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2011 Belgian Grand Prix in pictures

2011 Belgian Grand Prix

As we headed into the mid-season break last month it seemed as though Ferrari and McLaren had closed the gap on Red Bull. Combined they had won three races in a row. However, the Belgian Grand Prix showed that Red Bull were having no more of that and managed to score a comfortable 1-2 victory; the team’s tenth Formula One quinella.

In the end Vettel and Webber took the top two places with a reasonable degree of comfort. Not a bad result, really, when you consider their pre-race tyre dramas or that the high speed nature of Spa is not really suited to the RB7.

A special mention to Michael Schumacher, too, who finished a very creditable fifth after starting from last place on the grid. Notably, Nico Rosberg was one place behind in sixth, despite storming to the lead on the first lap.

After the break there’s a further 95 images to help you recapture the vibe.

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Michael Schumacher on 20 years in F1

Michael Schumacher, 2011 Belgian Grand Prix

Those of us with long memories of Formula One will remember the buzz caused by Michael Schumacher when he qualified in seventh place for his first Grand Prix. That was at Spa-Francorchamps in 1991; two decades ago.

At this week’s pre-race press conference Michael went along with five other drivers. Naturally, most of the questions posed to Schumacher centred around his unique anniversary.

You can read all comments after the break, but we liked this one from Michael the most, where he reminisced about his doubts prior to his F1 debut:

“I was doubtful whether my quality was good enough to compete with these guys. You see them as untouchables, especially in those moments where you had (Ayrton) Sennas, (Alain) Prosts, (Nigel) Mansells and so on. I didn’t really think I could match. Getting the first experience, coming over here and driving the car, I sought of quickly picked up the confidence that it was possible and from there on we all know. At the end of the day we are all humans, we all have limits and you drive within those and there is no reason why it is impossible to beat those guys in the past and neither these guys that are here right now. That’s the good thing about Formula One. It is always a challenge and it is always a motivating challenge that is great fun.”

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Mercedes-Benz

2012 Mercedes Benz SLK 55 AMG

Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG

The usual leak info on the weekend, followed by official confirmation on Monday, reveal cycle has followed the script for the Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG.

It’s the third-generation SLK that’s been fiddled with by AMG and this time it still has a normally aspirated 5.5 litre V8 under its bonnet. Although, it’s now pumping out an impressive 310kW (422hp) of fury; a tasty 45kW increase from the previous model. It will get you to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds thanks to 540Nm of torque and its enthusiastically titled AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic transmission.

However, outright power and speed is not this V8’s party trick. No, according to Mercedes, this is the world’s most fuel efficient V8. With a rated consumption of 8.4l/100km it’s probably hard to argue with that. The M152 engine is closely related to the M157 bi-turbo found in larger AMG models, but uses a host of fuel-saving methods, such as AMG Cylinder Management, start/stop and, of course, no turbocharging to keep its drinking levels down.

The SLK 55 AMG has nice and aggressive styling as well. It’s easily the best looking warmed-over SLK we’ve seen to date.

There’s more detail from Mercedes-Benz after the break.

UPDATE: Mercedes-Benz Australia has confirmed the SLK 55 AMG will be on local sale early next year.

UPDATE #2: 17 new pics have been added, click to load 2000px super sizing.

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Formula One is the pits in 2011

To help kill time during the mid-season break Mercedes GP has released this brief video showing the importance they place on pit stops.

There’s nothing earth shattering in here, but it’s still quite a good insight.

It’s also good to know Michael Schumacher can trust his boys. If only they could reciprocate the feeling.

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Mercedes-Benz

Chris Harris in an SLS AMG at the Nürburgring

In our second video of the week to feature Chris Harris we take you the Eifel mountains in Germany. There, Harris was driving a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG ‘Gullwing’ around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It was all part of the fun and games you can have at a dedicated Destination Nürburgring track day.

UPDATE: Harris has blogged about the SLS over at the evo website.

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Michael Schumacher considering his F1 future

Michael Schumacher

When seven time world champion Michael Schumacher was considering a return to Formula One it set the motoring world alight. He would be returning to the team that had just won the constructors’ championship, after all. History tells us Schumacher finally signed a three-year deal with the newly formed Mercedes GP after they had taken over Brawn GP. Hope was spring eternally all over the place.

With the benefit of hindsight we can see that Schumi’s return hasn’t been what many hoped it would be. Sure, predictions of an eighth world title were probably always a little optimistic, but in 30 starts since his comeback Michael’s best results amount to a quartet of fourth place finishes. Three of which were in 2010.

