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Mercedes recalls 2,600 S-Class models in two campaigns

If you're the owner of a 2015 S-Class, you may get a notice soon from your local Mercedes dealership to bring in your pride and joy. But only if you own one of the specific models being recalled in two separate campaigns. The larger of the two affects the Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic, Mercedes-AMG S63 4Matic, and Mercedes-AMG S65 coupes – all from the 2015 model year and manufactured between January 27, 2014, and April 2, 2015. Those models could have had their front seat belts installed on the wrong side, so the driver's side belt may have been fitted to the front passenger seat, and vice versa. Since the seat belt mechanisms are designed for specific sides of the vehicle, they may not lock as required, and the child seat restraint on the passenger side might not work, either. As a result, Mercedes is recalling 2,580 such units in the United States to have those belts inspected and replaced as necessary. In parallel, the Silver Star automaker is also calling in four – that's right, just four – examples of the 2015 S550 Hybrid. In those few units, the fuel pump may not be able to restart the internal combustion engine when needed, and the vehicle could stall. You can read both of the recall notices from the NHTSA below. RECALL Subject : Incorrect Seat Belt Position/FMVSS 208, 209 Report Receipt Date: OCT 14, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V657000 Component(s): SEAT BELTS Potential Number of Units Affected: 2,580 Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. SUMMARY: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015 S550 4Matic Coupe, AMG S63 4Matic Coupe, and AMG S65 vehicles manufactured January 27, 2014, to April 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, left-side front seat belts may have been installed on the right-side and vice versa. As a result, the installation angle may be incorrect, affecting the seat belt locking behavior. Additionally, the child seat restraint function for the passenger seat would not be available. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and FMVSS number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." CONSEQUENCE: If the seat belt is installed improperly, it may not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. REMEDY: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the installation of the seat belts, correcting them as necessary, free of charge.

Comparison test: 2019 Acura RDX vs. compact luxury SUV competitors

Truth be told, if we were to compare the all-new 2019 Acura RDX with those compact luxury crossover SUVs it would most likely be cross-shopped against, you'd be looking at a different list. Even Acura admits that Lexus and Infiniti are the most likely bogies, but with the 2019 RDX, Honda's luxury brand is attempting to attract those customers who think as much with their hearts as with their heads. And for the most part, those folks have been buying from German brands: the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. So, to show how the new RDX compares to them, Acura actually provided examples of each during the recent press drive along with a Volvo XC60. All were determined to have greater emotional appeal than the last RDX, and we would certainly agree. For, as much as the previous-generation RDX made sense on paper, it was really hard to get excited about it. And when you're paying extra for a luxury vehicle, shouldn't you get a little excited? Well, as luck would have it, Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski and I were on hand in Whistler, British Columbia, for the press launch. We didn't have an abundance of time in each RDX competitor, but in conjunction with our usual comparison chart, our impressions should provide a good first taste of how the new RDX compares. Performance and fuel economy Contributing Editor James Riswick: On paper at least, the RDX is gutsier than its comparably powered European rivals. It also weighs the same or less, which logically should mean it'll be the quickest in a straight line. During my brief drives, though, I'm not sure it really stood taller than the three Germans. It at least matches them for smoothness, which is something that can't be said about the Volvo. Fuel economy is lower than them all when you consider all but the Mercedes come standard with all-wheel drive. It's also worth noting that all the competitors are available with engine upgrades, and unless Acura's forthcoming resurrection of Type S models includes the RDX, it should stay that way. Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski: Line 'em all up in a drag race, and I have a feeling the Acura would squirt away to victory. A good bit of that, though, would be due to its 10-speed automatic transmission, which offers a huge spread of ratios and fires off extremely quick shifts. In the real world, I'd guess fuel economy will be similar across the board, so I'm willing to call that category a draw.

Mercedes sketches new DTM C-Class

Mercedes-AMG has two racecars on tap for 2016: the AMG GT3 for FIA GT3 sports car racing and the Mercedes-AMG DTM racer in the German Touring Car series. We have our first sketches of the latter, based on the 503-horsepower C63 Coupe, just lower, wider, and meaner. Naturally, a different motor goes in the DTM car, series regulations prohibiting turbocharging and dictating a 4.0-liter, naturally-aspirated V8 with 90-degree vee angle and a maximum of 500 hp. In 2017 the regulations will change to mandate 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged motors with about 600 hp in a Class One car. The switch will align DTM regs with Japan's Super GT and IMSA here in the US, so they can move between series' with minimal changes. That has the possibility of at least doubling the number of automakers on the grid – the German three and the Japanese three at once – and enabling a World Cup series held in the off-season between 2017 and 2018. Since 2000 Mercedes has won six Driver's Championships in DTM and nine Constructor's Championships, but it hasn't taken home a trophy since 2010. With six races to go in the season it has a team in second place, six points behind the leader. The press release below outlines the new aims. Mercedes-AMG DTM Team present first outlines of 2016 race car - Looking ahead to the 2016 season: How the new DTM car fielded by the Mercedes-AMG DTM Team will look - Ulrich Fritz: "Our aim with this vehicle is, of course, to continue the Mercedes-Benz success story in the DTM." Stuttgart, Aug 29, 2015 - The 2015 DTM season reaches its climax in September. But even before the final race weekends of the year, the Mercedes-AMG DTM Team are providing an insight into what lies ahead for the race series, revealing the first designs of the car that they will enter for the 2016 campaign. The 2016 DTM car to be deployed by the Mercedes-AMG DTM team follows on from successful predecessors that include the most successful car in DTM history – the AMG Mercedes C-Class with which Mercedes-AMG drivers secured 85 victories in 159 races. "The new Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe will again set new standards for driving dynamics and design. So, the vehicle provides the ideal basis for our DTM car," said Head of Mercedes-AMG DTM Ulrich Fritz. "I'm already looking forward to seeing the new Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM compete in 2016.