Toyota could return to the Le Mans 24 Hours as early as 2012

Toyota has been testing an all-new LMP1 car since last year, and could return to the Le Mans 24 Hours as early as 2012, according to this week's AUTOSPORT magazine.

The Japanese manufacturer commissioned the machine, which is known to incorporate hybrid technology and comply with the 2011 prototype technical regulations, from racing car constructor Dome.

When asked about the possibility of Toyota returning to top-line prototype racing, Vincent Beaumesnil, sporting manager of Le Mans organiser the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, said: "We are in contact with many manufacturers who are interested in LMP1, not just Toyota."

Toyota last competed at Le Mans as a full manufacturer in 1999, but supplied engines to the Rebellion LMP1 squad on a customer basis this year.

Mercedes plans electric S-class

A full electric version of the next Mercedes S-class is not being ruled out, according to the firm’s technical boss, Thomas Weber.

“At the moment, we are looking at customer demand,” he admitted.

The next-generation car will have hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, though. At the heart of the standard engine range will be Mercedes’ new V6 and V8 MoVe petrol powerplants. Diesel options are likely to include the 201bhp, 369lb ft 2.2-litre, four-cylinder motor from the current S250 CDI, the smallest engine to ever be offered in the S-class.

The new luxury saloon will also carry over no cabin architecture from existing models. But hints of its design can be seen in the F800 Style concept revealed at the Geneva motor show in March.

It will also showcase new interior technologies such as more reliance on head-up displays and a move into driver-oriented virtual displays.

BYD-Daimler’s First EV Design Completed, Prototyping Started

The 50:50 Joint Venture between BYD and Daimler Mercedes-Benz (called the Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Company Limited), announced at its first board meeting since receiving its business license from the Market Supervision Administration of Shenzhen (MSAS) that Mr. Ulrich Walker CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia Investment Co. Ltd, would be the Chairman of the Board of BYD-Daimler and that Mr. Yubo Lian Senior Vice President of BYD Co., Ltd and Chief Engineer of BYD’s auto business would be President and CEO.

The Joint Venture has made significant progress since cooperation began over a year ago – the design of the first BYD-Daimler electric vehicle (EV) model has been finalized and prototyping has been kicked off – a major milestone. Both parties will work on EV production preparations and team members from design, engineering, procurement, and quality management have all relocated to the BYD Shenzhen Headquarters.

From the outset of the collaboration, BYD and Daimler put special emphasis on high quality standards for design of the vehicle. The whole process of new vehicle design has been closely supervised by Mercedes-Benz Quality Management experts. This process has included creating a new international supply chain and the selection of the right combination of mold-makers and high-quality component suppliers. Cooperation with the World‘s leading suppliers plays an important role in safeguarding the new vehicle’s superior quality. The electric vehicle co-developed by the joint venture will capitalize on Daimler’s know-how in highly-reliable and safe electric vehicle architectures as well as combining BYD’s leading-edge, environmentally-friendly, Iron-Phosphate battery technology and electric drive systems. The vehicle will be marketed under the new brand jointly created and owned by Daimler and BYD.

Daimler, Bosch Join in Electric Car Venture

Daimler will team up with industrial giant Bosch in a joint venture to produce electric motors to be used in Mercedes and Smart cars next year, both companies said on April 12.

The two firms have signed a letter of intent and joint production should start in 2012 at sites in Hildesheim in central Germany and Stuttgart in the south-west.

The 50-50 joint venture, which should be in place by the end of June, aims "to accelerate development advances in electric motors," a statement said.

Home to many of the world's top car firms, Germany has been slow off the starting grid when it comes to developing electric vehicles, with Japan and the United States powering ahead.

The world's leading luxury car maker, BMW, said last year it would invest 400 million euros (US$575 million) by 2013 to produce an electric car as German manufacturers scramble to catch up with global rivals.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has offered sweeteners to auto firms to hit the government's target of having one million electric cars on the road by 2020.

