More on the Mercedes, Renault-Nissan Team Up

Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche and Renault/Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn have signed an agreement to share technologies and platforms, with a miniscule 3.1-percent equity exchanging hands. The two chiefs lead a 12-member committee to identify and work on projects where the three auto giants can find synergy.

This is the latest in a long line of attempts by Mercedes to partner with a mass-market automaker that can help with popularly priced models without tainting the three-pointed star. The three expect to realize cost savings and added revenue of about $5.4 billion from the deal, which is open-ended in time and number of potential projects. It also helps Renault/Nissan fill up its underutilized capacity and helps both better compete with the Volkswagen Group juggernaut.

Mercedes Benz B Class Spied Rear Three Quarters

Here's how:
Next Smart to share Gen III Renault Twingo platform The next Twingo, due in about calendar year 2013, will share its platform with the next fortwo and a new smart four-door hatchback that could revive the short-lived forfour name. Renault/Nissan will supply the three-cylinder engine for both the Twingo and the larger smart. The new Renault platform is versatile enough to underpin the tiny smart fortwo, the front-engine Twingo and the rear-engine four-door smart hatchback, which will feature sliding rear doors, previewed by the Mercedes F800 2010 Geneva show car. Electric powertrains are planned for the next-generation smarts, and we're likely to see a proliferation of models beyond fortwo and the four-door.

Mercedes small cars to share Nissan leaf EV technology
Mercedes' next-generation A- and B-Class models will share electric-vehicle technology with Nissan, which is about to launch its Leaf. The new Benz small cars will be built on a flexible shared platform that allows double floors, like the current A-Class, for ultimate package efficiency, as well as the ability to build sporty and specialty models, including a sporty hatchback to compete with the Mini, and a small two-seat roadster. The small Mercs also will be available with a new family of Renault three-cylinder engines and upgraded turbo four-cylinder gas and diesel engines.

2012 Infiniti G may get Benz four-cylinder engine
A new Infiniti G, due next year as a '12 model, may be available with a Mercedes-supplied four-cylinder gas engine. Mercedes currently offers 1.8- and 2.2-liter gas fours in its European-market C-Class, and plans to make that engine available in North America, possibly a year or two before the new, 2015 W205 model. Ghosn and Zetsche say there is virtually no cross-shopping between Mercedes and Infiniti. An Infiniti G22 probably would launch up to a year after the 2012 G37.

Renault to supply small van platform for Mercedes
Mercedes will rely on Renault's small van platform for a compact, urban delivery van family of its own. A next-generation Renault Kangoo is due for 2015. While this segment has not been important to the U.S. market in the past, the entry of the Ford Transit Connect and Fiat's plans to sell small vans here through Chrysler's Ram truck division could change that.

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