A Dacia Duster is coming to the aid of people requiring emergency medical attention following a new partnership with the Windsor Community First Responders.

Dacia has loaned the Windsor branch of Community First Responders a Duster 4×4 for the use of its volunteers in their invaluable work in assisting the Ambulance Service and providing potentially life-saving treatment to those in need of urgent medical assistance.

Trained by the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and re-qualified every six months, Windsor Community First Responders provide a rapid response to many 999 calls where an ambulance has been requested by people in their region. The locality of its volunteers means that they can often arrive at an incident before an ambulance and administer essential pre-hospital treatment.

Working on a rota basis and ‘on-call’ 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Windsor Community First Responders will specifically use the Duster as a Dynamic Response Vehicle (DRV) to assist people who have suffered medical emergencies that include unconsciousness, chest pain, stroke or breathing difficulties. The 4×4 capability of the Duster ensures that the crew can reach patients that are in hard-to-access and remote rural areas, as well as those that have been taken ill in the street, at home or at their work place.

The Duster’s spacious interior easily accommodates the crew of up to three volunteers and the essential equipment that is needed for callouts, which includes a defibrillator, oxygen, masks, bandages, Entonox and other medical supplies.

The multiple award-winning Duster is the most affordable SUV on the UK market – priced from £9,495. Duster is available in a choice of five trim levels, with customers able to choose from 1.6 SCe 115 and 1.2 TCe 125 petrol engines or the 1.5 dCi diesel engine. All Duster versions are available in 4×2 or 4×4 set-ups.

The new Volkswagen Tiguan is available in five distinct trim levels with a choice of seven engines and, like all Volkswagens, the Tiguan is further customised via a wide range of options.

The Tiguan can be personalised yet further via a wide range of accessories that can be added at any time.

The new Tiguan enjoys sharp exterior styling and this can be preserved at the rear with a chrome-look protective strip for the tailgate (RRP £46.00; fitted £75.00) ¹.  Similarly, high-quality aluminium sill trims protect the bodywork by the front door apertures, and also serve to further personalise the Tiguan (RRP £66.00; fitted £95.00).  These are also available in black or silver (RRP £57.00; fitted £115.00).

Keeping the crisp contours of the new Tiguan clean can be aided by fitting front and rear mud flaps.  They prevent rain spatter, mud, and general road grime from reaching the bodywork (front: RRP £56.00; fitted £85.00; rear: RRP £56.00; fitted £85.00).

Rubber floor mats for the front of the car are beneficial whatever the weather as a non-slip underside and easy-to-clean top surface make these durable, tailored mats a smart choice in every sense (RRP £40.00).  Versions are also available for the rear of the car (RRP £30.00).

Alternatively, a choice of basic or luxury carpet mats (RRP £55.00 and £85.00) can also provide tailored protection for the car’s carpets.  Another option focused on the styling of the Tiguan is the pedal cap set.  This is available for manual and DSG-equipped cars (RRP £98.00; fitted £170.00).

The Tiguan is Volkswagen’s latest compact Sport Utility Vehicle, and as the name implies SUVs can be used for a whole host of purposes.  The boot can be subjected to anything from transporting the weekly shop to carrying pets, sporting equipment, furniture… the list goes on.  Covering the boot with Volkswagen’s flexible boot liner could therefore be a good decision.  Like the carpet mats, it is tailored to fit the specific shape of the Tiguan, and its high-grip surface prevents items from sliding around (RRP £40.00).  Similarly, the accessory luggage net further prevents items from moving about.  It’s easy to fit, with hooks that attach to the lashing rings in the boot (RRP £55.00).

Keeping pets safely contained in the boot is simple, meanwhile, courtesy of the accessory upper partition grille, which is quickly fitted and just as easily removed.  It provides a sturdy metal barrier  that will prevent pets from entering the passenger compartment of the car (RRP £152.00; fitted £210.00).

Fitting load bars to the car’s roof provides the base system for a range of attachments.  The load bars have been crash tested and can be locked to prevent theft (RRP £175.00; fitted £193.00).  A robust storage bag is also available.

