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Mercedes introduces the details of the C450 AMG 4Matic

We saw the AMG Sport models joining the C-Class line in Detroit, but Mercedes has waited until the press launch of the Mercedes-AMG C63 to give us the details. In case you've forgotten about how this new puzzle piece fits, there's Mercedes-Benz, there's Mercedes-AMG, then there's the Mercedes-Benz AMG Sport line slotted in between for those who want sporty luxury but not too much of either. This is the second variant in that line-up, and also the second to get V6 power, following the GLE450 AMG Coupe. In the case of the C450 AMG 4Matic, that means a twin-turbo six-cylinder with 367 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 38 hp and 29 lb-ft over the C400 4Matic on which it's based. It goes much closer to proper AMG territory with its looks and features, with that sharp, chrome-trimmed lip in front, the oblong lower intakes, lightweight wheels, and a "special AMG badge" on the front fenders. In back, the sedan gets a spoiler on the trunk, the wagon gets a roof spoiler. There's a suspension highly derivative of that on the C63 AMG, with three-stage dampers. So too the five drive modes laid out like on traditional AMGs, the 7G-Tronic automatic transmission, the ESP with Curve Dynamic Assist, and it will even sound close to an Affalterbach special thanks to a sports exhaust. Cabin occupants can play the real deal with sport seats and a flat-bottomed wheel with red cross-stitching. We don't have a price yet, but there will probably be plenty of room between the price of the AMG C63 and the $48,950 C400 4Matic to make buyers happy. The press release below has all the info. Related Video: The new C-Class models from Mercedes-AMG: Mercedes-AMG C 63 and Mercedes-Benz C 450 AMG 4MATIC Mercedes-Benz C 450 AMG 4MATIC: Second AMG sports model with V6 power Driving Performance – the AMG brand claim and typical character traits can now be experienced by an even broader target group. The new C 450 AMG 4MATIC expands the product range of the sports car and performance brand within Mercedes-Benz with another new AMG sports model. As an attractive entry into the world of AMG, the C 450 AMG 4MATIC combines a 270 kW (367 hp) 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine with a permanent Performance all-wheel-drive system and sophisticated suspension technology adopted from the Mercedes-AMG C 63. This all results in fascinating driving performance and the hallmark emotional expressiveness of the brand.

Geely chairman is now the single biggest investor in Daimler

Li Shufu, the chairman and main owner of Chinese carmaker Geely, has built a stake of 9.69 percent in Daimler AG, the German carmaker said in a regulatory filing on Friday. The stake, worth nearly $9 billion at the current valuation for Daimler shares, makes Li the biggest single shareholder in the maker of Mercedes-Benz cars, trucks and vans headquartered in the German city of Stuttgart. A Daimler spokesman called the stake purchase a private investment by Li. "We are delighted, with Li Shufu, to have won over another long-term investor who is convinced of Daimler's innovative prowess, strategy and future potential," the spokesman said in response to a request for comment. "Daimler knows and respects Li Shufu as a Chinese entrepreneur of particular competence and forward thinking." Li's stake purchase makes him the top shareholder in Daimler ahead of the Kuwait Investment Authority, which owned 6.8 percent as of Sept. 30, according to Thomson Reuters data. Earlier this month, the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported that the Chinese industry giant was seeking to become Daimler's biggest shareholder, likely exceeding the 6.8-percent stake of the Kuwait Investment Authority. The paper said Daimler had reportedly turned down Geely's $4.5 billion offer for a 5-percent stake via a discounted share placement, saying that Geely could buy shares in the open market. Institutional investors currently own 70.7 percent of Daimler, and the company already has strong ties to Chinese automakers BAIC and BYD. Bild am Sonntag said the move was intended as a strategic alliance against Apple, Google and Amazon on autonomous and connected cars. And Reuters reported that Daimler wants to have bespoke "robo taxis" on the road quicker than Google's Waymo, and views Geely as a strong partner for that. Geely conversely is interested in Daimler's electric car battery technology, and sources quoted by the German paper say there are plans to establish joint electric car manufacturing in Wuhan, China, to meet China's smog-reducing quotas. Geely is developing the Lynk & Co. brand of electric and hybrid cars. Geely owns Volvo, which has enjoyed a renaissance under the arrangement, as well as the maker of London's black cabs. In December, it bought a stake in AB Volvo, the maker of Volvo trucks.

This or That: Mercedes S-Class 350SD vs. 2003 Jaguar XJR [w/poll]

Budget. It's a wretched word, whether you're going out to eat, shipping for a new outfit or, more relevant to today's discussion, buying a car. Massive marketing machines have convinced us, as a population, to buy the best you can afford, repercussions be damned – If you've saved up some money, spend it! All of it, on whatever it is that currently sits atop your personal Amazon wishlist, be it a Timex that takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin', a $17,000 Gold Apple Watch or a $60,000 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. But what if the best you can afford is... say, $12,815? For that price, you can buy a brand-new 2015 Nissan Versa (including destination), assuming you're happy with zero options and a manual transmission. For that price, you'll get standard air conditioning, a CD player and... well, a warranty. Pretty sensible choice, Captain Frugal. But also ridiculously uninspired. And so that brings us to today's edition of This or That, in which two Autoblog editors pick differing sides of an argument and duke it out to see which one of us can convince you, dear reader, is better. Or at least less wrong. You be the judge. As a refresher, I'm two-and-two on these challenges, having lost the first and second editions before storming back in rounds three and four. Today, as alluded to above, we decided to throw our collective brainpower (oh lord, what have we done?) at what may be the single most difficult question currently confounding the best minds our planet has to offer: What is the best used used luxury car you can buy for the price of a 2015 Nissan Versa? Shall we meet our contenders? Allow me to introduce you to the most perfect luxury car money can buy (assuming the amount of money you're holding is equal to the amount of the cheapest new car currently sold in America, the Nissan Versa). My pick is the 1991 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Not just any S-Class, but the legendary W126, which was produced between 1979 and 1992. And not just any W126, either, but one powered by a 3.5-liter turbodiesel engine. And with that, I send the argument to my esteemed colleague, Associate Editor Chris Bruce. Bruce: Jeremy, we had over $12,000 to budget for this challenge, and the best you can manage is a 24-year-old diesel Mercedes? I love oil-burners as much as any other auto writer with their mountains of torque and huge cruising range, but you're making this too easy on me. Also, you're really choosing a brown, diesel, German luxury sedan?