Confusion reigns in the press over who has the best company car, and it’s not helped by two completely different magazines having awards coming out at the same time. But the only winners can be the drivers, because they get two different opinions from two reliable sources – and the only arguments are between the award winners. Maybe hey sort it out after school behind the bike sheds?

FLEET NEWS awards are voted by a panel made up of fleet industry experts as well as senior members of the Fleet News editorial team, chaired by former SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan and audited by Deloitte with the New Company Car of the Year and Fleet Manufacturer of the Year voted on by fleet operator readers of Fleet News.

BUSINESS CAR MANAGER (the online car magazine for company cars) had its winners chosen by an editorial panel headed by editor Ralph Morton and road test editor Sam Hardy, with the Awards identifying winners in 9 different categories ranging from the environmentally and financially responsible – Best Sub-100g/km Business Car – to the more frivolous – It’s My Business and I’ll Buy What I Want To.

So, who won?

In Fleet News, they voted the Volkswagen Passat as the best new company car of 2011 using criteria based on operating costs (depreciation, fuel, servicing, maintenance and repair, lease rates, tax liability), suitability for their use as business cars and the level of support from the manufacturers and their corporate sales teams.

But Business Car Manager had the new BMW 3 Series in 320d form as its overall winner; with the judges commenting that is was a car “offering an unbeatable combination of competitive running costs, strong performance, low driver taxation, impressive environmental credentials – and good, old fashioned driving fun.”

Admittedly BMW was crowned as the Fleet Manufacturer of the Year voted for by readers of the Fleet News so at least there is some sort of synergy there and other awards between the two publications went to Ford, Kia, Skoda, SEAT, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Range-Rover, Mini, Audi, Hyundai, Toyota and BMW in the car categories.

But of course it all depends what you are looking for and the wording of the awards. Some of the wording is decidedly “we want to give an award to someone but can’t think of a name so let’s make one up!”

FLEET NEWS AWARDS:

Ford Fiesta won Best Small Car, with its very close relative, the Ford, Focus, picking up the award for Lower-Medium car.

Best Upper-medium Car went to The VW Passat (which, as you know, also won best in breed!) and Best People Carrier went to the SEAT Alhambra.

Best Estate Car was awarded to the Skoda Superb estate and best all-round 4×4 to the Toyota Land Cruiser. (How do you to get to be all-round?)

In the big boys classes, Best Premium Car went to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and, up there at the pinnacle of the “look at me; I’ve made it” tree, sits the BMW 5 series with its Best Boardroom Car award.

Oooh! Even more awards with indescribable titles. Best Crossover (what does that mean?) went to the Nissan Qashqai, Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer of the Year and went to Skoda, and Green Fleet Manufacturer of the Year went to Toyota/Lexus; who were described as “environmental beacons not just for the motor industry, but for every industry” by the judges

BUSINESS CAR MANAGER aims to help small businesses and SME firms to run their cars efficiently and cost- effectively. And their WINNERS were.

Best Sub-100g/km Business Car was the Kia Rio 1.1 EcoDynamics and Best Business Car for First Year Allowances (sub 110g/km), the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics.

Obviously by Company Cars here, they mean business cars, especially as the winner of the Best Company Car is the Ford Focus 1.0T EcoBoost 125PS.

Best Estate Car was the Hyundai i40 Estate (with Fleet News’ winner the Skodia Superb nowhere!) and the Best Executive Car, the New BMW 3 Series.

Other award winners were the Audi A6 Avant, MINI Countryman Cooper D (Best Micro Business Owner’s Car – how appropriate!), and the BMW 520d EfficientDynamics as best SME Director’s Car.

They even had an award called the “It’s My Business and I’ll Buy What I Want To” award, won by the Range Rover Evoque SD4 with commendations for the Audi Q5 3.0TDI,  BMW 640d and the Porsche Panamera Diesel. I presume they mean the “Car I WOULD get if they let me” award.

And comments from the winners backstage as seen on ITV2 hosted by some 5th rate celebrity who used to be a reality star before the scandal with their ex-partner’s dog?

