Originally debuted in Detroit at 2010’s NAIAS in sculpture form, the F800 Style takes the SLS AMG and molds it with the idea of minivans, note the rear-sliding doors. With new technology the vehicle can apparently steer around tough curves without driver’s help. KITT, buddy, I need you!

Mercedes plans on letting buyers choose what type of futuristic, eco-friendly tech powertrain they can have: Plug-in electric or a rechargeable fuel-cell hybrid gas/electric.

According to the press release: “Underneath the hood is, in reality, likely empty space, but Mercedes wants you to think there’s either a plug-in gas/electric hybrid based on the non-plug-in system from the S400 Hybrid or a hydrogen fuel cell similar to that used in other Merc concepts with “F” names. While the fuel cell definitely won’t reach production, at least not in the 2012 CLS, Mercedes does seem pretty serious about pandering to moronic American by bringing the plug-in thing to the next S-Class.”

Techno toys with Mercedes F800 include a Traffic Jam Assist: aka radar-assisted cruise control, the ability to maintain a preset following distance all the way down to 0 MPH, and also be able to following the car in front around curves at up to 25 MPH. Stay tuned for more updates on the F800 after New York City and Geneva Auto Shows this Spring.

Source: jalopnik

We know a lot of you smoke while behind the wheel, I mean how else are you going to stay calm in rush hour traffic around any major city in The States? Well how about smoke in a boat? Mercedes has inspired many in the auto world, and now also in the realm of high-performance boat racing. The 46-foot Cigarette Racer design was inspired by the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. But an you put gullwing doors on a water craft?

Cigarette CEO Skip Braver (Yes, that’s his real name) is apparently a huge fan of AMG products. According to Skip, The boat’s hull is painted in a blend of two SLS-exclusive paint colors, Alubeam silver and Designo Mystic White. Interior upholstery is based on the SLS’s mix of Designo porcelain and white Nappa leather, though made of water-resistant materials.

The boat’s engines are of a brand-new design: two twin-turbo, 9.0-liter Mercury Racing engines produce a combined 2700 hp, enabling a top speed of over 130 mph. These engines are more fuel-efficient and reliable than any competitive boat engine.

Via blog.caranddriver.com

* Comfortable: AIRCAP® automatic draft-stop plus AIRSCARF®
* Quiet: sound-dampening soft top as standard
* Safe: robust roll-over protection and new headbags

The all new E-Class Cabriolet is the latest addition to the successful Mercedes-Benz E-Class line-up. The open-top two-door model, which goes on sale in May 2010, features a classic fabric soft top, making for a stylistically pure cabriolet feeling. Viewed from the side, the new model is an intriguing proposition – with its clear proportions and a flawless cabriolet silhouette.

In keeping with the motto “four seasons, four personalities”, all-year-round suitability was right at the top of the developers’ list of priorities. With the new E?Class Cabriolet, the cabriolet season lasts the whole year because, while many cabriolets tend to disappear from the roads in the Fall, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (length/width/height: 185.0/70.3/55.2in.) provides driving pleasure and comfort whether the roof is open or closed.

New features include:

* The AIRCAP® automatic draft-stop: always on board and easily controllable at the push of a button, it reduces turbulence substantially for all four seat occupants
* The modified AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system
* The sound-dampening soft top fitted as standard

The soft top can be opened and closed fully automatically within 20 seconds – even when driving at speeds of up to 25mph. The cabriolet roof is stowed in a special compartment behind the rear panel. A retractable cover separates the soft top compartment from the trunk area; it must be closed in order to close the soft top. If the roof is to remain closed, the cover can be slid rearwards, in which case the trunk capacity is increased by 3.17 cu. ft. to 13.8 cu. ft. A through-loading feature is included as standard for the new Cabriolet, as is EASY-ENTRY – a manually operated entry and exit aid for the rear passengers.

The power plants for the new E-Class Cabriolet are equally innovative: the engines combine efficiency with effortlessly superior power delivery. The exemplary, low fuel consumption has been achieved because of a number of practical measures. These include on-demand activation of the steering and fuel pumps, the use of tires with low rolling resistance and an alternator control system which takes account of the current driving situation and the vehicle’s electrical power requirements, plus the crucial factor of outstanding aerodynamics. The Cabriolet’s cd figure of 0.28 is the best in its class, marking a continuation of the E-Class success story in the field of aerodynamics.

