THE revolutionary Smart city car project has been put back six months after it failed the same handling test as the A-class - dealing a double blow to troubled Mercedes-Benz. The joint venture between Daimler-Benz and watchmaker SMH will now be launched in continental Europe in October after the car rolled over in the now infamous 'elk test'.

Engineers at the manufacturing company Micro Compact Car are now devising suspension modifications to improve the two-seater's stability. The delay is expected to cost MCC about £100 million. MCC president Jurgen Hubbert said: 'Given that this is a completely new product in a market segment which has never before existed, we have to be sure we rule out all possible risks.'

The Swedish journalist who turned the original A-class over during the elk test has described the revised car as 'markedly different' and 'the safest car in its class'. When it hits UK showrooms next summer, the new A-class will have wider tyres, lower suspension and Electronic Stability Programme fitted as standard.'