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Mini, Airstream collaborate on concept for Italian show

One of the last things we expect to see is a Mini towing around a 22-foot Airstream trailer, but that's exactly what will be on display in Milan, Italy, at the Salone del Mobile show in April. The one-off concept brings together the two iconic brands to produce a combination that surely will please beachgoers. For a modern styling touch, the duo tapped furniture producers Republic of Fritz Hansen to work its magic on the Cooper S Clubman tow car and the Airstream trailer.

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.

Volkswagen demonstrates self-driving car

Flying cars might still be on the drawing board, but automakers are making progress toward futuristic advances in driving. The latest example from Volkswagen is a car that can essentially drive itself. Volkswagen presented its Temporary Auto Pilot (TAP) system this week at the European Union research project HAVEit (Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport).