The 10 most searched cars on auto Trader for 2016 include 7 German brands, two Fords and a Vauxhall.

Auto Trader has announced the most searched for cars of the year, revealing the 10 make and models most popular amongst the circa 60 million monthly visitors to the marketplace in 2016, which currently has almost half a million cars listed for sale on the site.  

The BMW 3 series was the most searched for car on Auto Trader in 2016, a title the vehicle has held on the UK’s largest automotive marketplace for a sixth consecutive year. 

Beating two of its BMW stablemates in both the 1 Series and 5 Series, the 3 Series topped a list that was dominated by premium vehicles in 2016, which made up 75% of the Top 10 list.

Jon Quirk, Auto Trader’s Editor-in-Chief, said, “The BMW 3 series continues its dominance as the most searched for car on Auto Trader, while the overall popularity for premium vehicles continues. This is due, in part, to an expansive new car portfolio and the availability of low rate finance. Small family cars have been big news in 2016 too, as they can provide superb levels of in-car technology, safety and refinement in more compact, more efficient and cost effective packages.”

The rise in UK car buyers on the lookout for more premium models led to a significant rise in searches for the 3 Series rival, the Mercedes-Benz C Class, which rose two places in the Top 10 search list in 2016 to take the Bronze spot from the Ford Focus.

The Volkswagen Golf also continues to be a highly desirable for UK car buyers in 2016, as it becomes the second most searched for car on Auto Trader for the eighth year running.

Making a prediction for 2017, Quirk said, “2017 is going to be the year of the small car. The small car league table will see a host of new competition - the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Citroen C3 and Seat Ibiza will all have brand new models in 2017, not to mention the totally reinvented Nissan Micra.”

Looking at how some of next year’s new car launches might impact search behaviour, Quirk added, “We're also expecting to see an increase in the number of searches for electric vehicles, with refreshed models like the Renault Zoe promising better range and the release of the Tesla Model 3 – the Ford Focus-sized electric car with a 200+ mile range costing £30k – which should bring mass appeal for UK car buyers.”

Top 10 most searched for cars on Auto Trader in 2016

Rank	Make	Model
1	BMW	3 SERIES
2	VOLKSWAGEN	GOLF
3	MERCEDES-BENZ	C CLASS
4	FORD	FOCUS
5	BMW	5 SERIES
6	BMW	1 SERIES
7	FORD	FIESTA
8	AUDI	A3
9	MERCEDES-BENZ	E CLASS
10	VAUXHALL	ASTRA

UK SALES - November see's a 2.9% growth and is still running ahead for the YTD.

• UK new car market rises 2.9% in November, with 184,101 vehicles registered on British roads.
• Alternatively fuelled vehicles achieve record market share of 3.6% in the month, with demand up by a quarter.¹
• 2,514,764 new cars registered from January to November – a record for the period.

184,101 new cars were registered in the UK this November, with the market increasing by a steady 2.9%, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 

The growth has helped deliver more than 2.5 million new cars on to British roads so far this year – the first time the milestone has been reached in November.

Demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) remained strong in the month, growing 25.1% to 6,663 units, representing 3.6% of the market – the highest ever achieved. 

Petrol registrations grew 7.9% to 88,541 units, while diesels just edged ahead on market share with 88,897 vehicles registered, a fall of -2.9%.

Superminis continued to be the most popular body style – making up more than a quarter (29.7%) of all cars registered in November, followed by small family cars and SUVs. Executive and city cars enjoyed the biggest growth, up 27.7% and 25% respectively. 

Meanwhile, fleets accounted for more than half of the market, as registrations to private buyers fell slightly by -1.2%.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Our industry continues to make vehicles that are ever safer, more refined, more efficient and more enjoyable to drive – and the latest advanced technology and cutting-edge designs are continuing to attract buyers into showrooms. 

It's encouraging to see that alternatively fuelled vehicles, although still a small proportion of the market, have seen strong growth this month achieving a record market share. 

Long-term government support and incentives are essential if these vehicles are to command a larger market share in the future.”

September sees nearly half a million sales in plate change month, with 2.150 million sales year to date.

• 469,696 new cars registered in plate-change September – a steady rise of 1.6% and the highest September
• on record. 
• Increased demand for diesels and alternatively fuelled vehicles, up 2.8% and 32.6% respectively.
• Year-to-date total registrations grow 2.6%, with more than 2 million units registered so far this year.

The UK new car market remained steady in September, rising 1.6%, according to data published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 469,696 cars were registered, as buyers purchased the new 66-plate.

The performance marks the highest September on record, while the total number of cars registered so far this year also grew to  2,150,495 units – up 2.6% compared with the same period last year. 

It is only the second time that the two million mark has been passed in September since 2004.¹

Fleet registrations continued to drive growth, up 7.3%, while registrations to private motorists experienced a small decline, down -1.7% to 223,844 units in the month. Meanwhile, diesel registrations rose 2.8% as petrols declined -1.1%. Alternatively fuelled vehicles continued to outpace the market, up 32.6% against the same month last year with a market share of 3.4%.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, "September is always one of the biggest months for Britain’s new car market. The new 66-plate, combined with a diverse range of exciting new models featuring the latest technology, has certainly helped draw buyers into showrooms and many are taking full advantage of the attractive deals and low interest financing options on offer. However business and consumers place September orders many months in advance, so the ability of the market to maintain this record level of demand will depend on the ability of government to overcome political uncertainty and safeguard the conditions that underpin consumer appetite.”

