New TV Advert from Vauxhall to showcase the Mokka crossover, a car for all occasions.

Vauxhall Motors proudly launches its new Mokka campaign. Underpinned by the message of, ‘Mokka. Life Ready’, the campaign saunters through everyday eccentric British family life in a light-hearted and humorous way with the Vauxhall Mokka at the heart of each scene.

The ‘Mokka. Life Ready’ campaign is a whistle-stop tour through relatable situations, whether it be your child needing a perfectly timed wee on the side of the road; a father slowly backing out of the driveway upon hearing his teenage daughter and wife arguing; or the perils of the M.A.M.I.L*, a ‘creature’ often seen struggling up deserted country roads on top of his bike.  

The campaign sound is the carefree, bluesy track; ‘Be Brave’ by The Strange Boys with Game of Thrones star, Iain Glen providing the voiceover.

The ad was filmed on location across a wide range of British locations, from the stunning Honister Pass to the suburbs of Manchester, illustrating not only how beautiful and diverse the UK is – but also further demonstrating how the Vauxhall Mokka is ready for any situation.

This new UK campaign will be rolled-out across TV, cinema, online, poster, print, CRM, social and PR.  

The TV campaign will launch with a 40 second ad aimed at raising awareness of the Vauxhall Mokka with primetime spots secured across Coronation Street and Emmerdale, as well as movie slots in Casino Royale and Bourne Supremacy. 

Cinema activity will commence on Friday 21^st August 2015 with a 60 second ad playing before titles such as Fantastic Four, Inside Out and Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation.

The campaign will encompass a strong digital presence throughout Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.  

Taking some quirky questions by Revoo customers asked online such as: ‘Can I fit two large dogs in the boot?’, ‘Can I fit a tall man in the back?’ and, ‘Is it easy to put a kayak on the roof?’ these are answered in a British tongue-in-cheek, dead-pan style and will be played online throughout August until mid September.

On the intentions of the campaign, Chris Hawken, Director of Brand Marketing, said: “The ‘Mokka. Life Ready’ campaign encapsulates how Vauxhall fits in with family life and not the other way around.  

The Vauxhall Mokka is ready for your life and everything you throw at it.  We were adamant to get something that truly celebrates the unique nuances of British life; as well as Vauxhall’s distinct and innovative solutions to them.  

We’ve produced something different from the average car ad which snakes around a mountain and drives into the sunset with some chiselled character at the wheel.  Instead, Vauxhall is presenting something much more realistic and relatable such as rescuing your old dad as he wheezes up a hill on a bike in his mid-life crisis!”

The campaign was created by advertising agency McCann UK.  Paul Dean, Managing Partner, McCann, said, “We used realistic and humorous moments of everyday life where Mokka can really help.  The Mokka is great to look at, but it isn’t just for admiring, it is ready for the realities of modern life – those times that we build connections with our cars and they almost feel like they’re part of the family.”

The Vauxhall Mokka combines the handling of a sports hatchback with the road presence of a 4x4 SUV.  Its bold, expressive design and technology injects a sense of adventure back into everyday life.  Priced from £16,474.

Bruno Senna to coach and mentor drivers in the 2015 McLaren P1 GTR Driver Programme.

• Ex-Formula 1™ driver Bruno Senna to consult drivers at each track event
• Senna to bring a unique knowledge of the highest levels of international racing in single seat and GT championships
• McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Programme calendar confirmed at some of the world’s most iconic circuits as the build of the first customer car is completed

Former Formula 1™ and current McLaren GT factory driver Bruno Senna has joined the McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Programme and will act as mentor at each of the exclusive events. 

Senna, who was announced as a McLaren GT factory driver earlier this year, will work closely with each of the tailored programmes, ensuring optimum performance for each of the cars and drivers around some of the world’s most iconic and challenging, circuits.

Members of the McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Programme will take part in a bespoke training and preparation schedule, designed to fully prepare them before taking to the circuit. 

