Currently browsing category: Uncategorized

Hamilton’s smoking hot Mercedes-Benz up for auction


One of the perks about being a celebrity is that literally everything you touch almost always turns to gold for your fans. Make that triple if you’ve won the Formula One World Championship and once dated, and dumped, the leader of the Pussycat Dolls. So many men are just dying to get into your Nomex shoes.

The celebrity is none other than 2008 Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton. And the gold bar here is, of course, a Mercedes-Benz, a small token of reward for his services to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. But not because it has Hamilton’s signature embroidered into its seats. The reason? He hooned it.

Thus, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG was gloriously kept under Australian police custody for 24 hours after Hamilton got caught drifting it around a corner intersection, tires ablazin’, just two days before the Australian Gran Prix. To his credit, the former world champ pulled over and cooperated very well with the apprehending officers. Watch the video above.

As a result of his over-exuberant driving, the Benz, with a mere 5,000 kilometers on its odometer after a couple days under Hamilton’s hands, is now up for bidding and will likely command up to $150,000.

AAA picks Mercedes-Benz GL as Top Commuter Vehicle

gl class mercedes benz 540x215 AAA picks Mercedes Benz GL as Top Commuter Vehicle
Once again, Mercedes-Benz makes it into a list of top performing vehicles. But this time, it ain’t a sleek sedan nor a sexy coupe. Rather, it’s a big Benz SUV with an equally big engine – all 5.5 liters of its 382 horsepower and 391 pound per feet-pounding V8. Interested? So are we.

We’re talking about the Mercedes-Benz GL. Having enough room to accommodate seven people, it’s sophisticated enough to be driven by celebrities, while not lacking rowdiness. It counts fourth in AAA’s list of Top Commuters Vehicles Offering Efficiency and More.

‘AAA’ stands for American Automobile Association. Started in 1902, AAA is an avid supporter of motorist rights. They tested hundreds of vehicles and came up with fifteen vehicles that they consider offer the most value, safety, fuel economy and comfort.

Alongside the Mercedes-Benz GL, which offers optional all-wheel drive, are the Mini Cooper, Chevrolet Corvette, Buick Enclave, Volkswagen GTI and BMW 3 Series, all of which offer a degree of luxury that won’t compromise value for money.

Meanwhile, making the list of Top Commuter Vehicles are the Honda Insight, Ford Fusion, Volkswagen Jetta TDI, Hyundai Elantra, Subaru Legacy/Outback, Honda Civic, Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord and Mazda 3.

Mercedes-Benz ranks 9th in JD Power vehicle reliability survey

mercedeslogo 540x172 Mercedes Benz ranks 9th in JD Power vehicle reliability survey
People should learn how to take car surveys more seriously, especially if it was conceived by the most authoritative name in the automotive survey industry, JD Power. According to them, customers’ buying behaviors are still heavily governed by decades-old views of what car brands are reliable.

Mercedes-Benz, despite being one of the most well-known and highly respected European car makers, only managed to take 9th place. Still, it was a very big leap from its position last year which was 19th overall. Mercedes-Benz’ fellow German car marquee, Porsche, meanwhile took the survey’s top spot.

The biggest surprise this year is that Toyota, despite being bombarded by recalls and lawsuits regarding vehicle safety, came in 6th overall, ahead of fellow JDM manufacturer Honda, and Ford. The biggest loser in the list, Land Rover, registered a total of 255 kinds of problems out of the 100 vehicles surveyed, which is more than double of Porsche’s 110.

The survey measures the occurrence of problems, all 198 types of fiascos, owners would experience over the course of three years since their vehicle was purchased. They record the information for 100 vehicles per brand.

VATH tunes the Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG Roadster

vath mercedes slk v58 61 540x360 VATH tunes the Mercedes Benz SLK 55 AMG Roadster
German modification specialist VATH has just introduced its V58 version of the Mercedes Benz’s SLK 55 AMG Roadster.

VATH’s upgraded version increased the stock model’s 5.5-liter engine displacement to 5.8 liters, adding a compressor and a customized electronic control unit and exhaust system, among others. The regular 360 horsepower push output and 510Nm torque has been kicked up to 565HP and 770Nm, allowing the new V58 SLK a top speed of 193 mph (310 km/h). The engine package delivers a similar whack on the wallet, too, with VATH valuing the new Roadser at $42,045 (about 30,785 euros).

The converted V58 SLK also comes with other performance-enhancing additions such as VATH’s revolutionary fuel cooler and a locking differential that’s optional. Additional interior and exterior upgrades include a high-performance braking system, a carbon front spoiler, interior trim set, modifiable lowering kit, rear diffuser, VATH’s original sports steering wheel, and 19-inch alloy wheels (front and rear tire size at 2235/35 and 275/30, respectively).

If you purchased a brand new SLK 55 AMG in Germany today, it’ll set you off for about $96,800. VATH’s SLK V58 upgrade, on the other hand, will cost you a whopping $172,670, and that’s not including those spanking new wheel and tire set yet.

Mercedes-Benz introduces the battery-powered Vito

battery powered mercedes benz vito for zero emissions 2 540x359 Mercedes Benz introduces the battery powered Vito
Mercedes-Benz is unveiling the prototype of a battery-powered van based on the Mercedes-Benz Vito at the informal EU Competitiveness Council meeting in San Sebastià¡n from 7 to 9 February.

During 2010, more than 100 Mercedes-Benz Vito vans will be delivered to 20 customers, primarily fleet operators and public institutions wishing to transport items in environmentally sensitive zones with zero emissions, including no CO2 emissions, and low noise.

The drive configuration is designed solely to run on battery power and thus dispenses with the powertrain intended for combustion engines. A battery featuring powerful lithium-ion technology supplies energy to the Vito. With an operating voltage of 400 V, 16 A current and an available capacity of 32 kWh, the Vito’s range averages 130 km but can be considerably higher given an appropriate driving style.

Page 30 of 58« First...1020...2829303132...4050...Last »