Autoblog

Mercedes ponders exiting F1 racing over commercial deal

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Mercedes-Benz, Earnings/Financials

Formula One may, to outsiders, seem like a monolith, but it is in fact a gathering of rather disparate parties. There's the FIA which governs the series from a sporting standpoint, there's the collective of teams competing in the series, and Formula One Management, the company that holds the sport's commercial rights under the direction of one Bernie Ecclestone. The only way they all get along is through the terms of the Concorde Agreement - the contract that divides up the spoils, namely television revenues and prize cash, between the parties. And that contract is coming up for renewal.

Ecclestone is eager to please the teams and get them to sign what will become the seventh Concorde Agreement when the current one expires at the end of the year. And to get there, rather than negotiate with all the teams equally, Bernie has been offering big incentives to certain teams. Those include in particular Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull - the teams which have, in the past dozen years or more, accounted for the lion's share of the titles (both drivers and constructors). F1 would suffer a tremendous blow if any of these teams were to leave, so Ecclestone has reportedly offered them such incentives as cash bonuses, shares in Formula One Management and seats on its board, and performance incentives that would in theory be open to any team that achieves them but would in practice favor those three top team.

One team being left out of those incentives is Mercedes, one of the largest automakers participating in the sport - running its own team and supplying engines to two more (including McLaren), not to mention the safety and medical cars used at each grand prix. According to The Telegraph, Mercedes is now threatening to take legal action under European competition laws (regulations that are formulated to prevent the abuse of a dominant position) if it gets left out of the incentives being offered to other top teams. Ecclestone may be forced to cave to Mercedes' demands, lest he find himself back in court while losing a top team and engine supplier from his roster.

Mercedes ponders exiting F1 racing over commercial deal originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes AMG launches new SL63 with W03 F1 car in Barcelona [w/videos]

Noah Joseph — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury, Racing

Any outfit with the cash can buy a Formula One team. Integrating it into an existing automaker, however, isn't an overnight proposition. Both Lotus and Caterham are currently undergoing that process, but so is Mercedes-Benz.

The German automaker bought out what was then the World Champion Brawn GP team (previously known as Honda and before that, as British American Racing) a couple of years ago as a standalone racing team, and has been bringing it into the corporate fold ever since. This year, the team previously known as Mercedes GP has been rebranded as Mercedes AMG (as was the division that produces its F1 engines). To drive the point home, the company's broadened performance arm launched two very different cars under the same banner in Barcelona this week.

The main event is W03, the new single-seater that Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg will be driving in the 2012 Formula One World Championship. Bound to the same new set of regulations as the other teams, the new Mercedes AMG W03 shares some of the same traits as the rest of the field - most notably the stepped nose section that Mercedes' PR team cleverly calls "distinctive." Since engine development remains frozen pending the launch of the new turbo six, the W03 is powered by the same FO108Z engine - all 2.4 liters and eight cylinders of it - as last year's car, and for that matter the latest McLaren and Force India challengers are, too.

While Daimler was at it, though, it has taken the opportunity to show off its new Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG Roadster for the first time. Based on the SL-Class that debuted just two months ago at the Detroit Auto Show, the SL63 packs AMG's fast-becoming-ubiquitous M157 twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 with 529 horsepower, but unburdened of 242 pounds of excess weight from the outgoing model (thanks primarily to the widespread use of aluminum and magnesium where the last model was made of steel), the new SL63 AMG can rocket from 0-62 mph in 4.3 seconds (4.2 with the optional AMG Performance Package) while returning 30 percent better fuel economy.

Check out our high-res galleries of both open-top Three-Pointed Stars and hop through to the jump to see some videos.

