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Ford Fiesta retains eco marathon title

A FORD Fiesta has been crowned the winner of the ALD Automotive/Shell Fuelsave MPG Marathon for the second year running. The 1.6-litre diesel Fiesta Econetic achieved 88.69mpg over 339.3 miles on what some observers say was the toughest course yet for the annual event. Hills, bad weather and heavy traffic were all obstacles faced by the 46 competitors who set out from Tankersley Manor, near Sheffield.

Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake on the way

Mercedes’ design boss Gordon Wagener has revealed to WhatCar that they are planning to go exactly the same route with the CLA as they did with the CLS, and create a coupe estate. The CLS Shooting Brake (pictured below) has been very well received, and with much of the world downsizing its cars a CLA Estate is a very sensible way to go, offering all the good design elements of the CLA – which already looks like a CLS on a boil wash – in a car that has more practicality. Wagener gave no idea of time scale for the CLA Shooting Brake, but with the first CLAs expected to hit customers in June it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a concept CLA Shooting Brake arrive by the time of the Frankfurt Motor Show in September before going on sale in 2014.

Aston Martin DB5 James Bond SKYFALL video preview

The new James Bond film – SKYFALL – features the most iconic Bond car – the Aston Martin DB5 – featured in this video preview. As we reported back in February, the makers of the new James Bond film, Skyfall, have decided to sprinkle a bit of historic Bond fairy dust on their new movie with the return of the Aston Martin DB5 to Bond. And with the release of Skyfall getting closer (it debuts in the UK on 26th October) the makers are getting a bit of Aston Martin PR rolling with this video showing the DB5 in action on the Bond set.