Motoring: Fleet bosses crying out for Skoda

WITH Volkswagen’s name being mud at the moment, the senior managers at the German firm will be anxiously hoping the brands in the rest of its portfolio are not tarred with the same brush.

While luxury brands, Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini appear safe, the focus switches to the executive and volume sectors, represented by Audi, Seat and finally Skoda.

So long the industry’s laughing stock, there are few these days who raise even a snigger when Škoda’s name is mentioned, such has been the transformation of the brand under its German ownership.

With a busy end to 2015 and fleet sales soaring, the last thing Skoda wants is a whiff of scandal, even more so because of the impending launch of its flagship model, the new Superb.

The brand’s fleet team is currently said to be experiencing unprecedented demand for its award-winning range of models with corporate and SME sales up 22% compared to 2014. The arrival this month of the all-new Superb is certain to give these impressive figures an even bigger boost before the year is out – provided it escapes Emissionsgate.

Since its UK launch this summer, Škoda said it had seen requests for fleet test drives of the new Superb rise to an unprecedented level, prompting a fleet of vehicles to be assigned exclusively for corporate and SME customer demonstrations.

Škoda has developed the new Superb to have strong appeal with fleet buyers, with running costs among the lowest in the sector. Factor in the Superb’s spacious and incredibly practical cabin and generous equipment levels then providing you are prepared to look beyond the badge then the case for the car is exceptionally strong.

Designed to meet the specific needs of the fleet market, an SE Business trim level adds a raft of additional equipment over the already well-equipped SE model.

The specification includes upmarket Alcantara upholstery, front and rear parking sensors and stylish sunset glass from the B-pillar back.

Škoda’s acclaimed Amundsen touchscreen satellite navigation system with Bluetooth is included as standard, as well as SmartLink (which integrates mobile phone functions via Apple CarPlay, MirrorLink and Google Android Auto). Also featured is Drive mode selection, which enables drivers to choose between Eco, Sport or Normal driving profiles.

Patrick McGillycuddy, head of fleet at Škoda UK, said: “It’s already been a strong year for Škoda with 22% growth on last year, and we are already experiencing huge levels of interest for the new Superb.

“The Fleet team have been working hard to place the new Superb on the list of every Fleet Manager from Dover to Dundee. The level of interest in a demonstration in the new model has far out-stripped our expectations and they’re barely off the production line.”

The new Superb is available from just £18,585 and benefit in kind (BIK) of just 16%.The car is also available from just £200 a month (plus VAT and initial rental) with Contract Hire.

Emissions fallout prompts new calls from alternative fuel lobby

THE fallout (if such a term is not too derogatory) from VW’s emissions scandal continues to rock the industry – and is likely to do so for some time to come.

Perhaps not surprisingly the alternative fuel lobby has been quick to pounce and promote the advantages of less polluting cars, whether they be electric or not.

One campaign is proposing the re-introduction of autogas LPG powered models.

Cars running on autogas LPG are significantly cleaner than their diesel and petrol counterparts, emitting 80% less NO2 emissions and 98% fewer particulates than diesels. These harmful pollutants are a key contributor to the current air quality problems in the UK.

In mainland Europe, more than 17 vehicle manufacturers offer autogas LPG powered models directly from their showroom, of which some are even manufactured in the UK. However, despite the technology being fully developed and widely embraced across the rest of Europe, no vehicle manufacturers currently offer LPG variants within their UK range.

“For some time we’ve been calling upon vehicle manufacturers to offer UK motorists the same level of choice as those in mainland Europe with the re-introduction of LPG variants into their range,” said Linda Gomersall, general manager, Autogas.

“It’s clear from the latest revelations about the emissions that UK businesses and individuals want a credible, cleaner alternative immediately. LPG is a proven, cleaner solution with an established refuelling and servicing infrastructure already in place. We simply need vehicle manufacturers to make LPG ready cars available in the UK and together we can help make a significant improvement to the UK’s air quality.”

The autogas lobby claims the environmental credentials of the product have been proven in a series of independent laboratory and real-world tests. The most recent study conducted by Dr Eric Johnson, of Atlantic Consulting, across nearly 9,000 cars and vans between 2011-13 showed that autogas LPG offered significantly greater environmental benefits than the other fuel types under consideration, which included diesel, petrol and CNG.

Due to its better environmental performance, LPG also attracts a lower duty meaning that not only can users improve their environmental performance, but they also save money too.

Around 150,000 motorists in the UK who currently use LPG, pay an average of 54.7p per litre to fill their tanks, compared to around 109.38p for diesel.

“The LPG solution is cleaner, proven and readily available so we’d urge car makers to make them available at their earliest opportunity,” added Gomersall.

Autogas is a joint venture between Shell and Calor. Established in 2000 with the sole aim of making automotive LPG more readily available to fleet and private motorists, the company now has LPG refuelling installations on more than 215 petrol forecourts throughout the UK.

Jaguar puts its best foot forward

THE association between automotive manufacturers and lifestyle brands stretches back almost as far as the invention of the car itself.

The association is a simple but effective marketing tool. If a manufacturer wants to enhance the appeal of its product, all it has to do is team it up with an exclusive designer label and instantly its status is transformed.

Some cars of course sell themselves and therefore gimmicks are superfluous. However, it’s always nice to add a touch of glamour.

Jaguar Land Rover has recently demonstrated this by showcasing the special vehicles which will feature in the forthcoming Bond film, Spectre.

Not content with that, the manufacturer is now teaming up with Oliver Sweeney for a special range of co-developed shoes.

Named Weslake and Sayer, the two new styles of formal driving shoe are said to be “celebrations of the company’s design and engineering heritage”.

Malcolm Sayer was one of the company’s most famous designers, the man credited with the C-type, D-type, E-type, XJ-S and the unique XJ13; whilst Harry Weslake was Jaguar’s legendary engine designer.

Julian Thomson, Jaguar’s Advanced Design Director, said: “This is a great relationship as both Jaguar and Oliver Sweeney have much in common: British craftsmanship, artistry and a love of the creative process.  Above all we’re all very proud of this latest collection that we’ve created together.”

Designed and developed using similar processes to those adopted by Jaguar design, the shoe styles were sculpted and refined in clay first, before 3-D printing using composite plastics for pre-production sign off.  The prototypes were then sent as an approved design to the Oliver Sweeney factory in Italy to be hand crafted and stitched in to finished shoes.

The new Jaguar by Oliver Sweeney range of formal driving shoes goes on sale from October 1.