Mercedes S-Class

At the same time as unleashing its storming new SLR Roadster, the firm has given the S-Class convertible the green light for production. Inspired by the Ocean Drive concept, which starred at January's Detroit Motor Show, the four-door has a backbone chassis with a full-length transmission tunnel helping to replace the strength lost by cutting off the roof. As a result, the big drop-top is effectively a four-seater. To keep the weight down and improve packaging, it features a compact fabric hood rather than a complicated folding metal top.

Meanwhile, here's the best picture yet of the new C-Class Estate - and it looks set to be even more practical than its predecessor. It has a traditional full-length roofline, and our image suggests a lower boot opening, for maximum space. Power comes from the same range of engines as the saloon, topped by a 6.3-litre V8 for the AMG flagship.