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Mercedes
Mercedes AMG builds a new Gullwing
By David Greig
01:22 March 13, 2009 PDT
For the first time in its 40 year history, the Mercedes-Benz performance brand AMG has developed a vehicle completely in-house: the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. This "super sports car" takes an AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid engine developing 420 kW/571 hp peak output, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and sports suspension with aluminum double wishbones, wraps it in an aluminum spaceframe and throws in a set of always-in-style gullwing doors. The combination of the company's first ever use of an aluminum chassis and body frame coupled with lightweight, high-strength components such as a carbon-fiber driveshaft delivers a kerb weight of just 1620 kilograms and a power-to-weight ratio of 2.84 kg/hp. Provisional performance figures put acceleration at 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 315 kmh. Read More
Maybach Zeppelin reborn
By David Greig
13:41 February 26, 2009 PST
Maybach is bringing out a reincarnated Maybach Zeppelin to spearhead its luxury saloon model range. The new model, which is receiving its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, will represent the brand in the high-end luxury saloon segment. It will be a successor to the legendary Maybach Zeppelin, which was revered worldwide as one of the ultimate in high-class automotive engineering in the 1930s. The 21st Century model is the most powerful Maybach ever (471 kW/640 hp and a peak torque of 1000 Newton metres) and two models are on offer, the Maybach 57 Zeppelin which costs €406,000 ($521,000 USD) and the Maybach 62 Zeppelin with a price tag of €473,200 ($607,000 USD). You even get a world first perfume atomizer! Read More
The World's Most Powerful Off-Roader - 515 kW and 1,320 Nm
By Mike Hanlon
20:13 February 19, 2009 PST
German auto Krafthaus Brabus regularly builds the world's fastest cars to showcase its tuning abilities, presenting these outrageous beasts at the major European auto shows each year. For the upcoming Geneva International Auto Show, it has produced the world's most powerful 4x4 based on the Mercedes G-Class. The five-door 4x4 is powered by a BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo engine (a reworked Mercedes S 600 V12 engine) which produces 690 bhp (515 kW) at 5,100 rpm and an astonishing peak torque of 1,320 Nm (973 lb-ft) at 2,100 rpm, though it is electronically limited to 1100 Nm. Prices start from EUR 379,000 (USD 478,500) and head upward from there depending on just how personal and comprehensive the desired luxury fit-out. Read More
New Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé - the world's most aerodynamically efficient series-production car
By Mike Hanlon
23:23 February 17, 2009 PST
The Geneva Motor Show will see the launch of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé. The sports-oriented luxury two-door is claimed to be the most aerodynamically efficient series-production car in the world with a drag coefficient (Cd) of just 0.24. It comes standard with driver drowsiness detection, preventive occupant protection, an Active Bonnet and a Dynamic Driving package that allows different suspension setups at the touch of a button. Read More
Mercedes Benz BlueZERO EV on show in Detroit
By Paul Evans
04:13 January 21, 2009 PST
We first encountered the Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO concept vehicle platform when it was announced in December and recently we had chance to take a closer look at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Read More
FLIR PathFindIR aftermarket thermal imaging system for cars and motorcycles
By Mike Hanlon
20:19 January 11, 2009 PST
January 11, 2009 Though only 10% of road miles are driven at night, those miles account for half all road fatalities. Using public roads is a sight response game you play with your own and others’ lives, so being able to improve your night vision will clearly increase safety for everyone. We’ve written about the coming of Mercedes' NightVision Assist for several years now – the system is based around a thermal night vision camera which sees heat, not light, and hence enables you to see the things that count, well beyond the range of the headlights. FLIR is the company Mercedes partnered with on the project and it has now released the PathFindIR system as an aftermarket accessory for cars and motorcycles. Read More