With the load bars in place, Volkswagen offers a range of attachments including a bicycle holder (£85.00; fitted £103.00) which has also been crash tested, and doesn’t impede access to the boot. There’s also a surfboard holder (RRP TBA).  The ski and snowboard holder (RRP £177.00; fitted £195.00) carries four skis or two snowboards and can be locked.  The range of carrying options continues with the matt black 340-litre roofbox (RRP £225.00).  The functional box has a capacity of 50 kg and it’s easy to fit.

An alternative bicycle carrier can be attached to the towbar (£525.00; fitted £543.00).  This has a super-quick release system, and enables the Tiguan to carry three bicycles with a maximum weight of 54 kg.  This is the least bulky and lightest bicycle carrier in its class, and still allows easy access to the boot.

Volkswagen has designed a child seat that fits the Tiguan perfectly.  The vehicle – like all Volkswagen passenger cars – is equipped with Isofix mounting points on the two outer rear seats and so the G1 Isofix DUO Plus seat is simple to fit (RRP £370.00).

The Volkswagen Tiguan comes with an anti-theft alarm system and engine immobiliser as standard but, for those with a desire for the ultimate in security, the solution is the CobraTrak Plus vehicle tracking system.  With a one-year subscription and fitting included, the RRP is £536.00.  Cobra is the European leader in tracking stolen vehicles and is the only tracking company approved by Volkswagen.  The system is fully covered by Volkswagen’s three-year warranty.

In developing accessories for the Tiguan, Volkswagen has also tried to group together popular items in great value packs.  For example, a clothes hanger is available, as is a bag hooking system.  Both fit into the base of the front seat headrests and are available as part of the Business Pack (RRP £99.00).  This also includes the luggage net and a base module that attaches to the front seat headrest and allows the attachment of a folding table, and Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy tablet brackets.  A simpler design of coat hanger is available separately (RRP £26.00).

ŠKODA has kicked off its major SUV campaign with the new Kodiaq. The 4.7m long SUV is a versatile all-rounder. It offers the largest boot capacity within its class and will be available with the option of a third row of seats.  The Kodiaq places a new brand emphasis on infotainment, assistance systems and connectivity, and goes on sale at the beginning of 2017.

With the Kodiaq, ŠKODA is entering a new market segment that is growing quickly across the world – the large SUV class. With this campaign, the brand wants to engage new customer groups, increase its market share and further strengthen its position in international markets. The ŠKODA Kodiaq demonstrates where ŠKODA stands today, and points to its future – with a variety of new technology and future-oriented features in terms of connectivity, including mobile online services.

“Our new ŠKODA Kodiaq SUV is a great all-rounder”, said ŠKODA CEO, Bernhard Maier. “It combines an active sense of vitality with the brand’s classic qualities – a high degree of functionality and an outstanding amount of space. As always, in the design process we have focused on offering a little bit more car, and as a result, the best vehicle in the segment. In addition, with its emotive design, the ŠKODA Kodiaq is a strong presence on the road.”

Nissan has become the first automotive brand in Europe to sell a vehicle exclusively through the use of social networking site Twitter.

From first contact with the client to the final decision to purchase – just six days later – all communication between flagship Galician dealer Antamotor and customer Raul Escolano took place via the social media platform.

Known to the dealership as user @escolano, he first courted car companies using the hashtag #compraruncocheportwitter (in English, ‘buy a car on Twitter’).

Escolano threw down the gauntlet to automotive brands across Spain, challenging them to support him in buying a vehicle, solely through the use of social networks.

Nissan, via leading franchisee Antamotor in A Coruña, impressed Mr. Escolano with its innovative approach, using the video streaming platform Periscope to film the X-Trail, with the dealer presenting all of the vehicle’s key features in a personalised walk-through which was uploaded to a live stream.

Nissan then went head-to-head with rival models in a poll on Twitter, posed by Mr. Escolano, in which followers were asked to rate the cars on the shortlist. The survey, which received 2.6 million impressions (source: Brandwatch), ranked X-Trail ahead of its rivals with 43% of the vote, effectively helping Nissan to seal the deal.

