Sherman 906-99 Grille Chevrolet S10 on 2040-parts.com

Smart Forspeed concept signals new design direction

Smart will unveil a new concept at the forthcoming Geneva motor show that signals a new design direction, hints at future product and confirms parent company Daimler's renewed commitment to the brand. Car Design News was granted early access to the concept, baptized Forspeed, at a secret photography studio in Stuttgart last week and heard the head of advanced design, Steffen Kohl, explain how the two-seat, electric-powered vehicle prefaces design themes in both the next Fortwo and the revived Forfour, which will be launched in 2014. "The fullness of this concept's exterior surfaces is important and will be reflected in future production models," said Kohl, "Smart will still be short, spacey, agile, and with wheels at the corners of the car, but with an added sporty and emotional design and without losing all the brand's iconic elements like its ‘plastic fantastic' aspect and the safe and hi-tech modular tridion shell assembled with all these changeable body parts.

Nissan cuts the price of the Micra to £7,995

The Nissan Micra is getting a price cut in the UK, with the entry-level Micra dropping to just £7,995 and price cuts across the Micra range. That means the entry-level Micra 1.2 12v Visia comes down form a not exactly bargain basement £9,750 to a much more appealing £7,995. And Nissan hasn’t done it by cutting equipment levels, as they say every model still gets the same level of equipment, including Bluetooth.

Aston Martin Racing to sell V8 Vantage and DBR 1-2

Aston Martin Racing is offering for sale two pedigreed race cars for display -- both sporting the legendary Gulf Oil livery -- for the low, low price of $379,300 each, converted today from British pounds. The V8 Vantage GTE chassis No. X2 competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2012.