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GM disbands unit that creates high-performance vehicles

General Motors, focusing on mainstream products in a battle to survive, has scrapped a unit that produced high-performance vehicles. GM on Wednesday disbanded High Performance Vehicle Operations, which is based at the company's suburban Detroit technical center, and redeployed its engineers, spokesman Vince Muniga said. "All high-performance projects are on indefinite hold," Muniga said.

New Mercedes A Class: Production increased to meet demand

With over 70,000 orders already in the pipeline for the new Mercedes A Class, Mercedes are increasing production to meet demand. The increase in production at Mercedes plant in Rastatt, Germany, means adding a third shift to effectively increase production by almost 50 per cent and make a dent in the 70k plus orders Mercedes already has for the new A Class. That’s in stark contrast to the recent news that Mercedes is having to slash production of the S Class as sales falter, partly due to a new S Class in the pipeline for 2013 but also because buyers are falling in love with more compact offerings.

Mandela BMW for sale

A BMW 3 Series signed by Nelson Mandela as one of 10 ‘Democracy Cars’ is up for sale in the UK and expected to fetch £5000 at auction. The unique piece of South African history is for sale on 28 April at the RAF Museum in Hendon, London. Built in 2004, the silver BMW saloon was donated by employees at BMW’s factory in South Africa to mark the election of Mandela as President of the country and his earlier release from prison.