Oyster Motorhomes offers you a unique Motorhome hire experience. Based in Bristol we provide the perfect location from which to start your Motorhome journey.

Whether you've hired before or off on your inaugural trip, hiring an Oyster motorhome will provide you with the flexibility and control to make your holiday exactly what you want it to be. Whether you want to see UK landmarks, experience stunning scenery or need mobile accommodation during a golfing holiday; our motorhomes will pro...

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The Accord is Honda's long-standing four-door saloon car. It's been around in various different guises since 1976 and the current version goes up against established saloons and family hatchbacks like the Ford Mondeo, the Vauxhall Insignia and the Mazda6.

The new Accord has undergone a few mid-life updates, but nothing too huge. The headlamps now have clear indicators rather than amber-coloured items and the tail lights are similar as they're now a consiste...

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Bentley has announced it will make 100 'ISR Mulliner' versions of the Continental Supersports Convertible, to mark the company's smashing of the ice speed record.

Finnish four-time rally champion Juha Kankkunen recently drove a Supersports Convertible at 205.48mph across the frozen Baltic Sea to break the record.

The remarkable drive eclipsed the record he set in 2007, hitting 199.83mph in a Continental GT.

The ISR Supersports Convertible is limited to 100 copies, priced at £189,300....

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A mother who allowed her 13-year-old daughter to driver her car, and was one of eight passengers inside when it crashed, has been banned from driving for 12 months.

The amazing case was heard by magistrates at a court in Swansea, south Wales. The mother, who is in her 30s, was also fined £300 and ordered to pay £85 costs.

Nobody was seriously injured in the crash, which happened in a Swansea car park, although one of the passengers suffered black eyes. Six of those in the five-seat...

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The stunning Renault Captur concept will see production as a junior alternative to the Range Rover Evoque, making it the French company's latest attempt to enter the premium market.

Its last try at mixing it up with the executive big boys ended in failure, with the Vel Satis and Avantime both falling well short of sales expectations before being dropped. Like the Captur, they too were eccentric crossovers.

However, although no official details have been announced, Renault is reportedl...

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Ford's global car strategy seems to be working, as the company has posted its highest first quarter profit for 13 years.

The Blue Oval has announced it made £1.54bn profit between January and March 2011, compared to £1.26bn during the same three months of 2010.

A significant proportion of the rise is attributed to growth in the North American market, says Ford, particularly because US buyers are shifting towards smaller, more economical cars.

Models like the new global Ford Focus and ...

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The Nissan Leaf has picked up the prestigious 2011 World Car of the Year (WCotY) award, which it adds to its existing European Car of the Year title.

The Leaf was the clear favourite, as it's considered to be the first truly practical and usable electric family car on the market.

The initial entry list comprised 39 cars, eventually whittled down to a shortlist of three by 66 expert judges. The Audi A8 and the BMW 5 Series were runners up.

In a statement, the juror panel said: "The Le...

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I'm a good driver; everyone else is bad. Sound familiar? Well, according to road safety charity Brake, that's exactly what most of the people on the road think.

A new study shows two drivers in three worry about being killed behind the wheel, while only one in a hundred believes they're less safe than the average driver. Almost everyone surveyed (98%) thinks they're a safer driver than average.

The results of another study suggest one-in-four is checking their Facebook (or other soci...
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From the outset the Audi A1 quattro doesn't appear too different from its smaller, less powerful siblings. The cabin is practically the same, as is the bodywork, but it is the stuff going on under the skin that is set to give this A1 the sort of attitude we would expect from a hot hatch. It is still the same refined supermini it ever was, only this time it's much more feral, straining at the leash, not wanting to conform.

The 2.0-litre petrol engine is the ...

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For us Europeans, the biennial Auto Shanghai show used to be a mere blip on the motoring calendar. However, with China now the biggest emerging car market in the world, it gets more relevant with each passing year.

