A-positive

PITSTOP

After a shaky start with the A-Class, Mercedes-Benz managed to sell over 1.1 million units of their first truly compact car in its seven-year run. Now, it's time for the new A to make a debut.

Out this autumn in Europe, the new A-Class retains its unique 'sandwich' construction and is as expected, more spacious, powerful, versatile and safer. Also, for the first time, a three-door version joins the five-door model.

The new A comes with a formidable line-up of seven four-cylinder powerplants, including three new CDI diesel units and a new turbocharged petrol, seen in the 193 bhp A200 Turbo. The top-of-the-line diesel A-Class is the A200 CDI, which develops 140 bhp and over 30 kgm of torque coming in as early as 1600 rpm.

Mercedes' new Autotronic continuously variable automatic transmission is available as an option across the entire engine line-up. The new A-Class boasts over 200 patented designs that feature in it, including a new selective damping system that adjusts the shock absorber forces according to driving situations and a parabolic rear axle that allows for better cornering. Which only means the new A will simply dismiss off the infamous Elk Test!

Single & willing

In the land of retro-engineered Harley-Davidsons, comes a new true-blue retro classic. Royal Enfield has just launched the Bullet Sixty-5 in the US. For the first time in Royal Enfield's international model range, the Sixty-5 comes with a five-speed gearbox.

The single-cylinder thumper from India is powered by a four-stroke 500cc push-rod engine and has an un-retro but extremely useful electric start too. The Sixty-5 was first launched in the UK in January 2003, where it was fairly successful, and now it makes a debut in the US.

Royal Enfield motorcycles have been making it to the US for over a decade now and a network of over 100 dealers is already in place. Their other popular models sold in America "� its second-largest market after the UK "� are the US Classic and the Military.

Royal Enfield exports its motorcycles to over 25 countries across the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan and to many European nations. Royal Enfield is one of the oldest surviving brands in the world, having been in continuous production for over a century.