Month: May 2014

Teenagers steal luxury cars in a ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’ type raid

Like something out of a Hollywood block buster, a gang of teenagers have pled guilty to stealing luxury cars from the home of a millionaire.

Liam Smith, George Cowie and Blair Thomson, all 17, took off with sports cars from outside oil tycoon Sean Dreelan’s mansion in July.

Two of the teenagers – Cowie and Thomson – broke into the Banchory Devenick property and stole car keys – despite being too young to drive at the time.

The trio then drove away with the motors in the middle of the night.

Renovation work was being carried out on the grounds of Drumduan House as part of a major refurbishment programme at the time.

The secluded house was once protected by extensive security with intercom-operated large iron double gates at the bottom of the drive and CCTV cameras.

However, the driveway was opened last summer to let heavy machinery in to carry out landscaping work.

Family photographs shared on social media showed several super cars parked on the driveway – including a red Ferrari 599 GTO – before the thefts.

All the stolen vehicles were recovered and police eventually tracked down the car crime gang, who all lived in Aberdeen.

Yesterday Smith was told by the sheriff to expect a jail term for his part in the thefts when the case called at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Graeme Napier said: “You shouldn’t hold out much hope for anything other than a custodial sentence.”

Smith admitted stealing the Dreelan family’s white 2010 Porsche 911 GT2 RS coupe and grey Toyota Land Cruiser from outside Drumduan House, between 22 and 23 July, last year.

Donald Stewart
Sean Dreelan

 

 

The teenage thief also admitted stealing two other vehicles in separate incidents in the weeks leading up to the Dreelan family theft.

He pled guilty to nicking a grey 2006 BMW M sport touring estate from Lintmill Place, Aberdeen, on May 25, 2013.

The teen also admitted careless driving by crashing a red Triumph motorcycle he stole from the city’s Taransay Crescent on June 20.

Cowie previously pleaded guilty to breaking into Mr Dreelan’s home between July 22 and 23 and stealing car keys before making off with a grey 2010 Audi S5 V8 Quattro coupe.

Thomson was also part of the gang that broke into Mr Dreelan’s house to steal car keys.

He made off from the grounds of the mansion with a silver 2011 Aston Martin Rapide V12 as well as the same Toyota Land Cruiser as Smith.

Sheriff Napier called for reports on all three teenagers yesterday and deferred sentencing until next month.

Property owner Sean Dreelan made his fortune in the oil and energy industry in Aberdeen.

He and his three brothers – Tommy, Mike and Ciaran – founded a fast-growing oil service firm in 2001.

The oil services company was sold to Norwegian group Aker Solutions earning the brothers a share of nearly 100million pounds in 2008.

The Dreelan brothers continued in their roles with Qserv as it expanded worldwide, despite the change of ownership.

The sale of Qserv was the second big-money deal involving the Dreelans.

PSL was sold by Tommy, Sean and Mike for 45.5million pounds in 1998.

Source http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/crime/gone-60-seconds-teenage-car-3617496

 

Bookings have commenced for Mercedes India on upcoming models

We like to keep up to date on the luxury car market across the globe, especially India and China where they take luxury very seriously! Mercedes are making big waves in India at the minute and it doesn’t seem to be relenting any time soon.

Mercedes Benz India has commenced bookings for two of its upcoming models – the new GLA compact luxury SUV as well as the diesel version of the S-class, the S 350 sedan.

The Mercedes GLA compact luxury SUV is based on the front-wheel-drive MFA-platform that also underpins the A- and B-class. The SUV is comparable in size to the Audi Q3 and is expected to go on sale in India around the festive season. Mercedes dealers are currently taking orders for only one variant of the GLA, the GLA 220 CDI diesel. Mercedes Benz had showcased the GLA SUV at the Auto Expo 2014 earlier this year.

The Mercedes GLA 220 CDI is expected to come with a 2143cc diesel motor good for 167bhp. This is the same motor that does duty on the Mercedes A-class hatchback where it is detuned to put out 107bhp. The booking amount for the GLA 220 CDI is Rs 50,000 with deliveries being promised around September-October 2014.

