Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class shines in Manhattan

News info : Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class shines in Manhattan. Nestled in the corner of the 11th Avenue megaplex (five floors and over seven acres of floor space in New York City), the Concept A comes off as surprisingly dynamic for what amounts to a conventional three-door hatchback – and a static one at that (unlike the car shown in China, the New York Auto Show star only has a half-interior). And it's not just unique details like the elaborate pinwork grille (composed of hexagonal silver nubs on blacked-out stems), the windswept headlamps or the waifish side mirrors – the whole package just somehow comes together. We're not sure if we're finally getting more comfortable with the blunt-nosed look that's infiltrating the Three-Pointed-Star's lineup (see: SLS AMG, CLS, etc.), or if it just works particularly well here, but in the metal, the Concept A-Class looks more convincing than we expected from the first batch of press images.


That's good news, because Benz is very serious about making its next production A-Class a world car – including North America. To that end, even in showcar regalia, the Concept A has perfectly feasible mechanicals: a 2.0-liter, 210-horsepower four-cylinder from Daimler's new M270 range driving the front wheels and shifted by a dual-clutch gearbox. It also appears to be more conventional in chassis construction, eschewing the clever (if costly) 'sandwich' architecture and upright profile of the original 1997 model.


When it finally arrives in production form, the next-generation A-Class will no doubt ride on smaller wheels, have a taller greenhouse, and the engine will likely nestle behind a more conventional grille. Even so, Mercedes will still be on to something if it can preserve the appeal of the Concept A-Class' form factor.

2012 Jeep Wrangler Mojave Review and Specs

HEADLINES : 2012 Jeep Wrangler Mojave Review and Specs.Jeep will officially introduce the latest in the brand's stream of factory-customized machines (Call of Duty: Black Ops Edition, Wrangler Islander and Mountain trims and the upcoming JK-8 pickup truck conversion kit) at the 2011 New York Auto Show today. The 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave was designed to pay homage to the legendary Mojave Trail and comes with special interior and exterior additions that set it apart from the rest of the Wrangler family.


The party gets started with a Wrangler Sport and adds a body-colored hard top and fender flares alongside 17-inch wheels wrapped in 32-inch tires. Those rollers are the same kit found on the likes of the Wrangler Rubicon. Unique lizard decals on the hood and a blacked-out fuel door cap off the exterior tweaks.


Jump indoors and you'll find dark leather seats with lizard embroidery. Trust us when we say that it looks better than it sounds. Driftwood accents are littered through the cabin and slush floor mats come standard. The final price tag for this machine sits at $29,195 plus a $750 destination fee. Follow the jump for the full press release.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 with Fuel Saver Technology

HEADLINES : 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 with Fuel Saver Technology. This review new car from 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. Even with performance numbers knocking on supercar territory, not to mention a 465-horsepower 6.4-liter Hemi V8, Jeep claims the new SRT8 gets 13-percent better fuel economy than its predecessor. To keep the gas mileage respectable, Jeep has employed a new active exhaust system that lets Chrysler's cylinder-deactivating Fuel Saver Technology operate over a wider RPM band. The fuel economy numbers are so good that the SUV can now travel up to 450 miles on a single tank before needing another drink of dinosaur juice.

Straight-line numbers and (relatively) impressive MPGs aren't this big SUV's only trick. Thanks in part to Jeep's new Selec-Track system with five distinct drive modes (including Sport), Chrysler says the new Grand Cherokee SRT8 will also hold on for a .90-g skid pad performance. Even better, it can haul itself down from 60 mph in an abrupt 116 feet.

Inside there's a list of standard features as long as your arm, including SIRIUS satellite radio, a DVD and MP3-capable stereo and new steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Options include a 19-speaker, 825-watt Harmann-Kardon stereo complete with a 10-inch subwoofer, a dual-pane tinted sunroof and a power liftgate.

Look for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 to hit dealerships this summer, and stay tuned for live shots of the new SRT8 direct from the 2011 New York Auto Show floor later today.

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 Review Debut at 2011 New York Auto Show

HEADLINES: 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 Review Debut at 2011 New York Auto Show. 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 has More power and better performance can often lead to less desirable fuel economy, yet Chrysler insists that this SRT8 actually boasts a 25-percent increase in efficiency. One reason for the big improvement is a new active valve exhaust system, which allows the big V8 to drop down to four-cylinder mode over a much wider RPM range than before. The company isn't ready to provide specific numbers, but our math tells us to expect about 24 miles per gallon in highway driving.

We're all for function over form, but you can't have an SRT-infused 300 without a menacing look that matches the performance. The 2012 300 SRT8 starts with a set of seven-spoke 20-inch wheels. The brawny four-door is dropped by a half inch, while side cladding is painted in body color. The front and rear fascias were updated as well, in an effort to help the SRT model stand out compared to other members of the 300 family. We're especially fond of the new slotted upper and lower front grilles, which depart from the chain-mail look of the first-generation SRT8.

Inside, the 300 SRT8 features unique leather seating surfaces; a unique, heated steering wheel; and plenty of SRT badging to go around. Also present are the expectant carbon fiber interior trim pieces adorning the dash and doors. Functional upgrades include an Electronic Vehicle Information Center that can measure 0-60, eighth mile and quarter mile times as well as braking distances. Controls for the EVIC are accessed from the steering wheel, and all of the information is available on the large 8.4-inch LCD screen, which can also display information like steering and yaw angle, horsepower and torque outputs.