NEWS

LEXUS has benchmarked the CT 200h against the Audi A3 following Europe-wide customer research. The brand’s first premium compact 5dr hatch is thus aiming straight at A3 and BMW 1 Series territory. Chief engineer Osuma Sadakata told Car Dealer Magazine this led to a sportier development focus than other Lexus – including the imitation of [...]

AUDI will continue its remarkable expansion into new sectors with the premium supermini A1. Shown here in Geneva for the first time in production form, the firm is gearing up for a huge launch later in the year. It even wheeled out Justin Timberlake to kick off the big show launch proceedings! Based on the [...]

HPI reports its canny CrushWatch scheme has saved THREE big money supercars from being destroyed! The service spots and reclaims cars seized by the Police because of tax or insurance evasion. 1 in 8 of these cars also has outstanding finance against it – and it’s here where CrushWatch kicks in. It works alongside the [...]

AUDI has released official shots of its new MINI challenging A1 supermini which is on sale this autumn. Order books for the posh 3-door supermini will open at Audi car dealers in May. The 4-seat hatch will be launched with 3 engines, including a 1.2 TFSI petrol that emits 119g/km, and a 1.6 TDI which [...]

AUDI has officially won the right to extend trademark protection for its famous Vorsprung Durch Technik slogan. A decision to extend the trademark registration by the European Court of Justice has just been announced – after a 7 year long battle by the German firm! Previously the slogan was only trade mark protected for use [...]

GOOGLE will make its motoring debut with the launch of information services in the new Audi A8. Audi has integrated Google information services into the sat nav of its latest luxury limo – which are sent to the car over the internet. This means drivers can search for Google points of interest – such as [...]

CAP has ranked the UK’s top used market stars of the past 10 years – with Ford topping the overall list. The Ford Focus is CAP’s official Used Car of the Decade. Judges included many used market experts. They voted unanimously to give the overall prize to the Ford Focus, thanks to it setting ‘new [...]

NEW house buyers in Bournemouth can get a free Audi A3 Cabriolet as part of an extra-special deal. The Ocean 53/55 Penthouse development throws in the free motor as part of the new apartment package! Developers Clearwater Homes have teamed up with car dealer Poole Audi to come up with the special offer. As part [...]

ALFA Romeo will launch an all-new premium hatch rival to the Audi A3 at the Geneva Motor Show next March. It will arrive in UK Alfa Romeo car dealers soon after – giving them a key entrant ‘in one of Europe’s most important segments’. The new motor uses a fresh platform that has a further [...]

AUDI has revealed its all-new A8 luxury limo at an exclusive celebrity-packed bash in trendy Miami. With 47mpg potential, the all-aluminium model claims to be the greenest luxury car there’s ever been. Yet, said Audi boss Rupert Stadler, it’s also the sportiest in its segment, too. Adaptive air suspension and Audi’s hi-tech Drive Select system [...]

CELEBRITIES packed out the world’s largest ever Audi Centre for its launch last week in London. The £45m Sytner Group owned site is located right next to the elevated section of the M4 and covers an amazing 190,000sq ft. Stars from the world of football and TV attended the gala opening including Louise Redknapp, Ryan [...]

AUDI has opened its largest car dealer ever, right here in the UK – after a huge £45m investment by the firm. The seven-floor, 190,000 sq ft car dealer can pack in 116 display cars, and has a mind-boggling 32-bay service workshop. Fittingly, celebs including Gordon Ramsay, Keeley Hawes, Ronan Keating, Davina McCall, Sir Bobby [...]

LEXUS’ new BMW 1 Series hybrid rival is expected to emit just 90g/km of CO2 when it hits markets in 2011! General manager Ewan Shepherd revealed the LF-Ch’s headline-grabbing target figure to Car Dealer Magazine. Under current legislation, this will make it eligible for FREE road tax. He also expects it to be priced in [...]

WHICH? Car today reveals SIX of the least 10 popular cars in the UK are French, according to owners. Renault and Peugeot dominate the bottom of the latest Owner Satisfaction League. Worst of all is the Renault Espace, which one owner described as a ‘fantastic car, if only it would work longer than a month [...]

AUDI has taken the wraps off its stunning R8 Spyder open-top here at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Powered by the firm’s mighty V10 engine, the £111,995 model will be available to order from November in the UK. The fully-automatic hood opens at speeds up to 31mph and has a lightweight construction to help keep the [...]

AUDI, Toyota and Kia are the best car franchises in the UK to hold, reveals the latest NFDA survey. The bi-annual car dealer satisfaction survey has just been published, with big gains for the Korean brand Kia. It’s leapt ahead of more established rivals, as dealers rate highly its advertising, sales incentives, new model introductions, [...]

AUDI is to redesign its famous four-ring logo, for the first time in almost 20 years, to give the brand a facelift. The iconic Audi font is behind dumped, with a ‘clean, modern’ new script taking its place. This will be seen across all Audi communications, including advertisements, and will be widely replicated throughout Audi [...]

LEXUS has unveiled the first official image of its posh Audi A3-rivalling five-door hatch concept. The LF-Ch concept will be shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in a few weeks. That’s when we’ll get more details of the BMW 1 Series alternative, which is expected to hit dealer showrooms in 2010. Conventional engines are expected [...]

LEXUS has registered a three-car model range for the new IF-Ch premium hatchback, Car Dealer can reveal. The firm looks set to sell three variants, according to trademark information from the US: •    CT200h •    CT300h •    CT400h These provide no clues as to the engines – other than that they all look to be [...]

LEXUS will show a concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show which points to a future Audi A3 compact hatch rival. The three-door hatchback has been revealed in sketch form, prior to unveiling at the Motor Show next month. Lexus says the new car is technically innovative; will this mean it becomes the first posh hybrid [...]