. Lower, narrower and longer than its predecessor, the Sportswagon has a sleek profile that ditches the ‘boxiness’ associated with traditional estate styling.

SPACE CONQUEROR And yet the cee’d Sportswagon’s new shape delivers more than just style. Open its easy access tailgate and its sleek form reveals a copious 510 litres of stowage – increasing to 1,642 litres with the seats folded – which is greater than that of the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra estates.

Across the range, practical features include roof rails, a 12V power socket in the boot and net hooks, while the ‘4’ and ‘4 Tech’ versions also incorporate a clever luggage area rail and partition system, and luggage barrier net.

ECO ACHIEVER With style and practicality covered, how does the cee’d Sportswagon perform? Available as a diesel-only engine range in the UK, with a 1.4 litre 89bhp CRDi that achieves 67.3mpg and CO2 of 109 g/km and a more powerful 1.6 litre 126bhp CRDi that delivers 64.2mpg and 116 g/ km, the model will figure favourably for both fleet managers and drivers.

Smooth and quiet on the road, the Sportswagon responds positively whatever road conditions lie ahead. In fact the 5-door cee’d received a maximum 5-star accident safety rating by Euro NCAP placing it among the safest C-segment cars on the market.

The new cee’d Sportswagon really does have it all. n

The all-new cee’d Sportswagon comes with Kia’s fully-transferable 7 year/100,000 mile warranty, making it a compelling fleet vehicle

Take a no obligation test drive of the all-new cee’d today – contact the Kia Business Centre on 01932 283945 or visit kia.co.uk/fleet

Fare finder In the current economic climate, the challenge to find economical and practical cars is never greater, according to Allan McGinness, sales director of The Taxi Centre. The Glasgowbased company offers hire purchase, lease purchase, contract hire and finance leasing for its customers across the UK. “Our clients are looking for very specific types of cars and so we are always looking for good quality models that hit the mid price point and offer a good all-round product. The new cee’d Sportswagon delivers exactly that,” says McGinness. “We’re in the early stages of running demonstrations to local councils to get approval as a public hire vehicle, but the cee’d Sportswagon is absolutely fantastic and I anticipate that we will take around 80-100 of the new model.”

COVER STORY MPG Marathon

10 TIPS FOR SAVING FUEL 1 • MAINTENANCE: Well-maintained engines perform better and use less fuel. Faulty sensors, shown by engine warning lights, can significantly reduce economy, while regular servicing and oil level checks will ensure your car is running at its best. Both will pay dividends for long-distance drivers.

2 • TYRES: A European Commission report published earlier this year showed 38% of motorists are driving on the wrong tyre pressures. Underinflated tyres cause up to 4% increase in fuel use, the report said, as well as affecting stopping distances and road holding.

3 • SPEED: Obeying the speed limit can offer drastic improvements in fuel economy. Vans use 25% less fuel at 70mph than 80mph, according to Cobra, while extending the life of consumable parts.

“The MPG Marathon has established itself as the premier fuel economy event in Britain, with realistic results achieved by judicious eco-minded driving on a tough hilly route, in vehicles which have their tanks sealed and their refuelling scrupulously measured.

The staggering results are genuinely achievable.”

Sue Baker – Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi eco

4 • SMOOTHNESS: As well as reducing fuel efficiency, aggressive driving accelerates wear and tear and can lead to increased insurance reductions for fleet operators. Avoid sudden acceleration wherever possible, and watch further ahead to anticipate dangers which could cause hard braking.

5 • REVS: Over-revving an engine while accelerating causes increased fuel use. The Energy Saving Trust advises changing up at between 2,000 and 2,500 revs. But don’t labour the engine. If it feels like it’s struggling, change down.

6 • WARMING UP: Engines use more fuel when they’re cold, but the quickest way to get up to temperature is to start driving as soon as you turn the vehicle on. Pre-warming a car at idle wastes fuel, takes longer and causes additional wear because the oil hasn’t got around the internals properly.

7 • COOLING DOWN: Modern air conditioning systems are considerably more energy efficient than their predecessors. Open windows create drag, which hurts fuel economy more than using your car’s air conditioning.

8 • PLAN YOUR ROUTE: Stop-start driving with long periods of idling is disastrous for fuel economy.

Watch traffic flows ahead, and try to maintain your speed through congested routes to avoid losing momentum.

9 • DON’T HOARD: The more weight you’re carrying, the harder the engine will be working and the more fuel it’ll use. Regularly clear out heavy items from the boot, wherever possible, and remove roof racks when not in use to reduce wind resistance.

10 • DON’T DRIVE: Where possible, try using public transport or sharing a car with a workmate. The easiest way to save fuel is not to drive at all!

THE RESULTS...

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LIFE.

BALANCED.

ADD LIFE TO YOUR CORPORATE FLEET The flowing beauty of the new XF Sportbrake is just part of the story. With 1,675 litres of flexible load space it’s also beautifully versatile. The new XF Sportbrake features Intelligent Stop/Start technology which reduces CO2 emissions to just 135 g/km, meaning it incurs a BIK rate of just 21% and is capable of up to 55.4 mpg (combined). Coupled with improved whole-life costs* and a class leading specification adjusted price, the XF Sportbrake makes perfect business sense.

The new XF Sportbrake is available from £31,940 OTR. Contact us today to be one of the first to test drive it.

WWW.JAGUAR.CO.UK/CORPORATESALES 0845 366 0342 Model shown is an XF Sportbrake 3.0 litre V6 Diesel S Luxury 275PS, priced at £44,355. Official fuel economy figures for the XF Sportbrake range in MPG (l/100km): Urban 37.7–46.3 (7.5–6.1). Extra Urban 54.3–62.8 (5.0–4.3).

Combined 46.3–55.4 (6.1–5.1). CO2 Emissions 163–135 g/km.

On the road price is the manufacturers Recommended Retail Price plus Car Tax, First Registration Fee and Delivery Pack. *When price adjusted against a 12MY XF saloon.

ALD Automotive • Shell FuelSave

COVER STORY MPG Marathon Results 2012

WINNER BEST MPG Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6TDCi

108.78mpg Andrew Marriott & Andy Dawson receives the BEST MPG trophy from transport minister Norman Baker MP.

WINNER % IMPROVEMENT Citroen C1 1.0 VTR

28.92% Mark Armstrong-Read accepts the % IMPROVEMENT trophy from transport minister Norman Baker MP.

WINNER % IMPROVEMENT (VANS) Vauxhall Vivaro ecoFLEX 2700 2.0 CDTi (115PS)

59.31%

Andrew Duerden collects the % IMPROVEMENT (VANS) trophy from Norman Baker MP.

WINNER TRACKER SAFETY AWARD Peugeot 208 e-HDi EGC 44

fleetworld.co.uk

Diesel Car magazine editor Ian Robertson driving super-smoothly at the wheel of Peugeot’s 208 e-HDi.

• Class 1 • Passenger cars powered by petrol with CO2 emissions of 120g/km or less

• Class 2 • Passenger cars powered by petrol with CO2 emissions of 121g/km or more

• Class 3 • Passenger cars powered by diesel with CO2 emissions of 120g/km or less

• Class 4 • Passenger cars powered by diesel with CO2 emissions of 121g/km or more

Best outright fuel consumption – Cars 1st 2nd 3rd

Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi 1 EcoDynamics Peugeot 208 e-HDi EGC

Best % improvement – Cars 108.78mpg 102.21mpg 93.40mpg

1st 2nd 3rd

Citroen C1 1.0 VTR Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi BMW 320d EfficientDynamics

28.92% 27.07% 23.24%

Class winners – Cars – outright fuel consumption

Class winners – Cars – % improvement

Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4

Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4

Citroen C1 1.0 VTR Ford Focus Titanium 1.0 Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi Volkswagen Golf Match TDi 105

84.70mpg 61.93mpg 108.78mpg 75.06mpg

Citroën C1 1.0 VTR 28.92% Ford Focus Titanium 1.0 9.62% Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi 27.07% Volkswagen Golf Match TDi 105 19.53%

Model

Drivers

% MPG MPG Figure Combined Improvement

CO2 g/km

Audi A1 Sportback 1.6 TDi Sport

David Madgwick & Alexander Madgwick

69.27

74.30

-6.76%

99

BMW 320d EfficientDynamics

Richard Aucock & Leigh Stiff

84.91

68.90

23.24%

109

BMW 320d EfficientDynamics

Pete Lunt & Ian Featherstone

70.47

68.90

2.28%

109

Citroën C1 1.0 VTR

Geoff Murray & Mark Armstrong-Read

84.70

65.70

28.92%

99

Fiat Panda 1.3 MultiJet Easy

John Kerswill & Ian McKean

88.96

72.40

22.88%

104

Fiat Punto 1.3 MultiJet Easy

John Dalton & Chris Barron

82.47

80.70

2.20%

90

Ford Fiesta Zetec ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi

Andrew Marriott & Andy Dawson

108.78

85.60

27.07%

87

Ford Focus Titanium 1.0 EcoBoost

Paul Clifton & Doug Clifton

61.93

56.50

9.62%

114

Jaguar XF 2.2 diesel Luxury

Victor Harman & David Hancock

58.53

52.00

12.56%

139

Kia cee’d 1.6 CRDi 2 EcoDynamics

Dave Randle & Peter Cracknell

74.61

74.30

0.41%

100

Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi 1 EcoDynamics

Sue Baker & Steve Winnit

90.01

88.30

1.93%

85

Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi 1 EcoDynamics

Mick Linford & Steve Croughan

102.21

88.30

15.75%

85

Lexus GS450h Luxury

David Crouch & Richard Seymour

45.96

46.30

-0.72%

141

Peugeot 208 e-HDi EGC Active

Ian Robertson & Craig Morrow

90.24

83.10

8.60%

87

Peugeot 208 e-HDi EGC Active

Chris Russon & Kevin Jones

93.40

83.10

12.40%

87

Peugeot Partner Tepee e-HDi EGC

Iain Robertson & Robert Marshall

63.00

58.90

6.96%

125

Toyota Yaris Hybrid T4

Andrew Andersz & Alyson Marlow

79.78

80.70

-1.14%

85

Vauxhall Insignia BiTurbo 2.0 CDTi 16v SRi

Alex Grant & Katie Beck

49.86

55.40

-10.00%

134

Vauxhall Astra GTC 2.0 CDTi SRi

Dave Moss & Mike Hull

62.16

58.90

5.54%

127

Vauxhall Astra 2.0 CDTi ecoFLEX SE

Jerry Clist & Jeremy Yea

68.64

62.80

9.31%

119

Volkswagen Golf Match TDi 105

Julie Fitzell & Chad Brewer

75.06

62.80

19.53%

119

Citroen Nemo HDi 75

John Kendall & Paul Nieuwenhuis

77.51

62.80

23.42%

119

Fiat Doblo 1.3 MultiJet 90

Dave Edwards & Rob Williams

62.36

53.30

16.99%

139

Ford Transit Custom T270 L1H1

Owen Wood & Richard Powell

56.04

40.90

37.01%

183

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313CDi LWB

Peter Thomas & Marke Roughneed

43.94

33.60

30.76%

208

Renault Trafic SL27 dCi 115 Sport

Dan Gilkes & Malcolm Curnow

57.19

40.90

39.84%

180

Vauxhall Vivaro ecoFLEX 2700 2.0 CDTi (115PS) Neil McIntee & Andrew Duerden

65.16

40.90

59.31%

180

VW Transporter T27 BlueMotion (Cobra)

56.50

44.80

26.11%

166

Vans

Doug Powell & Trevor Holland

mpgmarathon.com

WINNER TRACKER SAFETY AWARD (VANS) Fiat Doblo 1.3 MultiJet 90

(l to r) Richard Pearse of TRACKER with BT fleet manager Dave Edwards, Norman Baker MP and engineer Rob Williams.

November 2012

45

(+=,9;0:,4,5; -,(;<9,

The Audi A7 Sportback: where imagination meets engine St yle. Substance. The two go hand in hand with the Audi A7 Sportback, without compromise The latest TDI engine technology, coupled with low weight and advanced aerodynamics, makes the Audi A7 Sportback one of the most efficient cars in its class.

speed multitronic transmission to deliver spirited performance of 0-62mph in 7.4secs and a top speed of 146mph (where conditions allow).

Yet combined fuel consumption of 55.4mpg

Nowhere is that more apparent than in the A7 Sportback’s BIK tax performance, where the

betters its immediate competitor (see table).

