7:49 am, October 12, 2026
Vauxhall hints at future estate car with STX Concept
Vauxhall is looking to the future of its estate cars with the new STX Concept.
Arriving as the first car to wear the brand’s recently redesigned Griffin logo, the STX Concept – or Sports Tourer eXperimental Concept – is there to show the ‘vision of future estates’, according to Vauxhall.
At the front, it gets the latest version of the brand’s Vizor design, which has been used on all manner of Vauxhall models. It’s taller and bolder than on the brand’s production cars, though, and there’s a new illuminated Griffin badge, too.
Citroen revives 2CV with new electric concept
Citroen looks set to revive its iconic 2CV city car with a new electric model.
Previewed by the 2 CV Concept, the new model has been designed to capture the spirit of the original, both in terms of design and the way it drives.
Measuring in at 3.76 metres – shorter than the original car – the new 2CV should weigh around one tonne, according to Citroen, while elements such as the round headlights set apart from the main body of the car and creases on the bonnet aim to give it that classic appearance.
Firms taking on new borrowing has doubled this year
The proportion of UK businesses borrowing money has doubled this year, as firms source funding to alleviate cost pressures and boost tech spending, a survey suggests.
Around 56% of business leaders said they took on new borrowing or credit arrangements in the past year, up from 28% in 2025, according to research by HSBC UK.
The survey of more than 1,000 leaders at UK businesses signals that demand for lending has jumped this year.
The markets
European stocks rallied on Friday, as oil prices fell, despite weak telecommunications stocks as worries of competition from satellite-based mobile services sparked sharp falls.
In London, the FTSE 100 index ended up 110.45 points, or 1.1%, at 10,552.05. The FTSE 250 climbed 269.90 points, 1.1%, to 24,213.78, and the AIM all-share added 6.86 points, 0.9%, at 777.53.
For the week, the FTSE 100 was up 0.9%, the FTSE 250 was up 0.1%, and the AIM all-share was down 0.8%.
Friday on Car Dealer
McLaren to confirms 750S production will end next year after decade-long run
McLaren has confirmed production of its 750S supercar will end in 2027, bringing a decade of V8-powered models based on the 720S platform to a close, with a successor expected in 2028.
Porsche global sales plunge 16% as VW Group struggles – but UK registrations buck the trend
Porsche’s global deliveries have fallen 16% in the first nine months of 2026, dragged down by collapsing demand in China, although UK registrations have bucked the trend with a 4.4% increase.
Weekly Briefing: Are diesels dead? And an economist on what’s next for car sales
James Baggott examines whether diesel cars are facing extinction as fuel prices soar and hears from an economist about the challenging outlook for the economy and car sales.
Used electric car demand rockets 40% as diesel falls out of favour with buyers
Demand for used electric cars jumped 40% in September as diesel interest slumped 19.2%, with EVs the only fuel type to record annual price growth, according to Autotrader.
Traditional used car buyers switch to Jaecoo 7 as dealer says it’s all about aspiration
Dealers say attractive finance offers and premium styling are tempting traditional used car buyers into brand-new Jaecoo 7s, with independent dealers struggling to compete on monthly payments.
Cazoo calls for tougher legislation as six in ten dealers believe clocking has increased
Cazoo is calling for deliberate mileage alteration to become a specific criminal offence after research found six in ten used car dealers believe clocking has increased over the past five years.
Only half of 18 to 24-year-olds ‘can afford basic living costs each month’
Less than a fifth (19%) of Gen Z adults aged 18 to 24 are financially independent from their parents or other relatives, a report indicates.
Only around half (49%) of 18 to 24-year-olds surveyed said they are able to afford basic living expenses from month to month.
The research was carried out by the Personal Finance Research Centre, University of Bristol, in partnership with StepChange Debt Charity and funded by NatWest Group.
Pension savers ‘sitting on three million lost pots worth average of £6,000’
More than three million UK pension pots, with an average value of around £6,000, are estimated to be ‘lost’, according to the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI).
Around 2.5 million lost pots are thought to be held by people aged under 55, according to the research, supported by the Government-backed Money and Pensions Service (MaPS).
Women’s lost pots are slightly lower than those belonging to men, at around £5,370 compared with £6,830, the research indicated.
Beauty sector helping plug gaps in UK high streets
Beauty salons and shops now make up almost a third of all leisure sites across UK retail centres and take an even greater share in smaller high streets as spend on personal care shows no sign of slowing, new figures have shown.
New analysis indicates the sector makes up more than 35% of local leisure and recreation sites in smaller local centres.
Hair and beauty salons alone account for around a fifth of leisure sites in smaller high streets, taking the same share as pubs, bars and cafes combined.
The weather
Today will turn increasingly cloudy with outbreaks of drizzle, although some brighter spells are possible in the east. Winds will strengthen, with gales possible in northern Scotland, but it will feel milder than recently, according to the Met Office.
Tonight will remain cloudy with drizzle in the south and east, while heavy rain moves into northern and western areas. Gales are possible in northern Scotland, with temperatures staying mild.
Tuesday will bring heavy rain and blustery winds across England and Wales before brighter spells develop in the afternoon. Further rain and strong winds are expected through the week, turning colder and brighter from Friday.