Honda's future plans cut Acura TSX platform

The future of Acura's TSX appears uncertain as Honda Motor prepares to abandon the platform used for the compact sedan. Acura boss Jeff Conrad says the TSX will remain in the lineup "for the foreseeable future." But when Acura moved into the entry-luxury segment with the ILX last year it jammed up its sedan lineup -- both in terms of vehicle sizes and pricing ladders. The ILX and aging TSX are positioned close to each other, as are the TSX and mid-sized TL.

Ford and GM tie-in with Apple

Having established a relationship with Nike for recycling materials as demonstrated on the Ford Reflex concept, Ford has now joined GM in collaborating with Apple to ensure their cars are iPod compatible. Rather than the retrofitted wire many drivers have had to resort to, cars will offer a bespoke area in the glove compartment that also acts as a charging point, the iPod instead controlled through the car?s GUI. By the end of the year, 70% of all new models sold in America are expected to be iPod compatible, an arrangement that furthers Apple?s continuing domination of the MP3-player market and one that will introduce Apple to the car-computer market, anticipated to be worth $6billion by 2010.

Mercedes GLA Edition 1: More details & photos

The new Mercedes GLA Edition 1 (pictured) kicks off sales of the new GLA Mercedes has discovered that a launch edition of a new car – with special paintwork and lots opf extras – is a good way to kick off sales so, with the new GLA due to go on sale in November, we get more details on the new Mercedes GLA Edition 1. We reported the GLA Edition 1 would kick off sales of the new GLA range last month, but now Mercedes has sorted out the specs, even if we don’t have a UK price yet (although the ‘Edition 1′ can be had on all the non AMG versions in Germany for an extra €6300). Based on the GLA Urban Line, the Edition 1 comes with faux chrome roof rails and skid guards, bi-xenons, 19″ AMG alloys, black louvres with chrome inserts on the grill, black mirrors and waistline trim and privacy glass and will come with a choice of cirrus white, orient brown metallic, mountain grey metallic and designo magno mountain grey paintwork with ‘Edition 1′ lettering on the wings.