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News and Updates from CVSL

2019, the beginning of a new dawn in driving

It’s been an interesting year for the car industry and many important technological advancements have been driving it forward.  Cars arriving in 2019 are expected to feature an exciting eclectic mix of EVs, hybrids and sports cars. Popular models such as the all-electric version of the Mini promise to be worth the wait, an all-new Volkswagen Golf along with the 21st century relaunch of the Land Rover Defender.

There are no longer any limits in the car world (except speed limits of course!).

The future is electric

2018 saw the introduction of a number of electric cars, confirming that battery powered cars are finally making a breakthrough. A whole wave of brand new EVs are expected to rule the rooster in 2019 include, Porsche Taycan, MINI EV and Mercedes EQC, along with hybrid versions of the Ford Mustang. The electric car revolution has most definitely begun and in 2019 expect plenty more. Audi, Honda and Polestar also promise to launch high performance EV cars.

The countdown to the launch of the much-hyped upcoming Honda retro designed Urban EV electric car will be over. Will it be worth the wait? Development versions of the compact hatchback have been seen in testing recently and became famous at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show due to the unusual boxy proportions and quirky retro design. However the model in production will maintain the boxy proportions of the concept cars unveiled at the show, in terms of the angular front bumper design and round headlights. It will differ in terms of features such as the rear-end being curvier and a revision to a five-door design, instead of a three-door layout. It’s expected range will be a modest 200-miles, coupling it up with the latest fast-charge technology.

On the back of the electric car trend there has been subsequent talk regarding the charging infrastructure and improving this, which is expected to be a hot topic of 2019. There has been much interestand controversy surrounding the “driverless” autonomous cars of the future and flying taxies, at first such notions seemed bonkers, but according to recent research from the 2018 UK Automotive Consumer Study*, acceptance over the last 12 months has grown rapidly over a short time, with consumers having a brighter outlook when considering the safety of self-driving vehicles more positively.

SUVs Rule

2018 was ruled by the commanding SUV and we were spoilt for choice as more and more people are opting for 4x4s and the dynamic driving style that they bring. Sweeping the SUV market in 2019 includes the new BMW X7, and the Mercedes GLA and GLB, which ooze luxury and refinement.

Here’s a sneak peak of some of the new cutting edge models we can get excited about:

Winter Driving

British weather can be highly unpredictable and severe conditions can hit at any time. It is a necessity to plan your journey well if you do have to drive during bad conditions, be prepared and ensure that your trip is entirely essential. Follow some of our top tips below to help you on your journey:

Essential planning and toolkit to store in your car:

  • Inform someone at your destination of your estimated time of arrival
  • Plan alternative routes in case your main choice(s) becomes impassable
  • Make sure your phone is fully charged, so that you can call for help, if necessary; portable chargers are always useful to have with you
  • Ensure that your fuel tank is near to full so you do not run out if delayed in traffic
  • Regularly check the weather and traffic information on the TV/Radio/Social Media or websites to keep up to date with regional and national warnings, have a back-up plan as things change rapidly
  • If conditions are very bad, and the emergency services are recommending that people don’t travel, take heed and avoid making your journey
  • Ensure that you have stored food, water, extra warm clothes or a rug, a torch and boots – you may require a shovel too, no matter how extreme it sounds
  • Before setting off, de-mist and clear your windows, a windscreen scraper and a de-icer are a necessity.

Prepare your vehicle – condition checks:

It’s a good idea to have your vehicle fully serviced before the bad weather commences and have the anti-freeze tested. If you can’t have it serviced, then do your own essential checks, such as;

  • Brakes are fully working
  • Clean and functioning lights
  • Battery is fully charged
  • Tyres are in good condition, in terms of tread depth and pressure (don’t forget the spare)
  • Check the 3 W’s – windscreen, wiper blades, windows are clean and the washer bottle is filled with screen wash
  • Top up your fluids, especially windscreen wash (to the correct concentration to prevent it freezing), anti-freeze and oil

You may deem the journey as essential, but realistically could it be postponed? However, if you really MUST travel please follow our tips above. Safe driving everyone!

 

 

 

Unmissable CVSL deals all year, not just on Black Friday….

Black Friday deals are good but make sure you’re thinking about what’s right for you, don’t just get lured into quick fire offers and sucked in by the Black Friday madness. CVSL offer a range of strong, well-researched and specific packages to offer the best deals for you, whether it is;

Personal contract hire https://www.cvsl.co.uk/faqs is a long-term vehicle rental agreement which could form a hassle free and affordable way to drive a brand new vehicle without the associated risks and inconvenience of ownership.

Business contract hire https://www.cvsl.co.uk/faqs is also a very popular option for businesses because it allows the company to focus on their operations without having to think about the financial risk of owning a vehicle.

We are committed to giving you the best bespoke package built for you and built around you.

What makes CVSL different?

