When management keeps quiet about future plans, rumours spread quickly. After the super GL Class, the über CLS and the convertible, the lattest one suggests that Mercedes may absorb its luxury brand.
The current model may join the Mercedes at the top of the range. In the future, Mercedes may develop a lineup of Über Mercedes.
Source: Automotive News
Thanks to a reader, Carscoop has revealed the first pictures of the Mercedes C63 AMG estate due to be unveiled in ten days at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Just like the saloon, the new AMG estate makes its mark by adopting some aggressive lines and an impressive front face. Nevertheless, the back end seems a bit shy when compared to the saloon.
Obviously the estate inherits the engine from the saloon. The athmospheric 6.2 litre V8 delivers a power of 450 bhp/457 hp at 6800 rpm and a maximum torque of 600 Nm. A bit heavier than the saloon, it runs 0-60mph in 4.6s and can “only” reach 155 mph due to an electronically governed top speed.
With this sporty estate, Mercedes now offers a full C Class range that can compete with the ubiquitous Audi. With 36 bhp/37 hp more than the Audi RS4, it takes the lead in the power race by a tiny margin. The question now is: will Audi respond?
The redesigned Mercedes SL unveils a little bit more of itself every week. Up until now, there has been much speculation surrounding the biggest change: the front face. Thanks to this close shot we can guess what the facelift will look like.
Like the new C-Class in its sporty variant, the SL will receive a more simplified grille that will feature a bigger Mercedes logo and bigger stripes. The headlights will be replaced with a new design which takes inspiration from the look and feel of the CLS. Even if it suits the four door coupé, we are not sure the boomerang headlamps will fit the SL-Class design as its original design is already six years old.
Under the bonnet, the redesigned SL-Class will feature new engines with direct injection, just like the first SL in 1955. The entry-level will start with the 350 CGI which produces 278bhp/272hp. The SL will be the first one to receive the 5.5 litre V8 equipped with a direct injection. These new engines will allow Mercedes to reduce its CO2 emissions. Finally, the charming SL55 will be replaced with a SL63 that will feature the 6.2 litre V8.
Source: Worldcarfans
It is official. After much equivocation, Mercedes has decided to sell the B-Class on the American market. The car will go on sale in 2011 or 2012.
Four or five years appears to be a very long time when the B-Class has been sold in Canada for a some time already, but Mercedes wants to limit the risks. Instead of exporting the German model, it will design an American interpretation of the European B-Class. Like the latter, the American model will be based on the C-Class platform. It will enable Mercedes to offer a roomier and more powerful B-Class.
The B-Class will compete with the Audi A3 and new 1-Series set to be launched on the American market soon. Despite all its qualities, the B-Class may not be the best candidate to do battle with its German competitors. While both Audi and BMW models offer a hatchback body, the B-Class is a mini-MPV. Even with a powerful engine, its design may be less appealing than the competition. Is Mercedes hiding another new small model from us?
Source: Bloomberg
A run contest between a Bugatti Veyron and a Mercedes SLR? Let’s be honest, the dice are loaded. How can the SLR with 626bhp for 3,858lbs fairly compete with the Veyron, which produces 1001bhp for 4162lbs? No chance, but this video still demonstrates the incredible power of the Bugatti Veyron.
Imagine a 5,500lbs object powered by a 500 bhp V8 making a drift on a roundabout. Not the brightest of ideas, obviously, but still impressive. Enjoy the video!
Mercedes is planning a big move into aluminium technology, using aluminium bodywork for the new SLC due to be launched in 2010.
Mercedes is still hesitating over which design to choose for the supercar, set to compete with the Audi R8. Two projects are competing with each other. The first, already mentioned by Auto, Motor und Sport one year ago, is a retro-design that takes inspiration from the legendary 1955 300 SL. The car may feature an updated verison of the famous gullwing doors. The second project is a refreshed design of the SLR supercar.
The supercar is expected to use the most powerful AMG engine, the V12, which produces more than 600 bhp. It is reported that AMG may push it up to 700bhp. The car will also feature a V8 engine for the entry-level version.
The supercar will be produced by HWA, a company created by AMG’s cofounder when he sold AMG to Mercedes. The price is expected to be set at in excess of £100,000.
Source: Autoweek
Here are some spyshots of the redesigned SL-Class, which provide some further insights into the Mercedes roadster. Thanks to these spyshots, we now know more about the back end of the car. Do not expect any major changes other than modified headlights at the back, however. The main changes have been made to the front end. The SL-Class will be given a new grille, new headlights that look like the CLS model’s headlights, and new fenders. Unfortunately, these new features are hidden on the current pictures.
Click here to see all pictures
Source: Worldcarfans
For Mercedes, 1997 was the year when it entered the SUV market by launching the M Class. To mark the 10th anniversary, the German carmaker recently unveiled a limited edition version dubbed Edition 10, with the label ‘Edition 10’ mounted on the car’s fenders. The package includes a mix of a white paint, black grille, darkened headlamps and black tinted windows. It also comes with 20-inch wheels and bi-xenon headlights. On the inside, it features a two-tone interior with cream leather seats.
More than the SUV itself, this 10th anniversary also celebrates ten years of operation at the Tuscaloosa plant in Alabama. Mercedes-Benz’ first passenger vehicle plant outside of Germany, the construction of the site was not without its problems. The main difficulty was in finding an educated workforce that could assemble the cars. Several times Mercedes Benz considered abandoning the project due to the poor qualifications of applicants. Finally, however, the first M-Class went into production and since then the plant has created more than 22,000 jobs.
At at time when more or less anybody can have his own TV Channel or at least put a video on YouTube, carmakers are starting to launch their own TV channels. Following in Audi’s footsteps, Mercedes-Benz is today launching today the website Mercedes-Benz.tv.
The program is initially expected to be 20 minutes long and as well as providing the obvious content about the Mercedes brand it will also include a sports program thanks to sponsorship. The web TV will be available in English and German only.
On the first day, the 20 minute show will feature the new McLaren stars Lewis Hamilton, a variety of historical Mercedes models and live broadcasting from the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week show in Berlin.