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Mercedes-Benz C350 Plug-In Hybrid promises 20 miles EV range, 5.9 seconds to 60

Mercedes-Benz has introduced its first hybrid C-Class to the US market with the new C350 Plug-In Hybrid. Despite its fuel-saving purpose, though, this C is not short on firepower. MB paired a 208-horsepower, 258-pound-foot, turbocharged four-cylinder with a 80-hp, 251-lb-ft electric motor for a potent overall output of 275 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. That translates a 0-60 time of just 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 130 miles per hour. For those that aren't interested in such frivolous numbers, though, the C-Class can still impress in more environmentally friendly ways. It can cover 20 miles to a charge and will hit speeds of up to 80 miles per hour (although not likely at the same time). Naturally, fuel economy figures aren't available at this early stage. Beyond those powertrain changes, the C350 Plug-In is still the same relaxed, luxurious baby S-Class, with a class-leading interior that should really benefit from the quiet ride provided by an electric powertrain. Take a look at our full gallery of live images of the new C-Class hybrid, straight from the Detroit's Cobo Hall. Featured Gallery 2016 Mercedes-Benz C350 Plug-In Hybrid: Detroit 2015 View 12 Photos Image Credit: Copyright 2015 Drew Phillips / AOL Green Detroit Auto Show Mercedes-Benz Hybrid Luxury 2015 Detroit Auto Show mercedes c350 plug-in hybrid

When Android Automotive goes in the dash, Google wins — and automakers lose data

You've gotta hand it to Google for the way the Silicon Valley tech giant has made indelible inroads into the car on multiple fronts. The most obvious is with its pioneering self-driving car technology that's caused car companies to get their act together on autonomous vehicles — and also collaborate with Google. Google has more directly extended its influence and data-mining capabilities into the car with its Android Auto smartphone-projection platform that most major automakers have adopted along with Apple's CarPlay. And now it's preparing to dig even deeper into dashboards by deploying its open-source operating system, Android Automotive, beginning with Audi and Volvo. Volvo recently announced that its next-generation Sensus infotainment system will run Android Automotive as an OS and include Google's Play Store for cloud-based content, Maps for navigation and Google Assistant for voice recognition, which can even command a car's climate control. By embedding Google in the dash, Volvo says owners will get an improved connected experience. "Bringing Google services into Volvo cars will accelerate innovation in connectivity and boost our development in applications and connected services," Volvo senior vice president of R&D Henrik Green said in a statement. "Soon, Volvo drivers will have direct access to thousands of in-car apps that make daily life easier and the connected in-car experience more enjoyable." Having Android Automotive onboard could benefit drivers — and provide a big win for Google, since it opens a deep and lucrative new data-mining vein for the company. But it's a wave of a white flag for car companies when it comes to delivering their own cloud-based content and services. It also represents a massive data giveaway and, for Audi, a reversal of earlier reservations about letting Google get too much access to car data. Not long after Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were introduced in 2014 and most automakers eagerly embraced the technologies, several German automakers second-guessed their decision when they realized what was at stake: data. At a conference in Berlin in 2015, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said car owners "want to be in control of their data, and not subject to monitoring." A few months earlier, Stadler stated that "the data that we collect is our data and not Google's.

Mercedes-AMG Hulks out again with new G63 test

The last time we saw Mercedes-Benz testing its camouflaged, lime-green G63 AMG, it was on the sunny roads of Germany. Perhaps recognizing that this was a tragic waste of its talents, Mercedes has now moved testing of its new brute to the windy, snowy tarmac of Sweden. Besides being a far more suitable environment for its monstrous G-Wagen, Mercedes' arrival in Scandinavia gives us yet another look at its 6x6-inspired updates. Judging by the license plates, this is the exact same vehicle we spotted way back in November, which gave us our original look at the impending arrival of the G's hoisted-up ride height, more aggressively flared fenders and meatier off-road-ready tires. As with our previous report, our spies are still arguing that the next G63 will be fitted with Mercedes' 5.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V8. That means as much as 544 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque will be on tap, and it'll all be dispatched via a seven-speed automatic transmission. The next G-Wagen is still on pace for a debut this year, although we still aren't sure where. Forced to put money on it, we'd bet on a European show, likely March's Genevan extravaganza or September's Frankfurt show.