  • The highest standards of quality and transparency.
  • The choice of all vehicles in the market place.
  • Fast and efficient quoting.
  • Finance options and ongoing support.
  • Total commitment to keeping your vehicle costs down.
  • The buying power of a fleet buyer.
  • A dynamic and personal service.
  • Exclusive rates available when sourcing your new vehicle.

Score top deals from CVSL all year round

CVSL offer something for everyone to suit your budget. So whether you’re a Sole Trader, a Partnership, a Limited Company or PLC we can provide you with a wide range of car leasing, contract hire, lease and purchase plans to finance your cars and light commercial vehicles.

We offer a selection of personal finance schemes, available to you on an individual basis. CVSL also have a range of contact hire tips https://www.cvsl.co.uk/personal-contract-hire-top-tips that will make sure that you not only have a great deal this Black Friday, but something that works for you and your finances all year, NOT JUST one day.

Get in touch today for more details and also check out our exclusive Special offers section for all the latest amazing deals.

What does 2018 Budget mean for motorists?

Chancellor Philip Hammond’s announcement has been dubbed as the biggest ever cash injection for England’s major roads in the 2018 Budget. An emphasis has been placed on tackling congestion which is expected to save motorists thousands annually.

National Roads Fund:
Firstly, the National Roads Fund upgrade plan will entail a £28.8 billion investment to upgrade and improve UK roads. The investment fund will run from 2020 to 2025, forming a major part of the Roads Investment Strategy 2.

Local roads will also benefit as the government announce that £3.5 billion of “new money” to upgrade local roads.

Tackling congestion:
A commitment of £150 million is being introduced to ease congestions and reduce traffic. The intention is to improve problematic road junctions and congestion hotspots, benefitting all road users, not just motorists, to reduce journey times and improve road safety

Pothole repairs fund:
£420 million has been made available to fix pot holes around the country. Critics say that this budget won’t stretch very far and that more is required.

Fuel Duty remains frozen:
Prime Minister Theresa May previously announced it at the Conservative party conference; Fuel Duty remains frozen for a 9th consecutive year. The chancellor added that it will save motorists £800 million in the first year alone.

Keep up to date with the latest motoring news by following CVSL on LinkedIn.

The Show-stopping cars at the Geneva Motor Show 2018

The spectacle that is the Geneva Motor Show was held in Switzerland 8-18 March, giving us a glimpse into the future trends expected to dominate the car industry, whilst bringing together the wealthiest people in the world. Debuting some of the boldest and most innovative car concepts in the world, which are expected to lead the way in revolutionising car technology, spoiling us with a handful of wonderful but frankly bizarre and baffling concept cars.

The show continuously manages to break the mould and break with convention in terms of car manufacturing. Inevitably there was a strong push towards electric cars but the show also boasted the likes of flying cars, sport cars, saloons and coupes and certainly didn’t disappoint, pushing the boundaries in every way possible and opening our eyes to a new era of mobility –  you could soon by flying to work!

Geneva is the best show to get an overview of the latest trends and striking designs to shape the automobile industry. One thing clear,the industry is facing a dramatic change and pressure to reinvent itself, with autonomy and electric taking precedence.

Here’s a roundup of the best and most crazy car concepts and themes that captured our attention at the awe-inspiring yet bonkers motor show:

Sleek, elegant and magnificent motors:
Luxury EV and hybrid performance cars graced the stands at Geneva with a whole spectrum of striking, elegant and dynamic designs, here is a taster of some of the crowd pleasers:

GFG Sibylla
GFG

Touring Superleggera Scià di PersiaPersia

Pininfarina HK GT

Pini

The bold and handsome M8 Gran Coupe concept with its four-door model, is a revamped version of the relaunched 8-series range and is planned to join coupe and convertible variants 600bhp, in a three-model strong 8 series line-up. The creation of the concept car all stems from BMW’s reformed decision to create premium positioning.

The BMW M8 concept:

M8

The Wacky, the Flying, The Sharing and The Autonomous Varities:

Now moving on to the more bizarre conceptions brought to life at the Geneva Motor Show. Fully autonomous vehicles are expected to revolutionise the future of car technology, but even the Renault EZ-GO concept seemed somewhat extreme. The driverless concept electric car enables passengers to enter through a front door, with glass on the sides and roof, yet only reaching speeds of 30mph.

wacky

The luxury futuristic Mercedes F015 driverless car concept managed to differentiate itself from the numerous driverless car projects that we have been bombarded with and stand aside in a class of its own.

cars10

Another gutsy driverless car concept was the Icona Nucleus, a ‘lounge on wheels,‘ providing room for 6 adults, basically a wide cocoon on wheels. The other striking element of the design is the lack of conventional glass windows – there’s no driver so there is no need for a front windscreen.

Icona Nucleus:

Nucleas

World’s first Revolutionary Commercial Flying Cars:

flying