Robert Hall

Yeah, pretty amazing how trim levels and bumpers and wheels, etc can change the appearance. Like comparing a base Grand Cherokee Laredo with a Trailhawk, Summit, or Trackhawk. 4 different trim levels, all with distinctly different appearances...

Different badges, different lighting, different rear bumper, different wheels, etc also. But definitely likely related.

Well, it was the pre-Sergio era when I was last there... the 300 was later branded as a Lancia at one point. IIRC, the Sebring convertibles I saw were badged as Stratuses ... and the Neons as Chrysler Neons...I did see a couple older Chrysler Saratogas (Spirit/Le Baron sedan in the US) also.

Alas, the <sarcasm> tags never took off...

Sounds shady...

If Honda is going to do an EV here soon, an EV CUV would make a lot of sense..

So based on the Cherokee...transverse 4cyl? Has the unfortunate FWD based front axle to door length issue. But since it's not for the US, it's a moot point. Other pics of it show some weirdness around the rear window--the back edge of the c-pillar doesn't line up with the rear window/hatch opening, so there are cheesy black trim pieces on each side of the rear window...ugh.

Given Ford's announcement yesterday, these definitely seem more likely down the road. It wouldn't surprise me if GM re-thinks the mid engine Corvette idea and instead focuses on a Corvette CUV. Strange days...

Sounds like automakers are inconsistent in what issues qualify as a TSB vs a recall.

It's better than Tesla's giant screen, IMO. I definitely don't like the trend of having so many controls in the center screen..still prefer physical buttons for many basic functions.

No, a lower the number of recalls per vehicle sold is a lower number of recalls. Right?

I see the similarity to the S- and E-, but on the S- the screen is recessed w/ an overhang...it's integrated into the dash..this just seems to be sitting there. It does seem like M-B is standardizing on a theme...

More recalls, more problems.

The recall rate per 1000 is interesting.

I'll never forget literally across the street from the Colleseum was a dark blue GC and a dark blue Tahoe parallel parked with Fiats in front and behind...strangers in a strange land. I did see plenty of Jeeps in the UK and Europe on various trips from '00-06, though...XJs, Wranglers, GCs, Libertys (ie. Cherokees in Europe). Mixed in w/ the occasional Voyager, Sebring convertible, Neon, Explorer, Chrysler 300...

I remember how huge Grand Cherokees and Tahoes looked in Rome and Milan on my trips to Italy.

Yeah, i definitely understand their place in Europe (and similarly Asia). I drove around southern Italy years ago in the original generation mouse-shaped A-class (which had no pretense of luxury--it was a functional subcompact). It's hard to wrap my head around fwd 4cyl economy cars being remotely 'luxury', but badge-chasers seem to view them that way. I'd rather have a Golf if I were going for a FWD 4cyl compact.

Building LWB variants of compact and midsize models for China is pretty common.

No idea about the frames, but here in salty Cleveland I've seen plenty of 10-15yr old GM pickups with serious cab and bed rust rolling around...

The current A hatchback is like 169 inch length..I assume the new A regular length sedan is 2.4 inches shorter than the L, so 178.6 inches or thereabouts..

I wonder what Toyota calls their current grille theme...'angry fish' would be appropriate. They use it on several models now.

A bit pricey, but there is nothing 'luxury' about a compact FWD transverse 4cyl econobox w/ 134 or 161 hp--that's low, common, generic and fecal IMO.

Not sure if I'd call it floating, but it's not an integrated design, just a flat tablet-like screen stuck against the dash. Boring I'd assume it's roomier w the longer wheelbase, that's the point of a longer wheelbase. China likes bigger rear seat areas since they often have drivers.

Well, it's just a FWD 4cyl compact lease appliance...think Cruze/Jetta/Focus/etc w/ a fancier badge. Yeah, the 'coupe' roofline and decklid of the CLA makes the body longer...

Where are you getting that it's the same length as the CLA? The article says the wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than the regular A class (current CLA has the same wheelbase as the A class hatchback). The new A class hatchback has a wheelbase 1.1 inches longer than the current A class. No idea how the next CLA will be sized. 2.4 inches longer wheelbase. To clarify the realities--the new A-class hatchback and sedan have a 107.4 inch wheelbase, the China-only L has a 109.8 inch wheelbase. The current gen CLA has a 106.3 inch wheelbase. Presumably, there will be a 2nd gen CLA coming, and NA will get one of the A-class sedans.