If you're looking for a way to extract even more fuel efficiency from your already fuel-efficient Mercedes CDI model, a recent test by n-tv Motor (Germany's leading news channel) has confirmed that the BRABUS ECO PowerExtra tuning program is capable of reducing fuel consumption by more than 2 miles per gallon.  Even more impressive, the improvement in fuel efficiency comes in addition to an improvement in power, with the BRABUS ECO PowerExtra package raising the Mercedes V6 common-rail turbodiesel's output to 272 hp / 200 kW (+ 48 hp / 35 kW) and increasing torque 80 Nm to a total of 590 Nm...

Keep Reading "BRABUS ECO PowerXtra Improves Mercedes CDI Fuel Efficiency By More Than 2 Miles Per Gallon"

Despite its somewhat confusing moniker, Wald's newest tuning package is anything but.  In fact, it's quite simple, really.  The Japanese tuning wizards started with the W220 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and they developed a range of styling components aimed to make the model look more like... you guessed it... a W221 S-Class.

In terms of actual execution, the Wald W221 Look package does indeed make your W220 S-Class look somewhat more like the latest-generation S-Class, but more importantly, it makes your W220 look just plain delicious. A new front and rear apron, side skirts and vented front wheel arch lend an air of sportiness to the former monarch of luxury, while the crème de la crème is Wald's 6.3-Liter AMG-esque wheels, which I'm going to place at 21 inches or so...

Keep Reading "The Wald W221 LOOK Tuning Package For The W220 Mercedes-Benz S-Class"

If you still haven't had your fill of Mercedes-flavored reviews despite the multitude we've already brought you, don't worry ladies and gentlemen, we've got plenty more where those came from.  Actually, we have just three more, but I personally think the preceding statement sounded far more dramatic.  The ML320 CDI, the C320 CDI and the F700 Research Car - these are the models scrutinized for your reading enjoyment, so if you've been considering the purchase of any, you'll now have an even better idea of what to expect from each.

As usual, you can find a portion of the first review below as well as the full collection of articles immediately after the jump.


Mercedes-Benz ML320 CDI (via Driving.ca)
Reviewer's rating:  Unspecified

"If you've never driven a diesel-powered vehicle you really must. There's nothing this side of a hybrid that can compare with the standing-start performance, thanks to big torque low down in the rev range, and while most diesels lack the top-end power of an equivalent displacement gasoline engine, modern turbochargers and new multi-gear transmissions make up for a lot..."

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz Review Roundup:  The ML320 CDI, C320 CDI And F700 Research Car"

The Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG, CLS63 AMG and SL350 - all are covetable models, and in this, our newest Mercedes Review Roundup installment, all managed to earn at least four stars (out of a possible five) from those that tested them.   An impressive feat without question, and just another affirmation that if you - like me - do not currently own either one of Mercedes' 6.3-Liter models or the 2009 SL, we really, really need to. 

For a more comprehensive look at why each of the aforementioned models procured the loving admiration of the various reviewers, you can an excerpt from the first review below as well as the full collection of articles immediately after the jump.


Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG (via BusinessWeek)
Reviewer's rating: 

"My epiphany in the CL63 occurred one afternoon when I decided to make a quick, spur-of-the-moment left turn in front of oncoming traffic. I was astonished by the car's agility. There was absolutely no sway or body roll, even though I was going much faster than I had intended. I assume this was due to the CL63's sport suspension coupled with the Active Body Control system kicking in. Whatever the reason, this extra-sharp handling is what gives the CL63 an edge over the less expensive CL550..."

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz Review Roundup:  The CL63 AMG, CLS63 AMG And SL350"

The results from ETM Verlag's "The best commercial vehicles of 2008" reader's poll are in, with a grand total of five Daimler commercial vehicles taking top honors in their respective categories.  Among the vehicles chosen:  the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, the Mercedes-Benz Actros in the heavy-duty construction category, the Mercedes-Benz Citaro in the regular-service urban bus category and the Mercedes-Benz Tourino in the midibus class...

