Mercedes SLK 350

Mercedes SLK 350

Mercedes SLK 350

Mercedes SLK 350

Mercedes SLK 350

With the first-generation SLK back in 1997, Mercedes’ aim was true but its targeting system a little out of kilter. Spot-on styling and a clever folding hardtop contributed to its strong ownership appeal and more or less sealed its commercial success. Nearly half a million first and second generation SLKs have been sold to date, a remarkable 62 per cent to women. Whether the shifting automotive demographic outside ladies hair salons in those early years was because the SLK rapidly failed to gain a reputation as genuine hard driver’s sports car is a moot point. But the shortfall of chassis talent was hard to paper over. Respectably swift in a straight line with any of the larger engine options, the SLK was hung out to dry in the curves by Porsche’s mid-engined rival, the Boxster. And, despite a partial script re-write for the next SLK in 2004 including a stiffer, re-styled body with an F1-style nose, faster roof, bigger boot and across-the-board tweaks, it has been ever since. The thumping female vote of confidence continues to be assiduously nurtured, of course, but it’s no secret that Mercedes has been itching for some payback on the ‘pure driving enjoyment’ front.

Mercedes SLK 350

So, for 2008, comes another raft of changes – new-look nose and tail, tweaked cabin and telematics, higher gadget-count, 650 revised or new components in all – and a mild re-focusing of the range with power hikes for the 200 Kompressor and, perhaps more significantly, the 350. Significant because, now, this is the car that clearly takes the fight to the Boxster in its most potent 3.4S form without defaulting to the (hitherto) over-muscled, under-achieving, and rather costly, SLK55 AMG. In fact, so impressively has the £35,792 350 sharpened-up, the case for spending an extra £15K for the V8-engined 55 has never looked shakier. Power from the 350’s hardly weedy 3498cc V6 has leapt 29bhp to 301bhp (10bhp more than the Boxster) and the rev limit has been raised to 7200rpm. Refreshingly, this wasn’t the work of an afternoon with a laptop but arises out of a higher compression ratio, lighter valves, deeper valve seats and new pistons. The changes give the engine an entirely different character – lustier from low revs, far keener at the top end, better to listen to – and a 0-62mph time of 5.4sec, bang on Boxster pace and barely half a second adrift of the 55.

Mercedes SLK 350

So far so good. But it’s not the best news. That would be what Mercedes calls Direct-Steer – a variable-ratio steering rack that transforms the way the SLK changes direction. It takes a little getting used to (you tend to turn in a fraction too soon at first) but, adjustment made, you can then attack bends with a sense of verve and conviction hitherto completely alien to any SLK. Specify the sports suspension and, for a Merc, the decently positive six-speed manual ’box (98 per cent of SLKs are autos) and you have a package that at last doesn’t need to exempt itself from the acid test provided by a challenging road. No, it doesn’t have the acuity and exquisite balance of the Porsche, and the ESP you can never fully disengage is frustrating if you want to celebrate the motor’s heftier kick with a smoky tribute exiting tighter bends. But the combination of potent, sonorously scored performance and the means to deploy it with precision, control and pliancy is hugely attractive in a car that’s never wanted for style or substance. Suddenly, rather unexpectedly, the SLK is a force to be reckoned with.

Mercedes Benz C230

Mercedes Benz C230

Mercedes Benz C230

Mercedes Benz C230

It doesn't sound like a Mercedes," opined my passenger. She had a point. The supercharged, sixteen-valve, 1.8-liter DOHC in-line four in the C230 Kompressor has the aural quality of a vacuum cleaner. It's a pity, because the engine actually is a good performer, making 189 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque--21 horsepower and 15 pound-feet more than the C240's 2.6-liter V-6. Mercedes claims the C230 sedan can scoot from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds. The engine is an all-new piece, not the one found in the 1999-2001 C230 Kompressor. Despite the new four's smaller displacement (the old car had a full 2.3 liters under the hood), Mercedes decided there was currency with the C230 moniker. Whatever the nomenclature, this is the new entry-level C-class sedan, aimed at younger (read: less affluent) buyers.

Mercedes Benz C230

The C230 Kompressor is one of two new C-class Sport Sedans (the C320 Sport Sedan is the other); the models obviate last year's $3000 Sport option package. The cars have a restyled front end, textured aluminum cabin trim, and broadly bolstered seats. The C230 has a six-speed manual gearbox (a five-speed automatic is optional) as well as seven-spoke wheels with 225/45ZR-17 tires and a sport-tuned suspension that is calibrated differently than the old sport package's. The C230's price--a low, low $28,710--is likely to be its most compelling aspect to most buyers, because it includes such niceties as automatic climate control, a multifunction steering wheel, and partial leather seats. A CD player is not part of the deal, however.

