2013 GL-Class Walk Around with Roger Federer -- New 7-Passenger Luxury SUV

AMG to Engineer All Mercedes V12 Engines

V12 engines are known for many reasons, not least the obscene power that they can put out. Mercedes has often used these luxury powerhouses in flagship models to create hugely fast yet refined vehicles. In the face of increased pressure from the economically minded however, V12s are becoming increasingly rare. Reducing engine size seems to be a current trend too, with the A45 having only a turbocharged 2.0 liter.

Fortunately, Mercedes have confirmed that these ultimate engines will remain in the line-up, and have announced their continuation for the time being. At the same time however, the luxury automaker has decided not to develop or produce their own V12s. But fear not, they will instead be outsourced to performance obsessed AMG.

Now that can’t be a bad thing. AMG already have considerable V12 experience, with the engines being used in the AMG engineered SL65, S65, CL65 and G65. AMG also supply a 12-cylinder for the Pagani Huayra. All are incredible cars, so we’re not worried. In fact, it’s exciting. All of these engines produce upwards of 600bhp and enormous amounts of torque, so it’s unlikely any of the V12s produced will be much less powerful than that.

The move makes sense, as the number of all-Mercedes models sporting a V12 is currently very thin on the ground. There are also indications that some smaller supercar manufacturers might want to use AMG’s V12 in their future concepts. With the new AMG inspired C-Class Coupes proving very popular too, some are suggesting that AMG might be playing a bigger role in the Mercedes line-up in the future.

While the current crop of V12 cars carry a hefty price tag, the reluctance of many to buy a car with a large engine means that second-hand V12s are a very realistic proposition.

The first car to use an AMG made V12 in the standard Mercedes line-up is likely to be the upcoming S600, which is expected out in the next year or two. It will probably feature a detuned version of the current 6.0 litre bi-turbo V12.

The V12 is dead. Long live the V12.

Source: Benzinsider

2012 E63 AMG by Modern Horsepower Sets Record

 

Modern Horsepower has proven itself to be a powerhouse among other Mercedes Benz & AMG tuners in recent history by adding another World Record to it’s belt.   The world record was this time set in their project 2012 E63 AMG (M157 BiTurbo V8). The World’s Quickest M157 in MHP S2 trim ran the 60-130mph split in 7.71 seconds, defeating the previous M157 record holder at 7.99 seconds by a significant .28 seconds as certified and recorded on 6speedonline.  Official 60-130mph List–the industry’s benchmark for credible and verifiable VBox data. For frame of reference that’s three hundreds of a second quicker than the Ferrari F458 that runs it in 7.74 seconds, despite it carrying 1100lbs less mass. Additional perspective can be provided by reviewing a few other notable times: Lamborghini LP640: 7.85 seconds, 2012 Nissan GT-R: 9.4 seconds, with Porsche’s Panamera TT, a direct competitor to the M157 BiTurbo E63, requiring 10.14 seconds to complete the same task.

Via the verified VBox submission you can also see that the MHP S2 E63 accelerated from 60-110 in 4.94 seconds, meaning the lightly modified sedan from Affalterbach was gaining over 1mph every tenth of a second, or over 10mph every second, during that 50mph spread.

MHP’s M157 endeavors began immediately after taking delivery of their non PP 2012 E63. Within the first two weeks of ownership and with MHP v3 CDT or software remapping alone, the car jumped from 487rwhp/495rwtq SAE on 93 octane using a Dyno Jet dynamometer, to an incredible 618rwhp/740rwtq SAE on the same 93 octane fuel—this also showing how highly underrated the factory BiTurbo V8s truly are. Making for gains of 131rwhp/245rwtq SAE, translated into crankshaft numbers the tune only gains are a market leading 160HP & 298lb/ft, totaling out at 753HP and 873lb/ft of torque utilizing stock air filters to boot.

MHP’s Stage 2 kit for M157 E63 and CLS63s includes replacing the entire factory exhaust from the twin turbos to the tips, creating an entirely new, more powerful and efficient 100% bolt-on exhaust. MHP’s solution to the restrictive four 500cpi catalytics and non-mandrel bent 2.75” tubing is a full 3” U.S. Stainless Steel design that includes standard V-Band clamped test pipes with optional 200cpi metallic substrate catalytic converters (owners can swap for track days in under 2 minutes), 3” 304 SS Tubing throughout, with X-Pipe, resonators, two choices in mufflers (Race & Street) and inert gas backpurged 316 TIG welds. Modern Horsepower President Andrew Cluck explained “ We (MHP) don’t view cutting and welding aftermarket downpipes and/or cat delete kits into the factory exhaust as a satisfactory solution for any vehicle, especially an AMG product. Optimal performance only comes from a clean-sheet redesign, anything less is more or less a band-aid.” MHP also plans to make a similar full exhaust in both Race and Street trims for the ML63 and its niche market of Uber-SUV performance junkies. As with all of MHP’s exhausts, both Race and Street systems carry a Lifetime Warranty on all parts and workmanship. MHPs 180F modified OEM thermostat and drop in air-filters top off the record setting S2 E63 package, and based on the 60-130 data and preliminary dynos MHP says to expect 640-650rwhp and 775-780rwtq SAE on 93 octane with S2 or S2+ M157 Packages. Again, translated into crankshaft numbers that equates to 786HP and 920lb/ft of torque on 93 octane from a true bolt-on package. Stage 3 with an anticipated release date of 10/1/12 will incorporate additional cooling modifications with Stage 4 cars bringing upgraded turbos, engine internals and transmission modifications to the table by the time SEMA rolls around.

