2012 Mercedes-benz C63 Amg 2 Dr Automatic 2-door Coupe on 2040-cars

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Jay Leno drives the incredible Mercedes-Benz C111-II concept

You might think that Jay Leno has driven it all, but there are a few vehicles so rare that getting behind the wheel is a special experience, even for him. This week on Jay Leno's Garage, the comedian has one of those unique experiences by taking a ride in a 1970 Mercedes-Benz C111-II concept on loan from the Mercedes Classics Center. First unveiled in 1969, the C111 concept featured an in-vogue wedge shape, gullwing doors, and a mid-mounted three-rotor engine, and it seemed like the supercar of the future. This C111-II went even further in 1970 with tweaked styling and a four-rotor powerplant behind the driver. A V8 eventually replaced the experimental mill, but that switch is also part of the reason this one is still on the road today. Leno gets the full history about Mercedes' original plans for the C111 project, but obviously the real highlight is the rare drive in this vintage concept. He clearly relishes the experience of finally getting behind the wheel of this piece of auto history, one of the few automotive dreams he hadn't yet fulfilled.

Mercedes-AMG could use electric turbos

Mercedes-Benz is joining Audi in analyzing electric turbochargers for its production cars. But while Ingolstadt will roll out its first e-turbo in its A8 luxury sedan, Stuttgart is studying the technology for use in small performance cars, like the A45, CLA45, and GLA45 AMG models. Auto Express spoke to Mercedes-AMG compact car boss Steffen Jastrow about the cutting-edge tech, which reduces turbo lag, improves fuel economy, and occupies less space under the hood than a standard turbo. "Of course we need more power for the next-generation of cars, but electrification does not mean we have to use an electric drivetrain." Jastrow said. "They have to be faster and e-turbos are an option. We use them in motorsport, but the technology has to be payable for the customer." As AE tells it, bringing the price of e-turbos down from the A8's luxury car level to the relatively affordable sums demanded by compact AMG models will still take some time. So don't count on seeing a Mercedes with an electric turbocharger until the new A-Class arrives in 2017, at the earliest. Related Video:

Mercedes CLA facelift spotted in Germany

It's only been a couple of years since Mercedes launched the CLA-Class, but it appears the German automaker is already preparing mild revisions for the compact four-door. Spotted undergoing testing at the company's R&D center in Sindelfingen, Germany, this disguised prototype is likely packing many of the updates that were recently applied to the A-Class hatchback with which the CLA shares most of its underpinnings. As you can see, the front end is camouflaged to disguise the shape of a new grille, bumper, and headlights. Expect similar revisions to be applied to the back as well. Don't expect any drastic mechanical changes in most of the models, which will surely cut the svelte model's fuel consumption and carbon emissions incrementally. We can likely look forward to the arrival of the new AMG version that will hopefully pack the revised 2.0-liter turbo four that produces 381 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque in the updated Mercedes-AMG A45 – a not-insignificant boost of 36 hp and 18 lb-ft over the existing version. Mercedes won't pass up the opportunity to update the interior with new trim and equipment. That should mean a bigger infotainment screen, a new instrument cluster, and even more comfortable seats. Look for all this and more when the revised CLA arrives sometime next year, likely as a 2017 model. Related Video: