General News

New car sales plummeted 36.8 per cent year-on-year in November as the downturn affecting the UK's automotive industry shows no signs of abating.

James Foxall reviews BMW's M1 Homage prototype, Neil Lyndon tries out the Smart Fortwo ed, Jeremy Clarkson reveals why he gave the new Ford Fiesta five stars, and more from the weekend papers...

Chief executives from carmakers, suppliers and industry bodies have urged Lord Mandelson, the secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory reform, to extend government support to the beleaguered car sector.

The SMMT and the RMIF have joined forces to send a letter to the government outlining the impact of the current economic crisis on the UK's automotive industry.

The Bush administration has said a bailout for the US automotive industry should come out of the Department for Energy's funding for a programme to develop fuel-efficient vehicles.

Audi and Aston Martin get roadtested and James May ponders the future of the car - all this and more in our weekend papers round-up.

New car sales in Europe plummeted by 14.5 per cent year-on-year in October to record their sixth successive monthly fall.

Car dealer staff without specific vehicle allocation for their company car use are likely to see their related tax bills rise, according to the RMI.

The Ford Ka dominates the weekend's car reviews and Chris Evans gets behind the wheel of a Ferrari GTO - all this and more in our papers round-up.

The Bank of England has slashed interest rates to their lowest level in 53 years as it bids to revive the UK's flagging economy.