Mazda’s number one franchise retailer, Arnold Clark, continues to flourish in the face of challenging economic circumstances and expects further success in 2012. For the fourth consecutive year, Arnold Clark Group has retained the title of Mazda’s number one retailer, selling over 1,000 new Mazda models in 2011. Machargs, one of Arnold Clark’s four Scottish-based Mazda branches, has remained the highest-selling individual Mazda dealership since 2007, overcoming tough competition from the Japanese brand’s other 140-plus retail outlets around the UK.

“We owe our success over recent years to our dedicated franchise and branch teams, who have a great depth of Mazda product knowledge. They have ensured our customers are fully aware of the attributes of the full Mazda product range, as well as the incredible offers and campaigns we offer in the showroom and via our website,” said Andrew Marshall, Franchise Manager for Arnold Clark.

“We have also invested heavily in our dealerships, notably in Machargs. We only took on the franchise in Glasgow in 2007 and it immediately established itself as number one for new car sales in the UK.

“Our aim is to continue our status as number one retailer and dealership for Mazda, and helping us do so is the launch of the all-new CX-5, which has innovative SKYACTIV technology. This new SUV crossover vehicle has already received acclaim from the nation’s toughest car critics for its intelligent economy and weight-saving design. When it is launched in May, I am in no doubt it will also demonstrate the fun-to-drive characteristics for which the Mazda range is renowned.”

All-new, the Mazda CX-5 has been freshly designed from the ground up, using the application of Mazda’s breakthrough SKYACTIV technology, which significantly improves the vehicle’s efficiency, safety and overall performance. Its world-beating petrol and diesel engines deliver class-leading CO2 emissions and fuel economy. Inside there is plenty of standard equipment, including a navigation system featuring TomTom® technology, an advanced safety system with automatic braking to prevent low speed collisions, lane departure warning, blind spot alerts and an automatic main-beam headlight function (depending on model). Prices for the 18-strong Mazda CX-5 model range start from just £21,395 and rising to £28,795 (OTR). Arnold Clark Mazda is inviting local residents to test drive the CX-5 for the first time at its showrooms in Glasgow, Central, Aberdeen and Fife at a special event on the 26 and 27 May. A professional Mazda driver will talk customers through the benefits of the car and how to optimise its efficiency. To ensure you don’t miss out, find your local Arnold Clark Mazda dealership by visiting www.arnoldclark-mazda.co.uk.

Mercedes Benz could be about to quit Formula 1 because of the commercial terms that they have been offered by Bernie Ecclestone.

Mercedes Benz at the minute are the only team who are still backed by their manufacturer and are one of a number of different teams who haven’t yet agreed any terms with Bernie Ecclestone. The teams who haven’t yet agreed terms are believed to be Williams, Caterham, Marussia and Mercedes GP.

Mercedes GP are by far the biggest of the teams who are yet to agree terms and they are one of the only teams who could realistically stand their ground when it comes to agreeing terms because their parent company, Mercedes-Benz hasn’t been made solely to race in F1, like Williams for example.

Mercedes GP are said to be unhappy because the terms to that have been offered to the top teams aren’t the same as what they’ve been offered. One version of the unsigned, new, Concorde Agreement was leaked and it was offering certain terms to certain teams including some significant bonuses to certain teams with Ferrari allegedly being offered a shareholding in the sport and also Ferrari and Red Bull getting seats on the board of Formula One’s holding company.

Mercedes-Benz is a big enough standalone company to not have to rely on F1 for their income so if they were to leave F1, it would be the sport who feels it more than the car manufacturer.

If you’re looking to get a Mercedes-Benz then you should look to get in touch with Car Leasing Ltd and look into Mercedes Benz car leasing, that is of course if you’re looking for a Mercedes. Below we have a selection of the cars that you could find on the Car Leasing site.

Bentley Continental GT: One of the best, most exhilarating convertible’s in the world; the Bentley Continental GT is one of the best cars in the world at the minute.

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: Land Rover have been producing some of the leading 4×4’s in the world and if you want to be a part of that then you should look into leasing one of the new Range Rover Evoques.

