Vans, Cars and Leasing

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.