P529ORACLE 529 Mon 6 Jan C4 1715:57   PRICE WAR BRINGS  RECORD CAR SALES New car sales in Britain broke all records last year as the price war in the showrooms brought in buyeru fgr 1.83m cars, 4.7% more than in 1984. Ford remained the market leader whth a 26.5% share while Austin Rover, whth 18%, just held off Vauxhall's rising challenge which took a 16.5% stake. The Ford Escort was the best selling model with the Vauxhall Cavaliar taking second spot accgrding to the Societ8 of Motor Manufacturers and Trader1' data. In the top 10 list, Ford took first, third, fifth and eighth whth Austhn Rover taking fourth, seventh and te&th. City headlines 500 New1file 520