With rising concerns from environmentalists and green peace advocates, fuel efficiency and lesser greenhouse gas emissions are becoming bigger concerns for car makers. Mercedes Benz takes these factors into account as they get ready to debut a new model this coming spring. The Mercedes Benz C-class Blue Efficiency promises to incorporate a worldlier outlook for the brand.

 
The Mercedes Benz C-class Blue Efficiency takes the typical Benz engine features to a whole new level. These sedans will sport light weight materials, paired with air intake enhancements that will cut fuel consumption. The Mercedes Benz C-class Blue Efficiency will be at around 42 to 71 pounds lighter than previous C-class sedans. The weight reduction was made possible through the use of lighter windshield material, lighter insulation materials and aerodynamically forged aluminum wheels. The ride height is reduced by 15 millimeters allowing lesser wind resistance for the car. New extrinsic designs for the headlamps, grilles, and the hood lower the car’s drag by 7 percent. Other new features include a smoother pan, a variable radiator, as well as re-shaped mirror casings. It also comes equipped with Michelin tires that decrease rolling resistance by 17 percent.

 
The Mercedes Benz C-class Blue Efficiency has higher drive ratios and a automated gearshift display that informs the driver when he has to gear up or gear down. This feature will effectively decrease fuel consumption by 15 percent.

 
Here are some specs and stats for the three models:

 
The Mercedes Benz C-class Blue Efficiency C200 has a 134-horsepower, 2.2 liter four-cylinder diesel engine. The sedan will run 100 kilometers for 5.1 liters of diesel (This is said to be 10% less than the standard C-class sedan).

 
The Mercedes Benz C-class Blue Efficiency C180 Kompressor sports a robust 154units of horsepower, powered by a 1.6 liter four cylinder gasoline engine. It travels 100 kilometers for 6.5 liters of gas. This is 12 percent less that its predecessors.

 
Finally, the C350 boasts a 288 horsepower engine powered by a 3.5 liter tank of direct-injection gasoline. It will travel a 100 kilometers for 8.4 liters of gas.

These three vehicles will be making their debut at the Geneva Show this coming spring. Mercedes aficionados are already counting the days.

The Retromobile is the most prestigious classic car auction in Europe.  Car enthusiasts and collectors around the globe gather at Paris, France for this annual event. The event was a huge success, as it reeled in an amazing 9,789,958 Euros. This marked a 40% increase in sales compared to its previous years.

The event sold 78 classic vehicles including a 1929 Bugatti, 1973 Porsche, 1936 Mercedes Benz 500K Cabriolet and a 1926 Rolls-Royce which was pre-owned by Barbara Streisand.

However, the show was stolen by the Mercedes Benz S 1928. The Mercedes, which is regarded by some as the greatest sports car of the pre-war era, recorded the most expensive selling price at 2.3 million Euros or $3.5.

Jacques Saoutchik, one of the renowned coachbuilders in Paris, patterned the vehicle’s bodywork. Most prominent of which are the torpedo bodies, designed with a 680 chassis that gave the vehicle its sports car persona. The vehicle used light- weight materials to maximize the speed capacities of its 6.8 litre engine.  Later models of this class were used in Grand Prix racing.

Bonham’s, the organizers of the event, are making a strong plea to be a dominant player in the classic car auction market.  Apart from their annual Retromobile auctions in Europe, they also hold auction events in Scottsdale, Arizona. The success of the event will only add to their current prominence in the classic car auction market.

Sources:

Christie’s

GreatCars

SuperCars 

TopSpeed 

To keep motorists and enthusiast interested on the CLS-Class, Mercedes-Benz did some slight modifications on its 2009 CLS63 AMG model that focused more on two aspects: performance and design, according to Dan Barile, who is the spokesperson of Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG sports car underwent a series of tweaking, which included installing of new Mercedes-Benz parts, that meant to boost the overall sound, speed, and look of the car. For starters, a new muffler was installed to give the vehicle a more empowered and smooth rumbling sound at the rear. Its original seven-speed automatic gear box is now improved as it is equipped with an additional function that offsets the throttle when the driver shifts down or steps on the brake pedal. This feature also boosts the braking capabilities of the performance car that is especially needed when slowing or stopping down along sharp and sudden corners. For its intricate power plant, the revamped Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG is also equipped with a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that is capable of producing up to 514-horsepower and 465-pound-feet of torque. Such engine fused with the improved transmission system allows the Mercedes-Benz sports car to accelerate from zero to 62 miles per hour (mph) in 4.5 seconds and to achieve a ceiling speed of 155 mph.

In terms of the design, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 now sports a jet-black radiator grille with a couple of horizontal and vertical-slats laden frame as a start. A set of 19-inch light alloy wheels with three spokes to boot and a lustrous finish is also part of the exterior changes. A carefully chosen and matched AMG body kits included the front and rear aprons, cold air intakes, and side skits completed the exterior. Inside, the performance car now has an AMG sport steering wheel with three spokes.

“Understated but masterly” is what best describes the modifications done on the 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG, according to the German company. The new features of this CLS-Class model further gave that extra edge to the brand and the line.

Source: Edmunds.

Mercedes-Benz is truly beyond just a luxury car brand as it pocketed the Environment Grand Prize for its innovative DIESOTTO engine at the 23rd Festival Automobile International held at the Les Invalides Hotel in Paris last February 6.

The coveted award proved that the German automaker is competent to design and to produce critical car technologies that are geared toward the wellness of the environment. Mercedes-Benz successfully fused its high performing Mercedes-Benz parts with the green benefits of the DIESOTTO engine and that made such product worthy of the top prize of the festival. The Environment Grand Prize was accepted by Professor Peter Pfeiffer, who is the head of design for the company, and Reinhardt Lyhs, who is the president of Mercedes-Benz France. Seasoned Formula-1 champ Alain Prost and former Le Point editor-in-chief Franz-Olivier Giesbert were the presenters of the title.

Mercedes-Benz’ creation of the DIESOTTO engine has the integration of a V6 petrol engine that boasts of power and responsiveness and a diesel power plant that burns fuel efficiently minus the noxious exhaust emissions. Moreover, turbo charging, variable compression ratio, and direct fuel injection are also part of the engine system. Such features allow the production of 238-horsepower and 20-horsepower, when in hybrid mode. A huge chunk of the usual Nitrogen oxide emission is also removed courtesy of the engine and its closed-loop catalytic converter. These remarkable benefits are made possible because of the precision-engineered four-cylinder DIESOTTO power plant.

“The DIESOTTO concept provides an important basis for the future of the internal combustion engine. It assures personal mobility into the future and demonstrates the great innovative strength of the automobile industry,” the jury at the Festival Automobile International said.

According to Pfeiffer, Mercedes-Benz, along with Daimler and Smart ForTwo, is in continues pursuit of improving the performance of its vehicles so that its products will all be equipped with the necessities that could be crucial to meet the future automobile requirements.

Source: Daimler via Auto Spectator.

Mercedes-Benz started the year right on track. Providing the right momentum for the company’s new fiscal year is its Mercedes-Benz Cars division that posted a 16 percent increase last month.

Last January, Mercedes-Benz’ worldwide sales went up a few notches and sold a total number of 90, 400 vehicles compared to only 77, 000 units in January of 2007. The Mercedes-Benz AG alone sold a total of 82, 300 cars last month from only 73, 500 units last year.

Among its best-sellers, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class bagged the top spot for January’s sales. It amassed 26, 800 cars from its station wagon and modified sedan vehicles. The units sold last month was doubled from the previous record of only 13, 400 vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz’ compact cars A-Class and B-Class, on the other hand, had a decent first month for 2008 as the combined units sold equaled to a three percent increase or 17, 000 vehicles worldwide from the previous record of 16, 500.

In the company’s homeland, the luxury brand went up to 13 percent or 15, 500 cars from 13, 700 of January 2007.Outside Germany, which includes Italy and U.K., pocketed a decent 12 percent or 27, 900 from 24, 900 units last year.

Mercedes-Benz’ micro-car Smart ForTwo was not left behind as its sales jumped to 8, 000 across the globe. From only 3, 400 units in January 2007, the diminutive car, which has a capacity of only two adult passengers, received a good reception from motorists as the total units sold actually doubled. Complementing such feat in the Smart ForTwo line is the launch of this model into the U.S. market last month.

The Daimler-produced automaker has truly established its momentum with its more than successful first month for this year.

Source: Market Watch.

Mercedes-Benz is an automobile maker known for its luxury line. Aside from the high-end cars of the German company, it also has the AMG (AMG or Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach), which is Mercedes’ performance line. The automaker, however, believes that its AMG has a rather small following in the United States compared to its luxury line. For that, Mercedes-Benz is pushing for an awareness campaign across the U.S. to strengthen its performance-geared cars in the market.

The company is going to establish the AMG Performance Centers in America. These facilities will center on advertising campaigns as well as AMG performance cars display. For starters, Mercedes-Benz picked seven dealerships in Florida, New York, and California. Before the year closes, however, the automaker aims to get about 80 percent or its top 30 dealers in the U.S. to join the said project. According to the company, it will shoulder the expenses for setting up AMG areas in each of its dealers. Moreover, it will also finance the training of service personnel for the AMG Performance Centers. Lastly, fund road shows, which will go to different towns, that will showcase the wide array of limited AMG cars, like the Black Series.

Source: Autoblog.

The City of Ann Arbor in Michigan houses to a lot of establishments and that include the technical center of Mercedes-Benz’ called the Research Park Drive. Last week, the planning department for review received a good number of projects and among this is from the German car company’s plan of expansion of the said facility.

As a way to further strengthen its global presence, automakers make sure to have research centers as well as manufacturing plants in different countries. The German automaker Mercedes-Benz for one is all set to develop its Michigan-based technical center Research Park Drive according to the company’s Research and Development North America Inc.

Located in Ann Arbor City, Mercedes-Benz’ 20, 821-square-foot Research Park Drive is slated to have three more buildings soon. A 6, 663-square-foot space building will be added in the company’s facility. The expansion will also house the testing centers for its popular micro car Smart ForTwo Cars, which started its initial retail this February. Completing the expansion is the auto emissions lab that is undergoing its renovation. This lab is allocated for more office space as well as function as a storage area for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

The additional facilities, which cost $5 million, will help carry out Mercedes-Benz’ plans of developing a line especially for the U.S. market. According to the company, four of its product engineers from Germany will head on to this new facility when finished to carry out the plan.

The Ann Arbor-based Mercedes-Benz Research Park Drive is among the two facilities of the company. Another research and development center is in Long Beach, California.

Source: Mlive.