Mercedes-Benz’s commercial vehicles division has lifted the veil off of the all-new 2014 V-Class, a mid-size van that slots between the Renault-based Citan and the full-size Sprinter.

Designed to replace the existing Viano, the V-Class adopts a dynamic exterior design that is heavily inspired by recent members of the Mercedes lineup including the CLA-Class and the redesigned E-Class. The front fascia features familiar elongated headlamps and a twin-slat radiator grille while the rear end gains a large window and short tail lamps.

The V-Class follows the van industry’s shifts towards more car-like interiors with a curved dash, analog gauges, circular air vents and a touch screen mounted on top of the center stack. Both six- and eight-seater variants are offered, and buyers have access to a mile-long list of extra-cost add-ons to customize their van’s cabin.

As expected, the V-Class ditches the current Viano’s six-cylinder engines in favor of a smaller 2.1-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine available with 136, 163 or 190 horsepower. Front-wheel drive will be the only configuration offered at launch, but an all-wheel drive setup is expected to join the lineup later in the production run.

All V-Class vans come standard with Crosswind Assist and Attention Assist, and the list of options includes a 360-degree camera, active parking assistance systems and a seven-speed automatic transmission.

The new V-Class is scheduled to go on sale across Germany next May with a base price of €42,900 ($58,000) before taxes are factored in. Whether or not the van has been earmarked for the United States, where the market for compact front-wheel drive commercial vehicles is steadily growing, is not known.

Work Van
A cargo-hauling variant of the V-Class with welded-in rear windows, steel wheels and black plastic bumpers is expected to go on sale before the end of the year. Likely called Vito, it will feature a considerably less upscale cockpit and retail for significantly less.

Designed to be equally at home on and off the road, the T-Roc takes the form of a tall three-door crossover that stretches 164 inches long, 72 inches wide and 59 inches tall. It boasts a muscular look characterized by a slim grille with hexagonal inserts, a sculpted hood with twin vents, pronounced wheel arches all around and angular tail lamps. 19-inch alloy wheels mounted on high-profile tires wrap up the off-road-ready look.

The T-Roc packs a removable two-piece carbon fiber roof that can be stored in the trunk for open-air motoring.

Inside, Volkswagen’s latest concept boasts a chiseled, rugged look with a large serving of high-tech equipment such as a digital instrument cluster that includes an inclinometer and a tablet-like center console.

Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show, chief executive Dieter Zetsche boasted that “not everybody is in as favorable a situation as we are, that we can hardly produce as many cars are customers are asking for,” as quoted by Bloomberg. “Our product offensive is really just starting to take off.”

The company is currently considering ways to accommodate a surge in demand, though adding extra shifts at current plants is viewed as a temporary solution. Expansion with new facilities may prove necessary as the company continues to add new models to its lineup.

“North America is a feasible location for such an additional plant,” Zetsche said.

Mercedes-Benz is said to be experiencing particularly strong demand for its compact cars, such as the new CLA-Class. Other new models include the redesigned S-Class coupe, unveiled today in Geneva, along with a new C-Class sedan and GL-Class SUV.

Daimler has yet to announce additional details regarding potential sites for a new production facility in North America.

Based on the entry-level A1, the S1 is billed as a successor to the limited-edition 252-horsepower A1 quattro. It is powered by a 2.0-liter TFSI engine that sends 231 horsepower and 272 lb-ft. of torque to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system.

The S1 sprints from zero to 62 mph in 5.8 seconds and reaches an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph. The hot hatch returns 33 mpg in a mixed European cycle when driven with a light right foot.

A performance-tuned electric power steering system and an upgraded suspension setup help create a sporty driving experience while larger brake rotors and an upsized master cylinder safely bring the car to a stop. An electronic stability control system that can be turned off in two stages comes standard.

The Cross edition builds upon the Panda 4×4, adding even more SUV features including larger tires and an electronic locking differential to maximize traction on slippery surfaces.

Drivers can head further down trails thanks to more ground clearance, while new front and rear “skid plate” bumpers are claimed to provide 24-degree approach and 33-degree exit angles. If the Panda does get into trouble, two front two hooks are highlighted in bright red.

Other exterior enhancements include 15-inch alloy wheels with a five-spoke V design and burnished metal finish, along with a new headlight configuration with LED DRLs.

Under the hood, the Cross package also offers improvements over the standard Panda 4×4. Buyers can choose between a 80-horsepower 1.3-liter turbodiesel, or a 90-horsepower turbocharged gasoline mill. The latter option also adds a six-speed transmission with a shortened first gear.

