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2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe

2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe
Mercedes has tweaked its mid-level E-Class, making it more stylish and upmarket and refining its performance. Equally impressive, Mercedes has done all that and kept the price cheaper than the model it replaces

Mercedes Benz E Class Cabriolet

The highly appealing and emotionally charged Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet is the latest addition to the successful E-Class line-up. The open-top two-door model, which goes on sale on 11 January 2010, features a classic fabric soft top, making for a stylistically pure cabriolet feeling. Viewed from the side, the new model is an intriguing proposition - with its clear proportions and a flawless cabriolet silhouette.

In keeping with the motto "four seasons, four personalities", all-year-round suitability was right at the top of the developers' list of priorities. With the new E‑Class Cabriolet, the cabriolet season lasts the whole year because, while many cabriolets tend to disappear from the roads of Western Europe in the autumn, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (length/breadth/height: 4698/1786/1402 mm) provides driving pleasure and comfort whether the roof is open or closed.

New features include:

* The AIRCAP® automatic draught-stop: always on board and easily controllable at the push of a button, it reduces turbulence substantially for all four seat occupants
* The modified AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system
* The acoustic soft top fitted as standard

The soft top can be opened and closed fully automatically within 20 seconds - even when driving at speeds of up to 40 km/h. The cabriolet roof is stowed in a special compartment behind the rear panel. A retractable cover separates the soft top compartment from the boot area; it must be closed in order to close the soft top. If the roof is to remain closed, the cover can be slid rearwards, in which case the boot capacity is increased by 90 litres to 390 litres. A through-loading feature is included as standard for the new Cabriolet, as is EASY-ENTRY - a manually operated entry and exit aid for the rear passengers.

The powerplants for the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet are equally innovative: the new direct-injection diesel and petrol models combine efficiency with effortlessly superior power delivery. The exemplary, low fuel consumption has not only been achieved because of the new engines, but also with a number of practical measures. These include on-demand activation of the steering and fuel pumps, the use of tyres with low rolling resistance and an alternator control system which takes account of the current driving situation and the vehicle's electrical power requirements, plus the crucial factor of outstanding aerodynamics. The Cabriolet's cd figure of 0.28 is the best in its class, marking a continuation of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class success story in the field of aerodynamics.

Less turbulence, easier to use: AIRCAP® is a world-first

In 1989, Mercedes-Benz introduced a world premiere in the shape of a draught-stop for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, followed in 2004 by the AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system to further enhance comfort in open-top models. Now comes another world-first: the AIRCAP® automatic draught-stop, which can be activated at the push of a button, greatly reduces turbulence in the interior of the new Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet, creating a sea of warm air. It is also much easier to implement and use than conventional draught-stops: there is no tricky installation, the two individual rear seats remain free and the Cabriolet's flowing side lines remain uninterrupted. AIRCAP® is therefore a classic Mercedes innovation: functional, comfort-enhancing, elegant and safe.

AIRCAP® consists of two components: a wind deflector that can be extended by around six centimetres with a net in the windscreen frame and a draught-stop between the rear seats.

The functions of the two components:

* Elevation of the free flow above the interior
* Net at the front increases the basic pressure in the interior
* Draught-stop at the rear reduces the backflow

As well as enhancing occupant comfort and wellbeing, the reduction in draught when AIRCAP® is activated (it can be activated at speeds of up to 160 km/h and remains in use right up to the car's top speed) reduces the interior noise level - so passengers in all seats find it far easier to communicate.

The Cabriolet Comfort package includes AIRCAP® with AIRSCARF®. This patented system functions like an invisible scarf, which warms the occupants' head and neck areas. AIRSCARF® is integrated into the backrests of the front seats and provides warm air through outlets in the head restraints.

The Mercedes engineers have modified this unique innovation specifically for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet: in this model, an adjustment wheel pivots the outlet nozzle upwards and downwards by a total of 36 degrees over and above the head restraint height adjustment, meaning that the driver and front passenger can enjoy the unique neck-level heating regardless of how short or tall they are.

Quiet, warm and windproof: acoustic soft top fitted as standard

Thanks to its acoustic soft top, fitted as standard, even the closed Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet has one of the quietest interiors in the segment for four-seater premium cabriolets with a fabric roof. The soft top's exceptionally high-quality insulation brings about a clearly noticeable reduction in the interior noise level compared to conventional fabric soft tops. Exterior noise caused by other vehicles and wind noise are therefore absorbed more effectively. On the road, the difference is audible from speeds of just 80 km/h, for example when driving through a tunnel or overtaking a convoy of trucks. At higher speeds, the benefits of the acoustic soft top are even more tangible. For instance, it is possible to have a perfectly normal phone conversation in hands-free mode even when travelling at a speed of over 200 km/h.

The soft top is of course waterproof and windproof. Plus it can be put through an automatic carwash without any hesitation. With a total thickness of 23.5 mm, the fabric soft top offers excellent thermal insulation, meaning that the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet is also ideal for use in winter.

Safety: robust structure, anticipatory protection and windowbags

The new Cabriolet offers the wealth of safety innovations one would expect from a Mercedes model. Highlights of the open-top two-door model include roll-over protection, the A-pillars reinforced by two additional tubes and the plug-in B‑pillars. This new model is also the first Mercedes cabriolet to feature headbags.

The roll-over protection consists of two robust bars, each with a diameter of 35 mm, which are housed in the rear head restraints in modules behind the rear seat backrests. A tilting cone sensor detects imminent danger to the occupants based on extreme skidding movements or acceleration caused by impact. If this sensor then sends a corresponding signal, pre-tensioned pressure springs are activated by pyrotechnic means, i.e. extremely quickly.

Consequently, both roll-over bars in the rear head restraints are extended. They reach their highest point and are locked automatically within a fraction of a second. In combination with the robust A-pillars, each of which is reinforced with two high-strength steel tubes, the steel bars provide highly effective roll-over protection.

The plug-in B-pillars are extremely robustly connected as they engage in the side skirts, thus offering highly effective protection in the event of a crash. A shoe made from ultra-high-strength steel braces the inside of the B-pillar against the rear seat crossmember.

With seven airbags fitted as standard, belt tensioners and belt force limiters for all seats, not to mention crash-responsive head restraints for the driver and front passenger, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet offers the most extensive safety equipment package in this vehicle category. The airbags, which can deploy in milliseconds in the event of an accident, include front airbags and sidebags for the driver and front passenger, a kneebag on the driver's side, and headbags. The latter, which appear in a Mercedes cabriolet for the first time, are housed in the door panelling in the beltline area. Covering a wide area - around 0.7 x 0.5 metres with a volume of 17 litres when deployed - the airbags provide extremely effective protection for occupants large and small in the event of a crash. The three-part side protection system - comprising headbag and thoraxbag - optimises the level of protection afforded to individual parts of the body. Rear sidebags are available as an option.

Further exemplary safety equipment available for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet includes ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection, PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection, the sophisticated Intelligent Light System, the Active Bonnet and DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control.

An innovative family at the heart of the brand

In March 2009 Mercedes-Benz embarked on the renewal of the E-Class model family - one year later, with the market launch of the Cabriolet, the portfolio will be complete. A number of technical innovations have been incorporated into the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class which no other car in this class is able to offer - from drowsiness detection to automatic emergency braking when an accident is recognised as imminent, and from Adaptive Highbeam Assist to the active bonnet. The E-Class is one the safest vehicles in its segment, a fact which has also been proven by independent crash tests and the specialist press.

In addition, there is a wide selection of powerful and efficient engines which is set to be systematically extended over the coming months. Depending on model, these range from the innovative E 200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY producing 100 kW (136 hp) up to the E 500 producing 285 kW (388 hp). There are also AMG versions producing 386 kW (525 hp) and the all-wheel drive system 4MATIC. Exemplary aerodynamics are yet another feature of the model range: with a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.25, the saloon is the most aerodynamically efficient four-door car in the world, while the model range's Coupé achieves the best overall figure for a series-production car with a Cd figure of just 0.24.

"The renewal of the E-Class model family at the heart of the Mercedes brand has come at precisely the right time. The success of the new E-Class shows that even in what are now economically turbulent times, Mercedes brand values such as safety and efficiency, combined with exciting design, enjoy particular significance among discerning customers", explains Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

As such the E-Class is the clear leader in its market segment: in Germany the E‑Class Saloon enjoys a market share of around 60 percent in its respective segment, while in Western Europe (excluding Germany) its share is more than 40 percent.

The four models in the current Mercedes luxury class series:

* The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon: the benchmark in the luxury class. Market launch: March 2009
* The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé: excitement can be this efficient. Market launch: May 2009
* The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate: intelligent (E)state-of-the-art. Market launch: November 2009
* The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet: the 4-seater for all 4 seasons. Market launch: March 2010

Besides the innovations which all of the models of this family share, the individual variants have a number of new products and features to enhance the comfort, safety and appeal which are specific to this model. With the new AIRCAP® feature, enhanced AIRSCARF® and also the standard acoustic soft top, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet for example provides all-year-round comfort which is unique in the segment of open-top vehicles. "The development of AIRCAP® is an example of the perseverance and tenacity of our engineers and technicians: convinced of the customer benefit of an automatic draught-stop, our specialists have finally found the Mercedes solution, which at the press of a button helps to significantly reduce turbulence in the car's interior for all passengers - it is easy to use and always there. In this way we are enabling our customers to enjoy comfortable, open-top driving all year round", says Dr. Thomas Weber, Daimler Board Member for Corporate Research and Head of Development of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

For its part, in addition to air suspension with self-levelling at the rear as standard, the Estate model also provides unique new load compartment management features.

"Never before have we had such an effective presence with our E-Class model series as we have with today's range. Saloon, Estate, Coupé and Cabriolet all share the same winning gene, yet appeal to our customers in a very individual way. This mixture has been extremely well received by our customers. With the new Cabriolet we are complementing our successful E-Class family with yet another particularly emotionally appealing model, in which our customers can continue to enjoy the Cabriolet season even longer thanks to the unique automatic draught-stop", confirms Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Head of Sales and Marketing of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Mercedes New F700 Concept Car

Mercedes-Benz will reportedly show off a new concept car at next month’s 2010 Detroit Auto Show that will preview the automaker’s future design language.

The information comes directly from the automaker’s new design chief, Gordon Wagener, who is keen to raise the design credentials of cars wearing the Three Pointed Star.

"We want to elevate our design towards art and if any company can do it Mercedes can," he revealed to Autocar. Wagener wasn’t willing to give any specific details but he explained that it would be a "pure design concept which is long and exaggerated."

Importantly, it won’t hint at any particular production model although there’s rumors that it will resemble the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS, which you can see in recent spy shots by clicking here.

The last time we saw such a daring concept car from Mercedes-Benz was back in 2007 when the automaker unveiled the F700 pictured above. While that concept mostly previewed the automaker’s future technology, it too was a preview of what Mercedes-Benz had in store for its upcoming production cars.

Hydrogen-powered Mercedes-Benz F-Cell

Driving the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell in the crowded, confusing, and twisting roads around Monte Carlo, Monaco, it’s immediately clear that hydrogen fuel cells are more than science projects. Next to the subcompacts and city cars, there’s plenty of thrust to keep up with and overtake traffic. On the highway, the hydrogen Benz ran up to 100 mph without a second thought. And from the cabin, the whole car is as natural and refined as any car on the road. To the driver, the F-Cell feels like a production-ready electric car that short circuits that issues of battery charging with a range of 285 miles and a refueling time of about three minutes as three tanks store a total of 3.7 kg of hydrogen at more than 10,000 psi.


Of course, hydrogen presents its own challenges, namely the chicken-and-egg question of which come first, hydrogen cars or hydrogen refueling stations? To motivate the refueling stations, Mercedes will launch a pilot program in spring 2010 that will place 200 F-Cell cars in the hands of customers in the U.S. and Europe. The roughly 60 cars for America will almost all be leased out to drivers in the Los Angeles area where eleven hydrogen stations already exist. A few may also make it to Washington, D.C.

The F-Cell uses a powertrain that combines two power sources, a small-capacity (1.4 kWh) battery and a hydrogen fuel cell that collaborate with a similar strategy to a conventional hybrid. From a stop, acceleration can be handled solely by the battery, while the fuel cell kicks in around 7 mph to do the majority of the work. Under hard acceleration, the electric motor can deliver 100 kW (136 hp) to the front wheels, with 80 kW coming from the fuel cell and the remaining 20 kW being provided by the battery.

The F-Cell exhibits the typical electric-drivetrain characteristics. Acceleration is best just as the vehicle leaves a stop and tapers off at speed. The absence of a transmission, however, means power response is almost instantaneous. As with a hybrid, the brakes combines hydraulic clampers with regenerative braking that spins the electric motor to act as a generator and charge the battery. There’s very little feel through the pedal, but the progression of stopping power is natural and intuitive, making modulation easy. The vehicle is also extremely quiet, with the only noises being the whine of the motor and the quiet wheeze of an air compressor. Otherwise, the F-Cell is exceptionally normal. From the interior, the only indication of the fuel cell underneath is a unique gauge cluster with a large dial indicating power. The navigation screen also shows multiple information displays including consumption and energy flow diagrams.

