Lexus Rx 300 Interior Roof Reading Light Rear Mk2 Xu30 2005 on 2040-parts.com

UK sales slide continues: 'worst market for 17 years'

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 06 October 2008 12:22 Britain's new car market is in deep trouble, official sales figures today confirm. September is historically one of the two biggest registration months of the year, as buyers rush to snap up the autumn's new number plate – yet sales were down by a fifth last month. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which collates sales data from dealers, called it 'stormy September', as new-car registrations plummeted by 21 percent from last year's figure to 330,295.

Lexus GS 300h: Shanghai Motor Show

Offering much better economy than the GS 450h, it offers not only a viable alternative for private buyers looking for a bit of beautifully built Japanese luxury with lower running costs, but also makes the GS a much more appealing option for company car drivers – probably where most of the sales will be made. Lexus are aiming for Co2 emissions below 110g/km for the GS 300h (the IS 300h manages 99g/km) which will give headline economy around 60mpg – a third better than the GS 450h can manage. Power comes from the same hybrid drivetrain as the IS 300h, which means a 2.5 litre petrol mated to an electric motor and delivering 215bhp and o-62mph in around 8.5 seconds.

Button wins in Istanbul

Jenson Button wins the Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul for Brawn GP Contrary to recent form, Button failed by a whisker to take pole position in Q3 qualifying yesterday, having to cede that to Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull. But second is still a good place to start, and Jenson signalled his intentions on the start line by sitting in his Brawn at a slight angle, looking for all the world as if he intended driving straight across Vettel from the start. That plan didn”t work, but it was Vettel and Button who pulled away from the pack at the start and, on turn nine, Vettel wilted under pressure, went wide and Button took the lead, to drive flawlessly to the end to claim 10 points and first place.