Car Dealer Magazine: Issue 168

Issue 168 | March 2022 | CarDealerMag.co.uk | £6

INVESTIGATION

THE TOP 25 USED CARS THAT INCREASED THE MOST IN PRICE

NEWS

• CHORLEY MG EXPANDS • VW ID.5 GOES ON SALE • ARNOLD CLARK TOYOTA BLOW • TRUSTFORD CEO RETIRES • BMW 8 SERIES UPDATED • MACKLIN MOTORS’ £5M SITE

ON TEST: ALL-NEW AUDI RS 3 + SKODA FABIA + BMW 4 SERIES GRAN COUPE

INVESTIGATION

WHICH CAR DEALER WILL BE BOUGHT NEXT?

CAZOO

CARZAM

CINCH

WILL CAZOO STRIKE SOON IN THE BIG CAR DEALER SHOPPING SPREE?

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THE BOSS FOUNDER James Baggott

james@thebaize.com Twitter: @CarDealerEd

EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE EDITOR James Batchelor

james.batchelor@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @JRRBatchelor

CHIEF SUB-EDITOR John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

STAFF WRITER Jack Williams

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MULTIMEDIA MANAGER Jon Reay jon@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @JonReay

HEAD OF DESIGN Graeme Windell

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CONTRIBUTORS Darren Cassey, Rebecca Chaplin, Jack Evans, Nigel Swan, Ted Welford

FINANCE FINANCE MANAGER Kate Gordon kate@blackballmedia.co.uk

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ACCOUNT MANAGER Michelle Searle

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WELCOME. I

f you thought things were crazy with the car market on our shores, take a quick glance across the pond and you’ll see the madness is not isolated here.

We’ve seen months of rising used car prices as new car shortages and high demand push people into the second-hand market. It’s been pretty similar in the States as the same market forces have been driving their much larger market to similar levels of craziness – but car dealers over there have taken things a step further: They’re drastically marking up their new cars.

In the UK, hundreds of used cars currently cost more than new models. The strange quirk is a result of the fact there are long waiting lists for new cars, and for those who want one now, they’re happy to pay a premium.

This sort of activity used to be reserved for luxury cars when buyers wanted to jump the waiting list – but has now trickled down into everything from Skodas to Dacias. See our list later in this magazine for proof of that.

Over in the States, dealerships operate differently. Huge car lots are filled with ranks and ranks of new, unregistered cars and buyers can roll in with their old car and out with a brand-new one often in as little as an hour. The dealers hold the new car stock, ordering masses from the manufacturers and storing them on their site ready to hand over to consumers. Knowing that replenishing their huge stocks is getting harder, American dealers have started to advertise these new cars above the prices set by the manufacturers. It’s got so bad that Ford and GM have threatened to stop selling cars to some dealers that have been getting too cheeky with their prices.

Research by US consumer site Edmunds revealed that in January more than 80 per cent of American consumers paid above the manufacturer suggested retail price. That compares with 2.8 per cent for the same month a year ago and 0.3 per cent in January 2020. There’s nothing stopping new car dealers hiking prices in the States – they argue it’s simple supply-and-demand economics and they’re all at it. Edmunds found the worst were Hyundai dealers putting up prices by nearly $2,000, just ahead of Porsche franchises.

US dealers say they usually carry about two to three months’ worth of stock but currently have closer to a 20-day supply. One Mercedes retailer told the Washington Post this has meant fewer sales so he’s marked up prices to maintain his margins.

The price hikes have drawn battle lines between manufacturers and their dealers.

Ford and GM have openly come out and warned their partners; others are having the same heated arguments behind closed doors.

While similar issues with new car pricing won’t happen here, there will be many dealers wondering just how long manufacturers will stomach customers paying more for a six-month-old version of the new car they want instead of buying new.

If the inflated used car prices have taught the industry anything, it’s that consumers are happy to pay through the nose to get what they want now. And I’d bet there are more than a few manufacturer boards discussing significant new car price hikes.

Elsewhere in this issue, we look at another buying frenzy – but this time car dealers being snapped up. We Buy Any Car owner Constellation Automotive Group has been making more moves, taking a 20 per cent stake in Lookers. We look at what could happen next. Enjoy the issue.

Ford and GM have openly come out and warned their partners; others are having the same heated arguments behind closed doors.

JAMES BAGGOTT Founder, Car Dealer CarDealerMag.co.uk | 03

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IGNITION. ISSUE 168 | MARCH 2022

36

CONTENTS

32

6

10 34 34 55 INVESTIGATION

‘Constellation won’t be happy with their 20 per cent stake; they’ll now want it all.’

6

COMMENT

‘We decided that sooner or later cars are going to have to make a decision whether to kill you or not.’

15

FORECOURT

‘As a way of getting from A to B very quickly and with minimal fuss, the RS 3 remains one of the best.’

30

Mental health campaign Car news round-up News digest Feedback Business news Car Dealer Live & podcasts Finance Supplier news

13 20 24 38 40 42 44 47

COMMENT James Baggott Big Mike James Litton

15 16 19

INVESTIGATIONS Which car dealer will be bought next?

Top 25 used car price increases

6 10

FORECOURT Audi RS 3 30 Skoda Fabia 32 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 34 FEATURES Gordon Murray T.33 Cool stuff

36 49

DATA FILE The Statistics LCV news Suppliers Guide Long-termers

50 52 54 55

STATISTICS

‘Given the lockdown-impacted January 2021, this month’s figures were always going to be an improvement.’

50 CarDealerMag.co.uk | 05

INVESTIGATION

WHICH CAR DEALER WILL BE BOUGHT NEXT? WILL CAZOO STRIKE NEXT IN THE BIG CAR DEALER SHOPPING SPREE? AND WHICH GROUP WILL BE THE TARGET?

Constellation won’t be happy with their 20 per cent stake; they’ll now want it all.

Industry commentator 06 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

I

by James Baggott @CarDealerEd

n this great used car chess game, it appears to be a case of not if another dealer group will be bought but when.

Cinch owner Constellation Automotive Group has shown its hand first and after swooping on Marshall Motor Group for £325m has taken a significant stake in Lookers.

But with Cazoo’s share price free-falling in the States – down 52 per cent in six months – and the Peter Waddell-backed Carzam looking to gain market share, could there be more big deals on the horizon?

Industry insiders certainly seem to think so.

The private equity-backed Constellation – which also owns BCA, We Buy Any Car and European used car marketplace CarNext – used clever tactics to snap up its franchise dealer group prizes.

For the Marshall deal, it went straight to the group’s biggest shareholder, the Marshall family, and bought 64 per cent of the group’s shares.

That deal has triggered its exit from the stock market and it’s currently in the process of taking it private.

For the Lookers stake, it used similar family tactics, heading for former board member Tony Bramall.

Constellation offered the octogenarian industry veteran 102p per share for his 78m holding, which he’s held since 2006, bagging a handy blocking stake in any rivals snapping Lookers up while it deals with the Marshall takeover.

‘Constellation won’t be happy with their 20 per cent stake; they’ll now want it all,’ one industry commentator told Car Dealer.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised if they make an offer for the whole group within weeks. There’s no point only having 20 per cent – you can’t change anything or call any shots.’

The stake in Lookers, which is emerging from several years of crisis, took the industry by surprise.

However, it was clear something was afoot the week before, as the share price rocketed.

‘There’s a deal happening, Lookers is going to be bought,’ one leading car dealer texted

us. And while it was clear the share price was rising – up 30 per cent at one point in the week – no one seemed to know why.

On January 28, Zeus Capital analyst Mike Allen, who specialises in the motor trade, said he didn’t want to get into ‘speculation’ following the share price jump.

But he had noticed the large volumes of shares being traded at the 102p price too. At 4pm that day, huge tranches were being sold seconds after each other for the same price.

‘The share price reacted in that way as there was heavy volume going through at 102p per share, which was way out of range from the share price of 78p at the start of the day,’ said Allen.

On January 31, it became clear who was doing the buying and who was doing the selling.

Constellation has been tight-lipped about its plans for Marshall since the acquisition was announced, and it’s too soon to know what it plans to do with Lookers.

Marshall CEO Daksh Gupta, usually out front and centre, has been told not to speak to the press. Some think he’ll end up leading a car dealer supergroup that’s in the early stages of being formed.

Even he, though, was taken by surprise by the deal.

The share price reacted in that way as there was heavy volume going through at 102p per share.

Mike Allen Zeus Capital analyst

CHEQUE BOOKS It was only really a matter of time before the well-funded and acquisitive online used car dealers started getting their cheque books out.

Many thought it would be Cazoo that would strike first after its listing in New York, but it has been more focused on expanding its footprint in Europe.

Europe really is the big prize for this new breed of online car dealers, as the markets there are far more unsophisticated than in the UK and ripe for disrupting.

There’s even talk that the American disruptors – such as Carvana and Vroom – are on the hunt for assets there, too.

Vertu, Motorpoint and Pendragon are among the few dealer groups left on the stock exchange, with the first two probably the most attractive

STOCK STAKES February 1, 2022

CINCH

8,557 5,677 2,413 CAZOO

CARZAM

But the biggest issue these online sellers are facing right now is stock – and getting hold of it. With used cars in high demand and prices sky high, getting hold of enough cars to sell is hard work. What they need is a steady supply – and that’s exactly what Constellation has bought itself.

W

hile Marshall has a great used car operation, few would bet against many of those premium part-exchanges from its franchise network ending up on Cinch.

If it sealed the deal for the rest of Lookers, it would have even more used cars to offer on its teethy-smile, Rylan-backed platform.

A quick search of the three sites on February 1 showed Cinch leading the stock stakes with 8,557 used cars for sale, while Cazoo had 5,677 and Carzam 2,413.

But who’ll be the next target acquisition?

‘Vertu is a sitting duck,’ believes one industry investor.

‘They’re incredibly well run, profitable and have a great range of brands with dealerships across the country – yet their share price has never reflected that.

‘I expect an offer to be made for Vertu within weeks.’

And if they’re not careful, the other used car disruptors could be left behind by Cinch.

Its ploy isn’t rocket science – in fact, it’s brilliant in its simplicity. With the addition of a franchised dealer group to its portfolio, it now has the full suite.

BCA makes money from the motor trade and allows it access, or at least contacts, for some big used car disposals that could fuel Cinch. Then there’s We Buy Any Car, which CarDealerMag.co.uk | 07

INVESTIGATION can add stock to both Cinch and BCA. Add in franchised dealer group Marshall and it not only gets access to more great used car stock, it also wins a lucrative remarketing contract that was in the hands of rival Manheim.

And that’s not to mention the fact the group makes a decent profit, has cash in the bank and a superb portfolio of property.

What’s not to like?

Cazoo has made a big deal about selling used cars purely online and turned the former Imperial Car Supermarket sites it acquired into ‘Customer Handover Centres’.

Perhaps it’s pride in not wanting to U-turn and buy the very physical dealerships its boss Alex Chesterman said were dead that’s holding it back from buying a franchised Will Cazoo be the next to pounce on a dealer group – and if so, which one? dealer group.

It needs to be quick, as there’ll be little left on the shelves.

There’s likely to be plenty of privately held groups that would be willing to do a deal for the right price, but with profit numbers the way they are right now, they’re not going to be cheap. And then you’ve got to find one willing to sell…

The markets haven’t been exactly kind to car dealers. Unfairly underpriced, most have struggled to build value despite decent performances.

It was this very fact that led Mark Lavery from Cambria to take his group private.

Last year, before the deal reached acceptance levels, he told Car Dealer that being public ‘hadn’t really worked’.

Lavery said: ‘We were listed on the London Stock Exchange just over a decade ago at 50p per share, and a decade later, in April 2020, were down to 33p.

‘It makes you wonder what you’ve been doing for the past 15 years.’

S

o with Cambria gone, Marshall going and Lookers almost certainly likely to follow, there’s not much left.

Pendragon, Vertu, Motorpoint and smaller player Caffyns are about all that’s left on the stock market.

Of those, Vertu and Motorpoint are probably the most attractive.

Mike Jones, former ASE Global chairman and now independent automotive consultant, agrees the listed dealers are woefully undervalued by the stock market.

‘The levels of profits and cash generated by motor retailers makes them attractive investments at their stock market valuations. However, with further consolidation in the sector both inevitable and desirable, this could be the first big move in the UK,’ Jones told Car Dealer.

‘We will have to wait and see whether this represents a further investment by Constellation in a sector seriously undervalued by the market or the first move in a consolidation play within motor retail.’

Marshall CEO Gupta prophesied two years ago that some dealers would eventually break away from the pack to become supergroups – it’s likely he never thought his own group would become a target.

Back then, Gupta said: ‘I think in the next three to five years you might see a number of groups breaking away into that £5bn-plus category.

‘Whereas before I thought this might happen over eight to 10 years, I now think the emergence of five or six supergroups will happen a lot faster.’

Perhaps that’s exactly what Constellation is planning.

‘The others are going to catch up soon and make a move,’ the boss of one private dealer group told Car Dealer.

‘The listed dealers are sitting ducks and ripe for hunting by these well-funded new players.

‘I’d bet my house on Cazoo making the next move – the big question is for who?’

One thing’s for sure: the sands are shifting – but who’ll be next to make a move?

08 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

We were listed on the London Stock Exchange just over a decade ago at 50p per share, and a decade later, in April 2020, were down to 33p.

Mark Lavery Cambria CEO

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INVESTIGATION

THE USED CARS THAT HAVE GONE UP THE MOST IN VALUE • NEW DATA FROM CAP HPI SHOWS EXTENT OF DRAMATIC PRICE INCREASES IN 2021 • TOP 25 LIST REVEALS PRICE FOR TOYOTA AURIS HYBRID ROSE BY NEARLY 70 PER CENT! • EVEN THE BOTTOM-PLACED DACIA SANDERO SAW A NEAR-50 PER CENT PRICE UPSWING • 60-70 PER CENT PRICE INCREASES WERE VERY MUCH A 2021 PHENOMENON, SAYS VALUATIONS EXPERT

by James Batchelor @JRRBatchelor

P

rices of some used cars rose by nearly 70 per cent in 2021, new data shown to Car Dealer reveals.

Figures compiled by valuations expert Cap HPI show that the cars with the largest price increases between January 2021 and January 2022 were practical ones, as Brits dashed to the second-hand car market because of long delays in the supply of new cars.

Petrols, diesels, hybrids and electrics all experienced price increases in a market that finished the year more than 27 per cent up.

Heading the biggest price-risers was the 2012-2019 Toyota Auris Hybrid, which, at three years/30,000 miles, saw an average price increase of 68.8 per cent.

It means that the average price of an Auris Hybrid increased by a whopping £6,904 during the past 12 months.

Following closely behind the Auris was the 2012-2018 Vauxhall Zafira with an average price percentage movement of 64.9 per cent, equating to an average price rise of £5,861.

The top 25 list shows a wide assortment of practical cars, including MPVs, diesel SUVs and one electric model.

Even the bottom-placed 2013-2020 Dacia Sandero diesel saw a 49 per cent increase in price, with average models fetching £2,569 in the past year.

Used car prices rose 27.6 per cent during 2021, and although values did soften in November and December, they haven’t fallen off a cliff.

So far this year, prices have neither increased nor decreased, prompting Cap HPI’s director of used valuations to tell Car Dealer that he expects 2022 to see prices remain ‘strong and stable’ thanks to new car shortages.

The near-70 per cent price increases seen over the past 12 months are likely to remain a curio of 2021, though.

Derren Martin told Car Dealer in January that he didn’t expect prices in 2022 to repeat last year’s performances.

10 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

TOP 3 INCREASES

1 2 3

TOYOTA AURIS HYBRID (2012-2019)

Average price percentage increase: 68.8 Average price increase: £6,904

VAUXHALL ZAFIRA (2012-2018)

Average price percentage increase: 64.9 Average price increase: £5,861

KIA SOUL ELECTRIC (2014-2019)

Average price percentage increase: 64.0 Average price increase: £6,850

THE TOP 25 USED CARS THAT INCREASED THE MOST IN PRICE JANUARY 2021 TO JANUARY 2022

45%

50%

55%

Toyota Auris Hybrid

(2012-2019)

60%

65%

70% 68.8%

£6,904

Vauxhall Zafira (2012-2018)

64.9%

£5,861

Kia Soul Electric (2014-2019)

64.0%

£6,850

Vauxhall Combo Life

63.3%

£5,215

(2018 -)

Mercedes-Benz V-Class

59.3%

£15,246

(2014-2019) Diesel

Citroen Grand C4 Space Tourer Toyota Verso (2009-2018)

Suzuki Baleno (2016-2019)

57.5%

£2,988 55.9%

£4,708

(2008-2018)

55.5% £7,463

Hyundai i800 (2018-2020) Diesel

Skoda Rapid

(2012-2019) Diesel

55.4%

£3,775

Hyundai Ioniq (2016-2020) Hybrid

£6,015

Vauxhall Mokka (2012-2020)

53.4%

Seat Alhambra

53.4%

(2016 - ) Diesel

(2010-2020) Diesel

Peugeot 308 (2013-2021) Diesel

£8,914 £7,759

52.0%

£4,516

Peugeot Partner Tepee

55.3% 55.2%

£4,649

Citroen Space Tourer

51.7% £4,485

(2008-2018) Diesel (2015-2019)

58.2%

£6,496

Citroen Berlingo Multispace

Vauxhall Viva

58.4%

£7,100

(2018 -)

51.6%

£2,417

51.0% £5,266

Volvo V40 (2012-2019)

Renault Captur (2013-2020) Diesel

50.5% £4,284

Ford C-Max

50.3% £4,354

(2010-2020)

Skoda Rapid (2012-2019)

50.3%

£3,473

49.7%

Key:

Ford Galaxy

49.4%

Average price percentage increase

Dacia Sandero

49.1%

£7,184

0 ,00

0

£15

£14

,00

0 ,00

£13

0 £10 ,00 0 £11 ,00 0 £12 ,00 0

£9 ,00

0 ,00 £8

0 £7, 00

0 ,00

0

Average price increase

£6

,00

0 ,00 £3

0

£2,569

£2 ,00

(2013-2020) Diesel

£4

(2015-2020) Diesel

0

£4,813

,00

(2013-2021)

£5

Suzuki S-Cross

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 11

WANT TO KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST INDUSTRY INSIGHTS AND TRENDS?

On the Aston Barclay Podcast, we speak to industry experts about trends and news in the wholesale used-car market.

Tune-in wherever you are for interesting discussions on key subjects affecting used car sales in the UK. AVAILABLE WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS

12 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

www.astonbarclay.net

FEATURE

AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR CAN LEAD DRIVE FOR CHANGE OVER MENTAL HEALTH Campaigner Lewis Warren had to rethink his career and doesn’t want others to suffer.

T

he car industry can lead from the front when it comes to managing mental health in the workplace, claims a campaigner on the subject.

Lewis Warren runs Takona (takona.co.uk), an online community designed to raise awareness of mental welfare via car culture. The Takona name and brand – inspired by the classic Jaguar logo – is taken from a dream that Warren had as a child of creating his own car of the same name.

The 28-year-old from Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire believes that the car industry, from the sales floor to head office level, is uniquely placed to drive change against what he refers to as the ‘toxic culture’ endemic in certain workplace structures.

‘Our mission is to change the culture around conversation, making it okay to talk when things get tough,’ he says. ‘So many employers simply don’t see this. You can be struggling and approach human resources, and most companies will have policies to handle it, but so many of them don’t get it right.

‘It’s often the case that they’ll refer an employee to an occupational health department and discuss the issue, but the ongoing support often isn’t there. The policies exist to protect the company, not the employee. If the company is seen to do the “right” thing then it thinks it’s okay, but so often it’s not.’

Warren is very open about having faced some tough mental health challenges since being a young adult.

‘I was forced out of an accountancy job because of it and had to rethink my entire career,’ he says. ‘At that age, you think you’re the problem. You don’t realise until later that the employer handled it badly, and because there’s so much pressure to prove yourself, to perform, to be “better” than others, the mental health pressures can be amplified. You feel like you’ve failed.’

And while many companies have shown a greater awareness of mental health issues in recent years, he still believes it’s very hard for young employees to open up.

‘The stigma is still there,’ he says. ‘There are many charities as well as individuals doing things like I do to destigmatise mental health, but it’s society that needs to shift its thinking. It really is okay to talk, but only if the right people accept that they can – and should – listen.’

One of the key reasons that Warren believes the automotive sector can be a leader in changing perceptions is because of the common passion shared by so many of its employees.

‘Most people I know in the car industry like cars. It goes with the territory,’ says Warren.

‘So if you start from that common ground, then you can open conversations. Through cars, we can bridge the gap between talking cars and talking openly.

‘There aren’t many industries where that common goal exists. Through Takona, we’re encouraging the automotive community to confide in each other when things are tough.’

It really is okay to talk, but only if the right people accept that they can – and should – listen.

Our mission is to change the culture around conversation, making it okay to talk when things get tough.

Lewis Warren AS WELL as an open chat community, Takona operates Cars and Coffee meets and has its own clothing brand, proceeds of which go to support mental health charities. The cause also has support from one of the hottest young properties in motor sport: 16-year-old Kyan Gohill. You can follow Lewis Warren on social media via #takona or #itsoktotlk CarDealerMag.co.uk | 13

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14 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

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Who’ll live and who’ll die when AI in cars becomes our superior?

I

I know this sounds like the plot of The Terminator, and believe me, so too does Mo, but the points he makes are scary and real.

run every weekend with a good friend of mine. It’s not really to keep fit, more McDonald’s offsetting as I’m really rather partial to a chicken nugget. I reason with myself that a 10km run makes 20 nuggets, a triple cheeseburger, chicken sandwich meal and a McFlurry essentially calorie-neutral.

While we attempt to improve our dad bods, conversation topics are varied – nothing is off limits. During one rather long plod, we ended up talking about cryptocurrencies and then goaded each other into wasting money on some BitEthereum. Charting the ups and downs of our £200 ‘investment’ gave us much to talk about – mostly about how stupid we were buying it in the first place.

Another of our favourite topics is cars. Here, musings can range from why people want to buy Vauxhall Zafiras for 60 per cent more than they were worth a year ago (answer: they’re lunatics) to an on-going missing person-like hunt for a reasonably priced 4x4 for my running companion.

This weekend’s chat was one that got my head pounding – and this time, it wasn’t anything to do with not drinking enough water.

Essentially, we decided that sooner or later cars are going to have to make a decision whether to kill you or not. Bear with me…

I read a fascinating interview with a leading expert in artificial intelligence in The Times recently (which started our train of thought). Mo Gawdat was a seriously bright brain who worked for Google X, the search giant’s weird blue-sky-thinking lab that dabbles in future tech. After working on AI-powered robot arms, Mo realised that one day robots could try to kill us. Presumably, with strong handshakes.

Okay, I’ve simplified that a bit, but he thinks that in the not-too-distant future, artificial intelligence will eclipse humans as the smartest conscious beings on the planet. And when that happens, if we haven’t programmed them correctly at the beginning, they could very well try to kill us.

Yes, I know this sounds like the plot of The Terminator, and believe me, so too does Mo, but the points he makes are scary and real. He’s so worried, he’s written a book about it. He’s not the only one who’s concerned. Other great AI musing minds of the planet who work closely with the tech are worried too, including fellow author Stuart Russell. He’s convinced AI is something we need to worry about and that those who are developing it are ‘in denial’.

Anyway, back to the run and cars deciding to kill us. My running partner has worked in robotic boats so actually knows the AI subject pretty well; I had a Tamagotchi.

So, to self-driving cars. The AI that runs those vehicles of the future will have to make decisions, sometimes at lightning speed, faster than a human could ever compute them. Hypothetically, you’re travelling in a fully autonomous self-driving car at a speed too fast to stop, and approach two stationary vehicles you will crash into.

On one side of the road is a school bus with 10 children in, the other a coachload of grannies on a day trip. How does the car decide which to crash into? Or does it decide to crash you into a wall instead because there’s only one of you and more of them?

These decisions will have to be made by the car – the driver will have no input.

Somewhere, sometime along the line, that car’s ‘brain’ will have to have been programmed with decision-making criteria so it knows how to deal with the sort of things we never want to think about – including whether to run down a coachload of grannies or protect the driver above all costs.

Fortunately, the people building this tech are far smarter than two middle-aged dad joggers and have probably thought about all this already. But what if they haven’t?

Maybe we should stop thinking about future technology and go back to the hunt for a sensibly priced 4x4. The latter appears to be just as challenging.

Speaking out

COMMENT

JAMES BAGGOTT

AGAINST OUR BETTER JUDGMENT, WE LET THE CEO HAVE HIS SAY EACH MONTH James Baggott founded Car Dealer Magazine and is the chief executive officer of parent company @BaizeGroup, an automotive services provider. He now spends most of his time on Twitter @CarDealerEd and annoying the rest of us.

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 15

Big Mike OUR MAN ON THE INSIDE SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON THE CAR BUSINESS

Who is Big Mike?

Well, that would be telling. What we can say is he’s had more than 40 years in the car trade so has probably forgotten more about it than we’re likely to know.

16 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

COMMENT

Doddery old lady showed wild side behind wheel of Injection Special

F

or this month’s column I’m going to be turning the clock back a bit, but then, given my background in the gutter end of the motor trade, it probably won’t be the first time that I’ve turned back a clock. I couldn’t possibly comment.

Today, though, I’d like to take you back to the mid-1990s, when I hung up my main dealer gloves, having left my role as sales manager of a Fiat dealership under a bit of a cloud, which may or may not have had something to do with me ‘accidentally’ ordering nine beige Fiat Cromas. Needless to say, the group franchise director really wasn’t very happy about it, but he’d had it coming. It was an incident some of you may remember me recounting in issue 164 of this fine magazine. Anyway, I digress...

The mid-Nineties saw the start of me having my own place and stepping away from shiny new metal to once again enjoy the delights of peddling the more tired and careworn examples of pre-loved motor cars. It was always quite nice, then, when I got something in stock that was just a little bit special.

And on this particular occasional, ‘Special’ was even written on the car, preceded by the words ‘Ford Capri 2.8 Injection’. To those of a certain age, the words ‘Capri Injection Special’ carry a huge amount of weight, for to be seen behind the wheel of Ford’s finest Cortina coupé, astern of its landing craft-like bonnet and with those unmistakable pepper-pot alloy wheels, made you a lad about town like no other.

And the whole ‘lad about town’ image was why I was more than a little surprised when an interested customer who didn’t fit the most obvious demographic for such a car wandered on to the lot.

Wearing a purple duffel coat and with permed hair to match, the old dear had a wardrobe that would have given the Queen Mother a run for her money. I’d witnessed her walk down from the bus stop, somewhat doddery, and my first assumption when she got to the forecourt was that perhaps she needed the loo, or maybe just a five-minute sit-down.

‘Can I help you, love?’ I asked.

‘Oh yes, dear,’ she replied. ‘I’d like to take that car out for a test drive please.’

She then waggled her walking stick in the direction of the Capri.

Parked directly behind it was a Mini Clubman automatic, so making the first of many wrong assumptions, I disappeared into the caravan and emerged with the Leyland keys.

‘No, not that one, you daft lump,’ she said, gesticulating with her stick at the vast bonnet of the Capri. ‘This one. Do I look like the kind of old bat who’d drive around in a Mini?’

Avoiding the urge to state the obvious, I mumbled apologetically under my breath and wandered into the caravan for the Ford keys.

‘You do realise this is a performance car, don’t you?’ I asked her. After all, she did have the air of somebody who probably wasn’t fully aware of the fact that it was Tuesday.

‘I know my cars, young man,’ she said sternly and clambered into the driver’s seat, much to my alarm. I got the trade plates off the side and climbed in next to her, by which point she’d already fired up the fuel-injected V6 and was grinning with delight as the rev counter bounced around like a jumping bean.

‘Oh, it’s very comfy, isn’t it?’ she said, as she slipped the Capri into first and edged towards the kerb.

Hawkishly, she looked both ways, dumped the clutch and lit up the rear tyres as she tore out into a gap that was barely there, showering gravel from my forecourt all over the front of the Number 319 bus.

We made it back to my sales site just in time for me to leap out of the passenger door and regain my composure by discreetly vomiting into the boot of a Triumph Acclaim.

To those of a certain age, the words ‘Capri Injection Special’ carry a huge amount of weight.

‘Be careful, my love,’ I said in the least patronising way that I possibly could.

‘Don’t be so patronising,’ she replied as she dropped from third to second and gunned it down a bus lane to get around a learner driver.

At this stage, I was genuinely concerned. I was wondering if maybe she’d escaped from a home for the bewildered, or had a concerned relative round the house at this very minute who had assumed she was just out in the garden pruning her roses.

My thought process didn’t last long, though, because I was immediately brought back to the present moment by the rapidly advancing island (or roundabout, as I believe you nonMidlanders prefer to call them) that was just yards ahead of this blue Ford Capri that didn’t appear to be slowing down.

‘Madam,’ I said as calmly as possible. ‘The, the i…i….i,’ and that was that.

I lost the ability to speak. Instead, I was waving my arms and legs around in the passenger seat like a demented squid, my body racked with sheer terror at the fear of imminently meeting my maker in the middle of a council-sponsored floral arrangement, having been flung there upside down by Barbara Cartland’s slimmer and considerably more psychotic evil twin.

We entered the island without even a dab of the brakes and her ladyship flung the car into the turn before thrusting the accelerator pedal even closer to the floor, drifting round the roundabout in a perfect arc of smoking rubber.

‘Oh, I think I’ll go again!’ she giggled, as she unwound the opposite lock and threw the Capri back into the roundabout for another trip round the clock, before deftly flicking the wheel the other way and cruising calmly down the hill back to my lot.

We made it back to my sales site just in time for me to leap out of the passenger door and regain my composure by discreetly vomiting into the boot of a Triumph Acclaim.

I wandered back to the Capri to find Her Majesty with the boot open, counting out three grand in cash on to the rear parcel shelf, with a grin like a Cheshire cat.

I quickly ran into the caravan to grab the registration document so she could complete it before her pills kicked in.

‘Well, I haven’t had that much fun since our Alf made me get rid of the E-Type,’ she chuckled. ‘Anyway, he’s dead now, and he didn’t leave me enough money for an XJ-S.’ And that, dear reader, is just one of the many times in my career that I’ve learnt never to judge a book by its cover.

I wandered back to the Capri to find Her Majesty with the boot open, counting out three grand in cash on to the rear parcel shelf, with a grin like a Cheshire cat.

