Dealers are coming under increased pressure to upgrade or relocate their facilities as the automotive sector and the general economy improve, according to property specialists Rapleys. It cited strong Q1 performances from Lookers and Pendragon who both showed double digit growth “This improved trading outlook has certainly translated to improved sentiment in the sector, with many groups continuing to grow their business, both from the acquisition of existing businesses and the development of new trading facilities,” it said. But the improving conditions meant renewed pressure to maintain corporate standards. “After years of patience by manufacturers regarding corporate standards, we believe many dealers are coming under increasing pressure to upgrade or relocate, and we are currently acting for a number of the top 10 groups who have active requirements in this respect. “We see no sign that this level of activity is likely to diminish…

‘That’ is the future. Or at least, a step towards it. It’s a diesel-electric hybrid S-Class Mercedes. See, a few months ago at the Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz’s boss of large cars, Dr Uwe Ernstberger, told TopGear.com that “a complete electric [S-Class] will be done in the future”. That goal is currently limited by battery technology. Mercedes, therefore, wants to take it step by step, which is where this hybrid S comes in. Or the S300 Blue Tec Hybrid L, to give it its full name. It features the same drivetrain as the E300 Hybrid we tested a couple of years ago. Underneath there’s a 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, with a small electric motor sandwiched between engine and seven-speed gearbox, driving the rear wheels. Wait, what? There’s a four-cylinder diesel in the biggest car Mercedes-Benz makes? Before we get to the thorny issue of…

Nissan is aiming to drum up workshop business for its dealer network with the launch of a fixed price servicing scheme. It has launched Nissan Service Care, a package offering customers fixed price servicing and parts and additional benefits. For minor services customers pay a flat fee of £149 for petrol cars and £159 for diesel. Major services cost £219 for petrol and £249 for diesel. Some models are excluded from the deal. The package also provides eVision, a vehicle assessment video which is emailed to the customers so they can see what work has been done on the vehicle. As part of the package customers get free European roadside assistance. Chris Marsh, Nissan aftersales director said: “We have spent a great deal of time developing Nissan Service Care, studying the market place and consulting with our customers and dealers as we wanted to…

Ford will sell its forthcoming Mustang and top-end Vignale models exclusively through a small number of metropolitan based Ford Stores from summer 2015. The Blue Oval is piloting its new Ford Store retail concept at two of its flagship outlets; Peoples Cars in Bootle and Ford Retail’s Edgware Road site in London. The Ford Stores will see participating showrooms display all of the brand’s expanding car and van line-ups with dedicated areas for the all-new right hand drive Mustang and Vignale-badged models, the brand’s new luxury sub-brand, which will be available on the new generation Mondeo as well as the S-Max. “There will be some product exclusivity for the Ford Stores. Mustang and Vignale will be the preserve of the Ford Stores,” said Ford chairman and managing director Steve Ovenden. Ovenden confirmed that measures would also be in place to facilitate customers wishing to…

The average price of a new car rose to £28,928 in March, a year on year increase of £201 (0.7%), according to figures produced by Driven Data, the independent price analysis specialist. The average rise for the new 14-plate also marked an increase of £136, or 0.5%, over February. Driven Data managing director Martin Keighley said the increase reflected improvements in the wider economy. “The motor industry has long been regarded as a key indicator for the state of the economy, so this may signify the start of the recovery. Many volume manufacturers have had to cut prices or rely on selling lower specification models during the recession, but these figures may indicate the start of a reversal in fortune,” he said. Meanwhile, the average year on year price of new vans rose by £1,860 (8.8%) in March to £27,989, although this marked a…