Lifestyle Mazda Celebrates Top Fleet Award for Mazda6

The Mazda6, available at Lifestyle Mazda in Crawley and Horsham, has beaten off stiff competition to be named ‘Best Large Family Car’ at the 2009 Fleet News Awards. The accolade provides yet another reason for local businesses to choose the Mazda6 for fleets and for company car drivers.

The latest generation Mazda6 went on sale in Crawley and Horhsam early in 2008 and its very competitive running costs and stylish design were key factors in the model winning the award, along with the car’s availability as a saloon, five-door hatch and estate.

“The Mazda6, as highlighted by the Fleet News awards judges, delivers a compelling wholelife cost package that puts the car ahead of the upper medium sector pack,” commented Mark Spowage, dealer principal at Lifestyle Mazda. “The very competitive pricing of the Mazda6, its track record for reliability and its specification contained within a stylish package makes the model a ‘must have’ not just for the awards judges but for fleets and company car drivers across Britain.”

The award was presented at a glittering ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel recently. The independent panel of fleet expert judges declared: “With a stylish design that stands out on the road, the Mazda6 offers drivers something different to the norm in this sector. We were also impressed with the wholelife cost performance, new range of diesel engines and its driving appeal.”

The 26-model Mazda6 range is available at the Manor Royal, Crawley and Bishopric, Horsham showrooms from just £14,891 on-the-road. The range of models, which include 1.8, 2.0 and 2.5-litre petrol engines, has recently been supplemented by a choice of three 2.2-litre diesel engines available in 125ps, 163ps and 185ps power outputs.

Lightweight technology utilised by Mazda engineers mean that all the models deliver fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions levels that are among the best available in the upper medium sector. Crucially for businesses, fleet buyers and company car drivers, the lower the CO2 figure the lower the benefit-in-kind tax bill, which is also reflected in business car-related corporate tax savings.

Couple the Mazda6’s cash-saving advantages in terms of fuel and tax with residual values that at the benchmark three-year/60,000 miles are among the best in the sector, and it underlines why the model overcame the other finalists – the Honda Accord and Toyota Avensis – to win the ‘Best Large Family Car’ title.

The triumph in the 2009 Fleet News Awards follows the Mazda6 winning the ‘Best New Car’ award at the 2008 Fleet World Honours in May last year, just months after going on sale. This is the second time Mazda6 has been awarded by Fleet News after receiving the Fleet News Award 2003 for Best Upper Medium Car.

To find out more about the Mazda6 range or to arrange a test-drive please visit Lifestyle Mazda

Lifestyle Mazda in Crawley and Horsham - Your preferred Mazda Dealer for New Cars, Used Cars and Servicing in Sussex

Scrap: Lifestyle Europe Backs Campaign

Lifestyle Europe managing director Peter Isted is just one dealer boss backing the Car Dealer Magazine call for a UK scrappage scheme.

He says creating consumer demand must be the goal of the government’s support package.

Here, in an exclusive blog for Car Dealer magazine, the Eward-winning dealer tells us why he backs our Scrap Scheme Now campaign.

Where the real problem lies at the moment is within the consumer market for all cars.

It’s simple economics of supply and demand.

To keep manufacturers afloat just to build vehicles that sit unsold in a field is rather a backward step.

What the scrappage scheme would do is stimulate that overall consumer demand – actually generate footfall through the showroom and bring back some amount of confidence to a public largely too nervous to make any form of sizeable investment right now.

The great thing about the scheme is that it’s much broader in its benefit than manufacturer aimed finance.

Not only does the car buyer make a significant saving on the purchase and get to own a much less polluting car with all the associated savings but RMIF figures suggest that the scheme would be self-funding for the government, based on VAT receipts (VAT? Oh yes, perhaps this will work slightly better than the two per cent cut that was going to cause a stampede to dealerships…)

scrapPlus, the good news from the dealer’s point of view is that the scrappage scheme is proven to have a positive effect. You only have to look at sales figures from Germany to see how influential it’s been.

With a guarantee of 2,500 euros for a trade-in on any car over nine years old against a Euro 4 compliant model, last month’s sales across Germany were up 21 per cent!

This equates to record growth and is expected to contribute to a rise in annual sales of around 600,000.

Compare that to sales in the UK which were down year on year by a similar figure and it’s clear to see that action is needed.

At Lifestyle, sales have not suffered as much as they have across the board – with flagship Ford franchises we’ve benefited from the introduction of the ECOnetic range, including the award winning Fiesta that will return 76 mpg. That’s certainly helped attract the cost-conscious motorist.