Keep Reading "Daimler Commercial Vehicles Earn Five Victories In Latest ETM Verlag Reader's Poll"

Unveiled at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt last fall, the Mercedes-Benz F700 Research Car was a shining symbol of what lay ahead in the coming years for the Mercedes brand.  Featuring a host of technological advancements, the remarkably fuel-efficient DiesOtto powerplant and a radically stylized design, it was meant to act more-or-less as a laboratory on wheels, allowing designers and researchers to test the many elements that will eventually make their way into the vehicles you and I drive.

Of course, reading a feature list is one thing, but one must wonder:   "How functional are the various technologies utilized on the F700 (or any other research vehicle for that matter)?"  To help provide some insight into that very question, Mercedes took the liberty of granting a select number of journalists firsthand access to the F700, the result of which is yet another installment of our now-famous Mercedes Review Roundup.

To see what journalists thought of the Mercedes F700 Research Car, you can find excerpts from the two reviews analyzing the concept as well as links back to the full articles immediately after the jump...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz Review Roundup:  The F700 Research Car"

Mercedes has announced that Red Carter will hold title as the "Mercedes-Benz Presents" designer for this season's Fashion Week Swim.  Known for his sophisticated, sexy swimwear, Carter will debut his spring 2009 collection on July 19th at Cabana Grande in the Raleigh Hotel.

According to Lisa Holladay, Manager, Brand Experience Marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA:  "We are thrilled to partner with Red Carter for his Spring 2009 runway show.  Red embodies the true spirit of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim. By uniting the many facets of both Mercedes-Benz and the City of Miami, he seamlessly blends modern inspiration with traditional design elements to create his own bold, yet timeless style..."

Keep Reading "Red Carter Named "Mercedes-Benz Presents" Designer For This Season's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim"

In Mercedes' illustrious 120 year history, one of the integral elements that's helped make Mercedes-Benz the world's most renowned automobile brand is without question its iconic design.  Over the decades, a multitude of precedent-setting models have been introduced by the company, whether it be the 300 SL Gullwing from 1955 or the modern-day CLS-Class. 

To help highlight these and various other design icons of Mercedes-Benz, the Pinakothek der Moderne (modern art museum) in Munich has announced they'll be unveiling an exhibition centered around the brand entitled "Milestones Automotive Design."  In the exhibit, which opens June 25th and will run through September 14th, a total of seven historic Mercedes models will be on display, as will various drafts, sketches, renderings and tapes that showcase the design of the vehicles...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz On Display At The Pinakothek Der Moderne In Munich"

As the launch of the Alabama-based 2009 BlueTEC family draws ever closer, the industrious press wordsmiths of Mercedes-Benz wanted to take a moment to educate you yet again as to what you can expect from the forthcoming ML320 BlueTEC, GL320 BlueTEC and R320 BlueTEC models.  Because it's a topic we've already detailed on numerous occasions, I will abstain from recapitulating that which we've already told you.  However, if you missed our prior BlueTEC coverage or you just want a refresher course on the trio's clean diesel technology, you can find the full press release and a plethora of photos showcasing each of the three models immediately after the jump...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz Presents The World's Cleanest Diesel Models:  Another Look At The R320 BlueTEC, ML320 BlueTEC And GL320 BlueTEC"

Although here in the United States Mercedes-Benz is known primarily for its luxury offerings, abroad, the brand's portfolio extends well beyond the product offerings traditionally associated with the three-pointed star. Case in point:  the new Mercedes-Benz Zetros, an off-road truck that recently celebrated its world premier at the International Defence Exhibition Eurosatory 2008 in Paris.