The test cars are all based on the European B-Class, a compact hatchback that most closely resembles a Honda Fit in shape. Chosen for its unique sandwich-floor architecture, the B-Class allows Mercedes engineers to mount the fuel cell and fuel tanks below the passenger compartment. The electric motor and an air compressor are packed under the hood, while the battery is mounted below the cargo floor.

Fuel cells have an inherent efficiency and the Mercedes unit is roughly twice as frugal as an internal combustion engine. From an energy standpoint, the F-Cell consumes hydrogen at a rate equal to the amount of energy used by a diesel car returning 81 mpg on a combined U.S. test cycle. Of course, at the tailpipe, the F-Cell only emits water, and to measure the car’s true environmental impact requires knowing how the hydrogen in your tank was separated into a pure element.

While the system is quite refined in driving, Mercedes still has a handful of improvements to build into the third-generation fuel-cell system they are currently working on for 2015. Chiefly, the company wants to triple the engineering lifespan of a fuel cell from four to twelve years. Engineers say that in a customer’s hands, the current technology would likely live well past four years, but a gradual degradation of the membranes in the fuel cell may make the 80 kW output more like 70 kW. Cost also needs to be tackled, with the goal of ultimately pricing the car equal to a C-Class.

By 2015, Mercedes intends to have a full production program to sell the fuel cell cars to customers outright. That car will be a part of the family that was previewed with the BlueZero concept at the 2009 Detroit auto show. In addition to the fuel cell vehicle, the production BlueZero family will include combustion-engine, range-extended-electric, and battery-electric vehicles based on the same sandwich architecture, but wearing unique sheet metal.

Gullwing-America Panamericana Mercedes-Benz SLS

 

Gullwing-America of Texas, lead by its chief engineer Arturo Alonso, has released renderings of its Panamericana 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS to make the car to look retro just like the Gullwing 300SL.

The Panamericana conversion kit consists of seven body parts made from Hybrid Aluminum and carbon fiber, two side vents, chrome details on the grille frame and new oval dual Xenon headlights.

The Gullwing-America Panamericana Mercedes-Benz SLS stands on 19 and 20-inch GWA wheels. The car is also fitted with a sport tuned muffler system.

Inside, the Panamericana Mercedes-Benz SLS features an Alcantara center piece insert for the seats with special contrast stitching and a set of illuminated brushed Aluminum door sills that light up with the engraving Panamericana logo if the doors are open.

The Panamericana kit will be manufactured in Germany and the prices and availability will be announced at a later date.

BRABUS B63 S Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG

New Brabus B63 S

BRABUS, Mercedes-Benz car tuning specialist from Germany, has released its tuning package for the Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG known as BRABUS B63 S. The BRABUS B63 S Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG will make its debut at the 2009 Essen Motor Show.

The BRABUS B63 S is powered by a 6.3-liter V8 engine that is fitted with two sport air filters, free-flow metal catalysts and newly programmed engine electronics to produce 555 hp (408 kW) and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of maximum torque from the stock 525 hp (386 kW) and 630 Nm (464 lb-ft).

With the increase of power, the car sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds with the top speed of 320 km/h (200 mph). BRABUS offers a limited-slip differential with a locking rate of 40 % in order to transfer the power to the road with as little slip as possible.

To improve the aerodynamics, the BRABUS B63 S Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG is fitted with clear-coated carbon fiber kit that consists of a front spoiler lip, rear diffuser and a rear spoiler. To improve venting and for sportier appearance, BRABUS fitted the front axle fenders with aluminum sport fenders with lateral air outlets.

As for the wheels, BRABUS offers custom 18, 19 and 20 inches for the E 63 AMG where the largest version is the Monoblock VI, E, Q or S wheels measuring at 9Jx20 on the front axle and 9.5Jx20 or 10.5Jx20 at the rear wrapped with 245/30 ZR 20 Pirelli or YOKOHAMA high performance tires at the front and up to 295/25 ZR 20 at the rear.

Inside, the BRABUS B63 S features stainless-steel scuff plates with illuminated BRABUS logo, speedometer with 360-km/h (225-mph) dial, BRABUS Mastik leather and Alcantara upholstery upon customer’s request and also precious-wood and carbon-fiber inlays in any desired color and with various surface finishes.

2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid

 

An all-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz ML with an electrically assisted V-6 that generates V-8–like power but with better fuel economy. Combining a 275-hp, 3.5-litre V-6 with two electric motors in the two-mode hybrid transmission—which was co-developed with BMW and General Motors when Mercedes was married to Chrysler—the power train delivers a total output of 335 hp and 381 lb-ft of torque. A 288-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery under the rear cargo floor provides the current for the motors, with the resulting bump in efficiency bringing fuel economy to 21 mpg city/24 highway, up from the all-wheel-drive ML350’s 15/20 rating and the 13/18 figure for the V-8–powered ML550. Want some road respect for your cleanliness? Forget it: other than the bulged hood—which we kind of dig from a design standpoint—and the unique LED tail lamps, there are few visual cues to point out this car’s hybridity.

 

2010 Mercedes Benz E Class W212 By WALD International

These are the official pictures of Wald International’s styling kit for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class W212 that was on display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Wald is a Japan-based tuner that specializes in premium European and Japanese marques. The kit belongs to Wald’s Sports Line Black Bison Edition range.

Its styling components consist of a front bumper, side skirts, rear bumper fascia with integrated diffuser, trunk spoiler, roof spoiler, sports fender ducts and exhaust system. The vehicle rides on Wald’s own Mahora series wheels, which are available in several different finishes in 19-, 20- and 21-inch. As seen in previous SPORTS LINE Black Bison Editions, the louvred design elements seen on the sides of the front and rear bumper fascias and side skirts seem to be a hallmark trait. The kit also features double foglamps and the stacked oval tailpipes reminiscent of the Lexus IS-F.

SLK 280 Review

 

Mercedes Benz SLK 280

Whoever came up with the model name of the Mercedes Benz SLK 280 was something of a genius. The "SLK" is reminiscent - in English, at least - of "silk", "sleek" and "slick", all of which are appropriate to this classic European sports coupe-cabriolet. Stunning-looking with an F1-inspired nose, the Mercedes Benz SLK 280 invites the viewer to come inside and enjoy the ride. Top up or top down, it looks very good.

Despite what you'd expect from the numbers in its model name, the Mercedes Benz SLK 280 has a 3.0 litre V6 engine, which the gearbox, in either six speed manual or seven speed automatic, manages to make the most of. Taking another look under the stunning looking bonnet of the Mercedes-Benz SLK 280 reveals two-stage variable intake manifolds, double overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, and variable camshaft timing on inlet and exhaust. These add up to a strong engine with plenty of torque. The Mercedes Benz SLK 280 manages to average 9.5 litres per 100 k, and the automatic version is cleverly designed so that it will hunt through the gears for the most economical drive when using cruise control. However, on a hill drive, that intelligent gearbox will do its best to keep the revs between the engine's favourite rate of 4000rmp and the redline of 6400rpm.

Sitting in one of the Mercedes Benz SLK 280's leather upholstered seats is a delight. The dual climate control ensures that you and your one lucky passenger will be comfortable, and the dual front and side airbags ensure that you will be safe. The Mercedes Benz SLK 280 claims to do 0-100 in 6.2 seconds, and with the top down, this is an exhilarating experience that is guaranteed to mess your hairstyle (unless you have the optional wind net). With the top up, the Mercedes-Benz SLK 280 is quiet and offers plenty of visibility. Other options available to add to driver and passenger comfort include the Airscarf neck warmer, and heated and powered seats. The handling is confident and responsive to what you ask of it via the leather-covered multi function steering wheel, making the Mercedes Benz SLK 280 a joy to drive.

Downsides of the Mercedes Benz SLK 280 are that the storage space both in the cabin and in the boot is rather limited, especially with the roof down (but what do you expect in a sporty coupe-cabriolet, which is the motoring equivalent of sexy, figure-hugging lycra as opposed to cargo pants?) and that the ride is rather bumpy and noisy over rough surfaces. Some reviewers have mentioned the lack of a multi-stacker CD player as a downside, but in this writer's opinion, the standard single CD player is quite enough to add to the pleasure of driving the Mercedes Benz SLK 280.

In summary, the Mercedes Benz SLK 280 is a sporty, sexy and stylish little coupe-cabriolet that promises to be a joy to drive around town or on the open road.