The new 2013 Vauxhall VXR8

sstop — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:41:33 +0000

The Vauxhall VXR8 looks menacing, powerful and… practical too. It has labelled as the company’s most powerful estate car to date. For £50,000, there are cheaper alternatives if it’s a family car you need but this one will surely offer a great deal of fun.

Power

It’s largely based on the HSV Commodore R8 Tourer, which is set to exit the Australian market. The car is using the GM LS3 V8 engine in the older generation Chevrolet Corvette. This is a huge 6.2 litre engine which is able to hit a brilliant 425 BHP. Power is transmitted right down to the rear wheels. Gearbox transmission comes in either a normal six speed manual or in six speed automatic form. With both transmission options, they use a limited slip differential. The car is extremely quick, hitting 0 – 62 MPH in just 4.9 seconds. Top speed on the VXR8 reached a brilliant 155 MPH.

Unfortunately the car finds it difficult to compete with luxury rivals such as the Mercedes E63 AMG and the Audi RS6 Avant in terms of speed. This is mainly down to the vehicle not having a dual clutch transmission or all wheel drive technology. The £30,000 savings reflect that. From that perspective it could be well worth taking up the VXR8.

Practicality

The vehicle does have plenty of practicality too, having the largest load capacity within it’s specific class. The boot has a great deal of storage space, even with all seats fully in place. There is 2,000 litres of space available once the rear seats have been unfolded. That beats the RS6 and the E63 hands down. The VXR8 is even able to compete with larger commercial vehicles in the market.

On the inside comes full leather throughout the vehicle. The two front sport bucket seats are standard features. Another neat feature is the wonderful five inch infotainment screen which gives away plenty of details such as the vehicle’s lap times, G Force and drifting angles. Having too much fun may damage the prospects of the car being sold on at a later date.
The 20 inch alloy wheels are also standard features, making the car look a lot more stylish and intimidating.

The VXR8 will be only for a specialised market. It does represent good value for money when comparing it to the Mercedes E63 AMG and the Audi RS6 Avant.

Vauxhall Ampera’s New Return Policy

sstop_ — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:22:51 +0000

With Vauxhall continuing to expand its models and improve its quality, it seems that the line will continue to enjoy a strong hold on the European auto market. Vauxhall has carved out a large market space, providing high performance, high comfort vehicles at affordable prices. However, to stay competitive, Vauxhall will always need to continue rolling out significant upgrades and new models. It will also need to provide services and programs designed to make consumers feel more comfortable with its various cars – and that is just what the new Vauxhall Ampera “Love It Or Return It” policy seeks to do.

A popular hybrid vehicle in Europe, the Vauxhall Ampera is the source of some disagreement among critics and consumers alike. On the one hand, the Ampera cleaned up on European auto awards throughout 2012, ultimately establishing itself as one of the leading hybrids on the market, not just in Europe but anywhere.

On the other hand, however, the Ampera had something of a public relations setback in mid-2012, when a controversy arose over some relatively misleading advertising. Essentially, Vauxhall claimed that the electric power of the car alone could take it 360 miles before a charge was needed. In reality, however, the petrol engine that is also built into the Ampera provides some assistance in reaching his mileage limit.

Ultimately, as evidenced by the plethora of awards the Vauxhall Ampera received in 2012, the advertising controversy seems to have had little effect in changing or taking away from the significant popularity of this vehicle. However, that hasn’t stopped Vauxhall from implementing its new return policy, designed at ensuring customer satisfaction with the Ampera line. Of course, we’re all used to ways of insuring we get what we need out of cars. But the new Ampera policy goes beyond typical insurance such as one might receive from Aviva – and essentially amounts to a basic 30-day return policy.

There are two very simple requirements that need to be met if a consumer hopes to take advantage of the “Love It Or Return It” Policy. They are as follows:

You must have owned the car for a maximum of 30 days.

You must not have exceeded 1500 miles in your time with the car.