Skoda Fabia: The Skoda Fabia is a car that comes from a company with over 100 years experience in car design and manufacture; so if you want a car that comes with the guarantee of quality design and quality in manufacturing then you should look no further than the Skoda Fabia.

Vauxhall Astra: A highly stylish and highly affordable car from Vauxhall, the Astra is one that is sure to catch the eye. If you are after a car like this then you should look no further than the Astra.

Jaguar XK Coupe: If you’re looking for a car that is sheer sport and speed then look no further than the XK from Jaguar. With a 5.0 litre supercharged version you can be sure that you will get a speedy, sports car.

Audi, a branch of the famous German car maker Volkswagen (VW), are in talks to buy out Italian Motorcycle firm Ducati, they are looking to buy the firm from their private equity owner.

The German group are looking to grow their automotive empire as confirmation from people close to both companies comes that talks are currently on-going between the two companies. If these talks prove to be successful they could enable to Italian private equity group, Investindustrial, to more than double their current stake in Ducati.

The company, Investindustrial last year hired Goldman Sachs and also Deutsche Bank to gauge the prospects of a flotation of Ducati in Hong Kong. This was knocked on the head as the Chairman of Investindustrial, Andrea Bonomi has said that the growth of Ducati requires the support of a world-class industrial partner.

At the minute, Ducati sell around 40,000 motorcycles each year and they have about 9% of the sports motorcycles market.

VW aim to overtake General Motors by the year 2018 as the biggest carmaker by sales and they also have a desire to build a trucking empire which will be one to rival Daimler and Volvo. If you’re looking to get an Audi you may want to look at Audi car leasing and see what kind of deals you can get.

If you’re not looking for an Audi, but you just want a car then you should pay a visit to carleasing.co.uk and see what they have on offer.

Below we have a selection of different vehicles available from carleasing.co.uk, take a look for yourself and see if there’s anything you like.

BMW M3 Coupe: If you’re looking to lease a car like no other then the M3 is the car for you. Power, looks and a number of other things, the M3 is a car which is like no other.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta: With Alfa Romeo having a bit of a celebrity following over the last couple of years and most recently, Jeremy Clarkson has said that owning an Alfa Romeo is a “rite of passage”. So it’s only natural you should want an Alfa.

Audi RS5: Available for lease on a 36 month basis with a maximum of 10,000 miles per year, the RS5 from Audi is a cut above.

Cadillac Escalade: Cadillac’s are known for their comfort and in some instances owning a Cadillac is seen as a symbol of achievement. So if you would like that you should look no further than the Cadillac Escalade.

Fiat 500: Small and compact, the Fiat 500 is a top car for those people who like speed and also like small, compact vehicles. Available for lease on a 36 month basis and a 10,000 miles per year basis.

Finally, UK car dealerships are starting to take a leap into the 21st century. For years dealers have been stuck in tradition, but Grants SEAT dealer in Essex are at the start of something new – sales through social media. This all-new way of making sales in the automotive industry came about when Jemma Rowberry from West Sussex tweeted about the fact that she couldn’t find a finance package to suit her needs on the SEAT Leon SE Copa. This was when Darren Williams – managing director of Grants Seat stepped in, after he used his knowledge of twitter to set up a keyword search on the social media site. He replied to Jemma’s tweet offering his help. The sale continued to progress via the social network and in the end the perfect deal was found for both the buyer and the dealer. As most of the communication had taken place online, the sale only required Jemma to make two visits to the high-tech Grants Seat car dealership in Essex, the first to sign paperwork and the second to collect the new SEAT Leon SE Copa. This made the whole process of purchasing a car much more efficient and prevented Jemma from having to make multiple 2 hour car journeys from Crawley to Essex. Both parties claim that the sale was made a lot easier due to the use of twitter. Jemma couldn’t fault her experience with Grants Seat, saying her car buying experience was “effortless”.

This unique sale has shown that social media and the internet can bring a new lease of life to the car industry. There is nothing to stop it becoming part of the regular car buying process in years to come. Hopefully it will become the norm in the future if all the car dealers who are stuck in their ways finally realise the power and potential the web can bring.