That's demonstrated by this year's line-up, which features a handful of world debuts that would stop a major European show in its tracks - including a brand new VW Beetle. Here are the sexiest new arrivals showing some eastern promise.

Volkswagen Beetle

Why Shanghai?

Perhaps ...

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Research by a scientist from the University of Dundee has revealed that drivers are losing their natural sense of direction because they are too reliant on satnav systems.

Dr Rosamund Langston, a lecturer in behavioural neuroscience, said that growing use of the devices was creating a 'Hansel and Gretel generation' of drivers who would be completely lost without one.

She claims that drivers who keep one eye on the satnav screen rather than looking for familiar signs and reminders are...

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Japanese car maker Toyota has been forced to slash production in the UK after the devastating earthquake in its home country.

Essential parts manufactured in Japan are in seriously short supply, which is hindering car production across the globe.

From May 3, Toyota's factory in Bunaston, Derby, will operate for only three half days a week - one and a half days in total.

The plant will shut completely for two days a week and the reduction is expected to last until at least the end of May.

To...

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BMW's EfficientDynamics push continues apace with the Bavarian firm debuting a new Z4 powered by a TwinPower Turbo 2.0-litre engine at the New York Auto Show.

In a country where cylinders count that's a bold move, as the 2.0-litre unit only offers four, and will be replacing a six-cylinder engine.

The move is in the interests of the environment, with the sophisticated new engine using 'TwinPower Turbo' technology to produce more power than the six-cylinder engine it's replacing.

The ...

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Volvo has revealed its Concept Universe in Shanghai. While it might sound as if the Swedes have been pondering existence, or where and how it all began, the Concept Universe is actually a large luxury saloon design study.

Should it be built, it'd target the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series.

China is the perfect place to unveil such an ambitious concept, as Chinese consumers are less fickle about the status quo of the European premium brands.

This gives Volv...

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Economy cars? That's like economy washing machines, right? Dull. It doesn't need to be that way, with economy no longer the preserve of white good vehicles. Indeed, efficiency is becoming increasingly desirable, which means manufacturers are making appealing cars with low CO₂ emissions. And low CO₂ means reduced fuel consumption, so you'll be able to look good behind the wheel for longer.

We've rated 10 cracking looking eco-cars in terms of desirability, and ranked them by miles per ga...

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Motorists who keep cars on their driveways without insurance could have them clamped or towed away under new laws due to start in June.

The controversial new 'continuous insurance enforcement' powers are aimed at reducing the amount of uninsured drivers on the road.

The law makes it an offence for any person to keep an uninsured vehicle, even if it's kept on private land. Under current law, an uninsured car must be found on the road in order for action to be taken.

However, if the ow...

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High fuel prices have sparked a new fuel price war among supermarket forecourts, with Morrisons the latest to give drivers more reasons to fill up there.

From today (Monday 18 April) the supermarket will offer customers a 6p per litre discount at their pumps if they spend £40 or more on groceries.

The offer follows similar schemes from Sainsbury's and Co-op, who both beat Morrisons to the punch; Sainsbury's advertised 5p off per litre for shoppers spending £50 or more, although has...

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The new Volkswagen Beetle has been revealed at the Auto Shanghai motor show. It replaces a car unveiled back in 1998, making its lifecycle around twice the industry standard for a modern car.

Yet 1998's Beetle is still a whippersnapper compared to the original model, which was produced for an incredible 65 years, between 1938 and 2003. It began life as 'The People's Car', envisioned by Adolf Hitler.

Volkswagen has played it safe with the new version, as the styling is hardly a radical ...

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British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) driver Jason Plato survived a dramatic triple roll smash at Donington this weekend - then returned to race just two hours later.

Plato, who drives for the Chevrolet team in a Cruze touring car, had a torrid time during the second weekend of the 2011 BTCC calendar, yet came through to finish sixth in the third and final race.

The BTCC schedule sees three races take place on the Sunday of a race weekend, with qualifying on Saturday. Plato was for...

