Daimler and BYD name new brand Denza

Mercedes-Benz sources in Germany have confirmed Chinese media reports suggesting that parent company Daimler and Chinese carmaker BYD's new joint venture brand will be called Denza. Created as a Chinese-market-only brand, Denza is planned to support a range of "affordable" electric-powered vehicles, the first of which is set to be unveiled at the Beijing motor show next month. Based on the underpinnings of the first-generation Mercedes-Benz B-class--a car originally designed to accept batteries within its flat floor structure--the first Denza model was developed in China by a team of engineers from both Daimler and BYD Auto.

Third annual World Automotive Design Competition

The third annual World Automotive Design Competition, sponsored by Alias, was hosted by the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Ontario, on February 12. Britain's Coventry School of Art and Design, and Tsinghua University in Beijing, China were the big winners, together garnering seven of the eight prizes. Ninety-four students from twenty design schools from China, Brazil, Japan, France, Korea, England, Wales, Italy, Spain, India, Sweden, the USA and Canada competed to win over US$140,000 in prizes.

George Formby's Rolls Royce goes to auction

A CLASSIC 1950 Rolls-Royce originally owned by British comedian and film star George Formby is up for grabs at auction on 30 November. The 1950 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith was on display at that year’s Earls Court Motor Show and caught Formby’s eye, so he bought it there and then. Formby was a big customer for Rolls-Royce and owned 26 of the British luxury cars during his lifetime.