NORTON WAY MAY.2017 ISSUE.31
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NORTON WAY CORPORATE • ISSUE 31 • MAY 2017
CR-V HYBRID
HONDA CR-V HYBRID BOWS IN SHANGHAI READ MORE HERE
Equipped with the Honda Sport Hybrid i-MMD twomotor hybrid system, the CR-V Hybrid is claimed to offer both dynamic driving performance and excellent environmental performance at the same time. The CR-V Hybrid also comes loaded with a full complement of features including the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driverassistive technologies. The CR-V Hybrid will utilize the Honda’s "Sport Hybrid" two-motor hybrid system, the same system found in the current Accord Hybrid, meaning its innards will be familiar.
The Accord Hybrid manages 212 horsepower from its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and electric motor and even sports some behavioural parallels with the Koenigsegg Regera hypercar. Notably, the engine can directly provide power to the wheels while recharging the battery. That's not to say an Accord Hybrid is on par with a Koenigsegg. The new CR-V should be released in the UK mid-2017. Entry level CR-Vs are expected to be priced from around £24,000. While the hybrid variant is expected to be released later in this model’s lifetime, possibly early 2018, costing in the area of £30,000.
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NORTON WAY CORPORATE • ISSUE 31 • MAY 2017
Nurburgring lap record!
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Type
2017 Honda Civic Type R sets new lap record at Nurburgring
Following its loud and proud debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the all-new Honda Civic Type R is making yet more headlines – this time by setting a new frontwheel-drive lap record at the world-famous Nürburgring circuit. The time: 7m43.80secs – almost seven seconds faster than its predecessor and 4secs faster than the VW Golf GTI Clubsport S! The new Civic Type R is part of the brand-new tenth-generation Civic’s development programme – the largest in Honda’s history – and was engineered to deliver the most rewarding drive in the hot hatch segment, both off and on the track. Several factors contributed to the Type R’s record-breaking success at the Nordschleife: the optimised and refined 2.0-litre VTEC TURBO engine, producing 320 PS and 400 Nm of torque; new lower gear ratios in the six-speed manual transmission, which further improve the car’s acceleration; and a new aerodynamic package that delivers high-speed stability and a best-inclass balance between lift and drag. The lead chassis engineer for the Honda Civic Type R, Ryuichi Kijima, details the car’s improvements in greater detail: “The cornering speed achieved in the new Type R is higher because the car features a wider track and tyres, a longer wheelbase, new multi-link suspension in
the rear and optimised aerodynamics that improve stability,” he said. “For example, drivers typically enter the corner after Metzgesfeld at around 150 km/h. Even at this medium-speed corner, the Type R’s speed is around 10 km/h higher due to its excellent stability. So, with improved cornering performance, we can increase the speed throughout the lap, helping the new Type R to achieve a much quicker lap time.” Production of the new Civic Type R will begin this summer at Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) in Swindon – the global manufacturing hub for the tenth-generation Civic hatchback.
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NORTON WAY CORPORATE • ISSUE 31 • MAY 2017
2 WINS AT EXPERT EYE AWARDS
Head of Fleet Operations said, “at Mazda we’ve always had a focus on being easy to do business with and so providing an excellent customer experience is a key focus for Mazda UK and our dealers. I am therefore delighted that our dealer network has been acknowledged by fleet customers as providing the best ordering and delivery experience in the industry.” With a stylish and great to drive model lineup, Mazda is set to drive towards further fleet success. The Mazda6 remains Mazda’s fleet favourite, but the brand is reporting strong interest among user-chooser company car drivers for both the Mazda CX-3 and the 2017 Mazda3, which benefits from the 105ps 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-D model with CO2 emissions of just 99g/km. With the launch of the all-new Mazda CX-5 in June, 2017 promises to be another important year for Mazda UK. Mazda’s latest SUV will be on display at the influential Fleet World Fleet Show 2017 on the 10th May, where key fleet industry figures will also be able to test the 2017 Mazda3, Mazda6, Mazda CX-3 and experience the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF.
MAZDA NAMED BEST FLEET DEALER NETWORK (SALES)
Mazda has been named Best Fleet Dealer Network (sales) in the 2017 ExpertEye Awards. Recognised as the manufacturer providing the best service to fleet drivers in the ordering and delivery of vehicles, ExpertEye’s Chairman and founder, Rick Yarrow said, “to win an ExpertEye award you need to be meeting the needs of the fleet sector and company drivers better than anyone else.” The manufacturer categories are based solely on feedback from 60,000 drivers surveyed in ExpertEye’s Touchpoint survey, which contacts drivers after key moments such as vehicle delivery or servicing. Commenting on Mazda’s win in the sales category Steve Tomlinson, Mazda UK’s
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NORTON WAY CORPORATE • ISSUE 31 • MAY 2017
Norton Way Group Named Best Fleet Dealer Group (Sales)
Company car drivers have voted Norton Way Group as the best fleet dealer group for new vehicle sales in 2017.
To receive an award guided by fleet driver feedback is a fantastic result for our dedicated Corporate Team and is testament to the increased investment in people and processes made by Norton Way over the last year.
It is the first time Norton Way has topped the category in the Experteye awards for providing the best service to fleet drivers in the ordering and delivery of vehicles, reflecting the efforts made in meeting the needs of the fleet sector. The data was drawn from Touchpoint, Experteye’s driver satisfaction survey which requests driver feedback after key events such as vehicle delivery, servicing, tyre replacement, windscreen and glass repair & replacement, vehicle breakdown, use of pool vehicles and when a driver suffers an accident. The driver data is not only important to motor manufacturers and dealerships, it also acts as an important tool for contract hire and fleet management providers to measure and manage their service levels, and that of their supplier network. The Experteye awards cover 8 different fleet and automotive award categories in total. Norton Way Group won its accolade based on feedback drawn from over 60,000 drivers of leased vehicles during 2016, making this a truly objective reflection of driver attitude. “Congratulations to Norton Way Group for winning this award, which is a huge achievement,” said Experteye’s chairman and founder, Rick Yarrow. “This category is based purely on direct driver feedback taken immediately after delivery of their new vehicle, making it a very tough one to win. “Company car drivers are the ultimate, and often harshest, judges and this award is based
Richard Siney, Operations Director
on their feedback when the service experience is fresh in their minds, which is why Norton Way are deserved winners of the best fleet dealer group for new vehicle sales for 2017.” Richard Siney, Operations Director, Norton Way, said “To receive an award guided by fleet driver feedback is a fantastic result for our dedicated Corporate Team and is testament to the increased investment in people and processes made by Norton Way over the last year. “This recognition is hugely important as it encompasses all aspects of the sales process and measures the service we provide our Fleet customers with right up to ‘the moment of truth’. As a Team we are all delighted to receive this accolade.”
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New Model Year CX-5 and CX-3 Available to order for delivery from June/July 2017
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NORTON WAY CORPORATE • ISSUE 31 • MAY 2017
SNEAK PEAK
THE 2018 PEUGEOT 308 FACELIFT Pictures published around the web suggest a smart new look for Peugeot's 308 C-segment hatch is on the cards later in 2017. Pictures of what looks like the facelifted Peugeot 308 hatchback have surfaced online, suggesting that a refreshed version of Peugeot’s rival for the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus will break cover later this year. The pictures, unconfirmed by Peugeot but originally posted on a brand-specific forum, reveal minor styling changes are coming to the
family hatchback later this year. At the front, the 308 gains a new ‘equaliser’ style grille, formed into a slightly stronger nose. The Peugeot badge moves onto the grille from the tip of the bonnet too. Underneath the grille is a new front bumper with a more aggressive profile, larger air intakes and new fog lamps. The headlights appear to have been slightly revised as well. The leaked images are somewhat murky and dark, so it’s hard to nail down every design tweak. It seems as though the car’s front end is where most of the changes will be coming though – around the back, it’s not possible to spot many significant design tweaks, aside from mildly
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NORTON WAY CORPORATE • ISSUE 31 • MAY 2017
revised taillight signatures. As for the interior, any changes aren’t pictured in the leaked images. The dashboard and centre console layout remains the same – not necessarily a bad thing, given we’ve praised the 308 in the past for its classy cabin with very few buttons. Analogue dials look set to remain though – Peugeot’s second-generation i-Cockpit isn’t present in the leaked pictures. It’s not possible to speculate on any powertrain changes from the evidence of the pictures, but the 308 facelift and full technical information is likely to arrive before the second half of 2017.
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NORTON WAY CORPORATE • ISSUE 31 • MAY 2017
SAME SIZE, BIGGER IDEAS:
THE ALL-NEW KI The 2017 Picanto made its public debut at this year’s Geneva motor show with a sporty new GT-Line variant, a new turbocharged engine and more kit to take on its rivals;
For the first time in the Picanto's lifespan, the city car will gain sportily styled GT-Line and GT-Line S trims, which get more equipment, a muscular body kit, bespoke paintwork and a new steering wheel. The third-generation Picanto will only be offered as a five-door model, following in the footsteps of its Rio supermini sibling, as the slow selling three-door struggled to find customers in the current generation car. Despite a longer wheelbase and shorter front overhang, though, the new car is no larger than its predecessor – but does offer more head and legroom as well as a larger boot inside.
Engines
As you’d expect, the Picanto’s engine range is based around frugal petrol engines. Both the current options – a three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol with 66bhp and 71lb/ft of torque and a four-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol with 83bhp – are carried over to this new car, but joining the range is a new turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol. The default gearbox choice is a five-speed manual, but a four-speed automatic is available as an option on the 1.25-litre petrol.
Upmarket interior
The new Picanto’s cabin is dominated by a new 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system, which will be standard-fit in the UK. Drivers will be able to control their smartphones using the Apple Carplay and Android Auto services, while the options list includes a reversing camera, wireless smartphone charger and USB port. When it comes to luggage space, the Picanto’s boot can now carry up to 255 litres – more than Hyundai’s i10 – and up to 1010 litres with the rear seats folded flat. Personalisation also plays a big part in the new Picanto. Drivers will be able to specify one of five so-called ‘colour packs’ in the UK, allowing them to choose colours for the seats 8
NORTON WAY CORPORATE • ISSUE 31 • MAY 2017
IA PICANTO
and stitching, as well as interior door panels. Six airbags come as standard, while optional extras include a knee airbag and automatic emergency braking (AEB). AEB will be a crucial factor in the new Picanto achieving a maximum Euro NCAP safety score under the body’s dual ratings system – and increasingly UK buyers are paying attention to those safety scores.
been developed to attract younger customers to the brand. “We want the cars to appeal to a young customer, but we also have to recognize that we’re very much targeting the ‘young at heart’ too. The demands are not that different between a 25-year-old and a 55-year-old.” The Picanto goes on sale in the UK in May, costing from around £9,450 in entry-level 1.0 1 guise.
Small car means big business
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CEO of Kia Motors Europe Michael Cole expects the UK to be the biggest market for the new Picanto, and says the new GT-Line versions have 9
NORTON WAY CORPORATE • ISSUE 31 • MAY 2017
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NORTON WAY CORPORATE • ISSUE 31 • MAY 2017
SKODA VISION E
Skoda Vision E electric SUV concept interior revealed
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he Vision E is Skoda’s first pure electric model. It gives a glimpse of the future strategy of the brand – its aim is for one in four Skoda’s sold by 2025 to be either a plugin hybrid or fully electric. With a range of 310 miles between charges, it is the forerunner of one of five electric models that Skoda intends to have in production by 2025, the Vision E features three levels of automatic driving and state-of-the-art assistance and connectivity systems.
What do I need to know about the Skoda Vision E concept?
The Vision E concept is based on the same MEB platform as the Volkswagen ID Crozz concept. It has SUV-style raised seating and a generous amount of space inside. It is longer and wider than its Volkswagen cousin, but it is shorter and has a sporty looking coupe-style sloping roofline. There are no door mirrors to interrupt the sleek exterior styling; instead cameras transfer images of what’s happening around the car onto interior displays. Unusually, the Vision E’s rear doors have hinges at the back; they open electrically as does the tailgate. The lithium ion battery is stored under the floor giving good weight distribution between the front and rear axles and a low centre of gravity. The Vision E’s charging system is one of Skoda’s Simply Clever features. It enables the car to be charged inductively via a floor panel in an owner’s garage with no need
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for it to be plugged in. In this way, charging can be done overnight; alternatively there’s a quick charge option that replenishes the batteries to 80% in 30 minutes.
What's the Skoda Vision E concept like inside?
With the battery pack under that car’s floor and no need for a central transmission tunnel, the Vision E’s interior is roomy, and large windows and screens make it bright and airy. The Vision E has four seats that are positioned high up and turn by 20 degrees towards the outside when the doors are opened. There is a cockpit screen in front of the driver and a large, centrally mounted infotainment screen, plus individual control panels dotted around the interior. There’s also a Phonebox wireless smartphone charger in each door panel.
How much will the Skoda Vision E concept cost?
There’s no official word on the price of the Vision E production range yet. When it does go on sale it’ll be up against the production version of Volkswagen’s ID Crozz concept. HERE FOR MORE CLICK INFORMATION
NORTON WAY CORPORATE • ISSUE 31 • MAY 2017
LITTLE RUN-AROUND?
THE NISSAN ROGUE TRAIL WARRIOR SUV
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NORTON WAY CORPORATE • ISSUE 31 • MAY 2017
For the average motorist, this is pretty much as close to driving a tank as you can get. Nissan has donned their camouflage gear and channelled their inner warrior with their latest concept vehicle – the Nissan Rouge Trail Warrior. The car was revealed at the New York International Auto Show this week. Essentially, it uses the shell of a Nissan X-Trail fitted with heavy-duty tracks in favour of wheels, and a host of military-style features. The tracks, similar to those used on tanks and armoured all-terrain military vehicles, are a more permanent version of the common DOMINATOR tracks, which can be fitted to most 4×4 vehicles for use in snow, mud and low-gripping surfaces. Fitted tracks instead of wheels mean the Nissan can tackle a range of surfaces. In keeping with its “warrior” branding, the SUV has been given a camouflage exterior wrap, yellow “military-style” headlamps, a gear basket 13
and a winch to rescue vehicles in distress and, of course, save the day.
TYRED OUT
The suspension and wheel arches have been modified to accommodate the tracks, but according to Nissan, the engine, transmission and all-wheel-drive system are all standard to the X-Trail. Marketed towards snow or sand-based activities, the tracks make this Nissan’s most adaptable car – and likely the best vehicle to have at your disposal if a zombie apocalypse was to hit. “This new Rogue Trail Warrior adds a new dimension to family adventures with its snow/ sand tracks, gear basket, winch and camo paint,” Nissan’s Michael Bunce said. “If you want to stand out from the crowd during a day on the slopes or the beach, this is the vehicle to take.”
Norton Way Group Unit 1 Arlesey Business Park, Mill Lane, Arlesey, Beds SG15 6RF Tel: 01462 754 700 www.nortonway.com
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