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Figures from the Home Office have revealed that the number of people caught speeding by fixed roadside cameras has hit a ten-year low.

The latest round of figures show that in 2009, 935,000 drivers were caught speeding by cameras - the first time the number has dropped below one million since 2001.

From 2001 the number caught by Gatso cameras steadily increased, peaking at over 1.8 million in 2005.

The drop is expected to continue, however, partly because the Government has stopped fun...

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A video uploaded to YouTube by a perplexed Chevrolet driver whose steering wheel fell off at speed has prompted the car company to recall the car.

The video, uploaded by a user with the name 'tHiSgUy3213', has been viewed over 130,000 times. In the description box, the driver explains that 'while driving this new 2011 Chevy Cruze at 65mph on Highway 12, the steering wheel fell off.'

It's lucky that the driver survived to make the video, as the car swerved as a result of the faulty ste...

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Lee Adams, a retired executive with an enviable collection of supercars including a Ferrari and a Mosler, had to call the police after getting locked in his Corvette.

The car in question, a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, is a 638bhp monster that can reach a maximum speed of 205mph.

Adams was victim to the Corvette's automatic locking system, which engaged when he got in. Unable to turn on the engine, Adams was trapped in a car he couldn't open.

Thankfully he had his mobile phone, he called 9...

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It's never pleasant telling someone you've crashed their car - but imagine telling dad you've just written off his £275,000 Gumpert Apollo.

That's what a 20-year-old German man has to do - after he was lucky to escape with his life.

The man, who has not been named, was driving his father's rare supercar when he lost control of it. A 19-year-old girl was with him in the passenger seat.

Amazingly, both escaped with only minor injuries, despite the car being a complete write off.

The dri...

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Pity the super rich and their huge luxury cars, and the trouble they have parking them. Step up MINI, which is offering 1,000 people ultimate luxury in a small car package - the MINI 'Inspired by Goodwood'.

That Goodwood name is significant, as it's where Rolls-Royce builds Phantoms and Ghosts for its exclusive clientele. MINI has tapped into Roll-Royce's design department to create a MINI like no other.

The interior of the Cooper S has been extensively re-finished in an Rolls-Royce ...

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Garages are intimidating places, no matter how much you know about cars. You're putting your prized motor at the mercy of a bloke who may be hardworking and reputable, or a ruthless rogue trader looking to rip you off.

If you're unlucky enough to encounter one of the rotten apples of the garage world, however, don't despair! Our handy and helpful step-by-step guide will give you the best chance of getting your car fixed without the hassle.

Step 1: Ask around

Word of mouth is always the ...

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Audi has pulled the covers off one of its most hotly anticipated new cars - the Q3. It's a compact SUV, slotting into the Audi SUV range below the hugely successful Q7 and Q5 models.

The Q3 will be a rival for BMW's X1, and like its Bavarian competitor the Audi will be offered in both two- and four-wheel drive forms. Three engines will be available initially, including two turbocharged petrol units with 170- and 211bhp, and a single 170bhp turbodiesel option.

Soon after launch a 140b...

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Renault's Chief Operating Officer Patrick Pélata has offered his resignation over the company's recent electric vehicle spying scandal.

An audit into the spying allegations - which were found to be untrue - resulted in an extraordinary meeting of the French firm's board, where Pélata resignation was accepted.

Second in command to Carlos Ghosn, Pélata had already offered to step down over the scandal, though his first offer was declined.

Despite his resignation Pélata will retain ...

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Ford has unveiled its newest fast Transit van at the commercial vehicle show in Birmingham.

The SuperSportVan is the latest in Ford's history of producing special, one-off Transits powered by silly engines.

This time Ford hasn't gone as daft as its previous efforts, leaving out the F1 and Le Mans sourced engines and instead going for a 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel.

The new SuperSportVan can't match the 650bhp of the 1995 version (which was powered by a 3.5-litre Cosworth V8 F1 e...