SEAT UK Managing Director Peter Wyhinny was at the Fleet News Awards dinner at the Grosvenor Hotel to celebrate the Alhambra’s latest success. He said: “To receive this trophy from Fleet News means a great deal to us at SEAT. We know the Alhambra is a very impressive MPV and the near-constant stream of important awards such as this reinforces that belief.”

And Martin Burke, ŠKODA UK’s Head of Fleet Sales, was also delighted. “To be receiving [an award] for our work in the corporate sector, so crucial to our future plans, makes these awards all the more satisfying.”

Order books are now open for Lexus’ all-new GS range; in other words, a new range of sports saloons.

And, like Stella Artois and Heinz, you get exactly what you pay for at the premium price of the product. The price tag reflects the quality and high specification of the model with advanced technology and luxury features, combined with precision fit and finish and attention to detail.

But what do you pay?

Sitting down comfortably? Right: the sports saloon (GS 250 SE) will be available from £32,995 OTR, then the full hybrid GS 450h starts from £44,995 for the Luxury model right up to £50,995 for the Premier.

Right! As they say in University Challenge, here’s your starter for 10.

The Basic GS in the new range is the GS 250 SE, powered by a 206bhp (154kW) 2.5-litre V6 Dual VVT-i petrol engine

As standard, this includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic bi-xenon headlamps and windscreen wipers, LED daytime running lights and a rear-view camera with parking guide monitor. Inside you’ll find leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control and electrically adjustable front seats (These have 10 different settings, including a memory setting for the driver’s seat) with heating and ventilation functions. Add to this an electrically adjustable steering wheel with paddle shifts, a 12-speaker audio system with CD player, DAB tuner, Bluetooth and USB/Aux ports for connecting personal music players, and you’ll see that, even at the very basic tra level, there’s the luxury feel and look that you’d have wanted, expected and paid for..

The GS 250 and its very close relation, the full hybrid GS 450h, both have Luxury and F Sport grades, both of which build on what is already an impressive specification.

The Luxury version introduces 18-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and an HDD satellite navigation system with Remote Touch controller, as well as a new blind spot detection system integrated into the folding/auto-dimming door mirrors.

And then there is the F Sport.

Just how loud do you want to shout? 19-inch rims, a boot-lip spoiler, sports-styled bumpers and front grille, bi-xenon headlights with automatic high beam function, as well Lexus’s Adaptive Front-lighting System, which adjusts the beam direction as the car approaches bends and turns at junctions. And don’t forget the Variable Suspension and selectable drive modes!

Inside, you can keep that loud voice. You’ll find Sports pedals, perforated leather-trimmed sports steering wheel and gear knob, and the added extra that the front sports seats have 16 different comfort angle settings (including that memory one for the driver) as well as 4-way lumbar support.

On the 450h model, the Lexus Dynamic Handling System, a comprehensive array of steering and handling features, includes Dynamic Rear Steering, electric power steering, Variable Gear Ratio Steering and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management. (Just imagine how impressive that sounds in a conversation at a party!)

Top of the range is the GS 450h Premier with 18-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels and the same bi-xenon headlamp system, adaptive suspension and selectable modes as the F Sport models as part of the Premier’s specification.

In the cabin the seats are upholstered in semi-aniline leather, with 18-way electric adjustment and memory settings on both front seats. The passenger seat has extra leg support and access to the rear seats is not the usual struggle – which is, of course, bad news for Z-list celebrities who either ‘forget’ their underwear on a night out or are looking for a lingerie contract on the basis of a paparazzi shot.

The sophisticated climate control system allows a three-way interior divide between the front left and right and rear sections of the cabin, (and is equipped with an ioniser too) and the HDD navigation and premium Mark Levinson sound system are linked to a 12.3-inch central display screen, the largest on the market.

And if you need anything else then there is automatic boot closing, sunshades for the rear windows (electrically operated for the back window) and a tyre pressure warning system.

With a range of extras like sunroof, LED headlights, metallic or mica paint (as well as a range of nine exterior colours for non-F Sport models, and 5 for the F Sport) and full-map navigation, you may never have to go home at all!

