Portfolio Executive Cars replaces it's entire fleet of Mercs with jaguars XF and Luxury XJ 2016 Model Year cars.

• Jaguar announces major chauffeur deal with Portfolio Executive amid wider success for Jaguar models in the fleet sector
• Portfolio Executive has ordered 18 all-new Jaguar XF and 2 new Jaguar XJ 2016 Model Year, replacing Portfolio’s fleet of Mercedes-Benz models

Jaguar is pleased to announce that Portfolio Executive will be replacing its entire fleet of chauffeur cars with Jaguar models, underlining Jaguar’s business market success this year and its status as a major player in the luxury private hire sector.

Portfolio Executive has taken delivery of 18 all-new Jaguar XF and 2 new Jaguar XJ 2016 Model Year. With this deal, Portfolio Executive’s entire Mercedes-Benz fleet will have been replaced with Jaguar models.

The all-new Jaguar XF brings an unrivalled blend of design, luxury, connected-technology and efficiency to the chauffeur market, underpinned with supreme levels of ride comfort, refinement and segment-leading rear seat space. Additionally CO₂ emissions from 104g/km, and up to 70.6 mpg (combined) help to deliver best-in-class residual values, insurance costs and total cost of ownership figures.

The new Jaguar XJ 2016 Model Year is perfect for Portfolio Executive’s most discerning customers. It features an uprated 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, with CO₂ emissions reduced by 6 per cent to 149g/km, compared with the previous XJ. 

It also has a suite of hi-tech features, including 360 Degree Park Distance Control and InControl Remote Premium, allowing owners to access the car through their smartphone for features such as cabin pre-warming.

Portfolio Executive Chairman, Peter Buchanan, said: "Portfolio is delighted to be working with Jaguar, changing our fleet of executive cars to all-new Jaguar XF and XJ LWB models. 

With both cars at the cutting edge in terms of safety, comfort and connected technology, we’re really excited about how they will benefit our clients. Furthermore the cars strike a great balance of understated luxury and style which – combined with our highly professional drivers – will provide Portfolio’s highly valued clients with a service they’ll enjoy. 

As a rapidly growing company we look forward to a long and successful relationship with Jaguar Land Rover as we build our fleet of cars."

Chris Newitt, Sales Director Jaguar Land Rover UK, said: “We’re thrilled that Portfolio Executive has chosen to update their range with the latest Jaguar models. It is testament to Jaguar’s new model line-up – which features cars that have style, luxury and low running costs in equal measure – that we’re ticking every box for our business customers.”

USA - Subaru of Indiana Automotive will receive 3-row in 2018 as its fourth model.

Subaru of Indiana Automotive will receive 3-row in 2018 as its fourth model

Subaru has confirmed that a new 3-row crossover model, effectively replacing the retired Tribeca, will be produced at its SIA plant in Lafayette, Indiana.

The all-new crossover is expected to be built beginning in 2018 and will be a larger vehicle than the Tribeca, with full third-row capability. The new vehicle has not yet been named, but will likely carry a name synonymous with outdoor adventure, consistent with the company’s other successful crossovers; Outback, Forester and Crosstrek.

When production of the new model begins, Subaru will have four models produced in the U.S.: Legacy, Outback, a new Impreza compact sedan and 5-door model beginning production in late 2016, and this new crossover. Subaru production in Indiana is projected to be approximately 228,000 units in 2015, and annual capacity is scheduled to grow to 394,000 with the introduction of the Impreza model.

Subaru is currently enjoying its seventh consecutive year of sales records and expects to close 2015 with over 550,000 sales, with sales tripling since 2007.

Tom Easterday executive vice president, secretary, and chief legal officer of Subaru of Indiana Automotive said: “We are delighted to be bringing even more Subaru manufacturing to the U.S. The new model will also result in increased investment at SIA and at several of our suppliers across the country.”

