The fact is, most dealerships have disconnected data that they can’t rely on to make smart decisions. That means you have to act on guesswork or inconsistent reports. What you want is data that’s accessible at speed and fully connected to your DMS and entire ecosystem. Data that helps you focus time and resources to achieve the best impact on your profitability and customer experience. This approach is already a reality, and it’s your competitive edge. VEGA is here.
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INSIGHTS BEAT INSTINCTS
Killer walks free after horror crash
A BIG Motoring World sales executive who killed his colleague in a horror 100mph crash has walked free from court with a supervision order.
Car Dealer reported last year how Ivan Zailac, 24, hit a 26-tonne truck at well over double the speed limit killing passenger Stephanie NyeDiroyan, 21, in Enfield, north London, on October 23, 2022.
The pair had worked together at the used car supermarket’s Enfield site, where Nye-Diyoran was employed in finance.
BUSINESS
Renault takeover of Carco agreed
RENAULT has strengthened its in-house dealer group after completing a deal to acquire former retail partner, Carco.
The move sees Carco’s existing Renault and Dacia dealers rebranded as Renault Retail Group UK Limited sites, in a move which is not expected to impact staff.
Bosses say that the change is ‘in name only’ and reflects a desire to ‘align more closely with the Renault Retail Group identity’.
NEWS DIGEST
Citroen dealers under ‘immense pressure’ as ongoing airbag crisis may not see fixes take place ‘until 2026’
Citroen and DS dealers across the country are under ‘immense pressure’ to fix cars affected by a serious airbag safety recall – with some telling customers it could be NEXT YEAR before their cars are fixed.
Thousands of owners of DS3 and C3 models were told to stop driving their cars immediately on June 20 over faulty airbag fears.
Some 120,000 owners across the country of secondgeneration Citroen C3s, built between 2009 and 2016, and DS3 models built between 2009 and 2019, are now flooding dealers with requests for help.
Citroen dealers told Car Dealer Magazine that customers are ‘still driving their cars in to be fixed’, despite being told by manufacturer Stellantis not to drive them. The sheer volume of calls dealers are receiving is also clogging phone lines as thousands of customers attempt to get through to book appointments.
One Citroen dealer said: ‘It hasn’t been too bad until the stop drive recorded letters landed. The phones have been off the hook since then to the extent it started affecting our ability to make outbound calls.
TRADE
‘The teams are under immense pressure, but we are working many extra shifts, early and late, plus weekends to help the situation.
‘Customers are keen to get the job done and are driving cars into us, even though we remind them they should not be driving them.’
The fix takes dealers an hour and a half per car and is already clogging Citroen workshops up. Stellantis said the lead time for airbag replacements ‘varies by retailer’ with some offering the service ‘in a few days, some longer’.
Dealers told Car Dealer that some customers are being told they will ‘not be able to book their car in until 2026’ for the work, leaving them without a vehicle for months.
A Citroen service manager added: ‘It’s a relatively easy fix, but in hot weather techs have to crawl behind the dash in a car that’s just arrived already hot.
‘The stress on the managers and technicians is relentless.
‘Some dealers are already turning customers away saying they cannot book until 2026.’
Peugeot boss says Chinese brands make ‘everybody up their game’
THE increasing presence of Chinese car manufacturers in the UK is causing established brands to ‘up their game’. That is according to Peugeot’s UK managing director, Nicola Dobson, who has been talking to Car Dealer at the recent 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The experienced industry leader says that the new influx of Chinese brands into the UK market isn’t ‘necessarily a bad thing’ and described it as an ‘opportunity’ for legacy brands like Peugeot.
‘It challenges us,’ she said. ‘It brings an additional kind of competition to the market. It gives consumers more choice. It makes everybody up their game. It’s only a positive for the consumer at the end of the day.’
Dobson also stated that Peugeot will continue to be meet ZEV mandate targets – which increase up to an 80% EV sales mix by 2030 – stating that ‘we’ll be compliant this year, and that’s very much the plan to be compliant as we move forward’.
SALES
JLR’s major slump linked to US tariffs
JLR has reported a major slump in sales with Donald Trump’s US tariffs having a major impact on deliveries
The British marque has announced that retail sales slid by 15.1% to 94,420 units in the three months to June, with bosses also pointing to the planned wind-down of older Jaguar models.
The Midlands-based carmaker also saw wholesale sales drop to 87,286 units – a 10.7% decline on the same point last year. The company said the significant fall in sales
BUSINESS
Nigel McMinn snaps up Pybus
FORMER Lookers
director Nigel McMinn has snapped up a majority shareholding in automotive recruitment company Pybus.
Assuming the role of managing director, McMinn will lead the specialist recruitment firm as it helps dealers find top quality staff.
McMinn told Car Dealer he was ‘excited’ by the new role and ‘wasn’t very good at sitting still’ which led him to buy into the Sunderlandbased firm.
Arnold Clark saw revenue soar to £5.2bn in 2024 but bosses warn 2025
tax increases will cost the firm £30m
ARNOLD Clark saw chunky rises in revenue and pre-tax profit last year, but warned that its finances will be clobbered by £30m thanks to tax increases announced in the Autumn Budget.
Latest accounts reveal the UK’s largest dealer group saw revenue rise by 3.8% to £5.2bn last year, while it performed a U-turn in pre-tax profit.
A 32.9% fall in pre-tax profit in 2023 over 2022’s performance (2023: £116m, 2022: £173m), due to a major cyber attack and escalating costs, was turned around last year, with Arnold Clark posting a 4.3% rise to £121m.
SALES
Motorpoint in £4.1m pre-tax profit boost
MOTORPOINT is back in the black after swinging into profit last year, latest accounts show.
Final results for the year ended March 31, 2025, reveal the used car group returned to profitability, with bosses declaring the company’s turnaround plan has worked.
Revenue soared by £86.5m to £1.17bn, boosted by double-digit year on year growth, and margin performance improvement.
The company sold 87,700 cars last year, up by 12.4%, while days in stock shrunk by two days to 43 days. Motorpoint’s share of the zero-to-sixyear-old market rose to 2.37%.
FINANCE
Trade Centre Group aims to bounce back
THE Trade Centre Group says it is ‘enjoying the fruits’ of its team’s ‘hard work in 2024’ after notching up a chunky pre-tax profit for the first half of this year.
The used car supermarket chain claims it has finished the first half, ending May 2025, with a pre-tax profit of £4.7m. The update on the company’s 2025 performance came soon after the publication of its 2024 results, where the firm suffered the challenges in the used car supermarket sector seen last year, swinging from a £6.58m pretax profit in 2023 into a whopping £5.4m loss in 2024.
RESULTS
Cambria profits soar despite rising debt
BOSSES at dealer group Cambria are feeling ‘confident’ about the future after the firm posted improved profits for 2024.
Recent accounts via Companies House show that Cambria Investments Holdings Ltd made a pre-tax profit of £29.32m in the 12 months ending August 31, 2024. That figure marks a 41% improvement on the previous year’s result, when the group made £20.79m, despite turnover falling from £615.63m to £562.17m.
Meanwhile, the firm’s adjusted EBITDA figure rose by almost 80% from £28.6m to £50.9m.
Geely will launch as standalone UK brand
VOLVO owner Geely Auto is to launch as a standalone brand in the UK with a new electric SUV expected to arrive later this year.
The Chinese brand is one of Asia’s biggest car manufacturers and already has a presence in the UK though its ownership of Lotus, Polestar and The London Electric Vehicle Company, as well as Volvo. It has now created ‘Geely Auto UK’ which will act as a distributor to the UK. Sales of the brand’s first UK model – an electric C-segment SUV called the EX5 – are set to start in the fourth quarter of this year.
‘Factual inaccuracies’ slammed by Hyundai
HYUNDAI has accused one of its own dealer partners of publishing ‘factual inaccuracies’ after the brand terminated one of its sites.
Car Dealer reported that All Electric Garages Group had ended operations in Stourbridge in a move that bosses said ‘wasn’t made by us’.
The firm has replaced the South Korean brand with BYD, but says that requests to retain authorised Hyundai Aftersales support until May 2026 were declined. Managing director, Jason Pickerill admitted to sharing customers’ feelings of ‘disappointment’ at the decision.
Omoda owner set to launch UK car brand
CHERY International has become the latest Chinese car brand to announce plans to launch in the UK.
The outfit already has a presence in Britain via its ownership of Omoda and Jaecoo, but will now add its own standalone brand to that stable.
Chery will officially launch later this summer with two new SUVs, both of which have been ‘optimised for the local market’.
While, prices and specifications are yet to be confirmed, bosses say the new models will be sold via a ‘UK-wide dealer network’ over the coming months.
Administrators at failed used car dealer Cazoo are owed staggering £6m as financial situation is laid bare
FAILED used car dealer Cazoo has racked up £6m in administrators’ fees since collapsing last year.
That is according to fresh documents from administrators Teneo, updating Companies House on the company’s current financial state. The report reveals how much creditors can expect to claw back, how long proceedings will last and the additional costs
that have built up since the firm stopped trading. Teneo says it remains ‘uncertain’ on the total dividend which will be paid to secured, unsecured and secondary preferential creditors, the last of which includes a £9.9m claim from HMRC. However, it does say that any money is set to be paid to unsecured and secondary preferential creditors in the next six to 12 months.
Click on the text box for the full story
TRADE: Lotus has pledged to continue building cars in the UK. This month, the Financial Times reported that the Chinese-owned British car maker was considering closing its Hethel plant in Norfolk. However, the carmaker issued a statement saying it had ‘no plans’ to close the factory’.
OPENING: Cupra has brought its ultra-modern ‘City Garage’ concept to the UK with a new space officially opening in Manchester. The Spanish brand held an opening event on June 26. The inner city hub joins other sites in major cities across the globe, including Sydney, Madrid, and Vienna.
DEPARTURE: Renault Group boss Luca de Meo has stepped down from his position amid speculation he is set to take control of fashion giant Gucci. The French carmaker confirmed earlier this month that de Meo will depart his role as CEO on July 15 in order to ‘pursue new challenges’.
RETAIL: Chinese brand GWM has added to its ever-growing UK dealer network opening three new sites. The brand has opened retail points in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Penicuik and Wincanton, as the brand continues to expand at a rapid rate. The sites are operated by a trio of new dealer partners.
DEALERS: Polestar has added to its UK dealer network with the addition of a state-of-theart showroom on the south coast. The Swedish outfit has opened a new site in Plymouth, which bosses say will give customers greater access to the brand. The premises, operated by dealer group Snows, follow the firm’s ‘minimalist approach’.
OMODA 9
Power
The 1.5-litre petrol with plug-in hybrid assistance produces 443bhp and 700Nm of torque.
As with other Chinese-made SUVs the 9 aims to undercut rivals on price, but does it succeed elsewhere? Jack Evans finds out.
WHAT IS IT?
Omoda isn’t wasting any time when it comes to expanding its product range here in the UK. Hot on the heels of the 5 and E5 SUVs comes this – the new Omoda 9. It’s the Chinese brand’s entrance into a more spacious, upmarket style of SUV, which is being delivered at a more attractive price than many key rivals.
But given that Omoda is still a relative newcomer in the UK car market, can the 9 do enough to tempt buyers away from established alternatives? We’ve driven it in the UK to find out.
WHAT’S NEW?
As is the case with many of the ‘new wave’ of Chinese manufacturers, Omoda is offering the 9 at a price which undercuts many key rivals and even those from the class above. Omoda is pitching it against the likes of the Range Rover Velar and Volvo XC60 but, at £44,990, it undercuts many of the opposition when it comes to price and standard equipment.
Reflecting a confidence in its reliability, Omoda is also offering the 9 with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty alongside eight-year coverage of the car’s battery. It’s certainly enough to add some peace of mind to those early days of ownership.
WHAT’S
UNDER THE BONNET?
Omoda is offering the 9 with just the one engine option for now, but it’s an impressive one. At the heart of this setup is a 1.5-litre petrol engine, but this is then linked to a massive 34.46kWh battery, which is similar to those found on compact electric vehicles. As a result, Omoda claims that you could get 93 miles of electric-only running and, when the car is fully charged, you could get up to 201mpg. However, during mixed driving you’ll likely see around 43mpg – which is still respectable for this size of car.
With 443bhp, the Omoda 9 is also punchier power-wise than you might expect, so you’ll still manage 0-60mph in around 4.7 seconds. The 9’s top speed stands at 124mph, too, though high performance isn’t exactly what this car feels aimed at.
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
If you’re going after premium rivals, then you better offer a premium experience and, in many areas, the Omoda 9 does just that. With such a large electric range, there’s very little petrol-powered motoring to be done in the 9 and around town, this large SUV feels easy to drive and relaxing to be behind the wheel of. The ride can feel a little jittery at slower speeds, but this is probably down to the car’s large alloy wheels and, at speed, things settle down. Move a little more quickly through bends and the 9’s weight will make itself known,
Omoda 9
Price: £44,990
Engine: 1.5-litre petrol with plug-in hybrid assistance
Power: 443bhp
Torque: 700Nm
O-60mph: 4.7 seconds
Max speed: 124mph
Electric-only range: 93 miles
MPG (combined): 201
but drive it in a more moderate manner and this isn’t as much of an issue.
The 9’s look doesn’t break the rule book but there are some nice design touches.
The steering is a touch light off-centre and though this can be weighted up by selecting sportier driving modes, it never feels that natural. However, this lightness makes the 9 very easy to drive in more urban environments. Both wind and road noise are kept pleasantly low and when coupled with the 9’s wellcushioned seats, make it a comfortable car to get around in.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
The 9 doesn’t break the rulebook when it comes to design and from many angles, it feels that there has been some inspiration from other models – the rear quarter, for instance, looks quite Honda-ish to our eyes. That said, it’s not an offensive look in the slightest, with the car’s sharp LED running lights helping to give it a more futuristic appeal.
You’ve only got five exterior colours, with just ‘Peridot Green’ being the sole ‘alternative’ choice. The remaining options are just greys and whites – it’d be nice to see a little more colour available.
WHAT’S
IT LIKE INSIDE?
There’s a good amount of space inside the Omoda 9. Storage in the centre console is decent thanks to the gear selector’s location on the steering column. Material quality isn’t bad, either, and though there are some harsher plastics lower down and on the centre cubby cover, it’s all pretty much par for the course. There’s a 660-litre boot, too, which is easy to access thanks to a very small load lip. However, the 9’s coupe-inspired design does make the boot a little shallower than you might expect, so this could be a pain when you’re loading in taller items.
Rear-seat passengers have got a decent amount of stretch-out space, too, and the outer rear seats can even be reclined for a more first-class experience.
WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?
At £44,990, the Omoda 9 is significantly less than a Range Rover Velar, but a lot more than the £31,995 you’ll pay for an MG HS PHEV, which also gets a high level of standard equipment. For context, the 9 does get loads of included kit, such as a panoramic sunroof, six-way electric adjustable driver’s seat and a 14-speaker sound system. There’s a huge central touchscreen – as has become commonplace in Chinese-made cars – and it’s packed with features. Some are easy to find, such as the assistance system controls, which are accessed via a ‘swipe down’ motion on the screen, while others are trickier.
For instance, when you’re set up on either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, it’s tricky to get back to the car’s native system for the radio or navigation. All that is required would be a dedicated home button to make this easier. Thankfully, you’ve got physical controls for the heating and ventilation, which makes these far simpler to change when you’re on the move than a screen-only setup. During our time with the car, the radio reception was incredibly patchy, too.
VERDICT
The Omoda 9 is the most accomplished car to come from the Chery-based manufacturer so far. It’s finished neatly and has all of the equipment you could need. Keep that massive battery topped up and the 9 will prove cheap to run, too, providing you have access to home charging.
Dynamically, it does little to move the game on, but with its competitive price and spacious design, the 9 is a newcomer which is worth taking seriously.
Cabin
There’s a good amount of space and plenty of storage, too. Build quality is on par with some nice materials used although harsher plastics have been used in places.
With its competitive price and spacious design, the 9 is a newcomer which is worth taking seriously.
TARGET BUYERS: Buyers after a more premium, upmarket SUV – for less.
RIVALS:
SELLING POINTS:
The Omoda 9 is the most convincing Chinese SUV to date – and it’s keenly priced, too.
EVENT WHO WON WHAT AT THIS YEAR’S AWARDS?
James Batchelor, this
year’s survey results provided some
real surprises.
The very best of the best in the motor trade have been revealed in the Car Dealer Power Awards 2025.
Since March, car dealers across the UK have had their say on the best suppliers they do business with and the car manufacturers they represent.
Car Dealer received around 2,000 responses this year, making 2025 a new record for the long-running dealer satisfaction survey.
The hugely deserved winners in 23 categories were revealed in a special video filmed by the Car Dealer team, which you can watch on our YouTube channel. BMW was named as Manufacturer of the Year after rising two places on its ranking in 2024, with dealers saying they’re incredibly satisfied with the German carmaker this year.
Last year’s winner, Suzuki, was knocked to fourth place, while Toyota again ranked second and Kia finished in third.
Volvo and MG were the highest risers in 2025, both soaring 16 places on last year’s ranking.
Ford was the biggest faller, slumping 10 places on 2024’s table, and finished in last place, making it the worst manufacturer to represent this year.
The Blue Oval’s dealers were dissatisfied across the board, but in particular with forward planning.
The full results, including detailed scores in the 13 categories car dealers voted in for each car maker, can be found on pages 12-13.
In the supplier categories winners and highly commended placed firms were named in 23 categories.
CAR OF THE YEAR Winner Renault 5 E-Tech
Renault’s retro-modern take on its famous hatchback of the 1970s has been winning plaudits from many motoring titles for the past few months. But it’s the dealer praise that really sets this award apart from all others.
Dealers say they love its distinctive design and how it’s drawing in a new, younger customer base to Renault showrooms.
‘We haven’t seen this level of excitement in years,’ one dealer said in Car Dealer Power.
Highly Commended Omoda 5
Our first highly commended winner is the Omoda 5, an incredible achievement for a brand that only launched in the UK just over a year ago.
With its on-trend design, tech-laden interior, dent practicality, and an attractive seven-year warranty, dealers say it’s stealing customers from established rivals like the Nissan Qashqai.
Highly Commended Skoda Elroq
Our second highly commended accolade for 2025 goes to the Skoda Elroq, a car that’s quickly winning hearts across the dealer network.
The Elroq delivers exactly that. It combines the comfort, refinement, and driving feel of its bigger sibling but in a more compact and value-focused package.
James Baggott, left, and
THE WINNERS
MANUFACTURER
SUPPLIERS
Cleaning
presenting this year’s Car Dealer Power Jonathan Levey
SUPPLIERS
Debbie McIntosh BMW UK sales director
James Batchelor
BMW has climbed the rankings and been named as Manufacturer of the Year at the Car Dealer Power Awards 2025.
The German carmaker secured outstanding scores across multiple categories, and received high praise from its dealer network.
Toyota, champion in 2023, finished second, while multiple winner Kia rounded off the top three.
Meanwhile, Ford came rock bottom in the survey – 23rd out of 23 car manufacturers.
Car Dealer Power asks dealers across the UK to rank their manufacturer partners in 13 categories that cover all areas of the franchise. The scores for the individual categories are then taken to create the overall score.
The full results, brand by brand, are revealed further on in this story. This year’s scores were lower than 2024’s, with BMW topping the table with 84.3% compared with Suzuki’s chart-topping score of 90.8% 12 months ago.
Speaking about the win, BMW UK sales director Debbie McIntosh expressed just how much the accolade means to the brand.
‘It’s just an amazing, fantastic recognition for us, and it really means so much because it’s voted for by our retail partners,’ she said. ‘It really shows us that we’re getting the things that matter right.’
BMW impressed dealers this year with excellent scores for brand awareness and communication, as well as for being straightforward to work with.
Reflecting on why dealers are so pleased, McIntosh added: ‘I think it comes down to clarity. We have a very clear product strategy, very clear plans for the year.
‘A lot is around communication and, of course, consistency. I think these things are really important for our retail partners, and we’ve worked really hard on just trying to do things simpler and being easier to work with.’
WHERE DID YOUR CAR MANUFACTURER RANK THIS YEAR?
Car Dealer editor-in-chief
JAMES BAGGOTT has launched a subscriber-only Substack newsletter. Every Friday, he digests the week’s news and gives his opinion on the biggest stories. Here’s a selection of his comments from the most recent newsletters. To subscribe, head to cardealer.substack.com
JAMES’S VIEWS ON THE NEWS
Heycar given last minute reprieve as used car ad platform remains ‘fully operational’
HEYCAR’S future has been secured after Volkswagen Financial Services acquired key assets from its parent firm, which has gone into liquidation. Despite heavy losses and job cuts, VWFS says the platform remains fully operational and will be integrated into its business to bolster online used car sales. The move means Heycar staff are being absorbed into VWFS as part of plans to expand its digital offering and maintain the platform for dealers and customers.
What do I think?
This was surprising news – most of the industry thought Heycar was all but dead following the news its shareholders had pulled the plug, but clearly VWFS thinks there’s a future for the advertising platform. It’s a tough and crowded market in the used car advertising marketplace, but competition is healthy and I’m pleased to see jobs saved and the business continue under new owners.
Tom Hartley Junior selected to sell vast McLaren collection
TOM Hartley Junior has been entrusted with selling the late Mansour Ojjeh’s personal McLaren collection, comprising 20 ultra-rare models, including the final McLaren F1 ever built. Ojjeh, a key figure behind McLaren’s Formula 1 and road car success, curated each car with meticulous detail. Hartley Jnr called the sale ‘truly unrepeatable’ with the F1 expected to break records. The entire collection is finished in a bespoke ‘Mansour Orange’ and includes the last P1 GTR, Speedtail, Senna, Elva and more –many with delivery mileage or unique modifications.
What do I think?
That F1! If I were to hazard a guess I’d expect that car alone to easily break £10m – but who knows what the collection will bring in. Off the back of Hartley Junior’s amazing Bernie Ecclestone sale, bagging the rights to market this McLaren collection is another coup for the incredible trader. You’ll remember, he’s already one of the most profitable used car dealers around, so I’m looking forward to seeing what these two deals alone add to his commission tally.
‘We are in a global competition with China, and it’s not just EVs. If we lose this, we do not have a future.’
Ford CEO Jim Farley speaking at a conference this week said China’s acceleration in the car industry was one of the most ‘humbling’ things he’s ever seen.
Hyundai accuses its own dealer partner of publishing
‘factual inaccuracies’
HYUNDAI has criticised dealer partner
All Electric Garages Group for publishing ‘factual inaccuracies’ following the closure of its Stourbridge site. The group claimed it was removed as part of Hyundai’s ‘fewer, bigger, better’ strategy and that Stourbridge was no longer a recognised market area. Hyundai confirmed the closure relates to its Network Evolution plan but disputed some of the dealer’s claims, though did not specify which. All Electric’s MD Jason Pickerill denied any inaccuracies, stating he has paperwork to back up the group’s statements. The firm will continue to operate in Kidderminster until May 2026.
What do I think?
A public spat is never a good look, especially after two firms part ways – but that’s exactly what we have here. The dealer was clearly upset to lose its franchise after just a few years and says it simply told customers what had happened on its website. Hyundai wasn’t happy, but for some reason didn’t tell us about which bit. Unfortunately this is another example of a car maker slimming down its network to make the remaining few more profitable and is likely to be a common theme in the next few years as competition in the market increases.
Nigel McMinn snaps up automotive recruitment firm
NIGEL McMinn, former Lookers COO, has acquired a majority stake in Pybus Recruitment and become its managing director. The Sunderland-based firm, founded in 2021 by Colin Pybus, specialises in sourcing talent for car dealers across the UK. McMinn and Pybus previously worked together at Lookers and Benfield. McMinn said he was ‘excited’ by the opportunity and keen to grow the business into the UK’s go-to automotive recruiter. Pybus welcomed the move, citing McMinn’s extensive connections as key to their growth plans.
What do I think?
McMinn has had a long and varied career in the motor trade but most people will know him from his time at Lookers and Benfield. So, when he called me this month to tell me about his latest investment, I was surprised when he revealed it was an automotive recruitment firm. However, Nigel and Colin Pybus, the founder, have worked together before and clearly enjoyed that time as they’ve back at it again. It’s certainly a different career path, but one I’m sure Nigel will make a success of.
What I’ve heard
IF, like me, you’re already fed up with adverts asking if you have ‘ever had car finance’, spare a thought for the finance companies. While we just have to put up with the odd dodgy jingle, they are dealing with tens of thousands of claims, some with more merit than others.
Well, for one funder, 33,000 cases were the straw that broke the camel’s bank. Vanquis Bank was so annoyed with the number of cases it was receiving from claims management firm TMS Legal, that it took the company to court.
The bank sued for ‘causing a loss by unlawful means’, alleging that the claims management firm had submitted so many claims that lacked merit that it suffered a loss dealing with them. It said it had been forced to process these with temporary staff and pay millions in fees to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Mr Justice Jay ruled that Vanquis had a strong enough case to argue TMS used ‘unlawful means’ to cause financial harm by bombarding the bank with weak or baseless claims. The court said lenders can sue claims firms if they flood them with complaints that shouldn’t have been filed.
The ruling opens the door for other lenders to take legal action against firms churning out high volumes of questionable complaints, and could spell trouble for parts of the claims management industry.
This is merely a side story to the main saga, though, as we’re expecting a decision from the Supreme Court imminently on the finance commissions case. That could come as soon as the next fortnight.
Tour de Factory
Our James Batchelor decided to take the Car Dealer Power Car of the Year 2025 back to where it was born.
I’m doing 70 miles an hour in the outside lane of the M20 in Kent. With holidaymakers dashing to get the first ferries of the day bound for the continent, it’s not a place for the faint-hearted. But I would swear the Renault 5 feels like a decently-sized SUV rather than the little thing it really is.
Until now, I’d only enjoyed a few short drives in the Renault 5, and it was clear the reborn R5 drove just like a small car should. Tight turning circle, easy to see out of, darty enough around town. But this drive would reveal if it amounts to more than just a fashionable trinket.
To celebrate the Renault 5 being named Car Dealer Power Car of the Year, I decided to take one back to where it was made, and to learn more about Renault’s electric car revolution.
France has a pretty well-developed EV charging infrastructure, and, as is the case in the UK, it’s growing all the time. But the focus of the expansion across the Channel is on the motorway network, with many parts of provincial France having few or no charging points whatsoever.
For this trip, I wanted to experience more rural roads, pass through some typically French villages, and in the early stages, enjoy a relaxed journey to my overnight stop. So, a quick charge near Folkestone meant I had a full battery as I hit Calais and those famous French ‘D roads’.
It took a little over three hours to drive the 211 kilometres to my overnight stopover in Valenciennes, a town deep in Northern France. It had been a largely uneventful journey, only serving to show just how comfortable and refined the Renault 5 is.
It was supple enough over some jagged surfaces in a few villages, and yet when the narrow roads gave way to free-flowing, tree-lined straights and meandering S-bends, it proved it had a decent turn of speed and felt pretty involving to drive.
One stop in a charming market town saw a quick break to stretch the proverbial legs and the purchase
Our man watched a similar Pop Green car come to life from Body in White, trim assembly...
One stop in a charming market town saw a quick break to stretch the proverbial legs and the purchase of two baguettes – both of which were to reside on the R5’s parcel shelf, just for cliched photographic purposes, you understand – before a blast along a motorway, a quick top-up at an ultra-rapid charger, and then to Valenciennes.
The next morning it was an early drive to the Douai factory, some 40 minutes away. Even though the R5 is rapidly becoming a common sight on French roads, my Pop Green car still turns the heads of passers-by busying themselves in getting to work. The R5’s newness is one reason why it still draws glances, but I fancy it’s mostly because the French aren’t all that keen on the 5’s vibrant colour palette. While in the UK, Pop Yellow is the most soughtafter colour, the French prefer more subtle shades such as the smart Midnight Blue with gold detailing, which has more than a passing resemblance to the Renault Clio Williams of the nineties.
At the factory and with the inevitable safety gear donned, it’s time to see how a Renault 5 is built. The Douai facility is steeped in history and stretches back to 1974 when, rather fittingly, it began building the original Renault 5. Over the intervening years, it has produced models like the Renault 9, Fuego and Megane. But its modern transformation began in earnest in 2019 when Renault announced Douai would become its first all-electric plant.
Once a vast site, practically the size of a small European country, Douai has been trimmed back over the years. But it still stands at an impressive 118 hectares, and builds not only the R5 but also its sisters, the Alpine A290 and Nissan Micra; the larger Megane and Scenic E-Tech SUVs; and soon a Mitsubishi-branded version of the Scenic. It also houses Ampère, Renault’s EV-focused division formed in 2023 to lead the company’s electric
...and the finished car having its final inspection.
FEATURE
Overnight top in Valenciennes, left; Brits prefer their 5s in bright colours, while French favour Midnight Blue.
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
revolution, dubbed the ‘Renaulution’.
Constant improvements mean the Douai factory doesn’t look like it’s a product of the seventies. I try to follow a Pop Green car from start to finish, and when walking from Body in White, down the line where the electric platform is mated to the car, and along Final Assembly, I notice that there’s still a remarkable balance between automation, AI guidance and manual working – the era of the pure-robot car factory isn’t here just yet.
In reality, Douai is just like most of Renault Group’s cutting-edge production plants, and indeed like those of its competitors. But there is one crucial difference from any factory I’ve been to before – and that’s batteries.
The former car yard has been transformed into a highly sophisticated battery plant. Here, the packs for the Renault 4, 5 and Alpine A290 are made in their entirety, while the batteries for Megane and Scenic are assembled with cells from Poland and casings from Renault’s nearby Ruitz factory. All of this places Douai at the heart of Renault’s EV strategy, and it’s a strategy that the French brand is rapidly trying to streamline.
One of the biggest cost challenges for any EV is the battery, which accounts for up to 50% of total production costs. Ampère is working on various ways to reduce this, including transitioning to cell-to-pack construction by 2026 and embracing cell-to-chassis technology, already pioneered by Chinese brands like BYD, by 2028. A switch to LFP batteries, with their cobalt-free construction and sub-15-minute charging times, is in the pipeline, too.
But that’s the future. In the here and now, the factory is churning out 700 EVs a day with a Renault 5 taking less than 10 hours to build from start to finish. It would seem Renault is back to being at the cutting edge of the car industry; the fact that it’s also producing ultra desirable cars like the 5 also shows that the French brand has rediscovered its mojo, too.
Heading back for my train home to Blighty, I’m able to take things a little more slowly –and it dawns on me that the Renault 5 is an important piece of automotive history, brought nicely up to date in its latest incarnation. More treasure than trinket, you could say.
The factory is churning out 700 EVs a day with a Renault 5 taking less than 10 hours to build from start to finish.
The Douai factory built the original 5 from 1974 onwards, and now the plant has come full circle.
Here with tailored finance options. There to help you close the deal.
We make vehicle finance easy with monthly payments for the vehicle your customers want.
Our underwriters work hard to say yes and can carefully review terms of an agreement.
We’re passionate about partnerships and committed to going the extra mile for customers.
Our digital tools help your customers get behind the wheel sooner. Perfectly suited to distance sales.
CAR NEWS ROUND-UP
Manufacturers have been refining their models and producing new ones. We look at some of the results...
NOSTALGIA
Inspiration from 90s used for look of new Nissan Leaf
NISSAN looked back to the 1990s as inspiration for its new Leaf, one of its design chiefs has revealed.
Speaking at the reveal of the new electric crossover, Nissan Design Europe vice president Giovanny Arroba said his team had studied Nissan’s 1990s models.
That decade favoured car designs with smooth surfaces and simple detailing.
RANGE ROVER VOLKSWAGEN
Golf GTI turns 50 by upping the power
EDITION 50 is the most powerful production Golf GTI yet.
The model has been created to celebrate 50 years of the legendary ‘GTI’ nameplate which kickstarted the hot hatchback segment back in 1976.
Under the bonnet, the car gets a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces a total of 320bhp. However, a 0-60mph time and top speed figure have not been revealed at this stage.
Two new editions of Sport model launched
THE Range Rover Sport has now been given two new variants with the SV Black and Stealth Edition.
The former gets a blackpainted carbon fibre bonnet, forged 23-inch alloy wheels and quad exhausts, while the Stealth boasts a Carpathian Grey satin paint finish with contrasting black accents
SV Black prices start from £154,975, while the Stealth Edition comes in at £101,570.
‘Nisan is all about innovation, excitement, fun –we have a lot of adventure in our line-up,’ Arroba said.
‘But with Leaf, we wondered how we could express this sense of Nissan-ness and also being cutting edge? It [the Leaf] isn’t retro, but there is a bit of nostalgia and reflection and bringing that [feeling] into the modern age.’
D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 goes on sale
THE rough and tough D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 has gone on sale priced from £57,005.
Arctic Trucks is an Icelandic engineering company that specialises in modifying fourwheel drive vehicles to make them even better off-road.
The D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 comes fitted with the same 1.9-litre turbocharged diesel unit found in the standard model. It produces 161bhp and 360Nm of torque.
Skoda Enyaq can now come as a van
The Skoda Enyaq can now be ordered in a ‘Cargo’ commercial variant.
The Enyaq Cargo has been built in conjunction with Skoda UK and the engineering firm ‘Strongs Plastic Products LTD’. Most of the changes are found inside, where the rear seats have been swapped for a lightweight bulkhead.
Prices start at £44,310 plus VAT, and an additional £1,815 for the conversion.
ISUZU
SKODA
Amalfi replaces the Roma as point of entry to luxury brand
The Amalfi has been launched by Ferrari, arriving as a replacement for the Roma. The new 2+2 model acts as the entry point to the Ferrari range and comes with a variety of modifications and upgrades over its predecessor. It uses the same 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 engine as the Roma, but it has been revised and honed to produce 631bhp.
Transferred to the wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, it’s enough power to send the Amalfi from 0-60mph in just under 3.3 seconds. Ferrari says that throttle response is now ‘even quicker’ thanks to a variety of mechanical upgrades.
JEEP
New Compass SUV price announced
JEEP has revealed that the next-generation Compass SUV will be coming to the UK, with prices starting from £35,700. From launch, the car will be available in just one specification – First Edition. However, full details of the car’s standard equipment list are yet to be revealed.
Under the bonnet, there will be a choice of regular hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains.
Revised 911 Carrera 4S gains power boost
PORSCHE has updated its popular 911 Carrera 4S with extra performance and improved equipment levels.
The 911 Carrera 4S will be available in coupe, cabriolet and Targa bodystyles, which means six 911 models can now be equipped with all-wheel-drive capability.
With a 3.0-litre twinturbocharged flat-six, the 911 Carrera 4S produces 473bhp, some 30bhp more than before.
PORSCHE
INDUSTRY VIEWS
NEWS AND THOUGHTS FROM
We find that household financial pressures correlate strongly with the new car market, but not the used.
Marc Palmer Auto Trader’s head of strategy and insights
Strong first half bodes well for used car market for the rest of 2025
A‘strong’ first half of the year bodes well for a good 2025 for dealers, Auto Trader has said. Speaking to Car Dealer Live, Auto Trader’s head of strategy and insights, Marc Palmer described the year-to-date as ‘a really good start’ for the used sector, citing year-on-year transaction growth of 6% by the end of May.
He said: ‘Retailers had a good start to 2024, and we’re seeing the same thing happen so far in 2025. March was big, April was up versus last year, and May was another solid month.’
This trend was reflected in Auto Trader’s figures, with the marketplace recording its biggest May ever for platform visits, and last month being the fourth largest month overall.
Despite lingering economic pressures and supply challenges, interest in used cars remains remarkably robust, said Palmer. But he added that he isn’t surprised by this fact, given the history of the used car market since the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘We find that household financial pressures correlate strongly with the new car market, but not the used,’ he said. ‘Cars aren’t a discretionary purchase—people still need them, and they adjust their budgets accordingly.’
Despite the headline figures, Palmer acknowledged that dealer experiences vary widely.
‘Some [used car] dealers say business is booming, while others are struggling,’ he said. Palmer explained that one major reason why dealers could be finding it hard-going at the moment is due to a shortage of three-to-five-yearold vehicles – a consequence of the pandemic’s disruption to new car registrations.
Giving some top tips for dealers to think about for the rest of the year, Palmer said: ‘Firstly, are you prepared for fuel type changes? Secondly, is your stock mix consistent with last year? And lastly, are you pricing vehicles to market? With increased operating costs (including rising National Insurance and energy prices), capturing the right margin is more critical than ever. Pricing stability has returned, and dealers must ensure they’re maximising every vehicle’s opportunity.’
How The Clever Car Collection’s Japanese imports became a challenge for Joe Wallington
IF YOU’VE been keeping up our regular video series following the fortunes of The Clever Car Collection, you’ll be aware that some months ago the team took a trip to Japan to explore the world of imports.
The trip resulted in six cars being purchased for The Clever Car Collection, all of which recently arrived in the UK after several weeks of waiting.
However, since then, things have been far from straightforward and the dealership’s Joe Wallington appeared on the Car Dealer Podcast to explain how the process has worked.
He said: ‘It’s interesting to learn how you do these things, but my word, I did not think that the stress, the paperwork, or just the list of people you have to pay and things you have to do, was anywhere near what it has been.’
During his chat, Joe explained that while some of the cars could be driven off the boat, others had to be lifted off in shipping containers. The vehicles also remained unregistered due to complications in the process and as a result, cannot be left on public property. It means that the team are constantly having to reshuffle stock to make sure that the imports are kept inside overnight.
FINANCE NEWS
Lender V12 to pull car finance products after parent company withdraws funding
by Jack Williams @JournoJack25
Lender V12 is to pull out of the motor finance industry after parent company Secure Trust Bank decided to withdraw funding. The Solihull-based firm confirmed the news in a statement last week and Car Dealer understands that retailers have been put on notice. Sources have indicated to Car Dealer that retailers will be able to use V12 as normal for the next three months, before then being given 120 days to settle remaining stock.
As well as car loans, V12 offers dealers stock funding with a large number of dealers now forced to look for new lines of credit for their businesses. Dealers use stock funding to buy cars on loans that typically last around 90 days and are charged for loading them on to the line of credit. It allows dealers to operate by effectively using borrowed money to pay for their stock. Bosses at Secure Trust Bank say that the decision comes as a result of a ‘strategic repositioning of the group’, which follows hefty losses in the last year.
The firm’s 2024 accounts show a pre-tax loss of £21.8m, which made up almost a third of the bank’s entire adjusted operating costs for the year. It is now expected that 78 jobs will be cut before the end of 2025, with a total of 284 positions said to be at risk by 2030.
Confirming the news, David McCreadie, chief executive of Secure Trust Bank, said: ‘We have made the difficult decision to stop new lending in vehicle finance, our lowest return business line, and to redeploy capital to our three higher returning businesses of retail finance, real estate finance and commercial finance. This pivot will allow the group to prioritise established specialist businesses and achieves further simplification of the group combined with the removal of a significant level of costs.’
Secure Trust Bank expects to save around £25m in operating costs over the next five years, as a result of axing vehicle finance.
Potential payouts in mis-sold car finance scandal COMPENSATION
MORE than 23 million people expect to be win compensation for mis-sold car finance a new survey has found, as Brits await a pivotal Supreme Court ruling that could release tens of billions in potential payouts.
A new poll by law firm Slater & Gordon found that 45% of people believe they could be entitled to a payout over a car finance agreement taken out between 2007 and 2021, totalling some 30 million for cars, vans and motorbikes.
In recent months, companies such a Close Brothers, Lloyds, Barclays and Santander have put £1.7bn aside to cover the claims, but credit rating firm Moodys has previously said the total bill could reach £30bn.
Slater & Gordon quizzed 4,000 people for the survey and some 40% said they would consider a legal challenge if their claim isn’t successful.
The findings could place further pressure on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Last month, the watchdog outlined the factors it will be using to consider implementing a formal redress scheme, and urged customers not to approach law firms.
TIME IS MONEY
RICHARD PYGOTT
A MONTHLY LOOK AT THE WORLD OF AUTOMOTIVE FINANCE AND MARKETING
Best subprime finance company – and six years running!
Honestly, I had to double-check.
Not because I didn’t believe it, but because six feels like such a big number.
Six years in a row.
That’s how many times we’ve now been voted Finance Provider of the Year (Sub-Prime) in the Car Dealer Power Awards.
There’s probably an official term for winning the same award year after year, but whatever it is, it’s starting to feel like a habit, and it’s one I don’t want us to break.
I know that everyone across all three of our offices are very proud to win this award. What makes this award mean even more is that we don’t put ourselves forward for it. There was no glitzy marketing campaign. No mass email push. It’s voted for by you, the dealers we work with, day in and day out.
I use the term ‘dealer partners’ all the time, but let me be clear, it’s not just a buzzword or a bit of marketing fluff. It’s how I and everyone in our offices genuinely view the thousands of dealers that we work with.
I called dealers on the phone and visited them face to face for over 10 years, so I know first-hand that when we work with a dealership, it’s not just a transactional relationship. We see it as a partnership, where we support each other, grow together, and face the ups and downs of the motor trade side by side.
To me, partnership means picking up the phone, having honest conversations, solving problems together, and celebrating the wins, big and small. It means treating every dealership with the respect and attention it deserves, no matter the size, volume, or location.
One of the nicest things I’ve heard from dealers — and I hear it a lot — is that we’re easy to deal with, easy to talk to, and treat people like people. Yes, our service and our product are strong, but that’s only part of it.
It’s not what wins us awards. People do. Relationships do.
Offering a consistent service and doing what we say we’ll do and making your life that little bit easier is in my opinion, what it’s all about.
I know that everyone across all three of our offices are very proud to win this award.
Richard Pygott is digital marketer for First Response. Call him on 0115 946 6365 or email richard. pygott@frfl.co.uk
Whether you’ve worked with us for years or only just started, your support means everything. It keeps us grounded, motivated and keeps us focused on what really matters. So, I just want to say a proper thank you to all our dealer partners who voted for us.
