Vans, Cars and Leasing

Honda has lifted the lid on its next S2000 roadster – and it will have you going green! The Honda OSM (Open Study Model) shown in this official sketch will be unveiled at next week’s British Motor Show as an eco-friendly concept car. But the sleek drop-top also gives us a tantalising early look at the forthcoming S2000.

Officially a ‘design study’ at this early stage, Honda will use the OSM to “gather feedback from customers at the show to guide any future developments”.

That means the Japanese firm is intent on making the next S2000 a seriously desirable sports car when it hits the showrooms in 2010. And judging by this concept, Honda looks like it could have another big success on its hands.

The new car will be as green as it is good looking, thanks to a number of mechanical and aerodynamic features designed to reduce consumption and emissions. Honda will reveal all at the expo, but an efficient, lightweight petrol engine – possibly boosted by a small electric unit – will sit inside a body featuring class-leading aerodynamics.

Shaped by up-and-coming young designers at Honda’s studios in Offenbach, Germany, the OSM will sit alongside the zero-emissions FCX Clarity fuel cell car and the CR-Z hybrid sportscar – both making UK debuts at the British Motor Show.

Police forces across the country are facing massive fuel cost overruns, leading to recruitment reductions and calls for the Government to provide emergency funding.

Hampshire Constabulary’s director of finance Michael Coombes said: “The constabulary is having to deal with steep increases in the price of fuel in recent months. This situation has placed a strain on the budget.”

Along with many other forces, Hampshire only budgeted for only a 5% rise in fuel costs this year, taking the amount it had set aside for fuel to £1.95 million.

“Assuming the cost of fuel rises to £1.50 per litre by the end of the summer, as some commentators suggest, we would be facing a shortfall of around £1 million,” said Mr Coombes

- Advertisement -
As a result, Hampshire police will recruit fewer student officers this year. “This is in light of various budget pressures of which the rising cost of fuel is one,” said Mr Coombes.

It is a similar story in Norfolk where the increase in fuel costs will affect a recruitment drive.

“Fuel costs have increased dramatically and we have to deal with that.

“This comes at a time when we are increasing staff numbers but those plans have to be subject to winds of change,” chief constable Ian McPherson told Norfolk Police Authority.

“We cannot legislate for decisions that are made in Saudi Arabia.”

Metropolitan police officers have been told buy fuel from the cheapest local petrol stations.

In addition, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has begun trialling electric Smart cars.

Four versions of the two-seater car, which can achieve the equivalent of around 300 miles per gallon, are being trialled.

The Home Office said no extra money will be made available as a result of rising fuel prices.

“Government funding for police authorities is increasing by 2.9% in 2008/9,” said a spokesman.

“It is for chief constables and police authorities to decide how best to use the resources available to them.”

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) seems to have its hands tied and can offer little in the way of help to police fleet managers.

Commenting on the inability of many police fleets to get extra funding, ACPO said: “It will then depend on how forces have developed their budgets as to what the immediate effect will be.

“Some forces will have been able to make provisions for rising fuel cost, others won’t and therefore it will vary from force to force what the exact impact will be.”

The National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM) is working hard to limit the impact of fuel on their frontline operations.

“NAPFM is having to seriously consider a variety of options regarding the issues around both fuel cost and resilience with regard to industrial disputes, etc, and is working closely with its respective ACPO management as well as directors of finance and resource to establish a variety of initiatives that will assist in reducing fuel utilisation, whilst not affecting frontline policing and response capability,” said NAPFM spokesman John Bradley.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable said: “The emergency services have no choice as to which vehicles they use.

“It would not prejudice the Government’s overall financial position if some allowance were made to tide them over this difficult period.”

Toyota is set to get pulses racing at this year’s British Motor Show. The Japanese firm has commissioned a wild one-off version of its Aygo to appear on its stand.

The £100,000 Aygo Crazy has a 1.8-litre turbo from the MR2 roadster, producing 197bhp and 240Nm of torque – enough for 0-60mph in under six seconds and a top speed of 127mph.

A unique hand-built bodykit and 17-inch wheels are fitted, while a race-inspired roll-cage, Sparco steering wheel and four-point harnesses continue the motorsport theme inside. Unlike most super-stylish show concepts, the race-bred pocket rocket is fully road legal and capable of causing one or two surprises in the supermarket car park!

