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Testa Rossas, Lemons, Laguna Seca and design inspiration – Monterey Car Week 2014

As a first timer to this annual festival it’s easy to think of it purely as Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. However, in reality the blue-chip show on the famous golf course is simply the climax of a whole week of formal events, impromptu gatherings and an overall sense of overwhelming from the sheer quantity and quality of the cars, all packed onto this upmarket West Coast peninsular.It's this variety that means this event really is what you make of it. Want to live it up like a billionaire and feel the buzz of $400million worth of cars pass under the auctioneers’ hammers, followed by some lobster and champagne in the golf club?

First Sight: Mercedes-AMG GT

“If I was to buy any sports car that wasn't a Mercedes, it'd be a Porsche 911,” says Mercedes' head of design, Gorden Wagener. “But when you see the two cars together, we think ours has the edge.” He's talking about the new Mercedes-AMG GT, a front-mid engined, two-seater sports car that's unashamedly aimed at higher-end 911s, and we've come to see it at Mercedes' Sindelfingen studio.  The GT replaces the larger SLS, and is seen by Wagener as the best example yet of his 'sensual purity' design philosophy: “The SLS is very much [he gestures] line, line with a surface in between. With the GT we started with the surface and worked to refine and reduce the number of lines.” Elements of the SLS's platform have been carried over, so the GT measures the same 1,939mm wide.

Ford prices new 2012 Focus ST from £21,995

Ford has confirmed prices for the new Focus ST. The new 247bhp hot hatch will cost from £21,995 for the hatchback, or £23,095 for the Focus ST estate. That undercuts the VW Golf GTI, which has bumped up in price in recent years to a stout £25,330 despite having a more modest 207bhp. It also makes it better value than the £26,995 Vauxhall Astra VXR and Renaultsport Megane RS 265 at £24,840.