F&I Management & Training

Mazda UK is pioneering a new look for the Europe-wide dealer network, with many of the ideas coming from members of the dealer forum in Britain and several non-car retail outlets including Apple stores influencing the new guise.

The new visual identity has been tested at Donalds Motor Group in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, where various permutations of layout, lighting, fixtures and fittings have been tried.

"It has kerb appeal just as our cars do and will make Mazda stand out in multi-franchise outlets with its premium, fresh and 21^st century feel," said Mazda UK Managing Director Jeremy Thomson. "From a customer point of view it leapfrogs the competition."

Three new Mazda dealers, recently open for business or due to open in the next few weeks, will be among the first to sport the new brand identity. The new outlets are in Croydon, south London, Derby and Harrogate, Yorkshire.

"There is more interest in the brand today than we have open points and the biggest problem is lack of suitable properties, not lack of companies wanting to take on Mazda," said Thomson.

"The focus has been on dealers being entrepreneurial about how to dress their showrooms, not us dictating," said Thomson.  The new look, which will be rolled out across the network later this year, has been designed to be cost effective and flexible for dealers providing maximum impact without being too expensive, he added.

"Dealers can choose different seating, desks and lighting. The flooring and desks that were introduced in 2004 remain the same if they want but all signage must conform to our new visual identity."

This pragmatic approach fits with Mazda UK's philosophy of making sure they remain a franchise of choice and one that "warrants serious consideration" said Thomson, pointing out that sales growth this year is on track to be up 20 percent, taking new car sales to 33,400 as a step on the way to 50,000 annual sales by 2015.

"Mazda is the ninth most searched for brand* on the internet. That is a clear measure of growth and our increasing number of awards for our SKYACTIV Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6 show a real sense of momentum," he said.

Mazda CX-5 has just won Auto Express's ‘Best Crossover' award for the second year while Mazda6 was crowned ‘Best Family Car' by the magazine - the seventh award it has received since going on sale in January.

The three new dealers who have joined or are joining the Mazda network are Drift Bridge Group in Croydon, Beechwood in Derby and Stoneacre in Harrogate.

Drift Bridge is a Surrey-based family firm adding Mazda to its well-established Volkswagen and Audi outlets that they have run since 1974. It is the first time in more than a decade that Mazda has been represented in Croydon.

Beechwood is another family firm which formerly held Subaru and MG franchises, while Stoneacre is a multi-franchise group with 29 national dealerships representing 12 brands.

DATED: 21.08.13

FEED: HA

Renault's star electric supermini ZOE is glowing after being named the most environmentally friendly fleet motor in the business.

The well-established ‘Techies' are the only awards in the industry that reward technological innovation in the corporate marketplace, helping fleets operate in a cheaper, cleaner or more efficient way.

Winning the Green Development category at the BusinessCar Fleet Technology Awards, the judges were blown away by sophisticated ZOE's industry-leading kit. Among its highlights, five ‘world premiere' features and 60 patents designed to deliver user-friendliness, range and connectivity.

BusinessCar Editor Paul Barker said: "The Renault ZOE is a huge boost to the electric vehicle sector because it's clearly the most attractive model to enter this fledgling marketplace. Renault's commitment to and investment in zero tailpipe emission vehicles is helping fleets meet their environmental and cost objectives in terms of running their vehicles, and deserves commendation."

The flagship vehicle of the French brand's four-strong 100 per cent electric vehicle range is stylish, affordable and incredibly versatile - perfect for commuting and tailor-made for environmentally aware businesses who want to downsize their fleet's engines and carbon footprint."

Phil York, Renault UK's Marketing Director, said: "ZOE represents cutting edge technology in a truly stylish package, offering everybody the opportunity to ‘go electric' at the same price as diesel-engined alternatives. 

"ZOE is a major step forward in useful technology and makes a genuine difference to the environment and the way people drive. We are delighted this has been recognised at the Techies and are very proud to receive this Green award."

ZOE hit UK showrooms in June and has a starting price of only £13,995 on-the-road after the UK Government Plug-in Car Grant deduction. It's available in three trim levels and expertly combines advanced technology with a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Monthly battery hire starts from £70 per month.

The ‘Range OptimiZEr' package of three major innovations (bi-modal regenerative braking, heat pump and Michelin EnergyTM E-V tyres) helps ZOE deliver the longest range of any purely electric vehicle in its class -  a considerable 130 miles. In real world driving, this is likely to be circa 90 miles, depending on driving style, road and weather conditions.

