Vans, Cars and Leasing

Fuel forecourts have traditionally fav­oured petrol. But the rows of unleaded pumps could soon be replaced by black diesel ones, industry experts are warn­ing – as derv is now more popular.

It has already outstripped petrol in litres sold, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufact­urers and Traders. The SMMT says that motorists filled their cars with 25.5 billion litres of diesel last year – compared to 24 billion litres of petrol.

Bosses also predict registra­tions of diesel-powered vehicles will overtake those of petrol models by 2011 – another reason why forecourt layouts need a rethink.

Petrol Retailers Association chief Ray Holloway explained: “The ratio of die­sel to petrol pumps no longer reflects the sale of the fuels. I am confident filling stations will have to change, but the huge investment required to install additional underground tanks is putting retailers off at present.”

He argued that there’s even more competition for space at the pumps, too, as alternative and performance fuels become increasingly popular. Yet it’s not hard to see why diesel models are booming.

Despite its higher list price, the diesel variant works out £117 cheaper to run over a year, when tax, fuel and retained value are considered. And the savings keep rising – after three years, the Focus TDCi will have cost £853 less to own. It also trumps the petrol car in terms of CO2 emissions, fuel consumption and power.

Drivers’ lack of understanding of the links between CO2, taxes and fuel costs could be hitting fleet budgets as well as their attempts to reduce carbon emissions

A survey of more than 2,000 drivers, most of whom were company car drivers, found that only 17% think that they will save on fuel costs if they change their driving habits to produce less carbon dioxide

The survey, carried out by Alphabet, also found that just 15% of drivers plan to drive a lower-CO2 car in future to save on tax.

In addition, 88% of drivers were still ignorant about how much CO2 their car emits, and 76% do not know what Vehicle Excise Duty tax band their car falls into.

“Our survey suggests that eight out of 10 drivers are vague about the financial advantages of reducing CO2,” explained Mark Sinclair, director Alphabet.

“This implies that fleets are unlikely to benefit from cost savings offered by running more efficient vehicles unless they have strict policy guidelines in place to ensure that employees drive greener cars.”

For example, drivers who opt for cars emitting 145g/km of CO2 instead of a typical 165g/km stands to cut their fuel use by 12% and their company car tax by 20%.

Their employer would also benefit from lower business mileage costs and NI, and future savings through lower VED and from more advantageous writing down provisions on cars emitting less than 160g/km of CO2.

“It is clear that much more needs to be done to make drivers aware of the links between CO2 and the costs of motoring - particularly the amount of fuel they use and the taxes they pay,” said Mr Sinclair.

Here’s a car maker that’s on a roll! It’s one of the most expensive new models built in the UK, but the Rolls-Royce Coupé has been such a hit, the entire production quota for the year has been sold in a week.

The firm has announced that 200 examples of its £275,000 two-door have now been ordered, only seven days after it officially went on sale. That means no further cars will be available before 2009.

It’s great news for the British- based company, which is owned by BMW and has its HQ in Goodwood, West Sussex. Production of the newcomer is due to start in the summer. Powered by a 6.75-litre V8 engine, the model is barely changed from the 101EX concept car, and even offers striking details such as slot-shaped headlamps and a brushed alloy bonnet. Inside, there’s an LED light-filled roof headlining.

The British motor industry has received another hammer blow, with new CO2-based showroom taxes set to hit models from prestige UK marques.

Chancellor Alistair Darling’s shake-up of the VED band system comes into force next year, with all but the cleanest cars attracting a higher rate of duty.

From April 2010, models emitting more than 225g/km, such as Jaguar’s XF, will incur an extra £950 ‘showroom’ tax for the first year of ownership. Thereafter, a fee of £455 will be due – £55 more than at present. All but one model in the XF range will be hit by the levy, while every car built by Bentley, Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce will incur it.

A spokesman for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said: “This is a backward step. Forcing driv­ers out of high-value vehicles has no environmental merit, and will be seen as a smokescreen for raising revenue.”

The Budget brought better news for buyers of low-emission cars. From 2009, vehicle excise duty is cut to £30 on models emitting 150g/km and less, while those that put out 130g/km or less will be tax-exempt from 2010.

While it beggars belief that they could find willing guinea pigs, researchers in Holland have confirmed that inhaling diesel exhaust fumes impairs the brain’s processing ability.

The study, which was conducted at the Zuyd University in the Netherlands, involved participants inhaling diesel engine exhaust fumes similar to those breathed in by roadside or garage workers during 30 minutes.

Their minds displayed stress responses recorded on an electroencephalograph, whilst controls breathing clean air registered normal brain activity.

Koenigsegg Edition, receiving its world debut at the Geneva show, is a special edition based on the CCX. Described by amiable company founder Christian von Koenigsegg as “the epitome of what we can do today,” it enjoys numerous engineering and styling enhancements.

It will be available in CCX and CCXR formats. The CCXR version is a flex-fuel car, meaning it can run on any combination of E85 and standard gasoline. When running on gasoline, the Edition’s enlarged 4.8-liter engine develops 888 horsepower, but when burning E85 the CCXR Edition boosts that to 1018. E85 is composed of 85 percent ethanol biofuel, an energy source appealing to many environmentally conscious people.

The Edition’s unpainted carbon-fiber finish instantly distinguishes it from the standard CCX, and it has a bigger air splitter and “wing” design of the front bumper, special forged polished aluminum wheels. Top speed is currently quoted at 400 km/h (approx. 248 mph), but the company is confident that the car can be pushed further — in fact, they plan to take a tilt at the world speed record for a production car, and also hope to set the fastest times around the Nurburgring and Hockenheim racing circuits.

