International Fleet World May 2017

THE NEW INSIGNIA

MASTERPIECE OF CONNECTIVITY.

THE NEW INSIGNIA

MASTERPIECE OF CONNECTIVITY. opel.com Fuel consumption combined 11.2–3.6 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined 197–105 g/km (according to R (EC) No. 715/2007).

Picture shows optional equipment and Exclusive trim.

Availability depends on local market offer.

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SAFETY THROUGH INNOVATION THE NEW SEAT LEON ST

TECHNOLOGY TO ENJOY A SOLUTION TAILORED TO YOU If it isn’t safe and easy, it isn’t mobility. And at SEAT, safe and easy comes in a range of features. Like the Kessy Keyless System, Navi System, LED Headlights, ACC up to 210 km/h, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, Traffic Jam Assist and Pedestrian Protection to make everything safer, and easier. Because everything we do puts you first. So find out more about the SEAT LEON ST, a car designed for your needs; whoever and wherever you are.

TRAFFIC JAM ASSIST

ACC UP TO 210 KM/H

SEAT FOR BUSINESS

WIRELESS CHARGER

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Average fuel consumption from 4.1 to 7.2 l/100 km. Average CO2 mass emissions 96 to 164 g/km.

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CONTENTS_IFW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 14:34 Page 1

THE NEW INSIGNIA

MASTERPIECE OF CONNECTIVITY.

contents

THE NEW INSIGNIA

MASTERPIECE OF CONNECTIVITY. opel.com

Fuel consumption combined 11.2–3.6 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined 197–105 g/km (according to R (EC) No. 715/2007).

Picture shows optional equipment and Exclusive trim.

Availability depends on local market offer.

Chairman Jerry Ramsdale jerry@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

16 SPOTLIGHT: Volvo XC60.

18 DAB radio technology and your fleet.

24 New Insignia Grand Sport Grand Tour.

40 On the road in the new Discovery.

Publisher Steve Moody steve@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Editor John Challen john@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Deputy Editor Alex Grant alex@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Business Editor Natalie Middleton natalie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Content Editor Katie Beck katie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Director Anne Dopson anne@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

04 Fleet Review Editor John Challen discusses globalisation and short-termism.

Sales Manager Harry Whyte harry@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Circulation Tracy Howell tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Head of Production Luke Wikner luke@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

06 Fleet in figures Breaking down the latest global vehicle sales by region.

08 News The biggest stories from a month in the international fleet world.

Designers Tina Ries tina@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Victoria Arellano victoria@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Web Designer Dan Desta daniel@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

16 Spotlight An in-depth look at Volvo’s long-awaited second generation XC60.

18 Feature The increasingly popularity of DAB radio in the global market.

22 Feature The first in a series of Shell reader surveys on fuel management.

Published by Stag Publications Ltd, 18 Alban Park, Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL4 0JJ tel +44 (0)1727 739160 fax +44 (0)1727 739169 email ifw@fleetworldgroup.co.uk web internationalfleetworld.com

24 Feature Alex Grant drives 1,100km on one tank in new Insignia Grand Sport.

30 Fleet Focus The impact of personal leasing on Denmark’s vehicle market.

34 Profile Kia’s bumper 2016 and how the expanding range is attracting fleets.

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To subscribe to Interational Fleet World visit: www.fleetworldsubscriptions.co.uk

38 Launch Report Lexus IS 300h / Land Rover Discovery / Alfa Romeo Guilia.

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JOHN_IFW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 10:06 Page 1

fleet review This month, editor John Challen embraces short-termism, the globalisation of new cars and looks ahead to a busy summer.

Number crunching News of record registrations in the UK in March led me to thinking about how long the trend could continue. When the inevitable does happen, how the industry reacts is key – and one lesson could be learned from Denmark. As reported in this issue of IFW, the Danes have also seen sales success with all-time highs being achieved in passenger car and CV registrations. In the future, Denmark believes that instead of being tied into long-term lease or rental propositions, a more favourable option would be a vehicle subscription for as little as three months. It’s a bit of a departure from the traditional business model but, if successful, a shrewd move.

Global appeal Having surprised and delighted many in New York with concepts and updated versions of existing vehicles, the motor show circus moved to Asia and Shanghai at the time of going to press. For many, Frankfurt, Paris and Geneva are the events to be at (and be seen at), but it would be futile to ignore the impact of the new generations of shows. Shanghai provided Skoda with a platform to unveil it’s first

electric car concept – the Vision E – built on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform and offering a range of 500km and three autonomous driving modes.

Elsewhere, Citroën revealed its C5 Aircross. China will be the launch market for the new French MPV, which will debut there in the second half of 2017. Europe will follow, but not until 2018. It’s possibly too early to say if the trend of launching in non-traditional markets will pay dividends – the volume is certainly there, but is there the demand to back it up?

Fleet Show 2017 For a more relevant event for business drivers, Fleet Show at Silverstone on Wednesday 10th May is a must. Manufacturers, service providers and industry bodies all gather under one roof to provide the perfect opportunity to pick up information about running a more efficient fleet.

There is also the chance to make new industry contacts and, of course, try out the latest vehicles on the famous track. Visit thefleetshow.co.uk for more information – we hope to see you there.

visit internationalfleetworld.com

Skoda launched its Vision E concept at Shanghai, bucking the trend for launching in traditional markets

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ACEA_IFW_May17 24/04/2017 12:31 Page 1

fleet in figures

Global sales growth achieved as selling rate eases Welcoming figures from Russia and Brazil help to maintain volumes as markets take advantage of extra selling days. By John Challen.

lobal light vehicle sales grew once again in year-on-year terms, up 5% for March. The selling rate eased back from the February result (of 96 million units a year) to 94 million units for the latest month.

March saw the selling rates of two key markets, China and the US, ease back.

Western Europe’s solid momentum was maintained, while Russia and Brazil showed some, modest, improvement.

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North America Light vehicle sales in the totalled 1,554,000 units in March 2017 in the US, which translated into a selling rate of 16.6 million units a year. While macroeconomic conditions are favourable, with low interest rates, high consumer confidence, low and stable fuel prices, and low unemployment, there are some factors holding back the market total. Fleet sales were not as heavily emphasised in March as they were in February to reduce inventory levels. Used car sales continue to grow as

the price-gap between new and used vehicles widens.

Canadian light vehicle sales for March neared 188,000 units, representing a 7% increase year-on-year and setting a new March record.

sales of 28 million units in 2016. Yet, on a year-on-year basis, sales increased by nearly 6% in Q1 2017, despite the higher tax rate for vehicles with smaller engines and an uncertain economic outlook.

Other Asia Europe West European light vehicle registrations improved once again in March.

With many markets enjoying one or two extra selling days in the month, results compared favourably year-on-year (+9.6%). The selling rate stood at 16.5 million units a year, highlighting the ongoing strength of the market as it continues to move back towards prefinancial crisis levels.

In Russia, sales picked up well in March, growing 9% year-on-year, with the selling rate reaching 1.6 million units a year. Overall, Eastern Europe was up 7.2%, with other strong markets last month including the Czech Republic and Poland.

In Japan, the March selling rate was a solid 5.1 million units a year, up 1% from February. On a year-on-year basis, sales increased by a strong 9.4% in March. After two years of decline, sales (in particular, LCV sales) are finally gaining some momentum, helped by improved business confidence due to a weaker yen.

The South Korean market maintained a robust pace, despite political uncertainty in the wake of the impeachment of the president and rising military tensions with North Korea. The selling rate reached a strong 1.9 million units in March for the second consecutive month, supported by the ongoing scrappage incentive scheme for old diesel vehicles.

South America China Kia Rio Russia’s bestseller with 6% market share

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Advance data indicates that China’s March selling rate was 26.7 million units a year, down 8% from the holiday adjusted February.

In Q1 2017, the selling rate averaged 27.9 million units a year, which was a slowdown from 30.6 million in Q4 2016, and a touch below total vehicle

After a dismal start to the New Year, the Brazilian market picked up in March, with the selling rate rising to a 19-month high of 2.3 million units/year. On a year-on-year basis, sales increased by 6.4% in March, the first increase since December 2014.

In Argentina, despite the ongoing fiscal austerity measures, the selling rate surged to 900,000 units a year in March, the highest rate since December 2013. The recovery of the market appears to be gaining momentum, supported by easing credit conditions, the stabilised peso and the bullish run on the stock market.

Moving on in business.

All-New i30 Wagon The All-New Hyundai i30 Wagon combines handsome looks with outstanding versatility, space and comfort. It also offers the kind of advanced connectivity features and safety technologies that make this sleekly proportioned wagon such an attractive proposition for your fleet. There’s a new range of efficient and responsive turbocharged engines and the availability of a 7-speed dualclutch transmission. Factor in its sharp steering, agile handling and our 5-year Unlimited Mileage Warranty and you have the wagon of choice for both business and private use. A moving business proposition – the All-New Hyundai i30 Wagon.

Discover more at Hyundai.com/eu

Fuel consumption in l/100 km for the All-New Hyundai i30 Wagon range: Combined 5.8–3.6 l/100km, CO2 emissions 135–95 g/km.

The fuel consump­tion and CO2 emissions figures are preliminary. This means that the figures displayed are approximate and collected before official obtainment of the EU type approval for the All-New Hyundai i30 Wagon. Definitive figures were not available at the time of printing. The Hyundai 5-year Unlimited Mileage Warranty applies only to Hyundai vehicles that have been originally sold by an authorised Hyundai dealer to an end consumer and as set out in the terms and conditions of the warranty booklet.

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manufacturer news

Opel Grandland X sets sights on Ford Kuga pel will join the highly competitive C-SUV sector at the O end of the year, previewing the Grandland X SUV ahead of its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Positioned above the Mokka X, and measuring almost 4.5 metres from bumper to bumper, the newcomer will give Opel its first rival for cars such as the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga and SEAT Ateca in a fast-growing part of the European car market.

The Grandland X is platform-shared with the new Peugeot 3008, following an earlier alliance formed in 2012.

Expect engine options to include the same 1.6-litre diesel engines as the Astra and Insignia Grand Sport, and Opel will offer an advanced all-terrain traction control system to give extra off-road ability to two-wheel drive versions.

