Christiaan Hetzner Automotive News Europe Germany Correspondent Former Automotive News Europe reporter covering the German market. [email protected] See All Staff Page Recent Stories Mercedes recasts C-Class as sportier S-Class The C-Class borrows heavily from the brand's flagship sedan, including a revamped cockpit and the latest version of the MBUX infotainment system complete with over-the-air software updates. Mercedes overhauls S-Class seeking tech leadership The retooled flagship sedan, scheduled to go on sale in February, features autonomous technology that allows full control of the car in congested highway traffic, as well as a virtual assistant capable of conversing with the driver. VW outfits new Golf with digital cockpit The eighth-generation Golf is the first VW brand car to date to have Car2X technology. Volkswagen Canada says it should arrive in the 2021 calendar year. Audi teases 'radical' EV off-roader concept The AI:Trail off-road EV is part of Audi's series of concepts that examine the future of mobility. VW, Canadian tech company D-Wave team on quantum computing In the future, automakers will become more and more dependent on the revenues generated by the software at the heart of their vehicles, but the real winners will be those companies that use the speed of quantum computing to mine this data. Mercedes plans advanced self-driving tech for next S class Mercedes's next S class, which is due in 2020, will offer the brand's first Level 3 self-driving system capable of eyes-off conditional autonomy. BMW seeks partners for second-generation self-driving system BMW is working with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Canadian supply giant Magna International, Intel and Mobileye to bring a new self-driving platform to the entire automotive market by 2021. VW T-Cross: Too small for North America It's not coming to the U.S. or Canada, but Volkswagen hopes its T-Cross small crossover will appeal to young families in urban areas almost everywhere else in the world. VW will sell 'Volks-SUV' in Canada while T-Roc is for Europe only Volkswagen Canada will sell a new compact SUV/crossover, internally called the "Volks-SUV" or People's SUV, a spokesman said Saturday. It is is slightly more compact than the Tiguan. Mercedes set to pull out of '19 Detroit auto show Mercedes-Benz -- a high-profile mainstay of the Detroit auto show -- is poised to withdraw from the event next year, sources at the German carmaker said. A withdrawal would mark the latest setback for the Detroit show, which has watched brands such as Mazda, Volvo, Porsche, Jaguar and Land Rover pull out. Canada gets two versions of Mercedes A class, 'a smartphone on wheels' Canada gets two versions of the new Mercedes-Benz A class, a car CEO Dieter Zetsche calls a "smartphone on wheels" by offering what the automaker says is the most advanced human-machine interface it has developed. VW touts next Golf as 'benchmark' in safety, connectivity VW says the new Golf — its most popular vehicle in Canada — will become a benchmark in safety and connectivity. The car will have expanded autonomous driving functions and will always have an internet connection, the automaker said. BMW's youth-focused X2 arrives in March BMW hopes its new X2, arriving in Canada next March, will appeal to active, younger car buyers looking for a uniquely individual car when it launches its first lifestyle crossover.
Christiaan Hetzner Automotive News Europe Germany Correspondent Former Automotive News Europe reporter covering the German market. [email protected] See All Staff Page