2010 Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break Concept breaks cover

As we said in this post, Mercedes-Benz unveiled its new Shooting Break concept car ahead of the Beijing Auto Show, a new vehicle that previews the upcoming CLS Shooting Break.

The new car uses the new design line introduced by the F800 Style Concept unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show but also shows elements which are mindful of the SLS AMG super sports car such as the radiator grille, with the large star and eye-catching, bionic slats. The new grille is situated between the two LED headlamps, which feature the LED technology for all of the usual dynamic light functions. The design is complemented by the 20-inch sterling silver wheels, featuring a special bionically arranged five-spoke filigree design and wrapped in 255/30 ZR 20 tyres on the front and 285/25 ZR 20 tyres on the rear.

Bmw may halt production at its U.S. factory due to the volcanic ash cloud

If the volcanic ash cloud interrupts trans-Atlantic flights for another two days, BMW will be compelled to stop production at its US factory.

In an interview, spokesman Mathias Schmidt said that its Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, which builds the X5 and X6 sport-utility vehicles, gets its transmissions and other components from Germany factories by air. The April 14 eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano spewed dust across Europe’s airspace, causing about 63,000 flights in airports from Dublin to Moscow to be canceled. The International Air Transport Association said that the canceled flights are costing carriers up to $300 million in lost revenue each day. In its Web site, BMW said that its sole US factory, which started operating in 1994, has a capacity of about 600 vehicles a day. BMW officers also canceled a press trip to visit its factory in Shenyang, China, due to the air-travel restrictions.