Depending on trim level, options will include the OnStar service, Android and Apple connectivity and LED headlights.

A boot capacity of 514 litres with the rear seats in place is competitive with rival crossovers. Full range information is likely to be released closer to its reveal in Frankfurt.

New Citroën C5 Aircross to debut PHEV AWD tech

PSA to begin operations in US with carsharing services

itroën has revealed its Qashqai-rivalling C5 Aircross SUV, which will join the range in 2018 complete with a PHEV AWD model.

Built on PSA’s EMP2 platform and providing a replacement to the C5 saloon axed last year, the new model will introduce a new suspension system that uses Progressive Hydraulic Cushions said to bring significant improvements in ride comfort.

The C5 Aircross will also be marked out as the first Citroën vehicle to feature the Plug-In Hybrid PHEV e-AWD drivetrain, which combines a 200hp petrol engine and two electric motors, with a total output of 300hp. In all electric mode this will have a range up to 50km – it will also offer hybrid, combined and 4×4 functions.

Citroën has also announced 165 and 200hp petrol engines will be offered along with the EAT6 e-shift automatic gearbox and the European line-up is also likely to include two and four-wheel drive diesels.

The C5 Aircross launches in China in the second half of this year and in Europe in 2018.

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Citroën C5 Aircross

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SA is to launch mobility services in the US as part of a progressive return to the market.

The services will be introduced under the group’s Free2Move mobility brand and its partner Travelcar, a startup founded in 2012, and is initially being made available at Los Angeles airport from April 2017 before wider deployment in the United States.

PSA will then market vehicles directly in North America, as per the ‘Push to Pass’ plan unveiled in April 2016.

Peugeot pulled out of the US market in 1991 after five years of declining sales.

Volvo appoints global used car director ahead of rollout ans Hygrell has taken up the position of global used car director at Volvo Cars.

Previously senior director global customer service Asia Pacific operations, Mr Hygrell has spent the last three years at Volvo Cars’ Shanghai office and joined Volvo in 1995.

In his new role, he replaces Sebastian Fuchs, who joined RMS Automotive earlier this year as senior director sales and marketing Europe, and will report to senior director global retail operations, Keith Schäfer.

His appointment comes as Volvo rolls out its ‘Selekt’ certified used car programme.

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For the latest news, visit internationalfleetworld.com

New Daimler subsidiary to offer connectivity services for fleets

fleetinquotes a few soundbites from a month in fleet

aimler AG is launching a new division to offer connectivity services for fleet and business customers of all sizes.

Run under the ‘connect business’ brand, the range of products will include a vehicle monitoring and maintenance service that enables businesses to administer their fleets using a web-based portal that provides intelligent analysis and reporting tools.

The service also includes a vehicle logistics offering, with map and GPS-based functions to enable more efficient operation, including through geofencing.

There will also be an app that forms part of the Digital Driver’s Log service and provides a telematics-based automated digital vehicle log, including measuring corporate and private mileage.

The new division, Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services GmbH, will be operated by Daimler Finance Services and will launch first in Germany before rolling out in other European markets as well as for multi-brand fleets.

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Insignia Country Tourer gets new diesel pel has revealed its latest-generation Insignia Country Tourer, marking OAsthe third variant in the Insignia line-up. with the Grand Sport hatchback and the Insignia Sports Tourer, the new

Country Tourer is bigger and lighter than its predecessor, thanks to an all-new architecture. Available solely with all-wheel drive featuring torque vectoring, it debuts a new top-of-the-range diesel unit, although no further engine details have been announced, and a new eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Country Tourer also features black protective cladding and silver front and rear skid plates while new five-link rear suspension and additional ground clearance of 20mm add to its offroading abilities. It also gains a new set-up of two electrically controlled multi-plate clutches instead of a traditional rear differential, enabling more torque to be sent to the outside rear wheel under speed.

As with the Sports Tourer, the Country Tourer’s new architecture brings increased dimensions. The wheelbase gains an extra 92mm, bringing extra cabin space, while boot space rises 135 litres to a maximum of 1,665 litres with the optional 40/20/40 foldable rear seats.

The future of mobility services is digital and connectivity plays a significant role.

With the new 'connect business' service as an addition to the familiar Mercedes me connect services we are addressing the segment of fleet and business customers and focus on their specific requirements.

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Franz Reiner, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Bank and Board Member of Daimler Financial Services

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BMW has led the way with a new 5 Series that features lots of driver assistance systems which Euro NCAP believes will transform safety in the years to come.

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Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP’s Secretary General

Driverless car collaboration announced osch and Daimler are developing driverless cars which can be B summoned via a smartphone app, with plans to have them on the road by the end of the decade.

Aiming to improve the appeal of car sharing services, the development alliance will mean inner-city passengers can book a vehicle via a smartphone app, which will then collect them from wherever they are. The aim is to have vehicles on the road by 2020, and in production as soon as possible.

City driving is more complicated for autonomous vehicles, as it’s more prone to variables such as pedestrians and traffic at complicated junctions than motorway driving, where vehicles are all moving in the same direction.

In turn, it’s hoped that this will enable those without a licence to have their own personal form of transport, and to help occupants use their travel time more productively. The companies said the technology will also benefit traffic flow, and enhance road safety.

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EU minimum vehicle safety standards have not been updated since 2009.

Every day of delay will mean more avoidable deaths.

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Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the ETSC Council, on the need to address failing safety targets..

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EVNEWS_IFW_May17 24/04/2017 12:42 Page 1

environmental news

Next-generation EVs break cover at Shanghai Audi e-tron Sportback imilar in size to the A7, the electric e-tron Sportback concept car previews a production model due in 2019. It features three electric motors – one at the front axle, and two on the rear – offering four-wheel drive and 429hp, reaching 62mph in 4.5 seconds yet with a range of over 500km. The production version will be Audi’s second all-electric SUV, following a version larger e-tron quattro which is due in 2018.

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Skoda Vision E

Mercedes-Benz S-Class PHEV

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ully electric and roughly the same size as a Kodiaq, Skoda’s Vision E concept will arrive in production form from 2020, by which point there will already be a plug-in hybrid Superb on sale. It’s a crossover, with a 500km range and all-electric four-wheel drive. Skoda said it expects to have five electric vehicles on sale by 2025, and predicts that a quarter of its global sales volume will be electrified by that point.

art of a mid-life refresh for the S-Class, the S 500 e plugin hybrid now features a 50% larger rechargeable battery, increasing the fully electric range to 50km under NEDC conditions and enabling more driving to be done without the petrol engine. As well as upgrading the battery, the luxury sedan also features a two-times faster on-board charger than the outgoing car.

Volkswagen I.D. Crozz

Volvo’s small and large EVs

olkswagen is aiming to sell one million EVs per year by 2025, and the I.D. Crozz is the third bodystyle in its allelectric range, following the Golf-sized I.D. and the I.D. Buzz MPV. Due in showrooms in 2020, it’s a crossover based on Volkswagen’s space-efficient, modular EV platform and will feature a 500km range, all-wheel drive and ultra-fast charging to 80% capacity in around half an hour.

hina will be the manufacturing base for Volvo’s first fullyelectric car, which will be sold globally from 2019. Likely to be a version of the next V40 hatchback, the newcomer will be based on the brand’s small-car platform and will also be available with three-cylinder petrol and plug-in hybrid drivetrains. A larger electric car, based on the platform underneath the new XC90, is also in the pipeline.

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For the latest EV news, visit evfleetworld.com

in brief EU Member States delaying charging plans

Ford hybrid cuts police pursuit fuel bills in half ord has revealed the first “pursuit-rated” hybrid police car in the United States, said to consume half as much fuel as a non-hybrid alternative.

The Police Responder Hybrid Sedan is based on the Fusion Hybrid, in turn similar to the Mondeo Hybrid sold in Europe, and combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine and 120hp electric motor, and can drive at 60mph on electricity. The system is reconfigured for police use and, as well as electric driving, can power on-board systems reducing the need to have the engine idling while stationary.

Pursuit certification doesn’t only assess its ability to handle long chases.

Adaptations include front-end deflectors, police-issue wheels and uprated suspension, which means it can withstand impacts with eight-inch kerbs, cross railway lines at 30mph and ford up to 470mm of water at flooded intersections. Ford claims a $3,900 (€3,600) saving per year, based on two shifts per day, 365 days per year.

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EU project puts 900 EVs on European fleets European Commission project on sustainable electric mobility has led to the replacement of 900 petrol and diesel vehicles with electric vehicles.

Co-ordinated by the UK’s Energy Saving Trust, the Incentives for Cleaner Vehicles in Urban Europe (I-CVUE) project offered mentoring and in-use studies, aimed at providing fleets with guidance on the business case for switching to electric vehicles. More than 50 fleets participated during the three-year lifespan. The project also saw analysis undertaken in six countries – Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Spain and the UK – on the fiscal incentives and charging infrastructure requirements needed to encourage a switch, which led to the development of the I-CVUE Total Costs of Ownership (TCO) web-tool.

The tool enables users to compare the total cost of ownership of EVs with petrol or diesel alternatives, with reference data sets for several European countries are available. The web-tool will remain available to users until March 2018: http://dsm.icvue.eu.

in numbers

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Half of EU Member States have yet to publish plans for charging infrastructure, despite region-wide ruling requiring them to have this in place by 2016, according to an alliance of carmakers, charging firms and transport organisations. The Platform for Electro-Mobility is pressing for more charging stations and simpler financial incentives to extend the network.

Electric car sharing service launches in Japan A round-trip car sharing service using ultra-compact electric vehicles has launched in the City of Yokohama, Japan.

Named Choimobi Yokohama, the service uses a Nissan-branded version of the Renault Twizy and operates out of 14 locations near the station, offering reservations 30 minutes in advance via a smartphone app.

Austrian charging network boost A new project to create a comprehensive network of EV charging stations across Austria is to start deployment from April 2017. The partnership includes 11 state energy suppliers from the Federal Association of Electromobility Austria, with the Hubject GmbH platform, and will provide more than 1,300 charge points from Vienna to Bregenz.

Birmingham is the UK’s electromobility capital Drivers in Birmingham are four times more likely to drive a plug-in hybrid or vehicle than those in London, according to the latest DfT figures. The city has 8,258 plug-in vehicles, more than the entire London region.

11%

1,500

Rise in the number of public charging points in Germany in the second half of 2016.

Electric Mercedes-Benz delivery vans due to join the Hermes ‘last mile delivery’ fleet in Germany next year.

Source: German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW)

Source: Daimler

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D ECIS I O N S, DE C I S I O NS. INTRODUCING THE JAGUAR AND LAND ROVER RANGES FOR BUSINESS Efficiency or performance? Ride comfort or driving dynamics? Connectivity or capability?

Choosing vehicles for your fleet is a huge responsibility, but who said you can’t have it all?

The Jaguar and Land Rover ranges offer uncompromised solutions for every fleet. Featuring our innovative InControl infotainment system and state-of-the-art Ingenium engines, our vehicles deliver everything your business demands. And with 78* derivatives below 130g/km CO2, the only decision you need to make is which vehicle to test drive first.

fleet-business.jaguarlandrover.com

78 models as of January 2017. Listing based on EU offer, all models and specifications are market dependent, please check with your local retailer.

*

NEWS_IFW_May17 24/04/2017 13:31 Page 3

business news

eDriving Fleet to introduce risk management tool for fleets of all sizes

in brief

new driver training and risk reduction solution for fleets of all sizes is to ADeveloped launch globally this year. by eDriving Fleet, the RoadRisk Plus tool combines a validated

AFEX launches prepaid Mastercard

and research-based risk identification assessment with real-world video scenarios to test drivers’ ability to spot hazards in time, and provides recommended training content based on drivers’ risk areas.

The tool is already available in the US and launches globally in late 2017.

LeasePlan and Uber sign pan-European partnership easePlan and Uber have signed a new partnership that will provide Uber partner-drivers across Europe with a full operational leasing solution.

The new Memorandum of Understanding builds on the firms’ current cooperation in Portugal, France and the Netherlands and states that they will offer partner-drivers a package of services, from repairs and maintenance to insurance, rolling out across 23 countries in Europe this year.

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Enterprise Rent-A-Car acquires Germany’s CARO Autovermietung nterprise Rent-A-Car Germany is to acquire Bremen-based CARO Autovermietung GmbH, creating one of the largest car rental businesses in Germany.

The agreement, made for an undisclosed sum and subject to approval by the German Federal Cartel Office, will see the two companies integrated later this year to offer a combined 200-plus locations and a fleet of approximately 17,000 vehicles.

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Guus Stoelinga to step down from LeasePlan easePlan’s chief financial and risk officer Guus Stoelinga is to step down from his position to pursue other opportunities.

Mr Stoelinga has been with LeasePlan for 25 years including 10 years on the Managing Board. His career at LeasePlan began as finance director at LeasePlan Netherlands and Auto Lease Holland. He went on to hold a number of key positions at LeasePlan Corporation, such as SVP business integrations and SVP corporate strategy and development.

He has agreed to remain at LeasePlan until his successor has been appointed and the handover process has been completed.

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BlaBlaCar, ALD and Opel team up for flexible leasing trial in France arpooling platform BlaBlaCar has partnered with ALD Automotive and Opel to offer exclusive leasing deals to its members.

The pilot project offers BlaBlaCar’s French ‘Ambassadors’ – the platform’s most active members – access to a selection of cars available in ‘caras-a-service’ packages, including lower-priced leasing, warranty and maintenance services.

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AFEX, a non-bank provider of global payment and risk management solutions, has introduced a new prepaid Mastercard to help fleets manage employee expenses.

The PayFEX programme enables multiple cards to be managed on a single platform with an online portal to manage expenditure limits, add or withdraw funds and produce reports.

VW Pon FS moves fleet contracts to Sofico’s Miles Volkswagen Pon Financial Services NL has begun the first phase of switching the fleet contracts side of its business onto the Miles platform from Sofico.

The fleet project is expected to be completed by the autumn of 2018, by which time all 75,000 VWPFS fleet contracts will have been migrated over to Miles.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland acquires Dooley Car Rentals Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland has acquired Dooley Car Rentals, the car rental division of the Dan Dooley Group, for an undisclosed amount.

The family-owned car rental business includes a fleet of more than 1,400 vehicles and a book of business that contains a number of international customers and contracts.

Europcar unveils mobility station Europcar is to roll out a new multimodal mobility platform across its network, including an enhanced focus on digital technology. Previewed by its new flagship station in Brussels, the new concept is intended to provide for every mobility need.

ADVTL_Alphabet_IFW_May17_Layout 1 24/04/2017 12:33 Page 1

Copyright: Alphabet International GmbH

The solution is mobile Why smartphones and apps are key to the connected world...

NOT long ago the self-driving car seemed like a far-fetched concept, and motorways were a sea of combustion engine cars and lorries. Today, the landscape has markedly changed. Autonomous driving, including the connected car and telematics, has pulled ahead to become one of the hottest trends and most anticipated innovation in the car industry.

Simultaneously, electric vehicles have become commonplace.

As technological advances connect and digitalise all realms of modern life, mobile devices like smartphones and intelligent apps take on increasingly essential roles. They bridge the gap between innovative connected systems such as connected cars and the users whose lives they enrich. By connecting and communicating with other smart objects and systems, apps give users meaningful insights, access to key information and unique control.

Staying up to speed All this presents the mobility industry with both challenges and opportunities.

To maintain or achieve a pole position, a player must design and launch a smartphone app that fulfils rapidlychanging user needs. Thus mobility

companies must understand current consumer behaviour and translate this information into tangible solutions that integrate into daily life. Leading Business Mobility provider Alphabet International has done just that. Its innovative AlphaGuide app provides drivers and fleet managers a smart solution with fine-tuned features that enhances the entire Business Mobility experience.

Convincing capabilities The regularly updated AlphaGuide app does more than just seamlessly connect drivers and fleet managers to their company’s mobility plan. Its range of useful features also simplifies workrelated mobility and make travelling from A to B more enjoyable. Those with busy schedules especially appreciate the app’s mobility timeline feature. A user enters appointments in their smartphone’s calendar and the app tells

More at www.alphabet.com/mobilecommunications advertisement feature

them precisely when to leave to arrive at a meeting on time. By selecting the best route for the current traffic situation, the app also helps the user arrive punctually.

Should a driver require services such as a fuel station, electric charging point or tyre service partner, the app shows all options in the vicinity. In case he or she needs assistance on the road, a simple tap on the app’s ‘hotline’ button connects them directly with Alphabet.

Meeting drivers’ needs for quick and direct access to information, all contract data is easy to access on the app. This makes the driving experience much more transparent for users since many people today keep their smartphone permanently within arm’s reach. Welldesigned AlphaGuide offers a wellthought-through feature set that leaves drivers and fleet managers wanting for nothing. Above all Alphabet strives to harness the power of connectivity to make Business Mobility more about moving and less about waiting.

The app for iOS and Android smartphones is currently available in thirteen countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

SPOTLIGHT_VolvoXC60_IFW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 12:03 Page 1

SPOTLIGHT Volvo XC60

Second edition

Nine years after the original XC60 was introduced, Volvo has high hopes for its replacement. John Challen takes a look around the mid-size SUV.

Worth the wait

Range review

Nearly a decade ago, Volvo broke new ground with the XC60 – a car laden with next-generation safety technology and providing a new segment for the Swedish manufacturer. The car that brought us ‘City Safety’ and claimed to be ‘the safest Volvo ever’ obviously did the job because today XC60 accounts for around 30% of Volvo sales around the world.

It’s a tried and tested mix for the XC60, with the T8 petrol plug-in hybrid at the top of the tree, with its 407hp and 0-100km/h time of 5.3 seconds. Other petrol options are the 254hp T5 and the turbocharged, supercharged T6, offering 320hp and 400Nm of torque. For diesel fans there is the choice of the D4 with 190hp or the D5, which delivers 235hp.

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Fully loaded The hierarchy at Volvo say that the new XC60 is ‘the perfect car for an active lifestyle and it represents the next step in our transformation plan’. Whether you believe that or not, it is a step firmly in the right direction. As with the original model there is groundbreaking safety tech: Oncoming Lane Mitigation is new and uses Steer Assist (now part of the City Safety package) to help prevent head-on collisions. Volvo’s blind spot indication system also uses Steer Assist to reduce risk when it comes to accidents caused by sudden lane changes.

FLEET FACT Semi-autonomous driving of the XC60 is possible via the optional Pilot Assist

What we think...

Nine years is a long time in the automotive world, but when you’ve got a forward thinking car such as the original XC60 to begin with, it makes a big difference. Volvo has taken what the first-generation car offered and built on it with more technology, more safety and more appeal. Add in an intuitive infotainment package with decent connectivity options, and that onethird share of the total brand’s sales looks safe for the foreseeable future. JC

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FEATURE DAB

LOUD & CLEAR For some drivers, in-car digital radio is a must. Having grown steadily over a number of years, there is now a drive to get more standard fitment – as well as retrofit technology being added. Dave Moss assesses the global market.

igital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) already has a long history, with the first national network licensed in the UK in 1995. Soon after, the BBC began digital broadcasting of its five national services, and a commercial network opened in 1999. Several key European broadcasters began following the UK’s lead, but until recently the spread of digital radio services has been generally slow.

“The first date I would really highlight is the German launch of DAB+ in 2011, but 2013 was the year digital radio in Europe really hit a tipping point,” says Patrick Hannon, president of WorldDAB, a global industry forum providing detailed advice on switching from analogue to digital radio. “By then Norway, Switzerland, Denmark and the UK were all well established markets, and German population coverage exceeded 80%. It was also the year when receiver sales really started to take off, the Netherlands launched national DAB services, Italy started its first local

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broadcasts and France announced services in Paris, Nice and Marseille.”

Kevin Hamlin, senior automotive analyst at IHS Markit, feels lack of promotion may have held digital radio back: “I think one of the big reasons is people don’t know what it is, or why they need to change. In the 1950s, when most people received news, entertainment and music via radio, everyone would have embraced DAB. Now people receive most media from the internet, smartphones, and TV. Lots of people still listen to radio – but its not the sole form of media.”

Listening figures Surveys reveal over 20% of Europe’s radio audience listens in vehicles, and WorldDAB has long been urging car makers to incorporate accessible DAB technology in the dashboard. Here, Hannon points to real progress in just four years. “During 2013, the UK confirmed local DAB coverage expansion to over 90% – and by early 2014 over 50% of new UK cars had suitable

receivers,” he recalls. “In 2016, a second national commercial service began – and by the end of the year 87% of new cars came with DAB as standard.”

Recent research undertaken for WorldDAB by CAP/HPI and Jato Dynamics shows how manufacturers are supporting standard DAB radio installation. In the first half of 2016, across seven key European markets, fitment had almost doubled in four years - but still totalled only 1.7 million suitably equipped cars. Yet by early 2017, 98% of new cars in Norway, 86% in Switzerland and 87% in the UK included DAB radio as standard.

Broadcasters, listeners and car manufacturers alike have all reacted quite slowly to this changing landscape, but Hannon feels many lessons have been learned along the way. “There are a clear set of requirements for the successful launch of digital radio,” he says. “Adequate coverage, improved content over FM, competitively priced, easily available receivers, in-car equip-

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“You cannot make a transition like this with everyone in favour, but most listeners have been well prepared.”

Image: Toby Guriby

ment – and strong consumer promotion. We also need strong political and automotive sector support, appropriate regulation and cross-industry collaboration.”

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is a public service media alliance with members across Europe. Its 2017 review lists 1206 national digital radio services, operating in 24 European markets. Over 800 are simultaneous broadcasts of FM programmes, with the rest new “digital-only” services, which greatly improve listener choice - because space isn’t available for them on FM. Yet the EBU feels much work remains to drive digital forward, claiming that national governments, official regulators and public and commercial broadcasters all have different approaches and commitment to digital radio development and service provision. The EBU sees this lack of common ground as a big problem needing attention, saying: ‘No market can make significant progress when its stakeholders have different views.’

Norway goes digital One European market that has definitely made progress is Norway, which in 2015 decided to switch to all-digital DAB radio in January 2017. That switchover went ahead smoothly after lengthy publicity campaigns – and all the country’s national analogue FM networks will be silent by December.

Reports last year suggested the public were not entirely convinced about the switchover, but Ole Jørgen Torvmark, chief executive of Digital Radio Norway, co-ordinator of public and private radio channels throughout the process, says: “You cannot make a transition like this with everyone in favour, but most listeners have been well prepared, and seemed to manage the change in a good manner. Most like digital radio, as it offers a greater variety of channels. In general people like the content and noise-free sound, which is reflected in listening figures, but the upgrade in cars causes practical questions.”

Asked about the difficulties faced by

car owners in upgrading systems, Torvmark says: “The audience have been able to find a preferred solution.

Car-adaptors have been available at reasonable prices for several years, with a range of suitable solutions.

People can fit units themselves, but seem to prefer the help of authorised personnel. Antenna installation needs good guidance – and introducing a new radio-transmission network also means explaining coverage differences to the public.”

Ole Jørgen Torvmark, chief executive, Digital Radio Norway

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FEATURE DAB

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The future of digital radio DAB in other regions Unsurprisingly Norway is seen by the EBU as the digital radio revolution leader - but Switzerland is another front runner, now delivering the best digital radio population coverage in Europe. It could become the second alldigital radio market, with switchover planned between 2020 and 2024. A total of 324 services on air – 111 of them digital only – make the UK another leader, with a government-set preliminary target of 50% digital listening before changeover. Audiences are growing steadily, and some predict this level could be reached in 2018.

Denmark is also on the digital leaderboard, with Germany, the Netherlands and Malta close behind, all with established networks. Another six countries have launched DAB+ services since 2011, including Italy, which is actively exploring the benefits of much-enhanced traffic information services. The Italian South Tyrol region is expected to start closing some FM transmitters this year.

Global interest in DAB broadcasting is growing, with regular services in Australia, Kuwait and South Korea. At least 10 countries have trials planned or under way – including China, New Zealand and South Africa, while other territories considering possible DAB services include Vietnam, Singapore, Bulgaria, and the Russian Federation.

However some countries remain cautious. The Czech republic has recently postponed national DAB development until 2021, despite 29 existing services, receivers costing around €12 and car units available as manufacturer options. Others, like Austria, Ireland and Spain, are running trials, seeking listener reaction while watching market developments. Sweden is reportedly planning FM network expansion, while some, such as Finland and Hong Kong, have already tested DAB – and decided not to proceed.

Today, radio lives in an age where there is an app for everything – on mobile phones providing instant on-line flexibility. With such connectivity, and manufacturers working towards better-connected cars for entertainment and information access, broadcast radio faces a tough question: can it hold its place in future vehicle dashboards? Hannon thinks it can. “There’s very little evidence that radio is being left behind – in fact it’s something drivers say they wouldn’t give up,” he says.

“Across Europe, we listen to the radio for almost two and a half hours daily, and about 85% of people listen every week. Last year WorldDAB set up a group to look at the automotive user experience – delivering the best possible experience for drivers, now and in future. Smartphones are of course an alternative, but data is expensive, mobile coverage for streaming is patchy – and it can’t be relied upon in emergencies or for driver safety.”

Digital radio also brings new possibilities – like pictures, graphics, interactivity – and much more. RadioDNS is a not-for-profit organisation, with worldwide membership of broadcasters and car makers keen to explore ‘hybrid radio’ – specially developed technology that ‘closes the loop’ allowing digital radio and the internet to bring a new, interactive channel to vehicle occupants. “We believe the extended functionality of hybrid radio techniques can deliver a broadcast radio experience matching the best of any connected car apps, but with better reliability of reception and ease of use,” says RadioDNS project director Nick Piggott.

RadioDNS is already operational at over 1900 stations, but much potential remains unexplored, suggesting an exciting road ahead – which could connect into the daily

The Canadian non-conversion On December 3rd 1998 Canada became one of the first countries to trial digital radio - in the DAB format now extensively used in Europe, but on frequencies very different from those now regarded as the system standard. Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal were the first areas to benefit – although it was October 1999 before receivers were widely available – and expensive at C$999. Poor coverage, straightforward duplication of programmes already available on AM or FM, and costly receivers ensured little public interest. By 2005, broadcasters had abandoned Canada’s DAB trials.

By then the neighbouring US had decided on HD radio, an entirely different, commercially developed digital standard, which, unlike DAB, works alongside existing broadcasts. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation began HD Radio tests in Toronto and Ontario in 2006, and Canada’s Radio, Television and Telecommunications Commission now allows HD Radio broadcasting – under certain conditions. Bordering the US, suitable, relatively inexpensive receivers can be found, and some new cars have them fitted. Yet 20 years on, Canada remains digitally reluctant: in 2016 in this vast territory just 14 local or regional HD radio services were broadcasting, and the country’s future digital radio policy is uncertain.

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DSO

2

85%

OF EUROPEAN CITIZENS LISTEN TO RADIO EVERY WEEK

0%

DSO

INTERNATIONAL Image: EBU 2

AVERAGE EUROPEAN CITIZEN

FLEETW RLD

HEAVIEST RADIO LISTENERS 4:12

Russian Federation

2 HRS 29 MINS

3:43

Estonia

The average European listens to 2 hours 29 minutes of radio every day

3:35

Ireland

% NEW CARS W/DAB/DAB +

T

Norway

UK

98%

87%

Switzerland

Germany

66%

D

Denmark

21%

Netherlands

10%

/ LEVEL ROAD COVERAGE * (% DAB/DAB+ 1st

Italy

26%

23%

France 16%

Australia 34%

) 2013 % road coverage

97

99

87

98

98

95

94 78

Norway

Switzerland

UK

Denmark

Germany

1,000km

12,700km

Netherlands

Italy

Australia4

5,000km

4,800km

D

7,500km

1,800km

47,000km

4,800km

Image: World DAB

lives of fleet managers and their drivers. “Using Hybrid Radio techniques, it’s possible to put targeted information on top of general information from a common source,” says Piggott. “That might allow operators D to provide broad information for a

whole fleet, plus vehicle specific messaging – with lower distribution costs than by other methods.

RadioDNS allows operators to define their own applications, so there could be private use cases fitting the frameN work that we haven’t yet thought of.”

Traffic information improvements Digital radio has a big bonus in one of business drivers’ most-used features – traffic information. Available on FM car radios for many years in some countries, locally switched audio traffic bulletins have helped to keep traffic on the move. A background system known as RDS-TMC also delivers traffic congestion information for satellite navigation systems. However, its restricted by data capacity alongside FM radio channels, making this a slow and limited system, largely restricted to incident information.

Today, faster and more flexible T-PEG data can easily be included in DAB broadcast channels, allowing transmission of more relevant data, more quickly. This can include live traffic flow information, and predictions about the situation at a future time when the vehicle reaches a specific point. It also allows location of features on the road network, rather like GPS, and can provide various other services, amongst them fuel pricing, current local car park capacity, dynamic speed data and journey-related weather information.

The DAB technical specification also allows for digital multimedia broadcasting. (DMB) This facility allows graphic presentation of traffic/travel and other information directly to the car dashboard, and its usage in Europe is growing steadily.

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FEATURE Fleet Management

FUTURE OF FLEET survey In association with

INTERNATIONAL

FLEETW RLD In the first in a series of exclusive surveys, Shell and International Fleet World questioned 231 fleet executives about their attitudes to a host of fleet industry topics including alternative fuels, future mobility and the ever-changing role of the fleet manager.

Respondents had varying fleet sizes, with the majority running more than 200 vehicles in their fleet (37%) and the next largest group being those that operate smaller fleets of up to 25 vehicles (26%).

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Fleet Management espite the fuel and cost saving benefits dedicated fleet management systems offer, over half of fleet executives (51%) still only use office-based and manual systems for their everyday fleet management tasks, such as job allocation, vehicle maintenance and driver management.

This is potentially due to a lack of understanding around fleet management technologies. Two out of every five fleet managers are still unclear on the value new fleet management technologies could offer their company, and almost a quarter of fleet managers are unclear on what suitable options exist.

Yet the benefits fleet management

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systems can provide for their companies are not unrecognised by all. When asked what would be their main investment to give their business a competitive advantage, 37% said upgrading fleet management technologies, while 50% expect their roles to include a greater reliance on these technologies in the next five years. However, cost (63%) the perceived complexity of integrating these new technologies (50%) and driver reluctance (43%) are potential barriers to their adoption that the industry needs to address.

Fleet managers are aware that their roles are expanding and becoming increasingly more complex. No longer is

the focus only on managing the company’s fleet of vehicles and their drivers. They expect to see cost control (66%), pressure to comply with environmental legislation (60%) and managing their drivers’ wellbeing playing a greater part in their role in the coming years.

evolve their fleet to suit changing urban environments, while also improving fuel efficiency, managing emissions and lowering total cost of ownership.

But before this can be achieved, there are some hurdles to overcome – over half of fleet managers feel that they are currently ill equipped to convert their fleet to electric vehicles, and only 7% felt that their company would be very well equipped to convert half of their fleet to electric vehicles within the next year.

Unsurprisingly, given the early stages of its development, the rise of autonomous vehicles appears to be less worrying, with just 10% of fleet professionals expecting it to affect the biggest change in the industry in the next five years.

The commercial road transport sector is likely to face a shake-up from many rapidly developing vehicle technologies (77%). Although their roles are evolving, the problems fleet managers would like these to solve remain consistent, with them looking to drive down costs, (53%)

and improve fuel efficiency (68%) and driver safety (50%).

As regulations around fuel emissions and efficiency tighten, fleet managers’ appetites for technologies that will help make their fleets greener are growing.

While government legislation (46%) is expected to greatly influence the future of the fleet industry, just under half cited it as an issue they would like innovative technologies to help them overcome.

City infrastructure (51%) and consumer demands (46%) are expected to shape how these changes is addressed. Achieving greater adoption of alternative fuels and new technologies will require collaborative action from vehicle manufacturers, fuel providers and infrastructure providers alike.

In preparation for the changes ahead, fleet managers plan to invest in new vehicles (27%) and technologies (26%), as well as participate in training to upskill their fleet management knowledge (24%).

As new technologies, evolving legislation and changing consumer demands shape the fleet industry, fleet managers’ roles are becoming more strategic and gradually evolving into ‘Mobility Managers’ making them responsible for handling all travel and transport arrangements.

Ensuring the sustainability of a new model of mobility will require effective planning to manage how fleets travel around cities, increased focus on maximising the efficiency of diesel fuelled heavy-duty vehicles, and wider adoption of alternative fuel vehicles.

“37% said upgrading fleet management technologies would be their main investment to give their fleet a competitive advantage.”

Future challenges he fleet industry, and the role of the fleet manager, are expected to undergo a fundamental shift, with three in four fleet managers anticipating significant changes within the next five years.

These will present a need to adapt to an increasing number of vehicles running on alternative fuels (76%) as engines and fuel technologies continue to advance. Currently, internal combustion engines dominate passenger car fleets, even in the most advanced vehicle markets. However, a rise is being seen in the number of hybrid and electric fleets and these are only expected to increase.

One in five of fleet managers are intending to incorporate more electric vehicles into their fleet in the next year, while 40% plan to incorporate them within the next five years. There are a variety of fuel and vehicle options for fleets, including hydrogen, electric, biofuels and natural gas. With a mosaic of fuel and vehicle options available, managers can look to

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Electric dreams A rise is being seen in the number of hybrid and electric fleets and these are only expected to increase.

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FEATURE Insignia Grand Tour

A bridge too far?

Seven countries, over 1,100km, one tank of diesel – Alex Grant put the new Insignia Grand Sport through a marathon road trip to see if it can lure drivers back out of the premium brands.

ooking back across Øresund straight from the coast of Malmo, I’m struggling to find the shutter release on my phone camera. The arc of concrete bridge connecting Sweden with Denmark is a view I’ve long wanted to take in, but with no windbreak between us and Copenhagen the cold Scandinavian breeze is numbing my fingers enough to make a digital version hard to capture. Possibly harder than the 15 hours of driving that had brought me, and Opel’s second-generation Insignia – all the way here.

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FEATURE Insignia Grand Tour

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Crossing the channel

Benelux beckons

The chime of OnStar’s dialtone and our request for a decent vantage point, made from a petrol forecourt near Folkestone, had seemed so much more distant than the previous morning. It’s easy to overlook, with the huge choice of brands, segments and technologies luring drivers elsewhere, just how good the core fleet nameplates have become in the meantime. Effortless longdistance cars, technology-rich and safer than ever, but also aiming for much higher benchmarks of quality, driveability and design. The new Insignia – the ‘Grand Sport’ in hatchback guise – can’t settle for being a rational choice these days; Opel wants you to want one.

Sat at the gateway to Continental Europe, with a brimmed fuel tank and a passport on hand, there’s no shortage of ways to familiarise yourself with a car like this. As reliability and efficiency have improved, the road network has developed to match. Feats of engineering, crossing borders and shrinking journey times, which could put the Insignia into its natural habitat.

Getting to Sweden without a refuelling stop seemed a suitably ambitious way to find out whether that pitch for drivers’ hearts as well as minds had meant compromising elsewhere.

Time would be against us; we had three days to acclimatise ourselves with the newcomer, and at least half of that would be the return journey. That’s long enough to drain a tank of fuel without going flat out, but short enough to mean hypermiling would be out of the question. It was also short enough to mean the Channel Tunnel – which even at 23 years since the first train crossed is still the longest under-sea tunnel in the world – would be the only feasible way to get to France. A mere half-hour under the English Channel, now with better mobile phone signal than many stretches of highway.

Emerging into Northern France, curiosity had uncovered a couple of the Insignia’s less obvious talents. All-LED headlights with settings for driving on the left or the right raised hopes of not squinting at a narrow beam of light on otherwise unlit German autobahns, and we’d switched to an analogue, metric speedometer before rolling off the train. By the time we’d joined the French motorway network, photographer Andy had signed onto the onboard WiFi and was making lag-free video calls home.

Going metric had alleviated some of the concerns we’d had back in Folkestone. The old Insignia was the longest-range nonhybrid in its class, with run-in diesel versions theoretically capable of taking us to Gothenburg, a few hundred kilometres further into Sweden than we’d be aiming for. Its replacement has a smaller fuel tank, and our car had barely had number plates for 24 hours when it arrived in France, which would put better-than-brochure fuel efficiency out of reach. But, with 61 litres of diesel and 1,100km to cover, simple maths dictated we only needed to average 6.0l/100km to get there – an easy target.

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Premium challenger Belgian traffic had other ideas. Minutes after our first coffee stop, the traffic ground to a halt just outside Antwerp. Amid the stony-faced commuters, two men in a white Nürburgring-edition Astra started craning necks from the outside lane as we crawled along, and it dawned on us that it was the first time we’ve been conscious of turning heads. That’s not to say it’s not a handsome car – though the Sport Tourer is probably the better-looking bodystyle – but perhaps because there’s something familiar about it, despite the radical change between generations.

It’s a reflection of the traditional Insignia’s shopping list. There’s no surprise to hear Opel aiming for the more athletic design of the premium brands, but the Grand Sport also aimed to package Skoda Superb-esque interior space, rather than benchmarking its nemesis, the Ford Mondeo. It’s longer, lower and wider, more coupe-like, enough to need new metal presses for the crisp edges of its bodywork, as well as pyrotechnics to lift the low bonnet and protect pedestrians. Opel has no illusions of it turning this segment around, but it’s hoping drivers take a second look. The trouble is, a hint of Audi is a mixed blessing, as there are plenty of them around.

Crossing onto the glass-like motorways of the Netherlands, I don’t think it matters. Sat lower in the car, wrapped in a dashboard that’s struck just the right balance between actual buttons and relocating features to the touchscreen, it’s clear how much effort has been put into bundling technology intuitively. Around 80% of UK cars will have sat nav, the rest will have a frameless touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built in – and digital maps are part of that software. Those maps are also a useful second opinion when the factory-fitted navigation misses a traffic jam ahead.

Tech savvy We’d run out of daylight by the time we arrived at the first service station inside Germany. Regardless of reduced weight and drag, an hour and a half of stopstart driving in Belgian gridlock had taken its toll on our projected range. The need to preserve our remaining fuel meant derestricted autobahns wouldn’t provide an opportunity to make up time – but we could at least tuck into some currywurst and a strong coffee to make the last few hours of driving easier.

Bremen was our target for the night, and we weren’t the only ones taking advantage of the quieter roads. On unlit stretches, the Insignia’s Matrix LED headlights, capable of dipping any number of their 32 individual sections, simultaneously uplit signs and gantries while creating dark spots to avoid blinding drivers of slow-moving lorries, opposing traffic and the occasional 250kph executive saloon overtaking us. Clever technology with a real safety benefit – and just as effective as systems offered on premium-brand models.

Though we’d been denied a chance for high-speed driving, OnStar at least meant we didn’t have to pull over to make hotel arrangements. Insignia drivers with OnStar on board can book parking and accommodation through the service button, and, because it’s a human being on the end of the line, it’s also incredibly specific. Our advisor found and booked us a budget hotel, with parking, close to an autobahn junction in Bremen so we could re-join the route easily the next day – a process only hamstrung by the need to either remember your credit card number, or have a passenger on hand to read it out. Otherwise you’ll need to pull over, which defeats the point.

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FEATURE Insignia Grand Tour

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Greener travel Germany offered up another 250km of uneventful driving on the second day. Fuel economy had taken a turn for the better on the autobahn, but we’d opted to take some time away from the wheel for the crossing into Denmark – an 18.5km ferry from a small terminal in Puttgarden, lined up alongside Danish and Swedish cars weighed down by large quantities of low-tax German alcohol.

For all the demonisation of diesel engines over the last 18 months, ferry operator Scandilines is showing there’s still some potential. The eventual aim for its fleet is to go fully electric, and that’s already underway with hybridisation beginning back in 2013.

Swapping one of the two diesel engines for a 50-tonne battery pack and using the other as a generator is said to cut CO2 emissions by 15%, while 90% of sulphur and particulate emissions are ‘scrubbed’ from the exhaust fumes using water vapour, and stored in an on-board sludge tank to be processed later. Eerily silent and vibration-free, it’s a reminder that cars aren’t the only polluters coming under scrutiny lately.

The Insignia has no form of electrification, but it’s a sign of changing times. The 2.0-litre diesels use AdBlue to break harmful NOx into water vapour and nitrogen – a genuinely effective route to cleaner diesel engines, despite the bad press – and Opel is one of the first manufacturers to release fuel economy data based on the new test regime. Good news in that it gives a better reflection of what you can expect on the road, but the apparent generation-to-generation hike in CO2 emissions might take some explaining. Or at least it will for those who still want it – even in this diesel-weighted part of the market, some fleets are already asking about the petrol versions.

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Insignia Grand Sport

HIGHLIGHTS Efficiency – all of the engines are optimised for ‘realworld’ usage, said to be between 3% and 10% more efficient than their predecessors.

The home straight Signs for Sweden started appearing as we crossed Denmark’s elegantly simple bridges on the run to Copenhagen, a reminder that we were a long way from home. Several hundred kilometres is enough to appreciate ache-free seating positions, to get used to that familiar firm German ride quality, and to learn to avoid the bit of the rev range just under 2,000rpm where the exhaust booms slightly while cruising. But it’s also long enough for your hand not to be able to reach for the gearstick without also noticing the not-quite-smooth edge of the plastic around its chrome trim. Frustrating, as it’s otherwise hard to fault.

The Øresund straight was our final crossing – and easily the most dramatic. A fourkilometre tunnel, rising out of a man-made island onto an eight-kilometre road and rail bridge into Malmo – the duo designed around the complications of being close to Copenhagen airport traffic and crossing a busy shipping route. It had also taken the Insignia into its seventh country, and onto its first fuel stop since leaving the UK. At 4.8l/100km, there was enough fuel in the tank to take us on towards Gothenburg, had it not been for the need to get the car back to Luton the following day.

So, with a brimmed tank and some now-familiar large-scale engineering feats ahead of us, OnStar chimed into life once again and the navigation plotted a route back to Vauxhall HQ. There are, of course, many reasons to look outside the traditional large family car segment these days. But, with the new Insignia Grand Sport, the squeezed middle-ground has never put up a better fight.

Comfort – quiet engines and low wind noise, with supportive seating, makes long-distance driving less tiring.

Interior space – benchmarking the Skoda Superb, the longer wheelbase adds significantly more rear legroom, despite the coupe-esque profile.

OnStar – Opel’s live assistance system now features a concierge service, for booking parking and hotel rooms.

IntelliLux headlights – 32 LED segments, each of which can dip independently to avoid dazzling other road-users.

FINISH

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FLEET FOCUS Denmark

Fresh retail approaches drive Danish growth Autorola Denmark country manager Thomas Friis Pedersen details the health of the Danish new and used car markets, and examines the impact of the growth of personal leasing on the overall market.

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“The Danish economy continues to grow and businesses are using leasing as a cost effective way of buying a new light commercial to help fuel their expansion.”

Thomas Friis Pedersen, Autorola, country manager

he Danish new car market continues to go from strength to strength with 2016 reaching an all-time high of 259,555 units (222,927 new car and 36,628 light commercials). This represented an 8.8% increase over 2015.

Volkswagen, Peugeot and Opel consistently dominate the manufacturer league tables with typically their A and B segment cars. However, a reduction in the registration duty on new cars from late 2015 from 180% to 150% is gradually seeing a growth in larger cars which historically have been prohibitive to buy.

“Danish consumers don’t want to own their cars or homes any longer. They want to free up their money and are taking advantage of these new tax changes by spending more disposable income on bigger cars,” says Pedersen.

Like so many European countries the leasing market is helping contribute to much of this growth, with leasing volumes growing from 38% in 2015 to 43% at the end of 2016.

There have been two major growth areas, a major growth in van leasing and the increase in personal leasing, both areas where Autorola is the market leader of inspection and online remarketing services.

“The Danish economy continues to grow and businesses are using leasing as a cost effective way of buying a new light commercial to help fuel their expansion. Van sales have grown by around 25% since 2014 as a result,” says the country manager. “Manufacturers are also making personal leasing very attractive not just with low interest rates, low deposits and low monthly rentals, but the flexibility of leases are such that a consumer can walk away from a lease after just a year by giving just one month’s notice. Consumers are turning these agreements into short term flexi leases which the Danish market hasn’t seen before.

“This trend is fuelling the growth in 12-18 month old used cars coming from the lease sector, which is traditionally the replacement cycle adopted by rental companies,” he adds.

T

SHORT-TERM OWNERSHIP Rather than risk flooding the market full of nearly new used cars both sectors have reacted very positively to the situation by creating new retail brands where consumers can buy a subscription to a nearly new car and then hand it back after a minimum of three months.

Leasing and rental companies are generating three to four more paid subscriptions before they are selling the cars into the used market when the car is still only 30-36 months old.

“We have had to revise our business model by providing inspection and refurbishment services to the same car a number of different times before it is eventually sold on our online remarketing portal,” says Pedersen. “This more flexible approach to car ownership has been greeted positively by the consumer and generally used cars prices continue to stay strong in the market.”

Used car prices have also been helped by the reduction in registration tax from 180% to 150% as this tax is incurred on used as well as new cars. This has meant a greater demand for Danish cars for export, where previously buyers were put off by the high prices.

TROUBLES WITH TAX One major challenge for motor dealer groups in the coming months is the change in tax regulations. Normally Danish used car dealers can buy used cars including tax and VAT, but now the majority of returned vehicles from the leasing industry are without tax and VAT. So if the Danish used car market does not learn to manage the new Danish tax regulations, then there will be almost no cars available for them to buy in the market and Danish leasing companies will be forced to export them.

There are more advantages associated with the Danish car dealers being able to buy cars without tax and VAT. There is a lower purchasing price for the car because the

internationalfleetworld.com / 31

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FLEET FOCUS_Denmark_May17_Layout 1 24/04/2017 12:53 Page 3

FLEET FOCUS Denmark

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tax and VAT is only paid when the car is sold and registered by the Danish authorities.

The used car dealer will have lower financial inventory levels as well as enabling them to have more cars in stock for the same financial impact. This will give dealer groups who can manage this new legislation situation a major advantage in the used market.

The biggest export markets for Danish cars are Germany, Austria, Holland and France that typically buy three to four year old cars, while Polish buyers generally purchase the older stock which can then end up in any one of the many eastern European markets.

MOVING VEHICLES A growing number of personal leasing drivers are returning their end of lease vehicles back to one of Autorola’s eight storage centres across Denmark which also process tens of thousands of end of contract lease vehicles each year.

“Generally the Danish driver enjoys being part of the dehire experience. We have worked hard in our vehicle inspection and check in processes to ensure we use language that a consumer will understand,” says Pedersen.

“When we take them through their end of contract inspection we have to justify their de hire costs before they will sign their paperwork.

“Our inspection system automatically generates costed damage repair estimates identical to those used by the insurance industry. When we explain in detail on how a repair

works including the cost of labour and materials generally the consumer accepts the dehire costs,” he adds.

Autorola’s Danish team regularly reviews the best remarketing strategy for its lease vendors and in recent years the most profitable approach is to sell the used vehicle online complete with damage, rather than having it repaired prior to sale. “We ensure all damage is estimated and accompanied by detailed images. Danish buyers are highly confident of buying online so offer a lower price for the vehicle that takes into account the damage. This approach speeds up the sale for the vendor,” reveals Pedersen.

“We have worked hard in our vehicle inspection and check in processes to ensure we use language that a consumer will understand.”

Thomas Friis Pedersen, Autorola, country manager

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FLEET FOCUS_Denmark_May17_Layout 1 24/04/2017 12:54 Page 4

Danish economics vailable data for the first quarter of 2017 suggest that Denmark’s economy is gaining traction on the back of better household sentiment after sluggish growth in 2016. Consumer confidence hit a fresh multi-month high in March thanks to an improvement in households’ perspectives for the economy in the next 12 months. Recently released data for Q4 2016 showed a robust acceleration in private consumption, supported by rising real estate prices and the associated wealth effects for households. Meanwhile, the external sector picked up in Q4: exports increased robustly thanks to higher crude prices boosting North Sea oil shipments. Even though strong import growth weighed on the overall result, higher imports also confirmed the upbeat sentiment among consumers.

The economy is expected to accelerate moderately this year, mainly thanks to an improved performance in the external sector, along with increasing global trade. However, potential protectionist policies from several of Denmark’s trade partners form a downside risk. Panelists expect GDP to expand 1.5% in 2017, which is unchanged from last month’s estimate. In 2018, growth is predicted to be 1.7%.

Consumer prices rose 0.1% in March compared to the prior month, down from February’s 0.8% increase. According to Statistics Denmark (DST), the result was driven by lower

A

prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages, which were offset by higher prices for clothing and footwear.

Inflation came in at 1.0% in March, mirroring February’s figure and marking the highest rate since January 2014. The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) climbed 0.9% in March from the same month of the previous year. (February: +0.9 year-on-year).

FocusEconomics Consensus Forecast panelists expect inflation to average 1.3% in 2017, which is up 0.1 percentage points from last month’s estimate. For 2018, panelists expect inflation to average 1.6%.

Danish consumers were more upbeat in March as their outlook on the economy improved markedly. The consumer confidence index came in at 6.2 points, the best result in 19 months (February: 4.8 points), as Statistics Denmark (DST) reported.

March’s survey reflected that consumers saw the general situation of the economy and their household’s financial situation improving markedly in the next 12 months. Moreover, consumers expect the unemployment rate to decrease in the coming year.

FocusEconomics Consensus Forecast panelists expect private consumption to expand 1.5% in 2017, which is from unchanged last month’s forecast. For 2018, panelists expect consumption to expand 1.9%.

Source: FocusEconomics

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PROFILE_Kia_IFW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 11:24 Page 1

PROFILE Kia Motors

LEAD STINGER Following on from a successful 2016, Kia's broadened portfolio, which will soon include forthcoming Stinger, should help the brand to capture the attention of more fleet buyers than ever before…

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PROFILE_Kia_IFW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 11:24 Page 2

view

Manufacturer Kia Motors Total sales 2016 3,007,976 Headquarters Seoul, South Korea Global market share 3.2% No. of models 17

from the top

More variants and hybrids boost sales... ia Motors Corporation achieved annual sales of 3,007,976 units in 2016 for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and recreational vehicles (RVs) combined, representing a 3.2% year-on-year uplift. Kia’s bestselling model in overseas markets during 2016 was the Sportage compact SUV, with 515,067 units sold.

The B-segment Rio (known as ‘K2’ in China) was the second best seller with 445,404 units, while the C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Forte’ or ‘K3’ in some markets), Optima D-segment sedan and Soul urban crossover followed with 400,010, 238,281 and 195,802 units sold, respectively.

Kia Motors America (KMA) achieved a sales uplift of 3.5% in 2016, with Soul, Optima, Sorento and Forte models each surpassed 100,000 units sold. Compact SUV Soul was Kia’s best-selling model in the US in 2016.

Mexico also represented a strong growth market, capturing a 3% domestic share and achieving 18,280 unit sales from January-May 2016. Kia opened a new production facility in Nuevo Leon in late 2015 with the capability of producing up to 300,000 vehicles a year – 20% of which are targeted for the local market by 2020. Kia Motors Mexico opened 22 new dealer outlets in 2016, bringing the total dealer count to 70 and giving the brand a sales presence that covers 94% of the national territory.

Sales were also strong in Europe, where the brand recorded its best-ever fullyear sales in 2016 of 435,316 units, representing year-on-year growth of 13.1%.

Kia has now recorded rising sales every year in Europe since 2008. Sustained growth has been boosted over the last 12 months by the expansion of Kia’s European vehicle line-up with the new Sportage compact crossover, Niro hybrid crossover, and new Optima derivatives broadening appeal.

Following the introduction of new Sportage at the end of Q1 2016, Kia’s best-selling model in Europe enjoyed a record year of sales across the region. 138,734 Sportage models were sold in 2016, including 115,396 units of the new model, representing a +32% year-on-year increase– up from 105,317 in 2015.

New Sportswagon, Plug-in hybrid and high-performance GT derivatives of Kia Optima went on sale midway through 2016, resulting in strong D-segment sales in Europe. Optima sales totalled 9,628 units, up +288% over 2015, with Sportswagon and Plug-in hybrid models respectively accounting for 3,569 and 736 sales. Almost 10,000 Niro models were sold during the second half of 2016 in Europe. Kia Motors Slovakia manufactured a record 612,900 engines and 339,500 passenger vehicles in 2016, and Slovakian-built Kia models now account for 56% of Kia’s European sales.

The UK is Kia’s largest European market, and sales for Kia Motors (UK) totalled 89,363 units in 2016, representing a 14% uplift. Sportage, Picanto, cee’d, Rio and Venga were the best-selling models in the UK market, and private customers accounted for 49% of sales. Kia Niro and Optima Sportswagon both contributed positively to market sales, with Sportswagon helping Optima sales to double.

K

KIA MOTORS Global sales*, by territory Territory N. America W. Europe China South Korea Total

2015

2016

693,600 385,500 635,120 527,610 2,914,700

719,268 436,006 663,070 535,000 3,007,976

*Total sales of passenger cars, RVs & commercial vehicles

% Mkt share +3.7% +13.1% +4.4% +1.4% +3.2%

Michael Cole, chief operating officer of Kia Motors Europe, on the importance of Optima Sportswagon and success of Niro.

How important is the fleet market to Kia in Europe?

We ended 2016 with 56% private sales, 44% fleet, and this year, due to the dynamics of the market, we’re even stronger, coming in at around 60% retail. Our product line-up is now very well suited to a stronger fleet opportunity with Optima Sportswagon, and we’re introducing our new plug-in hybrid models which could fit really well for user-choosers. So we definitely see our proportion of fleet growing.

Has the expansion of the D-segment helped with fleet penetration?

Absolutely – it’s difficult to get onto user chooser lists if you don’t have a strong D-segment offering. Now we have Optima Sportswagon, and while it has a good opportunity in it’s own right, it also means we can go to companies with a full portfolio and show we can compete in all the main segments. It is still early but we are already seeing that we are able to approach companies that we didn’t qualify for before now we have Optima Sportswagon in the range.

How has Niro been received so far?

Incredibly well, perhaps even exceeding our expectations. There are certain markets where we knew it would do well, like the Scandinavian markets, but we are also seeing strong success in pretty much every market – we are upping volume as much as we can to meet global demand, and it will be one of the models that will contribute to our increasing sales this year. It’s interesting to see that in some markets it is selling well because it’s a hybrid, and in others it’s selling well because it’s a crossover that just happens to have very good fuel efficiency.

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PROFILE_Kia_IFW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 11:25 Page 3

PROFILE Kia Motors KIA fleet model range

→

Plug-in hybrid range expands... iro (left) and Optima Sportswagon Plugin Hybrids are scheduled to go on sale in Europe this summer. Niro features a 1.6litre petrol engine paired to a 8.9kWh battery pack, offering sub-30g/km CO2 emissions and a range of more than 55km when driven in pure electric mode. Kia claims the addition of a plug-in hybrid powertrain has had “minimal impact” on the car’s packaging – installing the battery pack under the boot floor and rear seats has left the cabin unchanged.

Optima Sportswagon Plug-In Hybrid will also join the saloon version already on sale. Due to arrive in showrooms in Q3 2017, this larger plug-in model offers a combined 205PS, claimed to deliver a pure electric range of more than 60km and 34g/km CO2 emissions.

Elsewhere at Geneva, Kia gave European debuts to the updated Picanto city car, now offered as a five-door hatchback only. Updated Picanto will bring new in-car technologies and connectivity features as well as updated engines, including a 1.0-litre unit that offers CO2 emissions of 89g/km in the four-seat model.

At the top of the engine range sits a new 100hp 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol direct injection (T-GDI) power unit – marking the first time this Picanto has offered a turbocharged petrol engine as well as being the most powerful engine ever offered in the model.

New Picanto features more cabin and cargo space despite retaining its 3,595mm length, thanks to a longer wheelbase and shorter front overhang. Boot space grows from 200 litres to a class-leading 255 litres. New Picanto is available from the start of Q2 2017.

Kia’s performance four-door sports car, Stinger, will also launch at the end of this year. The range will include a 200bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine similar to the unit used in the Sorento SUV, paired with the brand’s eight-speed automatic gearbox. The diesel version will be rear-wheel drive, putting Kia in contention with driver-focused offerings from the premium brands. The rear-wheel drive saloon is the highest-performance production vehicle in the company’s history.

Kia has also unveiled two new models that are designed, engineered and built exclusively for Chinese buyers. New Pegas compact saloon is aimed at young buyers and brings a 2,570mm wheelbase along with boot capacity of up to 475 litres to enhance practicality. New K2 Cross, meanwhile, updates the K2 hatchback (badged as the Rio in other markets) offers SUV elements including an extra 45mm ground clearance, roof rails and body cladding.

N

Where are they made?

Picanto / Morning Variants: 3/5dr hatchback Markets: Europe, Asia, South America, Oceania Fuel: 4.2-5.4l/100km CO2: 97-124g/km

cee’d Variants: : 3/5dr hatchback, wagon Markets: Europe Fuel: 3.6-7.4l/100km CO2: 94-171g/km

Manufacturing plant locations 1 Sohari Plant, Gwangmyeong,

Gyeonggi Province, S. Korea – Kia Carnival/Sedona, Kia Rio/Pride.

2 Hwaseong Plant, Gyeonggi

Province, S. Korea – Kia K5/Optima, Kia K7/Cadenza, Kia Sorento, Kia Mojave/ Borrego.

3 Gwangju Plant, Gyeonggi

Province, S. Korea – Kia Soul, Kia Carens/Rondo, Kia Sportage.

8 6

4 Seosan Plant, South

Chungcheong Province, S. Korea – Kia Picanto/Morning, Kia Ray.

7

5 Yangcheng Plant, Jiangsu

Province, China – Kia Soul, Kia Sportage, Kia Optima, Kia Rio. 6 Georgia Plant (KMMG), West

Point, Georgia, USA – Kia Sorento, Kia Optima.

7 Kia Motors Mexico Plant,

Nuevo Leon, Mexico – Kia Forte, Kia Rio.

4

8 Zilina Plant, Teplicka nad

Vahom, Slovakia – Kia cee’d, Kia cee’d Sportswagon, Kia pro_cee’d, Kia Sportage.

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5

1 2 3

PROFILE_Kia_IFW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 11:25 Page 4

Ray

Rio / Pride

Venga

Variants: 5dr hatchback Markets: Asia Fuel: 0.0-5.6l/100km* CO2: 0-131g/km*

Variants: 3/5dr hatchback, 4dr sedan Markets: Global Fuel: 3.5-6.1l/100km CO2: 92-140g/km

Variants: 5dr hatchback Markets: Europe Fuel: 4.5-6.5 l/100km CO2: 120-150g/km

Niro

Soul

Sportage

Variants: : Crossover Markets: Europe, Asia, North America, Oceania Fuel: 3.8-4.4l/100km CO2: 88-101g/km

Variants: Crossover Markets: Global Fuel: 0.0-8.0l/100km CO2: 0-188g/km

Variants: Crossover Markets: Global Fuel: 4.6-8.5l/100km CO2: 119-199g/km

Carens / Rondo

K3 / Cerato / Forte

K5 / Optima

Variants: MPV Markets: Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania Fuel: 4.5-7.9l/100km CO2: 118-184g/km

Variants: 5dr hatchback, 4dr sedan, Coupe Markets: Global Fuel: 6.6-7.4l/100km CO2: 155-184g/km

Variants: 4dr sedan, wagon Markets: Global Fuel: 1.6-8.5l/100km CO2: 37-199g/km

Stinger

Sorento

K7 / Cadenza

Variants: 4dr sedan Markets: Global Fuel: TBA CO2: TBA

Variants: SUV Markets: Global Fuel: 5.7-9.9l/100km CO2: 149-230g/km

Variants: 4dr sedan Markets: Asia, North America, South America Fuel: 9.0-10.0l/100km* CO2: 209-232/km*

K9 / K900 / Quoris

Mohave / Borrego

Sedona / Carnival

Variants: 4dr sedan Markets: Europe, Asia, N. America, S. America Fuel: 10.7-12.9l/100km CO2: 248-299g/km

Variants: SUV Markets: Europe, Asia, South America Fuel: 9.3-11.6l/100km CO2: 245-269g/km

Variants: MPV Markets: Asia, N. America, S. America, Oceania Fuel: 7.7-11.6l/100km CO2: 199-271g/km

*Figures in brackets are calculated from non-NEDC combined cycle tests.

