The new Mercedes CLA250 borrows from the familiar

Apparently Mercedes-Benz product planners see this as a salient strategy for growth, as the company's flashy new CLA rips a page right out of its larger CLS's book. The CLS, the original "four-door coupe”, has spawned so many imitators since its 2004 debut that it is only fair, Mercedes should be permitted to copy it, too.

On the eve of the 2013 Detroit auto show, Mercedes revealed its plan for recruiting a new generation of customers to the three-pointed star, and it took the form of a racy, nominally affordable compact sedan.

The CLA, like the CLS, features a low, sloping roofline and four doors with frameless windows in the manner of a coupe. But as anyone who has viewed the CLS from the back seat, the design invites rear passengers to bang their heads on the doorframe during ingress and egress.

Those lines do look slippery; according to Mercedes, the CLA's 0.23 coefficient of drag, a measure of aerodynamics, is the lowest number ever for a production model.

The car also breaks ground as Mercedes' first front-wheel-drive model for the US market. In an interview after its introduction on 13 January, Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Daimler, the Mercedes parent, told BBC Autos that the CLA was based on the same front-drive platform used by the diminutive A-Class and B-Class hatchbacks in other markets.

"The US market isn't very fond of hatchbacks, as we are in Europe, so this car should be well-received", he surmised.

The result is very close to the Acura TSX in size and specification, and it is young drivers who grew up with front drive that the company is targeting with the CLA, which will start for less that $30,000 when it goes on sale in September. An all-wheel-drive 4Matic version will follow in 2014, as will a more powerful twin-turbocharged engine.

While the CLA has an entry-level luxury price, all of the expected Mercedes technology is present. A collision-alert radar system is standard equipment, along with a 5.8-inch infotainment display.

Power is from a 208 horsepower, 2-litre 4-cylinder engine driving the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. A 2.2-litre diesel engine is available for Europe, but is a long shot for the US, Zetsche said. The car's base engine in Europe will be a smaller-displacement gasoline engine developed in partnership with Renault and Nissan, he added.

Whether the CLS can, like Bowie, top the charts recycling old ideas remains to be seen, but Zetsche is undaunted. "We never talk about future volume," he said, "but we are very confident this car will be a success.”

Car-spotting: London, 1963

This image, from a summer day in 1963, appears to show nothing more than a packed car park at London Airport (renamed Heathrow in 1966, after the hamlet – Heath Row – that was demolished in 1944 to build it). But to aficionados of vintage European cars of the less-than-exotic variety, it is pure gold. A keen eye will spot a Ford Consul, a Riley 1.5s, a Hillman Minx, a Triumph Herald, a Morris Oxford, a Singer Vogue and a very grand Jaguar Mark IX. What other tin treasures can you identify?

Mobiles: Phony Chargers Spark Safety Concerns

By Rhiannon Mills, Sky News Reporter

Mobile phone users are being warned about the serious risks of buying fake chargers as safety experts fear a growing number are ending up in UK homes.

The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) says the counterfeit chargers are now one of the main fake electrical products entering the UK and have given some people electric shocks or even started fires.

"There is possibly going to be an increase in the problem due to them agreeing to sell mobile phones without the chargers in the box and that's to comply with European mandate to reduce electrical waste," Steve Curtler, from the ESC, told Sky News.

"This is why we're working with the mobile phone operators and doing as much as we can to raise awareness of the situation to ensure that people aren't lured into purchasing substandard and counterfeited products."

New mum Katie Vines, from Bristol, paid less then £5 for a phone charger online.

It was plugged in close to her baby's cot when it exploded. The seller sent her a replacement but the second charger was also faulty and blew up.

She told Sky News: "I plugged it into my socket in my bedroom, I went off to the bathroom, my boyfriend was changing the baby at the time and I heard a loud bang and went to see what it was and unfortunately the phone charger had exploded into the socket."

According to the ESC, more than four million counterfeit goods were seized in the UK last year - with mobile phone chargers now one of the top electrical fakes.

Figures from Intellectual Property show just under 10,000 phone accessories were taken in by Trading Standards but it's suspected there are many more being sold and used.

Some have damaged expensive gadgets, electrocuted people and even started fires.

Bristol Trading Standards has been dealing with a growing number of these cases over the past 12 months, but said that because many of the products come from abroad it isn't easy to stop the trade.

Spokeswoman Sarah Saunders said: "It is very frustrating for Trading Standards to see these on the market. It’s worrying for us also. There is legislation that controls plugs and sockets and that’s there for a reason.

"It’s there to protect the UK consumers and those that are in the EU. When these products are bought from outside of the EU it makes it very difficult for the regulatory authorities to do much about it."

This week Apple announced plans to run a type of amnesty reducing the price of their chargers if shoppers hand in a fake.

It comes after a woman in China was electrocuted and died using her phone while it was plugged in to a counterfeit charger.

The ESC has produced a 'Safe Shopping' guide which gives advice on what to look for when buying third party electrical goods. They advise checking the voltage and the packaging of the item.

Diego would 'love' Atletico return

Wolfsburg playmaker Diego has confessed that he would love to return to Atletico Madrid before the close of the summer transfer window.

The 28-year-old Brazilian has been repeatedly linked with a return to the Vicente Calderon, having enjoyed a season-long loan in the Spanish capital two years ago.

The Rojiblancos have yet to make a move for their former attacker but Diego admits he would relish the opportunity to team up with coach Diego Simeone once more.

The former Juventus man told COPE: "Everybody knows that Simeone and I have a special relationship. He is one of the best coaches in the world and it was a true pleasure working with him.

"Everybody knows the love I have for Atletico. I have a valuation and if they are not willing to pay that I must accept it.

"But at the moment I am only thinking about Wolfsburg and doing well for them."

Diego, whose current deal expires next summer, netted three times in 30 appearances throughout his year-long stay with the capital club.

Bakkali, Pele, Del Piero & the teenage hat-trick heroes

Hitting a hat-trick is always guaranteed to generate headlines. Doing so as a teenager is therefore a sure-fire way to make the entire footballing world sit up and take notice, as evidenced by the frenzied reaction to Zakaria Bakkali's stunning treble for PSV on Saturday evening.

The 17-year-old's sensational exploits in the 5-0 demolition of NEC at the Philips Stadion saw him become the youngest player to ever hit a hat-trick in the Eredivisie, while at the same time wholly vindicating Belgium boss Marc Wilmots' decision to include him in next week's friendly against France.

Of course, football is littered with tales of players who shone ever so brightly at a young age only to quickly burn out and fade away. However, as you can see from below, it takes a special kind of talent to score a hat-trick aged 18 or under ...

Van Persie bullish about United title tilt

Robin van Persie feels that Manchester United must be considered favourites for the Premier League title this season.

The 30-year-old netted both goals as the reigning champions overcame Wigan at Wembley on Sunday to lift the Community Shield in David Moyes's first official game in charge.

However, United have had mixed results during their pre-season programme and are yet to make an impact in the summer transfer window, with bookmakers naming them third favourites for the title behind neighbours Manchester City and Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. 

Van Persie does not want to acknowledge those odds, though, as he is confident that the current team can repeat last season's runaway success to retain their Premier League crown.

"It's always nice to score and especially at Wembley. It's a great day for the fans for us and for the manager as well," he told ITV after Sunday's victory.

"We've got [Wilfried] Zaha who has done really well and, as I said earlier, I believe in this team.

"I don't want to be funny but we are the champions. So third favourites? Can you explain that? I don't really care. I believe in this team and I believe that we will compete until the end again."

Ryan Giggs was impressed with Van Persie's performance against the FA Cup winners and hopes the striker can reproduce his 26 goals to fire United to the title again.

"The first goal was a brilliant goal and the timing was brilliant," the veteran added. "It was a great start for us, we hope Robin can reproduce the form he showed for us last year.

"We just know we've got good players in the team. It's always hard when you’re champions, you've got to reproduce the form you showed last year and I hope we do that."

United kick off the defence of their title against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium next weekend.

Moyes denies Rooney fallout & insists striker 'not for sale'

Manchester United manager David Moyes has again insisted that Wayne Rooney will not be sold this summer, as well as denying having falling out with the striker.

Chelsea have had two bids rejected for the England international, with the player - who trained with the reserves in midweek as he continues his recovery from a shoulder problem - desperate to complete a summer transfer to Stamford Bridge. 

However, Moyes says that the club's stance remains unchanged.

"He's not for sale," the United boss told reporters after Sunday's Charity Shield success over Wigan Wembley. "I'm not changing so there's no more to answer to your question.

"Some of you might not like hearing this because you've written untruths. I didn't fall out with Wayne. He trained with the reserves at his asking."

Moyes also moved to clarify his suggestion before the game that Rooney would be fit to play for England against Scotland in midweek but not United’s Premier League opener against Swansea City on Saturday.

"I want him to join up with England," the Scot added. "He's not ready, you'll probably see that in the game. He's had no football, no match action. So you probably wouldn't expect someone in that condition to play for a long period.

"I've spoken to Roy Hodgson for two hours on different occasions. It will be great for Manchester United if he gets some playing time."

Moyes was speaking after winning the Community Shield with a 2-0 win over Wigan in his first official match as United manager - but the Scot was quick to give the credit to predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I class that as another piece of silverware for Sir Alex," said the new man graciously. "It was his team that won the Premier League last year. A big thank you to him, it's for him today. The next ones will be down to me."

United will kick off the defence of their title against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday evening.