Petrol sales at record low in March

PLUNGING PRICES at the pumps failed to prevent petrol sales dipping to their lowest figure on record in late winter this year. UK drivers bought 1.367 billion litres of petrol in March 2014, according to Government figures highlighted by the AA. This was the lowest recorded figure, with the previous low point being March 2013 - the coldest March for 50 years - when sales only reached 1.376 billion litres.

Aston Martin, AMG ink technical partnership deal

It's hard to remember that the VH-platform Aston Martins were pretty mind-bending when they came out. Since the sports-luxury marque was cut loose from Ford's stewardship six years ago, the British manufacturer has seemed a bit adrift, largely playing with variations on a theme, save for the rather radical One-77. It is, of course, a very pretty theme, but the basic design language begun with the DB9 is now a decade old.

Mazda Shinari concept car (2010) first official pictures

Mazda's new design direction is embodied in the new Shinari concept car. Modeled to announce to the world the new styling language of future Mazda road cars, the Shinari ushers in a new look to replace the somewhat tortured Nagare mantra that has fizzled into a damp squib on the sides of the latest Mazda 5 midi-MPV. The Shinari won't be shown at the 2010 Paris motor show (apparently it's being held back for a 2011 Geneva debut), yet this is a landmark concept for Mazda design, under the new leadership of chief design Ikuo Maeda.