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New Mercedes SLS planned – & it won’t be a hybrid

AMG’s Tobias Moers has confirmed that a new Mercedes SLS is planned – as is a sub-SLS SLC – but it won’t come with hybrid power and electric assistance. But the Mercedes take on a supercar – the Mercedes SLS – isn’t set to go down the KERS route ant time soon according to AMG’s Director of Vehicle Development, Tobias Moers, who said that a next generation SLS – which is under development – would rely on weight saving and engine tweaking, just like the new Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series (pictured above), rather than electric assistance for its performance. Moers also said that Mercedes and AMG realised that the AMG brand doesn’t have the cachet of Ferrari and they have no plans to produce a car to go head to head with LaFerrari (or even the McLaren P1) so we won’t be seeing a hyper-SLS pushed upmarket in to the firing line of Ferrari any time soon.

Kia four-door sports sedan concept

Kia isn't giving much away about its Frankfurt-bound concept car, indeed it hasn't even released its name yet, referring to it as the 'four-door sports sedan concept.' The press release talks of it as 'signalling a distinctive new design direction' for the Korean brand, yet the now-familiar 'tiger-nose' grille and Optima-esque A-pillar/cant rail/C-pillar highlight are very much in evidence. "No matter from which perspective you look at it - this concept car is roaring with energy and ready for take-off," says Peter Schreyer, Kia Motors Chief Design Officer."I believe the car is a strong statement from Kia: we are ready to fast forward to an all new chapter." We'll bring you full details (and hopefully a name) from IAA next month. Photo gallery: Kia four-door sports sedan concept  

First Corvette Stingray Convertible sells for $1 million

The first Chevrolet Corvette Stingray to be built has been auctioned for charity by Barrett Jackson  and bought by Rick Hendrick for $1 million. The new Corvette Stingray Convertible was offered for sale this weekend at Barratt Jackson’s auction in Palm Beach, Florida, with GM donating the healthy proceeds of $1 million to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. The Stingray Convertible was bought by wealthy NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, who can now add the Stingray Convertible to his collection of cars, which also includes the first of the new Stingrays for which he paid $1.1 million.