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 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]

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]

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]

Mercedes-Benz' presence at SEMA has traditionally included a smattering of pimptastic E- and S-Classes lining the booths of the Big Balla tuners, and this year, we can expect more of the same. But to get the word out about the new GLK, Mercedes enlisted the help of four firms to accentuate the lil' 'ute's character and clientele.

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]

The R-Class won a design award, went on tour with the Rolling Stones, was dropped in price, and still sold so poorly that Mercedes admitted the car was a failure. Yet M-B head man Dieter Zetsche said the car isn't going away, so as one does with continuing product, the R-Class is getting some face and tail work done. Those who whisper about such things indicate that the car will end up looking more like the B-Class. We're not sure that will help it, since it looks much like the B-Class already and that car isn't exactly a looker, either. We think the R might be better served if Mercedes could explain why anyone should choose it over the E-Class wagon or GL-Class SUVs... and when the GLK arrives, well, good luck to you, R-Class.

[Source: Global Motors]

In today's chaotic automotive industry, if you're not merging, divesting, or collaborating, then you're just not trying. Both Aston Martin and Mercedes are only about 18 months removed from their respective divorces from Ford and Chrysler, and now the two luxury automakers are looking to shack up with one another. This time, though, they'll skip wedded bliss in favor of a limited agreement between two consensual companies. CAR gave us some details in on the limited partnership in its September issue, and now the British rag is making with the details.

Make the jump for the skinny.

A covered up E63 AMG Wagon has been caught doing the rounds on public roads before we see it in showrooms some time next year. It looks like the potential ungainliness of the new E-Class could be gracefully smoothed out by the longer lines of the wagon. Of course, even if it is still ungainly, you'll get 85 extra horsepower over the current model, which should let you get away from gawkers with increased alacrity. That also means the baby on board might need a G-suit. The "Duplo" rear lights are probably mule-only fitments, but they'd be pretty cool if they were wrapped in polished housings.

[Source: Global Motors]

Hamann is continuing to expand its lineup to include the top tier of luxurious performance, and it looks like the tuner has finally turned its attention to the Mercedes SLR McLaren.

A teaser video has been released, showing the conservatively named "Volcano" SLR sporting three-piece deep-dish wheels, two-tone paint, massive rear wheel arches, roof scoop, rear diffuser and wing. Details are limited right now, but we suspect more information will leak its way out before the SEMA show next month. In the meantime, hit the jump to view the video. Hat tip to strekov.

[Sources: Hamann, WCF, Road2Road]