CAR scoop: BMW and Toyota's joint sports car plot

BMW is buddying up with Toyota on an all-new sports car platform, set to underpin the replacements for the Z4, 6-series and GT86. The unlikely collaboration stems from an alliance that began in 2011, where BMW and Toyota agreed to co-develop next-generation lithium ion batteries, and for Toyota to use BMW’s fourpot diesels in its European cars. An engineering team is beavering away on the project, with the clock ticking: the suits want to outline the car’s specification before the end of 2013. What does BMW get out of the bargain?

Mercedes-Benz backs Smart with ads, deals

Smart USA will launch a TV, print and digital marketing campaign by year end to jump-start the struggling microcar brand that Mercedes-Benz USA took over on July 1. "People are not avoiding the brand or the product, but there is a great majority of people who are not aware of the brand," said Tracey Matura, the new general manager of Smart USA. Mercedes is also offering lease and finance deals for the Smart brand through its Mercedes-Benz Financial Services captive finance arm.

Infiniti M Line (2010/2011) – M37 & M30d – at Geneva +video

Infiniti are debuting the Infiniti M Line at the Geneva Motor Show Back in December Nissan released a heap of detail on their range-topping Infiniti – the Infiniti M Line – aimed at European buyers of the 5 Series and E Class. But sadly for us we’re not going to get the real halo Infiniti M Line – the M56 – instead we have to make do with the 3.7 litre V6 petrol – the M37 – and the 3.0 litre diesel – the M30d. We will be getting the M35 hybrid later, but that doesn’t look as if it’s Geneva bound.