Mercedes

Dec 13 2011

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL ahead for Detroit reveal

2013 Mercedes Benz SL ahead for Detroit reveal

It’s getting darn near impossible for automakers to keep their latest wares hidden from view until they are good and ready to show them. Such is the case with Mercedes-Benz, who’s latest SL has leaked to the internet courtesy of the crew at Autoblog.nl.

We know that the 2013 SL will be a few hundred pounds lighter than its predecessor, but we don’t yet know what range of engines will be in the “S-Class of Roadsters.” We’d guess a few V8 options with the vestigial V12 hanging around for at least one more generation.

Source: Autoblog.nl

Dec 4 2011

Mercedes-Benz and Ducati join forces

Mercedes Benz and Ducati join forces
Mercedes-Benz and Ducati joined forces a little over a year ago, and the two brands have chosen the Bologna Motor Show to mark the anniversary. The companies are showing off an SLK 55 AMG and a Streetfighter 848, respectively. Both machines are painted in eye-melting Streetfighter Yellow, and Mercedes-Benz says that AMG may permanently add the color to the personal option list if there’s enough demand. The SLK 55 AMG also wears custom yellow contrasting stitching on interior pieces like the sport steering wheel, seats, and dashboard, and a set of yellow-illuminated door sill plates further reinforces the theme.

Neither the SLK 55 AMG nor the Streetfighter 848 boast any performance modifications, which is just fine, since both vehicles offer plenty of giddyup right out of the box. The Benz is the most powerful SLK manufactured to date, with 422 horsepower from a naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter V8. The Streetfighter 848, meanwhile, is a 132-horsepower machine that weighs less than 500 pounds. Hit the jump to check out the full press release.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

Nov 22 2011

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series

There are a few marquee straights in the racing world, and Laguna Seca has one of the very best. The C63 Black Series’ 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 is an already legendary mill, and in this guise, it’s damned close to perfection. All along the slight left-bending straight with its blind crest (just prior to dive-bombing into Turn Two on hammered brake discs), this large-of-lung naturally aspirated V8 belted out its soundtrack like opera. Its 510 horsepower peaking at 6,800 rpm and 457 pound-feet of torque maxing out at 5,200 rpm felt uncommonly flexible and at the ready. At a curb weight of 3,770 pounds, The Black Series isn’t a featherweight, but it feels solid and mostly better for it.

But is this Black Series (or any AMG, or Audi RS, or BMW M, or Cadillac V…) simply a poseur mobile, a trophy wife for well-heeled men gathering dust? Barring the ten hours needed to debate this, just ask: Does the C63 Black Series really nail things dynamically to the point where its red meat attitude scares away the wannabes?

Our heaping dose of the Black – fully optioned, mind you – convinced us that this coupe has been done right. The requisite superficial bonehead percentage of buyers for this type of car should be kept to a minimum. We hope this is borne out, because this is a terrifically balanced car that ticks all the right boxes in the way it handles at the hairy limits on a great track. Like a Mitsubishi Evolution in its class, or a Porsche Cayman R in its habitat, this six-figure Merc deserves the best, most capable owners possible.

Source: AutoBlog

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