A Ford Focus driver could have given up more than a £10 note when he paid to have his car washed recently, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Staff at Five Star Wash in Liverpool firstly thought they had been given a fake note by the mystery motorist.
However, on closer inspection it was realised that the note may have been a piece of work by controversial street artist Banksy.
The banknote replaces the head of the Queen with Princess Diana and also bears the words "Banksy of England".
A similar banknote is currently up for sale on the website eBay for almost £20,000.
Manager of the car wash Edward Humphry told the publication: "He gave us the note and said ‘keep the change, it’s worth more than that’.
"He wasn’t a scally trying to drive off with a free car wash."
Banksy uses a distinctive stencilling technique in his artwork and once recreated the scene from Pulp Fiction, but with Samuel L Jackson and John Travolta holding up bananas instead of guns.
It is believed that the Ford Focus RS could be gearing up to have a crack at a world record around the commonly used Nurburgring circuit.
After the vehicle was spotted on a special industry day last week, reports have suggested that the RS could be under preparation to try and break the hot hatch lap record.
The honour of holding that record currently belongs to the Renault Megane R26R, which sets the benchmark with its lap of 8mins 17secs.
But if the Focus RS is able to go quicker, then it would hold the record for the fastest front-wheel drive car to have ever driven around the circuit.
It is also believed that a possible date for the record attempt could be on March 31st, when the car lines up as part of another industry meeting.
Phil Lanning in the Sun recently compared the RS to the Incredible Hulk because of its looks and personality.
He came to the conclusion because the vehicle comes in an Ultimate Green colour and has "bulging muscles ripping out of every crease-line".
A motorist driving a Ford Focus has been used to show the impact that being caught driving without due care and attention can have on a car insurance quote.
New research from moneysupermarket.com has found that many motorists have developed bad habits behind the wheel.
These include 77 per cent of motorists changing the radio station or CD track while driving and 52 per cent opting to have something to eat.
It was then discovered that a person could pay as much as 26 per cent extra on a car insurance quote in the future if they are charged with driving without due care and attention.
The results were based on a 30-year-old male 2006 Ford Focus driver from Manchester, who parks the vehicle on a driveway, has five years no claims discount and completes 10,000 miles each year.
Andy Leadbetter, managing director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: "Careless drivers are a menace on the roads and a danger to both themselves and others.
"Not only are these bad driving habits, but also expensive habits if you are caught."
Car insurance provider esure recently told motorists of a number of ways that they may be able to obtain cheaper car insurance, including using price comparison websites, staying claim-free and avoiding monthly repayments.
Ford has successfully come up with the latest in its impressive line of affordable, practical and exhilarating performance cars with the new Ford Focus RS, it has been stated.
David Tucker writes in the Drogheda Independent that the latest RS is the result of five years’ development by the Ford team, with the key features being a focus on bespoke engineering, design and aerodynamics.
Among the choices that prospective buyers will have to decide upon is colour, with the vehicle being available in three contrasting colours.
The first is the World Rally-inspired ‘hero’ colour, according to Mr Tucker, which is ‘Ultimate Green’, while the other exterior colours are ‘Frozen White’ and ‘Performance Blue’.
Also, from the outside, the World Rally-style of the vehicle is continued through the inclusion of 19-inch polished alloy wheels, each of which feature an RS logo.
On the inside, the RS comes equipped with sculpted rear seats, with Mr Tucker highlighting that the entire cabin gives off the vibe of "genuine sports performance with a strong sense of style and quality".
Peter Dron recently indicated in the Telegraph that the latest Ford Focus RS retains the vehicle’s cult status.
Although many motorists seem keen on supporting the environment, the Ford Focus is one of the cars that is most affordable to individuals, it has been stated.
Writing in the Guardian, Adam Vaughan has revealed that price is the decisive factor for many motorists as they look to buy a new car.
And despite the fact they also want to help the environment, vehicles generating the least CO2 emissions are often too pricey for motorists, he remarked.
One of the vehicles that are top of the tree in terms of CO2 emissions is the Toyota Prius, but according to Mr Vaughan, the prices of used cars in the range are "probably just a little too much for most people buying a family car".
Thus, when affordability and greenness are taken into account, Mr Vaughan indicated that a diesel Ford Focus was what stood out, generating 127g/km of CO2 compared to the 104g/km of the Prius.
He concluded that used vehicles offering low levels of CO2 are hard to find on the cheap, meaning that motorists often have to ditch their environmental concerns in favour of something that is affordable.
Channel Four indicated in a review of the Ford Focus that the vehicle is "well-priced" and offers passengers good levels of comfort.
The latest Ford Focus RS ticks all the right boxes when it comes to matching its high expectations, according to one reviewer.
Writing for Fleet Directory, Lee Sibbald states that the RS "looks every inch" the way that it should, while also matching its expectations of being powerful and sleek.
The latest offering marks the 40th anniversary of the RS badge and offers drivers a great deal of flexibility in relation to the amount of tasks it can be used for effectively.
Mr Sibbald highlights that the engine is that flexible that it can be adequately used as an everyday run-around vehicle, while also meeting the demands of a practical high performance car.
Motorists will receive an official combined fuel economy of 30 miles to the gallon, while enjoying a comfortable cruise when riding around town.
The reviewer concludes that the Focus RS is "one of the best high performance cars currently on the market".
Meanwhile, John Simister recently wrote in the Independent that the RS is a "proper enthusiast’s car", while being the quickest ever built in the Focus range.
Used Ford Focus RS drivers may be interested to know that the cult status that has always been in existence with the vehicle continues with the latest model.
A review of the vehicle by Peter Dron in the Telegraph states that there is nothing else comparable to the RS on the market in the price range.
He argues that the Focus RS "is much more than an upgraded, lowered, wide-track, bewinged ST", thanks to the inclusion of a complex RS engine that sings an "interesting tune".
Furthermore, he states that the vehicle has increased the upper power limit previously witnessed on front-wheel drive cars.
Mr Dron explains that "torque steer, that devil of powerful front-driven cars, is not entirely eliminated but full throttle before the apex causes only a mild sensation through the steering".
Overall, the vehicle is described as having excellent brakes, a great overall quality and a junior-supercar like performance.
Phil Lanning in the Sun recently stated the vehicle has the looks and personality of the Incredible Hulk.
Motorists on the lookout for a used Ford Focus RS following the strong reviews it has received are not the only ones pleased with the way the vehicle has turned out.
Kent-based company Quaife Engineering is also happy with the outcome of the vehicle.
Director at the transmission specialist Michael Quaife said: "Naturally we’re pleased that the initial press reviews of the car seem to be overwhelmingly positive."
In the production of the vehicle Quaife used its automatic torque biasing (ATB) differential, which helped the RS increase its power.
Motorists are now able to benefit from 300 brake horsepower, alongside being able to witness better speed when accelerating out of a corner.
Mr Quaife added: "We’ve enjoyed an ongoing dialogue with Ford and we’re very pleased with the end results as they were a particularly good team to work with."
Tom Ford recently stated in the Times that the suspension of the RS was one of its special features.
He commented that the vehicle was able to "glide over bumps as comfortably as Aladdin’s carpet".
The Incredible Hulk of the motoring world has been unleashed onto the market, and it may appeal to used Ford Focus drivers.
Writing for the Sun, Phil Lanning states that the new Ford Focus RS has the "looks and personality" of the fictional superhero, with "bulging muscles ripping out of every crease-line".
The vehicle is available to buyers in two alternate colours to the Ultimate Green – Performance Blue and Frozen White – but Mr Lanning states there is nothing frozen about its performance.
He explains that the RS completes its routine driving chores with little fuss, but gets angry like the comic book hero when a driver puts their foot to the floor.
Overall, he concludes that the RS is reminiscent of a "chav wearing an Armani suit" as it is left "feeling raw yet with refinement" with the real magic in the way it leaves a driver feeling "confident".
Another recent review of the vehicle by Channel Four claims that the vehicles ability to constantly deliver all of its power will leave a driver feeling "gobsmacked".
The most "gobsmacking" feature that awaits used Ford Focus fans in the new RS model is the vehicle’s continuous ability to remain powerful, a review states.
Channel Four comments that although the vehicle is top of the range on terms of pace, it is its ability to "deploy almost all of its power almost all of the time" that is the standout attribute.
Among the features that support the Ford Focus RS in doing this is its use of wide 19-inch wheels, while the track diff "allows full power to be deployed far earlier without wheelspin".
Furthermore, the car is "always engaging" and the chassis shows "real handling prowess".
The RS is also no slouch in the safety department thanks to its use of huge brakes, alongside outstanding dynamics.
It was also rated in the top ten vehicles ever tested by EuroNCAP, which culminated in it being given five stars for occupant protection and four for child protection.
Tom Ford recently stated in the Times that the RS is a vehicle that could irritate supercar owners.
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