And those low BIK tax liabilities are achieved

six-cylinder 3.0 TDI 204PS will save a 40% tax payer over £550 a year compared with the Mercedes-Benz

thanks to CO2 emissions of just 135g/km.

CLS 250 CDI, which uses a four-cylinder 2.2-litre engine (see table).

Yet despite the A7’s added sophistication and refinement, it also returns better fuel consumption and CO2 emissions that place it in the 21% BIK tax band in 2012/13.

Blending the practicality of five doors with elegant coupé-like lines and superb dynamic appeal, the A7 Sportback is positioned between the A6 and A8 models in the Audi range where it offers a distinctly sporting yet luxurious alternative in the executive sector.

The Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI 204PS: comparisons Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI 5dr

Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDI 4dr

P11D price

£40,815

£47,400

CO 2 (g/km)

135

135

Max power

204PS

204hp

55.4

54.3

£142/£285

£165/£331

57.82

66.63

Standard

Standard

18”

18”

Standard3

Standard 4

Combined mpg BIK tax (20%/40%) 2

1

Cost per mile (pence/mile)

Technology for the 21st century The A7 Sportback embraces the most modern technology and Audi lightweight technology to deliver precise, nimble handling.

Its responsive 3.0 TDI 204PS engine is fitted as standard with Audi’s smooth-shifting eight-

Leather upholstery Alloy wheels Satellite navigation

1 BIK tax figures quoted monthly for 2012/13. 2 Over 3yrs/60,000 miles. Source: CAP Monitor, October 2012. 3 MMI navigation, SD card-based. 4 Becker Map Pilot system

Right: The Audi A7 Sportback’s sumptuous interior includes leather upholstery and a sophisticated SD card-based satellite navigation system with retractable 6.5” colour display

ering on technology, equipment or prestige Advanced communications as standard The Audi A7 Sportback comes with communications and navigation technology adopted from the sophisticated system first seen in the A8.

The SD card-based satellite navigation is operated through the car’s Multi Media Interface (MMI), with colour display and a stylish retractable 6.5” colour dash display (as shown above right).

Bluetooth® connectivity with voice control is also standard, together with the MMI Radio Plus system with two SDHC memory card readers (up to 32GB), single CD player and memory card reader for MP3, WMA and AAC formats.

It’s all topped off with a 10 speaker sound system with 6-channel amplifier offering 180 Watt capacity for a truly premium experience.

Luxury with unmatched driver appeal Leather upholstery in a choice of colours, poweroperated tailgate, five full-size seats and fully automatic air conditioning are just some of the highlights of the A7 Sportback’s luxurious interior.

18” alloy wheels, Xenon all-weather headlights, an automatically retracting rear spoiler, tyre pressure monitoring and Audi drive select, which offers a choice of Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Efficiency driving modes at the touch of a switch,

‘With the Audi A7 Spor tback 3.0 TDI, you will save over £550 a year in BIK tax compared with its closest competitor.’

point to the technology that makes the A7 Sportback one of the most advanced cars on the road.

Low operating costs Figures from CAP Motor Research, the leading provider of automotive running cost data, show the Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI 204PS costs less to run than the Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDI. October 2012 figures from CAP Monitor (see table) reveal a cost per mile over a typical three year/60,000 mile operating cycle of 57.82ppm – almost 9p/mile less than the Mercedes.

Calculated over 60,000 miles, that’s a saving of over £5,000 – proof, if any were needed, of the A7 Sportback’s cost-effectiveness.

F O R F U R T H E R I N F O R M AT IO N O N T H E AUDI A7 SPORTBACK V ISI T AUDI.CO.UK

FEATURE Risk Management

Consequences and the myths of company car risk Diarmuid Fahy, manager of fleet risk services leasing company Alphabet, explodes some of the “risk myths” surrounding company car and private drivers, as well as the actions fleet managers can take to manage corporate risk.

H

istorically, insurers have always considered company car and van drivers to be a high risk bunch, not least because of the higher than average annual mileages they inevitably do.

In addition, it has long been suggested that drivers caught committing offences and receiving endorsements belong in the higher risk category and, as such, are more likely to be involved in an accident.

However, more recently, the fleet sector has started to look at these driver risk myths again in a new light.

For instance, it seems logical to compare company car drivers with their private driver counterparts and target each population accordingly.

Other dangerous assumptions fleet managers often make when approaching the issue of fleet risk include the “fact” that company car drivers will do more miles than privateers, are more likely to have a licence endorsement and pose a higher risk when it comes to the likelihood of being involved in an accident.

Most fleet managers would likely agree with the above statements, categorising their company vehicle drivers in the high risk bracket and bemoaning the number of occasions on which they have had to untangle a motoring offence or accident claim within the paperwork.

However, more recent emerging evidence suggests that much of the perceived wisdom regarding driver behaviour does not necessarily stack up.

While many of the facts emerging from a more empirical approach to driver behaviour research may appear obvious at first sight, this subtle shift in understanding could have a huge impact on fleet risk policies.

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Certainly, an understanding of why these trends appear can be significant for individual fleet managers, as well as the wider leasing industry as a whole. For example, knowing where the triggers for poor driver behaviour exist could help fleets to reduce costs, better manage risk and support drivers more effectively. It is, after all, only a matter of time before a corporate manslaughter case rears its head in the fleet sector and it pays for businesses to do everything they can to mitigate the risks inherent in requiring employees to drive for work.

The culture of an employer can, for example, play a role in establishing the driving behaviour of its employees. Hence, a safety conscious organisation is likely to put in place the policies and support structure to ensure its drivers are made aware of road safety and speed management, with employees in these organisations more likely to pay attention to the messages being conveyed. Conversely, if an employer takes a lax attitude towards its policies, including driver safety, then this is more likely to generate a similar attitude among that company’s drivers.

In addition to cultural factors, it is generally accepted that company vehicle drivers will tend to drive in more high pressure situations than their private counterparts, regularly commuting on some of the most congested stretches of road in the UK. The added pressure of reaching appointments on time and the use of in-car technology such as mobile phones have been proven to adversely affect a driver’s cognitive abilities. This increased pressure, combined with the perceived lack of consequences around motoring offences and accidents as a

The culture of an employer can, for example, play a role in establishing the driving behaviour of its employees

FEATURE Risk Management

Consequences and the myths of company car risk... company car driver, may go part way to explaining why the statistics suggest company car drivers commit more offences.

The issue of consequences is particularly significant when it comes to looking at remedies for poor driver behaviour. While a driver who insures their own vehicle will pay for their motoring offence or accident through increased insurance premiums, company vehicle drivers tend to be covered under a fleet insurance policy and, therefore, the onus to rectify a situation and get the employee back on the road tends to rest with the employer rather than the driver.

To illustrate the point further, a speeding offence may generate three penalty points on the licence and a one-off fine for the company car driver, but the private driver will also see the additional sting in the tail of an increase of around 15% in their insurance premium for the next five years.

Likewise, if a private car driver has an accident, then they have to pay an excess and an insurance premium increase, as well as arranging the repairs, dealing with the insurers and organising a courtesy car.

Conversely, a company car driver can leave it with the fleet manager to arrange repairs while being given a temporary

vehicle to conduct business activities.

In addition, as the resale value of the car is irrelevant to the company car driver, there is less incentive to look after the car in terms of general maintenance.

The apparent link between completing high mileage and the occurrence of motoring offences, combined with the perceived lack of consequences as a company car driver, seems to suggest that there is an opportunity for organisations to look at changing driver behaviour.

The benefits are clear; reduced risk, decreased costs and a pool of company car drivers who are more engaged with the safety culture of the organisation.

However, the approach requires a careful balancing act.

By introducing greater repercussions for transgressions, there is a danger of alienating drivers and causing instances of underreporting. If, however, the penalties are combined with incentives, education and a supportive organisational culture, then it is possible to change attitudes and ultimately reduce the number of traffic offences committed by employees driving for work.

Not only good for the employer’s bottom line, but also for the reputation of their brand.

If driver penalties are combined with incentives, education and a supportive organisational culture, then it is possible to change attitudes and reduce accidents

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SPOTLIGHT Tesla Model S

A DIFFERENT WAY Tesla may be a newcomer to the corporate sector, but its latest arrival offers supercar acceleration, space for five and a range of 300 miles, all without burning a single drop of fuel. Meet the revolutionary Model S. By Alex Grant.

DESIGN The Model S is based on an all-new, electric vehicle specific platform developed in-house by Tesla. Laid out like a skateboard, it houses a flat lithium ion battery under the cabin floor, which powers a compact electric drivetrain fitted between the rear wheels. It’s roughly the same size as an Audi A7, and designed to look as conventional and desirable as possible.

But it’s also dripping with concept car-esque details, such as the door handles which retract to sit flush with the bodywork and the keyless entry and starting system which locks and deactivates the car as you walk away.

MOTORING EDITOR’S VIEW This is a giant leap in the right direction for electric vehicles, but the deciding factor will be pricing. Transportation costs mean European models will be priced higher than in the United States, where the range starts at $50,000 (£31,000), but this is still expected to be competitive with a conventionally-powered executive car and high production volumes are available if needed. With the tax benefits and ability to travel conventional distances for a half-hour fast charge, Model S has the potential to lay some strong foundations for the sector's most radical manufacturer. AG

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CABIN & EQUIPMENT With a completely flat floorpan and compact drivetrain, the Model S is incredibly spacious. Boot space is almost 50% larger than anything of a similar size and there’s an additional ”frunk” under the bonnet where an engine would normally be. The cabin is stylish and luxurious, with space for three to sit comfortably on the rear bench, helped by the completely flat floor.

It’s the dashboard which really delights, though. Everything, including climate control settings, sunroof and boot, are controlled via a high-resolution 17-inch touchscreen.

This is no more challenging than using an iPad, with dragand-drop operation to select what’s on screen and how large it should be. It also means new features can be downloaded overnight via its built-in data connection, so the Model S will gain additional functionality as Tesla develops its software further.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

FLEET PLANS The Model S may look like a concept car, but it’s less than a year from UK showrooms and the fleet sector is firmly on Tesla’s radar. Annual volumes of 20,000 globally won’t make this a common sight in the company car park, but it’s enough to allow it a first step on the corporate ladder ahead of the 2015 Model X SUV and a forthcoming 3 Series equivalent which will be even more affordable.

With former Apple store chief strategist George Blankenship as vice president, sales & ownership experience, Tesla’s approach to selling cars is as revolutionary as the technology that powers them. Its showrooms are in high footfall areas, usually shopping malls, and from its network of service centres it can offer on-site servicing for existing customers for a fixed price.

In the UK, service staff are based out of a centre in Acton, London, with additional sites to be rolled out as cars arrive in the UK. ‘Here’s the beauty of our model,’ explains Blankenship. ‘I already know where the first 13,000 cars are going. All I have to do is put a density map together, and I can say we’ll put a service centre right here. There’s no rocket science to it, wherever there’s a high density of cars we’re going to put a service centre there.’

While there are no allocations or sales targets, and as yet no aspirations for how sales will be split between fleet and retail, Tesla is serious about the corporate sector. Prior to the first deliveries, the carmaker will hire a specific fleet team, including an in-house residual value specialist tasked with maintaining competitive leasing rates.

‘It’s not that we don’t pay attention to what other people are doing, but we don’t want our business model or our customers to be driven by what others are doing. We want to do things that take care of them the way we think they should be taken care of,’ Blankenship says.

The Model S launches with a single high-output battery, which offers the full 300-mile range and is available with an optional Performance pack. This will be joined by two considerably cheaper lower-capacity units shortly afterwards, with the mid-range 230-mile unit expected to be the most popular.

None of the three are likely to disappoint keen drivers, but only the most potent battery with the Performance pack was available to drive at the launch. All of its 416bhp and 442lb.ft is delivered instantly, explosively, and at any speed. Matching the pace of a high performance saloon, it accelerates smoothly and relentlessly far beyond UK speed limits, with the lack of engine noise to remind you it’s an electric car.

It also rides well. Our test car was fitted with 21-inch wheels and air suspension, and offered a perfect balance between high speed agility and low speed comfort. The steering feels mechanical, the body is stiff and the low centre of gravity offers entirely predictable roadholding.

November 2012

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S E LLI N G

Fleet and leasing values reach record highs, says BCA Shortages in wholesale vehicle supply are continuing to drive record values at auction, according to BCA’s Quarterly Pulse Report, with fleet and leasing vehicle values up 12.6% year-on-year in quarter three – the highest in the market.

