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Acura is set to unveil the production version of its 2015 TSX sedan at the New York auto show.

Though billed as a concept merging the TSX and TL lines, the TLX Prototype unveiled in Detroit is expected to accurately preview the look of the production model. Positioned between Acura’s entry-level ILX and range-topping RLX models, the TLX borrows cues from both, including the RLX’s “Jewel Eye” LED lamps and the ILX’s sinewy character lines.

The TLX rides on the same 109.3-inch wheelbase as the TL but is 3.8 inches shorter overall. However, Acura says it targeting the “most spacious interior in the midsize luxury sedan class” for the new model. Cabin pictures are not yet available.

A pair of sophisticated new transmissions will make their debut in the TLX. Entry-level models, which utilize a 2.4-liter four-cylinder expected to make over 200 horsepower, receive an eight-speed DCT automatic that features a dual-clutch design for quick shifts as well as a torque converter for refined low-speed operation. The step-up motor, a 3.5-liter V6, will pair with a nine-speed automatic.

Acura says it has made class-leading fuel economy a top priority for the TLX, although official figures are not yet available.

Front-wheel-drive will be the standard configuration for both engines, while the V6 will be offered with a next-generation version of Acura’s “Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive” that is 25 percent lighter than before. FWD models benefit from Precision All-Wheel Steer, which adjusts the toe angle of the rear wheels in order to increase both agility and stability.

A new Integrated Dynamics System will let the driver choose between four drive modes that adjust steering settings, throttle response, shift mapping, SH-AWD or PAWS control logic, and even Active Noise Control and HVAC settings.

The TLX will be built at Honda’s plant in Marysville, Ohio, and will hit the market for the 2015 model year.

Live images by Mark Elias.

The deal has yet to be publicly acknowledged, however two unnamed insiders have told Bloomberg the company has agreed to pay $1.2 billion to put an end to the ongoing investigation.

If true, the automaker will pay a large sum to the federal government despite winning a bellwether civil trial filed by the estate of a driver who was killed in a 2006 Toyota Camry that lacked a brake override system.

Millions of vehicles were recalled, beginning in 2009, after accidents and fatalities were blamed on unintended acceleration. The issue was traced back to the gas pedal, rather than an electronic default. Toyota vehicles are now designed with a redundant override that automatically reduces engine power when a driver hits the brakes.

The federal penalty is reportedly marginally higher than a $1.1 billion civil settlement that the company agreed to pay late in 2012 in a class-action lawsuit.

The latest settlement is expected to be finalized and announced as early as today.

Details are scarce, but Bentley previously revealed the vehicle will be the world’s most expensive and luxurious SUV. It will be available with four, five or seven seats, though the firm doesn’t expect many buyers will opt for the seven-seater configuration.

The SUV was previewed by the EXP 9 F concept that bowed at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The show car’s design was poorly received so the production version will boast a new, more fluid front end that appears to be noticeably inspired by the Mulsanne and Continental models.

Riding on a platform also used by the next-gen Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7, the SUV will be powered by a 575-horsepower 12-cylinder engine that will send power to all four wheels via an automatic transmission. Unlike many premium crossovers and SUVs, Bentley’s offering will pack serious off-road prowess and the company expects it will be as capable over difficult terrain as the iconic Land Rover Range Rover.

“This really is an SUV. In the Middle East it has to go up and down sand dunes, and in Europe it has to be able to tow stuff in the wet field,” affirmed Rose late last year in an interview with trade journal Automotive News.

Precise pricing information is not available but Bentley has hinted in the past its first-ever SUV will retail for about €180,000, a lofty sum that converts to roughly $250,000, before options and taxes are factored in. In spite of its astronomical price tag, the Volkswagen-owned automaker believes it can sell anywhere between 3,000 and 4,000 examples a year with a third of production going to the United States and the rest unevenly split between Russia, China and Europe.

Expect Bentley’s upcoming SUV to debut next year at a major auto show.

Speaking with Edmunds, an unidentified source inside the Blue Oval explained the next Taurus will be considerably lighter than the current model. This will enable it to return noticeably better fuel economy while providing quicker accelerations and more nimble handling.

Mercedes-Benz will travel to next month’s New York Motor Show to unveil the 2015 S63 AMG Coupe.

Based on the S-Class Coupe that bowed in Geneva a few weeks ago, the S63 packs a hand-built 5.5-liter V8 engine that makes 577 horsepower and 664 lb-ft. of torque thanks to the use of two beefy turbochargers. Power is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed MCT Speedshift transmission.

The 4,400-pound S63 sprints from zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 186 mph. Fuel economy is kept in check by a standard start/stop system, but official EPA figures are not available yet.

Visually, the S63 looks more aggressive than the S-Class Coupe thanks to twin-blade radiator grille with mesh inserts, a revised front bumper with large air dams, AMG-specific alloy wheels, quad exhaust pipes and an air diffuser integrated into the rear bumper. Bespoke emblems all around wrap up the look.

The S63 AMG weighs 140 pounds less than the outgoing CL63 AMG by using weight-saving components like a lithium-ion battery and aluminum body panels. A full air suspension comes standard.

Inside, the latest addition to the AMG lineup packs a thick-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel, aluminum pedals and power-adjustable sport seats upholstered in Nappa leather. The AMG emblem is embossed in the center armrest.

Edition 1

Continuing a recently-established tradition, Mercedes will kick off the S63 AMG Coupe’s production run by briefly offering a limited-edition model called Edition 1. It will feature numerous standard features including a Magno Alanite Gray matte paint job, Swarovski crystals in the headlights, carbon ceramic brakes and a two-tone red and black leather upholstery with contrast stitching.

After debuting in the Big Apple, the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe will go on sale across the United States next fall. Pricing information will be published closer to its on-sale date.

What’s Next?
A range-topping V12-powered variant of the S Coupe dubbed S65 AMG Coupe is expected to greet the public at next October’s Paris Motor Show.

The independent committee, which excludes directors with direct ties to the German rival, argues that the offer “does not reflect the long-term fundamental value of Scania and a fair share of the expected synergy potential.”

The announcement points to strong disagreements within the leadership ranks at the Swedish truck maker, after Volkswagen moved to secure total ownership. The German company and its truck subsidiary MAN currently hold nearly two-thirds of Scania’s stock.

“Scania is a world-leader in its industry and the Committee has strong faith in the business plan set out by the company,” said Asa Thunman, chairman of Scania’s independent committee.

VW reportedly estimated that a formal buyout would help the companies save more than 650 million euros (~$904 million USD) annually. The move would help the German automaker better compete with rivals Volvo and Daimler in the commercial truck market.

The company has found that the electrical connector for the low-beam headlight sometimes disconnects itself due to strong vibrations, such as a forcefully-closed hood.

The issue has raised concerns of reduced visibility if a headlight becomes disconnected, however the automaker claims it has received no reports of accidents or injuries due to the defect.

Owners will be notified to bring in their car to a dealer for a free installation of an improved fitting, while the hood bumpers will be inspected and adjusted to eliminate contact with the headlight housing.

The recall covers certain Passat sedans between model years 2012 and 2013, including 150,000 in the US and just over 10,000 in Canada.

Daimler recently sealed a technical agreement with Aston Martin that will see Mercedes’ AMG division develop, test and build the potent V8 engine that will power the next-gen Vantage sports car. Additionally, Aston Martin is said to be mulling the launch of a range-topping SUV that will share its basic underpinnings with the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.

Purchasing Aston Martin from would help expand the technical collaboration by streamlining the process of jointly-developing new platforms that will underpin future Aston- and AMG-badged cars. Aston Martin could also take advantage of Mercedes’ well-developed global dealer network to increase its presence in key markets around the globe, although Daimler has previously made it clear that an Aston Martin with an AMG badge is out of the question for the time being.

A second report speculates Daimler could purchase Aston Martin to return to the top end of the luxury segment that it abandoned when it axed Maybach. If that theory proves true, the rumored GL-based SUV would likely be the first of several premium, passenger-focused products designed to compete against prestigious brands like Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

“This is a fantastic brand, and we are willing to support its further development,” said Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche in an interview with British magazine Autocar.

Aston Martin has not commented on the rumor.