Initial consultations at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) will include a race seat fitting, a Human Performance Centre assessment, and final discussions around design and livery. From here, and ahead of each event, drivers will have access to the McLaren racing simulator to familiarise themselves with the circuit.

Commenting on the new role, and the Driver Programme, Senna explained: ‘The McLaren P1™ GTR is a phenomenal machine, and is designed for one purpose – to be the ultimate drivers’ car around any given track. 

With more power and torque, optimised aerodynamics and increased grip over the already very impressive McLaren P1™, the levels of performance are at the next level. Significant focus has been put on ensuring drivers can access and exploit the extra performance.

‘The bespoke Driver Programme has been designed to ensure each driver is prepared, mentally and physically, to make the most of the car and the track. 

The stages are the same as a professional racing driver would go through for a race weekend, whether it is a GT race or in Formula 1, and the team on the ground at each event will be working closely with the drivers to hone skill levels and push them beyond what they believe is possible.’

The first customer example of the McLaren P1™ GTR has now rolled off the line in the McLaren Production Centre (MPC). From here, it will now complete its build with the team at McLaren Special Operations. 

This milestone comes as further details of the first year of the McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Programme are confirmed. The provisional nine date calendar will visit are :-

• Circuit de Catalunya (Spain), 
• Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia), 
• Circuit of the Americas (North America),
• Silverstone (UK), 
• Autodromo Nazionale Monza (Italy), 
• Red Bull Ring (Austria), 
• Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), 
• Bahrain International Circuit (Bahrain), 
• Yas Marina (Abu Dhabi).

Honda to provide a massive stand and display at the second BBC Children in Need Car Fest (South)

Honda (UK) is revved-up to steal the show at Chris Evans’ CarFest South which will take place at Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire (28-30 August).

CarFest is the brainchild of popular Radio 2 presenter and new Top Gear host Evans, raising vital funds for BBC Children In Need via a family-orientated, high-octane blend of fast and exotic cars, celebrity cameos and live music from some of the hottest acts around.

Having played a leading role at last year’s events as well as at this year’s CarFest North, which took place at Oulton Park earlier this month, Honda (UK) will return to Laverstoke Park – the home of ex-Formula One World Champion Jody Scheckter – with an array of crowd-pleasing activities and displays.

A full Honda stand will showcase the newest car range in the industry, including the Civic Type R, Civic Sport, Civic Tourer, HR-V, CR-V, Jazz and – straight from the brand’s award-winning Goodwood Festival of Speed stand – the McLaren-Honda MP4-30 in a box, the model driven by F1 World Champions Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button.

Honda's two-wheeled offering has something for everyone, from the newly-launched, learner-legal CB125F, through the legendary VFR800F right up to the race-inspired CBR1000RR Fireblade.  

The new Forza 125 scooter, with its GT look and exceptional fuel economy will appeal to those wanting a striking but efficient means of transport.  

Visitors can also learn about Honda's innovative dual clutch transmission which, on bikes such as Honda's NC750X, combines the road presence and agility of a motorbike with the twist-and-go practicality of a scooter.

The ‘King of the Hell’ Xbox roadshow is also roaring into town, offering festival-goers the chance to win a brand new Civic Type R for a year provided they set the fastest time around the notorious Nürburgring Nordschleife in a state-of-the-art simulator.

Nicknamed ‘The Green Hell’ by F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart, the 12.9-mile Nordschleife is regarded as the most challenging and daunting circuit in the world, with each lap comprising no fewer than 154 corners, large bumps, cambers and surface changes.

The British-built Civic Type R – Honda’s ‘Race Car for the Road’ and the most extreme and high-performing model ever to wear the acclaimed ‘Red H’ badge – set a new front-wheel-drive lap record there last year, and in celebration of its arrival in UK dealerships, fans are invited to test their mettle by getting as close as possible to that impressive benchmark.

Honda Yuasa Racing Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship duo Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal – currently sitting third and sixth in the title standings, with Honda atop the manufacturers’ table – will perform high-speed demonstration runs behind the wheel of the road-going Civic Type R.

Honda’s latest Robot mower – Miimo – will be a working display in the Honda activity centre and will inspire a unique children’s drawing activity, whilst many of last summer’s favourites will make a welcome return, such as My First License, a mini-motorbike taster session that introduces 5-to-11-year-old non-riders to the exciting world of motorcycling.  

Carried out in a safe, controlled and fully supervised environment on restricted 50cc Honda CRF50 bikes, complete with helmets and kneepads, My First Licence culminates in the presentation of a special licence for the kids.

The ATV Experience on Honda’s TRX420 continues the fun yet educational theme, teaching older teens the inside line on throttle control, slaloming, overcoming obstacles and balance.

Meanwhile, the ride-on lawnmowers for 16-year-olds and above is sure to generate hilarious head-to-head racing around a timed garden course, where lane control and garbage-grabbing are orders of the day.

Last but by no means least the innovative and interactive ‘Power of Lean’ demonstration will simulate Superbike-style knee-down riding, replicating the feeling of being at full power whilst almost horizontal to the ground!

Philip Crossman, Managing Director at Honda UK, commented: “CarFest South is fantastic fun for all the family and jam-packed with exciting and interactive things to do for people of all ages.  

The music line up looks fantastic – as does the food offering, much of which is sourced from Laverstoke Park itself.   We aren’t quite sure of the weather yet, so will have both wellies and flipflops on standby!”

All-New vauxhall Astra to debut at the 2015 Frankfurt International Auto Show.

Vauxhall’s all-new Brit-built Astra will premiere at the 2015 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt on September 15^th, 2015 at 09:00 at Stand D09 in Hall 8.0. 

Built at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire, the new Astra is up to 200kg lighter than the outgoing model and thanks to its clever design it is smaller on the outside and bigger inside.

The powertrain portfolio features petrol and diesel units ranging from 100PS to 200PS, including an all-new 1.4-litre (145PS) ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo, a four-cylinder unit from the same family as the one-litre, three-cylinder engine seen in Corsa, ADAM and VIVA.

Equipped with OnStar, the first all-new Vauxhall to feature this technology; this includes high-speed 4G LTE mobile network, emergency response notification and stolen vehicle recovery technology. 

It is also one of the first vehicles from a mainstream manufacturer to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available through a new version of the IntelliLink infotainment system.

"The all-new Brit-built Astra raises the bar in terms of quality, design and connectivity," said Tim Tozer, Vauxhall's Chairman and Managing Director. "Lighter than ever before, with new powertrains and cutting-edge technology including OnStar, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technology, the new Astra looks set to shake up the C-segment when it arrives in showrooms this autumn."

Peugeot's Just Add Fuel has been exteded to include 18 year olds, on the 108 City Car.

• Now available to drivers aged 18-20 for the first time
• State-of-the-art plug-in telematics device tracks vehicle use
• Available on PEUGEOT 108 priced from just £248 rental per month** and no initial payment.

Just Add Fuel™is PEUGEOT’s innovative and unique fixed-cost motoring package – and now it’s available to teenage drivers.

Since launch in July 2010, over 27,000 UK drivers have taken advantage of Just Add Fuel™from PEUGEOT. Along with being hassle free, its low single monthly payment to cover all motoring costs and exceptional value for money have been the appealing factors.

But it has only been available to drivers aged 21 or older – until now. PEUGEOT has again rewritten the retail rule book and, thanks to the use of advanced telematics technology, younger drivers can benefit for the first time.

Just Add Fuel™is an innovation which has had a significant influence on UK car-buying patterns. It includes:

• A single monthly payment to cover all motoring costs
• No need to budget for insurance, servicing, road fund licence*, and roadside assistance costs – they are all included
• No need to search for cheaper insurance each year
• Fixed price motoring for three years means peace of mind
• A completely transparent motoring package with no hidden costs
• The opportunity to drive a new car every three years, so no MOT costs

Insurance industry data reveals that, statistically, drivers aged 18-20 are at the highest risk of being involved an accident. Working closely with its policy provider, PEUGEOT is launching a comprehensive fixed cost motoring package which takes that into account.

