Mercedes has released this rather cute ad promoting their 4MATIC all-wheel drive technology. Featured in the ad are old time F1 racers and former adversaries Mika Hakkinnen and Michael Schumacher. The only problem for Mercedes is that one of those old timers is still on their payroll.
[Thanks to Wes for the tip.]
Almost six months after revealing its new four-door coupé model Mercedes has now taken the wraps of the CLS 63 AMG version. With a beefy 5.5 litre V8 biturbo this beast has 386kW (525hp) to throw around. Driven by 700Nm of torque it’s sure have more than enough pace for its owner.
Or does it? Apparently not, as there is an optional AMG Performance pack. Here, the engineers have turned the wick on the M157 V8 biturbo from 1.0 bar up to 1.3 bar, resulting in peak numbers of 410kW (557hp) and 800Nm.
Zero to one hundred can be reached in just 4.3 seconds. Surely that’s enough pace for this four-seater. Amazingly, despite such prodigious performance, if you behave yourself, Mercedes reckon you can sip fuel under 10l/100km; just.
So, check out the gallery of pics after the break. There’s also a promo video and the official press release, of course.
[Source: Daimler AG]
Word from Autocar tells us that Mercedes is ready to join Porsche in the performance hybrid market. Herbert Kohler, Daimler’s future mobility and advanced engineering guru, said, “In the future AMG will still offer high performance models but there will be hybrids there. AMG needs to reduce fuel consumption.”
Interestingly, where Porsche has used hybrid technology to add power, AMG will be taking a different approach. “Hybrids can boost, but AMGs will use stop-start and recuperation technology,” said Kohler.
No timeline has been given on the likely introduction of hybrid AMGs, so let’s take a guess at 2-3 years from now.
[Source: Autocar]
First filed 14 January 2011.
Mercedes-Benz has just released information and pics for its third generation SLK. On initial assessment, each progression the SLK takes it improves on its past.
The first gen SLK was a bit, well, most people called it “one of those Kompressor thingys” due to its use of forced-fed engines and subsequent badging, which was quite prominent. It suited its hairdresser demographic perfectly. The second gen SLK certainly improved the styling and made a decent step forward with its chassis tune, as well. A few laps around the Nürburgring by AUSmotive’s editor can attest to that.
Now, the latest SLK, has once again improved on the styling and has now perhaps, finally, matured from the hairdresser tag once and for all. Well, as much as any non-supercar convertible can.
The metal folding roof on the new SLK has a great party trick, too. It’s called Magic Sky Control and essentially there’s a glass opening, much like a conventional sunroof. While it can’t open or tilt, you can effectively close out the light with a switch of a button. There’s a brief example in the official video below.
Euro buyers can order the SLK from next week and they’ll have three choices to begin with. There’s a pair of four cylinders options in the 135kW SLK 200 and 150kW SLK 250. The high-po model, until AMG gets its grubby little hands on this car, is provided by a 3.5 litre V6 in the 225kW SLK 350. All have been mercifully tagged with a BlueEFFICIENCY moniker, as well. Of course, Mercedes are banging on about reductions in fuel use and all sorts of green washing.
Australian buyers should see the SLK on local shores some time after June.
Overall, though, this new SLK is a pretty nice looking machine. Would we lust after one here at AUSmotive HQ? Probably not, but we certainly won’t be dismissing it off hand as we may have done with earlier generations.
There’s a handful of pics and the Mercedes press release for you after the break.
UPDATE 18 January: 30 new pics have now been added.
If you want to see and hear what happens when you stick a 388hp V8 into a shopping trolley then here’s the video for you. The Mercedes-Benz B55 one-off creation is one mum’s car you could take to the Summernats and actually gain some genuine street cred!
So, the B55 can do tricks in a straight line, but can it go around corners with any degree of competence? Maybe with rents for testing days at the Nürburgring heading for a 500% increase Mercedes might not be so keen to find out!
[via Autoblog]
A recent UK report has revealed that 54% of British motorists admit to having sex in a car. And it seems the older you are the more likely you are to find paradise by the dashboard light. Almost 40% of over 55s interviewed claimed sex in a car was fantastic, compared to just 13% of those aged between 18 and 24.
The raunchy research was carried out by the appropriately named Autoquake.com, an online retailer, and CEO Dermot Halpin says, “We’re surprised that so many of drivers have used their cars as mobile bedrooms, and impressed that the older generation are leading the way.”
