Posts with tag: Mercedes Benz

Daimler and BYD Hope Denza Can Spark China Electric Car Sales

denza concept 597x373 Daimler and BYD Hope Denza Can Spark China Electric Car Sales

The influx of automobiles in China has contributed greatly to growing concerns about traffic and pollution in the country, deemed as the biggest market in the world. Enter Daimler and BYD, its local partner in China, who are hoping that their new all-electric luxury vehicle concept—called the Denza—will spark electric car sales in the nation to help alleviate environmental concerns.

Electric cars haven’t really sold all too well in China, but the two companies are betting on their luxury electric car to dazzle prospective buyers and give them enough oomph to consider getting the Denza. After all, it’s got a ton of features on top of the green tech: it’s got a bunch of gadgets called T-Pads that provide various functions such as video, web access, and GPS navigation.

How is the Denza important for China? The government has set its sights on 500,000 electric cars on its highways by the year 2015, and needless to say it is bound to fall short of that goal based on current projections. How much more for the 2020 target of 5 million battery-powered units?

With the Denza concept, Daimler and BYD aim to introduce not just a new segment of the luxury electric car, but also a new lifestyle. By making the car exciting and appealing with the design and technology, people might just hop on the electric car bandwagon faster.

The CLS 63 AMG Stealth by GSC

GSC CLS63AMG 001 597x396 The CLS 63 AMG Stealth by GSC

What do you get when you soup up an already fast car using a package centered on a Stealth aerodynamic kit? That’s the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Stealth by tuner German Special Customs.

The aerodynamic body of this tuned car, as well as its body color, really shows off the design that’s influenced by stealth airplanes. There’s a new hood with a broad shaft, fresh side skirts, and a broader front fascia. Instead of the Mercedes-Benz logo adorning the front grille, the GSC emblem is displayed on that section. Oh, the new bumber is also laced with LED daytime running lights for added functionality and style.

With those additions and the performance upgrades provided for the Stealth’s 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, the custom vehicle generates 225 horsepower more than the standard AMG variant. The Stealth’s 750 horsepower is aided by a new exhaust system, bigger turbochargers, and a bonus water cooler. New 20-inchers are in place, while drivers will also get to play nice with the front axle’s adjustable suspensions.

The GSC CLS 63 AMG Stealth has a top speed of nearly 350 kph, while its 0-100 kph time is rated at a mere 3.7 seconds.

 

New M-Class Launched in India

india mclass New M Class Launched in India

The third generation of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV was launched recently in India, and it comes with exciting news that the vehicle will be priced some 15 percent less compared to the last iteration seen in the country. This allows the German automaker to be competitive with the prices offered by BMW and Audi for vehicles in the same segment.

BMW has managed to leapfrog Mercedes-Benz for the lead in India’s luxury car market, and the latter is already at risk of losing the second spot to Audi. The repriced M-Class line should help contribute to Mercedes-Benz’s efforts to regain the lead in this market.

“We are confident that the quality drive and the luxurious experience it can deliver will be a big hit with the customers and it will be warmly received,” said Peter Honegg, the managing director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India.

The M-Class has had a strong showing in India since it was introduced to that market in 2008. Over 1,500 units have been sold, and the third-gen model should continue to add to that figure. In addition, there are 100 units of the AMG variant set to go on sale—although those have already been presold.

“We expect to become number luxury sellers of luxury cars in India by 2020, the growth will get a boost when the compact models enter the Indian market,” added Honegg.

Get a Load of Edo Competition’s C63 AMG Wagon

edocompetition c63amgwagon 0031 1024x682 Get a Load of Edo Competitions C63 AMG Wagon

Edo Competition refreshes its take on the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, getting a bit more performance out of the car’s wagon version. The German tuner took the vehicle from a stock 457 horsepower into a beast with a whopping 600 horsepower.

How was this achieved? There are a bunch of high-performance upgrades made to the car, including the exhaust headers, air filters, catalytic converter, exhaust system, and other engine electronics. In addition to that, the tuner also took out the top-speed limiter on the vehicle, allowing it to go for a top speed of 213 mph or 343 kph and giving it a 0-100kph time of a mere 4.1 seconds. Its peak torque levels are slated at 501 lb.-ft.

Cosmetic tweaks are quite minimal, but there are some—not the least of which are the 19-inch wheels on the T-Model, and they’re all wrapped in Michelin tires for the kind of grip needed by such a high-performance ride.

Make no mistake, this is one powerful wagon. It may look minimally different from the standard model (which is already plenty powerful as it is), but it is packed with a lot of serious power beneath its gorgeous yet unassuming exterior.

Merc’s New GPS-Based Cruise Control Touts Gear-Shifting and Fuel Efficiency

cruisecontrol 597x372 Mercs New GPS Based Cruise Control Touts Gear Shifting and Fuel Efficiency

Predictive Powertrain Control—mark that down as the latest of new technologies Mercedes-Benz is bringing to its vehicles. This is found in the cruise control system offered with the Actros truck, and it has the ability to shift the gears on a vehicle based on the topography scanned by the GPS on the unit. This way, the truck—as well as other vehicles the system will be put inside in the future—can get the optimal gears depending on location, thus saving fuel in the process.

According to numbers released by Mercedes-Benz, Predictive Powertrain Control has a claimed fuel efficiency boost of three percent. In addition, the system comes with something called EcoRoll that allows for automatic single and double downshifts. The system makes a big enough difference for fleet operators that are looking to cut back on those fuel costs.

With other automakers trying to make their respective cruise control systems smarter, each one is trying to add that little bit of extra to make things more attractive for prospective purchasers. Predictive Powertrain Control could just be that feature that puts Merc cruise control systems over the top, although it is not known if this system will be applied to Merc’s passenger cars.

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