2012 Mercedes CLS63 AMG

Mercedes is hitting the LA Auto Show floor with another version - the better one - of the recently launched CLS-Class. The CLS AMG will be making its debut only two months after its standard brother hit the showroom floor in Paris, and it’s bringing some heat.

A standard CLS model is offered with either a 204 HP six cylinder engine or a 408 HP V8, but the AMG version will use a 5.5-liter biturbo V8 engine that will deliver a total of 518 HP and 516 lb.-ft. of torque. There will also be a Performance Package that will increase the engine’s power to 550 hp and 590 lb.-ft. of torque.

Other new Mercedes-Benz models set to be presented at the L.A. Auto Show include the redesigned CL coupe and R-Class crossover, as well as the all-newE-Class Cabriolet.

Updated 11/16/2010: Prior to the official unveiling at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Mercedes has offered the first official images of the 2011 CLS 63 AMG. Enjoy!

Hit the jump to read more about the future Mercedes CLS63 AMG.

PHOTOS

Mercedes Prepares Diesel GLK For The US Market

While most of the manufacturers are considering hybrid and electric vehicles, Mercedes is considering a diesel version of the GLK crossover for the US market.

During an interview at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz USA President Ernst Lieb said: "We’ve got the GLK coming. And the next-generation C-Class sedan will share the 2.2L 4-cylinder clean-diesel engine that bears the brand’s Bluetec trademark. The C-Class will feature diesel availability right from the start when it arrives in 2013." The E-Class will also get a new diesel engine starting 2011. All of these new engines will include Mercedes new BlueTec technology.

You can see that Mercedes has big plans for diesel engines in the US market: "Overall, our goal is to be somewhere in the range of 15% to 20%,” he says. “And we’re slowly growing this."

This is quite an impressive move considering Mercedes recently had to recall about 2,300 2011 diesel models, including the M-Class, GL-Class, E-Class, and R-Class, due to leaky fuel filters.

Mercedes S 350

Mercedes-Benz has announced that the S 350 BlueTEC will be offered from now on with a standard ECO start/stop function. As a result, average fuel economy is rated at 6.2 liters/100 km (37.93 mpg US), down 9 percent from an already impressive –for the size and type of car- 6.8 liters/100 km (34.59 mpg US).
The 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine develops 258 horsepower and 620 Nm of torque (457.3 lb-ft). This unit already complies with the Euro 6 emissions standard that goes into effect from 2014 onwards, thanks to BlueTEC technology with AdBlue exhaust treatment. The start/stop system helps improving the efficiency of the S-Class even further, with CO2 emissions dropping from 177 to 164 grams per kilometer.
The ECO start/stop technology switches the engine off when the vehicle comes to a halt and starts it again as soon as the driver takes his foot off the brake pedal. Even with the engine stopped, all of the car's functions and comfort systems continue to operate thanks to the intelligent control system.
Mercedes has managed to make the V6 diesel engine more fuel-efficient through the use of TWAS (twin-wire-arc-sprayed) coating technology. Pioneered by AMG on the 6.3-liter V8 petrol engine, this solution has now been applied to the diesel engine in the S 350 BlueTEC, with interesting results: this technology alone contributes to a 3 percent lower fuel consumption, while also reducing the engine weight by 4.3 kilograms.
The price of the updated S 350 BlueTEC model remains unchanged at €76,517 or $110,445 at current exchange rates, including 19% VAT in Germany..


Gallery

Read more In Cars

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe

True to prior speculation, Mercedes-Benz has lifted the curtain on a high-performance version of its recently launched C-Class Coupe developed by its AMG division. Stuttgart’s answer to the450HP Audi RS5 and the 420HP BMW M3 coupes is built around the revised 2012 C63 AMG saloon and sticks with Mercedes-Benz’s familiar 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 lump.

As with the sedan model, the V8 powerplant in the 2012 C63 AMG Coupe will be offered in two states of tune. The basic version churns out 457HP and peak torque of 600Nm in EU-spec, and 451HP and 443 lb-ft in US-trim, for a 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds [0-60mph in 4.4 sec] and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h [155mph].

Customers can opt for the AMG Development Package that pushes output to 487HP in the EU model and 481HP in the U.S.-spec variant, for a 0 to 100 km/h to 4.4 seconds [0-60mph in 4.3 sec] and a limited maximum speed of 174 mph [280km/h].

There’s only one available transmission for the rear-wheel drive coupe, the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed automatic that offers several modes including the Controlled Efficiency "C", "S", "S+" and "M" modes. These are selected through the new rotary control borrowed from the SLS AMG Gullwing model. Mercedes says gear changes in the "S+" and "M" modes take just 100 milliseconds. In addition, there’s a RACE START function that is said to allow “the driver to explore the vehicle's full acceleration capability”.

The range-topping AMG model gets a modified chassis with a separate three-link front suspension, a reinforced multi-link independent rear suspension and a wider track at both ends, plus more negative camber all round and anti-roll bars with a larger cross-section. The high-performance braking system with composite front discs and the three-stage ESP (On, Sport and Off) complete the performance upgrades.

On the styling side, Mercedes’ newcomer stands out from its more timid siblings through a bodykit that includes front splitter, rear diffuser and a carbon fiber boot lid spoiler along with a modified aluminium bonnet and AMG-specific LED daytime running lights. The Coupe model rides on a set of 18-inch alloys wrapped in 235/40 R 18 (front) and 255/35 R 18 (rear) tires.

As for the interior, the two-door Merc gets a bespoke set of body-hugging sports seats with integral head restraints, unique trim and an AMG performance steering wheel with flattened top and bottom sections that was adopted from the CLS 63 AMG.

In Europe, the market launch of the new C 63 AMG coupe starts in July 2011 with prices in Germany set at €72,590. The new Mercedes coupe will make its U.S. showroom debut in September 2011.

Gallery

BMW Vs Audi and Mercedes with Six M3 Race Cars

BMW's Motorsport division announced today that it will enter six M3 race cars in the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) starting from the 2012 season. The Bavarian company will be represented in the highly competitive championship by three teams, each entering two cars. The chosen teams are long-term partners BMW Team Schnitzer and BMW Team RBM, plus the newcomer Reinhold Motor sport GmbH.
Development of the M3 DTM car has been running at full speed in Munich for the past few months, with the first track tests are scheduled to begin this month. “The concepts presented by BMW Team RBM, BMW Team Schnitzer and Reinhold Motorsport GmbH ultimately convinced us. This is an excellent team line-up for BMW. For us, it is important that all three teams have absolute equal rights. We are looking forward to cooperating over the coming years – and hope to enjoy great success together,” said BMW Motor sport boss Mario Theissen.
No announcement has been made regarding the BMW driving line-up for the DTM. Of the three teams, only Schnitzer was part of BMW's DTM participation in the 80's and early 90's, winning the 1989 title.
BMW was officially involved in the DTM between 1987 and 1992, winning two titles with the M3 E30 in 1987 and 1989, with drivers Eric van de Poele and Roberto Ravaglia respectively. Before that, private team Gubin won the inaugural 1984 DTM season with Volker Strycek behind the wheel of a 635CSi.


photos 

 

Mercedes SLS AMG GT3

The AMG Driving Academy just got a little more interesting with the announcement that in 2011, fans will be able to get behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 race car. The V8-powered competition coupe will be available in the most advanced skill level programme, the Masters, which consists of four stages: Experience, Warm-up, Training and Competition.
The first leg takes three hours and includes a driving session with the road version of the SLS AMG, followed by an introduction and a seated “rehearsal”. After that, participants get to drive the SLS AMG GT3 on the track behind a lead vehicle. In the end, a professional racing driver gives them a ride in the same car.
The Experience stage is open to everyone, but in order to be allowed in the following stages, entrants must complete race track training sessions. The Warm-up and Training are more complex and intended to gradually familiarize participants with the controls of the race car and to teach them how to drive on slick racing tyres.
The Competition part is where AMG fans will get all the action. Expected to start at the end of 2012, this stage will consist of individual and team races, in which contestants will drive either the SLS AMG GT3 (booking prices per event start at €1,500/$2070), or their own cars.
First deliveries of the customer racing oriented SLS AMG GT3 are due in March 2011, with the net starting price being €334,000 ($461,500), or €397,460 ($550,500) with German added value tax included.


photos