Sales of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV have topped the 25,000 mark in the UK, accounting for approximately half of the total number of plug-in hybrids registered in the UK since the very first of such vehicles were registered in 2010.

By the time the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was launched in May 2014, a total of just 2,770 plug-in hybrids had been registered for use on UK roads but by the end of 2014 that total had risen to just over 10,000 vehicles, with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV accounting for 5,354 of those vehicles.

By the end of 2015 a total of 13 plug-in hybrid models had entered the market, bringing total segment registrations to 19,000 vehicles, yet despite the increased competition the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV continued to resonate with customers seeking an ecologically-sound vehicle that didn’t compromise their practical needs or their budgets. Of those 19,000 vehicles, 11,681 were Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV registrations, accounting for 61 percent of the burgeoning segment. So far in 2016 Mitsubishi Motors in the UK continues to lead the field, with almost 7,800 Outlander PHEV registrations in the first three quarters of the year.

Lance Bradley, Managing Director Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, commented, “We’re extremely proud of the role the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has played in building awareness and acceptance of electrically-powered vehicles in the UK and thanks to its unmatched combination of practicality, ease-of-use, elegant styling and low running costs, we are confident of maintaining our market-leading position well into the future.”

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is now even more affordable thanks to a new three years’ zero-percent finance and zero deposit* offer, as well as competitive PCP deals with a deposit contribution of £2,500*. In addition, all new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV customers are eligible to have a 3.6kW Chargemaster Homecharge unit, which is worth £279, supplied and installed at no cost to the customer. The Chargemaster Homecharge unit charges 60% faster than a standard 13A socket and is the quickest, safest and easiest way to charge the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV at home.

The Indian summer was fun while it lasted but make way for the hats, scarves and wellies because winter is on its way. The temperature is gradually dropping reminding us that we have to make sure we have our de-icers ready. Here are some tips to prepare motor users for the winter from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards Richard Gladman.

• No bobble heads. Keep the windscreen clear. Try to get scratches, abrasions and chips fixed as colder temperatures can worsen the damage. Keep the windscreen washer topped up with a more concentrated screen wash mix to ensure it doesn’t freeze in action. Lastly, search in the garage for last year’s de-icing spray or better still invest in a new one
• Check your tyres. 1.6mm may be the legal limit but anything under 3mm will see a potential fall off in grip and braking performance. If long-term cold weather is forecast, and you can afford it, invest in a set of winter tyres approved by your car manufacturer. Don’t follow urban driver myths of reducing the tyre pressure to get more grip –  it simply doesn’t work
• Set up a pre-winter check list. List things that need to be checked such as the car battery, bulbs, wiper blades and electrics. You don’t want to be stranded in a cold car in the middle of night waiting for the recovery team to get you up and running again
• Dress appropriately for the weather. It may be surprising but too many drivers dress based on a working car heater.  If it breaks or you are stranded you can easily be caught cold
• Start to plan for the really bad weather with a survival kit in the boot. Spare clothes, a torch, mobile phone charger, some emergency rations such as water and chocolate and a tow rope and shovel to help yourself and others.

Richard said: “winter is unpredictable but highway authorities are already planning for it by building up their salt stocks and getting the snow clearing equipment out of storage. If they are getting ready then why shouldn’t you? With a little bit of preparation you can avoid getting stuck and adding to the problems that bad weather can bring”

Mitsubishi Motors customers purchasing a new Outlander PHEV, the UK’s best-selling zero-emissions capable vehicle, can now have a Mitsubishi-approved Chargemaster Homecharge unit supplied and fully installed completely free of charge.

Private, business and fleet customers will save £279 on a 3.6kW Chargemaster Homecharge unit, which includes full standard domestic installation. The unit charges the Outlander 60% faster than a 13A socket and is the quickest, safest and easiest way to charge at home.

To keep drivers fully-charged when away from home, all new Outlander PHEVs also come with a free POLAR Plus membership card, which gives unlimited instant access to Chargemaster’s rapidly-expanding network of over 5,000 public charging points for a six month period. As the UK’s largest charging network, this means Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV drivers can access more than three times as many public charging points than those of any other network and makes recharging away from home easy and hassle-free.

Chargemaster is the exclusive official charging partner of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, renowned for its customer service and satisfaction scores, as well as the quality and reliability of its units, which come with a three-year guarantee. Chargemaster’s dedicated Homecharge team makes the whole process as simple as possible. Its specialist engineers aim to complete a trouble-free installation for an Outlander PHEV customer within two weeks – available nationwide.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV drivers can apply for this offer online, at www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/chargepoint or by calling the Chargemaster Homecharge team on 01582 399 412.

David Martell, Chargemaster CEO, said: “Customers buying a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV can make the best use of its range by charging it every day. Our free Homecharge offer now makes this even easier. Chargemaster is committed to making charging easy and accessible for every EV motorist, and the team can’t wait to get started on the campaign and future Homecharge installations to support Mitsubishi.”

This offer is open to new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV customers registered between 14 October and 28 December 2016, with an installation date of 31st January 2017 or earlier, who are also eligible for the OLEV Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme grant, requiring standard installation.

A total of 50 engineers and 40 cars are ready to cover 25,000 kilometres and perform 80 tests in the desert region of southern Spain where daytime temperatures soar to 45°C in the shade. This is extreme summer testing, one of the world’s most demanding performance exams for cars, a genuine boot camp that lasts three weeks.

It’s the SEAT Ateca’s turn, but what kind of extreme tests are a vehicle put through? Here are some examples.

• Traction and controlled descent test. This tests the traction control systems on declines of up to 35% and how the Hill Descent Control performs; this system guarantees a controlled descent without the driver having to activate the brake pedal as well as the automatic enabling of the ABS system where necessary.
• Towing control test. There is a greater risk of losing control of a vehicle when pulling a trailer. This test verifies the performance of the Trailer Stability Program, which is a system that helps the car remain stable when it has a hitched trailer.
• Klapper test. A typical car has over 3,000 parts. This test ensures that all the components work in perfect harmony and do not cause any irritating noises for the passengers, no matter the type or condition of the surface being driven on.
• Dust intake test. A lead car drives through the desert leaving a large dust cloud in its wake, immediately followed by the car being tested to determine the service life of the air filter.
• Gravel test. The vehicles are driven 3,000 kilometres on a specific gravel course to analyse the impacts made by gravel on the entire undercarriage, wheel arches and the exterior and under surface of the bumpers. The goal is to ensure all the parts will resist during the vehicle’s service life.

With more power on tap than even the current iteration of the iconic Golf GTI, Volkswagen is making its most potent Tiguan yet available for order in the UK this month.

The new 240 PS bi-turbo diesel, designated BiTDI, also offers an increase of fully 30 PS over the previous most powerful Tiguan, the 2.0 TSI seen in the preceding generation of the car.

The bi-turbo 240 PS engine is similar to that offered in the current Volkswagen Passat and Passat Alltrack, and boasts a high-performance cylinder head and two-stage turbo charger.  The injection pressure of the common-rail piezo injection system is a mighty 2,500 bar and the engine is capable of generating up to 120 PS per litre.

Mated as standard to Volkswagen’s 4MOTION four-wheel drive system, it endows the new Tiguan with prodigious performance in the mainstream SUV segment.  Capable of reaching 142 mph, where the law permits, the 2.0 BiTDI-equipped Tiguan meanwhile sprints from rest to 62 mph in just 6.5 seconds.

Selective Catalytic Reduction helps to reduce emissions by injecting AdBlue™ into the Tiguan’s exhaust system, thus helping to reduce NOx by converting it into harmless water.  The Volkswagen SUV also includes a Start/Stop system and battery regeneration which, together, contribute to a CO₂ figure of just 167 g/km*.  All the engines in the Tiguan range meet the latest EU6 emissions standard.

As well as the 240 PS bi-turbo engine, the most powerful of the Tiguan’s three petrol engines is also now open for order in the UK.  The 2.0 TSI 180 PS is available with a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG transmission.  It is also offered as standard with 4MOTION four-wheel drive and offers a top speed of 129 mph, 0-62 mph time of 7.7 seconds and a CO₂ figure of 170 g/km*.

Both new Tiguan engines are exclusively offered with the range-topping SEL or R-Line trims.  The Tiguan SEL packs a technological punch with standard features that include Volkswagen’s Discover Navigation infotainment and satellite navigation system, which includes an eight-inch colour touch-screen.  Adaptive Cruise Control uses radar to govern the distance to the car ahead automatically.  In addition the SEL comes with Active Info Display – a 12.3-inch high-resolution TFT screen located within the binnacle and replacing conventional analogue instruments.  It can be configured to show a variety of information about the car, or even relay the satellite navigation route guidance.

In addition to the features available on the SEL, the Tiguan R-Line carries many unique styling features inside and out.  A roof spoiler is joined by a rear diffuser and a front air intake to highlight the kerb appeal of the car.  The ‘Suzuka’ alloy wheels measure 20-inches and the bumper design is unique to the trim.

On the inside, unique R-Line sill protectors and carpet mats are joined by bespoke ‘Race’ cloth seats feature ‘San Remo’ microfibre, while the front seats also feature the R-Line logo on the headrest.  Stainless steel pedals and a black rooflining complete the look.

The addition of these two new engine options in Tiguan completes the model’s seven-strong powerplant range, which now extends from 1.4 TSI 125 PS to 2.0 BiTDI 240 PS.

The Tiguan SEL 2.0 TSI 180 PS six-speed manual 4MOTION is available to order now from Volkswagen Retailers nationwide priced from £30,540 RRP OTR, while the Tiguan SEL 2.0 BiTDI 240 PS seven-speed DSG 4MOTION costs from £36,450 RRP OTR.  The new engines in R-Line trim cost from £32,855 RRP OTR for the 2.0 TSI 180 PS unit to £38,640 RRP OTR for the 2.0 BiTDI 240 PS.

Jaguar Land Rover has announced its best-ever September UK sales retailing 20,977 vehicles, up 31% on the same period in 2015.

Both brands contributed to the strong performance, delivering their best September sales figures on record. Land Rover, spearheaded by the Range Rover Evoque, sold 14,556 vehicles, up 30%, while Jaguar sold 6,421 vehicles, surpassing the brand’s previous best September in 2004.

Jaguar has retailed 26,366 vehicles in the first nine months of 2016, up 47% on the same period last year while Land Rover has sold 66,978 vehicles, up 16%.

Commenting on the performance, Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director said:

“It’s no secret that September is an important month for manufacturers and we are delighted with this result. It shows that not only is Jaguar Land Rover delivering great vehicles, but we are delivering new products that car-buyers want.”

“The Evoque Convertible has added another, desirable string to the bow of the Range Rover Evoque which continues to dominate its segment, retailing 4,657 vehicles, up 142% on September 2015. For Jaguar, the multi-award winning F-PACE continues to capture the imagination of UK buyers, enjoying its best month since launch, with 2,367 leaving UK showrooms.”

The Discovery Sport, Land Rover’s second-fastest selling model of all time, continues to be a sales success with its versatile package resulting in 4,359 retails, up 81% on September 2015. A week after the business unveiled its successor in Paris, with a world-record-setting reveal taking place here in the UK, the current Discovery reported an impressive month of sales. The iconic model retailed 2,542, up 60% on the same period last year.

Claims Management & Adjusting (CMA) has called on Highways England to urgently review the arrangements for clearing debris from UK motorways following a worrying rise in “swerve to avoid” and “tyre blowout” related claims.

Have you noticed more burst tyres, bits of vehicle trim or dead animals on our motorways recently? Part of the explanation is the zero carriageway crossings policy adopted by Highways England in 2011, designed to protect the lives of contractor employees. But CMA says Highways England contractors’ reluctance to incur traffic management costs is exacerbating the danger for road users.

Managing Director of CMA, Philip Swift, said: “We are extremely concerned at the increasing number of cases involving drivers swerving to avoid debris and fear it is only a matter of time before someone gets killed. Highways England contractors are paid a lump sum to provide barrier repairs, gully clearance and litter removal, but the costs associated with closing a carriageway are a disincentive to removing larger items like burst tyres.

“Even if a Highways Agency Traffic Officer (HATO) or contractor does attend, there can be a tendency to kick the problem to the side of the road, and that puts lives at risk from secondary factors. For example, shards from disintegrating debris can cause punctures, which result in collisions. Debris can also impede drainage, leading to standing water, aquaplaning and crashes.

“Safety is the paramount issue here, but there is a financial aspect to it as well. We find ourselves in the crazy situation where Highways England contractors are presenting claims for barrier repairs potentially caused by debris they are responsible for clearing. This irony is often compounded by a debris clearance charge being lumped in with the repair cost and an invoice being presented to either the driver or their insurer. That is frankly astounding given the clearance task has already been paid for by Highways England, yet we see it happening ever more frequently.”

If you think you might have been a victim of this behaviour please contact CMA on 0845 3888 810 or email [email protected]

The popular Black Edition specification reaches the Audi compact SUV as part of a package of range-wide styling and equipment enhancements.

The new top flight Q3 and the sharper, even better equipped versions that sit below it will become available later this month priced from £26,600 OTR, and will reach their first customers towards the end of the year.

As part of the programme of revisions the current Q3 specification structure, starting with SE, moving to S line Navigation and then on to S line plus, has shifted further upwards. At entry level, SE becomes Sport through the addition of SD navigation as standard and through styling enhancements that lend an even more purposeful air, including larger front air vents and a body-coloured front diffuser.

S line Navigation models become S line Edition by gaining standard interior features such as cruise control and the Audi Parking System Plus, and by adopting a new look for the front end, which now incorporates a distinctive horizontal strut spanning its full width, above which are air inlets with more pronounced surrounds and a new diamond-pattern mesh design. They flank a more eyecatching Single Frame grille with a new high gloss finish which is also shared by the air vents.

The main attraction in the range is now the Q3 Black Edition, which stays true to the concept introduced so successfully elsewhere in the Audi range. Replacing the S line plus model, it builds on that version’s already extensive specification with features such as standard metallic paint, privacy glass from the B pillar rearwards and a Bose sound system upgrade, but its key point of differentiation is of course the distinctive black treatment for many of its parts. These start in the cabin with piano black inlays, and continue outside to take in everything from the 19-inch alloy wheels, wheel arch cappings and Single Frame grille surround to the roof rails, rear spoiler and tailpipes, all of which are finished in gloss black.

Taking the spotlight in a series of intriguing “Missing Car” mysteries this autumn and winter, the new SEAT Ateca is set to turn TV viewers into amateur sleuths.

Three different scenarios will be played out week by week in the latest development of SEAT’s sponsorship of ITV’s original mystery drama programming, engaging the audience in an unfolding story and the special qualities of SEAT’s first SUV.

The mini-dramas will unfold in a sequence idents that will appear during transmissions of some of the UK’s top-rated series, including new seasons of Broadchurch, Vera and Endeavour.

Each Missing Car story will start with a SEAT Ateca being left in mysterious circumstances in a location familiar from Broadchurch, Vera and The Level. Gradually clues will be revealed in and around the car, building the mystery and suspense until the final reveal.

A dedicated ITV Drama content hub within www.seat.co.uk will offer more interactive features, interviews and behind-the-scenes stories, plus competitions with weekly prizes, including “money-can’t-buy” exclusives such as a spy weekend in Washington DC, signed scripts or a walk-on part in Vera.

Launched in the UK this month, the new Ateca marks SEAT’s foray into the compact SUV market.

As Kia ascends into the fourth quarter of the year, the Korean car brand continues to offer private customers £1,000 off the purchase of a new car when they choose to take a test drive of selected models of the Kia range between 1 October and 31 December 2016.

Customers who test drive any Kia model before the end of November will also be entered into a draw to win an all-expenses-paid trip Down Under to see the men’s semi-finals of the Australian Open, which Kia Motors has proudly sponsored since 2002. This offer is available on all models, nationwide across Kia’s 188 dealerships.

Quarter four also sees a range of finance offers, with 4.9 per cent APR across the whole range. The best-selling all-new Sportage now sees all grades benefiting from the £500 PCP deposit allowance. Kia’s city car, the Picanto, also has enhanced finance offers, with the ‘SE’ and ‘Sport’ grades now enjoying £700 PCP deposit allowance.

The Kia Sorento comes with the £1,000 test drive saving and a £1,000 PCP deposit contribution. In addition, Caravan Club members buying a Sorento privately through the Kia dealer network continue to benefit from the offer of £500 towards Kia accessories. All grades have all-wheel drive, hill-start assist, trailer stability assist, reversing sensors and can haul between 2,000 and 2,500kg depending on the version, meaning this SUV is a perfect companion for caravanning adventures.

(The Sportage is not included in the test drive offer.)