Happy Tenth Anniversary to Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands, the UK Home of all things Mercedes.

• Innovative Brooklands brand centre opened in 2006
• Over three million people have visited the site, which combines a driving centre, museum, showroom and more
• Offers amazing driving experiences both on-track and off-road – including driving lessons for under-17s

Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this weekend. Since the innovative brand centre opened its doors in 2006, over three million people have been welcomed through its doors.

The free-to-visit facility at the historic Brooklands race track provides visitors with a fascinating insight into Mercedes-Benz’s 130-year-long history, from the very first automobile in 1886 – the Patent Motorwagen – to the very latest products from Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG and smart.

On top of this, Mercedes-Benz World offers incredible driving experiences on purpose-built tracks both on and off-road. Over the past decade, some 430,000 customers have enjoyed these – the oldest driver being 106 years old, and the youngest just three. In fact, some 30,000 toddlers have got behind the wheel of Mercedes-Benz Bobby cars as part of the Little Learners experience for three-five year olds.

Mercedes-Benz World has also played host to a number of high-profile product launches, including the world premiere of the new Mercedes-AMG GT R this summer. The range-topping sports car was airlifted to Brooklands before landing in front of the world’s media, with Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton taking the GT R out on the track.

To celebrate its 10^th birthday, Mercedes-Benz World is offering a £20 discount to customers purchasing an AMG driving experience – meaning an hour of one-to-one tuition at the wheel of a powerful Mercedes-AMG model will now cost £180*. To purchase please call 0370 400 4000 and quote ’291006MBW’ (not available online).

Mercedes-Benz World is open from 10 am – 6 pm, seven days a week (with the exception of Christmas Day and Boxing Day).

MG opens it's next dealership in Surrey, and with more coming, one that will make all the fans happy, the future is bright.

MG Motor’s newest addition to its growing dealer network has a history that reflects that of its own. Belmont Garage, in Surrey, has been established since 1929 and comes with a loyal following.

Belmont Garage is the latest dealer to join the MG network. The well-known garage, with branches in Sutton and Epsom, has built up an extremely loyal database of customers over the years – one that Dealer Principal, Ian Williams, is extremely proud of.

Ian said: “We’ve been looking to add another franchise to our Epsom dealership for a while now and we decided that MG would be the best fit. We love that the brand reflects our dealership image. We’ve worked hard over the years to get to where we are and despite being a smaller sized dealer, we like to think we pack a punch!

“As a result of us being in the area since the 1920s, we have a very high presence and because we’ve been looking after customer’s cars for so long we have built up an excellent reputation – I’m very protective over that. I have no doubt that, through the combination of our own heritage and MG’s too, we will make a great team.”

Belmont Garage received several enquiries not long after announcing MG would be coming soon to the dealership and they have already sold a handful of MG3 and MG6s.

Ian added: “We know that the MG3 will be the biggest seller for us, but when the GS officially lands we think it’s fair to say that that will be the main attraction.”

Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Belmont Garage onboard; particularly when they come with such status in the local community. They have joined us at an exciting time and I know they’re very much looking forward to having the GS on their forecourt in just over a month’s time. We can’t wait to work with them.”

The Top gear Star In A Reasonably Priced Car, Vauxhall Astra is on eBay to raise money for the BEN Charity.

• BBC Top Gear’s Reasonably Priced Vauxhall Astra back up for auction to raise money for BEN
• 2013 Astra driven by Will Smith and Benedict Cumberbatch
• New eBay auction opening today: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/231913252015

The Vauxhall Astra used in the last series of BBC’s Top Gear as their Reasonably Priced Car is up back for sale to raise money for the automotive support network BEN.

The 2013 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 was driven by a host of celebrities including Tom Hiddleston, Jack Whitehall and Steven Tyler. The car, donated by Vauxhall Motors, was initially offered for auction late last year, but with the original sale now fallen through, the way is clear for one lucky Top Gear fan to bid for the vehicle on eBay as well as contribute to a worthy cause.

BEN is committed to making positive differences to the lives of people within the automotive industry and their dependents. The organisation offers a wide range of free and confidential information, advice and Support Services, along with the provision of residential, nursing and specialist care services at multiple care centres around the UK.

David Main, Chief Executive at BEN said: “It is a shame the original sale fell through, but this of course does mean another chance for a Top Gear fan to get their hands on a piece of the show’s history, after all this was the last car to be used in the show’s previous format.”

He added: “Who knows, perhaps Chris Evans or Matt Le Blanc may fancy bidding on it themselves?!”

With an estimated 350 million views in 170 different countries per week, the 2013 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 was initiated with a star-studded barbeque, featuring celebrities including comedians Jimmy Carr and Warwick Davis, and singers Brian Johnson and Joss Stone. Celebrities such as Olly Murs, who topped the leader board, Margot Robbie, Ron Howard and James Blunt all thrashed it around the Top Gear Test Track at Dunsfold Park, Surrey.

The five-door Power Red 1.6-litre 115bhp Vauxhall Astra Tech Line will be auction on eBay, from today for 2 weeks until 28^th April, with a reserve of £10,000 - all proceeds from the sale will be donated to BEN.

The spec:

• Mileage – 2,908
• 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels
• Sat-nav system with seven-inch colour monitor
• Three-spoke leather-covered sports steering wheel
• Multi-function trip computer
• USB connection with iPod control
• Mobile phone system with Bluetooth
• Digital radio with six premium speakers
• Chrome-effect exterior side window surround
• Front Corbeau Sprint Racing seats with 5 point safety belt harness and full roll-cage

IMPORTANT NOTE: Bidders should be aware that the airbags have all been disabled making room for the roll-cage.  To re-instate the airbags would involve removing the roll-cage and seating.  So, in its current state, the car is not type-approved and should not be driven on the road.  The Vauxhall Technical Team will work with the successful bidder at handover to fully explain how the vehicle has been adapted. Please be aware converting the vehicle back into use on the public highway would incur significant cost.

Mitsubishi continues to grow with yet another new dealership opening, this one is in Surrey.

A family-run dealership in Surrey that is marking its 50^th year in the business this year has joined the Mitsubishi family.

Normandy Garage, in Guildford Road, Normandy, was established in 1966 and so close are the ties that owner John Richards even lives next door. Meanwhile, his sons Ian and Johnny Richards are, respectively, the dealer principal/sales manager and financial controller.

John said: ‘Family values are what the garage trades on – treating people how you want to be treated. We’ve got lots of loyal customers, and what we excel in is customer service. That’s the crux of what we do – attention to detail and 100% customer service. It’s all about customer service. You treat people right and guess what? They come back. It’s not rocket science!’

The showroom has space for five vehicles and there’s a three-ramp workshop as well as a comfy customer waiting area with free wi-fi, plasma LCD TV, fresh-bean coffee machine and daily newspapers. In addition, a free pick-up and drop-off service is offered, as are loan vehicles.

Also swelling the staff ranks dedicated to Mitsubishi is Sales Executive Toby Carter, and John said: ‘We see a great future with Mitsubishi. Staff have been there for 15, 20 years plus, and if retention is high that only says a good thing about the brand. Mitsubishi’s aspirations are where we would like to be.

‘Our core brand is Normandy Garage. We’ve got a lot of customers, and we don’t do anything half-heartedly. We wouldn’t take on something we weren’t happy with, because that goes against what we do, which is treating people how you want to be treated, and the brand totally fits our customers.

‘And you’ve got to believe in what you sell. If you don’t believe in it you can’t sell it, and the vehicles really are fantastic, especially the Outlander PHEV and its plug-in hybrid technology plus everything else as well, from the chic city car that is the Mirage to the iconic L200 pick-up – there truly is something for everybody in Mitsubishi’s range.’

An official launch weekend was held on March 19 and 20, but such is Normandy’s successful approach that it managed to sell four Mitsubishi vehicles soon after adopting the franchise. Future plans also include having a presence at the Surrey County Show on May 30.

Mitsubishi Motors is seeing a strong and sustained period of growth. Statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show Mitsubishi Motors in the UK has been the fastest-growing mainstream car manufacturer for the past three years. The company saw sales growth in passenger cars of 44 per cent in 2015 compared with the previous year, against an overall market up by six per cent.

Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said: ‘I’m delighted to welcome Normandy Garage to the Mitsubishi family. Its strong family ethos and the importance it places on customer care perfectly match our own values, and I look forward to it contributing to Mitsubishi’s growing success in the UK.’

The jaguar E-Type that was "found" under a hedge has been sold, and what a windfall for the owner.

