A reader sent in these shots of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan and E-Class Coupe at a private preview at Carcosa Seri Negara sometime earlier this month. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has already taken up teaser press ads in the newspapers with the tag line “Engineered around you” for the launch.

The base model for the E-Class and undoubtedly probably the most popular one in terms of sales will be the E 200 CGI, which will be powered by Mercedes-Benz’s new turbocharged direct injection engine. We’ve been waiting for this engine a long time, so the the old 1.8 liter Kompressor can be sent into retirement.

Look after the jump for a full photo gallery of the cars.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

We should have known this would happen. McLaren and Mercedes-Benz had begun slowly severing their ties, and you can see that from the introduction of the new SLS AMG and the McLaren MP4-12C. And now Mercedes-Benz’s purchase of the Brawn GP team (whom they were supplying engines to this season) will probably mean they could end their partnership with McLaren next season.

The ex-Honda Brawn GP team made history by getting both driver and constructor titles in its maiden race season. The team will now be called Mercedes GP. Mercedes-Benz has taken up a 75.1% stake in the team, while the remaining continues to be held by Ross Brawn and Nick Fry, who will remain as team principal and CEO respectively.

This will be the first time that Mercedes-Benz will have its own team since 1955. They will continue supplying engines to the McLaren team at least until the end of 2015, but I’m not too sure about having their name there. Mercedes currently owns 40% of the McLaren F1 team but McLaren will reacquire it over the next 2 years.

According to the Germans, Mercedes-Benz’s decision to increase their level of F1 involvement was thanks to recent agreements on budget cuts and the higher income share given to teams thanks to a new Concorde Agreement earlier this year.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Wanna know how much you’ll have to fork out for a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG if you’re in Europe? The car itself is sold at 149,000 Euros but you’ll actually have to pay an additional 19% VAT which brings the price up to 177,310 Euros. That’s about RM 892k, excluding the kind of crazy taxes you’ll have to pay to bring such a vehicle into Malaysia.

I’m not sure if Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will be bringing in and supporting this car but you can pretty much get anything at Naza Auto Mall if you have sufficient bank balance for it.

But here’s the thing, even at that astronomical price and with the SLS AMG being a single model car, you won’t be getting the best and most expensive SLS AMG out there. There is a whole list of expensive options that you can add to the car, including some ridiculously expensive ones like a carbon fiber engine cover going for over 4000 Euros, which makes it over RM20k. That’s nearly the price of a basic Perodua Viva here in Malaysia.

• AMG ceramic composite high-performance braking system: €9500 net/ €11,305 gross
• AMG performance suspension with a stiffer setup for optimum lateral dynamics: €1200 net/€1428 gross
• AMG light-alloy wheels in a 5-twin-spoke design, size 9.5 x 19 inches (front) and 11.0 x 20 inches (rear), tyre sizes 265/35 R 19 (front) and 295/30 R 20 (rear): €950 net/€1130.50 gross
• AMG forged wheels in a 10-spoke design, size 9.5 x 19 inches (front) and 11.0 x 20 inches (rear), with tyre size 265/35 R 19 (front) and 295/30 R 20 (rear): €2000 net/€2380 gross
• AMG performance steering wheel in leather/Alcantara: €400 net/€476 gross
• AMG sports bucket seats: €3300 net/€3927 gross
• AMG carbon-fibre engine compartment cover: €4000 net/€4760 gross
• “AMG alubeam silver” paint finish: €10,000 net/€11,900 gross
• “AMG monza grey magno” paint finish: €3250 net/€3867.50 gross
• AMG carbon-fibre trim (front stowage tray and rear stowage compartment including lid, AMG DRIVE UNIT surround, surrounds for the centre console, shiftgate and rear, trim strips for centre console and door armrests): €3500 net/€4165 gross
• AMG interior carbon package (carbon-fibre trim, trim on seat backrests and sides, door sill panels): €3500 net/€4165 gross
• Leather nappa exclusive single-/two-tone: €2500 net/€2975 gross
• Memory package with electric seat and steering column adjustment, as well as four-way lumbar support: €1225 net/€1457.75 gross
• 6-disc DVD changer: €660 net/€785.40 gross
• Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG surround sound system: €5900 net/ €7021 gross

The SLS AMG is an AMG car – there is no non-AMG ‘basic’ version out there and it’s supposed to be a halo flagship model. I understand if you have to pay a little more for in-car entertainment upgrades like the B&O system or the DVD changer but I’m wondering why things like an “AMG performance steering wheel” has to be a 400 Euro option.

I’m assuming its an upgrade from a standard steering but does that mean what you get as a standard steering is “non-AMG” or “non-performance”?

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

We probably won’t see Mercedes-Benz Malaysia offering the E-Class Wagon here in Malaysia but for wagon lovers you’ll probably enjoy these videos.

VIDEO: W212 E-Class Wagon – Night Drive

VIDEO: W212 E-Class Wagon – (e)State of the Art

VIDEO: W212 E-Class Wagon – Sushi

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Mercedes-Benz decided to showcase its new E-Class Estate’s interior capacity by building a 400 meter long slot car track inside it. A publicity stunt no doubt but still makes an interesting watch. Look for the video after the jump.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Mercedes-Benz has announced a new performance package for the high-performance C 63 AMG. Called the Performance Package Plus, it is available for both the sedan and wagon variants. The most crucial update thanks to the package is the bump in horsepower. The standard C 63 AMG outputs 457hp from its 6.3 liter V8 however with the package power is increased to 487hp.

The reason behind the 30hp jump is the use of forged pistons from the new SLS AMG’s powerplant. Mercedes also fitted new connecting rods and a lightweight crankshaft. These help reduce weight by about three kilograms. There is also a new engine management system.

The package also includes a new AMG high-performance braking system. The brake discs feature a composite design and are connected to an aluminium bowl to avoid temperature peaks. The connection between the disc and bowl is new. Instead of the usual screw connection, the aluminium bowl is now connected to the brake disc via cast-in arms. The auto maker claims that this can help provide a more homogenous temperature distribution on the brake disc.

An AMG carbon fibre spoiler lip on the boot lid (for the sedan) and an AMG performance steering wheel finished in nappa leather with its grip area trimmed in Alcantara make up the rest of the upgrades. Thanks to the revisions made to the engine, the C 63 can sprint from naught to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds (4.5 seconds for the estate) which means the acceleration time is reduced by 1.2 seconds.

It will continue till the speedometer tops out at 250 km/h (electronically governed). The Performance Package Plus costs €7080.50 for the sedan or €6426 for the estate. The package will be launched in December 2009. An additional €2856 will get you a new black designo leather that covers the upper section of the dashboard, the upper door trim and the armrest on the centre console.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

I have for your viewing pleasure a total of six videos on the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The new AMG-only sportscar is powered by a 6.2 liter V8 putting out 571 PS at 6,800rpm and 792Nm of torque at 4,750rpm. The engine is similiar to the bread and butter normally aspirated 6.2 liter V8 AMG engine designated M156, but in the SLS AMG it is called the M159 and has a few changes including a new intake system, revised valves and cams, and a dry sump instead of a wet sump. It’s a modern take on the 300SL Gullwing, but still retains its old school looks in a nice blend of retro-futurism.

Watch the videos after the jump.

VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG – Chassis Tech

VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG spreads its wings

VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG at the Mercedes-Benz Museum

VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG at the Frankfurt Motorshow 2009

VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG – Gran Turismo 5

VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG – The Facts

GALLERY: The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Like wagons? Good. Like Mercedes-Benz wagons? Even better. And to top it all off, there’s some very nice European countryside greenery for those who have yet to make it for an Eurotrip. Here’s a nice promo footage clip of the estate-bodied W212 E-Class AMG in action. UPDATE: Added footage of regular wagon. Watch the clips after the jump.

VIDEO: W212 E63 AMG Estate

VIDEO: W212 E-Class Estate

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

The car I’ve just described above is just one of the few Certified Pre-Owned cars that you can procure through its Proven Exclusivity Programme, a pre-owned car program that Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has just launched yesterday. The cars have gone through a 215 point check by Mercedes-Benz trained personnel. All the cars are not more than 5 years old and have less than 100,000km mileage, so you don’t have to worry about reconditioned dealers tampering with the odometer. The cars are also limited to those that were originally brought in by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and not via grey importers.

The Proven Exclusivity programme will be offered in phases at selected Mercedes-Benz dealerships nationwide starting with five dealerships – Cycle & Carriage Bintang Petaling Jaya, Cycle & Carriage Bintang Mutiara, Hap Seng Star Kinrara, NZ Wheels Klang and Lowe Motor Juru. Phase II, scheduled for early 2010, will see four more dealerships come on board. They hope to sell between 200 and 300 pre-owned cars in 2010 under the programme.

Related Posts:
REVIEW: Mercedes-Benz E 280 AMG Sports Package

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

A new world land speed record was set with a Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series this week. The car hit 322.5km/h at an Upington International Airport runway. The best part is – it was set by a blind man, Hein Wagner. And the record is of course the “land speed record for the blind.”

Wagner is a motivational speaker and he was born blind. He had also previously set a world land speed record for the blind back in 2005 in a Maserati, clocking 269km/h. It must be pretty scary to go that fast in a car when you can’t see.

His next challenge? Flying a Boeing with passengers from London to Johannesburg!

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Here’s the wagon version of the V8-powered Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG – 630Nm of torquey goodness and enough bootspace for nearly all family activities. And remember, there’s even small rearward-facing seats in case you need them. These photos are pretty hi-res so they’re good for replacing that RS6 Avant wallpaper you’ve been having on your computer for the past few months, if you’re bored of the Audi.

Check out the hi-res photos after the jump.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

The equivalent fuel costs of 3.3L/100km of diesel, and 0g/km of CO2 emissions. These are the eco-vital statistics of the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL, which will be delivered to about 200 customers in the US and Europe early 2010.

These customers will consist of mainly owners in Hamburg, Stuttgart and California where Daimler has cooperations going with government authorities and utility/oil companies. This car and the decision to sell it is the fruit of more than 100 test vehicles and a combined total of over 4.5 million km of trial testing.

The B-Class F-CELL uses a 136hp electric motor with a massive 290Nm of torque from as low as 1rpm. That’s basically the entire rev range of the motor. The hydrogen capacity can take the car up to 385km on a full tank (NEDC driving cycle) and the tank can be replenished at a hydrogen refueling system in only 3 minutes, which is way shorter time than any EV can promise, even with quick chargers.

There is a 1.4kWh lithium ion battery that is used to temporarily store the charge recovered from brake energy regeneration and this energy will also be used to provide a power boost to the electric motor.

Mercedes-Benz’s stand is that internal combustion engines powered by fossil fuels will remain to be relevant for a long time to come – alternative energy solutions as they are now do not satisfy the needs of long haul travel not only just for consumers, but especially inter-state transport. But urban transport within cities will definitely benefit from zero-emission and low cost electric drive.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Here’s some new footage of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate for those who are wagon lovers and admire Stuttgart’s pretty good-looking execution of the wagon bodytype on the new W212 E-Class. You get to see some of the wagon’s features in action such as the easy one-pull handle that can be used to fold the rear seats down in order to extend the wagon’s load area. The rear-facing third row small seats are also mentioned as being optional. Watch the video after the jump.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

For some reason, Mercedes-Benz had a great mix of ingredients – a video team, DTM driver Jamie Green and the new Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG, but the end result was a video that was quite devoid of any action. I believe the appropriate word to be used here would be “yawnfest”. But we do get to hear the sweet V8 growling away, albeit only a little towards the end of the video. And for that alone, watching the video is worth it, though I wouldn’t watch it a second time.

Enjoy the video after the jump.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

The full details of the new E-Class Estate are here. The new E-Class Estate measures 4895mm long, 1854mm wide and 1471mm tall and can carry up to a maximum of 1950 liters. It looks like a pretty sweet wagon really, with a proper wagon-like roofline. Give me this anytime rather than a fancy elongated hatchback with a sloping roofline!

A total of 10 engines will be available with the new W212 Estate, with an initial 5 engines offered – the E220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, E250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, E 350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY and the V8-powered E500.

Like most estate vehicles that are anticipated to carry heavier loads than their sedan brethren, the W212 Estate features an automatic self-levellling suspension at the rear as standard equipment, which helps ensure the ride height remains at the same level no matter what the vehicle’s load is. The suspension setup has been modified over the sedan version for the wagon – this means its got stiffer shock absorbers and torsion bar stabilisers.

Look after the jump for a nice full hi-res photo gallery.

VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate (E500 AMG Sport Package)

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

These medium-res photos of the new E-Class Wagon found their way on the net earlier this week. How it looks like is really no surprise considering this new W212 E-Class was first shown to the world in wagon form. But there’s one thing that caught my eye…

The new E-Class Wagon has third row seats! They’re quite small though, and they face rearwards. But they have proper seatbelts and all. Probably a nice cushiony area for your dog to lie You can look after the jump for more of the leaked photos.

More details will be unveiled when Daimler releases the full press pack.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

After rumors emerged that Mercedes will be producing an electric version of the upcoming SLS AMG Gullwing sports car, the auto maker has now officially announced that such a car will go into production.

Called the Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing with electric drive, this emissions free sports car will have a total of four electric motors positioned near the wheels, with one transmission per axle that will transmit the power. With this arrangement there will not be any transmission losses, according to Mercedes.

The Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing with electric drive can produce up to 526 horsepower, with a massive torque figure of 880Nm which is mind blowing! This allows the electric Gullwing to hit 100 km/h in just 4 seconds flat, up to an unspecified top speed.

According to Mercedes, the 4-second sprint figure rivals the figure offered by the 6.3 liter V8-powered Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing that develops 571 horses. Power is derived from a 400-volt battery pack (with an energy content of 48 kWh and a capacity of 40 Ah), that can be recharged via plug-in, as well as via regenerative braking.

Mercedes also revealed that the handling and driving characteristics of the Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing with electric drive will match its carbon fuel-powered sibling. The auto maker also mentioned that the electric car will have an optimum weight distribution, which is achieved by placing parts of the batter pack in front of the firewall, in the centre tunnel and behind the seats.

Both Mercedes and AMG will be producing the electric Gullwing, and will have Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. (a joint venture between Daimler AG and Evonik Industries AG) to provide the battery technology required in future. The auto maker did not reveal any information regarding production schedule of the electric sports car in the press release.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

The E-Guard is not your regular W212 E-Class – it’s been beefed up substantially to give extra protection to the occupant inside, but the extra protection are all hidden and cannot be seen by the naked eye. It starts off as a regular E-Class chassis, made to regular series production standards.

Next, protective elements are installed. These are precisely formed to exactly fit the contours of the bodyshell without encroaching on the interior space. The fit must be perfect to provide proper protection. The slightest misfit might cause a bullet to be able to pierce through. There is also optional underbody armour, which will allow the entire underfloor of the passenger area to withstand the explosion of a DM51 hand grenade.

All the extra protection helps the E-Guard conform to VR4 protection class. BMW’s “Security” series of armored cars also conform to this same specification. This means it can withstand handgun bullets of up to .44 Magnum in calibre at random angles of fire and not just via certain angles, to provide the most realistic protection possible. Runflat tyres in 17 inch size are used for additional protection (all BMWs except some M cars have this as standard), ensuring the car can still go at up to 50km and 80km/h speed in case attackers damage the tyres.

Of course all the extra parts makes the E-Guard so much more heavier than a regular E. Brakes, suspension and stability control systems must be adjusted and recalibrated to suit the new weight. The E-Guard uses a special Level II version of the AIRMATIC air suspension system as standard.

Look after the jump for some pretty interesting videos talking about the E-Guard and its assembly process. It also demonstrates with a loaded gun the difference between a normal W212 and the E-Guard in terms of bulletproofness. Enjoy the videos!

VIDEO: All about the Mercedes-Benz E-Guard

VIDEO: The Mercedes-Benz E-Guard’s run-flat tyres

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Mercedes-Benz has just released a couple of more photos of their Concept BlueZERO, which many say is most likely a preview of what the next generation B-Class will look like.

But like the name indicates, the BlueZERO is not just a showcase of future production models. The 4220 x 1890 x 1590mm vehicle uses a sandwich floor construction, much like the current A-Class and B-Class, but it’s been modified a little to accomodate electric drive. There are three versions of the Concept BlueZERO but with one commonality, all are front wheel drive with an electric motor at the front axle.

With the BlueZERO E-CELL, two lithium ion battery packs (liquid cooled 35kWh capacity battery) are placed in the sandwich floor behind the electric motor. The other two variants are the BlueZERO F-CELL which is fuel-cell-powered with a battery and hydrogen tank in the sandwich floor.

Finally there is the E-CELL PLUS which is a range extender electric car, with some form of combustion engine used to recharge the batteries, like the Chevy Volt. Right now the proposed combustion engine is an inline-3 turbocharged petrol engine from the smart fortwo, producing 50kW.

Anyway check out the full gallery after the jump.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

With the industry being the way it is now, there have been plenty of talks about this or that brands being sold here and there, and of mergers, alliances, and share swaps.

The latest are rumours that Daimler, who have also been said to possibly do a stake swap with BMW, is in deep talks since the end of May 2009 to take up a stake in Porsche. This was according to a German business magazine called “manager magazin“.

Despite achieving things like owning a large amount of Volkswagen Group shares, Porsche is currently in debt (likely thanks to the Volkswagen stake buys) and has asked for German state aid while in talks to sell a stake to Qatar via the Qatar Investment Authority. Its debt tripled to 9 billion Euros after it raised its Volkswagen stake to 50.8% earli this year.

A Daimler AG spokesperson dismissed the report as speculation, while spokespersons from Porsche and Volkswagen said they were not aware if there were such talks.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Daimler is now selling a special trim level for the W204 C-Class, a “Special Edition” that can be had in either sedan or wagon bodystyle. The car features darkened front headlamps with a dark cover frame, a new iridium grey paintwork (obsidian black, palladium silver, iridium silver or calcite white optional), shoulderline trim strips in polished aluminium, silver matt radiator grille with a chrome ring and chromed twin louvres, chrome highlights in the bumper, a glossy black B-pillar, and finally it rides on 17-inch 5-spoke light-alloy wheels with mixed-size tyres (235/60R17 at the front, 255/55R17 at the rear), or optional 16 inch wheels.

