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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.

Crash scams warning to drivers

MOTORISTS have been urged to be on the look-out for criminals staging crashes with their vehicles to make money out of insurance claims. Experts said Bradford and Birmingham were the most likely places for innocent drivers to be caught up in "Crash for Cash" scams but Bolton, Manchester, London, Liverpool and Halifax are also hotspots, and staged accidents can happen anywhere and any time. The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) and Crimestoppers appealed for information on those making bogus claims, in a crime that collectively costs policyholders more than £390 million every year.

Is the V8 a dying breed? Auto engineers expect more turbos, smaller engines

The V8 engine, a symbol of power and prestige for more than a century, is looking more and more like an endangered species. A panel of powertrain experts speaking on Tuesday at the 2009 SAE World Congress painted a bleak picture for big engines in this era of tightening emission standards and volatile fuel prices. But smaller engines will not mean drivers have to give up performance.