Do we really need a more powerful F-Type? Oh Yeah!

While the vehicle hasn't been debuted yet, we do know a few details about the 2017 Jaguar F-Type SVR ahead of the Geneva Auto Show. The Supercharged V8 will get a slight boost in power, although how much is yet to be revealed, bringing it's top speed to a very fast 200 MPH. The exhaust is getting a whole new treatment with an upgrade to an all titanium system. Body style will give you two choices, either Coupe or Convertible.

This is the second time Jaguar Land Rover has used the SVR badge. The first being the 2015 Range Rover Sport SVR which was a very menacing track-ready off road machine. We will know more about the Jaguar F-Type SVR next month when it get's it's full star treatment at the Geneva Auto Show.

Delorean DMC-12 to see new production. Your childhood dream is now a reality.

Those of you who are old enough to actually remember the 80's definitely fantasized at least once about owning a Delorean DMC-12. The vehicle was introduced way back in 1981, but went out of production in 1983. However, due to the vehicle being featured in the Back To the Future trilogy, the car has quite the cult following. Since 1995 it has been possible to purchase a refurbished Delorean DMC-12 direct from the company for around $45,000 to $55,000.




Last month a new bill went into effect that allows small production vehicles to be made without having to worry about current highway safety standards as long as the vehicle being produced is a replica, or at least made to resemble, a car that is no less than twenty five years old. Because of this, the Delorean Motor Company expects to release 300 brand new models using a stockpile of old-new stock and OEM spec parts. Expect to pay right around $100,000 for one. But really, can you actually put a price on a childhood dream?

How do the latest generation of Mid-Size Sedans stack up to one another?

The more reading and research I do on different vehicles, the more I wonder how each brand actually stacks up to the others. So I figured I would do some basic number crunching and do my own comparison. Once again I will be utilizing the Price Per Pony (ppp) method.

The models we will be looking at today are:

• 2016 Cadillac CTS 3.6L Luxury Edition
• 2016 Mercedes-Benz E350
• 2016 BMW 535i
• 2016 Volvo S60 T6 AWD
• 2016 Hyundai Genesis 5.0
• 2016 Audi S4
• 2016 Jaguar XF-S

The first thing I looked at was the base cost of the vehicle and the horse power you get for that amount. The vehicles break down as such:

• CTS - $53,285 @ 335 HP = $159.06/ppp
• E350 - $53,100 @ 302 HP = $175.83/ppp
• 535i - $55,850 @ 300 HP = $186.17/ppp
• S60 - $44,200 @ 325 HP = $136.00/ppp
• Genesis - $53,850 @ 420 HP = $128.21/ppp
• S4 - $49,200 @ 333 HP = $147.75/ppp
• XF-S - $63,695 @ 380 HP = $167.62/ppp

Based on the ppp score we can rate the vehicles in the following order:

1. Hyundai Genesis
2. Volvo S60
3. Audi S4
4. Cadillac CTS
5. Jaguar XF-S
6. Mercedes E350
7. BMW 535i

Now let's take it just one step further and see what each vehicles acceleration (0-60) looks like:

• Genesis - 5.0s
• S60 - 5.4s
• S4 - 4.9s
• CTS - 5.9s
• XF-S - 5.0s
• E350 - 6.5s
• 535i - 5.3s

Obviously there is more to cars than power and speed (who woulda thunk it right?) so we do need to take that other stuff into consideration I guess. Before we do that though, we need to look at each manufacturer and what it is that they actually deliver in their vehicles. 

