Tiguan has best residuals

Glass’s, publisher of the eponymous used car values guide, has revealed which three-year old models have best held their values in the UK market.



The study looked at ‘57’ plate cars (i.e. first registered between 1 September 2007 and 29 February 2008), which had covered 37,000 miles (59,545 kilometres). The results were ranked by residual value as a percentage of original list price, although low volume models and exotica were excluded.



Given the tough economic climate, it might be expected that used buyers would be flocking towards cheaper, more economical vehicles, so driving up their residual value percentages. Surprisingly, though, seven of the top ten are 4x4s or SUVs, with top spot taken by the Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion.

Glass’s Top Ten Residuals 2010
Position	Model	Residual %	Average Yearly Depreciation
1	Volkswagen Tiguan (168 bhp) SE 4Motion	68.0%	£2,394
2	MINI 1.6 Cooper Hatch	65.9%	£1,462
3	Honda CR-V 2.2 CTDi (138 bhp) SE	64.3%	£2,356
4=	Land Rover Freelander 2 GS Td4 auto	63.8%	£2,965
4=	Audi Q7 3.0TDI (237 bhp) Quattro S Line tiptronic	63.8%	£4,962
6	Land Rover Discovery 3 2.7TD (190 bhp)	63.7%	£3,720
7	Audi TT Coupé 2.0T FSI (197 bhp)	63.6%	£3,123
8	Nissan Qashqai 1.6 (113 bhp) 2WD Visia	63.3%	£1,628
9	Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2.7TD (187 bhp) S auto	62.5%	£4,425
10	Audi A5 2.7TDI (187 bhp) Sport Coupé S tronic	62.2%	£4,123

Two Lotus teams in F1?

The 2011 Formula 1 season could see the bizarre sight of two Lotus-branded teams on the grid.



Group Lotus - the Proton-owned manufacturer of Lotus road cars - has just bought a stake in the former Renault F1 Team, also becoming title sponsor in the process. The move coincides with Renault selling its share in the outfit, although the French firm will continue to supply engines to the newly renamed Lotus Renault GP Team.

Lotus Renault GP Team - 2011 Livery

A black and gold livery has been revealed too, which harks back to the cigarette-sponsored Lotus F1 cars of the 1970s and 1980s. It might look striking, but why the team would want to give free subliminal advertising to a tobacco company is anyone’s guess.



Confusingly Lotus Racing, which competed for the first time during 2010 but is nothing to do with Group Lotus, has already announced a couple of significant changes for next season: not only will it be switching from Cosworth to Renault power, but it will also be painting its cars black and gold. What a coincidence.



To make matters even more complicated Lotus Racing has, according to the official FIA 2011 Formula 1 entry list, now rebranded itself as Team Lotus and intends to race under the Lotus Renault name.



However, Group Lotus is claiming that Lotus Racing / Team Lotus / Lotus Renault (take your pick) was only using the Lotus moniker under licence this year, but that licence has now been revoked.



Consequently Team Lotus and Group Lotus are now involved in an escalating battle for the right to continue using the name. But with neither side looking likely to back down, the dispute will probably end up being resolved by the UK High Court sometime in the new year.

A.R.T. G streetline Sterling

Tasteless, nasty, tacky: all words that could be used to describe the horror that is the A.R.T. G streetline Sterling.

The vehicle that this conversion is based on, the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen (or G-Class, as it’s now known) was never going to win any beauty contests, but at least its utilitarian looks have a certain rugged elegance. And in standard form it can boast excellent off-road ability, something that is largely lost when you fit 22” alloy wheels, low-profile road tyres and a daft body kit.



A.R.T. has used the G 400 CDI as a starting point for the Sterling, which is odd because that particular model seems to have disappeared from the Mercedes-Benz price list, replaced in most markets by the G 350 BlueTEC.



Anyway, power output of the G 400’s V8 diesel has been lifted from 246 bhp (184 kW / 250 PS) to 288 bhp (214 kW / 292 PS). That increase is thanks to a reprogrammed engine ECU and the fitment of a comedy exhaust system which features six (yes, six) side-exiting stainless steel tail pipes. Very Max Power.

The interior doesn’t escape unscathed, either. Just about every surface is covered in either green or grey nappa leather or carbon fibre trim, all of which is supposed to ‘bewitch the senses’. An altered rear seat arrangement means the Sterling is strictly a four-seater, but at least those sitting in the back get their own DVD player and a centre console that holds a couple of glasses. No fridge to chill the drinks, though.