Across the market, average values for Q3 2012 are £6,216, the highest since BCA’s Pulse reports began in 2005. This represents a £325 (5.5%) improvement over Q2, and £293 (4.9%) increase year-on-year.

Fleet and leasing vehicles made up a slightly higher proportion of the market compared to part exchanges. Despite three consecutive months of price rises for part exchange vehicles, it’s the fleet and lease sector which has recorded the largest climb in average vehicle values. These were up on average £917 (12.6%) against Q3 2011, reaching a record high of £8,177. September’s £8,339 average value is also the highest on record.

BCA communications director, Tony Gannon, explained: ‘Supplies reaching the wholesale used car market are quite significantly down on the peak seen four to five years ago and there is a real shortage of good quality, ready to retail used cars. This is leading to fierce competition and generally rising values for the best examples reaching the remarketing arena.

‘This stock shortage is a long term issue and is unlikely to change until new car volumes pick up significantly and the economy improves enough to generate a bigger churn of vehicles in the marketplace. This doesn’t diminish the effect of the typical seasonal pressures, of course, which have seen values and conversions weaken in early October.’

Shortages continue, despite winter slowdown The motor trade has begun its seasonal slowdown as buyers start to consider winter expenses ahead of buying a car, but there are still not enough cars to meet demand according to vehicle valuations experts VIPdata.

This year has been characterised by particularly stable used vehicle prices, but with stock short it’s been difficult for traders to find ready to retail cars at a price which allows for a good profit margin. Gavin Amos at VIPdata says traders have been more open to repairing minor damage such as kerbed alloy wheels and scuffed bumpers as a result, and are seeking opportunities in part exchange.

Despite the under-supplied market, VIPdata is predicting a 2% drop in values for November with the 4x4 sector set to suffer the hardest. Typically the time where the market for all-wheel drive vehicles picks up, last year’s mild winter caused a slowing of demand which left dealers with stock they couldn’t sell.

Amos believes they won’t be prepared to take the risk this year.

‘It was only a matter of time until trade activity started to slow after the recent months of stable values and the general buoyant feel to the market,’ he said. ‘But don’t be fooled, even though we are seeing a slight seasonal dip in values, the reality of the situation is that buyers are still out there and there aren’t enough good cars to meet demand.’

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HOT...

Citroën DS5 The executive DS5 made its official auction debut recently, achieving 109.9% of CAP at the BCA/Citroën UK sale.

Superminis At an average 49% residual value in September, the sector is the market’s most buoyant, and up from 43% year on year.

Executive cars Large and small executive models are performing well at auction, likely to be helped by a glut of recently refreshed versions.

NOT...

4x4s Traditionally a growth sector as the weather turns, last year’s hot winter means demand is flat.

MPVs Behind 4x4s, values in the MPV sector have fallen the most in the last 12 months, declining 2%.

Audi Q5 Faster lead times and a recent facelift have dented demand for the Q5, resulting in a 4% drop in value.

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INTERVIEW Neal Francis Pendragon Contracts

Birthday wishes Neal Francis, managing director of Pendragon Contracts, is celebrating the firm’s 30th birthday with a new focus on winning SME and long-term eet business. Steve Moody asks the questions.

Pendragon Contracts is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, having battled through the credit crunch, realigned its business and is now looking to grow its fleet again.

It started life as Jackson Leasing in 1982, the year the Ford Sierra replaced the Cortina, and the company was acquired

by Williams Holdings in 1984 and operated within the conglomerate’s car division.

In 1989, the business was demerged from Williams Holdings and was established as a core division of Pendragon plc, Europe’s largest motor group, which has more than 250 outlets trading nationally as Stratstone, Evans Halshaw, Chatfields, Quicks, CFC, Pinewood and Quickco.

In 2004, Pendragon acquired CD Bramall and in 2006, it took over Reg Vardy, with both of the leasing businesses becoming part of the contract hire operation.

Like many of the medium-sized leasing firms, Pendragon was hit hard by the credit crunch. In 2009, most of its external funders exited the market, faced as they were with the harsh challenges of the wider economic crisis.

But the business continued to operate and find new funders, and managing director Neal Francis reckons that while lots of things change and there’s always something new to battle, much also stays the same.

‘Here we are 30 years later still going strong, and there’s always different market conditions to deal with, and you just have to find a way,’ he says.

‘From a growth point of view, over the last few years, the business has contracted – for example, when RVs took a real hiding – and then grown, and in terms of the last five years, since 2008, the fleet has shrunk with the departure of SME and personal contract hire funding, but growth will increase as funding has turned a corner now.

‘There are new funders coming into the SME and personal contract hire market, and now we’re writing 50-60 units a month in that area, and so we will look to press forward in the way we go to market. We used to use brokers, but we’re not going to do that so much anymore. Now with the internet, we can get some of the same activity as brokers and we’re having quite a lot of success doing it ourselves.’

Francis believes that SMEs are often not well handled by larger firms and Pendragon’s expertise in working within the dealer group means it is better suited to operating in that market.

‘All of the manufacturers say that small and medium firms are where their focus is, but in reality the retention rates

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are very poor, and many have unrealistic return standards, and they’re relying on dealers to sell those products. But the customer isn’t aware in terms of product types what is about, and most propositions are price-led, commoditised and heavily supported. It’s a very fickle market.

‘I believe it is how you deal with the inquiry which is how you can differentiate yourself. It doesn’t have to be so heavily price-led.’

Francis says the larger fleet business is ‘kicking along ok’ and that the firm is picking up business in large ticket sectors.

‘But this year the manufacturer finance houses are coming out more aggressive than ever in terms of price. So again, it’s about putting together a sustainable, flexible package that is consultative, giving fleets the right advice in terms of wholelife costs, not just the headline monthly rental.’

The firm has invested heavily in social media and online presence, because Francis believes this is where good customers will be won, and then retained. So what of the next 30 years?

‘We’ve got to embrace changes in the market to make sure we’re ahead. The interesting challenges we face in the business are driven around two or three different areas. Tax and legislation is one, and how to deal with the changes. We perceive that the Government sees the market as a soft target. Then there’s the issue of the metal itself, and whether electric cars will make an impact, and all the changes around technology. But then there’s change in the leasing industry itself: if you go back 30 years and you look at the firms operating then, there are 30 brand names that are no longer in the market.

‘You’ve got to have the support, and we’re fortunate we have that thanks to the Pendragon group, so in that sense it’s a guardian for the business.’

Francis is already looking at legacy, about how the firm can win business and keep it rather than just fight on front end cost for easy wins with no longevity.

‘It’s a tough market out there, but not impossible, with our business we want to win strong business, when we go for new customers we are interested in winning clients where there is the possibility of three change cycles. And that’s part of the consultative element of it, the danger is if people sell rentals then they commoditise the proposition. That’s not what we’re about, and that’s why we’re still here after 30 years and intend to be for another 30, at least.’

“It’s about putting together a sustainable, flexible package that is consultative, giving fleets the right advice.”

November 2012

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MANAGEMENT Fleet Academy

Join the The law of unintended consequences Steve Moody, Fleet World Editor, Fleet World Group

Fleet World magazine’s Fleet Academy is designed to provide a forum whereby those industry consultants and professionals in possession of valuable fleet information can impart it to a select audience of fleet decision-makers.

At the heart of the Fleet Academy is a network of independent fleet industry experts whose work brings them into regular contact with end-user fleet managers and other organisations playing a key role in the industry. These fleet experts provide a regular feed of information that is posted on the website forum in the form of a discussion topic.

Typical areas of interest include, but are not limited to: taxation, finance and accounting, legislation, environmental issues, fleet safety, insurance, fleet management, supply issues and security.

Fleet suppliers are permitted to respond to queries if it is felt that their response represents honest and impartial advice. This aspect of the service is strictly moderated in order to ensure that the quality of information provided remains of the highest standard.

We have already attracted a strong network of fleet professionals, and our expert contributors have submitted a number of thought provoking discussion topics, a few of which are previewed to the right.

We hope you will consider joining us in this exciting new venture into the world of fleet.

To find out more about Fleet Academy and request membership, please visit:

www.fleetacademy.co.uk 60

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We recently ran a story about van makers reacting to block exemption by making diagnostic ports easier to access for independents, which then made it easier for crooks to clone keys and steal the vehicle. This has got me thinking about the law of unintended consequences...

Modern cars are amazingly difficult to break into – a study recently suggested that the lowering of major crime in the UK is partially down to this fact: apparently young peoples’ first step on the criminal ladder is stealing cars, and the harder they are to nick, the less likely they are to take that first step on the road to violence and prison.

But it’s interesting that there are some unintended consequences of car manufacturers’ exceptional efforts to stop vehicles being stolen. To get into modern cars, you need the keys, and that means that

Ross Durkin, Publisher, Fleet World Group replied…

On the Royal Navy’s principle of choosing the least worst option, I have to agree that if someone is going to enter your home to steal your keys (and hence your car) it might be better if they did so without ransacking your house to find them.

A neighbour of mine once had his front window removed and not only did the thieves steal his £40,000 7 Series BMW, but they also helped themselves to his daughter's brand new Fiesta while they were there.

A sobering thought.

Mick Donovan, Group Fleet Manager, Bowmer & Kirkland Ltd replied…

My keys and those of my family will be as close to the front door as they can be. If they are that intent they can break down the door, take the keys and cars, which

in association with

debate...

Attitudes towards speed cameras may have thawed, but do we trust them? increasingly those criminals determined to take your motor have to break into your house first.

Now, far be it from me to wish my car off my drive, but I’d rather it was whisked away in the dead of night leaving a sorry space for me to discover in the morning, than to have some potentially vicious ne’erdo-well bludgeoning in my door and sneaking about the place in search of keys while my family sleeps.

Advice is generally not to leave your keys by the front door, as most people seem to, thus making it harder for criminals to steal your car. Personally though, I’d rather not take the risk of finding a masked villain in my kitchen rifling through drawers in the dead of night and so I’ll be leaving mine in the hall (I’ve chosen to leave my address off this post!). Am I wrong here – please tell me? What is your advice to drivers?

are fully insured, and leave without so much as a threat to any of us. Lives are precious; cars are material objects that are replaceable. Whether they get past my neighbour’s dogs is another matter...

Simon Elstow, Head of Driver Training Operations, IAM Drive & Survive The results of a recent survey from IAM suggests that 82% of people do not object to the use of speed cameras on our roads, but 45% think that raising income is still a main reason for their use. The results also suggest that drivers think speed cameras are beneficial to road safety, with 85% of respondents believing that speed cameras have helped to contribute to the fall in road deaths since the 1990s.

The results show that, generally, drivers are more accepting of speed cameras than they were 5 years ago. In 2007, 30% of respondents vehemently disagreed with the use of speed cameras on British roads – a figure that has reduced year-onyear, applying to just 16% of drivers in 2011.

Have your attitudes towards speed cameras altered over the last few years? Are you cynical about the way money raised from speeding fines is used? The use of speed cameras is proven to have an impact on the number of road casualties, and it’s the system policing our roads. Do you think speed cameras are as effective as they claim to be? I’d be interested to read your views on this issue.

Alex Grant, Motoring Editor, Fleet World Group replied…

Clive Buhagiar, Head of Public Sector, Alphabet (UK) replied…

I agree, it’s difficult to know what to do. But with the majority of fleet cars unlikely to be the sort stolen to order (vans, I accept, are a different matter) is it not more likely to be a case of opportunists seeing keys as a red rag?

As I understand it, car crime in the UK is getting harder to log because the stolen assets are now increasingly getting lumped in with break-ins. I’m all for putting obstacles in the way of an opportunist joy ride, but I suspect my views on this will change when I’ve got a family to think about.

I have never really understood the objection to speed cameras – speeding is against the law and you take a risk of being caught whenever you speed. You would not expect sympathy for a burglar who was caught on CCTV and I think the principle is the same here.

The overwhelming evidence seems to support the safety benefits that speed cameras bring. I would prefer it if average speed cameras were more prevalent to stop people slamming on the brakes when they see a camera, which can be a danger in itself.

Would I be annoyed if I was caught speeding? Well, yes; but this does not give me the right to stop enforcement of the law here.

November 2012

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FEATURE To buy or to lease? // Part 24

IS CASH KING?

In the first of two parts, Professor Colin Tourick looks at the pros and cons of setting up cash-for-car schemes.

So far in this series we have considered all of the major forms of vehicle finance, including employee car ownership schemes (ECOS) and salary sacrifice schemes.

This month we are going to step back and look more broadly at the issues that arise when an employer stops providing a company car and simply provides the

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employee with more salary instead.