To make life easy, its Chameleon charger is compatible with various power sources to provide charging from 3kW up to 43kW. Depending on the power of the charging station, this results in a charging time of either 30 minutes (Fast Charge), one hour (Rapid Charge) or up to four hours from its free 7kW domestic single Wallbox, supplied and installed by British Gas.

ZOE's R-Link comprises a seven-inch embedded tablet in the dashboard with touchscreen display, steering wheel-mounted controls and voice recognition. It also features a connected store giving access to specific apps and services, as well as email and tweets.

Running alongside this innovation, the My Z.E. Inter@ctive app enables ZOE drivers to control pre-conditioning (cooling or heating of cabin temperature) and charging schedules from their smartphone or tablet - ensuring their car is always ready for business. The built-in sat nav also identifies the closest charging points en route.

The ‘Z.E. Voice' warns pedestrians of the vehicle's approach up to speeds of 18 mph, while ZOE's ‘Take Care' package includes an air ioniser to combat air pollution filtering into the cabin, as well as a fragrance diffuser to give a relaxing or stimulating environment according to occupant preference.

The Techies are judged by BusinessCar's expert panel, including new ACFO - the premier organisation for fleet operators - chairman Damian James.

For more information on ZOE as well as the complete Renault electric vehicle line-up, see www.renault.co.uk\ze. More details on the awards can be found at www.businesscar.co.uk or in the latest awards-special magazine.

DATED: 20.08.13

FEED: HA

Volkswagen has released the first details of its powerful new Volkswagen Golf R, which is set to take to the stage at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

With a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 300 PS and 280 lbs ft, and transferring its power to the road via the latest 4MOTION four-wheel drive system, the new Golf R is the fastest-accelerating production Golf yet, with a zero to 62 mph time of just 5.3 seconds (compared with 5.7 seconds for the previous model), or 4.9 seconds when fitted with the optional six-speed DSG gearbox.  Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.

The new Golf R isn't just faster, either: with combined fuel consumption of 39.8 mpg* (40.9 mpg* for the DSG version), and CO₂ emissions as low as 159 g/km it is up to 18 per cent more efficient than its predecessor.

At the heart of the R is a newly developed version of the EA888 TSI engine used in the latest Golf GTI, but in this application producing 300 PS.  Compared with the GTI's powerplant, the Golf R's engine has a modified cylinder head, exhaust valves, valve seats and springs, pistons, injection valves and turbocharger.

The Golf R's four-wheel drive is the latest fifth-generation Haldex system.  Under low loads or when coasting, the rear axle is decoupled, helping to reduce fuel consumption.  It takes only fractions of a second for drive to the rear axle to be engaged via the Haldex coupling, which is actuated by an electro-hydraulic pump.  If necessary, almost 100 per cent of power can be transferred to the rear axle.

The Golf R rides on specially tuned springs and dampers, with a ride height that's 20 mm lower than that of the standard Golf (and 5 mm lower than that of the GTI).  Adaptive Chassis Control will be available as an option.  Like the GTI and GTD, the Golf R is equipped with progressive steering, which reduces the number of turns lock to lock to just 2.1, rather than 2.75, making for an enhanced dynamic driving experience.

Visually, the Golf R is distinguished by its new front bumper design, with large air inlets, modified radiator grille with ‘R' logo and newly developed daytime running lights that are integrated into the standard bi-xenon headlights.  At the side, there are bespoke body-colour sills, while behind the standard 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/40 tyres are black-painted brake calipers with ‘R' logos.  The brakes themselves are all ventilated discs: 30 mm by 640 mm at the front and 22 mm by 310 mm at the rear.  At the rear, there are smoked LED tail lights, an ‘R' diffuser and four chrome-tipped exhaust pipes - two at either side.

The interior features sports seats with a cloth centre section and Alcantara bolsters, while the instrument dials are bespoke for the R, and include typical touches such as blue needles.

DATED: 20.08.13

FEED: HA

IN BRIEF

IN DETAIL

The 2014 model year Jaguar XJ is the latest in a long line of luxurious Jaguar sports saloons, incorporating enhanced rear cabin luxury features, comfort and in-car technology to create a truly elegant and contemporary luxury Jaguar.

"The 2014 XJ represents the summit of Jaguar's luxury saloon range. The XJ's unparalleled breadth of talent combines class-leading levels of luxury, comfort and performance with the elegant, contemporary design for which Jaguar is renowned."
Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar

The Jaguar XJ is offered with a choice of diesel and supercharged petrol 3.0-litre V6 engines and two supercharged 5.0-litre V8 petrol engines.

These engines are mated to Jaguar's eight-speed automatic gearbox which offers a broad spread of ratios for a perfectly balanced combination of smooth-shifting, economy and driver control.

The long-wheelbase models feature enhanced rear cabin luxury options which include ‘airline' style reclining seats with massage function, increased headroom and  fold-out business tables. A specially re-tuned rear suspension set-up enhances rear seat ride comfort.

The entertainment system has been enhanced with a Rear Seat Entertainment options featuring two hi-resolution touchscreens, and premium Meridian Reference Audio System with Conversation Assist.

The 14MY XJ's luxurious feel is underlined by the palette of materials used on the interior. This includes Bond grain, soft grain and semi-aniline leather, and a wide choice of veneers including Piano Black, Carbon Fibre, Gloss Burr Walnut and Satin Rosewood.

The 14MY ‘R' version of the XJ incorporates bespoke chassis and aerodynamic developments to create the most focused, agile and responsive XJR ever. Seamless performance from its 550PS/680Nm, 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine makes the XJR capable of accelerating from zero to 60mph in 4.4 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds) and on to an electronically limited top speed of 174mph (280km/h).

"With a dynamic set-up tuned for both performance and incredible comfort, the new XJR brings immense breadth of capability to the segment, creating the ultimate high-performance luxury saloon car."
Andrew Dobson, Chief Programme Engineer, Jaguar XJR

ENHANCED INTERIOR FEATURES

The 2014 XJ features a range of enhanced interior features focused on the rear cabin of the car, which upgrade both the luxury and functionality of the XJ's rear environment, resulting in the most accomplished Jaguar luxury saloon.

The rear passenger compartment of the 2014 LWB car is now available with two individual ‘airline style' reclining seats which both feature cushion and squab adjustment, three massage programs - Wave/Rolling, Lumbar and Shoulder - to provide optimum levels of relaxation during long journeys, lumbar adjustment and two memory settings for each seat. The total recline adjustment of each seat is 11 degrees, with 103mm lateral cushion movement and 14 degrees of upper articulation movement. The rear seat home positioning setting returns each seat to its home position at the touch of a button on the door panel, easing entry and exit.

The new centre armrest, which can be stowed in the upright position to allow the use of the centre seat, houses all the seat controls as well as the Front Seat Activation button which allows control of the front passenger seat from the rear.

Front seat enhancements include massage functions for each seat with five levels of intensity, allowing occupants to personalise massage settings to their preference.

Through the use of the front touchscreen, any one of the four electric seats can be selected and then fully controlled via the driver's seat switches. The rear seats can be returned to their home position by the use of the touchscreen and driver's memory buttons, and can also be programmed to return to their home position on rear door opening for ease of entry and exit.

Rear-seat passengers in the LWB version of the 2014 XJ are provided with a wide range of entertainment features. The optional Rear Seat Entertainment package comprises two 10.2" high-resolution screens mounted on the back of the front seat headrests. These can display inputs from a number of sources; the DVD player, digital TV tuner or an external media player that can be synced through the Rear Media Interface, which provides USB and RCA connections. Audio can be transmitted through the wireless headphones, allowing each passenger to watch separate entertainment sources. The rear seat environment, including the entertainment, is managed by a wireless controller housed in the centre console which also allows passengers to alter their individual climate zones and seat heating and cooling functions.

The LWB XJ also offers leather-surfaced business tables in the rear, which fold out of the seatbacks of the front seats. To keep rear seat passengers shielded from the sun, and to offer privacy, the XJ offers electric rear-side window blinds that are operated via the window lift switches. An increase in rear headroom by 13mm gives rear-seat passengers the optimum in luxurious, limousine levels of comfort.

POWERTRAIN

The 2014 XJ engine range includes powerful and efficient 3.0-litre V6 petrol and diesel engines, as well as two supercharged 5.0-litre units putting out 510PS, and in the XJR, 550PS.

Eight-speed Transmission

Maximising the benefit of the engine calibration is the eight-speed automatic transmission, which brings out the performance of the XJ while still maintaining the car's composure in town and in low-speed driving environments.

