AN "INDEPENDENT" pensioner and former secretary to a Rolls-Royce managing director died after riding her mobility scooter into a road and colliding with a lorry.

Jean Baker's son, Alan, told her inquest that having a scooter "put 10 years on her life" as it enabled her to go out and enjoy retirement.

But as she rode it to the shops on December 7 last year, the bright and low sun "is likely to have accounted for" her pulling out into the street and under the wheels of an HGV that was delivering components to the firm that used to employ her.

Mrs Baker, who was 88 and lived in Sinfin Moor Lane, was thrown off her scooter and on to the pavement where she sustained head injuries.

She died at the Royal Derby Hospital the following day.

Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court heard how Mrs Baker was a retired former secretary to former Rolls-Royce managing director Trevor Salt.

Giving evidence, son Alan said: "She was a very independent person who lived on her own and unless she asked you for help she would refuse it. If she had not had that scooter I think she would have died 10 years ago as it meant she could go out and socialise.

"It might have contributed to her death but I think it gave her that extra 10 years of life."

Mrs Baker's inquest heard how she was riding her scooter on the A514 Swarkestone Road, in Chellaston, from the butchers to the Co-operative supermarket at 10.20am on December 7.

Eyewitness Martin Thompson said traffic was only travelling at between 12mph and 18mph.

He said he noticed Mrs Baker riding her scooter on the pavement when she suddenly "seemed to accelerate" into the road.

Deputy Coroner Louise Pinder heard how the Romanian driver of the lorry, which was registered to a Spanish firm, did not realise there had been a collision until he arrived at Rolls-Royce, in Sinfin.

PC Ian Phillips, a senior police collision investigator, concluded that the impact was such that the driver would have been unaware it had happened.

Miss Pinder returned a verdict of accidental death.

Summing up, she said: "The extremely bright and low sun is likely to have accounted" for Mrs Baker riding into the road.

THE sister and brother-in-law of Paul Mosley have backed a remembrance day for the six Philpott children he was convicted of killing.

Angela Mosley and Andy Lyons said they would work alongside the charity Catch Me When I Fall on the fund-raiser, which is due to take place on the anniversary of the deaths.

The couple, from Spondon, said it would be a chance to "give something back to the community" which rallied around in the aftermath of the Victory Road tragedy last year

Yesterday the Derby Telegraph revealed how Catch Me When I Fall – which was set up last year in memory of the children – hopes to make an annual event of the fun day, which will take place on Saturday, May 11 on Osmaston Park.

In a joint statement, Andy and Angela said: "Several members of the extended family alongside the charity are organising this fun, charity day to commemorate the six children who sadly lost their lives on that tragic night and to raise money for the charity which was set up in the aftermath of the fire.

"Catch Me When I Fall is a charity whose sole aim is to help under privileged children in the local community.

"We would like to give something back to the people of Derbyshire for their help and support over the last traumatic year."

Angela and Andy went to every day of the seven-week trial at Nottingham, Crown Court which concluded with three guilty verdicts for Mosley, of Cecil Street, Derby, and Mick and Mairead Philpott, the children's parents.

Jade Philpott, 10, and her brothers Duwayne, 13, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, died in the Allenton blaze.

Philpott, 56, Mairead, 31 and Mosley, 46, were all found guilty of six counts of manslaughter.

Philpott was handed a life sentence, while Mairead and Mosley were jailed for 17 years each.

After the sentencing, Andy said: "We believe that the judge handed down the strongest sentences she can for these heinous crimes and for that we thank her.

"These three monsters will not see freedom for many, many years."

A spokesman for Catch Me When I Fall said: "With the court case now finished, it is important to focus on taking some positive out of the negative and do something which will have a positive impact."

The event will feature live music and entertainment, stalls, a dig show, a bouncy castle, face painting and a fancy dress competition.

Ahead of it a group of 14 people will attempt to walk from Skegness to Osmaston Park, leaving the seaside resort on May 7 and hopefully arriving in time for the fund-raiser.

Anyone who can help either event can call 07910 4766890 or visit the Catch Me When I Fall page on the social network website Facebook.

POLICE who arrested the driver of a 44-tonne car transporter for drink-driving found 60 cans of lager and two bottles of wine in his cab

Staff at car dealership TC Harrison said Karl Doyley "stank of booze" after dropping off six cars at their Derby dealership.

When he told them he planned to drive on another 30-miles to Chesterfield in his 22ft long transporter they rang the police.

When officers arrived they forced him to take a breathalyser test which found he had 95mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

A second test in custody, taken around an hour later, found the reading was even higher – 99mg. The legal limit is 35mg.

A worker at TC Harrison said Doyley, 44, arrived at their Pride Park dealership at around 6pm on March 27.

He said: "Once it was clear that he was drunk and then told us he was going on to Chesterfield to deliver more cars after he left Derby I knew I had to act.

"There was no way I was going to let him back on the road and possibly kill someone because of the drunken state he was in.

"I couldn't, and I don't think any right-minded person, could have that on their conscience.

"What made it more remarkable was that when the police arrived and he opened up the door of his cab there must have been 60 cans of lager in there and two bottles of wine.

"Some were empty and lying on the floor and some were in a refrigerator he had in his cab.

"This man had already said he had delivered cars and was then planning on driving another 30 miles or so in the state he was in.

"It beggars belief."

At Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court, Doyley, of Banbury, Oxfordshire, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 26 months, gave him a community order to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to pay £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.

He was offered a drink-driving awareness course to reduce his ban by six months.

Chief Inspector Steve Wilson, head of roads policing in Derbyshire, said: "Without the diligence and the vigilance of the staff at TC Harrison this drink-driver could have got behind the wheel of his 44-tonne vehicle and put lives at risk.

"Their quick thinking has stopped what might have been an extremely dangerous situation whereby someone has got behind the wheel of a 22ft long lorry and carried on driving whilst in the intoxicated state they were in.

"It is always refreshing to see the positive attitudes people take against those who drink-drive."

THE family of a Derbyshire dad taking part in the Boston marathon had to endure an agonising hour-long wait to find out if he had escaped the devastating bomb blasts.

Peter Holton had travelled from his home in Holbrook to take part in the race, along with running partner Adrian Miller, from Egginton.

Father-of-one Peter was only half a mile from the end when two huge explosions erupted, injuring hundreds and leaving three dead.

Wife Carolyn was watching the horrific drama unfold at home. She said: "When I first heard the reports I panicked. I sent Peter a text message but he didn't reply for an hour so it was a horrible wait."

A WITNESS in the US fraud trial of a former Derby County investor has told how he felt pressured to overvalue the share price of a solar panel firm in order to generate greater returns.

The Virginia court has heard that L. Bruce Glasser was hired to head up the New York investment banking arm of MICG Investment Management – a company led by former Rams investor Jeffrey Martinovich.

Mr Glasser convinced Martinovich to invest in a New Jersey company called EPV Solar.

He told the court that Martinovich pressured him to get inflated estimates of the value of the struggling solar panel manufacturer, in which MICG's hedge fund – MICG Venture Strategies – bought a substantial stake.

An initial estimate put EPV Solar's share price at $1.80, well above the $1.15-a-share MICG paid for them.

Mr Glasser told Martinovich that the share price would translate to between $300,000 and $400,000 in performance fees for MICG.

But Mr Glasser told the court that Martinovich went on to pressure him to come up with higher estimates, which he felt overstated the value of EPV Solar. He said that EPV had begun losing revenue at an alarming rate and was unable to secure new capital after the onset of the financial crisis in late 2008.

Mr Glasser told the court: "I felt it shouldn't be higher intellectually because there was no reason for the company to be valued at a higher value. I wasn't going to question (Martinovich's) methodology.

"I did not initiate any of the changes. They were initiated by Jeff for me to make."

EPV ended up declaring bankruptcy in February 2010.

But Martinovich's defence attorney, James Broccoletti, said that Mr Glasser had a motive to seek out the ballooning valuations without prodding from Martinovich, noting that, since starting at MICG in 2006, Glasser had brought little business to the company aside from EPV.

MICG Investment Management, of which Martinovich was chief executive, was one of the companies that helped finance the takeover of the Rams in January 2008.

MICG put $5 million towards the takeover by General Sports and Entertainment.

The deal saw MICG buy 50,000 shares in General Sports Derby, the firm set up to run the club, giving MICG a stake of less than 10%.

Martinovich, 47, is facing 26 counts of fraud involving the mismanagement of the MICG Venture Strategies hedge fund.

If found guilty, Martinovich could face a total jail sentence of 520 years, as each fraud charge carries a 20-year jail sentence.

Derby County has previously said the legal action against Martinovich would have no impact on the club and that, although MICG once had a small shareholding, Martinovich was not an individual shareholder.

The case continues.

BACK in the 80s, the Astra's heartland was the sort of guy who liked beer and football but would be intimidated by a curry house menu.

How things change. It's now become massively more sophisticated. Its old clientele has shifted their loyalty to Korean badges and it now campaigns to a far more informed buyer profile.

The latest model has found a ready market and deservedly so, as it's superbly built and attractively styled.

The sixth-generation Astra barely puts a wheel wrong. It's not the most spacious car in its class, but if you need more in the way of practicality, your Vauxhall dealer will point you at a Meriva or a Zafira instead.

There's a huge selection of used vehicles to choose from, so be patient and you could easily come away with a good deal.

THE Agila marked Vauxhall's first foray into the city car market, and although it was a new venture for the British company, it was far from a brand new model, being in effect a rebadged Suzuki Wagon R+, albeit with a pair of engines not shared with its Japanese counterpart.

The Agila is a surprisingly durable little car. The 1.0-litre version isn't particularly adept at motorway work, so many have quite low mileages. That's not to say they won't have suffered wear and tear: the twin demands of city driving and ferrying kids around is an acid test if ever there was one.

Unless you plan to use the car solely for short-distance work in the urban crawl, try to stretch for a 1.2-litre model. Although it may be damning it with faint praise, the Agila is better than it looks. The margin by which may well surprise you.

By 2009, the second-generation Skoda Octavia had been on sale for five years and had been steadily bringing a legion of new buyers round to the Skoda brand.

The good thing about a late-shape facelifted car is that all the niggles have been fixed. That's exactly what happened with this generation Skoda Octavia.

It's is a great used buy. In fact, it's hard to do much better, especially if you opt for your Mk II model in post-2009 facelift form. We'd look to either the 1.2 or 1.4 TSI engines as they're modern, cost-effective and surprisingly good fun to drive, although a big case can be made for the sporty vRS.

Its successor is a bigger, plusher car and the Rapid, which tried to fill the gap left by this MkII model, just doesn't feel as well rounded. This one will be remembered fondly.

ALTHOUGH it didn't seem likely when smaller MPVs first arrived in the UK, this genre of car has become a bit of a hot spot for really clever car design.

Few cars illustrate this point more lucidly than Citroen's C3 Picasso. A delightfully styled five-seater with no shortage of smart features, it has been a deserved hit for the French marque. Here's how to track down a decent used example.

With this kind of car, the driving experience is likely to be unremarkable but the travelling experience can often feel rather special. So it proves with the C3 Picasso.

Yes, the steering's a little light before higher speeds firm it up, the long-throw gearbox isn't the slickest you'll ever use and, of course, there's notable body roll on really tight corners.

But after saying that, what sticks in your mind are the things that are really important in this class of car.

Apart, perhaps, from the digital speedometer, the first thing you'll probably notice behind the wheel is the light and airy cabin, courtesy of one of the largest glazed areas in the segment. Then there's the high-set seating position, with its excellent range of steering and seat-height adjustment, which gives you a commanding view of the road.

Manoeuvrability and a tight turning circle are also a boon, while the car's vertical rear end makes parking easy. The soft suspension soaks up poor road surfaces in proper Citroen style too, which can make you feel rather smug as you watch others crash from one pothole to another.

The C3 Picasso is to many small families as close to the template of perfect transport as has yet been devised. It's affordable, reliable, unquestioningly practical and even looks pretty good. As used car buys go, it merits a solid thumbs-up.

A bit of careful prior planning can ensure that you get the most for your old car. Here's how to go about it.

WHEN buying a new car, trading in your current vehicle can easily become something of an afterthought. Don't let it be. This is something you need to sort out well before you strike a deal. We'd recommend the following steps:

1. Check on the value of your car – newsagent price guides will help you here. If you know someone in the trade, borrow one of their guides – they'll be more accurate.

2. Advertise your car in the local paper for a couple of weeks slightly above its value. If you get no response, you'll know the trade publication value is right and can insist on it with your dealer knowing you couldn't have got any more. If you sell your car, it's a bonus.

