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comic effectOur undergrad heroes
suit up for charity
a boat-iful dayRetailers celebrate topping the table
ring of fireTwo Astras challenge 18 records in 24 hours
December 2013
flex appealLatest Meriva – new engine, new look, same practical appeal
TORQUEthe magazine for Vauxhall staff and retailers
sign of the timesMarking 110 years of Vauxhall Motors
02 TORQUE magazinE
torQue december 2013
REGULARS03 IGNITION11 GM NEWS20 PEOPLE25 HERITAGE26 COMPETITIONS27 MERCHANDISE28 MEET THE TEAM
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In THIS ISSUE
DUNCAN ALDREDCHAIRMAN & MD,VAUXHALL MOTORS
EDITORDoug Peck01582 427 190MANAGING EDITORJos Sharp, 01582 427 173EDITORIAL PANELandrea Caumon, andrew Biernacki, andy Robson, Fiona Collins, Helen Parker, marie Roberts, martin Lay, mike Hutchin, Sandy macRitchie, Simon Hucknall
get in touch, make our day! Have an idea for a story? Please tell your on-site correspondent or email the Editor at [email protected]. Events, personal and work-related achievements, efforts for charity, unusual or interesting hobbies or sports – we want to know! This is your magazine, so tell us what you would like to see in it.
PHOTO CREDITSneil O'Conner/UnP (Cover, p16&17); David Smith (p12&13); Vicki Couchman/UnP (p20); gareth Owen (p28)
Torque is written, designed and produced by beetroot, 68 Leonard Street, London EC2a 4QX (Tel: 020 7749 0180, Fax: 020 7749 0179), and printed by newnorth, on behalf of general motors UK Limited, Luton.Corrections, complaints, queries, suggestions? mail doug.peck@ beetroot.co.uk
18Where are they now? New regular feature on life after the line for our vans
20The no-pressure fitness club that rewards you with cake
A Day in the Life – GM Europe Real Estate Manager Julian Lyon
Please share or recycle this magazine
24
It’s been an extremely busy and positive year for Vauxhall; there’s been plenty to be proud of. We’ve had exciting new model launches in Cascada and ADAM, won awards such as Britain’s Top Employer and celebrated manufacturing milestones like our 900,000th UK-built Vivaro.
There’s also lots to smile about regarding our recent performance, which suggests a very strong finish to 2013. For example, Vauxhall increased its retail market share more than any other manufacturer in October (almost one percentage point compared with the same period last year), and Corsa outsold every model other than Fiesta to achieve an impressive second position in the market.
October’s Purchase Satisfaction Survey and Service Satisfaction Survey results were also exceptionally pleasing. PSS returned a record monthly score of 91.5 per cent, while our SSS was 83 per cent, equalling our highest ever monthly result; my thanks to everyone who contributed to these excellent results.
It’s been 110 years since Vauxhall’s first 5HP car rolled off the line, making us the oldest car manufacturer in the UK. Our celebrations were particularly sweet, with employees signing a commemorative Astra (page 16) and receiving special chocolate bars with the opportunity to win a prize if they found a golden ticket inside.
It also looks like we’ll be in the history books for another kind of endurance. Two Ellesmere Port-built Astras recently challenged no less than 18 endurance and speed records at Millbrook’s High Speed Ring – see how they fared on page 12.
Finally, as I write this Christmas is almost upon us, so I’d like to wish every employee a safe and enjoyable festive season and look forward to an even more successful 2013.
CORRESPONDENTSEllesmere Port plantmonica Raisbeck,Leigh RimmerGriffin House annisa WhitehallLuton plantCharlotte macLaren MillbrookJutta CraneWarehouseFaye Johnson, Saskia Farrant
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Platinum power: the man who cycled for 30 hours non-stop for charity
03DECEmBER 2013
neWs from around the business
PAgE 4THE CONNECTED COP CAR
PAgE 7THURLOw NUNN'S PERfECT yEAR
PAgE 9DIgITAL SHOwROOM NETS AwARD
made by englandVauxhall goes tribal with stylish new Katy England film
Vauxhall has commissioned one of the world’s leading fashion stylists to create an edgy short film to mark Vauxhall’s 110 years of car manufacturing.
Made in England was directed by suitably-named fashionista Katy England, and celebrates Britain’s unique style and design heritage. Mark Adams, Vice President of Design at Vauxhall Motors, commented: “Made in England was commissioned to delve into British youth culture allowing us to really engage with British fashion and culture tribes.
“Our vehicle designs are a product of research and development, so it is key for us to understand the people who are driving Vauxhall cars now and into the future. ”
Katy wanted to keep the whole project as authentic as possible and the only celebrity in the film is a cameo from Katy’s husband, Primal Scream lead singer Bobby Gillespie. “This film was cast with real people – this is not an impression of British style and youth culture, this is the real thing,” she explained.
The launch screening in London’s East End was filled with stars of screen, fashion and music such as Philip Treacy, Henry Holland and Jamie Hince. Buzz about the film has already generated significant media coverage, including exclusive features in Grazia, The Times and The Guardian with plenty more to follow.l You can see Made in England by following this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nklob1w_HTs
Dutch courage – fashion designer Henry Holland
Pam Hogg-ing the limelight
(r) A laid-back Caroline Flack
Hats off to Philip Treacy (l) with Made in England director Katy England (r)
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The Hertfordshire Police force now has a new weapon in the fight against crime in the shape of 10 highly-advanced new Police Astras.
Each car is fitted out with cutting-edge communications equipment including a Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 tablet computer, an 8.4-inch touchscreen monitor and a 4G compatible broadband router enabling high-speed internet connectivity. This powerful
Tech-ing on the criminalsConnected Astra shows the future of mobile policing
technology offers everything officers could want from a mobile police station and allows them to work on the move, giving them an extra two hours in the field.
The futuristic fleet caught the eyes of Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May when they viewed prototypes of the revolutionary Astras earlier this year. Pending the success of the trial, senior officers at Herts Constabulary are due to fit 50 Vauxhall Astras already in service with the new technology.
"so that's how you take a selfie..."
4,000 new members a month
Vauxhall’s MasterFit Service Club recently welcomed its 200,000th member and is celebrating by offering a free £25 MasterFit voucher.
Vauxhall Service Manager, Belinda Craik, said: “We are extremely proud to have reached this impressive milestone
for Vauxhall Service Club. It shows the success it has achieved in making the already competitive offers from Vauxhall MasterFit authorised repairers truly outstanding in their value, which is clearly appealing to more Vauxhall drivers every day.”
Following national promotions, an average of 4,000 new members have been joining the discounted car servicing scheme every month.
The discount on servicing and repairs is linked to the age of the vehicle, meaning
that when the age of the vehicle increases, so does the discount. Vehicles that are two to three years old receive a discount of 15 per cent, while vehicles that are three years and older get a discount of 25 per cent.l Vauxhall is offering a free £25 MasterFit voucher for any Vauxhall owner who signs up to MasterFit Service Club before the 31 December 2013. Vauxhall owners can register for the MasterFit Service Club at the Vauxhall Drivers’ centre website: www.vauxhalldriverscentre.co.uk
masterfit’s milestone
The joy of Flex
Vauxhall’s ever-popular MPV gets new engine and eagle-eyes in its latest guise
Meriva is set to stun with a new look and a cutting-edge powertrain that promises significant improvements over the outgoing model.
It was never lacking in the looks department but it now sports a new grille, chrome accents that frame the front fog lamps and newly-designed headlamps with an ‘eagle-eye’ graphic. Optional LED daytime running lights and LED tail lights ooze class while new 18-inch alloy wheels are available to complete the premium look.
Of course the new Meriva still incorporates the clever rear-hinged FlexDoors system which provides a 20 per cent larger opening
for passengers, and FlexSpace which allows rear passengers a variety of different seating combinations.
It doesn’t disappoint in the oomph stakes either, boasting Vauxhall’s all-new 1.6 CDTi that recently debuted in the Zafira Tourer. The Euro-6 compliant diesel engine is already setting a high benchmark in the industry for efficiency and refinement, producing 136PS and 320nm of torque at 2,000rpm. Despite cutting nearly a second from the 0-60 time to 9.1 seconds, it still achieves a remarkable 64.2mpg combined and 116g/km of C02 emissions. This equates to a 10 per cent improvement in economy/emissions over the 1.7 CDTi, which the new unit replaces.
Pricing for the new model is expected imminently, with the first customer deliveries in January 2014.
What a guy!
05DECEmBER 2013
Vauxhall Ellesmere Port Apprentice Lewis Guy named as North West Apprentice of the Year
Second-year apprentice Maintenance Engineer Lewis Guy has been recognised for his dedication with a prestigious industry award that he received at a ceremony at Salford City Stadium.