When operating in automatic mode, the transmission can detect the manner in which the car is being driven by monitoring acceleration and braking, cornering forces, throttle and brake pedal activity, road load and kickdown request. On detecting a more enthusiastic driving style, the transmission will automatically make the gearshifts more aggressive and move the shift-up point higher in the rev range. Steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles give the driver higher levels of control.

Intelligent Stop/Start system

The 14MY XJ features Jaguar's Intelligent Stop-Start system, which uses a Twin Solenoid Starter (TSS) to shut down the engine when the car comes to a halt, and restart it in less time than it takes for the driver's foot to move from the brake to the accelerator.

The system offers ‘change of mind' functionality, enabling the engine to quickly restart even during its rundown phase to allow the driver to, for example, exploit a gap in traffic at a junction. An illuminated 'ECO' symbol appears on the instrument panel when the engine has been stopped by the system. Intelligent Stop-Start can be turned off manually, but it will automatically be turned on again for the vehicle's next journey with every ignition cycle. The system operates in all modes apart from Reverse. The 14MY XJ has a secondary battery fitted specifically for engine re-starting, meaning that all the normal car systems - such as the entertainment system, the ventilation and lights - continue to receive power from the standard car battery and are unaffected by the re-start. In addition, a sophisticated control system ensures that the Stop/Start operation only occurs when the car does not require the engine for other functions.

REAR SUSPENSION ENHANCEMENTS

To underline its purpose in ensuring that passengers remain luxuriously cosseted at all times, the LWB version of the 14MY XJ features revisions to the rear suspension for optimised ride compliance, providing a smoother journey for rear seat occupants.

While this provides a truly relaxing experience for rear seat passengers, the XJ loses none of the model's core dynamic abilities and so is as rewarding to drive as it is to be driven in. The XJ's lightweight aluminium construction means a weight saving over its rivals of as much as 150kg, resulting in great advantages in terms of agility, acceleration, braking and driver feedback and involvement.

EXTERIOR FEATURES

14MY XJ customers can choose from an exterior palette comprising 15 colours: Polaris White, Ebony, Ultimate Black, Stratus Grey, Lunar Grey, Rhodium Silver, Cashmere, Osmium Blue, Dark Sapphire, Caviar, Carnelian Red, Black Amethyst, Italian Racing Red, British Racing Green and Satellite Grey.

The 14MY XJ also features soft closing door technology which ensures that the doors of the XJ are securely closed with minimum exertion and undue noise.

MERIDIAN^TM REFERENCE AUDIO SYSTEM

An optional range-topping 1300W Meridian^TM Reference Audio System - with 26 super premium speaker drive units upgraded to reduce distortion and improve linearity - is available for the 14MY XJ.

The Meridian^TM Reference Audio System incorporates two 80mm speakers and one 25mm tweeter set in the rear of the each of the front seats; this combined with the speaker drive unit upgrades delivers a concert-like experience for all vehicle occupants. The system also incorporates DEC, which is a progression of the successful Dynamic Volume Control (DVC). This utilises the microphones above each listening position to optimise the frequency response and level of the sound to compensate exactly for varying levels and types of noise registered.

The Meridian^TM Reference Audio System is visually recognisable with unique badging on the doors and rear parcel shelf and also the red cones on the door speakers, which are visible through the speaker grilles.

Conversation Assist

Conversation Assist, which is only available with the Meridian^TM Reference Audio System, utilises a microphone above each seating position and digital audio processing technology to reinforce the occupant's voice via the vehicle's audio system. This makes it much easier for occupants to be heard clearly by the other occupants in the vehicle above any cabin noise.

Conversation Assist can be activated whenever the infotainment system is on, whether audio sources are actively playing through the audio system or not, but the feature will not be active when in a phone call or voice session.

- ENDS -

Editors' notes

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS*

DATED: 20.08.13

FEED: HA

Allianz Global Assistance urges UK consumers to check the details of their warranty.

A survey of 2,000 UK car owners by Allianz Global Assistance reveals that almost half of motorists mistakenly think that extended warranty cover doesn't include the labour costs involved to conduct the repair, so are potentially undervaluing the product's benefits.

