Drew Dowdell

it's completely underwhelming compared to the CTS Coupe... Officially Official: 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLC Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled the 2008 CLC-Class, the Euro-market successor to the now-defunct C-Class Sports Coupe. Well, we should clarify that. It's not completely defunct in that its architecture has been carried over for the new car, meaning the CLC does not share underpinnings with the new-gen C-Class. Still, Mercedes boasts that the car features 1,100 "newly-developed or enhanced" components, including the direct steering system introduced on the freshened SLK. The changes are intended to give the car a different feel than its predecessor. At first glance, it's clear that Mercedes is trying to leave the past behind, looks-wise. Sure, the coupe profile is carried over, but the sharp-looking face of the new C-Class finds its way onto the CLC's front end. Out back, fresh taillamps also keep up the family resemblance to the new C. An updated interior greets occupants, with available features like DVD or hard drive-based nav, iPod integration, and an in-dash SD card slot. The entertainment, communications and nav systems can all be operated by voice command, too. Buyers can choose from four engines -- 2 gas and 2 diesel, all with improved fuel economy -- matched with six-speed manual gearboxes as standard equipment. Drivers who opt for automatics get a 5-speed unit for 4-cylinder engines or MB's 7-speed auto for the 6-cylinders. An available sports package dresses things up with enhancements like 18" wheels and also adds paddle shifters to the steering wheel for cars with automatic transmissions. The Brazilian-built CLC goes on sale in Europe this May. No plans have been mentioned regarding a possible US-market return, and given that the last-gen didn't sell particularly well here, that is completely unsurprising. The Mercedes press release is pasted after the jump.

Still... if it only gets 35mpg combined. It's not likely that the highway mileage would drop much. It'd be the city cycle that would suffer most.

I have no idea how long I've been here... but I was here for a while B.C.

QUOTE(balthazar @ Jan 27 2008, 10:52 PM) [snapback]361750[/snapback] Not sure why I hang around, might just be the free coffee & donuts. They aren't free! What? Do you think this is a Saturn dealership or something?

Fleet 'em Toyota... taste the sweet sweet cocaine.

It's an idiotic manuver. There is nothing that makes Buick and the G8 and Camaro mutually exclusive. Not even production capacity. Oshawa, LGR, and Hammtrack have more than enough capacity..... and then there's always Wilmington... which I hear may have more capacity available soon.

Selling the horse to keep the cart.

I have a friend who is really really into antiques and keeping his house "period" He has and uses a 1930s GE refridgerator in his kitchen. Just one of these:

uhm.... great... you overproduced. Is Hyundai going to release a similar press release?

but... why? Buick has already proven they can sell... with waiting lists even... when they're given world class product. Why should GM not take advantage of that? The Lucerne still outsells everything in it's class except the heavily fleeted 300 and the new, fixed, LaCrosse/Regal is on it's way. What's GM gonna do if there are waiting lists for the G8.... and they sell everyone they build without incentives? Two years later introduce a FWD Epsilon Wide G8 and try to get that pig to fly?

why are you *happy* about GM no longer being able to sell popular cars?

-6c

The GTO was a Firebird in a tux. The ST is an El Camino in a tux.... but the mullet stays.

probably as the starter for the 7.0 litre

All of you laughing at this engine, bite your tongues! It's this sort of thing that will keep the V8 alive longer by helping to raise GM's CAFE average. No, it's not for the enthusiast, but for the person who just wants a 38MPG appliance, it'll do just fine.

GM bringing 1.4L turbo four to market next year Link to AutoBlog General Motors has announced that it's bringing out a new 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine next year, which will help the automaker increase cars' fuel economy while presumably not sacrificing power. A normally-aspirated version of this motor is currently offered across the pond in the Opel Astra 5-door. Dubbed the 1.4 Twinport Ecotec, the Euro-spec NA version makes 90 horsepower at 5600 RPM, 92 lb-ft of torque at 4000 RPM, and gets 38.5 US miles per gallon in the combined cycle. With a snail attached, the little 1.4L should easily corral over one hundred horses. According to GM's Jim Queen, both the Chevy Cobalt and Saturn Astra (no surprise there) are candidates for the US-bound turbo variant, with midsizers not out of the question, either. The 1.4L will supplant the Aveo's 1.6L four as the smallest engine offered by GM in the US. Hey General, while you're at it, why not throw it in the Aveo, too? Between this and Ford's EcoBoost push, we expect to be seeing "turbo" badges on a lot of cars in the years to come.

I'm talking about using it to defend against the government.

Around here Civics and Jetta <previous gen> are the gay man's pace car. Jetta lovers seem to be migrating to Rabbits though. Then there is the ubiquitous 3-series that every 20 year old anger-twink aspires to. And they'll tell you it has the best V-6 around....but they don't know why.

I'd like to see you stand up to the Army's 21st battle division with your twelve gauge. If you want to bare arms, go for the good stuff. Tzar Bomba - Largest nuclear device ever detonated.... and was tested at only 1/2 it's designed yield.

not in cold weather climates you don't

In sales to Avis?

What about a nice pair of Tatas.... wouldn't work on about 25% of this board, but I don't think you've ever officially declared a... uh... "party"

What is even more ironically awesome, that is the Civic I use every week. This was my first time logging into Zipcar after the Zip/Flexcar merger. Flexcar just uses numbers to identify their cars. Zipcar names them.