Varta Automotive Batteries has relaunched its product range in a three tier structure to make it easier for the trade to specify the correct battery for a vehicle’s age and complexity.

Its Blue Dynamic range, which covers 80% of the UK car parc has been joined by Silver Dynamic and Black Dynamic ranges, each distinguished by their coloured battery top.

Varta says the specification of the Black Dynamic range is typically compatible with original equipment (OE) batteries it supplied to carmakers in the mid-1990s.

Silver Dynamic is specified to meet the demands of recently launched cars which have sophisticated electronics such as adaptive vehicle control, sat-nav and idrive systems. It is also suitable for premium vehicles and those fitted with extra aftermarket in-car entertainment equipment such as amplifiers and portable sat-nav devices.

Blue Dynamic is built to the same specification as Varta’s OE products from 1999 and incorporates the range for Far Eastern cars.

All batteries use calcium silver technology to ensure compatibility with OE batteries used since the late 1990s. A new trade catalogue will guide suppliers to the correct battery for a vehicle’s given age. Marketing literature and point of sale material is also available. According to the SMMT there are 6m cars in the 6-9 year parc and 7m in the 3-6 year parc.

Tony Miller, Varta product manager, said: “We have more than 60% of the OE starter battery market, so Varta is well qualified to match the specification of its aftermarket products to current and anticipated replacement demand.”