Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to offer a super deal on the Mercedes SLK Roadster SLK250 2.1 CDi BluEf 7G-Trc+ Auto, available to lease from just £229.95 + VAT a month on a 2 year contract!

Arguably the most beautiful model in the Mercedes range, the new Mercedes SLK Roadster is in a class of its own with its sharp new style, innovative folding metal roof and powerful BlueEFFICIENCY engine.

From the outside, the SLK Roadster showcases Mercedes’ new dramatic design language with its wide stance, long bonnet and short rear end celebrating iconic roadster design at its best.

But it’s under the bonnet that the Mercedes SLK Roadster truly comes to life with the new SLK 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY – the first ever diesel powered Mercedes-Benz roadster – delivering 204 bhp and a staggering 500 Nm of torque!

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to announce a special 2 year deal on the all-new Mercedes SLK Roadster SLK250 2.1 CDi BluEf 7G-Trc+ Auto, available to lease from just £229.95 + VAT a month!

Standard features on this superb model include:

• Bluetooth System

• Cruise Control

• 6CD/MP3 Player with 5.8″ Colour Display

• Sports Leather Steering Wheel

• Auto Climate Control

• DAB Digital Radio

• Auxiliary Input Socket

• LED Daytime Running Lights

• 17″ 5 Spoke Alloy Wheels

We expect this deal to be snapped up quickly so to make sure you don’t miss out, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts today on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 2 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

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Did you know that Mercedes-Benz have their very own driving academy? I didn’t. How long has this been going on?

Any road, seemingly inspired by just how unbearably cold it is at the moment, they’re already thinking about winter. Not winter as in “right now”, but winter as in “November/December 2012”.

Specifically, they’re thinking about the beastly manner in which ice and snow can cause your car to career off the road – which has and will put an end to many a fledgling driving career, ho yes!

That’s why they’re taking action to keeping new drivers safe whilst simultaneously raising awareness of the issues faced by motorists when a freeze descends: A greater risk of unwelcome insurance claims and serious injury.

Such a mammoth task! But Mercedes-Benz think they’re worthy of meeting it head-on. They’ve teamed up with Pirelli to equip their fleet of A-Class training cars with Pirelli Cold Weather Tyres. Single-handedly this will prevent the uncertainty of wintry roads making for “chilling moments” whilst on a driving lesson.

That was their joke, not mine.

In addition to these kitted-up training cars, the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy offers a Winter Driving Course. Taking place in the controlled environment of Mercedes-Benz World’s Handling Circuits and advanced skid pad, the course offers drivers of all levels of experience the opportunity to prepare themselves for the worst winter has to offer – all without endangering themselves or other drivers.

It always helps to be prepared, no?

You can now save up to a massive £200 a month on the Mercedes R Class R300 3.0 CDi BlueEfficiency Auto when you lease with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.

With seven seats, up to 2,385 litres of load capacity and an easily adjustable interior layout, the new Mercedes R Class is the crème de la crème of family cars.

But it’s not just on the inside that the Mercedes R Class is impressive – under the bonnet, its BlueEFFICIENCY technology offers up to 9% improvement in fuel economy and emissions, with the R 300 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY boasting a combined fuel consumption of up to 37.2 mpg and CO2 emissions of 201 g/km.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to offer savings of up to £200 a month on the Mercedes R Class R300 3.0 CDi BlueEfficiency Auto with prices now starting from just £479.95 + VAT a month.

Standard features on the R300 3.0 CDi BlueEfficiency Auto include:

• Speedtronic Cruise Control

• Artico Leather Upholstery

• Executive Front Seats

• COMAND HDD Navigation

• ARCADE Collision Sensor System

• Parktronic System

• 17″ Alloy Wheels

To take advantage of these fantastic Mercedes R Class savings, call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts today on 0844 482 9595 or follow the above links.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

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At the Detroit Motor Show, 2012′s hottest new vehicles were once again on show, with revelations from all the major manufacturers. From the sublime to the ridiculous, cars for every occasion were displayed for all to see – even if many were likely to be out of most people’s price range, and most certainly that of the 5,000 journalists from over 50 different countries that attended.

Still; we can all dream, can’t we?

And, in amongst the gas-guzzlers and status symbols, there were once again electric and hybrid cars from the likes of BMW, General Motors, Lexus, Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota and Volvo – to name but a few. And once again these models caused a buzz (quite literally!) and earned huge amounts of media coverage, because electric cars are the new black. Or are they the new Betamax?

Car of the Year 2011 in Detroit was GM’s Chevy Volt – a hybrid. And Nissan’s all-electric Leaf was a close second; both trumpeting the arrival of a brave new world of ecological awareness and herald the electric revolution. Yet both missed their sales targets of 10,000 a year! Admittedly Nissan by a fraction, but the Volt by more than 2,000.

Popular? To put it in perspective, in the same timeframe the Toyota Camry sold over 308,000. (And GM had to also recall Volts for a battery problem fault.)

So, not the best of starts for what is an important time for the fledgling genre. With customers cautiously making their way back to the showrooms post-recession (or even MID-recession!), sales of “alternative power source light vehicles” were up 2.3% in the U.S. last year, compared to an over all 10% rise (according to analysts WardAuto.)

Even the industry is cautious. Sales of hybrids have levelled out and consumers are turning to more fuel-efficient cars rather than gamble on the new electric technology – possibly because of the initial costs of both electric and hybrid cars. Perhaps a case of jam tomorrow? No one has cash to spend right now, and those savings over five years seem an awful long way away.

Ed Hellwig of autoanalysts Edmunds.com says that “consumers will have access to more supply and more choices in alternative-fuel cars than ever in 2012. This could be the year when we see whether this is really ready to go mainstream, or the public just aren’t interested.” And it’s not just at the initial thought process that consumers are wary.

Paul Taylor, chief economist of the National Automobile Dealers Association, said that “People are enthusiastic about hybrid and electric cars but when they see how much they cost, they want to test drive something else.” And that ‘something else’ is the range of fuel-efficient and less thirsty cars that all major companies have developed or are developing alongside the bandwagonesque electrics.

PricewaterhouseCooper’s Autofacts group revealed that more efficient combustion engines are cutting consumption by 15-25% in some vehicles, so competition is fierce – but in reality prices will have to drop eventually and then, possibly, sales will rise.

But no car manufacturer wants to be the first to crack in the game of electric car poker. They’ve all joined in with heavy investments sitting in the middle of the table, and no one wants to be the first to fold or take a gamble and reduce prices. Someone somewhere has to break ranks. But who? And when?

Let’s leave the last word to Anthony Pratt, director of forecasting at car industry analysts Polk. Manufacturers have to be involved in the latest technology. But that technology is in its infancy, and the next five years could be even more challenging.”

The stunning Mercedes S Class is now available to lease from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts with prices starting from just £549.95 + VAT a month and savings of to £50 a month across the range.

With its outstanding levels of comfort, innovative technology and ground breaking safety systems, the Mercedes S Class oozes exclusivity, prestige and everything else you’d expect from Mercedes’ flagship model.

But it’s under the bonnet that the Mercedes S Class really comes to life with five powerful engines to choose from including a 3.0L 235bhp diesel and jaw dropping 6.5-litre V12 petrol delivering an impressive 604bhp.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to announce reductions of up to £50 a month across the Mercedes S Class range.

Prices now start from just £549.95 + VAT a month for the Mercedes S Class S350 CDi Saloon BlueTec Auto on a 2 year contract. Standard features on this model include:

• Speedtronic Cruise Control

• Leather Upholstery

• Advanced Parking Guidance

• COMAND Navigation + Bluetooth Interface

• Bi-Xenon Headlamps

• Nappa Leather Steering Wheel

• 18″ 5 Spoke Alloy Wheels

To take advantage of these special Mercedes savings, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

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Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has some super stock savings available across a great range of vehicles including the Mercedes C Class, Citroen DS4 and Vauxhall Corsa.

First up is an amazing offer on the Mercedes C Class Saloon C250 2.2 CDi BluEF Sport Auto, in stock to lease from just £289.95 + VAT a month – fantastic value for a car of this specification! Boasting a striking new style, a luxurious interior and powerful 2.2 CDi BluEF engine, it’s no surprise that the Mercedes C Class Saloon has won over the hearts of consumer and critics alike. Standard features on the above model include automatic climate control, liverpool cloth/artico leather upholstery, front & rear parktronic system and 18″ AMG alloy wheels.

The popular Citroen C3 1.4HDi 70 VTR+ has been reduced by a further £95 a month with prices now starting from just £129.95 + VAT on a 2 year contract. Compact on the outside but spacious on the inside, the Citroen C3 is ideal car for the city thanks to its compact design, comfortable interior and handy 10.2m turning circle. The VTR+ trim also comes well-equipped with Bluetooth, cruise control, air con and 15” alloy wheels.

It’s your last chance to take advantage of FREE Metallic Paint worth up to £475 on the Kia Sportage before our offer ends on 31st January. Prices now start from just £217.95 + VAT a month for the Kia Sportage 17. CRDi 1 with Bluetooth, cruise control, aux-input socket and 16″ alloy wheels all offered as standard on this fantastic model. A selected number of higher spec ’2′ and ’3′ models are also in stock for quick delivery.