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Amazing footage of a driverless tractor causing havoc in a supermarket car park has emerged.

A video uploaded to YouTube shows the John Deere tractor circling a Walmart car park in Richmond Hill, Ontario in America.

The loose tractor smashes into two cars - a Suzuki SX4 and a Toyota Corolla - and the supermarket wall, while shocked onlookers stand and stare.

Police eventually arrive in squad cars, though before they're able to do anything, a man apparently wearing waterproof overalls jum...

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One of Britain's best selling and most iconic publications - the Highway Code - is 80 years-old today.

The first edition was published on 14 April 1931 in a bid to cut down on the number of accidents taking place on Britain's roads. Despite the fact there were just 2.3 million motor vehicles at the time, over 7,000 people were killed in road accidents that year.

The Highway Code quickly became the 'must read' publication for those using the road and is now recognised the world ove...

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The Government is considering changing MOT law, so that a car will only require the test once every two years.

Furthermore, the first MOT may not be needed until a car is four years old. Under current law, a car three years old requires its first test, then annually thereafter.

If the Government changes the rules, a ten-year-old car will have undergone only four MOT tests - half the number required by today's law.

It will, therefore, save drivers more than £200 over a decade of car own...

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Chevrolet was founded by a racing driver 100 years ago, so it's fitting that the company is marking its centenary with a special edition of the Corvette sports car.

The Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette comes with a one-off black exterior colour scheme called Carbon Flash Metallic. There are also satin-finish graphics and unique Centennial Satin Black alloy wheels, while red brake callipers are visible through the wheels.

Buyers can order the Centennial Edition in all of the Corvet...

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One of the most famous names in British car making is back as MG starts full-scale production once again. Although now owned by a Chinese firm, MG is committed to building cars at its historic Longbridge factory in Birmingham.

The first model to come off the production line will be the new MG6, a rival for the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. It will be ready at exactly 11am on Wednesday 13 April and then be delivered to the first customer for this all-new MG.

Much of the MG6 is sent fr...

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A test of premium fuels by What Car? has revealed that they aren't giving motorists the benefits claimed.

So-called 'superfuels' have a higher octane rating than regular fuel, and as such cost more per litre at the pumps.

The fuel companies claim that the added cost is outweighed by the efficiency and performance benefits they bring - with one company claiming its high octane fuel offers up to 25 percent more mileage.

However, the What Car? test found that although most of these fuels d...

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A new book by Ferrari documenting the company's history is being sold for a staggering £155,000.

The stunning price tag, which is £8,000 more than a Ferrari California costs, makes it the most expensive book on sale in the world.

Called the Official Ferrari Opus Enzo Diamante, it documents every Ferrari road car and professional driver that's ever worked for the company.

Only one will be sold per country, although wealthy Ferrari fans need not worry too much, because 'cheap' versions ...

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The Mercedes-Benz A-Class looks like it's going to get a whole lot more appealing if it stays true to the concept revealed today (April 6).

Mercedes-Benz is binning the unconventional and expensive dual-floored platform and MPV looks of the existing A-Class for a more familiar hatchback body.

The three-door Concept A-Class will be shown at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month, and, if these first pictures are anything to go by, it'll be a show stopper.

Taking Mercedes' most recen...

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Home maintenance isn't what it used to be. Us Brits are no longer renowned for breaking out the screwdriver when the wiring packs up, or taking a wrench to a leaking pipe - longer warranties, insurance policies and a general lack of knowledge mean that we give in all too easily and call in 'someone who knows what they're doing' rather than have a go at fixing it ourselves.

We're no different with our cars. No longer will we get out the spanners and have a go at repairing the thing our...

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Stolen car recovery company Tracker has revealed the most stolen cars of 2010, with the BMW X5 SUV topping the list for joy riders.

It's the second year in a row that BMW's 4x4 has headed the poll. In fact, the top four of 2010 is exactly as per the top four in 2009, with the Range Rover, BMW M3 and Audi RS4 taking second, third and fourth respectively.

