In the August 31 edition of Thinking CAP, Martin Ward manufacturer relationships manager at Cap HPI, discusses the Seat Ibiza press launch, the annual Classics on the Common and why he can't escape 2040.  

Tuesday

To Liverpool for the UK press launch of the all-new fifth generation Seat Ibiza.

We drove to North Wales and a great drive it was, too – both the car and the scenery.

Seat has sold 5.4 million Ibiza’s globally since 1984, and more than 300,000 in the UK.

This all-new car will be available with five-doors only. Initially it will only be offered with a 1.0-litre petrol engine and, given the ones we drove, there’s nothing wrong with that.

The new car is so much quieter and refined, better build quality, and just a good all-round hatch. Prices start from £13,130 OTR.

Wednesday/Thursday

To the annual Classics on the Common, at Harpenden, near Luton.

Some may disagree it is near Luton. It’s just 5.5 miles away, but a different county.

Cap HPI hosted a series of meetings before going to see the stunning array of vehicles, and many topics were discussed between manufacturers, fleet and leasing companies and dealers.

Not all agreed about everything, as expected. But it was good to see a variety of companies in the same place at the same time – and enjoyable and informative, too.

Friday

Everywhere I go, and everybody I talk to, seems to want to discuss, or have opinions about, the headlines saying all cars have to be electric by 2040.

They ask where the electric is going to come from.

The headlines are misleading.

Editor Stephen Briers’ column in the August 3 issue of Fleet News sums up the facts well.

If you were on holiday, or missed it, it is worth reading. Basically, yes all cars will have to have an element of electric power by 2040. But not fully electric.

They must have some electric capability but this can be coupled with petrol or diesel engines, so panic over… cancel those extra power stations.