News

The Week: Nov. 7-10

Time 8:49 am, November 12, 2011

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

Monday, November 7

mini-avenueCITROEN has unveiled its most super eco diesel model to date. The C3 e-HDi 70 Aidream EGS VTR+ emits 87g/km and returns 83.1mpg, and goes on sale this month priced at £15,290.

FORMER Formula One designer Gordon Murray has been named as overall winner of the RAC Future Car Challenge. Murray’s electric T.27 joined more than 65 low-emission vehicles in the rally. Read more


MINI has launched a new range of premium options called ‘Mini Yours’. New leathers, colours and trims feature – celebrating the launch is the Mini Avenue package priced at £4,880.

THE used car market has remained ‘quite strong’ through October into November with increased stock levels and healthy demand, says the VRA. Read more

Tuesday, November 8

leafFERRARI’S trading results for the last nine months continue the Italian firm’s ‘extraordinary year’. Revenues have reached £13bn, and 5,165 cars have been delivered. Read more


NISSAN is accelerating plans for a European-wide Quick Charge network for electric vehicles by giving away 400 new quick charging stations free of charge.

VOLKSWAGEN has sold a total of 4.24 million cars between January and October this year. It represents an increase of 12.1 per cent compared to the same period in 2010.

USED car sales are up for Seat. The Spanish brand has reported some of its best-performing dealers’ used car sales are up as much as 33 per cent on 2010, so far this year. Read more

Wednesday, November 9

engineTHE Office of Fair Trading has taken enforcement action against car supermarket Carcraft. The Oft was concerned about the group’s practices selling cars, finance and after-sale guarantees. Read more

BMW Group has achieved its best ever October sales result – 139,276 BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce cars were delivered during the month, and up by 8.3 per cent on last year. Read more

FORD has launched a brand new, high-tec and ultra-efficient engine, developed in the UK for the Focus. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine delivers 123bhp with 114g/km of CO2 and 99bhp with 109g/km.

BENTLEY has become the first UK automotive plant to achieve the energy management standard ISO 50001. The British brand’s HQ in Crewe saved 230GWh of energy – enough to power 11,500 houses a year.

Thursday, November 10

civicMORE than 1,000 new jobs have been created at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant. A multi-billion pound investment from JLR owner Tata Motors will see the plant’s workforce increase by 25 per cent.

NISSAN’S 2011 sales are continuing to outperform 2010 in every month to date. October 2011 was 16.5 per cent up on October 2010, and the month saw the Japanese firm sell 57,518 units in Europe.


OCEAN Automotive Ltd has acquired Yeovil Audi from the Loders Motor Group. The acquisition will ad 35 employees to the existing 105-strong team in Poole. Read more

HONDA’S nine-generation Civic has begun a ‘for one night only’ tour of Honda dealers across the UK. The tour is designed to give customers an exclusive preview of the new car. Read more

Friday, November 11

southgateFAMILY-run dealer group Southgate has gone into administration. Buy-outs of the struggling firm have failed meaning administrators have been called in. 111 employees have been made redundant. Read more

BCA has launched a new initiative to raise £100k for BEN. The auction firm is suggesting buyers to donate £1 for every car bought to charity.

BASED on the current ASX4, Mitsubishi has launched a special edition version called the ‘Black’. The car is available in six colours and features black alloys, roof, mirrors, grille, and spoiler. It’s priced from £21,099.

NEW research from creditplus.co.uk reveals that more than 80 per cent of car buyers are not delaying buying a new or used car. Read more

James Batchelor's avatar

James – or Batch as he’s known – started at Car Dealer in 2010, first as the work experience boy, eventually becoming editor in 2013. He worked for Auto Express as editor-at-large and was the face of Carbuyer’s YouTube reviews. In 2020, he went freelance and now writes for a number of national titles and contributes regularly to Car Dealer. In October 2021 he became Car Dealer's associate editor.



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