Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Three-cylinder coming to next Mercedes-Benz C-Class?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/19/report-three-cylinder-coming-to-next-mercedes-benz-c-class/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/19/report-three-cylinder-coming-to-next-mercedes-benz-c-class/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/19/report-three-cylinder-coming-to-next-mercedes-benz-c-class/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Mercedes-Benz A-Class - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a report from AutoWeek.nl, Mercedes-Benz is taking a long, hard look at a new three-cylinder engine for its upcoming range of small cars and hybrids. Daimler already offers a 1.0-liter three-banger in the diminutive Smart ForTwo, and this new powerplant would likely be destined for the engine bay of both the next-gen Smart and Mercedes' A-, B- and C-Class vehicles.

In addition to the three-cylinder engine, Thomas Weber, director of group research and car development at Mercedes-Benz, says the German automaker plans to offer a hybrid powertrain option on each of its models - from minicars like the Smart to its line of large luxury sedans and commercial vans. To make that goal a reality, M-B is working to reduce the weight of its hybrid drivetrain by 10%.

The last interesting little nugget from this report is that Mercedes is looking for a partner to help develop this small engine family. We can't help but recall rumors from last month indicating that BMW was working on its own new three-cylinder engine architecture.


Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class


[Source: AutoWeek.nl]

Three-cylinder coming to next Mercedes-Benz C-Class? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above to see the Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA concept in high-resolution

Small countries with fledgling economies are prone, upon occasion, to scrap their currency and start over again. Inflation rises, their currency is devalued, so they simply press the "reset" button. And looking at the history of the Mercedes-Benz roadster, we wonder if they haven't been doing the same thing. First came the original SL - "sporty" and "light weight" - which by now has swelled to massive proportions and SUV-rivaling weight. So Mercedes introduced the SLK, a smaller version with the added K for "kurtz" or "short". But as the SLK has by now grown at least as big as the original SL, officials have been mulling over the idea of making an even smaller roadster.

Actually, they've been mulling it over for nearly a decade. Mercedes unveiled their Vision SLA concept way back in 2000, and they've been toying with the idea ever since. But new post-Detroit Auto Show reports suggest that the long-rumored SLA-like droptop is alive and well, and may finally come to market as a response to growing demand for smaller, more efficient vehicles. Although the current A and B-Class platform utilizes novel sandwich underbody construction that would preclude use in a short roadster, the next generation of Mercedes front-drive compacts is expected to forgo the unusual configuration in favor of a more conventional front-engine/front-wheel-drive set-up. Even a small-displacement AMG version could be in the cards. Sources continue to suggest we could see a production SLA slot under the SLK by 2012, just in time to face off with BMW's rumored 1 Series-based roadster.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLA Concept


[Source: Drive.com.au]

The Reset Button: New reports say Mercedes SLA roadster on-track for 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for high-res gallery of the Mercedes-Benz SLA Concept

Rumors that the Mercedes-Benz A-Class may come to America have been swirling around for years. The question revolves around whether or not the car is consistent with the image in the U.S. that MB has worked so hard to cultivate for years. As an economy car, the A-Class clashes with the rest of the brand's upscale line-up and doesn't seem appropriate to put in the same dealership where upper-crusters are shopping for the latest S-Class. One possible remedy could be reducing the number of seats and the losing the car's top, an idea first broached by the SLA Concept (above) that debuted in 2000. A roadster would make sense for the German automaker, as BMW, its main rival, is rumored to be thinking hard about launching a similarly-small Z2 roadster based on its 1 Series platform. Although production plans have already been considered, no decisions have been made. The next redesign of the A- and B-Class from Mercedes is scheduled for 2012, so there's still plenty of time to get it all sorted.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLA Concept


[Source: Autoweek]

Mercedes-Benz considering A-Class roadster for the States originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-class roadsterA-classRoadstermercedesmercedes a classmercedes a-classmercedes slamercedes-benzmercedes-benz a-classmercedes-benz slaMercedes-benzA-classMercedes-benzSlaMercedesA-classMercedesAClassMercedesSlaFri, 05 Dec 2008 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz reconsidering A- and B-Class for U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/mercedes-benz-reconsidering-a-and-b-class-for-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/mercedes-benz-reconsidering-a-and-b-class-for-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/mercedes-benz-reconsidering-a-and-b-class-for-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 A class

The market for luxury cars is slipping, and stalwarts like Mercedes-Benz are not immune. The German automaker's current projections indicate that overall sales will drop by about 10% for 2008, and '09 isn't shaping up to be any better. On the other hand, one of the few bright spots in the U.S. auto market has been the sales of small cars, which have at least sustained level sales and in some cases increased tremendously. While Daimler has no basis for comparison since 2008 was the first year that the fortwo was sold here, sales of the smart brand have greatly outpaced the automaker's projections.

The success of small but premium cars has prompted MB USA to take another look at its A-Class and B-Class cars. This compact duo are sold in other countries, but have been deemed too diminutive to be widely accepted here in the States. That all may change in 2012. By then, Daimler will have had a chance to rework the two cars for the American market, bringing them more in line with the brand's U.S. aspirations, and that's a good thing since the big concern would be whether the two models would devalue the three-pointed star in the fickle eyes of us Americans.

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class


Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz B-Class


[Source: Auto Motor und Sport - translated]

Mercedes-Benz reconsidering A- and B-Class for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mercedesmercedes a classmercedes a-classmercedes b classmercedes b-classmercedes benzmercedes-benzmercedes-benz a-classmercedes-benz b-classMercedes-benzA-classMercedes-benzB-classMercedesA-classMercedesAClassMercedesB-classMercedesBClassMercedesBenzsmartsmart fortwoSmartFortwoWed, 26 Nov 2008 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Rendered Speculation: Baby Mercedes-Benz CLS]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/13/rendered-speculation-baby-mercedes-benz-cls/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/13/rendered-speculation-baby-mercedes-benz-cls/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/13/rendered-speculation-baby-mercedes-benz-cls/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Big Merc gender-bending is coming to the small Benzes when the platform underneath the A- and B-Class vehicles is released for consumption. Amongst the van-like MPVs will come a "four door coupe" that Autozeitung predicts will be called the CLA. Picture a shrunken CLS and you get the idea, and that's what Autozeitung's digital artist went with when fashioning a rendering. The "sandwich structure" of the current A/B-Class Benzes allows crash safety with a short nose, as well as passenger cabin benefits, but is costly to build, so something else is being brewed up for the new smallest Mercedes. The front-drive, tall and stubby cars haven't been fawned over, so a platform swap to an FR layout may be in store, though that would seriously chew up space efficiency. A muscled-up Euro scuttled plans to bring the original B-class to the United States, though this new version might just make it onto the boat to do battle in the burgeoning small/flexible/fuel efficient end of the market.

[Source: Carscoop]



Rendered Speculation: Baby Mercedes-Benz CLS originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mercedesmercedes a classmercedes a-classmercedes b-classmercedes benzmercedes clamercedes-benzMercedesA-classMercedesAClassMercedesB-classmercedesbenzMercedesClaSun, 13 Jul 2008 15:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes to pump some extra octane into next A- and B-Class]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/19/mercedes-to-pump-some-octane-into-next-a-and-b-retitle/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/19/mercedes-to-pump-some-octane-into-next-a-and-b-retitle/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/19/mercedes-to-pump-some-octane-into-next-a-and-b-retitle/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

According to the latest reports, Mercedes has finally realized why its A-Class and B-Class compacts haven't been doing so well: they're boring, overpriced and underpowered... and that's a losing combination. So for the next generation of the two model lines that's expected around 2011, Mercedes is reportedly preparing to turn up the volume.

Although the next-gen baby Benzes will reportedly stick with front-wheel-drive, they'll sit lower to the ground - and save production costs - by ditching the expensive current models' sandwich platform. Whereas the 193-hp 2-liter turbo is currently the most powerful engine offered between the two related models, sources indicate that the top engine could offer as much as 230 hp, possibly sourced from BMW off all companies whose 1-Series Mercedes hopes to target with the sportier new A and B-Classes. Meanwhile, reports also suggest that competition from the up!coming Volkswagen models could compel parent company Daimler to bring back the previously slow-selling and subsequently discontinued Smart ForFour.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Motor Authority]

Mercedes to pump some extra octane into next A- and B-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes' pint-sized A-class hatch, the premium brand's first front-wheel-drive model, could be a thing of the past if news from Germany's WirtschaftsWoche proves to be true. The business weekly reports that DaimlerChrysler is planning to drop the A-class after the current model reaches the end of its lifecycle in 2011. The only word from Mercedes is that it's purely speculation and that the A-class hasn't been a failure, managing to find the homes of more than 1.5 million buyers since its introduction in 1997.

Focus now seems to be on the new B-class, which is also due for replacement in 2011. Back in May, Mercedes' US Chief Ernst Lieb told reporters that the next-gen B-class was under consideration for US importation. The new model's underpinnings will likely be shared with the recently revealed C-class to improve quality levels and exploit economies of scale. It would also mean the next B-class would feature a RWD chassis and more powerful engine options. The only problem for Mercedes now is whether or not it could market a car in the US positioned below the C-class and still remain profitable.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Mercedes Benz dropping the A-class? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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