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NEW MAZDA RX-8 TO TAKE FLEET MARKET BY STORM

NEW MAZDA RX-8 TO TAKE FLEET MARKET BY STORM

The eagerly-anticipated Mazda RX-8 is set to take the company car market by storm as the most innovative, desirable, aspirational, practical and value for money sports car on the market.

That was the verdict from key fleet decision-makers, after they had embarked on a near 200-mile drive in North Wales at the fleet launch of the car that is in a niche of its own in the UK market.

The Mazda RX-8 is a new departure for sports coupes, being a car that is both functional and exciting to drive and stunning to look at and is sure to change the way people think about sports cars.

Two models will be available at launch in October – a £20,000 192 PS variant and a £22,000 231 PS model – both of which, due to Mazda’s price and specification philosophy, are tax effective for company car drivers and cost-effective for fleet operators due to a predicted three-year/60,000 mile residual value of almost 50%.

Designed with both fun and functionality in mind, the Mazda RX-8 with its 1.3 litre rotary engine is a high-performance sports car, featuring a unique freestyle door system allowing easy access to the rear two seats with comfortable seating for four adults.

Standard equipment on both models includes 18-inch alloy wheels, ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution, driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags, climate control air conditioning and a BOSE Premium Audio sound system with nine speakers and a six CD auto-changer.

The award-winning Mazda6 has put the brand well and truly on the fleet map and the RX-8 is set to ‘zoom zoom’ through the door, with fleet chiefs predicting that the 1,600 models destined for the UK in the last quarter of this year and the 6,000 due for showrooms next year will be insufficient to meet demand. Already 75% of this year’s supply has been pre-ordered.

Graham Picken, general manager of HSBC Business Banking, which through its HSBC Vehicle Finance subsidiary has a contract hire fleet of around 80,000 units, said: ‘The Mazda RX-8 is a genuine four-seater and most coupes are not. The overall package and value for money is brilliant and it means that both for a fleet manager and the employee it is a fantastic car.

‘On the back of the Mazda6 we have supplied more Mazda cars in the first six months of this year than in the past two years and the RX-8 will continue that trend.’

Dave Wilkinson, car fleet operations manager at High Street electrical giant Comet, which operates an 1,100-strong car fleet including 150 user-chooser vehicles, said: ‘The Mazda RX-8 is a very impressive vehicle and will definitely be in demand from our user-chooser drivers.

‘With our open choice policy and choice lists being based on wholelife costs, the Mazda RX-8 is a very attractive proposition due to its low list price, strong residual values and excellent level of standard equipment.

‘User-choosers have already chosen the Mazda6 and it has received a very positive response and the arrival of the RX-8 with its driver appeal is bound to see Mazda increase its presence on our fleet.’

‘It’s a brilliant car,’ said Andy Brown, operations director of Inchcape Fleet Solutions. ‘Its versatility as both a true sports car and a family car means that the Mazda RX-8 will be in big demand and makes it unique.’

While Chris Birch, head of vehicle procurement at Britain’s largest fleet management and leasing company Arval PHH, said: ‘The Mazda RX-8 will be a rip-roaring success. With room for four adults and a usable boot with space for a set of golf clubs it will have wide appeal.’

Agreement came from Stuart Silby, fleet services manager at Marshall Leasing, who said: ‘I have not driven anything like the Mazda RX-8. The 1.3 litre engine is so smooth and gives exceptional performance. It is a beautifully designed car but