Geneva Preview: 2012 Brabus CLS adds dose of sport, economy

Brabus has released its tuning package for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS range before its official premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. As with all things Brabus, the package for the CLS allows no stone upon another, from an aero package and the appearance of the suspension, and finally the motor.
Outside, the car gets a revised front bumper with larger air intakes, LED daytime running lights and a new front splitter. There are also a number of gill fenders sporting the Brabus logo, and side skirts give the car that the appearance of an even lower price and helpful entry lights, so you do not want to bash a shin in the night.
The things hanging on the ground a Bilstein suspension support for your choice of six types of Brabus wheels is, from 8.5x17s Monster 10.5x20 inch trash-can lid. vote in a bid for the Eco, has Brabus Tuning up efforts at the Mercedes-Benz CDI diesel engines concentrated. The CLS 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY gets a 31-horsepower bump, and an astonishing 413 pounds feet of torque.
At the higher spec CLS 350 CDI, the engine mods are dual mode. In Eco mode, the car to 509 lb-ft slide of 457 while horsepower remains the same. Hit the Sport mode button, and you are looking at climbing to 309 hp from 261st That translates into a 5.9-second 0-60 sprint and the inevitable 155 mph top speed. Want more? See the complete press release after the break and be sure to read through our high-res image gallery below.

Coming to America: 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Popemobile

There was a time when the Pope over the world cruises in the class and style. While we would have no part in the argument of the current functionality of the popemobile, the machine just can not hold a candle to the noble lady you see above.

This particular 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet was built specially for the Pope Paul VI, and served three more popes before mothballed in 1985. Why do you care, you ask? Since this particular piece of automotive history Stateside for the first time as part of this year's Concours d'Elegance Amelia Iceland celebrations next month is passed.

Mercedes-Benz has cut 600 of the unique memory for the event. In addition to the standard air suspension, power brakes and air conditioning and heating, this model came with bulletproof glass and a unique raised rear seat, and could be lowered so that the pope might more easily through crowds of people equipped to see.

The start in 2011 in Iceland Amelia Concours d'Elegance on 11 March and runs to 13, with classic cars from around the world. Hit the jump to check out the press release.

Boca Raton Concours scores 'first' sales: Ferrari FF, Benz SLS Roadster, Audi R8 GT, etc. *UPDATE

Are you a mega-wealthy car enthusiast that is always eager to be first in line when it comes to super sports car? Here's a tip for you: Buy a ticket (or fuel up the jet) and head on to Florida for the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance.
Now in its fifth year, has this upper crust Auto Show was momentum in the concours community, in part, by scoring a lot of "firsts" for the auction part of their event. Auctiongoers in recent years have had to buy a shot at the first U.S. examples of the Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10 and Spyder R8, Ferrari California and 458 Italia and the Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS.
On the docket for this year's celebrations? How does the 2012 Ferrari FF, 2012 Audi R8 GT and 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster. After the DuPont Registry, any car the first of its kind in the United States will be sold. If you need pick up something for your kids or the woman also has a 2012 Mercedes CLS63 Limited Edition to take advantage of which only 30 are available - and of course this is also sold the very first.
* UPDATE: If you were booking arrival in Florida, with the aim of winning even the first example of Ferrari FF Shooting Brake ... not. Ferrari FF will not be available for auction - The Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County (the organization to take advantage of the concours for the auction) has issued a formal withdrawal. Please read the official press release after the jump for more details.

Why cars can cost 3x as much in Australia despite currency parity with the U.S.

Right now, the U.S. dollar and the Australian dollar Didjaerawollabuck about as evenly as possible evaluated. If that's the case, why are Australians to double or even triple what we pay to pay to buy a car?
Neil Dowling leaders saw the car in this huge discrepancy and found several reasons for the differences. The United States usually buys 30 million cars per year, while Australia buys about one million. Like any product there is a discount for buying in bulk. In addition, Australia mandates its own emissions and the costs of compliance with these rules is passed on to consumers. Beyond emissions and volume, Australians pay for the cost of cars up to their distant southern location to make. All these factors increase the price of a car in Australia, but one of the biggest reasons for the increased cost is taxes.
A Porsche Carrera S would run a U.S. buyer 88,000 $ before the inevitable plunge into the bottom less pit, that the Porsche options list. In Australia the same car will cost an incredible $ 282,800. The Australian market, Porsche is saddled with a luxury car tax, import VAT and goods and services tax. These taxes can also turn a $ 66,230 Lexus LS U.S. prices to a $ 191,200 Australian cheap wallet buster.
On the other hand, the Australians always vehicles that are highly specced. Mercedes-Benz Australia says that the local S-Class one of the best you can buy everywhere in the world. The level of standard equipment Australian vehicles is greater than what we see on NA-specced cars. In addition, the average wage in Australia nearly $ 10,000 higher per person per year. You do not like to swallow easily pay nearly $ 300,000 for a Porsche Carrera S, but shows the Aussies are on average earn better wages than us Yanks.

Report: Nissan-based four-door Smart scrapped

Hot on the heels of news that Penske and Smart have split word comes that the smart / Nissan collaboration is dead. Automotive News reports that the project that was built to a four-door model from a platform, Nissan and sold under the banner of Smart yield will not happen. The reason is simple enough if Smart had continued to blaze his own trail in America, at least one other model would have to support needed. have now, it's part of the Mercedes-Benz network was that considerably reduced.
Meanwhile, there are some concerns that a separate Nissan / Renault joint project can call the Quattro also be deleted. have with the killing of several projects and Penske walk away, more than a few heads started to wonder if this is the end for Smart in the land of the free. According to the report, but Automotive News says Roger Penske, that's not the case.
Penske said that the fact that Smart is from the Mercedes-Benz presented the death of a lobster or Mercury, there is nothing in comparison, and that his company simply not the volume or the marketing muscle Smart effectively enforced.
Either way, one says that the shift towards Benz dealer that the smart dealer network will shrink significantly, so that only 58 dealers across the country. That's because 21 Smart showrooms, which are not coupled with Mercedes models do not get to keep their licenses.

Penske bails out of Smart distribution deal, Daimler takes over

So much for Valentine's Day. Penske and Smart have jointly announced that the couple go their separate ways.

Penske walk away like distribution rights, management, sales and marketing duties, but that does not mean the brand is going anywhere. From now on peddle the pint-sized city Mover Mercedes-Benz and Smart USA, says the movement is only part of a larger growth strategy. In a letter to the owner, Smart said that all guarantees still valid, and that all should be ironed as soon as June of this year by the transfer kinks.

Talk about a quick rebound.

Daimler takes over Smart Distribution in the world, so the move makes sense for the troubled brand here in the States. Hobbled by low fuel prices, Smart sold 100,000 units worldwide last year. In comparison, the company was able to move to 114,000 vehicles amid the global recession of 2009. A poor 5927 fortwo were sold in the U.S. in 2010.

Rumours are told about a number of new models planned for the company, including a ForTwo +2 as well as a five-door hatch cut off. Hit the jump for the full press release and the company's letter to current owners. Thanks for the tip, Vince!

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG called into duty for New York Fashion Week

We have seen all types of vehicles will be equipped and commissioned for police duty all over the world. But this is no ordinary police car. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG is the ride of choice for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Force.

The fashion executors are in full force this week in New York as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Fortunately for the "rest of us, " Benz Fashion cops are not looking for people to wear outfits that discussion, but rather to identify them trendsetters on the streets and offers them a free ride on their next targets in this specially prepared CLS 63 AMG, which is probably be the best car for the job. See for yourself in the high-resolution image gallery below and in the press release after the jump.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe set for Geneva Motor Show debut

Still a mystery why Mercedes-Benz CLK killed a few years? Puzzle no more, my friend, here for your answer. You see, the CLK was slit extends between the C-Class and E-Class sedan and station wagon designed, and was both preceded and succeeded by the E-class coupe. When Mercedes went back to the old formula, it made room for the car you see here: the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe.
The theme of many spy shots and leaked photos, has the new C-Class Coupe officially unveiled at last from the factory before its official premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. It will be the new Benz coupe come with two engine variants: the Mercedes-Benz C250 coupe gets the 1.8-liter direct-injection turbo four with 201 hp, while the C350 coupe with the 304-hp, 3.5-liter V6 at right. Both are only 7-speed automatic transmission from Mercedes, which drives the rear wheels covered. 4Matic all-wheel drive is not offered on the C-Class coupe. (Tilted The AMG version of the coupe to come along in another month at the New York Auto Show.)
So what else separates the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe from the sedan on which it is based? Two less doors and a slightly lower roofline. That's it. The C-Class coupes wheelbase is the same, the front end thereof, the luxury touches and the ultra-modern electronic wizardry ... it is all the C-Class, we know only croupier. Will this be enough to steal sales away from the likes of the BMW 3 Series coupe and Audi A5, both of which differed significantly more from its four-door people? We'll find out once the two-door hit showrooms, but now you can on the official framework details in the press release after the jump, along with a gallery of high-resolution images below.

Force India takes on the 2011 F1 championship with the new VJM04

With an expanded grid over the past few years in Formula One in a three-point competition has grown. On the front you have the title contenders such as Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes GP. On the back you have the newcomers Lotus, Hispania and Virgin. In between are the rest that make up the midfield: Renault, Williams, Sauber, Toro Rosso and Force India. But while these divisions are fairly consistent, do changes occur from one season to the next. Mercedes GP - earlier than Brawn and Honda F1 GP formerly known - was a solid midfielder at best for years, but was won in 2009 and still run at the front. Ditto Red Bull Racing, which has seen a remarkable transformation since the Stewart / Jaguar days. And then you have to Force India.
The team took over from perennial back-marker outfit Jordan in 2007, and in his first season under new management, tenth in the constructors' championship - just ahead of Super Aguri, which easily back through the season. But the following season, ninth (before Toro Rosso) and last year, after running sixth most of the season, came in the seventh, hitting, Toro Rosso, Sauber and the three newcomers. That's some impressive progress, but this year Force India aims for fifth place in the championship, and this is the car which they hope to get there.
The VJM04 (the team's fourth car, so named after team boss Vijay Mallya) is an evolution of last year's design and, while McLaren-Mercedes power for the third season. Adrian Sutil, who has been with the team from the start, only to return, this time as a partner of DTM champion Paul di Resta, the Vitantonio Liuzzi replaced. Nico Hulkenberg takes the test driver role - the team has decided to run for the 2010 cars in the first test session - while several senior staff team went during the off-season to rival teams.
Will Force India to be able upward flight path to achieve their targets, and maybe a podium finish at the Lone Giancarlo Fisichella for the team scored at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix? We have to wait and see, but in the meantime you can watch the pictures in the gallery below and in the press release after the jump.

Report: Infiniti Etheria concept to roll into Geneva with Mercedes power

Compact is a premium, where it is on these days for luxury car manufacturers, and everyone got on board. Audi has the A3, Volvo C30, BMW 1 Series, Lexus recently the party with the modernization of its CT 200h and Mercedes A-and B-class. Infiniti has been rumored a long time to work on a challenger of its own, and recently confirmed that it will be presented at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March in the form of concept.

Unfortunately, published little in the way of actual details were to accompany the silhouette teaser image above - and when we say "little ", we mean Bubke. The concept is designed to slot in below the G-line. That's it.

Fortunately, Motor Trend has occurred in some of the gaps to be filled, sources inside that the car is a two-door Etheria called (cited believe in the form of concept anyway, as the production model will probably fit alphanumeric in the rest of the path), top of the Megane Renault / Nissan Tiida platform built.

The milestone, however, there are under the hood, where Etheria is tilted to a 202-hp, 1.8-liter turbo-CGI purchased four of Mercedes-Benz, marking the first tangible application of the industrial partnership between parents and Daimler The Renault-Nissan alliance formed wear. We will find out soon enough if MT on the money, so stay tuned.

New Ultimate Factories episodes coming for Challenger, Viper, Bentley and more

Ultimate Factories will come back to the National Geographic Channel and the latest season chalk full of everything automotive action. Concert dates have camera crews start in Dodge, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and Bentley to show factories how to paint a Dodge Challenger, what it takes to build a Maserati engine and how Dodge is building (or is it built?) Viper Chassis and its 8.4-liter heart.

Ultimate Factories Airs on Thursday Evening 10 clock and the Dodge Challenger episode will start in February 3rd. But until then, a preview in the video after the jump.

Video: Mercedes wants you to think Twitter is fuel

Car manufacturers must put social media with varying degress of success. On the one hand, we have the Ford Fiesta Movement and on the other hand, we have ... almost all other automakers social outreach. And now we have Mercedes-Benz.

Four teams of two must race to Dallas Cowboys Stadium, was assessed by a team from leaving New York, included Tampa, Chicago and Los Angeles. Each team will be a "celebrity" very well versed in the Twitter universe captain - a strange combination of "coaches", but they have what Mercedes wants: 7.08773 million followers combined.

How does Twitter factor into the race? Every team needs something Mercedes calls "tweet fuel" and it is on the rather vague description of the base to collect "Twitter activity."

Said "fuel"will help the team continue in their respective vehicles NY behind the wheel of a 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4Matic, E550 Tampa a 2011 Cabriolet, Chicago got the keys for a 2011 GL350 BlueTec and LA will have a 2011 S400 Hybrid . If they "win", each member will receive a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe.

Just a note, has put a teaser Mercedes a faux Tweet-guided CL, proving once again that car makers are better than artificial stunts viral videos. Check it out for yourself after the jump.