MHP also announced it is just weeks from releasing the World’s first equal length, stepped longtube headers for the SLS AMG and upcoming SLS GT AMG. When Mr. Cluck was asked about their decision to go with such a complex header design he responded with the following: “While we find the single 1 7/8” primary diameter of our C63 coupe and Sedan Longtube Headers to be sufficient for the M156 series of engines, the amount of changes made to the M159/SLS engines necessitated and warranted a full on Race longtube header design.” Said improvements were explained to include huge OEM airflow improvements on the inlet side of the motor from the airboxes to the short runner velocity stack type intake manifold, and even +1mm larger exhaust valves with larger exhaust ports in the cylinder heads themselves. “By going with a stepped design we ensure that we achieve maximum horsepower and torque gains over as broad an rpm band as possible–we are highly confident in our design and are extremely excited to begin testing. Thankfully the SLS chassis affords us significantly more room under the car vs M156 variants, which allowed us to completely uncork what is unquestionably one of the, if not the, last of the great naturally aspirated V8s in the World.” MHP promises a custom high velocity cone/spike merge collector leading back via 3” 304 S.S. Tubing to an X pipe and resonators of the same diameter. “As always we look to make more safe horsepower and torque with similar modifications than our competitors, as proven at the track, via VBox and on the dyno. We’ll then jump to our Stage 3 & 4 development including hand ported cylinder heads and custom SLS specific grind billet rifle drilled 9310 camshafts, with an ultimate goal of 580-600rwhp naturally aspirated for the SLS and SLS GT AMG and future M159 variants.”

Modern Horsepower LLC is the holder of numerous Mercedes Benz & AMG World Records including: World’s Quickest & Fastest AMG—Keith Brantley, World’s Quickest & Fastest Naturally Aspirated Mercedes Benz & AMG–Mike Conforti, World’s Quickest & Fastest Tune Only M156 (C63)—Chris Roupas, World’s Quickest & Fastest Tune Only M275 (SL65)—MHP, World’s Most Powerful Tune Only M113 (E55K)—MHP, World’s Quickest M157 60-130mph (VBox Verified), just to name a few. Mr. Cluck states regarding present and future 2012+ M157 and SLS M159 AMG product offerings “The only way to ensure 100% product quality is to test, test, and then test some more. Having 100% access to both the E63 and SLS has and will continue to allow us to bring forth new and innovative products for these AMG variants, as we have with the M156 series of 63 AMGs.” Mr. Cluck closed in saying: “We look forward to setting new records in the ¼ mile and on the dyno with the S2 E63 and S2 SLS in the coming weeks. “ Modern Horsepower is still the only Mercedes Benz and AMG tuner in the World to manufacture camshafts and matched tuning for the M156 and M159 series of engines including grinds for naturally aspirated, supercharged, nitrous and custom applications.  Photos shown are of Matthew Snider’s 2012 Cashmere White Designo E63 AMG that is currently being given the same tuning package as the one that set the record.

Source: eMercedesBenz

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Hot Lap! - 2012 Best

Mercedes, Record GT40 Head $220 Million Car Auction

 

Wealthy collectors paid record prices for a Ford GT40 and rarities by desirable marques such as Mercedes, Ferrari and Bentley in California’s classic car sales.

Gooding & Co., RM Auctions, and Bonhams sales ending last night raised in excess of $220 million, 33 percent higher than the $166.7 million generated in the bellwether West Coast sales last year.

Classic cars, like art and wine, have been attracting increased attention from wealthy individuals looking to diversify their investment portfolios. Existing buyers, aware of the worth of rare autos as a store of value in times of economic weakness, are also looking to improve their collections.

“There was a unique number of important cars,” said Dietrich Hatlapa, founder of the Historic Automobile Group International (HAGI), whose Top 50 benchmark index of exceptional classic cars has gained 8.2 percent in the year through July. “The lineup was impressive, the prices were strong.”

The most highly valued lot of the week was a 1936 Mercedes- Benz 540 K Special Roadster offered on the second day of Gooding’s Aug. 17-18 sale at Pebble Beach. One of only 30 built, and featuring the desirable “high-door, long-tail” styling, the car had been tipped by dealers to rival the auction record of $16.4 million set by a Ferrari Testa Rossa at the same venue last year.
Mercedes Record

The Mercedes sold for $11.8 million with fees, underlining the more selective market for high value prewar cars. The price was nonetheless the highest of the week and a record for the marque at auction. A 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe, formerly owned by the Hollywood star Clark Gable, was estimated at more than $9 million and failed to sell.

Gooding’s 122 cars raised $115 million, a record for a two- day sale at the auction house. Gooding offered a 1960 Ferrari “competition” 250 GT California Spyder formerly owned by the late New England collector Sherman M. Wolf.

One of only nine alloy-bodied long wheelbase versions made, it sold for $11.3 million against a valuation of $7 million to $9 million.

A comparable LWB “competition” California Spyder was sold by Gooding two years ago for $7.3 million.

“The prices of the rarest Ferrari road cars from the 1950s and 1960s have really moved up,” Hatlapa said. “The marque continues to lead the market.”

RM achieved $8.6 million for a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder and $8.25 million for a cream-colored 1955 Ferrari 410 S Berlinetta at its Aug. 17-18 sale at Monterey.
American Record

The two-day event raised $96 million with 90 per cent of the 120 offered cars finding buyers, said RM. Twenty cars sold for more than $1 million, the Canadian-based company said.

A 1968 Ford GT40 racer was the star lot at RM, selling on the first day for $11 million -- a record for any American auto at auction.

The Gulf/Mirage, finished in trademark powder blue with a marigold stripe, was estimated to fetch more than $8 million. The car had been raced by Jacky Ickx at Daytona and Le Mans trials in 1968. It was later used as the camera car in Steve McQueen’s 1971 film “Le Mans.”

Earlier on Aug. 17, a restored Ford GT40, formerly owned by the Bolivian tin magnate Jaime Ortiz-Patino, sold for $2.2 million on the second day of a Bonhams auction of classic motorcycles and cars at Quail Lodge, Carmel.

Valued at $2 million to $3 million, the car had been driven by Ortiz-Patino’s godson, Dominique Martin, at Monza and Hockenheim races in 1969 before being damaged by fire.
McLaren Racer

The most highly valued lot at Bonhams was a 1997 GTC Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren F1 GTR racer, again featuring powder blue and marigold livery. Estimated to raise as much as $5 million, it failed to sell in the salesroom and found a buyer shortly afterwards for $3.85 million with fees, Bonhams said.

The London-based auction house raised $10.3 million from successful bids in its Aug. 16-17 auction. Buyers were found for about 50 per cent of its 97 cars. Elsewhere, Mecum Auctions achieved $5.5 million for a 1972 Porsche L&M 917/10 Spyder raced by Can-Am Champion driver George Follmer at a three-day sale in Monterey on Aug. 16-18.

Source: Business week

VINTAGE: Mercedes-Benz Torpedo Awarded Best Of Show At Pebble Beach

A 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Saoutchik Torpedo owned by Paul and Judy Andrews of White Settlement, Texas, was named Best of Show at the 62nd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, held Sunday on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links. The event showcased 220 cars from 33 states and 15 countries and raised $1,077,220 for charity.

"This car really has everything," said Concours Chairman Sandra Button. "It has fantastic German engineering, elegant French styling, and a wonderful restoration by Paul Russell. It's a car you can imagine racing as well as touring. It's just a marvelous embodiment of everything that is Mercedes-Benz."

Jacques Saoutchik made seven avant-garde Torpedo bodies for the Mercedes-Benz 680S chassis, each differing in their details. The combination of chrome accents and low windshield make this car, shown first at the 1928 New York Auto Show, both a sports car and a luxury touring car.

This year’s Pebble Beach Concours featured cars with Saoutchik coachwork as a special class, along with special classes for Maharaja Cars, Mercer, Fiat, Mercedes SLs, Sport Customs and German Motorcycles.

"I'm not sure I can put into words how I feel," said Paul Andrews, founder and CEO of TTI, who owns the Mercedes-Benz Saoutchik Torpedo. "It's probably the most wonderful feeling I've had in my life. It's the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people.”

The judging process at the Pebble Beach Concours is two-fold: Class Judges focus primarily on originality and authenticity, while Honorary Judges direct their attention to design, styling and elegance. To be eligible to win Best of Show, a car must first win its class.

Other nominees for Best of Show included a 1935 Duesenberg J Gurney-Nutting Speedster, a 1931 Duesenberg J Derham Tourster, and a 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Figoni Coupé.

Tonight Show host Jay Leno made a guest appearance at the event, offering tickets to his show and tours of his Big Dog Garage, raising more than $50,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County. Also in attendance were Steve Carrell, George Lucas, Adrien Brody and Adam Carolla.

The 63rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will take place August 18, 2013.

Source: Speed TV

Happy Monday Folks! This week's car care tip: Things you should Always have in your Car.

