If you’re in the mood for a little easy listening while you watch the Dow plummet some 260 points, Mercedes has just released the latest in a long line of Mixed Tapes, offering 10 handpicked tracks each made available to you via free download. In this, the Mercedes Mixed Tape 25, artist and song highlights include StrayOtic’s “My Road,” Susue’s “After Love is Gone,” Sencha’s “Dragonfly” and Northbound’s “Forward.”

In addition to their Mixed Tape 25, Mercedes has also released a new Mixed Tape Music Magazine, under the theme “Jazzyfied.” Now in its twelfth installment, highlights of the latest Mixed Tape Music Magazine include Nostalgia 77’s “Quick Dawn,” the “Smooth Jazz” of Jimmy Sommers, Caravan Palace’s “Gipsy-Swing-House” and Black Milk’s “Second Line-Beats.”

To watch either the new Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape Music Magazine or download the Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape 25, head over to mercedes-benz.tv/mixedtape where you can do both.

As of late, you may have noticed somewhat of a decrease in the number of stories we publish and a somewhat sporadic nature of those that we do. After much debate, we felt compelled to tell you why, as we believe that you, the readers, deserve to know more about the workings and ideals of eMercedesBenz. It is, after all, because of your readership and support that eMercedesBenz exists.

Our story begins approximately three-and-a-half years ago, when eMercedesBenz was founded. Initially, our goal was simply to create a website that would allow those interested in Mercedes-Benz to follow the brand on a daily basis, utilizing a medium that at the time was far less prominent than it is today: the weblog. We built the site from scratch, using our limited knowledge of coding (hence, the lack of features when compared to other weblogs). We figured we’d first focus on gaining readers, and subsequently implement more user interactive features as the site grew. We quickly realized the error of our ways, however, when as the site gained more notoriety, we quickly became inundated with emails from readers who weren’t asking us to implement the features found on other blogs, but rather were asking questions about virtually all aspects of the brand. Did we have more information on an upcoming model; where could they buy a specific item mentioned on the site; did we have a brochure of a vintage pre-war Mercedes model, etc.

We soon realized that it wasn’t a more fully-featured blog that would be most beneficial to our readers, it was an outlet that gave them a voice – one to communicate with Mercedes; one to have their questions answered; and one where they could speak openly about any aspects of Mercedes-Benz that interested them. With that, our future vision for eMercedesBenz was born.

Our new goal was a straightforward one: create a hybrid medium that would blend features of a traditional weblog with an unprecedented level of social networking aspects. Think of it as your favorite blog, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr and Wikipedia all rolled into one. Our vision for eMercedesBenz was built on three key components:

1) It would be a site that first and foremost, focused on content. If you hate social networks and you’ve sworn never to use one, it wouldn’t matter, because we would continue publishing a wealth of articles pertaining to Mercedes-Benz on a daily basis, but to a much greater extent. Not only would be we bring you the latest news pertaining the company and its products, but any historical information you sought about any of the Mercedes models from the past 125 years would be at your disposal. Simply put, it would be the single greatest source of new and historical Mercedes-Benz information ever made available.

2) It would offer exclusive access to the brand. In other words, rather than having to wait until after a model’s launch to see what went into a new model’s development, you would have a behind-the-scenes look at the model’s development in real time. When a new model was released, you would have the ability to speak directly to the model’s designers, gaining a unique perspective into how and why they arrived at the finished product. When a new model was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, you’d have a backstage pass showing what into the making of the auto show display. In short, our goal was to highlight the hard work and talent of the many incredibly gifted people who play a part in creating each of the Mercedes models you drive, all of whom up until now remain nameless, while at the same time granting you never-before-seen access to the brand.

3) It would create a community environment that allowed direct communication between Mercedes-Benz, its customers, and potential customers. I could speak all day about the social features planned (I won’t, don’t worry), but our vision was this: we wanted to give you a voice. We wanted to give you the ability to create a unique identity (describe yourself, share videos, photos, etc.), and find other eMercedesBenz members that share similar interests. Let’s say you just bought a C63 AMG and had it tuned by RENNTech. Our goal was give you the ability to upload videos and photos of it under your unique eMercedesBenz account (and make them either public or private), join a group of other C63 AMG owners and/or RENNTech owners (or create your own group), talk about your C63 either in group discussions or with your private contacts… the list goes on. If you created a group (such as RENNTech for example), you could communicate directly with your members, inviting them to a day at the track, for example. In essence, we wanted to bring those interested Mercedes in any context together, so they could find others with similar interests and share their thoughts and questions with other like-minded individuals. Or maybe you’re not a Mercedes owner but had questions about a specific Mercedes model. You would then have had the ability to create an account and speak directly to thousands of other Mercedes owners, each of whom already owns the model, and each of whom have experience with the model on a daily basis. Personally, I’d take the recommendation of a thousand real-world owners over the recommendation by an editor at Motor Trend any day (sorry Motor Trend, we still love you). And of course, for those of you that have problems, suggestions or comments for Mercedes, you too would have the ability to communicate directly with the company to share them.

That, in a vastly abbreviated form, was our goal. In truth, our vision was a substantial one, and it’s one that relied on the help of Mercedes-Benz directly. Financially, it’s impossible to create a website of this nature without a substantial investment, and in the area of exclusive access to the brand, it’s something that’s impossible without the direct help of the company. Because of this, last year, we constructed a business plan and presented it to Mercedes, and a few months ago we met with representatives from Daimler and MBUSA in person to discuss it. Of course, the primary question that you might be wondering is “Would being sponsored directly by Mercedes detract from the integrity of our site?” Or, putting it another way, would the site be simply an elaborate marketing ploy? From our standpoint, the answer was no. As discussed, our vision relies on three key elements, one of which is a community of individuals interested in Mercedes-Benz. In our opinion, no matter what content we or anyone else publishes, there is nothing more influential than hearing the voice of hundreds of thousands of actual Mercedes owners. An example that comes to mind is Apple. I migrated entirely to Mac computers over five years ago, but it wasn’t an elaborate marketing campaign that made me do so. It was on the recommendation of a friend, who extolled Mac’s virtues to me. Since that time, I’ve recommended Macs to at least ten of my friends, all of whom have now made the switch. From a marketing standpoint, we believe there’s nothing more influential than the voice of actual customers, and eMercedesBenz would have given MB customers a direct voice. If anything, eMercedesBenz would have granted users a truly genuine view at the brand, as it would be this pulse of Mercedes owners that dictated how the brand was viewed. Content too, would remain unbiased (at least as unbiased as it currently is), as our goal was to present content from an informational standpoint, and allow those that view it to form their own opinions of it.

So how would ads have worked? Our goal was to eliminate traditional advertising (banner ads, skyscrapers, etc.) to as great of an extent as possible, and replace them with unobtrusive methods that directed you, our readers, to the corresponding official Mercedes-Benz pages. For example, we just brought you an article detailing the new E-Class Coupe. The only ads on that article page would have been a straightforward link that directed you to the MB page where you could build or price your own E-Class Coupe. In other words, for anyone who’s ever emailed us asking where they can purchase a vehicle, accessory, etc., every page would offer a direct link to do so, without bombarding you with any unnecessary marketing materials. Our goal wasn’t to offer a carefully planned multi-million marketing message via a banner ad in an attempt to convince you to buy a Mercedes, but rather to provide you with an unprecedented level of content pertaining to Mercedes-Benz, giving you a voice to discuss the brand and hear other MB owners voices, and most importantly, allowing you to then make your own, informed purchase decision.

It’s something that up until now hasn’t been done. It would have given you an honest look at Mercedes-Benz in a way that’s never before been presented, and just as importantly, it would have helped the company better adhere to the various virtues they consistently promote – quality, ingenuity, safety and engineering superiority. We wish we could say that Mercedes shared our passion of the project, but the truth is, they didn’t. There were various objections to the proposal, the majority of which we believe were inaccurate. Ultimately, however, we believe the basis of their objection can be summarized in a single word: complacency. Mercedes believes that if they already have you as a customer, it’s not worth the expenditure to keep you, due to the fact they’re already adept enough at doing so. They also believe that their current advertising approach is efficient enough at reaching new customers. In short, their belief is that a well designed ad is more effective than the voice of a hundred thousand customers. This is in stark contrast to our beliefs, however, which is why we felt it necessary to detail to a small degree our proposal. From our viewpoint, amid one of the worst economic climates in the past century, we strongly believe that it’s necessary for Mercedes to take a pioneering role in both reaching new customers and strengthening the relationship they have with their current customers. By listening to you, their customers (or potential customers) – hearing your thoughts and viewpoints – and providing an honest, unprecedented look inside the company, we believe Mercedes could have substantially improved their ability to meet your needs and attract new customers – something that as of late has been increasingly difficult to do.

Unfortunately, as noted, Mercedes failed to share our vision for the future of eMercedesBenz, which has required us to take a change of course in our vision for the future as well. Over the past month, we’ve begun work on a new version of eMercedesBenz, which despite not offering each of the various features above, will still offer more interactive components than the current version of our website. It’s this ongoing work that has resulted in somewhat of a slowdown in articles, but trust us: the end result will be a far better version of eMercedesBenz than the one you’ve grown accustomed to.

To each and every one of you that read our website, thank you for your support. We couldn’t do it without you, and we encourage you to stay tuned over the next couple months to see what’s in store for the future eMercedesBenz.

Thanks again.

While we’re on the subject of Mercedes G-Class tuning, RENNtech has unveiled new renderings showcasing a potential variant of the SUV that they’re considering for future production.  Details of the G Wagen are relatively limited, but the company says it’s inspired by 30 years of G-Wagens and will feature a diesel powerplant (in addition to the various cosmetic enhancements you see above).

We’ll keep you posted if any new details are released; in the meantime, you can check out a pair of renderings showcasing the chrome-endowed model below (click either to enlarge).

Despite the masking, this is by far the best look yet at what will be the new Mercedes Gullwing. Visible is a single louvre grille, reminiscent of the original 300SL Gullwing, as is a moveable spoiler in the rear. The overall contours of the model are also much more visible, due to the removal of the false body panels seen in the past.

According to AutoWeek, the new Mercedes Gullwing model – still yet to be named – is slated for a two-year production cycle of about 6,000 units, with pricing set to be “several hundred thousand dollars” (earlier reports indicated the model would be priced around $130,000). Power was originally thought to be supplied by AMG’s 6.3-Liter V8, but it’s now being speculated that the V12 from the SL65 AMG Black Series could be called on instead (which would obviously account for the price difference).

We’ll keep you posted as any new details of the Mercedes Gullwing are revealed; in the meantime, keep scrolling for a few additional photos (click to enlarge), then head over to AutoWeek for the full, action-packed gallery.