Thomas J. Doll, President and COO of Subaru of America said “We have enjoyed record sales for seven consecutive years and the introduction of an all-new, American-made Impreza followed by an all-new larger 3-row crossover will help keep our sales momentum strong.”

USA RECALL - HONDA - The Fit Small car gets a voluntarily recall to replace the Plug Top Ignition Coil.

Honda will voluntarily recall approximately 17,800 model-year 2015 Fit vehicles in the United States to replace the plug top ignition coils, free of charge. 

The original plug top ignition coils may degrade over time, which, in the worst case, could cause the vehicle’s engine to stall, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. 

No crashes or injuries have been reported related to this issue, which was discovered through the warranty claim process outside of the United States.

Honda is announcing this recall to encourage each owner of an affected vehicle to take it to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Honda. Mailed notification to customers will begin October 6, 2015. 

Additionally, owners of these vehicles can determine if their vehicles require repair now by going to www.recalls.honda.com or by calling (888) 234-2138.

ITALY - Subaru to launch the Legacy SW replacement, The Levorg, throughout Europe.

Marketed in 2014 in the Japanese market, initially had not been decided whether LEVORG was a car only for the internal market or have crossed the borders. After one year and strong especially the success in the domestic market - one of the most stringent in the world - FHI has decided to launch also in Europe the model LEVORG.

Replacement for the Legacy Station Wagon, LEVORG ( LE Gacy and VO lution tou R in G ) is proposed as an evolution - word included in the name of the model - in a different way the historic estate of the House of the Pleiades that has given so much in terms of sales in the years.

If the base is conceptually the same as the other Subaru models - boxer engine and all-wheel drive - the new station wagon is intended as a "innovative tourer" looking very dynamic and forms that do not reveal the actual size of a car long little less than 4 meters and 70.

The aggressive front end with the air intake on the hood and the long lines at the rear define a car that is suitable for long journeys, with all the comfort and load capacity that allows a station wagon.

The adoption of the operator goes in this direction. By choosing a small-displacement engine BOXER (1.6l) turbocharged direct injection, Subaru wanted to combine the sporty 170 hp to reduced consumption (6,9l. Combined cycle) in order to address long runs with confidence.

On board, a number of systems which daily commuting to hint at the spirit of the car that will appeal to an audience dynamic and versatile style cross.

Building on the success of the new OUTBACK, Subaru Italy has decided to repeat the pre-sales activities in advance of arrival of the car dealership - scheduled for next autumn.

Through a web communication, www.levorg.it, those who will enter the section dedicated to the model will find the details of the new car. The most faithful of the brand of the House of the Pleiades, who intend to be the first to book it, Subaru Italy will devote a special treatment.

Translated by Google - Apologies for any errors caused.

USA - BMW expands TAKATA Airbag scandal to 420,661 vehicles.

BMW is recalling 420,661 U.S. vehicles due to issues involving Takata airbags, U.S. auto safety regulators said on Thursday. BMW of North America is recalling 20 models from 2002 to 2006 model years that contain Takata driver-side front airbag inflators. Regulators said the airbag module will be replaced.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said BMW examined its production and manufacturing records to determine the scope of affected vehicles and converted an existing national improvement campaign into a voluntary recall, increasing the number of affected vehicles to 420,661 from 140,696.

Takata is at the center of a global recall of tens of millions of cars for potentially deadly airbag inflators that could deploy with too much force and spray metal fragments inside vehicles. Regulators have linked six deaths to the component so far, all on Honda cars.

After months of resisting, Takata last week agreed with the NHTSA to roughly double its U.S.-based recall to 34 million vehicles spanning 11 automakers.

On Thursday Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said it would recall 4,066,732 vehicles from the 2004 to 2011 model years "equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture," according to a filing by FCA with the NHTSA.

Toyota, Nissan and Honda have expanded their Takata recalls over the past week.

Oops, new Discovery diecast model launched ahead of the real car.

A photo showing scale models of the upcoming Land Rover Discovery Sport has surfaced on the web.

