Vance will build Mercedes combo
Production to start in 2004 on sport-utility/touring car

Vance is a place in this case, not a person. It's the location of the Mercedes plant where they build the M-Class SUVs. And now, apparently, "a combination sport-utility/touring car... aimed at 'premium market' car buyers." Three predictions:

1. It will be as ugly as sin.
2. It will get terrible gas mileage, but better than American SUVs.
3. It will sell really well, because Mercedes usually knows what it's doing except for that stupid Chrysler acquisition.

Mercedes showed an experimental version of the sports tourer at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. That version seated six passengers, and had electronic four-wheel drive, 22-inch wheels and a 360-horsepower V8 engine.

That second prediction is really fish-in-a-barrel time. What do you think, six miles to the gallon, four in the city?