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

Monday, June 25

MINI has announced its Oxford plant will build a van variant of the Mini Clubman. Called Clubvan, it appears in the autumn and will be the seventh model of the Mini currently in production. Read more

NISSAN will use the Goodwood Festival of Speed to attempt to set a new world record for the fastest time over a distance of one mile in… reverse.

DEALER JCT600 has made a five figure investment in a new mobile specific website to capture multi-channel customers. Read more

IN response to a customer enquiry, one of SsangYong’s dealers – Firs SsangYong at Hook Norton in Oxfordshire – has developed a paramedic ambulance conversion for the 4 wheel drive Rodius EX.

Tuesday, June 26

DACIA has announced it has appointed 127 dealers across the UK, and pre-order books for the Duster SUV will open on June 28. Read more

SCORES of delighted passengers – both Londoners and visitors to the capital – have been treated to free ‘taxi’ rides in the zero-emission Nissan Leaf. To get a lift, passengers just had to tweet.

AFTER months of deliberating and judging, Car Dealer can reveal the winners of the Green Apple Awards for Car Dealerships. Click here to find out the winners

IN reflection of its participation in the British GT championship, Mazda has created two special edition MX-5s. Called Kuro, just 200 MX-5 Kuro soft-tops will be made and 400 Roadster Coupes.

Wednesday, June 27

DIESEL engined cars’ values retain a substantial price premium, but it’s petrol cars that hold their values better says auction firm BCA. Read more

HYUNDAI has announced its New Generation Santa Fe SUV, which goes on sale in the UK on October 15, will start from £25,495 for the 2.2-litre CRDi Style 2WD model.

DACIA’S Duster range will start from £8,995 the firm has revealed. They’ll be three models, and the cheapest 4×4 variant costs £10,995.

THE Mercedes-Benz A-Class will cost from £18,945 when it is launched in December. Buyers will be able to choose from two trim levels.

Thursday, June 28

CHEVROLET dealers can expect another variant of the Cruze later this year. The SW model will offered in three trim levels and will be priced from £15,375.

MAZDA is expecting its CX-5 model featuring SKYACTIV technology to increase the Japanese maker’s penetration into the fleet market.

TRADER Media Group (TMG) as announced it has acquired of Deltapoint Associates Limited. Read more

MOTORISTS’ biggest concern is still the cost of fuel new research from auction vehicle company BCA has found. Read more

Friday, June 29

FORD has categorically stated it won’t be producing an RS version of the current Focus model. Read more

CITROEN UK has announced the appointment of Martin Hamill as fleet director with effect from July 9, 2012. His appointment follows Andy Wady’s recent decision to take up a new position outside the group.

LAND Rover will be using the Goodwood Festival of Speed to celebrate the conclusion of the Journey of Discovery. The 1m Land Rover Discovery was produced at JLR’s Solihull plant earlier this year and to celebrate the milestone, this special vehicle undertook a 50-day, 10,000-mile cross-continent expedition.

VEHICLE purchases on eBay via a smartphone are booming with tech savvy shoppers spending upwards of £40k on exclusive cars. Read more