Lifestyle Europe

Evolution | The New 2011 Ford Focus

2010-01-27T06:23:00.000-08:00

Hailed as the most important new car launch of 2011, the Ford Focus takes a huge evolutionary step forward and sets the tone at this week’s Detroit Motor Show.

Arriving next year, the focus boasts a dramatic new look, promising to be the most ambitious evolution yet of the nation’s favourite car. With pricing yet to be confirmed Ford are insisting that the 2010 Focus will offer great value for money, with entry-level editions starting from around £15,000. On top of this there will be the introduction of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, advanced auto transmissions and an improved chassis.

While the current model remains one of the finest-handling cars in the class, Ford has developed an advanced new chassis in a bid to take the latest generation leagues ahead of the VW Golf MkVI and latest Vauxhall Astra. For the first time, the Focus will use torque vectoring, which demonstrates stability and steering response improved through a combination of braking and engine power, resulting in a more refined and comfortable ride. In addition, a new electric power-steering system has been carefully tuned, and for the first time offers dynamic cornering control – a set-up that helps the driver make the most of the car’s handling.

Below details taken from the 2011 Ford Focus Website

Start Yourself Up

Focus is as stimulating as a good cup of coffee. As responsive as a good conversationalist. Because every time you see it, touch it, drive it, Focus stirs something inside you. Whether it’s the satisfying, connected-to-the-road feel you get as you negotiate a tight turn. The feeling of complete control as you sink into the cockpit. Or the sheer joy of its intuitive technology. The next-generation Focus. See how it can power you on. Arrives early 2011.

Dynamic and exterior design

Kinetic design and a muscular stance give you the sense that Focus is alive. The dynamic exterior design conveys a promise of the experience that awaits. Yes, Focus is pleasing to the eye. But make no mistake about it; this is not design for design sake. This is design that delivers an uncompromised driving experience. Inside and out.

Plug Yourself In

Once you plug yourself in to the next-generation Focus, you’ll be fully engaged. Thanks to outstanding ergonomics, Focus fits you like a glove. With controls that are within easy reach, and exactly where you’d expect them to be. An uncompromised design aesthetic engages you further, by making everything that surrounds you as beautiful as it is functional. Thoughtful craftsmanship is evident in every detail. From artful air vents to sleek, chrome door handles, this is design that’s as rewarding to look at as it is to use. Design intended to put you in the driver’s seat.

Techno-Talented

The intuitive technology of the next-generation Focus allows you to truly take charge without ever missing a beat. From MyFord Touch™ Driver Connect Technology and SYNC® voice-activated communications, to touch-screen navigation and Intelligent Access with push-button start, these innovative technologies enhance both your drive and your life.

Addictive Driving Experience

No hesitation here. This is a full-on driving experience with all the agility, precision and connection you crave. Agile suspension. Precisely honed steering. Dynamic Cornering Control that connects you to the road. Not to mention a fuel-smart, fully engaging six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission. Direct driving responses and instantaneous driver feedback make the next-generation Focus so fun to drive, you’ll find it habit-forming.

To keep up to date with the latest news on the 2011 Ford Focus visit Lifestyle Ford

2010-01-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

The popular Mazda6 has scooped its fifth and sixth What Car? Car of the Year awards being crowned both ‘Family Car’ and ‘Estate Car of the Year 2010’ at the prestigious What Car? Awards held at the Grosvenor House hotel in London.

The Mazda6, available at Lifestyle Mazda in Horsham, Crawley and Eastbourne, impressed a panel of three judges with its performance, reliability and affordability after evaluating three cars in each of the ‘Family Car’ and ‘Estate Car’ categories.

Now in its 33rd year, the What Car? Car of the Year Awards compares 392 different models across 16 major categories.

Peter Lawson, panel judge for the ‘Family Car’ category commended the Mazda6 for its practicality, comfort, class, reliability and its fun to drive appeal, claiming: “If you choose wisely, you can have all these talents wrapped up in one car: the Mazda6.”

He added: “What’s more, this Mazda’s resale values are stronger than a body-builder’s biceps.”

Steve Fowler, What Car? Editor commented on Mazda’s double triumph: “The Mazda6 Hatchback and Estate outclassed contenders in the ‘Family Car’ and ‘Estate Car’ categories with its overall package of practicality and good looks proving too much for the competition. The Mazda6 ticks all the right boxes when it comes to company car and family car drivers making an informed car purchase”.

Mark Spowage: “We are truly delighted that the Mazda6 has been crowned the What Car? ‘Family Car’ and ‘Estate Car of the Year’. These are the fifth and sixth awards from What Car? for the Mazda6, which is further confirmation why it is one of the most popular models in the range.

“The current model has sold particularly well at Lifestyle Mazda thanks to its high levels of comfort, flexibility, dynamic handling and great engine; attributes which have been particularly popular among families and company car drivers. We are now looking forward to introducing the Mazda6 range to even more car buyers in Horsham, Crawley and Eastbourne.”

The Mazda6 Estate impressed judges with the same attributes of the Mazda6 hatchback yet the extra space and clever mechanisms ‘dazzled’ panel judge Barnaby Jones and beat off stiff competition for the ‘Estate Car of the Year’ title .

The Mazda6 range, priced from £16,115 on-the-road and available at Lifestyle Mazda, inspired a decisive reaction from the judges and claimed the ‘Family Car’ and ‘Estate Car’ titles from the Skoda Superb and Ford Mondeo in the ‘Family Car’ category, while the Mazda6 Estate outshone the Skoda Octavia Estate and Mercedes E-Class in the ‘Estate Car’ category.

Mazda6 is offered with a choice of four powertrains and five equipment levels. Each of the equipment levels – S, TS, TS2, Sport and Sports Luxury are highly specified within its price band. Specification upgrades on the Mazda6 in 2009 included a new standard equipment feature on 15 models from the £18,440 TS2 – Mazda’s innovative safety-boosting lane‑change ‘Rear Vehicle Monitoring System’.

To find out more about the Mazda6 range or to arrange a test-drive, please call Lifestyle Mazda on Horsham, 01403 254 331, Crawley, 01293 845 000 or Eastbourne, 01323 737 233 or visit the your nearest showroom.

Providing New and Used Car and Commercial Vehicle Sales, Servicing, Motability and Accident Repair

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New Mazda5 Revealed!

2010-01-20T06:32:00.000-08:00

The world premiere of the all-new Mazda5 on 2 March will be a highlight of this year’s Geneva Motor Show. The all-new Mazda5 has been designed and developed to be especially good at meeting the needs of European families with active lifestyles.

“In approaching development of the all-new Mazda5,” says Hideki Matsuoka, Mazda5 Programme Manager, “our team aimed to create a new C-MAV that combines superb practicality with the superior environmental performance these modern times demand and a new expression in stylish design.”

The all-new model further evolves Mazda5’s acclaimed functionality – with rear sliding doors and up to 7-seat Karakuri flexibility in the spacious cabin – and creates an eye-catching exterior that is unique to the segment. This design, which also uses elements of Mazda’s ‘Nagare Flow’ design language, is also highly functional and contributes to fuel efficiency by achieving a particularly low drag coefficient, together with optimal lift and air-flow stability characteristics.

The all-new Mazda5 is fitted with a newly-developed 2.0-litre DISI¹ petrol engine equipped with i-stop, and a six-speed manual transmission with gear ratios specific to this version. This new direct-injection petrol engine offers linear and smooth performance characteristics which ensure that it is fun to drive in the best Mazda tradition.

The all-new Mazda5 is also one of the most frugal and clean C-MAVs on the market, achieving approximately 15 percent reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to the 2.0-litre petrol model it replaces. The petrol line-up also features a 1.8-litre engine with a six-speed manual transmission.

The all-new Mazda5 will go on sale across Europe later this year. The new model is one of three premieres that will be unveiled during Mazda’s press conference to be held at the Mazda stand in Hall 5, on 2 March at 11:15 (CET).¹ DISI = direct-injection spark ignition

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

Sites in Horsham and Crawley, West Sussex and Eastbourne, East Sussex, providing New and Used Car and Commercial Vehicle Sales, Servicing, Motability and Accident Repair

Mazda2 | Mazda3 | Mazda5 | Mazda6 | Mazda MX-5 | Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupé | Mazda RX-8 | Mazda CX-7 | Mazda BT-50

New Focus Goes Green

2010-01-15T06:35:00.000-08:00

World debut wows crowds in Motor City. Bosses confirm electric and plug-in hybrid versions on way.

As well as being the most technically advanced family hatchback ever launched, Ford’s new Focus also promises to be the greenest!

Speaking at the Detroit Motor Show – where the new Focus made its public debut – company chairman Bill Ford announced both electric and plug-in hybrid versions of the car would be built in the US. The EV will be available in only 18 months, with the plug-in hybrid going on sale in 2012. Although details are yet to be confirmed, a Ford source has told Auto Express that the EV edition, which will initially only be available in left-hand drive, is to share much of its technology with the recent Magna-engined BEV prototype.

With a 23kWh lithium-ion battery, it will deliver 134bhp and offer a range of around 75 miles. A full charge will take six hours from a household plug, and half that time from a 400-volt industrial supply. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid will use the same lithium-ion battery technology and incorporate a conventional hybrid powertrain, similar to that fitted to Toyota’s Prius, rather than the range-extending EV technology offered by Vauxhall’s Ampera.

Speculation suggests that this car could reach the UK late in 2012. The technology has already been fitted to the US-only Escape 4×4, which returns around 120mpg with fully charged batteries. Cells are topped up by braking and freewheeling, or can be recharged with a standard household plug.

The Focus, which is lighter, smaller and more aerodynamic than the Escape, should better this figure with fuel economy of more than 130mpg.

Ford’s all-new Focus range goes on sale in the UK later this year, with the introduction of the Grand C-MAX.

It will be joined in January 2011 by the five-door hatchback model, also revealed at Detroit.

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

Sites in Kent, Sussex and Surrey, providing New and Used Car and Commercial Vehicle Sales, Servicing, Motability and Accident Repair

Source | Auto Express | Written By Dan Strong

Ford Ka | Ford Fiesta | Ford Fusion | Ford Focus | Ford C-MAX | Ford Mondeo | Ford S-MAX | Ford Kuga | Ford Galaxy

Ford Ends The Decade Outpacing Rivals and Increasing Market Share

2010-01-07T06:37:00.000-08:00

Ford’s top selling vehicle range secured almost 17 per cent of the UK’s total 2009 market for the blue oval, making one in six new vehicles a Ford. Other highlights of the official full-year 2009 figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders include:

Number one UK car brand for 33rd successive year.

Ford share of the total (car and CV) market up from 16.3 in 2008 to 16.7 per cent for 2009.

Total Ford sales to retail customers up by over 9,000 compared with 2008.

Ford car share rose 0.8 points to 15.9 per cent compared with 2008.

Ford car sales to retail customers up 5,500 compared with 2008.

Ford commercial vehicles have been the UK’s favourite for 45 years.

1-2 for Ford Fiesta and Focus in the car sales charts.

45 years as number one for Ford Transit, which has enjoyed market leadership its entire lifetime.

Ford light commercial share up by 4.5 per cent and total CV share up by 0.8 percentage points compared with 2008.

Ford sold 316,369 cars in the UK last year during a challenging trading period which saw the Government introduce its vehicle scrappage scheme mid year. Ford took over 35,200 scrappage orders in 2009, helping to maintain car registrations to within two per cent of its 2008 total.

Ford car sales to retail customers were up over 9,000 in 2009, compared with 2008, with Ford Fiesta recording an additional 22,300 sales (fleet and retail) during the year.

In early 2009 Ford Fiesta took over the top UK sales position from the Ford Focus and the pair retained first and second in the sales charts through to the end of the year. The economical Ford Fiesta led Ford sales of cars with emissions under 120g CO2/km, which doubled for the blue oval during 2009 versus the prior year. Ford also offers three sub 100g CO2 vehicles in its Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta and Fiesta Van ECOnetic models.

Ford Transit, launched in 1965, has led the commercial vehicle sector ever since. The iconic Transit helped grow Ford’s 2009 CV registrations to 24.4 per cent – up from 23.6 per cent the prior year.

In a particularly challenging 2009 CV market, Ford light commercials raised their share of the segment by 4.5 percentage points to 26.3 per cent, compared with 2008.

For December 2009, both Ford car and total CV sales were up compared with December 2008. Car sales were up by 3,544 to 21,732 and CV sales were up by 595 to 3,983. During December most Ford car models also saw increased sales compared with the same month in 2008 with Focus up by 1,778 to 7,339, for example.

Nigel Sharp, Ford Britain managing director, said: “Ford’s strong 2009 sales performance underlined once again the market appeal of the company’s best ever product line up. 2010 is set to be another year of tough trading but Ford will continue to benefit from a flow of new models, including S-MAX, Galaxy and C-MAX, and the unrivalled strength of its dealer network.

“Ford Fiesta continued collecting awards through the year after kicking off 2008 as Car of the Year according to What Car?. Autotrader named the Ford Focus their Car of the Decade.”

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

Mazda Cleans Up Its Act

2009-11-06T08:06:00.001-08:00

Mazda’s CX-7 SUV is set to ditch its highly polluting petrol engine for a diesel powerplant featuring groundbreaking exhaust-cleaning technology.

The revamped five-seater is fitted with a special catalyst system that uses an additive called AdBlue to reduce the amount of poisonous oxides of nitrogen it emits. The Japanese firm says this will help it to meet tough Euro V regulations.

The 171bhp 2.2-litre diesel is also much better on economy and CO2 output than the old turbocharged petrol engine, recording a combined 37.7mpg and 199g/km. That halves the annual road tax to £205 a year.

The CX-7’s swift but comparatively thirsty 2.3-litre petrol unit has been dumped in favour of the new diesel taken from the 6 range. A single, highly specced model will be sold, with equipment likely to include xenon lights, heated leather seats, cruise control, parking sensors and a nine-speaker Bose sound system.

The CX-7 diesel will make its debut at next month’s Frankfurt Motor show, before going on sale in October. Prices are set to start at around £25,000, a rise of £1,000 over the petrol model.

Source: Auto Express

To find out more about the Mazda CX-7 why not visit our Dealerships in Sussex based at Manor Royal, Crawley, 53-55 Bishopric, Horsham or Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne

We have a number of exclusive offers currently available and can also offer the Government Scrappage Incentive across the entire Mazda range of models. We are a one-stop-shop for all things Mazda, including Parts and Accessories, Aftersales including Service and Accident Repair, Motability Car Sales.

Visit www.lifestylemazda.co.uk or call Horsham – 01403 254 331, Crawley – 01293 845 000 or Eastbourne – 01323 737 233 today.

Ultimate Mazda MX-5 Revealed

2009-11-06T08:04:00.000-08:00

It’s back to basics for sportscar legend Mazda – the Japanese firm will premiere a super-light version of its best selling MX-5 sports car at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

Dubbed the Mazda MX-5 Superlight, the concept celebrates 20 years of success with an open-topped, no-frills design focusing on affordable driving fun.

Created by Mazda’s studio in Oberursel, Germany, the two-seat roadster has been pared back to the bare essentials.

As these official Mazda pictures demonstrate, the Superlight concept is a roofless speedster offering only minimal protection from the elements. The cabin is a race inspired affair in keeping with the radical exterior.

A spiritual successor to the dramatic Renaultsport Spyder, Mazda claims that the Superlight concept takes the lightweight nature of the MX-5 to a whole new level, so expect extensive use of exotic materials amongst other weight saving measures.

Engine output has not been revealed, however the radical weight loss alone would make faster than your regular MX-5. Options open to engineers include the turbocharged 2.3-litre unit that offers up to 260bhp in the Mazda 3 MPS

In addition to the performance benefits of lightweight construction, Mazda is keen to stress the fuel saving and emission reductions possible with a lighter vehicle.

More details will be announced early next month.

Source: Auto Express – By Christopher MacLean

To find out more about the Mazda MX-5 why not visit our Dealerships in Sussex based at Manor Royal, Crawley, 53-55 Bishopric, Horsham or Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne

We have a number of exclusive offers currently available on the award-winning roaster and can also offer the Government Scrappage Incentive across the entire Mazda MX-5 range of models. We are a one-stop-shop for all things Mazda, including Servicing, Accident Repair, Motability and New and Used Car Sales.

Visit www.lifestylemazda.co.uk or call Horsham – 01403 254 331, Crawley – 01293 845 000 or Eastbourne – 01323 737 233 today.

Ford Fiesta Sales Up 25%

2009-11-06T08:01:00.001-08:00

Ford sold 26 percent more Fiestas in July – and, again, it’s scrappage that’s to thank for the increase.

44 percent of Fiesta sales have now come under the scrappage scheme – from a total of nearly 4000 scrappage Ford sales in July.

So far, the brand has recorded 16,500 new car scrap scheme registrations.

But it’s not just the Fiesta that’s doing well, he added. Sales are ‘soaring’ for low-CO2 Fords. Registrations for sub-120g/km variants are up 92 percent year-to-date.

‘Ford’s performance demonstrates how strong products can build sales, even in the toughest trading climate,’ said Ford of Britain MD Nigel Sharp.

‘Scrappage is benefitting the whole Ford range, but especially Ford Fiesta and Ka.

‘These are good looking, highly specified cars, competing well above the scrappage entry-level heartland.

There’s even more to come, he reckons: ‘Ford is bracing itself for a bumper September to welcome the new ‘59′ plate.’

Source: Car Dealer Magazine

New Impreza On The Prowl

2009-11-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

If the Impreza WRX isn’t tough enough for you… then Subaru may have the answer!

The Japanese firm has announced a new, rally-bred Spec C variant of the all-wheel drive hatch.

Power is boosted to 304bhp thanks to the use of smoother ball bearings in the turbocharger, while retuned suspension and a reinforced chassis means it’ll provide an even more extreme driving experience.

Sadly, just 900 models will be made, meaning the car is unlikely to make it to British roads.

Source: Auto Express

Renault’s all-electric show stars

2009-08-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

Firm’s radical Frankfurt Motor Show preview has no petrol or diesel models in sight

Prepare yourself for a shock! Renault is set to be crowned the king of electric cars when it unveils an entire family of EVs at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, Auto Express has learned.

The French firm’s show stand will make history – as the first from a mainstream car maker to only feature battery-powered cars. The company is set to take the covers off an unprecedented four never-seen-before electric concepts

Renault has its sights set on becoming the world leader in electric vehicle technology. And heading the line-up is a new supermini-sized offering. Designed from the ground up to be fitted with a compact lithium-ion battery pack and high-performance motor, it’s the first in a new wave of purpose-built electric cars, rather than a retro fit to a combustion-engined model.

Sharing a platform with Nissan’s Leaf EV will keep the price down, while packaging tricks such as placing the battery pack under the floor will maximise interior space.

An all-electric conversion of the current Mégane will break cover, too – marking a significant step for the firm. The converted hatch will be the first Renault to go on sale in Israel, a country with a rapidly developing EV infrastructure. Completing the Frankfurt stars will be an updated version of the Kangoo Be Bop EV mini-MPV.

The electric motors will range from 50kW to 100kW, or 70bhp to 140bhp in more conventional terms. That means acceleration should be comparable to a 1.6-litre hatchback, delivering 0-60mph in around ten seconds. More intriguing, though, is Renault’s claim that the top speed of each electric car sold will be specific to the country in which it’s registered. UK cars, for example, will be capped electronically at 70mph.

Depending on the weight of your right foot and whether you call the air-conditioning into action, the range on a full charge for all these models should be in the region of 60 to 110 miles.

By Renault’s calculation, even when you factor in the cost for hiring the battery pack, running one of its EVs will cost 20 per cent less than a petrol or diesel model, based on driving 9,000 miles a year. But of course, the major benefit is zero emissions. Even when you consider the air pollution caused in producing the electricity, these are cleaner and more efficient machines.

However, the public will have to wait until 2011 before they can pick up a battery-powered Renault. But you might just spot one on the road as soon as 2010, when the firm will be testing them in the UK.

Source: Auto Express. Text: Jack Rix

New Ford C-MAX Spied

2009-08-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

Family Ford that promises to revolutionise the MPV market takes its first steps.

Here’s the proof that Ford is taking people carriers to the MAX! These are the first spy shots of the forthcoming new C-MAX, which will make its worldwide debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Taking inspiration from the Iosis MAX concept – revealed earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show – the new C-MAX gets a sleeker look with a steeply raked windscreen, sporty sloping rear window (much like its bigger brother, the S-MAX) and a new front end with re-designed trapezoidal grilles.

Available in five-seater and seven-seater form for the first time, the new C-MAX is seeking to go straight to the top of the sales charts, knocking the Vauxhall Zafira (which will be replaced in 2010) from the top spot.

Helping its cause will be a new high quality cabin with a reversing camera on flagship models while under the bonnet, the new C-MAX will be the first Ford to debut the company’s direct injection turbocharged EcoBoost engines.

The new C-MAX will get a 1.6-litre unit in 148bhp and 178bhp form. It is also likely to feature new diesel engines too. Sales will start later this year.

Source: Auto Express. Text: Sam Hardy / Photos: Lehmann

Electric Twingo Exposed

2009-07-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

Amazing pictures show Renault is readying radical battery model. Called the Twingo ZE, it’s set to charge in at Frankfurt Motor Show.

It’s the all-electric supermini that’s set to change the way we own and drive our cars. This is Renault’s three-seat green machine, the Twingo ZE.

Auto Express’s French sister magazine, Auto Plus, published these amazing scoop images – which reveal a top-secret clay model at the firm’s Paris HQ.

Set for an official debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the newcomer is aimed at Vauxhall’s imminent Trixx – which we unmasked in Issue 1,062. The Renault goes on sale next year, starting at £13,000.

According to our sources, it will be powered by a simple electric engine and an advanced battery pack. This set-up is similar to that already fitted to the Be Bop ZE concept, but as the Twingo ZE is smaller it should be able to go further.

The estimated range is an ambitious 100 miles on each charge. However, what’s most interesting is that the design is so focused on making the most of the electric powerplant, no conventionally fuelled variant will be offered.

The drivetrain offers 59bhp, which should mean a 0-60mph time of around 10 seconds and a top speed of 80mph. Taking cues from the Be Bop show model, the Twingo ZE will have smooth bodywork surfaces to improve aerodynamics.

Drivers can also expect regenerative braking, while other energy-saving kit is set to include high-performance insulation – this is designed to reduce the demands on the air-conditioning system.

As with other electric models, there will be a charger that works with conventional household plug sockets. This promises to revive the battery incredibly quickly – in around four hours – and means owners should be able to keep their car topped up for commuting using a combination of public and private charging points.

Most radical of all, however, is the way the company plans to keep drivers on the road for longer runs. It’s setting up an innovative ‘Quick Drop’ scheme. Dedicated sites – most likely to be Renault’s network of dealers – will allow owners to exchange flat batteries for a fresh, fully charged set.

At the heart of this is the concept that drivers will merely lease the batteries for the car, rather than own them outright. This will help keep the costs of the Twingo as low as possible – matching Renault’s stated aim that all of its electric cars will cost the same as, or less than, the equivalent petrol models.

Source | Auto Express | Text: Alex Goy | Photos: Auto Plus

Ford’s baby cat is getting ready to pounce

2009-07-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

Much-loved coupé set to return to road while sporty model to use latest Fiesta platform.

One of the most-loved Ford sports cars in history is making a comeback: it’s the return of the Puma! Hot on the heels of the hugely successful Fiesta, Auto Express can bring you news that a stunning coupé version is in the pipeline.

Reviving memories of the popular Puma, production of which ended in 2001, the new Fiesta Coupé would be a hugely desirable addition to the blue oval’s line-up. It will pack stunning looks, a great drive and low running costs into an affordable package.

The stage is firmly set for the Puma’s return: Honda has confirmed that a replacement for its CR-X sports car will go on sale next year, in the shape of the hybrid CR-Z. Meanwhile, Hyundai has given the green light to the Veloster concept and there are rumours of an upcoming Polo Coupé from Volkswagen.

As our images show, it’s a real head-turner – just like the original. It builds on the well received Fiesta shape that’s the work of Ford’s chief designer, Martin Smith, and his team.

At the front is that car’s stylish large trapezoidal grille and rakish headlamps, but the coupé also gets sporty spotlights and a lower splitter. Towards the rear, though, the new model’s design really takes off with a dramatically sloping tail that looks simply sensational.

Details such as the slash which runs from the front wheelarch to the bootlid, where it blends into a pronounced rear deck, the sporty lower venturi and the classy roof spoiler all fuse together very neatly indeed. Lowered side skirts and smart alloy wheels finish things off.

Inside, expect the cabin to be carried over from the Fiesta, but with sports seats and a chunky wheel. In the back there will be space for two small adults, along with a decent boot. Under the skin, the new Puma will share its chassis with the much-praised Fiesta. The supermini is already the best-handling model in its class, with a mix of steering feel, grip and agility that rivals just can’t match, so the Puma has a great base to build upon.

Engineers will further stiffen the suspension in the search for even greater agility and a hot hatch-style driving experience – after all, the original model was famed for its exciting dynamics and the new car will be no different.

The Fiesta’s wide range of engines will be available, with a 95bhp 1.4-litre petrol unit for the base version along with a 118bhp 1.6. Diesels will also be produced in 1.4 and 1.6-litre TDCi form.

However, given the car’s sporty status, there could be room for a hot flagship with power from Ford’s eagerly anticipated EcoBoost direct-injection turbocharged engines. A new 178bhp 1.6-litre unit will make its debut in the fresh C-MAX and third-generation Focus next year – and it’s this motor that could provide a real dynamite experience.

Boasting nearly 180bhp, the hot Puma would be able to do 0-60mph in around six seconds and accelerate on to a 140mph top speed. Allied to a even sharper chassis with a subtle ST-style bodykit, uprated brakes and figure-hugging Recaro seats, it could be a successor to the revered Racing Puma. This boasted a 155bhp 1.7-litre engine, Sparco competition seats, an uprated chassis and an RS-style bodykit. Produced by specialist coachbuilder Tickford, only 500 were sold in the UK – and each carried an enormous price tag of more than £22,000 when new.

The revived Puma won’t be that expensive, though. Key to its appeal will be its affordability, and the range could start at around £14,000. The new car is some way off yet, as Ford has a raft of launches planned over the next few years. The second-generation C-MAX is due to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, while the third-generation Focus will be revealed next year.

After that, it’s the turn of a much-needed replacement for the Fusion in the shape of the Vauxhall Meriva-rivalling B-MAX mini-MPV, then a new Capri, Kuga Coupé and Mondeo Coupé. One thing is for sure – the new Puma would slot neatly into that upcoming range.

Source | Auto Express | Text: Paul Bailey

Top Awards For South East Partnership

2009-07-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

Business partners Marc Matthew and Peter Isted of Lifestyle Europe, have had an incredible year.

Having already won the prestigious title of Best Retail Group, awarded by the motor industry magazine, AM, for the second year running, Lifestyle has gone on to triumph with further award wins both within the automotive industry and the public, for its levels of customer care.

In addition to this year’s AM award, Lifestyle Ford has picked up three Ford Motor Company Chairman’s Awards for customer service, in a scheme voted for directly by Lifestyle’s customers. In judging the awards, Ford’s research teams conducted extensive enquiries into how customers felt about the quality of attention they received when buying a new car or having one serviced.

Marc Matthew, Chairman, and Peter Isted, Managing Director, started the company in May 2001 and their focus on delivering such good customer service has enabled them to expand the company to nine locations throughout Kent, Surrey and Sussex, in a network employing 450 staff. As Marc explains, this trio of Ford awards is yet further recognition of the hard work and dedication to customer care, on behalf of the staff at Lifestyle which, in turn, ensures that the group is able to buck the trend during this difficult period for much of the motor trade:

”The awards from Ford are very special, as they are judged directly and anonymously by our customers. It’s the ultimate test of the service we provide and a tribute to our members of staff who treat every customer as a lifelong one.”

Adding to this year’s accolades, Lifestyle has also been awarded the prize from Car Dealer magazine for running the best interactive customer website at www.lifestyleeurope.co.uk and this commitment to delivering a hassle free buying and servicing experience was further underlined with the award in May of Business of the Year – again, voted for by the public, in this case, newspaper readers in West Sussex where Lifestyle operates Ford and Mazda showrooms.

Lifestyle’s crop of awards also includes a runner-up environmental prize in the same West Sussex awards for a scheme set up by Peter in which a tree is planted for every new car sold, as he explains:

“The Ford range, in particular, has made huge steps in improving fuel efficiency with one model, the Fiesta ECOnetic delivering over 70 miles per gallon. We committed to the tree planting, as it’s a public way of demonstrating a bit of responsibility. Still, delighted as we are to have picked up seven awards this year, we’re happy to only come second on this one – perhaps there was no chance that a car dealer group could win the green prize!”

Mazda MX-2 Revealed

2009-07-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

This is Mazda’s version of a downsized, credit-crunch friendly MX-5, the MX-2.

Our illustration shows what the MX-2 is likely to look like. You can see that the Furai concept will have a strong influence in the design, while a hint of Ferrari California is also present in the headlamps.

Because the MX-2 is smaller than the MX-5 it will come equipped with smaller engines. Small capacity petrol engines ranging from 0.7 to 1.6-litres will get the MX-2 moving, while a range-topping 1.6-litre turbo pushing out an expected 160bhp. Combine that with low weight, and the MX-2 will embarrass more expensive machines with ease.

The Mini Speedster and Nissan Urge may be at design and concept stage now, but they’ll be keeping the dinky Mazda on its toes.

An insider has hinted that the MX-2 will be upon us as soon as 2012, so we can expect to see a concept reflecting the ‘downsized roadster’ very soon.

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

Source Auto Express | Text: Alex Goy | Photos: Automedia

To find out more about the Mazda range or to arrange a test drive, please call Lifestyle Mazda on Crawley 01293 845000 or Horsham 01403 254331 or visit one of our showrooms at Manor Royal, Crawley or Bishopric, Horsham.

All-New Mazda3 – Great Value for Cost-Conciuous Businesses

2009-06-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

The all-new Mazda3, now on sale at Lifestyle Mazda, is proving to be the value-for-money choice for Crawley and Horsham businesses. Predicted class-topping depreciation rates put the Mazda3 in front of mainstream competition into premium badge territory.

Britain’s leading contract hire and leasing companies give the Mazda3 range a residual value (RV) of 35 per cent at three years/60,000 miles for the entry-level 1.6D TS 5dr (£15,760 on-the-road) and at 2.2D 150ps Sport 5dr (£18,440), with the range’s anticipated best-seller, the 1.6D TS2 (£16,960, at 34 per cent.

These impressive depreciation rates put the Mazda3 range ahead of numerous key competitors, including the Ford Focus, Renault Mégane, Toyota Auris and Vauxhall Astra and close to or on a par with the premium‑badged Audi A3, BMW-1 Series and Volkswagen Golf.

“Mazda3 represents a fantastic cost‑effective alternative to the perceived mainstream models in the family car sector,” comments Mark Spowage, dealer principal at Lifestyle Mazda in Crawley and Horsham. “With fresh styling, great vehicle dynamics, low CO2 emissions, excellent fuel economy and now first-class residual values from the UK’s top leasing companies, we expect the all-new Mazda3 to secure its own niche on the fleet map alongside the ever popular Mazda6.”

The RV performance of Mazda3 petrol models is predicted to be equally as impressive. For example, the average three‑year/60,000-mile residual value for the entry-level 1.6 S 5dr (£13,500) is 31.9 per cent, with the 1.6 TS2 5dr (£15,500) at 31.8 per cent, the 2.0 TS2 auto 5dr (£17,460) at 31 per cent and the forthcoming 2.0 i-stop 150ps Sport 5dr (£18,025) at 30.6 per cent.

Jeff Knight, forecast manager at residual value experts CAP Monitor, explains: “The Mazda3, with its improved diesel offering and increased petrol efficiency, brings Mazda firmly onto the fleet radar. The stronger European element to its design cues should increase its appeal to British buyers. The overall improvements to internal refinement will also be warmly welcomed by UK customers.”

With CO2 emission levels below the critical capital allowance benchmark of 160g/km for all models with the exception of the 2.0-litre automatic, the new Mazda3 range also makes tax sense for businesses as well as company car drivers.

Available in four-door and five-door guise, the new 20-strong Mazda3 range will be joined at the end of the month by the fuel-stretching i-stop (Smart Idling Stop System) on the 2.0 Sport, which can deliver fuel consumption savings of up to 16 per cent on the combined cycle.

To find out more about the Mazda range or to arrange a test drive, please call Lifestyle Mazda on Crawley 01293 845000 or Horsham 01403 254331 or visit one of our showrooms at Manor Royal, Crawley or Bishopric, Horsham.

World’s Favourite Roadster Celebrates 20th Birthday at Lifestyle Mazda

2009-06-30T07:42:00.000-07:00

Lifestyle Mazda is inviting motorists to test-drive the multi-award-winning two-seater Mazda MX-5 roadster in celebration of the sportscar’s 20th anniversary. Drivers are encouraged to visit the dealerships in Crawley and Horsham showroom and experience the thrill of the iconic roadster for themselves.

“This year, the world’s most popular sportscar – the Mazda MX-5 – celebrates its 20th birthday,” explains Mark Spowage, dealer principal at Lifestyle Mazda. “The Mazda MX-5 was an instant hit with motorists in 1989 and two decades later remains unrivalled both as an exciting driver’s car and an open-top roadster that can be used for everyday motoring all year round.”

First shown at the Chicago Motor Show in February 1989, the original Mazda MX-5 triggered a rebirth of the two-seat roadster. Delivering the very essence of sportscar fun, the perfectly proportioned roadster was an instant sales success and has since earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s best-selling sportscar, with more than 850,000 models sold to date.

Earlier this year, the 2009 Mazda MX-5 arrived at Lifestyle Mazda, boasting a fresh design and an enhanced chassis to improve the model’s legendary agility and controllability even further. The eight-strong range of upgraded Mazda MX-5 sportscars have all been fine-tuned to use less fuel and reduce CO2 emissions.

Prices for the 2009 Mazda MX-5 soft-top range start from £16,345 on-the-road, while the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe range starts at £18,345 on-the-road and boasts the world’s fastest powered retractable hard top – up or top-down in just 12 seconds.

Mark Spowage added: “The Mazda MX-5 is a joy to drive and own. Motorists in Crawley and Horsham looking for an engaging sportscar should visit our showroom to experience how the iconic roadster turns every journey into a special event.”

To find out more about the Mazda range or to arrange a test drive, please call Lifestyle Mazda on Crawley 01293 845000 or Horsham 01403 254331 or visit one of our showrooms at Manor Royal, Crawley or Bishopric, Horsham.

Award Winning Partnership

2009-06-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

In a major sponsorship deal, the Sussex based car dealer group, Lifestyle Europe, has teamed up with East Grinstead Hockey Club, the reigning Slazenger England Hockey League Premiership champions.

Having won the league title for the first time in the tournament’s twenty year history, the club has reached new heights, including being awarded the title of England Hockey Club of the Year and, with a crop of England first team regulars amongst its ranks, including the England captain Glen Kirkham, the club has reached an all time high.

Following the Premiership triumph, which came off the back of two indoor championship wins earlier in the season, the club has set its sights on moving up a gear and conquering the European Hockey League and additional support is all the more important, as club captain, Philip Coote, explains:

“This has been a historic year and we’re all now hungry to take our game to the next level and make our mark in Europe. With the challenges next season will bring, it’s vital that we work with a solid team of partners and to secure the backing of Lifestyle, one of the UK’s best performing motor retail businesses, will give us another boost in helping to raise our profile.”

The sponsorship package sees a considerable investment from Lifestyle, including the presentation on Saturday of a brand new Ford Kuga to the men’s first team player/coach, Mark Pearn.

Peter Isted, managing director at Lifestyle, was looking forward to another successful year for both parties:

“At Lifestyle, we’ve received a few awards ourselves this year, including Sussex Business of the Year, but it’s important to look past the bottom line in a business and realise that these wins came about through strong teamwork. That’s what we admire about East Grinstead Hockey Club, which is a tremendous asset to the area, running teams for people from 6 years old and upwards. We wanted to support the club in the best way possible and develop an award winning partnership to take our brands forward into the forthcoming season and the London Olympics in 2012.”

As well as its trio of championship wins, East Grinstead reached the quarter finals of the 2009 European League in its first year of entry. To follow the team’s progress next season, visit www.egsc.org.uk/hockeyclub.html.

Lifestyle Europe, which operates Ford, Mazda, Renault, Subaru and Isuzu dealerships across Sussex Surrey and Kent, this year picked up the coveted motor industry title of Best Retail Group for the second year running. Information and special deals can be found at www.lifestyleeurope.co.uk.

Ford Fiesta Mountune

2009-06-26T02:56:00.001-07:00

Tuning specialist has introduced raft of upgrades to Zetec-S supermini to create a sizzling range-topper

Few manufacturers can rival Ford’s reputation for producing great-handling cars – so fans will be salivating at the prospect of the latest Fiesta. Tuning specialist Mountune Performance has developed a package of extras to boost the firm’s 1.6-litre petrol engine by 20bhp.

The kit comes as a dealer-fit accessory and costs £1,299, although this figure doesn’t include fitting. It’s available from selected Ford outlets for Zetec-S and Titanium versions of the 1.6-litre supermini. Do the changes go far enough to keep pace with its established hot hatch rivals?

The aftermarket upgrade gives buyers plenty of choice when it comes to styling. While the basic kit only provides discreet Mountune badging to set it apart from lesser models, our Zetec-S test car was also equipped with Ford’s exterior styling kit, which comes highly recommended.

Its unique front bumper, lower side sills and rear spoiler fit perfectly with its go-faster performance, while our model’s smart alloys add an extra £100. If those changes aren’t enough, Mountune’s £149 Exterior Pack adds garish dayglo body graphics, and the firm also offers a set of lightweight black alloy wheels for £529.

That’s the outside taken care of then, so what’s it like inside? The cabin will be familiar to existing Fiesta owners, as there’s nothing to set it apart from the Zetec-S donor car. Even so, it compares well with its Renault and Vauxhall rivals. Not only is there plenty of space, but it’s attractively styled and features air-conditioning and a smart leather steering wheel as standard.

The Mountune extras are all about what’s under the bonnet, though. A high-performance sports exhaust, updated ECU and new air intake help take the 1.6-litre engine’s power output up from 118bhp to 138bhp, while torque rises from 152Nm to 170Nm. But despite this extra punch, the Ford still trails its rivals in the power stakes.

This was telling at the test track, where the Mountune Fiesta sprinted from 0-60mph in eight seconds flat – half-a-second slower than the Vauxhall and a full second behind the Renault. It also trailed in our in-gear tests, taking 11.9 seconds to drag from 50-70mph in fifth – that’s 5.5 seconds adrift of its livelier Renaultsport rival.

However, what the bare figures don’t relate is how much fun the Ford is to drive. Its pin-sharp throttle response, perfectly weighted steering and agile chassis all compensate for its lack of outright pace.

The new exhaust provides a racy soundtrack that will have you blipping the throttle on every downchange, and the smooth power delivery means it’s fun to extract every ounce of performance from the engine. The supple suspension is another plus point, as the Fiesta’s set-up was the most forgiving here. It’s the easiest to live with day-to-day, yet its excellent ride doesn’t come at the expense of handling or grip.

The sports exhaust does have one unwelcome side effect, because at high cruising speeds its burble becomes a drone. To make matters worse, the Fiesta is the only car here with a five-speed gearbox. As a result, it’s the noisiest on the motorway.

A standard Zetec-S with the Mountune upgrade is £15,194, and even when you add the bill for installation, it should still be the cheapest car in our line-up. As the kit is effectively retro-fitted, it doesn’t affect the official CO2 output or VED band, either, so road tax for the Ford is comfortably cheaper than for its rivals.

Economy of 30.5mpg was also the pick of the bunch. The question is, will the low running costs and entertaining handling be enough to compensate for the Fiesta’s lack of straight-line speed?

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

Source Auto Express

Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup

2009-06-26T02:43:00.000-07:00

Facelift and power hike make hot hatch champ better than ever

Tinkering with a winning formula is a recipe for disaster, so has Renaultsport managed to improve on the excellent Clio 197 Cup?

To broaden its appeal, the new-look line-up has been revised. The Renaultsport Clio 200 features softer suspension than before and comes loaded with kit as standard. At £16,750, it’s designed for hot hatch fans who like a bit of comfort.

Thrill seekers should concentrate on the 200 Cup tested here. With its stripped-out cabin and firmer suspension, it is the most focused Clio yet. Its chassis settings come as a £400 option on the flagship, but the raw 200 Cup costs £15,750 – so it’s the most affordable way to join the hot Clio club. That all makes sense, but we’re not convinced by the supermini’s new nose.

While the gloss black trim and flattened profile provide a more distinctive look, it’s far from pretty. It stands out from lesser models, though, with wider front wings, a fresh rear diffuser and red brake calipers.

Climb inside and there are predictably few toys to play with. Air-con is a £550 extra – so electric windows come as a relief in hot weather – and the steering wheel adjusts for height only. Sporty details include a set of perfectly positioned drilled alloy pedals and a leather steering wheel and gearknob.

Our car also featured a pair of optional £850 Recaro seats. These are incredibly supportive and surprisingly comfortable on longer drives. Up front, power has risen from 194bhp to 197bhp. Tweaks to the 2.0-litre engine include the introduction of a new cylinder head, changes to the variable valve timing and fresh electronics – all of which gives 20 per cent more torque at lower revs.

You would expect the 200 Cup to be quick off the mark then – and so it proves. At the test track, the high-revving Renault sprinted from 0-60mph in seven seconds exactly – that’s half-a-second faster than its nearest competitor.

On the road, the Renault feels quicker than its rivals. Working its frenetic engine hard is an utterly absorbing experience as the power builds until its peak output is delivered at 7,100rpm. And the slick six-speed gearbox is the perfect match. The ride is as firm as you expect – the Cup chassis sits 7mm lower than the standard set-up and has stiffer springs and dampers.

You certainly feel bumps and ruts, but the suspension only crashes over the worst potholes and the trade-off is superb body control and agility. With its sharp responses and rev-hungry engine, the Clio comes alive on twisty back roads.

It’s not perfect, as the steering lacks the feel you get in the Fiesta, the body squirms under heavy braking and 23.4mpg economy is poor. Yet the 200 Cup is easily the most involving version of the third-generation Clio – and it will take some beating here.

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

Source Auto Express

Renault Clio Renaultsport 200 | Video

2009-06-19T06:59:00.001-07:00

Absolutely Stunning! Renault have certainly nailed it with the new GT! To book a test drive visit: http://tinyurl.com/rentd

Ford reveals Transit Econetic details

2009-06-19T05:24:00.000-07:00

Ford is launching a new Econetic version of its Transit van which is priced from £18,095, emits 189g/km of carbon dioxide and will do 39.2mpg.

The new model is aimed at companies that want to maximise fuel efficiency and is based on a 2.2-litre 115PS Duratorq TDCi Transit 280 panel van with short wheelbase.

Transit Econetic – what's different?

* Low friction oil
* Green gear shift indicator light
* Modified engine calibration
* Standard 70mph speed limiter
* Improvements over the standard 113bhp 280S of 24g/km CO2
* New low-drag wheel covers

The £750 option of a closed-loop, coated Diesel Particulate Filter (cDPF) enables the Transit Econetic to meet the Euro Stage V emissions standards.

In addition to the new Transit Econetic, an Econetic version of its compact workmate, the Fiesta Van, will also go on sale later this year.

