Mercedes MLC: Coupe M-Class coming in 2015

The 2015 Mercedes MLC - a coupe Mercedes ML You didn’t think Mercedes could ignore the unexpected success of the BMW X6, did you? Well, they can’t, so they’re planning a coupe version of the ML for 2015 – the Mercedes MLC. Big car news in the U.S – and jobs news, too – is that Mercedes are investing a not insignificant $2 billion in their production facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to up production of Mercedes for the North American market.

London Taxi maker Manganese Bronze bought by China’s Geely

China automotive giant Geely has bought Manganese Bronze – makers of the iconic London Black Cab – in an £11.04 million deal. The iconic London Black Cab has been an accident waiting to happen for years, as under investment in making the Black Cab fit for the 21st century saw competition – like the Mercedes Vito Taxi and the Nissan NV200 Cab – start to offer serious competition to the taxi that identifies London. Despite an investment by China’s Geely – when Geely bought 20 per cent of Manganese Bronze, makers of the Black Cab – and the bulk of the Black Cab being produced in China and bolted together in the Midlands, the final nail in the coffin for Manganese Bronze was the recall of 400 TX4 cabs over a steering fault.

Screaming Fords at Kirkland Concours d'Elegance

Compared with its high-tech-center neighbors--Bellevue and Redmond--the town of Kirkland, Wash., is relatively unknown. But Kirkland is where the vibrant car-collector scene in the area is shown at its best each fall at the Kirkland Concours d'Elegance. And while you may not have heard of Kirkland, you've probably heard of its famous Pacific Northwest weather--not the best, you'd think, for outdoor car shows.