Tag Archives: mercedes
Pagani Huayra Bids Farewell As It Enters Final Production Phase
The final Pagani Huayra coupe is entering production, which means this would be the last time we’re going to see an inch of the sports car. The Italian luxury carmaker will finish the final iteration of the Huayra in about two months, reports from duPont Registry said recently.
This final car is the 100th example of the Huayra. Yes, there’s exactly 100 Huayras out there. You just don’t know it since these are obviously owned by the rich and famous. Like the previous 99 models, the final Huayra will feature a Mercedes-AMG built 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-12 engine that produces 700 horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque.
It makes sense for Pagani to end the coupe’s run after seven years. Pagani inked an agreement for the supply of AMG engines for just 100 units, which signals this 100th example of the Huayra. Remember that the first supercar was launched in 2011 as a follow-up to the equally capable Zonda.
The final Huayra, marking the last AMG unit to be delivered from the German automaker, will be called the “Il Ultimo.” This will be especially produced and dedicated to Brett David, the chief executive officer of Prestige Imports. As such, it will have a “German flare” in honor of the hypercar’s AMG-sourced engine.
To further bring acknowledgement to its German roots, the final Huayra will bear the livery colors on Lewis Hamilton’s F1 car, a Mercedes. On the Huayra, the color scheme is stunning and jaw-dropping. It used subdued gray as the primary hue and turquoise-aqua will be used for interior striping, the mirrors, and the tire sidewalls. The interior will receive a similar treatment. Turquoise and gray colors will cover the dashboard, the doors, and the center console. The seats will be covered in white leather.
Pagani CEO and founder Horacio Pagani made it clear that Pagani is going to continue. It’s just the Huayra that’s going to make its farewell. The car’s successor will “embody pure driving,” will not rely on electrification, and will still have a manual transmission.
BMW And Mercedes-Benz Pull Out Of Detroit Auto Show
Six weeks ago, Mercedes-Benz announced that it won’t be a part of the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. BMW is following suit with an announcement mirroring Mercedes’ sentiments.
The pullout of Europe’s top car brands is pushing the Detroit Auto Dealers Association to contemplate moving the annual January fair to October starting in 2020. The association also wants to recast it as a less expensive show centered primarily on products and technology.
Luxury brands and supercars maker Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, and Volvo also did not attend the Detroit show this year. Mazda and Mitsubishi skipped it as well. Aston Martin, Ferrari, Bentley, and Porsche have no display on the show, but have vehicles at The Gallery. Alfa Romeo, Audi, Chrysler, and Dodge all have displays, but did not hold press conferences. Lamborghini revealed the Urus there while Cadillac brought nothing new because its focus is on the New York auto show.
BMW released a statement, explaining why it would skip the trade show next year. “This decision was made as BMW Group is constantly examining our presence at trade-shows and other engagements, while, at the same time, also exploring alternative platforms and formats. The overall goal is to communicate our ideas and plans regarding future mobility in the best way and achieve the greatest possible visibility for our products, technologies and innovations.”
The DADA is looking at moving the event to fall when the weather is more comfortable in Detroit. It also believes that reducing operational costs could lead these major car companies back. The DADA wants to revamp the show by trying to pattern it after the Geneva motor show, where the focus is vehicles and technology. The group will vote about this proposal in mid-April.
When it joined the Detroit show in January, BMW released no new updates on its Rolls Royces, its Minis, and even its motorcycles. This is a good indicator of its plan to backdown from the show in 2019, seeing as it had traditionally showed off its luxurious models.
Top 4 Reasons for You to Buy the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe
What happens when you combine the winning formulas of the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the Mercedes-AMG GT? You get the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. This is the reason why there was so much hype surrounding the high-performance car’s world premiere and why it was flocked by people since the press days of the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.
Mercedes is yet to reveal the pricing of the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. However, it is already given that it will be very expensive considering it will take on the $85,000 to $194,800 Porsche Panamera. What we know so far is that it will roll out for buyers in mid-2018.
So why should you spend your hard earned cash for it? Here are four reasons why you should put the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe in your checklist if you are looking to buy a high-performance luxury car:
1. Unique Addition to the Mercedes-AMG GT Family
The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe successfully makes itself stand out from the Mercedes-AMG GT family with its distinct four-door feature. The rest of its siblings from the base GT going up to the GT R have two-door designs.
