Daily Express Family Car of the Year

Citroën’s C3 Picasso has been named ‘Best Family Car’ of 2009 by the Daily Express’ Motoring team.

Seeing off competition from the Skoda Yeti to take the coveted ‘Motoring Oscar’, Citroën’s innovative MPV – the biggest small car on the road – impressed the judges with its compact, purposeful exterior, combined with plentiful internal storage and flexible seating arrangement.




This latest accolade comes at the end of a hugely successful year for the C3 Picasso, adding to five awards already under its belt from the likes of Auto Express, Top Gear and What Diesel.

The Daily Express, said, “The new C3 Picasso is a great family alternative to the new breed of cross-overs. Better still, it’s well built and excellent to drive too. Forget just winning in this category, the C3 Picasso was one of the best cars of 2009, period.”

In preparation for the forthcoming popularity rush for this vehicle Dynamic Vehicle Solutions have taken 20 of them into stock in various colours enabling customers to get their hands on one for as little as £174 per month. For further information or a specific quote visit Dynamic Vehicle Solutions at http://www.dynamicvehiclesolutions.co.uk/

Dynamic Vehicle Solutions Advice for Designated Drivers

Its that time of year again when you are likely to find yourself in the situation of ferrying a party of merry revellers around in your role as a designated driver. Here are a few tips to help you survive the evening:

1. Study the weather forecast and traffic information before you leave and plan accordingly.

2. Pre-prepare a route, taking account of any pick-ups and drop-offs.

3. Take an up to date map in case you have to deviate at any time.

4. Take a note of where the nearest hospital Accident and Emergency is, just in case passenger inebriation later turns into something more serious.

5. Familiarise yourself with the vehicle if it’s not yours, particularly where the minor controls, like hazard and fog light switches, are and ensure it has enough fuel for the entire journey.

6. Take warm clothes if it’s cold – inebriated party-goers rarely feel the cold but you might have to hang around waiting for them!

7. If the vehicle could be iced up when you come to leave, ensure you have an ice scraper to hand. A credit card won’t do!

8. Check that the spare wheel is legal and inflated and that you have a means of fitting it. You don’t want to be stranded at two in the morning with a bunch of incoherent so-called friends who won’t be able to lift a finger to help.

9. Take a fully-charged mobile phone and take a note of the mobile number of all your passengers.

10. Take a note of everybody’s home addresses in case they’re not capable of telling you on the return journey.

11. Tell your passengers what time you intend to leave and that it’s not negotiable.
Make sure all passengers know where the vehicle is (and its reg. no.) for their return journey.

12. Carry sick bags, let the occupants know where they are and that these are the preferred remedy in emergencies!

13. Make sure that all passengers wear seat belts…if they aren’t capable of putting them on make it your job to do it for them.

14. If anybody is getting especially excitable in the vehicle, and could compromise your safe control of the vehicle, say that you will eject them and leave them stranded……and mean it!

15. If you have remote locking doors, use them. You don’t want drunken passengers trying to get out of the car on the move!

16. If you’re driving in the early hours you have to assume you’re the only designated driver out there and that everybody else is over the limit. Give everybody a wide berth and don’t assume they use their mirrors!

17. If it looks like a road rage incident is developing or someone is trying to race you, don’t get involved - when it’s safe to do so, let the other vehicle pass, or if you feel really threatened, head for a well lit, busy place, like a petrol forecourt.

18. If your route takes you through unlit rural areas be especially cautious about pedestrians who may not be entirely in control of their actions.

19. A car full of people is obviously going to attract the attention of the police, particularly when the traffic is light, so don’t be tempted to take a chance just because you’re as sober as a judge. Stick rigidly to the speed limits and keep lots of space between you and the vehicles around you.

20. If your excitable passengers are egging you on to do things you wouldn't normally do, stay calm and in control. Don’t step outside your comfort or capability zone. Remind them that you’re the one who is responsible for their welfare. Be thick skinned and remember the motivation for volunteering in the first place!

Thanks to AA DriveTech for this advice. AA DriveTech provides 35 different driver education programmes for offenders on behalf of 14 police forces and annually re-trains over 23,000 employees of various organisations who drive for work purposes. In total over the past two years well over 300,000 UK drivers have attended some form of DriveTech course.

For more about AA DriveTech, visit http://www.drivetech.co.uk or link to the site from our Dynamic Vehicle Solutions site which can be found at http://www.dynamicvehiclesolutions.co.uk/

The latest must-see fashion accessory

A class of design students have gone some way to proving that a high-visibility vest doesn’t have to be a fashion faux pas in an effort to raise awareness of roadside safety among young motorists.

Car care company, Comma, has been urging motorists to carry a hi-vis vest in their cars, as more than 180 people are killed or seriously injured each year by the side of the road.* Research has shown that young people are among those most at risk of an accident by the side of the road, with people under 25 accounting for more than 40 percent of the fatalities and injuries in the last 12 months**.

Comma commissioned the 18 students at Oaklands College in St Albans to design hi-vis vests that are cut with a little more panache than the typical roadworker’s uniform.



Sporting chic buttons, collars and even frills, the Oaklands students’ designs might not meet the British regulatory standards for safety garments but they are, at least, a range of hi-vis vests that don’t sacrifice style.

With accidents at night twice as likely to lead to a fatality***, research has shown that wearing a hi-vis vest increases the distance at which drivers can spot a pedestrian by up to 400 percent****. Comma’s Mike Bewsey said, “If you break down at night and get out of your car, without hi-vis clothing, you’re effectively invisible. The traditional hi-vis vest whilst functional, has been accused of being rather ‘unflattering’, which got us thinking about how it would look if there was a hi-vis vest that you weren’t ashamed to wear.”



Sarah Easterby, Fashion Lecturer at Oaklands College, said, “It is a fantastic opportunity to work with Comma on this safety campaign and for Oaklands fashion students to take part in a live project and gain hands-on experience.

“This brief pushes the boundaries slightly but, I hope it reinforces the message that, however it looks, you should wear a high-vis vest if you have to get out of your car at the side of the road. This project channels the students’ creative energy through a different avenue and will hopefully help to prepare them for the fashion industry.”



Comma’s advice for any motorist who has the misfortune of breaking down at the side of the road is to put the visi vest on, vacate the car and move to a safe distance before calling and waiting for assistance. Bewsey adds: “Our message about being safe and seen in the event of accident or break down is a serious one but we hope this rather more light-hearted approach will help raise awareness.”

For further information about the Safe and Seen campaign, visit http://www.safeandseen.co.uk/ or link to the site from our Dynamic Vehicle Solutions site which can be found at http://www.dynamicvehiclesolutions.co.uk/

*-Department for Transport, 2009-UK Roads
**- Department for Transport statistics 2008 - http://www.dft.gov.uk/adobepdf/162469/221412/221549/227755/rrcgb2008.pdf p117; pedestrians under 25 accounted for 2,917 casualties, 43.9% of all reported casualties in 2008
*** - Department for Transport statistics 2008 - http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/casualtiesgbar/roadcasualtiesgreatbritain20071
**** - Auto Express, October 2007.

Pre Budget Report 9th December 2009

CHANGES TO MOTORING TAXATION

Company Car and Van Tax (Benefit in Kind)

To help stimulate the take up of electric cars and vans the benefit-in-kind charge for private use of company-provided vehicles will change as follows from 6 April 2010 to 5 April 2015:

• Electric cars -company car tax (CCT) will be reduced from 9% to 0%
• Electric vans - company van tax (CVT) will be reduced from £3000 to £0 (nil rate)
• Class1A National Insurance Contributions charge on employers for electric car and vans will be nil.

From April 2012 the CO2 thresholds for company car tax (CCT) will be shifted down by 5g CO2 per km and the graduated table for of CCT bands will be extended downwards to a new 10% bands for cars emitting 99g/km CO2.

DYNAMIC VEHICLE SOLUTIONS comment: We are pleased to see that the Chancellor has modernised the company car and van tax regime to Stimulate the take-up of electric vehicles. We are disappointed that the Chancellor has once again failed to remove the unjustified and discriminatory 3% supplement on diesel company cars.

Fuel benefit charge

To encourage fuel-efficient travel the fuel benefit-in-kind charge from 6 April 2010 will change as follows:

• the multiplier for cars will increase from £16,900 to £18,000
• the van fuel benefit charge increases from £500 to £550.

DYNAMIC VEHICLE SOLUTIONS comment: The Chancellor has opted to unfairly increase taxes on the employees provided with fuel for private use.

Approved Mileage Allowance Payments

Remains unchanged at 40p for the first 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter.

DYNAMIC VEHICLE SOLUTIONS comment: The Chancellor today announced a range of measures to encourage greener business motoring. However, by maintaining the AMAP payment at its current over-generous rate he is doing nothing to incentivise the 4 million claimants to drive fewer miles. These drivers are typically using cars that are older, more polluting and less safe than the modern vehicles supplied by lease and rental fleets.

First year allowances

From 6 April 2010, businesses will be able to claim 100% first-year allowance (FYA) for the purchase of electric vans.

DYNAMIC VEHICLE SOLUTIONS comment: We are awaiting confirmation from HMRC that the 100% FYA can be claimed by the leasing firm providing an electric van to the customer.

Fuel duty

As announced at Budget 2009, fuel duty will increase by one penny per litre in real terms on 1 April each year from 2010 to 2013.

DYNAMIC VEHICLE SOLUTIONS comment: We are disappointed that the Chancellor has failed to defer the planned 1p rise to help support business users. The commercial vehicle sector alone contributes over £4 billion in road taxes and the increase does nothing to support ailing UK transport operators. Dynamic Vehicle Solutions beleive HMRC should investigate an essential user fuel rebate. With around 40% of the UK truck parc aged over eight years, the we also believe that the Chancellor should have introduced some form of incentive scheme that would enable embattled commercial vehicle operators to purchase and lease more environmentally friendly Euro IV or Euro V vehicles.

Vehicle Excise Duty

There is no postponement on the introduction of the first year rate to be introduced in April 2010 for cars.

General business tax changes

Corporation tax

Small business (profits not exceeding £1.5 million) will not see the planned corporation tax rise being implemented next year - the rate will therefore remain at 21% in tax year 2010/11 and increase to 22% in tax year 2011/12.

The main corporation tax (profits exceeding £1.5 million) rate will remain at 28%.

Enterprise finance guarantee scheme

The Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) provides participating lenders with a 75% Government guarantee on individual loans to viable businesses with turnover of less than £25 million that are at the margins of commercial lending. The EFG will be continued for a further 12 months until March 2011.

National insurance increase

Employee, employer and self-employed rates of National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will increase by 0.5 per cent in April 2011. This is in addition to the 0.5% increases to rates already announced, making a 1% increase in total from 6 April 2011.

VAT

The 15% VAT rate will revert to 17.5% on 1 January 2010.

Other transport measures

Additional funding for low carbon vehicles

There will be an additional £30million funding for low-carbon vehicles, including an expansion of the Technology Strategy Board's ultra-low carbon vehicles competition.

Biofuels

To support the value of biofuel production, the price of 'buying out' of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation will increase to 30 pence per litre from 2010-11.

Hard-shoulder running

The Government has approved the £400 million M1 improvement scheme which increases capacity from Junctions 10-13 through hard-shoulder running.

The return of I-Spy books !

Do you remember the popular Michelin I-Spy books? If you were a child in the 1950s and 60s the answer will probably be yes.

The iconic book collection will be back on the shelves this Christmas for the first time since 2002, encouraging children of all ages to get out and explore the world around them.

Created by Charles Warrell in 1948 the pocket-sized picture books were designed to develop children’s curiosity, powers of observation and sense of discovery. Each book was based on a specific theme I-Spy Cars, I-Spy in the Country, I-Spy on the Road, I-Spy Below your Feet and so on. Within the 40-page books were illustrations of things for children to spot which earned them a certain number of points.

During its heyday Michelin I-Spy had a cult following with more than 1.5million children becoming members of the I-Spy ‘tribe’, headed up by Big Chief I-Spy, Warrell himself.

Once children had ‘spied’ all of the items in the book they sent it to Wigwam-by-the-Water (later Wigwam-by-the-Green) in London and completed books were rewarded with badges, many of which can be found for sale on internet sites today (http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=I+Spy+badge&_sacat=See-All-Categories).

One woman who remembers the collection well is Greta James, a pupil of Thetford Girls’ Grammar in 1955.

Greta and her sixth form classmates took part in a competition run by The News Chronicle newspaper (later to become the Daily Mail). Warrell was regularly writing an I-Spy column in the publication and decided to issue an I-Spy Great Britain challenge – inviting schools from around the country to produce a book showcasing the weird and wonderful things about their village, town or county.

Thetford Girls’ team of eager I-Spyers dedicated a lot of time and energy to create their entry. Greta recalls some fond memories from that year: “The whole class came together after our O-Level exams in July 1955 and we spent much of the summer holidays touring Norfolk and Suffolk collecting material. We were encouraged and supported by our teacher Miss Melton and friends of the school Mr and Mrs Bagshaw, whose cars enabled the more long distance projects to be accomplished.”

Due to the overwhelming demand from fans, Michelin has published a new series. The collection comprises of 12 new titles including I-Spy Cars, Train Journeys, Birds and Creepy Crawlies.

Ian Murray, Michelin head of Maps & Guides UK said: “I think the secret of I-Spy’s appeal is its timeless charm, which taps into the inquisitive and curious nature of children. With a world dominated by computer games and television, I-Spy books give children a refreshing opportunity to take a closer look at what’s going on in their everyday lives.”

Each pocket sized guide contains up to 200 themed colour photographs, which readers have to spot. The aim is to tick them off and collect points; having reached 1,000 points children can join the I-Spy Club and send off for a certificate from Chief I-Spy.

An ideal stocking filler, I-Spy books will retail at £2.50 and are available direct from www.michelin.co.uk and high street book retailers.

If your budget stretches a bit further this Christmas and you'd like to find a new car under the tree on Christmas Day, please contact one of the sales team at Dynamic Vehicle Solutions on 0845 40 80 321 or visit http://www.dynamicvehiclesolutions.co.uk/

MOTORISTS UNDER PRESSURE TO PUMP-UP FOR THE SUMMER

Dynamic Vehicle Solutions is urging motorists to adjust their tyre pressures if they plan to travel with a heavy load this summer, in a season which is expected to see more Briton’s pack their cars for a holiday on home shores than in previous years.

Family cars jammed with people, suitcases and pets are expected to peak in the last week of July, once schools break-up, with Dynamic Vehicle Solutions warning that few drivers are likely to have adjusted their tyre pressures to suit the additional weight their cars are carrying.

"If you are carrying a full load of passengers with luggage or will be towing a caravan or trailer, tyre pressures must be increased in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. It’s a simple five minute job, but from our experience, the majority of drivers don’t bother" said a Dynamic Vehicle Solutions spokesman

“Few people realise that it is the air inside a tyre which carries the weight of the vehicle and its load, not the tyre itself, hence nearly every car has two recommended pressure settings – one for ‘normal’ use and a higher figure for full loads. Driving a fully laden car on tyres inflated to the normal setting will severely compromise handling and mean stopping distances increase dramatically. It will also see tyre wear rise and punctures will be more likely,”

Adjusting tyre pressures is a simple job using your own pressure gauge and compressor. To find the correct pressure for your tyres, motorists should check the vehicle handbook – in some cars pressures are also displayed on a sticker inside the fuel filler flap or driver’s door. Pressures should be checked when the tyre is cold, such as when the vehicle has been driven less than a mile or at least an hour after driving. It is essential that pressures are re-set to the normal setting at the end of the trip.

New Vauxhall Astra Breaks Cover

These are the first official images of the new, British-built Vauxhall Astra, which will debut as a five-door hatchback at this September’s Frankfurt Show and will appear in UK showrooms at the end of the year.

Marking the sixth generation of Astra in 30 years, the new car’s design team was led by Mark Adams, the British designer responsible for last year’s European Car of the Year-winning Vauxhall Insignia.

With its strong, cab-forward silhouette, steeply-raked windscreen and sloping rear roofline, the new Astra makes ingenious use of many of the design features found in the Insignia, but in a fresh and innovative way. Also like the Insignia, it has spent over 600 hours in the wind tunnel, benefiting performance, economy and overall refinement.

