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VAT-free Alto offer extended

YOUNG car buyers have some early festive cheer to celebrate, with the announcement that Suzuki has extended its ‘VAT-free’ offer on the cute Alto city car model until the end of the year. The deal effectively takes £1,200 off the list price of the entry-level Alto SZ. That makes the five-door runabout just £5,999 to buy, and with a low deposit of £779 it can be driven away for £99 per month.

Royal College of Art and SABIC collaborate on new ‘VISIcON’ program and design competition

The Royal of Art and chemicals manufacturer SABIC has announced the launch of a three-month research program and competition called 'VISIcON'. Over 30 post-graduate students from the college's Vehicle Design program are studying and analyzing how SABIC's thermoplastic lighting materials and LEXAN polycarbonate (PC) glazing technologies can be used practically and creatively to improve the lighting and illumination of future vehicles. VISIcON asks students from the RCA's automotive students split into three groups: the Automark group's emphasis on developing and enhancing brand identity through lighting; Urban Flow's focus directed towards discovering innovative exterior lighting; and Inside Out studio is working on improving and extending the use of light in the vehicle interior through lighting components and PC glazing.

Toyota Prius Recall: 5,000 UK cars affected – 242,000 worldwide

5,000 2009 Toyota Prius (pictured) are being recalled Toyota has had a bit of a nightmare with recalls in recent years, and the news that they’re now having to recall 242,000 Prius models from 2009 worldwide is another financial, and logistical, problem for Toyota. But in truth, the recalls are about car makers now taking responsibility for faults in their cars which become apparent long after warranties have expired, and that’s no bad thing. The Prius models affected are those built between March 2009 and October 2009 (you can check if your car is affected here) and the UK has 4,947 cars on the road that need to be looked at by Toyota’s dealers.