Infiniti is the latest dealership to be added to the Motability Scheme for people with varying disabilities.

INFINITI Rickmansworth; following on from a recent training programme every INFINITI Centre across the UK is now able to provide a range of cars through the Motability Scheme. 

The Motability Scheme provides an affordable, worry-free way for people with disabilities to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair in exchange for their mobility allowance. 

Each Centre has a qualified sales consultant available to look after Motability Scheme customers, providing a first-class personal service.

Currently available on the Scheme is the new ‘Built in Britain’ active compact Infiniti Q30, available with an Advance Payment of £299. More models will become available on the Scheme over time.

Barry Beeston, regional director for INFINITI UK, commented  “The Motability Scheme is superb  as it provides customers with a great level of mobility and lifestyle in an affordable way. 

The three year business model is good for personal expenditure planning and provides a sustainable business practise within the industry.” 

To be eligible for the Scheme, customers must be in receipt of one of the following allowances:

• higher rate of mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
• enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).

The full range of cars available to lease through the Motabilty Scheme can be found on their website  motability.co.uk

The Prince of Monaco takes delivery of two Nissan e-NV200 all-electric vehicles.

• Two all-electric Nissan e-NV200s join Palace of Monaco’s vehicle fleet
• H.S.H. Prince Albert II receives the vehicles on behalf of the Palace
• Adoption of zero emission technology signifies Palace’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact
• Vans to be used as on-site delivery vehicles, transporting goods and people across the estate

The Prince’s Palace of Monaco has taken delivery of two all-electric, zero emission Nissan e-NV200s, marking an important step in the Palace’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact.

Received by the Sovereign Prince of Monaco, H.S.H. Prince Albert II at a handover ceremony held at the Palace, the two e-NV200 five-seater Evalia vans will be used primarily as on-site delivery vehicles, transporting a variety of goods as well as people across the historic estate, which is home to the Prince and his family.

Offering true zero-emission mobility, the e-NV200s will contribute to the Palace’s strategy to reduce the estate’s greenhouse gas emissions as part of a wider sustainability action plan implemented in Monaco by the Prince. 

Commenting on the country’s sustainability strategy and the addition of the e-NV200s to the Palace’s vehicle fleet, Prince Albert said: “Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is vital and our country has set ambitious targets. Our aim is to achieve a 50 percent decrease in carbon emissions by 2030, with the ultimate goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.”

Paul Willcox, Chairman, Nissan Europe said: “As a society we face considerable environmental challenges but with zero tailpipe emissions, electric vehicles offer a solution that can help tackle these challenges head on.”

“With the introduction of the Nissan LEAF and e-NV200, we have spearheaded the move towards smarter, greener mobility and we’re delighted that governments and leaders across Europe are switching on to the benefits of all-electric motoring.”

Combining the best elements of two multi-award winning vehicles - Nissan LEAF and Nissan NV200 - the all-electric e-NV200 is a practical, versatile and sustainable commercial vehicle. Boasting a range of up to 105 miles on a single charge*, the Nissan e-NV200 has class-leading load space capable of carrying people or goods while producing neither exhaust emissions nor noise pollution.

Nissan was the first manufacturer to bring zero emission mobility to the mass-market with the introduction of the 100 percent electric Nissan LEAF in 2010. The Nissan LEAF is the world’s best-selling electric vehicle and together with the Nissan e-NV200, there are more than 220,000 Nissan electric vehicles on the roads, globally. To find out more about Nissan’s electric vehicle range, visit: http://www.nissan.eu/experience-nissan.html

The Principality of Monaco has already adopted a series of measures as part of a wider sustainability strategy focusing on road transportation, waste and energy management. Sustainable mobility is advocated across the state through the use of public transportation and the adoption of low emission vehicles.  In 2012, Monaco reduced its emissions by 13.2 percent, and achieved its objective to reduce average emissions by eight percent during 2008-2012.

The New vauxhall Astra has been nominated for the 2016 European Car Of The Year.

Vauxhall’s all-new Astra has just been announced as one of seven nominees for the prestigious 2016 European Car of the Year award, which will be presented on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show on February 29 next year.

A total of 58 leading motoring journalists from 22 European countries – including six from the UK – had the tough task of whittling a short-list of seven cars down from a total of 35 entrants, with initial testing taking place at the notorious Tannistest in Denmark.

The Astra is already on a winning streak, both in Europe and the UK. Last month, it was named Scottish Car of the Year 2015 in Vauxhall’s biggest market, and in Europe it’s recently walked away with the 2015 Golden Steering Wheel and SAFETYBEST 2015 awards.

In the UK, ECOTY judges represent a broad range of publications, including The Daily Telegraph, Autocar and CAR magazine. Unlike many other competitions, Car of the Year has no separate segments, with jurors selecting just one overall winner.

European Car of the Year was founded in 1964, and in recent years Vauxhall has won twice: with the Insignia in 2009 and the Ampera in 2012.

The New Astra is in Vauxhall dealerships now, with a starting price of just £15,295. Weighing up to 200kgs less than the previous model, Astra is smaller outside than before, yet bigger inside. New-generation petrol and diesel engines feature in every model, with CO₂ emissions as low as 88g/km and power outputs up to 200PS. Astra’s new-in-class technology, like Vauxhall OnStar – a revolutionary personal connectivity system – and IntelliLux Matrix LED headlights bring premium functionality into the mainstream segment.

SPAIN - BMW 7-Series plug in hybrid can go 40Km's on battery alone, one of the best ranges for a luxury car.

The new BMW 7 Series brings new mobility, and also incorporate advanced technologies and lightweight materials in its construction, between the supply of engines will be a plug-in hybrid engine. 

The character of the new BMW 7 Series, facing the future, is underlined by the expansion of the range thanks to the BMW 740e BMW 740Le 740Le and BMW xDrive. 

In the case of these hybrid models such as "plug-in" Carbon Core both the cabin and the drivetrain technology BMW eDrive are the result of the experience gained during the development of BMW i cars. 

Incorporating the BMW 740e to the model range, the BMW eDrive technology debuts in the segment of the most exclusive saloons, previously had installed for the first time in BMW i models. 

The plug-in hybrid model, which is also offered in long wheelbase version (BMW 740Le), as well as its variant with intelligent all-wheel drive BMW xDrive 740Le has a gasoline engine four-cylinder and an electric motor that together develop an output of 240 kW / 326 hp. 

The new members of the new BMW 7 Series, the BMW and the BMW 740e 740Le have a combined consumption of 2.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (740Le BMW xDrive: 2.3 liters), or a combined consumption of electric current of 12.5 kWh / 100 km (BMW xDrive 740Le 13.0 kWh).

  

The corresponding value of CO2 is 49 grams per kilometer (740Le BMW xDrive: 53 grams) per kilometer (values ​​test cycle EU to plug-in electric hybrid vehicles, dependent on the size of the tires). 

The energy consumed by the electric motor is powered by a high-voltage lithium-ion battery mounted in a specially secure position under the rear seat, which is not exposed to possible impacts. To recharge it, you can connect to any conventional outlet, but also to a BMW i Wallbox or public charging stations. 

With eDrive key, located in the center console, the driver can affect the operating mode of the hybrid system. Being active AUTO eDrive basic setting, the combustion engine receives the motor assist perceptible during recovery or acceleration maneuvers. 

If the MAX eDrive mode, both the BMW and the BMW 740e 740Le can go only with the electric motor a distance of 40 kilometers (740Le BMW xDrive: 37 km) you are active, which means displacement without generating emissions. 

Addition mode can be activated Battery Control, which is increased or, at least, the charge level of the battery voltage remains high. 

Thus, electrical energy can then be used to drive the electric motor only. While the browser function activated route guidance, the forward management of energy makes the necessary calculations to develop a strategy and select a route that allows reach the destination drive with the electric motor.

The standard equipment of the BMW 740e, 740Le BMW xDrive and BMW 740Le also includes a stationary heating and cooling, which runs on electric energy from the high-voltage battery or electric current from a wall current during operation of battery charging. 

In addition, the BMW eDrive technology allows the car to operate only with electric emissions-free driving for 40 km in length and reaching a top speed of 120km / h. The high-voltage battery for plug-in electric hybrid model BMW 740e also come from Dingolfing plant.

  

Specifications  

• Overall system power:  240 kW / 326 hp; CO2 emissions: 49 g / km.   
• BMW 740e (740Le BMW, BMW xDrive 740Le):  Motor gasoline inline four-cylinder with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology (Twin Scroll turbocharger, direct injection, VALVETRONIC, double VANOS).
• Displacement:  1,997 cc.
• Gasoline engine power:  190 kW / 258 hp at 5000-6500 rpm. Torque: 400 Nm between 1,250 and 4,800 rpm, BMW eDrive technology with synchronous electric motor.
• Electric motor power:  70 kW / 95 hp; maximum torque: 250 Nm. High-voltage battery lithium-ion battery. 
• Total System Power:  240 kW / 326 hp.
• Acceleration (0-100 km / h):  5.6 seconds (BMW 740Le 5.7 seconds 740Le BMW xDrive: 5.5 seconds).
• Top speed:  > 240 km / h.
• Maximum speed in electric:  120 km / h (limited electronically).
• ** Electric motor autonomy:  40 km (BMW 740Le: 40 km, 740Le BMW xDrive: 37 km).
• ** Average consumption:  2.1 liters / 100 kilometers (740Le BMW 2.1 liter BMW xDrive 740Le 2.3 liters) 12.5 kWh / 100 km (BMW 740Le: 12.5 kWh, BMW xDrive 740Le 13.0 kWh).
• ** CO2 emissions:  49 g / km (BMW 740Le: 49 g / km, 740Le BMW xDrive: 53 g / km).
• Exhaust emission standard:  EU6.

** Provisional figures. Test cycle values ​​of the EU to plug-in electric hybrid vehicles, dependent on the size of the tires.

Translated by Google - apologies for an errors caused.

CHINA/GERMANY RECALL - Mercedes to recall 149,000 E-Class and CLS models due to safety reasons.

Daimler-Benz is recalling about 149,000 Mercedes-Benz cars in China and Germany for safety reasons.

Daimler said insulating panel seals in the engine bay could come loose, and in rare cases could come into contact with hot components. The company said it was offering to secure the panels with four brackets, which would take about 15 minutes and would be free for customers.

Daimler knew of 127,000 affected E-class and CLS vehicles in China and 22,000 in Germany, the automaker said on Monday.