New i30 from Hyundai, now comes with Turbo power along with a host of upgrades.

• Production commences at Hyundai Motor’s manufacturing facility in Nošovice
• Refreshed design and new Turbo model boost appeal to European customers
• Improved fuel efficiency starting as low as 3.6 l/100 km and 94 g/km CO₂

Hyundai Motor this month has begun production of the latest version of its European top-seller, the New i30, at its European production facility, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech (HMMC), in Nošovice, Czech Republic.

New i30 follows the company’s strategy to create cars that are tailored to the needs of European customers. The second-generation i30, on sale since 2012, has accounted for a fifth of Hyundai’s overall European sales in recent years. The upgraded model is expected to further enhance i30’s position in the competitive European C-segment.

The New i30 range is enhanced with new engines, transmissions, safety and comfort features and refreshed exterior design. The line-up boasts improved engine efficiency across the new car’s three bodystyles – three-door, five-door and wagon – with fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions as low as 3.6 l/100 km and 94 g/km respectively. The updated car enhances driver choice with a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and expands the model’s appeal with a Nürburgring-tuned 186 PS i30 Turbo model.

New i30 Turbo

Powered by a 186 PS, 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, the New i30 Turbo has been developed with a focus on sporty driving dynamics and everyday usability. Acceleration to 100 km/h is achieved in 8.0 seconds and top speed is 219 km/h. Unique exterior and interior design features set the New i30 Turbo apart from the rest of the New i30 line-up. These include a new radiator grille, front and rear bumpers with red detailing, new front LED lamp design, twin exhausts and 18-inch alloy wheels.

BusinessCar awards its car of the year title to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

BusinessCar Magazine’s 2015 Car of the Year is the Mercedes-Benz C-class.

The fleet publication’s awards carry particular weight because they are the only accolades in the industry to be decided entirely by the readership of BusinessCar magazine and BusinessCar.co.uk, and the C-class took the top spot ahead of Peugeot’s impressive new 308.

BMW continued to show its strength in the fleet market by taking two headline awards, including Manufacturer of the Year for the fifth year running and Green Model of the Year with its pioneering i3 electric supermini.

Leasing company Alphabet took the remaining headline award as Service Supplier of the Year.

“The new C-class has propelled Mercedes-Benz into the middle of the fiercely competitive premium upper medium saloon marketplace and massive improvements over the previous model have meant the company has picked up its first ever Business Car of the Year prize,” said Paul Barker, BusinessCar editor.

“The C-class currently offers the most efficient diesel in the sector and there’s also a 94g/km hybrid, plus the 48g/km plug-in coming in April 2015.

“But there’s more to the C-class than just efficiency gains. The classier and more sporty looks combine with a serious focus on whole life costs to propel the new model into fleet heartland territory.”

Barker continued: “BMW’s popularity with the fleet industry is clearly demonstrated with its win as Manufacturer of the Year and this is backed up by four car category wins overall.  It highlights BMW as a brand getting it right for fleet across its range, with cars that are appealing, good to drive and great value to run.

“The corporate market is extremely competitive with some incredible products available to help businesses carry out their work. Winners at this year’s awards should be proud that BusinessCar’s readers have picked them out as the best in the industry.”

Other notable winners include The AA, which picked up three awards in the important Accident Management, Risk Management and Vehicle Recovery categories. Volkswagen also picked up multiple awards with wins in the mainstream lower medium, mini-MPV and mainstream 4x4 categories for its Golf, Touran and Tiguan respectively, while Ford, Vauxhall, Hyundai, Kwik-Fit and BCA were also among the winners.

Mercedes C-Class C300 BlueTEC Hybrid named SME Car Of The Year Award for Best Company Car for Tax

• C 300 BlueTEC Hybrid awarded Best SME Company Car for Tax
• The Awards celebrate the best company cars in the market
• Over 14,000 examples of the new C-Class Saloon and Estate have been registered since June

The 2015 SME Company Car of the Year Award for Best Company Car for Tax has been awarded to the C 300 BlueTEC Hybrid – praised by the judges for its low running costs and tax-efficiency. 

In announcing the C-Class Award, Ralph Morton, Editorial Director at Business Car Manager, commented: “The new Mercedes-Benz compact executive models don’t come along very often and the new car’s sleek styling and sport drive are sure to lure company car drivers away from rivals. If the look and the way the car drives doesn’t tempt you, then the low running cost of our Best SME Company Car for Tax will. 