Muscle Cars are performance cars made for the most part in Detroit, Michigan from 1964 through 1974. The muscle car manufacturers placed large V8 engines in mid-sized vehicles, giving them high levels of performance and setting off intense competition between the manufacturers to produce the most powerful and fastest muscle cars for sale during those times.

Although auto makers had sometimes experimented with placing the performance based V-8 engines in a lighter mid-size platforms, and full-size cars such as the Ford Galaxy and Chevrolet Impala had high-performance models, Pontiac received most of the credit for starting the muscle car era with its Pontiac GTO. Started by Pontiac a, the GTO was far more popular than anticipated, and inspired many imitations and a  movement towards performance, both in the true muscle car class of intermediate vehicles as well as smaller cars like the Ford Mustang, Plymouth Barracuda and AMC AMX, and more luxurious and expensive cars such as the Buick Riviera.

Nevertheless, a large part of the appeal behind muscle cars was that they were mostly reasonably priced models that young drivers could manage to pay for. For instance, Chevrolet placed an extremely large 396 cubic inch motor in its compact Nova body. This would be comparable to taking Chevrolet Cobalt and putting a  Corvette Z06 engine in it. Mopar also had several low-cost models, such as the Dodge Super Bee and Plymouth Roadrunner.

Between 1964 and 1970, the Detroit companies were in competition for the bragging rights to the highest horsepower motor and offer the fastest muscle cars for sale. Horsepower numbers generally hit their peak in 1970, with the Chevelle SS 454 from that year is generally considered to have had the highest output, producing 450 horsepower. By 1971, most muscle cars began to fall out of favor and fade away, with Pontiac’s Trans AM model being the last one by 1975.

While they were fast cars in a straight line, most had poor performing brakes and suspension setups, and tires which were insufficient to handle the acceleration and speeds the engines made possible. These factors have all been to some degree addressed by after-market suppliers.

Bosses at Audi won’t rest until every possible niche has been filled – and now, the four-door coupé market is in their sights.

These exclusive images provide the best look yet at the new A7. It’s Audi’s challenger to the Mercedes CLS, as well as the forthcoming BMW 8-Series, and promises a strong combination of luxury, style and performance.

The A7 will showcase a raft of technology, including the second-generation of Audi’s MMI cabin control system. And according to insiders at the Ingolstadt company, it will raise the bar even higher in terms of interior quality.

Under the skin is a stretched version of the platform which underpins the stylish A5 coupé, although the newcomer will ride on air-suspension to provide an impressive balance of sharp handling and a smooth ride.

Six engines will be available from launch: a trio of V6 diesels, including an all-new 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged unit, as well as V6 and V8 petrol powerplants.

Hot S7 and RS7 models are in the pipeline, too. The latter will use a revised version of the 5.2-litre V10 in the current RS6, albeit tuned to give more than 600bhp.

Fleets could face substantial charges and administration costs following confirmation that Manchester is set to become the second city in the UK to levy a congestion charge. The Government announced last week that it was awarding Manchester £1.5 billion to help pay for the congestion charge scheme, as well as deliver public transport improvements.

To try to alleviate fears, Manchester City Council will conduct a public consultation before going ahead with the scheme that could see motorists charged £5 to enter and leave the city at peak times from 2013.

But major concerns about the scheme are already being voiced. LeasePlan said the new congestion charge could “signal the beginning of a major headache for all UK firms running vehicle fleets”. Manchester, unlike London, will rely on electronic tags and beacon technology, which will be supported by automatic numberplate recognition cameras.

“The danger is that business drivers will have to register separately for each scheme,” said David Brennan, managing director of LeasePlan. “The lack of any central responsibility could hit companies hard, particularly those that have employees regularly travelling in or between the two cities.”

The problem could become worse as other cities develop their own congestion charges. Birmingham, Bristol, Bath and Cambridge are expected to announce plans shortly.

“The endorsement of the Manchester scheme is the biggest step so far towards a fragmented and regionalised congestion charging approach in the UK – a nightmare scenario for companies that run fleets of vehicles,” warned Mr Brennan. “As well as the added administration, many companies could see their fleet costs rocket as their drivers travel between different charging zones.”

