Maybach officially turns up its toes

After almost a decade of trying, Mercedes has finally officially thrown in the towel and announced the end of Maybach production. Maybach – a brand name almost unknown outside Germany when it was revived – was supposed to be Mercedes’ answer to Rolls Royce and Bentley. And perhaps it could have been.

Saleen Sneak Peek

With the magical five-point-oh menacingly back on the quarter panels of 'Stangs, it didn't take long for tuners to saddle up performance steeds for 2011. Saleen Performance has goosed the 2011 Mustang GT with a slew of enhancements to create the S302, including a shorter-throw six-speed manual, optional brake upgrades that measure 14 inches with six-piston calibers and a Racecraft suspension that lowers ride height by 1.5 inches. The exterior gets rockers, a scooped hood and front and rear fascia, which are complemented by a redone interior with piano-black finishings.

Lincoln MKC – it’s an upmarket Ford Kuga: 2013 Detroit Auto Show

Ford has revealed the Lincoln MKC Concept at the Detroit Auto Show, a titivated upmarket offering based on the Ford Kuga. Despite strong sales on the other side of the Pond, Ford is struggling in Europe – just like every other mainstream car brand – and they’re probably ruing the day they decided to unravel their Premier Auto Group, selling off Aston Martin, Volvo and – their biggest mistake – Jaguar Land Rover. Which means that if Ford want to get back in to the – potentially very profitable – realm of premium cars again they’re stuck with doing it with one of their ‘brands’.