While victims of car theft may feel that they are at the mercy of thieves, there are a few things that we all can do to deter would be criminals, many of which are extremely basic. Something as simple as parking your car in a well-lit and open area is an easy yet effective means of deterring potential thieves from breaking into your car. It may seem obvious, but it is alarming how many people think that their car may be safe in dark, secluded areas. Keeping valuables out of plain sight, or better yet, out of the car completely is another effective way to get thieves to pass your car by. Even something like an aftermarket stereo unit is enough to catch the eye of criminals and make your car their next target.

Ensuring that you always leave your car locked with its windows wound up sounds like basic practice for all of us, but it’s on that odd occasion when you just quickly need to run into the house to grab one more thing that an opportunistic passer by makes off with your vehicle and its contents. Even running back into your home for a split second is more than enough time for a criminal to pounce. All these things sound painfully obvious, but the statistics show that an alarming number of car thefts result from people ignoring common sense. Couple this with the fact that the majority of insurance companies employ policies that are void if an owner leaves their keys in the ignition and the whole situation gets very expensive.

Aside from these rudimentary means of keeping your keys and possessions safe, there are other things you can do to ensure that thieves keep their hands off of your property. If your car doesn’t already, having an immobiliser installed is an effective means of keeping your car where it belongs. Immobiliser’s have been mandatory in new cars since 2001 in Australia so if you own an older vehicle, you may need to have one fitted so that even if you are unlucky enough to have your car broken into, it ensures that without the key thieves will be unable to take the vehicle. Car alarms may be looked upon as useless but they are still very effective ways of keeping your care secure. Abiding by the ‘common sense’ measures of car security in conjunction with having a car alarm fitted is a proven way of keeping your car and its contents secure.

Author: Muddasir Munir

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Misha Designs CLS-M kit is made for the current Mercedes-Benz CLS 2011-present model. It is a direct bolt on kit and includes everything you will need to give your Mercedes-Benz CLS a new and amazing look.

The kit includes an all-new front bumper with optional lower carbon fiber lip spoiler. The larger and more aggressive openings draw in more air to cool the powerful Mercedes CLS. The fenders are wider and are functional drawing air out from behind the front tires. The Hood is design with carbon fiber inserts at the top where it is vented. The Side skirts flow smoothly into the new rear fender flares. The Rear bumper comes with optional carbon fiber gills and a carbon fiber diffuser that helps channel the air and to increase downforce. The rear trunk and roof spoilers are also designed to increase the downforce and to give the car a more aggressive look.

Credits: Misha Designs

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Affalterbach Additions Transform Benz’s Heavy-Hitting Droptop

Saint-Tropez is a charming town in southeastern France nestled along the Mediterranean Sea. Internationally recognized as a summer playground for the wealthy and famous, it is also famed for its “clothing optional” beaches where more than just noses and shoulders get burned in hot weather. While still a couple months shy of warm weather and the influx of tourists, Mercedes-Benz chose to get an early start on the topless party by flying us to the Côte d’Azur for some seat time in its newest high-performance droptop, the 2013 SL63 AMG Roadster.

Our first taste of the new SL-Class was behind the wheel of the standard SL550 in Spain less than two months ago. The two-seater impressed us with its stout chassis, strong engine and lavish appointments – but it failed to stir our emotions. The base SL long ago steered away from being a driver’s car, and its latest incarnation proved no different. It was, in effect, just a very capable and posh GT.

But the SL63 AMG, boasting upwards of 557 horsepower thanks to a burly twin-turbocharged V8, still seems promising. Its luxury appointments are nearly identical, yet it wears AMG attire and its entire powertrain has been upgraded to appease warm-blooded automotive enthusiasts. Do fresh duds and a new muscular system make a more compelling athlete? We roughed in the French Riviera to find out.

Continue reading 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG [w/video]

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 May 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• Mercedes-Benz has won three out of the six DTM races at Brands Hatch
• David Coulthard (Scotland), Jamie Green (England), Gary Paffett (England) and Susie Wolff (Scotland) aiming to excel in their home race
• Mercedes-Benz leads driver, team and constructor standings in DTM 2012
• Brands Hatch has been staging DTM races since 2006; at just 1.93km in length, it is the shortest track on the race calendar – with the obvious exception of the show event in Munich’s Olympic Stadium; the drivers complete a total of 98 laps, equivalent to a total distance of 189.04 kilometres.

Drivers’ comments on the third race of the season at Brands Hatch:

Gary Paffett (31, England, THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
- leads the 2012 DTM drivers’ championship after two races with one win and one second place
- started from the front row in the 2011 race at Brands Hatch

“It’s great to be returning to Brands Hatch for my home race and to be showcasing DTM racing for the British fans. In the early stage of my career, I used to compete at Brands Hatch three or four times a year, so I have very fond memories of the circuit and the races there. I’m especially looking forward to welcoming my Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team-mate Jenson Button who is making a guest appearance at Brands Hatch this weekend. He’ll be giving me a lift in the Mercedes ‘race taxi’. It will be quite a novel experience for me sitting in the passenger seat! The track is very demanding and represents a major challenge on the calendar. A single lap is very short, but we complete almost 100 of them, so it’s a tiring weekend. I aim to send the British fans home satisfied with a result that matches the first two races of the season.”

Jamie Green (29, England, Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):- second and fourth places in the first two races – plus two fastest laps
- currently second in the DTM drivers’ standings

“It’s easy to get the wrong impression about Brands Hatch; it may be short, but it’s also extremely tricky. In the race, we need to stay fully focused for all 98 laps – you can’t afford to slacken off for a second. Last year, I was very quick in the dry and I also posted the fastest time in Q3. I’d like a repeat of that this year and to continue the good run of results so far in 2012. Although Brands Hatch is my home race, I only drove there a couple of times before joining the Mercedes-Benz DTM line-up. That just increases my resolve to fight for the win on Sunday.”

Christian Vietoris (23, Germany, Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé):- already has one Brands Hatch podium in the 2009 Formula 3 Euro Series
- currently ranks sixth after two races in the 2012 DTM season

“Brands Hatch is a strange sort of circuit that places great demands on both the driver and the car. There are relatively few corners, and a lap is very short. Consequently, the vehicle setup and handling out on the track have to be in perfect harmony to get the most out of the car. At Brands Hatch, the starting field will be more evenly matched than at any time before in the DTM – a tenth of a second in qualifying can make a huge difference in terms of grid position.”

Ralf Schumacher (36, Germany, Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
- qualified fourth at Brands Hatch in 2010

“The first two race weekends of the 2012 season haven’t quite gone to plan for me, but at least I was able to score points in both races, and I feel that I’ve adapted well to our new Mercedes AMG C-Coupé. Brands Hatch looks deceptively simple, but it’s a real driver’s circuit. The corners are very tight, so your car needs to be really well balanced. This weekend, a lot will depend on getting a good grid position in qualifying. If I can do that, I should be able to grind out a decent result.”

David Coulthard (41, Scotland, DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):- won two out of three races in the 1991 British Formula 3 Championship at Brands Hatch
- is about to contest his third DTM race at the venue

“Between 1991 and 2010, I didn’t drive a single race at Brands Hatch, so it’s all the more gratifying to pay this annual visit with the DTM and to experience the excitement generated by the British racing fans. Brands Hatch is an unusual and difficult track that is very unforgiving if you make a mistake. Early on in my career, I won two Formula 3 races there, plus I finished third in the Formula Ford Festival. So I have a pretty good track record at Brands Hatch, and now I’m aiming to score a good result in the DTM as well.”

Susie Wolff (29, Scotland, TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):- has competed in all six races at Brands Hatch since the venue made its DTM debut in 2006
- finished on the podium twice at Brands Hatch in the 2004 British Formula Renault 2.0 Series

“After two back-to back races at the start of the season, I’m looking forward to the third race weekend of 2012 at Brands Hatch. The track is just eight hours from my native Scotland, but for me it still counts as a home race, which makes for an exciting weekend. There isn’t a big difference in lap times over such a short distance, and it’s not easy to overtake here. This means that qualifying plays a crucial role.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“At Brands Hatch, you can almost smell the motor racing heritage. This track is a classic. The short layout where the DTM is making its annual appearance may look straightforward, but therein lies the difficulty. The drivers are under constant pressure for all of the 98 laps. It’s just one corner after another, each of which is completely different from the one before. Even the two straights don’t allow time for a breather.

“The importance of qualifying in the DTM was once again illustrated in the last race at the Lausitzring: being faster than the opposition in the race is not enough to secure a win unless you also start at or near the front. That’s why, at Brands Hatch this coming Saturday, we will see the biggest qualifying showdown in the history of the DTM: I’m quite sure of that. Everyone wants pole position – but only one driver can have it.”

* Official photos and details courtesy of Mercedes-AMG GmbH *

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Enthusiasm is quickly building up after Mercedes-Benz made it official that a new compact 4-door coupe under the CLA-Class title will be available starting with 2013. Moreso, first shots depicting a FEP prototype of the future car have recently hit the internet. The test vehicle is already carrying the finished design elements, still carefully hidden under the camouflage. However, one can still judge the series CLA will be very close in terms of styling to the astonishing Concept Style Coupé revealed last month at Beijing.

The fact we can see the rear lights, the headlamps, the radiator grille and the basic shape of the body in their final form signals the entrance into the final experimental phase of the development programme for the new CLA.

The agile executive coupe goes on sale in spring next year and will launch in the USA as well as the first exponent of the wave of compact class cars from Mercedes-Benz, shortly followed by the A-Class hatchback. Sitting on the same MFA platform as the other versions of the new family, the CLA will definitely be the standard in terms of dynamism and perceived comfort. Thanks to multiple assistance systems, life aboard the C 117 will always be a safe experience.

The impressive exterior will definitely be a special business card that invites you to step inside and enjoy the all-so-present wellness atmosphere. Premium quality are the perfect words to describe the interior in every sense, as the leading CLS has inspired the designers during the creation process for the CLA. Every button is where you’d want to find it and thus complete functionality is ensured. Telematics and entertainment means include, among other options, the internet-based Siri-compatible COMAND Online infotainment technology and a complete multimedia system fitted with high-end audio equipment, a DVD changer and liquid-crystal displays for the rear seats.

A comprehensive range of newly-developed powerplants takes care to put the CLA into motion. From the 109 hp CLA 180 CDI up to the 211 hp CLA 250 – there’s a choice to suit any taste. Available from fall 2013 on the top engine variants, the 4MATIC system will add more traction and stability to the car, in combination with the refined 7G-DCT automatic transmission. A sports-oriented, all-wheel-drive CLA 25 AMG version cranking out a massive 350 hp is reportedly under development, with the official arrival planned for summer next year.

Photo Credits: Motor Authority

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Before financial Stargate opened in September of 2008 and transported us to an entirely new economic dimension, it was oh so common to read about domestic automakers hammering Tier One suppliers to lower their prices. Of course, suppliers are still asked to find efficiencies, but pre-2008, it seemed a point of honor to hold a supplier’s feet to the fire. No more: in the latest Working Relations Index survey of suppliers by Detroit firm Planning Perspectives Inc., General Motors and Chrysler rocketed up the charts to bring the bunch much closer together.

Admittedly, the two companies are still in last place, with GM just ahead of Chrysler and Toyota and Honda still up top. But perspective and improvement is the issue here: in 2005, Toyota scored 415 and GM scored 114. In this year’s survey, Toyota scored 296 and Chrysler scored 248. It is the first time in the 12 years of the survey that the six automakers covered have been separated by less than 50 points. Chrysler’s jump was led by the efforts of the the late Dan Knott, whle GM’s improvement has been led by Bob Socia.

And yes, this is also a matter of the perennial leaders, Toyota and Honda, suffering a dip: in 2010 Toyota scored 327 and Honda 309, two years later, Toyota has dropped 31 points. Every automaker, however, from top to bottom acknowledged that they still have work to do with supplier relations. The benefits of good feelings are that suppliers tend to present their newest tech to, and make better parts for, the automakers with whom they have the best relationships. Naturally, it has been found that the reverse is true as well.

