Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Folks, it's time for our weekly car care tip: Use upholstery cleaners on soiled seats.
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The same upholstery cleaners you use at home can be used on your car’s upholstery. Use them sparingly, however, to avoid saturating the fabric. Use a clean cloth to wipe away the foam. On velour seats, brush the fibers gently to avoid matting them and to preserve the original texture of the fabric.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
2013 Mercedes GLK Hits US Roads With New Safety Features
Mercedes-Benz is bringing a host of updates to the 2013 GLK Sport Utility including an updated appearance, new standard safety features and for the first time in the U.S., a diesel option.
With the first units hitting the States this week, the company issued a release with complete details about what’s new on the GLK line, despite having shown it in New York last April.
Sporting a new direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 with 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, the GLK 350 will be the first to sell in showrooms. Early next year, the first will be joined by a fuel-efficient second: the GLK 250 BlueTEC which uses a 2.1-liter diesel engine.
Both SUVs will feature new standard safety equipment and will be available with additional safety options as well. Mercedes’ “attention assist” system will come in all models and offers to sense when someone is falling asleep at the wheel and prevent it. The brand’s adaptive cruise control system is also available for the first time on the GLK and can stop the car from speeds up to 125 mph and resume acceleration.
Other features you might expect on a Mercedes are also newly available like lane keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring and active parking assistance.
Unfortunately, the most intriguing part about the 2013 model year is still unavailable: EPA estimates for the diesel version, though that’s not very surprising because it isn’t for sale yet.
Source: AutoGuide
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
45 years of AMG: anniversary marks the start of a new era - 45 years of AMG: growth with performance
As part of the anniversary marking "45 years of AMG", Mercedes-AMG is providing an exclusive glimpse of the highlights of the A 45 AMG. With the powerful new top-of-the-range A-Class model, the performance brand from Mercedes-Benz is marking the start of a new era. For the first time in the 45-year history of the company, AMG will offer an exciting high-performance vehicle in the compact class. The A 45 AMG is representative of the ambitious future strategy entitled "AMG Performance 50", leading up to the 50th anniversary of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Based on a unique model offensive comprising additional high-performance compact cars as well as a number of AMG cars in higher classes featuring highly efficient drive systems, the company from Affalterbach is giving out clear signals for dynamic growth. And the offensive is all set to get under way this summer with new models including the SLS AMG GT and the GL 63 AMG.
The AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine specially developed for the A 45 AMG is expected to set new standards in its displacement class: with maximum torque significantly above 400 Nm and low consumption levels, AMG is aiming to take the leading position among the competition. "Our goal is to build the most dynamic, most powerful and at the same time most efficient four-cylinder series production compact car. Together with other future high-performance compact cars, the new A 45 AMG will embody exclusive dynamism and the "AMG Performance 50" growth strategy. With this passionate commitment to what for us is a new vehicle segment, Mercedes-AMG plans to make a significant contribution to the growth of Mercedes-Benz Cars", according to Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
Perfect power transmission is ensured in the A 45 AMG thanks to the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission with dual clutch technology and performance-oriented all-wheel drive. The ideal basis for high cornering speeds and exciting, agile handling also comes courtesy of the AMG sports suspension with independently developed front and rear axles, electromechanical AMG speed-sensitive sports steering, AMG high-performance braking system and 3-stage ESP® with "SPORT Handling" mode.
Driving performance for the new generation – world premiere in the
first quarter of 2013
first quarter of 2013
With the new A 45 AMG - the top-of-the-range Mercedes-Benz A-Class model – Mercedes-AMG is addressing a new target group: falling within an age range from 30 up to around 45, the target group is younger than the classic AMG customer. Professionally successful and independent, these customers are looking for a compact, dynamic and individual vehicle. They want to express their stylish, trend-oriented lifestyle with a car from a recognised performance brand. By being available at an attractive price, the A 45 AMG will appeal to prospective new customers and help to open up new markets.
The A 45 AMG will celebrate its world premiere in the first quarter of 2013. Further AMG high-performance compact cars with a variety of different characteristic features are already in the pipeline and will follow on the heels of the A 45 AMG. When it came to the development of the compact Mercedes-Benz vehicle architecture for front and all-wheel drive, Mercedes-AMG has been involved from the very beginning. The most dynamic versions of the A-Class, namely the A 250 Sport and the A 220 CDI Sport – both "engineered by AMG" – currently already feature a front axle developed by AMG as well as a correspondingly tuned suspension, AMG 5-spoke light-alloy wheels with 235/40 R 18 tyres all round, painted in high-gloss black and with a high-sheen finish, and also red-painted brake callipers. The "Sport" designation is always used to characterise the most dynamic model series versions in the Mercedes-Benz product range.
Even more future AMG models with all-wheel drive
All-wheel drive is set to play a bigger role at Mercedes-AMG in the future too – being offered not just for SUVs and off-road vehicles, but also for other AMG high-performance vehicles. Mercedes-AMG currently has four all-wheel-drive models in its range: the ML 63 AMG, the G 63 AMG, the G 65 AMG and the GL 63 AMG. To mark the start of the new era, in 2013 the new A 45 AMG will be launched with a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system as standard.
Consistent growth strategy: "AMG Performance 50"
AMG is enjoying strong demand for its vehicles, particularly in its three largest markets where the performance brand has witnessed extremely dynamic growth in the past year. Sales have increased by seven percent in the USA, 15 percent in Germany and almost 50 percent in China.
This growth is continuing in 2012. In the first quarter of the year AMG recorded growth of more than 30 percent, making it the best first quarter in the company's history. As a result AMG is looking to continue its consistent growth beyond 2012 and to make a significant contribution to the sales achieved by Mercedes-Benz Cars. Based on the ambitious future strategy entitled "AMG Performance 50", in the coming years AMG will be launching further unique high-performance models. According to Ola Källenius: "We have decided to expand our model range from its current level of 22 vehicles to around 30 vehicles in the future. We are looking to increase our global sales, which today stand at around 20,000 vehicles, to more than 30,000 vehicles by the time of our 50th anniversary, and thereby assert our leading position in this exclusive segment." In addition to the new performance compact car, the SLS AMG GT and the GL 63 AMG, in the future the S-Class segment will play an even greater role at AMG. The current offering comprising the S 63 AMG and S 65 AMG, as well as the CL 63 AMG and CL 65 AMG, will be extended further over the coming years.
To meet the increasing demand, AMG is also expanding its production capacity accordingly. As a result, the new AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine will be produced at the Mercedes-Benz MDC Power engine production plant in Kölleda. This is where four-cylinder engines for the A- and B-Class are normally produced, and a specific assembly line is being set up for the new AMG engine. Of course the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engines will also be produced in line with the traditional AMG philosophy of "one man, one engine". A characteristic feature of this production principle is the AMG engine badge bearing the signature of the responsible engineer.
Around 350 AMG Performance Centers by the 50th anniversary of Mercedes-AMG GmbH
The "AMG Performance 50" growth strategy also includes opening up new dynamic markets. AMG see significant potential for increasing demand in countries such as China, Russia, Korea and Brazil. Playing a central role as part of this strategy are the AMG Performance Centers: some 270 Centers have been opened in 24 countries around the globe since 2008, and there are plans to increase this number to around 350 Performance Centers by 2017. A current example for the regional growth strategy is China: the new AMG Performance Center Beijing Sanlitun opened on 22 April 2012 is situated in an exclusive prime location in the luxury Sanlitun Village North shopping mall, and reflects the pioneering role played by AMG when it comes to design and technology in a modern setting. Unlike previously, the new store in Beijing is not integrated into a Mercedes-Benz dealership as part of a "shop-in-shop" system. Instead, it is based on a so-called standalone concept, and focuses exclusively on the products and features of the AMG performance brand.
Expansion of the excellent service quality enjoyed by all AMG customers
An important part of the "AMG Performance 50" dynamic growth strategy is the expansion of the excellent service quality enjoyed by all AMG customers. With immediate effect, more intensive customer care will allow for vehicles to be collected direct from the AMG headquarters – where AMG customers can learn all about the spirit of Affalterbach in the AMG theme area. In a new, 360-square-metre delivery hall, AMG customers can now take receipt of their new high-performance vehicle direct from AMG.
After being welcomed by a personal customer service attendant in the AMG Private Lounge, which was opened in 2011, the programme comprises an exclusive tour of the plant. This also includes a visit to the AMG Performance Studio, where individual and one-off AMG vehicles are developed and produced in limited numbers. This is followed by a tour of the AMG engine production facility: here AMG customers have the unique opportunity to meet the engineers who have produced the engine of their high-performance vehicle by hand in accordance with the traditional philosophy "one man, one engine".
"AMG Performance 50" helps to reduce fleet consumption
Another goal of "AMG Performance 50" is the consistent reduction of fleet consumption. According to Ola Källenius: "By the 50th anniversary of AMG, we want to achieve CO2 emissions of around 200 grams per kilometre for the entire AMG model range. Our new AMG compact cars will of course help us to achieve this ambitious plan, but we are also aiming for a significant reduction in fuel consumption for other model series too. Many AMG models are currently already the "best in class" when it comes to consumption, emissions, maximum performance and torque. Our success is based on state-of-the-art technology."
Acting as a role model in this area is the SLK 55 AMG. The eight-cylinder roadster incorporates Formula 1 technology for the road. It uses the world's most fuel-efficient V8 engine which features the newly developed AMG Cylinder Management cylinder shut-off system. Adapted from the world of Formula 1, this technology enables the SLK 55 AMG to achieve a fuel consumption level which at 8.4 litres is 30% lower, and CO2 emissions of 195 grams per kilometre (NEDC combined). The technology is used in a similar way in the approx. 750 hp Mercedes-Benz V8 engines found in Formula 1. As efficiency also plays a major role at the pinnacle of motor racing, four cylinders are disabled by shutting off the fuel injection when the driver has lower load demands.
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-CELL is further proof of the pioneering role played by Mercedes-AMG in the development of intelligent drive concepts. The drivetrain with high-voltage lithium-ion battery for the new SLS AMG E-CELL is produced in cooperation with experts from Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth in the UK. The SLS AMG E-CELL will celebrate its premiere this autumn at the Paris Motor Show. Mercedes-AMG will be launching a series production run of the first purely electric driven super sports car, and the first customers are expected to take delivery of this gullwing model with electric drive in 2013.
Both the SLS AMG E-CELL and the V8 engine with cylinder shut-off system in the SLK 55 AMG are examples of the goal to achieve a sustainable improvement in efficiency and a reduction in fleet consumption.
"AMG Lightweight Performance" design strategy
A further building block adopted from the world of motorsport is in the area of lightweight construction - less weight means better performance and lower fuel consumption. As part of its ambitious "AMG Lightweight Performance" lightweight construction strategy, Mercedes-AMG will continue to apply consistent measures to reduce vehicle weight. Through their experience with the SLR, the AMG Black Series vehicles and in motorsport, Mercedes-Benz and AMG have accumulated more than 10 years of expertise in working with carbon-fibre materials.
AMG currently makes the propshaft for the SLS AMG, for example, out of carbon fibre. In the SLS Roadster, the supporting structure for the draught-stop is made as standard as a carbon-fibre sandwich structure. This component, with extremely short cycle times in an industrially oriented manufacturing process, already demonstrates what will be possible in the future. Carbon-fibre is also used in the SLS AMG E-CELL: the carbon-fibre monocoque for the battery is an integral part of the body shell and connected to the aluminium spaceframe.
In the case of the SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG, for the first time the internal support for the boot lid is mass-produced from a lightweight carbon-fibre composite material. A completely new feature is the carbon-fibre rear panel with roll-over bar, available from the AMG Performance Studio as an exclusive optional extra for the C 63 AMG Coupé AMG Black Series. The high-strength, elegantly designed carbon-fibre component forms an integral part of the body and helps to reduce the vehicle weight by more than seven kilograms compared with a regular rear panel made of sheet steel.
Future strategy for all V12 engines lies with Mercedes-AMG
In the future, both the development responsibility as well as the production competence for all Mercedes-Benz-brand V12 engines will lie with Mercedes-AMG. Currently AMG produces the M 279 AMG 6.0-litre V12 biturbo engine motor for the S 65 AMG, CL 65 AMG, SL 65 AMG and G 65 AMG. In the future, all twelve-cylinder engines for upcoming Mercedes models will be developed in Affalterbach, and manufactured in the AMG production facility in accordance with the traditional philosophy "one man, one engine".
AMG Sports package as a factor of success
A further component of the "AMG Performance 50" growth strategy is the consistent enhancement of the AMG Sports package. This dynamic optional extra is available for numerous Mercedes models and includes such attractive options as AMG bodystyling, AMG light-alloy wheels and the AMG sports suspension. The continually increasing demand for the AMG Sports package has induced Mercedes-AMG to enhance the range further. Currently around 25 percent of all Mercedes vehicles worldwide are delivered with the AMG Sports package – in 2011 alone more than 300,000 customers opted for a Mercedes-Benz with the AMG Sports package.
An attractive entry into the world of AMG is currently already afforded by the A 250 Sport and the A 220 CDI Sport, as well as the special variants of the C-Class, the C 250 Sport and C 250 CDI Sport, in whose development the performance specialists of AMG have been consistently involved. In addition to the visually enhanced AMG Sports package Plus, both models comprise a host of technical features developed exclusively by AMG to increase driving pleasure.
AMG Driving Academy on the road to success
The AMG Driving Academy also focuses on providing an intensive experience. The wide-ranging programme of events, which is being continually expanded, not only meets the most diverse requirements but also represents the very embodiment of pure excitement. Events on offer include enjoyment-oriented EMOTION tours, special winter driving training sessions in Swedish Lapland and exciting events on legendary racing circuits such as the North Loop of the Nürburgring, the Hockenheimring or Zandvoort. A particular highlight is the MASTERS programme, at which participants are able to drive the SLS AMG GT3, the racing version of the gullwing model. Participants who are resident in Germany also have the chance to acquire a national DMSB (German Motorsport Federation) driver's licence.
All of the AMG Driving Academy's events in Europe represent the perfect combination of driving pleasure and environmental awareness. The quantity of CO2 emissions of a Driving Academy event is determined on the basis of its so-called "carbon footprint" and this can be offset by involvement in climate protection projects. AMG Driving Academy training events now take place in Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Spain, as well as the USA, China and India. Based on increasing customer interest, Mercedes-AMG is currently working on expanding the programme to such markets as Australia, Japan, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, the AMG Driving Academy also offers tailor-made events for corporate customers as well as a variety of other different markets. Demand is constantly on the increase and reflects the impressive success story which the AMG Driving Academy has enjoyed. In 2011 more than 7000 participants attended an AMG Driving Academy event – and this trend is on the up.
Motorsport serves as a source of inspiration for the AMG engineers
AMG was founded in 1967 by Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, and from the very outset has achieved numerous successes in the field of motorsport. Today, as in the past, a commitment to the race track continues to form the brand's main source of inspiration. The former two-man company currently employs a workforce of more than 1000 at its plant in Affalterbach, and over the past 45 years has become the technological spearhead and a one hundred percent subsidiary of Daimler AG. The professionalism of Mercedes-Benz's performance brand is defined by its pursuit of high performance, precision and efficiency. As the first vehicle developed independently by Mercedes-AMG, the SLS AMG super sports car unveiled in 2009 proves to impressive effect the competence and passion which exists at the company headquarters in Affalterbach. The AMG brand promise of "Driving Performance" stands for state-of-the-art technology and pure driving excitement.
With its roots seated firmly in motorsport, the AMG performance brand has been at home on the race track for decades – from its position as the most successful brand in the history of the DTM, through to its global commitment to customer motorsport at the highest level with the SLS AMG GT3. Having secured 26 victories and the FIA GT3 European championship, the SLS AMG GT3 was the most successful newcomer in the 2011 motorsports season. When it comes to Formula 1, AMG has been an official partner for 17 years, and has been helping to ensure that safety is maintained on the racing circuits by providing the Official F1™ Safety Car and the Official F1™ Medical Car since 1996. And since the start of 2012 the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team with Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher has also been lining up on the starting grid too.
Source: Daimler
Monday, June 18, 2012
How to pack smart for a road trip
Going to take a road trip? Fantastic.
Before you hit the road it's key to plan -- carefully and thoroughly. Things like a true budget is vital, although a special “indulge” is permissible (but keep it sensible).
Also important is what you take, as you don't want to have to buy what you forget at home. How you pack it in your vehicle (car, truck van, mini-bus, you name it) is vital. The good news is whether it is a trip alone or with many there is a packing format.
Here are some tips I have learned along the way:
Bag It
Individual bags are packed or perhaps you choose individual plastic boxes with an individual small duffle bag for daily “things”. Daily items such as tooth brush, tooth paste, etc. Label each “container’ with masking tape. You remember today, tomorrow but not in a few days. Put each person’s bags and items in separate piles by the door. Departure time is close! When you pack the car, keep in individual piles rather than just tossing into a heap. Packing space is never enough.
Access to the Vitals
Easy access, a separate bag/box with medical supplies is important, ie: band-aids, Neosporin, bug spray, sun screen, scissors, tweezers, Pepto Bismol, Milk Magnesia. You know the things that you don’t need daily but when you do they are worth a king’s ransom.
Front Seaters
A couple of large towels- under front seats, back seats - will have multi purposes: as a blanket, cover for items in car, beach, and such.
In front, thermos bag for those “I’m hungry” snacks (15 minutes after lunch), bottled water and soft drinks. Frozen ice paks are good if feasible. Real ice can get a little messy, but it can work. Plastic bags of several sizes can be so helpful especially the middle size for unexpected tummy happenings. A roll of paper towels – in front area will be used more than you expect. Always in your pocket, have a few folded paper towels. Never can tell, but the multi-use Duck tape if needed can be a treasure. A zillion good places to store it -even with medical supplies. Pillows-placed conveniently are a very useful must-haves.
Secret Space
There is a nice amount of space under the seats, so use it. Tightly rolled rain parkas, flashlight, and such can fit nicely. Another nice space is [usually] in the door which is perfect for umbrella, hand sanitizer, napkins, etc.
A large plastic pill bottle- preferably with dark sides – is perfect for coins, be they for tolls, newspapers, etc. Lottery! In a semi clandestine area, like taped under glove compartment, but not so hidden it can be seen if looked for – an emergency card with contact numbers [written with a permanent ink pen] just in case.
If you have OnStar or a GPS, of course, they have their perches, but real maps, should be marked and folded BEFORE leaving for easy reading –not by the driver while driving. NO!
If your vehicle has a middle console, this can be a perfect place for more items: Cell phone car charger, reservation confirmation data with phone numbers, small amount of monies [just in case], camera, and such.
The pockets in back of seats are useful for toys, books, pencils and such, especially the individual spiral notebooks [I recommend] that each has for their road trip memories. These will become keepsakes, even if they are a little hard to decipher.
There is a lot of useable space and if you use it wisely and carefully you will be surprise how much you can fit in the nooks and crannies of a vehicle. Speaking of “space” don’t squish passengers, or parcels.
Keep a List
As you carefully and excitedly pack your car, consider making an inventory or directory of boxes/bags and such. So helpful. Take a picture of what your car looks like packed as you start your trip and then what it looks like when you return home.
No matter how or what you pack, road trips are wonderful, therapeutic, rejuvenating, rewarding, surprisingly special. Enjoy.
Stay safe. Plan another.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 First Drive
Island vacations are usually not our thing, but while driving the redesigned 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 around Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, we have a change of heart.
Tenerife's coastline is jammed with mega beach resorts, most of them packed with German tourists. But hidden away from the tropical beaches we find Mount Teide, the third largest volcano in the world, and home to some really good driving roads.
Earlier Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class convertibles weren't known for their abilities on back roads, and we certainly wouldn't tell you that the third generation of Benz's baby hardtop convertible is some kind of Boxster substitute. However, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 is capable in its own way, and we easily dodge the occasional tourist in a rental minicar.
More impressive than the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350's hatchback avoidance capability, though, is its out-and-out refinement. It offers a level of ride compliance that eludes its main competition, plus a well-designed and versatile retractable hardtop.
Still Small and a Bit Sportier
An SLS-inspired nose identifies the latest incarnation of the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class. It's enough to make the locals gawk, although it's hardly a radical departure from the previous design. Underneath its evolved bodywork there's a new chassis based on the latest W204 version of the C-Class platform architecture.
This is still a much smaller car than the C-Class sedan, as the 2012 SLK retains the outgoing model's 95.7-inch wheelbase. The SLK350's track grows barely an inch to 61.4 inches in front and 61.8 inches in back. It's also 1.2 inches longer from its snub nose to its shapelier tail and just over half an inch wider at 71.3 inches. The curb weight has edged up about 80 pounds.
The basic suspension design is the same as before, with struts and a couple lower links in front and a multilink rear. One improvement, says Dr. Rudiger Rütz, senior manager of driving dynamics, is a more direct-motion ratio for the 2012 SLK's slightly thicker rear stabilizer bar to help reduce body roll.
Mercedes engineers also increased both compression and rebound damping, and U.S. models will have our European-spec SLK350 tester's optional adaptive dampers as standard. Additionally, all U.S.-bound 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLKs will have a sport-tuned suspension calibration, while the standard European setup will be less aggressive and ride slightly higher. Eighteen-inch wheels are standard, and they'll be fitted with Continental ContiSportContact 5 tires measuring 225/40R18 front and 245/35R18 rear.
Adapts to Its Environment
The 2012 SLK convertible retains its predecessor's passive variable-ratio steering, which simply uses gear teeth that are variably spaced on the steering rack. The on-center ratio is 14.5:1, and it quickens by a total of 30 percent by the time you reach full lock. It works particularly well on Tenerife's tight mountain passes, tidying up our inputs in decreasing-radius turns.
The brake rotors are larger this year, with 13.5-inch discs up front and 11.8-inch discs in back (versus 13 and 11.4, respectively, in 2011). Pedal feel is excellent as we hammer around some tight winding roads.
A new cornering brake control system is new to the SLK-Class for 2012. We notice it working through those same tight corners as it brakes the inside rear wheel to bring our SLK350's nose around as we get back on the throttle. Of course, there's still a lot of weight up front, so if you start driving like you're not on vacation, you'll eventually get noticeable understeer.
Dr. Rütz tells us, "The optimal SLK for driving is the SLK250 with the 18-inch wheel/tire package." It may only have a 201-horsepower turbocharged and direct-injected 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, but the SLK250 is nearly 100 pounds lighter, he notes. Unfortunately, it's the SLK we never got a chance to drive.
Better V6, Same Seven-Speed Automatic
It's OK, though, because with the adoption of direct injection, the 3.5-liter V6 is finally good enough to justify the SLK350's price tag. The horsepower gain is slight — 302 at 6,500 rpm versus 300 for 2011 — but the torque comes together earlier and lasts longer. Formerly, it peaked at 265 pound-feet at 4,900 rpm, and now you have 273 lb-ft from 3,500-5,250 rpm.
Although Mercedes isn't predicting any improvement in 0-60-mph acceleration (5.4 seconds is the claim), this V6 is more likable on an unquantifiable level. It sounds sweet and feels responsive as we merge onto Tenerife's coastal loop highway. With the ample midrange torque, we scarcely notice the lower redline, now 6,800 rpm instead of 7,200.
Mercedes engineers will make one key modification to the direct-injected V6 for the U.S. market: The European version uses stratified-charge combustion in low-load situations up to 3,800 rpm. Ours will not, and it'll be 10 percent less fuel-efficient as a result. Mercedes engineers tell us it's because of the higher sulfur content in U.S. gasoline, which would destroy the NOx catalyst on the stratified-charge V6.