MERCEDES SL car review and wallpapers

MERCEDES SL car review and wallpapers and Engine
Under the hood of Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 lies a powerful V8 engine, which pumps out an impressive power of 388 hp @ 6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 530 Nm @ 2800-4800 rpm. T
Ford News: http://wheelx.blogspot.com/search/label/Ford%20Cars

he SL 350 variant is powered by V6 engine, which churns out a power of 316 hp @ a peak torque of 360 Nm @ 4900 rpm. A maximum power of 525 hp @ 6800 rpm and a torque of 630 Nm @ 5200 rpm are generated by the V8 engine found in the SL 63 AMG.

MERCEDES S car review with photos and specification

MERCEDES S car review with photos and specification
There were new photos of new-generation Mercedes SL, showing the car during the tests. The next generation Mercedes SL should be on the market after just over two years in 2012.For him to know that it will be one of the first models Mercedes SL of the company from Stuttgart,

which will be the new “artistic” design style. Even with the new Mercedes CLS, chief designer Gordon Vagener company, plans to raise the level in Mercedes design to the new more “artistic” levels. To demonstrate, he showed a sculpture at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this month.
Cadillac News: http://wheelx.blogspot.com/search/label/Cadillac%20Cars%20news

MERCEDES RLS car specification and reviews with pictures

MERCEDES RLS car specification and reviews with pictures
While being one of the best in the audio industry, Alpine is try, for some-odd reason, to go into the automotive tuning business. Their newest design is the RLS or the R-class without any of the Mercedes components. It is supposed to be CLS inspired R-class that is changing the idea of a mini-van
Lamborghini News: http://wheelx.blogspot.com/search/label/Lamborghini%20cars

MERCEDES R car wallpapers and review specification

MERCEDES R car wallpapers and review specification
Volkswagen News: http://wheelx.blogspot.com/search/label/Volkswagen%20cars
Mercedes R – class: the concept of Grand Sports Tourer. For its size Mercedes R-class is comparable to high-end sedans, while possessing a considerably larger margin of inner space. This was possible thanks to the modern concept of the car and good layout, attention to detail. The distance between the front and rear seats in the Mercedes R is 860 mm, which corresponds to the level sedans luxury

MERCEDES M car review and wallpapers with features

MERCEDES M car review and wallpapers with features
Toyota News: http://wheelx.blogspot.com/search/label/Toyota%20cars
Mercedes-Benz is recalling the M-class SUV from the 2000 to 2004 model years to fix a problem with the cruise-control system.

In a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Mercedes said the cruise control may not disengage when the driver steps on the brake pedal, which could lead to a crash. Mercedes says the system can still be shut off by using the cruise-control stalk or by pumping the brake pedal.

MERCEDES GTR Review And Features Specification

MERCEDES GTR Review And Features Specification
Lexus News: http://wheelx.blogspot.com/search/label/Lexus%20cars
Mercedes-Benz, which approved the project in March 1997, decided to build a ’small quantity’ for private customers. The first of the strictly two-seater coupes was delivered in November 1998 with the last of 25 examples being finished in the summer of 1999.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept front hatch of New York and Shanghai

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept front hatch of New York and Shanghai

Nearly four years ago, we heard a rumor that Mercedes-Benz is considering a small A-class to impose from the lineup. German car maker prepping a brand new A-Class (M270), and we are now able to gain an insight into what will be to get your views Concept A.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept front hatch of New York and Shanghai

 A front-wheel-drive Benz, Concept A second advantage of turbocharging and direct injection. A four-cylinder 2.5-liter Blue EFFICIENCY mounted under the hood, producing 210 horsepower. The four-banger is combined with dual-clutch gearbox.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept front hatch of New York and Shanghai

 More than styling exercises and drive, Concept A is to add functions of the first level luxury compact segment. A radar-based collision detection system will be the first of its kind in this segment and, if coupled with Adaptive Brake Assist, to reduce the risk that someone behind you A-Class 2012th

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept front hatch of New York and Shanghai

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept front hatch of New York and Shanghai

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept front hatch of New York and Shanghai

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept front hatch of New York and Shanghai

New Mercedes Benz CLK 320 reivew and cars wallpapers

New Mercedes Benz CLK 320 reivew and cars wallpapers