Category: Mercedes

Lorinser launched a new tuning package for the C-Class Estate yesterday which will be similar to the C-Class’s saloon.

The body kit includes new front and rear bumpers, side skirts which visually connect the wheel arches, a honeycomb grille and side vents. The car is equipped with 19” wheels.

Under the hood, the entry level starts with the C200 Kompressor whose power jumps from 181bhp to 215bhp and torque from 184 lb ft to 217 lb ft with the help of a new ECU, a new belt and a new air filter. Thanks to a new camshaft, the C350’s power increases from 268bhp to 301bhp and the torque has been boosted to 280 lb ft from 258 lb ft. Along the petrol engines, the diesel units have also been tuned. The C200 CDI sees its power gaining 20bhp from 134bhp to 154bhp while the torque jumps from 199 lb ft to 266 lb ft. The C220 CDI’s power increases from 168bhp to 188bhp and the torque from 295 lb ft to 354 lb ft. As for the C320 CDI, the power jumps from 221bhp to 257bhp and the torque has been increased by 14% from 376 lb ft to 428 lb ft.

The Japanese tuner has unveiled a body kit for the exclusive Mercedes CL-Class and black appeared to be its muse.

Sporting an all-black exterior,the Wald’s CL features a range of aerodynamic and visual appendixes such as a front and rear apron, new side skirts, new spoilers and a few ungraceful air intakes.

Mercedes might become the first car maker to produce a device that detects driver’s tiredness as it is undergoing its final test phase.

Dubbed Attention Assist, the system uses various sensors to analyse driving behaviour and recognises tiredness-related changes in the driver’s personal driving style. In this event the driver is prompted to take a break. Unlike other methods of detecting tiredness, the Mercedes system evaluates a series of indicators in order to assess the alertness of the driver and to recognise the gradual transition between
being awake and being tired.

During every journey Attention Assist continuously observes the driver’s typical behaviour patterns and uses these to create an individual driver profile which serves as a basis for recognising the symptoms of tiredness. Where there is a significant deviation from the saved empirical values, the system determines whether or not there are signs of encroaching tiredness. Whether and when the driver is warned also depends on the time of day, the duration of the trip and the individual’s driving style.

The system records various data such as the speed, the longitudinal and lateral acceleration, but also the angle of the steering wheel. It also takes into account the way that the indicators and pedals are used, certain driver control actions and various external influences such as a side wind or an uneven road surface. Several studies revealed that one efficient way to detect tiredness is to focus on the wheel. Indeed, tired drivers can be spotted by a series of typical steering wheel movements.

Mercedes has tested the device over 500,000 kilometres first with the help of a driving simulator located in Berlin and then in real conditions. The final tests will include trials in several climate zones, in city traffic and long distance journeys.

The Attention Assist system will be available in Mercedes cars from 2009.

In its latest issue, Autobild released a few renderings of the face-lifted Mercedes SL-Class. As reported in a previous post, the grille grows in size and the headlights are inspired from the CLS fascia. The revamped SL-Class becomes more aggressive but lacks a bit of elegance in this rendering, Let’s hope the real car will keep the elegance that characterises the iconic roadster.

Although the final specs of the future car remain unknown, the face-lifted SL-Class will feature new engines with direct ignition which will reduce the CO2 emissions. The engine range will start with the SL350 and will be topped by the SL 65 AMG whose V12 delivers 604bhp.

The German specialist has unveiled its tuning program for the new C-Class estate. Carlsson engineers focused on the diesel engines. The engine range is available with a choice of two oil burners, the 220CDI and the 320CDI. The C220 CDI unit has its power raised by 33bhp from 168bhp to 201bhp and the torque raised by 58 lb ft from 295 ft lb to 453 lb ft. The C320 CDi power jumps from 221bhp to 262bhp and the torque from 376 lb ft to 451 lb ft. There is also a petrol engine with the C350 which gets an extra 23 bhp to 291bhp and an extra torque of 25 lb ft to 284 lb ft. The C350, dubbed CK35, runs the 0-60mph in less than 6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 168mph.

While some tuners focus on designing a flashy exterior kit, Carlsson shows discretion. The kit consists of a front apron, a diffuser-look apron at the rear, side mouldings and a rear spoiler. It also includes an electro-polished grille insert and double-headlight units with fog and driving lights. The car can sit on 11-spoke 19” wheels.

Here is the spyshot of the next generation C-class Sport Coupe, which will be on sale next year. The little C-class will adopt a new name, CLC, for the occasion. This time, it will face serious contender, the BMW 1-Series Coupe, and the latter might already be the winner.

Like its predecessor, the CLC will be based on the C-class platform. Nevertheless, information differ from one source to another. Some sources said the CLC will be based on the former C-class platform while others claimed it would be derived from the recently launched new C-class. The new spyshots might give us a clue, especially the interior styling. Mercedes-Benz kept the current dash structure instead of adopting the new C-class’. Maybe the German car maker tries to cut cost. In this situation , the CLC would rather be based on the former C-calss platform.

The CLC will feature a lightly revised exterior with a new front taking cues from the saloon and a rear similar to the outgoing generation. Do not expect a revolution with the CLC and it might be a mistake for Mercedes-Benz. If it is not appealing for everybody, the BMW 1-Series Coupe does not make you feel to face a shortened upper model. This is a real car. This is less true for the future CLC.

The car you see on the spyshot is the next CLK due to be launched in 2009. The German coupé will go a bit more upmarket intending to increase the C-class sales figures from 395,000 vehicles in 2006 to 535,000 annually by 2010.

The CLK shares its inner structure, powertrains, and suspension layout with the C-class saloon, but has unique interior and this time interior styling. The exterior design includes new-look rear wings with large wheelarch, inspired by the F700 concept car.

On the inside, the CLK will replace the current C-Class dashboard by a new dash structure, which takes inspiration from the S-Class. Expect the materials to be of a higher quality than the current generation. The equipment will feature ventilated and heated front seats with an easy-entry system, and a hard-drive equipped sound system.

The next generation CLK will be available with a choice of three petrol engines, the 300bhp 3.5- litre V6 engine, the 354bhp twin-turbo engine and the 428 bhp unit. There will also be two diesel engines with Bluetech technology, a 2-litre with 204 bhp and a 3-litre V6 unit of 252bhp. Along the the three petrol units and the two diesel engines, there will be the range-topping 6.2-litre V8 with 481bhp. All engines will have a seven-speed automatic gearbox, dubbed G7-Tronic, as standard.

There will also be a convertible variant six months later with a cloth roof instead of a fully automatic collapsible system.

Source: Car

Due to go on sale in 2008, the next hottest SUV might not be available with a right-hand version because of high engineering costs generated by the conversion. The small Mercedes SUV is based on the current C-Class estate platform. While available in 2wd for the entry levels, the GLK will rely on the 4Matic architecture at the top of the range in order to provide 4wd. Unfortunately, the 4Matic system has not been designed for right-hand drive countries. For the management, the main stumbling block for the conversion is the cost but some voices argue that the investment is worthwhile on a long term.

With a length of around 177 inches, the GLK will provide enough room for five people and the boot will offer a low tailgate. Rather than a small ML, the GLK will look like the large GL. The hot SUV will be available with a choice of 2.1-litre diesel, 3.0-litre V6 petrol and diesel, 3.5 litre V6 petrol and the 6.2-litre AMG V8.

The GLK will compete with the future Audi Q5 and the BMW X3. If it is not available as a right-hand drive variant, Audi and BMA will have an easier time on those markets.