The Genesis is Hyundai's mid level luxury performance brand. While Hyundai isn't exactly known for plush interiors, the Genesis is a luxury sedan at it's core. Volvo, to me, is more of the every-mans luxury vehicle. They tend to keep a very utilitarian air about them while keeping you comfortable behind the wheel. Audi on the other hand is a luxury vehicle through and through. Whether you are going for the entry level A4 or shooting for the Supercar level R8, the interior will keep you comfortable and never let you forget that you are in fact in a luxury vehicle. Cadillac is as luxury as you can get with a domestic vehicle so there really isn't much else to say about them. Jaguar speaks for themselves. They are, before anything else, the epitome of British luxury styling. Which brings me to Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Everyone loves to compare these two German behemoths, when in reality it is like comparing apples to pears. At first appearance they seem to be similar but the differences come when you look at the DNA ingrained in each vehicle. Mercedes is a luxury vehicle with sport added in, whereas BMW is a sports vehicle with luxury added in. When you get behind the wheel of a BMW it feels like you are sitting in a sports car and that feeling only intensifies as you drive it. Stiff throttle response and steering coupled with tight steering gives no illusions about what you are driving. Mercedes on the other hand is the exact opposite. Driving a Mercedes is as close to piloting air as you can come. It is very easy to forget that you are driving a vehicle that has a very deep history in the racing world.

That being said let's move forward.

Let's assume for a minute that money is no object, so let's just throw pricing out of the windows. If you are looking for speed off the line then the Audi S4 is going to be the way to go. If you are looking for raw power under the hood then the Jaguar XF-S is your car. IF you are going for sportiness then BMW or Genesis is the one you want. Luxury? Mercedes-Bens. So how do you decide which car is the one for you if you want everything rolled up into one? In my honest opinion, if you are looking for a vehicle that gives you power under the hood, coupled with speed off the line all while sitting inside a comfortable cockpit then I would personally go with the Genesis. It isn't the cheapest on the list, but it is definitely not the most expensive. While the 5.0 version is available as only a rear-wheel drive model, you can opt for the turbo V6 and get AWD, so you can actually drive it in the winter as well!

An Aston Martin more suited for a Bond Villain

This is the Aston Martin Vulcan. A "production" model limited to only 24 examples. It has a naturally aspirated 7.0-liter V12 engine that puts out more than 800 horses! Although for $2.1 million dollars don't expect to be able to drive it on the road. This is a track only vehicle like the Ferrari FXX-K, but unlike the FXX-K if you are lucky enough to own one you get to actually take it home.

Ford is FINALLY giving us something that we might actually want!

The new 2016 Ford Focus RS is giving us Americans something that we have been waiting for... FUN!

So you may be asking yourself why am I writing about a Ford when I stick only to European vehicles. To answer your question, the new Ford Focus RS was previously only available to the European market. Set to hit showroom floors in the second week of April 2016, the new Ford Focus RS brings all of the fun of "Hot hatches" to American soil. Before we start talking cost and all that fun stuff, let's get a few things out of the way. Out of all of the domestic cars available on the market today, there are maybe only two or three that I would consider purchasing and having in my driveway, two of which carry the Jeep brand logo. That being said, this new Focus RS may have just been added to the list.

What's under the hood?

To start off we have the same 2.3-liter inline 4 that is available in the Mustang, but this one gets a 10% boost in power to 350 horse power and 350 lb-ft of torque. The engine is attached to a six-speed manual transmission and can do 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. The boost in power comes from a slightly bigger turbo and a bigger Intercooler - the biggest one they could possibly fit - according to Ford.

The All-Wheel Drive system (yes, it is an AWD Focus) has been completely redesigned and developed specifically for this vehicle. It uses twin rear clutch packs in the rear... allow me to explain. So at the front of the vehicle is an open axle that uses brake torque to deliver, or take away, power from\to which ever wheel is slipping. This is nothing new or special. The rear however is where the magic happens. A three piece drive shaft goes to an open differential that is flanked on either side by a clutch pack that is electronically controlled. 70% of the available torque goes to the rear wheels. The clutch packs can send all 100% of that power to either wheel, based on power need and slip, to help push the vehicle around a corner. On long straights the Focus RS will disconnect the rear end to become a more fuel efficient front-wheel drive vehicle. Pretty neat huh?

What about the looks?

For starters, Ford did not do anything special to the exterior design of the Focus RS to make it stand out from the other vehicles in the line-up other than the obvious RS badge and of course the rear spoiler. Basically what Ford has done is take their already popular Ford Focus and turn it into a sleeper.

What do I get for my money?

Let's crunch some numbers here first. Let's take a look at all of the cars available on the market today that fall into the "Hot Hatch" category.

