Cut-price Captiva....and more

New diesel SUV is the ace of base

Chevrolet has introduced a new entry-level diesel version of its Captiva SUV. The 2.0-litre VCDi LS is on sale now, priced £18,295. It comes with air-con, 16-inch alloys, roof rails and electric heated door mirrors. Power is sent to all four wheels via a five-speed manual box, and the car returns 38.7mpg and emits 195g/km of CO2.

DVT rise blamed on car pollution

Traffic fumes can increase your chances of developing deep vein thrombosis, claims the Harvard School of Public Health in the US. It says for every 10-microgramme increase per square metre in small particulates – emitted when burning fossil fuels – the risk of developing DVT goes up by 70 per cent. Dr Beverly Hunt of DVT charity Lifeblood said: “It’s exciting news, as air quality can be improved.”

Text service KOs used car fraud

Vehicle finance fraud is being stopped in its tracks – by a scheme that was designed for car traders. The Valuation Anywhere service, run by used prices expert CAP, lets dealers value a model via a mobile phone. It was adopted by the Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) in September, and police have since recovered nearly £3million worth of stolen or fraudulently obtained cars.

Risk to diabetic drivers dismissed

Diabetics may be disqualified from driving unfairly, new research shows. Type 1 sufferers who control blood sugar with insulin are legally obliged to inform the DVLA due to the risk of blackouts. But studies by the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, Devon, proved diabetics who take insulin are no more likely to have a road collision than people who don’t suffer from the condition.

Free tax offer on all Citroen

Buying a new Citroen has never been less taxing! Purchase any model in the Citroen range before the end of May, and the firm will pay a year’s worth of road tax for you. The offer covers the C1, C2 and C3 superminis, as well as the Grand C4 Picasso MPV and the recently launched C5 saloon.