Want to get up close and personal with the newly-announced smart fortwo but don't want to wait for its April 2007 debut?  Mercedes has announced today that rather than subjecting you to an agonizing four month wait, they'll instead be hosting a "smart story" exhibit at their museum from December 6th through January 14th which will showcase the design evolution of the smart brand, from its initial concept way back in 1993 up through its current, soon-to-debut new style...

Keep Reading "Smart Exhibit:  History Of The Smart Brand On Display At The Mercedes-Benz Museum"

Has the absence of a diesel V8-powerplant in the S-Class lineup had you feeling glum?  No longer ladies and gentlemen, thanks to Mercedes' introduction today of a model diesel lovers across Europe will undoubtedly take great delight in: the S 420 CDI.  Yes, the wait is finally over for Mercedes' flagship diesel V8-powered luxury sedan.

Powered by a state-of-the-art V8 CDI engine developing 235 kW/320 hp and and 730 newton meters of peak torque, the S 420 CDI is capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds and reaching an electronically-governed top speed of 250 km/h, all while consuming between 9.4 to 9.6 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers.  With a fuel tank capacity of 90 liters, this translates into an operating range close to the 1,000 kilometer mark...

Keep Reading "Pure Diesel Luxury:  Mercedes Unveils 235 kW/320 hp S 420 CDI Model"

Over the weekend, our good friend Shiv directed us to this video - a video which depicts the Mercedes ML63 AMG being put through its paces by the fine chaps of Fifth Gear.

While I could offer up a play-by-play of the test run, why bother when you can check out the full video for yourself?

So go grab some popcorn, hit play, sit back and enjoy...

Keep Reading "ML 63 Video Goodness:  Fifth Gear Takes Mercedes' AMG-Powered SUV For A Jaunt"

Although those considering the new Mercedes S65 AMG most likely take little heed to the thoughts and opinions of automotive reviewers, the gentlemen of CNN Money recently took their turn behind the new model, stating, quite bluntly, that it's "big, fast and pointless".

That's funny... and here I thought that the Mercedes S65 AMG was the key to bringing about world peace, ending hunger and curing AIDS...

Keep Reading "CNN Money's Take On The Mercedes S65 AMG:  It's Big, Fast And Pointless"

You have to give Mercedes credit - many companies attempt to organize activities that bring together customers of their particular product, but few can compare to the events thrown by the always-impeccable Mercedes-AMG GmbH.  Such is the case with the AMG Winter-Sporting Event 2007.

Taking place in Arjeplog, Sweden, the AMG Winter-Sporting Event is a four-day excursion that combines the highest-caliber driver training with a sampling of the local Swedish lifestyle.  Those attending the event have use of three different Mercedes AMG models:  the CLK 63 AMG, the SLK 55 AMG and the C 55 AMG, and over the course of their stay, are all instructed in the art of driving on less-than-stable surfaces. Some highlights include slalom and avoidance maneuvers, training on individual sections of the handling course and eventually, graduating to the full circuit of the course.  All activities take place on prepared tracks on one of the area's frozen lakes...

Keep Reading "Let It Snow:  Take Part In The AMG Winter-Sporting Event 2007 And Hone Your Arctic Driving Skills"

In addition to announcing the new fortwo will be celebrating it's world premier in Bologna later this month, smart also released details today of a limited edition model that will coincide with the minicar's launch in April of 2007.

Titled the smart fortwo "edition limited one", the special model features a 71 horsepower petrol engine, silver tridion safety cell and body panels in exclusive pyrite grey metallic, silver door mirror caps and radiator grill, panoramic roof with sun blind and 15" light alloy wheels with a six-spoke design.  Inside, the seats, gear knob and three-spoke steering wheel all feature cognac-brown used nappa leather look, with other highlights including air conditioning with automatic temperature control, heated seats, a cockpit clock and rev counter...

Keep Reading "Smart To Offer Special "Edition Limited One" ForTwo Model At Launch"

As you undoubtedly remember, last month, DaimlerChrysler took the wraps off the next smart fortwo, finally revealing to the world what to expect from the upcoming mini model.  Today, the company has released details of who will be fortunate enough to witness first the smart fortwo in the flesh, with residents of Italy, or more specifically, Bologna, the ones chosen.  Festivities planned for the grand unveiling, which will take place in the town's Piazza Maggiore square, include performances by musical artists Giovanni Allevi, L’Aura and Finley; a stunning presentation designed and directed by Valerio Festi, one of the designers in charge of the winter Olympic opening; and last but certainly not least, a contemporary dance number by the "Krumpers", directed by none other than David LaChapelle...

Keep Reading "New Smart ForTwo To Make Special Advance Public World Premier In Bologna, Italy"

Unfortunately I had to head out of the office a little early Friday afternoon so I wasn't able to bring you this story, but in cased you missed it, Mercedes-Benz USA, in the month of November, achieved the third-highest sales figures in the U.S. division's illustrious 42 year history.  In total, Mercedes-Benz USA noted sales of 22,079 new units, a remarkable 20.8% increase over 2005's November figure.  To date, MBUSA has achieved total sales of 219,678 units, an increase of 13.9% over 2005's eleven month YTD total...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Third-Highest Sales Month In Its 42 Year History"

The U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has just named the 2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class a Top Safety Pick for the 2007 model year.  After extensive testing involving both frontal and side impact crashes as well as the level of protection offered in a rear-end collision, the IIHS found that the M-Class performed at the highest caliber in all three areas, thus naming it one of their top picks for 2007.

Of course, this is just the latest of the many praises bestowed upon the Mercedes SUV. Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concurred with the IIHS' findings when they, after conducting their New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), awarded the M-Class their highest possible five-star rating...

Keep Reading "Mercedes M-Class Named Top Safety Pick By U.S. Insurance Institute For Highway Safety"

Welcome, welcome, welcome ladies and gentlemen; I hope you all had a marvelous weekend despite the less-than-tropical temperatures that are blanketing our country's northern regions.

To kick things off this morning, DaimlerChrysler has released new details of a warning system they've had in development for some time - one that when utilized, will warn motorists of dangerous driving conditions, even if these said conditions lay around the next bend or over the horizon. Titled the "Car-2-X Communication" system, the basic principle behind the technology is simple: vehicles are fitted with on-board sensors which constantly monitor the road for critical driving situations, such as fog, black ice, broken down vehicles, etc.; and in the event a potentially dangerous situation is discovered, a warning is sent to following cars (who then send the warning to following cars, who then send the warning to the following cars, and the cycle keeps repeating).  By doing so, subsequent vehicles are given adequate time to prepare for whatever condition has been found, even those which could have been impossible to see with the naked eye...

Keep Reading "Making You Safer:  DaimlerChrysler Developing Network To Warn Motorists Of Critical Driving Situations"

For those of you following the progress of Mercedes' upcoming small-SUV, the GLK-Class, Auto Motor und Sport recently published a few additional spy shots depicting the model from a number of different angles.

Unfortunately, the GLK in the photos is still heavily disguised, so if you've seen the previous shots there's not a whole lot that revealed in this latest photo set; but if you've missed the earlier GLK spy shots, here's the latest views of what the mini-GL will look like...

Keep Reading "Auto Motor Und Sport Captures More Spy Shots Of The Mercedes GLK-Class"

If, by chance, you've been living in a cave for the past 6 months or so, and you have absolutely no idea what the new, redesigned, 2007, at-first-was-a-little-ugly-but-then-they-introduced-the-AMG-version-and-all-was-right-with-the-world CL-Class is all about, then you, oh uninformed one, are in luck.

Thanks to Car and Driver, you can get up to speed quickly, courtesy of their recent Mercedes CL550, CL600 and CL63 AMG preview. While there's nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, that you haven't already seen, if for some reason you've missed every single one of our previous CL-articles, then you'll probably find their story interesting.  Otherwise, move along folks, there's nothing to see here...

Keep Reading "Car And Driver's Mercedes CL550, CL600 and CL63 AMG Previews"

For those of you contemplating whether fluctuating fuel prices are enough to forgo a new E350 and make the switch to the new diesel-fed E320 BLUETEC, the fine gentlemen over at Inside Line recently took their turn behind the wheel of the new model, all in an effort to educate you, the perplexed consumer.

Not surprisingly, the reviewers were impressed with the BLUETEC, noting that it possess "one refined, smooth engine, and most people wouldn't even realize it was a diesel if they weren't told."  Of course, the E320's main selling point is its outstanding fuel efficiency, and with factory specs indicating consumption of 26mpg in the city and 37mpg in the city (surpassing even the Lexus GS 450 hybrid's 25/28mpg city/highway), you're unlikely to be disappointed...

Keep Reading "First Drive:  Inside Line Takes The Mercedes E320 BLUETEC For A Spin"