Mercedes to Drop R-Class from its U.S. Lineup

It's official: some seven years after the presentation of the U.S.-built R-Class, Mercedes-Benz's multi-purpose crossover model will be gradually phased out in the States as there won't be a 2013 model, however, it will continue to be offered in overseas markets.
Mercedes-Benz USA spokesperson Chrisitan Bokich confirmed the news to Carscoop and added that company's three other SUV/crossover models including the GLK, M-Class and the larger GL, cover the market's needs.
"It's true that there will be no model year 2013 R-Class in the U.S. Over the years since the R-Class was introduced, we have expanded our light truck model offering significantly and these vehicles are outselling the R-Class to the extent that we can no longer make the business case for continuing to offer the R-Class," Bokich told us in an email today.
We also asked Bokich about Mercedes-Benz's future plans in the segment, and even though he wouldn't comment on a replacement for the R-Class, he did confirm the presentation of a new GL model at the upcoming New York Auto Show in April.
"Here in the U.S., our top-volume premium light trucks are the M-Class, GL, and GLK models (as you probably know, we're gearing up right now for the world-premiere of the new segment-leading GL at the New York Auto Show.) While we're not commenting on the future of the R-class after this generation, the car will be on sale in other markets, including its main market China and even Canada, Mexico, and other European markets - just to name a few," said Bokich.
Nevertheless, even if Mercedes decides against building a successor to the R-Class at its Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant, the production of the next generation C-Class at the factory will more than compensate for the loss.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read more »

Subaru Kicks Off Series Production of BRZ

Subaru held a special ceremony today at its Gunma factory in Ota-city, Japan, to mark the series production start of the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 (named GT 86 in Europe) rear-wheel drive coupes. The presidents of both companies attended the event. The factory, which will produce both models as well as the Impreza by March 2013, underwent several changes to cope with the extra capacity.
The two Japanese automakers first agreed on business collaboration in October 2005, and after expanding their ties with new agreements related to development and production in April 2008, they began designing the coupe models, the production versions of which were presented at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show last December.
At the ceremony, Toyota's President Akio Toyoda said: “I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the ceaseless efforts of all FHI people and staff who were involved in the development, production and preparations for both models. The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 would not have been successfully developed without collaboration between FHI and TMC."
Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, the president of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, which is Subaru's parent company, said: "The car symbolizes our corporate strategy in two significant aspects: good progress of our alliances; and advancement of our “select and focus” approach."

PHOTO GALLERY

Read more »

Mazda CX-5 Orders in Japan Surpass Mazda’s Original Estimates

Mazda revealed today that it has received close to 8,000 orders for its brand new CX-5 crossover in Japan since February 16. Now, either the Hiroshima-based carmaker was extermely conservative in its projection or the locals have really taken to the new crossover because that figure is eight times the original monthly estimate of 1,000 sales.
Mind you, that’s before customers have the chance to test-drive the CX-5, something they will be able to do by visiting Mazda dealerships from March 31 onwards.
"Mazda is extremely grateful for the approval from many customers for the all-new CX-5”, said the company’s President and CEO Takashi Yamanouchi.
“I am convinced that we will surpass our global sales target of 160,000 units per year and that the CX-5 will become one of our core models alongside the Axela (known overseas as the Mazda3), Atenza (Mazda6) and Demio (Mazda2)," he added.
Despite the fact that diesels are far from popular in the land of the rising sun, the 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D diesel versions of the CX-5 account for 73 percent of total orders while gasoline-engined cars are ordered by 27 percent of customers.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read more »