After several spy photo sessions and teasers, this is the first time we can look at the model with no camouflage. Already confirmed for production in 2015 inHalewood, UK, it can be seen in two different color schemes, both with glass roof.

The Discovery Sport, described as an "all-new premium compact SUV", will become the first member of the new Discovery family. Set to be revealed in its full glory on September 3rd, it will act as a replacement for the aging Freelander.

It is believed to be based on an extended LR-MS platform of the five door Range Rover Evoque and to be available with a wide variety of four-cylinder Ingenium gasoline and diesel engines. A range-topping SVR variant could be also in the works and it will likely use an uprated V6 3.0-liter supercharged engine.

USA - Recall - Chrysler group to recall various MY FIAT 500L for Knee airbag replacement.

 Chrysler Group LLC will recall an estimated 29,500 cars to replace their knee airbags.

The action follows routine testing that suggests the supplemental restraint – designed to protect a driver’s knees – may not deploy in the proper position if the driver is not wearing a seatbelt. Chrysler Group recommends that all vehicle occupants wear seatbelts.

The Company is unaware of any related injuries. The recall involves an estimated 25,500 model-year 2014 and 2015 Fiat 500L models in the U.S., and 4,000 in Canada. Affected owners will be advised when they may schedule service, which will be performed at no cost to them.

In the interim, owners are advised to wear their seatbelts. Owners also may call Chrysler Group’s Customer Information Center at 1-800-853-1403.

VIVA - Let the party begin, Vauxhall to use classic name on new Micro-car for 2015.

Famous Vauxhall Viva badge set to return on new city car on sale next year for less then £7,000

The famous Vauxhall Viva name is set to be revived for an all-new city car set to rival the Ford Ka and Hyundai i10, plus the Volkswagen up!, Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii triplets. The new Viva will go on sale in spring next year, and our images show how we expect it to look. 

The last time the Viva name was seen was in 1979 on a small saloon car – a forerunner to today’s Astra. However, the new Viva will be a sharply styled small hatchback that replaces the unloved Suzuki Splash- based Agila. The Viva will be based on the next-generation Chevrolet Spark.

With Chevrolet pulling out of Europe, it leaves the way clear for Vauxhall, and its sister company Opel, to market the new model as GM’s budget car offering – Vauxhall is aiming for a starting price of around £6,995.

It also marks the first time in more than 20 years that Vauxhall and Opel will use different names for a car in the UK and mainland Europe.

Vauxhall management were keen to have a name that fitted in well in the UK in a new market segment for the company, and one that reflected on its heritage. Opel will not be using the Viva name.

Although the new car will be based on the Spark and will be built in Korea, GM’s European design team, led by Brit Mark Adams, has worked hard to give the car its own unique look. So expect some typical Vauxhall design cues, with a front end similar to the Adam and other recent Vauxhall products.

There’ll be swept-back headlamps with distinctive LED daytime running lights, a large Vauxhall badge sitting on large chrome wings on the grille and ‘blade’ surfacing along the sides.

Inside, different finishes have been used on the plastics to give a more stylish, premium look. There won’t be the huge array of options seen on other small cars to keep the costs down – Vauxhall is more likely to evolve the range with some special editions. And although there will be some tech on board like Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, don’t expect the latest IntelliLink infotainment systems – it would make the car too costly.

Instead, space will be key to the new Viva’s appeal. There’ll be five doors and easy access, while dynamically the new model is said by Vauxhall insiders to focus more on comfort and refinement than sporty handling.

GM’s latest family of small, economical engines will help to keep costs low, so we’d expect to see the new three-cylinder, 1.0-litre engine with 89bhp offered, possibly with a lower-powered version of the same unit. Vauxhall is aiming for sub-100g/km from all models, which would mean an average of around 70mpg.

Next year is set to be a busy one for Vauxhall. The Viva will debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, by which time the new Corsa will be in showrooms. It’ll be followed by an all-new, British-built Astra likely to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

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