JohnH4260

By the looks of the photos, it should.

JohnH4260

$1,300,000 Maybach Landaulet...... If you had that money and didn't care, would you even consider this?

Last time I remembered, the regular 62 version was only 400-500k as well as the 62s..... but just adding a soft top to the rear seats allow almost another million to be added?....

trumpet1

No. I would be the laughing stock in my bedroom community town I live in. However, the boys sure would like to go on their prom dates with that.

JohnH4260

Mercedes-Benz' The Star And The Laurel Now Available Via eBook

In 1986, Mercedes-Benz of North America teamed up with journalist Beverly Rae Kimes and art director Harris Lewine to create a book entitled The Star and the Laurel. The book was published to celebrate the centenary of the automobile, and features a roughly 360 page look at the history of the automobile, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz pioneering roles in creating it, and the eventual merger of both men's companies to form Daimler-Benz AG.

It's a fantastic read, as it provides a remarkable look at the many facets of the company's history. Even more exciting, however, is the fact that should you desire to read it for yourself, we've got it, available here for free download in eBook format. It's a big file – roughly 175 MB's – but if you've never read The Star and the Laurel, check out the link below.

http://www.emercedesbenz.com/PDF/Oct...the_Laurel.pdf

JohnH4260

BMW and Mercedes-Benz Reach Deal To Pool Purchasing Of Common Parts

FRANKFURT, Oct 22 (Reuters) - BMW, the world's largest premium carmaker, has reached a deal with archrival Daimler to pool their purchase of some car parts, BMW development chief Klaus Draeger told a German magazine.

"The use of economies of scale is successively being implemented. We do not need to wait for a model change or official announcements," he said in comments published by auto motor und sport.

Both sides have confirmed they were in talks about boosting their purchasing power for common parts that are not critical to brand image, but neither had said publicly that an agreement had been achieved. Neither BMW nor Daimler would comment immediately. (Reporting by Christiaan Hetzner, editing by Will Waterman)
.

JohnH4260

2009 Miss Tuning Calendar Released

New 2009 calendar created in the desert of California is ready showing Daniela Grimm in all aspects. The new calendar will be available in a limited edition of just 150 units, each priced at €25 or $31.

I believe the first photo on the left is a modified S-Class.

Red Marko

You have to take under consideration things not shown in the picture...

- Hot tub in the trunk
- 2 girls (skinny) also hidden in the trunk
- missile launcher under the back seat
- midget camel under the hood, in case of "in Desert breakage" (for our Arab "friends")
- gold plated engine with diamond whatever.

Does this add to $1.3 M?
It should...

So, if I had MONEY, I'd take two (2)

JohnH4260

Kicherer CL 65 Coupe with 650hp

Kicherer has realised the value of absolute power by putting in some outstanding work into a Mercedes-Benz CL 65 AMG. The car is Benz's finest work as far as the coupe body type is concerned, already sporting a nice 612 hp/ 450kW V12 of two turbos and 1000Nm. Kicherer was never going to be satisfied as any power-hungry world car fan would know, and so decided to up the game a little. Later on that.

For the exterior they chose a few changes, headlined by 9 and 10 x 20" Kicherer RS-X lightweight wheels, carbon fiber mirror shells, rear diffuser, front grille and front apron whose deflector is also of the black light stuff. The exhaust system is a mirror-finished affair with four tailpipes, and supposedly makes the most glorious of sounds.

Inside as expected the CL 65 receives velvet glove treatment, from the alcantara ceiling, carbon intarsia, to the nappa leather seats, and handmade hand-worked **** pile carpet for the back. And now for the numbers you want. Kicherer has managed to squeeze out 38 more stallions out of the engine to give it a well-rounded 650 hp/ 486kW and oak-pulling 1200Nm. A rear diff lock helps plant it firmly on tar. For that you get 0 - 100km/h in 4.2 seconds and a limited 320km/h for your top end.

JohnH4260

Top 10 Biggest Sales Losers
We look at the top 10 vehicles with the biggest sales losses this year in search of the best deals in a buyer's market. Thankfully no Mercedes-Benz models on the list of losers.

1. Hyundai Entourage
Sales drop Jan.-Sept.: 72.2 percent
Total sales Jan.-Sept.: 4,360
Sales drop Sept.: 48.2 percent
Total sales Sept.: 455
Starting price: $23,995
Product segment: Minivan
Incentives on 2008 model: $3,000 cash back or 0-1.9 percent financing; $500 valued customer bonus cash; $500 bonus cash for active/former military. All offers end Oct. 31.

2. Land Rover LR3
Sales drop Jan.-Sept.: 62.3 percent
Total sales Jan.-Sept.: 3,262
Sales drop Sept.: 60.4 percent
Total sales Sept.: 292
Starting price: $48,525
Product segment: Luxury SUV
Incentives on 2008 model: 0-1.9 percent financing, depending on the term; $8,000 dealer marketing support (gives room for negotiating lower price), but cannot be combined with 0-1.9 percent financing. Both offers end Oct. 31.

3. Jeep Commander
Sales drop Jan.-Sept.: 54.8 percent
Total sales Jan.-Sept.: 22,654
Sales drop Sept.:64.7 percent
Total sales Sept.: 1,590
Starting price: $28,330 (without optional third row)
Product segment: Large SUV
Incentives on 2008 model: $4,500 cash back or 0-7.9 percent financing, ends Oct. 31; $500 bonus cash for active/former military, ends Jan. 2.
Incentives on 2009 model: $1,000 cash back, ends Oct. 31.

4. Lincoln Town Car
Sales drop Jan.-Sept.: 54.3 percent
Total sales Jan.-Sept.: 11,685
Sales drop Sept.: 68.7 percent
Total sales Sept.: 1,031
Starting price: $45,295
Product segment: Large car
Incentives on 2008 model: $6,000 cash back or 2.9-6.9 percent financing, ends Nov. 3; $500 bonus cash for college students and recent grads, ends Dec. 3; $2,000 dealer marketing support (gives room to negotiate lower price), ends Nov. 3.

5. Dodge Durango
Sales drop Jan.-Sept.: 53.8 percent
Total sales Jan.-Sept.: 17,339
Sales drop Sept.: 78.4 percent
Total sales Sept.: 616
Starting price: $27,335
Product segment: Midsize SUV
Incentives on 2008 model: $4,500 cash back or 0-7.9 percent financing, ends Oct. 31; $500 bonus cash for active/former military, ends Jan. 2.
Incentives on 2009 model: $1,000 cash back (includes hybrid), ends Oct. 31.