"We wanted to gain a better understanding of what motorists believe a warranty will and will not cover," says Liz Grindell, Head of Warranty at Allianz Global Assistance in the UK. "Interestingly, whilst 61% of those we surveyed correctly think failure of mechanical components is covered, it highlights that 39% don't.  Furthermore, 61% of our survey respondents do not appreciate that failed electrical components could be covered, such as CD players and electric windows."

Wear and tear related claims is a further interesting point gleaned from the survey, which showed 28% of customers think wear and tear items are covered by warranty. Allianz Global Assistance, one of the UK's largest providers of manufacturer warranty schemes, warns motorists that whilst warranty schemes do offer motorists vital cover for unexpected mechanical and electrical failure, not all schemes cover payment for routine servicing items such as batteries or items that wear out, such as brake pads or windscreen wiper blades.   It urges motorists to get a clear picture of the protection offered and to take advantage of the 14-day cooling off cancellation period, should they change their mind after they have bought the policy.

The findings from Allianz Global Assistance demonstrate a widespread lack of understanding of how a warranty can be a real financial lifeline when a vehicle is hit by a mechanical or electrical failure.  These failures can often come with a big repair bill. To help motorists make their minds up about whether to purchase warranty, motorists should ask their local Dealer to provide some indicative repair costs in the event of a mechanical or electrical failure, such as engine failure or a faulty suspension, to get a true indication of the cost savings a warranty can bring.

"Investing in a warranty doesn't have to be expensive or considered a luxury, even for an older, higher mileage vehicle as there are a lot of flexible packages now available," concludes Liz Grindell.  "As a result of our survey we are now enhancing our product wording so that consumers have more of the right kind of information to hand to help them make a knowledgeable purchase decision."

*An independent survey of 2000 people was conducted on behalf of Allianz Global Assistance UK.  The respondents represented the UK on a national level by region, gender and age.  All were car owners or had the regular use of a car in the household. Company car only drivers were excluded.

DATED: 20.08.13

FEED: HA

As Cumbrian dairy farmer quad bike is recovered by TRACKER

Cumbria Police has launched a rural crime initiative, supported by TRACKER, the leading stolen vehicle and assets recovery experts to increase public awareness of the growing issue of rural crime. Through a series of local events, the scheme aims to get members of the community to report suspicious activity to police immediately and by noting down the registration details of suspicious vehicles.

The initiative is also being backed by a Cumbria dairy farmer who had a quad bike stolen in 2012, at a financial loss of over £2k, only to become a victim again in May 2013. Luckily with the foresight of being a victim of crime once, this canny farmer had fitted a TRACKER to the new quad bike and within 12 hours of the tracking unit being activated it was recovered.

Stolen quad bike victim and supporter of the Cumbria Police initiative says, "Being a victim of theft made us more vigil and we took the steps to get TRACKER units installed on our new quad bike as well as our tractor and car. The quad bike had been in storage over winter and unfortunately some of the wiring had been nibbled at by mice so my son was fixing it.  By coincidence, only a few days before the theft, we received a call from TRACKER to enquire if we still owned our quad bike. It turned out that   due to the fact my son had disconnected the battery during repairing the wiring, a  signal had been triggered to TRACKER, hence they were checking up on the situation. A few days later the quad bike was actually stolen. As soon as we realised it had been taken we alerted the police and TRACKER, and to our relief the quad bike was recovered in a matter of hours."

Adrian Davenport, Police Liaison Officer for TRACKER comments, "Rural thefts cause a lot of heartache and inconvenience to victims, whose livelihood often depends on these items. In many cases criminals will watch farms to determine where vehicles and machinery are stored and then steal them in the dead of night. It is great to see Cumbria Police taking such positive action and TRACKER is only too pleased to support them and members of the rural communities."

TRACKER is celebrating 20 years of the successful vehicle recovery, and it's this expertise which makes TRACKER the leader in stolen plant and agricultural recovery. Designed specifically for the plant and agricultural sector, TRACKER Plant offers an unrivalled level of protection against theft, as well as significantly increasing the chances of recovery. The system is Thatcham approved, offering added quality assurance. TRACKER also offers battery-powered TRACKER Retrieve, ideal for assets without access to a power source.

DATED: 20.08.13

FEED: HA

In 2012 the Road Haulage Association, in partnership with solicitors Backhouse Jones, formed RHA Legal Services to provide a comprehensive support, representation, legal advice and assistance service exclusive to members of the RHA.*

In fact the scheme has been so successful that in its first year, RHA Legal Services was a finalist in the Commercial Initiative of the Year category at the 2013 Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards.  

