Mercedes-Benz is presenting its new label MercedesSport, under which title the famous luxury car manufacturer will showcase a brand-new range of elegant and sporty individualization products at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland.
As the label’s name suggests, the new line of products will be aimed at underlining even further the sporty and elegant character of the stellar Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Among the MercedesSport specially designed elements will be newly styled light-alloy wheels, sports suspensions, aerodynamic and styling components. All MercedesSport labeled elements are designed and produced by Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH in cooperation with the in-house designers and engineers responsible for the standard production models.
Mercedes-Benz is presenting its new label MercedesSport, under which title the famous luxury car manufacturer will showcase a brand-new range of elegant and sporty individualization products at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland.
As the label’s name suggests, the new line of products will be aimed at underlining even further the sporty and elegant character of the stellar Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Among the MercedesSport specially designed elements will be newly styled light-alloy wheels, sports suspensions, aerodynamic and styling components. All MercedesSport labeled elements are designed and produced by Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH in cooperation with the in-house designers and engineers responsible for the standard production models.
The first class that benefits from the new MercedesSport components is the E-Class with its Saloon, Estate, Coupe and Cabriolet versions.
The MercedesSport product range for E-Class features:
-Intelligently designed front aprons, spoiler edges and side skirts ensure an elegant and sporty appearance. Unlike conventional products on the market, the sophisticated “add-on principle” makes it unnecessary to replace the original components. -Optional rear and roof spoilers, a diffuser-look rear apron insert and fog lamp louvres round off this finely coordinated package of visual and aerodynamic features for the exterior. -Striking eighteen-inch light-alloy wheels in a trendy bicolor version. These have sections painted in high-sheen black and bear the MercedesSport logo. They are enhanced and protected by a clear varnish coat. -A sporty suspension, with noticeably stiffer damping, transverse stabilisers and shorter springs to lower the suspension by up to 15 millimetres. This sports suspension kit makes for more direct and sporty handling without compromising the high level of comfort. -A sports braking system with perforated brake discs and grey brake calipers bearing the Mercedes-Benz logo, for outstanding deceleration and a sporty look. -A grippy four-spoke sports steering wheel with perforated leather and a silver contrasting seam, optionally available with shift paddles and heating. For a sporty touch in the cockpit, right at your fingertips. -A stainless steel pedal cluster, stainless steel door entry panels illuminated in white and bearing the MercedesSport logo and black velours floor mats with an edge border and silver contrasting seam, likewise bearing the MercedesSport logo, are further eyecatching features in the interior.It is with these retrofitted features that Mercedes-Benz meets the wishes of customers who wish to enhance and individualise their cars even further.
Some cars are impressive, others are fascinating. And there are also cars that sink deep into your heart – for example CL 65 AMG tuned by VÄTH Automobiltechnik.
The recent tuning success of VÄTH masters from Hösbach/Germany is represented by a combination of luxury and power. VÄTH increases the power of CL 65 AMG up to spectacular 745 hp and 1,150 Nm. Engine tuning consists in new programming of engine electronics, inlet optimization with an air collector, an enhanced engine and gear cooling system, a first-grade boosting system as well as the exhaust system with 76 mm diameter pipe equipped with the high-grade steel made cats. All this makes the luxurious car accelerate up to 100 km/h within some 4 seconds. The maximum speed reaches 340 km/h, the exhaust emission standard does not change. The price for the engine tuning incl. installation and optimization is 36,890 Euro.
Large wheel arches have enough space for alloy rim wheels in 20” (7,378 Euro) – completed by winter proof high performance Vredestein tyres of 255/35R20 or 295/30R20 allowing speeds up to 270 km/h. The sports braking system with 6 piston fixed calipers and 405 mm braking disks guarantee absolutely super brake deceleration. The braking system including steel flex tubes and racing brake fluid is available for 8,082 Euro. In order to increase road holding capacity of the vehicle VÄTH Automobiltechnik offers an airmatic lowering (1,952 Euro) of about 40 mm (1.5”).
In addition, VÄTH offers a fine aero kit. Up front end VÄTH has installed a carbon front lip (for 1,536 Euro). The rear end has carbon fins (1,012 Euro) that simply substitute the serial diffusor. Thereto a rear trunk and a roof spoiler (295 or 345 Euro) give the necessary negative lift – what else do you want!?
This weekend Mercedes will be unveiling the production GLK sans Kim Cattrall at the Beijing Motor Show, a.k.a. the Auto China in Bejing. We’ve also learned that the GLK will have only one engine available when it goes sale in the U.S. next January as a 2010 model. The sole motor will be a 268-horsepower 3.5L V6, which can be paired with a two-wheel-drive or 4MATIC all-wheel-drive platform, the latter being able to hit 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds while also returning 23 mpg on the highway. The design of the GLK, meanwhile, apes other CUVs that want to look tough despite their decidedly non-SUV underpinnings, hence all the angularity and sharp edges. Its standard ten-spoke wheels will be unusually large at 19 inches, and 20-inchers will be optional. The GLK 350 will be a true Mercedes with all the trappings of digital technology inside and a plethora of safety features, and MB is planning five option packages and nine standalone options. It’ll be built at the automaker’s plant in Bremen, Germany and join the R-Class, M-Class, GL-Class and G-Class as the fifth “SUV” in the Mercedes lineup. No word yet on pricing, though.
The year was 1955. It would turn out to be the best of times and the worst of times for Mercedes-Benz. In April came one of the epic motor racing drives of all time. In winning Italy’s famed Mille Miglia, Stirling Moss drove his Mercedes-Benz 300SLR two-seater along 1,000 miles of spectator-jammed public roads at an average speed of fractionally under 100mph. Beside him sat the imperturbable British journalist Denis Jenkinson, calling out the bends from a roll of paper. It was a spectacular victory, and one that Moss, who turned 80 this year, regards as one of his own and Mercedes’ best.
Two months later, Pierre Levegh was behind the wheel of another 300SLR, this time at Le Mans. A car ahead dived into the pits, causing a slower car to veer into Levegh’s path. He hit it hard, the Mercedes launched skywards, hitting a trackside bank at great speed. The car disintegrated, its engine and component parts scything into the grandstand followed by the flaming car body itself. Levegh and 83 spectators died and 100 more were injured in motor racing’s worst accident. As a mark of respect, Mercedes withdrew Juan Manuel Fangio’s 300SLR, but the race went on.
Mercedes’ racing machines were close relatives of a road version, the 300SL, a car whose “gull-wing” doors gave it the look of a giant bird of prey. These days, 300SLs fetch up to £300,000 at auction.
Four seasons, four personalities – 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.
With seven airbags fitted as standard, belt tensioners and belt force limiters for all seats, not to mention crash-responsive head restraints for the driver and front passenger, the new E-Class Cabriolet offers the most extensive safety equipment package in this vehicle category. The airbags, which can deploy in milliseconds in the event of an accident, include front airbags and sidebags for the driver and front passenger, a kneebag on the driver’s side, and headbags. The latter, which appear in a Mercedes cabriolet for the first time, are housed in the door panelling in the beltline area. Covering a wide area – around 2.3 × 1.6 feet with a volume of 17 liters when deployed – the airbags provide extremely effective protection for occupants large and small in the event of a crash. The three-part side protection system – comprising headbag and thoraxbag – optimises the level of protection afforded to individual parts of the body. Rear sidebags are available as an option.
Further exemplary safety equipment available for the E-Class Cabriolet includes ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection, PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, and DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control.
2010 MercedesSport E-Class
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