Nobody wants to breakdown and be left stranded on the side of the road somewhere due to car trouble. Some people, never really give the idea a thought; they get in their cars, start the engine and go. For some others, the possibility of breaking down while driving, is a real; ever present fear that could happen at any moment, on every journey, usually due to some known, unattended mechanical problem with their car. Whatever the case may be, breakdowns are commonly a random event, so drivers should try to be prepared if one should find themselves in such a predicament.

There are 5 essential items that every car should have stored in them at all times…… in case you find yourself stranded on the side of the road due to car trouble.

Spare Tire, Tire iron & Jack

Chances are, at some point, you’re going to get a flat tire. Changing a flat car tire may seem difficult at first, but it's quite easy and straight forward when you have the proper tools, mainly the tire iron (wheel stud remover) and car jack for that particular type of car. Every new car comes with a spare tire and car jack kit, therefore every car should have a set, usually hidden somewhere in the truck area. In some early model foreign cars, you might find the tire iron or jack under the back passenger seat somewhere. Know where your spare tire, tire iron and jack are located in your automobile. This will save you the frustration of trying to find them in the darkness or at the side of the highway with traffic whizzing by.

Jumper Cables or a Portable Battery Booster Pack

Battery failure can happen anywhere, at any time, and to anyone, sometimes twice or more in one day. Next to a flat tire, a dead battery is one of the most common things that will leave you stuck. A weak or failing battery, forgetting to turn off your headlights, leaving your dome/map lights on overnight, or even a loose battery wire connection can cost you big in inconvenience and money- if you're not prepared. Keeping a pair of jumper cables in your car is a smart move. But even better, is a mobile battery power pack.

A 12 volt portable battery booster pack enables you to start your car without the assistance of another car. Two large alligator clip connectors - one red for positive, one black for negative, attach to your car battery as a set of jumper cables from another car would. Turn the booster pack on, and then start your car. It's that easy and that quick. They come in various power ratings for different size cars. Anything above 400A (cold cranking amps) will start most small to midsize vehicles. They can cost anywhere from 55 to 100 dollars. Having a charged portable battery booster pack in your car can be priceless. Trying to find someone to help you boost your car is not always easy, especially if it's cold, rainy, and late at night or early in the morning.

Flashlight

Having a flashlight handy is always a good thing. In a car break down situation, it makes the whole process of changing a tire or jump starting your car, go smoother. When you can see what you're doing you'll feel more confident about 'what' you're doing and you're more likely to finish faster. Rather than fumbling around in the dark. Also, when you stand beside your car holding a flashlight that is on, it acts like a beacon showing other drivers that you are there….so they don't run you over. This goes the same for if you run out of gas and decide to walk to the next gas station…you should bring a flashlight …so other drivers can see you well in advance.

Emergency Road Kit

You can get a readymade mobile safety kit from most of the major big box stores in the automotive department. Usually a good kit will include all the frill and sprinkles such as: booster cables, air compressor, muti-tools, flashlight, emergency blanket, gloves, rain poncho, first aid kit, collapsible metal shovel, reflective triangles, road flares, and disposable camera.

One could make their own emergency road kit to best suit their climate conditions and or personal needs for considerably less than it would cost to buy one. Other items one might want to add to their mobile emergency road kit could include: food/water, clothing, winter weather tools or gear, engine fluids, the list could go on. The idea is for your kit to be compact and functional. It's up to the individual to decide what would be the best for their situation.

You can't pick where and when you're going to have engine trouble. The only thing you can do is control how you're ready to deal with the scenario if it should arise. Having the items mentioned earlier will aid in keeping you safe and give you a peace of mind if you're ever stuck on the side of the road.

Source: Infobarrel 

 

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2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 Convertible review

The SL is the sort of vehicle that swivels heads and elicits comments like only a bright red Mercedes-Benz convertible can. Everyone wanted to take a closer look. Even my most car-averse friends couldn't keep their hands off of the paint and I was taken aback when a normally conservative young lady described the Mars Red SL550 Roadster as "sex on wheels." Oh, my!

Raunchy comments aside, the SL550 Roadster features classic sports-car proportions. Its long nose starts with an almost comically large Mercedes-Benz tristar badge flanked by large HID headlamps with LED accents and flows over the optional 19-inch AMG five-spoke wheels. Massive hood vents just before the steeply raked windshield had observers asking me if this was the SL63 AMG, to which I snobbishly replied, "No, it's only the SL550." The passenger compartment seats two under its low-slung, abbreviated roof line. Just behind the cockpit is an abbreviated, rounded rear deck.

Comfortable convertible
Being a Roadster, the two-seater SL features a convertible top. And being a Mercedes-Benz, that convertible top is a power-retractable hard number that lowers in a fit of robotic ballet in about 6 seconds. Top-down storage space is limited by a cover that prevents the cargo from interfering with the operation of the roof, but there's still space for a pair of carry-on bags and a few odds and ends beneath the power-lift and closed trunklid. With the top up, that cover can be shifted out of the way to increase storage space, but you won't be able to drop the top until it is replaced. Even getting into the trunk with the top down is a dramatic affair, requiring that the trunklid lift and then the folded roof and rear glass panels be automatically lifted out of the way. Finally, the storage compartment cover must be lifted, manually, out of the way before you're given access to the trunk. That's a lot of moving parts just to toss your gym bag in the boot, but these steps are necessary for that increased top-up cargo space.

