Motoring Newsbriefs

Jan 25 2010 Mike Torpey

VAUXHALL expects its all new Movano to prove a serious player in the heavy van segment when it arrives during the spring.

Customers for the second generation Movano will be spoilt for choice when the new van goes on sale in May, with no less than 29 different body styles to choose from once all variants have come to market.

There will also be a fresh range of common-rail diesel engines.

Movano's drivers can also expect to be content behind the wheel with the promise of special attention to cabin comfort and ergonomics, as well as to the cargo space areas.

The modular platform, developed jointly with Renault, comes with front or rear-wheel drive depending on payload category. Rear-wheel drive variants can be ordered with twin wheels at the rear.

The latest Movano will offer a wide selection of variants, as well as a tailor-made model for nearly every potential customer profile.

The full range includes panel van, doublecab and Combi versions, chassis cabs with standard or crew cab, platform cab, three wheelbases, four vehicle lengths and three roof heights.

Prices are from £21,660 (ex.VAT) for the L2H2 3300 FWD 100PS model.

THE BMW Group has been named Greenest Manufacturer of the Year 2009 by one of the UK's leading eco-motoring websites.

The Green-Car-Guide.com recognises the manufacturer which has made the biggest impact in bringing lower emission cars to British car buyers each year. For 2009 BMW Group was awarded the coveted title for the second time in three years.

The judges were impressed by BMW Group's fuel-saving and emissions-reducing EfficientDynamics technologies which have been applied to its entire range as standard.

BMW and MINI products were also praised for not compromising styling or driving enjoyment to achieve their fuel efficiency and emissions figures.

MOTOR industry charity BEN has launched a fleet disposal scheme which sees rental and leasing fleets and major auction houses working together to raise funds.

Vendors will sign up for the scheme through BEN, the participating auction house will collect the money - typically £1 per vehicle sold - and pass it to the charity.

A number of key companies have already pledged commitment and are expected to sign up shortly, saying that the plan is simple for all involved, sustainable and has the potential to deliver much needed funds to the charity over a long term.

CAR owners are being urged to give their vehicle some serious TLC following one of the coldest spells of winter weather for years.

Leading car care brand Autoglym has highlighted that the huge quantity of salt deposited on road surfaces over recent weeks - averaging 60,000 tonnes per day across the UK - will have a damaging effect on vehicle paintwork and exterior trim.

'Road salt can speed the corrosion of unprotected paintwork, as well as damage exposed plastic and rubber surfaces,' says Paul Caller, Autoglym's CEO.

'A thorough wash, followed by the application of a quality polish or wax, is highly advisable given the unusually high volume of salt now lingering on UK roads.'

RACE fans can take a trip down memory lane with a new book 'Formula 5000 Motor Racing - Back then, and back now' by Derek Lawson (Veloce Publishing £40).

The wail of a 5.0-litre engine was often more spine-tingling than any other racing car and nowadays, many of the same cars show modern day spectators just how dramatic Formula 5000 racing can be.

NEW MINI owners interested in boosting the power of their engine can now approach their local XPart New MINI specialist for an Autologic performance tune.

The tunes are available for R50, R52 and R53 vehicle types and deliver significantly increased power and torque, as well as facilitating smoother power delivery, sharper throttle response and faster acceleration. In diesel MINIs, Autologic performance tuning also offers improved fuel efficiency.