3. While you're advertising, find your ideal replacement car and get the dealer's best quote without taking into account any trade-in.

4. If you get no advertising response, introduce the trade-in to the dealer and insist that the market value is subtracted from whatever deal was previously on the table. This way, you know that your trade-in isn't eating into the dealer's discount.

Whether you sell your existing car privately or use it as a dealer trade-in, you'll only get the best valuation if you present the car properly:

1. Make sure that your service records are up-to-date.

2. Have all the paperwork ready to hand at valuation or sale time: if you haven't, it will make the deal seem dodgy.

3. Invest in a comprehensive professional valet, inside and out – don't just shove the car though the car wash. Dealers know the difference and private customers appreciate it. If you don't want to stretch to a valet, then at least follow our car cleaning tips below:

BODY & PAINTWORK

Shoddy bodywork is a big turn-off. Scratches on paintwork and patches of rust not only make a car look scruffy and neglected, they automatically lower the price that a buyer is prepared to pay.

Make sure that rusty areas are treated with Rust Treatment. If the rust is too far gone, use a little body filler to fill up holes in the bodywork.

Use a colour brush to cover up stone chips and minor paintwork problems that need an exact colour match.

Make sure that the less obvious areas are also pristine. Take care to treat marks on wheels, inside the engine and on bumpers with specialist paints.

Replace any individual wheel trims that are missing and ensure you have a matching set.

CLEANING

First impressions count when selling a car and nothing impresses more than a spotless showroom shine. You can achieve this using any number of different products, ranging from upholstery cleaner to tyre cleaner.

Begin by cutting through dust and grime with a strong solution.

Use a colour restorer to restore paintwork to a gleaming full-bodied shine. Combine this with a showroom polish to give the car a quick-shine that returns the paintwork to showroom standard.

Dazzle the potential buyer with the quality of your alloys by using one of the many cleaning products available.

Return faded bumpers to their original colour with an exterior trim treatment.

INTERIOR VALETING

Bad smells won't sell your car. To make the most of your motor, it is vital to make sure that the interior is as spotless as the chrome on the outside.

Be sure to spruce up the seats with an upholstery cleaner.

Stick down any loose pieces of carpet with tape and freshen them up with a heavy duty carpet cleaner.

Get dusty dashboards back to their former glory with interior trim treatment available in gloss or matt.

Get rid of unpleasant smells with odour neutralisers, available in a wide range of fragrances.

MOT

If your car is unroadworthy, it's not worth buying, so a current MoT is essential. But before putting a car through an MoT, it is important to carry out a series of simple checks to help it to pass.

Check and replace any faulty bulbs – the most common cause of MoT failure.

Make sure that wing mirrors are not cracked and the interior mirror is firmly attached. Replace worn wiper blades and ensure that number plates are legible and not cracked.

A few pounds spent on car valeting products and a bit of effort can make all the difference between a quick sale and a non-sale – and if that effort also increases the price of the car, you would be mad not to get your hands dirty.

THE Ford EcoSport uses tried and tested Fiesta mechanicals to offer UK buyers a front-wheel drive car with added ride height and chunky good looks. It sounds like a simple recipe but sometimes simple works just fine.

The car is offered with Ford's innovative 125PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, the 2012 International Engine of the Year. Plus, there's a 110PS 1.5-litre petrol unit. For those who prefer diesel, there's a 90PS 1.5-litre powerplant. It also offers a comprehensive package of driver assistance technologies, including Electronic Stability Program and Hill Launch Assist.

The chunky looks and high ground clearance suggest a small 4x4 but wriggle under the EcoSport and you'll find a singular lack of rear driveshafts. It is, in effect, a Fiesta on stilts but many drivers find the raised driving position more desirable than the requirement for any actual all-wheel-drive capability.

Once you've got over quite how bluff-fronted the EcoSport is, it's actually quite an accomplished piece of design work. The almost Aston Martin-style front grille that debuted on the Fiesta makes its way over to the EcoSport and although the side profile looks a bit pinched, Ford has been very clever with the way it has managed to make a short, tall vehicle look so interesting. The glasshouse is elegant and the stance of the car is better than it has any right to be.

Ford claims the EcoSport has been designed to cope with terrible third-world road conditions, so it'll be right at home in the UK.

IN business for more than 42 years, JCS Kegworth is a long-established Fiat dealer and independent Alfa Romeo sales and service specialist.

