Mercedes S-Class Convertible confirmed

The Mercedes S-Class Convertible will be based on the S-Class Coupe (pictured) The new Mercedes S-Class has already arrived, and we’ve also got the new S-Class Coupe (in concept form, at least) with the next variant of the new S-Class now looking likely to be the Mercedes S-Class Convertible. We’ve known since 2011 that Mercedes were planning to chop the top off the S-Class for the first time since the W111 S-Class in the 1960s, but this is the first time anyone from Mercedes has officially confirmed it. Thomas Weber, Mercedes’ product development boss, has told Automotive News that the S-Class Convertible is on the way and will be based on the new S-Class Coupe.

Honda cuts 800 jobs at Swindon Plant

Honda is cutting 800 jobs at its Swindon Plant as demand for cars across Europe weakens and moving to a single shift system. We’ve not had a huge amount of bad news in the UK car industry for some time, but Honda’s decision to cut 800 jobs at its Swindon Plant is a tough pill to swallow for the workforce. Honda blames ‘Sustained conditions of low demand’ in Europe for the swathing cuts in its workforce in the, but believes the move is necessary to protect the long-term future of Swindon.

Good Ideas Salon, Tokyo

To discuss ‘pure living' as a concept, Nissan and trends company PSFK hosted the Good Ideas Salon in Tokyo on 20 October 2009; a moderated conversation between International and local guests explored how pure living manifests itself in design, technology, urban living and transportation. Panelist Marc Alt, founder of Marc Alt + Partners, a strategic agency dedicated to sustainability and social innovation, began the Salon discussion stating that, "Companies and individuals need to understand what it means to be green in their daily lifestyle choices. Sustainability is not just about creating energy-efficient resources, but being more efficient in how we use these resources.