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Mercedes working on new inline-six engines

Mercedes-Benz will make a return to the inline-six-cylinder engine game, according to a report from the UK's AutoCar. It's not clear what's prompting the phasing out of the current array of V6s.
We'll see the first inline-six from Mercedes in next-generation E-Class, set to debut in 2016. Following that, it'll arrive as part of a mid-cycle refresh for the C-Class in 2017. What's particularly special about the new inline-six is its modular nature, which will allow Mercedes to eventually spinoff three- and four-cylinder options, with the three-pot arriving alongside the new inline-six.
In other news, AutoCar uncovered some details on the next C-Class AMG, which will ditch its excellent 6.2-liter, AMG V8 in favor of a 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8, although we've already told you about that. What we didn't know at the time, though, was that the 4.0-liter would be paired first with a new, seven-speed AMG Speedshift transmission and offer all-wheel drive. AC also reports that a nine-speed Speedshift is in the works.

Mercedes-AMG chairman shoots down notion of LaFerrari-fighter

Mercedes-AMG chairman Tobias Moers took a sip of water and pondered the question. It was a loaded one: Would his company consider building a hyper car to rival extreme machines like the Porsche 918 and Ferrari LaFerrari? The short answer: not right now. "Unfortunately, if we find we should do something like that, there's no capacity – there's no engineering capacity to do that – in the near future. So there's no chance for us [to do that]," he told Autoblog in an interview at the Los Angeles Auto Show. AMG has capitalized on the rebounding global economy and strong demand for performance cars in the United States, China, and Europe, its most critical markets. It employs about 1,400 people, an astronomical leap from the 120 people who worked at AMG when Moers started in 1994. AMG also announced plans this week to increase V12 engine production due to high demand. Production will move from the AMG base in Affalterbach to another Daimler site in Mannheim, Germany. The switch will free up capacity for AMG to build more V8 engines in Affalterbach. Despite all of this growth, Moers said the company has priorities more pressing than a hypercar, like adding more extreme variants of its existing models. It also revealed the SL63 and SL65 AMG models this week in Los Angeles. "We're going to increase the family of the GT (shown above)," he said. "We're really busy with the next-generation E-Class, which will be the biggest step we've ever made from one generation E-Class to the next one regarding driving dynamics." Moers also says a supercar doesn't make financial sense for AMG, though halo cars are traditionally done for brand building, rather than the bottom line. "We're not coming to that point. I think a hypercar is always bad on a business case," he said. An AMG supercar is one of the industry's favorite rumors, and Moers admitted his customers are interested in the proposition. "In the recent past, I always thought like AMG ... is not in that level to be accepted in a hypercar, super, super, super sports car segment," he said. Talking with customers in all of our main markets, give[s] me a different view to that." Related Video:

Mercedes owners cause traffic jam during 40 minute standoff

Two Mercedes-Benz drivers in the UK refused to give way in a one-lane tunnel causing a frustrating traffic jam for everyone else on the road. The tense standoff occurred on Forlease Road in Maidenhead, England. A woman in a convertible Mercedes entered a tunnel where she had the right of way to proceed, according to The Daily Mail. However an older man, also in a Mercedes, was almost through the tunnel and seemed unable to reverse. In the video, frustrated drivers are seen negotiating, pleading, and arguing with each of the drivers, trying to convince one of them to give up the ground. While traffic was piling up behind the woman's Mercedes, a man in a reflective vest yelled at her in frustration. "There are mums around here trying to get their kids from school," he pointed back at the cars standing still behind her. "Just back up, love! You're being ridiculous." Bystander Brad Haverly shot the video. He told The Mail that the woman wouldn't give up because she had the right of way, even though the elderly driver was too scared and confused to back up. His first attempt almost sent his car careening into the oncoming Mercedes. After 40 minutes the elderly man reversed with help from bystanders. Traffic began to flow through the tunnel shortly afterwards. Both motorists were gone by the time police arrived. News Source: The Daily Mail Weird Car News Mercedes-Benz Driving Luxury Videos traffic traffic jam