Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz brings the matte in from the cold]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/11/mercedes-benz-brings-the-matte-in-from-the-cold/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/11/mercedes-benz-brings-the-matte-in-from-the-cold/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/11/mercedes-benz-brings-the-matte-in-from-the-cold/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mercedes-Benz CLS550 4Matic in matte silver

Some things are at the fringe because they belong there. The tastes are too peculiar, the style too strange for the masses. But once in a while something emerges from the fringe into the mainstream because it deserves to be, because people learn to like it. Like matte paint finishes.

Long the purview of aftermarket tuners rejecting the glitz of the gloss, matte finishes are slowly finding their way onto automakers' show stands and into dealership showrooms. Hyundai broke new ground at the Detroit Auto Show this week in announcing the availability of the new Veloster Turbo in flat grey, but the Korean automaker isn't the only one offering the anti-shine treatment direct from the factory and displaying it on the floor of Cobo Hall.

Through its Designo program - a range of over-and-above options provided by AMG - Mercedes-Benz offers a selection of matte finishes for some of its higher-end (though not necessarily AMG-tuned) models. The palette currently includes white (like the CL63 in the gallery below), flat silver (like the CLS550 pictured above), dark grey and black, but is being expanded to include additional colors (and wider availability), starting with brown and hopefully extending to some of the shades Maserati and its sister brands have been displaying lately.

The results may not be to everyone's liking - and may not be well suited to every car - so don't expect them to replace the go-to metallic paintjobs typically selected for such vehicles, but we're glad to see this particular trend coming in out of the cold and into the showroom.

Mercedes-Benz brings the matte in from the cold originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cls-classcls550cls63 amgmattmattematte finishmercedesmercedes-benzWed, 11 Jan 2012 18:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20144234/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/11/mercedes-benz-brings-the-matte-in-from-the-cold/20144234/article-detail.xml 20144234 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/mbcls-matte_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/mbcls-matte.jpg <![CDATA[Swiss Army Porsche? Matte olive-green 911 (video)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/26/swiss-army-porsche-matte-olive-green-911-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/26/swiss-army-porsche-matte-olive-green-911-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/26/swiss-army-porsche-matte-olive-green-911-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Looking at this custom Porsche, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Swiss army had ordered up a fleet of military-spec 911s. Then you'd quickly realize that while it may be a versatile sports car, the 911 would not be the Porsche most utile for military applications, compared with, say, the Cayenne.

In reality what you're looking at is a "civilian" 911 tuned by aftermarket specialist, Sportec. Never mind the 800-horsepower engine this brat is packin', the real highlight is the original paint job. This 911 Sportec SPR1 is decked out in matte green, with dark wheels and a Swiss flag painted on the roof. The paramilitary hue might make it even harder to spot as it sprints to sixty in three seconds flat, that is assuming the Swiss machine can shift out of neutral.

Follow the jump to watch the video of the Porsche 911 Sportec SPR1 undergoing high-speed testing at Nardo.

[Source: The German Car Blog]

Continue reading Swiss Army Porsche? Matte olive-green 911 (video)

Swiss Army Porsche? Matte olive-green 911 (video) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>911drabflatgreenmattmattemilitarynardooliveporschesportecswissswitzerlandWed, 26 Dec 2007 10:13:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1070618/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/12/26/swiss-army-porsche-matte-olive-green-911-video/1070618/article-detail.xml 1070618 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/12/sportec-spr1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/12/sportec-spr1.jpg <![CDATA[How'd they do that? Driving tricks from the Bourne Ultimatum]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/11/howd-they-do-that-driving-tricks-from-the-bourne-ultimatum/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/11/howd-they-do-that-driving-tricks-from-the-bourne-ultimatum/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/11/howd-they-do-that-driving-tricks-from-the-bourne-ultimatum/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Doesn't it always look so convincing? Star lead actor is frantically sawing at the wheel, and when it cuts back to the wide, damn if that wasn't a perfectly clipped apex, with a tinge of four wheel drift counteracted by just the right amount of opposite lock. Even Steve McQueen couldn't pull it off for Bullitt. The real story behind all those inspiring scenes of cars whipping hither and yon is that they're piloted by stunt drivers who have one of the best car guy jobs ever.

There's a nice little sequel to a sequel quietly making its way to theaters, perhaps you've heard of the Bourne Ultimatum? Besides offering a cinematic venue for Matt Damon to further cement his status as a cross between James Bond and John McClane, its serving as a nice little advertisement for Volkswagen's second generation Touareg. Several of the vehicles were given the General Lee treatment (i.e. a couple were kept nice, a whole bunch were thrashed and trashed) during the 140 days of production. Even the stunt drivers were impressed at how the Touaregs just hunkered down and took whatever abuse they were thrown. To get all those bitchin' shots requires maneuvers that'd make you screw up your face in horror. We're talking about things you wouldn't even do to a rented car.

[Source: Telegraph.co.uk]

Continue reading How'd they do that? Driving tricks from the Bourne Ultimatum

How'd they do that? Driving tricks from the Bourne Ultimatum originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Aug 2007 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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