2 motoring feature
TRANSCRIPT
W
TO PCP OR NOT TO PCP? — WHAT IT ALL MEANS IN LAYWOMEN TERMS
chicmotoringFAB 8-PAGE LADIES CAR GUIDE PART 1
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2015
LADIESSTEP UPA GEAR!
■ Karen Koster is the new face of Ford in Ireland
Do car brand ambassadors wheely in� uence our choices?
NEW Opel Corsa— Toyota Verso NEW Audi A1— Skoda Fabia
Citroen C4 Cactus— Seat Alhambra
TEST DRIVES:
22 23
THINK BIG — The Seat Alhambra is the ideal family car; (below) the dashboard and (below right) direct-shift gearbox; check out Seat.ie for some amazing 152 offers
● Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI SE (DSG)start/stop enginePRICE: from €43,860PCP Finance over three years €419* per month (based on 10 per cent deposit)
Big, clever, and incredibly versatile, the multi-award winning, multi-purpose Alhambra is by far the biggest MPV I’ve ever driven.
But don’t let the size scare you away — it negotiates narrow streets much more easily than I thought it would.
The automatic version is a dream to drive, it grips the road well while it’s quiet and smooth and handles beautifully on the open road.
The interior is classy and plush and screams quality —as you would imagine from Seat — while the safety really is second to none.
Every Alhambra comes with stability control, a tyre pressure-monitoring system and seven airbags, including a driver’s knee bag and curtain airbags that run the full length of the cabin. Pretty impressive.
The dashboard controls are easy to use and the driver’s seat is exceptionally comfortable and supportive.
Entry level trim comes with all you need while keeping the price sensible: alloy wheels, seven airbags, tyre pressure monitoring, climate control and front and rear parking sensors are all included.
MPVs like this are all about making family life easier. It seats seven people comfortably whilst leaving room for luggage.
The sliding doors will grant you much easier access to the car especially when you have to park in tight spaces, so you won’t have to struggle to extract the children out which is great for the third row seated kids.
The third row also comes with air vents for each passenger above their head and at their feet, with separate air conditioning controls making it much less claustrophobic than most MPVs — there will be less complaining from the kids down the back (not guaranteed depending on the child).
It’s practical and very easy to drive, while being great value for money.
The CO2 emission and fuel consumption fi gures are impressively low and the ownership costs are really good for something this big.
WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?● Engine: 2.0 diesel● Power: 140bhpWHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?● Transmission: 6-speed manual,automatic front wheel drive
● Body type: SUV● Tax: €390 a year● Would suit: Great for families — the
Alhambra would defi nitely make school runs and family holidays a much nicer experience.
● BEST POINTS: Sliding rear doors are genius for getting kids in and out. All fi ve rear seats can be folded so you can transport really big loads. Front and rear parking sensors.
● LOW POINTS: While it’s easy enough to park, fi nding a suitable car space to fi t it into can be time consuming.
www.seat.ie *fi nance: see p28
It’s that time of year again as the July 152 registration period has just kicked off. You may be thinking of upgrading your
present car to take advantage of the numerous offers for the 152 reg, or perhaps you’re looking for something cheaper from last year.
Whatever tickles your fancy, we’re here to guide you through some of the best performers of 2014 and tell you what’s coming down the road for the 152 releases.
● Citroen C4 Cactus Touch PureTech 75PRICE: from €17,795 PCP fi nance over three years: €286* per month (based on a 20 per cent deposit)
This little stunner won BBC TopGear Magazine’s Hatchback of the year 2014 — and it’s easy to see why.
As with most of Citroen’s new cars, personalisation is a big part of the appeal. The new C4 Cactus is available in 10 body colours, from eye-catching Hello Yellow (the car I got to drive) to elegant Pearl White (the car I wish I had got to drive).
It has four different Airbump colours for the car’s side protection panels to absorb minor impacts (very clever idea but a bit like Marmite — you’ll either love it or hate it) it has fi ve seat upholstery choices and three dashboard colour schemes.
And it doesn’t stop there — it’s available in Touch, Feel and Flair trims. All models come with a seven-inch colour display, front electric windows,
remote central locking and LED daytime running lights.
It’s a lovely car to manoeuvre and has
good all-round visibility.
The squared-off rear is great for when you are reversing as you can easily judge where the
back of the car is.The pop-out
(rather than wind-down) rear windows at
the back can make your back seat passengers feel a
bit claustrophobic.There are plenty of storage
areas dotted around the car, with the rear seat offering huge storage room, ideal for kids (for their stuff obviously — not the kids themselves).
Not the most exciting car to drive but if it’s affordability and fuel economy you’re after you really can’t go wrong with the Cactus.
Thanks to the latest-generation PureTech petrol engines and BlueHDi diesel engines, it offers reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
It’s a tough car to categorise: its tall
body gives it the look of a crossover — such as the Skoda Yeti — but its styling and trendy interior could well help it steal sales from the likes of the MINI fi ve-door.
Either way the car will defi nitely turn heads — its design and build make it lighter and cheaper than some of its rival hatchbacks.
WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?● Engine: 1.2 petrol● Power: 75bhpWHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?● Transmission: Front wheel drive,manual, fi ve-speed● Body type: Five-door hatchback● Tax: €190 a year● Would suit: It’s defi nitely family
friendly but would suit city slickers as well!
● BEST POINTS: Very affordable to run with
spacious interior and one of the best stand-out features is the fl oating roof.
● LOW POINTS: Pop-out windows can
make back seat passengers feel a little
claustrophobic. The unique ‘Airbumps’ on the
side put me off it visually, even though they help protect the bodywork from expensive scuffs and dents. www.citroen.ie *fi nance: see p28
perhaps you’re looking for something cheaper from last year.
Whatever tickles your fancy, we’re here to
performers of 2014 and tell you what’s
Citroen C4 Cactus Touch PureTech 75
17,795 PCP fi nance over three
per month (based on a 20 per cent deposit)
remote central locking and LED daytime running lights.
It’s a lovely car to manoeuvre and has
good all-round visibility.
off rear is great for when you are reversing as you can easily judge where the
back of the car is.The pop-out
(rather than wind-down) rear windows at
the back can make your back seat passengers feel a
Women steer the way!WomenWomenWomenSit back and enjoy the ride as Chic road-tester Audrey Kane takes you for a spin
PRICKLY FRIEND — The Citroen C4 Cactus’s look is an acquired taste and (below) its interior
the back can make your back seat passengers feel a
really can’t go wrong with the Cactus.Thanks to the latest-generation PureTech
friendly but would suit city slickers as well!
● BEST POINTS:affordable to run with
spacious interior and one of the best stand-out features is the fl oating roof.
●Pop-out windows can
make back seat passengers feel a little
claustrophobic. The unique ‘Airbumps’ on the
side put me off it visually, even though
✬ACCORDING TO THE AA putting
the wrong type of fuel in a car at petrol stations is still a common mistake
among drivers — with MEN twice as likely as
women to make that particular
error!
body gives it the look of a crossover —
Citroen C4 Cactus Touch PureTech 75
✬MALE DRIVERS are
more likely to suffer breakdowns
due to traffi c accidents — though female drivers are more likely to lose
their car keys or damage their tyres,
AA data shows.
CHICmotoring
The third row also comes with air vents
Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI SE
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? — Direct-shift gearbox (DSG): The DSG — also known as twin-clutch transmission or dual-clutch transmission — is an automated
transmission that can change gears faster than any other geared transmission. DSG delivers more power and better control than a traditional automatic
transmission and faster performance than a manual transmission.
CHICmotoring
22 2324 25
● Opel Corsa Limited Edition 1.0 PetrolPRICE: from €19,395PCP Finance over three years: €329* per month (based on 10 per cent deposit)
There are three reasons people buy the Opel Corsa — it’s cheap to run, very easy to drive and now it parks itself.
There’s actually an option that steers the car into parking spaces for you — seriously, what more could you ask for?
When you fi rst sit down inside the latest Corsa you quickly realise how much the interior has been improved.
It offers four trim levels and comes in four different car models — Excite, SE, S, and the Limited Edition, which I got to test drive. You can choose from vibrant solids to shimmering metallic or pearlescents — my test drive car was fl ame red.
The Corsa is a rival to cars such as the Ford Fiesta, SEAT Ibiza, Kia Rio and Toyota Yaris. The current version is the fourth generation of Corsa — it’s been completely redesigned inside and out. The result is a car that feels more upmarket, with better-quality materials used inside and a more stylish exterior.
Petrol engines for the new model range from 70hp to the new 115hp high power, low thirst three-cylinder 1.0 Turbo engines with 90hp and 115hp. Plus there are 75PS 1.3CDTi engines.
Unlike a lot of models, the three and fi ve-door versions of the Corsa have a very different look. The three-door is more sporty — and space in the back is restricted as a result — while the fi ve-door
looks more upright. That’s because the fi ve-door is targeted at families, who have more need for space in the back.
The Corsa is one of the few cars in this sector to offer an optional heated steering wheel and now there’s also a heated
windscreen for quick starts on cold winter mornings, while the
heated seats are a welcome addition especially when you’re up early in the frosty mornings like I was.
A nice toasty butt makes the trip into work a much nicer experience!
The driver assistance features are German brilliance
— with Lane Departure Warning that audibly warns you if you leave
your lane without indicating and the Forward Collision Alert, which senses when a frontal crash may be about to happen and gives an audible warning and visual alert in the instrument display.
The supermini class is one of the most contested in the car industry and this Corsa is certainly making its presence felt.
WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?● Engine: 1.0 petrol direct injection
turbo start/stop ecoFLEX manual speed
● Power: 115bhpWHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?● Transmission: Six-speed manual,
front-engined, front-wheel drive● Body type: three-door (or fi ve-door)● Tax: €180 a year● Would suit: Singles and fi rst-time
drivers will love the sporty look of the three-door, while the fi ve-door version would is ideal for young families.
● BEST POINTS: It rides like a bigger car and only the best of the superminis can manage this. This lively 1.0 litre turbo petrol packs quite a punch — a fun car to drive.
● LOW POINTS: The leg-room in the back of the three-door can feel a little tight if you’ve got a lanky teenage nephew’s knees digging into the back of your seat.
www.opel.ie *fi nance: see p28
DID I LIKE IT? OF CORSA! — The Opel Corsa Limited Edition interior and (below): 1) Traffic Sign Assist; 2) Lane Departure Warning; 3) Following Distance Indication; 4) Forward Collision Alert
● Opel Corsa Limited Edition 1.0 Petrol
Opel Corsa Limited Edition 1.0 Petrol
and the Limited Edition, which I
choose from vibrant solids to
generation of Corsa — it’s been completely redesigned inside and out. The result is a car that feels more
windscreen for quick starts on cold winter mornings, while the
heated seats are a welcome addition especially when you’re up early in the frosty mornings like I was.
A nice toasty butt makes the trip into work a much nicer experience!
The driver assistance features are German brilliance
— with Lane Departure Warning that audibly warns you if you leave
your lane without indicating and the
✬AA HAS FOUND
that women won’t think twice about
calling them out to sort a puncture — whereas men
will defi nitely hesitate even when the wheel
nuts are machine-tightened.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? — Brake horse power (BHP): Car fi rms use this measurement to show how powerful their engine is. Torque is a turning moment; in an engine this moment is available at its fl ywheel. Brake horse power is the rate at which torque is applied. An increase in engine speed implies a decrease in torque. The faster your engine turns from rest, the greater the torque is applied, and so it has greater BHP.
CHICmotoring● Toyota Verso Aura 1.6 D-4DPRICE: from €28,810PCP Finance over three years: €575* per month (based on 10 per cent deposit)
When I grow up this is the car I want to drive — or more to the point, the car my parents wished I drove.
The Verso Aura received a welcome facelift in 2012, and in 2014 Totoya upped its game with the engine. The Japanese fi rm teamed up with German giants BMW and placed a 1.6 litre turbodiesel under the bonnet, replacing the old 2.0 litre unit — and it shows.
It no longer sounds as noisy and it still moves pretty well for a machine this big.
The engine noise only becomes apparent when you go above 80mph and the wind noise kicks up a bit, despite Verso’s extra soundproofi ng, but it doesn’t stop you enjoying the smooth ride.
One of the things I loved about the Verso, especially when driving in traffi c, is that its stop/start system is now standard and is engaged when the engine stops.
This clever little system means once the driver unbuckles his seatbelt, opens the door or turns the steering wheel, the engine will restart to warn the driver that the engine is still on, so you never actually cut out — bonus!
The style inside won’t blow you away, but then again as a family car it does exactly as it says on the tin.
It has plenty of little nooks and crannies dotted around. Driver and passenger seatback pockets, rear seat underfl oor storage compartment, front and rear door pockets, front and rear cup holders, coat
hooks and lots more. And when all the back seats are folded down, you could comfortably live back there!
Up front and in the middle row of seats there is plenty of room; it
does get a little tight in last row, but my advice is stick the more annoying kids back there and you’ll barely hear them up front!
It remains to be seen if the Verso will take many sales from the it’s South
Korean rivals Hyundai and Kia, but it’s defi nitely one to
watch.WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?
● Engine: 1.6 D-4D ● Power: 110bhpWHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?● Transmission: Six-speed manual,
front-wheel drive● Body type: Aura seven seater● Tax: €200 a year● Would suit: Families; especially those
with younger children.● BEST POINTS: You could fi t your entire
family in here plus the dog. My parents absolutely loved it. It’s easy to park for an MPV as it’s fairly compact.
● LOW POINTS: You may never get your parents out of this car. Also the touch screen can be a bit tricky to see when the sun is shining on it — not too much of a concern in rainy Ireland, but for an expensive gadget it would be nice to have a better protected screen from the glare.
www.toyota.ie *fi nance: see p28
MAKE VROOM — The Verso Aura offers enough room for a family to live in and (below) the driver seat is extremely comfy
Toyota Verso Aura 1.6 D-4D
Verso, especially when driving in
system is now standard and is
still on, so you never actually
The style inside won’t blow you away,
Up front and in the middle row of seats there is plenty of room; it
does get a little tight in last row, but my advice is stick the more annoying kids back there and you’ll barely hear them up front!
the Verso will take many sales from the it’s South
Korean rivals Hyundai and Kia, but it’s defi nitely one to
watch.WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?
● Engine: 1.6 D-4D
✬GET AN offi cial car history check with instant
reports available online from Motorcheck.ie.
Obtaining a check is super easy — just enter the reg,
choose a report, pay and view the
report.
26 27
● Skoda Fabia Style 1.2 TSI PRICE: from €18,195PCP Finance over three years: €270* per month (based on a 10 per cent deposit)
Since its debut back in 2000, over 3.4 million Fabia vehicles have been sold worldwide — and Skoka has very high hopes for the all new Fabia.
The car’s new look is hoping to broaden its appeal to younger buyers.
It took the prestigious Whatcar.com 2015 Car of The Year, and I can see why.
With air-con, 16” alloy wheels, rear parking sensors and rear electric windows as standard the Fabia is really good value for money.
It comes in three different categories — Active, Ambition and Style — and is available in 15 body colours.
ColourConcept can be used to select varying combinations for the roof, the A-pillars, the side-mirror housing, and 16” alloy wheels. Four combination colours are available: white, red, silver and black.
The Fabia offers plenty of room for passengers and their luggage. The passenger compartment is a little longer and wider than before, and the driver and
front passenger also have more headroom. In addition to cosmetic changes the
Fabia has received a completely new line-up of petrol and diesel engines.
The entry to the Fabia range comprises of two three-cylinder 1.0 MPI engines delivering 60bhp and 75bhp. In addition there are two new 1.2 TSI turbocharged engines delivering 90bhp and 110bhp.
The Fabia is an important model for the Czech brand, as it looks to regain market share in the highly competitive supermini sector from its main rivals Ford and Vauxhall.
Skoda hopes the Fabia could even steal sales away from the Polo, made by Skoda’s parent company Volkswagen.
The 1.2 litre engine I test drive is smooth and quiet, making the Fabia very relaxing and easy to drive. Which is not surprising as it has shed over 65kg over its predecessor. The engineers have reworked the power steering and added lightness so
it’s gente enough to whip around the roads easily.
WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?● Engine: 1.2 petrol with start/stop● Power: 90bhpWHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?● Transmission: Front wheel drive,
fi ve-speed manual● Body type: Five-door hatchback
● Tax: €190 a year● Would suit: A younger driver
with its fresh and youthful look; and it won’t break the bank.
● BEST POINTS: Unlike many other cars, the Fabia’s central screen has shortcut buttons at
either side to take you directly to the main features without
having to scroll through needless menus. It’s a superb small car that’s
practical, well equipped and cheap to run.● LOW POINTS: The interior is mostly
made up of various black textured plastics — apart from a single strip of gloss plastic across the dashboard — so it’s not as classy looking as its closest rivals Ford Fiesta and VW Polo. But for the price, well you could defi nitely live with it.
www.skoda.ie *fi nance: see p28
FEELING FABIA — The spacious boot (left) and (right) easy to use central screen; (below) the overall look of the Fabia is clean and youthful
FEELING FABIA — The spacious boot (left) and (right) easy to
Skoda Fabia Style 1.2 TSI
there are two new 1.2 TSI
its main rivals Ford and
Skoda hopes the Fabia could even steal sales away from the Polo, made
fi ve-speed manual● Body type: Five-door hatchback
● Tax: ●
with its fresh and youthful look; and it won’t break the bank.
●other cars, the Fabia’s central screen has shortcut buttons at
either side to take you directly to the main features without
having to scroll through needless menus. It’s a superb small car that’s
practical, well equipped and cheap to run.● LOW POINTS:
CHICmotoring
✬WOMEN CAN shop
around online for cheaper quotes with
insurance providers such as www.its4women.ie,
www.wheelsforwomen.ie and www.
zurichinsurance.ie (LadyStar Car
Insurance)
RED HOT — I felt sexy and stylish in the small and zippy A1; (below) interior and stunning front grille of the Audi
● Audi A1 Hatchback 1.0TFSI SEPRICE: from €20,800PCP Finance over three years €229* per month (based on a 10 per cent deposit)
The Audi A1 has proven a real success story for the brand — with over 500,000 cars sold worldwide since its market launch in 2010.
This compact model is now even more attractive thanks to improved interior and exterior design — so attractive in fact that four out of every fi ve customers who purchase an A1 are new to the Audi brand.
Launched in February 2015, the new Audi A1 catches the eye with sporty lines and a spacious and sophisticated interior.
The layout of its controls is clean, and fi ne chrome trim strips make it even more elegant.
The A1 is available with four engines — a 1.0 and 1.4-litre petrol, plus a 1.6-litre diesel.
A decidedly more powerful 2.0-litre petrol motor is exclusive to the S1 edition.
The 1.0 makes for a very decent run-around, although the 1.4 is better suited to motorway journeys. Only choose the diesel if you’re a regular motorway user or cover a lot of miles per year — as the petrols are smoother and quieter in everyday driving.
Effi cient engines also help towards excellent economy and CO2 emission fi gures, which keep running costs low.
There are three trim levels, each one bringing fi rmer suspension and bigger wheels as you step up the range. SE, Sport and S line are the Audi norm.
There are 12 exterior colours and endless colour and trim combinations available for customers to choose from, so you can have a truly unique car — women will love this.
What surprised me most was the low price of the entry level of the Audi A1 — making it one of the most desirable cars
around this year. While it’s the smallest and cheapest in the range it
defi nitely feels just as expensive and luxurious as you expect from an Audi.
When it comes to standard equipment, the entry-level SE car does fairly
well and should include everything most people need. You may want to spend extra
for the additional dash of style that the Sport model brings.
The only downside I could fi nd on this little beauty is the space in the rear.
While the space up front and the boot is decent, the Audi A1 is best suited to children rather than grown-ups in the back due to the sloping roofl ine.
It would be grand on short journeys but I wouldn’t travel too far with an extra long-legged friend back there.
That said I was up front driving so I was
quite happy!Would I buy it? In a heartbeat — it’s
zippy, looks super sexy and defi nitely leads the pack compared to premium compact cars such as the VW Polo and Mini Hatch in looks alone.
The steering is responsive and it can certainly be an enjoyable car to drive along a twisty road.
WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?● Engine: 1.0 petrol● Power: 95bhpWHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?● Transmission: Five-speed manual
front wheel drive● Body type: Three-door hatchback● Tax: €190 a year● Would suit: All the single ladies
would love this — mind you, so would any other lady, as it defi nitely turns heads.
● BEST POINTS: The Audi A1 is zippy and attractive and holds its value on re-sale. It’s enjoyable to drive and has great fuel economy — and did I mention it makes you feel sexy just driving it?
● LOW POINTS: The back seats in the three-door are a little tight for leg space.
I would recommend that as you delve deeper into the trims don’t get carried away with the lengthy options list — or you could fi nd yourself paying a lot extra.
www.audi.ie *fi nance: see p28
quite happy!
Audi A1 Hatchback 1.0TFSI SE
suited to motorway journeys. Only choose the diesel if you’re a
around this year. While it’s the smallest and cheapest in the range it
defi nitely feels just as expensive and luxurious as you expect from an Audi.
standard equipment, the entry-level SE car does fairly
well and should include everything most people need. You may want to spend extra
for the additional dash of style that the Sport model brings.
✬AUDI Ireland has
decided to directly address the stereo-
type that women are bad drivers in a Twitter
campaign. See #womendrivers
— very entertaining!
