FLEET WORLD - Renault takes a triple win at this years awards ceremony, and its well deserved too !

• Renault picks up three awards at the Fleet World Honours 2017
• 100 per cent electric Renault ZOE wins Best Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
• All-New Mégane wins Best Lower Medium Car
• All-New Grand Scénic wins Best MPV
• Renault range is praised for head-turning design, efficiency and technologies

Renault has picked up three awards at the Fleet World Honours 2017 with the Renault ZOE, All-New Mégane and All-New Grand Scénic all winning their categories at the awards ceremony hosted by Fleet World magazine and held today at the Royal Automobile Club in London.

The all-electric Renault ZOE updated for 2017 and now available with a 250-mile range (NEDC) – the longest of any mainstream electric vehicle – was awarded Best Ultra Low Emission Vehicle thanks to its new longer range, smartphone apps and ease to live with.

The All-New Renault Mégane, launched in the UK in summer 2016, won Best Lower Medium Car and was praised in particular for its comfort, efficiency and technology.

The distinctive All-New Grand Scénic collected Best MPV thanks to its space, style and value for money.

Steve Moody, Publisher, Fleet World, said: “Beneath head-turning design, the Mégane feels a class above most rivals. It’s quiet, comfortable and effortlessly efficient, with clearly laid-out displays showing all the information drivers need at a glance. Extra space and efficient diesel engines to stretch the time between fill-ups means it’s perfect for a life on the road.

Renault has rediscovered its love for compact MPVs with the new Scenic. Beneath concept car styling, with vivid colours and large, aerodynamic wheels across the range, it’s still a genuinely practical mover of people and things… The pioneer has never been in better shape.

Meanwhile, Renault has always had a very complete EV offering with the ZOE, and the high-capacity battery option broadens its appeal. Drivers who need long range can now travel almost 200 miles under ‘real-world’ conditions, but there’s still a competitive smaller-capacity battery for those who don’t. With apps to alleviate anxiety by planning routes including charging stops, not only is the ZOE a great EV, but it needn’t be more challenging to live with than any other supermini.”

Paul Flanagan, Managing Director, Groupe Renault UK said: “2016 saw us complete the renewal of our family car line-up with the arrival of All-New Mégane and All-New Scenic alongside the Kadjar crossover, as well as revising ZOE to give it the longest range of any mainstream EV on sale today. We’re delighted that Fleet World has recognised all three models.  2017 is set to be another busy year as we add the Koleos crossover to Europe’s youngest model line-up.”

The Renault ZOE is an all-electric, five-door supermini available in a choice of three trim levels and with two battery options. With the new Z.E.40 battery, ZOE’s range is 250 miles (NEDC) – the longest of any mainstream EV.  Renault estimates that in real-world driving conditions that this equates to around 186 miles in summer and 124 miles in cold winter conditions. ZOE can charge from zero to 80 per cent full in as little as 60 minutes thanks to its patented Chameleon Charger™ that allows it to make the most of the widest range of power supplies and also keep charging times to a minimum. Renault’s Range OptimiZer technology ensures ZOE is highly efficient with its heat pump, a bi-modal braking system and Michelin ENERGY E-V tyres.  ZOE is available to purchase from £13,995 (OTR) after the Government Plug-in Car Grant with battery leasing from £49 per month.

The All-New Mégane – more dynamic, more comfortable and more refined than its predecessor – offers unique technology with an 8.7-inch portrait central touchscreen, Active Emergency Braking and convenient driver assistance systems such as Hands Free Parking and Adaptive Cruise Control. CO₂ emissions are as low as 96g/km with economy as high as 76.4mpg.  The All-New Renault Mégane range is available from £17,250 on-the-road.

The All-New Grand Scénic – part of the fourth generation Scénic family with its innovative design and distinctive 20-inch wheels – remains as impressively practical as ever thanks to its modularity and class-leading storage and boot space. The seven-seater also achieved a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating with Active Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection as standard – the only car in its class to have the safety feature applied throughout the range. Technologies such as Handsfree Parking and Adaptive Cruise Control are also available. The Grand Scénic’s One Touch Folding seats feature is another unique-in-class option whereby a button can be pressed, either from within the boot or from the multimedia system in the dashboard, to fold the rear seats, either individually or altogether, effortlessly to achieve a completely flat floor. The All-New Renault Grand Scénic is available from £23,375 on-the-road.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - The Fiesta takes best hot hatch as the Galaxy wins best MPV over £26,000.