Mercedes Benz has also started taking bookings for the diesel-powered S-class sedan. The S 350 CDI will be manufactured locally and will officially launch on June 5, 2014.

The Mercedes-Benz S 350 CDI will have similar equipment levels as the locally-made S 500, although it will skimp on certain features available on the range-topping version. The Burmester sound system will come without 3D surround system and there’ll be plain leather upholstery instead of nappa. The rear seat will be a bench instead of two individual seats. The S 350 CDI won’t have centre-armrest mounted tables for the rear passengers, nor chilling and heating cupholders. It will get a normal reversing camera instead of the 360-degree unit on the S 500. The Mercedes night-vision package also won’t be on offer on the S 350 CDI.

Mercedes is expected to price the S 350 CDI at around Rs 1.25 crore (estimated, ex-showroom). The Merc S 350 is a fair bit more expensive than direct rivals like the A8 L 3.0 TDI (Rs 1.12 crore), BMW 730Ld (Rs 1.02 crore) and the recently launched, locally assembled Jaguar XJ 3.0 TDI (Rs 92.1 lakh). The premium Mercedes is asking for over rivals can be put down to the fact that the S 350 is a whole generation ahead in terms of tech on offer. The booking amount for the S 350 CDI is Rs 5 lakh with deliveries being promised by end-June or early July.
Source http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-news/mercedes-s-350-cdi-gla-suv-bookings-commence-386483.aspx

Could the Rolls-Royce Phantom be the best car on the planet?

How much does true luxury cost these days? Well for nearly half a million dollars, you can buy yourself a truly luxurious car that can offer you the best speed, interiors and latest digital technology, but which of these will give you true luxury?
What do I mean “true luxury?” Well, let me break it down for you. A large luxury sedan is something like the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class or Audi A8. Getting behind the wheel will have you pampered and feature the latest and greatest technology. BUT, the interiors aren’t entirely sumptuous and when you hit some bumps you will feel them.

True luxury vehicles are cars that are conceived on what seems like another planet. Everything is, simply, the best and the vehicle reflects that in every measurable metric.

Though other marques may be social media mavens or produce the most memorable Super Bowl commercials, there’s only one that can sit atop the throne and have brand equity that places it number one in the luxury domain. Think: What other brand has attained the status of being top-notch and can be applied to any other inanimate object? How many times have you heard about another product that it’s “the Rolls-Royce of…’x’?”

This neatly brings us to our subject, the Rolls-Royce Phantom — in this instance, the Series II.

The Phantom is the flagship nameplate, which now features a standard wheelbase sedan, a long wheelbase sedan, a convertible and the rarely seen coupe. It was the first new Rolls vehicle produced under BMW ownership and was launched in the early 2000s.

When you’re confronted with the properly massive sedan you truly understand the gargantuan nature of this automobile. It’s the size of most luxury sport-utility vehicles; however, it is relatively narrow which is good for navigating busy urban centres.

Up front you’ll find the large, trademark grille that bestows a Roller. Of course, the Flying Lady does her pop up trick upon unlocking the car and it hides when the vehicle is off. From the façade back you’ll note strong lines that embody elegance and presence.

If you didn’t realize what you were getting into before, when you pull the handle of a Phantom you’ll definitely know this is not your ordinary luxury vehicle. The door weighs a lot and requires effort to open it. The good news is if you’re a rear seat passenger you have a button to press and hold to close the suicide door. I hope you didn’t think all of that wood, leather and metal amounted to nothing.

Plopping down behind the enormous and thin steering wheel, you’ll note that the bottom of the wheel — not the top, like in sportier vehicles — have thumb grips. Clearly this is a clear message that the Phantom is to be ridden in. Getting more comfortable, you’ll also realize that the seats are simple. There’s not a ridiculous number of adjustments and there’s good reason for this: they’re comfortable as is.

Probably the element that gains the most attention is the plush carpeting. I have been in many sumptuously appointed homes but nothing has ever had a carpet like this. Bentley and Jaguar have nothing on this. It’s thick and soft to the touch. It feels almost criminal to be placing your feet on the carpets but c’est la vie.

