Mazda launches amazing MX-5 CC

By Chris Chilton Motor Industry 07 August 2006 07:08 Mazda is claiming the world's first no compromises coupe-convertible, with its MX-5 Roadster-coupe. Traditionally, folding tin-tops keep out thieves but steal luggage space. They boost refinement, but make handling less tidy.

Chinese Grand Prix qualifying: Hamilton takes pole for Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton has grabbed his first pole position for Mercedes for tomorrow’s Chinese Grand Prix, with team mate Nico Rosberg in fourth putting second place Kimi Raikkonen in the Lotus and third place Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari in a Mercedes sandwich. Felipe Massa takes fifth in the second Ferrari and Grosjean sixth in the second Lotus with the Toro Rosso of Ricciardo in seventh, but it’s behind that the things get more interesting, especially in a race context. Behind the leading seven are Jenson Button in the McLaren and Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull, but both are on different strategies to the rest of the leaders and will start tomorrow’s race on the medium tyres they used for final qualifying instead of the soft tyres.

Concept Car of the Week: Mercedes-Benz VRC (1995)

The question of automobile versatility has been a real challenge for decades. Nowadays, car manufacturers keep coming up with hundreds of new segments, sub-segments, crossovers, and crossovers of crossovers... Most of them end up Jack-of-all-trades, master of none.