In the spirit of the truly innovative purchase, keys to the X-Trail were delivered direct to Mr. Escolano’s home by courier, to complete the online transaction.

The vehicle itself was collected from the brand’s Spanish Headquarters, in the first face-to-face interaction between Nissan and the customer since the sale began two months ago.

MG Motor UK’s first ever SUV, the MG GS, has given a boost to record sales for the UK brand.

Official half-year figures, released from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited (SMMT) show that MG Motor has had its best start to a year.

Year-to-date figures show it has exceeded last year’s figures with 1,896 units; a 13.53% increase. June alone has pushed the brand up 43.59%, with 336 units.

MG’s new SUV, the MG GS, is blazing the way with more than 70 registrations already; only a little less than two weeks since it officially went on sale. Regional test drives have been taking place across the country, which has paved the way to more sales and fantastic feedback on the new model.

Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing for MG, said: “This year has got off to a fantastic start for us. Launching our new model, the MG GS, has given us the boost we needed and it is clear to see that we are firmly on track to make 2016 a record year.”

To show how strongly MG is growing in the UK, this year’s half-year sales are more than the total sales for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 combined.

Matthew added: “The MG3 and MG6 took us through to June, and then the MG GS helped give us that extra boost. Our newest addition will definitely help push the brand even further. We are growing rapidly and attracting new customers and new dealerships alike. If ever there was a time for people to look seriously at either buying a new MG or becoming a dealer, it’s got to be now. We are really delighted with the way things are going for MG.”

To find out more about the newest addition to the MG line-up, visit www.mg.co.uk/gs.

£500 towards Kia Accessories for Caravan Club members

This summer, customers who are interested in buying a Sorento and also hold Caravan Club membership will benefit from an exclusive offer of £500 towards the parts and fittings of Kia genuine accessories from their local Kia dealership between 1 July 2016 and 30 September 2016.

Alongside other Q3 offers such as a £1,000 discount off a car when a customer takes a test drive, customers who wish to use their Sorento SUV for towing and caravanning will now be able to take advantage of this discount and prepare for the summer holidays accordingly.

To receive their discount, potential customers of the Sorento need to hold caravan club membership, and show proof of the membership card which must be valid upon purchase. The offer applies to all Kia accessories, not just those related to towing.

Manual versions can haul a braked trailer of up to 2,500kg, while automatics can tow up to 2,000kg. All versions can tow an unbraked trailer of up to 750kg.

All Sorento grades come with all-wheel drive, hill-start assist, trailer stability assist and reversing sensors. Higher specs add on leather seats, forward sensors, camera systems and exclusive to the KX-4, smart-park assist. As standard across the Kia range, they also come with a fully-transferable seven-year warranty.

£500 offer is inclusive of RRP, labour and VAT and available at Kia’s 188 registered dealers.

Jaguar Land Rover Classic, the new brand offering classic car sales, restorations, parts supply and driving experiences to Jaguar and Land Rover owners and enthusiasts, will have a new home later this year following the £7.5m acquisition and development of a new headquarters in Coventry, England.

The new Classic headquarters is planned to open early in 2017, and will be based near to the Jaguar Land Rover SVO Technical Centre in Coventry – an all-new, £20m hub of specialist vehicle personalisation, assembly and finishing.

Tim Hannig, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “The development of a new home for Jaguar Land Rover Classic in Coventry is hugely significant for owners and enthusiasts of classic Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.

“In this fantastic new facility we will offer the opportunity for owners and prospective customers to meet with us, review and select the cars or services that meet their personal requirements and then establish a close relationship with Jaguar Land Rover Classic throughout the purchase process and beyond.” 

The expansive new Jaguar Land Rover Classic site will continually feature a selection of cars from the growing Jaguar Land Rover Classic collection, which is made up of a variety of important historic cars from the two great British brands. The Classic business will continue to offer customers the opportunity to experience some of these notable cars through its Classic Drives programme: http://www.jaguar.co.uk/about-jaguar/jaguar-classic/classic-driving.html

Customers will also be able to view and buy Jaguar and Land Rover Classic vehicles, which are restored through programmes like Land Rover ‘Reborn’. Other models will also get a similar treatment, allowing customers to experience classic Jaguars and Land Rovers as they were when they were first manufactured.

The new Cooper Discoverer A/T3 Sport, an all-terrain 4×4 tyre, is the latest premium product launched by Cooper Tire Europe. Designed specifically for the European market, the A/T3 Sport is available now in a range of sizes for light trucks and sport utility vehicles.

Manufactured in Europe, the Discoverer A/T3 Sport is a 60% on-road and 40% off-road tyre developed for optimum performance across varied terrain and in all conditions.

Introduced to replace the Discoverer A/T3, the Discoverer A/T3 Sport boasts a modified tread pattern to reduce road noise and improve handling. The initial lineup will include 21 sizes with 30 additional sizes being introduced later this year.

The new A/T3 Sport retains the A/T3 benefits of reliable tread wear and all-season traction due to the zig-zag siping technology. In addition, lateral groove protectors reduce the chance of stone retention and dual draft angles on the tread element walls assist in cut and chip resistance.

The tyre’s tread elements have been innovatively designed in pairs by Cooper engineers to deliver excellent stability and confident handling, whatever the weather.

Jeff Schumaker, Vice President of European Operations / Managing Director, Cooper Tire Europe, said, “We are proud to be manufacturing the latest generation of our all-terrain tyres here in Europe. It means we have the added benefit of improved supply for this product and we anticipate the A/T3 Sport being highly popular among our customers.

“The A/T3 has been extremely successful in terms of sales with the A/T3 Sport being built on the same proven all-terrain Discoverer technology as the A/T3, but with new enhancements.” 

Moulds for all of Cooper’s current tyre ranges utilise the latest technology in spring venting design for a crisp, clean, premium appearance.

www.coopertire.co.uk.

Those for whom a standard pick-up just isn’t tough enough should head to their local Isuzu dealer on 25 July, when order books open for the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35, the most extreme pick-up ever sold through a UK franchised dealer network.

The AT35 is engineered to excel in the most arduous terrain and will meet the challenges from farmers and other rural workers, those in the construction industry and adventurous thrill-seekers alike.

It has giant 35-inch wheels, lofty 290mm ground clearance, and rut-busting approach, ramp and departure angles.

William Brown, General Manager at Isuzu UK, said: “The Isuzu D-Max has been a runaway success since its launch four years ago, thanks to its comfortable and refined interior, class-leading load-lugging capabilities, and low running costs and comprehensive warranty. The Arctic Trucks AT35 retains those strong D-Max attributes, and adds totally unprecedented offroad credentials and brutally hardcore looks. We’re expecting it to appeal to a wide range of private and commercial buyers.”

The AT35 pick-up will be available from 36 Isuzu dealers nationwide.

Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary

Plans to continue the success of the Jeep Grand Cherokee range of SUV vehicles have been announced, with details of enhancements to the current model for 2016/17.

In addition, and to celebrate the iconic 4×4 brand’s 75^th birthday, Jeep has also revealed details of a 75^th Anniversary limited edition Grand Cherokee for the UK.

Meanwhile, an addition to the SRT range of Grand Cherokees, the SRT Night limited edition has also been announced for sale in this country.

New Grand Cherokee (MY16)

The premium, large SUV of the Jeep line-up, Grand Cherokee represents the standard in terms of power, comfort, innovation and craftsmanship. After nearly five million sales worldwide, the most awarded SUV ever continues to evolve, with stylish exterior and interior designs, advanced technological features and enhanced on- and off-road capability, courtesy of its eight-speed automatic transmission.

The latest model year Grand Cherokee now has a new Start/Stop function and electric steering which helps to achieve a 14 gram reduction in CO2 (to 184g/km), compared with the previous model year. Fuel economy has also been improved to 40.4 mpg on diesel versions.

Unlike conventional power steering, the new electric power steering system, with selectable driving modes, does not draw power from the engine and, with a resultant reduction in fluid weight, fuel savings are made, in conjunction with the new Start/Stop function.

Inside, a new, more substantial premium gear lever replaces the current aircraft-style e-shift, and a new, revised centre stack includes Sport and Start/Stop buttons. New electric power steering with selectable drive modes (Sport, Comfort or Normal) is introduced and safety features such as a ‘Stop’ function up to 7mph on the Rear Park Assist, and full speed forward collision warning are included for the first time.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee MY16 starts at £45,050 OTR for the 3.0 CRD Limited+, rising to £52,550 OTR for the 3.0 CRD Summit.

Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary

It is a Jeep tradition to celebrate key anniversaries, or the conquering of inaccessible places, with special editions. And to celebrate its 75 years of history, the brand is introducing a 75th Anniversary special edition offered on all models of the line-up. One of these is the Grand Cherokee 75^th Anniversary version, of which just 125 retailed examples will be available in the UK, with the vehicle available in Jeep showrooms later this month.

Based on the MY16 platform and powered by the same 3.0-litre V6 MultiJet 250 hp engine, it is paired with the eight-speed automatic transmission and the Quadra-Trac II 4×4 system.

Equipment is comprehensive and includes external bronze detailing and 75^th Anniversary badging, 20-inch bronze coloured alloy wheels, a bold new front design, new LED fog lamps, a Safety Technology Pack (adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with crash mitigation, cross path detection, and bind spot monitoring), Quadra-Lift air suspension, dual pane panoramic sunroof, 75^th Anniversary seat design with 1941 logo, and black leather with tangerine stitching.

Four colours will be available for the new 75^th Anniversary car in the UK: exclusive Recon Green, Bright White, Brilliant Black and Granite.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee 75^th Anniversary costs £50,550 OTR.

Grand Cherokee SRT Night

The new, high performance SRT Night version is even more limited in number – just 30 will be available for sale in the UK, with first units ready this month.

This limited edition SRT Night version of the fastest and most powerful Jeep ever, the Grand Cherokee SRT, has a stealth-like appearance with its upper and lower grille mounts, B and C pillars and side window surrounds all coloured Matte Black. The front applique is also Matte Black, as is the ‘Jeep’ and ‘SRT’ badging on the bonnet and tailgate. The rear door features a Matte Black ‘Grand Cherokee’ badge.

Stylish ‘Black Vapor’ 20-inch wheels are finished in an exclusive Satin Black and are designed to showcase the Grand Cherokee SRT Night’s standard Brembo brakes, which give the car enviable stopping power.

Unique interior appointments include the luxurious Black Laguna leather seats with black accent stitching, leather covered door armrests and centre console including light black chrome surround. A steering wheel bezel in anodized silver, a lit ‘SRT’ on the steering wheel DAB cover and ‘SRT’ on the door sill plates are also key features. Available colours for the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Night are Brilliant Black and Brilliant White.

The SRT Night is powered by a 6.4-litre V-8 petrol engine delivering 468 hp and 624 Nm of torque. Awesome performance figures include 0-62 mph acceleration in less than five seconds, and a top speed of 160 mph.

The 2016 Grand Cherokee SRT Night comes as standard with exclusive ‘Performance Pages’ in the 8.4-inch UConnect Touchscreen (activated by an SRT button next to the Selec-Trac controls). These have been revised with an expanded array of performance timers and gauge readouts, while all-new drive modes allow owners to personalize their driving experience both on-road and on-track.

In addition, standard launch control mimics a professional driver’s inputs to optimise the Grand Cherokee SRT Night’s performance by bringing engine, transmission, driveline, stability control, and suspension in line for a textbook launch.

The updated Selec-Trac system on the Grand Cherokee SRT Night uses performance-tuned software to distinguish the five dynamic modes: Auto, Sport, Tow, Track, and Snow, enabling drivers to choose a vehicle setting that ideally meets both their requirements and ambient conditions.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Night costs £69,865 OTR.

www.jeep.co.uk