Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Volkswagen's cheating scandal has taken a toll on the entire car industry, as stricter testing procedures now required by the EPA have delayed diesel certifications for a number of automakers. That includes Mercedes, which has a short-term plan for diesels, but may not offer them in the U.S. Mercedes is working to get certification for a select few diesels in the U.S., but that may not be the case in the future if demand proves insufficient. Matthias Luehrs, VP of sales and product management for Mercedes-Benz Cars, told Automotive News. Demand for diesel cars and crossovers has been low "and is still lowering" in North America, Luehrs noted. Mercedes is conducting market research to help it make a decision on the matter. Getting rid of them entirely in our market "is a theoretical option," he said. Meanwhile, Mercedes is mostly optimistic about being able to offer diesels in the near future, saying its priority is to receive approval for the GLS350d. It had also applied for certification for the GLC and GLE SUVs. Mercedes announced last month that it was no longer seeking to offer a C-Class diesel next year in the U.S.

Volkswagen's cheating scandal has taken a toll on the entire car industry, as stricter testing procedures now required by the EPA have delayed diesel certifications for a number of automakers. That includes Mercedes, which has a short-term plan for diesels, but may not offer them in the U.S. Mercedes is working to get certification for a select few diesels in the U.S., but that may not be the case in the future if demand proves insufficient. Matthias Luehrs, VP of sales and product management for Mercedes-Benz Cars, told Automotive News. Demand for diesel cars and crossovers has been low "and is still lowering" in North America, Luehrs noted. Mercedes is conducting market research to help it make a decision on the matter. Getting rid of them entirely in our market "is a theoretical option," he said. Meanwhile, Mercedes is mostly optimistic about being able to offer diesels in the near future, saying its priority is to receive approval for the GLS350d. It had also applied for certification for the GLC and GLE SUVs. Mercedes announced last month that it was no longer seeking to offer a C-Class diesel next year in the U.S.





Minor: GMC recently introduced the Denali Ultimate with standard 22-inchers and additional standard equipment for when driving a luxury truck rolling on bright 20-inch wheels isn鈥檛 flashy enough. An Elevation edition eschews most of the Denali鈥檚 brightwork for body-colored details and black 20-inch wheels, and it now has HID headlights. Cool Fact: The Sierra鈥檚 power side steps can help you get into either the cabin or, after they鈥檝e moved rearward, into the front of the cargo bed. Sum Up: When you want something more exclusive than a Silverado. Minor: As with the Silverado HD, the Sierra HD looks meaner for the 2017 model year thanks to a functional hood scoop and air intake system for the diesel model. For 2016, GMC began offering three new cameras on the Sierra 1500 and HD, two on trailer mirror housings and a third that can show what鈥檚 behind a trailer when reversing. Cool Fact: The Digital Steering Assist power-steering system provides corrections to increase highway stability when you鈥檙e towing a trailer.





Sum Up: Capable and now with a bit more visual attitude. Minor: If you want added curb appeal without the Denali trim鈥檚 chrome, GMC now offers a Nightfall package. Black 18-inch wheels are matched by body-colored door handles, gloss-black side mirrors, and dark luggage rails. Although the smaller 2017 Acadia rides on the same-length wheelbase as the Terrain, the less expensive Terrain is still 8.1 inches shorter. GMC鈥檚 smallest CUV is offered with naturally aspirated four- and six-cylinder engines. Cool Fact: Almost half of all Terrain customers are new to GMC. Sum Up: A popular combo of power and luxury. Minor: GMC is making it easier than ever before to maximize the Yukon鈥檚 imposing presence. The SLT Premium Edition, a late 2016 addition, gets chrome 22-inch wheels, a polished exhaust tip, extra (and attractive) chrome on the grille, and chrome trim on the doors. The Yukon offers two engines, a 355-hp, 5.3-liter V-8 and a 420-hp, 6.2-liter V-8.





Cool Fact: The Denali鈥檚 6.2-liter V-8 propels the Yukon XL to 60 in 6.2 seconds, 0.7 second quicker than a regular Yukon with the 5.3-liter V-8. Sum Up: Capable and sharp but ready for a transmission upgrade. Unchanged: Before the next-gen model arrives, the CR-V remains unchanged. All CR-Vs are powered by a 185-hp, 2.4-liter inline-four mated to a CVT. We hope the next-gen model will retain the current crossover鈥檚 spacious cargo area, low load floor, and the lever to easily fold down the rear seats. The available navigation system feels outdated, but the upcoming model is likely to get a better Garmin-based unit along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Look For: Better forward visibility on the next CR-V, which will offer LED headlights. Unchanged: The HR-V heads into 2017 unchanged. That means the subcompact crossover will still feel like one the slowest cars on the road (with its CVT), but it鈥檚 also spacious for its size. All HR-Vs wear 17-inch alloys, and if you鈥檙e one of the few remaining manual-transmission crossover buyers left, Honda鈥檚 got you covered. Compared to the CR-V, the HR-V is just about 10 inches shorter.





Cool Fact: Every HR-V comes with an electric parking brake with automatic brake hold, a feature that鈥檚 cool and useful. Sum Up: Honda鈥檚 smallest CUV boasts a unique interior layout and lots of space. Sum Up: Still a solid player in the compact crossover segment. Sum Up: One of the most practical minivans around gets redesigned. Look For: Quickly moving Pilots鈥攚e鈥檝e tested a 2016 model hitting 60 as quickly as 6.2 seconds. Impressive for a nearly 4,300-pound three-row crossover. Sum Up: Delivering quickly. All-New: The Ridgeline nameplate is back in Honda dealerships. Front- and all-wheel drive are available on the unibody truck, which pretends it鈥檚 a conventional truck with rubber filling a non-gap between the cab and bed. Although some parts are shared with the Pilot, the front struts, rear shocks, control arms, steering knuckles, bump stops, and hubs and their bearings are reinforced for use in the truck. Avoid: Looking for the Ridgeline鈥檚 7.3-cubic-foot in-bed trunk and a dual-action tailgate on competitors.

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