News in Brief

26th October 2007

New 308 diesel slashes tax bills
Peugeot has launched a new tax-busting 308 diesel. Body tweaks and low-rolling-resistance tyres see it emit only 120g/km of CO2 – so it sits in the £35-a-year tax band B. The 308 HDi 90 will also be exempt from London’s Congestion Charge under changes due in February. It’s on sale now, from £12,595.

Work starts on jam-busting lane
building is underway on the UK’s first-ever High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) motorway lane. The 1.7-mile stretch in West Yorkshire links the southbound M606 near Bradford to the eastbound M62 towards Leeds. It opens in the spring, and lets drivers with passengers bypass traffic jams, cutting journey times by 10 minutes. The project is costing £3.95million.

Fraud epidemic in insurance claims
One in four car insurance claims is fraudulent, says the Association
of British Insurers (ABI) – and 85 per cent of these involve drivers claiming more money than was lost. Each day, cover providers spot £500,000 worth of fraud. But the ABI estimates that £400,000 still slips through the net. The result is an average £40 hike on premiums.

Beat the cold with a Masterfit check
Is your car fit for winter? It will be if you visit a Vauxhall Masterfit Centre. For £35, the firm’s Winter Check covers vital components such as electrics, brakes, tyres, plus a full fluid top-up. Customers also get a free car care kit, comprising anti-freeze, a chamois and an ice scraper.