MONTVALE, NJ – Mercedes-Benz has announced prices for its new-generation -

SLK roadster and CLS coupe line

Suggested retail pricing for the:

2012 SLK350 will start at $54,800
2012 CLS550 will begin at $71,300
and the high-performance CLS63 AMG at $94,900.

Prices exclude a $875 destination & delivery charge.

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK coupe/roadster represents the third generation of a two-seat sports car that rocked the automotive world when it unveiled the first automatic retractable hardtop in modern times. With the top up it’s a quiet, weather-tight coupe – push a button, and 20 seconds later the car is topless. Like the retractable hardtop of the larger SL model, the rear window of the SLK pivots to match the curvature of the top as it’s being lowered, providing more trunk room than ever.

The SLK350 is powered by a new 3.5-liter V6 that features direct injection and multi-spark ignition. With even more power and better fuel economy than its predecessor, the new SLK engine generates 302 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque.

CLS Four-Door Coupe Gets First Major Redesign

The four-passenger 2012 CLS coupe represents the first major redesign of a car that established an entirely new market segment – the four-door coupe, which combines the emotional appeal and dynamic design of a coupe with the comfort and functionality of a sedan.

When it hits the U.S. market in the summer of 2011, the 2012 CLS line will offer a choice of two exciting models, both powered by new biturbo, direct-injection V8 engines.

4.6-liter CLS550 engine produces 402 horsepower and 443 lb-ft. of torque

CLS63 AMG 5.5-liter rated at 518 hp and 516 lb.- ft of torque

The 2012 ML63 - Spotted

What SUV is blacked out, twin turbo’d, and rumored to be nearly 600 horsepower?

The folks over at Motor Authority have a pretty good idea, the ML63 they say is what’s under the sinister looking disguise. Who’s gonna argue such great things to come?

The 664 ft-lbs. of torque expected at higher boost levels is sufficient to make anyone an advocate for turbocharging. The days of turbochargers causing an unfavorable lag in acceleration are gone, thanks to modern technology.

Also, one would expect brake upgrades and a sport suspension system would be part of the offering.

The new more powerful 5.5L turbocharged engine plans to overthrow the 6.2L that despite its size, can’t make the same power despite its appetite for fuel.

[source: eMercedes.com and Motor Authority]

This brings a whole new meaning to the term mobile office. More like mobile private jet.

A small fleet of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans were converted into luxury versions with an interior that would make working on the road feel like a vacation.

Of course non of this would work without having someone behind the wheel that isn’t trying to multitask or relax in the soft leather seats, so this is a chauffeur-driven service.

The height of the vans will be appealing to taller people like basketball players – most of them can stand up with room to spare.

Companies can hold a board meeting, or aspiring entrepreneurs could offer potential investors a ride from the airport and get an opportunity to pitch them in a unique way.

March 24, 2011 – MONTVALE, NJ

Only 13 months ago, Richard Fertig started Brilliant Transportation (http://www.go-brilliant.com) with a small fleet of specially-equipped Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, and now the fast-growing company operates chauffeur-driven Sprinter-based Brilliant Vans and Mini Buses up and down the East Coast as well as in the Los Angeles area. Fertig says a large part of Brilliant’s success is due to the unusual design of their Sprinter van interiors, which feature a clean aesthetic with neutral colors and include rich hardwood floors, oversize leather seats, refrigerators, stowaway desks and built-in cabinets.

The tastefully integrated technology in the Brilliant Van includes a premium eight-speaker audio system, two 32-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite-based Direct TV and wireless headphones. In particular, business travelers appreciate its 3G Wi-Fi capability, color printers and a hands-free conference call system.

Fertig, Brilliant’s Founder and President, says, “Our versatile Sprinter vans appeal to corporate management, entertainers and well-to-do families who want to reclaim that dead in-transit time and who appreciate the size, height and overall comfort of a large van. Most NBA basketball players can stand up inside with room to spare. Additionally, our drivers are impressed with the Sprinter’s quality, reliability and especially the fuel economy of its proven clean-diesel power. Getting 20 miles per gallon in a vehicle of this size is phenomenal, which gives us a range of about 400 miles – our clients usually need to stop before we do.”

Addressing the “Are We There Yet?” Syndrome

Whether it’s helping with childrens’ homework, working out a complex business deal or eating a meal together, families and corporate travelers alike appreciate the comfort, convenience and productivity of Brilliant’s Sprinter vans. They welcome the privacy and lack of interruption that’s increasingly rare in today’s hectic work and family life.