2. Athletic and Classy Design
The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door is defined by its long bonnet, Panamericana front grille, squinting Multibeam LED headlamps, jetwing front bumper design, huge air ducts, thin taillights, rear diffuser, low greenhouse, retractable rear wing, quadruple exhaust tips, and a combination of AMG performance wheels and tires. On the other hand, its curvaceous and smooth exterior is an excellent manifestation of Mercedes’ “Sensual Purity” design philosophy.
3. Luxurious Aura
The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe also carries the DNA of the Mercedes-Benz CLS. If you strip away all the Mercedes-AMG GT elements of the four-door high-performance car leaving only its shell, it can be noticed that its form is all too similar to the Mercedes-AMG CLS 53. That’s because both are riding on the E-Class platform.
The interior of the two only vary in layout but you can find that most of the tech within the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe are just spiced up versions of the ones found in the E-Class and CLS. However, the arrangement of the controls of the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe follows its AMG GT siblings.
4. Performance
The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is available in three performance configurations and its power is governed by an AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G transmission. It starts with the Mercedes-AMG GT 53 4MATIC with 3.0-liter inline-six that can deliver 435 hp combined with EQ Boost providing it an extra 22 hp, and 520 Nm of torque. Next is the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4MATIC equipped with a 4.0-liter biturbo V8 engine capable of delivering 585 hp and 800 Nm of torque.
The top trim of the range is the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+. It has the engine of the AMG GT 63 4MATIC but with an upgrade that lets it produce 639 hp and 900 Nm of torque. The auto can reach speeds of up to 310 km/h, and its 0-100 km/h acceleration can be achieved in merely 3.4 seconds.
Photos
Check out the official photos of the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe in the gallery below:
Prior Design Takes a Shot at the Mercedes-Benz X-Class
Pickup trucks used to be more inclined to their utilitarian nature. However, with the tight competition in the market, automakers have brought up their game to put more exciting features in them. The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is the three-pointed star brand’s entry in the automotive landscape and it is considered to be a catalyst for a new niche in the market, which is the luxury pickup truck segment.
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class has the same platform as the Nissan Navara. However, it has successfully distanced itself from it because of the nice luxury touches that Mercedes integrated into its design. However, for those who are looking for more out their X-Class, Prior Design just introduced a new custom body kit for the vehicle.
The cosmetic upgrades provided by Prior Design to the Mercedes X-Class include a revised front bumper with large air vents, LED DRL strips and front lip spoiler. The front chrome radiator grille is also replaced by a blacked-out design. Then, the wheel arches are extended too in order to give the pickup a more aggressive look. Going around the back will reveal a rear diffuser and new exhaust tips.
So far, the changes offered by Prior Design to the Mercedes X-Class are only limited to its exterior. For those who want to get a sportier cabin, they will just have to wait for the AMG styling kit made specially for the pickup, which will come out soon.
The Mercedes X-Class is highlighted by its 3.0-liter V6 model with 254 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The power of the auto is distributed to its four wheels via a seven-speed automatic with shift paddles. The acceleration of the pickup from zero to 60 mph is somewhere below nine seconds and its top speed is over 125 mph.
Check out some of the pictures of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class with the Prior Design treatment in the gallery below:
Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon: The Fastest Wagon in the World
The Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon is not your average family car. Beneath its luxurious exterior lies an engine with a performance that can beat even the likes of the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro.
Performance
According to Mercedes-Benz USA, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon is the fastest station wagon in the world. Beneath the hood of the car rests a handcrafted AMG 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. The unit has an output of 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 to 4,500 rpm. The auto operates on a 4MATIC all-wheel drive configuration. Then, its power is distributed through an AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9-speed transmission that uses a wet clutch.
Putting the pedal to the metal will allow the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon to reach 60 mph from a complete stop in just 3.4 seconds. That beats the acceleration of the Mustang and the Camaro. On the other hand, the maximum speed of the auto is electronically-capped at 180 mph.
Mercedes noted that when the car was tested by a journalist at the Nordschleife of the Nuerburgring track, it conquered the whole circuit with its lap time of 7:45.19.
Design
The Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon is the high-performance version of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon. Therefore, it has all the signature look of Mercedes’ midrange luxury vehicle such as the curvaceous corners, glossy finish and striking body lines. Its appeal is further highlighted by its improved stance, thanks to AMG’s suspension; jet wing-inspired front bumper complete with air intakes; rear diffuser; rear lip spoiler at the roofing; quad exhaust tips; and chrome horizontal grille with black vertical slats in the background.
