Lorinser package for Mercedes M-Class Facelift

Lorinser will not leave Mercedes-Benz ML customers in the lurch when it comes to keeping up with the official styling changes applied to the luxury SUV. The sportiness of the ML has been accentuated through the use of an aggressive body kit that extends from front to back.
Starting on the front end a new massive Lorinser four-fin grille was fitted. Then there are Lorinser-branded side skirts and wide wheel arches. Wheels pictured here are by no means the standard; customers will be given an extensive menu of light alloys to choose from in either black or silver.
The rear features an integrated spoiler with four tailpipes. Lorinser says a "startling whistle" is heard when the driver steps on the accelerator, regardless of whether it's a petrol or a diesel.
No power or performance figures were made available but a 2008 Lorinser package for the ML 320 CDI upped power to 192kW (261hp) and torque went up to 580Nm.

Tuner Boosts Mercedes-Benz E500 Coupe to 435 HP

Not satisfied with the factory Mercedes-Benz E500 Coupe but don't want to go overboard either? Well, then you may want to check out Carlsson's latest package for the most-powerful version of the new E-Class yet, which carries the name the CK50. The German tuning firm starts out by modifying the 5.5-liter V8 engine that gets a power upgrade from 388 HP and 530Nm to 435 HP and 600Nm of peak torque.

A sport exhaust system with two oval end pipes and a special air filter complete the under-the-hood mods.

To improve the CK50's handling, the tuner adds a new coilover suspension system with adjustable damping, and sport springs that lower the coupe's ride height by around 30mm.

The CK50 also rides on 20-inch alloy wheels in a two tone finish that are shod in 230/30 R20 Dunlop tires.

Carlsson has preferred to keep styling changes limited as the only aero parts available are a front apron that's optionally available in real carbon fiber and a discreet boot lid spoiler.

For the interior, Carlsson offers buyers several options including a combination of leather and suede for the gearstick knob and the steering wheel, aluminium sport pedals and specific floor mats.

Prices as well as 'real-life' photos of the CK50 are to be released within the next few weeks.

Mercedes SLS AMG in Depth

The traditional coupe roaster has a long bonnet, a very low profile, short overhangs and a small boot. Only two people can sit in it. The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG fits this definition and then some. Already confirmed as a Frankfurt debutant the SLS you see here stars in its own video show where its makers showcase some of its abilities on a track and on the road.

A main attraction is the sound emanating from the shiny twin trapezoidal tailpipes, urged on by the naturally aspirated 6.3-litre AMG V8. You can hear a lot of the sound if you put up the volume as it accelerates into the straight or when cornering. The eardrums will forever be thankful. Forgive some of the background music; this is a promotional video after all not a hooligan road test.

Trapped inside the 8 cylinders is 420kW (571hp) that is accessed by the driver through the 7-speed double clutch gearbox and the round 3-stage ESP knob which changes the suspension's characteristics from everyday comfort to sharp and sporty.

The SLS will start selling before the end of the year and compete with the likes of McLaren MP4-12C, the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Brabus SV12 R: Tuned Mercedes-Benz S600 with 750HP Heads to Frankfurt

For Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist Brabus, there's no replacement for displacement... expect more displacement and a pair of turbos. And that's exactly what the German firm did to the facelifted Mercedes-Benz S600 that is now powered by a modified version of the 5.5-liter V12 engine with bigger turbos and an enlarged displacement of 6.3-liters producing 750HP at 5,500 rpm and an electronically limited peak torque of 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft).

All that power is transferred to the rear wheels through a modified five-speed automatic transmission while buyers can also opt for a BRABUS locking differential.

Acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h (6mph) comes after 4.0 seconds, 200 km/h (124 mph) after only 11.9 seconds while the saloon's maximum speed is electronically limited to 340km/h or 211 mph.

The Brabus SV12R rides on 21-inch alloy wheels (available in various designs) wrapped in Pirelli or YOKOHAMA tires in size 265/30 ZR 21 up front and 295/30 ZR 21 on the rear axle.

The beefed up S600 also gets a high-performance brake system with 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers and 380 x 36-mm (15.0 x 1.42 inches) vented and cross-drilled discs at the front, and 355 x 28-mm (14.0 x 1.1 inches) discs and six-piston aluminum fixed calipers on the rear axle along with sportier suspension set-up.

Being a Brabus and all, the SV12 R receives a cosmetic upgrade with a new bodykit that includes a new front bumper with integrated LED lights, side skirts, a discreet boot lid spoiler, a new rear diffuser that also houses the quad tailpipes and side air vents.

Interior enhancements include a newly created BRABUS Yachting trim that blends maple and tropical Wenge wood and a full leather treatment in a combination of light-beige and dark-brown leather.

