International Mercedes-Benz of Milwaukee

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG First Drive: A 500-Plus-HP SUV that Can Outrun Your Worries

2012-01-27T09:37:00.001-08:00

At some point during a two-day drive of the all-new Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, something interesting happened. Your author learned to stop worrying and love the bomb.

Learned to stop worrying about the ML63’s carbon footprint. Worrying about its two-and-a-half-ton weight. Worrying, ultimately, about the sheer ludicrousness of turning the mild-mannered, safety-centric M-class SUV into something that should wear a court-ordered ankle bracelet. We can’t recall the exact moment, but all this consternation likely disappeared while the twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8 was swallowing 14.5 psi of boost and delivering 518 horsepower. AMG claims that the ML63 will achieve 60 mph in less than 4.8 seconds. Select the AMG Performance package, and the boost goes up to 18.9 psi, which yields 550 horsepower and a 4.5-second 0-to-60 sprint by our estimate. (Some context: In our hands, the previous ML63—equipped with AMG’s naturally aspirated 503-hp, 6.2-liter V-8—blitzed to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.) Top speed, with or without the essential Performance package, is governed at 155 mph.

One of our favorite parts of the original ML63 was its exhaust note. Part big-block Chevrolet Chevelle, part offshore powerboat, all perfectly inappropriate for high society. AMG has managed to preserve that sound in the latest version despite its engine’s slightly smaller displacement and two pesky turbochargers in the path of the exhaust gases. Deep and loud under full throttle, but with a slightly uneven and menacing sound at idle, the 5.5-liter is a perfect mimic of the old 6.2. Maybe that’s why it wears the same “ML63” badges on its fenders and rear door. Or maybe AMG just ordered too many of them and hasn’t run out yet.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-mercedes-benz-ml63-amg-first-drive-review

GreenCarReports: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Top Model Goes Carbon Fiber In 2015

2012-01-19T14:35:00.000-08:00

The launch of a new Mercedes-Benz E-Class is always important, given the influence the car has in the luxury sedan sector.

We'd be hard-pressed to call it exciting though, rapid AMG models excepted. That could be about to change however, as one example of the model's next generation will be very different from the others.

According to CAR magazine (via Motor Authority) one variant of the next Mercedes E-Class would use a carbon-fiber structure, rather than today's steel, to shave as much as 770 pounds off the weight of today's car.

That's a huge difference, and though it won't be applied across the entire E-Class range - presumably due to the relative expense - it will give Mercedes-Benz a high-tech challenger for cars like Audi's e-tron and the BMW i models, both of which use similar lightweight construction.

The E Superlight, as its provisionally known, would also feature a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain, as seen in the recent F125! concept shown at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show.

Mercedes is expected to make around 20,000 units per annum, by 2017. Production would begin in 2015, by which time the carbon E-Class's fuel-cell powertrain should also be catered for by a larger hydrogen infrastructure.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1071852_mercedes-benz-e-class-top-model-goes-carbon-fiber-in-2015

Wisconsin Mercedes

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550: M-B’s Big Roadster Drops a Few Pounds

2011-12-16T11:29:00.000-08:00

Sport leicht, or sport and lightweight. Despite the two-plus-ton heft of Mercedes’ big boulevardier, that’s what SL has supposedly stood for ever since the car debuted in the ’50s. Now in its sixth generation, the SL promises to be more car than ever: more powerful, more efficient, and more light.

Maybe Some More Sport, Definitely Lighter

Adding power was the easy part. The SL550, which will be the first of the updated SLs to go on sale, will be powered by Mercedes’ new 4.7-liter twin-turbo V-8. The direct-injected engine makes the same numbers here as it does in the CL550: 429 hp at 5250 rpm, 516 lb-ft at 1800. Those figures represent increases of 47 hp and 125 lb-ft compared to the outgoing SL550’s 5.5-liter V-8. The engine is backed by a seven-speed automatic transmission and now gets standard stop/start functionality. Mercedes predicts a 0-to-60-mph time of 4.5 seconds, 0.8 better than its claim for the last SL550, although runs that begin with the engine off will take a few extra tenths. Since the company’s estimates are generally conservative—we hit 60 in 4.8 seconds with a 2011 SL550—figure on something closer to four seconds flat. And then realize that’s as quick as the outgoing SL63.

Some of this newfound quickness will be thanks in no small part to a reduction in weight. The 2013 SL550 uses the company’s first all-aluminum body in a series-production model, which is claimed to make it 275 pounds lighter than the car it replaces. If you’re having trouble imagining the weight difference, Dr. Thomas Rudlaff, who was responsible for the aluminum shell, puts it into perspective: “The effect is as if a large passenger has stepped out of the car.” (Keep the fat American jokes to yourself.) We should mention that some high-strength steel tubing is used to reinforce the A-pillars, lest they accordion in a crash. The suspension also uses lightweight pieces, and Active Body Control, M-B’s adaptive suspension, continues to be an option. The SL will switch to electric power steering, which should improve efficiency while hopefully retaining some semblance of feedback.

All of this weight loss is despite a dimensional gain. The 2013 car is 1.4 inches longer, 2.2 inches wider, and rides on a 1-inch-longer wheelbase. Front and rear track also are increased. Mercedes says this all helps create a larger cabin. We had no complaints about the interior room before.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2013-mercedes-benz-sl550-news

Milwaukee Mercedes Dealers

Mercedes-Benz Teases 2013 SL Roadster, Gets Serious with Technology

2011-11-23T09:44:00.001-08:00

Since 1954, Mercedes-Benz has sold a car badged as an SL model. That “SL” designation originally meant “sport leicht,” or sports lightweight in English. But in recent years with the base Mercedes-Benz SL550 roadster ballooning to more than two tons, it carried the SL name in spirit only.

Fortunately, Mercedes-Benz seems to be backtracking a little with its history and heritage, putting those two little letters to work again. Employing extensive use of aluminum throughout the next-generation SL roadster, Mercedes-Benz says the car will lop 300 pounds from its weight. Best of all, the German automaker is more than happy to show just how it’s doing it.

Most automakers keep the development of future models under tight wraps. Not so with Mercedes-Benz this time, as it is proudly flaunting working prototypes of the cars testing and their uncovered bodies for the world to see. The company has said the car will feature plenty of new luxury features for its well-to-do clientele including spray-on insulation that will make the car quieter than the current model, doors that will open—and stay open—at any angle, and a zinc coating to prevent corrosion on any steel bits left on the car.

It will also have windshield wipers the company is calling “magic vision” that will virtually eliminate limited visibility due to water on the front window, especially when using the washers. The wipers will have a heated function for cold weather in addition to having built-in ducts that collect and channel excess water off the windshield, which can be programmed to work differently for summer and winter driving. The next SL will also have an acoustically-tuned footwell to better reverberate the car’s subwoofer, optimized for when the top is either up or down.

Car and Driver - 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-class: First Drive Review

2011-11-04T11:21:00.001-07:00

When the first Mercedes-Benz A- and B-class appeared on the market, the tall compacts offered great practicality but little in terms of material quality or driving enjoyment. Welcome, then, to the second-generation B-class. It's another high-roof hatchback, but this time it looks far less awkward, is larger, and rides on a new platform for which Mercedes has big plans.

The architecture beneath the new B will underpin a plethora of new models, including the next A-class, a crossover, a sedan and station wagon—the latter two four-doors likely will be mislabeled "coupe" and "shooting brake," categorizations once reserved for vehicles with two passenger ports. While the appearance of the B-class in the U.S. is uncertain, at least a couple of its siblings are a sure thing for our shores. If the B-class stays behind, that might be okay with us—it’s the least attractive of the group. But after two days in this four-wheeled shopping bag, we were impressed by the improvements over the last generation and hopeful for its future derivatives.

The Following Political References Are Only Jokes

The suspension errs on the side of comfort, but the electric power steering is precise. It’s still an understeerer, but the B-class seems to enjoy cornering. It’s enabled by a stability-control system that has morphed from rigid totalitarianism to slightly authoritarian rule, allowing a bit more leeway before intervention. Libertarians will be appeased by the Sports package, which firms up the suspension and results in a B-class that is almost tossable. The optional variable-ratio steering is an unusual and welcome feature in this class, with response that is noticeably more direct and a natural weight. This is one of the best steering setups we've experienced in a Mercedes.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-mercedes-benz-b-class-first-drive

Mercedes-Benz Looking to Build BMW X6–Fighter, Teases 2015 Production at Tuscaloosa Plant

2011-10-28T12:56:00.001-07:00

An image has surfaced on Twitter of a new Mercedes-Benz model to be built at the company’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama, plant. The banner you see here appeared at an event celebrating the allocation of the new model to Tuscaloosa; the move includes a $350 million investment and the creation of 400 new jobs at the factory. The “vehicle” pictured is really the CLS-wearing-a-sheet sculpture the company showed off at the Detroit auto show in 2010, and it’s accompanied by text reading “Introducing the Newest Addition to our Family” and “Start of Production: 2015.”

Despite the CLS preview on the banner, we think it’s a safe bet that the new Benz will be an SUV with a coupe-like roofline. It would go up against the currently unchallenged BMW X6, which has proven popular in spite of—or, really, because of—its funky looks. Just as the X6 is a remixed X5, the Mercedes crossover likely will share its architecture with the mid-size ML-class. The Tuscaloosa factory currently produces the M-, GL-, and R-class, and will build U.S.-market C-class models by 2014.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/mercedes-benz-looking-to-build-bmw-x6%E2%80

GreenCarReports - 2012 Mercedes-Benz S 350 Bluetec Clean Diesel: Quick Drive

2011-10-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

By John Voelcker

What can you say about driving a Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

It's luxurious, smooth, powerful, packed with features, impressive on the road, and very, very large.

Now you can add another adjective: green. While the S 400 Hybrid has been in the mix for two years, Mercedes-Benz is launching a clean-diesel version of the S-Class for 2012.

