Zenith Vehicle Contracts has become the UK’s biggest fleet management firm following the acquisition of Reading-based employee car ownership specialist Provecta.

The deal creates the largest independent leasing, fleet management and vehicle outsourcing business in the UK. The Zenith fleet is now 26,000 vehicles in size and includes prestigious clients BP, Asda and Ernst & Young. The purchase of Provecta also gives the Northern based company a foothold in the South of England.

Andrew Cope, chief executive of Zenith said: “The most cost-effective solution for fleets in the future will be delivered by fleet providers which have the full range of specialist products and services at their disposal. Our ability to deliver a new approach to a company’s total transport needs is what makes this deal really exciting.”

Zenith was established in 1989 as a specialist provider of bespoke fleet management services, concentrating on the provision of innovative management solutions.

French maker Peugeot has introduced a new Sport Pack option for the 4007 SUV to enhance the ‘entry model’ SE for customers.
To give the 4007 even more presence on the road, the 4007 SE Irmscher Sport Pack includes Aero Star Design 19” alloy wheels on Pirelli 235/45 x R19 tyres, a body-coloured rear roof spoiler, front lower spoiler and twin tailpipe finishers - all available for £600.
According to the maker if these additions were purchased individually they would total £2,950.  The Sport Park items are available on 4007 SE models in four metallic colours; Pearl Black, Arctic Silver, Pilbara Grey and Istria Blue.
Stylists Irmscher have worked with Peugeot successfully with design projects on the 207 GTi THP 175, 107 Sport XS and 407 Sport XS.
Click on www.contracthireandleasing.com for the best offers on leasing a Peugeot 4007 on the internet.
Simon McBride

Business car drivers looking for great performance plus being eco-friendly should look no further than the Volkswagen Bluemotion badge according to Windsor Vehicle Leasing.

Volkswagen expects more than 7,000 BlueMotion models to be rolled out in 2008. The BlueMotion has proven to be especially popular with fleets, particularly with local councils and daily rental firms.

The BlueMotion is the badge that denotes the environmentally-friendly arm of Volkswagen with the lowest CO2 emitting model in each range being awarded the badge. Volkswagen will be adding a BlueMotion to each model as they seek to further reduce CO2 emissions. 

The Volkswagen Golf, the most searched for car on ContractHireAndLeasing.com is expected to be the most sought after BlueMotion model with fleets accounting for over 1,400 of the 2,380 sold in the UK. 75% of the Volkswagen BlueMotions sold will go to the corporate sector.

By 2009 the BlueMotion will contain 9 models

• Polo
• Golf
• Golf Plus
• Jetta
• Golf Estate
• Touran
• Passat Saloon
• Passat Estate
• Sharan

“If you want to be eco-friendly whilst getting big performance out of your business car in 2008, you might like to consider a car carrying the Volkswagen BlueMotion badge.” says Windsor Vehicle Leasing’s Ben Newton.

All these models are to available to lease now (please follow links above), the Sharan and the Touran will be available shortly.

The NHS Purchasing & Supply Agency (NHS PASA) has appointed PDMS to develop their pan-government car leasing portal. PDMS are a software development company with particular expertise in browser based business systems.
Chris Gledhill, managing director of PDMS said “The new pan-government framework is a major advance in car leasing for the UK government, and we are very proud to have been selected to develop its web presence to make it easy for users to access the full range of benefits.”

PDMS were appointed following a competitive tender process initiated through the OGCbuying.solution’s Catalist Framework.

PDMS official website

Gr8 New Car staff all has a minimum of 5 years motor trade experience and the buyers have around 30 years. This experience means they can provide a professional service to their customers along with the most competitive prices.

