Motoring: VW scandal may affect whole industry

THE now well-documented decision by Volkswagen to try  to manipulate exhaust emissions tests in the United States has backfired on the company in more ways than one.

Its share price was sent tumbling and it was forced to make the kind of grovelling apologies which are beloved by everyone except the shareholders of the offender.

The old adage that cheats never prosper could now be about to come back and bite VW on the rump.

But will they be the only ones affected by this whole sorry affair?
Well, no they won’t.

The actions of one company have now muddied the waters for the whole industry and many buyers will be left asking themselves the same question – well if they did it, did anyone else?

The problem is it has sown the element of doubt in the buyer’s mind and they may never be certain any other manufacturer is telling the truth.

That is a sad state of affairs and one that the industry could well do without at the moment.

The fortunate thing for the UK car industry is that it appears untarnished by what has happened.

The recall announced by VW appears to be confined to its own brand vehicles, meaning the likes of Audi, Seat and Skoda are all unaffected, as is crucially to the UK industry, Bentley.

Any whiff of scandal around the luxury market is unwelcome and when your stable also includes Lamborghini and Bugatti then you cannot afford to take any risks.

But then with the company the size of VW – the world’s second largest vehicle producer – is the apparent perpetrator, who knows if the rules even apply any more.

This is what UK trade body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders had to say.

In a statement, it said: “The UK automotive industry understands the concerns consumers may have following the actions of one manufacturer in regard to emissions testing and the subsequent decision to recall a large number of its cars.

“This is, however, an issue affecting just one company and there is no evidence to suggest that any other company is involved, let alone that this is an industry-wide issue.
 
“Consumers should be reassured that cars sold in the UK must comply with strict European laws. All cars must complete a standard emissions test, which, unlike in the US, is independently witnessed by a government-appointed independent agency.
 
“On the separate on-going debate about real world testing, industry accepts that the current test method for cars is out of date and is seeking agreement from the European Commission for a new emissions test that embraces new testing technologies and which is more representative of on-road conditions.”

This should at least go some way towards restoring faith in the UK industry.

As for what happens in the US and Germany, that remains to be seen.

Astra set for new lease of life

IT is sad that Emissionsgate will do so much to overshadow a lot of the positive news surrounding the UK motor industry.

A week ago, UK manufacturers held sway at the Frankfurt Motor Show when the major concern facing most companies was whether they could overcome a possible downturn in the emerging economies.

Now with the industry seeming to have shot itself in the foot, that particular ladder looks a little steeper.

Nevertheless, there are still reasons to be positive – none more so than a special landmark in the history of a British icon, the Vauxhall Astra.

Along with the Ford Escort/Focus it has been a best seller for the best part of three decades.

Now, to celebrate the launch of the all-new seventh generation Astra, workers at the Ellesmere Port manufacturing plant – home of the Astra for over 36 years – choreographed 128 new models to create the image of the Union Jack flag.

Vauxhall’s seventh generation Astra is the 11th major model-line to be built at Ellesmere Port and guarantees 2,000 jobs at the Cheshire plant over the next decade.  The plant secured a long-term contract in 2012 and a £140m investment which further demonstrates the brand’s continued commitment to manufacturing the iconic car in Britain.

The patriotic image, orchestrated in under 24-hours, pays tribute to more than 36 years of manufacturing the Brit-built best-seller, which has seen over five million cars roll off the Ellesmere Port production line.

Three million have been sold in the UK alone – with 50,000 in the past 12 months and two million exported to 25 European markets. It is estimated that at full production in 2016, the plant will build approximately 680 Astras per day with further growth in subsequent years.

Tim Tozer, Vauxhall’s chairman and managing director said: “The all-new Brit built Astra raises the bar in terms of quality, design and connectivity.  Lighter than ever before, with new powertrains and cutting-edge technology, the new Astra is set to shake up the C-segment when it arrives in showrooms.

“The Vauxhall Astra has been one of Britain’s best-selling and most-loved cars produced for over three decades. The next generation Astra not only continues to drive this legacy and celebrate the strong British heritage of the brand, but is also a key investment for the home of the Astra – Ellesmere Port – and celebrating the workers who have built the vehicle to world class levels of quality and productivity, making it a household name.”

The all-new Astra is in Vauxhall showrooms from October, priced from £15,295 on the road.

New BMW X1 set to continue original model’s success

BMW’s compact Sports Activity Vehicle, the X1, was a huge success following its launch in 2009. More than 730,000 of the first generation vehicle were sold globally – 40,000 in the UK alone.

Now an all-new BMW X1 has been unveiled, which features dynamic BMW X styling, a sporting character blended with efficiency, and an array of innovative comfort, safety and infotainment features.
 
Featuring an all-new range of engines and gearboxes, plus the latest version of BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the second generation of the BMW X1 is said to exemplify BMW’s EfficientDynamics philosophy. At market launch, one petrol engine and three diesel options are offered.

The vehicle’s proportions hint at its off-road capabilities, while the sculpted surfaces and genre-specific design features clearly mark the X1 out as a member of the BMW X model family.

The new car has grown most notably in height compared to its predecessor (+53mm), which helps to create extra space in the interior. When viewed from the side, the window surfaces taper towards the rear creating a particularly dynamic impression. At the rear, the central section of the rear apron rises up significantly, mimicking the frontal styling.

Customers can choose from two non-metallic and 11 metallic exterior paint finishes for their new BMW X1, while the Estoril Blue metallic shade is also offered exclusively for the M Sport model.