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 17

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18 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

Be more like Paul and less like Gus if you truly want to succeed in sales

Y

The problem was, I didn’t much care to learn about the features of a Zanussi or Hotpoint washing machine.

ou never forget your first proper job. Despite my parents imploring me not to leave university with only a year to go, I knew a car showroom was where I wanted to be. I’d done two years of my retail management degree and had committed to working at Currys during my placement year.

The problem with the Currys job? My heart wasn’t in it.

I was working in a store selling anything from toasters to TVs. However, I only liked to sell items I felt comfortable with and that I was giving good advice about, and for me that was audio systems.

Currys had offered me training and a very comprehensive weeklong course on sales skills, which I greatly enjoyed. The MCMR (‘My Customer My Responsibility’) mantra has long stayed with me, and I’ve advocated this ethos to any inexperienced salesperson.

It also majored on FAB (‘Features Advantages Benefits’) and how to present them. The problem was, I didn’t much care to learn about the features of a Zanussi or Hotpoint washing machine, far less the advantages or benefits. However, when I was offered a post as a placement dogsbody at a Rover dealer, all of those lessons paid off.

The unquestioned big dog was Gus. Gus was big in every sense of the word. BIG guy, BIG numbers, BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG on bull.

My mentor, though, was Paul. He encompassed everything I wanted to be as a salesperson – warm, friendly and knowledgeable.

He never earned the most or topped the sales charts, but he seemed to enjoy his work the most.

With Paul as a mentor in my early career and latterly having an interest in human behaviour, I’d like to think that I’ve become a very effective salesperson. In his book To Sell Is Human, Daniel H Pink writes that in many day-to-day interactions, someone is trying to sell something. Getting the kids to tidy their room, getting a colleague to make you a tea, asking the builder for a lower quote... We’re all selling every day but seldom recognise it. The term ‘consultative selling’ has been around for decades, but for me this is the true essence of sales craft. Identifying a need or desire for something that may not be awoken in the subject is both rewarding and addictive.

Gus wasn’t a sales genius, despite his sales figures suggesting he was. Gus was a liar and a cheat. What annoyed me then is the same thing that annoys me now: he got away with it for long enough to earn a nice living. Gus had joined the business I worked for after he falsified finance documents at his previous employer, but he was caught and subsequently sacked.

The car sales professionals in the franchised world today are more like Paul and less like Gus. What really saddens me is that the real Guses of the world now live in the Cabinet. Advocates for the Tory party seem to turn a blind eye to the immoral, reprehensible and possibly illegal actions of No 10 in the same way my sales manager ignored Gus’s indiscretions. However, I am comforted that Gus always went too far, his insatiable greed resulting in one devious act too many, and I just hope that the same happens to this government.

Trader Tales

COMMENT

JAMES LITTON

CASTING AN EXPERIENCED EYE ON THE WIDE AND CHALLENGING WORLD OF MOTOR SALES

James Litton is an automotive retail consultant who always has something to say about the industry he loves.

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 19

DASHBOARD

CAR NEWS ROUND-UP

Manufacturers have been busy refining existing models and producing new ones. We look at 10 of the results...

VOLKSWAGEN

Coupe-styled ID.5 SUV goes on sale from £50,550 VOLKSWAGEN’S ID.5 has gone on sale with prices starting from £50,550.

The couple-styled SUV expands VW’s line-up of electric cars, arriving as the flagship of the IDbadged series and bringing a range of up to 313 miles from its 77kWh battery.

NISSAN

It’s hello yellow with Juke Kiiro special edition NISSAN has unveiled a limitededition version of its Juke, the Kiiro, which brings a range of new design elements to the best-selling crossover.

Named after the Japanese word ‘kiiro’, meaning yellow, the model gets a range of accents in this colour to make it stand out from other Juke models. The new car will also be promoted in advertising for the upcoming film The Batman, due in cinemas on March 4.

All Kiiro models are painted in Ceramic Grey, which contrasts with bright yellow accents on the front and rear bumpers, and across the bottom of the doors. The Juke also gets large gloss black 19inch alloy wheels as standard.

20 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

Thanks to a charging speed of up to 135kW, the ID.5’s battery can be topped up to 80 per cent in just 29 minutes. There are also three outputs available – 172bhp in the PS Pro, 201bhp in the PS Pro Performance and 295bhp in the tip-top GTX models.

SKODA

Enyaq iV Coupe widens line-up of EVs SKODA has unveiled its new Enyaq iV Coupe, widening the firm’s line-up of electric vehicles.

Essentially a sleeker and more aerodynamically styled version of the regular Enyaq iV, the Coupe features a sloping roofline and standard-fit panoramic glass roof – the largest fitted to any Skoda model on sale today.

It stands 6mm taller and 4mm longer than the standard Enyaq, too.

At the front is the option to fit the ‘Crystal Face’, which adds 131 LEDs to the car’s grille to give it a striking, illuminated appearance.

From launch, there will be just a single battery option – a 77kWh usable capacity unit – although three different power variants will be available: the Enyaq Coupe iV 80, Enyaq Coupe iV 80x and Enyaq Coupe iV vRS.

MINI

New special editions are added to range MINI has added three specialedition models to a variety of cars within its line-up.

Resolute, Untold and Untamed bring added design features as well as extra equipment to some of Mini’s most popular cars.

Resolute Edition, for example, is available on the three-door Hatch, Electric, fivedoor Hatch and Convertible models, and brings a Rebel Green exterior colour that was previously only available on performance John Cooper Works cars.

MG

Cheapest SUV EV now costs even less

THE least expensive electric SUV on the market just got cheaper, thanks to a smaller battery variant.

The MG ZS EV Standard Range joins the Long Range model but still has a useful 198 miles – 35 more than the previous entry-level model.

The SUV’s 51.1kWh battery can be topped up at speeds of up to 100kW, which can get from 10 to 80 per cent in 36 minutes.

With the £1,500 plug-in car grant, the price is £27,495 – a £2,000 saving. The lower-cost model also has a bit more power at 174bhp.

MERCEDES-AMG

Power to the people with first plug-in hybrid giving 831bhp MERCEDES-AMG has launched its most powerful car ever – and the GT 63 S E Performance is its first plug-in hybrid.

It boasts 831bhp and a maximum torque output of up to 1,400Nm, giving it a 0-60mph time of less than three seconds and a 0-124mph time of under 10 seconds.

Pricing has been confirmed as starting at £173,665, with deliveries beginning in April, but UK buyers won’t be able to get the special edition ‘green hell magno’ version.

It also has a suspension system that ‘adjusts the damping force for each wheel to suit the situation in just a few milliseconds’ as well as a lightweight ceramic braking system.

RANGE ROVER

Plug-in hybrid to travel further on charge than claimed before THE new Range Rover plug-in hybrid will offer an electric range of up to 70 miles and start from £103,485.

Revealed last year, the Range Rover hybrid’s original figures have improved. An electric-only range of up to 62 miles was claimed, as well as CO2 emissions of below 30g/km.

However, the latest figures are better, with Range Rover saying that the P510e and P440e models will travel up to 70 miles on electric power while emitting just 18g/km.

Both hybrids combine a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, with the more powerful P510e managing the 0-60mph sprint in 5.3 seconds.

VAUXHALL

Trim levels simplified after debut on Astra

VAUXHALL will be applying a new simplified range structure to its Grandland, Crossland and Insignia models following its debut on the new Astra.

It means buyers will now have three streamlined trim levels to choose from with each model, making it easier to decide on which one fits their needs best.

Now, just Design, GS Line and Ultimate grades will be available on the Grandland, Crossland and Insignia, with different levels of standard equipment and style touches.

BMW

8 Series models receive updates BMW has announced a raft of updates to its 8 Series models.

Applied to the Coupe, Gran Coupe and Convertible models, the revisions include the lower air intakes gaining horizontal struts.

Alongside these changes come new 20-inch alloy wheels with a double-spoke design, while standard equipment now includes a performance M sports brake system with blue callipers.

Inside, an M leather multifunction steering wheel is standard, while the infotainment screen has gone up from 10.25 to 12.3 inches.

ALFA ROMEO

Tonale finally here after 2019 reveal ALFA Romeo has bolstered its line-up of SUVs with the muchanticipated Tonale.

First revealed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the Tonale’s launch had been pushed back, but the compact SUV has now been unveiled in production-ready form.

Arriving under the Stelvio, the Tonale incorporates many traditional Alfa Romeo styling cues such as the triangle ‘Scudetto’ shield. Meanwhile, the ‘3+3’ headlights take inspiration from the SZ Zagato as well as the Proteo concept.

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 21

Gallagher Motor Trade Insurance

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22 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

Get in touch to discover how we can help your business.

Would you like to talk?

T: +44 (0) 7887 591943

E: pauline_brookes@ajg.com

www.ajg.com/uk/motor-trades

How has motor trade insurance been affected by supply chain issues?

2

021 saw well-documented challenges for car manufacturers concerning shortages of semiconductors and vehicle parts, which impacted on both new and used car markets.

By June of last year, new car production in the UK dropped to its lowest level since 1953, according to the SMMT, which stated a combination of ‘the pandemic, new industry trading rules with Europe, and supply chain issues’ continued to contribute to ongoing challenges for the sector*. With fewer new cars rolling off production lines, demand for used cars increased exponentially, driving their values upwards.

On top of this, the government objective of removing new diesel and petrol engine cars from the road by 2030** adds another challenge for car manufacturers, which will need to invest heavily in new technology.

As a result, new car values could also be on the rise.

Against this backdrop, insurers constantly review their rates and availability of cover for all motor trade businesses. So, what does this mean for you when it comes to renewing your insurance policy?

How these factors could affect your insurance Numerous variables can affect insurance premiums and cover. However, the recent climate in the industry has impacted on insurance in various ways: • As the cost of used cars rises, they cost more to replace. This leads to more significant losses for insurers if vehicles are stolen, for example. Dealers selling used cars may, in turn, need a higher limit of indemnity (or a higher sum insured). If a used car cost £20,000 a year ago but now costs £25,000, then £100,000-worth of insurance last year could have covered five similar vehicles – now, it would only cover four. Increasing your sums insured may lead to an increase in insurance premiums.

• The cost of replacement parts has also increased. Any issues in the supply chain that make parts more scarce can increase their value, as the general rules of supply and demand come into play again. If it is more difficult to obtain parts – because of production issues, problems transporting and importing them, or both – this can increase costs. This increased value can also have an impact on insurance. If parts are damaged, stolen, or lost in transit, then their replacement cost could be higher now than it was previously, which may impact on the cost of insuring them.

• When repairing or restoring vehicles, costs have also increased exponentially. Many dealers also work in service and repair, and it’s not just the cost of parts that has increased. With fewer new cars available, the need to maintain and restore vehicles is greater than before. Labour shortages, and demand for increased wages, can compound these issues. As the cost of repairs increases, so does the cost to insurers that may need to instruct them.

• Parts shortages also make it more difficult to repair used vehicles, particularly where issues are related to auto-electronics and a need for replacement semiconductors. Delays can lead to more demand for courtesy cars, for example, potentially increasing costs and risks for insurers.

• Inflation is also driving up costs. Inflation levels are rising in the UK and across Europe, impacting on everything from the cost of energy involved in producing and maintaining vehicles to their end value. These costs also need to be reflected in insurance sums insured.

Keeping on top of insurance requirements PARTICULARLY in challenging times, it can prove crucial to speak with an insurance broker who understands the challenges you face and can provide insurance and risk management solutions to meet them. This means constantly evaluating where you might need extra cover or support for your business.

Finding an insurance broker willing to look at your policy before it is due for renewal – to spot gaps in cover or potential underinsurance – can help ensure that your policy remains adequate for your requirements.

Then, as the landscape changes, your insurance policy can continue to reflect any changes to your business.

Your insurance broker should be able to find a solution, working with you to identify and help accommodate the risks you face.

The opinions and views expressed in the above article are those of the author only and are for guidance purposes only. The authors disclaim any liability for reliance upon those opinions and would encourage readers to rely upon more than one source before making a decision based on the information.

Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 7th Floor, 55 Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland.

Company Number: SC108909.

For more information visit ajg.com/uk/motor-trades * https://www.smmt.co.uk/2021/07/staff-and-supply-shortages-threaten-uk-car-production-revival ** https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-takes-historic-step-towards-net-zero-with-end-of-sale-of-new-petrol-and-diesel-cars-by-2030

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 23

DASHBOARD DEVELOPMENT

Macklin Motors invests £5m in site

HERE ARE TASTERS OF STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

NEWS DIGEST CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY c

MACKLIN Motors has opened a new dealership in Edinburgh after a £5m investment.

The Newbridge site, which took seven months to build, is the group’s tenth in Scotland and it represents Peugeot, Kia and MG, with up to 120 vehicles on display. It also has a 16-bay service area.

Fourteen jobs have been created, and Macklin Motors said the investment showed its confidence in the region, adding that ‘further significant developments’ were planned.

TRANSFORMATION

‘Electrified’ first in UK for Hyundai

SPEARHEAD

Champagne corks pop as Morgan opens flagship showroom in redeveloped Kensington mews MORGAN Motor Company has opened its second company-owned dealership, moving into a redeveloped mews in an exclusive part of London.

The flagship Kensington showroom will sell new and used Morgans as well as offer an aftersales service, and joins Morgan Works Malvern – with a third set to open in Bicester.

Morgan said it was spearheading the company’s retail transformation, and the official opening also activated the partnership with Pol Roger, which is Morgan Motor Company’s official champagne.

HOPE

Jobs lifeline thrown to Holt Cars workers

HYUNDAI has opened its first ‘Electrified’ dealership in the UK at Bluewater shopping centre.

The store is operated by dealer group Ancaster and has been there since 2014, but the focus now is solely on its electrified car range, with an ‘Electrified Wall’, ‘Powertrain Wall’ and ‘Connectivity Wall’.

Hyundai Motor UK MD Ashley Andrew said: ‘Transforming the way people interact with our cars has always been as important to us as transforming the cars themselves.’

24 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

ANGUS MacKinnon wants to track down staff who lost their jobs when Holt Cars went into administration and offer them new roles.

All 12 jobs at the Derby dealership were made redundant.

However, after reading our story, Julian Stockton, sales director at nearby UCA winner Angus MaKinnon, contacted Car Dealer to try to find the ex-Holt Cars workers, as he thinks they could be a match made in heaven for his business.

ARRIVAL

Essentially, we decided that sooner or later cars are going to have to make a decision whether to kill you or not.

James Baggott p15

Clive Sutton imports Ford Bronco into UK

SPECIALIST car dealer Clive Sutton has brought the high-demand Ford Bronco to the UK for the first time.

Order books have already filled for 2022 and CEO Sutton says he has enough supply to satisfy demand into 2023.

The Clive Sutton team will be organising all of the import, shipping, taxes and registration, and buyers can expect to pay between £45,000 and £85,000 depending on specification.

Gemma’s a LifeShine Hero.

Supplier News: p47

‘The new front-end styling gives the car some serious presence, while the air intakes behind the front arches add some theatre.’

Forecourt: p30

TITLE

FRANCHISE

Peterlee showroom Arnold Clark loses wins Hyundai crown Toyota to Vertu

BOWING OUT

Stuart Foulds retires as TrustFord CEO

T S A C D PO Driven by

BRISTOL Street Motors Peterlee Hyundai has been named the bestperforming dealership out of the 148 Hyundai retail sites in the UK. It was crowned top of the 2021 Hyundai Balanced Score Card league after a rigorous assessment of the entire business.

General manager John Curry said: ‘We are a tight team of 26 and have excelled against dealerships with much bigger colleague numbers.

