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Alfa Romeo Giulietta Diesel: The middle child

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Diesel 138bhp Alfa Romeo seem to be doing much right – and much less wrong – than ever before. Yet they also seem to be floundering and struggling to make the volume of sales they need to be viable. Maybe buyers are still expecting Alfas to break before breakfast and disintegrate in to a mass of perforated panels inside the first year.

Lexus LS (EU version)

The fifth-generation Lexus LS is the latest full-size luxury sedan to wear the badge since Toyota's premium brand was introduced in 1989. It continues the model's gentle evolution, this latest version reflecting the brand's L-finesse design language.  This is best seen in its inverted trapezoidal 'spindle' grille and L-shaped DRLs. The EU model measures in at 5,090mm long – 30mm longer than the outgoing model – while the wheelbase remains 2,970mm in length. The front and rear overhangs have increased by 10 and 20mm respectively.

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.