Mercedes Benz Database

2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 4 Matic Coupe Machine Review

2012-10-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: The Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic coupe is a sleek and smart execution of the modern luxury coupe. The looks inside and out are sharp with an appropriate amount of shiny jewelry, the stance is confident and I like the long hood fronted by the upright grille. It all has character, and it’s a dramatic improvement compared with the curvy styling of just a few years back.

I’m impressed with the sound and potency of this V6. It’s strong on the expressway and returns a refined yet sporty performance feeling. The one thing I hate: this car—and other Mercedes—has a tremendous lag from launch. It’s hesitation. It makes this machine feel slower than it is. And it’s annoying. It undermines an otherwise sterling engine and seven-speed automatic combination.

The cabin is quiet. The soaring, see-through roof makes for a majestic atmosphere, and the four-seat layout looks and feels athletic. I love the dials in the instrument cluster, and the materials and dark colors present well. The chassis is comfortable, and even stark road imperfections don’t really upset this coupe. It’s big but not floaty or barge-like. I found little difference between sport mode, which is activated via a button in the center console, and eco mode, which is the default setting. The E350, fortified with 4Matic, makes for a brisk, fun personal luxury car.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR DAVID ARNOUTS: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 4 Matic Coupe, I had just spent a night in an Audi A5 coupe and thought this would be a good matchup considering price and style of the two cars.

Even with less power than the Benz, and a lower price tag, I preferred the A5 to this E350. It’s not that I would reproof the E350, because it is a good car, but in danger of sounding snobbish, the E feels like an “entry-level” Benz.

Compared to the Audi A5, the Benz is better equipped from the start, and that is a given. It may be my previous run-ins with the upper-level Mercedes that leaves me wanting so much more from this car.

Inside the cabin, it has the familiar continuity of other classes like the CL we had not that long ago, just without the options or controls. The fit and finish and appearance is of good quality; while it may be “cheap” in the Benz universe, it hardly appears that way.

Operating the interface for all the techno-gadgetry does take some experience and time if you haven’t been in a late-model Mercedes as of late.

There are great things here, including the navigation with 3D modeling of structures, as well as traffic indication with the classic look of the old AM radio interface for the satellite radio and big silver dial to control it all.

The seats are firm and once settled-in become more comfortable than initial impressions led me to believe. The backseat looks usable, and the panoramic sunroof helps to make the coupe feel cavernous when looking back. There is even a nifty privacy screen for the back window. At first I thought it to be a bit ostentatious on a $53,425 car, but after driving both with and without, I relented to wanting it.

The exterior looks more angular and aggressive than previous iterations, and the updated front-end with daytime LED’s sits quite well on the car.

The coupe version appears to be a sedan without the back doors and just doesn’t wear the coupe style as well as the A5.

Criticism aside, this is still a Mercedes-Benz. When you can swim in this pond you are assured a minimum level of quality that Mercedes wouldn’t let out the door without their approval and that is a fine thing indeed.

Is it the best Mercedes has to offer? Absolutely not. But if you are on a budget that is higher than most, and lower than some while dying to have the three-pointed star in your garage, the E350 may just be what you are looking for.

2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 4 Matic Coupe Price

Base Price: $53,175
As-Tested Price: $53,425
Drivetrain: 3.5-liter V6; AWD, seven-speed automatic
Output: 302 hp @ 6,200 rpm, 273 lb-ft @ 3,500-5,250 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,619 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 22/21.1 mpg
Options: R01 High-performance tires ($250)

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2013 limo Overview: Engine Specs and Features

2012-06-23T11:47:00.001-07:00

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class will continue the limousine’s tradition of world-first innovations, with features that include a braking airbag that can help slow the vehicle before an impact, rear seatbelt airbags, and an intelligent suspension that can read the road surface ahead.

The German car maker’s flagship vehicle isn’t due to go on sale until 2013, but CarAdvice has uncovered many of its secrets through well-informed company insiders.

“Historically the S-Class has been a tech de force in the car industry and we don’t want to lose that,” a Mercedes-Benz source told CarAdvice. “There is a lot of pressure on the vehicle’s engineers [to make groundbreaking innovations that work].”

That history of vehicle production debuts for the S-Class includes anti-lock brakes (ABS) in 1978, driver airbag and seatbelt tension (1981), electronic stability control (1995), active suspension (1999), crash-anticipatory system (2002), and night vision technology (2005).

Mercedes-Benz has so many new features on the new S-Class that it will roll-out details of the new technologies over a six-month period from towards the end of the year until its mid-2013 launch.

Some features are derived from the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ESF Experimental Safety Vehicle concept, which was based on a current, S400 version of the S-Class and was conceived as a test-bed for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2013 generation model.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2013 limo Overview

Key features of Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2013 limo will include the following:

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2013 Braking Bag

The braking bag featured on the ESV concept and will go into production on the new S-Class as one of the headline-making technologies.

The airbag is incorporated into the vehicle floor underneath the front bumper and is deployed if sensors detect an imminent, unavoidable impact.