Mercedes-Benz launches triple-threat BlueZERO electric vehicle platform
By Loz Blain
18:50 December 16, 2008 PST
Mercedes-Benz has put its electric vehicle plans on the table with the announcement of its BlueZERO concept line. The BlueZERO platform is the first Mercedes designed from the ground up to take advantage of an electric drive system - rather than shoe-horning an electric engine into a chassis built around a combustion engine - and Mercedes is hedging its bets with three different energy storage options - the battery-electric E-CELL with a 120 mile range, the hydrogen fuel-cell F-CELL with a 248 mile range, and an extended-range bridging solution, the E-CELL PLUS, which is a battery-electric that uses a petrol generator to provide an extended range of up to 370 miles and easy refueling for longer trips. The lightweight 5-seater vehicle platform houses the drive and energy storage units in a sandwich-floor frame, which makes the cars exceptionally safe, frees up interior and storage room, and centralizes the mass down low for improved handling. Limited production of electric Mercs is set to start around 2010. Read More
BRABUS customized Tesla Roadster gets space-age soundtrack
19:59 November 13, 2008 PST
The era of the electric car is dawning and BRABUS isn't about to be left behind. Often gracing these pages with its high-performance adaptations of Mercedes Benz and other vehicles, the German tuning specialist has announced the formation of a new Zero Emission division which, as its first order of business, has produced a customization program for the Tesla Roadster EV that sets out to "define a potential limited edition as well as an individual tuning program for the Tesla driver". For the pilot concept, the electric engine and drive-train remain untouched but almost everything else gets a dose of cosmetic surgery - new matte white paintwork, new wheels, splashes of carbon fiber bodywork and yes, a sound-generator that not only simulates the noise of a V8 or racecar engine, but also gives drivers the option of cruising to truly 21st century sounds dubbed ‘Beam’ and ‘Warp’. Read More
Mercedez-Benz adaptive high-beam assistant
By Darren Quick
22:42 October 19, 2008 PDT
We’ve all nearly been blinded and had to flash our high beams at oncoming drivers who have failed to dip their lights, but Mercedes-Benz' latest adaptive lighting innovation could help end of such dangerous incidents by taking driver error out of the equation. The newly developed high-beam assistant system uses a dash-mounted camera to automatically adapt headlamp range to the distance of other vehicles, meaning drivers will at all times benefit from optimum headlamp range by becoming aware of danger spots, pedestrians and other road users more easily and more quickly. Read More
2008 Paris Motor Show round-up
19:37 October 19, 2008 PDT
As the curtain falls on the Paris Motor Show for 2008 we take a look back at some of the biggest surprises and brightest innovations to emerge from this massive global automotive extravaganza. As a starting point it's hard to go past Lamborghini, which emulated its 2007 most-talked-about crown by showing its Estoque concept. As a mid-engined four-door coupé with a V10 motor and permanent four-wheel drive, it's not really eco-inspired but a weapon to behold for the family man. Mazda definitely made our short-list for the most striking design with the aerodynamic Kiyora Urban compact and Citroen also floated some compelling concepts including the colorful Hypnos luxury hybrid crossover and the virtual-meets-real-world GTbyCITROEN which will appear on-screen in the next installment of Gran Turismo. Read More
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S
18:53 October 1, 2008 PDT
Mercedes-Benz has announced a new limited edition version of the SLR McLaren Roadster supercar with the promise of breathtaking power and performance characteristics above that of its stunning predecessor. Improved dynamic suspension tuning and aerodynamics combined with a hand-built, supercharged, 5.5-liter Mercedes-AMG V8 engine that delivers 478 kW/650 hp (up from 460kW) give the new variant a top speed of 335 kmh with acceleration from 0 to 100 kmh in 3.7 seconds and 0-200 kmh 10.6 seconds. Why "722"? The number is a reference to the SLR racing models from the 1950s from which the two-seater cabriolet draws inspiration - Stirling Moss and his co-driver Dennis Jenkinson carried this number when they drove to victory in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR at the classic Mille Miglia long-distance race in 1955. Read More
Mercedes-Benz ConceptFASCINATION design study
00:16 September 12, 2008 PDT
The latest design study from Mercedes-Benz is Concept FASCINATION - and it looks pretty swish. Under its skin, the highly-sculpted hatchback coupé is based on E-Class technology with drive provided by a new four-cylinder BlueTEC diesel engine which develops 150 kW/ 204 hp from a displacement of 2.2 liters. It's mostly about the looks though. Designed to pull on the heartstrings of coupé lovers with a healthy dose of practical usability thrown in, the concept makes extensive use of luxurious hand-crafted materials on the inside including a load compartment made of wood with brushed aluminum protective rails and built-in refrigerator and humidor. From the outside the car's dynamic profile is highlighted by its forward-sloping rear, glass roof, frameless side-windows, an eye-catching front apron and slightly new take on the dual headlight theme. Read More
e-mobility Berlin project to provide 500 EV charging points
23:20 September 9, 2008 PDT
The implementation effective infrastructure seems to be to lagging behind the development of electric vehicles themselves, but a new joint project announced by Daimler AG and energy provider RWE AG could be another sign that the tide is turning in terms of developing widespread systems that will allow EV's to make the transition to the mainstream. Read More
Etihad buys up big at Farnborough Airshow
15:52 July 15, 2008 PDT
Soaring oil prices might be putting the squeeze on margins for airlines around the world, but that hasn't deterred United Arab Emirates national carrier Etihad from splurging more than $20 billion on orders for Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Read More
225mph Stealth supercar: BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW
23:09 June 10, 2008 PDT
German auto-performance specialist Brabus has again pushed the envelope with its latest creation - the wickedly styled BULLIT BLACK ARROW. Read More
Limited edition SL 63 AMG Edition IWC
17:11 May 13, 2008 PDT
May 13, 2008 Mercedes' high-performance division AMG has developed a new limited edition version of the SL 63 roadster. WIth only 200 destined to see the light of day, the SL 63 AMG Edition IWC combines its specially tuned, naturally aspirated, 386 kW/525 hp 6.3-litre V8 engine with a designo magno Kashmir white finish, an exterior carbon package and a a range of handling and performance enhancements in a vehicle that can hit 100 kmh 4.6 seconds from a standing start and has an electronically limited top speed of 300 kmh. Aside from the luxury timepiece that comes with the car, the "IWC" refers to the design collaboration between Mercedes-AMG and Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen, a relationship which began in 2004 with the CLS 55 AMG “IWC Engineer". Read More
Mercedes-Benz debuts GLK-Class at Auto China 2008
By Mike Hanlon
11:49 April 21, 2008 PDT
The keenly anticipated world premiere of the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class at Auto China fair in Beijing saw Chinese superstar Zhang Ziyi (think “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”) champion the product. The compact SUV employs Mercedes' Agility Control suspension, the aim being to offer outstanding performance and handling AND ride comfort. Read More
BRABUS SLR McLaren roadster gets a smart tender
02:53 March 13, 2008 PDT
So the traffic's a little heavy and you don't feel like taking the SLR McLaren roadster BRABUS to the shops. The solution: take the high-performance smart fortwo "tender". The yachting term has made its way into the automotive world via the latest offering from German performance specialist BRABUS. On World debut at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, the BRABUS “tender to the SLR” package consists of two identically painted and equipped vehicles - an aerodynamically enhanced, finely tuned, 211mph SLR McLaren Roadster BRABUS (the yacht) and the BRABUS ULTIMATE 112, a drop-top two-seater based on the latest smart fortwo Cabrio that puts out 112 hp and achieves 0-62mph in under ten seconds (the tender). Read More
Mercedes-Benz bionic car: automotive design meets modern art
23:55 February 24, 2008 PST
February 25, 2008 One of the stand-out automotive design concepts from back in 2005 has re-emerged in the guise of modern art. With a highly-aerodynamic design based on what at first seems an unlikely candidate - the tropical sea-dwelling boxfish - the Mercedes-Benz bionic concept car is appearing as part of the "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition at New York's Museum of Modern Art. Read More
Radar car collision prevention systems put to the test
By Kyle Sherer
16:34 February 14, 2008 PST
February 15, 2008 British Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre Thatcham has put three of the car industry’s most hyped collision prevention technologies to the test – and they’ve emerged with flying colors. The Volvo City Safety, Mercedes Distronic Plus, and Honda CMBS use radar systems to mitigate and prevent low speed collisions – which, as a category, make up 75% of all motor accidents. Read More
Mercedes SL 63 AMG: coming in April, with new 7-speed Speedshift transmission
By Loz Blain
12:11 February 14, 2008 PST
Mercedes' high performance tuning subsidiary AMG has announced the April release of its sportiest-ever SL class Benz. The SL 63 AMG's 6.3-litre engine's now tuned for 525 horses and 660Nm, and even the most ham-footed driver can hit 100kmh in 4.6 seconds thanks to the AMG Race Start launch control package. Chilly temperatures don't have to put you off driving with the top down, as the AMG features a new "Airscarf" neck-level heating system, and the electronically adjustable suspension lets you strike the right balance between racetrack grip and touring comfort on the road. The transmission's a beauty - a four mode manual auto with superfast 100ms shifting and auto-double declutching on downshifts. And if this baby's not fast enough for you, there's always the SL 65 AMG biturbo V12. Read More
Mercedes E-Class and smart fortwo demonstrate fuel efficiency on the road to Detroit
By Kyle Sherer
23:11 January 16, 2008 PST
January 17, 2008 - Talk about making an entrance – the smart fortwo and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class travelled 4400 kilometres over seven days from Los Angeles to the Detroit Auto Show. In the trip, which aimed to measure fuel economy in real world conditions, the smart fortwo mhd recorded an average fuel consumption of 4.8 litres per hundred kilometres, the two smart fortwo cdis recorded 3.9 L/100 km, and the business saloon E 320 BLUETEC recorded 5.8 L/100 km. Read More
Jaguar XK 120 C – brand new – US$133,000
By Mike Hanlon
23:34 January 9, 2008 PST
If you’ve ever lusted after a Mercedes 300 SLR, Jaguar XK 120 C or Aston Martin DB3S, no doubt your enthusiasm waned when you checked out the cost. The XK 120 C (C-Type) sold new for US$6000, twice the price of an XK120. A genuine, healthy C-Type will now set you back more than a million, and the 1953 Le Mans winner would be valued in excess of US$4 million if it was for sale (it’s not). Replicas are available from a variety of sources but few come with the heritage of Proteus which has been producing all aluminum bodied sports cars for two decades. Under new management, the company is now in expansion mode and is seeking international distribution for its thoroughly authentic US$133,000 replica. Even better news is the plan to extend the range to include SS100, XKSS, and D-Type Jaguars, Aston Martin DB3S and Mercedes Benz 300SLR. Read More
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 Formula 1 car unveiled
22:41 January 8, 2008 PST
January 9, 2008 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has presented the team’s 2008 Formula 1 car at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The MP4-23 was completed just in time for the event where drivers Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen were joined on stage by Pedro de la Rosa and fellow test driver Gary Paffett to unveil the car. Read More
2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Roadster
18:17 December 30, 2007 PST
December 31, 2008 Mercedes-Benz has released details of its new SLK roadster models ahead of an April 2008 release. With around 650 newly developed parts in all, the latest line-up is marked by new-look front and rear sections - the redesigned front bumper with a modified air-dam arrangement enhances the two-seater's distinctive arrow shape while at the rear, a diffuser-style lower section, trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes and the AMG-inspired darkened tail lights have been added. Interior modifications include a new instrument cluster, three-spoke sports steering wheel and improved audio and telematics systems while under the hood the supercharged four-cylinder and V6 engine options have been boosted in terms of output and fuel economy with the 265 kW/360 hp, 5.5-litre V8 powerplant retained for the SLK 55 AMG . Read More
Alexis Olson
- November 9, 2009 @ 21:08 UTC
