G-40 Bulldog 2-5/16" Trailer Coupler Lock on 2040-parts.com

Car buying, minus the dealership

“Test drives delivered” is the motto of Tred, a Seattle-based startup that's taking the car dealership out of the car-buying process -- at least from the shopper's perspective. Wired.com reported Thursday that by accessing Tred via the Web or an iPad app, shoppers will be able to select the cars they want to test-drive and have them delivered to the location of their choice. Each car is then delivered by a Tred staffer rather than a dealership salesperson.

Mercedes E300 BlueTEC (2011/2012) revealed

The Mercedes E300 BlueTEC - 70mpg and on sale late 2011 Just like every other car maker, Mercedes is trying to push ever more fuel efficient and low emitting cars to the market. The range of BlueEfficiency C Class and E Class are a good example, which should be a huge success. And they no doubt will be if Mercedes can solve the problems of the high-tech injectors giving up the ghost after a month or two.

Concept Car of the Week: Mercedes F200 Imagination (1996)

The F200 Imagination was designed at Mercedes' Advanced Design studio in Tokyo, in response to the question 'does the car of the future still have a steering wheel and foot-operated controls?' Take a look at the car's interior and the answer was fairly emphatic, as the steering wheel and pedals were replaced by joysticks, called Sidesticks, that operated the throttle, brakes and steering by wire. There were two sticks to choose from, one on the left of the cabin and one in the center console. However, both had the same function – push forward to accelerate, left or right to turn, and back to brake – so either of the front passengers could control the car.