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Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG formalize technical partnership

The development of a partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin has been a long time coming. The news dates back to 2008, and over the five years since was supposed to lead to a rejuvenation of both the Maybach and Lagonda brands. That program ultimately fell apart, but the tie-in was forged afresh in July when the two automakers signed a letter of intent over a renewed partnership. And now that partnership has been formalized.
In a deal just announced, Mercedes-AMG will build a new V8 engine for Aston Martin that will power a new generation of luxury GTs for the British marque, presumably to replace the 4.7-liter V8 in the Vantage. The relationship appears to be similar to the one already in place between AMG and Pagani, only in this case, will involve Daimler taking as much as a five-percent stake in Aston Martin and an observer seat on Aston's board.
The technical partnership is also set to lead to the supply of electric and electronic systems, and could incorporate "additional areas of cooperation in the future." Whether that will include a fresh attempt at reviving Lagonda remains to be seen, as does the future of Aston's long-serving, Ford-based 6.0-liter V12 engine. But for now you can read the full announcement below.

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE priced from $52,025

Mercedes-Benz released its full 2016 model year lineup and pricing details, and we've learned that the M-Class-replacing GLE will start at $52,025, including $925 for destination. The German automaker confirmed a few changes to the rest of its lineup, as well. For the GLE, that $52,025 price gets you the base GLE350. The GLE350 with 4Matic all-wheel drive starts at $54,525. The rest of the GLE range consists of the diesel-powered GLE300d 4Matic at $53,425, the GLE400 4Matic at $65,525, the GLE63 AMG at $100,875, and the range-topping GLE63 S AMG at $108,025. Mercedes will also offer the GLE500e 4Matic plug-in hybrid, but exact pricing for that model has not been released as of this writing. The GLE models start hitting dealers in August. Pricing for the BMW X6-fighting GLE Coupe – available in GLE450 and GLE63 forms – is also unknown. Elsewhere in the range, Mercedes-Benz will offer a new, diesel-powered C300d 4Matic, which goes on sale in February 2016. We already know the C-Class gets a new C350e plug-in hybrid model this year, which will arrive in September. Finally, the C400 has been killed, replaced by the C450 AMG Sport. Pricing for these new C-Class models has not been released. The small SLK roadster will receive a refresh soon, where it will be renamed SLC. In the meantime, the base SLK250 is now the SLK300, and comes with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Finally, Mercedes confirms the CLA will get a special "Edition: Orange" model, available on the CLA250 and CLA250 4Matic, limited to just 750 units nationwide. A host of other, smaller updates are available across Mercedes' model range. Read all about them in the very detailed press release, below. Related Video: MERCEDES-BENZ ANNOUNCES 2016 MODEL YEAR PRICING AND PRODUCT UPDATES The unprecedented product offensive continues with a host of exciting new models June 12, 2015 - MONTVALE, NJ -- Mercedes-Benz USA today announced pricing and model year changes for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz product portfolio. The company continues to expand its highly desirable model range this year with the addition of the awe-inspiring new Mercedes-AMG GT S, the ultra-exclusive Mercedes-Maybach S600, the sporty and versatile GLE, the sleek and stylish new GLE Coupe and the highly anticipated new GLC that will succeed the popular GLK when it arrives in U.S. showrooms in late November. In addition, smart will also welcome a redesigned smart fortwo that will launch in the U.S. market in September.

Weekly Recap: Mercedes continues the pseudo-coupe craze with AMG-tuned CUV

But as BMW's X6 has demonstrated, sport sells in in the crossover segment, and Mercedes is giving the people what they want. BMW proved there is a market for crossover utility vehicles designed to look like coupes – as much as a vehicle with four doors and noticeable ground clearance can look like a coupe, anyway. Now comes the reply from Mercedes-Benz: the GLE Coupe. The rakish crossover is a harbinger of things to come from Mercedes, as it begins the company's transition to a new nomenclature and marks the debut of the AMG Sport line. It also continues the recent coupe craze. Designers from many automakers, like Nissan and Volkswagen, have increasingly turned to swoopy, dramatic styling to make utility vehicles and sedans seem more desirable. By revealing the GLE 450 AMG Sport model first, Mercedes is clearly hoping to cast the GLE Coupe as a sportier, lifestyle-oriented alternative in its lineup of beefy crossovers and SUVs. Mercedes used the word "sport," or a variation of it, 53 times in its press release, so uh yeah, it's sporty. It's not an empty promise: Benz means business with the AMG Sport line. This GLE Coupe gets a 3.0-liter biturbo V6 rated at 362 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque paired with Mercedes' new nine-speed automatic transmission, and it runs with 4Matic all-wheel drive. Specs on the other GLE Coupe models were not disclosed. But as BMW's X6 has demonstrated, sport sells in in the crossover segment, and Mercedes is giving the people what they want. After all, more than 260,000 people have bought X6s since 2008, and Mercedes wants a piece of that. From certain angles, the GLE Coupe even looks vaguely like an X6. "This is really a vehicle that is all about status," said Dave Sullivan, product analysis manager for research firm AutoPacific. "You can buy a SUV that doesn't have the inherent qualities of a SUV, such as cargo hauling. People will likely be drawn to the looks. Coupes are all the rage." BMW, however, isn't running from the fight, and the updated 2015 X6 is arriving in showrooms this month. It also added a smaller sibling, the X4, to its coupe-crossover stable in July. The GLE Coupe arrives next year, though Mercedes hasn't specified exactly when it will hit showrooms from the factory in Alabama, or specified details on the rest of the non-AMG Sport models. In 2008, it was surprising the X6 was a hit. In 2015, it will be even more surprising if the GLE Coupe isn't.