There are 12 exterior colours and
*ALL PCP prices may vary, check your dealer.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? — EURO 6 EMISSIONS STANDARDS: From September 2015, all new petrol and diesel cars must be compliant with these standards. The aim of the Euro 6 EU legislation is to make cars cleaner. This means lower levels of harmful car and van exhaust emissions that you may not have heard of such as nitrogen oxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (THC and NMHC) and particulate matter (PM), which is basically soot. The knock-on effect of reducing these can also mean better fuel economy.
28
CHICmotoring
● A Personal Contract Plan (PCP) is the new buzz word in motoring — it has rapidly become one of the most popular ways to fi nance the purchase of a new car in Ireland.
Getting a loan of some description is pretty much a given when buying a car — few us have ready cash in that sort of amount, and a PCP, with its temptingly low monthly repayments, often seems to be the best option.● It is effectively a lease — you never really own the car as such, but you pay a deposit (usually — but not always — covered by your trade-in) and then pay a monthly fee for usually 36 months before there’s a fi nal ‘bubble’ payment.
The clever thing about a PCP is that it allows car makers to take into account the likely depreciation of the vehicle and most companies guarantee the minimum value of the car at the end of the lease.
That value effectively covers the fi nal bubble payment, meaning you can, if you like, hand back the car and the keys at the end of the term and walk away debt free. ● Or you can, if you have saved up over the three years, make that fi nal payment (according to completecar.ie they’re generally in the region of about €5,000 for an average family car) and keep and own the car.
Or you can use the value left in the car over and above that bubble payment fi gure to become the deposit on your next car and simply roll the plan over into your new vehicle.
It’s a good way to keep your costs down as far as possible and it’s also a simple trick by the car makers to help encourage customer loyalty.● The things to watch with a PCP are the terms and conditions. Make sure, as with any contract, that you read all the fi ne print very carefully — there may be stipulations as to maintenance and vehicle condition, or that fi nal guaranteed value may become null and void. You may also have to have the car serviced at a main agent.
PCP: What you need to know
We are used to seeing celebs as brand ambassadors for everything from phones, medications, cosmetics, jewellery, clothing and of course cars,
writes Audrey Kane.Just last week Xpose babe
Karen Koster was announced as Ford’s new ambassador.
Taking delivery of a new Ford Kuga Titanium, Karen (34) revealed she can’t wait to get it on the road for a family break with baby Finn.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of the Ford Ireland family and to be named as a Ford ambassador,” Karen said.
“The Kuga is the ideal car for my hectic lifestyle since the arrival of baby Finn.
“It is really stylish and a defi nite head-turner and most importantly the Kuga has all the safety features to give me peace of mind. It also has plenty of space for the buggy and shopping bags.”
Meanwhile, presenter and mum-of-two Anna Daly has been a Seat Leon ambassador for the past couple of years, and says: “I am really impressed with the all new Seat Leon.
“It is a stylish looking car, great to drive and functional too with lots of space in the boot for the kids’ gear — ideal for my busy family life!”
Love/Hate actor Laurence Kinlan is another Seat brand ambassador.
Meanwhile Claudia Schiffer is European brand ambassador for Opel and says the Meriva is a
“fantastic” family car.Do celebrity endorsements work?I think they do. The same way having
ambassadors for beauty products like hairspray (think Cheryl Fernandez-Versini) may sway us, having someone endorse a car we are interested
in will work too — it’s a bit like buying into a certain lifestyle.
Take Victoria Beckham, who collaborated for the Range Rover
Evoque Special Edition in 2012 — surely an appeal for certain yummy mummy types.
Meanwhile Porsche recently signed Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, in a bid to
attract more women to the largely male
dominated brand.Back home we have Roz
Purcell for the Opel Adam, Kathryn Thomas for Audi, Amy Huberman for Land Rover and Rosanna
Davison for the VW Golf —
the list goes on.“The reality is
people want a piece of something they can’t be,”
says Eli Portnoy, a branding strategist. “They live vicariously through the products
and services that those celebrities are tied to.”Personally, I think women are probably more
infl uenced by celebs in consumer choices than men. Also, we females tend to be the main decision makers in big family purchases so this puts ladies fi rmly in the driving seat!
What’s the wheel deal with brand ambassadors?
CELEB LIFESTYLE — Anna Daly and Laurence Kinlan for Seat (below) Kathryn Thomas for Audi and Claudia Schiffer endorses Opel
NEXT WEEK IN PART 2 WE TEST DRIVE THE NEW OPEL ASTRA; AUDI A3 E-TRON; ADAM ROCKS; SEAT LEON; SEAT IBIZA AND TOYOTA RAV4 SOL
email [email protected]