“We’re continuing with the same premium design cues as the Insignia, inside and out of the car,” said Adams, Vice President of GM Europe Design. “However, the main design themes, like the wing-shaped light signatures and the blade, needed an individual execution to avoid ‘cloning’ the model ranges. This is why, for instance, you see twin wings in the rear lights and a reversed blade on its flanks.”

Underpinning the Astra’s rakish, 4.4 metre-length body, is an all-new chassis with a 71 millimetre-longer wheelbase, benefiting both passenger comfort and packaging. Wider tracks front and rear feature, as does a new rear axle design, which not only improves stability and agility, but takes the Astra’s ride comfort into a different league.

Enhancing the Astra’s dynamic performance still further is the option of Vauxhall’s clever FlexRide system, a rarity in this sector which offers drivers three unique damper settings – standard, sport and tour – while being fully adaptive to changes in driving style and cornering speed.

Pictures of the new Astra’s interior will be released soon, but in the meantime expect similar strides in quality to those found in the Insignia, combined with big improvements in packaging, seat design and in-cabin storage. Mark Adams’ unique wrap-round dash treatment will also appear in the Astra, but with a different take on that found in the Insignia.

Unique in this sector will be the Astra’s optional, latest generation AFL (Adaptive Forward Lighting), which features bi-xenon lighting that changes its intensity and reach to suit prevailing road conditions. A similar system was introduced on the Insignia, and is now recognised as one of the most advanced systems available.

The highlight of the new Astra’s powertrain line-up is the introduction of an all-new, 140PS turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol unit, which builds on Vauxhall’s commitment to engine downsizing and reduced emissions/fuel consumption, while retaining the performance of a larger capacity vehicle. The 1.4T joins three further petrol engines, which range from 100PS to 180PS, and four diesel engines ranging from 95PS to 160PS. All engines are Euro 5 compliant.

“The only part of the Astra which isn’t new is its name,” said Andy Gilson, Vauxhall’s Marketing Director. “And that name currently accounts for around 30 per cent of all Vauxhall’s car sales, with the five-door hatch taking 60 per cent of those sales alone – so it’s important to lead with this body style. Not only is the Astra a crucial new model for Vauxhall, but we’re confident that its blend of dynamic design, new-to-class technology and immense driver appeal will attract an even broader spectrum of buyers in this sector.”


For further information on the New Astra or on any model in the Vauxhall range please contact one of the sales team at Dynamic Vehicle Solutions on 0845 40 80 321 or visit http://www.dynamicvehiclesolutions.co.uk/

Car scrappage scheme 'unpopular'

There is growing evidence that the government's forthcoming scheme to scrap hundreds of thousands of old cars is not that popular with motorists.

A new survey suggests most people who have studied the scrappage scheme have decided not to take advantage of it.

Researchers from car price guide Parker's questioned 600 people online.

It found that 70% of respondents said the scheme was not generous enough, and overall 81% said they would not be taking advantage of it.

The scrappage scheme starts on 18 May. If your car is at least 10 years old you can scrap it, in return for a substantial discount on a new car.

The government will provide a £1,000 subsidy for each car purchased, and manufacturers will provide at least a similar amount.

But Kieren Puffet, the editor of Parker's Guide, said many motorists have managed to find much larger discounts under existing deals.

"They're massively disappointed," he said. "They were hoping for a lot more from the government."

Julia Smith, who lives in Basingstoke in Hampshire, is one of those who initially thought the scheme would be useful, but has since decided against it. She was going to scrap her 13-year-old Volvo, and buy a new one instead.

With the scrappage scheme discounts, a brand new Volvo would have cost her in the region of £21,000. But she then found exactly the same model with less than 10,000 miles on the clock for £17,000. A saving of £4,000 proved irresistible.

"In practice this scheme is just not working," she says. "I think it just hasn't been thought through terribly well."

The car industry had lobbied the government to pay a subsidy of £2,000 per car, rather than just £1,000. A similar scheme in Germany was launched back in December, and the government there pays the larger amount. Unlike the British plan, it also includes cars up to one year old.

Paul Everitt, of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, is lukewarm about the UK scheme.

"We've been dealt the cards that we have," he said. "Our job now is to make the best of it."

But the government says motorists still stand to make savings through the scheme.

Gareth Thomas, the consumer affairs minister, said: "I don't think this will be a flop. But you're right to say there are good deals in the market already."

Motorists are already able to save £'000s on new vehicle leasing costs by using one of the UK's fastest growing contract hire and leasing companies, Dynamic Vehicle Solutions. For details of all their latest offers visit www.dynamicvehiclesolutions.co.uk

New regulations for PSV's

Automatic speed limiters could be fitted to hundreds of taxis, buses and council vehicles to prevent them from breaking the speed limit.

A major trial by Transport for London will see the technology, which is called Intelligent Speed Asaptation (ISA), tested throughout London this summer.

The device works using satellite tracking and a digital road map to detect the road's speed limit. It then prevents the driver from being able to accelerate once the speed limit has been reached, and automatically slows the vehicle if the driver fails to slow down on entering a lower limit zone.

As well as the automatic limiting, the device also features an advisory setting, which is less intrusive and simply uses audio warnings to inform the driver of the speed limits and whether the they are keeping within them.

If successful, the technology could become available for private motorists as early as next year, a move which has concerned motoring organisations.

Transport for London's six-month trial will include a London bus, taxi and 20 cars from road engineers, traffic managers and highway maintenance. They claim that if two-thirds of London's drivers used the devices, the number of road casualties in the capital could be reduced by up to 10 percent.

Easter Motoring Tips from Dynamic Vehicle Solutions

It’s Easter bank holiday and motorists can expect the roads to be packed as millions set off to enjoy the long weekend break.

1. Check the vehicle is safe: Top up the oil, water and brake fluids, check the tyre pressure and ensure lights and windscreen wipers work.

2. Plan the journey: Don’t rely on the sat nav; always have a map handy, check travel advice websites such as www.highways.gov.uk, www.trafficscotland.org, www.traffic-wales.com and tune in to traffic alerts on the radio.

3. Keep children occupied: Bored children tend to make more noise, distracting the driver. Taking some things to occupy the children such as pencils or books can help – and electronic games are great if the volume is muted! Have some easy to play games ready – petrol stations often supply children’s activity packs for free.

4. Breaks: The Department for Transport recommends that drivers take a break every two hours; anything longer and motorists’ concentration can drop and children become restless. But avoid paying Motorway service area prices for food and fuel by stocking up before you leave.

5: Strap them in: Children will need to be restrained in a suitable child restraint. More information about child restraints can be found on www.dft.gov.uk

Happy Easter!

Important changes to the taxation of company cars

From 1st April, the rules surrounding the taxation of company cars have changed, affecting every company that buys, owns or leases a fleet of vehicles. This is the biggest change to affect company car tax since 2002.

At Dynamic Vehicle Solutions we’ve been working with customers over the past few months to implement changes to their fleet policies, but we understand that this is a complex issue and that many companies have yet to take action.

Under the new rules, the purchase price of the car will not determine the taxation treatment; instead it will move to an emissions based system. This will make it more tax-efficient to buy or lease a car emitting 160 g/km or less and more expensive to buy or lease one that emits 161 g/km or more.

The proportion of the finance cost disallowable under corporate car tax calculations will also change to being emissions-based.

Under the old tax regime, the lease rental restriction meant that the benefits of leasing cars reduced the more expensive the vehicle. The new regime will make leasing cheaper on low-emitting vehicles, but those emitting 161 g/km or more will often become more expensive regardless of the funding method because you’ll pay more tax in the early years.

However, vehicles with emissions over 161g/km CO2 which cost in excess of £20,000 will generally have a lower after-tax cost when compared to the previous rules. This is because the level of costs disallowable under tax has changed from a sliding scale to a flat rate of 15%.

If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to review your business car strategy to ensure that you take advantage of the new tax regime and to make sure you continue to run your fleet in the most cost efficient way. Many customers have been preparing for this change for months, but we’re aware that many haven’t. This will have such an impact on vehicle taxation that it’s important that our customers understand how this will affect them and are prepared for the changes it will bring.

We recommend that you pay particular attention to cars costing more than £12,000 - termed as ‘expensive cars’ under previous tax rules - to see whether the costs of these would become more or less favourable under the new regime.

For further advice or to find out how Dynamic Vehicle Solutions can help you understand these changes visit them at www.dynamicvehiclesolutions.co.uk or call them on 0845 40 80 321