If you don’t currently work with us but want to know why so many dealers do, get in touch. You’ll be glad you did.
SUPPLIERS GUIDE
LOOKING FOR A MOTOR TRADE SUPPLIER? YOU CAN FIND THE DETAILS OF SELECTED COMPANIES HERE
Auctions
Auction4Cars.com
W: auction4cars.com
T: 03003 730 866
E: customerservice@auction4cars.com
Info: The UK’s leading independent trade car auction site. Completely online, it boasts some of the lowest auction fees on the market.
Auctions & Trade-To-Trade Sales
BCA
W: bca.co.uk
T: 0344 875 3480
Finance
Close Brothers Motor 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.
Finance
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.
Automotive E-Commerce
ATG
W: atg.auto
T: 0844 264 3519
Info: Leading provider of retailing solutions, Automotive Transformation Group maximises sales for retailers, OEMs, financiers and fleet suppliers by making car buying easier for their consumers.
Data
Real World Analytics
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.
DMS
DealerDesk
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.
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.
First Response
W: dealer.firstresponsefinance.co.uk
T: 0115 671 1755
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.
Finance
Forza Finance
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.
HR & People Management
HR Manager
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.
Insurance
Tradesure
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.
Key Control
Traka
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.
Lead Management
GardX AD-Vantage
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.
Lead Management
iVendi
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.
Legal & Compliance
Lawgistics
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.
Marketing, PR & Video
OnCue Communications
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.
Marketing, PR & Video
Marketing Delivery
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.
Oil & Lubricants
Mobil™
W: mobil.co.uk
T: 0800 0857 420
Recruitment
WeRecruit Auto
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.
Trade Bodies
Ben
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.
Vehicle Photography
Dealer 360
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.
Vehicle Tracking
Meta Trak
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.
Warranty Providers
AutoProtect
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.
Warranty Providers
Car Care Plan
W: carcareplan.com
T: 0344 573 8000
Info: Whether using Mobil 1™ or Mobil Super™, Mobil™ engine oils meet or exceed the latest standards of the oil industry and vehicle manufacturers.
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.
Warranty Providers
Centurion Warranties
W: centurionwarranties.co.uk
T: 0800 368 7420
E: support@cwuk.net
Info: Centurion offers comprehensive aftermarket warranty solutions to motor dealers across the UK who sell first-owned vehicles through to high-end, prestige and sports cars.
Warranty Providers
Händler Protect
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.
Warranty Providers
Warrantywise
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.
Website Design & Digital Marketing
Bluesky Interactive
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.
Website Design & Digital Marketing
Haswent
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.
Website Design & Digital Marketing
Spidersnet
W: spidersnet.co.uk
T: 01273 837749
E: hello@spidersnet.co.uk
Info: Websites that are designed to increase the number of customers for dealers. We have solutions for all budgets and needs. All solutions include our DMS Autopromotor.
It’s been a busy time with the BMW X3 lately and Jack Evans has been finding out what this SUV has to offer.
ITHE KNOWLEDGE
BMW X3
sometimes wonder what it would be like if cars had emotions and a way of talking. Take the X3 that I’ve been running for the past few weeks, for instance. It probably started out its life in a relatively quiet fashion, being used for performance testing. But after a short period down here on the south coast, I imagine that it has had the shock after being thrust into work during a busy bathroom fitting job.
Honestly, I doubt the engineers back at Munich ever designed their latest X3 to accommodate a full-size bath, sink and other associated bits and pieces, but the way this car swallowed them all up, you’d think that they had. In fact, with the seats down, the X3 is impressively practical, but that’s little surprise given how large this car has become. Far from being the ‘baby’ in BMW’s range of SUVs, the X3 is now larger than ever, which has been very useful lately.
This X3 is the ‘hot’ M50 version, too, and when it isn’t transporting a bathroom suite, a punchy 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine with 376bhp makes this family-focused model into a car that’ll shock even the most committed of hot hatch drivers. Zero to 60mph takes just 4.4 seconds, in fact.
During my first few days with the X3 M50, I was quite surprised by how loud it was. Even moderate presses of the throttle were accompanied by a steady grumble – until I worked out the car’s ‘Iconic Sounds’ system. With this turned off, the M50 is no longer loud, that steady in-car noise silenced in favour of a subtle engine note. I couldn’t quite believe the difference, actually, but since switching it off, I’ve not been inclined to reactivate it – the car is lovely and quiet with it disconnected.
Yet despite being accomplished in the bends, the X3 is just as impressive over long journeys. It’s a wonderfully smooth car, this one, and it bowls along at motorway speeds with excellent refinement and very little road noise. The ride is great, too, and though it’s a little firm when you’re going slowly, it’s more than supple enough.
I’m also not a fan of the mesh-style material, which is used on areas like the dashboard. It’s also applied to the tops of the doors and given that I often rest my arm there while driving on the motorway, it makes doing so quite uncomfortable. If it were trimmed in leather, the whole car would feel far more upmarket, and I’m not sure why BMW chose this material instead.
Mind you, I do think BMW has hit a sweet spot tech-wise. Everything works brilliantly and intuitively, with features easy to access. The steering wheel now gets an integrated switch-off for annoying systems like speed limit alert, so you can get it all set up just as you’d like it from the moment you get behind the wheel.
This is, however, the first non-electric vehicle that I’ve run in several years and I’m already feeling the pinch at the pumps. I’m lucky enough to have a home EV charger and with a low rate of home energy for charging, so paying £40 for just over a quarter of a tank of unleaded felt a bit painful. As for efficiency, I’ve just managed to get 39mpg.
I’m looking forward to seeing what the X3 has to offer over the next few months – though I think I may have to move closer to the local petrol station.
This month’s highlight: We’re looking forward to seeing what the X3 has to offer over the next few months.
OTHER CARS WE’RE DRIVING
Mileage: 3,160
The Car Dealer team are growing very fond of our cheap and cheerful Dacia Duster
Mileage: 6,082
We’re really putting the Leon through its paces and we’re very impressed.
