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Mercedes completes production of G63 AMG 6x6

Considering its 19-foot length, it sure was short-lived. A flash in the pan, really, in so far as a 4-ton beast could possibly be. But the Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6 is reportedly wrapping up its short production run this month. Based on a military variant of the legendary Gelandewagen but built for civilian consumption, the G63 AMG was – and will likely forever remain – the ultimate version of Benz's ultimate off-roader. It features six driven wheels on three axles with five differentials, all powered by AMG's stalwart 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8. Mercedes rolled out the 6x6 on all its half-dozen driven wheels barely over a year ago, and despite its half-million-dollar sticker price, demand soared. But after selling about 100 of them, the German automaker is putting it to pasture, ensuring its rarity in the annals of off-roader history. In its place, Benz will now begin production of the (relatively and slightly) less bonkers G500 4x42, which employs a tamer 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 driving a more conventional four wheels, and ditches the pickup short-bed for an enclosed wagon body-style, but keeps its eccentric big brother's jacked-up ride height. Those looking for the last word in power, though, will be more interested in the twelve-cylinder G65 that will now be coming to US dealers with a $200k+ sticker price. Related Video:

Maybach and Aston Martin alliance talks fall apart

If you have, like us, been salivating at the notion of a new generation of Maybach and Lagonda ultra-luxury crafts built by Aston Martin, we've got some bad news: According to reports emanating from Germany, talks between AML and Daimler have broken down.
The proposal under negotiation would have seen Daimler outsourcing production of the next family of Maybach models to Aston Martin, which in return would benefit from Mercedes-Benz platforms and engines - not only for its svelte GTs, but also for its own future Lagonda line of limousines and luxury SUVs. That, and a boatload of money - or at least that's what AML was reportedly seeking, an issue that served as the stumbling block over which the deal reportedly collapsed.
That's not to say the two parties couldn't still reach some sort of a compromise, but short of that, Daimler may opt to either shut down Maybach altogether, find another partner, or take another stab at building new models internally.

Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG coming to the New York Auto Show

Mercedes-Benz showed off the CLA45 AMG at a private event on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, but was determined not to let it be photographed. We can talk about it, though - after all, a teaser image was released to promote the new Sony game Drive Club. The CLA45 AMG will use the same powertrain as the A45 AMG, which means a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 360 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. And that means a small four-door coupe sedan with the highest horsepower-per-liter in the segment. It will shift through the same seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, should also run out of speed at 155 miles per hour and have that three-stage stability control system.
As with its hatch sibling, the CLA is already so aggressive on the outside - and the parent company so anxious not to demolish the sedan's 0.22 coefficient of drag - that not much has been done to the cranked-up CLA. Even the rather thin tires on the standard only get a little less thin on the hotter variant. Inside will be the telltale AMG signs, with lots of red detailing and that flat-bottomed wheel among the giveaways. We'll know more later this month when the wraps come off at the New York International Auto Show.