Mercedes-Benz Recalls 2000 - 2002 M-Class SUV and 2008 - 2011 Sprinter Cargo Van
Recall: Faulty cruise control systems, and underperforming seat belts installed in Sprinter cargo vans.
The Problem: Certain M-Class SUVs may have been built with faulty brake switches that may prevent drivers from deactivating the cruise control by means of a light tap on the brake pedal (greater pressure, along with using the cancel or off buttons, will still deactivate the system). Drivers may experience a delay in slowing a vehicle, which may subsequently increase the chance of an accident (To date, Mercedes-Benz reports no accidents or injuries attributed to this issue).
The Fix: RBM of Atlanta on behalf of Mercedes-Benz will replace the defective switch on the affected vehicles free of charge. Mercedes will begin contacting customers in the coming months. Customers seeking further information can contact the manufacturer by calling 1-800-367-6372 or calling RBM of Atlanta at 770-390-0600.
Number of vehicles potentially affected: 136,751 M-Class SUVs manufactured between August 1999 and July 2002, along with ML55 AMG vehicles built between August 1999 and June 2004.
2008 – 2011 Dodge, Freightliner, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500
The problem: Seat belts found on optional bench seats available for the passenger compartment may not meet minimum code set by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Belts on the affected bench seats may not lock as required, and the assembly loop does not appear to meet minimum force requirements. No injuries have been reported as a result of the defective belts.
The fix: RBM of Atlanta on behalf of Mercedes-Benz will inspect and replace defective seat belts free of charge, and begin notifying customers in May. Customers seeking further information regarding the recall can reach the manufacturer by calling 843-695-5000 or calling RBM of Atlanta at 770-390-0600.
Number of vehicles potentially affected: 3437 vehicles manufactured between October 2007 and February 2011 were built with the optional bench seat, and are subject to this recall.
Call RBM of Atlanta if you have one of these vehicles. You can reach our service department at 770-390-0600.
April 6, 2011; source NHTSA
2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedan Option List THE NEWLY REDESIGNED 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS SEDAN IS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN THE U.S. IN AUGUST OF 2011
The newly redesigned 2012 C-Class sedan is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. in August of 2011. The front and rear end of the popular Mercedes-Benz sedan have been enhanced with a more distinctive design. The luxurious interior is now emphasized by the stylish new dashboard, which features a premium, fine-grain finish and stylish trim elements, as well as a high-resolution color display in the instrument cluster. Fuel economy has been improved by as much as 15 percent, thanks to new direct-injection engines and the redesigned 7-speed automatic transmission. Five new driver assistance systems ranging from the ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection system through to the Blind Spot Assist are now available in the C-Class lineup. New-generation telematics offer new infotainment and navigation features. Scroll down to view a complete options list for the C250, C300 and C350.
The U.S. model line-up consists the:
C250 RWD : 1.8L Turbo I4 , 201 hp / 229 lb-ftC300
4MATIC: 3.0L V6, 228 hp / 221 lb-ft
C350 RWD: 3.5L V6, 302 hp / 273 lb-ft
Congratulations Mercedes-Benz! Mercedes-Benz E-Class wins for the Luxury Class!
The Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards are based on actual model-year purchase/lease activity and recognizes manufacturers for superior performance in owner retention—a critical aspect of building and maintaining market share. Owners of these manufacturers had such a positive overall experience that they came back to buy another vehicle of the same model, make, or manufacturer. The Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards are the only fact-based awards in the industry based on owner loyalty. Awards are based on actual consumer transactions, with over 4.5 million household records per year being analyzed to determine the winners and information obtained from state registration and lease transaction information.
SoCal Customer Takes Delivery of First U.S. Mercedes-Benz F-Cell
With all the talk lately about Chevy's Volt and Nissan's Leaf heading to market, Mercedes-Benz didn't want it to be left out of the alternative powertrain buzz, and to that end, the first F-Cell hydrogen-powered B-Class vehicle was delivered late last week.
That first F-Cell was driven away from a Newport Beach Mercedes dealership by Vance Van Petten, executive director of the Producers Guild of America.
