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.

Volvo XC60 gets R-Design package

The Volvo XC60 is the next in line to get the R-Design treatment, and it will debut in September at the Frankfurt auto show. The R-Design brings sporty looks to the XC60 with a vamped-up style, a specially tuned sports chassis and a more direct steering gear ratio. The exterior resembles R-Design features on the C30, the S40, the V50 and the XC90.

Cadillac CTS Coupe (2010) – Official

Cadillac will launch the CTS Coupe in Spring 2010 Having let the cat out of the bag over plans for a range-topping Cadillac CTS-V Coupe (and the CTS-V Wagon) the other day, GM has now released official detail of its less powerful sibling, the CTS Coupe, which will launch in the Spring of 2010, so as is American convention we should probably call it the 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe (the American car industy is as bad as the fashion industry – everything is ‘Next Year’). The CTS Coupe joins the Saloon (Sedan) and Estate (Wagon) to complete the three model lineup for the CTS, and is by far the best looking of the bunch, although to be fair both the saloon and estate are attractive in a bold, American kind of way. Sitting a couple of inches lower than the saloon, the Coupe is also a couple of inches shorter.