It also proves that social networking sites can boost sales as well as improving the relationship between buyers and dealers.

Jemma has no doubts that Grants Seat will be her first stop when it comes to looking for a car in the future and she would recommend them to anyone searching for a deal on a new car. The Essex SEAT dealer is setting the trend for other dealerships throughout the UK by engaging in the world of social networking. Grants Seat deserve all the credit they can get for introducing the old-fashioned car industry to the all-new technology of today.

Grants Seat are heavily active in the social media space and you can follow them on twitter @grantsSEAT or like their Facebook Page.

If you consider yourself a fashionista, or simply enjoy shopping, beauty, wine and handmade crafts, Perrys Mazda is holding an event that will send your heart racing. On Thursday 17 May at 7pm the Whalley New Road-based dealership will host a fashion show for men and women to raise money for Help the Heroes charity. The Perrys Mazda showroom will undergo a complete transformation for the event, from car showroom by day to shopping heaven by night. On arrival guests will be greeted with a glass of wine and canapés. Throughout the evening clothes by local store, Elan Boutique will be paraded on the catwalk and a range of stalls will provide beauty demonstrations, sugar craft, wine and Pimms tasting, cupcakes, and handmade soaps and candles. Making its debut will also be the latest addition to the Mazda range, the stylish, sporty and economical CX-5 crossover SUV. “This is a rare opportunity for local residents to attend an exclusive event, which gathers some of Blackburn’s finest businesses under one roof to raise money for a well deserving charity and one that is particularly at the forefront of our minds at present,” commented Garry Allum, Dealer Principal, Perrys Mazda Blackburn.

“We guarantee everybody that attends will have a wonderful time. The event also gives us the chance to showcase the all-new Mazda CX-5. This revolutionary new car features Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology, which significantly reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, while retaining a sporty drive with spirited performance. Its sleek styling looks great, so it will appeal to anyone with an eye for fashion.”

Tickets for the event cost just £7.50 each and are available by calling Perrys Mazda on 01254 245 444, or by visiting the showroom at Brownhill Garage, Whalley New Road, Blackburn. Alternatively you can request tickets by emailing kturner@perrys.co.uk. All the money raised from ticket sales will go to Help the Heroes.

Heath Road-based dealership MKG3000 Mazda is renowned in the Twickenham area for its full stock of Mazda models, some of the most dynamic, sporty cars on Britain’s roads, and members of the dealership team are about to show their own athletic side – by running the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 22 April.

Stefan Kadlubowski, the dealership’s Director and Marcus Mulroe, Mazda Aftersales Manager are in training to take part in the 26 mile marathon and the duo plan to raise over £3,500 for their chosen charities. Stefan will be running for FARA, a UK and Romanian charity which looks after orphaned and abandoned children in Romania. The money he raises will go towards the purchase of a minibus, giving children in Bucharest, Romania, who suffer from disabilities the opportunity to enjoy new experiences. While Marcus is supporting the Make a Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for children suffering from terminal and serious illnesses. The team at MKG3000 Mazda in Twickenham are no strangers to raising money for charities by taking part in organised runs. In November last year Stefan and Marcus were joined in a 10K run at the Old Deer Park Richmond by the dealerships other Director, James Maxfield, Marcus’s son, who also works in the showroom part-time, and Stefan’s wife. This was the third time that members of the team entered the Old Deer Park Richmond run. To show their support for the event, MKG3000 Mazda sponsored the 10K run by contributing towards the organisational and running costs, and also exhibited the latest Mazda models, such as the Mazda3 at the event.

“We have a few runs under our belt, but neither of us has run a full marathon before. It will be tough but hopefully it means we will raise lots of money for our chosen charities,” comments Stefan Kadlubowski. “Although we won’t be dressing up as anything unusual for the Marathon, I will certainly be wearing my charities colour, pink.”

To support Stefan and Marcus by making a donation to FARA and the Make a Wish Foundation, please visit www.virginmoneygiving.com and search for Stafan Kadlubowski or Marcus Mulroe.