The company car tax system clearly disadvantages many company car drivers.

For some, the company car no longer represents good value because the tax they pay exceeds the cost they would incur if they simply took extra salary from their employer and acquired their own car.

Some employers – particularly those with lots of ”perk” cars – have long believed that the administration of a car fleet is an unnecessary burden. In the mid-1990s American businesses operating in the UK started to move away from company cars and simply added an amount to their employees’ salaries to

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FEATURE To buy or to lease? // Part 24

compensate for the withdrawal of the car. The perk car culture is less well established in the USA and these companies had always questioned whether they should be providing company cars. Rising levels of car benefit tax gave them the opportunity to withdraw this benefit.

If their company car is withdrawn, many employees will still need a car in order to carry out their jobs, so they pay for this themselves out of their increased salary, receiving a mileage allowance for each business mile driven.

Employers have adopted several different cash-for-car approaches: • Some have given their staff the option to have a car or take extra salary. Employees like to have a cash option available to them, even when they don’t take it up.

• Some have introduced employersponsored personal contract purchase schemes (PCP), in which they introduce their staff to a leasing company that provides fully maintained cars.

• Some have introduced employee car ownership schemes (ECOs), which change the legal structure of the company car scheme but leave the operational aspects largely unchanged (see earlier article).

• Some have introduced salary sacrifice schemes (see earlier article).

• And some have stopped providing cars altogether, paid extra salary and left their employees to fend for themselves.

Cash-for-car schemes can generate significant savings. You need to decide who will benefit from these. If the company keeps them you may find it

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hard to encourage employees to opt out of their company cars. If they are shared between the company and the employees you have to decide how these will be split. If the savings are all passed to the employees you will encourage take-up but this is not ideal for the shareholders.

It makes sense to work with a leasing company to introduce a cash-for-car scheme, to help your employees get a car through a lease or PCP agreement.

Given the choice between cash or car, an employee has to decide which to take.

They have to calculate their cash receipts and payments (including tax) under both scenarios, and a good employer will help them to do this. These calculations are complicated. Doing the sums and explaining them to a single driver is timeconsuming but for a large group it is awesome. Once again, a leasing company can help here.

There is a danger that a badly set up cash-for-car scheme will fail to remove the car benefit tax from the employee.

You should be wary of guaranteeing your employees’ payment obligations (or actually paying these liabilities) under PCP or PCH arrangements. You may trigger a tax liability.

In all cases, it makes sense to clear the scheme with HM Revenue and Customs.

If you offer a cash allowance instead of a company car, you will save the cost of the Class 1A National Insurance contributions, any cash allowance you pay to an employee in lieu of his company car will be fully taxable, you will pay Class 1 employer’s NIC and the employee will pay Class 1 NIC on the cash allowance.

You will need to pay a mileage allowance when the employee uses their private vehicle on company business. So

long as this is not above the level of HM Revenue and Customs Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAP) the employee will have no tax or NIC liability on these payments. If the mileage rate paid is less than the AMAP, the employee can claim the shortfall as an additional amount of tax relief in their tax return.

If the payment exceeds the AMAP levels, the excess over the AMAP level will be taxable at the employee’s marginal rate.

If you wish to adopt a cash-for-car scheme, it makes sense to pay the employee the full amount of the AMAP (on which they pay no tax or National Insurance contributions) and a lower level of cash allowance (on which they pay tax and possibly Class 1 National Insurance, and on which the employer pays Class 1A National Insurance).

This could be better than paying a higher cash allowance and a lower mileage rate.

You can give employees interest-free loans of up to £5,000 to help them buy their own vehicles. There is no income tax charge on this benefit so long as the loan is fully repayable, and it is indeed repaid and not written-off. This loan can be used as a deposit towards a finance or lease agreement and it will therefore reduce the monthly payments the employee has to make to the funder/lessor. In practice, most employers prefer not to offer such a loan.

You need to give very careful consideration to setting up a cash-for-car scheme and also decide whether any savings should be kept by the company or shared with the employees.

With cash-for-car there are a number of operational and HR issues to consider, and we will cover these next month.

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If you have a proven track record in delivery, are interested in developing your career with the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest vehicle remarketing company and are prepared to be flexible on location we would love to hear from you.

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Successful candidates will get to work with some of the very best in the business in a dynamic and professional environment and can expect a generous remuneration package that will, if necessary, include an attractive relocation package for the right candidate.

We are also interested in hearing from talented individuals across other disciplines, so please feel free to send us your CV if you think you fit the bill.

For more information or to apply for this role please go to www.manheimcareers.co.uk or email leadership@manheim.co.uk

CALL 01727 739160 TO EXHIBIT AT THE SHOW

thefleetshow.co.uk

SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT, UK

WEDNESDAY 24TH APRIL 2013

SWOT TEAM

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF v RIVALS

THE RIVALS FORD FOCUS

RENAULT MEGANE

VAUXHALL ASTRA

THE TEAM

Martin Ward (MW) Manufacturer Relationship Manager, CAP

Alan Senior (AS) Director, Vehicle Information Publishing

Mark Jowsey (MJ) Commercial Director, KeeResources KwikCarCost

Andy Cutler (AC) UK Car Editor Forecast Values Glassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

November 2012

69

SWOT TEAM This month the SWOT Team analyses the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the new VOLKSWAGEN GOLF against its closest rivals. Here is what they have to say...

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

AC All four are well-specced, tax-efficient vehicles, and London Congestion Charge exempt. Anything that means that the driver doesn’t have to pay the government even more will make them an attractive choice.

All are a decent drive and pretty roomy too, while offering excellent fuel economy figures, on paper.

AC If you want a car with a bit more bite, then these

MJ Subtle styling changes mean some may not realise the Mk7 Golf is all new, using a lighter platform and new engines. Its longer wheelbase offers more legroom, and there’s a driver-centric dash with a 5.8-inch touch screen standard across the range.

Similarly, a lack of significant exterior changes to Megane hid improvements early in 2012. At 90g/km and 80.7mpg it’s best in class, while good handling and high levels of equipment mean it’s worth considering.

Focus has a reputation for durability and driver appeal. It matches the Golf on CO2, with slightly lower fuel consumption. Astra is a very complete package too, with lots of rear space, a solid drive and sat nav standard on the Tech Line.

AS Golf has a top drawer image in this sector. Build quality is premium and the desirability is very high for both the company and the driver. Focus strengthens the ever-growing uptake of ECOnetic derivatives, it’s great to drive and reliable residuals are the norm.

Refreshed Megane has a tempting range of engines which put it up with the best of the competition. Astra is almost four years old, but a reliable performer in fleet and used arenas, well specified and good deals are available.

MW Megane certainly has it on paper with the lowest CO2 and the highest MPG. Golf is probably the best known and with the all-new Mk7 will appeal to even more customers. But Focus is gaining ground with the ECOnetic engine, it’s a great looking car and the price is sensible. Astra ecoFLEX has a strong engine and is well known for high economy. Low BiK is a huge advantage for company car drivers.

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vehicles are not going to be up your street. All are at the low end of the power scale and often need to be worked far harder than the mid-powered equivalents. As the engine is very often worked far harder most of the time to put up with day-to-day road conditions around the UK, economy can be reduced.

MJ As you would expect, so far Golf appears to exhibit no obvious weaknesses, and should shake out the usual accusation of being bland. Focus styling has not won over all former Focus owners and while all of this group are 5-door cars, Focus alone offers no 3-door alternative – even though that may cost relatively few sales.

Astra is a sound product, but is less engaging to drive than some of its competitors, and there can be more engine noise than is ideal with this 1.7 unit. Renault’s UK range cull may have taken them off some people’s shopping lists. However, other than limited rear space and a smaller boot capacity, there is nothing serious to criticise.

AS Golf prices are high and discounts low. Stanrard specification is higher than the outgoing car but lower than some competitors. Pricing for the Megane is top-heavy, and residuals are not highly rated. Large numbers mean Focus and Astra suffer from an image problem and are firmly in the workaday class, but there is always strong demand for the Ford in the used market.

MW Like all Eco-engines, getting the advertised MPG is a challenge and highly unlikely in most cases. To get anywhere near these figures drivers have to be very light with their right foot and drive in a way that is almost impossible and very annoying to other road users. More realistic and achievable official figures are a must. Small movements in taxation are all that’s needed to throw these vehicles’ advantages out of the window.

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

FORD FOCUS

RENAULT MEGANE

VAUXHALL ASTRA

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

AC There seems to be a growing focus on cost savings with the constantly increasing price of fuel and all of the hurdles that the UK government puts in the way of the car driver. Now that there are decent family-sized hatchbacks in tax band A and congestion charge free means that as company cars the opportunities are massive.

AC It will be interesting to see how the used market holds up when the vehicles start to come back as 34 year old examples and what it will do to the values of rivals with a little extra power and torque etc. as the savings benefits are far less as a used vehicle.

MJ Focus is available with the efficient 1.0 EcoBoost petrol engines, which may suit lower mileage drivers better than a diesel. Astra has always had a strong proposition related to its spacious interior, so could meet the downsizing challenge quite well – although the competition are catching up.

With many corporate buyers cutting costs or feeling they should be seen to make economies, offering users a Golf, rather than perhaps a larger car, should not cause mutiny! But Megane is a credible offering in this sector – again with efficient small petrol also available – but faces heavy competition.

This group of cars offer great value for money

AS Company drivers aspire to driving a Golf and fleet buyers know this. Residuals are very strong and disposals are a breeze. Ford is a strong performer and highly rated in the fleet market. There are some great packages and deals available, and Focus appeals.

Astra had a slower than expected start, but fleet numbers are now growing and this model ticks many of the wish-list boxes. There’s no reason to overlook Megane either, many will be surprised at how well it stands up against rivals, especially well-established brands.

MW The low CO2 figures on all these cars will attract company car buyers who want the largest car possible with the lowest BiK. The Golf will be even more beneficial when the BlueMotion is added to the range next year. Many thought that the electric car would take much business from these eco-cars, but that is not going to happen now.

MJ For all those considering downsizing into a lower-medium car, there are those contemplating the move down into a Supermini. And if not, then they may be considering a small efficient MPV-style product like a C-Max or a Crossover like a Qashqai.

Golf may also have to fend off other VW group products. The additional whole life costs for an A3 Sportback are likely to be small, and if capital cost is a concern the SEAT Leon comes in cheaper.

There is vast choice available including price sensitive products such as Hyundai i30 and Kia cee’d. Equally, premium offerings from BMW & Audi continue to fight for volume here, with BMW’s new 114d hatch being a good example. Either way – certainly for now – the corporate buyer wins.

AS Previously, Golf has turned many buyers off with high prices and very long lead times, let’s hope Volkswagen has got this sorted. But Focus suffers on image against the Golf, and the onelitre version could suit many drivers better.

Kia, Mazda and Hyundai are gearing up to fleet demands, and Citroën and Peugeot have something up their sleeves. The Koreans have taken a lot of business away from the French manufacturers.

MW Prices are high, even with the BiK benefits.

The Megane is a great car but suffers from historical reliability problems, more a myth than reality.

The Astra has a reputation of being too expensive and the Focus is under threat from some other very good small Fords. The Golf looks expensive compared to the others, and the most frugal BlueMotion version will be pricier still. Will customers be prepared to pay the additional amount?