According to RHA Director of Operations, Richard Ellithorne: "Put simply; if you and your business are frustrated by compliance - whether it's dealing with employment or regulatory issues, prosecutions or just looking for advice, RHA Legal Services is there for you when you need it".

RHA Legal Services now has over 2,000 members and has received over 1,200 phone calls asking for legal advice and assistance.  Employment issues continue to rise with frequent calls regarding TUPE and disciplinary issues and the regulatory department at Backhouse Jones has been busy with a whole range of topics including public inquiries, clandestines and overloading. 

Concluding, Richard Ellithorne said: "We were pleased when, on the closure of one case, the member in question called to "express his appreciation for all the hard work and professionalism shown by RHA Legal Services in our VOSA enquiry...the solicitor dealing with the case showed empathy towards us and helped us through a difficult time and his leadership and advice has enabled us to reach a satisfactory conclusion.  We would have no hesitation in using his services again and recommend him highly".

*subject to a modest annual subscription fee based on the number of vehicles operated.

DATED: 20.08.13

FEED: HA

Whitley, UK. 20 August 2013 - One of the most successful Land Rover vehicles ever made, the Range Rover Evoque, makes a further leap forward with the introduction of a host of new technologies.  These enhancements lower fuel consumption by up to 11.4 percent and reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 9.5 percent - depending on model - and bring a range of new comfort, convenience and connectivity features.

Customers ordering vehicles from the 2014 range, on sale in quarter four 2013 in the UK, will benefit from newly-available features, including: a new 9-speed automatic transmission, new driveline technologies, seven new driver assistance features and detail design enhancements inside and out.

First shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the ZF-9HP automatic transmission is among the world's first 9-speed units fitted to a passenger car.  It has an ultra-fast response time, described by ZF as "below the threshold of perception" and an adaptive shift programme that quickly matches the driving style.  With a wide spread of ratios and improved efficiency, the new transmission delivers improved economy, reduced emissions, enhanced performance and greater comfort.

For the 2014 model, the driver assistance capabilities of Evoque are significantly enhanced by the introduction of features including: Park Exit (to automatically exit parallel parking bays), Perpendicular Park (to position the car centrally in parking bays), Closing Vehicle Sensing and Reverse Traffic Detection (to warn drivers of oncoming traffic), Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition and Wade Sensing.

The brand new Land Rover InControl^TM connected car system, available as an option, incorporates two new features - InControl^TM Remote and InControl^TM Secure. 

Land Rover InControl^TM Remote allows owners to trigger an SOS Emergency Call which automatically informs the emergency services of the vehicle's position, in the event of an accident.  A button concealed behind a flap in the overhead console (to avoid accidental triggering), activates the system manually.  A second button connects to Land Rover Assistance if the need for technical assistance arises. 

Land Rover InControl^TM Secure tracksthe vehicle in the event of a theft using advance tracking technology. It raises a silent alarm at a secure operating centre where a third party service provider will assist the relevant local authorities in a timely recovery of the vehicle.  The system ensures the vehicle complies with the Thatcham Category 6 standard.

Available as an option, Active Driveline, is the world's first ‘on demand' four-wheel drive system which enhances agility and improves fuel efficiency by operating in front-wheel drive only during steady-state driving at speeds above 22mph.  The new system monitors vehicle dynamics and automatically reconnects four-wheel drive (within 300 milliseconds) whenever it is needed.  Active Driveline also features Active Torque Biasing with electronic-Diff (e-Diff) technology to distribute torque between the rear wheels, optimising traction and stability. Active Driveline will be available initially on the Si4 petrol engine.

In addition, a Torque Vectoring by Braking feature, available across all powertrains, further enhances agility and safety by redirecting torque between all four wheels to counteract understeer. It features in both the Active Driveline and the Evoque's standard four-wheel drive system.

"With global sales of more than 170,000 vehicles in just 18 months, the Range Rover Evoque has proven to be hugely successful and the 2014 model is destined to have even greater appeal. 

We are thrilled to be moving the Evoque on to the next stage and believe the exciting new driveline technology, driver safety and convenience features plus the Land Rover InControl^TM connectivity capability (using advanced mobile technology to keep owners connected with their vehicle, their world and Land Rover services), make the 2014 Evoque an unbeatable choice for customers seeking the ultimate in compact SUV vehicles," said Land Rover Global Brand Director, John Edwards.

In addition to the new technologies, there are detail changes to the Evoque's exterior, new colour options for the interior, four new alloy wheel styles and a new style of Land Rover badge on the grille, wheel centres and tailgate.

The 2014 Evoque continues to be powered by Land Rover's range of economical and light weight four-cylinder engines with a choice of either the 2.2 diesel 150PS engine, 2.2 diesel 190PS engine or 2.0 Petrol 240PS engine (depending on market).  With the new 9-speed automatic transmission and Active Driveline, fuel economy (for EU-5 compliant vehicles) is improved by up to 11.4 percent and CO₂ emissions are reduced by as much as 9.5 percent.  Combined fuel consumption for the 2014 range is up to 57.6 mpg, with CO₂emissions starting from as low as 129 g/km.

DATED: 20.08.13

FEED: HA

According to the latest new car sales analysis from JATO Dynamics, the world's leading provider of automotive intelligence, Europe's new car market experienced a 4.9% increase in sales in July, with 48,202 more new cars sold in July 2013 compared to July 2012. Overall, the market remains behind 2012 performance, down by 5.2% year-to-date.

JATO's headline market analysis:

Out of the ‘Big Five' markets, Italy was the only country to experience a decrease in sales in July, with a drop of 1.8%. While the other ‘Big Five' markets were up for the month, Great Britain was the only market to post an increase for year-to-date figures; 124,287 more new cars have been sold in Great Britain than during the same period in 2012, representing a 10.3% increase.

France, Germany and Italy, however, all remain down by a considerable amount on 2012. Year-to-date, France is down 9.7%, Germany 6.7% and Italy 9.3% on the same period in 2012. Combined, these three countries have sold 328,818 fewer cars than in 2012 (the European year-to-date total is down by 412,335 units).

Making a significant improvement in July was Spain, which registered 10,763 more new cars in July 2013 than in July 2012. The 16.5% increase is welcome news and Spain is now just 1.3% down year-to-date 2013 compared to 2012.

Following last month, Ireland's first ever mid-year number plate change has had the expected result, with sales increasing 163.2% over July 2012.

Sales by Market

NOTE: * denotes estimated volumes for July 2013

Volkswagen led the top 10 manufacturers table this month, despite recording the largest fall in sales in the top 10 for 2013 year-to-date. Volkswagen sales are down 6.9% (69,872 units) so far this year compared to the same period in 2012.

The largest year-to-date percentage decrease however was reported by Citroen, down by 14.1% (62,219 units) compared to the same period in 2012 and by 2.7% (1,445 units) versus July 2012.

Of the top 10 manufacturers, BMW, Ford and Mercedes all posted increases of over 10% in monthly sales compared to 2012. Ford were up 10.4%, BMW 13.2%, and Mercedes 15.0%. Within the top 10, only Mercedes posted increases for both monthly and year-to-date figures; up by 3.7% (13,341 units) year-to-date.

Top 10 Brands

Volkswagen led the top 10 European models for July with the Golf and Polo taking first and second place. That said, the Polo has seen a fall in sales this year, reporting an 11.3% drop over the same period last year. So far this year 21,115 fewer Volkswagen Polo's have been sold compared to 2012.

However, the largest decrease in the top 10 was experienced by the Opel/Vauxhall Astra, selling 22,791 fewer units (15.7% decrease) in 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. The Opel/Vauxhall Corsa also saw a drop in sales, with 18,510 fewer units sold (11.1% decrease) over the same period, leaving it in ninth position this month.

BMW are enjoying success with the latest generation 3-Series, selling 48.0% more units in July 2013 compared to July 2012. The boost in July sales helped year-to-date figures record a 17.1% increase over 2012.

Vice President of Research at JATO Dynamics, Gareth Hession, commented: "This month has shown a real mix of fortunes. Volkswagen led both manufacturer and model tables this month but has seen an overall fall in sales. Four of the ‘Big Five' countries have increased sales figures for July but only Great Britain has increased year-to-date. The positive signs are promising to see, but many markets and manufacturers remain down year-to-date as a whole."

Top 10 Models

NOTE: Percentage changes for the Peugeot 208 are not representative due to the new model's introduction in 2012 and have therefore been removed from the table

For more information visit www.jato.com, or email jatoteam@firstlightpr.com

DATED: 20.08.13

FEED: HA