A Number of new models have been added by BMW to its various ranges and include the 520d EfficientDynamics saloon, the Z4 sDrive20i and sDrive28i and the 6 Series Coupé. The 520d EfficientDynamics saloon is powered by a 184 bhp engine that delivers combined cycle fuel economy of 62.8 mpg and has carbon dioxide emissions of 199 g/km. The model costs £30,435 on-the- road.

The Z4 sDrive20i and sDrive28i herald a new entry points to two-seat sports car ownership of BMWs. The sDrive20i is powered by a 184 bhp engine returning 41.5 mpg on the combined fuel cycle and emissions of 159 g/km, while the sDrive28i is powered by a 245 bhp engine with identical fuel economy and emissions figures. The sDrive20i costs from £29,480 and the sDrive28i from £33,645. Now in its third generation, the new 6 Series Coupé features a sweeping coupé roofline, long bonnet, short over-hangs and set-back passenger compartment.

Initially, the model comes with a choice of two turbo-charged petrol engines - the 650i is powered by a 407 bhp unit and the 640i by a 320 bhp power-plant - and a twin turbo-charged diesel power-plant, which is powered by a 313 bhp unit. Range prices start from £59,565 for the 640i SE Coupé.

MORE than 18,000 road crashes in Britain last year were caused by snow or ice, latest Government statistics have revealed.

A total of 15,479 car accidents were attributed to snow or ice on the roads, while 927 light goods vehicles were involved in accidents under similar conditions, according to Department for Transport data. That poses a huge threat to fleets, especially as the first snow has already fallen in the UK this winter, says ATS Euromaster which is reminding businesses that they must prepare for difficult travelling conditions and the record low temperatures expected by long-range forecasters.

Peter Fairlie, ATS Euromaster's group sales director, said: 'The accident figures speak volumes and it shows that you cannot be too prepared when it comes to the winter months. Cold weather tyres [also known as winter tyres] are a simple and cost-effective way to ensure your fleet stays safe and mobile during the winter - not only when driving on snow and ice - but as soon as the temperature drops below seven degrees Celsius.

'It makes good business sense to be prepared, but people need to start fitting their cold weather tyres now. A company's productivity and financial security - not to mention their staff's safety - could be jeopardised if they delay.

EMPLOYEES entering car salary sacrifice schemes are more conscious than ever of their green responsibilities and definitely more aware of the positive benefit-in-kind tax implications of opting for cars with lower carbon dioxide emissions. That's the view of Roddy Graham, commercial director at the Leasedrive Group, following an analysis of more than 3,500 cars supplied under its salary sacrifice car scheme, mycar. The analysis revealed that:

• The Audi A3 is the most popular vehicle choice among public sector employees
• The Ford Fiesta is the most popular car choice for private sector employees.
• Average vehicle emissions dropped in the past year in the salary sacrifice fleets of both sectors - dropping from 120.6 g/km to 117.9 g/km in the public sector and from 142.9 g/km to 135.9 g/km in the private sector.
• Red was the most popular vehicle colour in the public sector and black by a significant margin in the private sector.

Graham said: 'The disparity in green choices between public sector and private sector drivers is not altogether surprising as the average contract mileage for a vehicle under the mycar salary sacrifice scheme is 29% higher in the private sector, at 40,032 miles compared to 30,913 miles in the public sector. The higher average mileage of the private sector vehicle explains the 15% higher emission figure - drivers covering longer distances prefer larger, more comfortable vehicles.

'A properly designed and communicated salary sacrifice scheme, such as mycar, offers significant benefits to employers, employees and the environment. It's a win-win-win situation on all fronts. An employer pays a more tax efficient remuneration and reduced National Insurance (NI) contributions. As most organisations' HR departments have the process and system capability to deliver benefits through salary sacrifice the cost exposure of introducing such a scheme is negligible, providing they put buffers in place. A salary sacrifice scheme also eliminates the 'grey' fleet risk, which frequently carries a significant but mostly unrecognised cost.

'Employees can enjoy the benefits of a company car at a lower than expected cost, with the savings on income tax and NI contributions outweighing their benefit-in-kind tax contributions. They also enjoy the use of a more fuel efficient, fully serviced and maintained new car for two or three years backed by comprehensive insurance.

'In terms of the environment, a salary sacrifice scheme reduces the carbon footprint across an organisational fleet and lowers fuel costs. It also improves an employers' corporate social responsibility standing. A salary sacrifice scheme also acts as a valuable recruitment and retention tool in the war for talent. With the current pressures on salaries, salary sacrifice provides a creative way to enhance the total remuneration package in the eyes of the employee at no additional cost to the employer. It is a tax- efficient scheme for the employee, saving them money.

It will be winter all year round for British Gas after the UK's leading utilities provider completed a successful trial of Continental winter tyres on its car-derived vans. Following the extreme weather conditions experienced in 2009, British Gas took the decision to fit 120 of its Volkswagen Caddy vans with winter tyres to ensure its vehicles stayed on-call and on the road last winter.

Colin Marriott, general manager, fleet, at British Gas, said: 'The safety of our drivers and engineers is a top priority at British Gas, as is maintaining our high standards of customer service. 'We wanted to make driving in cold weather as safe as possible and if we can negotiate the icy roads then we can get to site and fulfil customer needs when they need us most. We have received very positive feedback from our drivers regarding the performance of the Continental winter tyres, especially in the snow. Our engineers have commented that they were able to complete a normal full day's work even in the most adverse conditions.'

The trial took place in and around British Gas' operational area of the Scottish Highlands and Peak District. The front-wheel-drive vans in the Highlands were fitted with winter tyres all-year round, while those in the north of England ran Continental's winter tyres only during the colder months. Marriott said: 'When snow blanketed the UK in January the Continental winter tyres really proved their worth and in some cases the front-wheel-drive Caddy vans outperformed 4x4 vehicles fitted with standard tyres. In future British Gas vans all over the north of England and Scotland will be fitted with winter tyres all year round.'