Orders for the Transit Econetic are open now.

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

Source AM Online

Renault Mégane Saloon

2009-06-15T05:18:00.000-07:00

Renault puts the boot into the Megane with a new saloon version.

Here's the final edition to the Mégane family! Our spies have caught a saloon version of Renault's new Megane out testing. Set to go on sale in South American and Eastern European markets first, it’ll reach UK showrooms in early 2010.

As you can see from these images, it'll pack a huge boot – just like its predecessor. Under the bonnet, it'll feature the same range of engines as its hatchback brother, with a wide line-up of economical diesels and even a turbocharged petrol.

Prices can be expected to start at around £16,000, though we’ll find out more at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

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

Source [Auto Express]

Kuga Coupé on the prowl

2009-06-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

Ford raises the stakes and expands the Kuga range, including a sporty two-door 4x4 that’s going to be in a class of its own.

Take a look at the new 4x4 that’s going to turn heads on and off-road! This striking machine is a coupé version of Ford’s popular Kuga, and it’s set to take style to the top of the agenda in the SUV sector.

Now that the Kuga is firmly established in the off-road market, Ford has decided it’s time to expand the range. With plans to grow the five-door version, there’s room for a sporty little brother that puts the brand in a class of its own.

As BMW demonstrated with the X6, there is a demand for cars that combine the raised seating position SUV buyers love with coupé looks and a sporty driving experience. And as you can see in our exclusive images, the new Ford certainly has style on its side. Pivotal to the remarkable shape is the dramatically sloping roofline, while the distinctive C-pillar takes some of its inspiration from the three-door Fiesta.

The muscular yet athletic proportions are reminiscent of the original Iosis X, which previewed the Kuga. A neatly curved rear window, classy roof spoiler and sleek tail-lights complete the look. At the front is an evolution of the new design language seen on the Iosis MAX concept. Huge alloys fill chunky arches, the ride height has been raised, and off-road cues include front and rear skid plates.

The Kuga Coupé won’t command an X6-style price tag or cost a lot to run, though. While the current five-door model is a 4x4, most versions of the three-door are likely to be sold with two-wheel drive for better fuel economy and emissions figures.

Under the bonnet, the newcomer will benefit from the same range of EcoBoost direct-injection turbocharged petrol engines as the upcoming third-generation Focus. These are set to include a new 1.6-litre turbo, available with 148bhp or 178bhp outputs, which will combine storming pace with excellent consumption. Diesel options for the Kuga Coupé are going to include a new 128bhp 1.6 TDCi and a flagship 2.0-litre, available with 168bhp or 197bhp options.

As for transmissions, a Powershift twin-clutch auto is to be available for the first time on the Kuga. It will an optional alternativve to the standard six-speed manual gearbox. Expect the new model to get stop-start from the factory, too. Sitting on a modified platform from the next-generation Focus, the Kuga Coupé is to have class-leading driving dynamics with sharp steering, well controlled body roll and plenty of cornering grip.

It will be the sportiest car in its class and while most sales are likely to be front-wheel drive, an all-wheel-drive variant will also be offered. Options such as a panoramic glass roof, the latest hi-tech integrated sat-nav and Bluetooth compatibility, along with a reversing camera, are going to help make the Ford feel every inch the mini X6.

Production is still some way off, though, because Ford’s immediate priority is the launch of the new Focus and C-MAX next year. Those are set to be followed by a Vauxhall Meriva-rivalling, Fiesta-based MPV. So we will see the new model, along with its five-door brother, at a major motor show in 2011.

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

Source [Auto Express] Written by Sam Hardy / Photos by Miroslav

Ford Sales 'Full Recovery'

2009-06-05T05:19:00.000-07:00

Ford small car sales have recovered to the level they were at a year ago, lifting gloom at car dealers.

The blue oval also continued its 1-2 stranglehold on the UK car market.

This month, it was the Fiesta that led the Focus.

Indeed, the Fiesta leads for 2009 year-to-date. And the Focus? That’s in second place…

Nevertheless, unlike some other car brands, it was still an overall decline for Ford. Declining demand for the big cars saw, overall, the brand’s UK sales decline by 16 percent.

This is evident by the Ka, Fiesta and Fusion accounting for two in every three scrappage car sales. The Focus takes the majority of the remainder.

Even so, Ford outperformed the market and was able to boost its market share by 1 percent, to 17.3 percent.

Nigel Sharp, Ford Britain MD, said: ‘We hope this scrappage scheme will boost sales of new vehicles and, in doing so, help secure jobs at Ford and our dealer partners.

‘It is early days yet, but increased web traffic and showroom visits are now turning into vehicle registrations, so we remain optimistic as we head into the summer selling months.’

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

Source Car Dealer Magazine

Ford Focus RS | A Legend Returns

2009-06-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

The legendary Ford RS performance car brand is returning in the shape of the exciting new Ford Focus RS, which will be previewed on July 22 at the 2008 London International Motor Show.

The new Focus RS will go on sale in early 2009 and is being created by a small team of dedicated engineers, under the direction of Jost Capito, Ford of Europe’s Vehicle Line Director for Performance Vehicles.

For performance road car enthusiasts, the new model will mark a welcome return for the Ford RS badge. This will be the second Focus model to carry the RS mantle and promises another exciting chapter in an exciting 40-year story that began in Germany in the late 1960s and gained momentum across Europe with the launch of the 1970 Escort RS1600.

Capito said: “We want the new Focus RS to be a serious high performance car – as much a car for driving enthusiasts as the one before it and classic Ford RS models of the past. We’re staying true to the core RS principles of an exciting, yet affordable performance road car you can live with every day.”

Authentic RS presence and style

 Before it even turns a wheel, the new Focus RS exudes the presence, sporty style and lowered, ‘meaner’ appearance expected of a genuine Ford RS. Overt performance styling details mix with subtle revisions to create a planted, powerful stance and the promise of an exciting drive.

The London show car previews the design intent for a final production vehicle, though as development work continues, some final details may change before volume production begins.

The vehicle is finished in a special bright green paint with inlaid metallic flake, a striking, modern interpretation of the 1970s Le Mans Green of the Escort RS1600 era.

The vibrant exterior colour is contrasted with a number of performance styling details highlighted in gloss ‘piano black’, including the strip at the leading edge of the bonnet, the deep housings for the integrated front fog lamps and door mirrors with integrated side indicators.

Front and rear quarter panels have been revised to incorporate wider wheel arches and a wider track, complemented by revised, deeper side rocker mouldings. In another visual reminder of the car’s performance potential, triangular, RS-badged vents sit behind the front wheel arches. Two classic-style bonnet louvres are both a styling hint at the power beneath and a practical requirement, maintaining correct system temperatures.

The completely new front bumper design for Focus RS incorporates a deep front airdam with a large, mesh lower grille in an extended trapezoid. Stylish and practical, this prominent feature represents the latest Ford ‘kinetic design’ face and also is finished in piano black. Above, chromed xenon headlamps stand out like cat’s eyes and are framed by matt-black housings with unique additional vents running underneath.

At the rear, a deep new rear bumper incorporates a large venturi tunnel to its lower edge with small vents at each corner of the bumper, emphasizing the car’s width. Two impressive chromed exhaust tailpipes sit each side of the black venturi, creating a purposeful rear view for the car.

Above, a unique, twin-element, black RS rear spoiler sits at the Focus RS’ roofline, echoing both RS models of the past and the World Rally-winning Focus WRC that has been its inspiration.

“We believe it’s vitally important that a Focus RS looks like both a Focus and an RS – it needs to be individual, distinctive and overt in its performance styling, but it also needs to show a clear progression from and relationship to Focus ST”, said Stefan Lamm, Chief Exterior Designer, Ford of Europe.

High performance interior 
Inside, this theme continues with a unique and appropriately performance-oriented interior, dominated by bespoke, sculpted Recaro high-performance sports seats, specially designed and trimmed for excellent support, even when driving enthusiastically. Each is colour-matched to the exterior, with ebony leather accents and ‘RS’ and ‘Recaro’ logos stitched into each backrest.

Elsewhere, colour brings new excitement to the Focus interior, building on the sporty interior theme of Focus ST with more use of accents matched to the exterior colour, brushed aluminium highlights and overt performance styling. Even the rear seats feature higher side bolsters and a microfibre finish to echo those up front.

The centre console is finished in a stylish gloss, carbon-look trim and metallic highlights abound, from air vents, door grab handles, switchgear and gearshift surround, to unique RS-branded scuff plates on the door sills. These highlights contrast with a black-trimmed roof lining, emphasising the sporty, cockpit feel.

The driver is reminded this is a special Focus at every touch, with a gear lever finished with a six speed gear shift graphic in RS blue, a sporty, three-spoke steering wheel, finished with ‘Ford’ and ‘RS’ logos and even aluminium foot pedals. The performance driving environment is completed by three additional gauges from the Focus ST, including turbo pressure, sitting atop the centre console and angled toward the driver’s eyeline.

Powerful RS heart 
At the heart of the all-new Focus RS is a specially developed, turbocharged version of the Duratec 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine. Significantly revised for high performance, this powerplant is targeting an impressive power output of 300PS and over 410Nm of torque, contributing to an excellent power-to-weight ratio.

Such significant increases are not simply the result of altering engine management or boost pressure: starting with the Duratec 2.5-litre block, Ford RS engineers developed unique camshafts, a revised cylinder head and gasket and revised intake and exhaust manifold system for the car.

Although the car is still in development, prior to its launch in early 2009, early performance testing indicates a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time of under six seconds.

A traction ‘Revo’-lution Throughout Focus RS’ development, Capito and his team have been keeping a sharp focus on creating a car that delivers excellent performance and traction.

Various innovations, developed as a result of customer feedback from previous performance Fords, have allowed engineers to keep the new Focus RS as front-wheel drive, with a limited-slip differential, while still achieving demanding targets for traction, handling and steering.

The new Ford Focus RS is equipped with an innovative front suspension system known as a ‘RevoKnuckle’, which is designed to reduce unwanted steering disturbance and torque steer, the impact of torque on steering in front-wheel driven vehicles. Torque steer occurs during hard acceleration, cornering or driving on uneven surfaces, when torque on the driven wheels exceeds grips levels. It is characterised by sudden turning force on the steering wheel and can be exacerbated by vehicles with wide tyres and limited-slip differentials.

In Focus RS, the RevoKnuckle works in conjunction with a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential. Ford Team RS engineers have worked closely with Ford’s Advanced Research Centre in Aachen, Germany to develop the RevoKnuckle technology specifically for the high performance Focus RS. It allows the simplicity of a traditional McPherson strut arrangement, but with geometry settings that minimize steering disturbances and torque steer, principally a reduction in steering offset.

“The Ford Focus is an excellent base for a high performance car – agile, responsive and stable,” explained Capito. “We studied at length how best to enhance these qualities for a high performance model. Our work has shown clearly that our approach in combining a tuned RevoKnuckle with the Quaife differential is an ideal solution for a high performance front-wheel-drive road car like Focus RS.

“As you would expect, we gave all-wheel-drive careful consideration, but by combining and tuning these elements and learning from Ford’s expertise in industry-leading handling, we have managed to eliminate the weight of AWD from the car and still have been able to target a class-leading balance of traction, handling and performance.

“The result is a lightweight set-up, that will deliver the right blend of traction and razor sharp controllability – in a way no one would have expected from front-wheel-drive, and we believe we have made the right choice,” Capito concluded.

Dynamic, agile and responsive
 A genuine Focus RS must maintain and enhance the reputation for responsive, precise handling for which Focus is acclaimed and considerable engineering effort has ensured that the new Focus RS will do just that.

Driving quality developments for Focus RS include a 40mm wider track, stronger, longer driveshafts, revised springs and dampers and a thicker, longer rear anti-roll bar. At the same time, the steering system has been retuned to provide an even sharper steering response and very precise feedback.

Brakes also have been uprated, with 336mm ventilated front discs and 300mm rear discs generating vice-like stopping power on road or track. Large calipers peek out from behind unique 19-inch wheels, wrapped in 235/35 low profile Continental tyres.

A special version of Ford’s ESP system has also been developed for Focus RS, designed to allow a very sporty driving style before activating. Intensive work to refine the natural handling abilities of the car has allowed the ESP system to carry a full de-activation option for enthusiast drivers and especially for track use.

“We are refining all the handling characteristics of Focus RS without ESP, to hone its natural responses, rather than use ESP to help its handling. In Focus RS, ESP is a pure safety device”, explained Capito.

Reliable and durable
 In creating the new Focus RS, Ford’s Team RS engineers have had to meet the same stringent targets for durability and reliability as those set for the rest of the Focus range.

Despite its many bespoke engineering and styling elements, Focus RS will be built entirely on the main Focus production line in Saarlouis, Germany and offered with a standard Ford of Europe warranty.

A great heritage The new Focus RS represents a significant moment in the heritage of both the Focus and Ford RS brands.

It is 10 years since the Ford Focus was first revealed to the world at the Geneva Motor Show in 1998, paving the way for a range of Ford vehicles whose exciting design was matched by class-leading driving quality. Since this time, more than 5.3 million Ford Focus models have been built in Europe, including Russia, with the car also built and sold in North America and Asia.

At the same time, the new Focus RS marks the return of the famous but rare Ford RS badge, last seen on the first-generation Focus RS in 2002 and with a distinguished heritage stretching back 38 years including Fiesta, Escort and Sierra models.

“RS is uniquely important to us in terms of our performance heritage and World Rally Championship success, while the Focus has played a major part in establishing Ford’s excellent reputation for driving dynamics,” said John Fleming, Ford of Europe President and CEO. “The all-new Focus RS will embrace and celebrate both of these – it will be a genuine RS and a genuine Focus and I’m confident it won’t disappoint in either area.”

To find out more about the Ford Focus RS please visit Lifestyle Ford

Your preferred Ford Dealer for New Car Sales, Used Car Sales, Van Sales, Servicing and Motability in Kent, Sussex and Surrey

Ford Fiesta with 800bhp

2009-05-28T05:14:00.000-07:00

Rallycross-adapted Fiesta with 800bhp will compete at Pike's Peak hillclimb this July.

Already bored of your factory-standard Zetec S? Then this could be the Fiesta for you! As part of Ford US’s ongoing campaign to promote the small hatchback stateside, it’s announced that it will be entering a pair of Rallycross Fiestas in this year’s Pike’s Peak hillclimb.

But here’s the fun part… The car which is currently competing in the European Rallycross Championship makes do with 550bhp from its 2.0-litre turbocharged Duratec engine, whereas the hillclimb duo will be retuned to kick out closer to 800bhp! That means a 0-60mph time of around 2.8-seconds – identical to the Bugatti Veyron.

