1993 Mercedes-benz 190e 2.3 Sedan 4-door 2.3l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Production Mercedes GLC Coupe coming in 2016

If the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe Concept from this year's Shanghai Motor Show caught your eye, we've got good news. The company confirmed that this model will enter production, and we should see the road-going model early next year, probably at the New York Auto Show. Dr. Gunnar Guthenke, Mercedes' G-Class boss, confirmed this during an event following this week's Frankfurt Motor Show. He's particularly proud of how Mercedes has expanded its crossover and SUV lines, and the addition of the BMW X4-fighting GLC Coupe only proves further commitment to this growth. The numbers don't lie – Mercedes' crossover and SUV sales are up 25 percent this year, compared to 2014 numbers. Even Mercedes' halo of SUVs, the G-Class, is experiencing increased sales. The company set a record for G-Class sales in 2014, and is on track to do it again this year; sales are up roughly 20 percent. For 2016, the G-Wagen gets a number of enhancements, including a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 as the new base engine. Other markets get a new diesel engine for 2016, and more updates are on the way. "Our legend has a bright future," Guthenke said. We'll have a full review of the updated G550 next week, so stay tuned.

Weekly Recap: Jaguar takes a leap with price cut, new strategy

Jaguar was one of the famous automotive props and plotlines in the now-iconic drama Mad Men. There's a scene where the show's protagonist, Don Draper, deftly undercuts an influential Jaguar dealer by indicating that get-me-in-the-door local radio spots would be an effective way to sell cars like the slinky E-Type. The British executives think this is folly – Draper knows they will – and his advertising strategy wins out over the dealer's approach to move the metal. Jaguar's not doing that, but half a century later in the real world the company is launching plans to make its cars more attainable to new and younger customers like Millenials. These aren't coupons, but this is a leap for Jaguar, which has long banked on sexy styling and its rich motorsports history to overshadow its past mechanical flaws. Put simply, Jaguar is addressing the reasons why people, especially the younger set, don't buy its cars. The 2017 XE will start at $35,895 when it launches next spring – which makes it an attractive buy for a successful, relatively young person. When it's time to move up, the redesigned XF will be more attainable, coming in at $52,895, which is $5,275 less than the 2015 model. The flagship XJ sedan and the enthusiast-oriented F-Type sports car will also get thousands of dollars worth of added standard features, and Jag is actively pitching them as a better value than their competitors. "The Jaguar brand is on the eve of a major transformation that will see it dramatically increase its presence in the United States luxury marketplace with an expanded lineup, pricing focused on the core of the luxury market, and an all-new ownership package with best-in-class coverage," Joe Eberhardt, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America, said in a statement. The brand's quality and reliability dings have also lurked in the back of buyers' minds for decades, though that's an outdated notion. Jaguar placed third in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study in June and was the top-ranked luxury brand in J.D. Power's Customer Service Index in March. Not content, the company is rolling out an enhanced program called Jaguar EliteCare that launches on 2016 models. It offers a five-year, 60,000-mile limited warranty, the longest among its competitors, with free scheduled maintenance during that period. The plan also covers roadside assistance and connectivity features.

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.