Recent Fiat surveys reveal that over a three-month period, this family-owned business attained an astonishingly high 98% satisfaction rating from its customers.

They also reported that when it comes to having their vehicles maintained and repaired, JCS Kegworth's technicians get things right, first time, every time, which means the dealership has been given top marks of 100% for its workmanship.

This exceptionally positive feedback means JCS Kegworth has now been placed within the top ten Fiat of dealerships in the UK.

Service manager Phill Cassidy said: "We would like to thank our customers for rating us so highly. On the back of this, we are extending our free vehicle collection and delivery service to include the Derby area."

More details at www.jcs.uk.net, visit JCS Kegworth in Station Road, Kegworth, (DE74 2FR) or call 01509 672523 (sales), 01509 672523 (service) or 01509 673345 (parts).

A TRIP to the supermarket might well provide the best way to get a bargain on your next car – with up to £10,000 off the price of a nearly-new, low-mileage car.

Derby-based Motorpoint is the UK's leading car supermarket and recently opened its sixth site in Chingford, north London, with a seventh new facility in Birmingham opening in July. Its other four sites are in Burnley, Glasgow, Newport and Peterborough; together they sell nearly 30,000 cars every year.

Motorpoint was started in 1998 by veteran car buyer David Shelton, who still owns the business.

Today, Motorpoint is a multi-million pound business that has seen an 18% increase in sales in the last 12 months and sells a car every seven minutes and 12 seconds.

In 2012, Motorpoint calculates that it saved its customers a total of £171 million off the list price of the cars it sold.

Motorists visiting Motorpoint have a choice of more than 3,000 new and up to three-year-old cars with less than 18,000 miles on the clock – and that covers everything from superminis to sports cars, with prices starting from just £4,999.

To offer the very best deals for its customers, Motorpoint buys in bulk at big discounts. It employs more than 400 people throughout the UK and invests a significant amount in staff training and development to deliver the highest levels of customer service through its online sales centre and at every branch.

As Motorpoint owner David Shelton explains: "Buying a car should be a pleasurable experience and we aim to give our customers the best service possible as well as the widest choice and greatest value for money."

The Derby Telegraph is teaming up with Motorpoint's Derby site to run a motorshow in Derby's Market Place on Friday, April 26, from 8am to 6.30pm.

With more than 30 cars of every shape and style on display, all available to buy from Motorpoint, visitors will get the chance to size up their next car – and that could mean booking a test drive on the day and even getting a finance quote.

The Motorpoint motorshow also offers visitors the chance to test their mettle in a Formula 1 simulator for free, complete with triple screens, realistic racing sounds and sensations of speed, all delivered through a force feedback steering wheel and paddle-shift gearbox – just like those used by F1 drivers!

The four fastest lap times on the day will win amazing prizes, including four tickets to see Bruno Mars, Jessie J and We Will Rock You at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, as well as four weekend tickets for the British Superbike Championship, sponsored by Motorpoint, at Donington Park.

So why not go to the Market Place on Friday, April 26, from 8am to 6.30pm to see how much money you could save on your next car?

THINK you can't afford that car you have been promising yourself and your family? Well, it's time to think again as Burton Kia stages a "Four-Day 0% Event", which runs until close of business on Sunday.

Over the Big Weekend, every new and Kia Approved vehicle at the dealership is available with 0% (APR representative) finance and terrific price deals, too, giving a fantastic opportunity to buy an outstanding car at an affordable price.

All new Kia cars come with one-year breakdown cover – not that you are likely to need it given Kia's outstanding reputation for reliability and robust build quality, though it's good to know it's there. New Kias are also covered by one of the motor industry's leading manufacturer warranties, that lasts seven years. What's more, choose an Approved used Kia and your car will also be protected for seven years as Kia's comprehensive warranty starts all over again from the moment you make your purchase.

It's also worth remembering that Kia Approved cars all receive an exhaustive 88-point quality and safety inspection, along with an Experian vehicle history check to ensure that its mileage is genuine, it hasn't been involved in a major accident and that no outstanding finance remains from its previous owner. In addition to all this, your Kia Approved vehicle will have been serviced and thoroughly valeted both internally and externally prior to delivery.