The SL's cabin is anything but cramped, with more than enough space for two very tall adults. Seat adjustments are motorized, as is the steering-wheel adjustment, with three memory positions and an Easy Exit mode that automatically slides the seat back and retracts and lifts the steering wheel when you open the door of the stopped Roadster.

A small parcel shelf and a pair of storage compartments accomodate any man bags, purses, or other odds and ends that you don't want flying away when the top drops. This is a trivial nitpick, but the cupholders are located so far back on the center console that this car might as well not even have them. I'd recommend a "No drinking in the Benz" rule, but I may just be overprotective of this $105,500 toy.

The SL Roadster comes packed with a number of features that make open-air motoring a pleasant experience, even during one of San Francisco's chilly, foggy mornings. A motorized windscreen can be raised to reduce buffeting at freeway speeds; Mercedes' Air Scarf system blows warm air onto the passengers' necks from the headrests to cut the chill; the automatic climate controls adjust automatically for top-down motoring; and heated and ventilated seating surfaces gently warm or cool your bottom and back. With the side windows and windscreen up and the Air Scarf and heated seats keeping me toasty, there's no situation short of snow or rain that could convince me not to take a moment and drop the top. Wind noise is so low that I was able to have a conversation with my passenger or make a hands-free call without shouting. Factor in four-level seat massage motors and driving the SL550 with the adaptive cruise control set to 85 mph is downright relaxing. Hopefully, not so relaxing that you doze off, or the Attention Assist drowsiness detection system will start beeping at you.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Of course, there may be a time when you have to raise the top and treat the SL like a coupe. With the top up, the SL goes from remarkably quiet for a Roadster to silent as a tomb. However, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't still be able to enjoy the sky, which is where the optional (and ridiculously named) Mercedes-Benz Magic Sky Control comes in. This $2,500 transparent glass roof panel blocks UV and IR light from entering the cabin while still letting visible light in. However, at the touch of a button, the glass can be made almost completely opaque, shading the driver and passenger from the sun. It's pretty amazing and drew many oohs and ahhs from passengers. If you've ever seen an automatically dimming rearview mirror, you already have a pretty good idea of how this "tint on demand" system works on a much smaller scale.

Performance and handling
Under the SL's hood hums a 4.6-liter V-8 biturbo engine that's as much a work of art as the chassis. Direct-injection technology, a defeatable autostop feature, and an Econ shift program on the seven-speed automatic transmission help this mill to average 16 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 19 mpg according to EPA's combined calculations. These aren't great numbers compared with your average passenger car, but from a machine that makes 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, I'll take what I can get.

I'm sure that the stock SL550 Roadster's suspension tune makes it a fantastic handler, but I can't confirm it, because our tester was equipped with the optional $4,090 Active Body Control (ABC) adaptive-suspension package. Like most adaptive-suspension packages, ABC features two modes (Sport and Comfort), but it does quite a bit more. At the tap of a button, the SL can be raised about 2 inches to clear speed bumps and other obstructions at low speeds. As the speed increases, ABC also lowers the vehicle below the static ride height (maxing out at about 0.5 inch at about 80 mph) to reduce wind resistance for better fuel economy and reduced noise and lower the center of gravity for better high-speed stability. While all of this is happening, the four dampers at the corners of the vehicle are constantly adjusting to provide the best responsiveness or comfort. You can watch all of this ride height adjustment and damper tweaking happening on the Comand system's color display alongside a two-axis G-force meter, but I'd recommend that you instead keep those eyes up and ahead.

Around town and on the highway in its most comfortable transmission and ABC setting, the SL550 is probably best described as "effortless." It's got more power than it needs for sliding between stop lights, so it can keep its revs low and gearing tall without compromising responsiveness. With the minimal throttle inputs required to reach and maintain the city-average 35 mph speed limit, the Benz is quiet and smooth. While ABC can't completely obliterate the bumps of San Francisco's lunar downtown street surfaces, it does manage to take most of the harshness out of the bumps, which is good.

The autostop system would shut down the engine at stop signs and traffic lights once the engine had been sufficiently warmed up. I didn't find the system to be tremendously intrusive during those moments when I was coming to a complete stop, such as at an intersection. However, when it started kicking in during stop-and-go traffic, I was glad that the button to defeat this function was readily available on the center console.

On the highway, the ride is equally smooth and quiet. However, the Econ shift program is hesitant to drop down a gear for passing maneuvers. I often had to wait a few beats for the gearbox to go, "Oh, I see!" and give the downshift that I was requesting. However, usually by then I'd have dialed in a bit more throttle than I needed, which resulted in the car lurching forward suddenly faster than I'd originally intended.

