Driven: Ford Focus

The previous two generations of the Ford Focus have consistently been near the top of the European best sellers list over their combined 13-year life spans, but this new car has even greater responsibility. This is the first Focus designed – from the outset – for European, American and Asian markets combined. The biggest, most pertinent question is whether the global 'One Ford' strategy this car has been designed under can work in practice.

Nissan hosts Taxi of Tomorrow Design Expo

Back in May, we reported that Nissan had successfully fended off competition from Ford and Karsan to be crowned New York's ‘Taxi of tomorrow'. In collaboration with an all-new infrastructure, the NV200 light commercial vehicle would serve the Big Apple from 2013. In preparation of this, the NV200 will be displayed at the Tomorrow Design Expo next month, allowing New Yorkers an opportunity to familiarize themselves with their new yellow cabs. The NV200 features a variety of amenities above and beyond the outgoing Crown Victorias, with the NV200's equipment list ranging from dual-zone climate control and new exterior lighting that includes the standard availability indicators and 'trouble light' (that silently notifies nearby police when the driver is in danger) to a 'horn light' to reduce horn usage and noise pollution.

Smart ForTwo (2006): first official pictures

By Phil McNamara First Official Pictures 10 November 2006 08:31 New Smart ForTwo: the lowdown These are the first pictures of the new Smart ForTwo, which goes on sale in the UK in September 2007. The Mk2 city car looks much the same, but it's had a thorough overhaul. In comes a 1.0-litre engine with more power, mated to an automated manual transmission that's claimed to eliminate today's slow and jerky changes.