News in Brief

30th January 2008

Price increase for Brit Motor Show
Entry to this year’s British Motor Show (23 Jul-3 Aug) will cost £10 for adults – a £2 increase over the 2006 price. However, organisers claim the event will be better value, as there will be more debuts and activities.

And showgoers who book in February can save cash by taking advantage of an introductory ‘buy-two-get-one-free’ offer. Other prices include £6 for a child, £25 for a family (two adults and two children) and £25 for a VIP pass to the 23 July preview day. For more information, see the britishmotorshow.co.uk website.

Car share habit is catching on?
It seems sharing is caring when it comes to the environment. New Department for Transport research found two-thirds of people quizzed in a survey on car sharing had participated in some form of it in the past month.

Half said they did so at least once a week. However, only one per cent claimed they were a member of a lift sharing scheme organised by their employer. This is despite the fact the DfT has been promoting communal travel plans through its National Business Travel Network since last year.

Caddy loader lands in the UK
This is Cadillac’s first-ever estate, and it’s just gone on sale in the UK. The BLS Wagon is based on the Saab 9-3 Sportwagon, and there are high hopes within General Motors for the practical Caddy – it’s expected to account for 50 per cent of BLS sales here.

Six turbocharged engines are offered: two diesels and four petrol units, with outputs ranging from 148bhp to 251bhp. Prices start from £21,495 for the 173bhp petrol and 148bhp diesel versions.