The Ferrari J50 ultra limited edition takes the Red Dot Best of the Best Award for 2017

• The Ferrari J50 takes top honours in the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2017
• The GTC4Lusso, LaFerrari Aperta and 458 MM Speciale receive Red Dot distinctions

For the third year running, Ferrari has taken the Red Dot: Best of the Best award for the maximum expression of design quality and ground-breaking design. 

The model to receive the top Red Dot Award in the prestigious annual Product Design competition this year was the Ferrari J50, the strictly limited series of bespoke cars built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ferrari in Japan.

A sophisticated two-seater, mid-rear-engined roadster based on the 488 Spider, the J50 features a radically futuristic design language and was praised by the Red Dot jurors for its innovation. 

Designed by the Ferrari Design team under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, just 10 examples of the J50 will be built in the spirit of Ferrari’s fuori serie tradition.

The international jury of design experts also awarded Ferrari Red Dot distinctions for the high design quality of the GTC4Lusso, LaFerrari Aperta and the 458 MM Speciale. The award ceremony held the evening of the 3rd of July at the Aalto Theater in Essen thus focussed attention on the design excellence that characterises Ferrari’s entire model range in the year that the company celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Ferrari’s unique heritage, in fact, is encapsulated in the most extensive and diverse range of sports cars in the automotive sector. The GTC4Lusso is Ferrari’s flagship GT production car, an exclusive interpretation of the four-seater concept, combining extraordinary performance in all driving conditions with sporty elegance and luxurious comfort. The LaFerrari Aperta is a limited-edition special series, an open-top version of the acclaimed LaFerrari supercar which represents the finest expression of the marque’s technical capabilities in both GT and Formula 1 engineering. The 458 MM Speciale instead is one of the latest creations from Ferrari’s special One-Off programme, a bespoke service for clients who desire a truly unique car with innovative, individual styling.

For the seventh year running Vauxhall Motors takes the Top Employers UK Certification.

Vauxhall Motors has been recognised by the Top Employers Institute for its exceptional employee offerings, for the seventh year in a row.

The annual, international research, undertaken by the Top Employers Institute, recognises leading employers around the world: those that provide excellent employee conditions, nurture and develop talent throughout all levels of the organisation, and which strive to continuously optimise employment practices. Vauxhall has been awarded the exclusive Top Employers United Kingdom 2017 Certification.

The Top Employers Institute globally certifies excellence in the conditions that employers create for their people. It has just announced the results of this year’s research into the employee conditions of organisations in the UK.

Vauxhall is one of the organisations to achieve the Top Employers United Kingdom 2017 Certification, and is delighted to be officially recognised as a leading employer.

Crucial to the Top Employers Certification is the completion of a stringent research process, and meeting the required standard in order to achieve the Certification. 

To further reinforce the validity of the process, all answers were independently audited, meaning this research has verified Vauxhall Motors’ outstanding employee conditions and earned them a coveted spot among a select group of certified Companies.

The Top Employers Institute assessed Vauxhall’s employee offerings on the following criteria:

• Talent Strategy
• Workforce Planning
• On-boarding
• Learning & Development
• Performance Management
• Leadership Development
• Career & Succession Management
• Compensation & Benefits
• Culture

James Gooding, UK Country Manager, Top Employers Institute said: “Optimal employee conditions ensure that people can develop themselves personally and professionally. Our comprehensive research concluded that Vauxhall provides an outstanding employment environment and offers a wide range of creative initiatives, from secondary benefits and working conditions, to performance-management programmes that are well thought out and truly aligned with the culture of their company.”

Rory Harvey, Chairman and Managing Director, Vauxhall said: “Endorsement from the Top Employers Institute, as external assessors of our people and our policies, is proof of our commitment to our employees and I am proud to be part of an organisation that has this commitment. Our staff are dedicated to the success of Vauxhall in the UK and we want to recognise and reward them by making sure Vauxhall is a great place to work.”

To learn more about the Top Employers Institute and the Top Employers Certification, please visit: www.top-employers.com.

Groupe Renault UK has announced the winners of its annual ‘Auto Express Driver Power – Dealer of Excellence’ award

• Unique industry initiative is in partnership with Auto Express magazine and Driver Power
• 17 Renault franchises awarded coveted ‘Dealer of Excellence’ status
• Award recognises dealerships that far exceed the manufacturer’s customer satisfaction measurements
• Programme contributes to Groupe Renault UK’s increased focus on customer satisfaction

Groupe Renault UK has announced the winners of its annual ‘Auto Express Driver Power – Dealer of Excellence’ award programme that is run in association with Auto Express magazine.

A total of 17 franchises have been awarded the highly coveted ‘Dealer of Excellence’ accolade that recognises the best of the best in the Groupe Renault UK dealer network. 

The successful dealerships were presented with their awards by Paul Flanagan, Managing Director, Groupe Renault UK, at the manufacturer’s national dealer conference held yesterday in Central London.

The winning dealerships were initially nominated for the award after significantly exceeding the high standard set by Groupe Renault UK in its own in-house customer satisfaction measurements. Each nominated dealership was shown to be performing within the top-tier of dealers across eight Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that rate sales and aftersales procedures and service.

Driver Power then sought to independently verify each nominated dealership’s highly-rated levels of care and service by contacting its customers and conducting an in-depth customer satisfaction survey.

The ‘Auto Express Driver Power – Dealer of Excellence’ programme was established in 2015 and is backed by the expertise of more than 15 years of conducting the annual Driver Power survey, the UK’s largest and most comprehensive independent automotive satisfaction study. It forms part of the manufacturer’s drive to position the Renault brand as a leader in terms of customer experience. Following the creation of the initiative was the announcement of Groupe Renault UK’s new Total Customer Experience (TCE) organisation, which integrates Customer Engagement, Customer Support, Product Support and Warranty. The increased emphasis on customer satisfaction also included the creation of a brand new Customer Journey team, which ensures that Renault and Dacia drivers enjoy the very best care throughout their ownership experience.

Congratulating the winning dealerships, Mark Crockett, Total Customer Experience Director, Groupe Renault UK, said: “The winning dealers can feel very proud of their teams’ achievements. Our commitment to improving quality and standards across the board has never been higher, and we established this unique partnership and initiative with Auto Express and Driver Power to offer customers a transparent, independent verification of the customer experience our dealer partners are delivering. Customers of the 17 winning dealers can rest assured that they will receive the very best service and their motoring requirements are in the safest of hands.”

Brian Walters, Director of Research and Insight at Driver Power, said: “For consumers seeking a trustworthy and satisfying sales and service experience, the Dealer of Excellence accreditation is a powerful, independent seal of approval. But consumers aren’t the only ones who benefit from the programme; accredited dealerships benefit from increased customer loyalty and word-of-mouth recommendations.”

In 2016, Groupe Renault achieved its best ever performance in the Auto Express Driver Power survey for Dealer Aftersales Service Satisfaction, with Renault topping the survey for the first time and Dacia following in second. Across the whole Renault range, customers were on average 94.4 per cent satisfied with their overall aftersales experience at a Renault dealership in the latest survey.

The significant success in customer satisfaction at dealer level follows Renault vehicles posting their best ever results in the Auto Express Driver Power survey, which is determined purely by the feedback of owners and is the UK’s largest automotive customer satisfaction studies. Out of 183 models from 32 brands, the Renault ZOE and Renault Kadjar finished in second and third overall respectively. The all-electric ZOE, Kadjar crossover and previous generation Scénic/Grand Scénic also won the Supermini, Off-road/SUV and MPV categories respectively, while the Clio took third place in the Supermini sector.

Dacia also scored strongly in the annual survey, the manufacturer being voted the fourth best manufacturer overall and the Logan MCV – the UK’s most affordable new estate car – winning the Family Car category.

The exemplary customer service showing also comes at a time when Groupe Renault UK dealerships are exceptionally busy. In 2016 the All-New Renault Mégane and All-New Scénic were launched across the network and Renault UK recorded a five-year high in sales with 85,102 Renault cars being sold and Dacia achieving its best year since launching in the UK with 26,499 sales last year.

The 17 winning dealerships are:

• Bristol Street Motors Gloucester
• Bristol Street Motors Nottingham
• Bristo’s Limited Ipswich
• Harwoods Ryde
• Holden Norwich
• Lifestyle Eastbourne
• Mackie Motors Brechin
• Martins Basingstoke
• Mitchells Garage Lowestoft
• Motorline Ashford
• Renault Bolton
• Renault Cardiff
• Renault Manchester
• Renault Romford
• Renault Wirral
• S.M.C Weybridge
• Smiths of Peterborough

Renault ZOE wins the Best Supermini category at the Next Green Car Awards 2016.

