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TireKicker regulars know we love us some Infiniti G37. Now , the Renault-Nissan-Daimler alliance may mean Mercedes-Benz power under the hood...an inline four to help with economy and emissions. 

Full story at Automotive News. 

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Mercedes-Benz, whose parent company is already considering a technology and stock deal with Renault-Nissan to meet European emissions standards, is also under the gun on upcoming fuel economy requirements.

One idea is to make all flagship S-Class models, including the high-performance AMG models, hybrid-only, beginning with the next generation which hits Europe in 2013 and the U.S. in 2014.

But Automotive News says Mercedes-Benz dealers in the U.S. aren't happy with that idea at all.

The boards of the two automakers are going over the details of a plan to share technology as well as stakes in each other's companies. Net result: A family relationship between Renault, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and smart.

What's driving the deal? Automotive News says it's European exhaust-emission standards for 2012.

 

The United States Justice Department has filed charges against Daimler AG, maker of Mercedes-Benz automobiles, alleging a "long-standing practice of paying bribes to foreign officials."

The feds say at least 22 countries were involved over a ten-year span and hundreds of payments to foreign officials worth tens of millions of dollars.