Mercury Sportjet 120 1995 Plate Adapter 820242 1 820242c G on 2040-parts.com

First of five free Suzuki S-Crosses collected

SUZUKI has come over all charitable with the news that it has given away the first of its free S-Cross models that are up for grabs. Entrants to the competition had to nominate someone they knew to receive a free S-Cross car – and well-equipped models, too – with a brief explanation of why the nominee deserved it. The first to pick up their free new 14-plate crossover were a ‘very surprised’ Phillip Southward and wife Sue, who collected their SZ4-spec S-Cross at Suzuki’s RRG dealership in Stockport.

Audi plays paintball with RS4 Avants

The latest generation of cars from Ingolstadt has finally mitigated the nose-heavy feeling we didn't enjoy in previous automobiles from the company. Now they've mitigated the lack of paintball guns, adding them to a pair of RS4 Avants -- done up in Spy-vs.-Spy black and white, natch -- and setting them loose in a hangar, framing the whole shebang with a smidge of Super Nintendo-vintage video-gaminess. Still no dice on getting one in the states, though.

Vauxhall Ampera is 2012 European Car of the Year

The Opel/Vauxhall Ampera has been crowned European Car of the Year for 2012. The winner was announced today at a ceremony at the 2012 Geneva motor show. The votes of the 59 jurors from 23 European countries ranked the Ampera first, from a shortlist comprising Citroen DS5, Fiat Panda, Ford Focus, Opel/Vauxhall Ampera/Chevrolet Volt, Range Rover Evoque, Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Up.