Now that the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has made its world debut, it’s time for some special variants of the model, starting with the special protection Guard model. Although on the surface it looks virtually identical to a traditional E-Class sedan, the E-Class Guard boasts a wealth of “intelligently conceived protective features.” Highlights include a passenger cell constructed of high-strength steels and aramide components, all-around polycarbonate glazing, an optional emergency alarm system and optional underbody armour. As a result, the Mercedes E-Class Guard meets the protection class of VR4 (formerly B4) – enough to withstand handgun bullets of up to .44 Magnum in caliber. With the optional underbody armor, the entire underfloor area of the passenger cell is resistant to attack with a DM51 hand-grenade.

Of course, despite the added protection, there’s no comfort or loss of features when compared to a standard E-Class. Interior dimensions remain unchanged, offering ample seating for five, while a special Level II version of the AIRMATIC air suspension system ensures superb performance even with the model’s added weight.

If you’re interested, the E-Guard is available in three engine variants (E350, E500 and E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY), in your choice of the basic ELEGANCE line or the AVANTGARDE line. Pricing for the Guard special protection package comes in at EUR 45,000 (German list excl. VAT), with ordering set to commence this April.

For more info regarding the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Guard, keep scrolling for photos (click to enlarge) and the official press release.

Due to the ongoing downturn on almost all markets and the upcoming model changeover for the E-Class, Mercedes-Benz Cars sold a total of 62,200 Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart and Maybach brand vehicles in January (January 2008: 90,400, minus 31 percent). A total of 53,900 customers opted to purchase a vehicle of the Mercedes-Benz brand in January (January 2008: 82,300, minus 35 percent).

The smart fortwo deliveries increased by four percent worldwide to 8,300 units (January 2008: 8,000). Following its market success in the U.S. in 2008, the innovative two-seater will be introduced to China, Brazil and Denmark this year. The smart fortwo is currently available in 37 markets on five continents.

At the beginning of the year, Mercedes-Benz presented the new E-Class sedan in Detroiton the occasion of the North American International Auto Show. The vehicle was released for sale in Western Europeon January 12. ”Sales of the new E-Class get off to an excellent start. To date we received more than 30,000 orders for the new E-Class sedan – even before the official market launch in March“, said Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars. The new E-Class will become available in other markets this summer.

The new E-Class received the accolade of “2009 value retention champion” awarded every year by the motoring magazine Auto-Bild. In three years time, the new E-Class will be the car with the highest resale value in the upper-range segment. According to calculations made by the market research institute Bähr & Fess Forecast in Saarbrücken, the new E 250 CDI will then realise up to 62.5 percent of its current value.

Even after the reform of the motor vehicle tax in Germany, the high fuel efficiency of the new E-Class will be a major benefit for Mercedes-Benz customers. The E 250 CDI, for example, delivers 150 kW/204 hp, but has an average fuel consumption of only 5.3 liters of diesel per 100 km, which corresponds to 139 grams of CO2 per kilometer. In Germany, drivers of an E 250 CDI will therefore only have to pay a total of €247 in motor vehicle taxes over the first three years, whereas previously the total bill would have amounted to €339.68.

Bernd Schneider and Klaus Ludwig, by far the most successful ever DTM touring car racing drivers, have been appointed as brand ambassadors, instructors and test drivers for AMG and Mercedes-Benz. With these appointments, which take immediate effect, Mercedes-Benz and the high-performance brand AMG have succeeded in securing the extensive wealth of experience and expertise of two of motorsport’s greatest professionals.

Bernd Schneider, who competed in his last DTM race at the season’s finale on 26 October 2008 at the Hockenheimring circuit, will now provide support to the AMGdevelopment team as a test driver and will also pass on his know-how as an expert instructor at the AMG Driving Academy. The record-breaking DTM champion will also be much in demand as a conversation partner at both customer and press events. His duties with AMG began officially on 1 January 2009.

“We are very happy to be welcoming Bernd Schneider to AMG. As a fair sportsman, Bernd Schneider enjoys a great deal of recognition and respect throughout the entire motor racing world and automotive industry. I am certain that our development team will benefit greatly from Bernd Schneider’s expertise. With his pleasant manner, he is also bound to be a great asset not only at customer and press events, but also at the events of our AMG Driving Academy where he will be involved as an instructor,” explains Volker Mornhinweg, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Bernd Schneider: “I see my decision to work for AMGfollowing my career as an active racing driver as absolutely logical. I was able to celebrate most of my victories, and also the most satisfying ones, in the AMG Mercedes team, and now I am looking forward to the new tasks as an instructor, test driver and brand ambassador for AMG.”

Schneider’s racing career: textbook perfect

As one of Germany’s most successful racing drivers of all time with five DTM titles and one each in the ITC and FIAGT Championship, Bernd Schneider (44 years of age) can look back over an extremely impressive career. The first milestone was his victory in the 1980 Junior World Kart Championship. After winning his spurs in the Formula Ford monoposto series he entered the German Formula 3 championships, which he won in 1987. Prior to this, in 1986, he had first competed with Ford in the DTM. After two years of Formula 1 with Zakspeed in 1988 and 1989, as well as sports car racing with Porsche in 1990 and 1991, Schneider moved to Mercedes and the Zakspeed DTM team as the successor to Michael Schumacher for the last two races in 1991. In 1992 he made another move to AMG Mercedes, where Schneider has remained to the present day.

Over the subsequent 17 years, as part of the AMG and HWA teams, he won 43 out of 226 races in the DTM and ITC, and eleven races in the 1997 and 1998 FIA GT Championships. All in all he won seven titles in these three championships.

