"Would you like to know why I can't drive this kinda car? I'm used to luxury cars. Have you ever heard of a luxury car? Ever heard of Cadillac, Cadillac Eldorado? That's what I drive. I drive cars that shift themselves. My cars shift themselves. The luxury cars, they shift themselves."

Gallery: 1967 Oldsmobile Barris 70-X Toronado

eBay Find of the Day: George Barris Olds Toronado 70-X is wraparound luxury originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Confirmed: Lexus to bring IS 250 C convertible to Paris

Confirmed: Lexus to bring IS 250 C convertible to Paris originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We waited. We were patient. And this is what Santa's French cousin brought us: a tiny utility van. We were hoping the predictions were wrong and that with its "C-Reveal" new product page, Citroen might give us something a little more exciting, like maybe the C5 Cabrio. But instead we got the Berlingo.

The new Berlingo is available either as a passenger vehicle (or Leisure Activity Vehicle, as Citroen imaginatively calls it) or as a slab-sided Light Commercial Vehicle. Citroen sold over 1.76 million examples of the outgoing Berlingo, which has been on the market since 1996 (with a facelift in 2002) and which will stay on in the meantime as the lower-priced Berlingo First. The new Berlingo uses running gear from the bigger, more civilized C4 Picasso minivan. It also grows in size over the old model and gets one of those new HDi particulate-filter diesels the French are so good at.

If itty-bitty European vans are your thing, you can check out all the juicy details in the press release after the jump, and stay tuned for the Partner version of the Berlingo from PSA sister-company Peugeot.

[Source: Citroen]

Gallery: Citroen New Berlingo

Continue reading Mystery Revealed: new Citroen Berlingo

Mystery Revealed: new Citroen Berlingo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Italians are known for making great sports cars, touring cars, supercars, even little itty-bitty cars. Sport-utes, not so much. Lamborghini's monster LM002 notwithstanding, the last time few times Fiat tried its hand at SUVs, it came up with the Sedici (a slightly taller than normal compact car built in partnership with Suzuki) and the Oltre concept (some sort of twisted cross between a Hummer and an Apple store). But with crossovers continuing to sell big, despite the impediments of fuel prices and an increasingly enviro-conscious market, the mafia legitimate business association of the Italian auto industry can hardly afford to sit it out. So they'll try, try again.

The next up to bat is the production version of the CX-Over, expected to hit the market in 2010. Sources indicate an overall length of about 4.5 meters, potential for hybrid powertrain options (though more likely a range of the company's highly-efficient diesels), available AWD and a body style fitting somewhere between a minivan and a sport-ute. The Fiat version is expected to sell in the €22k-30k range in Europe, and is expected to spawn an additional version from sister brand Alfa Romeo.

[Source: Info Motori]

Fiat crossover expected in 2010, Alfa version to follow originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We doubt you'll be mourning the loss of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, which, as we reported earlier this month, might be canceled rather than replaced in 2011. The compact hatchback never won resounding praise, and for good reason, was never sold in the US. The larger B-Class, however, is likely to be replaced in the same year, and could spawn a number of derivatives.

The current B-Class, which is sold to our hockey-loving neighbors to the north, is only offered as a five-door hatchback. The next B could be joined by a sportier hatch and even a roadster, with the potential for US importation. The latter was previewed in part by the Vision SLA concept shown at Detroit way back in 2000. Earlier reports also suggested the possibility of the next B-Class borrowing from the C-Class platform, which would mean rear-wheel-drive, in proper Benz style, instead of the front-drive of the current A and B.

[Source: AutoBild via Motor Authority]

Report: next Mercedes B-Class could spawn derivatives originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jul 2007 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With the new C-Class sedan already firing on all cylinders, Mercedes-Benz is preparing its compact wagon variant. Some intrepid paparazzi managed to catch the upcoming C-Class Estate undergoing apparent cold-weather testing with minimal camouflage, in a video that you'll find after the jump.

Although the wagon version of the baby Benz is not sold on American shores, rivals like the BMW 3-Series wagon and Audi A4 Avant have been available here, although their sales volume is not at the same level as it is overseas where small family wagons are a popular alternative to cumbersome and gas-guzzling SUVs.

Aside from the hunch-back, the C-Class Estate is virtually identical to its sedan sister, and offers the same range of engines that starts with the 156-hp C180 and extends up to the 272-hp C350, with a few diesels thrown into the mix.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Continue reading SPY VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate

SPY VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: C Class by Lorinser

Lorinser takes on the new Merc C-class originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Mar 2007 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click on the image above to view our high-resolution image gallery.

Rival carmakers are in a race to develop the most efficient practical alternative powerplant solutions, with some Japanese carmakers focusing on hybrid technology, while their European rivals concentrate on developing efficient diesels. French carmakers have their advanced diesel particulate filters, while Mercedes-Benz has been leading the German advance with BLUETEC, the technology that enables the use of fuel-efficient diesel engines while reducing the comparatively higher emissions that have traditionally kept diesels out of the green books.

Mercedes was the first to bring BLUETEC to the American market with the E320 BLUETEC, soon after joined by BLUETEC versions of the R-Class, M-Class and GL-Class sport-utility vehicles, that can arguably stand to benefit from environmentally-conscious, fuel-efficient powertrain solution most. The latter was previewed at the Detroit show in January with the Vision GL 420 BLUETEC concept. Following on the same formula, Mercedes showcased its new C-Class with the Vision C 220 Bluetec at last week's Geneva show.

The "Vision" moniker designates this as a production preview showcar, as opposed to the design studies and styling language concepts displayed by other carmakers. This concept, details of which we brought you in advance of the show, slips a new four-cylinder diesel into the new C-Class, which has already sold over 55,000 units since its introduction in January. The smart money is on Mercedes putting the concept's 2.2-liter diesel engine, with its 170 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, behind the sportier grille in the new C-Class sometime after it hits the US market in September.

Follow the jump for the full press release, and be sure to check out our high-resolution image gallery below, including shots of the Vision C 220 BLUETEC concept from the Geneva show floor, and the freshly-updated gallery of the new C-Class below that.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Vision C 220 BLUETEC Concept

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Continue reading Geneva Motor Show: Mercedes-Benz Vision C 220 BLUETEC concept

Geneva Motor Show: Mercedes-Benz Vision C 220 BLUETEC concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mercedes-Benz is preparing the new C-Class for its debut at Geneva, and pre-production has already begun at the Bremen factory. This loosely rendered spy shot had little in the way of body camouflage to remove in order to give a proper glimpse at what the baby Benz will look like when it hits the show-floor and the showrooms in 2007.

The new C-Class will spawn a number of body-styles, starting with the sedan and wagon, to be joined by a new coupe and convertible. While four-cylinder engines will be on offer overseas, the American market will get a range of V6 powerplants, plus a new AMG version.

[Source: World Car Fans]

SPY SHOTS: Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Nov 2006 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The current Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the "entry-level" model in the German carmaker's US line-up, was conceived as a baby E-Class. But who wants to buy a luxury import that's main selling point is that it's less than the bigger one? That's why insiders are predicting that the next C-Class, expected to launch for 2008 at the 2007 Geneva show, will carve out its own niche as a compact sports sedan, rather than a junior E-Class.

Unfortunately, sources are citing budget constraints at DaimlerChrysler as an indicator that the new C won't feature either an air suspension or even active body control, the latter which already puts the car at a disadvantage over a year before it even hits the market.

Globally, the C-Class line-up will include a wide array of engines, starting with a direct-injection 1.8-liter four with output from 150 to 190 horsepower (which, based on the current US line-up, won't be offered stateside). Above those will be the V6s in either 2.5-liter capacity with 210 hp or 3.5 liters and 270 hp. But the sweetest plumb will be the AMG version with a revised 5.4-liter V8 and output bumped up past 400 horsepower.

Body-styles will include a sedan, a coupe and a wagon, in either rear-wheel-drive or 4MATIC all-wheel-drive.

As a volume model, Mercedes needs the new C-Class to succeed, and by distancing it from the E-Class, it might have a winning formula if the package comes together well. Stay tuned....

[Source: Auto Express]

SPY SHOTS: 2008 Mercedes C-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Oct 2006 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.