London is the fourth most congested city in Europe and one of four UK cities in the top 59, according to research by TomTom.

The satnav manufacturer’s findings are based on years of research tracking road speeds, with more than 1.8 trillion speed measurements to date.

Sheffield, Leeds, Glasgow and Edinburgh also featured in the list, with the latter coming in fifth place.

The Belgian city of Brussels was deemed the worst for traffic, and Poland did not fare too well either, with two of its cities making up the rest of the top five.

A city’s traffic is defined as congested if drivers can only travel at 70 per cent or less of the posted speed limit, and only cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants were included.

Over winter, the UK’s longest cold snap for 30 years caused chaos on the roads, with a 50 mile queue building up on one road on January 6th.

Used car dealers are increasingly turning to the internet for accurate valuations, it has been claimed.

According to the publishers behind Glass’s Guides, printed valuation booklets are still a common sight in showrooms, but most dealers are using the net to get the latest prices.

The firm said that 90 per cent of all dealers in the UK rely on Glass’s data and the shift to the internet could be a growing trend.

"Ease of use and accuracy are critical factors driving this shift to web-based used car valuation, especially now that VRM-powered valuations are more readily available," said Vik Barodia, director of the dealer sector at Glass’s.

"Growing numbers of businesses are looking to access valuations and vehicle data via the internet," Barodia added.

According to a recent article in the Times, when it comes to buying a used car, consumers should carry out a number of simple checks including running the engine and checking the exhaust for smoke.

Motorists appear to be gearing up for a summer sizzler as British Car Auctions (BCA) revealed that 400 convertibles were sold at a recent specialist auction.

It was a complete sell-out, with all models on offer snapped up by willing buyers, many for higher prices than anticipated.

Ranging in value from £4,000 to £50,000, the array of drop tops included an Aston Martin DB9 V12 Volante, and a Porsche 911 3.8 Carrera Sport, which sold for £36,500.

Hundreds of buyers flocked to Blackbushe Auction Centre, while many dealers also logged on to BCA’s online bidding service, in total £4.6 million worth of vehicles was sold.

Tim Naylor, PR manager at BCA, said: "This sale seemed to suggest a good level of optimism amongst the trade and private buyers."

Yahoo.co.uk recently compiled a list of the top five cheap convertibles for summer, labeling the Smart Fortwo Pulse Cabriolet as Britain’s most inexpensive cabriolet, at just £10,665.

Warm weather can take its toll on cars, but the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has offered advice to drivers on how to look after theirs.

Peter Rodger, IAM chief examiner, said: "After a long winter of wear and tear through snow, salt and potholes – and now volcanic dust – your car will be in need of a little TLC. Being prepared for the summer and making checks now can save you a lot of money in the long run."

The motoring body suggested five helpful hints, starting with the advice to thoroughly clean the car as residual salt can corrode the bodywork.

With the UK pollen season starting season, a replacement pollen filter is described as "a vital investment," while servicing the air-con will also help along with improving the smell of the car.

Topping up the washer fluid was also on the list, as flies will soon become a problem for motorists, and old wipers blades should also be replaced as they can mark the windscreen.

The IAM is a charitable organisation which supports the raising of driving and riding standards and campaigns for increased on-road skills.

BMW’s first series-production electric-drive model will aim to create "new benchmarks" when it goes on sale in 2013.

The launch of its Megacity Vehicle was announced by Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, on Thursday (April 22nd).

Billed as "a zero-emission urban car for the world’s metropolitan regions", the Megacity will feature ultra-lightweight materials to optimise performance.

"With this innovative vehicle, designed from the ground up, we will be creating new benchmarks for electric mobility from 2013 on," said Mr Reithofer.

BMW has been conducting research into electric vehicles since mid-2009, when its Mini E models were involved in global field testing.

The German car manufacturer recently said it was on the lookout for 20 volunteers to lease out a Mini E as its trials continued, but participants had to live within a triangular geographical area between Andover, Oxford and West London and pay £330 per month for the lease.

