Acura Rl 2010 60630-sja-a01zz Base, Battery Setting on 2040-parts.com

New Mercedes A Class: Production increased to meet demand

With over 70,000 orders already in the pipeline for the new Mercedes A Class, Mercedes are increasing production to meet demand. The increase in production at Mercedes plant in Rastatt, Germany, means adding a third shift to effectively increase production by almost 50 per cent and make a dent in the 70k plus orders Mercedes already has for the new A Class. That’s in stark contrast to the recent news that Mercedes is having to slash production of the S Class as sales falter, partly due to a new S Class in the pipeline for 2013 but also because buyers are falling in love with more compact offerings.

2014 Honda Civic Tourer priced from £20,265

Order books will open next month for the 2014 Honda Civic Tourer – and surprisingly, it’ll cost more than a Volkswagen Golf. The entry-level 1.8-litre petrol will start at £20,265 – around £2,000 more than the base-spec Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf estates. But it beats them all for boot space.

Coventry University Degree Show 2010

Car Design News traveled to Coventry University's BA graduate exhibition last month, the largest and most established of its kind in the UK. Held in the University's School of Art and Design, the sheer number of graduates guaranteed a broad spread of projects. However, the recurring theme this year was of reinterpreting luxury in a more sustainable and socially conscious manner.