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...

Rendered Speculation: Mercedes-Benz CLE four-door coupe
Mercedes jump-started a new trend of four-door coupes with the CLS. But after several years of having the niche market to itself, the German automaker is bracing for an onslaught of competition, from above and from below. While the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide attempt to take the four-door coupe formula even farther upmarket, Volkswagen has launched its assault by undercutting the CLS with the new CC until now known as the Passat CC. If the reports are to be believed, it's the latter that...

Mercedes-Benz E550: A plush highway cruiser
NEW YORK -- Poverty is greatly overrated. So is what is construed as "just-folks" normalcy. Both conditions are heralded only by people who don't have access to lots of money. In a word, Paris Hilton is right. It is better to be rich, even if you are not much of anything else. Money at least gives you the opportunity to try to become something better. The theory is crass. But it is nonetheless true, as evidenced by anyone confronted with a choice between driving an economy car or a 2008 Mercedes-Benz...

Rendered Speculation: Mercedes-Benz CLE four-door coupe
Mercedes jump-started a new trend of four-door coupes with the CLS. But after several years of having the niche market to itself, the German automaker is bracing for an onslaught of competition, from above and from below. While the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide attempt to take the four-door coupe formula even farther upmarket, Volkswagen has launched its assault by undercutting the CLS with the new CC until now known as the Passat CC. If the reports are to be believed, it's the latter that...

Mercedes-Benz working on making AMG greener
If the main purpose of your division was to produce more horsepower, improve braking and handling and add other enhancements to car, cutting back on CO2 emissions is not easy or your first priority. However, with the changing times Mercedes-Benz’s AMG executives are struggling with how to move on in a world that is now demanding higher fuel-economy and lower CO2.“Believe me, the world will change dramatically in the next 10 years,” said Wolf Zimmerman, chief operating officer of Mercedes-AMG.The...

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...

The History Behind The Mercedes-Benz Brand And The Three-Pointed Star
The history behind the Mercedes-Benz brand and the three-pointed starGottlieb Daimler and Carl BenzThe invention in the 1880s of the high-speed engine and the automobile enabled Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz – independently of one another – to lay the foundations for the motorization of road transport. With the help of financial backers and partners, they both invested their private developments in their own enterprises – in Mannheim, Benz founded the firm Benz & Cie. in October 1883, and...

Coupetorino based on the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
The latest generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is already a proof that the German designers know to do their job, but what if the car receives some Italian upgrade? Maybe not all of you will like this idea but take a look at the photos with the vehicle and you will understand what we are saying.The Italian designer Studiotorino tried to transform the coupe-cabriolet into a stylish coupe with a little bit of Ferrari touch. As you can see the rear of the vehicle was entirely removed inspired maybe by...

2010 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Tested
The new top model in the AMG lineup, the twin-turbo, V-12 SL65 Black Series is an extravagant plaything, indeed. If at first glance you mistook it for a DTM race car, you're forgiven. The SL65 Black Series nearly qualifies as one. Its fender flares, which jut out from the bodywork like circa-1980s David Byrne shoulder pads, stretch overall width to nearly six and a half feet. Every body panel except the rear fenders and the doors is made of lightweight carbon fiber-including the new fixed roof, which...

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...