Autoblog

Automakers lining up to support US-EU trade pact

Zach Bowman — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing

The Detroit News reports automakers are coming out in support of proposed free trade legislation between the US and the European Union. The Association of Global Automakers, representing major Asian manufacturers, says the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will promote economic growth, increase jobs and make US and EU companies more competitive on the global market. The legislation will also open the door for EU and US regulators to agree on one standard for emissions, crash protection, child restraints, fuel systems and tire pressure monitors. If that happens, automakers could save millions of dollars by being able to build and sell one car for both markets.

Jaguar-Land Rover North America also stands behind that move, but would also like to see the US completely eliminate its current 2.5 percent tax on imported cars. The company isn't alone. Ferrari has also spoken up in favor of eliminating the tariff, and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, comprised of Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Toyota and Daimler among others, also supports harmonizing regulations between both markets.

All told, the EU and the US make up 32 percent of global vehicle production and 35 percent of the total buyer market. The Detroit News reports the US exported some $8 billion in cars to Europe last year and another $5 billion in parts.

Automakers lining up to support US-EU trade pact originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford nets $5.7B in 2012, $1.6B in fourth quarter

Zach Bowman — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Ford, Earnings/Financials

Ford brought in $5.7 billion in net income during 2012, which is around $307 million less than one year prior. Even so, the automaker closed out 2012 with the highest pre-tax profit for a single quarter in nearly 10 years, earning $1.7 billion in the fourth quarter thanks largely to a higher-than-average truck mix in the US. That's a jump of $577 million over 2011. Likewise, that translated into fourth quarter income of $1.6 billion. All told, Ford set a full-year pre-tax profit record in 2012. But that doesn't necessarily mean everything is rosy in the land of the Blue Oval.

Like every other manufacturer, 2012 saw Ford get hammered in the European Union, where a deep economic recession continues to drive down consumer confidence. The automaker lost more than $700 million in Europe, and saw full revenue of $26.6 billion in 2012. That's a decline of $7.2 billion compared to last yea. Ford says the market for new vehicles in Europe has contracted to 13.5 million units, the lowest number in 17 years. You can read the full press release below for more information.

Continue reading Ford nets $5.7B in 2012, $1.6B in fourth quarter

Ford nets $5.7B in 2012, $1.6B in fourth quarter originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EU formally questions French government assistance of Peugeot's finance arm

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials, Renault, Peugeot, Citroën

Recently, the finance arm of PSA/Peugeot-Citroën was in such debt trouble that it was pricing itself out of the car loan market. The rates it was paying to service its debt, which was rated one step above junk, were so high that it was forced to charge car-buying customers higher rates than they could find elsewhere. This was adding to Peugeot's already impressive woes by sending revenue out the door to competitors.

Two months ago a deal was worked out with the French government whereby the state would provide 7 billion euro ($9 billion USD) in bonds to guarantee the finance arm's loans. The French government could nominate someone to join the Peugeot board, Peugeot would guarantee more French jobs, and on top of that deal, other banks would provide non-guaranteed loans. The government would take no equity stake in the car company.

Although not yet finalized, the arrangement is meant to create some breathing room for Peugeot Finance to lower its interest rates for customers, and a government-nominated board member, Louis Gallois, was recently named to Peugeot's supervisory board. The arrangement was also openly questioned by at least three competitors: Ford, Renault - which is 15-percent owned by the French government after it received state aid - and the German state of Lower Saxony, itself a 15-percent shareholder in Volkswagen.

Now the European Union, responding to "an unidentified Peugeot competitor," has challenged the terms of the deal, calling it state aid, which is a no-no. There was a lot of parsing-of-words at the time the potential deal was announced: Peugeot said it wasn't state aid, it was state support; Ford of Europe said it didn't think government support of companies was sustainable, making no mention that Ford Credit did receive federal aid at the beginning of our own economic crisis; and the irony of Renault and the German state's complaints was apparently lost in their outrage.

The EU has requested official notification of the deal, which is the prelude before Brussels begins a full investigation into the matter, and that could raise the cost of the deal. The government doesn't think an investigation is warranted since the funds only go to the finance arm and the loan is being made at market rates. Peugeot, on the other hand, has apparently been prepared for such an eventuality and is working with Brussels on the matter. The deal, if it closes, should be concluded early next year.

EU formally questions French government assistance of Peugeot's finance arm originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New European tires to get labels rating fuel efficiency, wet traction and noise levels

Zach Bowman — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Safety

Bloomberg reports the European Union is set to require tire manufacturers to include new labels detailing everything from the rubber's wet-traction performance to fuel efficiency and noise levels. Each tire will receive a rating on an A-to-G scale for wet traction and fuel efficiency, wherein A is the highest score possible. Information on the tire's noise level, meanwhile, will be conveyed in decibels.

So, why the big push for more sidewall information? Tire manufacturers in the EU are being hit on two sides; economic woes hurting the bottom line, while inexpensive Chinese tires lure buyers away from more common brands. Last year saw Chinese, Korean and other non-European brand market share jump to 23 percent, a new record.

Manufacturers like Pirelli and Michelin are looking for ways to indicate how their products are superior, and the new labels may do just that. But the labels may have another unintended effect by stepping up competition in a big way. All tire manufacturers will be forced to justify their price tags as consumers begin to more easily compare and contrast their options.

Meanwhile, US regulators are set to issue a new rule in 2013, requiring all tires to carry ratings for fuel efficiency, wet traction and treadwear. Don't expect the EU and US systems to dovetail, however.

New European tires to get labels rating fuel efficiency, wet traction and noise levels originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes offers 3,000-euro discount amidst struggling sales

Chris Tutor — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Earnings/Financials

The bad economy looks to be getting deeper over in Europe. The latest evidence is German carmakers' desperate efforts to prop up badly-lagging sales. Last month, European discounts on German brands averaged 12.2 percent. And now, Mercedes-Benz is offering a 3000-euro ($3,900) trade-in incentive to customers.

Success of the discounts has been minimal at best. September car sales in Germany fell 11 percent despite the incentives. With 25 percent of Europe's car sales coming from the Germans, some expect the drop to also pull the entire continent's numbers down to 1993 levels.

"Germany's sales results are sending the signal that we're certainly not out of the woods, but are deep in the woods and aren't going to get out soon," Jonathon Poskitt, an analyst at LMC Automotive in Oxford, England, tells Automotive News Europe. "It looks like 2013 is going to be another difficult year."

And those monthly numbers are actually rosier than reality. Sales of discounted "zero-mile used vehicles," accounted for 33.5 percent of September sales in Germany. Zero-mile cars are created in a practice by German dealers in which new cars are licensed by the dealer, then sold as used at a more than 20-percent discount. It moves inventory off the lot, but is costly to dealers and manufacturers.

Mercedes offers 3,000-euro discount amidst struggling sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tear gas fired at PSA job protesters outside of Paris Motor Show

Zach Bowman — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Paris Motor Show, UAW/Unions

Police in Paris fired tear gas at demonstrators outside of the Paris Motor Show today. Around 1,000 protesters showed up in an attempt to break through police lines and gain access to the show in a demonstration against further austerity measures. The group included workers from a PSA Peugeot Citroën plant that's scheduled for closure, and some demonstrators threw eggs and flour at police. The group also reportedly included workers from other manufacturers that have announced job cuts.

The standoff is part of nationwide demonstrations as France continues to struggle with an unemployment rate parked at over 10 percent. Lawmakers in the country are currently deciding on whether or not to back a European Union agreement that will see France agree to balance its finances in an attempt to slow the continent's debt crisis. Such austerity measures are unpopular in France, and were the leading issue driving former President Nicolas Sarkozy from office. Socialist President Francois Hollande earned the office after campaigning on a platform that promised to tackle the French deficit without stifling growth or imposing austerity measures.

The CGT labor union has responded to the EU agreement by organizing this week's demonstrations.

Tear gas fired at PSA job protesters outside of Paris Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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France requests EU surveil South Korean imports

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Hyundai, Kia, South Korea

One of the French government's listed initiatives for aiding its ailing automotive sector, especially Peugeot, was asking the European Commission to keep an eye on imports from South Korea. The EU signed a free-trade agreement with South Korea last year, and France is concerned that might be exaggerating the loss of market share being suffered by its domestic makers - Europe-wide sales of South Korean cars rose by more than 20 percent last year in a market that is enduring painful contraction.

The EU says it has received an official request to monitor South Korean imports, according to a report in Reuters. Should the EU agree to the France's demand, it could mean instating "prior surveillance measures" that would compel the South Koreans to notify the EU of the number and type of products it planned to ship in advance.

No one is mentioning the reintroduction of tarrifs on South Korean automobiles, since even the EU Trade Commissioner is talking up the overall benefits of the free-trade agreement, but it is an option. The effect such a move would have on the French domestics' s situation is questionable, though; Hyundai's EU plants, such as those in the Czech Republic and Turkey, have produced 70 percent of its products registered in the EU, and Kia Motors Slovakia plant produces the duty-free and very popular Cee'd on top of the Sportage and Hyundai ix35. A Hyundai spokesman said just 12 percent of its EU product came from its home country.

France requests EU surveil South Korean imports originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EU to probe Porsche taxpayer grant to build new Macan

Jeff Sabatini — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Porsche, Luxury

Porsche won't put its second crossover into production for another year, but the Macan is already causing some controversy. Not the Porsche-has-sold-its-soul controversy that accompanied the launch of its big brother Cayenne, but the why-is-the-German-government-subsidizing-it kind.

According to Reuters, the European Commission has launched an investigation into the German government's €43 million grant (over $53 million U.S.) for Porsche's Leipzig, Germany, plant expansion, on the grounds that such assistance may be anti-competitive. The recent move by Volkswagen to consolidate its ownership of Porsche likely played into the decision, according to the report.

Porsche's Leipzig plant, where the company currently builds the Cayenne and Panamera, is undergoing a €500 million expansion ($629 million) in advance of the Macan. The facility just produced its 500,000th vehicle this month.

EU to probe Porsche taxpayer grant to build new Macan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW Golf/Jetta CC too expensive to sell in U.S.

Zach Bowman — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, China, Europe, Volkswagen, Luxury

We've got bad news for you if you had your heart set on the smaller version of the Volkswagen CC. Car and Driver reports the German automaker has decided the four-door would simply be too expensive to sell in the American market. The article cites unnamed European sources as saying the vehicle still has a strong chance of making it to dealer lots in the EU, even though no final decision has been made at this point. By the time the machine made it to our shores, it would likely be more pricey than the current Passat. That's a problem.

Original reports suggested Volkswagen needed the U.S. market to justify production volumes to sell the new CC in both the EU and China, but the company seems to think the likely small U.S. sales would have little impact anyway. C/D reports the automaker is tentatively planning to sell the smaller CC in the People's Republic anyway.

VW Golf/Jetta CC too expensive to sell in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 May 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What will happen to automakers if the Euro zone implodes?

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Europe, Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials

Figuring out post-doomsday scenarios can make for hours of fun, but short of a cinematic "Kill them all!" they're rarely that accurate. That's because we never know which entrance doomsday is going to use, and the big doomsday is often followed by little doomsdays (as this year's Japanese earthquake/tsunami/nuclear meltdown should have taught us yet again). Still, that hasn't stopped Automotive News from taking a look at what might happen to European carmakers in case Italy, Spain and Greece leave the euro zone.

One scenario sees the German automakers suffering but Italy's Fiat faring slightly better. A strong euro, or if the zone completely implodes, an even stronger German Deutsche Mark would cripple the export earnings of Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz by double digits. Conversely, a weak Italian lira that could be further devalued and printed at will might make Fiat more competitive against its northern rivals. Or maybe Fiat wouldn't do so well, since consumers would be practically allergic to major purchases, and the already soft demand in Southern Europe might crater such that "There might not be an Italian-made Panda."

In Europe, the prediction is that there would be no winners, not even Spain's Seat, which, like Italy's Fiat, might benefit from currency devaluation. The brands with a chance of reaping some benefit: Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota, whose industrial economies are safely distant from the economic fallout. From a purely industrial standpoint, that's reasonable - but if Europeans are scared to buy Fiats and no one knows what currencies are really worth from week to week, we suspect there will be plenty of pain to go around for everyone.

What will happen to automakers if the Euro zone implodes? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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European automakers irked over proposed noise standards

Zach Bowman — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal

Ward's Auto reports the European Commission is pushing new measures that could burden automakers with stiff noise regulations for cars, buses and trucks. Under the proposed legislation, automakers would need to curb vehicle noise levels by two decibels two years after the legislation's wording is agreed upon by EC member countries. Another two decibel reduction would occur three years after the first installment. Trucks, meanwhile, would be forced to reduce noise by one decibel in the first wave of reductions and two decibels in the second wave. Officials behind the proposed rules say the change will slash road noise by 25 percent and greatly improve the health and quality of life of European citizens.

Automakers are busily lobbying for amendments to the proposal, saying they have issues with the timing, levels and legal categories contained within the noise-control measures. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association says that while the first step could be implemented immediately, the second step could take as many as six years to accomplish. Head over to Ward's to read the full report.

European automakers irked over proposed noise standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen shuts down after-hours e-mail, allows employees to have lives again

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Technology, UAW/Unions

Add this one to the list of reasons Europeans have it better than we do, right after diesels and manual transmissions: No more "catching up on e-mail" while you should be spending time with your family. Or sleeping. Or watching Baywatch reruns.

According to the BBC, Volkswagen has bowed to demands from its trade unions to limit corporate e-mail access by turning off its Blackberry servers 30 minutes after the close of business, and leaving them off until the next morning. The agreement comes after some workers complained that their home and work lives were overlapping. The BBC says this may be part of a growing trend in Europe, where CEOs are recognizing that tethering their employees to smart phones may not be such a good thing.

Volkswagen shuts down after-hours e-mail, allows employees to have lives again originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen Type 2 returns to Europe via Brazil

Aaron Richardson — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Minivan/Van, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Volkswagen

Volkswagen buyers in the Netherlands will soon have the opportunity to get their hands on a brand-new 2012 Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus. That's right, the original hippie van will be available brand-new in Holland as a 2012 model.

How is that possible? Well, while the buses went out of production a long time ago in Europe and the states, South Americans have been enjoying unfettered access to the Type 2 (currently sold there as the Kombi) for decades. The Type 2s slated for the streets of Holland will be built in Brazil with their South American-market counterparts and then shipped to the Dutch market.

As you can see, the T2 hasn't been changed much to make it more suitable for modern families.That spare tire on the front end, however, is anything but. The van's air-cooled flat four-cylinder engine has been replaced with a more modern 1.4-liter inline four, and the "spare tire" is actually an air filter that obscures placement of a front-mounted radiator.

For now, these camper-only vans are only scheduled to be available only in Holland, but they'll be eligible for registration anywhere within the European Union. We think things will stay that way, so don't expect any to make it Stateside.

Volkswagen Type 2 returns to Europe via Brazil originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi denied TDI trademark by European court

Noah Joseph — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Audi, Volkswagen, Diesel

As much as it has with the Quattro brand, Audi (and its parent company Volkswagen) have more recently turned the letters TDI into an emblem of what it stands for as an automaker. Think of those three letters and you could picture no other marque, that's how closely intertwined the two have become. But an attempt to enshrine that much in law has apparently failed.

According to Autobild, Audi went to the European Union courts in Luxembourg - on behalf of its parent company as well in its own right - to secure dominion over the TDI badge, but in a ruling this week, the judge ruled that the acronym is not theirs alone. Apparently the judge felt that the letters apply to a technology that is common with other automakers - namely turbocharged diesels with direct injection - and therefore rejected Audi's claim of ownership.

The company apparently owns the name in individual countries, so any attempt by a rival automaker to use the name would undoubtedly prove difficult. But as far as the European Union is concerned, it's not illegal.

Audi denied TDI trademark by European court originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: EU working to ban gas and diesel-powered cars by 2050

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Ford, Electric, Diesel

According to new reports, the European Union will announce plans to ban all fossil fuel-powered cars in Europe by 2050. The detailed plan will be outlined in the European Union's Roadmap on Transport, which will come out on Monday. By 2030, the EU plans to have reduced fossil fuel traffic by half, particularly in urban areas.

The EU hopes to achieve its goal by ramping up focus on hybrid technology in the next couple decades to make a smooth transition to all-electric power by the middle of the century. A big part of the shift seems to be moving away from personal transportation and toward public conveyances wherever possible.

The EU says the overall goal for the project is to reduce traffic-related C02 emissions by 60 percent in 2050. A big part of the reduction will come from the effort to achieve zero-C02 transportation in major urban areas, where people travel by car 75 percent of the time.

For its part, Ford Motor Company has already come out with a response to the legislation, criticizing the EU's plan, and we wouldn't be surprised to see more statements from other automakers follow suit soon. You can read Ford's response in their official press release after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Marco!

[Source: NU.nl (translated) via Autoblog.nl | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Continue reading Report: EU working to ban gas and diesel-powered cars by 2050

Report: EU working to ban gas and diesel-powered cars by 2050 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: UK moves to block Europe-wide speeding fines

Zach Bowman — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 08:26:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Safety, UK

Britain is stepping up to the man. The island nation is moving to stop a proposal that would allow member countries of the European Union to enforce traffic violations across international borders. The legislation aims to help law enforcement pursue unruly drivers for four major offenses: speeding, running traffic lights, drunk driving and not wearing a seatbelt. Mike Penning, Britain's road safety minister, said that while the UK is all for greater cooperation between the 27 countries in the EU, he feels there are still some wrinkles to be ironed out in the proposal.

Part of the conflict stems from the law requiring those caught speeding by traffic cameras to be held responsible for fines once they return to their native country. Penning is concerned about who pays the fine when someone other than the vehicle's owner is behind the wheel and how the appeal process would work. All told, around four million Britons use their vehicles outside of the country's borders.

[Source: The Daily Telegraph l Image: Reed Saxon/AP]

Report: UK moves to block Europe-wide speeding fines originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nanotechnology standards coming for auto industry?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Technology

According to recent reports, nanotechology - controlling matter at an atomic and molecular level (thanks, Wikipedia!) - is about to hit the automobile world full-force. And the results could be both good and bad.

