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Geneva Motor Show 2011 - Recap

Last week, the Car Design News team headed out to Geneva to cover the motor show, just as we've always done. But there was something different about it this year. This 81st recurrence of the Swiss motor show not only saw Jaguar celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic E-Type and the first Italdesign vehicles created under the stewardship of Volkswagen, it also heralded a significant step forward for Car Design News' coverage of motor shows.

Paramount Marauder – yep, the one from Top Gear

The Marauder lays waste a wall We knew the Hamster was off to South Africa to play with a vehicle that made the Hummer look like a Tonka Toy. And we knew – because they ‘hinted’ at it when we spoke to them last week – that the whole Top Gear segment had more than a little to do with the Paramount Group in South Africa, purveyors of innovative armoured vehicles. So, as suspected, we were treated to Richard conquering the Urban Jungle of Johannesburg in the Paramount Marauder, an aptly-named, go anywhere, seemingly indestructible piece of military hardware made street-legal.

Mercedes CLA: Price from £24,355

The new Mercedes CLA – the swoopy coupe based on the new A Class – will cost from £24,355 in the UK with a choice of Sport or AMG Sport trim. Mercedes gave a quick flash of their cool new A Class Coupe and then whipped it off to the Berlin Fashion Week for a proper debut, clearly showing that Mercedes think the new CLA a style statement as much as a car. And now, if you want to make a style statement with the good looking CLA (a car Mercedes call ‘Cool’) you can, with the CLA now on sale in the UK.