Nationwide is pleased to announce that the Lexus IS 250 convertible is now available to lease at a reduced set of rates starting from £529.95 a month plus VAT. Lexus claim that the IS 250 has the worlds fastest metal folding roof, with the whole thing able to fold away at the touch of a button in around 20 seconds. Couple this with a 208bhp engine capable of reaching 0-60 in under 9 seconds and you have a car to rival the class leading BMW 3 series convertible and the Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet!

Nationwide is pleased to announce an overall price reduction of up to £50 a month on all Ford Mondeo models and further savings in our four special offers. The 1.6 Edge comes with bluetooth and cruise control as standard and prices start from just £199.95 a month plus VAT with a deposit of £849.95. The second offer is the economical 2.0 TDCi 140ps Zetec which manages 54mpg. It comes with alloy wheels and front fog lights as standard and is available from £216.95 a month plus VAT. The 1.6 Zetec Ecoboost and the 2.0 Sport are also both on offer from £219.95 and £229.95 - leasing rates that cannot be beaten elsewhere on the net!

New prices are now available for the award winning Jaguar XF sport saloon. The XF fuses sports car styling and performance with the refinement, features and space of a luxury saloon. The Luxury Auto model comes with 7″ colour screen navigation system, rear parking sensor, rain activated windscreen wipers, climate control and full leather upholstry as standard, and prices start at just £429.95 a month with a £1399.95 deposit (excluding VAT). On all models the 3.0d V6 turns out 240bhp and 0-60 is achieved in 6.7secs with a top speed of 149mph. All prices have been checked today to ensure that they are the lowest available.

The government is asking local councils to rid their streets of ‘unnecessary’ signs, railings and advertising hoardings, as part of an attempt to make these areas tidier, as well as less confusing for drivers and pedestrians.

They have written to council leaders asking them to reduce the amount of ‘street clutter’. They believe that some councils have mistakenly installed traffic signs believing they are a legal requirement.

In addition, the government plans to review its traffic signs policy and will publish advice on how to reduce street clutter later this year.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond stated that too many road signs were ‘ a waste of taxpayers’ money’ and ‘a blight on our national landscape’.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to offer our customers the innovative Lanesafe Head Up Display and to celebrate, we have a fantastic competition to win a Lanesafe unit!

Lanesafe is a new lane safety kit that projects a visual image on your windscreen to constantly remind drivers which side of the road to drive on when travelling in the UK or abroad. The clever kit has been designed to help save thousands of lives lost due to accidents abroad caused by driving on the wrong side of the road.

The Lanesafe Head Up Display boasts an integrated solar panel that charges the battery throughout the day to automatically switch the unit on at night. A 12V in-car charger is also included in the kit for instant illumination.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has a special offer on the Lanesafe Head Up Display. You can now order this fantastic product for only £22.95 with a FREE Travel First Aid Kit worth £7.99. Visit our Car Accessories shop for more information.

We also have an exclusive competition to win a Lanesafe Head Up Display. Simply e-mail your name to donna@nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk with ‘Lanesafe Competition’ in the subject line before the 3rd September and you’ll be entered into the prize draw.

To find out more about the Lanesafe Head Up Display, please visit our Car Accessories shop.

Monthly leasing rates have now been updated for all Fiat Bravo models as follows;

• 1.4 16V Active - from £194.95
• 1.4 16V Dynamic - from £200.07
• 1.4 T-Jet 120 Dynamic – from £219.09
• 1.6 M/Jet 105 Active Eco – from £230.36
• 1.6 M/Jet 105 Dynamic Eco - from £236.59
• 1.6 M/Jet 120 Dynamic Dlgc – from £239.90
• 2.0 M/Jet 165 Sport – from£256.40

These prices are the latest available and have been thoroughly checked to ensure they are competitive.

Nationwide is delighted to announce that the Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DI-DC Equippe is now available to lease from a fantastic £329.95 a month plus VAT – a reduction of £80 from the previous rate of £409.95! Since its launch in 1982 the Shogun has been one of the most successful SUV’s of all time, both on and off the road, winning the Dakar rally more times than any other vehicle The latest generation of models are no exception. The Shogun 3.2 DI-DC Equippe has 158bhp and 2000rpm of engine torque, reaching 0-62 in 11.7secs with a top speed of 110mph. Even with this performance the 3.2 DI-DC Equippe still manages a very reasonable 30.7mpg.

In addition to the Shogun 3.2 DI-DC Equippe all other Shogun models are also available at new lower rates, and prices have been checked today to ensure they are unbeatable.

The price of fuel is going up! We really didn’t see this one coming. And, because fate truly is the cruellest of mistresses, this rise in petrol-prices is set to coincide with one of the year’s busiest weekends for British motoring. The August Bank Holiday Weekend. Summer’s last stand; when absolutely everyone in the country goes out of their way to make the most of that which could well be the last bit of sun all year.

Insurance provider Esure (of Michael Winner “calm down dear” fame) conducted a poll which revealed that something in the region of 30 million people are expected to take a car journey of more than one hour this weekend; with one in five considering a journey of over four hours. Add to that the Reading and Leeds music festivals and the Creamfields dance festival and suddenly you have a whole lot of congestion just waiting to happen.

But it gets worse. Major repair work is scheduled on all rail services in and out of London (exquisite timing!) which is expected to inconvenience some one in fourteen journeys. People will, in some cases, have no choice but to hit the road.

Expect heavy traffic, then. But it’s been pointed out that the constant running of the engine with all its accompanying stops and starts when stuck in a traffic jam causes a ridiculous amount of fuel to get used up in the constant acceleration and braking. So – conditions are ripe for the burning of a greater than average amount of petrol. And, in the midst of all this, the announcement that the cost of fuel is set to rise.

Suddenly, my plans to spend this bank holiday surrounded by pizzas, cakes, beer and biscuits whilst ploughing through a number of DVD box-sets seems even more appealing than it did previously.

However, for those who still wish to hit the road (and I don’t blame you), The Fuelcard Company have offered the following advice for Bank Holiday drivers to ensure that their petrol or diesel takes them further for less.

1. Check Tyre Pressure
By inflating tyres to the maximum recommended air pressure, that less energy is required to move the vehicle. Under-inflated tyres can increase rolling resistance by approximately 1.4 percent for every 1 psi (0.1 bar) drop in pressure of all four tires.

2. Switch Off
In the UK it’s actually illegal to idle when waiting for someone at the side of the road and engines should always be switched off if planning to be stationary for a lengthy period of time. Some new car models are being developed with an automatic engine cut off, and manufacturers have identified a reduction in fuel consumption by up to 10 percent.

3. Reduce the Revs
Driving in heavy traffic requires a lot of stopping and starting using low gears which requires the most power and thus uses the most fuel. Where possible, drive in a higher gear – but don’t speed to achieve this. Try not to ‘rev’ the engine before changing gears as this will mean more fuel is used. Simply move through the gears smoothly until in a comfortable gear for the road.

4. Regular Services
Dirty oil, clogged sparkplugs and faulty thermostats can increase fuel consumption, so ensure your car is serviced regularly. Regular services make sure your spark plugs (if applicable), air filter and fuel filter are clean. These can save you a lot on fuel.

5. Close the Windows
By driving with the windows or sunroof open, you’re ruining the vehicle’s aerodynamics, meaning the engine has to work harder to push the car through the air.

Alternatively, of course, you could nip this rising-crisis in the bud and opt for an electric or hybrid car.

As previously reported, Ferrari are in the process of constructing a flagship theme park in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Yesterday, Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo returned from a trip to Abu Dhabi where he met with his Emirates Ferrari partners and visited the construction site of the new Ferrari theme park (which is looking to be like a more corporate version of Epcot).

Luca di Montezemolo had this to say on his visit:

“Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is a fantastic project, realised by one of our partners, who shares with us a great passion. The theme park will offer the perfect mix of innovative technology, spectacle and unique excitement with attractions you can’t find anywhere else in the world. The perfect place for adults and kids, families, but also for our fans, who will enjoy an unforgettable experience.”

It is yet unknown as to when Ferrari World is expected to open, but watch this space for details as they emerge.

Nationwide is pleased to announce a reduction in price on all Mondeo Estates now starting at £244.95 a month, along with 6 new models in both the Mondeo Hatchback and Mondeo Estate ranges. The new editions include the 1.6 ZETEC ECOBOOST and the 2.0 SPORT, both hot offers starting at £249.95.