First, a few examples of the good: First we have a German chemicals company called Lanxess that's used nanotechnology to create tires that perform better than traditional rubber in both overall performance and wear. Secondly, under the hood of BMW's diesel models is a particulate filter coated with tiny carbon nanotubes, enabling it to remove 99 percent of all particulate matter. And finally, Mercedes-Benz has partnered with PPG to create a nanotech paint with a glass-like outer coating that's three-times less likely to scratch.

According to Wards Auto, though, nano particles "can behave in unexpected ways, passing through human skin into the blood or even brain." While we're not experts, the idea of nano particles on the brain doesn't sound very enticing. It's also not fully understood how these tiny materials can damage the environment and nature. In deference to these facts, the European Union is reportedly considering how best to define nano particles so it can regulate the technology.

The United States is also looking into nanotechnology regulations. Sally Tinkle, senior science advisor to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, said, "The technology is new enough that we are not yet looking at tires or car bumpers that have nano elements and which have reached the end of their lives... But we understand the immediacy of these questions and the need to protect public health and the environment."

[Source: Wards Auto]

Nanotechnology standards coming for auto industry? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EU reportedly clears Volvo's sale to Geely

Zach Bowman — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: China, Europe, Government/Legal, Ford, Volvo, Geely, Luxury

2011 Volvo V60 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Volvo and Geely have taken another step toward holy matrimony. The European Union has officially approved the Chinese company's takeover of the Swedish manufacturer. The EU found that the move wouldn't stifle competition within its borders and gave all of the interested parties the green light. Ford originally agreed to sell Geely its former ward in March of this year, and the $1.8 billion dollar purchase is well on its way to becoming reality.

The move is a big one, not just for Volvo and Geely, but the whole of the Chinese auto market. According to Reuters, the buy is the largest overseas automotive acquisition any Chinese company has made to date. We would be surprised if it were the last, though.

Gallery: 2011 Volvo V60

[Source: Reuters]

EU reportedly clears Volvo's sale to Geely originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabrio leaks out courtesy EU bureaucracy

Noah Joseph — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Europe, Government/Legal, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class convertible trademark filing images - Click above for image gallery

There are few people in this world for whom we hold more contempt than European bureaucrats. They're the pencil-pushers that, if they had their way, would put an end to some of our favorite exotic sportscars and have us all driving Smart ForTwos. But every gray cloud has its silver lining, and in the case of Belgium's bureaucracy, is the sneak peak we get from time to time when a carmaker files its designs to register them as trademarks.

What we're looking at this time is the upcoming Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabrio. Although there were rumors that the model could be delayed, by and large we knew this was coming, and have even seen plenty spy shots of test mules preparing for their market launch.

Replacing the outgoing CLK convertible, this new model is based on the slick new E-Class coupe but, you know...with a convertible roof. It's a fabric job, unlike its rivals from BMW, Lexus, Infiniti and Volvo, which have all gone with folding hard-tops by now. The mechanicals are otherwise expected to carry over from its fixed-roof counterpart, although the jury's still out on whether an AMG version will be on offer as well. For now, we'll just have to peruse these grainy black-and-white images until the new drop-top Benz drops in the first half of next year.

Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class convertible trademark filing images

[Source: CarScoop]

Spy Shots: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabrio leaks out courtesy EU bureaucracy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Pullman drawings leak from European patent office

Noah Joseph — Mon, 04 May 2009 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Europe, Government/Legal, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Pullman patent drawings - Click above for a high-res image gallery

It's no great secret that the European Union's patent office has more leaks than a Soviet submarine, but up until now it's only been small cars that have been able to trickle out (see: the facelifted Mazda MX-5 and Nissan 370Z Roadster). But the dam seems to be giving way as a whole Mercedes limousine has managed to squeeze though and into the public realm, and our European compatriots at Autoblog Spanish have got the sketches to prove it.

Like the spy shots we've seen before, these patent sketches provide further proof that Mercedes is preparing to launch a stretched Pullman version of its new E-Class. Several extension options are apparently being prepared, ranging from a modest wheelbase extension all the way up to a full extra set of doors. Expect all manner of luxury equipment to find its way into the enlarged cabin, from entertainment systems and courtesy lighting to power reclining seats and fold-down picnic tables for that ultimate Grey Poupon experience. Click the thumbnails below to view the patent drawings in high resolution.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Clase E Pullman (OAMI)

[Source: Autoblog Spanish]

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Pullman drawings leak from European patent office originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 May 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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