Autoesque

The first Japanese car imported into the UK was the Daihatsu Compagno back in 1966. But now the manufacturer has announced it is to give up selling vehicles in Europe altogether. A notice posted on the Daihatsu UK web site reads: “It was announced on 13th January 2011 that sales of Daihatsu motor cars will cease across Europe on 31st January 2013. This is due to the ongoing strength of the Japanese Yen, which has increased prices beyond competitive levels. There is no stock of new Daihatsu cars in the UK, and we do not expect to import any new cars in this interim period. “However, we wish to reassure Daihatsu owners that all after sales services will continue unaffected. Therefore, the supply of spare parts will continue, and warranty work and servicing will be carried out at our official UK dealer network, which remains in place and whose details can be found on this website. “We thank Daihatsu customers for their past custom and loyalty, and share their disappointment at t...

With the increase in the rate of UK Value Added Tax from 17.5% to 20% on 4th January, the media has been trying to paint a picture of doom and gloom for the car industry. But for anyone still looking to buy a brand new car without paying lots of extra tax, these are the ten cheapest model ranges currently available in the UK. Of course, for the same money, there will probably be plenty of better used cars available... 1. Chevrolet Spark £7,215 - £10,485 Modern with distinctive looks, the Spark benefits from the Chevrolet 5 Year Promise which includes warranty, servicing, roadside assistance, annual vehicle checks and MOT warranty for - no prizes for guessing - five years. On the downside, the basic £7,215 Spark does without niceties such as central locking and air conditioning. There’s no radio either, and the windows have to be wound up and down manually. 2. Nissan Pixo £7,350 - £9,450 The Pixo is essentially a re-badged Suzuki Alto, and is built alongside it in India by M...