AUDI has updated its R8 supercar range. The revisions include new front and rear bumpers including new head and rear lamp clusters, and a new S tronic twin-clutch sports transmission.

CZECH firm Skoda has announced it’s increased its sales and financial results in the first half of 2012. Deliveries worldwide to customers rose by 8.4 per cent to reach 493,000 cars from January to June 2012. Read more

MERCEDES-BENZ has upgraded the C-Class for 2013. There’s three new trims: Executive SE, AMG Sport and AMG Sport Plus, and prices start at £25,915 for the saloon.

SAAB Parts UK’s authorised service centres are offering all Saab owners a complimentary MoT in conjunction with an oil or annual service. Read more

Tuesday, July 31

MOTORISTS will have to live with the dreaded ’13’ on their number plate if they want a new car next March, says CAP. Despite reports that drivers could choose to retain the ‘62’ plate after March 1, the DVLA has said this is not the case. Read more

LEXUS has heavily revised its flagship model, the LS, to feature the brand’s new look. The car features Lexus’ new front-end and an updated interior. It’ll go on sale later this year.

FIAT Group has published its quarter two results showing operating profit at €1bn. The firm said all regions ‘contributed positively’ apart from Europe, where losses were ‘reduced’ from quarter one.

GENERAL Motors has announced it will be Manchester United’s shirt sponsor, starting with the 2014/15 season, replacing the current sponsor Aon. Read more

Wednesday, August 1

SSANGYONG Motor UK wants to add at least another 15 dealers to its network by the end of the year, the firm’s CEO has told Car Dealer. Read more

VAUXHALL is slipping its new high performance 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine into the Astra five-door hatch and Sports Tourer. The unit has 192bhp and 400 Nm torque. Order books are open and prices start from £24,095 for the hatch and from £25,110 for the Sports Tourer.

MITSUBISHI Motors in the UK has completed the installation of a solar electric generating system on the roof of its headquarters in Cirencester. Read more

AUDI has posted an operating profit of €2.9bn (£2.2bn) in the first six months of this year. The firm said the headline operating figure was ‘yet another chapter to its success story.’ Read more

Thursday, August 2

WE’VE listened and acted – now we can reveal Bangers4BEN has been given a major revamp for 2012. Read more

THE used market is stable, but quiet at the moment and both buyers and sellers are having to be very careful about pricing vehicles. That’s the view of Shoreham Vehicle Auctions’ MD, Alex Wright. Read more

VOLKSWAGEN has added an automated manual gearbox to its Up range. Models fitted with the ‘box cost £595 over manual versions, but the gearbox is not available on BlueMotion versions.

VISITORS to EcoVelocity, the UK’s green motor show, have named Honda as the automotive brand they perceive to be the greenest, ahead of Vauxhall in second place and Nissan in third.

Friday, August 3

LANCASHIRE-based Bowker Motor Group has confirmed plans to open its first non-franchise dealership in Osbaldeston. The family-owned business is investing more than £750k in the new dealership, formerly occupied by Bay Horse Saab. Read more

MERCEDES-BENZ has announced its E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid is priced from £39,645 and the estate variant at £41,435. Deliveries begin in November.

CITROEN has priced up its new C1 Connexion – the first production car in the UK created from an app which was created in collaboration with Facebook. The model with three or five doors, costs £9,495 and £9,845 respectively.

SPANISH marque Seat has launched online service booking in an attempt to make the process as convenient as possible for customers. Read more