For a Mercedes, this is a pretty sweet looking car that speaks more to the “I am an enthusiast crowd” rather than the “old and crusty crowd.”  Now is it still good looking with a price of $300 g’s?  As Borat would say, Not so much.  If I am spending that much money, I want a car that is unforgettable on the road, aka Lambo and Ferrari.

I always appreciate a wide body kit and this one looks decent.  The rear could be sculpted into the body side better.  The combination of crisp intersection into soft gooey light catcher is a little rough.  I would like to see the rear view showing the hard top roof and wing.

With only 200 coming to the states you will probably never see one, but kudos for Mercedes to come out with such a car and actually sell it.

For more info check out this article via Autoweek after the jump.
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Korean automotive companies aren’t necessarily known for their design prowess (yet).  That could all change with the introduction of the Kia Forte.

Your first impression will probably sound like this: “Hey, isn’t that a Honda/Subaru front end with a Mazda/Nissan/other OEM name body?”  Yeah, it probably is.  But, Kia has managed to do it very well, culminating in a product that can change the consumer’s mind about the little company.

Since we initially only have exterior images to look at, we’ll crit this.

Read on for the full crit/examination of the car…

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This week, Alfa took the wraps off of its highly-anticipated production car, the Me Too MiTo.  How does this little baby stack up to competition from Mini and the Fiat 500?

First and foremost, the vehicle  won’t be overly powerful.  While a 6-speed manual will be a fun necessity that the vehicle brings, it will only come at 78-, 120-, and 155-hp variety of engines.  Hey, it’s a small car… not a racer.

How do the aesthetics hold up?  Read on for the full crit…

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The world of automotive design is constantly evolving, especially for exterior designs. In the last few years the public has been given a jolt by select OEMS offering styling that is not only exciting but emotional.

To take a couple, Audi and BMW have been prime examples of setting a style and brand all to their own. I have always wondered why these cars in particular have been so appealing. Both have their own distinctive identity and originality only to be bested by the evolution of their own design.

Though the American and Japanese OEMS have been improving in the recent years, especially GM with their juice Cadillac and Buick line, Audi and BMW still seem to offer that extra desirability that makes you salivate and drool.

So what makes these guys so terribly good?

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Fuel sucks right now, cramping everyone’s driving habits and cutting into my beer money. So hey, lets downsize. Trouble is that there is not many options when it comes to a well designed, stylish fuel sipper. The new Mini Cooper Clubman takes all the great things about Mini and makes them better….err bigger in some directions.

Check out the best small car….. Read more

With gas on rise and pay checks not, everyone is looking for some way to save a buck. We all know how cars just drain your money, but we love them so much we keep paying. Damn these expensive fetishes. Here is a list of the best cars for your money put out by CNN Money.com.

Best Small Car - Mini Cooper

Best Fuel Miser - Toyota Prius

Best for Small Families - Toyota Avalon

Best for Big Families - Chevrolet Tahoe

Best for Midlife Crisis - Chevrolet Corvette

Of all of these the only one I would consider buying is the Mini Cooper. I recently had a chance to test drive the new Mini Cooper Clubman S and I must say I am in love…….

The Scion brand is kind of like a fish out of water right now. Started out swimming strong, but now is struggling with the introduction of some new models. Did their underground niche become too mainstream? Or does everyone know that it is just another Toyota now? Either way it is an interesting brand with a strong marketing strategy. This years Hako Coupe concept was deffinitely a stretch, but was it bad?

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The Geneva Motor Show is undoubtedly the biggest on the planet for concept vehicles, debuts, and blond Swedish models. This year GM took the wraps off of the Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concept, showcasing the latest in the theme that Saab has been evolving over the last couple of years.

Saab tends to be the forgotten horse in the GM stable of brands, yet it may have an identity that rivals Cadillac in strength… especially with the 9-X.

Watch the video of GM’s Design Chief Ed Welburn talk about the 9-X and read on for our full crit.

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If you are like us the whole anticipation of these muscle cars is getting old. We have seen them for years with no changes and they still are not on the road. I would say that it is already time for a redesign but this one hasn’t changed since the ’70’s. On another note, I was able to spend a few minutes with a salt covered Dodge Challenger SRT8 and check it out a little more closely.

Here is what I found… Read more

We’ve kept our eyes on the Geneva Motor Show for upcoming trends, as we’re sure to find vehicles that we want (but know we can’t get in the US). One vehicle concept that caught our eye is the Opel Meriva. This is the second concept crafted in the new Opel design language, and if history proves right this will undoubtedly become the US’ Saturn design language as well. Watch the video of GM Chief of Design Ed Welburn explaining the Meriva, and read on for our crit.

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