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Mercedes spotted testing updated A45 AMG

Now on the market (or some markets at any rate) for a couple of years already in its current form, Mercedes is preparing a slight refresh for the A-Class. And that means a new A45 AMG performance version, as well. Pictured undergoing testing in Germany, this prototype is hiding some enhancements for the littlest Benz. We're expecting the updates to be rather subtle, but they ought to help the Silver Star hatch keep up with the likes of the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 in the increasingly competitive premium hatchback market. Best of all, Mercedes is tipped to be preparing an even more powerful A45 AMG S with over 400 horsepower to keep pace with the upcoming Volkswagen Golf R400. Unfortunately the A-Class isn't offered in North America, but we can hope that some of the enhancements (especially in the performance department) are ported over to the CLA-Class sedan and GLA crossover as well. Related Video:

Mercedes' CEO says Google should study car use, not car building

Google is rapidly throwing its massive weight into many facets of the auto business. Not only does the search behemoth want to take on Uber, offer car insurance quotes and run a specific version of Android on future infotainment systems, but the company is also at least toying with the idea of constructing its own completely autonomous vehicles. Such a powerful corporation entering the industry could frighten some automakers, but Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche isn't worried. The mustachioed executive doesn't believe that Google actually means to become an automaker but is instead just studying how people use cars. "Google and the likes want to get involved, I don't think in the first place to build vehicles," he told analysts, according to Reuters. Zetsche sees future collaboration with the technology giant in a quite nuanced way in that there are some things they can be partners on and other places where the two corporations might be competitors. One area where Zetsche potentially predicts an antagonistic relationship with Google regards data privacy, a concern is becoming a hot topic in the auto industry at the moment. Zetsche foresees the future of safety in Mercedes-Benz vehicles as protecting occupants not just physically but also safeguarding their personal information. "To be able to provide that, we have to keep control, and we can't do that when it is collected by Google," Zetsche said to Reuters. News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Gero Breloer / AP Photo Mercedes-Benz Technology Emerging Technologies Infotainment Autonomous Vehicles

2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe unleashed with 503 hp [w/video]

The Mercedes-AMG C63 Sedan is a truly fantastic car. The recently revealed Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe is a seriously pretty two-door. Combine the two, and you get the 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe that'll debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The AMG C63 Coupe takes everything we love about the sedan and puts it into the sleeker coupe body. It's equal parts aggression and elegance, and it's got the performance and luxury substance to back up both of those attributes. Under the hood is the same twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V8 as the C63 sedan, with two different states of tune. Standard C63 models get 469 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, while the C63 S ups those numbers to 503 and 516, respectively. Running to 60 miles per hour takes 3.9 seconds in the standard car or 3.8 seconds with the S, and the coupes are limited to either 155 or 180 miles per hour, depending on specification. Both versions of the C63 use Mercedes' AMG Speedshift seven-speed automatic transmission. Inside, it's all C-Class Coupe, which is to say, it's lovely. Same goes for all of the ride and handling bits – there's no doubt in our mind that the C63 Coupe will be just as much fun as its four-door sibling on both road and track. We'll see the AMG C63 Coupe next month, but American deliveries won't start until the summer of 2016, hence the 2017 model year designation. We're licking our chops in anticipation. The sportiest C-Class ever Mercedes-AMG is setting another milestone in the brand's history: the new 2017 AMG C63 Coupe is the next step on the way to more technical and visual distinctiveness. The far-reaching technical modifications are evident at first sight: strikingly flared front and rear wheel arches, an increased track width and larger wheels give the C63 Coupe a muscular look while also providing a basis for highly agile longitudinal and lateral dynamics. The brand's typical "Driving Performance" is also taken to new heights with the C63 Coupe. The AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine, with 469 hp in standard trim or 503 hp in the C63 S, is a completely in-house development from Affalterbach. In addition, the sophisticated AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers, the set-up of the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT transmission modes, the rear-axle limited-slip differential and the dynamic engine mounts have all been developed by AMG. The C-Class is Mercedes-AMG's best-selling model and forms the backbone of the company's success.