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The start point for the best source of fleet information |
Like a lot of people who work in fleet, I love cars as well as seeing them as business tools, and when a new year rolls around, I always like to take a look at what will be arriving on the market in the coming 12 months.
Probably top of the list in 2017 remains for many the archetypal company car. A new BMW 3-series will hopefully arrive towards the end of the year. Expect, as ever with BMW, incremental but noticeable improvements to deliver a terrifically well-rounded product. However, there is a welcome addition: a full EV 3-series will be part of the line-up.
Alongside a plug-in hybrid and an advanced 1.5-litre diesel, this provides a whole range of low- and zero-emissions options for fleets.
Also crucial for many businesses is the arrival of a new Vauxhall Insignia. The old model was a solid performer and the 2017 version is designed to dial up the desirability, with a more upmarket feel as well as sportier styling.
On the technical side, a new platform means it will be about 200kg lighter than the outgoing model - an impressive achievement that promises better fuel economy and lower emissions for corporate users.
Moving further upmarket, many fleets will already have seen the new BMW 5-series, but there will also be a new Audi A6 and a larger, rear-wheel drive Alfa Romeo to follow on from last year's compact executive Giulia. Alongside the excellent Mercedes E-class, there is an argument that executive car buyers have never had such an outstanding choice.
Fans of full-sized 4x4s will be waiting for the arrival of the new Land Rover Discovery. The older version has remained a favourite in its class for many years, despite the rate of change of the competition, so the new car has much to live up to. Expect impressive effieciency-driving weight savings of up to 480kg thanks to the use of new materials.
The popularity of smaller SUVs shows no signs of wavering. Seat will follow-up the likeable Ateca with the smaller Arona, designed to compete with the Nissan Juke, while Peugeot will introduce a new 5008 SUV above the impressive 3008. All of these vehicles are likely to find popularity among user-choosers.
Of course, EVs look set to be one of the big stories of the year and, alongside the 3-series, there will be a brand new version of the Nissan Leaf. With a range rumoured to be climbing towards 300 miles, I think we can safely say any fears about range anxiety have been removed, with the car becoming viable for a wide range of fleet applications in the process. It's an exciting prospect.
Finally, there are two cars appearing this year that show how good the modern supermini has become. The Ford Fiesta is the UK's best-selling car for good reason and the new version looks like a tremendously well-rounded product.
However, it's a competitive sector and Nissan has put an enormous amount of effort into the new Micra, which looks set to be genuine class challenger.
Frankly, I can't wait to try out these cars and I'm sure many of you feel the same.
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Business Car Magazine © 2020 | Business Car is part of NS Media Group.
