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Ford Ka (2009): more photos and details

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 08 September 2008 17:40 Ford has issued more details and photographs of its Ka city car, the Blue Oval's twin of the cutesy Fiat 500. The new Ka will – for the first time – be available as a diesel in the shape of the 74bhp 1.3-litre TDCI model, which can muster a very sensible 67.2mpg on the combined cycle. But don't forget that few 'mini buyers pick diesel in the UK; an oil-burning city car's price premium appears larger and economy gains smaller when compared with bigger cars, making diesel babies like hens' teeth.

Miko's high performance material with an ecological edge

Italian company Miko specializes in the development and production of Dinamica, a high quality ecological microfiber that can be used for anything from car door panels or upholstery to fashion accessories. The faux suede material is produced from a combination of recycled polyester and polyurethane fibers, and is also 100 percent recyclable at the end of its lifecycle. Lorenzo Terraneo, CEO of Miko, says: "Our priority has always been to invest in the research and development of recycled and eco-compatible materials with special characteristics that go far beyond existing qualitative standards." It is a testament to Terraneo's commitment that his company achieved its early aspirations and eco credentials long before concern for the environment and the reduction of carbon emissions was high on the political agenda or prevalent in the public conscience.

Mercedes CLA Detroit debut & CLA45 AMG at Frankfurt 2013

It looks like 2013 will be the year of the new baby CLS at Mercedes, with the regular Mercedes CLA debuting at Detroit in January and the CLA45 AMG at Frankfurt 2013. The next instalment of A-Class goodness will be the arrival of the ‘Baby CLS’ – the Mercedes CLA – which sets out to emulate the CLS with a swoopy coupe design expected to change little from the impressive Mercedes Concept Style Coupe we saw at the Beijing Motor Show in April. And if the new CLA looks just like the Style Concept then Mercedes will almost certainly have another hugely successful model in the A-Class range to bolster sales towards its aim of 2.6 million Mercedes sales a year by 2020.