Driver sues after Jaguar 'sped up on its own'

The owner of a second-hand Jaguar that allegedly accelerated without warning and "blew up" on a motorway is taking legal action against the dealership that sold him the car.

Barry Honeycombe, 49, wants to recoup the £31,500 he spent on the top-range Jaguar XF 2.7 diesel plus undisclosed damages.

He claimed the vehicle sped "out of control" as he drove onto the M25. The sales director from Sydenham said he had to turn off the engine and brake with both feet.

He claimed the car then blew up with a "loud bang and black smoke" while stationary.

The writ filed in the High Court is against Cambria Automobiles in Swindon, who sold the car in April 2009.

Mr Honeycombe first became concerned when he struggled to accelerate above the cruise control level in the weeks after he bought the car.

He claims he then had two near misses when the car speeded up without warning. Mr Honeycombe said: "The first time was pretty terrifying. The second time was also very frightening. I was worried what would happen if I shunted a car into someone."

He claims he made enquiries about the car's "dangerous" condition but has not been given a proper explanation.

Mr Honeycombe bought the car at the Grange Jaguar dealership in Croydon, owned by Cambria Automobiles.

Executive director Darren Bray said the dealership arranged for the car's original engine fault to be fixed, but when the problem arose again Mr Honeycombe "was adamant he wanted compensation".

He said: "We have had his car here and ready to go for months and we have been keeping him in car hire during that time even though the car is repaired and he can have it back."