Rumormill: Mercedes-Benz ready to bring hybrids to AMG

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG – Click above for high-res image gallery

The era of the green(-ish) sports car is fast approaching. Porsche unveiled its 918RSR at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show while Audi enjoys showing off one of its many e-Tron concepts at nearly every expo. Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to pairing up powerful vehicles with electric propulsion, trotting out the SLS AMG E-Cell at the NAIAS and searing our retinas in the process. Now there’s word that AMG is ready to cut fuel consumption across its lineup by partnering its torquey gasoline engines with some kind of hybrid electric powertrains.

According to Daimler’s head of future mobility and advanced engineering Herbert Kohler, it’s a “given” that AMG vehicles in the coming years will be available as hybrids. The AMG family will still be about performance, but – like every other automaker under the sun – fuel consumption is a constant part of engineering discussions going forward.

Gallery: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG: First Drive

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG

Photos copyright (C)2011 Michael Harley / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Mercedes-Benz ready to bring hybrids to AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz releases C63 AMG Affalterbach Edition for Canada

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Affalterbach Edition

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

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: The Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is an absolutely stunning piece of machinery. We recently had a chance to steer a C63 fitted with the P31 Development Package around the greater Detroit area, and it now looks like our friends to the north are getting a special edition of Merc’s AMG atom bomb all for themselves.

Dubbed the Affalterbach Edition (it’s named after the German town in which AMG’s skunkworks reside), this C63 wears a unique Magno Allanite Grey paint that is accented with red brake calipers, 19-inch black alloy wheels, carbon fiber mirror shells and a subtle lip spoiler. No tweaks have been made to the C63’s powertrain, but the Affalterbach edition comes standard with the normally optional AMG Performance Package, meaning there’s 481 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque on tap. Sprints to 62 miles per hour will be accomplished in a tidy 4.4 seconds.

Inside, the Affalterbach treatment includes things like AMG sport seats wrapped in Nappa leather, red contrast stitching, carbon fiber trim, and special edition logos placed throughout the cabin. Only 30 units will be sold in the Great White North, starting from $81,500 Canadian when it goes on sale in the spring. Follow the jump for Mercedes-Benz’s official release.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Affalterbach Edition

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Affalterbach EditionMercedes-Benz C63 AMG Affalterbach EditionMercedes-Benz C63 AMG Affalterbach EditionMercedes-Benz C63 AMG Affalterbach EditionMercedes-Benz C63 AMG Affalterbach Edition

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz releases C63 AMG Affalterbach Edition for Canada

Mercedes-Benz releases C63 AMG Affalterbach Edition for Canada originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2011: 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec is one torque-tastic S-Class

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Mercedes-Benz, Diesel

2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec

2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec – Click above for high-res image gallery

During the festivities here at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz quietly rolled out the 2012 S350 Bluetec, a diesel-powered S-Class that’s destined for consumption here in the United States. The big news is that M-B will now offer the only diesel-powered flagship luxury sedan here in the States – Audi, BMW and Jaguar don’t offer an oil-burning version of their high-rollers here in the U.S.

Mercedes-Benz neglected to release any technical specifications about the new S350 Bluetec, but as its nomenclature would suggest, it’s powered by the same 3.5-liter Bluetec V6 found in the E-, ML- and GL-Class vehicles. Mercedes has clearly proven that the business case for Bluetec here in the United States is indeed valid, and we’d much rather opt for a diesel S-Class as opposed to the S400 Hybrid.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec: Detroit 2011

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec

2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

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Detroit 2011: 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec is one torque-tastic S-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2011: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell is the color of electric hotness

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Electric, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercedes-Benz brought along a fleet of green-leaning vehicles to this year’s Detroit Auto Show. While the German automaker displayed its hydrogen B-Class F-Cell alongside a flotilla of BlueTec diesels, the SLS AMG E-Cell stole the stage. Aside from wearing the world’s most eye-searing matte-yellow paint, the electrified supercar boasts 525 horsepower and 649 pound-feet of torque thanks to four synchronous electric motors. The SLS AMG E-Cell wears its motors close to each wheel, skipping the unsprung mass problem of hub-mount configurations to help protect the car’s handling prowess.

Word has it that the SLS AMG E-Cell can do the 0-60 mph dance in a scant 3.7 seconds. Lithium-ion batteries handle energy storage, and regenerative braking helps keep the cells topped off between charges. Speaking of the batteries, the electric Silver Arrow wears a temperature management system just for the battery array to make sure that charging and discharging occurs in the best environment possible. Mercedes-Benz isn’t saying exactly what kind of range drivers could expect if the SLS AMG E-Cell were in production, nor do we know exactly how long it would take to charge the electric supercar. Hit the jump for the press release and get ready to order your own sometime next year.

Gallery: 2011 Detroit: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell

Photos Copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Detroit 2011: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell is the color of electric hotness

Detroit 2011: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell is the color of electric hotness originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Renntech tweaks Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG to new heights

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Renntech Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG

Renntech Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you find your Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG just a little too plebeian for your tastes, the team at Renntech have you covered. The high-end Silver Arrow tuners have just turned out a crate-load of carbon fiber goodies for the German monstrosity, all designed to give the vehicle a little extra speed and some flare to boot.

Renntech got started with a carbon front splitter, which, aside from adding a little down force, also channels air to the front brakes for greater cooling. Speaking of those front stoppers, Renntech is also serving up a set of carbon fiber brake ducts as well. Strictly a bolt-on affair, the ducts should be useful if you ever decide to put your CLK63 AMG through some track abuse.

