Steve Moody
Right place, right time
Often successful careers are partly ability, partly huge work ethic, and partly being in the right place at the right time. Ken Ramirez, managing director … Read More »
First Drive: Renault Twingo
Sector: City car Price: £9,495–£11,695 Fuel: 62.8–667.3mpg CO2: 95–105g/km If I had to sacrifice some salary, the new Renault Twingo is exactly the car on which my … Read More »
The lion’s share
The new management at the head of Peugeot in the UK is convinced that the firm can raise itself above the other volume brands and carve … Read More »
First Drive: Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate
Sector: Compact executive Price: £28,055–£33,220 Fuel: 51.4–65.7mpg CO2: 108–128g/km Mercedes-Benz thinks that the new C-Class Estate brings a touch more luxury to a sector that already … Read More »
First Drive: BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
Sector: Four-door coupe Price: £29,425–£45,045 Fuel: 34.0–61.4mpg CO2: 118–193g/km Sometimes BMW’s model range can seem a touch confusing, with all manner of cars of slightly varying … Read More »
Skoda looks to soar
Patrick McGillycuddy has only been head of fleet at Skoda since the end of last summer, but it’s been a stellar few months with sales soaring … Read More »
First Drive: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Sector: SUV Price: £28,249-£34,999 (after £5,000 plug-in car grant) Fuel: 148mpg CO2: 44g/km Mitsubishi thinks its new plug-in hybrid Outlander is the perfect company car, with decent … Read More »
The Leon roars
Neil Williamson is sitting on SEAT’s stylish Geneva show stand, and he’s in a good mood. With good reason. Having been head of SEAT in the … Read More »
Geneva roundup
Jaguar Jaguar’s new 3 Series challenger will be called the XE, the firm has revealed. With an all-aluminium monocoque and a new range of engines it … Read More »
First Drive: SsangYong Rexton W
Sector: Large 4×4 Price: £21,995–£25,995 Fuel: 36.2–38.2mpg CO2: 196–206g/km I doubt SsangYong is a name that often come up in discussions about the make-up of your fleet, … Read More »
Geneva Motor Show Highlights
Jaguar XE Jaguar’s new 3 Series challenger will be called the XE, the firm has revealed. With an all-aluminium monocoque and a new range of engines … Read More »
The business climate in 2014…
‘There are clear signs that economic recovery is taking place in a number of business sectors, but at the same time employers remain fully focused … Read More »
Fleet and its role in UK PLC
Gerry Keaney has been surprised. In his first year as chief executive of the BVRLA he’s been able to tour the fleet industry and what … Read More »
First Drive: Infiniti Q50
Sector: Compact Executive Price (November 2013): £27,950–£41,625 Fuel: 64.2–41.5mpg CO2: 114–159g/km Infiniti’s new Q50 is a car aimed to break into the premium compact executive sector. … Read More »
First Drive: Mazda3
Sector: Lower medium Price: £19,245 Fuel: 68.9mpg CO2: 107g/km The new Mazda3 is longer, lower, wider, more refined, faster, more efficient, more responsive, higher quality and … Read More »
100k and counting…
Lex Autolease will grow by 100,000 vehicles in the next five years, and it will do it in some pretty innovative ways, its new managing director … Read More »
Interview – Benoit Dilly
I meet Benoit Dilly, Arval’s new managing director, on the top floor of the BNP Paribas building in central London, a vast metal and stone … Read More »
First Drive: Vauxhall Insignia
Sector: Upper Medium Price: £16,279–£29,329 Fuel: 76.3–39.2 mpg CO2: 99–169g/km Generally mid-life refreshes are a bit of a wash and a brush-up of bumpers and lights, with … Read More »
First Drive: Range Rover Sport
Sector: Premium SUV Price: From £51,000 Fuel: 22.1-38.7mpg CO2: 194-298g/km The question has been posed quite often since the advent of the Range Rover Sport, that why … Read More »
What are fleets thinking?
Cost (table 1) In what remain challenging economic conditions, it is no surprise that company vehicle fleets are coming under significant cost pressure. What may be … Read More »
Accident assistance
Lead from the top ‘Management leadership and engagement at all levels from directors to first line managers is vital to cutting crashes and repair costs. Recent … Read More »
Not what it says on the tin
Martin Ballard is at pains to point out that Volkswagen Group Leasing does more than lease Volkswagen Group cars and vans. It’s not exactly what it … Read More »
First Drive: Volkswagen Golf GTI
Sector: Hatchback Price: £25,845–£28,895 Fuel: 44.1–47.1mpg CO2: 139–149g/km If I was a user chooser, and had to have a mid-level company car, I would seriously consider … Read More »
First Drive: Bentley Flying Spur
Sector: Luxury saloon Price: £140,900 Fuel: 19.2mpg CO2: 343g/km For executives immune from this age of austerity, or chauffeur fleets looking for a high luxury workhorse, there are … Read More »
First Drive: Citroën C4 Picasso
Sector: MPV Price: From £17,500 (est) Fuel: 74.3–44.8mpg CO2: 98–145g/km There are really only three or four things you need in an MPV: wipe clean surfaces, easy access … Read More »
Time to be bold
The leasing industry has ridden through the rocky landscape of the economic downturn, and come out the other side in pretty healthy shape. That’s the view … Read More »
First Drive: Kia Carens
Sector: MPV Price: TBA Fuel: From 62.7mpg CO2: 118g/km It’s no wonder Kia keeps promoting its star designer Peter Schreyer. He manages to make even the most workmanlike of … Read More »
First Drive: Kia pro_cee'd
Sector: Three-door hatch Price (May 2013): £17,495-£20,795 Fuel: 46.3-74.3mpg CO2: 100-140g/km Kia’s line-up has improved markedly over the past few years, to the point where it has some … Read More »
First Drive: Renault ZOE
Sector: EV Supermini Price (May 2013): £13,995 – £15,195 Fuel: up to 90 mile range CO2: 0g/km For the last couple of years Renault executives have … Read More »
Antiquated mileage recording systems costing fleets dearly, says TomTom
That’s the finding of new research carried out by TomTom Business Solutions with nearly a thousand car and van fleet drivers across Germany, France, Britain, Ireland … Read More »