Neil Moscrop, PEUGEOT Brand Director commented: “Just Add Fuel is recognised as the most significant innovation in vehicle retailing for a number of years. Now we can widen its appeal even further, allowing a broader spectrum of drivers to experience the thrill of owning a new PEUGEOT car.”

Just Add Fuel™for those aged 18-20 is only available to PEUGEOT 108 buyers and is priced from just £248 rental per month**. 

The secret is a discreet plug-in telematics device; sent to customers immediately after they take delivery of the popular city car, it attaches to the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) port under the steering wheel. It’s a simple installation which they can do themselves, though their PEUGEOT Dealer will be happy to help if required.

Via satellite tracking, it stores and sends data on the vehicle’s speed, acceleration, deceleration and lateral G-forces. This is used to assess the customer’s driving style and rate each journey made, on a scale from 1–100. Customers will have access to an online portal where they can review their driving activity.

This is also regularly monitored by the insurer and an aggregate score awarded. Feedback is provided to assist the customer in improving this if necessary. If the score falls below an agreed threshold, the driver will receive a warning. 

Four warnings a year will result in the insurance policy being cancelled. This may reduce the number of insurance products available to the customer, and/or increase the premiums they are quoted.

Terms and conditions apply, including a requirement for a full UK driving licence, permanent UK residency and no ‘fault’ insurance claims.

Just Add Fuel™with telematics is also available to PEUGEOT 108 buyers aged 21-75 who do not have two years’ No Claims Discount, or have held a full UK driver’s licence for less than two years.

Despite being part of the new car retailing landscape for five years, Just Add Fuel™remains unique to PEUGEOT.

*Road Fund Licence on a PEUGEOT 108 is £0.

**Minimum age 18, maximum age 75. 

Drivers are required to install the Telematics Box & consent to Data capture & transmission to qualify for insurance. 

All drivers must hold a full UK licence & meet eligibility criteria including limits on driving convictions & claims. 

Insurance subject to cancellation if you receive four warnings for poor driving.  

Excesses apply. 3 years motor insurance is provided and underwritten by U K Insurance Limited which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

This offer is not available in Northern Ireland. 

Written quotations available from PSA Finance UK Limited

IRELAND - AUDI announces pricing and specifications for the All-New R8 V10 Supercar.

• R8 V10 has starting price of €231,500; V10+ price of €263,000;
• Orders open in September with first deliveries in October 2015
• Naturally aspirated V10 5.2FSI engine with up to 610 hp, 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds; top speed of 330 km/h.

Audi Ireland has announced pricing and equipment details for its mid-engined, high-performance sports car, the all-new Audi R8 Coupe.

The second-generation model of this iconic supercar will be available in Ireland from October 2015, with a starting price of €231,500 for the V10 model; and €263,000 for the V10+. Orders will open in September through Audi Ireland's exclusive R8 retailer and repairer, Audi Centre in Ballsbridge.

The car improves upon its first-generation predecessor in every possible way. With its 5.2 FSI engine, the 610hp R8 V10+ accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds, reaching a top speed of 330 km/h.

Thanks to the ground-breaking multi-material Audi Space Frame (ASF) chassis, both the V10 and V10+ models weigh 50kg less than the first-generation R8. This weight reduction comes despite the inclusion of extra class-leading equipment.

The quattro drive system of the R8 has been fully re-developed. The intelligent all-wheel drive software continually distributes torque to where it’s needed resulting in breath taking performance. The extremely dynamic chassis and adjustable electronic stability control (ESC) can be exploited with Audi Drive Select through a choice of four modes (comfort, auto, dynamic & individual).

As standard, the all-new R8 features Audi's quattro drive system, 19" alloys, LED headlights and rear dynamic turn signals.

In the interior, the characteristic element is the monoposto, a large arc in the area around the driver’s seat ensure that the driver experiences the same feeling of sitting in a race car that race drivers enjoy. The new steering wheel design with shift paddles features the dynamic driving controls clustered on satellite-style buttons.   

