Category: Mercedes

The German carmaker has unveiled a limited edition of the facelifted SL63 AMG dubbed IWC and limited to a mere 200 units.

If the 6.3-litre engine remains unchanged, this special edition comes with an AMG Performance package featuring 19in wheels, an AMG Performance chassis equipped with Active Body Control, rear-axle, multi-disc limited-slip differential with a lock factor of 40 percent, a smaller-diamter steering wheel and silver-finish aluminum gearshift paddles. There is also an all-new exterior white paint color called Kashmir.

On the inside, the SL63 AMG IWC features a Tobago Brown nappa leather interior with carbon accents on both the door panels and central console. Other interior specific equipments include AMG sports seats featuring multicontour and memory functions, heating, an AMG-specific perforation pattern, a special design and AMG badges; black AMG floormats with Tobago Brown leather piping; AMG door sills with white illuminated AMG lettering; and the IWC logo on the lid of the central console.

As the moniker refers to the Swiss watch manufacturer, the SL63 AMG IWC also comes with IWC Schaffhausen’s “Grosser Ingenieur”. First models will be delivered in November of this year.

The German carmaker has unveiled a limited edition of the facelifted SL63 AMG dubbed IWC and limited to a mere 200 units.

If the 6.3-litre engine remains unchanged, this special edition comes with an AMG Performance package featuring 19in wheels, an AMG Performance chassis equipped with Active Body Control, rear-axle, multi-disc limited-slip differential with a lock factor of 40 percent, a smaller-diamter steering wheel and silver-finish aluminum gearshift paddles. There is also an all-new exterior white paint color called Kashmir.

On the inside, the SL63 AMG IWC features a Tobago Brown nappa leather interior with carbon accents on both the door panels and central console. Other interior specific equipments include AMG sports seats featuring multicontour and memory functions, heating, an AMG-specific perforation pattern, a special design and AMG badges; black AMG floormats with Tobago Brown leather piping; AMG door sills with white illuminated AMG lettering; and the IWC logo on the lid of the central console.

As the moniker refers to the Swiss watch manufacturer, the SL63 AMG IWC also comes with IWC Schaffhausen’s “Grosser Ingenieur”. First models will be delivered in November of this year.

Like Audi which decided to drop the V8 engine on the S4, AMG has to redesign its engine range to comply with the future regulations. The carmaker plans to replace its 6.2-litre V8 and
5.5-litre V12 by an all-new turbocharged 5.0-litre V8.

The new engine is reported to be equipped with two turbocharges and to be available in two versions. An entry version, which will replace the 6.2-litre V8, will deliver a power output of 570bhp and a torque of 665 lb ft, while the 5.5-litre V12 successor will deliver a power output of 700bhp and a torque output of 885 lb ft. If AMG plans to downsize its engines, the brand has no plans to stop raising power.

AMG has also plans to develop a hybrid-powered version expected to be called ‘BluePower’. The new 5.0-litre engine will be hooked up to a new electrically operated gearbox which will enable faster and more efficient gearshifts than a conventional automatic gearbox.

After two concept cars in Detroit and Geneva, Mercedes has finally unveiled the official GLK at the Beijing Motor Show.

There was no better way to tell Europeans that Mercedes doesn’t care anymore about them after unveiling the GLK in China. It is also a clumsy attempt to steal the media coverage from the new Audi Q5. As predicted the production version is almost identical to the previous concept cars. The GLK features the latest brand’s design with sharper lines and an interior which comes with a new dashboard styling also seen on the future E-Class.

Mercedes has only released the final specifications of the American version, the GLK 350. The small SUV is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine which delivers a power output of 268bhp. The GLK will be available with a choice of two transmissions, a rear-wheel drive system and the in-house four-wheel drive system called 4MATIC. The GLK sits on 19in wheels in standard which can be upgraded to 20in wheels. The SUV runs 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and achieves a low 23mpg.

The closer we get to the official launch, the more details are being released about  the future most powerful Mercedes model, the SL65 AMG Black Series.

The delivered power output was already known, but Motor Trend confirmed the number. The powerful SL will offer an output of 670bhp. Likewise, the magazine the staggering torque of 738 lb-ft. The news are that in addition to the power boost, engineers have focused on weight reduction. Thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber in the fixed-roof, bonnet and front fenders, the SL65 AMG Black Series will lose 470 lbs to reach Mercedes-like weight of 4,080 lbs. By comparison, a Porsche 911 GT2 weighs 3175 lbs and the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 only weighs 3671 lbs despite featuring a four-wheel drive transmission.

The SL65 AMG Black Series will come, of course, with technical upgrades such as wider track, larger brakes, adjustable suspension and a deployable rear spoiler. On the inside, the supercar will feature racing carbon fiber seats, flat bottom steering wheel and Alcantara upholstery.

Mercedes has announced the price of the Maybach Landaulet for the American market: £675,000/$1.35 million.

Launched at the Dubai Motor Show, the Maybach Landaulet will hit the American showrooms in next December. The Landaulet has been designed as a chauffeur-driven limousine with a soft partial convertible top above rear-seat passengers.

"The Landaulet is for a superrich individual who wants something that is extremely extraordinary and enjoys being driven in a car with acres of sky above them," Hans-Dieter Multhaupt, vice president of program management for Maybach said. Multhaupt also said that many of the Maybach Landaulets "will be fitted with a glass panel that separates the driver and the passenger, like the cars of the past."

Mercedes-Benz is seriously considering launching a four-cylinder-powered C-Class on the American market.

According to company sources, the German carmaker is currently working on a new downsized four-cylinder petrol unit. With a displacement of only 1.4-litre, the new engine might deliver around 160bhp which is similar to that of  the current 1.8-litre petrol unit available on the C180 Kompressor SE. The current 1.8-litre delivers a power output of 154bhp at 5,200rpm and a torque output of 170 lb ft  between 2800 and 4600rpm.

There is no doubt that the new engine will be powerful enough to power the C-Class entry level. However will the carmaker’s brand image be strong enough to convince American consumers to buy a Mercedes powered by a 1.4-litre engine.

Mercedes-Benz will stop producing the SLR supercar next year five years after its launch.

The German carmaker will roll off the last SLR at the end of next year. The SLR is only built in its roadster variant as the coupé version production ceased last year. The SLR was initially unveiled as a concept at the end of the last decade and reached the showrooms in 2004. Last year, 275 SLR have been built, 14 more than in 2006. However, the production output is far from the company’s expectation as Mercedes initially planned to build between 400 and 500 vechicles per year.

The supercar has often been criticized for being overweight and is considered as the origin of the split between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren which developed the car. Both carmakers will develop their own successor.

McLaren is currently working on a new V8-powered supercar internally known as P11 set to compete with the Ferrari 430 and the Porsche 911 GT2.  The P11 will be powered by the AMG 6.3-litre V8 petrol engine.

Mercedes is actively developing the SLC which will be built by HWA, a company founded by AMG founder after he left Mercedes. Details remain scarce, although it is rumoured that the supercar will feature a retractable hard top.