Dri

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Issue 1 July 2013

Contents.

4-7 JIM MALLINDERAn interview with the sporting legend.

8 VINDIS VAN CENTRE LAUNCHLooking back on the launch of the flagship Vindis Van Centre in Northampton.

9 TRAVIS PERKINS BREAKFAST MORNINGSThe partnership with Travis Perkins PLC continues to blossom.

10-11 EAST ANGLIA’S CHILDREN’S HOSPICES (EACH)A year of success, raising money for a worthwhile local charity.

12-15 OLLY MURS CONCERT IN PICTURESHeart FM presents Olly Murs, in association with the Vindis Group.

16 GET CONNECTED WITH USIntroducing the Vindis Group Social Media accounts.

17-19 NEW CONTINENTAL FLYING SPURThe much anticipated new Bentley Flying Spur turns heads.

20-21 A3 SPORTBACKThe What Car? Car of the year makes an entrance into the market.

22-23 ŠKODA OCTAVIAThe new look ŠKODA combines elegance with practicality.

24-27 NEW GOLF MARK VIIAn icon has been reborn.

28 DRIVEN BY EXPERIENCEThe Vindis Group; a family run business that aims to deliver a professional and personal experience.

29-31 THE AWARDS...It’s been a successful year so far for the VAG group.

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Hello and welcome to Driven, the Vindis Group’s trimesterly magazine.

Over the coming editions we will be bringing you all of the latest news from the Group, as well as, reviews of cars and vans, interviews with some outstanding business professionals, and other lifestyle information. All of it designed to bring information, knowledge and interest to you, our customers.

In this edition, we will be looking at some of the amazing new products that we have landing in our showrooms, exploring the fast paced world of Social Media and seeing how we integrate it into a considered marketing strategy, as well as introducing Jim Mallinder – Director of Rugby at Northampton Saints Rugby Club - for an insight into life at the highest end of British sport.

If you have any thoughts that you would like shared with us, any ideas for stories that you would like included, or businesses and individuals you would like to highlight to us, please email us at driven@vindisgroup.com

Until then; I hope you enjoy Issue 1 of Driven!

Jamie VindisManaging DirectorVindis Group

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Jim MallinderAn honest and insightful interview with Northampton Saints’ Director of Rugby

4 Image courtesy of www.redhatphoto.com

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Over the years, the Vindis Group has developed a close partnership with both Northampton Saints rugby club and their Director of Rugby, Jim

Mallinder. This relationship started at Northampton Audi and is now continuing through Vindis Van Centre Northampton.

Jim has been driving Audi’s during this time from the Vindis Group and Driven went to speak to him about cars and, of course, rugby.

His rugby career started at Sale Sharks as a fullback, where he stayed for 15 years as a player and a coach. He was an uncompromising player whose sheer size was complemented by speed and game understanding.

He was formerly a P.E and Mathematics teacher at William Hulme’s Grammar School in Manchester before the game turned professional. Teaching’s loss became rugby’s gain.

When he retired from playing in 2001, after nearly 400 games for Sale and two England caps, he was appointed as the Sharks’ Head Coach. In his first season he took the Sharks from 11th to 2nd in the Premiership and their first Heineken Cup qualification. In 2002, he led Sale to the Parker Pen Shield, now the European Challenge Cup, and their first silverware.

In 2004, he left Sale to take up a post in the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) National Academy. Working with former England coach Brian Ashton, he masterminded the England Under 21s into winning the Under 21s’ version of the Six Nations in 2006 with a clean sweep of six wins out of six. He was also named by UK Sport in their prestigious Elite Coach scheme.

He was subsequently handed the reins of the England Saxons, where he had an impressive record of 15 wins from 16 matches. His last match in charge saw the Saxons defeat the New Zealand Maori’s at Twickenham to win the Churchill Cup.

In June 2007, Jim took up his post at Northampton Saints, and has, from the very beginning, brought success. Jim looks back with fondness and wonders where the last six years have gone.

“I’m coming up to the end of my sixth season here. It does seem like it was only yesterday that I started.”

“At the time the club was in the first division and had just got relegated so were in the Championship. It was the potential and the history here that sold it to me, as well as Keith Barwell, the then Saints Chairman and his vision for moving the club forward.”

It did not take long for Jim to turn around the club’s fortunes sealing promotion straight back to the Premiership at the first attempt.

“We did particularly well in the first year, we went unbeaten and we got straight back into the Premiership, which is where we wanted to be and felt we should be.”

In their first season back in the top flight of English rugby, Saints finished a creditable eighth and also reached the semi-finals of the Anglo-Welsh Cup - where they were beaten by eventual champions, Cardiff Blues. Success did come in the European Challenge Cup. An unbeaten pool campaign was followed by victories over Connacht and Saracens in the knockout stages before defeating Bourgoin at the Twickenham Stoop to lift their first piece of major silverware in ten years. This also secured a place in the Heineken Cup, the premier competition of European club rugby, in the process.