Ford says its aim is to complete the 12.4-mile course in less than 10-minutes, a feat that’s never been achieved. But the cars are in safe hands – rallying-legends Marcus Gronholm and Andreas Eriksson will be piloting the Fiestas around the 156-turn course.

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

Source [Auto Express] Written by Jack Rix

Ford Capri Coming at Last

2009-05-27T05:10:00.000-07:00

Legend is finally set to return, as we reveal secret plans for stunning Focus Coupé – and it’s gunning for Scirocco...

The Capri is back – as a hatch! These are the best pictures yet of the compact family car that looks set to be the must-have model of 2010 – it’s a new three- door version of the Ford Focus.

Just as Volkswagen has done with the stunning Scirocco, Ford is seeking to reinvent one of its most famous sports cars. And it’s this dramatic evolution of the next Focus that will do it.

Boasting a stylish but practical body, it will target the Scirocco and the Renault Mégane Coupé, providing a glamorous sister car to the standard five-door hatch – revealed in Issue 1,057. Appealing to young, style-conscious buyers, the new Coupé should be a big hit.

As you can see from our exclusive pictures, it takes some inspiration from the Iosis Max concept, revealed at March’s Geneva Motor Show.

That car debuted the new family ‘face’ of not only the new Focus, but the next-generation C-MAX, too. However, the three-door model evolves this with sleeker, sportier LED headlights and a deeper, more aggressive set of lower air intakes.

The key design cues, though, are the rakish windscreen, low roofline and high waistline, which meet to give a heavily chopped appearance at the back. It’s reminiscent of the Scirocco, but is arguably more daring and head-turning. A neat diffuser-style lower bumper, roof spoiler and gorgeous LED tail-lights complete the rear. Add in short overhangs and large alloy wheels, and the model looks every inch the chic compact sports car.

And because that roofline doesn’t slope down too steeply, the Coupé will be practical, too, with plenty of headroom for rear passengers and a decent sized boot. Options such as a panoramic glass roof, to further increase the feeling of light and space inside, are anticipated.

In the front, a similar cabin to the five-door is expected, with a new centre console offering an improved version of Ford’s Human Machine Interface system. The finish will have a premium feel, with options including a reversing camera.

To match its storming looks, the car will be fitted with a class-leading chassis. And this promises even more agility and grip than the five-door, without sacrificing ride comfort or refinement.

There’ll be even more reason to smile when buyers see the engine range. New turbocharged EcoBoost powerplants will be available, with most cars getting a 1.6-litre petrol, producing 148bhp or 178bhp.

A new 1.6 TDCi diesel will also debut, giving up to 128bhp, alongside a flagship 2.0-litre with 168bhp or 197bhp. All these units will combine pace with superb fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. And helping the Focus Coupé to be even more efficient will be the option of a Powershift twin-clutch gearbox. This will be offered in addition to a standard-fit manual transmission. Stop-start technology is also expected to be rolled out across the line-up.

Of course, there will be a high-performance range-topper, but it’s unlikely to be powered by the much-loved 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo engine from the Focus ST and RS. This is deemed too thirsty, and will be replaced by a 2.0-litre, 200bhp EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo.

The new Focus range debuts alongside the C-MAX MPV at a major motor show next year.

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

Source [Auto Express] Written by Sam Hardy / Photos: Miroslav

Ford Starts Scrap Today

2009-05-20T01:48:00.000-07:00

Ford will tomorrow start delivering cars under the scrappage scheme, after finally resolving issues.

Yesterday, we reported that Ford had suspended deliveries of cars, due to ‘outstanding’ issues in a number of areas.

The UK’s largest car brand was seeking urgent clarification with Government over these details.

Now, it seems they’ve finally been cleared up, to the brand’s satisfaction.

Nigel Sharp, Ford Britain MD, said: ‘Ford is putting its full weight behind the UK vehicle scrappage scheme, which will not only boost sales, but will also bring positive employment and environmental benefits, too.

‘Ford’s substantial backing of subsidised vehicle scrapping helps to secure the 100,000 auto industry jobs in the UK dependant on our company, dealerships and suppliers.’

Which will be a relief to everyone concerned!

Now, it seems, £7995 Fiestas and £9995 Focus can finally be delivered…

To find out more about the latest Scrappage Offers available please visit Lifestyle Ford

Source [Car Dealer Magazine]

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

Scrap: MOT Not Needed!

2009-05-20T01:37:00.000-07:00

Scrap scheme trade-ins do NOT need to have a current MOT, Car Dealer Magazine can today reveal…

… because cars with freshly-expired MoT certificates will still be accepted under the scheme, the Government has confirmed.

So long as the MOT hasn’t been expired for more than 14 days, motors without a current MOT will still earn the rebate from the Government.

This is a small but significant clarification from the Government – as it means that cars which are arguably unroadworthy can still be accepted under the scheme.

Owners who, last year, were told their old banger would not pass another MOT can now scrap it and receive the Government incentive, without the need to make it roadworthy first.

Car Dealer Magazine predicts that, once this dawns on car owners, the scheme’s impact really will rocket…

Watch this space!

To find out more about the Scrappage Scheme and the Latest available offers please visit Lifestyle Ford | Lifestyle Mazda | Lifestyle Renault

Source [Car Dealer Magazine] Written by Richard Aucock

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

Renault Kangoo Be Bop

2009-05-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

New electric MPV lights the way for Renault's clean, green future.

Prepare for a shock – no sooner has Renault’s funky Kangoo Be Bop gone on sale than an electric variant has been unveiled.

Three engines are already available with the Be Bop – one petrol and two diesel. However, this latest version of the trendy MPV demonstrates what Renault has in store for future production battery-powered vehicles.

Named the Be Bop ZE, the model is based on the ZE Concept revealed at the Paris Motor Show last October. Low-energy lights and seriously reworked aerodynamics help to keep the ZE’s energy consumption at a minimum, while linear displays on the outside of the doors show how much charge is left in the battery simply by activation of the remote central locking.

But you don’t have to get out of the car to check the level– there’s another gauge inside!

Power comes from a 44kW (60bhp) zero-emissions electric motor which revs to 12,000rpm and is claimed to be 90 per cent more efficient than a conventional internal combustion engine.

Its range is expected to be about 160km, and recharging is simply by plugging into the mains overnight.

However, Renault and other manufacturers are working together to develop a standard plug which will quick-charge in as few as 20 minutes.

In July, the Kangoo Be Bop ZE will embark on a Europe-wide tour, during which it will be available for test drives. But Renault has even bigger plans, as it intends to launch a full-scale assault on the electric vehicle market in 2011.

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

Twingo CC is ready to go

2009-05-12T05:24:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL: Renault confirm that new drop-top will arrive in 2010

It's official! Renault has confirmed that the Twingo CC will make its public debut later this year, before going on sale in 2010.

We bought you spy shots of the car – described as a spiritual successor to the Ford Puma. And more details were revealed to one of Auto Express’s sister titles at a recent event in Germany.

Entry variants are slated to be fitted with the 100bhp 1.2-litre TCE unit used in the Twingo GT. Also, a flagship car would incorporate the Twingo RS’s 131bhp 1.6. But there is still some uncertainty over the exact engine range, due to Renault’s intention to cut the emissions of its entire vehicle line-up.

Further options being discussed include a 900cc three-cylinder petrol and an upmarket 140bhp 1.6-litre diesel.

It’s most likely that the first versions of the car will be built at Renaultsport’s factory in Dieppe, and that the planned small production runs will make the car an instant classic.

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

Stunning new Clio revealed

2009-05-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

Auto Express show what’s in store for sensational new version of Renault hot hatch – and reveal how the standard model will look, too

Renaultsport fans are seeing double this week! Not only was Auto Express the first magazine to put the restyled Clio Renaultsport 200 through its paces, but these exclusive pictures show how the all-new version of the sizzling hatch will shape up.

And if you are wondering how we can be so confident about the styling of the fourth-generation Clio, take a peek at the leaked images published in our French sister magazine Auto Plus. These pictures depict one of Renault’s styling models, and reveal exactly how the standard Clio will compare to its Renaultsport derivative.

Due to burst on to the scene in late 2011, the Clio RS promises to be not only faster and lighter than the car it replaces but, dressed up in full Renaultsport gear, the best-looking hot hatch on the market.

Renault’s aim for this machine is clear: it wants the car to be immediately recognisable at first glance, maintaining the everyday appeal of the standard model, yet adding a sportier edge to the styling.

Taking pride of place on the stubby bonnet is an oversize Renault badge, with swept-back headlights and larger air intakes giving the nose a friendlier appearance.

In profile, however, the current car’s simple styling is swapped for an intricate series of flowing creases, giving an impression of movement even when the model is stationary. A similar ‘flame-surfacing’ design language has been applied successfully by BMW for years, and now Renault appears to be using the technique to its own advantage.

Renaultsport specification slots 18-inch rims under the swollen wheelarches, plus adds a bulging bodykit and trademark rear diffuser, while a boot-lip spoiler and wide-set twin exhausts finish off the racy styling. There are shades of the Mazda 2 in the car’s profile – something that might be less of a coincidence than you would think.

Chief designer Patrick Le Quément is set to leave Renault at the end of this year, to make way for ex-Mazda man Laurens van den Acker. He is intent on ushering in a new era of design – and this is the car that points the way.

Under the bonnet, Renault will stick with its trusty 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine – ensuring the classic high-octane driving experience is maintained. However, aside from an incremental power hike past the magical 200bhp mark, the main focus will be on improving fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions.

The engineers’ aim is to achieve something approaching 40mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions below 180g/km.

The fourth-generation Clio will sit on an all-new lightweight platform that is set to be even stronger and more capable than at present. As with the current car, two chassis options – Sport or Cup – will be offered.

The former will cater for those who want to maintain a degree of comfort and a full complement of kit, while the latter is for drivers prepared to put up with a bone-shaking ride as a trade-off for the full-fat driving experience.

Everything happens faster these days… The second-generation Clio appeared eight years after the first, then it was seven years before the third-generation model came along, and this all-new car is due in 2011 – a mere six years after the current one went on sale.

Price tags are set to start from £16,000 for the more basic but firmer Cup, while the heavier Sport chassis will weigh in closer to £17,500 – maintaining the Clio’s reputation for being a true performance bargain.

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

Source [Auto Express] Text: Jack Rix / Photos: www.beyond-form.com

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

New model bargains from Renault

2009-05-12T05:08:00.000-07:00

Renault is the latest brand to finally confirm its scrap scheme sales incentives – and they’re eye-openers.

Choice one for Car Dealer Magazine is a new Renault Clio Extreme 1.2 for £6495.

That’s a saving of £3500 on list price… and £500 better than Renault previously announced!

What’s more, it’s the latest, just-facelifted Clio, which has barely hit UK roads. With Renault throwing in £119 deposit/£119 a month finance, it really is a superb deal.

There’s also a £3255 total scrap scheme incentive on the Megane 1.6 Extreme 5dr, taking it down to £9995.

There’s even a £2500 saving on the new Grand Scenic 1.6 Extreme, giving the brand-new model a £12,495 list price. Not bad for a just-released MPV!

No wonder, says Renault, showroom traffic is up by two-thirds. Even visits to the company’s website are up by half compared to this time last year.

Renault UK MD, Roland Bouchara, said: ‘Renault is fully committed to the scrappage scheme, and naturally delighted by the interest our products have received since the scheme’s announcement.

‘We’ve already had several thousand people register on our website for scrappage offer information, so we’re delighted now to be able to put a new Renault within the reach of many.’

Wrapping it all up is a catchy tagline for the scheme: ‘Do this…get this’. It’s hitting nationwide advert channels right now.

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

Source [Car Dealer Magazine]

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

Ford’s ‘biggest fall’ in CO2

2009-05-12T05:02:00.000-07:00

Ford cars sold so far in 2009 have recorded the biggest fall in CO2 emissions, report latest statistics.

Eco website Clean Green Cars has looked at sales of all makes up to April 2009, and discovered that Ford car sales show the biggest drop in CO2 output.

That’s 10,000 fewer tonnes of CO2 a year. And all thanks to an overall CO2 improvement of nearly 10g/km.

For fleet-savvy car dealers, that’s a cut of two BIK tax bands.

Yet more good news for Ford car dealers – who, last week, discovered their share of the new car market had also rocketed 4 percent over 2008.

It’s thanks to increasing popularity for Ford’s hit new small cars, the Fiesta and Ka, say the analysts. They alone have increased their market share by 2 percent.

Indeed, until the SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive arrived, the Fiesta Econetic was actually the UK’s greenest, lowest-emission five-seat hatch.

Nigel Sharp, Ford Britain MD, said: ‘Clean Green Cars’ analysis, based on the actual cars being bought, shows what is being achieved rather than what could be done by cars which may not be available, desirable or affordable.’

We can’t imagine which rivals he could be referring to…. still, more evidence that Ford really is a car maker on the march.

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

Source [Car Dealer Magazine]

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

Ford Vans Go Green

2009-05-12T04:52:00.000-07:00

Ford has timed it to perfection – the maker has just announced its first ever Econetic green Transit.

The eco new commercial vehicle promises over 39mpg when it is launched in the autumn – and, as the vans range comes in at below 3.5 tonnes, it’s also eligible for the Government’s new car scrap sales incentive.

A name already well proven in Fiesta and Focus passenger cars, the new Econetic Transit is based on the front-drive Transit 280 SWD panel van.

It uses a 2.2-litre TDCi 115PS engine, to produce ‘best in class’ low CO2 emissions of 189g/km.

Steve Kimber, commercial vehicles director, Ford of Britain, said: ‘We appreciate that our commercial vehicle customers have a clear interest in saving fuel and lowering their cost of ownership.

‘At the same time, environmental friendliness is also growing in importance for them, and with the new Transit Econetic, they can achieve both.’

Low-resistance tyres, low-drag wheeltrims, a gearchange indicator light and new engine management software all help make the difference.

But the most stand-out aspect is that it comes with a standard 70mph limiter!

This helps keep speeds down, saving further fuel… but may prove controversial with CV drivers.

Ford has yet to announce prices for the green new Transit, which is also joined by a green version of the smaller Transit Connect.

But, thanks to the Government incentive scheme, it’s potentially a good-value go-green offer Ford dealers can take to businesses.

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

Source [Car Dealer Magazine]

Scrap: Ford Welcome

2009-04-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

Ford has welcomed the new car scrappage scheme – by supplementing it with additional discounts of up to £5,000!

This huge cash sum will be off all its larger cars, and will sit separately to the Government’s own scheme which best incentivises smaller, cheaper cars.

Ford calls it ‘Scrappage Plus’, which will be over and above the Government/industry £2k scheme.

