~ By Ant Bradshaw ~

The appearance of the new CLS definitely over-shadowed the premieres of other from Mercedes in Paris this year at the Motor Show, including the new CL 63, 65 AMG and the S 250 CDI.

Since being released in late 2004, around 170,000 units of the original CLS have been sold across the world. The new 2011 model is the second generation of the sector-defining four door coupe, leading Mercedes to label it ‘a whole generation ahead of the competition.’


Despite maintaining the same proportions as its predecessor – that being a long bonnet, narrow windows and rake coupe roofline – Mercedes insists that ‘everything is different’ with the new CLS. This is clearly evident at the front of the vehicle, where the new grille and elongated inlets are much more aggressive and reminiscent of the SLS AMG.

The full LED headlamps are the first to offer ‘all the regular dynamic light functions’ according to the German giants, who also compares the muscular flared wheel arches of the coupe to ‘the powerful thighs of a feline ready to pounce’…

From the rear the broad shoulder line that supports the flat hardtop is clearly defined as well as a wide metal insert on the roof.

Staying true to the outgoing model, the cabin is a strict four seater despite having a longer wheelbase. I personally expect it to be a more spacious car, but exact dimensions are yet to be announced.

The central display is integrated into the dashboard, which in itself is an evolution of the current E-Class design, and the high line sweeps of the exterior continue inside with the instrument panel and the front doors.

Mercedes will offer five interior colours, five trim designs and three grades of leather, including the 1.6mm semi-aniline option. Customers can specify whether they would like a high gloss piano lacquer or carbon fibre trim elements.

An engine line up is yet to be confirmed, however a new 540bhp, 5.5 litre twin turbo unit is tipped as the flagship for the new CLS.

Prices will be revealed closer to the launch.

About the Author

Ant Bradshaw is currently working for AskAPrice.com which can provide you with great information on a massive range of manufacturers and models, as well as all the latest motoring industry news. AskAPrice also offers completely free, no obligation Mercedes-Benz quotes as well as the whole Mercedes range.

Copyright © 2010, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Author: Dave Tobin

I’ve been thinking about gas mileage recently. It seems to be on people’s minds, it’s always been a factor when car shopping I suppose, but my experience this past week shows me that gas mileage really does affect a purchase decision, in some cases, even makes the decision. I’d like to discuss Mercedes-Benz diesel options first. One common objection to the diesel option is “It’s more expensive than gas” after my analysis I don’t think that’s a valid objection at all, you’ve got to look at the numbers.


On Thursday I had a couple come in and trade in their 2007 Chevy Tahoe in on a new GL350 BlueTEC diesel. They live outside the Twin Cities and commute in, easily putting more than 100 miles on their SUV everyday. They need the space of an SUV to haul kids and their stuff, a car isn’t an option for them.

Yesterday a previous Feldmann Imports customer came in with his 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550 4matic sedan that had slightly less than 14,000 miles on it and traded it in on a 2010 S class Hybrid because he feels it’s the responsible thing to do… trade in his big V8 for an electrically assisted V6 Hybrid, he wasn’t using the almost 400 horsepower in the S550 anyway. Hybrids are a great option and we’ll discuss the new Mercedes-Benz Hybrid options in greater detail later this month.

When I look around the showfloor at Feldmann Imports I see an ML450 Hybrid SUV, the gorgeous S400 Hybrid, the first hybrid on the planet to use extremely efficient lithium ion batteries. I also see the ML350 BlueTEC diesel, and then there’s the GL350 BlueTEC diesel. We haven’t received the diesel version of the new E class sedan yet, but it will be arriving soon enough this Spring.

I was at a board meeting for the Twin Cities Section of the Mercedes-Benz Club the other night and got to talking to board member Jim Walrath. He owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML320 CDI diesel. Jim is a Mercedes diesel disciple to say the least, each time I see him he mentions how much he loves the ML diesel. He related that on a recent trip from Northwest Wisconsin where he lives to Boston and back he averaged 30.1 mpg in the ML320 CDI diesel while on the highway, at speed limit speeds.

According to Jim the “overall average was a little bit less at about 27.6. We put on quite a few miles of inefficient city driving so the average was pulled down. Total miles on the trip was 3007.”

Jim went on to tell me more about his ML Diesel, “We have made 35+ mpg on 55 mph highways in northern Iowa. Overall our mileage has been in the 27+ range but we do put a lot of highway miles on it – is is our vehicle of choice on any trip.”

That’s quite a bit more than the window sticker on that car says. I wanted to do a little research because people often look at me skeptically at the dealership when I mention that the bold EPA estimates on all of the window stickers in our showroom are on the conservative side.

I consulted www.fueleconomy.gov, the website we were told to use last summer during the “Cash For Clunkers” craze when deciding which cars qualified or didn’t qualify for a government rebate for some answers.

