2001 Mercedes 500sl Convertible Roadster 5l Fuel Injection Hardtop Power Softtop on 2040-cars

Auto blog

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).

Mercedes takes VW Westfalia Camper idea upscale with new Marco Polo

Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz revealed the new V-Class. Slotting in below the popular Sprinter, the new V-Class replaced both the Viano and Vito upon its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. But Mercedes isn't quite done with it just yet. At the upcoming Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, Germany, Mercedes will reveal the Marco Polo - a versatile, stylish and decidedly contemporary take on the classic camper van.
Named after the famous Italian explorer, the Marco Polo was converted by Westfalia, an outfit which you might more closely associate with classic VW camper vans but which Daimler absorbed over a decade ago. Offering, according to the press release below, "a maximum of opportunities to be independent, free and spontaneous," the Marco Polo sleeps four thanks to the rear bench that electrically folds flat into a bed and the second berth under the pop-top. The flexible interior is decked out like you'd expect a modern Mercedes to be, with ambient LED lighting as well as wood, metal and piano black trim.
It's got an onboard kitchenette with two gas burners, a sink and fridge with a 10 gallons of fresh water and an even bigger waste tank. All that gear is shlepped around by a choice of four-cylinder turbodiesel engines ranging in output from 136 to 190 horsepower. The relatively compact form boasts a turning circle similar to a full-size sedan and a height designed to fit into most garages and car washes. All of which just might make us reconsider the appeal of traveling by camper van.

Aston Martin signs Letter of Intent for technical partnership with AMG

A little over two months ago came reports that Daimler and Aston Martin were in talks, again, about "supply and technical-cooperation agreements." The next step has been taken with Aston Martin announcing that it has signed a Letter of Intent that looks "towards a technical partnership" with Mercedes-AMG GmbH, and the two companies aiming to have definitive agreements done by year's end.
While it will get to use certain electric and electronic components from AMG, the true golden egg for the maker of the Vanquish will be the ability to develop a new line of "bespoke V8 powertrains" that will be fitted to "a new generation of models." In return for opening up the larder, Daimler will get a non-voting stake of up to five percent of Aston Martin.
Nothing else is being said about the tie-up for the moment, but there's a press release below with a few more details.