Autoblog

World Car Of The Year down to its final four

Zach Bowman — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:44:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Scion, Subaru, Toyota, Luxury

Judges for the World Car of the Year Award have narrowed down the finalists to just four vehicles. Out of a total of 42 entries, only the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Porsche Boxster/Cayman, Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ/Toyota GT-86 and Volkswagen Golf remain standing. For Volkswagen, this marks the second consecutive year the company has had an entry among the finalists, and the fourth time since 2009. In order to qualify, a vehicle must be on sale on two continents during the span of time between January 1, 2013 and May 30, 2013. A panel of 66 journalists from 23 countries then vote on the finalists.

Three vehicles have made the cut for the last round of voting on the 2013 World Performance Car as well, with the Cayman/Boxster and FR-S/BRZ/GT-86 running against the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. Meanwhile, the Renault Zoe, Tesla Model S and Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid are duking it out for the World Green Car Award. Finally, the World Car Design of the Year Award is up for grabs between the Aston Martin Vanquish, Jaguar F-Type, and the Mazda6. Check out the full press release below. Overall winners will be presented at the 2013 New York Auto Show.

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World Car Of The Year down to its final four originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG shows up to fight the hottest hatches [w/videos]

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Fun coincidence. On the same day that Audi announces the unveiling of its new S3 Sportback at the Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz steals the spotlight by confirming that the all-new A45 AMG will also receive its official debut early next month. Starting life as the entry-level A-Class hatchback, the A45 AMG gets the full AMG treatment, which includes numerous performance, handling and styling upgrades.

Under the hood sits an AMG-tuned 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 breathing through a sport exhaust system helping the five-door produce 360 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. This engine is paired to a seven-speed AMG dual-clutch transmission and power is sent to the ground using 4Matic all-wheel drive. Mercedes-Benz says that the A45 AMG will be able to accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour in under 4.5 seconds and it will have a top speed of 155 mph; in the land of hot hatches, it doesn't get much hotter than that. For added performance and handling, AMG has retuned the A-Class' suspension and steering systems and equipped The A45 with a three-stage stability control system that is specific to this car.

Surprisingly, the exterior styling of the A-Class was already sporty enough that the new model doesn't receive too many changes to become the A45 AMG. The biggest alterations include black accents to the chin spoiler, rocker panels and mirror caps, black wheels with red-painted brake calipers and rectangular dual exhaust outlets. Inside, it doesn't take a trained eye to spot the differences. The flat-bottomed sport steering wheel and the numerous red accents throughout the cabin (including the seatbelts!) really help to make this AMG interior stand out; front passengers will also get sport bucket seats that appear to be more than supportive enough for even the most spirited driving conditions.

The A45 AMG goes on sale in June for German buyers, but North American availability has not been announced yet. Scroll down for a couple of videos (including great engine sound!) and the full press release with all of the details for the new A45 AMG. Sit tight and we'll have live pictures and impressions from Switzerland for you in just a few weeks.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG shows up to fight the hottest hatches [w/videos]

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG shows up to fight the hottest hatches [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Mercedes-Benz's new A-Class in an anime adventure

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:46:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mercedes-Benz

What do you do with a new success? Work it. The still-warm A-Class is already the most successful launch in Mercedes-Benz history, yet the German brand is still coming up with new ways to show it off to more people. The latest example comes from Mercedes' Japanese outpost, which has created an anime series for the compact hatch called "Next A-Class." The new video shorts are part of the promotion ahead of the model's launch in Japan this January.

The futuristic, city-shifting action centers around a mythical, mystical noodle truck, the hitch being that you have to somehow find it and then actually catch it before you can buy anything from it. Thankfully, the protagonists have an A45 AMG to do the trick. An insider's note: the noodle truck is based on the 1955 Blue Wonder, an actual Fifties-era race transporter powered by the inline six from the 300SL Gullwing. Check out the series' first installment below.

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Watch Mercedes-Benz's new A-Class in an anime adventure originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Matt Davis — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, First Drives, Luxury

Third Time Is Absolutely A Charm For Entry-Level Merc

You are looking at what is likely the most important Mercedes-Benz passenger car since the old 190 turned into the C-Class "Baby Benz" back in 1993. And the United States and Canada won't get it, at least not in this hatchback configuration we have just tested extensively in Slovenia.

