Mercedes GLA goes subterranean

FOR SUV owners looking to test their cars’ off-road credentials, the obvious place to put them to the test probably isn’t nearly 200 metres underground. But that’s exactly where the new Mercedes GLA found itself as it descended into Winsford Rock Salt Mine, 620 feet beneath the Cheshire countryside. The working mine, which supplies much of the UK’s gritting salt for wintry roads, played host to four standard (apart from extra driving lights) GLA models, which were lowered down into the mine nose first before being let loose in the 130-mile network of tunnels.

Jaguar tops J.D. Power Survey in the US

Jaguar tops the US JD Power Survey for luxury cars in 2009 This year’s J.D. Power survey in the UK saw Lexus winning out, but it’s a different story on the other side of the Pond, where Jaguar have come top of the crop for the Luxury Sector followed by Cadillac, with Lexus, Mercedes and Land Rover filling up the top five. So the Brits (well, Indians) have taken two of the top five slots in what is probably the most influential car ownership survey around.

Car Design News Contest 2008 Winners

It's been five months since the Car Design News Contest 2008 brief was first announced. And now, the last of our nine esteemed judges have completed their assessment of the 20 finalists. We are pleased to announce the winners in the professional and student designer categories, respectively: Jay Wen from New Zealand and Seyyed Javad Ghaffarian from Iran.