A new survey from insurers...
A new survey from insurers elephant.co.uk shows that over a third of all drivers have used their phone while driving, with those in the North East of England the worst offenders - more than half of all drivers there admit to it.
The 500 is heading off...
The 500 is heading off the beaten track! Fiat is planning a 4x4 version of its retro city car, based on the upcoming estate, Auto Express has learned.
Itò€™s no secret that the Italian firm is to offer a roomier variant of its supermini ò€“ likely to be called the 500 Giardiniera. But the introduction of a model with go-anywhere all-wheel drive is the big revelation.
It will be based on a longer version of the standard 500ò€™s underpinnings, itself shared with Fiatò€™s Panda. The five-door mini SUV will also make use of the Panda 4x4ò€™s running gear, reducing development costs and the time it takes for the car to reach showrooms. The extended roofline increases headroom in the rear and frees up more luggage space.
With all the attention on Fiatò€™s part acquisition of Chrysler and its interest in GMò€™s European arm, itò€™s easy to forget the firm still has its own products to worry about. But this car will take the fight to the 500ò€™s main rival, the MINI, on two fronts. The stretched body will help it compete with the Clubman, while the rugged 4x4 styling and all-wheel-drive set-up could see it steal sales from the forthcoming Crossman.