If you have the joy of going for a cruise in the back seat you’ll soon appreciate how the thickness of the carpet makes your ride that much better and comfortable.

Looking at the switchgear, it’s all bespoke and quirky as you’d expect in any British automobile. Things aren’t located where one would expect. The seat controls are hidden in the armrest and the Park Distance Control (PDC) and Boot — trunk — switches are found in the ceiling’s control pod.

The infotainment unit is BMW’s iDrive just the graphical user interface (GUI) has been “reskinned.” It’s sort of funny because the rest of the cabin is simple and elegant, yet BMW‘s iDrive can be complex and confusing to some. Personally, I have grown to like it over the years and I find it logical. There’s just a two week learning curve for novice users.

I could go on for another 1,000 words about the high quality leather and remarkable wood veneers that Rolls-Royce uses in the Phantom, but frankly, I don’t want to bore you with my car geekiness. Let’s move on to the driving experience.

There’s no other way around it, though I’ve driven just about everything under the Sun, nothing compares to the Phantom. Everything about the Phantom is so far removed from even the best large luxury sedans that it makes you feel as though it was intended to be a real car and everything else is simply a go-kart.

The 6.75-liter V12 motor that produces 453 horsepower and 531 lb.-ft. of torque is eerily quiet and will never even come close to interrupting an in-cabin conversation. If you inspect the glass you’ll note it’s double-pane and it helps make wind noise virtually non-existent.

Though the Phantom weighs in at over 5,800 pounds, it has more than enough power. Zero to 60 comes in 5.7 seconds, which is quick for any automobile. On the freeway, surprisingly, it doesn’t do as bad as one would suspect lugging around all that weight as the torque easily gets you past any slow pokes. One thing I found interesting is that when you really push the “go” pedal, the vehicle doesn’t lurch forward with rude manners, it elegantly wafts along.

During my time with the Phantom, it chalked up 13 mpg. Though cliché, I am pretty doubtful anyone in-market will care.

My specific tester was equipped with the Dynamic Package, which provides extra strengthening to the Phantom’s chassis, stiffens the suspension and recalibrates the transmission. By pressing the Sport button, you’ll feel all of these things take effect as the steering gets a bit more weight to it, the eight-speed automatic transmission gets more aggressive and, overall, the car hunkers down for speedier travel. It’s not intrusive to passengers but it provides the driver with much-needed confidence to move the luxury-tuned barge at speed.

Its ride quality is most accurately described as feeling akin to a floating carpet. You can tell that it must be one of the company’s highest priorities in research and development, and that nothing is allowed to compromise it. Even over railroad tracks there is no perceptible feeling of bumps though you hear the vehicle travel over them. You simply forget they’re there.

While I typically look forward for a drive from my northern New Jersey home into my Manhattan or Jersey City office, I have to admit it can be bumpy and pain inducing at times — especially after this year’s rough winter. That wasn’t the case in the Roller. When I first picked up the Phantom I trekked down to the office at 8:00 a.m., which is the WORST time to travel in the New York tri-state region. Though I sat through two hours of traffic, I arrived at my destination completely relaxed and carefree. Following that, I had a great day of productivity. This is why a car of this calibre makes sense. Never have I ever experienced such a carefree experience. Not in a Bentley, an S-Class or any other high-end luxury auto.

To sum up the experience, it can be crystalized as a traveling living room. Except it’s probably built better and is more comfortable than any living room you’ve been in. Now I “get it.”

While Rolls-Royce is a company that has expanded into a variety of new models, and offers more sporty and tech-enabled vehicles, it remains true to its heritage of building the best luxury auto produced. There’s a reason why those interlocked R’s are recognized across the globe: the company earned it.

The Good:

– The ride quality is unlike any other vehicle I’ve travelled in — it’s easily the most comfortable, isolated ride
– The V12 powerplant is an engineering marvel as it can power a near three-ton auto with ease and grace all the while being remarkably quiet
– Nothing says presence and class like a Rolls-Royce

The Bad:

– I did hear a very slight rattle from the passenger side of the auto that became annoying
– When you arrive in a Rolls-Royce, it is an event — if you don’t like attention, this isn’t the vehicle for you
– It’s price isn’t for the faint of heart, if you have to ask you cannot afford it — for the curious, its base price is set at $402,940.

