Before complaining about petrol prices, spare a thought for the British. The price of petrol reached one pound per litre in some parts of England last weekend. One British pound equates to approximately $2.37 (Australian), as at last weekend's conversion rate.

The price of fuel is beginning to change the car market in the UK. In August 2005, the UK diesel car market increased by 10.7 per cent, holding a 36.3 per cent share of the market. This marked increase may be attributed to rising fuel prices. However, overall new car volumes were down in August by 2.3 per cent. This drop is not as severe as the 6.6 per cent decrease seen in July. New car volumes stood at 83,066 units in August and SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited) forecasts that September will see 420,000 new cars registered. Year-to-August registrations dropped almost six per cent, to 1,554,828 units. Rising fuel prices may potentially offset any boost in consumer confidence, however the diesel market strength is clear. SMMT chief executive, Christopher Macgowan commented ‘In a weaker August new car market, diesel continued to star. As fuel prices soar, buyers are really switching on to its benefits and last month marked almost five consecutive years of diesel growth. Cheaper motoring and greater model choices are just two of its selling points; better fuel consumption is also helping to lower average carbon dioxide emissions from the tailpipe.’

2005 Peugeot 407 HDi

Peugeot Announces Le Mans Winning Ambition With HDi Diesel Technology
16th June, 2005
Automobiles Peugeot has announced its intentions to win at the famous Le Mans 24 Hours race, in a diesel powered vehicle featuring Peugeot HDi technology. The vehicle, to be developed in 2006 will also be equipped with a diesel particulate filter system ..... more

Audi Introduces the World's Most Powerful Diesel Car
23rd May, 2005
Audi has announced it will introduce the most powerful diesel-engined vehicle on the international market with the launch of the A8 4.2 TDI quattro with 240 kW and 650 Nm ..... more

New Diesels For Peugeot 307
18th May, 2005
The popular Peugeot 307 is now available with a new range of diesel engines, boasting the very latest in HDi engine technology ..... more

Vauxhall Astra Diesel
20th April, 2005
Will we see a diesel engine in the Holden Astra? ..... more

Peugeot 407 HDi Hits the Streets
12th April, 2005
The Peugeot 407 has certainly made an impact since its launch, with striking looks and an impressive 5-star safety rating. Complimented by benchmark equipment levels that rival much more expensive models, the 407 represents fantastic value for money. And its popularity is set to expand with the introduction of the new 407 HDi ..... more

Volkswagen Golf Diesel Line-up
6th March, 2005
Volkswagen launched the all-new Golf range with a choice of two turbo diesel engines, allowing Volkswagen to offer the most affordable diesel passenger vehicle in the Australian market to date ..... more

• Audi A6
• Peugeot 307 HDi
• Peugeot 407 HDi
• Volkswagen Golf TDI
• Volkswagen Touareg R5