You can now save up to a further £5 a month when you lease the Vauxhall Corsa 3 Door 1.2 SXi A/C with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts. Prices now start from just £119.95 + VAT a month with cars in stock for March delivery. The high-spec SXi trim comes well-equipped with air con, daytime running lights, front sports seats, sports leather steering wheel and 16 alloy wheels.

The Citroen DS4 1.6 HDi 110 DStyle is now available to lease from just £189.95 on a 2 year contract, representing a saving of up to £67 a month. Recently named ‘Most Beautiful Car Of The Year’ the DS4′s striking exterior and well-equipped interior rivals even the hottest of hatchbacks. Features include rear parking sensors, dual zone air con and 18” alloy wheels.

Finally the all-new Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback 1.6 LS is now in stock to lease from just £169.95 + VAT a month. Revamped for 2012, the new Chevrolet Cruze boasts better fuel economy and more standard equipment than ever before. Standard features on the 1.6 LS model include aux input socket, air con, tinted glass and follow me home headlights.

To take advantage of one of these fantastic stock deals, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts today on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 2 or 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

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Thousands of cars are stolen each day. Regardless of what you drive, you’re susceptible to the same thieves as everyone else. While some vehicles are recovered, many will never be seen again. Unfortunately falling into a modified version of the first category, famous actor John Travolta managed to recover his vehicle, albeit only in pieces.

The star of films like ‘Pump Fiction’ and ‘Face/Off,’ Travolta reported his 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280-SL stolen last September. He noted that it was nicked when he was visiting a Jaguar dealership in Santa Monica. It took thieves only 10 minutes to take off with the vehicle, causing the famed actor quite a bit of distress.

While police visited the scene of the crime, the vehicle was not seen until last week. The Winnipeg Free Press reported that it was found in pieces. Indeed, Sgt Richard Lewis who headed the investigation noted that the car was “not recovered in whole” but rather “chopped.”  He noted that quite a number of pieces were located the car as a whole no longer existed.

The search efforts also lead investigators to two men: D L Rayford Jr as well as Michael T. Green. The first pled no contest to grand theft auto while the latter plead not guilty.  Because Rayford plead no contest he was ordered to pay John Travolta $50,000 in restitution and must also serve 16 months in jail. While the trial continues on for Mr Green, he is currently in jail without bail.

The information about the case was not leaked to the public because the police was conducting a larger investigation into the car theft ring. In order to not compromise their evidence, records were released in order to clear the case and provide the public with some closure.

Reporters have noted that John Travolta was pleased with the findings. While he may not get his car back, he was a bit humours about the whole event. Referencing his friend Nicholas Cage, he noted that the incident resembled something like ‘Gone In 60 Seconds’ while he was at the Jaguar dealership. While the money owed him will not be of great consequence to the wealthy Hollywood star, perhaps it will make other thieves think twice before taking on the police force and the law.

There are few cars that can match the beauty of a classic Mercedes-Benz Gullwing. Originals are not only incredibly rare but also quite expensive, making them very exclusive vehicles. Recently up for auction, a stupendous example of this vehicle recently sold for a whopping $4.6 million (£3 million), making it the envy of most car collectors.

The luxurious brand has been known for creating fantastic vehicles with unmatched style. The 300 SL coupe model was built between 1954 and 1957, and only around 30 of these being the lightweight ‘alloy’ models. This exclusive subsection is even rarer to find, costing many millions to purchase.

This ‘alloy’ model gullwing was sold last week at the Gooding & Co auction in Scottsdale. Jonathan Welsh from the Wall Street Journal has noted that this price is extraordinarily high. They’ve conservatively estimated that it sold for nearly 7 or 8 times more than it would have only a decade ago. Indeed, in 2000 a regular gullwing would go for $300,000 while the alloy model would be perhaps double this. Now it even appears that the average gullwing goes for over a million.

The Scottsdale auction is indeed quite an event in the United States. Just last Saturday the auction sold 244 cars selling a total over $43 million. Massively exceeding pervious records set in 2007, some fantastic models have made their way onto the floor. Most notable of these have been a 1948 Trucker Torpedo which sold for $2.65 million. The truck was indeed unique as it was only one of 51 cars built by the Tucker car company, making it quite a spectacle to see. Similarly an equally rare 1947 Bentley Mark VI sold for $2.5 million at the auction. One last vehicle to note was the brilliant 1933 Pierce Arrow Silver Arrow which sold for $2 million.

It appears that for some the economy is indeed improving. While these vehicles can certainly be seen as investments and not simply toys to drive around in, their prices seem to be out of this world. Their exotic nature and beautiful shapes make them the desired pieces of any one wealthy enough to purchase them. While most of us can simply gaze upon them in awe, one lucky investor will certainly be rolling home in the car of their dreams.