‘It is testament to their expertise and commitment.’

ARNOLD Clark is believed to have lost its Toyota franchise in the west of Scotland, with Vertu Motors picking up the business.

An announcement via the London Stock Exchange on February 16 said Vertu had been given the Japanese carmaker’s franchise for the area.

The statement from Vertu said it will ‘develop’ four dealerships for the ‘extensive territory’. They’ll be run under Vertu’s Scottish trading name, Macklin Motors, with the first one opening in Darnley on April 1.

PACKAGE

Subscription service launched by Genesis

HYUNDAI’S high-end arm Genesis has launched a subscription service for UK customers.

Genesis Flexibility starts at £599 a month with a minimum six-month term, and covers all cars in the premium brand line-up. The package includes all scheduled servicing with home delivery and collection, plus roadside assistance and a dedicated Genesis personal assistant. A courtesy car is provided as standard while servicing is carried out.

TRUSTFORD has announced the retirement of its chairman and chief executive Stuart Foulds.

The 66-year-old industry veteran, who had been there for four and a half years, said: ‘It has been my privilege to work with an incredible team and lead the business to new heights. I would like to thank everyone for their support and contribution to the business’s success during my tenure and wish everyone the very best for what I am sure is a great future.’

OM R F M A E THE T EALER CAR DBOUT TALK ATEST THE LAAND NEWSVIEWS IN INTER EGULAR THIS R ST PODCA

EXPANSION

‘Be careful, my love,’ I said in the least patronising way that I possibly could. ‘Don’t be so patronising,’ she replied as she gunned it down a bus lane.

Big Mike p16

Chorley MG moves to bigger site

E R E H K C CLI

CHORLEY MG in Lancashire has moved into a new state-of-the-art showroom after the dealer group expanded its relationship with the British carmaker.

The group’s previous MG dealership delivered more than 650 new cars in 2021, leading the firm to expand to carry on growing.

It has now moved into a bigger, multi-million-pound showroom just 200 metres from the former dealership in Foxhole Road, Chorley.

PAST O T N E T S TO LI ES OF THE EPISODEALER CAR DASTS PODC Turn over page to catch up on more stories

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 25

DASHBOARD PORTFOLIO

RRG Group opens first MG premises

THE RRG Group has added the MG brand to its portfolio with a showroom in Stockport.

The state-of-the-art site in Rooth Street has the full range of MG vehicles and offers EV charging and servicing plus aftersales. It will also provide advice to Motability customers.

RRG dealer principal Dean Watson said: ‘We are very excited to be launching the MG dealership in Stockport alongside our other franchises, and we are confident that we will attract lots of customers to the MG brand.’

AWARDS

What Car? hails Kia EV6 as top vehicle

HERE ARE TASTERS OF STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

NEWS DIGEST CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY

‘MILESTONE’

Carrs Ferrari moves to bigger site after 11-month development transforms former Volvo showroom CARRS Ferrari has opened a new, purpose-built showroom in Exeter.

It has moved half a mile from Manaton Close to the Sigford Road site of a former Volvo showroom, which was extended and renovated. The new showroom, which took 11 months to build, includes a community area so clients can visit socially, as well as see the latest models or bring in their Ferrari for its service.

Dealer principal Lee Moore said: ‘Carrs Ferrari has a long-standing and very strong partnership with the Ferrari brand, and investing in these new premises has been an important milestone for the business.’

FUNDING

Gigafactory proposal awarded millions

KIA’S EV6 has been crowned Car of the Year 2022 by What Car? – making it a double triumph for the manufacturer twice over.

It’s the second time that Kia has won the overall What Car? Car of the Year Award and the second time it’s won with a new electric car, scooping its maiden victory in 2019 with the e-Niro.

Judges said the EV6 set new benchmarks for electric cars, offering an official range of 328 miles and managing 224 when What Car? testers ran it in nearworst-case low temperatures.

26 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

THE government has thrown its weight behind plans for an EV battery gigaplant in Northumberland that will employ 3,000 people and create 5,000 more jobs.

Britishvolt’s plans for the Blyth plant are being supported by the Automotive Transformation Fund.

It hasn’t been revealed as yet exactly how much is being given, but it’s believed to be around £100m.

The firm says it needs £3.8bn to set up and start production.

£1.37m The cost – BEFORE taxes – of the Gordon Murray Automotive T.33 supercar.

Feature p36

PARTNERSHIP

Swansway brings circus charity cheer

DEALER group Swansway has raised close to £90,000 for Circus Starr six years after joining forces with the charitable group.

The Car Dealer Top 100 firm first agreed a charitable partnership with Circus Starr in January 2016 and has given it £20 for every Motability vehicle it has sold since. The total now stands at £88,600, representing 4,430 Motability vehicles sold.

Circus Starr give children with additional needs a place to go.

Make time to check out the latest cool items that we’ve found

‘Quote.’

Feature: pXX

Feature: p49

SUCCESS

CarShop Express store’s sales soar

CAR Dealer Used Car Awards winner CarShop Express Leicester has seen sales shoot up by 60 per cent in just four months.

The omnichannel used car retailer introduced the Express store concept in Leicester last year and said it was now reaping the rewards.

Bookings have doubled in the past four months and sales have also soared since the transformation.

Manager Michele Williams said: ‘I am thrilled to see it succeeding. It’s a concept I really believe in.’

FLEETS

BOOST

Identifying a need or desire for something that may not be awoken in the subject is both rewarding and addictive.

James Litton p19

REVAMP

Peugeot returns to Sunderland

BRISTOL Street Motors has opened a Peugeot dealership in Sunderland after a £250,000 investment.

The showroom on Sunderland Enterprise Park sits alongside the existing Vauxhall site, with both overseen by general manager Jass Singh, pictured.

It sees the return of the French marque to the area after some five years and has created five jobs.

Bristol Street Motors Peugeot Sunderland is the eighth Peugeot franchise in the group’s portfolio.

INVESTMENT

Peter Vardy launches Refurbed showroom Bentley’s first EV is rentals for firms opens after delays to be made in UK

THE Peter Vardy Group has launched a vehicle rental service for firms.

Peter Vardy FlexAuto provides a wide range of makes and models from cars to vans, with the aim of giving businesses the chance to control and cut fleet costs, said the company. Group operations director Derek Longmuir, pictured, who is in charge of the new division, said vehicles can be rented UK-wide, with coverage and service partners across the country.

MARSHALL Volvo Peterborough has finally opened its doors to the public after a £2m refurbishment that was plagued by setbacks.

The dealer group began building work on the site last year but Covid19-related complications caused several delays.

Despite the teething issues, though, the showroom is now up and running and open for business, with Dominic Meacham as the general manager.

BENTLEY is to build its first pureelectric vehicle at its Crewe base in what the luxury carmaker is calling a £2.5bn commitment to sustainability over the next 10 years.

The battery-powered electric vehicle is scheduled to roll off the production line in 2025, the VWowned company said.

Its multi-billion-pound investment will involve the ‘complete transformation’ of its plant to build electric cars.

BITE-SIZE Click on the text box for the full story

SYSTEM: JCT600 has become the first retailer to use Lloyds’ new PayFrom Bank accountto-account product. It lets customers browse, reserve and buy a vehicle completely online and without having to visit a dealership.

PROJECTS: Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi are to jointly launch 35 electric vehicles by 2030 in a multi-billion-pound investment by the alliance. They said the EVs would be based on five common platforms, and would include a successor to the Nissan Micra.

HONOURS: Mini celebrated the best of its UK dealer network at its annual Retailer Awards.

Inchcape Chelmsford was named Retailer of the Year out of the brand’s 130 dealerships as well as scooping the Retail Sales trophy at the virtual ceremony.

EXPANDING: Hendy Group has won planning permission for two new showrooms in Eastleigh.

The dealerships will be built next to its existing Villeneuve Way Honda, Mazda and Kia sites. It is yet to decide which brands will be represented there.

TOP: The Institute of the Motor Industry has named the winner of its MOT testers competition.

Michael Marsden, a vehicle technician for Platinum Vauxhall, serving the south and west of England, scooped the EV Training contest title.

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 27

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28 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

PARTNER

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Interest-ing times M Darren Selig, founder and chief commercial officer of high-end vehicle finance lender JBR Capital, reflects on the recent rise in interest rate and what this might mean for the used prestige and supercar market.

Customer confidence, or the lack of it, might lead to a gradual softening of prices.

Darren Selig JBR Capital founder and chief commercial officer

ost of us were aware of the Spanish flu of 1918 and had heard experts argue it could happen again.

But did we think a pandemic could affect the lives of every single person on the planet? No, we didn’t, for the simple reason that we’d never experienced anything like it and, therefore, just could not imagine it happening.

On a much smaller scale, it’s a little bit like the recent interest rate increase. There are many younger customers who, in theory, knew this could happen. But they have only ever experienced interest rates at ultralow levels, so they couldn’t conceive of them going up. Now that they have, how will those customers react?

And what effect will it have on the prestige car market?

But before we hit the button marked ‘Panic,’ let’s remember that other important P-word – ‘Perspective.’

Those of us who have been around the block have seen interest rates fluctuate significantly before. The Bank of England’s base rate may have risen from 0.25 per cent at the start of the year to 0.5 per cent now, but it was at 5.7 per cent just 15 years ago.

Back in 2007, if enthusiasts could borrow at 11.9 per cent to fund their dream supercar, they were doing well. By comparison, with borrowing now at around 7.9 per cent, customers have still never had it so good.

Still, any rise comes as a shock for those who have never experienced one before. And while those who can afford to finance cars in the £200k to £500k bracket are unlikely to be too rattled, it may knock the confidence of some of those funding a Porsche 911 worth £70k, for example.

The issue is compounded because these – often young, aspirational and ambitious – customers are being squeezed on several fronts. Inflation at 5.4 per cent, the highest in 30 years, combined with unprecedented rises in energy prices, is driving up the cost of living.

But it’s not just borrowers who have never experienced fiscal turbulence before. Many in the finance industry have only ever known ultra-low interest rates.

More experienced lenders know that the only option is to be honest with customers and pass on the additional costs incurred by borrowing money from the bank at a higher rate. It’s simple business sense. Doing otherwise and attempting to absorb the costs to retain customers is flawed thinking. It will affect the quality of service you can offer in the short term. In the long term, it will bankrupt your business.

Conversely, when conditions turn challenging, that’s when a proactive finance company, with experienced operators, finds creative solutions to benefit its customers. That’s what we’ve done at JBR Capital by introducing a new, innovative variable rate product. Designed to appeal to customers who change their car frequently, there is no termination penalty, provided they take out another loan. For those prepared to bet on the fact that the base interest rate won’t rise beyond 1.5 per cent, it could represent significant savings.

But what of those more easily spooked by rising rates? If they decide to delay their next purchase, will that affect the used prestige and supercar market? Possibly. Eventually.

I certainly don’t foresee any immediate and sudden downturn. Limited product supply will keep prices on the high side for the foreseeable future, although I certainly don’t subscribe to the theory that this will be the case forever.

Ultimately, it will all be about mindset. Customer confidence, or the lack of it, might lead to a gradual softening of prices. Then again, with spring just around the corner and the world learning to live with Covid, confidence and values could remain buoyant for some time yet. It’s certainly too early to call it – but one thing’s for sure: it’s another chapter in the history books.

For more information visit jbrcapital.com CarDealerMag.co.uk | 29

FORECOURT

AUDI RS 3 The RS 3 brings mechanical advancements over its predecessor but is it more fun to drive? Jack Evans took to the wheel to find out.

Under the bonnet

THE KNOWLEDGE Audi RS 3 Launch Edition Price (as tested): £60,460 Engine: 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol Power: 394bhp Torque: 500Nm Max speed: 174mph O-60mph: 3.6 seconds MPG (combined): 31.4 Emissions: 205g/km CO2

The 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine pumps out 394bhp and can fling the RS 3 from 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds.

WHAT IS IT? The third-generation RS 3 hit the scene with what appeared to be relatively minimal changes. But as we discovered on our first drive in Athens in October, it was clear to see that Audi had changed the RS 3 in such a way as to dramatically improve the formula. But we’re in the UK with the RS 3, so can it deliver a winning experience over the pock-marked roads we live with?

WHAT’S NEW? You’ll find a tweaked chassis as well as a new torque splitter at the back, which allows power to be shifted between the rear wheels, giving better mid-corner adjustability and added agility overall. In the UK, all RS 3 models sit on adjustable dampers, while uprated brakes should help to bring it to a more effective halt – although you can specify carbonceramic versions should you want even more stopping performance.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET? Although the 394bhp output might mirror that of its predecessor, the new car now kicks out 500Nm of torque as opposed to 480Nm previously. That power is also delivered lower down in the rev range for more purposeful acceleration.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? The ride is just pliable enough – although it struggles with larger road imperfections – while the automatic gearbox shifts smoothly and easily when left to its own devices. There’s an almost bewildering number of settings and modes, but get it dialled in and the RS 3 is seriously impressive. It’s ludicrously fast, too, but deploys its power with very little fuss or drama. Cornering grip is sublime as well, and it doesn’t feel like you have to fight the car to get the best from it. The exhaust – even in its most raucous setting – is curiously muted, mind you, and that does dull some of the overall experience. We wouldn’t be surprised if tighter emissions regulations played a part in this.

HOW DOES IT LOOK? Although the RS 3 is available as a saloon again, ‘our’ test car came in the ever-popular hatchback form. It feels like a tried-and-tested shape, in fairness, blending practicality and compact size to create a car in which to take the kids to school or tear down a country road.

30 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

The new front-end styling gives the car some serious presence, too, while the air intakes behind the front arches add some theatre. The previous-generation RS 3 was definitely more of an understated affair, so if you’re looking for a car with the same undercover characteristics, you might be a little disappointed. But we doubt that many people will fail to enjoy this RS 3’s newfound flamboyance.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE? Audi is on a roll with its interiors of late, and the RS 3 just feels like an extension of this.

You’ve got quality materials aplenty throughout the cabin, while the steering wheel’s shape is well judged and feels good to use – although we wish the gear change paddles were a little more tactile. There are physical controls for the heating and ventilation (a refreshing touch in today’s screen-heavy offerings) and although the area around the gear shifter feels a little muddled, it’s a good layout overall.

There’s a reasonable amount of space in the back, but taller passengers might feel a touch cramped. In terms of boot volume, you’ve got 282 litres to play with, or 1,104 litres with the rear seats folded down. That’s nearly 100 litres down on the regular A3, owing to the inclusion of the all-wheel-drive system.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE? Our test car came in Launch Edition specification and was accompanied by a £60,460 price tag which, in anyone’s money, is quite a lot. It’s £6,000 more than the base car and sits above Carbon Edition but below top-rung Vorsprung. Around 100 cars will be delivered to the UK in this specification. You get a full Bang & Olufsen sound system, as well as darkened matrix LED headlights. Matt-black 19-inch alloy wheels are included too, as is a high-gloss black front splitter and a full sports exhaust system. It also includes a lift for the speed limiter, boosting the car’s top speed from 155mph to 174mph. So if you’re planning on frequenting the German autobahn, this is probably the spec for you.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK? Autocar said: ‘Audi mega-hatch takes sizeable strides on handling balance and driver engagement but remains every bit as outlandish for its price as its stonking performance.’