However, despite the high price of those models, Tracker says that only six percent of the cars it recovered in 2010 were worth £50...

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ADI wanted to cover south Bristol for me.  I've been fully booked for a long time and have been turning work away.  I'm looking to take on an ADI who can cover the south of Bristol for me.  All new students will be yours, I have students to give you straight away.  Contact me if you're interested or have a look here for franchise details.
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UK tuner Project Kahn has turned its attention to the Porsche Panamera, unveiling the RS600.

More accustomed to tailoring bespoke Range Rovers, the Bradford based company has now dressed up Porsche's five-door 'family car'.

Based on the entry-level Panamera V6, the car costs £73,875. That's around £11,000 more than the donor car's price.

For that, Kahn overhauls the car from the inside out, with a custom leather interior featuring carbon trim.

It's the exterior that's designed to show w...

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The much-hyped baby Range Rover - the Evoque - will cost less than £30,000 when it goes on sale in September.

A four-wheel drive Evoque will be the first version on sale with a starting price of £28,705, but a two-wheel drive model will follow in 2012 with the lower price tag of £27,995.

Buyers will get the choice of three trim levels - Pure Prestige and Dynamic - along with three engines: a pair of 2.2-litre turbodiesels with 148bhp or 187bhp and a 2.0-litre 237bhp turbocharged pet...

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These are the first images of an extreme new supercar known as the Spada Codatronca Mona.

It will be officially launched at the prestigious Top Marques show in Monaco later this month, but the pictures were leaked prior to the car's official unveiling.

The Codatronca coupé is already in low-volume production, but this new Mona version offers the same blistering performance and Batmobile-style looks without a roof.

Power comes from a 7.0-litre, twin supercharged V8 engine from a Chevro...

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Chocolate might not be the obvious choice to help with weight loss - but Ford doesn't agree.

The company's boffins have created a new type of plastic inspired by Aero chocolate bars to help reduce the weight of its cars.

Known as MuCell plastic, the new components have been injected with microscopic air bubbles. This makes them 20 percent lighter without compromising strength or rigidity.

The lower a car's weight, the better its fuel economy, but Ford claims that the savings go beyond gre...

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This month we review the impact last April’s campaign has had on encouraging people to take an observer on test with them.

We also celebrate the Highway Code’s 80th anniversary and talk to an ADI about his commitment to teaching the deaf and hard of hearing.

Elsewhere, we report on a test bribery case and look at the tools available to help you benefit from CPD.

For this and more, see the links below.

There are three ways to read Despatch:

• view the interactive Flash vers...

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Find out when the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) customer service centre and driving test centres are open over the coming bank holidays.

• DSA opening hours - April and May bank holidays

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From 14 April 2011, DSA will no longer be accepting Maestro cards for test bookings and other payments.

If you’re registered with DSA as a business or trainer booker and your nominated payment card is a Maestro, you’ll need to change it to another card either:

• in writing to: DSA Business ID section, PO Box 280, Newcastle upon Tyne NE991FP
• by fax: 0300 200 1155

Theory test trainer bookers must log onto the online booking service and either delete or amend their nominated pay...

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Supermarket giant Tesco has launched a new website for second-hand car sales - Tescocars.com.

It's far from the only company to sell used vehicles online, but Tesco is the first supermarket to break into the motor trade.

The company claims that its website will offer cheaper than average cars because of lower overheads.

Tesco also reckons that buying online will make customers feel more comfortable without the hassle of a salesman.

The site itself includes detailed images and descriptions ...

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Ford has confirmed that it will build a full-fat hot hatchback version of its best-selling Fiesta with 180bhp.

The pocket rocket - labelled the Fiesta ST - is due on sale in 2012 and will feature a 1.6-litre EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine.

A six-speed manual gearbox and a series of suspension and styling upgrades are also expected.

The ST will go head-to-head with the likes of the Renaultsport Clio 200 and the SEAT Ibiza Cupra.

