Audi

Luxury cars worth over £150,000 have been stolen from the same area

Living in a wealthy area has many perks, but one downside is that you could be targeted by thieves who want to take advantage of the whole area.

Luxury vehicles worth more than £150,000 have been stolen from properties in Lanarkshire.

Jaguar, Audi and BMW vehicles were among the ten stolen between Wednesday and Friday in the Lanarkshire area.

Many of the thefts were the result of thieves breaking into houses through back doors and windows and taking the car keys.

Vehicles included a Range Rover Sport, a Mini, an Audi Q7, a BMW Z4 and a Jaguar XF Sport.

The Range Rover was stolen from the car park of the Hilton Hotel, in Strathclyde Business Park, after thieves forced open a locker within the hotel and took the keys.

Police Scotland are appealing for information and witnesses and have launched an investigation into the thefts.

They say they are at the “early stages” of their inquiry but it is thought the thefts are linked.

Officers have urged people to take extra care not to leave their car keys on display and have also appealed for any car buyers or dealerships who may have been offered any of the vehicles for sale to contact them.

Properties targeted already have been in Dunellan Way and Dunellan Place in Moodiesburn, Lochearnhead Road in Stepps, Princess Gate in Bothwell, Oak Fern Drive in East Kilbride, Ettrick Street in Wishaw and Dunnock Place, Coatbridge.

Sergeant Ross Aitken said: “I would like to remind householders to be mindful as to where they keep both their house and car keys, particularly overnight.

“Please do not leave them near your front or back doors or windows where thieves can easily see them and reach them, please keep them hidden away – don’t give thieves a helping hand to steal your hard earned possessions.

“I’d also like to remind householders to ensure that they keep their home as secure as possible. If you have window locks, use them – particularly if you are leaving the property or retiring for the evening. The same goes for your car.”

Source http://news.stv.tv/west-central/281578-over-150000-worth-of-luxury-cars-stolen-by-thieves-in-lanarkshire/

BMW to invest $1 Billion in Mexico plant

A few weeks ago we told you about luxury car makers opening up show rooms in poorer countries. Rolls Royce have moved into Cambodia as the market for luxury cars grows. This week we are hearing that BMW have invested a vast amount of money in building a plant in Mexico.

BMW revealed a $1 billion Mexican plant investment on Thursday, becoming the latest major automaker to take advantage of the country’s growing industrial base and tariff-free access to the US market.

 
BMW outlined plans to build a factory in the central Mexican city of San Luis Potosi, reducing the German company’s dependence on higher-cost plants at home.
 
The plant will begin assembling models in 2019 with an initial workforce of 1,500 and annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles, the company said.
 
“Mexico is an ideal location for the BMW Group,” production chief Harald Krueger said in a statement. “We are continuing our strategy of ‘production follows the market.'”
 
Germany’s luxury car makers – BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz – are expanding overseas as their domestic plants struggle to meet strong demand for new vehicle offerings in the United States and Asia.
 
“With this investment, Mexico is stepping up to premium-level production of global vehicles,” Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said as the plant was announced.
 
BMW did not reveal what type of vehicle it will build, and a spokeswoman for the company said no decision had been made. But several Mexican and European officials at the presentation said they believed the plant would produce 3 Series cars.
 
“At some point I heard that they were talking about the 3 Series,” Guajardo told reporters after the event. “But I don’t have the official confirmation.”
 
Guajardo added that at least one other big auto investment would be announced this summer but did not elaborate. Reuters reported last month that Kia Motors Corp. plans to break ground soon on a new plant in Mexico.
 
Mexico’s auto sector is gaining critical mass as more global brands open production lines, boosting the supplier network.
 
BMW’s move comes days after Daimler announced new Mercedes production in Mexico with partner Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., which already operates two plants in the country where it had recently increased capacity.
 
“The premium brands are finally realizing that Mexico has the capacity to build signature vehicles,” IHS Automotive analyst Guido Vildozo said.
 
“We are going to see all these plants starting with one or two products at the very beginning, but they will gradually become critical pillars of profitability for the premium manufacturers,” he added.
 
Mexico benefits from tariff-free exports to the United States as well as Europe, while its factories are beyond the reach of the United Auto Workers union, which has been struggling to boost its influence in the US South.
 