Nissan and Ford make up the middle two spots, where they’ve been for years. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Hyundai aren’t on the list yet; PPI feels it doesn’t have enough data on the Germans to yet to officially include them, and it doesn’t have enough data on Hyundai to rank it at all. If the data gathered on the Germans was included, though, they would sandwich the rest of the field: BMW and Mercedes at the top, Volkswagen at the bottom a point shy of Chrysler.

Toyota, Honda top supplier survey with lower results, GM and Chrysler improve originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The current Infiniti G has soldiered on since the 2009 model year with few updates, so it is about time for a design change. But how much longer do we have to wait? Inside Line reports that the new G will arrive next spring with a new design, fresh engines and a possible hybrid variant.

Nissan VP Andy Palmer reportedly let loose the G’s tight time line, while providing room for us to speculate what engineering changes could come with the redesign. The high-ranking executive told IL that the partnership between Nissan and Mercedes-Benz is progressing as planned, and we know that a four-cylinder engine is among the early collaborative endeavors. In fact, just last week Autocar reported that the next G will feature diesel and four-cylinder engines with Mercedes DNA.

Such a powerplant could replace the 2.5-liter V6 under the hood of the G25, and turbocharging could be on order as well. Palmer added that a turbocharged six could also be in the cards, noting that there is a business case for blown sixes that deliver V8 power with V6 fuel economy. Given that the entry Infiniti sedan doesn’t currently feature a V8 option, we’re all for more G-power for 2014.

The last interesting tidbit is the possibility of a G hybrid model. The addition of a battery-assisted G makes sense given that the automaker already features a hybrid option in its M sedan, and using the powertrain in more applications helps lower development costs.

Next Infiniti G to arrive in a year’s time originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Author: Jay Adams

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Providing all customers with their personal tailor-made dream cars: this motto has made BRABUS the world’s largest independent automobile tuner over the past 35 years. In addition to owners of exclusive automobiles and yachts BRABUS Group now also puts this know-how at the disposal of discriminating owners of private jets around the globe: BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION offers exclusive appointments for the cabins of brand-new executive jets as well as the redesign and customization of aircraft already in operation.


In addition, BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION also offers extraordinary liveries and comprehensive aircraft management services custom-tailored to the client’s individual preferences.

The focus of all business activities is on jets, such as those from the Bombardier Global Express and Challenger aircraft families, as well as on the Dassault Falcon series. Larger business aircraft can be customized as well.

Aircraft owners can have BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION either custom-tailor their very own personal cabin design from the ground up or use one of the design lines presented by BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION as the starting point for the customization. At the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition EBACE 2012, which opens its doors May 14 through 16 in Geneva, BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION presents the “ELEGANCE” and “SPORTIVE” design lines to that end.

Prospective clients who do not own an aircraft yet can get assistance from the BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION experts in selecting and purchasing the right jet.

For the implementation of this concept BRABUS Group forged an alliance with three prominent partners from the aviation industry: RUAG Aviation and its aircraft facilities in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich has been one of the most respected vendors of maintenance and completion work for many years. PrivatAir is a leading charter and aircraft management company with a global aviation network. HAPPY DESIGN STUDIO has many years of experience in the development and execution of individual liveries for a wide variety of aircraft. All BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION services are certified in accordance with FAS and EASA guidelines.
“The exclusive customization of aircraft by the new BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION business division is the logical evolution of the product portfolio for us,” explains Prof. h. c. Bodo Buschmann, CEO of the BRABUS Group. “A number of customers already asked us in the past to trim their yachts to fit their personal taste and there also have been repeated requests for custom-tailored BRABUS interiors for private jets. That’s why in addition to our marine division we now also have the BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION business division.”

The new business division offers business-jet interiors made to customer order or refines aircraft already in operation. All BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION modifications are EASA- and FAA-certified.

As their debut the BRABUS interior designers have developed two different exclusive cabin design lines for the Bombardier Global Express.

The “ELEGANCE” design line lends the cabin of the Global Express an exclusive, bright atmosphere of well-being with a combination of cream-colored BRABUS fine leather, Alcantara and high-end wood applications. As is the case for all BRABUS interiors, the BRABUS designers and upholsterers pay particular attention to a perfect finish of the cabin appointments down to the last detail. This encompasses the precise color coordination of all interior components including the elaborately designed wood trim with high-gloss finish.

The “SPORTIVE” design line sets an exciting contrast in the cabin. Its combination of black and gray leather, Alcantara and carbon fiber lends the cabin a fresh and progressive appearance. The perfectly finished carbon-fiber elements and the seat design with red contrasting seams are inspired by the design of exclusive sports cars and exude sporty character down to the last detail.

The BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION high-tech inflight entertainment system lets passengers communicate and enjoy music or movies on high-end multimedia devices such as the Apple iPad or the iPhone. Custom-tailored receptacles with built-in chargers ensure the perfect integration of these components into the aircraft and securely store the multimedia equipment when not in use. After landing the iPad can be used in the rear compartment of the BRABUS 800 iBusiness sedan.

“ELEGANCE”, “SPORTIVE” or fully custom appointment options: BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION fulfills any request imaginable when it comes to cabin color and design.

Interested parties can get more information on the website at www.brabus-aviation.com. The experts from BRABUS PRIVATE AVIATION can be reached by e-mail at aviation@brabus.com for one-on-one consultation at any time.

* Official photos and details courtesy of BRABUS GmbH *

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

A distinguished guest is planning to drop in on the third race of the 2012 season (18th – 20th May): Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 driver Jenson Button will be checking out the DTM when it makes the first of its four foreign excursions this year.

On Sunday, Button will meet up with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team-mate and current DTM championship leader Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé). The winner of the first race of the new DTM era will then show him around the new DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, focusing particularly on the features that distinguish it from an F1 car. Once Button has familiarised himself with the controls, he will be offering his services as a ‘race taxi’ driver, to take the current DTM championship leader around the legendary English circuit.

The winner of the opening race of the 2012 Formula 1 season in Melbourne last competed at Brands Hatch in 1999 when he was contesting the British Formula 3 Championship, finishing each of the three races in the points.

On Sunday 20th May at 11:10 in front of the Mercedes-Benz hospitality suite, there will be an autograph session for fans followed by a question and answer session chaired by Mercedes-Benz DTM driver David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) who is the expert analyst on the BBC live coverage of Formula 1 racing.

In his Formula 1 career to date, Jenson Button has scored 13 Grand Prix victories for Honda, Brawn GP-Mercedes and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes – twelve of them with Mercedes-Benz power – and won the 2009 Formula 1 World Championship title for the Mercedes-Benz customer team Brawn GP. The victory for Nico Rosberg (MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS) in this year’s Chinese Grand Prix was the first since 1955 for a 100% works- Silver Arrow; the winner was joined on the podium by Button (third) and by McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton (runner-up). This was the second time in three years that the Chinese GP finished with three Mercedes-Benz-powered drivers on the podium.

Jenson Button: “Brands Hatch is one of the circuits where I cut my teeth in junior single-seaters and I have many fond memories of the place – in Formula Ford, the Formula Ford Festival, and in British Formula 3. It’s one of the greatest tracks in the world, and a place with an awful lot of motorsport history.

“It’s going to be a fantastic experience to head back to Brands Hatch to watch the DTM race there on May 20. I think the new DTM rules are going to provide the British fans with some really close, tense and exciting racing – and I’ll be hoping that Gary Paffett, my Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team-mate and our test and development driver, will be able to hold onto his lead in the championship with another win. “Gary’s also given me the chance to drive the DTM ‘race taxi’ with him – it’ll be the first time I’ve driven Brands since doing F3 there back in 1999. It’s going to be very cool.

“I think the DTM weekend will be a great event – it’s a fantastic series with some excellent, close racing and some of the best drivers in the world. For me, it’s going to be a great personal experience and a fantastic opportunity to get up-close and personal with all the British fans who have been supporting me over the years.”

Norbert Haug, Mercedes-Benz Motorsportchef: “Like most of the current crop of Formula 1 drivers, Jenson takes an interest in the DTM, so he was pleased to accept our invitation to the Brands Hatch weekend. I am sure he will have a lot of fun driving one of our DTM ‘race taxis’ and watching the race itself.”

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.