2012 Mercedes B-Class: First interior photos

2012 Mercedes B-Class Interior - first photo We’re expecting the 2012 Mercedes B-Class to be a big jump on from the current car - certainly in quality and dynamic terms – when it arrives at Frankfurt. And if the photo we’ve had in this morning of the 2012 B-Class’s interior is anything to go by, we’re not going to be too disappointed. We already know that the new B-Class is growing in size and that it will get all new engines with same direct injection as the BlueDIRECT (let’s just hope Mercedes now has the injector problems the C and E Class suffered under control) and a choice of either a six-speed manual or a  new 7G-DCT ‘box, which will be a huge improvement on the dreadful rubber band box in the old B-Class.

Volkswagen hits back, weighs making a bid for Porsche

Volkswagen is considering an audacious reverse-takeover bid for its majority shareholder, Porsche, in a twist in the drawn-out struggle for control between the two German carmakers. The Volkswagen Group's supervisory board is said to be weighing the possibility of purchasing Porsche AG, in a move that would relieve its holding company, Porsche SE, of massive debt that industry analysts suggest the company may not be able to fund should the world's financial crisis drag on well into 2010--a scenario put forward this week by the International Monetary Fund. The secret plan emerged as shareholders were set to convene at Volkswagen's annual meeting on Thursday, and it comes after Porsche revealed that it is carrying some 9 billion euros ($11.73 billion) in debt, most of it owing to interest on loans taken out to purchase its 50.8 percent stake in VW.

Jaguar F-Type Coupe ‘Lightweight’ Club Sport plotted

Jaguar are plotting a more focused version of the F-Type Coupe (pictured The new Jaguar F-Type Coupe is the first proper sports car from Jaguar in 50 years, and it looks like Jaguar are plotting to extend the appeal of the F-Type Coupe with more focused versions. We’ve already seen the Jaguar Project 7 F-Type with a hefty dose of DNA from the D-Type – even if that was billed as a one-off – but it now seems Jaguar are looking for a limited production run of a lightweight F-Type – perhaps the Jaguar F-Type Club Sport. Motoring in Australia managed to bend the ear of F-Type Production Director Russ Varney, who had some interesting speculation to add fuel to the fire over the rumours of a more focused F-Type Coupe.