More trophies were put into the cabinet in each of the first three seasons Jim was in charge including the LV=

Cup in 2009/10 beating Gloucester. Jim also improved league form and in the same season Saints finished second in the Premiership, their highest position for a decade, winning more games than any other side that season. In the process, they secured a first home play-off semi-final in the club’s history but unfortunately were beaten. That season Saints went further in the Heineken Cup than any other English team before losing to Irish side, Munster, in the Quarter-Finals.

The following year, in 2010/11, Mallinder became the first coach to guide a team unbeaten through the Heineken Cup pool stages and all the way to the final. At the Millennium Stadium, despite holding a commanding first half lead, Saints were beaten 33-22 by Leinster in one of the best finals in years. That season, a good league campaign saw Saints again reach the Premiership knockout stages.

“Along the way we picked up a few trophies, winning the Amlin Cup and the European Challenge Cup and we’ve come very close to winning the Heineken Cup two years ago. Getting to the final was a tremendous achievement; it was a big disappointment not to win it. To come so close was a real achievement for the club.”

Another final would follow in 2011/12 - the LV= Cup once more - and while that game with Leicester, along with an Aviva Premiership Rugby semi-final at Harlequins, would end in defeat it was another competitive season from an injury, and internationally, depleted Saints squad.

All this success has been achieved by Jim in such a short amount of time with the club. A very impressive resume, but he has always sets himself goals and despite being so close on numerous occasions is yet to win one of the two big competitions.

“You do want to win trophies and you want to win as many as you can. That is why we’re in the game. We want to be one of Europe’s top teams and be competing consistently.”

Although Jim had to change many things in order to turn the fortunes of the club around so quickly, when looking back, developing young talent is top of the list.

“We’ve always been very concerned with developing players. We did have a couple of internationals when I arrived but what we have done is brought a lot of younger players with potential and developed them into current internationals. We’ve got six currently in England’s 32-man squad.”

“I think one of the things we’ve been really proud of is to see players develop and not just for England but for other nations too.”

In the current English game, Jim recognises the need to constantly look at developing players from the local region.

“There is no salary cap in France, like there is here and it does restrict us so I think what we’ve got to do is get the balance right between bringing in the odd overseas player of quality and combine that with developing our own local talent. We’ve put a lot of resource into that and the academy staff here have done a tremendous job.

“We’ve had about five players involved in England’s Under-20 team and we’ve got lots of players under 18 and 16 coming through, it is a really good sign for the future.”

“I think if we can get local home grown players coming through the system then I think that the supporters relate to them even more.”

“We’ve had a bit of an up and down season. We won our

“I think one of the things we’ve been really proud of is to see players develop and not just for England but

for other nations too.”

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“It was the potential and the history here that sold it to me”

first five games and were right at the top of the league, and then we went through a little bit of a dip just before and after Christmas. We’ve come out of that and had great end to the season that saw us reach the final at Twickenham.”

The end of this season culminated with the Saints playing rivals Leicester Tigers in a controversial match at Twickenham in which they lost 37-17.

With the success that Jim has brought to Northampton over the last six years, it was no surprise that he found himself in the media spotlight as one of the leading contenders to replace Martin Johnson as England coach before current boss, Stuart Lancaster was appointed back in March 2012.

When looking towards the future, as well as winning trophies and developing young hungry talent, Jim feels that Saints’ fans, and the wider Northampton community, is core to any future success.

“We see our supporters as very important, we want to be a club where we are close to our supporters and they feel part of the club. I think we’re working hard at developing that relationship. The players now eat in the side bar so that really brings players closer to the supporters.

“We’ve also reintroduced the open day, which gives them the chance to walk round the stadium, meet the players and to go into the gym. We’ll put a few things on, we’ll have a bit of a media room and show interviews, we’ll have the players go out on the pitch and

practice passing, things like that.”These open days are run at the end of the

season. When talking about cars, Jim doesn’t claim

to be much of a petrol head, but did discuss some of the cars he’s driven. “I’m currently in an A6 Allroad. Very appropriate for this time of year and very handy particularly with me living in a Northampton village. I think with the rain that we’ve had, and with the snow and ice, to have a car like the Allroad has been absolutely fantastic.”

“With teenagers who are roomy, my son is 6’ 5”, I need the space. Certainly when he, my daughter and my wife are travelling together it is a fantastic car to have”

“I think probably the car that stands out would be the A7. I just really enjoyed driving it, just a personal taste really. Probably not quite as suitable for the family, but I really did enjoy that. It had that little bit of acceleration and that little bit of class. A lot of people said to me ‘I like the look of your car’ and there didn’t seem to be that many on the road so it felt unique.”

We thank Jim for his continued support for the Vindis Group and wish Northampton Saints and all their players, staff and supporters all the best for the future.

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“A lot of people said to me ‘I like the look of your car’ ”

The latest venture in the Vindis Group portfolio was the opening of Vindis Van Centre Northampton on Tuesday 6th November 2012. The launch week featured many

attractions that engaged with the local Northampton community, and marked the start of an exciting and prosperous partnership with staff, customers and local businesses.

