2010 Mercedes-Benz S-class / S550 / S600

Unless you’re Rain Man—or an S-class nerd—it’s going to be mighty hard to tell the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-class from the one that’s been on sale since early 2006. The exterior changes are essentially limited to a new front bumper and grille; an integrated exhaust at the rear; and the use of LEDs for the taillamps, daytime running lights, and as accent lights in the headlamps. But the minor aesthetic changes hide more state-of-the-art tech underneath, as well as one unwelcome mechanical change.

The new technologies found in the 2010 S, which goes on sale in August, include much of the stuff introduced with the recently redesigned 2010 E-class. That means adaptive high-beams, the addition of pedestrian detection for the Night View Assist, a lane-keeping system, and the Attention Assist system. Interior changes to the new S include a new steering wheel and ambient lighting that is now selectable to one of three hues instead of one. The 2010 model also gets updated Bluetooth functionality, an SD card reader in the dash, an iPod/media interface in the glove box, and HD radio.

Keep Reading: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-class / S550 / S600 - First Drive Review

2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 Coupe

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”

We can be pretty sure John Keats wasn’t thinking about automotive sheetmetal when he penned those words in 1818. But if Keats had been scribbling just 191 years later, his inspiration could very well have been this elegant and sexy coupe.

Okay, trying to set one current Mercedes automobile above the others in terms of beauty is tough; theyall look terrific. Still, this coupe version of the latest Mercedes E-class, its sweeping roofline uninterrupted by a B pillar, is on a look-at-me par with the big Mercedes CL coupes, minus their mass and massive price tags.

Do not interpret this to mean bargain. The basic E350 coupe, with a 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6, is $48,925. That soars to $55,525 for the E550, with its 382-hp, 5.5-liter V-8. Check all the option groups, and you wind up with a package like our test car: a cool $66,375. On the other hand, the most recent previous E-class coupe—the 1994 E320—started at $62,075. Wow.

The new coupe shares architectural elements with the E-class sedan, as well as its techno-goodies and a bevy of safety features, many of them standard. But there are also pieces from the C-class stable, contributing to much tidier dimensions. For the coupe, the E sedan’s 113.1-inch wheelbase has been trimmed to 108.7. That two-door is 6.7 inches shorter and 2.7 inches narrower than the four-door, and its 54.0-inch roof is 3.2 inches lower.

Keep Reading: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 Coupe - Short Take Road Test

2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG - First Drive Review

It’s a shame that infomercial pitchman Billy Mays passed away just as Mercedes-Benz is launching the performance version of the 2010 E-class, because he would have done an excellent job of touting the many uses for the New and Improved 2010 E63 AMG. “The 518-horsepower V-8,” Mays would say in his booming voice, “rockets you from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds, making quick work of sports cars with less than half the seating. And you can still use it every day to pick Junior up from school and to drop Grandma off at the library.” Not that the E63 is the sort of car that would be hawked via cable-TV ads, but it does promise a “You won’t believe your eyes!” combination of performance and usability. There are no easy payments, however, despite the fact that when the E63 goes on sale in October, pricing should fall below that of its predecessor. Expect to pay just under $88,000 to start.

Mercedes-Benz CL loses its head

Mercedes-Benz CL-Class AMG Convertible conversion -

With every passing year, there seems to be more convertibles on the market. But if you live in a sunny clime like California's, enough sunshine is never enough. That's where convertible chop-shops like Newport Convertible Engineering step in. The folks at NCE will take just about any automobile and turn it into a custom cabrio to a buyer's specifications. The company's portfolio includes recent conversions of a Dodge Challenger, Toyota Prius, Cadillac CTS, Hummer H2, Toyota FJ Cruiser, and this Mercedes-Benz CL AMG. Unfortunately, from the photos seen here, the soft top doesn't seem to collapse quite flush with the rear deck, leaving something to be desired in terms of aesthetics - to say nothing of rearward visibility. Here's hoping there's a snug-fitting cover lurking in whatever trunkspace remains.

