The is a sultry beast, but no one is going around calling the low-slung sports car in icon of the industry. That tag is still reserved for the similarly slinky E-Type. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the vehicle, and over the past half-century, its long nose and rounded hips have grown to become unmistakable. Could release a direct successor to its legendary racer? One Turkish designer certainly thinks so. Using the dimensions of the as a guidepost, Emre Husmen set about imagining what a modern E-Type would look like.
The result is a vehicle with the same basic proportions as the original, though with a thoroughly modern twist. Look closely and it’s easy to see the lines of the original E-Type snugged amongst the more modern body. Though we’re fans of the design’s profile and rear, there’s something about the nose that simply lacks the simplicity of the original. Hey, everyone’s a critic. Thanks for the tip, Emre!
When Alfa Romeo pulled back the veil on its 4C Concept at the this past March, we were as taken in by its unique matte red finish as we were by the rest of the package. In a few weeks, Alfa will showcase the 4C once again in , and its new paint job – among other things – is sure to impress.
As you can see from the quartet of high-res images released so far, the 4C Concept has been given a “fluid metal” finish that looks similar to the highly sought-after Alubeam paint offers on the . It seems to show the Alfa in a completely different light, one we look forward to scoping out in person at the Messe next month.
Alfa also says it has refined the technical package of the concept. Trimming the fat, as it were, to optimize the power to weight ratio, the aluminum and carbon fiber construction is motivated by over 200 horsepower from the 1.75-liter turbo engine that drives the rear wheels through the company’s new dual-clutch transmission that is also making its debut in the Giulietta. for the full press release.
The is nearly upon us, which means automakers will be trotting out more new or updated models in the coming weeks. Brabus, while not a major automaker, will also be there, and it’s bringing something an all-new creation to further its stable of insanely fast machines. We don’t have any details to spill regarding this latest Brabus bullet, but the tuning house has just released this photo to tease our emotions.
Judging by that headlight and side mirror, we’re going to assume that Brabus has applied its wrenches to the . Brabus has built ludicrious-speed-capable CLS sedans in the past, and it appears the German tuner will add a new version to its fleet.
Stay tuned for more information, as we’ll be certain to find this car when we touch ground in Germany.
If you had to pick which model in the lineup packed in the most new features, which would you choose? The ? The ? You might want to try the new B-Class on for size, because according to Daimler, its newest model encompasses the most new developments ever launched on a single vehicle.
For starters, the premium compact minivan/hatchback debuts a new front-drive platform for Mercedes, which will also go on to underpin a new A-Class and a whole raft of derivatives as well. It also features a new family of four-cylinder engines (both direct-injection gasoline versions and common-rail diesels) and new six speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions with integrated stop/start and regenerative braking systems. The new B-Class also includes a staggering array of available safety systems, including Adaptive Headlamp Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Attention Assist, Speed Limit Assist and Active Parking Assist, Brake and Hill Hold functions, Linguatronic and Distronic Plus.
The new B also offers more space for both passenger and cargo over the model it replaces, while returning improved aerodynamics which, together with the new powertrain family, delivers better fuel economy and emissions figures. The one-box design takes its cues from recent Benz concept cars and looks significantly more sculpted and dynamic than the outgoing model, which was rather conservative in its styling in the first place and has since grown long in the tooth.
Mercedes will officially pull the veil of the new B-Class at the next month before European buyers can begin taking delivery in November. The question is whether this second-generation model will make it to American showrooms, where its predecessor did not. Canadian buyers have had the outgoing model at their disposal, but whether this heralds the arrival of front-drive Mercedes in the U.S. market () is a matter we’ll be monitoring closely. In the meantime, you can dive into the full details in the extensive press release after the jump and the high-res images in our mega gallery for more.
B-Class revealed ahead of Frankfurt… but is it coming here?
If we had to put a list together of cars that we’re dying to drive, the would be well within the top ten. Mind you, ours would be a big list, too. Apparently we’ll need to recalibrate our roster a bit, because MB may just have a more vicious version waiting to assault our senses.
Our spy photographers have just trained their lenses on a particularly angry-looking C63 Coupe Black Series wearing some bolt-on upgrades. A fixed rear wing is paired with a carbon fiber front splitter, front canards and side skirts. For the moment, we’re going to assume that the engine still pumps out 510 horsepower, but the more aggressive features point to this being a track-ready version of the German super coupe. Check it out from all angles in our high-res gallery.
Having the means to buy a performance automobile does not automatically come with the ability to drive it well. Few are as keenly aware of this correlation (or lack thereof) than and its performance arm, AMG.
In addition to building some of the most capable performance cars on the market, AMG also operates the AMG Driving Academy at locations around the world to show its customers how to get the most out of their cars.
Courses ranges in price from $1,595 for a one-day ‘Basic Training’ class to $3,695 for a three-day comprehensive ‘Pro Training’ course. To give us a taste (and then some) of what’s on offer, AMG has released a ten-part video series on YouTube covering the basic elements of what a driver needs to know, everything from proper seat adjustment to how to drift.
The series is hosted by experienced racer, television presenter and instructor Tommy Kendall, and it’s worth taking the time to watch. Each segment is only three or four minutes long and can be found . Watch them, and you’re sure to learn a thing or two. AMG is also for you and three friends on its Facebook page.
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is , and we’re already eager for some seat time. And while Mercedes-Benz hasn’t outright confirmed an AMG variant, our spy photographers managed to snag a camo-clad compact wearing all sorts of bulgy bolt-ons. Our best guess is that some sort of AMG treatment lies beneath.
The large wheels and tires do nothing to hide the large brakes lurking just behind the rolling gear. A larger air intake is seen up front while larger exhaust pipes are poking out of the rear. Rumor has it that the , filtering its energy through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and running to the ground via all-wheel drive.
has unveiled the latest addition to the lineup, the 2012 SLK55 AMG. For this iteration of the diminutive droptop, AMG is employing a naturally-aspirated version of Mercedes-Benz’s 5.5-liter V8.
The new aluminum engine is good for 415 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, which should be more than enough to motivate the little beast. To keep things eco-friendly somewhat greener, the new engine employs gasoline direct injection and a stop-start feature to help save fuel.
The V8 exhales through twin exhausts, which have flaps that open to deliver a throatier sound when your right foot comes down. All the go bits are mated to AMG’s seven-speed Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic automatic cog box. Look for the hot-rodded SLK to arrive in showrooms early next year.
Want more? Click past the jump to see all the goods in Mercedes’ press release, and have a gander at the image gallery above.
When is a not a Jaguar XFR? When it’s an XFR-S, that’s when. So while this vehicle may look like your standard supercharged sedan, it’s actually a British rocket aimed – in a bit of role reversal – squarely at Germany.
Spied undergoing development work at Jaguar’s test center near the Nürburgring, this test mule looks pretty much like the XFR you can already get from your local Jag dealer. But our sources on the ground tell us it sounds more like the , the 550-horsepowersuper-coupe seen running alongside it.
Though the prototype pictured lacks the exterior visual cues that would go along with the anticipated engine swap, the telltale exhaust bellow tells us the likes of the and had better take notice.
Wagon enthusiasts, rejoice. Late last year, confirmed that its curvy (pictured) had been , and now, Automotive News reports that a smaller version is in the works, as well.
Recently, we showed you – a four-door coupe based off of the platform that will underpin the automaker’s and vehicles. Like the standard four-door CLC, the shooting brake will be offered with a range of direct-injected, four-cylinder engines (likely with turbochargers), and will be available in both front- and all-wheel drive. Makes sense, since the larger CLS five-door will use the same powertrains from the sedan it is based off of, including the delicious version.
Look for the CLC shooting brake to arrive in North America sometime in 2014. The CLC sedan is expected to go on sale sometime in 2013.
It’s loud, powerful and wears the three-pointed star up front. Sure, that could describe the host of Mercedes-Benz’s AMG cars, but in this case, we’re talking about the latest hotness: the . This performance two-door keeps popping up in videos to tantalize our senses, and now, has hired a pair of stunt drivers for a trio of new clips that show the sports coupe engaging in fan-approved activities.
The German automaker reached out to its fans on Facebook, who then decided on what stunts they wanted to see the C63 AMG Coupe perform. The first shows how the C63 AMG Coupe can be used to link drifts together to form a figure eight. Said figure eight happens to occur within close proximity to a pair of C63 sedans. In the second clip, a stunt driver threads the needle between a pair of parked sedans, and he does so while moving fairly quickly… in reverse. Lastly, the final clip appears fairly tame at first glance, as both stunt drivers intersect each other at high speeds. However, the timing has to be just right for that maneuver or Mercedes would have to send out a cleaning crew to pick up tiny bits of sports car from the ground.
We’ve got all three clips, idling loudly for you .
originally appeared on on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our .
No, this isn’t a mule for the next-next-generation . What you’re looking at here is another “four-door coupe” for the Silver Arrow lineup – codenamed C117 – that will probably come to life as the CLC-Class.
These photos are a bit deceiving, since the added black cladding does add some extra heft to the vehicle’s shape, but believe us when we say that this thing is smaller than you think. In fact, it’s said to be based on a slightly longer version of the new platform that will underpin the refreshed and hatchbacks.
Our spies indicate that the car will be offered in front- and all-wheel-drive configurations, and that an AMG version is likely be in the works, producing over 300 horsepower. For the standard car, we’re told that both gasoline and diesel versions will be available, with output numbers ranging anywhere from about 110 to 150 horsepower. Both a seven-speed dual-clutch and six-speed manual transmission are expected to be offered.
Look for the CLC to bow sometime in 2012 with the car actually hitting showrooms in 2013.
It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about the . That could be because the current model dates back to 2003, undergoing the facelift we know today back in 2008. But now we’ve got news, and it’s a mixed bag of good and bad.
The bad news first: word is, Mercedes is discontinuing the twelve-cylinder versions of the SL. The SL600 was the first to be phased out, and now it appears the SL65 AMG is getting the axe as well. There’s no word yet on whether or not that includes the hardcore, fixed-roof .
The good news, however, is that phasing out of the V12 roadsters could signal the imminent arrival of the next-gen SL. That’s expected to show up sometime next year as a 2013 model, and will come as good news for SL buyers as the current model has lived longer than anything in the Mercedes-Benz range this side of the .
is set to reveal its all-new at September’s , and while we only have of what the exterior design will look like, the automaker is now giving us our first glimpse inside the luxury hatchback. Not surprisingly, the cockpit is exactly what you’d expect in a compact Mercedes-Benz – nothing earth-shattering, but certainly packed with upscale amenities and looking decidedly rich for what should be Benz’s least costly offering in North America.
Everything appears to be very simple and well laid out, with the radio, HVAC and COMAND controls nicely separated from one another. And if that steering wheel looks familiar, it’s because it’s the same one found in the new-for-2012 . Mercedes says that the B-Class’ cabin can be fitted with high-end materials, too, including ARTICO man-made leather on the dashboard. (What, no Designo interior package?). We also note the charismatic round air vents that mimic those fitted to the , suggesting that this form will spread throughout the entire Mercedes lineup going forward.
We’ll have exterior images to go along with these interior shots closer to the car’s Frankfurt debut. For now, get a feel for what it’s like to be behind the wheel of a B-Class in our high-res image gallery and for Merc’s press release.
There’s a good reason why Formula One teams make two cars with one seat each instead of one car with two seats. Well, there are a lot of good reasons, actually, one of which is being that F1 drivers don’t like riding shotgun, something that is immediately apparent after watching this video.
Even when in preparation for the last weekend on the neighboring circuit, they gave each driver his own car, even though they each packed five seats. Now it’s time for to take its turn, bringing its own talents to the storied Green Hell for a little fun and publicity footage.
After Michael Schumacher took his junior teammate Nico Rosberg around the legendary track for a quick tour, it was Rosberg’s turn to chauffeur his employer’s , David Coulthard, for a hot lap in the . This, despite the fact that Rosberg had never driven the circuit before. Good thing DC only found out that particular bit of information after the lap was done.
to watch the video, and if you pay close attention towards the beginning, you just might notice Coulthard getting in little dig on his longtime rival Schumacher.
Though today the letters stand for power and performance, if you go back four decades, almost nobody had ever heard of a tuning garage called AMG. That was until the tuner showed up at the 1971 running of the 24 Hours of Spa with… a luxury sedan. But not just any luxury sedan.