"I'm thrilled to be driving a vehicle that I believe represents the future of environmentally thoughtful transportation," Van Petten said. "Not only does it have zero emissions, but it also provides me with all of the safety technology one expects from Mercedes-Benz."
Of course, Mercedes isn't letting everyone buy an F-Cell just yet. Van Petten is leasing the car so that the German automaker can get data on how the car performs in the real world. Since the infrastructure for refueling stations is limited, Mercedes will select the most qualified applicants to lease the F-Cell. The automaker says the F-Cell consumes half the fuel of an equivalent conventionally powered car yet still only takes three minutes to refuel.
"The introduction of the F-Cell in California marks the beginning of zero emission fuel cell technology in the U.S. for Mercedes-Benz," said Sascha Simon, head of advanced product planning at Mercedes-Benz USA. "With a range of 240 miles that never needs to be plugged and more than 15 years of Mercedes-Benz research already committed to the technology, we believe this is a great addition to our fast growing portfolio of alternative fuel vehicles that customers can choose from to best suit their lifestyle."
We'd hasten to add that the introduction of lease-only F-Cells is still a miniscule part of all alternative powertrain vehicles available today. Until you can buy an F-Cell at a local dealership, "green" Mercedes enthusiasts can choose from hybrids in the S- and ML-class vehicles as well as a V-6 diesel in the R-, ML-, and GL-class crossovers.
Leaked: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK revealed ahead of schedule [w/video]
Mercedes-Benz has pulled the drapes back on its 2012 SLK... by accident. A French promotional film made its way to the Internet, and the star of the clip is the redesigned hardtop convertible. We've got the video and a host of screen-grabs that show off some of the SLK's new features.
The compact two-door Benz will be available with the company's neck-warming AirScarf system, adaptive headlights, a seven-speed automatic transmission and a Magic Sky Control roof that darkens at the touch of a button.
The style of the Mercedes-Benz SLK has grown up to fall in line with the rest of the family. The front sports a very aggressive treatment with a gaping grille and a massive Three-Pointed Star. The whole package comes off as a miniature SL rather than a soft imitation of one.
Sky blue amidst the cloudy British weather - experience probably the last few miles on British soil with the Mercedes-Benz 600, once driven by Elvis Presley. On the 6th December, 'the sovereign' will be auctioned at the auction housed Bonhams. See current owner Eric Smith show us around. He tells us the unique history of the car and the legend of the king!
If you are interested in this car, click here to see this grand car at the Bonhams' website.
Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH (MBA) is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2010.
Since the company was founded in 2000, it has achieved growth rates in high double digits.
This growth is also reflected by the fact that the workforce has increased from 80 to 200 employees today, while the company offers about 15,000 different products.
MBA's portfolio of products includes accessories and collections for Mercedes-Benz, smart, and Maybach brand passenger cars, as well as a range of collection products for commercial vehicles, and original accessories for vans.
And according to Mercedes-Benz, the high-quality accessories of the MBA collections allow every customer to individually customise his or her vehicle.
"The latest product is the development of the own label MercedesSport,"the German carmaker explained.
"In addition to special 18-inch alloy wheels and aerodynamic and optical attachments, for example, this brand offers a sports chassis kit and a sports braking system."
MBA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG.
November 29, 2010; source www.news.mercedes-benz.co.uk
Driving the SLS AMG! In 'Gran Turismo 5' your dream can come true. But how does a real super sports car become a digital race car? Mercedes-Benz.tv looked over the shoulders of the renowned Playstation race series developers. from the secret photo shoot, the test laps on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring to the fine tuning at the Polyphony digital studio into Tokyo, Japan. Six months was spent designing the digital SLS AMG.
Getting Inexperienced Drivers to Pay Attention Behind the Wheel New Program Puts Teens to the Test
Three hundred tenth graders and brand new drivers are getting a crash course on what it’s really like behind the wheel. At a special course in Blacksburg, they’re being exposed to the potential hazards young drivers face such as eating, texting, talking on a cell phone, anything that will take their eyes off the road.
AAA Mid Atlantic along with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute are working together to get young drivers to pay attention on the road.