I should first mention that starting with model year 2008 the EPA changed the way they test cars for gas mileage, taking in to account the effects of “faster speeds and acceleration, air conditioner use, and colder outside temperatures.” Basically, estimates went down.

According to the fueleconomy.gov website, the sticker on Jim’s ML diesel in 2007 would have said the ML320 CDI 4matic would get 21mpg city / 27 mpg highway. The sticker, for the same vehicle based on today’s ratings would say 19 mpg city / 24 mpg highway. And after talking to Jim I know that he gets slightly over 30 mpg highway and over 20 mpg in the city. No doubt, that’s good gas mileage for an SUV that’s got a gross vehicle weight over 6000 pounds and has a towing capacity of 7200 pounds.

According to www.twincitiesgasprices.com it only looks like diesel is about 20 cents more than premium unleaded, which you’ve got to put in every other Mercedes-Benz vehicle anyway. The gas tank in the ML is a touch over 25 gallons at 20 cents a gallon, so it’s about $5.00 more to fill up the ML 320CDI than a normal gasoline ML350 4matic that has the same fuel capacity.

It comes down to cruising range… according to published vehicle specs the cruising range of the ML diesel on 25.1 gallons of fuel is 577 miles. The same 25.1 gallon capacity in the ML 350 gasoline V6 only has a range of 477 miles. So, the $5.00 extra it took to full up the diesel looks to be money well spent as far as I’m concerned.

In my experience there seem to be two types of customers when it comes to Mercedes-Benz diesels. One is the customer who walks in and says “Where are the diesels? I want to go for a test drive” the second is the customer who responds, “Don’t even bother telling me about them, I don’t want a diesel, I’d never buy one.”

Mercedes-Benz has been making diesel powered vehicles since the 1930s, of course they’ve come a long way, the newest generation of clean diesel BlueTEC engines are the cleanest, most efficient diesel engines ever produced. They’re a far cry from the old 300SD from the mid eighties that would shroud its departure in a screen of black diesel smoke. The new diesels are winning awards around the world for their eco friendly design and they’re certainly worth having a look at.

Copyright © 2010, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Authors: Brian Smith, Sukhwinder Singh

Mercedes-Benz is the brand which has always attracted motorists with the urge for the finer things in life, a point which is perhaps best exemplified by the gourgeous Mercedes coupes, the C124 Coupe, which was presented in 1986. The third generation E-Coupe made its debut at the Geneva auto show in 1986, and the reaction of the press and public alike was highly motivating. It was only natural, as one glance at this gourgeous coupe was enough.


The legacy of the mid-sized coupes started back in 1968 with the C 114 Coupe, then followed by the C 123 coupe 8 years later, both of which left a lasting impression of sheer class and style. Therefore, the C 124 coupe had some big shoes to fill, and it certainly did, if not exceeded it. The new mid-sized coupe followed closely on the footsteps of its larger C 126 S-Class Coupe brother, introduced 5 years before, which had already established a reputation of unparralled exclusivity - the new coupe, therefore, displayed a pure, sharply angled design idiom. Inside, the C 124 reflected on the outer style with a beautifully crafted interior, that displayed an atmosphere of calm elegance.

It was no secret that the E-Coupe was largely based on the highly acclaimed W 124 E-Class Saloon;this was clearly relected in its overall styling elements and running gear, and, this meant, needless to say, the E-Coupe offered the highest levels of quality and innovation. Worthy of mention is the major facelift which took place in 1993, with more softer styling and new model nomenclature introduced on the new E-Class - for example the 320 CE was renamed to E 320 Coupe.

Highest technological innovation

This new dream car immediately captured the imagination with its heart-warming appearance and emotionally passionate lines, but on the other side it had the technology to match its looks, in true Mercedes tradition - form follows function. The body was designed with a keen eye on aerodynamic efficiency and shared a reputation of world leading performance with its Saloon stablemate. At launch, the range comprised the 2.3 litre 230 CE, good for 150 hp, and the flagship was the smoothly assertive 3.0 litre inline-six in the form of the fuel-injected 300 CE;the range was futher enhanced in 1990 with the introduction of the 300 CE-24, which borrowed the newly developed high performing engine from the SL capable of an incredible 231 hp output. One of the key aspects of this new powerplant was the use of 4 valves per cylinder instead of the previous 2. The 300 CE-24 also served as the new top-model. The range was systematically revised throughout its lifecycle, but one interesting addition was a limited edition flagship from the AMG weapon factory - the E 36 AMG from 1994, offering a staggering 286 hp.

The mid-sized grand-tourer sported the underpinnings familiar from the W 124 saloon, but it was slightly modified with a shorter wheelbase - it therefore offered superlative comfort and dependable handling safety. More keener drivers had the choice of the Sportline variants, which offered stiffer tuned sports suspension and a manual transmission. This variant was particularly rare, outlining the expectations Mercedes-Benz customers have: the highest possible comfort and luxury, not necesseraly tyre wrenching handling.

The C 124 E-Coupe finally gave way to the CLK in 1997, which was aimed at a lower positioned, 'more younger' market. Today's cherished examples are becoming increasingly sought after by classic car collectors all over the world. The timeless appearance of this coupe still stirs the souls of many Mercedes admirers, even in these days. With 141,498 units leaving Sindelfingen, its appeal was no coincidence. Another masterpiece of automotive art from Mercedes-Benz, the E-class coupe legend lives on with the reviving having took place in March 2009, with the C 207. The timeless appeal of this coupe will only mature with the passing of time, just like a fine wine, and its rock-solid build will certainly ensure that.

For more photos of the C 124, follow the next link: http://mercedes.pp.ru/gal124eng.shtml

Author: Sukhwinder Singh
Contributor: Vikral Bhatt

Since the dawn of the automobile, there has been an increasingly advancing quest to make the concept even better; more safety, comfort, performance are always of desire, but more importantly, the neccessity of environmental compatibility;the last point, particularly had in mind, was the reason for the introduction of this forward-looking automoble, the Auto 2000. Mercedes-Benz, the brand that always reinvents itself, certainly reinvented itself in 1981 with the debut of the Auto 2000, which tested alternative drive systems. The concept displayed a level of innovation previously not seen, and as Mercedes-Benz has consistently surprised the automotive world and continues to do so, this was no exception.


The Auto 2000 was solely presented to offer a glimpse of the future of environmentally efficient fascination. It debuted three different types of systems; one was the remarkable self cut-off ability of the 3.8 litre V8 gasoline powerplant, the other was a highly advanced 3.3 litre diesel with bi-turbocharging, boasting an exemplary acceleration and a fuel consumption of only 31.3 mpg(7.5 l/100 km), and finally, the gas turbine, an unusual system, which offered the best of both worlds.

Maybe the most ineresting and most important finding was the 3.8 litre V8 gasoline engine derived from the W 126 S-Class, but having been substantially modified and featuring automatic cut-off technology. This remarkabaly ingenious innovation certainly caused a stir in 1981, as the engine powering the Auto 2000 was the first powerplant in the world which permitted operation on only half of its cylinder capacity. In situations where the engine was using only a proportion of its total power, for instance in case of constant travel such as highways, or low speed urban driving, the engine would automatically recognise the driving situation and cut-off 4 cylinders;that meant only 4 cylinders were driving the car, and, perhaps most surprisingly, without a sacrifice on smoothness and quiteness, which was a further plus. This technology clearly had positive effects on consumption and emmisions, with the fuel consumption being reduced to just 9.3 litres per 100 km in the euromix cycle. Naturally, if the driver wished to put his foot down, the system would re-activate the other 4 cylinders for full performance.

This innovation was brought to reality in the new 1998 S-Class;the sensational newly developed V8 engine for the S 500 utilised this technology, then further grew to the flagship S 600 V 12 model, both saloon and coupe. This just goes to show the unique way in which Mercedes-Benz integrates their exclusive technological innovations into cycles of different generations and the unmatched advanced innovation on display; the 1998 S-Class, which was launched almost 20 years later used this technology and even then it was considered a technologial masterpice. This clearly demonstrates the relentless approach Mercedes-Benz quests for.

In styling terms, the new concept had an unusually dignified look, which was very rare in the sense that this car served as a 'lab car'. In true Mercedes-Benz style, even though the Auto 2000 was in no way a design study, it still managed to combine design elements in a successful way, with the usual 80's extreme ways of thinking exemplified in the rear section and the way the bonnet opens. But, besides these small 'flinky' elements, it had a strong personality, which was no coincidence as its design was largely based on the W 126 S-Class, and the front section resembling that of the newly presented S-Class Coupe, with its wide SL style grill sporting the incorporated star sitting proudly in the centre. Even in terms of body, it was designed to function, achieving an incredibly low Cd figure of only 0.28, which even by todays standards is a very good figure. Strangely enough, the new concept also displayed a face which was very similar to that of the W 124 E-Class launched 3 years later;it displayed a front end which was steeply raked in an upwards fashion, an element that has been part of almost every Mercedes since the W 124 model, and not forgetting its great effects on aerodynamic efficiency.

The Auto 2000, designed for newly allocated legislations of car development, may never would have existed if it were not for these new proposals. It was a concept, like every model Mercedes-Benz makes, which in 1981 commited to the future development of the automobile in an unmatched way. The automatic cylinder cut-off feature, for example, was an engineering miracle, only to be found in a car wearing the sublime three pointed star. The Auto 2000 research prototype is only one of the many examples Mercedes-Benz has shown over the years - not only reinventing itself but also the automotive industry as a whole.