Mercedes Benz C230

Despite the engine's unmelodious note and the stick shift's rubbery and imprecise linkage, the C230 is the most entertaining, most agile C-class model. The suspension gives much better body control with seemingly no diminution of ride quality, and the car feels better balanced than the heavier V-6-powered cars. The C230 sedan finally reveals the inherent goodness of the C-class chassis: It feels like a real competitor to the BMW 325i. Too bad it doesn't sound like one.

CLK 63 AMG Mercedes Benz

CLK 63 AMG

CLK 63 AMG

CLK 63 AMG

CLK 63 AMG

CLK 63 AMG

CLK 63 AMG

CLK 63 AMG

Enjoy the open air in truly sporty style with the CLK 63 AMG Cabriolet. Its naturally aspirated V8 engine delivers a substantial 481hp, enabling breathtaking performance, while the dynamic AMG body styling and 18-inch AMG 5-spoke wheels contribute to its eye-catching looks. The interior features AMG sports seats in luxurious Nappa leather, and a special AMG instrument cluster featuring RACETIMER, giving you access to race driving relevant information such as lap times, attained top speed, average speed and distance travelled. From the AMG sports exhaust system with its twin chromed tailpipe, to the AMG sports suspension and high-performance brake system, the CLK 63 AMG Cabriolet is a seductive car.

CLK 63 AMG

The new CLK 63 AMG Black Series is based on the Official F1 Safety Car, the high-performance AMG vehicle that has been providing Formula One safety since 2006. The coupe, optimized for the racing circuit, is powered by an AMG 6.3-liter V8 with its performance boosted to 500 bhp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Top-rank handling is assured by the sophisticated AMG threaded suspension with 19-inch AMG forged wheels, new steering and the generously dimensioned AMG high-performance brake system with its composite disks. Visually, too, the CLK 63 AMG Black Series clearly shows its descent from the Official F1 Safety Car: its striking front apron with large cooling intakes, flared wheel arches, diffusor-type rear apron and carbon-fiber airflow breakaway edge, all demonstrate the car’s sporting pedigree. The new CLK 63 AMG Black Series is technically and visually oriented towards the Official F1 Safety Car and thus addresses all sports-car enthusiasts who value high competitiveness. An output upgraded by 25 bhp accelerates the CLK 63 AMG Black Series from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, a few tenths of a second faster than the standard model with 475 bhp. The top speed is electronically limited to 186 mph (300 km/h). The visual appearance of the CLK 63 AMG Black Series shows its racing inspiration. The redesigned front end is descended 1:1 from the Official F1 Safety Car, and its generously dimensioned cooling-air intakes hint at the sophisticated cooling measures. For greater stamina under extreme operating conditions, a larger main radiator and an optimized power steering cooler, as well as an additional transmission cooler are built into the left front wheel arch. The front fenders are made of high-strength and yet lightweight carbon-fiber composite material. On their flank, a “6.3 AMG” badge hints at the exceptional power of the naturally-aspirated V8. Redesigned side skirts extend to the broad rear fenders, which are in turn connected by a newly developed rear apron. The components taken over from the Official F1 Safety Car include not only the carbon diffusor fins and the integrated chromed dual tailpipes of the AMG sports exhaust system, but also a cooler for the heavily stressed rear axle.

CLK 63 AMG

Mercedes-AMG engineers achieved the increase in power by completely redesigning the intake and exhaust systems. The high-revving, naturally-aspirated AMG engine, with its 6208 cc displacement, gets its fresh air via larger-dimensioned intake ducts. The new AMG sports exhaust system with full-length twin pipes stands out with its unmistakable, pleasant AMG V8 sound. Together with a newly calibrated engine control unit, these measures ensure not only efficient load change behavior, but also let this eight-cylinder unit respond to the accelerator with even greater alacrity. Power is transmitted through the AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC. Compared to the standard CLK 63 AMG, the rear-axle ratio of the pur sang special series has been made about six percent shorter – to confer even more agility in acceleration in all speed ranges. For maximum sporting dynamics, the transmission has only the “M” and “S” driving programs; the comfort-oriented “C” is deleted. The driver can switch between the seven gears by using the AMG aluminum shift paddles on the steering wheel, while an indicator in the instrument cluster shows the gear selected at any given time.

Mercedes GL450

Mercedes GL450

Mercedes GL450

Mercedes GL450

Mercedes GL450

This wonder car can accommodate up to seven people and is especially made for hilly regions, rough roads and rocky brooks. The seats are extremely comfortable and the steering is downy and smooth thus, ensuring to make your drive a memorable and pleasurable one. Furthermore for your safety and convenience the car is also loaded with air bags. For music lovers the car is equipped with a surrounding sound CD and DVD six disc players. So what are you waiting for? If you are looking for a car that has style with comfort then SUV Mercedes Benz GL450 model is the car for you.

Mercedes GL450

The SUV, equipped with a seven-speed transmission and a 335-horespower V-8 engine, was picked from a field of 22 vehicles, the largest crop of SUVs ever evaluated by the magazine.The Mercedes has the most comfortable third-row seating of any SUV tested, the magazine said. It also will come with a diesel engine that runs on new low-sulfur fuel. "In every facet, from performance to the interior, this vehicle is a winner," MacKenzie said. The SUV competition this year reflected the market shift away from truck-based SUVs toward car-based vehicles, MacKenzie said. This year, only the GL, the Jeep Wrangler and the Toyota FJ Cruiser had real off-road capability, he said. Many of this year's SUVs are offered in two-wheel-drive versions that will be popular in states where weather and roads aren't a problem, he said. "It's the 21st-century station wagon, neither truck- nor car-based, and truly belongs in its own category," MacKenzie said of the SUV. "That is why this year's contest looked more closely at on-road drivability than rock-crawling." The editorial staff at the magazine evaluated the vehicles in three areas: significance in engineering, technology and features; superiority in performance and quality; and value. Staffers drove the vehicles on streets and the test track, as well as off the road.

Mercedes GL450

The 2008 Mercedes M-Class is a 4-door, 5-passenger luxury sport-utility, available in 4 trims, ranging from the ML350 to the ML63 AMG. Upon introduction, the ML350 is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 268-horsepower engine that achieves 15-mpg in the city and 20-mpg on the highway. The ML63 AMG is equipped with a standard 6.2-liter, V8, 503-horsepower engine that achieves 11-mpg in the city and 14-mpg on the highway. A 7-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims. The 2008 M-Class is a carryover from 2007.

2009 Mercedes Benz A Class

2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS350 CGI

2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS350 CGI

2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS350 CGI

2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS350 CGI

2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS350 CGI

Following intensive development work, Mercedes-Benz is now presenting the world's first petrol engine with piezoelectric direct injection and spray-guided combustion. This 215 kW/292 hp six-cylinder engine will enter the market in the second half of 2006 in the CLS-Class. In the European driving cycle, this innovative injection technology from Mercedes-Benz achieves fuel consumption improvements of ten percent over the highly efficient V6 petrol engine with port injection and fully variable valve timing: the figures for the CLS 350 CGI are 9.1 litres per 100 km. Thus Mercedes-Benz has succeeded in combining a substantial increase in output with a significant increase in fuel economy. This pioneering injection system is another trend-setting technology from Mercedes-Benz. It achieves much better fuel efficiency, and thus also higher thermodynamic efficiency, than conventional wall-guided direct injection systems. The new system will form the basis for future engine development work in this output class.

2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS350 CGI

The main advantage of the CGI engine (CGI = Stratified-Charged Gasoline Injection) lies in the stratified operating mode from which it takes its name. During this mode the engine is run with high excess air and thus excellent fuel efficiency. Now, thanks to multiple injection, it is for the first time possible to extend this lean-burn operating mode to higher rpm and load ranges too. During each compression stroke, a series of injections takes place, spaced just fractions of a second apart. This has the effect of significantly improving mixture formation, combustion and fuel consumption. While stratified charge operation was previously only possible in the low part-load range, the new Mercedes direct-injection engine can still operate in this lean-burn stratified mode at speeds in excess of 120 km/h. When driving on main roads and motorways at largely constant speed and with proper anticipation, the CGI engine outperforms the fuel economy of the six-cylinder engine with conventional injection technology by up to 1.5 litres per 100 km, a saving of up to 15 percent.

2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS350 CGI

Low fuel consumption and excellent power delivery are not at odds with each other on the second-generation Mercedes-Benz direct petrol injection model. On the contrary, the engine delivers 15 kW/20 hp more power than the conventional-injection V6 and four percent more torque. Thus the V6 combines its excellent fuel economy with a level of effortless driving enjoyment that is unprecedented in the six-cylinder segment. The CLS 350 CGI accelerates from 0 - 100 km/h in just 6.7 seconds and has an electronically gov-erned top speed of 250 km/h. The key figures for the new CGI engine are: With a fuel consumption of 9.1 - 9.3 litres per 100 kilometres (NEDC combined cycle), the four-door Coupé has a range of approximately 870 kilometres on one tank filling (80 litres). Pioneering invention: outward-opening piezoelectric injectors The most important components of this innovative direct petrol injection system are the fast-acting, high-precision piezoelectric injectors. It is on this invention and the way it has been translated into series-production technology that the most important advances associated with spray-guided combustion are based.

The piezoelectric valves have injectors which open outwards to create an annular gap just a few microns wide. This gap shapes the fuel jet and produces a uniform, hollow-cone-shaped spray pattern. The microsecond response times of the piezoelectric injectors provide the basis for delivering multiple injections per compression stroke, and thus for lean-burn operation. By allowing flexible and efficient control of the combustion process they play a key part in ensuring the engine's outstanding fuel efficiency.

With the aid of simulations for the fuel mixture and the combustion process, the pistons have been designed with special piston bowl geometry which concentrates the lean mixture in the area around the spark plug and prevents it from spreading out towards the cylinder wall. The piston shape therefore also plays its part in ensuring near-total combustion, low fuel consumption and low emissions in the direct-injection petrol engine. A high-pressure pump and downstream fuel rail and pressure control valve are responsible for delivering the fuel and regulating the quantity supplied. The peak fuel pressure in this system is up to 200 bar - around 50 times the fuel pressure in a conventional petrol injection system. Dual effect: low engine-out emissions and high exhaust temperatures The Mercedes-developed combustion process featuring multiple closely spaced injections on each compression stroke also results in smoother operation and improved emissions performance. Measurements show that engine-out hydrocarbon emissions in the warm-up phase are almost halved.

Furthermore, since the injection and combustion processes can be actively controlled, it is also possible to raise temperatures in the exhaust manifold and thus speed catalytic converter warm-up. Just ten seconds after starting from cold, the direct-injection petrol engine reaches an exhaust temperature of over 700 degrees Celsius. Emissions are controlled by two close-coupled three-way catalytic converters with linear oxygen sensor control, which goes into operation immediately after the engine starts from cold. To reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, Mercedes-Benz has adopted a two-part strategy. This comprises, firstly, dual electrically controlled and cooled exhaust gas re-circulation which, depending on engine operating conditions, redirects up to 40 percent of the exhaust gases back into the cylinders.

Secondly, it also comprises two underfloor NOx storage-type catalytic converters. Under lean operating conditions, these converters adsorb the nitrogen oxides. Periodically, during brief regeneration pulses, the nitrogen oxides are then desorbed, reacting with other exhaust gas constituents to form harmless nitrogen. Sensors upstream and down-stream of the catalytic converters monitor their operation. In addition, the new CGI engine also incorporates the same unique package of high-tech features as its conventional-injection counterpart. This includes four-valve cylinder heads, variable intake and exhaust camshaft timing, a two-stage in-take manifold, balancer shafts and intelligent thermal management with an electronically controlled thermostat. The crankcase and cylinder heads are of aluminium and the cylinder liners are of low-friction, thermally resistant, lightweight aluminium-silicon alloy.

All fuel-carrying components of the CGI engine are of high-grade steel or brass; the rails in the area of the two cylinder banks and the housing of the high-pressure pump are of forged stainless steel. The new CLS 350 CGI is designed to operate on sulphur-free unleaded premium fuel and its state-of-the-art technology gives it the potential to adapt to emissions standards of the future. In Western Europe, the CLS direct petrol injection model will replace the current CLS 350.

Mercedes SUV GL550 | ML550

Mercedes SUV GL550 | ML550

Mercedes SUV

Mercedes SUV GL550

Mercedes SUV GL550 | ML550

What you need to know about Mercedes-Benz's new GL550: There are no plans for an even more powerful AMG version ofthis seven-passenger SUV. Next need-to-know: The GL550 grille's three-pointed star is Mercedes's biggest ever, saveperhaps for those on Mercedes buses and semis and Unimogs. Can't wait to see how one looks around 50 Cent's neck. Mercedes unabashedly targets the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator with the North America-only GL550, even asCadillac tries to compete with Mercedes's passenger cars. This is that model's flagship, complementing the GL320CDIand GL450, neither of which gets the 550's dog-dish-size emblem or enlarged grille. Those are 21-inch five-spokeAMGs, just one inch shy of the 'Slade's optional wheels under fender flares unique to the 550, but infinitely more tasteful. The GL550 also comes with chrome roof rails and belt line molding, dual-split exhausts, skid plates, chrome load-sill protection, full-leather interior with a wood and leather steering wheel (all-leather if you choose the no-cost heated-rim option), heated front seats, rear view camera, ambient lighting, and, shared with the ML550, blue glass(not shown on either photography model).

2008 Mercees Benz GL550

Mercedes Benz GL550

Mercedes Benz GL550

Mercedes Benz GL550

2008 Mercedes Benz GL550

Here's the latest version of Mercedes-Benz’s , the GL, topping the manufacturer’s All Terrains SUV line up. Providing room for 7 people and almost 6 meters long, the Mercedes GL is a beast that combines elegance and luxury. Our Japanese test vehicle was the GL550 while Europe will have to do with the GL500 or GL420 CDI.

2008 Mercedes Benz GL550

Design: Among Mercedes latest creations, the GL has to be one of the most consensual. Despite huge proportions, it offers a great design, balanced between elegance and sportiness. Its harmonious lines happen to be purer than those of its little brother ML, and manages to stay away from the « hot dog design » of an Audi Q7. On a side note, there is no analogy between the GL and the G class which remains in the lineup.

2008 Mercedes Benz GL550

Interior: One of Mercedes most impressive interiors and one of the best you can find on the market in that category of cars. The quality feel is tremendous, and the use of leather and wood simply makes you forget that you’re sitting in a big, four wheel drive machine. Moreover, there's an awful lot of space in there whether you sit in the front or rear and when we mean rear, even the « 3rd row passengers » have plenty of room for their legs. This 3rd row can be activated electrically off the car floor by simply pressing one button. If this isn't enough, even with the 3rd row of seats, there still is plenty of room for bags and luggage. Drop it back to 5 seats and the boot is so big that you could move a house into it.The GL500 is a mechanical beast, the GL550 is a monster. Considering that it only takes 6 seconds for such a heavy vehicle to reach 100kmh is just staggering. Unfortunately, the GL550 tends to behave like a dragster, super fast in the straights and not so happy in the corners. When you keep it under criminal speeds, it's a very safe and easy to drive SUV, it simply doesn’t like to be taken for a rally car. Off-road, the GL550 feels at home and that’s impressive for such a high luxury 4x4, especially if you opt for the pneumatic suspensions, allowing you to set the ground clearance up.

Brabus Steering Wheel

Brabus Steering Wheel

Brabus Steering Wheel

Brabus Steering Wheel

Brabus Steering Wheel

If you never fit anything else to your roadster, or fortwo, make it this! This is the most brilliant add-on ever. I put mine in my car "just to check it out". I was warned, "you'll never take it off again". Dead right. Superb thick grip, paddles included, nice sporty horn buttons. Needs TAN number from smart dealer for paddleshift (698 engined cars), or a Brabus switchbox which may need to be modified with different resistances. We may be able to help with that as a Polish customer got it sussed out.

Brabus Steering Wheel

I wanted paddleshift, and the two options were a three spoke smart wheel, or the BRABUS V6 BITURBO one .... after seeing it in Austria, at the BRABUS Stand, my mind was made up. The Wheel is 340mm, whereas the standard one is 370mm. It has a more sporty feel, and the paddles sit nicely behind the moulded grips. Quite Expensive for a steering wheel, but nothing else looks like this for the smart. Originally made by RAID for BRABUS.

Brabus Steering Wheel

The very latest item from Brabus. This will fit all Smart fortwos from 2002 onwards and has paddles fitted. The car has to coded by a Smart centre for the paddle shift to work. If your car is already fitted with paddles then the car may need the steering angle sensor resetting at a Smart Centre.

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

I was never a huge fan of the last or current generation Mercedes Benz SL, but the new SL65 AMG Black Series is an entirely different story. It’s extremely mean looking and has the balls to back it up. And with a $320,000 price tag, it better! At 4,122 pounds, the SL65 Black runs an upgraded twin-turbcharged 6.0-liter V12 capable of producing 661 hp at 5,400 rpm and 738 lb.-ft of torque.

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

With a five-speed automatic gearbox equipped with AMG’s speedshift software, the SL65 Black can hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds on its way to a gearing-limited top speed of 199 mph.

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

Expect the SL65 AMG Black Series to debut in Paris, with sales beginning in the U.S. early next year.