It will provide an ADDITIONAL £1250 off a Ford Fusion, up to an ADDITIONAL £3000 off a Ford Galaxy.

Nigel Sharp, Ford of Britain MD, said: ‘This announcement from Ford and the Government is great news for the consumer, as it will help a sizeable group of motorists, who otherwise could not afford it, to purchase a more stylish, safer and greener new Ford.’

Sharp is, however, very keen for the technicalities of the scheme to be revealed to the car maker.

‘We look forward to receiving full details of the programme and working with dealers to make the most of the scheme for our customers.’

He also said it is not the complete answer to the industry’s woes. ‘Although very welcome, the extra sales we expect from this new scheme will only bring a depleted automotive market back up to levels of 15 years ago, at best, so our sector still faces tough challenges.’

Even so, with its bold latest Scrappage Plus incentive, Ford is ensuring the 100,000 car workers in the UK who depend on the car company – including 20,000 within its 650-strong car dealer network – will directly benefit.

There are eco green benefits, too.

Based on the scheme only swapping 1998 Ford Focus 1.6 models for today’s 65.6mpg Ford Focus ECOnetic, an annual saving of 120,000 tonnes of CO2 would be made.

That’s the equivalent output of over 40,000 homes, says Sharp…

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

Source [Car Dealer Magazine]

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

Scrap: Renault's Boost

2009-04-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

Renault is to offer extra savings over and above the Government-inspired £2k scrappage allowance.

These incentives will chip prices to ultra-low levels, says the car maker. Examples of the savings Renault dealers will be able to offer include:

• Renault Twingo Extreme - £5995
• Renault Clio Extreme 1.2 - £6995
• Megane Extreme 1.6 - £9995

LCVs will be included, too – meaning a new Kangoo Van ML dCi 70 will cost from £7995 – including VAT!

Roland Bouchara, Renault’s MD, said: ‘We welcome today’s announcement for scrappage, and are delighted to be able to go further with additional help for owners of vehicles over 10 years old to be able to benefit from a new Renault car or van.’

The car maker didn’t forget the green element, either. ‘Renault will comply with the End of Life Vehicle Directive, where applicable vehicles will be taken to a Renault approved take-back facility, where the Certificate of Destruction will be issued.’

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

Source [Car Dealer Magazine]

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

How Green are New Cars?

2009-04-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

One argument against the Government car scrappage scheme has been that it’s just as green to drive old cars. Not so!

To prove it, Ford has released a set of statistics.

Car Dealer Magazine has been able to scoop these. And they provide car dealers with serious ammo for customers!

Take the Fiesta, the nation’s most popular car. Back in 1996, buyers were likely to take up a 1.4 Zetec SE model. One that could average 34 to the gallon, and emitted 184g/km of CO2.

If they were to drive this into a dealer today, they could pick up £2000 off a brand-new Fiesta Econetic 1.6 TDCi. A car that is faster, yet offers almost DOUBLE the fuel economy, and emits just 98g/km of CO2!

The differences are startling, and that’s before you even start to consider the greater exhaust emissions control systems of modern cars. Not to mention the fact that many older ones may not even be running in prime, fully-serviced condition…

We’ll let the figures speak for themselves…

1996 Fiesta 1.4 Ghia: 34.4mpg, 184g/km CO2
2009 Fiesta 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic: 61.4mpg, 98g/km CO2

1998 Focus 1.6 LX: 31mpg, 162g/km CO2
2009 Focus 1.6 TDCi Econetic: 51.3mpg, 114g/km CO2

1995 Mondeo 1.8 LX: 25.9mpg, 186g/km CO2
2009 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi Econetic: 41.5mpg, 139g/km CO2

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

Source [Car Dealer Magazine]

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

First Drives - Renault Kangoo 1.5 dCi 86

2009-04-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

We hit road to see if renault’s latest van-based carrier delivers.

Meet Renault’s new contender in the space race. The Kangoo has always been a family favourite for its exceptional value and acres of cabin room, and this new car aims to offer even more practicality for your pound.

From the outside there’s no hiding its commercial roots – it was designed as a van first and passenger model second. But that means significant savings in development costs can be passed on to customers.

The slabby looks and steeply raked windscreen won’t win any prizes for style, yet the chunky front bumper and new headlights give a much funkier appearance than the car’s predecessor. The airy cabin is as well appointed as in any other Renault road model, with a simple MPV-style dash, plus a commanding seating position and large glass to offer a fantastic view ahead.

Generous
An 18cm increase in length over the old car has boosted already generous interior dimensions. As well as class-leading rear legroom, there’s now a 660-litre boot with the back seats in place. Fold these and the front passenger chair, and this rises to a huge 2,800 litres. To put that in context, it beats the BMW X5’s capacity by 1,000-plus litres.

We drove the 85bhp 1.5 dCi, which felt rattly on start-up but provided surprisingly smooth and punchy performance once warmed through. Combined economy of 53.3mpg and CO2 emissions of only 140g/km are also superb for a car of this size. Other units include the 67bhp or 104bhp 1.5 dCis, plus 8v or 16v 1.6-litre petrol engines.

Super-soft suspension gives the Kangoo a very comfortable ride, but through corners there is nothing to stop the high body from rolling significantly. Still, it’s fair to say that dynamic handling was never one of Renault’s aims with this car.

What the Kangoo does offer is more powerful but frugal engines and improved standard kit for only a slightly higher price than before. So, as long as style is a secondary consideration, spacious family transport has never been so affordable.

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

Source [Auto Express] Text: Jack Rix / Photos: Pete Gibson/Otis Clay

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

RenaultSport Megane Trophy

2009-04-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hi-tech trophy race car hints at forthcoming 250.

Most of us will have to wait until the autumn to taste the new Renaultsport Mégane 250 – but the drivers in the European Mégane Trophy race series have got their hands on their 2009 cars now.

Although very different to the roadgoing model, these track-tuned machines show how serious Renault is about its hot hatches... so when we got the opportunity to drive one, we simply couldn’t say no!

The Trophy shares only its lights and screen with the road car. Under the composite body sits a spaceframe chassis and mid-mounted V6. A six-speed sequential box drives the rear wheels, while the suspension has fully adjustable dampers.

Its stunning looks might hint at the road car, but driving the Trophy leaves you in no doubt this is a track-bred race machine. The engine noise is intoxicating, while the grip generated by the ground effects and huge rear wing results in lap times which match those of GT3 sports cars.

Its braking, acceleration and cornering loads are immense, while the incredible gearbox offers instant upshifts which are combined with rapid engine blips on the downshifts. Only two pedals mean you have to use the steering wheel paddle-operated clutch when leaving the pits, and the superb digital information screen displays speed and engine revs.

Built at Renaultsport’s factory in Dieppe, France, this stunning competition car costs £126,000 new – some £100,000 more than the expected price of the road model. That’s likely to leave many drivers out of the race to own one, but if you want to get up close to this incredible Mégane, then don’t miss the Trophy when it comes to Silverstone on 4/5 July.

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

Source [Auto Express] Text: Owen Mildenhall / Photos: Matt Vosper

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

Subaru Outback revealed

2009-04-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

Rugged estate version of the Legacy rocks up in New York

Subaru is boasting a second world debut at the New York motor show! A day after the Japanese brand showed off its new Legacy, it has strengthened the range with this, the Outback.

It majors on practicality, with interior volume upped eight per cent over the outgoing car and a 2.8-inches longer wheelbase, yet it’s shorter than the model it replaces. Ground clearance is also up at 8.7-inches and combined with the Subaru’s famous symmetrical all-wheel drive, makes the Outback a true crossover. Front and rear overhangs have been kept as short as possible to make the car more agile and maneuverable when the going gets tough.

There’s new double-wishbone rear suspension, which as well as sharpening up the dynamics, increases rear cargo space and boosts the car’s load lugging ability further.

The 2010 Outback appears to have dropped the Legacy tag from its name, but shares that car’s Boxer petrol engines – there’s a four-cylinder 2.5i, with 168bhp and 230Nm, and a six-cylinder 3.6i with 252bhp and 335Nm. The latter comes with a five-speed automatic gearbox while the smaller engine has the option of a six-speed manual or the firm’s new Lineartronic CVT transmission, which is said to help cut emissions and fuel consumption.

The new Outback is set to go on sale in the US in the summer, with UK sales likely to follow early in 2010. By that point it should gain Subaru’s 2-litre Boxer diesel engine, which will grab the majority of sales here. Expect prices to start at around £25,000.

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

Source [Auto Express]

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

Puma reborn... as new Twingo CC!

2009-04-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

Renault to get look of former Ford favourite, at a cost of around £14,000

It's not only MINI that’s set to join the speedster set, as these latest pictures prove! Poised to hit the road in 12 months’ time, the two-seat Renault Twingo CC is described as a spiritual successor to Ford’s much loved Puma, and is the French firm’s answer to the successful Peugeot 207 CC.

Our spy shots also offer the first glimpse of the new model’s clever single piece hard-top, plus its dramatic face. The car – which is codenamed X33 – measures 3.70 metres in length and will offer drivers a choice of two engines. Prices are set to begin at around £14,000.

At present, the plan sees entry-level models fitted with the 100bhp, 1.2-litre TCE unit used in the Twingo GT. A flagship version is also under development, which would use the 131bhp 1.6-litre engine from the Twingo RS. But there is still some uncertainty over the engine range, due to Renault’s intention to cut the emissions of its entire vehicle line-up.

Top brass have already announced a vision to create a new range of cars with average CO2 emissionsof only 40g/km by 2012. To do this, the firm says it will supplement a new generation of electric cars with a range of ultra-efficient petrol and diesel models.

It’s not yet clear if there will be an all-electric Twingo, but options being discussed at the moment include a 900cc three-cylinder petrol and an upmarket 1.6-litre 140bhp diesel. Regardless of the engines Renault chooses to fit, anti-lock brakes, equipped with front discs and rear drums, will be included as standard and should provide fade-free stopping power.

In keeping with Renault’s aim to be crowned Europe’s ‘safest’ car company, ESP will be offered on all models. The Twingo CC will be built at the firm’s factory in Dieppe, alongside other models in the Renaultsport range.

But there is still no word on whether all versions of the car will wear the firm’s performance badge – or if bosses intend to reserve the Renaultsport logo for top-spec variants only.

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

Source [Auto Express] Text: Dan Strong / Photos: Rene Demarets

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

Fiesta Tops EU Pile

2009-04-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

Ford’s Fiesta has just taken the overall European sales number one slot from the Volkswagen Golf.

A massive March sales increase of over 15 per cent has seen the Ford supermini conquer in an otherwise depressed market.

First quarter European sales are down by 16.9 percent, reports JATO Dynamics, as the recession bites further into car retailing.

This contrasts with the huge success of new car scrappage schemes, as seen in Italy and, in particular, Germany.

They have bolstered the Ford Fiesta’s fortunes in those markets, although JATO does point out that it has sustained sales in the UK, too – despite the lack of a scrappage scheme.

Ford car dealers will thus find the prospect of next week’s Budget unveiling such a scheme tantalising…

‘It’s interesting to see the continued affect that the government scrapping incentives have had in certain markets,’ said JATO Consult head David Di Girolamo.

He points out that several other small cars have risen in the top 10 rankings, including the Volkswagen Polo and Fiat Grande Punto. Sales of the Fiat Panda have also grown by a staggering 62 percent.

‘The Panda is a perfect example of a car that can benefit from today’s market conditions. It’s a very affordable car to buy new … it’s an easy step-up into the new car market for those who have been encouraged to scrap their old cars.

‘We will track the markets with interest, as it will be important to understand if this is a short term reaction by consumers, or if it will have a prolonged effect on the market.’

Volkswagen shouldn’t be too upset, though. It remains Europe’s best-selling car brand. And the Golf does still lead the year-to-date tally – yes, from the Fiesta, as well as the Peugeot 207, Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Focus.

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

Source [Car Dealer Magazine]

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

Ford Market Share Rise

2009-04-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

Growing market share is a priority for car makers, in the face of slowing sales – and none has more than Ford.

The blue oval’s market leading position GREW in March, too, as the company extended its total UK market share to 16.7 per cent.

This is up from 15 per cent in March 2008.

It means the company’s total vehicle share for the first quarter of 2009 is 18.1 per cent, with the car share growing up nearly 2 percent, to 17.2 percent.

Ford Fiesta and Focus models being the country’s two-two best sellers helped here – as did a startling medium commercial vehicle share growing to 34.3 percent!

Driven by the Ford Transit, this is a 4.4 percent boost over March 2008. It means Ford’s commercial vehicle market share is the highest it’s been since November 2000.

Such relative position gains, in a market of declining vehicle sales, means that Ford’s MD, Nigel Sharp, is delighted. Particularly with the increase in profitable retail sales – two in every three Kuga sales, for example, are to private buyers.

‘Ford’s model range… continues to attract customers, even in these difficult times,’ said Sharp.

‘Increasing retail sales are an important indicator that proves Ford has the right product mix at the right time. This has helped to boost the quality of our business at a time when it is most needed.’

The benefits to retained values are already been seen in the used sector. Such a market shift also helps the Ford brand image.

It means the car dealers can charge more for cars!

Overall, the UK market sold 202,991 fewer cars in 2009 compared with 2008. That’s a decline of 29.7 percent.

Ford sold 22,207 fewer cars – a decline of 21.1 per cent. ‘Significantly less than the overall market drop,’ Sharp was keen to point out.

Hence, the overall rise in market share. Ford car dealers will be hoping this position of strength is carried through to the market upturn.

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

Source [Car Dealer Magazine]

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

Mazda3 takes focus away from retail

2009-04-06T02:32:00.000-07:00

Mazda is expecting to double sales of its new 3 lower-medium model to fleets thanks to a new family of lower emission engines.

On sale next month, the four-door saloon and five-door hatchback models boast fuel economy improved by up to 16% and CO2 emissions reduced by up to 19%.

Crucially, a new 1.6-litre diesel model will be offered which emits 119g/km, dropping it into the lowest benefit-in-kind tax band for diesels.

And Mazda UK managing director Jeremy Thomson also believes that the halo effect from the larger 6 upper-medium model will also help, especially as it has just been named large family car of the year at the Fleet News Awards.

He said: “The 6 has become a fleet favourite and much of that model’s talents are flowing down to the 3.

“The 6 has a 5-6% segment share, and the new 3 has the capacity to do that.

“In a field of bland options, the 3 has real fleet credibility thanks to the improved economy and emissions. The price guides are seeing the car next week and I’m confident of strong residuals.”

Thomson expects to sell 12,000 units in a full year – around 1,000 ahead of the old 3.

Fleets will account for up to 40% of sales in the new version, compared to a share of between 10 and 20% before.

