Here’s your weekly “Maintenance Tip”: Maintain Your Air Conditioning!

If you've ever lost your air conditioning on a hot summer day, then you know what a big difference a little cool air makes. The best way to tell if your air conditioner has a problem is if it can't generate or maintain air temperatures that are 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) below the ambient outside air temperature.

2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class Starts Rolling Off Assembly Line

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class should be arriving at dealerships next month, and in preparation for that, the first few S Class units have reportedly started rolling off the assembly line at the carmaker’s Sindelfingen, Germany plant.  The S400 Hybrid, apparently, will be the first car released for the consumer market; in the photo above, Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche and manufacturing head Andreas Renschler are there to commemorate the moment as the S Class prepares to make its debut in a few weeks from now.   The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class is scheduled to debut stateside in the fall.

Reports claim that Mercedes has invested almost a billion Euros in its Sindelfingen facility; this plant actually churns out several other Mercedes models, but several S Class variants, including the flagship sedan, are being manufactured there.  The plant will also take care of manufacturing the S Class Coupe, which will supplant the outgoing CL Class.  This isn’t the first time such has been speculated, but a press release from Mercedes suggests that the name change may become official once the S Class Coupe is released.

On the business side of things, Mercedes’ investments were made in an effort to curb production costs by as much as two billion Euros, or $2.66 billion USD, by the end of 2014.  The Sindelfingen plant makes use of new, more cost-effective procedures and technology, including a new join casting process for aluminum alloys on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class.  

New advances in engineering have also resulted in energy consumption per vehicle getting reduced by about 20 percent.  Further, Mercedes-Benz staff has been retrained, and the new “pick-by-projector” logistics system also allows for a more cost-effective system; here, workers choose the storage unit with the required piece when choosing parts.  This new system’s effect on production costs may fully manifest itself once the rest of the six S Class variants enter production.

Courtesy of: US Daily Voice 

DISTRONIC PLUS -- Mercedes-Benz USA Owners Support

DISTRONIC PLUS® cruise control automatically adapts your set speed to the vehicle ahead, even if it slows to a stop. Learn how to operate its features to make driving in traffic easier than ever.

Mercedes-AMG establishes lap record in the "Grüne Hölle" ("Green Hell")

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive circled the Nürburgring Nordschleife (“north loop”) in a record time of 7:56.234 minutes. Therefore, the electric AMG super sports car is at the same time the first electrically-powered series production vehicle, which masters the legendary race track in under eight minutes. The record time of the SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive was notarially certified. Two weeks after the first overall win for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 in the 24 Hours Nürburgring, a further member of the SLS AMG family impressively demonstrates its potential on the most difficult race track worldwide.

“Mercedes-AMG impressively shows the potential of the SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive with the new record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Mercedes-AMG is the first vehicle manufacturer which makes it possible to circle the Nordschleife in under eight minutes with an electrically-powered series production vehicle. This record run is another proof for our constant innovative vigour,” according to Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

“For the first time, an electrically-powered series production vehicle circles the Nürburgring Nordscheife in under eight minutes. The record for the SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive in 7:56.234 minutes on the Nordschleife shows the special position of our innovative and unique drive solution. With the extremely efficient battery technology deriving from Formula 1, four electric motors positioned close to the wheels, the individual wheel torques “AMG Torque Dynamics,” the SLS eSound and our ambitious “AMG Lightweight Performance” design strategy, the SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive generates a breathtaking sensation unlike any other model out on the road,” according to Tobias Moers, Head of Overall Vehicle Development and member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

The SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive, with which Mercedes-AMG set up the record on the 20.832 kilometres long traditional race track in the Eifel, corresponds to the series version, which celebrates its launch in June 2013. The currently strongest AMG high-performance car has four electrical motors with a total output of 552 kW (751 hp) and maximum torque of 1000 Nm (738 lb-ft).
The gullwing car is therefore advancing to become the strongest and fastest electrically-powered series production vehicle in the world. The SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in a mere 3.9 seconds and can reach a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited).

A new dimension of driving performance – the AMG brand pledge is fulfilled to remarkable effect by the outstanding performance dynamics, which come courtesy of AMG Torque Dynamics and are made possible by the wheelselective all-wheel drive. The most “electrifying” gullwing model ever has been developed in-house by Mercedes-AMG GmbH. The extremely powerful highvoltage battery for the SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive is the result of the collaboration between Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth in the UK and is setting the pace in energy density, power density and efficiency. Here, the British Formula 1 experts were able to draw on their extensive experience with KERS hybrid concepts.

The car’s agile response to movements of the accelerator pedal and the linear power output are a source of pure delight: unlike with a combustion engine, the build-up of torque is instantaneous with electric motors – maximum torque is effectively available from standstill. The spontaneous torque build-up and immense power delivery without any interruption in traction on the one hand are combined with completely vibration-free motor running characteristics on the other.

Courtesy of: Mercedes-Benz Newsroom

Road trip tip: Stay off the chain-restaurant train

Do a little research before you go, or use your smart phone to find stellar local fare along your route. Good food is everywhere, even in the middle of nowhere. Just make sure you don't attempt any eating challenges. Sure, the promise of gruffling a five-pound ostrich burger for free is tempting, but you and your passengers could pay a heavy price afterward.

Check out the pre-owned car of the day - A 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C250 Sedan!

Click here to learn more and come down for a test drive today!

All-new S-Class is beautiful!

When an all-new S-Class makes its debut, it compels the entire auto industry to rethink not only its definition of what constitutes excellence, but what's possible for the automobile itself. That time has come again.