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The Drive
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Spied: Mercedes Ditching Annoying Twin-Spoke Steering Wheel in New C-Class
Stefan Baldauf / SB-Medien The latest car news, reviews, and features. It won't be long now before Mercedes-Benz unveils the updated 2026 C-Class, and our spies have now caught the long-roof version wearing only a token disguise both inside and out. Most of the same bits that were covered on the C-Class sedan spied earlier this month are similarly concealed on this prototype, but this is our first good look at the compact's new interior, and if you were put off by the spit-spoke design of the current compact's steering wheel, it appears you're in luck. The updated car appears to be equipped with a conventional three-spoke design. But let's start outside. As befits a relatively small update, this prototype's exterior doesn't really look all that different. The nose appears more pinched on the new car, suggesting we may get a new grille design, and like the sedan, the new wagon gets lighted star elements its headlights. If the same will be mirrored in the rear on the wagon, the vinyl wrap is concealing the details. The story's similar inside. Mercedes is sticking to a two-screen layout with separate infotainment and IP displays. The tablet-like floating design of the existing center screen carries over, though this prototype lacks the slotted-spoke steering wheel design offered in the current C-Class. If that's true for the entire range, we won't exactly be sad to see it go. One other thing won't be changing: The C-Class Wagon isn't currently offered here, nor do we have any reason to suspect that will change with the refresh. You can browse the full gallery of pics below. Got a tip? Send it our way at tips@ .article-sidebar]:pt-0>
The Drive
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Spied Mitsubishi Pajero Prototype Suggests 4x4 May Return After All
Stefan Baldauf / SB-Medien The latest car news, reviews, and features. The Pajero is back! No, not that one. That one. If you're member of our U.S. audience, you might remember it as the Montero. Then again, it was last sold here two decades ago, so you'd be forgiven for not remembering it at all. Elsewhere in the world, the Pajero has been on Hiatus for several years—axed as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy that also saw Mitsubishi curtail future plans for Europe and North America. Since then, the global Renault-Nissan ( and Mitsubishi ) Alliance has been hard at work updating its brands' SUV lineups, and somewhere along the line, a new Pajero was green-lit Our spies expect the revived Pajero to be sold in several overseas markets as a budget-friendly alternative to some of the Alliance's more-expensive 4x4s. It is expected to be offered with four-cylinder, hybrid-electric powertrain that may future-proof it somewhat, but could cause it to butt up against European emissions regulations in short order. Whether it's available as a diesel will also likely be market-dependent. Absent some unforeseen pivot toward the dystopian, we're highly unlikely to see the Pajero in the United States. Not that we're hurting for it, really; we get both the Nissan Armada and the Infiniti QX80, which are far closer to the pinnacle of the Alliance's 4×4 offerings. We'll just have to enjoy this one from afar. .article-sidebar]:pt-0>
The Drive
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class spy shots: This Thing Will Have You Seeing Stars
The latest car news, reviews, and features. An upcoming refresh for the small Mercedes-Benz sedan will be anything but understated if prototypes provide an accurate indication. Spied in prototype form featuring what appears to be production-intent lighting, the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class will feature lighted star elements in both the head and taillights. Those design bits seem cribbed right from the larger mid-size E-Class taillights and smaller CLA-Class. Stefan Baldauf / SB-Medien The light camouflage on the prototypes reveal the changes to the upcoming C-Class are mainly contained to revised front and rear fascias. But new side mirror caps with embedded cameras can be seen for the surround-view camera system. We'll have to wait to see what changes come inside the C-Class, but expect an upgraded infotainment system that falls inline with the rest of the current Mercedes lineup. Currently, today's C-Class comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbo-4 paired with a mild-hybrid system rated at 255 horsepower. Rear-wheel drive is standard while all-wheel drive is an option. It's unlikely the base powertrain changes format in a meaningful way. But AMG-badged variants will be bringing the V8 back after Mercedes realized it made a mistake with enthusiasts. The current AMG C63 has a turbo-4 hybrid powertrain that is a monster, but it sounds like an appliance without a soul. Speed and power without a soul stirs few emotions. The updated C-Class is expected to debut this year as a 2026 model shortly followed by the electric variant. While the debut likely isn't far away, you can check out these prototype photos by swiping or clicking through the full gallery below. Spot something weird in the wild? Let us know at tips@
