A Connecticut native was able to bring home a brand new Mercedes C230, which costs around $30,000, for only shelling out $100 from his pocket.

Family man Eric Helsel of Essex got the bargain of his life after winning a luxury C-class Mercedes Benz sports sedan in a charity raffle meant to help lupus patients. Helsel was awarded with his new Mercedes Benz at the Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in Washington, D.C.

“Winning was a great surprise and the raffle was for such a good cause,” said Helsel, who lives in Ivoryton with his family.

The 2007 Mercedes Benz C230 takes pride in its beefed Benz parts: a 2.5-liter V6 24-valve engine that can produce up to 201 horsepower.

Now on its 10th year, the Lupus Foundation of America of the Greater Washington Chapter sponsors this annual car raffles. After running for a successful decade, this charitable event, where raffle tickets cost only a hundred dollar or $175 for two tickets, has already raised more than $20,000 for the nonprofit’s education and support programs and operations. Aside from raising money, the organization also aims to increase awareness of this disease among health professionals and the public.

“We congratulate the raffle winners, but are so thankful to everyone who bought a ticket because they have enabled us to continue offering important programs for lupus patients here in the D.C. area,” said LFAGW President and CEO Penelope C. Fletcher.

Impairing more than 1.6 millions Americans, Lupus is an autoimmune disease according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Moreover, a big number of the alarming demographic is primarily women of color. This deadly disease causes the immune system to create antibodies which will eventually attack healthy tissues such as the skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain.

The BLUETEC emission control will no longer be solely utilized by light, medium, and heavy duty trucks as the luxury brand Mercedes Benz has equipped its passenger cars with the same environment-friendly technology.

A cleaner and a fewer emissions have been achieved by the upgraded version of the sedan Mercedes Benz E300 after the BLUETEC was installed in its exhaust system. To date, the three-pointed star’s improved passenger car is the first non-heavy transport vehicle to be geared with such innovation. This four-door Mercedes Benz has a 3.0-liter V6 engine and has already performed better than expected as it registered only burning 7.3 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers. Not only does the BLUETEC limits the fuel used by the engine, but this technology has also helped reduce the harmful gases like nitrogen oxide and lower the Mercedes Benz E300 emission to safer and environment-friendly level.

Moreover, the BLUETEC complements the other remarkable Mercedes Benz exhaust parts such as the oxidation catalytic converter and SCR catalytic converter, in reducing noxious emissions or gases before these are released into the air.

Aside from the Mercedes Benz E300’s new parts, its transmission gearbox is also capable of an impressive 0 to100 mph in just under seven seconds. Moreover, the Mercedes Benz E300’s speed can shoot up the ceiling with 240 mph.

In the crusade of reducing harmful gases that can aggravate more the global warming condition, the BLUETEC will go full-blast in the exhaust systems of the heavy transport industry’s vehicles by January.

One of the below one hundred grand offerings of the luxury brand Mercedes Benz is the Mercedes Benz CL500 priced at £79,652. This model in the C-class line, however, does not only boast of being a less expensive car, but can also take pride in the high-performing Mercedes Benz parts equipped in it.

Compared to the other CL model with has only a five-liter engine, the Mercedes Benz CL500 has an additional .5 liter equipped in its V8 engine. Speeding up will not be a problem for the CL500 as a seven-speed automatic transmission gearbox was equipped which also allows it to achieve a 0 to 62 mph in just a matter of 5.5 seconds. With this acceleration ability of the CL500, one would not think that this model is actually the least-powered in the Mercedes CL line.

Aside from the powerful interior system, this big-wheeled CL500 has also a fine-looking cabin of premium beige leather trim, dark suede headlining, and black wood and chrome detailing. These colors and materials further make the CL500 more luxurious. Moreover, this four-adult seater Mercedes Benz was manufactured with 20-inch wheels for a stronger but sleek look. To aid CL500 users during nighttime driving or during an adverse weather condition, this coupe Mercedes Benz has been equipped with the “intelligent” bi-xenon headlights. Optimum road visibility is guaranteed with this top-caliber Mercedes Benz parts.

The Mercedes Benz CL500 is truly a great find with quality automotive parts with a less price tag. The CL600 and the full AMG version are the two other models in the three-pointed stars’ CL line.

Cashing out more than a hundred thousand dollars for a car does not stop there as an expensive automobile equals a higher price for insurance.

This is the primary factor for the car insurance tag price. The luxury brand Mercedes Benz is considered to be one of the top-priced cars that needs as much insurance. About $135,400 is being cashed out on a 2007 Mercedes Benz SL model because of its top-caliber Mercedes Benz parts. With that base market price, $22,536 will be the corresponding insurance policy. With the expensive automotive parts and accessories, and workforce used for this brand, it is only good to safeguard these with much care. Annually, pricey car owners have to pay 20 percent of the original amount of the car. Paying on a monthly basis, however, could mean spending more on the insurance that on the car itself.

“The cost of the vehicle is primary when setting the price of a policy,” said David Wurster, president of Vincentric, a Detroit-based automotive data firm that studies car insurance costs. Vincentric gets its data from state agencies and averages these figures in compiling its list of most expensive yearly rates. “But there’s also the type of vehicle it is. Sports car owners tend to drive them a little more aggressively.”

Auto insurance companies across the United States, however, have varying factors to consider in naming the insurance price. State Farm, which is the largest U.S.-based autos insurer, has two priorities for giving the insurance tag. For starters, the insurance company will look into the the manufacturer’s suggested retail price and then go about computing on the repair cost of each model. Since luxury brands like Mercedes Benz utilizes more costly parts, the insurance policy becomes higher too.

With the leading car insurance looking into the make, the second-largest U.S.-based insurance called Allstate has a couple of different factors considered. First is that the insurance company puts more weight on the policyholder’s driving record. The policyholder with more chances of wrecking an expensive car will surely pay more. The second important factor for Allstate in giving the insurance quota is the age of the user.

“If there are two drivers with the same car, the driver with accident histories will have a higher rate. He’s shown himself to be a higher risk,” said spokesman Raleigh Floyd. “On the other hand, a 17-year-old driver is going to be more expensive to insure than a 40-year-old with a family because experience counts a lot.”

The three-pointed stars owners will not likely worry about the pricey insurance policy because these people are those that are capable of shelling out big amounts after all.

“For people of that caliber,” said a salesman at Mercedes-Benz Manhattan, “the cost of insurance really isn’t an issue.”

People are talking about the highly anticipated  Frankfurt Auto Show. Mercedes-Benz as one of the participants, will have one of the biggest presentations at the event, showcasing no less than 18 new models and concepts cars, and the underlying theme for the show will be its new green initiative.

One of the concepts it has planned will be a ‘radical’ proposal for a large luxury car labeled the F700. Though this doesn’t sound very green, the concept will feature Mercedes’ new 1.8L turbocharged DiesOtto engine. The tiny motor is said to deliver an amazing 238hp and 295ft-lb. of torque, while returning fuel consumption of around 39 mpg in a large S-class saloon.

Other cars planned for the show include the new C-Class estate, more Bluetec diesel cars and the automaker’s new electric hybrid range.

The DiesOtto engine incorporates the benefits of a diesel engine, but runs on regular old unleaded. The engine uses direct injection, variable compression, turbocharging and something MB calls “controlled auto ignition” to deliver 238 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, with a claimed return of “less than 6 liters per 100 kilometers”, which translates to 39.2 mpg.

BLUETEC technology on the other hand, is an advanced diesel technology that represents a superior drive concept with the benefits of high performance, economical fuel consumption, long range and the lowest emissions.

BLUETEC ensures that diesel drives will continue to offer outstanding driving pleasure in the future, especially in the U.S. What’s more, in view of continually rising fuel prices.

Reports have come out that Mercedes-Benz  confirmed the availability of the S 63 AMG saloon in Australian showrooms this September.

Mercedes teams up with AMG to produce the  6.2-liter V8 engine and incorporate it with the award-winning S-Class.

“The S 63 AMG is the perfect offer for customers seeking a dynamic and sporting drive without sacrificing any of the luxury the three-pointed star is famous for,” said Horst von Sanden, managing director for the Mercedes Car Group in Australia. “Adding this new high-performance model to Australian showrooms is the result of high customer demand in Australia for both the award-winning S-Class and the exciting range of Mercedes-AMG vehicles. The success of the range-leading S-Class is well established and I am delighted to be able to offer our customers even greater choice with the new S 63 AMG,” concluded von Sanden.

Australian customer interest’s in the precision engineered high-performance Mercedes-AMG range has surged even further since the release of the new ‘63’ series last year, as reported.

With this latest model, memorable driving is guaranteed by the 100 percent AMG-developed 6.2-liter V8-engine, which produces a peak power output figure of 386 kilowatts at 6,800 rpm and 630 Newton meters of torque at 5200 rpm. This amazing AMG power unit has a higher specific output and specific torque than any other series-produced naturally aspirated eight-cylinder engine in the world.

Performance is equally impressive: the S 63 AMG is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, with a maximum speed electronically limited to 250 km/h. This unique engine design  combines high engine speed and large displacement to achieve the best of both worlds: exhilarating high-revving flexibility accompanied by high pulling power at low engine speeds.

Due to the success of  2004 Tag Heuer SLR watch, Tag Heuer will follow it up with the new TAG Heuer SLR for Mercedes-Benz.

