Autoblog

A master mechanic and two clerks, among others, are being investigated for intentionally sabotaging Mercedes cars being built at the Sindelfingen factory. Allegedly, repair shops in the area that weren't part of the Daimler corporation were bribing workers with gifts, trips, and cash to alter the cars so that the repair shops could get the contracts to fix them.

The sabotage included scratching the cars, loosening clamps and bolts, as well as -- incredibly -- putting foreign liquids into brake lines. According to Suddeutsche Zeitung, the cars affected were C-, E-, and S-Class. The Stuttgart prosecutor's office estimates the costs to Mercedes in the many of millions, but the greatest irony is this: the workers under investigation were part of the quality control department.

[Source: Suddeutsche Zeitung via Benz Insider]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Aigner CK65 RS Eau Rouge Dark Edition

Carlsson is continuing its line of two-tone Aigner-themed vehicles with the CK65 RS Eau Rouge Dark Edition. Previous versions include the CL-based CK65 Eau Rouge introduced in Frankfurt last year and the S-based CK65 RS Blanchimont. The latest rendition features an upgrades twin-turbo V12 with up to 756 horsepower, 849 lb-ft torque and a top speed of 208 mph. The exterior gets a carbon fiber aero kit, 21-inch lightweight wheels, and Obsidian Black Metallic and Himalaya-Gray paint scheme. Inside, the seats have been upholstered in Aigner leather, and a leather/Alcantara steering wheel, aluminum pedals, and wood trim have been added as well. Carlsson has planned a production run of just ten cars with a price tag starting at over $400,000. More details about the car can be found in the press release after the jump, and we've put together a gallery high resolution photographs below.

[Source: Carlsson]

Click above for hghi-res gallery of the Mercedes white collection

It's November, and while it may not be white outside yet, you know what that means: the holiday shopping season is upon us. And to help all you gearheads get an early start, Mercedes has released a new collection of giftables. And it's all white by us.

The latest additions to the Mercedes-Benz Collection include a variety of items for kids (and grown-up kids, too). Children's items include the Bobby Benz SLK AMG, a ride-on version of the popular roadster... in white. There's also a bobsled (in white) and a variety of kid's clothes (also in white) including a miniature Vodafone McLaren Mercedes racing suit for aspiring champions even younger than Lewis Hamilton. Adults will love the white sweatshirt, white jacket, white mountain bike and more white stuff that joins the collection, and for both kids and adults alike there's a scale GLK diecast model (guess what color). All are available for purchase from participating Mercedes dealers. Follow the jump for the press release outlining the full collection, and click on the thumbnails in the gallery below for images of all the white items on offer.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Newly-crowned Formula one world champion Lewis Hamilton may have to wait a little while longer to get his hands on that bright orange McLaren F1 LM, but what does he drive in the meantime? Gunning for the title all season in the Mercedes-powered McLaren MP4-23, he certainly isn't lacking for a fast ride on the weekends, and he'd surely have his pick of any Mercedes car in the German automaker's vast lineup. But while the Mercedes SLR McLaren might be a natural choice, Lewis chooses to drive the daily grind in a diesel sport-ute. Specifically, a Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI. "At the track," explains Lewis, "I always drive on the limit, but on public roads I like to relax, kick back and cruise. The GL's perfect for that."

[Source: What Car?]

It sounds like a match made in heaven. A new duo of sedans styled by Aston Martin with Mercedes-Benz engineering prowess propping them up. Assuming that these two automakers can get their next super-sedans bolted together well enough, the first sedan from the recently-revived Lagonda brand and the next Maybach may be jointly designed by the two companies, which just recently began collaborating with each other. Early reports indicate that the two premium saloons would be based on the latest S-Class chassis architecture, with the Maybach brand getting the most luxurious accouterments and the Lagonda holding the sporty end of the stick.

Powertrain options for these two luxury vehicles would come from Daimler as a revised version of the V12 engine that currently powers the Maybach limos and which may even by hybridized. The jointly developed super saloons would theoretically cut the development time and budget for each by significant amounts, assuming that these two sets of management can find a way to work together. We have high hopes.

[Source: Autocar]

Nearly 4,000 employees of the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Vance, Alabama, are being offered buyouts in advance of another expected round of production cuts at the facility in January. The Vance plant produces the M-Class sport utility, R-Class crossover and GL-Class full-sized sport utility for the Mercedes-Benz lineup. In July, Mercedes slowed production for the first time in more than a decade of U.S. production as rising gas prices in June drastically cut sales. Although the buyout packages are being offered to all employees, Mercedes spokespersons are quick to point out that these are not to be considered layoffs. In fact, the automaker will only hand out an undisclosed limited number of buyout packages as it makes changes to the plant to bring production back in line with demand.

Alabama has been hard hit this year by the global auto industry slump. The state's automotive industry is 134,000 workers strong, and the sobering news from Mercedes-Benz only adds to earlier production cuts from Honda and slowdowns from Hyundai, two other automakers with assembly plants in the Heart of Dixie.

[Source: AL.com]

After teasing us with a video montage of the Hamann Volcano, the tuner has finally released details on its reworked Mercedes McLaren SLR supercar.

With 5.4-liters of supercharged displacement to work with, Hamann turned up the boost with a new pulley, custom exhaust manifolds and tuned ECU to bring output up to 700 hp and 612 lb.-ft. of torque – an increase of 74 hp and 37 lb.-ft., respectively. In order to keep temps in check, Hamann added an additional water pump, and to make better use of the extra grunt, fiddled with the transmission's control unit. The 0-60 time is down to 3.6 seconds and top speed is now nine mph faster than the standard SLR and seven mph faster than the 722 edition.

Carbon fiber pieces replace the front and rear wings and the side skirts, while a new hood, diffuser and front spoiler all do there best to keep things as slippery as possible under speed. EDITION RACE 21-inches wheels are fitted at all four corners and wrapped in 255/30 (front) and 345/25 (rear) rubber. In addition to two color choices – aluminum/chrome or white/matte – owners can choose from new aluminum pedals, door sills and headrests emblazoned with Hamann logos, along with carbon fiber and Alcantara trim for the dash, center console, steering wheel and sun visors.

All the details are available in the press release below the fold.

If this is what the next E-Class is really going to look like, we think we prefer the lightly camo'ed prototype better. Still not exactly a beautiful proposition, it could just be that the car looks better in silver and black than it does in purple. If that's the final grille, it loses a crossbar from the current E-Class. And frankly, we wouldn't mind seeing it with that whopping emblem on the new C-Class front and center for some aggression. This could be a car where wheel choice -- and AMG package -- make all the difference. Not that it matters much, because it's an E-Class. It's going to sell like crazy no matter what.

[Source: Global Motors]

McLaren has several fingers in a handful of pies, and with its tenure with Mercedes-Benz coming to an end, it has more time to focus on expanding its range to compete with the big boys from Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche.

According to CAR, three new models are being developed, spanning the range from a modern-day F1 to a $96,000 (£60,000) "entry-level" halo sports car that takes aim at the Porsche 911. The new coupe will utilize McLaren's extensive fabrication and materials experience, but at a sub-$100k price point, don't expect construction methods akin to its greatest hits. Power could be provided by a M-B mill, but McLaren isn't ruling out the development of its own engine.

Filling the rest of the range will be the P11 supercar, reportedly using a 600-hp, AMG-sourced 6.2-liter V8, and a yet-to-be-named vehicle that will slot in below its range-topper and 911-fighter. The recent appointment of Frank Stephenson – the man who brought us the MINI and Fiat 500 – as design director, partnered with McLaren's legendary chassis development means good things are on the way. Here's hoping some of it finds its way to U.S. shores.

[Source: CAR]

The next CLK Cabriolet -- or E-Class Coupe Cabriolet depending on Mercedes' choice of nomenclature -- is out and about, wearing lots of camouflage. While this rendering looks like it could still be pretty accurate, the front fog lights have given way to LED's, which are lit in this latest round of images. The extended trunk deck lid we've seen before, but now we get a close-up and the strong crease line that bisects the rear of the car. It also looks to get a bit fussy back there because the trunk is distinct from the body panel that hides the roof. We'll know more when the car goes hits the show circuit next year, but this car could be more than a little revolutionary.

[Source: Global Motors]