It has been recently reported that the upcoming Mercedes S-Class Plug-in hybrid could achieve 81 mpg in the European hybrid cycle.

In an interview with Car and Driver, Mercedes development director Dr. Thomas Weber said “Three years ago, everyone thought that there would only be small cars and that there would be no more large cars. But our plug-in concept demonstrated that an S-class could make 78 mpg (3.0 L/100km), so those questions stopped. With the next generation of S-class we are talking 81 mpg (2.9 L/100km), using a new-generation 3.0-liter V-6 gasoline engine-direct injection and piezo injectors-integrated with a 60-hp (44 kW) electric motor. In pure-electric mode, the car would…

The Mercedes-Benz has just unveiled its F800 Style at the Geneva Motor Show this week. As a research design study, the vehicle could be a preview of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS Class.

The car has been designed by Mercedes’ engineers such that it can be able to use two different powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid and a fuel cell.  As a plug-in, the car uses a 300 PS (220 kW / 296 hp) V6 petrol engine paired to an 81 kiloWatt motor for a combined output of 409 PS (301 kW / 403 hp).  The car is capable of running as an all-electric up to 120 km/h (75 mph), or to…

Mercedes-Benz’ first phase production for its Vito battery is said to begin later this year. The company plans to build 100 units of the all-electric van in the first step, with already 20 customers receiving delivery.

The said customers are mainly “fleet operators and public institutions” trying to heave up to 900 kg in smoggy areas. The EV will be using a 32 kWh lithium-ion battery to provide a range of about 130 km or 81 miles. With power sent to the 90 kW electric motor, the vehicle gets to an electronically limited 80 km/h.  Speed is capped at such a low point as the van is meant for urban environments,…

Carlsson will be towing a limited series to the Geneva Motor Show in March. The debut will be starred by a753-horsepower Carlsson C25 hypercar.

Inspired from the Mercedes SL 600, the car runs on a 6.0 liter bi-turbo V12 engine that enables the C25 to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h with up to 1150 Nm of torque. The C25 records a top speed of 352 km/h.

Carlsson CEO Markus Shuster said that he wanted his company to build a car safe enough for the road as well as the track, “Therefore, we deliberately wanted to develop a car which is highly exclusive on the one hand and can be used for…

A new tuning program has been unveiled by the VATH Atomobiltechnik tuners recently for the Mercedes E63 AMG, hailed as the VATH V63RS.

The exterior of the VATH V63RS features a starless grille (€797), a boot spoiler (€333), a carbon fiber diffuser (€1773), and a carbon fiber front lip spoiler (€1416). Other styling revisions include a suspension that lowers the car by 30mm (€821) and 20-inch forged three-piece alloy wheels wrapped in high performance tires (€8221). Inside, carbon trim (€2737) and velour floor mats embroidered with VATH logo (€226).

Along with its existing engine, the VATH V63RS is also fitted with an enlarged cylinder head channels, new engine management software, new pistons,…

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be bringing in something new for the car maker. It is the plug-in hybrid platform that will come with the next generation S-Class.

According to the Mercedes head of research and development Thomas Weber, the hybrid model could achieve over 80 mpg. C02 emissions could also be lower than 100 grams per kilometer. The only disadvantage would be the price, as the platform would indeed be pricey, making the new S-Class cost significantly higher than the base model.

The S400 BlueHybrid, which is already out in the market, uses a 279-horsepower 3.5 liter V6 engine with a 15-kiloWatt electric motor, for just under 30 mpg. On the…

German tuners Autotechnik + Tuning (ATT) have released their styling kit for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class W212.

The aerodynamic kit from ATT includes new spoilers at the front and back, front grill, and side skirts. The exhaust tips are inconspicuously placed on the left and right of the full rear spoiler. Sections around the fog lights have been blacked-out to give the E-Class W212 that impressive look.

The new 9 x 20 or 10.5 x 20 alloy wheels match the car’s brilliant silver color. These wheels are then wrapped in 245/30ZR20 or 285/25ZR20 Hankook high performance tires marked with S1 EVO.

The ATT’s kit for the Mercedes E-Class W212 would amount to around €10,000.…

Show goers at the Dubai Motor Show will be the first to get a glimpse of the SLS AMG Desert Gold and the G 55 AMG Edition 79.

The Desert Gold features a very much appropriate matt gold paint scheme, gloss black accents, and black 9.5 x 19 front and 11.0 x 20 rear AMG wheels. The interior shows off sports seats and various carbon fiber accents, including the center console. A 6.3 liter V8 engine with 563 hp and 650 Nm of torque powers the Desert Gold. It can accelerate the car from zero to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds and gives it a top speed of 317 km/h.

The G 55…

The Brabus GL-Class Widestar kit is now available for the facelifted Mercedes-Benz GL. The kit will give a boost both to the petrol and diesel-powered models.

The Brabus is expected to give the GL-Class a touch of class with integrated LED daytime running lights, auxiliary high beams, fog lamps, large air dams and a front apron. Also fitted is a roof spoiler, a new rear apron and custom-tailored wide fenders. Performance and sounds are enhanced by the rear diffuser and a BRABUS stainless-steel quad sport exhaust system with matching tailpipes.

BRABUS kits are usually accompanied by performance boosts and this GL-Class is no exception. The petrol V8-powered models see an engine displacement…

Gullwing America may have been the first to announce their own version of the Pan-American Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. But that doesn’t mean that theirs is the best.

German tuners Kicherer has planned out some exquisite touches of their own to make the SLS AMG spectacular in their own way. An immediate eye-catcher on the front of the wingdoored SLS AMG is the large handcrafted frontgrill made of stainless steel, and which can also come in a discreet gold tone. Other elements integrated by Kicherer such as the new front lip spoiler, larger front intakes, the roof-mounted air intake, and a rear diffuser are all made of carbon fiber.

The stainless steel exhaust…

Get a Sl65 AMG, ditch off the power folding hardtop for a fixed roof made of carbon fiber. Put in bigger mesh lower intakes and vents behind the wheels. Add in as well carbon fiber reinforced plastic for the body panel. Now, we’ve got the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series.

Although the Black Series share the same twin-turbo 6.0 Liter V12 with the SL65 AMG, it has bigger turbos and increased cooling capacity to produce 662 horsepower and 738 pound feet of torque.

The Black Series also features 5-speed automatic transmission with manumatic shifting. And instead of the SL65 AMG’s electricity-draulic brake-by-wire system, the Black Series uses a conventional vacuum-assisted hydraulic…

With the opening of the Frankfurt Motor Show, the flood gates have opened and the car manufacturers are leaking images of some of their future offerings. This has provided us with the first details of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Vision S 500 plug-in hybrid.

Even though details are not yet clear, the Vision S 500 plug-in hybrid is said to come with a V6 engine combined with a 60 horsepower electric motor. The configuration of the motor would probably be similar to the S 400 Hybrid the only difference being is the S 500 plug-in will use a larger lithium-ion battery pack.

Thanks to the larger battery, the S 500 plug in hybrid…

Since the break up of the Mercedes-McLaren tandem, both car makers have both gone their own ways. Now McLaren has revealed its new car called the McLaren’s MP4-12C, previously code-named P11.

The MP4-12C is reported to go into production in 2010 and will compete directly with the Ferrari 458 and Lamborghini Gallardo. Recalling the wedge shape of the legendary F1, the MP4-12C also shows hints of inspiration from its Italian rivals.

The MP4-12C will come with a 3.8-liter mid-mounted V8, giving out 600 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. The twin-turbocharged M838T motor is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission and can rev up to 8500 rpm.

The body of the…