November 2012

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SWOT TEAM

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF v RIVALS

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

Volkswagen Golf SE 1.6 TDI 5dr OTR: £20,500 P11D: £20,445 Fuel: 74.3mpg CO2: 99g/km Residual value (3yr/60k): £8,525 (42%) BiK: 13% SMR: £1,395 Fuel costs: £5,279 Insurance: £2,655 Finance: £2,760 NI: £1,185 VED: £0 Cost per month: £42.08

FORD FOCUS

Ford Focus Zetec ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi 103bhp

RENAULT MEGANE

VAUXHALL ASTRA

OTR: £18,795 P11D: £18,740 Fuel: 76.4mpg CO2: 99g/km Residual value (3yr/60k): £5,850 (31%) BiK: 13% SMR: £1,890 Fuel costs: £5,134 Insurance: £2,550 Finance: £2,530 NI: £1,086 VED: £0 Cost per month: £43.56

Standard equipment: • Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary input • 3.5-inch screen with DAB radio and single CD • Manual air conditioning • Heated windscreen • Front and rear electric windows Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £525 • Cruise control £200 • Rear parking sensors £225 • Satellite navigation £750 • Door edge protectors £50

Renault Megane Dynamique TomTom dCi 110 Stop and Start OTR: £19,800 P11D: £19,745 Fuel: 80.7mpg CO2: 90g/km Residual value (3yr/60k): £5,225 (26%) BiK: 13% SMR: £1,773 Fuel costs: £4,861 Insurance: £2,775 Finance: £2,666 NI: £1,090 VED: £0 Cost per month: £46.23

Standard equipment: • Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary inputs • Radio and single CD player • Carminat TomTom satellite navigation • Manual air conditioning • Cruise control Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £520 • Dual-zone climate control £410 • Panoramic electric sunroof £620 • TomTom Live Services £125 • Visio System by Renault £250

Vauxhall Astra Tech Line 1.7 CRDi ecoFLEX

Standard equipment: • Bluetooth and USB connectivity • DAB digital radio and single CD • Manual air-conditioning • Navi 600 satellite navigation with 7-inch colour monitor • Cruise control Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £525 • Dual-zone climate control £305 • Front and rear parking sensors £395 • Rear electric windows £170 • Front sports seats £470

OTR: £19,310 P11D: £19,255 Fuel: 76.3mpg CO2: 99g/km Residual value (3yr/60k): £5,675 (29%) BiK: 13% SMR: £2,066 Fuel costs: £5,141 Insurance: £2,205 Finance: £2,599 NI: £1,116 VED: £0 Cost per month: £44.60

THE VERDICT

Standard equipment: • Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary input • 5.8-inch touch-screen DAB radio with CD and SD card • Semi-automatic air conditioning • Automatic cruise control with city emergency brake • Front and rear electric windows Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £495 • Satellite navigation £735 • Park Assist £145 • Front and rear parking sensors £445 • Panoramic sunroof £900

NEW Golf enters the sector with competitive running costs and a desirable badge, while also priced higher than the competition. Despite this, it still offers the cheapest monthly costs in the group, but is the margin wide enough against the more aspirational A3?

Competition for lower-medium buyers is also stronger than ever. Not just from the established models, but from rapidly improving Korean entrants, new sectors such as the crossover and small MPV, and the increasing trend towards downsizing. Good news for the company car driver.

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FLEET UPDATE

This month More changes as the A6 returns to Audi, and Nissan’s ever-popular Qashqai joins the fleet.

Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium

Audi A6 Avant 2.0 TDI SE

Like a lot of new or prospective Ford Focus owners, my early days with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine have been formative. It’s difficult to know what to expect when you’re told you’re moving into a small family car with an engine size more common for models a couple of classes down. But, for me, they are doubts which quickly disappear.

In all truth, it’s unlikely most people would really notice.

Had I been told there was a 1.6-litre engine powering the Focus, there would’ve been absolutely no questioning on my part. Actually, what’s really surprising is that there’s nothing unusual about it. The engine always feels lively, it’s not too noisy, and so far it seems to be economical too.

Trips to the pumps are reassuringly rare.

Passengers, too, are blissfully unaware. The Focus is no more strained with a cabin full of adults, quite happy to cover longer motorway trips and comfortable when it does so.

The Ford Focus is one of the UK’s most popular cars. It’s not hard to see why. Engine aside, there’s a lot of genuinely useful technology on board. Ours features a useful traffic alert system, which not only advises when there are problems ahead, but tells the driver the average speed of the jam to help decide if it’s best to turn off.

From a personal preference point of view, it can also receive long wave radio channels, which means I’ve been able to listen to Irish stations on the move. With DAB digital radio, which the Focus can also receive, becoming more popular, long wave is a rare find in modern cars.

So despite my worries, the Focus is proving to be a good allrounder. Spacious, well-equipped, good to drive, but economical too, I’ve joined a lot of new 1.0 EcoBoost customers finding that there’s a very viable alternative to a larger engine.

Anne Dopson

FINAL REPORT

So after a year of hard slog, the A6 is wending its way back to Audi, and if I’m being honest, I haven’t learned much new about it in that time.

This, however, can be categorised as A Very Good Thing.

If you’re running cars on a fleet, I’m sure that interesting and unexpected occurrences that cost money or cause hassle are not the sort of thing you really want, unless you’re running cars for the clowns of Billy Smart’s Circus.

No, the A6 Avant has performed exactly as I expected it to. It has proved to be comfortable, efficient, extremely well built and capable in every way.

The cabin is really top notch: I wrote in an earlier report how after 15,000 miles in 12 months it looks brand new still. The seats could be better though, as they feel a bit flat when you go through corners, but they’re good on a long run.

Over the course of the year, the diesel engine soaked up more and more miles per gallon and was reguarly heading into the late 40s when it went back.

In terms of space the boot is not vast, but I can’t say there was any time I wished it was even more commodious. The Avant is a great looking car – better than the saloon in my view.

The only real gripe was that the Bluetooth microphone needed replacing, but that was easily solved at the dealer once Audi realised they had been supplied with a faulty batch. All in all, as I said, the A6 Avant is exactly as you would expect: a high quality, attractive and economical premium estate.

Next up, and very timely with the weather drawing in, is an Audi Q5 Quattro. It will be interesting to see how it manages after the tour de force of the A6 which did almost nothing wrong. First things though: no heated seats and no sat nav. It could be a long, cold, often-lost winter....

Steve Moody

OTR PRICE £19,195 POWER 125bhp @ 6,000rpm

OTR PRICE £32,100 POWER 175bhp @ 4,200rpm

TORQUE 170lb.ft @ 1,400-4,500rpm 0-62MPH 11.3 seconds

TORQUE 280lb.ft @ 1,750-2,500rpm 0-62MPH 9.0 seconds

TOP SPEED 120mph COMBINED MPG 56.5mpg

TOP SPEED 138mph COMBINED MPG 56.5mpg

CO2 114g/km (13% BiK)

CO2 132g/km (19% BiK)

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Citroën DS5 2.0 HDi 160 I once had a boss whose measure of a good car was how easy it was to wash on a Sunday morning. His perfect car in those days was the Audi 100 which, he claimed, had so few creases and recesses that he could run over it in minutes.

Our DS5 long-termer is an altogether more stylish proposition, but its white sills would have fallen foul of his test.

It may just be that with the local farmers carting truckloads of disgusting goo around the lanes at this time of year, keeping any white car clean is going to be a challenge.

The problem for the designers (though any five-year-old could see this) is that the all-white appearance really does look great. It’s really striking and caused one colleague to remark that in his view the DS5 had completely transformed his opinion of Citroën. High praise indeed, but it is a beggar to keep clean. Thankfully the effort is worth it.

The alternative would be a return to the eighties retro styling of the Cavalier SRi and Escort XR3i with white bodies and black sills. It would be a sin on a par with Andrew Strauss walking out to open the batting in the test match at Lord’s wearing crisp white trousers and black trainers… ugh.

In all other respects the DS5 continues to impress. Fuel consumption in the mid to high-forties is easily achievable and the seats are supremely comfortable on a long journey. Meanwhile, the harshness felt from the suspension in the early days seems to have diminished a little, not because of any changes to the car itself, rather the fact that I am now more used to it.

As things currently stand it certainly wouldn’t put me off the car in the way some pundits suggested it might, while the ides of driving something distinctly different from the norm really does appeal. I wonder if DS5 drivers will start waving to each other like the Land Rover fraternity do.

Ross Durkin

SEAT Ibiza FR ST 1.2 TSI

After an underwhelming debut in the MPG Marathon, I’ve become very aware of my driving style recently, which has included close scrutiny of the fuel economy gauge in the Ibiza.

The 1.2 TSI engine has now ticked over 2,000 miles, so it’s fully run in and nicely loosened up. I’m really impressed with its feisty performance, but fuel economy has yet to come close to the claimed 55.4mpg and can hover at just over 40mpg even on motorway trips. The absent sixth gear doesn’t help, and it’s not bad economy for an engine which replaces the old 1.6 petrol in larger cars, but it’s a little off target.

So I’ve given it a helping hand and switched to a diet of Shell V-Power petrol, which the Ibiza seems to be rather keen on. Not for performance, but I’ve had a noticeable uplift in fuel economy, albeit still mostly in the low 40s, and can now coax it up to 47mpg when it’s not full of people and luggage and I’m not in a rush.

Super unleaded may sound like overkill for an engine with only 103bhp, but the results do make some sense.

Turbocharging compresses the air going into the engine’s cylinders, which also raises the temperature and can cause fuel to combust before it’s meant to. Although the 1.2 TSI has direct fuel injection, which means the petrol is injected where it’s being burnt, there is still likely to be some wastage when it’s under load.

Contrary to popular belief, high octane fuel is actually more stable than normal unleaded, which means it’s less prone to pre-ignition at higher temperatures and in turn, this helps the engine run more efficiently.

Of course, the downside is that it costs more, but I’ve seen a 5% increase in fuel economy for a 0.03% increase in price per litre. I’ll be trying normal unleaded, just for a tank, to double check, but as V-Power seems to suit the engine, I reckon a few pence more per gallon is a small price to pay.

Alex Grant

OTR PRICE £28,000 POWER 160bhp @ 3,750rpm

OTR PRICE £14,845 POWER 103bhp @ 5,000rpm

TORQUE 251lb.ft @ 2,000rpm 0-62MPH 8.5 seconds

TORQUE 129lb.ft @ 1,550rpm 0-62MPH 10.2 seconds

TOP SPEED 134mph COMBINED MPG 55.4mpg

TOP SPEED 118mph COMBINED MPG 55.4mpg

CO2 133g/km (19% BiK)

CO2 119g/km (14% BiK)

November 2012

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FLEET UPDATE

Kia Optima 2 Tech 1.7 CRDi Our Optima has been with us for nine months now, but I’ve only recently managed to get my first experience behind the wheel, a 300-mile round trip from the Fleet World office in St Albans down to Bristol for a meeting. It’s fared well.

Styling is firmly on the Optima’s side, which is a good start. It’s subtle and corporate looking in a work environment, but still sporty enough to satisfy in a social environment. I’ve been able to take a lot of different cars home over the years, and of all of them it’s the Kia which has prompted the most remarks from neighbours. On a street filled with upmarket brands and residents with high standards, it held its own really well.

I tend to be a fidgety driver, and I find a lot of cars uncomfortable even on a 20-minute journey. However, even after a long trip down to Bristol and back, I could’ve easily doubled the distance without getting uncomfortable, tired or plain bored. That’s something I’ve only found in a small number of cars over 18 years of driving a wide variety of vehicles.

The engine is lively, but feels more tuned to high speed comfort than outright performance. My only criticism is that the engine is pretty noisy. It’s easily lessened by turning the radio on, or overcome completely with a Motorhead CD, but compared to other long termers we’ve had at the office there’s a noticeable presence of diesel rattle which is a bit of a letdown.

It’s not a deal-breaker though. I’d have the Optima over most of its closest rivals, even on looks alone. Married with its comfort, huge feeling of interior space and lack of thirst for diesel, it’s a no-brainer to me.

Darren Brett

Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dCi n-tec+

Since its 2007 launch, the Qashqai has had a lot of other carmakers hot under the collar as they seek to rival the extremely popular crossover credited with changing Nissan’s fortunes.

More than one million have sold in five years, making it one of the most successful Nissans of all time – and one that has drawn a lot of first-time buyers to the brand.

That popularity is driven by its pioneering crossover functionality, combining 4x4 stying with the practicality of a hatchback. It’s been a winning formula with drivers, and to add to that universal appeal, it’s also available with a choice of two or four-wheel-drive to match its Action Man styling, and a larger +2 model with two extra seats and, arguably, better looks.

So it’s a fitting car to join the Fleet World long-term fleet, ticking off many boxes for the company car market already.

To add to its fleet allure, our version comes with the recently launched 1.6 dCi, donated by Alliance partner Renault, as part of the 2012 model revamp. This replaces the 2.0 dCi, offering the same power but with improved emissions and fuel economy, helped by automatic Stop/Start and smart energy management systems. With 62.8mpg and CO2 emissions of 119g/km, the model carries the Nissan Pure Drive badge that’s denoted to any of its models that produce less than 130g/km.

Our model also comes with the n-tec+ spec badge – one below the top-spec Tekna – which includes automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control, a panoramic glass roof with one-touch shade and design details such as 18-inch alloys and satin silver accents inside and out.

The pièce de résistance for the n-tec+ is the Nissan Connect integrated audio, sat nav and communication package, which includes the rather swishy colour reversing camera that’s proving handy already, particularly with its bird’s eye view. Useful not only for reversing into the drive but also for entertaining both children and adults too!

