The good oil

PHANTOM FAUX PAS

Luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce made a grave mistake after it marked its return to India with the launch of the new Phantom - painted black. In India, the only black vehicles are funeral hearses. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has commissioned penmaker Conway Stewart to produce special writing sets for buyers of the limited-edition 80th anniversary Phantom. Each of the 216,950 cars comes with a set, comprising a fountain and ballpoint pen and propelling pencil. They are stored in a handcrafted leather and aluminium protective case, which fits into the glovebox.

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HIGH-TECH THIEVERY

Police in Britain are warning motorists not to leave expensive electrical equipment in cars, even if it's hidden out of sight in the boot. Thieves are using wireless technology to locate valuables without breaking in.Bluetooth software allows users to detect compatible mobile phones, laptops, pocket pcs and camcorders within a 50m radius.

The British insurance industry is also warning motorists to be aware of a new type of car scam. Kent claims expert Phil Swift said: "Fraudsters on main roads are flashing their headlights at drivers on side roads, instructing them to pull out - only to crash into them on purpose. The conman, who has right of way, then submits an injury claim."

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CLEANER PETROL ENGINES

Petrol engines will be cleaner and more economical in the future, says German component maker Bosch. It has developed an improved direct-injection system it plans to fit to new cars from 2006. A spokesman for the firm said: "By 2008, one in every five petrol models will use diesel-style direct-injection to make them more fuel efficient."

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A NEW WAY TO PAY

American carmaker Chevrolet has come up with a catchy phrase to lure buyers. It's a new payment plan called "three and easy." Buyers pay one third of the list price when ordering a new Chevvy, another after 12 months and the remainder two years later. Sounds better than the similar "third-a-third-a-third" arrangement here.

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WE ARE THE WORLD

An 80-year-old man from Kansas asked a judge to adjourn his reckless driving case - because it clashed with his honeymoon. The love-struck pensioner got a month's reprieve.

Hard-up Alabama resident Roger Hawes couldn't believe his luck when he took out a loan to buy a second-hand car. He won a new BMW in his bank's free prize draw.

British pensioners the Sharpe brothers auctioned off their collection of 200 classic cars following a spate of thefts from their museum in Essex.