Lewis was awarded the North West Apprentice of the Year at the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards, the second year in a row this award has been claimed by a Vauxhall Ellesmere Port Apprentice.
His nomination was supported by West Cheshire College, where he maintained an excellent standard of work and made the most of the training and development opportunities during the first year of his manufacturing apprenticeship.
The accolade has left Lewis extremely excited about his potential future at Vauxhall: "Winning the award has given me a real sense of self-belief, and the recognition received for my hard work was brilliant. My plans now are to complete my apprenticeship, achieve the highest levels of qualification I possibly can and give myself the best chances of gaining a maintenance job within Vauxhall Motors."
He will now attend the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2013 National Gala Dinner in January, where he will find out if he has been successful in achieving the National First Year Apprentice Award.
"so that's how you take a selfie..."
new meriva benefits from a visual update
“ Winning the aWard has giVen me a real sense of self-belief”
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The top performers from the Vauxhall Professionals Area Leagues celebrate a successful six months
From grand prix go-karting to live comedy evenings, the winning Retailers from the bi-annual Vauxhall Professionals Area Leagues have been celebrating in style.
David Boyd from Northern Ireland’s Roadside Garages was one of them: “We set sail from Ballycastle on two RIBs over to the island of Islay for a tour of the historic Ardbeg distillery. We saw how they made the whisky and we got to sample some, some more so than others! The whole idea of these awards is to do something you wouldn’t normally do, and this was exactly that.”
The team from Parkside in Barnstaple chose a more macabre celebration: “We stayed at a country house in the middle of nowhere where we took part in a murder mystery followed by a disco and karaoke,” said Retail Manager Andy Witherington. “We took over the whole place so we ran riot! Then we
had a day of activities including archery, golf, swimming and tennis, it was an absolutely superb weekend as you can imagine.”
Every six months the top two Retailers from each Area League are given a budget to celebrate their performance, which is judged on a wide variety of performance measures. They must also achieve the national average for Purchase and Service Satisfaction Survey scores to be eligible. With the current set of league tables being finalised next month, it could be you next!
a nappy coincidence
In 1990, over 40 babies gathered under one roof to make televisual history in the most ambitious advert for Vauxhall’s Astra. One of those babies was Connor Higley, who 18 years on is now behind the wheel of his very own Vauxhall Astra.
As a chubby-cheeked baby, Connor proclaimed the virtues of side impact bars, pollen filters to protect ‘our little noses’ and enough room for ‘hundreds of toys’ when addressing his toddler comrades in the advert.
He has his mum Amanda to thank: “After responding to a radio advert searching
Life imitates art for Astra advert’s child star
Happy days
(l) parkside hit the bullseye while roadside garages (below) are all at sea
for babies, I took Connor to the audition in London. Connor – who was nine months old at the time – caught the director’s eye by seeming to hold out his hand to shake it. It was a hectic couple of weeks and I even remember some of the babies attached to the chairs using Velcro to prevent them falling over. I can’t believe 18 years have flown by so quickly!”
Connor himself remembers the advert fondly: “I am proud of my acting debut and often play the advert to friends – my girlfriend in particular thinks it’s a cool claim to fame. The coincidence is when I passed my test recently, I chose to drive a Vauxhall Astra. It set me off to a good start in life but I haven’t gone on to star in any further acting roles.” l To indulge in a little nostalgia you can watch the original advert by visiting: http://youtu.be/TtCOf7FMwQM
man and boy: connor has been a Vauxhall fan his whole life!
“We took oVer the Whole place so We ran riot!”
07DECEmBER 2013
getting the inside storyVauxhall throws open its doors to the future of manufacturing talent
Students, teachers and career advisors were recently given a unique insight into Vauxhall’s manufacturing operation as part of the Government’s See Inside Manufacturing (SIM) scheme.
Hundreds of young people, including the children of Vauxhall employees, were invited to a series of eight events at Ellesmere Port, Luton Plant and Luton Warehouse where they were given a tour of our manufacturing, engineering and supply chain operations. They also got to try their hands at building vans, albeit ones made out of wood!
“See Inside Manufacturing is a brilliant initiative supported by Vauxhall and I was delighted to spend time recently touring the Luton plant with pupils from Lealands High School,” said Kelvin Hopkins MP. “I am sure that seeing at first-hand how the excellent Vauxhall Vivaro van is made will have encouraged local young people to give serious thought to a future career in manufacturing. Well done Vauxhall!”
“We are determined to continue shaking up old fashioned views of manufacturing,” said Business Secretary Vince Cable. “Through the Government’s See Inside Manufacturing campaign we are giving young people the chance to see the exciting face of modern manufacturing which is highly skilled, highly technical and highly paid.”
Vauxhall runs successful Apprenticeship, Graduate and Undergraduate schemes, the latter having received a Highly Commended Award from the National Council for Work Experience.
the mile cross lane team have taken customer service to a new level
Driving a customer-focused culture is key to Vauxhall’s future strategy
A new internal customer experience programme called EASY has been launched to improve the service each one of us provides to our Retailers, internal and external customers.
So what does EASY stand for? Being Enthusiastic, Always meeting your commitments, keeping things Simple, and You must live in the shoes of your customer. To bring this concept to life,
a series of three interactive sessions involving group exercises and videos will be led by selected Vauxhall executives across all UK sites. It will also offer the chance for employees to define for themselves what constitutes world-class customer service.
Customer Experience and Corporate Strategy Director Andy Gilson explained: “A key Business Plan objective is for Vauxhall to be known for delivering the best customer experience of any volume brand in the UK automotive industry. The main purpose of this programme is to help identify what Vauxhall employees can do to deliver this, no matter who you are or what your role is within the organisation."
take it easy
We’re nunn-ber one!
Just tooling around
It’s been a vintage year for the Mile Cross Lane branch of Vauxhall Retailer Thurlow nunn after they recorded an incredible 12 months of perfect Purchase Satisfaction Survey results. Over 90 surveys were returned showing a minimum score of nine out of 10 across every area of service, giving them a well-deserved top spot for service satisfaction across all Retailers in the country.
The branch's unblemished performance began in October last year, and Retail Operator Ali May-Khalil is extremely proud of their achievement: “In my 17 years in the industry I’ve never known anything like it and neither have my peers. In terms
of the scores, it’s just amazing; if you get just a single eight out of 10 score you drop the points and you won’t get 100 per cent. It prompted a director at Vauxhall to write and congratulate us, and to be nationally recognised is an amazing achievement so we took the Sales team out for a meal to celebrate.”
But what are these guys doing differently that warrants this kind of feedback? Ali explained: “What they do really well is interact with the customers, they genuinely enjoy helping them and the Sales Manager meets every single one to thank them for their business. It’s nothing magical, what they offer is clear, regular communication with the customer from when they order the car to when it is delivered, they’re always in touch.”
Thurlow Nunn celebrates a record 12 months of perfect service
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you’re free to go!Vauxhall’s new industry-leading van insurance lets you drive straight from the forecourt
An innovative new insurance scheme for Vauxhall’s commercial vehicles has now been launched offering complimentary temporary cover for new van owners. Like the policy currently offered on Vauxhall cars, Free to go! gives customers five days of free comprehensive insurance cover and ensures that they can drive away their new van hassle-free.
This temporary cover can also be extended with an annual policy available directly through Vauxhall offering the same high level of cover (see 'How You’re Covered'), and thanks to the initiative of Vauxhall Call Centre Sales Representative Charlotte Bourne the first quote has already been provided. “A customer called us to register their Free to go! policy for a new car they had bought, and I discovered they had also bought a new Vauxhall van.
"As I already had their details I was able to quote them for the new annual van insurance on the spot.”
The new insurance offer is the first of its kind for a volume commercial vehicle manufacturer, and is underwritten by Ageas, one of the UK’s largest motor insurers.
Movano is Fleet Van’s 2013 Chassis Cab of the Year
Cab-in feverMovano recently saw off some stiff competition to be crowned Chassis Cab of the Year in the 2013 Fleet Van Awards. Recognising Movano’s extensive standard equipment, generous load capability and flexibility of layout, the judges were full of praise for Vauxhall’s heavy-duty van.
Steve Bryant, Brand Manager for Commercial Vehicles, was delighted with the accolade: “This recognition the from Fleet Van underlines why the Movano chassis cab is such an exceptional base for an extensive
range of applications. The awards jury is made up of experts in their field and this accolade reinforces our belief that Movano is 100 per cent fit for purpose for conversions of all types right up to 4.5T GVW. Heavy Van Retailers can therefore be assured that they have access to an outstanding product that allows them to be a single source supplier for both RWD and FWD models, thereby catering for the widest possible pool of potential customers.”
Colin Marriot, General Fleet Manager for British Gas Centrica, was full of praise for the award-winning van: “We chose the Movano because it is one of the most fuel-efficient and reliable light commercial vehicles around. The environment in which they operate is not only specialised but demanding too, and we need a vehicle that would carry and accommodate the load without any trouble. Of all the other makes and models that we looked at, the Movano best met all of our requirements.”
“this recognition from fleet Van underlines Why the moVano chassis cab is such an exceptional base for an extensiVe range of applications”
hoW you’re coVeredl All repairs undertaken by Vauxhall
Approved Repair Centres
l A courtesy van will be provided for up to seven days
l A brand new replacement van will be provided if a van up to one year old is written off
l Windscreen cover with a £10 excess for repair or a £60 excess for replacement
l Cover can be arranged in the name of an individual, a partnership or a company.
bearing up: charlotte bourne (centre) provided the first van insurance quote
09DECEmBER 2013
ignition neWs from Vauxhall
Neil Jones goes the extra mile to win EXCITE award
Congratulations to Lead Generation and Customer Contact Manager neil Jones who has won the latest EXCITE award for going above and beyond in his role.
According to his nomination from Sales and Forecasting Manager Rob Parker, neil has shown a consistently high level of
dedication’s What you need
driven nature of neil's role, he often has to sacrifice personal time to get the job done. neil's in-depth knowledge of the Vauxhall systems and processes means that he is the first port of call for many in the company and despite his heavy work load he will always make time to help others.
“This can range from something small like fixing the photocopier to helping logging in at home and helping a colleague whilst on holiday. neil would be a worthy winner of this award and I feel the organisation needs more people like him."
neil receives £100 worth of vouchers and the EXCITE trophy which was presented to him by Vauxhall MD Duncan Aldred.
commitment to the forecasting team, the operations services department and the organisation as a whole. Rob said: “His dedication and work ethic sets a great example for everyone. Given the deadline-
neil's got the excite factor
work and commitment to the charity over the last few years.”
Vauxhall employees have taken on many challenges and initiatives to raise cash, including Three Peaks Challenges, a London to Paris bike ride, as well as cake sales, dress-down days and charity boxes in all of Vauxhall’s 350 dealerships.
Amongst other essential amenities, Vauxhall has funded a new family room at H4H’s HQ at Tedworth House, and we have also loaned them three Astra Sports Tourers and a Movano van to help with fundraising events around the country.
Vauxhall’s military aidFrom bike rides to dress down days, our exceptional charity efforts help our war heroes
Thanks to the tireless fundraising efforts of Vauxhall employees and Retailers, an incredible total of £250,000 has now been raised for the Help for Heroes (H4H) charity.
Cheryl Stibbs, Vauxhall’s Sponsorship Marketing Manager, handed over a cheque for a cool quarter of a million to former soldier and charity ambassador, Private Derek Derenalagi at a ceremony held at Griffin House in Luton.
“The money raised by Vauxhall has made a valuable contribution to improving the lives of our heroes, many of whom have suffered life-changing injuries,” said Derek. “On behalf of Help for Heroes I would like to thank all Vauxhall employees for their hard
paralympian and h4h ambassador derek derenalagi receives Vauxhall's donation
£250,000RAISED FOR THE HELP FOR HEROES CHARITY
pixel poWerDigital showroom nets GM award
An idea to create revolutionary interactive virtual showrooms for Retailers has made its creators the Global Champions of the 2013 IT Innovation Challenge.
Like the rest of their IT peers, the members of dual nationality Team Griffin UK/Marketing IT Germany were challenged to improve the customer experience in dealerships. Lead Generation Project Manager and team member Konstantina Makri explained: “We felt that although we’re using the latest technology in our digital and online presence, this wasn’t particularly reflected in our Retailers.
“Our idea was to provide an interactive and dynamic virtual showroom, offering customers a unique experience by interacting with a digital image of their car. They can open the trunk and doors, change its colour and add a whole range of different options on floor-to-ceiling screens. We really believed that it was a winner and put a lot of time and effort - I was working on it during my birthday!”
The team, comprised of David Andan, Konstantina Makri, Klaus Henn, Yvonne Hoffmann, Ignacio De La Fuente and Sabine Kammerer will now work together over the next 90 days to create a proof of concept that could eventually be rolled out worldwide.
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ignition neWs from Vauxhall
10
“The car is fantastic to drive and the build quality is of a very high standard. I especially liked the range of gadgets such as the Navigation mouse!”Keith Powell - Environmental Throughput Co-ordinator, Ellesmere Port
“Visually it’s a lot lower and wider so I think it puts it
in the same bracket as Audi and BMW, it’s certainly a
premium product. My first impression was that the
display is completely digital; it brought back lots
of memories from my old Astra GTE!”
Rob Slater - Business Analyst, Griffin House
Ride and DriveinsigniaHundreds of Vauxhall employees got to try out the shiny new Insignia which was recently launched at the IAA Motor Show. Here’s what they thought…
“It was like sitting in an armchair! I usually drive a Corsa but had no problems at all, it was very easy to drive and reverse. The safety features were great as well; for example it won’t start unless you put the clutch down which is a very simple but clever idea.”Ron Burnham - X82 Launch Team, Luton Plant
New Country Tourer can take on the rough stuff
Members of the press recently got their first look at the new Country Tourer, Vauxhall’s latest addition to the Insignia range.
Combining the robustness of an SUV with the convenience of a tourer body shape, a number of visual clues highlight its more rugged potential.
Protective cladding on the side sills and lower body sections gives the wheel-arches a more pronounced, flared look while silver protective panels that sweep out from under the engine compartment and the rear hint at the car’s off-road credentials.
The cutting-edge four-wheel drive underpinnings make it ideal for tackling rougher roads and testing conditions. It features an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) that dynamically adapts the torque sent between front and rear axles as well as between the rear wheels.
Whenever it senses that no adaptive interventions are required the system cleverly reverts to a more economical front-wheel drive mode, and can even provide propulsion when only one rear wheel has traction. To create more ground clearance for challenging terrain the suspension has been raised up by 20mm and it also benefits from larger tyres.
All this technology won’t hit you in the wallet though; entry-level pricing significantly undercuts its rivals including the Audi A4 Allroad by over £5,000 and the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack by £2,400. “The Insignia Country Tourer is perfect for a winter holiday, on snowy roads, or simply when the going gets tough,” said Stuart Harris, Vauxhall’s Head of Carline Brand. “Even on urban roads its robust looks give it strong stand-out appeal.”
mud and ruts
country tourer in its element
DECEmBER 2013 11
Dual-fuel Chevrolet Impala marks CNG first for GM
A radical new Chevrolet Impala that can run on either petrol or compressed natural gas (CnG) has been unveiled by GM CEO Dan Akerson. Going on sale in 2015, it will be the first manufacturer-produced full-size bi-fuel sedan in north America, and is designed to capitalise on abundant reserves of domestic natural gas.
Akerson said the bi-fuel Impala is an example of using affordable technology to reduce oil consumption and save consumers money at the pump.
“We know that US energy security won’t come from a one-off moonshot,” he said. “It will flow from our systematic investment in technology and innovation, our drive to get more from existing energy sources and renewables, our commitment to conservation, and it will be assured by fully and safely exploiting our shale gas reserves.”
natural gas is a cleaner-burning and significantly cheaper transportation fuel compared to current petroleum products. CnG vehicles typically have 20 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions according to the California Air Resources Board.
cng-enius: the dual-fuel impala eliminates range anxiety
look, no hands
l GM’s revolutionary autonomous driving technology called Super
Cruise has garnered a Breakthrough Award from Popular Mechanics magazine.
Super Cruise is capable of hands-off lane following, braking and speed control under certain driving conditions. The system is designed to work on motorways, in heavy traffic and on long road trips, however, the driver’s attention is still required.
It’s currently undergoing real-world driving assessment and trials, and could make its way into Cadillac production models later this decade.
net profit
l Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealers in the US now have a new
online retailing tool called Shop-Click-Drive that enables customers to pick their perfect car on the internet.
They can choose a specific vehicle, get estimated pricing, review available incentives, choose financing and insurance products and get information about their trade-in all online. The application is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“We want to make it easier and simpler for dealers to connect with customers who are looking to combine the convenience of online shopping with the personal service of a neighbourhood dealership,” said GM’s Kurt McNeil, Vice President, US Sales Operations.
plaudits for cts
l The 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan has triumphed over its rivals
by winning Motor Trend’s Car of the Year Award for 2014 following a comprehensive battery of tests.
“The all-new 2014 Cadillac CTS prevailed over one of the most competitive fields in recent memory because it best met our award’s key criteria. Our judges were particularly impressed by the CTS’s responsive powertrains and masterful balance of smooth ride and sporty handling,” said Motor Trend Editor-in-Chief Ed Loh.
sid
elig
ht
Tom Peters recognised with Lifetime Achievement Award
After more than 30 years of shaping some of GM’s most iconic cars, the Director of Exterior Design for Performance Cars Tom Peters has been recognised for his contribution to the world of design.
He was recently presented with a Lifetime Achievement award from his alma mater, Art Center College of Design, which was handed over by Stewart Reed, chair of the college’s Transportation Design Department, and Jay Leno, Tonight Show host and dedicated car collector.
Tom led the exterior studio teams for
stingray designer honoured
the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Silverado as well as the current-generation Camaro and the new full-size pickup trucks and SUVs from Chevrolet and GMC.
“My focus customer was going to be that 9-, 11-, 12-year-old kid,” Tom told an interviewer earlier this year. “Kids don’t know and don’t care about what’s traditional. When I see kids look at it and point, stop what they’re doing and they go ‘Stingraaaay,’ that’s when I know we got it.”
gas you like itignition gm neWs
f you want to set a number of world and UK records, use this simple recipe. Take two standard diesel
Astras, add 12 nervous drivers and mix in Millbrook’s High Speed Bowl for 24 hours until stiff, tired and triumphant.
If your results are anything like those achieved by Vauxhall and Opel, you’ll soon be enjoying 12 World and six national Speed Endurance Records. This incredible haul came after two identical Astra 2.0 CDTi hatchbacks were driven at their limits for 24 hours in a bid to challenge multiple FIA* and MSA* speed endurance records for forced-induction diesel production cars.
While world records had been set for 1, 6 and 12 hours, no one had cracked the 24- hour benchmark. And at a national level, the time and distance records had stood for more than two decades, with the 24-hour
i
special report
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going on record
3000+ MILES TRAVELLED
Challenging 18 endurance records in one day was an ambitious goal that took two Astras to their limits
0LITRES OF OIL COnSUMED
13DECEmBER 2013
record set at 100.2mph since 1992. Driving consistently at 130mph around
the two-mile course for 24 hours was a severe test for both man and machine. As well as the huge stresses put on the cars’ powertrains, their suspension and tyres took a beating from the intense forces exerted by the track’s steep banking. “We already had a lot of faith in the 2.0 CDTi engine being up to the job,” said Mariella Vogler, Chief Engineer for Astra. “But even during the car’s development, we’d never encountered a test like this. It was therefore vital that we establish the overall robustness of the powertrain prior to the test, and it passed with flying colours.”
To help things run to the challenge’s exacting schedule Volker Strycek, a former DTM race driver and Director of Performance Cars & Motorsport at
Opel/Vauxhall brought along his highly experienced pit crew of four. They worked closely with Vauxhall’s own press garage team to oversee efficient re-fuelling and driver changes throughout the day and night, all of which went without a hitch.
The 12 drivers, comprising nine motoring journalists and three Vauxhall and Opel staff, each drove a total of four hours split between the two cars. Amazingly only one tyre change was required per car, no engine oil was consumed, and despite completing nearly 1,500 laps with their throttles nailed to the floor, both cars completed the attempt with a mere 22 minutes downtime in addition to refuelling and driver changes.l To see a short video about this significant achievement, go to: http://youtu.be/dI-LKZ3Ml00
“There was a bit of apprehension because none of us had ever done anything like this
before. Everyone was really keen to play their part in achieving a world record because it’s something that we’d never normally be able to do.
“Driving at night was quite challenging as there’s no reference points; even though the headlights were pointing forward it still felt like driving into the unknown.
“I’ve said to everyone I was amazed at just how good the car was. We were blasting round the ring with our feet as hard on the bulkhead as possible and it performed like a dream.
“To do that for 24 hours flat out with no issues whatsoever was pretty remarkable. In a sense it was designed for this kind of thing although we took it to the extreme!”richard aucock, msn cars
“There was never a boring moment! Everyone was nervous, but the only problem we had
was a broken driveshaft which we replaced incredibly quickly. The UK and German support teams worked very well together; it wasn’t easy because no one knew each other’s character or how they would react to the fatigue.
“The cars were completely standard and were sealed up before the event, coming out of the garage with the scrutineers. They were there at all times, you were not allowed to do anything by yourself!
“One of the most critical things was quick refuelling. We had to find a high output fuel pump and that was not easy, but to lose a minute because of slow refuelling would have made the challenge impossible.”Volker strycek, director of performance cars and motorsport, gm europe
22MInUTES OF DOWnTIME OVER 24 HOURS
1,500+LAPS OF MILLBROOK’S HIGH SPEED BOWL COMPLETED
* The record won’t become official until the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Motor Sports Association (MSA) fully ratify the record challenges.
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enVironmental responsibility
14
lthough manufacturing can be a dirty business, the team of Environmental Engineers
at Ellesmere Port have made some award-winning progress towards a clean, green operation. The latest recognition of their efforts has been an EEF Sustainable Manufacturing award, while just weeks before the plant was re-certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council for the maximum period of three years – this is a major achievement not just for the UK but worldwide.
Environmental Engineer Daryl Heath takes great pride in results like these. “It’s a case of following my passion,” he admitted. “My job is
extremely diverse, I could be on the roof monitoring emissions one day and down in a drain with my camera the next.”
His enthusiasm is infectious, and he has persuaded a team of sub-contractors to support himself and his colleague Catherine Lynas. “These guys are volunteers and they come from across all departments which is really important. They help out with audits and are actively involved in the plant’s success from an environmental perspective. We have a huge responsibility for compliance here and Catherine is extremely knowledgeable on that front. I think this coupled with my knowledge of the plant makes us a great team!”
We look at the innovative solutions Ellesmere Port Plant has implemented to minimise its environmental impact
GREEn SPACEneW WastecentreA redundant warehouse (known locally as the Elephant House) is being transformed into a bespoke waste centre where everything from cardboard and plastic to hazardous waste can be sorted, processed and stored. Daryl explained: “When people visit this will be one of the first things they’ll see so we want them to say wow, these guys really handle their waste well. It’s much more manageable and visible, and having everything in one place pleases our local regulator as well.”
reducingWater usage“We are looking at installing a reverse osmosis plant in the Paintshop that will save 85 per cent of the water we throw away, and even that is only 25 per cent of what we use,” according to Daryl. An oil separator and UV filter are also on the cards to further reduce water wastage, while another project to remove the hydrocarbons, zinc and nickel in Paintshop effluent means it could effectively be recycled and merit a recovery code.
clean emissionsThanks to the use of Best Available Technologies (BAT) Ellesmere Port is already beating European limits for the emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). EPA regulations state that the level of VOCs in all industrial emissions has to be lower than 35mg per cubic litre by 2018 – Ellesmere Port is already averaging 24, well below this limit.
a
15DECEmBER 2013
Managing Director Duncan Aldred gives his thoughts on Vauxhall’s performance through 2013 and the One Plan that will steer us to increased profitability
rear VieW mirrorReaR View MiRRoR
ooking back over the last 12 months, would you say we’ve made significant progress?
I’m very pleased with where we sit right now. By and large we’ll hit all of our targets including market share, vehicle sales and aftersales, and we’ll have made big improvements in customer purchase and service satisfaction.
We are broadly on track to hit our budget targets but with our current plans in place we should get there by the end of the year. Our brand also continues to improve; it’s a challenge but we’re certainly moving in the right direction.
Do you have any favourite achievements in particular?Making the top 10 two years running in Britain’s Top Employer rankings is a real accolade and we’re again making big strides in Workplace of Choice. It was also a real honour to be the world’s first car manufacturer awarded the Business Continuity Planning ISO22301 certification.
lWe’ve continued to grow our retail market share during three of the last four years and improve profitability, and the renewal of the football sponsorship until 2018 has been the icing on the cake.
What strategy will the business take over the next year?Our mission at Vauxhall has always been around being the best automotive company in the UK. What we’ve done is to make this more tangible across all elements of the business plan and from this aim we’ve created the One Plan.
This is not just about being number one but about creating a single inclusive,
encompassing company plan. It covers all elements from profitability, purchasing and manufacturing through to sales marketing and aftersales results and within this we’ve created some specific targets that we’re going to hit such
as becoming number one in the retail vehicle and true fleet markets - our
most profitable sales channels.Vauxhall is a holistic company;
we all know what we
need to do but each area of our operation is clearly intertwined with the others, we don’t operate in silos. Everybody in the business needs to have a customer-driven attitude - it helps to sell cars and improves loyalty so we’re going through a lot of internal training at the moment to achieve that.
Manufacturing the new Vivaro in Luton has been quite a coup for Vauxhall?It’s going to be very exciting, you only launch models every 10 years or so and to be the only plant building this vehicle for Opel Vauxhall is a big step for us. It will be the culmination of a lot of effort in convincing everybody that Luton was the right place to build the new Vivaro, which is also key to our marketing approach of playing on the 'Made in Britain' aspect. It will be a very proud day indeed for a lot of people when the first new Vivaro rolls off the line.
eVerybody in the business needs to haVe a customer-driVen attitude
Q&a
coVer feature 110th anniVersary
TORQUE magazinE16 TORQUE magazinE
Rise and signVauxhall Motors celebrates a very special birthday in 2013 following 110 years of manufacturing in the UK
the birthday car was greeted with open arms at ellesmere port
1903Vauxhall’s first car, the 5HP, rolls off the line. It boasts two forward gears but no reverse!
1913The first 30-98 was constructed, winning the Shelsley Walsh hill-climb and setting a course record
1925Vauxhall is acquired by General Motors for $2.5 million
1941The first Churchill tanks trundle out of Vauxhall’s Luton Plant to fight in WWII
1963Production of the best-selling Vauxhall Viva commenced at the new Ellesmere Port Plant
timeline Vauxhall's history in brief
17DECEmBER 2013
he year 1903 was historically interesting for a number of reasons. The Wright brothers
made their historic first powered flight, the new York Stock Exchange first opened and The Women's Social and Political Union was formed by Emmeline Pankhurst to fight for women's rights in Britain. It was also the year that Vauxhall Iron Works hand-built and sold its very first motor car, the 5HP, starting an enduring legacy of British engineering innovation and manufacturing expertise.
This year, Vauxhall Motors marks 110 years of building cars and vans in the UK, and there have been plenty of landmark events during that time. From creating the 30/98, the world’s first factory-ready 100mph car, to building Churchill tanks during WWII; from the opening of Ellesmere
t
Rise and signPort Plant in 1962 to the HC Viva becoming the best-selling car of the decade, Vauxhall has enjoyed a proud history.
To celebrate this milestone, a special Astra named the Birthday Car was taken round to Vauxhall’s five sites, and employees from every department were invited to sign it to mark the occasion. There was a sweet treat in store as well, with bespoke chocolate bars and a commemorative postcard of the Birthday Car given out to every employee.
Special Golden Tickets were hidden inside six of the chocolate bars, although sadly there was no tour of a magical chocolate factory on offer! Instead, winners will be treated to a range of fabulous prizes (see Sweet Success) and if that wasn’t enough everyone will also receive a commemorative cupcake.
sign your name across my car - maintenance supervisor bryan morgan adds his signature
sWeet successCongratulations to the six lucky Golden Ticket winners who can now choose a spa experience, a luxury champagne afternoon tea or a Virgin Experience Day as their prize. The winners are as follows:
griffin houseAndrea Caumon
luton plantCecilia Jeannoel
ellesmere port plantDavid SimonsPeter Kennedy
toddington WarehouseChris Sullivan
VecRobert Wildey
golden ticket to ride – winner cecilia Jeannoel from luton plant (centre)
having thumb - these employees at ellesmere port weren't so lucky!
1967Vauxhall becomes a Royal Warrant Holder: Motor Vehicle Manufacturers to HM The Queen - The Royal Mews
1975Chevette and Cavalier launched, closing the gap to rivals Ford and British Leyland
1995new Vectra revealed, becoming more popular than Ford’s Mondeo
2011Revolutionary extended-range electric vehicle Ampera gets UK release
2013Cascada and ADAM headline a new model offensive for Vauxhall
timeline Vauxhall's history in brief
commercial Vehicles
18 TORQUE magazinE
In this new feature, we uncover some of the more unusual roles our commercial vehicles are used for once they leave the production line
ombo van BL13 JNO is somewhat different to its brothers and sisters in the type
of passengers it carries. Rather than your standard Homo erectus, it is more used to ferrying around Theropithecus gelada (your average Gelada Baboon) or Strix nebulosa (the Great Grey Owl, the world’s largest owl apparently).
This special Combo was kindly donated to Dudley Zoological Gardens by Vauxhall Retailer Dudley Motor Company to support their operation, thanks to a relationship that has been going on for many years. The van is used for a multitude of tasks at the busy zoo as Derek Grove, Senior Curator
cexplained: “We use it to move some of our smaller animals around the site such as birds of prey, and smaller apes and monkeys – we’re not using it for the tigers though!
“We also use it for visiting schools, colleges and nursing homes as part of our education and outreach programme and we love the fact that it can carry five people to a conference one day and some capuchins to a new enclosure the next. It’s also great for when we need to pick up food for the animals and donations from the supermarkets.”
This is the second van that the zoo has been given by Dudley Motor Company according to General Manager Rob Gilbert: “We are always happy to help DZG. We handed over the last van eight years ago and I know it has been of great use to them. They’re currently trying to raise the profile of the zoo and obviously if they’re using newer vehicles it really improves their image on their outreach visits.”
It’s a symbiotic relationship between the zoo and the Retailer as Rob pointed out: “We’ve had the odd bird of prey that’s landed outside the dealership and we’ve had to call the keepers to get them. Anything can happen in Dudley!”
“anything can happen in dudley!”
dudley motor company general manager, rob gilbert hands over the keys to dZg senior curator derek grove and birds section leader kellie piper, with leah the common buzzard
Where are they noW?
19DECEmBER 2013
No, Marvel are not shooting the latest instalment of The Avengers at our sites – it’s Vauxhall’s Superhero Day! Annisa Whitehall, Communications Assistant reports
charity special
arge groups of superheroes have been congregating around Vauxhall with one very
special mission – to fundraise for Help for Heroes.
Equipped with charity buckets and awesome costumes, the comic book characters set off on their mission as the good, the bad and ugly were spotted collecting money around Ellesmere Port, Luton Plant, Toddington and Griffin House.
The force for good included Superman, Batman, Spiderman and Captain America while there were also sightings of a ninja around Griffin House. And of course, where there’s superheroes, there’s bound to be villains - Darth Vader made his presence felt as he stormed around with his lightsaber.
Captain America, aka Rebecca Mansfield, jumped on the opportunity to dress up as a superhero, commenting: "To be honest, I'm used to being a superhero. I'm so awesome I save the world every day, I just don't normally have to wear a morphe suit to do it." Besides the fun of dressing up, the whole purpose of Superheroes day is to fundraise for Britain’s real heroes and Rebecca was more than willing to don a costume. "I'm happy to dress up for such a worthy cause, Help for Heroes is an amazing charity!"
The Superheroes reported back to HQ after raising a total of £1,387 which will go towards helping servicemen and women who have suffered life-changing injuries in the line of duty. It’s safe to say, our heroes’ mission was accomplished!
l
darth Vader and superman best friends? only at luton plant...
super penguin must have been one comic i missed out on: ep's heroes are ready for collecting
TORQUE magazinE
oVerdriVe people
20
30-year career in estate management.These may be more unusual assignments
but his breadth of experience has been vital in supporting a diverse company like GM. Experiencing a testing market, GM’s facilities need to be the right size for a profitable operation as he explained: “It’s key to bear in mind that in recent times we’ve actually carried a bit too much ‘fat’ in terms of our property portfolio. It’s a bit like our garages at home; they used to be just for our car but now we fill them with all sorts of things that we might need one day. It’s a similar story with our property - we look at how we can
a d
ay in
th
e li
fe
consolidate facilities from elsewhere into our four main sites to create a more efficient, effective business.”
A prime example of this is the Chaul End Car Storage site near Luton, where fewer parking spaces are needed for van stock due to the focus on build-to-order. A new space on the Toddington warehouse site is likely to be allocated for storing the residual van stock,bringing a number of benefits. “Although there will be some working synergies it’s more about creating a portfolio that’s easier to manage; every site we run requires additional costs, systems and management time.”
Julian admits his greatest adversaries are the hulking figures of legislation, regulation and public authority opposition, and they are not to be underestimated. For example, in Luton the plans to develop a supermarket on The Brache are being opposed by the Council even though they have overwhelming public support. “Planning law is ever more complex these days despite attempts to simplify it. You have to put your case together extremely well and rehearse solutions to objections before you hear them!
“The laws are aimed at protecting yet enabling, and the public needs to feel they can control a certain amount of what happens in their area. At Chaul End we have to demonstrate that there will be no harmful impact but it’s also in our best interests to do so – we are still neighbours and read the same local papers so if we create any problems there will be a constant reminder.”
Despite these challenges, Julian finds solace in Vauxhall’s dynamism: “Change is always good in real estate – if everything stayed the same I'd have nothing to do!”
“planning laW is eVer more complex these days despite attempts to simplify it. you haVe to put your case together extremely Well and rehearse solutions to obJections before you hear them!”
estate of mind
How do you put a value on the Channel Tunnel? Or a large Russian sewing machine factory or an oil refinery for that matter? You could always ask Julian Lyon, because these are just a few of his achievements during his
As the Manager of GM’s European Real Estate portfolio, Julian Lyon plays a crucial role in getting Vauxhall fighting fit for the future
oVerdriVe people
DECEmBER 2013 21
This month we say goodbye to one of Ellesmere Port Plant’s most enduring figures, John Fetherstone, who has retired after 36 years in the business.
He started as a bodyshop welder on the gate line in 1977, which he remembers as a tough environment at that time. “The old myths of half-hour on, half-hour off simply weren’t true. In 1979 we had a lengthy strike over wages but we came back and things did improve, but since then the company has changed and we’ve moved on. I never volunteered to move out though because of the great people I worked with.”
It was there he began a fruitful political career as a UnITE representative and latterly as Vice Chair of the European Employee Forum. Starting as a Senior Steward for the bodyshop, John was eventually promoted to Convenor in 2001 where he played a key role in negotiating the new labour agreement. He recalled: “They were difficult discussions, we had to make sacrifices but the prize at the end
was the next generation Astra; it was a prize worth winning.
“At the moment we’ve got good labour relations in the plant and the company recognise that they can’t build cars without the people and the people realise that they have their responsibilities and their part to play.”
John’s experience and negotiating skills won’t be wasted once he retires
though as he explained: “I would really like to somehow give something back into the local community or make a difference in a voluntary way. I’ve been negotiating for a long time and some people need assistance in those areas.”
Will he miss life at Ellesmere Port? “I’ve got many fond memories and met some great people. Everything I've done has been about what’s good for the plant, and that’s what makes the plant, the people.”
So long John!EP stalwart John Fetherstone retires after highly successful career at Vauxhall
applying the bakes
The Great British Bake Off has clearly had some impact judging by the quality of cakes and other treats on offer at the annual Macmillan Cake Bake at Luton’s Griffin House. Sales of the delicious goodies and a prize raffle raised £425 which will go to support people affected by cancer in the local area.
Success for the Macmillan annual cake bake, and a special award for its organiser
Organiser Tracey Boustead also got not one but two sweet treats when she was recognised by Macmillan for her work on the charity’s Fundraising Committee in Luton. “I was recently presented with a certificate for 10 years’ service by the Trustees at a special ceremony in Ampthill. My committee were also given a special award for our group commitment; they said we put the fun in fundraising! It was great to be thanked by the Mayor of Luton for our services to the community.
“This year we’ve already raised over £20,000 with plenty of events to go; thankfully I receive lots of support from my Vauxhall colleagues like Donna Black, Dee Bailey, Faye Widdowson, Liz Jefferies and Cherie Denton.”
flantastic effort - kimberley portis guards the goodies
“i’Ve got many fond memories and met some great people”
£20,000RAISED SO FAR AnD PLEnTY OF EVEnTS TO GO
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oVerdriVe people
Calie Rushton’s Fit Club is Monday’s greatest invention
In just nine months since the Fit Club was formed, member Sarah Featherstone has gone from novice runner to completing her first half-marathon. And her reward – a cream cake from club founder Calie Rushton! It’s personal touches like these that the current members enjoy, as is the support they show each other: “It’s quite a social affair and we motivate each other to keep going sometimes,” said Sarah. “You actually end up looking forward to it on a Monday, you get into the habit and
feel really good after you’ve done it.”The group was formed to offer
Vauxhall employees a fun way to get some pressure-free exercise through walking, jogging or running, without needing any experience or existing fitness. As member Morgan Brown explained: “Some of us sit in front of computers all day so it’s great to get some fresh air. You feel amazing afterwards, just half an hour makes all the difference and it’s free!”l If you’re interested in a social fitness group for ladies, keep your Monday evenings free and get in touch with Calie at [email protected].
foot soldierNoel Keenan represented Team GB at 2013 Powerman Duathlon
As one of the hardest endurance races in the world, representing Great Britain was a real honour for Marketing Services Consultant noel Keenan. He was one of three British entrants in his age category to the 2013 Powerman Duathlon World Championship held in Zofingen, Switzerland – a true test of endurance involving a 10km run, a 150km cycle and finishing with a further 30km run.
“A lot of people say it’s as hard as an Ironman, and that every long distance enthusiast athlete should try it,” explained noel. “I’ve done triathlons for about five years but for this I had to really step up my training because of the distances involved.”
It’s not just the physical exertion that can get to you on such long races as noel explained: “When you’re out there for up to 10 hours you feel like giving up but it’s just in your mind, you have done the training so you know that you can complete it. It’s a tough course though and it rained the whole day so I was pretty wet at the end. The first kilometre is straight uphill so you get exhausted when you reach the top and think I’ve got another eight hours of this!”
Despite having previously completed two Ironmen and this race, noel is now training for two more international duathlons to try and beat his time!
o brother Where car-t thou?Brotherly love is in the air at Vauxhall Retailer Sherwoods, who have no less than seven pairs of siblings working at their branches. The business prides itself on the fact that it is family-owned and run, and it shows!
The group's General Manager Simon MacConachie commented: “We try and foster an environment that our employees can enjoy their work and be appreciated, and if it’s a happy environment to work in that comes across to customers. I think a ringing endorsement of that is the fact that our staff are obviously happy to recommend working here to their family!”
Fit and run
(l-r) Jane gandy, sally-ann Jardine, calie rushton, sarah featherstone and morgan brown
bottom row (l-r): ian and neil costello, anthony and chris gibson, scott and anthony smith
23DECEmBER 2013
oVerdriVe people
bridge the gapFrom making log bridges to climbing milk crate towers, the teambuilding week at EP was fun and informative
The October shut-down week at the Ellesmere Port Plant saw line employees using their initiative and collaborative skills during a series of testing teambuilding exercises.
Units from around the plant tackled a range of physical problem-solving activities set up by Trainers from external company Boulder Adventures in the Conference centre, Rehab and Pilot Area.
The games included Bridge Building, which involved constructing a log bridge from
scratch using only rope, logs and ingenuity, and Crate Stack, which involved constructing a 14-crate high stack using 20 crates, all whilst keeping two team members on top!
Each task focused on different aspects of team work, and emphasised the importance of this within every department or Unit, regardless of job role. The Boulder Trainers helped the participants to utilise each team member’s strengths and provide some encouragement.
Boulder Trainer Faye Peters said: “It was lovely to see some of the more reserved guys at the beginning of the day be the ones to be racing around excited at two in the afternoon!”
Hair today…A shaved head and leg wax, all for charity!
Business Manager Terry Colwell has the smoothest pins on the block after bravely getting both his legs waxed during a family charity event.
Terry organised a day of fun activities to raise money to take his son Tj, who suffers from a rare neuro-degenerative disorder called niemann-Pick Type C, on a dream holiday to Disneyland.
People at the event were offered the chance to tear waxing strips from Terry’s tender legs for a bargain £2 a go, and then he went for a full depilation when he had his head shaved later in the evening. Thanks to this and the auction, to which Vauxhall donated a signed England football shirt, a total of £2,171 was raised on the day, bringing the running total up to a grand £14,500.
Terry is now looking forward to giving Tj the trip of a lifetime: “We now have more than enough to get Tj to Disneyland Florida for a few weeks, as long as he is well enough to fly. He absolutely loves all the Disney characters, especially Mickey Mouse. He is also really looking forward to swimming with dolphins.”
Terry is still raising money for the niemann-Pick UK group, which will help go towards funding for research. One of the more unusual events he has planned is a car jump at Angmering raceway near Worthing – watch this space!
lean cross code
£2,171RAISED On THE DAY
top row (l-r): andrew and adam atkinson, adrian and peter tosh, ben and scott chapel, paul and gareth o'hagan
sucking a lemon did nothing to mask the pain
Bruised legs, a sore backside and nearly £5,000 - that’s what you get when you ride a bike for 30 hours straight as Richie Taylor found out, but it was all for a good cause.
The Sales Executive from Retailer Platinum Vauxhall set up a charity challenge to cycle the equivalent distance from the Ellesmere Port Plant in Cheshire to Vauxhall’s HQ in Luton, and then on to the Retailer in Trowbridge. This equates to a distance of 289 miles but he was jokingly told he couldn’t take the toll road around Birmingham which added 16 miles to the total!
He set up two static bikes on a stage in the showroom and invited his colleagues and members of the public to join him for short sessions during his ride. He got some unusual takers as he recalled: “There was one 73-year-old man who turned up with full cycling gear on and rode for an hour with me. He wasn’t even a former customer, he had just heard about it on the radio and as a keen cyclist wanted to take part.
oVerdriVe people
24 TORQUE magazinE
Blazing saddleSales Executive Richie Taylor has just cycled non-stop from Ellesmere Port to Trowbridge - without leaving his showroom
key figures
365nUMBER OF MILES RICHIE COVERED
16,000CALORIES BURnED
1,291POUnDS RAISED On THE DAY
30nUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CYCLED WITH RICHIE DURInG THE CHALLEnGE
ben thomas from the team mountain trax Vauxhall cycling team joined in the fun
“Our Brand Manager Alan Thomas also covered 26 miles on the second bike, and he stayed for the whole 30 hours through the night – he even did a full day at work as well, getting off the bike to put on his suit and go to a board meeting! All credit to the ladies from Platinum as well, we found out just how competitive they all are. By Tuesday the sports kit came out, and Dani did 26 miles!”