It lifts the S-Class’s nose to serve two useful purposes: to increase friction with the road surface to reduce the car’s impact speed as well as creating a more optimal impact point that would otherwise be affected by the car pitching forward under braking.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2013 Magic Body Control

Mercedes is starting to employ the word ‘Magic’ as a more engaging nomenclature for some of its most sophisticated technological features. It was first used on the latest-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster, where an optional roof called Magic Sky Roof could go from shaded to transparent at the touch of the button through the simple but clever manipulation of magnetised particles.

Magic Body Control is an advanced evolution of the Active Body Control suspension found on current Mercedes models such as the outgoing S-Class and related CL coupe.

But where Active Body Control uses hydraulic pistons on the vehicle’s coil springs to ‘react’ to the road surface, Magic Body Control will proactively prepare the suspension for lumps and bumps by ‘reading’ the road ahead via a camera mounted at the top of the windscreen. The camera can scan the road about five to 14 metres ahead, picking up irregularities as small as half an inch.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2013 Seatbelt airbags

A further development of one of the most important life-saving features ever introduced to cars – seatbelts – the Mercedes-Benz S-Class will feature restraining lashes with airbags that inflate in the event of a crash.

The seatbelt airbags, which have been developed in conjunction with seatbelt specialist Autoliv, almost doubles in width to distribute crash forces over a wider area of the upper body to reduce injury potential.

The Belt Bag is said to be particularly effective in the rear seats, and of most benefit to older occupants whose ribcages are less flexible, though CarAdvice understands the driver and front passenger will also have the seatbelt airbags. Such airbags are being developed by other makers, though, including Ford, which will fit them to its next-generation Mondeo medium car also due in 2013.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2013 Inverting seats

Mercedes-Benz engineers are also working on special front seats for the S-Class that will automatically pivot inwards towards the centre of the car in the event of a side impact. This safety feature is designed to further limit the chances of serious injury in a side impact, working in conjunction with side airbags.

The inverting seats may not make into initial production, however, as engineers are still working on the challenge of creating sufficiently strong seating mounts.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2013 AMG versions

The next Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG performance limo – the model captured in minimal disguise in our spy photos – will adopt AMG’s 5.5-litre twin-turbocharged V8, with more power than previously seen in other models – so expect in excess of 400kW and 800Nm.

That power will be sent to all four wheels rather than just the rears – with the S63 AMG becoming the first all-wheel-drive S-Class to ever be sold in Australia.

A 100kg reduction in the car’s mass will also aid significantly improved performance.

The S65 AMG, however, will remain the most powerful S-Class, sticking with a V12 engine. Insiders say Mercedes is keen to drop the V12 but that global customer demand for the engine is just too strong

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2013 Efficiency

The most economical Mercedes-Benz S-Class currently is the S350 Bluetec diesel that has a combined rating of 7.0L/100km. The next-generation S-Class range, however, will feature one model that will have Toyota Prius hybrid-like fuel economy of less than 4.0 litres per 100km. This will be a truly staggering figure for a vehicle that weighs about two tonnes.Convertible

While there will be an ultimate S-Class called the Pullman to compensate for the loss of Daimler’s Rolls-Royce-rivalling brand Maybach, Mercedes will also venture even further into the open-air limousine territory touched upon by the Maybach Laundelet with an S-Class convertible.

Source : caradvice.com

Mercedes GLK350 4Matic Review

2012-06-22T05:22:00.001-07:00

The Mercedes-Benz GLK has been redesigned for the 2013 model year, with bolder exterior styling, a dramatically restyled interior, and crisp driving dynamics.

The redesign for 2013 involves nearly 1,000 new parts that include bolder front and rear bumpers, new headlights and a more graceful front grille. Inside, the new dash features eyecatching burl walnut trim that now spans the entire width of the cabin as well as shift controls relocated to the steering column.

New Engine, Transmission and Electromechanical Steering

Smaller and lighter than its well-known SUV siblings, the 2013-model GLK is also equipped with a new direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 engine with 302 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque, an innovative ECO Start/Stop system, a more fuel-efficient seven-speed automatic transmission with Direct Select and electromechanical steering. A fuel-sipping four-cylinder diesel model, the GLK250 BlueTEC, will arrive early next year.

New Safety Features

A number of innovative Mercedes-Benz safety features are available for the first time on the GLK, including standard ATTENTION ASSIST and optional DISTRONIC PLUS with PRE-SAFE Brake, Active Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist. The new electrically assisted steering also makes possible optional Active Parking Assist.

ATTENTION ASSIST Cautions "Time For A Rest?"

Falling asleep at the wheel causes more than 100,000 accidents a year in the U.S., and the ATTENTION ASSIST system can alert drivers to the first signs of drowsiness. Now standard equipment on the 2013 GLK, a steering sensor is coupled to smart software that uses 70 parameters to establish a unique driver profile during the first 20 minutes of driving.

Between 50 and 112 mph, the system identifies the erratic steering corrections drivers make as they begin to get drowsy and triggers an audible warning, and a "Time for a rest?" message with a coffee cup icon appears in the instrument cluster. ATTENTION ASSIST is a great example of new technology that doesn't need to be expensive to save lives.

Blind Spot Assist

A new option for the 2013-model GLK, Blind Spot Assist uses dedicated radar sensors to monitor both blind spots behind the vehicle. Whenever a turn signal is activated with a vehicle in the blind spot, the driver gets visual and audible warnings. A separate option, Active Blind Spot Assist incorporates an intervention feature, in which ESP braking automatically helps correct the car's course if the driver doesn't heed the initial warning.

Lane Keeping Assist

Another new option, Lane Keeping Assist makes use of a special computer to analyze images from a multi-purpose camera in the windshield to recognize lane markings. This system alerts the driver by simulating rumble strip vibrations in the steering wheel if the car drifts from its lane without the turn signals on. A separate option, Active Lane Keeping Assist (as well as Active Blind Spot Assist) incorporates an intervention feature, in which ESP braking automatically helps correct the car's course if the driver doesn't heed the initial warning.

Adaptive Highbeam Assist

Also new for 2013, Adaptive Highbeam Assist uses a windshield-mounted camera to control the vertical tilt of both the low- and high-beam headlights. The system is engaged by turning the headlight switch to "Auto" and turning on the high beam setting. Whenever there are no other vehicles in front, the high beams come on automatically, with the lights increasing gradually rather than suddenly. Since drivers no longer have to think about controlling the high beams, Adaptive Highbeam Assist makes it safer and easier to drive in the dark.

DISTRONIC PLUS with PRE-SAFE® Brake

For the first time on the GLK, an optional DISTRONIC PLUS adaptive cruise control system uses radar sensors to help maintain a pre-set following distance behind the vehicle ahead. The system can actually brake the car to a full stop and accelerate it again. DISTRONIC PLUS works at speeds up to 125 mph and can be especially helpful in stop-and-go traffic.

Short-range 24-gigahertz radar sweeps the first 66 yards in a fan-shaped 60-degree pattern, working in tandem with a narrower 18-degree beam of 77-gigahertz radar. The two radar frequencies complement each other to cover a full range of more than 220 yards - longer than two football fields.

All cars equipped with the optional radar-based DISTRONIC PLUS system reap the benefit of another revolutionary Mercedes-Benz safety feature - PRE-SAFE® Brake. To reduce accident severity, the latest version of PRE-SAFE Brake applies full braking automatically in emergencies.

When PRE-SAFE Brake senses an impending collision with the help of DISTRONIC PLUS, the system sounds three warning tones. About 1.6 seconds before impact is likely, partial braking is automatically initiated, and PRE-SAFE occupant protection measures are activated. If the driver still fails to react, full-power braking is initiated 0.6 seconds before the collision, reducing the impact and effectively acting as an "electronic crumple zone."

PARKTRONIC

Also optional, PARKTRONIC uses six ultra-sound sensors in the front bumper and four in the rear bumper to detect obstacles in the system's field of view. The system provides audible warnings and displays the proximity of obstacles using bar graph displays - one on the center dashboard for the front and another for the rear that's visible in the rear-view mirror.

Active Parking Assist

The new electro-mechanical steering assist helps make the GLK a very dynamic SUV, and also makes possible Advanced Parking Assist, which works with PARKTRONIC to provide stress-free parallel parking. Below about 20 mph, a "P" icon appears in the dash to show that an electronic parking space search is active. Whenever a parking space is found that's at least one meter (39.4 inches) longer than the car, an arrow appears next to the "P" icon. When reverse is engaged and the driver confirms Advance Parking Assist is desired, the system initiates automatic steering as the driver controls acceleration and braking at speeds below 7 mph. The system can provide up to five corrections, after which the wheels are straightened.

If the car is parked using Active Parking Assist, the system can also provide a helpful automatic exit feature. When "D" or "R" is engaged, the car asks whether the driver wants automatic exiting. If the driver says "yes," the system steers automatically to exit the parking space, while the driver controls the accelerator and brake.

Mid-Size Member of the Mercedes-Benz SUV Family

Classed as a mid-size SUV, the GLK is a key member of the successful Mercedes-Benz SUV family that includes the full-size M-Class, which spurred the trend toward more car-like SUVs, as well as the larger GL-Class and the rough-and-tough G-Class. The Mercedes-Benz GLK is just the right size for today's active couple, whether they're making a cross-country trip or running errands across town.

The Right Size for Today's Active Couple

About 10 inches shorter than the M-Class, the GLK is also a few inches shorter than its primary competition - the Acura RDX, Infiniti EX and Lexus RX as well as European models such as the BMW X3 and the Land Rover LR2. At first glance, the GLK appears to be a smaller version of the GL, but a closer look reveals a modern interpretation of the iconic G-Class. In sharp contrast to the relatively soft forms of other similar vehicles, the striking, angular nose of the GLK sets it apart from the competition. From its steeply raked windshield to the integrated rear spoiler on its tightly styled roof section, the bullish shape of the GLK suggests power and agility.

One of the Most Fuel-Efficient Mercedes-Benz Vehicles Ever

Following its 2009 debut in the small sport-utility category, the new GLK became one of the most fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz vehicles ever produced, and it's also the most agile member of the Mercedes SUV family. With available 4MATIC full-time four-wheel drive and respectable ground clearance for off-road driving, its optional integrated running boards, roof rack and skid plates emphasize the versatile SUV character of the GLK.

Agility and Comfort

Smaller and lighter than its well-known SUV siblings, the Mercedes-Benz GLK brings a special combination of agility and comfort to the SUV market. Like nearly all Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, the GLK features four-wheel independent suspension worthy of a sports sedan.

Standard Agility Control suspension provides the benefits of both soft and stiff shock absorbers. Each twin-tube shock absorber is fitted with a hydraulic by-pass piston that acts like a very soft shock absorber to effectively dampen road noise and tire vibration. However, over bumpy or uneven roads, the by-pass piston is out of the picture, preserving the outstanding steering and handling response of a stiffer shock absorber.

iPhone 4S and Siri's Voice Integrated on Mercedes-Benz New A-Class

2012-02-28T14:40:00.000-08:00

At next month's Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes will show off the next A-Class and with it, its updated COMAND infotainment system. The user interface has undergone a complete overhaul, ditching the black and beige color scheme for a sharp, modern, three-dimensional design and a range of new features and functions, nearly all of which are centered on the iPhone 4S.

More intriguingly, Mercedes is the first automaker to support and integrate Apple's Siri voice-recognition technology, allowing users to make appointments, send text messages and emails, get weather status and access all their songs through voice commands.

While all these features will be limited to the Euro-only A-Class at first, Mercedes says that the iPhone-integrated COMAND Online suite of services will be coming to the B-, C- and E-Class models this fall. Hit the jump for the full details.Continue reading Mercedes-Benz integrates iPhone, Siri into all-new A-Class

Mercedes-Benz integrates iPhone, Siri into all-new A-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:45:00 EST.

Apple has often been called, for better and sometimes for worse, the luxury automobile of personal computers. Now it seems that metaphor has influenced reality as Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to integrate the iPhone and Siri's voice control functions into its new A-Class vehicle, according to a PSFK report.

iPhone 4S Features on Mercedes-Benz new A-Class

The Mercedes-Benz new A-Class vehicle will seamlessly merge iPhone 4S functions into the car's in-vehicle display via Daimler's Digital DriveStyle App and COMAND Online multimedia system. While docked in the car, the iPhone 4S will receive an automatic charge and offer access to the device's content as well as social networking applications, including Facebook and Twitter.

The new Digital DriveStyle app allows drivers to stream AUPEO! radio (Europe's equivalent to Pandora), connect with Facebook and Twitter to read out status updates, find your car in a crowded parking lot and get real-time traffic data and point-of-interest searches through a new Garmin navigation system. All of which is available with the entry-level "Audio 20" setup.

But the biggest win here for Apple is the fact that Mercedes-Benz is the first carmaker to offer Siri as a part of its voice control systems. Using Siri, drivers will be able to send SMS text messages and emails while traveling, check location and weather, schedule appointments on-the-go, as well as select from the full menu of music available on their iPhone 4S. This hands-free, mobile control of a device that many consider their primary computer gives us our first real glimpse at what traveling with a virtual assistant feels like.

2013 Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG Specs

2012-02-22T08:05:00.000-08:00

2013 Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG

2013 Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG Specs

For the 2013 SL63 AMG, the engine in question is the M157 mill also found in several other recent AMG models. It is a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8 tuned in the SL63 to produce 530 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The engine will rocket the SL63 to 60 mph in a claimed 4.2 seconds, with top speed electronically restrained to 155 mph. If buyers select the AMG Performance package, output rises to 550 hp and 664 lb-ft, reducing the 0-to-60-mph time to 4.1 seconds and nudging the speed limiter up to 186 mph.

The regular SL550, by contrast, makes do with a twin-turbo 4.5-liter V-8 with 429 hp, and takes a claimed 4.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. That SL is limited to just 130 mph.

2013 Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG Specs : Just the Facts:

The new 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG should begin reaching U.S. dealers in mid-July, about two months or so after the 2013 SL550.
The 2013 SL63 AMG is based on the redesigned SL, with the usual performance and cosmetic upgrades.
The optional AMG Performance Package kicks up output to 557 hp and torque to 664 lb-ft, while trimming 0.1 second from the 0-60 time. Top speed rises to 186 mph.

2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Review

2012-02-19T06:51:00.000-08:00

2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Image

2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Review

Luxury car manufacturers, as a result, are trying to deliver better fuel economy without harming the essential nature of their exotic machines. That essence is excess — more power, performance, better handling, superior build quality, better safety technology and more standard amenities than can be found in less-expensive automobiles.

It is a contradictory pursuit that makes perfect sense in today’s marketplace. Buyers of luxury cars aren’t asking for less power, according to engineers and sales executives at Mercedes-Benz, Lamborghini, McLaren Automotive and Bentley — four companies I spoke to for this week’s column.

Those buyers instead are demanding oomph absent penalty — especially desirable in a time of rising fuel prices and globally increasing taxes on mobile-source pollution.

Manufacturers are using a variety of technologies to solve the power-economy paradox. Among them are a growing reliance on aluminum, high-strength but lightweight steels, and carbon fiber and other composite materials. The aim is to reduce weight and thereby limit the work and fuel consumed in moving a load.

2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Review: Extravagance and economy

Older technologies, such as turbocharging, using exhaust driven impellers to pull more air into combustion chambers to get a bigger bang per unit of fuel burned, are being revisited with remarkable results. Consider this week’s subject, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTEC 4Matic sedan, a born-again diesel member of Mercedes-Benz’s premium S-Class line.

There have been Mercedes-Benz turbo-diesels before, first introduced by the company in 1977. But none like this.

Diesel engines generally get 30 percent more miles per gallon than their gasoline counterparts. Turbocharged diesel engines, such as the one in the S350 4Matic, improve on that performance by directly injecting diesel mist into the combustion chamber for a better air-fuel mixture.

The results will impress anyone who loves driving. Here is a large, fully dressed, all-wheel-drive luxury sedan that moves from 0 to 60 mph in seven seconds, yet delivers 17 to 25 miles per gallon in the city and 25 to 37 miles per gallon on the highway.

Mileage is affected by multiple factors, including driving styles and road conditions. But those are fairly decent numbers for a large, high-performance luxury sedan.

You fall in love with the sheer movement of this one. All of that torque, most easily described as engine’s twisting power, gives you a powerful launch from “start.” Once you’re underway, cruising is a breeze with a seven-speed automatic transmission deftly managing the gear changes.

The S350 4Matic is luxury defined. It has every imaginable amenity and safety technology, including automatic distance monitoring between your car and the one in front of you and Mercedes-Benz’s patented “Pre-SAFE” predictive protection system to hold you in your seat and otherwise cushion you in the event of a crash.

The S350 4Matic has a healthy exhaust note, the way the tailpipes sound when pushing on the accelerator. But more pleasing is the constant purr of its turbo-diesel 3-liter V-6 engine (240 horsepower, 455 foot-pounds of torque) when moving along the highway.

It’s a stink-free drive, too. There’s no smoke, no discernible discharge of diesel particulate matter. The car requires ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel, which translates to a sulfur content of 15 parts per million. The fuel is now available at most service stations nationwide.

The kicker is what Mercedes-Benz does with burned fuel gases in the S350 4Matic’s exhaust stream before those gases reach the car’s catalytic converter. From a compact container near the spare-wheel well, a urea formula (Mercedes-Benz calls it “AdBlue”) is automatically injected into the outflowing gases, turning them into ammonia, which is then converted to harmless nitrogen and oxygen after passing through the catalytic converter into the atmosphere.

It is a complicated business. It’s expensive. But no one who makes and sells cars for a living truly believed that providing a high-performance luxury sedan with maximum fuel economy and ultra-low emissions would be easy — or cheap.

By : http://www.washingtonpost.com

2012 Mercedes Benz B-Class Price in South Africa

2012-01-01T04:55:00.000-08:00

2012 Mercedes Benz B-Class Picture

2012 Mercedes Benz B-Class Price in South Africa

Mercedes-Benz has announced that 2012 will be priced Class B Initial 26,001.50 euros (incl. 19% VAT). Do. Of course we’re talking about level B 180 BlueEFFICIENCY (rated 90 kW or 122 hp), capable of fuel consumption of just 5.9 liters per 100 km and 137 g of CO2/km to return. For the B 200 BlueEFFICIENCY, 2012 Mercedes Benz B-Class Price is € 27,935, and says the car needs only 5.9 liters of fuel per 100 km (138 g CO2 per km).

The diesel option is a bit more expensive: the B 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY costs € 27,578, while the most expensive model of the B 200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, which will cost € 29,809 to be.

2012 Mercedes Benz B-Class Price in South Africa :

2012 Mercedes Benz B-Class Price in South Africa is 297.841,66 and says the car needs only 5.9 liters of fuel per 100 km (138 g CO2 per km).

The diesel option is a bit more expensive: the B 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY costs in South Africa is 294.035,34 while the most expensive model of the B 200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, which will cost in South Africa 317.822,16 to be.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL550 Photos And Review

2011-12-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL550

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class models are stately, well-constructed two-seat roadsters, created in small volumes for customers with exclusive tastes.

The SL-Class is comprised of two models: the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL550 and the SL63 AMG. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL550 is powered by a 382-hp 5.5-liter V8 engine, mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual mode, while the SL63 AMG boasts a hand-built 518-hp 6.3-liter V8, as well as a seven-speed MCT (multi-clutch technology) transmission with aluminum shift paddles. Both models feature a power retractable hardtop and an adaptive suspension with Active Body Control (ABC).

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL550

Standard equipment on every SL-Class model includes heated leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a voice-activated hard drive-based navigation system with four gigabytes of internal media storage and a 6-disc CD/DVD changer, along with HD and satellite radio. Safety features include four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, an electronic stability program (ESP) with traction control, Bi-Xenon headlamps with Active Curve Illumination and an automatically deployable rollover bar, as well as front, side and driver knee airbags and the Mercedes mbrace system.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL550 interior

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class carries over with minimal changes for 2012. The Premium Package is now standard, featuring active ventilated front seats with AIRSCARF, an electronic trunk closer and the KEYLESS-GO passive entry/start system. Additionally, the SL65 AMG model has been dropped from the lineup

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL550

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL550 is a 2-door, 2-passenger luxury convertible, or convertible sports car, available in two trims, the SL550 and the SL63 AMG.

Upon introduction, the SL550 is equipped with a standard 5.5-liter, V8, 382-horsepower engine that achieves 14-mpg in the city and 22-mpg on the highway. A 7-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The SL63 AMG is equipped with a standard 6.3-liter, V8, 518-horsepower engine that achieves 12-mpg in the city and 19-mpg on the highway. A 7-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL550 is a carryover from 2011.

2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350 Convertible Review

2011-12-04T10:03:00.000-08:00

2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350 Convertible

The good 2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350 : A new direct-injection V-6 in the 2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350 delivers plenty of power and good fuel economy. The retractable hard top comes down in 20 seconds. The stereo interface shows album cover art and the Harman Kardon audio system creates detailed sound.

The bad 2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350: In sedate driving, the seven-speed automatic can shift uncomfortably hard. The exterior styling is not cohesive from front to back.

The bottom line 2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350: A fun, luxury roadster, the 2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350 carries an excellent cabin tech suite and delivers aggressive performance, but those looking for a cruiser might find the SLK350 too much of a beast.

As a somewhat cute roadster, the SLK previously appealed to trophy wives and very successful hairdressers. But not anymore. The 2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350 comes out with an aggressive look in front and an exhaust note that sends small woodland animals scurrying for the hills.

2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350 Convertible

Vents in the hood, a big lower air intake, and the prominent Mercedes Benz badge on the grille declare that the SLK350 has something to prove, a chip on its shoulder from too many years of Sunday driving. But the rear does not maintain the new style, instead showing curves similar to those of the BMW Z4, one of its chief competitors.

With its panoramic glass roof, the SLK350 has a very futuristic look from the rear, which is not at all stylistically cohesive with the front end. From the back, the car looks like a space pod, something that would be floating around the International Space Station in 10 years or so.

As a retractable hard top, the SLK350's roof is an entertaining bit of tech. As with most modern movable tops of this type, it is power-operated, doing a bit of origami on itself at the push of a button. It stacks up in the trunk or unfolds itself, protecting the cabin from wind and rain. As a gee-whiz option, Mercedes Benz also offers an electroluminescent top that changes opacity depending on the severity of the sun.

2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350 Convertible Eco, Sport, and Manual

Like the car's new front-end looks, the engine helped me feel secure in my manhood as I got behind the wheel of this former chick car. The 3.5-liter V-6, now featuring direct injection, starts up with the sound of an angry tiger, then settles down to a clearly audible idle. This thick steering wheel has a flattened bottom and sculpted thumbholds above the spokes, a practical style for slaloms and S turns.

2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350 Convertible

Paddles on the wheel complement the shifter, both working through the seven gears of the automatic transmission. A button near the shifter takes the car from its default Eco mode to Sport, then to Manual. Each of these modes changes the gearbox programming. And while an automatic may discourage sport drivers, this one uses a lock-up clutch, eliminating torque converter slush and creating hard gear shifts.

The SLK350's default Eco mode is actually its standard drive mode, with Mercedes Benz' clever use of the letter E reflecting its claim that its cars are very efficient and emit minimal CO2. Expect to see other cars in the Mercedes Benz lineup adopt this nomenclature.

While driving the car in Eco mode at low speeds on city streets, I found the high-revving engine and gearbox led to some herky-jerky motion. Moderately stepping on the gas pedal initiated gear changes that threw me back and forth in the cabin. The SLK350 didn't always behave in this manner, but at certain speeds it delivered less than the luxury driving character promised by the Mercedes Benz brand. I would never want Mercedes Benz to go back to the torque converter gearbox, but maybe a little refinement of this one's programming would eliminate the jerks.

Getting into higher speeds, the SLK350 delivered the kind of performance I would expect from a tony roadster. The leather seats and Harman Kardon audio system made the cabin a pleasant place to sit while covering boring stretches of freeway, but the short wheelbase and excellent engine note had me thirsting for the tight turns of a mountain road.

The cabin of the SLK350 is an enticing place, Mercedes Benz having taken pains to make it suitable for open-top driving. The Air Scarf technology blew warm air from the base of the headrest around my neck, and heated seats handled any other challenge from the fall weather. Mercedes Benz also tried to minimize turbulence in the cabin, which mostly seems to work with the help of a screen between the headrests.

2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350

2012 Mercedes Benz SLK350 Convertible Detailed audio

With the top down, the wind noise at anything over 40 mph is intolerable. After hearing the jet enginelike volume during a bit of freeway travel, I brought up the side windows, which diminished the sound considerably even with the top still down. And made it possible to hear music from the 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

That many speakers may seem like overkill in a two-seater, but I had no complaints. Although hampered by external noise, during later testing with the top up I could hear an excellent degree of detail from this system. It managed to lift tones and instruments from complexly layered tracks that might get lost when played over an inferior system. The system could also handle cranked-up bass without a problem. In some ways, the reproduction is too detailed, as high notes can become piercing.

Review by : Cnet.Com

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Videos

2011-12-03T21:55:00.000-08:00

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Videos.
If you interested to buy 2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Videos before it look video review of 2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Videos. It's amazing ? :-) Here they are :

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Videos Touring

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Exterior Videos

See also about 2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec here :

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos

2011-12-03T21:04:00.000-08:00

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos. To view 2012 larger Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos click one of the photos. Here they are 2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos gallery (14 photo) :

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos exterior

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos front face

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos machine

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos from side

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos exterior

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos garage

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos interior

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos stir

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos interior

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos speedo meter

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos interior parts

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos GPS LCD

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos Climate LCD

2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 Bluetec Photos MP3 LCD

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec Specifications

2011-12-03T20:05:00.000-08:00

Mercedes-Benz fits the ML350 Bluetec with a 24.6-gallon tank, which gives it excellent range. On arriving in Los Angeles from San Francisco, we still had a third of a tank, which let us take a considerable chunk out of the drive back before a refuel stop.

Here they are 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec Specifications, for photos detail look it here:

Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz
Part Number	101396179
Basic car properties
Body style	SUV
Trim levels	ML350 BlueTEC
Available Engine	GAS
Safety Features
Smart airbags	Standard
Antilock brakes	Standard
Traction control	Standard
Stability control	Standard
Roadside assistance	Standard
Adaptive cruise control	Standard
Rain-sensitive wipers	Standard
Entertainment
Video entertainment system	Optional
Multizone entertainment	Standard
Connection for portable MP3 sound system	Standard
MP3 CD-enabled sound system	Standard
Memory card slot	Standard
USB connection	Standard
Climate/convenience
Multizone climate control Heated/cooled	Standard
seats	Standard
Keyless entry	Optional
Two-way security system 12V	Standard
power outlet	Standard
Drivetrain Technology
Drivetrain available	All-wheel drive
Navigation
Trip computer Standard	Standard
DVD navigation system (non-GPS) Standard	Standard
Communication
Bluetooth phone interface Standard	Standard
OnStar or other roadside assistance system	Standard
Home automation integration
Standard	Standard

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec Review

2011-12-03T19:31:00.000-08:00

The good 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec:
The driver assistance features in the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec contribute to safe and stress-free driving. The stereo offers as many audio sources as you could ask for, and the ride quality is extremely comfortable.

The bad 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec:
The ML350 Bluetec feels wobbly in anything approaching a sharp turn. There is no descent control or differential locking to augment the all-wheel-drive system.

The bottom line: The higher cost of diesel might make the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec's superior fuel economy a wash when compared with a gasoline version, but this truck's luxury features make it a very comfortable road tripper.

The right lane of Interstate 5 in California's Central Valley is 350 miles of tortured pavement, continuously assaulted by heavy trucks driving between Sacramento and Los Angeles. Our Car Tech staff, bound for the Los Angeles Auto Show, barely noticed the deteriorated condition of the roadway as the soft suspension of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec absorbed every knock and jolt.

Mercedes-Benz may make forays into sport-oriented cars with its AMG division, but the ML350 Bluetec exemplifies what the company does best: luxury. Although not quite the uberluxury of a Bentley or a Rolls-Royce, it is still one of the most comfortable SUVs around. The cabin of the ML350 Bluetec is trimmed in thick leather and solid wood accents, and not all the buttons are plastic.

In good ergonomic fashion, Mercedes-Benz puts the power seat switches on the door, along with memory buttons for saving a seating position. A lever below the steering wheel power-adjusts its tilt and telescoping, and all the windows go up or down at a single touch of their switches. The wheel turns with ease, power-boosted to make steering at low speeds effortless.

The luxury driving character does not just extend to the soft suspension; exterior sound is also well damped out. During the hours spent driving down to Los Angeles and back, there was little discomfort. At the end of each stretch, we felt as refreshed as we had before setting out.

Bluetec means our ML350 ran on diesel, which has its own set of pros and cons for a passenger vehicle. The turbocharged 3-liter V-6 engine had plenty of power, 240 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque by the numbers, to move this heavy SUV with ease. Whether charging onto the freeway from an onramp or pushing up over the Tejon Pass on the way to Los Angeles, the ML350 Bluetec never felt like it was wheezing.

Diesel engines also generally get better fuel economy than gas engines, and the ML350 Bluetec is rated at 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. Those numbers may not look dramatic, but they translate to 3 to 5 mpg better than the gasoline-powered ML350. On our trip, which mostly consisted of freeway driving, we came in at 25.8 mpg.

Mercedes-Benz also fits the ML350 Bluetec with a 24.6-gallon tank, which gives it excellent range. On arriving in Los Angeles from San Francisco, we still had a third of a tank, which let us take a considerable chunk out of the drive back before a refuel stop.

But given that diesel was going for $4.55 a gallon when we filled up, that was also one expensive stop. The downside of diesel is it can be more expensive than gasoline, about 50 cents more per gallon in California.

And the emissions system is more complex. Mercedes-Benz uses a system called AdBlue to clean up the ML350 Bluetec's emissions and comply with U.S. and state environmental regulations. That 7-gallon tank needs to be refilled about every 15,000 miles.

In diesel or gasoline form, the ML350 comes with a seven-speed automatic, the upper gears helping to keep freeway fuel economy high. In current Mercedes-Benz fashion, the shifter is a small stalk on the steering column, and more appropriately called a drive selector, as it can only put the car in Drive, Reverse, Park, and Neutral. Our ML350 Bluetec also came with paddles on the steering wheel for manual shifting, but we only found use for them on steep descents, letting the engine do some of the braking.

Mercedes Benz C Class saloon Overview

2011-12-03T19:12:00.000-08:00

How do you celebrate turning 125 years old? With a day trip to Mercedes-Benz World, of course

Price £25,525

MPG 42.2

Top speed 138mph

Top of the class: the super capable C-Class Photograph: Observer

The car is 125 years old! Happy birthday! It's been quite a journey since that heady day in 1886 when Karl Benz clambered into his open three-wheeled "velocipede" and motored along the Ringstrasse in Mannheim. The vehicle, which came to be known as the Benz Patent Motor Car, looked like a park bench slung between two penny-farthing wheels… actually that's pretty much what it was. Concerned he'd run out of petrol on that first journey (there were as yet no garages, of course), Benz asked his son Eugen to run along beside him carrying a bottle of fuel. Karl later recalled: "I must have reached a speed of 16kmh." So, the first driver and already the first speeder.

The local paper, the Neue Badische Landeszeitung, had a reporter there who, in breathless prose, described the event: "A velocipede was tried out this morning. The test is said to have been satisfactory." Journalistic hyperbole had yet to be discovered.

The world's first car: the Benz Patent Wagon. Photograph: Daimler AG for the Observer

Benz went on to apply for a patent (patent enthusiasts: it's number 37435), which essentially became the automobile's birth certificate. In the 125 years since, Mercedes-Benz has applied for a further 80,000 patents – a list of astonishing and groundbreaking motoring milestones which have turned Benz's velocipede into the omnipotent modern motor car we all take for granted today.

To get into the birthday spirit, I drive the new C-class, the capable workhorse at the heart of the Mercedes-Benz line-up, to Mercedes-Benz World. Yes, non-car lovers, that's right – Mercedes-Benz World, a theme park slash temple to the brand located on the historic Brooklands site. For devotees, it's a beautiful, restful place to pause and take in all that's marvellous about the cars of the three-pointed star. For non-believers, it's a stultifyingly turgid day out, but there is a nice café.

At first I had a great time getting up close and personal with the famous Mercs of the past. There's the iconic Gullwing, the lavish Maybach and, oh my, the awesome McLaren F1. The cars crouch on gallery-grade plinths, like works of art in a huge glass-and-steel mausoleum. But as the day wears on I start to feel a little sad. Seeing how far the car has come, all that it has achieved, I can't escape the feeling that somehow we are on the final lap, that the car's journey is coming to an end. One day will these cars be little more than exhibits from a forgotten world? Like the spine-tingling scene at the end of Planet of the Apes where they find those last humans, stuffed, with taxidermists' stitches edging their hairlines.

I climb back into the C-class. Reliable, comfortable, safe, efficient, sexy, triumphantly well made and intuitive to drive. Its engine uses 10 times less fuel than the first diesel of 1936. As I turn the key I mentally run through the list of life-saving firsts that now come with each and every Mercedes. The crumple zone and rigid passenger cage from 1959; anti-lock braking from 1978; airbags from 1981; electronic stability from 1995…

One of the things this car isn't yet fitted with is a Pre-Scan chassis – another patent. Cars will soon be able to read the surface of the road ahead using laser sensors and adjust their suspension to give you a super smooth "magic carpet ride". Maybe there's life in the old car yet. Maybe I'll get my son to run alongside me to remind me just how far we've come.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec Review

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