In his penultimate DTM race at Le Mans, he emerged victorious from a tough but fair duel in atrocious conditions with the new DTM champion, Timo Scheider, thereby proving that even at the age of 44, he has lost none of his competitive spirit. Bernd Schneider ended the 2008 DTM season in sixth place in the final race at the Hockenheimring, ranking him in sixth place overall in the driver standings with a total of 34 points.

Klaus Ludwig: actively involved in series production development since 2000

Klaus Ludwig, former DTM team colleague of Bernd Schneider, also started his duties as brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz on 1 January 2009. Ludwig will represent the Stuttgartcar manufacturer on official occasions, such as at customer and press events. 59-year-old Ludwig has in fact been involved in series production development at Mercedes-Benz since the end of his active career as a DTM racing driver in 2000. Since 2003, he has been an established member of the “Ride & Handling Core Team”. As such he forms part of a team consisting of 15 Mercedes engineers who are responsible for assessing and approving the ride comfort and handling characteristics of all new vehicles prior to their market release – from the new E-Class and Maybach models, right through to smart. In addition, the renowned Ludwig also works as a driver training instructor for the SLR. CLUB, the very exclusive community for owners of the SLRMcLaren.

Dr Thomas Weber, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG with responsibility for Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development: “Klaus Ludwig’s very extensive experience is extremely beneficial to us. His long and above all highly successful motorsport career makes him a very experienced partner for our engineers and therefore also helps in achieving the perfect chassis and suspension set-up for new vehicles.”

“As part of my duties, I have enjoyed making a constructive contribution to the development of new Mercedes vehicles for many years,” says Ludwig. “Now I am looking forward to working even more closely with Mercedes-Benz in the future.”

Three DTM titles and three victories at the Le Mans 24-hour race

Klaus Ludwig, like Bernd Schneider, also ranks as one of Germany’s most successful motorsport professionals. Between 1985 and 2000 he took part in some 217 DTM and ITC races, emerging as victor on no fewer than 36 occasions. This has earned Ludwig second place in the DTM/ITC list of winners, behind Bernd Schneider. Achieving a total of 1792.5 points, he even tops the all-time best points list. A native of Bonn, Ludwig also won the German Touring Car Championship three times (1988, 1992, 1994). In 1979 and 1981, he emerged as champion of the DRM (German Racing Championship), the forerunner to the DTM, celebrating a total of 38 first places driving for BMW, Porsche and Ford. As such, combining both DRM and DTM results, he holds the overall record of 74 victories. Another of Ludwig’s records, set in the year 2000, also still stands to this day: at the age of 50, and therefore still the oldest DTM driver, he won both races at the Sachsenring circuit driving an AMG-Mercedes CLK DTM. He officially brought his long DTM career to an end at the close of the season.

Klaus Ludwig was also very successful in sports car racing, as demonstrated not only by his victory for AMG-Mercedes in the FIA GT championship in 1998. A further three victories at both the Le Mans 24-hour race (1979, 1984, 1985) and the Nürburgring 24-hour race (1982, 1987 and 1999) are also evidence of his great achievements.

Mercedes-Benz USA has announced today that they’ll be launching a new exclusive hotel and resorts program known as Destinations – one that will allow Mercedes-Benz owners staying at select properties exclusive benefits, including complimentary use of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, welcome gifts and room upgrades. Destinations available in the program include Calistoga Ranch, CA; Encantado, NM; The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, SC; The Montage Beverly Hills, CA; Rancho Valencia, CA; Stowe Mountain Lodge, VT; The St. Regis Aspen, CO; and Winvian, CT; and Trump International Hotel & Tower, IL.

According to Lisa Holladay, manager of Mercedes-Benz brand experience marketing: “Our customers choose Mercedes-Benz vehicles because they want an exceptional and luxurious experience when they travel by car. Our new Destinations program extends that luxury experience by offering exclusive customer benefits through select, hand-picked properties that are quite extraordinary.”

Yet another round of spy photos have emerged today showcasing the likely-to-arrive-in-2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class. As has been the case with all prior 2011 CLS spy shots, the model is still heavily disguised, with little design traits revealed about the next four door coupe. However, a few key areas to take note of include the somewhat visible front grille, similar to the one found on the current CLS, as well as the rear exhaust which features a rectangular design similar to that of the new E-Class.

We will of course keep you posted as new details of the 2011 CLS are revealed; in the meantime, keep scrolling to see a few additional shots of the next CLS-Class, or head over to Autoblog.nl for the full, action-packed gallery.

Like the herd of possessed swine cast off the cliff by Jesus Himself, so too went the way of Mercedes-Benz USA’s sales in January. They went down. Down, down, down. Specifically, the U.S. division of the luxury brand managed to achieve what some would have before considered impossible – shipping exactly 42.9 percent fewer vehicles than they did only a year ago. In total, MBUSA delivered 10,433, compared to 18,275 units in January 2008.

What makes the decline even more interesting is that this January marked the beginning of a U.S. advertising blitz for the new GLK-Class, with television spots and print ads for the new SUV popping up on a nearly daily basis. Even with the new ad bombardment, a quick scan of the other top luxury automakers January figures reveals that MBUSA outdid them all, with Lexus being the only brand coming close to Mercedes-Benz USA’s catastrophic decline (-37.7 percent).