Vindis Van Centre Northampton is the latest addition to the network of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Centres in the Group, to add to our Van Centre in St. Ives, Cambridgeshire and our Van Service Centre on Cowley Road in Cambridge. It is supplying New and Used Volkswagen Commercial and Lifestyle vehicles, as well as, servicing for all makes and models in a fully equipped state-of-the-art workshop.

The new Van Centre has been praised by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as being a flagship showroom for the brand and is a great environment for both the Vindis Group employees who work there and the valued customers we welcome on a daily basis.

The Centre was officially opened by the local rugby team, Northampton Saints. Director of Rugby, Jim Mallinder, was joined by players, Paul Doran-Jones, Callum Clark and Stephen Myler, as well as Saints mascot Bernie, to cut the ribbon.

To begin the launch week, there was a ‘Penalty Shoot Out’ with Northampton Town Football Club at the new Van Centre. Local junior football teams were invited to attend and all participants received a free branded water bottle courtesy of the Van Centre.

Since the launch, Vindis Van Centre has welcomed many

visitors through its doors and has seen a very successful start to its first year in business. Brand Manager, Dan Ellis has a clear vision to provide a unique customer experience that is second to none, long into the future.

Speaking of the launch, Dan said: “Our strategy is clear; we want to create an environment where the business and lifestyle customer receives a retail experience in a dynamic mode. For us to integrate with our community we need to appreciate and understand it. That is why our launch week was focused so primarily on creating this environment. It doesn’t stop at the launch though, it is important to us that every single person who enters our showroom receives the same high level of quality service and customer experience.”

Shane Fenwick, Vindis Group Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Brand Director, commented on the launch of Vindis Van Centre Northampton: “The launch of our new Van Centre in Northampton has been truly fantastic. The feedback that we are receiving locally has been very positive and the activities and integration with local businesses has been a key factor in this.

“It is always great to see such a large investment really take shape, and to see the staff really enjoying their work and providing excellent results at the same time. A job well done so far, but as always we are continuing to look for business improvements.”

Vindis Van Centre Northampton looks forward to welcoming visitors at its new premises on Gambrel Road, Northampton.

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Saints cut the ribbon to launch the new flagship Vindis Van Centre.

The Vindis Group has been delighted to announce a partnership with Travis Perkins PLC, where we hosted a number of breakfast mornings leading up

to the launch of the Vindis Van Centre in Northampton. The events were so successful that we decided to continue them throughout 2013.

Both our Van Centres in Northampton and St. Ives are now hosting breakfast mornings in Travis Perkins PLC stores in and around Northampton, Huntingdon and Cambridgeshire. Travis Perkins PLC own Wickes, City Plumbing, Key Line Builders Merchants and Plumbing Trade Services, where we have also attended with our breakfast mornings.

These events have allowed us to meet prospective Commercial Vehicle owners unaware of the services we provide including Sales, Service and Van Rental. Travis Perkins’ customers are welcomed with a smile and a selection of treats, whilst a specialist member of our team is on hand to discuss anything the customer requires, in a friendly, relaxed environment. It is important that we not only raise awareness of our Van Centres but also get feedback about how we can improve our services to meet the needs of our customers.

Andy Ellis, a customer who attended an event in March, said: “I would like to thank the Vindis staff, Jayne and Rob, for their help with the purchase of my new Volkswagen Transporter.”

He continued: “I had been meaning to call into the new

showroom in Northampton but hadn’t got round to it. After chatting to Jayne in Travis Perkins I arranged to go in, and then purchased a new vehicle.”

Not only has our relationship with the customers grown through these breakfast mornings, we have also been creating long-lasting partnerships with local businesses. Richard Hadkiss, Assistant Manager at Plumbing Trade Supplies, said: “Customers are very pleased to see these products advertised and I’ve been very happy with the service offered by the Vindis representatives here at the breakfast mornings. We will be pleased to see them come back.”

Shane Fenwick, Vindis Group Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Brand Director, commented on the success of the Breakfast Mornings: “We are extremely pleased with the support that we have been given by Travis Perkins. Their approach in allowing us to having a seamless working partnership has been great for us to integrate in to the Northampton community and to promote our business, our staff and the super Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle range.

“The partnership with Travis Perkins has continued to grow and flourish further and we plan to have a very long term business partnership with them for many years to come.”

We will be holding two breakfast mornings every month so keep an eye out on when we are next in a Retailer near you and come and have a coffee, a chocolate bar and a chat. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Travis Perkins breakfast mornings - the most important start to the day.

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After a successful launch evening at Bentley Cambridge on January 11th

2013, we watched the beginning of an exciting and prosperous partnership with the local charity East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) come together.

Asking for a simple donation from the 200 guests that attended the

launch of the first Bentley dealership to come to the historic town of Cambridge, we began fundraising. Little to know what else was to come with this blossoming partnership, not only with Bentley Cambridge but with F Vindis & Sons Norwich, the second Bentley dealership within the Vindis Group.