However, Thomson says this growth will be through attracting user-choosers into the brand, and not through doing unsustainable business.

He added: “We’re not chasing market share for share’s sake – we can’t afford to do that.

"We need profitable business so we will not being selling to direct brokers or daily rental companies, and we will also restrict our Motability sales too.”

Mazda is planning to take the new 3 to key fleets in the coming months through its corporate demonstrator programme so people can test the car – a key point for Thomson who wants the magic from the 6 to rub off on the 3.

He said: “People will not compromise on choice and that is good news for us as we are not a typical player so can offer people something different to the mass-market cars.”

With the roll-out of the 3, and the revised 6 range on sale, Thomson expects Mazda to retain its 2.3% market share this year after a record 2008 in the UK.

Last year Mazda sold 50,000 models, but this is expected to fall to 42,000 units in 2009.

To find out more about the forthcoming Mazda3 visit Lifestyle Mazda

Source [AM Online]

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

Future Subaru Legacy Revealed

2009-04-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

New four-wheel drive BMW 3-Series challenger breaks cover ahead of New York show debut

Subaru’s Legacy is getting longer – and here are the pictures that prove it! This is the Japanese firm’s all-new model, which will make its debut at the New York Motor Show next week.

Totally new from the ground up, the Legacy is 35mm longer, 90mm wider and 80mm taller than the car it replaces. And, as well as being more spacious, the BMW 3-Series rival features a new look, based around the concept revealed at January’s Detroit Motor Show.

Underneath the skin lies a fresh four-wheel drive chassis with McPherson struts at the front and double wishbones at the rear. Power comes from a range of boxer engines, including 170bhp 2.5-litre unit, a turbo version with 265hp and a range-topping R version with a 3.6-litre boxer that produces 256hp and 350Nm of torque.

Transmissions will include five and six-speed manual gearboxes as well as a new CVT ’box called Lineartronic, which is designed to help reduce CO2 emissions.

Inside, as well as being bigger and more spacious that the outgoing car, the new Legacy gets luxurious kit such as sat-nav and a voice command system. It also features an electronic parking brake, a 10-way adjustable driver's seat and a new three-spoke steering wheel.

Sales should kick-off in the UK in early 2010. Expect a starting price tag of around £20,000.

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

Source [Auto Express] Written by Sam Hardy

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

Ford Focus X Road

2009-04-02T05:23:00.001-07:00

New soft road Focus set for Amsterdam Motor Show debut

'X' marks the spot for this tough looking evolution of the new Ford Focus!

Christened the X Road, the newcomer is makes its world debut at the AutoRai Amsterdam Motor Show this week.

And as you can see in our pictures, the silver coloured machine won't struggle to turn heads.

To help improve off -road performance, there is extra tall suspension, plus wheel arch protectors and robust under body skid plates.

As well as 17 inch alloy wheels, the newcomer also gets distinctive bodywork and unique badging.

Under the skin, the front-wheel-drive model also gets a six speed manual gearbox, and an adapted traction control system specially tuned to help the car cope with slippery conditions.

Though there’s still no word on whether this model, described as a limited edition special by the blue oval, will come to the UK. Just 300 examples will be built in left hand drive

However, with its efficient 1.8-litre 16v flex fuel engine it offer drivers a green alternative to the likes of the 2.0-litre TDCi and forthcoming 2.2-litre TDCi Kuga models.

Based on the flagship Titanium equipped Focus Estate, the X Road also gets a CD palyer, plus a voice control telephone connection and an advanced satellite navigation system.

However, there’s no doubting that the new model will be expensive! At €25,175, the car costs the equivalent of £23,000 in the UK at least £2,000 more than the current flagship estate – and almost as much as the firm’s mighty RS.

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

Source [Auto Express]

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

New Focus On Horizon

2009-04-02T05:13:00.000-07:00

Ford shapes up family car for the next decade with dramatic looks and cutting-edge tech.

Meet the most desirable family car ever! This striking machine is about to rewrite the hatchback rulebook, with a stunning combination of head-turning looks, driver appeal and up-to-the-minute technology. Say hello to Ford’s next-generation Focus.

Set to go on sale in 2010, the third generation of the family car will take the company’s brand values to the next level. It gets a dramatic new look that’s backed up by a range of hi-tech small- capacity turbocharged engines.

Ford gave the strongest hint of how its upcoming models will look when it revealed the Iosis Max at the Geneva Motor Show last month (see Issue 1,053). And it’s from this car that the new Focus takes much of its styling inspiration.

The hatch gets a sleek new front end, with a large lower grille and elongated headlights. Bold lines run from the edges of the grille to the A-pillars.

At the rear, there are further nods to the Iosis MAX, with a high tail, angular C-pillars and eye-catching lights. Chunky wheelarches and short overhangs finish the look and give the newcomer a muscular stance. According to insiders, a panoramic glass roof will also be available. Inside, expect a toned-down version of the concept’s striking cabin, with a new centre console boasting an improved version of Ford’s Human Machine Interface control system. Options will include a reversing camera.

Under the skin is a fresh development of the current car’s chassis, so it’s unlikely the new model will grow much in size. Emphasis will be put on ride and refinement, without sacrificing the sharp steering and driver appeal for which the Focus has become famous.

New turbocharged EcoBoost engines dominate the line-up. Entry-level models will come with a 1.0-litre four-cylinder turbo unit offering 89bhp or 108bhp, but most variants will get a new 1.6-litre turbo, available with 148bhp or 178bhp outputs.

These units will combine storming pace with low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to give buyers the best of both worlds. There is also a new range of diesels in the shape of a 1.6 TDCi, delivering up to 128bhp, and a flagship 2.0-litre with 168bhp or 197bhp.

All engines are mated to manual boxes as standard, but Ford will also offer its Powershift twin-clutch transmission. Start-stop technology is set to be rolled out across the range, too.

We reported in Issue 1,054 that Ford bosses were debating when to launch the car. Sources have revealed that it looks as though the Focus and C-MAX compact MPV will be launched simultaneously in 2010.

The models have been developed alongside each other and could be global cars – ie sold in all Ford markets across the world. They would follow in the footsteps of the latest Fiesta, which goes on sale in China later this year, and in the US in 2010.

The Focus will be built at Ford’s plant in Saarlouis, Germany, while the C-MAX, which is to appear as a seven-seater for the first time, will be assembled at Valencia in Spain.

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

Source [Auto Express] Written by Sam Hardy | Photos by Miroslav

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

Lifestyle Mazda Celebrates Top Fleet Award for Mazda6

2009-03-25T04:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-25T03:34:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-25T03:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-25T03:05:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-25T02:47:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-18T04:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-17T04:48:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-17T04:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-16T04:32:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-16T04:30:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-16T04:21:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-11T05:28:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-06T05:59:00.000-08:00

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

2009-03-04T14:38:00.000-08:00

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

2009-03-04T14:32:00.000-08:00

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

2009-03-04T14:22:00.000-08:00

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

2009-03-03T01:25:00.000-08:00

"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

2009-03-03T01:23:00.000-08:00

"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

2009-03-03T01:03:00.000-08:00

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

Money-saving motorists told to look out for used Renault Clio Sport Tourer

2009-02-26T08:01:00.000-08:00

Used Renault Clio owners looking for an updated vehicle offering low running costs may wish to consider upgrading to the Renault Clio Sport Tourer.

A review of the vehicle by Channel Four reveals that the vehicle’s low running costs are one of its superior features.

The review states that "Renault parts and servicing costs are competitive with the mainstream", while buyers should also benefit from relatively cheap car insurance.

Furthermore, drivers will be given lots of bang for their bucks in terms of fuel consumption with the 1.5-litre dCi 86 providing motorists with 64.2 miles to the gallon.

And owners of the dCi 106 will not be missing out by much as they will have the capabilities of achieving 61.4 miles per gallon.

However, somewhat surprisingly, the review concludes that those motorists who only rack up a small number of annual miles may benefit from a petrol model - the 1.2-litre 16v - because of the current cost of diesel.

When reviewing the same vehicle, What Car? argued that the vehicle is a "great small estate" that is "fun to drive and comfortable".

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

Source [VCARS]

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

Lifestyle Europe Achieve Again At The AM Awards!

2009-02-26T07:36:00.000-08:00

The AM Awards continues to recognise the best companies and highlight their achievements. The awards held last night were a glittering success with 21 winners collecting awards for their specialist categories.

Well done Lifestyle Europe - We managed to scoop 2 fantastic awards:

Retailer Awards

Best Retail Group (up to 10 sites)
Sponsored by: Auto Trader
Winner: Lifestyle Europe

Headline Awards

Personality of the Year
Sponsored by: Northridge Finance
Winner: Marc Matthew

There will be more to follow on this in the coming days - With all the latest photos!

Ford Ka: Why dealers are so pleased it’s here

2009-02-25T02:08:00.000-08:00

‘It’s ‘car’ now, not ‘kay-aye’ or ‘ka’,’ said one dealer to us, as he took delivery of his very first new baby Ford. ‘However it’s pronounced, though, I’m delighted to see it. This couldn’t have been better timed.’

Such is the excitement in the Ford dealer network over the brand-new, second-generation Ka. The old one lasted 12 years – too long, said our dealer friend, even though it still shifted incredibly well right up until the end. ‘It’s the style that it sold on.’

This model aims to replicate that, but bring the recipe bang up-to-date. It’s got lots of airbags, advanced electric gadgets, a brand-new petrol engine and, for the first time, a turbo diesel. ‘The premium here is only £700, too’, said our man. ‘On the Fiat 500, it’s £1,500! A real, real opportunity for us.’

Why does he reference the Fiat? Because it’s actually Fiat that builds the new Ka for Ford, on a platform also used by the 500 and Panda. Fear not, no external panels are shared, and it remains unmistakably ‘Ka’. Sure, fans of the old one may already be aghast at the slightly generalised looks – this is more modern Ford than second gen Ka – but it’s sharp, sophisticated, and decidedly premium in appearance. It is the exact same 3.62m length as the old Ka, but it’s 10cm taller.

Inside, the links with the Fiat are clearer. Basic dash architecture and layout is very similar. However, the Ford has totally bespoke switchgear and, for enhanced showroom appeal, far better quality of materials than before.

The gearlever is high-set and the driving position, atop lofty seats, commanding. It feels like a much more mature, grown up car, rather than a miniaturised city runabout. It’s also spacious – four adults should fit relatively contently, for short periods at least. At 224 litres, the boot is 20 per cent bigger – and, for the first time, it even has a proper glovebox!

There are four trim levels: Studio, Style, Style+ (which adds air con and Quickclear front windscreen), and Zetec. Standard kit is youth orientated – six-speaker stereo, USB port – and fair rather than generous. But the quality of materials and the switchgear is so much better than before.

Dealers will also have three ‘Individual’ branded styling packages to up-sell – Grand Prix, Digital Art, and Tattoo – with coloured grill surrounds, mirror caps, decals, and matching interior features. All are rather unique.

Under the bonnet, there’s either a 68bhp 1.2-litre petrol, or a 74bhp 1.3-litre turbo diesel. These are both superb units, each returning sub-120g/km CO2 and notable economy.

The diesel is especially stunning from a planet-saving perspective. But unless customers’ daily commute contains a lot of heavy uphill gradients, where its extra torque comes in handy, we’d take the petrol. It’s much zingier-sounding and enthusiastic. While the diesel has welcome extra shove, it is also rather noisy.

On the road, Ford has done a fantastic job of redressing the Fiat 500’s chassis shortcomings. The Ka has much better bump absorption, particularly at speed, and fitting a rear anti-roll bar has enabled Ford’s engineers to soften the springs by 30 per cent and retune the dampers accordingly. Comfort levels, grip, and sheer involvement all benefit.

Changes to the steering geometry also give the Ka more linear responses than the 500. It isn’t as communicative as its own predecessor, but for a city car it’s brilliantly entertaining.

Shame the safety kit isn’t better. Only two airbags are fitted as standard, which looks incredibly poor next to the Fiat 500. That car includes seven – somewhat negating the Ka’s slim price advantage.

But it’s very economical – just the thing our dealer man wanted. An ECOnetic version is coming, but in the meantime the diesel returns 67.3mpg and emits just 112g/km CO2, the petrol 55.4mpg and 119g/km – completely thrashing the old Ka.

Right car, right time? You bet. No, it’s not cheap – at £8,995 without air con, the Ka has been moved upmarket – but the package delivers on the road and further enhances Ford’s green car portfolio. So a winner, then? The answer is, it simply has to be. Whichever way you say the name.

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

Source [Car Dealer Magazine] Written by Richard Aucock

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

Mazda Models Declared Best Choice for Cost-Conscious Motorists

2009-02-24T13:36:00.000-08:00

Motorists in Crawley and Horsham should head to Lifestyle Mazda after a leading consumer magazine hailed two Mazda models as the ideal cars for cost-conscious drivers. Which? Car magazine names the Mazda6 and Mazda MX-5 sportscar as the financially astute downsizing option that could save fleets thousands of pounds.

“Downsizing continues to be a growing trend within the corporate sector as public and private sector fleets and company car drivers seek out lower emission, value-for-money models that deliver class-leading costs and wallet-friendly business and personal tax bills,” commented Mark Spowage, dealer principal at Lifestyle Mazda.

“Both the Mazda6 and MX-5 have established reputations for delivering low-cost motoring, high performance and excellent reliability. Now, Which? Car magazine highlights both models as winners for motorists considering downsizing, particularly from gas-guzzling models such as 4x4s.”

For high-mileage drivers, the publication recommends the recently launched Mazda6 2.2D TS2, priced at just £18,639 on‑the‑road, in preference to the BMW 3-series 320d SE four-door saloon costing £26,680.

Commenting on the Mazda’s credentials, the publication says: “It’s much cheaper to run and is packed with gadgets that are optional on the pricey BMW.”

It’s a view shared by vehicle valuation experts at CAP Motor Research, who calculate the Mazda model is likely to retain 38 per cent of its original price over a three year and 60,000 mile period, depreciating by just £11,539. This contrasts with the BMW, which is predicted to retain just 37 per cent of its value, losing a whopping £16,605 over the same period.

The publication also identifies the Mazda6 Estate as another alternative to a 4x4, stating it is “better to drive and cheaper to run”. The £19,324 Mazda6 Estate 2.2D TS2 triumphs over the £39,061 Land Rover Discovery 3 2.7TD V6 SE as it will retain 38 per cent of its value after three-years and 60,000 miles compared with 25 per cent for the 4x4.

In addition, the magazine names the Mazda MX-5 sportscar, which recorded a remarkable 97 per cent owner satisfaction score in the latest Which? Car survey, as the value for money alternative to the BMW Z4.

The publication declares the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe 2.0i Sport, priced at £20,657 on-the-road, as the money-saving alternative to the BMW Z4 sDrive 30i two-door convertible, which carries a hefty £32,660 price tag. CAP also points out that the Mazda MX-5 depreciates by just £14,592 over three years/60,000 miles, while the BMW plummets by £18,695.

Mark Spowage added: “Downsizing maybe the trend among both fleets and private buyers as the focus on cost management increases, but company car drivers that opt for a Mazda model will not be forgoing quality or specification.”

To find out more about the Mazda 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

The Subaru Justy Twin Cam Special Edition

2009-02-24T04:28:00.000-08:00

Subaru has the perfect answer for belt-tightening motorists wishing to downsize but not down-spec.

Diminutive delight, the Subaru Justy 1.0R is now available as a much sportier little number: the Subaru Justy 1.0 Twin Cam Special Edition.

Restricted to just 100 vehicles (50 in Black Mica, 50 in Shining Red), the extra equipment comprises rear roof spoiler; twin exhaust system; over roof 'viper stripes' and side decals; leather and alloy gear knob and rear privacy glass - creating the perfect blend of inexpensive, economical motoring in a desirable, sporty package.

Priced from £9,995, the Special Edition Twin Cam offers fantastic value for money at only £690 more than the standard model, even with a combined total of over £1,100 worth of extra kit.

This superb supermini, which returns 64.2 mpg on the Extra Urban Cycle and qualifies for the £35 annual Road Fund Licence, looks set to prove that even in these financially testing times, it is possible to get a great value for money, sporty vehicle with rock-solid reliability, frugal fuel economy, low CO2 emissions and low road fund licence all in one desirable package.

The standard Subaru Justy 1.0 R is already extremely well equipped with air conditioning; ABS with EBD; driver, passenger, front side and curtain airbags; radio/CD player with AUX input; four electric windows and remote central-locking, and is priced at a remarkable £9,305. A further enhancement available on both the Subaru Justy 1.0 R and Justy 1.0 Twin Cam is a stylish alloy wheel package comprising 15" Monza R wheels with Toyo 185/55R15 tyres: just £600 (inc. VAT) for a set of four (plus fitting).

The new Subaru Justy 1.0 Twin Cam now offers even more, and offers a racy alternative for the younger, and the young-at-heart, motorist.

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

Source [Car Pages]

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

First Drives - Ford Focus RS

2009-02-19T13:13:00.001-08:00

Hold on tight as we ride in the fastest Ford Focus ever built!

Stand by for action! This is the most desirable hot hatch of 2009, and the fastest mainstream model in Ford’s history. Auto Express has been given exclusive access to the Focus RS, with a scarily fast passenger ride in the car that’s the star of the free magazine in the centre pages of this issue.

The man allocated the task of giving us a drive to remember is rising motorsport star Matthew Wilson – son of legendary rally driver and Ford WRC team boss, Malcolm Wilson. He’s the perfect pilot to get the best out of the RS, a model inspired by the world rally Focus and the ultimate roadgoing Ford flier.

And we certainly found the ideal location, in the shape of an empty airfield where Matthew was able to push the newcomer to its limits. The result is pure entertainment. Our driver demonstrated a blur of hand and foot co-ordination and enjoyed complete mastery of the car, even when sliding sideways at considerable speeds.

High speed is what the Focus RS is all about. Fans of fast Fords have been eagerly anticipating a new RS since 2002 – and we’re pleased to report the wait has been more than worth it. This is one mean machine which transforms the Focus from family-friendly motor to a true macho beast.

Brutal power comes from a modified version of the 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine found in the Focus ST, but with 301bhp, performance is brutal – the benchmark sprint from 0-62mph takes only 5.9 seconds. And if you are lucky enough to have your own runway, you will see that it is quite capable of hitting its 163mph top speed.

Under the bonnet, a host of hi-tech gadgets means it grips the Tarmac like a second skin.

And the jewel in the crown is something called RevoKnuckle, a very clever suspension system that dramatically reduces the torque steer which was the Achilles’ heel of the last Focus RS.

Owners will quickly fall in love with the new model, because as well being a track stormer, it can also serve as daily transport. Thanks to a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality, it cruises serenely at high speed, the engine settling to a gentle hum. But as soon as the driver floors the accelerator, it once again becomes a true powerhouse, the characteristic off-beat warble of the five-cylinder engine entering the cabin.

And whatever mode you are in, two figure-hugging Recaro sports seats ensure a fabulously comfortable ride. These are part of a racy finished interior, which features carbon fibre trim and underlines the fact that the RS is no ordinary Focus. This impression is echoed by the exterior, which boasts an aggressive front end with a low splitter and deep air intakes, plus a huge boot spoiler and rally-inspired diffuser.

Jost Capito, head of the Ford RS performance division, believes this is the best RS ever – and that’s a major claim when you consider some of the great Fords that have carried the legendary badge since 1970. We’ll deliver our definitive verdict when we get behind the wheel next week. But on the basis of this exciting passenger ride, the 1,800 customers who have already splashed out £24,995 are getting a model which is worth every penny.

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

Source [Auto Express]

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

Renaultsport Mégane - Arriving at Lifestyle Renault in Sussex - Late 2009

2009-02-19T13:05:00.000-08:00

Ghostly image confirms spirit of new Renaultsport Megane.

Renault has revealed the first official image of its hotly anticipated Renaultsport Megane, due for launch at the Geneva Motor Show on March 3rd.

The picture was first released through a special website, which is currently counting down to the official unveil.

This is the first official confirmation that Renault plans an answer to the awesome Ford Focus RS – and from these early images, it’s clear that the firm is taking the challenge very seriously.

This X-Ray like image proves the latest generation Renaultsport Mégane promises to pack plenty of style thanks to a bodykit influenced by the Trophy racer unveiled at the Paris show last year.

The front bumper is complimented by flared wheelarches, a distinctive rear wing and a centre-exit exhaust.

Lightweight 18-inch alloys will feature too, with Brembo brakes hiding behind them.

Under the bonnet, the Mégane will use the same engine as in the outgoing Mégane R26.R. Power will remain around 230hp, but torque will be boosted from 309Nm. To around 320Nm This will be connected to the front wheels via a six-speed ’box and limited slip diff.

The Renaultsport Mégane is also likely to be offered with diesel power once again, using the new dCi 180 engine as seen in the Laguna GT.

Prices will be confirmed when the car goes on sale, later this year.

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

Hammond eyes up ‘Renault Clio with a facelift’

2009-02-19T12:45:00.000-08:00

Top Gear presenter and Mirror Motoring columnist Richard Hammond has run his critical eye over the new Renault Clio, commenting on the car’s new styling compared to its used Renault Clio predecessor.

Writing in the Mirror newspaper, Hammond said the car looked like it had been given a "facelift", with its front and rear re-styled to bring it in line with the appearances of the new-look Megane and Laguna models.

He also notes that the new Renault Clio will have built-in satnav for the first time.

The new Clio GT, which is also being unveiled at the Geneva motor show, is also put under the spotlight, and Hammond believes it will be ideal for those looking for something in between the regular Clio and the Clio Renaultsport. While there has yet to be an announcement on prices, it is thought the GT will be available for around £14,000.

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

Source [VCARS]

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

Experience the Best Used Supermini with Lifestyle Renault

2009-02-19T12:31:00.000-08:00

Renault’s ever-popular supermini, Clio, is proving to be just as desirable as ever, winning a string of awards down the years, including being hailed as ‘Car of the Year’ 2006 and ‘Best Supermini’ at both the What Car? and recent Auto Express Awards.

Beating off all its major competitors in the Auto Express Awards, including the Honda Jazz and Fiat Grande Punto, Clio continues to impress both motorists and the judges with its wide range of engine choices, low running costs, stylish, appealing good looks and fuel economy.

One of the panel members at the recent What Car? Awards, former used car dealer turned TV presenter, Mike Brewer, was particularly enthusiastic about Clio, commenting that: “The Renault is fine looking with a great image and fun-handling. While the Jazz is a good all-rounder, the Clio is more desirable – particularly with younger drivers.”

In awarding Clio as its ‘Best Supermini’, Auto Express also said; “If you want style and a great driving experience without compromising on economy or safety, then the Clio is for you.”

Right now, it’s economy where Clio makes its mark. Still as competitively priced as ever, the Clio range has been made even more accessible, with the addition of some impressive standard equipment across the range.

Take the Clio Extreme, the entry-level point for Clio three-door, which gains front fog lights, electric front windows, CD with fingertip controls and extra-tinted windows as standard.

Extreme is available with a choice of two engines, the 1.2 16V 75 and dCi 86, priced at £7,495 and £11,145 respectively.

Motorists wanting to inject a little va-va-voom into their lives should check out the great deals on new and used Clio at Lifestyle Renault in Tunbridge Wells and Kent.

To find out more please visit Lifestyle Renault or call us on:

Tunbridge Wells: 01892 515 666

Eastbourne: 01323 737 233

Five Star Euro NCAP Rating for Mazda6

2009-02-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

It’s official! The Mazda6 is one of Europe’s safest cars after being among the first models to achieve the five-star accolade in radically revised crash tests undertaken by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), the organisation that assesses the safety of new cars.

The upper medium sector model is Mazda’s best-selling fleet and user-chooser model and gaining the top safety seal of approval from Euro NCAP in the tough revised tests further underlines the car’s corporate credentials.

The Mazda6 was one of four models to achieve the top overall five-star rating covering adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, pedestrian protection and the new area of assessment, safety assist. The tests also take into account rear impact (whiplash) tests and the availability of electronic stability control (ESC). The new testing scheme requires all safety equipment, including ESC, to be standard on 85% of volume sales and at least optionally available on every variant.

ESC, which has been hailed by road safety campaigners as the most significant safety advance since the introduction of the seat belt, is standard on the new Mazda6 line-up as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS).

The news about the five-star rating for the Mazda6 coincides with the Government’s bid to drive down the number of crashes on Britain’s roads involving at-work drivers. New legislation, including the Health and Safety (Offences) Act, has been introduced to target rogue companies.

Mark Spowage, dealer principal at Lifestyle Mazda in Horsham and Gatwick, said: “Safety-focused fleet decision-makers should look for the new five-star Euro NCAP symbol which plays to the strength of the Mazda6. Fleet investment in safety starts with employees driving ‘safe’ cars. A priority for all businesses and their fleet decision-makers is ensuring that company car choice lists promote vehicles that are equipped with the very latest safety features – and that means the Mazda6.”

Accelerating Mazda to the safety forefront is the manufacturer’s lane‑change ‘Rear Vehicle Monitoring System’, which is standard on 15 Mazda6 models, from the TS2 upwards. Mazda is among one of the first carmakers to introduce such a system. Mark Spowage explained: “Our new lane-change radar system, as standard on many versions, will make Mazda6 even more attractive to fleet managers concerned to fulfil their duty of care.”

Mark Spowage concluded: “Staff are businesses most valuable asset. Therefore, ensuring employees take to the road in vehicles that are as safe as possible and equipped with the very latest safety features should be a priority. It makes financial, legal and moral sense.”

Other safety features standard on the Mazda6 include traction control with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist; and airbags (front, side and full‑length).

The new Mazda6 line-up entered UK showrooms last month with prices starting at £14,891 on-the-road (1.8 5dr S). Fleets have a choice of three petrol engines, three diesel engines and five equipment levels. Adding further appeal is the all‑new Mazda6 2.2-litre diesel, boasting CO2 emissions below 160g/km across the range, making this engine variant an all-round wise choice to fleet managers and user-choosers alike.

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

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

A Focus On Style

2009-02-19T03:11:00.000-08:00

With its athletic stance and dynamic performance, the Focus Style is a car that can't help attracting attention.

The Focus Style is the star of the Focus range and with its gorgeous good looks this class-leading model has always been revered for its great driving dynamics, and the new Focus is no exception.

From its swept-back headlights to the 'Ford Power' engine start/stop button, all parts of the new Focus work together harmoniously. So inspirational is the Focus Style it was the focus of the extraordinary advert where an entire orchestra was crafted from parts of the beautifully arranged new Focus.

Ford’s kinetic Design direction is bold and modern. After the introduction of the S-MAX and highly successful launch of the new Mondeo, the designers at Ford were eager to apply their kinetic Design philosophy to the Focus – a car that’s known for its great driving dynamics. Every body panel on the new Focus, except for the roof, has been restyled. This dramatic makeover embraces the kinetic Design principles of energy in motion, giving the car an athletic, dynamic feel to match its agile drive.

The interior of the new Focus has been enhanced to offer greater versatility and luxurious comfort. Special attention has been devoted to the quality of the interior, with the inclusion of a number of premium finishes.

The new Focus is not shy on new features and optional extras.

Ford Easy Fuel capless refuelling stops you from putting the wrong fuel in your car

The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) can give advanced warning of tyre problems

The 230-volt power socket can be used to power electrical appliances

The new Sony entertainment system has a DAB radio* and MP3 player connectivity

ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) is now standard across all new Focus models

The new Focus ECOnetic will be the first in a new range of low CO2 vehicles

Prices for the Ford Focus Style start from £11,995. visit Lifestyle Ford now for more information

Home Straight for Lifestyle Ford Move

2009-02-19T03:08:00.000-08:00

Plans for Redhill’s Lifestyle Ford dealership to move to upgraded premises look set to become a reality, with proposals for a new supermarket at its current Brighton Road location on show for the public later this month.

Despite some uncertainty in the global motor industry, Lifestyle Europe has been going from strength to strength and this will be welcome news to both the loyal staff at Lifestyle Ford and its valued customers, as Lifestyle Europe Limited Chairman, Marc Matthew explains:

“This is a really positive step for Lifestyle, with relocation enabling us to make a significant investment in a showroom fully equipped to provide the best customer service. It will also give us the opportunity to add multi franchised service facilities and a larger parts storage warehouse. The move has been on the cards for a number of years now and we’re really pleased to be able to demonstrate our commitment to business in Redhill at this time.”

As part of the overall regeneration of the town, Lifestyle’s Brighton Road showroom was identified as a prime retail location and Tesco is likely to submit a planning application later in the year. Its initial plans will be on display at a public exhibition scheduled for 19-21 February.

The location of the new Lifestyle Ford showroom is yet to be announced and will be dependant on a successful planning application but, as Marc adds, it’s very much business as usual, as the process will take several months to conclude:

“We are looking forward to announcing our new location but motorists can be safe in the knowledge that there will still be a Lifestyle Ford main dealer service on offer in Redhill throughout this process and the new dealership will deliver the full car and commercial sales, service and MOT facilities that our very loyal local customers are used to.”

An announcement on the new Lifestyle Ford location is expected in the coming weeks.

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