Maserati GranCabrio MC, Maserati Levante & Maserati Ghibli: Paris 2012

Maserati has revealed the GranCabrio MC at Paris 2012 and revealed new names joining the current Maserati line-up – Levante & Ghibli. The GranCabrio MC is, more or less, the open-topped version of the GranTurismo MC Stradale and gets the same powertrain setup, with a 453hp, 4.7 litre V8 with 520NM of torque. But it doesn’t get the automated manual of the  GranTurismo MC and instead gets a more ‘comfortable’ regular auto ‘box.

Plans for Smart’s three-seat sports car uncovered in patent drawings

Mercedes-Benz is developing a three-seat sports car for Smart. Depicted here in a series of European patent-application sketches obtained by AutoWeek, the radical new sports car forms part of an extended range of new Smart models planned for introduction by the middle of the next decade, including a more conventional four-seater to be produced in cooperation with Renault. Mercedes-Benz is reacting to increased competition from Toyota in the form of the iQ and the impending arrival of similar urban-based offerings from premium-brand rivals Audi and BMW.

Video: Gordon Wagener on the Mercedes Concept Style Coupe

Mercedes-Benz has released a short video in which Head of Design Gordon Wagener presents the new Concept Style Coupe. The Concept Style Coupe, officially introduced at the recent Beijing auto show, was first seen at the Avant/Garde festival prior to Beijing in an unusual move for the brand. "In this case we thought the car was so progressive and avant-gardistic that we decided to put it here into this art show," says Wagener.