This day in Autoweek history: Driving across France in a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

Today we relive a drive across France in the Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth with Cynthia Claes. This potent four-door sedan offered rear-wheel drive, a Borg-Warner five-speed manual transmission and a claimed top speed of 150 mph from its turbocharged 2.0-liter, twin-cam four-cylinder engine. Introduced in 1986, the original Sierra saw 5,542 units constructed; 5,000 were needed for homologation in Class A rally competition, its original purpose.

2012 Mercedes SL Spied

2012 Mercedes SL caught testing When the fifth generation Mercedes SL hit the headlines back in 2002 it was a revelation, offering as it did the best of a coupe and a convertible and a completely bonkers performance version in the SL55. But eight years is a long time in the life of a car – even with a cosmetic facelift in 2008 – and the SL has lost its way as the flagship of the Mercedes range. More powerful cars like the SLS have put the SL in to the shadows, and even its little brother – the Mercedes SLK – is probably more desirable.

Vauxhall Meriva concept (2008): first official pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 28 February 2008 11:45 This is Vauxhall’s new Meriva, and it will be the first mini-MPV with suicide doors. The car in our pictures is the concept, set to be unveiled at next week’s Geneva Motor Show. It gives us huge hints towards the final look of the production car, which will be shown at the Paris show in autumn 2008.