The Lowdown:

Though some like to make the argument that you can acquire a large luxury sedan for a fraction of the price and get the same satisfaction, they’re wrong. Dead wrong. That’s called settling. Simply put, this is a vehicle that’s built to be the best for the best. If that’s how you set a benchmark, you need not look any further as this vehicle is completely extraordinary compared to all else.

Source http://www.autospies.com/news/REVIEW-Is-A-Rolls-Royce-Phantom-REALLY-The-BEST-Automobile-On-The-Planet-Only-ONE-Way-To-Find-Out-81458/

Marketing tips and figures for luxury car brands

If you are involved in the luxury car market, then these figures and marketing tips will definitely be useful to you, but even those of us that just have an interest in luxury car brands will find the information of interest.

Do you agree with the marketing research? What are your thoughts on the figures that are circulating at the minute?

High luxury motor car manufacturer Rolls-Royce kicked off ‘The Icon Tour’ on April 22, at the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay to celebrate 110 years. The tour showcased the exemplary company history and renowned icons Ghost, Wraith and Phantom, with factory artisans present. Rolls-Royce places great emphasis on the bespoke business as the majority of ultra-high net worth customers (UHNWI) seek extensive personalization. Rolls-Royce is eyeing the Asian market for its good potential; the tour is set to make further stops in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Seoul.

Rolls-Royce invited Agility Research & Strategy to make a presentation on the day of opening. The talk conveyed key Asian market insights regarding the affluent consumer generation that will drive business for years to come. The 2013 study involved more than 7000 consumers to understand the top 40% income segment and their relationship with brands.

This emerging class has been named Generation AAA after their unique traits; they are aspirational, ambitious, and affluent. It possesses the financial power and propensity to buy mid- to premium-priced brands.

About Generation AAA –

  • Generation AAA is a young group at 18-34 years, with an equal gender distribution.
  • More than 75% have earned a university degree or higher, and of this majority, 62% are in mid- to high-level influential positions in their respective companies, while about 6% are entrepreneurs.

Key Insights from Agility Research & Strategy

  • Generation AAA dominates Asian markets such as China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Within the next 12 months those in India are the most likely to purchase a car, followed by Indonesia and China (figure 1). The high inclination for car purchase in India and China can be attributed to the swell in ranks of the well-to-do, and changing taste in cars.

Agility chart_1

  • The majority of Generation AAA chose the price-quality relationship as the most important consideration when buying luxury cars, followed by their identification with the brand, and the individuality the brand conveys to others (figure 2).
  • Brand pricing relative to quality is vital as the pricing and marketing signals put out have to be consistent with consumer expectation. Brand identification and conspicuous individuality are important as users view purchases as an extension of themselves.

Agility chart_2

  • Generation AAA also rates Rolls-Royce among the top ten luxury cars (table 1), while BMW is rated as the top brand in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China, and Mercedes Benz is rated higher in India and Indonesia.

Agility chart_3

Top 3 Tips for Luxury Car Brands by Agility Research & Strategy

  • There is high market potential in India, Indonesia, and China over the next year and foreseeable long term. Luxury car brands should ramp up marketing frequency and intensity in those significant areas to penetrate consumer consciousness.
  • Consumers’ main concerns are brand and pricing relationship, brand identification, and ability to use the brand to express individuality. Brands must seek to create coherence between their pricing strategies and brand equity to appeal to consumers; a high pricing must be supported by a reputation, while low prices may dilute brand value. Luxury car brands must also profile their target markets more accurately to achieve a good fit with consumer identity. Consumers prefer brands that are a good fit with their self-image or ideal self-image, and brands which can serve as a form of expression.
  • Each automotive giant may well be banking on a different strategy based on their individual luxury brand rankings. Brands may need to decide on the optimal spot based on their target market size and intended exclusivity.

