1976 Mercedes-benz 450sl Base Convertible 2-door 4.5l on 2040-cars

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Which car companies are creating new jobs in America?

Since January, automakers have announced investments totaling $9.5 billion in U.S. plants, creating or retaining more than 12,000 jobs. Some of those companies have yet to announce just how many jobs will be created given their investments, with the location of many of those jobs still to be determined. Specifically, the 4,000-job Toyota-Mazda joint venture plant still hasn't announced its location, with numerous states jockeying for it. Hyundai has plans to invest $1 billion but has not announced a jobs number yet. And likewise Ford is investing $1.2 billion in Michigan without specifying a number of jobs. Volvo this week announced plans to add a second line to its factory under construction in South Carolina, spending another $500 million and adding 2,500 jobs to the 2,000 it was already trying to fill. Then Thursday, Daimler announced a $1 billion expansion to its facility in Tuscaloosa, Ala., to produce EV batteries and electric SUVs, a move that will add 600 jobs to its hiring this year. Above, we've created a handy pie chart showing you which companies have announced new jobs and how many there will be. Reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit News Source: Reuters Plants/Manufacturing BMW Chrysler Ford GM Honda Hyundai Mazda Mercedes-Benz Toyota Volvo jobs

Mercedes-AMG developing halo car with new 12-cylinder engine

The SLS AMG was once the jewel of the Mercedes-Benz performance lineup, a commanding supercar the presence of which could be felt a football field away. The AMG GT has taken that crown with its seductive 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine – a veritable bulldog cloaked in an alluring silhouette. But Mercedes was always clear: this was a Porsche 911-fighter. It was even called a "baby SLS." Now it appears in the world of three-starred performance halo-cars, Mercedes may be playing its own Game of Thrones. To be clear, the GT will remain top dog for some time to come, and that lineup "will expand," we're told. A Black Series is still at least a year or more away, and we could see another model in the AMG GT family beyond that. But a recent conversation with a Mercedes-AMG product planner in Austria revealed that a new halo car is in the works, one that will slot above the GT. It will likely draw power from a new 12-cylinder that's now in development, one that will be mated to an electric motor and battery pack. This ultra-hybrid setup could boast the greatest performance of any Mercedes yet. Crucially, it will have better fuel economy, good enough to justify its existence in an increasingly stringent regulatory environment. As for the new 4.0-liter V-8 in the AMG GT, you can expect to see a lot more of it, starting with the E63 AMG, sometime after the next Mercedes-Benz E-Class launches next year. Related Video:

2016 Mercedes-AMG G65 coming to US this fall, priced from $217,900*

The top end of the luxury SUV market keeps edging northwards. Where the prospect of spending six figures on an off-roader once seemed unthinkable, a new class at the top end of the segment has emerged with prices exceeding $200k. And now American buyers will have another choice on their hands with the arrival of the Mercedes-AMG G65. The flagship model of the Gelandewagen range, the G65 is based on Benz's immortal SUV that's been produced in Graz, Austria, since 1979 and (officially) arrived in the US in 2002. But while the G-Class has been offered in a number of specifications even here in America – up to and including the eight-cylinder G63 AMG – the top-of-the-line G65 was kept away from these shores. But now the German automaker has announced it's bringing its ultimate sport-ute to American showrooms. Distinguishing the G65 from 'lesser' G-Wagens is its 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 – the same essential unit that already powers the S65 coupe and sedan, SL65 roadster and the Pagani Huayra – producing in this application 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. That's said to be enough to shuffle the big ute up to 60 in just 5.3 seconds. Of course all that power and prestige comes with a price, and as you might have guessed, it's astronomical: $217,900 plus $925 delivery, to be specific. In that ballpark, it'll be tangling with the new Range Rover SVAutobiography and the upcoming Bentley Bentayga. Not even the top-of-the-line, $157k Porsche Cayenne Turbo S wears that high a price tag. Look for the Mercedes-AMG G65 to reach showrooms in November, and check out the ever-so-slightly facelifted G-Wagen in our gallery above, live from New York. Related Video: Mercedes-Benz Announces Pricing on 2016MY Mercedes-AMG G65 An SUV in a Class of its Own to Start at $217,900* MONTVALE, NJ (April 1, 2015) – Mercedes-Benz USA announced pricing today for the ultra-exclusive 2016 Mercedes-AMG G65. Starting at an MSRP of USD $217,900, this model joins the G550 and G63 AMG in the U.S. lineup in November 2015. It is also the fourth exclusive AMG model priced above $200,000: SL65 ($215,250), S65 sedan ($222,000), and S65 Coupe ($230,900). Powered by a V12 bi-turbo engine, the G65 AMG delivers 621 hp and 738 lb-ft. of torque, with an estimated 0-60 mph acceleration in 5.3 seconds. The G-Class is the only off-road vehicle in its class to combine the electronic traction system 4ETS with a transfer case and three 100% differential locks.