Best lease deals of the week: Large hatchbacks

Leasing can be an affordable, practical route into having your own private car, but it’s not always easy to tell the good deals from the duds.  The experts at our sister magazine What Car? work hard to find you the best pay-monthly schemes, taking into account mileage allowance, montly outlay, contract length and initial deposit. We’ll be bringing you the best deals they find from a different segment each week. This week, it’s large hatchbacks:  1. BMW 620D GT SE Auto £2608 deposit, £435 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year​ The replacement for the 5 Series GT makes better sense thanks to an interior from the new 5 Series, the dimensions of the large 7 Series and a truck load of technology. Divisive styling but top-notch quality. 2. Audi A7 Sportback 55 TFSI S Line Quattro S Tronic £2858 deposit, £476 per month, 24 months, 8000 miles per year​ Don’t be fooled by those sleek lines – the A7 Sportback is a spacious and comfortable car. Its 3.0 TFSI bi-turbo petrol engine produces 335bhp for 0-62mph in 5.3sec. 3. Ford Mondeo 1.5 Ecoboost Zetec Edition £1475 deposit, £246 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year ​ Once the default choice for keen drivers, the Mondeo has since lost ground to fresher rivals but it still represents great value for money. 4. Peugeot 508 1.6 Puretech GT Line Auto Fastback £1346 deposit, £224 per month, 24 months, 8000 miles per year Stylish looks inside and out and delivering composed handling, the 508 is a new contender in this class but those looks come at the expense of rear cabin space. 5. Skoda Superb 1.5 TSI SE £1373 deposit, £229 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year  Not only great value for money, but exceptionally roomy, practical and surprisingly agile. The 148bhp 1.5 petrol may look modest on paper but its relaxed nature suits the Superb and its economy is good. 6. Volkswagen Arteon 2.0 TDI Elegance £1709 deposit, £285 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year Solidly built, spacious and a strong, long-distance but frugal tourer. However, it isn’t quite as stylish or distinctive as its name implies and it sorely needs a six-cylinder engine in the line-up. For more great personal business lease deals visit What Car?
Origin: Best lease deals of the week: Large hatchbacks

Best lease deals of the week: Large family cars

Leasing can be an affordable, practical route into having your own private car, but it’s not always easy to tell the good deals from the duds.  The experts at our sister magazine What Car? work hard to find you the best pay-monthly schemes, taking into account mileage allowance, montly outlay, contract length and initial deposit. We’ll be bringing you the best deals they find from a different segment each week. This week, it’s large family cars:  1. Ford Mondeo 1.5 Ecoboost Zetec Edition £1486 deposit, £248 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year  Comfortable (at least on the optional Comfort Dynamic suspension), classy, very well built and, despite having just two doors, reasonably practical. Could do with being a little more exciting to drive. 2. Mazda 6 2.0 SE-L Nav+ £1354 deposit, £226 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year The 6 is often overlooked by buyers, which is a shame because it’s terrific value for money and very well equipped, a particular highlight being its infotainment system. As a driver’s car, it’s pretty polished, too. 3. Peugeot 508 Fastback 1.6 Puretech GT Line  £1355 deposit, £226 per month, 24 months, 8000 miles per year  Incredibly stylish and excellent value. It lacks the interior space of some rivals and rear visibility is a bit restricted but you’ll quickly forgive it for those looks. 4. Skoda Superb 1.5 TSI SE   £1373 deposit, £229 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year The Superb is a huge and hugely practical family car. And that’s just this saloon. The estate is even roomier. Skoda may be the VW Group’s budget brand but there is nothing budget about the Superb’s fit and finish. 5. Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport 1.5T Design £1882 deposit, £314 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year The Grand Sport casts the Insignia in a new light. It’s stylish and distinctive where its predecessor majored on conformity. It’s also spacious and decent to drive. 6. Volkswagen Passat 1.5 TSI Evo 150 SE Business  £1810 deposit, £302 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year The Passat bridges the gap between mainstream family cars and their premium alternatives such as the Audi A4. It’s classy, roomy and well resolved. For more great personal business lease deals visit What Car?
Origin: Best lease deals of the week: Large family cars

Gas explosion kills one, damages large Porsche collection

The Ingram Collection of PorschesPorsche One person died and more than two dozen were injured when a gas explosion tore apart a building in Durham, North Carolina this week. According to Automotive News, the explosion occurred inside an old Studebaker Dealership. The building was almost totally destroyed, and the explosion damaged a number of vintage Porsches that were stored in a nearby warehouse. The vehicles were part of one of the largest collection of Porsches in the world, over 80 vehicles owned by Bob Ingram. The Ingram Collection was profiled by Porsche itself in a piece about love stories with the brand, and called it “a breathtaking review of automotive design history.” Ingram declined to comment when contacted by local news station Spectrum News, which aired a few minutes of overhead footage of the carnage. THEN/NOW:UPDATES ➡️ https://t.co/Z6BbFkH4lxTRAFFIC ➡️ https://t.co/beCrNjPpbGHISTORY OF THE BUILDING ➡️ https://t.co/Hig1papnILHOW YOU CAN HELP ➡️ https://t.co/Z6BbFkH4lx(Image Courtesy: Google/AP) pic.twitter.com/ucIgnCCaYN Spectrum News RDU (@SpecNewsRDU) April 11, 2019 Information has not been released about what models of cars were damaged, or how many, but from the aerial footage, we can see a 550 Spyder and a few modern Porsches among the wreckage. The Studebaker dealership was built in 1928 but closed in 1930 after just two years. Since then it has gone through many owners and housed an abundance of businesses, including a few auto repair shops, restaurants and office space. The Ingram Collection, which has been praised as one of the largest collections of #vintage Porsches in the world, was being stored in a warehouse connected to the building that exploded in Durham this morning. Aerial footage shows the collection sustained severe damage. #Porsche pic.twitter.com/1gSA0Z0XEh Spectrum News RDU (@SpecNewsRDU) April 10, 2019 A coffee shop called Kaffeinate was located in the building where the explosion happened, and the owner, Kong Lee, was unfortunately killed. All other employees have reported they were not injured. According to Durham Mayor Steve Schewel, the explosion happened on the city’s 150th
Origin: Gas explosion kills one, damages large Porsche collection