LINING UP
One of the best cars on sale today, the Skoda Superb, is now available in a new Sportline Plus trim level. This new package includes Columbus satellite navigation fed to a 9.2inch touchscreen, integrated wi-fi, heated front seats, blind spot detection and electrically operated boot opening.
Three petrol and two diesel engines are available plus the option of four-wheel drive. And in terms of space you can go large for the estate version, which really is a brilliant motor. There’s a spring spruce-up for Citroen’s city car, the C1, with new colours and materials, improvements to comfort, and new connectivity and safety equipment.
The C1 now comes with three new colours – Pacific Green, Calvi Blue and Nude (!) – while the soft-top Airscape version now has a red or blue fabric roof.
Inside, extra sound deadening has been fitted and new tech systems come with lane departure warning and hill start assist. Android Auto and Apple Carplay are now available as is a 7in infotainment screen. On top of all this there’s a new 75bhp engine that meets latest emissions standards.
Order books for the improved C1 open on May 1. Dacia has increased the price of its entry-level Sandero model. But it’s the first price rise since the car was introduced five years ago. And even with the hike it’s still a very small sum to pay for a new car. What’s more if you and move up to the Sandero Ambiance (Access is the entry-level trim) you get
DAB, air conditioning and electric front windows.
New car sales in the UK in March dived by 15.7% compared to last year. But according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders it was still the fourth biggest March sales total ever.
The really amazing figure is the drop in diesel sales over the same period. The fall is an incredible 37.2% from March 2017. Registrations of plug-in and hybrid vehicles rose by 5.7%. That’s not enough of an increase to stall what is likely to be a massive increase in CO2 levels as diesel sales drop. Remove old-tech and dirty diesel vehicles from our roads yes, but demonising all diesels is a huge mistake.
Sales will slide further thanks to the Government’s recent tax increase on company diesel cars, with the benefit in kind supplement going from 3% to 4%.