Autocar, the leading weekly automotive magazine in UK, has awarded the European automaker Mercedes-Benz with the “safety and Technology” award because of its revolutionary DIESOTTO drive system.

During the award ceremony in London, the editor of Autocar, Chas Hallet, said that the DIESOTTO concept of Mercedes-Benz was an impressive leading-edge technology. It has a high degree of practicability and it can assure a bright future for both the car enthusiasts and the industry of automotives.

The success of the DIESOTTO engine is due to its combination with a hybrid module which is present in the Mercedes-Benz F700. This system shows that a large touring saloon is still capable of returning a fuel consumption figure of just 5.3 liters per 100 kilometers. This means that there is a decrease in carbon dioxide emission but it does not compromise performance. An example of this is the four-cylinder drive system which has a two-stage turbocharging that’s fitted in the Mercedes-Benz F700. It still provides the same level of performance like that of the existing S-Class that is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 naturally-aspirated petrol engine.

Johannes Fritz, the Director for Sales and Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East and Levant, said, “The DIESOTTO concept shows how, in the medium term, a petrol engine can be made just as efficient as its diesel counterpart and how the internal combustion engine will remain a key drive concept when it comes to meeting private-transport requirements.”

The European New Car Assessment Program crash tests has performed a series of crash tests and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class had been lucky enough to bag five stars from this European organization. NCAP has even recognized the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon as one of the safest cars available in the auto market today.

Having five stars from NCAP confirmed the safety concept that is behind the C-Class success. This model has been optimized based on the analysis of real-life accidents. As such, it naturally performs significantly well in the standardized rating crash tests. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class actually deserves the five-star rating it got from NCAP as it is equipped with a lot of safety equipment. These safety equipment include seatbelt tensioners, belt-force limiters, seven airbags, and NECK PRO crash-responsive head restraints that come as standard on the model. With all these installed, there’s no doubt the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has the ability to offer the highest possible passenger protection in the event of a collision or any road accident. Even the structure to which the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been designed ensure that the forces of the impact of the collision are distributed over a wide area and on four independently acting impact levels. This only means that the passenger cell can remain mostly unharmed.

One would also be happy to drive this around and feel completely safe as almost 70 percent of its bodywork panels are made from only the state-of-the-art and high quality strength steel alloys. However, this doesn’t mean that the model is heavy to drive around as these steel alloys reduce weight and maximize safety. Of course, as these steel alloys are strong and durable, they also provide great protection to passengers from side collisions.

The safety systems that are incorporated into the Mercedes-Benz C-Class are based on the concept of the German automaker which are already tried and tested. This systems emphasizes on accident avoidance and anticipatory occupant protection.

Aside from the safety equipment incorporated in the model, there are other systems integrated in the model. These systems include the standard-fit ESP and Brake Assist which will gladly be of help to drivers in critical moments to keep them in control of the vehicle. Furthermore, the Brake Assist provide pedestrian protection as well as it reduces accidents that involve pedestrians.

All these safety systems and equipment make the Mercedes-Benz C-Class worthy of the five-star rating it got from the European NCAP organization.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles, because of the luxury and elegance they exude, may be too expensive for the budget-conscious car enthusiast. However, the German automaker wants to prove the people tagging its vehicles as expensive wrong. Mercedes-Benz has decided to release the Mercedes ride for the budget-conscious, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport Sedan. But don’t get them wrong, even though its base price costs only around $31,200, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport Sedan is still equipped with luxuries uniquely Mercedes-Benz.

When you drive this around your city, you’ll surely get amazed and astonished stares from bystanders, leaving their mouths wide open. This is because the exterior of this model is accentuated by rock-solid slabs of steel making up its flanks. It’s great looks are also from the model’s great looking black roof linings making it stand out amongst vehicles of its kind. You can also carry around more baggage as its trunk is enormous but not in an awkward way.

Once you’re inside, you’ll surely get all excited of all the luxuries this Benz ride has. It is equipped with an eight-way and power-adjustable front seats, there’s a “tunnel mode” button which allows you to close all windows with just one touch of a button, and there are aluminum trims on the console. Of course, there’s a sunroof for that extra sun glow when you feel like it. You also get a sun sensor which adjusts the temperature. There’s also a 5-color display which is easy to read. And of course, since the MP3 and Bluetooth technology have found their way in vehicles, these are available in the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport Sedan as well.

Mercedes-Benz has been known for many years now as a producer of vehicles that are among the finest and most luxurious cars in the market. However, as much as the German automaker wants to produce luxurious vehicles, it has to first pass the soon-to-be-really-strict EU Commission standards on carbon dioxide emissions. EU Commission will soon limit the carbon dioxide emissions to 120 grams per kilometer staring 2012. But it also said that automakers will be allowed to trade carbon dioxide credits between themselves.

This means that the automakers of large and powerful vehicles can reach the 120-gram limit by buying credits from smaller and more economical vehicles.

The automakers will have to pay for the carbon dioxide credits in order to make up for the shortfall. Or they can pay the fines charged on the companies that were not able to reach the 120-gram limit.

EU Commission said in a document, “In order to provide flexibility for manufacturers, manufacturers may agree to form a pool on an open, transparent and non-discriminatory basis for the purposes of meeting their targets under this proposal.”

In the event that the automakers form a pool, they have a greater chance of meeting the carbon limit if of course, the emissions of the members of the pool do not exceed the target.

This will be good for the German automaker as this will mean Mercedes-Benz can produce luxury vehicles that are also economical and environment-friendly.

AMG is the German automaker’s in-house tuner division and for the 2008 model year, Mercedes-Benz decided to update its S-Class sedan models. The result is the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, a big and fast sedan. It may be big but those who’ve taken it out for a test drive are saying that even though they were already going 75mph, it felt as though 45mph.

Of course, as it has been tuned by AMG, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG features a lot of electronics such as a stereo system with a great audio quality and a nice navigation display. Aside from that, would-be owners of this Mercedes-Benz beauty will be able to experience a unique relaxation brought by the massage seats feature of the model.

There’s also the presence of the speech recognition system. This recognition system speaks with a clear and pleasant female voice. The speech recognition guides the driver on how to use the navigation system and the navigation system. Another luxury of this model is its Bluetooth telephone system.

Owners of this Mercedes-Benz model can also enjoy the car’s adaptive cruise control. When this system is activated, the S63 AMG will use its radar to follow the car in front of it so that it could match its speed. At the same time, it will also drive safely by maintaining a safe driving distance and operating its own accelerator and brakes. But of course, drivers should still keep their hands on the steering wheel for more control.

A Night Assist Vision has also been installed in the 2008 S63 AMG to help drivers with driving during the night. It makes use of a night vision camera which provides drivers with a nicely illuminated image of what’s ahead of their car. This feature is really helpful as its video would show much more of the road ahead than what they will see on their windshield.

The powertrain under the hood is impressive as well. AMG equipped it with a 6.3-liter V8 engine with its cylinders coated in a special finish in order to reduce friction. This engine is capable of 518 horsepower and is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission that’s been tuned to allow faster shifts. This engine allows the driver to speed up from 0-60mph in a matter of 4.5 seconds. But even though it’s that quick to reach that speed, drivers will not feel body roll as the model makes use of tires that make a pleasant singing sound when on the road.

The EPA recorded the fuel economy of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and it showed the car is capable of only 11 miles per gallon in the city and 17 mpg on the highway.

Carlsson is the famous tuner for Mercedes-Benz is now offering a complete tuning package which will emphasize the modern features of the M-Class. The performance of the CD 32 based on the ML 320 CDI will increase to 269bhp along with a potent torque and as this has a touch of luxury, this vehicle will have fine figures both in the rural and urban areas.

Drivers of the ML 320 CDI will be happy to know that this vehicle is also capable of maximum 612Nm torque power at 1800 revolutions per minute.

Carlsson has also equipped this Mercedes-Benz vehicle with equipment for safety and reliability. There are correction maps to guarantee that the reserves of the engine will only be used when the temperature of the engine is in the safe operating zone. There is also the straight-forward installation of the supplementary control unit and this is possible with the use of the Carlsson’s adapter system. it will help customers avoid long waiting times. This has a plug and play capability so installing it is easy and it can also be rebuilt if necessary.

Carlsson’s complete tuning package also includes stainless steel silencers. These steel silencers have twin oval tailpipes each. These four tailpipes make the rear view of the vehicle look aggressive and because they were designed to be silencers, they give out a sonorous, impressive, sporty sound. Not only that as these silencers have also been optimized in terms of gas conduction and exhaust back pressure compared with the standard version. This means that these silencers also contribute to the increased performance and torque of the vehicle. The design of the tailpipes also provide them with great advantage as they are thermally insulated and doubled wall. Again, aside from that, they are optimized in terms of the flow of air so drivers can expect a decrease in external dirt.

Carlsson offers C-Tronic Suspension which lowers the center of gravity of the vehicle by up to 40mm. This is an electronic lowering system and as it lowers the vehicle, the car will look more like a sports car and drivers can expect better handling. The front profile of the vehicle is also reduced which will result to higher top speed and better fuel economy.

With regards to exterior appearance, Carlsson offers front spoiler and the lip on the rear skirt which has the Carlsson ‘diffuser look.’

Carlsson offers its 1/11 Evo Brilliant Edition wheels. This set of wheels provide vehicles with technical benefits such as it is as light as possible. The ML-Class has the 11-spoke wheel 1/11 Evo BE option with dimensions of 11×22 with Dunlop SP Sport 9000 285/30 R22 tires.

For the vehicle’s interior, Carlsson only made use of the very best materials. The Alcantara eather used make the vehicle’s cabin inviting and pleasant to look at and be in. The steering wheel has been made ergonomic so the driver can be sure he can control the car in a pleasant way. The pedals have been covered with aluminum so the interior also has a sporty touch.

The new Mercedes-Benz 2009 GLK is scheduled to be unveiled at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show and after which it will have its movie screen debut in he upcoming Sex and the City movie. But before the 2008 Detroit Auto Shoe debut, the production staff of the Sex and the City movie issued a pre-debut call time and so this small Mercedes-Benz sports utility vehicle was spotted by a lucky few.

Tagged as the smallest sports utility vehicle, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GLK was caught filming in Beverly Hills just last weekend. Its pre-unveiling made way to confirm some of its rumored specifications and styling. This small SUV share the same chassis to that of the compact C-Class sedan. Because of that, it has some similarities with regards to the wheelbase and the overall length with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. This also puts the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GLK in line with the other vehicles of its kind like the Land Rover LR2 and the BMW X3.

The powertrain that’s said to be hiding underneath its hood is a powerful 3.5-liter Mercedes V6 engine capable of producing 270 horsepower. This engine is coupled with an all-wheel-drive system and mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission.

These are the only given specifications for now but car enthusiasts waiting for the full details of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GLK won’t have to wait too long. The 2008 Detroit Auto Show is slated to occur on the week of January 13. So, they’ll just have to count barely a month before they are provided with the full information on this smallest Mercedes SUV.

The Mercedes-Benz R-Class vehicles make use of the sophisticated chassis found in the M-Class, which are composed of mainly off-road vehicles. the R280 CDI is disguised as a rear-wheel drive vehicle but it actually makes use of the 4Matic four-wheel drive which is already available on the R320 CDI and the R500. Because of the combination of the chassis and the 4Matic four-wheel drive system, the driver can be rest assured that he will be able to make it through the most unfavorable weather conditions. Aside from all these, the R-Class can also have a better road performance thanks to its optional air suspension setup. Plus, another great factor is that this air suspension setup lows for a Sport mode. The available powerplants in the Mercedes-Benz R-Class are V6 diesel engine and the 5.5-liter V8 petrol which can produce 288bhp and can hit 60mph in a matter of 6.3 seconds.

Today, the R-Class is available in the conventional five-seat setup and there’s a seven-seat setup available as well. All the models in the R-Class except for the base R280 CDI, there’s an option for a long-wheelbase and the simple trims available are the SE or the Sport. If one wants to have a more stylish R-Class vehicle, he can opt to get the AMG body styling kit and 18-inch alloy wheels.

What really makes the Mercedes-Benz R-Class stand out is its spacious interior as it can seat seven adults and some of their cargo or luggage. Aside from that, there’s an 869-liter boot where they can load their luggage.

A new generation of all-wheel-drive 4Matic is being offered by the 4Matic models in the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class. This new generation aims to improve efficiency, reduce weight, and have a more compact design. The advantages brought by this new generation of all-wheel-drive 4Matic are even more evident on the traction and fuel efficiency. The traction has become better and the fuel consumption has become more efficient with up to 0.5 liters per 100 kilometers. And all of these 4Matic models are mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission box as their standard gearbox.

This 4Matic is made permanently, so the driver is assisted at al times when he is driving under unfavorable weather conditions like rain, ice, or snow. The centerpiece of the all-wheel-drive system is the transfer case it uses which has a center differential and this is incorporated into the standard seven-speed automatic transmission.

High-torque six-cylinder engines are available to be used for the 4Matic models in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class model range. And for the first time, a diesel engine is made available. The Mercedes-Benz models which have this permanent all-wheel-drive system include the C 280, C 350 and C 320 CDI models and the C 320 CDI is available with 4MATIC as an estate.

The new C350 4Matic consumes about 10.0 to 10.3 liters of premium petrol per 100 kilometers with its 272 hp six-cylinder engine. This means that it is .3 liters more economical than the model it replaced. And the C280 4Matic models can sve up to .5liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. Meanwhile, the new C320 CDI 4Matic is able to produce 224 hp and is saloon version can consume between 7.7 and 8.0 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.

Mercedes-Benz has always been known to provide car enthusiasts with only luxury and comfort when it comes to its cars and so the German automaker is continuing on with that tradition. Its new offer for 2008 is the Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI, a sports utility vehicle which gets more than 21 miles per gallon, thanks to its diesel engine. Another great thing about this SUV is that is costs less to operate than other luxury SUVs of other automakers. Of course, as Mercedes-Benz made it for off-road performance, it is just natural for them to equip it with an adjustable suspension and off-road mode. These will make the SUV possible to be used of rough terrain.

This new Mercedes-Benz sports utility vehicle has a capacity of seating seven people in its cabin and a lot of cargo. But even so it’s a sports utility vehicle, its mileage matches that of the midsize sedan. This SUV is equipped with the interior luxuries of the German automaker and its performance is great but still has a notable fuel economy.

The interior design of this SUV is designed like the usual refinement of Mercedes-Benz. This is evident in its gauges and switchgears. With regards to the audio system used, Mercedes-Benz has decided to upgrade it to the Harmon-Kardon Logic7 stereo.

The Mercedes-Benz GL320 makes use of a 3.0-liter diesel engine. With this engine, the SUV can cover an average of 21.2 miles per gallon. This means that EPA’s estimate of 18 miles per gallon in the city and 21 mpg in the highway is correct.

Its 3.0-liter diesel engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission complete with a manual-selection mode which can be activated by buttons found at the back of the steering-wheel spokes. Also, it makes use of 4Matic all-wheel-drive system.