What happens when Hollywood stars Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson are trying to survive in the desert only by the water produced by their F-CELL car?

Driving the fuel cell technology on a daily basis in Hollywood, the film stars Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson have become enthusiastic about the potential that the fuel cell technology offers. The film explains the advantages of the F-CELL technology on a trip in California’s Death Valley, one of the hottest and driest places on earth.

B-Class F-CELL: CO2 emission (combined): 0g/km; Fuel consumption 0.97 kg H2/100 km; Efficiency class: A+.

While we generally only post Mercedes news and videos, we had the following commercial sent to us by more than one of our readers and, we couldn’t help ourselves.  One can never have to much Jean Claude Van Damme or his epic splits.

My recommendation to Mercedes, get Chuck Norris to stop saving the world from aliens and shoot their next commercial.

Via: MACHO

Last month, Tyga, a rapper for those not in the know, showed off his Lamborghini Aventador with Rose Gold wrap. And while it seems smitten with the rose gold hue, he doesn’t seem quite satisfied with the Lambo itself as the rapper has now upgraded to a rose gold Mercedes SLS AMG.

Tyga Rose Gold Mercedes SLS AMG

Tyga’s rose gold SLS AMG was done by none other than West Coast Customs, the favorite custom auto house among celebrities .

Tyga Rose Gold Lamborghini Aventador

In addition to its shiny new exterior, the Mercedes SLS also received a set of custom wheels finished off in Gloss Black for contrast and to ensure that you don’t miss the SLS when it rockets by you.

It seems that undefeated Pro Boxer Floyd Mayweather had a pretty great 4th of July weekend, posting a photo of his new matte black Mercedes G63 AMG.  Alongside the photo was the caption, “Thank you Mom for the 4th of July gift. A Mercedes-Benz G63 in matte black.”

Mayweather joins a long list of celebrity G63 owners including reality star Kim Kardashian and her mom Kris Jenner, comedian Kevin Hart and rapper Tyga.

Singer, song writer and all around international superstar Usher Raymond is a self-proclaimed Mercedes-Benz fan, specifically the high-performance AMG division. Usher had a chance to visit Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach today, and while there he had an opportunity to assemble the final parts of the V8 AMG engine for his new SLS AMG. Usher also had a chance to test out the all new A45 AMG out on the track. The Grammy winner will also be on hand at the official world premiere A45 AMG at the Geneva Motor Show.

For the American singer and actor, Mercedes-Benz is the luxury brand par excellence. “When I think about luxury, the first thing that comes to mind is Mercedes. So it was a very special moment for me when I was able to buy a Mercedes-Benz for my mom. So far it was the only car I have given her as a gift”, explains Usher. The star himself is currently driving a CLS 63 AMG, until his new gullwing SLS AMG is delivered. And when it comes to family cars, the father of two children enjoys driving a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Usher has been ranked by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as one of the best selling artists in American music history, having sold over 44 million albums worldwide.

As a fan and connoisseur of Mercedes-AMG, the chart-topping star is extremely excited about his test drive in the A 45 AMG. “I can hardly wait to get behind the wheel”, says Usher. “It looks so absolutely cool and sexy, and I’m really excited about experiencing the power of the first AMG four-cylinder turbo engine.” After the test drive he will be talking all about his experience on his Facebook page. Producing a peak output of 265 kW (360 hp) and maximum torque of 450 Nm, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder AMG turbocharged engine is the world’s most powerful four-cylinder engine in series production. The new CLA 45 AMG, which will be celebrating its world premiere in New York at the end of March, also benefits from the same engine. Usher has already confirmed the first test drive for this innovative high-performance Coupé too – an event which he will also be sharing with his fans.

Premiering in Berlin this past Monday, “A Good Day to Die Hard” lit the city with a red carpet full of stars and star-studded vehicles.

Unfamiliar with the new Die Hard movie or the franchise itself?  Instead of asking where you’ve been for the last twenty years, I will simply give you a quick run down.

