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Mercedes SLC Gullwing caught testing

McLaren is well on the way with development of the P11 as we saw recently, and Mercedes is definitely getting close with its replacement, the Mercedes SLC AMG Gullwing. Mercedes SLC AMG Gullwing - Caught testing and due in showrooms in 2010 Our snappers caught the Gullwing out  testing, ready for the concept’s launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year. The SLC’s most striking feature (at least on the coupe) is the Gullwing doors, reminiscent of the original 300SL.

Creature comforts now top car-shoppers' 'must-haves'

New technologies come with a learning curve, but once we tackle the initial challenge it's amazing how quickly new features become “must-haves.” From cars that unlock as we approach to those that keep themselves between the lines and a safe distance from what's ahead, we have already become accustomed to high-tech driving. So which features would most drivers refuse to live without? Surprisingly, it's the simplest creature comforts most people hold dear—at least for now.

Video: Chris Bangle delivers “Empowerment: Design without Designers” talk at Creative Mornings/London

Chris Bangle – the undisputed front man of car design – needs little introduction, so the prospect of the former BMW Design Director and now founder of Chris Bangle Associates giving a talk in our home town of London was too good to pass up. His presentation (which you can watch in full in the video to the left) touched on his time at BMW, but was more focused on the idea of empowering others to create: "design without you in the middle", as Bangle says. From the story of the co-creation of the staircase in his Italian studio to the idea of encouraging people to think about their culture when designing, his philosophies transcend disciplines.