2024 Mercedes-benz Sprinter on 2040-cars

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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:

The BMW 8 Series leads this month's list of discounts

Whether you prefer the sleek looks of a sport coupe, the wind-in-your-hair exhilaration of a convertible or the flexible practicality of a four-door sedan, BMW has an 8 Series to suit your fancy. And if you're in the market right now, you may find that your local BMW dealership is willing to take $18,124 off the sticker price. That figure comes courtesy of TrueCar, and it reflects the discount buyers are getting off the 8 Series' average $122,395 retail price. Most of the 8 Series models in American showrooms today are 2019 models, and that's the model year to which the discount above applies. This represents the largest discount on a new car in America this month, based on the dollar amount off the car's sticker price, and the third largest discount by percentage. And it means the average transaction price for a 2019 BMW 8 Series is hovering at $104,271. 2020 BMW 840i Gran Coupe View 38 Photos BMW offers two distinct versions of the 8 Series, the 335-horsepower 840i with rear- or all-wheel drive, and the 523-horsepower 850i, which comes standard with BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system. If you want to step even further up the performance ladder, there's the M8, but that 600-horsepower monster is getting a much smaller $6,150 discount. If you're not into BMWs, the 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT boasts the second largest monetary discount this month, with buyers averaging $16,713 off the Benz's $176,035 sticker price. Another Mercedes, the S-Class, is next with a $11,452 discount. After that comes a pair of Maserati sedans, the Quattroporte and Ghibli, each with discounts of around $11,000. Since the Ghibli's base price is so much lower than that of its larger sibling, that represents a much larger 13.5% cut from its average retail price of $81,384 for an out-the-door cost of $70,373. For a look at the best new car deals in America based on the percentage discount off their suggested asking prices, check out our monthly recap here. And when you're ready to buy, click here for the Autoblog Smart Buy program, which brings you a hassle-free buying experience with over 9,000 Certified Dealers nationwide. Related Video:

Brabus spools up new 850 6.0 Biturbo Coupe

With a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 cranking out 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe is not the first vehicle we'd figure was in need of an upgrade. But the folks over at Brabus have evidently felt otherwise, bringing the 850 6.0 Biturbo Coupe to the Geneva Motor Show this year. Now the name might be slightly misleading, but not by much: the revving heart of this beast has been bored out to 5.9 liters and its output raised to 838 horsepower (by our standards). The modified engine also includes new turbochargers, breathing apparati and a remapped ECU to produce an even more prodigious 1,069 pound-feet of torque – although to keep the whole thing from going up in flames, Brabus has limited that last figure to 848 lb-ft. The top speed has been limited to "only" 217 miles per hour to keep the tires from melting, but it'll reach 62 mph from a standstill in just 3.5 seconds. That makes this bahn-stormer blisteringly fast, though the seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system have been left largely unchanged. Naturally that's not the end of the story, as the Brabus 850 6.0 Biturbo Coupe also features a full new carbon-fiber aero kit, wheel options ranging from 18 inches to 22, a completely refitted interior and oh, so much more. Chances are you'll never see one sitting still, so you'll want to scope it out in the slideshow of live images from the floor of the Geneva Palexpo for a closer look. Related Video: