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

Monday, August 20

JAPANESE firm Nissan now has a dealership in north Norfolk for the first time in six years. Crayford and Abbs showroom represents a major expansion of the company’s presence there. Read more

BMW is now offering a more accessible way into X3 ownership with the first rear-wheel-drive model in the range, the new BMW X3 sDrive18d.

PERODUA dealers who Motability accredited will now be able to offer the Myvi super-mini on the Motability scheme from £47.22 per week. The firm is also offering all Motability customers the option of having reverse park control supplied and fitted free of charge.

TO celebrate the last few weeks of summer, Honda is putting on a sales event to span across the whole of its car dealer network. Read more

Tuesday, August 21

EIGHT years on from the first CLS launch, Mercedes-Benz has added the Shooting Brake to the model line-up. The company has confirmed prices will start from £49,360.

JULY saw a 41.7 per cent increase in car dealer insolvencies compared to July last year, figures from Experian reveals. Fifty one business went under during the month. Read more

FIAT has added the Street model to its 500 range. The special model boasts dark tinted windows, alloy wheels and satin chrome finished mouldings, handles and door mirrors. Prices start from £11,360.

ALFA Romeo dealer Motor Village Croydon has handed over the keys to a brand new MiTo to one lucky competition winner. Read more

Wednesday, August 22

VAUXHALL dealer Approach – which runs dealerships in Andover, in Hampshire, and Salisbury, in Wiltshire – has gone into administration. Car Dealer was tipped off by a customer wanting to get into contact with the dealer. Read more

VOLKSWAGEN handed over 3.26m – January – July 2011: 2.95m; up 10.4 per cent – vehicles to customers worldwide from January to July.

BENTLEY has revealed its new Continental GT Speed will pack 616bhp from its twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12, and will get to 60mph in four seconds and reach 205 mph – it’s the fastest road going Bentley ever. The car will make its debut at the Moscow Motor Show; orders are being taken now.

ROLLS-ROYCE has launched a new online tool called Provenance Pre-owned Stock Locator. The online resource allows would-be Rolls-Royce customers to search for exclusive Provenance cars quickly and easily using an iPad, computer or smart phone. Read more

Thursday, August 23

LAND Rover has given its trusty Freelander 2 a premium make-over. The SUV now boasts new front and rear LED lights, a brand-new centre console, seven -inch colour touch-screen with ‘enhanced audio systems’ and optional satellite navigation, and two new trims – sporty ‘Dynamic’ and luxurious ‘HSE Lux’.

BRITAIN might be one of the world’s biggest markets for convertible cars, but most owners are proving reluctant to open their soft tops. Audi has found that just under two thirds of Britain’s convertible owners (64 per cent) either never or rarely take the roof down.

DEALERSHIPS Lexus Reading, Toyota Reading and Toyota Bracknell are now under new ownership of  Jemca Car Group. The new owners are Toyota Tsusho Automobile London Holdings Ltd, which operates under the Jemca Car Group name. Read more

THE average value of a used car in the second quarter of 2012 was £5,891 – the highest ever recorded in a second quarter according to BCA. The BCA quarter two 2012 Pulse report also showed that year-on-year values were ahead by £197. Read more

Friday, August 24

SUBARU has reduced the price of its WRX STI to £26,995, and has added a competitive finance deal of under £300 per month. The Japanese firm has also introduced a new top of the range model, the WRX STI 340R.

BRITISH marque MG has added another dealership to its network – Charles Warner in Lincoln. The dealership can trace its automotive roots back almost 100 years and is one of the best-known automotive businesses in the region. Read more

SPANISH marque Seat has introduced an automated manual version of its Mii city car. The gearbox is only available with the 73bhp engine and in SE trim, making the Mii Auto a standalone model.

THE average value of a used car in the second quarter of 2012 was £5,891 – the highest ever recorded in a second quarter according to BCA The BCA quarter two 2012 Pulse report also showed that year-on-year values were ahead by £197. Read more