Fertig says, “We’re introducing a new mode of travel we call Private Motoring¨ that often replaces air and rail transport. Although a number of our clients didn’t realize at first that Mercedes-Benz makes large vans, they know and love Mercedes, which makes our chauffeur-driven Brilliant Vans a natural extension of the way they choose to travel. Our New York-based Sprinters offer a distinct environment for business trips to Boston and DC, social events in Manhattan such as Lincoln Center or family weekends to the Hamptons and the Vermont ski country. With a similar range of use, our just-opened L.A. operation makes frequent trips to Las Vegas, Santa Barbara and San Diego.”

It’s Brilliant for the Bottom Line

Clients ask specifically for the Mercedes-Benz vans, and the comfort, convenience and privacy of Brilliant Vans has helped produce 100 percent repeat business. In addition, the impressive fuel economy and reliability of their Sprinters mean relatively low operating costs for Brilliant Transportation. In response to client requests for short, around-town transportation, Fertig added Brilliant Mini Buses based-on the 11-passenger Sprinter Passenger van. The company operates five Brilliant Vans and two Mini Buses based in New York City, with three Brilliant Vans and one Mini Bus in L.A.

Performers on tour, athletes and even royalty enjoy Brilliant’s Sprinter vans. Recently the entire board of directors for one of the top 50 global corporations spent four days together, touring their regional network of sales offices and warehouses utilizing Brilliant’s entire fleet of Brilliant Vans and holding a series of mobile meetings en route.

About the Sprinter
The Sprinter has been sold in the U.S. since 2001 by Freightliner, the leading manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty trucks in North America, and through select Mercedes-Benz dealers since 2010. Both Mercedes-Benz USA and Freightliner are divisions of Daimler AG, the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles. In the U.S., the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is targeted toward small businesses, while the Freightliner version continues to be available to its established customer base of commercial vehicle operators.

About Daimler Vans USA
Located in Montvale, NJ, Daimler Vans USA, LLC is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC responsible for sales and marketing of Sprinter commercial vehicles in the U.S. Marking the return of the three-pointed star to the U.S. light-duty commercial vehicle market, Daimler Vans USA markets the Sprinter van line through a network of Freightliner and select Mercedes-Benz dealerships. More information on Sprinter vans can be found at www.freightlinersprinterusa.com andwww.mbsprinterusa.com.

Mercedes-Benz sent out a few teasers of the Super Bowl Ads earlier and now the full version celebrating the 125 Year Anniversary of Mercedes-Benz.

The Mercedes-Benz Tweet Race will be Feb. 2-4 and details on how to participate are on the MB Facebook Page.

Check out how to control the vehicle and watch videos of the prototype being tested for operation.
Test The Vehicle/

Here’s a quote from the Tweet Race Competition Rules:

THE GRAND PRIZE (SWEEPSTAKES): One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a three day, two night trip to one of three events. The Grand Prize Winner will select the event. The three options are: the 2011 PGA Championship, the 2011 US Open (Tennis) or the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City in September, 2011.

The Mercedes-Benz display at the Detroit Auto Show was a look into the 2011 and 2012 Mercedes models which appear as sharp as ever in design – and technology.

The 2012 S350 BLUETEC was on display

The Mercedes S Class was on display and looked great inside and out.

From the high powered CLS AMG equipped to the efficiently powered energy conscious, Mercedes is hitting expectations above and beyond as usual.

And of course, the SLS AMG was a nice touch.

New Spotlight Function for Active Night View Assist Plus

The ability to detect pedestrians on the road and highlight them on the display in the instrument cluster to warn the driver has been a feature of the Active Night View Assist Plus since 2009.

Now Mercedes-Benz is presenting the latest development stage of the system as a world premiere in the form of a spotlight function.

The new assistance system goes a significant step further: it highlights the possible source of danger in the driver’s immediate field of vision by specifically directing light on people on the road.  A positive side effect of this is that the pedestrian is also alerted to the presence of the approaching vehicle.

The new spotlight function will be included as a standard feature of the Active Night View Assist Plus in a luxury class Mercedes model from the summer of 2011.

For a complete demo of the technology give your Mercedes Dealership a call and they will gladly show you the features and benefits of the new Spotlight function. Or read on for the detailed explanation of the system and how it works.

Imagine the scenario

You are driving at night on a dark country road and suddenly a pedestrian appears as if from nowhere – almost every driver must have encountered such a daunting moment at some point. Striking a passer-by is one of the worst things that could happen to a driver.

According to research by the German Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), five times as many pedestrians are killed on country roads at night than during the day. Another statistic from the BASt is as equally shocking: only 20 percent of car journeys take place at night – however this is the time when some 40 percent of fatal accidents occur.

With the the new spotlight function for the Active Night View Assist Plus, Mercedes-Benz is for the first time presenting an active light system which provides a completely new level of safety at night.

If the night vision camera detects people on or near the road, they are automatically flashed with the spotlight function to alert the driver to the potential danger.

As a positive side effect, pedestrians are also alerted to the approaching vehicle. Studies have confirmed that pedestrians do actually become aware of the spotlight function. Other road users are not dazzled as illumination does not occur if other road users who happen to be traveling in front or approaching in the opposite direction are located near the pedestrian.

New Spotlight Feature – Active View Night Assist

The new spotlight function will be included as a standard feature of Active Night View Assist Plus in a luxury class Mercedes model from the summer of 2011.

“Just like many other safety innovations from Mercedes-Benz, the new spotlight function forming part of the Active Night View Assist Plus is geared towards how accidents actually occur”, according to Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Group Research and Head of Development, Mercedes-Benz Cars. “The aim of this development was to prevent the particularly serious consequences of collisions with pedestrians at night. With this concept, a Mercedes-Benz fitted with the spotlight function not only protects its occupants, but also makes a significant contribution towards enhancing safety for other road users”, explains Dr. Weber.

The popularity of enhanced night-time driving safety among customers is reflected in the success story enjoyed by Active Night Assist, which was introduced in 2005: currently more than half of global orders for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class include the system.

The new spotlight function was developed by the camera and light experts at Mercedes-Benz in Sindelfingen.

How the spotlight function actually works.

Caution, pedestrian on the road!

The Night View Assist Plus with new spotlight function is a complex combination of a variety of technical functions.

• Infrared headlamps
• Night vision camera
• Multipurpose camera
• Spotlight headlamps

Instrument cluster display and headlamp switch are all coordinated by several control units using complex software.

This is how the innovative safety feature works in detail: The spotlight function

1. Enabled when the driver switches on Adaptive Highbeam Assist as normal (by turning the rotary light switch to the “Auto” position and pushing the steering-column stalk forward into the main beam position) and activates Active Night View Assist Plus by pressing the adjacent button.

2. The spotlight function is then enabled at speeds above 45 km/h. A corresponding icon in the night vision image notifies the driver that the spotlight function is switched on/active. At speeds below 40 km/h, the spotlight function is automatically disabled.

3. The driver can also disable the function at will, by moving the steering-column stalk from the main beam position into the centre, neutral position (the usual procedure for dimming the lights).

Technology Behind Spot Light Assist

The spotlight function uses infrared technology to detect pedestrians at a range of up to 80 meters: two separate light sources in the headlamps illuminate the road with invisible, non-dazzling infrared light.

A windscreen-mounted camera designed to pick up precisely this type of light records what happens in front of the car. The captured image is sent to a display in the instrument cluster.

Images Used To Display Obstacles

The clear, needle-sharp image that appears here shows the scene in front of the vehicle, allowing the driver to see pedestrians, cyclists or obstacles on the road at an early stage. As soon as the system detects any pedestrians in front of the car, they are highlighted in the display by the Active Night View Assist Plus.

A second camera, also used as a so-called multipurpose camera by the Speed Limit Assist and Lane Keeping Assist, detects whether the vehicle is being driven at night. It also records the position of other road users traveling in front or approaching from the opposite direction.

All of this information is used by the electronic control unit to decide whether a detected pedestrian is to be flashed with the spotlight function as a warning. For variable light distribution, a groove cut into the profile of the headlamps helps to create a controllable light source, the spotlight.

Outside of built-up areas, pedestrians are flashed with the spotlight function up to four times at night, provided they are located within the light cone. If the Adaptive Highbeam Assist has been switched to dipped beam, the pedestrian is flashed with the spotlight function beyond the area of the dipped beam. If on the other hand main beam is activated, this remains on in the left-hand headlamp, while the pedestrian is flashed with the right-hand headlamp. The flashing headlamp then remains dipped for five seconds in order to avoid dazzling the pedestrian during this time.

It is not possible for other road users to be dazzled, since illumination does not occur when other vehicles which are traveling in front or approaching from the opposite direction are located in the same direction as the pedestrian. In addition, the driver can also disable the spotlight function at any time should he so wish using the steering column stalk.

If the pedestrian should disappear from the camera image, for example because the vehicle has already passed him by or he has moved away from the edge of the road, the headlamp returns to full beam again before the five-second period expires, provided that the conditions imposed by the Adaptive Highbeam Assist have been met.

This helps to ensure that the driver once again has access to the full main beam function, and therefore the best road illumination, as quickly as possible.

[source: MBUSA]

Making the jump from BMW to Mercedes-Benz usually happens for a good reason, heres a few reasons BMW owners become Mercedes-Benz owners.

Mercedes-Benz Experience #1 In US

Mercedes-Benz has been voted the best in delivering a great experience at the dealership. A great buying experience is one thing, but when Mercedes is beating Lexus and BMW in sales, the chances that there is something very appealing going on with the new technology and performance of Mercedes.

In order to make the best example, one would have to see the two vehicles side-by-side, so thats just what we do. Come in and see the differences during the Mercedes-Benz Winter Event.

The craftsmanship can speak for itself, but to make it easier to notice the difference it can be explained and so far not one of these comparisons has failed.

The experience of buying and owning a Mercedes-Benz becomes part of the lifestyle and quality of its owner. You can sense this when you go in to look at one, the quality is in everything and you don’t want to leave without it.

Thinking of the comfort and luxury of the interior while having the performance and power at will brings all of it together.

The luxury and high performance vehicle market has continued to heat up in midst of a recovering US economy and people are definitely seeking superior quality in design, both cosmetically and in terms of overall mechanical quality and durability.

When given the opportunity to see both vehicles side by side, one can begin to notice some of the qualities and attention to detail that makes only one stand out as the logical choice.

Race To Remain Top Luxury Vehicle

This is a very competitive segment, luxury vehicles. Luxury vehicle ownership is steadily rising due to the demand for high quality experiences that lesser expensive models cannot produce. The consumer thirst for style, comfort and performance has led many manufacturers who weren’t building luxury vehicles to get in on the action.

The poise of a consistent brand like Mercedes-Benz is proving that buyers do possess an ability to recognize high quality when compared side by side to models offered by Lexus and BMW.

December Sales Will Decide

An anticipation of new 2011 Mercedes models arriving will bring the company more sales as the end of year approaches.

Sales Up 22 Percent So Far This Year

Actual Sales Numbers for Mercedes-Benz – Lexus – BMW

Mercedes sales are up 22 percent 165,427 so far this year, while Lexus has risen 9 percent to 162,438. BMW deliveries are up 9 percent to 157,464 in an industry that has risen 10 percent.

As the autumn draws in, Mercedes-Benz is presenting two new selections for people with a weakness for the Mercedes star. These include stylish fashion items and exclusive accessories for business and recreation – with high standards in terms of design, quality and function.

First-class materials, expressive design, intelligently conceived details and outstanding quality of finish are the characteristic attributes of the two new selections – “Mercedes-Benz Essentials” and “Lifestyle Selection” – from Mercedes-Benz Accessories.

The “Lifestyle Selection” is right up-to-date for the autumn. Exclusive, high-quality materials, perfect finishing and unusual design are the characteristic attributes of the fashionable business clothing, casual recreational outfits and extravagant accessories in the “Lifestyle Selection”.

The selection includes pullovers, fashionable tanktops and jackets, plus business bags, ladies’ handbags, high-quality leather accoutrements and writing utensils. Unusual highlights in the “Lifestyle Selection” are high-quality wristwatches for men (Euro 399) and ladies (Euro 269, with additional, interchangeable strap of fine cowleather, easy changeover thanks to bayonet spring catches). A practical yet elegant, black business bag for ladies, made from Nylon with gold-coloured metal fittings, lacquered leather trim, an extensive organiser function, a padded laptop compartment and a removable shoulder-strap ensures a professional entrance for business appointments. A soft handbag of natural-colour leather is pleasing to both the hand and the eye (Euro 199). The elegant mini-knife is a useful accessory in many situations, featuring CRYSTALLIZED TM – Swarovski Elements and a hand-polished, high-gloss stainless steel clasp (Euro 15.95). Mens’ jewellery items in the “Lifestyle Selection” include silver-coloured cufflinks with a platinised surface and inset 3D star emblem (Euro 39).

“Mercedes-Benz Essentials” is a selection of practical, timeless accessories for business and recreation. These include sporty, stylish, colourful basics and useful products for day-to-day use. All the collection items bear theMercedes-Benz logo.

A highlight for fashion is a ladies’ polo shirt in dove-blue and white with a maritime look (Euro 49) with a matching neckscarf (Euro 29.90), and a sporty polo shirt for men that comes in many lively colours (Euro 49). Stylish accessories include unisex sunglasses with a black acetate frame, high-quality Zeiss lenses and a 3D star on the bridge (Euro 89), an elegant rollerball pen with a laser-engraved logo on the clip (Euro 26.90) and a highly polished key fob with three small keyrings and a 3D star on both sides. The ladies’ wristwatch is a particular highlight: real Swarovski crystals mark the hours, and the housing and clasp are of anti-allergic stainless steel (Euro 129).

View Photo Gallery of Accessories

Article source: http://www.emercedesbenz.com/autos/mercedes-benz/mercedes-benz-accessories/all-new-mercedes-benz-fashion-and-accessories-collection/