26 Year Old Beauty on 2040-cars

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Mercedes giving SL a nose job

Mercedes tends to keep its SL roadster around longer than most models. The previous fifth-generation machine was launched in 2001, underwent a facelift in 2009 and stuck around until 2012. That's when the current model was introduced, and before it's replaced, Benz is expected to roll out another facelifted version. And that seems to be exactly what we're looking at here. Expected to arrive sometime in 2016 as a 2017 model, the updated SL will likely feature revised styling front and rear (along with updated interior equipment). This prototype appears to be wearing headlights from the new S-Class Coupe, which don't fit precisely, but then Daimler still has a couple of years to get everything just right.

Mercedes surprised Hamilton with this steering wheel message

Lewis Hamilton had much to celebrate at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this past weekend. Not only did he win the race in commanding form (the 33rd in his career to make him the fifth most successful in Formula One history), but he also scored enough points (double on the season finale this year) to outpace his teammate and chief rival to win the world championship. Having already been crowned champion in 2008, that makes him one of only sixteen drivers to have won multiple world titles. It's a point his team at Mercedes didn't want him to miss, so on the cool-down lap at the end of the race, his pit crew radioed him the message "default 44" – an instruction that triggered this image to appear on the display in the middle of his steering wheel. Apparently Lewis, with plenty else on his mind (like getting his car back to the parc ferme in one piece and with enough fuel), didn't notice what was flashing in front of him. Superimposed, as you can see, over an image of Hamilton as a young lad still in karts is Lewis' name alongside those of the other two-time world champs: Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Emerson Fittipaldi, Alberto Ascari, Fernando Alonso and Mika Hakkinen. (Never mind those who've scored more than two titles.) Intriguingly, Hakkinen is the only other one among them to have won either of his titles under Mercedes power like Lewis did, though Fangio won two of his five titles motivated by Benz engines.

Mercedes Pullman limo, C-Class Hybrid coming to Geneva

Mercedes-Benz is preparing to show the pinnacles of its engineering and luxury prowess at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in March. Towering in physical size among these new vehicles is the long-awaited debut of the S-Class Pullman, according to Reuters. If you think the nearly $200,000 Mercedes-Maybach S600 (pictured above) is the ultimate in opulence available on Mercedes' flagship sedan, think again. The Pullman is the true top dog at a rumored 21-feet long and at a price of around $1 million for the armored version. Earlier patent photos suggest what this behemoth might look like. The driver reportedly sits in a partitioned cabin up front, and the plutocratic passengers are nestled in two facing rows of seats in the rest of the extremely long body. It's possible that Mercedes might not even build the Pullman in-house and leave the duty up to Brabus. However, there's also a rumor that the massive model might not be offered in the US. According to Reuters, the German company is also proving that it can be green by displaying the C-Class Plug-in Hybrid in Geneva. If Mercedes' display of luxury and efficiency don't strike your fancy, then the automaker is bringing some performance with its future Mercedes-AMG GT GT3 racer to the Swiss show.