mercedes

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Widestar by Brabus

Mercedes-Benz? Good. Mercedes AMG? Better. Brabus-modified AMG supercar? Now we're talking.

After releasing their initial tuning kit that suddenly seems rather pedestrian by comparison, Brabus is back with the new Widestar SLS. And as you might have guessed, it's wider. The carbon fiber body kit sees to that, allowing the Mercedes tuner par excellence to fit 20-inch wheels up front and 21-inch wheels in the back – available in a variety of colors and finishes – and riding on ultra-super-low-profile tires.

Buyers can also specify an electronically adjustable suspension, a titanium exhaust system and a suitably wide array of interior options as well.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Widestar by Brabus

Tags: Brabus, Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Widestar

Brabus SV12 R Biturbo 800: The World's Fastest and Most Powerful Sedan

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Wondering who makes the fastest, most powerful sedan on earth? Wonder no longer: it's the new Brabus SV12 R Biturbo 800. Based on the twin-turbo, twelve-cylinder Mercedes-Benz S600, the latest from the Benz tuner par excellence packs an enormous 788 horsepower and 1,047 lb-ft of torque, catapulting it to 62 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 217 mph.

Those numbers are so unfathomable that Brabus says they had to limit both the torque (to "only" 811 lb-ft) and the top speed to keep things within reason. To get there, they've bored out the engine and fitted it with a new crankshaft, camshafts, cylinder heads, air intake, exhaust, turbochargers, quad intercoolers and bigger pistons, along with a custom limited-slip differential, bigger brakes, wheels and tires and modified the bodywork to keep it stable at its insane capabilities.

Gallery: Brabus SV12 R Biturbo 800

Tags: Brabus SV12 R Biturbo 800, mercedes, mercedes-benz s-class, mercedes-benz s600, s-class

Sixty Years of Formula One Racing in Photos

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports, Books

Autocourse: 60 Years of World Championship Grand Prix Motor Racing, new from Motorbooks / Icon Publishing, is a lavishly-illustrated account of the globally successful FIA Formula 1 World Championship from its roots before World War II to the present day. After the war came the glamorous era of the winning Alfa Romeos, followed by stunning victories from Ferrari and Maserati in the 1950s maintaining the Italian tradition before mighty Mercedes captured the crown; along the way technological advances causing several re-inventions. The book follows the action in over 500 images evoking the drivers - the great Michael Schumacher gets his very own chapter – cars, circuits, personalities and issues of each era. The back of the book contains a useful compendium of statistics, champions and more. With more and more countries vying with each other to gain the right to stage a Formula 1 contest, and as the calendar heads towards a twenty-race season, the book also looks forward to the megabucks sport's seventh decade as new teams arrive to take on the established giants.

Tags: Alfa Romeo, books, cars, coffee table books, Ferrari, Formula 1, Formula One, Maserati, Mercedes, Michael Schumacher, motor racing, racecar, racing, sports, World War II

Mercedes-Benz C63 and SLS AMG Specials Unveiled in Australia

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Getting your hands on any product of Mercedes' elite AMG performance division is an event unto itself. But what we have here is a pair of extra-special one-of-their-kind specials prepared specially for the Australian International Auto Show.

In one corner stands Concept 358, a special version of the C63 AMG performance sedan. It features the AMG Performance Plus package to boost the 6.3-liter V&'s output up to 480 horsepower, 19-inch alloys, a special Designo leather interior and a unique shade of Pearl Orange paint to set it apart from the crowd.

The special SLS AMG supercar, meanwhile, has been decked out in matte black with red accents, giving it a decidedly racier look. The two were unveiled specially for Australia, which stands as Mercedes' fifth largest market worldwide. And while they may be one-off creations, AMG will likely prepare yours the same way... for a price.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz AMG Specials - Australia 2010

Tags: australia, australian international motor show, c63 amg, concept 358, mercedes, mercedes amg, mercedes c63 amg, mercedes c63 amg concept 358, mercedes concept 358, mercedes sls amg, mercedes-benz, mercedes-benz amg, mercedes-benz c63 amg, mercedes-benz c63 amg concept 358, mercedes-benz concept 358, mercedes-benz sls amg, sls, sls amg, sydney, sydney auto show, sydney motor show

Mercedes-Benz Debuts New CL63 AMG in Paris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Who said bigger was always better? The Mercedes CL-Class may be one of the largest luxury coupes on the market, but the latest top-of-the-line performance model – revealed for the first time at the Paris Auto Salon – actually features a smaller engine than the one it replaces, and with positive results, no less.

Replacing the 6.2-liter V8 from the outgoing CL63 AMG, the new model packs a twin-turbo, direct-injection 5.5-liter V8 that produces 544 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque (upped to 571 and 664 with the optional AMG Performance Package) while reducing fuel consumption by 25%. All that power propels the big beast – complete with all the latest electronic systems and luxurious amenities you'd expect in a range-topping Benz – to 60 in just four and a half seconds.

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Tags: 2010 paris, 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris auto show, 2010 paris motor show, Mercedes, Mercedes CL63 AMG, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz CL63, Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG, paris, paris auto salon, paris auto show, paris motor show

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG by Brabus

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Those in the know know Brabus as one of the premier Mercedes-Benz tuners in the world, offering a range of accessories and modifications for anything and everything wearing that famous silver star on the nose. Now Brabus has turned its attention to the top-of-the-line SLS AMG.

The first thing you may notice are those giant wheels. They measure 20 inches in the front and 21 in the back, but they're only the start of it all. Brabus is also offering new front and rear bumpers and side vents made of carbon fiber, a titanium exhaust system and a variety of interior modifications. The sky is the proverbial limit, but the Gullwing supercar is a pretty good starting point as it is.

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Tags: brabus, gullwing, mercedes, mercedes-benz, mercedes-benz sls amg, sls, sls amg

Mercedes-Benz Launches mbrace Concierge iPhone App

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Luxury Cars & Autos

Mercedes-Benz has just launched a significantly enhanced version of its mbrace iPhone application. Mbrace is a package of services similar to General Motors' OnStar that provides automatic 911 calls in the event of an accident, remote unlocking and other services. When it was first introduced last year the mbrace application was the first to actually integrate with the vehicle telematics system to enable many of those same services such as the remote locking/unlocking, plus vehicle and dealer location.

The new version adds instant access to Mercedes-Benz Concierge services. A tap of the screen gives the Mercedes driver instant access to an advisor to help find restaurants or hotels and send directions straight to the phone and car. When calling roadside assistance through the application, the location information is automatically transmitted to the help center. Subscribers to the mbrace service can download the application from the iTunes app store.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Tags: concierge, iphone app, iPhone app store, iPhone Application, iPhone Applications, iPhone Apps, mercedes, Mercedes Benz, mercedes benz mbrace iphone app, mercedes-benz, mercedes-benz mbrace, MercedesBenz

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Brabus Adds Power and iPads to the S-Class to make the Brabus iBusiness

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Luxury Cars & Autos

Mercedes already loads its S-Class with copious amenities. Drive that bad boy over to Brabus, though, and they'll be glad to add things you didn't have the imagination to consider. The German tuner's latest creation is the Brabus iBusiness, which is an S-Class stuffed with a giant engine up front and a giant load of tech in back.

The rear seats have essentially become plush, open-plan workspaces fitted with all things Apple: two iPads with keyboards, a 64GB iPod Touch, and a Mac Mini in the trunk displayed on a Mac monitor in the Alcantara headliner and controlled via a Magic Mouse. And that's in addition to the monitors mounted into the backs of the headrests. The system is hooked into the car so that the S-Class systems can be ordered about directly from your seatback desk.

Pulling that office along is a 6.3-liter V12 with 750 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of usable torque. What's the bottom line on that? About 3.8 seconds from zero-to-sixty and a top speed of 211 mph. We recommend you type or go for top speed runs because the brunt of 750 horsepower is not good for your words-per-minute. The price? Brabus didn't say, but figure a little less than it would cost to buy Finland. A little.

Gallery: Brabus iBusiness

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Tags: apple, brabus, brabus ibusiness, brabus sv12 r, ibusiness, mercedes, mercedes-benz

Carolina Herrera To Be Honored With "Mercedes-Benz Presents" Title

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Design

Carolina Herrera will receive the distinguished title of "Mercedes-Benz Presents" designer for this season's spring/summer 2011 collection debuting on Monday, September 13, at 10 am at Lincoln Center, the new home of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The Mercedes-Benz Presents program has recognized designers who demonstrate dedication to the use of quality materials, unique style and innovative design for the past seven years.

Herrera has designed for many celebrities and high-profile clients including Renee Zellweger, Amy Adams, Michelle Pfeiffer, Emily Blunt, Oprah Winfrey, and Camilla Belle. She joins a prestigious list of past Mercedes-Benz Presents designers including Monique Lhuillier, Badgley Mischka, Narciso Rodriguez, and CHADO Ralph Rucci.

"Carolina Herrera's understated grace, precision design and attention to detail uphold the Mercedes-Benz commitment to quality," said Lisa Holladay, manager of brand experience marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. "She is a symbol of great success within the fashion industry and especially in New York City, and choosing her as this season's Mercedes-Benz Presents Designer represents the strength of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and the event's bright future at Lincoln Center."

Born in Venezuela, Herrera began her fashion career in New York in 1980 and will celebrate 30 years of her eponymous collection in 2011.

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Tags: awards, Carolina Herrera, fashion, Fashion Week, Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz, new york fashion week fall 2010

Mercedes Owner Smashes Dealership Showroom in India

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Crimes and Misdemeanors

Anyone who's ever been frustrated with the service at his car dealership will undoubtedly be able to relate to this story. And anyone who's ever worked at one will likely cringe.

Reports coming in the India tell the story of one Sudeep K. Agarwal, a Mercedes owner who grew angry with having to bring his car in repeatedly to fix the same problem. After the dealer suggested that the owner's driving was at fault for the problem, Agarwal reportedly drove his car into the showroom and smashed four others in the process. Apparently Indian laws leave consumers with little recourse against manufacturers and dealers selling malfunctioning cars, and Agarwal had apparently had it with his.

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Tags: Agarwal, india, mercedes, mercedes-benz, Sudeep K. Agarwal

The McLaren MP4-12C Finally Comes to America

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Almost a year after the last Mercedes McLaren SLR rolled off the production line, McLaren has shown its MP4-12C to our corner of the world during Pebble Beach weekend. It is the first in what will be a range of McLaren sports cars, and the MP4-12C is the baseline – they will only get faster and more expensive from here.

The raw specs: mid-mounted 3.8-liter twin turbo V8, 600 horsepower, 442 pound-feet of torque. The compelling details, however, are underneath and even beyond the metal bits: McLaren's mission with the MP4-12C is to make technologies usually reserved for Formula 1 cars and Pagani Zondas accessible to those on less-than-Zonda budgets.

The carbon fiber tub, the monocell, is molded in one piece, a first for a production car. The body panels are tuned to aero purposes only – none of them need to do duty as structural members. The electrohydraulic suspension can be locked out for track blasting, then switched to four-wheel-independent urban duty for a "3 Series or 5 Series ride." It's lower and shorter than a Ferrari 458, but it has a longer wheelbase and it weighs about 160 pounds less. Oh, and it's got the biggest trunk space in the segment. That isn't terribly difficult when supercar trunks are better at stowing leaflets than luggage, but still, feather, meet McLaren cap...

Said McLaren's head of PR, "If you look at our competition, they are the best cars ever made in that segment." We look forward to finding out if the McLaren is even better, because while we walked around the car at Pebble we kept imagining it saying, "If you see the Ferrari 458, tell it I'm here."

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C at Pebble Beach

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Tags: mclaren, McLaren MP4-12C, mercedes, mercedes-benz, MP4-12C

New Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Leaks Out Ahead of Debut

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Pioneering the increasingly popular four-door coupe segment, the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class came out well ahead of the competition. So far ahead, in fact, that while rivals are just hitting the market now, Mercedes is already gearing up for the next generation.

When the original CLS ceased production, we knew its successor couldn't be far behind, and now the first images of the new CLS have leaked onto the internet. As you can see, the new model has retained the outgoing one's unique profile, but updates with design cues from the Shooting Break concept. Engines are expected to range from a new 3.5-liter direct-injection V6 all the way up to the 5.5-liter, twin-turbo V8 AMG model. Watch this space for more as Benz prepares to release the new CLS in all its glory in the near future.

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Tags: mercedes, mercedes cls, mercedes cls-class, mercedes-benz, Mercedes-Benz CLS, mercedes-benz cls-class

North Korean Luxury Tastes Likely to Change under Successor

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style, Luxury Shopping

Obviously, much about North Korea, and especially Kim Jong-il, is left to the realm of speculation. It's hard enough to know what's going on inside the secretive country, especially given the risks of relying too heavily on defector testimony, and the Dear Leader tends to insulate himself from the outside world. There are rumors, of course, that he has a taste for Cuban cigars and upscale spirits, but confirmation is notoriously difficult to attain.

Nonetheless, it seems the man loves to spend. It's said that 20 percent of North Korea's budget goes to support his lifestyle, including the Omega watches he wears.. In a fit of generosity, he set up top officials with newly imported 160 Mercedes-Benz sedans.

According to a defector (so take it with a grain of salt):

The defector says Kim Jong-il was impressed when Chinese diplomats knew to his tastes: "During his visit to China in 2005, Kim Jong-il was delighted to see bottles of Perrier that Chinese officials had prepared for him and asked his aides how the Chinese knew he liked Perrier."

Questions about Kim Jong-il's health have led to an increased focus on his likely successor, son Kim Jong-un. Not much is known about him ... except the fact that he likes to kick around in Nikes. One can only expect his tastes to mature when his old man dies and the kid ascends to the top spot.

Gallery: Arirang Mass Games Preparation in North Korea

[photo by yeowatzup via Flickr]

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Tags: dprk, kim jong il, Kim Jong Il - North Korea - World Leader, kim jong un, Kim Jong-Il, kim jong-un, mercedes, mercedes-benz, north korea, perrier

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Ends Production

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Hoping to get your hands on a Mercedes-Benz CLS? You may have to wait a little while, but when the wait is over, it should be worth it. Because the current model has ceased production in anticipation of its successor.

The pioneer of the four-door coupe body-style that his since spawned everything from the Volkswagen Passat CC to the Aston Martin Rapide has been in production since 2004. At the Paris auto salon next month, however, Mercedes is expected to unveil the all-new model, drawing its inspiration from the F800 Style and CLS Shooting Break concepts.

The last of the current-generation models, a CLS 550 with AMG sport package, is being delivered to an American customer.

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Tags: cls, cls-class, mercedes, mercedes cls, mercedes cls-class, mercedes-benz, Mercedes-Benz CLS, mercedes-benz cls-class

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 Chromed by Laureus

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Chrome has its place on the automobile, arguably more than anywhere else. But within reason, we'd assert. Yet owners of Mercedes-Benz automobiles – the top-shelf performance models, especially – have exhibited a unique tenacity for covering their entire cars in the stuff. Whether it's the Mercedes-powered McLaren grand prix cars or the SLRs in Dubai, chrome seems to have a unique way of spreading across the German vehicles. And the latest comes straight from the Father Land itself.

A promotional tool for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, this latest SLS GT3 race car was dipped in the shiny stuff and put on display at the recent German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring, "mirroring" the finish on the foundation's sponsored DTM C-Class touring car. The organization, supported by Mercedes-Benz, promotes athletics as a solution for youth issues.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 chromed by Laureus