A 1963 Jaguar E-Type found under a hedge in the village of Bisley in Surrey sold for £58,000 at COYS Spring Classics auction in London.

Chris Routledge, CEO of international auctioneers COYS, said: “We were encouraged by strong results achieved across the board and the number of registered bidders joining us and bidding in the room – it’s always good to see the market is as active as ever.”

He added: “The derelict E-Type attracted attention from all four corners of the world and bidders in a packed auction room and via telephone fought fiercely for it on Tuesday night. It ended up going to an English collector and Beatles enthusiast who plans to slowly restore it to its former glory.”

The E-Type showed just 44,870miles on the clock and still had the last tax disc on the windscreen which expired in November 1969. The car’s first owner in May 1963 was none other than Ivor Arbiter, who owned Drum City and Sound City in London and was the designer of the ‘drop – T’ logo for The Beatles.

It changed owners a couple of times between 1965 and 1967, when it moved to its last owner Frank Riches, who raced it extensively at Oulton Park, Brands Hatch and Blackbushe between 1967 and 1969. Frank burnt out the clutch and instead of getting it fixed he put the car into storage in a lock up until the 1980s, he then moved it to his garden where is remained under a tarpaulin until the present vendor rescued it in 2015.

Other important cars auctioned included a veteran 1901 Delin 4HP Voiturette eligible for the London to Brighton Run (sold for £64,520), a 1984 Lamborghini Countach 5000 S (£253,800), a 2010 Aspira F620 (£86,920) and a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL (£81,320).

Routledge said: “Values of classic cars remain robust with a particular note to the Lamborgini Countach selling for £253,800. COYS next auction will be the Essen extravanza with a catalogue of 160 classic and sports cars.”

COYS ‘Techno Classica’ auction takes place on April 9^th in Essen, Germany, followed by ‘COYS at Ascot’ in the famous British racecourse on April 16th.

A new weekend long Ford event to be held next year for the first time, in collaboration with Ford magazines.

• New weekend-long event set to become highlight of the Ford calendar
• Featuring classic and modern Fords from across the world
• Advance tickets now available, from just £10 a head

A brand new event celebrating Britain’s most popular car brand is set to become one of the biggest highlights of the show calendar when it opens its doors for the first time in 2016.

The International Ford Fair will be held at Sandown Park, Surrey, on the outskirts of London, on the weekend of April 30-May 1, and will bring together fans of the blue oval from all over the globe.

The indoor event will feature some of the finest Fords from the UK and beyond, be them standard, restored or modified, along with premium trade stands from a variety of Ford experts and specialists. There will be live demonstrations throughout the day, along with a significant presence from two of the Ford scene’s most respected magazines – Classic Ford and Fast Ford.

Advance tickets for the show are available now, priced at just £10 per person for single day access, or £20 for the weekend (up to two children below the age of 14 go free). Those wishing to make even more of a weekend of it can also take advantage of on-site camping for an extra £10 per person, adding to the show’s festival feel. They can be bought from the show’s official website at 

http://www.theinternationalfordshow.com/

Full details of the show, the cars and the various activities will be announced nearer the date, on the event website, or via the official Facebook page and twitter feeds.

Jaguar First to give 11-17 year olds the opportunity from Jaguar to have driving lesson experience, not cheap though.

• Jaguar First scheme to educate young people on safe, responsible driving
• Launches at six venues across the UK
• 11-17 year-olds to get behind the wheel of a new Jaguar XE in environments which realistically represent public roads

The all-new Jaguar XE is achieving widespread praise from its first owners following its launch earlier this year, andfrom today the Jaguar sports saloon experience is offered to the next generation of drivers with the launch of ‘Jaguar First. 

This new scheme from Jaguar offers driving lesson experience days to 11-17 year-olds to help prepare them for their driving test and for driving safely and responsibly on public roads.

Jaguar First lessons start from just £45 and are available to book at www.jaguarfirst.com. The lessons offer under 17s a fun and safe way to experience driving a car, in a realistic on-the-road environment, with a focus on the skills and attitude needed to become a responsible driver.

Youngsters will drive a 2.0-litre, 180 PS diesel XE with automatic transmission, the most advanced and efficient sports saloon car that Jaguar has ever produced. Lessons will be delivered by government approved driving instructors in Jaguar XEs featuring dual controls.