John McClane, One of the most iconic movie cops of all time, is, for the first time in a Die Hard movie, on foreign soil after traveling to Moscow to help who he thought was his wayward son Jack. McClane and his son team-up against the Russian underworld and battle a countdown to war.  A plot line we’ve seen in all the other Die Hard movies, trusty sidekick, nut job villain dead set on maximum destruction, but it never gets old.

The real stars of the new Die Hard film, in my opinion, are the Mercedes-Benz models, the G-Class, the Unimog, the Sprinter and the Zetros, the C-Class, Vito, E-Class Saloon as well as the new G 63 AMG, a GL-Class and a Maybach 57.  If the cars aren’t enough though, “A Good Day to Die Hard” also stars Bruce Willis, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jai Courtney, Patrick Stewart, Sebastian Koch and Anne Vyalitsyna (Russian Supermodel).

“A Good Day to Die Hard” will be in theaters around the world on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2013.

Take a look at the pictures from the Berlin premiere below and see what cars the A-List Celebrities chose for themselves or watch the trailer / making of the movie below for a glimpse of the Mercedes and Bruce in action.

We’ve been watching clips of the highly anticipated Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl commercial all week and now we have the final cut for your viewing pleasure. With a star-studded cast including Usher, Kate Upton and Willem Dafoe, Mercedes-Benz unveils the all-new CLA-Class that will be available this year starting under $30,000.

We want to know, what do you think of the ad, hit or miss? Let us know what you think on Facebook or Twitter.

The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing originally owned by Hollywood legend Clark Gable was auctioned off in the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction on January 19.  The real question of the night was, is the car worth more because of its original celebrity owner?

The 300 SL was purchased new by Clark Gable and customized with high priced updates, wood trimmed Nardi steering wheel and more.  When the actor passed away in 1960, the car changed hands a few times before eventually landing in the garage of Charles Wood in 1975.  In 1989, the Gullwing received a detailed restoration from a Massachusetts based Mercedes-Benz restoration specialist with Gable’s updates left in place.

Clark Gable’s 300 SL Gullwing was expected to go for $2 million, but it seems that in this instance, owning a car with a legendary owner was not worth the extra money.  The bidding hit a standstill at $1.9 million and did not sell because of the high reserve.  The car however did sell later on for $1.85 million.

Press Release:

Barrett-Jackson Lot: 5001 – 1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL GULLWING COUPE

Purchased new by Clark Gable at Mercedes-Benz of Hollywood, Calif. List price was $7,295 FOB NYC. After Gable’s death in November 1960, ownership was passed to Harry Haeigen, cartoonist and Gable’s publicist. Title passed to Charles Wood, owner of Grand Stand Amusement Park in 1975. In 1989, Mr. Wood commissioned Paul M. Russell of Gullwing Service Company, Inc. of Essex, Mass. To restore this classic at a cumulative cost of nearly $200,000. Gable ditched the standard steel wheels for the racing Rudge knock-offs the car wears now. The wood and chrome Nardi steering wheel replaces the standard white wheel, early photos show the Nardi wheel in Gable’s lifetime. The car was featured in the May/June 2006 edition of Motor Trend Classic magazine. At the time the car was subjected to extensive testing that shows it can handle and perform much as it did in 1955. Copies of the 1960s auto registration cards show Clark Gable’s signature along with Kathleen “Kay” Sprecker’s (5th Wife). Gable signed service orders from Mercedes-Benz of Hollywood for a lube/oil change for $4.00 and parts for $10.83 total. From the Bob Howard Collection.
Via: Autoblog

With Mercedes-Benz recently announcing they’d be teaming up with Kate Upton for their upcoming Super Bowl commercial, we thought what better way to get you prepped for the big game than with a photo gallery dedicated to the lovely Kate.  So we scoured the web and assembled approximately 35 of our favorite Kate Upton photos.

Most of the photos are courtesy of famed celeb photog Terry Richardson, who shot Kate for a recent GQ photoshoot.  Some of the others were taken in Terry’s studio, and the majority of the others were taken by Yu Tsai, another incredible fashion photographer.