However, without wanting to sound all Karl Marx, imagine the boost if those with the oldest and most polluting cars had access to a modern efficient vehicle with an initial outlay that seemed less daunting.

That’s the beauty of the scrappage scheme – it really would benefit all levels of customer, as well as removing nearly all non-catalytic cars from the roads, helping the government make a dent in its ever more unachievable target of a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions.

To find out more about the Ford, Renault, Mazda or Subaru range please visit Lifestyle Europe

Source [Car Dealer Magazine]

Scrap: Manufacturer Backs Campaign

Car manufacturer top brass from Ford and Renault have backed The Car Dealer Magazine Scrap Scheme Now campaign.

Speaking exclusively to Car Dealer Magazine, Ford of Britain managing director Nigel Sharp told them he believed such a scheme is just what the industry needs.

‘Ford supports a UK scrappage incentive scheme,’ he told them. ‘Like those successfully introduced on the continent, such a scheme would provide cash incentives to scrap older cars for new cars with lower emissions.

‘New car sales have been boosted, helping to retain employment and to provide tax revenue to governments, which helps to balance the incentive payments.

‘Even if approved by BERR, the details of any UK scrappage scheme are unlikely to be unveiled before the budget on April 22 and the time required to put the necessary arrangements in place make it difficult to introduce a scheme before Q3 2009.’

French maker Renault has also backed the Scrap Scheme Now campaign.

Marketing director Emmanuel Bouvier said: ‘We welcome the potential for a scrappage scheme.

‘We currently have 85 cars in our range that comply with the Renault Eco2 signature. These are all built in factories that have achieved the strict ISO14001 standard, produce below 140g/km of emissions, are 95 per cent recyclable at end of life and are built with at least five per cent of the plastics coming from recycled sources.

‘This strategy, and the potential for removing older, more polluting vehicles from the roads, will be good for customers and the environment.’

To find out more about the Ford, Renault, Mazda or Subaru range please visit Lifestyle Europe

Source [Car Dealer Magazine]

Scott Keeps Cool With Lifestyle Ford

The service with a smile ethos at Lifestyle Ford in Horsham helped the company win a contract to supply a fleet of cars amidst stiff competition.

The team at Lifestyle Ford, based in the Bishopric, worked with Scott Combustion, a specialist burner / boiler company in East Grinstead, to provide the right cars for the company’s fleet.

“Steve, the MD of the company wanted his employees to be more comfortable than in their current vans,” explained Mark Wilson, Fleet Sales Executive, “we suggested Ford Mondeos, complete with sat nav because the guys from Scott have to drive all round the country – and we didn’t want them getting lost! Steve was happy with our recommendation and the whole fleet are Mondeos. They have all been sign written, and we think they really look the business. We’re thrilled at another successful partnership with a business in the area.”

Steve Scott the Managing Director of Scott Combustion, says, “I was very impressed with the service I received from the staff at Lifestyle Ford and the information they provided made the choice of car very easy. Economy, reliability and comfort were at the top of our list and these cars fulfill all the criteria. My staff are very happy with the cars and we will be adding more to our fleet in the near future.”

Lifestyle Ford regularly partners with other local companies to provide cars for fleets and recently provided a selection of vans for Saxon Weald for its latest service, HOMEFIX.

As well as the Lifestyle Ford and Mazda dealership in Horsham, Lifestyle has showrooms in Crawley, Eastbourne, Redhill, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, operating franchises of Isuzu, Renault and Subaru.

For more information please visit Lifestyle Ford

Mazda 1 Scooped

New spies reveal baby Mazda on test - Don’t be fooled by the bodywork, these spyshots reveal Mazda’s ultra ambitious new Kiyora city car - due for launch next year.

Here’s ‘1’ for the album! These exclusive spy shots are the first to show just how far Mazda’s plans to launch a new city car have come.

Based on the Kiyora concept car first shown at the Paris Motor Show in 2008, the innovative machine is due to hit the road in 2011 - and this test mule is the makers first step along the path to its launch.

Though based on a ‘2’ this test car has a short wheelbase, and a dummy bonnet. It also features differently shaped taillights and headlamps, and shorter rear doors. We also spotted a differently shaped and placed fuel filler cap and a different rear hatch. And that’s not all!

Under the skin, there’s a 1.3-litre direct-injection petrol engine, with a Smart Idle Stop System (SISS) that automatically shuts down and restarts the engine as required.