The C 300 BlueTEC Hybrid, which as its name suggests is a diesel-electric hybrid, can return up to 78.4 mpg and it has CO₂emissions of 94 g/km, putting the car in just the 11 per cent company car tax band. For company car drives, this really is a fantastically tax-efficient way to drive an executive car.”

Sally Dennis, Head of Fleet, Mercedes-Benz UK, added: “We’re delighted that the C 300 BlueTEC Hybrid has been awarded Best SME Company Car for Tax. It demonstrates our focus on offering low-emission, efficient vehicles to our Fleet customers as we continue to expand our Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and Electric range.”

The C 300 BlueTEC Hybrid – available as a Saloon and Estate is priced from £35,045 OTR and £38,240 OTR, respectively. Its four-cylinder diesel engine and compact electric motor generates an output of 204 + 27 hp to allow it to combine performance and efficiency.

The C-Class range is set to expand with the C 350 Plug-In Hybrid.

Following on from the S 500 Plug-in Hybrid, the C 350 Plug-in Hybrid is also available as an Estate and is capable of covering a range of 19 miles in all-electric mode. It returns 134.5 mpg and emits just 48 g/km CO₂-- despite a power output of 279 hp. It’s due to arrive in the UK from April 2015.

The high-class interior of the C-Class – launched in the UK in June 2014 – is styled on the S-Class and includes high-quality, high-grade materials and trim elements, and an innovative touchpad enabling intuitive operation of all head-unit functions using finger gestures.  

The new C-Class continues to grow in the UK with over 14,000 examples registered in 2014.

Volkswagen dealers to take orders for all new Polo Petrol Bluemotion.

Volkswagen Retailers in the UK will begin taking orders for the first-ever petrol version of the Polo BlueMotion today, ahead of first UK deliveries in March, with prices starting from £14,730 (RRP OTR).

The greenest petrol engine in the range is powered by a 1.0-litre BlueMotion TSI petrol unit.  It emits 94 g/km of CO₂ and returns 68.9 mpg on the combined cycle. 

Delivering 95 PS between 5,000 and 5,500 rpm the new three-cylinder engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.  The Polo BlueMotion has a maximum torque of 118 Nm (160 lbs ft) produced between 1,500 and 3,500 rpm.

Efficiency does not come at the expense of performance.  The Polo BlueMotion will reach 62 mph from a standing start in 10.5 seconds and has a top speed of 119 mph.

Based on the S trim, the BlueMotion models add even more equipment including a styling pack which includes uniquely shaped front and rear bumpers, radiator grille, side skirts and rear roof spoiler, body coloured door handles, body coloured door mirrors with integrated indicators, front fog lights and static cornering function and unique BlueMotion badging.

Additional kit over that on the S trim includes 15-inch ‘Buenos Aires’ alloys with low rolling resistance tyres, aero body kit, multifunction leather steering wheel, alarm with remote central locking, air conditioning, a front centre armrest, Composition Media and infotainment system, cruise control and Volkswagen’s Driver Alert System.  This version of the Polo comes with a Think Blue, Trainer, which gives hint and tips on how to drive in a more economical fashion by analysing journey patterns.

This 1.0-litre BlueMotion TSI petrol 95 PS engine joins the three-cylinder diesel 1.4-litre TDI BlueMotion engine that produces 75 PS, returns 91.1 mpg and emits just 82 g/km of CO₂. 

All Polo models come with a colour touchscreen, SD card reader, DAB radio and USB and AUX-in connections, as well as a height-adjustable driver’s seat.

The BlueMotion models are available to order now with first deliveries expected in March.  For pricing see below, and for more information on the Polo BlueMotion and the rest of the award-winning Volkswagen range visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

Engine derivative	Gearbox	Body	Combined mpg	CO2 (g/km)	Price, £ RRP OTR
1.0-litre TSI 95 PS	5-speed man	3-door	68.9	94	14,730.00
1.0-litre TSI 95 PS	5-speed man	5-door	68.9	94	15,360.00
1.4-litre TDI 75 PS	5-speed man	3-door	91.1	82	15,795.00
1.4-litre TDI 75 PS	5-speed man	5-door	91.1	82	16,425.00