Mercedes Midsize Cars

As an entry-level luxury performance cabriolet within the AMG lineup, the Mercedes-AMG C43 Cabriolet continues a famous line of Mercedes-branded convertibles that shaped this part of the automotive landscape. With the latest redesign, the Mercedes-AMG C43 Cabriolet brings more power, a more aggressive exterior, and refined tech onboard. Our test drive revealed if it still has the grace and unique character that every Mercedes cabriolet carries with pride.

Mercedes has given its C-Class-sized SUV, the GLC, its obligatory mid-lifecycle refresh in order to bring it in line with the rest of its model roster. It now has a new face, an updated interior, a new 2.0-liter turbo engine, mild hybrid technology, and some new safety technology too.

The Mercedes-Benz EQC is the first all-electric model part of the EQ family, Mercedes’ range of vehicles designed from the get-go with electrification in mind. The EQC hasn’t yet reached third-party crash testers such as the EURO NCAP or the NHTSA, but the car apparently passed with flying colors the German automaker’s own internal crash tests.

Unveiled publically at this year’s Paris Motor Show, the EQC is Mercedes’ first bet for the new-generation EV market. It’s a compact luxury SUV, similar to the gas-powered GLC-Class, that will be on the market next year. Mercedes-Benz revealed that it already put the EQC up against a few rigid structures for some in-house evaluatory crash tests at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Center for Vehicle Safety (TFS).

You wouldn’t exactly be wrong if you said the X-Class is just a rebadged Nissan. In fact, it really is just a rebadged Nissan – the Nissan NP300, to be exact. Be that as it may, Merc managed to do a little bit to make it its own by adding in your traditional Mercedes styling cues like those sleek headlights, that grille, and let’s not forget the unmistakable front fascia that literally screams Mercedes. Of course, the interior is all Nissan too, but there are some Mercedes DNA in the mix there too. Under the hood, you’ll find one of four engines – two four-cylinder diesels, one V-6 diesel, and one gasoline-powered four-banger. All can be had with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic, save for the V-6 which forces you to take the auto in exchange for a full-time four-wheel drive system. With that in mind (and despite the fact that it’s just a Nissan wearing a Mercedes costume,) we’ve decided the X-Class deserves a little time as Wallpaper of the day. We’ve picked out our favorite, but we’ve also left a gallery down at the bottom if you want to take a few more.

Rumored for more than two years now, the four-door version of the Mercedes-AMG GT sports car finally broke cover at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. However, it turns out that the GT 4-Door is exactly a sedan version of the already popular coupe. The four-door model not only uses a different platform that the sports car — based on that of the midsize E-Class — but it also looks a bit different front and rear. While this isn’t necessarily an issue, the fact that it’s very similar to the recently unveiled CLS has ignited some debate on whether Mercedes-Benz was a bit lazy in the design department.

Granted, the two cars are far from identical, but there aren’t many differences to talk about inside and out. That’s why we decided to bring them side by side for a proper comparison. Of course, with the AMG GT 4-Door being the more performance-oriented model, a proper comparison isn’t possible, but fortunately, both models come in "AMG 53" spec. Let’s have a closer look at what sets them apart on the outside, inside the cabin, and under the hood in the comparison below. Does it make sense for Merc to offer both? Leave your comments in the box below.

Continue reading for the full story.

God love Mercedes-Benz and its outlandish imagination for all things off-roading. The automaker has built a one-off 4x4² version of its new E-Class All-Terrain. Yes, a 4x4²! You’ll recognize that odd designation from the AMG G550 4x4², the four-wheeled version of the high-riding AMG G63 6x6. But it’s not just the name that’s similar. Mercedes actually fitted the E-Class wagon with the same Portal hubs as the G550 4x4². The extra height gives this AWD car a whopping 16 inches of ground clearance. That’s equal to a Humvee!

The project is the brainchild of Jürgen Eberle, a vehicle development engineer assigned to the E-Class. According to Auto Express, Eberle wanted to build something that gave the new 2017 E-Class All-Terrain some credence to its name. Eberle was eventually given a small budget after approaching his bosses with the idea. The E-Class suspension was modified to accommodate the large portal hub assemblies at each wheel, which drastically widened the E-Class’ track. This necessitated fender flares, which Eberle and his team crafted from carbon fiber. Beadlock wheel and 31-inch-tall winter tires were then added to round out the project. The best part – nothing else changes. The remainder of the exterior and all of the interior is standard E-Class All-Terrain, making this one awesome looker.

Continue reading for more on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain 4x4².

Mercedes-AMG just dropped cover on the newGLC 63 and GLC 63 Coupe about a week before both vehicles were scheduled to appear in the metal at the New York International Auto Show. The mid-size SUV can be had in two separate flavors, including the 476-horsepower base model, or the 510-horsepower S model, both of which employ a double dose of turbo’d induction to make the go. Torque is rated at 479 pound-feet and 516 pound-feet, respectively.

Keeping it tight in the bends is a three-chamber air suspension system with adaptive components, including a four-link set-up in front and a multi-link set-up in the rear. Turns come courtesy of speed-sensitive steering.

Outside, you’ll find standard 19-inch wheels in a titanium grey finish, plus a new fascia with a grille AMG has dubbed Panamericana as a nod to the brand’s sports cars.

Inside, the pumped-up GLC’s get sport seating and leatherette upholstery, plus AMG-specific touches like badges and a performance gauge cluster.

Handling the cog swaps is an AMG Speedshift nine-speed automatic transmission, which feeds a rear-biased 4Matic+ high-performance AWD system. Big upgraded brakes are in place to make it stop.

Drivers will enjoy multiple drive modes, which affect numerous vehicle characteristics, including the sound it makes thanks to an active flap in the exhaust. Turn it up to enhance the aural enjoyment, or turn it down for a more appropriate note for whatever the situation may be.

Look for the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 and GLC 63 Coupe to premier next week in the Big Apple. Sales are scheduled for June, with a market launch in September.

Mercedes-Benz is busy testing the production-spec X-Class, its mid-size pickup truck developed in partnership with Nissan. We’ve already seen several test mules running about with Nissan bodywork, but this is the first time we’re seeing the Mercedes version. High-end headlights, the large grille, and several other familiar Mercedes details spoil the camouflage’s effectiveness.

Up front, it’s clear this isn’t a Nissan Navara. The headlights feature LED lighting technology, including the familiar daytime running lights eyebrow. The grille is also Mercedes-esque, with a center-mounted logo hidden behind the swirly camo. Squint hard enough, and you’ll even see the horizontal chrome grill hidden behind the wire mesh. Down low, proximity sensors are peppered across the bumper, while the radar beacon for the adaptive cruise controls sits perfectly centered. A single tow hook hides further down on the passenger side.

The hood also shares the two bulges seen on the X-Class Concept truck that debuted back in October of 2016. At the sides, the doors and windows share similar traits to both the X-Class concept and the Nissan Navara, suggesting little will change with the production model. The rear end also receives some changes, including LED taillights and a step bumper.

Under the hood, the X-Class will use Mercedes powertrains. The 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel is rumored to be the range-toping engine. Currently offered elsewhere in Mercedes’ lineup, (but not in the U.S.) the engine kicks out 261 brake horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. A variety of four-cylinder engines are expected, too. Mercedes is expected to use its 9G nine-speed automatic transmission and 4Matic AWD system. Should the X-Class actually make it Stateside, it might get Mercedes’ new 3.0-liter inline-six gasoline engine barring any under-hood packaging issues.

Continue reading for more information.

Yesterday, I announced the reveal of the BMW 5 Series Touring, lamenting how us ‘Mericans would probably get left out in the cold when it came to handsome, fun-to-drive wagon models. Apparently, Mercedes-AMG was listening, because today it announced the arrival of an outrageous, high-powered AMG-variant of the E-Class five-door. It’s called the E 63 S, taking after the Mercedes four-door of the same name, and it’s got the goods to go with the title. Because when it comes to grabbing a week’s worth of groceries and picking the kids up from soccer practice, more than 600 horsepower just feels right.

Of course, you could use this thing for more than shuttling around the progeny and their juice boxes. After all, it’s got 35 cubic feet of space in back for, well, whatever, plus the second row can be folded down at a 40:20:40 split as you see fit.

So it’s versatile, that much is obvious. Now let’s talk about why it’s fast.

Under the hood is an AMG-tuned 4.0-liter V-8, which is boosted by two twin-scroll turbos for a rip-snortin’ 603 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 627 pound-feet of torque at 2,500 rpm. Fed through an AMG-tuned nine-speed automatic gearbox and permanent 4Matic+ AWD system (with drift mode, by the way), it’s enough motivation to send this thing to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited at 180 mph.

And it’s not just a one-trick pony, either. Making it turn is a new AMG air suspension system with tunable adaptive damping, an electronic rear limited-slip differential, AMG speed-sensitive steering, and 15-inch high-performance brakes. Ceramic composite brakes are optional, because of course.

Inside are the usual AMG bits and pieces, with a flat-bottom steering wheel, carbon fiber trim, and two performance-oriented digital gauge readouts, each measured at 12.3 inches in diameter. There are optional performance seats, while Nappa leather was added to the dash and beltlines.

Look for the 2018 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Wagon this March at the Geneva Motor Show. Sales will commence this fall. In the U.S.

Mercedes-Benz began revamping its sedan lineup in 2013, when the current-generation S-Class went on sale. In early 2014, the new C-Class went in production as a shrunken S-Class, with a stylish yet sporty exterior and numerous cues borrowed from Stuttgart’s full-size limo. After more than a year of speculation and months of teasers, the brand-new, tenth-generation E-Class has finally been unveiled at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show.

Not surprisingly, the E-Class was also redesigned around the same styling language that debuted on the current S-Class. Granted, the midsize does have a few unique features of its own, but ignore the tiny details and it seems that Mercedes-Benz adopted Audi’s "same sausage, different lengths" way of doing things. This is obviously part of Mercedes’ plan of providing its sedan lineup with a more cohesive appearance than before, but it remains to be seen whether customers will appreciate it or not. One thing is certain, this has happened before, as the three sedans were quite similar in appearance back in the 1980s.

Styling aside, the new E-Class can brag about a new platform, a redesigned interior that is gorgeous to look at, and a new lineup of powerplants, including both a turbocharged four-cylinder and a brand-new four-pot diesel. As usual, not all engines will be available in the U.S., but more about that in our review below.

Updated 06/17/2016: Mercedes dropped U.S. prices for the E300, standard and 4Matic versions which are now available at dealers nationwide. Prices for all the other versions, including the AMG one will be announced closer to fall market launch. Check the "Prices" section for the full details.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 Mercedes E-Class.

Inden Design is not your typical Mercedes-Benz tuner. Unlike Brabus or Carlsson, this small German tuning house rarely focuses on appearance. Sure, some of its vehicles feature a few nips and tucks and different wheels, but Inden’s modifying skills are more visible under the hood and in the suspension department.

Not surprising, the company’s most recent project, which is based on the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, follows the same recipe. The sedan got wrapped, lowered and slammed on bigger, sexier wheels, while its engine had its output increased by nearly 30 percent.

Inden Design’s vehicle of choice is a C-Class fitted with the company’s sports grille, which comes with the traditional three-pointed star embedded in the grille. Up front, the sedan can be easily mistaken for a standard C-Class, with only the lip spoiler standing out through its gloss-black paint. On the regular model, the piece sports a body-color finish. Things are a tad different around back, where the AMG Line apron houses a set of exhaust pipes taken from the C63 AMG Black Series Coupe.

But wait, there’s more to this souped-up C-Class than just a new exhaust and front spoiler piece.

Click past the jump to read more about Mercedes C-Class By Inden Design.

Mercedes brought out the C-Class in 1993 as a replacement for the 190E, and since then, it has sprouted three generations and has become the most important model in the company’s lineup. To keep the momentum going, Mercedes-Benz launched the fourth-generation C-Class (internally called the W205), replacing the seven-year-old W204 model. The car’s design lines are inspired by the F800 Concept Car displayed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show but also borrows styling cues from the bigger S-Class sedan.

This changes the looks of the C-Class quite significantly compared to the previous model, which now seems to be downright featureless. The new compact also has a more organic feel thanks to its sculpted, muscular body that also integrates a few angular, aggressive cues. The interior is also brand-new, and again, heavily inspired by the S-Class. This is a good thing though, as the full-size sedan has one of the most exciting cabins in its niche. And having seen the 3 Series’ interior, it’s safe to say that the C-Class wins the battle hands down. Finally, the compact sedan also comes with a range of new engines in both the standard and the AMG versions. Find out more about that in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

In-line sixes have been a forte of BMW for some time now, but a look back in history reveals an unbroken relationship between Mercedes-Benz and straight-six engines. This engine configuration has its advantages over the rest and that’s why car makers prefer in-line sixes over others, even today. Mercedes-Benz dropped it from their lineup two decades ago but they’ll soon return.

We’ve learned through Autocar that the next-generation E-Class is destined to get an in-line six-cylinder engine under its hood. The 21st century automotive engineering is all about reducing costs without compromising performance, and that’s where modular architecture comes in to the picture.

The new generation of Mercedes engines will be a part of a modular design, allowing them to spawn three-, four- and six-cylinder engines. The new engines will debut on the 2016 W213 generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Plans are already on track for the mid-life update for the new C-Class that is yet to be revealed. The new C-Class should get the new family engines by 2017 — a three-cylinder engine is touted to be a part of the C Class line-up then.

On the technology front, Mercedes-Benz will also debut what’s called an "Autobahn Pilot" on the 2016 E-Class and 2017 C-Class; today we know this as the autonomous diving assistant, which still in testing phase at the moment.

Click past the jump to read more about the new C Class AMG

The Mercedes CLA-Class has only been on the market less than a year, and it’s already gathering steam as one of the German brand’s most popular models.

That’s what happens when you have an affordable model that takes advantage of the esteemed history that Mercedes-Benz has in the industry. So with the CLA-Class gaining in popularity, the natural approach from aftermarket companies is to present programs that will only make the model more popular.

At the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show, Mercedes tuner extraordinaire Carlsson presented its first program for the CLA-Class. The usual tuning digs that Carlsson has been known to do are all present in Mercedes’ new four-door compact coupé at the IAA.

Exterior upgrades from Carlsson included a front spoiler that can be fitted with CLA models sporting the AMG sport package, an electro-polished stainless-steel grille insert can also be added as an option, contoured side sills and a new rear apron. The latter, in particular, has cutouts that were put there for the four polished tips of the tuner’s sports exhaust silencer, which functions in reducing backpressure, thus providing more horsepower for the four-door compact coupe.

A set of wheels are also offered in various sizes — 18-, 19- and 20-inch — and two wheel designs — the 1/10 and the 1/16 RS — both of which also come with special edition versions. Rounding out the mods to keep the CLA on the road are sport springs that lower the four-door coupe’s ride hight by 35 mm (1.38 inches).

Interior upgrades are left to the customer’s tastes, and include a choice of high-quality leather and Alcantara from in different colors, courtesy of Carlsson’s in-house "saddler." Other key interior options include new floor mats, alloy door-lock pins, illuminated sill plates and an alloy foot-pedal and footrest set.

For the performance program, Carlsson installed its new C-Tronic CB Plug & Drive module, connecting to the ECU through an adapter plug included in the kit. When installed, the kit drives up the output of the CLA200 to 187 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The CLA250 also saw its output now hit 253 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, while the top level CLA45 AMG nets a new output of 450 horsepower, up from its standard 360-horsepower output.

Click past the jump to read about the 2014 Mercedes CLA-Class

Anybody remember the Mercedes-Benz R-Class? Long story short, it was Mercedes-Benz’s attempt to popularize the MPV-meets-SUV segment, which included the likes of the now-deceased Chrysler Pacifica.

Even with the Mercedes-Benz image, this car was a failure due to it being hideously ugly and overly expensive — a failure that Mercedes later admitted. Once sales began, the starting price of the R-Class was very close to the starting price of the flagship S-Class. So, unless you owned a 5-star hotel with airport-transfer service, the R-Class never really justified its usefulness over the S-Class.

Keeping all of that aside, the R-Class isn’t exactly the type of car that would cross most minds when it comes to modification. At SEMA, however, cars showcased don’t really bend to convention. With that thought in mind, Infinite Auto Design decided to lease some new life to the forsaken R-Class.

Underneath that AMG-esque body kit is a standard R500 that is powered by an unmodified 5.0-liter V-8 engine. This means it cranks out 302-horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, which isn’t too bad for a minivan-SUV crossover in its era.

The exterior embraces the full blown treatment that any car at Infinite Auto Design would receive. It gets custom-built front and rear bumpers that add some eye-candy to the standard and rather boring design. The car is then wrapped in a gray matte paint job and fitted with a set of delicious looking, 20-inch Forgestar wheels.

Overall, this car can only be appreciated for its attempt at injecting a few ounces of "cool" into the R-Class, much like the nowhere-to-be-seen R63 AMG.

Back in the mid 1980s, the performance car world was still on its back, thanks to the uppercut that the 1970’s emission standards laid on the likes of the Camaro, Mustang, and Corvette. However, the exotic car companies, like Ferrari and Lamborghini, and luxury car companies, like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, all had the upper hand, thanks to the deep pockets of their customers.

These deep pockets allowed these high-level car manufacturers to spend more time and money developing cars that both met the emission standards and performed awesomely. One of these monsters of the early-emission era was the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300E “Hammer” by AMG. Much like the M3, the “Hammer” was a midsize car that was relatively tame from the factory, boasting a 177-horsepower, 5.6-liter V-8 engine. If you wanted that extra power that the “Hammer” provided, simply pony up an additional $89,120 on top of the 300E’s base price of $39,000 and Benz would build you this custom beast.

Rarely do we see one of these in the wild and even rarer is to catch a glimpse of the factory-owned model, which is claimed to produce between 381 and 396 horsepower and hit a top speed of “over 190 mph.”

Well, Chris Harris not only got to drive one, but it just so happened to be the factory-owned model. In typical Chris Harris fashion, he doesn’t just take it on a leisurely stroll either, he got this classic 80’s beast sideways on several occasions.

Check out the above video to see Chris in action.