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McLaren F1 Car vs Mercedes Road Cars, Part 2

I’m sure alot of you have watched this video pitting an F1 car driven by David Coulthard against a Mercedes Benz E50 and a Mercedes Benz A160 on a race track, it’s one of the more popular car-related videos on the internet.

Now before you say it is not a fair race, the A160 and the E50 actually got a big head start, but the Formula 1 car still managed to catch up in the end.

The A160 isn’t exactly the fastest thing on the road, and the E50 while having a large displacement isn’t meant to be a track weapon. This video brings the stakes closer together, pitting Coulthard in an F1 car once again against Mercedes-Benz cars.

This time the cars are the Mercedes Benz C200K Coupe, the Mercedes Benz SL55 AMG, and the Mercedes Benz CLK DTM.

Check out the video after the jump.

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Mercedes Benz F 700 with DIESOTTO engine

f700
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The Mercedes Benz F 700 was unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, but was exhibited again at the Tokyo Motor Show a few weeks later. It’s what Mercedes Benz thinks a luxury long distance touring saloon of the future ideally should be, so we should expect it to point to the direction of the next generation S-Class.

Probably the first Mercedes Benz sedan with an A pillar window (hatchbacks like the A-Class already have an A pillar window if I’m not mistaken), the F 700 is certainly looks odd from the outside, with it’s strange curved side window profile, and its oversized front grille with vertical LED strip front headlamps. Mercedes Benz calls this design language “Aqua Dynamic”, which emulates the soft flowing forms of a fish.

But the interior looks fairly orthodox as far as luxury cruiser interiors go, designed to seat a driver and 3 passengers very comfortably. The front passenger seat can be put into relaxation mode - not for the front passenger of course as the seat has to be vacant for it to do this - but for the rear right passenger. The rear passenger seat situated behind the front passenger seat can even be turned around to face the rear of the car - Mercedes rather uncreatively calls this feature the REVERSE seat. He can have face to face conversations with the other rear passenger this way.

Despite the F 700 name, it does not indicate a 7 liter engine under the hood, or even the equivalent of a 7 liter engine. Instead, the engine used to power this concept is the Mercedes Benz DIESOTTO engine concept. This four cyclinder engine puts out the equivalent of a 3.5 liter normally aspirated V6 petrol or a 3.0 liter V6 turbodiesel in Mercedes terms. The name DIESOTTO seems to indicate something related to diesel, but the engine consumes petrol. This is just a guess but the word DIESOTTO is probably some combination of Diesel cycle combustion and Otto cycle combustion.

The DIESOTTO engine has 1.8 liters of displacement but puts out 238 horsepower with smoothness worthy of a luxury tourer thanks to a two-stage turbocharging system. Take-off is also assisted by a hybrid module, which uses a 15kW (20 horsepower) motor - this gives a total output of 258 horsepower and a maximum torque of about 400Nm. The F 700 can reach 100km/h in 7.5 seconds, up to a limited top speed of 200km/h. Fuel consumption is rated at 5.3 liters per 100km, and CO2 emissions is rated at 127g/km.

The engine works like a normal Otto cycle engine on starting and at full load, using spark ignition and the usual works. But at low and medium engine speeds, or generally partial load conditions the DIESOTTO engine uses something similiar to a Diesel cycle - controlled auto ignition or homogeneous combustion. I’ve previously blogged about homogeneous combustion here, so read up if you want to know more on that.

The F 700 at 5.18 meters is shorter than the current S-Class long wheel base, but it’s wheelbase is 3.45 meters, longer than the production model S-class by 28.5cm. Other technologies include PRE-SCAN suspension, which uses two laser sensors in the front headlamp units as “eyes”. These feed the car suspension system information on roadway conditions. This information helps the suspension hydraulic systems precisely calculate fluid flows and pressures for each single wheel, ensuring maximum comfort.

Many more photos after the jump.

Related Posts:
Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition

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W204 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Short Test Drive


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DaimlerChrysler Malaysia (soon to be Mercedes-Benz Malaysia), gave the media, and some rubber-necking commuters from Glenmarie to Cameron Highlands, a chance to get acquainted with the new C-Class, set to fill many an upcoming taukeh’s driveway from November onwards.

Shannon Teoh was there to fiddle with the Bluetooth Telephony. More after the jump.

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Teaser site for the W204 C-Class in Malaysia

Mercedes Benz C-Class

DaimlerChrysler Malaysia has put up a teaser site for the new W204 Mercedes Benz C-Class called C-For-Yourself. Apparently some showrooms already have a W204 on display. There is one on display at Cycle’s Mutiara Damansara showroom tonight at 7pm, and it will be on display at Cycle’s showroom on the Federal Highway on Saturday.

Features highlighted on the teaser site include Agility Control which automatically controls the two-mode suspension system, and the 7G-Tronic 7-speed automatic. There is also an optional dynamic handling package which lets you switch between a sporty or comfort suspension setup at a touch of a button. The sporty mode also modifies accelerator response and gear change time.

This should mean the W204 will be launched pretty soon, as from what I hear journalists have already gone on a media preview test drive (I did not get to go but you will be able to read about the car here one way or another somehow ;) )and there have been a few units of the W204 spotted in Glenmerie recently.

I’ve hosted some interesting videos after the jump, but all of them are available at the C-For-Yourself site.

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MINI platform for next gen A-Class?

Automobilwoche reports that DaimlerChrysler is considering platform sharing with other manufacturers for the next generation A-Class which is set to debut around 2010 or 2011. This means the current sandwich construction platform will be axed, as it’s expensive construction reduces profitability on the already relatively cheaper model.

The report says that one platform being considered is BMW’s MINI platform, which will help both companies as BMW could do with better economies of scale for the MINI. BMW has already previously mentioned an increased cooperation with Mercedes-Benz is welcome as it would help both carmakers enrepreneurial freedom.

The new A-Class platform will spawn at least 3 models - an A-Class, a B-Class, and another future entry-level model.

Source

Related Posts:
BMW wants to increase cooperation with Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes Benz might drop A-Class

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Brabus Bullit: W204 C-Class with 1,320Nm of torque

For the relatively lower end of the C-class loving Brabus customer market you have the Brabus C-Class with bored and stroked 4.0 liter V6, and then on the opposite end of the market you have this monster - the Brabus Bullit.

Based on the W204 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, them engineers at Brabus have stuffed their frightening flagship 6.3 liter twin turbocharged V12 engine into it. Just a recap - this engine puts out 720 horsepower at 5,100rpm and 1,320Nm of torque from 2,100rpm on RON98 fuel. Yes, way over a thousand Newton meters of twisting action, but Brabus has taken the liberty of electronically limiting this to 1,100Nm of torque so that the car is actually driveable, not to mention to protect the gearbox and lengthen tyre lifespan.

A strengthened 5-speed automatic gearbox (4 speed plus 1 overdrive, 40% rear differential locking rate) sends power to the rear wheels, a few cogs less than most high powered supercars these days but to be honest with that kind of torque, I think it might just survive on just one gear from 0km/h to top speed. But with 5 cogs, you get from 0 to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds, and up to 200km/h in 10.49 seconds - much faster than most cars can even get to 100km/h. 300km/h is achievable in 24.5 seconds, and top speed is more than 360km/h.

The bodykit fitted on the Brabus Bullit has been wind-tunnel engineered and every little vent is functional, either providing cooling to the radiators or the front brakes, and their very shape minimizes aerodynamic lift. The engine bay hood is made of aluminium and features ventilation slots for cooling purposes. The Brabus rocker panels smoothen out the air stream along the sides of the car.

The aluminium fenders are flared, making the Bullit wider by 6cm compared to a standard W204. The extra width is necessary to accommodate the wide Brabus wheels wrapped with Yokohama Advan high-performance tyres - 265/30/ZR19 at the front and 285/30/ZR19 at the rear.

The Brabus height-adjustable coil-over suspension has been tuned to support the heavy V12 at the front and features 10 different selectable settings for bound and rebound. The setup uses a three-link, anti-dive geometry design with a sport sway bar at the front while the rear uses a 5-link, anti-dive and anti-squat design, also with a sport sway bar. Brakes are 12-pot aluminium fixed calipers and 380mmx37mm vented and grooved discs at the front, while the rear stoppers are 360mmx28mm discs with 6-pot aluminium fixed calipers.

Many more photos available after the jump.

Related Posts:
Brabus SV12 S Biturbo Coupe
Brabus C-Class with bored and stroked 4.0 liter V6
Brabus S V12 S Biturbo S-Class
Brabus Rocket CLS V12 S Biturbo
Brabus E V12 Biturbo

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Mercedes-Benz might outsource transmissions

Mercedes Benz logoMercedes-Benz has been building it’s transmissions like the 7G-Tronic in-house, unlike most manufacturers who buy them from a transmission specialist, like how BMW gets it’s sweet quick-shifting 6-speed autos from ZF.

