MOTORING


Car photography is a game changer


Detailed professional photography posted online has the potential to change the face of used car sales, following the success of a pilot project instigated by a city studio. Averill Photography, based in


Iron Gate, in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter, has worked recently with premium car dealerships in Derby and Loughborough. The company has produced at


least 25 images of each used car, including detailed shots of special features, which are then posted online by the dealership. This has resulted in a marked


return on investment with a faster turnaround of stock and higher website rankings. Managing Director, Mark Averill,


said: “The results of this project have been incredible. “With the growth of online


advertising and sales, dealerships have traditionally posted ‘point and shoot’ photographs on their own websites and with Auto Trader. “We noticed that these shots really don’t do justice to the


Mark Averill on location


vehicles – particularly premium models – and we approached Inchcape in Derby and Loughborough with a proposition to test the impact of professional photography on sales conversion. “We combined high-end hero


images of each vehicle with creative shots showcasing special exterior and interior features of the cars. “According to the dealerships,


this has resulted in a faster turnaround of stock and an expanded customer base.”


TOP: The Ateca is suprisingly spacious, with ample leg and head room ABOVE: An impressive amount of boot space is on offer


‘The fact that it’s functional and everything falls naturally to hand makes the lack of blinged-up modernity absolutely fine with me’


six-speed manual gearbox, although the 2.0-litre diesel variant has the option of a four-wheel drive system and gets a seven-speed DSG gearbox as standard in the highest-output version and an option in lower-output versions. So in terms of engines, power, transmissions and drive systems, it will


compete. On the inside, it’s a swathe of matt black plastics, which is perhaps less


than might be expected in a model competing in such a high-stakes sector, but I’m not too bothered about that. The fact that it’s functional and everything falls naturally to hand makes


the lack of blinged-up modernity absolutely fine with me. The Ateca is really rather good at making you feel at home. It’s surprisingly spacious inside, with ample levels of rear leg, head and shoulder room. It has a well-proportioned boot, with over 500-litres of space… which is


quite impressive in this class. I suspect most buyers will opt for the SE trim level to get the ‘must-have’


eight-inch colour touch-screen set-up. This being a Seat, there will be certain buyers that will dismiss the Ateca


as a second-rate VW, but I’m not having any of that. The VW is more expensive, but that’s about the only difference worth


mentioning. As for the Nissan, it blows it out of the water… period. Prices start at just £17,955 and rise to just over £30,000, depending on


your choice of engine and specification. With a family to lug about, the Ateca would be my choice of SUV.


business network September 2017 61


New app helps drivers stay safe on the road


Total Motion has launched a ground-breaking driver app which will ensure businesses are compliant with the law, as well as saving them money and keeping their drivers safe and on the road. Its new app features a vehicle defect reporting system that can be


formatted for use on cars, vans or HGVs. Further benefits are available by using the app in combination with Total Motion’s telematics. Fleets will be able to reduce downtime by up to 50% as repairs can be arranged en route via one of Total Motion’s network of service engineers or via a mobile repairer. Simon Hill (pictured), Managing Director, said: “The launch of Total


Motion’s driver app has hugely positive safety and compliance implications. The app gives us a permanent record of when and where a defect was reported – which means we can accurately track repairs. Once the fault is reported, a member of our team will call the driver back within 30 minutes and, because all the data is fed into our real-time live reporting system, it will be much easier to plan downtime for essential service users; speeding up repairs and saving our clients money.”


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