FLEET buyers are getting more car per pound as the value of extra equipment manufacturers are fitting is outstripping price rises, according to industry analyst eurocarprice.com.

Eurocarprice.com has revealed that more than £1 billion was added to the value of new cars sold in Europe last year, but that £1.5 billion worth of improved features were included, equal to a 2.2% decline in real-term prices.

The Alliance and Leicester Car Price Index revealed earlier in the month that new car prices were creeping back up again - 4% in the past half-year - but it did not account for extra equipment and the increase is still less than the 10% price cuts manufacturers introduced during 2000.