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S 350 Bluetec ears EPA ratings of 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, for a combined rating of 25 mpg--versus the 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined ratings of the hybrid S-Class.

700 miles of range

With its 22-gallon fuel tank, the diesel S-Class offers almost 700 miles of highway range, ensuring that drivers' bladders will demand a stop long before the vehicle does. The 7-gallon tank for AdBlue urea liquid nestles inside the spare tire under the trunk floor, meaning trunk space remains the same as in any other S-Class.

We spent a few hours last week in the 2012 Mercedes-Benz S 350 Bluetec, which has an updated version of the 3.0-liter Bluetec turbodiesel V-6 engine fitted to the standard Mercedes-Benz seven-speed automatic transmission.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1067236_2012-mercedes-benz-s-350-bluetec-clean-diesel-quick-drive

2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS-class Wagon / Shooting Brake Spy Photos - Future Cars

2011-10-14T08:05:00.001-07:00

We like station wagons first and foremost for their practicality, but we also like that they often end up more attractive than their sedan counterparts. Being based on the stunning CLS sedan, the wagon spied here surely will end up among the most beautiful of the breed.
Mercedes-Benz has long acknowledged that such a version of the CLS will be built, and the shots here show two versions of the car: The gray car is equipped with the AMG appearance package (standard on the CLS550 sold here), while the white car features regular fascias and the odd, aero-focused 17-inch wheels from the European-market CLS250 CDI.

The finished product looks almost exactly like the five-door Shooting Break concept from the 2010 Beijing auto show, which previewed the styling of the current-gen CLS. (Besides the odd spelling, that car also took liberties with the layout; shooting brakes are traditionally wagons based on coupes, and feature two side doors.) Compared to the show car, the "daylight opening"—as designers call the side windows—on these prototypes stretches back a bit farther, and the roof slopes down gently over a voluminous cargo area. Next to the Audi A7 and its faster hatchback, the CLS veers decidedly towards the station-wagon side, with a shorter and more upright rear window and hatch.

We hear there are no current plans to bring this car to the U.S., which is a real shame but makes sense. While Mercedes-Benz likes its station-wagon customers here—they are a particularly wealthy and loyal bunch—there obviously aren’t very many of them. But should this car make it stateside, we'd in all likelihood get only a V-8–powered CLS550, as is the case with the CLS sedan. And while we’re already ahead of ourselves, let’s pretend we’d also get a CLS63 AMG version, although that model hasn’t been confirmed yet even for Europe.

Besides the 402-hp CLS550 (called CLS500 there), the European market also gets the choice of the 302-hp CLS350 and the diesel-powered CLS350 CDI (262 hp) and CLS250 CDI (201 hp). Any of these would provide a compelling powertrain for the station wagon.

Production of the CLS wagon—we expect it will be called the Shooting Brake in spite of its extra doors—will start next year in Sindelfingen, Germany, alongside the regular CLS, the E- and S-class, the CL, the SLS AMG, and the occasional Maybach. Assembly of the C-class, currently also built in Sindelfingen, will be moved elsewhere by then.

Competitors are few. The A7 and perhaps the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon come to mind, and we know that Jaguar is strongly considering a similar derivative of the XF. Given that vacuum as well as its handsome sheetmetal, the CLS Shooting Brake should have no problem carving out a small niche for itself in Europe. We’d love to find out if it could do the same here.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/spied/11q4/2013_mercedes-benz_cls-class_wagon

MERCEDES-BENZ REPORTS HIGHEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD WITH SALES OF 23,897

2011-10-07T08:59:00.001-07:00

MONTVALE, N.J. - Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported September sales of 23,897 vehicles, a 15.6% improvement over September 2010 (20,666) and the company's highest September volume on record. On a year-to-date basis, the 182,314 vehicles sold represent a 10.3% increase over the 165,355 vehicles sold during the same period last year.

The highest volume performers for the month were the C-Class and E-Class model lines. The all-new 2012 sporty C-Class - and gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers - led the pack with sales of 6,865, up 32.1% from September 2010. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 5,122 and the full-sized SUV, the GL-Class, finished third in volume with monthly sales of 2,541. Additionally, sales of the newly launched 2012 CLS-Class posted a 399.3% increase for the month and sales of the new SLK roadster were up 50.8% over September 2010.

At the high end, the company sold 25 of its supercar -- the SLS AMG -- bringing its year-to-date sales to 454.

Sales of Sprinter Vans also increased by 121.3% for September with sales of 1,779 - bringing a year-to-date total of 12,452 (up 121.3 %).

Sales of the smart fortwo totaled 469 vehicles for the month (compared to the 422 vehicles sold in September 2010).

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 5,707 vehicles in September 2011, a decrease of -8.6%. On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 57,359 vehicles, a decrease of -5.9% over the comparable period last year.

Read More: http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/about_us/press/id-6e69e863e2fc2310VgnVCM2000007d184335____

REVIEWS: First Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

2011-09-23T13:05:00.001-07:00

The evening before Mercedes-Benz's public relations department flew us from Frankfurt, Germany -- where we'd seen the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG roadster make its official debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show -- to the South of France to drive the car, they took us to dinner. Our Mercedes Viano shuttle van made its way from the glass towers of the financial district to the village of Konigstein, northwest of the city, where it wended its way along tree-lined roads through a large park before pulling up in front of a spectacularly grand old hotel. As we alighted from the Viano, we recognized the setting, Villa Rothschild Kempinski, and remembered when and why we'd been there before. It was July 2007, and it was to drive the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren roadster.

The SLR McLaren roadster, as you might recall, cost a half-million dollars, even more than the SLR McLaren coupe that it followed. Although it was a technological tour de force, all carbon fiber monocoque and front crash zones, aluminum subframes, and even a racing-style air brake, it was hobbled by overwrought styling and a general lack of dynamic cohesiveness, especially at very high speeds. It did not sell particularly well, and the joint operating agreement between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren also lacked cohesiveness, resulting in a distinctly unhappy marriage. The two parties eventually agreed to disagree, and McLaren went on to develop its own supercar, the MP4-12C (which was not its first supercar, of course; that honor goes to the legendary F1). Mercedes, for its part, turned its attention to re-creating its legendary gullwing sports car. The resulting SLS AMG has been warmly received both by the editors of Automobile Magazine and by the sorts of people who are inclined to spend $200K on a gullwing coupe.

Now, Mercedes has an SLS roadster, which sacrifices the drama and, quite honestly, the hassles of gullwing doors for a retractable soft top and exterior lines that are, to our eyes, more pleasing than those of the coupe. More important, the SLS AMG roadster costs about $200,000, or some 60 percent less than the SLR McLaren roadster that was not nearly as good a car. Now, that's what we call progress: for the price of an SLR McLaren roadster, you could buy two SLS AMG roadsters plus an SLK55 AMG! As for Villa Rothschild Kempinski? It was just as splendid as ever, and probably more expensive. The dinner was as grand as you would expect in an establishment with "Rothschild" in its name, and it was all the more enjoyable with the knowledge that the next day, we'd be driving the SLS AMG roadster down on the Cote d'Azur. Yes, we know, life is difficult for us motoring journalists.

The lineup of SLS AMG roadsters on the shorefront of Cap d'Ail, adjacent to Monaco, was breathtaking. We could choose among SLS AMGs in bright Le Mans red, cool mystic white, brooding obsidian black, and traditional Imola gray. We drove a white car with red interior first, and a red car over cream and black later, but we also spent a lot of time drooling over the cars slathered in sepang brown paint, a new hue for AMG, which basically looked good enough to eat.

The SLS makes convertible life easy. The fully automatic fabric roof lowers in only 11 seconds and doesn't impinge on the available trunk space (6.1 cu ft), and you can operate it up to 31 mph. Forward visibility is pretty good, and the A-pillars don't encroach into the cabin the way they did in the SLR McLaren roadster. Looking out over the long hood, you see the two sets of black mesh air vents just below the windshield, but the front corners of the car disappear from view. A rearview camera is, of course, present and welcome. Mercedes-Benz's Airscarf system, which blows warm air onto your neck, is optional.

Mercedes to add fifth compact model in 2014

2011-09-09T11:40:00.001-07:00

Mercedes-Benz will build a fifth variant off its future A- and B-class compact-car platform. The model will be a so-called "shooting brake," company sources said, adding that the low-slung sporty station wagon will start arriving at European dealerships in 2014.

The car will most likely be called the CLC Shooting Brake, the sources said. They said an announcement is due soon.

A company spokesperson declined to comment on the company's future product plans.

The second-generation A- and B-class models will be underpinned by a new platform called MFA (Mercedes Front-wheel-drive Architecture). Mercedes' current two-car compact lineup will more than double in the future to also include the successors to the current B class -- due before the end of this year -- and the replacement for the A class, which will arrive next year. In addition, Mercedes, in 2013, will launch an A-class coupe, which will be called CLC and compete against the BMW 1-series coupe. A year later an SUV, which is likely to be called the GLC, should arrive at dealers and compete against the BMW X1 and Audi Q3.

With the MFA architecture, Daimler's mid-term goal is to double sales of its entry-level compact models to an average of 400,000 units a year, the sources said.

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche did not want to confirm that figure in a recent interview with Automotive News Europe. Said Zetsche: "We are striving for a considerable increase in volumes. That's why we have made investments in the Kecskemet (Hungary) plant, in addition to our compact-class factory in Rastatt (Germany). The Kecskemet facility will have a capacity of 100,000 vehicles a year. In the past, we sold 270,000 A- and B-class units at our peak. Time will tell where we will be with the full availability of all our models."

European Mercedes-Benz B-class Previews the 2013 A- and CLC-classes

2011-08-30T13:16:00.001-07:00

Mercedes-Benz is about to replace its compact A- and B-classes, augmenting its small-car family with a miniature crossover and a midget twin of the CLS. (Read the details on the whole family here.) Of the four forthcoming tiny Benzes, the newly unveiled B-class is the one least likely to come here. However, the small Benzes that are bound for our shores will share their underpinnings and styling cues with the B-class, so we felt it was worth taking a brief look at the little Mercedes MPV that will debut at the Frankfurt auto show in September.

If not its tall, Honda Fit-like profile, then the general styling of the B-class’s headlights, grille, and body-side creases should carry over to the rest of the small-Mercedes family in some form or another. We know from spy photos of the A-class and CLC that those cars also will inherit the B-class’s interesting boomerang-shaped lower-body character line. We aren’t sure how well the multiple creases will work on the shorter-stature models in the family, but the door surfacing does a decent job of camouflaging the tall, stubby looks of the B-class. And really, if the style works this well on the somewhat awkwardly proportioned B-class, then it should fit the rest of Mercedes’ small cars very well. We’ll see as the remaining mini Mercedes models land over the next year or so.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/european-mercedes-benz-b-class-previews-the-2013-a-and-clc-classes/

Gas-Sipping Performance: 2012 Mercedes- Benz SLK55 AMG

2011-08-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

Fuel efficiency fever is sweeping across automakers, affecting even their most unlikely divisions. AMG, the performance arm of Mercedes-Benz, has updated the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG to deliver more mpg without sacrificing performance.

Heart of the SLK’s gas-sipping prowess is its 5.5-liter V-8 engine, which it shares with the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, CLS63 AMG, S63 AMG, and CL63 AMG vehicles. Cylinder deactivation technology shuts off four of the engine’s cylinders when the roadster is in “C” mode, or Controlled Efficiency. The inactive cylinders instantly rev back to life if the driver needs that boost of power.

Speaking of coming back to life, Controlled Efficiency shuts down the engine while the vehicle is stopped at a red light, stop sign, or intersection. Sensors in the engine note the activity of the cylinders prior to shutdown to activate them instantaneously once the driver either lifts his or her foot off the brake or presses down on the gas pedal. Finally, the SLK55 features regenerative braking to squeeze out even more fuel economy from the roadster.

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG engine is mated with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Except for the new engine and availability of an AMG Handling Package for an even more sporty drive, the SLK55 AMG carries over unchanged feature-wise for the 2012 model year.
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG arrives at U.S. dealerships in early 2012.

Read more: http://blogs.automotive.com/gas-sipping-performance-2012-mercedes-benz-slk55-amg-51407.html#ixzz1Vyv2iqg1

Green Car Reports: 2012 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Gets More Smart, Gains Speed

2011-08-17T13:52:00.001-07:00

The 2011 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive may be the smallest, most compact highway-capable electric car on the market, but its pathetic top speed, sluggish acceleration, limited range and expensive price tag haven’t gained it many fans.

But that may all change in a little under a month as Mercedes Benz unveils a new, improved 2012 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Quicker acceleration, higher top speed

The third-generation 2012 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive features an all-new drivetrain by Bosch, increasing overall peak power from 30 kilowatts to 55 kilowatts.

For the record, that’s a little more power than the European specification 2011 Mitsubishi i can muster.

Torque is increased too, rising by 7lb ft to 96lb ft, making 0-62 possible in around 13 seconds.
While that isn’t particularly fast, you probably need to know that the previous Smart ForTwo Electric Drive had a top speed of 62 mph. The new model will be limited to a barely-better 75 mph, but it may finally make short freeway stints feasible.

Goodbye Tesla, hello longer range.

The 2012 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive also says goodbye to the Tesla-engineered battery pack found in the second-generation model.

In its place is a 17.6 kilowatt-hour battery pack which Mercedes-Benz claims will enable the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive to travel up to 86 miles in city traffic on a single charge.

On-board fast charging

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the new Smart ForTwo Electric Drive however, is the inclusion of an optional 22 kilowatt on-board charger. That’s more powerful than the charger found in the 2011 Tesla Roadster Sport 2.5.

Mercedes Benz claim this enables the car to fully recharge its battery pack in less than an hour, when connected to a suitable charging station, but we suspect in order to achieve such a fast recharge the car would have to be connected to one of the three-phase Menekes charging points common in Europe.

For U.S. customers? We know that the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive will recharge in under 8 hours from a standard Level 2, 16A charging station, but don’t know what options will be offered for fast charging, since most current level 2 charging are only capable of providing 7.6 kilowatts maximum power.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1064970_2012-smart-fortwo-electric-drive-gets-more-smart-gains-speed

Mercedes-Benz prepares CLC Shooting Brake

2011-08-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

DETROIT -- Mercedes-Benz boss Dieter Zetsche has given approval for a second Shooting Brake model to accompany the brand’s eagerly awaited CLS Shooting Brake due out in 2012, according to German media reports.

The new model is expected to go on sale in North America in 2014. It’s based on the German carmaker’s upcoming CLC--a four-door coupe that uses a new platform that will offer buyers a stylish but practical rival to the likes of the Audi A5 Sportback and the upcoming BMW 3-series GT.

The CLC variant would be priced below the larger and more opulent CLS version.

"Shooting brake" is a term used to describe sporty wagons that usually have two long doors. The term is becoming popular again, and Ferrari revealed the FF -- which uses shooting-brake styling -- this spring at the Geneva motor show.

The five-door CLC Shooting Brake is set to receive a sloping roof and a heavily angled tailgate that eschews outright load capacity for head-turning style. It will be sold alongside the CLC coupe, which Mercedes has confirmed will go on sale in the U.S. market in 2013.

The CLC Shooting Brake will come with a new range of four-cylinder, direct-injection gasoline engines, along with the choice of either front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.

REVIEWS: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550

2011-07-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

Our CLS test car was "only" a CLS550, but I've also driven the CLS63 AMG version, and they're both impressive. What I remember most distinctly about the CLS63 was that I drove it on some very challenging roads above Napa Valley, in the rain, tailing a Mercedes-Benz USA executive who was driving an SLS AMG Gullwing quite briskly. As if that wasn't enough to keep me busy, I was also deeply engrossed in conversation with my co-driver, but we just sailed over those wet, twisting roads in utter serenity. The CLS chassis was totally composed, and the steering was among the most accurate and communicative setups I've ever experienced in a Mercedes-Benz. Those dynamics are also evident in the lesser CLS550, which feels much smaller than it is, almost like a sport coupe. I don't recall the E-class having steering nearly this good. The steering wheel itself is very handsome, with a big three-pointed star in the middle, little bump-outs at 10 and 2 o'clock that allow you to rest your hands at 9 and 3 comfortably, and a racing-inspired flat bottom. It's all good. Also good is the shallow dash, which adds to the feeling of compactness and sportiness. One low note, though, is that where the front doors meet the A-pillars, the triangle-shaped Harman Kardon speakers obstruct your forward vision.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1107_2012_mercedes_benz_cls550/index.html

2011 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG - Short Take Road Test

2011-07-21T08:12:00.001-07:00

The 2011 model year is the last one for the G55 AMG, a vehicle that, until now, we had never tested. (Lest you worry over the source of your next streetable military vehicle, know that the G550 lives on for 2012.) This tuned version of a luxury-sedan-impersonating take on a late-’70s workhorse also marks the end of the line for AMG’s supercharged 5.4-liter V-8. Consider this test something of an automotive exit interview.

What is your primary reason for leaving?

I got fired, remember? Something about my engine being ancient, and too many anger-management violations. I’d sue for age discrimination, but my body stampings are older than the museum. Seems counterproductive.

What was most satisfying about your job?

Scaring the hell out of people. And confusing them—no one’s quite figured out the purpose of a tall luxury SUV with 500 hp and a bunch of off-road ability.

What was least satisfying about your job?

I got a lot of people asking my owners first what I cost, and then why I cost so much. That hurt. But I’ve wrestled with feelings of inadequacy for a long time. I look at the S-class, with its dynamic seats, powered trunklid, soft-close doors, gadgets everywhere you look. My window frames don’t even have enough room for pinch sensors. I say we should have just added the auto-up windows, stuck another warning label somewhere, and told the lawyers to shove it.

I don’t like it when people question me. What were we talking about again?

Did your job duties turn out as you expected?

Not even close. I started out as a military vehicle, but got reassigned to on-road detail. That’s not at all what I signed on for, but I’m not complaining or anything. I liked the leather seats and the COMAND thingy—I have an iPod like everyone else.

This engine, too, was a bit unexpected. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great—sounds like I’m gargling with gravel. It’s just that I’ve got a three-locker four-wheel-drive system with solid axles. Who needs that kind of off-road capability and then Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires? It made me feel . . . fat. And it’s like I’m not sure who I am sometimes, you know? Sorry, I should save this for my therapist. Next question.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/11q3/2011_mercedes-benz_g55_amg-short_take_road_test

REVIEWS: First Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

2011-07-14T09:07:00.001-07:00

The engine downsizing game seems trite these days. We've been hearing about the inevitable replacement of large-displacement engines with more efficient, forced-induction powerplants for years. To meet the increasing demands for cleaner cars, even performance cars must follow this path, which brings us to the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.

AMG's big changes for the 2012 E63 are a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 and a seven-speed automatic transmission that ditches the traditional torque converter for a wet clutch. Though the outgoing engine displaced 6.2-liters (the 63 badges didn't match the actual displacement then either), it made do with normal aspiration and port injection. With its new engine, AMG is replacing displacement with technology and every 5.5-liter V-8 is leaving Affalterbach with twin turbochargers and direct injection. Though there's no horsepower increase with the smaller engine, peak power remains 518 hp and maximum torque climbs to 516 lb-ft, up 51 lb-ft from 465 lb-ft in the 6.2-liter cars.

An optional (though highly recommended) AMG Performance Package boosts the output to 550 hp and 590 lb-ft as well as increasing top speed from155 mph to 186 mph. To extract the additional grunt, AMG simply increases the turbochargers' maximum boost to 18.8 psi, up from 14.5 psi in the standard E63. Visual changes to performance-pack cars are limited to red brake calipers, a nifty carbon-fiber engine cover, a carbon-fiber spoiler on the trunk, an AMG steering wheel, and the AMG sport suspension. Even with the performance package, the E63 AMG is capable of flying under the radar until you put your foot in it and the V-8 starts to scream.

