2 M38a1 A1c Hydraulic Line Anti Rattle Spring 8330948 on 2040-parts.com

Crash driver ran up £95k hire bill

A TRAIN GUARD ran up car hire bills of more than £95,000 after his £8,000 Mercedes was written off in an accident, a court has heard Sameer Umerji, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, entered into a credit hire agreement with a car rental firm which ran for around 18 months, judges were told. Detail has emerged in a written ruling by the Court of Appeal - after Mr Umerji and insurers became embroiled in litigation. One appeal judge, Lord Justice Underhill, said the car hire sum was "remarkable" given the value of the Mercedes.

Mini Beachcomber concept

BMW's Mini division has revealed the Beachcomber concept, which is set to make its public debut at the NAIAS in Detroit early next year. Inspired by the Mini Moke from the 1960s, the four-seat Beachcomber concept features a removable hard and soft top and removable doors. Measuring less than four meters long, it is said to preview the forthcoming Mini SUV due in 2010.

2013 Rolls Royce Ghost updates

Three years on from the launch of a Rolls Royce for owner drivers – the RR Ghost – Rolls Royce has made some updates for 2013. Believe it or not, it’s three years since the Rolls Royce Ghost arrived at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show as a more ‘Sporty’ take on the RR ethos and aimed at owner-drivers; the sort of chap who’s outgrown big Mercedes and BMW but still likes to drive. Three years on from launch, we’re still waiting for RR to deliver a Ghost Coupe (perhaps the Corniche?) and a Ghost DHC, so when we saw an email from Rolls Royce with 2013 updates we got quite excited.