Kia sales are on the rise right across the world as motorists choose the brand's unbeatable combination of quality, variety and style. Kia's enviable record for reliability has also been a key to the marque's success, as has the fact Kia vehicles keep winning awards.

Kia has long been recognised for its design flair, reliability, economy, safety, and fuel efficiency. A constant winner in the JD Power Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Surveys, Kia has been scooping motoring titles since 2003.

Few mainstream manufacturers can match Kia when it comes to quality, variety and affordability, each model offering an intoxicating mix of style and cutting-edge design.

With every new model, Kia's reputation for building stylish cars grows – and Burton Kia displays the entire award-winning Kia range.

In 2012, Kia was voted Best Car Manufacturer by Which? magazine. What's more, its extensive, multi-award-winning range covers most sectors of the new-car market.

No fewer than 100 new and Approved used Kias will be available for sale over the Big Weekend at Burton Kia – and at end of business on Sunday all the exciting deals will end.

To find out more, visit the Burton Kia dealership in Moor Street, Burton (DE14 3SY) or call 0845 415 0660.

The Kia pro_cee'd offers strong build quality, good looks and great after-sales care. Never fancied a Kia? That might well change. Andy Enright reports.

BACKGROUND

Forget what you thought you knew about Kia. For years now, we've seen the company as a plucky trier and patted it on the head with patronising comments along the lines of "a lot of metal for your money". Well, it's now in the big league and this pro_cee'd three-door model is priced accordingly, right up there with mainstream contenders like Vauxhall and Citroen.

This brings with it some harsher judging criteria. The sort of gauche interior design and off-pace emissions that we used to forgive Kia for just won't wash now. In fact, expectations have been raised so high that the pro_cee'd is now a vehicle that needs to be excellent in order to achieve any sort of recognition.

The first pro_cee'd model arrived in 2008 and the second in 2011, so it's clear that this is a car that's had a lot of budget thrown at it. It's a hugely important car for Kia. First impressions suggest it's right on the money.

DRIVING EXPERIENCE

The pro_cee'd's underpinnings won't come as any great surprise. They're basically the same as the cee'd hatchback and buyers get to choose from a 1.6-litre GDi petrol and a 1.6-litre CRDi turbodiesel with Intelligent Stop & Go (ISG). A six-speed manual transmission is standard across the range and Kia's six-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) gearbox is also available on up-spec petrol versions.

The Flex Steer system provides the driver with the choice of Normal, Comfort or Sport steering modes. The ride and handling are well-judged with a firmish ride quality that's not too different from the poised Volkswagen template.

The petrol engine cranks out 133bhp at 6,300rpm and that's enough to scuttle it to 60mph in 9.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 121mph. Go for the diesel and you get 126bhp at 4,000rpm, which translates to a sprint time of 10.5 seconds and 122mph. There are two trim levels offered with the pro_cee'd, S and SE. The SE versions are a little quicker but quite a lot worse on emissions, so check the specifications carefully.

DESIGN & BUILD

The pro_cee'd is a handsome, wedge-shaped three-door hatch, designed by Europeans for Europeans. Built in Slovenia under the auspices of the Frankfurt-based Kia Motors Europe design team, it features a longer and lower profile than the five-door car, resulting in an edgy, coupe-like shape.

The cabin features a driver-oriented layout to the fascia with quality materials like black piano finishes and chrome splashes on the door handles, instruments and air vents. The pro_cee'd seats five, although it would be tight for three adults in the back. Boot storage is up 380 litres and 1,225 litres with the 60:40 split rear bench folded down.

MARKET & MODEL

There's not too much to instantly differentiate the S and SE models, although the eagle-eyed will spot that the S rides on 16in alloys whereas the SE is supplied with 17in rims. Standard features on the S include one-touch electric windows, electrically-operated, heated and folding door mirrors, cruise control with a speed limiter and steering wheel-mounted controls, reversing sensors and a trip computer.

Go for the SE and you'll also receive exterior door handle illumination, stainless steel door sill plates and pedals, power lumbar seat support for both driver and passenger, automatic dual-zone climate control and automatic rain-sensing wipers with a built-in de-icer function.

The SE also gets a 7-inch touch screen European-wide satellite navigation system with full UK postcode functionality. This screen also doubles up to display the images from the colour reversing camera when the vehicle is in reverse. All this costs a couple of grand above the asking price of an S model, which means that prices range from around £17,500 to almost £21,000.

