Mercedes-Benz's well-publicised price cuts, though not quite what they may seem, were followed by reductions by Audi, BMW and Jaguar. The average Mercedes cut is claimed to be 9%, with as much as 25% off the S600L, down to £77,000. Automatic transmission becomes a £1,450 option where it was standard on cars like the C240 and E240.
Audi's aluminium-bodied A2 goes on sale this month priced from £13,950 for the entry level 1.4 which has alloys, four electric windows, electric mirrors, ABS, four airbags and power steering - but no spare wheel. The SE pack takes the price to £15,100, adding climate control, wider alloys, fog lights and leather steering wheel.
BCA has linked with Vauxhall to stage its first Live On Line auction outside the US. The sale, staged last month at the Blackbushe centre in Camberley, Surrey, combined live video and audio technology enabling dealers to compete over the internet with buyers in the auction hall.
Volkswagen Group UK has resumed advertising for sponsored retailers as it bids to "improve and ring fence quality operators" for its dealer network. Dale Wyatt, VW's UK development ventures manager, said further opportunities had arisen within the Volkswagen Group - also including the Audi, Skoda and Seat marques - as a result of dealer group mergers and the closure of some loss-making businesses.
Rover will be a “lean, mean and agile” carmaker under new chairman John Towers, operating “in a different way to the one which has existed over the past four years”. Mr Towers, revealing his strategy, believes the keys to success will be to cut costs, centralise production and administration, develop the MG brand to a wider audience alongside Rover and create a flexible, medium-sized business where decisions can be made rapidly.
The A3 1.8T Sport has no excuse not to be good: It costs more than £20,000 and it's an Audi. Gervais Seymour reports
Silly me. After being told a return ticket on Eurotunnel would cost £240 I began to doubt whether driving between London, Brussels and Paris was such a good idea.
Audi dealers are set to take a hit on servicing revenues after the manufacturer announced plans to extend intervals to up to 30,000 miles, depending on car usage.
Richard Foan, Audit Bureau of Circulations managing director, is urging dealers to get involved with the internet immediately or risk missing out on its full potential.
Audi has introduced revised turbodiesel engines into the A4 and A6 ranges. A 115bhp derivative of the existing 1.9-litre 110bhp engine is now standard in the A4 TDi SE, with the price unchanged at £20,850 for the saloon, £22,107 for the Avant.
Alpine, the in-car audio and navigational system manufacturer, will next month be the first company to introduce DVD (Digital Video Disc) navigation in the UK.
Audi UK has bought back for near list price 30 of the 2,400 TTs sold because owners were worried over reports of fatal accidents in Germany.
Autobytel UK executives believe they are close to ending a long dispute with Volkswagen Group UK. Last year, VW and Audi dealers were warned not to sign with the internet-related company.
BMW is confident the 3 Series Touring will rapidly gain ground on its main rivals, Audi's A4 Avant and Mercedes-Benz C-class estate, which have consistently outperformed the estate.
