Vauxhall ends the year with some significant improvements and a massive police market share.

• Astra best-seller in its segment for last three months of 2016
• Vauxhall number one in Scotland, with Corsa best-selling car

Rounding off last year in style, Vauxhall’s multi award-winning Astra has celebrated a sales hat-trick by being number one in its segment in each of the last three months of 2016.

According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the Astra cruised to victory with 15,948 sold in the fourth quarter and a total of 32,313 sold between July and December 2016, making it the best-selling car in its segment in the second half of the year, too.

This sales momentum capped a superb year for Vauxhall’s family hatchback, having built up an impressive list of accolades including 2016 European Car of Year, a game-changer award from Autocar and category wins at the Auto Express, What Car? and Fleet News awards.

In Scotland, Vauxhall was the largest selling manufacturer, according to figures released by the Scottish Motor Trade Association. Vauxhall has been number one in the region for the last nine years.

With over 10,000 sold last year, the Corsa was Scotland’s best-selling car. The top-selling Corsa has been Scotland’s best-selling car for seven out of the last eight years. Two other Vauxhall models featured in Scotland’s top ten best-sellers, including the Astra in fifth place with 5,260 sold and the Mokka in tenth place with 3,843 sold.

And if that wasn’t enough, Vauxhall is the number one supplier to Police fleets with a 70 per cent market share of competitive segments. A position it hopes to strengthen after opening the largest Police car factory in Europe at its manufacturing plant in Luton, Bedfordshire last year.

“The Astra is the best family car on the market,” said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “After winning a host of top awards, 2016 was the new Astra’s first full year on the market and I am very pleased to see it top its segment in the fourth quarter and the second half of the year. Now we focus on 2017, with our best-ever product portfolio and five new models in the pipeline.”

Vauxhall is set for a ground-breaking 2017, with a total of five major product launches that will add further variety to its range, already one of the largest in the UK, while at the same time entering new market segments. The five new models are the Insignia Grand Sport, Sports Tourer and Country Tourer, Crossland X and Grandland X.

Minivans like the Scenic are not dead in Europe says Renaults head of Compact Models, Andre Abboud.

The head of Renault’s compact models, Andre Abboud, says European demand for minivans such as the Scenic definitely is “not dead.” Abboud also says sales are stabilizing for compact sedans such as the Megane after years of losing volume to SUVs. Abboud shared his views during a recent interview with Automotive News Europe France Correspondent Bruce Gain.

What are your expectations for the new Scenic?

When you look at the MPV (minivan) market share and the Scenic, you see that sales are very stable [the Scenic was Europe’s No. 2-selling compact minivan in 2015].

So minivans are far from dead?

They are not dead. There is still plenty of room for MPVs. In Europe, the share is more than 18 percent. The customer still needs cars that have a lot of modularity and room inside. So what you need to do is to put a little bit of emotion in those cars and then you can make it a success.

How does the Megane fit into Renault’s strategy to make its vehicles more upscale?

Our customers simply want more. Yes, we are making our cars more upscale but our customers in Europe also want a modern design, which the Megane offers. Technology is a big part of their lives and they want to have that experience in their car as well.

But without raising prices?

Yes, we are even lowering the price of some of the Megane versions.

So there is also plenty of life in the compact hatchback and station wagon sectors?

Yes. We have sold 6.5 million sedans in this sector so the Megane remains a core model for Renault and there is no doubt we needed to replace it. And when you look at the compact sector in Europe, the hatchback and the station wagon together represent almost 50 percent of the segment.

That means demand for traditional compact body styles is stabilizing?

After a sharp drop five years ago, it's beginning to either stabilize or the rate at which it is falling is leveling off. Today in Europe we still sell more hatchbacks and station wagons than we do SUVs. So even if you have spent a lot of time talking about how SUV sales are growing so quickly, they are not surpassing sedan or station wagon models in sales.

How does pricing come into play in retail channels between SUVs and other compact body types?

You still have a pricing gap between compact sedans and hatchbacks and SUVs. On average, there is a 2,000 euro to 3,000 euro [price premium for SUVs and crossovers].

Why is Renault debuting Hybrid Assist mild hybrid technology instead of full hybrid or plug-in hybrid cars?

Hybrid Assist is a technology that is affordable and that can help customers save more than 10 grams of CO2 per liter per car. So it is the most affordable technology that can really offer lower fuel consumption and emissions.

