Modern cars are becoming more secure all the time. Advanced alarm and immobiliser systems, keyless entry and cars that lock themselves automatically are just some of the many brilliant security systems you'll find on new motors.

Car crime is still a very stark reality though, and according to the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS), up to 40 percent of drivers have experienced it first-hand.

Crack teams at AVCIS have had their ears to the ground and figured out which cars ...

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MINI has confirmed a longstanding rumour by releasing the first image of the Countryman World Rally Championship (WRC) car.

The company has joined with WRC expert Prodrive and will participate in selected rally stages from 2011. It will enter the full season in 2012.

MINI will run a works team, but the car will be offered to private groups too. Prodrive says it has already had a number of firm expressions of interest for the car.

The Countryman will compete in the Super 2000 specificat...

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16-year-old student James Hayes can't wait to begin driving lessons and get behind the wheel of his Vauxhall Corsa.

But after shopping around for insurance he was faced with the harrowing reality that even the cheapest quote would cost more than his £2,000 car - and in one case a staggering £17,000.

The lowest premium came in at £2,257 per year, more than three times the average insurance premium, which the AA puts at around £700.

Hayes earns £5.60 per hour in his weekend job at a...

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Performance car firm Porsche has confirmed that it will build an all-electric sports car.

The German company announced that it currently has three electric prototype models in development, all of which are based on the Boxster (pictured).

Porsche will start testing the cars early next year. It will find out whether the charging infrastructure is sufficient for most drivers and also test whether the car has acceptable range and performance to make it a viable ownership prospect.

Porsche ...

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It's not too unusual to be in the passenger seat of a Volkswagen Golf while the driver gives you some fuel economy tips. It is, however, highly unusual when that driver is a bona fide sporting hero.

In this case it was ebullient Ashes fast bowling legend Freddie Flintoff. He's the new ambassador for Shell FuelSave, the new petrol and diesel fuels that the company claims can save up to one litre per tank. So, we collared him for a few minutes on the subject of cars. What else?

What was...

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The Audi A1 supermini hasn't even hit showrooms yet and already the company has unveiled a brand new model: the A7 Sportback.

The two newcomers are poles apart; the A7 is a luxury five-door coupe big enough to seat four adults in executive comfort, and with a boot bigger than the A8 limo's.

It's a car Audi boss Rupert Stadler says will “close the gap between the Audi A6 and the flagship A8,” adding that it begins a “completely new segment.”

And it's true that no other car is quit...

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Passage road in both directions is down to one lane yet again.  More bus stops by the looks of things.  The traffic lights on the crest of the hill are also out, so be on guard for pedestrians walking out infront of you!



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Government spending cuts will see many speed cameras go out of action, but senior Ministry of Transport Officials plan to leave the empty shells of cameras in place as a deterrent to speeding motorists.

The new Con-Lib Government has slashed road safety funds for local councils by 40 percent, so no new speed cameras will be erected for the foreseeable future.

It is expected that existing cameras will be left in place, regardless of whether or not they are able to photograph speeding c...

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In a cryptic press release, British performance car firm Lotus has confirmed it will unveil a supercar concept at the Paris Motor Show.

The show car will be the precursor to a Ferrari rival, putting Lotus into supercar territory for the first time since the Esprit, which ceased production in 2004. That car was launched 35 years ago at the 1975 Paris Motor Show.

The original Esprit (pictured, in white) was praised for its wedge styling and brilliant handling, but was short on power. H...

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An accountant from Manchester returned to her car after workand found it parked facing the opposite direction, with a fresh set of yellow lines painted underneath.

Accountant Sally Barker had parked her Peugeot 206 CC on Little Quay Street that morning, near her office. There were no yellow lines on the road and no parking restrictions in place.

But the council was so keen to get new double yellow lines painted that it used a tow truck to hoist the car into the air while it did the w...

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We're all worried about the cost of fuel, road tax and our next service, but the single biggest cost of motoring is depreciation.

