I'm not going to talk out about it being successful or not, but I will say that the shape does perhaps look a bit out of place shrunken this small, especially when you see the car in person – the new C-Class and S-Class both look more natural. It still has unusual lines to be observed, and in order to make deciphering their role/significance easier, Mercedes has uploaded a selection of videos full of insight from the design team that drew them up.
What they have managed to achieve masterfully is to make the car look posh and expensive, though the bigger wheels are mandatory in order for it to be fully realized. That says a lot about those for whom this is aimed, and what they feel is important in a new car (or don’t, rather).
By Andrei Nedelea
We already know what the next C-Class looks from the inside since Mercedes itself showed the car's inner works, so we'll keep this post about the car's exterior appearance that has more character, if you will, than the outgoing model, with styling references from both the bigger S-Class and the smaller CLA.
Too bad we don't get a taste of the car's rear end, but in one of the pictures it seems that we're seeing the AMG sports package (not to be confused with the C63 AMG).
We'll poke around and update this post if we find anything new.
Thanks to Daniel from Diariomotor for the heads up!
A representation of the streamlined version of the Mercedes W196 R F1 car painted on canvas by famous American artist Andy Warhol will be auctioned for half the price of Fangio's car!
Warhol’s work, titled “Mercedes-Benz W196 R Grand Prix Car (Streamlined Version, 1954)”, will be offered at a Christie’s auction in New York on November 12, 2013, and is estimated to sell for $12 million (€8.68 million) to $16 million (€11.6 million). The painting is owned by the Daimler Art Collection.
Warhol’s work is made using synthetic polymer and silkscreen inks on canvas and is quite big in size: 160.5x180 inches (4,076x4,575mm). A leading figure of the pop art movement, Warhol finished the painting in 1987, the year of his death. At the time, he was working on a series of paintings commissioned by Mercedes-Benz to celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary.
Mercedes wanted Warhol to create 80 artworks inspired by 20 Mercedes models, but the artist’s sudden death in 1987 left the project unfinished. Warhol only made 35 silkscreen prints and 12 drawings of eight Mercedes models. Among the finished works is the one featuring the streamlined version of the 1954 Mercedes W196 R Formula 1 car.
In a similar way to his famous Marilyn Monroe painting, Warhol printed a single model of the W196 several times on one canvas and used different hues for each car that appears on the painting.
By Dan Mihalascu
The sporty version of Benz's 5 meter long S-Class Coupe with the AMG badge will borrow the S63 AMG sedan's 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8, and is expected to produce the same output and torque figures at 577 hp (585 PS) / 5,500 rpm and 900 Nm (664 lb-ft) available between 2,250 and 3,750 rpm, respectively.
The eight-cylinder mill will be linked to an AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission driving the rear wheels – there's a chance Mercedes will also offer an all-wheel drive version of the same model.
Redesigned bumpers, intakes and wheels along with a tweaked chassis and interior, will be part of the S63 AMG package that should be released to the public within the next year or so.
Video via YouTube/swsthebest1994
Now, while we can argue against it being the best car in the world, the team at UK magazine WhatCar seems pretty sure that it is the best car for the money.
Make no mistake, the latter is still a bold claim to be made, but it at least has an air of plausibility about it. They do all the usual things you expect like check the room in the back, which is predictably ample, mention the competent ride and handling characteristics and finally check out some of the toys – everything works as intended, and is accompanied by with a reassuringly damped click.
This is not the first review to mention that the S-Class is not the sportiest in its class/price bracket, even if it is reportedly nimbler through the bends than before, thanks to being lighter. You can get either a Porsche Panamera, Maserati Quattroporte or Jaguar XJ, all three of which are direct rivals, but with different driving philosophies and are a better choice for not being chauffeured around (by nobody).
The idea is that the S-Class is very good at everything it does, but at the end of the day, in my mind, it comes out lacking in soul compared to the Italian and British cars – it’s an engineering achievement, but will never stir up the kind of emotional response the other two would garner from an enthusiast.
By Andrei Nedelea
The Mercedes-Benz GLA Edition 1 will be available to order from the end of November for approximately one year after launch. Based on the Urban line, the exterior includes simulated underguard and roof rails in chrome, 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels finished in high-gloss black, a black radiator grille louvre with chrome inserts, black-painted exterior mirrors, black waistline trim strips and dark-tinted glass starting from the B-pillars.
The GLA Edition 1 can only be had with one of four paint finishes named cirrus white, orient brown metallic, mountain grey metallic and designo magno mountain grey. Like other similar Edition 1 models, all cars feature “Edition 1” lettering on the front wings.
On the inside, the GLA Edition 1 features a Desert Dust interior color scheme with seats wrapped in nut brown leather and Alvorada fabric with striking moccasin stitching, 3-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel in leather with perforated grip area and flattened bottom, sports pedals in brushed stainless steel with rubber studs, aluminum trim, black roof liner and the Light and Sight package.
The Mercedes-Benz GLA Edition 1 can be ordered with any of the available engines, including two gasoline units (GLA 200 with 156PS/154hp and GLA 250 with 211PS/208hp) and two diesels (GLA 200 CDI with 136PS/134hp and GLA 220 CDI with 170PS/168hp).
By Dan Mihalascu
We’ve already seen the magazine's take on the 567hp BMW M5 Competition Package, but how does the souped-up rear-wheel-drive M5 compare to the 577HP (585PS) all-wheel-drive Mercedes E63 AMG S?
In terms of performance, the two cars are very hard to differentiate, but the way each car puts the power down is very different. The BMW is wild and tail-happy, while the Mercedes is more contained but slightly faster thanks to its all-wheel-drive system.
Curious to see which car won the duel? Scroll down to watch the video and then tell us which one you'd choose to park under your garage.
By Dan Mihalascu
Speaking with Autonew Europe, Johann Jungwirth, head of Mercedes' North American R&D division, confirmed the news and said the automaker will offer the Google Glass application as soon as the tech giants makes Google Glass commercially available. Currently, the wearable device is available only to a handful of developers for $1,500, but will likely go on regular sale next year.
"This is an example of a seamless transition as you stay connected when you get to your car, when you drive, and when you leave your car," said Jungwirth.
The Google Glass will be able to guide drivers to their cars, transfer a destination address to the vehicle's navigation system and even offer infotainment applications.
Over the long run, Mercedes wants drivers to access all information stored in their smartphones, tablets, computers and other digital devices in their cars.
While Jungwirth wouldn't divulge more details, Konrad Wessner, general manager of Germany-based market research agency Puls, told the publication that drivers could use Google Glass for more applications.
"Drivers can access the Internet and infotainment applications with less distraction," he said. "Normally, you must take your eyes off of the road and look at a car console screen, but with Google Glass, your line of vision remains on the road."
If you're thinking about safety, you're not alone as Mercedes itself admits there could be some problems. "We obviously don't want people using Google Glass when they drive," said Jungwirth.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