An overview of the engines:

* E350 Cabriolet: 268 hp / 258 lb-ft.
* E550 Cabriolet: 382 hp/ 391 lb-ft.

Less turbulence, easier to use: AIRCAP® is a world-first

In 1989, Mercedes-Benz introduced a world premiere in the shape of a draught-stop for the SL model series, followed in 2004 by the AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system to further enhance comfort in open-top models. Now comes another world-first: the AIRCAP® automatic draft-stop, which can be activated at the push of a button, greatly reduces turbulence in the interior of the new Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet, creating a sea of warm air. It is also much easier to implement and use than conventional draft-stops: there is no tricky installation, the two individual rear seats remain free and the Cabriolet’s flowing side lines remain uninterrupted. AIRCAP® is therefore a classic Mercedes innovation: functional, comfort-enhancing, elegant and safe.

AIRCAP® consists of two components: a wind deflector that can be extended by around 2.4 inches with a net in the windscreen frame and a draft-stop
between the rear seats.

The functions of the two components:

* Elevation of the free flow above the interior
* Net at the front increases the basic pressure in the interior
* Draft-stop at the rear reduces the backflow

As well as enhancing occupant comfort and wellbeing, the reduction in draft when AIRCAP® is activated (it can be activated at speeds of up to 100 mph and remains in use right up to the car’s top speed) reduces the interior noise level – so passengers in all seats find it far easier to communicate.

When the standard AIRCAP® is combined with the optional AIRSCARF®, the system functions like an invisible scarf warming the occupants’ head and neck areas. AIRSCARF® is integrated into the backrests of the front seats and provides warm air through outlets in the head restraints.

Mercedes engineers have modified this unique innovation specifically for the E-Class Cabriolet: in this model, an adjustment wheel pivots the outlet nozzle upwards and downwards by a total of 36 degrees over and above the head restraint height adjustment, meaning that the driver and front passenger can enjoy the unique neck-level heating regardless of how short or tall they are.

Quiet, warm and windproof: sound-dampening soft top fitted as standard.

Thanks to its sound-dampening soft top, fitted as standard, even the closed E-Class Cabriolet has one of the quietest interiors in the segment for four-seater premium cabriolets with a fabric roof. The soft top’s exceptionally high-quality insulation brings about a clearly noticeable reduction in the interior noise level compared to conventional fabric soft tops. Exterior noise caused by other vehicles and wind noise are therefore absorbed more effectively.

On the road, the difference is audible from speeds of just 50 mph, for example when driving through a tunnel or overtaking a convoy of trucks. At higher speeds, the benefits of the acoustic soft top are even more tangible. For instance, it is possible to have a perfectly normal phone conversation in hands-free mode even when travelling at a speed more than 125 mph.

The soft top is of course waterproof and windproof. Plus it can be put through an automatic carwash without any hesitation. With a total thickness of .9 inches, the fabric soft top offers excellent thermal insulation, meaning that the E-Class Cabriolet is also ideal for use in winter.

Safety: robust structure, anticipatory protection and windowbags

The new Cabriolet offers the wealth of safety innovations one would expect from a Mercedes-Benz model. Highlights of the open-top two-door model include roll-over protection, the A-pillars reinforced by two additional tubes and the plug-in B-pillars. This new model is also the first Mercedes cabriolet to feature headbags.

The roll-over protection consists of two robust bars, each with a diameter of 1.4 inches, which are housed in the rear head restraints in modules behind the rear seat backrests. A tilting cone sensor detects imminent danger to the occupants based on extreme skidding movements or acceleration caused by impact. If this sensor then sends a corresponding signal, pre-tensioned pressure springs are activated by pyrotechnic means, i.e. extremely quickly.

Consequently, both roll-over bars in the rear head restraints are extended. They reach their highest point and are locked automatically within a fraction of a second. In combination with the robust A-pillars, each of which is reinforced with two high-strength steel tubes, the steel bars provide highly effective roll-over
protection.

The plug-in B-pillars are extremely robustly connected as they engage in the side skirts, thus offering highly effective protection in the event of a crash. A shoe made from ultra-high-strength steel braces the inside of the B-pillar against the rear seat crossmember.

Source for pics & press release: WCF

With over 700 horse power under the hood and a legacy of Le Mans victories, Mercedes C-Series is ready to take home the checkered flag yet again. After decades of wins at Formula One and 24 Hours of LeMans, Swiss racing manager Peter Sauber introduced a new line up of vehicles, for Jaguar and Mercedes, The C-Series, including C5 and C6. Now, when 41-year-old icon Michael Schumacher gets into a Mercedes C11 next year he’ll be setting a new standard for motor sport, and will probably put on one hell of a show.

It’s a homecoming for both Mercedes & Schumacher, as Jalopnik states: “For 1991, Mercedes was back at Le Mans, but in a very un-Mercedes-like move, their successor to the C11 was a lemon, so they decided to race the old C11’s. Which, in another very un-Mercedes-like way, suffered mechanical failure in the form of broken alternator brackets. Michael Schumacher was driving one of the cars and came home fifth behind the winning Mazda and three Jaguars. Then, finally in a more Mercedes-like move, they abandoned their factory racing effort at the end of the year, becoming engine suppliers for Peter Sauber’s F1 team and later for McLaren, powering Mika Häkkinen to two F1 world titles and Lewis Hamilton to another.”

In an interview with AutoCar, Mercedes’ chief designer, Gordon Wagener, said “We want to elevate our design towards art and if any company can do it Mercedes can.” He added that the concept will be a “long and exaggerated” showpiece which is not intended to foreshadow any production model. Despite this, rumors seem to suggest the concept will hint at the next-generation CLS.

Look for more information on these and other Mercedes concepts coming in January.

Of the 2,000 SLRs built, only 75 would ultimately be badged Stirling Moss, thus making more selective what was already a highly unattainable car.

Mercedes celebrated 75 years of racing last week, and displayed a range of original and replica competition vehicles over the last 3/4 of a century. Since 1934, the Silver Arrows have been a formidable force on race tracks around the world.

One of the lesser known Mercedes race vehicles is 1955’s “The Blue Wonder” – pictured above. It was a fast blue carrier with sports-car looks, the Lo 2750 (named after its 2.75 ton payload capability) from the 1930s with its flashing chrome grille and the 16-metre long present-day Actross. The latter is among those which have moved racing metal for the likes of Lewis Hamilton and C-Class cars of German Touring Car Championship (DTM) drivers.

It’s a smart move on Mercedes part – as SLS AMG was one of the most anticipated/accepted autos at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show: “Mercedes’ management has been very supportive of AMG’s efforts in developing the SLS,” an unnamed source is quoted by Autocar. “The feedback we’ve received since showing the car at the Frankfurt motor show has been extremely encouraging. A second model that will project a similarly exclusive image but be more accessible in terms of its pricing is already in planning.”

Even with a smaller build, 2013’s Mercedes SLS will have its twin turbo V8 with over 507 horse power. All of that power goes to the rear wheels via a 7-speed double clutch and a limited differential slip, with a0 – 60 mph time around 4.5 seconds. Prices will start around $134,700 when sales begin after the Mayan apocalypse.

via Worldcarfans

Via Wired – Mercedes-Benz is launching a voice-controlled telematics system that all but puts a personal assistant in the car to find most any location, answer most any question and cater to most any whim.

“This is the first phase,” he said. “Going forward, we will have more applications and in two years’ time a new hardware platform. We’re charging ahead fairly quickly into the realm of connecting the driver with his digital environment.”

This special 2013 edition “Black” SLS will include many upgrades, the standard M159 engine, a 6.2 liter V8 power plant with 563 bhp and 648 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque, will be dialed up to around 600 bhp and 677 Nm (500 lb-ft) of cranking kraft. The Black Series’ 0 to 100km/h sprint is expected to fall below 3.5 seconds, from the standard SLS’s 3.8. Top speed will rise to from 314 km/h (195 mph) to 335 km/h (208 mph).

AMG will achieve that power upgrade by increasing the compression ratio of the engine, creating a new profile for the camshafts and using a larger air intake manifold. But how much power can AMG continue to squeeze out of that 6.2 liter V8? Plenty.

via WorldCarFans