Motorists on a tight budget can take advantage of some bargains left in the wake of the scrappage scheme.

Late 1990s cars are cropping up more frequently on the used car market, offering great deals to buyers looking to save money.

Independent motoring expert HonestJohn.com said: "Reports that late 1990s cars had all but disappeared due to the scrappage scheme seem to have been greatly exaggerated.

"You couldn’t move for late 1990s cars at the auction I went to on Monday and there were plenty of bargains to be had, which is great news for motorists who are on a tight budget but still want a decent set of wheels."

A Times Online article advised used car buyers to ensure they give any potential purchase a thorough examination before completing the deal.

Buyers should check the car inside and out, and definitely make sure to take it for a test drive as this can show up other potential problem areas.

Under-inflated tyres are costing European motorists four billion litres of fuel each year, What Car reports.

According to research by tyre manufacturer Bridgestone, 81 per cent of motorists across the continent are driving on under-inflated tyres.

The drag caused by tyres that are not properly inflated leads to fuel wastage on a huge scale, and the collective cost is a frightening £4.6 billion worth of fuel.

Over 52,000 cars were checked in 15 European Union countries as part of the research, with 26.5 per cent having wheels which were inflated well below the car manufacturer’s recommended pressures.

And there are other implications too, as low pressure tyres increase fuel consumption, the impact on the environment is also greater, with Bridgestone calculating the waste is equivalent to 9.3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Protyre recently advised motorists to regularly check their tyre pressures, especially before setting off on a long journey.

Car production increased for the fifth successive month as March saw a record rise of 90.2 per cent.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which show comparisons to the same period last year, revealed a sharp rise in production, while the home and export markets also increased markedly.

Output for the home market more than doubled, with 32,245 vehicles produced, taking the year-to-date total to 87,155.

Meanwhile, the production of engines rose 43.6 per cent, in line with the average growth for the year so far, which is 41.9 per cent.

Commercial vehicle output was also up by 61.6 per cent, with the home market in such vehicles seeing a huge rise of 149.3 per cent.

Paul Everitt, chief executive for SMMT, said: "Headline figures highlight the scale of challenges faced this time last year, but also demonstrate a steady improvement in demand in home and export markets."

The growing production of new cars has not stifled the used car market, with demand growing last month, according to British Car Auctions.

Cooper Avon has confirmed it is in talks with Formula One bosses over the possibility of supplying its tyres to the sport next season, Reuters reports.

The UK-based manufacturer is rumoured to have been the subject of an approach by the sport’s boss Bernie Ecclestone at the Chinese Grand Prix last Sunday (April 18th).

A spokesman for the company confirmed the talks in a statement: "As a major motorsport tyre manufacturer Cooper Tire, through its Avon Tyres Motorsport operation, has been approached to supply Formula One."

Formula One is on the lookout for a new supplier after Bridgestone announced it would not be extending its deal, bringing to an end 14 years of involvement with the sport.

French company Michelin is also in discussions to become a supplier for next season.

According to Xtrac, some car parts from Formula One cars could be applied to road vehicles to enhance their performance.

Motorists can now take directions from Billy Connolly as his voice now features on TomTom’s satnav systems.

The Scottish comedian has lent his inimitable voice to the devices and it is available to download now for those who want navigation tips from with a twist.

Anyone who downloads Billy’s voice will be greeted with the following message: "This really is Billy Connolly. It’s not the creepy guy you get on cheap birthday cards. It’s my real voice. No swearing, no dirty bits, I’ll keep you safe."

Over 40 million people own a TomTom, and Users will have to pay £8.99 for the pleasure of being guided by the Glaswegian’s brogue tones.

He joins a host of other famous voices available for download, including fellow comedian John Cleese, actor Burt Reynolds and former England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Carsite.co.uk rated the introduction of the satnav as the single most significant motoring moment of the last decade.