Continue reading Mercedes AMG launches new SL63 with W03 F1 car in Barcelona [w/videos]

Mercedes AMG launches new SL63 with W03 F1 car in Barcelona [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG [w/video]

Michael Harley — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Mercedes-Benz, First Drives

How The World's Most Powerful Sport Utility Vehicle Fails At Being Absurd

Twenty years ago, sport utility vehicles were trucks. They had big, heavy frames, solid axles and low-range four-wheel drive. At best, they would accelerate to 60 miles per hour in under nine seconds and top out just over 100 mph. "Handling" simply meant that they could keep all four wheels firmly planted while circling an onramp.

Twenty years ago, only exotic sports cars boasted more than 500 horsepower. They accelerated to 60 mph in less than five seconds and could hit 150 mph if allowed enough space. Tuned suspensions, oversized brakes and exhaust systems that roared were expected, but supple rides were not.

Now, take a look at that brand-new silver sport utility vehicle in the image above. Beneath its leather-lined and sound-insulated cabin is a 550-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8, electronically controlled suspension, six-piston brakes and permanent all-wheel drive - it's the most powerful SUV on the market.

The tall four-door will sprint more quickly than (and outrun) a Ferrari 360 Modena Spider F1, plow through foot-deep snow drifts and take a family of five, with a ski boat in tow, to a lakeside Fourth of July picnic.

Sounds a bit preposterous, doesn't it?

Continue reading 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG [w/video]

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pagani Huayra clears its pipes on the track

Noah Joseph — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, MISC

Pagani Huayra on track at Adria International Raceway - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Like a child has two parents, so does a Pagani. One is the niche automaker based in Modena whose name it bears. The other is Mercedes AMG. The latter develops and manufactures the engine, while the former does just about everything else. In the case of the new Huayra, you might say that Pagani disappointed in the styling department (though having seen it up close, we'd beg to differ) and threw us a curveball with the nameplate it chose. But there's no arguing with the work those German engineers have undertaken at Affalterbach.

Don't believe us? You don't have to take us at our word. The videographers over at Marchettino, who regularly supply us with a stream of footage depicting Italy's finest running at full bore, have sent us a clip of the new Huayra doing its thing at the Adria International Raceway, one of eight FIA-certified circuits in Italy. The footage is all shot attached to the rear bumper so you get the full aural sensation. Check it out after the jump. And for a more comprehensive perspective on the symbiotic relationship between Pagani and AMG that has produced the Huayra, head on over to the dedicated microsite.

Continue reading Pagani Huayra clears its pipes on the track

Pagani Huayra clears its pipes on the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 May 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes shows C63 and SLS AMG specials in Australia

Noah Joseph — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 15:35:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Misc. Auto Shows, Australia

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Concept 358 - Click above for high-res image gallery

You may not have guessed it on your own - we probably wouldn't have, either - but Australia ranks as the fifth largest market worldwide for Mercedes-Benz. And yet all the exciting show cars are almost invariably unveiled at auto shows in the United States or Europe. You couldn't blame the Aussies for feeling neglected, so Mercedes arrived this year at the Australian International Motor Show with two special AMGs.

The first is called Concept 358, and it's essentially a tweaked C63 AMG sedan featuring the AMG Performance Plus package (which boosts the 6.3-liter V8's output up to 480hp), 19-inch alloys, special leather interior and a unique Pearl Orange paint job.

The unique SLS AMG unveiled Down Under also features a special paint scheme: in this case a unique Night Black matte-finish with red accents. They're not ground-breaking concepts, but interesting takes on some of Affalterbach's best. Details are in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Concept 358 and matte-black SLS AMG

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes shows C63 and SLS AMG specials in Australia

Mercedes shows C63 and SLS AMG specials in Australia originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Oct 2010 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Musikalische Stühlen: Mercedes shifts AMG boss to van division, Tuscaloosa manager to AMG

Noah Joseph — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is shifting some of their management, resulting in an intriguing game of musical chairs. The principal appointment has Volker Mornhinweg (pictured above left) leaving his position as head of the AMG performance arm to take control of Mercedes-Benz' van division. While seemingly a strange or unfortunate move for Mornhinweg on paper, the van division is very important to the company, and further, Daimler has a history of cycling rising executive stars through different branches in the company in order to give them a good "10,000 foot view" of the firm's operations - exactly the sort of experience that would be useful in one's future board members, say.

