The next generation of the currently phased-out smart forfour model will be aesthetically and technically nothing more than a rebranded and somehow revamped Nissan Micra, judging by the official design sketches that hit the internet today. Which sounds like a totally wrong and unattractive move, but it's otherwise economically efficient and logical in these hard times, because of massive parts sharing and thus cost cutting. Hit the jump button and read the two official press releases on this subject! Detroit/Stuttgart, USA/Germany, Oct 06, 2010 - smart USA intends to launch a five-door car on the US market within the next 15 months. This was announced by smart USA in Detroit today. The B-segment five-door car is to be sold solely in the United States and is based on vehicle architecture from Nissan. This will allow the demand of US smart customers and dealers for a larger but smart-typical car to be fulfilled very soon.
The new vehicle is expected to be available for retail sale in the fourth quarter of 2011. A sketch of the proposed vehicle can be viewed at the smart USA Media Newsroom. Penske Automotive Group Chairman Roger Penske added, “We are proud to be a partner with both Daimler and Nissan, two companies focused on bringing high-quality, fuel efficient products to the U.S. Further details of the non-binding MOU are not being released at this time. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including the completion of definitive agreements. Penske Automotive Group , Inc. (NYSE: PAG), headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, operates 325 retail automotive franchises, representing 40 different brands and 25 collision repair centers. Statements in this press release involve forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements regarding smart USA Distributor LLC or Penske Automotive Group, Inc.'s ability to complete the transaction noted above. Actual results may vary materially because of risks and uncertainties, including completion of binding documentation, performance by certain vendors and suppliers, and other conditions many of which may be outside of our control. These forward-looking statements should be evaluated together with additional information about Penske Automotive's business, markets, conditions and other uncertainties which could affect Penske Automotive's future performance. These risks and uncertainties are addressed in Penske Automotive's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). This press release speaks only as of its date, and Penske Automotive disclaims any duty to update the information herein.
Of all the world’s fastest sport wagons, few are as absurd, rare, or powerful as the AMG S73T Kombi. Commissioned for the Sultan of Brunei (yes, the same man who created the Ferrari 456T), the car is based on a W140 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan and offers the one-two punch of a custom-built S-Class wagon and 7.3L V12. The Sultan originally ordered 15 of these beasts, yet revised his order and took delivery of just ten. AMG has kept a few, but the other five or so found their way onto roads throughout the world. While no official figures are available, there’s no doubt the S73T can do around 200 miles per hour and keep up with the other super-fast Merc 5-door, the Brabus E V12T. Once again the Sultan of Brunei has used his enormous wealth and creativity to engineer one of the world’s fastest wagons that others could have only dreamt of.
The addition of start-stop technology to the four-cylinder petrol models in the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class range will save customers money on fuel as well as reduce the tax they pay at purchase time. The upgraded sedan and Estate variants of the C200 and C250 are now rated below the 7.0 litres per 100km threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles under the federal government’s Luxury Car Tax (LCT). 2300 saving for C250 buyers. 57,466 are considered luxury cars and are subject to the tax, which is payable on 33 per cent of the GST-exclusive value that exceeds the LCT threshold. 75,375 that use no more than 7.0L/100km are exempt from LCT. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C200 and C250 sedans are now officially rated at 6.8L/100km - both down almost 10 per cent from 7.2L/100km. The C200 and C250 Estates now use 6.9L/100km, down from 7.3L/100km and 7.4L/100km respectively. Mercedes-Benz Australia managing director Horst von Sanden said it was pleasing to help Australians evade the tax. “Our position on the Luxury Car Tax is well known; we do not believe or accept that any vehicle purchaser should pay LCT as it is a tax on technology and safety. No other so-called luxury purchase is subject to such a regressive, discriminatory and inequitable tax,” von Sanden said. The C250 Coupe will get a similar upgrade from March production. Mercedes-Benz Australia’s David McCarthy said pricing details would be confirmed closer to the arrival of those cars, which are expected in showrooms from early May. McCarthy said the entry-level C180 Coupe would not adopt start-stop technology at this stage, but said he was hopeful it too would benefit from the fuel-saving feature in the near future.
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