Tag: benz

Coming to America: 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Popemobile

Filed under: Classics, Work, Mercedes-Benz, Specialty, Luxury

1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Popemobile

1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Popemobile – Click above for high-res image gallery

There was a time when the Pope set about cruising the world in class and style. While we’ll have no part in arguing the functionality of the current Popemobile, the machine simply can’t hold a candle to the classy lady you see above.

This particular 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman landaulet was built specifically for Pope Paul VI and served three additional pontiffs before getting mothballed in 1985. Why do you care, you ask? Because this particular piece of motoring history is headed Stateside for the very first time as part of this year’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance celebrations next month.

Mercedes-Benz has dug the unique 600 out of storage just for the event. Aside from the standard air-ride suspension, power brakes and heating and air conditioning, this particular model came equipped with bullet-proof glass and a unique rear seat that could be raised and lowered so that the Pope could be more easily seen by crowds.

The 2011 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance kicks off on March 11 and runs through the 13th, featuring classic vehicles from all over the globe. Hit the jump to check out the press release.

Gallery: 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Popemobile

Live photos copyright (C) 2011 Michael Harley / AOL

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Coming to America: 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Popemobile

Coming to America: 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Popemobile originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boca Raton Concours scores ‘first’ sales: Ferrari FF, Benz SLS Roadster, Audi R8 GT, etc. *UPDATE

Filed under: Performance, Auctions, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Luxury

2012 Ferrari FF

2012 Ferrari FF – Click above for high-res image gallery

Are you a mega-wealthy car enthusiast that’s always eager to be first in line when it comes to supercars? Here’s a tip for you: Buy a plane ticket (or fuel up the jet) and head on down to Florida for the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance.

Now in its fifth year, this upper-crust car show has been gaining momentum in the concours community, in part by scoring a lot of “firsts” for the auction portion of its event. Auctiongoers in past years have had a shot to buy the first U.S. examples of the Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10 and Spyder R8, Ferrari California and 458 Italia and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

On the docket for this year’s festivities? How does the 2012 Ferrari FF, 2012 Audi R8 GT and 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster. According to The DuPont Registry, each car will be the first of its kind sold in the United States. If you need to pick up something for your kids or the wife, Mercedes has also supplied a 2012 CLS63 Limited Edition, of which only 30 are to be made – and, of course, this is also the very first one sold.

*UPDATE: If you were booking travel arrangements to Florida with the goal of winning yourself the first example of Ferrari’s FF shooting brake… don’t. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County (the organization for whom the concours auction is to benefit) has issued a formal retraction – the Ferrari FF will not be available for auction. Please read the official press release after the jump for more details.

Gallery: 2012 Ferrari FF

[Sources: DuPont Registry, Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County]

Continue reading Boca Raton Concours scores ‘first’ sales: Ferrari FF, Benz SLS Roadster, Audi R8 GT, etc. *UPDATE

Boca Raton Concours scores ‘first’ sales: Ferrari FF, Benz SLS Roadster, Audi R8 GT, etc. *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG called into duty for New York Fashion Week

Filed under: Sedan, Mercedes-Benz, Police/Emergency, Design/Style, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Force CLS 63 AMG

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Force CLS 63 AMG – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve seen all manner of vehicles being equipped and commissioned for police duty around the world. But this is no ordinary police car. This 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG is the ride of choice for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Force.

The fashion enforcers are out in full force this week in New York as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Fortunately for “the rest of us” Benz’s fashion cops aren’t looking for people wearing outfits that clash; instead, they’re identifying trendsetters on the street and offering them free rides to their next destinations in this specially-prepared CLS 63 AMG, which may well be the best car for the job. See for yourselves in the high-resolution image gallery below and the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Mercedes Benz CLS 63 AMG Fashion Force

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG called into duty for New York Fashion Week

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG called into duty for New York Fashion Week originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe set for Geneva Motor Show debut

Filed under: Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Still puzzled as to why Mercedes-Benz killed off the CLK a couple of years ago? Puzzle no more, friend, for your answer is here. You see, the CLK was designed to slot in between the C-Class and E-Class sedan and wagon ranges, and was both preceded and succeeded by the E-Class Coupe. When Mercedes went back to the old formula, it made room for the vehicle you see here: the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe.