Connectivity is delivered through Audi's innovative digital virtual cockpit display, with MMI navigation+ with touch pad as standard. Leather sports seats ensure comfort on all road surfaces at all speeds.

Christian Gussen, Managing Director of Audi Ireland, said the all-new R8 is "the zenith of Audi's commercial sports car engineering and design."

"The second-generation Audi R8 is the fastest and most powerful commercial sports car that we have ever produced. Combining impressive speed, a powerful, high-performance engine and lightweight design, the all-new R8 is a dynamic, exhilarating drive", he said.

Mercedes-Benz launches special Limited Edition Sprinter van to celebrate its 20th anniversary

Mercedes-Benz Vans has launched a limited edition Sprinter for Retail customers to celebrate the 20^thanniversary of the mighty vehicle, priced at £259* per month with a £2,800 deposit contribution.

The unique Sprinter 20^th Anniversary edition will be available across a maximum of 1,200 vans, with special ‘Sprinter 20’ badging on the front wing and a unique option bundle added including: air conditioning, sat nav, a Driver’s Comfort seat with arm rest, wheel trims, and a chrome grille, worth over £2,000, for just £750.

Sprinter launched in 1995 and is a firm favourite in the large van sector, winning more than 70 UK-specific awards since it arrived in the UK.

From the day it launched in April 1995 until the end of June 2015, 327,201 Sprinter vans have sold in the UK, of which 69,457 were for the Sprinter 313 CDI MWB, across a wide range of customers.

These range from home delivery, such as Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s and Iceland, to DPD, Yodel, DHL, and Parcelforce, as well as construction and plant companies, like HSS Hire and A-Plant, utilities businesses, including Cappagh and EEG, 100% of ambulance trusts across the country, ice-cream vans, and even a mobile deluxe beauty treatment room.

More than 250,000 of the Sprinter models sold have been panel vans, with 71,769 chassis cab variants. The Sprinter factory capacity in Düsseldorf is 745 units a day, equating to 214,560 produced vehicles a year.

In the first month of sales (April 1995), there were 56 Sprinter models sold. The top sales month since has been September 2013, with 4,217 sold, although this record is expected to be broken in September 2015.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most popular colour choice for Sprinter is white, with 199,794 vehicles sold since launch, followed by silver, with 14,313 vehicles in this colour.

The most miles on a Sprinter currently on the UK roads, and serviced via a Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Dealer, is 995,242 miles for a van registered in January 1999. A second Sprinter, with 964,436 miles on the clock, has run that up since November 2005.

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans, added: “Mercedes-Benz has been making Vans since 1896 and has pioneered new standards in safety every step of the way, with Sprinter leading from the front.

“From introducing ESP in 1995, offering the driver airbag as standard in 2000, launching Crosswind Assist in 2013, and most recently becoming the first manufacturer in the world to equip all new vans as standard with Rescue Assist QR code stickers, we have never sat still.”

For those Sprinter vehicles still on the road 20 years on, there is still another 10 years of free MobiloVan cover available, provided the last service was carried out by an authorised Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Dealer.

Every Mercedes-Benz Vans vehicle purchase comes with free 30-year cover across the UK and Europe, with an average response time of less than an hour, with more than 80% of vehicles fixed at the roadside.

MobiloVan will send out a roadside assistance van in the event of a breakdown, which is well-stocked with GenuineParts and manned by a Mercedes-Benz trained Technician, at no cost to the customer.

Also covered are 

• minor non-warranty roadside repairs up to £130 including VAT, 
• recovery to the nearest Mercedes-Benz workshop if roadside repairs are not possible, 
• public transport costs to aid onward travel up to £55, 
• vehicle return within 30 miles of the repairing Dealer, 
• replacement vehicle for up to three working days, air or rail travel for onward journey up to £340 per person for driver and passengers, 
• and overnight accommodation including breakfast for up to three working days for driver and passengers too.