Auto & Car Blog

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, I.C.E., Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz, longtime stalwarts of the V12 engine, is considering lowering its preferred cylinder count by a third. While our first inclination is to assume that this change is being made to increase the fuel efficiency and lower the emissions of the overall Daimler line, the real reason that the bent-12 engine program is being dropped is simply because the block is too long. A V12 is, for all intents and purposes, the same length as an inline-six, and the German automaker’s latest line of mainstream engines are all in a V-design, so its cars are no longer being designed with an engine compartment large enough to house such a lengthy engine. Fear not, power fans, as the company isn’t abandoning high horsepower in general. The V12 program is apparently being shifted towards twin-turbo V8s, and the magic of forced-induction means there’s no reason to assume that fewer cylinders will equal fewer ponies. Expect the moratorium on V12s to begin the next few years.

[Source: Auto Bild]

Mercedes will begin phasing out V12 engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: MPG, Mercedes Benz

At various times over the past ten years, Mercedes-Benz has investigated the possibility of bringing its compact front wheel drive A- and B-class cars to the US market. The slightly larger B has been available north of the border in Canada for several years. Oddly enough, the fuel prices that have long been taxed to higher levels than in this country have stimulated demand for more efficient cars (imagine that!) and Mercedes has responded. Until now, though, neither car has been offered in the US because Daimler didn’t feel it could sell them in high enough volumes to be profitable.

With the total car market in this country in decline right now, even the German luxury brands are looking at more affordable options to pull in customers. Mercedes is working to significantly reduce the production cost of the next generation of the A and B and those cars are being considered for the US in 2012 when they debut.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport - translated]

Mercedes A- and B-class small cars may yet come to US market originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Hybrid, Mercedes Benz

A week after Mercedes-Benz announced details of its first hybrid, battery supplier Continental Automotive has launched production of the battery packs. Mercedes will be the first manufacturer to mass produce a hybrid vehicles with lithium ion batteries. Continental spent €3 million to build the battery manufacturing facility in Nuremberg. The first batteries that being produced weigh 55 lbs and have a volume of just under 0.5 cu. ft. When the Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid launches in mid-2009 with this 120V battery pack it will be installed in the engine compartment in place of the standard 12V lead acid battery.

Since this is the first mass market automotive application of a lithium battery, Mercedes and Continental are being extra careful. The battery is designed to last a minimum of 10 years and 100,000-150,000 miles so Continental has developed a sophisticated monitoring system to make sure that it operates within normal operating parameters. Each individual cell is monitored to keeps loads balanced and ensure even charging and discharging. Continental had to develop special processes to weld the copper bus bars that act as cell interconnects. The whole battery is enclosed inside of a laser-welded stainless steel case. The initial production capacity of the factory is 15,000 units a year and that can easily be doubled.

[Source: Continental]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Safety, Mercedes-Benz, Special/Limited Editions

Click above for high-res gallery of the Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard

Short of riding around in a tank, among the highest levels of protection while motoring are provided by armored Mercedes-Benz. The German automaker has been protecting heads of state and captains of industry for 80 years now, and to mark the anniversary has officially released the new S600 Pullman Guard limousine, which was initially announced way back in February 2007.

Based on a stretched version of the standard, off-the-shelf S600, the Pullman is engineered right off the assembly line to withstand handgun fire, grenades and explosive charges to the stringent B6 and B7 ballistic protection standards. The extra weight of all that armor is pulled around by Mercedes’ top-of-the-line 517-hp 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12 and is further supported by run-flat tires, a self-sealing fuel tank and integrated fire suppression system. Of course, the stretched limousine can be specified with all manner of luxury equipment, coddling its occupants in security and opulence. All that protection and luxury surely doesn’t come cheap, but for wealthy public figures under threat, price is presumably no object. However, Mercedes also offers an armored E Guard and G Guard as well as the standard-wheelbase S600 Guard.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz marks 80 years of protection with new S600 Pullman Guard

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupes, Wagons/Estates, Euro, Videos, Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz

If you find yourself in Paris at the auto show next month, you’ll see the Mercedes-Benz ConceptFASCINATION on the floor. (It’s so fascinating, it requires all caps, you see.) Chances are, the video embedded after the jump will be playing on a variety of screens behind it and around the Mercedes stand in general. It’s your typical car show stuff: light electronica over moving pictures in which the car itself never moves. Still, the panning camera gives you a better view of some of the lines likely to be found on the next E-Class family. Just dim the lights a little and imagine the car surrounded by watchful Germans who are, in turn, surrounded by a number of people speaking French. See? We just saved you airfare to Paris. Thanks for the tip, Guy.

