Official: All New Honda Jazz - Fit Coming This Fall

In a speech updating Honda’s progress on its three-year strategic plan that was first introduced in December 2006 (see details here), the Japanese carmaker’s CEO, Takeo Fukui revealed that Honda will debut a successor to the Fit / Jazz sub-compact model this fall. That means the all-new Fit will probably make its world premier at the October Tokyo Motor Show with the European edition (dubbed Jazz) following at next year’s Geneva Show in March. Expect the US Fit to make its first public appearance either at the Detroit (January ’08 ) or the New York Auto Show (March ’08). -Follow the jump to see a summary of Honda’s 2007 Mid-Year CEO Speech

Summary of 2007 Mid-Year CEO Speech

TOKYO, Japan, July 18, 2007 - During the current 3-year mid-term, which began in spring 2005, Honda has carried out various plans and initiatives under the themes of "strengthening the foundation for growth and advancement on a global scale" and "development of advanced technologies and products that create new value for the joy of our customers."

Honda will further accelerate its effort to strengthen the core characteristics that make Honda unique in each business area and steadily make progress within the following areas, which are the three pillars that will enable Honda to make another great leap forward in the future.

1) Strengthening the foundation for global growth

2) Accelerating our effort in Japan to strengthen the core characteristics that make Honda unique

3) Strengthening Honda's effort to reduce its environmental footprint

1. Strengthening the foundation for global growth

Further Strengthening the Business Foundation of North American Operations

• In June 2007, Civic was ranked as the industry's best selling compact-class vehicle in the U.S. Due to strong sales of models such as CR-V and Fit, sales in the U.S. are steadily increasing.

• A new auto plant in Indiana, U.S. and a new engine plant in Canada are scheduled to begin production in fall 2008.

• In fall 2007, the Honda auto plant in Mexico will begin production of the CR-V. The annual production capacity of the plant will be expanded from the current 30,000 units to 50,000 units.

• As a result of these capacity expansion measures, in fall 2008, Honda's total annual automobile production capacity in North America will reach 1.62 million units.

• In the area of R&D, the Acura Design Studio opened in California in May 2007.

• In November 2007, Honda will celebrate the 25th anniversary of manufacturing cars in the United States. Honda became the very first Japanese auto maker to locally produce passenger vehicles in America in 1982. Today, Honda's North American production accounts for almost 80% of all automobiles Honda sells in the U.S. Honda will continue efforts to establish a business structure that enables us to quickly and flexibly respond to the expectations of our customers.

Strengthening European Business

• Honda's automobile sales growth in Europe during the first six months of the year (Jan.-Jun. 2007) outpaced all the other major manufacturers, owing to the popularity of the UK-built Civic and the CR-V models.

• Due to the increase in demand for these UK-made Hondas, Honda's Swindon, UK, automobile plant has shifted to full production rate of 250,000 per annum beginning February 2007.

• In order to meet the higher demand for Honda's diesel engine, the UK engine plant added the processes of machining cylinder head and engine block beginning in November 2006, expanding on its diesel engine assembly operations.

• Honda's automobile plant in Turkey will increase its annual capacity, from the current 30,000-unit level, to 50,000 units per annum by early 2008, thereby increasing Honda's total annual vehicle output in Europe to 300,000 units.

Expanding Business and Strengthening Business Foundations in Growth Areas: Motorcycle Business

Asia

• India: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India is planning to expand its annual production capacity from the current 1 million units to 1.2 million units by 2010. Honda's total annual motorcycle production capacity in India will be expanded to exceed 5.6 million units by 2010.

• Vietnam: In May 2007, annual production capacity of the Honda plant in Vietnam was expanded from the previous 860,000 units to 1 million units. In order to respond to the rapidly growing demand, Honda decided to invest US$65 million to build a second motorcycle plant which is scheduled to become operational in the latter half of 2008, with annual production capacity of 500,000 units. High-value added models such as automatic transmission models will be produced at this new plant.

• Honda has been introducing models equipped with PGM-FI (Honda's Programmed Fuel Injection) which offers excellent environmental performance to one country after another in Thailand, Indonesia, India, China, and Vietnam. Honda will continue acting in an environmentally responsible manner by expanding the installation of PGM-FI to more models.

South America

• Brazil: Honda's cumulative motorcycle production in Brazil is expected to reach 10 million units at the end of July 2007. Honda will expand its annual production capacity in Brazil to 1.5 million units by the end of 2007.

• Argentina: The local production of a second model, NF100Wave, will begin in fall 2007.

• Peru: In September 2007, a new Honda plant in Peru with an annual production capacity of 25,000 units is scheduled to become operational.

• As a result of these capacity expansion measures, Honda's total annual motorcycle

production in South America will be expanded to approximately 1.54 million units by the end

of 2007.

Expanding Business and Strengthening Business Foundations in Growth Areas: Automobile Business

India

• Annual production capacity of the existing Honda auto plant in India will be expanded from the current 50,000 units to 100,000 units by the end of 2007.

• A second auto plant in India with annual production capacity of approximately 60,000 units (investment of approximately US$230 million) will become operational at the end of 2009. As a result, Honda's annual production capacity in India is expected to exceed 150,000 units by 2010

Thailand

• In April 2007, an engine parts plant began operation in Thailand, and a Honda subsidiary which produces stamped body panel service parts will begin operation in fall 2007. In addition to the Thailand domestic market, these parts and components produced in Thailand will be supplied to other countries, primarily in the Asia/Oceania region, to strengthen Honda's business structure in the area of quality, cost, and logistics.

• Looking ahead toward expansion of domestic sales and exports, Honda began construction of a second auto plant in Thailand. An investment of approximately 6.2 billion baht (approximately 23 billion yen), the new plant will become operational in the latter half of 2008 with annual production capacity of 120,000 units (at full capacity). As a result, Honda's annual automobile production capacity in Thailand will be doubled from the current 120,000 units to 240,000 units.

South America

• Brazil: The annual production capacity of Honda's auto plant in Brazil will be expanded to 100,000 units by the end of July 2007.

• Argentina: Honda will invest approximately US$100 million to build a new automobile production plant in Argentina with an annual production capacity of 30,000 units, scheduled to become operational in the latter half of 2009. The new plant will also begin exporting products to other countries in the South America region and play a key role in Honda's production network in South America along with the Honda auto plant in Brazil.

China

• In April 2007, Honda Automobile (China), the export plant which produces products for European markets began fully utilizing its annual production capacity of 50,000 units. When Guangzhou Honda's second auto plant became operational in September 2006, Honda's total automobile production capacity in China reached 530,000 units annually.

• A new company, which manufactures transmissions and other powertrain components, became operational in March 2007, contributing to Honda's efforts to promote further localization and improvement of cost competitiveness.

• Sales of the all-new CR-V, which was introduced in April 2007 and is produced by Dongfeng Honda, and the Acura MDX have been strong. Honda is steadily expanding business and strengthening its business foundation in China.

• Guangzhou Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., a Honda joint venture company in China, will establish a wholly-owned automobile R&D subsidiary, Guangzhou Honda Automobile Research & Development Co., Ltd. With investment of approximately 2 billion R.M.B. (approximately 30 billion yen), the new company will build a full-scale automobile R&D facility with a test course. The company will develop a product which will be marketed under an original brand of Guangzhou Honda targeting the start of sales in 2010.

• Guangzhou Honda received government approval to begin engine production.

2. Accelerating our effort in Japan to strengthen the core characteristics that make Honda unique

Establishing manufacturing systems and capabilities in Japan that support the growth of regional operations and lead Honda globally

Strengthening R&D Capabilities

• In addition to the reorganization of Honda's R&D structure, conducted in April 2006, Honda will build a new R&D center in Sakura, Tochigi scheduled to begin operation in 2009.

Strengthening Japan Production

• Honda recognizes that the role of Japan, which supports expanding regional operations, will become increasingly important.

• New automobile production plant in Yorii (scheduled to become operational in 2010) will establish a high quality and high efficiency manufacturing system by applying the latest technologies and will be responsible for evolving such manufacturing systems horizontally to other Honda operations worldwide.

• New engine plant in Ogawa (scheduled to become operational in summer 2009) will produce advanced engines, which enables Honda to respond to the increasing demand for fuel efficient vehicles and further advance Honda's production technologies.

• Kumamoto Factory will be advanced as the ultimate source of expertise to support the ability of Honda's motorcycle production operations worldwide to produce high quality products and handle advanced technologies.

• Hamamatsu Factory's automatic transmission (AT) production will be strengthened, and the factory will be advanced to assume global leadership in the area of AT production technology.

Strengthening Mini-Vehicle Business

• Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd., a Honda consolidated subsidiary has decided to acquire the land adjacent to its Yokkaichi Factory for the purpose of establishing the optimal production system for mini-vehicles including engines and component parts to further improve the competitiveness of its mini-vehicle production.

• Although the detailed plans are still to be finalized, the company plans to begin with the establishment of an engine assembly facility, which will enable the company to achieve synchronous production of automobiles including the engine and the complete automobile, which in turn will help the company improve the efficiency of production and logistics.

Establishing A Sales Channel from the Customer Viewpoint

• Based on our starting point of focusing on the customers' point of view, Honda's domestic sales channels were integrated into one Honda Cars channel as of March 2006.

• We are currently making progress in strengthening our sales channels through various initiatives including re-establishing an optimal sales network suitable for a one-channel approach, enlarging the dealership locations in metropolitan areas, and opening of new dealership locations which incorporate the new concept of Honda Cars, etc.

• In the product area, the highly acclaimed Fit, which was ranked as the best selling car among new vehicle registrations in 2002, and has achieved cumulative worldwide sales of 2 million units (at the end of June 2007), will undergo a full model change this fall.

• Coinciding with the introduction of the all-new Fit, Honda will near completion of the changeover of its integrated dealer network to the identity of Honda Cars and establishment of sales network in metropolitan areas by this fall. Honda will work toward strengthening of the Honda brand and devote intensive efforts to expand sales.

• Based on a comprehensive evaluation of the current market environment, Honda will reassess its basic plan and delay the introduction of Acura brand in Japan for two years or so from its original plan of fall 2008.

3. Strengthening Honda's effort to reduce its environmental footprint

Environmental Commitment

• In May 2006, Honda announced 2010 global CO₂ reduction targets for its products and production facilities. Moreover, in June 2007, Honda newly set and announced 2010 environmental footprint reduction targets for business activities in Japan including reduction targets for CO₂ emissions from logistics activities, and substances with environmental impact, as well as various targets in the area of resource recycling.

• As a company-wide effort on a global scale, Honda will accelerate its efforts and be ahead of the time as a company which will always be at the forefront in the area of the environment.

The Next-Generation Environmental Technologies

The Next-Generation Diesel

• Honda will introduce a next-generation diesel engine, which will meet the U.S. EPA's Tier2 BIN5 emission standard requiring NOx emission levels equivalent to a gasoline-powered vehicle, to the U.S. in 2009. Moreover, Honda decided to introduce this next-generation clean diesel engine with excellent environmental performance to Japan.

Hybrid

• Honda will offer a new dedicated hybrid vehicle in 2009 at a price level lower than the Civic Hybrid.

Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV)

• Honda added a FFV variation to the product lineup of Civic and Fit produced and sold in Brazil, and began sales of these models at the end of last year. The cumulative sales of Civic FFV and Fit FFV have already exceeded 10,000 units, and the ratio of FFV version among overall Civic sales in Brazil exceeded 50% (as of June 2007).

Creation of Energy

Ethanol Production Technology

As for the development of technology which will more efficiently produce ethanol from stems and leaves of plants such as straw, an experimental plant was built within Honda's Fundamental Technology Research Center in May 2007, and R&D efforts to establish the mass-production technology of bio-ethanol will be further accelerated.

Cogeneration

Honda's compact home-use cogeneration unit has been used in approximately 50,000 households in Japan since its introduction in 2003. In March 2007, the sales of this compact home-use cogeneration unit began in the U.S.

Solar Cell

In June 2007, sales of Honda's solar cells began primarily in the Kanto area. Starting from this fall, Honda Soltec will mass produce solar cells at its plant with annual capacity of 27.5 megawatts at full production, resulting in the expansion of sales throughout Japan.

Activity to Promote Traffic Safety / Aviation Business

Renovation of Traffic Education Center at Suzuka Circuit

• The Traffic Education Center at Suzuka Circuit will re-open in early August this year with major enhancements of its educational facilities.

• The new facility incorporates the latest technologies. One example of such technologies is a new program which records driving data through GPS, analyses the data, and identifies and improves driving habits or common driving practices.

Aviation Business

• Honda Aero Inc,. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honda, decided to build a production plant for its small-size jet engine, HF120.

• Honda Aero Inc, will produce the jet engine based on the commission from GE Honda Aero Engines, a joint venture with　GE. The new jet engine plant will be located in Burlington, North Carolina.

• In addition to the HondaJet which will be delivered to customers starting 2010, the HF120 jet engine will be installed to the Spectrum Aeronautical "Freedom" which will go on sale in 2010. Honda's dream toward the sky will continue making progress in the areas of both aircraft and the engine.

While continuing to strengthen its business foundation and pursue new dreams for the future, Honda will further accelerate efforts to strengthen the core characteristics that make Honda unique in each business area and demonstrate spirited initiative to take on challenges to develop advanced technologies and products that create new value for the joy of our customers.

Insiders: 2008 Audi A4 To Be Unveiled In Frankfurt

Ok, we might not have any scoop pictures or fancy CGI’s of the next A4, but we guess this piece of information maybe worth a bit more for all you Audi fans. You’ve probably heard the rumours but we’re in a position to validate them as we just received confirmation from our Audi insider that the third generation A4 Sedan will definitely make its appearance at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Interestingly, our insider also told us that Audi might unveil the new A4 to selected journalists one day before the show opens up its gates to the media. (Pic: Audi A5)

Update: Kia’s 2007 Frankfurt Show Line-Up

As promised, we made a few calls here and there to try to learn a bit more about Kia’s 2+2 Coupe Concept that we revealed earlier today. Unfortunately, our Kia source told us that although Korean execs informed him about the Coupe last night, they were as vague about it as the press release. However our source confirmed that apart from the Coupe, Kia will unveil the production version of the pro cee’d concept (3door Cee’d) along with a new Hybrid car. And yes you guessed it; once again, Kia officials anally avoided giving out specific details about the Hybrid car so all we can do for the time being is speculate.

Fiat 500: Italians Are Studying SUV And SW Derivatives

Fiat’s is determined to capitalize on the momentum by planning to introduce several derivatives of the recently introduced New 500. The Italian firm has already announced that it will unveil an Abarth performance version equipped with a 1.4-litre Turbo engine at the Tokyo Show in October and a convertible in 2008 (most probably in Geneva, March). Now, Fiat is considering whether it should plan a full-head attack by developing two more variants, an SUV/Crossover obviously based on the Panda 4x4 mechanics and a Station Wagon (pic above).

“By the end of the year, we expect to decide on the New 500 Station Wagon and SUV,” a Fiat executive told Automotive News Europe under condition of anonymity. From the looks of things, Fiat is pretty darn serious about it as they showed the Station Wagon version in a video during the New 500’s media introduction last week. In the clip, Fiat 500’s designer Roberto Giolito displayed the station wagon version, giving journalists a taste of what they should expect if plans go ahead. Sounds like Fiat Group’s CEO Sergio Marchionne has learned his lesson well from BMW’s MINI renaissance. Now if he could just find a way to get the 500 into the North American market...

Via: ANE

Fiat 500 Abarth: Official Presentation At The October Tokyo Show

Surprised? So are we. While most of us were expecting Fiat to unveil the turbocharged version of its 500 minicar at next year’s Geneva Show, yesterday, during the worldwide media presentation in Torino, Italy, Fiat Automobile’s CEO (not Fiat Group) Luca De Meo, announced that the 500 Abarth will make its public appearance at the forthcoming Tokyo Show this October!

We talked to several journalists that attended the media presentation in Torino, but unfortunately no one managed to dig out any information concerning the Abarth’s powertrain. We suspect though that the rang-topping 500 will wear the Grande Punto’s 1.4-liter turbocharged unit that’s available in 120Hp and 150Hp guises. Check out a video featuring a prototype 500 Abarth at the Nurburgring race track here.

Insider: BMW 1-Series Cabrio To Debut At The 2008 Geneva Show

We’re probably about 99% sure on the accuracy on the inside info on this BMW 1-Series Cabrio. If it were anything less we wouldn’t even have bothered sharing… follow the jump to see what we mean. As you can see from the spy photos that we took a few months ago, the 1-Series Coupe’s roofless alter ego will be fitted with a conventional canvas top just like the 6-Series Cabriolet and in contrast to the 3-Series Cabriolet, which is equipped with an electric folding hard-top. Although there’s no official information, we suspect that BMW preferred the soft-top to a hardtop not only because it’s quite cheaper but also because the canvas roof takes up less space from the boot.

Power is likely to come from the same range of engines as known from the 1-Series Coupe, which means, a 230Hp 3.0-litre petrol unit for the 128i, a 306Hp twin turbo 3.0-litre petrol engine for the 130i and in Europe, a 177Hp 2.0-litre turbodiesel for the 120d and a 204Hp 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel for the 123d. We expect the 1-Series Cabriolet to go on sale shortly after its premiere at the 2008 Geneva Show in March. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

We know that this part is off-topic, but we think some of you will find it interesting.

Patiently waiting to see the light of day, the 1-Series Cabriolet and Coupe scoop images weren’t the only things lying around on our desktop the past few months. We had also written an article to accompany the pics, but due to the numerous rumors about the upcoming 2 door 1-Series we hesitated since we weren’t sure what to believe. So, we decided to disclose both. Confused? Read the article below that we wrote several months ago and you’ll understand.

Question of the Day: BMW 1-Series Coupe & Cabrio or just plain Coupe-Cabrio?

We have to admit that we’re kind of confused with this one. During a one-on-one chitchat with a high-rank BMW official we were led to believe that there will only be one version of the 2door 1-Series when the car goes on sale in 2008: a Coupe-Cabrio with an electric folding hardtop. With the curious minds that we have, we also asked a PR who categorically confirmed the fact.

Theoretically, two ultra-reliable sources should be enough to break a story, but since we have a true love affair with “buts” (and butts, but that’s another story…) we contacted an inside source of ours that hasn’t proved us wrong up to now when it comes to BMW’s. Guess what; he claimed that to his knowledge, BMW will present two versions: a 1-Series Coupe and a 1-Series Cabriolet with a soft-top!

Chrysler / Dodge Crew CUV Concept To Debut At Frankfurt Show

Chrysler Group is planning to unveil a concept version of its forthcoming mid-size CUV, better known in the US as the Chrysler and Dodge crossovers coded JC49 and JZ49 (pic above from AMS), at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. How do we know? Well, according to an off-the-record conversation we had with a Chrysler Group Europe source of ours and even though this hasn’t been officially announced, it’s 99% certain that the American carmaker will debut the MPV/Crossover concept dubbed “Crew” at the German car Show. What our source couldn’t tell us is whether the Crew will wear a Dodge or Chrysler badge –though we’ve heard that the Crew nameplate will be used for the Dodge model. -Continued after the jump

Smaller than the recently introduced Chrysler Town & Country or as Europeans know it, Voyager, the Crew will make use of the Chrysler Sebring / Dodge Avenger platform with production scheduled for January 2008 meaning that the production version will debut either at the L.A. Show in November or at NAIAS in January ’08.

Picture via: Automotorsport

Alfa Romeo's Official Product Plan Reveals Details On Junior, 149 & GTA Models

Last Tuesday, during the 10th Morgan Stanley Automotive Conference in London, Alfa Romeo’s CEO Antonio Baravalle revealed official details and technical specifications on the Italian carmaker’s future portfolio. For those of you who have been “stalking” Carscoop for a while, you’ll probably remember that last year, in a similar gathering, Fiat Group unveiled the 2008–2010 product plans for all three makes of the Group (Alfa, Fiat & Lancia). In Alfa Romeo’s case, what’s new here is that we get details about the forthcoming Junior and 149 models.

So let’s see what Alfa Romeo has in store for us. Beginning from the Junior, Alfa’s “MINI killer will go on sale in the second quarter of 2008 with a starting price of €16.000.- $21.800. Based on the B-Segment Fiat Grande Punto,” the Junior will be available with a variety of engines, from an entry-level 95Hp unit (Fiat’s 1.4-liter 16v) to a 230Hp top-notch version wearing the GTA badge. All Juniors get a standard 6-speed gearbox with an automatic transmission being offered optionally. As you can seen on Alfa’s official sketches, the premium sport hatch’s design is inspired from the extravagant 8c Competizione. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

Following the Junior, in the first quarter of 2009 Alfa Romeo will present the successor to its 147 C-Segment hatch that will most probably be called 149. Designed to compete against the likes of Audi’s A3 and BMW’s 1-Series hatch, the 4.3m long 149 will use an evolution of the Fiat Bravo platform featuring a multi-link rear suspension and Active Roll Control. In the engine department Alfa say’s that the 149 will be offered with several powetrains starting from a base 120Hp unit (Fiat’s 1.4-litre T-Jet) up to 265Hp (Alfa’s 3.2 V6) for the GTA version. Transmission options include a standard 6-speed gearbox and an automatic. Like the Junior (though less aggressive), the 149’s design takes several design cues from the 8c Competizione.

All well? Mmm, I’d definitely say no, because I nearly had a heart attack upon viewing the 149’s basic price tag: €28.000 or…$38.200! For the love of God Alfa, that’s BMW 3-Series territory! Even if you get everything right -which I seriously, seriously doubt judging from the Fiat Group’s latest product portfolio (…), who the hell will give €28.000 for a 120Hp 1.4-litre 149 when you can get a 160Hp Audi A3 1.8TFSI for much less? Tell me that was a typo mistake, please…

Crazy but anyway, before we close this post lets see the other two products that Alfa’s readying for 2009/2010. Alfa 169: think of it as something like a “poor-man” Maserati Quattroporte. The sporty 4-sedan will cost between €40.000 to 55.000 ($54k to 75k) but it remains unknown whether it will get a FWD, 4WD or RWD biased platform –yeah right… Second up the CXover, Alfa’s first ever SUV that will be available in the first quarter of 2010. Unlike the Junior, the CXover will be (?) priced logically at €28.000 to 45.000 ($38k to 61k).

Insiders: Mercedes Officially Names Its Forthcoming Compact SUV, "GLK"

As we reported earlier this month, Mercedes-Benz gave journalists a sneak peek of their upcoming compact SUV that’ll officially go under the name, “GLK”. To everyone’s misfortune and although the SUV was on stage during a presentation that took place a couple of days ago in Austria, MB avoided taking off the black cloak leaving everyone with a bitter taste. What’s worse is that Mercedes showed a couple of final stage CGI’s (Computer Generated Images) to journalists but thanks to a “zelletelefone” embargo and eagle-eyed MB officials, we doubt that anyone managed to snap a shot. Guess we’ll have to wait a few weeks before the public unveiling at the Frankfurt Show in September to get an official glimpse of MB’s X3 adversary. (Pic: Mercedes GL-Class)

BMW 1-Series Coupe: Early July Presentation Confirmed

Last week we informed you about an article in Car Magazine reporting that the initial info (specs and pictures) of the BMW 1-Series Coupe will be unveiled on July 1st. As promised, we contacted our BMW source today. While he couldn't confirm the specific date (July 1st), he did tell us that according to the latest briefing he had, BMW will release the preliminary specs and images of the 2008 1-Series Coupe in early July.

PS: These spy pictures were taken during a recent trip of ours to the BMW headquarters in Germany

Insider: 2008 Mazda 6 To Be Introduced In October, Sales Start In November

Thanks to an internal e-mail we received, we found out that the all-new Mazda6 will make its public debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Show (September 13-23) with pan-European sales starting in mid-November. According to our contact, Mazda will unleash teaser pictures and a preliminary press release of the new Mazda6 in the first week of September. The new 6 will be based on the 2008 Ford Mondeo / S-Max D-segment platform and its styling will be inspired from the latest Mazda models like the CX-7, MX-5 and RX-8. It remains unknown whether Mazda will also reveal the sporty MPS version in Frankfurt or if they'll wait to present it at a latter date. (picture: current Mazda6)

Mercedes GLK or MLK To Be Presented To The Press In June

We just received off the record information that Mercedes is planning to surprise members of the press by unveiling the all-new GLK or as others call it, MLK, compact SUV during the late June press gathering for the presentation of… -well, thee who have received the invitation, know the exact date and reasons for the trip so let’s not say any more. Unfortunately, from what we learned, there’s going to be an embargo on info and pictures. But there’s no need to worry as Mercedes will probably hand out preliminary images and specs well before the confirmed Frankfurt Show premier of their BMW X3 adversary in September. (Picture featured above Mercedes M-Class)

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