Mega Mercedes....and more

03rd January 2008

Mega Mercedes AMG unleashed
For a £692 premium over a BMW M3 Coupé, hot saloon fans can get their hands on the Mercedes C63 AMG – it’s available to order now from £51,317. The car has a 450bhp 6.2-litre V8 which can propel it from 0-60mph in only 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed limited to 155mph. The C63 is also available as an estate for an extra £1,250.

January sale is on at Chevrolet
The New Year is the perfect time to shop for a bargain, especially if you’re a new car buyer. Chevrolet has knocked £2,120 off the list price of its Lacetti 1.6 SX family hatch, giving it a supermini tag of £8,995. The 1.2 S three-door Kalos gets a £1,700 cut to £5,995, while the range-topping 1.4 SX five-door now costs £7,995, after a £1,370 discount.

Fresh fears as chains dominate
Buyers looking for somewhere to shop for a new car will soon be limited to only a handful of franchise networks. That’s according to research in the UK Car Dealers Market Development Report. It says the industry is going the way of supermarket shopping, with 80 per cent of outlets being controlled by 20 per cent of dealer groups.
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Honda to raise hybrid stakes
One in 10 cars sold by Honda will be a hybrid by 2010. The Japanese maker claims two new petrol-electric models will help it meet this target. It’s planning a sports car based on the CR-Z study seen at last October’s Los Angeles Motor Show – which will make an appearance at Detroit this month – plus an ‘affordable’ addition to its green line-up.

Mobile users hit with jail threat
Motorists using mobile phones at the wheel could face jail, if new Crown Prosecution Service guidance is followed. It says the practice should be treated as dangerous driving – if the distraction leads to a drop in standards. This carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Until now, it’s been classified as careless driving. The highest penalty this incurs is a £5,000 fine.