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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.

Tony Williams-Kenny announced as Design Director, SAIC Motor

Tony Williams-Kenny has been announced as the new global Design Director of Chinese automaker, SAIC Motor.  During his previous role as Design Director for SAIC Motor, UK, Williams-Kenny worked on various Roewe products, as well as being responsible for designing a new generation of MG models including the MG3, MG6 and MG Zero – the first concept car from the brand since 1985. When interviewed by CDN last year, we asked him how important design is in the company: "For me it's obvious SAIC gets the need for design and the need for a strong brand design relationship," he answered. "We have a really good review group at senior management level too, who actually want to be involved in design reviews and the decision making process." After gaining an MA in Automotive Design and a BA (Hons) in Transport Design from Coventry University in the UK in 1998, Kenny joined Mitsubishi Europe Design in Trebur, Germany as a designer.

Maybach 57S Coupe arrives

The Maybach 57S Coupe by Xenatec Regular readers will know that we gave due warning back in March that Maybach was going to be allowed to wither on the vine rather than get new models, apart from a run-out Maybach Coupe based on the Maybach 57S and ‘produced’ by German firm Xenatec. Mercedes refuted our story about the Maybach badge being allowed to die again soon after the story ran (although there were rumblings at Paris last week that Mercedes has lost patience with Maybach. We’ll see), but what we did get was an official announcement that there will indeed be 100 Maybach 57S Coupes built by Xantech and that they will costs a rather large €675,000.