Despite the recent downturn in the U.S. economy, luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz continue to see sales growth in the world's biggest car market. The falling dollar has made it even more profitable to build cars in America--and the automaker already builds M-, R- and GL-class vehicles in its Alabama plant.

Mercedes-Benz has now decided on the further development of its global production network. In connection with the launch of the next-generation C-Class in 2014, Mercedes-Benz will start building 20% of the cars at its Tuscaloosa plant in Alabama.

For management, the decision was simple. It is essential to have production facilities of the high-volume C-Class close to the market, and the svelte sedan is the best-selling Mercedes-Benz model in the U.S. market.

Production of the C-Class will also be altered back in Germany. The production of the C-Class sedan for markets in Europe will be concentrated at the Bremen plant in the future.

Mercedes Benz has made it official: the 2011 C-Class Coupe is on its way. The German luxury automaker has announced it will build the two-door C-Class at its massive Bremen plant, with production scheduled to begin in 2011. The addition of the Coupe gives Mercedes Benz three different variants of the C-Class, with a convertible almost certainly to follow. The impressively flexible Bremen plant, which employs 12,600 workers, also makes the C-Class sedan, wagon, GLK, two E-Class variants, the SL and SLK.

With the C-Class Coupe officially on its way to production, we're more than a bit curious as to how Mercedes will differentiate the smaller Benz two-door from the larger, more expensive E-Class Coupe. See, the bi-door E-Class already utilizes the C-Class platform, and the more expensive E Coupe is almost identical in every dimension to the C-Class Saloon. But the E-Class coupe commands a price premium of $9,000 compared to a C-Class sedan with the same 3.5-liter V6 engine.

We suspect Mercedes will shorten the C-Class platform to better differentiate the C Coupe from the larger, more expensive E Coupe. But unlike the larger E Coupe, which is virtually the same price as sedan with the same name, the C Coupe may receive a bit of a price bump compared to its sedan brethren. It's a good bet that we'll know a lot of these answers by the time the Paris Motor Show opens its doors to the media in September. Hit the jump to read over the official press release.

Mercedes-Benz Australia is pleased to introduce Concept 358 and a very special SLS AMG. Both vehicles were co designed by Mercedes-Benz Australia and built by AMG exclusively for the 2010 Australian International Motor Show.

"Australia is one of our favourite markets," said Mario Spitzner, Director Branding, Marketing & Sales Mercedes-AMG. "We were asked to create two unique AMG vehicles for the Australian International Motor Show."

"I hope you enjoy them as much as we did building them," said Spitzner.

C 63 AMG - Concept 358

As the only C 63 AMG in the world to be painted in designo Pearl Orange paint from the AMG factory in Affalterbach, Concept 358 also introduces the AMG Performance Package Plus which lifts power to a staggering 358kW. Also included in the Performance Package Plus are unique 19-inch multi spoke alloy wheels
in black, KEYLESS-GO and extended designo leather appointments inside.