Map Pilot Navigation, Heated Front Seats, Unlimited Mileage Warranty on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Mercedes' CEO says Google should study car use, not car building

Google is rapidly throwing its massive weight into many facets of the auto business. Not only does the search behemoth want to take on Uber, offer car insurance quotes and run a specific version of Android on future infotainment systems, but the company is also at least toying with the idea of constructing its own completely autonomous vehicles. Such a powerful corporation entering the industry could frighten some automakers, but Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche isn't worried. The mustachioed executive doesn't believe that Google actually means to become an automaker but is instead just studying how people use cars. "Google and the likes want to get involved, I don't think in the first place to build vehicles," he told analysts, according to Reuters. Zetsche sees future collaboration with the technology giant in a quite nuanced way in that there are some things they can be partners on and other places where the two corporations might be competitors. One area where Zetsche potentially predicts an antagonistic relationship with Google regards data privacy, a concern is becoming a hot topic in the auto industry at the moment. Zetsche foresees the future of safety in Mercedes-Benz vehicles as protecting occupants not just physically but also safeguarding their personal information. "To be able to provide that, we have to keep control, and we can't do that when it is collected by Google," Zetsche said to Reuters. News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Gero Breloer / AP Photo Mercedes-Benz Technology Emerging Technologies Infotainment Autonomous Vehicles

Lewis Hamilton's 2010 McLaren Mercedes F1 car going up for auction

Lewis Hamilton has been racing in Formula 1 since 2007, and the multiple-championship-winner has won a lot of races. But none of the driver's former race-winning cars has ever come up for public auction. That will change this summer when RM Sotheby's auctions off a McLaren F1 racer that Hamilton drove during the 2010 season. The McLaren-Mercedes MP4-25A racer is chassis number 1, and features its as-raced silver-and-red Vodafone livery. Hamilton won the Turkish Grand Prix, the Canadian Grand Prix and the Belgian Grand Prix that season. The auction will take place in conjunction with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 17. The sale is being held on Saturday afternoon, just ahead of Sprint Qualifying Race. The Formula 1 race takes place the next day, on Sunday. In a unique — and fitting — twist, the car actually will be lapping the track at speed during the bidding. Whether that will juice the final sale price remains to be seen; the pre-sale auction estimate for the car is $5–$7 million. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. First Ever Lewis Hamilton Formula 1 Race Winning car to be Auctioned Live at 2021 British Grand Prix   Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. How to train like an F1 driver

Mercedes spotted testing updated A45 AMG

Now on the market (or some markets at any rate) for a couple of years already in its current form, Mercedes is preparing a slight refresh for the A-Class. And that means a new A45 AMG performance version, as well. Pictured undergoing testing in Germany, this prototype is hiding some enhancements for the littlest Benz. We're expecting the updates to be rather subtle, but they ought to help the Silver Star hatch keep up with the likes of the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 in the increasingly competitive premium hatchback market. Best of all, Mercedes is tipped to be preparing an even more powerful A45 AMG S with over 400 horsepower to keep pace with the upcoming Volkswagen Golf R400. Unfortunately the A-Class isn't offered in North America, but we can hope that some of the enhancements (especially in the performance department) are ported over to the CLA-Class sedan and GLA crossover as well. Related Video: