New Mercedes CLA photos & new Mercedes 4MATIC 4WD – UPDATED

We have the first official photos of the new Mercedes CLA and news of a new Mercedes 4MATIC 4WD system for Mercedes’ smaller cars. The new Mercedes CLA – the baby CLS based on the new A Class and previewed by the Mercedes Concept Style Coupe we saw at the Beijing Motor Show - will arrive at the Detroit Auto Show in January (and be followed by the CLA 45 AMG at Frankfurt in Autumn 2013), and will come with a new Mercedes 4MATIC four wheel drive system. To herald the arrival of the new CLA and the new 4MATIC system, Mercedes has released details of the new 4MATIC system and sent us the first official photos of the production CLA – albeit with the usual swirly black and white camouflage – to illustrate where their new 4WD system will arrive.

California considers pay-as-you-go auto insurance

There are pay-as-you-go cell phones and all-you-can-eat buffets, and somewhere in between slots a new auto insurance concept under consideration in California. The proposed regulations would allow insurance companies to offer coverage plans paid for by the mile, in addition to traditional plans. The idea is to allow consumers to pay for what they use--and potentially save money.

Autoweek in review: What you might have missed

Mercedes-Benz will offer its flagship SLS AMG as the 2013 SLS AMG GT late this year. It will get a boost in horsepower and a refreshing for the upcoming model year. The SRT Viper was caught on the streets of metro Detroit.