Feature: Germany’s Mercedes-Benz builds a new home in California’s Silicon Valley

Story by  John LeBlanc SUNNYVALE, CALIF. – One of the world’s top-selling luxury automakers wants to be at the centre of where the latest in technology, fantasy — and most importantly — its customers are. Which is why Germany’s Mercedes-Benz created its new North American research and design headquarters right in the heart of Silicon […]

2013 Los Angeles Auto Show: 2015 Kia K900 signals Korean brand’s big move upmarket

Story by John LeBlanc LOS ANGELES — The new 2015 K900 is not the first time Kia has built a “flagship” luxury sedan, the last of which was the utterly forgettable 2002 to 2010 Amanti. But it only takes one look at the new K900 to see how far the Korean automaker has come in […]

2013 Los Angeles Auto Show: Mercedes-Benz’s high-performance AMG dominates

Story by John LeBlanc LOS ANGELES – Germany’s Mercedes-Benz knows its AMG models are popular rides on the West Coast. So it was no surprise debuts from the automaker’s high-performance division dominated in L.A. this year:

2013 Los Angeles Auto Show: New 2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell hailed as first of its type

Story by John LeBlanc LOS ANGELES — While Korea’s Hyundai rolled out updated versions of its compact Elantra family (the big news is a more powerful 2.0-litre, four-cylinder with 173 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque, standard on the GT and Coupe, optional in the Sedan) the more interesting premiere was the announcement of a […]

2013 Los Angeles: BMW goes topless (4 Series cab), electric (i8) and quirky (Concept X4)

Story by John LeBlanc LOS ANGELES – From an unusual hybrid supercarsto (another!) coupe/SUV thingee to a predictable convertible, Germany’s BMW had a booth full of world and North American debuts here in L.A.:

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