The most noticeable part of the E63 S Wagon is its 12.3-inch digital display. The gauges also come in carbon fiber look to enhance the sporty elements of the car’s cockpit. Moreover, it has AMG Performance Seats and Steering Wheel as well as nappa leather surfaces.
Pricing
The Mercedes-AMG E63 S has a starting price of $106,950, excluding its $995 delivery and destination fees.
The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet Will Make Your Hearts Go Faster
If there was any one reason to visit the prestigious and exclusive Monterey Car Week in California, this was it—the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet.
When you first look at it, you’ll probably think about a shorter version of the Vision Mercedes-Maybach revealed during the Pebble Beach Show last year. And yet, for the life of us, we know there is so much more about this year’s version. And we were not wrong.
On the outside, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet looks like a Riva speedboat, thanks to its angular rear end that seems to just end without so much as a peepshow of a trunk. Some said it even looks like a pen; a very exclusive and expensive one at that. What’s bothering us is the fact that the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet is 5.7 meters in length and 2.1 meters in width and yet, somehow, Mercedes just find enough time to put in two seats there. That’s a lot of excess space, if you ask us, but there is a method to this madness, of course.
Whatever space it might have for more passengers, it has to give up for the massive center-locking 24-inch wheels and four electric motors that are powered by an underfloor battery pack. It can power up to 740bhp with its four-wheel drive system. The electric motors are powerful enough to go from 0 to 62 mph in sub-four, and the battery pack is good for a range of 310 miles.
Maybe you’re excited about the headlights or the grille, but the true luxury astounds you once the white fabric roof with interwoven rose gold threads reveal what’s inside: crystal white nappa leather, a full-width digital display, and illuminated buttons stitched into the seats. The center tunnel looks like it’s floating and transparent (blue fiber optic lights show the car’s energy flow).
This is a concept, or a vision, for now, but we do hope Mercedes engineers would put its heads together and just turn this into a production car.
Battle Of The SUVs: Mercedes-Benz Versus Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged SUV
There’s nothing more experts, analysts, and fans enjoy than a good old competition between the best of the best, or so we believe. German car Mercedes-Benz and British brand Land Rover have always made their marks in terms of luxury, functionality, and even performance.
For many car experts, the Land Rover Range Rover remains to be the world’s best luxury off-road utility vehicle. While there is a strong argument for that, some would say that the Mercedes-Benz is a more desirable four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle. Obviously, there are both truths to these claims based on Autoblog.
Interior
The argument goes like this: For Mercedes-Benz fans, there’s nothing like staying inside the German automaker’s luxurious SUV, where drivers and passengers will usually spend their time in. There’s a point in that, of course, as no one would stand outside an SUV ogling at it for hours in a day.
That’s pretty much a reality because everyone knows that stepping into a contemporary Mercedes-Benz SUV is a “wow” moment. The interiors have always been posh, luxurious, and exclusive. Even Mercedes’ older SUVs have a special and upscale experience, despite the fact that luxury features of yesterday cannot compare to what they are today.
Reliability and Dependability
Based on the latest Vehicle Dependability Study, which rates vehicles after they have reached three years of use, Land Rover is “average” in terms of reliability. On the other hand, the Consumer Reports and others indicate that Mercedes-Benz owners are rated second for the most-expensive repair bills on average. It sits behind BMW. Again, Land Rover was average in terms of repair needs.
Range Rover issues such as check engine lights, air suspension warnings, and the like appear randomly. In time, these issues go away on their own without the owners having to bring the Range Rover to their service centers or to a local mechanic. Mercedes, on the other hand, has to be brought to a mechanic as soon as an issue crops up. Owners also have to prepare for a massive repair bill.
3 Things We Learned From The 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 4 Spy Shots
We saw the concept for the 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 4 back during the Geneva auto show in March, and to say we’re excited is quite an understatement. Last week, spy shots and video of its prototype showed that the standalone sedan is already in the late stage of development.
The production version will closely resemble and will stand similar to the concept shown in March. This looks to be beneficial for people who caught up with the craze of the concept.
1. Release date
The standalone sedan, which will be called the Mercedes-AMG GT 4 based on sources, will be on sale starting 2018 as a 2019 model year. This is AMG’s third standalone model just after the GT sports car and the Project One hypercar, which should have launched by next year.
Mercedes will also be releasing a new generation of CLS, which means an internal competition among these cars.
2. Exterior
The sexy lines of the GT sports car will be slapped on the Mercedes-AMG GT 4. The difference is that the headlights will have an angular shape and the hood has been shortened in length. Since this is a sedan, the wheelbase was stretched and there are two extra doors for the rear passengers.
The massive rear spoiler, unfortunately, can’t be seen yet because of the ultra-secretive way this has been camouflaged. But based on the overall look of the car, the concept will be a good foundation to render how the rear side would look like.
The sedan will use the MRA rear-wheel-drive architecture we usually see on the latest C- and E-Class instead of stretching the GT sports car’s aluminum spaceframe architecture. But to make the rear-wheel-drive architecture compatible to the AMG, it needs to be strengthened and made more weightless.
3. Drivetrain
Mercedes will use AMG’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine to produce 500 horsepower. Though the concept showed a hybrid system, it is highly unlikely that we’ll see this during the launch. However, a hybrid system with an output of 805 horsepower will be possibly available for a range-topping version of the sedan.
Battle of Top Speed: BMW M6 Gran Coupe Vs. Mercedes-AMG E63 S
The 2017 models of the BMW M6 Gran Coupe and the Mercedes-AMG E63 S surely scream “high-performance”. Being products of the top producers of luxury vehicles in the world, many car enthusiasts dream about having one of them in their garages.
In the video posted below, we will see how the two fare in terms of their top speeds. But before that, let us take a look at the engine specs of the two.
BMW M6 Gran Coupe
The Bimmer packs a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. The unit has an output of 600 hp and 700 Nm of torque. The numbers push the auto from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds. The top speed of the car is electronically-locked at 300 km/h but the Competition Package fitted in it increases it to 305 km/h.
Mercedes-AMG E63 S
The AMG E63 S has a 4.0-liter biturbo V8 engine. The power unit is capable of producing 12 hp more than the M6 Gran Coupe and its torque is 150 Nm more than its rival. The figures allow the Merc to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in mere 3.4 seconds. The maximum speed of the performance car is electronically-capped at 300 km/h.
Video
Watch the video below to see how each car fares when pushed to its limits:
And the Winner Is… (Spoiler Alert)
Both cars delivered their promise to deliver around 300 km/h. The dials of the two indicate that they even surpassed the limit.
The speedometer of the M6 Gran Coupe appears to have reached the 305 threshold. On the other hand, the AMG E63 S seems to have surpassed the competition, though the mounted indicator of the Mercedes shown in the video only read 302 km/h.
Furthermore, the Mercedes showed faster acceleration time than the BMW. The M6 looked shaky also after reaching the 300 km/h limit while the E63 S was more stable.
As an added note, the high-performance E-Class looked more stunning in terms of interior design than the M6.
Toyota Remains the Most Valuable Car Brand in the World
Toyota retains its status as the most valuable car brand in the world. The company toppled the likes of luxury car giants like Mercedes-Benz and BMW to keep its position.
According to Autoweek, the Japanese automaker’s value dropped by three percent to $28.7 billion. The decrease was attributed to the tough currency rates, in addition to the company’s investments and increase in labor costs. Despite the setbacks, Toyota topped the vehicle segment of the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brand study made by market researcher Kantar Millward Brown.
Brown said Toyota is still viewed by customers as a reliable brand with quality value. Even with the recall issues going on, Toyota car owners gave positive reviews to their cars.
Based on the report, the study was first conducted 12 years ago. Since then, Toyota has landed in the number one rank 10 times.
In our earlier article, Toyota projected that further losses in revenue and net income are expected for the current fiscal year, which ends in March 2018. The company, through its CEO Akio Toyoda, defended that the slump is also in line with their vision to put more priority in stabilizing their future investments rather than focusing on short-term profit.
The Toyota CEO added that to safeguard the company’s future, they created an internal division called the Toyota Research Institute. The new division aims to work on futuristic technologies like the development of electric and hybrid vehicles as well as a potential autonomous car.
BMW and Mercedes landed on the second and third spots, respectively. BMW fell in value by eight percent to $24.6 billion while Mercedes rose by four percent to $23.5 billion.
On sidelines, Tesla seems to be catching up fast in the global car brand rankings. The company just jumped from number 10 last year to number 8 at the present, thanks to an increase of brand value by 32 percent to $5.9 billion. The car maker overtook Land Rover and Porsche to secure its new place in the hierarchy.