Fun Rocking

2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

Along with reports that Mercedes-Benz is stepping up its U.S. diesel presence in a big way comes news that the company is also expanding its hybrid fleet. According to Automotive News, the Silver Arrow is looking to introduce hybridized versions of the company’s C-, E- and S-Class vehicles in just three years. The move is an effort to prepare for ever tightening fuel-economy legislation in both the U.S. and Europe. The report says that European buyers can expect to see the battery-operated C- and E-Class vehicles show up in Europe in 2013 and that a plug-in S-Class hybrid will debut shortly thereafter.

American buyers, meanwhile, will likely see the tech arrive in showrooms six months after their European cousins. According to Herbert Kohler, the company’s head of E-Drive and future mobility, Mercedes-Benz is currently spending half of its $5.6 billion research and development budget on investigating alternative powertrains.

Combined with a heavier diesel mix, the hybrids will go a long way toward upping the Mercedes-Benz corporate average fuel economy.

Images of the new Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class leaked on the internet

Being a loyal Mercedes-Benz fan, I was eagerly awaiting for the debut of the successor of the CLS-Class. My wait has been cut short by the recent images of the new Mercedes-Benz CLS Class which have been leaked on the internet. One look at the images of the four door coupe, and I was left mesmerized. As the pictures suggest, the new CLS has retained its predecessor’s unique profile, but is updated with design cues from the Shooting Break concept. The 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. Sure to be the ride of the future, this luxe coupe is truly a class apart.

Expect more updates on this beauty as and when Mercedes-Benz unveils this car officially.

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 999 Red Gold Dream is a shiny eye-sore worth $4.35 million

When you think of Mercedes-Benz, you automatically think of unmatched style and class. Unfortunately, I had to set my eyes on this atrocity that they call the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 999 Red Gold Dream. I’ve got to say that it’s about as far away from class and style as you can get. Swiss designer Ueli Anliker has made a blunder out of this design and he wasted 30,000 man hours and around $4,35 million on doing so. The 24k gold festooned SLR looks like it has received the ugly Midas’ Touch. There is a little bit too much shimmer and shine here with all the gold that even makes its way into the exterior paint job. The SLR McLaren 999 Red Gold Dream made its first appearance at the Swiss tuning show, Auto Emotionen in the city of Berne. It has the unmistakable signs of garish meeting luxury.

Silver Arrow concept watch unlocks the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG super car

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG super car has been the inspiration behind many designs. Now this super car has inspired French designer Fabien Cacheux to design the Silver Arrow concept watch. Part of the designers GT series, this watch features a central tourbillon, power reserve, machined titanium casing and a neoprene strap while the tachometer needle has a three star-shaped emblem that reflects the brand. What is more, the bracelet of the watch again evokes the beauty of the super car by opening and closing like the car’s gullwing doors. What is more, the watch features two buttons (Open / Close) surrounding the crown that can open and close the car remotely. The sleek timepiece would make for the perfect accessory for the SLS AMG owner.

Until this concept watch becomes a reality however, owners of the super car will have to make do with other luxury timepieces.

Mercedes Benz to showcase concept car spotting sliding rear doors

Mercedes Benz eludes style, charisma, speed and comfort, all at ones. And given just before the big Motor Show at Geneva, the car giants have unveiled images of their latest concept car. Touted to be the sedan of the future, the F800 Style research vehicle has rear doors with a sliding mechanism. And thanks to a swivel arm design, the car does not spot any door rails on the outside, giving it a clan look when the doors are shut. Moreover, the sedan is much wider in comparison to the others, making it more comfortably spacious inside. The car will come with a plug-in hybrid or fuel cell drive propulsion for better efficiency. And to finish off the look, the car will have a translucent roof allowing more light to the wood-finished interior.

Mercedes-Benz SLS E-Cell

As electrifying as the gull-winged Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG may be, it still won’t compare to the lightning storm that’s brewing in the SLS E-Cell. It’s a battery-electric version of the supercar and will be powered by four motors, one on each corner of the car, giving it a total of 526 horses of electric power. Each pair of motors will be integrated in the front and rear axles, effectively making this an all-wheel drive car. The batteries are strategically located in the car for balance and proper cooling while the car’s bodywork has been revamped for better aerodynamic qualities. The color will be AMG Lumilectric Mango and will be repugnant to some but adorable to others. It’s expected to go on sale sometime in 2013.

The looks is somewhat retro to the 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL; specially the Gullwing doors, and the sharp roof. It also catches some design cues of the 2010 Mercedes SL. Inside, the SLS AMG gets a besboquie supercar-like interior. Weighing in at around 1600 kilograms, the new SLS AMG is powered by a natrually-aspirated 6.3L AMG V8, which now produces 571 hp and 480 lb-ft of troque, which goes to the rear-wheels through an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed automatic transmission. 60 mph happens in just 3.7 seconds, and electronically-limited top speed is 200 mph. However, because the hand-built 6.3L is actaully very refind, the SLS AMG achieves 21 mpg fuel-economy on combined roads. Handling claims is supported by a 50/50 weight disturbotion, and a 3-stage ESP program like all new AMGs. Sales will start in spring 2010, with prices in Germany start at 177,000 euros.Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division is planning another stand-alone sports car as a follow up to the new 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing. The model would be a smaller V8 coupe that will compete with the likes of the Porsche 911.

As of right now, Mercedes-Benz is focused on a successful launch for the SLS AMG, the company’s first ever stand-alone model. That means the smaller V8 model is at least five years away. A rear-engined configuration has been eliminated as since it would be out of step with the AMG values.

Power for the baby SLS will come from a new V8 with a displacement capacity of somewhere between 5.8L or 6.2L with direct injection and cylinder cut-off technology.