Though the Ford Transit Connect may be a niche player in the North American market, the small van market is big business in Europe. According to Mercedes-Benz, it accounts for some 700,000 units annually, and that’s a pie of which Daimler wouldn’t mind getting a bigger slice. And so it has announced its new Citan.
Taking its name from a combination of City and Titan, the Citan will slot in below the Vario, Sprinter and Vito in order to meet the needs of workers who need to get around crowded city streets and take their gear with them. Mercedes plans to offer it in a broad range of configurations, lengths and engine options once it hits the market in the fall.
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Of all the car shows around the calendar year, the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance doesn’t typically fall on our radar screen. But maybe it should, because the annual event in Florida – young as it is – has a history of offering firsts. Maybe not the first time a vehicle is seen in North America, mind you, but a first just the same.
Last year the event included the sale of the first examples of the Ferrari FF, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster and Audi R8 GT to be delivered in America. The year before that, it was the Audi R8 5.2 FSI (yeah, that’s the one with the V10) and Ferrari California. And before that, the event’s auctioneers sold off the first Audi R8 Spyder, Ferrari 458 Italia and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
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For 15 years, McLaren was the F1 team of choice for Mercedes-Benz, enjoying a near-works level of support and collaboration from the German automaker. But as you may recall, Daimler bought its own team three seasons ago: the outfit that started out as British American Racing, then became Honda before branching out as Brawn GP, was rebranded Mercedes GP under its latest management and now rechristened Mercedes AMG Petronas. And ever since, McLaren has had to deflect speculation that it was looking for a new engine supplier.
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Mercedes-Benz has its heart set on boosting its U.S. sales by more than 20 percent, and Automotive News reports that mission may include plans for an extended range hybrid. Joachim Schmidt, head of global sales for Mercedes-Benz, said a special, U.S.-only B-Class plug-in hybrid with a range-extending electric motor may be headed to the States soon. Read More »
There are hundreds of aftermarket tuners out there, but few hold the type of street cred that does Veilside. Long known for making Japan’s greatest sportscars even greater, Veilside has now turned its attention to the Mercedes-Benz SL.
Not the newest one, mind you, because it’s not out yet. Instead, Veilside has taken to the Tokyo Auto Salon to unveil a conversion kit that turns the outgoing SL into something closer to the top-of-the-line SL65 AMG Black Series. Read More »
If you’re looking to turn your Mercedes-Benz Vito into an executive-class van, Vilner has what you need. The company used its expertise on the German minivan to craft an interior inspired by private jets. With Nappa leather seating, an Alcantara headliner and mahogany details spread throughout the cabin, the Vilner Vito is suitably deluxe. Additional power outlets make it perfect for long-distance chauffeured travel, while a 19-inch LCD display and stocked mini fridge help keep passengers entertained..
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Democracy, said Winston Churchill, is the worst form of government…except for all the others. You might say the same of the Nürburging. Not the track itself, but the ultimate bragging rights that have emerged from comparing lap times on it. Because while there are countless factors that can affect a car’s lap time over such a long circuit, it’s still one of the best ways to measure a car’s overall performance.
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