A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
New 300 saloon all brawn, all brain but, as yet, no name
Chrysler is to unveil the second generation of its 300 saloon at the Detroit motor show next week. While the car retains its distinctive US muscular styling, several new features have been added, including an upgrade on the car’s cabin and a new touchscreen control system for the central console.
Due to the restructuring of the Fiat family of brands, it’s still unclear whether the 300 will be badged as a Lancia or Chrysler in continental Europe, while an initial engine range of only V6 and V8 petrols will limit its appeal in Ireland, where the Chrysler brand is set to continue. Fiat Ireland, which will take over responsibility for the Chrysler brand here this year, is awaiting the debut of the revised 3-litre diesel engine before deciding on a launch plan for the car.
Daimler's 'sleeping beauty' could wake up in Britain
Daimler is reportedly in talks with Aston Martin over a possible co-operation that would see the British luxury carmaker design and build the next generation of the German company’s top-end Maybach marque.
The two companies are sounding out a partnership in which Aston Martin could take engine technology from the German carmaker in exchange for building the cars, people close to the situation said.
A partnership with the British carmaker could give Daimler’s ailing Maybach brand a new lease of life.
“Aston Martin needs engines and nobody at Daimler wants to let the Maybach brand die,” said one industry insider.
Daimler revived the brand in 2002, when Jürgen Hubbert, then head of Mercedes-Benz cars, said it was “time to kiss the sleeping beauty awake”. (FT Service)
More power to the new generation retro-style Mercedes S-class
Mercedes is in the earliest stages of the development of the next generation of S-Class, spotted here testing on Bosch’s new winter-test base in Austria, right. While the car is heavily camouflaged, it appears a little wider and longer than the current S-Class. Regardless, styling is expected to be influenced by the F700 concept car from some years back.
Under the bonnet, we can expect Mercedes to introduce the new ‘MoVe’ (modular V6- and V8) engines. While details are limited, the engines will feature direct injection and turbochargers. As previewed by the Vision S 500 plug-in hybrid concept, Mercedes will also offer an S-Class plug-in hybrid that will be able to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than six seconds while averaging at least 3.3 litres per 100km.
Podcast
The Detroit motor show opens next Monday and we will have live updates and reports from the first big auto show of the year on The Irish Times Motors website, irishtimes.com/motors