2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show

• Competes with: Lexus GS 450h, BMW ActiveHybrid 5, Infiniti M Hybrid 
• Looks like: Mercedes won’t let anyone win the hybrid race without a fight 
• Drivetrain: 302-hp V-6 gas/electric hybrid powertrain 
• Hits dealerships: Mid-2012

Mercedes-Benz will unveil a new hybrid system for its E-Class sedan at the 2012 Detroit auto show. The trim, called the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid, will feature compact hybrid components attached to Mercedes’ standard 3.5-liter V-6.

The gas/electric hybrid system — which includes auto start-stop, regenerative braking and pure electric driving, depending on speed — has an estimated 24/31 mpg city/highway rating and a 27 mpg combined rating, according to Mercedes. The system, which was originally featured on the S-Class, improves gas mileage by about 17% over the standard E350. The compact nature of the hybrid system means that neither passenger nor cargo space has been compromised, Mercedes says.

Recall Alert: 2011-2012 Mercedes-Benz Diesel Vehicles

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 6,872 sedans, SUVs and crossovers because of the possibility of a fuel leak, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects 2011 R-Class, 2011 E-Class, 2011 ML-Class, 2011 GL-Class and 2012 S-Class vehicles equipped with a diesel engine. On these vehicles, the O-rings that seal components within the fuel filter may not be effective, allowing fuel to leak onto the road. This could lead to a crash or cause a fire in the presence of an ignition source.

Owners will be notified of the recall next month, and Mercedes will inspect and replace the fuel filter if necessary. The repairs will be free. Owners can call Mercedes-Benz at 800-367-6372 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 41 2011 E-Class sedans and wagons over insufficient adhesive in the vibration damper in the engine compartment, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, which were built between July 8 and July 12, 2010, insufficient adhesion could cause the vibration damper and its inner mass damper ring to separate. As a result, the kinetic energy from the separated mass damper ring could injure anyone who is repairing the vehicle or anyone else nearby. You can find the build date of your car by looking at a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb.

The recall is expected to begin this month. Dealers will inspect and replace any parts if necessary at no charge. Owners can call Mercedes at 800-367-6372 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Ford Has Highest Loyalty: GM, Toyota Close Behind

Ford Motor Co., the maker of Ford and Lincoln vehicles, ended 2010 with the highest loyalty rates in the auto industry, according to R.L. Polk & Co. About 63% of all Ford car owners bought or leased another new Ford vehicle when they returned to the market in 2010.

The 3.9 percentage point increase in Ford’s loyalty score was enough for the automaker to surpass General Motors, which had the highest loyalty score in 2009. GM (59.9%) and Toyota Motor Co. (58.8%) come in second and third for most-loyal customers.

When you break down loyalty scores to the brand level, the Ford brand remains in the top position (60.3% bought another Ford), followed by Mercedes-Benz (56.7%), Honda (56.6%), Toyota (56.4%) and Chevrolet (53%).

The numbers for Toyota are particularly impressive since buyers were returning to the market shortly after and even during the recall woes the company faced in 2009 and 2010.

In terms of specific models, car shoppers were the most loyal to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (44.2%), followed closely by the Ford F-Series (44.2%) and Lincoln MKZ (41.6%).

As a vehicle class, luxury carmakers saw the biggest improvements in loyalty rates in 2010. Land Rover (+8.2 percentage points), Acura (+7.5) and Cadillac (+7.1) saw huge gains in loyalty, which is primarily attributed to an improving lease market, according to Polk.

2010 Year-End Analysis Shows Ford, GM, Toyota Lead in Automotive Loyalty, According to Polk (R.L. Polk & Co.)

Mercedes-Benz mbrace Plus: Worth the cost?

Kevin Link, marketing head at Hughes Telematics, punched a button in the overhead console of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon. He was in the driver’s seat; I sat shotgun. It was around 11 a.m. on the second media day at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, and a few journalists still trolled the Mercedes display outside our car.
 
Moments later, the E-Class patched through a perky operator. She asked Link what he’d like. He wanted coffee. She sent directions to the nearest Starbucks to the car’s navigation system. Anything else?
 
I pitched a curveball: Say, what’s Google stock running at right now? Could we buy some shares?
 
A moment of silence.
 
She piped up: “As of 10:54, I have the price of Google at $613.39, which is down $3.06 today.”
 
“Would you like to buy any?” Link said, grinning. Not right now, I replied.
 
So it goes with Mercedes’ mbrace Plus.

Recall Alert: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, GL-Class, M-Class, R-Class

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 2,297 diesel-powered vehicles from the 2011 model year because of an improperly lubricated O-ring, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
 
The lack of lubrication may cause the fuel filter to leak. As a result, diesel fuel may spill on the road, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall affects certain E-, GL-, M- and R-Class models built between March and October 2010. You can check your vehicle’s build date on a sticker located on the driver-side doorjamb.
 
Owners are expected to be notified this month, and dealers will replace the fuel filters at no charge. Owners can call Mercedes-Benz at 800-367-6372 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 2010-2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, E-Class

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 85,078 2010 Mercedes C-Class and E-Class sedans and the 2010-2011 E-Class coupes and convertibles over potential failures with the power-steering system, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In certain models, the power steering system may fail due to a loss of power-steering fluid that may reduce the driver’s ability to maneuver in parking lots, where maximum power steering is necessary. This could lead to an increased risk of an accident.

Mercedes dealers will check and retorque the steering system for free. The recall has already started. For more information, owners may call Mercedes-Benz at 800-367-6372 or NHTSA's hot line at 888-327-4236.

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Cars.com Podcast: 2011 Toyota Avalon, 2011 Scion tC, 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

We tackle two redesigns and one new offering in this week’s podcast. The Toyota Avalon seemed to impress, but the Scion tC didn’t. And the E-Class Cabriolet? Who wouldn’t like it for a balmy summer night drive? If you’re considering purchasing any of the three, you’ll want to hear what the editors discovered during their test drives.

You can download the podcast via iTunes here or an MP3 file here.

Cars.com Reviews the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet is the newest edition to the redesigned E-Class family, joining a recently launched sedan and coupe from last year. Usually when you chop the roof off of a car to make a convertible some structural rigidity is lost, and that has happened here, according to Cars.com editor Mike Hanley. We test-drove a V-8 model and a V-6 model. Find out whether this pricey convertible has what it takes to compete with the BMW 650i and Jaguar XK convertible, and if the V-8 is worth an extra $8,000.

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2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 Video

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet maintains the sleek profile of Benz E-Class coupe, but adds the panache of a convertible and some innovative systems to keep occupants as comfortable as possible. Cars.com editor Mike Hanley takes viewers on a tour of the Cabriolet in this video, but with a test model that costs more than $70,000, he definitely expects to be pampered.