Car Sport 2011: Mercedes E-Class

Showing posts with label Mercedes E-Class. Show all posts

10/4/10

VAETH Builds Barnstorming V35 Out Of Mercedes-Benz E350 Diesel

Here are the first pictures and details of VAETH's Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI-based V35 sports saloon. The German tuning house starts by tweaking the engine management software and as a result, power is lifted to 267HP and torque is boosted to an impressive 595 Nm (438 lb. ft.). Optioning the aluminum intercooler pushes those figures up to 285HP and a whopping 650 Nm (479 lb. ft.).

Buyers can further adorn their V35 with quad stainless steel tailpipes and an aerodynamics package consisting of a carbon fibre front apron, rear diffuser, badge-less radiator grille and bootlid spoiler.

The V35 rides on 9 x 20 inch front and 10.5 x 20 inch rear light alloy rims, wrapped in 245/30 ZR20 and 285/25 ZR20 Hancock rubber respectively. Coilover suspension that is adjustable for both height and ride quality is also available.

The entire pack will set you back €18,306 (US$25,222), on top of the cost for the E350 CDI base car. The German tuning firm did not say if the V35 package will be available outside of Europe.

By Tristan Hankins

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It's Bigger!: Mercedes-Benz Launches E-Class LWB in Beijing

Mercedes used the Beijing Auto Show as a stage to debut its new, Chinese-market E-Class L. Built locally by Beijing Benz Automotive Co.,Ltd (BBAC), the E-Class L is nothing more than a stretched E-Class.

Other than that, what do you need to know? Not much, actually. The car's length, wheelbase, and rear legroom have increase by 14 cm (5.5 inches) and the front seats can be controlled from the back (so don't let jerks sit in the back...).

The ground clearance has also grown and the car features Merc's Agility Control suspension system. Those are the key bits.

Safety features include Mercedes' PRE-SAFE technology, a sleep alert system, and other various safety features.

The trunk carries 540 liters and 2 engines are available at launch: the 260 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY making 150 kW / 204 hp and the E300 producing 180 kW / 245 hp. Oh, and it's got the smallest turning circle in its class.

For a breakdown of the three trim levels offered at launch, you know where to scroll.

"The [E 260 CGI] ELEGANCE version already comes, among other things, with bi-xenon headlamps, adaptive ILS (Intelligent Light System), electric sliding sunroof, automatic air conditioning and COMAND DVD system.

Additional highlights of the E 260 CGI AVANTGARDE version includeselectric panoramic sliding sunroof, COMANDAPS with DVD changer, THERMATIC air conditioning system, heated rear seats and residual heat system. The E 300 Avantgarde also features a Rear Seat Entertainment System (two large 20.3 cm screens in the backs of the front seat head restraints), KEYLESS-GO electronic drive authorisation system and remote boot closing."

By Phil Alex

BRABUS Releases ECU Tune for Mercedes' BlueEFFICIENCY Models

Brabus, the German tuner of all things with the star on the hood, has launched a new ECU upgrade for the Mercedes-Benz 200, 250 and 350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY models with direct-injection gasoline engines.

Equipped with the Brabus ECO PowerXtra CGI kit, the four-valve four-cylinder direct-injection engines in the C200 and E200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY models produce an additional 26HP and 30 Nm (22 lb-ft) of torque.

On the C250 and E250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY models, the ECU tuning helps boost output from 204HP to 230HP while peak torque grows from 310Nm to 350Nm (228 to 258 lb-ft).

As for the most powerful direct-injection gasoline engine in Mercedes-Benz's current range, the 3.5-liter V6 unit in the C350, CLS 350 and E350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY models gains an additional 18HP.

Brabus Does the New Mercedes-Benz E-Class Convertible

Mercedes-Benz specialist Brabus didn't waste any time in releasing its tuning program for the all-new 2011 E-Class Convertible that was launched in Europe this week. As with all other Mercedes models, Brabus offers a variety of performance and styling kits for Stuttgart's four-seater soft-top.

Starting with the engine upgrades, the most powerful option is for the E500 (E550 in the U.S.A.) Convertible. The stock 388HP 5.5-liter V8 unit is bored out to 6.1-liters, while the conversion also includes new cylinder heads and camshafts, a custom exhaust system and catalyst as well as a recalibrated ECU.

The result is an overall output of 462HP and 615Nm (453-lb-ft) of peak torque, for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph).

With the German firm's tuning kit, the E250 CGI gets a jump from 204HP to 230HP, while the E350 CGI from 292HP to 310HP.

For the diesel range, Brabus offerings include a power kit for the E250 CDI and E350 CDI that bump output from 204HP to 232HP, and from 231HP to 272HP, respectively.

A four-pipe exhaust system, a sport suspension with height-adjustable coil-over suspensions and variable damper rates and a variety of high-performance braking systems complete the list of performance upgrades.

The tuner's body kit bundles a new front bumper with integrated LED daytime running lights, a rear diffuser and a discreet boot lid spoiler. There's also a variety of alloy wheel options ranging in size from 17- to 19-inches, with 20-inch rims to follow in the near future.

Brabus also offers a range of interior options, including a unique sport steering wheel, stainless-steel scuff plates with an illuminated logo and genuine carbon-fiber decorative trim.

Mercedes-Benz Launches 2011 E-Class Cabriolet Miniatures

Tying in with the European market launch of the 2011 E-Class Convertible on March 27, Mercedes-Benz has released a new series of diecast miniature models of its soft-top four-seater that are available exclusively at the firm's dealerships on a scale of 1:87, 1:43 and 1:18.

Priced at €15.90, the 1:87 models are manufactured by Busch in Viernheim and come in non-metallic black, iridium silver metallic and calcite white.

The 1:43 models of the 2011 E-Class Convertible are produced by Schuco of Fürth and cost €28. These models come in a choice of stannite grey, fire opal or indigolite blue.

Finally, the larger 1:18 models are manufactured by Norev. The recommended retail price for this model that is available in three colors (obsidian black, fire opal and iridium silver) is €59.90.

Mercedes-Benz Launches E-Class Convertible Prime Edition Special

As the nameplate aptly suggests, the 'Prime Edition' is a special edition version of Mercedes-Benz's all-new E-Class Convertible created for the very first buyers of the four-seater soft top model.

Available for the E 250 CDI, E 350 CDI, E 250 CGI and E 350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY models as well as for the E 500, all Prime Edition models come with a unique tenorite grey metallic paintwork and AMG 6-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels.

The convertible's interior benefits from two-tone designo leather appointments in platinum white pearl and black, a memory package for front seats, steering column and exterior mirrors, plus heated seats.

The package is rounded off with Merc's AGILITY CONTROL sports suspension system that also included speed-sensitive sports steering with more direct ratio.