Vauxhall now admits that they were aware of the HVAC fires back in 2009.

Vauxhall first logged a case of a fire linked to the ventilation system in its Zafira minivans in 2009, several years before a number of incidents were widely publicized and prompted two recalls, the General Motors-owned UK brand said.

In October, pressure began to mount on the automaker after a Facebook group, which currently has more than 15,000 members, began highlighting the fires with pictures published in major UK newspapers and websites.

A month later, Vauxhall said it would recall around 235,000 of its right-hand drive minivans to inspect the heating and ventilation systems and ascertain the cause of fire-related incidents. Vauxhall said at the time that the potential risk affected Zafiras built between 2005 and 2014.

But on Tuesday, the firm's customer experience director told UK lawmakers on the transport select committee that the first related Zafira fire was noted seven and a half years previously and struggled to explain why it took so long to act.

"We have the first recorded case in a Zafira B that can be clearly attributed to the heating and ventilation fire that we are talking about here on the 11th of February 2009," Peter Hope said.

"We didn't know what we were dealing with," he said.

The firm also said a fire in a car which had been recalled and repaired helped contribute to a second recall which it announced in May.

Vauxhall blames improper repair of the blower motor resistor and its thermal fuse for causing the fires and said it would fit a new resistor, blower motor and molding.

The cost of the recalls is expected to cost 40 million euros ($44 million), according to Charles Klein, an engineering executive director with General Motors, who also appeared before the committee.

GM sells the Zafira through both its Vauxhall and Opel brands in various markets.

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Vauxhall launches the second recall to fix the issues, hopefully once and for all this time.

Vauxhall has announced that owners of Vauxhall Zafira B models will be invited to bring their vehicles back to Vauxhall dealerships so that a preventative action can be carried out to protect the vehicles from the risk of fire.

In December last year we wrote to all 234,938 Vauxhall Zafira B owners to make them aware of an issue which could affect their vehicle.

Our investigations had found evidence of improper repair of the blower motor resistor and its thermal fuse, which is designed to protect the blower motor system.

These improper repairs, which may have been conducted without the owners’ knowledge, can lead to overheating of the system’s electrical components and the potential for a fire. Resistors should never be repaired, they should only be replaced.

Since then we have been conducting a recall programme designed to return vehicles to their original condition.

This has involved replacing the resistor in every vehicle we have inspected and the blower motor and the pollen filter in many thousands of vehicles.

All of this has been free of charge to the customer.

At the time of the recall we said we would consider additional actions we might take and we have been in constant contact with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

On May 9^th we presented a status update to DVSA and agreed the additional action we are announcing today.

While the current action achieves the objective of returning vehicles to their original condition, after extensive investigations we have decided to go further and improve the overall robustness of the system.

We will therefore be initiating a second recall to replace the current soldered fuse resistor with a wax fuse resistor so reducing the opportunity for manipulation. When the recalls are complete, all vehicles will have a new wax fuse resistor, a new blower motor and a new moulding at the base of the windscreen to address water ingress.

Again, this work will be conducted free of charge.

We will soon be writing to all customers to inform them of the second recall action and provide appropriate advice.

Subsequently we will write to customers on a staggered basis to invite them in for the second recall.  It is planned to commence sending these letters during the month of August.

Owners of vehicles which have not yet had the initial recall completed should still bring their vehicles to their dealership to have them returned to their original condition.

The Driver Vehicle Standards Agency has found the cause of a number of fires in the vauxhall Zafira 'B'

The Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has acknowledged that the root cause of a small number of fires in Zafira B vehicles is improper repair of the thermal fuse of the resistor in the heating and ventilation system, undertaken outside of Vauxhall’s authorised service and maintenance processes and schedule.

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Nevertheless, the Agency has requested that the inspection and rework programme, which is already underway, be reclassified as a safety recall. This has no impact on the action being taken by Vauxhall. The rework replaces the resistor pack and other faulty components and returns the heating and ventilation system to its original design condition.

“We recognise that owners may have vehicles which have been improperly repaired without their knowledge or before they bought the vehicle,” said Rory Harvey, Chairman of Vauxhall Motors. “Safety is our priority and we have been working tirelessly in the past weeks to find the root cause and contact owners to explain the situation and our actions.   The DVSA’s acknowledgement of the root cause is an important milestone but the important thing now is to ensure that all Zafira B owners bring their vehicles in for inspection and rework.”

All 234,938 Vauxhall Zafira B owners have been contacted by letter to inform them of the issue and explain how they can remain safe pending inspection. To date, Vauxhall dealers have inspected and repaired more than 45,000 vehicles. The goal is to have all vehicles inspected within a 10 to 12 week time span.

While owners wait to be asked to arrange an appointment, Vauxhall has written to them all with the following important advice:

If you are the first owner of your Zafira B and your heating and ventilation system is functioning well, and your car has never been subject to any repair in this area, there is no risk of a fire.

If you are not the first owner or you have had repairs in this area you should set your fan speed to zero (0) on the heating and ventilation system. If necessary you should use fan speed four (4) only for the time needed to demist the windscreen. Please continue to follow this advice until your vehicle has been inspected.

When owners bring their vehicles in to a retailer, Vauxhall technicians will inspect the heating and ventilation system on each vehicle and, as a precautionary measure, replace the resistor in every

vehicle. This is because it is not always possible to detect an improperly repaired resistor without extensive examination of the part. In addition, the retailer will also test the performance of the blower motor, inspect the wiring harness and the pollen filter to ensure they have no damage and are in good condition. As a matter of extra caution, we will also install additional water protection below the windscreen scuttle panel to minimise any opportunities for water ingress following improper refitting after removal.

All of this work is being carried out free of charge.

Ford continues to be market leader for nearly 50 years.

UK market leader Ford has secured the two top sales positions for cars and commercial vehicles in July and for the year to date.

According to the official figures for the first half of 2014 from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT):

• Ford Fiesta and Focus are the number one and two best-selling cars
• Ford Transit and Transit Custom are number one and two best-selling CVs
• Transit is Britain’s fifth best-selling nameplate, ahead of many top-selling cars
• Ford’s year to date lead in total vehicle sales exceeds 63,000

Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said:  "Ford is in its 38^th consecutive year of car sales leadership and its 49^th consecutive year for commercial vehicles.  Ford Fiesta and Focus and Ford Transit and Transit Custom are at the core of this achievement but our extended Ford CV family and the introduction of new car models, the latest of which is the EcoSport, with, Edge, Mustang and Vignale to come, provide a basis for attracting many new customers and building on our leadership position.

“Delivering this success will rely on the continued support of our dealer partners, who make up the strongest network in the UK, as well as the company’s commitment to these new models and technologies.”

The official figures released by the SMMT today show that total car sales in July were up 6.6 per cent at 172,907, compared with July 2013. Ford’s July car sales were 23,647.  For the year to date (end July) total UK car sales were 1,460,172, up 10.1 per cent compared with the same period in 2013, while Ford car sales for this period were 197,201, up from 188,993.

With total registrations of 81,236 for the year to date, up 9.1 per cent compared with the same period in 2013, the Ford Fiesta was the UK best seller – more than 31,000 sales and 2.1 percentage points of market share ahead of its nearest non-Ford rival.

The Ford Kuga is Ford’s third best-selling model, after the Fiesta and Focus.  With sales of 2,154 in July, it secured 1.2 per cent of the total car market, up from 0.7 per cent in 2013.  With the Ford EcoSport now on sale and the launch of the Ford Edge due in 2015, Ford’s presence in this expanding sector is set to grow further.   

The strength in depth of Ford’s car range is further demonstrated by Fiesta, Focus, C-MAX and Galaxy all leading their segments in July while B-MAX and Kuga were second in segment.

UK commercial vehicle (CV) sales for the year to date were 203,965, up 12.8 per cent, compared with the same period in 2013.  Total sales and share of Ford CVs were up for July and for the year to date, compared with 2013, at 7,137 and 24.9 per cent and 46,223 and 22.7 per cent, respectively.

Ford medium commercial sales, headed by the industry-leading Ford Transit and Ford Transit Custom, reached 37,692 for the year to date up from 35,194.  Ford light commercial sales for the same period are up from 6,393 to 8,531, benefitting from the recent launches of the Ford Transit Connect and the Ford Transit Courier that are part of the extended Ford Transit family and, in this sector, join the segment-leading Ford Fiesta Van.

The UK welcomes the new VW e-Golf, available to order from today.

• Based on the standard Golf: World Car of the Year and European Car of The Year 2013
• Range of 118 miles, standard full charge in 13 hours; fast charge to 80 per cent in 35 mins
• Top speed of 87 mph; 0-62 mph in 10.4 seconds
• AC electric motor produces 85 kW / 115 PS and 270 Nm of torque

From today, 11 March, customers can place orders for the fully electric Volkswagen e-Golf, which is priced at £25,845 on the road (including £5,000 Government grant or £30,845 RRP).  The e-Golf can be ordered from one of 24 Volkswagen EV specialist Retailers across the UK, with the first deliveries expected at the end of June. 

Based on the multi-award-winning Golf hatchback, the e-Golf offers the same virtues of practicality, refinement and advanced technology, but with a purely electric drivetrain and no tailpipe emissions.

Like its smaller electric sibling, the e-up!, the e-Golf can be charged from a household three-pin socket using the cable provided.  With a standard UK 230-Volt, 2.3 kW supply, this recharges the battery in 13 hours.  An optional wallbox for home use provides 3.6 kW supply and can recharge a flat battery in eight hours.  The wallbox is currently available at no cost, through British Gas, while all customers of Volkswagen electric products are also eligible for a green electricity tariff through Ecotricity.  Through use of the e-Golf’s standard combined charging system (CCS) and a DC supply, the battery can be fully recharged (at levels of up to 40 kW) to 80 per cent capacity in just 35 minutes.