The unit is mated to a newly developed six-speed automatic transmission system which boasts similar fuel efficiency as a manual system.

Putting these technologies together limits CO2 emissions to just 90g/km or less. Let’s hope that – at least – this innovative system will make it into the production Mazda 1. Judging from the thin camouflage found on this prototype, me reckon we’ll see the car’s official presentation at the Frankfurt Show in September this year.

To find out more about the Mazda range please visit Lifestyle Mazda

Source [Auto Express]

Lifestyle Mazda in Crawley and Horsham - Your preferred Mazda Dealer for New Cars, Used Cars and Servicing in Sussex

Ford Fiesta Mountune

Can’t wait for a flagship Fiesta st? Brit Firm may have the answer, as it turns up heat on supermini.

Ford has a long and glorious history of building fast Fiestas, from the XR2i of the late Eighties to the previous-generation ST. The fact that the hottest version currently on sale is the 120bhp 1.6-litre Zetec S – a car that’s quick, but hardly the fastest in class – is seen by many as something of a disappointment, however. So, the blue oval has come to its senses, and is aiming to put things right!

Although it has yet to develop its own Fiesta hot hatch, Ford hopes to plug the gap in the line-up by commissioning British engineering firm Mountune to produce a successor to the ST. It’s based on the standard 1.6-litre machine, and adds a dramatic bodykit to a range of engine modifications to create a car that will deliver an impressive 140bhp at a howling 6,800rpm.

And it’s not only new owners who will benefit from Mountune’s efforts; drivers of existing 1.6-litre petrol models will be able to boost their Fiesta’s performance with a new package of tuning parts that are exactly the same as those fitted to the showroom-ready car. Available through Ford dealers next month, the tuning kit doesn’t affect the warranty, insurance group or road tax.

For fast Ford fans, all this sounds too good to be true. But can a package of aftermarket tweaks really improve the latest Fiesta enough to match the appeal of yesterday’s heroes? We got behind the wheel to find out.

Modifications

Visually, the Mountune Fiesta doesn’t look that different to a regular Zetec S model. It sits on the same sports suspension, and there are no major styling tweaks. The thinking is that the Fiesta is capable enough already, and adding visual modifications would make it expensive.

Instead, this model stands out thanks to its yellow mirror covers, a yellow go-faster stripe and black alloy wheels with bright yellow edging. If these are too boy racer for you, simply ignore them and specify the performance modifications to the engine.

Much of the car’s additional 20bhp comes from tweaks to the computer that controls the 1.6-litre unit.

This includes a more aggressive rev limiter, which cuts in abruptly at 6,800rpm, rather than the standard car’s softer 6,500rpm limit. As well as the ECU tweaks, there’s a new exhaust manifold and re-worked exhaust system, while an uprated air filter allows the engine to breathe more freely.

Although a gain of 20bhp doesn’t sound that dramatic, in a small model such as the Fiesta it’s sufficient to slash the 0-60mph sprint time by two seconds to 7.9 seconds. Coincidentally, that’s the same figure as the Fiesta ST managed to cover the benchmark dash.

However, where this car scores is with the noise it makes. A characterful engine note fills the cabin as the revs rise. It doesn’t become irritating, but offers a gratifyingly audible reward when you want to drive the Fiesta hard.

While Mountune has avoided changing the suspension, it has fitted Dunlop Sportmax tyres, which provide greater grip than the standard rubber. They’re a cost-effective way of further improving the already impressive Fiesta package, as they help the car turn in with even more precision, while aiding braking and giving more traction for acceleration.

All of this adds up to a hot Ford supermini that’s a worthy successor to the original Fiesta ST...

To find out more about the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Ford

Source [Auto Express] Written By James Foxall / Photos By Matt Richardson

Lifestyle Ford in Crawley, Horsham, Redhill, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge - Your preferred Ford Dealer for New Cars, Used Cars and Car Servicing in Kent, Sussex and Surrey

Pay-to-scrap scheme on the way

Scrap your old banger and you could soon get £2,000 off a new car!

It's cash for scrap! The Government has hinted it will give the green light to a revolutionary scheme that will see owners get £2,000 off the price of a new car if they agree to scrap their old one.

Likely to be announced in the April budget, the scheme is designed to stimulate new car sales and get older, more polluting models off the road. It would apply to cars at least nine years old with owners able to get up to a £2,000 tax-funded discount off a new car or a nearly-new car that is less than one year old.

The Government is studying similar successful schemes already in use in Germany and Italy. If applied to the UK car market, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) estimates that the scheme could boost the industry by up to 250,000 sales.

The move comes after months of pressure by car makers who are experiencing sliding new car sales.

To find out more about the Ford, Renault, Mazda or Subaru range please visit Lifestyle Europe

Source [Auto Express]

Renault plans green shake-up

It’s the new French revolution! A hi-tech family of electric cars costing less than their petrol equivalents will drive Renault to the front of the race to become Europe’s greenest auto maker, bosses have announced.

What’s more, the first of these new vehicles will be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the autumn, and the whole plan will be complete in less than three years. To keep the cost of these electric cars down, they will be sold without batteries. Instead, drivers will be able to lease the powerpacks from dealers at a monthly cost that “will be the same as buying petrol or diesel”, according to a spokesman.

Top brass outlined the move as they announced their vision to create a new range of Renaults with average CO2 emissions of only 40g/km by 2012. To do this, the firm says it will supplement the electric cars with a new generation of ultra-efficient petrol and diesel models. These will be powered by advanced low-emission units – options being discussed at the moment include a 900cc three-cylinder petrol and an upmarket 1.6-litre diesel with 140bhp.

In addition, designers will be charged with the task of transforming the look of future Renaults to boost aerodynamics and, in turn, improve economy.

As well as a range of clean, green models, Renault is planning a drop-top Twingo – and as these spy shots show, it’s nearly ready for dealers.

With a one-piece folding metal roof, the CC-style car will add some glamour to the Twingo line-up, and is set to rival the likes of the Vauxhall Tigra and Peugeot 207 CC.

The two-seater shares the Twingo’s 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, but benefits from a boost in power to around 120bhp. Sales are likely to start later this year.

To find out more about the Renault range please visit Lifestyle Renault

Source [Auto Express] Written By Dan Strong / Photos by Hanjo

Lifestyle Renault in Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne - Your preferred Renault Dealer for New Cars, Used Cars and Car Servicing in Kent and Sussex

A Greener Lifestyle with Lifestyle Europe

A car dealership has come up with a novel sales pitch to coincide with the arrival of one of motoring’s greenest products at its showroom.

Billed as the UK’s most environmentally friendly family car, with a combined fuel consumption of a whopping 76 miles per gallon, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic hit the market this month and, to celebrate, Lifestyle Ford, with dealerships across Surrey, Sussex and Kent, has pledged to plant a tree for every car it sells over the coming weeks.

With the drive to reduce our carbon footprints matched by an increasingly cost conscious motorist, the initiative is an important one for business, as Lifestyle managing director, Peter Isted, explains:

“We’re aware that our customer needs are changing and we know full well the concerns people have both for the environment and their pocket – particularly with the fluctuating fuel prices we’ve all experienced. The Fiesta ECOnetic beats all other five seater cars on CO2 emissions so we thought that a green initiative was a fitting tribute.”

Already the top selling car this year, by a substantial margin, the new ECOnetic variant is sure to raise interest even further. Its frugal fuel consumption is achieved through a series of enhancements, including the use of Ford’s 1.6 TDCi diesel powerplant, combined with lowered suspension, aerodynamic body styling and a gear change alert – all adding up to provide CO2 emissions of 98g/km which makes it exempt from vehicle tax.

With national sales statistics showing that 500 cars have already been ordered, it looks like Lifestyle Ford will be busy with the shovel:

“We’ve planned to plant 3,000 trees”, adds Peter, “but we may have to find a bigger piece of woodland!”

To find out more about the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Ford

Keeping Business Local

Two businesses based in West Sussex have teamed up with a local housing association to provide support for a brand new service.

Handcross based Storm Creative Partnership and Lifestyle Ford have been involved with Saxon Weald’s latest initiative, HOMEFIX – a repairs and maintenance service – with Horsham based Lifestyle Ford supplying a fleet of vehicles and Storm designing the artwork for the striking livery.

Just launched, HOMEFIX has been set up in order to provide repairs to Saxon Weald homes. The maintenance vehicles have hit the streets this week and people around Horsham have, no doubt, already noticed the green and yellow painted vans.

“That was the goal”, explains Matt Saunders from Storm. “It’s a serious service keeping the Saxon Weald homes safe and sound and we wanted our designs to stand out from the crowd. We have worked with Saxon Weald on previous projects and its service is unique so the design had to reflect this.”

Collaborations between local businesses are good news for Horsham’s economy says Lifestyle Ford managing director, Peter Isted:

“With all the doom and gloom in the news, it’s important to maintain links with local businesses and create new partnerships like we have with Saxon Weald. This was good for business and we hope to continue working with Saxon Weald and our other local fleet partners in the future.”

The fleet of HOMEFIX vehicles is made up of four Ford Connects and 12 Ford Transit vans – each sporting the clean-cut Storm designed logo.

Saxon Weald is a housing association that owns and manages more than 5000 properties across Sussex and Hampshire. The repairs and maintenance service will be brought in-house for the first time to provide quicker, wider and more flexible services to Saxon Weald customers. Also creating local labour opportunities, the service will be a beneficial change for both, the company and its customers.

Forward Thinking Dealer Group Strengthens Marketing Team

Bucking the current overall trend, two West Sussex companies are looking to the future, with Lifestyle Europe adding to its team with the appointment of Mannings Heath based Wildwood PR.

Lifestyle Europe, which owns car dealerships across Sussex, Surrey and Kent, took the decision to appoint Wildwood as part of a forward thinking sales campaign.

Aiming to inject some much needed consumer confidence, Peter Isted, managing director of Lifestyle Europe, said: “There have been some high profile casualties in the south and across the country as a whole, where car dealerships are concerned. In some cases, dealers have been forced to close the doors – leaving drivers in the lurch. We want to reassure our customers that they continue can expect the high level of service that they’ve grown to expect from Lifestyle for a long time yet.

We’ve taken the decision to invest in PR to help increase our sales and also keep our existing customers up to date on all aspects of car care. It might just save them money in the long run and, right now, it all helps.”

With the Lifestyle Group focused on the south east, Peter was keen to take advantage of local professional expertise:

“We like to think that we’re doing our bit for the local economy which is why we chose to work with Wildwood PR, a fellow West Sussex based company. We’re sure this will be a great partnership.”

Lifestyle Europe is the latest in a series of impressive account wins for Wildwood in the South. Wildwood currently represents the South of England Centre in Ardingly, West Sussex, as well as the Crawley manufacturer, Vent-Axia and Sussex design agency Storm, alongside a raft of home technology clients. The company is based in Mannings Heath, near Horsham in West Sussex.

For more information, visit Wildwood PR

Renault Gordini is back!

It’s allez les bleus, as French firm revives legendary name for new hot hatch family.

Renault is set to bring back one of its most famous sporting badges – Gordini! And the French giant will use it in a bid to rival top seller MINI, which has enjoyed huge success with its Cooper and Cooper S models.

Sitting just below the current Renaultsport performance range, the Gordini brand will create a new line-up of hot hatches, giving buyers a greater chance to personalise their car.

Gordinis will get a wide mix of paint schemes, body stripes and alloy wheel combinations. It’s an approach that’s worked really well for MINI – and Fiat, too, with its Abarth line-up – and Renault hopes to capitalise. The first model will be the Twingo Gordini, which is scheduled to appear in 2010. This will be followed by hot versions of the Clio, as well as the new Mégane Coupé shown here. It gets the famous Gordini blue paintwork along with striking white stripes and contrasting black alloys.

Renault’s senior vice president of global marketing – Stephen Norman – confirmed at the Geneva Motor Show that both Gordini and Gordini S cars are likely.

“The aim is to reintroduce Gordini along the lines of the MINI Cooper and Cooper S,” he told Auto Express. That would leave room for the Renaultsport brand to move further up the range – building on the new models unveiled at Geneva – with Gordini models offering warm performance. Power is likely to be provided by new small-capacity TCE turbo engines.

Gordini cars first came to prominence when they raced in Formula One in the Fifties. The firm then worked with Renault, tuning engines and creating fast road cars, including the 8, 12 and – lastly, in the Eighties – the Gordini 5.

The idea to bring the name back is part of a push by Renault to boost its perception, Norman added: “Between 2003 and 2007, Renault’s brand image declined, especially in the UK, from being on a level with VW to where we are now.” Bosses believe the new designs – such as the Renaultsport Mégane Coupé and Clio – plus the arrival of Gordini will boost sales. Norman suggested that Gordini could be used as the backbone of a new club racing formula.

The decision to revive the brand came after top brass ditched plans for an Alpine comeback, which would have included a new sports car. But Renault has decided to focus on ranges that make financial sense in the current downturn.

To find out more about the Renault range please visit Lifestyle Renault

Source [Auto Express] Written by David Johns

Lifestyle Renault in Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne - Your preferred Renault Dealer for New Cars, Used Cars and Car Servicing in Kent and Sussex

Renault's electric future

French car maker outlines its vision for emission free motoring.

