Dodge Chrome Ram Head Grille Emblem on 2040-parts.com

Smart For-Us concept unveiled at 2012 Detroit show

Smart made a splash with its world debut at the 2012 Detroit auto show: its For-Us concept car provides a vision of the Smart as an American icon, a pick-up. The diminutive truck - just 3547mm long - is longer than a Fortwo, and is supposed to be based on the running gear of the next-gen Smart Forfour, aka the new Renault Twingo. So if the For-Us doesn't look so much like a Smart any more, from the front at least, that's why.

2013 Mercedes E Class Saloon & Estate price from £32,400

Mercedes has revealed that the 2013 E Class saloon will start at £32,400 and the E Class Estate from 34,310. The E63 AMG costs from £73,720. In fact, with everything from lights to bumpers, grills to interior and smoother haunches and a big crease line down the side, Mercedes could almost have claimed the new E Class to be a new car rather than just a mid-life facelift for the current E Class.

Tesla pays off its government loans

Tesla paid off the last of its $465 million government loans May 22, nine years ahead of schedule, thus outperforming most U.S. college graduates and the vast majority of American homeowners. Tesla used funds from a stock offering to finish the loan with a whopping bank transfer of $451.8 million Wednesday, pointing out that it was “…the only American car company to have fully repaid the government.” Apparently no one at Tesla was even born when Lee Iacocca paid off Chrysler's $1.2-billion government bailout ahead of schedule back in 1983.