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US buyers show little interest in big hybrids

The idea of producing large, luxury-vehicle hybrids is turning into a "what were they thinking?" exercise in futility, USA Today reports. General Motors is discontinuing hybrid versions of the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs, while Mercedes-Benz and Toyota's Lexus division are doing the same with their S-Class hybrid and LS hybrid sedans, respectively. The culprit? Big price increases for fuel economy improvements that border on the unimpressive. Granted, the Escalade hybrid gets 31 percent better fuel economy than the standard version, but that still maps out to a combined fuel-efficiency rating of just 21 miles per gallon. That can be seen as a worthwhile increase, if it didn't cost over $8,000 extra. The 2014 Escalade Hybrid, for example, starts at $74,425 while the non-hybrid can be had for $66,295. Meanwhile, the Lexus full-size hybrid costs $6,000 more than the regular version but only gets 1-2 mpg better combined fuel economy. The result of all these high costs? Low sales. Through April, GM sold 82 of its hybrid SUVs and pickups, down from 541 a year earlier. And the LS hybrid sales were in single-digit territory for April. That isn't stopping Lexus from promoting its hybrids as the right solution (with the wrong facts), though. There are still automakers giving big hybrid vehicles a shot, though. Nissan's Infiniti division is selling a hybrid version of its QX60 and says an impressive 10 percent of QX60 buyers choose the hybrid, which costs just $3,000 more. Looks like money talks. Featured Gallery 2015 Cadillac Escalade: First Drive View 35 Photos News Source: USA TodayImage Credit: Copyright 2014 Brandon Turkus / AOL Green Infiniti Lexus Mercedes-Benz Hybrid lexus ls gmc yukon mercedes-benz s-class infiniti qx60 chevrolet tahoe

Mercedes CLA a sub-$30k car no more

To be honest, the sub-$30,000 Mercedes-Benz CLA was more a theoretical than a real thing. Squeaking in at $100 below that magical threshold, not counting a $925 destination charge, snagging a CLA anywhere near $30k meant exercising extreme self-control with the options catalog. Perhaps with that thinking in mind, Mercedes is set to effectively scrap the entire idea, with Cars Direct claiming the price on a new CLA is set to increase by about five percent, to $31,500. Adding 4Matic all-wheel drive brings the starting price to $33,500. Even the hot CLA45 AMG is getting a price bump, from $47,450 to $48,500. Frankly, it's impossible to miss where Mercedes is coming from with this move, if it actually happens. The CLA has been one of 2014's unmitigated success stories, selling so well that Mercedes has struggled to keep up with demand. Considering that, a modest price hike is to be expected.

Mercedes-Benz recalls 3,800 total vehicles in two campaigns

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 3,813 vehicles in two campaigns in the US, and the affected models span the top and bottom of the brand's product range. The larger recall covers 2,956 examples of the 2014 S63 AMG sedan and 2015-2016 S63 AMG 4Matic sedan and coupe. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a software error in the engine control unit can cause the high-performance luxury cars to stall when coasting to a stop. While this can initially appear to be normal operation of the stop/start system, the engine doesn't restart when the driver releases the brake pedal. Getting moving again involves shifting into neutral or park and going through the ignition process. The repair campaign will begin on December 8, and the models will need an update to the engine control unit software. This will also be the second recent recall for the 2015 S63 AMG 4Matic Coupe because another fix will replace their seatbelts. In a more complicated issue, Mercedes is recalling 857 examples of the 2015 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, and the 2016 SLK300 because a weld on the camshafts might be in the wrong place "due to a production deviation at a supplier." Potentially, the important parts could break and damage the engine. Beginning November 30, dealers will replace the affected camshafts as a precautionary measure. RECALL Subject : Engine Stall due to Engine Control Unit Software Report Receipt Date: OCT 14, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V652000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE Potential Number of Units Affected: 2,956 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) MERCEDES BENZ S63 AMG 2014 MERCEDES BENZ S63 AMG 4MATIC 2015-2016 Details Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. SUMMARY: Mercedes-Benz USA LLC (Mercedes-Benz) is recalling certain model year 2014 S63 AMG sedans and 2015-2016 S63 AMG 4Matic sedans and coupes manufactured May 14, 2013, to September 18, 2015. In the affected vehicles, due to a software error within the engine control unit, the vehicle may stall when coasting to a stop, such as at a traffic light. CONSEQUENCE: The vehicle stall may be interpreted by the driver to be a planned shut-down as part of the ECO-Start-function. However, the engine will not restart automatically after releasing the brake pedal, immobilizing the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.