You wait years for an electric Renault and then several turn up at once!

In a shock revelation to Auto Express in Geneva, top brass at the French firm has revealed more than one battery-powered model will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

And that’s not all, they also confirmed we’d have the chance to drive them before the year’s out.
In an interview with Renault design chief Patrick Le Quément, he revealed that the first electric car will be based on a soon to be launched petrol-powered car – likely to be the facelifted Clio – whereas the other models will be designed from scratch, specifically to run on batteries.

“Designing electric cars is a completely new challenge,” said Le Quément. “Factors such as the positioning of the power packs and the need for a reduced glass area mean conventional-looking designs simply don’t work.”

It also appears that the firm is set to take an equally innovative approach to selling its vehicles too, hinting the production cars could be cheaper to buy than their petrol equivalents.

The firm is looking to adopt a system which would see the cars sold to customers without expensive batteries included. These would then be leased. While it's not clear how much this would cost, Renault has promised that the eventual outlay required would be less than the cost of fuelling the vehicle with Petrol.

This system would also allow drivers to drop in on specially adapted charging stations, where depleted batteries could either be charged, or simply swapped for a full one.

To find out more about the Renault range please visit Lifestyle Renault

Source [Auto Express]

Lifestyle Renault in Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne - Your preferred Renault Dealer for New Cars, Used Cars and Car Servicing in Kent and Sussex

Ford takes wraps off daring new C-MAX

Striking people carrier concept debuts at the Geneva Motor Show

Take a look at the future of Ford! This stunning machine is the Iosis MAX – a concept car that reveals how the next generation C-MAX and Focus family cars will look.

Making its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the head-turning model boasts the latest example of Ford's kinetic design language, which was first revealed by the S-MAX back in 2004. It has been penned by Martin Smith, who presented the car along with his design team.

Showing off a new front end with a six-bar lower grille and long stretched back headlights the Iosis-MAX gets similarly eye-catching tail-lights and a split tailgate that opens up in the same style as a Skoda Superb.

Other neat touches include a full length glass roof – and all these details will be carried over to the production version of the C-MAX. Details that will remain strictly concept-only include the sliding rear doors, roof spoiler, lack of B-pillars and 'floating' seats.

While this four-seater concept is a lot smaller than the current C-MAX, the production version will be available in full five-seat specification – most likely staying as close as possible to the sporty shape of the show car – and, for the first time, in seven-seater trim too.

Expect the finished model to get a development of the striking multi-surfaced dashboard shown here, with a new Human Machine Interface control system, digital dashboard display and rear-facing camera. It will also be available in the bright yellow, known as Limelight, in which the concept is displayed.

It will also get the same 178bhp 1.6-litre EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, automatic stop-start and a Powershift twin-clutch gearbox. The new engine – built at Ford's Bridgend plant – will first debut in the S-MAX and Mondeo ranges, though, within the next 12 months.

As for the arrival of the new C-MAX, it was first thought that the people carrier would debut in 2010. But there's currently a debate raging within Ford about whether it'll actually be the third generation Focus that brings the new compact family car look to showrooms first.

Bosses are weighing up whether to make the Focus a global car – i.e. a model sold across all world markets – and if that happens, it'll go on sale first, possibly as early as 2010 with the C-MAX arriving in 2011. Both projects are being worked on in parallel and a decision will be made imminently.

To find out more about the Ford Range please visit Lifestyle Ford

Source [Auto Express] Written by Sam Hardy

Lifestyle Ford in Crawley, Horsham, Redhill, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge - Your preferred Ford Dealer for New Cars, Used Cars and Car Servicing in Kent, Sussex and Surrey

Mighty Mégane leads hot hatch Renault line-up

New 250bhp Focus RS-baiting Megane arrives alongside 200bhp Renaultsport Clio

It's yellow fever at Renault! The French firm took the wraps off two brightly coloured new Renaultsport models at Geneva and the star of the show was this, the mighty 250bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged Megane.

Taking its styling cues from the Megane Trophy racer, it combines piano black trim with vivid paintwork and a muscular bodykit. Vast alloys and RS badges on the front air intake and boot lid finish the look off.

Under the bonnet lies a 250bhp version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that powers the outgoing model. A 0-60mph time of less than six seconds and a 150mph top speed are likely, while the Renaultsport Megane also gets Brembo brakes and the option of a limited slip-differential for the Cup model.

Sales are due to start in October, with a price tag of £23,000. Meanwhile, Renault also took the wraps off the hot hatch Clio, which now boasts 200bhp. It will be available in standard Renaultsport trim and Cup form too, with modifications that drop its weight by 36kg.

To find out more about the Renault Range please visit Lifestyle Renault

Source [Auto Express] Written by Sam Hardy

Lifestyle Renault in Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne - Your preferred Renault Dealer for New Cars, Used Cars and Car Servicing in Kent and Sussex

Renault's compact MPV debuts at Geneva Motor Show

Popular people carrier gets new look and engines and is revealed in both five and seven-seater form.

Renault is getting in the family way – and here are the pictures to prove it! The French firm chose the Geneva Motor Show to unveil a trio of new models, headed by the Megane Scenic.

Revealed in regular five-seater form and seven-seater Grand Scenic trim (the silver car in our pictures), the new model is much more sporty to look at than its predecessor. Inside, the cabin gets a digital dashboard, while Renault is claiming that the Grand Scenic has the largest amount of kneeroom (in the second and third rows) in its class.

Under the bonnet, there'll be a range of dCi diesel engines and a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit with 128bhp. It is claimed that the new Scenic range will cost the same or less than the current line-up, so a starting price of £14,500 is likely when sales kick off in May. The firm is also promising a 20 per cent reduction in ownership costs, presumably as a result of lower servicing rates and more fuel efficient engines.

Also on the Renault stand was another addition to the Megane range – the Sport Tourer estate. It boasts a longer wheelbase than the five-door hatchback for increased rear legroom and more boot space. As with the Scenic line-up, it gets Renault's latest 1.4-litre TCE turbo engine too. Sales start in August.

To find out more about the Renault range please visit Lifestyle Renault

Source [Auto Express] Written by Sam Hardy

Lifestyle Renault in Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne - Your preferred Renault Dealer for New Cars, Used Cars and Car Servicing in Kent and Sussex

AM Awards: Personality of the year, Marc Matthew

"As chairman of the Retail Automotive Alliance, he oversees a business with 22 retail members, pooling £2.4 billion turnover, negotiating and agreeing contracts with suppliers that, to date, have saved members £5 million annually. It is his success in this split role that sees Matthew become AM’s personality of 2009."

Personality of the year sponsored by Northridge Finance

Marc Matthew leads a double life. Together with business partner Peter Isted, he is responsible for driving the performance and strategy of Lifestyle Europe, two-time winner of the AM Retail Group of the Year (up to 10 sites). As chairman of the Retail Automotive Alliance, he oversees a business with 22 retail members, pooling £2.4 billion turnover, negotiating and agreeing contracts with suppliers that, to date, have saved members £5 million annually.

It is his success in this split role that sees Marc Matthew become AM’s personality of 2009.

Lifestyle Europe was launched from a management buyout in 2001 of parts of HMG Holdings. Now turning over around £105 million, the business operates nine dealer- ships in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, with Ford, Renault, Mazda, Subaru and Isuzu franchises.

Marc Matthew oversees parts and corporate sales. In addition, he has the people focus, with the soft skills necessary for coaching and leadership. He says he recruits staff for attitude and trains for skill. With turnover below 15%, the company enjoys continuity and familiarity of staff with customers.

“We have the skills to train people, but they have to have the right attitude first,” explains Marc Matthew.

At RAA, Marc Matthew has taken the bulk purchasing agreements to a new level. He focuses on big ticket projects, including media purchasing, marketing, dealer management and HR systems, and recently signed an agreement with Manheim Auctions on remarketing.

Successful tenders have been implemented on a range of services, from tyres, paint and showroom furniture to oils, health insurance and fuel cards. The total trade value of the deals is worth £23 million turnover.

Marc Matthew also has a third string to his bow. He is executive director of the Institute of the Motor Industry, helping to drive forward training standards, competencies and recognition, and helping to incorporate the sector skills development strategy. He is also chairman of the IMI’s audit and remuneration committee.

To find out more please visit Lifestyle Europe

Source [AM Online]

AM Awards: Retail Group (up to ten sites), Lifestyle Europe

"Lifestyle is a class act. It is an extremely well run dealer group that doesn’t do anything badly. Every franchise contributes to the business, which shows how well the process runs throughout the group and how well motivated the staff are. A solid, very successful business." - Judges' Comment

Best Retail Group (up to ten sites) sponsored by Autotrader

Lifestyle Europe will soon be needing a bigger trophy cabinet. Last year it scooped the AM Retailer of the Year and Best Retail Group (up to 10 sites) awards; this year it again collects the Best Retail Group (up to 10 sites) category.

Lifestyle also won the prestigious Ford Motor Company Chairman’s Award for CSI last month.

The business was formed in May 2001 in a management buyout of part of the Ford division of HMG Holdings by Marc Matthew (chairman) and Peter Isted (managing director).

With turnover of around £105 million, Lifestyle operates nine dealerships in Kent, Surrey and Sussex with Ford, Renault, Mazda, Subaru and Isuzu franchises. Success has come quickly.

Matthew and Isted put this down to attention to detail and people.

Take the business plan, for instance. It is a detailed approach to managing the performance of both the business and the departmental manager.

Used on a daily basis, it tasks the teams with ensuring they deliver the required performance.

Isted is responsible for sales and service. He’s also the details man: he pours over facts and figures that tell him everything about the business on a daily basis.

Matthew oversees parts and corporate. He also has the people focus, with the skills necessary for coaching and leadership.

The two men complement each other perfectly. Lifestyle recruits staff for attitude and trains for skill. “We have the skills to train people, but they have to have the right attitude first,” explains Matthew.

Its staff turnover is below 15%. An in-house training programme ensures all staff are able to cope in a professional manner. Last year, the training programme was extended to train the managers of the future.

The company has also introduced an online induction programme for all recruits which encompasses its health and safety programme with testing and certification.

Lifestyle operates as a retailer in a retail environment, a point emphasised by its housekeeping, staff presented in uniforms and on-brand point of sale material.

Matthew and Isted operate a ‘hands on’ management style. They are involved in the detailed daily operational activities in all departments with regular review meetings covering stocks, debtors, working capital usage and staff issues. Particular attention is paid to achieving operational excellence.

It’s paying off: growth, profit-ability and now awards in abundance – Lifestyle Europe goes from strength to strength.

To find out more please visit Lifestyle Europe

Source [AM Online]

New Focus to the MAX

Ford Iosis gives us clues for Focus and C-Max

Ford readies design of its biggest-selling car – but first on sale next year will be five and seven-seat versions of its compact MPV – the Focus C-MAX

You’re looking at the face of the next Ford Focus! This sensational new family car is unveiled at this week’s Geneva Motor Show – and it previews not only one, but a handful of future Fords – including the next-generation Focus, plus five and seven-seat versions of the C-Max compact MPV. Badged the Iosis MAX, it’s the third in a line of concepts stretching back to 2005, which have so far previewed the Kuga SUV and latest Mondeo.

The striking exterior is a fresh view of Ford’s design language. Most noticeable is the coupé-like side profile – created by the lack of B-pillars. Up front, Ford’s trapezoid grille receives a new look, with a trio of chrome bars. The headlights and taillight cluster get eye-like graphics and a one-piece windscreen flows back to the tailgate, revealing the skeletal roof structure underneath. This is one concept where styling is not only for show, either. The C-pillars ‘flying buttress’ design act as mini spoilers, channelling air as close as possible to the tailgate, while the active front cooling ducts are closed off when they’re not needed.

Ford’s thought up a clever two-piece tailgate so the rear screen and spoiler can be opened independently, even in tight and restricted spaces. But the entire hatch can be lifted to reveal the sizeable boot. The side doors make the most of the pillarless profile – the rears slide back for easy access. And even the bonnet slides back over the windscreen rather than lift upwards. In true concept-car style, the interior is as crazy as the body panels. Most remarkable of all, though, are the car’s wafer-thin seats – mounted on a central ‘spine’. It’s a design feature with an added benefit – loading space is created underneath the seats, which adds even more practicality to the package.

Under the bonnet, Ford has also given us a sign of things to come. Power is provided by a 178bhp 1.6-litre petrol unit from the EcoBoost range – the firm’s next generation of clean but powerful engines that will be introduced across Europe from early 2010. Using a turbocharger and direct-injection technology, the blue oval has managed to maximise efficiency, while maintaining power levels. Add this to Ford’s Auto-Start-Stop system and a six-speed ‘Powershift’ double-clutch gearbox, and early simulations have shown this concept could achieve CO2 emissions as low as 125g/km.

We'll have live coverage of the Geneva show on here, where Ford’s Iosis MAX is sure to be one of the stars. But don’t miss next week’s mag for exclusive images and the inside line on all the important models at the show.

To find out more about the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Ford

Source [Auto Express] Written by Jack Rix

Lifestyle Ford in Crawley, Horsham, Redhill, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge - Your preferred Ford Dealer for New Cars, Used Cars and Car Servicing in Kent, Sussex and Surrey