MITSUBISHI LAUNCHES ASSISTANCE PLAN

MITSUBISHI Motors in the UK has launched a new Service Activated Roadside Assistance programme (SARA), which provides its customers with free breakdown and recovery assistance for 12 months when a vehicle is serviced at an authorised Mitsubishi dealership.

For vehicles three to 10 years old and up to 100,000 miles, the new SARA programme will provide free home, road and European assistance for 12 months, or until the next service, when a customer has their vehicle serviced at a participating authorised Mitsubishi dealership.

The Japanese brand's aftersales chief Toby Marshall said: "The SARA programme provides customers with the peace of mind and knowledge that should the unexpected happen, then Mitsubishi Motors in the UK and its dedicated dealer network are on hand to assist."

And Jon Tolliday, head of Automotive Roadside and Customer Management Services at Allianz Partners added: ‘‘Allianz Partners have provided roadside assistance to Mitsubishi Motors in the UK for nearly 30 years.

"We are delighted to extend our relationship in supporting Mitsubishi's aftersales proposition with the introduction of SARA and how it provides tangible enhanced value to the Mitsubishi service offer.''

MG OPENS STRATEGIC NEW SHOWROOM

A STRATEGICALLY important new sales site inside the M25 is the latest development in MG Motor's growth, with the fast developing brand partnering with established dealer group Wilsons of Epsom in Surrey.

Wilsons is adding MG to its portfolio on the outskirts of London as it believes the brand offers a great opportunity to enjoy EV sales growth in an area where plug-in popularity is growing faster than anywhere else in the UK.

Wilsons MG is located on the town's Kiln Lane Industrial Estate and carries a range of new and used cars as well as offering on-site EV charging, servicing and aftersales.

The site offers the full range of MG vehicles and also provides specialist advice to Motability customers.

BROOKLANDS CELEBRATES GP LANDMARK

At Brooklands Relived on 7th August, BROOKLANDS Museum is preparing to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the first Grand Prix to take place on British soil.

Organised by the Royal Automobile Club and held in 1926 at Brooklands, the world's first purpose-built race track, the first British Grand Prix formed part of the World Manufacturers' Championship alongside the continental Grands Prix in Spain, France and Italy and the Indianapolis 500.

Now, 95 years later, Brooklands will once again welcome some of the vehicles that took part in the very first Grand Prix, along with examples of Grand Prix cars from every decade up to 2013.

Among the cars confirmed for Brooklands Relived on Saturday (August 7) are a Delage 15-S-8 as raced in the 1926 Grand Prix, a 1928 Aston Martin LM1, 1960 Cooper Climax and 2013 Mercedes F1 WO4.

Brooklands Museum will tell the story of the first Grand Prix and its place in history during Brooklands Relived with the highlight of the day expected to be the ‘race starts' which will see both cars and bikes setting off at racing speed up the finishing straight and onto the members banking just as they did in 1926.

BENTLEY'S GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE

BENTLEY is launching a new limited edition to celebrate the introduction of its latest model, the Flying Spur Hybrid.

Taking inspiration from the EXP 100 GT concept car that defines Bentley's view of luxury mobility in 2035, the Flying Spur Hybrid Odyssean Edition is the first step on a journey to introduce sustainable materials as part of its Beyond100 strategy.

The Flying Spur Hybrid Odyssean Edition not only uses an advanced hybrid powertrain delivering a combined power of 536bhp and 750Nm of torque, but also includes new materials throughout the cabin.

The cabin features panels of crafted tweed made from 100 per cent British wool, while the open pore Koa veneer fascias and waistrails use 90 per cent less lacquer than high-gloss veneers, and allow the natural surface texture of the wood to be enjoyed.

Meanwhile, the the centre console is finished in a minimalist Piano Linen veneer, while a dedicated three-colour leather scheme lends depth to the interior.

Accents to the interior are in a soft hide called Autumn, with customers able to choose from five specifications utilising Beluga, Porpoise, Cricketball, Brunel or Burnt Oak.

THREAT TO UK CAR PRODUCTION REVIVAL

UK car factories turned out 69,097 units in June, according to latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

While this was a rise compared with the Covid-depressed June 2020, it still represents the worst June total since 1953 as the global chip shortage, caused by the pandemic and other factors, continued to take a toll on production.

The performance rounded off a turbulent first six months for UK car production, with the pandemic, new trading rules with Europe and supply issues causing ongoing challenges.

Some 498,923 units rolled off production lines, down-38.4 per cent on the five-year, first-half average representing a loss of 311,160 cars worth more than £8.5billion, reflecting how far the sector must go before it can talk about recovery.

Exports continued to sustain British car manufacturing with more than eight in ten models made here so far this year shipped overseas.