The big message coming from Mercedes, however, is that the new A-Class is categorically not to be referred to as a baby anything. (We wish them good luck in enforcing this mandate.) The attitude is aggressive and "Attack Mode" in nature, clearly showing how tired Mercedes is of being known as the less exciting, more mild mannered German brand.

The thing is, that reputation is well earned and the brand has embraced it for quite some time with real success. But now it's time to bust out of the current normal and cater to the kids with expendable cash in pocket.

Since 1997, the world has lived through two generations of A-Class, one of the most utterly bland four-wheeled semi-premium small cars ever formulated. And since the 190/C-Class went all upmarket in the early '00s, Mercedes has had no true competitor - at least not a very cool one - in a premium small car segment anywhere on Earth where it sells cars. And, boy, have they needed it.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes A-Class enters production, utility variant confirmed

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz

Remember the dowdy original Mercedes-Benz A-Class? It's hard to believe that this sporty new five-door hatch evolved from that frumpy thing. But it has, and the new A-Class is officially rolling off the Daimler assembly line in Rastatt, Germany, as of now.

The A-Class will join its platform-mate B-Class and a forthcoming crossover model at Rastatt. While we've heard plenty of rumors about this crossover, we hope that Daimler's announcement today that it will be the next product sharing the Rastatt line should lead to some more official information about the new model allegedly dubbed "GLA." Daimler sunk some €1.2 billion (nearly $1.5 billion) into the plant to produce the trio of compact vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz says its already had 40,000 orders for the new A-Class since it went on sale in mid-June, with some 70,000 B-Class people movers sold since that model hit showrooms late last year.

Scroll down to read the full press release.

Continue reading Mercedes A-Class enters production, utility variant confirmed

Mercedes A-Class enters production, utility variant confirmed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG 2.0 turbo good for crazy 185 HP per liter

Matt Davis — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz

We have just joined the journalist hordes in Affalterbach for some early peeks at AMG's imminent future, and the downsizing trend is really catching on, even here with Mercedes-Benz and its traditionally big-engined high-performance arm.

The biggest news was the smallest news: a really hot-looking high-performance A-Class model dubbed A45 AMG that will take it to the soon-to-be tested BMW M135i and future Audi RS3. Specific numbers are not out, but engine bosses tell us to expect around 370 hp and 300 pound-feet of torque. The engine is all-new: a twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter called M133 and based loosely on the Daimler 2.0-liter turbocharged unit. If those figures are accurate, that would mean the M133 has the greatest true series-production power-per-liter rating in the world. This is the first AMG engine not built at Affalterbach, but at Daimler's state-of-the-art four-cylinder assembly plant at Kölleda, but the "one man, one engine" approach remains unscathed.

Word has it that the United States and Canada most likely will not get this wee AMG, but we hear this same powertrain with strengthened seven-speed dual-clutch transmission will come to us in a four-door CLA 45 AMG version, and possibly also in a smaller crossover vehicle based on the modular chassis beneath the A- and B- Class ranges.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG 2.0 turbo good for crazy 185 HP per liter

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG 2.0 turbo good for crazy 185 HP per liter originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe images spill onto Internet

Chris Paukert — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Mercedes-Benz, Beijing Motor Show, Design/Style, Luxury

Well lookie what we have here. We've been waiting for Mercedes-Benz to pull the silk off its long-awaited compact sedan, and a brace of new concept car images have started leaking onto the Internet this morning as further proof that a production model is almost here. Dubbed Concept Style Coupe, or CSC, the showcar seen here is expected to debut at the Beijing Motor Show next week. Earlier reports had this hot bit of hardware dubbed CLA, though that nomenclature could still be reserved for a production model.

Looking more than a bit like a CLS that's been run through a dryer after mating with the Geneva 2010 F800 Style Concept and last year's Concept A, the rakish four door is expected to spawn a production model that will be available in North America.

According to reports, the CSC will roll onto the stage in China powered by a 208-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that also sees duty in the new A-Class hatchback. Like the A-Class five-door that debuted in Geneva, the CSC is expected to ride atop Mercedes' new MFA platform, scaled to take on models like the Audi A3 (which is also pegged to get a sedan variant) and Volvo's new V40.

We're also expecting Mercedes to unveil a related concept in North America very shortly at the Transmission LA: AV Club music and media festival that begins in LA on April 20, so keep your eyes peeled for that vehicle as well.

Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe images spill onto Internet originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMG-fettled Mercedes-Benz A-Class caught testing

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

The Mercedes-Benz A25 AMG has disrobed almost completely compared to the last time we saw it. It makes minimal changes to the A-Class form, just a fiercer set of wheels and, under the last remaining camo, a brace of larger air intakes in front and a restyled diffuser in back. We'd also expect those oval pipe finishers to be swapped for trademark AMG quad pipes come production time.

The engine is what will make the real difference, with its 2.0-liter four-cylinder rumored to be rated as high as 350 horsepower and sending that glory to all four wheels through a dual-clutch gearbox. Those specs mean the A25 AMG is a shoo-in for heaps of comparos with the all-wheel drive, 340-horsepower Audi RS3, the driving prowess of the 256-horsepower Volkswagen Golf R and the rumored 320-horsepower BMW 135i hatch. Check it out in our gallery of high-res spy photos.

AMG-fettled Mercedes-Benz A-Class caught testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz CLC to get Beastie introduction in LA?

Chris Paukert — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz, Design/Style

We've been expecting for some time that Mercedes-Benz would choose to grace its New York Auto Show stand with a variant on its new A-Class family as part of a push to bring a new range of small cars to North America. However, it now seems more likely that Los Angeles audiences will get a vision of Mercedes' entry-level future, not New York. That's because Mercedes has officially confirmed that it will show something called the "Concept Style Coupe" at an art, music, film and food festival in LA curated by none other than Mike D of the Beastie Boys.

Transmission LA: AV Club, a "multi-disciplinary festival," runs from April 20 to May 6, and sponsor Mercedes promises an "artistic staging" of the concept car (expected to be a sedan), the production version of which is rumored to be dubbed CLC. The 17-day festival will be held at the Geffen Contemporary at LA's Museum of Contemporary Art.

All of which begs the question: With the New York Auto Show staged earlier (press days are April 4 and 5), what will Mercedes show in the Empire State? It's too significant of a market to the Three-Pointed Star to let the show pass without debuting something significant. See the complete press release below for more.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz CLC to get Beastie introduction in LA?

Mercedes-Benz CLC to get Beastie introduction in LA? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatches new level of refinement for its class [w/video]

Chris Paukert — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Design/Style, Diesel

Though the Geneva Motor Show doesn't open until tomorrow morning, automakers have thrown the doors open on their own evening events in order to get a captive audience away from the show. We've just returned from the bright lights of Mercedes-Benz and its new A-Class reveal, and we have to say, it looks far more enticing than spy shots had led to us to believe.

Displayed in a trio of uplevel trims, we were particularly taken with the bold surfacing on the car's two-box profile, as well as the unique and premium-looking "diamond" grille treatments derived from last year's more radical New York Auto Show concept car. Even the interiors come off as upscale, with convincing carbon fiber-look dashboard treatments and round HVAC vents that riff on those of the SLS AMG gullwing.

Simply put, the loaded interiors we saw put even the updated C-Class cabins to utter shame, and they shade those of the current Audi A3 (a new one is being introduced here in Geneva), Volvo C30 and anything in the Mini portfolio. They even seem to be surprisingly roomy - we observed a journalist who had to be six-foot, six-inches find a comfortable seating position without issue. Said scribe had also driven to the show in a new M-Class and proclaimed the materials in the new A-Class to be "not that far off."

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatches new level of refinement for its class [w/video]

Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatches new level of refinement for its class [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Expect Daimler's new plant to be right next to Nissan's in Mexico

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill, Luxury

It was only a few weeks ago that Mercedes-Benz CEO Dieter Zetsche laid out his global sales vision for the brand, aiming to be the world's Number One luxury automaker by 2020 with 2.7 million annual sales. One component of that plan is building another plant in North America, and a report by the TheDetroitBureau.com indicates that the plant will be built in Aguascalientes, Mexico - right next to a Nissan assembly plant that's already there.

Nissan recently announced a two billion dollar expansion of its Aguascalientes facility to produce up to 175,000 units annually. According to the Bureau report, "the sprawling Aguascalientes complex has been laid out with the idea that the German maker will eventually participate." Daimler hasn't commented officially, but if it does happen, then that would give Daimler and Renault-Nissan two tie-up locations, the other being in Tennessee where Nissan will be making engines for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (a prototype for which is shown above).

One of the factors at the heart of the Mexico decision would be Mercedes' MFA platform, which supports the A- and B-Class vehicles soon headed here: that platform is also expected to underpin the production Infiniti Etherea. And if Renault-Nissan CEO can be believed, then a great deal more sharing between the two firms is an eventuality, and further up the food chain at that. Ghosn is reported to have said last year, "You'd be very surprised if in five or six years that Mercedes and Renault-Nissan had only cooperated on small cars."

Expect Daimler's new plant to be right next to Nissan's in Mexico originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes A-Class caught out in the cold

Zach Bowman — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Europe, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz is busily pushing development of the company's new A-Class hatchback, and our spy photographers have managed to click a few photos of two vehicles out for a little winter testing. The small five-door is reportedly headed to the U.S. market once it receives an official unveil, though there's no telling whether or not the AMG version we spied back in August will make the journey across The Pond as well. These new shots show off a vehicle that's ditched much of is camo cladding. As a result, we now see the five-door will look very similar to the renderings that surfaced earlier this year.

The corporate Mercedes-Benz grille and pronounced nose will tag along on the A-Class, as will a high beltline and some rather funky side mirrors. It's unclear exactly which drivetrain options will show up once the vehicle lands Stateside, however. Were we to guess, we'd say a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine isn't a bad bet.

Mercedes A-Class caught out in the cold originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First sketch of 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class leaks out

Zach Bowman — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Shanghai Motor Show, Design/Style

The first sketch of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class has made its way to the internets, and judging by the look of things, the vehicle may appear much sportier than the styling buck we saw back in January. According to Autoblog.it, the A-Class will likely make its debut at the Shanghai Motor Show, and when it does, it may bring along lines borrowed from the sports-coupe playbook. Toward the rear of the vehicle, the artists at the Silver Arrow appear to have thrown in a beltline that kicks up toward the rear hatch. Likewise, the roof of the A-Class leans down as it approaches the back glass.

Those details were all but absent in the clay buck nabbed by our spy photographers just a few weeks ago. That creation wore a much more functional, boxy design. Regardless of which look wins out, odds are buyers can expect to find both five-door and three-door hatch configurations when the baby Benz finally lands in dealer showrooms.

Under the hood, rumor has it that Mercedes-Benz will bolt in a number of fuel-savvy engines, though rumored AMG iteration may pack up to 270 horsepower.

[Source: Autoblog.it]

First sketch of 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class leaks out originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Infiniti to offer entry-level CUV based on Benz A/B Class

Zach Bowman — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Crossover, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Rumormill, Luxury

If you believe the rumors dusting up from L'Automobile Magazine, Nissan may be borrowing more than a small engine from Daimler. The French site is reporting that the two companies could be looking into sharing an entire platform in order to create a new Infiniti-badged CUV. If our Google translator is to be believed, the French site claims that Infiniti will be getting its paws on the next Mercedes-Benz A/B Class in order to build a new DX model destined to slot below the current EX.

The move would put Infiniti into the CUV fray with fighters like the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 if it came to fruition. Right now, that's a big if. As far as we know, Infiniti hasn't said word one about building a smaller crossover, even if it would help the brand gain traction in the notoriously truck-averse European market, and it already sells the EX, itself a rather smallish entrant (that looks suspiciously like the rendering excerpted at right). L'Automobile Magazine says the move is currently under consideration by both Renault-Nissan and Daimler, but we wouldn't exactly hold our breath for a new pint-sized Infiniti.

[Source: L'Automobile Magazine]

Rumormill: Infiniti to offer entry-level CUV based on Benz A/B Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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