Mercedes looks to extend Aston Martin partnership

Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche is open to extending Mercedes-Benz’s tie-up with Aston Martin beyond the initial deal signed last month. Zetsche, speaking to Autocar at the Detroit motor show, said there were currently “no further plans” beyond the deal for Mercedes AMG to supply V8 engines and electrical architectures to…

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Smart brand more relevant than ever, says Daimler boss

Mercedes-Benz’s Smart arm is “an answer to a question that is more relevant now than when we started it”, according to Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche. He revealed the new Fortwo and Forfour, co-developed alongside the next Renault Twingo, would be revealed this year, most likely at the Geneva motor show in…

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2015 Hyundai Genesis revealed in Detroit

The new 2015 Hyundai Genesis has been revealed today at the Detroit motor show. The design of the new car has been modernised, the interior is more upmarket, and there are mechanical and technological advances over the outgoing model. The Genesis is also finally offered in right-hand drive and Hyundai UK…

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What the designers saw

Interesting to see what rival products attract rival bosses and designers at the Detroit motor show this year. I’d say the three cars they all want to see are the Audi Shooting Brake concept (because it’s the new TT, and that car has been quite influential over the years), the…

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Audi R8 e-tron close to production

The Audi R8 e-tron project has been reprised by Audi technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg, and is now close to being signed off for production.  The electric supercar had been axed last spring amid concerns about its cost and range. Just ten were going to be made, each for R&D purposes…

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Cadillac ATS coupe revealed

The Cadillac ATS coupe arrives in showrooms in the States this summer, is has been revealed at the Detroit motor show. Based on the saloon (which was North American Car of the Year in 2013), this coupe sits on the same 2775mm wheelbase as the four-door ATS but features a…

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Nissan plans production BladeGlider and IDX models

The Nissan IDx and BladeGlider concept cars have been added to Nissan’s mid-term product plan, with possible launches within the next five years. Traditional replacements for the current 370Z and GT-R models are also in the pipeline. That’s according to Nissan’s product planning chief Andy Palmer, who revealed at the…

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Why Infiniti’s performance needs careful consideration

The success or otherwise of Infiniti in Europe should be judged in 2020, not on 2013’s performance, according to Infiniti vice president Andy Palmer. Nissan’s luxury arm has struggled to make an impression in Europe since it launched in 2008, where it has been hampered by limited engine options and…

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