Vindis Bentley, and the driving force behind their corporate fundraising, Steve Millward have raised over £10,000 in the first year of opening for EACH. We have made new friends along the way and EACH supporters have also had the opportunity to attend Bentley events too.

The funds raised are being used to deliver vital care to children and young people with life threatening conditions, wherever the family wishes. This care is provided in the hospice at Milton, in the community or in the child’s home. These services include

short term break care, specialist play activities, music therapy, hydrotherapy, parent and sibling groups, care at end of life and bereavement support for all family members.

Their highly skilled care teams help children and their families with the emotional and physical challenges they face, helping them to make the most of life.

It’s been a fabulous year with a number of exciting events. A ladies evening was hosted on the emptied mezzanine flooring of the Bentley Cambridge showroom. It was an evening of entertainment highlighted by a fabulous catwalk show presented by the local fashion boutique, Anne Furbank, which featured beautiful, hand-picked clothes from around the world. The temptation continued with a luxury ‘Market Place’ featuring

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) A partnership we treasure.

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, the things we don’t see.• Day care in the family home, hospice or both.• Emergency 24-hour telephone support• Therapies - music, occupational, hydro and physio• They rely on voluntary donations for the majority of income and need to raise almost £6 million to deliver their services each year, that’s £16,000 a day, every day of the year.

“It’s been a fabulous year with a number of exciting

events.”“Vindis Bentley, and the

driving force behind their corporate fundraising, Steve Millward, have raised over £10,000 in the first year of

opening for EACH”

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bespoke designs from Cellini Jewellers, Mappin & Webb and the exclusive range from Bentley Eyeware. Guests flocked to the adorable Bentley Bears, which were sold on the evening with all profits donated to EACH.

Steve Millward, Head of Vindis Bentley, said: “Having been to visit the EACH hospice in Milton, I have seen for myself the great work the charity does and how any fundraising goes to help.

“We are very fortunate to work for, and with luxury brands, and although we are raising money for a serious charity we have had a lot of fun in the process. I’d like to thank all our partners for their support and those who attended our events for their generosity.”

Earlier this year, Vindis Bentley was a main sponsor of the Norfolk Wedding Show, where guests were given the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win a Bentley for their special day. All proceeds raised from this competition, that was held across the weekend, were donated to EACH.

The events also included a dynamic driving day at Alconbury airfield which

saw customers put the Bentleys through their paces. All the time, under instruction from the Bentley driving team so they could fully explore the cars’ outstanding performance and abilities. Even in the cold British winter, the team from Vindis Bentley and EACH managed to enjoy the driving experiences.

Denise Norris-Fenn, Partnership Manager for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices said: “Vindis Bentley are clearly demonstrating their corporate social responsibility, while creating innovative fundraising opportunities for EACH at these events.”

Denise continued: “Vindis Bentley make a difference, help to drive us forward and make a positive impact on the work of EACH. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices need to raise almost £6 million to deliver our services this year. We continue to develop the quality and range of

our services to meet the needs of children, young people and their families. The number of families we support continues to rise.

“Vindis Bentley, Steve Millward and the team have joined us in raising much needed funds, helping to provide care and support EACH step of the way and we wholeheartedly give thanks for such a successful, worthwhile and genuine working partnership.”

In May 2013, Denise Norris-Fenn presented Steve Millward with a prestigious fundraising award, to celebrate raising over £10,000 in 2012 for EACH.

None of this would have been possible without the help and support from their strong business relationships with the Jockey Club, Anne Furbank and Cellini Jewellery.

The award marks a year of exciting fundraising events, and the development of not only a partnership, but a friendship with EACH. Vindis Bentley look forward to the year ahead, as they continue to fundraise for the local charity.

“We wholeheartedly give thanks for such a successful, worthwhile and genuine working

partnership.”

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The Olly Murs concert at Peterborough Embankment, in

association with the Vindis Group.3

The Vindis Group were lead sponsors of a concert at the Embankment in Peterborough on Sunday 2nd June, 2013. The concert was headlined by

Olly Murs, with support from Tich, Ed Drewitt, Diana Vickers and Stooshe.

There was a sea of white Vindis Group trilby hats on show in the crowd and even Olly himself donned one of our hats during a rendition of one of his hits.

We asked the crowds to join in and tweet and facebook us their pictures in their Olly hats with the hashtag #ohmyhat.

Approximately 15,000 people from across the region attended the event and basked in glorious sunshine.

We’d like to share our Olly fever with you...

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The Vindis Group teamed up with local radio station Heart FM on Sunday 2nd June 2013, to present the Olly Murs concert to 16,000 fans.14

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At the Vindis Group, we like to engage in conversation with our customers in as many ways as we can. This way, we let you know what is happening within our centres and bring

you the latest news from our manufacturers. Not only is it a great way for you to keep up to date with us but we can also hear what you have to say. We would love to hear if you’re picking up your new car or if you’ve received great service and anything else that you may have to tell us.

As well as the Vindis Group Twitter and Facebook pages, we have accounts for each of our manufacturer brands including; Vindis Audi, Vindis Bentley, Vindis ŠKODA, Vindis Volkswagen and Vindis Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

This will allow you to keep up to date with the latest news from the manufacturers, our centres and from the Vindis group with a mixture of industry news, games, competitions, events and much, much more.

We would love you to get involved and you could even win fantastic prizes from our competitions, like winner Janet White, who won £1,000 for telling us her favourite thing about the Golf, in celebration of the Golf Mark VII launch. More recently we have given away preview tickets for an exclusive Audi showing of Marvel’s Iron Man 3 before it was released in cinema’s and VIP tickets to the Olly Murs concert in Peterborough.

Start liking, sharing and re-tweeting our content on Facebook and Twitter and join the conversation.

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@vindisvw@vindisskoda@vindisaudi@vindisbentley@vindisvwcv@vindisgroup

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It’s here.17

Introducing the new Continental Flying Spur.

The new Bentley Continental Flying Spur defines all that encompasses a Bentley. It combines ultimate saloon luxury, power

and performance to deliver the ultimate motoring experience.

Making its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March earlier this year, the 2013 Flying Spur is Bentley’s most powerful four-door model ever and features state-of-the-art technology.

Behind the elegant yet muscular exterior design, the 6.0-litre, twin-turbo W12 engine coupled with an eight-speed transmission can propel the Flying Spur from 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 200 mph. The new Flying Spur features more power than any other four-door Bentley in history. The new chassis strengthens the car yet leaves it more aerodynamic and 50 kilos lighter than its predecessor.

The side feature line runs along the car from the rear wheel arch in parallel with the low roof, down to its hand-fitted chrome front grille. The bi-Xenon headlights with daylight-running LEDs complete a powerful visage when viewed from head on. Finally, new 19-inch tyres have higher sidewalls to improve ride comfort, while drivers can select from four suspension settings.

From the sharp lines of its super-formed aluminium exterior to the hand-crafted hides and veneers that adorn the interior, the expertise of Bentley’s craftsmen is evident throughout. Every seam in the A-Grade leather is individually sewn. Every layer of veneer is lacquered and polished by hand, the entire

cabin has been hand-fitted and tested to ensure exact Bentley perfection.

Inside, virtually every element of the cabin has been redesigned to create the very last word in luxury; encased by a tasteful leather and wood veneer environment. This is combined seamlessly with state-of-the-art technology at the driver’s and passenger’s fingertips. Touch-screen infotainment and mobile connectivity including Wi-Fi, plus a rear seat entertainment suite that has a bespoke hand-held touchscreen remote, all make for advanced technology from the comfort of pure luxury.

The Bentley Premium Audio System delivers unprecedented sound. Each of the 11 Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) speakers combines all the functions of a regular speaker into one compact and neat unit, positioned around the car to provide optimum audio pleasure with incredible clarity.

Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, Bentley chairman and chief executive, says: “The new Bentley Flying Spur marks a big step forward. We have redesigned and re-engineered almost every part of the car. In simple words, we have created the best luxury sedan in the world – a perfect combination of exquisite refinement, effortless performance, elegant styling and state-of-the-art technology.”

In true Bentley tradition, every aspect of the new Flying Spur is designed and crafted to perfection. The objective is simple, it combines traditional Bentley styling with an athletic design to be the very best in luxury and performance.

Introducing the new Continental Flying Spur.

The Audi A3 Sportback.

The A3 Sportback has arrived with great impact, winning the prestigious What Car? Car of the Year award before it even went on show in our

five Audi Centres.The A3 Sportback was received very well by

customers at our preview events that led up to its March launch. This followed on from the successful launch of the all new A3 3-door model last autumn.

Starting at £19,825 on the road, the Audi A3 Sportback features a brand new exterior design, stunning interior layout and huge efficiency improvements from its predecessor. This is thanks to lightweight engineering and a range of efficient engines.

Although naturally heavier than its 3-door counterpart, the new A3 Sportback provides an extra 35mm in the wheelbase, 15 litres of load space and 380 litres of boot space making it a highly practical family car.

With reduced weight, improved technology and increased space, the A3 Sportback has been refined in all the right ways. Fuel efficiency is also at the heart of the A3 with start/stop technology as standard. Plus, with its recuperation system, kinetic energy is converted into useful electrical energy, which is temporarily stored in the battery. When the vehicle accelerates, this energy is used to relieve the load on the alternator, resulting in a fuel saving of up to 3%.

The 2.0-litre TDI A3 Sportback engine offers 150bhp and all the performance you would expect from a diesel hot hatch. It covers 0-60mph in 8.4 seconds.

Inside the A3 and A3 Sportback are many technological advancements and features; from simple details such as the electromechanical handbrake, a switch that replaces the traditional lever system to MMI navigation plus, which includes a powerful hard disk providing incredibly sharp and detailed navigation mapping with 3D capability and “jukebox” music storage capacity.

The MMI Touch fingertip recognition system, which for the first time is built into the rotary control, enables navigation and phone entries to be “written” with a fingertip.

The acclaimed MMI radio with its 11 millimetre-thin electric folding screen displays satellite navigation, audio, and driver information. It also offers voice control for many of its telephone and Audi system functions.

Mobile Phone Preparation High with Audi connect brings Google Earth, Google Street View, Audi online traffic information and internet access to the car. All complemented by the 705-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system option which projects crisp and clear sound.

The list of high performance driver assistance aids does not just stop here with many more safety features available including Audi Parking System Plus, which provides all-round parking assistance.

There is an optional reversing camera, providing a 130˚ view in the MMI screen. This helps with visibility, with blind spots minimised allowing the driver to park effortlessly in even the tightest of parking spots.

When activated, the impressive Park Assist option scans the side of the road for spaces large enough to accommodate the A3 Sportback for both reverse and parallel parking spaces. It alerts the driver when it finds one. When the car is pulled up alongside the space and reverse is selected, the steering wheel is controlled automatically to establish the correct parking line, while the driver simply controls the speed of the car.

Outside the car, the sleek styling is complimented by slimline Xenon headlights, which not only look stunning but project a distinctive blue-white brightness that is twice as powerful as traditional halogen bulbs. This makes driving in poor weather or at night less tiring and altogether safer. Distinctive LED daytime-running lights provide light during daytime, and thanks to innovative technology, consumes less energy. They have a considerably longer working life than standard dipped lights.

The RS3 and Saloon models will follow later this year, with the S3 model open for ordering now. With the success of the A3 and A3 Sportback, the rest of the models in this range look to follow suit. Look out for the model launches at our Audi Centres in the near future.

“With reduced weight, improved technology and increased space, the A3 Sportback has been refined in all

the right ways. “

“Mobile Phone Preparation High with Audi connect brings Google Earth, Google Street View, Audi

online traffic information and internet access to the car. “

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Built for the future, designed from legacy.

The new ŠKODA Octavia arrived in Vindis ŠKODA showrooms in Cambridge and Bury St. Edmunds on March 16, and is the second model

to embody the brand’s bold new design language and is the third model to wear the new logo. Never before has an Octavia appeared as dynamic and at the same time as timelessly elegant, distinctive, refined and assured on the road.

Compared to its predecessor, the Octavia has grown significantly in length and width and is now one of the roomiest cars in its class. The new model is 90mm longer and 45mm wider than its second generation predecessor. At the same time, the wheelbase has grown by 108mm, further benefiting the interior dimensions. With the increase in size comes a natural increase in interior space, highlighted by the boot. You access it through a wide, high-opening tailgate and there’s room

for 590 litres of luggage.Certainly the list of standard equipment is extremely

generous; the base S models get alloy wheels, an eight-speaker DAB radio, Bluetooth, leather steering wheel, air-con and engine stop/start. Elegance trims add satellite-navigation, larger alloys, leather seats, cruise control and automatic lights and wipers. Every model comes with a touch-screen infotainment system, which features clear menus and handy shortcut buttons.

On the outside, its sharp, precise lines and bold new design makes the new Octavia a head-turner on the road. It’s set off by the tornado line, highlighting its coupé-like silhouette. A total of 12 colours are available for the exterior; three solid paints in Candy White, Corrida Red, and Pacific Blue, as well as nine striking metallic options. That’s not all; it has just been awarded the coveted 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating, making the

The new ŠKODA OctaviaSetting a new benchmark in this

Simply Clever Saloon.

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Octavia stylish yet safe.The new Octavia can be ordered with optional Bi-

Xenon Headlights on SE and Elegance models. They provide outstanding luminescence and also thanks to the Adaptive Frontlight System (AFS) function they can easily adapt to various driving conditions. Daytime running lights improve safety through increasing other road users awareness of the vehicle whilst using less energy than the main headlights.

The interior impresses with its elegant horizontal lines and generous amounts of space. The bold dashboard rail provides the interior with a refined feel and means that the driver has a clear and optimised view of the instruments. Clarity and precision are a recurring theme in all aspects of the interior.

Innovative technology and attention to comfort and the safety of the driver and passengers has been a priority. The Multi-Media Infotainment System is conveniently located in the centre console. The newly developed systems feature touch screen displays of up to 8-inches in size with proximity sensors fitted as standard on SE models and above. This houses the radio and navigation, which is standard on Elegance trim. The multi-media system is also capable of communicating with mobile devices via Bluetooth or USB cable.

The new ŠKODA Octavia ticks the boxes for style, space, performance, practicality and for fuel consumption and CO2 emission figures too, thanks to the introduction of new technologies, improved aerodynamics and reduced vehicle weight.

It is available with four engine options to choose from, two petrol and two diesel options, which are equipped with stop/start and Energy Recovery as standard and emit from as little as 99g/km CO2 (1.6 TDI CR 105PS DPF).

Model: Octavia Elegance HatchPrice: £21,090Engine: 1.6 4cyl, 105bhpTransmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive0-62mph: 10.8secondsTop speed: 121mphEconomy: 74.3mpg CO2: 99g/kmEquipment: Alloys, Bluetooth, DAB radio, Sat-nav, 8-inch touchscreen

23

Welcome to the Seventh Generation.

The eagerly anticipated Volkswagen Golf Mark VII has arrived, and picked up Europe’s Car of the Year award along the

way.The new Golf impressed the awards panel with

its brilliant fuel economy, new safety features, practicality, design, comfort and technological features. The Golf’s nearest rivals were half the points behind. Every generation of the Golf since its debut in 1974 has placed within the top three of the Car of the Year awards; however, this is only the second time the vehicle has won.

With nearly 30 million sales since its launch in the 70’s, the new Golf continues to reinforce its iconic status time after time. Many fantastic features that you would usually find in a luxury car are available as standard from this small family favourite. Despite being completely rebuilt from the ground up, the new looks are subtle so the new model is instantly recognisable.

Primarily, the Golf’s now bigger. This has increased interior space and also made the boot space larger.

Despite the hike in size, the new Golf is up to 100kg lighter than the old model. It also benefits from additional options, more standard equipment and a new range of engines.

One of the most appealing versions of the new

Golf - to company car drivers at least - will be the efficient 1.6-litre diesel model in entry level “S” specification with BlueMotion Technology.

Volkswagen’s new lightweight MQB platform is made from a lighter steel construction, making the Golf weigh 23kg less than its predecessor. The high grade construction increases fuel economy and durability, whilst still able to improve safety. It has been designed to be completely flexible to fit the sizes of the Polo through to Passat and will underpin upcoming Volkswagen group front-drive models.

Every model will have a lower Vehicle Excise Duty band than the version it replaces and the popular 1.6TDI 105PS engine now only emits 99g/km of CO2, making it exempt from road tax and the congestion charge.

Across the Golf range there’s been a 14% improvement in fuel consumption, and with residual values set to improve and a fall in insurance ratings makes this one of the most

The new Golf Mark VII A revolution in classic design

“Despite being completely rebuilt from the ground up, the new looks

are subtle so the new model is instantly recognisable.”

26

cost effective Golf’s yet.The improved steering uses a variable ratio

system that makes the steering more receptive and agile. This ensures high-speed stability on motorways and easy manoeuvring through towns.

A great feature is lane-keeping assistance, where the driver is warned by a vibration through the steering wheel, rather than sounding an alert, when the vehicle has veered off course.

A similar feature is the Fatigue Detection System. Once driving commences, the Golf will start to monitor the driving style and records the driver’s reactions. As the driver continues to drive, the car will alert them if it notices a change and will advise them to take a break.

There is also Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which monitors the car in front and matches their speed. The Golf Mark VII will do this at motorway speeds and through urban traffic, all the way through to completely stopping.

The Golf Mark VII is available with built-in Wi-Fi, which is offered to passengers and the driver whilst

connected to a hotspot. This can be tapped into with the signal from a tablet or smartphone.

When driving at night, the Golf Mark VII will automatically activate and de-activate the high beam lights, so when it detects an oncoming vehicle. This means that when a vehicle is coming towards you, the car will automatically dim the lights, then reactivate full beam once it has passed.

Altogether the new features and advance technologies have raised the bar once again, leaving the rest of the competitors to follow.

The new Golf Mark VII has revolutionised its market whilst retaining its iconic design. With advanced technology and impressive new design features, it’s not a surprise it is the World Car of The Year 2013. The GTI and GTD models are set to follow suit.

“...the new Golf is up to 100kg lighter than the old model.”

27

Das Auto.Commercial

Vehicles

The Vindis Group is a family run business that has grown by delivering both a personal and professional service. With a network of retailers spanning five counties, the Vindis Group offer full Sales and Aftersales facilities. Combining the skills and knowledge of a team with decades of

motor industry experience, we will ensure that all aspects of your vehicle purchase and maintenance are efficiently managed.

Founded in 1960 by Frank Vindis, a former World War II Czech spitfire pilot, the first retailer was opened in Sawston, Cambridgeshire and since then the business has continued to expand to its current portfolio of 17 Audi, Bentley, Skoda, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle outlets.

Furthermore, we have two trade parts divisions located in Bishop’s Stortford and Cambridge; a Head Office function in Huntingdon; and a large Fleet Centre situated at Alconbury Airfield.

The Vindis Group employs in excess of 650 staff. It has a passionate and committed team, including many long serving and experienced staff, some serving for over 30 years. As the business has grown through the generations, the Vindis family aim to ensure that they still maintain the core values that Frank Vindis built the company upon - honesty, integrity, respect and care.

Jamie Vindis, Managing Director at Vindis Group, said “It is not our intention to be the biggest motor group in the UK but to be the most recognised for our commitment to exceeding both business objectives and customer expectations.”

We look forward to welcoming you to a Vindis Group retailer in the near future.

28

So far this year we have had awards for Best Film, Best Actor, but more importantly, Car of the Year. For car manufacturers the What Car? and European Car Awards are the equivalent to the Oscars and are still as much a black tie event as any of their motion picture counterparts. Of course, some of the cars

were even present at those awards such as the Audi A8, a car that has been seen more on the red carpet this year than Anne Hathaway.

A rewarding year so far for the VAG Group

ŠKODA ‘COTY’ 2013 CarBuyer Awards

ŠKODA has also received honours in 2013 from respected consumer motoring website CarBuyer. The ŠKODA Citigo was voted ‘Best City Car’ while the new ŠKODA Octavia, which only recently arrived in showrooms, earned the title ‘Best Family Car’.

Steve Fowler, Editor-in-Chief of CarBuyer, commented: “The ŠKODA Citigo ticks all the right boxes for city car buyers… and then some. Great things come in small packages and this is a truly great car.”

Commenting on ŠKODA’s offering of ‘more for less’ “The new Octavia is a prime example. It offers more quality, more space and more value than its rivals, yet still manages to be cheaper – it’s a brilliant family car.”

What Car? Awards

In January, it was a proud night for Audi at the annual What Car? Awards as the TT Coupe retained ‘Best Coupe’ (its seventh consecutive trophy at these awards) whilst the new A3 Sportback triumphed, taking ‘Best Small Family Car’ and overall ‘Car of the Year’ for 2013.

What Car? Chief Editor, Chas Hallett, put it simply when he praised the A3 Sportback’s “new levels of brilliance in a host of areas.”

Audi have redesigned and refitted the Sportback from the ground up and were justifiably proud that judges referred to it as “the new benchmark” in family hatchbacks, particular mentioning the “smooth and punchy” engine, and an interior with “easily the finest cabin quality ever seen in a small family hatchback.”

This year the Volkswagen up! (previous winner of the Car of the Year Award in 2012) left winner of the Best City Car award category for its combination of enjoyable, comfortable driving with practicality.

A8 - ‘Chauffeur Car of the Year’ - thechauffeur.com

A familiar sight at the 2013 BAFTAs (British Academy Film Awards) as the official car of the stars, the Audi A8 took to the centre stage itself to accept a ‘Chauffeur Car of the Year’ award from leading industry portal thechauffeur.com

The long wheelbase A8 L was winner of the £50,000 to £75,000 category, a second consecutive win and its third since the awards began.

Not only was the car itself commended for its magnificent quality, comfort and drive but also for the Audi UK chauffeur programme too.

For the Vindis Group manufacturers, the awards in the first three months of the year have been flooding in so here are the highlights:

30

31

ŠKODA Yeti - Voted most satisfying car to own by UK drivers

In the annual Auto Express Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, the result marks a spectacular hat-trick for the brand, having recorded first place finishes in 2011 and 2012.

The Yeti topped the annual Driver Power chart of 100 cars for the second year in a row with an overall satisfaction rating of 92.65% – the highest recorded in this year’s survey. The influential report is compiled by Auto Express using feedback supplied by car owners across the country. This year, more than 46,000 motorists were asked to rate their car in 10 key categories.

Steve Fowler, Editor-in-Chief of Auto Express, said: “We’ve always liked the Yeti – it’s a former Auto Express Car of the Year – so it’s great to see so many owners agreeing with us. They like its practicality, the tech on board and how easy and enjoyable it is to drive.”

Build quality was another area where Auto Express readers felt the Yeti couldn’t be bettered. With an approval rating of 96.25%, the Czech-built car outscored rivals costing twice as much.

Launched in 2009, the Yeti has won more than 20 industry, media and customer satisfaction awards to date, and shows no signs of stopping.

World Car of the Year 2013 - Volkswagen Golf

Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, explained: “To win this award again shows that the Golf is and remains in a class of its own all around the world.”

This latest trophy adds to an already sterling achievement for the new model racking up an impressive 17 awards. The jury for World Car of the Year is made up of motoring journalists from 23 countries around the world and on their decision commented; “The Golf is just the right size – it’s spacious, practical and comfortable. It has a fresh, progressive design, a new range of engines, plus an impressive list of equipment and safety systems. If there is a car for everyone, the Golf is it.”

The judges rate new cars that are available on the world market not only for the award, but also in their daily reporting work for millions of drivers and car enthusiasts.

In previous years other Volkswagen models have been crowned winner including the up!, Polo and Passat took the title ‘World Green Car of the Year’ in 2010.

European Car of the Year 2013

The New Golf has also won the highly coveted Car of the Year award for 2013, for more on the award and the seventh generation Golf itself, see page 24.

With the beginning of 2013 bringing great achievements and success, we are sure this will not be the last time these cars are seen gracing the winners list.

The Vindis GroupDriven Magazine. Issue 1, July 2013

Vindis Group Head Office, 1 Washingley Road, Huntingdon PE29 6WP

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