Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT F1 Safety Car (2013)
The 2012 Formula 1 Grand Prix in Singapore this coming weekend is the first overseas race, wherein the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Official F1 Safety Car GT will be showcased. With an exclusive performance to 435 kW (591 hp), optimized transmission shift times and the new AMG RIDE CONTROL Performance suspension, the Gullwing is perfectly prepared for the demanding role in the top class of motor sports.
Safety Car driver Bernd Maylander is excited about his new company car, and he says: “The SLS AMG Safety Car GT is the best that I’ve ever driven! The combination of increased performance, optimized transmission shift times and the new AMG RIDE CONTROL Performance suspension takes the driving dynamics of the gull-wing model to an even higher level. I have now been driving the different Safety Cars since 2000, and with each new vehicle I notice a significant enhancement over the previous model. This is where the pursuit of high performance and precision, which is so typical of Mercedes-AMG, is clearly evident again”
The job of the Official F1 Safety Car is to help, that there is maximum safety for the F1 field in extreme situations. As soon as Race Control considers that the safe progress of the race may be hindering, it sends the Safety Car out onto the track. Poor weather conditions or accidents are the main reasons for its deployment. The new SLS AMG GT differs from the previous SLS AMG in terms of its increased driving dynamics, even better on-track performance and also new design features.
The Official F1 Safety Car weighs just 1620 kg (kerb weight), thanks to the dry-sump lubrication system, the V8 engine has been installed very low down, giving the vehicle a low centre of gravity. And as a result of the engine’s positioning behind the front axle and the transaxle arrangement of the dual-clutch transmission on the rear axle, the car also has a favorable weight distribution ratio of 47:53 percent (front/rear). Custom on racing cars, is an aluminum double-wishbone axles, which ensures high cornering limits, precise turn-in characteristics, superb agility, as well as low mass inertia during sudden changes of direction.
The AMG 6.3-litre V8 front mid-engine comes with a maximum output of 435 kW (591 hp) and 650 Newton metres of peak torque is also the series-production version, as are the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission with optimised shift times, with that the newly developed AMG RIDE CONTROL Performance suspension, the AMG high-performance ceramic composite brake system and the weight-reduced AMG 10-spoke forged light-alloy wheels are painted in matt black with a high-sheen finish. The one exception is the specially developed rear silencer, which also featured in the SLS AMG Official F1 Safety Car and generates an even more sensational V8 soundtrack to thrill Formula 1 fans watching at the circuit and at home, sounds alike. The SLS AMG GT races from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, and reaches the 200 km/h mark after just 11.2 seconds.
On a judging note, the SLS AMG GT can be distinguished from the SLS AMG by its darkened headlamps and tail lamps and the addition of “GT” to the AMG badge on the right-hand side of the boot lid. The wing-shaped cross fin is painted in a high-gloss black finish, just like the fins on the bonnet and wings. The AMG Performance steering wheel with its flat-bottomed rim and high-gloss black solid metal insert features grip areas trimmed in Alcantara and a red 12 o’clock mark at the top. The AMG instrument cluster comes with a black strip around the doorway housing the upshift indicator with its seven LEDs.
AMG has extensive experience in the design, development and deployment of the Official F1 Safety Car and Official F1 Medical Car. A C63 AMG Estate has been used as the Official F1 Medical Car since 2008, ready to provide swift emergency medical assistance in the event of an accident.
As for sales of the new SLS AMG GT, in the U.S., the SLS AMG will come exclusively in the new GT trim for 2013. First sales are scheduled to start in November.
Source: Speed Lux
Monday, September 24, 2012
Folks, happy Monday! It’s time for our weekly car care tip - Check your tires
For those of you who do not have hydrogen tires, changing temperatures can alter tire pressure. Make sure all tires are filled to their recommended tire pressure. Also check for tread wear. The National Highway Transportation Safety Board says you need at least 2/32" of depth to be safe. Tires play a huge role in how well your car handles in sloppy cold driving conditions, so pump 'em up.
Source: Shop Autoweek and Street Directory
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Mercedes-Benz Concept B-Class Electric Drive Bound for 2012 Paris Auto Show
The Mercedes-Benz Concept B-Class Electric Drive joins a growing number of electric vehicles set for the 2012 Paris Auto Show.
A market launch of the EV is planned for 2014.
"The particularly family-friendly electric car is almost ready for series production," said Daimler in a statement on its Web site.
No word yet on pricing or whether the new EV is on tap for the U.S.
Mercedes-Benz previewed the Concept B-Class Electric Drive on Monday, saying is equipped with a 100kW electric motor and has a range of 124 miles. It features an "energy space" in the floor of the vehicle for the car's lithium-ion battery, thus providing more cabin space.