To find out more about the full Mazda range, or to book a test drive, contact MKG3000 Mazda on 0208 538 9377 or visit the showroom on Heath Road, Twickenham.

Local dealership Wrights Mazda in Beccles only opened its state-of-the-art facility to customers last October, but already the showroom is proving its worth to customers, with 100 per cent of returning customers saying that they would recommend both the dealership and the Mazda brand to others.

The Common Lane North-based showroom held a large opening party over the first weekend of October, with local radio station The Beach 103.4 broadcasting live from the new site, and has since realised the highest customer loyalty scores of any mainland Mazda dealership. According to Mazda’s Digital Service Record, an innovative electronic service booklet which replaces the traditional paper booklet, 69 per cent of customers returned to the dealership for servicing work, while many other brands are recording a drop in custom.

This unrivalled level of customer service and high recommendations by current Mazda owners both indicate that motorists and prospective car buyers in the Beccles and Lowestoft area are some of the best served in the country. Meanwhile, the Wrights Mazda showroom in Norwich is also in the top 10 per cent of the Mazda dealer network for service loyalty.

Russell Wythe, Dealer Principal at Wrights Mazda, said: “Since we opened in October, we committed ourselves to providing customers with the best possible service to ensure a seamless transition from the Lowestoft dealership to the new site in Beccles. Standing as testament to this effort, the majority of our customers continue to bring their cars back to the workshop, while recommending the dealership and the brand to their friends, families and colleagues.

“We also have a ground-breaking new model going on sale later this spring, the new Mazda CX-5 compact crossover SUV, which will open up the Mazda model range to even greater numbers of buyers,” adds Wythe. “This car will boast best-in-class economy and emissions figures as a result of its reduced weight and other fuel-saving SKYACTIV technologies, and it will be a popular choice both for private and fleet buyers.”

To find out more about the Mazda model range, or to book a test drive, contact Wrights Mazda on 01502 713 885 or visit the showroom on Common Lane North, Beccles.

Mazda UK’s long-standing support to the Metropolitan Police Service has been further extended with the supply of a Mazda3 for use by Special Constables in Bexley.

It means that the 80-strong team of Special Constables, which is set to almost double in size in the coming months, have their own dedicated car to further aid high visibility policing and crime reduction in the London borough.

Ann Mansfield, Metropolitan Special Constabulary, Bexley, said: “There is a limited fleet of police vehicles available which meant that our Special Constables usually had to walk or travel on public transport to get around the Borough.

“Mazda’s generosity in providing the car means that officers can patrol a greater area and the vehicle can be used to drop off and collect Special Constables who support operational policing within a matter of minutes in crime ‘hot-spot’ areas.”

While the Mazda3 1.6 Takuya five-door is seen daily on the streets of Bexley, it has also made a special trip across London to Buckingham Palace. It took Special Constable Sergeant Gurcharan Singh Dhesi to receive his MBE in recognition of 38 years service accompanied by Ms Mansfield.

She added: “The car is invaluable in enabling the Special Constables to meet their policing objectives. It is very spacious – particularly with regards to rear passenger space – and can accommodate five officers comfortably.”

The Mazda3 will continue to patrol the streets of Bexley with the volunteer Special Constables until June when it will have completed a 12-month tour of duty.

Supplied by Mazda Bourne Road Garage in Crayford which also services and maintains the car, the vehicle further cements a relationship between Mazda UK and the Metropolitan Police Service, which currently also sees a Mazda5 being used by the St Andrews Safer Neighbourhood Team in Havering. Mazda UK has supplied a number of vehicles to the Team for five years, which have proved invaluable in keeping down crimes of all types.

The 105ps Mazda3 has an on-the-road price tag of £16,700 and Garth Vincer, Sales Manager, at Bourne Road Garage, said: “The officers have been surprised that the car does not cost more due to its high specification that includes 17-inch alloy wheels, sports styling kit, front fog and LED rear lights, automatic dual-zone climate control air conditioning, black sports interior trim, heated front sports seats, an integrated Bluetooth® system and a six-disc CD changer.

