You've seen the high resolution glossy press photos of the new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but if you're anything like me, you'd much rather judge a new model's design based on how it looks in the real world.  No professional photographers packing Canon EOS 1DS Mark III's; no studio lighting; but rather ordinary, run-of-the-mill photos of a model that's covered with a healthy dose of dirt.  And today, that's exactly the look at the 2010 Mercedes E-Class we're bringing you...

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On 28 November 2008, Omnibus Groß GmbH, based in the town of Rottenburg am Neckar, became the first private bus and coach company in Germany to put the Mercedes-Benz CapaCity high-capacity bus into service. "This highly symbolic move by a private company unquestionably marks the start of an era of innovative local public transport for the town of Tübingen and its neighbouring boroughs", said ministerial head of department Klaus Tappeser at the official presentation. Just two weeks later, on 11 December 2008, four further Mercedes-Benz CapaCity models were handed over to Jakob Kocher GmbH in Tübingen. The five buses, all of which will serve the town of Tübingen, could have a lasting effect on future urban transport concepts. "The climate-protection initiative launched by the Tübingen transport operators means that innovative vehicles like the CapaCity can already start meeting the transport requirements of the future", says Holger Suffel, managing director of EvoBus GmbH...

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Just when you thought you'd seen the last of RENNTECH's work on the Mercedes SLR McLaren, the company is back tuning the supercar yet again, unveiling what they call the "777 Concept."  The model is being introduced to celebrate the 20th anniversary of RENNTECH, and as such, it shows fantastically the magic RENNTECH-tuned models are capable of.

Seven hundred seventy-seven horsepower; a top speed of more than 210 miles-per-hour; extensive lightweight aerodynamic body components; and a limited production of just 20 units – this is just a sampling of what customers of the RENNTECH 777 concept have to look forward to...

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In Woking, England today, the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team unveiled the creature that will attempt to help Lewis Hamilton capture his second straight F1 championship – the new MP4-24.  In development since September of 2007, the MP4-24 features a host of changes when compared to the outgoing MP4-23, including heavily revised bodywork, re-sculpted front and rear wings, slick tires and a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS).  The changes come due to a number of new rules issued by Formula 1 that take effect for the 2009 season.

At the Mercedes  MP4-24's unveiling, Hamilton had this to say about the new vehicle:  "The arrival of a new car is always an emotional moment for any racing driver – and the unveiling of MP4-24 is even more special for me, not only because the car looks absolutely stunning but also because it carries the number one – world champions. I believe this year’s world championship is open, given the new rule changes and that’s a great prospect for every Formula 1 fan. Personally, I’m hoping for another successful season and the chance to once again fight for the title – until the final race if necessary, but preferably before..."

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BRABUS, purveyors of some of the finest tuning programs in existence, have just released an update for their WIDESTAR M-Class tuning package – one designed specifically for the refreshed new-generation ML.  Like its predecessor, the new BRABUS WIDESTAR is roughly five centimeters wider than the a traditional M-Class, the result of which is both a more aggressive stance and improved handling.

To make the BRABUS WIDSTAR what it is, the company's engineers improved upon a number of key areas:  the front apron, the front and rear fender flares, the door trim, the rocker panels and the rear apron. In tandem with these body components, BRABUS also modified the suspension, dropping the ML by some 30 millimeters before adding 23-inch BRABUS forged wheels.  Completing the outside package, a BRABUS stainless-steel quad sport exhaust system is present, as is a rear spoiler...

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Up until now, much of I've written about the smart fortwo has been relatively objective, due to the fact that I personally haven't been in the market for one of the little models.  Today that changes, however, as a family member is considering the purchase of a new fortwo, and it's with rather mixed emotions that I write this article.

A few days ago at the start of the Detroit Auto Show, Daimler announced that at the end of 2009 the company will begin production of an electric smart fortwo, and they are "exploring" opportunities for the United States market. They then took the opportunity to detail at length the various projects currently underway in which electric fortwo models are in operation, such as the previously detailed "e-mobility Berlin."  But going back to what I said originally, with a family member considering a new fortwo, American consumers have to ask: what the hell is taking so long...?

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Now that you've had some time to take in the new design of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, you may be wondering how its pricing will relate to that of the current model.  According to the company, pricing for the next E will start at €41,590.50 ex-works for the E220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, with the E500 4MATIC coming in at the high end of the spectrum at €70,269.50 ex-works. As you likely have already surmised from the designated currency, these prices are for the European market, and include sales tax of 19%.

As for the base prices of the other models, here's a quick rundown...

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Mercedes-Benz is showing the way ahead in environmentally responsible electromobility by presenting its near-series Concept BlueZERO at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Based on a single vehicle architecture, this intelligent, modular concept allows three models with different drive configurations, all of which are able to meet customer requirements in terms of sustainable mobility:

• the BlueZERO E-CELL with battery-electric drive and a range of up to 200 kilometers using electric drive alone
  
  
• the BlueZERO F-CELL (fuel cell) with a range of well over 400 kilometers using electric drive
  
  
• the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS with electric drive and additional internal combustion engine as power generator (range extender). This version has an overall range of up to 600 kilometers and can cover a distance of up to 100 kilometers using electric drive alone...

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In addition to the already discussed world premier of the new E-Class, a few other Mercedes models are celebrating a world premier at the Detroit Auto Show, one of which is this, the Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss.  As you undoubtedly remember, the model was first introduced back in December, but this marks the first time the Stirling Moss has been displayed for the public.
Other models making an appearance at the show include the trio of Concept BlueZERO vehicles, each of which demonstrate Mercedes' various modular drive concepts...

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In what could possibly be one of the most anticlimactic product launches in history, Mercedes has officially taken the wraps off the newest member of the E-Class family – this, of course, after both photos and the brochure of the model have already made their way onto the Internet.  Despite the relative lack of surprise surrounding its launch, there's still plenty we up until now haven't detailed regarding the 2010 E-Class, starting with its exemplary list of safety features.

How safe is the new E-Class? According to Mercedes, the E-Class is "an 'intelligent partner' who can see, feel, react reflexively in critical situations and if necessary act independently to prevent accidents or mitigate their consequences."  Take, for example, its ATTENTION ASSIST system.  By monitoring the driver's attention level, ATTENTION ASSIST is able to warn the driver of impending drowsiness, thus reducing the possibility of falling asleep behind the wheel.  Then there's the new Adaptive Main Beam Assist.  When activated, the E-Class' high beams are automatically adjusted to fall just short of approaching vehicles, maximizing night visibility while driving without blinding oncoming drivers.  And let's not forget the Brake Assist PLUS system, which uses a series of radars to detect potential hazards and employ emergency braking in the event it's required.  These are just three of the new E-Class safety systems – there's many, many more, most of which made their debut on the S-Class sedan.  Night View Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, PRE-SAFE – I think you get the idea...

Keep Reading "New Generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class Makes Its World Debut"

Kicking things off this morning we've got a healthy dose of brand spanking new Mercedes reviews.  In this, our latest Mercedes Review Roundup installment, a total of four  models – the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series, the GLK-Class, the CLS550 and the ML320 BlueTEC – are all tested, so if you're in the market for any, read on to see what reviewers thought of each.

As always, you can find an excerpt from the first review below as well as the full collection of articles immediately after the jump.


Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series (via Motor Trend)
Reviewer's rating:  Unspecified

"For roughly $300,000, the SL65 AMG Black Series is significantly different from the $198,175 SL65 AMG from which it springs—except for the interior, which is almost stock. The Black Series sheds 210 pounds of curb weight, much of which comes from ditching the power folding hardtop for a fixed roof made of carbon fiber.  The rest of the weight savings, and most of the price increase, comes from using carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic on every body panel save the doors and rear fenders. Giant, mesh lower intakes, vents behind the wheels, and other sundry scoops and holes give the low, wide bodywork a look of purpose. A pop-up spoiler hides in the trunk. The gigantic wheel arches cover the increased track, up 4.9 inches in front, 4.8 in back. The visual effect is one of true menace..."

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz Review Roundup:  The SL65 AMG Black Series, GLK-Class, CLS550 And ML320 BlueTEC"

Just when you thought you couldn't see any more of the new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class prior to its upcoming debut at the Geneva Motor Show, a healthy portion of the model's brochure has made its way onto the Web, revealing completely both the model's exterior and interior styling as well as key technical specifications.  This, of course, comes after a prior series of leaked official photos, meaning Mercedes' viral marketing team has either been working overtime or the new E-Class is one of the worst kept secrets in automotive history. 

Either way, the European market now knows exactly what to expect from the model, starting with the fact that there will be by our count a total of ten engine variants (not including an AMG model).  There's three CGI BlueEFFICIENCY variants – the E 200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY, the E 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY and the E 350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY – and there's four CDI BlueEFFICIENCY variants – the E 200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, the E 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, the E 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and the E 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY. Rounding out the lot, an E350 BlueTEC, a traditional E 350 4MATIC, and the stalwart E 500 will all be available as well. ..

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You've already seen it from a number of nearly undisguised angles, and today, here's yet another look at the forthcoming Mercedes E-Class Coupe – this time, from the air.  As you can clearly see, available as an option on the model will be a panoramic glass roof, a welcome feature for anyone not in the market for a cabriolet who still craves the feeling of partially open air driving...

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Capping off a horrendous past several months, Mercedes-Benz USA continued their year-end downward spiral in December, with sales at MBUSA totaling 18,507 new units – a decrease of 32.1 percent when compared to December of 2007.  As a result, Mercedes-Benz USA's 2008 sales amounted to a grand total of 225,128 new units – a decrease of 11.2 percent when compared to the prior year.

And while normally this is the part where I'd tell you what models performed best last month, to be honest, there weren't any that did perform well. Every model in the Mercedes lineup noted a double digit sales decrease in December, save one:  the G-Glass.  With sales of 128 units (ten less than December 2007), it noted a sales decrease of only 7.2 percent.  The second model performing slightly less than terribly was the C-Class, with sales dropping 11.7 percent – far better than the R-Class' 59.8 percent drop...

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As you may remember, last month Mercedes announced that Julia Stegner would take on the role as brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin 2009.  As part of her duties, Julia posed for a photo shoot alongside a Mercedes CLS 350 CGI Grand Edition, but at the time, little details regarding the four door coupe were revealed.  Today, that all changes, as Mercedes has unveiled the full details of what to expect from the special edition model.

The first and most obvious thing you'll notice regarding the CLS Grand Edition is its paint finish – a color that goes by the name of "designo magno platinum."  While it's also available in obsidian black, iridium silver, carneol red or flint grey, the matte platinum paintwork is said to do a remarkable job emphasizing the lines and contours of the award-winning model.  Adding to its unique color, bi-xenon headlamps with dark headlamp casings are present, as are high-sheen 18-inch AMG light alloy wheels painted in titanium gray...

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