Autoblog

Mercedes-Petronas AMG W04 launched to little fanfare, lots of pressure [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Mercedes-Benz, Racing

No indoor cocktail hour for the launch of the W04, the newest chassis built by the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One team. Instead, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton spent a morning in photo and video sessions at the track in Jerez, Spain then paused a moment to introduce the car. The team will want the W04 to demonstrate the World Championship credentials of the team personnel and one of the team drivers, instead of the mostly humble performances we've seen over the past three years.

The W04 has been fitted with a new five-element front wing, pushrod front and pull-rod rear suspension, a second-generation Coanda exhaust and an "aggressively packaged" rear end. A small vanity panel, à la Infiniti Red Bull's RB9, covers the stepped nose.

Team principal Ross Brawn has called it "a clear step forward in design and detail sophistication," but as much as we truly respect Brawn's abilities and achievements, we heard him say similar things about the updated W03 last year before almost every race weekend from about mid-season. We really hope he's right this time, and so does the team's newest driver, Lewis Hamilton. We'll do our best to ignore the parallels of the Mercedes F1 team having signed a sponsorship deal with Blackberry, another company trying to find its way back to the top and still struggling, and just point you to the video below of the W04 in action.

Continue reading Mercedes-Petronas AMG W04 launched to little fanfare, lots of pressure [w/video]

Mercedes-Petronas AMG W04 launched to little fanfare, lots of pressure [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take a virtual tour of Mercedes AMG HQ in Affalterbach

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Mercedes-Benz

For a division whose sole purpose is to remove the understatement from its parent company's cars, AMG headquarters in Affalterbach, Germany are nondescript. From the outside it might almost be easier to believe that the small complex makes spatulas or spreadsheets, as opposed to some of the world's most luxuriously brutish automotive machinery.

Until you step inside any of those buildings, that is, such as the lobby that normally feels like an upscale dealer showroom but on certain days features AMG wares worthy of SEMA, or the studio area where customers have dropped their cars off for personalized modifications.

Everything that comes from AMG comes from this secluded plot of land. You can take a personal tour of it but you can't take pictures, so Mercedes-Benz has done it for you with a seven-minute, digital trip through the AMG factory hive. Scroll down to take the virtual walk-through - but don't let it stop you from actually visiting.

Continue reading Take a virtual tour of Mercedes AMG HQ in Affalterbach

Take a virtual tour of Mercedes AMG HQ in Affalterbach originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMG vehicles pose for family portrait to celebrate 45-year anniversary, tease future

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:03:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, SUV, Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

A 45th anniversary isn't one we're used to breaking out the Perrier-Jouet for, but since the anniversary in question happens to celebrate AMG, we'll get some corks flying. The biggest news this year for the in-house tuning arm of Mercedes-Benz is the A45 AMG, representing not just an unexpected end of the pool for AMG to dive into, but an entirely new - and compact - body of water. More than a makeover of the A-Class, it is the first peek at the makeover of AMG as it prepares for the "AMG Performance 50" on its 50th anniversary.

The initiative will include "additional high-performance compact cars" and a bump from 22 AMG vehicles to 30. There are eight models under wraps in the photo, three of them look to be hatchbacks, one in the left row of three and two in the back row of five. One of them is certainly the A45 AMG, another one could be a B-Class AMG model. In that back row between the two hatches is what looks like a tiny crossover that could suggest a GLA AMG, and the two cars on the left of that row look like two small coupes, one of them perhaps the SLC. The last two cars, next to the SUVs, are a large sedan in front, perhaps the 2013 S-Class, and in the rear what looks like another coupe of unknown provenance - or maybe the CLA? And where is the dead-sexy CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake?

Other AMG directives are more efficient powertrains throughout the range, development of lighter construction techniques, more all-wheel drive models beyond CUVs, more AMG Performance Centers, becoming the sole development center for Mercedes' V12 engines and a hint that lines like the CL63 AMG and CL65 AMG "will be extended further over the coming years." Scroll down for all the details on AMG's five-year plans.