6. Mazda B Series
Sales drop Jan.-Sept.: 51.3 percent
Total sales Jan.-Sept.: 1,088
Sales drop Sept.: 48.8 percent
Total sales Sept.: 88
Starting price: $16,185
Product segment: small pickup
Incentives on 2008 model: $3,000 cash back, ends Oct. 31
Incentives on 2009 model: $2,000 cash back, ends Oct. 31

7. Hyundai Tucson
Sales drop Jan.-Sept.: 49.9 percent
Total sales Jan.-Sept.: 16,247
Sales drop Sept.: 65 percent
Total sales Sept.: 1,294
Starting price: $17,420
Product segment: Crossover SUV
Incentives on 2008 model: $2,000 cash back, ends Oct. 31; $500 bonus cash for active/former military, ends Oct. 31.

8. Toyota FJ Cruiser
Sales drop Jan.-Sept.: 49.8 percent
Total sales Jan.-Sept.: 21,696
Sales drop Sept.: 65.4 percent
Total sales Sept.: 1,571
Starting price: $23,045
Product segment: Small SUV
Incentives on 2008 model: 0-4.9 percent financing, ends Nov. 3.

9. Hummer H3
Sales drop Jan.-Sept.: 48.2 percent
Total sales Jan.-Sept.:17,247
Sales drop Sept.: 50.7 percent
Total sales Sept.:1,824
Starting price: $30,995
Product segment: Midsize SUV
Incentives on 2008 model: $5,000 cash back or 0-7.9 percent financing, ends Nov. 3.
Incentives on 2009 model: $3,500 cash back and $2,000 GM purchase bonus cash or 6.9-7.9 percent financing, ends Nov. 3.
Incentives on 2009 H3T: $1,500 cash back or 1.9-4.9 percent financing, ends Nov. 3.

10. Dodge Dakota
Sales drop Jan.-Sept.: 47.7 percent
Total sales Jan.-Sept.: 21,626
Sales drop Sept.: 85.1 percent
Total sales Sept.: 622
Starting price: $20,470
Product segment: Midsize pickup
Incentives on 2008 model: $3,000 cash back or 0-7.9 percent financing, ends Oct. 31; $500 bonus cash for active/former military, ends Jan. 2.
Incentives on 2009 model: $750 customer cash, ends Oct. 31

JohnH4260

More Mercedes Tuning: The Vitt Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Super Wide Edition

If you still haven't had your fill of Mercedes tuning this week, not to worry ladies and gentlemen, because we've got plenty more to bring you. First up comes a new wide body kit courtesy of the good folks at Japanese tuning firm Vitt Performance – a package that they call the Vitt Mercedes CL Super Wide Edition.

As you'd expect from a wide body kit, the main highlights include new front and rear aprons, widened fenders in both the front and back, new side skirts, a roof and trunk spoiler and a new vented hood. Another notable change is the presence of the always popular 20-inch wheels with performance tires, while a new stainless exhaust system completes Vitt's CL package.

If you're interested, pricing comes in at about $20,000 for the CL-Class conversion. To see precisely what this twenty-thousand will get you, keep scrolling for a ton of photos, all of which enlarge when you click them. Also worth noting – I've included two different variations of the kit, with the main differences between subtle revisions to the front and rear aprons.

trumpet1

Wow! Nice.

JohnH4260

Yeah, I guess for $20,000 it should be very nice. But I wonder if any CL owners will go for it.

Red Marko

Nope,
I like my car just fine the way it is
They would have to pay me to drive this......thing.

JohnH4260

Hottest Coupes of 2008

Audi A5
Audi's low-slung A5 coupe is based on the next-generation A4 sedan. The A5 comes powered by a 265-horsepower 3.2-liter V6 engine. The automaker's quattro all-wheel-drive system comes standard for additional grip on wet roads, and is rear-biased for improved cornering on dry pavement. The Audi A5 is designed to go bumper-to-bumper with coupe versions of the BMW 3 Series in the hotly contested compact luxury market. The A5's design places the engine closer to the center of the vehicle than in the A4, which contributes to a more favorable front-to-rear balance and improved driving dynamics.

Audi S5
The S5 is the higher-performance incarnation of the Audi A5 coupe. Its most significant upgrade is a 4.2-liter V8 engine that produces 354 hp. Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system puts the power to the pavement, and an enhanced suspension system provides a sportier ride than the A5. The interior provides a full complement of luxury appointments, with sport seats that hold the driver and front-seat passenger in place better than those in the A5. On the outside, the S5 features more aggressive fender flares and front and rear bumpers, as well as a quad-outlet exhaust. Currently, both the A5 and S5 are only available with six-speed manual transmissions. Automatics are expected to appear in the near future.

Audi TT
Available in coupe and convertible versions, the Audi TT is redesigned for 2008. It's slightly larger and features streamlined bodywork (69 percent of which is now lightweight aluminum), among other upgrades. A new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 200 hp, while the available 3.2-liter V6 carries over from the previous model and kicks out 250 hp. Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system is offered with the Audi TT V6 for added bad-weather grip and dry cornering abilities. As is the case with most of the automaker's other models, a higher-performance S version of the TT will join the line next year.

Bentley Brooklands
With production limited to just 550 units, few will ever lay eyes on, let alone get behind the wheel of the Bentley Brooklands. Inspired by the "Bentley Boys" racing at Surrey, England's Brooklands racetrack in the 1920s, it features the most powerful V8 Bentley engine ever, a twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter version that generates 530 hp. Able to reach 60 mph in just five seconds, the hand-assembled Bentley Brooklands is no slouch in the luxury department, either. Customers are able to choose from a wide array of paint treatments, leather hides, trim veneers, carpet tones, and even seat belt colors to suit individual tastes.

Bentley Continental GT Speed
The new GT Speed version of the stately Continental coupe includes a 600-hp V12 engine, along with a lowered ride height, sportier suspension and steering systems, and high-performance tires. It's the first Bentley to be able to hit 200 mph. The Bentley Continental GT Speed also includes subtle styling modifications, and the ultra-exclusive Mulliner Driving Specification option package as standard equipment. A new "Sport Traction" mode moderates stability control intervention at low speeds to afford tire-squealing launches.