The subject of many spy shots and leaked photos, the new C-Class Coupe has finally been officially revealed by the factory ahead of its official debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. There, the new Benz coupe will arrive with two engine options: The Mercedes-Benz C250 coupe gets the 1.8-liter direct-injected turbo four with 201 horsepower, while the C350 coupe is equipped with the 304-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6. Both are mated exclusively to Mercedes’ 7-speed automatic transmission, which drives the rear wheels. 4Matic all-wheel drive will not be offered on the C-Class coupe. (The AMG version of the coupe is tipped to come along in another month at the New York Auto Show.)

So what else separates the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe from the sedan it’s based on? Two fewer doors and a slightly lower roofline. That’s about it. The C-Class coupe’s wheelbase is the same, the front end is the same, the luxury touches and the cutting-edge electronic wizardry… it’s all the C-Class we know, only coupier. Will that be enough to steal sales away from the likes of the BMW 3 Series coupe and Audi A5, both of which are more distinctly differentiated from their four-door compatriots? We’ll find out once the two-doors hit showrooms, but for now, you can scope out the official details in the press release after the jump, along with the gallery of high-resolution images below.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe set for Geneva Motor Show debut

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe set for Geneva Motor Show debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl ad director’s cut reveals C-Class Coupe, SLS AMG Roadster

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz Ad

Mercedes-Benz reveals new models in Super Bowl ad – click above to watch the video

Mercedes-Benz is throwing its hat into the Super Bowl advertising fray with a pretty new 60-second spot designed to celebrate the company’s 125th anniversary by heralding in a wave of five new models. The spot marks the very first time that the company has ever advertised during the NFL’s ultimate game. In the spot, Mercedes-Benz features four new vehicles, including a very quick peek at the upcoming C-Class Coupe and the SLS AMG Roadster.

The spot features many of the company’s past and current models escaping their owners in a bid to pay homage to the newborn Benz fleet. There are plenty of fantastic vintage Silver Arrows in the spot, along with a soundtrack by Janis Joplin and at least one celebrity cameo (we won’t spoil the surprise on that one). Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz via Facebook]

Continue reading Video: Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl ad director’s cut reveals C-Class Coupe, SLS AMG Roadster

Video: Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl ad director’s cut reveals C-Class Coupe, SLS AMG Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG details released

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercedes-Benz has finally released official details on the 2012 C63 AMG. Buyers can expect to be met with the same 451-horsepower 6.3-liter V8 under the hood, though an optional AMG Development Package can crank that figure all the way up to 481 ponies. Bolted behind that miracle mill is the company’s seven-speed AMG Speedshift gearbox, though the transmission now comes with new mapping to squeeze as much efficiency as possible from the drivetrain. Mercedes-Benz calls the mode “controlled efficiency,” and along with a new, more efficient power steering pump, the company says that the 2012 C63 AMG will boast a 10 percent nudge in fuel economy over its predecessor.

EPA figures are still pending, but Mercedes-Benz says that the sedan will clip off the 0-60 dash in 4.3 seconds with the optional performance kit. With acceleration like that, who needs fuel economy?

The Silver Arrow has also been kind enough to include a handful of aesthetic tweaks, including a redesigned grille, lower apron and daytime running lights that were heavily influenced by the company’s SLS AMG. Inside, a new dash and LCD screen dominate the conversation, though a new three-spoke tiller is also part of the package. Look for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG to touch down in the United States this fall. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Official 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG details released

Official 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG details released originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Jaguar planning XJ Coupe to compete with Mercedes-Benz CL

Filed under: Coupe, Jaguar

2011 Jaguar XJ

2011 Jaguar XJ – Click above for high-res image gallery

Now that Jaguar is safely housed under the umbrella of Tata Motors, the British marque is planning a major expansion of its current lineup. In addition to a rumored BMW 3 Series fighter, Jaguar is looking to take aim at the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class coupe with a stately two-door based off of the new-for-2011 XJ sedan.

According to Automobile magazine, sources within Jaguar say that the XJ coupe will feature a pillarless greenhouse design, glass roof and will use separate sheetmetal from the sedan it’s based on. Adrian Hallmark, brand manager for Jaguar in Europe, says that the two-door XJ will be “much more dynamic and emotional than a Mercedes CL.”

