BMW 3-Series Still Top Dog despite Strong Competition

In the ingloriously named, “small premium car segment”, the BMW 3-Series is king. A good all-rounder with sporting pretensions and cred, a nice assortment of engine and equipment options, and perhaps most importantly, a variety of body styles including a coupe and station wagon derivative that have ensured its market supremacy.

All 3-Series models are doing their bit to keep sales high. According to a study released by R.L. Polk & Co., from 2008 through this past February, the 3-Series sedan covered around 60 percent of the model's retail registrations, with the coupe, convertible and station wagon versions accounting for the rest of the sales.

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Inden Design Applies the Black Series Treatment to the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG

Since 2008, Mercedes-Benz has been producing a special edition version of the SL65 AMG called the Black Series that comes with a fixed carbon fiber roof, a wide body kit, an upgraded V12 and numerous other performance and styling enhancements. If you happen to like the look of the Black Series but prefer to keep the retractable hardtop of the standard SL65 AMG, you may want to check out Inden Design’s latest tuning package. Read more »

New Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Debuts as Official Safety Car of DTM Racing Series

Mercedes-Benz and its AMG division continue to serve safety cars to the world of racing, this time with the refreshed C63 AMG sedan that will be used for the 2011 DTM touring car season. The Stuttgart automaker’s latest Safety Car will make its premiere on May 1, 2011, at the opening race of the German Touring Car Masters season at the Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg. Read more »

Brabus Boosts Output of New V8 BiTurbo in Mercedes S500 and CL500 and S63 and CL63 AMG Models

Longtime Mercedes-Benz tuner has released a performance package for the latest S500 and CL500 as well as the S63 and CL63 AMG models, which are fitted with Stuttgart’s new V8 bi-turbocharged engines. In addition to the powerplant enhancements, the German tuning firm has also developed a range of cosmetic and handling upgrades.

Starting with the S500 and CL500 models, Brabus offers two different engine tunes for the 4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8. The first kit includes a new ECU priced at €4,900 (~US$7,160), which bumps output from 435HP and 700Nm to 482HP and 780 Nm (575 lb-ft).

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Mercedes to Mark Unimog's 60th Birthday with Special Celebrations

This year, Mercedes-Benz's Unimog truck celebrates its 60th birthday and to honor this milestone, the German automaker will host a special anniversary party on June 4. Fans, club members, owners of classic vehicles, drivers and owners of current models are all invited to the event, which will be hosted at the Wörth plant in Germany where the Unimog is built today. Read more »

Mercedes Announces U.S. Prices for 2012 SLK Roadster and 2012 CLS [Plus New Photo Galleries]

We’ve already had our first look at the new-generation SLK roadster and CLS sports sedan lineups, but now, Mercedes-Benz has decided to reveal pricing on both models ahead of their U.S. market launch this summer.

For the time being, the German automaker has announced pricing only for the 2012 SLK350 that will start at $54,800, not including a $875 destination and delivery charge, which raises the cost to $55,675. In comparison, the soon-to-be-replaced 300-horsepower 2011 SLK350 is priced at $54,145 (including transportation fee).

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U Spy: 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV Spotted in Germany

Mercedes-Benz has plenty of new models in store for us this year, with the German automaker having already revealed the refreshed C-Class, the new C-Class Coupe along with its AMG brethren, as well as the all-new SLK hardtop roadster. And there’s more to come with the Stuttgart-based company planning to unleash several more new model throughout the year including the next–generation M-Class SUV that was snagged by Carscoop reader Gal Leibovici during a recent trip to Germany. Gal spotted two different M-Class prototypes on separate occasions. Read more »

Kicherer Launches New Mercedes-Benz SLS 63 AMG Supersport GT in Style

In its third consecutive take on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, German tuner Kicherer has released a new package with performance and styling modifications for Stuttgart’s supercar, and just to capture our attention, the company threw a beautiful female model into the picture (not included in the package).

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2012 Mercedes E63 AMG Gets New 5.5-liter V8 Bi-Turbo with up to 557HP

Mercedes-Benz used the 2011 New York Auto Show to reveal the updated 2012MY E63 AMG, which now features the new 5.5-liter V8 biturbo engine instead of the old naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter unit. The new powerplant, already known from the CLS63 AMG, delivers 525 horsepower as standard, with an additional 32 ponies for a total of 557HP with the AMG Performance package. In base form, the 5.5-liter unit produces 7 more horsepower than the previous 6.2-liter engine.

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2011 NYIAS: Mercedes-Benz Shows SLS AMG in a Gulf-Like Livery

Even though Mercedes-Benz did not mention the ‘Gulf’ word, it’s not hard to see the source of inspiration for the SLS AMG special displayed at the company’s New York Auto Show booth. The Stuttgart-based automaker names the vintage color ‘Boudalis Blue’. Other bespoke touches include the contrasting orange color surround on the inner wall of the front grille along with the flat black multipsoke wheels, and matching color badges and logos. Read more »

Mercedes Debuts Striking A-Class Concept in New York, Confirms Production Version for North America

Following a world premiere at the Shanghai Auto Show earlier this week, Mercedes-Benz showed off its dynamic A-Class concept to the crowds of New York, and confirmed that the production model will head to North America.

In Europe, the production A-Class will launch next year. As for the US, Autonews reported that Joachim Schmidt, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Mercedes-Benz Cars, would not specify a time frame vaguely stating that the A-Class would arrive “some time in this decade.”

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Mercedes-Benz Launches 125th Anniversary Scale Models and Merchandise

Mercedes-Benz announced the introduction of new collection with special scale models and branded products to mark the 125th birthday of the motor car. The lineup includes a dedicated range of scale models of legendary vehicles produced over the years by the Stuttgart-based carmaker. Read more »

New ECO Start/Stop System Lowers Mercedes S 350 BlueTEC's Fuel Consumption to 6.2 lt/100 km (37.9MPG)

Mercedes-Benz has announced that the S 350 BlueTEC will be offered from now on with a standard ECO start/stop function. As a result, average fuel economy is rated at 6.2 liters/100 km (37.93 mpg US), down 9 percent from an already impressive –for the size and type of car- 6.8 liters/100 km (34.59 mpg US). Read more »

Mercedes-Benz AMG Ad Asks the Question: Rosberg or Schumacher?

It seems that the Mercedes Grand Prix team has made a habit of offering a commercial ahead of each Formula 1 race. With the Malaysian GP scheduled this weekend, Mercedes has released a new funny episode showcasing the Rosberg – Schumacher rivalry.

The clip is called “Decision” and features a pregnant woman about to give birth and her husband left on the side of the road by a damaged car. Out of nowhere, Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher come to her rescue, each behind the wheel of an AMG Mercedes. But then a new problem appears: which one to choose?

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Edo Competition’s 722HP Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Black Arrow

The impressive SLS AMG ‘Gullwing’ may have long replaced the venerable SLR McLaren in the Mercedes-Benz’s ranks, but the tuning world is not about let go of the Stuttgart firm’s previous supercar. Edo Competition has revealed a new take on the SLR McLaren called the Black Arrow.

Edo Karabegovic and his team over at Edo Competition started out with the SLR McLaren’s body, which gains a stealthy looking flat black coating and an overdose of red livery combined with new black colored 21-inch alloy wheels with a red ring that are shod in high-performance sport tires. There’s also new exhaust tailpipes and carbon trim.

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VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz Explains the Design of the Concept A-Class

On Wednesday, Mercedes-Benz introduced an impressive design study for the next generation of the A-Class, heavily influenced by the brand's recent concept cars, mainly the F800 and the CLS Shooting Brake. Now, we have two new video of the concept model. In the first clip, exterior designer Mark Featherston, who worked on the Concept A-Class, explains the important styling features of the compact car in a short film released by Mercedes-Benz.

The German automaker also presented the first footage showing the Concept A-Class in motion and capturing the car's most appealing exterior and interior angles. Scroll down to watch both videos dedicated to the concept that previews Stuttgart’s upcoming rival to the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3.

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VIDEO: An Insane 900HP Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

Why would someone want to upgrade a 451HP Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG remains a mystery to us, but the following car is a good example of the level of performance a C63 AMG can reach with the right aftermarket parts and some very deep pockets. Two years ago, owner Keith Brantley got in touch with aftermarket specialist Modern Horsepower (MHP) and ordered a complete transformation of his C63 AMG.

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Mercedes Brings Sexy to the Compact Segment with New Concept A-Class, will be Revealed in Shanghai

Mercedes-Benz plans to show up at this month’s Shanghai Auto Show with a brand new concept for a spectacular looking A-Class model. While the Concept A-Class is just what its name says it is – a prototype study - it’s also a very good indication of where the company plans to take its BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 rival with the presentation of the next generation model that is scheduled to go on sale in 2012.

For starters, Mercedes is giving up the minivan-like silhouette of the current A-Class for a more dramatic and sporty looking two-box profile with a long bonnet and a low roof-line. The concept’s exterior design details are heavily influenced by Stuttgart’s most recent prototypes such as the CLS Shooting Brake and especially the F800.

Aside from the new nose with a prominent Mercedes grille, the three-door Concept A-Class also features concave surfaces with sweeping lines throughout the body.

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Mercedes-Benz Issues Recall on Select 2011MY E-Class Sedans and Estates

Daimler AG is conducting a voluntary recall campaign on certain 2011MY Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans (chassis code W212) and Estates (chassis code S212) to inspect, and if necessary, replace a potentially defective auto part. The recall will include approximately 41 E-Class models in the States manufactured from July 8, 2010, through July 12, 2010.

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Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Turned Into a Sport Ute

Inspired by BMW’s costly but cool April Fool’s Day E92 M3 Pickup Truck, Carscoop reader L il-k Amaru drew up a similar design proposal based on the Bavarian sport model’s alter-ego from Stuttgart, the new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe. Take a look at both renderings after the jump and tell us what you think about Merc concept as well as the ute category in general in the comments section below. Read more »