Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe Gets Official Reveal

After a leaked image and a small cameo in a super bow commercial, Mercedes-Benz has finally decided to give its new C-Class coupe an official reveal.

The C-Class coupe will come in two flavours: C250 and C350. The former will get a 1.8 litre turbocharged four cylinder engine that’s good enough for 201 horsepower and is the same engine found in the new SLK 250. The C350, on the other hand, gets a much more desirable 3.5 litre V6 that makes 304 horses. An AMG version is expected well down the road.

And here is why I don’t like this car:

Firstly, it’s going to be 7-speed automatic only. How can a car company build a coupe wherein the only reason why coupes exist is to exude sportiness and performance, yet doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

Secondly, the C-Class coupe is rear wheel drive only. Mercedes-Benz makes quite a decent all-wheel drive system and in fact 80% of Mercedes’ are purchased with 4Motion.

Thirdly, while it’s an attractive design, it seems half-assed. All Mercedes did was take two doors off the sedan and lowered the roof line. There’s nothing else that really sets it apart from the sedan.

If you look at BMW’s 3-series coupe, Audi’s A5 and Infiniti’s G37 coupe all can be had with manual transmissions, all can be had with all-wheel drive and all have unique design elements from their sedan counterparts. They didn’t just take the rear doors off, there was actual thought put into the design process.

It was a good try Mercedes, but I think you missed the mark with this one.

[Mercedes-Benz]

Audi Goes After Mercedes-Benz…Again

Audi is starting to act a lot like Stephen Harper. Just attack your competition rather than letting your product speak for itself.

Audi has taken several jabs at BMW over the past year to which BMW has responded to, but ultimately BMW has stopped responding to the prodding. Which is just as well. As entertaining as ad wars are, it does get old every now and then. Apparently Audi doesn’t know when to stop though.

They’ve also taken digs at Lexus and recently, they’ve turned their attention to Mercedes-Benz. Their last jab was in this ad.

But the latest jab targets Mercedes-Benz only insinuating that Benz’s are full of old non-innovative technologies, referring to the current S-Class. Audi is of course comparing it to their newly redesigned A8. Much like GM’s tig at an older Hyundai (posted below) this is a bit of an unfair fight. Of course the new A8 will have more new technology than an old S-Class design. When the redesigned S-Class comes out, then you can compare them, but until then this just seems like an unfair fight.

All these attack ads of late kind of make Audi seem like the bully of the sport luxury car world. You make great cars Audi. Let your products to the fighting for you.

[Youtube]

Mercedes-Benz Shows Canada Some Love

Mercedes-Benz has just announced a new edition of the C63 AMG. It’s called the Affalterbach Edition and guess what? It’s only for us Canadians!

The Affalterbach Edition, which is named after the town where AMG guru’s work their magic, features exclusive Magno Allanite Gray paint, red calipers which help accent the black 19 inch wheels and a carbon fiber lip spoiler. Inside the AMG seats are wrapped in Nappa leather with red stitching, carbon fiber trim throughout and of course a host of Affalterbach Edition badges.

Power itself remains unchanged, but Mercedes-Benz’s optional AMG Performance Package is standard on the Affalterbach Edition meaning there’s 481 horsepower and 443 pound foot of torque. 0-100 is estimated at 4.4 seconds.

If you’re interested, you better stop reading at this point and get on the phone because Mercedes-Benz will only build 30 of them. Price is an estimated $81,000 and the Affalterbach edition will officially go on sale in the spring.

[Mercedes-Benz Canada]

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK Gets Official Debut

The 2012 SLK got its “unofficial” debut about two months ago when a television commercial for it leaked to the internets.

After presumably firing the person responsible for leaking it, Mercedes-Benz has released pics and information on its own terms.

Innovative features now found on the new SLK include “Magic Sky Control”, which is pretty cool despite its immensely uncool name. What it does is actually tints the glass pannels automatically. So when you feel like ridin’ like a gangta, you can tint the windows. When you’re picking up your grandma, you can un-tint them.

For Canada, we’ll get three flavours: the SLK 250, SLK 350 and of course the SLK55 AMG.

The SLK 250 will get a 1.8 litre 4 cylinder engine making 201 horses. The SLK 350 gets a 3.5 litre V6 making 302 horsepower. It was also get a 0-100 time of 5.4 seconds.

What I’m really interested in, though, is the SLK 55 AMG. This bad boy will get a normally aspirated 5.5 litre V8. This engine is expected to replace the 6.2 litre V8 found in many AMG models. As such, there are no horsepower ratings yet, but stay tuned.

Check out some more snaps after the jump.

[Mercedes-Benz]

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Oh Hi: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

Mercedes-Benz was going to officially reveal the 2012 C-Class coupe at the Geneva Auto Show in March, but some images have leaked thanks to a few European car sites.

There aren’t too many surprises with the styling. It receives the same  updated exterior changes that the C-Class sedan gets. This includes a revised front facia with LED running lights. Out back the tail lights seem to be identical to those of the sedan (hit the jump for a rear shot) with new LED tail lights as well. The C-Class Coupe apparently will not share the omitted B pillar like the E-Class coupe does.

The overall look, while fairly attractive, is a bit uninspiring. It’s clear that Mercedes just decided to lose the extra doors for its C-Class coupe and that’s about it. BMW’s coupe version of the 3-series has many different styling upgrades to set it apart from its sedan twin. So does Audi’s A5.

Perhaps Mercedes is hiding the big surprise under the hood? More details will arrive in March.

Hit the jump fore more pics.

[Inside Line]

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Audi Strikes Again: Targets BMW and Mercedes-Benz Owners

Not too long ago, Audi and BMW had a little advertising game going where Audi made a video called “Meet the Beckers“. It basically played up stereotypes of people who buy BMW’s, Mercedes-Benz’s and Lexuses (Lexi?).

Audi then took a shot at BMW in a TV commercial.

BMW responded with its own commercial taking shots at Audi’s lack of efficiency development. They even went as far as paying to have a huge billboard promoting  a BMW 335d directly on top of an Audi dealership in Hong Kong.

Mercedes-Benz on the other hand, has chosen to stay quiet in the feud, but that hasn’t stopped Audi from prodding the big German company as well.

Audi has apparently developed a car cover for unhappy BMW and Mercedes-Benz owners that mimics the look of an Audi R8. Seemingly so people can cover up the “shame” of owning one of the R8′s rivals.

The description for the car cover reads:

“Don’t have an Audi R8 Spyder? Now you can pretend to have one. Trick your neighbors, and best of all, trick yourself into thinking you have the car of your dreams. Perfect for the BMW or Mercedes owner in your life filled with regret.”

Hmm, chalk another one up for Audi. BMW will respond to this one for sure, but what’s it gonna take for Mercedes-Benz to play the game?

Who do you think is winning the ad wars so far?

[All World Cars]

RWD Mercedes-Benz GLK Exclusively For Canadians

Mercedes-Benz has been doing quite well in Canada with its 4Matic all-wheel drive system. In November, 80% of all its models were sold with 4Matic AWD.

So it’s a bit puzzling that Mercedes has announced the addition of a rear wheel drive trim level for the GLK. And it’s exclusively for us Canadians.

The hope, according to Mercedes, is that it will actually help introduce more buyers into the Mercedes-Benz brand. By having a model available with no AWD, Mercedes is able to have a cheaper starting price for the GLK.

The RWD version will start at $41,300. That’s two grand less than a GLK with 4Matic. It’s also the cheapest starting price for a compact SUV among Mercedes’ competitors which include BMW, Audi, Lexus and Infiniti.

So, would you opt for a RWD GLK to save a few bucks?

[AutoNorth]

BMW 1-Series M Faster Than Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG & Porsche Cayman S!

Just days after officially releasing images of the 1-series M, BMW was eager to see how it officially faired on the famous Nurburgring.

The official time of the 1-series M? 8 minutes and 12 seconds. That’s faster than Mercedes’ C63 AMG and even faster than a Porsche Cayman S! In fact that’s even faster than the outgoing BMW M5 and the previous generation E46 M3.

If you’re concerned that it’s faster than the current generation M3, no need to worry. The E92 can go around the ‘Ring in 8 minutes 5 seconds. Hardly surprising considering that big V8 under its hood.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, BMW’s other hotted versions of the M3 also were faster. The M3 CSL recorded a significantly quicker 7 minutes and 50 second lap time, while the M3 GTS did it in 7 minutes and 48 seconds.

[BimmerFile]

Oh Hi: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK

Oops! Someone at Mercedes-Benz is gonna get fired for this one.

A video has leaked completely revealing the 2012 SLK roadster, as it can be seen in the 9 minute french commercial above. Wait… 9 minutes?! Damn, those crazy Frenchies have long commercials!

Anyway, the SLK now has a look more in line with the rest of the Benz family with LED running lights, redesigned headlights a huge lower intake and a massive Benz symbol on the grille.

Apparently Mercedes’ Airscarf technology will be incorporated as well. Airscarf allows for drop top driving in cold weather. Warm air is blown onto the neck of the driver. Also available will be a new 7-speed automatic transmission along with adaptive headlights. No mention of a 6-speed manual. Yet.
So, with the reveal of the new SLK, which would you prefer (in terms of looks only)? The SLK, the BMW Z4 or the Audi TT roadster?

[Youtube]

Auto Express 2011 Performance Car of the Year Announced

As the year draws to a close, another Car of the Year (COTY) accolade is up for grabs. This one is courtesy of Auto Express, however it’s not your typical COTY award. Most COTY awards include any new model and usually the winner is based on how it handles day to day elements. Well Auto Express is tossing that formula out the window as their focusing solely on performance.

They took 20 cars that have performance as their top priority and ranked them from best to worst. Everything from cheap hot hatches to exotic supercars were considered. All were measured based on their performance abilities and value… which is odd considering they have an Aston Martin up against a Seat. Perhaps they meant best balance of performance for value.

Subaru fans will likely be up in arms at the results as the Cosworth WRX was ranked the lowest at number 20, especially since it was bested by several hot hatches including a hybrid, the Honda CR-Z.

Another surprise on the list was the Audi RS5 which ranked a bit low at number 11. Especially considering its arch rival, the BMW M3, not only cracked the top 10, but cracked the top 5 coming in at number 5.

I won’t spill the beans on who won the coveted top spot, however I will say that I definitely agree with their decision. Check it out in the video above. Notice no domestic cars were nominated? Just sayin’.

Do you agree with the performance COTY?

[Auto Express]

BMW M3 GT Coming?!

Rumours are floating around the internets (from fairly reliable sources too) that the next generation M3 sedan will be replaced by a GT hatchback version similar to the 55oi GT pictured above.

I must say, I really liked the 550i GT that I tested a while back because it blended excellent performance and handling with a luxurious comfortable drive and excellent versatility. But that’s not what M cars are about.

M cars, specifically M3′s are all about raw performance and eff anything else. That means ride quality, luxury, versatility, and reliability even all take a back seat to the raw performance.  Adding some versatility to a vehicle that has traditionally been a raw performance coupe since its inception is a bit like adding a business degree to a porn star’s education.

Still, there’s something deliciously awesome about the CTS-V Wagon, the C63 AMG wagon and the RS3 hatchback.  And when you think about it, BMW has no high performance car that is also practical. The M3 GT is probably meant to that void. Sure the X5 M and X6 M are options, but let’s get real here. While they are tremendous for SUV’s they are still SUV’s nonetheless. Showing up to a track in your X6 M is pretty ridiculous afterall.

[Inside Line]

Top Gear Caught Filming for Season 16 in New York!

Jezza, Hamster and Captain Slow were recently caught filming in New York for season 16 of Top gear. And by the looks of it, season 16 won’t be a disappointment (not that any episode of Top Gear is ever a disappointment).

The cameras caught what looks to be a supercar challenge. Having a self proclaimed Benz bias, Jeremy naturally chose the Mercedes-Benz SLS. Richard, also admitting a fond admiration of Porsches, unsurprisingly took a Porsche 911 GT3 RS to the party while James got the keys for the boner inducing Ferrari 458 Italia.

The boys can be seen attempting to manoeuver through a construction zone – no doubt highlight the impracticalities of actually owning a supercar. At one point Jeremy actually had to open the gullwing door to see where he was going. I can only imagine the hilarious/amazing moments they had on the trip.

I’ve been pumped for new Top Gear for a while, but this video makes me 10 times more exciting.

[Youtube]

Oh Hi: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS

Mercedes-Benz decided to leak official pictures of the next generation CLS ahead of its official debut at the Paris Auto Show.

The car that started the whole four door coupe craze retains a similar sweeping profile, with some S-Class added to the mix, along with a front facia more in line with the rest of the Mercedes-Benz family.

If you thought Audi is going nuts with LED lights, then think again. Mercedes is going to be the new LED king. There are 71 LED bulbs in the headlight cluster alone! The headlights, daytime running lights, turn singals and side lights are all going to be LED. Same story goes for the tail lights, which now have a more eye catching design. While that may look cool, that just means more of a chance of lights burning out down the road. Probably costly to replace too. The interior is all new as well with a three spoke steering wheel now standard as well as a steering column gear shift like the S-Class has. No manumatic option then?

No word on engine specs, however expect a 3.5 litre V6 and a 4.6 litre V8 to be available. An AMG version will come down the road.

With BMW already green lighting its Gran Coupe concept, and Audi premiering the A7, the refreshed CLS could not have come at a better time.

Click here for more pics.

[Mercedes-Benz via Autoblog]

Art in London

Good. God.

I never wished I was in London this bad in my life.

[Youtube]

Mercedes-Benz Reportedly Working on 9-Speed Automatic

This is just ridiculous.

In the car world, the automaker with the most gears for its automatic transmission is the same as the guy with the biggest penis in a room. It’s nothing more than an ego trip.

Autocar is reporting that Mercedes-Benz indeed wants other automakers to drop their proverbial pants and whip out the measuring tape because they reckon they are going to be the one with the most gears as they are developing a 9-speed automatic. NINE SPEEDS! WTF?

During my test of the BMW 550i GT, I wasn’t even able to make it up to the 8th gear. I would have been arrested and stoned to death on site if I had because I was able to get up to 180 kph in 5th gear alone at 6000 rpm. If I had gotten to the 8th speed, I probably would have been going well over 300 kph! And if you are a cop and you are reading this, then I was just joking about being able to get the 55oi GT to 180 kph in fifth gear.

But seriously, even if you consider having 8 gears for fuel efficiency in mind, it still doesn’t work. You never get to that point. You either need to adjust your speed because of a red light up ahead, or you are in stop in go traffic at rush hour. And on top of that, since it’s an automatic and therefore stupid, it can never make up its mind as to which gear it wants to be in. And then you’re just left with a jolty ride.

Mercedes, if you do indeed do this, you might win the biggest penis contest, but having a big penis is only useful if you have interested parties. And this could be the very thing that could draw customers away.

Think about it.

[Autocar]