2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class facelift
Earlier this month Mercedes-Benz took the covers off its facelited B-Class range and now we have first details about the 2009 model year update for the smaller A-Class. Due for release in the second half of the year, the new A-Class gets a slightly revised look, a revamped interior and a cleaner engine range. New to range is fuel saving engine stop-start technology for the volume A150 and A170 models as well as the addition of an ultra-frugal A150 BlueEfficiency model, which gets by on just 5.8L of...

2009 update for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Mercedes-Benz has updated a model that has been in production for 29 years and remains nearly identical to the original 1979 version. The model is the G-Class off-roader, short for Geländewagen cross-country vehicle, and despite being the longest-serving passenger vehicle in Mercedes’ 122 year history the SUV is subject to continual updating to keep it in touch with the latest in technology. While the exterior has largely been left untouched, the car has received several major updates to its...

Brabus kit for the Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG facelift
Mercedes-Benz went to great effort to improve the power and efficiency of its SLK range for the 2009 model year facelift but for the guys at German tuner Brabus the output of the standard model was never going to be enough. That’s why for their latest custom kit for the facelifted SLK, Brabus engineers installed a new 6.1L version of the supercharged 5.5L AMG-prepped V8 and added a new aerodynamic bodykit to match. In addition to the powertrain and aerodynamic enhancements, Brabus also modified the...

Kicherer Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Edition
Straight out of the box the Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series is already one of the most extreme production cars on the planet. With a full DTM-style wide-bodykit, carbon-fiber lined interior and a thunderous V8 engine pumping out 507hp 373kW, few would feel the need to lift the performance of the car. However, for the guys at Kicherer it appears that nothing can be too extreme. The German tuner has set about boosting the output from the already high-strung engine – lifting power by 33hp 25kW to a...

Mercedes-Benz design chief to retire after 40 years
After a 40 year stint at Mercedes-Benz, 30 years as its official design chief, automotive engineer and designer Peter Pfeiffer is set to retire. Pfeiffer, who turns 65 this year, first joined the carmaker back in 1968 and was promoted to head of design just ten years later. Mercedes is yet to name an official successor but a decision is expected to be announced soon. Most likely to replace Pfeiffer is Gorden Wagener, the current president of Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America. Wagener has...

Mercedes-Benz GLK revealed ahead of Beijing debut
The new Mercedes-Benz GLK is set to make its debut at this weekend’s Beijing Motor Show but the first images and details of the car have already been leaked. The compact SUV was first previewed at the Detroit Auto Show back in January in concept form and as expected the final production car remains almost identical to the original show car. Designed to go up against the BMW X3 and upcoming Audi Q5, the new GLK shows a dramatic improvement in quality over Mercedes’ previous SUV models despite being...

Mercedes-Benz unveils new four-cylinder diesel lineup
Mercedes-Benz announced a new range of four-cylinder diesel engines today, reiterating their focus on reducing engine size while maintaining performance. The new lineup delivers better economy and power levels than Mercedes’ previous generation of four-cylinder diesel engines, with the most powerful variant delivering 20% more power and torque than the outgoing powerplant. The range topper is a new 204hp 2.1L unit with a peak torque of 500Nm – as much twist-force as a petrol V8. Despite the increase...

Mercedes-Benz: Cost no deterrent for alternative powertrain development
Mercedes-Benz is committed to delivering advanced diesel, hybrid, Diesotto and fuel-cell powertrains in the near future no matter the cost, revealed Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche. This is in contrast to statements from rival carmakers like GM, who predict such alternative powertrains can only be developed if customers are willing to foot the bill. Zetsche explains that since carmakers will soon be required by law to improve the cleanliness of their fleets, customers will be less willing to pay extra for...

Preview: Mercedes-Benz CLK Shooting Brake
Mercedes-Benz isn’t set to reveal its all-new 2010 CLK until early next year but new reports coming out of Germany claim a ‘shooting brake’ concept version will be on display at the Paris Motor Show this October. The concept, previewed by the rendering above, is said to combine elements of a coupe and hatch and is slated for launch a year after the regular CLK coupe. Mercedes Benz has lost ground in the premium coupe segment against its main rival BMW and its more recent E92 3-series coupe and to...

Preview: Mercedes-Benz CLK Shooting Brake
Mercedes-Benz isn’t set to reveal its all-new 2010 CLK until early next year but new reports coming out of Germany claim a ‘shooting brake’ concept version will be on display at the Paris Motor Show this October. The concept, previewed by the rendering above, is said to combine elements of a coupe and hatch and is slated for launch a year after the regular CLK coupe. Mercedes Benz has lost ground in the premium coupe segment against its main rival BMW and its more recent E92 3-series coupe and to...