HERE ARE the most interesting and talked-about stories over the past five days, collated and summarised by us.

Monday, January 9

VOLKSWAGEN has delivered more than eight million vehicles in a year for the first time in its history.

PEUGEOT’S new 208, launching in the UK in June, will include an all new one-litre three cylinder petrol engine emitting just 99 g/km of CO2.

ROLLS-ROYCE has confirmed that 2011 was a record year for the company with 3,538 cars sold globally, up 31 per cent on 2010’s figures. Read more

MERCEDES is proving efficiency doesn’t come at the cost of luxury. It’s revealed the E300 BlueTEC Hybrid which develops 204bhp, returns 67.2mpg and emits 109g/km of CO2.

Tuesday, January 10

FIAT has increased its interest in the Chrysler Group by a further five per cent, bringing its share to 58.5 per cent. Read more

IN an effort to take the fight to the Nissan Juke, Vauxhall has revealed the Mokka. It’ll debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

DEALER group Vertu has acquired the trade and certain assets of Vauxhall dealer W Grose Northampton Limited for £2m. Read more

PERFORMANCE data of Nissan’s mad Juke-R has been published. It’ll crack 0-60 in 3.7s – 4.7s faster than the top of the range Juke and a full second behind the GT-R.

Wednesday, January 11

TOYOTA has introduced the 2012 model Land Cruiser V8 with a revised 4.5-litre turbodiesel engine world-first Turn Assist, which reduces the vehicle’s turning circle when negotiating tight bends.

McLAREN AUTOMOTIVE has confirmed that Mark Harrison, the current Head of PR, has been appointed as regional director, Middle East / Africa.

VAUXHALL has launched a new trim level on Astra and Insignia models aimed at company car drivers – high equipment and low emissions feature.

AUDI has revealed the new A6 Allroad. It’ll come with a choice of one petrol and three diesel V6 engines when it goes on sale in March.

Thursday, January 12

AHEAD of its debut at Geneva, Porsche has released pictures of its third-generation Boxster. It’ll arrive at UK showrooms in April, priced from £37,589.

DEALER finance remains consumers’ first choice for new cars, new figures from the FLA reveal. Read more

SEAT has shown off its facelifted Ibiza range. The Spanish car receives a new nose and a refreshed interior.

MITSUBISHI confirmed another dealership has been added to its network. Riverside Mitsubishi opened this week. Read more

Friday, January 13

BMW is to invest $990m in its South Carolina plant. The plant already builds the X3, X5 and X6 and will also produce the upcoming X4, due in 2014.

MITSUBISHI has unveiled its brand new approved used remarketing scheme which goes live February 1, 2012. Read more

FIAT may be considering partnering with another firm to increase scale and further reduce costs, according to Bloomberg, with Peugeot mooted as a potential candidate.

ECOVELOCITY, the UK based eco motor show will return for a second year in May and will move to ExCeL London.

By Jamie Edmonds and James Batchelor