For those of you pondering whether or not the Mercedes C63 AMG or C 220 CDI SE are worth you hard-earned wealth, our latest Review Roundup installment may help shed some light on your dilemma. In this episode, a total of three reviews are dedicated to analyzing the aforementioned models, with a portion of the first immediately below and the full collection of articles after the jump...
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (via Business Week)
Reviewer's rating: Unspecified
"My stints in the M3 and RS4 were filled with brilliant maneuvers - or so I like to think. I wouldn't have guessed the C63 would be the most satisfying. Its handling is easily the equal of the other two, with a touch sharper steering. At this rarified space, it's tough to quibble unless you have a decided preference for Audi's all-wheel drive, but it's clear that the C63 turns in as sharply as the BMW, rides better than the RS4 and accelerates faster than either of them.
It's no secret that we here at eMercedesBenz are fans of the fine work perpetually turned out by German tuning powerhouse BRABUS, and the latest addition to their tuning portfolio - a styling package for the new-generation Mercedes SL - is no exception to the rule. With a range of upgrades including a new front apron, side skirts, rear apron and 20-inch wheels, BRABUS has managed to successfully infuse a slightly more assertive character into the redesigned model without sacrificing its original, overall feel...
If you're looking for a way to fill the few remaining gigs on your shiny new iPod (or any other MP3 player), Mercedes has launched the latest in a long line of Mixed Tapes. Available from now until June 26th, the Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape 20 features 10 handpicked new tracks from various up-and-coming international artists, all procurable via free download. Highlights include Malinn's "Stars," Aless' "Tru Luv," Reggie B's "Like a Dream" and Notic Nastic's "Party Lights..."
If the name Zhang Ziyi is unfamiliar to you, it shouldn't be. She's one of world's best-known Chinese film actresses, with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Rush Hour 2; House of Flying Daggers; Hero; and Memoirs of a Geisha just some of the movies that make up her exemplary résumé.
As for why I'm telling you this, the alluring star recently took a break from her film roles to lend her acting ability to Mercedes and creative agency Ogilvy & Mather Beijing, appearing in an ad for the limited-edition SLK Passion 08. In the commercial (aptly-titled "The Contract"), Zhang demonstrates her driving ability and the model's handling prowess, all with the intent of convincing her prospective employers she's suited to be their driver.
To see the commercial for yourself, hit play above, sit back and enjoy...
Last but not least, in our third and final Review Roundup installment of the day, two more Mercedes models - the CLC and the C180 Kompressor Estate - are put under the microscope, giving those of you considering the purchase of either some idea of what to expect from each. As was the case with both our prior Review Roundups, you can find a portion of the first article scutinizing the CLC immediately below and the full collection of reviews after the jump...
"The engine is more than adequate and the sub $50,000 price point [in Australia] adds value for money to the equation. The 1.8 litre is perky rather than a firecracker but the classy coupe more than makes up for it with better than expected road manners, impresive fuel economy, comfy cabin and good boot space. This is one of those cars which you feel very much at home right from the go thanks to its well tailored cabin and comfortable seats. So if first impressions count, then the CLC is, even as a C-Class pretender, a winner, especially for the price.
If you've yet to grow tired of Mercedes reviews, don't worry - we've got more. Featuring a distinctly SUV fare, this Review Roundup installment boasts a total of three articles, with testers weighing in on the new Mercedes GLK350 and the GL320 CDI. As I'm sure you've already guessed, you can find a sampling of the first review below as well as the full collection immediately after the jump.
"The biggest surprise is the ride comfort, which is soft and cosseting, despite the GLK having impeccable body control. Thank Mercedes’ Agility Control system (think fancy shock absorbers) which know when to smoothe and soothe, and when to tighten and firm. Combine the clever shocks with decent mechanical grip, the 4Matic’s four-wheel drive traction and 45:55 rear-bias, and the GLK is surprisingly entertaining to drive.
