Autoblog

Frankfurt Preview: In lieu of warp drive, Brabus drops 750 HP under SV12 R's hood

Alex Nunez — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

BRABUS SV12 R - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Brabus one day announces that they've developed a G-Wagen that can simply teleport from place to place, we won't be the least bit surprised. After all, getting there faster is the company's mission, and the Mercedes-Benzes it works its black magic on are certainly capable of that. Take, for instance, the latest ride to emerge from the skunkworks in Bottrop: the S600-based SV12 R.

The Brabus SV12 R is a car for drivers who feel that the 612-horsepower S65 AMG is lacking underhood. Fret-not, deep-pocketed speed freaks: Brabus has your back. The SV12 R features a 6.3-liter twin-turbo V12 that shovels out 750 horses and a completely insane 995 lb-ft of torque. How do we know it's insane? Because the Brabus folks - who aren't exactly shrinking violets when it comes to the gonzo power numbers - electronically cap it at 811 lb-ft to protect the transmission. (Somewhere in Germany, there must be a shady character named Klaus with a flash tuner doing back-alley torque liberations.) Regardless, that much twist going to the rear wheels ought to put you on a first-name basis with your local tire retailer, as you're likely to be in there every 45 minutes or so for new rubber. Brabus says that zero to 60 takes just four seconds, and that the SV12 R's top speed is an electronically-limited 211 mph.

What else? The de rigeur aero kit is in play, as are a variety of wheel designs for maximum curb appeal. Inside, the car can be outfitted with "BRABUS Yachting precious-wood" accents and a fully-equipped backseat office, allowing you to finalize that corporate takeover PowerPoint deck while your retired DTM-racer chauffeur breaks every traffic law ever written in a bid to get you to your meeting on time. The car will make its debut later this month at the Frankfurt Motor Show. For more, check out the high-res image gallery below, and follow the jump for the lengthy press release.

Gallery: BRABUS SV12 R

[Source: Brabus]

Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: In lieu of warp drive, Brabus drops 750 HP under SV12 R's hood

Frankfurt Preview: In lieu of warp drive, Brabus drops 750 HP under SV12 R's hood originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mercedes set to debut S-Class ESF safety concept with more airbags than a balloon shop

Noah Joseph — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Safety, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz ESF 2009 concept - Click above for image gallery

An inordinate number of the safety features that we now find commonplace in roadgoing automobiles made their debut in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. So where better to look for the next generation of safety technology? You guessed it.

To that end, Mercedes is slated to unveil a concept S-Class to showcase the safety features it is working on next. The ESF 2009 Concept is based on the S400 Hybrid - as if to show that "green" and "safe" can co-exist - and it comes packed with a bunch of new airbags. There's a new curtain airbag in between the seats (you know, so you don't butt heads), airbags in the seatbelts themselves, and perhaps the most innovative feature, a giant airbag underneath the vehicle that inflates in the case of an imminent crash, adding friction to help the car decelerate and lifting the front of the car a bit to compensate for brake dive. That last part worries us a little, as it strikes us that it could hinder any attempt to steer away from the crash, but for the time being we'll trust that Mercedes knows what it's doing. There are also seat bolsters that can move the occupants a couple of inches away from the doors in case of a side impact, metal beams that can actually inflate - thereby cutting weight and saving space on impact beams - and reflective tires.

With the airbag count rising rapidly, a potential crash is looking more expensive by the day, but Mercedes seems to revel in the "how can you put a price on safety?" approach. Stay tuned for more information, and check out the images in the gallery below in the meantime.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz ESF 2009 concept

[Sources: Autocar and eMercedes-Benz]

Mercedes set to debut S-Class ESF safety concept with more airbags than a balloon shop originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spy Shots: Mercedes S-Class AMG spotted

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Mercedes-Benz

As we've already reported, the Mercedes S-Class is about to get a facelift, so it should come as no surprise that AMG versions of the new bahnstormer are starting to show up on the road.

As with the garden-variety S, the AMG version gets a neat nip-and-tuck treatment, and adds a hint of Audi-inspired freshness via some LED-rimmed headlamps. Compared to the 2010 S-Class, the AMG model sports a more aggressive front fascia with a deeper chin spoiler, larger air inlets and additional gills. Shaplier side sills and a sculpted rear valance round out the rest of the noticeable changes, along with a set of quad oval exhaust tips and a prominent AMG badge on the decklid. Unfortunately, there are no interior shots to see if the new SPLITVIEW system will make it into the sportiest of big Benzes.