All cars depreciate and some are worse than others - big, expensive saloons, for example, shed their value much faster than small, fuel-efficient hatchbacks.

While there's no avoiding depreciation, you can soften the blow. Valuation experts at British Car Auctions (BCA) have crunched the numbers and come up with the top 10 ways to avoid being hit in the po...

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A new, more secure V5C Vehicle Registration Certificate will be introduced from 15 August 2010.

The new registration certificate is being introduced following the theft of a number of blank certificates in 2006. The aim is to reduce the risks to motorists of buying a stolen or cloned vehicle.

The new documents will be issued from 15 August 2010 for all newly registered vehicles and when there are changes to an existing registration, such as a change ...

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A former accountancy student and car enthusiast has turned his hand to luxury car washes for the super rich. Gurcharn Sahota charges luxury and supercar owners up to £7,200 per valet, which easily makes him Britain's priciest car wash.

Sahota works from his parents' garage, which he has lined with special tiles that help to reflect small dirt particles on the cars.

Notable tools of the trade include wax that costs £8,200 per tub and a £5,000 police microscope that can detect minisc...

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The ultimate SUV will make urban traffic jams a thing of the past - it flies.

The AVX Transformer (TX) is the result of a challenge by the American Government military development agency DARPA. It asked someone to come up with the ultimate go-anywhere four-seat vehicle for combat use.

American company ATX, a military helicopter manufacturer from Texas, took up the challenge. Its proposal for a flying 4x4 is possibly the most mobile SUV ever - and certainly the most extreme.

It's capabl...

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I can't speak any higher than of the guys at f1 Autos off of St. Phillips Causeway.  I've been using these guys for a while now and are just always so amazing.  My brake pad wear indicator light came on the other day, went straight over to ask what it could be and without hesitation they took the car straight in, on the ramp, wheels off and fixed the issue without charge.  I love these guys!

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MINI will make an entry-level model that's smaller, cheaper and more efficient than any since BMW took over the brand.

The new city car concept will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2011. It will be based on the current MINI hatchback, but shortened and possibly with only two seats.

Little is known about the concept at present, though MINI sources have confirmed its existence. An intelligent three-seat layout like that of Gordon Murray's T.25 city car could get the go-ahea...

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New York motorists with drink-driving convictions will have their cars fitted with a device that stops them driving while under the influence of alcohol.

It comes after tests showed a reduction in repeat offences.

If the breathalyzer detects even a small amount of alcohol the ignition locks and prevents the car from starting.

Breath tests must also be carried out during a journey. Should it fail at any stage, the car will emit a loud shrieking sound followed by flashing hazar...

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The Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion has scooped What Car?'s coveted Green Car of the Year award.

The 1.6 TDI 105 model does 74.3mpg and has emissions of only 99g/km, so it's exempt from road tax charges.

In addition to Green Car of the year, the Golf was also awarded the best Green Small family car. It saw off eight other contenders in the class.

What Car? added a new Used Green Car award for 2010, which went to the Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi 90 Style, with emissions of 118g/km and 62.8mpg.

The Re...

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What Car? has revealed the family cars with the best and worst resale values on the market.

Depreciation is usually the biggest cost of car ownership, as new cars lose a significant amount of their value as soon as they leave the forecourt.

The publication calculated the retained percentage of each family car's new value over three years and 36,000 miles and came up with the top five best and worst performers.

The top five cars all hang onto at least half of their new value after thr...

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A Scottish driver has been left bankrupt after incurring £18,000 worth of fines for repeatedly parking illegally in Aberdeen town centre.

Claire Williams works at a law firm in Aberdeen where nearby parking is difficult.

The city council took legal action against her and won a sequestration order at the local court. As a result, she has been declared bankrupt and now has to pay several thousand pounds worth of legal fees.

Miss Williams regularly amassed fines of £60 when she illegal...

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A survey by insurance company Esure has revealed that the average UK driver will rack up £214 of fines during their life's motoring.

The research also revealed that the average driving offender will receive an estimated total of £569 in fines throughout their lifetime.

Esure reckoned that parking rules and regulations were the biggest earners, as 34 percent of those questioned admitted to regularly being confused by parking rules, while 36 percent confessed to deliberately disobeyin...

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American scientists are working on a car that can be driven by blind motorists.

Boffins have teamed up with the National Federation of the Blind and are currently developing a prototype model based on the Ford Escape 4x4.

The car will work by transmitting information about the road surface, speed and obstacles to the driver through a vibrating vest and a tactile map interface.

Compressed air will make the driver aware of oncoming hazards, while a series of sensors and lasers will iden...

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Don’t let your pupils pay any extra for their theory and practical test bookings - make sure they always use the official Directgov website.

Booking with Directgov guarantees a service that your pupils can trust, and it will always be cheaper than a third party booking service.

DSA recommends all car and motorcycle test bookings are made via the official Directgov website.

Here are the links:

• direct.gov.uk/booktheorytest – book your DSA driving theory test onlilne
• direct...

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Congratulations to Eric for passing first time yesterday morning at Southmead test centre with just 5 minors.  He learnt to drive in just two weeks with an intensive course, well done Eric.

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The car of the future will feature a black box that records accidents, sending pictures, video and car data to police and insurance companies.

Eventually, the car will become 'intelligent', able to detect imminent accidents and take action to prevent them.

The technology could speed up insurance payouts and help eradicate fraudulent insurance claims, particularly those involving deliberate 'induced accidents'.

Invented by computer chip maker Intel, the intelligent car can also scan roa...

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Road works near the park and ride on the way back to the test centre is really slowing things down here at the moment.  Tight clutch control and a low gear is all that is needed to keep the speed low.  Don't try and hang off the rear bumper of the car infront.



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Speed cameras are raking in tens of millions of pounds per year in fines, yet their effect in reducing accident rates is highly questionable.

Statistics show that, during 2008-2009, speed camera fines exceeded £87m, yet records indicate that the rate of accident decline has slowed since the Gatso's introduction in 1990.

In the twelve years prior to that, year-on-year accident numbers were declining at a higher rate. According to the Taxpayers' Alliance and the Drivers' Alliance, res...

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A parish councillor in Gloucestershire was so tired of people parking next to his house that he painted two spaces on the road outside. He declared those spaces his, forbidding anyone else from parking there.

The local Council immediately condemned the crude yellow boxes as illegal - but declared they will not be removed, because it's a waste of taxpayers' money.

Paul Syrett, a 46-year-old IT worker, sits on the planning committee of Woodchester Parish Council. His actions have natur...

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Overall UK car sales are up one fifth compared to this time last year, with superminis leading the way.

It's a welcome piece of news, given that many experts predicted a massive sales slump with the end of the scrap scheme.

In fact, some manufacturers are celebrating huge sales swings. Renault's have increased by 120 percent compared to this time in 2009, and Hyundai's have almost doubled.

Small cars are still the UK's favourite, with the Ford Fiesta topping the overall year-to-date s...

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15/06:36: Severe Gales - South West England

ADVISORY of Severe Gales for South West England valid from 0636 Thu 15 Jul to 2359 Thu 15 Jul

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The new Mercedes G-Wagon LAPV 6.X could well be the toughest car ever made. Unveiled at the Eurosatory defence event in Paris, an expo of military equipment and technology, Mercedes claims it is the 'ultimate go-anywhere vehicle'.

Built strictly for active military use, the car is has an unspecified diesel engine and is based on the standard G-Class 4x4.

It has a steel armour-plated body capable of withstanding landmines and bullet fire. At the same time, it can travel at speeds of up...

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Passage Road is down to one lane on the upwards slope of the mini dual carriageway.  This is on a few test routes.  No signs that the speed limit has droped, you'll need to get into the lane closest to the cental reservation.  It looks like new bus stops is the cause.



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The only way of reducing congestion on England's crowded road network is to implement a 'pay as you go' system.

That's the conclusion of a new report by the RAC Foundation, which calls for 'a fundamental shift in the way England's roads are managed and paid for'.

By 2025 traffic in England will have increased by 33 percent, which could cause gridlock unless the roads are managed differently.

At present there is no real link between the revenue generated by road users - around £47bn i...

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When you call DSA’s customer service centre, make sure you use the fast track service.

It’s really easy to use and it’ll save you time!

Call 0300 200 1122 and dial one of these options:

• all theory tests - dial 11
• practical car test enquiry and booking (including ADIs) - dial 25
• trainer booking LGVs only – dial 26
• trainer booking motorcycles only – dial 27 (after 8.15 am)

There’s no need to add a star (*) or (**) before you dial your fast track. The telephone ...

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A massive congratulations to Josie for passing her test yesterday first time at Southmead test centre with just 3 minors.  Well done Josie.

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Get the best performance out of your pupils by brushing up on your observer etiquette.

Your ‘observer on test’ etiquette could help or hinder your pupils.

Following enquiries from approved driving instructors and suggestions made by DSA examiners, some ‘dos and don’ts’ have been drawn up, just so we’re all clear. We hope the following are helpful…

Turn off your phone
Whether it’s Star Wars or Tom Jones, your pupil’s concentration...

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The Terrafugia Transition is about to become the world's first production flying car.

In development since 2006, the flying car was always hindered by American Federal Aviaton Administration (FAA) rules.

It was developed as a 'light sport' category aircraft, which means potential pilots need only register 20 hours flying time to legally take it to the skies. Full private flying licenses are very costly and time consuming to obtain.

But Terrafugia couldn't keep the weight under the 1,...

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The UK's most dangerous road is the A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton. That's according to a report by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF), a charity affiliated with car safety group Euro NCAP.

The road is so dangerous, says the RSF, because it has 'severe bends, steep falls from the carriageway and is edged by dry-stone walls or rock face for almost all of its length'.

The report, called Saving Lives for Less, looked at 28,000 miles of UK roads. It concludes that half of all fatal ac...

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Car clubs are set to benefit from an extra £40,000 of government funding, Transport Minister Norman Baker announced on 1 July.

The money will be used to support car club development in the UK.

Membership of car clubs allows access to low carbon vehicles for short periods of time, often by the hour, on a pay-as-you-go basis. The clubs have increased massively in popularity with the number of members increasing from just 22,000 in 2007 to more than 127,114 memb...

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Gordon Murray's eagerly anticipated T.25 city car has finally been unveiled in full. It makes its debut today (28 June 2010) at the Smith School's World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment in Oxford.

The city car is around half the weight of a MINI and smaller than a Smart Fortwo, but groundbreaking because it sits three people within that tiny space. Two passengers sit either side of the central driver.

Driver and passengers all get in via a front-hinged canopy incorporating the ...

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The age of austerity is officially upon us. So, if you're thinking about getting some new wheels it might be a good idea to drop the thought of that monthly new car payment and think a little more, well, austere.

Thankfully that doesn't mean you're destined for years of breakdowns and repair bills - or motoring boredom, necessarily. Here are the most reliable used cars for around £3,000.

Audi A3: 1999-2001
Based on the fourth generation Golf, the Audi A3 shares VW's renowned build qu...

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Time for some honesty: when you're looking for a new set of tyres, you buy the cheapest set you can 'get away with', right? Most drivers are savvy enough to know that dirt cheap tyres probably aren't worth the risk, but how many of us can honestly say we really consider much more than cost?

In 2012, when an EU law introduces a new tyre rating system, we'll all be forced to look more closely at the tyres we buy, for their strengths and weaknesses. In fact, the new standards that accomp...

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Transport and logistics isn't just for businesses directly involved in the transport sector. If you use transport in any part of your business - from providing company cars for employees to moving goods or produce or drawing up workplace travel plans – the transport and logistics theme will point you towards the information you need.

You can access us directly at businesslink.gov.uk/transport or find us in 'Your business sector' on businesslink.gov.uk.

Transport and logistics ...

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