All these are available to order now, with delivery mid-June

If all you crave in your busy lifestyle is peace, quiet and a little bit of luxury – the Lexus CT200h is the car for you!

The Lexus CT200h is the world’s full hybrid luxury compact car, offering exceptional standards of luxury and build quality with a frugal, economical, fully hybrid engine.

Inside, the Lexus CT200h is packed full of everything that you would expect from a modern luxury car including heated front seats, leather steering wheel and Lexus’ advanced Remote Touch system.

But it’s under the bonnet that the Lexus CT200h truly impresses with powerful 1.8-litre petrol engine with electric motor, delivering an impressive 134bhp and a fuel economy rating of 43 mpg around town.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to announce reductions of up to £10 a month on the Lexus CT200h. Prices now start from just £299.95 + VAT  a month for the Lexus CT200h 1.8 SE-I CVT Auto. Standard features on this model include:

• Bluetooth Telephone Connectivity

• Radio/CD + USB Connection

• Front Fog Lights

• LED Daytime Running Lights

• Dual Zone Climate Control

• Leather Steering Wheel

• 17″ Alloy Wheels

If it’s good enough for Kylie, it’s good enough for us!

To find out more about the Lexus CT200h and to get an instant quotation on any model in the Lexus range, simply  follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

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Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to announce a special deal on the Lexus IS250 2.5 Advance Auto 18IN, in stock to lease from £389.95 + VAT a month.

Offering a smooth, responsive drive with a sporty disposition, the new Lexus IS Saloon sets a new standard for intelligent technology, classic executive style and comprehensive safety features.

The new IS Saloon also boasts improved fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions, with the IS250 model capable of 33.6 mpg on a combined cycle with CO2 emissions at just 194g/km.

You can now save up to an extra £37 a month on the Lexus IS250 2.5 Advance Auto 18I, in stock to lease with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.

The IS250 2.5 Advance Auto comes well-equipped with all the features you’d expect from a luxury, executive saloon including:

• Bluetooth Telephone Connectivity

• Cruise Control

• Front/Rear Parking Distance Control

• Rear Parking Camera

• HDD Satellite Navigation

• Auxillary Socket for MP3 Player

• Radio/6 CD Autochanger

• LED Daytime Running Lights

• Climate Control

• Leather Upholstery

• 18″ Alloy Wheels

To take advantage of this fantastic deal on the Lexus IS Saloon before stock runs out, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

Like this deal? Join our mailing list to receive weekly emails with our latest car leasing offers straight to your inbox!

Still; we can all dream, can’t we?

And, in amongst the gas-guzzlers and status symbols, there were once again electric and hybrid cars from the likes of BMW, General Motors, Lexus, Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota and Volvo – to name but a few. And once again these models caused a buzz (quite literally!) and earned huge amounts of media coverage, because electric cars are the new black. Or are they the new Betamax?

Car of the Year 2011 in Detroit was GM’s Chevy Volt – a hybrid. And Nissan’s all-electric Leaf was a close second; both trumpeting the arrival of a brave new world of ecological awareness and herald the electric revolution. Yet both missed their sales targets of 10,000 a year! Admittedly Nissan by a fraction, but the Volt by more than 2,000.

Popular? To put it in perspective, in the same timeframe the Toyota Camry sold over 308,000. (And GM had to also recall Volts for a battery problem fault.)

So, not the best of starts for what is an important time for the fledgling genre. With customers cautiously making their way back to the showrooms post-recession (or even MID-recession!), sales of “alternative power source light vehicles” were up 2.3% in the U.S. last year, compared to an over all 10% rise (according to analysts WardAuto.)

Even the industry is cautious. Sales of hybrids have levelled out and consumers are turning to more fuel-efficient cars rather than gamble on the new electric technology – possibly because of the initial costs of both electric and hybrid cars. Perhaps a case of jam tomorrow? No one has cash to spend right now, and those savings over five years seem an awful long way away.

Ed Hellwig of autoanalysts Edmunds.com says that “consumers will have access to more supply and more choices in alternative-fuel cars than ever in 2012. This could be the year when we see whether this is really ready to go mainstream, or the public just aren’t interested.” And it’s not just at the initial thought process that consumers are wary.