So what does this mean for Mercedes-Benz USA’s marketing department? It means that what they’re doing isn’t working, and to be honest, we can’t say we’re surprised. I won’t go into specifics today, but I will say that last year, we sent Mercedes a proposal that would have been far more effective than any of MBUSA’s current marketing attempts. Call it a vision into the future, if you will – one that we had the opportunity to sit down and present to the company a few months ago, and one that they blatantly and unfortunately dismissed. Now, kicking off a new year, Mercedes-Benz USA is at the forefront of the luxury automotive segment, not as the industry leader, but rather as the brand holding title as the month’s most substantial loser.

It’s a difficult economic environment, but at the same time, it’s at times like these that the true measure of a company’s ingenuity and character can be seen. The truth is that there’s more to selling cars than airing a few unimaginative television and print ads, but until MBUSA becomes receptive to this fact, I expect little to change in the company’s position amidst the luxury segment.

For more info regarding Mercedes-Benz USA’s January sales figures, keep reading for the official press release.

Mercedes-AMG GmbH is celebrating the most successful year in its company history. AMG, the performance brand within Mercedes-Benz Cars, succeeded in increasing unit sales worldwide by 19 percent, selling 24,200 vehicles (previous year 20,300) and bucking the market trend in extremely difficult conditions. As in previous years, the USA was the strongest market for AMG with a share of 38 per cent of total sales. Germany came in second place (13 per cent), followed by Japan (8 per cent). The German market has developed very positively with a clear increase of 34 per cent compared with the previous year. The greatest growth markets of 2008 include amongst others China and Brazil with rates of increase of 260 per cent and 565 per cent respectively. With these figures AMG confirms its leading position amongst high-performance vehicle brands and at the same time further expands its market share in the high-performance segment.

The C 63 AMG made a considerable contribution to the success of 2008 with 8100 vehicles delivered. The C 63 AMG, available as a saloon and as an estate, is thereby the most successful AMG automobile of all time. The new SL 63 AMG also developed positively, with 3,050 enthusiastic purchasers in 2008.

In addition, a further chapter of the Black Series success story was relayed to the world with the SL 65 AMG Black Series, limited to 350 units – and enchanted the media and demanding AMG customers alike.

Successful: AMG sports package and AMG Driving Academy

The AMG sports package also made a positive contribution to the year’s success. The striking sporty equipment packages are available for numerous Mercedes lines and were sought after by more customers than ever in 2008; the increase over 2007 amounted to 73 per cent.

The AMG Driving Academy, founded in 2007, registered twice as many applications as in 2007. The strength of demand for high-class racing circuit training and events has led AMG to undertake a considerable expansion of the AMG Driving Academy options for 2009.

Individual customer attention and first class customer care also played a crucial role in AMG’s continually increasing success. Hence AMG is to establish 175 new AMG Performance Centers worldwide by the end of next year: its engagement in intensifying customer relations now covers 15 countries in total.

Environmentally compatible vehicle development initiatives

In addition to its passion for high-performance sports vehicles, Mercedes-AMG GmbH is also committed to social responsibility and is intensifying its engagement in the development of environmentally compatible vehicles. AMG is already “Best in Class” amongst its performance car subsidiary and sporting brand competitors in the field of consumption. All AMG vehicles will surpass the EU-5 standards which come into force from 2009 and also the EU-6 standards which will apply from 2014. To reduce consumption, AMG is shortly to introduce efficiency-increasing engine-generator management as well as regulated oil and water pumps. From 2010 AMG will equip its vehicles with direct petrol injection and with start-stop function. Through constantly increasing efficiency, AMG will from 2012 achieve a reduction in consumption of 30 per cent in comparison to present levels.

AMG was founded in 1967 by Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher and is considered to be a pioneer in the field of motor sport and refinement. The cooperation contract agreed with Daimler-Benz AG in 1990 was followed in 1999 by gradual integration into the then DaimlerChrysler AG. On 1 January 2005 DaimlerChrysler AG took 100 per cent of the shares. Today Mercedes-AMG GmbH is a vehicle manufacturer and AMG is the performance brand within Mercedes-Benz Cars. The subsidiary firm of Daimler AG is uniquely specialised in the field of high-performance vehicles and, with its sporty saloons, coupés, cabriolets, roadsters, SUVs and specially produced one-off vehicles, offers a product portfolio which leaves no customer wish unfulfilled. Mercedes-AMG possesses overall responsibility for design, aerodynamics and interior as well as drive system, engine, chassis, brakes and electronics, and ultimately for the final release of the AMG complete vehicle. In addition, marketing and sales-related aspects are handled independently.

The smart fortwo, pioneer of intelligent micro cars, masterfully plays the leading automotive role in the sequel to the successful cinema blockbuster “The Pink Panther”. In Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’/Columbia Pictures’ “The Pink Panther 2” to be released February 6 in the US and 12 March in Germany, the two-seater demonstrates the advantages of its compact dimensions and its superior agility with a twinkle as the police car of the fearless, although somewhat clumsy Inspector Clouseau in a breakneck dash through the Paris city jungle.

In „The Pink Panther 2“ Steve Martin as bumbling Inspector Clouseau chases criminals for the second time. At his side is his unrivalled police car, a red smart fortwo coupé. “smart is the optimal company car in the movie”, says Anders Sundt Jensen, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars. “smart and the main character stand for unusual ways of thinking, irresistible charm and cleverness – and therefore have extraordinary success.”

In an exciting sequence of the film Clouseau steers his smart fortwo coupé – in the equipment line passion with a 52kW/71 hp petrol engine – in a wild dash across Paris. Here, he benefits from the exceptional agility of the environmentally friendly, intelligent two-seater car. Not even finding a parking space at the chronically busy airport of the French capital poses a problem – the compact smart fortwo simply parks perpendicular to the flow of traffic.