WHAT DO WE THINK? The little changes to this RS 3 add up to a big difference. The added agility is a real welcome trait, as is the car’s ability to settle down and chew through the miles much like a regular A3. We’d prefer a more stripped-back number of settings, although pre-programming the RS shortcut buttons on the steering wheel is one way of circumnavigating this. The only other issue we have with the RS 3 is the relatively dulled exhaust note, which dampens the overall experience. However, as a way of getting from A to B very quickly and with minimal fuss, the RS 3 remains one of the best.

TARGET BUYERS:

Inside

The RS 3 is the performance car for all occasions – and all weathers, too.

The cabin is beautifully built with quality materials used throughout.

Taller rear-seat passengers may feel a little cramped, though.

THE RIVALS:

BMW M240i Mercedes-AMG A45S Volkswagen Golf

Style

The RS styling gives the car some serious presence, and the air intakes behind the front wheel arches add flair.

KEY SELLING POINTS: 1. Huge performance.

2. Useable practicality.

3. Solid build quality

DEAL CLINCHER:

As a way of getting from A to B very quickly and with minimal fuss, the RS 3 remains one of the best.

It seemed like Audi couldn’t eclipse the success of the old RS 3, but these changes show that it has more than accomplished that.

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 31

FORECOURT

SKODA FABIA Many buyers are being tempted away from hatchbacks and into crossovers, but the new Fabia aims to reverse that. Jack Evans checks out what it’s like.

Under the bonnet

THE KNOWLEDGE Skoda Fabia SE L Price (as tested): £23,695 Engine: 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol Power: 108bhp Torque: 200Nm Max speed: 127mph O-60mph: 9.8 seconds MPG (combined): 49.6-54.3 Emissions: 117-128g/km CO2

The 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine develops 108bhp and 200Nm of torque.

WHAT IS IT? Given the ever-increasing popularity of crossovers and compact SUVs, you might think that conventional hatchbacks are becoming somewhat redundant. However, these valuefocused models continue to provide the backbone of many manufacturer line-ups and are a common sight on the monthly lists of best-sellers, too. So you can understand why companies such as Skoda aren’t content with just creating crossovers and SUVs, but want to make hatchbacks that’ll fit the bill for buyers, too.

WHAT’S NEW? The Fabia has been a mainstay in the Skoda range for many years now and this new one – the car’s fourth generation – is larger than ever, courtesy of a longer wheelbase and more generous dimensions. In fact, there’s 50 litres more boot space than before, with an impressive 380 litres now on offer. Elsewhere, we’ve got a revised exterior with more premium touches and a cabin peppered with the very latest Volkswagen Group technology.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET? Our Fabia came with a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. There’s a 1.5-litre should you need extra punch, but it feels like this engine occupies a real sweet spot in the range, owing to its great mid-gear acceleration and decent fuel consumption. There’s also the option of a non-turbocharged 1.0-litre engine, but unless you’re after the very lowest insurance possible, we’d go for this turbocharged version, given its added versatility and refinement at higher speeds. We’ve got a six-speed manual gearbox here, although there’s the option of a seven-speed DSG automatic on certain models too.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? The Fabia is a great example of what a no-frills driving experience should be like. The engine is responsive and punchy, while the six-speed gearbox is accurate and light. The brakes are nice and sharp too, and good visibility plus a comfortable seating position mean that newbies to the Fabia will be able to get acquainted with the car quickly.

The ride is good as well and could be improved further by opting for smaller alloy wheels as opposed to the 17-inch versions fitted to our test car. We’d like there to be less road noise – which is quite noticeable on the motorway – but this, again, could be helped by fitting a smaller wheel. Overall, the Fabia manages to feel like a much larger car than it actually is.

32 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

HOW DOES IT LOOK? This new Fabia is a very pleasant evolution of its predecessor. It’s in keeping with the rest of Skoda’s latest line-up, with the large front grille close in design to that on the latest Octavia.

Again, the exterior has a really ‘grown-up’ feel, with the LED lights at the front and rear giving it a more cutting-edge appearance than before. The inclusion of more chrome adds to a premium feel as well, while good access to the rear and a light, easy-to-operate boot means that practical features have been remembered just as much as styling ones.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE? All cars come with a 6.5-inch central infotainment screen as standard, but our car had the upgraded 9.2-inch version. It’s clear and easy to use, and while it did stall slightly when connected to Apple CarPlay – requiring a quick reset – it was largely reliable. But you can’t fault the space on offer. There’s plenty of room for those sitting up front, while passengers in the back get a generous amount of leg and headroom. Our car even came with a panoramic glass roof – traditionally a headspace-reducing option – but even this couldn’t diminish the amount of space on offer.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE? Skoda has established a reputation for creating cars that offer a good amount of value for money and the Fabia is no different. Prices for the line-up start at £14,905, and even entry-level S models receive LED headlights, that 6.5-inch infotainment screen plus air conditioning. Our test car, meanwhile, came in SE L trim. These start from £18,980 and include a large infotainment screen with in-built navigation as well as upgraded interior upholstery. That said, options such as 17-inch wheels (£470), a park-and-go package with parking sensors at front and rear (£700) and that panoramic glass roof (£745) quickly ramped up ‘our’ Fabia’s price to £23,695 –where you’re very close to an entry-level Octavia, which offers considerably more space.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK? Auto Express said: ‘Skoda clearly hasn’t lost sight of what has made its Fabia supermini so successful after more than 20 years in production.’

WHAT DO WE THINK? The Fabia feels like a car that showcases why crossovers aren’t the be-all and end-all of modern motoring. It’s compact yet spacious, easy to drive yet efficient and good looking without being overladen with ‘look at me’ features. Much like the Fabias of old, it still has practicality on its side, with the increased boot size set to be a hit with those who might have found the older car a touch too constrictive. We’d just say go easy with the optional extras in order to keep the Fabia’s price in that ideal window. Do that and there’s very little reason why this little Skoda won’t prove appealing to all manner of drivers.

TARGET BUYERS:

Those who want a fuss-free way of getting around.

THE RIVALS:

Volkswagen Polo Mazda 2 Peugeot 208

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. Great level of equipment.

2. Refined drive.

3. Efficient engine.

Inside

Technology in the new Fabia has been improved with the inclusion of a 6.5-inch infotainment screen fitted as standard.

Style

The new design has a more ‘grown-up’ feel while the new LED lights at the front and rear give the car a cutting-edge look.

DEAL CLINCHER:

The Fabia packs a load of features into a small area – it’s pretty much all the car you could ever need.

The Fabia feels like a car that showcases why crossovers aren’t the be-all and end-all of modern motoring.

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 33

FORECOURT

BMW 4 SERIES GRAN COUPE

THE KNOWLEDGE

BMW 420d M Sport Gran Coupe Price (as tested): £48,940 Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel Power (combined): 187bhp Torque (combined): 400Nm Max speed: 146mph O-60mph: 7.1 seconds MPG (combined): 56.5mpg Emissions: 132g/km CO2

Under the bonnet The 2.0-litre diesel engine delivers 187bhp and 400Nm of torque.

We’ve already tried the top M440i version, but can a 420d prove a better real-world choice? Ted Welford finds out.

WHAT IS IT? You mean you don’t recognise it from that grille? If you’ve been paying any attention to BMWs in recent months, you’ll know its cars’ faces have been attracting quite some stick – first with the 4 Series Coupe and more recently with the bold iX. But we’re already adjusting to these bold grilles, and next up to get this treatment is the 4 Series Gran Coupe.

First conceived as a niche idea to bridge the gap between a regular coupe and BMW’s more sensible 3 Series, it’s now the best-selling 4 Series derivative, with its greater roominess.

WHAT’S NEW? Its interior is far more modern than its predecessor, thanks to a large touchscreen centred in the dash, along with fancy digital dials. It’s also roomier than its Gran Coupe predecessor, while it gains all of BMW’s latest technology – not least safety kit, with 40 automated systems available, including one that can do the reverse of your last manoeuvres to back you out of tight streets or spaces, for example.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET? At launch, the Gran Coupe is offered predominantly with petrol engines – the 420i, 430i and M440i – but here we’re trying what is currently the only diesel, the 420d. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox in the case of our car, although you can choose it with all-wheel drive if you’re worried about getting stuck in winter. There’s also a light electrification element, with a 48-volt starter-generator able to assist the engine with a light power boost, while also taking some of the strain from it too.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? The thick-rimmed steering wheel takes a bit of time to get used to, but once you’ve wrapped your hands around it, it handles especially well, along with minimal body roll. We’d also strongly advise choosing the £2,500 M Sport Pro Pack, predominantly for the adaptive suspension setup that lets you have sportier damping when needed, although for the most part, it’s best leaving it in Comfort mode, where the ride is impressively supple.

HOW DOES IT LOOK? The way the 4 Series looks is always going to be a sore subject because of that grille, but we reckon it doesn’t look too bad, especially on a car painted in a darker colour. All versions in the UK are M Sport cars too, meaning a sportier design on the exterior, along with a range of gloss black elements. The only thing we don’t like is the contrasting trim

34 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

TARGET BUYERS: Those looking for a sleeker alternative to a traditional saloon.

Behind the wheel

The Gran Coupe handles exceedingly well and has minimal body roll.

Looks The grille is a sore subject for some but we think it doesn’t look too bad – especially against the dark body colour. that runs along the bottom of the sills – it’d just look far better if it were painted.

But there’s a lot to like about the Gran Coupe’s profile, which lives up to its name with its raking roofline and subtle rear ducktail-like spoiler.

THE RIVALS:

Audi A5 Sportback BMW 3 Series Peugeot 508 Fastback

KEY SELLING POINTS: 1. Superb to drive.

2. High-quality interior.

3. Low running costs for a car of this type.

DEAL CLINCHER:

A stylish, well-built executive car that delivers in all the right areas.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE? The cabin takes a big step up compared with its predecessor, with the 4 Series getting a smart 10.25-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital dial system as standard, both of which offer crystal-clear graphics. It’s worth noting that BMW’s iDrive media system remains one of the best in the business, while there’s still a useful rotary controller for the touchscreen.

Where ergonomics and quality are concerned, it’s quite hard to fault. Those two extra doors make it far more useful than the standard 4 Series Coupe and the 470-litre boot is a great size, but rear space remains quite compromised because of that sloped roofline.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE? The M Sport kicks off the range, yet still coming with 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, three-zone climate control and a parking assistant as standard. For something a bit racier, there’s the M Sport Pro Edition, which brings upgraded brakes with red callipers, an enhanced sound system and extended gloss black styling. In terms of pricing, the 4 Series Gran Coupe range starts from £41,650 for a 420i – which works out around £1,200 more than the standard Coupe. The 420d is also that bit more expensive, with a £44,000 starting price, but is worth the extra expense as it’s generally far more pleasant than the 420i, which can feel a bit underpowered and will be more expensive to run.

WHAT DOES THE PRESS THINK? What Car? said: ‘The Gran Coupe’s extra space will be alluring to those who want a coupe but don’t want the accompanying sacrifices.’ Meanwhile, Top Gear said: ‘Nothing in the BMW range stretches a band across the three legs of drivability, style and practicality like the 4 Series Gran Coupe.’

This 420d is a superb option and would be nearperfect to live with on a daily basis.

WHAT DO WE THINK? Any car in the ‘four-door coupe’ category is easy to criticise, as all you’re doing is paying a little more for something slightly less practical than a conventional saloon. Of course, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is no different, and its price increase over a 3 Series is rather steep. That said, with its mix of style, quality and driving dynamics, it’s a hugely impressive choice, and while it might be more tempting to splash the cash on a model further up the 4 Series line-up, this 420d is a superb option and would be near-perfect to live with on a daily basis.

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 35

FEATURE

GORDON MURRAY AUTOMOTIVE

T.33

Construction

The T.33 is based on an entirely new carbon-fibre and aluminium architecture, with carbon-fibre bodywork that the company claims makes it 300kg lighter than the average supercar.

The Gordon Murray Automotive T.33 supercar is the second model from the designer’s new firm.

Here, Darren Cassey takes a look at the facts and figures.

Transmission

The transmission comes from Xtrac and is a bespoke sixspeed system available either as a traditional manual or with ‘automatic’ paddle shifters.

Suspension

G

A new suspension system has been developed with lightweight double wishbones front and rear with coil springs over aluminium alloy dampers.

ordon Murray Automotive has revealed the T.33 – a V12-engined supercar that costs £1.37 million – before taxes.

Designed to be ‘the world’s most accomplished all-round twoseater V12 supercar’, it follows on from the T.50 supercar – itself a technological wonder.

The T.33 will sit beneath the T.50 halo car – although with its incredible price tag, it could hardly be called the entry level for the line-up...

36 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

Inside

The T.33 gets a traditional two-seater set-up, but there are no touchscreens that could distract the driver. There are some concessions to modern technology, though, with a couple of small screens ahead of the driver, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included as standard.

£1.37m The cost – before taxes!!

Steering Keeping its pure driving ethos, the T.33 gets a bespoke rackand-pinion, hydraulically assisted steering system that targets class-leading levels of feel and feedback.

Engine

The T.33 gets a specially reconfigured version of the T.50’s 3.9-litre V12 engine, which was designed in collaboration with Cosworth. The redesign is focused on giving the car ‘more accessible’ performance, with its maximum output now 606bhp and 451Nm of torque (compared with 654bhp in the T.50 and 701bhp in the T.50s).

Bespoke

Buyers can work with Gordon Murray Automotive’s designers to provide a specification that is ‘only limited by the owner’s imagination’. They can also get a bespoke seat fitting, too.

Aerodynamics

They play a key role here as they do with the T.50, but unlike its bigger sibling the T.33 doesn’t have a downforce-increasing fan at the rear.

However, it does employ ground effects, which use the shape of the car’s underside to create downforce, allowing for a more sleek body design with fewer wings.

Brakes

Stopping power comes from Brembo carbon-ceramic brake discs, with Gordon Murray Automotive saying the braking system combines with the aerodynamics to provide ‘incredible deceleration’.

Wheels

There are 19-inch alloy wheels at the front and 20-inch at the rear, with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres.

100

Just 100 examples of the T.33 will be made, with deliveries expected to begin in 2024.

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 37

FEEDBACK TOP TWEETS

Used car prices remained a hot topic this month, but will they go up or down?

Your comments via email to editorial@blackballmedia.co.uk

Has 2022 been a rocket or damp squib out there?

Hi chaps, January is usually on fire but not this month. Anyone else the same?

Barclaywoodmotorco

Shocking here. Mind you, we’re really struggling for stock with these auction prices!

Ste Airey @steairey

Can’t see used car prices falling significantly at all now, certainly not in the next few years. Lack of new cars coming through means lack of used cars in the future, which will keep prices high.

We’re the opposite. January’s normally a slower start to the year. I always put it down to people overspending at Christmas. This year, the month started well and has just continued. No pattern as to what’s selling: petrol, diesel, small or big. I’ve even managed to sell some oldies. We’ve been really firm on our prices, too. But it’s swings and roundabouts, so I’m sure in a couple of weeks you’ll be flying and my sales guys will be sitting around telling me they could earn more stacking shelves or driving HGVs! BMX Bandits

PICTURE OF THE MONTH

MK @JonoMartinK

Very interesting – definitely in a good position if you own your own car prior to 2021 price hikes. Not a bad thing for our roads/environment that car production has been reduced.

One-man band and I’ve only got a handful advertised but inquiries are through the roof.

The bottom-dollar brigade are out in force.

Sales are hard to come because prices are fixed. The private man is getting left behind on price but doesn’t realise the next wave of cars we are buying today and advertising over the next few weeks after prep will be even higher.

BHM Good to see some of us doing well but January is no different than December – still very slow.

Zahoor

Simon Ingram @SimonPIngram

Values may remain strong.

New EVs are very much higher in price than ICE vehicles, likely shifting used prices up as demand for less expensive options increase.

Huggins

Rolls-Royce has reimagined its iconic Spirit of Ecstasy figurine for the bonnet of its new all-electric Spectre. The product of 830 combined hours of design modelling and wind tunnel testing, she has a lower stance, with the robes reshaped to be more aerodynamic. She’s shrunk too and is now just 82.73mm tall, versus her predecessor’s 100.01mm.

We’ve sold 31 from 47 in stock so far, 24 from Auto Trader. Can’t restock quickly enough and that’s the problem. Still crazy trade prices.

Service side is booked up for almost three months and we’ve not had that ever before.

People seem to think prices will keep going up so are buying now rather than waiting.

RH Trading

Great to hear some of you guys are having a good time with the job. Not exactly sparkling with us.

Trickling along right now, keeping the powder dry with our retail prices as wholesale money by and large is still strong. Recleaning and fresh photos ready for the surge in demand.

Trade Survivor Expected a quiet week or two than normal to start, however it’s been strong throughout. Over 50 sold from a stock of 60. Overall, a decent month.

Rory RSC Very good here – best January since I’ve been here (seven years) by 40 per cent. Been very strong throughout. I had the first four days off too and wish I hadn’t, lol.

SC Derby

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Forum: CarDealerMagazine.co.uk/forum

AUCTIONS

Pricing seems to be mental once again Is it just me or has pricing gone mental again?

How can so many people be buying grade 4s with no history at £400 less than retail?

Am I missing something?

Samuel Welwyn Agreed. Not really sure what the hell’s going on at the minute. I’m watching grade 5s go way over Cap then price-checking with AT and finding I could buy an equivalent retail-ready car from another dealer cheaper than I could from BCA. Who is actually making money from these auction cars at the minute?

Lakeside It’s madness the money cars are making! Who is buying them and where are they going with them … apart from bankruptcy?

Jack Reagan I often ask the same question. A while back, I tried to buy an Audi for £16,000 at Manheim. It made £17,000. The exact same car was online at the Audi main dealer for £18,900 before it went off to auction and that same car ended up in a car supermarket for £21,000. Madness.

Casper

I’ve been getting increasingly frustrated with the mad prices. When I get desperate for stock and bid more than I ought to and.. still get outbid?!

Looks like I’m going to be on for a loss this month due to the lack of stock – first time in 17 years! Yet some local dealers are full to the rafters with mid-range stock. I can only assume they’ve given ALL the money for the stock and are hoping for the best. I don’t think I’m brave enough for this business model.

Huggins

We’ve teamed up with Car Sales Memes to bring you a few of their funniest captions and slogans each month. Enjoy!

A lot is selling for way under Cap today. Has the table finally turned?

Lakeside Not what I’m looking at. Still four figures over Cap and starting above Cap with strong bids.

David Horgan Anything in demand and worth buying is still way over guide – all the usual stuff that is in high demand. The only things below the guide I can see is the stuff that doesn’t shift quickly and the trade doesn’t usually like. This is the new normal.

Blenheim Car Sales

Diesels – are they devils or divine to sell?

For a few years now I’ve only sold petrols but I’ve got the chance of a few diesels. All are in lovely condition at a decent price. But is Joe Public steering clear of these now? Are they hard work?

Phil K Nope, there’s still a strong market for any wellpriced, good-condition used cars.

SC Derby We have no worries with diesels at all,

particularly as many consumers are concerned about the cost of living.

Trade Survivor I’d give them a go. Diesels will sell just as quickly as most petrols. Most of the population is being hit with a rise in the cost of living so have little choice but to live for the here and now, and from an environmental point of view, the cars we sell pollute a damn sight less than some of the old bangers they part-exchange.

BMX Bandits

easier to get involved! Sign up to our forum at CarDealerMagazine.co.uk/forum

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DASHBOARD

BUSINESS NEWS

A ROUND-UP OF WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS THE UK WATCHDOG

GDP

Morrisons takeover probe is deepened

THE competition watchdog has deepened its probe into the £7bn takeover of Morrisons by a US private equity giant last October.

The Competition and Markets Authority has launched a so-called phase one inquiry, saying it was considering whether the deal ‘has resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition.’

UK economy delivers record growth in 2021 THE UK economy soared by record levels in 2021 as gross domestic product rebounded by 7.5 per cent, according to official figures.

The growth, which exceeded projections by the Bank of England, was the fastest since Office for National Statistics records began in 1948, but nevertheless came after a record 9.4 per cent slump in the economy in 2020.

The latest data from the ONS also showed that the economy grew by one per cent in the final three months of the year.

However, Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said: ‘The UK economy’s performance continues to underwhelm relative to its peers in the G7.’

MUTUALS

LV= and Royal London merger talks end

MOBILES

Vodafone to start retiring 3G network in 2023 VODAFONE will start turning off its 3G network in 2023 as part of plans to improve 4G and 5G services for customers, the mobile operator has announced.

The telecoms firm said the programme will see 3G coverage gradually phased out and replaced by strengthened 4G and 5G services, which offer faster, more reliable connectivity.

The 3G shutdown comes 17 years after Vodafone launched its coverage in the UK.

40 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

TALKS between mutual insurers Royal London and LV= over a potential merger have ended with both sides walking away.

Following discussions, Royal London appeared to suggest that it had been misled by LV= over the company’s need to merge or risk going bust, while LV= said the different business models made a merger impossible.

2013 WINNER

WINNER

WINNER

WINNER

WINNER

SERVICE

Thousands of apprenticeship places are pledged

FIRMS marked National Apprenticeship Week by offering thousands of placements in jobs ranging from engineers to technicians.

The Co-op said almost £8m had been pledged by more than 30 businesses for its Levy Share service, which will create around 1,000 apprenticeships, with an emphasis on under-represented groups. The service allows firms in England to pledge unspent apprenticeship levy money that would otherwise have expired.

RETURN

Shell to buy back £6.3bn of shares

Thank you for your vote!

Finance Provider of the Year (Sub-Prime)

SHELL plans to return £6.3bn to investors by buying back their shares.

It’s been a bumper three months for the energy giant, which saw its pre-tax profit increase nearly fourteen-fold to £12bn in the fourth quarter of last year.

That was amid soaring oil and gas prices that have led to energy suppliers going out of business. Now, following the £4.1bn sale of a US oil field as well, chief executive Ben van Beurden has announced a share buyback programme.

PARTNER WITH AN AWARD-WINNING COMPANY 0115 946 6260

enquiries@frfl.co.uk

frfl.co.uk/car CarDealerMag.co.uk | 41

DASHBOARD

INDUSTRY VIEWS NEWS AND THOUGHTS FROM SOME OF OUR CAR DEALER LIVE GUESTS CAP HPI

We’ve come into January off the back of a few difficult months compared to the rest of the year, and the first few days were disappointing for dealers – the activity wasn’t necessarily there.

Derren Martin Cap HPI

It’s felt as if we’ve been catching our breath

D

irector of valuations Derren Martin said: ‘We’ll quickly forget about what happened last year because this year is going to be just as interesting.

‘The price rises that happened last year have been well documented – up by nearly 30 per cent on average and some cars were up by 50 to 60 per cent.

‘We’ve come into January off the back of a few difficult months compared to the rest of the year, and the first few days were disappointing for dealers – the activity wasn’t necessarily there.

‘There was a little concern that this would be a continued trend, but we’ve definitely seen it improve as the month has gone on.’

Overall, said Martin, January was a ‘reasonable’ month for dealers.

‘It hasn’t been on fire, but thankfully Omicron wasn’t as bad as people had expected, and dealers have been able to

replenish stocks to a degree.’ He continued: ‘We put up some values and put some down.

‘Cars like the Audi Q5, BMW X1, Vauxhall Grandland X and Nissan Qashqai have been under pressure and have come down, while the Vauxhall Mokka, Volkswagen T-Cross and Touareg have gone up – it is very mixed.’

Martin also revealed that older cars were performing better than their newer counterparts.

Ten-year-old cars were up by nearly three per cent, or £100, while cars at the lower end of the price scale – £6,000 to £12,000 – were also in higher demand than cars costing more than £20,000.

‘January is probably more interesting than when everything was going up last year, because it feels like we’re catching our breath and seeing where the market is going to go this year.’

ZEUS CAPITAL

T S A C D PO Driven by

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO MORE CAR DEALER PODCASTS 42 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

Used car prices are going to come under pressure

H

ead of research Mike Allen discussed what we’re seeing in 2022 already and what the year ahead could hold.

He said: ‘2021 was a great year for all dealers I speak to. Whether they’re a plc or private groups, they’ve all had a great time.

‘Will 2022 be a little bit harder? The consumers have more pressure on them with energy costs, and used car prices will come under a bit of pressure.

‘However, all of these guys bounced out of Covid, and by making these profits a lot of them converted it into cash, so they’ve got great balance sheets and they’re generating a lot of cash at the moment.’

Talking about the news that Constellation had

bought a 20 per cent stake in Lookers, Allen commented that this ‘shrewd’ deal had got it the shares at a good price from shareholder Tony Bramall.

‘I think it’s a very shrewd investment. The price paid for the stake looks very cheap at nine times P/E (price-earnings) by our calculations,’ he said.

‘It’s quite clever in terms of making that kind of stake.’

He added: ‘Those shareholders wanted the business to go into good hands, and Constellation knows the market very, very well.

‘I think these guys wouldn’t just sell out to anybody.’

The latest from our fleet.

Long-termers: p55

Watch our Car Dealer Live broadcasts as they go out or catch up on any that you’ve missed at: cardealermagazine.co.uk/live AUTO TRADER

Manufacturer sites aren’t great on retail – yet

S

peaking on the Car Dealer Podcast, chief operations officer Catherine Faiers said dealers should consider how fast manufacturers can implement changes that would see them selling used cars.

‘I think it’s a sign of the way some manufacturers are moving.

‘Obviously, a lot has been said about the move to agency. There are about 10 different versions of agency from what we can see and understand from different manufacturers.

‘The reality is that if manufacturers are looking to sell cars more directly to consumers and look to build – and we shouldn’t underestimate quite how hard this will be – the capability to price the cars, they need to support consumers to buy them and all sorts of roles that typically manufacturers in the UK don’t have the ability to do. If you’re building those capabilities, then why wouldn’t you start putting your used cars in if you’ve invested in putting that in place?’

While she warned it was something we’ll likely see from more car brands, she added that it wasn’t currently their strong suit and would take big operational changes.

‘If I was a retailer, I would take some reassurance from the fact that when you look at consumer visits to manufacturer websites, they’re tiny. Consumers don’t think of going direct to manufacturers to buy cars today. We get 30 times more visits to Auto Trader than all of the manufacturers operating in the UK combined.’

She added: ‘They typically build good brochure websites where you can experience the car...but they tend not to be great retail experiences.’

AUTOGUARD GROUP

Agency model is way better for the consumer

A

li May-Khalil, group commercial director, spoke on the podcast when more news had come out about manufacturers switching dealers to agency sales.

He commented: ‘I think it’s probably a good thing. I know a lot of people get bent out of shape about it but I think it probably is.

‘I think for the consumer it’s way better. There’s nothing worse than lying on a sun lounger next to someone on holiday and them telling you they paid £500 less than you. It’s the same with cars.

‘I think when they standardise the pricing then dealers can focus on the experience and the consumer experience is enhanced, the pressure is off the dealer to retain margin, and leads coming into the business are managed better.

He joined our podcast the week Lotus announced it had completed an agency sales restructure with all 13 of its UK dealerships.

‘You’re only ever going to sell a vehicle like that with an agency model, let’s be honest, because then you take away the need of the retailer to stress about the deal or the price,’ he explained.

‘When you think about a car like a Lotus it’s not like you’re thinking about it – you buy a Lotus or you don’t buy a Lotus. With an agency model on that sort of vehicle, it allows the retailer to focus primarily on the experience. Not margin, not selling it, just saying this is the Emira, giving the customer a fabulous experience.’

I think when they standardise the pricing then dealers can focus on the experience and the consumer experience is enhanced.

Ali May-Khalil Autoguard Group CarDealerMag.co.uk | 43

DASHBOARD

FINANCE NEWS SHAKE-UP

MotoNovo creates new senior leadership team AA FINANCIAL SERVICES

Increasing number want shorter and easier deals

N

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

early one in three people are looking to change their car in the year ahead – but 2022 may also be the year of seismic changes in the way they choose to pay for their vehicle, according to new research from AA Financial Services.

Its poll of 2,037 drivers revealed that 32 per cent of them were looking to swap cars this year. However, less than half (41 per cent) entertained the traditional idea of buying a car by paying the full asking price – a notion that held least appeal with the under-35s at 31 per cent, compared with 51 per cent of over-55s.

A growing number are also looking for shorter-term finance products that offer greater simplicity, convenience and flexibility.

Car demand for the year ahead is being driven by younger people aged under 35, with 43 per cent of them wanting to change car in 2022 versus 23 per cent of over-55s. These are also the people shunning the notion of outright car ownership, moving instead to more flexible, short-term approaches to car finance, such as car leasing and PCPs. The UK’s transition to electric cars is also an influencing factor, with nearly one in five people (19 per cent) wanting short-term car finance, opting for a petrol or diesel car now, before deciding when would be the right time to make the big switch to an electric car.

AA Financial Services chief executive James Fairclough said: ‘What we expect to see in 2022 is the second-hand market benefiting from resurgent car demand.

‘We also believe the way people pay for their cars will change and diversify. As people think more about convenience and short-term flexibility, propositions such as PCP and leasing will become more popular.’

44 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

MOTONOVO Finance has created a new five-strong senior leadership team to spearhead plans for further growth this year.

Led by the motor finance business’s managing director, Karl Werner, it sees Debbie McKay promoted to the new role of commercial director of motor sales and Chris Rowthorn similarly elevated to director of motor sales operations, which is also a new position.

Meanwhile, Donna Slater has been made head of strategy, research and proposition development, Mark Coles is head of marketing, and Vicci Loosmore is head of product and marketing governance at MotoNovo, which is part of the Aldermore Group.

In addition, chief strategy and marketing officer Jon Slater is to transfer from the senior leadership team to a new Aldermore role, developing the group’s broader strategy.

Werner said: ‘Our new team combines diversity, deep insight and experience of the motor finance sector, a rich appreciation of MotoNovo’s heritage and fresh expertise in marketing and strategy.’

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

TIME IS MONEY RICHARD PYGOTT

A MONTHLY LOOK AT THE WORLD OF AUTOMOTIVE FINANCE AND MARKETING

If you fail to adapt, then you’ll fail to move forward

I

Richard Pygott is digital marketer and LinkedIn outreach specialist for First Response.

Call him on 0115 946 6365 or email richard. pygott@frfl.co.uk

see adapting to change as one of the motor trade’s biggest strengths. It is an industry that adapts to fluctuating markets, seasonal trends and even global health pandemics! I have spoken with many dealers over the past two years who have indicated that many of the changes brought about by the pandemic have been hugely positive for their business.

My wife has used the same company to service her car for nearly five years. Upon meeting the owner, Tim, I was a little unsure of how to take his sense of humour and quirky attitude. But the countless touring car trophies, old photos and posters of him sitting next to cars from the ’80s and ’90s that adorned the walls and shelves in the workshop spoke of a backstory that begged to be asked about, and his quirkiness, excellent service and interesting personality made him stand out from companies we’d used before – we’ve never been anywhere else since.

Visiting him during lockdown for a service, it was clear he’d changed how he managed customers, following all the guidance and social distancing rules. But something was different – the trophies were absent and a large white van was parked on the inspection ramp. At the time, we thought nothing of it.

In December, my wife’s car needed new tyres, so I did what I always do: I called Tim to see when he could fit us in. What surprised me was his first question: ‘Where do you live?’ When I told him, he said not to worry as he didn’t charge for distance travelled – which confused me at first.

But Tim had seen the changes that were coming with the pandemic and had sold his workshop, pocketed the proceeds, paid off the mortgage and kitted out that white van we noticed on our last visit with everything that he needed to go mobile.

He decided to do this because he knew that many of his customers now worked from home. Expectations and demands had changed dramatically, so he simply changed and adapted with them – and he now no longer had the overheads of before.

A few days later, Tim knocked on my front door. I handed him the keys, asked him if he wanted a cup of tea, then left him to it while he provided the same outstanding level of work on my driveway as I continued working from home in my spare room.

While it’s not possible to go ’mobile’ in terms of car sales, it’s interesting to see what aspects we can adopt and implement. Customers now want their car the same day, and they are now aware of companies that offer delivery of their cars to their front door.

Adapting to a rapidly changing world and customer expectations is possible, and the car trade should be ready to adapt to these expectations and meet them head on, because if we fail to adapt, we fail to move forward.

Something was different – the trophies were absent and a large white van was parked on the inspection ramp. At the time, we thought nothing of it.

PARTNER WITH AN AWARD-WINNING COMPANY 0115 946 6260

enquiries@frfl.co.uk

frfl.co.uk/car CarDealerMag.co.uk | 45

WE’VE WON! Within a month we’ve won not one, but two awardsan achievement that we are all very proud of.

Our customers voted First Response Finance as the ‘Best Car Finance Provider’ in the Consumer Credit Awards 2021.

The second recognition came from our dealer partners who voted us ‘Finance Provider of the Year (Sub-Prime)’ in the Car Dealer Power Awards for the second consecutive year.

Cars, motorbikes, vans- it doesn't matter what type of vehicle we are financing, our award- winning service remains the same.

First Response Finance Ltd, 5 Regan Way Chetwynd Business Park, Chilwell, Nottingham, NG9 6RZ. Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.Registered in England No.

46 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

DASHBOARD

SUPPLIER NEWS

A ROUND-UP OF WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY MANHEIM

Defleet contract with VW Group UK agreed

MANHEIM Vehicle Services is to provide exclusive defleeting for Volkswagen Group UK until December 2026.

The agreement will cover some 46,000 units a year. Jon Higgins, group vehicle operations manager at Volkswagen Group UK, pictured with Sam Panayides, sales director at Manheim parent company Cox Automotive Europe, said: ‘I’m delighted to begin our partnership with Manheim Vehicle Services.’

AUTOGLYM

Dealership worker Gemma is LifeShine Hero MAZDA dealership employee Gemma Taphouse has been named Autoglym’s LifeShine Hero for 2022 after going above and beyond to help customers during the pandemic.

The parts manager at the Norton Way dealership in Letchworth Garden City prioritised and helped key workers to stay on the road – even going so far as driving a battery out to a stranded customer who urgently needed their transport. She was presented with a certificate and £150 Virgin Experience Days voucher by Autoglym business development manager Ellen Duffin.

FUNDING

TradeBid gets into bed with NextGear Capital

WHOLESALE funding specialist NextGear Capital has partnered with digital trade marketplace TradeBid. This means customers can now use their NextGear Capital stocking plans while on the auction platform.

TradeBid is Ireland’s first digital trade marketplace and only launched on December 14. Liam Quegan, managing director of NextGear Capital, said: ‘We’re very excited to be partnering with TradeBid from the beginning of its launch.’

1LINK SERVICE NETWORK

While it’s not possible to go ‘mobile’ in terms of car sales, it’s interesting to see what aspects we can adopt and implement.

Richard Pygott p45

AUTO TRADER

Ramp joins platform as All dealers can now used car trends change use Connect service

E-COMMERCE specialist Epyx has signed warranty provider Ramp up to its 1link Service Network platform to help it meet growing demand as trends change in buying used cars.

Ramp said there had been a rise in claims repairs across the UK, and with more used cars being bought by people who lived further away from the supplying dealership or from online firms without premises, suppliers were needed that were closer to home.

AUTO Trader Connect has been made available to all dealers as part of their standard advertising packages after early access to it proved to be a huge success for the online marketplace.

The new stock management service has been designed to enable retailers to update multiple back-end and consumer-facing systems with advanced vehicle data in real time.

More than 2,500 retailers signed up for early access in December.

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 47

BOOK YOUR TICKETS TO THE BIG AWARDS 2022!

theBIGawards.org.uk

48 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

BRITISH INDEPENDENT GARAGE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

2022

FEATURE.

Beats Fit Pro

£199

COOL STUFF

CHOOSING a good pair of wireless headphones can be tricky these days, what with the variety of options out there. Beats has established itself as one of the biggest names in the business and its new Fit Pro set are designed to rival the likes of Apple Airpod Pro. With active noise-cancelling they’re great for travel, while a snug fit means you can use them for exercise as well. They’ve got up to six hours of battery life and are fully compatible with Apple or Android devices, too.

We’re into February now, the days are getting a little longer, and because of that we’ve all got a bit more time to get out there and enjoy the world. So this month, we’re bringing you a good selection of items to check out that’ll help make this lighter time of year even better.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

From £1,149

THE smartphone race shows no sign of slowing down, with every new model bringing huge advances in functionality and features.

Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra has just been released and is the tiptop version of the new S22 line-up.

One of the biggest additions is an integrated stylus – or ‘S Pen’ – while a new, larger battery and fast charging mean that you shouldn’t need to worry about being on one per cent too often.

Suunto 5 Peak GPS watch

£250

THE smartwatch market is alive and kicking, with models coming from all manner of types of technology companies.

The 5 Peak GPS watch from Suunto is one of the latest and, at £250, is one of the best value-for-money options, too.

It packs up to 100 hours of battery life per charge and includes more than 80 sport modes, so that you’re able to track your achievements no matter what activity you’re doing.

In addition, it boasts in-built navigation with 3D turn-by-turn instructions.

Silverline Jump Starter Pack

£64.79 ex VAT

ALTHOUGH things are starting to get a little brighter, we’re still having to endure reasonably chilly mornings and evenings.

It’s this colder weather that can play havoc with a car’s battery and give it a tough time with starting your car.

A jump starter pack can be a handy solution to a car that won’t start. It’s particularly good if you haven’t got another vehicle to jump yours off, too.

Charged at home, this Silverline jump pack delivers quite a punch for such a small thing and can be used to charge USB devices, too.

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 49

DATA FILE

STATISTICS

THE LATEST REGISTRATION FIGURES

SMMT

SALES DATA

JANUARY/YEAR TO DATE

TOP

GROWTH

Electrified vehicles send figures up by 27.5 per cent

CARS SOLD IN JANUARY 2022

by James Batchelor james.batchelor@blackballmedia.co.uk

N

ew car registrations in January rose by more than a quarter on the same month last year, latest figures show. Data from the SMMT showed that 115,087 cars were registered during the month – a rise of 27.5 per cent on the same month in 2021.

But the SMMT countered the positive news by stating that January’s 2022’s figure was set against 2021’s numbers that were affected by showroom closures because of lockdown.

Overall, January 2022 was down by just under 23 per cent on pre-pandemic January 2020.

Sales continue to be restricted by low consumer confidence and the global shortage of computer chips, which is limiting supply, said the organisation. January’s rise was driven by private buyers thanks to carmakers prioritising these customers during the new car shortage. The private market registered 62,300 new cars – up 64.1 per cent year on year, and just 5.6 per cent off pre-pandemic levels. Large fleet registrations, meanwhile, remained broadly flat with last year at 50,817 units, which was down 0.4 per cent.

Electrified vehicles continue to bolster the growth, with battery-electric (BEV), plugin hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid (HEV) cars accounting for 71.5 per cent of the uplift in registrations. Plug-in vehicles enjoyed another bumper month, with 14,433 BEVs and 9,047 PHEVs registered, equal to some 20.4 per cent of the market. With 13,492 HEVs also registered, almost one in three new cars joining British roads in January was electrified.

The SMMT has also revised its total 2022 new car registrations prediction downwards.

In October 2021, the organisation said 2022 would see 1.96m cars registered. However, this has now been altered to 1.897m – a 15.2 per cent rise on 2021 but down 17.9 per cent on the pre-pandemic 2019.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: ‘Given the lockdown-impacted January 2021, this month’s figures were always going to be an improvement, but it is still reassuring to see a strengthening market.

‘Once again, it is electrified vehicles that are driving the growth, despite the ongoing headwinds of chip shortages, rising inflation and the cost-of-living squeeze.’

Model

Regs

Kia Sportage

3,458

Ford Puma

2,608

Kia Niro

2,372

Mini

2,313

Vauxhall Corsa

2,285

Hyundai Tucson

2,236

Vauxhall Mokka

2,194

Ford Focus

1,822

Volkswagen T-Roc

1,813

Toyota Corolla

1,767

Kia is crowned sales king for first time as Sportage heads top 10 list KIA topped the sales charts for the first time in January, thanks to the Sportage.

The compact SUV shifted 3,458 units – and was joined in the top 10 by its hybrid stablemate the Niro, which took third place with 2,372 vehicles sold. Meanwhile, Ford’s compact crossover the Puma secured the

silver slot after finding 2,608 homes. Just pipped to the bronze position was the Mini at 2,313 units, while fifth was the Vauxhall Corsa on 2,285.

Registrations of BEVs and PHEVs are expected to grow by 61 per cent and 42 per cent respectively this year, meaning that by

the end of 2021, almost one in four new cars will come with a plug.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: ‘With around 50 new electrified models due for release this year, customers will have an ever greater choice, which can only be good for our shared environmental ambitions.’

Click here to see our top 10 rolling sales charts for January 2021 to January 2022 50 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

Market tumbles.

LCV news: p52

-28%

+500%

JAGUAR

ALPINE

Figures supplied by SMMT

January 2022 Marque

2022

% market share

January 2021 2021

Year to date

% market share

% change

2022

% market share

2021

% market share

% change -19.67

Abarth

49

0.04

61

0.07

-19.67

49

0.04

61

0.07

Alfa Romeo

98

0.09

84

0.09

16.67

98

0.09

84

0.09

16.67

Alpine

30

0.03

5

0.01

500.00

30

0.03

5

0.01

500.00

8,567

7.44

6,583

7.29

30.14

8,567

7.44

6,583

7.29

30.14

134

0.12

89

0.10

50.56

134

0.12

89

0.10

50.56

BMW

8,380

7.28

7,002

7.76

19.68

8,380

7.28

7,002

7.76

19.68

Citroen

1,650

1.43

1,479

1.64

11.56

1,650

1.43

1,479

1.64

11.56

Cupra

654

0.57

213

0.24

207.04

654

0.57

213

0.24

207.04

Dacia

1,853

1.61

834

0.92

122.18

1,853

1.61

834

0.92

122.18

DS

314

0.27

109

0.12

188.07

314

0.27

109

0.12

188.07

Fiat

1,328

1.15

412

0.46

222.33

1,328

1.15

412

0.46

222.33

Ford

7,456

6.48

8,706

9.65

-14.36

7,456

6.48

8,706

9.65

-14.36

Audi Bentley

Genesis

15

0.01

0

0.00

0.00

15

0.01

0

0.00

0.00

Honda

2,545

2.21

970

1.07

162.37

2,545

2.21

970

1.07

162.37

Hyundai

5,624

4.89

3,099

3.43

81.48

5,624

4.89

3,099

3.43

81.48

Jaguar

659

0.57

914

1.01

-27.90

659

0.57

914

1.01

-27.90

Jeep

196

0.17

165

0.18

18.79

196

0.17

165

0.18

18.79

10,504

9.13

6,271

6.95

67.50

10,504

9.13

6,271

6.95

67.50

2,827

2.46

3,628

4.02

-22.08

2,827

2.46

3,628

4.02

-22.08

858

0.75

626

0.69

37.06

858

0.75

626

0.69

37.06

67

0.06

50

0.06

34.00

67

0.06

50

0.06

34.00 174.60

Kia Land Rover Lexus Maserati

Mazda

2,054

1.78

748

0.83

174.60

2,054

1.78

748

0.83

Mercedes-Benz

6,355

5.52

6,600

7.31

-3.71

6,355

5.52

6,600

7.31

-3.71

MG

3,560

3.09

1,374

1.52

159.10

3,560

3.09

1,374

1.52

159.10

Mini

3,450

3.00

1,670

1.85

106.59

3,450

3.00

1,670

1.85

106.59

0

0.00

362

0.40

0.00

0

0.00

362

0.40

0.00

Nissan

4,379

3.80

4,633

5.13

-5.48

4,379

3.80

4,633

5.13

-5.48

Peugeot

4,038

3.51

2,931

3.25

37.77

4,038

3.51

2,931

3.25

37.77

Polestar

318

0.28

326

0.36

-2.45

318

0.28

326

0.36

-2.45

Porsche

1,313

1.14

919

1.02

42.87

1,313

1.14

919

1.02

42.87

Renault

2,381

2.07

1,581

1.75

50.60

2,381

2.07

1,581

1.75

50.60

Seat

2,167

1.88

2,454

2.72

-11.70

2,167

1.88

2,454

2.72

-11.70

Skoda

3,213

2.79

3,088

3.42

4.05

3,213

2.79

3,088

3.42

4.05

Mitsubishi

Smart SsangYong Subaru

95

0.08

84

0.09

13.10

95

0.08

84

0.09

13.10

120

0.10

47

0.05

155.32

120

0.10

47

0.05

155.32

89

0.08

30

0.03

196.67

89

0.08

30

0.03

196.67

Suzuki

969

0.84

460

0.51

110.65

969

0.84

460

0.51

110.65

Toyota

8,030

6.98

4,514

5.00

77.89

8,030

6.98

4,514

5.00

77.89

Vauxhall

6,562

5.70

5,599

6.20

17.20

6,562

5.70

5,599

6.20

17.20 12.49

Volkswagen

8,514

7.40

7,569

8.39

12.49

8,514

7.40

7,569

8.39

Volvo

3,324

2.89

3,180

3.52

4.53

3,324

2.89

3,180

3.52

4.53

200

0.17

157

0.17

27.39

200

0.17

157

0.17

27.39

148

0.13

623

0.69

-76.24

148

0.13

623

0.69

-76.24

27.52

115,087

Other British Other imports Total

115,087

90,249

90,249

27.52

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 51

DATA FILE

FALL

LCV NEWS

Market tumbles but uptake of electric grows

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk THE LCV market fell by more than a quarter to 17,566 registrations in the first month of 2022 versus a bumper January 2021, latest SMMT figures show.

But the trade body said that while the 26.9 per cent drop was the weakest start to a year since 2013, January has historically been a volatile month because of the intermittent nature of fleet renewal. The decline followed the best January for 31 years in 2021, when new models and compelling deals saw registrations reach 24,029 units.

