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Mercedes-Benz intros long-wheelbase E-Class for China

Long-wheelbase sedans are a pretty hot commodity in China, and to keep up with the competition, Mercedes-Benz has introduced an extended version of the 2014 E-Class sedan at the Shanghai Motor Show. Audi, BMW, Volvo and even Cadillac offer extended versions of sedans specific to the Chinese market, and now the E-Class L, shown off in E400L guise, will give luxury sedan buyers in China yet another option.
Compared to the standard 2014 E-Class sedan, the new China-spec E-Class L has been stretched by 5.5 inches - all of which goes to the rear-seat passengers. According to an article on China View from earlier in the year, the market for chauffeur-driven cars is growing in the Asian nation, so automakers need long-wheelbase models like the E-Class L in order to fully compete. As for what powers this stretched E-Class, it's available in three models: the diesel E260L, the V6-powered E300L and the E400 Hybrid.
The redesigned E-Class and the all-new A-Class are just the first of 20 new Mercedes-Benz products that will be introduced into the Chinese auto market by 2015. Scroll down for the full press release on long-wheelbase E.

Brabus-tuned Mercedes G500 4x4 is an over-powered off-roader

Even from the factory, the Mercedes-Benz G500 4x42 is an off-road bruiser that's good for 415 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Apparently, those already meaty figures just aren't enough for the power-hungry folks at Brabus. The company's new tuning kit for the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 pushes things up to 493 hp and a prodigious 523 lb-ft of twist. On top of the grunt, buyers can order a heap of extras to make the SUV look a whole lot meaner. They're all going on display at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. The heart of Brabus' power upgrade is its custom control module to tweak the engine management, and the result is adjusted boost pressure and the mapping for the fuel injection and ignition. There's also a stainless steel exhaust with butterflies that vary between "Sport" and an appropriately named "Coming Home" mode at the press of a button. The chrome tailpipes add an extra visual pop, too. The G500 4x42 rides on off-road tires, and even after Brabus' big boost, it's not lightning quick. The run to 62 miles per hour now takes 6.9 seconds, and the rubber also mandates a top speed limited to 130 mph. For buyers really looking to show off, Brabus has a wild body kit for the G500, too. It includes new lower bumpers and polished underbody guards. Meanwhile, the hood grows a scoop, and the headlight update adds black-tinted Xenon lights with LED turn signals to replace the units usually on the fenders. Inside, a mix of quilted leather, Alcantara and bright red stitches finishes off the brash tweaks. World premiere at the IAA 2015 BRABUS refines the Mercedes G 500 4x42 368 kW / 500 HP, 710 Nm of torque and exclusive BRABUS luxury appointments for the extreme off-roader Mercedes G 500 4x42: the new special model of the G-Class is designed for maximum off-road capabilities and offers the perfect basis for exclusive refinement a la BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone +49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax +49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, Internet www.brabus.com). This includes an increase in the power output of the twin-turbo V8 to 368 kW / 500 HP (493 bhp) and a boost in its peak torque to 710 Nm (523 lb-ft). As a result, the tuned off-roader sprints from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.9 seconds. Due to the all-out off-road tires, the top speed is limited electronically to 210 km/h (130 mph). The spectacular appearance of the all-wheel-drive car is bolstered further by a high-end BRABUS paint finish and targeted BRABUS bodywork modifications.

Lewis Hamilton wins British GP, slashes Vettel's lead to 1 point

SILVERSTONE, England - Lewis Hamilton won his home British Grand Prix for the fourth year in a row on Sunday, while a penultimate-lap puncture slashed Sebastian Vettel's championship lead to a single point. The Briton's drive from pole to flag on an overcast afternoon was lonely, uneventful and dominant - in complete contrast to his Ferrari rival's afternoon - with Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas finishing 14 seconds behind to secure the one-two. "The support has been incredible this weekend. I am so proud I could do this for you all," said Hamilton, who threw himself into the fans for some crowd surfing after the podium celebrations. "The team were faultless this weekend, Valtteri did an incredible job as well, so it's the perfect weekend for us." Far behind in his wake, as Hamilton cruised to a 57th career win and soaked up the applause from an army of flag-waving fans, came sudden drama. Vettel, who had battled on worn tires but looked like securing the final podium position until the blowout, finished seventh after an emergency pit stop with a shower of sparks from the wheel rim. "There was no sign of that happening," said Vettel over the team radio. "There were vibrations but I had it for 20 laps and it didn't get massively worse. The tires didn't look great but they never look great." The German's Finnish teammate Kimi Raikkonen, who had been second before also being hit with a late puncture that sent Bottas and Vettel ahead of him, took third. At the halfway stage of the 20-race season, Vettel has 177 points to Hamilton's 176 with Bottas on 154. Hungary, a circuit where the Briton has won five times before, is next up. Hamilton became only the third driver, after his late compatriot Jim Clark and Frenchman Alain Prost, to win the British Grand Prix five times and the first to take four successive victories at Silverstone. Clark won four in a row in the 1960s, but one was at Aintree and another at Brands Hatch. Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished fourth, ending a run of retirements, with Australian teammate Daniel Ricciardo fifth after fighting through the field. Germany's Nico Hulkenberg was sixth for Renault and Force India pairing Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez were eighth and ninth with Brazilian Felipe Massa securing the final point for Williams. Jolyon Palmer's miserable run continued, with Britain's only other driver on the grid failing to make the start after his Renault broke down on the formation lap with a brake failure.