Springfield 1840220 Seat Suspension System on 2040-parts.com

Merc to revive straight six, plus 4cyl and smaller V8s

Mercedes has just signed off a new engine family which will see most full-sized Mercs in future run four-cylinders, downsized V8s and… straight sixes. A friendly Mercedes engineer recently met CAR to disclose the engine plans for future models, including the surprise disclosure that Merc plans to switch to straight sixes, like its rivals over in Munich.  It's fair to say I almost choked on my breakfast croissant when I found out the details of the next MB engine generation which has just been signed off for release in 2015. Mercedes' future four-cylinder engines Again, there will be a family of new low-cost fours, and the big-bore V8s will be replaced by a series of downsized turbocharged 4.0-litre units.

Toyota Prius C (the new small City Prius) leaks out

Toyota Prius C Leak - scanned from a brochure Toyota are busy growing the Prius range in to a sub brand in all but name. We’ve got the regular Prius and the Toyota Prius+ (and Prius V and plug-in Prius), and now, following the concept reveal at Detroit, we get the Prius City Car – the Toyota Prius C. The Toyota Prius C has leaked out via a brochure scan from Japan and, although European specs may be a bit different, we get the first proper look at Toyota’s baby Prius.

Volvo uses Facebook to research new interior solutions

Volvo is using Facebook to conduct market research into how drivers use their cars' interiors via its new 'You Inside' app. Users are asked to create a personal profile that includes the car they drive, their lifestyle and a list of day-to-day items they keep inside their car. The aim is to identify new design solutions based around qualitative data.