4×4 vehicles have come an awful long way over the years, and the full range of options is now broader than it has ever been at any other point in history. Long gone are the days when 4×4 vehicles automatically meant square, blocky jeep-like profiles, and now many 4x4s are extremely sleek and just as well-balanced aesthetically as any other car on the road.
Part of this evolution has been the fact that more and more people now want 4x4s. Originally the province of people living and working in more rural communities, now 4x4s are somewhat of a status symbol, and increasing numbers of people enjoy the powerful driving experience that these vehicles have to offer.
At CWS 4×4, we are a specialist supplier of 4×4 parts, and so we always enjoy keeping a close eye on the industry that we operate in. With that in mind, we thought we’d share a couple of recent news stories with you that we think typify the modern attitude towards 4×4 vehicles.
The Skoda Octavia
Autocar has posted its first drive review of the new Skoda Octavia 4×4 just a few days ago, or at least the inaugural report of how it handles on British roads, and we think that this is a great current example of how people are now expecting the capabilities of a 4×4 without the previous restrictions.
According to Autocar, the new Skoda Octavia is visually indistinguishable from the ‘standard’ models, and the ‘normal’ driving experience is just the same as well. Of course, on off-road terrain that is likely to be a very different story, and rightly so, but the fact remains that people are now increasingly desiring the rugged performance of a 4×4 without the restrictions of an unattractive profile, lumbering handling and many of the other problems of yesteryear.
West Midlands Ambulance Service
The Shuttle has just reported how a whole fleet of brand new 4×4 Mercedes ambulances has now been introduced into the West Midlands Ambulance Service. 16 of these capable vehicles have been brought in to negotiate the possibility of people becoming injured in off-road terrain, and this represents the first time that the regional service has ever been in possession of a ‘full-size’ 4×4 ambulance.
When you think about it, this is the natural progression from the above point; with 4×4 performance now being melded with the advantages of more ‘everyday’ vehicles to adapt to the needs of fast-paced modern life. More 4x4s are certainly in circulation than ever before, but to look at some of the discreetly understated vehicles out there (and in this case public service oriented examples) you’d never know that they were 4x4s at all from looking at them.
4x4s are now so incredibly varied that many people who would have never dreamt of purchasing a more dated off-roader now find themselves very interested in owning a 4×4. If you’re one of the many UK 4×4 owners out there, then you’ll know how the life-span of a good 4×4 can be virtually indefinite as long as you have a few handy spare parts to hand, and here at CWS 4×4 we’re one of the foremost suppliers of 4×4 spare parts in the country.
Our reputation as quality Land Rover breakers is especially strong, but our huge range of parts means that we can usually assist you no matter what sort of 4×4 vehicles you happen to prefer. To find out more about our comprehensive service, please don’t hesitate to contact us now by calling +44 (0)1458 834930 or emailing [email protected]. We’ll always be happy to discuss your requirements.