Source http://www.marketing-interactive.com/events/top-3-tips-luxury-car-brands/

Are luxury cars more affordable in todays market?

Do you think you can afford a luxury car? The luxury car market is going from strength to strength even through the recessions we have seen of late. More people are looking to invest in luxury cars, but don’t quite have the budget.

If you’ve been casting envious eyes on those Mercedes and BMWs in the office parking lot, you may be wondering if you could fit a luxury car into your budget. Luxury brands have been reading your mind and indeed have brought out more affordable models. But make sure you calculate all the costs that come with owning a luxury car — not just the purchase price.

You wouldn’t be the only one considering so-called entry-level luxury cars — those with purchase prices often starting under $35,000. Growth in this segment has been a major reason that luxury vehicles have increased their market share in recent years, according to an April report from analysts at the National Auto Dealers Association Used Car Guide. “The data suggests that the growth was due almost exclusively to new buyers entering the market,” not habitual luxury buyers trading down to less expensive models.

One of the entry-level luxury models’ best financial qualities is high resale value. And that leads to a more affordable way to drive a prestige model — by leasing it. The NADA Guide report notes that entry-level luxury cars on average retain 48.8% of their original value after three years, more than other luxury segments.
“The lower the rate of depreciation, the lower the lease payment,” notes NADA analyst Laurence Dixon III. For instance, the Lexus ES currently has a lease deal for $349 a month for two years with $2,999 due at signing.

Whether you get a good lease deal or buy the luxury car, that’s only the beginning of your expenses. As with any car, insurance, fuel maintenance and repair costs still have to be paid. To see the differential in costs, let’s compare an entry-level Mercedes-Benz C250 (selling at an average of about $35,900, according to TrueCar.com) with one of the best-selling midsize sedans, the Toyota Camry XLE, the best-equipped Camry with an average selling price of $23,061.

Here’s a look at comparative costs to own these cars:

Fuel Cost — The Mercedes, like most luxury cars, requires premium gasoline, while the Toyota, like most mainstream brands, uses regular. The current national average for regular is $3.64 a gallon vs. $4 for premium, according to AAA. The Mercedes C250, with a rating of 25 MPG in combined city and highway driving would rack up fuel costs of $2,400 per year, according to fueleconomy.gov. The Toyota, with a 28 MPG combined rating would come in at $1,950. That’s an extra $450 in your gas budget each year.

Insurance — First-time luxury car buyers are sometimes startled at their bill to insure that car. Following our example, InsuranceQuotes.com gives the following comparison for the two cars being insured in Northern California. For an age 40 married man or woman, the monthly insurance bill would be $173 for the Mercedes and $130 a month for the Toyota Camry. That’s more than $500 a year in extra insurance costs. To compare the insurance costs of your current vehicle to cars you might buy, go to Insurancequotes.com and scroll down the right side to the section called Car vs. Car. You can get an estimate using your age and zip code.

Maintenance — Oil changes and other routine maintenance typically cost more at luxury brand dealerships. As a selling point, some luxury brands like BMW offer free maintenance for the first 50,000 miles on a new car. But in our comparison, Mercedes-Benz does not offer a free maintenance program for this model. Toyota, unusually for mainstream brands, does have free maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Repairs — For repairs that go beyond standard maintenance, luxury dealers are also more expensive. You may be able to cut repair costs by avoiding dealers and going to independent repair shops that specialize, say, in German cars. But double check to see if that still meets the conditions of your warranty.

The comfort, style and prestige of owning a luxury car may in fact outweigh the extra costs for you. Just be sure you have an idea of those costs before you decide to buy or lease.

If you would like to experience a luxury car before going out and buying one, take a look at our website and see what we have to offer

Source http://www.cbsnews.com/news/thinking-of-buying-your-first-luxury-car/

Mercedes-Benz wins more awards in the UK than any other car manufacturer

Mercedes-Benz has yet again been one of the most awarded car manufacturers in the UK. Despite being German, the luxury car manufacturer has a huge fan base in the country and to be honest we can see why.

