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Pondering the 2018 Dodge Demon and 2018 Honda Accord | Autoblog Podcast #521

On this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-chief Greg Migliore is joined by Associate Editor Reese Counts and, for the first time, Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder. We discuss the new 2018 Honda Accord dropping the V6, what the Dodge Demon means for FCA's future, and if Mercedes-Benz could sell a pickup truck in the US. Spend my money (your money, everyone's money) will be back next week. The rundown is below. Remember, if you have a car-related question you'd like us to answer or you want buying advice of your very own, send a message or a voice memo to podcast at autoblog dot com. (If you record audio of a question with your phone and get it to us, you could hear your very own voice on the podcast. Neat, right?) And if you have other questions or comments, please send those too. Autoblog Podcast #521Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Topics and stories we mention Rundown 00:00:00 - Intro + Demon 00:15:48 - Accord 00:28:48 - X-Class 00:43:10 - Outro Feedback Email – Podcast at Autoblog dot com Review the show on iTunes

VW looking to MAN up, ditch Mercedes van deal

Unlike the US, the commercial truck market throughout the rest of the world is chocked full of competitors from many different automakers. Since 2006, Volkswagen has had a fullsize van called the Crafter that was a result of a partnership with Daimler AG and based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. This partnership is supposed to last through 2016, but Reuters is reporting that VW might be looking to end its relationship with Daimler and create its own van in cooperation with German truck and bus maker MAN.
The article says that VW AG has more than a 75-percent stake in MAN, which would essentially be keeping the new commercial vehicle in-house. Even if VW bolts, Daimler still has a deal worked out in the commercial truck industry between its subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso and Renault-Nissan to supply the other with different trucks.

Mercedes-Benz GLE gets official before NY Show

Hot off the debut of the GLE-Class Coupe just a few months ago at the Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz is now all set to unveil that SUV's more utilitarian sibling. The new GLE-Class will offers buyers a model that's a little more traditional looking, while still bringing heaps of available power and luxury to the table. The new GLE-Class replaces the ML-Class in Mercedes' newly renamed lineup. At the front, there's a new nose with a clear family resemblance to the Coupe. It sports big openings all over, and standard models wear an attractive two-bar grille or a just a single crosspiece for AMG trims. Once your eye moves past the A-pillar, the design becomes more of an evolution of the current ML. The prominent C-pillar and wraparound rear glass are still present, while the creases running down the profile appear a little sharper and more pronounced. As you might expect, the interior for the GLE-Class is practically identical to its Coupe counterpart. That means drivers get a thick, multi-function steering wheel to hang on to, and there's a large infotainment display poking up above the dashboard in the center. A center-console-mounted dial controller is found below. When it comes time for buyers to pick their GLE-Class, they're going to have a long list of powertrains to choose from. Lowest in terms of horsepower is the GLE300d 4MATIC with a 2.1-liter, four-cylinder diesel making 201 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque. Next, there is the gasoline-fueled GLE350 with a 3.5-liter V6 making 302 hp and 273 lb-ft, and it's also available with 4Matic. The GLE400 4Matic uses a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 to make 329 hp and 354 lb-ft of twist, and the GLE550e 4Matic adds a plug-in hybrid to that mill to bring total output to 436 hp and 479 lb-ft. Finally, for those that really want some power underfoot, the Mercedes-AMG GLE63 and GLE63 S boast twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8s putting down 550 hp and 577 hp, respectively. The standard models all use versions of the 7G-tronic gearbox, and AMG models get the Speedshift MCT seven-speed. We look forward to getting a good look at the GLE-Class at its grand unveiling at the New York Auto Show on April 1. The posh SUVs start arriving at dealers a few months later in August. Buyers wanting the GLE550e 4Matic have to wait just a little longer until it comes along in mid-September. View 19 Photos View 11 Photos World Premiere for the Mercedes-Benz GLE and Mercedes-AMG GLE63 Efficiency meets performance Stuttgart.