Car Leasing News

Leasing industry combating recession with mail?

2009-05-29T09:27:55Z

Over the last few month people have seen an increase in the number of mail received in their mail box. When times are tough the sector that still makes money is advertising. So it is no surprises that we’ve seen more advert from the car industry than ever.

Large mail campaign seems to be one of cost effective way to get customers with radio and internet advertising. Not a day without receiving flyers about the last government scrappage discount or how cheap the new X car is. Direct Mail Fulfilment companies must work full speed to get all those mail delivered on time.

And of course the car leasing sector isn’t spared by the recession and has to double the effort to get people interested in leasing a new car. However they seem to target more niche market. Green cars are what customers are after at the moment, no that people care about environment but because they save on fuel ( which is money after all) but we’ve also seen an increase in high end cars. It is harder to get a mortgage nowadays but because the average men does care about his image he will lease a nice car rather than buying a second hand vehicle.

Singapore GP 2008 Trophy

2009-05-19T16:25:33Z

The first night Grand Prix ever will take in Singapore this year, and the trophy is rather original. Designed by Singaporean artist Zulkifle Mahod, the trophy as been realised by Royal Selangor.

The sculpture base is designed to look like a steering wheel, mounted on a thick wooden stand. The top os the trophy is made from 20 pewter panels, all of different sizes. The association looks a bit like a series of exhaust pipes or an explosion.

The winner of the race will be rewarded by a 58cm version of the trophy and the second and third place will get a 44cm version.

All trophies display the colours of the chequered flag, red and black. After a few minutes we start to appreciate the idea behind the sculpture itself. Rather unusual but it still a simple yet modern look the fits very well in the formula one spirit.

The designer was apparently selected because of his innovative ways to combine sculpture and multimedia to create original piece of art.

The public reactions where split but overall the design wasn’t well received and SingTel is looking at the possibility to change the trophy for this year’s Grand Prix.

Porsche Panameras bring new innovations to the production cars segment

2009-05-15T16:22:01Z

The soon the be seen Porsche Panamera is packed with innovations never seen in productions cars before. The Panamera is the latest Porsche range, targeting the four seater segment.

The car wil have a choice of three different front mounted engines. The entry level will use a Volkswagen’s 3.5 litre developing 300 bhp, followed by a Porsche’s engine eight cylinders, direct injection petrol engine, available in 350 bhp and 560 bhp (twin turbo ).

Porsche new coupe is meant to provide a unique combination in terms of performance, efficiency and comfort. The new PDK transmission uses a double clutch gear box increasing fuel economy while adding a sport touch always appreciated. Associated with a new start/stop system the Panamera manage an impressive 26.2 mp without scarifying performances.

Using the latest laser marking and laser treating technique to get the perfect finish and a high durability the car structure is light, the Panamera S for example only weighs 1,770Kg.

While the exterior wasn’t everyone taste. the interior is what we can call a luxury cabin. Packed with all the stuff you expect from a high end car and more.

The Panamera is announced in the uk for the 12 September with prices ranging from £72,266 to £95,298 it is not cheap but it is certainly one of the best “family” car around.

Winner of 2 awards: New Citroen C3 Picasso now on sale

2009-04-29T12:50:50Z

Citroen’s new “Spacebox”, winner of 2 prestigious awards, Citroen C3 Picasso is now on sale in the UK from April 9. The stylish MPV is being offered with an attractive low cost servicing contract to all buyers of Citroen C3 Picasso, registered before April 30. The buyers will also be offered ‘Citroen Secure’ scheme on their Citroen Finance agreements.

Citroen C3 Picasso buyers will enjoy 3-year / 35,000 mile servicing contract for just £200, including VAT, thus saving £289 on the normal price of £489, inclusive of VAT. The contract will include brake fluid replacement and annual car ‘health check’ up to 3 years or 35,000 miles which ever is completed earlier.

Citroen Secure scheme which is provided free of charge to Citroen C3 Picasso buyers with Citroen Finance agreements, enables them to return their car in the event of involuntary redundancy, without paying anything additional.

The innovative Citroen C3 Picassos is highly functional car, with focus on everyday needs of life and lots of flexibility in handling.