Jaguar believes in the XE so much they will let you compare it the competition at Jag dealers this weekend.

• Jaguar’s XE sports saloon is pitted against its rivals across UK showrooms in the first weekend of September
• Car buyers invited to test up to three competitor vehicles at Jaguar UK showrooms and decide for themselves if the XE beats its rivals onto their driveway
• Jaguar becomes the first manufacturer in the UK to offer such a competitive comparison through its showrooms
• The multi-award winning Jaguar XE is the current Auto Express Compact Executive Car of the Year and was named ‘a Game Changer’ at the 2016 Autocar Awards

Jaguar UK makes a bold statement this summer with an open invitation for car buyers to test the multi-award-winning XE against its rivals in the market through group tests arranged at UK showrooms.

More than 250 examples of the three main rivals to the Jaguar XE have been brought in for the first weekend of September and placed at key Jaguar retailers across the UK for the magazine-style group tests to take place.

Jaguar Land Rover UK managing director Jeremy Hicks said:

“Our offer is simple: if you are interested in test driving a Jaguar XE, but are uncertain about how it will compare against its key rivals, then contact your local Jaguar retailer and arrange your own personal group test.  It’s a bold move, never done before by a manufacturer in the UK, but the Jaguar XE speaks for itself. It is the best looking car in its class, appealing to the heart but with class-leading running costs that add up to a shrewd financial purchase.”

“It’s a class leader across the key measures of efficiency, performance and cost of ownership and absolutely holds its own in the most hotly contested sector of the market against the most established players in the world. We know it, the critics know it, now it’s time for car buyers across the UK to know it – and crucially, experience it – for themselves.”

The multiple Executive Car of the Year winner has played a crucial role in the business’s record-breaking sales in 2016, with almost 30,000 XEs making their way onto global driveways so far this year. The Autocar 2016 ‘Game Changer’ is fast approaching its 50^th award, and was shortlisted for the coveted European Car of the Year award.

Already hailed as the best drivers’ car in its class, the updates to the XE for the 2017 model year have enhanced this further. It now comes with key specification additions; including an all-wheel drive (AWD) system, which is available to order on the 2.0-litre Ingenium 180PS diesel variant.

The AWD system enhances vehicle dynamics and improves traction, while Adaptive Surface Response (AdSR) optimises the AWD system by changing the powertrain and Dynamic Stability Control system mapping according to the conditions.

Jaguar's advanced Lightweight Aluminium Architecture, and high-tech Ingenium engines, make the XE the most efficient non-hybrid car in its class with fuel economy of up to 75mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 99g/km. As well as its business-friendly emissions the XE also boasts the highest three-year/60,000-mile residual value* in the segment.

The 2017 model year XE also comes with a state-of-the-art InControl Touch Pro infotainment system with a 10.2-inch tablet-style touchscreen that offers intuitive operation, super-fast response times and intelligent navigation. The system offers a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices, and is compatible with an Apple Watch app, that offers remote functions including fuel level check, lock and unlock, and even remote engine starts.

FURTHER INFORMATION

FIVE REASONS TO BUY THE JAGUAR XE:

• The XE is the most efficient non-hybrid car in its class with fuel economy of up to 75mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 99g/km.
• The XE a boasts the highest three-year/60,000-mile residual value* in the segment.
• Euro NCAP selected it as the winner in the large family car category at their Best in Class Cars of 2015 awards. The XE has already received the maximum five star rating from Euro NCAP against 2015's highly demanding test protocols.
• It’s a ‘Game Changer’ according to Autocar, Britain’s oldest motoring magazine.
• Auto Express has named it their ‘Compact Executive Car of the Year’ for the second year running.

Mercedes takes TWO top ten positions in the UK, three for Vauxhall, TWO for VW and TWO for Ford, Nissan, ONE.

Passenger car demand sees small increase in July as UK registrations rose by 0.1%. Demand for AFVs remains healthy up 24.7% but still small market share. Monthly car registrations level off after record 2015 and strong early 2016 growth.

UK new car registrations experienced a moderate increase in July, up 0.1% for the month, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 1,599,159 new cars have been registered so far this year, putting demand in the year-to-date 2.8% higher than for the same period in 2015 following a strong first quarter. July followed the trend seen throughout this year whereby lower private registrations were offset by fleet purchases, which increased by 5.0% this month. Demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles remained remarkably strong with 24.7% more registrations compared with the same month in 2015. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “After a healthy start to 2016 and record registrations in 2015 the market is showing signs of cooling. The automotive market is a vital part of the British economy and it’s important government delivers the economic conditions which instil business and consumer confidence. With low interest rates, attractive finance options and exciting new models coming to the showrooms, the market still has lots to offer customers.”

Germany's Federal Court of Justice has banned Mercedes-Benz from selling its Airscarf headrest heating system.

Germany's Federal Court of Justice has banned Mercedes-Benz from selling its Airscarf headrest heating system in cars sold in Germany because of a dispute over patents.

The court said that the verdict banned the sale of the system, which is an option in models such as the Mercedes SLK/SLC, SL, S-class, E-class, C-class and AMG GT Roadster convertibles.

The Airscarf system blows hot air through the seat headrest onto the necks of drivers and passengers. It is used in about two thirds of the convertible models sold in Germany, according to Automotive News Europe’s sister publication Automobilwoche.

A spokeswoman for Mercedes-Benz said she was "astonished" by the verdict, given that parent company Daimler had won legal disputes over Airscarf in lower courts.

Automotive News Europe.

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