Auto News

News / Global News The C-, E- and S-Class two-doors could be on the chopping block. Mercedes-Benz is looking to save some cash by axing approximately seven versions of its low-roof vehicles, according to Automotive News. This came from a dealer meeting with USA CEO Nicholas Sparks in late June. He didn’t say what vehicles would be cut, but the S-, C- and E-Class coupes and convertibles could be the first to go. As much as we love two-doors, luxury car sales declined 37 percent in the past five years while luxury crossovers went up 73 percent. Mercedes is in the business of selling cars, not keeping the few remaining coupe fans happy. "Do we need all the products that we currently have?" Speeks told Automotive News in May. "We also have to play our part in cutting our costs to meet our means." This makes sense considering the global push for EVs, and Mercedes has several upcoming. AN reports that this could lead to the killing of entire engine platforms and families. You can pry your 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 from my cold, dead hands…as soon as I make enough money to buy one. free up space for popular and profitable crossovers and SUVs. This year the Mercedes-Benz GLC and GLE crossovers both outsold its most popular [...]

News / Future Cars Mercedes-AMG E63 S Sedan and Wagon Get Updated Styling Inside and Out for 2021 The face is new, but the 603 hp available to eviscerate all pavement remains.

Whenever peak horsepower starts with a six, you know you’re starting off in a good place. And, frankly, it’s even cooler if the specs come from a station wagon. Hence, Mercedes-AMG having anything to say about its 603-hp and 627-lb-ft of torque equipped E63 S sedan and wagon catches our eye, including this update for 2021.

While the engine specs remain the same from the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, as does the nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive drivetra [...]

Certainly, the government has made mistakes before. Hoo man, has it ever. So why shouldn’t one of those mistakes work out in your favor? All that has to happen is some computer somewhere in a Taxation Office basement hiccups and suddenly, instead of a $1,500 stimulus check, which wouldn’t even buy a McLaren hubcap, you get one for $150,000. Or $1.5 million. Or $15 million. Then there you are, staring at that check, the little angel on your left shoulder telling you to return it with a polite note saying, “This must be some mistake,” and the little devil on your right shoulder saying, “Cash that sucker!” The choice is yours, but if you listen to Beelzebub and cash that sucker, you’re going to need some “consulting” to decide what to spend it on. Obviously, you should spend it all on cars. Duh. But which ones? autoweek.com/news

AUTO REVIEW Audi A3 Sedan An A3 Sportback E-Tron hatch supposedly returning, too. The fourth-generation Audi A3 Sportback hatch debuted earlier this month, and Audi doesn't plan to waste time getting the trunked version here, according to Car and Driver, which adds that the sedan likely shows in late 2020 as a 2021 model. The sedans will deliver everything we saw in the latest hatchback from the front fascia to the rear doors, picking up the brawnier looks and even sharper S line features. The new hatch grew about 1.2 inches compared to the third-generation; a small growth spurt for the sedan shouldn't come as a shock. The engines in all three standard models don't change from the present units, but they will receive aid from 48-volt hybrid systems. As of now, our A3 lineup is broken into two models, a 184-horsepower Sedan Sport and a 228-hp Sedan S line. C/D says the 2021 version begins with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder putting out a whopping 240 horsepower in the entry-level trim. It's possible Audi's switching up the A3 offer to mimic the Q3, the crossover also coming in two trims — Q3 45 and Q3 S line 45 — both powered by the same 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder making the same 228 hp and 258 pound-feet [...]

News / Market Sales Auto sales forecast to drop 22.0 percent, with risk for further deterioration Impacts to global auto demand in the wake of COVID-19 have rapidly progressed to severity levels higher than the 2008-2009 recession, and significant uncertainty around prospects for a meaningful recovery remain. Global light vehicle sales in 2020 are now forecast to drop to 69.6 million units, 22.0 percent lower than in 2019, with risks to the forecast still skewed to the downside. "The pandemic remains a clear and present danger to the autos sector, with months of uncertainty expected to cloud hopes for global recovery prospects," "The expected cycle of decline, stabilization and recovery for autos varies by market, reflecting variations in containment strategies and policy responsiveness," said Colin Couchman, executive director, global autos demand forecasting at IHS Markit. In recent weeks, Mainland China is seeing green shoots of recovery, while much of the rest of the world remains in lockdown. The IHS Markit forecast for Greater China sales in 2020 sees volume at 21.4 million units, a drop of 15 percent from 2019 levels. Though government incentives could help underpin a more orderly recovery profile, these are not [...]

AUTO REVIEW Mercedes Benz GLS 2020 A two-time SUV of the Year winner returns as a 2020 finalist. A two-time SUV of the Year champion, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS came back this year with more space, technology, and power. And when we say technology, we're talking about hardware and software that can even help the suspension system. Mercedes' flagship SUV arrived with a fancy setup known as E-Active Body Control (E-ABC), which uses cameras to read the road ahead to adjust the spring and damping rates and provide a smoother ride with the help of a 48-volt system and individual hydraulic pumps. And with a new design language that's setting the pace for Mercedes' new SUVs, the GLS brings definite presence to the road. DETAILS   Beautiful handling   Two powerful engine options   Opulent interiors   Slow access to third row seats