HERE ARE the most interesting and talked-about stories over the past five days, collated and summarised by us.
Monday, March 19
THE PEEL P50 is back! The 1960s three-wheeled microcar has returned to the market with the help of an £80k investment from the BBC TV show Dragon’s Den – but it now sports a zero emission electric motor, allowing a top speed of 8mph and a 15-mile driving range.
DEALER group Lookers is in the process of selling three of its dealerships to Jardine Motors, Car Dealer has been told. Read more
GERMAN firm Daimler will introduce its Car2go Smart car sharing scheme to Birmingham. 250 Smart Fortwos will be available to use within a 30-mile zone within the city.
WELSH dealership David Taylor Garages Ltd has been awarded the ‘Isuzu Dealer of the Year’ for the fourth year in a row. Read more
Tuesday, March 20
PEUGEOT and Citroen have announced prices of its EV cars have been slashed as part of plans to make them more affordable. Read more
MANHEIM buys the UK’s second-largest used car classified website, Motors.co.uk, for an undisclosed amount. Read more
MERCEDES has shown off its new twin-turbocharged, SL 65 AMG. Power is up to 630bhp, developing 1000NM of torque, while 170kg has been shed compared to the outgoing model.
VW’S new CC is now on sale. Customers can slip into the car for £24,200 for the entry-level 1.8-litre TSI model, while the range top out at £30,100.
Wednesday, March 22
THE new managing director of Colt Car Retail, the Mitsubishi dealership group, has told Car Dealer of his high hopes for the company. Read more
ASTON Martin has launched a new brand centre in London. Called W-One, the centre is more than a showroom – it’s a ‘luxury boutique’ and a place where brand aficionados will ‘feel at home’.
KIA’S Zilina factory in Slovakia is reporting record growth. The facility produced more than 252,000 cars and 359,000 engines in 2011, representing increases of 10 and 12 per cent respectively over 2010.
DEALER group Harratts is celebrating the opening of new headquarters that will spearhead further growth across Yorkshire. Read more
Thursday, March 22
IT’S 99 days until Dacia launches in the UK. The range will consist of two models with the Sandero costing less than £7k and the Duster SUV costing under £10k.
JAGUAR Land Rover will build cars in China. The company has signed a deal with manufacturing firm Chery to take advantage of blossoming JLR sales in the country.
CAR dealership finances got off to a steady start in January, according to the latest figures from ASE. Read more
BUYERS of approved used Toyotas will now be able to extend their complimentary 12 month warranty to five years with the help of fixed-price monthly payment plans.
Friday, March 23
JAPANESE firm Nissan has announced the promotion of three British executives to crucial roles within the organisation. Read more
RENAULT’S fondly-remembered Avantime is 10 years old this year – and the French firm is marking the anniversary by laying on a special event next month.
FORD’S super-green Fiest ECOnetic is now on sale. The Ford supermini can return more than 85mpg and emits 89 g/km of CO2.
MG Motor UK has announced that it has appointed GMAC UK plc. as its preferred wholesale financing provider for dealerships.
