Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
10 cars you have to wait for - 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series
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2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series
This car is expected to retail in the $200,000 range, the kind of high-end price tag that hardly raises an eyebrow for Mercedes-Benz lovers. Brauer said that in addition to the very desirable name plate, this car has a lot to recommend under the hood. “With 154 fewer pounds to haul around, and 39 more horsepower from its 6.2-liter V8 — for a total of 622 — the new SLS AMG Black Series is now the most capable Mercedes-Benz ever produced,” he said. “A zero-to-60 time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 196 miles per hour reflect the capabilities of this Benz, as do the carbon fiber rear wing and braking components.”(Source: Yahoo!)
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5
Monday, November 26, 2012
Detailing Mercedes-Benz’s Latest Tech Arriving in the 2014 S-class
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Every driver—even those with the prosperity to own Mercedes-Benz’s S-class flagship—makes an occasional mistake at the wheel. To improve the likelihood that an error won’t result in personal injury or death, Mercedes created its Intelligent Drive (ID) initiative. ID gives the car resources that help it compensate for the driver’s inevitable lapses. It works by providing the S-class with human-like vision—sensors and cameras that assess what lies not only ahead but also to the side and rear of the vehicle—along with brains in the form of computing power and authority over steering, accelerating, and braking functions. The net result is a car capable of both avoiding collisions (active safety) and mitigating the chance of serious injury in the event an accident cannot be avoided (passive safety).
With each new generation, Mercedes-Benz advances the ID cause another step closer to the fully autonomous automobile—the progression of Benz’s flagship technologies can be witnessed here. To maintain the S-class’s status as the unchallenged leader in automotive safety, the 222-series 2014 model scheduled for sale in the latter half of 2013 is equipped with ten significant new or improved ID functions.
An awesome sensor array is required to support these advancements. There are six radar units—three looking forward, three looking back—a total of seven cameras looking in every direction, and twelve ultrasonic parking-aid sensors. Other steering, braking, and vehicle-dynamics sensors keep track of driver inputs and exactly how the car is reacting. A new FlexRay high-speed, high-data-rate communications bus allows this network to inform various control and command computers via copper wires and fiber optic cables.
The 2014 S-class is the world’s first automobile to use only Light Emitting Diode (LED) illumination technology. More than 190 LEDs provide all interior, headlamp, taillamp, and turn-signal illumination. These lamps not only consume only a quarter of the power of conventional headlamps, their service life usually exceeds that of the car. Building on the Adaptive Highbeam Assist system introduced in 2009, Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus automatically adjusts low-beam range to best suit the driving situation. An internal mask moves into position to greatly diminish glare seen by traffic ahead or to the side while the remainder of the road ahead is well illuminated.
A new beltbag rear-seat system greatly enhances the restraint and protection provided for S-class outboard rear occupants. During entry, the buckle temporarily rises 2.8 inches and is illuminated for more convenient sighting and latching. After the lap and shoulder belt is attached, the buckle automatically retracts to remove slack. If an imminent collision is sensed, a Pre-Safe feature retracts the buckle an additional 1.6 inches to add additional restraint tension. To facilitate occupants’ exit after an accident, the buckle automatically rises to its normal location following an accident. In the event of a severe frontal impact, a gas generator is triggered to inflate the rear belt bags, increasing their width by a factor of three to spread restraint forces over a much larger portion of the occupants’ torsos, greatly reducing the chance of injury.
Distronic Plus now includes a steering-assist feature that helps the driver avoid unintended lane changes during long and uneventful stretches of highway cruising. It works up to 124 mph and allows the S-class to track the car ahead at a safe distance as long as the driver’s hands remain in contact with the steering wheel. If that contact is interrupted, a visual warning is provided followed in a few seconds by system deactivation. When necessary, this feature also can brake the vehicle at a deceleration rate of up to 0.5 g. In the event another vehicle infringes on the S-class’s lane of travel, prompt evasive action is taken.
The Active Lane-Keeping Assist is a close ally of Distronic Plus, and is now able to sense and react to broken pavement marking lines. Step one: the steering wheel is shaken to alert the driver. Step two: one side of the brakes are momentarily applied to automatically steer the car back toward the center of the lane. This system works between 37 and 124 mph to avoid a collision with oncoming traffic.
Attention Assist, which senses driver inattention or drowsiness and illuminates a coffee-cup alert, now works over an expanded (37 to 124 mph) speed range. In addition, it’s now possible to adjust the system’s sensitivity to aid driver’s who begin a journey in a tired state of health. Also, the navigation system will automatically point out service areas within range when a break from driving is suggested.
Active Parking Assist is now capable of identifying and using perpendicular as well as parallel parking spaces. In addition, it’s able to steer and brake the car automatically while exiting a parking space.
Brake Assist Plus will now respond to a pedestrian in the path ahead by first warning the driver with visible and audible signals before automatically applying the brakes (by means of a related system called Pre-Safe Brake) to avoid an accident. A collision can be avoided up to a speed of 31 mph and the system is active up to 45 mph. Cross-Traffic Assist serves as the car’s peripheral vision to identify traffic approaching from the side at an intersection. It works with Brake Assist Plus to apply full brake force when necessary to avoid a collision.
Pre-Safe Impulse automatically tensions front seat belts when a rear impact is sensed by radar detectors. This greatly reduces the chance of whiplash injury.
Pre-Safe Plus increases brake system pressure if the driver’s foot is on the brake pedal during a rear collision to make sure that the car doesn’t roll forward into a second impact.
Night View Assist Plus is the third generation of the night-vision system that provides an image in the instrument cluster of pedestrians or animals in the road ahead. A module in the headlamps spotlights pedestrians in the warning zone to alert them to the car nearing their position. Use of infrared sensors enables detecting pedestrians more than 500 feet ahead and animals up to 330 feet in the distance.
(Source: Car and Driver)
Thank you Gerald and Staysia for these wonderful reviews on Kudzu from the holiday weekend! Great job Vincent for all your hard work!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Many thanks for this fantastic review on Kudzu! Great job Vincent and the rest of our team for all your hard work!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
5-Star Reviews from around the web!
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5
Friday, November 16, 2012
Throwback Thursday!
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In 1888, Karl Benz developed what's generally known as the world’s first petrol powered car, the Benz-Patent Motorwagen!
Walter's Automotive reviews from around the web
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5
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Mercedes Ener-G-Force: The shape of SUVs to come
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The Mercedes Energ-G-Force, which will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, could be the shape of Mercedes SUVs to come -- if you like it.
“If people really like it and reaction is good then yeah, we might have to think of making it happen in reality,” said designer Huey Lee, who was part of the team that penned the Energ-G-Force at Mercedes' Advanced Design Studio in Carlsbad, Calif. Metalcrafters built the carbon fiber composite roller you see here.
Now, you could say about any concept car ever made that it or elements of it might go into production. And those elements just as easily might not. But think about where Mercedes has to go when such a G-Wagen successor would bow in 2025. Things will be different then. Mercedes notes that while the roads of 2025 will be much more crowded with electronically monitored and guided traffic, people will still want to get out of the city to recreate and they're going to want to use the G-Wagens to get there. But they'll want to do it in an environmentally friendly way.
Therefore, the Energ-G-Force is as much about powertrains as svelte body panels. Though the concept itself is missing a drivetrain -- in fact it's missing an interior, suspension, cupholders and everything else under its skin -- the idea was that an SUV like this would have a hydrogen fuel cell powering it.
“Right now we're pitching it as a fuel cell electric, but it can also be very versatile,” said Lee.” It can also be a plug-in, as you can see there's a charging port. Also there's an area where you can store the batteries so there could be batteries.”
So it can run on batteries -- with a quick-change slide-out battery tray inboard of the running boards. Or it can accept a hydrogen fuel cell or some kind of hybrid. It can be a breakfast topping, too.
At over a foot wider than the current Gelandewagen there is certainly room for all kinds of powertrains in there. The bumpers, roof rack and even the rally lights on the roof are all melded into the body. The rear hatch features a pull-out tool kit behind the Nissan Xterra-like panel set on the left side of the hatch, with a lug wrench that will pop out at the wave of your hand. At the front, notice that the headlights form a “G.”
But ultimately the thing Mercedes wants your opinion on is the shape. Do you like it?
“What you see here is the modern interpretation of the original G but going a little farther,” said Lee. “We wanted to introduce it as a design study for the future of Mercedes-Benz SUV design language. We wanted to see public reactions.”
We saw it in the fluorescent-lit confines of Metalcrafters, parked in front of a huge backdrop photo of a desert scene. It looked cool, all flowing shapes and little rivulets that would trap air or let it slip through.
“What we wanted to accomplish with this car was create something rugged but at the same time sensual,” said Lee. “I know these are two opposite terminologies, but I think we've done a very good job of combining the two. I call it sensual, rugged design language. That's why the body side is very pure, very simple but at the same time very voluptuous. Yes there are a lot of details in the car, but the details support that aspect. There are a lot of special elements to the car, (from) iconic to modern interpretation. All these things come together on this car. We also wanted entertainment aspects of automotive design. You can tell that designers had a fun, great time designing this car.”
Go have a look at it on the Mercedes stand at the Los Angeles Auto Show. There is also a scale model of it done in police livery and entered in the Los Angeles Design Challenge. So in 2025, even the cop cars will be cool.
(Source: MSN)
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Many thanks for these tremendous new reviews we received on Merchant Circle! Great job team for all your hard work!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
We received this new review on Kudzu over the weekend! Thank you for these kind and sincere words.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Drive On: Mercedes-Benz' SLS AMG roadster powers up
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Hearing Mercedes-Benz describe a new vehicle as "extreme" has to be rare. We can see "dignified," "sleek" or even "outrageously expensive." But not extreme -- unless you consider the term is being ladled on for the 2014 SLS AMG Black Series, a powerful new version of Mercedes' gullwing sports car.
The new Black Series -- the wheels are black but not necessarily the car -- is going to boast 622 horsepower from its 6.3-liter V-8 engine. Since the car only weights 3,417 pounds — 154 pounds less than a standard SLS AMG — it will be able to rocket from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds. Top speed is 196 mph. (Not that you'd want to try to it, but we expect a few owners will).
To give drivers a little more confidence at blinding speeds, the car has a new suspension and high-performance ceramic brakes. The seven-speed AMG Speedshift transmission is quicker going through the gears than in the past. Mercedes says the wonder car's features are drawn entirely from racing experience.
"The new SLS AMG Black Series is a perfect study in the 100% transfer of technology and engineering from motorsport to road," says Ola Källenius, chairman of Mercedes-AMG. "We have drawn inspiration from the worldwide success of the SLS AMG GT3 customer sport racing car."
Source: USA Today
Thursday, November 8, 2012
2013 C-Class "Through and Through" [Video]
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It takes world-class mechanical engineering to make a 4-door sports sedan that comes alive. That's exactly what you'll find in the C-Class. How does being behind the wheel of the new C-Class make you feel?
Monday, November 5, 2012
Next-generation Mercedes E63 AMG caught undisguised in Spain
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An alert enthusiast in Madrid, Spain was quick enough to snap a picture of what looks like the next-generation Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and send it to Autofacil. Caught staged during what appears to be a photo or video shoot, the reader, Victor Poza, wrote that after sundown the street was watered and the sedan was placed with a view of skyskrapers in the distance.
A few weeks ago, a camouflaged prototype was snapped at the Nürburgring, its face and sides mostly hidden. Poza's photo allows a glimpse of the single-piece headlights and the new upper and lower grille treatments – much cleaner and more expressive than the face of the current car. It looks like the AMG version gets a chromed lower element to set itself apart. And sure enough, the pontoon fenders have been retired to, well, wherever it is that pontoons live since it is no longer on the fenders of automobiles. An intense refresh of the E-Class, at least one report has stated that all of the sheetmetal is new except for the roof and front doors. Underneath the skin will come more avant-garde gadgetry like the suspension that adjusts to the profile of the road based on the image provided by camera, and a night vision system that can detect pedestrians and animals. Inside is expected to be a greater use of leather, wood and metal.(Source: AutoBlog)
Many thanks for this lovely review on Edmunds from this weekend! We truly appreciate the feedback and are happy to hear you've found a go-to person in Vincent. See you next time!
Friday, November 2, 2012
2013 Mercedes-Benz A Class: U.S-Bound Premium Compact Driven
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Big German automakers used to thrive on producing large, luxurious sedans.
Built seemingly to last forever, they were vehicles of aspiration, a cut above volume vehicles from other carmakers.
How things change. Aspiration may still be a part of owning a Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Audi, but now gas mileage and practicality are as important as size and luxury. The 2013 Mercedes-Benz A Class is designed to cover all those bases and more.
A Class: A brief history
Previous generations of A Class were rather different.
First launched in 1997, the original tall, space-efficient A Class quickly had its reputation shattered by rolling during a swerving avoidance test in a Swedish magazine.
Hasty corrections--such as now-standard technology like Active Stability Control--fixed its wayward handling, but turned the otherwise well-designed small car into a tedious thing to drive. Late-90s Mercedes quality was also well below par.
The second generation launched in 2004. Quality jumped up, handling improved, and a three-door model was added. Practicality was similar though: Both original A Class generations featured high cabin length to vehicle length ratios. The original A Class featured interior space similar to the contemporary E Class.
2013 Mercedes-Benz A Class
The new A Class is essentially unrecognizable from its forebears.
Now a two-box design rather than a one-box; lower, wider, sportier and altogether more aggressive, it's pitched directly at the Audi A3, BMW 1-Series, Volkswagen Golf and Lexus CT 200h. You can judge the styling yourself from the images.
Words like "sporty" and "dynamic" permeate the official literature. "Efficiency" too--new small-capacity turbocharged engines and a low 0.27 drag coefficient raise economy to impressive levels.
How impressive? Well, we drove two examples--the gasoline-powered A250 BlueEfficiency with the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, and the A200 CDI, a turbocharged diesel, also with the 7-speed DCT.
In optimistic European testing the former gets an official 38 mpg combined, the latter 54.7 mpg. Bank on 30-31 mpg and 43-44 mpg as an EPA-equivalent figure.
While we couldn't take a reading from the A250, the trip computer showed an average of 47 mpg in the A200 CDI by the end of an 80-mile journey through the UK's beautiful Peak District.
How it drives
Both our test cars were in 'AMG Sport' trim. That gets you 18-inch wheels, lowered sport suspension, and fancy interior trim with hugely comfortable sport seats.
Ride quality wasn't bad considering the rolling stock, but felt restless over some of England's bumpier country roads. Larger Mercedes still rule in these conditions.
Handling was precise--there's not a lot of body roll, the steering is accurate (if rather light) and levels of grip are high. The brakes are good too, with a satisfyingly firm pedal and good stopping power.
Both engines are impressive. The A250 makes 211-horsepower from its turbocharged 2.0-liter, and officially reaches 52 mph in 6.6 seconds. The dual-clutch gearbox is swift, but not quite as eager to respond to your demands for gears as the Volkswagen equivalent.
It also hunted around uncomfortably on a few hills, and in gentle driving the early automated down-changes--to improve engine braking--became irritating, particularly as the car jerked with each change.
The gearbox is much happier with the 1.8-liter, 136-hp diesel unit. Up- and down-changes are nearly imperceptible.
Performance is still strong too--9.2 seconds to 60 mph, and 130 mph flat-out. Extra low-down torque from the diesel motor makes rumbling around at low speeds fairly effortless. A little diesel noise makes its way into the cabin, but little enough so as not to intrude.
Both engines also feature stop-start technology to improve city economy. Apart from a little extra noise and vibration on re-start, its operation is pretty faultless, even with the auto gearbox.
Coming to the U.S... sort of
Mercedes-Benz confirmed a while back that its baby will arrive in the U.S, though it has since announced that cars based on the same platform will appear--a CLA shooting brake and GLK crossover.
The engine from the A250 is most likely to arrive, but a diesel isn't out of the question. We've no doubt that U.S. buyers would happily accept a range consisting of only four-cylinders too--performance is more than up to scratch.
While the new A-Class isn't as overtly practical as older models, it's now a genuine competitor for its rivals and has a compelling blend of quality, performance and economy.
Perhaps its greatest achievement is combining those talents with the sort of qualities previously associated with Mercedes' largest vehicles--downsizing is here to stay, folks.
(Source: Green Car Reports)