Hallmark also told Automobile that Jaguar is considering a whole slew of new models, including an XF wagon, high-end sports car based on the C-X75 concept, a crossover based on the Range Rover Evoque and even a possible shooting break version of either the next-generation XF or entry-level 3 Series competitor. Click here to read Automobile‘s full scoop.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Jaguar XJ

Photos copyright (C)2011 Michael Harley / AOL

[Source: Automobile]

Report: Jaguar planning XJ Coupe to compete with Mercedes-Benz CL originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz Celebrates 125 years with sculpture, battery patent

Filed under: Hybrid, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Electric

Aesthetics 125 and 1886 Benz Patent-MotorWagen

Daimler celebrates 125 years since Carl Benz’s Patent-MotorWagen – Click above for high-res image gallery

Back on January 29th of 1886, Karl Benz filed the patent for his “vehicle with gas-engine drive.” It’s an important date in the history of the automobile, and Daimler is looking back at that special day that occurred 125 years ago and also using the anniversary of that day to look towards the future.

Daimler is embarking on a world tour to show off its Mercedes-Benz vehicles powered by fuel-cells. Over the course of 125 days, B-Class vehicles fitted with fuel cells will be touted all over the globe. As a nod to the past, the automaker received a new patent 125 years to the day that the original one was created. The bi-polar flat-cell frame is a brand-new technological development that will aid in the creation of lithium-ion batteries.

Mercedes-Benz took advantage of the 125th-anniversary celebrations to use art as a means of highlighting its own future. Thanks to rapid-prototyping technology, engineers were quickly able to produce a sculpture that started life as data in a computer. Called Aesthetics 125, the piece shows the level of technological sophistication available today while hinting at the design language of tomorrow.

Daimler is excited for the 125th anniversary of Mr. Benz’s wagon, and 2011 is chock full of milestones and further reasons to celebrate. Read all about them in the full press-release posted after the jump.

Gallery: Daimler celebrates the 125th anniversary of Carl Benz’s Patent-MotorWagen

Aesthetics 125 and the Benz Patent-MotorWagenAesthetics 125Aesthetics 125Aesthetics 125Aesthetics 125

[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz Celebrates 125 years with sculpture, battery patent

Mercedes-Benz Celebrates 125 years with sculpture, battery patent originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 leaks out

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG – Click above for high-res image gallery

The facelifted 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG wasn’t supposed to see the light of day until the Geneva Motor Show this March, but a sizable batch of photos have leaked out giving us a clear look at what to expect in Switzerland.

On the outside, the C63 gets a set of SL-inspired headlamps with ornate light-piping and LED DRLs mounted in the revised fascia. LEDs make their way to the tail lamps, while redesigned 18-inch wheels fill the wheel wells and frame upgraded brakes.

AMG opted to retain the 6.2-liter V8 instead of fitting its new 5.5-liter biturbo mill, so output remains at 451 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. The Development Package will reportedly stick around for 2012, raising output to 481 hp and nixing the 155 mph limiter to allow the C63 to top out at 174 mph. The sports package also includes a few interior tweaks, a carbon fiber trunk spoiler and red calipers that clamp onto 14.2-inch front discs.

However, the biggest change comes in the form of a new transmission. The C63 now sends power to a seven-speed Speedshift MCT auto ‘box which swaps out the conventional torque converter for a high-performance clutch pack said to deliver smoother, more immediate shifts.

After the C63’s big day in Geneva, the revised C-Class will go on sale this fall, with the AMG-fettled version getting a very slight bump in price.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

[Source: Carscoop, Car and Driver]

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 leaks out originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class styling buck caught in the buff

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz

2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class spy shot

2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class spy shot – Click above for high-res image gallery

As the smallest member of the Mercedes-Benz line, the A-Class has had a tough time earning much credibility or respect. That could change, though, if the German automaker were able to inject a dose of stylishness and sportiness into the next design, and it appears it may be doing exactly that.

Spy photographers managed to snap off a set of images that appear to show a quarter-scale styling buck of the next-gen A-Class (codename W176), and it’s much lower and more agressive than ever before, complete with some 2012 CLS in the flanks and fascia. As you can see from the green car in the background, Mercedes-Benz appears to be using its BlueZero F-Cell Concept as a basis for the small hatchback’s overall proportions.

Rumor has it that Mercedes-Benz will incorporate thee- and five-door models into the A-Class pipeline, along with a possible crossover to take on the likes of the BMW X1. There could even be an AMG version of the little front-wheel drive machine, with as much as 270 horsepower. Reports indicate that the next B-Class will be based on the same architecture.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz A-Class

[Source: Brenda Priddy & Company]

Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class styling buck caught in the buff originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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