Renault's city slicker

Renault's latest concept car is a three-seater designed for city-slickers. The French carmaker says two-seat interiors are perceived as a constraint, despite research showing city cars carry an average of 1.4 people. But three-seaters offer a different perception altogether, says Renault designer Patrick Le Quement. The Z17 concepthas its boot behind the driver's seat. It will be unveiled at next month's Geneva motor show.

Get Smarter

The launch in New Zealand next week of the Smart range of cars is unlikely to include a cramming stunt, to see how many people can squeeze into the micro cars. The record is held by 16 schoolchildren in the Netherlands, who folded themselves into the 2.5m by 1.5m smart fortwo for a television programme. But it isn't recognised by The Guinness Book of World Records. Its rules require contestants to be over 1.52m tall and above 17 years of age. All the doors have to be closed for a minimum of 10 seconds and the windows can only be opened enough to allow air into the vehicle. The world record for the most people in a smart fortwo was first achieved by 13 women in Munich, Germany, in 1999. It was broken in 2000 by a group of Chinese contortionists in Britain, who managed to fit 14 people in the car. Irish gymnasts last year equalled that. The Dutch schoolkids say they will wait until they are all 17 to try again.

Lightweight Mini's appeal

The rebuilt lightweight Mini Cooper S that Scotsman Andrew Cowan drove in the 1971 Heatway Rally of NZ has sold for A$19,500 ($21,600) at auction in Sydney. An earlier Mk 1 Cooper S fetched A$14,500 ($16,100). Auction house Shannons says the prices are indicative of the renewed interest in Cooper S models since the new Mini appeared on the scene. Other sales included a fully restored Morris Minor Traveller station wagon for A$16,000 ($17,700), a 1972 right-hand-drive BMW 3.0CSL Coupe for A$39,000 ($43,300), and a white 1929 Rolls-Royce New Phantom I Tourer for A$70,000 ($77,700). A 1958 Holden FC special sedan with 55,066 miles (88620km) on the clock sold for A$6000 ($6600), and a right-hand-drive 1965 Buick Riviera coupe for A$13,600 ($15,100).

Pamela loses out to Ferrari

Research shows that 45 per cent of British motorists admit to naming their car, 80 per cent to talking to it, and 78 per cent to loving it. The RAC Foundation study was carried out for Valentine's Day. It also revealed that British men were more likely to splash out on their car than their partners. Most men said they would rather spend their weekend with a flashy car than with a sexy celebrity. Offered the choice between a weekend with Pamela Anderson and a Ferrari Enzo, 86 per cent of males chose the car. The only lady to come out on top was Kylie Minogue, who managed to scrape 53 per cent when put up against a Porsche Carrera GT. Women, on the other hand, chose the bloke. Seventy-five per cent opted for a weekend with Robbie Williams rather than a Bentley.

We are the world

Kyle Hans wanted to put things right with his estranged wife. So he drove to where she worked, at a Target store in Fort Wayne, Indiana. But Hans, 24, didn't park outside the store - he drove through the plateglass front window, past appliances, through home decor and into home office furniture. Then he started waving a gun around, demanding to speak to his wife. But she no longer worked there, said staff. Frustrated, Hans took one of them hostage and tried to make a run for it through the outdoor living section. Police eventually talked him down and the hostage was freed. Hans is now getting used to indoor living.