In an effort to cut costs and increase innovation, Mercedes-Benz is now considering sourcing transmission from a third party transmission builder. It is on the lookout for an 8-speed dual clutch transmission for next generation Mercedes-Benz cars.

It’s rival BMW has M DCT, a 7-speed dual clutch transmission sourced exclusively from Getrag. Getrag also supplies dual clutch transmissions to Ford, branded as Powershift. The next generation 7-Series is expected to get an 8-speed automatic from ZF. Japanese rival Lexus gets it’s 8-speed automatic transmissions from Aisin.

Source

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W204 Mercedes Benz C-Class Estate Unveiled

W204 C-Class Estate
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The second body variant of the new W204 C-Class has been unveiled by the boys of Stuttgart ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show this month - the Mercedes Benz C-Class Estate. Like most bread and butter Mercedes Benz cars, it comes in three trim levels - Classic, Elegant and Avantgarde.

The estate rear end allows for a variable boot capacity of 485 liters with the rear seats up extendable to a large 1500 liters when the split-folding rear seats are down, an increase of 146 liters over the previous generation C-Class Estate. The largest possible cuboid item volume that can fit in the boot now is 827 litres, an increase of 66 litres compared to the previous generation. Two bag hooks and four anchor rings are included in the boot as standard. Mercedes Benz has equipped with the C-Class Estate with what it calls an EASY-PACK tailgate which opens and closes at the push of a button.

Drivers who want something sportier may opt for the AGILITY CONTROL Package that offers the driver the choice of Comfort and Sport suspension settings at the touch of a button. The C-Class shock absorbers will then regulate themselves via infinitely variable electronic control to match the mode you’ve chosen. The AGILITY CONTROL package also lowers the body by 15mm and is equipped with shorter springs and thicker torsion bars. The speed-sensitive power steering also has a more direct ratio.

Baseline engines include the C180 Kompressor and the C200 Kompressor 1.8 liter inline-4 supercharged engines, while the oil burners consist of the C200 CDI, C220 CDI and C320 CDI turbodiesels. The top of the range non-AMG C-Class Estate is the C350 V6 mated to the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission. More details on these engines can be obtained from my previous post on the W204 C-Class Saloon.

Related Posts:
New 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class Saloon Unveiled

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W204 Mercedes Benz C-Class spotted in Glenmarie

W204 in Malaysia
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This W204 C-Class was spotted in Glenmarie by reader Stephen near the Mercedes-Benz warehouse, which means we’ll be able to see the new C-Class on our roads soon. You can see another one somewhere in the background.

This particular model has the classic grille, but there is another sportier version of the grille with a large Mercedes-Benz badge smack in the middle. You’ll see it in the Anything you can do I can do better advertisement posted here earlier this week, on the C-Class driven by Alonso.

For now, read more on the W204 in the related links below, especially the sexy Brabus-kitted C-Class.

Related Posts:
New 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class (W204) Unveiled
W204 Mercedes Benz C63 AMG
Brabus tunes the W204 C-Class
Kicherer K35 CS C-Class

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DaimlerChrysler seeks rights to Daimler name

Mercedes Benz logoNow that DaimlerChrysler AG has washed its hands off the Chrysler group, it wants to rename itself to Daimler AG. But that might not make as much sense as you think it would legally. This is because the future Daimler AG would not have the rights to the Daimler brand.

Instead, the name belongs to Jaguar, who uses it for some of it’s high end cars. Jaguar acquired rights to the Daimler name in 1960 when it bought the Daimler Motor Company, the British carmaker set up by Frederick Simms when he acquired the patents to the Gottlieb Daimler engines and the use of the Daimler name.

DaimlerChrysler AG is currently in legal discussions with Ford Motor Co who owns Jaguar on the use of the Daimler brand name.

DaimlerChrysler will now be allowed to use the name alone or in combination with other words as the title of a trading company, a trade name or a corporate name. The extended usage agreement does not, however, affect either company’s existing right to use the Daimler name for a product,” said a Ford spokesman.

There are some critics who oppose the Daimler AG proposed name change, instead suggesting Daimler-Benz AG, which was the group’s name before it merged with the Chrysler group in 1998. It is suggested that leaving the Benz name out ignores the contribution of Karl Benz to the company.

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