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ROAD_IFW_Lexus_IS_300h_May17_Layout 1 24/04/2017 14:14 Page 1

Lexus IS 300h It’s still unusual in its segment, but the IS hybrid makes a lot of sense, says Alex Grant.

SECTOR Compact Executive PRICE €38,000-€53,000 FUEL 4.2-4.6l/100km CO2 97-107g/km

The hybrid system is pretty much unchanged, having been n the 20 years since Toyota pulled the covers off the origupdated for Euro 6 emissions requirements a couple of years inal Prius, it’s shown itself to be a manufacturer with a ago. It combines a 2.5-litre, 180hp petrol engine with a taste for doing things a little differently. Particularly with 143hp electric motor, plus a second motor-generator which Lexus; a premium brand with no diesel engines, and decidstarts the engine and converts otherwise wasted energy to edly non-conservative styling, competing in segments where an electrical charge, stored in a battery under the boot floor. both are the norm.

There’s a generous-sounding 223hp on offer when needed, The CT really began to broaden Lexus’s corporate appeal, and fully-electric driving for short distances depending on but the IS was a big part of defining what’s now a range-wide battery charge and the power required. identity. It made hybrid technology competitive in this It’s a mixed blessing; the IS 300h doessegment, both in terms of price and n’t deliver the sort of straight-line perforperformance, and with its split headlights mance that 220hp implies, the engine and slashed bodylines it looked as differwhirring reluctantly into life while accelent as the technology underneath. Given erating, and offering little of the punchy everything that’s happened with diesel torque delivery of a diesel engine. For all since, in some ways it was ahead of its the reassuring poise that the chassis time at launch, and we’re only now due delivers, it’s not an exciting drive. to see that potential grow.

However, as a long-distance car, it’s Those aren’t qualities Lexus has blissfully laid back. The hybrid system is backed away from here; there’s no diesel incredibly quiet most of the time, withengine to appease the hybrid doubters, out the rumble and vibration of diesel and no let-up in the styling with the latepower and slipping imperceptibly life update. Quite the opposite; the new between petrol and electric power. It front bumper and reprofiled grille doesn’t suit the sporty-looking IS as well emphasise the IS’s sharp edges, and the as it does the GS, but drivers who can headlights are an even more complicated In a segment with heavy avoid over-working the petrol engine shape than they were before. user-chooser volume, should see decent fuel economy.

Ongoing benchmarking of the competiIS scores with styling, So the IS is still bucking trends in the tion has pushed Lexus to alter the high levels of standard compact executive segment; a convenbodyshell, using different bonding methods equipment and taxtional hybrid up against diesel engines to make it stiffer and more precise on the and a growing number of plug-ins. But, in road. The suspension setup is stiffer and efficiency. But incentives its latest guise, perhaps its biggest talent lighter too, particularly at the front end, and for plug-in hybrids could is offering as close to that familiar diesel the steering is derived from the system in lure drivers elsewhere. ownership experience, and being utterly the GS – the aim is to offer a sharper, more unchallenging with it. rewarding drive and more feedback.

I

what we think

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ROAD_IFW_LR_Discovery_May17 24/04/2017 13:05 Page 1

Land Rover Discovery Alex Grant finds out if small engines and fashionable styling blunt the Discovery’s rugged usability.

SECTOR Large SUV PRICE €50,000-€75,000 FUEL 6.2-10.9-l/100km CO2 163-254g/km

ith its mix of luxury, interior versatility and pulling power on and off road, the outgoing Discovery might not have been a mainstream fleet car, but it had a diverse customer base spanning everything from highway patrols to executive driveways. So while Land Rover has softened a few edges, shed a few kilos and introduced smaller engines, the first all-new version since 2004 still has big shoes to fill.

Filling things is a specialty; because beneath the crossoveresque styling, the Discovery now occupies as much space on the road as a Range Rover. It’s sheer mass it disguises very well, only looking tall and square when you’re following it in traffic, though even then you’ll only notice if you can keep your eyes away from the offset number plate. And the Range Rover similarities don’t stop there.

That size increase is offset by moving away from a ladderframe chassis and making widespread use of aluminium, which means a V6 diesel version is now 300kg lighter than its equivalent predecessor. This has also allowed Land Rover to downsize the entry-level engine, which is now a consumption, all of which add appeal for lifestyle-focused 240hp version of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder from the company car drivers.

Discovery Sport. This is less powerful than the old TDV6, But the weight loss also makes more of the TDV6, expected but in a 400kg lighter car, resulting in more to remain the big-seller at launch, which only power per tonne. Four and six-cylinder has a small power advantage over the fourFLEET FACT engines can still tow up to 3.5 tonnes. cylinder but offers a wider spread of pulling Whichever version you opt for, the weight power and less diesel rumble under load. loss makes a huge difference. The Discovery Softer styling doesn’t equate to a soft-roader.

Entry level car has lost the feeling of rolling momentum its All versions get an eight-speed automatic gearis 400kg lighter predecessor showed while slowing or cornerbox, four-wheel drive and high and low-ratio than the model ing, and the small diesel engine doesn’t feel gears for off-roading. Wading depth has it is replacing. underpowered in what is a very large SUV. increased to 900mm – any deeper and it would Unsurprisingly, Land Rover expects the fourfloat – and the extremities are no more vulnercylinder to be the game-changer in fleet, helped by a able over rocks than the old car. Not that you need to be expereduced entry price and more tax-efficient 171g/km CO2 rienced off-road to get the most out of it – the Discovery can emissions, as well as 5.6l/100km motorway fuel maintain a pre-set speed and crawl over rough or slippery surfaces with no need to touch pedals, and alter drive modes automatically based on weather conditions, axle articulation and grip levels. All-terrain performance that belies an option list which includes 22-inch alloy wheels.

Versatility goes beyond the driving experience. Seven-seat versions feature three rows banked like a theatre so everyone can get a clear view out of the windscreen. Five of the seats fold flat, and there are cubby holes and USB ports throughout, however, there’s not a huge amount of elbow room in the third row and Land Rover has abandoned the split tailgate in favour of a picnic bench. Load height and capacity has reduced slightly behind the second row, but it’s got all the space and practicality most drivers could need.

It won’t satisfy every Discovery customer though. There won’t be a Commercial version from launch, and, with no Defender to direct those customers towards, Land Rover has a distinct hole in its fleet line-up which needs filling sooner rather than later to avoid dropping off the radar. But, otherwise, the Discovery’s appeal is broader than ever.

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ROAD_IFW_LR_Discovery_May17 24/04/2017 13:06 Page 2

what we think Land Rover has moved closer to the lifestyle market with the new Discovery, with fuel economy and on-board features tailored to onroad life. But it’s still a workhorse when needed; spacious inside, great off road and plenty of pulling power.

highlights New 180hp (selected markets) and 240hp four-cylinder diesel engines Five or seven seats, with all three rows designed to carry adults Four-wheel drive and automatic transmissions across the range

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ROAD_IFW_AlfaRomeo_Giulia_May17.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2017 13:03 Page 1

Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.2d Can the Giulia lure drivers out of the established compact executive set? Alex Grant finds out.

SECTOR Compact Executive PRICE €35,000-€50,000 FUEL 4.2l/100km CO2 109g/km

150hp and 180hp are aimed right at the core of the ith its sights set on re-establishing itself as a manusegment. Both will be available with a six-speed manual or facturer of excellent driver’s cars, Alfa Romeo has eight-speed automatic transmission, and all versions taken the unusual step of introducing the Giulia – consume 4.2l/100km with 109g/km CO2 emissions. The arguably its most important newcomer in almost a decade – more powerful of the two feels competitive, too, offering a by focusing on the high-performance Quadrifoglio Verdi. But, wide spread of pulling power across the middle of the rev behind the gloss of its 510hp range-topping super-sedan, it’s range and relatively low noise while cruising. Low weight the diesel versions which have the bigger job to do. and a direct steering all add up to an engaging driver’s car, The Giulia, and platform-shared Stelvio SUV launching without the need for overly stiff suspension. shortly afterwards, mark the start of a new era. Accepting Despite the striking styling, interior that its success on track was never space hasn’t been overly compromised. matched in showrooms, and that many There’s plenty of space front and rear, and of its recent models have lacked that the dashboard controls are logically laid vital DNA which kept Alfa enthusiasts out and angled towards the driver. This is ‘Alfisti’ – engaged for decades, there are a car that works best with bold paint and eight new models due before the end of leather colours, and those seduced by the the decade. A range which will fill styling and the way it drives are unlikely segments from the Giulietta’s replaceto be put off by the minor frustrations ment through to full-size executive inside. Some of the switchgear feels a bit sedans and sports cars, each too much like Fiat parts, and the infotainlightweight, perfectly balanced, highment system isn’t as easy to use as some tech and awash with Italian design flair. of its rivals. There’s also no wagon from This name has heritage, last used on launch, though product plans suggest this a compact sports sedan in the 1970s, is on the way. and Alfa Romeo claims much of that Ultimately, this is a car that will benefit car’s identity has made its way into the The Giulia looks and and suffer from its predecessors. Alfa is a new one. Diesel versions are the lightdrives like a proper Alfa brand with plenty of equity, but also the est cars in their class, by up to 150kg, Romeo sports sedan, baggage of unreliable old products to get and that weight is distributed almost even with the diesel fleets to see past if it wants to make a evenly across front and rear axles engine. There’s plenty success of its renewed model range. featuring a sophisticated multi-link Jaguar, which had similar hurdles to get suspension design. Foundations for of opportunity to over, has shown with the XE that it’s sure-footed handling, swift acceleration capitalise on drivers possible. All the Giulia has to do is and low fuel consumption. who want a change. convert interest in the Quadrifoglio into Fleets will get a choice of two 2.2-litre volume for the rest of the range. diesel engines from launch, which with

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what we think

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