Compared to other supercars, however, Koenigseggs don’t only score for their raw performance: like the helpfully, environmentally aware staff, this Swedish company and its products really are the friendly faces of the supercar industry.

Koenigsegg claims that the car’s chassis design allows the use of a compliant suspension without excessive wheel movement, meaning that excellent road holding doesn’t need to come at the expense of bone-jarring ride. With a car like this “you would expect your teeth to fall out when you aim for the potholes…but [with ours] this is not the case,” said Koenigsegg.

Other valuable attributes include the largest luggage space in any supercar, a suspension that can be hydraulically raised by 50 mm to cope with road obstacles, and a passenger cabin that can accommodate people up to 2 meters (over 6 feet 6 inches) tall.

The Edition’s aerodynamic packaging generates 350 kg (770 lbs.) of downforce at 250 km/h (155 mph), aiding handling, but for road cruising the rear spoiler can be removed (it will fit in the luggage compartment) to reduce drag significantly and improve economy.

Inside the Edition is a chronographic instrument pack, in which all needles pivot from the same point, offering drivers all the information they want in a single glance. Leather covered seats, like virtually all of the rest of the car, are made of carbon fiber.

A total of six flexfuel CCXR Editions will be produced, of which four are already sold, and fourteen CCX Editions. The CCXR Edition is priced at €1.5m (approx. $2.3 million U.S.), and the CCX Edition at €1.3m (approx. $2 million U.S.), compared to “just” €680,000 (approx. $1.5 million) for the standard CCX.

Is it a saloon or a hatchback? Simple: the new Skoda Superb is both!

Thanks to a clever boot des­ign, the latest large family car offers the ultimate in flexibility. The set-up is called TwinDoor, and it features two buttons positioned under the bootlid.

Press the centre pad and the boot opens as it would on a saloon. Close it again, press the pad on the right and the whole tailgate swings up. The TwinDoor can also be operated with the key fob, while beneath it is an impressive 565 litres of luggage space. Power comes from a choice of six VW-sourced engines, ranging from a 1.4-litre turbo delivering 120bhp to a 260bhp 3.6-litre V6 petrol.

Likely to account for most sales, though, will be the 160bhp 1.8-litre turbo petrol model, along with the three diesels – a 1.9 TDI and two 2.0-litre units. In addition, there is an eco-friendly Greenline version (below), which features the 1.9 oil-burner and emits only 136g/km of CO2. Sales of the Superb range start in September.

At the same time, Skoda top brass revealed more about other forthcoming new models. The brand’s first SUV – the VW Tiguan-sized Yeti – will arrive next year, with an MPV following in 2010. It will rival the Ford S-MAX. Skoda’s first city car, due in 2011, will be based around VW’s up! show model. It’s set to be 3.5 metres long, and will have a rear-engined layout.

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Could this be the fastest SUV in the world? German firm VW has pulled the wraps of its new high performance Touareg, the R50.

The new range-topper features a tweaked version of the company’s 5.0-litre V10 diesel that now pushes out 345bhp - and increase of 37bhp over the standard car. Even more impressive is the peak torque figure, which rises from 750 to 850Nm.

As a result performance is blistering with the Touareg sprinting from standstill to 62mph in 6.7 seconds and onto a top speed of 146mph. However, the fuel economy and CO2 emissions remain the same as before at 22.4mpg and 333g/km respectively.

To cope with the extra performance, VW’s engineers have fitted the R50 with springs that are stiffened and lowered by 20mm. This is in addition to the grippy 4MOTION all-wheel drive systems and smooth-shifting six-speed auto gearbox.

Externally, the newcomer is distinguished by an ‘R’ design package that comprises a roof-mounted spoiler, wheel arch extensions and matt chrome front grille. There’s also distinctive 21-inch alloy wheels, blue brake callipers and twin oval exhausts.

Climb into the cabin and you’ll find ‘R’ logos embossed on the heavily bolstered Nappa leather sports seats, kick plates and pedals. The luggage compartment gets a special ski sack and net partition.

However, VW won’t have it all its own way in the rapid off-roader sector. Later this year sister firm Audi will launch its Q7 V12 TDI, which is capable of covering the dash from 0-62mph in a staggering 5.5 seconds.

Until then the R50 will remain undisputed performance heavyweight champion. If you want one then you’ll have to be quick as only a limited number will be brought to the UK, each priced at £61,885.

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People working with families, community leaders, health professionals and teachers are being offered free half-day training course aimed at helping to save children’s lives on the roads.

After the training all those who attend will be in a position to give life-saving presentations to parents with young children about the risks they face and offer practical advice on using roads safely.

The training covers topics including correctly restraining children in vehicles, safe driving and keeping children safe on foot and bike.

Everyone who attends the training course will receive free resources, including a colourful flip-chart, hand outs for parents and advice on how to give an effective presentation, as well as on-going telephone support from Brake.

The ‘Stay Safe Family Promise’ road safety training is available through the FedEx and Brake Road Safety Academy.

The academy targets the most at-risk road users, including children, by training volunteers and professionals to deliver road safety presentations within their local community.

The training is available across the UK and can be set up in-house.

Prices have been announced for the storming Nissan GT-R. The Japanese supercar will be available in three trim options, starting at £52,995 for the ‘entry-level’ models.

Next in the line-up is the £54,200 Premium Edition, which features an 11-speaker BOSE stereo and automatic headlamps. Finally, flagship Black Edition versions get Alcantara-like upholstery, anthracite wheels and will be priced at £55,500.

Order books at the 10 designated GT-R dealers open on 2 April but would-be buyers can place their order online from 4 April – for a £3,500 deposit. The first cars will be delivered to customers in March 2009.