The new engine deserves a better transmission, so AMG ditched the torque converter in last year's car in favor of a wet clutch. The C, S, S+, M, and RS transmission modes are familiar to AMG customers, but "C" mode now features stop/start programming and starts in second gear. Fear not, start/stop isn't active in sport, sport+, or manual modes and can always be deactivated manually when the transmission is set to comfort. Customers looking to validate Mercedes' claimed 4.2-second 0-60 sprint (4.1 with performance pack) will want to dial in RS to utilize launch control. Sport, sport+, and manual modes include rev-matched downshifts and the matching exhaust burble.

Mass-Produced Mercedes Fuel Cell Vehicle Coming In 2014

2011-06-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

While most major automakers are working on new battery-powered electric cars and plug-in hybrids, some are still investigating the benefits of more advanced fuel cell vehicles that use a hydrogen fuel cell stack to convert hydrogen into usable electric power.

One of the leaders in this field is Mercedes-Benz, which we reported earlier this month was forming a partnership with German gas and engineering firm Linde to build a total of 20 hydrogen fueling stations in Germany as part of a trial spanning the next three years.

Additionally, Mercedes’ parent company Daimler also announced recently the development of its own hydrogen fuel cell stack as well as plans to start building them at a new plant in Vancouver, Canada by 2013.

Now the boss of Daimler, Dieter Zetsche, has revealed that a mass-produced fuel cell vehicle would be launched by Mercedes-Benz in 2014, one year earlier than previously expected. The decision to bring forward the launch date of its first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle, according to Zetsche, was due to the success of the three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cells that recently took on a global tour challenge.

"We intended to go for volume production in 2015, but because of the experience of the world tour we have pulled forward," Zetsche told reporters at a special presentation in New York this week.

He went on to reveal that the car, most likely based on the next-generation Mercedes-Benz B-Class, would have a driving range of 250 miles and would not priced comparably with a range of diesel-electric hybrids coming onto the market from next year onwards.

Of course, the biggest hindrance to the proliferation of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is not the technology itself, but rather the necessary hydrogen fuel infrastructure, which currently is non-existent in most parts of the globe.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1061995_mass-produced-mercedes-fuel-cell-vehicle-coming-in-2014

Mercedes Benz Wisconsin

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-class / ML350 4MATIC / ML350 BlueTec - Car News

2011-06-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

Now in its third generation, the Mercedes-Benz M-class is refining the Mercedes SUV experience, rather than reinventing it. The 2012 ML is the same basic size and shape as before, but the platform—shared in part with the new Jeep Grand Cherokee—is new, and the vehicle gets significant upgrades in efficiency and style for 2012.

The exterior appears sleeker and more sculpted, while the most obvious difference in the interior is a switch from round air vents to rectangular, the former now reserved for Mercedes’ sports-car lineup. (It’s worth noting just how similar the instrument layout is to the Grand Cherokee’s.) A big increase in quality and design can be felt inside. A large swath of either wood or metal-look plastic sits before the front passenger, while the driver gets a meaty-feeling steering wheel flanked by new stalks for the transmission, wipers, and cruise control. (The cruise-control stalk, thankfully, has been moved from M-B’s usual placement on the upper left of the steering column to a lower, more-conventional position.) Attractive open-pore wood is on the options sheet, as is a package that includes ambient lighting.

At launch, Mercedes will offer two familiar six-cylinders, while the company’s new twin-turbo 4.7-liter V-8 will follow later. (We’re also told to expect another AMG version soon, as well as a gas-electric and possibly a diesel-electric hybrid.) Both V-6 models will be badged ML350. The direct-injection 3.5-liter gas engine produces 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, increases of 34 and 15 over the outgoing port-injection gas V-6, and should see economy increase 2 mpg in both the EPA city and highway cycle for estimated ratings of 17/22; the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel in the BlueTec is now good for 240 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque, up 30 hp and 55 lb-ft, and will get an estimated 2-mpg city mpg bump for ratings of 20/25. A switch from pressed-in cylinder liners to a spray-on coating in the diesel reduces both weight and friction. Either engine comes coupled to a seven-speed automatic transmission and 4MATIC all-wheel drive. Mercedes claims curb weights for the new model will be comparable to those of the outgoing ML, despite added content.

Look Out, Porsche 911 GT3

Diesel models also get new adjustable engine mounts. Similar in principle to the dynamic engine mounts Porsche installs in some 911 models, Mercedes’ pieces are said to improve comfort by allowing for greater isolation of the engine. (Porsche’s aim is to improve chassis dynamics.)
While VW and Porsche are pulling off-road content out of the new Touareg and Cayenne to cut weight, Mercedes will offer an off-road package on the new M-class with a six-mode selector for different types of driving—auto, sport, winter, towing, and two different off-road settings—as well as a two-speed transfer case, a skid plate, and extra functionality for the optional air suspension. The off-road package won’t be available on U.S. MLs until the 2013 model year, while the Airmatic suspension will continue to be offered here as a part of the Dynamic Handling Package, which also includes 20-inch wheels (19s come standard), adaptive dampers, and the new Active Curve system, a decoupling anti-roll bar that disconnects in off-road situations—as well as normal straight-ahead driving—but reconnects during cornering. A whole suite of driver-assistance systems, the same ones offered on the S-class, either will be included or available: lane-keep assist, blind-spot assist, radar cruise control, and attention assist. Night vision and automated self-parking also are new options for 2012.

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-class will go on sale here in September. Pricing will be announced in August; we expect that it, like the shape of Mercedes’ SUV, will remain largely unchanged. That means about $50,000 for an ML350 4MATIC and around $52,000 for a BlueTec.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/11q2/2012_mercedes-benz_m-class_ml350_4matic_ml350_bluetec-car_news

REVIEWS: First Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250/C350 Coupe

2011-05-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

Where once there was the CLK coupe, which purported to split the difference between the C-class and E-class sedans, now there are two mid-size Mercedes coupes, one for each of the mid-size sedans. Last year saw the debut of the E-class coupe, and now comes the two-door version of the C-class. While the 2012 C-class sedan is a three-model lineup, the coupe will be offered in just two variants: C250 and C350 (there is no two-door version of the C300 4Matic).

Lower, but not longer or wider

The sleeker, sportier proportions of the C-class coupe are the result of a change in only one dimension. The car's overall length exactly mirrors that of its sedan sibling, and it sits astride the same, 108.7-inch wheelbase. Overall height has been chopped by 1.5 inches, due to the car's unique roofline.

Unfortunately, unlike the bigger Benz coupes, the C-class did not also lose its B-pillar in the process.

The lower roofline creates a cozier cabin, which is a nice way to say that there's a lot less rear-seat room. Where the sedan has a five-place interior that can accommodate at least two rear-seat riders in comfort, the coupe is strictly a 2+2. Those second two actually have decent legroom, but foot room is tight and so is headroom, despite a strategically scooped out section in the ceiling. Accessing the back seats is made easier by front seats that scoot forward electrically, but the hard door armrests and the lack of a center armrest drive home the message that rear-seat riders' comfort is not a priority.

Front-seat occupants, however, enjoy an environment that is quite pleasant, benefitting from the upgrades visited upon the C-class for 2012. The dash now has a large, integrated display screen (rather than a pop-up nav unit), and the steering wheel is trimmed in brushed metal. Aluminum trim also adorns the dash and door panels of the C250, while the C350 gets glossy walnut (or, as an option, a particularly unconvincing matte-finish wood.) Most surfaces are soft-touch, but the overall effect is sober high quality rather than sybaritic luxury.

FEATURES: First Look: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

2011-05-10T13:20:00.001-07:00

Inevitably, the arrival of spring has convertible owners -- especially those stuck in snowbelt states -- itching to enjoy their vehicles al fresco. This same itch apparently afflicts those employed at Mercedes-Benz, as the company's AMG performance division just rolled out its new 2012 SLS AMG Roadster months ahead of its scheduled debut in Frankfurt.

The cache of official photos released by the PR team in Stuttgart show the drop-top take on the SLS wearing light camouflage, but there's really very little to hide. Below the beltline, the Roadster is almost identical to its coupe sibling (563-hp, 6.2-liter V-8, rear-wheel-drive, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and so on). Above that point, the revisions are quite predictable: in lieu of the fixed metal roof and distinctive upward-opening doors, the Roadster uses a retractable folding soft top and conventional, front-hinged doors.

Despite clipping the wing-shaped portals, AMG engineers insist they had to change precious little in order to orchestrate a convertible SLS. Unlike the original 300 SL, the SLS was designed from square one to accommodate both coupe and convertible body styles; subsequently, both cars incorporate a number of tricks (i.e. thick side sills, etc.) to increase stiffness. Additional reinforcements are added to the Roadster's spaceframe, but are limited to supports beneath the windshield and around the transmission tunnel, a strut mounting stay installed between the soft top assembly and the fuel tank, and a cross member placed behind the front seats -- the latter providing a mounting point for both pop-up rollover protection and a subwoofer sourced from Bang & Olufsen.

Daimler notes the convertible's bodyshell itself weighs only six pounds more than the SLS coupe, but the company doesn't provide a curb weight for the completed vehicle. Although the cloth top is inevitably lighter than a folding hardtop design, expect the Roadster's heft to still eclipse the coupe's 3573 pounds, if ever so slightly. Mercedes-Benz says top speed is still electronically limited to 197 mph, but the Roadster's sprint from 0-60 mph may take a little longer than the coupe, which completes the run in3.8 seconds.

Apart from singing the praises of the soft top (i.e. it's well insulated, devoid of flapping even at high-speeds, and both folds and deploys in a short 11 seconds), Mercedes-Benz isn't saying much else about the SLS AMG Roadster. Expect more details to emerge come September, when the car is formally introduced at the Frankfurt motor show. Finalized pricing will likely be announced closer to the Roadster's market launch, which is tentatively scheduled for the close of 2011 for U.S. customers.