• Renault ZOE wins the Best Supermini category at the Next Green Car Awards 2016
• ZOE applauded for its class-leading range and excellent all-round package
• Judging criteria included capability, suitability for purpose and value for money
• All-electric ZOE priced from £13,995 (inc. PiCG)

Only weeks after the launch of a new version with the longest available range for a mainstream electric car, the Renault ZOE has underlined its class-leading usability by being voted the Best Supermini at the Next Green Car Awards.

Europe’s best-selling electric car was awarded the win after eclipsing the other cars shortlisted in the fiercely-contested category. 

Next Green Car’s expert judging panel praised the stylish ZOE for its unrivalled range of 250 miles (NEDC) and excellent all-round package.

The ZOE was selected for the annual awards through Next Green Car’s unique NGC Rating, which rates the environmental impact of all new cars on the market. 

It was then judged on a variety of criteria, including capability, suitability for purpose, impact on its sector and value for money.

Commenting on their decision to award the Renault ZOE, the Next Green Car judges said: "Renault roots out range anxiety with its new ZOE Z.E.40, offering a long range in an already strong supermini package. Nicely designed and easy to use, the zero-emission ZOE now has more than enough range to persuade even the most anxious driver into an EV."

Paul Flanagan, Managing Director, Groupe Renault UK, said: “We’re delighted that Next Green Car has chosen the Renault ZOE as its Best Supermini, its decision reaffirming that the ZOE is not just a superb electric vehicle, but is also a versatile, comfortable and easy-to-own car in its own right, irrespective of how it is powered.”

It’s not the first time that the innovative Renault ZOE has triumphed at the Next Green Car Awards. It is a previous winner of the Supermini category and has also won the leading green car website’s prestigious Gold Award.

ZOE offers a well-equipped specification, five-door practicality and immense ease-of-use. Perfect around town and further afield, the ZOE’s silent drive, instant torque and zero emissions-in-use make for a highly relaxing and environmentally-friendly driving experience. As standard, the stylish hatchback benefits from such features as cruise control, speed limiter, keycard entry with push button Start/Stop function, automatic climate control and the Renault R-Link multimedia system including satellite navigation.

Adding to the ZOE’s user-friendliness is its patented Chameleon™ charger that allows ZOE to always make the best use of whatever charging supply is available in order to speed up charging times. ZOE Dynamique Nav Q90 Z.E.40 Quick Charge can charge at up to 43kW, meaning that 0 to 80 per cent full, of the new enhanced range battery, can be achieved in as little as 65 minutes. For retail customers with a domestic address and off street parking, a 7kW Homecharger will also be fully installed free of charge enabling ZOE to be charged from flat-to-full from just 3-4 hours, depending on specification.

Using the My ZE Inter@ctive timer app customers are able to schedule the time that ZOE is charged and benefit from significantly lower off-peak electricity prices, while the car’s numerous innovations include its unique heat pump. This is able to air condition and heat the ZOE more efficiently than a traditional system, meaning the car’s occupants can stay comfortable without worrying about the range.

Renault estimates that the recently launched Z.E. 40 battery in ZOE, which enables a 250 mile (NEDC) range, has a real-world range of 186 miles in temperate conditions and 124 miles in extreme cold conditions. 

The ZOE is part of Renault’s Z.E. range made up of the Twizy and Kangoo Van Z.E. The ZOE range is priced from £13,995 (including Government PiCG plus monthly battery lease) in a choice of three trim levels, including a new top-of-the-range Signature Nav trim and can be purchased either outright or by leasing the battery. 

The ZOE has been selling strongly in the UK with 1,482 examples sold in the first three-quarters of 2016 – a 33 per cent increase on the same period of 2015 – continuing the trend set in Europe where Renault was the best-selling electric vehicle manufacturer in 2015.  Purchases of ZOE represent one in six electric vehicles sold in the UK. 

The ZOE is proving popular with the British public having been voted ‘Best Supermini’ in the Auto Express Driver Power Survey 2016 – coming second overall out of 183 models. The ZOE is also a three-time winner of What Car?’s ‘Best Electric Car for less than £20,000’ and a Which? ‘Best Buy’ in 2016. It was most recently awarded Best Electric Car in the Carbuyer Best Cars Awards 2017.

Kia cee’d range beats tough competition to win Best Used Car Award.

• Kia cee’d range beats tough competition to win Best Used Car Award
• cee’d impresses with excellent value for money, equipment and safety
• Class-leading warranty helps the cee’d range to the top spot

The Kia cee’d has again beaten tough competition to be announced as Carbuyer’s ‘Best Used Car’ in their annual awards. The cee’d range impressed the judges with its excellent value for money secondhand, practicality, standard levels of equipment, build quality and reliability, all bolstered by the brand’s industry leading seven year warranty.

A strong contributing factor to the cee’d range’s victory in this competitive category was the warranty extension available on all cee’ds and the entire Kia range. When purchasing a Kia vehicle up to 18 months old from the Kia Approved Used network, the company tops up the warranty period to its original amount of seven years, effectively allowing over eight years of worry-free motoring.

The cee’d range, which won the same used car award in 2015, is a car designed for Europe, built in Europe and only sold in Europe. 

It is now in its second generation having been introduced in 2006 and includes three family friendly body types, starting from a sleek three-door version scaling up to a larger Sportswagon, set apart by the popular five-door version. 

Offering a choice of attractive bodystyles, efficient engines and industry standard safety equipment, the cee’d range is a clear choice for many customers in the used and new car market.

Editor of Carbuyer, Stuart Milne commented on the win. “The Kia cee’d is a great-value new car, but it’s harder to buy a nearly new car of better quality on the used market. It’s practical, well built, spacious and efficient and represents superb value secondhand. 

And you’ll be safe in the knowledge that you’ll still be protected by the balance of Kia’s industry-leading seven-year warranty.”

Paul Philpott, CEO and President of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd. gave his feelings: “The Kia cee’d is an integral and important part of Kia in the UK, and indeed across Europe. It answers the needs of many people, delivering great value for money, safety, high levels of equipment and striking looks. 

This win is testament to how good a proposition our cee’d range is to customers. This win will also mean a great deal to all the dealers in our national network, who all work incredibly hard to exceed our customers’ needs, whether that be with new or used vehicles.”

Last year the Kia cee’d received an update which gave the range a competitive edge. With world-class new powertrains, a sporty new GT-Line trim level and major additions to electronic driver aids and connected car systems, the new version of Kia’s European mid-sized hatchback continues to impress and build on the strengths which has already attracted more than a million buyers.

The Peugeot 3008 takes a trio of awards including the overall title as car of the year.

• Carbuyer awards the all-new PEUGEOT 3008 SUV its top accolade: ‘Car of the Year 2017’
• This is the first UK award for the Peugeot 3008 SUV - which goes on sale in December
• All models of the 3008 SUV feature the latest PEUGEOT i-Cockpit^® with digital instrumentation

The all-new PEUGEOT 3008 SUV has been announced as the Carbuyer ‘Car of the Year 2017’, also winning the highly sought after ‘Best SUV 2017’ and ‘Best Medium SUV’ categories too.

The eagerly awaited all-new 3008 SUV is an important development in the SUV C segment market and arrives at a time when customers are more than ever expecting differentiation and new experiences. 

Equipped with its revolutionary, latest generation PEUGEOT i-Cockpit^®, elegant styling, and high-tech equipment, the 3008 SUV aims to establish itself immediately as a key player and this Carbuyer award clearly recognises the competitive features over its competitors.

Carbuyer.co.uk is the online site for trusted reviews, owner opinions and expert advice on all motoring matters. It has recently launched a reference print magazine highlighting the best cars currently on sale.

Stuart Milne, Editor at Carbuyer, commented: “Forget everything you thought you knew about the previous 3008, because PEUGEOT has rung the changes. First off, the 3008 is now a fully-fledged SUV rather than the crossover of old. 

It’s handsome from the outside, but inside is where the game has really moved on. The dashboard is beautifully designed and features extensive use of fabric on the dashboard and door panels to lend a chic feeling. 

The clever i-Cockpit^® dashboard is a 12.3-inch screen that displays your speed, navigation, phone and audio information and is fitted as standard to every 3008 SUV in the range.

“The 3008 SUV is ahead of the pack when it comes to more pragmatic matters, too. It has a big boot and plenty of interior space. 

There’s a wide range of efficient petrol and diesel engines, and the availability of PEUGEOT’s ‘Grip Control’ system means the front-wheel-drive car can offer the grip of a four-wheel drive when needed. 

In an SUV market dominated by some exceptionally able cars, it takes something special to be the best. And that’s why we’ve named the PEUGEOT 3008 SUV Carbuyer’s ‘Car of the Year for 2017’.

David Peel, Managing Director at PEUGEOT UK, commented “This is fantastic news. The all-new PEUGEOT 3008 SUV has so many appealing features and for it to receive this Carbuyer ‘Car of the Year 2017’ accolade, ahead of its arrival in the UK is perfect. 