Selecting the Sport shift program and the Sport ABC mode, the SL550 comes alive. Lower gears are held slightly longer and downshifts are easier to request and predict with the accelerator pedal, sacrificing a few mpgs to have all 429 thoroughbreds on tap when you need them. The chassis also felt more responsive to steering input, although the adaptive nature of the system still soaked up much of the harshness of the road. Unless you're rounding a bend, you probably won't notice much difference between Sport and Comfort modes, so I elected to just leave it in Sport for much of my testing.

The SL550 also features a manual shift mode actuated by steering-wheel paddles, but I found timing the shifts of the conventional manual transmission tricky and elected to let the Sport program do the thinking for me.

Active bolsters on the seats can be set to inflate to hold the driver and passenger in place during cornering. I found this system to be annoying at anything less than eight-tenths of where I estimate the Benz' capabilities lay and left it either off or at its lowest setting most of the time.

An open, twisty road in California's wine country is truly this car's natural environment, not the autobahn or under the gray skies of the Nurburgring's Nordschleife. (Having never been to either, this is pure speculation, of course.) The almost Mediterranean climate and flowing B-roads seem to perfectly match the SL550 Roadster's suspension tune, overconfident power train, and brash aesthetic. I found it easy to settle into a groove with the vehicle as I tossed it through S-curves, making my way from the country to the coast.

Stability control was unobtrusive and never intervened during my testing, so I mostly left it on. The sole exception was when I switched it off to do a few doughnuts in an empty parking lot, dancing the Roadster around its center axis in a puff of tire smoke. (The SL550 may be a classy ride, but I still revert to a 16-year-old whenever I'm left alone for too long with 500+ pound-feet of torque!)

So far, I've had nothing but praise for the SL550 Roadster -- all of which is well-deserved, this is an impressive ride. However, things start to fall a bit flat in the cabin where the tech is concerned. Now I assume that the sort of person who buys a status symbol that starts above the $100K mark doesn't care about such things, but infotainment, particularly the new Comand Online feature, is the SL's Achilles' heel.

At its core, the SL's infotainment system is based on Mercedes-Benz' Comand interface, utilizing the now familiar console-mounted Comand control dial and a three-level Comand onscreen interface. The thing is that even though it's been around for almost a decade, I find that Comand is a challenge to get the hang of again every time I settle behind the wheel of a Benz. There's just too much dial-twisting, list-scrolling, and button-pushing to access basic features like switching audio sources or changing the map mode. The problem is that Mercedes-Benz has been constantly adding features to Comand, but hasn't really rethought the way it organizes all of that new information, which leads to the bloated and poorly organized system that we see in today's SL. We'll come back this shortly.

Fortunately, there's a voice entry screen with above-average accuracy to rescue you from the hell of inputting a street address using the Comand controller. Drivers should take advantage of this system at every opportunity. I only wish there were more ways to use voice input for some of the more advanced features offered in this dashboard.

Comand provides navigation with traffic data. The map is crisply rendered, but (despite Comand being equipped with a data connection) lacks any sort of topographic or Google satellite imagery.

Audio sources include a six-disc DVD changer with MP3 and DVD-Audio playback, an iPod/MP3 media interface with a 30-pin dock connector and a USB connection in the center console, an SD card interface on the dashboard for audio playback, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, a chunk of the navigation system's hard drive dedicated to audio ripping and storage, and terrestrial AM/FM tuning with HD Radio decoding. Bluetooth hands-free calling with address book sync and Bluetooth A2DP audio streaming round out the SL550's standard audio sources that feed the standard Harman Kardon Logic7 5.1 surround-sound system. This audio rig features a nice feature called FrontBass that adds two 8.5-inch speakers mounted ahead of the driving position to create what Mercedes calls "a concert hall ambiance in a roadster." I think that's a bit hyperbolic, but the system does sound great.

Drivers who truly want that "concert hall ambiance" can elect to drop the extra dough on the optional 900-watt, 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen uberpremium audio system, which bests the Harman Kardon system by 300 watts, with two additional speakers, and with higher-quality components. It's also an additional $6,400 over the already premium Harman system.

The SL is one of the first new Mercedes-Benz vehicles to feature the new Comand Online connectivity suite, which includes an always-on data connection and a host of new Web-connected services such as Google Local Search, News, Yelp search, and Facebook. Unfortunately, here is where things really go wrong for Comand.

The main problem with Comand Online is that it is agonizingly slow. Just getting from the main Comand interface to the Comand Online home screen takes you through a 30-second load screen. Popping into any of the submenus takes an additional 5 to 10 seconds, which means that getting from the main map screen to the point where you can actually input a Google Search term can take over a minute, which is forever in car time and an eternity in consumer tech time. The fact that the system (rightly) locks you out of most of Comand Online's major functions when the vehicle is in motion means that in most cases it's faster to just whip out your smartphone to make that Facebook status update.

