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Alfa Romeo Racing

Sauber F1 Team will head into the 2019 season under a new name - Alfa Romeo Racing

Building on a partnership that began last year, the Swiss team will take on full branding of the Italian car manufacturer, having raced as Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team during the 2018 championship.

Frederic Vasseur, team principal of Alfa Romeo Racing, said: "It is a pleasure to announce that we will enter the 2019 Formula One World Championship with the team name Alfa Romeo Racing. After initiating the collaboration with our title sponsor Alfa Romeo in 2018, our team made fantastic progress on the technical, commercial and sporting side.

"This has given a boost of motivation to each team member, be that trackside or at the headquarters in Switzerland, as the hard work invested has become reflected in our results. We aim to continue developing every sector of our team while allowing our passion for racing, technology and design to drive us forward."

It means 2019 will be the first time the name Sauber won't feature in Formula One since joining it in 1993, although the firm will remain independent from Alfa Romeo and work under its existing leadership structure.

Newly rebranded Alfa Romeo Racing will have 2007 F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen making a return to the team, having debuted in the sport with the Swiss outfit in 2001, alongside Italian first-timer Antonio Giovinazzi. The team's cars will continue to be powered by engines from Ferrari in a partnership that extends back to 2010.

While Alfa Romeo may have a growing Formula One presence in name only, the Italian firm has previous history as a constructor in the sport. The firm has two World Drivers' Championships dating back to 1950 and 1951, and competed in 110 races from the former until it bowed out as an independent team in 1985. Last season, Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team placed eighth overall in the World Constructors' Championship standings.

New Mercedes-Benz V-Class gets extra power and revised styling

Mercedes has upgraded its largest and most capacious passenger model - the V-Class MPV.

The van-based V-Class is the upmarket, luxurious cousin of the Vito, and now features Mercedes' latest 2.0-litre diesel engines alongside styling and technology passed down from the brand's passenger car range.

Replacing the previous model's 2.1-litre diesel engine, the latest 2.0-litre unit will be available with a choice of two power outputs. The lesserpowered V 250 d will offer 187bhp, while pricier V 300 d models make 236bhp. Both are mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and rear-wheel drive. Maximum fuel economy depends on engine and bodystyle, but all variants should average well over 40mpg. CO2 emissions are between 154g/km and 164g/km.

Mercedes has also said it will introduce a fully-electric MPV in future, possibly a development of the V-Class though we'll have to wait until its reveal at the Geneva Motor Show to know for sure. An allelectric eVito is already available, based on the V-Class' cargo-carrying cousin.

The V-Class will still be offered in a choice of three different sizes - Standard, Long, and Extra Long, though all have the same number of seats. The extended length contributes to greater passenger and luggage space, however.

The new model has had a slight nip and tuck around the front end, bringing it more in line with the current Mercedes range. The V-Class has also had an interior makeover, with a new dashboard featuring a standard-fit 10.25-inch touchscreen display and A-Classstyle air vents.

Standard equipment has also improved, with autonomous braking assistance and high-beam assist offered on all models.

The improvements to the VClass will also be offered on the Marco Polo campervan, though this is unlikely to become available until later in the year.