Mercedes-Benz

We first saw Mercedes-Benz’s Beltbag in the company’s gadget-laden ESF2009 Experimental Safety Vehicle. Now the German automaker has announced the inflatable seat-belt strap is set to go into production and debut in an as yet unnamed luxury-class model. Mercedes is following in the footsteps of Ford, which introduced the first production inflatable seat-belts in the 2011 Explorer and now includes the technology in a number of models.  Read More

There's some confusion as to whether the new Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS GT (to give it its full title) is a replacement or an addition to the SLS stable. The official line is that it is a faster and more focused additional model but it seems likely that the standard SLS will quietly disappear. It make less and less sense in the face of the monstrous SL 63 and 65s now available. The SLS GT, however, makes perfect sense - it fixes the niggle that every single reviewer has complained about since day one. Gearbox, gearbox, gearbox.  Read More

Mercedes-owned Fuso is to expand the availability of its newly announced second-generation hybrid Canter truck in Europe. Designed at Daimler’s Global Hybrid Center in Japan, the new truck promises an identical driving experience and servicing costs, plus a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy.  Read More

We’re not sure how hotly contested this particular world record is, but at the very least it does provide a nice bit of video to start the working week – particularly for those who spent the weekend hacking around the golf course chasing that elusive hole in one. Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has claimed the record for the “farthest golf shot to be caught in a moving car, ever.”  Read More

As part of its keynote speech on the opening day of this year's WWDC, Apple mentioned that Siri will be featured in vehicles from no less than nine major global automakers. Not only will Siri be making her much anticipated iPad debut, but she'll also be joining you on your daily commute. Apple calls it the "Eyes Free" system.  Read More

Mercedes Benz has been trying to retire the agricultural 33-year old G-Wagen for years, but people keep buying the damn thing. Its replacement was supposed to be the GL series, a large and luxurious 7-seater seemingly tailor-made for an American extended family and the open freeway. Unfortunately it is an expensive and somewhat uninspiring vehicle with none of the style of its equally gargantuan German rival the Audi Q7. However its smaller brother the GL is a chunky and almost cute synthesis of the all-terrain vehicle paradigm and the current Mercedes-Benz style guide, especially after its 2013 model year refit.  Read More

Although transport truck drivers routinely shift gears when going up or down hills, those hills can sometimes sneak up on them. Using Daimler’s GPS-enabled Predictive Power Control, however, the new Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor unit will now be able to see those hills coming. This will allow it to automatically change gears before the going gets tough, resulting in fuel savings of up to three percent over moderately difficult topography.  Read More

So you think you have an eye for value in assessing investment-quality cars and motorcycles? Here are a dozen cars and motorcycles that went to auction last week. We've included the official description, several images and the official estimates on price from the auctioneer. Can you guess how much each sold for? Answers at the bottom of the story.  Read More

Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler and BMW are typically seen facing off against each other to win the hearts, minds and wallets of luxury car buyers. However, the challenges of developing a mass-produced electric car have inspired the two pillars of German luxury to put aside their rivalry and team up on a city car project.  Read More