BMW 1 Series
While the BMW 3 Series is still regarded as the car to beat in the compact sport sedan segment, some purists have argued that it has grown too large, heavy, and expensive. BMW has answers these critics in a big way with the smaller, less costly, but no less capable 1 Series coupe and convertible. Well-positioned to appeal to both up-and-coming Generation-Y buyers and older enthusiasts alike, BMW significantly expands the entry-level premium sporty car market with the 1 Series. It will offer a choice of two inline six-cylinder engines, one twin-turbocharged to deliver 300 hp, same as on the 3 Series.

Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger is making Baby Boomers drool with its retro styling that recalls the glory days of muscle cars. Appropriately, a 6.1-liter HEMI V8 drives the rear wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission. While the styling may look back, the Dodge Challenger offers thoroughly modern features like stability control, side-curtain airbags, and an available navigation system with hard-drive media storage. Impending fuel economy regulations may once again relegate models like the Challenger to the pages of history, so you'd do well to jump on this modern muscle car while you can.

Infiniti G37
Essentially a more luxurious version of the Nissan 350Z, the redesigned and renamed Infiniti G37 coupe doesn't sacrifice much in the way of performance. Its 3.7-liter V6 engine channels 330 horsepower to the rear wheels with either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. Both a sport-tuned suspension and a unique four-wheel Active Steer system are offered to enhance the car's already stellar handling qualities. Plus, unlike the Z, it comes with a back seat.

Mercedes CLK63 AMG Black Series
Added to Mercedes-Benz's CLK-Class line for 2008, this is no "ordinary" AMG. Dressed up with more aggressive styling tweaks inside and out, the racing-inspired CLK63 AMG Black Series coupe packs a serious wallop courtesy of a 500-horsepower 6.3-liter V8 engine. Mated to a modified seven-speed automatic gearbox, it can take the car to 60 mph in just a hair over four seconds. Celebrating 40 years of AMG tuning, the CLK63 AMG Black Series incorporates Formula One racing technology and features an adjustable suspension that can be set for the track or the street. At a base sticker price of $135,000, we doubt many owners will test its mettle on anything more challenging than a twisty rural road, however.

Smart ForTwo
Even with rising fuel costs and consumers' heightened ecological concerns, bringing the diminutive, two-seat, egg-shaped Smart ForTwo to the U.S. is a gamble for Mercedes-Benz, which owns Smart. (The Penske Automotive Group will sell the tiny cars through its dealership network.) Micro-cars like the ForTwo have been popular in Europe for years, but they are far tinier and less powerful than anything currently on American roads. Powered by a petite 70-hp three-cylinder engine, the ForTwo coupe and convertible are reasonably priced and deliver decent fuel economy, 33 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. If successful, even just among urbanites, Smart could jump start the budding micro-car market in the U.S.

JohnH4260

In the new E-Class and S-Class from spring 2009: Synergy of sophisticated safety technologies makes new Mercedes models part of the "thinking" process

Leipzig – By introducing around a dozen new or modified systems, Mercedes-Benz is adding a new chapter to its long history of passenger- car safety. Following on from their successes achieved in the domain of occupant protection, the Mercedes experts will be focussing more than ever on avoiding traffic accidents and reducing accident severity, with the driver assistance systems being unveiled in the new E-Class and the model year 2009 S-Class from spring 2009 onwards set to play a crucial role. Mercedes-Benz is implementing a globally unique synergy of sophisticated safety technologies to give its cars extra "senses" and added intelligence. All of which makes Mercedes models part of the "thinking" process – cars that can see, sense and act autonomously. In addition to this, the Mercedes saloons show the way ahead when it comes to occupant protection and set new standards with their "electronic" crumple zones.

Like tried-and-trusted Mercedes inventions such as ABS, ESP®, Brake Assist and PRE-SAFE®, the new assistance systems have been adapted based on real-life accident findings. The aim behind their development was to prevent extremely frequent types of collision and collisions with serious consequences by focussing on the causes of accidents: distance to other vehicles, speed, drowsiness, darkness and lane departure.

To this end, Mercedes-Benz is for the first time using cameras alongside radar sensors. These long-range cameras monitor the area around the car and are able to interpret critical situations. By way of example, new camera-based assistance systems help the driver by keeping the car safely on track, detecting speed-limit signs, controlling the headlamps in line with the current driving situation and enhancing visibility in the dark.

The new E-Class will be the world's first car to feature headlamps that adapt automatically in line with the current driving situation. Adaptive Highbeam Assist detects oncoming vehicles or moving vehicles in front with their lights on and adjusts the headlamps continuously so as to always provide the best possible headlamp range – without dazzling other motorists. In this way, the low-beam range can be increased from its current level of 65 metres to up to 300 metres.

If the road ahead is clear, the system switches to high beam with a minimum of fuss. This Mercedes development is therefore fundamentally different to conventional systems of this type, since the latter merely switch between low beam and high beam.

Adaptive Highbeam Assist:the best possible light in any traffic situation
Tests show that motorists who use Adaptive Highbeam Assist are safer on the road in the dark because they see pedestrians, cyclists or obstacles on the road up to 150 metres earlier than is the case with conventional low beam. What's more, the system helps to relieve driver stress as there is no longer any need to repeatedly flick the stalk on the steering wheel. So the driver can concentrate more on actually driving the car. Once activated, Adaptive Highbeam Assist always provides the best possible headlamp range.

At the heart of the system is a camera, located on the inside of the windscreen, which sends new data every 40 milliseconds so that the range of the variable-control bi-xenon headlamps can be adjusted.

Mercedes-Benz has further developed its Night View Assist system, which illuminates a long stretch of the road ahead using invisible infrared light. The second generation of this system features a special pedestrian detection function: as soon as the system detects pedestrians ahead of the car, they are highlighted on the display.

Lane Keeping Assist: warning if the car leaves its lane
Another new assistance system developed by Mercedes can prevent accidents caused by the car leaving its lane. More than a third of all road users killed in Germanyare involved in this type of accident. This is why Mercedes-Benz has developed a "forward-looking" system for safe motoring called Lane Keeping Assist. Its camera monitors the line taken by the car and the driver's control inputs on a permanent basis, allowing the system to detect when the car leaves its lane unintentionally and if there is a risk of an accident. If this is the case, the system warns the driver in plenty of time, prompting them to counter-steer by making the steering wheel vibrate with a series of short, clearly discernable pulses.

Unlike conventional systems of this type, the Mercedes assistance system also assesses the driver's actions and, by doing so, can ascertain reliably whether the car has left its lane intentionally or unintentionally. There is therefore no warning if, for example, the driver accelerates before overtaking or joining a motorway, brakes heavily or steers into a bend.

If the system detects that the car is leaving its lane unintentionally, it activates an electric motor in the steering wheel, causing the steering wheel to vibrate. The timing of the warning depends on the width of the road and the type of lane markings. If the car crosses over a continuous line marking on the road, as opposed to a broken line, the system emits its warning earlier.

Speed Limit Assist: a camera with an eye for traffic signs
A further new assistance system reminds the driver of the current speed limit in force: the camera on the windscreen detects speed-limit signs as the car drives past them and then indicates the speed limit on the display in the speedometer. The driver therefore remains fully aware of the current speed limit, enabling them to adapt the car's speed accordingly. The display goes out as soon as the speed limit is lifted.

Thanks to the huge strides forward made in image-processing technology, Speed Limit Assist is able to work in real time, analysing the images within a fraction of a second – as the car drives past – and providing the driver with the required information instantaneously. Plus it makes no difference whether the speed-limit sign is at the side of the road or on a gantry above the road.

Furthermore, Speed Limit Assist evaluates the data provided by the navigation system's digital map, allowing it to check the plausibility of the camera image. By way of example, the last speed limit detected disappears from the display as soon as the navigation system detects that the car has entered a built-up area.

ATTENTION ASSIST: drowsiness detection system fitted as standard in the E-Class and S-Class
Thanks to a new technology, future Mercedes models will have a keen sense of their drivers' awareness. The aim is to detect driver drowsiness in plenty of time so as to warn them before they fall asleep momentarily. According to scientific studies, around a quarter of all serious motorway accidents are caused by driver drowsiness.

The new ATTENTION ASSIST system is equipped with highly sensitive sensors which monitor the driver's behaviour, the current driving situation and over 70 other parameters. By doing this, the system is able to detect when the driver's concentration starts to slip. This permanent form of monitoring is important for detecting the floating transition from awakeness to drowsiness and for warning the driver at an early stage. In addition to the speed, lateral acceleration and longitudinal acceleration, the system also detects use of the turn indicators and pedals as well as certain control inputs and external influences such as side winds or road unevenness, for example.

Observation of steering behaviour has proven to be extremely meaningful. Field tests carried out by the Mercedes engineers over a period of several years, involving over 550 participants to date, show that drowsy drivers make minor steering errors that are often corrected quickly and abruptly. These are detected by a highly sensitive steering wheel angle sensor. If ATTENTION ASSIST detects typical indicators of drowsiness based on these and other data, it warns the driver by emitting an audible signal and flashing up a message on the display: "ATTENTION ASSIST. Break!"

ATTENTION ASSIST will be specified as standard for the new E-Class and the model year 2009 S-Class.

PRE-SAFE®:tensioning of the seat belts before an unavoidable accident
Further standard equipment Mercedes-Benz offers for these models includes the PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection system. Based on information received from sensors, it identifies situations that might turn into accidents and instinctively activates preventive occupant-protection measures, allowing the seat belts and airbags to deploy with maximum effect in the event of an impact. PRE‑SAFE® therefore bridges the gap between active safety and passive safety; it is networked to Brake Assist and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®), whose sensors recognise potentially dangerous driving situations and then transmit this information to the electronic control units within milliseconds.

In another first, Mercedes-Benz will also be using the information provided by the short-range radar to trigger the seat belt tensioners at the very last moment before an unavoidable collision, thus greatly reducing the forces exerted on the driver and front passenger during the crash.

Radar technology:sensor with medium-range detection capability and greater range

DISTRONIC PLUS and Brake Assist PLUS – Mercedes assistance systems based on sophisticated radar technology – are highly effective at helping to prevent accidents. Analysis of accident-research data has shown that this technology can prevent a fifth of all head-to-tail crashes in Germany on average. On motorways, the accident rate can be reduced by as much as 36 percent.

Mercedes-Benz has further enhanced the radar technology for the new E-Class and the model year 2009 S-Class. The newly developed long-range radar sensor will have a range of 200 metres instead of 150 metres as previously. In addition, the sensor now has medium-range detection capability, allowing monitoring of the area up to around 60 metres ahead of the car with a 60-degree beam width. This new technology enables even more accurate monitoring of the traffic situation in front of the car and even better detection of dynamic events such as a car in front swerving suddenly. The two wide-beam short-range radar sensors (80-degree beam width) with a range of around 30 metres are still employed.

PRE-SAFE® Brake: autonomous emergency braking as "electronic" crumple zone
As well as warning drivers in the new E-Class and the S-Class of an imminent head-to-tail crash, radar technology can also assist with emergency braking. The sensors are networked with Brake Assist PLUS, which automatically calculates the brake pressure required to prevent an imminent collision. This braking assistance, available as soon as the driver hits the brake pedal, allows controlled, targeted braking or – if necessary – emergency braking, depending on the car's speed and the distance to the vehicle in front.

If the driver fails to react to the warnings given by Brake Assist PLUS, the PRE-SAFE® Brake intervenes and brakes the car autonomously: around 1.6 seconds before the calculated impact point, the system initiates autonomous partial braking and decelerates the car with around 40 percent of the maximum braking power.

JohnH4260

Most Coveted Cars
Nice to see a Mercedes-Benz AMG on the list.
To compile this ranking, we queried automakers large and small — and in many cases their dealerships — to find out how long it takes a customer to receive a new car after putting down a deposit. We focused on models currently in production, or about to begin production in 2009, that you can walk into a dealership and order. We included no more than two models from any manufacturer. The list is in ascending order by estimated wait times.

Aston Martin DBS
Price: $262,000
Estimated wait time: 8 months
Last year around this time, anyone wanting Aston Martin's top sports car, the DBS, faced a daunting 28-month wait time. But now the wait has been whittled down to just 8 months. Five hundred DBS models are scheduled for production this year, about 35 percent of which are destined for the United States. Aston Martin’s DBS is essentially a race car for the streets. It’s James Bond’s latest ride and debuted in the 2006 feature film "Casino Royale."

Smart Fortwo
Price: $11,590-$16,590
Estimated wait time: 9 to 13 months
Although production of this inexpensive two-seater may eventually catch up with demand, for now the Smart Fortwo is one of the hottest cars in the United States. As of September 2008, demand far exceeds supply, the company says. More than 30,000 prospective U.S. buyers placed a $99 deposit on a Smart Fortwo via the Internet in 2007. In big cities on either coast, where the Fortwo is especially hot, you may wait more than a year to take delivery. It’s available as a coupe or convertible.

Tesla Roadster
Price: $109,000
Estimated wait time: 12 months
For the past couple of years, green-minded Hollywood types and Silicon Valley bigwigs have waited for the all-electric Tesla Roadster. Technical hang-ups have delayed production, but Roadsters are now being delivered. Putting $60,000 down ensures delivery in about a year, Tesla Motors says. A $5,000 deposit locks in the 2009 price (now up to $109,000) for the remainder of the model year.

Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series
Price: $320,000
Estimated wait time: 12 months
Mercedes-Benz's high-performance AMG division is known for creating insanely fast versions of already-fast Mercedes models. And anything with “Black Series” after its name means mind-bending speed. The SL65 AMG Black Series puts out 661 horsepower from a huge twin-turbo V12 engine and gets various other performance upgrades, including a carbon-fiber hood and fixed roof, which replaces the folding hard top of the normal SL-Class. Only 350 will be built and sold worldwide.

Koenigsegg CCX
Price: $1.1 million
Estimated wait time: 12 months
A 245-mph car from Sweden, the land of auto-safety leaders like Volvo, is quite the paradox. Designed and built there by the small firm Koenigsegg that bears its founder’s name, this 806-horsepower supercar is one of the few — perhaps the only — that can take on the fearsome Bugatti Veyron 16.4. Less than 35 are to be produced per year, and all 10 of the ones destined for the United States this year have already been reserved.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Price: $1.5 million
Estimated wait time: 13 months
Under full throttle, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 feels like a rollercoaster on a vertical drop. In raw numbers, that translates to 0-60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds. It’s capable of a 253-mph top speed. Besides performance, this Bugatti is loaded with cachet, thanks to the French company’s rich heritage. About 160 Veyrons have been delivered worldwide since production began in 2006, 60 of those to the United States. Only 300 will be built in total.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport
Price: $2 million
Estimated wait time: 13 months
As if the "regular" $1.5 million Veyron 16.4 isn't enough, Bugatti will start offering a new Grand Sport version that features a removable transparent polycarbonate roof panel and a $500,000 price hike. Deliveries start in late spring or early summer 2009, and the first 40 go to "registered Bugatti customers," the company says. Total production of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport will be 150 units at a rate of 50 per year. Production of the Grand Sport is in addition to that of the standard Veyron's run of 300.

Lotus Evora
Price: $75,000
Estimated wait time: 18 months
Some U.S. Lotus dealerships reportedly started taking names down for prospective buyers of the new Evora well before Lotus formally unveiled it at the British International Motor Show in July. The small two-door, four-seat sports car is designed to be more comfortable and practical than the tiny race-track-ready Elise. As such, it is larger, includes more amenities, and actually has a trunk. It will be powered by a Toyota V6 engine. The first Evoras will arrive in the United States in late fall 2009. Lotus sources anticipate that demand will outpace supply through at least the first year of production, during which less than 700 cars are expected to be allocated for the United States.

Audi R8
Price: $112,500
Estimated wait time: 18 months
Audi is wisely keeping its stunning Porsche-fighting R8 in tight supply, considering that it is the company’s first foray into the six-figure sports-car arena. Only 565 cars were delivered to the United States as of June 30. Even with production expected to ramp up a bit, those getting on the list now will have to wait a year and a half for this slinky coupe. Its spacecraft-like styling and fearsome performance have captivated car enthusiasts and average drivers alike — just what you want in a car like this.

Bentley Brooklands
Price: $340,990
Estimated wait time: 18 months
Only 550 Bentley Brooklands will be built for the world, with less than 180 bound for North America. The big Brooklands coupe is based on the ultra-rare Azure convertible. Both are large cars with a look and feel in the Bentley tradition. They stand apart from modern looking, smaller vehicles in the lineup, like the Continental GT and Flying Spur, which borrow Audi/Volkswagen technology and are more widely available.

Ferrari F599 GTB Fiorano
Price: $302,584
Estimated wait time: 18 months
The 599 GTB Fiorano has the longest wait of any consumer-oriented Ferrari currently in production. According to Ferrari North America, it’s down to about 18 months. With around 300 units allocated for sale in the United States each year, it's more exclusive than the smaller Ferrari F430. And it’s faster and handles better than the other V12-powered Ferrari, the larger 612 Scaglietti. That makes it the choice for those who want the ultimate in Ferrari performance and exclusivity.

Ferrari California
Price: $200,000 est.
Estimated wait time: More than 18 months
The front-engine, four-seat California brings back an old name but features a number of technological firsts for Ferrari. The retractable hard top is the most noticeable. The car will be unveiled live to the world for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in October, but Ferrari dealerships are already taking reservations. If you put your name in now, count on a one-year wait after the California officially goes on sale sometime next year.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé
Price: $400,000
Estimated wait time: 24 months
The much-anticipated coupe version of the Rolls-Royce Phantom goes on sale in November, but the company says it has already accumulated a wait list nearly as long as that of its convertible counterpart, the Drophead Coupé. About 200 will be available the first year of production and all are sold out, as are the second year’s. The Coupé has the same 453-horsepower, 6.75-liter V12 engine as the other Phantom models, but with sportier steering and suspension settings.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé
Price: $423,000
Estimated wait time: 27 months
Even among highly coveted cars, this soft-top convertible stands out as one of the most sought-after of the moment. Last year's 15-month wait time has now nearly doubled to about 27 months. Less than 200 will be made each year. Other than its odd name, the Drophead Coupé stands out for its rear-hinged doors, chunky profile and sofa-like rear seat. Plus, its trunk door flips down for six-figure, ultra-posh tailgating.

Fisker Karma
Price: $80,000 est.
Estimated wait time: 27 months
Fisker Automotive was founded by car designer Henrik Fisker, whose credentials include designing the achingly beautiful Aston Martin DB9. After a couple of years of building special bodies for BMW and Mercedes models and selling them for six figures, Fisker has designed its own vehicle, the Karma. It is a luxurious plug-in hybrid sedan with lithium-ion batteries that are said to offer a 50-mile, electric-only driving range. The car won’t sacrifice performance for fuel economy, though. Deliveries will begin in fall of 2009. The first 100 Signature Edition models include special equipment and required a $5,000 deposit. Beyond that, close to 1,000 people have put down a standard pre-order deposit of $1,000, the company says.

JohnH4260

AMG 7-speed Sports Transmission Wins Popular Science Magazine Award

The AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission was able to claim victory in the hotly contested “Automotive” category. According to the editors of Popular Science, this AMG transmission represents “important and revolutionary technological progress”. Popular Science has presented its sought-after “Best of what’s new Awards” annually in eleven categories since 1987. A total of 100 products enter the final selection. The results are published in the December edition, which traditionally has the largest circulation. Popular Science is the world’s most widely-read science and technology magazine, with an average readership of 6.8 million each month.

The AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission is a newly developed and unique power transfer unit that is used exclusively in the new Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG. It combines the best of both worlds: the sporty, direct and agile responsiveness of a manual transmission and the maximum comfort of an automatic transmission. Equipped with seven gears, four driving modes, a double-declutch function and a RACE START function, the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission excels with previously unattained flexibility. MCT stands for Multi-Clutch Technology, and indicates that gearchanges are executed solely by the clutch components.

No interruption in tractive power and four driving modes
The centrepiece of the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission is the wet start-off clutch, which operates in a sump and replaces the previous torque converter. Thanks to its low rotational inertia, this transmission is extremely responsive and dynamic, with movements of the accelerator immediately translated into motive power. Equipped with four driving modes, the transmission shifts the gears with no interruption in tractive power and provides tailor-made shift strategies for maximum driving pleasure. In “C” mode the gearchanges are comfort-oriented, with “soft” accelerator mapping for extremely smooth progress. In “S” mode the engine and transmission respond much more immediately, with more revs in each gear and faster downshifts. Gearshifts are also around 20 percent faster than in “C”. Changing to driving mode “S+” shortens this time by a further 20 percent, while “M” provides the most sporty mode of all: now the 6.3-litre AMGV8-engine responds more sharply, and the transmission shifts the gears 10 percent faster – corresponding to a 50 reduction versus “C” mode. In “M” mode the gearchanges take only 100 milliseconds.

Particularly fast and responsive multiple downshifts are another major attribute of the AMG MCT sports transmission. Kickdown alows the driver to change from seventh directly to fourth gear, for example, or from fifth to second gear. In driving modes “S” (Sport), “S+” (Sport plus) and “M” (Manual) the automatic double-declutch function is active. This is not only a benefit in terms of the driver’s emotional experience: the practically load-free downshifts minimise any load-change responses, which has an extremely positive effect when braking into bends on the racetrack.

AMG DRIVE UNIT with innovative RACE START function
The central control unit for the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission and all the dynamic functions is the AMG DRIVE UNIT. The electronic rotary switch for selection of the driving modes, including activation of the innovative RACE START function, is located to the left of the shift lever. Below this there are three keys for other functions: the first controls the ESP® system, the second the ABC suspension and the third, which bears AMGlettering, enables the driver to store the selected driving mode and the suspension setup. Briefly depressing the AMG key displays the configuration options, and longer pressure saves the preferred setups to memory.

The RACE START function opens up new dimensions in driving dynamics: it enables the driver of the SL 63 AMG to summon up the maximum acceleration potential while ensuring the best possible traction for the drive wheels. The optimal start-off engine speed is set fully automatically to give the SL 63 AMG the fastest possible acceleration – if required even to maximum speed. The driver does not need to perform manual gearshifts, as the AMG transmission changes the gears with the shortest possible shift times.

Most powerful roadster in its class with 386 kW/525 hp
Emotional performance courtesy of a technological masterpiece: the Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG. This high-performance roadster is powered by the 6.3-litre AMGV8-engine developing 386 kW/525 hp and 630 newton metres – which makes it the most powerful model with a naturally aspirated V8-engine in its class. The SL 63 AMG accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and has an (electronically limited) top speed of 250 km/h. Its unique combination of a high-revving concept and a large displacement represents the best of both worlds: high torque at low engine speeds combined with flexibility to set the pulse racing – a maximum of 7200 rpm is possible.

The AMG eight-cylinder engine features a wealth of technology adopted from motor sports: this includes the lightweight, particularly rigid closed-deck crankcase and cylinder walls with revolutionary LDS coating, as well as valve gear designed for high engine speeds with bucket-type tappets in the cylinder heads. Together with the variable intake manifold with two integrated throttle flaps, the flow-optimised intake and exhaust ducts ensure perfect cylinder charging and a high output.

This dynamic drive package is ideally matched by the suspension of the SL 63 AMG. The AMGsports suspension based on Active Body Control has been refined, and now features not only a new damper configuration but also completely revised elasto-kinematics. In the interests of greater agility and shorter braking distances, the front axle bearings, spring links and the radius rod , as well as individual strut bearings at the rear axle, have been reconfigured. Together with the improved, speed-sensitive power steering this makes the SL 63 AMG more directly responsive, with extremely precise, linear self-steering characteristics. The AMGsports suspension based on Active Body Control also allows a personal suspension setup. At the touch of a button either sporty characteristics with reduced roll angles and a stiff suspension setup, or a comfort-oriented setting for a high level of long-distance comfort can be selected.

The 3-stage ESP® with sports function is also unique. This system offers three different control settings, and is a logical further development of the AMG ESP® philosophy. Using the ESP® key in the AMG DRIVE UNIT, the driver is able to choose between three modes – “ESP ON”, “ESP SPORT” and “ESP OFF” – and the currently active mode is shown in the central display of the AMG instrument cluster.

JohnH4260

Mercedes-Benz TV Launching Version 2.0
Starting November 14, those of you that visit Mercedes-Benz TV are going to notice a slight change of scenery, as Mercedes has announced they're launching a new-and-improved version of the service: Mercedes-Benz TV (www.mercedes-benz.tv) While it will still maintain its emphasis of delivering high quality video content centered around the Mercedes-Benz brand, an increased number of programs will be available, as will a streamlined new design.

In the first issue, DTM driver Susie Stoddart will be the guest of honor, guiding visitors through the online show. In addition to offering a much needed break from current anchorwoman Tanja Bülter, Susie will furthermore look at the subject of " sporty cars and their drivers" – a topic inspired by the success of F1 champion (and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver ) Lewis Hamilton.

JohnH4260

Daimler Employees Sabotaged Own Cars
German newspapers, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, are reporting that employees at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Sindelfingen are under investigation for deliberately producing defective cars. Prosecutors are claiming that numerous workers have manipulated vehicles so that external repair workshops, which are not part of the Daimler AG, would get the job to fix them.