It sets the tone that we have a winner on our hands and I have no doubt our customers are going to love driving it too.”

The Best Car features on Carbuyer.co.uk and the awards that underpin them have been ranked by Carbuyer’s team of motoring experts. 

Its team has dozens of years of experience and have tested thousands of cars. Reviews are constantly updated to reflect the ever-changing automotive landscape, with more than 500 cars tested a year. 

Carbuyer reviews are written with the real buyer in mind, taking into account how easy each car is to live with and how it compares with its closest competitors. Carbuyer is one of the most respected car review websites in the UK.

The Mitsubishi L200 pick up truck is named Best Pickup at the Carbuyer Awards 2017

• Mitsubishi L200 is named Best Pickup at the Carbuyer Awards 2017
• Judges praise L200 for its rugged ability and strong 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel
• Car-like driving dynamics and off-road ability also commended by Carbuyer judges
• Mitsubishi L200 available in single, club and double cab bodystyles price from £17,999.00 (CV List Price)

The Mitsubishi L200 has secured another major award, this time for Best Pickup at the 2017 Carbuyer Awards at the Curzon Bloomsbury Cinema, The Brunswick, London.  

The panel of judges for the 2017 Carbuyer Awards were particularly impressed with the latest Mitsubishi L200, saying it is ‘better than ever’ thanks to its combination of  impressive off-road capabilities with car-like on-road dynamics, while also offering competitive pricing and high standard specification.

Stuart Milne, Editor of Carbuyer commented: “The Mitsubishi L200 name has been with us for more than 30 years and the latest model is better than ever. It delivers on its promise of rugged ability with some neat detailing and an impressive amount of equipment, while it packs a strong 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that allows you to tow over three tonnes. It’s also the most car-like pickup to drive on-road and extremely capable off-road. Despite all this, it can return more than 40mpg. Combine that with competitive pricing and a number of desirable high-spec models and it’s clear why the L200 is our best pickup.”

Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors UK, commented, “Tough and rugged vehicles like the L200 and Shogun are what the Mitsubishi name has been built on over the past 100 years and our engineers continually strive to ensure our 4X4 vehicles remain the benchmark in their segments. We’re delighted that Carbuyer has recognised the qualities that have made the Mitsubishi L200 a critical and commercial success.”

The latest generation Mitsubishi L200 went on sale in July 2015 and has claimed numerous accolades since launch. Priced from £17,999.00 (CV List Price), the Mitsubishi L200 is available in single, club and double cab body styles and has a payload of up to 1,045kg and a towing capacity of up to 3.1 tonnes (braked). The fifth generation Mitsubishi L200 is currently available with zero percent finance.

The Best Car features on Carbuyer.co.uk and the awards that underpin them have been ranked by Carbuyer’s team of motoring experts, which collectively have dozens of years of experience and have tested thousands of cars between them.

Ford takes two awards at this years Carbuyer awards ceremony, the Focus ST and KA+ Win.

• First award in the UK for the New Ford KA+  as it’s named Best Car for Under £10,000
• Best Hot Hatchback awarded to the Ford Focus ST for the second time

The new Ford KA+ and Ford Focus ST are named winners at the 2017 Carbuyer awards.

Stuart Milne, Carbuyer editor, said: “The Ford Ka+ is more than just a cut-price Fiesta. It offers small-hatchback space and practicality for city-car money. 

Despite its enticingly low price tag, the KA+ is good to drive, and with 56mpg possible, it won't break the bank to run either.

“The Ford Focus ST is by far the most rounded hot hatch on sale. It's comfortable and practical enough to be superb day-to-day transport, but offers the performance, ride and handling to really entertain on a twisty road. 

What sealed the ST’s win for us was the model choices available and, whichever version you choose, you’ll find the car well-priced and well-equipped.”

The new Ford KA+ joins Ford’s small-car line-up alongside the best-selling Fiesta, and provides an attractive new alternative for buyers who want a spacious, well-equipped and high-quality small car at a price point starting at £8,995.

The Focus ST range features two engines, three series and two body styles. Both the 250PS EcoBoost petrol and 185PS TDCi diesel 2.0-litre engines are offered in the ST-1, ST-2 and ST-3 series starting from £22,495. There is also an acclaimed estate body style offering a unique combination of load space and sporty handling.

Andy Barratt, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: “It’s great to see the new Ford KA+ gathering its first UK award within a month of arriving in dealerships. This award from the experts at Carbuyer is a welcome endorsement of the class-leading attributes of the new KA+.”