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publication date: Apr 2, 2010
Daimler AG and Renault SA will announce by 14 April an alliance to develop engines, a shared platform for small cars and another shared platform for commercial vans, according to multiple media reports. The reports say the companies will seal the alliance by exchanging 3% equities. The engines and small-car platform will be developed under a program code named Project Edison. The platform will be used to carry next-generation versions of Daimler’s Smart ForTwo and ForFour city cars and Renault’s Twingo small car and Twizy two-seat electric city car. Daimler would contribute engineering, and Renault would produce the vehicles at its plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. A new task force to advise the Government on how to ensure small companies are treated fairly and properly when accessing bank finance has been launched by the Department for Business. Enterprise Champion Lord Sugar, outgoing Federation of Small Business chairman John Wright and former Lloyd’s TSB deputy chief executive Mike Fairey will comprise the task force. They will build on the work Lord Sugar has been doing with small businesses, Business Link’s Financial Intermediary Service (FIS) and the banks. The price of petrol and diesel has edged closer to a record high at the pumps following a one-penny rise in fuel duty which came in at midnight yesterday. The motoring body the AA is predicting petrol could hit a record average of 120p a litre in the next few days. The duty rise comes on top of a steady rise in the wholesale price of fuel, made worse by a weaker pound which makes imported fuel more expensive. Further fuel duty rises of 1p a litre are due this autumn and early next year. The VW Polo has been honoured as the 2010 World Car of the Year. With 59 of the top automotive journalists from around the globe judging, the Polo surpassed a total of 29 other nominees. New guidance to make sure that companies who dig up the road replace it properly - reducing the risk of potholes forming - was published today by Transport Minister Sadiq Khan. It is estimated that poorly replaced road surfaces mean there are around 90,000 remedial works each year, adding inconvenience to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Citroën has a new range of more affordable LCV finance options available for the second quarter. The new Citroën Contract Motoring (CCM) contract hire offers apply to all Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay LCVs ordered and registered in the period 1st April to 30th June 2010,with CCM contract hire rentals available from just £174 + VAT per month. smart fortwo enthusiasts can now put the power into flower power, fly the flag for the iconic brand and even give their car wings with the new smart art stickers. The new adhesive foil stickers comprise six striking motifs that enable owners to customise their smart with designs that include a classic black, white and blue racing pattern along with variations on flowers, skylines and even birds’ wings and stars. The stickers are available from all smart retailers and are priced at £182 (including VAT). The retailer can apply the stickers on request and fitting takes approximately one hour. Reports from Japan suggest next year’s Tokyo motor show will move to a new location in the city, the first move for over 20 years. It follows last year’s show which attracted only 610,000 visitors, half of those who went to the event in 2007. |
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