REVIEW: Mercedes-Benz's E-Class Cabrio

For 2011, the E is channeling something more intriguing; a convertible. Of course anyone can plainly see that the CLK-Class, that made an appearance for give or take 10 years, was essentially an E cabriolet. Although you would not know it because Mercedes neglected to mention anything CLK related during our press briefing. It was good for a chuckle.


Nomenclature aside, the E convertible is taking the E coupe's solid foundation and impressive driving dynamics then lopping off its top. For those who enjoy getting a tan, blasting around town with a couple of friends and a three-pointed star adorning the grille, this is one monster vehicle.


And it happens to look miles better than the E coupe. Lacking that fixed rear window and adding a delicate looking top, it accentuates the rear fender
that reminds me of a Bentley Continental GTC. The rear 3/4 is this vehicle's best angle.
If you have not been up to speed on the E coupe, let me summarize. The coupe drives like a scaled-down CL but deletes the boat-like quality and adds some liveliness. Sure its steering is numb and on the lighter side, but it remains direct and demands for you to play in the twisties.

It will not probably not sway a BMW driver from their 335i but it is not intended to do so. It is far more refined.

The E coupe makes for an excellent GT cruiser. Its suspension is stiff without punishing your derrière and its not so soft as to lull you to sleep. Body roll is kept in check for the most part during aggressive cornering and the coupe is a quiet highway roller.

Now, the convertible does all of the above but like a magician with a trick up its sleeve -- more like several.

For instance, Mercedes has continued to go forward using its AIRSCARF technology. My first encounter with it had me skeptical because when you synthesize what it is actually during, merely blowing warm air on your neck, the first reaction is that it is a gimmick. Low and behold, when you are driving top down in 35 or 40 degree weather, it makes convertible driving in winter months possible.

Mercedes Benz exquisite new estate

Mercedes are entering a new era. There's a ton of stuff going on in Stuttgart at the moment, with the firm at its most creative and dynamic for decades.

Witness their new CLS Shooting Break. Radical enough for any car manufacturer - let alone the ­three-pointed star - it's the horniest estate for miles.

Forget any ideas of competing with the E-Class, and hauling dogs, children and dirty nappies to and from the local gymkhana.

This is a new genre altogether, a Merc tourer that's low, aggressive, irresistible, and swathed in uptown materials and technology.

Traditionalists will like the oak and hide cabin with its art deco ­flourishes, while there'll be new, ultra-efficient and frugal 3.5 V6 and 4.6 V8 petrol engines mated to a seven-speed box, plus possible hybrid and electric versions.

The slippery styling's likely to ­become current across the whole range and will form a major element of MB's aesthetic grammar. So don't think this is just another concept, spinning pointlessly on a Beijing turntable.

I'll bet my trousers the sensual CLS Shooting Break won't just make into production.

Mercedes G55 AMG

Mercedes G55 AMG

Smallest Mercedes SUV is sales star

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4MATIC

Mercedes-Benz has found a silver lining to the economic recession: It's helping boost sales of its smallest sport utility vehicle in the United States.

In fact, the 2010 GLK has been outselling the other Mercedes SUVs in this country in 2010.

Shorter than most major competitors, including the Lexus RX and Infiniti's EX35, the compact GLK appeals with a starting retail price that's $11,800 lower than the previous lowest-priced and smallest Mercedes SUV, the M-Class.

The five-seat GLK also is a recommended buy of Consumer Reports magazine and offers the status of a Mercedes, plentiful standard safety equipment and a comfortable ride without all the heft of the bigger Mercedes SUVs.

Just don't try to fit more than five people inside — four is best — and don't expect a low price if you insist on a GLK with all the bells and whistles. Also, don't look for big savings at the gas station.

Less than 15 feet long from bumper to bumper, the GLK has a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, with destination charge, of $34,775 for a two-wheel drive version and $36,775 for a model with four-wheel drive.

This compares with the starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $46,575 for a rear-wheel drive Mercedes M-Class SUV.

But the test GLK had a final price of more than $48,000 with a navigation system, power liftgate, garage door opener, leather seat trim, premium sound system and other goodies added in.

Meantime, GLK competitors include the 2010 Audi Q5 (with standard all-wheel drive, and 270 horsepower); its starting retail price is $38,175. The 2010 Infiniti EX35 starts at $34,665 with rear-wheel drive and 297 horsepower. An all-wheel drive EX35 starts at $36,065.

The 2010 Lexus RX 350, which has been the segment leader for years, has a starting retail price of $38,500 with front-wheel drive and $39,900 with all-wheel drive. The RX has a 275 horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6.

2011 Mercedes S63 AMG Official Detail

The 2011 Mercedes S63 AMG showcar is a homage to the impressive history of powerful AMG V8 engines: visually this high-performance saloon resembles the spectacular 300 SEL 6.8 AMG, the racing car that won a class victory and second place in the overall ranking for AMG at the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) in 1971 – and made the company world-famous overnight.

MercedesSport product range for E-Class features

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.

2010 MercedesSport E-Class Mercedes-Benz new label

2010 MercedesSport E-Class

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.