Best look yet at forthcoming Mercedes E-Class wagon arrives from Namibia

2010 E Class wagon testing in Namibia

We find it cool that carmakers cart their rides all over the globe to carry out the most brutal testing in the most out of the way places. They must find it a little frustrating, however, that car mavens with cameras and internet connections lurk in even in the most remote locations .
According to AB reader Tom, he spotted a pair of lightly-camoed Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagons and a sedan "on the desert gravel roads between Walvis Bay and Solitaire in Namibia." The wagons are getting ready for their debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in a few months, and if the tailpipe application is accurate then the black one is likely a V8 - and yes, this does mean we want a blacked-out wagon E550 wagon. You can check out high-res pics of the trio below.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class gets new direct-injection engines, becomes most fuel-efficient C-Class

Mercedes-Benz unveiled three new engines with direct-injection technology that will make the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class the most fuel-efficient C-Class ever.

First up in the lineup is the new C 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY which is powered by a 170-hp engine with a peak torque of 295 lb-ft. That will accelerate the C 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY from 0 to 62 mph in 8.4 seconds while averaging a fuel-economy of 4.8L of diesel per 100 km (49 mpg in U.S. terms).

Second in line is the C250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY that makes 204-hp with a maximum torque of 369 lb-ft. 0 to 62 mph comes in 7 seconds and fuel-economy is estimated at 46 mpg.

Finally, Mercedes-Benz is offering a C 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY model that produces 204-hp and a peak torque of 228 lb-ft. 0 to 62 comes in 7.4 seconds with a fuel-economy of 33 mpg.

Not to break your hearts or anything but everything you just read applies only to the European markets.

Mercedes planning production E-Class shooting brake?

Mercedes-Benz Concept Fascination

Body-styles in Mercedes' staple E-Class range have been taken on a heck of a roller coaster these past few years. The original included sedan, wagon, coupe and convertible variants. Then the latter two were split off as the CLK, but after introducing the CLS as essentially a four-door coupe version of the E-Class, Mercedes opted to bring the two-door variants back into the fold for the current generation. Recent rumors have suggested that Mercedes could delay the wagon and cabrio versions, and even re-introduce the CLK alongside the E-Class Coupe, but with neither of those conjectures looking very likely, the latest report from the rumormongers at Auto Express suggest that Mercedes could be planning yet another body-style for the E-Class range: a three-door shooting brake.
For the uninitiated, a shooting brake is an old-school body-style that melds a station wagon with a coupe, traditionally, such load-lugging solutions have been arrived at by hiring a coachbuilder to turn a sedan or a coupe into a wagon. Think Chevrolet Nomad and you're not far off. And with the German auto industry playing an increasingly intricate game of one-upmanship with segment-busting body-styles, Mercedes apparently looks poised to take things one step further with a fifth E-Class form. The prospect looks even more likely when you consider that the current E-Class' design was previewed in the first place by a shooting brake show car called the Concept Fascination at last year's Paris show. If Daimler decides to give the three-door E the green light, it'd likely carry over the mechanicals and engine options from its two-door counterpart, including four, six and eight-cylinder gasoline and clean diesel powerplants. Whether an AMG version like the sedan is offered or nixed like the coupe's remains to be seen, however, but we could get a look at a production prototype as early as the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, so stay tuned.

Mercedes introduces new range of bicycles

Mercedes Benz has announced an updated and expanded range of bicycles for 2009/2010. The new lineup includes two-wheelers of all shapes and sizes, including a pair of kids bikes. For more grown-up riders, Mercedes offers a range of styles, including the usual choices of mountain bikes and road racing bikes. There is also a new folding bike with a patented folding mechanism that allows it to collapse quickly without tools. In the fully collapsed position the bike takes up a volume of 31 inches by 31 inches by 14 inches, and it even has front and rear suspension.
There are also trekking and fitness bikes, and no Mercedes bike rider would be complete without a set of Mercedes riding clothes. Of course, in typical Mercedes fashion, the technology comes with a price to match. The bikes range from €299 for the kid's bike (around $430 USD) to €4,999 (more than $7,150) for the limited-edition carbon fiber racing bike.

Mercedes-Benz GL320 BlueTEC beats EPA mpg

We may have saved a few mpg on our road trip, but we didn't do any favors for the insect life along I-5.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)

We were recently given the opportunity to take the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL320 BlueTEC on a long-distance road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back. While this seven seated behemoth was probably not the best vehicle to transport one journalist across the state of California, we figured this long trip down Interstate 5 would be a good opportunity to see how close the fuel-efficient diesel powerplant could get to its EPA estimated mileage.

The powerplant in question is a 3.0-L turbodiesel V-6 that outputs 210 horsepower and a beefy 398 pound-feet of torque. The engine sends its power through a seven-speed adaptive automatic transmission to Mercedes-Benz's 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system. Keeping the diesel's emissions clean is an AdBlue injection system that scrubs up to 80 percent of NOx from the exhaust gases. Greenies will be happy to know that the BlueTEC diesel is also approved for use with B5 biodiesel.

2009 Mercedes-Benz G550

Who says that prestige vehicles have to be modern, that luxury vehicles have to be refined, or that off-road vehicles have to be slow? To those people, the Mercedes-Benz G550 wags a finger and thick coat of mud, and ambles off to hurdle the nearest Jersey barrier. The anachronous G-class—orGeländewagen to purists—was introduced 30 years ago as a go-anywhere, off-road military vehicle, and today rides on essentially the same frame as the original, with the same suspension layout and nearly identical styling. It does, however, benefit from the accumulation of three decades of incremental improvements in two key areas: luxury and power.

For luxury, the G550 comes standard with everything. No option list exists. Standard equipment includes a sunroof; a windshield with embedded heating elements á la Land Rover; Mercedes’ COMAND navigation system with Bluetooth, Sirius radio, and iPod connectivity; 10-way power and heated front seats; heated rear seats; and a rear-view camera, among a host of other goodies.

Power Proportionate to its Boxiness

As for the major 2009 upgrade, the G550 is now equipped with the automaker’s ubiquitous 5.5-liter V-8. Sporting the same 382 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque as in its other applications and growling through an exhaust system that dumps out right in front of each rear wheel, the aluminum lump whips this 5700-lb packing crate to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 14.5 at 94 mph. For something shaped like a brick and weighing nearly three tons, that’s world class.

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagon

PRICE AS TESTED: $101,125 (base price: $101,125)

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Displacement: 333 cu in, 5461cc
Power (SAE net): 382 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 391 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 7-speed automatic with manumatic shifting

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 112.2 in Length: 185.6 in Width: 71.8 in Height: 76.0 in
Curb weight: 5665 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 5.9 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 16.7 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 34.9 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 6.1 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.5 sec @ 94 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 133 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 186 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.63 g

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 11/15 mpg
C/D observed: 13 mpg
*Stability-control-inhibited.

Keep Reading: 2009 Mercedes-Benz G550 - Short Take Road Test

Mercedes-Benz working on the next CLK for 2011

Even though the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe replaced the CLK nameplate, a successor to the model based on the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class could be in the works for 2011.

According to sources of a French car magazine, the next CLK will fill the gap between the 2010 E-Class Coupe (which is already built on the C-Class platform but is a little larger than the old CLK) and the CLC Coupe.

Source say that the next-generation CLK will be aimed at the BMW 3-Series Coupe and will by very similar to the new C-Class in terms of design.

The model is expected to borrow the same engine lineup from the C-Class sedan. Of course, this has us dreaming of the next CLK AMG with the C 63 AMG 450-hp V8.

2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

Six years ago, I attended the Electric Vehicle Symposium in Long Beach, California, and at the conclusion of a riveting presentation by a major advanced-tech battery manufacturer, a questioner asked about the prospects of lithium-ion batteries for automobiles. The presenter was stony-faced for a few seconds — and then responded with a cocked head. “What do you mean by lithium batteries in cars?” Nickel metal hydride was then considered the cutting-edge in battery tech for hybrids, and this question about lithium-ion — provoked by its chief advocate, the late Dr. Paul MacCready, who was elsewhere in the hall — seemed beyond the presenter’s grasp. The questioner might as well have asked when worm holes in the fabric of space and time were going to let cars blink from one place to another.

Well, I’ve just driven the world’s first mass-production automobile that employs a lithium-ion battery (the lithium-ion-using Tesla Roadster being a low-production affair). No, it isn’t a full electric vehicle as Dr. MacCready would have preferred. But there, tucked in the corner of the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid’s engine bay, was a 32-cell, 120 volt, 0.9 amp-hour, lithium-ion battery about the size of shoebox.

Jaguar XF Is Best Executive Car In 2009 Fleet World Honours

The Jaguar XF has won the award for Best Executive Car at the 2009 Fleet World Honours, proving the growing popularity of Jaguar’s new sports saloon amongst the business community. The trophy was presented at a special ceremony held at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall on Wednesday 20 May. The awards are judged by a [...]

