Mercedes-Benz GLA stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

The Mercedes-Benz GLA compact crossover is making its European debut at the firm’s home motor show, Frankfurt 2013, and it’s aiming to take on the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 in the up-market small SUV sector. Being based on the firm’s A-Class hatchback is a good way to start, too, with decent, efficient engines, plenty of premium quality and some striking styling to boot.

New Small Jaguar – Not before 2016

New Small Jaguar - but not before a new XF We’ve discussed the replacement for the Jaguar X-Type – dubbed the New Small Jaguar – almost endlessly over the last year or two. Which with both the Jaguar XF and the Jaguar XJ replacing cars that were good but really didn’t sell, and turning them in to contenders for the top-spot in their sectors, a replacement for the X-Type is of huge interest. We had thought – in fact Jaguar had thought – that the plan  to replace the X-Type was a high priority.

Inside MP4-12C's new McLaren Production Centre

McLaren today opened the doors to its new McLaren Production Centre which will build the MP4-12C and all future supercars from Ron Dennis's fledgling sports car brand. British prime minister David Cameron attended the event, hailing the economic benefits of manufacturing. He said the UK car industry was helping reshape the national economy from a service-based one enriching the minority to one which actually made things again - to the benefit of a wider slice of society.