Mercedes-Benz’s commercial vehicles division has published a full set of details about the new Vito, a mid-size van that slots between the compact Renault-based Citan and the full-size Sprinter.

The Vito is essentially a cargo-carrying version of the luxurious passenger-focused V-Class that was introduced last March at the Geneva Motor Show. Like the V-Class, the Vito features a dynamic exterior design inspired by recent members of Mercedes’ passenger car lineup like the CLA-Class and the E-Class. It is offered in three overall lengths ranging from 192 to 211 inches.

Inside, the Vito is decidedly less upmarket than the V-Class. The three-spoke multi-function steering wheel remains but it features a simper, more drab dashboard with a smaller touch screen, a less advanced instrument cluster and more basic seats.

Buyers can choose from two turbodiesel engines available in five power ratings. The smaller 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel is available with either 88 or 114 horsepower, and the larger 2.1-liter mill can be ordered with 136, 163 or 190 ponies. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard on most models, while select engines can be paired with Mercedes’ ubiquitous seven-speed automatic gearbox.

Interestingly, the Vito is offered with front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The rear-wheel drive model can haul over 3,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The new Mercedes-Benz Vito will go on sale across Germany in the coming weeks with a base price of €17,990 (about $24,000) excluding sales tax. Mercedes has all but the confirmed the Vito will not be sold on these shores.

Analysts predicted that July would be a banner month for new car sales, and with all the numbers now released, that’s certainly proved to be the case.

Chrysler Group enjoyed its best July since 2005, with overall sales rising 20 percent on solid growth from Jeep, Ram and even Chrysler itself. Impressive performances from its Sentra and Versa sedans mean that Nissan was also up by 12 percent

Still seemingly unaffected by recall concerns, GM saw a 9 percent upswing for the month, while over in Dearborn, Ford climbed 10 percent on demand for the Fusion, Escape and Explorer. Toyota, too, was among the gainers, recording a 12 percent improvement.

Honda suffered a minor dip of 2% – its Acura luxury division also fell 18% – but it was Volkswagen that fared worst among mainstream brands, continuing its regression from earlier this year with a 15% tumble.

July’s Numbers:

- Acura down 18% to 12,480
- Audi up 12% to 14,616
- Bentley up 4% to 201
- BMW up 10% to 26,409
– Buick up 8% to 17,683
- Cadillac down 3% to 15,241
- Chevrolet up 8% to 175,155
- Chrysler up 17% to 23,455
- Dodge up 3% to 43,118
- Fiat up 1% to 3,807
- Ford up 9% to 204,373
- GMC up 22% to 48,081
- Honda down 2% to 123,428
- Hyundai up 2% to 67,011
- Infiniti up 10% to 8,538
- Jaguar down 26% to 1,187
- Jeep up 41% to 59,588
- Kia up 7% to 52,309
- Lamborghini up 2% to 59
- Land Rover up 15% to 4,643
- Lexus up 14% to 27,333
- Lincoln up 14% to 7,863
- Maserati up 324% to 1,132
- Mazda up 17% to 29,238
– Mercedes-Benz up 15% to 29,406
- MINI down 2% to 5,811
- Mitsubishi up 21% to 6,349
- Nissan up 12% to 112,914
- Porsche up 13% to 4,300
- Ram up 18% to 37,699
- Subaru up 27% to 45,714
– Scion down 21% to 5,127
- smart up 15% to 1,351
- Tesla* up 28% to 1,800
- Toyota up 12% to 183,342
- Volkswagen down 15% to 30,553
- Volvo down 17% to 4,894

2014 Year-to-Date Numbers

- Acura down 2% to 90,431
- Audi up 13% to 98,965
- Bentley up 10% to 1,509
- BMW up 12% to 183,791
- Buick up 12% to 131,155
- Cadillac down 2% to 97,358
- Chevrolet up 2% to 1,203,063
- Chrysler down 11% to 164,523
- Dodge down 3% to 350,042
- Fiat up 13% to 28,779
- Ford down 1% to 1,429,883
- GMC up 8% to 280,452
- Honda down 1% to 784,913
- Hyundai up 1% to 431,445
- Infiniti up 13% to 67,879
- Jaguar up 1% to 9,504
- Jeep up 44% to 392,390
- Kia up 7% 349,722
- Lamborghini up 3% to 413
- Land Rover up 14% to 30,829
- Lexus up 17% to 166,022
- Lincoln up 16% to 52,385
- Maserati up 328% to 6,574
- Mazda up 9% to 185,669
- Mercedes-Benz up 9% to 192,513
- MINI down 22% to 29,963
- Mitsubishi up 29% to 46,021
- Nissan up 13% to 758,050
– Porsche up 8% to 27,219
- Ram up 22% to 252,056
- Scion down 13% to 35,763
- smart up 20% to 13,697
- Subaru up 18% to 283,722
– Tesla* up 13% to 15,030
- Toyota up 5% to 1,179,624
- Volkswagen down 14% to 209,697
- Volvo

Note that last month’s highlights and lowlights listed below are merely a selection of some of the month’s bigger movers.

Highlights (sales up > 40%)
Cadillac Escalade (includes ESV) – up 115% to 3,894
Chevrolet Corvette – up 356% to 3,060
Chrysler Town & Country – up 41% to 11,370
Fiat 500L – up 49% to 1,436
Ford Expedition – up 59% to 4,371
Hyundai Equus – up 76% to 305
Kia Soul – up 45% to 14,709
Kia Sportage – up 75% to 4,412
Lexus GX – up 122% to 1,955
Mazda Mazda2 – up 159% to 2,075
Mazda Mazda6 – up 46% to 5,049
Mercedes-Benz S-Class – up 233% to 1,920
Nissan Sentra – up 54% to 17,579
Nissan Versa – up 74% to 15,630
Subaru Forester – up 48% to 14,524
Subaru Legacy – up 49% to 4,679
Toyota 4Runner – up 58% to 6,662
Toyota RAV4 – up 37% to 26,779

Lowlights (sales down > 30%)
Acura RLX – down 66% to 208
BMW X1 – down 54% to 1,003
Cadillac XTS – down 34% to 1,939
Dodge Viper – down 51% to 46
Hyundai Accent – down 32% to 3,755
Kia Cadenza – down 64% to 587
Lincoln MKS – down 49% to 530
Mazda MX-5 Miata – down 40% to 399
MINI Coupe – down 62% to 84
Mitsubishi i-MiEV – down 64% to 17
Nissan Juke – down 35% to 2,325
Scion iQ – down 48% to 174
Toyota Yaris – down 61% to 686
Volkswagen Beetle – down 53% to 2,452

*Automotive News estimate.

Photo by Nat Shirley.

Hyundai has announced another round of recalls, adding a range of older models in three separate campaigns.

The company has identified a corrosion problem with 2001-2006 Santa Fe crossovers. Some vehicles have experienced front coil-spring failure due to salt exposure, potentially piercing the tire and increasing the risk of a crash. The campaign is being handled on a regional basis in 20 “salt belt” states.

The discontinued Veracruz crossover is the subject of a separate recall, affecting 2007 through 2012 models. Alternator damage has been blamed on oil leaking from the cylinder head cover, eventually causing unexpected power loss while driving. Valve-cover gaskets will be replaced to prevent further leaks, and alternators will be inspected and replaced if necessary.

The third recall is focused on 2011 Sonata sedans, some of which were manufactured with a defective seal connecting brake lines between the master cylinder and hydraulic control unit. Fluid loss can cause braking problems and contribute to accidents.

The latest round includes approximately 420,000 vehicles, bringing Hyundai’s weekly tally up to 1.3 million. The other recent recall is focused on shift cables in the new Sonata.

Whispers of a Honda S2000 successor are nothing new, but when separate reports from different sources convey similar information, that’s the point at which the unlikely begins to appear more plausible.

Echoing an earlier Autocar dispatch, Australia’s Motoring claims that a mid-engined coupe replacement for the S2000 sports car has been given the production nod by Honda execs.

In addition to a vastly different bodystyle and layout than the open-air, front-engined original, the new S2000 will also reportedly forgo a naturally-aspirated mill in favor of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor. The hybrid powertrain is said to be capable of as much as 365 horsepower.

Unlike Honda’s other upcoming hybrid sports car, the Acura NSX, the S2000 will not boast all-wheel-drive, instead sending power to the rear wheels only. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic will be tasked with shifting duties.

As with the NSX, the S2000 will keep weight to a minimum with carbon fiber and aluminum construction. Total mass is expected to be in the neighborhood of 2,900 lbs. – roughly the same as the first-generation roadster.

If Motoring’s report proves accurate – still a big “if” at this point – the reborn S2000 could arrive showrooms by late 2017.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), a key figure in the ongoing General Motors hearings, is promoting a bill that would bring much tougher punishments for companies and executives responsible for delayed recalls.

If voted into law, the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Enhancement Act would allow courts to sentence executives to life in prison for failing to promptly issue recalls for safety defects that lead to deaths. A separate bill, introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), only allows for a maximum five-year sentence.

McCaskill’s proposal also lifts the current $35 million maximum fine for failing to report defects in a timely manner.

“Painful recent examples at Toyota and GM have shown us we also must make it easier to hold accountable those who jeopardize consumers’ safety,” she said in a statement published by The Detroit News.