A seven-speed automatic transmission drives the rear wheels of every 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350; if you're among the three people in America who desire a manual-shift SLK, wait for the SLK250. Gear ratios are unchanged on the SLK350's seven-speed, though the final drive is slightly taller at 3.07:1 versus 3.27 previously. Engineers have made various improvements to this transmission to reduce torque-converter slip and frictional losses.
Our Euro-spec test car's transmission has an additional electric oil pump to lubricate the clutches when the start-stop function engages in Eco mode. Start-stop is a nonintrusive affair in the SLK350, but it doesn't matter: No U.S.-bound SLK will have the start-stop feature.
Even so, our 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 will consume less fuel than the 2011 model. Mercedes predicts a 20 city/29 highway mpg rating compared to 18/26 on the 2011 SLK350. On the flip side, the seven-speed will serve up some pretty aggressive downshifts in Sport mode, but will not rev-match them like the dual-clutch gearbox in the BMW Z4.
Magic Roof, Clement Cabin
Mercedes will offer three different roof options on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 convertible. If you're straitlaced and frugal, there's the standard, all-metal retractable roof. There are two options on top of that: a sun-reflecting, panoramic glass roof, and what Mercedes calls its Magic Sky Control roof, which lets you create your own partial solar eclipse in the car.
Of course, it's not magic at all, but a real-life application of a plate capacitor: On the SLK, a bunch of crystals are suspended in fluid between two glass panels. When you apply a 120-watt charge to the unit, the crystals align and allow sunlight to pass through. Cut the electricity and the crystals disperse randomly, partially blocking the transmission of light and, on warm days, reducing air-conditioner load.
As the rain becomes a downpour, we raise the roof on our 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 and immediately find ourselves talking to our passenger about absolutely nothing just to fill the uncomfortable silence — it's that quiet. We drop the roof again, even though it's barely 50 degrees, because between the AirScarf system (which we've determined is overkill if you've donned an analog scarf), the industrial seat heaters and the fixed-glass wind blocker, you can basically change your climate to suit.
Our car did not have the new Airguide pivoting wind-blocker panels, but if you have a magic roof and a simulated scarf, you might as well have the wind blocker do your bidding as well.
For a Car Guy's Day Off
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 goes on sale in the U.S. this June priced within 2 percent of the 2011 model, we're told, and will be followed by the SLK250 in February 2012 (it replaces the SLK300) and, later in 2012, the SLK55 AMG (nope, not the SLK63).
So we'll have to wait awhile for the V8 version, but for now this new SLK handles better than its predecessor, accelerates with more fervor and offers yet more of the cutting-edge amenities that made it the original 365-day convertible. No, the SLK350 isn't the most engaging two-seat convertible in the world, but it's one of the most comfortable. It's not quite a full GT, yet it's certainly more than a minimalist roadster.
That might sound like faint praise, but this is a niche vehicle. Mercedes sold fewer than 2,000 SLKs in the U.S. in 2010, so chances are good that the company will find at least that many buyers with this updated car. They won't be giving up their Boxsters this time either, but they will be getting a car that makes an everyday drive feel like being on vacation.
Source: Insideline
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The E Class is among Edmund's 10 Best Road Trip Convertibles
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The E-Class Cabriolet provides the sleek top-down style you expect from a convertible without compromising daily utility. While every convertible promises open-air fun in the sun, the E-Class' available Airscarf system warms the head and neck area of the driver and front passenger for supremely delightful top-down jaunts under the stars.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Folks, happy Monday! It’s time for our weekly car care tip - Inspect wheel-well splash guards:
These guards, however flimsy on many of today’s cars, help keep water and winter’s salty slush from splashing up into the engine compartment, where it can damage sensitive electrical components. Unfortunately, these guards tear off easily — sometimes without the driver knowing it. Check for damage to these guards when you wash your car. Re-secure with the appropriate fasteners or replace as needed. As added protection from splashed-up muck, slush, and debris, install mud flaps (also called splash guards) on your vehicle.
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