BMW’s investment comes amid a domestic industrial cost review that has some German unions worried about their longer-term outlook, as the company reduces reliance on sluggish European markets that still account for 44 percent of sales.
 
The plant also increases BMW’s bet on the United States, which is the world’s largest luxury-car market along with China.
 
In March, BMW announced a $1 billion investment to expand capacity by 50 percent at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it builds a range of sport utility vehicles.
Source http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/368671/economy/business/bmw-s-1-billion-plant-surfs-mexican-investment-wave

The most popular pre-owned luxury cars

We can’t all afford to drive a luxury car off the forecourt, but buying second hand luxury cars is becoming more popular than ever
Used luxury cars offer a fantastic driving experience at an unbeatable price. Cartrade.com’s Vinay Sanghi picks out the hottest pre-owned models in the market.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The German car brand has always ranked high in terms of premium car comfort. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class offers an efficient engine that delivers impressive performance.
Diesel engines from Mercedes are also known to be low on emissions and great on technology, thereby making them strong contenders among the German cars. On the other hand, the petrol trims illustrate great dynamics without being heavy on the pocket.
Many drivers also feel nostalgic about the brand since it was the first premium brand to enter India in a commercial way.
Audi A4
Audi’s entry-level sedan, the A4, has made a strong impact in the premium D segment of sedans being sold in the country. The ‘‘design meets performance” theme has been successful in luring many customers towards it. It is the strongest selling car in its segment.
The A4 wins hearts with its sharp German design that flows across the body and blends with mesmerizing interiors that are loaded with the latest in gadgetry. Audi offers a range of petrol and diesel options on the A4.
The company claims that these engines can withstand any sort of driving conditions and yet deliver efficient mileage—reasons that have worked greatly in favour of the A4.
BMW 3 Series
photo

The other two German car makers have always concentrated on making cars that feel nice, but it was BMW that managed to introduce real performance in the segment. BMW brought excitement in this class. It is often perceived a Beemer is the serious enthusiast’s car.

Shark-eyed looks with compact dimensions make the 3 Series a killer proposition. The 3 Series is bound to impress people of all ages with its performance. It is the quickest to ride and offers the most precise driving conditions. Apart from being high on performance, BMW also ensures that these cars are equally safe with amazing driver aid options available in the 3 Series.
Jaguar XF
The only British player in an otherwise all-German battle, Jaguar is all about the flamboyant individual. The gorgeous styling and uber-luxurious interiors make even casual drivers go weak in the knees.
More than a point A to point B commute, Jaguars are all about making a style statement. If the German cars exude performance, the Jaguars reflect an art and culture aesthetic.
Jaguars are not just meant to impress with their beauty though—the exhilarating performance is paired with a smooth, addictive power train that keeps drivers hooked.
Who is buying these cars?
The upwardly mobile Indian middle class is increasingly exploring the ‘‘affordable” pre-owned luxury four-wheeler.
These are typically business-class people who already own a new Rs.15-20 lakh car and are now looking to buy a luxury car for status. It has aspirational value.
The average price of a new entry-level luxury car ranges anywhere between Rs.30 lakh and Rs.50 lakh, while the same used cars command a price of around Rs.17-25 lakh. Which is quite affordable for this new set of emerging buyers who want to enjoy these cars but don’t want to spend as much.
Source http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/tzniAgWR2mk5A4AcUsDRwL/The-hottest-preowned-luxury-cars.html

Luxury cars are looking to overtake pickups in the American market

Buyers in America are more likely to purchase luxury cars over other more traditional brands of choice. Drivers are clamouring for BMWs , Audis, and Infinitis this year, buying plush vehicles at a far faster pace than other cars or even the traditional favourite Ford F-150.

In the first five months of the year, luxury automakers sold almost 66,000 more vehicles in the U.S. than they did a year earlier, an 11 percent increase. Lincoln and Lexus in particular were stomping on the sales pedal. Sales of midsize cars such as the Honda Accord—the biggest segment of the U.S. market—slipped 3.6 percent, while truck sales—another huge chunk of the market—were up 4.6 percent.

Why are so many U.S. buyers springing for an opulent car? A relatively robust stock market helps, as does an improving overall economy. But there’s something far more interesting going on. A lot of Americans aren’t really buying new BMWs and Benzes after all; they’re renting them—or leasing, to be specific.

Leasing now accounts for a bigger share of auto sales than ever, according to Bloomberg Industries analyst Kevin Tynan. Consumers are feeling fairly flush but are still spooked about taking on large amounts of debt, Tynan says. What’s more, resale values are up, so companies are offering better leasing terms, confident that the vehicle will still be worth a tidy sum when the agreement runs its course.

Luxury drivers are more likely to lease than those to choose less pricey vehicles. About half of the Mercedes  sedans rolling off of lots these days are leased, compared with 13 percent of big trucks like the Chevy  Silverado.

For those who want to buy, it’s gotten easier to be a luxury car owner. Mercedes is now selling its CLA for about $30,000. (It doesn’t have the company’s famed rear-wheel drive, but it does have the logo on the hood.) Audi is making a similar play with its new A3, and BMW is shifting down-market as well with its 2 Series. Not surprisingly, aggregate sticker prices for the luxury segment aren’t nearly as high as they were last year.

So the car-buying process now includes a socioeconomic strategy question. Namely, is a starter Mercedes or a run-of-the-mill Lincoln more luxurious than a Mazda  or a Ford Fusion with all the extras? That’s for drivers (and their neighbours) to decide.

Source http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-23/bmws-and-other-luxury-cars-leave-pickups-in-the-dust

Luxury car growth is never ending in North America

Luxury Car growth world wide is going from strength to strength with some promising figures already emerging for 2014. North America are not alone in their appreciation of luxury and style, but here lets take a look at who is performing well in the States.

U.S. auto sales turned out to have an incredible month of sales in May. The news was good almost universally (except for the VW brand), but the luxury car market just seems to have no end in sight in North America. What we have not done was to break out sales prices and incentives in the luxury market as a whole.

What is obvious is that the luxury market just keeps on chugging higher and higher once you look at the sales data.

Can some of this be attributed to new model launches? In some cases. Still, the numbers just look strong by almost every account. We took a look at North American sales of Porsche, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Jaguar, and Land Rover for the month of May. Even the used luxury market looked strong when the companies discussed it.

Porsche said that its May sales of 4,609 vehicles was bumped by the mid-May launch of the 2015 Macan S and Macan Turbo (1,263 units). Porsche said that this beats last year’s record sales number by 17.3 percent. It was also the best ever sales month for Porsche in the U.S. Porsche even went on to say that its two-door sports cars and Panamera have continued strong sales performance gains from 2013, and that the demand for Cayenne still outstrips the supply. Porsche even went on to say that its Approved Certified Pre-Owned vehicle sales in May were up 17 percent at 994 units.

Mercedes-Benz said that May was the company’s fifth record sales month Of 2014, with its Mercedes-Benz brand sales up 7.7% to 26,617 units. Total sales were represented as being up over 8% to 29,570 units if you blend the Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and smart model lines. The group’s top sellers in May were its C-, E- and M-Class model lines, with the E-Class up over 25 percent to 6,168 vehicles. Its high-end flagship S-Class volume of 2,173 was up over 82% from the same month last year.

BMW Group U.S. also posted a record May for its BMW brand, in part from the launch of the BMW i3. BMW and MINI combined sales in May were up over 13% to 35,331 vehicles, but sales of BMW brand vehicles rose by more than 17 percent in May for a total of 29,602 vehicles. The BMW i3 has now officially launched, with its first month’s sales totaling 336 units. BMW Pre-Owned Vehicles also rose by 14 percent to 18,064 vehicles. Management even talked up this summer –

“This will be the summer of BMW with the new M3 and M4 on sale this month and the new X4 and 4 Series Gran Coupe coming in July.”

Audi said that this was its best U.S. May sales in the company’s history, and second-best any-month tally period – with it being the 41st consecutive U.S. sales record. Its sales rose to 16,601 powered both by the new entry-level model, A3, and by the brand’s high-end cars. Diesels accounted for 11.5% to 28.2% of sales.

Jaguar and Land Rover have shown that May sales rose 17 percent, to 5,840 units (according to USA Today) – for the best May unit sales report since 2007. The Range Rover Sport redesign had record May sales of 1,496 units for a gain of 35 percent. Sale of the crossover Range Rover Evoque rose a sharp 59 percent to 1,196 sales. Jaguar sales were up 14% in May, led by its F-series sports car coupe and convertible and by the XK sedan.

