Mercedes-Benz Faqs

Will Mercedes Ever Buy Out McLaren?

tonks — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:28:26 +0000

McLaren first began a partnership with Mercedes in 1955 and worked well together. However, rumors have surfaced over the pasts few years that Mercedes has been trying to buy out McLaren. Mercedes currently hold 40% equity stake in the company.

Mercedes has always brushed off the rumors - but in the back of our minds we have been waiting for it to happen. After all McLaren has been saying the complete opposite.

McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh has been speaking with the International Herald-Tribune (the overseas edition of The New York Times), Whitmarsh said “I would be deeply disturbed if Mercedes had no real interest in acquiring us. I think it’s a tangible demonstration of their commitment to this”.

So who do we believe in this twisted tale of fate? The buyer or seller? Only time will tell and time could be running out for McLaren.

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Prepare For Turbocharged Engines By 2010

tonks — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:31:48 +0000

Thomas Weber - the head of Daimler AG’s development and research for Mercedes - stated the plans that they have to offer turbocharged engine for their entire line-up. Their deadline for this goal is 2010.

Unlike Mercedes-Benz’s current supercharged engines, these turbocharged motors won’t be built in the name of performance, but rather to meet upcoming emission standards. Not only does the automaker have to worry about the new CAFE mandate in the U.S., but also new legislation in Europe that will require Daimler to cut its average fleet emissions by 33 percent by 2012.

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Mercedes Proudly Shows Off SL65 AMG Black Edition

tonks — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:11:35 +0000

Mercedes is proud of their new SL65 AMG Black Edition - which is said to be the most powerful car that they have produced under the AMG name. The car has been equipped with a Bi-Turbo 6.0 V12 engine that can be pushed to 670 horsepower and 1000 Nm of torque.

This engine gives it the ability to reach a top speed of 199 mph and can push it from 0-62 in only 3.9 seconds.

It also comes equipped with a high performance brake system and a sports tuned suspension. The suspension allows for the tuning of ride height and several other features of the suspension.

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2009 G55 AMG Revealed

tonks — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:52:23 +0000

Mercedes has revealed the new 2009 Mercedes G 55 AMG – which features a 5.5 liter V8 engine that can push out 507 horsepower, new 19” allow wheels, and a re-modified grille. The power on the new SUV has been given a boost and the electronic stability program is also new and a more powerful control unit.

Inside, the G55 AMG gets latest generation telematics equipment, optional heated and cooled seats, and standard designo leather upholstery. Mercedes has not released new G55 AMG fuel economy figures, but we anticipate the tank-like SUV to achieve no better than 11 mpg city and 13 mpg highway the current G55 AMG is rated for.

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SL65 AMG Black Edition Spotted At Nurburgring

tonks — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:29:07 +0000

We are excited to hear that Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Edition will be using the twin turbo 6.0 liter V12 engine. It is full of power and has the ability to push out 670 horsepower and 738 pound-ft. of torque. When you add that with the 570 pounds that have been taken off you have to be pretty amazed at all of the damage that this Benz can do.

Spy footage caught the camouflaged SL65 driving down the Nurburgring, and the few seconds of action caught on tape shows that the battle for ‘Ring supremacy is far from over. The SL65 is shown taking corners at speed and sounding like a jet aircraft. The GT-R may be grabbing the ‘Ring headlines now, but it looks like the Germans are preparing to defend their home turf, and in a big way. Look out, Godzilla. Hit the read link below to view the video.

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Mercedes-Benz Takes Over Pacifica Design Center

tonks — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:47:19 +0000

The Chrysler Pacifica Advance Design Center opened its doors in 1983 and is famous for creating the designs for the Plymouth Prowler, Jeep Compass, Doge Challenger concept (pictured above), and the Dodge Intrepid concept. This year we were sad to see it close down. However, that might not have been the end of them.

Mercedes-Benz will bring it back to life as they move their design studio from its current 13,000 square foot location in Irvine, to the larger 35,000 square foot former Chrysler location in Carlsbad, California. While both parties have confirmed the pending sale, terms and move-in dates have not been released.

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Replacement SLR McLaren Expected In 2010

tonks — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:47:09 +0000

Mercedes is preparing to pave the way for a replacement to the SLR McLaren. The car will officially be terminated in 2009 due to its unpopularity among consumers. According to the rumors they are planning on building the new McLaren at the Woking, England facility. It will be powered by a V8 550 horsepower engine that will be built by Mahle. Mercedes stated that the new car will be competing with the Ferrari F430. For now there is no official name – but it has been codenamed the P11.

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500,000th SLK Roadster Delivered

tonks — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:13:19 +0000

Mercedes has reached new heights as the 500,000th SLK compact roadster was delivered since its release in 1996. Over 310,000 consumers chose the model directly from the first generation. When the successor of the SLK was released in March of 2004 it sold over 190,000 units.

“With the launch of the SLK in 1996, Mercedes-Benz successfully established the premium segment for compact roadsters. Thanks to innovative technology such as the vario-roof and the neck-level heating system AIRSCARF, the SLK has long been recognized as a cult car of modern times,” expains Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President Mercedes-Benz Cars, responsible for Sales and Marketing. “The new-generation SLK models, which we are delivering to customers since April 2008, are sportier than ever. I’m confident that the dynamic looks and performance of the new SLK will again set pulses racing among sports cars enthusiasts around the world.”

The new generation SLK is one of the more unique cars that we have seen from Mercedes. The design gives the car a sporty edge to it with the promise that it will provide us with the power that we crave. Mercedes changed up the interior by giving it a three-spoke steering wheel and a new combination instrument panel. The engine has also been modified with more power – but less gas to consume. The total horsepower that it can punch out is now 305.

If desired, the SLK is also available with the newly developed direct-steer system and new-generation audio and telematics features. Like its predecessor, the latest SLK is manufactured in the Mercedes-Benz Bremen plant, the brand’s center of excellence for its open-top vehicles.

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Next-Gen AMG To Introduce Hybrids

tonks — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:48:23 +0000

Mercedes is batting down the hatches and preparing to balance low emissions with a high output for the next generation AMG. In other words we will see less displacement, more turbo, and even some hybrids. Shocked? So were we when we first heard.

Mercedes will be throwing out the 6.2 liter V8 engine and introducing the new 5.0 liter, twin turbo, V8 which will be designed to push out 570 horsepower and 665 pound-ft of torque. The output is said to hit 700 horsepower and 885 pound-ft of torque instead of the 612 horsepower V12 mil.

Forced induction is only part of the equation, as AMG is looking to a new hybrid-equipped V8, dubbed BluePower, that will either come with the X-Trac Flybrid system or a 100-hp electric motor integrated into the transmission. There’s also talk that AMG will be releasing its own plug-in hybrid by 2012 and that diesels will continue to become an important part of the brand.

The other issue with which AMG has to contend is Mercedes’ own turbocharged offerings. Future M-Bs will be sporting turbo’d V8s displacing 4.0-, 4.6- and 5.5-liters, with outputs ranging from 355 to 544 hp. And what of the upcoming AMG supercar? Car says that the gullwing super coupe, codenamed C197, will debut in March of 2010 and be powered by the same 6.2-liter V8 (likely the last application of that engine) while sending all that energy through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

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Mercedes Teams Up With Aston Martin

tonks — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:42:29 +0000

For a few weeks now we have heard that Mercedes and Aston Martin would be working with each other to create a new kind of car. Something that would surprise us and take the auto world by storm. This week we have received news that they have officially partnered up.

Mercedes and Aston Martin have partnered together to create cars that will be given brand new technology and a whole new platform that both of their designs have created. Because of this new partnership we won’t be surprised to see Mercedes buying a stake in Aston Martin.

In reality this partnership is something that we are looking forward to and was a smart plan for the two automakers. Aston Martin will once again need to rely on someone to help purchase all of their major car components from the usual mainstream suppliers once they are through working with Ford.

Also we can only imagine the kind of car that would be generated after combining a powerful Mercedes engine into a sleek Aston Martin framework. Who better to help Mercedes create the classic and powerful cars once they sever ties with McLaren than to join forces with one of the best supercar manufacturers. In fact we have heard rumors that Mercedes is planning on using Aston Martin’s expertise to create a lightweight aluminum platform for the next SL generation.

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