Caffyns will exit from selling new Vauxhall cars in Kent from June 2013 saying the franchise is too expensive to operate. The south east based group was rated 46th of 200 by Motor Trader and has sales and servicing sites in Ashford and Tunbridge wells. “Our freehold facilities at Ashford and Tunbridge Wells offer great potential for development having scale, excellent locations and strong markets. Already, one of our core partners has supported our plans for future investment. The multi-franchise listed group also represents Ford, Audi, Volvo, VW, Land Rover, Jaguar, Chevrolet and Skoda and has plans to develop its premium business. “In line with our stated strategy of developing our core business with premium and premium-volume partners, some months ago Caffyns indicated to Vauxhall Motors that it was unwilling to commit the high levels of capital needed to operate the franchise,” said a statement issued by Caffyns this morning (12 July 2011)….

used car sales have been progressively falling by 2.5 per cent to £6,640 in June, according to research by Manheim Remarketing. In their latest Study they found that car sales had fallen for the third consecutive month. The fleet sector fell by 2.5 per cent (£155) to £6,100, while manufacturer stock values fell by 3.0 per cent (£346) to £11,279. Dealer part-exchange values increased slightly by 0.9 per cent (£21) to £2,327. When compared with June 2010, with average age up by just one month to 52 months and mileage up by 3,265 miles to 54,161 miles, average wholesale used car values are 4.8 per cent (£338) lower. Dealer part-exchange values increased by 0.9 per cent to £2,327. When compared with June 2010, with average age up by just one month to 52 months and mileage up by 3,265 miles to 54,161 miles, average wholesale used car values are 4.8…

Average wholesale used car values fell by 4.4 per cent in 2010 compared with 2009, according to Manheim Remarketing. The average age of vehicles increased by three months to 51 months and average mileage also rose, up 4,009 to 53,605 miles. The fleet sector experienced the biggest decrease in 2010 as average values fell by 7.2 per cent while manufacturer stock fell just 1.1 per cent. Dealer part exchange prices actually rose by 5.5 per cent. In December average wholesale used car values fell 4.1 per cent to £6,569 following two months of increases. However the overall fall in values couldn’t dampen the demand for 4x4s where values increased in both the Dealer and Manufacturer sectors. Manheim Remarketing managing director Mike Pilkington said: “After a dramatic rebound in values during 2009, it was perhaps inevitable that with the continued economic uncertainty there would be…

The car industry will be unable to offer an ‘affordable’ electric vehicle without government subsidies until after 2015. Over half of the 200 auto executives polled in a KPMG 2011 Global Automotive Executive Survey said without state subsidies electric vehicles as affordable as traditional fuel vehicles were five years away. Over four in 10 car executives expect government subsidies to tail-off with only a quarter expecting them to increase. Mike Steventon, automotive partner at KPMG in the UK, said: “One factor is common worldwide: the need to continue to develop the technology that will produce efficient, affordable electric vehicles. “Even though the industry is still in recovery mode, the pace of technical leadership intensifies.” Investment in new power train technologies such as hybrid and all electric remains a key priority for 93 percent of auto executives, it found. Over seven in 10 auto executives…

Porsche has the highest average repair cost in the UK, according to a just-published reliability survey. The average cost of repair for its cars is £717.36 while Mazda has the second-highest average garage bill of £481.26 followed closely by Audi with £478 average repair costs. The least expensive brand was Renault with an average repair cost of £226, followed by Fiat on £237 and Smart on £251, according to a What Car? and Warranty Direct annual car reliability study. Warranty Direct managing director, Duncan McClure Fisher, said: “When buying a car, certain factors loom larger in your mind than others. For the majority of drivers, how much they can trust that car to get them from A to B is most important. “Car manufacturers are constantly making great strides in building more reliable vehicles, so this survey is not a reflection on new cars coming out now…

New car registrations rose 10.8 per cent in June despite the ending of the scrappage scheme. Sales rose 19.9 per cent in the first half but are set to dip by year end, according to SMMT forecasts. “The new car market continued to perform above expectations in June, with fleet sector registrations up 25 per cent compared to this time last year. “The results indicate improved business confidence and a strengthening economic recovery,” said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt. “The industry still expects challenging economic conditions in the second half of the year and government action to improve access to credit for consumers and businesses will be important in sustaining the momentum of recovery.” June 2010 recorded the 12th successive monthly increase, with just 0.7 per cent of registrations coming from the scrappage scheme, compared with 19.2 per cent during the same period last…

Porsche dealers have started to sell the new Boxster Spyder, a lightweight soft top version of its mid-engined roadster. The car is the third addition to the Boxster family and is priced from £46,387. Standard specification includes six-speed manual transmission, 19″ alloy wheels, manual two-piece hood, lowered sports chassis lowered, carbon fibre sports bucket seats and heat insulating glass. Lighter The model is 80kg lighter than the equivalent the Boxster S model making it the lightest model in the brand’s line-up. The main difference between the Boxster Spyder and its siblings is its manual roof rather than an electric folding one. Power is supplied by a tuned version of Porsche’s 3.4-litre flat six boxer engine. Maximum output is 320 bhp, 10 bhp more than in the Boxster S. Taken from Motortrader Magazine

Subaru has revealed details of a new collaboration with Cosworth which will see the launch of a new high performance limited edition Impreza this summer. The Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 officially goes on sale through Subaru’s UK dealer network in June. F1 link The new Subarau model will be powered by a 400PS (395bhp) engine capable of 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds. The standard Impreza WRX STI has 300PS (296bhp) and a 0-62mph of 5.2 seconds. Subraru claims the model will be one of the most “accelerative all-wheel-drive hatchbacks ever”. A photograph of the car has yet to be released. This will mark a return to the high street of Cosworth-powered cars and follows a successful and longstanding collaboration with Ford which resulted in a number of iconic cars including the Sierra Cosworth and Escort Cosworth. Cosworth has also returned to F1 this year supplying engines…