The tuner is also offering a CF air box, rear diffuser and adjustable rear wing for the carbon fetishists out there. The icing on the cake is a set of front and rear adjustable camber bushings. Don’t expect all of this kit to come cheap, though. Tally up all the pieces and Renntech will politely ask for $15,290 without installation. Hit the jump for the press release and a detailed price breakdown.

Gallery: Renntech Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG

[Source: Renntech]

Continue reading Renntech tweaks Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG to new heights

Renntech tweaks Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG to new heights originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe?

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

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe leaked photo

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

We’ve been told to expect to get our first glimpse of the next-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March, but a few photos of the German two-door may have leaked out ahead of time. The images you see above were sourced up by the team at GMotors. From what we can tell, the vehicle in the stylized photos lines up pretty well with the spy photos we’ve seen of the 2012 C-Class Coupe so far, which leads us to believe that this may actually be the real deal. If so, the new coupe will wear the new beak of its updated four-door compatriots.

That includes the new slightly restyled front fascia. Interestingly enough, this particular set of photos ditches the quad fog lights we saw in the spy photos in favor of LED units. we’d say that seems like a fairly reasonable change given the popularity of the diodes in automotive design at the moment. Word is that this particular machine will get the same rash of engines as the sedan, meaning that buyers can expect to get their hands on either a 3.0-liter V6 with 228 horsepower or a 3.5-liter six-pot with 268 ponies. The question is, will we get an entry-level four-cylinder model like the 2012 C-Class sedan? Something tells us we’ll know a little more as we get closer to Geneva. Thanks for the tip, Luke.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

[Source: GMotors]

Are you the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GWA Tuning channels the Mercedes-Benz C111 with Ciento Once prototype

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz

GWA Tuning Ciento Once

GWA Mercedes-Benz Ciento Once – Click above for high-res image gallery

What’s even better than a supercar? A one-of-a-kind factory prototype. And few drummed up as much excitement back in the 70s as the Mercedes-Benz C111. The experimental showcase demonstrated the epitome of performance technology and aerodynamics, and still stands as one of the most advanced prototypes ever devised in Stuttgart… or anywhere else for that matter. And now it’s back.

GWA Tuning, a Benz tweaker out of San Antonio, has breathed new life into the C111 formula with a recreation called the Ciento Once (Spanish for “one hundred eleven”). The one-off eschews the Wankel engine of the original for the AMG M120 V12 that drives the Pagani Zonda, driving 408 horsepower in this case through a six-speed transmission with the brakes from the S55 AMG and the rolling stock from the SLS. Have a closer look in the gallery below, and do try to keep the drool from puddling on the keyboard.

Gallery: GWA Mercedes-Benz Ciento Once

[Source: GWA Tuning via 0-60]

GWA Tuning channels the Mercedes-Benz C111 with Ciento Once prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mercedes-Benz B55 does the burnout we’ve been waiting for

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Videos, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz B55 burnout

Mercedes-Benz B55 – Click above to watch video after the jump

When Mercedes-Benz first dropped word that a team of enterprising individuals had wedged a kicking Silver Arrow V8 under the hood of the company’s diminutive B-Class hatch, we immediately began searching around for a video of the machine in action. Now the German automaker has been so kind as to supply just such a clip. While we’d love to see the little five-door lift a leg around a proper road course (Nürburgring?), for now we’ll have to settle for a shot of the steroid-riddled commuter lighting up its rear tires in grand fashion.

As you may recall, the B55 was created by trainees at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt. With 385 horsepower borrowed from an E-Class and about as much weight as a box of tissues, this creation ought to go like stink. Hit the jump to check out the action for yourself. Now we just have to wait and see whose palms we have to grease to be able to plop ourselves behind the wheel for a spell.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz B55

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Mercedes-Benz B55 does the burnout we’ve been waiting for

Video: Mercedes-Benz B55 does the burnout we’ve been waiting for originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you the facelifted 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG?

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

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

Now that we’ve seen the facelifted 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class in its bread-and-butter C250, C300 and C350 forms, it’s time to start thinking about the holier-than-thou, unabashedly hardcore C63 AMG. The folks at Germany’s EvoCars have stumbled upon what appear to be production-spec images of the AMG-laden 2012 C-Class, and while the brash bulginess of the current car has been toned down somewhat, there’s certainly nothing sedate about this new menacing Merc.

The biggest question about the next-generation C63 is whether or not Mercedes-Benz will ditch the current car’s glorious naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 in favor of the new twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter mill that will be used in the CL63, S63 and CLS63. EvoCars states that only the new C63 AMG Coupe will receive the 5.5-liter heart, and that power of the 6.2 will be bumped up for use in the sedan. Still, with either engine, we’re sure the C63 will be as lively as ever out on the road.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

[Source: EvoCars (translated)]

Are you the facelifted 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Going Back to the Future in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Mercedes-Benz

2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG goes Back to the Future – Click above for high-res image gallery

No matter how happy our childhoods were, most of us have ended up with at least a few regrets that stick out in our mind. For whatever reason, random happenings tend to stick out as pivotal events in our life’s chronology. Swinging at that ninth inning pitch in the dirt in little league. Not having the nerve to ask Suzy Creamcheese to prom. Being the last to the party with the Flock of Seagulls haircut. Sometimes, things that shouldn’t be significant at all become just that – lodging in our cranial craws like grains of sand in an oyster. All of which explains how I came to find myself sheepishly appealing to the Mercedes-Benz PR team for an SLS AMG to drive to the 25th Anniversary showing of Back to the Future.

Allow me to explain.

Gallery: Going Back to the Future in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

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Going Back to the Future in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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