If you don't mind waiting (and are the only person reading CNET who doesn't have a smartphone), Comand Online lets you, first, use Google Search to find points of interest near a location. You can input search terms or select from a list of the most popular or your most recent search terms. Once the destination is selected from the list of results, you can call the location using the hands-free system, set the location as a destiation for navigation, add the location to your address book, or view a 360-degree Google Street View or collection of nearby Panoramio photos. It's slow, but Google search is useful.

Also useful is the Yelp integration, which gives another way to search for nearby businesses. However, I did run into a bit of weirdness here as well. Now, I'm not sure how the Yelp search algorithm works, but a search in the area of Oakland, Calif., for the popular and highly rated Zachary's Chicago Pizza yielded no results that matched the search term. While most of the results were for pizza places, the algorithm seems to place proximity to the Oakland city center at a higher importance than matching the search term to the title. After five pages of scrolling, I noticed that one of the results was for a popular Oakland bakery called Bakesale Betty, which is definitely not a pizza place, and decided to give up and just grab one of Betty's famous chicken sandwiches instead. For every Yelp entry found, I was able to view an average Yelp rating on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, see the total number of reviews submitted, read the most recent three reviews posted, view a photo or a Google Street View view, call the location using hands-free calling, or import the destination into the Benz' main address book.

The news app seemed to be the least useful portion of Comand Online system. From here, I could select from a number of news categories to view the latest headlines and read the top news stories on the SL's color screen. There didn't appear to be any sort of text-to-speech option to have the stories read aloud while I drove, but I was given the option to have any of those stories e-mailed to a preselected e-mail address for later reading.

Facebook integration is the most ambitious part of Comand Online, but also the bit that's most plagued by slow load times. From the Facebook menu, I was able to view nearby locations and check in, find locations that friends had checked into, view my news feed of friends' subscribed status updates and Like those that interested me, view nearby events that I'd RSVP'd to and navigate there, update my own status, and view the Mercedes-Benz Facebook fan page. The status update function allows users to choose from a few canned messages, such as "I'm currently stuck in traffic near [current location]," but there is the option to input a custom message using the Comand controller while the vehicle is stopped. Take my advice and just don't bother. I was able to input "I'm updating my status with the COMAND system in the Mercedes-Benz SL550. Don't worry, the car is p" before I reached the 100-character cap, and just those few words took about 5 to 7 minutes to input.

One particularly frustrating element of Comand Online is the inconsistent behavior of the Comand controller's back button compared with the rest of the Comand interface. On any other screen, the back button takes you backward one step in your current menu, but when online, the back button takes you all of the way back to the Comand Online home screen. For example, if you're viewing a friend's Facebook status update and tap the back button on the Comand controller (rather then selecting the virtual back button on the screen), you'll be kicked all the way back to the main menu, which means that you have to navigate through the menus again (and wait through all of the loading screens again) to get back to the list of Facebook statuses. This may seem like a nitpicky thing, but it makes the entire interface more difficult to deal with. After one too many accidental taps of the back button, out came my smartphone, which was infinitely better suited for social networking and searching while parked.

Similar app integration and connected services from the likes of Audi and BMW are noticeably faster and more inviting experiences than Comand Online. I also dislike that Mercedes' connected services seem to be sequestered from the rest of the entertainment experience. You gain no observable benefit in the form of more accurate traffic on the map screen or satellite imagery. You have to leave the navigation system and explicitly enter the Comand Online system to search for a destination. As a result I think most users will probably forget that it there after the first couple of weeks, especially because it's such a frustrating endeavor to use.

In sum
The SL550 is a brilliant automobile. Sure, Comand Online is a train wreck, but it doesn't ruin the vehicle that Mercedes' chassis and engine engineers and designers have built around it. There's just so much to like about being behind the wheel of a big, red Benz that I find myself over 3,000 words into this review and I haven't even touched on the safety features such as the Mbrace telematics system, the lane-keep assistance system, the precollision warning system, the blind-spot monitoring, and the rearview camera with proximity detection and Parktronic parking assistance. If they never venture into the Comand Online menu, I think most owners will be pleased with their SL550 Roadster purchase -- at least until they see someone valeting an SL63 AMG.

Our 2013 model started at $105,500 before adding $900 for its premium leather interior. Illuminated door sills and an analog clock on the dashboard are take-it-or-leave-it options that add $350 and $250 to the bottom line, respectively. The Magic Sky Control glass roof is a nice party trick that will cost you $2,500, but if you're like me, you'll be spending too much time with the top down to really take advantage of it. The easy-as-ABC adaptive suspension is a $4,090 option, and a $4,900 Premium package adds Air Scarf, cooled seats, massage seats, keyless entry, and the rearview camera/proximity detection system that will keep you from scuffing the SL's pretty red paint. Blind-spot monitoring and precollision detection are part of a $2,950 Driver Assistance package and an additional $2,000 gets you the 19-inch AMG wheels with stickier tires and a host of go-faster and look-faster bits. Toss in a $905 destination charge to reach our as-tested price of $124,345.