Look after the jump for a small gallery of the new edition.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Full details and photos of the new Mercedes-Benz ESF 2009 research vehicle have been unveiled. Based on the S 400 HYBRID, the Mercedes-Benz ESF 2009 essentially features 5 key new safety elements which are the following:

• PRE-SAFE Structure – The inflatable metal structures save weight or increase the stability of structural components. When at rest, the metal section is in a folded state to save space. If its protective effect is required, a gas generator builds up an internal pressure of 10 to 20 bar within fractions of a second, causing the section to unfold for significantly more stability.
• Braking Bag – If the car’s sensor system concludes that an impact is unavoidable, the Braking Bag located under the car is deployed shortly before the crash and stabilises the car on the road surface by means of a friction coating. The vehicle’s vertical acceleration increases the friction, and helps to decelerate the vehicle before the impact occurs.
• Interactive Vehicle Communication – The ESF 2009 is able to communicate directly with other vehicles, or via relay stations. Using “ad hoc” networks and Wi-Fi radio technology, it is e.g. able to receive and transmit warnings of bad weather or obstacles in the road.
• PRE-SAFE Pulse – It reduces the forces acting on the torsos of the occupants during a lateral collision by around one third. It does this by moving them towards the center of the vehicle by up to 50mm as a precautionary measure. As an active restraint system, it uses the air chambers in the side bolsters of the seat backrests.
• Spotlight lighting function – This partial LED main beam specifically illuminates potential hazards. If the infrared camera of Night View Assist PLUS e.g. detects animals like deer at the roadside or pedestrians on the road, these can be briefly illuminated beyond the normal area covered by the main beams, as if by a spotlight.

Look after the jump for full descriptions of the various technology.

PRE-SAFE Structure: inflatable metal structures

It sounds like science-fiction: concealed metallic structures that wait patiently in a collapsed, space-saving state until they are required to go into action. Daimler researchers working together with the gas generator specialists at Autoliv spent two years actively researching such active metal support systems, and tested a variety of applications. For the very first time, inflatable metal side impact protection can be seen in the ESF 2009.

Imagine an inflatable mattress. When it is not needed, it is rolled up flat and e.g. consigned to a shelf in the attic. When inflated, however, it has a highly resistant structure that can easily carry a man weighing 100 kilograms. In-flatable metallic structures work in the same way: when not in use, the metal section is folded together to save space. Once its protective effect is needed, a gas generator just like those used to inflate airbags builds up an internal pressure of 10 to 20 bar within fractions of a second, the metal section is unfolded and the structure has significantly greater stability.

The advantages are obvious, and mainly involve packaging and weight: more stable structures can be accommodated within the increasingly tight installation spaces of an automobile, or weight can be greatly reduced while maintaining the same stability. Using the example of the side impact protection member in the doors of the S-Class, the researchers have calculated that around 500 grams less weight per door would be feasible.

Daimler safety researchers examined various applications for these innova-tive, crash-responsive metal structures, among them side impact protection, the side skirts and the seat cross-members. These have the advantage of being several centimetres away from the impact zone. The gas generator therefore only needs to be activated when a crash has definitely taken place.

One of the still unsolved problems of these protective members is that unlike the PRE-SAFE® measures already in series production, their active deformation is not reversible. Moreover, the activation of protective members installed well to the outside of the bodyshell that can be inflated by in-ternal pressure requires their deployment before the crash. The pre-crash sensor system must therefore provide highly reliable signals.

Another hurdle is the currently still uncompetitive cost level of the required gas generators in relation to the cost requirements for weight-saving meas-ures. These crash-responsive metal structures are therefore still a thing of the future – but the same was also once true of standard safety features like the airbag, ABS or ESP®.

Braking Bag: a braking parachute for the car

Airbags in cars have previously only been used as a restraint system for the occupants. In the future they might also be a PRE-CRASH- compo-nent, activating an auxiliary brake in the vehicle floor and improving both deceleration and compatibility with the other vehicle involved in the accident.

Energy is not only reducible by braking the road wheels: jet fighters and dragsters use braking parachutes, for example. And as early as 1952, Mer-cedes-Benz was already experimenting with an air-brake at the Le Mans race: when decelerating, the driver was able to move a metal panel on the roof of his racing SL to a vertical position. Even earlier, coachmen used special wheel chocks. These were placed in front of one of both rear wheels on long downhill gradients, and their iron-clad base helped to brake the ve-hicle during the descent.

This is an old idea that Mercedes safety researchers have revitalised on a similar principle with the Braking Bag, an airbag installed between the front axle carrier and the underbody panelling. If the sensor system concludes that an impact is inevitable, the PRE-SAFE® system not only initiates automatic emergency braking.

At the same time the Braking Bag is deployed just before the crash, supporting the car against the road surface by means of a friction coating. The vehicle’s vertical acceleration increases the friction and has an additional braking effect before the impact. The Braking Bag uses the PRE-CRASH sensors in Mercedes-Benz cars, which are already able to initiate preventive occupant protection measures in critical driving situations.

There are several advantages to this unusual auxiliary brake:

• The rate of deceleration is briefly increased to over 20 m/sec/sec. This scrubs additional energy beyond the potentials of a wheel brake, thereby reducing accident severity.
• Because the car is raised upwards by up to eight centimetres within a short time, the dive effect that occurs with conventional brakes is substantially compensated. This improves geometrical compatibility with the other party in an accident.
• This vertical movement also improves the effects of the restraint systems: the seats move towards the occupants by around three centi-metres, which enables the belt tensioners to take up more slack. The high deceleration rate before the impact has a “pretensioning” effect on the occupants, so to speak.
• Downward support for the vehicle during the crash reduces the typi-cal diving motion during a collision.

All in all, the braking airbag has the effect of an additional crumple zone.

Mercedes engineers have calculated that even at a low 50 km/h, the additional deceleration has the same effect as lengthening the front end by 180 mm. Initial driving tests in a C-Class have already shown the effectiveness of this new auxiliary brake – though it will still be some time before the Brak-ing Bag becomes another component of the PRE-SAFE® system.

Interactive Vehicle Communication: cars report what their sensors have detected

Cars sometimes know more about their surroundings than their drivers. With the help of intelligent communication systems, vehicles themselves are able to contribute to improved road safety and mobility.

A patch of black ice on the next bend? A bank of fog three kilometres down the road? A new traffic tailback where roadworks are being carried out? What used to come as an unpleasant surprise is far less frightening if the approaching driver receives an up-to-date is warning beforehand. This is a task that will in future be carried out by the other vehicles on the roads at the time – automatically, by radio. This is the basic idea behind Interactive Vehicle Communication.

Cars are nowadays able to collect a great deal of information about the cur-rent driving situation, as the numerous sensors, cameras and control units for the dynamic and assistance systems can register e.g. poor weather conditions just as well as sudden braking and avoiding maneuvers, or broken-down vehicles on the road. There are also other sources of information, for example local police reports. This information can be passed on via additional relay stations (”car-to-x”) such as radio masts at the roadside, stationary nodal points (e.g. traffic centers and overhead gantries) or via the internet. The onboard computer classifies all the reports according to plausibility and relevance. Tailback reports on the radio which are out-of-date or irrelevant to the individual driver will then be a thing of the past.

Mercedes engineers have been working on “Interactive Vehicle Communication” as a technology of the future for more than seven years. The ESF 2009 safety concept vehicle demonstrates the current status of this re-search: this Mercedes can automatically recognize an approaching police car, for example, and warn its driver by showing a symbol in the display. It is also possible to send and receive warnings of bad weather or obstacles in the road.

The exchange of data between vehicles is via so-called “ad hoc” networks, connections that are spontaneously formed between the vehicles over short distances. These wireless local area networks (WLANs) are self-organising, and require no external infrastructure. Transmission and reception is at a frequency of 5.9 gigahertz, over a distance of up to 500 metres. In fact the achievable communication range is much greater, as oncoming vehicles pass the messages on.

Cars that communicate with each other can do more than just pass on in-formation: linked to modern proximity control systems such as DISTRONIC Plus from Mercedes-Benz, they can help to harmonise the traffic flow and avoid tailbacks by automatically selecting the most suitable vehicle speed when joining a motorway. And collisions can be avoided if onboard sensors recognise an impending accident and automatically regulate the distance.

This technology is currently demonstrating its practicality in the “Safe Intelli-gent Mobility – Test area Germany” project (simTD), in which Mercedes-Benz and other German manufacturers and suppliers are taking part. Up to 400 vehicles communicate with each other in these, the world’s largest field trials for Interactive Vehicle Communication. simTD is being conducted in the densely populated Frankfurt/Rhine-Main area from autumn 2008 to 2012. Experts expect us-able mobile information networks with full coverage to become a possibility when around ten percent of all vehicles have this communications capability.

PRE-SAFE Pulse: an automatic nudge in the ribs

With the multiple award-winning PRE-SAFE® system, Mercedes-Benz has once again been underlining its role as a pioneer in the safety field since 2002: once the system recognises certain critical driving situations, PRE-SAFE® activates occupant protection measures as a precaution. As a further development, PRE-SAFE Pulse is able to reduce the loads acting on the torsos of the occupants by around one third during a side impact by preventively moving them towards the centre of the vehicle.

Out of harm’s way – every millimetre counts during an accident. When an impending lateral collision is recognised, PRE-SAFE Pulse as an active restraint system moves the driver and front passenger towards the centre of the vehicle, using air chambers in the side bolsters of the seat backrests. If the onboard sensors report that a side impact is inevitable, these are inflated within fractions of a second and give the seat occupants a slight nudge in the ribs. This impulse is enough to move them out of the danger zone by up to 50 millimetres.

Even before the accident, it also accelerates the seat occupant in the direction he/she will later take during the accident. This reduces the loads acting on the occupant during the impact. The seat does not need to be replaced or repaired when this preventive safety system has been activated, as PRE-SAFE Pulse is reversible.

PRE-SAFE Pulse is being developed on the basis of the dynamic multicontour seat in the new Mercedes E-Class. Depending on the steering angle, lateral acceleration and speed, the inflation pressure and volume of the air chambers in the side bolsters of the seat backrests are already varied to give the driver and front passenger even better lateral support.

Partial main beam: full beam ahead at all times

Whether as brake lights and indicators in many Mercedes models, or as daytime driving lights in the new E and S-Class, LED lighting technology is seeing increasing use at Mercedes-Benz. And things will be brightening up at night as well in future: Mercedes lighting specialists are working on an adaptive LED main beam system that automatically excludes oncoming traffic from the cone of light. A special spotlight function also allows potential hazards to receive additional illumination.

Main beam, low beam, main beam… anybody travelling on country roads in western Europe at night is seldom able to drive with the main beams on for very long. The frequency of oncoming traffic dictates that the driver is soon obliged to switch to low beam, either manually or more conveniently using the Main Beam Assist in the new Mercedes E-Class. This is not enough to satisfy the researchers at Mercedes-Benz, however. Because during the phases when the driver switches to low beam – with its shorter range – to avoid dazzling others, it is possible to overlook other road users or potential hazards.

The lighting specialists at Mercedes-Benz are therefore working on an LED-based adaptive main beam system. This enables the driver to leave the main beams switched on constantly. As soon as the system detects oncoming traffic with the help of a camera, it automatically adjusts the light distribution accordingly. The Mercedes ESF 2009 experimental safety vehicle shows precisely how this works. A headlamp is made up of 100 LEDs. These semiconductor elements can be individually activated, so that when there is oncoming traffic, the precise beam area in which other road users are located can be darkened down. The system recognises these using an infrared camera. The purely electronic module is also able to respond much faster than present electro-mechanical shutter/roller assemblies.

The light distribution can also be refined in the opposite direction: a special spotlight function in the LED array of the research vehicle also enables potential hazards to be highlighted. If the infrared camera detects pedestrians in the road ahead, for example, they can be briefly lit up beyond the normal main beam illumination, as if by an aimed spotlight. The driver is thus alerted to the potential danger.

Side Reflect: not all Mercedes are grey at night

Reflective material on the body and tyres could further improve the lateral visibility of vehicles, and help to avoid accidents at road junc-tions.

Reflective materials have long been commonplace in children’s clothing, and in the case of bicycles it is even mandatory to have reflectors in the wheel spokes. So the engineers at Mercedes-Benz asked themselves why the perceptual safety of cars could not be improved in the same way. Accordingly the ESF 2009 research car features appropriate reflective elements when viewed from the side. These modifications are not visible during the daytime, but the additional benefit shows up when dusk and darkness fall.

Together with the manufacturer Continental, Mercedes specialists have developed a reflective strip on the tyres which visually enlarges the wheels in daylight and creates an easily visible band of light when illuminated at night. As a further safety feature there are reflective seals between the doors and the roof, a joint development with the adhesive foil specialist 3M. The aim is to make the vehicle’s silhouette more easily visible in the dark. This enables potential accident situations on junctions or in the form of unlit, parked vehicles to be defused.

Reflective foils consist if a reflective base layer with tiny balls of glass. When a ray of light hits the foil, it is refracted by the glass balls, reflected by the base layer and refracted again on exiting. As a result, most of the light is reflected back in its original direction.

Belt Bag: a clever combination of a seat belt and airbag

The seat belt is regarded as one of the most important inventions of the 20th Century, and has saved countless lives. It has been further improved with belt tensioners and belt force limiters, but that is not the end of its development: an innovative extension to the width of the belt, known as a Belt Bag, is able to reduce the risk of injury even further in an accident.

When a seat belt limits the movement of its wearer’s torso as intended during a collision, it subjects the body to considerable forces. The Belt Bag, on whose development Mercedes-Benz is working intensively with the seat belt specialist Autoliv, practically doubles its width within fractions of a second during an accident. This increase in the width of the belt spreads the pressure over a wider area, thereby reducing the risk of injury. This is particularly beneficial for older passengers, whose ribcage is no longer so flexible.

As the name suggests, the Belt Bag is a combination of a seat belt and air-bag. When the crash sensors detect a serious impact, the airbag control unit activates the Belt Bag. A generator at the belt armature inflates the double-layered belt, which has Velcro seams. The volume of the Belt Bag is around four litres. The developers consider the Belt Bag to deliver the greatest benefits in the rear of the car, where conventional airbags cannot be installed. It is therefore conceivable that the Belt Bag could be used here by Mercedes-Benz in the foreseeable future.

Child Protect: safety and comfort for very small passengers

Mercedes engineers have thought about how children might travel even more safely in a car.

The two major advantages of the Mercedes concept study “Child Protect” over conventional child safety seats are an improved protective effect and greater comfort for the child. This is accompanied by a high level of quality and at-tractive visual integration of the seat into the interior of Mercedes models. This system jointly designed with the restraint system specialist Takata is suitable for children aged between three and 12 years (weight categories II and III). One special feature is its modular construction, as the height and width can be individually adapted to the child’s physical proportions.

“Child Protect” has a tubular frame construction. This design offers better support and greater rigidity than versions of moulded plastic during a side impact. The prominent side bolsters in the shoulder and head area keep the child in place and minimise body movement during an accident. At the same time they prevent the child from coming into contact with vehicle components penetrating into the interior, or with the passenger in the adjacent seat. This seat study, which is approved according to the ECE R44.04 standard, is also equipped with automatic, sensor-controlled airbag deactivation on the front passenger seat.

As an additional benefit, Mercedes engineers are considering the addition of a buggy subframe to the child seat. This would also ensure that children travel in comfort, style and safety outside the car.

PRE-SAFE 360°: full emergency braking before an impact

With the multiple award-winning PRE-SAFE® system, Mercedes-Benz has once again been underlining its role as a pioneer in the safety field since 2002: once the system recognises certain critical driving situa-tions, PRE-SAFE® activates occupant protection measures as a precaution. As a further development, PRE-SAFE 360° monitors not only the areas to the side, but also to the rear of the vehicle.

PRE-SAFE 360° uses short-range or multi-mode sensors to monitor the area behind the vehicle to a range of up to 60 metres. If the accident early-warning system registers that a collision is unavoidable, the brakes are ap-plied around 600 milliseconds before the impact. If the already stationary car is braked during a rear-end collision, this not only prevents secondary accidents where the car is e.g. uncontrollably shunted into a road junction or onto a pedestrian crossing. The severity of possible whiplash injuries to the occupants can also be reduced by application of the brakes, as the vehicle and therefore its occupants have less forward acceleration. The driver always has the final decision with PRE-SAFE 360°, however: if he accelerates because he is able to prevent the rear-end collision by moving forward, for example, the brakes are instantly released.

Contrary to the widely held opinion among drivers, it does not make sense to take one’s foot off the brake pedal before an impending rear-end collision. The correct action would be to apply the brakes as hard as possible, how-ever accident research findings show that the driver of a stationary vehicle impacted from the rear is moved backwards by up to 20 centimetres. This inevitably causes his feet to slip from the pedals.

The protective effect of PRE-SAFE 360° supports that of the NECK-PRO crash-responsive head restraints, which are already standard equipment in many Mercedes model series. If the sensor system detects a rear-end collision with a defined impact severity, it releases pre-tensioned springs inside the head restraints, causing the head restraints to move forward by about 40 millimetres and upwards by 30 millimetres within a matter of milliseconds. This means that the heads of the driver and front passenger are supported at an early stage than with conventional head restraints.

Size Adaptive Airbags: tailor-made airbags

The 1980 Mercedes S-Class (W 126) was the first series production car equipped with an airbag. In the meantime airbags have firmly established themselves across all vehicle segments. Airbags have saved many human lives and reduced the severity of injuries. Mercedes safety specialists are now working on a further improvement to their protective effect by developing airbags with a variable volume.

There are already adaptive airbags at Mercedes-Benz today, for in many model series the airbags are activated in two stages depending on the assessed severity of the impact. Future generations of this restraint system will not only take accident severity into account, but adapt themselves to the individual vehicle occupants: “Size Adaptive Airbags” automatically adjust their volume to the seating position and stature of the front passenger as recognised by the sensors. For whether a small front passenger is hunched up close to the dashboard or a tall front passenger has his seat moved well back is certainly a factor in the protective effect of the airbag. The weight of the front passenger, and therefore the forces acting on the airbag during an accident, are also important.

“Size Adaptive Airbags” enable occupant contact with the airbag to be optimally timed, whatever his weight and seating position. The restraint system can therefore dampen the impact to optimum effect. This Mercedes development varies the volume on the front passenger side between 90 and 150 litres. For purposes of comparison, conventional front passenger airbags have a volume of around 120 litres.

The system uses three retaining bands with which the airbag contours are adjusted to limit the volume. The retaining bands are fitted on electrically driven spools. When the airbag is activated, only as much band length is re-leased as the control unit has calculated on the basis of sensor data for the seating position and weight of the occupant.

Child Cam: keeping an eye on the kids

With the help of a small camera, drivers will in future be able to keep children traveling in the rear under control without taking their eyes off the road.

“Mum, Vanessa keeps pulling my hair!” “John’s seat belt isn’t properly fastened.” – Parents know that when the kids are on board, there is usually no shortage of action on the rear seats. But if the driver looks back to see what is going on, there is a risk of an accident. Accordingly Mercedes safety experts have developed “Child Cam”, a simple camera system that enables the kids to be observed without taking one’s eyes off the road.

A small camera is mounted on the roof lining behind the front seats. If re-quired its images can be transferred to the dashboard display – not in video form, but as sequences of stills to avoid distraction. The camera position provides a slight bird’s-eye view, which allows children in rear-facing child seats to be observed more easily.

“Child Cam” also shows rear areas that are not easy for the driver to ob-serve, e.g. the seat directly behind. And in the case of an estate car, SUV or van, it is also possible to monitor the luggage compartment. This is very useful if domestic pets are on board, for example.

Interseat Protection: don’t get too close to me

Danger not only comes from outside during an accident. In unfortunate cases even passengers wearing their seat belts can come into contact and injure each other. Interseat Protection in both seat rows helps to prevent this.

Mercedes safety specialists are presenting two proposed solutions in one with Interseat Protection: a protective system for the driver/front passenger and one for the rear-seat passengers. As a common feature of both, the occupants are physically separated from each other if the PRE-SAFE® system registers an accident. Within fractions of a second, a lattice-like airbag sup-port structure extends from between the front seats to keep the driver and front passenger apart. A seat-mounted solution like this has the advantage that the protective barrier adapts itself to the position of the front seats.

The seat position does not need to be taken into account in the rear, there-fore a protective pad located above the centre armrest is used when an accident is detected. This pad helps to prevent the two passengers in the rear from impacting each other. When the pad is at rest it can be activated as part of PRE-SAFE®. Within fractions of a second, the seat divider emerges and the two head supports are deployed.

Mercedes accident research has shown that during a side impact, and also during a rollover, the heads of the passengers move along different paths: around 50 milliseconds after the accident, the head of the person facing the impact changes the direction of its evasive movement towards the centre of the vehicle – impelled by the sidebag and head airbag. A second important finding from these analyses is that a collision between the passengers can only be avoided if the torso is supported. The protective pad of the Interseat Protection system is dimensioned accordingly.

In normal cases the protective pad in the rear is more of an innovative com-fort feature: the pad is designed to be extended by the passengers at the touch of a button, when it can be used as a head and shoulder support for a comfortable sleeping position. It would also be conceivable to use the space for stowage or a cooler box, or an entertainment console.

Hybrid Battery Shield: seven-stage safety system

A drive train with hybrid technology lowers fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. At the same time this introduces high-voltage electricity and sophisticated battery systems into passenger car engineering, how-ever. Thanks to their long experience with fuel cell technology, Mercedes development engineers are extremely well prepared for the new challenges this presents. A comprehensive, seven-stage safety con-cept is the result.

The challenge lay in not only complying with all the worldwide and in-house crash test requirements, but also in ensuring the greatest possible safety for the electrical components. This safety system already applies in production, includes workshop personnel during servicing and maintenance, and also takes the emergency services into account when passengers need to be re-covered following an accident. The seven-stage concept in detail:

1. In the first stage all the wiring is colour-coded to eliminate confusion, and all components are marked with safety instructions. This makes the regular technical inspections easier to carry out.

2. The second stage comprises comprehensive contact protection for the entire system by means of generous insulation and newly developed, dedicated connectors.

3. As part of the third stage, the lithium-ion battery has been given a whole package of carefully coordinated safety measures. This innovative battery is accommodated in a high-strength steel housing, and also secured in place. Bedding the battery cells in a special gel effectively dampens any jolts and knocks. There is also a blow-off vent with a rupture disc and a separate cooling circuit. An internal electronic controller continuously monitors the safety requirements and immediately signals any malfunctions.

4. The fourth stage of the safety concept includes separation of the battery terminals, individual safety-wiring for all high-voltage components and continuous monitoring by multiple interlock switches. This means that all high-voltage components are connected by an electric loop. In the event of a malfunction the high-voltage system is automatically switched off.

5. Active discharging of the high-voltage system as soon as the ignition is switched to “Off”, or in the event of a malfunction, is part of the fifth stage.

6. During an accident, the high-voltage system is completely switched off within fractions of a second.

7. As the seventh and last stage, the system is continuously monitored for short circuits.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Mercedes-Benz has taken the new W221 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid and modified it with experimental safety features. The new testbed is called the ESF 2009 Experimental Safety Vehicle.

The features are quite interesting – inflatable metal structures consisting of side impact bars that can be blown to pressure of between 10 to 20 bar, an “airbag brake” which is located below the car and inflates to create friction with the road to help reduce speed and raise the car up by 80mm to compensate for brake dive, seat bolsters that shift the passengers 50mm into the center of the cabin to reduce injuries from side impacts, and even seatbelts installed inside the airbags.

These are just a preview – the full press release has yet to be unveiled by Daimler. Stay tuned for full details on these experimental safety features.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Daimler AG has taken up a 10% stake worth US$50 million in electric car maker Tesla Motors, a move that depends their already pre-existing relationship where Tesla would equip 1,000 Smart cars with their electric motor and battery technology. According to Daimler chairman and Mercedes-Benz head Dieter Zetsche, Daimler wanted more than a supplier-customer relationship with Tesla.

“We are in a time of change. This industry is going through a kind of paradigm shift, and has to reinvent itself ultimately to be independent of petroleum and without CO2 emissions. We need fast technology change,” said Zetsche, and it seems that he sees Tesla’s technology as a way to achieve that fast technology change.

Of course this is a big score for the electric car camp. Any big manufacturers who votes yes for electric cars will steer the industry more towards electric motors and batteries instead of fuel cell cars or extended range hybrids as the defacto method of car propulsion in the future. Daimler has also invested in German battery company Li-Tec, and founded a battery production JV with Evonik Industries. These might end up supplying batteries for both Tesla and Daimler electric cars.

This could also mean Mercedes-Benz platforms could be used for future Tesla like a replacement for the Model S (shown above) in the future, but then again with the versatility in packaging with an electric car, a platform designed for a combustion engine might not be the completely optimal solution.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Mercedes-Benz is really letting alot of information on the new SLS AMG out to the public even before the full production car is unveiled or launched. We’ve previously seen sketches, self-snapped “spyshots” and even full blown undisguised interior images, but now here’s over 15 minutes of footage of the SLS AMG on all aspects including the disguised SLS tearing up some roads and some snowy areas, the AMG V8 engine assembly, and so much more. Check the video out after the jump together with the previously released images of the SLS AMG. You can even see the Gullwing doors in action in the video.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

Mercedes-Benz talks about the rather odd F-CELL Roadster in this video production which you can watch after the jump. When the F-CELL Roadster was announced near the end of March this year many dismissed it as an April Fool’s gag because of how bizarre it was. It takes retro-futurism to a whole new level, as this is inspired by a model that was way way in the past.

We’re talking about a 1.6 horsepower fuel cell with a top speed of 25km/h, hardly anything that serves modern motoring needs, and we haven’t even gotten around to the lack of a roof yet. If put into production in its current state it could possibly serve as some kind of luxury golf course transportation, or some kind of Segway-like vehicle at most.

Halfway through the video comes the answer – it was actually built by Mercedes-Benz apprentices as some kind of training project for them.

Watch the video after the jump.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

In a rather surprising move, Mercedes-Benz has released photos early of the new yet to be launched SLS AMG, the new Gullwing car to come out of Stuttgart’s stables.

Mercedes-Benz the dashboard is shaped like a wing, and the centre console like the style of a jet. Even the air cond vents are suppoesd to remind you of aircraft engines, with a touch of retro-ism in it. And of course, the new Gullwing car will have “swing-doors”, which are the Gullwing doors.

The new Mercedes-Benz SLS-Class will come only in AMG form. The SLS AMG will be powered by AMG’s 6.2 liter V8 monster mounted at the front, mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission in a transaxle configuration to help achieve a 48:52 weight distribution, which would be Daimler’s first use of a twin clutch transmission in a Mercedes-Benz car.

The SLS AMG’s chassis will be built with aluminium spaceframe body technology with extensive usage of aluminium even in the suspension system, particularly the double wishbones. A target kerb weight of 1,620kg excluding the driver has been set. This means the 6.2 liter’s 571 horses and 650Nm of torque will propel the SLS AMG to 100 km/h in only 3.8 seconds, and on to a top speed of 315km/h.

The V8 AMG engine codenamed M159 will have forged pistons, a reinforced crankshaft bearing, optimised crankcase structure, and a on-demand high-performance oil pump. It will weigh 206 kg.

The transaxle setup of the dual clutch (a real twin clutch, not SPEEDSHIFT MCT) transmission will be similiar to that of the DTM C-Class. Transaxle means while the engine is at the front, the gearbox is at the rear axle. It is connected to the engine with a torque tube, in which a carbon fiber shaft turns at engine speed.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of material released by Mercedes-Benz on the upcoming SLS AMG.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

The latest addition to the hot rumor pot is the possibility of Stuttgart-based auto maker Mercedes Benz pulling out of Formula 1 as the recent “lie-gate” scandal involving the McLaren Formula 1 team intensifies. Apparently, Daimler AG’s CEO, Dieter Zetsche has revealed to a German-based publication that, “If circumstances should change, perhaps because of an unreasonable punishment by the FIA, it is possible that we could consider our engagement,”.

In a couple of days, the World Motor Sport Council will meet and a decision will be issued out regarding the scandal that involves the McLaren outfit not being truthful regarding the yellow flag incident at the 2009 season opener in Melbourne, Australia.

The Woking-based outfit is expected to face severe penalties, and it does make sense for Mercedes to think about pulling out if it feels that the FIA’s decision is unreasonable. The premium brand is not only supplying its V8 powerplants to McLaren, but to two other teams as well, including the slower Force India and Brawn GP.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

The new facelifted version of the W164 Mercedes-Benz ML is now here in Malaysia from RM548,888 for the ML 350. Other than the 272 horsepower V6 ML 350, the 388 horsepower V8-powered ML 500 and the 510 horsepower ML 63 AMG will also be available but these are only for special orders.

Changes on the outside include a new bumper and new headlamps with a step in the lower edge, which continues below and around the front grille. The ML also has a new look for the underguard which makes the ML look wider.

On the rear, there is a new rear bumper, and an optional stainless steel underguard which can conceal the exhaust system.

There are also changes on the interior including door center panels that are now trimmed with ARTICO man-made leather. The in-car entertainment/telematics system has been updated to the latest version with LINGUATRONIC and also includes a charging function for multimedia devices connected to the USB port.

Look after the jump for a full list of details.

Exterior

• All-new front-end design with prominent horizontal lines
• New radiator grille with three black louvres and chrome highlights (available in sterling silver look with chrome highlights as an option in the exterior sports package)
• New-look projection-beam headlamps
• New exterior mirrors with larger mirror surfaces
• New rear bumper
• Tail lights with darkened lenses (LED tail lights with clear-glass look as an option)
• Twin exhaust system with oval tailpipes (rectangular chromed tailpipes in the exterior sports package as an option, standard for V8)
• Roof rails included in standard specification
• Chrome trim strip in the rub strips (optional in the exterior sports package, standard for V8)
• Waistline trim strip in chrome (optional in the exterior sports package, standard for V8)
• Load sill guard on the rear bumper in chrome (optional in the exterior sports package, standard for V8)
• Exterior sports package with new, enhanced features such as aluminium-look roof rails

Interior

• Leather-trimmed dashboard in nappa leather or ARTICO man-made leather
• Door linings in ARTICO man-made leather
• New two-tone leather appointments
• Leather multifunction steering wheel in four-spoke design with shift paddles
• Seats with new design
• Three types of wood trim: burr walnut, poplar with bird’s-eye look or poplar in anthracite, with stowage compartment in dashboard console as standard
• Luggage cover in standard specification

Comfort

• 4-way electrically adjustable lumbar support for driver and front passenger seats
• Trailer coupling, manually folding

Infotainment

• COMAND system with large colour display and new additional functions
• COMAND APS including hard-disc navigation, Music Register and voice-operated control
• Universal media interface for connecting an iPod and other audio devices
• LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control system with whole-word recognition capability
• Surround sound system with twelve speakers and an output of 610 watts
• Rear-seat entertainment system with larger screens and wireless headphones

Safety

• PRE-SAFE® as standard
• NECK-PRO head restraints as standard

Engine

• Fuel consumption reduced by up to 0.4 litres per 100 kilometres

Chassis

• New 17, 18, 19 and 20-inch light-alloy wheels
• 19-inch 5-spoke light-alloy wheels standard for V8

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.

The first TV commercial for the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe has been released and actually brings the concept of a car commercial all the way back to old times where horsepower actually meant horsepower, and in this case referring to a car as a sexy lady with a curvy body is more literal than a figure of speech. Check out both the TV commercial and a “making of” video after the jump.

VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe TVC “Beauty”

VIDEO: The Making Of E-Class Coupe TVC “Beauty”

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 05:42:47 +0800.