The continued expansion of Ssangyong continues with another new dealership.

• Lowdhams (Nottingham) joins the SsangYong network
• Six model range all backed by a 5-year limitless mileage warranty 

The SsangYong range of 4x4s and SUVs is now available in Nottingham, following the appointment of Lowdhams.

The dealership will operate the SsangYong franchise from its premises at Lowdham Road, Gunthorpe, Nottingham NG14 7ES. 

Welcoming the company to the franchise, Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK said: “We are delighted to welcome Lowdhams to the SsangYong network, and at such an exciting time for the brand. 

“With a six-car portfolio that includes SUVs, 4x4s, a one-tonne pick-up and an MPV, it’s the value-brand that really offers dealers a car for almost every customer. Having added a suite of new safety equipment to Tivoli and Tivoli XLV, a fresh look to Korando, and with the all new D-segment Rexton launching in the UK later this year, there’s so much for dealers to get their teeth into. 

“Lowdhams is the first of several new dealers joining us, and we look forward to making further announcements about other key locations shortly,” said Paul. 

Commented Steve Sharpe, group managing director of Lowdhams, “We are delighted to have been appointed to represent SsangYong and greatly look forward to playing our part in its continuing success. SsangYong has an impressive range, and with very competitive pricing and a 5-year limitless mileage warranty on every car, we believe it will do extremely well in our area.” 

This brings the SsangYong dealer network up to 60, plus 11 authorised SsangYong service centres. 

The new Peugeot 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport launches in the UK to a bit of a splash !

• New 308 GTi launches in the UK on 5^th November when the model is available in Dealerships
• Dynamic credentials of this performance model demonstrated through special launch
• National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham hosted the action against an F2 Powerboat

Ahead of the official UK launch of PEUGEOT’s performance model, the forthcoming 308 GTi by PEUGEOT SPORT, PEUGEOT UK took one of the first right hand drive production models in the country to the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham for a challenge to demonstrate the new model’s sporting credentials.  

Joining Peugeot at the 2000m lake was PowerboatGP – an organisation that stages a number of competition events and the annual F2 Nottingham Grand Prix championship at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham – who provided an F2 Powerboat. The two high performance machines were pitched against one another on two completely different surfaces.

	F2 GP Powerboat	308 GTi
Weight	513-530kg	1205kg kerbweight
Power output	210-225hp at 9,300rpm	250hp / 270hp at 6,000rpm
	2.0-litre / 2.5-litre petrol engine	1.6-litre petrol
	98 octane unleaded fuel	95 or 98 octane unleaded fuel
Acceleration (0-62mph)	5.0 seconds	6.0 seconds
Top speed	126mph (limited by conditions)	Limited to 155mph
Drive	Single 4-blade propeller	Two-wheel-drive with TORSEN
Length	4.8m	4.2m
Width	2.5m	1.8m

Both have been developed to perform with great efficiency and with each having advantages for different elements of the challenge, the event revealed how closely matched the two machines were – the Powerboat, while quick off the start, was very closely matched by the highly-tractable 308 GTi car. While the Powerboat soon reached its terminal velocity, limited by surface conditions and wind direction, the GTi just kept accelerating, even on uneven surfaces, demonstrating the high levels of grip enhanced by its TORSEN differential.

Both are agile and responsive, the Powerboat able to turn within a few lengths, the Peugeot able to change directions on demand too, albeit driving around the perimeter of the main lake at the National Water Sports Centre (in Nottingham) had the longer route to overcome.

Finally, though the specially developed Michelin 235/35 R19 91Y Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres have much more friction than a propeller and therefore allows for greater propulsion, the boat is much lighter and smaller in frontal area, so has less to move in its quest for performance.  Equally, equipped with 380mm race-inspired brakes, it has the capability to arrest its speed should the need arise.

The film of the event is available now on Peugeot’s official YouTube channel, perfectly capturing the comparison, and in the process some compelling shots of the two enjoying their impressive performance capabilities.

On the day, the 308 GTi was driven by Bradley Philpot, a PEUGEOT UK Brand Ambassador with its track cars and the F2 Powerboat piloted by Colin Jelf, an F2 champion. Bradley also has powerboat links – his grandfather, Robbie Hood, was a British open-water powerboat champion too.

Potentially interested thrill seekers can follow PowerboatGP.co.uk to see these exciting activities, but for first-hand daily thrills, the 308 GTi by PEUGEOT SPORT is all the more readily available and of course brings many more real-world practicalities, with a wide-variety of performance credentials.

PEUGEOT UK wishes to thank the organisers and management at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham and PowerboatGP for arranging a competitive F2 Powerboat.

F-Type's covered in the Union Flag tour the Great British Isles

• A fleet of Union Jack liveried F-TYPEs has embarked on a ‘Best of British’ promotional tour as part of the car’s launch activity and Jaguar’s #YourTurnBritain social media campaign
• Working with ambassadors Jamie Campbell Bower, Alice Temperley, MistaJam, Graeme Swann and Jimmy Anderson, the campaign celebrates the best of British film, design, music and sport
• The tour started in London this month and visits Leeds and Newcastle (12th), Edinburgh and Glasgow (13th), Manchester and Liverpool (14th), Sheffield, Nottingham and Birmingham (15th) Cardiff, Bristol and Oxford (16th)

To celebrate the successful launch of the new F-TYPE sports car, Jaguar has launched its #YourTurnBritain campaign; inviting people to share photos that encapsulate the best of modern Britain through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Tumblr.  The best images submitted will win one of four unforgettable F-TYPE driving experiences.

A fleet of six F-TYPEs, with special Union Jack artwork, has embarked on a promotional tour of Britain in support of the new campaign.  The unique F-TYPE exterior finish was inspired by the recent ‘Best of British’-themed BBC Top Gear TV show, with an unprecedented line-up of UK automotive products on The Mall in London – led by three Jaguar F-TYPEs – each carrying a Union Flag.

So far, the #YourTurnBritain campaign has attracted more than 250,000 social interactions and over 2,000 competition entries across all social media platforms, with many blogs also contributing with their own celebrations of modern Britain.  The images encapsulate modern British culture, with a focus on design, sport, film and music, but all postings in line with the ‘modern Britain’ theme are welcomed. 

Jaguar UK marketing director, Ken Forbes, said: “The F-TYPE is a game-changer for the Jaguar brand and introduces our product to a diverse prospective customer audience.  Already, the F-TYPE has won international awards, achieved critical acclaim from media worldwide and is destined to become another design icon from Jaguar.

“#YourTurnBritain is an opportunity to celebrate all things British, iconic and of the moment, which is how we consider the F-TYPE – a symbol of British success. We are delighted with the campaign and wish everyone who posts images through our social media channels the very best of luck.”

The Union Flag fleet of F-TYPEs embarks on its UK tour from 12th-16th August, taking in cities from Edinburgh to Oxford with social media users invited to suggest their favourite locations for the cars to appear. Londoners will also be able to see the cars from 12th-23rd August as they take residence at Canary Wharf.