• Mitsubishi Evolution
• Subaru WRX STi
• Audi S3
• Volkswagen Golf R
• Mercedes-Benz GLA45

To reiterate, the 2016 Ford Focus RS pushes 350 HP and 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. It comes in at a starting price of $36,605. So where does it stack up to the other cars in it's class?

1. The EVO starts @ $34,495, has 303 HP and a 0-60 of 4.9 seconds.
2. The STi starts @ $34,695, has 305 HP and a 0-60 of 4.8 seconds.
3. The S3 starts @ $43,425, has 292 HP and a 0-60 of 4.4 seconds.
4. The Golf R starts @ $35,650, has 292 HP and a 0-60 of 5.0 seconds.
5. The GLA45 start @ $49,580, has 375 HP and a 0-60 of 4.3 seconds.

Now let's go a little further down the rabbit hole and look at the actual "bang for your buck". At $36,605 you are paying $104.59 per horse under the hood, we will call this Price Per Pony, or ppp. Not too bad of a price point if you ask me. so What about the other guys?

1. The EVO comes in at $113.84/ppp
2. The STi comes in at $113.75/ppp
3. The S3 comes in at $148.72/ppp
4. The Golf R comes in at $122.09/ppp
5. The GLA45 comes in at $132.21/ppp

The conclusion here? While the 2016 Ford Focus RS may not be the least expensive in it's class or the most expensive, it does give you the best price point for the amount of power you are getting.

So what does this all mean for you? If you are already a fan of domestic vehicles and are looking for a small, fast and extremely fun car to drive the new Ford Focus RS may be the perfect fit for you. If you are an import fan, this may be a car to bring you back to the domestic side. Either way, there is no mistaking that Ford has really done something great here with the new Focus RS.

Formula 1 and Ski slopes. Who would have thought it would be this awesome?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you decided to take a Formula 1 car, strap on a set of studded tires and snow chains, then see how it handled itself on some ski slopes? No? Me neither, but now that I have watched Max Verstappen, of Team Red Bull F1, do it I really want this to become a thing.

The video is about 10 minutes long but well worth the watch. If you aren't already an F1 fan, maybe if this turns into a thing you will be.

Germany releases pricing on the 2017 E Class... for Germany.

With the reveal of the new Mercedes Benz E Class at the Detroit Auto Show over, Germany has finally released pricing on it... in it's home market.

The "entry level" E200, available with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder, will start at €45,303 ($49,436). For those interested in the least expensive diesel option, the E220d will start at €47,124. The E350d which will be available starting in June (2017) will start at €55,602.

No pricing has been released for the US as of yet, but we do know that there will be more engine choices available than ever before. Mercedes Benz has stated that there will be a Mercedes AMG E43 with a turbo charged six cylinder pushing 402 horse power available. There will also be a more traditional V8 option in the AMG E63 that will have upwards of 600 horse power.

Will Audi be the first car manufacturer to visit the Moon?

Photo credit to www.popsci.com

Audi has backed a team of scientists, aptly named the Part Time Scientists or PTS for short, who are gunning for the $30 million purse that comes with winning the Google Lunar XPrize. To prize will go to the first team that is able to build, launch, and land a Lunar Rover on the Moon. They then must traverse at least 500 meters (about 1500 feet) all the while sending pictures back to earth.

Audi has helped design the All Wheel Drive system on the Rover, which has the companies four-ringed logo right on the front of it. Audi has also contributed the use of advanced 3D printing techniques which has allowed PTS to build the Rover out of Titanium and Aluminum, yet have it configured however they need it to be. Using the 3D printing method they are able to create channels for wiring that would otherwise not be possible with standard CNC milling processes. Another example of this would be the wheel, which has structural elements embedded inside the wheel allowing them to cut down on weight elsewhere.

PTS plans on actually studying the Lunar surface as well, They plan on visiting the original Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) and study how the materials have aged over the past forty years.
"The Apollo 17 LRV is of particular interest to us because it wasn't made from the same high tech materials NASA used on the lander." Team Leader Robert Bohme says. "It was made using things like piano wire and plastic, so it will be interesting to see how that has all held up." 

BMW i8: Fast, Good Looking... and Eco Friendly.

With the growing popularity of hybrid and e-Drive vehicles it is no wonder that almost all of the major car manufacturers out there are throwing their own versions into the ring. Hybrid and electric drive vehicles run the gamut from entry level like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt to the Mercedes Benz S Class Plug-in Hybrid and the Tesla Model S. Of course we have had the Toyota Prius on the worldwide market since 2000. It is no wonder that there would of course be a luxury segment as well, i.e., the aforementioned Tesla Model S and Mercedes. But what about the sport segment? Where is the hybrid/electric drive version that puts you into the back of your seat when you press the accelerator to the floor? Obviously the Model S has the Insane Mode that was besting Challenger Hellcats off the line, but it is still a luxury car. That is where the BMW i8 comes into play. The BMW i8 has 100% racing in it's DNA. With a zero-to-sixty time of just 4.2 seconds the i8 will definitely leave a huge smile on your face.

When the BMW i division went to work creating this work of art the main focal point was the aerodynamics of it. Every design aspect was used to create the most aerodynamically capable vehicle possible. What BMW managed to create was a vehicle with a low drag coefficient of 0.26. The BMW i8 is covered throughout with small vents. The i8 uses Efficient Dynamic ventilation to actively open and close the vents to provide additional cooling, reduce coefficient drag, and improve overall aerodynamics. Regardless of how functional the exterior design of the i8 is, there is no denying how good it looks.

All though the BMW i8 can be driven in all electric mode it is, at it's very core, a hybrid vehicle. At the front of the vehicle is an electric motor that puts out 131 horse power. Located at the rear of the vehicle powering the rear wheels is a turbo charged 1.5-liter 3 cylinder engine putting out 226 horse power giving the i8 a combined horse power of 357 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. The power is distributed to the wheels with an Aisin F21-360 FT EOP transmission which is a transmission designed specifically for transversely mounted engines.

The BMW i division continued their engineering genius inside by using a combination of Aluminum and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) to create the two part structure. The choice of materials id due to it's rigidity and extreme lightness compared to steel. Because of the materials used and the constant attention to every aspect of the vehicle both inside and out the BMW i8 has a near perfect 50:50 weight distribution.

Entry to the cockpit is through the rather unique set of scissor style doors. Once inside the interior is quite comfortable yet still let's you know that this is not a luxury car, but rather a sports car with some luxury added in. As far as interior option go there is only 3 different option to choose from, and of course you can always opt to buy the Louis Vuitton luggage set designed specifically for the i8, but you have to go to the LV store and provide proof of i8 ownership first.

Driving the i8, you have 4 modes to choose from.

• Comfort mode, which give the driver a balance between sporty and comfortable fuel efficiency.
• Sport mode will give you the ultra-intense boost function provided by the electric motor.
• Eco-Pro is optimized for maximum efficiency whether you are in hybrid or all electric mode.
• e Drive is a purely electric mode with a range of 15 miles and a top speed of 75 MPH.

Pricing for the BMW i8 starts at $140,700.00 and with few options to customize will top out around $155,000.00 depending on which interior you go with and whether you added on the laser headlights or not.

Special thanks to Bobby Rahal BMW for allowing me to photograph inside of their showroom.

2016 BMW M4 sets a new standard for midsize performance.

With a zero to sixty time of 4.1 seconds and a Nurburgring lap time of 7:52 the 2016 BMW M4 isn't the fastest car available, or even the fastest BMW available, but it is definitely one of the best looking. With a twin turbo 3.0-liter straight six engine putting out a blistering 425 horsepower to the rear wheels this car will get you to wherever you are going, and it will get you there fast. The BMW M4 has a solid mount rear axle bolted directly to the body without the use of bushings to allow for a stiffer rear end. Couple that with the Active M differential that uses Dynamic Stability Control data, pedal position, wheel rotation, and yaw rate to control slip on each wheel and it will get you around those corners quicker than ever before as well.

The fun doesn't just stop there though. Also in the rear end of the vehicle is an electric motor that varies the power distribution between the wheels in turns, and even reduces under steer when cornering. In the cockpit is the usual sport inspired BMW interior with one M specific addition. A full color Heads-Up display that projects your speed, selected gear, engine-rev counter, and shift lights. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission, although for an additional $2,900.00 you can opt for the 7-speed dual clutch automatic.

As usual you can add a plethora of options to your vehicle, but for those that want to max out the performance in the BMW M4 you can upgrade the brakes to Carbon Ceramic for a small fee of only $8,100.00. You can also add on the Adaptive Suspension that electronically controls the dampers to help keep the car in it's line. The price tag starts at $65,700.00 and the convertible starts at $74,000.00 but I can't imagine any of these will leave the show room floor for that amount.

A special thank you to Bobby Rahal BMW for allowing me to photograph inside of their showroom.

Is Volvo going to be the next tech giant in the Automotive Industry?

Is Volvo going to be the next tech giant in the Automotive Industry?

Volvo has stated they plan on rolling out an all electric vehicle to compete with the Tesla Model S. All we know so far is that Volvo plans on having it on showroom floors by 2019 and it will be based on the new SPA platform which is currently used by the newest generation of the XC90 SUV and S90 Sedan. Volvo claims the expected range on the as yet unnamed vehicle will be 500km (310 miles).

On the other side of Volvo news, this year at the Consumer Electronic Show, Volvo revealed their latest tech in the Volvo On Call remote voice control. Using the new Microsoft Band 2 smartwatch, the driver can operate select function of the vehicle. Right now the functions compatible with the smartwatch are Heating, Navigation, Central Locking, Headlamps, and the Horn. This may not sound like much but it is a start and who knows where this tech will go from here. The availability of this tech will launch in the UK in spring. Now word yet on when it will be available here in the US.

The use of the smartwatch marks the second collaboration between Vovlo and Microsoft. In 2015 Volvo sarted using the Microsoft Hololens in select dealerships which allowed customer to view, in real time, different options available on their new car via a full size holographic image.

When Mercedes Roamed the Earth

As a fan of Mercedes-Benz, cars in general, and a huge movie buff, it is not often that I get to see or interact with something that involves a combination of the three. That being said, this past June I had a chance to visit the Birmingham, Alabama Mercedes Benz production facility for work (yes I do actually have a day job!), and while there we got to visit the Mercedes Benz museum they have on site. Among the many very cool and very rare vehicles they have on display there was a locked room that, as an employee of Mercedes Benz (dealership), we were given access to. As we walked through the now unlocked door we were greeted with a small room filled with four or five cars, all under covers. Among them were the first-off-the-line 163 chassis ML350, the concept ML that toured the show circuit, at all the way at the front of the line was a very weird looking camo painted SUV.

My eyes went immediately to this particular vehicle. Not because of how eat it looked with its camo paint job or its weird selection of accessories attached to the outside, but because it looked familiar to me. I had definitely laid eyes upon this vehicle before but for the life of me I couldn't figure out where. That was until I walked around the front of it and saw the large stuffed Velociraptor that was laying down in the back seat. Then it dawned on me! This was one of the movie props from Lost World: Jurassic Park! How freaking cool is that!?

I was able to snap a few pictures before our tour moved on and I would like to share them with you now.



If you look in the background of this picture you can see the uncovered front passenger side of the first ever Mercedes Benz ML350 to roll off of the assembly line. That black markings all over it are the signatures of every employee who worked at the plant.The Birmingham plant was opened in the US specifically for the production of these vehicles and this was the first vehicle produced here.



So how cool is this? For someone like myself who loves theses cars, and loved the Jurassic Park movies, this was my happy place!

Mercedes redesigned marque roadster is just another top notch entry in the lineup

The new 2017 SLC Roadster replaces the SLK and totally improves upon perfection.




Once again I need to give photo credit to Patrick Rall, over at Torquenews.com for grabbing these photos for me while he was covering the Detroit Auto Show.

In the spring of 1997 the Mercedes Benz SLK Roadster hit showroom floors. Since then the German brand has sold north of 600,000 units. Now nearly twenty years later, a newly redesigned, and rebadged version is hitting the showroom floors as the SLC.




The SLC has a fresh look to it including a new front splitter, bumper air vents, and a grille design. The daytime running lights are now LED's and are integrated into the headlight assemblies. The new Mercedes Benz SLC is definitely more aggressive looking than it's predecessor with an almost snarl like look. Overall the front end has a more rounded out look that seems to almost flow from the grille to hood making them look like one piece.



The rear end definitely brings a good bit of difference and style to the SLC. While the tail lights are almost exactly the same, the high mount brake light is a little less pronounced, seamlessly blending into the arch on the deck lid. The reverse lights are now integrated into the bottom of the rear lights. The lower rear fascia has an air vent sunk into each corner and a reflector added above each exhaust pipe.



Engine options are changing up with the new redesign as well. Available options will be the 2.0-liter, four cylinder that puts out 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The power is sent to the rear wheels by the 9G Trionic automatic transmission. The other option, at least for now, will be the 3.0-liter twin turbo V6 that puts out 362 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. Of course the Mercedes Benz SLC300 will come with Dynamic Select drive that allows the driver to select between five different modes. The modes are: Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Eco, and individual. Also available is a dynamic handling pakage that includes adaptive damping and dynamic corner assist.When damping force is selected in Comfort, Sport, or Sport+ the damping force adjusts automatically depending on the road and driving conditions.



The SLC300 will come standard with Active Brake Assist (Collision Prevention Assist Plus). Also available is the blind spot assist and lane keeping assist. the SLC300 can also be equipped with dynamic LED headlights which automatically adjust to different lighting and driving conditions, a rear view camera, and parking assist.



Mercedes Benz has yet to announce pricing on the new SLC300 or the SLC43 however the SLK250 started at just under $44,000.00 and the SLK55 started at just under $71,000.00, so chances are we can expect the prices to be somewhere in that range for the new SLC models.

A personal anecdote on the safety of Mercedes Benz

I know that this is only my third entry but I am going to change things up a little bit and get slightly personal.

If you were to ask my wife how my driving is, she would tell you I am a horrible driver and should not be allowed to operate a motor vehicle. That being said I would like to say that I Ken Block'd the heck out of my Mercedes Benz E350 today. Early this morning I had to take my wife to the Emergency room where she ended up having to be admitted for overnight observation. Why is this relevant? because in the morning on the way to the hospital the roads looked like this:





This picture was taken around 9:00 AM. I left the hospital around 3:00 PM to go home and get my ten year old off of the bus to take her to my mothers house. By 3:15 PM the roads started to look like this:





I have lived in the Greater Pittsburgh area my whole life so driving in the snow is no big deal to me. That being said, most other drivers seem to forget how to drive in less than ideal conditions and decide they are going to drive too fast for conditions, often resulting in less than ideal results.

So there I am driving around a very sharp bend about to descend a steep hill. I am inching along at around 10 MPH in almost whiteout conditions when i round the corner and see someone sideways in the middle of my lane. I know I cannot hit the brakes so I let up off the gas and allow the 3.5 liter V6 engine braking to kick in as I gently attempt to steer the car to the left around the obstacle in front of me.

It didn't work.

All that I managed to do was get the nose of the car into the oncoming lane where I started to slide sideways. In slow motion I can see the line my precious Lunar Blue W212 chassis Mercedes Benz E Class is heading on. My passenger side rear quarter panel is going to slam flat into his rear passenger side quarter panel. As my car is sliding towards him I do the only thing I can think of. I turn the wheels down hill and punch the throttle. I feel the engine surge as the Mercedes Benz Electronic Stability Program kicks in. The car swings around, missing the stranded vehicle by what my mind perceives as mere millimeters, but I am not out of the woods yet. Now I am sideways sliding down the hill facing the other direction, only now there is a small bend coming up to the left. With as much counter steering as I can muster I attempt to get the car under control as I feather the throttle as little as possible. I manage to correct the vehicle with a final flourish of a drift around the bend.

While I would like to be able to attribute this total bit of driving bad-assery to my skills I truly cannot. Were it not for the amazing engineering under the hood of my Mercedes Benz I most likely would not be writing this right now as my wife would surely have murdered me for wrecking the car.

As a post script, about 2 miles up the road I came upon this wonderful cluster:






Stay safe out there everyone. Winter is definitely here.

The newly redesigned 2017 Mercedes-Benz E Class is everything we've been expecting and more.

As you all know, this week is the reveal of the new Mercedes Benz E Class at the Detroit Auto Show. A few weeks ago we were teased with pictures of the interior and some info about the tech that would be found inside of the new E Class. What we didn't get to see was what the outside looked like. Well I am here with some pictures for you (as well as some info) courtesy of my friend over at Torquenews, Patrick Rall, who was kind enough to snap some pictures for me while he was covering the Detroit Auto Show. 

The first thing I noticed about the new E Class was the unmistakable design cues it took from the W222 chassis S Class and the W205 chassis C Class with the longer hood, shorter rear deck lid and the swooping coupe style roof lines. All in all this is the most aggressive looking E Class to date even with the luxury styling package. The new 2017 Mercedes Benz E Class still maintains its unique class styling with the angled edges on the sides. Regardless of how Mercedes wants to redesign it, the new E Class still looks like an E Class and that is definitely OK with me. Even though the outside looks the same, the biggest changes come from the interior, where they redesigned everything down to the look of the seats. While those who have been in a W222 S Class will recognize the wrap around dashboard, that is pretty much where it ends. While the base model will come with the tablet style command unit, you can upgrade to the new style dual led screen layout that allows the driver to customize the look of the cluster with one of three different styles.

So right now you may be asking your self, "what else does the new Mercedes Benz E Class have to offer?" To start it will launch in the US with a turbocharged four cylinder that puts out 241 horse power in the E300 (this is also the same engine that will be found in the SLC300). Future models will come with the turbo charged 6 cylinder (possibly the same twin turbo 3.0 currently found in the E400), a V8 (maybe the 5.5?), a plug in hybrid, and a diesel that will get 42 MPG (highway).

Now that we have that out of the way, let's get to the really cool stuff. The new Mercedes Benz E Class will have more driver assistance options than a self driving google car (purely sarcasm, but only kind of). 

• First up is the Drive Pilot's adaptive cruise control and Steering Pilot that track the car in front at speeds up to 130 MPH and can keep the car centered in the lines up to 81 MPH. According to Mercedes Benz the E Class can track adjacent vehicles and deal with obscured lane markings. the driving assist features on the new E Class will double or even triple the amount of time that the driver can keep their hands off of the wheel and still remain on the road.
• Active Lane Change Assist is a radar and camera based system that semi-automates lane changes. When the driver activates the turn signal the car will wait 2 seconds to make sure it is what was intended, make sure the lane is clear and then move the vehicle into the lane that you designated.
• Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function will brake the car if it detects crossing traffic that you aren't slowing for, and will initiate advance braking if it senses you've come upon the tail end of a traffic jam. Mercedes Benz states the vehicle should avoid accidents up to 43 MPH and will reduce the severity of collisions if you are going faster than the designated speed.
• Evasive Steering Assist works with pedestrian detection to help the driver steer around a pedestrian and apply steering wheel torque to recover and straighten you back out.
• One of the coolest new features of the new Mercedes Benz E Class is the Remote Parking Pilot which will pull the vehicle out of a garage or parking space using the smartphone app while the driver is standing outside of the vehicle. This lets big cars get into tiny spaces.
• If there is one thing today's modern society has taught is that we love to stay connected to one another so why should our cars be any different? Car-to-X communication will be introduced to the world in the new Mercedes Benz E Class. Car-to-X, meaning car-to-anything communication, allows the car to communicate to another connected car ahead and helps cars "see" around corners or through obstacles. The car is both the receiver and transmitter. obviously to start this wont really be a useful option, but once Mercedes Benz gets the ball rolling with other subsequent models the usefulness of this technology will be limitless.

The tech under the hood in Mercedes' latest entry is no doubt top of the line, but what you need to really ask your self is this, is this the sexiest looking E Class yet? I think it might be, but you can judge for yourself.