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12/03/2009 Sisters Doing it for Themselves –Belfast Telegraph 06/03/09
Karla Wilson (20) is a mechanic at the Land Rover dealership with Charles Hurst in Belfast. Single, she lives with her grandfather in north Belfast. She says:
‘I’m not sure I am a trailblazer, I just get on with the job and try to fit in as much as possible. I enjoy my job and don’t get too much abuse from the men – just the usual wind-up about being a girl in a workshop. It doesn’t really bother me.
If you are doing what you’re supposed to be doing and aren’t afraid to try things, you can show you’re capable.
Two years ago I started my training at the Tech and my apprenticeship at Land Rover. I am the only female mechanic on site. And on my course with TTS (Transport Training Services), there are 76 students and only two girls.
Last month my tutors told me they wanted to nominate me for the Apprentice of the Year award.
It’s nice to be considered.
I got into the job through the family interest in motorbikes.
My dad Carl Wilson did motor racing and three of my uncles, my mum’s brothers, are all mechanics, as is my grandfather Alec Lynn. Working on Land Rovers is heavy work but a few of the men find it tough.
It doesn’t apply that because I’m female I’m any less able.
International Women’s Day is definitely a good idea. Its good to show support for women, to encourage them and show them they can do different jobs if they try. The woman I admire most is my mum Pamela, a single parent.
My two brothers are proud of me, the younger one, Ken, liked the idea immediately, although the older one Lee wasn’t sure at first – he was being a protective older brother. My granddad tells everybody he’s very proud of me.
I and my cousin Stephen are the only two who have gone into the business.
I’ve started my third year’s study and will get a certificate at the end saying I’m a mechanic. It’s the equivalent of some NVQ’s and my ambition is nothing too fancy, to be good at my work, successful and get my own house.’
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12/02/2009 Charles Hurst Nissan Tops National Customer Service Poll
For the third month running, Charles Hurst Nissan, Newtownabbey, has come out tops on a customer satisfaction survey. The delighted staff are reveling in their success and are determined to retain the crown for as long as possible.
The survey, which is conducted every month in over 200 Nissan dealerships throughout the UK, asks customers to rate individual dealership performance on a number of key criteria including courtesy and respect of staff, understanding clients requirements, test drive experience and clarity of quotations and information provided.
Nissan has received top spot overall, for the last three months, consistently out performing other dealerships to claim its place at the top of the table.
Stephen Brock, Nissan Newtownabbey General Manager said, “This is fantastic recognition of Charles Hurst Nissan, Newtownabbey’s constant endeavor to deliver exceptional customer service to each and every individual who visits the dealership. I am incredibly proud of the entire team and we will continue to strive for excellence.”
Commenting on the success of the dealership, Kevin Butler, Sales Director of Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd said, “Nissan is committed to building a brand on an unrivalled customer experience in the UK and our Customer Satisfaction poll enables us to monitor the opinions and encounters of our valued patrons. I must congratulate Charles Hurst Nissan, Newtownabbey, for their tremendous dedication in providing consistently exceptional service.”
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23/01/2009 HELP AVOID WINTER BREAKDOWNS WITH
With the prospect of freezing temperatures, wet roads and foggy mornings for many more weeks to come, Charles Hurst has announced that it will be offering drivers a FREE Vehicle Winter Health Check at many of its dealerships throughout Northern Ireland until 28th February 2009.
The FREE Vehicle Winter Health Check has been devised to guard against unnecessary breakdowns and to ensure cars are ready for winter and able to withstand the challenging driving conditions that we may face until Spring.
The checks are suitable for any make, model and age of car or van, including both private and company-owned vehicles, and take just 30 minutes to complete. To take advantage of this great offer, drivers just need to contact one of the participating dealership to arrange a suitable time.
Commenting on the inspection Duncan Ponter, Charles Hurst Group Aftersales Manager said, ”The Winter Health Check will give drivers the opportunity to have key elements of their car checked totally free of charge, giving them peace of mind that it should be in tip-top condition to survive the elements. Indeed spending a little time sorting out any issues now usually proves cheaper and more convenient than trying to rectify the problem when your car won’t start on a bitterly cold winter’s morning.”
Millions of pounds are spent each year by motorists who neglect the importance of ensuring a vehicle is prepared for winter. Breaking down or not being able to start a car in the first place can be costly in terms of money and time. A few simple checks can certainly help to ensure that cars are in a suitable condition to face the elements.
Duncan adds, “Winter also sees the number of road traffic accidents increase, as drivers struggle for grip on snow and ice-covered roads. This makes it vital to ensure that tyres are properly inflated and have plenty of remaining tread, as they are the only part of a vehicle in direct contact with the road’s surface.”
The six point FREE check includes all major areas affected by the harsh winter weather:
• Wipers and blades – checked to ensure clear visibility whether there’s a light shower or heavy downpour
• Brake pads, hoses and calipers - checked to ensure brakes work effectively, particularly when you need them the most
• Anti-Freeze – level and concentration is checked to ensure that vehicle is ready for the coldest of winter nights
• Tyre Check – tread is checked to ensure there is enough grip to cope with icy roads
• Lights Check –front and rear lights are checked for condition and repair so that if the fog decides to drop, the brightness of your lights won’t
• Battery – the battery voltage, alternator and overall condition are checked to ensure vehicles start every morning, avoiding the frustration of a flat battery
To find the nearest participating Charles Hurst Dealership contact 02890 381721 or log on to www.charleshurstgroup.com. The Charles Hurst Winter Health Check offer excludes specialist cars and Vauxhall dealerships.
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08/12/2008 Santa Rides into Charles Hurst Yamaha
Charles Hurst Yamaha turned into Santa’s Grotto last Saturday when Santa paid a visit to the dealership at 62 Boucher Road. There was no snow for Rudolph and his friends so Santa arrived on his very own trike; a cherished Honda GL 1500 Goldwing Trike to be precise.
Around 100 kids turned up to give their Christmas list to Santa and receive a present. There were also plenty of goodies in the showroom for some of the parents to put on their Christmas list. The tree was decorated and lit up, but Santa hardly got near it as his trike was the main attraction receiving a lot of attention. He later went on a shopping trip of his own and did a couple of laps of the Charles Hurst Boucher Road complex. He made notes of some of the hot deals on offer for Mrs Claus before he had to ride off and make more visits at this very busy time.
Speaking on the day Santa said “I had my trike booked in for a service and thought it would be a good idea to use it as my sleigh and bring some presents with me for the boys and girls. I was only due to spend an hour with the children, but they were all so good I ended up staying for longer.” He later added “I had a fun day at Charles Hurst Yamaha; hopefully I will pay a visit again next year.”
David White, General Manager, Charles Hurst Motorcycles said, “We were delighted when Santa called and said he would visit our showroom and give out presents. He had to come and check out all the great deals on offer after receiving so many letters from kids of all sizes wanting something from Charles Hurst Yamaha.”It’s a very busy time for Santa but he promised to deliver toys to everyone’s house on Christmas Eve. If you don’t hear sleigh bells on Christmas Eve listen out for the roar of the engine of his trike as he rides by.
Santa’s tips for Christmas Eve:
- Leave some milk and cookies out for Santa and carrots and sugar lumps for his reindeers.
- Leave a note for Santa thanking him, Mrs Claus and all the elves for their presents and hard work.
- Decorate your house with lots of lights so Santa can see it from the sky above.
- Hang your stockings on the fireplace and if you had a fire going make sure it is out so Santa doesn’t burn his bottom on his way down the chimney!
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08/12/2008 TECHNICALLY WORLD CLASS
We all have a dream, a goal, something to aim for that we may never achieve but simply reaching for it pushes us forward and makes us better at what we do. Every now and again through untold hard work, dedication and relentless determination an individual achieves their goal and gives the rest of us license to dream that one day it might be us.
Clive Patterson an experienced young technician for Charles Hurst Ferrari has realised the dream of many boys and men alike by reaching the final ten of Ferrari’s annual ‘Technician Challenge’. Clive will travel to the home of the legendary marque at Maranello, Italy to compete to be the ‘Worlds top Ferrari Technician’. Thirty year old Clive, originally from Omagh now settled in Lisburn, is the only successful mechanic from over one hundred UK entries to achieve ‘top ten in the world’ status, and is now invited to the contest’s Grand Finale, taking place in Maranello, in December.
After meeting Clive at Stormont, Northern Ireland’s First Minister Rt. Hon. Peter Robinson MP MLA said, “I want to congratulate Clive on his success in the competition to date. Such an achievement is a great advertisement for the Province and supports my view that the best asset we have in Northern Ireland is our people. I wish Clive every success as he goes forward to the Grand Finale in early December, but regardless of how he is placed in Maranello, he has still done his country proud.”
Clive has been invited to Ferrari’s GB head quarters to attend an intensive training course at the beginning of December, in preparation for the series of challenges, both practical and theory based, that finalists will undergo to determine who will be awarded the prestigious title.
Andy Bruce, Operations Director of Charles Hurst commented, “Charles Hurst Ferrari has produced one of the world’s finest technician’s. We take personal development and training very seriously within the Group and this well deserved recognition for Clive has proved an inspiration for all.”
Charles Hurst employs more technicians than any other dealer group in Ireland and as such invests more in training and development which allows individuals to progress and ultimately be the best in their field as Clive has shown. Charles Hurst works closely with all manufacturers to ensure that minimum standards are exceeded as well as customers’ expectations.
Commenting on Clive’s outstanding achievement, Richard Stinson, Franchise Director of Charles Hurst Ferrari said, “I am delighted that a key member of our Ferrari franchise has shown the drive and commitment required to progress to an astonishing level in such a highly esteemed global competition. Ferrari expects nothing but the best and to be considered one of the finest in an already elite workforce is a real achievement. I would like to take this opportunity to wish him the very best of luck in Italy.”
Finalists will spend a full week in Italy, where they will embark on two days testing to select the competition’s overall winner. Each will be treated to a host of exciting events including an exclusive access visit to the Ferrari factory and the chance to meet top celebrity Formula One drivers and Ferrari’s top engineers.
The winner of the ‘Ferrari Technician Challenge’ will be awarded a prize worth approximately £5,000 while runners up will receive thousands of pounds worth of travel vouchers. The First Minister, everyone at Charles Hurst and indeed Ferrari GB are firmly behind Clive and I’m sure you will all join them in wishing him good luck for the final in Italy.
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02/12/2008 New Vehicle Data - recent VAT changes
We are currently working with a 3rd party who in turn are working with all manufacturers to gain clarity on how their pricing will be affected by the recent VAT changes. We can confirm that a number of different approaches will be adopted by the manufacturers which means that we are unable to immediately reflect the changes by applying one universal calculation.
Furthermore, because a range of different methods will be applied by manufacturers, every price must be adjusted manually, including option prices. Inevitably this process will take time.
If you require any more information about the VAT changes or any aspect of New Vehicle Data please contact the Internet Sales Team by emailing cars@lookersplc.co.uk or calling 0161 610 4018.
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04/11/2008 EXCLUSIVE LEXUS SPORTS CAR MAKES ITS NORTHERN IRELAND DEBUT
Northern Ireland’s first ever Lexus IS-F sports car has been welcomed to the province and presented to its proud new owner.
The high performance, luxury vehicle with 417 horsepower from a 5.0-litre, V8 engine was handed over to new owners the McMahon family today at Lexus Belfast, Boucher Road.
Commenting on the purchase of the exclusive Lexus IS-F, Mr Patrick McMahon said, ‘I am delighted to be the first ever owner of a Lexus IS-F in Northern Ireland. The car is absolutely stunning and I am very much looking forward to taking it out on its maiden journey. I have no doubt it will bring myself and my family endless enjoyment and attention!’
Lexus Centre Manager, Richard Vance said, ‘It is a great honour to introduce another Lexus model to Northern Ireland in the form of the IS-F. The ‘F’ signifies a new high-performance brand for Lexus with further models to follow. I would like to take this opportunity to wish the McMahon family every success and happiness with their fabulous new purchase.’
The IS-F possesses the world’s only 8-speed Sport Direct Shift transmission that propels it from 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds. The car was developed at the Fuji Speedway race circuit in Japan and is one of only 180, which will be brought into the UK this year.
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03/11/2008 Charles Hurst top Customer Service poll
Northern Ireland’s leading car dealer has been given a major vote of confidence for the way it delivers new cars to disabled customers with the Motability Scheme. Charles Hurst sits at the top of the league in terms of customer service performance according to a new survey.
Motability Operations, the company that manages the Motability Car Scheme for disabled people, commissioned the survey to review customer satisfaction with dealer service experience for the supply and service of cars.
Charles Hurst was the only car dealer group surveyed in Northern Ireland and its results were compared to eight other dealer groups in England & Scotland. Overall the Northern Ireland company came out on top for dealer performance.
Excelling in areas of Vehicle Supply and Vehicle Servicing, Charles Hurst performed well above average in all categories and topped the Vehicle Servicing poll.
Almost half a million disabled people in the United Kingdom choose to use their Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance to get a car on the Motability Scheme, which is managed by Motability Operations.
Andy Bruce, Operations Director of Charles Hurst commented, “We are delighted to have been given this vote of confidence, by the people who matter most – our customers. It is also a credit to our hard working employees to receive such recognition. Our business relationship with Motability Operations is a valued partnership and we welcome their feedback on our customer service performance, fulfilling customers’ needs is of primary importance to Charles Hurst.”
The Motability Scheme offers disabled people who receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance a brand new car every three years including insurance, personal accident cover, aftersales servicing and maintenance, full breakdown assistance from the RAC, an allowance of 60,000 miles over a three year period and free tyre and glass replacement.
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10/04/2008 Peter Jones appointed within Lookers
Charles Hurst, -part of Lookers plc are pleased to announce that Peter Jones joins us today as an Operations Director in the Motor Division.
Peter will report directly to Chief Executive, Ken Surgenor and will work alongside Andy Bruce and Brian Schumacker, strengthening our franchise focus, and optimising our business performance.
Peter will be responsible for a number of our franchises in England including Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, PSA and Chrysler Jeep Dodge and also have accountability for the Used Car Supermarkets.
Peter has a number of years of experience in the motor industry, was Commercial Director at Rover prior to spending the last ten years in motor retail. He joins Lookers from Bramall and Jones, prior to which he had a short time at Inchcape, and six years at CD Bramall, where he was Chief Executive.
Everyone at Charles Hurst welcomes Peter to the Company and wishes him every success.
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12/02/2008 NEW LOOK WEBSITE LAUNCHED
The brand new websites for Lookers and Charles Hurst are up and running, bringing an exciting new online resource to the group’s customers. The sites offer up-to-the-minute information on all of the group’s dealerships, franchises and products in an attractive and easily navigable format.
Each brand represented by Lookers and Charles Hurst has its own colour-coded home page on the site that’s packed with the latest news, model launches and promotions. Visitors can search the entire group network for new or used cars, read independent reviews on every model and check out testimonials from Lookers’ and Charles Hurst’s many satisfied customers. There’s also the option of signing up for mobile phone or e-mail alerts on the latest special offers as they happen.
Visitors to the site can head straight for the profile page of their local dealership. Every site in the Lookers and Charles Hurst group has its own personalised page featuring contact details, opening hours and directions to the showroom.
Interactivity is central to the design of the new site so as well as gaining information, visitors can request various services. There’s the opportunity to apply for a test drive on your chosen car, request a finance quote or enquire about the availability of a particular model. In every instance, the information is fed automatically back to the Lookers and Charles Hurst team who can respond accordingly.
A strong web presence is becoming an increasingly vital component of every dealer group’s operations and with its new websites, the Lookers and Charles Hurst Group is firmly ahead of the game in this area. Highly accessible and brimming with useful information, the sites set the standard for vehicle retailers on the web and can only be of benefit to the company and its customers.
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08/02/2008 CHARLES HURST CONTINUES TO MAKE ITS NAME IN LONDON
The name Charles Hurst is quickly becoming synonymous with Land Rover in
London thanks to its excellence in customer care.
Never a company to miss an opportunity, Lookers swiftly sought approval for
Jaguar servicing in London when rumours started circulating about Stratstone
Jaguar’s closure in west London.
Approval was duly granted and Jaguar was quick to inform that Charles Hurst
Park Royal now features a Jaguar Approved Service Centre. An effective press
and online campaign resulted in service bookings from the moment the Centre
opened.