BRABUS Refines the New Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe

The new Mercedes E-Class Coupe just went on sale and BRABUS already presents an extensive tuning program for the new two-door. The pinnacle of the available performance tuning is the BRABUS 6.1 displacement engine. It has a rated power output of 462 hp (456 bhp) / 340 kW and propels the E 500 (US: E550) to an impressive top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph).

Courts asked to cancel Madoff's car leases

There are many jobs in the world which we wouldn't want. Ranking high among them is Irving Picard's. He's the guy stuck with managing the liquidation of Bernie Madoff's firm. Having purportedly defrauded his clients (including numerous charitable foundations) of over $50 billion, Madoff has undoubtedly left quite a mess to untangle, and we're glad someone else is taking care of it while we write about cars for a living. But amidst that assuredly insurmountable mess is a fleet of luxury automobiles that Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities had leased for use by the firm.
Included in the Madoff garage are a Land Rover Range Rover, a Cadillac DTS, a pair of Mercedes S550s and a GL450, along with an unspecified Lexus. Several of the vehicles have already been returned to their dealerships, but Picard is petitioning the Federal Bankruptcy Court to rubber-stamp the cancellation of the leases in order to mitigate the cost of administrating the case. Considering that Picard has already delivered letters of termination to the firm's sixty employees and that Madoff himself is under house arrest in his Manhattan penthouse apartment, it's not like anyone's going to be using them, anyway. Unfortunately, since the cars are leased, there's no capital to recuperate for the reimbursement of Madoff's defrauded clients who are, themselves, still waiting to find out how much they've each lost.
[Source: The New York Times via The Car Connection]

Maybach 62S Landaulet, Sells on eBay?

Not sure about you, but for me that looks like someone trying to make a quick buck. Apparently what we have in here is a semi-convertible Maybach 62S Landaulet - the world’s most luxurious sedan , that is selling on eBay for a buy-it-now pice of $2.2 million. With a MSRP of $1.35 million for the US market and only 20 units to be produced, we find it hard to believe that a Texas guy got his hands on it and is trying to sell it. But if that’s true, you should know that it’s a loaded version that packs a 612hp (450kW) twin turbo V12 engine, has an amazing rollback canvass roof and a beautiful Baltic Black over Aspen White interior. I sure hope they have a chauffeur and a few ladies to go with the sale. [ebay via jalopnik]

Mercedes-Benz S400 : 2010

The Mercedes-Benz S400 is the first series-production passenger car with hybrid drive and the world's first car with a lithium-ion battery.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Body Kit Unveiled By MEC Design

Going through our inbox this beautiful Wednesday morning, the fine gentlemen at MEC Design sent us details of a new body kit they've created for the Mercedes S-Class. Up front, you'll notice a new front apron is in place which features your choice of either fog lights and driving lights or a mesh insert, while in the back, a new rear diffuser and one piece rear spoiler are both present.
Also featured on the kit is new side skirts and an MEC Design Electronic Lowering Module which lowers the S-Class between 40 and 70 millimeters, as is an MEC Design exhaust system with chrome tips.
Completing the package, bi-colored MECXTREMEIII 22-inch wheels are fitted to the MEC S-Class, which feature a stainless steel outer rim with a forged center piece.
© Source: emercedesbenz

2011 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG - Car News

WHAT: The only version of the recently restyled E-class that is worthy of appearing in poster form on your bedroom wall. Packs the same hand-assembled 507-hp, 6.2-liter V-8 from last year’s E63.

WHY: AMG makes astounding improvements to Benzes. We’re grateful.

Keep Reading: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG - Car News

Brabus unveils tuning package for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe just went on sale in Europe (coming to the U.S. later this summer) and German tuner Brabus has already released an extensive tuning package for the new coupe. We’re going to avoid talking about visual enhancements (if you really care just check out the press release or the images after the jump) and jump straight into the performance part of Brabus’s package.

The range-topping performance package is the Brabus 6.1 displacement engine. The upgrade increases the displacement of the 4-valve V8 engine from 5.5L to 6.1L. That allows for a total of 462-hp and a maximum torque of 453 lb-ft. 0 to 62 mph comes in 4.7 seconds with a top speed of 196 mph.

Pricing for the Brabus 6.1 displacement engine upgrade will go for 29,000 Euros ($39,944 USD).