Natalie Middleton

OTR PRICE £21,695 POWER 134bhp @ 4,000rpm

OTR PRICE £23,145 POWER 128bhp @ 4,000rpm

TORQUE 239lb.ft @ 2,000-2,500rpm 0-62MPH 10.2 seconds

TORQUE 236lb.ft @ 1,750rpm 0-62MPH 10.3 seconds

TOP SPEED 125mph COMBINED MPG 57.6mpg

TOP SPEED 118mph COMBINED MPG 62.8mpg

CO2 128g/km (19% BiK)

CO2 119g/km (17% BiK)

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FLEETW RLD

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

AUCTIONS & REMARKETING

ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT

DAILY RENTAL

FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

RISK MANAGEMENT

BCA Tel: 0845 600 66 44 www.british-car-auctions.co.uk

Total Accident Management Tel: 0845 078 4157 www.totalaccman.co.uk

Budget Rent-a-Car Tel: 0844 5338 08701544 56 56 56 www.budget.co.uk

Drive Software Solutions Tel: 01438 317731 www.drivesoftwaresolutions.com

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

FAST-FITS & TYRES

DRIVER LICENCE CHECKING

Alliance Asset Management plc Tel: 01480 475000 www.fleetcentre.com

Mycompanyfleet Tel: 0845 077 7760 www.mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Peak Performance Tel: 01246 244200 www.peakperformance.net

ATS Euromaster Tel: 0870 066 3624 www.atseuromaster.co.uk

Jaama Tel: 0844 8484 333 www.jaama.co.uk Sofico Tel: 07815 601622 www.soficoservices.com

Cardinus Risk Management Tel: 01733 426015

White Clarke Automotive Solutions Tel: 0870 787 2211

Full listings online at fleetworldgroup.co.uk

VEHICLE DATA International Decision Systems Tel: 01256 302 000 www.idsdata.co.uk

www.cardinusfleet.com

www.whiteclarkegroup.com

Arnold Clark Car and Van Rental Tel: 0845 702 3946 www.arnoldclarkrental.com

White Clarke Group Tel: 01908 576 605

DriveSense Tel: 01628 581930

www.whiteclarkegroup.com

www.drivesense.co.uk

CONTRACT HIRE, LEASING & FINANCE Zenith Tel: 0844 848 8091 www.zenith.co.uk

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tel: 0845 603 4590 www.acvm.co.uk

Nexus Vehicle Management Ltd Tel: 0871 984 1947 www.nexusrental.co.uk

Jaama Tel: 0844 8484 333 www.jaama.co.uk

MAC GB Ltd Tel: 01745 828180 www.reduceroadrisk.com

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

Alliance Asset Management plc Tel: 01480 475000 www.fleetcentre.com

Leasedrive Rental Management Tel: 0844 579 8877 www.leasedrive.com

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

AA DriveTech Tel: 01256 495732

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

www.AAdrivetech.com/fleetsafe DriveTech

Days Contract Hire Tel: 0845 296 4423 www.dayscontracthire.co.uk

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 08444 99 1402 www.venson.com

Europcar Tel: 01923 811250 www.europcar.co.uk

Civica Tranman Tel: 01454 874002 www.civica.co.uk/tranman

IAM Drive & Survive Tel: 0870 120 2910 www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

CBVC Vehicle Management Tel: 01283 509177 www.cbvc.co.uk

Lex Autolease Tel: 0800 085 4128 www.lexautolease.co.uk

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tel: 01784 221 300 www.enterprise.co.uk

Enterprise Software Tel: 0161 925 2400 www.essl.co.uk

RAC Risk Management Tel: 0870 606 2606

Alphabet (GB) Limited Tel: 0870 50 50 100 www.alphabet.co.uk

Total Fleet Services Ltd Tel: 01543 431080 www.lease-hire.co.uk

www.racfleetriskmanagement.co.uk

For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk TELEMATICS & TRACKING

Fleet Alliance Tel: 0845 601 8407 www.fleetalliance.co.uk

Leasedrive Tel: 01344 466 466 www.leasedrive.com

Full listings online at fleetworldgroup.co.uk

TRACKER Network UK Limited Tel: 0845 602 3981 www.TRACKER.co.uk

Telogis Tel: 01344 747638 www.telogis.co.uk

FUEL MANAGEMENT The leading magazine for fleet decision-makers

January 2012

DIARY DATE

FLEETW RLD

18/4/2012 Visit evfleetshow.co.uk for more information and to register for the event

inside Seoul Searching

Leasing trends

Hyundai plans major fleet push

Is the contract hire industry due more change?

Stars of 2012 Featuring all the essential new cars launched this year

Shell Fuelcards Tel: 0800 7 31 31 37 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

The Fuelcard Company Tel: 0845 073 0873 www.fuelcards.co.uk

TomTom Business Solutions Tel: 020 7255 9774 www.tomtom.com/business

Quartix Ltd Tel: 0870 013 6663 www.quartix.net

BP PLUS Fuel Cards Tel: 0845 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

Esso Fuel Cards Tel: 0800 626 672 www.essocard.com

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

Navman Wireless UK Ltd Tel: 0845 521 1188 www.navmanwireless.co.uk

driving towards lower fleet emissions

November 2012

77

VAN

fleetworld.co.uk

FLEETW RLD November 2012

‘NV200 was always going to have an electric option and the ready-made LEAF powertrain is an obvious choice.’

November 2012

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A MONTH IN FLEET A skip through the key news and events since the last issue of VAN Fleet World. Edited by John Kendall.

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VW IMPROVES EMISSIONS AND ECONOMY Volkswagen has introduced BlueMotion and BlueMotion Technology models of its Transporter van range. The BlueMotion commercial is available with a new 114hp version of VW’s 2.0-litre diesel engine and is based on a T27 short wheelbase van with a gross weight of 2.7 tonnes. The BlueMotion van has low rolling resistance tyres, cruise control, Start/Stop, energy recuperation and a tyre pressure warning light to alert the driver if tyre pressures drop.

BlueMotion Technology (BMT) is available on a wider range of short and long wheelbase vans and kombis, with both 84hp and 114hp engines. The BMT models also come with low rolling resistance tyres, cruise, Start/Stop and energy recuperation, but don’t get the tyre pressure warning system. In addition, while the BlueMotion model has a limited range of options, BMT vans can be upgraded with a wide range of extras or to Trendline and Highline specification.

Both the 84hp and 114hp BMT vans, based on a short wheelbase with low roof, deliver a combined fuel economy of 40.4mpg with CO2 levels rated at 184g/km, compared to the standard van’s 37.7mpg and 198g/km. The dedicated BlueMotion van offers a claimed 44.8mpg and just 166g/km of CO2.

CONFIDENTIAL

DOORS TO CLOSE ON UK TRANSIT FACTORY Ford will cease van production in the UK in 2013, with the closure of the manufacturing plant in Southampton. All Transit models will be built at the main commercial vehicle plant in Kocaeli, Turkey, where both Transit and Transit Connect are already assembled.

The news comes as Ford announced up to 1,400 job losses in the UK, with the closure of a stamping and tooling operation in Dagenham. The company also intends to close a car plant in Genk, Belgium, as part of a European restructuring to cope with massive over capacity within the European vehicle manufacturing industry.

Ford Europe is expected to post a loss of around $1.5 billion (£930 million) for the full year 2012. The company believes that it will not return to profit in Europe until the middle of the decade, as the economic crisis in Europe continues.

‘We are fully committed to transforming our European business by moving decisively to match production to demand, improve revenue through new products and a stronger brand, improve our cost efficiencies and take advantage of opportunities to profitably to grow our business,’ said Alan Mulally, Ford’s president and CEO. Ford has already announced a complete overhaul of its European commercial vehicle range, with the introduction of new Transit, Transit Custom, Transit Connect and Transit Courier models over the next two years.

VAUXHALL VANS GET DIGITAL OPTION Vauxhall has developed a dealer-fit DAB digital radio upgrade that can be supplied to all commercial vehicle models. Priced at £195, including VAT and fitting, the DAB radio can be completely integrated with steering wheel mounted audio controls and the existing stereo display.

Digital radio provides a much wider choice of listening, with everything from jazz to talk radio stations available. Many broadcasters, including the BBC, now offer digital stations that cannot be heard via a conventional radio.

AIRDREAM TWEAKS CUT FUEL USE FURTHER Citroën is claiming improved economy and lower emissions from its Berlingo Airdream e-HDI models, thanks to improved internal efficiency within the engine. The micro-hybrid vans see economy rise to 62.8mpg for the most economical 625LX model with the electronic gearshift system, an improvement of 4.5%. The manual 625X/LX rises to 58.9mpg, up 2.2%, while the 750X/LX models now claim 56.5mpg – up 2%.

CO2 emissions drop to as low as 118g/km for the e-HDI 90 625LX with the EGS box, or 125g/km for the manual model.

ELECTRICAL GIANT OPTS FOR DOBLO VMS Fleet Management has won a £600,000 deal to supply 50 Fiat Doblo Cargo Maxi vans to electrical store Currys PC World, for use by the company’s service engineers. With a 1 tonne payload and a 4.2m3 capacity, the vans will allow easy transportation of large domestic appliances.

‘The Doblo Cargo Maxi was chosen for its excellent fuel economy and low CO2 emissions, as well as the 1,000kg payload,’ said Martin James, managing director of VMS. ‘It was also useful that the vehicles came straight from the factory in black, as this was the colour that Currys PC World requested.’

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NV200 4.2m3 load volume 739kg payload 55.4mpg/135g/km CO2

PUMP UP THE

VOLUME 4.2m3 OF LOADSPACE IN A COMPACT VAN. THE NV200. PRACTICALLY GENIUS.

Sound impossible? Just wait till you open the back doors and see for yourself.

4.2m3 of load capacity means bigger loads, fewer pick-ups and even quicker finishes.

And because it’s all in the footprint of a compact van, it’s even easier to park and get about town too. Now that’s more than practical, it’s practically genius.

Nissan. Innovation that excites.

NV200 SE 1.5 dCi

£155

FROM + VAT per month contract hire*

nissan.co.uk/nv200

*BUSINESS USERS ONLY. Contract Hire is available subject to status and conditions on eligible vehicles registered between 01/10/2012 and 31/12/2012. Guarantees and Indemnities may be required. Example based on 12+35 profile, 10,000 miles per annum on a non-maintained contract. Further charges may be made subject to mileage and condition. Excess mileage will be charged at 6.4 pence per mile (excluding VAT). RAC cover, vehicle excise duty and 3 year/100,000 mile warranty included. Contract Hire Finance provided by Nissan Business Finance, a trading style of Arval UK Limited, Windmill Hill, Swindon SN5 6PE. Model shown is NV200 SE 1.5 dCi priced £13,970 exc. VAT and optional metallic paint at £350. Models subject to availability. Prices correct at the time of going to print. Nissan Motor (GB) Limited, The Rivers Office Park, Denham Way, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 9YS.

DRIVEN

Renault Kangoo Z.E.

Words Dan Gilkes

specification MODEL BASIC PRICE

Renault Kangoo Z.E. £12,912.40 after Plug-In Grant Electric 60hp @ 0-10,500rpm 226Nm @ 3,000-9,000rpm

ENGINE POWER TORQUE Weights (kg) GVW KERB WEIGHT PAYLOAD MAX TRAILER WEIGHT Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH LOAD SPACE WIDTH LOAD SPACE HEIGHT WIDTH between wheel arches LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) LOAD VOLUME

2,078 1,483 595 375 1,478 1,223 1,129 1,218 558 3.0m3

Cost considerations RANGE 106 miles WARRANTY 3 yr/100,000 miles (optional 4+ package)

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Renault’s Kangoo Z.E. is a laudable attempt to make an electric urban delivery van a viable proposition. Available in standard short wheelbase or as a longer Maxi model, the electrical components and batteries have been well packaged beneath the floor, and don’t intrude on the load space at all. They don’t have much of an effect on payload either, with both vans capable of carrying a healthy 650kg.

The Kangoo Z.E. is powered by a 60hp motor putting out 226Nm of torque and delivering a wholly believable top speed of 80mph.

Renault claims a range of up to 106 miles is possible, but we suspect that few customers will achieve that, especially if they use the ample performance on offer.

In an urban environment however, the Kangoo Z.E. is an agile, compact van that easily keeps pace with city traffic. As with prototypes that we have tested in the past, the regenerative braking effect is far more noticeable than in a car like the Nissan LEAF. Indeed at times you have to remember to actually use the foot brake, if only to warn the traffic behind you that you are slowing down.

