Advertisement

AMG could produce diesel performance engines

November 28, 2009 at 9:33 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Mercedes Benz

Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division is considering to use different types of fuel in the future to power its high performance cars, according to WHATCAR that is. This is further fueled by the recent confirmation that the company will build an electric-powered SLS AMG that can output up to 526hp and 880Nm of torque.

When asked about developing and using high performance diesel engines, AMG’s product manager Oliver Wiech said, “We are taking an open view and looking at lots of options, but if you look at our announcement on the electric SLS, you can see what is in the future.”

Recent diesel engines are very efficient and they can also offer bags of power, especially since they can produce very high torque. For example, BMW’s 530d is able to generate 245hp and a 540Nm of torque from its 3.0 litre 6-cylinder powerplant.

Source

39 Comments      

Mercedes-Benz launches the all-new W212 E-Class Sedan and Coupe in Malaysia!

November 25, 2009 at 5:16 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Local News, Mercedes Benz

Mercedes-Benz has officially launched the all new W212 E-Class for the local market. The company did not only unveil the sedan version but the coupe variant as well. My first impression after looking at the real thing is that pictures don’t do the car justice. It looks better in real life. A total of three models are available and two of them are from the coupe family.

The sedan front is made up by the locally assembled E 300 Avantgarde that features a 3.0 litre gasoline V6 that outputs 231hp at 6,000 revs and 300Nm of torque between 2500 revs and 5000 revs. The engine is mated to a 7G-TRONIC 7-speed automatic transmission. This Avantgarde model comes equipped with bi-xenon headlamps with the Intelligent Light System, LED daytime running lights, 17-inch allow wheels in a five-twin-spoke design, a lowered suspension, ambient lighting as well as an instrument cluster treated to a sporty tubular design. There are also different bumpers and a chrome-plated radiator grille with three high-gloss, black louvres.

The E300 Avantgarde also comes with ATTENTION ASSIST which is a drowsiness detection system. This system observes the driver’s steering behavior and will then warn him or her. Other standard safety features include eight airbags and PRE-SAFE which will takes preventive protective measures if the system detects a potential hazardous situation.

The Adaptive High Beam Assist uses a camera on the windscreen to recognize oncoming traffic and will automatically dip the beam. Once the road ahead is clear, the system will switch the high-beam back on. There is also a DIRECT CONTROL system that controls the shock absorbers to adapt to different driving situations. If it detects that the driver is driving in a spirited fashion it will switch to maximum damping effect or reduce damping effect during normal driving.

Inside, the seats feature padded seat piping which involves the insertion of an additional foam filling under the fabric or leather cover to help improve comfort. There is also a multi zone THERMOTRONIC climate control system that allows individual settings for three zones including for the driver, front passenger and rear passengers. It also has three ‘climatisation’ modes including ‘Diffuse’, ‘Medium’ and ‘Focus’. Mercedes-Benz has also added BlueEFFICIENCY measures to help reduce fuel consumption.

These include low-resistance tires as well as energy-saving control of the alternator, fuel pump, air conditioning compressor and power steering. Basically these parts will only be used only when needed. The new E-Class also has a low drag coefficient of 0.25. It also has automatically adjustable fan louvres that control the airflow to the engine bay in line with the engine’s cooling requirements. All of these will set you back RM 455,888 (OTR without insurance). Mercedes-Benz also revealed that it will introduce the E 200 CGI (which will be the real volume seller for the E-Class) real soon followed by the E 250.

The coupe family is made up by the E 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Coupe and the E 350 Coupe. Both of these models are fully imported. The former is able to output 204hp and 310Nm of torque between 2000 revs and 4300 revs from its 4-cylinder engine while the V6 engine in the latter is able to crank out 272hp and 350Nm of torque between 2400 revs and 5000 revs.

The E-Class Coupe in Malaysia comes standard with the AMG Sports package that includes an AMG front apron with large air intakes, AMG side skirts and an AMG rear apron with a black insert. There are also 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels in a 6 twin-spoke design with wide-base tires in size 235/40 R 18 at the front and 255/35 R 18 at the rear, sports suspension with a stiffer spring, shock absorber and stabiliser setup combined with large, perforated brake discs at the front as well as brake callipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering. It also has a sports speed sensitive steering with a more direct ratio.

The E 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Coupe goes for RM 458,888 while the E 350 Coupe demands a whopping RM 666,888.

You will find an image gallery after the jump.
[Read more...]

99 Comments      


New E-Class Sedan and Coupe at Carcosa

November 17, 2009 at 8:51 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Mercedes Benz

E-Class Coupe

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.

E-Class Sedan

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 litre Kompressor can be sent into retirement.

Look after the jump for a full photo gallery of the cars.
[Read more...]

55 Comments      

Brawn GP to be called Mercedes GP!

November 17, 2009 at 8:01 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Formula 1, International News, Mercedes Benz, Motorsports

Mercedes GP F1 Car

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.

28 Comments      

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG to cost 177,310 Euros

November 14, 2009 at 12:21 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Mercedes Benz

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

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”?

67 Comments      

3 promo footages of the W212 E-Class Wagon

November 4, 2009 at 2:15 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Mercedes Benz, Videos

W212 Wagon

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.
[Read more...]

4 Comments      

VIDEO: 400 meter slot car track in a W212 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

November 3, 2009 at 8:43 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Mercedes Benz, Videos

W212 Estate

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.
[Read more...]

12 Comments      

Performance Package Plus for the Mercedes C 63 AMG

October 22, 2009 at 11:27 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Mercedes Benz

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 litre 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.

13 Comments      

6 videos on the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG!

October 19, 2009 at 2:17 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Mercedes Benz, Videos

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

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 litre 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 litre 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.
[Read more...]

20 Comments      

VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate

October 14, 2009 at 1:07 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Mercedes Benz, Videos

w212-amg-estate

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.
[Read more...]

5 Comments