A top 10 list of sexy cars was compiled as part of the study. The wide open spaces of the Mercedes E-Class Estate proved a worthy, if surprising, leader in the poll. Shaggin’ wagons have gone a bit upmarket since the 70s it seems. The full list is available after the break.
We’re sure readers won’t be surprised to learn no Toyota made the top 10. Which begs the question, just what is that feeling they keep going on about; loneliness, perhaps?
If you’ve enjoyed a few extra “services” between scheduled intervals, leave us a comment and tell us all about it!
Following news that Mercedes-Benz is preparing a cooking A-Class AMG model to compete with the BMW 1M and Audi RS3 comes this official release of a one-off V8 powered B-Class.
The “B55” offers 388hp of power and 530Nm of torque from its 5.5 litre bent-eight. Beginning its life as a rather modest front-wheel drive B 200 CDI, the rear-wheel drive B55 beast was created by trainees at the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant. The idea first came about after training foreman Andreas Würz said the words, “Actually it should be possible to fit a V8 into the engine compartment.”
With a classic Q-car brief Würz and 12 trainees set about building a genuine bahn-stormer able to be used as a daily driver. Understated looks, a smart interior and 7-speed auto transmission should help there.
Building this Frankenstein creation wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. Using a rear-axle from a W120 E-Class was sure to present some problems, of course.
Würz explains, “The V8 power unit fitted amazingly well, and we were even able to use the original engine mounts. There were serious problems with the steering, but here too, harmony was restored with a number of modifications.
“The exhaust system was a clever combination of various replacement part items, and took the form of a twin-pipe system emerging at the centre of the rear end. This is where the one-off, christened the B 55 gets its typical, burbling sound – once the ignition key has been turned, all heads in the vicinity are guaranteed to swivel simultaneously in the direction of the B-Class.”
Further raiding of the AMG parts bin for brakes and 18″ wheels completed the job.
[Thanks to Derek for the tip]
Blackbird fly!
Mercedes-Benz Australia is singing about selling its 1000th AMG vehicle for 2010. The honour goes to the stunning matte black SLS AMG “Gullwing” which premiered at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney last October.
The car has since been christened “Blackbird” and it was the first time anywhere in the world an SLS AMG in that colour scheme had been seen. Apparently, AMG has agreed to ensuring it stays that way too, promising never to recreate the designo magno Night Black and red combination.
What a great Christmas present. You can read the official release after the break.
Oh, that bright orange C63 AMG from the motor show is making a name for itself, as well. It will be up for auction after completing official duties at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix.
Autocar brings word that Mercedes-Benz are getting a bit sick and tired of all this 1M and RS3 talk from BMW and Audi. Even Volkswagen are being annoying with their Golf R. So Mercedes is going to put things right by giving the world a 320hp AMG-prepared A Class.
The three-pointed star hyper hatch will be powered by a 2.0 litre turbo four and will also feature an all-wheel drive system similar to the one used by Audi and Volkswagen. It will also feature a 6-speed dual clutch transmission. Codenamed W176 the model will be built on the third-generation A Class platform, which will not feature the clever, but heavy, collapsing sandwich floor structure employed by the first two generations of A Class.
It’s expected we’ll see a show car, likely to be badged A25 AMG, at Shanghai in April, before the car goes on European sale in the latter half of 2012.
[Source: Autocar]
VFACTS recorded a moderate increase in sales last month, up 1509 vehicles from November 2009. FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar reckons the motor industry is performing well compared to other industries, “These figures show new car sales continue to outperform other economic indicators, including retail spending and business investment.
“Much of the strength of the market can be attributed to the affordability of new vehicles, evidenced by the healthy sales to private buyers (up 9.6% in November).”
McKellar predicts Australia will register over 1 million new vehicle sales in 2010, if so it will be just the third time this has happened.
Toyota, Holden and Ford maintain their positions as the top three selling brands.
The “motorsport is dangerous” term is well known. It’s usually printed somewhere on the ticket to almost any motorsport event the world over, no matter if it is granting entry to a Formula One race or your local car club track day. The photo above perfectly illustrates the point and shows just how lucky Michael Schumacher was to walk away unharmed after Tonio Liuzzi parked his Force India on top of the Mercedes GP machine at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
[Thanks to Ryan for the tip | Photographer unknown, leave a comment if you know the source]
From time to time we feature videos from car mags that bring us closer to the cars we love, or hope to love. Usually they’re pretty straight laced, informative and good, honest viewing. This clip from Car and Driver, though, breaks the mould. It’s the Mecrdes-Benz SLS AMG as you’ve never seen it before. You will love it!