Having bagged, What Diesel ‘Best MPV’ and ‘Family Car of the Year’ awards under mini-MPVs category, C3 Picasso looks set to become a class leader.

Vauxhall’s Lucrative Offer of Free Travel Pack with Safety Check

2009-04-29T12:48:34Z

Before going on a summer holiday or trip it is always better to ensure that your MPV or car is perfectly all right for a safe, trouble-free journey.

A Top Up service and Summer Safety Check is being offered by the participating Vauxhall MasterFit retailers that will be a great value and will fetch you peace of mind at just £35.

What you will be offered in a Summer Safety Check is a comprehensive visual inspection of all parts critical for safety by the expert technicians of Vauxhall MasterFit. The check covers lights, mirrors, wipers, brakes, steering, transmission, drive shafts, belt seats, hoses, wheels, tyres, battery and exhaust.

The technicians will also inspect unusual engine noise, oil and smoke leaks. After completion of thorough inspection, important fluids such as engine oil, brake fluid, coolant and screenwash will be treated to prevent overheating, so that nothing is left to chance in summer season.

You can drive in without an appointment and get vehicle inspected. If any rectification work is identified during Summer Safety Check, pricing will be agreed with you before starting work.

The offer is open from spring until end of summer and those customers availing this offer will be presented with free travel pack containing warning triangle, high visibility jacket and first aid kit.

The Skoda Superb wins Best Large Car Award

2009-04-29T12:45:30Z

Skoda’s flagship, Superb, bagged the Best Large Car award at the popular What Diesel Car of the Year Awards 2009.

The Skoda Superb overshadowed 17 other contenders which included Citroen C5 and Ford Mondeo. Superb’s unique Twindoor boot system, innovative design, great diesel engines and outstanding fuel efficiency won it top spot among all contenders.

While announcing winner of the Best Large Car Award, What Diesel’s editor, Ian Robertson, commented that Skoda Superb is a fine drive and its versatility is enhanced by the unique Twindoor system and good TDI engines. He added that its huge boot, airy and spacious cabin and limousine ride, made it a superb choice.

The Skoda Superb which was launched in the UK in September 2008 is an effortless combination of cavernous interior space, fabulous design and latest technology. The innovative Twindoor function allows boot opening in 2 different ways, as a saloon or as a hatch at the pressing of a button.

Skoda UK Brand Director, Robert Hazelwood, termed this another prestigious award from a much read and well trusted publication, What Diesel. He claimed that winning of Best Large Car and Caravan Club’s Towcar of the Year awards confirm that Superb is really a fantastic car and a great choice for retail buyers and fleet alike.

Skoda Superb’s tally of awards across Europe is now above 30 since its Geneva Motor Show premiere last year.

20,000 Skoda Superbs have been sold in Europe since launch. Its sales, particularly in the UK were much ahead of target.

The New Volvo S80 with updated driving dynamics and ride

2009-04-29T12:43:49Z

Volvo is offering new Volvo S80 with introduction of two new chassis, the Comfort Chassis and the Lowered Dynamic Chassis, updating and improving ride and driving dynamics.

To be launched in summer 2009, the lowered Dynamic Chassis is being offered as standard on SE Lux and SE models giving option to buyer to specify Comfort Chassis, at no cost. The Executive trim level will be available only with Comfort Chassis.

The Lowered Dynamic Chassis offers improved sporting driving characteristics and responsive handling, while un-interrupted and compliant smooth ride is offered by the Comfort Chassis. These chassis provide an opportunity to customers to tailor Volvo S80 to suit their enthusiastic or relaxed driving style.

The Lowered Dynamic Chassis has been made far more rigid and taut. The car has been lowered at front and rear by 20 and 15mm respectively, resulting in lower centre of gravity that improves driving characteristics and lowers the car profile. Fitted with automatic levelling, the car’s body gets perfectly positioned with road surface under any driving condition, both with lone driver on board or fully occupied.

The Comfort Chassis having softer springs and subtle damping delivers high comfort ride of total luxury for all occupants.

Volvo S80 executive saloon, with plethora of small changes that make a significant difference, will be on sale in the UK this summer.

The new BMW X5 M and X6 M set new performance benchmarks

2009-05-08T13:09:14Z

Known for setting new benchmarks, BMW is introducing two powerful and dynamically capable models, the BMW X5 M and X6 M in a four-wheel drive package. As the first xDrive cars, both models take BMW into a new territory, while their twin-turbocharged 555hp V8 engine makes them the most powerful road-going M cars BMW has ever launched.

The 4,395cc twin turbocharged V8 engine produces 555hp at 6,000 rpm. Its prodigious performance includes acceleration from 0 to 62mph in just 4.7 seconds on par with the highly acclaimed BMW M3. Courtesy of its twin-scroll twin-turbo technology, the BMW X5 and X6 has the flexibility of a diesel-powered engine producing a peak torque of 680Nm from 1,500 rpm to 5,650 rpm.

Both the models are equipped with 6-speed M Sport Automatic transmission, Dynamic Performance Control and xDrive 4-wheel drive system which suits such high performance vehicles.

The customers can fine tune the car for greater enjoyment. The Head-Up Display, Electronic Damper Control, Dynamic Stability Control setting and Servotronic steering system can all be configured by the customer. The driver can tailor the car’s characteristics with a single press of a button on the steering wheel using the M Drive Manager system. With this feature, even while riding on the day to day comfort mode the driver can have the sport setting on standby. All these systems are co-ordinated by the highly advanced electronic Integrated Chassis Management system.

Rolling off the BMW conveyors on the 24th October 2009, both the cars will be available with two-zone air-conditioning, MP3 music storage, Multimedia Navigation system and emergency assist functions, as standard.

Kia revamps finance offers with price concessions during spring

2009-04-29T12:39:13Z

Kia Motors (UK) Ltd. is showering car enthusiasts with finance offers and price discounts during spring period.

Kia has slashed prices on Kia Picanto city car by £200 on small 1.0-litre entry model, enabling customers to buy one of Kia’s best selling cars well below £6,000. The savings offer continues as you choose from higher Kia range with up to £2,500 discount on Kia Cranes and £3,000 off on Kia Sedona, going up to whopping £5,700 off on Kia Sorento 4×4.

If you feel that buying this new car is still out of reach, Kia is providing you revamped finance, offering up to £2,500 contribution to your finance on most cars in Kia range. Astute buyers could enter into further bargain selecting Kia cee’d SW 2.0 CRDi Sport with contribution of £2,500 to their finance from Kia and 7-year warranty. Other features of this offer include contribution of £750 in finance on Kia Soul with 5-year warranty for this season’s essential accessory.

Kia’s UK Managing Director, Paul Philpott claims that Kia had incredible start this year and is keen on passing benefits to customers. He adds that each penny is important to people at the moment and Kia does not want any customer to feel that they were not offered so great deals like the one to make them happy.

Kia Motors moves parts operation to Tamworth Staffordshire

2009-04-29T12:38:16Z

Kia Motors is shifting its parts operations to a state-of-art warehouse in Tamworth that will cater to requirements of entire dealer network. Consistent sales growth has prompted car manufacturer to transfer its parts inventory to a bigger warehouse managed by Mobis.

The 209,000 sq ft warehouse will provide Kia and its dealers sufficient space for inventory management of 240,000 product lines. The space will hold up to 5 months of stock, controlling all items from wheel-nuts to wing-mirrors.

The Mobis warehouse happens to be at the centre of the UK and is accessible via motorways, enabling next day delivery service from dedicated customer service team to Kia’s dealers.

According to Sales and Logistics Director, Hamish McCowan, Kia Motors UK, it is necessary to adapt positive changes to meet company’s logistical requirements as a result of continuous growth of Kia brand. He added that Mobis warehouse will help in improving inventory levels and provide latest inventory and system technology to dealer network. Customer will benefit from best levels of service, he claimed.

The Mobis UK parts facility is managed with 60 members of warehouse and office staff. The workforce is provided with PDAs for inventory monitoring and item location. The building boasts of energy efficient lighting, recyclable floor coverings and water harvest system.