The Brabus SV12 R will make its world debut at next week's Frankfurt motorshow.

Mercedes-Benz Launches SLS AMG Gullwing Microsite with Basic Configurator

Gotta love those folks at Mercedes. No sooner than they issued the first official photos of their reborn 'Gullwing' supercar and even though it won't go on sale before Spring 2010, and 'die Deutschen' launched a dedicated microsite for the SLS AMG. Aside from the photo gallery and plethora of information on the car, the site also includes a basic online configurator where you can fool around changing the vehicle's colors and alloy wheels, open the gullwing-doors and lift the retractable boot spoiler as well as listen to the glorious sound of the eight-cylinder engine.

Sounds (and probably is) childish, but even so, it managed to capture our attention for a few minutes...

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing In Detail, Plus 50 High-Res Photos

In the run up to the SLS AMG's world premiere at the Frankfurt Show and following a series of internet leaks the past few days, Mercedes-Benz today unleashed a broad set of photos as well as more detailed information on its gullwinged-supercar. Before we get into any other details, let us tell you that the 571 horsepower SLS AMG is scheduled to be launched onto the market in Spring 2010 carrying a base price in Germany of €177,310, which comes to around $257,500 US with the current exchange rates.

The new 'super sports car', as Mercedes-Benz likes to describe the SLS AMG, is clearly inspired by the one of the most beautiful and iconic cars ever to hit the road, the 1950s 300 SL Gullwing. Evidently, Mercedes did not go for a full retro look but instead used the 300SL as an inspiration to design a supercar that embodies the firm's classic styling traits without looking like a beefed-up SL for example - yes, we're talking about the SLR McLaren.

The design highlight is without doubt the gullwing doors that swing up by 70 degrees while another styling cue that harks back to the 300SL is the wide radiator grille with the large Mercedes-Benz star and the wing-like fin.

The SLS AMG's proportions are overly aggressive with the nearly two-meters or 79-inches long bonnet (!), the low and far back positioned cabin and the stubby tail along with the long wheelbase and wide tracks offering the car a menacing stance.

"It is more than just the exclusive gullwing doors that make the design of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG so special," said Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. "Our aim with this interpretation is to create the classic car of the future and put the most beautiful sports car of the 21st century on the road. Another of our goals is to create a new design icon that, like other Mercedes-Benz models such as the CLS and the SL, will help shape future models of the Mercedes-Benz brand."

We'd like to see the SLS AMG up close before we make up our mind on the exterior, but at least from the pictures, the car's weakest design points appear to be the awkward-looking B-column and the rear-end styling which is somewhat less impressive.

The SLS AMG's interior design and layout is rather simple with some of the switchgear being borrowed from other Mercedes models like the E-Class. The cockpit is however dressed in high quality materials such as nappa leather, metal detailing, and, as an option, real carbon applique with buyers being able to choose from five different leather colors including black, classic red, sand, porcelain and light brown.

Moving on to the technical details, both the chassis and body of the SLS AMG are made of aluminium resulting to a curb weight of 1,620 kilograms (3,571 lbs) which is close to 150 kg (330 lbs) less than the old SLR McLaren. The weight distribution is 47 per cent in the front and 53 per cent in the rear.

At the heart of Merc's supercar is a front/mid mounted 6.3-liter V8 engine derived from other familiar AMG models. The naturally aspirated engine has been reworked with a new intake system, different valve gear and camshafts as well as various other upgrades resulting to an output of 571 hp at 6,800 rpm and a maximum torque of 650Nm (479 lb-ft) at 4,750 rpm.

That power is sent to the back through a newly developed AMG dual-clutch seven-speed sports transmission located at the rear in the transaxle position. The driver has a choice of four different driving programmes: C (Controlled Efficiency), S (Sport), S+ (Sport plus) and M (Manual), as well as a RACE START function.

Mercedes says that the gullwing supercar accelerates from 0 to 100km.h (62 mph) in just 3.8 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 317km/h or 197 mph.

Even in today's 'green' world, we seriously doubt that any of the potential buyers will care, but for the record, the SLS AMG returns a combined fuel consumption of 13.2lt per 100km that comes to around 17.8 mpg US or 21.4 mpg UK.

Other features include the double wishbone suspension, the rack-and-pinion steering gear, which Mercedes says delivers a "consistently direct steering feel" as well a 3-stage ESP
that gives the driver a choice of the three modes "ESP ON", "ESP SPORT" and "ESP OFF" at the push of a button. The SLS AMG also gets lightweight ceramic brakes and special high-performance sport tires in sizes 265/35 R 19 in the front, and 295/30 R 20 in the rear.