Based primarily on the standard production four-wheel drive Axor/Actros series (specially modified for off-road use, of course), the Zetros is designed to meet the most demanding of missions, whether it be disaster relief or military and peace-keeping operations.  It's available in both a three-axle version (Zetros 2733 A 6x6) and a two-axle version (Zetros 1833 A 4x4) depending on your needs, with the first offering a payloads from 7 to 10 tons and the second two-axle model offering payloads of 4 to 6 tons...

Keep Reading "World Premier At International Defence Exhibition Eurosatory 2008:  The New Mercedes-Benz Zetros Off-Road Truck"

On Friday we brought word that a teaser image had appeared on the AMG Private Lounge website, and that in all probability, the disguised model was a Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series.  For those of you too impatient to wait until July to see the model unveiled, however, we received an email from a fine artist by the name of Jonathan who has illustrated in advance his vision of the new SL.  Although the lines of the Jonathan's rendering are a little sharp when compared to the prior images of the SL65 AMG Black Series (images that show the SL with masking removed), the rendering is still a fantastic visualization of the yet-to-be-released supercar...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series And CLC Convertible Renderings"

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen; I hope you all had a fantastic weekend.  Kicking things off this morning comes a quick recap of the F1 race that transpired in Magny-Cours over the weekend.  As usual, if you have the race TIVO'd and plan on catching it later, then read no further; otherwise keep reading for the full details of how the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team fared...

Keep Reading "Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 Race Recap:  Magny-Cours"

In a telephone interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung today, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche spoke briefly about the company's plans for the coming years.  During the interview, Zetsche noted that "we plan an electric Smart for 2010 and for the same year a Mercedes (electric) model as well."  The news comes as an addendum to Daimler's recently detailed "Road to the Future" plans, in which the company revealed a timetable for many of their forthcoming modular technologies.

After confirming an electric Mercedes and smart model in 2010, Zetsche then went on to speak briefly about the fact that pricing for electric models is still undetermined, stating that it "depends on whether we sell the batteries with the car or lease them. The willingness (on the part of consumers) to pay more is limited..."

Keep Readiing "Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche Discusses Plans To Launch An Electric Mercedes-Benz Model In 2010"

If you're a member of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Private Lounge and have visited the website as of late, you may have noticed a new teaser image has appeared that showcases a forthcoming Mercedes model under a veil of secrecy.  Of course, judging by its impressive girth and the fact we saw nearly undisguised photos of it over two months ago, I think it's a safe bet to assume it's the Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series.

For those of you who missed our prior coverage of the SL65 AMG Black Series, rumor has it the new, limited-edition model and its 6.0-Liter V12 will boast an awe-inspiring 670 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque (enough to propel it from 0-60 in under 4 seconds and reach of top speed of roughly 200 mph).  Many of the trademark SL luxury elements are gone as well, including the retractable roof, Active Body Control, standard suspension setup, etc. - all of which reduce the SL Black's weight by some 570 lbs...

Keep Reading "New Teaser Image Appears On Mercedes-Benz AMG's Private Lounge Website"

Let's be honest:  when Apple unveiled the iPhone last summer, they forever changed the mobile market. Not only did they have Apple fanboys lined up half-a-week in advance to get their hands on the new phone, in retrospect, they also managed to pull off one of the greatest product launches in history.  Now, a year later, Apple has introduced a 3G iPhone; they've cut its price to a paltry $199; and in my opinion, they've eliminated any justifiable reasons to buy any phone other than an iPhone.

So why am I telling you this?  The reason, ladies and gentlemen, is because today, Mercedes has acknowledged Apple's current (and in all probability future) dominance in the mobile arena, so much so that they have unveiled a new cradle specifically for the device.  Available now for the Mercedes-Benz C-, E-, CLK-, CLS-, S-, CL-, SL-, M- and R-Class (as well as in the future for the forthcoming GLK-Class), the Apple iPhone cradle allows seamless integration between your device's music and telephone functions and your vehicle's architecture...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz Hearts The Apple iPhone:  New Cradle Allows Full Integration Into The Vehicle Architecture"