The Sonder Klasse (Special Class in German) has received more awards in 2014 than we can count with our fingers, with the latest to arrive earlier today.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class was accompanied by the E-Class, with the two models being named “Best Luxury Car” and “Best Executive Car” respectively at the 2014 Fleet World Honors. 

Praised for the large array of safety systems introduced with its mid-cycle refresh in 2013, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class W212 was also complimented for its range of diesel engines, as we all know how pretty much all fleet cars in the UK are oil-burners. 

“The E-Class got a major facelift last year that included adding a huge amount of clever safety kit as standard and improving quality all round. So it’s now a very different car and it shows in the success it has had in fleet. The hybrid diesel is the best hybrid on the market and the traditional diesels are now extremely competitive too.” said Steve Moody, Editor of Fleet World Magazine, who organized the awards event.

Its larger brother, representing the top of the range when it comes to Mercedes-Benz luxury sedans and usually featuring technologies that will trickle down on other cars in the future, was commended for the smooth blending of luxury, refinement and comfort. 

“The S-Class is ubiquitous, and the new model is only set to make it more so. Mercedes just understands the luxury market perfectly, so you get unmatched levels of refinement comfort and luxury. Its clever new active ride suspension makes a mockery of potholes while options such as Burmester sound system and a whole menu of different types of massage make it the ultimate car in which to work and relax.” said Steve Moody.

In case it wasn’t obvious by now, both the current generations of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the E-Class are their segment leaders when it comes to fleets in the United Kingdom, a fact which somewhat explains the number of awards that they are receiving from various British magazines on a monthly basis.

Source http://www.autoevolution.com/news/mercedes-benz-s-class-and-e-class-win-more-awards-in-the-uk-81530.html

140 jobs to be created by Bentley in Crewe

After a record year in 2013, car  manufacturer Bentley is set to create 140 jobs at Pyms Lane in Crewe.

The firm, wants 90 skilled engineers and 51 apprentices as part of an £800 million expansion project.

The announcement follows on from Bentley’s record year in 2013, which saw it deliver 10,120 cars – the highest in the company’s 95-year history.

The company, which employs 3,700 people at its Crewe headquarters including large numbers from North Staffordshire, aims to reach 15,000 cars by 2018.

The firm says the new jobs are set to help strengthen Bentley’s core skills as it builds up to the introduction of the Bentley SUV in 2016.

Dr Ariane Reinhart, member of the board for Human Resources at Bentley, said: “It is vital  we continue to bring fresh thinking into the business and continually develop  talent and craftsmanship.

“We need skilled and committed individuals who will help us sustain levels of excellence that are important to our own successful future.”

The engineers will help develop a new generation of Bentleys.

Twenty one-year-old Anna Appleton, from Sandbach, is currently undertaking an apprenticeship at Bentley.

She said: “I’m pleased to know that even more people will be benefiting from similar opportunities to those that I have had. My own scheme is providing me with a breadth of experience which I potentially would not have received through education alone.

“It’s great news that Bentley is continuing to contribute to the development of young talent.”

Cheshire East Council Leader Michael Jones said: “This is a tremendous vote of confidence in Crewe. It is a welcome boost for the local economy and further proof that Crewe is a town with huge potential.

“Cheshire East will continue to work in partnership with Bentley and other employers – large and small – to ensure we have the right infrastructure and skills that will help bring skilled jobs and investment to the people of Crewe.

“I am confident that this is the start of an exciting and prosperous new future for Crewe.”

Dr Ian Jackson, Enterprise Reader at Staffordshire University, claims the new jobs are a ‘positive’ sign for future growth. He said: “This is wonderful news.

“It is not only good for the local and national economy because these jobs are exactly what we need, but it’s also a signal that Bentley is confident about the future.

“They are stocking up for a future of successful export growth.

“Now we need to retain these jobs. We need qualified scientists and engineers so they can boost the economy and add value because that has a multiplier effect. These jobs will also create foreign currency for the UK with the exportation of these luxury cars.”