To keep morale up, Richie invited his workmates to join him for an action cinema evening while he cycled, although he admits “We had to turn off Pulp Fiction when the customers started coming in the morning!”
nutrition was a challenge, and he reckons he consumed over 16,000 calories during the ride. One helpful customer even bought him some fried chicken! not all the meals were welcome though: “Alan had been feeding me whatever I asked for, but when it got to the morning all that was left was Chicken Korma or Chilli con Carne. It was not the breakfast of champions!”
Richie would like to thank everyone who donated and Vauxhall Service Manager Ian Paniccia and Mark Evans from Platinum Hyundai who acted as his first aiders through the night with him. He raised £1,291 on the day with around £2,500 in corporate donations to be added which will be divided between Dorothy Hospice House, a local cancer charity, Help for Heroes and the Royal Artillery Charitable Fund. Vauxhall have pledged to donate even more if sales targets are hit, and Richie is hoping to break the £5,000 mark.
“our brand manager alan thomas also coVered 26 miles on the second bike, and he stayed for the Whole 30 hours through the night – he eVen did a full day at Work as Well”
heritage
DECEmBER 2013 25
Lee Brimmer from Luton Plant shows how fate played its part in Vauxhall’s history
Current Vauxhall employees might take being a part of parent company GM for granted, but the company’s takeover in 1925 almost didn’t happen.
After the First World War, GM was looking to expand into a lucrative European market so it started
We’ve found another classic image from Vauxhall’s archives to test your recognition skills, can you guess where this was taken? If you can, send your answer over to us along with any memories or anecdotes you have of the place and you could win £25 in shopping vouchers – we’ll announce the winner in the next issue of Torque.
Send your answer by post to: Then and Now Competition, Torque Magazine, UK1-103-340, Vauxhall Motors, Griffin House, Osborne Road, Luton LU1 3YT.
Alternatively, you can email [email protected], all entries must be received by 20 January 2014.
then & noW: photo competition
did you
know? former gm president alfred p. sloan Jr pushed through gm's acquisition of Vauxhall
in 1919 by showing an interest in France's Citroën. However, they soon backed out when the French Government intervened, and in 1925 turned their interest to the UK, and to the Austin Motor Company based in Longbridge in Birmingham.
After nearly two months of negotiations no agreement was reached, despite Austin desperately wanting to do a deal as they had a manufacturing plant seriously in need of investment and a weak management team. Eventually they turned to Vauxhall in the same year, buying us for $2.5 million in a deal which was actively encouraged by then GM President Alfred P. Sloan Jr.
Five go to Birmingham to tell Vauxhall’s illustrious story
A collection of five landmark vehicles from Vauxhall’s past and present gathered at the prestigious nEC Classic Car Show to mark Vauxhall’s 110th anniversary of UK manufacturing.
Probably the most significant car there was BS 8213, our venerable 5HP from 1903 and the second-oldest surviving Vauxhall in the world. It was one of the first cars to be made in the original Vauxhall Iron Works in London and was one of the only cars at the time to be completely
engineered and built at one factory.Our 30-98 was also there to provide
some vintage chic and demonstrate how advanced Vauxhall’s engineering prowess was at the time. The 1920 example we took is on loan from former Chairman nick Reilly, and is one of the earliest surviving E-type models manufactured.
Two Ellesmere Port stars represented our Cheshire plant, a 1963 Viva HA (the first model produced there) and a 2013 Astra Hatch, fresh from challenging 18 endurance and speed records at Millbrook.
Completing the line-up was tuning legend Bill Blydenstein’s VX4/90, his first competition Vauxhall, which was joined by a painstakingly-restored Bedford CA van supplied in full Vauxhall Race Support livery especially for the event.
modern history
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1 YEARFREE INSURANCEon selected Corsa models for 21-75 year olds‡finance
Offers end 16th December 2013, to fi nd out more visit: www.partnersprogramme.co.uk, call 0844 875 2448 or visit your Vauxhall Retailer.
Offi cial Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption fi gures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Vauxhall range (excl. Ampera): Urban: 14.4 (19.6) - 76.3 (3.7), Extra-urban: 27.4 (10.3) - 91.1 (3.1), Combined: 18.0 (15.7) - 85.6 (3.3). CO2 emissions: 373 - 88g/km.#
Available on selected models, at participating Retailers. Refer to www.vauxhall.co.uk/offers. Finance subject to status. Terms and Conditions apply. Applicants must be 18 or over. Finance supplied by Vauxhall Finance, PO Box 6666, Cardiff CF15 7YT. **Vauxhall Deposit Contribution excludes ADAM, Mokka, Cascada and New Insignia (MY14) models. Offers apply to Vauxhall Partners only. ‡First year insurance offer available on new Corsa models excluding Expression, S, VXR, Design and Sting. The offer will cover the full premium (motor policy only) for drivers aged between 21-75. Drivers must have held a valid full UK licence for a minimum of 1 year. Only available through Vauxhall Insurance. Policies are underwritten by Ageas Insurance Ltd. Other insurance specifi c Terms and Conditions apply. Offer applies to Vauxhall Partners only. Offer available on orders or registrations before 16 December 2013. For Partners Terms and Conditions go to partnersprogramme.co.uk/legal-notice-and-privacy-policy. #Offi cial EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty covers lifetime ownership of fi rst registered keeper, 100,000 mile limit. Terms and Conditions apply. Correct at time of going to print 12/11/2013.
www.partnersprogramme.co.ukWARRANTY 100,000 MILE
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
L_GMR_C1090_Torque_HP.indd 1 12/11/2013 12:39
competitions
26 TORQUE magazinE
Across1. Fail to hit target (4)8. Policemen (10)9. Upright (8)10. Sole (4)12. Mutilate (6)14. State of insensibility (6)15. Ferocious (6)17. Reach the summit (6)18. First word in a fairy-tale (4)19. Close combat between
aircraft (8)21. Increasing (10)22. Takes small drinks (4)
Down2. Formal entry into an organisation (10)3. Hospital check (4)4. Ask to dinner (6)5. Raised platforms (6)6. Total (8)7. Catch sight of (4)11. Is smartly dressed (5,5)13. Beautiful (8)16. Make attractive (6)17. Very important person (6)18. Sound that indicates pain (4)20. March 15th (4)
crossWord
sudoku
Solution to October
Win
£25
Win
£25fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, each column and each 3x3 square contains all the digits from one to nine.
NAME
LOCATION
ADDRESS
NAME
LOCATION
ADDRESS
across: 6. Apricot 7.green 9.Bluff 10.Machete 12.Treacherous 14.warm-hearted 18.Cordite 19.Odour 21.wells 22.weirdlydoWn: 1.Spill 2.Differ 3.Hoe 4. Archer 5.Centaur 8.Rashers 11.Magenta 13.Bayonet 15.Muddle 16.Endure 17.Bully 20.New
Congratulations to John Hebron from Stokesley Motors in north Yorkshire who won October’s competition and £25.
SudokuFill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, each column,
and each 3x3 square contains all the digits from 1 to 9.
2 9 16
3 9679 5
6 4 9
8
3
946
8 68
4
94 6 5 33
4
7
5
4
78
2
81
7
1 81 3
2 4
5 32 5
8 1
1 8
4 6
2 7
1 99 3
9 15 7
2 52 3
5 7
7
1
4
5
6
32 7
2
8
6
SudokuFill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, each column,
and each 3x3 square contains all the digits from 1 to 9.
8 52
18
6
87
1
21
7
8
8
7
4
13 5
5
96
4 2
15
9
3
Fill in your details below and send the completed grid to: Torque Sudoku,UK1-103-340, Vauxhall Motors, griffin House, Osborne Road, Luton LU1 3yT
Entries should reach us by 10 January 2014.
Congratulations to Rosalind Stanley from Luton who solved October’s Crossword and wins £25.Send completed entries to Torque Crossword, UK1-103-340, Vauxhall Motors, Griffin House, Osborne Road, Luton LU1 3YT to reach us by 10 January 2014.Solution to October crossword:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8
9 10 11
12 13 14
15 16 17
18 19 20
21
22
YOUR ASSOCIATE PARTNERS DISCOUNT PLUS
Choose your car Select a new Vauxhall.
1 Choose your deposit Any deposit. We’ll give at least £500 to get you started.**
2
Choose your termFrom 24 to 60 months.
3 Vauxhall Lifetime warrantyLifetime 100,000 mile warranty. First registered owner.
PLUS
1 YEARFREE INSURANCEon selected Corsa models for 21-75 year olds‡finance
Offers end 16th December 2013, to fi nd out more visit: www.partnersprogramme.co.uk, call 0844 875 2448 or visit your Vauxhall Retailer.
