Monthly Archives: September 2012

The New Maserati GranCabrio MC

The Maserati GranCabrio MC has debuted at the 2012 edition of theParis Motor Show. The four seater convertible will complete Maserati’s open top range.

 

Inspired by the huge success of the GranTurismo MC Stradale, which adapted racing characteristics for use in cars on the road, the GranCabrio MC has a sporty and aggressive look, while keeping the strengths of a grand tourer, perfect for longer journeys.

 

The new design of the GranCabrio MC is inspired directly by the cars of the Maserati Trofeo MC World Series and the GT4 version blends sportiness, dynamism, elegance and style.

 

The bonnet incorporates two generous air outlets at the centre to optimise cooling of the powerful V8, and two more air outlets to cool down the brake discs have also been added. The rear is characterised by the large spoiler, for greater negative lift at high speeds. Inside the spoiler, built into the luggage compartment, is the third brake light. The standard version comes in the same colour as the body and it is also available, within the various car customisation packages, with a carbon finish.

 

The bumper has been completely redesigned at the bottom to make the new model even sportier and at the same time ensure optimal aerodynamic efficiency. The circular exhausts have been moved to the centre of the bumper and the specific layout of the air ducts, built into the lower part of the bumper, ensure greater streamlining, stabilising the air flow.

 

The interior of the GranCabrio MC has received a complete overhaul. The new seats, completely redesigned and enhanced with high-quality materials, now ensure the optimum balance of comfort and performance, elegance and functionality. The steering wheel also features a new design, it incorporates the Trofeo-design steering wheel paddles as standard, with increased dimensions as seen on the GranTurismo Sport, and an aluminum pedal unit.

US firm agrees partnership with UK companies

US bookseller Barnes & Noble is continuing its expansion by agreeing partnerships with several major UK companies.

 

Retailers Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Dixons Retail have all joined forces with the firm to sell its award winning Nook products. Curry’s and PC World will also sell the goods, including the Nook Simple Touch and the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight, online and across its 600 stores nationwide.

 

The announcements emphasise commitments by Barnes & Noble in providing high quality tablets and e-readers to the UK market, competing with existing sellers. The partnership also seeks to improve Sainsbury’s reach in the market, following news it acquired a controlling stake of online e-book retailer Anobii from HMV. Waitrose is also excited by the partnership with the world’s largest bookseller, and is set to sell a range of stylish products across selected stores.

 

Last month, department store John Lewis was the first to launch Barnes & Noble’s Nook e-reader in stores, making it the first retailer outside the US to distribute the device.

 

Jamie Iannone, President of Digital Products at Barnes & Noble, said: “We look forward to joining forces to bring our award winning eReading and tablet products to millions of discerning customers.”

Argos Announces Christmas Job Boost

It has been announced that the retailer Argos will be creating 12,000 new jobs across the UK and Ireland over the Christmas period.

 

In an effort to help the unemployed market, Argos will be offering a total of 9,170 jobs in England, 978 in Scotland and 756 in Wales. There are also 425 roles available in Northern Ireland and 670 in the Republic of Ireland. Earlier in the month Argos announced a sales rise of 1% to £867 Million, while online sales increased by 16%. Training and flexible working hours will be on offer to applicants and job roles are for up to three months with a chance to extend to four as well as the possibility for permanent employment.

 

“Christmas is our busiest period of the year so we always need extra help in our stores to ensure we can deliver great service to the millions of customers who shop with us at this time. Argos is a fast paced, exciting and interesting place to be during the festive season so we are looking for passionate and enthusiastic staff to join our teams”, commented John Walden, Managing Director at Argos.

Original Bond Girl to make appearance at Beaulieu National Motor Museum

Eunice Gayson, the very first ‘Bond Girl’ will be at the Motor Museum on Saturday 6th October, to sign copies of her autobiography ‘The First Lady of Bond’.

 

The autobiography gives an insight into the life of the original Bond girl and some of the best-loved films to ever be made. Eunice played James Bond’s girlfriend Sylvia Trench in both Dr No and From Russia with Love, who’s character set up the most famous line ‘Bond, James Bond’.

 

In the autobiography, Eunice talks in depth about her roles in the two films and reveals that her famous red dress in Dr No was held together with clothes pegs. Before Bond, Eunice already had quite a successful career in UK television and films, and then became one of the first reality TV stars when she got married live on American television.

 

Shane Rimmer, whose voice is familiar to millions from his role as Scott Tracy, the pilot of Thunderbird 1, and as characters in no fewer than three 007 movies, will also be at the Motor Museum. Shane will be on hand to sign copies of ‘From Thunderbirds to Pterodactyls’, which was published last year. The autobiography sheds new light on some of the best-loved films and television ever made.

 

Shane appeared in three James Bond movies – first opposite Sean Connery as a radar operator in You Only Live Twice,  Tom in Diamonds Are Forever, and lastly with Roger Moore as Captain Carter in The Spy Who Loved Me – and had a close encounter with a low-flying dinosaur in The People That Time Forgot.

 

Also on hand to talk to visitors will be stuntman, Paul Weston, who has appeared in 10 Bond films as well as other high-profile films such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Superman.

 

Eunice Gayson and Shane Rimmer will be signing books in the Visitor Reception Hall of the National Motor Museum, from 12 noon to 2.30pm on Saturday 6th October.

BMW wins Green Car of the Year Award

There was double success for BMW at the recent What Car? magazine Green Car Awards.

 

The BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Auto was named as the best overall Green Car of the Year 2012, while the BMW 116d picked up the small family car award.

 

“The BMW 320d is a truly remarkable car that delivers 56mpg in the real world, while company car users will be taxed on its low emissions of just 110g/km of CO2. BMW has created a car that delivers great environmental credentials without compromise, which is what consumers really want,” commented What Car? Editor-in-Chief Chas Hallett.

 

In other categories, car manufacturers scooping awards included; Ford, with its Mondeo winning best green family car for the second year running, while the new seven-seat Toyota Prius was named best green MPV. The British-built Mini Cooper D was chosen as best green fun car for the second year. Judges said the Mini proves it is possible to minimise impact on the planet and still have fun.

Bentley teams up with the St Regis Hotel New York

The St. Regis Hotel in New York has announced the debut of a brand new hotel suite named ‘The Bentley Suite’ at the Manhattan landmark.

 

The Bentley suite will join The Dior and Tiffany Suites as the new addition to the designer collection at the hotel, built in 1904 by John Jacob Astor IV. The suite was designed as a collaboration between the St Regis Hotels & Resorts, and Bentley Motors. The suite will reflect the craftsmanship and style associated with the renowned international brands.

 

Kevin Rose, who is a member of the Bentley board in sales, marketing and aftersales commented: “Everybody at Bentley has been looking forward to the culmination of this collaboration with the St. Regis Hotel New York. We believe the two brands are perfectly matched, both bringing a clear understanding of what is important for a genuine luxury experience – attention to detail, quality, a sense of heritage balanced with contemporary style and an instinctive knowledge of what is right for our customers. The Bentley Suite at the St. Regis New York will become a benchmark for taste and quality and a destination in its own right in one of the world’s most wonderful cities.”

 

The 1,700 square foot Bentley Suite features an entryway foyer, one bedroom, one main shower room and regular bathroom, a large dining room and living room area complete with floor-to-ceiling windows on the 15th floor. The suite, debuting this month, is available starting at $9,500 per night. Guests will also be treated to the St. Regis services including signature St. Regis Butler Service and in-suite champagne bar.

 

“As guests enter the suite, they will be greeted by a room which bears all the hallmarks of Bentley design values – many of the fittings reflect jewellery features in our cars, and the use of leather and colours convey the special cocooning that drivers and passengers feel when they experience the interior of a Bentley,” commented senior Bentley designer, Daniele Ceccomori.

 

This year, St. Regis has announced a global partnership with Bentley, offering guests, residents and customers the chance to experience driving programmes and special events around the world.

British Airways Launches New Customer Service Tool

British Airways revealed a revolutionary new tool at the Marketing Week Live event held at the Olympia Exhibition centre in London, aimed at improving its customer interaction.

 

Know Me will provide a new approach to customer service that gives flight and airport staff immediate access to customer data on iPads. It will allow BA staff in airports and on planes to see each passenger’s history of flying with BA, including a record of complaints they’ve made, allowing the company to solve problems in person, more efficiently.

 

Head of revenue and customer analysis for BA, Jo Boswell, is pleased with the results so far and believes the new system will prove to be a success.

 

“Solving problems at the point of failure is a lot more powerful than waiting until after the event. It is more powerful when customers don’t have to repeat their stories to different departments within BA,” she said.

 

Know Me will enable BA to tailor its service to individuals in a way its competitors currently can’t, giving the airline an advantage.

 

Many customers have welcomed the individual approaches that Know Me allows, with staff being able to act on information in real time to resolve issues.

Accor Group Launches New Campaign

A major overhaul of the ibis hotel budget brand will feature in a new TV advertising campaign by its parent group.

 

All Seasons, ibis and Etap hotels will now all fall under the same umbrella of the Accor Hotels Group, as ibis Styles, ibis and ibis Budget. Each brand will keep its own identity, but UK marketing director Karelle Lamouche believes All Seasons and Etap will benefit hugely from the strength of ibis.

 

“Ibis is the strongest brand and the number one budget hotel brand around the world. What we didn’t want was to have one ibis brand that would be stretched across three different segments,” she said.

 

In the UK, the rebranding process began in April and will be completed by the end of this year. Accor plans to expand its total number of hotels in the UK from 188 to 300 by 2015. Karelle says there will be two main objectives from the rebrand, which will be advertised on TV by Accor.

 

“We’re expecting to see occupancy rates increase and market share increase – the other element is guest satisfaction, and obviously that’s our first priority. It’s also an opportunity to reach more franchisees – we have expansion plans in the UK and that should help us grow,” she said.

 

The Accor Group Loyalty Programme currently exists across all its brands, which will include the three ibis brands.

Tesco backs Stand Up To Cancer campaign

Tesco is proving every little helps by sponsoring Cancer Research UK’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign.

 

The supermarket giant will be handing out Stand Up To Cancer donation bags to its customers so they can donate unwanted goods, which will be sold at Cancer Research UK outlets to raise vital funds.

 

All money raised during the campaign, which ends with a live TV finale on Channel 4 on 19 October, will go towards UK based clinical research.

 

The event, fronted by celebrities including Alan Carr and Davina McCall, has also been launched in partnership with Channel 4 and will include a series of TV programmes and fundraising events before the final show.

 

Tesco will donate to the cause through an in-store stock donation campaign, merchandise sales and fundraising by staff and customers.

 

The campaign follows a similar initiative in America, which has raised more than £100m to fund research into cancer prevention and cures since 2008.

 

During the campaign, customers will also be able to help raise money by purchasing Stand Up To Cancer wristbands and pin badges, text a donation or add £1 to their shopping online or in-store. Purchases of selected products will also make a donation on the customers’ behalf.

New Hyundai Santa Fe at London Fashion Week

It seems the new designs on the catwalk aren’t the only thing grabbing people’s attention at London Fashion Week, as the new Hyundai Santa Fe steals the show.

 

The four new Santa Fe SUVs are helping Catwalk Models from Storm Management get from show to show in pure style. World-renowned names including Lily Donaldson and Poppy and Cara Delevingne are receiving a helping hand from Hyundai to get them to scheduled appearances, assignments and events.

 

Storm’s Charlie Fryer, said: “The cars look amazing, are spacious and comfortable inside – and have been whisking our girls to all the shows without any trouble.”

 

The new Hyundai Santa Fe goes on sale in the UK in October.

 

Performance Improvement and Mystery Shopping Company Douglas Stafford have been working in partnership with Hyundai for over four years. Leading by example, Douglas Stafford have been at the forefront of industry providers by introducing the latest technological developments to conduct Video, Telephone and On-line Mystery Shopping as well as providing intuitive state of the art results and feedback mechanisms.