THE new Mercedes-Benz A-class has been named one of the safest cars in the world after the results of latest crash tests, announced in Brussels by the European Commission. The A-class scored the top four star rating in the European NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) tests and the maximum points possible in the side-impact test.

Lotus base

SPORTS car maker Lotus has taken over Coventry-based automotive and aerospace engineering company MGA Developments to create a new base called Lotus Coventry. About half of Lotus's £100m business is generated through development of cars not only for Lotus, but for big names such as General Motors, Chevrolet, Chrysler, motorcycle firm Triumph, Daewoo, Volvo and the Ministry of Defence.

Carisma is a fleet star

THE MITSUBISHI Carisma range, which includes the economical Gasoline Direct Injection engine, has been voted Fleet Car of the Year for 1999 by the Institute of Transport Management.

Story date: Wednesday 03 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.