Tag: mercedes

Report: Mercedes pondering Google Glass navi

Filed under: Technology, Mercedes-Benz

Engadget is reporting that Mercedes-Benz might be tinkering with Google Glass for its future navigation systems. The first, big-name wearable tech item of the 21st century, Google Glass has a huge degree of potential in a number of fields, not the least of which is the auto industry.

Citing the Silicon Valley Business Journal, Engadget mentions that Mercedes is focusing on producing genuine, door-to-door directions that combine the pedestrian and automotive applications that Google Maps has become known for. President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, Johann Jungwirth, mentioned this seamless integration of directions is the division’s ultimate goal.

The idea is intriguing, but we’re probably going to be waiting on it for some time. Google Glass is still quite expensive and is far from being available at the local Best Buy. Until that day comes, it looks like we’ll just have to make do with going from our car’s navigation to a smartphone.

Mercedes pondering Google Glass navi originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Jul 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mercedes-Benz SLC to arrive mid-2015

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz

Although we’re still not entirely sure what Mercedes is planning to call its new sub-SLS coupe, more potential information about the car is starting to come to light. After Mercedes released official “spy shots” (shown above) back in June, Auto Express is saying that we might have to wait until 2015 to see this production version on the road.

Potential names for the car include SLC and the return of the SLR name, but regardless of what it will be called, this car is aimed squarely at the Porsche 911. Previously, we heard the new Mercedes could start under $100,000, but this report says that the new coupe will carry a base price of around $122,000, while a Black Series model could go for around $180,000 (both prices converted from British pounds). In any case, seems it’ll be a few more years before we actually know for sure.

Mercedes-Benz SLC to arrive mid-2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jul 2013 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mercedes S65 AMG to bow in LA, S600 in Detroit

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Between the launch of the 2014 Mercedes S-Class, the debut of the S63 AMG (shown above) and reports about a new “super S-Class,” the Mercedes-Benz flagship sedan has been in the news a lot lately. According to Car and Driver, Mercedes plans to introduce three new flavors of the latest S-Class at the Frankfurt, LA and Detroit auto shows.

We already heard that the plug-in hybrid version will be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, but this new report says that the V12-powered S65 AMG and S600 models will soon follow. At the LA Auto Show in November, the S65 AMG will hit the stage with a twin-turbo V12 expected to produce more than the current model’s 621 horsepower. This should make for one quick S-Class, no doubt able to shave a few ticks off the 2014 S63 AMG’s 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds.

Following the S65’s debut, Mercedes will reportedly take the wraps off its S600, which will use a less-powerful version of the mighty V12. The 2013 model year S600 produces 510 hp from its 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12, which is enough to propel the sedan to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds. The updated version should only improve those figures. Stay tuned.

Mercedes S65 AMG to bow in LA, S600 in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jul 2013 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auctions: Shelby Cobra, Mercedes 300SL and 1947 Woodie from Petersen Museum headed to auction

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Wagon, Auctions, Ford, Ferrari, Luxury

The changes happening at the Petersen Museum have been making the rounds in major press, but it probably won’t be until August 18, during Pebble Beach, when we get the full story on what’s happening; that’s where and when museum reps plan on announcing the way forward for the SoCal institution. In the meantime, the museum is still reorganizing its collection, and that means auctioning some of its showpieces at this weekend’s Auctions America event in Burbank.

Three of the stars are a 1964 Shelby Cobra 289, one of less than 20 produced with a three-speed C-4 automatic transmission, a 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL owned by actor Robert Stack and the last 1948 Ford Sportsman ‘Woodie’ ever produced. The Cobra, now restored to its original white exterior and red leather interior, was a factory demonstrator that first sold for $5,250. Showing just 38,950 miles on the odometer, its pre-sale estimate is $800,000 to $1 million.

The 300SL is actually a 1957 model but wasn’t titled until Robert Stack took possession in 1960. The lead actor in the The Untouchables TV series used to drive by the Sunset Boulevard Mercedes dealership to ogle the car, but couldn’t justify spending the money to buy it. When he and the producer of The Untouchables won Emmys for the show, the producer, who happened to be Desi Arnaz, bought the car for Stack. He owned it his whole life, it has been left as Stack drove it and still bears the California license plate “UNTCHBL.”

The 100-horsepower 1947 Woodie is considered to be the last Sportsman ever built, one of just 28 examples produced that year. It’s been thoroughly restored and returned to its Maize Yellow hue, with the original Birdseye Maple along its flanks and gray cardboard lining in its trunk.

They will go up on the plinth with rarities like a Jaguar XJ220, 1974 Mercedes-Benz 600 LWB Pullman Limousine and 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. You can read about the cars and the auction in the press releases below.

Continue reading Shelby Cobra, Mercedes 300SL and 1947 Woodie from Petersen Museum headed to auction

Shelby Cobra, Mercedes 300SL and 1947 Woodie from Petersen Museum headed to auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jul 2013 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mercedes S-Class stretch variant to command $200,000+

Filed under: Sedan, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Stretched Mercedes-Benz S-Class prototype - front three-quarter view

We recently spotted a stretched version of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but it sounds like this new ultra-luxurious version of the sedan might not be quite as much of a Maybach-replacing model that we initially expected. Automotive News says that the car has somewhat more modest targets, with the so-called “super S-Class” expected to list in the $200,000 to $250,000 range when it goes on sale in 2014. That’s hardly chump change, but it’s about $175,000 less than the now-dead Maybach 57.

After speaking with Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche, AN’s article says that this new S-Class model will be targeted at the Bentley Flying Spur and Rolls-Royce Ghost rather than more expensive models like the Mulsanne and Phantom, which makes sense since the Maybach brand was killed off due to slow sales. Of course, there is still the possibility that the three-row S600 Pullman could reach a little higher to fill in the void of those $400,000 sedans. Aside from the stretched body, Zetsche also promises cabin tech and luxury not offered on the standard S-Class, which is hard to imagine since the new S-Class has gobs of both already. During our recent first drive of the standard S-Class, we said that its interior is “going to give Bentley and Rolls-Royce night sweats,” so it sounds like Daimler will be aiming for breathing difficulties and heart palpitations with this new model.

Mercedes S-Class stretch variant to command $200,000+ originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jul 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mercedes celebrates its service departments with ill-advised anthem

Filed under: Videos, Mercedes-Benz

Worker anthems are always dicey (Exhibit A: the Hyundai Steel song), focused as they are on ideologies and products that usually don’t register beyond the bounds of the factory floor and burdened with dirge-like tunes and queerly reverential lyrics. Mercedes-Benz created a peppy tribute to its service department workers called Your Best that avoids the morass of the dirge but doubles down on the queer lyrics. Thanks to it being on YouTube, it also comes with imagery that is the closest we think we’ve ever come to service department erotica.

As far as we can tell the song is from the standpoint of a Mercedes trilling hosannas to company wrenches. The taste of the lyrics above should tell you all you need in order to hit the ‘play’ button, but if you need more, two lines later comes “I don’t like when they hit the brakes, want them to keep up with my speed.”

Alrighty then. You’ll find the short version and the five-minute version (!) below.

Continue reading Mercedes celebrates its service departments with ill-advised anthem

Mercedes celebrates its service departments with ill-advised anthem originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Jul 2013 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Brabus’ 730-hp 2014 Mercedes S-Class is for those who can’t wait for AMG

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

You can’t even buy the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class yet, but Brabus is ready to help you prepare for it. The German tuning house has engineered a suite of upgrades for the sedan that does just about everything but provide a button for its own aftermarket tune. The heart of any Brabus is the engine, and there are three heart transplants to choose from: there’s the B50S for the S550 that adds 65 horsepower, for a total of 520 hp and 604 pound-feet of torque; the B63 takes the S63 AMG up to 650 hp and 737 lb-ft; and the B63S rings the bell with 730 hp and 785 lb-ft. A top-speed limiter allows the option of capping velocity at either 155 mph, 168 mph or 186 mph.

As if the rock-crushing power and eye-watering speed weren’t enough to set the barge apart from others, an aero kit, two styles of monoblock wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches, a lowered suspension and a sport exhaust will add the florid plumage to your shiny new peacock. Brabus can tell you even more about it in the press release below.

Continue reading Brabus’ 730-hp 2014 Mercedes S-Class is for those who can’t wait for AMG

Brabus’ 730-hp 2014 Mercedes S-Class is for those who can’t wait for AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Jul 2013 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2015 CLS will be first US Mercedes to get 9-speed

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

Earlier this week, we heard that Mercedes-Benz will be introducing its nine-speed automatic transmission in Europe, but while this 9G-Tronic will first launch over there in the E-Class, we’ll get our first crack at this gearbox in the 2015 CLS-Class. According to Edmunds, the nine-speed CLS will go on sale in the US next fall before eventually spreading to almost all other Mercedes models, but there is no word as to when this would occur.

The current CLS uses a seven-speed automatic, and the 9G-Tronic’s extra gears will help improve fuel economy. Looking ahead, Mercedes said in a press release that this transmission is suitable for use in a broad range of models, both rear- and all-wheel drive and even hybrid and plug-in vehicles.

2015 CLS will be first US Mercedes to get 9-speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Jul 2013 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: French court lifts registration ban on Mercedes with contested refrigerant

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Safety, Mercedes-Benz

The brief alphanumerics R134a and R1234yf are codes for a growing battle between carmakers, states and the EU. The air-conditioning refrigerant R134a has been banned by the EU for being too damaging to the environment, with R1234yf mandated as its replacement. Daimler and Volkswagen say that in their own studies, though, R1234yf can be more dangerous in an accident, potentially starting fires and releasing poisonous hydrogen fluoride gas.

Daimler received dispensation from the German motoring authority KBA to continue using R124a and has refused to put the new refrigerant in its cars, and took that national approval as a European-wide mandate. That has led to France refusing to register all Mercedes-Benz A-, B- and SL-Class vehicles in France that were manufactured after June 12 and filled with the now-banned refrigerant.

In a small victory for Daimler, Reuters reports that a French court decision has lifted the ban on registrations pending a 10-day reexamination of the order. It gives France’s environment ministry a period to decide whether to keep the ban in place and return to court to fight for it; it does not, however, require the French authorities to begin registering Mercedes cars. While Mercedes waits to resume sales in France, which could begin again in ten days if France doesn’t fight, the EU is threatening Germany with consequences if it refuses to adhere to the federal mandate.

French court lifts registration ban on Mercedes with contested refrigerant originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Jul 2013 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Mercedes knows its buyers, designs golf cart of the future

Filed under: Concept Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Design/Style, Electric

Mercedes-Benz Vision golf cart concept - rendering - front three-quarter view

The Mercedes-Benz Vision golf cart isn’t a golf cart at all, it’s an electric luxo-buggy that you can use on the greens and that should have its own model-line designation, like Tee-Class. The Germans gathered suggestions from around the world for the ideal golfer carrier, and the top poll findings are wrapped in a design language that the doodlers at the Advanced Design Center call “Sensual-Purity.”

The doors can be clicked in or out. There are solar cells on the roof to charge the batteries. It’s driven by a center-mounted joystick so that the driver or passenger can take the helm. There’s a head-up display, docking station and touch screen monitors for control of amenities like air conditioning, stereo and Bluetooth, weather updates and maps of the course layout. And a refrigerator and retractable lightning rod. And then there’s the “fore button” – press it and it tells the other nearby Vision golf carts to sound “a warning signal” about an errant shot.

Mercedes says of its creation, “Simplicity is the key.” Obviously. You can read about the rest of its amenities in the press release below.

Continue reading Mercedes knows its buyers, designs golf cart of the future

Mercedes knows its buyers, designs golf cart of the future originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jul 2013 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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