BRITAIN'S largest contract hire and leasing company has introduced its first gas-powered vehicle to its fleet. Lex Vehicle Leasing has contract hired a liquid petroleum gas powered Renault Megane Classic 1.6 RT to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. It is believed to be the first LPG car supplied by a contract hire company in Britain.

The £12,790 on-the-road car has a conventional petrol tank, but also has an LPG tank in the boot. A switch in the car activates the change from petrol to LPG. The £1,695 conversion was carried out by specialist Hendy Power Conversions, in Hampshire. The car, on a three-year/ 60,000-mile contract with full maintenance and RAC cover, costs £312.76 a month to lease and carries a residual value of £4,635. That compares with Lex Vehicle Leasing's monthly rental and residual value for a conventional petrol-engined Megane Classic 1.6 RT of £274.09 a month and £4,433 respectively.