A UK-designed concept car, the MG Zero, has been unveiled by the Chinese-owned manufacturer at the Beijing Motor Show.

The MG supermini, the real version of which will be called the MG3, was developed by the MG Global Design team, headed up by Brit Anthony Williams-Kenny, who is the company’s design director, based in Birmingham.

Aimed at attracting the broadest audience possible, the four-metre long vehicle is a statement of intent from MG, which sees the car as a preview of its overall design direction.

With a chic interior consisting of clean, simple lines and boasting dashes of colour, the MG3 will also feature enhanced connectivity through Bluetooth and is expected to go on sale in the UK in 2011.

MG is best known for its two-seat open sports cars, but the brand is now looking to extend its scope and the MG3 looks set to play a big role in that.

Ford’s Fiesta range is undergoing a revamp which will see all newly-ordered models come complete with Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) as standard.

Safety, technology and powertrain upgrades are being added to the already popular range, which tops the UK sales charts.

The move brings the Fiesta in line with the manufacturer’s large and medium care line-ups, it also represents a good deal for buyers as ESP previously cost roughly £300.

Additionally, the Studio series will come with heated door mirrors and, remote steering-mounted controls and two extra speakers.

At the top end of the range, the Titanium models now come with Bluetooth and USB connection, worth around £200, as standard.

There are also improvements in CO2 emissions in all three of the engine choices, with the 1.6-litre 95PS the most efficient at 107g, but the biggest drop is in the 1.6-litre Ti-VCT 120PS, which has dropped from 139g to 134g.

Ford recently unveiled its S1600 model, a limited edition released based on the Zetec-S.

Cars are the top target of aggrieved spouses looking for revenge on a cheating lover, according to a new survey by Autoglass.

The windscreen repair specialist polled 3,000 people and found that women were more likely than men to get even with a cheating partner, while ten per cent admitted they would target their man’s car.

But when it comes to how far they would go for payback, it depends on age. While the majority of 19 to 21-year-olds said they would just damage the paintwork of a car, the older generations said they would go a bit further.

Twenty-two to 25-year-olds are more likely to smash the windscreen in order to make their point, while 31 to 35-year-olds are more open to the idea of selling their spouse’s pride and joy on ebay for a few pence.

Nigel Doggett, managing director of Autoglass, said: "In the UK most people won’t turn the other cheek when it comes to infidelity and as the car seems to be one of the prime targets for getting even, this poll should serve as a warning to anyone thinking of straying."

Research by RoadSafe showed that women are safer on the roads and less likely to take risks when driving.

Saab has announced the dates for its biennial festival, which attracts thousands of motoring enthusiasts from across the globe.

The Swedish town of Trollhattan, Saab’s home, will play host to the four-day event, which runs from July 15-18th, and is the first since Saab became an independent company earlier this year.

As part of the gathering, which will be based around the Saab Car Museum, the manufacturer will launch its 9-5 saloon model, which costs £26,495.

There will also be factory tours, parades, presentations and a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the Saab 96.

"This year’s event has special significance as it comes at the start of a new era in our company’s history," said Saab Automobile chief executive officer Jan Ake Jonsson.

"Many Saab fans around the world demonstrated great support for Saab during the sale negotiations and we are delighted to take this opportunity of showing our appreciation."

The 9-5 saloon comes with adaptive headlights, a head-up information display, keyless entry and starting, dynamic parking assistance, dual-zone climate control and an adaptive chassis with damping control.

Vauxhall’s first foray into the electric car market reached an important milestone last Friday (April 23nd), when the first of its Ampera models rolled off the pre-production line.

It means the car manufacturer is on course to bring the eco-friendly vehicle, which can travel 40 miles purely on battery power, to the European market by 2012.

"We’re right on target for producing the Ampera for European markets later next year," said Andrew Farah, vehicle chief engineer for Ampera. "There’s still work to be done, but being able to drive an Ampera off our pre-production line is a great accomplishment for the teams here and in Europe."

In the coming months, more pre-production vehicles will undergo testing before the final, fine-tuned version goes into production.

ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, revealed in its latest annual tax guide that an increasing number of European Union member states are now offering incentives to owners and buyers of electric vehicles.

Motorists in the north are the most likely to fall victim to a staged accident, according to Direct Line.

The insurer conducted research into accidents which are caused intentionally by fraudsters looking for a payout or compensation, the Telegraph reports.

Every year the vehicle insurance industry pays out £350 million on fraudulent claims, leaving innocent motorist to pay an average of £44 in additional premiums, the news provider revealed.

Centenary Way in Trafford Park, Greater Manchester, was said to be the worst location for staged accidents, with other hotpots for such activity appearing at junction five of the M65 in Lancashire, and on Cavalry Way in Burnley.

Although they occur less frequently in the south, staged accidents were relatively commonplace on the Denham roundabout on the M40 in Buckinghamshire, with another roundabout in Hemel Hempstead not far behind.

When it comes to genuine accidents, a survey by GEM Motoring Assist found that 50 per cent of drivers had experienced a crash or near-miss after swerving to avoid a pothole.

A UK company is claiming to have launched the world’s first road-legal golf buggy, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Oldham firm ePower Trucks revealed its Emerge model, "a low-cost and environmentally-friendly alternative for anyone looking for a second car", the news provider said.

It is available with either two or four seats, and was designed by a company in Augusta, Georgia, the venue for the US Open.

Jerry Hanss, ePower Trucks’ managing director, stated that the buggy had been modified in order to conform with European road safety laws.

"These buggies were originally created for gated communities in places like California or Florida, where they drive straight to the golf club," said Mr Hanss.

Costing just 4p a mile to run, the vehicle also qualifies for a free tax disk and comes with its own on-board charger, which plugs directly into the mains, the newspaper added.

Toyota Motor Europe’s managing director, Graham Smith, said recently that hybrid cars, which can run on electric power or petrol, should be the future of motoring, according to TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk.

An increasing number of European Union (EU) member states are turning to CO2-based taxation or incentives for electric vehicles, according to ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Assocation.

The ACEA’s annual tax guide reveals that 17 EU member states are presently levying CO2-related taxes on passenger cars, while 15 governments provide tax incentives for electirc and ultra-low carbon vehicles.

Incentives for electically chargeable vehicles are now applied in all western European countries, with the exceptions of Italy and Luxembourg.

Motorists who own such vehicles see receive benefits in the form of tax reductions and exemptions, as well as bonus payments and savings on the cost of buying the cars in the first place.

In a statement, the association said: "Tax measures are an important tool in shaping consumer demand towards fuel-efficient cars and help create a market for breakthrough technologies."

The Energy Technologies Institute launched a £4.5 million research programme in March to identify the economic, technical and cultural barriers that the electric car industry could face.

Mitsubishi has revealed details of an improved Outlander crossover, with a range of new features on offer.

The new Outlander range includes an overhauled exterior, complete with a jet-fighter grille, a new skid plate and chrome bezels for the front fog lamps.

A twin-clutch SST transmission makes the car more environmentally friendly, while the electric time and alarm control system has been upgraded and the braking efficiency is greatly improved.

The first available derivative of the new range will be the Juro Special Edition, set to go on sale from July 1st.

Offering a 2.2 diesel engine and a choice of manual or SST auto transmissions, the Juro also comes with leather seats as standard and newly-designed 18 inch alloys for a price of £25,999.

In March this year, the Japanese car manufacturer announced the pricing and specifications of its firs electric model, the i-MiEV, which, it said, would be extremely inexpensive to run. They will cost £33,699.

Ford has unveiled a limited edition model based on its popular Fiesta Zetec-S.

Only 650 of the new Fiesta S1600 cars are available, and they come with a standard specification that includes alloy pedals, heated leather sports seats and a choice of engines.

The sporty model boasts a unique front bumper with flared lower valence panel, extended side skirts, large rear spoiler and allow wheels.

Available with a 1.6-litre, DuratecTI-VCT engine or enhanced 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine, the model also comes with side airbags, motorsport-branded floor mats and costs £16,655.

Gill Palmer, Ford of Britain’s Fiesta product manager, said: "Since its introduction, Fiesta and sporting pedigree have never been far apart and the latest incarnation of that is S1600, bringing extra motorsport feel to the award-winning Fiesta style and driving quality."

The Ford Fiesta is Europe’s best-selling car in 2010 so far, with a total of 140,496 sold, according to figures from JATO Dynamics.