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Mercedes sues Ferrari-bound F1 engineer for stealing secrets

Mercedes is suing one of its Formula One engineers, one Benjamin Hoyle, claiming he was planning to take sensitive data to a competitor. An experienced powertrain engineer, Hoyle came to Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains in 2012 with previous experience at Prodrive and Cosworth. One of four team leaders at the company, Hoyle headed up the performance application department until he notified his employers of his intention not to seek renewal of his contract that expires at the end of this year. Once they found out that Hoyle was switching to Ferrari, the higher-ups at Mercedes reassigned him to other, less sensitive duties, however Hoyle was reportedly discovered accessing race reports and other sensitive data relating to the performance of the team's engines. In response, Mercedes has filed suit against Hoyle, claiming that he "and potentially Ferrari have gained an unlawful advantage." The German automaker is seeking the return of all documents and the payment of its legal fees. It also seeks to prevent Hoyle from working for another F1 team throughout next season. Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains is the Daimler's F1 engine division. Based in Brixworth, UK, it was founded back in 1983 together with Ilmor before Mercedes bought it outright. Aside from the company's own works team, the outfit this year powered Williams, Lotus, and Force India, and previously worked with McLaren as well as Sauber. This is not the first time that a case of industrial espionage has emerged in F1. A similar controversy erupted in 2007 surrounding engineers Nigel Stepney and Mike Coughlan. The highly publicized incident became known as "Spygate" or "Stepneygate" and involved the illegal sharing of secrets between Ferrari, McLaren, and Renault. News Source: BloombergImage Credit: Martin Meissner/AP Government/Legal Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Motorsports Ferrari Mercedes-Benz F1 industrial espionage

Mercedes GLE to debut in NY, will get plug-in variant

On the eve of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG, said that 2015 will be the "Year of the SUV" at Mercedes-Benz. This means a host of new and updated sport-utility and crossover models, kicked off with the debut of the GLE-Class Coupe (pictured above) – in 450 AMG Sport and Mercedes-AMG GLE63 variants – here in the Motor City. But there's far more in store throughout the year. First, Mercedes has confirmed it will debut the non-coupe GLE-Class – the M-Class replacement – at the New York Auto Show in April. It will share most of its architecture with the GLE Coupe revealed here in Detroit, but will also come with a plug-in hybrid option. Mercedes-Benz debuted an S-Class Plug-In Hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November, and will expand this technology to other core models in its range. First, we will see the C350 Plug-In Hybrid, which also makes its debut here in Detroit. Beyond that, Mercedes has confirmed that the GLE-Class will benefit from a plug-in option, as will the upcoming GLC-Class crossover – the renamed replacement for the GLK. No official timing has been given for the GLC, but Mercedes confirms that both it and its largest utility vehicle – the GLS-Class (currently known as the GL-Class) – will debut "later this year." Year of the SUV, indeed. Featured Gallery 2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 Coupe View 9 Photos Green Detroit Auto Show New York Auto Show Mercedes-Benz Crossover SUV Hybrid Luxury PHEV 2015 Detroit Auto Show mercedes glk-class mercedes gl-class mercedes gle-class mercedes glc-class mercedes gls-class

These cars are headed to the Great Crusher In The Sky

It happens every year. We bid adieu to some cars and trucks that will be missed, and say good riddance to others wondering how they stayed around so long. Whether they're being killed off for slow sales or due to a new product coming along to replace them, the list of vehicles being discontinued after 2012 is surprisingly long and diverse.
CNN Money has compiled a list of departing vehicles, to which we've added a few more of our own. In the slow sales column, cars like the Lexus HS 250h, Mercedes-Benz R-Class and the full Maybach lineup appear, while the Ford Escape Hybrid, Mazda CX-7 and Hyundai Veracruz are all having their gaps filled with more modern and more fuel-efficient alternatives. Obvious exceptions to the rule include models that still sell in decent numbers like the Jeep Liberty and the Chrysler Town & Country (which will eventually be replaced by a crossover-like vehicle).
Check out our gallery of discontinued cars above, then scroll down for more information.