An AC electric motor (85 kW / 115 PS, and 270 Nm) provides drive, linked to the front wheels via a single-speed gearbox.  The lithium-ion battery is integrated into the Golf’s floor and weighs 318 kg.  It consists of 264 cells, together rated at 390 Volts and 26.5 kWh. 

Acceleration from 0-62 mph takes 10.4 seconds.  By comparison the Golf BlueMotion, which is powered by a 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine with 110 PS and 250 Nm, takes 10.5 seconds.  Top speed for the e-Golf is 87 mph.  Depending on driving style, charge level and ambient conditions, the e-Golf has a range of up to
118 miles. 

An optional heat pump helps deliver maximum range in winter.  This add-on module for the electric heating and air conditioning uses heat from both ambient air and the vehicle’s drive systems, significantly reducing electricity consumption.  It can increase the e-Golf’s range in cold weather by up to 20 per cent.

As well as a standard driving mode, the e-Golf has two economy profiles: ‘Eco’ and ‘Eco+’.  ‘Eco’ cuts peak power to 70 kW / 95 PS, reduces the output of the air conditioning system and modifies the accelerator response.  Top speed is cut to 74 mph and 0-62 mph takes 12.1 seconds.  ‘Eco+’ limits maximum power to 55 kW / 75 PS, torque to 175 Nm, and top speed to 56 mph, while the accelerator response is modified and the air conditioning disabled.  In either mode, full performance can be accessed by kicking down on the accelerator pedal, as in a vehicle with a conventional automatic gearbox.

The e-Golf’s range can also be influenced by regenerative braking.  There are five modes: D, D1, D2, D3 and B.  In D, the vehicle coasts without regenerative braking when the accelerator is lifted.  In each other mode, lifting off the accelerator pedal provides greater regenerative braking.  In D2, D3 and B, the brake lights are activated when the driver’s foot is lifted from the accelerator pedal, provided that a predetermined level of deceleration is achieved.

The e-Golf is the first production Volkswagen to feature full LED headlights.  These produce brighter light and use less electricity than xenon headlights.  Other bespoke exterior design elements include C-shaped LED daytime running lights in the front bumper, a signature blue strip running the width of the radiator grille and into the headlights, and a blue-edged Volkswagen roundel.  The interior includes blue stitching on the upholstery, and the option of blue ambient lighting.

In the UK, the e-Golf is available with five doors only, and in a single well-equipped trim level based on the standard Golf SE, with the addition of 2Zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, e-specific ‘Tilleves’ alloy wheels and Discover Pro satellite navigation, with an eight-inch colour touchscreen.  For the e-Golf the Discover Pro system includes added functionality including a range display, and the option to pre-programme the vehicle’s heating or cooling systems.  For smartphone users (Android or iOS), the Volkswagen ‘Car-Net’ app enables many vehicle functions to be controlled remotely, including charging, heating or cooling and more.  Three years’ subscription to Car Net is included as standard.

USA - Mercedes-Benz has best month yet for 2013

Best month yet for 2013

In the 10th consecutive month of its 2013 sales streak, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported total October sales of 32,620 units for the Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and smart model lines, a 22.4% increase from the 26,642 vehicles sold in the same period last year.  Retail volumes for the Mercedes-Benz brand alone broke October records at 30,069, up 25.4%, while year-to-date sales rose 13.7% to a landmark  245,125 units.  Adding year-to-date volumes of 16,978 for Sprinter Vans and 7,450 vehicles at smart, MBUSA’s year-to-date totals reached 269,553 units, making this the best October in the company’s history.

“It’s been an extraordinary year for the brand, embodied in two cars— the CLA and the S-Class —as stunning as they are technologically fit,” said Steve Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA.  “More importantly, October sales show they’re resonating with customers.  The recently-launched CLA is already one of the top volume models and our flagship S-Class, just rolling into dealerships, is up 75%.  With sustained momentum and compelling product across the model range, we’re looking toward a record finish in the final stretch of 2013.”

Mercedes-Benz October sales were led by the C-, E- and CLA-Class model lines.  The sporty C-Class came in first at 6,548 units, followed close behind by the E-Class with sales of 6,456—an increase of 22.6% from October 2012.  Sales of MBUSA’s newest star, the sporty CLA-Class four-door coupe, rounded out the top three at 4,895.

The Sprinter model line posted month-to-date gains of 22.3% at 2,038 units, driven by the popularity of its redesigned 2014 lineup on sale since September.  Month-to-date sales at smart totaled 513 units.

Sales of Mercedes-Benz’s BlueTEC diesel models were 1,536 for the month, up 60% versus October 2012 (960) and up 10.1% for the year at 13,368.  The company’s high-performance AMG models finished the month with sales of 729, an increase of 49.4% from last October.

Separately, Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) recorded sales of 7,612 vehicles in October, an increase of 13.1% when compared to October 2012 (sales of 6,732 vehicles).  On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 80,502 vehicles, an increase of 21.4% over the 66,318 vehicles sold during the comparable period last year.