News - Page 1388

General Motors has paid Suzuki Motor Corporation $21 million (£11.7m) for 6.9m shares to increase its stake in GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. to 50.9%.

The Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire, the home of the original Mini, is to stage a special event to celebrate the ‘Life of Mini’ on October 2.

The Russian owner of the Blackpool sports car manufacturer TVR, Nikolai Smolenski, is reported to have acquired the Italian superbike and scooter manufacturer Benelli, and is said to be planning for the car firm’s Blackpool factory to manufacture components for the new purchase.

Nationwide Accident Repair Services has reported turnover for the full year of 2004 up £4.7m year on year to £123.7m.

The head of a consortium behind an unsuccessful bid to take over MG Rover Group says he is determined to establish a UK manufacturing base.

Debt amongst the UK’s 3.3 million car owners who have borrowed money for their purchase has topped £26.7bn, according to analysis by MoneyExpert.com.

Volkswagen has today unveiled first details and images of the most powerful production Golf to date, the new R32.

Kia Motors will give the all-new Magentis its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 13.

Audi has increased the availability of its two-litre turbocharged FSI engine in the A3 range and quattro four-wheel drive technology for the A8.

The latest example of styling from the Citroen design team, the C-SportLounge concept car will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show (September 12 - 25).

The average price of unleaded petrol in Britain has risen over 90 pence a litre for the first time.

The European Commission's latest report on car prices shows new car prices continuing to converge across the enlarged EU.

Car dealers are being advised they will notice little of the impact of the introduction of the latest block exemption legislation.

Suzuki has revealed the first official pictures of the new Grand Vitara range which will have its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

DaimlerChrysler has confirmed that it is co-operating fully with the US Department of Justice in an investigation into allegations of bribery at Mercedes-Benz, and has made all its accounts available.

It could be 20 years before fuel cell vehicles, seen as the 'Holy Grail' of auto technology because of its zero emissions credentials, become available.

Since the first Model Ts rolled off Henry Ford’s production line, arguments have raged between the sexes about who is better behind the wheel.

A Leeds-based auction centre is making the industry more gender friendly, as a fifth of its staff are now female.

Some of the biggest names in auto retailing and fleet have signed up for sales at a new auction supercentre being developed by BCA.

This is Renault’s vision of how its new mid-size SUV will look.

4x4 tyre sales have increased by 151% in the last five years according to data from tyre manufacturer, Cooper Tires.

Lookers is set to acquire its first two dealerships in Scotland.

Accident Exchange, the prestige vehicle replacement firm, has agreed new exclusive deals with Inchcape Retail to involve the provision of credit hire and business support services to the customers of 33 prestige dealerships across 7 franchises.

Vauxhall will unveil the Vectra VXR at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 12.

The introduction of the new ‘55’-registration plate on September 1 heralds the arrival of new model derivatives in the BMW 1, 3, 5, 6, 7-series and X3 ranges.

Priced to compete directly with conventional saloons and hatchbacks, the new Fiat Croma, which goes on sale in the UK on Saturday 20 August, is Fiat Auto’s new entry into the D-segment.

Volkswagen has announced recommended retail prices for the facelifted New Beetle, which goes on sale in the UK next month.

Confidence among businesses has fallen in all parts of the UK for the first time in two years.

Delays in the approval of cleaner vehicle grants could cause a slump in sales of green cars, warn motor experts.

Saab is celebrating a continuing run of record sales.