Mercedes Benze 320 Ml on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Mercedes plans Audi TT fighter

With the growth in popularity of modular platforms in the auto industry, it's rapidly becoming commonplace to see a company with multiple models that look different but share a significant number of parts underneath. One such an example is Mercedes-Benz's line of compacts, including the A-Class hatchback, CLA-Class sedan, GLA-Class crossover. Two derivatives lacking from German brand's current, small-car range are a coupe and convertible, but that might be changing soon. Mercedes is hard at work on a coupe with 2+2 seating, a liftback roof and styling inspired by the AMG GT, according to Autocar. Daimler Chairman Dieter Zetsche reportedly supports the idea, too. The new two-door could be on the road as soon as 2019 to target models like the Audi TT and BMW 2 Series, and a convertible version might follow later. This little, luxury two-door would ride on Mercedes' next-gen, front-wheel-drive compact platform, according to Autocar. It reportedly allows the German company to vary a model's size more than the current version and can better adapt to hybrid powertrains. A previous report also suggested the coupe and convertible might use this improved chassis, if they got the green light. Of course, a Mercedes model is hardly complete without an AMG version, so that would also be a possibility. According to Autocar, the performance brand's 2.0-liter four-cylinder could see output pushed to 400 horsepower compared to the current 355-hp unit. Earlier rumors also indicated a more powerful version of the boosted mill might be on the way. With Autocar backing all this up only with unnamed sources, the rumors should probably be taken with a grain of salt at the moment. However, a small coupe from the brand doesn't seem entirely impossible. After all, after two-door versions of the C-,E-, and S-Class, why not a smaller one, too?

Brabus boosts big Benz plug-in hybrid

With vehicles like the BMW i8 and Porsche 918 Spyder, the Germans have demonstrated as well as anyone that "performance" and "hybrid" can go in the same sentence. And now Brabus is plugging in to the performance hybrid station as well. Though nowhere near as extreme as the aforementioned PHEV sports cars, the Brabus PowerXtra B50 Hybrid performance kit kicks the Mercedes S550 Plug-In Hybrid up a notch. The electric side of the powertrain remains untouched, but the internal combustion engine has been boosted by 51 horsepower and 52 pound-feet of torque. That gives the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 a total of 385 hp and 405 lb-ft, which is nothing to cough at – but with the electric boost kicking in, the vehicle now packs a combined output of 493 hp and 656 lb-ft. That slots its twist figure in between that of the S600 and S63 AMG. As a result, the big Brabus hybrid will now reach 62 miles per hour from a standstill in just 4.9 seconds (down from 5.2) – almost as quick as the 12-cylinder model but with half the pistons – though the top speed remains pegged at 155 mph. Naturally, Brabus didn't stop there, giving the sedan a new exhaust, aero kit, rolling stock and interior, all catered to the customer's specifications. BRABUS PowerXtra B50 Hybrid with 368 kW / 500 hp (493 bhp) and 890 Nm of torque The eco-friendly performance upgrade for the new Mercedes S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID For more than 35 years, BRABUS has been the synonym for powerful high-performance automobiles and exclusive refinement at the highest level of perfection. One philosophy has always been paramount in all these years: combining top performance with exemplary eco-friendliness, immaculate durability and perfect everyday practicality. With the new BRABUS PowerXtra B50 Hybrid performance kit for the new Mercedes S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID, the engine specialists of the world's largest independent tuner once more demonstrate their unrivalled know-how. The power increase of the V6 engine by 38 kW / 52 hp (51 bhp) and the boost in torque by 70 Nm (52 lb-ft) bumps the system output of the hybrid sedan to 368 kW / 500 hp (493 bhp) and system torque to 890 Nm (656 lb-ft). As a result, the luxury liner sprints from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.9 seconds, and impresses in daily driving with even further enhanced superiority. Due to the hybrid system, the top speed remains electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph).

Race recap: 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is Germany rising as sun sets

Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver Nico Rosberg Rosberg doesn't attribute anything mystical to the form that got him ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. He said simply, "Before it was close in the other direction, now it's close in this direction." Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda went further, saying Rosberg's "brain has switched." Under the desert spotlights it switched so far ahead that Lewis Hamilton qualified nearly four tenths behind the German. Kimi Raikkonen flew the scarlet for Ferrari in third position. Being three spots ahead of Valtteri Bottas gave Raikkonen a huge advantage in locking up fourth position in the driver's championship. Even if he doesn't care about it, as he's publicly stated, Ferrari probably does. Teammate Sebastian Vettel was classified 16th after the German slowed down after making a mistake on his final hot lap, and neither he nor his engineer realized how quickly times were falling on a cooling track. He'd be promoted to 15th when Lotus driver Romain Grosjean was penalized for a gearbox change. Sergio Perez knocked it out of the park for Sahara Force India, claiming fourth ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in fifth for Infiniti Red Bull Racing. Williams driver Bottas was in sixth, in front of the second Force India of Nico Hulkenberg and the second Williams of Felipe Massa in eighth. Daniil Kvyat ensured both Red Bulls were in the top 10 with his ninth position, and Carlos Sainz got the upper hand in qualifying over his Toro Rosso teammate Max Verstappen for the final time this year, rounding out the top 10. Beyond Nico Rosberg's mind, one of his weaknesses was his slow starts. Those are stronger, too, the German tearing off away from the field when the lights went out. Hamilton bogged enough to have to defend from Perez behind, the Mexican trying to slide between Hamilton and Raikkonen on the run to the first corner. Rosberg held the lead into Turn 1 and likewise held it through Turn 21 on the last lap of the race, only ceding it during pit stops. Rosberg's 14th victory gets him level with Graham Hill on the wins list – on the anniversary of Hill's death in a plane crash – and marks the first time in his 10-year F1 career that he's won three races in a row. More proof of his strength: the last few races we haven't heard Rosberg ask for regular updates about what Hamilton's doing, he just drives. Hamilton gave it his best but that wasn't enough.