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Mercedes may not be done with R-Class after all

The idea of blending a three-row SUV and a minivan into a luxury model like the Mercedes-Benz R-Class still seems wonderfully absurd, particularly when you consider that there was an AMG version of that German people-mover. Apparently, though, one of the brand's execs doesn't believe the concept behind the R-Class is all that bizarre. In fact, he thinks it could be time to try again. Wolf-Dieter Kurz, Mercedes' vice president in charge of SUVs and sports cars, believes that crossovers could be a major driver of product variants in the future due to their popularity. There are a lot of design possibilities to explore in the segment, in his opinion. "There was already one that we had in the portfolio – maybe we were too early – which was the R-Class, which we are still selling in China. It's doing good, with 12,000 to 14,000 units per year," Kurz said during the launch of the GLE and GLE Coupe, according to CarAdvice. Under a recent deal, the quirky model is made by AM General and exported out of the US. Kurz even suggested the exact niche that the new model might fill. "So let's say these more, let's say, on-road based but still very roomy, but not station wagon, is definitely an interesting segment also in the future," he said, according to CarAdvice. That almost sounds like a blend of wagon and SUV in a move not too dissimilar from the current Subaru Outback or the old R-Class. One hurdle for any future model reviving the concept of the R-Class is that the company is already bursting with CUVs. Every size is practically already filled with the GLA, GLC, GLE, and forthcoming GLS, plus Coupe variants for some of them.

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.

Are future vehicular hacks inevitable?

Before the hack of the Uconnect system in a Jeep Cherokee resulted in a 1.4-million vehicle recall, the potential software vulnerabilities in vehicles were already a hot topic with Congressional inquiries and even proposed legislation in the US. As cars' interconnected systems gain the ability to go online, they become open to a host of new threats. Automakers are trying to stop this, but it might be too late to put the genie back into the bottle. Throughout 2015, the issue of software security in vehicles has become increasingly vital. For example, the recent Jeep case wasn't even the biggest hack this year. In February, a major flaw was discovered in the BMW Connected Drive service that allowed researchers to remotely lock and unlock the doors and potentially affected 2.2 million cars. The fix was an over-the-air patch for the problem. Automakers are actively working to fix the issues. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi reportedly are using encrypted connections and firewalls in their vehicles to prevent hacking. "Absolute, 100-percent safety isn't possible," Daimler spokesperson Benjamin Oberkersch said to Automotive News Europe. "But we develop our systems, tested by internal and external experts, so they're up to date." These vulnerabilities seem to be popping up more often. A successful hack took $14 in parts from Radio Shack in one case. There was also a 60 Minutes report earlier in the year about DARPA's ability to hack into OnStar to take control of a Chevrolet Impala. Experts aren't so sure companies can contend with hackers' advancement. "The difficulty for the carmakers at the moment is the question whether they can keep pace with advances in technology, and especially hacking technology," Rainer Scholz, executive director for telematics consultant EY, said to Automotive News Europe. "We seriously doubt they can." At this point, vehicle hacks are coming more from researchers looking for holes than from those with malicious intent. Still, the vulnerabilities are definitely there. It's up to automakers to keep patching the problems before they become dangerous to drivers. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req.Image Credit: Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post via Getty Images Audi BMW Jeep Mercedes-Benz Safety Technology Emerging Technologies hacking cyber security