THE Ford Focus is now even easier to drive with the addition to the range of an automatic version. The new electronic shift control automatic is on sale priced from £13,500.

Kon Tiki launch

Manufacturers of motor homes are ending the 20th century with the launch of new models at the Caravan and Outdoor Leisure Show at Earls Court, London, from Friday to December 1. Leading the pack is the new Swift Kon Tiki, which has a low-line chassis, a Fiat 2.8-litre turbo diesel and a motorhome makeover inside.

Special Vectra

A special black Vauxhall Vectra called the Design Edition is being launched. Only 1,000 of the cars, with champagne alloy wheels and estate model roof rails, beige leather interior and alloy sill plate, are to be built. They enter showrooms from mid-November with on-the-road prices starting at £19,300.

Diesel delight

The new Peugeot 607 - the world's first diesel car to be fitted with a special filter to eliminate exhaust pollution - has won the Environment prize in this year's annual Autocar magazine awards. The award went to PSA Peugeot CitroM- n Group for its success in developing the new filter system, which prevents any carbon particles left over from the diesel combustion process entering the atmosphere. The new 607 range of large, luxury cars will go on sale in Britain next June. The filter will also be fitted progressively to the rest of Peugeot's diesel line-up.

Safest in class

The Saab 900 has been rated as the safest car in its class for a fourth consecutive year by a major collision injury survey in the United States. The latest report from the Highway Loss Data Institute found the three/five-door Saab 900 to have an injury risk 36 per cent better than average among 30 different models in the 'mid-size saloon' class. The Saab 900 Convertible also tops the 'mid-size sportscar' category, with an injury rating 46 per cent better than average.

Story date: Wednesday 24 November

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