Follow the jump for the press release and the high-res image gallery.

Brabus 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe:

Press Release:

The new Mercedes E-Class Coupe just went on sale and BRABUS already presents an extensive tuning program for the new two-door. The pinnacle of the available performance tuning is the BRABUS 6.1 displacement engine. It has a rated power output of 462 hp (456 bhp) / 340 kW and propels the E 500 (US: E550) to an impressive top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph). Also on offer is an aerodynamic-enhancement program that was developed in the wind tunnel. Further highlights are custom-tailored wheels up to 20 inches in diameter, sporty yet comfortable suspension solutions and exclusive interior options.

A rated power output of 462 hp (456 bhp) / 340 kW and a peak torque of 615 Nm (453 lb-ft) at just 3,100 rpm are the result of the displacement increase of the four-valve V8 engine from 5.5 to 6.1 liters. 0 - 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph): The BRABUS 6.1 displacement engine turns the E 500 Coupe into a true high-performance automobile.

The displacement increase of the eight-cylinder engine sells for 29,000 Euros. It is facilitated by the installation of a billet crankshaft with longer stroke and larger pistons. Furthermore the four-valve cylinder heads are precision-machined and fitted with custom camshafts. The BRABUS sport exhaust system with high-performance metal catalysts also contributes to the impressive power output as do specially programmed engine electronics.

More driving fun with the turbodiesel models is available with the BRABUS ECO PowerXtra kits. For the E 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY BRABUS offers its D4 tuning kit. For just 1,390 Euros power output of the common-rail four-cylinder engine jumps from standard 204 hp (201 bhp) / 150 kW to 235 hp (232 bhp) / 173 kW. Peak torque grows to 560 Nm (413 lb-ft).

The V6 turbodiesel engine of the E 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY equipped with BRABUS ECO PowerXtra D6 (III) module produces 272 hp (268 bhp) / 200 kW and a peak torque of 590 Nm (435 lb-ft).

All engines are lubricated with ARAL high-performance motor oil and like all BRABUS components they are backed by the one-of-a-kind BRABUS Tuning Warranty® of three years, up to 100,000 kilometers or 62,000 miles (see BRABUS warranty conditions as of November 2006).

Stainless-steel BRABUS quad sport exhaust systems are available for all new E-Class models.

The BRABUS designers have also developed a sporty yet elegant aerodynamic-enhancement package for the two-door E-Class. It is manufactured from Pur-R-Rim in OEM quality. The BRABUS front spoiler with integrated LED daytime running lights gives the coupe an even more striking face and reduces aerodynamic lift on the front axle at high speeds.

BRABUS adds sporty highlights to the sides with new aluminum front sport quarter panels with integrated clear-coated carbon-fiber inserts. New rocker panels visually give the coupe a lower and sleeker stance. They feature LED entrance lights integrated into their undersides. Customers can also choose a version with integrated illuminated BRABUS logo.

The BRABUS rear apron features a centrally mounted reflector and custom-tailored cutouts on either side for the four tailpipes of the BRABUS sport exhaust system.

The exclusive BRABUS appearance is rounded out by one-piece or multi-piece BRABUS Monoblock light-alloy wheels with diameters of 17, 18, 19 and 20 inches. The largest tire/wheel combination features BRABUS Monoblock VI, E, Q or S wheels in size 9Jx20 on the front axle and in size 9.5Jx20 in back. High-performance tires from BRABUS technology partners Pirelli and YOKOHAMA are mounted in size 235/30 ZR 20 in front and in size 265/25 ZR 20 on the rear axle.

The available BRABUS suspension solutions offer sporty handling combined with excellent ride comfort. They were custom-developed for the various engines available in the new E-Class. The list of options starts with lowering springs and culminates in a complete height-adjustable coil-over sport suspension.

BRABUS also offers a high-performance brake system for the new Mercedes coupe. It features six-piston aluminum fixed calipers and 360-mm (14.2 inches) vented and cross-drilled discs on the front axle. The rear axle stops with four-piston aluminum fixed calipers.

BRABUS will customize the interior of the new E-Class Coupe to customers’ specifications. The list of interior options includes stainless-steel scuff plated with illuminated BRABUS logo, an ergonomically shaped BRABUS sport steering wheel and an entirely new interior crafted from especially soft yet durable BRABUS Mastik leather and Alcantara.