Gr8 New Car profile
Gr8 New Car leasing offers

Guide book EurotaxGlass has shook up the LCV market. It has claimed the sector needs to take a more realistic approach to determining values for hard-used vans.
Instead of continuing to benchmark against unrealistically low mileages EurotaxGlass claims most van manufacturers are primarily car-makers, and they typically calculate residual values for commercial vehicles against a three-year, 60,000-mile standard mark.
However, this is a glaring inconsistency, given that the majority of panel vans are doing upwards of 30,000 miles a year, explains George Alexander, Chief Commercial Vehicle Editor at
EurotaxGlass’s.
Alexander said: “The industry yardstick for average mileage falsely favours those less robust products that will survive intact to a modest mileage, but would fare far worse as the 100,000-mile mark approaches. The need is to determine values for hard used vans at the end of a contract and not for the cleanest most popular models, with modest warranted mileage. In the current marketplace, stock which has covered 60,000 miles or less is in great demand and will command strong prices. The danger is that, if an assessment of future residual worth for competing products starts from such a point, there is little chance that stock returning with 90,000 miles or more will have a chance of meeting vendors expectations.”
Simon McBride

Another year, another Budget, and with a raft of tax reforms and realignments affecting the fleet operator, it’s good to know Audi has measures in place to reduce their impact.

The good news starts with the A3 and A3 Sportback 1.9 TDI Special Edition models, which with their CO2 emissions of just 119g/km, fall into the new 13% tax band for diesels in 2008/9. These models will also be exempt from the London Congestion Charge when the punitive new £25 daily charge comes into force on 27 October.

And those looking to consolidate their exposure to the charge can also take comfort that the A8 2.8 FSI - officially the cleanest luxury car on the market - and the A8 3.0 TDI quattro fall below the 225g/km threshold, incurring only the £8 rate rather than the £25 daily charge from October. An attractive proposition for our chauffeur customers and for those needing to drive in Central London.

Iain Carmichael, Head of Fleet Sales, Audi UK

S line and Avant join A4 range

The new Audi A4 range is strengthening all the time with the addition of the sporting S line trim specification, the introduction of the new A4 Avant, plus a new entry model positioned at under £20,000 ROTR.

Powered by a 120PS version of the 1.8 TFSI engine, the A4 1.8 TFSI Standard model marks the new entry point to the A4 range, priced at £19,900 ROTR and including 16 inch alloy wheels, climate control, a Chorus radio-CD player, ESP and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm/immobiliser.

The more overtly sporting S line trim, which adds £2,500 to the price of the equivalent SE model, introduces equipment including 18 inch alloy wheels, a 3-spoke S line sports steering wheel, S line body styling, 20mm lower S line sports suspension, S line sports seats, Xenon headlights with daytime running lights and matt brushed aluminium inlays.

Adding useful extra practicality and a class-leading load area of 1,430 litres with rear seats folded, the new A4 Avant belies its versatility with its sleek lines.

At just £1,150 more than the equivalent Saloon model, the Avant is available to order now, with prices starting at £23,400 ROTR.

Audi A4 Avant lease prices

2.0 TDI quattro joins the TT range

Blending the sporting appeal of the Audi TT with the latest in TDI technology, new Euro 5-compliant TT 2.0 TDI quattro Coupe and Roadster models offer a unique opportunity in tax-efficient sports motoring.

The statistics make compelling reading, with the Coupe returning combined consumption of 53.3mpg and CO2 emissions of just 140g/km, a 20% reduction over the 2.0 TFSI. With 170PS, performance is brisk, too, with a top speed of 140mph and 0-62mph in 7.5sec.

Such figures make a drastic reduction in company car tax liability compared with the 2.0 TFSI: a 40% tax payer in 2008/9, for example, can expect to pay £160 a month for the 2.0 TDI Coupe quattro, compared with £200 a month for the 2.0 TFSI.

As well as quattro permanent four-wheel drive, TT 2.0 TDI models come with 17 inch Trapez alloy wheels, leather and Alcantara trim, climate control and an MP3-compatible Audi Concert radio/CD. The Roadster adds a fully automatic soft-top with wind deflector.

Both Coupe and Roadster models are now available to order, priced from £26,350 ROTR for the Coupe and £28,350 ROTR for the Roadster.

Audi TT Coupe lease prices
Audi TT Roadster lease prices

A8 3.0 TDI escapes congestion penalty

A reduction to 224g/km in the CO2 emissions of the Audi A8 3.0 TDI SE quattro and Sport (including Long Wheel Base variants) has ensured these models will not incur the £25 a day London Congestion Charge when new rules come into force on 27 October 2008.

Together with the 2.8 FSI SE and Sport models, which are by some margin the cleanest cars in the luxury sector, it brings to six the number of Audi A8 derivatives that will incur only the £8 daily charge.

Audi A8 lease prices

Audi Q7 S line for price of SE

With its unrivalled blend of quattro permanent four-wheel drive, seven seats as standard, adaptive air suspension and choice of two FSI petrol and two TDI diesel engines, the Audi Q7 offers real luxury and style with full quattro capability.

Now, the price is the same for both SE and S line models, giving drivers the opportunity to select the specifications that best suits their requirements. Prices start from £41,330 ROTR for the 3.0 TDI quattro 240PS.

Furthermore, the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI S line is now available from Audi Finance on a 24-month/10,000 miles a year basis from £539 a month with £1,617 deposit.

Super luxury for Audi Q7 coastline

Shown alongside the new V12 TDI super-SUV at Geneva, the Audi Q7 coastline design study offers the ultimate in luxury, with a distinctly nautical theme.

Dark waxed American walnut veneer covers parts of the armrest, inner door sill trims, gear knob and luggage compartment floor, giving it a deck-style look that complements the ultra-luminous white exterior and plush velvet and leather-upholstered seats.

Audi Q7 lease prices

Audi A4 voted No1 in Europe

Readers of Auto Express and its 25 European sister publications have voted the new Audi A4 the magazine’s prestigious 2008 Auto 1 award winner at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The overall champion is selected by editors, experts and racing drivers linked to the 26 magazines, but their 40 million readers also play a key role in the judging process.

Audi A4 Saloon lease prices

Players and staff at Durham County Cricket Club  have acquired a new fleet of Jeep and Dodge models, through Daimler Fleet Management (DFM).

DFM is one of the UK’s leading fleet management companies, operating a UK fleet of over 49,000 vehicles from all leading manufacturers, which forms part of a pan-European fleet approaching 470,000 vehicles.

The vehicles are being supplied by Stockton dealership Kings Teesside Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge with assistance from Chrysler UK Ltd. DFM are providing the vehicles under a contract hire agreement.

Nicola Kilkenny, Corporate Sales Manager at Daimler Fleet Management, said: “We have supplied 16 vehicles to the Club in total - ten Dodge Nitro models for players and six Jeep Patriots for promotional and other staff.”

David Harker, Chief Executive of Durham County Cricket Club, said: “We’re delighted to have the support of Daimler Fleet Management.  The players are really pleased with the vehicles they have been provided with and the Jeep Patriots have proved to be hugely beneficial to our Promotions team.”

 Faye Sunderland

www.daimlerfleetmanagement.co.uk

Professional Vehicle Services Ltd. (PVSL) has been established for many years. They are independent brokers whose aim is to provide you with a personal quotation within 24 hours of having received your request. PVSL offer business and personal finance solutions to customers throughout the UK. Professional Vehicle Services Ltd. provides personal contract hire, personal contract purchase, short term contract hire and contract hire.

Professional Vehicle Services Ltd company profile

American giant Dodge has confirmed that it is to launch the all-new Journey crossover this summer and prices are to start from £16,995. According to the maker the new Dodge Journey Crossover offers competitive fuel economy, masses of interior space and value for money, without compromising its bold, good looks.
It has a seating arrangement of 5+2 with the plus two seats thought only to being of real use when short trips are necessary.
When launched the car will have a choice of two engines and you can power it by a 2.4-litre petrol engine or a 2.0-litre diesel engine. The diesel engine will be available with either a manual or dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
To accommodate the family, the car includes tilt and slide second-row seats; rear doors that open to 90-degrees for easy access when installing child seats and air-conditioning that works in all three rows.
Simon Elliott, Managing Director of Chrysler UK, said: “Dodge Journey is the perfect right-sized vehicle for families that don’t want the look of a people carrier, but need the functionality and utility of an MPV. Families that need space for seven will love the flexible seating system, spacious storage bins and under-seat storage areas. Safety is also very important for these customers and with ESP and three-row side curtain airbags this really is the ideal family vehicle.”
To lease a Dodge make sure you log on to www.contracthireandleasing.com for the best offers.
Simon McBride