“Not only does the car provide daily visibility across Bexley, but it is benefiting the police and the entire community.”

Mazda also supplies many of the UK’s 54 police forces with a wide range of models including Mazda3, Mazda5, Mazda6 and CX-7 for use on patrol duties, special operations and covertly.

The manufacturer is an official provider of police vehicles under the terms of the current National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) agreement

Mazda Sales Director Peter Allibon said: “Working with the police in Bexley and other areas further improves the visibility of the Mazda brand. We are delighted that the Special Constables in the borough find the Mazda3 to be a practical and comfortable car in the same way as many of our Fleet and Retail customers do.”

High-speed thrills are the order of the day for visitors to the Thruxton Motorsport Centre and to ensure the pace remains at full power, Mazda UK is providing two recently upgraded Mazda3 MPS models for fast passenger rides and race-craft tuition. To keep the vehicles in tip-top condition, Thruxton has chosen Magna Mazda in Salisbury to maintain and service the vehicles.

Mazda UK has provided vehicles for driving experiences at Thruxton Motorsport Centre since 2005 with Magna Mazda on board as the official service partner. The new additions to the Thruxton fleet of high-performance vehicles cement the on-going partnership, and are certain to impress even the biggest adrenaline addicts. The Mazda3 MPS offers sensational acceleration to 62mph in just 6.1 seconds with a ‘limited’ top speed of 155mph. On the track is where the ‘super-hatch’ excels, offering excellent high-speed stability, a guaranteed refined ride with precise responses to driver input, and sports styling, which minimises aerodynamic lift to enhance grip.

Magna Mazda Salisbury is based just 26 miles from Thruxton, providing a local service to the Motorsport Centre. The dealership’s factory trained technicians are experts in maintaining all Mazda models and provide the perfect solution to ensuring these Thruxton vehicles remain in excellent condition for visitors to the race circuit. “We have looked after Mazda models provided to Thruxton since 2005 and they withstand some tremendous abuse from budding race drivers,” commented Greg Davies, Dealer Principal, Magna Mazda Salisbury. “Each Mazda model is designed to be fun-to-drive and the Mazda3 MPS is absolutely that. On the race track it not only looks the part with its sports styling, but its 2.3-litre Turbo petrol engine is incredibly responsive, while its sports-performance suspension provides a flatter ride with less body roll, ideal for cornering at high speeds.”

As well as providing the two Mazda3 MPS models to the race circuit, Mazda will have a high profile presence at Thruxton, with branded banners and flags around the pit lane and Parc Ferme on operational days, plus Mazda decals on 12 of the school’s race vehicles. To find out more about the Mazda3 MPS, or to book a test drive, contact Magna Mazda on 01725 513 777 or visit the showroom at The Headlands, Salisbury.

With MPs and even the Prime Minister recently fuelling a panic across the country, there are a number of garages who will no doubt be shutting their doors soon because of the amount of fuel that will be and has been being bought by the public.

Members of Parliament and Ministers have been giving out conflicting messages to the public recently which has led to a spate of panic buying and a lot of petrol stations have since run out of fuel and are being forced to shut up shop early.

There are also claims that there’s more of a political side to the stoking up of the potential fuel crisis. The whole thing though, is down to a potential strike from the fuel tank drivers over Easter. The reason for their strike is down to their working conditions among a number of other things but Ministers are saying that they only expect around half of drivers to walk out if the strike goes ahead.

There’s been no date set for the strike and the union that is pushing for the strike, Unite, has to give 7 days’ warning before it can go ahead. However, there have already been two dates in April identified as potential dates for the strike to begin.

The Government are urging people to keep their tanks topped up above half so that if there is a shortage the country doesn’t end up grinding to a halt and things stop getting done. There are a number of people who will be filling up jerry cans so that they have extra fuel, just in case of a shortage, and they will be storing their jerry cans in their garages.

People’s garages are an important thing in which people store a lot of different things, with fuel being rather high on a lot of peoples to keep safe. If you do want to keep your garage and your petrol safe then you should pay a visit to Select Garage Doors and see what you like from out of their collection of garage doors.