COST OF OWNERSHIP

Things get a little more complex when it comes to cost of ownership. None of the pro_cee'd models is going to be hugely expensive to run, but there are subtleties to take into account here. The entry-level car is the pro_cee'd S 1.6 Gdi petrol engine, which emits 124g/km CO2 and achieves 52.3mpg. Go for this engine in SE guise and emissions leap to 137g/km and economy drops to 47.1mpg. Then tick the box for the DCT gearbox and things get slightly worse still, at 140g/km and 46.3mpg. All of which is a bit odd, as twin-clutch gearboxes normally improve emissions, economy and performance.

The diesel engine opens with the 100g/km, 74.3mpg S model and although the SE variant shaves a second off that car's sprint to 60mph time, it does so at the expense of efficiency, turning in figures of 112g/km and 65.7mpg. It's still hardly profligate though is it? Used values will continue to be propped up by Kia's excellent warranty arrangement. Buyers get full cover for seven years or 100,000 miles. It's one of the best in the industry, not only for duration but also for a refreshing lack of troublesome clauses. Insurance ratings should also be very reasonable.

SUMMARY

The Kia pro_cee'd seems to be the real deal. It's reasonably priced, extremely well equipped, looks great and is solidly built with an unbeatable after sales package. What more do you want? More power? More speed? Kia will even serve that up with a turbocharged 201bhp pro_cee'd GT model as well, should you so desire. It's tough to see a weak link with this model.

The car the pro_cee'd most closely squares up to is Vauxhall's three-door Astra. Which would I choose? If pressed, I'd throw my lot in with Kia.

CONTACT DETAILS

Burton Kia in Moor Street, Burton (DE14 3SY). For more details, call 0845 415 0660 or visit www. burtonkia.co.uk.

1FORD has announced upgraded versions of its Mondeo executive car range, including new series specified for both private and business customers. The new Ford Mondeo Graphite offers retail buyers a compelling combination of exterior appeal and excellent interior features with prices from £15,995. The new Titanium X Business Edition offers even higher standards of technology and interior luxury despite prices being £1,500 lower than for the outgoing Mondeo Zetec Business Edition.

2THE next generation of Nissan's all-electric LEAF has arrived – and for the first time, buyers can lease batteries and choose one of three trim levels. A new pricing structure has been introduced and cars bought with leased batteries will be known as Flex models. Buyers will be able to get behind the wheel of an entry-level Visia LEAF on that basis for £15,990 (after receipt of the Government's £5,000 plug-in grant).

ONE of the UK's leading caravan manufactures will this weekend launch a revolutionary new model at Don Amott Leisure Kingdom.

The "King of Caravans" is playing host to the launch of the Bailey Pegasus GT65 (right) at his Hilton showground.

The new models will be on display in the large, heated showroom at the dealership, just off junction 5 of the A50 Derby-to-Stoke link road.

Besides the Pegasus GT65 launch, Leisure Kingdom is offering all its brand new Bailey demonstrator models at special sale prices.

Leisure Kingdom managing director John Broderick said: "We are delighted that Bailey has once again chosen us to launch its new model.

"The Pegasus GT65 is a welcome addition to our range and we are confident that it will prove to be a true club-class champion."

Every Bailey caravan incorporates the kind of design expertise that 65 years of experience in leisure vehicle manufacturing can bring. This know-how has culminated in the production of the new special edition Pegasus GT65, which includes all the benefits in normal mid-market caravans plus a number of substantial specification enhancements usually only found in more expensive products.

Models are built with Bailey-patented Alu-Tech technology, making them more robust, more durable and yet lighter than those produced using conventional methods. The existing Pegasus bodyshell has been enhanced with an impact-resistant GRP outer skin plus re-profiled one-piece front and rear bumpers to make certain the new GT65 is built to last.

The market-leading thermal properties of the Alu-Tech bodyshell are allied to a new heating system and supply of hot water at all times, making the Pegasus GT65 a genuine four-season vehicle.

To ensure this eye-catching investment remains safe on the road and secure on site, it is fitted with the latest safety and security equipment, including the AL-KO ATC Trailer Control System and AL-KO Secure wheel lock, plus new peak performance Michelin branded tyres.

Inside, the introduction of a new vertical front skylight, framed in a walnut mounting and with integral lighting, totally transforms the caravan's interior to deliver the perfect room with a view.

The 10-acre Don Amott Leisure Kingdom showground and showroom complex is one of the largest of its kind in the Midlands. The Bailey Pegasus Roadshow starts today and continues until Sunday. For more information, visit www. leisurekingdom.co.uk.

A5111 Station Road, Hatton

A52 Ednaston

Merrill Way, Allenton

A514 Swarkestone Road, Chellaston

A6 Darley Dale

A6 Taddington to Buxton

B6179 Denby

A52 Ashbourne Road, Derby

A516 Uttoxeter Road, Derby

ONE company that most certainly is on the money when it comes to recycling is Chevrolet. Rather than bin the old Chevy Kalos model, it facelifted and retrimmed it and in 2008 launched it as the Aveo.

As with any recycled product, you'll need to accept a few rough edges but you'll get a rosy glow of contentment in the process. Here's how to save even bigger by bagging a used bargain.

WHAT YOU PAY

There aren't too many cars that you can find that still look showroom fresh, are just a couple of years old, have less than 10,000 miles on the clock and yet can be yours for £3,500. But that's the deal with the Chevrolet Aveo, which makes it arguably an even better used buy than when brand new.

So, around £3.5k buys you a 2009 1.2-litre S model, and while that looks to be a bargain, a determined trawl of the classifieds will reveal even the 1.4-litre LT range-topper for around £4,000 and less if you're prepared to strike a deal. Nearly-new cars don't come much more affordable than this.

WHAT YOU GET

As makeovers go, the Aveo is one of the cleverest we've seen. In profile it doesn't look too much different to the Kalos, the five-door car's rather odd drooping swage line being instantly familiar. Move round to the front and the impression is utterly different. The Kalos's rather unhappy looking face has been replaced with something a whole lot bolder. The upswept headlamps and enormous double grille are punctuated by a serious Chevy cross logo. It's got about twice as much attitude as any other small car you could care to mention.

The three-door model is even smarter, with the flanks being sculpted to incorporate pronounced flared rear wheel arches. At the back, there's one of the neatest rear lights clusters around.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Make sure the car is in perfect condition. There's no reason why it shouldn't be, as it could still be within warranty; any dents, scratches or interior damage will knock values hard. One advantage of the Aveo is that most cars will have had a relatively easy life, the majority of customers using them for shopping trips, but do check the bodywork for trolley scrapes or multi-storey reversing incidents. Otherwise, insist on a full service record and contact a few franchised dealers to try to find the best bargain available.

OVERALL

The Chevrolet Aveo isn't exceptional in any way bar the value for money it offers. While this might seem a damning indictment, it actually means you'll be able to sniff out a bargain if you're not particularly concerned with your small car being best in class in any particular attribute.

If "good enough" is good enough for you, then the Aveo will cost about 60% of what you might pay for a rival with a five-star test score. If you need a small car to do the undemanding things, that makes a used Chevrolet Aveo a very smart pick indeed.

EVERYTHING pointed to British executive car buyers harbouring a powerful and undying love for German cars.

But what if the British are not strangely predisposed towards German cars? If that were the case, all Jaguar needed to do was build an executive saloon that was competitive against German alternatives and buyers would come flocking. The XF was that car.

The XF doesn't appear to be the most spacious car in its sector but the coupe-like lines do belie the amount of space inside. There's room for five adults in comfort, generous interior storage and a boot capacity of up to 540 litres (fold the rear seats and add a further 420 litres).

So, get in and settle yourself behind the wheel. What's it like? Start the engine and the Drive Selector for controlling the automatic gearbox rises into the palm of the hand, while rotating air conditioning vents turn from their flush, "parked" position to their open position. The intention was to make the XF feel special, and it does.

The most popular units are the 237bhp or 271bhp versions of the 3.0-litre common-rail diesel unit, the latter employing twin turbochargers to achieve its performance. The XF's lightweight design means a 0-60mph sprint of under six seconds in the more powerful car. But even in the 237bhp version it can still be covered in 6.7.

Even with that type of performance, super-efficient combustion delivers 42mpg combined economy and 179g/km CO2 emissions.

The classy XF can live with BMW, Mercedes and Audi rivals in terms of driving dynamics and its engine technology. As a used buy, it looks no less compelling.