Lesson content will mirror on road lessons for those with provisional licences, but will take place on specially designed private road systems at the following venues:

• Allianz Park, London
• Bath and West Showground, Bath
• Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham
• EventCity, Manchester
• Lingfield Park Racecourse, Surrey
• Ricoh Arena, Coventry

Once they’ve mastered the basics, youngsters will be able to progress to driving in two-way traffic, dealing with junctions and roundabouts, master turning and steering through slaloms and practice bay andreverse parking. At some venues, there will also be areas where drivers can safely experience the handling of the car at higher speeds of up to 40 miles an hour.

Research has shown that learning to drive responsibly from an earlier age lowers the risk of accidents. Four hundred people are killed each year in the UK in accidents involving young drivers, and one in five newly qualified drivers will crash their car within six months of passing their test. By extending the period of learning with a qualified instructor, and by introducing the concept at an age when they’re more receptive to safety messages, this figure can drop by more than half.

Mark Cameron, Jaguar Land Rover Experiential Marketing Director, said: “Jaguar First is about introducing young people to the concept of responsible driving, helping them in turn to become safer drivers, and also raising their awareness of safety as a pedestrian or cyclist. The XE is a great car for this, as it offers the very latest in technology and innovation, and is also ideal for helping teach young people about environmentally responsible driving.

“The lessons are also great fun and an exciting yet safe way to give new drivers a sense of what it’s like to be in control of a car. We have chosen venues across the country to give as many people as possible the opportunity to try their first drive in a Jaguar. Whether our customers choose a 30, 60 or 90 minute experience, they will spend the whole time in the car, driving.”

Skoda UK is delighted to announce it's agreed a multi car contract with the East Coast Ambulance Service.

ŠKODA UK is delighted to announce the beginning of a new contract with South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb). The deal will result in ŠKODA Octavias being deployed as front-line rapid response vehicles across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and North-East Hampshire. 

With 35 Octavias already delivered and 20 more on the way later this month, the ongoing fleet modernisation programme within SECAmb is fully under way.

The ŠKODA Octavia 2.0 TDI 4x4 Estate SE will be incorporated into the SECAmb rapid response fleet, which covers an area of 3,600 square miles and responds to more than 800,000 life-threatening incidents every year. The cars will be driven by Clinical Operations Managers and Paramedics.

The ŠKODA Octavia was unanimously chosen from a lengthy list of competitors – all five-door estate cars, with either 4x4 or all-wheel drive. The right vehicle had to be responsive, capable of holding standard clinical kit and sophisticated diagnostic equipment, as well as be able to operate reliably during inclement weather. 

The Octavia 4x4 stood out due to its cavernous interior space and extensive technology, as well as representing great value for money.  

With the operational fleet answering 800,000 calls and completing in excess of 17 million miles across the South East every year, SECAmb's staff are required to work at a speed that is often critical to saving lives.

Those driving the ŠKODA Octavia will now benefit from a car that returns a combined 61.3mpg, has up to 1,740 litres of boot space and which emits just 120g/km of CO₂.

SECAmb Head of Fleet Operations, Justin Wand, said: “It was really important to recognise the versatility we required from a vehicle fulfilling the front-line rapid response role.

"Our patients need the reassurance that we are able to get to them in their hour of need and our staff deserve to operate in a comfortable space, with all the kit they need to be clinically effective. We saw theŠKODA Octavia as the perfect match, as it is built to a high specification, is environmentally efficient and is great value for money."

Patrick McGillycuddy, Head of Fleet at ŠKODA UK, commented: “We are extremely pleased that SECAmb has chosen to supply its paramedics with ŠKODA Octavias. Spacious, functional and capable of high performance the Octavia 2.0 TDI 4x4 Estate SE is the ideal vehicle to take on the rigours of front-line ambulance service."

SECAmb Driving Standards Manager, Simon Macartney, added: "Space, good tech, value and above all 4x4 capability were the essentials for our rapid response vehicles. The ŠKODA Octavia Estate 4x4 fulfilled all of these requirements and more, but it was our relationship with ŠKODA and the excellent package they offered us helped to seal the deal."  

The ŠKODA Octavia Estate was recently honoured with the label ‘Best Estate Car’ at the annual Fleet Newsawards and is available with P11D values from just £16,230 and BIK of just 16 per cent.