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Beijing motor show: China means (auto) business

By Guy Bird Motor Shows 22 April 2008 05:34 Only a fool wandering around this week's Beijing motor show would still dismiss China as some also-ran automotive market full of rip-off designs and outdated ‘new’ cars based on old Western designs. While all of those clichés were still in evidence at the Chinese auto show, the copycat mentality is much less obvious than even a year ago at last year's Shanghai show. And every western car exec CAR spoke to was in awe of the upward sales trajectory that means China is still the place to do business in 2008.Yes, there are still some odd automotive fish, usually small ‘three-box’ saloon in shape such as the Chinese market only Citroen C-Elysee and the VW Lavida (a Jetta/Bora Plus car with less style).

McLaren P1 caught on video

We have video of the new McLaren P1 – suitably camouflaged – out testing in Spain as McLaren fettles its Ferrari F70 basher. That was borne out when we had photos of the McLaren P1 shot in Norfolk a week or two ago as the P1 visited one of McLaren’s suppliers on an industrial estate in Diss. Now we get the P1 on the move on video.

Parking fines hit £30 per month

BRITISH motorists pay more than £30 million each month in parking fines, figures suggest. More tickets are being issued this year by councils than last year and there has been a 13% rise in fines issued on a Sunday, according to data obtained by LV=. The car insurer calculated councils have handed out more than 890,000 parking fines per month in 2013 - a 4% increase on 2012 figures - and, based on an average amount of £42 per ticket and excluding any successful appeals, drivers are now paying in excess of £30 million each month.