Provided you meet these two requirements, you will be able to return your Ampera if it doesn’t meet your needs and desires as simply as if you are returning an unopened product to a retail store. Again, for the most part consumers around Europe have been thrilled with the Ampera, with everything from its exterior design to its performance and capability earning high marks. But given some controversy and common general misconceptions about hybrid cars, this return policy makes the Ampera even more appealing to the average consumer.

Vauxhall Zafira voted as the best people carrier

sstop — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:32:41 +0000

Fleet Awards have handed the Vauxhall Zafira as the best full size people carrier. The 7 seater multi purpose vehicle has a lot to offer is has been described as excellent value for money by many expert reviews.

The Perefct People Carrier

Stephen Briers, Fleet News’ Editor was on hand to describe the vehicle best features. He stated that the vehicle is innovative given that it is quite compact by nature but at the same it also offers a great deal of space. He went to state how the Zafira offers a very competitive price and cheap running costs too, whilst being good for the environment too with low C02 emissions. Mr Briers then said that the car was the “perfect people carrier for fleets and their company car drivers.”

James Taylor, Vauxhall’s Fleet Sales Director was on hand to state how pleased he was with winning the award. He claimed that the award was an honour and that the company are very proud.

Vauxhall’s Tech Line specification was branched out amongst further models in the range. This adds higher quality throughout the vehicle. This particular trim was aimed at vehicles such as the new Mokka, the classy Insignia and the Astra.

Vauxhall Zafira Engines

The Zafira comes with a number of different engines which will appeal to a wide variety of the market. There are a choice of 4 engines including a 1.4 turbo, a 1.8 litre petrol or even two variants of two different diesel engines. The two diesels come in either 130 BHP and 165 BHP. The best selling variant is possibly the 2.0 litre CDTi which is able to achieve a brilliant 130 BHP whilst achieving a combined MPG of 62.8. The C02 emissions hit a total of 119g/km.

Equipment

The Zafira Tourer has a great deal of equipment which has played a major part in helping the vehicle appeal to the motorists and fleet companies. This includes air conditioning, DAB cruise control, a fantastic seven speaker sound system, Flex 7 seating, active headrests and cruise control.

Flex 7 is one of the Vauxhall Zafira’s best features. This offers a great deal of flexibility. Fleet companies and family drivers look out for the element of safety. The car received the maximum five star rating by Euro NCAP for it’s superb safety technology.

Vauxhall Mokka

The Vauxhall Mokka has helped the company improve on their reputation. At first the vehicle was slightly strangely received due to it’s odd shape but it has slowly become quite a popular vehicle in the UK market. Coming with a 1.7 litre engine the vehicle is offered in two or four wheel drive.

Will the Vauxhall Zafira manage to win the award next year too?

The new 2014 Buick LaCrosse

sstop — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:02:28 +0000

General Motors has unveiled the new LaCrosse sedan 2014 model. The vehicle has been greatly refreshed with plenty of new features. This is the first time that the vehicle has received a redesign of the interior and exterior.

The front end now has a more aggressive look to it, standing out even more than previously. The rear lights have LED technology, looking a lot more stylish. Upon the inside the vehicle has more comfortable seats.

New Technology

Buick is now introducing more advanced technology with their models, offering more luxurious materials. This includes the new IntelliLink Infotainment system. This intelligent device contains voice recognition, brining about safer driving a whole new type of experience.

For those Americans who love luxury, the 2014 LaCrosse comes with a new Ultra Luxury Interior Package. This package includes real wood trim, suede head-liner and pillars together with sangria coloured seats. Quality leather throughout is also included.

Ven Lai

Ven Lai was on hand to describe the new Buick LaCrosse saying “The warm color combinations, premium interior materials and advanced technology in the 2014 LaCrosse provide the interior environment our discerning luxury customers are seeking,”

The Buick LaCrosse will be released in the United States later on this summer. The Chinese car market is also set to receive the vehicle later on in the year. Since being released in 2009 Buick have managed to sell more than 500,000 of the models around the world, a pretty impressive figure.

Sales dipping

A refreshment of the LaCrosse was greatly needed. Sales have been dipping greatly with 21.9 per cent less sales in 2012 from January to February when compared to the first two months of 2011.

Experts of the American car market are failing to see the light at the end of the tunnel at the moment. The LaCrosse’s category is a difficult one to break into with not much growth within that segment at present. In February of this year just 3.9 per cent of new car sales were taken from the large car market.

Engine ranges to come with the vehicle include a 2.4 litre four cylinder engine and a 3.6 litre V6. The former comes with a 2.4 litre four cylinder model comes with eAssist which uses a small electric motor together with a lithium ion battery. Thanks to its fantastic fuel economy, this particular model of the Buick LaCrosse is said to account for 25 per cent of sales.

2013 Chevrolet Trax

sstop — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:24:37 +0000

The new 2013 Chevrolet Trax 2LT AWD 1SE is set to be released in the United States of America. It has labelled by the press as smart SUV.

The car is very versatile, being practical and handy on the road yet being fully capable as an off roader too.

Engine and transmission

The car comes with a 4 cylinder turbocharged 4 cylinder ECOTEC 1.4 litre engine, capable of hitting 138 BHP and 148 lb-ft of torque. As standard the car will come with a 6 speed manual gearbox transmission. An automatic 6 speed gearbox is an optional extra with the base level model but is standard on other trims. The Trax comes as a four wheel drive but the all wheel drive option will cost more.

The turbo engine helps makes the car slightly more powerful. The engine is also one that is quite economical too. The acceleration within the vehicle is pretty decent.

Good in the city but not elsewhere

The colder states will see this as a very valuable car. It copes with the snow very well. As a city car the vehicle is a pretty good. General Motors have stated that the Trax’s credibility when driving around the city. On country roads the vehicle has not received such praise however. Reviewers have pointed out that the vehicle does not feel composed and steady.

Rivals in America

Rivals of the vehicle include the Mitsubishi RVR, Subaru XV Crosstrek, the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Hyundai Tuscon.

Interior

The interior of the car has received a great deal of praise. Some experts have described it as cheap looking with a poor design. Practicality wise the car is decent with a number of storage areas throughout. The driver will get an excellent view of the road ahead with superb visibility.

Technology

The in-car technology is an area where the Chevrolet Trax has received praise. Smartphones are able to be connected with the vehicle’s media centre in a very intelligent way, linking them altogether.

The Chevrolet Trax in the UK

The UK version of the Chevrolet Trax will cost from £15,495. The vehicle’s looks have been compared to the Vauxhall Mokka, but this time round it gets a more aggressive type of look. The large front grille and large wheels give the car great appeal.
The most economical engine offered on the Trax will be the 1.7 VCDI which returns a brilliant 62.7 MPG and returns 120g/km.

2014 Vauxhall Cascada Convertible

sstop — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:55:17 +0000

The European market will naturally get the new Vauxhall Cascada in showrooms. The only difference is the Opel badge. Over in America the car has been compared to the Buick Verano. There is a slight gloom surrounding the car however, with some automotive journalists in America doubting the future of Vauxhall and Opel.

General Motors made a statement recently with the arrival of the new Cascada Model at the Geneva Motor Show. The Cascada looked like a car to be reckoned with when it entered the stage. Although it’s a lengthy car with certain luxurious values, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will compete with the likes of the Audi A5 or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Trim levels

The trim levels available include “Edition” which is the entry level model and the “Innovation” which is of a higher level. Innovation provides luxurious features such as adaptive headlights and dual zone climate control.

Design

The Cascada has a stunning look. It’s design fits perfectly into Vauxhall’s next generation design and appeal. The wheels stand out, looking stylish and sporty. Many would be proud to be seen driving around in a Cascada. In just 17 seconds the rooftop is able to be lifted up and down, even at speeds of up to 31 MPH.

Cascada Engines

Engines made available include a 4 cylinder 1.4 litre which is turbo charged. This comes with either 118 BHP or 138 BHP. The 1.6 litre turbo engine races to 168 BHP. Diesel engines will be 2.0 liters coming with variants able to power to 163 BHP and 192 BHP. A six speed automatic gearbox transmission is available only with the 168 BHP petrol engine and the 163 BHP diesel.

In terms of speed it’s clear to see that the Cascada is not necessarily built for petrol heads, but it’s a stylish and modest vehicle to own. That is perhaps the reason why the car is priced extremely competitively.

Will the Vauxhall Cascada be released in the United States? There are rumours that it may be sold under the Buick name badge. That would be quite fitting considering the Buick’s romance with convertible vehicles in the past. Many would love to see the vehicle arrive in the United States of America but that appears to be a long shot at the moment.

General Motors bringing I.T in house

sstop — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:01:16 +0000

General Motors are big on technology and are always on the lookout to release ground-breaking in-car products. They have taken a step forward by announcing that they are to hire 1,000 staff for a new technical development centre.

This will be the fourth and final opening of an I.T centre in the United States for General Motors. They wish to bring all development ideas in-house without the need to outsource anything. This will save costs and improve productivity and efficiency.

Those to be hired will include experts from all areas of I.T including software developers and database experts.

Reverse of strategy

The story represents a great turnaround for General Motors and their strategy with I.T. Previously they were one of the main automotive companies known for outsourcing all I.T projects. At present 90 per cent of I.T projects are outsourced with 10 per cent carried out in house. The aim is to reverse those figures.

General Motors have said that they are progressing well for their new strategy but they still have a very long way to go.
They have not stated just how much money this new direction will cost or how much it will save. A large chunk of new employees of college graduates. They will bring new ideas and great energy to all projects. Over 3,000 staff at HP will be brought over to General Motors by April 1st it has been announced.

General Motors will also take on an extra 2,000 I.T workers at new sites in Texas and Michigan. 23 data centres across the world will be consolidated to just two centres based in Michigan.

New Arizona centre

Their new centre in Arizona will cost around $21 million and is expected to be open at this time next year. The Governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer has expressed his happiness of General Motors creating more business and job opportunities around the area. Mr Brewer went on to describe the calibre of people working within the area and how those skilled professional and budding college graduates would fit right in to what General Motors are looking for.

A higher quality and more trustworthy type of work is guaranteed when work is brought in house. Will it make a difference in the long term? Will it help General Motors trump Toyota in the race to the top?

Fleetworld to showcase the new Mokka and Adam EV

sstop — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:19:08 +0000

Fleetworld, a well-respected fleet website has announced that the new electronic versions of the Vauxhall Adam and Mokka will be showcased at the FleetWorld Fleet Show in April.

The event will be held at Silverstone. Vauxhall’s new Mokka SUV is sure to grab plenty of attention with its unique shape and stand out features. The Vauxhall Adam is the company’s new city car. It is able to be heavily personalised with plenty of different options to choose from. It’s an urban type of vehicle designed to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen UP!

Silverstone track testing

These two vehicles may be of great interest to fleet companies, given their excellent MPG ratings. The beauty of having the event at Silverstone is that people attending the show can test the vehicles on the racetrack as well as on public roads. Other car manufacturers will also be bringing their latest models along to show case what they can offer fleet companies. Approximately 200 models will be at the event.

nPower handing out expert advice

nPower will be at the event within the exhibition area at Silverstone. They will be handing out advice on various electric vehicle options. The advice will include information of installation on vehicle chargers and charge point management systems. They themselves have taken on electric vehicles as part of their fleets. They have produced a fleet management system which helps reimburse employees for when they use home EV charging points. With that they are able to dish out great advice on how to effectively run a fleet of electronic vehicles.

Enfield 8000

Another highlight will be the Enfield 8000, one of Britain’s first ever electronic vehicles that were produced in mass amounts. It has been restored for a race, aimed at breaking the British record for a street legal electronic vehicle.
The idea is that fleet companies eventually gain a sustainable and long term solution with electric vehicles. That would not only save a lot of money but it would also help the environment a great deal. Initial costs may be more expensive but it is certainly worth it over a period of time.

There are plenty of reasons for fleet companies to visit. Not only will they view some of the latest fleet friendly electronic vehicles around, they’ll also get expert advice from a number of sources.

Can Vauxhall sort out their finances?

sstop — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:34:57 +0000

Vauxhall have vowed to amend their financial situation by the year 2015. Sounds a bit too good to be true at the moment but owners General Motors have made it a priority and believe that it is very realistic.

For the past 12 years Vauxhall have been on going downhill. They are losing profit and failing to even break even throughout the European region.

Ellesmere Port Factory

Vauxhall will be looking to the Ellesmere Port Factory to help revive the fortunes of the company. This is their biggest factory in the UK. They have recently received a great deal of backing and a major confidence boost after being subject to great speculation of closure and job cuts. They currently employ 2,200 at their Ellesmere Port Factory and 1,500 at their Luton plant.

Are Vauxhall the fastest selling brand?

Stephen Grisky, the Vice Chairman of General Motors is fully confident that Vauxhall can overcome their money woes. He was quick to point out that the Vauxhall Insignia is outselling the Ford Mondeo at a ratio of two to one and that they are the bestselling commercial vehicle seller. He stated that effectively Vauxhall was the fastest selling brand in the UK.

European global crisis

It’s not only the UK that has the problem; it’s the whole of Europe. The Opel and Vauxhall brand have suffered thanks to the Euro Zone crisis. Sales have suffered with customers in Europe not having any money to dish out on new cars and banks being tighter on lending out money. A major disadvantage is that sales mainly occur within the European region.

2012 saw a £1 billion + loss in Europe in 2012. Despite sales getting steadier, profit margins are getting smaller. Vauxhall should be making money with such a great amount of sales. Ford is also in the same boat. They expect to lose over £1 billion this year too, despite sales estimated to be at around 13 to 14 million.

Vauxhall Ampera

The Vauxhall Ampera has not met targets and has disappointed with sales. They have sold just 6,000 since being released. The vehicle had a great deal of funding with a great amount of new technology going into it.

23 New Cars to Mainatin Interest

Vauxhall is planning to release a total of 23 new and revitalized cars which will enter showrooms. This will certainly help aid the company’s growth and maintain customer’s interests.

It will take a great deal of work for Vauxhall to achieve profit any time soon.

General Motors big plans for 2013

sstop — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 18:31:37 +0000

General Motors were knocked off the top spot by Toyota in the race to become the world’s number one car manufacturer last year. Feeling disappointed, they have decided to make some great changes to the company’s line-up this year.

They plan a major overhaul in their line-up next year. They intend to remove 70 per cent of their line-up and replace them. This will cost a total of $1.5 billion General Motors have stated. Approximately 30 vehicles will come under the hammer for redesign or replacement under new plans. Brands such as Cadillac, GMC, Buick and Chevrolet will see the new plans affect them.

Chevrolet is General Motors bestselling brand. They expect to have 13 new or retouched vehicles in 2013. The brand managed to sell 1.85 million in the United States alone. Sales overseas accounted for more than 60 per cent outside of America. This will be part of Chevrolet’s new marketing campaign, named “Find New Roads”, launching worldwide through to 140 countries.

Chevrolet sales throughout the region:

Brazil – 643,000
China – 627,000
Russia – 205,000
South Korea – 125,000
India – 92,000

General Motors sales in the United States managed to increase overall by 3.2 per cent. They are not fully expecting a great year in terms of profit. They are expecting an uncertain year in 2013 with profits falling by 17.9 per cent in 2012.

The Detroit Motor Show has brought around great excitement for American car fans. General Motors showcased their 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, 2014 Silverado and GMC Sierra. The Cadillac ELR was also showcased, a car which is based on the Chevrolet Volt and the Vauxhall Ampera. This is expected to greatly improve Cadillac’s sales in North America.

Cadillac themselves will release 10 new or redesigned models over the next three years it has been understood. The XTS full size saloon and the ATS compact are two new vehicles expected to make a great impact. The XTS itself managed to scoop the North American Car of the Year Detroit Auto Show.

Buick and GMC are expected to combine as a team to develop new redesigned vehicles for 2013. This will include the Buick Encore as well as the GMC Sierra.

General Motors expects the car market around the world to grow. They believe that their product redesign can help the company take advantage of that.