Source Is There No End to Luxury Car Sales Growth in America? – 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/autos/2014/06/03/is-there-no-end-to-luxury-car-sales-growth-in-america/#ixzz33khuqNoI

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

 

Why you should invest in a luxury car

The luxury car market is growing and changing every day to suit the needs of prospective clientele. Where once before you could only dream of owning one, now luxury car manufacturers are looking at ways to make their brands open to more people.

Sales of luxury vehicles will continue to grow for many years to come, according to Jaguar and Land Rover.

The group marketing director for the British brands, Phil Popham, says there is plenty of growth potential for brands that produce premium vehicles and sell them at a premium price.

“We believe that the premium segments have got significant growth in future,” said Popham, who was in Australia this week as part of a visit to the Asia Pacific region.

“The world has and is becoming a more affluent place, there’s more and more affluent people. They are becoming increasingly brand savvy.”

He said success relied on the desirability of the brand being matched by unique and attractive products.

Popham said the growth would be a mix the arrival of new models and organic growth as buyers aspired to owning a luxury vehicle and wealth increased.

He also said emerging markets such as China and India brought potential for significant growth, while markets such as South Korea presented opportunities due to the greater acceptance of imported vehicles.

Sales of luxury cars have been steadily growing for more than a decade, with most manufacturers selling in market segments they haven’t traditionally competed in.

The bulk of that growth has been from intense competition from German brands Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi.

Whereas in the 1990s they produced a selection of luxury sedans and a sports car or two each now produces dozens of body styles covering SUVs, hatchbacks, coupes and the traditional luxury fare.

Much of the sales growth for those German brands has been at the lower end of the market, with each now selling city cars priced below many mainstream offerings.

But Jaguar says it will not follow the German brands as far down the price scale, saying it was too difficult to compete.

“We have no aspirations to be a volume brand, because that’s not our experience, that’s not our expertise.

Popham said the margins and investments required meant it did not make sense.

“[We’re not going to be] getting down into the smaller segments, where we haven’t got the economies of scale, we haven’t got the expertise, it would cost an incredible amount to invest,” he said.

“We’re not going to be a 2 million car company like BMW.”

“But we do want to be seen as a benchmark, we do want to be considered as one of the big players in the premium segment, a benchmark in terms of a our product attributes, in terms of our credibility and in terms of our geographical coverage.

“We have got ambitions to be a substantial player in the segments in which we compete, which is the premium segment.”

Popham said that could mean producing small cars.

“I wouldn’t say we would never introduce smaller cars … it really depends upon the trends,” said Popham.

“We’ll always look around our portfolio of products in terms of trends, where are the growth segments, where do we think we can have a credible product that will make money.”

Source http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/luxury-cars-have-significant-growth-potential-20140514-389ss.html

The right image for SME’s could start with the right company car

Image and style mean everything to any business, but SMEs, who want to portray themselves to be professional and capable, are using fleet cars to send the message.

Choosing the right company car for your SME can prove a difficult balancing act between portraying the right level of professionalism and minimising running costs.This is particularly the case for SMEs who have tighter budgets and yet want to put forward a positive image of their company and its employees.

What do the experts rate as the top three best value prestige company cars?

 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon – £26,855-£32,855

Mercedes-Benz is a brand synonymous with high-end luxury, and is a popular choice of company car for businesses of all shapes and sizes. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon is no exception.

Offering a combination of the typical luxury and performance you’d expect from a Mercedes with low CO2 emissions and reasonable running costs, the C-Class is an ideal company car for any SME that wants to give a great first impression without breaking the bank.

The lower-end engine has CO2 emissions of just 103g/km ensuring company car tax bills that are pleasing on the eye, while fuel economy is also impressive. Performance doesn’t suffer as a result either, and the C220 Bluetec engine pulls strongly from low revs – complemented by quick acceleration beyond the 4000rpm mark.

BMW 3-Series – £23,555-£43,685

Winner of the 2014 CarBuyer Best Executive Car Award, the BMW 3-Series is an impressive car for all kinds of reasons.

Impressive engine performance? Check. Expert engineering that delivers genuine reliability? Check. Plenty of interior and boot space to provide that all-important practicality? Check and check.

With this much power under the bonnet, you might expect the 3-Series to fall down in terms of fuel efficiency, however the 320d 181bhp 2.0-litre returns an impressive 61.4mpg, while BMW’s EfficientDynamics technology restricts CO2 emissions to no more than 120g/km.

CarBuyer described the 3-Series as “one of the best compact executive cars money can buy” – and we’d have to say we agree.

Audi A3 Saloon – £22,825-£33,245

Unsurprisingly the third and final car in our round-up of the best value prestige company cars comes from yet another German automotive giant.

The Audi A3 Saloon offers strong and efficient engines, providing some of the lowest CO2 emissions for its class as well as impressive fuel efficiency.

Reliability is also an important issue for business car owners, and this is an area in which the A3 excels having been manufactured with the very best high-grade materials.

The combination of aluminium and high-strength steel helps to keep weight down to a minimum without compromising on durability, while the cabin is also built to an exceptionally high standard to deliver the kind of interior you’d expect to find in a luxury vehicle from one of the world’s leading brands.

source http://www.businesscarmanager.co.uk/best-value-prestige-company-cars-smes/3/

2014 World Car of The Year title goes to the Audi A3

The Audi A3 was recently voted number one worldwide by industry-leading judges from across the globe. Audi are not new comers when it comes to this title or other awards, so why are we so impressed with the cars they are producing year on year?

The premium compact bestseller from the brand with the four rings, is the 2014 World Car of the Year. This is the second overall title for Audi in the ten year history of the World Car of the Year Awards as the Audi A6 won the inaugural overall title in 2005.

The third generation of the Audi A3 is now officially confirmed as a world beater. It overcame the challenge from 23 other cars to win the prestigious World Car of the Year title in 2014. The A3 was voted as the winner by an international jury panel comprising 69 top level automotive journalists from 22 countries around the world.

Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, said: “The Audi A6 was the first ever winner of this award and we are delighted that the Audi A3 has repeated that achievement by being voted 2014 World Car of the Year. The Audi A3 showcases Audi’s technical competence in all aspects of car making, not least in the areas of lightweight technology, drivetrain, mobile infotainment and driver assistance systems. This major award win is an achievement that the whole company can celebrate.”

The new Audi A3 is available in the UK as a three door, Sportback, Cabriolet and Saloon. It is powered by a range of TFSI petrol and TDI diesel engines. Later this year, the A3 Sportback will also be available as an e tron, whose plug in hybrid drive enables journeys of up to 31 miles in all electric mode.

Audi can look back on a 16 year success story with the A3. In 1996, the first generation of the model series established an entirely new market segment – the premium compact class. With the second generation, which followed in 2003, the brand extended its lead with the addition of a Cabriolet to the familiar three door and Sportback body styles. The third A3 generation is available in four body styles following the further addition of the Saloon.

With this win for the Audi A3, Audi has maintained its position as the manufacturer with the most World Car of the Year titles. The brand with the four rings has previously won three World Performance Car titles, two World Car Design of the Year titles and the inaugural World Car of the Year title.

In total Audi has won seven titles at the World Car of the Year Awards:

2005 Audi A6 World Car of the Year

2007 Audi RS 4 World Performance Car, Audi TT World Car Design of the Year

2008 Audi R8 World Performance Car, Audi R8 World Car Design of the Year

2010 Audi R8 V10 World Performance Car

2014 Audi A3 World Car of the Year

Source http://www.audi.co.uk/about-audi/latest-news.html

Which Will be Better: Lamborghini Huracan or Next Audi R8?

So we now know all about the new Lamborghini Huracan. Although we’re still waiting for official test drives, for all intents and purposes this thing is going to be spectacular, a more than worthy successor to the Gallardo. Hop across the border into Germany and you’ll find Audi at work on its next-gen R8, due in 2016. And like the Gallardo and current R8, the Huracan and new R8 will share a basic platform along with a 5.2-liter V10. The new R8 will keep its base 4.2-liter V8. –

So what we’re wondering is this: have Lamborghini and Audi done enough to distinguish their respective supercars from one another this time around? True, the R8 has been heralded as the first everyday supercar, but Lamborghini has very much refined itself away from outright bonkers. Just compare the Aventador to the Diablo and Murcielago. Both the Huracan and new R8 are AWD, have the same V10 (though tuned differently), and have gone on diets thanks to plenty of aluminum and carbon fiber. Already sounds too much like the Gallardo/R8 matchup. So which one will dominate? Is this even a fair comparison?

See more at: www.carbuzz.com