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Mercedes-Benz launching midsize pickup by end of decade

The pickup is about to get a rethink from Germany. In a rather surprising announcement, Mercedes-Benz says that it's planning to have a midsize truck on the market before the end of the decade. Before you get too excited to drive a pickup with the brand's famous star on the grille, there's some disappointing news. Mercedes is quite clear that the US isn't among the intended markets for the midsize truck, and the company specifically outlines the model for Latin America, South Africa, Australia and Europe. Also, this is a product being developed by the more commercially-minded Mercedes-Benz Vans division responsible for the Sprinter and upcoming Metris. With that in mind, don't expect the interior of an S-Class with a bed in the rear. In fact, at the moment Mercedes isn't giving away many details about its truck, although the company suggests a payload capacity of around 2205 pounds. Inciting this development is the current boom in the midsize truck segment. We're seeing that happen with models like the latest Ford Ranger, the next Toyota Hilux (in development) and a future FCA vehicle. "As part of our 'Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global' strategy, the pickup is the ideal vehicle for the international expansion of our product range with a newly developed model," division boss Volker Mornhinweg said in the brand's announcement. Rumblings of a possible Mercedes pickup came up years ago as a possible partnership with Nissan, but those reportedly would have been badge-engineered models. This latest truck appears to be something wholly Mercedes. "We will enter this segment with our distinctive brand identity and all of the vehicle attributes that are typical of the brand with regard to safety, comfort, powertrains and value," said company boss Dieter Zetsche. Get ready for the Mercedes-Benz among pickups: Mercedes-Benz Vans to launch midsize pickup Stuttgart, Mar 27, 2015 Expansion of product range for sustained global growth Market for midsize pickups primed for first model from a premium manufacturer Mercedes-Benz to enter the high-volume midsize segment before end of decade Main markets: Latin America, South Africa, Australia, and Europe Stuttgart – Before the end of the decade, Mercedes-Benz will expand its product range into a promising segment by launching the first pickup from a premium manufacturer. Thanks to their versatility, all-round utility, and payload of about one metric ton, pickups are popular across the world and thus have good sales potential.

Brabus bringing 900-horsepower Mercedes S65 to Geneva

The S-Class may be the ultimate Mercedes, but what's the ultimate S-Class? Is it the S550? Maybe in some markets, but that's just the starting point in North America. The S600? Getting closer. The Maybach? Sure, if the last word in luxury is what you're after. But if it's performance you crave, then you'll want an AMG version like the S63. But even that's not the flagship. No, in terms of outright power, it all comes down to the S65. It's got a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 churning out 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque, for crying out loud. But Brabus thinks it's still not enough. That's why (alongside the 850-hp S63 coupe) it's bringing a version it calls the Rocket 900 to the Geneva Motor Show this week. To turn the S65 AMG into the Rocket 900, Brabus has bored out the cylinders to total 6.3 liters and fitted larger turbochargers, a new exhaust system, intake module and much, much more. The result is an output increased to 887 bhp and 1,106 lb-ft of torque. Brabus has upgraded the limited slip differential to handle the extra muscle, helping it rocket to 62 in just 3.7 seconds, on to 124 in 9.1 and up to a top speed of 217 Autobahn-crunching miles per hour. The famed Benz tuner has also fitted a carbon-fiber aero kit to keep it from flying away (however unlikely considering the vehicle's approximately 5,000-lb curb weight), along with 21- or 22-inch wheels, a retuned air suspension that drops the ride height over half an inch closer to the road and – we can only hope since the release makes no such mention – upgraded brakes as well to keep it all in check. Brabus also offers a full range of interior enhancements as well, but don't expect any of this to come cheap. As it is, the S65 starts at $222,000, but a turn-key Brabus Rocket 900 goes for 347,719 euros – or about $390k at today's rates. Related Video: World premiere at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show BRABUS ROCKET 900 The new reference for high performance in the luxury class V12 with 662 kW / 900 hp, 1,500 Nm and a top speed in excess of 350 km/h BRABUS ROCKET 900 – that is the new reference for high performance in the luxury class, which celebrates its world premiere at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone +49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax +49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, internet www.brabus.com) builds this super car based on the new Mercedes S 65.

UK workers strand car on island of asphalt to keep working

Generally speaking, when you illegally park your car, you're likely to get ticketed and towed, but there is probably at least one motorist in Scotland who wishes that was the case. After workers had blocked off a portion of the parking lot for the Edinburgh Waverley railway station, the driver of this Mercedes-Benz S-Class reportedly moved some of the barriers to park in one of the empty spots.
Rather than having the vehicle towed, the work crew simply tore up the asphalt around the leaving just the one parking spot intact, and as you can see in the image above (posted to the Twitter account of Harold Norstad), the crew even built a small asphalt ramp so the car could get off its blacktop pedestal. Since this happened last week, there's no word as to whether the car was eventually moved or towed for the resurfacing work to continue.
Let this be a warning...