Top S+M Models Spice Up New Car Market
Published: 22nd December 2002
Still the only luxury diesel saloon on sale in the UK, the S 320 CDI has reinforced its position as the UK’s most popular luxury model (according to SMMT data). Its remarkable 16.6 per cent increase in registrations year to date (YTD) takes it to 1538 units, which represents 56.1 per cent of all S-Class registrations. Considering the S-Class Saloon range was in its revision changeover period this autumn – traditionally the busiest time of year for new car sales – the performance is even more impressive.
The S-Class range won a brace of awards in 2002, despite the arrival of newer competition (Auto Express New Car Honours Best Luxury Car; What Car? Best Luxury Car; Fleet News Best Luxury Car; Fleet Excellence Gold Award Best Luxury Car). Autocar magazine even drove a long wheelbase S 320 CDI from Land’s End to John o’Groat’s on just one tank of fuel – that’s 844 miles – and the car still had two-thirds of a gallon of diesel to spare at the end.
The newly-revised model features an even more efficient V6 common rail diesel engine, giving better fuel consumption and lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than before.
The new figure of 204 g/km brings the company car tax down two groups to 25 per cent — saving both at the fuel pumps and on the P11D form.