The standard van gets a full steel bulkhead, however, our test vehicle came with a folding mesh screen and fold-flat passenger seat, to provide a longer load floor. While not a problem in town, venture out on a country road and the noise from the rear was instantly noticeable, despite a full lining in the rear.

Of course none of that noise is coming from beneath the bonnet, as the electric motor is virtually silent, so perhaps it is just more noticeable as the van is so quiet at lower speeds.

Battery charging takes 6-8 hours with a home charging station, while it is possible to take the batteries from 20-80% charge in 4.5 hours.

Renault also supplies a cable to occasionally charge from a domestic 220V supply if required.

Depending on your electric provider and tariff,

the cost of a full charge should be around £3.

Of course cost has been a touchy subject with electric vehicles, but thanks to the government’s electric vehicle Plug-In Grant, which finally includes LCVs, you can get 20% of the purchase price back, up to £8,000. The Kangoo Z.E. therefore now starts at £12,912 plus the VAT, instead of £16,960, which is much closer to the diesel van cost.

You have to hire the batteries from Renault too, with rental charges starting at £60 per month for a 60 month contract covering 6,000 miles per year, and rising to £105 per month for a 12 month contract and 15,000 miles. The contract guarantees a minimum charge capacity of 75% of the original capacity at delivery, along with full recovery services in the event of all types of breakdown. Kangoo Z.E. is also eligible for Renault’s 4+ package, which provides a four year warranty, four years of servicing, four years roadside cover and a four year finance package.

If you want an electric van for urban distribution then the Kangoo Z.E. is the first to offer real-life costs and carrying capacity, with few of the concerns over battery life and future values associated with full EVs. However, it is intended as an urban van – take it off the city streets and the Z.E. argument starts to crumble.

It will be interesting to see how Renault’s alliance partner Nissan performs when the e-NV200 hits the streets next year. For the moment though, Renault is the first to answer many of the questions asked of an electric urban distribution solution.

verdict Renault has certainly got the formula right for an affordable, zero emission urban delivery van. Just be sure that it really fits your requirements before you take the plunge.

DRIVEN

Words Richard Yarrow

Nissan e-NV200

specification

Just weeks after it was unveiled at the Hanover Show, Nissan has given more details of its e-NV200 electric van and allowed journalists to drive a prototype version.

It’s the second of four EVs, which Nissan plans to launch in the next three years, as part of its commitment to a 90% reduction in brand CO2 emissions between 2000 and 2050. So far it’s the only one confirmed as a CV. The van’s drivetrain is based on the LEAF, with a 107hp electric motor generating 280Nm of torque. Interestingly, the lithium-ion batteries will also be able to use the stored energy to power equipment, making the vehicle ideal for use as a mobile workshop or catering vehicle.

Production is scheduled to start next year at Nissan’s Barcelona plant. UK sales will follow in 2014, with a small price premium over standard diesel versions.

Externally, the vehicle is very similar to the standard NV200, with sliding doors on both sides and a 60/40 split rear entrance. The most obvious difference between the siblings is at the front end, where the upper grille is replaced by plastic panels. The blue-tinted Nissan badge hides the charging socket, as it does on the LEAF. Anyone familiar with Nissan’s pioneering EV car will recognise much of the cabin switchgear.

The central screen, bow tie-style layout of the ventilation controls and circular gear shifter have all been carried over. Above the screen is a smaller display with digital speedo, external temperature and eco-meter for how well the vehicle is being driven. Behind the steering wheel the instruments include a power meter and remaining charge read-out, plus the odo and trip.

The floor-mounted handbrake is adjacent to a flat tray between the two seats for convenient storage. Additional practicality comes from the narrow but deep door bins and slots either sides of the screen, which could hold smaller items.

Behind the seats is a metal mesh bulkhead.

MODEL Nissan e-NV200 BASIC PRICE TBA ENGINE Electric POWER 107hp @ 2,730-9.800rpm TORQUE 280Nm @ 0-2,730rpm Weights (kg) GVW KERB WEIGHT PAYLOAD MAX TRAILER WEIGHT Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH LOAD SPACE WIDTH

2,040 1,500

LOAD SPACE HEIGHT

1,358

TBA TBA 752 TBA

WIDTH between wheel arches 1,218 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 609 LOAD VOLUME 4.2m3 Cost considerations RANGE Up to 100 miles

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The prototype van featured a wider section at the base, which won’t be on the production vehicle. Load volume will be identical to NV200, with a 2,040mm length, 1,358mm height and 1,500mm width. Maximum volume is 4.2m3 allowing it to carry two Euro pallets, and the payload limit is 752kg.

Tomoyuki Nakano, manager of the e-NV200 programme, explained: ‘This is a test vehicle and the final production may be slightly different.

For example, the interior and instrumentation is still being designed. Feedback from vehicles on trial with FedEx, Japan Postal Service and other companies – including some in London – will help us decide.’ The final version is expected to be around 50kg heavier than the standard van.

When empty the van is expected to offer drivers a range of up to 100 miles between charges. However, when loaded that’s expected to reduce by 10-20%. The drive event took place on a Nissan test track near Tokyo, so no long distance evaluation of that was possible.

Starting the e-NV200 is via a button on the centre console. Chimes indicate it’s ready for use. Moving the gear selector right and down for Drive, there’s an audible whine which gets louder as road speed increases. Riding on 175/70R14 tyres, acceleration is smooth and brisk. It feels nimble through tight turns and holds the road well through longer faster bends.

Nissan’s belief is that users will charge the van overnight, giving them enough battery life for a morning’s work. A fast charge will power it to 80% capacity in 30 minutes, allowing drivers to get back on the road in the afternoon.

verdict NV200 was always going to have an electric option and the ready-made LEAF powertrain is an obvious choice. Rising fuel prices might make it more attractive by 2014.

Discover specialist solutions delivered by experts.

At Alphabet, we appreciate your business may need a variety of commercial vehicles and understand the importance of flexibility when offering you solutions for your fleet mix.

From the complexity of ply lining, cranes, racking and tail lifts, to corporate livery, we can offer a flexible solution, whether it’s a car-derived van or a specialist modified vehicle.

Our dedicated expert commercial vehicle team can assist in delivering the right solution for you today and for the future.

Find out more: Tel: 0870 50 50 100 Email: alphabet@alphabet.co.uk www.alphabet.co.uk

VAN OPERATIONS Refrigeration

Alternative cooling solutions Manufacturers are adopting innovative refrigeration drives to suit zero emission vehicles. Dan Gilkes reports.

As we move increasingly towards low emission vehicle use, particularly in an urban delivery environment, alternative methods of powering fridge and freezer compartments incorporated in vans will need to be found.

Simply running the vehicle’s engine – or worse having a non-emissions compliant motor powering the fridge unit – will become increasingly difficult.

Converters and manufacturers keen to push the fridge market will need to seek new solutions to meet auxiliary power requirements.

UK converter CoolVan has recently introduced an electrically-powered conversion for the Renault Kangoo ZE electric van, as there is no engine in the van to drive the fridge unit. The company has worked with Hubbard/Zanotti to develop a fully electric roof-mounted Z12BA fridge system, that is powered by industrial batteries and an inverter incorporated in the conversion. The batteries are charged overnight along with the vehicle, using a split charger system.

Lancashire converter CoolKit has carried out a similar conversion on the Kangoo ZE, using a Hubbard refrigeration unit that is powered by dedicated battery packs. The fridge unit can run independently for eight hours, without having an adverse effect on the Kangoo ZE’s driving range.

Zanotti also supplies the refrigeration unit for the Mega electric box van. While the vehicle is being charged the internal temperature is reduced to a preset temperature. Once disconnected from the mains, the heavy duty battery can provide enough power to maintain the low temperature for 5-6 hours before recharging.

Nissan has been looking at alternative ways in which it can make use of its rapidly developing electric vehicle technology too. As well as the soon to be launched e-NV200 electric van, the company has unveiled a refrigerated truck concept that

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uses the Nissan LEAF battery system to power the fridge body at the rear, rather than driving the truck itself.

The Cabstar e-Refrigerator uses a high efficiency electric compressor and lithium ion battery system to power the truck’s chiller and refrigerator compartments. The system continues to work even when the vehicle engine is switched off, providing a noise reduction benefit for urban operations as well as a cut in engine emissions.

The battery module has been developed by 4R Energy Corporation, a joint venture between Nissan Motor and Sumitomo Corporation. The venture was established to consider new applications for electric vehicle lithium ion batteries, but also to find second life uses, once batteries have come to the end of their working life powering the vehicle. The joint venture says that in many cases a vehicle drive battery may still have 70% capacity after 10 years and, while that is no longer enough to power the vehicle,

it may well drive auxiliary take-offs.

As well as cutting fuel use and diesel engine emissions, by not using the vehicle’s engine to power the fridge compartment, there is also no requirement for refrigerant piping to be installed within the vehicle, reducing the risk of refrigerant leaks.

While any commercial model would probably rely on overnight charging from a mains supply for the battery pack, Nissan’s e-Refrigerator concept at the recent Hanover Show used a large solar panel mounted on the roof of the vehicle to charge the pack.

‘Nissan is developing number of vehicles that adapt a diverse range of EV technologies,’ said Hideto Murakami, Nissan’s corporate vice president responsible for the Global LCV Business Unit.

‘We want to explore the potential of EV technology in the light commercial market to diversify the value that Nissan’s commercial vehicles provide to businesses.’

The Cabstar e-Refrigerator uses a lithium ion battery system to power the truck’s refrigerator compartments

MARKET OVERVIEW Telematics & Tracking

Ctrack

Cainson

Ctrack provides advanced vehicle tracking and telematics solutions that deliver immediate benefits and financial returns resulting from the ability to better manage a fleet operation. These tools provide added visibility and control that comes from knowing the exact locations and status of vehicles in real-time.

Suitable for fleets of all sizes, Ctrack delivers real advantage by reducing fuel consumption; validating overtime claims; eliminating unauthorised out-of-hours vehicle use; monitoring driver behaviour; achieving more jobs per employee; enhancing service levels; supporting environmental compliance; and increasing protection against vehicle theft.

Ctrack is part of DigiCore Holdings, a global company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange with more than 650,000 tracking systems fitted in 56 countries across five continents.

Technology Cainson utilises wireless communication to manage remote assets such as vehicles, equipment and personnel – thus a total telemetric solution.

Design Cainson’s distinguishes itself from its competitors by offering a FREE plug and play device with FREE updates of firmware for no additional costs to the customer, this combine with industry-leading backup and support spells a first class product & support.

Manufacturing Cainson is one of the worlds leading GPS Manufacture and assembler within the European community. With a global scope and an ever growing product range Cainson currently meets and exceeds all its customers’ expectations by delivering a complete turnkey manufacturing process.

Contact: Steve Thomas, Sales Director Steve.thomas@ctrack.co.uk

Tel: 07808 144311 www.ctrack.co.uk

Navman Wireless ignited the vehicle tracking revolution by making real time fleet monitoring accessible to all using the power of the internet and GPRS, then reinvented the industry with the game changing M-Nav, the industry’s first combined fleet tracking, messaging and satellite navigation system.

Navman Wireless continues to lead the vehicle tracking evolution with its OnlineAVL technology, has reinvented driver performance monitoring with its Smart Telematics system and has recently introduced Essential, Fleet+ and Complete, products designed to reduce fuel consumption, extend equipment life, cut carbon emissions and improve driver safety.

Tel: 0845 521 1133 www.navmanwireless.co.uk

TomTom Business Solutions is the fastest growing telematics company in Europe and now has over 209,000 vehicles within their subscriber base. They help more than 16,500 customers maximise efficiency and improve profit margins in 22 countries across the globe.

TomTom Business Solutions helps maintain control of vehicles and drivers, whilst cutting cost, improving productivity, boosting customer service, complying with legislation and reducing carbon footprint through driver behaviour monitoring. This helps you run greener, safer and more efficient vehicles.

With job dispatch and smart technology such as HD traffic we get the right driver to the right job on time, ensuring they are safe and driving efficiently and with accurate times of arrivals. The insight and visibility enabled by TomTom’s technology has an impact on productivity and the bottom line, which means a great return on investment.

Contact: Sales Team uk.business@tomtom.com

TRACKER Network UK Limited

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TRACKER is the UK's number one supplier of vehicle tracking services. With over 1 million units installed, TRACKER continues to demonstrate innovation and its commitment to pioneering the fleet telematics market.

