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Xcar drives the Mercedes-AMG C63 S

The transition among Europe's high performance vehicles from naturally aspirated power towards turbocharging has taken time but has shown constant progress. The march seemingly started with hot hatches when models like the Volkswagen GTI quit adding displacement and finally succumbed to forced induction. Now, the change has affected the higher rungs with the latest BMW M3 and possibly even all future Porsche 911s. Of course, the question arises does this shift really matter to the driving experience? Xcar Films aims to find while taking a spirited ride in the new Mercedes-AMG C63 S. One thing is for sure; the switch from the 6.2-liter V8 in favor of the new 4.0-liter twin-turbo doesn't seem to be hurting the Merc's sound. Even with forced induction, the exhaust still emits a very angry grumble. Find out from Xcar if the rest of the new engine's attributes stack up quite so well, though. Related Video:

Mercedes may end Tesla supply agreement for B-Class Electric Drive

The Mercedes-Benz B Class Electric Drive has only been rolling off the production line for 17 months, each one equipped with a battery pack and drivetrain from Tesla Motors, but already there is talk of big upcoming changes. According to a report from the German publication Auto Motor und Sport, the next-generation version of this model will see an end to the Tesla-supplied tech and a hugely improved range. Currently, the electric sedan gets an EPA-rated 87 miles of range, using 28 kWhs of its 36-kWh battery, though its now-standard "Range Plus" package takes advantage of more of the pack, stretching that driving to 100 miles or so. It may take a year or several – the model just had a refresh – but expect those distance digits to double. The rumored range is said to be 500 km (310.7 miles), but since that would likely be calculated using the European drive cycle, expect something significantly lower stateside; say 220-ish official miles. This would be in keeping with expectations from a number of battery-powered competitors in the 2017-2018 time frame. It is unknown if this supposed next-gen B Class Electric Drive is in any way related to the rumored "Ecoluxe" program. The Tesla/Daimler relationship stretches back to 2009, when the Stuttgart-based outfit made a significant investment in the California automaker, quite possibly saving it from extinction in the process. We have reached out Mercedes-Benz about this report, but as of this writing, have not had a reply. We will update this post when we hear back. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive: Paris 2014 View 13 Photos Green Rumormill Mercedes-Benz Tesla Electric Sedan electric drive electric drivetrain

Mercedes unveils GLC350e 4Matic PHEV

Mercedes-Benz intends to introduce at least 10 plug-in hybrid models to the market by 2017, and the the Mercedes GLC350e 4Matic is the latest one to show its electrified face. It's also the second crossover from the company to offer a PHEV version following the GLE550e 4Matic. Mercedes isn't releasing all of the details about the plug-in GLC yet, but it combines an internal combustion engine making 208 horsepower and a 114 hp electric motor with a seven-speed gearbox. Total torque is 413 pound-feet. The combo is enough to get the all-wheel drive crossover to 62 miles per hour in a purported 5.9 seconds and a claimed top speed of 146 mph. Fuel economy in the European cycle is estimated at the equivalent of about 90 miles per gallon, and there's a 21-mile pure electric range for zero-emissions cruising. Based around the newly introduced GLC-Class, buyers can still order a plethora of luxurious amenities, but the plug-in powertrain also comes with a few tweaks to help drivers maximize fuel economy. There's a haptic accelerator with a resistance point to indicate the switch between electric and combustion power. In addition, the hybrid system can anticipate the road ahead through radar and GPS to manage things as efficiently as possible. One of the GLC hybrid's biggest advantages when it arrives is the small field of competitors. Neither BMW nor Audi currently have a compact luxury crossover of this size with a hybrid option in the US. That really only leaves the Mercedes to take on the Lexus NX300h with total system output of 194 hp, and that's not even a plug-in. The GLC350e 4Matic isn't part of the new model's initial launch lineup in the US. It should be coming along later, though. Key topic: Energy efficiency - Economy on four wheels A revised all-wheel-drive powertrain, the outstanding aerodynamics and the intelligent lightweight design are the primary reasons for the high energy efficiency of all the new GLC models. The conventional diesel and petrol models boast significant reductions of up to 19 percent in both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in comparison to the previous generation, while at the same time improving performance. GLC 220 d 4MATIC GLC 250 d 4MATIC GLC 250 4MATIC Output, kW/hp 125/170 150/204 155/211 Torque, Nm 400 500 350 Fuel consumption (l/100 km) 5.0 - 5.5 (6.1 - 6.5) 5.0 - 5.5 (6.1 - 6.6) 6.5 - 7.1 (7.5 - 7.9) ? Consumption % -19 -19 -12 CO2 g/km 129 - 143 (159 - 169) 129 - 143 (159 - 169) 152 - 166 (173 - 180) ?