Paul Taylor, chief economist of the National Automobile Dealers Association, said that “People are enthusiastic about hybrid and electric cars but when they see how much they cost, they want to test drive something else.” And that ‘something else’ is the range of fuel-efficient and less thirsty cars that all major companies have developed or are developing alongside the bandwagonesque electrics.

PricewaterhouseCooper’s Autofacts group revealed that more efficient combustion engines are cutting consumption by 15-25% in some vehicles, so competition is fierce – but in reality prices will have to drop eventually and then, possibly, sales will rise.

But no car manufacturer wants to be the first to crack in the game of electric car poker. They’ve all joined in with heavy investments sitting in the middle of the table, and no one wants to be the first to fold or take a gamble and reduce prices. Someone somewhere has to break ranks. But who? And when?

Let’s leave the last word to Anthony Pratt, director of forecasting at car industry analysts Polk. Manufacturers have to be involved in the latest technology. But that technology is in its infancy, and the next five years could be even more challenging.”

The EyesOn Design Award recognises skills and creativity in different areas of design for both concept and production vehicles. Judged by a group of world leading automotive designers and design academics, they look for such qualities as Aesthetics, Innovation, Concept Implementation, Functionality and the Spirit of Industrial Design. They’re their capitals, not mine. Oh yes: That’s how important they see these qualities to be.

And this year, such qualities have seemingly been evoked in the design of the Lexus LF-LC Hybrid Sport Coupe Concept, showcased at the Detroit Motor Show (NAIAS).

With this 2+2 coupe, Lexus’s Calty studio in California aimed to explore how a future rendition of Lexus design might take a more “emotive and avant garde approach” as it harnessed new and advanced technologies.

Eagle-eyed Lexus fans might be able to spot elements of the new Lexus GS 450h in the concept – the “spindle” grille shape and the rear architecture are dead giveaways, now that you mention it.

Says Mark Templin, Lexus US Group Vice President and General Manager: “The LF-LC is a striking design and breathtaking in its beauty. The team at Lexus quickly fell in love with this concept vehicle and it’s rewarding to see that the industry agreed. Receiving the EyesOn Design Award is a great start to what promises to be a fantastic year for Lexus.”

Well done, Lexus.

Remember a few weeks ago and Lexus played the awful, awful tease and provided tantalising hints about a new concept?

Details were very thin on the ground, but last week they released some interior shots.

Awful, awful teases!

Now, though, they’re finally showing their hand. We even have a name!

Yes, it’s official – Lexus will unleash a new LF-LC 2+2 sports coupe concept at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit on January 9.

That’s about it, unfortunately. Yep – they’re still leaving us wanting more.

They’re providing more hints, though – it’s apparently a “further step in the development of Lexus’s design direction”, whatever that means.

Also, Lexus claim that the LF-LC was “crafted…from a clean sheet of paper, ombining high technology and organic shapes to achieve a close connection between driver and car. The concept’s clean lines create a highly distinctive, futuristic look.”

Alright, alright.

I suppose, though, that we’ll have to wait until January before we know more. That’s next year, Lexus! Next year!

In the meantime, though – just look at it.

If you have no interest at all in the Olympics and are the sort who would usually attend the Glastonbury Festival (not happening next year) – then 2012 might not, at this juncture, look too rosy. What is there to look forward to? What?

Well, if you’ve even a passing interest in motoring, then this might be just what you need to make the impending new year seem a little more…Lexus.

You see, those awful, awful teases at Lexus have promised – all in capitals – that they’re going to unveil a new concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 9.

Details, though, are scant to say the least. All they’re revealing so far is that it’s designed by Calty – the company’s design studio in Newport Beach, California – and that it “showcases the new design direction embraced by Lexus”.

What new design direction? Are there photos?

Yes. See above. That’s it. I didn’t crop it – honest – that’s all they’re showing us at the moment.

There are some out there, though, who must be in paroxysms of excitement – lathers of joy – at that alone. A part of something magnificent? The start of something beautiful?

On my part, I’m hoping that the sleek red in that photo is to say that it’s a red herring. I’m hoping that, under the skin, this car will be green.

More information, they promise, will follow next week.

Oh, you appalling tease, Lexus!

Are you now excited for 2012? See? Not that bad, is it?

Lexus has been in the automotive game for quite some time. They’ve learned how to build fantastic cars, offering exceptional comfort and class. Constantly innovative, the company has recently revealed the Lexus CT 200h F-Sport, a car just waiting for you to drive.

Down to the basics, the all-new Lexus CT200h F-Sport produces 98 bhp with its powerful 1.8-litre petrol engine. Pushing those four cylinders to their maximum capacity, it delivers an impressive 68.9-mpg, along with a modest 94g/km of CO2 emissions, making it exempt from road taxes and saving you money in the long run.

A game changer, this fantastic vehicle looks as good as it drives.  There have been however several external changes from the previous models. Firstly, it has been upgraded to 17-inch alloy wheels, giving it a particularly nice feel. Furthermore, it comes with a revised mesh grille, improved Kayaba bumpers as well as a new spoiler that sets it apart from other cars on the road. The car has also had some upgrades done to the sports dampening system as well as suspension, allowing you to take a smoother journey than any Lexus F-model model before it.

Moving to the interior of the vehicle, the Lexus CT200h F-Sport packs a lot more than the standard car. To begin with you’ll find a cruise control system combined with fully heated leather upholstered seats. If that wasn’t enough than perhaps the electronically retractable mirrors will entice you to take a ride.

The car also comes with a HDD navigation system that will turn you into the envy of the entire neighbourhood. Much like many computerized systems, it comes with touch sensitive controls that allow you to alter everything from the seats to auto-dimming settings.

The all-new Lexus CT200h F-Sport is now available to lease with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts. Prices start from just £347.95 + VAT a month for the Lexus CT200h 1.8 F-Sport CVT Auto. Standard features on this superb model include:

• Bluetooth Telephone Connectivity
• Cruise Control
• Radio/CD + MP3
• Front Fog Lights
• LED Daytime Running Lights
• Privacy Glass
• Dual Zone Climate Control
• Sports Suspension
• 17’’ Alloy Wheels

To find out more about the Lexus CT200h F-Sport and to get an instant quotation on any model in the Lexus line-up, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

Whenever we think about the future it seems to be filled with extraordinary cars and amazing technological systems. Surpassing anything we have today, many of us visualize a “Minority Report” type vehicle to represent this distant future, gentling whizzing through Britain’s busy streets. Due to a string of serendipitous events such a vehicle is available for purchase, costing as little as an average family car.

Steve Spielberg’s 2002 epic contained many cars but few of them were actually real. The vast majority were created as computer generated images, or CGI, allowing for greater film malleability. A handful of cars however were created in reality, designed and produced by the illustrious Lexus.

As a one-off production, Lexus fashioned a vehicle meant to represent the year 2054. While this vehicle cannot turn horizontally and vertically like those in the movie, it can certainly drive well. In fact, for only £15,500 it will certainly get you to your destination in style.

Before you bring out your checkbook there are a few items that need to be addressed. Firstly, the interior is bare. Very bare. With a wheel, some pedals and a few nobs, the driver is not met with as great a visual delight as the outside. Secondly, it comes with a rather small motor that will certainly not have you breaking speed limits anytime soon.

The company was chosen because Spielberg himself was driving a Lexus SUV while filming the movie. Taking a liking to the brand, he wanted to see how it would develop in not only a decade but in 50 years.

The asking price for the vehicle is minimal compared to some other film cars. For example, the Dailymail pointed to the fact that the DeLorean from Back to the Future will also be going to auction this month. Rather than the modest £15,500, experts suggest that it will sell for well over £370,000. For those that want a part of film history,

Another Lexus from Minority Report went on sale in 2007. The sleek concept screamed style and fetched around £65,000. Perhaps better looking and more functional, it went for a lot more than the current owners are asking.  If you’re interested there’s still some time to go, grab it while you still can.