Even though the German is signed up until the end of the 2012 season, it’s little surprise to learn that the 42-year-old is considering his future in the sport. In a recent interview with Italian publication Corriere dello Sport Schumacher gave a refreshingly honest account.

“I arrived at Mercedes with a specific task: not winning at all costs but to grow the team,” he said.

“If anything, I am the problem: it is a fact that I am a bit more relaxed than before and I do not know if my mindset is right for this team. At some point we will evaluate whether I continue or stop.”

If Michael does leave at the end of this season Force India’s Paul di Resta, former Mercedes DTM driver, is likely to top Ross Brawn’s wish list.

[Source: FoxSports]

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT5 competition

Imagine if the getting the keys to the awesome Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG ‘Gullwing’ was as simple as being good at Gran Turismo 5. You don’t have to imagine any longer because Mercedes and Sony have teamed together to turn virtual into reality.

Only trouble is the competition has been run and won. Fifteen contestants from all over the world pre-qualified for the final and were sent to the Red Bull Ring in Austria. There they got time behind the wheel of the SLS AMG and through a series of driving tests a winner was found.

Watch the video and tell us if you think the final event is befitting of the ‘Gullwing’ and a competition based around a driving simulator where the gamer gets to experience some of the best roads and racetracks in the world.

For more on this event check out this official Mercedes blog.

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2011 Hungarian Grand Prix in pictures

2011 Hungarian Grand Prix

Here’s your picsture gallery from the 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix. As you can see it was big milestone race for Jenson Button and a big congrats to him for winning the race to celebrate.

Best make sure you savour these pics. They’re the last bit of Formula One action you will see for almost four weeks. The next race is at the highly regarded Spa-Francorchamps circuit on 28 August.

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2011 German Grand Prix in pictures

2011 German Grand Prix

We give you over 80 images to help you relive the German Grand Prix. You’ll see race winner Lewis Hamilton shaking hands with former McLaren adversary Fernando Alonso. You’ll also see Fernando welching on his taxi fare with Mark Webber. And, as always, you’ll get access to fantastic high-quality Formula One images at 2000px super image sizing right here on AUSmotive. See you next week after Hungary, where we hope Mark Webber can back up his 2010 success.

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series

Lust has a new name and it’s called the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series. It’s a new more extreme AMG C-Class packing a 380kW (517hp) punch. The most powerful C-Class ever uses an M156 6.3 litre V8, coupled to a 7-speed MCT gearbox, to good effect reaching 100km/h in 4.2 seconds. The engine offers plenty of brute force, as well, to the tune of 620Nm of torque.

Amazingly, given the current climate of fuel efficient turbocharged engines, AMG has delivered all that power the old fashioned normally aspirated way. They even nicked a few internals from the SLS AMG for good measure.

Helping to turn the dial way past eleven AMG has fiddled with the bodywork. There’s comically flared wheel arches allowing increased track (40mm front, 79mm rear) filled with lightweight 19″ alloys. Heat extracting nostrils in the aluminium bonnet add a distinct personality and an aggressive front splitter is complemented by a matching rear diffuser.

Beneath the fire-breathing skin you’ll find adjustable coilover suspension, a locking diff, 6-pot front brakes, with 4-pots at the rear. Race-tuned ESP and ABS programs complete the transformation for this angry beast.

The C63 Black will be launched to market overseas in January 2012. We’ll try and get the skinny from MB Australia on availability down under. In the meantime check out the pics and press release after the break.

UPDATE: Mercedes-Benz Australia tell us the C63 AMG Black will launch here in the middle of next year.

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes GP mid-season review

2011 Monaco Grand Prix

Mercedes GP has taken a look back at the 2011 Formula One season so far. They’ve tallied up statistics on overtaking that make quite interesting reading.

For example, 623 overtaking moves have been completed so far this year. Of those, 180 have been assisted by the new Drag Reduction System.

The Canadian GP, with 136 passing moves, is the highest number we’ve seen in 2011. Unsurprisingly, Monaco, with just 22 moves is the fewest.

A total of 225 overtaking manoeuvres have been classified as ‘normal’. Of those, slightly more than 55% were made when the lap difference between the tyres on each car was less than five laps. The remaining 45% of moves were made when the lap difference was more than five laps.

The figures are as boring or as fascinating as you choose to interpret them. You can read them all after the break.

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Mercedes-Benz

VIDEO: Open to enthusiasts

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

Mercedes-Benz has just released this promo clip for its new SLS AMG Roadster. To be honest, the clip does a pretty good job and, if you ask us, they could have saved Jay Leno’s plane fare. We’d still prefer a Gullwing, though.

Check out the clip below and let us know what you think.

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