WIRRAL Motoway now offers advertisers and car buyers the fast lane to the Super Highway . . .

The Globe, as part of Newsquest, has linked up with six other major regional newspapers throughout the UK to launch AutoHunter live on the Internet.

Tracking down exactly the car you're looking for has now never been easier . . .

This new interactive service, which is expected to become the biggest of its kind, will give prospective car buyers quick, accurate and convenient access to up to 350,000 cars on the nation's regional newspaper classified database.

Pioneered by ADHunter UK Ltd - a company created by seven of Britain's leading regional newspaper groups, including Newsquest - AutoHunter is set to be one of the first in an exciting new generation of interactive web sites.

Cars - and bikes, boats, caravans and commercial vehicles, too - which are currently being sold through regional newspapers' classified pages can now be included in the AutoHunter database . . .

By visiting the site - through the Globe at http://www.wirral-globe.co.uk - buyers can choose the local area, region or regions they are interested in . . . and can then search for the vehicles of their choice by make, model, price and other criteria.

AutoHunter has been created in partnership with IT systems and services company ICL, who will also manage and operate the service on an ongoing basis. At the heart of AutoHunter is an advanced intelligent search 'engine' which can make fast matches to precise details inputted - and can also respond to wide search criteria, such as 4x4 and people carriers.

The search 'engine' will even recognise that a search on, for example, all Escort cars should also incorporate any RS Turbos and XR3s.

In addition, there is on-line insurance and finance information, as well as more than 600 car road tests, price guides and up-to-date information provided by motor industry specialists.

Where AutoHunter really makes selection very convenient is through its Smart Search function. Prospective motorists can complete a profile sheet detailing the specification and cost of the car, and then log the information with AutoHunter. When a car matching the description comes up for sale, they will be contacted by e-mail to advise them accordingly.

Web site visitors wishing to sell their cars can also do this through AutoHunter via their local newspaper, such as the Globe.

Throughout April, anyone registering on the site will have the chance to win a Fujitsu Indiana multi-media PC supplied by ICL.

Marlen Roberts, managing director of ADHunter UK Ltd, predicted that the service would transform the way cars were bought and sold in the UK.

"Collectively, the country's regional press offers up to half a million new and used cars," he said. "AutoHunter means that everyone with access to the Internet can have the chance of buying one of these cars.

"The service is very fast, accurate and convenient and you don't have to live within a newspaper's circulation area to find out what is for sale there. This is a major addition to the growing number of interactive services being provided by the Internet."

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