Is Renault still undecided whether it will first launch a plug-in hybrid or a full hybrid first?

All technologies are under consideration. We want to be ready if the market needs a particular technology. This is a big advantage the Renault-Nissan alliance offers; the scale effect we have. We are able to develop the technology, and if there is a market for it, you can be sure that we will be there.

Bruce Gain

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USA - 2015 Dodge Cgarger takes ALG Residual Award for the first time.

• New 2015 Dodge Charger recognized with ALG Residual Value Award for the first time
• Residual Value Awards recognize the vehicles and brands that stand out from the rest of the market by representing quality, long-term reliability and strong desirability

The new 2015 Dodge Charger has received the Residual Value Award in the “Fullsize Car” category from ALG, the industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data.

The annual ALG Residual Value Awards recognize vehicles that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year period. This is the Charger’s first Residual Value Award in the Fullsize Car category.

“We’ve seen some amazing used market retention from the Charger over the years, and buyers clearly love its unique execution,” said Larry Dominique, President of ALG. “With the improvements Dodge has baked in for 2015, it should continue to lead the Fullsize segment going forward.”

ALG recognizes 26 vehicles with segment awards. Award winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand and pricing and marketing strategies represent key factors that impact ALG’s residual value forecasts.

“The new 2015 Dodge Charger is unique in its segment, delivering unrivaled rear-wheel-drive performance and attitude,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO – Dodge and SRT Brands, Chrysler Group LLC. “This award from ALG is a testament to how well the Charger holds it value, as well as to all the updates we’ve made for 2015, including a new exterior, a standard new state-of-the-art eight-speed automatic transmission and several new models, including the all-new 707 horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.”

New 2015 Dodge Chargers are starting to arrive in dealerships this month. Production of the 2015 Dodge Charger Hellcat will start in the first quarter of 2015.

USA - Mazda3 takes award for residual value in the compact car segment for the 2nd year running.

The 2015 Mazda3 today received a Residual Value Award for the Compact Car Segment by ALG, making it the second straight year Mazda3 has won the award and third since 2010. 

ALG, the analytics division of TrueCar, Inc., is the industry benchmark for projecting future vehicle values and depreciation data. The annual ALG Residual Value Awards honor the vehicles and brands that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year period.

"We are honored that Mazda3 has been recognized by ALG for the second year in a row," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). "It is a true testament of the quality, dependability, reliability and value of the Mazda3, which has only made this segment leader stronger and customers have spoken by making it the best-selling Mazda vehicle."

ALG recognizes 26 vehicles with segment awards, along with two brands presenting the Mainstream and Premium sectors of the industry. This year's awards are based on 2015 year vehicles.

"Mazda kept the 2015 pricing flat on the Mazda3, allowing it to remain one of the best values in the Compact segment, and earn its second straight Residual Value Award," said Larry Dominique, President of ALG. "Not only that, but the Mazda3 is one of the best all-around vehicles in the Compact segment."

Previous ALG Residual Value Awards winners for Mazda were the 2014 Mazda3 (Compact Car), 2012 Mazdaspeed3 (Sporty Car), 2011 CX-9 (Mid-Size Utility) and 2010 Mazda3 (Compact Car).

Award winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing and marketing strategies represent key factors that impact ALG's residual value forecasts.

Starting at $16,945, the 2015 Mazda3 includes an array of new standard features and package content such as the manual transmission option for the more powerful SKYACTIV-G 2.5L. 

Touting exceptional styling and an impressive 41 mpg highway, the 2015 Mazda3 is also incredibly fun to drive. Similar to its new-generation SKYACTIV^® Technology and KODO "Soul of Motion"-designed brethren such as the CX-5 compact SUV and Mazda6 mid-size sedan, Mazda's compact car has earned itself critical acclaim by topping "Best Car" lists and receiving "Car of the Year" nods.

Mazda3 also saw the introduction of another game-changing Mazda-developed technology known as MAZDA CONNECT™. A next-generation in-vehicle connectivity system, MAZDA CONNECT's seven-inch full-color touchscreen hub will make its way into the rest of the brand's full lineup. 

Based on the heads-up cockpit concept, this new Human Machine Interface (HMI) system aims to aid drivers in maintaining a proper driving posture, keep a concentrated focus on the road ahead and promoting safer habits while behind the wheel.