Amateur detectives can pick up the trail of the pink diamond themselves on the internet. Under the motto “Stay on the trail”, since 02 February 2009 anyone can enter the film world of Inspector Clouseau at www.smart.com/pinkpanther and follow the precious gem across Paris. Participants who track down the diamond in this exciting internet game have a chance of winning a smart fortwo.

“The Pink Panther 2”, the sequel to the 2006 worldwide hit, stars Steve Martin as he reprises the role of intrepid-if-bumbling French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. When legendary treasures from around the world are stolen, including the priceless Pink Panther Diamond, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (John Cleese) is forced to assign Clouseau to a team of international detectives and experts charged with catching the thief and retrieving the stolen artifacts. Martin is joined by his co-stars Jean Reno (as Ponton, his partner) and Emily Mortimer (as Nicole, the object of his awkward affections). The investigative dream team is played by Andy Garcia, Alfred Molina, Yuki Matsuzaki (Letters from Iwo Jima) and Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Lily Tomlin also stars. The story is set in Paris and Rome. The film is directed by Harald Zwart and produced by Robert Simonds. The screenplay is by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber and Steve Martin. The story by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber. Based on the Pink Panther films of Blake Edwards. Based on characters created by Maurice Richlin & Blake Edwards.

smart success story

After ten years on the market, the smart fortwo can report impressive performance. Since the introduction of the first generation in 1998, smart celebrated its 10th anniversary last year with over one million delivered models. Having initially been offered only in Germany and eight other European countries, the smart fortwo is now available in 37 countries worldwide. After the market success in the US in 2008, smart will also be launched in China, Brazil and Denmark in 2009.

As one of the youngest car brands, smart stands for innovation, functionality and vitality. Above all, smart appeals to customers that are seeking new, forward-looking and intelligent solutions within the automobile sector. smart fortwo drivers are defined more by their attitude than by their age, profession or gender. They are open-minded, they question conventional wisdom and are in-touch. They choose the smart fortwo because it is special and because it sets them apart from the masses. And most certainly – because it is fun.

If you’re looking for a way to spice up your somewhat conservative Mercedes C-Class, German tuning firm Väth has unveiled a new series of enhancements for the model under the moniker V18K. I know, the prospect of altering your traditional C-Class may sound somewhat daunting for those of you already fond of your standard C, but not to worry, as the V18K is by all accounts a relatively minor tuning program when compared to the vast number of other Mercedes tuning programs available.

From a mechanical standpoint, changes come by way of software optimization program, the result of which is a 31 hp improvement in the C200. With its newfound 215 total horsepower, top speed in the C-Class rises, increasing 3 mph to 149 mph. Outside, modifications are again fairly restrained. A new front apron, a black radiator grille sans Mercedes star, black 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler and stainless steel exhaust system are all present, while completing the package is a tweaking of the suspension, resulting in a ride height 45mm lower in the front and 35mm lower in the rear.

If you’re interested, pricing for the Väth V18K comes in at EUR 1773 for the engine optimization, while pricing for the cosmetic enhancements varies by piece.

To see more of the Väth V18K C-Class, keep scrolling for more photos of the model (click any to enlarge).

If you’re in the mood for a little boasting on the part of Daimler, then you’re in luck my friends, as the company today has announced that their Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles are Germany’s most popular commercial vehicle brand. The news comes after an Emnid study commissioned by the weekly specialist magazine Verkehrs-Rundschau, during which Mercedes-Benz took top place in three of the seven categories: “Trucks,” “Vans,” and “Hire/Leasing.”

To arrive at their findings, Emnid polled a total of 400 fleet managers in transport, freight, industry and trade about the image of the most important commercial vehicle providers and about products and services for the commercial vehicle fleet. The reason for doing so, according to the Verkehrs-Rundschau study, is that because of those polled, over 75 percent would never or only exceptionally purchase commercial vehicles, products or services from a provider with a poor image.

Apparently, as is the case with celebrities, politicians and exotic dancers, image is everything in the world of commercial vehicles.

For more info regarding Mercedes-Benz victory in the Verkehrs-Rundschau-commissioned Emnid study, keep reading for the official press release.

Mercedes-Benz USA announced today that they have become an official patron of the PGA of America – a collaboration that will last through 2013. Under the venture, MBUSA will serve as The Official Vehicle of The PGA of America, the Official Patron and Official Vehicle of the PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship, and a Proud Supporter of the 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cup.

According to Ernst Lieb, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA: “The PGA of America continues to make golf accessible to a wider audience and we see an opportunity to support and benefit from the game’s future growth. The three-pointed star has a long-standing history with golf and this new partnership strengthens our existing ties with the game while also extending our presence within one of the world’s largest sports organizations.”

In addition to the aforementioned titles, part of Mercedes-Benz USA’s duties include providing vehicles at the PGA Championships, Senior PGA Championship and the 2012 Ryder Cup. Furthermore, the company will be involved in a number of additional sponsorship activities, including being a Presenting Sponsor of the PGA Professional National Championship and Senior PGA Professional National Championship; the PGA Play Golf America Days Fan Experience at the Senior PGA Championship, PGA Championship and 2012 Ryder Cup; and the Loyalty Lots at the Senior PGA Championships, PGA Championships and the 2012 Ryder Cup.

For more info detailing Mercedes-Benz USA’s partnership with the PGA of America, you can find the full details in the official press release below.

Now that the 2010 Mercedes E-Class has been officially unveiled, it’s only a matter of time before the estate variant of the new E makes its debut as well. While we’re waiting for that momentous event to occur, here’s a few new shots showcasing precisely what we have to look forward to from the upcoming model. Yes, there is still quite a bit of masking covering its various design attributes, but with a little imagination, you can make out to a large degree the amount of extra space the wagon holds over its sedan counterpart.

Not being much of a wagon connoisseur, I’ll keep my thoughts on the E-Class Estate’s design to myself. However, from a functional standpoint, I’m sure it will score very high on the practicability scale – assuming, of course, that you need to store a prodigious amount of crap in the back of your vehicle on a daily basis.

To see more of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate, you can see a few additional shots immediately below (click to enlarge)

Yet another batch of Mercedes reviews have managed to infiltrate the eMercedesBenz offices on this frigid Tuesday morning, with a grand total of three publications weighing in on Mercedes’ newest SUV – the highly publicized 2010 GLK350 4MATIC.

As is the case with all our Mercedes Review Roundups, you read excerpts highlighting precisely what reviewers thought of the new model immediately below, along with links back to the various publications’ full, action-packed articles.

Enjoy ladies and gentlemen.

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4MATIC (via Motor Trend)

Reviewer’s rating: Unspecified

“Few Mercedes-Benz owners in the U.S. ever take their vehicles off-road, a reality the German automaker not only realizes but embraces. Thus, the GLK is targeted at affluent women — and it appears Mercedes has hit its mark. This baby Benz has clearly been refined for the on-road market.

Consider the evidence: The off-road package that Mercedes-Benz claims will allow the GLK to rival the Land Rover LR2 in off-road capability will not be available in the U.S. Neither will the two Euro-market diesel engines, despite their efficiency advantages. As if to drive the point home, our tester arrived wearing 20-inch wheels wrapped with Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires. While the sidewalls may have revealed a mud and snow rating, the tread hardly looked trail-ready. Clearly, the GLK350 is not meant to tackle much more than the occasional snowy drive to a condo in the mountains.

We’re okay with that, because while the GLK might not keep up with a Jeep Wrangler on the soft stuff, it will be far more pleasant to live with during the work week. Heated leather seats, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, and a superb stereo will make the office commute and jaunts to the mall and supermarket more than bearable. The fully adjustable seats keep your backside happy on long drives, and the COMAND infotainment system is easy to learn and provides quick access to stereo, phone, and navigation. While the COMAND control knob operates much like BMW’s iDrive, the system is more user-friendly. Unfortunately, Mercedes has placed the knob at an odd angle behind the gear select lever, requiring an uncomfortable reach. Moving it just an inch farther forward, away from the edge of the armrest, would help immensely.

While the satellite radio and iPod interface will keep you entertained in traffic, the superb drivetrain will put a smile on your face when you finally get out of town. In the hills above Malibu, the 268-horsepower V-6, seven-speed automatic transmission, and 4Matic all-wheel drive system make the GLK350 a surprisingly sporty ride. While the steering is, in typical SUV fashion, rather slow (2.75 turns lock-to-lock,), it’s accurate. The big Pirelli meats offer impressive grip, and even when they began to let go, stability and traction control quickly reeled in the errant wheels. At the track, all that grip, plus surprisingly flat cornering, translated to an impressive 0.80 g of lateral acceleration and an equally impressive 28.1-second lap time around the Motor Trend Figure Eight.

The transmission rocks. While the GLK’s seven-speed auto allows for manual shifting by rocking the shift lever left to right, driver input really isn’t necessary. Switch the vehicle from Comfort Mode to Sport mode and the seven-speed will hold gears longer, allowing quick bursts between turns without ever changing cogs.

On the track, the 3.5-liter V-6 hustled the Benz to 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds. Stops were equally impressive: 60 to 0 mph in just 124 feet. Brake-pedal feel left much to be desired, though. The first half of travel is mushy and provides little stopping power. Then, forces suddenly firm up considerably and the brakes bite hard. The GLK needs a more gradual, linear braking response.

To their credit, the brakes have a tough job. Despite its smallish size, the GLK tips the scales at 4214 pounds. Still, the GLK never feels like a porker. Merging and passing on the freeway are effortless, and the GLK can pull off a 15.0-second quarter-mile at 92.9 mph. The real penalty is fuel economy: The GLK carries an estimated EPA city/highway rating of just 16/22 mpg. And it only drinks premium.”

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4MATIC (via Car and Driver)

Reviewer’s rating: Unspecified

“Associations with Mercedes-Benz and sticker prices typically involve an adjective equivalent to the word “high.” So it’s a bit of a surprise to find out that the 2010 GLK350 4MATIC starts at a not unreasonable $36,775, which is $3450 less than a 2009 BMW X3 sport-ute. A two-wheel-drive GLK, coming in April, will shed another $2000 off the window sticker. The competitive pricing—an Acura RDX SUV starts $2320 below the 4MATIC—is meant to lure “conquest buyers.” Mercedes-Benz predicts that 70 percent of GLK customers will be new to the German luxury brand.

The cost-wary might want to avoid some of the $6670 worth of extravagant options on our test car. Highlights include the $3350 Multimedia package (which includes navigation) and a $970 appearance package with 20-inch wheels and tires and chromed roof rails. Running boards add another $660 and are positioned to soil clean pants upon exiting the vehicle.

Mercedes has hit the mark perfectly with the GLK. The 3.5-liter V-6 puts out 268 horsepower, eight more than the X3. The 4219-pound curb weight is on the heavy side of the class average, but the seven-speed automatic allows for shorter ratios in the lower gears, resulting in a 0-to-60-mph time of 6.5 seconds. That’s dead even with the RDX, which was quickest in our most recent small-luxury-SUV comparo.

Despite 0.82 g of grip, the GLK doesn’t offer the carlike handling of the RDX or the X3. A soft ride is backed up by one-finger-light steering, and uneven pavement results in pronounced head toss. Though refined, the GLK drives more like its G-wagen looks than its C-class underpinnings.

Cargo space—23 cubic feet behind the rear seats, 55 cubes with the seats folded–isn’t as much as you’d get in the RDX or the X3. The rear seat has plenty of kneeroom, which is an improvement over the C-class. Mercedes doesn’t sell the wagon version of the C-class stateside, but the GLK fills that role perfectly, as long as you’re not looking for driving thrills.”

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4MATIC (via SearchChicago)

Reviewer’s rating: Unspecified

“If I were ever going to own an SUV, it would be something like the all-new Mercedes Benz GLK350. It’s got a lengthy list of standards at a base level. It drives incredibly well. It’s small enough for comfortable city driving, yet large enough to have usable cargo space. And it’s attractive. Not to mention the Mercedes cachet. Oh, and the base price? It rings in at $34,775.

The five-passenger GLK-Class launches as a 2010 model, but the 4MATIC model is available now, and the base rear-wheel drive GLK350 appears at dealers in April. The GLK is slotted as the new compact entry-level SUV for Mercedes, with a price point to match. Upgrading to the M-Class increases the MSRP by $13K, and the GL-Class adds $24K over the GLK.

Without spending any extra money on options, a buyer is looking at standard features such as 19-inch aluminum wheels with all-season tires, dual chrome exhaust tips, roof rails, Bluetooth, eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control adaptive brakes, six airbags and Agility Control suspension.

What isn’t included are some fairly basic features I’d expect at a luxury level. However, this à la cart menu is typical of a Mercedes. Here’s a heads up for you on some of those items you’ll have to pay extra for: an iPod integration kit ($375), park assist ($790), heated front seats ($740) and any color of exterior paint other than red, white or black ($720). The test vehicle was the 4MATIC version, which was greatly appreciated in this hideous weather we’ve been having. Base price with the all-wheel drive is $36,775, and believe me, for an extra $2K over the base model, it’s so worth it.

Powering the GLK is a 3.5-liter V-6, and this engine is superb. It delivers 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Mated to the seven-speed transmission, the power is smooth seamless and fast. Fast to the tune of 6.5 seconds for a 0-to-60-mph time. Not bad for a 4,036-pound vehicle.

Whether I was navigating through the mounds of snow in my alley or zipping down the highway, the GLK was perfectly acclimated to both situations. From the engine power to the actual ride-and-handling, I have zero complaints with how the test vehicle drove. It did exactly what I needed in every situation, and I couldn’t have been more pleased.

I was also pleased with the looks of Mercedes’ newest SUV. The GLK has strong straight lines and the bold Mercedes grille. It’s more than just a sawed-off version of the ML-Class and GL-Class SUVs. It has a more angular profile, and, in my opinion, it’s more attractive. The long nose combined with the chiseled hood lines and fender flares are distinct and modern.”

Kicking things off this chilly Monday morning comes the latest look at the next Mercedes CLS – one that shows the model undergoing a bit of cold weather testing on the frigid terrain of Sweden. As you’ll see, the model is heavily disguised, meaning there’s not much you’ll see in terms of design; however, there is a shot of the model being followed by the current C-Class, giving us at least some indication of the model’s proportions.

Aside from that, it will likely still be a little while before any substantial design elements of the next CLS are revealed. Engines will almost certainly be the ones found on the new E-Class, and pricing should come in a little more than the E-Class (as is the case with the current model).

We’ll keep you posted as new details of the next Mercedes-Benz CLS are uncovered; in the meantime, keep scrolling for a few more spy photos of the model (click any pic to enlarge), then head over to GlobalMotors.net for the full Mercedes CLS gallery.

Photos of the yet-to-be-unveiled Mercedes E-Class Coupe continue to pour in, with Autoblog.nl posting what they’re calling the first official photos of the 2010 E-Class Coupe and Motorpasion showing the forthcoming model in all but the tiniest of body cladding. These of course, are on top of the the prior, nearly naked shots of the model, meaning that as was the case prior to the launch of the 2010 E-Class sedan, any mystery surrounding the model has been thoroughly dispelled.

To see a sampling of the photos published by Autoblog.nl and Motorpasion, keep scrolling for a sampling of each of the pair’s galleries (click any photo to enlarge). Once you’re finished, you can head over to Autoblog.nl or Motorpasion to check out both of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe photo galleries in their entirety.

If you’re wondering what the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG looks like clad in a garish gold/chrome paint job, then wonder no more, as our friend Vincent over at Autoblog.nl directed us to photos depicting this very subject. It’s difficult to discern whether or not the C63 is actually gold or whether or it’s more of a gold color mixed with chrome, as it could be the lighting that increases the model’s golden appearance, but either way, it’s one fantastically lurid paint color that few would dare to actually place on their vehicle.

To see more of the golden Mercedes C63 AMG, which was spotted at the Mall of the Emirates, keep scrolling for a few additional photos, all of which enlarge when you click them.