AMG took the 300 SEL 6.3, complete with wood dash and carpeted floors, bored it out to 6.8 liters and raised output up to 428 horsepower and 448 lb-ft of torque. With a top speed of 164 mph, the car qualified fifth out of sixty entries and went on to place first in its class and second overall, beating the likes of Niki Lauda and Hans Stuck. It was a pivotal moment that put AMG on the map.
Hans Heyer was one of the three drivers who alternated behind the wheel of the car dubbed the “Red Pig” that fateful day. And now forty years later, his son Kenneth Heyer is returning to Spa in a GT3 in matching livery to the original. It’s a trip down the memory lane of AMG’s history – though – reuniting one of its first race cars to its most recent, seven of which, all told, will be contesting the Belgian endurance race this weekend. Scope it out in our high-res image gallery and follow the jump for more details in the full press release.
You’d expect a car labeled Black Edition to actually be, you know…black. Whether it’s , or . But then again Mercedes-AMG’s top line of performance models are called the , and you can get those in any color you want. So maybe it’s a page out of that playbook that has taken with its latest special edition.
Mazda’s latest specials are available exclusively in the UK, and celebrate the success of the MX-5 GT race car. It’s available on both the hardtop roadster and the five-door hatch, and while either can be ordered in green, red or white, it’s the black trim on everything from the roof to the wheels that sets them apart and gives them their name.
Only 500 examples of the MX-5 Sport Black shown above will be offered, while the Mazda2 Black will give birth to 618 offspring, each packing all the bells and whistles to go along with the darkened trim. Details in the press release after the jump, with images in the high-res gallery.
We’ve never heard a demon clear its throat, but we’re pretty sure that the engineers at have. How else could they create a menacing machine that produces the noises emanating from the ?
Road & Track snagged the keys to an example of the devilish new 510-horsepower superstar, and, fortunately for us, they brought along a camera. The following clip doesn’t show smokey powerslides, meaty burnouts or high-speed passes. In fact, the C63 AMG isn’t even moving. The Black Series coupe merely sits still and belches forth an evil tone that incites visions of what’s in store once you move the shift lever into drive.
for the clip.
C63 AMG Black Series sounds like the heart of darkness
Over the course of fourteen years in Formula 1, David Coulthard drove for only a handful of teams: Williams, McLaren and Red Bull. Championship-frontrunning teams all, but arguably no single manufacturer has been as influential on his life and career as .
Coulthard was reportedly driven home from the hospital upon his birth in his father’s Merc. Years later, the German automaker would power him to a dozen grand prix wins at McLaren. And now that he’s retired from F1, Coulthard is driving an in the DTM series.
Of course, that’s not all he’s been up to since leaving F1 behind, reporting on camera for the BBC’s grand prix coverage team and acting as an adviser of sorts to the Red Bull team he helped form back in 2004. And now he can add one more, as reports indicate he’s been brought on as something of a brand ambassador for AMG in the UK, bringing it all back to the Silver Star automaker and joining fellow DTM driver Bernd Schneider.
In his new capacity, DC is expected to help out at public relations events for Mercedes-AMG, but he’s also tipped to get more deeply involved in setting up the suspensions on the company’s line of notoriously sturdy vehicles, helping to adjust them for UK roads in particular. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt if AMG muscle cars benefited from DC and his thirteen grand prix victories’ worth of experience here in the colonies, either. for the official press release.
The only Black Series type of treatment that really grabbed and wrung out our hearts and minds so far was the ultra-hot CLK DTM AMG back in 2005, which – technically – was pre-Black Series. Fine. All the Black Series models that came after should have been more hardcore instead of the mildly up-done aesthetic exercises versus their standard AMG-badged counterparts.
Then, we got our first glimpse at the newest Black Series hotness during our recent drive day in southern France with the lineup. It’s the Black Series – the most powerful Vitamin C ever from Stuttgart and Affalterbach – that will do all it can to make us forget about our holy experiences in the GTS and . Tough acts to follow, Herr Daimler.
C63 AMG Black Series Coupe revealed in all its splendor
