First Sight: Smart Fortwo and Forfour

"Dress-down Wednesday," remarked a colleague as Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche walked on stage wearing jeans and no tie. While it was a hot day in Berlin, Zetsche's excuse for his informal attire was the occasion – the new Smart is here. Its prospective owners, he explained – young, urban consumers with an active lifestyle, not the typical members of corporate Germany – adhere to a different, if similarly rigid etiquette.

BMW 5-series GT gets a new six-cylinder mix

After a sluggish first few months for the 5-series GT crossover, BMW executives admit they may have missed the model mix. At launch, the 550 GT was available only with rear-wheel drive and a V-8 engine. That will change with the introduction of an all-wheel-drive model in June and a six-cylinder engine in the fall.

Jaguar C-X17 Concept bringing SUV preview and new platform to Frankfurt

The Jaguar C-X17 concept will preview one of the brand's upcoming pair of SUVs, as well as its new modular aluminum platform that will underpin its next generation of cars. The teaser picture accompanying the press release doesn't give a huge amount away in terms of aesthetics, but familiar Jag elements such as the fender haunches and F-Type-style rear lamps suggest this will be instantly recognizable as a Jaguar. Its emphasis will be more on road performance than off-road ability in order to ensure it drives as a Jaguar should and also to avoid stepping on the toes of sister company, Land Rover.