Archive for Mercedes Benz

You could say the most recent Mercedes Benz E-Class model spearheaded Mercedes Benz’s new reputation for bad quality control, something that many international members of the automotive industry have been talking about. A pity though, as my uncle-ish taste (I drive a Perdana don’t I?) is fond of the E’s looks.

The boys at Stuttgart did an amazing rebound recentty though. After years of what some call a humiliatingly low position in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey, the recently redesigned Mercedes Benz E-Class has come up tops in the premium mid-sized category of the most recent IQS! The new S-Class also topped the large mid-sized sedan category, but in a tied position with the Audi A8.

“Mercedes-Benz shows dramatic improvement, particularly with its newly-redesigned S-Class, which improves 63 PP100. Overall, Mercedes-Benz improves its nameplate rank by 20 positions—the greatest rank increase of any nameplate in the study. All Mercedes-Benz models in the study improved substantially, and the breadth and speed of these improvements demonstrates the Mercedes-Benz commitment to quality,” said Neal Oddes, director of product research and analysis.

The Mercedes Benz brand itself moved up twenty places up in the rankings for overall model quality. Combined with it’s recent disposal of the bleeding Chrysler group, there’s definitely reason for Stuttgart to be patted on the back.

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BMW’s sales and marketing chief Michael Ganal says BMW wants to increase cooperation with rival Mercedes-Benz, as it would allow both carmakers entrepreneurial freedom. Both companies are dependant on cutting edge automotive technology, and could do with each other’s help which ultimately would reduce costs.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz are already working together with GM on hybrid-related technologies, which include a special compact motor which can be integrated into rear-wheel drive configurations. This hybrid system is expected to debut on a future hybrid 7-Series, and the upcoming S-Class Bluetec-Hybrid.

There is also another technology partnership which BMW is involved in - it’s MINI’s engines are a joint effort by BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroen, and the same MINI Cooper and Cooper S engines in various tune levels are also used in Peugeot cars.

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Mercedes Benz is planning a new supercar, but this time it will not have anything to do with McLaren. A new step-sibling for the McLaren-Mercedes SLR (photo above) will be built by HWA AG, a spin-off of Mercedes Benz’s AMG performance arm.

The new car will compete with Audi’s R8 as well as BMW’s upcoming competitor for the R8. It will be powered by an existing 6.2 liter V8 from AMG’s stables, and will carry the Mercedes AMG badge.

HWA AG is mainly a race and sports car manufacturer for now, and it’s race-built cars, naturally based on Mercedes Benz models, have been particularly successful in the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, or German Touring Car Championship).

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A hybrid version of the W221 Mercedes Benz S-Class will be unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show in September this year, making it Mercedes Benz’s first hybrid car. Unlike most hybrids which use a petrol-electric combination, the hybrid S-Class will combined a Bluetec diesel engine with a compact electric motor.

A previous concept called the Direct Hybrid concept used a 3.0 liter V6 diesel engine together with an electric motor, but sources reveal it is more likely the S-class hybrid will use a four-cylinder Bluetec diesel instead, likely a similiar engine to the 2.2 liter 4-pot found in the Mercedes Benz Vision C220 Bluetec concept. There is also another Bluetec turbodiesel in the Benz arsenal - the 4.2 V8 TDI Bluetec that was put into the Vision GL420 Concept.

There is no official name for the car at the moment, but some have begun to call it the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Bluetec-Hybrid.

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DaimlerChrysler Malaysia launched the latest variant of it’s W221 S-Class on Wednesday - the Mercedes Benz S300L, with the L denoting a long wheelbase model. The name S-Class is derived from the German word Sonderklasse, which means special class. And it is a car that will make you feel special indeed, as this S300L base model costs a cool RM639,888 on the road without insurance.

More details after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of W221 Mercedes-Benz S300L in Malaysia

Brabus has applied it’s tuning touch on the new Mercedes Benz CL600, resulting in the Brabus SV12 S Biturbo Coupe. Like it’s namesake, it is powered by the Brabus SV12 S Biturbo engine that Brabus seems to be plonking into all Mercedes Benz’s premium Brabus-tuned cars.

Basically, the 5.5 liter engine in the CL600 was both bored and stroked to 6.3 liter, and more optimised manifolds, larger turbos, and better efficiency intercoolers were installed. Of course, you can’t forget a better high-performance exhaust system to make the engine sound as good as it goes.

The result is 730 horsepower at 5,100rpm, and a potent 1320Nm at 2,100rpm. However, to help your gearbox and tyres have a lifespan of a wee bit longer, Brabus has electronically limited the torque output to 1,100Nm. Anyone for a tuned version of a tuned car without the torque limiter?

Click here to read the rest of Brabus SV12 S Biturbo Coupe: tuned CL600

DaimlerChrysler has finally dumped Chrysler to private equity group Cerberus Capital Management for US$7.45 billion, or 5.5 billion euros. DaimlerChrysler will still retain 19.9 pecent of Chrysler, which means perhaps a name change will not happen anytime soon. The Cerberus stake is the entire 80.1 percent that’s being dumped off.

DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche said DCX has no plans to sell it’s remaining 19.9 percent of Chrysler, adding that it wanted to maintain close ties with Chrysler.

If I ever had somehow enough dough to purchase a Mercedes Benz S-Class for myself (though the cash would likely go towards an LS460L instead) I know there would be one tuner I would never let touch my car. ASMA Design. This is the ASMA Design Eagle II Sport Edition. The strange paint job also makes the car look like a camouflaged car that’s undergoing road tests. That’s all I have to say. I’ll let the photos do the talking.

More after the jump.

Related ASMA Design Cars:
ASMA Design CLS Shark

Click here to read the rest of ASMA Design Eagle II Sport Edition

Another tuner lays it’s hands on the new W204 Mercedes Benz C-Class - this time it’s Kicherer. The Kicherer K35 CS takes the C350 up 34 horses to 306 horsepower, while it’s oil burner tuned variant is the C320 CDI, which goes up to 270hp from 224hp.

On the exterior, there is the customary large wheels - RS-1 19 inch alloy wheels. Dampers are now height adjustable, stabilizer bars are thicker, and the rear gets a new diffuser from which quad shiny exhaust tailpipes protrude.

The interior gets alcantara leather, piano lacquer, a carbon fiber steering wheel, aluminum pedals, and stainless steel door sills.

Let’s do some comparison here between all the tuners that have tuned up the Mercedes Benz C350 recently. Only Brabus performed major mods on the engine, increasing it’s displacement up to 4.0 liters through the use of larger pistons.

Brabus C350: 332 horsepower (bored to 4.0 liters)
Carlsson C350: 295 horsepower
Kicherer C350: 305 horsepower

One more photo after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Kicherer K35 CS C-Class

Autobild says Mercedes Benz is currently working on a Mercedes Benz C400 to compete with the BMW 335i. Mercedes Benz’s current highest spec non-AMG C-class is the C350, which at 272hp and 350Nm is a step lower than the BMW 335’s colossal 306hp and 400Nm of torque over a nice, wide torque curve.

Taking the horsepower war one step above, it’s expected to make roughly 400 horsepower and might employ the use of forced induction, which is entering RS4 and M3 territory, and the AMG models will make even more power. But for the moment this is all just speculation from a German magazine, so we shall wait and see.