While the new S-Class might be shown at the Geneva Motor Show, it won't arrive in showrooms until mid-2009 as a 2010 model. And there's no word on how much longer we'll have to wait to get an official glimpse of the AMG-fettled model.

[Source: MotorAuthority]

Spy Shots: Mercedes S-Class AMG spotted originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spy Shots: 2010 Mercedes S-Class

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Mercedes-Benz

The current Mercedes S-Class is getting the nip/tuck treatment, and when the newer, younger looking car arrives in mid-2009 -- as a 2010 model -- it will come with an Audi-esque band of LED daytime running lights below the headlamps, and a Porsche-esque band of LEDs in the lower front fascia. Out back, the rear lamps get a much slicker treatment in basic red and white. And for the interior, SPLITVIEW will make it's split-personality entrance so that passengers can watch movies without being disturbed by all that driving going on in the next seat. Thanks for the tip, Jordan!

[Source: World Car Fans]

Spy Shots: 2010 Mercedes S-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mercedes-Benz introduces S 320 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY with 31 MPG

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Green, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for high-res gallery of the S-Class BlueEFFICIENCY

Mercedes-Benz really wants you to know how green its new line of diesel vehicles can be. To that end, the German automaker calls them Blue and capitalizes EFFICIENCY. Subtle, no? In an effort to earn the badge, MB has tweaked its largest and most luxurious model with a 3.0-liter diesel engine, a seven-speed automatic tranny that decouples itself at stops, a power steering pump that only operates when necessary and low rolling resistance tires. Those are pretty simple changes, no complex electric motors here. Fuel mileage, though, is rather good for such a large vehicle, coming in at nearly 31 U.S. miles per gallon. In contrast, the marque's upcoming S400 BlueHYBRID only manages about 29 miles per gallon. If this sounds to you like it makes a resounding case for diesel vehicles, you're right. It does. Unfortunately, MB only mentions German pricing for the S 320 in the press release after the jump, not indicating whether the big blue sedan will be sold on our shores anytime soon or not.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz S 320 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz introduces S 320 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY with 31 MPG

Mercedes-Benz introduces S 320 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY with 31 MPG originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spy Shots: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class getting updated

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz big bomber, the S-Class, is due for a mid-cycle refresh next year and we'll probably see its official form no later than the Geneva Motor Show in March. Judging from this latest batch of spy shots, we may actually see it much sooner, possibly as early as the Paris Motor Show in October. The fundamentals of the S-Class clearly aren't changing, but low investment parts like the grille, lower front fascia, mirrors and tail-lights get updates. The interior doesn't appear to have changed much either, but based on the driver's attempt to block the view, the S-Class may be getting a new COMAND system interface, which would be a welcome change. It's not known if Mercedes will offer a new BlueTec diesel engine in the S-Class here in the States, although that is a foregone conclusion for Europe. One new model we'll definitely see here is the S400 hybrid, which pairs the 3.5L V6 with a new mild hybrid system developed by Mercedes and BMW. The mild hybrid should also be the first mass produced automotive application of lithium-ion batteries.

[Source: EMercedesBenz.com]

Spy Shots: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class getting updated originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Two-Tone Terror: Carlsson Aigner CK65 RS Blanchimont S-Class

Drew Phillips — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Sedan, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for high-res gallery

The high-end, super-luxury limousine market is a fairly limited one. There's Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Maybach and.... well, that's about it. But with Daimler possibly nixxing the struggling brand in the next few years, who will fill that gap for those who prefer to lounge in the back seat of a Mercedes rather than drive? Carlsson possibly has the answer with its... take a deep breath... Aigner CK65 RS Blanchimont based on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. This is the second vehicle that has been built in cooperation with Etienne Leather, the first being the Aigner CK65 Eau Rouge we spotted at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year. For the Blanchimont, Carlsson has installed enough items to use the car as a home office - custom leather upholstery, a Concert Hall infotainment system with surround sound, DVD system with three television monitors, hinged tables behind the front seats for laptops, and a wireless router that creates a personal hot spot inside the car. Oh yeah, the Blanchimont also features a 700-horsepower V12 and can reach 60 mph in under four seconds(!). More details can be found in the press release after the jump, and there's plenty of high-res photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Carlsson Aigner CK65 RS Blanchimont

[Source: Carlsson]

Continue reading Two-Tone Terror: Carlsson Aigner CK65 RS Blanchimont S-Class

Two-Tone Terror: Carlsson Aigner CK65 RS Blanchimont S-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments