Skoda adds new kit to SE Business model as it runs out ready for all new car later this year.

• ŠKODA adds more than £1,600 of equipment to the Superb SE Business model at no extra cost
• The car now comes with full leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard
• The upgraded model is on sale immediately priced from £21,090

ŠKODA is welcoming business drivers into 2015 by adding equipment to the Superb SE Business model. The upgraded model now comes with full leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard with no increase in price.

The additions to the award-winning model provide £1,605-worth of added features and build upon an already impressive standard kit level in the Superb. This includes 17-inch alloy wheels, sat nav, DAB radio, dual-zone air-con, power-fold door mirrors, cruise control, trip computer, Bluetooth and an umbrella in the rear door.

The ŠKODA Superb SE Business model is available as either a hatchback or an estate powered by an efficient 2.0-litre 140PS diesel engine. The Superb is a class leader thanks to its combination of quality value, outstanding practicality and 633 litre boot, low carbon footprint (emitting 109g/km), 17% BIK band, and SE Business equipment.

Patrick McGillycuddy, Head of Fleet for ŠKODA UK, commented: “The addition of full leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard to the popular Superb SE Business model reinforces ŠKODA’s commitment to providing business drivers with very well equipped, efficient and capable company cars.”

The ŠKODA Superb SE Business is priced from £21,090 for the manual hatchback, rising to £23,810 for the DSG-equipped estate model.

The SE Business suite of vehicles, which also includes ŠKODA’s Octavia and Yeti models, is especially designed to offer corporate customers a low taxation liability and whole life cost combined with a comprehensive specification, class-leading space and versatility.

Lexus launches new CT200h derivative, called Advance Plus, you get more kit & two tone paint.

• New model grade introduces Lexus’s first two-tone paint finish
• Price includes metallic paint, or option of black roof with contrasting bodywork, plus an F Sport roof spoiler
• Specification also includes exclusive 17-inch alloy wheel design, sunroof and fabric/Tahara combination upholstery
• Equipment specification also provides Lexus Navigation, front and rear parking sensors and cruise control
• On sale now, priced £25,495 – a premium of just £1,250 on the cost of the Advance grade model

Lexus launches 2015 with a new addition to its CT 200h line-up, the Advance Plus. As its name implies, it takes the specification of the Advance grade – well established as the most popular in the range – and adds even more features, at a high-value price.

These extras include the debut of Lexus’s first two-tone paint finish. The on-the-road price includes either metallic paint, or (at no extra cost) a contrasting Velvet Black roof with Fuji Red, Ultra Blue, Sonic White or Sonic Titanium body. Advance Plus is the first CT model to adopt the new Sonic Titanium finish, a shade that has proved an immediate hit with customers for the new NX 300h crossover, and is also the only version available in Celestial Black.

Where the two-tone design is selected, the CT’s stand-out style statement is increased with an F Sport roof spoiler. All versions are fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels with dark silver finish – in a design exclusive to the Advance Plus – and a sunroof. In the cabin the seats feature a fabric and Tahara upholstery combination that is also exclusive to the model grade.

All these elements are in addition to standard features that have already made the CT 200h Advance so popular, including front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry, cruise control, heated front seats and the Lexus Navigation system with Remote Dial control. The extra value for customers is particularly strong, with the new model priced at a premium of only £1,250 more than the Advance. On sale now, the new Advance Plus costs £25,495 on the road.

The attraction of the Advance Plus’s style and equipment is strengthened by Lexus quality throughout and the exceptional smoothness, refinement, efficiency and lasting reliability of its hybrid system. The value enjoyed by customers in the sale price is mirrored by lower ownership costs. CO₂ emissions figures of 88g/km secure exemption from annual road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) and the CT 200h delivers good fuel economy, supported by the hybrid system’s ability to optimise use of its electric motor, for example when driving in slow-moving city traffic, switching automatically to its EV mode.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Suzuki makes four in a row with a best buy for the Suzuki Swift Supermini.

• Best buy hot hatch for less than £15,000 for the fourth consecutive year

Suzuki celebrated some great news at the 2015 What Car? Magazine awards as the Swift Sport has been awarded a ‘Best Buy’ accolade for the fourth year in a row. The performance flagship of the Swift range was comprehensively judged by the editorial team against some strong competition, and the final vote resulted in it yet again receiving the ‘Best Buy Hot hatch for less than £15,000’.

With a high standard specification that includes satellite navigation, DAB radio, USB connection and auto air conditioning, Swift Sport still remains considerably cheaper than £15,000 at £13,999 for three door and £14,499 for the five door model.

Swift Sport is available in a choice of four standard metallic paint finishes and is also  equipped with seven airbags, cruise control, High Intensity Discharge headlamps, rear privacy glass and 17-inch alloy wheels. In addition to satellite navigation and DAB radio, the Sport also has voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity and music streaming compatible with ipod/ iphone.

Jim Holder, What Car? Editor comments: “Even before you take into account the fact that you can get a Swift Sport for less than £14,000, it epitomises what a hot hatch should really be about.

"It has a 1.6-litre engine that absolutely loves to be revved to within an inch of its life as it produces its 134bhp and 118lb ft of torque. Those are fairly small numbers, but then the Swift is a fairly small car that doesn’t weigh much, so it can scamper along the road at a decent lick.

"It changes direction as quickly as a Scalextric car when you want it to and grips strongly when you need it to. Granted, there’s a firm edge to the ride, but it isn’t unbearable and rather suits the character of the car.”

The engine’s high output is combined with excellent fuel economy of 44.1mpg on the EC Combined Cycle; CO₂ emissions are 147g/km and a bespoke exhaust system yields a sporty note and the Sport is fitted with a six speed manual transmission as standard.

Mitsubishi upgrades its successful L200 range, with more kit and a great price.

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is pleased to announce the new L200 Challenger - the best value for money pick-up ever from Mitsubishi Motors in the UK.

The Mitsubishi L200 pioneered the pick-up segment with its refined engine and high levels of safety, comfort and equipment. The company continues to innovate in the pick-up market by adding the L200 Challenger to its already robust, versatile and appealing range.

The L200 range comes with the longest warranty of any pick-up truck in the UK – five years or 125,000 miles. It is also available with a three-year fixed price service plan at £600 and a range of finance options, including Contract Hire.

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK has sold over 130,000 L200 pick-up’s since the launch in 1987 and continue to be a strong contender accounting for 20% of the overall pick up market.

The new addition priced from £16,499 is fully loaded with value adding specification. L200 Challenger goes on sale from 1^st January 2015.

• 175 bhp engine
• Super Select 4WD system
• M-ASTC
• 17” alloy wheels
• Cruise control
• Climate control air conditioning
• Automatic rain & dusk sensors
• Privacy glass
• Bluetooth
• Leather steering wheel & gear shift knob
• Optional leather seats
• Long load bed
• Available in all colours in the existing range;

The new L200 Challenger comes with renowned Mitsubishi reliability as standard. But for even greater piece of mind all it comes with the Mitsubishi Assistance Package (MAP) which includes 24/7 UK home and roadside breakdown assistance, and European roadside assistance in over 30 European countries.