The employees were part of the “quality” control department, and received expensive gifts and trips for sabotaging the vehicles. They scratched the cars, loosened clamps and bolts, and even put liquid into brake lines. The cost to Mercedes-Benz is in the millions. It will be interesting to see what the magnitude of this is and if there are more cases like this. While we definitely can’t blame all MB defects on the group in Sindelfingen (would be nice if we could). Daimler AG need to do a thorough investigation and come to the bottom of this.

JohnH4260

Lorinser Mercedes-Benz S-Class
A while ago we presented the Lorinser-treated Mercedes C-Class and now we have here, the luxury sedan S-Class, which has freshly come out of the Lorinser Oven.

The new kit from Lorinser consists of new springs, a TUV approved lowering kit and an air suspension (standard one replaced) or an elector hydraulic steel ABC suspension at choice. The body kit has also been updated and it received a new front bumper, front fenders, new side skirts as well as a new set of alloy wheels with the Lorinser multi-spoke design. S-Classes have become quite common these days, to make your S-Class stand out from the crowd, this Lorinser kit might just be the top option.

JohnH4260

Hottest Sedans of 2009
The latest premium sedans debuting for 2009 have unprecedented sophistication and fuel economy. The latter is pretty much a necessity as declining sales show that not even luxury automakers are insulated from the hard knocks of the slumping global economy.

Audi A4 Sedan
Starting price: $30,700
Mileage: 17-23 mpg city/26-30 mpg hwy
Audi’s new A4 Sedan doesn’t look all that different from the existing model until you put it next to one. Like other redesigned Audis of late, it’s a stunner. Arguably, the most dramatic visual change is the headlights, which now incorporate Audi’s signature row of white LEDs.
The 211-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and 265-hp 3.2-liter V6 engines are not only more powerful, but also 10 percent more fuel-efficient than the engines they replace. The quattro all-wheel-drive system, standard with the V6 and optional with the four-cylinder, sends more power to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions for a sportier feel.

Bentley Arnage Final Series
Starting price: $250,000
Mileage: 10 mpg city/14 mpg hwy
After a decade in production, the old man of the Bentley lineup will be laid to rest after the 2009 model year. The British automaker is marking the occasion with the Arnage Final Series, made up of the last 150 examples of the stately sedan, 65 of which are headed for North America.
The Arnage Final Series has special trim to set it apart. It uses the most powerful variant of the company’s massive 6.75-liter V8 engine that produces 500 horsepower and 738 pounds-feet of torque with the help of twin turbochargers. That’s more than double the power of Bentley’s first V8, a 6.23-liter, which debuted in 1959, but with emissions that are 99 percent lower and fuel economy that is 60 percent better.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed
Starting price: $198,500
Mileage: 10 mpg city/17 mpg hwy
While the Arnage is in its twilight, the Continental Flying Spur Speed is still at dawn. The latest version is a high-performance variant called the Flying Spur Speed, which, like the Continental GT Speed, gets a power infusion in the form of a 600-horsepower 12-cylinder engine.
A sprint to 60 mph flies by in 4.5 seconds; top speed is 200 mph. A slightly lower ride height, modified suspension and steering systems, and 20-inch wheels and performance tires enhance this Flying Spur’s handling prowess.

BMW 3 Series Sedan Diesel
Starting price: $42,000 (estimated)
Mileage: 23 mpg city/33 mpg hwy
BMW’s 3 Series Sedan and Wagon get updated front and rear styling and an improved iDrive system for 2009, but the big news for the new model year is the availability of a 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine in a new variant called the 335d. It gets markedly better mileage than the existing 3.0-liter six-cylinder engines, but it won’t sacrifice performance to do so, with its 265 horsepower and a whopping 425 pounds-feet of torque on hand.
An "AdBlue" urea-injection exhaust-treatment system enables the 335d to comply with the most stringent emissions regulations adopted by California and about a dozen other states.

BMW 7 Series Sedan
Starting price: $80,000 (estimated)
Mileage: N/A
With a more conservative appearance than its predecessor, the latest generation of BMW’s full-size 7 Series Sedan comes in 750i and stretched-wheelbase 750Li models, like before. Its 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine generates 400 horsepower and 450 pounds-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic is the only transmission available.
The new 7 Series rides on a revised suspension that promises more refined driving dynamics, and the optional Sport Package includes a new speed-sensitive rear-wheel steering system. A standard Driving Dynamics Control system allows drivers to adjust suspension, engine, transmission and steering characteristics according to four operating modes.

Cadillac CTS-V
Starting price: $60,000 (estimated)
Mileage: N/A
With the CTS-V, Cadillac took the already excellent CTS sedan and made it even better. Its 556-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine makes it handle like a sports car, except it's much easier (i.e. less scary) to drive, thanks to the way it smoothly transmits power to the rear wheels and maintains a stable ride even on rough pavement or when being tossed into a sharp turn.
A six-speed manual gearbox with precise shift gates and excellent clutch-pedal feel is standard. An optional six-speed automatic includes steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual gear selection.

Hyundai Genesis
Starting price: $32,250
Mileage: 17-18 mpg city/25-27 mpg hwy
Hyundai moves up the automotive food chain with its new full-size Genesis luxury sedan, the Korean automaker’s first rear-wheel-drive car. While the timing for such a high-performance premium sedan isn’t the best, our test drives of the Genesis indicate it has staying power.
It feels just like a Lexus inside and has great moves on the road and track. A 290-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine comes standard; a 375-hp 4.6-liter V8 is optional. Both engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability.

Jaguar XF
Starting price: $49,200
Mileage: 16 mpg city/25 mpg hwy
The midsize Jaguar XF attempts to break the automaker’s stodgy image with sleek new styling and a rich interior that literally springs to life when the car turns on — a transmission knob rises out of the center console and vents in the dashboard rotate open.
A 300-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 engine is standard and plenty powerful for most drivers. Braggarts will want to spring for the optional 420-hp supercharged version. Both engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission that shifts gears smooth and fast.

Maserati Quattroporte
Starting price: TBD
Mileage: 12 mpg city/18 mpg hwy
The Maserati Quattroporte is currently the only sedan made by a company that specializes in rare sports cars, but it’s about to get some serious competition from the likes of Porsche, with its Panamera, and Fisker, with its Karma. Aston Martin and Lamborghini also are toying with whether to make super sedans.
To keep its Quattroporte — "four-door" in Italian — fresh, Maserati has updated the front and rear styling for 2009. New wheels are part of the revamp, along with a Bose multimedia system with satellite navigation, 30-gigabyte hard disk for storage of music and other files, voice control, Bluetooth and a USB port.

Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid
Starting price: TBD
Mileage: 12 mpg city/18 mpg hwy
The S400 will be Mercedes’ first hybrid. It combines a 15-kilowatt electric motor with a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine for an impressive combined output of 299 horsepower. At an estimated 30 mpg in combined city/highway driving, it blows away the next-most-efficient S-Class model, the V8-powered S550, which gets an estimated 18 mpg overall.
The S400 BlueHybrid’s electric motor will be powered by a lithium-ion battery pack the size of a regular car battery and much smaller than current hybrids’ battery packs.

Mercedes C-Class Diesel
Starting price: TBD
Mileage: 45 mpg city/hwy combined
Mercedes-Benz is planning to launch diesel variants of its smallest sedan, the C-Class. The frontrunner C250 BlueEfficiency CDI Prime Edition uses a 204-horsepower four-cylinder diesel engine to achieve an estimated 45 mpg for combined driving in the city and on the highway. It’s being produced in a limited run of 5,000 units, none of may make it to the United States.
Depending on market demand, Mercedes will offer C-Class diesel models in the United States that could range in power between 200 hp and 250 hp, and have up to 380 pounds-feet of torque.

Volkswagen Passat CC
Starting price: $26,790
Mileage: 17-21 mpg city/25-31 mpg hwy
Volkswagen calls the Passat CC a "four-door coupe," but it’s really just a sleeker-looking and more expensive version of the Passat Sedan. The "CC" stands for "comfort coupe." It seats four occupants, one less than the regular Passat.
It offers the same 200-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 280-hp 3.6-liter V6 engines as other Volkswagens. Front-wheel drive is standard; the top V6 model offers all-wheel drive. A fully loaded version rings up at well over $40,000.

Volkswagen Passat BlueTDI and BlueMotion
Starting price: $34,000 (estimated)
Mileage: 45-48 mpg combined (estimated)
Volkswagen will offer two new diesel engines in its largest U.S. sedan. The Passat BlueTDI has a 140-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine that gets an estimated 45 mpg.
The Passat BlueMotion is even more efficient. It has a less-powerful 108-hp 2.0-liter diesel engine that includes a stop/start function that shuts the engine down during temporary stops to conserve fuel. It also has a low-resistance drive shaft, lighter wheels and low-roll-resistance tires to help it achieve an estimated 48 mpg. With their urea-injection exhaust treatment, both new diesel Passats are emission-compliant in all 50 states.

JohnH4260

Mercedes-Benz Previews New Internet-Based Command System

Mercedes-Benz is offering a glimpse into the future with myCOMAND, an internet-based infotainment system as part of a special preview during the Los Angeles Auto Show. myCOMAND is said to be especially efficient and user-friendly. Using internet connectivity, all data and information is kept fresh and current at all times without the need for software or hardware updates. All functions are concentrated on one user interface for easy and intuitive access. For the Mercedes-Benz researchers, complete integration, reliable operation and data protection were the highest priorities in the design of myCOMAND.

Mercedes will tap into the cellular network to enable users to download data wherever they are.

The most important new services of myCOMAND are:
Off-board navigation: It not only always works with the latest map, but also takes the traffic information available on the internet into account for route selection. Along with the conventional map display it is also possible to show satellite images which enable easier orientation.

Trip Assist: This service automatically accesses the large amount of information available on the internet and presents it to the driver in optimally edited form at the right time.

World Radio: Via internet you can tune in practically every radio station in the world – while traveling in your car you can even get radio stations from the other side of the world.

Internet telephony: With myCOMAND the telephone, like all other services, also can utilize the advantages of the internet. Thanks to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), myCOMAND enables putting calls through free of charge or sending short messages via internet and simultaneously transmitting voice and data.

Of course, a browser additionally allows you to surf the internet in the accustomed way.

Attractive looks, intuitive operation

myCOMAND not only offers many new options, but is attractively designed for intuitive operation. The centrally arranged display has a brilliant resolution that is optimally positioned in the driver’s field of vision so that he or she can better keep an eye on the current traffic situation. The COMAND controller — an ergonomically optimized rotary pushbutton on the center consol — enables simple, accurate operation.

The Home screen shows a stylized globe. All selectable functions revolve around it, moved by turning the rotary pushbutton; with a push you select the menu item in the foreground. This opens a new menu with more items for selection. The design of the menu, circling a symbolic globe, is not merely an optical highlight; it greatly simplifies operation in conjunction with the rotary pushbutton and its synchronized motion.

By means of two buttons next to the central control, additional functions such as the menu options can be called up. Also, the “back” button enables quickly correcting any wrong entries. Connection with LINGUATRONIC in future will enable operating myCOMAND also by voice.

myCOMAND lays the foundation for optimal use of the internet in the car. The Mercedes-Benz researchers expect that it will take a few more years until the technical prerequisites have been created and such a system is available in production cars.

JohnH4260

More information on the Sabotaged Mercedes-Benz Autos.

Mercedes Mechanics Sabotage Cars To Help Workshops Make Money
A master mechanic and two clerks, among others, are being investigated for intentionally sabotaging Mercedes cars being built at the Sindelfingen factory. Allegedly, repair shops in the area that weren’t part of the Daimler corporation were bribing workers with gifts, trips, and cash to alter the cars so that the repair shops could get the contracts to fix them.

The sabotage included scratching the cars, loosening clamps and bolts, as well as — incredibly — putting foreign liquids into brake lines. According to Suddeutsche Zeitung, the cars affected were C-, E-, and S-Class. The Stuttgart prosecutor’s office estimates the costs to Mercedes in the many of millions, but the greatest irony is this: the workers under investigation were part of the quality control department. But as far as we know, none of these cars reached our shores, for now.

trumpet1

I read your earlier post on this and this is just astonishing! People are nuts nowadays.

The thing is , they would have had to have made sure they knew the destination of the cars from the get-go or else their crimes would affect cars going all over the world. They would have had to have knowldege of the destination of the cars to ensure they would be in the hands of the mechanics in that area they were working this crime with.

JohnH4260

Yeah, it's crazy isn't it. You would think if a person had a job building Mercedes-Benz C-, E-, or S-Class sedans, they would feel fortunate to have a job. Especially working for such a prestigious company as Mercedes- Benz. Go figure.