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Mercedes-AMG working on a successor to the SLR?

It's been mere days since Mercedes-AMG chairman Tobias Moers told journalists at the LA Auto Show that his brand would not develop a super coupe to challenge the likes of the Porsche 918 Spyder and Ferrari LaFerrari - at least, not right now. Nevertheless, German magazine Auto Bild has the story that AMG is "considering" a successor to the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, which, technically, wouldn't need to be a competitor at the great-white-shark end of the supercar spectrum. According to Auto Bild's sources, Considerations have apparently gone far enough for engineers to be debating whether to develop such a car on the brand's Modular Sports Architecture (MSA) that will support the next-generation SL-Class, which would necessitate a front-engined car, or to do a mid-engined monster. An MSA-based coupe would use a supercharged V6 to power the rear wheels with an electric motor working the fronts, and somewhere around 650 horsepower would get the help of active aerodynamics to make the most of its potential. Production numbers of roughly 3,000 units per year are tied to a price of at least $260,000 or more. Discussions around a mid-engined supercar, on the other hand, go all the way with composite body wrapped around a supercharged V8, a total of of supposedly 1,050 horsepower with the aid of two 125-kW motors on the front axle, all-wheel drive and lots of ground-effects aero to tame it, and a price of "over one million euros" for a limited run of no more than 750 units. Either car would begin with a coupe model, followed by a roadster, a Black Series, and a GT3 version. The SLR could be considered in between these two, but closer to the MSA-based car. A collaboration between Mercedes and McLaren, it made 617 horsepower from a front-mounted, supercharged 5.4-liter V8 and cost $450,000 at a time when the Porsche Carrera GT cost $444,000 and the Ferrari Enzo cost $643,000. It's biggest problem was that it wasn't very good as a supercar, and Auto Bild posits that AMG might want to correct that blemish on the corporate record. Moers said at the auto show that AMG doesn't have the engineering capacity right now to do this kind of car. He also said he thought the marketplace wouldn't accept AMG as a hypercar brand, but talks with customers in prime markets "give me a different view to that." Related Video:

Missouri Mercedes dealer offering free Smart with every SLS AMG purchase

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT is an exquisite sports car that probably needs no help flying off dealer lots, even with a starting price of almost $200,000, but Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City has come up with an interesting incentive to sweeten the deal. For buyers who purchase a new SLS AMG from dealer stock before the end of the year, the dealership is throwing in a new Smart Fortwo from its inventory at no charge... with a required coupon no less.
In addition to being a great tactic to get a little free press, the spare car also makes sense as an alternative to the SLS, which measures more than 15-feet long - almost twice the length of a Fortwo - and has a 563-horsepower engine that sucks down gas at the rate of 13 miles per gallon in city driving (and even that's provided you don't give in to the devil on your shoulder). Plus, at the end of the day, this really isn't that big of an incentive. Being given a slow-selling $12,490 car for the purchase of a model starting at $199,500 represents about a six percent incentive, which is along the lines of a $1,900 rebate for a $30,000 car.
To get the free Smart, just visit the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Facebook page, redeem the coupon and then go buy yourself a new SLS AMG. Congratulations!

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC one-ups old GLK in every way

Meet the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, the latest in the automaker's increasingly impressive run of new or significantly updated (and occasionally renamed) vehicles that's included the immensely good C- and S-Class, and the upcoming GLE-Class – formerly known as the M-Class crossover. Unlike the GLE, which you'll be reading our First Drive on shortly, the GLC is much more than a mid-cycle refresh, representing the second-generation of Mercedes' compact crossover. While it represents a more significant update to the former GLK than the GLE does to the ML, the new GLC shares its looks with the larger vehicle. It's a handsome take on Mercedes' latest design language, featuring a similar rectangular, two-slat grille in the fascia. The greenhouse has hints of C- and S-Class in it, and is the best way of viewing the 4.6-inch stretch to the wheelbase. The taillights, meanwhile, take their inspiration from the S-Class Coupe and AMG GT. The new cabin isn't just prettier, it's more spacious, too. The C-Class and S-Class also serve as inspiration for what is a remarkably attractive cabin. While Audi has long served as the standard for interior design, with the C, S, and now the GLC, Mercedes can stake a claim to Ingolstadt's crown. Like the C-Class, the center stack is a wide, curving design that terminates in the controller for the infotainment system, while a tablet-like display sits up high. Leather, wood, and aluminum cover most every surface we can see in the initial batch of photos, while cool, blue accent lighting adds an extra dose of style. The new cabin isn't just prettier, it's more spacious, too. Thanks to the longer wheelbase, there's an extra 2.2 inches of space for second-row passengers. There's more room for cargo, too. Mercedes claims 20.5 cubic feet – non-SAE, it should be noted – behind the second row, up from 16.5 in the current GLK. While the GLC will be offered with a range of gas and diesel powertrains, US consumers will be offered the GLC300 first. Counterintuitively and like the C300, the entry level CUV uses a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. While we expect 4Matic to be the popular option, Mercedes will also offer a rear-drive-only model. There's no mention of additional powertrains beyond the launch model, although we'd expect the GLC to follow the C-Class' example and add a GLC400 powered by a 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V6.