Coming soon: A bigger, better autoweek.com

First, we want to thank all the readers who have helped make autoweek.com what it is today -- we've worked hard to ensure no nugget of cool car news falls through the cracks, and we've been rewarded by a 100 percent increase in visitors over the past two years. That said, we also know there's a lot about our site design that can be improved. Articles don't "pop" the way they should, the home page is far too busy, and our commenting system is…well, let's just say that anything relying on Facebook deserves a healthy dose of skepticism.

Fuel discount proposed for rural areas

MOTORISTS in exceptionally rural areas could see their fuel bills cut by up to 5p a litre under proposals aimed at easing the burden on the UK's remotest families. The UK Government has asked the European Commission to consider seven new regions across Scotland and in a part of north-east England. Chief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander, a Highlands MP, said: "High fuel prices in areas where cars are a necessity, not a luxury, is a major issue in rural communities across the UK.

Nissan offers interactive shopping for smartphone users on sales lots

Nissan is putting Quick Response codes on its vehicle price stickers so shoppers can use smartphones to read up on cars as they peruse dealership lots. With the "On Vehicle Graphics" system, QR codes are available to provide extra decision-making information that is easily accessible via popular mobile devices. The codes are available to act as a "silent salesperson," starting with vehicles for the 2012 model year.