[Source: YouTube via TheCarFanatic]

Continue reading VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz ConceptFASCINATION

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Hybrid, Mercedes Benz, Daimler

German magazine Auto Motor und Sport is reporting that Mercedes-Benz expects one fifth of its vehicle sales to be hybrids by the middle of the next decade. The information came from Mercedes sales head Klaus Maier during an interview. Mercedes has already announced the first two hybrid models that will be coming to market in 2009. The S400 Hybrid will use Mercedes new mild hybrid system and a lithium ion battery some time in the spring. Later in the year, the ML450 using the Two-Mode hybrid system is scheduled to launch. Whether the ML hybrid launches on time is unknown at this time because of a lawsuit between Daimler and battery supplier Cobasys. Mercedes plans to launch at least one hybrid every year until 2015. The company has already shown several other hybrids as concepts in the past year including a BlueTec diesel hybrid version of the new GLK compact SUV. Thanks to Matt for the tip!

[Source: BenzInsider.com]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Etc., Safety, Maybach, Mercedes Benz

What’s worse? Wrecking an Enzo, of which we have documented several in the last few months, or a Maybach 62? Most certainly the Enzo, but either incident is guaranteed to put a serious ding in your savings account and garner mixed reactions from your insurance agent.

Check out the price for this jewel, discovered at a NJ salvage yard for a mere $159,000, complete with a salvage title. If you have the mad skills required to repair the Maybach and can get into your dad’s awesome set of tools, you could buy the 62 and repair it to for nights out with your friends at the drive-in and have enough left over to buy a low-mileage F360 Spyder for yourself.

One thing we did find odd is that the airbags did not deploy. Good for the person who ends up buying the car to repair, but potentially bad for the previous driver and passenger. Maybe the impact wasn’t as bad as it looks?

Check out more pic’s after the jump.

Thanks to Shoaib for the tip!

[Source: Elite Motor Cars]

Continue reading Fixer Upper: Maybach 62 for only $159,000

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Trends, Etc., Euro, Cadillac

PHOTOS UPDATED

Cadillac is already on the upswing here in the US, and has been for some time. The image repair that GM has been able to carry out is impressive, and the rebirth is poised to enter phase two. GM Vice Chair Bob Lutz and Cadillac General Manager Jim Taylor both commented at the Geneva Motor Show that Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are in their gunsights, and that a 3-series-esque family of models could emerge from the CTS. A wagon version of the CTS is getting serious consideration as Cadillac looks at taking the fight to European turf.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req’d]

Continue reading Decision on CTS siblings coming soon

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupes, Sports/GTs, SUVs, Green, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for high-res gallery from Daimler’s press conference

Just like any good political campaign, Mercedes came to the New York Auto Show touting nothing much as a whole lot. Actually, the faux political rally might have been less than compelling with its old news, but the new M Class sporting 50-state legal BlueTec diesel power is exciting. Almost as exciting as the very original 1965 190 D Mercedes had borrowed to illustrate its long-running experience with Rudy’s coal dust motor. The senescent sedan will be helping MBZ recreate Bill Carroll’s cross-country diesel-fueled journey to celebrate the U.S.-wide availability of what it’s touting as the cleanest diesel ever. BlueTec allows the M-, GL- and R-class oil burners to earn ULEV and TierII/Bin 5 classification.

Mercedes says its new diesels are now as clean as gasoline powerplants, and once they drop BlueTec hybrids on us, emissions and economy will improve yet again. JD Power projects that fully 40 percent of vehicles will be diesel powered by 2017, and Mercedes wants to increase diesel sales beyond the current level of 22 percent. The newly tweaked M-Class should help move the powertrain off dealer lots. Sporting plenty of safety upgrades, new headlights, a Hannibal-Lechter inspired grille and some interior tweaks, the M-Class has returned from the gym freshly chiseled. It was not all utes and politely obscured minivans (*ahem* R-Class). Just before Mercedes wrapped the presser, they said, we’re paraphrasing here, “Oh yeah, we also brought the SL, w00t.”

Continue reading New York 2008: Mercedes burns oil and rubber

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »