You've read the specs; you seen the photos; but have you ever wondered the Mercedes SLK55 AMG Black Series sounds like? Thanks to a reader on YouTube who happened to post a video of the afore-mentioned vehicle, we now have the answer.
The video, which is approximately seven minutes in length, was shot by the German publication AutoBild, and depicts the SLK55 AMG Black Series completing a series of runs on an unnamed test track.
If you've been waiting
to see the latest SLK in action, here's your chance. Click play, sit back and enjoy...
While going through our inbox this afternoon, a reader by the name of Michael tipped us off to what are reportedly the first photos of the upcoming 2008 Mercedes C-Class. The photos, which depict both the front and rear of the vehicle, show the C-Class with zero masking; naked, in all its splendid glory.
Of course, it's our belief the photos are nothing more than the work of a zealous photoshopping artist, due the fact that: A) There are no badges anywhere on the vehicle and B) The C-Class isn't slated to be debuted until next year; you, however, can form your own conclusions as to the pictures' authenticity...
If your greatest fear is being transported to your final resting place in anything less than the best, Autoblog.nl has directed us to a story that may be of interest to you. Binz, purveyor of a wide assortment of custom vehicles based on Mercedes-Benz platforms, recently added to their exclusive lineup of death taxis, now offering a CLS-based Mercedes hearse model to add an elegant-yet-sporty touch to your final journey...
This weekend marked the twelfth race of the season for the McLaren Mercedes F1 team at Hockenheim in Germany. As usual, if you missed the race but have a date planned with your TIVO later, read no further; otherwise, click through for the full race recap...
Welcome back ladies and gentlemen; I hope you all had a fantastic weekend.
To kick this off this blisteringly hot July morning, Mercedes has released details of what prospective G-Class owners can come to expect from the latest rendition of the G55 AMG Kompressor.
Powered by a 368kW/500 hp 5.5-Liter V8, the new G55 features an increase in output of 18 kW and 24 horsepower. The increased power comes from an enhanced and retuned control unit, the result of which is a 0-62 mph time of 5.5 seconds (previous model: 5.6 seconds), while top speed is limited to 130 mph...
The tips continue to pour in today, the latest coming courtesy once again of our good friend Jinx. Jinx referred us to another story we missed a few days ago; one that offers up the first road test of soon-to-be-released Mercedes GL320 CDI.
In their review, Inside Line gives a great look at Mercedes' newest diesel-powered 'ute, describing at length the GL's performance, handling and appearance characteristics. They also mention on several occasions the GL320's efficiency, noting the seven-passenger SUV manages to travel about 24 miles per gallon...
Before I begin this story, let me quickly preface by saying our email system is erratic, to say the least. For some reason, sometimes we receive emails; sometimes we don't; sometimes they go in the junk folder for no reason; sometimes they show up a week later... in other words, if you emailed us and didn't get a response, it's not that we don't care about you, because we do, it's just that we probably haven't found your email yet.
Why am I telling you this? I'm glad you asked.
While going through our junk mail today, I came across of number of tips from you, our beloved readers, directing us to a recent test conducted by Car and Driver magazine...
In a quick update to a story we brought you yesterday, DaimlerChrysler has published an official press release detailing Ernst Lieb taking over the role as Mercedes-Benz USA's President and CEO.
Since we've already brought you the story I won't go into the details again; but if you missed it yesterday, click through for the full press release...
Fans of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will be pleased to hear that the model was recently bestowed with yet another accolade, earning the "Commercial Vehicle Prize" after twelve tradesmen named it the best van with either a 3 or a 3.5 ton permissible gross vehicle weight.
The testing was conducted by twelve individuals - readers of Handwerkmagazin and Deutsche Handwerks Zeitung who applied to take part in the 2006/2007 Commercial Vehicle Prize. To arrive at their decision, the testers analyzed the various vehicles' ratings, cabs and load compartments, which included studying each vehicles' seating positions, operating convenience, payload and towing capacities, and the size of the cargo area...
While browsing Autoblog this balmy July morning I ran across this story taken from Automotive News, in which it is being reported that Paul Halata, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, will step down from his position on September 1st of this year. Halata, who renewed his contract with Mercedes a year ago and was scheduled to stay through 2009, is said to be retiring.
Replacing Halata will be Ernst Lieb, CEO of DaimlerChrysler Australia/Pacific. Lieb began work with company, specifically Mercedes-Benz Canada, in 1985, and ten years later was named the division's CEO. In 2003, Lieb then took over a new role as CEO of DaimlerChrysler Australia/Pacific, in which he ran sales of Mercedes, Jeep and Dodge brands along with DaimlerChrysler's truck division...
For those interested in a comprehensive analysis of DaimlerChrysler's second-quarter operating profit, the company has published a press release this morning detailing that exact subject.
As a whole, Daimler managed to increase their operating profit by 11% to EUR 1,857 million when compared to the previous year. The company attributes the growth primarily to the significant increase in operating profit achieved by the Mercedes Car Group, noting also that both the Truck Group and Financial Services achieved gains as well...
A couple days ago we received an email from our good friend Larry, referring us to an article that up until today were unable to find. We finally located it, so with further ado, the story we should have run two days ago, with a special thanks going to Larry.
It turns out, DaimlerChrysler may have plans to invest approximately $2 billion to help aid in the production of a new global family of V-6 engines. The project, internally known as Phoenix, will build the new V-6's at three Chrysler engine plants in the United States - Kenosha, Wisconsin; Trenton, Michigan; and Toledo, Ohio; as well as at a Mercedes factory in Germany...
Although they're not the first spy shots of the upcoming 2008 Mercedes C63 AMG, a canny reader by the name of Eric pointed us the most recent batch, courtesy of the good folks over at Inside Line.
Like their predecessors, the latest spy photos show the C63 with a fair amount of body cladding along with mismatched 18" wheels, but neither does much to hide the aesthetically-pleasing good looks the latest C-Class undoubtedly possesses. Of course, is it really possible to criticize anything powered by AMG's 507 horsepower 6.2-Liter V8...
As you can probably tell its been a fairly slow morning for Mercedes news, but for all you F1 fanatics, I did manage to find this small nugget of information.
It turns out, Mercedes-Benz has become the second engine maker in F1 to break the elusive 20,000 revs/minute barrier. The first engine maker to achieve the milestone was Cosworth, William's current supplier, but that didn't stop Mercedes' Norbert Haug from reportedly taking great delight when his team achieved the same mark...
As you may remember, last month we told you about Mercedes' "E-Class Experience," a 26-day, 8,450 mile excursion from Paris, France to Beijing, China. Spanning a total of eight countries, the long-distance journey be completed by thirty-three different E-Class models, with drivers including Mercedes owners, celebrities, journalists, and most importantly, applicants chosen from those who enter on Mercedes' official "E-Class Experience" website.
In other words, you, my dear readers, have the chance to take part in this amazing journey yourself...
Once upon a time, there was little car by the name of smart. smart was small - smaller than all the other cars, and as an unfortunate result, sometimes smart was teased.
"You're too little, smart," the other cars would say. "Nobody wants a car like you."
This criticism often made smart feel dejected. "Maybe they're right," smart would think, "maybe I'll never be able to leave these congested urban streets; maybe I'll never be able to experience the thrills of driving on an open country road."
Then, one day as smart was contemplating this very fact, another vehicle by the name of Mr. Hummer approached cute little smart...
