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180,000 'lied over motor insurance'

NEARLY 3,500 cases of motorists lying on their applications for insurance or deliberately leaving relevant information off them are being uncovered by insurers each week, new figures reveal. Some 180,675 attempts to make fraudulent applications for motor insurance as people tried to get cheaper cover than they were entitled to were detected last year, equating to around 3,475 incidents a week, according to data released by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). These claims were exposed as lies by the insurer either at the point when the person applied for a policy, or after they had obtained cover and had gone on to make a claim.

Mercedes’ AMG division unveils new twin-turbo V8

Those obsessed with torque bemoaned Mercedes’ high-revving 6.2-litre V8 when it was launched in 2005, but just as the world has come to accept the naturally aspirated engine, the company has now unveiled a new twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8. Up to 563bhp – which is the same as the SLS AMG – and 663lb ft, which is much more than the 479lb ft the modern-day Gullwing supercar manages. The engine is an all-new 5.5-litre V8 (5461cc to be exact) with direct-injection technology, an aluminium crankcase and two turbochargers.

Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival is full

Steve Earle, the granddaddy of vintage racing in America, has picked 375 historic race cars to fill the field at his Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, June 5-6 at Infineon Raceway in California's wine country. "The cars are the stars," said Earle. "And when they aren't racing, they are easily accessible in this area for the fans for that up-close and personal experience of inspecting engines, talking with owners or otherwise learning more about the sport and the restoration and maintenance of vintage cars." Earle said the event will continue the tradition of the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, which he founded 37 years ago.