AUTO SHOWS: First Look: Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class

2011-04-26T09:32:00.001-07:00

Mercedes-Benz has been going all-out with the energetic celebrations for the 125th anniversary of the car. To make sure that it was not the only one having fun, the automaker debuted its Concept A-Class with a dancing and singing flash mob.

Singing a rendition of the classic Janis Joplin song, “Mercedes-Benz,” the dancers made their ways up from the audience to the Concept A-Class, and pulled off the sheet to reveal the car. The concept previews what the next-generation Mercedes A-Class will look like when it goes on sale next year. It is based on the new Mercedes Front Architecture (MFA) platform that will underpin all forthcoming front-wheel drive cars coming from the three-pointed star.

It’s powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s turbocharged and direct-injected, producing 210 horsepower. Power travels through a dual-clutch transmission to the front wheels. In an effort to make the “Mercedes of small cars,” the A-Class will come standard with collision prevention assistance, which will automatically brake the car if it senses an impending accident.

The look is an evolution of the F800 Style concept from the 2010 Geneva Motor Show but more fluidic, with a character line drawing your eye from nose to tail. The rear end is pert and rounded; the front fascia is a little too close to a gaping fish mouth to our eyes.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 / SLK63 AMG Spy Photos – Future Cars

2011-04-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

Spy shooters have captured Mercedes’ next-gen SLK AMG prowling around the Nürburgring, no doubt cooling off after some blistering development laps.

As we previously reported, a version of Merc’s new 5.5-liter V-8—no doubt hooked to the brand’s seven-speed Sportshift automatic—will power this car, but it will eschew the two turbos that feed that engine in the latest S63, CLS63, and CL63 AMGs. Given that, the return of the SLK55 name seems appropriate, although adopting the 63 badge would give the AMG lineup some homogeneity—and a larger sock to stuff in the roadster’s jockstrap.

But the folding-hardtop SLK AMG shouldn’t need to artificially bolster its résumé, as output stands to rise from the previous-gen SLK55’s 355 hp to something north of 400, and we estimate 0-to-60-mph runs in the low fours. We’ve already said that this car’s little brother, the 2012 SLK350, not only looks like a mini SLS, but that it drives like one, too; if those power and performance numbers hold up, the SLS Lite label may gain even more veracity.

The looks should help further the comparison. Using the new SLK’s handsome sheetmetal as a starting point, the AMG exterior makeover will include more-aggressive front and rear fascias, as well as larger wheels wearing fatter rubber. The spy shots also show the expected quad exhaust pipes; we can hardly wait to hear them sing. As turbocharging spreads across Merc’s high-po lineup—this model will join the refreshed C63 AMG sedan and coupe among the naturally aspirated holdouts—the SLK AMG should be one of the most sonorous.

While the SLK AMG doesn’t have any tit-for-tat competition, the Audi TT RS (which we recently tested as hitting 60 in 3.6 seconds), BMW Z4 sDrive35is, and Porsche Boxster are probably about as close as you’re going to get. Look for this little beastie to debut at this fall’s Frankfurt auto show before going on sale either late this year or in early 2012.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/spied/11q1/2012_mercedes-benz_slk55_slk63_amg_spy_photos-future_cars

Mercedes Milwaukee

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-class / C250 / C350 - First Drive Review

2011-03-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

Is a mid-cycle refresh successful if it makes owners of the current car feel like suckers? Absolutely. When the fourth-generation C-class arrived in 2007, the dour, cheap interior made us wonder if Mercedes-Benz was serious about calling it a luxury car. For 2012, Mercedes gutted it, refinishing the C with soft, rich plastics befitting the pricier E-class. There are new gauges with higher-quality displays, the seats are more comfortable, and the switchgear looks to have been lifted from the new CLS. It’s so much nicer inside that we actually feel a little bad for customers who already bought a C-class.

Just as Fresh under the Hood

If Mercedes-Benz had stopped at the new interior, we probably still would have considered the remodel a triumph, but there are many more changes. Under the new aluminum hood, U.S. buyers will find one of two new engines, both of which will be paired with a seven-speed automatic. At the bottom of the lineup is the new C250. Available in August, the C250 will get a turbocharged 201-hp, 1.8-liter four. If you’re in a big hurry, you’ll find yourself regularly revving past 4000 rpm, but the turbo does provide a good percentage of its 229 lb-ft of torque from just 2000 rpm. Most of the time, the four is barely audible, but it emits a healthy growl when worked hard. Figure on a 0-to-60-mph time of about seven seconds flat. Fuel-economy numbers have not yet been set, but we expect to see a city number of about 23 mpg and a highway figure of about 31.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/11q1/2012_mercedes-benz_c-class_c250_c350-first_drive_review

2011 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG – Quick Take

2011-02-25T12:56:00.000-08:00

Let us first acknowledge that we will miss the rapturous sound of the 6.2-liter V-8 that no longer powers the S63 AMG. We will miss the delightful juxtaposition of a full-on luxury freighter with the ripping exhaust tone of a big, naturally aspirated V-8. As with the CLS63 adjacent, Benz kept its AMG nomenclature intact for the 2011 model: It still carries “63” badging even though the car now packs a 5.5-liter, twin-turbo direct-injection V-8 that is more powerful, torquier, and more fuel efficient than the beloved 6.2.

Is That All?
The traditional torque converter marrying the engine and transmission was dumped for a wet clutch pack similar to what debuted in the 2009 SL63 and is now spreading through the AMG stable. Throttle tip-in leaves us yearning for the smooth fluid coupling of the old car. Supple luxury, ample power, and fantastic steering counterbalance that one small gripe.

If You Have To Ask . . .
How about $138,875 to start? At that price, you get a 536-horse V-8. Add another $7300 for the AMG Performance package to get the full dress, 563-hp, 664-pound-feet beast. Our tester had it, and it helped this S63 keep pace with the 621-hp, V-12–powered, $213,575 S65 AMG. So a bargain, then.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/11q1/2011_mercedes-benz_s63_amg-quick_take

Unveiled: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe

2011-02-15T09:18:00.000-08:00

Mercedes-Benz will expand the C-Class product line for the 2012 model year with the addition of a coupe, set to debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show. The coupe will be derived from the same platform as the C-Class sedan, sharing basic chassis elements, next-generation powertrains, and features.

A four-seater, the coupe will compete with BMW in another entry-level luxury segment; there's also a possibility of a future convertible model, as well. At 180.7 inches, it is within 1.5 inches of the sedan's length and about an inch shorter than a BMW 3 Series coupe.

Two new direct-injection engines are used in the Mercedes coupe—a 229-hp, 1.8-liter turbocharged four cylinder for the C250 and a 302-hp, 3.5-liter V6 in the C350. Each engine is paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission.

Mercedes estimates that the C250 will get 24 mpg combined, with a 30 mpg on the highway. Zero-to-60 mph is a claimed 7.1 seconds with the four-cylinder engine.

Read More: http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/02/unveiled-2012-mercedes-benz-c-class-coupe.html

Mercedes Benz C-Class

The Collision Center at International Mercedes-Benz Dealer in Milwaukee

2011-01-27T08:22:00.000-08:00

We work with all types of insurance, loaner cars are available. Call for more details.

The Collision Center
2230 East Moreland Blvd. (Hwy 18)
Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone: 262-821-5000
Fax: 262-786-7954

Manager: Steve Willer

Body Shop Hours:
Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Service Specials West Allis

Service and Parts Specials at International Mercedes-Benz

2011-01-27T08:20:00.000-08:00

Ring in the New Year with Service Savings at International Mercedes-Benz.

Service Specials Milwaukee

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Half of Sales To Be High-MPG Fours

2011-01-20T09:28:00.000-08:00

Mercedes-Benz likes to launch technologies and lead trends, but sometimes they follow along with the crowd.

In this case, Hyundai's doing it. Chevy's doing it. Chrysler's going to do it. Even Porsche will be doing it. And now Mercedes-Benz has joined the gang: The luxury carmaker too will fit a downsized, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine to a car where sixes were previously the rule (or at least a popular option).

The German brand will offer a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine to its 2012 C-Class, the first four it has offered in the U.S. in several years. More striking, it expects the four to power fully half the C-Class models sold in the United States going forward.

The C-Class has been fitted with both gasoline and diesel fours in Europe, and other markets, for many years. And in previous generations of C-Class, it offered both a C220 four and a supercharged version known as the C230 Kompressor. But with the launch of the current C-Class design in 2007 , the fours vanished.

Now they're back, and smaller than ever. Like the 1.4-liter engines that are becoming standard in compact cars, we expect fours of 1.8 to 2.5 liters to become the standard offering in midsize vehicles, from the 2011 Hyundai Sonata to the new lineup of 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class models.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1053867_2012-mercedes-benz-c-class-half-of-sales-to-be-high-mpg-fours

Mercedes Dealers

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG to Keep Beastly 6.2-liter V8

2010-12-28T08:02:00.000-08:00

Contrary to speculation—including by us—Mercedes now tells us that the C63 AMG will keep its normally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 when it is face-lifted for the 2012 model year. Much of the cosmetic revisions will be based on those received by the regular ‘12 C-class (seen at right), which goes on sale here next summer; we expect the AMG to arrive a few months later.

The decision not to fit AMG’s new, twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8 is a curious one, and it will mean the C63 AMG will be less efficient than bigger AMG 63 cars that use the new mill, including the S63 AMG, the CL63 AMG, and the CLS63 AMG. We were told that “the new engine wouldn’t fit,” but we think that real reason is that it’s more cost-effective to carry-over the 6.2 in a car with a profit margin nowhere near as high as those of the other AMG models. It’s also very good news for enthusiasts. The 6.2-liter V-8, engineered by former AMG man Bernd Ramler, is one of the finest engines on the market, free-revving and very sensitive to throttle input. We like it better than the new 5.5, and it also sounds glorious.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2012-mercedes-benz-c63-amg-to-keep-beastly-6-2-liter-v8/

Mercedes Dealers

2013 Mercedes-Benz FWD A- and B-class Rendered - Future Cars

2010-12-16T12:59:00.000-08:00

Mercedes lovers wince when the conversation turns to the tallish, compact A- and B-class cars that litter European cities. They are a far cry from anything the brand stood for in the past, and frumpy looking to boot. Mercedes is setting out to change that with a new family of front-drive vehicles that will be far more stylish and powerful than the current A and B.

