Saving money will most definitely be on the agenda for many this year but many neglect the expenses that derive from your vehicle.

These tips give advice on saving fuel, from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards Richard Gladman.

• Try to keep your driving smooth, gentle acceleration and using the highest safe gear will use less fuel. Ease off the accelerator early for traffic lights if they are red, why hurry up to wait.
• Try to avoid driving during the rush hour. Stopping and starting in traffic needs the use of the first gear and a lot fuel is dispensed to get the vehicle moving again.
• Keep your tyres well maintained at the correct pressures, when they are due for replacement there are brands which are designed for extra economy which may be worth considering.
• Get rid of unnecessary weight. Cars work just like the human body, your body needs more energy to more around more weight and so does your car, take heavy items out of the car if you don’t need to carry them. A roof rack or roof box will increase drag and you will use more fuel to overcome this remove it if it is not being used.
• Stop the constant back and forth. During this winter season as your engine is trying to warm up it uses more fuel for the first four miles or so. Your engine stays cold when you drive less than two miles and your car will produce 60 per cent more pollution than a warm engine – avoid these short journeys where possible.
• Turn off the air-conditioning it will be working overtime and it uses extra fuel. When the rear window is cleared turn off the rear screen heater, the more electricity your car has to produce the more fuel it will use.
• Keep your speed low. It sounds pretty standard but driving faster uses more fuel, you can reduce fuel consumption by up to 25 per cent. Try pressing more lightly on the accelerator, often you can maintain the same speed with less pressure on the pedal.

Richard said: “Fuel is expensive and burning fuel is bad for the environment, a few small changes in the way we prepare our vehicles and plan our journeys can make a big difference in our fuel consumption. Sound observation and planning on our necessary journeys will help. Remember that safety and fuel saving can be complementary if we drive effectively.”

The forthcoming 2017 Geneva Motor Show marks a turning point for Mitsubishi Motors Corporation with the world premiere of its latest SUV – the first of a new generation of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles.

Tthe sporty, coupe-like SUV will line up alongside the Mitsubishi ASX and Mitsubishi Outlander to broaden the brand’s model range and introduce a whole new audience to Mitsubishi Motors, a name long associated with stylish, tough and extremely capable SUVs and 4X4s.

Sharper in its expression than a conventional coupe, this new, compact SUV will feature highly chamfered contours with a wedge-shaped belt line and a distinctive V-line in the rear quarter stemming from the forward-slanted C-pillar and the chunky, muscular rear fenders.

The all-new Mitsubishi SUV will make its global debut on the Mitsubishi stand at the Geneva Motor Show (Hall 2, Stand 2130) on March 7.

Customers interested in the new Mitsubishi SUV can go to the following link for updates: http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/new-suv/

Audi is quattro and quattro is Audi – the famous all-wheel-drive system has been a defining feature of the Vorsprung durch Technik brand for over 35 years, and proof of that enduring appeal has been provided by the eight millionth quattro-equipped model to leave the production line.

Fittingly, the worthy recipient of this particularly momentous example of the all-weather roadholding and driver appeal amplifier is an all-new Q5 SUV in Garnet Red fresh from a brand new plant in San José Chiapa, Mexico.

quattro technoloAudi achieved a milestone in automotive history with the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system – in 1980, no other manufacturer offered fast-running and light all-wheel drive technology for high-volume production. The technology premiered in 1980 in the Ur-quattro at the Geneva International Motor Show. In 1986 Audi replaced the first generation’s manually locking centre differential with a Torsen differential which could variably distribute drive torque. The planetary drive followed in 2005, with its asymmetrical, dynamic distribution of power and torque. The self-locking centre differential is the subject of continual development by Audi engineers and is considered the benchmark for traction and driving dynamics combined with very light weight.gy made its debut in 1980, and today it is available in more than 100 model versions.

White maintained its position as the UK’s most popular new car colour for the fourth year in a row in 2016, according to data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. More than half a million new car buyers chose the colour last year – a fifth of all registrations – although figures show its popularity is starting to fade with demand falling -2.1%, the first drop since 2005.

White and black are the nation’s two favourite car colours – of the 2.69 million new cars registered in 2016, white (552,329) and black (542,862) took more than 40% market share. While white maintained its lead in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in England it was overtaken by black as the new car colour of choice.

Nationally, the third and fourth most popular colours were grey and blue, both gaining market share. Meanwhile, yellow cars appeared in the top 10 for the first time since 2013 at the expense of mauve, which dropped to 11th place.

Regionally, black topped the chart in the South East while also overtaking white as the favourite new car colour in East Anglia and the West Midlands. However, white continued to be most popular across the rest of the country, with buyers in the South West, East Anglia, East Midlands, Yorkshire and the North all following the national trend.

Car colours: Biggest winners and losers in 2016

Going up

• Pink may still be a niche colour choice, but last year demand grew 82.7% to 3,527 units.
• A 44% rise in demand for Bronze cars saw a record 8,902 people spec the colour in 2016.
• Turquoise’s popularity grew fourfold last year, from just 792 registrations in 2015 to 2,718.

Going down

• Is brown’s time in the top 10 coming to an end? Demand fell -40.1%, dropping it one place to ninth.
• Appetite for beige fell -27.6% to under 10,000 for the first time since 2000 with 8,426 cars registered.
• Silver saw the biggest volume decline, falling 22,209, with 273,220 buyers choosing it compared with 843,870 in its heyday back in 2004.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the UK’s best-selling Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. At its introduction in 2014 it effectively created the ultra-low emission vehicle segment, notching up 10,000 sales in the UK within the first ten months and amassing a total sales figure of 26,600 by the end of 2016. The vehicle is derived from the third generation of the Mitsubishi Outlander (which pioneered the ‘cross-over’ vehicle design concept with the Mitsubishi Airtrek in 2001 and has sold 1.5 million units globally since launch) but was developed from the ground up to be driven by either an internal combustion engine or hybrid technology and as a result there are no compromises in terms of packaging, practicality or drving dynamics.

Extensively revised in 2016, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV vehicle continues to take the automotive world by storm and now the new Outlander PHEV has arrived, representing another evolution in technology, safety and dynamic performance. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is in showrooms now with prices starting from £34,749 (excluding the £2,500 Plug-in Car Grant).

For 2017 Mitsubishi introduces a new EV Priority Mode across all variants. The new EV switch is located below the 4WD button and once activated, it allows the driver to operate the vehicle in EV mode without the engine starting, provided there is sufficient charge in the batteries. An electronic parking brake is also new to the 2017 Outlander PHEV, as well as the brake auto hold button function which, when activated, holds the vehicle in traffic or on an include the same way a handbrake would, allowing the driver to release the footbrake.

Across all variants, the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV powertrain and chassis has been revised, with new dampers and rear suspension bushes, making it a quieter and more refined to drive than ever. Rapid charging has also been improved, reducing its charging time to 80% from 30 minutes to approximately 25 minutes, and its pure electric range is increased to 33 miles, up from 32 miles. The 2017 Outlander PHEV also delivers more performance with improved acceleration in EV mode compared to its predecessor. CO₂ emissions have also been lowered by 1g/km to 41g/km, with an average weighted fuel consumption of 166 mpg – a 6.4% increase versus the previous version. Regenerative braking technology, which works to put lost energy back into the battery when slowing down and which can adjusted while driving using the steering wheel paddles, has also been upgraded for 2017 Outlander PHEV – the drive battery output has been improved by 10%.

Safety features have also been further developed and improved on the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Forward Collision Mitigation technology, standard on the Mitsubishi Outlander 4hs and 5hs versions, now features Pedestrian Detection for added safety, while Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert have both been introduced on the 4h variant to assist the driver when reversing out of a space. For example, if traffic is coming from the right, the icon located on the right-hand mirror will light up, accompanied by an audio alert.

Another colour has been added to the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV colour palette in the form of Cool Silver. A shark-fin antenna is now incorporated in the roof line and there is a secure charge-point cover linked to the central locking. For a more refined exterior look, Outlander PHEV also features silver roof rails, as well as clean chrome accents on the sills.

Inside, the new Electronic Parking Brake and auto-hold button are located to the right of the 4WD and the new EV Priority Mode switches on the centre console. The console, and other key surfaces, have been finished with a black ash design and chrome accents and, as before, it is extremely well finished with soft-touch switches and ambient lighting flooding the floor area and centre console box. A four-spoke heated steering wheel, with a thick high-grip rim, fine leather trim and multiple control switches, completes the upmarket cabin feel.

Jaguar Land Rover is pioneering a new way of buying cars across its global network, using Virtual Reality so that customers won’t need to wait for newly launched vehicles to arrive in their local showroom.

Jaguar Land Rover’s world-leading Virtual Reality Experience packs will be introduced across retailers by the end of this month to immerse customers in each new vehicle the company launches.

Even before vehicles are available, retailers will be able to connect customers to a virtual tour where they can see and interact with a life-size model through a VR headset. Using the latest digital technology, the headset will take customers on a journey ‘under the hood’, with the help of compelling animations to tell the technical stories which make the vehicle special.

The VR Experience also enables the customer to explore the vehicle interior in 360 degrees from different viewpoints. A tablet version of the experience is also available if customers want to remind themselves or obtain more details when talking through options with the retailer.

Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover Group Sales Operations Director, said: “As if our vehicles weren’t exciting enough already, this new way of buying a car will engage customers further with our innovative capabilities. The VR Experience will also help retailers to break the ice with customers and inject even more fun into the process of buying our vehicles.”

Jaguar Land Rover will roll out the VR Experience across more than 1,500 retailers in 85 markets, localised into 20 languages. Jaguar Land Rover trialled the technology during the launch of the F-PACE in the UK market last year, and will implement it with each new vehicle launched during 2017, starting with the all-new Land Rover Discovery.

PEUGEOT has launched a revolutionary e-commerce capability, the world’s first all-encompassing online car-buying process, under the banner “Order Online by PEUGEOT”.

Order Online by PEUGEOT represents the first time that every step in the buying process can be completed in one place online, in one sitting.

Customers can build a car which meets their specific requirements, secure a guaranteed part exchange valuation for their existing car, and fund the vehicle according to their individual budget criteria, using a range of finance package deals.

The system is now live, meaning that customers can browse PEUGEOT’s model range and save details in their own, password-protected account, allowing them to think about the purchase before ‘clicking to buy’, or starting the configuration process again from the start to compare packages and cars.

With a completely new web interface, built in-house by the PEUGEOT team, it is entirely feasible for a customer to go through the whole process from end-to-end, and order their dream car, in less than 30 minutes. With no need to visit a dealer to complete finance paperwork, this “buy at home” capability remains unique in the market.

David Peel, PEUGEOT UK Managing Director, said: “The launch of our e-commerce system represents a huge step change for the UK automotive industry. The retail landscape in general has changed immeasurably over the last few years and we are not only proud to be the first car manufacturer to offer customers a truly end-to-end experience, but also honoured to be the first of PEUGEOT’s markets to unveil the system.

“Traditionally, car buyers can find visiting a dealership daunting. With e-commerce by PEUGEOT, that pressure to make a decision is removed; the customer is in full control and can deliberate all they want over spec and finance decisions, change their minds and retrace their steps as many times as they wish.

“If, having browsed the model range, selected their car and found a finance package that works for them, customers want a test drive, they can still arrange this before committing to a purchase.”

The PEUGEOT system automatically filters the best available options for the user, based on the criteria they set. This process allows customers to reach the “magic moment” – the instant they decide to press the button to buy the product – at their own convenience.

The system even makes taking delivery of a new car convenient, allowing customers the option of either picking it up from their local PEUGEOT dealership or having it delivered to their door.

Finance deals are also available immediately online through e-commerce, meaning that customers can make informed decisions without having to wait and search separately. The part exchange element of the system is underwritten by trusted partner, Manheim.

To access this system visit: https://offers.peugeot.co.uk/

Two minutes is not long, but it’s enough time for Land Rover to celebrate a motoring icon. The Range Rover has pioneered design, refinement and engineering innovation since 1970 and Land Rover has showcased the evolution of its luxury SUV through four generations with a unique animation lasting only 120 seconds.

The specially commissioned visual has been created to mark key dates in the history of the legendary SUV, as production of the original two-door model ended 23 years ago this month and SVAutobiography Dynamic goes on sale around the world.

The detailed animation shows how today’s Range Rover retains many of the design hallmarks established by the 1970 Classic and culminates with the latest derivative, SVAutobiography Dynamic.

Range Rover has achieved more than one million sales (1.7 million to date) along the way. Trademark features including its ‘floating’ roof, distinctive clamshell bonnet, continuous belt line and practical split tailgate all pay homage to the groundbreaking original.

The Range Rover story begins with the 26 pre-production models, which wore Velar badges in an effort to hide its identity – velare means to ‘veil’ or ‘cover’ in Italian – made up of letters from the ‘ALVIS’ and ‘ROVER’ badges that usually adorn the front and rear of a vehicle. Next comes the timeless Range Rover Classic two-door as the images showcase successive generations, finishing with the most powerful derivative, the 550PS SVAutobiography Dynamic built by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division.

When it was first launched in 1970, Range Rover was one of the first vehicles to deliver permanent all-wheel drive while many others were still selectable. In 1971 the original model was cited as ‘an exemplary work of industrial design’ when it became the first vehicle to be displayed at the world-famous Louvre museum in Paris and it has been at the forefront of design and engineering innovation ever since.

The four-door variant was introduced in 1981, quickly followed by the first application of an automatic transmission in Range Rover in 1982. In 1989 the luxury SUV was the first 4×4 to be fitted with anti-lock brakes (ABS) and in 1992 it became the first SUV in the world fitted with electronic traction control and automatic electronic air suspension.

The engineering firsts continued in 2012, when Range Rover was the world’s first all-aluminium SUV. More recently, in 2014, the luxury SUV was the first vehicle to employ Land Rover’s advanced semi-autonomous All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) technology, effectively an off-road cruise control for autonomous control of speed on all terrains.

The last model included in the animation, the SVAutobiography Dynamic, shares its V8 engine with the acclaimed Range Rover Sport SVR and is specially calibrated to produce 680Nm of torque and 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in only 5.4 seconds. Interior enhancements including diamond quilted leather upholstery with contrast stitching deliver elevated refinement and desirability.

Since its launch 48 years ago Land Rover’s flagship has achieved more than 1,700,000 sales across the globe and earned a reputation as the ultimate luxury all-terrain vehicle. The legendary SUV’s unrivalled breadth of capability and elegance make it a favourite of royalty, business leaders, politicians and celebrities the world over.

Range Rover is designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK, and exported to more than 170 global markets.

The evolution of the Range Rover is visualised with the following models:

• 1969    Range Rover Prototype (Velar)
• 1970    Range Rover Classic (two-door)
• 1973    Range Rover Classic (Suffix C)
• 1981    Range Rover Classic (four-door)
• 1994    Second-generation Range Rover (P38a)
• 2001    Third-generation Range Rover
• 2012    Fourth-generation Range Rover
• 2014    Fourth-generation Range Rover Long Wheelbase
• 2015    Range Rover SVAutobiography
• 2016    Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic

Nissan has launched a new special version of its award-winning Navara pick-up, with a host of additional extras added.

Badged the Trek-1°, the car has made its world debut at the Brussels Motor Show. The name relates to the geographical location of the Navarre desert in northern Spain – at -1° of longitude – from which the Nissan Navara takes inspiration for its name.

Exclusivity of the Navara Trek-1° is guaranteed. Only 1,500 examples will be built, all in Double Cab body style. Each is based on the Navara’s flagship Tekna grade, with a number of desirable extras fitted as standard.

These include black sport styling bars, with two powerful forward-facing LED spot lamps attached to the top section, giving a finishing touch that’s practical and stylish.

The Navara Trek-1° also comes with black side styling bars, black 18-inch six-spoke alloy wheels and a smart new load bed cover. Made from high-grade durable plastic and finished in black or white, it’s hinged at the end closest to the cab and lifts easily using a single gas strut at either side.

This practical addition offers exceptional security, allowing more valuable loads to be hidden from view. Beneath the cover is a load bed divider and liner, which will keep those loads secure during transportation. It’s fitted into the load bed’s C-channel restraint system, allowing it to slide forwards and backwards for ease of access / loading.

Optional extras on the Trek-1° include leather seats, heated front seats and eight-way adjustment on the driver’s seat. A powered sunroof, tow bar, differential lock and full-sized spare wheel are also available.

The Trek-1° is available in two exterior colours – the new-to-Navara Pearlescent White and Black Metallic. Customers who want a six-speed manual gearbox can opt for the 160 PS or 190 PS versions of the 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel engine, while those wanting a seven-speed automatic transmission can select the 190 PS. All versions offer ‘on-demand’ four-wheel drive as standard.

The Nissan Navara is the pick-up that’s both tough and smart. Every Double Cab comes with unique-in-segment multi-link rear suspension for a superior ride, plus a number of safety technologies including Forward Emergency Braking, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist.

As it’s based on the range-topping Tekna grade, the Navara Trek-1° also benefits from the NissanConnect infotainment system with satellite navigation and DAB digital radio, 360° Around View Monitor, rear parking sensors and LED headlights.

The Nissan Navara Trek-1° is on sale now in Belgium, and will be launched in other European markets in the coming weeks.

Whether you choose to drive a luxury sports car or an environmentally friendly hybrid, it’s clear that UK drivers believe your car says something about you. That’s according to new research conducted by CarGurus, the online automotive site, that found ‘being seen in a nice car’ is important to nearly half of the driving population (42 per cent).

Nearly a third of drivers (30 per cent) agree that life is too short to drive a boring car and almost a fifth of men (19 per cent), admitted wanting to own a vehicle that demonstrated to other road users that they could afford an expensive car.

At the other end of the spectrum, 43 per cent of drivers wanted a car that wouldn’t make them appear ‘flashy’ or a ‘show off’, particularly those aged between 25-34 (52 per cent) versus 45-54 year olds (32 per cent). In fact, 56 per cent of drivers said they’d want to buy a car that is environmentally friendly.

Irrespective of whether you want to buy an expensive car to flaunt your apparent wealth, or a less polluting vehicle to showcase your social conscience, most drivers appear to buy cars for practical activities. Doing the grocery shopping is among the top three considerations when buying a car (73 per cent), as well as visiting family and friends (74 per cent) and days out/activities (73 per cent).

As part of the research, UK adults were shown a list of the most searched for brands on CarGurus and were asked to pick words that best described their perception of someone who drives a car of that make.

According to the results, Jaguar and Mercedes best conveyed ‘success’ (29 per cent and 27 per cent), while BMW (the most searched for brand on CarGurus) was deemed to be flashy by 31 per cent of those surveyed. Land Rovers are said to convey affluence by 22 per cent of people, while a third of UK adults (33 per cent) believe Ford is for the practical person.

Reputations of Popular Car Brands:

Sarah Welch, spokesperson for CarGurus commented: “A car has always been a status symbol for some, but this exercise has demonstrated just how many car owners are concerned with how their choice of car influences other road users’ perception of them. We’ve discovered that Ford and Nissan owners are seen to be pragmatic, while Jaguars and Mercedes exudes success.

“The good news is that with the right research, it’s possible to find the car that’s right for you and your budget. This is where CarGurus comes in, it offers car buyers an easier way to compare car listings and find the best deals. The site analyses and ranks hundreds and thousands of cars every day and provides unbiased transparency on vehicle prices, dealership reputation and a host of other factors. This in turn means shoppers can buy the car that’s right for them – be it a family car, commuting car, or even trophy car!”.

Visit CarGurus at www.cargurus.co.uk.