Ian Middleton, managing director of Sandicliffe Motor Contracts, added: “The fleet market could find itself in a situation in years to come whereby a good proportion of company car drivers visiting cities across the UK could be running up some very significant bills.”

Several local companies have formed the Greater Manchester Momentum Group to oppose the charge.

When in the market for dual control car hire, dual control car leasing, or simply contract hire, it is of the upmost importance to know as much as possible about the source. One cannot find a better source for dual control cars and contract hires that Total Fleet Services, which has been in the business of contracting and leasing quality and serviceable vehicles ever since 1994. With fourteen years of experience in an industry full of get rich quick artists, Total Fleet Services truly does offer the top fleet package. It is worth it to take an in depth look at the many services they offer.

Dual control cars are excellent vehicles for driving instructors and driver’s education teachers. Cars fitted with dual controls have separate capabilities for the gas and brake pedals. In some cases they come with a second clutch as well. The safety benefits of these features are limitless. When a driving instructor is teaching a student, they can both feel completely confident in terms of their safety. In many instances, the student is understandably nervous. However, knowing that his or her driving instructor has the ability to take action in an emergency can ease the student’s anxiety considerably, which in turn encourages a better performance. By the same token, the driving instructor knows that he or she is in control should an emergency situation arise.

Through Total Fleet Services, driving instructors and driver’s education teachers can obtain dual control car hire or dual control car leasing, and substantially benefit their businesses by doing so. Duel control car leasing, for example, is ideal for any individual or company who needs a car but does not want to run the risk of damaging his or her personal car while doing business. Naturally, driving instructors can potentially be quite prone to that. If, however, an instructor is fairly sure he or she will want to keep one of these vehicles, dual control car hire can be a better option.

Dual control car leasing is also quite perfect for anyone teaching someone they know how to drive. For example, a mother teaching her daughter to drive or a husband teaching his wife to drive – naturally these individuals will likely not require a dual control car long term. Fortunately, Total Fleet Services offers a wide variety of plans allowing customers to lease cars by day and by week. However, in circumstances such as these, if the individual knows that he or she will only need to car for a certain amount of time, contract hire is also an excellent choice.

On the topic of driving instructors, Total Fleet Services offers many benefits to instructors who are interested in dual control car leasing. On contracts specifying fixed term rentals, instructors can receive a new car each year. The cost of the monthly rental also includes any repairs and automotive service, including excise duty, breakdown, home start, and recovery. Furthermore, all of the company’s dual control cars are equipped with He-man dual controls. Total Fleet Services also employs fixed costs, so prices are more affordable.

When consumers choose weekly rentals, they agree upon the amount, which is then stipulated in the leasing contract, along with VAT costs. To receive a car, customers need only pay a deposit, meant to ensure that the car will be returned safely and in good condition. This sum is refunded when the car is indeed returned in the proper condition. First time customers must pay a fee, but only for the first vehicle they lease from Total Fleet Services. If the car requires repairs at any time, customers may take it to a main dealer located near them. The service department at the dealership will call Total Fleet Services, and thus receive payment for repairs and maintenance.

There are three important version of the Iveco Daily van, beginning with the C model, which is the most traditional with a chassis that is five millimetres thick and as sturdy as certain 7.5 tonners; thanks to its rear twin wheels, the Iveco Daily C can support from thirty five hundred to sixty five hundred kilograms GVW. The Iveco Daily van L series is lighter, supporting up to thirty five hundred kilograms GVW; finally, the Iveco Daily van S versions has thirty five hundred kilgograms GVW and a chassis with a frame that is three millimetres thick.

As for engines, there is quite a variety. The 35S features one hundred and fourteen horsepower with its 12 engine; one hundred and twenty three horsepower with its 13 engine; and one hundred and forty three horsepower with its 15 engine. There is a 2.3 litre engine with a five speed gear box and a 2.8 litre engine with a six speed gearbox.