TRACKER, recently unveiled a groundbreaking new technology that reports the most accurate vehicle idling data available.

Patented by TRACKER, this technology helps businesses to significantly improve fuel efficiency and further reduce fleet operating costs.

TRACKER’s telematics offering provides important cost-saving benefits, not just by identifying fuel inefficiency, but also long-term benefits by providing valuable insights into driver and business behaviour. TRACKER telematics enable: • Increased operational efficiency • Driver behaviour monitoring • Good customer service • Better understanding of vehicle usage

Quartix Limited

Tel: 0845 604 6092 enquiries@TRACKER.co.uk

Contact: Nia Williams nia.williams@quartix.net

fleetworld.co.uk

Tel: 0203 608 2697 www.cainson.com

TomTom Business Solutions

Navman Wireless

Contact: Sales Team info@navmanwireless.co.uk

Contact: Ms Emma Webb emma@cainson.com

www.TRACKER.co.uk

Tel: 0207 2559774 www.business.tomtom.com

Over 4,000 businesses trust the Quartix real time web based vehicle tracking system to hone fleet efficiency,reduce fuel costs and help with duty of care responsibilities.

Quartix currently install almost 2,000 systems each month making it one of the fastest growing UK Telematics providers. The award winning Quartix system combines the latest technology with ease of use offering all the features expected of today’s comprehensive tracking systems. The unique driver style reporting module eliminates the need to break into the vehicle CAN Bus. The robust customer focused solution comes complete with simple 12 month contract options from just £19.50 per month including installation and no hidden charges.

With over 50% of sales coming from repeat business and customer referrals the Quartix name is synonymous with quality, reliability and service.

Tel: 0870 0136663 www.quartix.net

VAN Does your system allow the geographical "ring fencing" of particular locations?

Is it possible to fit sensors to load area doors to detect unauthorised cargo area access?

Does your system have the facility to send alerts by text message in the event of a security alert?

Does your system alert the controller if vehicles stray from their pre-set route?

Can the Police locate the stolen vehicle using your system?

Is it possible to immobilise a vehicle via your system?

Does your system offer two- way communication/job dispatch facility?

Does your system offer driver behaviour analysis?

Does your management software offer real-time accurate arrival times?

Does your management software offer dashboard reporting?

Does your system take live & real time information direct from the vehicle’s onboard management system such as idle time & RPM?

Do you provide web services for third party integration?

FLEETW RLD

Cainson

Ctrack

Enigma Vehicle Systems

Crystal Ball Ltd

-

-

Navman Wireless

-

Quartix

-

-

-

RAM Tracking

-

-

Teletrac, a Trafficmaster Company

-

Telogis

TRACKER Network UK Limited

-

Trakm8

TomTom Business Solutions

-

VeriLocation

Key to services

Service provided

-

Service unavailable

Telogis

RAM Tracking

Rock-solid foundation.

Reputation to match.

Telogis® is the premium provider of Location-Based-Services to enterprises across the globe. Telogis’ scalable, Software as a Service (“SaaS”) platform helps enterprises, business owners and fleet managers optimise business operations and manage their global workforce effectively through GPS location technology. Telogis solutions enable companies to maximise the efficiency of their mobile assets through industry-leading tracking and scheduling applications, allowing both mobile and office-based staff to streamline operations, maximise productivity and minimise fuel and staffing costs.

Telogis’ products and services are used and distributed in over 60 countries worldwide. To learn more visit www.telogis.com.

RAM Tracking is an award-winning provider of the next generation of vehicle tracking technology. RAM offer free software upgrades to all customers and continuously listen to client feedback to develop new ways to save busy owners and manager’s time using the tracking system through making it as proactive as possible. In addition to this RAM have been recognised for their outstanding customer service and recently won The Customer Focus award at the National Business Awards. RAM recently launched their iPhone and Android app to enable clients to access vital information about their fleet vehicles when on the move.

Contact: Sergio Barata Tel: +44 (0) 1344 747638 Sergio.Barata@Telogis.com www.Telogis.com

Contact: Kathryn Burns, Sales Team info@ramtracking.com

Tel: 0845 154 7679 ww.ramtracking.com

Trakm8 Trakm8 designs and manufactures complete fleet management hardware and software solutions and pride themselves on their ability to tailor products precisely to a customer’s fleet management, reporting or informational requirement. They have a complete service that takes customers from installation to on-going customer support as and when needed. Customers can be ‘live’ for a small upfront cost followed by an easy to manage direct debit plan.

One of Trakm8’s key features is their ability to connect to the vehicle CANbus. This enables a wide range of information to be monitored to optimise utilisation and cost effectiveness of their fleet by measuring everything from fuel usage, CO2 emissions to driver behaviour.

Contact: Paul Wilsom info@trakm8.com

Tel: 01747 858444 www.trakm8.com

November 2012

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FLEET ON FLEET

Whiskey on wheels Fleet manager Liz Hollands begins a series of interviews with her contemporaries, starting with Tristan Campbell of Chivas Brothers.

LH What’s the composition of Chivas fleet?

TC Chivas Brothers is part of the Pernod Ricard Group, and we produce whisky brands such as Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, The Glenlivet, and Royal Salute alongside our gin brands, Beefeater and Plymouth Gin. These brands are then distributed by our sister companies around the world.

As the largest group subsidiary in the UK we take the lead in many functions, and fleet is one of those, where we look after irs management for our sister companies in the UK (PRUK and The Absolut Company). So altogether we operate a fleet of 320 vehicles which is made up of 260 cars and 60 vans.

Many of our cars are allocated to our sales force at PRUK and our vans are generally used by engineers and crafts men to service and repair equipment and facilities at our many distilleries and warehousing sites around the north of Scotland.

Our fleet is funded by Lex Autolease on fully maintained contracts including accident management and European breakdown cover. The typical replacement cycle is four years/60,000 miles on the cars and five years/60,000 miles on the vans. We have a great working relationship with Lex which manages our account from its office in Stirling.

LH Are you qualifications or experience based (or perhaps both)?

TC I am experience based. I started my career as an assistant to the fleet manager at Semple Cochrane, where I remember being overwhelmed by the complexity of the role.

Having said that, it is amazing how quickly you can pick things up.

I find that the most important things required for the job are a good dose of common sense, good organisational skills, and a can-do mentality with plenty of energy.

Of course qualifications are often required for this kind of job, but it is not the be-all and end-all. You just can’t beat experience.

LH Do you have other functions to manage as well as fleet?

TC Fleet is my main responsibility; however I also administer the Cycle to Work Salary

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Sacrifice Scheme, and I have recently taken over responsibility for managing some other facilities related contracts for the business.

taken place, until that is, I received a letter from Colonel Sanders requesting reimbursement for the damage caused to his roof.

LH What’s the worst fleet-related issue you’ve had to deal with?

TC Any time the CEO has a problem with his car can usually be classed as the worst fleet issue. Talk about feeling the pressure.

My heart sinks when I see an email from his PA, and you really feel like you are put to the test to resolve the issue ASAP with minimum fuss or inconvenience. I think I always manage to keep him happy – well I must do, I am still in a job.

LH Do you run alternatively fuelled vehicles on your fleet – what’s your take on electric vehicles?

TC Chivas Brothers was one of the first fleets to run hybrid vehicles when we took delivery of 10 Honda Civic Hybrids in January 2008. These vehicles proved at the time to be great pool cars, enabling us to reduce our carbon footprint.

Almost five years on and these hybrids are still in service, but are due to be replaced within the new few months. I can’t say too much at this stage, but I am in the process of choosing the replacement vehicles, and am hopeful that we will be adopting the latest technology to further reduce our carbon footprint and our fuel costs.

LH And the funniest?

TC In my last fleet role, I had an apprentice electrician who jumped into a truck to go and collect the lunches for the team and proceeded through the KFC drive-through removing part of the roof. Somehow he managed to cover up his stupidity, and I was none the wiser that the incident had ever

LH What are your biggest issues in fleet currently?

TC Managing fuel costs is a challenge at the moment. I find that you constantly have to fight just to maintain costs at current levels, and if you introduce more fuel efficient vehicles the price per litre increases and there go your savings, which is very frustrating.

Encouraging van drivers to take greater care and responsibility for the condition of the vehicles is an issue that I am working on at the moment. We often have pool cars or vans returned at the end of the contract with various small areas of miscellaneous damage which nobody ever seems to know anything about. To combat this we are trying a new daily vehicle check procedure similar to that carried out by drivers of HGVs. LH If you weren’t a fleet manager, what would you do?

TC Having had a taste of the Scotch whisky industry, I can’t think of another industry I would rather be in. Being the convivial person that I am, I suppose my dream job would be as a brand ambassador. However I would settle for chief taster on the Chivas Regal line!

VAN

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

FLEETW RLD AUCTIONS & REMARKETING

CONTRACT HIRE, LEASING & FINANCE

RACKING SYSTEMS

TAIL LIFTS

FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

BCA Tel: 0845 600 66 44 www.british-car-auctions.co.uk

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Sortimo Central Tel: 0121 511 2303 www.sortimo-central.com

Penny Hydraulics Tel: 01246 811475 www.pennyhydraulics.com

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Tel: 0800 085 4128 www.lexautolease.co.uk

Tevo Limited Tel: 01628 528034 www.tevo.eu.com

Ratcliff Palfinger Ltd Tel: 01707 382880 www.ratcliffpalfinger.co.uk

Civica Tranman Tel: 01454 874002 www.civica.co.uk/tranman

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

Bott Ltd Tel: 01530 410600 www.bott-group.com

DEL Equipment (UK) Ltd Tel: 01993 708811 www.del-uk.com

Mycompanyfleet Tel: 0845 077 7760 www.mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.co.uk

Lex Autolease

Full listings online at fleetworldgroup.co.uk DAILY RENTAL Avis Rent A Car Tel: 0844 544 5000 www.avis.co.uk

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

Budget Rent-a-Car Tel: 0844 5338 08701544 56 56 56 www.budget.co.uk

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 08444 99 1402 www.venson.com

Full listings online at fleetworldgroup.co.uk TELEMATICS & TRACKING

Nexus Vehicle Management Ltd Tel: 0871 984 1947 www.nexusrental.co.uk

Fleet Alliance Tel: 0845 601 8407 www.fleetalliance.co.uk

VEHICLE DATA

Alphabet (GB) Limited Tel: 0870 50 50 100 www.alphabet.co.uk

International Decision Systems Tel: 01256 302 000 www.idsdata.co.uk

Tel: 0845 055 8555 Ctrack www.ctrack.co.uk TomTom Business Solutions Tel: 020 7255 9774 www.tomtom.com/business

FUEL MANAGEMENT

VEHICLE VENTILATION

BP PLUS Fuel Cards Tel: 0845 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

Flettner Ventilator Ltd Tel: 020 8200 2321 www.flettner.co.uk

Shell Fuelcards Tel: 0800 7 31 31 37 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Full listings online at

RISK MANAGEMENT LeasePlan UK Ltd Tel: 0844 493 5810 www.leaseplan.co.uk

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

Esso Fuel Cards Tel: 0800 626 672 www.essocard.com

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

Total Fleet Services Ltd Tel: 01543 431080 www.lease-hire.co.uk

TRACKER Network UK Limited Tel: 0845 602 3981 www.TRACKER.co.uk

TOTALCARD Services Tel: 0800 147 148 www.total.co.uk

DriveSense Tel: 01628 581930 www.drivesense.co.uk

CBVC Vehicle Management Tel: 01283 509177 www.cbvc.co.uk

Quartix Ltd Tel: 0870 013 6663 www.quartix.net

EV FLEET WORLD Tel: 01727 739160 www.evfleetworld.co.uk

IAM Drive & Survive Tel: 0870 120 2910 www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

FAST-FITS & TYRES ATS Euromaster Tel: 0121 325 8842 www.atseuromaster.co.uk

ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT Total Accident Management Tel: 0845 078 4157 www.totalaccman.co.uk

VAN

fleetworldgroup.co.uk

FLEETW RLD January 2010

‘Doblo has always shown promise, now it looks as though it can deliver’ p46

VAN FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

January 2010

43

For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Incorporated into every issue of VAN Fleet World and interactive online at www.fleetworldgroup.co.uk £400 flat rate for the year.

Cost includes a rotating monthly listing in SUPPLIER DIRECTORY in VAN Fleet World. PLUS...

• Full listing on fleetworldgroup.co.uk • Email link to sales contact • Website link to homepage • Full-colour company logo November 2012

91

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