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Used car sales return to pre-recession levels

As the UK’s buoyant new car sales figures continue to buck the European trend, it was only a matter of time before this had a positive knock-on effect on sales of used cars. Now, according to figures released in the latest BCA Used Car Market Report, used car sales hit 7.1 million last year, outpacing new car sales by 6.4% and, even more crucially, returning to pre-recession levels. Best used car buys for 2013 On Bing: see pictures of used cars In fact, a record £38.1 billion worth of used cars were sold in 2012, £5.8 billion more than was spent on new cars.

Porsche 911 50 Years Edition (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

Here’s the inevitable special edition 911 to celebrate Porsche’s rear-engined icon’s half-century. The 911 50 Years Edition uses the Carrera 4’s 44mm-wider-than-standard body, rear-wheel drive and the Carrera S’s 395bhp 3.8-litre flat-six engine in either seven-speed manual or PDK form. In a nod to the 911’s birth year, only 1963 examples will be produced, each costing a cool £92,587 – a £10k premium over the Carrera S.

Pontiac G8: A bit of hope?

There could be a slight glimmer of hope for the Pontiac G8 to live on in some rebadged form. “I know there's still discussions on it,” General Motors' product czar Tom Stephens said in Automotive News. “But Chevrolet already has several sedans.