The new 2007 TAG Heuer SLR for Mercedes-Benz comes in a limited edition of 3,500 pieces. The new edition of the Chronograph has captured some of the most distinctive design elements of the latest version of the SLR, the famous SLR 722 edition powered by a 650HP engine and reaching 337 km/h: the painted exposed black carbon front spoiler and palladium-grey wheels rim spider have inspired the titanium-carbide black tachymeter bezel, while the red SLR lettering and red-painted brake calipers are echoed by the red painted hands.

The SLR’s innovative tradition continues with push buttons inclined at 45° which was inspired by the paddle shifter of the SLR car. This  gives unparalleled ergonomic access to the chronograph function even while driving. The internal turning bezel is bi-directional, driven by a second crown at 9 o’clock that allows the driver to measure elapsed or remaining racing time. The exterior fixed bezel is finished in black fine-brushed titanium carbide with engraved tachymeter scale for calculating speeds.

Aimed at watch making connoisseurs and car racing fans, the new TAG Heuer SLR for Mercedes-Benz blends pure performance with the avant-garde. Its unique race car features, coupled with easy-to-read hands, spiral-effect dial, and a powerful steel bracelet or rubber strap that mirrors the SLR side grill, enhance its racing legitimacy.

Reports have come out that spy photos of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class during hot-weather testing in the U.S. were released.

It’s still several years off, but the redesigned E-Class has been in the works for some time now. Various test mules have revealed subtle changes that should give this midsize luxury sedan from Mercedes-Benz a more dramatic look than the current model.

Up front, the headlights will change from their current oval shape in favor of a squared-off look. It’s bound to be one of this sedan’s more noticeable changes as the rest of the new design will incorporate subtle variations that are harder to spot. Minor changes to the current beltline and shape of the greenhouse should further distance this sedan from its predecessor. Revised taillights should give it a new look from behind, too, but we couldn’t verify the shapes used in this illustration so we’ll have to wait to see how accurate the artist’s conception is when the car sheds more of its camouflage.

The E-Class dates back to the 19th century and the beginning of Mercedes. The lineage became more distinct after World War II when the prewar 170 sedan reentered production. The stout 170 had been Mercedes’ most popular model before the war, but the design dated all the way back to 1936. By 1946 its upright stance, separate fenders and running boards and chassis were archaic. It’s the 170’s replacement, the first modern Mercedes, which started the company on the path toward today’s E-Class.

Car critics now have an idea regarding the replacement of the SLR McLaren with a glimpse of the Mercedes-Benz SLC prototype. Some describe it having features of an AMG-style wheel and a Dodge Viper rear bumper.

Critics say that every piece of sheetmetal has been swiped from the Viper, including the side sills, which still have outlets for the brutal Dodge’s side pipes, despite the mule’s rear-mounted exhausts.

The Mercedes-Benz SLC will follow directly in the grand-touring footsteps of the SLR; there will be no mid-mounted engine here. The small greenhouse means that max occupancy for the car likely will be two.

The new SLC has a wheelbase that is almost identical to that of the SLR McLaren at 106. The SLC, however, will be a totally AMG-developed effort, as evidenced by the all-Affalterbachian engineering team. This should not be a surprise, given that Mercedes and McLaren parted ways earlier this year. Mercedes is going it alone on the smaller and lighter SLC, reportedly with a turbocharged version of the 6.2-liter V-8.

There also has been some reports that the SLC will share parts with the future SL Black Series, with engineering help from German motorsports specialist, HWA AG, which Mercedes bought in 1999.

Critics hope to see the SLC at the 2008 Geneva auto show with production in 2009.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class station wagon is becoming very popular as the deliveries of the upper-range station wagon have increased by 14 percent to 16,700 units since the beginning of this year. Approximately 185,000 customers have opted for the E-Class station wagon since the model’s market launch in March 2003. The primary selling points of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class station wagon are its elegance, comfort, and cargo volume of up to 1,950 liters.

The vehicle offers innovative safety technologies such as PRE-SAFE and the optional Intelligent Light System. Records show that around three quarters of all Mercedes-Benz E-Class station wagon customers drive one of the four diesel variants. The most popular engine version for the upper-range Mercedes-Benz station wagon is the E 220 CDI, which is chosen by approximately 30 percent of customers.

The diesel variants are extremely popular for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class station wagon as well, with more than two thirds of all customers worldwide choosing this option. Approximately 40 percent of customers have opted for the C 220 CDI engine. Since the debut of the first Mercedes-Benz station wagon in 1946, a total of 1.6 million Mercedes-Benz station wagons have been sold throughout the world. In fact, there is a total of 550,000 units of the current Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Mercedes-Benz E-Class station wagons that have been delivered to customers since their market launch. In 2007, more than half of the C- and E-Class station wagons were delivered by Mercedes-Benz went to customers in Germany. The second most important market for the Mercedes-Benz station wagons is the UK, followed by Japan.