Those of you who have heard the term "BLUETEC" being disseminated latterly but are unacquainted with Mercedes' clean diesel technology now have a new outlet by which to learn that which you do not know.

Harmoniously blending information and a serene online ecological haven of serenity, the new BLUETEC web special gifts residents of Earth with the knowledge of how Mercedes' diesel technology interacts with our environmental surroundings.  There also is the ability to plant a seed and watch it blossom into a congruous member of a beautiful, grassy knoll, basking in the sun's rays as it embarks on its ephemeral journey of beauty and solitude...

Keep Reading "Plant A Flower:  Mercedes Adds New BLUETEC Web Special To International Brand World Website"

While the wait for Mercedes to release the 2008 C-Class Estate is for many of you anything but captivating, that hasn't stopped a random, unnamed photographer from journeying to the arctic to provide you with the latest cold weather test shots of the upcoming model.

As you'll see in the photos, not much new is revealed: it's a 2008 C-Class featuring a kid-tested, mother-approved station wagon tuckus paired with everything that makes the 2008 C-Class sedan so tasty.  Or, to think of it another way, it's like that incredibly-gorgeous, perfectly-proportioned girl you dated back in the day, who just so happened to have a slightly-more-shapely older sister. While you undoubtedly were content in your selection, the added form (and accompanying functionality) possessed by your significant other's sibling was still enough to inspire the occasional round of intrigue...

Keep Reading "More Spy Photos Of The 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon"

Welcome, welcome, welcome ladies and gentlemen - I hope you all had an absolutely marvelous weekend. To kick things off this frigid February morning, the inaugural order of business which I must attend to is attempting to publish the many tips sent to us over the weekend by you, our beloved readers.

First up comes a number of reviews sent to us by our good friends Shiv, Jinx and Andrew - reviews which analyze three distinct models:  the Maybach 62 S, the Mercedes-Benz S550 and the Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 CGI.  In my usual "Review Roundup" fashion, I will abstain from commenting on each review; but you can, however, find the complete series of reviews along with short descriptions of each immediately after the jump...

Keep Reading "Weekend Review Roundup:  Maybach 62 S, Mercedes S550 And Mercedes CLS 350 CGI Put To The Test"

While it's rare to hear the phrase "sizzling style" used to describe a Mercedes model, that how Mark Perleberg, lead auto expert at NADAguides.com, felt about the CL550's new appearance.

In a press release published today, Mark shared this and several other sentiments he felt after spending time with the luxury coupe, ranging from "I firmly believe the 2007 Mercedes-Benz CL550 is destined to be a timeless classic of the future" to "this is a lavish, powerful sedan - a must have for luxury car buyers..."

Keep Reading "NADAGuides.com Weighs In On The Mercedes-Benz CL550 Coupe"

I have a confession to make:  while by no means a hardcore gamer, I have been known to play the occasional video game. In fact, I own a Nintendo Wii.  Sure, maybe part of it was the fact that I bought a few Nintendo shares last summer in anticipation of their new console launch (a fact that has paid off quite nicely, I might add); but after playing it, I'd be hard pressed to find anyone that denies the humor of seeing two adults wildly swinging their Wii-motes during a round of Wii Tennis.

As for Second Life, however - that is an entirely different story.  A virtual world that allows users to "design and shape their virtual environment and fill it with life," Second Life attempts to emulate real life via "sophisticated 3D representations of objects and people." Far more exhaustive than any games I wish to partake in, that hasn't stopped Mercedes from entering into Second Life, announcing the creation of a "Virtual Brand World" that will allow the world's inhabitants the ability to experience MB vehicles on a virtual test track...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz Opens New Virtual Brand World In Second Life"

It's hard to believe it's been over 25 years since Mercedes first introduced the legendary G-Class, and yet, despite rumors of Mercedes phasing out the classic model, it remains - a rugged staple of Mercedes' SUV lineup.

Today, Mercedes has announced that not only will the G remain, but starting immediately, it will feature numerous new revisions, all of which aim to improve the model's technical aspects to coincide with the rest of Mercedes' impeccable lineup without sacrificing any of the SUV's classic appeal...

Keep Reading "Rejuvenation Of A Classic:  Mercedes Updates Its Legendary G-Class"

In financial news, DaimlerChrysler has announced today that in 2006, the Mercedes Car Group, comprised of the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands, has increased operating profit $3.187 billion, up from 2005's $666 million operating loss.  In total, revenues for the division amounted to $72.0 billion, a nine percent increase over the prior year's level.

As for what attributed to the final figures, efficiency improvements resulting from the division's implementation of the CORE program played a major role in the increase, as did higher unit sales at the Mercedes-Benz division. Also worth noting is the presence of two special items which greatly altered this year's financial outcome:  charges relating to the aformentioned CORE program and the related staff reductions, the result of which was a $377 million expense; and the discontinuation of the smart forfour model, the result of which was a $1.248 billion expense...

Keep Reading "2006 Financial Year In Review:  Mercedes Car Group Increases Operating Profit To $3.187 Billion"

The fine gentlemen over at World Car Fans have managed to capture not one but two new Mercedes models testing recently:  a slightly-revised SLK-Class and a new C-Class Sports Coupe.

For the SLK, masked areas include the both the front and rear fascia along with the head lights and tail lights; all of which still appear similar to the current SLK.  As for the C-Class Sports Coupe, it appears exactly as you'd expect it to - styling updated to reflect the recently-introduced 2008 C-Class paired with the same form held by the former C-Class sports coupe...

Keep Reading "New Spy Photos Depicting An Updated Mercedes SLK-Class And C-Class Sports Coupe"

A vehicle befitting Cupid himself, ART Tuning has premiered a new addition to their M-Class tuning lineup just in time for Valentine's Day:  the Edition Ferrari Red.    Featuring a host of upgrades already found on their non-festive ML tuning package including a number of aerodynamic components, sport exhaust, light alloy wheels and stylized new interior, the Edition Ferrari Red's main difference is... you guessed it... its color...

Keep Reading "ART Tuning Unveils Program 164 Edition Ferrari Red Tuning Package For The Mercedes-Benz M-Class"

Due to our problematic internet connection yesterday we unfortunately weren't able to bring you every review we missed over the weekend, but have no fear - today, in one fell swoop, I will bring you every review that we failed to cover, all in one aptly-titled "Review Roundup."

Consisting of three Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC reviews, one general E-Class review and one SLR 722 Edition review, today's Review Roundup should provide prospective diesel E-Class owners with a healthy dose of knowledge as to what they can expect should they leave their orthodox world of gasoline.  As for prospective SLR 722 Edition owners, you too will receive a brief introduction as to what the roughly $500,000 supercar will bestow upon you, should you be able to acquire one of the only 150 scheduled for production...

Keep Reading "Review Roundup:  Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC And SLR 722 Edition Put To The Test"

To kick things off this morning, DaimlerChrylser has published a brief-yet-informative press release detailing the history of Mercedes-Benz, providing those of you who may be unfamiliar with the company's origins with a unique look at how one of the world's most distinguishable brands began taking shape over a hundred years ago.

If you, like me, are a fan of history, or if you've just never heard the story, I highly recommending taking a moment to peruse the press release - I think you'll find it makes for an interesting read...

Keep Reading "A Look Back At The History Behind The Mercedes-Benz Brand And The Three-Pointed Star"

Any time an automotive review begins with the following statements:  "It's not easy to compare the 2007 BMW M6 Convertible and the 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG. The whole idea teeters on the brink of the ridiculous...", you know you're about to read an an article that consistently attempts to convince you that despite the aforementioned warning, it somehow isn't ridiculous. 

Typically, any time statements of this nature preceding a review are made, three distinct sections follow, all three of which I will outline below...

Keep Reading "Road Test:  Inside Line's 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Vs. 2007 BMW M6 Convertible Comparison"

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen; I hope you all had a fantastic February weekend.  Before I begin this morning I must first issue a small disclaimer about our posting today:  inclement weather is wreaking havoc on our internet connection, causing sporadic outages even as I write this; but hang in there, the stories are coming - they may just take a little longer to appear.

First up comes a story sent to us by two astute readers, Kirk and Shiv - a story which showcases what's being called the next-generation 2009 SL-Class.  Featuring a CL-esque grille and what one would surmise to be updated headlights, the vehicle in question is clearly a new SL; in our modest opinion, however, it's not the next-generation SL. Instead, we're theorizing that it is one of two things:

Keep Reading "Spy Photos Showcasing A New Mercedes SL-Class Cold Weather Testing"

To my Canadian readers currently battling winter's bitter, icy grip, the thought of a new SUV is undoubtedly one that has entered your minds on at least one instance.  To help make the pains of choosing which model is best suited to do battle with arctic conditions all while providing the rolling haven of serenity you desire, our friend Tim directed us to a recent review published by GlobeAuto - one which looks at the new diesel-powered ML320 CDI.

So what did GlobeAuto think...?

Keep Reading "GlobeAuto Offers Canadian Buyers Another Look At The Mercedes ML320 CDI"

So what if there's already two other automotive publications that have taken the time to criticize Mercedes' limited-edition SLR 722 Edition, that hasn't stopped Channel 4 from echoing yet again the same sentiment, delivering what's unlikely to be the last of the negative feelings towards the roughly half-a-million dollar model.

According to Channel 4...

Keep Reading "Driven: Channel 4 The Latest To Weigh In On The Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 Edition"