Continue reading AMG vehicles pose for family portrait to celebrate 45-year anniversary, tease future

AMG vehicles pose for family portrait to celebrate 45-year anniversary, tease future originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes releases even more drift-happy C63 AMG footage from Laguna Seca

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz and its AMG division wanted to thank the two million viewers of its various videos, so it dropped a C63 AMG at the top of the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and recorded it drifting down. The treat was wasn't as sweet as it should have been due to an editor who got a bit too happy with the "Cut" button, and watchers said as much.

So, in a nice bit of "Here, let's fix that," AMG has uploaded aerial footage of the uncut drift. Now that we know AMG takes requests, feel free to leave them in the Comments section. On your way there, scroll down to check out the new vid.

Continue reading Mercedes releases even more drift-happy C63 AMG footage from Laguna Seca

Mercedes releases even more drift-happy C63 AMG footage from Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 May 2012 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz opens world's first AMG-only dealership in Beijing

Noah Joseph — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, China, Mercedes-Benz, Beijing Motor Show, Luxury

The intricate structure of brands and sub-brands in a consolidating global automotive industry is enough to make your head spin. And each major auto group has its own way of organizing itself. Over at Daimler, each of the automotive divisions is considered a sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz. That's becoming even more true for Smart and Maybach, but AMG has been increasingly differentiating itself as a brand on its own.

Not only have the bulk of Daimler's motorsport operations been rebranded as AMG and brought closer to their counterparts, but the SLS stands apart as the first AMG-only product in the company's history. And now the performance brand from Affalterbach has inaugurated its first dedicated dealership.

Situated at the high-end Sanlitun Village shopping mall in northern Beijing, the AMG Performance Center is unique from any of the other 195 AMG dealerships already operating in 18 countries around the world in that it is a stand-alone shop, not a corner of an existing Mercedes-Benz showroom. It encompasses 381 square meters of floor space on two levels, which Daimler chose as the location to unveil the new G63 AMG. Scope it out in the press release down below and the high-resolution images in the gallery.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz opens world's first AMG-only dealership in Beijing

Mercedes-Benz opens world's first AMG-only dealership in Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:30:00 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-Benz presents The History of AMG

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 05 May 2011 12:32:00 EST

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

The History of AMG - Click above to watch the video after the jump

AMG started putting wrenches to Benzes back in 1967, and 44 years later we're still fawning over its products. From the C to the E and all the way up to the SLS, Mercedes-Benz vehicles that wear those three letters on the back are sure to get our blood flowing. The two German companies have formed a valuable partnership, and we expect more amazing vehicles for years to come.

Before looking too deep into the future, however, it's time to take a look at the past. Mercedes-Benz has prepared a video that provides a brief visual history lesson. The text in the video may have been ported over courtesy of Google Translate, but the meaning is clearly conveyed. Click past the jump to view a video timeline of AMG's history.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz presents The History of AMG

Mercedes-Benz presents The History of AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Infiniti Performance Line could benefit from AMG power

Noah Joseph — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill, Luxury

2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW has M. Lexus has F. Cadillac has V. In short, any luxury automaker worth its grille badge needs a solid sport range. Infiniti has been trying to get in on the game with its Infiniti Performance Line, but emerging reports from across The Pond suggest it could be poised to get some help from none other than AMG.

According to reports, the Infiniti Performance Line could grow to include everything from aero kits to full-on performance models, the latter built on the same assembly lines as the existing models but carrying engines sourced from the Mercedes-Benz performance division.

The reports stem from parent company Renault-Nissan's recent deal with Mercedes-Benz to receive technology from the German automaker. Since the deal was penned, the rumormill has run rampant with speculation on possibilities as to how the Franco-Japanese automaker alliance might best implement Daimler's know-how, running from platform sharing to engine swaps, but this mooted IPL powertrain connection could be the most interesting yet.

Gallery: 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2010 Rex Roy / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Infiniti Performance Line could benefit from AMG power originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: AMG working on super saloon to slot in below C-Class

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Technology, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz F800 Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Rumors of a smaller, entry-level new saloon for Mercedes-Benz's in-house tuning division AMG just won't seem to go away. As before, these latest reports suggest that the next-generation of the B-Class would be the model to get the AMG fitment, but Autocar is now suggesting that an entirely new type of engine will power the car.

The new AMG engine would reportedly be based on a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that is currently slated for the CLS350. The mill would be downsized to 3.2 liters and upfitted with an electrically operated pressure wave supercharger. Not too familiar with the technology? Don't fret, neither were we. The all-knowing Wikipedia comes to the rescue.

Autocar further posits that the engine would make somewhere around 400 horsepower and could potentially send its prodigious power output to all four wheels with a rear-biased power split. If it ever comes to fruition, the new AMG model would go up against the likes of the Volkswagen Golf R, BMW 1 Series and any other entry-level hotted-up luxe models in the works. Styling would follow the example set by the F800 Style concept from the Geneva Motor Show.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz F800 Style

[Source: Autocar]

Report: AMG working on super saloon to slot in below C-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mercedes-Benz working on B-Class AMG

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill

2009 Mercedes-Benz B-Class - Click above for high-res image gallery

Shortly after the next-generation Mercedes-Benz B-Class launches in 2011, it has been reported that the United States will receive its own version of this car. Now, a new report from Automotive News suggests that an AMG-tuned version of the diminutive B-Class could be in the works, as well, set to rival European hot hatches like the Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf R.

The tuned-up B-Class will be the cheapest AMG offering, in an attempt to attract younger enthusiasts to Mercedes-Benz showrooms. AN reports that the smallest AMG will likely be powered by ~~the all-new 5.5-liter, twin-turbo V8~~ a specially tuned four-cylinder engine and, like all AMG models, will feature slightly revised body work, better brakes, a sportier suspension and revised interior trim.

Expect the AMG B-Class to launch in Europe around early 2012. No official timing for the U.S.-version of the B-Class has been set, but 2012 seems like a safe bet for that, as well.

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Report: Mercedes-Benz working on B-Class AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy picks up dates for 2010, adds SLS and Pro-level courses

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Mercedes-Benz

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

What do you do after hitting success with a trial product? Bring it back and make it bigger, of course. That's just what Mercedes-Benz has done with its AMG Driving Academy, a program that our own Editor Paukert attended the course last fall at Lime Rock to his great amusement and education.

This year's courses will put participants in the Mercedes E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG, SLK55 AMG and, new for this year, the SLS AMG gullwing. After working your way up through Basic and Advanced courses, you're ready for Top Gun testing in the new Pro level course, which means an "intense curriculum" and open lapping at Road Atlanta. Follow the jump for all that goes on this year's academy including dates and locations, and have a look at what you can be doing in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock Park

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy picks up dates for 2010, adds SLS and Pro-level courses

Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy picks up dates for 2010, adds SLS and Pro-level courses originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:01:00 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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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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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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New York Preview: AMG debuting mystery model

John Neff — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 17:34:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Performance, Mercedes-Benz

Owners of a Mercedes-Benz AMG model who have access to the brand's Private Lounge website have been notified that a mystery model from AMG will make its world debut at the New York Auto Show in a couple of weeks. The only hint as to what model it might be are a few detail pics and a profile shot of the car cloaked in a sheet. As for what model it could be, World Car Fans suggests that it's likely the AMG C 63, the high-performance version of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class that was only officially debuted earlier this month in Geneva. We tend to agree, although the profile shot shows the contour of a door handle that belongs to the front passenger door, but not a corresponding handle for the rear passenger door. All questions will be answered in early April when we're on hand as the cover's pulled.

[Source: World Car Fans]

New York Preview: AMG debuting mystery model originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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