Drivers can now check the availability and price of favourite personalised registrations through the Internet Web site www.dvla-som.co.uk. The new service comes in time for the release of 750,000 W-prefix Select Registrations which go on sale on January 10, 2000.

Impreza on track

The new RAC Trackstar security device, which combines GPS satellite tracking with a specially developed communicator, will be fitted as standard on the new Subaru Impreza P1, which was developed with Banbury motorsport firm Prodrive. Once activated, RAC Trackstar's central control immediately receives the vehicle's location and direction of travel and is then continuously tracked while police are called.

Engine advice

Drivers of Vauxhall classic cars can have their engines converted to run on unleaded petrol through the Vauxhall Heritage Service. If owners are worried about how to power cars like the Viva, Magnum, Ventora or Chevettes after December 31, call for details from Vauxhall Heritage Service manager Peter Blincow on 01582 426056.

Breakthroughs

Three General Motors products have received 1999 'Best of What's New' awards from Popular Science magazine. GM's full-size composite pickup box, the all-new Chevrolet Tahoe sport utility and the re-engineered and redesigned Cadillac DeVille received the award, which honours the world's most outstanding breakthrough products and technologies and recognises products that represent a significant step forward in their category.

Think City

Ford's first mass-produced battery-powered electric vehicle has gone on sale in Norway, badged as TH!NK City. The plastic-bodied, two-seater has been designed specially as a zero emission city use car. Ford plans to build 5,000 a year.

Story date: Wednesday 08 December

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.