The SUV and the hatchback will be deriving its DNA from the next gen of B Class that is scheduled to debut in Europe before the end of 2011.

Benz executives hint of a stylish sedan that will roll out to their dealerships in Europe as part of the B Class vehicles that they are also considering for the US.

The schedule for the US release is not yet determined because of exchange rate issues. The carmaker though notes that the US car buyers are ready for their premium compact car. They might also inject alternative engine options for the B Class when they introduce it to the US. Mercedes Benz is considering fuel cell or electric plug in versions for the new cars.

A fuel cell powered B Class will be tested later this year in the US. The car manufacturer is getting mixed signals from the US consumers as prices of fuel are starting to stabilize. They are seeing movement toward the favored light trucks of the market.

It will really depend on the fuel prices but Mercedes Benz believes that the US market is also gearing for more fuel efficient vehicles.

The details of the SUV were not yet revealed during a breakfast meeting with Land Rover dealers in Orlando, Florida. Without the details, the tag price of the new Land Rover LRX is not yet determined. The LRX is expected to widen the market base of the brand especially since it will also be the most efficient of the cars in the Land Rover garage.

Official photos were released by the car manufacturer and we have hits that it will be coming out with diesel, gasoline, and hybrid variants.

The hybrid and gasoline LRX will head to the United States while the diesel version might be offered in the European market.

The LRX concept was revealed during the 2008 auto show in Detroit. The concept vehicle then had a 2.0L hybrid diesel engine running on biodiesel and has a mileage of 60 mpg. We might need to wait a while before seeing this powertrain in production since it will cost a lot to combine electric drives with diesel.

The car may also be equipped with a start stop technology to further boost its fuel savings feature and decrease its emissions. The designers might also use carbon fiber to cut down the weight of the SUV.

The Halewood plant of Land Rover is tasked to start production of the 2012 LRX by next year.

The team responsible for the new Defender is working with their drawing boards covered under the moniker Project Icon. The goal is to update the old Defender and apply principles of modern design to make its lines more appealing to today’s consumers. Land Rover wants to keep the vehicle simple and preserve its capability for which the Defender is known for.

The new Defender might avoid the aluminum body but instead borrow some concept from the rugged steel body works of the Range Rover and the Discovery. Most of its current siblings in the garage are going for the lighter aluminum but the ruggedness of the Defender might just be calling for a harder shell.

It will initially be assembled in England but the car maker has plans to spread production in China, India, and Russia.

The upgrade of the Defender to T5 chassis will involve installing independent suspension, air or steel springs, and a choice between soft or hard roofing. The engine will most likely from the range of six or four cylinders running on diesel.

Most likely, the new Defender will not touch the American shore. The last stint of the vehicle on U.S. grounds was during the 1990s.

Infiniti released the official tag price for its 2009 EX35 crossover starting at $33800 as it rolled out of dealerships. The new EX35 provides more standard and safety features.

The RWD base model at $33800 provides standard leather seats, roof rails, HVAC vents on the rear, and a reverse camera. The AWD that has the same features has a sticker of $36000.

The RWD Journey variant sells for $35200 which comes with some upgrades like the 6-disc CD entertainment system, steering column enhanced with telescoping capabilities, automatic climate control, and a coat hanger on the head rest of the driver. The AWD Journey tops the list at $37400.

Consumers can also opt in for an AVM or Around View Monitor which helps drivers dealing with blind spots during parking through cameras installed on the side and rear of the vehicle.

A technology package is also available. This upgrade gives the driver warning systems for lane departure and forward collision, cruise control, and brake assist. Other upgrades consist of a navigation system and 18 inch wheels.

All of the EX35 crossover models come standard with a 3.5L 297hp V6 engine. The 3.7L variant with a 305 hp output is not yet in the U.S. but is currently being marketed in Europe.

The 2010 Cadillac SRX which is believed to be the top rival of the EX crossover has a slightly higher price of $34155. Auto industry experts are waiting to see how the new EX will help GM reclaim the segments of the luxury SUVs and crossovers. Other competitors are the BMW X3, Lexus RX, and the Infiniti EX.