ONE-STOP SHOP: Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has opened his first car showroom. Calling itself "the world's first vehicle department store", the Virgin Cars showroom puts various brands of cars, motorbikes and vans alongside each other on the forecourt.
Branson says that buyers, rather than having to trek from one dealer to another, can now compare similar vehicles on one site in Salford, Greater Manchester.
GETTING THE POINT: Over 80 per cent of drivers have altered their driving behaviour with the introduction of penalty points for speeding, according to a study by Lansdowne Market Research. The survey of over 600 motorists also found that younger drivers - the group where fatalities are highest - are more influenced by the new system than any other group.
BLACK OUT: Ford has turned Henry Ford's immortal phrase "any colour, as long as it's black" on its head. Its GloCar is a concept car that can turn any colour according to surroundings or the driver's preferences. It uses LED lights powered by fuel cell technology to change body panel colours, intensity and frequency. Ford claims safety benefits: over 60 per cent of accidents occur at junctions at night. If a car comes too close, GloCar's panels intensify, warning the driver to keep a distance. The rear panel also doubles up as a brake light, and the side panels as indicators.
MEGANE ALERT: Renault is recalling Meganes for a handbrake problem. On some models the cable is not fully releasing rear brake pads and over the long term this may cause excessive wear of the pads. Letters are being sent to Megane customers and they can call into their local Renault dealers at a time that suits them at no cost, where new cables will be fitted. Renault Ireland says it is not an urgent recall - while there have been problems in France, none have been recorded here.
MAZDA2 LAUNCH: Mazda has just launched its new 2 on the Irish market. Succeeding the Demio and 121, it comes with three engine versions. The entry-level 1.25-litre Comfort retailing at €15,540 ex works. Motors will road test the Mazda2 next week.
ROMAN CIRCUS: A Roman street racer, known in local slang as "Er Murena", the moray eel, for his speed and agility, has been arrested after ripping off drivers in his souped-up 500bhp Subaru Impreza. The driver - identified by La Repubblica only by his nickname - said he and two friends scanned city streets at night for Ferrari or Porsche drivers who looked "like they'd be played" into betting up to €5,000, or even their cars, in a race.
"The plan was simple," the 22-year-old told the paper. "I teased them, then I tried them - and nine times out of 10 the idiot walked straight into the trap." The man faces charges for hit-and-run driving, a series of traffic violations, inflicting injuries and failure to assist a person in danger.