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Dealer adopts twin-track business strategy with Mitsubishi and Cartell
LONG-established family firm Crightons is developing its strategy for new growth in the business with one range of cars – Mitsubishi – after the Saab brand was disposed of at the beginning of the year.
LONG-established family firm Crightons is developing its strategy for new growth in the business with one range of cars – Mitsubishi – after the Saab brand was disposed of at the beginning of the year.Managing director Iain Crighton said: "Thirty years ago, we were one of the first dealerships to be allowed two franchises, when we took on Saab.
"Now GM has decided to rationalise its business and concentrate all its brands in one dealership. This gave us an ideal opportunity to review the current market and renew our focus on the Mitsubishi product range."
After 35 years, Crightons is the longest-running Mitsubishi dealership in the UK. It was one of the original 50 dealerships in the country to sell Mitsubishis.
Mr Crighton said: "We have sold and serviced Mitsubishis for 35 years – and for a time my father and I drove them in rallies – so we have plenty of experience of their qualities.
"We rallied in the Galant and the Lancer. They were responsive when we wanted acceleration and road holding, and resilient in taking a pounding in the rough stages. They are qualities Crightons will bring to meeting the challenges of conditions in the current economic climate."
He added: "Fortunately, we'll be helped by a particularly exciting time for Mitsubishi, with new models to meet the twin demands of lower CO2 emissions and higher miles-per-gallon performance coming on to the market."
Leading the way for economy is the new Colt CZ2 Clear-tec, which uses a line-up of technological advances to create maximum efficiency.
Among these features include:
An alternator that recharges the battery while decelerating or braking.
Tyres designed for low rolling resistance.
An engine designed to run on low viscosity oil.
A final gear ratio of 3.84.
A gear shift indicator to display the optimum gear changing points for fuel-efficient and low-emission driving.
But the most remarkable feature that reduces petrol consumption as well as emissions is the Auto-Stop-&-Go engine control.
When the car stops, say at traffic lights, with the gear in neutral and the driver's foot taken off the clutch, the engine stops. When the lights go green and the clutch is engaged, the engine restarts automatically.
"These are features that will show up on more and more cars as the motor industry looks for ways to play its part in protecting our environment and satisfying customers," said Mr Crighton.
The pay-off for drivers of the Colt Clear-tec are an emissionsrate of 119g/km, which means a place in Band B (Band C from April 1, 2009) and a road tax of only 35 a year, as well as petrol consumption of 56.5mpg.
Other new Mitsubishis that will be part of Crightons' development are the high performance Ralliart Colt and the new Lancer Sportback.
Mr Crighton added: "Another new feature that is being provided on Mitsubishis will enhance safety on the road. Controls for the stereo system and the cruise control have been mounted on the steering wheel so that they can be operated without taking your hands off the wheel, or looking away from the road.
Mr crighton said: “No one is going to find life easy in business over the next year or more. We are ready to meet the challenges of our new business model and are genuinely excited by a range of opportunities that we're currently exploring.
“We are planning new offerings from Cartell MoT World to help our customers stay on the road economically and safely, using workshop space and hoists freed up by moving Saab out.”
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