Seat scoops web award

You could need Seat used parts if you have the vehicles in your fleet and according to reports the brand is a growing presence for fleet sales.

Seat has also recently celebrated taking home the Most Improved website title for the BusinessCar fleet website survey too.

Louise Dunkley, the brand’s fleet marketing manager, said: "We’re obviously very happy to have scored an impressive 84 per cent in the recent BusinessCar website survey, capturing the title of Most Improved Website’ in the process."

She added that the company still thought there was more that could be achieved of the site and despite the award it re-launched it including some more key features providing users with important information about the brand.

Ms Dunkley cited that the improved site features a quick reference guide in relation to CO2 emissions for its motors and a section for what’s new for next year’s section, among other elements.

The Seat range also includes the Leon, Ibiza and the Altea.

A Yorkshire firm has had a new consignment of Renaults delivered.

The deliveries are taking place due to a conquest deal, which sees Euro 5 trucks replaced by Renaults, in addition to GE Smith’s existing 13 vehicles – a combination of DAFs and Volvos.

Paul Smith, owner of GE Smith, said: "We have never had any dealings with Renault Trucks in the past but were attracted by the Renault Premium’s quality driveline at such a competitive price."

He added that the deal offering three years of interest-free credit was something the company was keen to take advantage of.

Mr Smith added that the company would first see how they got on with using this new fleet of vehicles from the manufacturer before making a commitment to purchasing from the brand again in the future.

However, despite this comment he said: "We are hopeful of developing our relationship with Renault Trucks and Thompson Commercials further."

The Renault group is currently present in 118 countries.

Alongside making Citroen car parts the manufacturer’s Champs-Elysees showcase – C_42 – is set to make some changes for the coming months.

As of this weekend (Saturday December 12th) those people paying a visit to the C_42 will be able to enter the apparently eagerly awaited world of the Citroen DS3.

The DS3 marks the first model from the company in its newly-launched DS line, set to reach the UK market by spring of next year.

It is said to offer distinctive styling as well as "extensive levels of personalisation".

Citoroen’s C_42 building itself has been impressing judges with its style, having recently been selected as the, then winner of the Commercial Sector World Architecture News Award this year.

Gordon Carey, World Architecture News judge, said: "This building meets the brief on every level and then exceeds itself. A world-class building and it will continue to be so for many centuries to come. Just extraordinary."

According to Citroen, the pre-launch allocation of the DS3s has already sold out.

Volkswagen’s part in a new iPhone application relates to the Dakar Rally.

From today (December 11th) the app will be available on the phones as a free service.

It will ensure that those who use iPhones will get up-to-the-minute information about the factory-prepared and fielded Race Touareg motors from the manufacturer.

Volkswagen claims that users will get an "exciting insight" into the sport using the application.

Kris Nissen, Volkswagen Motorsport Director, said that the brand has always been a market leader for motorsport innovations.

He commented on competing in the event, saying: "We were the first automobile manufacturer to win the event with diesel power and the Scirocco Cup, launching next year will be the world’s first one-make cup to use eco-conscious Bio-CNG (bio-compressed natural gas)."

The Dakar race is said to require off-road navigating and consistency of a rock-solid nature.

There will be no Toyota spares leaving the Molly Maid fleet, only domestic cleaning products.

Molly Maid had taken the initiative to switch to using Toyotas for its fleet of 300 vehicles, moving away from Vauxhall’s Corsa.

Their model of choice has been the Toyota Yaris due to the car’s reputation of having competitive whole life costs and the brand’s said reliability.

Pam Bader, chief executive of Molly Maid, said: "It is vital for us to be able to provide our franchise owners and their staff with a reliable, practical and cost-effective vehicle."

Yaris also benefit from costing only £35 in road tax for the year for the 1.0 litre versions.

Molly Maid claims to be one of the biggest domestic maid cleaning services in the world and this year celebrates its 25th anniversary.

The company also recently took home the British Franchise Association’s title of Franchisee of the Year.

As we approach cold winter days one car company warns that motorists are not checking their tyres and oil enough.

Kwik-Fit states that eight million motorists have not made the checks on their vehicle for the past six months, according to research conducted by ICM.

And the firm found that younger drivers are the worst offenders, with those under 24-years-old being less likely to check tyres, lights, wiper blades and screenwash.

David White, customer services director at Kwik-Fit, says: "No one wants to break down at any time of year, but being stranded on a cold, dark, winter’s day can be particularly unpleasant."

He added that experts state more than 50 per cent of roadside recoveries would not be necessary if basic car maintenance was executed.

Kwik-Fit also predicts that over the winter up to one in six motorists will breakdown because of a flat battery, although drivers are still not getting them checked.

Another one in four drivers are leaving their brakes unchecked too.

The company claims to be experts in the repair of tyres, exhausts and brakes among other services.

Some drivers may be surprised by price increases in store for next year, according to one expert.

Although the price of Vauxhall, Ford spares, or any other car manufacturer’s costs can go up on a yearly basis – the seasonal adjustment can add an extra £500 onto the cost of a new motor – while this year the VAT increase is due too.

Dan Harrison, editor of Honestjohn.co.uk, said: "Many people think that once VAT has been paid on a new car, that’s it. No more VAT apart from the VAT on the dealer’s profit."

The editor gave the example of a new vehicle being bought for business use, so it is hired and the VAT can be reclaimed by the person who buys it.

When the motor is sold again into trade, the dealer itemises the VAT who then purchases the vehicle for stock and reclaims the VAT – something which cannot be done for private transactions.

Private buyers, Mr Harrison explains, cannot recoup the VAT and so are likely to feel the effects of the VAT returning to 17.5 per cent on January 1st next year.

If you think you need to find out more about VAT and how it affects you, visit the government website.

Two brands are creating more than Land Rover and Jaguar spares, as they have been said to come up trumps for sales satisfaction.

Jaguar and Land Rover have recently celebrated results from the J D Power and Associates 2009 Sales Satisfaction Index study.

The global marketing information firm ranked Jaguar in 1st place for the second year in a row as the company walked away with the Luxury brand award.

Land Rover was also able to celebrate coming in fifth place for luxury brands.

Gary Temple, president of Jaguar Land Rover North America, said: "The top goals of this organisation are to deliver world-class quality products to our customers with a world-class dealership sales and service experience."

Responses were taken from 48,000 people in relation to new motors registered in May and June of this year.

Jaguar has 80 year experience of making cars, with Land Rover being able to boast 60 years of heritage.

A tax-free perk could be heading your way if you drive a car from one particular manufacturer.

Citroen drivers who choose the electric C-Zero are set to benefit as a result of Alistair Darling’s pre-budget report, announced yesterday (December 9th).

It is a fully electric car which can drive 80 miles from one charge, the result of collaboration with Mitsubishi.

Able to attain a top speed of 80 mph it can also reach between 37 to 56 mph in 15 seconds.

Re-charging the vehicle’s battery is said to be an easy task, by just plugging it into a 220-volt socket.

The motor is set to launch next year and according to Citroen, drivers will enjoy low running costs.

For a quick charge, 80 per cent can be achieved in around 30 minutes with the full charge taking about six hours.

The car measures in at 3.48 m long for the exterior with a turning circle of 9 m.

Citroen claims to currently have 16 eco motors with 120g/km CO2 or less.

One car manufacturer is showing its green commitment by sponsoring a key climate change event.

Honda is one of the sponsors for COP15, the 15th of the United Nations conference talks which commenced this week.

Svend Olling, head of department at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on the sponsorship by the car manufacturer, stating that it had met the necessary criteria.

He said: "Not only does the sponsorship enable us to lower emissions from the conference itself, the vehicles demonstrate technology, which already today can help us in our efforts to reduce CO2 emissions."

A representative from Honda remarked that the company was "proud" to have been accepted as an official sponsor of COP15 and highlighted the vehicles on display as products with a low environmental impact and the greatest possible eco performance.

Honda recently came out on top for a Which? survey too, with a score of 99 per cent for its Accord for being the UK’s most reliable motor.