Daily Archives: July 27, 2012

Wannabe singers: apply here.

If you’ve never quite made the cut for The X-Factor, here’s the next best thing: a contest to find the top in-car karaoke singer, aptly called the Caraoke Competition. The best entry, which is voted for by the public, wins a Fiat 500 car.

Car rental company Europcar is behind the challenge, and is encouraging the public to post their personal performances in their car on Facebook. The most entertaining performance, as voted by visitors to Europcar’s Facebook page, will win the popular city car.

Motorists ripped off through insurance claims

Allegations that motorists are paying excessive premiums following accident insurance claims is gaining momentum, following investigations by an online insurer. Analysis from Swiftcover.com and disclosed to The Daily Telegraph showed that a small number of credit hire firms – companies which buy owners’ details from insurance brokers, bodyshops and damage assessors among others, and then offer not-at-fault motorists hire cars and repairs following an accident – are responsible for inflated costs of up to £200?million a year.

The insurer says that an estimated third of credit hire agencies consistently overcharge for work with submitted bills that are ‘extravagantly inflated’, often by as much as 100% above the market rate.

Mazda reveals sneak peak of new 6

Mazda has revealed a sneak peak of its flagship model, the 6, which will debut the company’s new brake energy regeneration system. Set to be uncovered at the Moscow Motor Show next month, the Mazda6 saloon is the second model in Mazda’s new generation of products, after the CX-5, which has the full range of Skyactiv technology and also, what Mazda calls, its ‘Soul of Motion’ design language.

Third of cars on road are dodgy

Around a third of cars on the road have a hidden history, making second-hand purchases a minefield according to research. Following news that there are 31.4 million cars on UK roads, vehicle information expert HPI said that up to 10.4 million vehicles could have an unwanted or unknown history.

“Unscrupulous sellers use a variety of tricks to bump up the price of an older vehicle and hide a dodgy past”, warned Kristian Welch, HPI consumer director.

Liverpool FC gets Chevy sponsorship

It seems like only yesterday the football season finished, but with it starting again in less than a month, Chevrolet has made the timely announcement that it will become Liverpool Football Club’s official automotive partner for the next four years. The GM-owned brand’s partnership with Liverpool FC runs until the end of the 2015/16 Premier League and European campaigns and includes visibility for the brand at Anfield, Liverpool’s home ground, editorial opportunities within the club’s print and digital publications and fan sites and player appearances for commercial opportunities.