F-Cell World Tour Reaches The Continental U.S.

F classUS 597x398 F Cell World Tour Reaches The Continental U.S.

In January, Mercedes kicked off a world event in the form of its Mercedes Benz F-Cell World Drive. As planned, 3 B-Class vehicles running on hydrogen arrived in the U.S. this week, and the trio will continue their journey across the continent starting from Fort Lauderdale on the East Coast.

If everything goes as planned, the vehicles will cover 7,500 kilometers by March 18, having reached Seattle by then. Fueling partner Linde will provide the unique hydrogen fuel these B-Class cars need. These electric hybrids are powered by a 136 hp electric motor and have a range of 250 miles before the hydrogen fuel needs to be refilled.

The next leg will be across Australia. Before the U.S. leg, the F-Cell vehicles covered the European countries, accumulating 3,600 kilometers in the process. Says Thomas Weber, member of the Daimler Board for Research and Development, “We will have reached market maturity with fuel cell technology by 2015 at the latest. From that point we would then be in a position to bring several 100,000 vehicles, in a variety of different model series, onto the roads.”

Renntech and Mercedes Refresh Pikes Peak GLK350

rentechGLK 597x447 Renntech and Mercedes Refresh Pikes Peak GLK350

Premier Mercedes-Benz tuner has once again put its radical GLK350 Pikes Peak Rally Car on the road. Initially redisplayed at the Pittsburgh International Auto show two weeks ago, the radical GLK will next stop at Milwaukee, then on to Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, Minneapolis and Denver. Final stop will be at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Vehicle Museum in Irvine, California.

In its initial appearance in 2008, this GLK had a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 72-volt electric motor providing an additional 26kW to the SUV’s 3.5L V6 engine. There is no indication of a drivetrain upgrade but Renntech and 3M’s Commercial Graphics Division cooperated in refurbishing the GLK with 3M’s 1080 Scotchprint textured automotive vinyl wrap. Preprinted 3.5 mm dual cast film was applied to all exterior surfaces, mixing a carbon fiber and brushed steel appearance. Red striping adds a touch of color to the otherwise matte surface finish.

Says a Renntech press release, “This original body kit was entirely designed and engineered by RENNtech in-house, using the latest in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software and rapid prototype capabilities. The concept behind the restyling was to not only completely change the vehicles appearance, but utilize vinyl materials in finishes rarely seen in the automotive world.”

Mansory SLS AMG Kit Is Beautiful And Exclusive

MansorySLS 597x398 Mansory SLS AMG Kit Is Beautiful And Exclusive

Mansory is a tuner well-known for its, some would say outlandish, modifications of luxury brands. In a departure from its wild color schemes, Mansory’s take on the Mercedes SLS AMG is nothing short of spectacular. There are no eye-catching color combinations, at least not in the demo car. Instead, it is wrapped in a matte finish with a front end that suggests a carbon fiber body structure. Now called the Mansory Cormeum, the treatment starts with a headlight remake that reminds one of a 599 from Maranello. The Swiss tuner then built up the car with carbon fiber panels that remove 90 kilos from the weight of a standard SLS AMG. In addition, the CF body kit adds fender extensions that widen the car by 66 mm at the front and 84 mm at the rear. 20-inch custom alloy wheels finish up the exterior treatment. Michelin tires in 265/30 for the fronts and 295/30 for the rears shod the matte, dark gray wheels. Interior modifications include a new steering wheel, aluminum pedals and carbon fiber trim. Unique stitching on a special leather finish off the interior.

No self-respecting company that calls itself a tuner will leave a car’s engine stock and AMG’s 6.3 liter V8 has been set up with a biturbo system developing 660 horsepower. Customers who find that output dismal may opt for the upcoming 800 horsepower development.

In a move sure to promote Mansory envy, the Swiss tuner has announced that only 15 examples of this particular kit will be produced. That will ensure exclusivity and, most probably, an astronomic price.

Daimler Now Full Owner of Mercedes GP

MGPW02 05 597x400 Daimler Now Full Owner of Mercedes GP

Daimler has just announced that it has completed its takeover of Formula One racing team Mercedes GP after purchasing team principal Ross Brawn and team management’s remaining 24.9 percent share in the team. The purchase was made with Aabar Investment PJS, the biggest shareholder of Daimler.

After the takeover, Daimler will now own 60 percent of the team (from 45.1 percent previously), and Aabar will increase its stake to 40 percent (from 30 percent). Daimler first took the 45.1 percent share in November of 2009, when it invested in what was then Brawn GP, which was the F1 constructor’s champion in its first and only year of existence.

“This majority stake holding demonstrates our determination to build a long-term Formula One involvement on an even more successful platform,” said Daimler AG CEO and Mercedes-Benz Cars chief Dr. Dieter Zetsche. “Our company’s founders invented the automobile 125 years ago and the very first Mercedes was a racing car. These are the reasons why we see our Formula One programme as an important element of our brand history.”

“Daimler and Aabar’s acquisition of the remaining 24.9 per cent stake in Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix will be a further step in the consolidation and strengthening of our team for the future,” said team principal Brawn. He added that he, along with the rest of the management team, still has a long-term commitment to the team.

Hamann SLS AMG Hawk to Debut at Geneva Show

hamman hawk big Hamann SLS AMG Hawk to Debut at Geneva Show

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has received a multitude of customizations from a wide range of prominent tuners. German specialist Hamann has now added its own take on the luxury grand tourer. Dubbed the Hawk, Hamman’s tuned SLS AMG is slated for a Geneva Auto Show debut this week.

There are no double-takes needed to notice the custom fittings of the Hawk. Decked in Everose Gold, the unique colorway itself is an attention-grabber. This is further enhanced by helpings of carbon fiber on the trunk as well as the hood. Hamann also added a new front bumper complete with bigger air inlets and LED lights, plus a big spoiler found at the rear. These add-ons were tested extensively using a wind tunnel to ensure that performance is still at the highest level.

Like all great tuners, Hamann was not content giving the SLS AMG a cosmetic upgrade. The 6.2-liter V8 power plant has been upgraded to 628 brake horsepower, up around 65 bhp from the stock car’s engine. Top speed is 320 kph / 199 mph, and the Hawk goes from 0-60mph in a mere 3.6 tics.

Additionally, the SLS AMG Hawk has been given a coilover kit with adjustable dampers, a quartet of springs that have been progressively wound, 30-mm lowering for the body, and lightweight forged wheels.

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