1997 Mercedes Benz Sl 500 Convertible on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Mercedes spotted prepping new S63 AMG Cabrio

If the market for convertibles is on the decline, nobody seems to have told the fellas over at Mercedes-Benz. The German automaker keeps adding more droptops to its lineup, and soon it will have one more on its hands in the form of the new S-Class Cabriolet. And here we have photos of the new flagship cabrio getting ready for its big debut – but not in just any old form. This would appear to be the new S63 AMG convertible. As the S-Class Coupe is already out there in various states of tune, we're not expecting any major surprises from the new convertible. Look for a folding fabric roof mechanism to open up a spacious four-seat cabin. A car with which Benz can attack the likes of the Bentley Continental GTC especially, but also the Maserati GranTurismo Convertible, Aston Martin DB9 Volante, and the upcoming Rolls-Royce Dawn (the drophead version of the Wraith). The AMG version ought to help that effort even more, complete with Affalterbach's 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8, fully expected to pack the same 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque as the other S63 models. We're anticipating Daimler to take the wraps off the S-Class cabrio at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, but we'll have to wait to see if the AMG version appears alongside it or follows at some later date. Related Video:

Are future vehicular hacks inevitable?

Before the hack of the Uconnect system in a Jeep Cherokee resulted in a 1.4-million vehicle recall, the potential software vulnerabilities in vehicles were already a hot topic with Congressional inquiries and even proposed legislation in the US. As cars' interconnected systems gain the ability to go online, they become open to a host of new threats. Automakers are trying to stop this, but it might be too late to put the genie back into the bottle. Throughout 2015, the issue of software security in vehicles has become increasingly vital. For example, the recent Jeep case wasn't even the biggest hack this year. In February, a major flaw was discovered in the BMW Connected Drive service that allowed researchers to remotely lock and unlock the doors and potentially affected 2.2 million cars. The fix was an over-the-air patch for the problem. Automakers are actively working to fix the issues. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi reportedly are using encrypted connections and firewalls in their vehicles to prevent hacking. "Absolute, 100-percent safety isn't possible," Daimler spokesperson Benjamin Oberkersch said to Automotive News Europe. "But we develop our systems, tested by internal and external experts, so they're up to date." These vulnerabilities seem to be popping up more often. A successful hack took $14 in parts from Radio Shack in one case. There was also a 60 Minutes report earlier in the year about DARPA's ability to hack into OnStar to take control of a Chevrolet Impala. Experts aren't so sure companies can contend with hackers' advancement. "The difficulty for the carmakers at the moment is the question whether they can keep pace with advances in technology, and especially hacking technology," Rainer Scholz, executive director for telematics consultant EY, said to Automotive News Europe. "We seriously doubt they can." At this point, vehicle hacks are coming more from researchers looking for holes than from those with malicious intent. Still, the vulnerabilities are definitely there. It's up to automakers to keep patching the problems before they become dangerous to drivers. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req.Image Credit: Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post via Getty Images Audi BMW Jeep Mercedes-Benz Safety Technology Emerging Technologies hacking cyber security

Mercedes-AMG GT3 photos hit the web

Yesterday, the first shot of the next-generation Audi R8 hit the web hours before its official debut. Today, it appears the same thing is happening with photos of the Mercedes-AMG GT3, thanks to French website Le Point. Surprisingly for a vehicle designed as a single-minded track machine, Mercedes is injecting some serious style into the GT3. The rounded, vertical slats in the grille evoke the look of the original 300SL racer. In profile, the styling of the roadgoing AMG GT is retained but with the addition of a circuit-hugging body kit and huge wing at the rear to keep in planted. The interior is similarly purposeful. Along with these leaked photos, Le Point claims that the GT3 ditches the standard GT's twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 in favor of a naturally aspirated 6.3-liter V8 sourced from the SLS AMG GT3. The aluminum platform underneath is also taken from the regular GT, but practically every exterior panel is reportedly replaced with carbon fiber to cut weight. The racer also keeps the double-wishbone suspension at all four wheels. While these specs are still unconfirmed, Mercedes definitely has a beautiful track machine on the way with the GT3. We look forward to seeing it in person in Geneva.