Welcome back ladies and gentlemen; I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. To kick things off this morning we're going to get back to our Mercedes review coverage, starting with a total of four articles analyzing the Mercedes-Benz E500, the E300 BLUETEC by BRABUS, the E320 BLUETEC and the CLS320 CDI.
First up: a comparison review pitting the E500 against the BMW 550i, the Jaguar XF SV8 and the Lexus GS450h, with the full collection of reviews after the jump.
Mercedes-Benz E500(via Autospies)
Reviewer's rating: 1st place (out of four)
"The Mercedes V8 is refined, torquey and always eager to perform. At high speeds the Mercedes V8 is quieter than the screaming Lexus V6. The E-Class has outstanding comfort ratings and performs well in driving dynamics and has top ratings in having the car drive straight without the driver touching the steering wheel (like the Lexus). The seats don't offer enough side support though. The fuel consumption of 13.3 liters per 100 km is acceptable given the sporty driving style the car was exposed to. Inside the E-Class offers a lot of space for both front and rear passengers and the trunk is enormous with 540 liters of space. The trunk can be expanded by having the rear seats fold down giving the E-Class excellent markings in versatility. Overall the E500 is a very versatile car offering great performance, cabin- and luggage space, acceptable fuel economy and the best comfort in the group."
Taking a break from our Review Roundup segments, Mercedes today has published a behind-the-scenes look at their contributions to the upcoming Sex and the City movie. Although as a male I can't say the movie's at the top of my must-see list this summer - despite the fact my significant other will most likely have something to say about the matter - the press release still provides a unique look at the various challenges the company faced when providing a vehicle for the shoot...
The next Mercedes Class to be put through its paces is none other than the CLS, with a total of four reviews dedicated to the model being published. As I'm sure you're quickly growing accustomed to, you can view a portion of the first review below, along with the complete set of reviews immediately after the jump.
"Everyone wants it all nowadays. They want the best of both worlds, the happy medium and the cake you can have and eat... The CLS is
cake you can gorge on. It's a bit of everything: a bit of sportiness here, a bit of practicality there. Throw in a bit of style to go with the substance and you've got that pot at the end of the rainbow: four-door practicality with coupe-like looks.
Next in our new-and-improved Review Roundup segment comes a total of three reviews looking at both the new Mercedes-Benz CLC as well as the CL65 AMG. You can view a portion of the first review below, along with the complete set of reviews immediately after the jump.
"For the enthusiast, the CLC has all the ingredients in place for a drive to savour, especially when fitted with the powerful 268bhp 3.5-litre V6 and a quick shifting six-speed. This arrangement recently left us almost breathless with enthusiasm in the SLK350 but how does it fare with the CLC?
On paper it certainly seems the business sprinting to 62mph in 6.3 seconds and only running out of steam when the limiter halts action at 155mph. It feels a completely different beast to the SLK and it should, because, despite sharing the same capacity as the sporty little roadster, the CLC misses out on the extra 32bhp the SLK's lump boasts. It's not just the extra power the CLC misses. Gone is the addictive howl, appetite for revs and general enthusiasm the small roadster's SLK V6 dished up...
Although we may have fallen a little behind in our Mercedes review coverage as of late (all right, so maybe that's a bit of an understatement), not to worry, because we're making up for it today. Even as you read this, we're hard at work catching up on the numerous MB reviews published over the past couple weeks, including the many sent to us by you, our beloved readers.
But that's not all. As you'll notice, we're also introducing a new format for our "Review Roundup" segment - one that we believe will make it far easier to see what other reviewers thought of the Mercedes they were charged with testing. Unlike before, where a concise one or two sentence snapshot of each review was all that our Review Roundup offered, you'll now have a much clearer view of the how the model in question scored; a better perspective of who published the review; and longer, more informative excerpts from each of the actual articles. We think it's a substantial improvement over the prior format; hopefully you'll agree...