The Iveco Daily van averages over seventy kilometres per hour in terms of speed. Average speeds only tell so much however; more important is the fact that it can easily and happily maintain speeds of sixty five or more while driving up steep hills and mountainous roads. It is ideal for city driving as well, able to pass with ease and handle tight curves like a dream. Even the standard 2.3 litre engine performs admirably. It makes the Iveco Daily van a very lively and peppy drive, sometimes accelerating at a faster and smoother rate than the more powerful 2.8 litre engine. It is supremely easy to change gears – both critics and drivers have likened changing gears in the Iveco Daily van to pressing a hot knife through butter. Furthermore, both engines are extremely quiet, making for noiseless, calming rides.

The quality of the brakes and the steering in the Iveco Daily van are both amazingly dynamic, not to mention safely tuned. The handling, as well, is a study of stability. The Iveco Daily van drives with a very light touch, with both the brakes and the steering wheel extremely responsive. The front suspension allows the Iveco Daily to handle rougher urban roads and city streets as if they were perfectly, smoothly paved roads – or clouds even, the suspension is so smooth. Naturally, such sterling qualities make for excellent driving in the countryside as well. Furthermore, as nominal as jostling is, the dashboard and all its gauges are so firmly set that they do not even betray a rattle on the roughest of roads.

Inside, the Iveco Daily van is a study of style, class, and refined taste. The upper door frames are made up of painted metal; the dash, centre console, and most other interior features are comprised of safe, durable plastic in shades of grey; and the seats are upholstered in a soft blue cloth fabric. The floor is a made of a moulded covering, which makes keeping the cabin of the Iveco Daily van clean quite an easy and simple endeavour.

The driver’s seat is an Isri seat with ample room and a wealth of adjustment capability. The entire cabin is extremely roomy and airy, with the passenger seats offering enough leg room for two people. In addition to that, the seats are supremely well made, providing the most of stability and comfort. All seats come equipped with head restraints, as well as three point seatbelts which can be adjusted for height.

The positioning of the dashboard puts all the controls within easy reach of the driver – this includes the controls for the hazard lights and head lamps. Otherwise, controls like the windshield wiper and cruise control are located on the right stalk of the steering wheel, while the lights and horn are located on the left side.

There is ample room for storage and cargo in the cabin, by way of baskets located under the seats, accommodating door pockets, and both a large glove box (which can be locked up) and a padded bin for mobile phones and devices.

Written on behalf of Total Fleet Services
Iveco Contract Hire - Iveco Daily Leasing

Total Fleet Services has a wonderful selection of Saab 9-3 vehicles, cars with plenty of storage and cargo space that nonetheless drive like a luxury automobile. The Saab 9-3 Estate cars has a beautiful exterior and interior but the real joy is under the hood. The Estate comes equipped with either a 120bhp engine with a five speed manual, a 150bhp five speed manual, or a turbo charged 2.8 litre V-6 with a six speed gearbox.

Moreover the Saab 9-3 Estate is extremely fun to drive. The standard wheels are sixteen inches and are as conducive to cruising fast down A roads as they are to touring down more challenging back roads – larger wheels are available, which only serves to improve a quality of driving that is already tremendous, not to mention the fantastic grip larger wheel bases offer. The Estate also exhibits exquisite handling, and the diesel engines especially take tight corners with an extremely light touch.

The Saab 9-3 Estate easily has room for up to four or five occupants. Furthermore, the cabin is amazingly spacious, with plenty of room for comfort and space for occupants in the back seats as well of the front seats. The driver and front seat passenger will especially find that the roomy cabin and the stabilizing, comfortable seats invite longer and longer drives, while passengers in the back seats will marvel over the amount of shoulder and leg room that they are afforded. The Saab 9-3 Estate has extremely low noise levels so that neither road noise nor driving static are particularly noticeable. Air conditioning comes standard all the way round and both every day and back road driving promise smooth rides with no jostling, thanks to the low profile tires and the idyllic sports suspension.

The Saab 9-3 Saloon is a car which practically breathes class, taste, and an understated, subtle style that makes it a joy to both behold and to drive. The Saloon is praised for its powerful, purring engines and its luxurious but sporty drive as well – and it comes complete with an excellent, five start crash test rating.

The standard engine in the Saab 9-3 Saloon is a single, non turbo, petrol, 1.8 litre engine. A top of the line 2.8 litre V-6 engine features a six speed gearbox with either a manual or an automatic transmission, as well as 250bhp. There is also a five speed, 150 bhp engine which provides two hundred and thirty six pounds per feet of torque; the 120bhp offers two hundred and seven pounds per feet of torque and the V-6 engine comes with two hundred and fifty pounds per feet of torque. Overall, from the top of the range to the bottom, the Saab 9-3 Saloon is a joy even for those who are not interested in a fuel economic vehicle.

Even on the standard models of the Saab 9-3 Saloon, the ride is like a dream: it drives smoothly over any surface, whether the road is a perfectly paved city street or a rough and rocky back road. The handling is universally excellent all the way across the board and the Saloon’s steering is extremely light to the touch and eager to follow. The Saab 9-3 Saloon provides low profile tires and a strong, smooth suspension that makes it difficult for drivers and passengers to even know when they are driving over rougher terrain. The suspension system also makes for a smooth, secure ride at higher speeds. For such a powerful car, the Saab 9-3 Saloon has excellent traction even in less than savory conditions, such as rain, sleet, snow, and hail. Those models of Saab 9-3 Saloons which feature an automatic gearbox fare even better.

The front seats in the Saloon are extremely supportive and comfortable, and there is a delightfully surprising amount of leg room both in the front and in the back.

Written on behalf of Total Fleet Services
Saab Contract Hire - Saab 9-3 Leasing

The Seat Ibiza is one of the best selling of all of Seat’s cars and other vehicles. It is also one of the first vehicles of its kind to prove that a diesel powered car could work on the family market while still flourishing in the performance market as well. Both performance enthusiasts and soccer mums get a kick out of the Ibiza. Better yet, it is excellent for the fuel economy while still evoking a realistic speed and style.

The Seat Ibiza comes with one of two engines: the 180bhp 1.8 litre turbo petrol engine; and a 160bhp 1.9 litre turbo diesel engine. The 1.8 litre engine comes with 245Nm worth of torque; the 1.9 litre engine has 330Nm worth of torque. Either way, the Seat Ibiza gives an extraordinarily strong performance, especially given the kind of vehicle it is. It does as well on sharp inclines as it does on country roads. The gear box, a six speed manual, is extremely smooth, as is the overall ride – the ride itself is smooth and there is little noise or jostling to be felt.

Drivers praise the Seat Ibiza especially for its chassis and suspension, calling it sporty and free. It takes even the hardest of corners with ease and does extremely well on rough and broken roads. It has seventeen inch wheels sporting low tyres and the quality of its damping is sublime.

Driving the Seat Ibiza is a true experience. Its grip goes above and beyond, lending to a rather thrilling experience. The car handles even steep mountainous curves like a dream, the balance of its wet setting perfectly at all times. The brakes have a fantastic catch as well. The steering is well balanced too, and it responds with a wonderfully light touch.

The Seat Ibiza is available as a three door model and a five door model, both of which are equipped with hatchbacks. Standard features include speed sensitive power steering, power windows up front, an adjustable steering wheel, a CD player, an anti lock brake system, front seat air bags, and a folding year seat in the five door models.

Other features include a collapsible steering column and a mobile brake pedal, which is triggered to move out of the way if there is an accident. The dashboard features one shot moulding and it affords the front of the interior an overall sleeker, smoother appearance. The centre console extends up towards the instrument pod; from there to the centre, it angles outward, to surround the climate control system and the audio controls.

The seats in the Seat Ibiza practically breathe class and style. They are sports seats, and along with the steering wheel, they feature luxurious leather trim. The seats are solid, offering both stability and such supremely comfortable positioning that they easily invite long car rides and road trips.

At this time when people are still trying to get used to smart cars, hybrid cars, and other economically practical, environmentally safe vehicles, the Seat Ibiza is an innovative car. Innovation is sometimes punished and in this case, drivers might be wary about giving vehicles like the Ibiza a fair shot. That is understandable – one never knows how one will respond to a diesel car. However, the Seat Ibiza has been around for over twenty years, it is a name to be trusted. Even if potential buyers are still wary or simply cannot afford to buy an Ibiza should try a leasing or contract hire program. That might be more affordable in the long run and, anyway, it will give consumers a chance to experiment with the Seat Ibiza.

Written on behalf of Total Fleet Services
Seat Contract Hire - Seat Ibiza Leasing