The Panda Cross is expected to arrive this fall in the major European markets, in an orange color scheme to fit the season.

Engineers have stripped down the RC F design to reach a curb weight of just 2,756 lbs., significantly lighter than the street car’s 3,968 curb weight.

The basic naturally-aspirated V8 engine design is also shared with the stock RC F, tweaked to bring the power output up from 450 horsepower to over 540 ponies on the track.

Lexus suggests the car will be ready to race a wide range of events, such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance race and the Super Taikyu Endurance and Super GT series in Japan.

The company will begin supplying the GT3-compliant vehicles to teams starting next year, after testing begins this year.

More images that appear to depict Jeep’s new crossover have surfaced. Possibly called Renegade, the crossover will replace both the Compass and the Patriot and make its official debut next week at the Geneva Motor Show.

The images confirm that the Renegade features a softer overall design than the recently-introduced Cherokee, and a rugged-looking front end characterized by round headlights and a short seven-slat grille loosely inspired by the iconic Willy’s that was widely used in World War II. Rumors indicate the crossover might be equipped with a removable roof panel but Jeep is keeping official details under wraps until the opening day of the Geneva show.

The Renegade will share its unibody platform with a Fiat crossover tentatively called 500X. While the Fiat will be offered with both front- and four-wheel drive, the Jeep version will likely boast improved off-road capabilities and an earlier report suggests that it will be exclusively available with four-wheel drive. A two-speed transfer case like Jeep’s more dirt-oriented models has not been confirmed yet.

Power will reportedly come from a 160-horsepower 1.4-liter gas-burning four-cylinder mill. A 1.3-liter turbodiesel four-banger rated at 105 horsepower and 236 lb-ft. of torque will be offered to buyers in Europe, and Jeep might decide to sell it in the and United States if oil-burner sales continue to rise.

Following its debut in Switzerland, Jeep’s latest will enter production in Fiat’s Melfi, Italy, factory next summer and land in showrooms across the country next fall as a 2015 model. It will slot beneath the Cherokee and cost several thousand dollars less.

The recall affects 6,800 Promasters built from July 1 to November 15, 2013, although only two percent of those vehicles are believed to suffer from the brake problem. Half of the vehicles are still in dealer inventory.

The source of the trouble is a tool that may have accidentally damaged one of the brake hoses during assembly. That damage could lead to a brake fluid leak and significantly lengthened stopping distances, which of course would increase the risk of a crash.

No accidents or injuries have been linked to the issue, Ram says.

Ram will set the situation right by having dealers inspect and, as needed, replace the brake hoses. The recall is slated to begin later this month.

Workers at the Promaster plant are no longer using the tool that created the problem.

The campaign is the second recall for the Promaster, which has been on the market for roughly a year. The first recall, which impacted 10,000 vans, was initiated to fix an accelerator pedal that could become stuck in the wide open throttle position due to interference from the pedal stop.

Photo by Nat Shirley.

Confirming earlier leaks, Audi has officially announced its next-generation TT ahead of its formal unveiling this week at the Geneva Motor Show.

A set of images accompanying the announcement shows the uplevel TT-S model, though the company has yet to reveal the base TT.

Outside, the TT features a fluid silhouette that is clearly inspired by the first-gen model introduced in 1998. A sharper front fascia is in evidence, characterized by angular headlights and a chiseled hexagonal radiator grille – two styling cues that will define Audi’s next design language. The company’s trademarked four-ring emblem has been moved from the grille to the hood.

LED headlights will be available at an extra cost, and buyers in Europe will be able to order the TT with Audi’s Matrix beam technology. All models will be equipped with LED tail lamps.

The cabin appears to be a stylish evolution of the current interior that integrates the infotainment screen into the instrument cluster. A Bang & Olufsen sound system features a 14-channel amplifier and 12 speakers, with door woofers illuminated by an adjustable accent light.

The 2015 TT will come standard with a 227-horsepower version of Audi’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The more expensive TTS will use a 306-horsepower four-banger while the range-topping TT-RS will be powered by a 380-horsepower five-cylinder mill. Both front- and all-wheel drive will be offered, and buyers will be able to choose between a six-speed manual transmission and a dual-clutch DSG unit.

The 2015 Audi TT will go on sale in Europe and the United States this fall. A convertible version will likely be presented later this year at the Paris Motor Show and land in showrooms in early 2015.