Mercedes-Benz Electric Vito Endures Cold Weather Testing

Mercedes-Benz Electric Vito Endures Cold Weather Testing
Batteries typically don't perform very well in colder climates, but Mercedes-Benz says its electric Vito van functions as well in the cold as it does in warm weather.

The EV Vito, which will ultimately be offered on the European market by the end of the year, is currently undergoing a barrage of tests to ready it for the real world. First on the list was cold weather testing. The van was whisked to Sweden, where it encountered consistent negative 22-degree Fahrenheit temperatures.

According to Daimler, the van succeeded in its trials. Surprisingly, the 81-mile range offered by the lithium-ion battery packs wasn't impeded by the colder weather. Engineers will continue to test the van in the climate, subjecting it to handling courses and extreme brake tests before moving on to other climatic testing.




The electric Vito will initially be produced in a limited quantity of just 100 units, most of which are destined for fleet duty. A second series of 2000 vans will be produced shortly after the first wave. The commercial van is powered by a 90-kW electric motor, and can reach a top speed of 50 mph. Mercedes says the EV version of its Vito experiences no decrease in payload or cargo room.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

Is Mercedes-Benz Planning a BMW Mega City Rival?

Is Mercedes-Benz Planning a BMW Mega City Rival?
While BMW works on developing its eco-friendly Mega City urban vehicle, it seems Mercedes-Benz may be working on a competitor. Reports indicate the Stuttgart-based automaker may be working on a compact EV offering of its own to counter the electro-Bimmer.

According to Autocar, Mercedes is working on a "Project 50," a small, electric vehicle designed for commuters who drive primarily in large cities. The magazine reports the car will have similar dimensions to the original A-class subcompact. When it first debuted in 1997, the A measured a stubby 142 inches in length, but today's version has grown to 151 inches.




The car won't likely share the A-class platform, but could utilize a new platform that may eventually appear in a number of Smart models, including a revised ForFour. There's a good chance that the project could leverage the resources of Renault, as the two automakers are growing ever closer to signing a formal agreement to share technologies, including both electric drivetrains and small-car platforms.

Project 50 is likely still a ways away from reality. BMW's MegaCity isn't expected to launch until 2014 at the earliest, and we'd expect Mercedes' competitor to launch in a similar time frame.

Source: Autocar

Mercedes Announces New C-Class Coupe is Coming in 2011

Mercedes Announces New C-Class Coupe is Coming in 2011
The previous Mercedes-Benz C-Class "Sports Coupe,” as it was called, never exactly set the sales charts on fire, and was criticized for being a little too entry-level. But Mercedes apparently is ready to make a go of it again, announcing today that it will build a new C-Class Coupe starting sometime in 2011.




The C-Class Coupe will enter production at Mercedes’ Bremen plant in Germany on the same line as the rest of the C-Class lineup. (The 2010 C-Class sedan is pictured.) The Coupe's arrival coincides with the coming C-Class refresh expected for the 2011 model year, which will see changes to the front and rear bumpers, taillights, hood, and LED running lights. Expect to see the refreshed sheetmetal fitted to the Coupe.

While no official specifications have surfaced, the upcoming C-Class Coupe will likely port over at least some of the same engine options as its sedan brethren. In the U.S., the C-Class currently offers a 228-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6, a 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6, and the high-output 451-horsepower, 6.3-liter V-8 from the superbad C63 AMG model. Powertrain revisions are also expected for 2011, but details are unclear. Also unclear is if the Coupe will come to our shores, but we'd be surprised if it didn't make it to the U.S. market.

In terms of pricing, the 2011 C-Class Coupe should not be too far off the C-Class Sedan. The 2010 C-Class starts from $34,475 for the C300 Sport Sedan, which includes a $875 destination charge.


-By Benson Kong

Source: Mercedes-Benz

New York 2010: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon, R-Class and S63 AMG Bow

New York 2010: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon, R-Class and S63 AMG Bow
Three updated 2011 model Mercedes-Benz vehicles rolled across the stage today in New York: the E-Class Wagon, R-Class, and S63 AMG. Mercedes-Benz also released pricing for the 2010 model year E-Class line.




First to roll out was the latest E-Class Wagon, the E350. Essentially an updated E-Class with a wagon body, the E350 comes in gasoline and diesel flavors. Sharing an engine with the rest of the E-Class line, the 3.5-liter gasoline V-6 is expected to produce 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The E350 BlueTEC with its 3.0-liter turbo diesel should produce 211 horsepower. 4MATIC AWD is standard across the range.

Thanks to its large rear end, the E350 Wagon offers up to 70 cubic feet of storage space with the second and third rows folded, though the second row doesn't fold entirely flat. With all the seats up, the Wagon can hold seven passengers, although, as usual, the third row is best left to children. Mercedes hasn't released pricing on the Wagon yet, but expect it to start a bit north of the sedan's $48,600 starting price.

Though the Wagon's pricing is still under wraps, Mercedes did drop some other E-Class pricing during the reveal, at least for the 2010 model year. The E350 Coupe starts at $48,050 while the V-8-powered E550 Coupe starts at $54,650. The E350 Sedan starts at $48,600 as mentioned above while the E550 Sedan starts at $56,300 and the ultimate E63 AMG sport sedan starts at $85,800.

Joining the E-Class Wagon on stage was the new R-Class, Mercedes' controversial wagon/crossover tweener. For the 2011 model year, the R-Class gets all new body work ahead of the A-pillars to bring its styling in line with the new corporate face of Mercedes. Beyond the LED-emblazoned nose and new 17-inch wheels, the R-Class is mostly the same, offering only a new color scheme on the interior and an optional second-row bench to add one extra seat for a total of seven. The R-Class continues to use either a gasoline 3.5-liter V-6 good for 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque or a 3.0-liter BlueTEC turbo diesel good for 211 horsepower.

Also appearing on the Mercedes-Benz stand, but with no fanfare whatsoever, was the 2011 S63 AMG. Starting at $133,550, the new S63 offers a hand-built 518-horsepower 6.3-liter V-8 with 465 pound-feet, which it sends to the pavement via a seven-speed automatic transmission. 60 mph is met in just 4.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 186 mph. In addition to the blistering performance, the AMG package also adds 20-inch five-spoke wheels, carbon-fiber and piano-black interior trim, a special steering wheel, top-tier seating, a special instrument cluster, high-performance brakes, a sport exhaust system and subtle aerodynamic trim.

Stay tuned for more of our live coverage of the 2010 New York Auto Show straight from the Big Apple show floor.

New York 2010: Mercedes SLS GT3 Race Car Debuts, Street Car to Start at $183,000

Like the legendary 300SL Gullwing before it, the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is going racing. Dubbed the SLS GT3, the new race car roared onto the stage today in New York a fully FIA-compliant track car. The street-legal SLS AMG, meanwhile, will go on sale in the U.S. in May starting at $183,000 to help meet homologation requirements.

The SLS GT3 will leave showrooms ready to race with a stripped interior and modified body work. Despite the gigantic wing hanging off the trunk, the SLS GT3 is lighter than the street car and will rip to 60 mph in no more than 3.5 seconds thanks to a monster 6.3-liter V-8 expected to make over 600 horsepower. One thing we know for certain is that it sounds absolutely wicked.




Mercedes isn't talking pricing for the racecar yet, but we expect it to be well north of the production car's sticker. Deliveries will begin in the Fall of 2010, well ahead of the start of the 2011 GT3 Series race season but with enough time to sell enough production cars to meet homologation requirements. On the track, it's expected to go up against top offerings from rival automakers including the Audi R8 LMS, BMW Z4 GT3 and Aston Martin DBRS9.

Stay tuned for more of our complete coverage of the 2010 New York Auto Show, live from New York.

Upcoming Baby AMG May Get Supercharged V-6, Not Turbo Four

Upcoming Baby AMG May Get Supercharged V-6, Not Turbo Four
British magazine Autocar reports that the upcoming B-Class-based AMG sedan will be powered by a 3.2-liter supercharged V-6, not a turbocharged four-cylinder as previously thought.

The mill is based on the upcoming 3.5-liter engine that'll first make its home in the new CLS350. Also like the CLS, the smaller AMG (codenamed the *** EVO) will get similar coupe-like styling, meaning four frameless doors and a steeply raked profile.




Force feeding the engine is said to be an electronically operated pressure wave supercharger. The technology is widely used in tractor and big diesel applications, and utilizes pressure waves from the exhaust to boost engine induction.

Rumors persist that a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission will handle what is believed to be around 400 horsepower.  Though the car will be based on a front-drive platform, AMG will likely opt for an all-wheel drive setup to help put power down.

Though smaller and less powerful than its siblings, the "baby Benz" (the nickname was originally applied to the shown 190 E EVO II) will not be a cheap means to gain access into the premium performance segment. It'll still carry all the premium bits - and driving characteristics -- AMG customers are used to, but at a slightly lower price point in order to make way for newer, younger buyers.

Source: Autocar

Mercedes-Benz Crafts GT3 Racing Car Out of SLS AMG

Mercedes-Benz Crafts GT3 Racing Car Out of SLS AMG

Mercedes-Benz’s legendary 300 SLR was explicitly built for racing, not the street.  So perhaps it’s fitting that its spiritual successor -- the new 2011 SLS AMG -- will also be offered in a track-ready version.

The car, likely dubbed the SLS AMG GT3, is designed to compete in the FIA’s GT3 racing class alongside competitors like the Audi R8 LMS, BMW Z4 GT3, and the Aston Martin DBRS9. Overall, the car looks largely stock, although it is treated to taller side sills and bumper fascias for aerodynamics, a gigantic rear spoiler, and sliding Plexiglas window inserts.

We’ve yet to see an official release on the racer, but expect it to be much lighter and somewhat more powerful (i.e. 600 horsepower from the 6.2-liter V-8) than the roadgoing model.

AMG says it should have cars delivered to customers before the start of the 2011 GT3 season.