Pope Benedict XVI will be presenting itself in a stylish way before the 40,000 pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square. This stylish way is the PopeMobile, an open-top Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The development of this PopeMobile took two years and the Vatican had also been consulted and now it has been delivered to the Pope himself.

This particular Mercedes-Benz model has actually been requested by the Catholic Church so that they’ll have something to use when the weather is fine. So, Mercedes-Benz started developing the PopeMobile suing the basis of the G 500. It has a folding windscreen and hand rails and is painted in the Vatican mystic white finish. As white seems to be the color of the Vatican, the interior is also white and it can be accessed through steps lined in red at the rear.

The PopeMobile is actually already a long-time tradition between the Vatican and the German automaker. It was Pope Pius XI who first received the Mercedes-Benz as the official car way back in 1930. This Mercedes-Benz model was the Nürburg 460 Pullman limousine. After which, Mercedes continued on supplying the Vatican with vehicles that were especially-designed for the Vatican. Other models that today’s Pope can use are the new G 500 Cabriolet, M and S-Class models equipped with special protection.   

Mercedes-Benz is really being friends with the environment. And it is evident in its latest addition to its line of environment friendly cars, the Mercedes-Benz E340 Bluetec. This new Mercedes Benz model comes equipped with a powertrain that has four cylinder fuel economy. The automaker has also designed it to have the cleanest burning diesel engine. It is being said that the  engine of the E340 Bluetec has four valves per cylinder, third generation CDI direct injection, centrally located piezo-electric injectors, exhaust gas recirculation, and a turbocharger with nozzle turbine.

Central to the E340 Bluetec is a new 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine which is capable of producing 210 horsepower and a torque of 388 pound-feet. This engine is the one which replaced the in-line six cylinder found in the E320 CDI previously.

This new Mercedes-Benz model will be depending on a new type of low sulfur diesel fuel. This type is actually being more widely available in the United States. The purpose for using that type of fuel is to obviously help in decreasing the harmful emissions coming out of a car and harming the environment. Sulfur is also known to rapidly corrode an engine and so the use of the low sulfur type of fuel also helps maintain the engine.

Other than using this type of fuel, Mercedes-Benz has also developed an exhaust system that utilizes four after treatment units. In order to do these, the exhaust system of this Mercedes-Benz model includes an oxidizing catalytic converter, a particulate filter, an advanced denox storage converter, and an SCR catalytic converter.

Because of this comprehensive exhaust system and with the use of the low sulfur diesel fuel type, no one can deny that the Mercedes-Benz E340 Bluetec model is clearly one of the cleanest burning vehicles of this time.

2010 will also see the launch of another Mercedes-Benz vehicle, this time for is range of heavy trucks, the Mercedes-Benz Actros. From the pictures that have been released, you can definitely tell that Mercedes-Benz has made a lot of advanced developments in its heavy truck range. Also, the launch of the Mercedes-Benz Actros is advanced as it is well ahead of the deadline for the Euro-6 engine emissions.

The cabs that have been redesigned by the German automaker evidently show that Mercedes is bringing the Axor/Actros range again into a single family of narrow-cabbed and full-width products by using the similar styling. A much smoother appearance and a better aerodynamic design replaced the current generation’s look of the truck – square boxy shape. With them redesigned, the trucks now look more like the Volvo FH Series.

The narrow-cabbed version which has black ‘disguise panels’ will be replacing the Axor and it will definitely address the issues that the current range is facing right now. The dimensions of the cab are now longer. With that, there’s an improved bunk and living space for the driver. The mirror arrangement had been enhanced as well.

New roof line, new door panel have been designed for the range of full-width cabs. It will also have a high roof and a near-flat floor for a comfortable in-cab living. It also has a flash dash layout, the instrument panel has a slight curve.

The powertrain equipped in the new range of heavy trucks will be the Daimler heavy-duty engine platform. This engine platform was launched jus last month for US application and the versions that will be made available in Europe are the 10.6, 12.8 and 14.8-liter engines. The narrow-cabbed versions of the heavy truck will likely have the smallest engine and the full-width cabs will have the 12.8 and 14.8-liter engines.

Mercedes-Benz is certainly on to making the “futuristic” look real. For years, the automaker has been working on its hottest project to date which it calls W197. This is the automaker’s newest sports car and you will be very happy to know that it has been equipped with gullwings for its doors.

However, those eager to check out this spicy Mercedes beauty will have to wait for another tow or three years as this gullwingwed-Benz is scheduled to debut in 2010. Mercedes Benz is expecting and hoping that this addition to its sports car line up will also be successful as the legendary 300 SL. The 300 SL is actually its predecessor. But as of now, you can only content yourself with pictures of this new two-seater.

Mercedes Benz will have this sports car assembled at its Mercedes plant in Sindelfingen. But it will still be the AMG in Affalterback which will look over the car’s development. And Mercedes Benz will be selling 3000 to 5000 units of its gullwinged sports car a year.

This new model will have components that are similar to the future SL but its difference lies in its length as it is shorter by a few centimeters than the SL. Other similarities to the former gullwing include the tubular frame and he rear-wheel drive. However, this new Mercedes Benz gullwing will have a V8 engine capable of maximum power output of 620 horsepower.

Mercedes Benz has still not thought of name to call this new gullwinged sports car and with the price, you can expect it will be around $250,000.