Teen drivers are four times more likely than other drivers to get into a crash. “What we know about teens is that they think they are invincible. You can lecture to them, give them statistics, but you have to make them touch it, feel it, live it, experience it,” said Martha Meade, AAA Mid Atlantic spokesperson.
To help teen drivers “get it,” Triple A and the Institute put the students through a series of mock driving situations involving distracted driving. Distracted driving is the top cause of teen driving crashes followed by overcorrecting and drunk driving.
In a golf cart, most of the students struggled to drive through the course and perform various tasks at the same time. A driving instructor had a student get candy from a box and change the radio station. The students hit cones or just stopped in the middle of the road.
Bedford county student, Katy Moorman often thinks about being distracted while she’s driving. “I've had a friend who died because he was texting and driving. I usually put my phone in the backseat. That's my rule.,” said Moorman.
Student Taylor Brizendine had a tough time driving the course. She gets her learner’s permit in January. She says it was hard to drive and to perform the tasks at the same time. “She kept saying I was hitting stuff. She was telling me to open a box of candy. She distracted me very much,” said Brizendine.
Despite taking her eyes off the road, Brizendine admits she still wanted the candy. “They couldn't even open a box of Mike and Ike candy and give the person in the car a green one without veering off the course. That's in a golf cart. Imagine the impact in a car,” said Meade.
AAA is looking into expanding the driving safety course, so more teens can experience it. It is against Virginia law for teens to drive while texting and talking on the cell phone.
Behind every car there are a lot of feelings and emotions ... is this true? The Mercedes-Benz Design Center is well known as an emotions factory. That is where the CLS was created - a vehicle that expresses "pure emotion," according to makers anyway. To test this bold thesis, we conducted an eye-tracking test, seeking to prove if the design of the CLS really stands out.
Böblingen, Germany - Mercedes-Benz takes pride in its innovations and technologies. Through the company's annual TecDay event, I had a chance to visit the Benz's R&D centers, spend some seat time in one of the industry's newest and most powerful simulators, and ride along in a concept car boasting the fruits of the creative minds at the world's oldest car company.
Following the two-day deep-dive into Benz's technical side, the company's future direction is clear. Despite its heritage, there are no signs that Benz is resting on its laurels - if anything, it's pushing ahead in the development of advanced new technologies. Driving this push are the ideas that lives can be saved through driver-intervention systems, and that environmentally friendly solutions for powering vehicles are within reach. Lastly is the idea that technology can help make cars stylish and beautiful, because, at the end of the day, a car's appeal plays a big part in getting it off of the showroom floor and onto customers' driveways.
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: This truck is silly. Who needs a 500-hp SUV? No one really, but that's not to say this isn't a hoot. It is. It's fast, solid and for weighing 5,000 pounds, it handles decently.
How fast is this ute? As fast as a Lamborghini Gallardo, according to Mercedes-Benz, which is plenty fast enough. The power and torque are effortless and the engine growls beautifully. The steering is nice and the ride isn't as harsh as I'd feared it might be. It handles well for a big truck. It's not a sports car but there's a ton of grip. This baby is quite entertaining and yet it will dawdle along like a luxury ute.
Comfort mode has the car gliding along while sport hunkers down everything and makes the gearbox shift faster. I played around with sport mode for a bit and then went back to comfort. I have a feeling that's what most owners will do.
The seats are comfortable and grippy and hold you in place while you fling the beast around. I suppose the only competition is the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: Just as comedian Robin Williams said, "Cocaine is God's way of telling you that you have too much money," an ML63 might be saying the same thing. Does anyone really need something this large to go this fast? Probably not, but it's a hoot, none the less. There's a great rumble from the exhaust and massive thrust from the V8--just like a 500-hp mill should be. As Wes noted, handling is better than you might expect, with tons of grip, nicely weighted steering and outstanding seats.
MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: At one time I made fun, without hesitation, of such truly illogical machines, but the last few years have forced me to reconsider.
Does anyone need this level of performance in an SUV? Heavens, no. Then again, does anyone need it in a Ferrari or a Porsche or a Lamborghini? No, but that doesn't stop me from wanting it.
The thing that has changed for me slowly, though, is that nowadays I also want that in an SUV such as this ML. Consider that this thing weighs 100 pounds less than the Bentley Continental GT we tested recently. Think about that. On one hand, you say the Bentley is too heavy, which it is. On the other hand, it tells you something about the performance potential on-hand in the AMG.
The bottom line is that the ML63 is flat fun to drive hard. Just like Porsche's Cayenne. Some of that stems from the fact that it takes you a while to wrap your head (and hands and feet) around the performance potential that it offers. Jump in a Ferrari and you expect it to do certain things, but these ultraperformance SUVs defy your expectations. I've driven plenty of them now, yet I'm still pleasantly surprised by how well this ute brakes, corners and accelerates. It's a ridiculous type of fun--but also a ridiculous amount of fun. And if anyone who owns one of these things tells you they bought it for any other reason, they are either lying or just tooling around town like a clueless, well, tool. I almost wished I had a bunch of kids to rocket to a soccer game when I drove this ML.
It’s official – Mercedes is loading up an estate version of its new CLS. As previewed by the Shooting Break concept, which debuted at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year, Mercedes’ boss Dieter Zetsche confirmed that the car will go into production in 2012.
Dr. Zetsche said, "In 2004, Mercedes-Benz established a new vehicle segment with the four-door Coupé CLS and created a design icon. The decision to build the CLS Shooting Brake underscores the leading role of Mercedes-Benz in regards of innovative passenger car concepts and design – and that is exactly what the customers expect from us."
Zetsche’s words echo the sentiment that while the new CLS is a superior car to the one it replaces, the stunning design of its predecessor has been somewhat lost. The new Brake version should readdress this balance, offering a swooping roofline and tapered rear that look unlike anything else on the road. Expect the four-seat layout and huge panoramic roof of the original concept to make production too.
The new CLS estate will be built on the same production line as the E-Class and CLS Coupe at the firm’s Sindelfingen plant in Germany. The plant also produces the C-Class saloon, the S-Class and the CL, as well as the Maybach models, SLS AMG and B-Class fuel cell.
In line with many of the comments left on autoexpress.co.uk when we reported on the CLS Shooting Break, Mercedes seems to have realised the error of its ways, changing the name to Brake. The new car will take on the BMW 5-Series GT and Audi A7.
Fall 2010 ALG Perceived Quality Study - Mercedes-Benz Still Leads Luxury Brands
"Mercedes-Benz again was the top-ranked luxury brand with a PQS of 83.9, slightly increasing its lead over runner-up Lexus in the last six months, which remained steady with an 81.9 PQS. BMW (81.6), Porsche (80.2) and Acura (77.4) rounded out the top five in the luxury category."
Click here to see a larger image of the Perceived Quality Score for Luxury Brands
ALG's PQS measures consumers' perceptions and beliefs about the quality of automobile brands in the U.S. market. A negative perception about a brand can prevent shopping and consideration of a brand's complete model lineup. Alternatively, a positive belief about a brand can sometimes overcome poor quality. Working with survey partner Zogby International, ALG calculates the scores based on a proprietary rating scale derived from surveys of car and truck owners, which then are used to determine the relative positions of mainstream and luxury brands.
Free from the iTunes store: click here to download the app.
The Mercedes-Benz Museum is the only museum in the world that can document in a single continuous timeline over 120 years of auto industry history from its very beginnings to the present day. On nine levels and covering a floor space of 16,500 square metres (over 177,600 sq. ft., the museum presents 160 vehicles and over 1,500 exhibits. As a place of innovation, its also demonstrates that history can point the way ahead.
Other apps available in the iTunes Store from Mercedes-Benz:
- Mercedes-Benz Super Sports Cars (click here)
- SLS AMG, the game (click here)
- E Coupe, the game (click here)
- Silver Arrow, featuring 64 original race cars (click here)
- Quartet, featuring original vehicles from the museum in Stuttgart (click here)
- Mercedes-Benz Magazine (iPad only) (click here)
Spy photo show a closer look on the Mercedes-Benz’s drop-top roadster without much of its usual camouflage. Taken while doing its test drives in Germany with its roof down. With regards to its performance, the convertible should be a little short in contrast to the old model, due to few additional kilos in the roof’s mechanism and body strengthening. Under the new SLS’ hood would be a similar 564bhp 6.2 litre V8 engine similar to the older model.
