Mercedes-Benz’s Vans division will travel to the Geneva Auto Show to unveil a posh, range-topping variant of the V-Class called Exclusive.

Designed largely for the European market, the V-Class is a passenger-oriented mid-size van that’s closely related to the Metris sold on our shores. The Exclusive variant turns the luxury dial up to 11 with brushed aluminum-look trim on the dashboard, a specific headliner, a 230-volt power outlet, and a large center console with heated cupholders and a built-in fridge. All six passengers enjoy individual ventilated seats upholstered with Nappa leather upholstery and a 16-speaker Burmester sound system.

Visually, the V-Class Exclusive keeps a low-key look. The modifications are largely limited to 19-inch alloy wheels, discreet “Exclusive” emblems on the front fenders, and metallic paint. It also boasts a massive panoramic sunroof with built-in sensors that automatically switch the glass panel from the open to the tilted position if they detect the van is parked in the rain.

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz V-Class Exclusive is on sale now in Germany with a base price of €74,911, a sum that converts to nearly $84,500, and deliveries will kick off after the Geneva show. To put that figure into perspective, the Exclusive costs about as much as a GLS SUV.

Toyota has confirmed its plans to build the CH-R crossover, and that a production example would be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1.

It had been long rumored that the CH-R was destined for production, as Toyota has lacked a contender in the red-hot subcompact crossover segment. In addition, there have been sightings of a thinly camouflaged prototype undergoing testing in rainy weather.

The CH-R — that the final name is not known yet — will go on sale in Europe first, then come to the US. European market versions will be built in Turkey, with production starting towards the end of 2016.

The US market version was intended as a Scion when a concept version was introduced at the LA Auto Show last November. However, it was announced last week that Toyota is shuttering the brand, and that the CH-R will debut as a Toyota instead.

Without a player in the funkily-designed subcompact crossover segment, Toyota has ceded market share to the Nissan Juke. The CH-R, to be built on Toyota’s TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform, seeks to make a grab for sales in the class.

Toyota did not disclose powertrain details, except to say that a hybrid version would be available at the start of sales. It will go on sale in the US in 2017.

Live photos by Brian Williams.

Mazda has begun production of its all-new CX-9 crossover, a seven-seater poised to give the brand a sales bump and inject Mazda’s fun-to-drive mantra into the crossover segment. Assembly began on February 11.

The first examples to roll off the production line in Hiroshima are destined for North America, which Mazda says will account for 80 percent of the model’s global sales, equating to about 40,000 units per year. The 3-row crossover was designed specifically with the US and Canadian markets in mind.

When it arrives, it will mark the complete revamp of the Mazda lineup since it parted ways with Ford in 2008. It replaces the outgoing CX-9 with an all-new model styled under the stunning Kodo “soul of motion” design language and engineered under the SkyActiv philosophy of marrying spirited performance with technology-driven fuel economy.

As per Mazda’s “Driving Matters” mantra, we have been told by Mazda engineers that it will be, by far, the best-handling vehicle in its class. It’s powered by a new 2.5-liter direct-injection turbo generating 250 horsepower mated to a traditional (read: non-CVT) 6-speed automatic.

According to Automotive News, Mazda hopes a strong crossover lineup, buoyed by the CX-5 and all-new CX-3, will lead to increased market share in the snow belt. The 2016 Mazda CX-9 is expected arrive in showrooms in spring of 2016.

Mercedes-Benz has published a teaser sketch that previews the first-ever C-Class Cabriolet. Mercedes’ smallest ragtop is scheduled to make its public debut next month at the Geneva Auto Show.

The Cabriolet is nearly identical to the 2017 C-Class Coupe that bowed in Frankfurt last September from the rocker panels up to the belt line. Beyond that, it gains a cloth soft top that quickly opens or closes at the push of a button. The sketch shows the Cabriolet with the top down, but earlier spy shots that show the car with the top up reveal that its roof line isn’t nearly as rakish as the coupe’s.

Mechanically, the Cabriolet will be almost identical to the coupe. It will launch with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine tuned to send 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft. of torque to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive will be offered at an extra cost, and a six-cylinder engine — possibly a brand new straight-six sourced from the 2017 E-Class — will be added to the lineup a few months into the production run.

A hot-rodded Cabriolet massaged by Mercedes-AMG will take on the topless BMW M4. Like its coupe and sedan siblings, it will be powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine rated at 469 horsepower and 479 lb-ft. of torque in its most basic configuration. The C63 will be capable of hitting 60 mph from a stop in roughly four seconds before going on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph.

The 2017 Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet will be introduced online in the next few weeks. It’s scheduled to land in showrooms nationwide this fall as a 2017 model.

BMW has announced plans to group all of its plug-in hybrid models into a new sub-division called iPerformance. The first member of the iPerformance lineup is a fuel-sipping version of the 7 Series called 740e.

Power for the 740e is provided by a gasoline-electric drivetrain made up of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 258 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque, and a small electric motor integrated into an eight-speed automatic transmission that provides 113 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of instant torque. Combined, the turbo four and the motor send 326 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque to the rear wheels, though all-wheel drive is offered at an extra cost.

The 740e reaches 62 mph from a stop in 5.6 seconds in its fastest configuration, and it returns a jaw-dropping 112 mpg in a mixed European cycle. Alternatively, the motor can power the 740e on its own at speeds of up to 87 mph for 25 miles.

The driver can choose when to use only electricity, when to rely on both power sources, and when to save the lithium-ion battery pack’s full charge for later. The 7 offers three basic driving modes called Eco Pro, Comfort, and Sport, respectively, and BMW promises the difference between them is highly noticeable.

IPerformance is to BMW’s i sub-brand what M Performance is to BMW M, so it’s not surprising that the 740e borrows a handful of discreet styling cues from the i3 and i8. Notably, it features blue accents on the grille and on the center caps, BMW i emblems on both front fenders, and eDrive logos on the C-pillars. Moving forward, these visual features will characterize every member of the iPerformance lineup.

The BMW 740e iPerformance will be presented to the public next month at the Geneva Auto Show, where it will share the spotlight with the V12-powered M760i xDrive. Sales are expected to begin before the end of the year.

The 2016 Chicago Auto Show has finished its second day of press previews, completing a relatively modest schedule of global debuts.

The show floor is now reserved for the First Look for Charity gala event, starting at 7pm tonight for $250 per attendee. The public can wait until tomorrow to get in for free, or on any following day through Sunday, February 21.

LeftLane has compiled a few of the notable highlights, along with a full list of unveilings from the show.

Highlights:

2017 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE – The 1LE package brings a wide range of track-focused upgrades including firmer suspension, Brembo brakes, a mechanical limited-slip differential and 20-inch wheels. As an added bonus, it is now available on both the V6 RS and V8 SS trim levels.

Kia Niro – Serving as a rival to the Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V, the Niro will be available with a mild hybrid powertrain and eventually as a plug-in hybrid. Fuel efficiency could reach 50 mpg combined.

2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro – The new Tacoma has finally received full TRD Pro treatment, focusing on an upgraded suspension system with FOX shocks and lifted springs. Visual enhancements include blacked-out wheels, grille and hood scoop, while a front skidplate helps protect against off-road damage.

Full list:

2017 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE
2017 Chevrolet Trax
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Kia Niro
Kia Optima hybrids
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter WORKER
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Extreme concept
2017 Nissan Armada
Nissan Titan half-ton
2017 Ram Heavy Duty 4×4 Off-road package
2017 Ram Power Wagon
2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

Image by Brian Williams.

Amid a slump in share prices, Tesla Motors has released US sales details for its Model S.

The company sold 25,202 electric sedans in the US last year, representing an increase of nearly 52 percent compared to the 16,689 deliveries in 2014. The number represents a quarter of the total cumulative sales of 107,000 units in all markets since the Model S first arrived.

Tesla suggests the Model S has eroded market share held by traditional gasoline-powered luxury sedans. The increase in Model S sales is said to almost perfectly offset the decline in US deliveries for the Audi A7 and A8, BMW 6- and 7-Series, Jaguar XJ, Lexus LS, Mercedes-Benz S- and CLS-Class and Porsche Panamera.

“In the US, just over three years after entering the market, Model S took share from all incumbent manufacturers to become the number one selling comparably priced four-door sedan,” the automaker wrote in a letter to investors. “In fact, Model S was the only vehicle in its class with growing sales last year.”

Growth in all markets averaged 35 percent in the fourth quarter. Despite the gains and a drop in gasoline prices, Tesla still believes it is “substantially underpenetrated” across the globe.

“Additionally, we continue to see no perceptible impact to our order growth from the change in the price of gasoline as our order rates have continued to increase even as the price of gasoline has fallen,” the letter adds. “In fact, our customers tell us they value a Tesla vehicle more for its superior performance, technology, safety, lower environmental impact and style than for its ability to save money on fuel.”

Model S production costs are said to have dropped in Q4 as the company began building the Model X on the same line. Crossover production was slightly restrained in January, allowing certain quality issues to be resolved, however output is expected to reach 1,000 units weekly in the second quarter.

This year will bring increased investments in Gigafactory production and machinery installation to support the Model 3 range. The company also plans to open 80 new retail locations and service centers, along with 300 new Supercharger stations.

General Motors has issued a recall for the 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 and GMC Sierra 2500/3500, along with the Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle, to fix a problem with the brake pedal.

Durability testing engineers first noticed an issue in November when three brake pedal assemblies had become loose or noisy. A subsequent investigation found that the pivot bolt nuts had loosened over time, as the bolt threads were not long enough to engage the locking segment of the nut.

“If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal,” the recall documents warn. “Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.”

The inquiry found similar reports of loose pedals in the field, however GM claims to be unaware of any accidents or injuries associated with the defect.

Service technicians will install new pivot nuts with thread-lock adhesive to prevent loosening.

Volkswagen Group has returned to global growth in January, despite the effects of the ongoing emissions scandal.

Group sales were up by 3.7 percent to 847,800 units worldwide, representing an increase of approximately 30,000 vehicles. The rebound was primarily driven by a 14-percent jump in China, where an extra 51,000 deliveries helped offset trouble in the US, Brazil and Russia.

“Developments on world markets at the beginning of the year are mixed,” said CEO Matthias Mueller. “The situation in Brazil and Russia remains tense, China is regaining momentum and the trend in Europe is generally stable.”

Porsche was the fastest growing brand, posting a 24-percent increase compared to January 2015, while VW and Audi deliveries rose by 2.8 and 4.0 percent, respectively.

The diesel emissions scandal has been particularly troublesome in the US market, resulting in a five-percent slide for 2015 overall. The trend continued into 2016 with January sales down by 7.0 percent in the market.