Offi cial Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption fi gures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Vauxhall range (excl. Ampera): Urban: 14.4 (19.6) - 76.3 (3.7), Extra-urban: 27.4 (10.3) - 91.1 (3.1), Combined: 18.0 (15.7) - 85.6 (3.3). CO2 emissions: 373 - 88g/km.#
Available on selected models, at participating Retailers. Refer to www.vauxhall.co.uk/offers. Finance subject to status. Terms and Conditions apply. Applicants must be 18 or over. Finance supplied by Vauxhall Finance, PO Box 6666, Cardiff CF15 7YT. **Vauxhall Deposit Contribution excludes ADAM, Mokka, Cascada and New Insignia (MY14) models. Offers apply to Vauxhall Partners only. ‡First year insurance offer available on new Corsa models excluding Expression, S, VXR, Design and Sting. The offer will cover the full premium (motor policy only) for drivers aged between 21-75. Drivers must have held a valid full UK licence for a minimum of 1 year. Only available through Vauxhall Insurance. Policies are underwritten by Ageas Insurance Ltd. Other insurance specifi c Terms and Conditions apply. Offer applies to Vauxhall Partners only. Offer available on orders or registrations before 16 December 2013. For Partners Terms and Conditions go to partnersprogramme.co.uk/legal-notice-and-privacy-policy. #Offi cial EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty covers lifetime ownership of fi rst registered keeper, 100,000 mile limit. Terms and Conditions apply. Correct at time of going to print 12/11/2013.
www.partnersprogramme.co.ukWARRANTY 100,000 MILE
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
L_GMR_C1090_Torque_HP.indd 1 12/11/2013 12:39
marketplace
free deliVery on all orders oVer £10!
Hogies Online source the very best on your behalf, by carefully selecting and selling a range of products including Perfumes, Aftershaves, Watches, Sunglasses, Cosmetics, Skincare, Sun Cream, Jewellery, Cameras, Handbags, Purses, Wallets, Clothing, Accessories, Consumer Electronics, Gifts and Toys, all of the highest quality and at great prices.
Simply visit www.vauxhall-marketplace.co.uk and login with username vx and password offers. Click on Monthly Offers on the homepage and the Hogies Online offer will be listed there.
meet the team: human resources
SIO
BH
áN
MEA
RS
UK
BP
O C
OU
NTR
Y M
AN
AG
ERI m
anag
e H
R B
usin
ess
Proc
ess
Out
sour
cing
for t
he U
K w
hich
in
volv
es li
aisi
ng w
ith
the
HR
S
ervi
ce C
entr
e ov
er in
Bar
celo
na,
the
payr
oll t
eam
in G
riffi
n H
ouse
an
d th
e H
R te
ams
at a
ll th
e di
ffer
ent s
ites
in th
e U
K. I
love
th
e di
vers
ity o
f thi
s ro
le h
ere.
La
st w
eek
I was
in E
llesm
ere
Port
de
liver
ing
Peop
leso
ft tr
aini
ng a
nd
toda
y I h
ave
been
look
ing
at g
loba
l he
adco
unt r
epor
ting
. Tom
orro
w
I’m a
udit
ing
chan
ges
mad
e in
the
last
pay
roll
run
– no
two
days
are
ev
er th
e sa
me!
risto
tle sa
id p
leas
ure
in th
e jo
b pu
ts p
erfe
ctio
n in
the
wor
k, a
sent
imen
t tha
t HR
Dire
ctor
Phi
l M
illw
ard
and
his t
eam
striv
e to
achi
eve
for
Vaux
hall’s
30,
000
empl
oyee
s. A
lread
y one
of B
ritai
n’s To
p Co
mpa
nies
to w
ork f
or, V
auxh
all’s
effo
rts t
o pr
omot
e th
e m
anuf
actu
ring
and
engi
neer
ing
sect
or to
youn
g pe
ople
ha
s not
gon
e un
-not
iced:
“We
have
just
won
a Pa
rtne
rshi
p w
ith E
duca
tion A
war
d fro
m th
e En
gine
erin
g Em
ploy
ers
Fede
ratio
n (E
EF) t
hank
s to
activ
ity le
d by
our
und
ergr
ads
in g
ettin
g ch
ildre
n in
loca
l sch
ools
exc
ited
abou
t a ca
reer
in
this
sect
or.
“Afte
r five
year
s of t
his f
ocus
we
are
now
seei
ng
an in
crea
sed
leve
l of in
tere
st in
our
appr
entic
eshi
p pr
ogra
mm
es. O
n to
p of
this
, our
appr
entic
e Le
wis
Guy
at
Elle
smer
e Po
rt w
inni
ng th
e B
est F
irst Y
ear A
ppre
ntice
aw
ard
clea
rly d
emon
stra
tes t
hat w
e ar
e do
ing
the
rig
ht th
ings
.”Th
e H
R de
part
men
t is al
so h
eavi
ly in
volv
ed in
hel
ping
Va
uxha
ll mee
t its C
SR o
bjec
tives
, as P
hil e
xpla
ined
: “O
ne
of o
ur la
test
initi
ativ
es is
pro
vidi
ng e
very
em
ploy
ee w
ith
a pai
d da
y tha
t the
y can
use
to w
ork w
ith th
eir o
wn
team
to
supp
ort a
char
ity th
at’s
clos
e to
thei
r ow
n he
arts
. We’
re
just
at th
e st
art o
f thi
s ini
tiativ
e bu
t we’
re al
read
y driv
ing
it fo
rwar
d – I
wan
t us t
o be
lead
ers i
n th
is ar
ea.”
inVe
stin
g in
peo
ple
Tale
nt o
f th
e fu
ture
is k
ey to
Vau
xhal
l's su
cces
s
a
JAN
E LE
GG
ATT
COM
PEN
SATI
ON
AN
D
BEN
EFIT
S M
AN
AG
ERI c
o-or
dina
te a
ll co
mpe
nsat
ion
plan
ning
acr
oss
the
UK
, and
co
mpl
ete
benc
hmar
king
sur
veys
to
giv
e th
e gl
obal
com
pens
atio
n te
am a
val
uabl
e in
sigh
t int
o th
e sa
lari
es a
nd b
enefi
ts o
f oth
er
UK
com
pani
es. I
als
o m
anag
e al
l th
e U
K b
enefi
t sch
emes
and
I’m
in
volv
ed in
a v
arie
ty o
f HR
pay
roll
rela
ted
proj
ects
. Hitt
ing
payr
oll
dead
lines
eve
ry m
onth
is a
lway
s a
chal
leng
e bu
t I g
et a
gre
at s
ense
of
sati
sfac
tion
from
sol
ving
the
man
y ob
scur
e re
ques
ts I
get!
JO H
IRO
NS
HR
AD
VIS
OR
Whi
lst b
eing
invo
lved
in th
e ro
llout
of t
he U
K W
orkp
lace
of
Choi
ce S
urve
y an
d im
plem
enti
ng
its
outc
omes
, I a
lso
over
see
our
UK
Lea
ders
hip
Dev
elop
men
t Pr
ogra
mm
es c
alle
d In
spir
e &
A
spir
e. R
ecen
tly
I hav
e be
en
prep
arin
g ou
r sub
mis
sion
for
the
2014
Bri
tain
's To
p Em
ploy
er
Aw
ard,
and
will
soo
n be
focu
sing
on
our
dri
ve to
ach
ieve
Gol
d st
atus
fo
r Inv
esto
rs In
Peo
ple.
Oth
er
area
s th
at a
lso
keep
me
busy
are
CA
P, w
orkp
lace
CS
R, t
rain
ing
and
the
HR
bus
ines
s pl
an.
JACK
IE JO
NES
HR
MA
NA
GER
I'm H
R M
anag
er fo
r the
sup
port
fu
ncti
ons,
so
I loo
k af
ter
ever
ythi
ng fr
om re
crui
tmen
t th
roug
h to
off
-boa
rdin
g em
ploy
ees
for F
inan
ce,
Com
mun
icat
ions
, Leg
al, F
acili
ties
an
d Pu
rcha
sing
/Log
isti
cs. I
am
al
so th
e B
CP C
o-or
dina
tor f
or
HR
, sit
on th
e Em
erge
ncy
Cont
rol
Res
pons
e Te
am a
nd H
ealt
h &
S
afet
y Co
mm
ittee
, dea
l wit
h au
dits
and
hel
p sh
ape
HR
pol
icy.
I lo
ve th
e va
riet
y of
my
day;
I co
uld
be c
hair
ing
an H
RM
, con
duct
ing
trai
ning
, or e
xpla
inin
g m
ater
nity
po
licy
wit
h a
mum
-to-
be!