Source http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Luxury-car-maker-Bentley-announces-creation-140/story-21113200-detail/story.html

Car Dealership Inchcape sees growth in the luxury car market

We are constantly being told that the economy is growing and then it is in decline again, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the desire to have some luxury in our lives. The luxury car market seems to be growing year on year with some impressive figures coming out for the first half of 2014 for some companies.

Car dealership Inchcape said it delivered broad-based revenue growth in the first four months of 2014.

Group revenue was £2.212bn, up by 2.5% at actual currency (up 11.4% at constant currency). Like for like revenue was up by 0.8% at actual currency (up 9.5% at constant currency).

Demand for New Cars was robust overall and ahead of last year as the group continued to benefit from sustained growth in the premium and luxury segments.

Used Car and Aftersales activities, which represent c60% of the Group’s gross profit, performed well and ahead of last year, fuelled by the growth of the 1-5 year Car Parc following four years of consecutive growth in the New Car market.

A disciplined approach to cost control and cash conversion remains firmly in place.

André Lacroix, Group CEO, said:

“Inchcape has delivered a robust trading performance in the first four months of the year. Benefiting from broad-based growth across our markets and categories, we continue to expect to deliver a robust constant currency performance in 2014.

The Group has a track record of delivering premium growth with premium returns. This is a testament to the quality of our business model, our differentiated Customer 1st strategy and strong organisational discipline underpinned by our industry leading processes, which enable our operations to transform revenue growth into sustained earnings growth and strong cash generation.

Our partnerships with the world’s leading OEMs and the strength of our balance sheet position us both to seize attractive consolidation opportunities and make disciplined capital investment in high margin and high growth markets.”

Source: http://www.stockmarketwire.com/article/4812263/Inchcape-sees-strength-in-the-luxury-car-segment.html#sthash.cuzErA2C.dpuf

Luxury Cars making an appearance in Cannes

It’s not often that you get see a truck load of luxury cars being delivered, but when you are in the luxury car business you get to witness them in all their glory.

There is nothing more eye catching than seeing a Bugatti Veyron being driven off the back of a lorry. Even those with no interest in cars can appreciate the beauty of these luxury vehicles.

With all the cars being delivered in Cannes this week, we thought we would show you what has already been delivered down in the South of France.

I hope you enjoy!

Mayback Mercedes 1

What a wonderful sight to see so many Mercedes Mayback in one place

Mercedes G Wagon coming off

The Mercedes G Wagon being driven off the truck

Mercedes G Wagon in the street

Here it is again. This modified version looks right at home in Cannes

Veyron coming off 1

Last but not least the Bugatti Veyron wowing the crowds as it emerges from the truck.

If you like what you see, why not check out our website and hire out one of our luxury cars.

 

Tunisa sell off ex-dictator’s luxury cars

 

THE luxury car collection of Tunisian former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali went on pre-auction display this week in Tunis, more than three years after his ouster.

Sixteen of the 39 cars, seized by authorities after Ben Ali was ousted in January 2011 in the first of the Arab Spring revolutions, were shown off at a casino on Wednesday and Thursday in the suburb of Gammarth. Thirteen other vehicles were displayed in a barracks.

The collection, which has yet to be valued, includes a Porsche, a Cadillac and a top-of-the-range Mercedes.

“Every member of the Ben Ali family owned between four and six cars,” Mohamed Lassaad Hmaied, director of Cruise Tour, the company mandated by the government to sell the vehicles, told DPA.

One of the factors that drove Tunisians into the street in protest was the way Ben Ali’s family used his 23 years in power to amass fabulous wealth.

Among Ben Ali’s wheels was a 1962 super-luxury Maybach, Germany’s equivalent of a Rolls-Royce. That car is to be left off the auction catalogue. The culture ministry has asked it be parked in the Museum of National Memory for posterity.

Would-be buyers have until May 21 to register for the sale, the proceeds of which will be paid into a account used to settle the former regime’s debts.

Tunisia’s cash-strapped technocratic government is hoping to raise millions of euros.

Source http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/tunisian-ex-dictators-luxury-cars-on-sale/story-fn3dxix6-1226920208093