http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php Type description here... en-us Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:51:16 +0100 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:51:16 +0100 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The new Ford Fiesta 1.25i Zetec has won the What Car? Car of the Year 2009 award. &nbsp; The What Car? judges praised both its exterior looks and interior features, nimble handling and strong grip. &nbsp; Furthermore, the low CO2 emissions of 133g/km and average economy of 50mpg were also a major factor in winning the award. &nbsp; "The Fiesta is the most complete small car we've ever tested," said Steve Fowler, What Car? Editor. ...<br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1236012789 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1236012789 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:53:09 +0000 Honda's global hybrid sales hit the 300,000 mark earlier this month, a figure the company hopes will be bolstered by the April launch of its new Insight. &nbsp; Having unveiled the Insight at the Detroit Motor Show, Honda has labelled the new model "the most affordable hybrid car on the market". The carmaker has claimed over 10,000 Insight orders have been placed in Japan already, eleven days before going on sale there. Honda hopes to ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1235062236 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1235062236 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:50:36 +0000 Lada cars could make a return to the UK on the back of a new range of modern cars still under development, so it will not be any time soon. The Russian cars have not been seen here since 1996 when the Riva saloon, Samara hatchback and Niva 4x4 were phased out - models so old that even the addition of fuel injection a couple of years before that was deemed high tech. &nbsp; ...<br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1225373526 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1225373526 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:32:06 +0000 The government has announced plans to invest &pound;100m in developing electric and hybrid cars, with the aim of creating up to 10,000 new British jobs. &nbsp; &nbsp; It is hoped the investment will accelerate the emergence of greener vehicles. &nbsp; The government has plans to introduce 100 electric cars into UK towns and cities to help motorists become more familiar with the technology. &nbsp; The UK is committed to cutting all greenhouse gases by 80 ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1225205629 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1225205629 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:53:49 +0000 Nissan has been stung by claims on the BBC's Watchdog programme that its Navara pick-up suffers from a fault that causes the engine to explode. Several owners of the D22 variant, which was built before August 2006, complained to the consumer affairs show about the problem after their engine blew up whilst they were behind the wheel. &nbsp; Following tests by the BBC, a problem with the con-rods and the bearing that propel the ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1225202585 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1225202585 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:03:05 +0000 Nissan believes the demand for larger cars will return and the sector will survive the economic downturn . &nbsp; The Japanese carmaker's vice president for product planning Pierre Loing said long term demand for bigger cars would endure the current economic conditions. &nbsp; Loing maintained that supermini and smaller sized cars couldn't meet all buyers' needs. "There is a debate in the industry whether it (downsizing) is a fundamental trend," he said. "My belief is that ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1224768849 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1224768849 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:34:09 +0100 Motor trade claims for stolen catalytic converters have increased by 500 per cent in the last year, according to new research by Norwich Union. &nbsp; One dealership reported the theft of 40 converters on one occasion alone. &nbsp; The insurer said the increase in incidents was due to the high value of metals such as palladium, rodium and platinum, which are all contained in the converters. "Dealerships are easy targets for thieves who know what ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1223041678 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1223041678 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:47:58 +0100 VW dealers will be selling stop/start models again from the middle of 2009. &nbsp; The sixth generation Golf that goes on sale in January will get a new Bluemotion version the following summer fitted with the fuel and emission-saving technology to help the car reach a VED-free 99g/km CO2 emission figure and 74.3mpg on the official combined cycle - the same as the current smaller Bluemotion Polo. &nbsp; The 105PS 1.6 TDI diesel Bluemotion Golf ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1222353109 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1222353109 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:31:49 +0100 Porsche and Volkswagen may come together for a "peace summit" following the long-running feud sparked by Porsche's attempts to take over the volume brand. &nbsp; The potential breakthrough has been brought about by German metal workers union IG Metall, which is pushing for fairer representation at supervisory board level. &nbsp; The union has advised workers' representatives in the new Porsche Holding company to discuss the level of representation VW employees should have on the Porsche ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1222267192 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1222267192 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:39:52 +0100 Jaguar is poised to cut production at its Castle Bromwich plant as it attempts to come to terms with falling consumer demand. &nbsp; Volumes will be scaled back at the end of the month and workers' shifts are being withdrawn to avoid a stockpile of new vehicles. &nbsp; The cut follows similar action taken by other carmakers including Bentley, Toyota and stable mate Land Rover. No redundancies are planned at present. &nbsp; Jaguar attributed the ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1222251379 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1222251379 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:16:19 +0100 Andrew and Mike Jordan scored no less than five top 10 finishes at Brands Hatch on Sunday (21 September) during the final three rounds of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship. &nbsp; On the last day of the 2008 BTCC season, the John Guest Racing Honda Integras had a great day as the BTCC played to another packed crowd as well as live TV cameras. A pair of seventh places for Andrew topped ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1222163947 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1222163947 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:59:07 +0100 Texting behind the wheel impairs driving skills more than being drunk or high, according to new research . &nbsp; The study, conducted for the RAC Foundation, found that when texting, drivers' reaction times deteriorated by over one-third - worse than the effect of alcohol at the legal limit. &nbsp; Text-happy motorists were also more likely to drift out of their lane, with their steering control 91 per cent worse compared to an impairment of just 35 ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1222163571 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1222163571 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:52:51 +0100 Volvo is the latest manufacturer to launch a green sub-brand, which is due to debut at next month's Paris Motor Show. &nbsp; Volvo's move follows similar launches by the Volkswagen Group, whose VW, Seat and Skoda brands all have low-CO2 diesel sub-brands, and Ford's Econetic Focus. Volvo will be unveiling the sub-120 g/km diesel DRIVe range, with variants of the C30 Sports Coupe, S40 saloon and V50 Sportswagon. Production of the models will start in ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1221124619 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1221124619 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:16:59 +0100 Honda plans to significantly boost its hybrid sales with a new generation Insight which will debut at next month's Paris Motor Show. &nbsp; The brand said the vehicle will be priced "significantly lower than any other hybrid car on the market" making it a direct competitor to Toyota's Prius. Honda's hybrid sales currently account for less that three per cent of its annual sales and the brand said this would rise to 10 per cent ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1220878474 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1220878474 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:54:34 +0100 It's been a long time coming and there have been a couple of false starts, but Longbridge assembled MGs are returning to UK dealerships this month. &nbsp; The 1.8-litre 16v MG TF LE500 will kick-start the brand's rebirth. &nbsp; The car is a heavily tweaked special edition of the well-loved original sportscar including a bundle of extras such as leather seats, 16" alloys, iPod compatibility and EU4 engine emissions compliancy. Senior management say 80 per ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1220543195 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1220543195 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:46:35 +0100 &nbsp; Aston Martin has announced plans to revive its Lagonda brand in a move to broaden its product range. &nbsp; A concept Lagonda model is set to be displayed next year to tie in with Lagonda's 100th anniversary. &nbsp; This will be the first new car from the company since it gained independence from Ford in March 2007. Chief executive officer Ulrich Bez said: "After my eight years with Aston Martin, four with profitability, and ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1220542813 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1220542813 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:40:13 +0100 Dealer group announces a raft of board changes Caffyns has announced a raft of changes to its board of directors following the retirement of chairman Brian Carte due to ill health. The board has appointed Brian Birkenhead as chairman of the company and chairman of the nominations committee, succeeding Carte in both roles. As a result, Birkenhead has stepped down as chairman of the audit committee, a role that has been filled by Andrew ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1218808089 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1218808089 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:48:09 +0100 Company pins recovery hopes on growing Chinese market General Motors’ chief executive Rick Wagoner believes the company is through the worst of its financial pain despite posting second quarter losses of $15.5bn. The company, which recently cut 5,000 jobs and has lost $18bn so far this year, is focusing its recovery on the growing Chinese market. “I would say, from an assembly perspective the pain is largely behind us,” said Wagoner in an ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1218732313 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1218732313 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:45:13 +0100 Premiums rise by nearly 6 per cent in a year Motorists have been dealt another blow as car insurance costs have reached record levels, new figures have revealed. &nbsp; Car insurance premiums have risen by almost 6 per cent between July 2007 and June 2008 – with the average annual car insurance bill now costing &pound;514.36, according to figures released by Sainsbury’s Car Insurance. &nbsp;&nbsp; It is the first time that the average ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1218547571 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1218547571 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:26:11 +0100 Carmaker unveils two new battery-powered models Nissan has unveiled two all-electric and original hybrid electric prototype vehicles. &nbsp; The unveiling’s form part of the carmaker’s GT 2012 initiative, which aims to launch an all-electric vehicle in 2010 to be mass marketed globally in 2012. &nbsp; Powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries, Nissan’s Electric Vehicle prototype features a front-wheel drive layout and uses a newly developed 80kW motor and inverter. &nbsp; The production version of the vehicle is ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1218446464 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1218446464 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:21:04 +0100 Women judge men according to the car they drive While many men like their women the way they like their cars – fast and topless – a new study has shown this works both ways. &nbsp; Kwik-fit has found that 44 per cent of women think they can tell a lot about a prospective partner by the car he drives. &nbsp;&nbsp; In the study, a shameless three quarters of a million women in the UK ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1218101437 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1218101437 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:30:37 +0100 Carmaker is working with Retainagroup on project Ford has been working with car security marking and registration systems specialist Retainagroup to develop a method of permanently marking catalytic converters to help prevent their theft. &nbsp; Catalytic converter theft has been increasing in the UK, with the precious metal content – usually platinum – fetching around &pound;100 per converter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Up to now, there has been no way of identifying specific converters, making it difficult ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1217938733 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1217938733 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:18:53 +0100 New supermini set to be launched this autumn Honda has released the first information of its new Jazz supermini. &nbsp; The new model goes on sale in UK showrooms this autumn and will feature several revisions. &nbsp;&nbsp; The exterior of the car has been redesigned to offer what the carmaker describes as a more “contemporary” look and the newer model is both longer and wider than the outgoing version. The interior has also ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1217503610 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1217503610 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:26:50 +0100 French brand to become club's official car supplier Arsenal Football Club have made another close season signing after agreeing a club sponsorship deal with Citroen. &nbsp; The French carmaker has agreed a three-year deal with the Premier League club that will see it become its official car supplier. &nbsp; Citroen branding will be added to the Emirates stadium as part of the deal and the carmaker will also integrate Arsenal in its marketing, ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1217338716 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1217338716 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:38:36 +0100 Carmaker will not launch petrol version in UK next year Lexus will only bring in hybrid versions of its RX sport utility vehicles when the new model is launched next year. &nbsp; Miguel Fonseca, UK managing director of Lexus and Toyota in the UK said that sales of petrol-only versions of the current model were disappointing. He admitted that Lexus sales in general were suffering as consumers shy away from luxury vehicles as ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1217338062 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1217338062 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:27:42 +0100 US carmaker takes hit in second quarter of trading Ford has posted a massive $8.7bn (&pound;4.37bn) second quarter loss in its American heartland. &nbsp; A mix of spiralling fuel prices and a model range heavily dependent on thirsty pick-ups and SUVs are being seen as drivers behind the latest financial bad news. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It is now likely to cut light truck production and convert factories to making smaller cars. &nbsp; Ford also plans to sell ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1216993770 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1216993770 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:49:30 +0100 Carmaker showcases new technology at BIMS Honda used the British International Motor Show to reveal its latest generation of low emission concepts, all of which will go into production. &nbsp; The brand’s low-emission sportscar concept was unveiled for the first time. The OSM, short for Open Study Model, is a two-seater and joins the confirmed for production CR-Z sports hybrid and FCX Clarity models which were also on show in London. &nbsp; “We’re trying to ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1216918181 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1216918181 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:49:41 +0100 New car prices could go up as credit crunch bites Car sales are slipping as the credit crunch starts to bite and carmakers are warning that could lead to price rises. &nbsp; Manufacturers at the London Motor Show said a discount war to try and move the metal is unlikely as profit margins are being squeezed by rising raw material costs and oil prices. &nbsp; Simon Thomas, European sales chief for Nissan, said ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1216819745 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1216819745 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:29:05 +0100 Carmakers consider move upmarket Jaguar and Land Rover are considering plans to move upmarket and launch in the super luxury category. &nbsp; According to the Financial Times, David Smith, the brands’ chief executive, believes both companies can be taken “a lot further up the market”. He said: ““Both Jaguar and Land Rover, through the Range Rover brand, should be able to produce very credible products to appeal to people in those markets.” It is ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1216644070 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1216644070 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:41:10 +0100 Milestone achieved seven years after production re-starts Mini has exported one million cars from its Oxford plant since production began in 2001. &nbsp; The carmaker said that the milestone was achieved this week, helped by strong sales overseas and the expansion of its model range. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Over 80 per cent of the British-built cars are exported to almost 80 countries worldwide with the largest export market being the USA. &nbsp; The one millionth Mini rolled off ... <br clear="all"> http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1216394894 General http://www.dgeast.co.uk/documents/blog.php?entry_id=1216394894 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:28:14 +0100