McCaskill acknowledges a potential resources issue that could be limiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s ability to uncover defects that are not reported by the manufacturers. Her bill would effectively double the agency’s funding for the next six years, while establishing a new grant program for safety initiatives at the state and federal level.

“With millions of Americans behind the wheel every day, and more than 33,000 killed on our roads each year, we’ve got to do more to keep our cars and the roads we drive them on safe,” she added.

A set of technical drawings leaked out of a British patent office have prematurely revealed the upcoming Porsche 911 GT3 RS. The new RS is expected to take a significant leap over the regular GT3 in terms of weight reduction and overall performance.

The 911 GT3 RS sports a number of aerodynamic enhancements including a wide body borrowed from the 911 Turbo, large air scoops, air vents on the front fenders and, of course, a massive rear wing. The 911 GT3 RS also features a wide rear track for added grip, and insiders say the coupe will boast “near race car levels of downforce.”

The interior appears to be fitted with sport seats and a roll cage in lieu of the rear seats, while headroom is increased thanks to a double-bubble roof panel.

The 911 GT3 RS is expected to use a naturally-aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six engine tuned to produce anywhere between 475 and 500 horsepower. Shifting duties will be handled exclusively by Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox, and Porsche’s electronic four-wheel steering system will come standard.

England’s Car Magazine reports the coupe will pack numerous weight-saving components such as a lithium-ion battery and a titanium exhaust system.

Earlier this year, Porsche was forced to recall the standard GT3 due to an engine issue that could lead to a fire, but it looks as though those kinks have been worked out in the GT3 RS. As long as Porsche doesn’t face any more setbacks, we should see the the 911 GT3 RS debut before the end of the year.

A rare 1962 Ferrari GTO is currently up for sale for a record price, however at least one expert claims it’s a replica.

Listed for 47.6 million euros (~$63.7 million USD) on Mobile.de, a German site owned by eBay, the GTO would easily raise the bar for classic Ferrari prices after a 1963 example of the same model sold last year for the equivalent of $52 million.

Ferrari historian and expert Marcel Massini claims to have tracked provenance for all 39 of the genuine 250 GTOs that were ever produced, and the vehicle offered for sale online is not among them.

“I can tell you that with 100 percent certainty,” Massini told CNBC. “I know where all of these cars are today. And this is not one of the original GTOs.”

The owner’s choice to sell the car online, rather than via an auction house that would certify its history, is also cited as evidence of a scam.

If Massini is correct, the replica may be a notable side-effect of a collectible-car niche that some say has reached absurd prices in recent years. Some analysts expect a price collapse, though the dire prediction has yet to come true as values continue to climb.

Following the recent launch of the new X4, BMW now offers no less than five crossovers, but that soft-roader roster could swell to as many as eight models by the end of the decade.

BMW has already confirmed the full-size, three-row X7 for production, and now an Autocar report claims that X2 and X8 crossover-coupes may also be on the way.

Just as the X6 is a sportier, pricier and less practical version of the X5, the X2 will be a racier coupe companion to the next-generation, front-wheel drive-based X1. Riding on the same UKL1 architecture that underpins the MINI Cooper and the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer, the X2 may be sold in both two- and four-door variants, with the choice of turbocharged three- and four-cylinder engines. An M-massaged 2.0-liter turbo four could sit at the top of the range.

In a similar vein, the X8 would be the sexier sibling of the X7, with a range of turbocharged inline-six and V8 options. Like the X7, its platform would be a derivation of the X5′s bones, with aluminum and high-strength steel employed liberally to keep weight down.

While the X2 is believed to have a strong chance of getting the production nod, the X8′s chances of reaching showrooms are more uncertain.

One of the latest lawsuits against General Motors reportedly lists more than 600 accident victims as plaintiffs, most of which are said to be ineligible for the company’s voluntary compensation fund.

All of the plaintiffs are seeking compensation for injuries or deaths involving accidents after GM’s bankruptcy restructuring in 2009. Most of the crashes involved the tens of millions of vehicles that GM recalled only after the first ignition-switch campaign was announced in February.

One of the lead attorneys behind the lawsuit, Robert Hilliard, argues that GM is liable for injuries and deaths related to the other recalls, not just the ignition-switch issue.

“GM needs to step up and acknowledge the blood on its hands from all of these recalled cars,” he said, as quoted by CNNMoney.

GM has set aside $400 million for its compensation fund, though financial disclosures caution that it could cost $600 million or more. Only ignition-switch claims will be accepted, though the fund will provide compensation for pre-2009 accidents.

The company currently faces hundreds of separate lawsuits, including several legal battles that continue to dispute the bankruptcy shield. Perhaps the biggest financial hit could come from criminal charges, likely taking inspiration from the $1.2 billion settlement that Toyota agreed to pay over the unintended acceleration debacle.