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BMW and Merc to join forces

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 08 February 2008 13:03 CAR Online today reveals the extent to which BMW and Mercedes are plotting to cooperate on future models. In a wide-ranging plan, the two German premium marques could join forces to take on the might of Audi, with its backing and economies of scale of the whole Volkswagen group and, increasingly, Porsche. BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer and his counterpart at Daimler, Dieter Zetsche, are coming to the conclusion that the two brands – for so long, fierce rivals – should work together rather than fight against each other.

Cyclists 'a pretty special bunch'

WE BRITS think cyclists are more intelligent and charitable than the average person, according to a new report. A study for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) found that sportsmen and women generally were more attractive than celebrities, with most qualities attributed to cyclists. The survey of 600 adults also showed that two thirds admitted to liking lycra.

Ford EcoSport heading for Europe

At Ford’s ‘Go Further’ even in Amsterdam today, it’s been revealed that the compact SUV Ford EcoSport will be sold in Europe. Ford in Brazil has been building a small SUV based on the Fiesta for almost a decade, and the new Ford EcoSport is a new version based on the latest Fiesta platform and already on sale in South America and India. Now Ford has confirmed – to no one’s great surprise – that they will be launching the EcoSport in the UK and Europe in the next eighteen months.