(1525a) 02 03 Kia Spectra 1.8l Mt Engine Computer Module 0 261 207 731 on 2040-parts.com

German new car sales drop 11 per cent – pre-reg accounts for 33.5 per cent

New car sales in Germany dropped by 11 per cent in September with pre-reg cars accounting for over a third of all sales. That drop of 11 per cent in Germany is despite deep discount offers – an average of 12.2 per cent in September – with even the previously invincible Mercedes and VW having to offer discounts of up to €3k, despite which VW’s sales fell by 20 per cent in Germany and Mercedes by 12 per cent. What’s perhaps most interesting about the decline in car sales in Germany is the number of pre-reg cars sold (pre reg cars are cars registered by dealers to hit sales targets and then sold at a discount of up to 25 per cent).

Bentley Bio-Fuel beckons

Bentley finds itself in this ludicrous position. Of course, the current credit problems play a big part in Bentley’s problems, either because buyers need finance to buy their cars or, more likely, the demonising of the sort of cars Bentley makes by the eco-mentalists makes them an uncomfortable buy. So Bentley has come up with a strategy to combat the ‘Planet Killing’ perception many have of its products – Bio-Fuels.

Stop-Start Freelander on the way

Land Rover has announced that it will be introducing stop-start technology on its Freelander range from May 2009, thus saving around 8% on the Co2 emissions, and taking the Freelander down a group on VED, which should help move a few more Freelanders off forecourts next year. The technology for the stop-start was developed in-house, with a new engine management system coming from Bosch and an uprated starter from Denso. The stop-start option will be available on the 2.2 TD4, which accounts for nearly half of UK sales.