Of course, the butterfly effect of an appointment like that within such a hierarchical organization as Daimler AG results in endless ripples in the proverbial pond: Someone has to vacate his position to make room, and another has to take the vacated position, which in turn leaves another position open and so on and so forth. In this case, the announcement includes two other shifts in senior personnel. On the one hand, you have Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, outgoing van guru, who moves up to the management board of Daimler AG and will oversee Mornhinweg's work.

Meanwhile, to succeed Mornhinweg at the head of AMG, Daimler has appointed Ola Kaellenius (pictured above right). With experience in Mercedes' F1 racing program, Swedish-born Kaellenius might be an ideal candidate to take up the reins at Mercedes-Benz AMG GmbH while the division's portfolio shifts away from big engines to smaller and more efficient, but no less powerful units. But wait a second, what was Kaellenius doing until now? He was running the company's plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where Mercedes assembles the M, R and GL-Class crossovers.

So who will take over at MBUSI, as the plant is known? As if to still the waters, Mercedes has yet to announce that appointment. But of course it's only a matter of time. Full details in the press release after the jump. Top tip, Oliver!

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Musikalische Stühlen: Mercedes shifts AMG boss to van division, Tuscaloosa manager to AMG

Musikalische Stühlen: Mercedes shifts AMG boss to van division, Tuscaloosa manager to AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes reportedly considering V8 Supercar entry Down Under

Noah Joseph — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:05:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Mercedes-Benz, Australia, Racing

Mercedes C-Class DTM - Click above for high-res image gallery

While American racing fans remain enamored with stock car racing, road course-bound touring car series continue to draw big crowds overseas. In Europe there's the World Touring Car Championship. DTM is one of the most popular forms of motorsport in Germany. The Japanese have Super GT. But Down Under, V8 Supercars reign supreme.

The Australian touring car series has typically been the battleground for Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores, but the Aussie brands could get some company once again thanks to new regulations. Following a similar move by NASCAR, series organizers in Australia are preparing to institute a new Car of the Future program that could open the door for foreign automakers to take part. The formula calls for a spec chassis with independent rear suspension replacing the live rear axles on the current competitors, plus more advanced DOHC 24-valve engines to accompany (and eventually replace) the pushrod 16-valve units currently in place.

According to reports from the other side of the world, Mercedes-Benz could be the first to take advantage of the new regs, spurred into action by the increased sales of FPVs and HSVs among V8 Supercars fans Down Under. The German automaker's Australian unit has commissioned Brock Engineering - run by the legendary Peter Brock's son James - to build a sort of ring-taxi type of vehicle based on the C63 AMG in which Mick Doohan - a superbike champion whose record rivals that of Valentino Rossi - will chauffeur paying customers and VIPs on hot laps around the Philip Island circuit in Victoria. The stripped-out, track-prepped C63, according to sources, could form the basis for a Mercedes V8 Supercar, similar to the company's DTM racer.

Although Mercedes typically prevents its regional subsidiaries from competing in local motorsport disciplines, an exception could apparently be made for the popular Australian series, with factory support provided to privateer entires. Nissan and Hyundai are reportedly also considering entries in the championship. Tip of the hat to Scott for the tip!

Gallery: 2007 AMG C-Class DTM

[Source: CarPoint.com.au]

Mercedes reportedly considering V8 Supercar entry Down Under originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-AMG presses on with alternative energy powertrains

Noah Joseph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Electric, Diesel

AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock - Click above for high-res image gallery

It could be argued that Mercedes-Benz' AMG division -- more than any other brand -- is culpable for perpetuating the horsepower wars. Not that we're complaining, mind you, but sooner or later, consumer demands for environmental responsibility will catch up even with these stratospheric performance automobiles. The power-crazed tuners at the Benz performance division can see the writing on the wall, and are reportedly preparing to do something about it. More than one thing, actually.

First up is the electric version of the SLS, AMG's first in-house developed product. Confirmation came this past summer that an electric SLS - with the equivalent of 526 horsepower and 649 lb-ft of torque on tap - would see production, although no launch date has been revealed at this point. There's no telling if the electric powertrain in the green gullwing will foreshadow the trickle-down effect into other vehicles, but we'd hardly be surprised.

What could end up powering more commonplace future AMG products, however, are diesel engines. The possibility was first mooted nearly two years ago, and confirmed as a possible course of action a bit over a year ago by AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg. According to the latest reports, AMG is still toying with the idea, but given the torque-heavy capacity of modern diesels - German ones, especially - we could be looking at oil-burning performance Mercedes before we know it.

[Source: What Car?]

Mercedes-AMG presses on with alternative energy powertrains originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drop the Hammer: Getting schooled with AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock

Chris Paukert — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Etc., Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock - Click above for high-res image gallery

The world's sickly economy not withstanding, selling luxury vehicles is easy. From the suppleness of a swatch of leather to the exquisite graining on a piece of rare wood veneer to having every electronic gewgaw available at one's fingertips, what defines a luxury car is essentially self-evident. To a substantial degree, everyone knows quality and true luxury when they see and feel it. The same cannot be so easily said when it comes to matters of high performance.

Selling luxury may be easy, but as AMG has figured out, selling high-performance is a heck of a lot more fun.

As one of the globe's premiere aspirational brands, Mercedes-Benz would appear to have the luxury selling routine knocked. But the company's AMG performance division has become an increasingly prominent part of its portfolio and bottom line, and these vehicles attract a different sort of customer and require a different marketing approach. Thankfully, as AMG has become increasingly important to Mercedes, its product line has risen in quality and dynamic performance. But while luxury and quality are easily conveyed, how do you sell four-wheeled thrills?

The thing is, as an automotive marketer, you can preach how great your sports car is until you're blue in the face, but until you're able to really show people how superior your vehicle is, you're never going to win them all over. And if you're like AMG, your offerings have become way too fast and capable to be safely exploited on public roads. So what's Mercedes to do? Why, give current and potential owners the chance to explore the dynamic limits of both their automobiles and themselves in a fun, legal, educational, and most importantly, safe environment. Enter the AMG Driving Academy.

Mercedes has offered its AMG driving program overseas for some time now, but this year is the first time they've brought the experience to the States. With events at Connecticut's storied Lime Rock Park, Florida's Palm Beach International Raceway, and California's legendary Laguna Seca, the venues Mercedes has chosen are certainly top-notch. But what about the experience? We had to find out for ourselves.

Gallery: AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock Park

Continue reading Drop the Hammer: Getting schooled with AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock

Drop the Hammer: Getting schooled with AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Mercedes-Benz unveils S63 and S65 AMG at Shanghai show

Noah Joseph — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:39:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Mercedes-Benz, AMG, Shanghai Motor Show

2010 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG - Click above for high-res gallery

After accidentally leaking a preview on its home-market configuration website last week, Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled its revised flagship luxo-muscle sedans, the S63 AMG and S65 AMG, at the 2009 Shanghai Motor Show today. Both are treated to the same updates given to the entire S-Class range, but these two big beasts pack one seriously mean punch.

Engines carry over largely unchanged from the outgoing models, which is good news because they're some of the most powerful units on the market. The S63 packs AMG's 6.2-liter V8 offering up 525 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, while the top-of-the-line, have-to-have-the-best S65 AMG (above) features an enormous 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 pumping out 612 horsepower and a gravity-altering 738 lb-ft of torque. That's a lot of power, but at nearly $200k, the $130k S63 seems like a relative bargain, especially when you consider that the bi-turbo V12 model only gains 0.2 seconds off the V8's 0-60 time.

Although the engines are ostensibly the same, they've been tweaked to improve fuel consumption and carbon emissions by about 3%. They're also both mated to a new Torque Vectoring system that brakes the inside rear wheel in a corner to assist handling, plus a crosswind compensation system. Visually the AMG sedans get a new chromed-up angular grille, LED daytime running lights in the air intakes, full LED tail-lights incorporating 52 LEDs apiece, and a redesigned rear bumper with an integrated diffuser, plus all the requisite special badging and wheels. The interior has also been upgraded with bells and whistles, all of which you can read in the press release after the jump and view in the galleries below.

Gallery: 2009 Shanghai Auto Show: M-Benz S65 AMG

Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG

Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG

[Source: Mercedes-Benz, Autoblog Chinese]

Continue reading Officially Official: Mercedes-Benz unveils S63 and S65 AMG at Shanghai show

Officially Official: Mercedes-Benz unveils S63 and S65 AMG at Shanghai show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BAPE designer Nigo orders custom Mercedes 300SL Gullwing from AMG

Noah Joseph — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Mercedes-Benz, AMG

Click above for a gallery

Of all the fashion/automotive collaborations we've seen, few are as bonkers as those of A Bathing Ape fashion house designer Nigo. The Japanese icon has given the BAPE treatment to some of the most expensive automobiles on the market, including camo'd Rolls-Royce Phantoms and pink Bugatti Veyrons. But now, after laying hands on Volkswagen's Bugatti and BMW's Rolls-Royce, Nigo has forked over his stylish cash to Mercedes-Benz tuning division AMG for a modern riff on a classic 300SL Gullwing.

So far, only this dedication plaque has surfaced, but that tells us all we need to know. The vehicle in question appears to have started its life as a 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, but undergone an engine swap this year to place a modern 6.0-liter V8 under the hood. No word on what styling tweaks may have been carried out, but we wouldn't be surprised if the vintage Benz proved hard to find in a tinted jungle.

UPDATED with images and gallery.

Gallery: Nigo 300SL

[Source: Bespoke Ventures]

BAPE designer Nigo orders custom Mercedes 300SL Gullwing from AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMG Boss: "The horsepower wars are over."

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, Etc., Green, I.C.E., Technology, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for a high-res image gallery of the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

That's the way it goes with fashion: it's on the runway in Paris in March and in a bucket at Big Lots by September. Mercedes-Benz' in-house tuning arm, AMG, has decided to turn with the popular tide and call time on horsepower brinkmanship, with the division boss saying, "We are going to use other ways to extract better performance, including weight saving, engine optimization and alternative technologies."

What's the new fashion? Getting the most out of the least. AMG is going to do that by losing weight, installing tech like the SL63 AMG's wet clutch gearbox on the coming E63 AMG, and possibly re-engineering Mercedes' diesel, hybrid, and four-cylinder engines for AMG duty.

Not too long ago, imagining an A-Class AMG would have been beyond comprehension, but this is the future. We just hope everyone has thought through the consequences: with the reins being pulled on increasingly powerful motors, this is going to put a lot of horses out of work. And that makes the possibility of an equine industry bailout something we can't rule out...

[Source: Autocar]

AMG Boss: "The horsepower wars are over." originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes to open 175 AMG Performance Centers worldwide

Noah Joseph — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Mercedes-Benz, AMG

Click above for a high-res gallery of the AMG Performance Center

In case there was any doubt that demand for big-displacement, high-output machines continues unabated in the face of calls for environmentally-conscious hybrids and a faltering global economy, Mercedes has announced an ambitious expansion of its AMG performance division. Over the course of the next year, AMG will open a whopping 175 new "performance centers" catering to power-mad consumers around the world.

The new outlets will allow an increased level of involvement for AMG customers as Mercedes moves to distinguish the tuning house's offerings as their own brand. Each outlet will be outfitted with matching décor and whatnot, but more importantly, will offer customers a direct line to AMG's performance Mecca in Affalterbach, Germany, and act as a local home base for the AMG Performance Roadshow. The expansion will focus on 15 key markets, including the United States, Japan, China, and of course, its home market of Germany. As if customers needed any more coercion to fall for a fire-breathing Teutonic masterpiece of engineering. Hit the jump for the details.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz AMG Performance Center

Continue reading Mercedes to open 175 AMG Performance Centers worldwide

Mercedes to open 175 AMG Performance Centers worldwide originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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B&O put the Bang in Mercedes AMG

Noah Joseph — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:03:00 EST

Filed under: Audio, Mercedes-Benz, AMG

Typically when "music" is mentioned in the same sentence as AMG, it's in relation to the deep burble emanating from the exhaust pipes. But with all that Teutonic, sound-deadened cabin comfort, customers of the Mercedes tuning division have come to expect an equally impressive performance from inside the cabin. To that end, AMG has signed a new deal with the Danish audio gurus at Bang & Olufsen to provide their high-end automotive sound systems for these high-powered Mercedes models.

The deal is the third such agreement brokered by B&O, whose systems already appear in Audis and Aston Martins, spearheading a market proliferation that surely influenced the decision-makers in Affalterbach. Both AMG and Bang & Olufsen were clearly elated by the deal, and you can feel the sheer unbridled joy in the statement from AMG chairman Volker Mornhinweg: "Mercedes-AMG represents high performance and exclusivity. The same is true of Bang & Olufsen's in-car sound systems. Jointly, we are therefore able to meet Mercedes-AMG customers' expectations to sound systems." Contain yourself, Volk. Follow the jump to read the rest of the press release.

[Source: Bang & Olufsen]

Continue reading B&O put the Bang in Mercedes AMG

B&O put the Bang in Mercedes AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Details emerge on Gullwing SLC, but no Mercedes badge?

Noah Joseph — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:33:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars, Mercedes-Benz, AMG

Fans of the classic Gullwing Mercedes 300 SL have been eagerly awaiting the new Gullwing SLC supercar, which Mercedes' tuning house AMG has been spied working on over the last year. But if emerging reports are to be believed, the SLC won't wear a Mercedes badge at all. The true successor to SLR McLaren will reportedly be the first vehicle to be badged exclusively as an AMG product, forgoing the vaunted three-pointed star altogether.

Reports also indicate that with dimensions of 4650mm long, 2700mm wheelbase, 1950mm wide, and 1250mm high, the SLC will be similar in proportions to a Ferrari F430. Project C197, as the Gullwing SLC is internally known, is expected to make its debut at the 2010 Geneva show, with a cloth-roofed convertible R197 version to follow a year later.

Gallery: Mercedes/AMG prototype - spy shots

[Source: Car via eurocarblog]

Details emerge on Gullwing SLC, but no Mercedes badge? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2008 Mercedes SLK55 AMG

Dan Roth — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Convertible, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, AMG

2008 Mercedes SLK55 AMG - Click above for high-res image gallery

It sits there, all tension and sinew, ready to pounce on lesser cars. Start it up and it barks with a clear V8 voice that thumps off the neighbor's house, setting them discreetly peeking from behind their lace curtains. This is an SLK? Oh yeah. No longer a blocky Benz with dwarfism, the SLK55 AMG ripples with muscle and delivers speed like a spin kick to the temple. A bad-ass Mercedes, indeed.

Gallery: Review: Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG

Continue reading Review: 2008 Mercedes SLK55 AMG

Review: 2008 Mercedes SLK55 AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PWNED: Kid tries to pass off CLS 55 AMG as his own, gets caught

Dan Roth — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Etc., Mercedes-Benz, AMG

Some people are just pathological. At first, it was amusing that Fresh C280, a member of the MDStreetScene forums, would claim to own a Mercedes CLS55 AMG. How a 19-year-old affords a car that normally retails for around $100,000 is the first thing that made everyone on the forum suspicious. A story about a digital camera becoming a sewage buoy was also an immediate head scratcher, since the pic he posted supposedly came from said camera. Further cementing the obvious dementia was the claim that the picture was taken during a dyno run in New York. It could be New York, except right now it's chilly early spring in the Empire State, and the dyno run picture clearly shows garage bays with the doors flung open and leaves on trees. It gets better as it becomes clear how many balls this kid's trying to juggle to hold up his story. There's a nice little synopsis that debunks the girlfriend angle - even though it's supposedly her car.

It didn't take long for total pwnage to occur when Fresh C280s fellow Maryland car enthusiasts did a little detective work. The car is actually owned by a CarDomain member named Xavier, who hails from Florida and showed up with proof of ownership around 30 pages in. All of the pictures posted to the MDStreetScene bulletin board were stolen from the actual owner's CarDomain page. This is weirder than the guy who thought up direct exhaust injection. The makings of a character study are all there - apparent delusional schizophrenia, a longing to be somebody, a sad little existence, and completely self-inflicted massive public humiliation. There's even a cameo by a famous lolcat. It doesn't get better than this, folks, the thread is only a day old so far. Check it out for yourself, it gets good around page 6. Oh, and Fresh C280's quote at the bottom of his posts is oddly prescient. Thanks for the tip, Terry!

[Source: MDStreetScene]

PWNED: Kid tries to pass off CLS 55 AMG as his own, gets caught originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pagani and Mercedes AMG ink new engine deal

Noah Joseph — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:34:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars, Mercedes-Benz, AMG

The world's major sportscar-makers all have major parent companies behind them: Ferrari and Maserati have the Fiat Group while Lamborghini (and Bugatti) are under the VW/Audi umbrella. Pagani Automobili SpA, however, remains independent, but hooked up with Mercedes to provide the motivation in the heart-racing Zonda supercar. Not to worry, though, because by all accounts the V12 engine that AMG builds by hand for Pagani is an awesome powerplant. Its displacement and output have increased from six liters and 408 horsepower in the original C12 to 7.3 liters and 602 hp in the latest Zonda F. With dedicated development like that, it would be foolish for Pagani to look elsewhere or consider designing its own engine. So it's probably a good sign that Pagani and AMG have renewed their partnership, the fruits of which we're looking forward to seeing in the highly anticipated successor to the Zonda, whenever it debuts.

[Source: Pagani]

Pagani and Mercedes AMG ink new engine deal originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2008: Mercedes SL63 is white hot

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:05:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz

Click the image above for more hi-res shots of the SL63

Two doors, no top, red leather interior, ceramic brakes, and 538 horses is a combination you once expected to be named for an Italian city or racing personage. No more. And while the alpha-numeric SL63 might not be all that Germanic in itself, it gets no more Teutonic than the hyphenated moniker "Mercedes-Benz" that precedes it. Now that Merc is making cars as fast as those of its Latin neighbor, perhaps the SL63 -- being a tad more comfortable -- is the car you drive to go check on the progress of your bespoke Italian supercar. Check out the hi-res gallery of the Bahn-burningest droptop.

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG & SL65 AMG

Geneva 2008: Mercedes SL63 is white hot originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes launching AMG awareness campaign

Noah Joseph — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:41:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Mercedes-Benz, AMG

Stand anywhere near where an AMG Mercedes is driving and you'd have to be deaf not to hear it. But Mercedes-Benz is convinced that too few potential customers have heard of its performance range, so it's launching an awareness campaign around the United States that seeks to raise the profile of its top shelf performance models.

The project involves the establishment of AMG Performance Centers, a focused advertising campaign and a product-demonstration road show. An initial pilot project will involve seven dealers in California, Florida and New York, but by the end of the year, Mercedes expects that its top 30 dealerships - representing 80% of AMG sales in the US - will sign on to the program. Mercedes will subsidize dealerships on the cost of setting up separate AMG areas within their dealerships and training service personnel, as well as bringing the road show to town, which will demonstrate limited edition AMG models - we're thinking Black Series here - to select customers.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Gallery: AMG CLK63 "Black Edition"

Mercedes launching AMG awareness campaign originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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