Plans for Smart’s three-seat sports car uncovered in patent drawings

Mercedes-Benz is developing a three-seat sports car for Smart. Depicted here in a series of European patent-application sketches obtained by AutoWeek, the radical new sports car forms part of an extended range of new Smart models planned for introduction by the middle of the next decade, including a more conventional four-seater to be produced in cooperation with Renault. Mercedes-Benz is reacting to increased competition from Toyota in the form of the iQ and the impending arrival of similar urban-based offerings from premium-brand rivals Audi and BMW.

Michael Schumacher tests 2015 Mercedes C-Class

Formula One ace Michael Schumacher was back behind the wheel of a Silver Arrow in a new Mercedes C-Class video this week. He is testing the autonomous features such as pre-braking, lane keeping and radar cruise control. Mercedes director of driver assistance systems Jochen Hermann talks us through the video, with Schumacher behind the wheel, starting with the Distronic Plus system.

Aston Martin Rapide: Is the Rapide not selling?

Aston Martin Rapide - doesn't seem to be selling It took AML an age to get the Aston Martin Rapide to market, but they eventually managed it and the first customer Rapide finally left Magna Steyr in May 2010. The general consensus was that the Rapide was something of a triumph for Aston Martin. They’d managed to squeeze an extra pair of doors in to a stretched DB9 and made the back seats of the Rapid just about commodious enough to be useable.