Charles Hurst Jaguar operates alongside the impressive Land Rover dealership
in Park Royal, which is situated on one of the busiest roads into central London.
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08/02/2008 TOYOTA EUROPEAN SKILLS GRAND PRIX
Charles Hurst Sales Executive Drives off with
TOYOTA EUROPEAN SKILLS GRAND PRIX
Stephen Smyth, Sales Executive in Toyota Newtownabbey flew to Japan this
summer to visit the Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Headquarters as part of a
once in a lifetime reward following his recent success in the Toyota European
Sales Skills Grand Prix.
Representing Great Britain, Stephen finished a very credible fourth place in the
competition against the top 16 Sales Consultants from the 16 European Toyota
markets at the Toyota Europe HQ in Brussels.
He and his fellow competitors had to complete a series of role plays and
demonstrations that focused on all aspects of customer interaction and service,
such as competence in presenting products, handling enquiries and vehicle
handover.
As a reward for his success, Stephen flew to Japan for 5 days
to visit and meet senior board members from TMC (Toyota
Motor Corporation). He also got the opportunity to take part
in a number of exclusive excursions such as travelling on
Japan’s famous high speed Shinkansen (Bullet Train), visit
the Toyota Production facilities, Toyota Formula One
Headquarters and Toyota Museum.
Speaking about competing at the Toyota European Sales
Skills Grand Prix and his trip to Japan, Stephen said:
“Getting the opportunity to represent Toyota (GB) in the
European Sales Skills Grand Prix, against the top Toyota
Sales Consultants from across European, was a daunting,
yet exciting challenge”.
“The competition had a ‘Group’ format with the 16 Sales
Consultants divided into 4 groups of 4. Each competitor
had to complete a series of exercises such as dealing
with a new customer, make a follow-up phone call to a
prospective customer, present a range of products
that suited a specific customer outlining the
features, functions and benefits of the
products to that customer and make asuccessful hand-over of a new Toyota Prius to a customer. The final exercise was the
Toyota challenge quiz, where each contestant had to answer a series of questions on
their product knowledge, technical knowledge and Toyota’s history, values and core
promises.
“The whole event proved to be a tiring, yet exhilarating experience with everything coordinated
to the highest possible standard from the full-scale showrooms that were
built in the Toyota Europe HQ to the spectacular awards ceremony at the end of the
event.
“The reward for my success in the competition was a real dream come true. The whole
trip to Japan was organised with no expense spared.We flew first class to Japan and
then got the opportunity to visit Toyota’s production facility and see how the various
Toyota models are assembled.We also got the opportunity to visit the Toyota Museum,
go off-roading, and travel on Japan’s high speed Bullet Train. However, for a huge
Formula One fan, the highlight of the trip was our visit to the Toyota Formula One
Headquarters, were I even got the chance to sit in one of the racing cars.”
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08/02/2008 Giants Get Into Top Gear
Giants Get Into Top Gear with
Charles Hurst Usedirect
Charles Hurst Usedirect are back for the third year as the official vehicle sponsor
to the Coors Belfast Giants ice hockey team. The Giants will be arriving at every
match in comfort and style in their new fleet of cars supplied by Charles Hurst
Usedirect.
This sponsorship deal is integral to building the Charles Hurst Usedirect brand and
placing the company in the mindset of not only the 4,500 Giant’s fans, but also the
many more tens of thousands who attend shows and exhibitions at the Odyssey
Arena.
Todd Kelman, General Manager of the Coors Belfast Giants is delighted that
Usedirect continue to support the Giants. “We are extremely proud that Charles
Hurst Direct are back supporting us for another season. This major sponsorship deal
is vital to the team, and I totally love the 4x4 that I am now driving thanks to
Usedirect.”
As official vehicle supplier the sponsorship deal includes key branding and advertising
boards around Odyssey arena and branding of 12 team cars, logo on team kit, mascot
sponsorship, programme adverts, product placement, and website affiliation.
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08/02/2008 TOP MOTORSPORTS TV SHOW LINKS WITH TOP SELLER
Vauxhall, the number one selling motor manufacturer
in Northern Ireland, has linked with RPM, Ireland’s
popular motorsports TVshow,to provide them with a
new high spec. 1.9CDTi Vauxhall Zafira. The new crew
car, resplendent in its RPM and Charles Hurst livery,
will whisk the camera crews between locations
during their frantic late summer and autumn
schedule of events.
August will see the RPM crews at the Lurgan Park and
Ulster International rallies and the Phoenix Park Motor Races. In September the RPM Zafira will cross to England for Tour Britannia, a Classic
Saloon and Grand Touring event, and finish the month in Cork for the final round of the
Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Then RPM will be making two documentaries on Rally
Ireland in November, the country`s first World Rally Championship qualifying event.
“I am delighted to renew my links with Vauxhall. I raced a Vauxhall Magnum Production
Saloon Car with backing from DTV, (Vauxhall’s competition arm), and won the Irish
Production Saloon Car Championship in 1976, so it is good to see the Vauxhall Griffin
emblem back on the central vehicle in our fleet again.” said Alan (Plum) Tyndall, Tyndall
Productions Ltd. The actual `Droop Snoot` Vauxhall Magnum (BIL 1850), now owned by
Drew Hull, which was driven by Alan Tyndall in the late 70`s, was present at the hand-over
of the new RPM Zafira, to mark the long term link between the former Irish Saloon Car
Champion and Vauxhall Motors.
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08/02/2008 Aston Martin is UK’s coolest brand
Aston Martin is UK’s coolest brand
FOR SECOND YEAR RUNNING
In an unprecedented move by the CoolBrands Council, Aston Martin has been
awarded the UK’s coolest brand for the second year running.
CoolBrands is an initiative operated by the Superbrands organisation and
presents expert and consumer opinion on the UK’s strongest brands. It is
considered to be a key barometer of the nation’s coolest brands, people and
places and a benchmark for brand success.
Under the leadership of Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer since July 2000,
the Aston Martin brand has strengthened significantly, with new headquarters,
new models and an enhanced dealer experience.
At the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California in August, Aston Martin
unveiled the production version of the eagerly-awaited DBS. The DBS is the
ultimate expression of Aston Martin’s engineering and technical ability. It
offers pure performance without compromise. It delivers the complete driving
experience and bridges the gap between our road and track cars – the DB9 and
DBR9.
At this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Aston Martin also unveiled two new
special edition models to celebrate their motorsport success. Alongside theDBS were the V8 Vantage N400 and the DB9 LM Coupe. Aston Martin Chief
Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: “The DBS is the ultimate expression of
Aston Martin’s engineering and technical ability. It offers pure performance
without compromise.
A combination of elegant design, innovative manufacturing processes, racederived
materials and components and Aston Martin’s unrivalled hand-build
expertise makes the DBS a luxury sports car without equal. Every line, crease
and curve conveys the enormous potential of the DBS, a seductive blend of
refinement and raw power, provided by the hand-built V12 producing 380 kW
(510 bhp/517 PS), a top speed of 191mph (302km/h) and a 0-62mph (0-
100km/h) time of 4.3 seconds.
The DBS will be built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters at Gaydon, near
Warwickshire in the UK, joining the current Aston Martin line-up. This now
comprises the elegant DB9, the agile V8 Vantage Coupe and the critically
acclaimed Vantage Roadster – launched earlier this year.
Deliveries of the DBS are expected to commence during quarter one 2008,
with prices starting at £160,000.
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08/02/2008 Charles Hurst Group Support Local Football Team
Portadown Football Club is delighted to announce a new and lucrative sponsorship
deal with the Charles Hurst Group’s Vauxhall and Jaguar franchises, based at Carn
Court Road, Portadown.
This agreement sees the launch of an imposing 50 metre advertising sign above
the new grandstand at Shamrock Park, along with a prominent site at the front
entrance, programme advertising and website link on www.portadownfc.co.uk.
This is an exciting time to be involved with the Club, as it has just been announced
that there is to be a new, invitational premier league for the 08/09 season, which will
feature 12 teams. Also, the Club is at an advanced stage with
the Sports Council to build a new 1,800 seater grandstand,
with the additional prospect of new changing rooms to
be included. This shows a natural progression and
development for the Club, as it looks to the future
and expands on past successes. The Club also works
hard at building close ties for itself within
the local Portadown area and has
now become a key part of the
community.
The Chairman and Directors of
the Club have spoken highly of
the level of support offered by
the Charles Hurst Group, and
thank them sincerely for
their much needed
sponsorship.
Portadown Football
Club Secretary, Bill
Emerson, said that this
arrangement furthercements the excellent relationship that exists between Portadown supporters and
Charles Hurst, and again thanked the Company for their support and
professionalism in carrying out the negotiations.
Charles Hurst Vauxhall and Jaguar currently have some excellent offers available
to all their customers but would particularly welcome Club supporters to their
sites. Contact Vauxhall on 028 3836 1111, Jaguar on 028 3833 8000, or call in today
for more information.
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08/02/2008 ANOTHER EXCITING YEAR AHEAD FOR SPECIALIST CARS
2008 looks like being another exciting year for Charles Hurst Specialist Cars with all
three manufactures launching new cars.
Bentley’s introduction of a High Performance version ofthe highly successful Continental
GT has seen the horsepower increased from 550 to 610 bhp with increased agility and
control through lowering and spring/damper settings. All this in addition to the aesthetic
facelift have given the Continental GT a more aggressive look and feel for 2008.
The coming year also sees Ferrari introduce the highly anticipated 430 Scuderia, with 200kg less weight than the standard 430 and 20bhp it’s no wonder that the Scuderia is
faster round Ferrari’s Fiorano race circuit than the Enzo! With these credential the 430
Scuderia is sure to be a must have with Ferrari purists.
The star of 2008 is to be the new Maserati GranTurismo. With 405 horsepower from its
4.2 litre V8 engine as well as 4 seats, a good boot, full automatic and F1 paddle shift gear
change the GranTurismo ticks every box on customers demands. All in all the signs are
good for another very successful year for Richard Stinson and his team in Specialist Cars.
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08/02/2008 Ballymena Drive wins 12 month test drive
Glenarm, Ballymena, is the proud owner of
a brand new Kia ceed, after winning a 12 month test drive. She collected her keys
from Charles Hurst Kia today.
After the success of the three-day test drive, which ran until the end of August,
Kia Motors UK has given 100 of the testers the opportunity to continue their test
drives for a year.
Gavin Martin, dealer principal at Charles Hurst Kia said: “We are delighted that a
Ballymena driver has won the year-long test drive from Charles Hurst Kia. With
the success of the test drives and the recent launch of the ceed SW, there has
not been a better time to check out Kia”.
All winners will receive a 1.6 LS petrol ceed with a retail value of £14,005. This top
of the range car comes with 16” alloy wheels, climate control and MP3
compatibility; along with a whole host of safety features including twin front, side
and rear curtain airbags and speed sensing auto door locking.
Kia is very proud of the ceed and is continuing to show this by adding to the
family with two new members; the ceed SW was launched in September, and the three door sporty pro_ceed is set to launch early next year. Being the first Kia
ever to be built in Europe, for the European market, the ceed marks an
extraordinary turning point for Kia.
To find out more about test driving one of the new Ceeds, contact Charles Hurst
Kia on 02890 381721.
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01/11/2007 Charles Hurst go GREEN
We would like to confirm that following your hosting contract with Rackspace, Trees have been planted in Holyland Wood, Pembroke. This will help towards neutralising the carbon emissions created by the server/s.
Rackspace is pleased to be working with International Tree Foundation who are committed to protecting, promoting and planting trees globally.
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29/10/2007 Lookers Acquisition of Dutton Forshaw Group
Lookers announced on The London Stock Exchange the completion of the acquisition of Dutton Forshaw Group, the motor retail division of Lloyds TSB Asset Finance Division.
Dutton Forshaw has 31 outlets which operate under the Dutton Forshaw and Dovercourt brands. The acquisition will increase Lookers total number of Ford outlets from one to eight, Mercedes-Benz outlets from four to eight and vw outlets from five to nine. Other outlets Lookers have acquired include Chevrolet, Chrysler Jeep and Dodge, Citroen, Honda, Hyundai, Land Rover, Peugeot and Skoda.
This will increase the growth of the company and this acquisition will enable us to further expand our currant market areas and build on our strong relationshipd with our manufacturer partners.
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