The acclaimed Ford Fiesta ST was crowned the UK’s best hot hatch for the fourth consecutive year at the 2017 What Car? Awards.

Enjoyed by over 25,000 owners, Ford Fiesta ST remains a UK favourite since its launch in 2013.

To mark the 40^th anniversary last year of the Ford Fiesta – Britain’s best-selling car every year since 2008 – the ST200 was added to the range, adding a further 18PS to the 182PS available from the existing 1.6-litre Fiesta ST.  Also new last year was a five-door Fiesta ST to complement the original three-door bodystyle.

Steve Huntingford, What Car? editor, said: “The Ford Fiesta ST is impossible to dislike. It leaves rivals trailing on a challenging road because it dives into corners like a terrier chasing a bouncing ball and the steering is full of feel. In normal use, it doesn’t disappoint. Like all Fiestas, the ST has a decent boot and plenty of cubbyholes and is small enough to feel wieldy around town.

“Fiesta ST is the best all-round hot hatch. It strikes the perfect balance between performance and affordability. It lets you attack B-roads without worrying about the width of the car or how powerful it is. In fact, it’s sharper than the BMW M140i, which costs almost £15,000 more. To add to its appeal, the ST combines all of this with the reliability, practicality and dealer coverage that has made the Fiesta top seller.”

The consumer magazine and website, attracting over 1.95 million monthly users, chose the well-equipped Fiesta ST-2, priced at £18,895, as their recommended model complete with heated Recaro front sports seats and Ford Power push button start.

On receiving the award, Lisa Brankin, Ford of Britain marketing director, said: “Performance vehicles, and the thrill they bring to driving, are renowned Ford strengths.  Our new ST-Line range, sitting under ST, to RS and Mustang above it, offer a performance car for everyone.  Thank you What Car? for recognising Fiesta ST - the biggest seller in this exciting 2017 line-up.”   

It is also the fifth successive year that Ford has triumphed in the hot hatch category – prior to Fiesta ST’s four-year run of success, the 250PS Focus ST took the title in 2013.

Ford Galaxy – best MPV (£26,000+)

The new Ford Galaxy is also best Multi-Purpose Vehicle for its price, according to What Car?

What Car? named the Ford Galaxy Zetec with 2.0-litre TDCi 150PS diesel engine as its pick of the range.

All-New Renault Scénic and Grand Scénic awarded ‘Best MPV’ at UK Car of the Year Awards 2017.

• All-New Renault Scénic and Grand Scénic awarded ‘Best MPV’ at UK Car of the Year Awards 2017
• Judged by some of the UK’s most influential motoring writers
• Latest fourth generation Scénic described as stylish, confident and practical
• UK COTY provides authoritative, independent advice to buyers

The distinctive fourth generation All-New Renault Scénic and Grand Scénic have been awarded the title of ‘Best MPV’ at the UK Car of the Year Awards 2017 today, just over a month after going on sale.

The stylish five-seat Scénic and seven-seat Grand Scénic, with unprecedented 20-inch wheels as standard and available with an abundance of innovative high-end safety and convenience features, were voted into first place thanks to its design, practicality and a sense of fun. 

The UK Car of the Year (UK COTY) Awards judging panel is made up of 27 independent, influential motoring journalists who assess more than 100 new cars to produce winners in 12 categories, from which one overall champion is chosen.

John Challen, Managing Director of the UK COTY Awards and Editor of ukcoty.co.uk, said of the All-New Scénic and Grand Scénic: “For situations where space is a must – especially for a large family, the Renaults get it spot on. Practicality taken to a whole new level in a pleasant environment.”

Indeed, other judges impressions of the cars included:  “The best cure for parental depression”; “The Scénic gets so much right for families, it just has to be the winner in this sector”; “A car that proves there’s life in the MPV format yet” and “Style with substance. Demonstrates Renault’s new-found confidence”.

Paul Flanagan, Managing Director, Groupe Renault UK, commented: “Renault invented the compact MPV and now with the latest fourth generation, the All-New Scénic has brought distinctive design, innovative technologies and unprecendented safety to its category. 

To win ‘Best MPV’ so soon after launching in the UK from such a respected group of motoring experts really is a fantastic accomplishment and one that everyone at Renault UK is very proud of.”

As well as being the only vehicles in class to provide Active Emergency Braking System (AEBS) with Pedestrian Detection as standard across the range – gaining a five-star Euro NCAP rating – the All-New Scénic and Grand Scénic are also available with a range of active and passive safety features such as Lane Keeping Assist, Fatigue Alert, Blind Spot Warning, Safe Distance Warning and Traffic Sign Recognition.

High-end technologies from the segment above such as an 8.7-inch portrait touchscreen and the Multi-Sense driving mode selector are available on a compact MPV for the first time. Other technologies such as Hands Free parking, 360-degree parking sensors, full LED headlights and BOSE^® seven-speaker sound system.

The All-New Scénic and Grand Scénic are each offered in four trim levels – Expression+, Dynamique Nav, Dynamique S Nav and Signature Nav and each version provides a comprehensive standard specification. They remain as impressively practical as ever thanks to its modularity and class-leading storage and boot space. 

The five-seat All-New Scénic has a best-in-class boot volume of 572-litres with all seats in the upright position and All-New Grand Scenic provides a maximum boot capacity of 1,737-litres with all seats folded. 

A feature carried over from the new Espace, the One Touch Folding rear seats can be folded effortlessly to achieve a flat floor. The model is the only vehicle in its class in which this function can be activated from two different places: from inside the boot or by using the R-LINK 2 multimedia system in the dashboard. 

Other ingenious storage solutions, including four underfloor compartments, extend total cabin storage capacity to 57-litres, placing the All-New Scénic at the top of its class by offering up to twice as much space as its competitors. 

The All-New Renault Scénic is priced from £21,445 OTR and the Grand Scénic from £23,375 OTR.

The arrival of the fourth generation Scénic signals the complete renewal of Renault’s all-new family car line-up – alongside Kadjar and the All-New Mégane and Mégane Sport Tourer – and the French manufacturer now has the youngest model range on sale in Europe.

AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - The Citreon Picasso takes teh best MPV Title for the third year on the bounce.

For the third consecutive year, the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso has been crowned ‘Best MPV’ at the Auto Express New Car Awards. The prestigious honour adds to an extensive list of awards received by the 7-seat Grand C4 Picasso since its launch in January 2014. The Citroën C4 Cactus was also commended in the ‘Crossover’ category.

Auto Express’ judging panel of automotive experts has once again selected the highly-acclaimed Grand C4 Picasso as their ‘Best MPV’ in the Auto Express New Car Awards 2016. Continuing to impress as a class-leading family car, the Grand C4 Picasso has claimed the category title for the third consecutive year.

The ultra-stylish Citroën C4 Cactus was also commended in the ‘Crossover’ category.

Steve Fowler, Editor-in-chief at Auto Express said; “Another win for the Grand C4 Picasso proves it's the perfect people mover. No rival manages to combine the ease of use, style and technology, as well making the Grand C4 Picasso a compelling alternative to the growing number of SUVs around.”

Bek Hassan, Citroën UK’s Managing Director, said; “We’re delighted that Grand C4 Picasso has once again been honoured in the Auto Express New Car Awards. Winning the best MPV title for three years in a row is a tremendous achievement and testimony to the creative talent we have working for the brand in our design and engineering teams. We hope to continue our best-in-class success with the launch of New Grand C4 Picasso later this summer.”

The Citroën Grand C4 Picasso offers families a best-in-class combination of style, comfort and advanced technology, along with a supremely spacious and versatile interior.

The Citroën C4 Cactus, commended in the ‘Crossover’ category, showcases its bold personality through distinctive features such as its stylish, yet practical roof bars and the quirky Airbump® panels that protect the car from small everyday dents and scrapes.

For the 3rd year in succession, the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso has been named ‘Best MPV’ at the Fleet World Honours

For the third year in succession, the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso has been named ‘Best MPV’ at the Fleet World Honours annual awards event, which took place in London earlier today.  Having triumphed in the category in the two years since its launch, the Grand C4 Picasso has proved it is still the benchmark in this highly competitive sector.

Steve Moody, editor of Fleet World magazine – and Fleet World Honours judge – praised the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso for its style, practicality and efficiency. “The Grand C4 Picasso moved the MPV segment forward when it launched in 2014, and nothing has come close since. 

This remains the only non-hybrid seven-seater under 100g/km, and there are no compromises on flexibility or comfort to get there. Futuristic styling, generous equipment levels and long-distance refinement mean Citroën is still ahead of the curve.” 

Built on the advanced and lightweight EMP2 modular platform, the Grand C4 Picasso has been recognised for its efficiency, use of interior space and low cost of ownership. The model’s ability to emit less than 100g/km of CO₂ without the use of hybrid technology remains an attractive proposition, as does its wide range of equipment options. 

These features include: Park Assist and Blind Spot Monitoring; 360° Vision technology; 7-inch Touch Drive interface; active seat belts; a 12-inch HD central display screen and dual-zone air conditioning. The range-topping Grand C4 Picasso Exclusive+ even has a front passenger seat with a massage function and an electric leg rest, as standard.

Martin Gurney, PSA Group UK’s Director of Fleet & Used Vehicles, remarked; “Citroën is delighted that the Grand C4 Picasso has won the Fleet World Honours ‘Best MPV’ award in each of the three years since it was launched. 

This achievement highlights its impressive design and engineering credentials, and reflects Citroën’s process of continuous improvement. The Grand C4 Picasso’s latest-generation Euro 6 engines provide improved fuel economy of up to 74.3mpg and CO₂ emissions as low as 99g/km. All of which – combined with strong residual values – gives the Grand C4 Picasso significant fleet appeal.”  

WHAT CAR AWARDS - The Fiesta ST and New Galaxy take awards at the ceremony, even with an aging model.

The acclaimed Fiesta ST was crowned the UK’s best hot hatch for the third year running at the 2016 What Car? Awards.

Enjoyed by almost 18,500 owners, Ford Fiesta ST is still racing ahead up the sales charts three years after launch.

Forecast to account for 5,000 of Fiesta’s overall 130,000 annual UK sales, the ST has averaged well over 6,100 registrations a year since 2013.

Jim Holder, What Car? editorial director, said:  “The enthusiast scene is still frothing at the mouth about the brilliance of the ST.

“Simply put, it’s everything you want in a hot hatch: fast enough to thrill, but not so fast as to scare, small enough to fit easily down tight back roads, and with alert, corner-hungry handling that’s joyful even on mundane roads.”

The consumer magazine and website, attracting over 1.95 million monthly users, also dubbed its favourite hot hatch a “mini rally car for the road”, declaring it more fun than some cars costing more than £100,000.

Priced from £17,645, the Fiesta ST boasts a 182PS 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine, taking the car from rest to 62mph in under seven seconds.  Ford’s award-winning EcoBoost range of 1.0- to 2.3-litre powertrains available in Europe combine direct injection, variable valve timing and turbo-charging to enable a downsized engine to return improved fuel economy and performance.

On receiving the award, Andrew Fraser, lead EcoBoost engineer based at Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre, in Essex, said:  “Winning three years on the trot shows how well loved the Fiesta ST remains.  An EcoBoost engine is now in 50 per cent of all Fiestas we sell, proving how much both the car and our innovative engine deserve our best-selling UK car accolade.”

The previous Fiesta ST, on sale for four years from 2005, was bought by 17,000 fans – already overtaken by the current model.

New Ford Galaxy – best MPV (£25,000+)

The new Ford Galaxy, on sale late last year, is best Multi-Purpose Vehicle for its price, according to What Car?

“The car seems to shrink around you on the open road, feeling grippy and precise through corners, proving MPVs needn’t be tedious to drive after all,” said editorial director Jim Holder.

“For all the enjoyable handling, the ride comfort on the Galaxy is more than good enough and the tall windows give all occupants a clear view out.”

What Car? named the Ford Galaxy Zetec with 2.0-litre TDCi 150PS diesel engine as its pick of the range.

FLEET WORLD HONOURS - Citroen takes Best MPV with the C4 Picasso range of cars.

For the second year in succession, the Citroën C4 Picasso range has scooped the Fleet World Honours ‘Best MPV’ title. The award was presented to Citroën at the Fleet World Honours 2015 ceremony in London earlier today.

Fleet World Honours judge, Steve Moody, named the Citroën C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso as joint winners in the ‘Best MPV’ category, and commented; “Citroën has form as a manufacturer of excellent MPVs and the C4 Picasso takes full advantage of this. 

It manages to be infinitely practical, yet also distinctive and stylish, while the Grand C4 Picasso remains the only 7-seat MPV to emit less than 100g/km of CO₂ without hybrid technology. Despite a multitude of strong contenders, the C4 Picasso continues to set the standard in its class.”

Both the 5-seat C4 Picasso and 7-seat Grand C4 Picasso are offered with a wide choice of equipment, including dual-zone air conditioning, panoramic windscreen, active radar-guided cruise control, 7-inch Touch Drive interface and a 12-inch panoramic HD central display. 

The range-topping C4 Picasso Exclusive+ even has a front passenger seat with a massage function and an electric leg rest, as standard.

Martin Gurney, PSA Peugeot Citroën UK’s Director – Fleet & Used Vehicles, remarked; “Citroën is delighted that the C4 Picasso range has won the Fleet World Honours ‘Best MPV’ award again this year. 

These successful 5 and 7-seat C4 Picassos are now widely recognised for their innovative, stylish and practical design, which is reflected in their growing sales. 

The EMP2 platform, which is common to both versions, plays a key role in the excellent fuel economy figures and CO₂ emissions as low as 98g/km. All of which – combined with segment leading residual values – gives C4 Picasso significant fleet-appeal.”

DIESEL CAR AWARDS - C4 Cactus takes Best Crossover and COTY, other awards made too.

The New C4 Cactus has been named as DieselCar Magazine’s ‘Car of the Year’ 2015. The award recognises the many bold & distinctive attributes of the Citroën brand’s latest model, which won the overall prize as well as being named as this year’s ‘Best Crossover’. 

The latest-generation Citroën Grand C4 Picasso retained the ‘Best MPV’ title, having won it for the first time last year.

The New Citroën C4 Cactus has added two top DieselCar Magazine honours to its impressive list of UK industry awards received since its launch in September last year. Previous honours include ‘Small Hatchback of the Year’ in the UK Car of the Year Awards and the highly sought-after title of BBC TopGear Magazine ‘Hatchback of the Year’.

Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher of DieselCar Magazine, commented that the New C4 Cactus represents “Citroën doing what it does best – a funky, urban-friendly vehicle that is taking the sector by storm”, adding that “clever touches like the roof mounted airbag, protective airbumps and chest-like dashboard cubby box show that the firm’s engineers are keen to innovate. 

Keen pricing, frugal engines and some of the most comfortable seats in the business mark this C4 Cactus out as one of the most distinctive newcomers of the year.”

Ian Robertson added; “I am really proud to be able to announce that the Citroën C4 Cactus wins the title of DieselCar Magazine’s Car of the Year 2015. It’s the perfect car for the times. It’s affordable, practical and incredibly comfortable, all wrapped up with a striking design that can be highly personalised.”

In addition, the highly acclaimed Citroën Grand C4 Picasso was named as DieselCar Magazine’s ‘Best MPV’ for the second year running. The judges praised its combination of style, comfort and affordability, adding that “there’s a lengthy list of hi-tech equipment and safety functions to keep even the most ardent gadget geek happy.”

Alongside the three wins for the New C4 Cactus and the Grand C4 Picasso, the DieselCar Magazine Car of the Year Awards judges also highly commended C3 Picasso in the ‘Compact MPV’ category.

The newly independent DS brand also received a highly commended for DS 3 in the ‘Premium Small Car’ category.