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Mercedes-Benz introduces new heavy security M-Class Guard model

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a new addition to the company's line of personal security vehicles. The M-Class Guard features bullet-proof side windows made with special laminated glazing and a polycarbonate inner layer to protect occupants from shards of glass. Mercedes says the M-Class Guard meets protection level VR4 according to the Bullet Resistant Vehicles 2009 standards, based on testing from the independent Ulm-based Ballistics Bureau, which means it can withstand .357 Magnum and .44 fire from multiple angles. It can also stand up to the DM51 hand grenade when equipped with optional floor armoring. Why skimp?
Buyers looking for protection from the world's literal slings and arrows can opt for the ML350 BlueTEC with its 258 horsepower 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine. With 457 pound-feet of torque, the oil-burner should have no trouble hustling the privileged class about. Of course, the ML500 offers a bit more punch courtesy of a 4.6-liter twin-turbo V8 with 408 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. Prices start at 105,050 euros for the diesel and 118,650 euros for the V8. You can check out the full press release below for more information.

Mercedes A-Class refresh includes crown-stealing 381-hp A45 AMG

We're sure the 362-horsepower Audi RS3 Sportback enjoyed its brief reign at the top of the hot-hatch horsepower charts. But now, Mercedes-Benz updated the A-Class so that it reclaims the throne, castle, and jewels: the Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic comes with 381 hp from its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a significant bump of 36 hp, and 350 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 18 lb-ft. The seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox gets shorter ratios from third to seventh gears, so its 0-62 mile-per-hour time has dropped from 4.6 seconds to 4.2 seconds. The A45 gets a Dynamic Select system – driving modes controlled by a rotary knob – that comes standard with four modes: Comfort, Sport, Sport +, and Individual. Opt for the AMG Dynamic Plus package and you get a mechanical locking differential on the front axle, the two-stage AMG Ride Control sport suspension with adaptive damping, and a Race mode. Outside, additional aero aids are applied to the nipped-and-tucked bodywork changes made to the entire A-Class range. The spoiler lip under the new front bumper, rear roof spoiler, and rear diffuser, create more downforce than before. Inside, the new flat-bottomed steering wheel is joined by sport seats that allow bolster depth adjustment. And for all those upgrades, fuel economy has stayed the same at 6.9 liters per 100 kilometers on the European cycle. Even away from that tectonic shift, Mercedes made plenty of changes to the A-Class landscape. The new front bumper is said to be "more arrow-shaped," in homage to the the Concept A-Class from 2011, that stretches its look horizontally. LED headlights, standard on the A45, are optional here, and are paired with interior ambiance lighting. In back we get new taillights and some angular exhaust finishers laid into a diffuser-like insert, an alteration we're seeing across the entire Mercedes line-up. Inside, you'll find a redesigned instrument cluster with new graphics, higher-quality finishes on the switchgear, seats with adjustable bolster length, and new color options. Four driving modes are incorporated into the Dynamic Select system: Comfort, Sport, Eco, and Individual. The Eco mode has been tweaked to return even more fuel savings. This Mercedes is also the first to incorporate Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink for the non-iOs smartphoners.

On Location at Mercedes-Benz Van Camp in the Rocky Mountains

Camping high in the Rocky Mountains as spring gave way to summer may not seem like the obvious way to test out a work van, but that's how we sampled the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Metris. Our drive was based in Dunton Hot Springs and Cresto Ranch, CO, nestled high in the Rocky Mountains. Both were gorgeous and dripping with history. Since their rough-hewn origins they've been converted into an upscale camping experience. We spent a couple nights in Cresto Ranch, an old cattle outpost near the Dolores River. Our 'tent' was lavishly furnished, complete with a shower, desk, and comfortable bed. Glamor camping is in vogue, and this was 'glamping' at its finest. Most of the Mercedes activities started at Dunton Hot Springs, a former mining town with tents and log cabins remade into an even larger-scale glamping site than Cresto Ranch. The hot springs beckoned, but glampers could also enjoy massages or just soak in the soaring forests surrounding the site. The only downside: With an elevation around 8,700 feet above sea level, we found ourselves occasionally light-headed. It was a fun couple of days in the Rockies, on the road and at the campsite. Watch the video above for the complete experience, and read the review here.