1971 Mercedes 300sel 3,5 W109 Db670/red, Original/true Collector's Car, 113 Pix* on 2040-cars

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Mercedes C-Class Coupe due to go on sale next December

While we expect to see the coming Mercedes C-Class convertible sometime next year, perhaps at the Paris Motor Show, Auto Motor und Sport reports that the C-Class Coupe will go on sale in December 2015 (probably in Europe first) - it's possible we'll see it debuted at the same time as the cabrio. The German magazine says the two-door will have sharper lines on a body that is four inches longer, almost two inches wider and a fraction of an inch lower than the sedan, dimensional aggrandizement that will be put to good effect on the AMG version coming in 2016. We'll have to wait for information on powertrains, which should hew to the sedan's lineup in addition to whatever else M-B might bring over here, topped off by the 503-horsepower, twin-turbo V8 in the AMG variant. Speaking of which, the 'last-generation' C63 AMG Coupe is still on sale until spring of next year, if you're a fan of the classics. Or you can wait on news of the C-Class four-door coupe, if niches inside of niches are what you're really after.

Is Audi getting complacent and suffering from brain drain?

The argument is made in a Reuters article: Audi is falling behind other luxury brands, such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, due to a lack of research-and-development spending and "brain drain," or the migration of top executives and R&D chiefs to other parts of the Volkswagen Group. Reuters notes that Audi's current R&D chief is the third in 16 months.
Audi, which contributed to 40 percent of VW Group's $11.6 billion in profit the first nine months of the year, is delivering cars at a record pace: 1.31 million were delivered from January to October 2013 versus BMW's 1.35 million. Yet Audi, Reuters reports, doesn't have a halo car akin to BMW's new electrified i3 and i8 or an answer to Mercedes' plug-in-hybrid S-Class, and the R&D spending at Audi is less than BMW and Mercedes by a fair margin. It's noted in the article, however, that Audi benefits from other R&D spending within VW Group.
Reuters mentions that BMW "trumpets its new 'i' series" and the new Mercedes CLA and GLA ranges are winning "rave reviews" as part of its argument that Audi's recent lack of technological innovation could hurt future sales. Those cars do pack tons of new technology, some of which are firsts for mainstream production cars. But last time we checked, the i3 could be causing BMW's stock to slide, the CLA isn't receiving the rave reviews that Reuters would have you believe and the GLA hasn't been reviewed yet.

The Mercedes G-Class gets the full Maybach treatment before the curtain finally closes

Like the hotdog and soda combo at Costco or the official website for the 1996 movie Space Jam, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class has soldiered on nearly unaltered since its birth. Sure, there have been variants like the wonderfully over-the-top G63 6x6, but the G-Wagen is essentially the same squared-off SUV with rifle-bolt locks and doors with enough mass to support a minor gravity field. Spy shots show a replacement is finally on the horizon, but based on the leaked YouTube video above and Instagram post below, it looks like the current model is going to get the full Mercedes-Maybach Landaulet treatment before the curtain finally closes. While there has been no official word from the automaker, all signs point to a genuine Mercedes-Maybach product. The vehicle is badged as a G650, which falls in line with other current V12-powered Mercedes-Maybach products. The Maybach name and badge are found in all the expected places. The license closely matches other Mercedes German-manufacturer plates. The carbon fiber fender flares and portal axles look like they were taken from the G550 4x42. The latter means, despite the increased wheelbase, this new model should still be a formidable off-road machine. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. While we can't see the interior, look for the typical Maybach treatment. That means high-quality leather surfaces throughout and an increased focus on rear seat comfort and convenience. If this is indeed a G650, it's packing a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 under the hood that churns out 630 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque. The partial convertible top is what gives this the Landaulet moniker. According to the text on this Instagram post, there will only be 99 examples produced. Look for a full reveal in the next few months. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.