2002 Mercedes-benz C240 Base Sedan 4-door 2.6l on 2040-cars

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Aston or Bust? Maybach's fate to be decided next month

2011 Maybach 62 - Click above for high-res image gallery
What will become of Maybach? That question has been rattling around the halls of Daimler headquarters in Stuttgart for some time now. But all questions will be answered, and answered soon: according to reports, the German automaker is currently evaluating prototypes and propositions for its top-end marque, and will make its decision next month.
So, what are the options? On the one hand, Daimler could kill the Maybach brand altogether. It was a notion ill conceived and even more poorly executed, taking an old platform and building a new flagship atop it. In that way, it was sort of like the Chrysler Crossfire, only far more costly to both the buyer and manufacturer. On the other hand, Daimler could opt for the long-time-coming proposition of contracting the production (and possibly much of the development) of a new generation of Maybachs to Aston Martin.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Mercedes-AMG E 53 and BMW 2 Series | Autoblog Podcast #734

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore and Senior Editor, Consumer, Jeremy Korzeniewski kick things off with a discussion of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and the future of the brand. The Mercedes-AMG E-Class is next up, followed by the BMW 2 Series Coupe.  Next, Senior West Coast Editor James Riswick reports from the ground at the first drive of the latest Honda HR-V. Our hosts revisit the week's news, including automakers requesting a lift of the EV federal tax credit cap, Chevy giving us a peek at its electric Blazer, and Ford recalling millions of vehicles, including about half of all the Mustang Mach-E EVs it has sold. Finally, our guys dig through the mailbag to help a reader decide whether to purchase a Ford Focus ST or another hot hatch. Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast #734 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving Rolls-Royce Cullinan Mercedes-AMG E 53 BMW 2 Series Coupe Dispatch from the 2023 Honda HR-V first drive event GM, Ford, Toyota, Stellantis CEOs want EV tax credit cap lifted 2024 Chevy Blazer EV partly revealed, details coming in July Ford recalls Mustang Mach-E, includes stop-sale order Ford recalls 3 million other vehicles Spend my money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video:

2016 Mercedes-Benz Metris hits US in October, priced from $28,950*

A Mercedes is hardly what we'd call a budget proposition for most, but everything being relative, what's the cheapest Mercedes you can buy in America? That used to be the C-Class, but not at the $40k it's pushing these days. The CLA or GLA start at over $31k, so one of those must be it... right? Keep trying. And the Smart Fortwo doesn't count. No, the most cost-effective Mercedes you can get in America is the one you're looking at here. It's the new Metris van, and it starts at just $28,950 (*plus a $995 destination fee). Joining the Sprinter (which starts at upwards of $35k), the Metris is Benz's new midsize van – filling a niche in between small vans like the Nissan NV200 or Ford Transit Connect and fullsize ones like the aforementioned Sprinter. It's about as long as the Dodge Caravan-based Ram C/V, but narrower, taller and with significantly more payload and cargo space. Mercedes calls it "right-sized," and evidently hopes commercial drivers and fleet operators will agree. Now if you've never heard the name Metris, you were probably distracted by all the glitz and glamor when Mercedes presented four of them at the SEMA show late last year. But that's alright, because it's a new nameplate: it's essentially the same as the Vito sold overseas, where it will continue carrying that same name, while being sold in North America as the Metris. Both cargo and passenger versions will be offered, the latter starting at $32,500 (plus that $995 destination fee). Power comes from a four-cylinder gasoline engine driving 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission. It's also got all the electronic bells and whistles you'd expect from a Mercedes, including fuel-efficiency and safety equipment – but stopping short, of course, of the luxury features. This is not that kind of Mercedes, and the luxed-up V-Class version offered overseas won't be making it Stateside. The Metris is being showcased this week at the NTEA work truck show in Indianapolis, with deliveries set to commence this coming October through a network of over 200 Mercedes van dealers across America, who will offer it alongside the larger Sprinter. MERCEDES-BENZ METRIS MIDSIZE COMMERCIAL VAN MAKES ITS DEBUT AT NTEA WORK TRUCK SHOW - "Mercedes-Benz Metris": The next big thing is mid-sized. - Introduction of the "Mercedes-Benz Metris" nameplate for the U.S.