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McLaren P1 sales will double turnover and quadruple profit in 2014 for McLaren

The McLaren P1 (pictured) boosts McLaren’s profits We’re starting to see the McLaren P1 – McLaren’s modern replacement for the iconic McLaren P1 – rolling out to lucky owners, and that will continue apace during 2014. Which means McLaren will see a big rise in its turnover and an even bigger rise in profits – up four-fold – as the £866,000 P1 replenishes McLaren’s bank account. But, although it will take a while to build, deliver and get paid for all 375 P1s, the P1 won’t be a long-term cash cow for McLaren, just a nice little booster as it starts to plan to up production to 4,500 cars a year over the next few years.

BMWism.com compiles definitive history of BMW designers

BMW fansite, BMWism.com, has compiled a definitive history of the company's key designers throughout the ages. The list tracks the brand's creatives, from Lucien Rosengart in 1881, right up to Magnus Aspegren, now Director of the Singapore Studio of BMW Group Designworks USA. It also unearths some great images from the company's vaults.

Mercedes-Benz has big plans for small cars

Breaking outside its American position of rear-wheel-drive luxury vehicles, Mercedes-Benz will launch its new front-wheel-drive architecture in the United States in the next three years in the form of a coupe, SUV and possibly a small wagon or compact hatchback. Joachim Schmidt, Mercedes' global sales and marketing boss, said Mercedes is developing at least four models based on its MFA, or Mercedes Front-wheel-drive Architecture. "We will introduce the next generation of our MFA family to the U.S.," Schmidt said in an interview.