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

Monday, March 26

EDEN (GM) Ltd has acquired the assets and two retail sites of Seward (Wessex) Ltd, where more than 135 people are employed, for an undisclosed seven-figure sum.

GREAT WALL has priced up its Steed pick-up. When it goes on sale later this year through Great Wall’s 40 dealers, it’ll cost £13,998, and will be the lowest priced double-cab pick-up in the UK.

VAUXHALL will offer all Ampera owners a British Gas Home Charging solution, which will include the installation of a home charge point, three year warranty on parts and labour, and three year Home Electrical Care. Prices start from £799.

SSANGYONG Motor UK has revealed it’s trying hard to ensure all new dealers taking its franchise look the part. The firm has embarked on a national campaign to ensure all dealers receive the firm’s latest corporate identity as quickly as possible. Read more

Tuesday, March 27

CITROEN has set a date for its refreshed C1. It’ll go on sale on April 2, and prices will start at £7,995. The range-topping five-door VTR+ is priced at £10,545.

MOTOR Codes Service and Repair Code subscribers have benefited from record volumes of web traffic in the last month alone. Read more

SKODA UK has announced Alasdair Stewart will take over as brand director on May 1, replacing Robert Hazelwood. Read more

CAR hire specialist Europcar believes drivers who hire electric are more likely to buy electric in the future. The firm is encouraging motorists to get behind the wheel of an EV.

Wednesday, March 28

A SEAT dealer has harnessed the power of social media to transact almost an entire new car deal exclusively on Twitter. Grants Seat carried out the entire sales process through a series of tweets. Read more

THE high price of electric cars is the biggest turn-off that deters motorists away from buying electric cars, according to new research from TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk.

FOLLOWING a successful first quarter trading, Saab Parts UK has announced the appointment of two new Saab authorised repairers. Read more

SKODA is launching a limited-edition version of its Yeti. Called the Yeti Urban, it’s based on the SE trim, but features up to £2,450 worth of extra equipment at no extra cost. Only 750 units will be available when it goes on sale in April.

Thursday, March 29

THE Korean firm SsangYong has announced the appointment of Ian Allan Motors in Virginia Water. The dealership will operate from its premises in Sandhills Lane, Virginia Water, Surrey. Read more

THE Giulietta goes on sale with Alfa’s TCT dual-clutch transmission. It’s available on two trim levels – Lusso and Veloce – and on variants sporting 1.4 TB MultiAir 170 bhp and 2.0 JTDM-2 170 bhp engines.

CAR valuation experts CAP will launch a real time used car trade valuation system called ’Black Book Live’ in May. Read more 

THE Road Haulage Association (RHA) is calling on motorists not to turn fuel into ‘a national emergency’. The organisation, like many, is concerned motorists are unnecessarily panic-buying.

Friday, March 30

ORDERING opens on April 2 for Renault’s updated Twingo 133. The baby Renaultsport model is priced from £13,565 – and it’s now more fuel efficient and kinder to the environment.

THE Infiniti M35h has just become more appealing to fleet buyers. The world’s fastest hybrid saloon now emits 159g/km of CO2 – a saving of around £180 in tax.

BMW Group and Toyota have announced they’ve have signed an agreement on collaborative research in the field of next-generation lithium-ion battery cells.

ECOVELOCITY is set to become the first UK car show to be carbon neutral. The show will offset its carbon emissions by supporting a Hydro-electric project in India.