The vehicle is expected to go from 0-62 mph at around four seconds. The vehicle boasts of a fabric hood that is electrically operated, comparable to the material and make of the E-Class convertible’s roof. The most significant distinction between the SLS and the new drop-top model is the exclusion of the original vehicle’s gullwing doors.
The pricetag is expected to be a bit higher, having at least 10 percent mark-up in contrast to the regular coupe, which should put it to a little over £170,000. According to sources, the SLS Roadster is likely to be presented to the public in the late summer of 2011, through the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Integrating your iPhone, iPod Touch or other portable device to your vehicle.
QNX support for Apple iPod Out allows an in-car infotainment system to display content from an iPhone or iPod touch, including music and album art. With iPod Out, users can use an interface they are familiar with, and the infotainment system can support new iPod features as they are introduced.
How does it work? The iPod or iPhone drives the in-vehicle display through an analog video output and accepts input through a straightforward button or rotary knob interface. The analog video channel is protected so that unsafe devices like DVD players cannot be used while driving. The HMI is not only familiar to Apple users, but also includes features to minimize driver distraction.
QNX Software Systems is the first software company to enable this feature, with an automotive customer rolling out an implementation as early as 2011.
Gottlieb Daimler - The life story of one of the inventors of the automobile.
Gottlieb Daimler: inventor, engineer and businessman: With the invention of the internal combustion engine in the eighteen eighties he is one of the founding fathers of today's Daimler AG. His Daimler "motor coach" was the first 4-wheel-automobile in the world. This article outlines life and work of Gottlieb Daimler.
To be offered at auction WITHOUT RESERVE ,Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Chassis No.
1970405500123
Estimate:
£350,000-£400,000
215 bhp (DIN), 240 bhp (SAE), 2,996 cc overhead-camshaft inline six-cylinder engine, four-speed all-synchromesh manual gearbox, independent front suspension with twin wishbones, coil springs and anti-roll bar, swing axle rear suspension with coil springs, hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers, and servo-assisted, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 94.5"
- From the Hooper Corporate Collection
- One of just 1,400 Gullwings built
- Prepared for participation in vintage rally events
- Multiple Mille Miglia entries
There are a great many enthusiasts and historians who believe that the Mercedes-Benz 300SL is, perhaps, the greatest road car ever built. No one who has ever owned or experienced a 300SL Gullwing will likely ever forget it. That the car appeared in production form at all was the result of fortuitous circumstance and was certainly not originally planned by the factory.
The original Mercedes-Benz 300SL was created for the 1952 racing season by the company to test the waters prior to M-B making a full-scale return to racing competition. It was practically makeshift expediency to allow an early entrance to racing following WWII and to keep the M-B name in the news long enough for the firm’s upcoming 1954 Grand Prix car to be completed. To deem this exercise successful is a bit of an understatement – a second and fourth at the Mille Miglia, first and second at Le Mans and the Nürburgring, the same in the Carrera Panamericana, and a one-two-three sweep at Bern, Switzerland.
Mercedes-Benz Museum Prepares for the Automobile’s 125 Anniversary
On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz received the patent for the world’s very first car. It was on that day that the one of the most significant inventions to grace the earth, the automobile, was born. In 2011, the automobile will celebrate 125 years on the road and the only place to view its’ entire 125 year history is at The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. In addition to the automobiles history, the museum also shows off the latest developments of the present and future. The latter will be exhibited in a completely redesigned room from next year: Legend 6, ‘New start – the Road to Emission-free Mobility’, which will be opening its doors to Museum visitors for the first time on January 30, 2011.
Visitors to the museum often ask the same questions- Where do we go from here? Will we all be driving on hydrogen in future? Will the combustion engine soon be a thing of the past? “In Legend 6 visitors will find answers to questions about the drive system of tomorrow”, says Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. On the chronological tour through the decades, Legend 6 ‘New start – the Road to Emission-free Mobility’ will present the challenges of the present and future. “Our visitors mostly want to find out how driving pleasure and responsibility can be reconciled in a vehicle.” Different drive-system variants will be on display in the redesigned theme room – from the optimised combustion engine through electric and hybrid drive systems to the fuel cell.
The Mercedes-Benz Museum brings to life all aspects of automotive history over an area covering 16,500 square metres and nine levels. Seven Legend rooms describe the history of the brand, five Collection rooms important topics at Mercedes-Benz through the years. Many of the 160 vehicles exhibited stand for entire eras that they have shaped, recounting their own history. These include the gull-wing model from the 1950s or the Silver Arrows, not to mention the Mercedes-Benz 230 SL, the first sports car with a stable passenger compartment and crumple zone. “These vehicles were symbols of innovation in their day; again and again they would herald further progress. Our visitors soon realise that the history of Mercedes-Benz is brimming with innovations and that the focus was always firmly on the future – just as it is today”, adds Michael Bock.
The Mercedes-Benz Museum is open daily from Tuesday to Sunday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Current information for visitors is available from the Classic customer center online at www.mercedes-benz-classic.com
Mercedes-Benz revealed more details about its V-8 engine lineup. The two new V-8 powertrains promise more power, improved emissions and better fuel efficiency.
The more important of the two is the new twin turbo 4.6-liter V-8. It will replace the successful 5.5-liter V-8 that powers most Mercedes with the “550” behind their class designations.
The engine’s decreased displacement is offset by the power boost of the twin turbochargers, which have a fairly high 10.5-to-1 compression ratio. The 4.6 promises 10 percent better fuel economy while producing 30% better torque. In the 2011 CL500, it produces 429 horsepower and 516 pounds-feet of torque. That’s 12% better power and 32% better torque than the outgoing 5.5-liter V-8 found in the 2010 CL550. This engine will likely find its way into the E-Class and the S-Class in the near future.
The second new powertrain is AMG’s new twin turbo 5.5-liter V-8, which replaces the regularly aspirated AMG 6.3-liter V-8 in the 2011 CL-Class, upcoming S-Class AMG and likely other AMG vehicles in a year’s time. It features direct injection and start-stop technology. This system still requires the use of a starter motor, but Mercedes says future systems may need no starter motor at all.
The 5.5-liter will produce 536 hp and 590 pounds-feet of torque in the 2011 CL63 and S63, which is 3% more power and 12% more torque than the outgoing 6.3-liter.
The 2011 CL-Class goes on sale in November and will be the first to offer both new engines. The 2011 CL550 will start at $114,025, with the 2011 CL63 AMG at $151,125 and the 2011 S63 AMG sedan at $138,875 (gas-guzzler tax and destination fee not included).
The latest spy photos show the progress of the next generation 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is coming together. Even though the concealment on this model reveal small details, the latest SL is assumed to get styling cues from the prototype’s line of the famous SLS AMG, which includes the almost 90 degrees grille and also the vertically opposed headlights. When compared with the present SL, which was designed almost nine years ago, the test vehicle seems to have a lower, wider stance, almost having a much sportier look. The latest model is also foreseen to share majority of its components with the SLS AMG, which includes suspension and its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Showing Mercedes’ usual chunky concealment, the 2013 SL-Camouflage was lately seen doing test drives around Nurburging and also going around with the latest generation SL. A choice of either a V6 or V8 engine is expected, based on its specs, trim and price. Though there are still no information with regards to its technical details, the soon to be released SL-Class is predicted to be built on a light aluminum spaceframe chassis, resulting to an improved kerb weight in contrast to the present model’s 1750kg to 2060kg. With the present SL-Class having some modifications last 2008, the latest model is expected to be presented to the public by mid to late 2012.
Thomas Jäger and Christopher Haase drove the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 to its first ever race win. The gullwing sports car raced by the private team Black Falcon was victorious in the ninth race of the VLN long-distance championship on Saturday at the Nürburgring.
Driving the SLS AMG GT3 for Mamerow-Racing, Bernd Schneider and Christian Mamerow started from pole position but retired on the fifth lap after a collision while lying second.
The gullwing driven by Jäger and Haase started from seventh pace, but Jäger managed to move up to fourth place on the first lap. With several consistent and fast laps the team Black Falcon gullwing took over the lead on the the tenth out of 20 laps. Christopher Haase set the fastest lap time of the race in 9:24.565 minutes, on the 13th lap to the circuit.
Having been developed in accordance with the GT3 regulations of the world governing body, FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), the SLS AMG GT3 competed once again in prototype class E1-XP. For this second testing race the focus was once again on methodical further development work as well as on collecting valuable additional test kilometres. The Black Falcon and Mamerow-Racing, two experienced teams on the North Loop, received the support from the AMG team. Both customer teams will be racing the gull wing in the next VLN season in 2011 (Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring, with 10 motor sport clubs).
Thomas Jäger: "We're all delighted with the first victory of the SLS AMG GT3 on its second outing here on the North Loop. Despite difficult weather conditions, we had a problem-free race. The gull wing is not only fast, but it also impresses with its excellent stability. Today, we again collected valuable knowledge to assist our further development work in the test programme."
"Even though I didn't get to drive today because of the early accident, we're all highly satisfied with how the overall racing weekend has gone. The SLS AMG GT3 was able to demonstrate its performance credentials both in qualifying and during the race,” said Bernd Schneider.
UNVEILED: In Orange , the Concept 358. It’s essentially a tweaked C63 AMG sedan featuring the AMG Performance Plus package (which boosts the 6.3-liter V8′s output up to 480hp), 19-inch alloys, special leather interior and a unique Pearl Orange paint job.
UNVEILED: The unique SLS AMG features a special paint scheme: in this case a unique Night Black matte-finish with red accents.
October 18, 2010; source autoblog.com and Mercedes-Benz
2011 CL-Class Coupe, was unearthed at the Australian International Motor Show by none other than Mercedes-Benz Australia.
The new CL will have a different powerplant—a 4.7-liter V8—replacing the retiring CL 500’s 5.5-liter V8. This new engine, despite its being smaller than the old CL’s powerplant, is capable of delivering more power at less expense to both the driver and the environment. So despite the new CL’s subtle external makerover, it does get more than it bargained for in the form of a much more reliable and fuel efficient engine featuring BlueDIRECT technology.
If you look over at its front, you won’t miss its obviously-SLS-inspired grille, so that says a lot about Mercedes-Benz’s design current design philosophy. And did we mention there are subtle similarities with the new CLS? The headlamps, for example, although missing the mid-LED strip on the CLS, is a stark semblance. And so are the muscular rear quarter panels which give obvious hints of the power driving the rear wheels. The front bumper has been redesigned while the daytime LED running lights are capped over by a reworked hood.
Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3 Test run Eurospeedway Lausitz
Watch the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 in a test run. The SLS GT3 will once again be lining up on the starting grid at the next two races of the VLN Nürburgring endurance championship. The four-hour races on 16 and 30 October 2010 will prove helpful with clocking up additional test miles as well as the scheduled further development of the gullwing model.
Hockenheim – In spring 2011 a new and exciting racing car is due to capture the limelight: the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Developed to comply with the GT3 specifications of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), the SLS AMG GT3 is designed as a racing sports car for customers competing in sprints and long-distance races. These race series for near-series GT cars are noted for their very varied participants and great excitement. Not least because of their comparatively favourable cost structure, they are enjoying increasing worldwide popularity. The development and test programme for the SLS AMG GT3 is going according to plan. Bernd Schneider, a Mercedes-Benz works driver for many years, and record-holding DTM champion, is carrying out the majority of the test drives which commenced in June. The gullwing for the racetrack will be ready for delivery in time for the start of the coming motorsport season in February 2011. The price of the SLS AMG GT3 is EUR 334,000 (excl. VAT)/EUR 397,460 (incl. 19 % VAT).
Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Norbert Haug: “The Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 will start a new era in Mercedes-Benz customer motorsports. This car is an exciting and spectacular sporting tool for committed private teams and talented private drivers. Together with our well-proven sports and touring car partner HWA, AMG will establish a customer motorsports department, and ensure the usual high level of Mercedes service for its motorsports customers.”
