A round-up of other motoring news in brief
Mercedes E class unveiled - with several design lines from the S class
Still over six months away from release, this is the next generation of the Mercedes E class testing on public roads.
The next E class will take several design lines from the current S class - in particular wheel-arch extensions, rising character line below the door handles, large bumpers, and styled window area.
Driver assistance in general is a major theme for the new model. Expect lane-departure warnings, an eye-movement monitor, traffic-sign identification, road-condition sensors, and stability control that accounts for crosswinds, camber changes, and tyre wear.
The engine range is likely to remain largely the same, with some increases in power output and better fuel efficiency.
Ferrari announce rise in profits
Ferrari said third-quarter profit rose by 41.1 per cent. Net income for the quarter was €79 million compared with €56 million a year earlier. Sales rose 22.3 per cent to €450 million, the company said.
The good news for the prancing horse brand came as its Formula One motorsport division raised doubts about whether they'd remain in the sport if organisers adopt a plan to introduce a standardised engine.
The warning came in response to an announcement two weeks ago that standardisation would be brought in from 2010 to cut costs. Ferrari, which has been involved in Formula One since 1950, said, following a meeting of its directors in Maranello, that such a move would detract from "a raison d'être based principally on competition and technological development.
"The board of directors expressed the opinion that, should these key elements be diminished, it would have to re-evaluate the viability of continuing its presence in the sport," a statement said.
BMW's new four wheel drive X1
It may be completely focused on the suburban market but the upcoming BMW X1 will be a full-time four-wheel-drive. The latest model has the same sized footprint as Ford's Kuga and the Toyota RAV4, although prices will be significantly higher. The cabin will share a a lot of features with the 1-series, complete with the latest iDrive and BMW's signature swan-necked gearlever. Like all new BMW models, the X1 will feature EfficientDynamics technology. A full hybrid version is unlikely to get the green light on cost grounds: the first hybrid from BMW will be in the X6 model range.