Demand for battery-powered vans grew by 21.4 per cent with 647 units registered – 3.7 per cent of the overall market. The SMMT believes that the LCV sector will grow overall by two per cent this year to 362,620 units.

REGISTRATIONS OF NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES LESS THAN 3.5 TONNES Marque

Ford Vauxhall Volkswagen Mercedes Citroen Peugeot Toyota Maxus Fiat Renault Land Rover Iveco Isuzu Isuzu Trucks Renault Trucks SsangYong Nissan MAN LEVC Fuso Suzuki LDV Mitsubishi Total light CV

Figures supplied by SMMT

January 2022

2022

6,241 2,211 1,810 1,715 1,421 1,280 781 385 308 295 255 213 147 116 116 85 70 61 27 24 5 0 0 17,566

% market share

January 2021

2021

35.53 12.59 10.30 9.76 8.09 7.29 4.45 2.19 1.75 1.68 1.45 1.21 0.84 0.66 0.66 0.48

7,348 2,814 2,124 2,296 1,872 2,385 1,025 17 508 1,552 83 173 118 93 174 17

0.40 0.35 0.15 0.14 0.03 0.00 0.00 100.00

750 246 3 19 0 16 396 24,029

Year to date

% market share

% change

2022

30.58 11.71 8.84 9.56 7.79 9.93 4.27 0.07 2.11 6.46 0.35 0.72 0.49 0.39 0.72 0.07

-15.07 -21.43 -14.78 -25.30 -24.09 -46.33 -23.80 2,164.71 -39.37 -80.99 207.23 23.12 24.58 24.73 -33.33 400.00

6,241 2,211 1,810 1,715 1,421 1,280 781 385 308 295 255 213 147 116 116 85

3.12 1.02 0.01 0.08 0.00 0.07 1.65 100.00

-90.67 -75.20 800.00 26.32 0.00 0.00 0.00 -26.90

70 61 27 24 5 0 0 17,566

% market share

2021

35.53 12.59 10.30 9.76 8.09 7.29 4.45 2.19 1.75 1.68 1.45 1.21 0.84 0.66 0.66 0.48

7,348 2,814 2,124 2,296 1,872 2,385 1,025 17 508 1,552 83 173 118 93 174 17

0.40 0.35 0.15 0.14 0.03 0.00 0.00 100.00

750 246 3 19 0 16 396 24,029

REGISTRATIONS OF NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES 3.5 TONNES TO 6.0 TONNES Marque

January 2022

2022

Mercedes Peugeot Fiat Iveco Ford Citroen Other imports Renault Trucks Volkswagen

% market share

95 82 37 24 21 9 7 7 7

32.20 27.80 12.54 8.14 7.12 3.05 2.37 2.37 2.37

January 2021

2021

% change

2022

84 55 73 25 37 6 1 4 23

26.50 17.35 23.03 7.89 11.67 1.89 0.32 1.26 7.26

13.10 49.09 -49.32 -4.00 -43.24 50.00 600.00 75.00 -69.57

95 82 37 24 21 9 7 7 7

% change

30.58 11.71 8.84 9.56 7.79 9.93 4.27 0.07 2.11 6.46 0.35 0.72 0.49 0.39 0.72 0.07

-15.07 -21.43 -14.78 -25.30 -24.09 -46.33 -23.80 2,164.71 -39.37 -80.99 207.23 23.12 24.58 24.73 -33.33 400.00

3.12 1.02 0.01 0.08 0.00 0.07 1.65 100.00

-90.67 -75.20 800.00 26.32 0.00 0.00 0.00 -26.90

Figures supplied by SMMT

Year to date

% market share

% market share

% market share

32.20 27.80 12.54 8.14 7.12 3.05 2.37 2.37 2.37

2021

% market share

% change

84 55 73 25 37 6 1 4 23

26.50 17.35 23.03 7.89 11.67 1.89 0.32 1.26 7.26

13.10 49.09 -49.32 -4.00 -43.24 50.00 600.00 75.00 -69.57

Isuzu Trucks

4

1.36

1

0.32

300.00

4

1.36

1

0.32

300.00

MAN

1

0.34

6

1.89

-83.33

1

0.34

6

1.89

-83.33

Renault

1

0.34

1

0.32

0.00

1

0.34

1

0.32

0.00

Vauxhall

0

0.00

1

0.32

0.00

0

0.00

1

0.32

0.00

295

100.00

317

100.00

-6.94

295

100.00

317

100.00

-6.94

Total heavy CV

52 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

REACHING OUT FOR YOUR PART EXCHANGES Please support Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice Care by donating a part exchange vehicle to our charity auction on 14th March. SVA will donate an additional £250 for every charity car sold.

Contact: Catherine@shorehamvehicleauctions.com

Supported by the south coast’s CV dealers

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 53

DATA FILE

SUPPLIERS GUIDE

LOOKING FOR A MOTOR TRADE SUPPLIER? YOU CAN FIND THE DETAILS OF SELECTED COMPANIES HERE Auctions & Trade-To-Trade Sales

Finance

Lead Management

Trade Bodies

Warranty Providers

BCA

First Response

iVendi

Ben

Momentum Warranties

Automotive Ecommerce

Finance

Legal & Compliance

Vehicle Photography

Warranty Providers

GForces

Forza Finance

Lawgistics

Dealer 360

Warranty Administration Services

W: bca.co.uk T: 0344 875 3480 E: customerservices@bca.com Info: BCA’s remarketing programmes deliver volume, choice and availability for buyers, and speed, efficiency and market-leading returns for sellers.

W: gforces.co.uk T: 01622 391904 Info: GForces delivers class-leading ecommerce solutions. We work with global vehicle manufacturers, the world’s largest dealer groups and independent retailers around the planet.

W: firstresponsefinance.co.uk T: 0115 946 6317 E: marketing@frfl.co.uk Info: First Response is an awardwinning UK finance company providing simple financial solutions.

Get in touch and let us help increase your profits.

W: forzafinance.co.uk T: 01245 245678 Info: Benefit from Forza Finance’s expertise, choice of products and lenders. Their personal approach will help you achieve higher levels of finance penetration and, ultimately, sell more cars.

W: ivendi.com T: 0330 229 0028 E: tellmemore@ivendi.com Info: iVendi delivers a fully connected platform that engages consumers, converts buyers and manages transactions of vehicles online and in the showroom.

W: lawgistics.co.uk T: 01480 455500 E: sales@lawgistics.co.uk Info: The legal experts for the motor trade, giving advice and support to our industry for over 15 years. Not anti-consumer, just pro-trader.

W: ben.org.uk T: 0808 131 1333 Info: Ben is a not-for-profit organisation that partners with the automotive industry to provide support for life to its people and their families.

W: dealer360.co.uk T: 01270 780855 E: nicky.spratt@ukturntables.com Info: UK makers of photo booths incorporating our turntables for car, van and motorcycle dealers. Our software controls turntable and cameras – a onestop solution.

W: momentumwarranties.co.uk T: 0330 445 0059 E: support@momentumwarranties.co.uk Info: How long does your warranty company make you wait? We pay claims into your bank within 45 minutes. The most advanced warranty programme in the UK.

W: warrantyadmin.co.uk T: 01522 515600 E: tellmemore@warrantyadmin.co.uk Info: Unlock new profit and aftersales flexibility with Crystal Clear Warranty.

Ideal for franchised dealers, groups and independents.

Data

HR & People Management

Marketing, PR & Video

Vehicle Tracking

Warranty Providers

Real World Analytics

HR Manager

OnCue Communications

Meta Trak

Warrantywise

DMS

Insurance

Marketing, PR & Video

Warranty Providers

Warranty Providers

DealerDesk

Tradesure

Marketing Delivery

Autoprotect

WMS

W: realworldanalytics.com T: 0808 1890 617 E: auto@realworldanalytics.com Info: We are a SaaS-based data analytics solution provider for multisite dealers. Our business intelligence tools help customers make faster and better decisions.

W: dealerdesk.co.uk E: contact@dealerdesk.co.uk Info: Modernise your stock management, advertising, communication, sales and website.

DealerDesk provides you with easyto-use tools designed to simplify your dealership management.

W: hrmanager.co.uk T: 01480 455500 E: info@hrmanager.co.uk Info: HR Manager is Lawgistics’ new digital compliance portal designed to assist employers in managing their legal obligations, responsibilities and duties.

W: tradesureinsurance.co.uk T: 0121 248 9313 Info: Providing motor trade insurance to full- and part-time motor traders in the UK, the Tradesure team are reliable professionals who know how to help you.

W: oncuecomms.com T: 020 8125 3880 Info: We are a leading provider of PR, video and events services to the automotive industry. The PR team has a proven track record of securing high-value, big-impact media coverage.

W: marketingdelivery.co.uk/ T: 01892 599911 E: get.in.touch@marketingdelivery.co.uk Info: Our SocialStock helps target prospects with tailored stock remarketing and social media advertising tools, and automated lead capture for Facebook.

W: metatrak.co.uk T: 020 8867 2340 E: enquiries@metatrak.co.uk Info: Total vehicle security. Clever tracking technology, advanced immobilisation, 24/7 monitoring and an easy-to-use app. Security. Connectivity.

Peace of mind.

W: autoprotect.co.uk

T: 01279 406888 E: sales@autoprotect.net Info: AutoProtect offers a full portfolio of award-winning protection products, including GAP. We lead the market with an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot.

W: warrantywise.co.uk/dealer T: 0800 001 4551 E: dealers@warrantywise.co.uk Info: Warrantywise sells over 100,000 warranties per year.

Quentin Willson personally designed Warrantywise to be the UK’s best used car warranty.

W: wmsgroup.co.uk T: 01844 293810 E: sales@wmsgroup.co.uk Info: Open 24/7, we offer award-winning warranty products for FCA- and non-FCA-registered dealerships.

Key Control

Oil & Lubricants

Warranty Providers

Website Design & Digital Marketing

Traka

Mobil™

Car Care Plan

Bluesky Interactive

Finance

Lead Management

Recruitment

Warranty Providers

Website Design & Digital Marketing

Close Brothers Motor Finance

GardX AD-Vantage

WeRecruit Auto

Händler Protect

Haswent

Finance

Blue Motor Finance

W: blue.co.uk T: 020 3005 9331 E: dealersupport@blue.co.uk Info: Blue is transforming the car finance market, making car ownership simple and flexible and providing motor traders with access to essential finance.

W: closemotorfinance.co.uk/ Info: Close Brothers Motor Finance are a specialist finance provider, working with over 8,000 dealer partners to offer flexible finance solutions for car, motorcycle and LCV customers.

W: traka-automotive.com T: 0333 355 3726 E: automotive@traka.com Info: Bespoke software and electronic key management cabinets to deliver the most effective solution to dealerships to manage their keys and vehicles.

W: gardx.co.uk/gardx-ad-vantage T: 01243 376426 E: goforaspin@gardx.co.uk Info: The award-winning 360 service offers an engaging display of the vehicle while additionally presenting profitable F&I products to a consumer.

W: mobil.co.uk T: 0800 0857 420 Info: Whether using Mobil 1™ or Mobil Super™, Mobil™ engine oils meet or exceed the latest standards of the oil industry and vehicle manufacturers.

W: werecruitauto.co.uk T: 01603 550041 Info: Permanent recruitment – here to assist businesses within the automotive sector find the best fit for their company in terms of skillset, experience and culture.

W: carcareplan.com T: 0344 573 8000 Info: Car Care Plan is a leading provider of motor protection products, trusted around the world to deliver quality protection with integrity and a customer-oriented outlook.

W: handlerprotect.com T: 0800 088 7889 E: sales@handlerprotect.com Info: Händler Protect is an exclusive dealer warranty provider. Proud to partner and represent more than 1,000-plus ‘active’ independent motor dealers across the UK each month.

W: blueskyinteractive.co.uk T: 01926 651000 Info: Bluesky Interactive drive dealer websites and digital marketing forward thanks to game-changing innovation, the latest technology and our exceptional relationships with our clients.

W: haswent.com T: 020 3920 6164 E: hello@haswent.com Info: Composer is a next-gen automotive platform. You have extensive stock management options, and you’ll gain a brilliantly responsive new website.

To have your details included email sales@blackballmedia.co.uk and ask for Suppliers Guide listings 54 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

LONG-TERMERS

AUDI Q4 E-TRON THE KNOWLEDGE Audi Q4 e-tron Launch Edition

James Baggott has been living with the electric Audi Q4 e-tron for two months now and charging hasn’t always gone to plan.

L

iving with an electric car without a proper car charger at home isn’t impossible – it just takes some planning.

I’m two months into ownership of our long-term Audi Q4 e-tron, and while there have been a few teething problems keeping it topped up, it hasn’t left me car-less.

Well, I tell a lie, it almost did.

The closest I got to having a charging scare was over the Christmas period when I was visiting the in-laws.

We arrived with around 80 miles left in the batteries with the plan to plug it in using the three-pin plug cable and leave it overnight to top up while we digested some turkey.

The 305-mile range had been sapped on the long motorway haul from the south coast to the Midlands and there wasn’t enough left to make the full return trip.

The Q4 charges at a measly 3kw an hour using the home plug cable, if I’m lucky. At home I’ve seen it drop to as low as 1kw an hour. But on a good day it will get a full charge this way in about 30 hours.

The issue at the in-laws wasn’t time, it was the old building we plugged it into. While all seemed fine when I left it, when I went to load up the Audi for the return journey I realised the draw had tripped the electrics in the garage overnight and had added just 15 miles to the range.

I should have checked it, but at home I’d never had a problem.

This meant we’d be facing an unplanned stop at a rapid charger. This always fills me with dread. For a start, you never know if the one you planned to stop at is working, then you have to contend with the fact others might be using it.

But the BP station we planned to use had two working fast chargers, which added 60 miles of range in just 15 minutes.

Helpfully, you didn’t need an app to get these started, just tap a contactless card and away it went. The sooner all public chargers are the same, the better.

Frustrating as it was not to get a free tank overnight at the in-laws, the positive experience of using the rapid charger on the road has given me a bit of confidence to do it again.

There have been a few other irritating incidents with the Q4. One saw the key stop working and the car refuse to let me in. I have no idea why it did it, but after asking a man in Halfords for help (he couldn’t) I went back, tried it again and it worked.

In fact, I think there might be some electrical gremlins at work, because the multimedia system seems to restart itself every now and then, and on one drive flashed up a warning that I needed to get the electrical system checked.

I would have done, had it not been for the fact the warning disappeared when – you guessed it – I turned it off and on again.

Overall, though, I love the Audi. It’s got acres of space which has been put to regular use on my near-weekly trips to the tip (I’m house renovating, not overly wasteful).

The ride is a little hard, but I love its turn of speed, classy looks and the weird noise it makes at low speeds which make me feel like I’m in Tron.

Maybe now is the time to finally invest in a home charger to make my EV conversion nearly complete. Baby steps.

Price (as tested): Engine: Power: Torque: Max speed: 0-60mph: Range: Emissions: Mileage:

£51,165 Electric 204bhp 310Nm 99mph 8.3 seconds 305 miles 0g/km CO2 5,997

This month’s highlight: Finding a working fast charger when it was very much needed.

OTHER CARS WE’RE DRIVING

Nissan Juke Mileage: 12,427 The Juke has cemented its place in our affections after almost a year on the fleet!

Skoda Octavia vRS Mileage: 12,729

The good times are coming to an end as the Octavia vRS is being returned to Skoda. It’s going to be missed, that’s for sure.

CarDealerMag.co.uk | 55

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