The Mercedes CLA has been officially unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, and, as the spy shots revealed, the next logical step was a more powerful, AMG version. The model made its debut today at the 2013 New York Auto Show and will be put on sale in September.
When compared to the standard CLA-Class, the new AMG version will add a more aggressive design language, with elements we have already seen on models like the CLS 63 AMG. These specific elements include an AMG "twin blade" radiator grille, an AMG front apron, large cooling air intakes and for the rear an AMG apron and of course the two chrome-plated twin tailpipes of the AMG sports exhaust system.
Even if a tiny sedan, the new CLA 45 AMG is offering technologies used in the SLS AMG sports car, like the cooling system for the four-cylinder engine.
Updated 03/19/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specifications.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2014 Mercedes CLA 45 AMG.
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If you want to see a good video review, we suggest you look for one made by Chris Harris. We don’t know why, but we love how he tests cars.
His latest review features a very cool Mercedes SLS Black Series. The test was made at the Paul Ricard circuit, and, according to Harris, this is "a good car to watch and listen to, honest."
Many people accused Harris of reviewing too many AMG models in the past few weeks, but we can’t complain. We want more, no matter what he has to say about them!
The SLS AMG Black Series is powered by a 622-horsepower, V-8 engine and, because is about 154 pounds lighter than the standard SLS, it also delivers improved performance figures: it goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and up to a top speed of 195 mph.
Back in 2011 Senner Tuning announced an upgrade package for the Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe version. Today, the same package has been extended to the roadster version. Just like with the coupe, the roadster version receives an extra 35 horsepower under the hood and new wheels, combined with an upgraded suspension system.
Senner Tuning added a new exhaust system made in high-grade steel and a new set of high-performance air filters to help boost its output beyond the standard 571 horsepower and 650 Nm (479 pound-feet) of torque. The end result is an SLS Roadster that delivers a total of 606 horsepower and a peak torque of 508 pound-feet. AS standard, the SLS AMG hits 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 197 mph. This package likely drops its acceleration time down to around 3.7 seconds and it may allow the SLS AMG to tickle the 200-mph mark.
Senner also installed new wheels, sized 9-by-20 inches with 255/30R20 tires up front and 11.5-by-21 inches with 295/25R21 Hankook S1 Evo-tires for the rear. The wheels are painted in titanium gray and are combined with a special coil-over suspension system made by KW Automotive.
When you think of the term “Stealth,” the last thing that comes to mind is a bright-orange CLS63 AMG with nearly 800 horsepower screaming down city streets. Well, apparently the folks over at German Special Customs couldn’t care less what you think about the term, as they rocked the CLS to supercar status and called it just that: Stealth.
On the outside, you get the already sexy coupè look wrapped up in a super-bright shade of orange that is ripped straight from the Aventador’s color palette. Up front, GSC adds in an aggressive front bumper with integrated LED daytime running lights, a mean-looking hood with monstrous heat-extracting vents and all-new fenders that cap off the vicious front end.
Around the backside, you get an all-new rear bumper cover that boasts a carbon-fiber diffusor to help pull the back end down at high speeds. A high-grade-steel four-pipe exhaust system is one with the diffusor, giving the CLS 63 a clean finish and a rather mean exhaust note.
Also added into the mix is a set of wheels size 20-by-9 inches up front and 20-by-10.5 inches on the back wrapped up in super-sticky Michelin tires sized 255/30R20 and 305/25R20, respectively. This sticky rubber is combined with a KW coil-over suspension system and adjustable dampers to make this massive performance coupè even more competent in the twist.
Inside, you also get a tasty treat, as GSC fits the CLS63 AMG with orange Lambo leather and a slew of carbon-fiber components.
What makes the Stealth so bad-ass is what’s under the hood. The 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine was already powerful from the factory – 518 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque – but GSC did it one better. The tuner pumped this V-8’s output up to 750 horsepower and 1,150 Nm (848 pound-feet) of torque. This drops its 0-to-100 km/h (62 mph) time down to just 3.7 seconds and bumps its top speed up to 350 km/h (217 mph). That’s a good 0.7 seconds faster to 100 km/h than the stock CLS63 AMG.
Unfortunately, GSC didn’t offer up a price on this beastly kit, but you can contact them at info@germanspecialcustoms.com for pricing details. We’re sure it is somewhere near the €50,000 ($65,000) mark.
Click past the jump to read German Special Customs’ press release
The new-generation Mercedes S-Class will be making its world debut on May 15th, in Hamburg, Germany and it comes with lots of good news. Along with the sedan version, the new S-Class will also include new coupe and convertible version, but also a new limousine that will replace the old Maybach brand.
The new model - known as the S600 Pullman - was caught testing last week, and based on those spy shots, we have created a rendering that will help you get an idea on what to expect from the next model.
Spy shots revealed that the new S600 Pullman will be about 6 to 12 inches longer than the standard S-Class, thanks to the longer B-pillars and significantly longer rear doors. Under the hood, we expect the next S600 Pullman to get a twin-turbocharged V-12 engine that will deliver about 600 horsepower. Rumors suggest we will also see a hybrid version a few months after the gasoline model arrives on the market.
Expect the new Mercedes S600 Pullman to arrive a few months after the standard S-Class arrives on the market.
