Repairable 2012 Mercedes C300-4matic. No Reserve on 2040-cars

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Maybach and Aston Martin alliance talks fall apart

If you have, like us, been salivating at the notion of a new generation of Maybach and Lagonda ultra-luxury crafts built by Aston Martin, we've got some bad news: According to reports emanating from Germany, talks between AML and Daimler have broken down.
The proposal under negotiation would have seen Daimler outsourcing production of the next family of Maybach models to Aston Martin, which in return would benefit from Mercedes-Benz platforms and engines - not only for its svelte GTs, but also for its own future Lagonda line of limousines and luxury SUVs. That, and a boatload of money - or at least that's what AML was reportedly seeking, an issue that served as the stumbling block over which the deal reportedly collapsed.
That's not to say the two parties couldn't still reach some sort of a compromise, but short of that, Daimler may opt to either shut down Maybach altogether, find another partner, or take another stab at building new models internally.

Mercedes celebrates with World Championship edition SL63

Mercedes has plenty to be celebrating at the moment, having just won the Formula One World Championship in spectacular style – taking the constructors' title by a huge margin and the top two slots in the drivers' standings as well. It almost goes without saying that the German outfit would celebrate with a special edition, and that's just what we're looking at here. Presented at a special celebratory Stars & Cars event in Stuttgart in front of 50,000 jubilant fans, the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG World Championship 2014 Collector's Edition is based on Benz's twin-turbo V8-powered roadster but with some choice upgrades. Two versions will be offered: one in black with gold accents (displayed with the Silverstone circuit layout), the other in white with silver accents (and the Hockenheim map). One was designed by Lewis Hamilton, the other by Nico Rosberg. We'll let you sort out which one was done by which, but either way there'll only be 19 examples, each dedicated to a different grand prix circuit in the championship which Mercedes positively dominated – winning all but three, scoring eleven one-two finishes and landing on the podium at each and every one.

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.