According to 'Autocar' magazine, the hot Fiesta has bee...

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ADI wanted to cover south Bristol for me.  I've been fully booked for a long time and have been turning work away.  I'm looking to take on an ADI who can cover the south of Bristol for me.  All new students will be yours, I have students to give you straight away.  Contact me if you're interested or have a look here for franchise details.

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Edward Stobart, the son and namesake of the founder of the Eddie Stobart haulage firm died yesterday (March 31) aged 56 following heart problems.

Edward (so-called to differentiate him from his father) was involved in the company for 30 years and helped to build it into the biggest and best-known independent haulage firm in the UK.

He retired from the firm in 2004, after selling it to his business partner Andrew Tinkler and his brother, William Stobart in 2004.

Eddie Stobart celebrate...

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The BMW M3 already has legions of fans because of its blend of versatility and supercar-like performance, but now its appeal has grown even wider.

That's because BMW has sensationally revealed two special editions: a high-performance pickup variant, and the very regal Royal Edition.

It's the second that will raise most eyebrows, with BMW jumping on the wedding fever bandwagon: the Royal Edition is built specifically to mark the occasion of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

It's avai...

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A lorry driver emerged miraculously unscathed when a woman ploughed into him - while driving in the wrong direction along a dual carriageway.

The terrifying accident was caught on the lorry's on-board camera. It shows a white Vauxhall Corsa emerging from a slip road in the wrong direction, before hitting the lorry head on.

The impact caused the lorry to tip onto its side, and tore the front end from the Corsa. Both drivers emerged with only minor injuries.

The accident happened on the...

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Ford's Fiesta supermini has overtaken the Vauxhall Corsa to become the UK's favourite used car.

Almost 300,000 second-hand Fiestas were sold in 2010. By comparison, Ford sold just under 84,000 new Fiestas in the same year. That made it the biggest new seller, too.

Used car sales were down overall in 2010, with a significant drop in Corsa sales putting it in second place.

Around 13,000 fewer Corsas were sold in 2010 than in 2009, wheras the Fiesta saw a drop of under 4,000 sales.

The figu...

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There's a palpable sense of anticipation in the mini-bus as we pull into the car park of the Lamborghini factory in Sant'Agata in Italy (not far from Bologna). Just before we turned off the road a lightly disguised prototype of the car we're here to see whipped past us, causing the bus to lurch as everyone moved to one side to get a better view.

This visit to Lamborghini came just a few days before the Geneva Motor Show, where the replacement for the mighty Murcielago supercar was the...

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Porsche has unveiled one of the fastest family cars ever made: the Panamera Turbo S.

The range topping five-door, which goes on sale in June for £123,000, is quicker than the stripped out Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

It uses the same 4.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine as the Panamera Turbo, but it's tuned to produce 542bhp - up from 493bhp.

That gives it a startling 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds and a 191mph top speed, making it quicker than the Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG and Aston Martin Rapide.

Its thum...

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The business plan for 2011-12 is now available on the DSA website.

This plan sets out the measures, outcomes, and key programmes that the Driving Standards Agency aims to deliver during 2011-12. We want to show how our work will continue to improve road safety both for drivers and riders, and fit into the Department for Transport’s vision of our roads becoming safer, less congested and less polluted.

Click here to view the business plan

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Looking to get one or two ADIs on board to take students ASAP.  Im turning people away almost daily.  Each time the phones rings that student is yours!  Check here for more details.

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Car buyers in the Middle East can now get their hands on the ultimate 'budget' supercar: the Nissan GT-R VVIP. Its grille is surrounded in 24-carat gold.

The standard Nissan GT-R can be considered cheap alongside similarly performing rivals like the Ferrari 458 Italia and Lamborghini Gallardo - but this version redresses the cost balance.

That's because Nissan is charging 790,000 UAE Dirhams for the car, which is 340,000 more than the standard car costs in the Middle East. Converted ...

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