Whaddup, Shorty?

The primary difference between the current and upcoming vehicles is that the next-gen cars will sit much lower. The controversial stance of today’s little Benzes comes from the “sandwich floor” design, a leftover from their initial development as electric cars. The batteries were to sit beneath the floor, but when the EV project was scrapped, the lofty height forced by the design remained.

The A-class will remain the backbone of the family. It will likely be complemented by a two-door coupe, which should be low and sleek—very much unlike the three-door "coupe" version of the current A-class, which was prematurely killed a few months ago. Of the bunch, the B-class will be closest in concept to the current model, remaining a compact minivan. And the Continental’s October 8 educated guess has been confirmed: The A- and B-class will be complemented by a crossover and a conventionally styled four-door sedan.

It is rumored that the tough-looking crossover will go by the name GLC (remember the Mazda of the same name?), and the four-door model could be called CLC. The latter name is currently used by a Europe-only hatchback Mercedes, which is based on the last-gen C-class and won’t survive much longer. The four-door will supposedly evoke the CLS, but we’ll have to see whether the styling team under Gorden Wagener gets the proportions right. There are easier tasks than designing a truly sporty-looking, front-wheel-drive compact sedan.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/10q4/2013_mercedes-benz_fwd_a-_and_b-class_rendered-future_cars

Mercedes Dealers

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster Revealed in Promo Video

2010-12-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

The next-gen Mercedes-Benz SLK convertible has debuted in a lengthy 10-minute promotional video (embedded below), weeks in advance of its scheduled January introduction. Of course, in a world when the U.S. State Department’s secrets are available for wholesale download, the early leak of a commercial for a roadster hardly seems shocking.

What we see is a sharply styled two-seater, with design cues cribbed from both the C-class and recent iterations of the SL roadster. The F1-inspired nose is history, replaced with the bold grill and large three-pointed star that’s become de rigueur on sporty Benzes of late. Our European correspondent has provided a full rundown of what to expect on the new SLK, from high-tech safety features to a Magic Sky Control roof of variable opacity. But the red meat is that Americans can expect the SLK to come standard with a new direct-injection V-6 from Mercedes’ next-generation engine family, making at least 300 hp in naturally aspirated form, as well as a probable V-8 underhood for the AMG variant. Europeans and their wallets will no doubt be pleased by the availability of more miserly gas and diesel-powered four-cylinder engines, which are likely to be quite good, if a bit antithetical in the case of the low-revving, oil-burning sports car.

We expect more info in advance of the car’s imminent introduction, and will pass on all the details just as soon as they’re available.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2012-mercedes-benz-slk-roadster-revealed-in-promo-video/

Mercedes Dealers

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG – Auto Shows

2010-11-22T13:41:00.000-08:00

Mercedes’ Los Angeles auto show stand is seldom a dull place, and indeed the only dull thing on the stand this year was the special matte-charcoal paint covering the brand’s featured debutant, the CLS63 AMG. Called Manganit Gray Magno, the spooky hue hints at the sinister character of the CLS63, which was further confirmed by the crackling exhaust note heard as it rumbled onto the stage.

The AMG exterior treatment looks good on the new-for-2012, E-class–based CLS and its “four-door coupe” proportions. The aluminum hood and front fenders have been reshaped, and combine with a deeper front air dam housing twin LED light bars to give the car a wider-looking stance and a more bad-ass look in general. In back, a diffuser insert and the thinnest of rear lip spoilers should help stability while exploring the upper end of the CLS63’s speed range, which is electronically limited to 155 mph on standard versions and 186 mph on those with the optional Performance package. The gorgeous, purposeful-looking five-spoke wheels measure 19 inches in diameter and are wrapped with performance rubber measuring 255 mm wide up front and 285 mm wide in the rear.

AMG Interior Treatment

Inside, the CLS63 features upgraded sport seats, and burl walnut trim is standard—although we’d probably opt for the carbon-fiber or piano-black inlays, both of which seem a bit more in line with this beast’s character. A three-spoke steering wheel, aluminum shift paddles, and a stubby shift lever round out the interior changes.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/2012_mercedes-benz_cls63_amg-auto_shows

Mercedes Wisconsin

Daimler Financial is now Mercedes-Benz Financial

2010-11-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

Daimler AG's U.S. financing arm has traded in its name for a Mercedes.

Daimler Financial Services said today that it has changed its name to Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA.

The name change is the final stage in the company's “clean sheet of paper” approach to the U.S. market, according to a statement. The company separated from DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas in 2007 after Daimler sold Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management.

But beyond the name, nothing else will change for the financier, which remains the financial unit for Mercedes-Benz USA, its dealers and customers, as well as American dealers and customers of Smart USA.

The lender will continue to do business as Daimler Truck Financial in the U.S. trucking industry and will serve the commercial vehicle brands of Daimler Trucks North America: Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses.

Another reason for the change is the company's desire to rebrand under the luxury carmaker's moniker.

“This is an opportunity for us to align our business identity with the tremendous brand equity of Mercedes-Benz, one of the best-known brands in the world,” CEO Franz Reiner said in the release. “We will continue to serve and support our dealers and retail customers in this highly competitive premium passenger-car segment and heavy-duty trucking industry in the United States.”

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101115/OEM/101119906/1286#ixzz15SxdsDX6

Mercedes Dealers

2010 LA Auto Show: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG to Debut

2010-11-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

Mercedes-Benz plans to pull the covers off the performance tuned variant -- the 2012 CLS63 AMG -- at next week's 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.

As is the case with both the new 2011 CL63 AMG and S63 AMG, the engine chosen for the CLS63 AMG belies its nameplate. It isn't a 6.3-liter engine whatsoever -- in fact, it's actually a twin-turbocharged, direct-injection 5.5-liter V-8. As you've likely heard by now, the switch to a smaller, forced-induction V-8 allows the engineers in Affalterbach to create an engine that delivers both impressive fuel economy and power.

For the CLS63, however, that power is a little less than that offered in its CL- and S-Class siblings. In its base form, the CLS-spec AMG engine is rated at 518 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. By those numbers, the engine is 18 ponies and 74 pound-feet shy of those installed in the new CL63 and S63, although it is still 18 horsepower and 50 pound-feet more than the 6.2-liter used in the outgoing CLS63 model.

Buyers wanting a little more power can, however, opt for the AMG Performance Package. A series of tweaks, largely centered around the engine controller, bumps the CLS63's output to 550 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. In contrast, S63 and CL63 cars equipped with the same package throw down 563 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque.

According to sources close to the company, the discrepancy in power -- also seen in the last iteration of the AMG-tuned CLS-Class -- is largely due to curb weight. Mercedes-Benz has yet to release finalized specifications for the CLS63, but a base CLS550 tips the scale at 4168 pounds -- roughly 300-400 pounds lighter than comparable CL- and S-Class models.

Read More: http://blogs.automotive.com/6728913/miscellaneous/2010-la-auto-show-2012-mercedes-benz-cls63-amg-to-debut/index.html

Wisconsin Mercedes

LA Auto Show preview: Hydrogen-powered Mercedes-Benz F-Cell prepares for leasing

2010-11-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mercedes-Benz will display its upcoming F-Cell fuel-cell vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week, as it prepares to lease about 100 examples in California this December. Lease price is estimated to be between $600 to $800 a month, though more specifics are expected to be announced at the event.

Based on the B-Class four-door hatchback, the latest F-Cell carries 3.7 kg of hydrogen in tanks pressurized to 10,150 psi. The gaseous energy powers a 136 hp electric motor and 35-kilowatt lithium-ion battery under the floor. The company claims a range of about 230 miles, and it describes fuel economy as equivalent to 54 miles per gallon.

The cost to fill the F-Cell up with hydrogen would be around $50 to $60 in Southern California--about the same as filling the tank of a large SUV. Hydrogen fuel, however, will be included in the lease price of the F-Cell, along with free maintenance and insurance.

Read More: http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/11/la-auto-show-preview-hydrogen-powered-mercedes-benz-f-cell-prepares-for-leasing.html

Mercedes Wisconsin

Mercedes launches 2 direct-injection, twin-turbocharged V-8s

2010-11-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

Mercedes-Benz is launching a new generation of direct-injection, twin-turbocharged V-8 engines with more power and better fuel economy beginning with the freshened 2011 CL coupe that goes on sale next month.

The CL550 has a 4.6-liter V-8 that replaces a 5.5-liter V-8. The new powerplant will be used in the S-class sedan and E-class family in the 2012 model-year.

The second new engine is a 5.5-liter V-8 built by Mercedes-Benz' high-performance AMG division. That engine replaces the normally aspirated 6.3-liter V-8 and will be used not only in the CL63 AMG but also in other AMG vehicles. It has direct fuel injection and a start-stop feature that turns the engine off when the vehicle stops and restarts it when the gas pedal is pressed.

The 4.6-liter, 429-hp engine is 20 percent smaller than the powerplant it replaces. The direct-injection bi-turbo engine uses two turbochargers and has 12 percent more horsepower than the outgoing engine but is 10 percent more fuel-efficient.

The new 5.5-liter engine has 536 hp, an improvement of 3 percent, and is 20 to 30 percent more fuel-efficient.

Final EPA fuel economy numbers for the vehicles with the new engines are not yet available.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101026/OEM04/101029890/1286#ixzz14RNhsWye

MERCEDES-BENZ USA MARKS 125 YEARS OF THE AUTOMOBILE WITH NEW ORLEANS CITY PARK DONATION

2010-10-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

MONTVALE, N.J. - Mercedes-Benz USA senior managers and dealers throughout the U.S. including Principal of Mercedes-Benz New Orleans and owner of the New Orleans Saints, Mr. Tom Benson, celebrate the 125 year anniversary of the automobile today by marking the occasion by donating and planting 125 trees in New Orleans City Park. The City Park continues to undergo repairs for the past five years since Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the park trees and facilities.

The history of Mercedes-Benz was shaped approximately 125 years ago when Carl Benz submitted his patent application for the first automobile - the three-wheeler, which resembled a motorized tricycle. At the same time, Gottlieb Daimler was developing the first four-wheel motor car. The two inventors laid the foundation for the modern automobile and motorized transportation that changed the world and affected virtually every aspect of daily life that we experience today.

"Despite the overwhelming set back from Hurricane Katrina, The City of New Orleans has a bright future that combines its rich heritage and new development," said Ernst Lieb, CEO and President of Mercedes-Benz USA. "These trees are a symbol of resiliency and growth for this amazing city and we hope it brings a sense of renewal for the local residents and tourists who visit the park."

At 1,300 acres, City Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country. It hosts 11 million visitors each year and is located in the heart of the city and is the largest recreation area for the entire metropolitan area. More then 170 Mercedes-Benz employees are donating their time to plant trees and install landscaping on Wednesday, October 13, 2010.

Read More: http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/about_us/press/

Mercedes Dealers

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2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec Diesel - Short Take Road Test

2010-10-21T13:21:00.000-07:00

The Mercedes-Benz diesel-powered mid-size sedan is as durable a notion as you’ll find in autodom. Mercedes created the world’s first production diesel-powered passenger car in 1935 and began putting oil-burners in its mid-sizers (a.k.a. Pontons) in 1955. The very words “Mercedes diesel” conjure all kinds of associations, from college professors who have forsaken their Peugeots, to wiry German mechanics, to cab drivers in Kabul. It’s an archetype; a 911 Turbo for meerschaum-smoking squares, a Shelby Mustang for people who got beat up in high school. Let’s see how this newest one, the E350 BlueTec, stacks up, shall we?

Stirring Diesel into the E-class Formula

In every regard save for its powerplant, the E350 BlueTec is a regular E350. It shares the mainstream sedan’s body, seven-speed manumatic transmission, coil-spring/multilink suspension, long-haul seats, and no-BS interior. But the car’s 3.0-liter diesel engine drastically alters the nature of the beast.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q4/2011_mercedes-benz_e350

Wisconsin Mercedes

IN-VEHICLE CONNECTIVITY TAKES A STEP FORWARD WITH INTRODUCTION OF "MEDIA INTERFACE PLUS" ON MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES

2010-10-21T13:11:00.000-07:00

Montvale, NJ and Palo Alto, CA, Oct. 15, 2010 -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today announced the availability of the Media Interface Plus (MIP), an innovative new vehicle accessory which enables drivers to retrofit their Mercedes-Benz to play and control Pandora (the leading personalized radio application) as well as other streaming audio content from their Smartphone, using the vehicle´s premium audio system.

Media Interface Plus expands the basic functions of the vehicle's Media Interface (standard or optional depending on model), enhancing in-vehicle connectivity. A plug-and-play device, MIP seamlessly integrates with the Mercedes-Benz mbrace suite of services and Smartphone apps. It requires no installation: customers simply connect MIP to the existing Media Interface outlet (in the glove compartment or center armrest) and enjoy an unprecedented range of new features using the existing intuitive user interface.

"Media Interface Plus is an exciting extension of our commitment to provide cutting-edge, versatile entertainment solutions for Mercedes-Benz vehicles," said Christian Treiber, general manager of after-sales business development for MBUSA. "We were the first vehicle manufacturer to fully integrate the iPod and launch mbrace Smartphone apps that control vehicle functions from the iPhone and Blackberry and extended Mercedes-Benz Concierge beyond the vehicle. We are always looking to push the boundary of in-vehicle connectivity to keep pace with our customers´ lifestyles and expectations."

The MIP provides an easy-to-use interface with the Pandora application running on any iPhone 3G, 3GS or iPhone 4. For BlackBerry devices, the MIP enables Bluetooth wireless audio streaming of Pandora as well as simple control of the currently playing track. A Bluetooth wireless link is also used to stream and control audio tracks from iPod, iPhone or any other consumer electronics devices supporting Bluetooth audio streaming.

Read More: http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/about_us/press/

Mercedes Wisconsin

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 – First Drive Review

2010-10-12T09:44:00.000-07:00

When it went on sale in the United States in 2005, the E-class–based CLS popularized the “four-door coupe” shape via a plunging roofline and a slim greenhouse, and would earn 40,000 sales in the U.S. over the next five years. It also spawned a number of copycat designs such as the Audi A7, the Volkswagen CC, and the Jaguar XF.

The second-generation CLS, which goes on sale here early next summer as a 2012 model, isn’t as pretty as the first one. The new body is a mixture of unimpeachable proportions and jarring design details. The overall envelope is elegant, but Mercedes embroiders it with brash details such as aggressive air scoops around the front bumper and sharp creases along the flanks.

As with virtually every car that comes to market these days, the CLS is bigger than the vehicle it replaces. The wheelbase has grown from 112.4 inches to 113.2, and the overall length is now 194.5 inches, up from 193.6. The car is slightly taller and wider, at 55.8 and 74.1 inches, respectively. The running gear comes from the new E-class sedan, but the CLS has a slightly wider track in front and back.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q4/2012_mercedes-benz_cls550-first_drive_review

Mercedes Dealers

Wheelsandmore refines the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SL65

2010-10-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

The German tuning company Wheelsandmore has created a modification kit for the Mercedes SL65 AMG. This vehicle already has impressive performance specifications and its range-topping model is equipped with the 6.0 liter V12 biturbo powerplant that has an output of 612 hp and 1001 Nm of torque. Wheelsandmore has tweaked the supercar’s engine and has given it a handmade exhaust system that features special sound control valves and an ECU remap.

The unit is now able to develop 697 hp and a maximum torque of 1,150 Nm. The tuning firm’s press release states specifically that all handmade exhaust systems from Wheelsandmore have remotable valve flaps.

It also gotten rid of the factory electronic speed limiter. The official top speed of the modified SL65 has yet to be revealed but it’s expected to exceed the 186 mph (300 km/h) mark by a big value. The press release further claims that wheelsandmore developed a performance package “to put the roadster up to the next level.”

Read More: Wheelsandmore refines the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SL65

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Mercedes-Benz to be world’s most fuel-efficient premium carmaker, says CEO

2010-10-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

When people talk about who deserves the title of the world's most fuel-efficient premium carmaker, it’s unlikely that Mercedes-Benz would be singled out. But Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said that he is prepared to do the “previously unthinkable" at subsidiary Mercedes-Benz and aim to be “efficiency world champions.” Zetsche is also head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. For the first time in the flagship’s history, the Mercedes S-class luxury sedan will be available with a four-cylinder engine, in the form of the S 250 CDI. During the press presentation of the S-Class at the Paris Auto Show last week, Zetsche said that instead of being termed as “sacrilege,” what the company is really doing is “progress.”

It’s apparent that Zetsche’s comments are directed to BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer, who seeks to cut the fleet CO2 emissions of his three-brand group (BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce) by at least 25% by 2020. Carmakers are being pressured to cut CO2 emissions before stricter rules take effect in Europe in 2012. To make their models more fuel efficient, carmakers are downsizing engines and utilizing technologies such as stop-start systems.

What’s interesting about Zetsche’s statement is that he had not specified a target for the Mercedes car group, which also includes Smart and Maybach. He also didn’t mention when he expects to be recognized as the world's most-efficient luxury brand. The new engine for the S class is a 2.2-liter diesel that uses 5.7 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers and has CO2 emissions of 149 grams per kilometer. This is the same powerplant that is featured in several of Mercedes's C- and E-class cars. In Europe, this new, greener S-class variant can already be ordered. It has a starting price of 71,876 euros (about $98,320) in Germany.

Mercedes Wisconsin

World Premiere in Paris

2010-10-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

World Premiere in Paris: Style icons and technology trendsetters: At the Paris Motor Show 2010, Mercedes-Benz introduced its latest models. Watch the highlights here! World Premiere has the new CLS, who represents the distinctive design of Mercedes-Benz in perfection. The A-Class E-CELL also celebrates its premiere. And for those who might like to get into something larger, the new S-Class 250 CDI, is now the first 5-liter car in the luxury sedan segment.

Watch the video: http://mercedes-benz.tv/en/

Mercedes Dealers

Snow Flurry

2010-10-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Snow Flurry: The G-Class is the classic Mercedes-Benz off-roader. In the following clip you will see that even snow and ice cannot stop this car! For over thirty years, the G-Class has stood for top off-road performance. Thanks to differential locks, a low-range transmission and all-wheel drive, the G-class overcomes almost every obstacle.

Watch the video: http://mercedes-benz.tv/en/clip-1348/Snow+Flurry?pid=mbtv_rss

Mercedes Dealers Milwaukee

2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Development Package - Short Take Road Test

2010-09-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

Thirty extra horsepower, a higher top speed, and brake upgrades—are they worth the extra dough?

A consistency and commonality of character pervade Mercedes-Benz’s AMG products, especially those that pack the in-house tuner’s own 6.2-liter V-8. Unique to the AMG brand, the big eight is essentially the same wherever it’s found, whether in the exotic SLS or this car, the C63. But it’s not just the engine that connects the C63 sedan and the be-winged SLS AMG. The primary controls have a uniform feel, the cars handle and ride similarly, and even their leather seats have the same cured scent. Of course, they differ vastly in looks, interior quality—the C63 shares much of its plasticky trimmings with the base C300—and, perhaps most significantly, price. The C63 is the “entry level” AMG at $60,325, roughly one-third as much as the $190,000 SLS, making it a relative bargain for those seeking the AMG experience without another mortgage.

In a comparison test involving the C63 back in December 2007, the C63 finished second behind a BMW M3 and ahead of an Audi RS 4. We called the Benz “overtly aggressive” and criticized its harsh ride. This test car, equipped with the $5950 P31 AMG Development Package, keeps the C63 resolutely on the extreme end of the sports-sedan spectrum. The P31 package focuses on power, going beyond the now-defunct AMG Performance pack by adding the connecting rods, pistons, and crankshaft from the SLS’s version of this engine and retunes the engine-management system. Horsepower thus increases from 451 to 481. (Other versions of the 6.2-liter make 503, 507, 518, and 563 hp, but the 6.2 is due to be phased out over the next few years. Its replacement will be a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8 that will deliver similar power but return better fuel economy.) The C63’s ECU tweaks raise the top speed from a governed 155 mph (the governor in our comparison-test C63 cut in early at an actual 153 mph) to 174, a speed the C63 achieves with such ease that we wondered how fast it would run without even this loosened electronic leash.

Milwaukee Mercedes

2010-09-22T13:13:00.000-07:00

Pure Fascination. The New CLS
Everyone wants to admire the design of the new Mercedes-Benz CLS. However, how do you get a CLS to stop? Watch this now! In the new video clip from Mercedes-Benz some children do something quite special in order to get a good look at the new CLS.

Watch the video: http://mercedes-benz.tv/en/clip-1321/Pure+Fascination.+The+New+CLS?pid=mbtv_rss

Mercedes Milwaukee

The New Spark

2010-08-31T14:07:00.000-07:00

This autumn the new CLS will cause hearts to race and a whole new spark with its athletic design. We will provide you with a sneak preview of the new heartthrob.

Watch the video: http://mercedes-benz.tv/en/clip-1295/The+New+Spark?pid=mbtv_rss

Mercedes Dealers

2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 BlueTec - Short Take Road Test

2010-08-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

The refreshed R-class attempts to jumpstart its sales.

Back in 2005, when Mercedes-Benz launched its not-a-minivan-not-an-SUV-not-a-wagon thingy, erstwhile editor-at-large Patrick Bedard saddled up an R500 for a full-blown road test. Trying to understand what, exactly, the R-class is, Bedard posed the question: Could this be the passenger-car shape of 2016? Perhaps at that point, the R-class was somewhat of a trailblazer—too far ahead of its time. Its sales numbers have been simply dismal, despite the market exploding with crossover-type people movers.
And while it’s not yet 2016, we are about at the halfway point, which just happens to coincide with the R-class’s first refresh. Thus, we are revisiting the R in the form of this 2011 R350 BlueTec diesel. Expectedly, on our way to 2016, a lot has changed in the automotive world. Bankruptcies, bailouts, and the serious expansion of alternative powertrains are now realities. But other than lowering the base price some $5000 in 2007, ditching the V-8–powered R500 for 2008, and this new face for 2011, the R-class hasn’t evolved much.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q3/2011_mercedes-benz_r350_bluetec-short_take_road_test

Mercedes Milwaukee

Danke! German Brochure for Next-Gen Benz CLS Leaks

2010-08-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to scans of a German brochure for the next-generation Mercedes CLS, we can show you what Benz’s next four-door coupe will look like. As we saw from the CLS spy photos back in May, the next CLS is more of an evolution of the current car than a radical rethink. The next CLS will take on the corporate headlights and unnecessarily large rear wheel arches. The interior gets a significant and welcome upgrade, though there are no head-on shots of the dashboard in this batch of pics.
Power for the CLS is expected to come from the upper echelon of the Benz engine range, including the new 4.6-liter twin-turbo V-8 boasting 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Keep in mind, that’s just the replacement for the CLS550; the AMG version of the CLS will get the company’s new 5.5 liter twin-turbo V-8, making at least 536 hp. There will also be a V-6 CLS, featuring M-B’s new 3.5-liter with direct injection. That engine, which will be deployed throughout the Mercedes family, finally brings Benz up to par with the competition’s six-cylinder engines, breaking the 300-hp mark with a total of 306. Europeans determined to suck the fun out of the CLS will once again have a six-cylinder diesel option, making it the rational buyer’s choice for an irrational car (it’s a four-door with no headroom and four seats, after all).

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/danke-german-brochure-for-next-gen-benz-cls-leaks/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+caranddriver%2Fblog+%28Car+and+Driver+Blog%29&utm_content=Bloglines

Milwaukee Mercedes

International Autos Group

2010-08-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

International Autos has been serving Wisconsin areas for numerous years and is now proud to offer service to Illinois as well. We have become a leader in sales, service and customer satisfaction. Our experienced sales staff specializes in New and Pre-driven Mercedes Benz, Audi, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Mini, Porsche, Subaru and Volvo cars and trucks. We strive to provide the best customer satisfaction and assure you that if you allow us a chance to earn your business you will be satisfied with both the sale and the service we offer. Our business philosophy has always been putting our customers first and our track record of continued repeat business shows that philosophy works. Whether you choose a New or Pre-driven Mercedes Benz, Audi, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Mini, Porsche, Subaru or Volvo vehicle you will enjoy the hassle free purchasing experience thousands of our customers have already benefited from.

Internation Autos

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG / CL65 AMG – Official Photos and Info

2010-08-09T14:46:00.001-07:00

by Jake Holmes at Car & Driver

New style, more power, and extra gadgets for the go-fast CL63 and CL65.

Low-flying private jets, tire-liquefying gentlemen’s expresses—whatever you call Mercedes’ CL63 and CL65 AMG models, they’re going to take more names and kick more assumptions to the curb after a 2011 refresh. There are the expected visual tweaks, but the real action is under the surface, where new electronic gadgets join a revised engine lineup.

Keep Reading: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG / CL65 AMG – Official Photos and Info

Mercedes Dealers Milwaukee

The New S 63 AMG

2010-08-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

Mercedes-Benz and high performance partner AMG take sportiness and elegance to the next level with the new S 63 AMG. Contributing to this are the AMG 5.5 liter Bi- turbo V8 and the Speedshift MCT 7-speed sports transmission. Naturally the premium sedan is also fully equipped with an abundance of assistance systems and design highlights.

Read More: http://mercedes-benz.tv/en/clip-1286/The+New+S+63+AMG?pid=mbtv_rss

Wisconsin Mercedes

The New CL 63 AMG

2010-08-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

Dynamic and efficient: The CL 63 AMG impresses with a newly developed V8 engine and with fuel consumption that is 27 percent lower than its predecessor. The new V8 engine has two turbochargers with a top performance of 420 kW. Fitted as standard are the spray-guided direct petrol injection and stop start function, this way the CL 63 AMG represents motoring refinement at the highest level.

Read More: http://mercedes-benz.tv/en/clip-1282/The+New+CL+63+AMG?pid=mbtv_rss

Mercedes Wisconsin

2011 Mercedes-Benz SL550

2010-07-15T12:28:00.001-07:00

2011 Mercedes-Benz SL550

Selling Price $42,880
VIN : WDBUF87X69B387087
Stock Number : 22033
Transmission: Automatic
Miles: 24,349
Body Type: 4DR
Doors: 4
Cylinders: 6
Interior Color: Cashmere
Exterior Color: Arctic White

Call 888-507-3685

Mercedes Milwaukee

2011 Mercedes-Benz SL550 – Short Take Road Test

2010-07-15T12:18:00.000-07:00

by Mark Gillies

Fast, comfortable, and fun, it’s a great tool for mature motoring.

You know you’re getting old when the Mercedes-Benz SL550 seems like the perfect car. That may sound like a back-handed compliment to the car, but with age comes wisdom—and with wisdom, the realization that one needn’t drive at 11/10ths all the time in the public domain. For more-relaxed motoring, a comfortable car that is really fast, handles nicely, and rides well is an alluring everyday proposition.

Keep Reading: 2011 Mercedes-Benz SL550 – Short Take Road Test

Milwaukee Mercedes

2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe – Short Take Road Test

2010-07-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

By Eddie Alterman on performance testing

A satisfying luxury coupe—just skip the sport suspension.

In a strange reversal, Mercedes-Benz—the company that led the current trend toward the coupification of the sedan with its CLS—is heralding the sedanification of the coupe via the new E350. This is a two-door in body only; its spirit is that of a sober four-door, and it and the CLS appear to be converging on a single point: buyers who want a sedan but without all the space and convenience.

Keep Reading: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe – Short Take Road Test

Wisconsin Mercedes

Mercedes dealers ranked most customer-friendly

2010-07-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

Diana T. Kurylko

A study measuring how dealerships treat customers rated Mercedes-Benz highest but said Detroit's brands have showed the most improvement.

Ford, Lincoln and Chevrolet scored above the average for the first time in the four years that Piped Piper Management Co. has conducted its study. Lexus was No. 2 and Mitsubishi placed last in the survey.

Pied Piper, of Monterey, Calif., sent 3,658 mystery shoppers into dealerships to develop its Prospect Satisfaction Index. The shoppers ranged from 21 to 65.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100712/RETAIL07/100719981/1400#ixzz0tmPJOBk2

Mercedes Wisconsin

2010 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4MATIC

2010-06-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

2010 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4MATIC

201038
Arctic White Exterior, Sport Utility, Automatic
MSRP $55,165

Mercedes Milwaukee

2010 Mercedes-Benz E350

2010-06-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

2010 Mercedes-Benz E350

200024
Black Exterior, Black Interior, 4DR, Automatic
MSRP $54,005

Milwaukee Mercedes

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4MATIC

2010-06-29T14:20:00.001-07:00

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4MATIC

200369
Arctic White Exterior, Sport Utility, Automatic
MSRP $42,710

Wisconsin Mercedes

2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC

2010-06-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC

200931
Black Exterior, 4DR, Automatic
MSRP $40,325

Mercedes Wisconsin