Contracts have been renewed for the continued production of Mercedes-Benz's G-Class at Magna Steyr's facilities in Graz, Austria, until 2015. Currently producing the G-Class in three, five-door, convertible and all custom versions, the Magna International division in Graz has output some 200,000 vehicles in its 30 years - satisfying consumers and government contracts alike.

The renewal reinforces Daimler AG's committment to and confidence in Magna, who developed Mercedes-Benz's 4MATIC technology and consequently assemble 4MATIC-equipped E-Class vehicles.

G-Class orders in the amount of 1,200 units from the Australian Army help Magna project itself as a long-term, reliable partner to its clients [...]

BRABUS has revealed its tuning packages for the new 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK that will arrive in the U.S. market early next year [...]

 
Spies recently caught the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLC Gullwing undergoing some hot-weather testing and from the looks of it, the camoeflage is slowly coming off and we’re slowly seeing hints of the legendary 300 SL. Thank God they got rid of that hideious VIper thing they had going on.

So what’s the update on this upcoming beast from Mercedes? Word on the street is that it will be powered by a 600-hp 6.3L V8 from AMG allowing for a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.8 seconds with a top speed above 200 mph [...]

Let's be honest:  when Apple unveiled the iPhone last summer, they forever changed the mobile market. Not only did they have Apple fanboys lined up half-a-week in advance to get their hands on the new phone, in retrospect, they also managed to pull off one of the greatest product launches in history.  Now, a year later, Apple has introduced a 3G iPhone; they've cut its price to a paltry $199; and in my opinion, they've eliminated any justifiable reasons to buy any phone other than an iPhone.

So why am I telling you this?  The reason, ladies and gentlemen, is because today, Mercedes has acknowledged Apple's current (and in all probability future) dominance in the mobile arena, so much so that they have unveiled a new cradle specifically for the device.  Available now for the Mercedes-Benz C-, E-, CLK-,
CLS-, S-, CL-, SL-, M- and R-Class (as well as the in the future for the forthcoming GLK-Class), the Apple iPhone cradle allows seamless integration between your device's music and telephone functions and your vehicle's architecture.

Here's how it works.  First, you must specify Optional convenience telephony (Order Code 386). The cradle then connects without any tools into the audio system either via the optionally available Media Interface or the retrofittable iPod® Interface Kit.  Once the cradle is installed, your iPhone's music and phone functions can be controlled with the help of the multifunction steering wheel controls, while the vehicle's display is used to indicate the phone status, music functions, etc.  Other features include automatic recharging while your iPhone is attached to the cradle as well as increased reception with the help of your vehicle's aerial.

If you're interested, as already noted, the new Apple iPod cradle is available for ordering immediately (check with your dealer for local availability), while pricing is set at € 249 (including VAT).

For more info, you can see photos of the new iPhone cradle and read its official details in the press release below.

Source: Emercedesbenz [...]

 Before even going on sale in most parts of the globe, Mercedes’ facelifted SL500 convertible has already come in for a series of modifications from German tuner Carlsson and now has the performance numbers to almost rival its SL63 big brother. The car has also been given a reworked exterior to match the power mods and customers can also opt to have the interior updated as well.

The new CK50 pack from Carlsson lifts output of the standard SL500 (SL550 in North America) to 436hp (325kW) and 600Nm (442lb-ft) of torque – up from 388hp (285kW) [...]

The new Mercedes-Benz GLK is set to make its debut at this weekend’s Beijing Motor Show but the first images and details of the car have already been leaked. The compact SUV was first previewed at the Detroit Auto Show back in January in concept form and as expected the final production car remains almost identical to the original show car.

Designed to go up against the BMW X3 and upcoming Audi Q5, the new GLK shows a dramatic improvement in quality over Mercedes’ previous SUV models despite being an entry-level offroader [...]

Mercedes-Benz has released the first official pictures of the new C Class Sport Coupe, or else, the CLC, the name the company has decided to give to the hatchback version of the C-Class. In fact, if the German manufacturer had kept the same name, it would be no problem, since it has already kept the old architecture.

The CLC will be produced in Brazil, in the Juiz de Fora plant which Mercedes-Benz built to produce the A-Class [...]

The “Sex and the City: The Movie” goes in theatres in 2008, but it is not Carrie Bradshaw or even the seductive Samantha Jones that Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts anticipate the most. After the first spy photos of the yet to be revealed GLK-Class on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills during the filming, again a scene leak from the movie, but this time in the form of clear video footage that shows the all new 2009 Mercedes-Benz GLK Class without a disguise [...]

First official pictures of the slightly facelifted 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG leaked on web just days after the German company published the official data on 2008 SLK. The AMG version exterior design remains almost unchanged, as well as on a technical level [...]

Well it turns out that the Auto Express-sourced leaked photos of the new facelifted SLK were official after all, these new shots following only hours after the apparent infiltration come viral marketing exercise. Why then, with no embargo placed upon it, the magazine have decided to take the official photos down is beyond us [...]

This month signifies the ten year anniversary of the market launch of the Mercedes CDI, clean burning diesel technology. Before 1997 Mercedes did have turbodiesel cars in its line-up but the CDI common rail direct injection technology is fundamentally different.
First model in line was the Mercedes C 220 CDI, producing 125 hp (92 kW) with 300 Nm of torque available at only 1800 rpm! Making the engine the highest torque-engine in its displacement class while setting new standards in fuel economy.
2006 also marked an important milestone for the CDI when the Mercedes E 300 BLUETEC was voted “World Green Car of the Year” [...]

Still not expected until sometime before summer 2009, the next generation Mercedes-Benz CLK was spied testing in a winter wonderland earlier today.  Although a bit bigger than the current CLK, the next generation looks a little more classy, too.

The photographer noted this CLK was "a bit more elegant than the outgoing model."

Mercedes is basing this third-generation car on the C-Class Saloon, so we anticipate seeing a great bit more design touches underneath the black tape.  Engines to be used on the new CLK will originate in the C-Class production line, including a 380+ horsepower V8 for a forthcoming CLK 500.

A CLK 460 with a 270+ horsepower V6 is rumored to be on the way, as well as a 500+ horsepower CLK 63 AMG could be in the pipeline, should the bosses in Stuttgart approve.

Either way, many believe the CLK will be rear wheel drive, with 4Matic available as an option.  There have been reports that the CLK may steal some technologies from the S-Class, like adaptive cruise control, night vision, and the Pre-Safe 2 system, which helps lessen accident impact by automatically slowing a car down.

Source: WorldCarFans [...]

Four wheel drive may not be as big of an asset for everybody, but with most of the WCF crew living in Helsinki, Finland, one of the most northern capital cities in the world, it is a big topic.
Mercedes is launching their new 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive system on the new C280, C350 and C320 CDI. And where the previous generation was praised for its design and engineering, the new generation is more efficient and weighs less (60 to 70 kg depending on the model), where weight tends to be the biggest drawback of AWD systems.
The new AWD system is based on a transfer case with a centre differential, integrated into seven-speed 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission which delivers power in a 45:55 ratio to the front and rear axles.
The 4MATIC is paired with ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and 4ETS traction system, giving the new 4MATIC better traction on slippery surfaces [...]