2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet: First Look

• Competes with: BMW 6 Series and Jaguar XK
• Looks like: Redesigned front end and restyled bumpers give the pair a more muscular look
• Drivetrain: 302-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 and a 402-hp, twin-turbo 4.6-liter V-8
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2013 

The coupe and convertible versions of Mercedes-Benz's E-Class get striking styling updates for 2014, but the face-lift is more than skin deep. The automaker also has refined the interior and is adding several safety systems to the pair, matching the equipment offered on the sedan and wagon versions.

Outside, new single-lens headlamps with LED accents give the front a more streamlined look. Mercedes says a full LED setup is an option "for the first time in this segment." A V-shaped front bumper and larger air intakes give the car a more aggressive appearance than the outgoing model, as do a wider rear bumper, new taillights and more chrome trim. The overall look is more muscular and ties the pair to its sedan sibling.

Recall Alert: 5,800 Mercedes-Benz Vehicles

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 5,800 model-year 2011-12 S400, S550, S550 4Matic, S63 AMG, C300, C300 4Matic, E350, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, CL550 4Matic and CL63 AMG vehicles because of a problem in the fuel system that could cause fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles were manufactured from April 18, 2011, through July 12, 2011. The problem is due to an irregularity stemming from the molding process; the fuel filter flange could crack when operated under high temperatures. If cracking occurs, fuel may leak and cause a fire if an external ignition source is present, NHTSA stated.

Mercedes-Benz will notify owners starting in January, and dealers will replace the fuel filter at no cost. For more info, owners can contact Mercedes-Benz at 800-367-6372 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or go to www.safercar.gov.

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2013 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet: Car Seat Check

It sometimes seems that editor Jennifer Geiger and I are gluttons for punishment when it comes to installing child-safety seats into cars with cramped backseats like the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet. Our rule of thumb for Car Seat Checks is if it has a backseat, we install safety seats in it. The E-Class comes in four body styles: sedan, coupe, wagon and Cabriolet. The Cabriolet is a four-seater with a comfortable backseat, but it quickly became cramped when we added our gigantic car seats to the mix.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat.

Recall Alert: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 499 model-year 2012 versions of the E-Class, specifically E350 and E550 coupes, due to problems with the curtain airbag, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Faulty stitching of the passenger-side curtain airbag could prohibit it from deploying in an accident, increasing the risk of injury. The affected vehicles were manufactured from April 2 through April 29, 2012; can check your vehicle's build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb.

Mercedes-Benz will notify owners next month, and dealers will replace the airbag for free. Owners can call Mercedes-Benz at 800-367-6372 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

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Many Automakers' Latch Systems Difficult to Use, Study Finds

Installing a child-safety seat can be a difficult and automakers aren't making it any easier with their Latch systems, according to a new study.

The study evaluated 98 of the best-selling passenger vehicles from the 2010 and 2011 model years and found that only 21 of them had easy-to-use Latch systems. The Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system, which is found in cars from the 2003 model year and on, standardizes the in-car equipment for car-seat installation.

It's supposed to make it easier for parents to get the proper car-seat fit and ensure that the child riding in the car seat is protected in a crash.

What Car Would You Buy if You Won Mega Millions?

The Mega Millions lottery jackpot has hit a record $500 million and it's still growing. With just one more day before Friday's drawing, plenty of people are standing in line to buy a ticket and dream a little about what they'd do if they won all that money.

The odds of winning the lottery are slim — 1 in 176 million, according to lottery officials — but it's fun to think of what you'd buy if money were no object. We asked Cars.com's editorial department what car or cars they'd buy if they won the Mega Millions jackpot.

Patrick Olsen, Editor-in-Chief: Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

"While I'd have plenty of money left over, I have never found another car that has made me feel giddy when I get behind the wheel, or so awed by the power it produces. But even with that, it's not uncomfortable for someone of my size, and it's feasible as a daily driver, even if it costs around $120,000."

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.)