You can see all of Kate and what to expect when she teams up with Mercedes-Benz in our Kate Upton photo gallery below.

Thanks to GQ, Terry Richardson and Yu Tsai for the photos.

Mercedes-Benz and Hollywood’s elite actors and actresses are ushering in the 2013 awards season this weekend at the 24^th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival.  As the official vehicle, Mercedes-Benz is sponsoring the annual awards gala and an array of spectacular films from January 3-14, 2013.

The highlight of the festival is the annual Awards Gala on January 5^th, where celebrity presenters and honorees include, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, Richard Gere, Bradley Cooper, Sally Field, Helen Hunt, Naomi Watts, Helen Mirren, Robert Zemeckis, Diane Lane, Ang Lee and David O’Russell.  The gala hosted at the Palm Springs Convention Center, is featuring Hollywood’s top talent in addition to Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicles for presenters and honorees as they make their red carpet arrivals.

“As the kick-off to the glamorous awards season, Mercedes-Benz is delighted to be the official vehicle and sponsor of the Palm Springs International Film Festival.” said Jill Martinette, regional marketing manager for Mercedes-Benz. “Alongside Hollywood’s most notable talent and phenomenal films, Mercedes-Benz can highlight its latest vehicle innovations and cutting-edge design for those that want the best in automotive luxury.”

Mercedes-Benz vehicles are already a choice for many of Hollywood’s top talent.  Actors and actresses such as Kevin Costner, Sofia Vegara, Courtney Cox, Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman and Bryan Cranston drive Mercedes-Benz luxury eco-friendly vehicles, which offer safety, technology and style without compromising luxury.

Throughout the festival, Mercedes-Benz is displaying several 2013 models including the SL63 AMG, SLS AMG Roadster, S63 AMG, E350, SL550, C250 Coupe and GLK350 SUV.

There is no question that the latest Mercedes-Benz USA Christmas commercials that have been airing the last few weeks have had an effect on young Sean Kingston.  The rapper/singer, maybe most well known for his 2007 hit “Beautiful Girls, was spotted out in Miami over the weekend driving a shiny red Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing.

Proud of his new SLS AMG, Kingston posted photos of himself driving the red Mercedes Benz SLS AMG supercar on Instagram as well as posing on top of the Mercedes for his fans.

No matter where in the world you are right now, the SUV that has the world’s elite enthralled is the new 2013 Mercedes G63 AMG. After it’s market launch in August, the G63 has quickly become one of the most sought after vehicles around the world.

In the last few years Kim Kardashian has received spent more than $1.2m on a variety of customised top of the range vehicles. But, it seems the 31-year-old reality tv star still has room in her garage for one more.  Treating herself to a brand new $150,000 2013 Mercedes G63 AMG, a cat so new at the time that it wasn’t even available.  TV star Kim bragged that she “got the first one!”.

After posting the first photos of her new black G63 AMG, she then had sent it off to Platinum Motorsport for a makeover.

The final result hit the web today, and it seems the 2013 G63 AMG received a white paintjob and new wheels on the exterior and no doubt custom upgrades on the inside.

In the event that you have been under a rock for the last few months and are wondering what is so great about the 2013 G63 AMG, here is a rundown.  The engineers from Mercedes’ AMG Division swapped out the old engine for an AMG 5.5-liter V8 biturbo engine develops a maximum output of 544 hp and a torque of 560 lb-ft, enabling the 2013 G63 AMG to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds, with a top speed of 130 mph (electronically limited).

Since the demise of the Hummer, former Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger has moved on to the Mercedes-Benz Unimog. He was spotted on Thursday driving around the rough terrain of Santa Monica in his new monster truck.

The 65-year-old’s new enormous ride, the Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG, retails for about $250,000 and is the vehicle of choice for the army in Germany. You may remember we spotted Arnold testing the Unimog’s at the Unimog Museum in Germany back in July.

A number of fans gathered to admire Arnold’s ride – with one overzealous woman getting so excited that she climbed onto the front of the vehicle and clung onto the front of the bull bars.

The vehicle has reportedly been modified to fit the LA roads after being customised by a German company called Mertec.

The former actor purchased the Mercedes-Benz Unimog to go cruising around the Californian city, which is the army vehicle of choice for many different armies, including Germany, Britain and the United States.

According to Mercedes Benz, the Unimog range of cars is perfect for: ‘The most extreme, arduous tasks, including: fighting forest fires, performing rescue operations during catastrophes or maintaining power supply lines.’ Perfect for what the Terminator might face while he battles with his soon to be ex-wife

Arnold happily shook the hands of fans before hopping into his new pick-up truck and driving home.

This Monday morning, we though there was no better way to kick things of than to play a game.  Can you match the car to the celebrity?  For instance, if you saw a 1950’s 300SL Gullwing, it’s likely you would know that the proud owner is none other than Hugh Hefner.  But what about the rest of these top of the line Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the list, who’s their celebrity driver.  Click the photos of the cars below to find out who the owner is.  Need a hint?  Here is a list of celebrities included; Michael Phelps, Kanye West, Reese Witherspoon, Kim Kardashian, Sylvester Stallone,  Nina Dobrev and Dwyane Wade.

Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss

Mercedes-Benz SLR Mclaren

Mercedes-Benz GL350

Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG

Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG

Mercedes-Benz E350

Arnold Schwarzenegger has long been famous for driving Humvees, at one time owning an entire fleet of the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles. But what do you do when you’re looking to diversify your collecion, what kind of car does an action star move on to? It looks like it will be a brand new Unimog U1300 for Schwarzenegger. The former Governor of California was seen testing the new Unimog on the test track at the Unimog Museum this last week.

For both the museum staff and museum visitors,Schwarzenegger’s recent visit came as a complete surprise.  To the amazement of many museum visitors, Schwarzenegger tested alongside former Mercedes-Benz employee and Mertec founder, René Dusseldorp, on the trail outside of the museum. Schwarzenegger then made his way through the current Unimog exhibits “Special Operations Unimog: Rescue – Help Mountains” result. An Austiran native from the Unimog drive system area was particularly happy about his local celebrities visit.

The Unimog Museum in Gaggenau, located in the Murg River Valley, is open Tuesday through Sunday (10am – 5pm) and offers something for the entire family.

Photos Via MBPassion

To celebrate the the 65th Palme d’Or, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival to the director of the best feature film, Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG are providing a fleet of gold shuttle vehicles for VIP guests and celebrities. A slightly more conservative decision over last years Maybach with diamonds.  Mercedes-Benz and its performance-brand AMG will also be creating a unique automotive experience by supplying other shuttle services, showcasing vehicles and offering exclusive test drives to guests and visitors to this year’s film festival from May 16 to 27, 2012.

Mercedes-Benz will also be at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS Gala at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 24. amfAR plays a catalytic role in accelerating the pace of HIV/AIDS research and achieving real breakthroughs in the fight against AIDS, making Mercedes-Benz, a pioneer in the automotive industry, a perfect partner. A gold Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG “45th Anniversary” will be on hand to offer shuttle services along with other Mercedes models. ensuring guests make a spectacular entrance when they arrive on the red carpet.

High-performance AMG brand offering individual test drives

AMG, the high-performance division of Mercedes-Benz, is sponsoring the legendary “Le Club by Albane” at the J.W. Marriott hotel and the “IWC Filmmakers Dinner” at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 21, 2012. For both events, the brand will be providing an exclusive shuttle service featuring various vehicles to ferry guests to the red carpet. The new Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG “45th Anniversary” will likewise be on show at the “IWC Filmmakers Dinner”.

Every day throughout the festival, Mercedes-AMG invites guests and visitors to experience true “Driving Performance” on individual test drives along the French Riviera in various current AMG models. Interested parties are welcome to register for a test drive between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily at the AMG desk in the lobby of the Hotel InterContinental Carlton Cannes from May 16 to 27, 2012. Throughout the festival, a Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG will be on display outside the hotel – in keeping with the festival, the vehicle will be staged on a film set.

An increasing number of Hollywood stars are opting for eco-friendly mobility from Mercedes-Benz. Actress Diane Kruger is one of more than 35 environmental enthusiasts and early adopters in California who are among the first to drive the locally emissions-free B-Class F-CELL vehicle. This electric vehicle with fuel cells from Mercedes-Benz generates electricity on board in a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. With a range of around 400 km and short refuelling times, the B-Class F‑CELL combines locally emissions-free mobility with suitability for long journeys and impressive performance. The vehicle produces no emissions, but only pure water.

“I’m excited to be driving the F-CELL. It’s environmentally conscious, fun to drive and gets lots of attention on the streets”, says Diane Kruger. “I can travel around 400 kilometres on a full tank and it’s easy to refuel.” The B-Class F-CELL fuel tank can be filled in just three minutes. It develops 100 kW (136 hp), with fuel consumption equivalent to just 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres.

As well as the B-Class F-CELL, Mercedes-Benz has a selection of other vehicles with alternative drive systems, ranging from clean BlueTEC diesel models to hybrid vehicles such as the S 400 HYBRID, the vehicle of choice for Hollywood’s film makers and acting community. The S 400 HYBRID features a convenient start/stop function, which switches off the petrol engine if the car slows to below 15 km/h, for example when stopping at traffic lights. Furthermore, in 2012, Mercedes-Benz will launch the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID on the European market, and the E 400 HYBRID on the American market.

Other Hollywood stars who have chosen Mercedes-Benz vehicles for eco‑friendly mobility include Golden Globe winner Michelle Williams, Sofia Vergara, Bryan Cranston, 2011 Oscar winner Natalie Portman, Courteney Cox, Renée Zellweger, Katharine McPhee, Serena Williams and Nick Swisher.

While most of us were at home in front of our tv last night, Hollywood A-listers were out and about for Oscar night fun. With all the coverage of the 84th Academy Awards that aired last night, red carpet, behind the scenes, the Oscar show itself, a very important section was left out – what kind of cars the celebs came and left in.  Had they shown this, you would have seen several Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and not just any Mercedes-Benz, eco-friendly ones.

When it comes to Mercedes-Benz vehicles and Hollywood, there is no shortage of ties especially with the availability of BlueTEC clean diesel and Hybrid vehicles that provide a luxurious ride with better fuel economy making them a GREEN choice for top stars moving around the car congested streets of Los Angeles during award season.

Last night, Mercedes-Benz concluded award season by hosting its annual exclusive invite-only viewing party at the Soho House in West Hollywood. Attendees included Claire Danes, James Franco, Jamie King, Rashida Jones, Bryan Cranston, Peter Facinelli, Gilles Marini, Maria Menounos and Max Azria.

Hollywood’s most notable talent who choose Mercedes-Benz for their green transportation include Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Michelle Williams, Golden Globe nominees Sofia Vergara and Bryan Cranston, 2011 Academy Award Best Actress Winner Natalie Portman, among others including Courteney Cox, Renee Zellweger, Diane Kruger, Freida Pinto and Dev Patel.

Mercedes-Benz offers 8 alternative powertrain vehicles in the U.S. from the all-new 2012 M-Class BlueTEC SUV to the popular S400 Hybrid, which is a top choice for many in the entertainment business that deal with daily city traffic. The S400 Hybrid includes a convenient start-stop function that turns off the gasoline engine below nine mph when braking to a stop. When the S400 HYBRID is at a traffic light, for example, the gasoline engine is off, but the AC compressor and steering pump are operated electrically, so air conditioning and power steering are fully operational. When the brakes are released, the gasoline engine is started automatically, and works with the electric motor for seamless performance.

Mercedes-Benz kicked off award season as a title sponsor of the Palm Springs International Film Festival and continues to make the rounds throughout the 2012 award season as the eco transportation of choice among a select group of actors and actresses.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is just around the corner, and to kick off our coverage, we are going to talk about the most recent Mercedes-Benz Presents recipient, Naeem Khan.

Many of the world’s most stylish women are devotees to Naeem Khan, one of the biggest names in fashion. Always committed to adorning elegant women in clothes befitting their refinement, his glittering fan base of starlets and socialites includes Beyonce, Penelope Cruz, Lea Michele, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood, Florence Welch, Eva Longoria, Emily Blunt, First Lady Michelle Obama and Queen Noor of Jordan, and his designs have graced the silver screen in fashion film classics like Sex & the City and Dreamgirls.

“The admiration we have for Naeem Khan’s designs and his exceptional reputation throughout the fashion industry make him the ideal ‘Mercedes-Benz Presents’ designer,” said Lisa Holladay, manager of brand experience marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. “His highly-crafted embroidered pieces and breathtaking gowns that grace the runways of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week are expressions of his precision and expertise, and we are thrilled to support his show this season.”

“As a lifetime Mercedes-Benz owner, the honor of being chosen as the ‘Mercedes-Benz Presents’ designer has a very special meaning to me,” says Naeem Khan. “I am thrilled to receive this accolade from a brand that shares the same passion for innovative design and quality craftsmanship that I do.”

In its ninth year, the “Mercedes-Benz Presents” program continues to create unique experiences that tie fashion and automobile design together while supporting the growing needs of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week designers. Each season, a designer is chosen that demonstrates an unparalleled talent and a dedication to the use of quality materials, unique style and innovative design, all characteristics that define the three-pointed star. Khan joins a prestigious list of past “Mercedes-Benz Presents” designers including Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier, Badgley Mischka, Narciso Rodriguez, and CHADO Ralph Rucci.

As part of the Presents program, Mercedes-Benz is featuring a display in the lobby of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week showcasing two examples of superb craftsmanship and design: pieces from the Naeem Khan collection and the 2012 ML63 AMG SUV. Just as a fashion designer creates haute couture works of art, Mercedes-Benz creates one-of-a-kind bespoke vehicles out of the highest-quality paints, leathers and trims. The ML63 AMG on display is the ideal example showcasing the perfect combination of pure performance and chic design roaring with 518 horsepower hand-built engine and an ultra luxe leather interior, featuring hand sewn cross-stitching as well as an optional carbon fiber engine cover and red brake calipers, making this vehicle a fascinating fashion statement.

The display will also be the backdrop for an exclusive invite-only Fashion’s Night In event on Thursday, February 9th, to kick off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Invited guests will take part in a Mercedes-Benz DIY Style Studio to make their own bespoke fashion accessories out of luxe vehicle materials. Naeem Khan will make a special appearance along with event hosts, Nicola Ehrenberg-Uhlig, Head of Conceptual Design Team Color & Trim for Mercedes-Benz, Erica Domesek of P.S. I made this… and accessories designer Paige Novick.

The Naeem Khan runway show is being held on Tuesday, February 14th at 2pm in the Theatre.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is taking place in New York City at Lincoln Center from February 9-16, 2012 with more than 80 designers presenting their Fall 2012 collections including Naeem Khan, Diane von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang, Michael Kors, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Rebecca Taylor, Reem Acra, Narciso Rodriguez, Nicole Miller, Charlotte Ronson and Betsey Johnson.

The star of late night, Jay Leno, paid a visit to AMG recently. Ola Källenius, the Chairman of the Mercedes-AMG GmbH management board, gave Jay Leno a comprehensive overview of the company and its products. During his one-day visit the comedian and automobile enthusiast was not only able to acquaint himself with the new SLS AMG Roadster and the SLS AMG E-CELL during test drives, but also hand-assembled an AMG V8 engine.

Jay Leno was greeted by Ola Källenius on his arrival at Stuttgart airport. After a brief familiarisation with the car, Jay Leno had the opportunity to drive the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster on the motorway and on country roads: “A great car that gives you a fantastic feeling. This will be a real winner back home in California,” Jay Leno commented. During subsequent test drives on the Daimler AG test track in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, the American talkmaster was able to enjoy the incomparable dynamism of the Roadster. Jay Leno: “The SLS AMG Roadster delivers top performance. Whether the engine, transmission, handling or brakes – you feel that the engineers at AMG are serious! When I was 18 or 19 years old I worked for Mercedes-Benz in America. I knew about the test track in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim from films in which Mercedes sedans like the 220 SE or the 300 SEL 6.3 were driven through the banked curve. I have always wanted to see this for real. It took me over 40 years to do it, but now I’m here! It’s fantastic to drive the latest AMG models here on the test track today.”

Thrilled with the dynamism of the electrically powered gullwing model

Jay Leno was also able to enjoy a practically silent but emphatically dynamic driving experience behind the wheel of the SLS AMG E-CELL: “The power delivery from standstill is fantastic. It’s unbelievable how the 392 kW and 880 newton metres catapult the gullwing down the track. Very impressive, especially because you hear nothing except a little wind and tyre noise. And thanks to four-wheel drive, the SLS AMG E-CELL has no problem in bringing its enormous power onto the road. The performance and handling are every bit the equal of the SLS AMG with the V8 engine. This is the future! I have a Baker Electric dating from 1909 in my collection. It’s unbelievable how electric drive technology has developed over 100 years or so!”

Engine assembly according to the AMG “one man, one engine” philosophy

Following a tour of the AMG Performance Studio, where individual customer wishes are realised by dedicated craftsmen and special one-off examples are created, Jay Leno visited the AMG engine shop and assisted in the assembly of an AMG 6.3 V8 engine for the SLS AMG – by hand of course, according to the traditional AMG “one man, one engine” philosophy. Every AMG technician in the engine production department is responsible for an engine from start to finish. Accompanied by two experienced AMG technicians, Jay Leno installed the crankshaft, cylinder heads and even the wiring himself, and carried out the subsequent quality tests. Afterwards he applied an AMG engine plate bearing his signature to the completed eight-cylinder power unit. The TV star was then able to watch “his” AMG V8 engine being tested extensively on the glass-walled test bench.

Accompanied by a camera team, the 61 year-old made a video of his activity as an engine assembler and the test drives with the SLS AMG Roadster and SLS AMG E-CELL. It will shortly be possible to view the result on his website www.jaylenosgarage.com. This is where Jay Leno regularly reports about his passion for automobiles. While the SLS AMG Roadster will celebrate its world premiere at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt/Main on 13 September 2011, potential customers for the SLS AMG E-CELL will need to be a little more patient: a small series of the electrically powered gullwing will be produced from 2013.

Ola Källenius: “Driving Performance” at first hand for Jay Leno

Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Mercedes-AMG GmbH management board: “I am very pleased that such a passionate automobile fan as Jay Leno has found his way to AMG and Affalterbach. We are quite sure that during his test drives with the SLS AMG Roadster and the SLS AMG E-CELL, we were well able to deliver on our brand claim of “Driving Performance”. And Jay Leno also cut a fine figure as an M159 assembly technician in our engine shop!”

Jay Leno delighted after visiting AMG

Jay Leno presents “The Tonight Show” on NBC, the world’s first and most successful late-night show, and also the longest-running entertainment programme on US television. The TV entertainer is a passionate collector and owns more than 200 vehicles, among them 40 Mercedes-Benz models, valuable classics, current sports cars and classic motorcycles. There is also an E 55 AMG in his collection, but after the test drives in the SLS AMG E-CELL and SLS AMG Roadster, Jay Leno can well imagine “that one or two AMG models might soon be added to the line-up. I also have a project under way at home which is now nearing completion. A Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 dating from 1971 is receiving a transplant in the form of a 386 kW (525 hp) AMG 6.3-litre M156 engine!”

Jay Leno summed up his impressions very positively after his one-day visit to Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach: “AMG delivers unbelievable performance – whether by man or machine!”