The Mercedes GLK-Class was unveiled back in 2008 and Mercedes is already planning the next generation for 2015. The model will be based on the next C-Class platform and rumors have been swirling about an AMG model for the first time. However, in a recent interview, AMG director of vehicle development, Tobias Moers, dismissed those rumors, suggesting that such a model does not fit on the market right now.
Apparently, transforming the GLK into a real AMG model will cost a lot and such an investment makes no sense on the current market. Keep in mind, though, that things could change once Porsche drops the new Macan on the market.
When asked about the new Audi Q3 RS, Moers said that Audi did not apply the right strategy and that the model does not deliver the right amount of power for an RS model. Translated, he does not think the RS Q3 would be a real threat for and SMG variant of the GLK-Class.
Back in 2007 Daimler, Renault and Nissan signed an agreement that will bring new models and technologies to all the three companies. For Daimler, this partnership will bring a new model placed under the current A-Class that is rumored to be called the X-Class.
The new X-Class will be launched in 2018 and will be built on the next-generation Renault Clio platform as a competitor for BMW’s front-wheel-drive vehicles.
Mercedes will try to keep the price as low as possible - somewhere in the €20,000 area ( around$26,000 at the current exchange rates) and for this the new X-Class will be heavily influenced by Renault and Nissan models, but it will still offer the minimum of luxury offered by the Mercedes models.
Under the hood, the upcoming X-Class will get a new 1-liter three-cylinder and a 1.5-liter four-cylinder, while a hybrid or an electric version and a double-clutch gearbox are out of the question.
The X-Class will be offered in both sedan and crossover variants and Mercedes expects to sell around 100,000 to 150,000 units annually.
*NOTE: The image above is of the A-Class.
With the hypercar market still going strong despite the general downturn in global economy, at least one performance brand isn’t sweating the fact that it won’t be building any hypercar anytime soon.
Mercedes’ performance division, AMG, has made it clear that it has no plans of joining today’s competitive hypercar market. That much was made clear by its director of vehicle development, Tobias Moers, who told Australia’s CarAdvice that the company won’t be releasing a hypercar - or a hybrid for that matter - in the near future.
“There are a lot of rumors,” Moers said, before adding “What I can confirm today is that the SLS is not a single-shoot story. It’s not SLS runs for four years then no super-sports car from AMG.”
Moers admits that the hypercar segment, traditionally slotted just above "supercars,” is a vicinity that doesn’t quite resonate with Mercedes customers the same way it does for, say, clients of Ferrari. AMG did venture into the market with the SLR about a decade ago, but ultimately, the overriding belief in the AMG camp is that it’s better off leaving that segment alone.
“Ferrari in the hypercar segment is still a different brand than AMG," Moers added. "We have to be honest.”
While this piece of news may not be all that surprising, Moers did give hints of the long rumored AMG model that would slot in between the its existing C63 and SLS models. "You’re not wrong … maybe,” Moers said regarding the possibility of a new AMG model, rumored to be the SLC, arriving soon.
With Daimler choosing to cut the Maybach brand, there is now a huge gap in the luxury automaker’s line of vehicles. Despite how hard Mercedes tries, it simply cannot compete with super-luxury brands, like Bentley and Rolls-Royce. Well, that was until Mercedes announced a Pullman edition – longer – of the upcoming revised S-Class.
Even with that announcement, we still have no clue when the model will be unveiled or exactly how long it will be. That is, until today, as our slick spy photographers have snapped seven shots of the 600 Pullman and one of those images caught the new S-Class sedan in front of the 600 Pullman. You can clearly see that the 600 Pullman is a good 6 to 12 inches longer than the already-long S-Class. This extra length is thanks to the addition of longer B-pillars and significantly longer rear doors.
We expect to see a twin-boosted V-12 engine under the 600 Pullman’s hood initially, but don’t be shocked to see a hybrid drivetrain to make its way onto the market. We’re not too sure if the Pullman will make it to the U.S.
Stay tuned for more information!
German tuner extraordinaire, Vath, has made a living building some of the most impressive Mercedes programs this side of Brabus.
Recently, Vath added another program to its growing portfolio, this time for the 2013 Mercedes A-Class. The program is actually based on the A250 and comes with a host of upgrades that give new life to the German automaker’s resident sports hatchback.
To be fair, the A-Class already looks pretty good in standard guise, but it certainly looks better with Vath’s aerodynamic program. The carbon front spoiler lip (€1416 / $1,840) adds sporty aggression to the sports hatch while the car’s brakes were improved with the addition of stainless-steel brake lines and Castrol SRF racing brake fluid. Rounding out the list of exterior enhancements is a set of 19-inch wheels and tires (€2,545 / $3,310) and lowering springs (€333 / $433) that drop the car’s height by 30mm (1.18 inches).
Inside, there are not a whole lot of upgrades, but at least there’s a new sports steering wheel to go with several wood and carbon applications inside the cabin.
Moving to the engine, Vath kept the A250’s 2.0-liter gasoline engine, but thanks to a remapped ECU unit (€940 / $1,222) and the installation of a 270 EVO downpipe system, a stainless-steel, 200-cell tri-metal catalyst and a rear silencer (all priced at €5,450 / $7,090), the tuner was able to improve the output all the way to 245 horsepower and 287 pound-feet of torque. Those new output numbers translate to a 0-to-100km/h (62 mph) time of just 5.9 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph.
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