Let’s begin here by saying that the BrabusMercedes-McLaren SLR Roadster is one of the most awesome cars ever manufactured. A 5.5-liter supercharged V-8 engine pumps out 650 horses gets this machine up to a top speed of 211 mph. Toss in just the sheer awesomness that it’s a Mercedes too, and few can compete.
As much as we love these cars, some of their owners take the privileged to drive one a little too far. We understand and even agree that these cars need their legs stretched out every now and again, but there is a time and place for it. The very last place to stretch out the legs on a 650-horsepower monster is a parking garage.
Well, this outstanding citizen decides to take his (or someone’s) $1 million Mercedes in excess of 90 mph through a parking garage. That’s right, I wouldn’t do half of the top speed of a Geo Metro through a parking garage and this guy is halfway there on a 650-horsepower supercar.
What’s worse is the annoying chucklehead in the passenger’s seat is just laughin’ away like he’s watching a young Jim Carrey movie. Then adding insult to injury, a dinging alarm goes off. What’s that, the a-hole alarm maybe? No, that’s the seatbelt alarm; these guys are doing this idiotic stuff without seatbelts on…
Didn’t these guys think that maybe a kid could come running out from between a few cars? Maybe a person might decide he wants to pull his car out of one of the parking spaces. Really, what exactly goes through the heads of these people before they do things like this?
Ugh, okay enough of my fatherly ranting. Check out the above video to see for yourself. We can say that the in-car audio from the 5.5-liter V-8 is phenomenal, but the idiocy of the two squash-for-brains guys in the car seriously outweighs the impressiveness of the car.
Mercedes warmed the crowds up at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show by displaying the SL 63 AMG, but next month at the 2012 New York Auto Show, things will be heating up as the company will be bringing an even more powerful version for the current SL-Class: the SL 65 AMG.
While the current SL 63 AMG is powered by a 5.5-liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 537 HP and 590 lb-ft of torque, the SL 65 AMG will be powered by a AMG 6.0-liter V12 biturbo engine that delivers a total of 621 HP and a maximum torque of 738 lb-ft. With this amount of power the SL 65 AMG will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, while top speed goes up to an impressive 186 mph (in Europe it will be limited to 155 mph).
In Germany, the new SL 65 AMG will go on sale in September 2012 at a starting price of 236,334 euro (about $310,000 at the current exchange rates). Prices for the US market will be announced at a later date.
UPDATE 04/24/2012: Mercedes has unveiled a new promo video showing off the brand new SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG as they drive through the beautiful Tenerife. Enjoy!
Hit the jump to read more about the new Mercedes SL 65 AMG.
Many years ago, I was a lowly sales person at a Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep dealership in Florida. As a sales person, you got to test drive nearly every new car and every trim level of every new car, as they came in. It was the only way to really get a feel for each car. There were only a few vehicles that we were forbidden to touch. Those vehicles were the Dodge Viper and the Ram 1500 SRT-10, because those were considered collectibles and the extra mileage could reduce their value – plus they knew what we would do with them.
This is pretty much standard procedure at every single car dealership, including Mercedes. The Mercedes C63 AMC Coupe Black Series is much like the Viper and SRT-10 Ram were for Dodge, simply untouchable. Apparently a few technicians at Star Motors in Ottawa, Canada did not get that memo.
They took one of the 30 models of the Black Series available in Canada out on an 8:11 joyride through Ottawa. It would be one thing if they just drove it around to look cool and brought it back to the shop safely. Nope, these techs decided to see what this AMG coupe could do on multiple occasions.
At one point, the driver mentions that in manual mode, the car does not automatically up shift. The passenger didn’t believe him, so the guy proceeds to take the car up to redline in first gear and keep it there for about five seconds. This car can certainly handle that, but as all new car techs should know, these things require a break-in period before seeing that sort of stress.
Thankfully, the snoops over at MBWorld.com recognized the dealership, and alerted officials at Mercedes-Benz Canada. Mercedes is currently attempting to track down the owner of this thrashed upon vehicle to let him or her know the scoop on the car. Whether or not Mercedes will compensate the owner with anything is not known
All we can hope is that these techs got what was coming to them by the car gods!
The ink on the $1 billion deal that sent Ducati motoring over to Audi’s ownership is still not quite dry yet, and AMG, Mercedes-Benz’s performance group, has officially ended its “marketing relationship” with Ducati.
Ducati and Benz officially announced the shared marketing deal back at the 2010 LA Auto Show, but AMG just couldn’t keep the deal moving now that Audi, a direct competitor, owns the brand. First off is the awkward timing of the announcement, as the Diavel AMG – a Ducati and AMG collaboration bike – just hit showrooms. Audi hasn’t made an announcement regarding the AMG collaboration bike, but it’s likely to remain until all of the units are sold.
Honestly though, this looks almost like AMG is dropping the shared marketing plan out of spite by saying “The company takeover by a rival car manufacturer has understandably resulted in the end of any further collaboration.” Maybe we’re reading too much into it, but this is reminiscent of a teenage argument over whom is whose best friend and you can be friends with her because I don’t like her.
Honestly, with all of the mergers and collaborations that go on in the automotive and motorcycle realm, why would AMG really car if its rival car manufacturer bought a bike manufacturer that it shares advertising with. There has to be a little more to the story that will surely come out at some point.