Daimler will also debut the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive and the smart Brabus electric drive at the Paris show.
Source: Insideline
Monday, September 17, 2012
It's time for some driving tips folks. This week's tip - How to parallel park.
To see it portrayed in movies and television, you’d think that parallel parking was the driving equivalent of brain surgery. While it may not be the most natural thing you’ll do when driving, the difficulty of parallel parking a car is greatly overstated. By following a few simple steps and getting a little practice, you’ll be parallel parking in no time.
Once you take the wheel, simply go through the following parallel parking steps:
- Find your parking spot. Don’t be afraid to seek out a spot that leaves you a lot of extra room, especially when you’re just getting started. A spot that’s 5 feet longer than your car should be perfect.
- Check your mirrors and blind spots. Figure out what’s going on all around you.
- Signal to the side of the space and get closer to the cars you’ll be parking beside. Slow down and come to a stop. If you see another car approaching from behind, just wait for the car to pass and wave the driver on if necessary.
- Position your car beside the vehicle you’ll be parking behind. Get close to its side, but not so close that you’ll have a hard time maneuvering without hitting it. The back of your front seat should be lined up with the back of the other car’s front seat
- Put your car in reverse and check your mirrors one more time before slowly starting to back up. Look over your right shoulder as you move backwards and give your steering wheel a hard turn in the direction of the curb.
- Continue to check all directions around your car. Don’t be afraid to stop and move back into your starting position if things aren’t going the way you had hoped. It’s much better to look a little silly than to hit another car.
- Once the back of your front door is lined up with the rear bumper of the car next to you, turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction (away from the curb). Think of the turn as an S-shape. This is the last part of that “S”. As you’re moving into the space, you want to be straightening out your car within the space.
- Continue moving backwards until you’re close to the car behind you, but not so close that you hit its bumper.
- Pull forward a bit to center yourself within the space.
Source: Drivers Ed Guru
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
SPIED: Mercedes-Benz's GLA Gets Spotted For The First Time
The Mercedes A-Class is about to spawn a compact SUV, and these are the very first spy pictures of the high-riding newcomer. Concealed underneath a standard A-Class body, the new model will rival the BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque when it arrives in showrooms in 2014.
Although this is our first glimpse, it's no secret that this model is on the way. Speaking at the start of production of the A-Class at Mercedes’ Rastatt plant in Germany two months ago, Mercedes CEO Dr Dieter Zetsche said: “The compact SUV will be the third model we will build here in Rastatt.”
It will be based on the new front and four-wheel-drive MFA platform which already underpins the A-Class and B-Class. A total of five new models, including a 'baby CLS' four-door coupe and a small shooting brake estate, will eventually be based on the new architecture.
So when it goes on sale, expect front and four-wheel drive models of the small SUV (expected to be badged GLA) and a similar engine line up to the A-Class.
Options could include turbocharged petrol engines ranging from 94bhp to 208hbp, plus three diesels ranging from 81bhp to 134bhp. It's not clear yet whether Mercedes will slot in the 330bhp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine from the A45 AMG.
Source: Autospies
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Troubleshooting Your Windshield Wipers: Smearing in Both Directions
If your wipers smear water in both directions, you may have one of the following problems:
- worn blades
- a dirty windshield and/or wiper blade
- sub-par windshield wiper fluid
Try using new wiper fluid and cleaning the windshield and wiper blades before you replace the blades. To clean your wiper blades, simply wipe them with a clean rag dipped in hot, soapy water. After you clean off the soap, wipe the edge of the blade with rubbing alcohol. That can help with reducing streaks on your windshield.
Source: Art of Manliness
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Arnold Schwarzenegger Cruises Santa Monica Streets in Unimog
Since the demise of the Hummer, former Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger has moved on to the Mercedes-Benz Unimog. He was spotted on Thursday driving around the rough terrain of Santa Monica in his new monster truck.
The 65-year-old’s new enormous ride, the Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG, retails for about $250,000 and is the vehicle of choice for the army in Germany. You may remember we spotted Arnold testing the Unimog’s at the Unimog Museum in Germany back in July.
A number of fans gathered to admire Arnold’s ride.
The vehicle has reportedly been modified to fit the LA roads after being customised by a German company called Mertec.
The former actor purchased the Mercedes-Benz Unimog to go cruising around the Californian city, which is the army vehicle of choice for many different armies, including Germany, Britain and the United States.
According to Mercedes Benz, the Unimog range of cars is perfect for: ‘The most extreme, arduous tasks, including: fighting forest fires, performing rescue operations during catastrophes or maintaining power supply lines.’
Source: emercedesbenz
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)