That's a pretty penny -- certainly too rich for my blood -- but cars like the SL550 Roadster are all about a feeling, not a value, and this Roadster feels like it's worth it.

Source: Cnet

Happy Monday Folks! This week's car care tip: How To Jump Start a Car.

You’re walking out of your apartment and notice a good looking gal with the hood of her car open, looking at the engine with desperation. You go over and ask what’s wrong. The car battery is dead, and she’s late for class. She asks you if you can give her jump. You look down at the ground, kick some rocks, and offer to call AAA instead.

You have no clue how to jump start a car.

Every man should know how to jump start a dead car battery. You never know when you’ll need this knowledge to aid a stranded damsel in distress or help yourself. While jumping a dead battery is super simple, you’d be surprised by the number of men who have no idea how to do it. Even if a man has learned how to jump start a car before, it can be easy to forget what cables go where. Positive on negative? Ground the positive cable on the car with the good battery? Red cable is negative?

To help you avoid looking like a putz when asked to jump start a car and to help prevent you from shocking the hell out of yourself when you do it, here’s the rundown on how to jump start a dead car battery.

How to Tell if Your Battery Is Dead

Before you try jump starting a car, you need to determine that the battery is the reason the car isn’t starting up. If you turn the ignition and hear the engine cranking, a dead battery isn’t your problem and jump starting it won’t do a darn thing. However, if you turn the key and the car does absolutely nothing, then there’s a good chance you have a dead battery on your hands and jumping it may be your ticket to getting back on the road.

How to Jump Start a Car with Cables

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Note: You should always carry jumper cables in your car with you. You never know when you’re going to need them.

1. Make sure both cars are turned off.

2. Connect one end of the red (positive) jumper cable to the positive terminal on the stalled battery.

3. Then connect the other red (positive) cable clamp to the positive terminal of the good battery.

4. Connect one end of the black (negative) jumper cable to the negative terminal of the good battery.

5. Then connect the other black (negative) cable to a clean, unpainted metal surface under the disabled car’s hood. Somewhere on the engine block is a good place. Unless you want to see flying sparks and a possible explosion, do not connect the negative cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery .

6. Start the car that’s doing the jumping, and allow it to run for about 2 to 3 minutes before starting the dead car.
7. Remove cables in reverse order.
8. Keep the jumped car running for at least 30 minutes to give the battery sufficient time to recharge itself.

And you’re done. Give yourself a pat on the back for a manly job well done.

Source: The Art of Manliness

AMG host and professional driver Tommy Kendall takes you inside the highest level of the AMG Driving Academy: learning to handle the new SLS AMG GT3 racecar.

Twitter for Cars? Mercedes-Benz Launches C2X Car-to-Car Communications Trials

Daimler is announcing field tests in Germany and California of the "car-to-X" (C2X) communication system. The company calls the system "first social network for automobiles".

Mercedes-Benzes in both Palo Alto, California and the Rhine-Main region of the Frankfurt metropolitan area in Germany are outfitted with C2X networking devices. The networks links them to other cars in the area and to traffic infrastructure.

Drivers can use the networks to keep each other informed of hazards, delays, and other obstacles. As an example, Daimler points out that the tail end of the A5 autobahn is obscured by the crest of a hill. The C2X system can inform drivers of a traffic jam to which they would otherwise have been blind, with both inconvenient and dangerous results.

The system can provide other services, such as suggesting routes; and can even help control traffic lights according to traffic flow, Daimler says.

The purpose of the field tests is to test C2X's viability in everyday traffic situations.

"We are convinced that C2X communication is going to play an important role in the mobility of the future," project leader Dr. Christian Weiss said in a statement. "C2X communication allows us to detect objects and hazardous situations far beyond the immediate environment of the vehicle. This is a significant step on the path towards accident-free driving."

Daimler is a member of the Car 2 Car Communication Consortium, a body of European car companies committed to furthering network linking between automobiles worldwide by sharing technology and promoting the establishment of royalty-free frequency bands.

Source: Auto World News

Folks, join is in congratulation Tony Pineiero – Lokey Mercedes Benz Salesman of the month for July !

Douglas and Jeanelle Duncan, Congratulations on your 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300, purchased from Bruno Santelli!

Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series Spied

The Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series has been busy out on the roads and on the Nurburgring testing recently. With all its testing, multiple spy photographers to capture a first look at the Black Series model well ahead of its debut later this year.

We can see that the SLS AMG Black Series will stand apart from the standard SLS AMG by sporting a more aggressive widebody kit and a exaggerated rear diffuser. Though unconfirmed, additional upgrades will include high performance brakes and a sport-tuned suspension along with AMG’s naturally aspirated 6.3-liter V8 unit that will output more than 600 hp.

This is likely just the beginning of spy photos and information to be released, stay tuned.

Source: eMercedes Benz

The A-Class: Advanced, Alive, Adrenaline!