The new Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe Black Series made its world debut at the Formula 1 German Grand Prix on the Nürburgring. The new model features a spectacular design, technology transfer from the world of motorsport, and the highest level of driving dynamics. Sales on the US market will begin in early 2012.
The Mercedes C63 AMG is powered by a 6.3 liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 510 HP and a peak torque of 457 lb-ft. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph will be made in 4.2 seconds, while top speed will be limited to 155 mph.
Next to an impressive exterior look, the C63 AMG Black Series will be equipped with adjustable AMG coil-over sports suspension, the AMG high-performance compound braking system, and functional standard equipment. A special AMG Track Package will add sports tires and active rear-axle transmission cooling, and the AMG Aerodynamics package will include flics, a functionally tuned front splitter, and an adjustable carbon-fiber rear aerofoil.
UPDATE 04/19/2012: The new Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series Coupe has finally been dressed to match its name. British customers will receive an exclusive Matte Black edition of the C63AMG Black Series Coupe and we have the first images of the new version. Check them out in the picture gallery provided!
UPDATE 05/08/2012: Mercedes has unveiled a pretty cool video presenting the "dark side" of their new C63 AMG Black Series. Enjoy some amazing driving scenes!
Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series.
The last model in the new G-Class to be announced is the G65 AMG - the most powerful and the most expensive model in the line-up. The new G65 AMG features an AMG 6.0-liter V12 biturbo engine that delivers an impressive 612 HP, but is also one of the most expensive models currently available on the market. It is priced at 264,180 euro, or about $346,000 at the current exchange rates.
The new Mercedes G65 AMG will be distinguished by its high-gloss chrome radiator grille and new set of 20"AMG five-spoke light alloy wheels painted in titanium grey with a high-sheen finish. On the interior, Mercedes added designo leather exclusive upholstery and a leather instrument panel trim. A unique feature is the distinctive V12 diamond design of the seats and the numerous V12 badges.
UPDATE 04/19/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images of the Mercedes G65 AMG.
Hit the jump to read more about the new Mercedes G65 AMG.
It’s been close to four years since noted Mercedes tuner Brabus got their hands on a new Mercedes SL Roadster. But now that Mercedes has introduced the new 2013 SL, Brabus wasted little time getting re-acclimated with the drop-top sports car.
With the delivery of the new SL500 still fresh, Brabus has yet to work their magic on the car. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t expect the usual array of goodies that has become a staple from the Mercedes tuner extraordinaire.
What that means is we’re expecting nothing less than ’spectacular’ from these guys. A new wide body kit should be in the offering, as are suspension modifications, a dressed-up interior, and a comprehensive performance upgrade that only Brabus can build. We have extremely high expectations for these guys knowing that they can deliver the goods without even breaking a sweat.
No timetable has been given as to when the new program for the SL500 will be completed, but we do expect it to make its debut at a major auto show later this year. It doesn’t matter if it’s Frankfurt, Paris, or even Los Angeles. We just can’t wait to see what Brabus does with the 2013 SL500 Roadster.
This video of the Renntech E63 AMG was taken at the Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida where the car set a blazing quarter-mile time of 11.15 seconds at 126.7 mph, making it the fastest Mercedes E63 AMG in the world.
The car, which hit 12.06 seconds at 116 mph on stock tires, was given an ECU modification, increasing its output from 555 horsepower and 545 lb/ft of torque all the way up 680 horsepower and 732 lb/ft of torque. Do the math and that’s an increase of over 100 horsepower. Other than that, it was run near stock.
Despite temperatures of around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the E63 AMG still managed to clock in such a ridiculous time. And while there’s still no confirmation on the record-setting numbers, that 11.15-second quarter-mile time for an E63 AMG is still a mighty impressive feat in our mind.
Mercedes has been hot to trot lately with an onslaught of different models just spilling out of the German manufacturer. The SLS AMG is fresh and so is the SLK Roadster. And, as a next logical step, the SL-Class has also entered a whole new generation. The new SL continues the tradition started by its predecessor, but offers considerably more comfort and athletic character, setting new standards in the luxury roadster class.
The US market will only get the SL550 version - a model powered by a 4663 cc V8 engine that delivers a total of 429 HP and 516 lb-ft of torque. The engine will be combined with ECO stop/start function as standard equipment and a 7-Speed Driver-Adaptive automatic transmission. The European market will benefit from that model, as well as an SL350 version that will use a V6 engine with an output of 306 HP.
UPDATE 04/17/2012: Mercedes USA has released a new walk around video of the SL-Class Roadster. Be sure to give it a watch because the SL’s product manager, Dave Larsen, will be the one taking you through everything you need to know about the new member of Mercedes’ legendary SL line. Check out the video after the jump!
The AMG version of the new Mercedes A-Class has been caught testing one more time, wearing less camouflage than ever before. The future A-Class AMG - or A25 AMG as it has been rumored to be called - will look pretty much like a normal A-Class, but it will differ thanks to a pair of bigger air intakes, more market side sills, and a new set of wheels combined with some upgraded brakes.
Under the hood, Mercedes will place a 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder engine delivering an impressive 350 HP. The engine will send its power to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Mercedes cars
