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New car sales in UK still growing – up 14.8% April 2013. Driven by PPI Claims?

It is quite hard to fathom just how UK new car sales (well, registrations) continue to rise inexorably against a backdrop of otherwise stagnant economic activity, but they do. April 2013 has seen a total of 163,357 new car registrations, up a huge 14.8 per cent on April 2012 and the best figure since 2008, and these sales figures are not being driven by fleet buyers but by private motorists – private sector registrations grew by 32.3 per cent in April and are up by 15.2 per cent year to date. Not surprisingly, it’s the Superminis that are performing strongly – although all sectors are showing a rise – and it’s the Ford Fiesta that continues to be the best seller in the UK with sales of over 8,000 in April and over 42,000 so far in 2013, and the rise of superminis has also seen an increase in sales of petrol-engined cars thanks to the wave of small capacity, frugal petrol options.

Nissan prepares electric NV200 minivan

The commercial sector could be getting a jolt of electricity from Nissan in late 2013. The company is testing all-electric versions of the NV200 minivan with the aim of offering the vehicles in taxi and delivery van models. The NV200 runs the same powertrain as the Nissan Leaf.

Porsche shows off 911 RSR for World Endurance Championship

Porsche is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 911 this year with several events including the Retro Classics show in Stuttgart, Germany, an exhibit at the Porsche Museum and honored marque status at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Porsche also went racing with the new 911 RSR in the first event of the World Endurance Championship this weekend, and has posted a clip on its YouTube channel. The 991-based Porsche 911 RSR houses a 4.0-liter flat-six making 460 hp with a new six-speed sequential transmission with paddle shifters.