Category Archives: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz CEO bets on Germany in World Cup

Dieter Zetsche, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler AG, is offering Benz buyers in Germany some of the best deals in years in connection with the World Cup.

Zetsche is slashing prices on German Mercedes, such as $2,493 off the sleek SLK Roadster, according to BusinessWeek. In addition, those who lease get a special bonus if Germany takes home the cup – a near $400 rebate. Germany’s current odds are 14-1.

The World Cup tie-in sales are part of Zetsche’s initiative to revitalize the brand. In Germany, Mercedes are perceived as a car for older consumers. Zetsche’s strategy involves associating the brand with soccer and F1 stars, both huge spectator sports in Europe, to give it a more youthful image.

Those looking for a Mercedes-Benz in America might be disappointed to learn that the savings won’t be passed on to American consumers. Mercedes can be especially pricy cars if bought new.

However, that doesn’t mean potential car buyers can’t be driving off the lot in Mercedes without breaking the bank. If they shop for used Mercedes rather than new, drivers can get a great car at an affordable rate.

Daimler races with BMW in carbon fiber quest

German automaker Daimler has signed a joint development agreement with Toray, a leading carbon fiber manufacturer, to produce car parts made of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP).

Under the agreement, Toray will study how to mass-produce CFRP and handle the design and molding processes of the new materials. Daimler, on the other hand, will be responsible for developing joining technologies, the two companies said in a statement.

Carbon fiber has long been used in race cars because it is lightweight and strong. However, the material is very expensive compared to the commonly used car materials like steel and aluminum.

Daimler earlier said the use of CFRP will help them achieve their goal to reduce the weight of its Mercedes-Benz series by as much as 10 percent to improve the vehicles’ fuel efficiency rating and reduce exhaust gas emissions.

The announcement comes two weeks after its competitor BMW announced in early April that it is making a move toward carbon fiber. BMW signed an agreement with GL Automotive Carbon Fibers to open a carbon-fiber production facility in Moses Lake, Washington, for its MegaCity line of electric vehicles, which will be released in 2013.

Smartphone apps for Mercedes-Benz

Smartphone applications have helped luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz collect about $2.5 million in lease or loan payments since they launched six months ago.

Andreas Hinrichs, the company’s vice president of marketing, told the Wall Street Journal that its Mercedes-Benz Financial Application, which allows customers to manage their accounts and performs several other functions, has been downloaded by 11,000 people.

"We wanted to be the first out there and now we have seen rapid customer adoption," Hinrichs told the news provider.

This summer, Fox Business reported that Mercedes Benz, a unit of Daimler AG, will launch two more applications for the iPhone and BlackBerry that can remotely control the car or locate it in a crowded parking lot.

The phone applications will be integrated into the car’s Mbrace system. By using the phone’s online connection, for example, one can tap their smartphones in New York to unlock a Mercedes in Washington, D.C., the report added.

The Mbrace car assistance service comes free for the first six months for new-car buyers, but it can also be purchased for older Mercedes models for $280 a year for the basic service.

Sandra Bullock makes first appearance since the news of her husbands affair

For the first time in more than two weeks since the news broke of her husband’s affair, movie star Sandra Bullock made a public appearance. Unfortunately, instead of accepting an award or showing off at a movie premiere, Bullock was photographed covering her face while being hassled by a group of paparazzi.

Wearing a large hat and draping a coat over her head, The Blind Side star tried to slump down in the seat of her chauffeured Mercedes-Benz to escape the madness.

“When you’re at your most vulnerable or least tolerant, that’s when the paparazzi come after you,” Lt. Jeff Dunn, who runs an anti-stalking unit for the Los Angeles Police Department told ABC News.

Meanwhile, her husband Jesse James, who was recently busted having an ongoing affair with a fetish model, faces a vandalism charge after allegedly damaging the car of a photographer who was apparently stalking him in Los Angeles. James, who is currently in rehab for sex addiction, has since been accused of cheating on Bullock with three other women over the past few years.

Although the National Ledger reports that James’ friends are referring to him as a “broken man” who is desperate to rekindle his relationship with his movie star wife, various media reports indicate that a divorce is imminent.

Did Tim Tebow’s entourage steal Darrell Waltrip’s car?

Last Sunday, retired NASCAR driver and current Fox Sports analyst Darrell Waltrip flew home to Nashville to discover that his black Lexus sports utility vehicle had been stolen – sort of.

When Waltrip made his way out to the parking lot of the private Tennessee airport, he noticed that a similar looking black Mercedes SUV was parked right next to the vacant spot that had once held his automobile.

“I went back inside and said, ‘Guys, somebody stole my car,'” said Waltrip. “Everybody had this sheepish look. This one kid said, ‘DW, I think I know where your car is.'”

As it turned out, a few hours before the NASCAR legend arrived back at the airport, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow landed with his entourage, which included his brother, his agent and Will Bartholomew, head the Nashville-area training facility, D1 Sports,. The group had just returned from the 2010 NFL Combine where Tebow had worked out for professional scouts and coaches.

Bartholomew, who was the last one of the group to leave the airport, was told to take Tebow’s agent’s car and meet everybody back at the D1 campus.

Unfortunately, Bartholomew walked up to Waltrip’s Lexus – which was unlocked – hit the pushbutton-start ignition switch, and hit the road behind the Florida quarterback and the rest of his party.

Luckily for the Tebow clan, Waltrip found humor in the situation and even considered reporting the car stolen as a gaffe.

“I was going to call the police, have them pull (Tebow) over and scare the fire out of him.” Waltrip laughed, according to the Tennessean.

“I wanted them to tell him they knew he was a fine Christian boy, but that he just couldn’t steal people’s cars,” he added. “My wife told me that would embarrass him and that I didn’t want to do that to him.”

After Bartholomew learned what happened, he returned NASCAR analyst’s Lexus the next day.

And what lesson did Darrell Waltrip learn? “Don’t leave your car unlocked. Because you never know what celebrity might take it.”

Charlie Sheen’s Mercedes found at the bottom of a cliff

The Mercedes sports utility vehicle belonging to actor Charlie Sheen was found early this morning at the bottom of a steep ravine near his home in Sherman Oaks, California.

According to the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Police Department received a 911 call early Friday morning regarding a vehicle that was found lying face down at the bottom of a cliff near Mulholland Drive. Shortly after 4 AM, Sheen called to report that his $160,000 Mercedes SUV had been stolen.

After searching the area, local authorities found no evidence that anyone was in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The LAPD is treating the incident as an auto theft.

Sheen, who was recently arrested after a domestic incident involving his wife Brooke, jokingly told The Insider this morning that “it was nice to have police come to my house and for once and I didn’t have to leave with them.”

Meanwhile, the celebrity gossip website TMZ is reporting that the 44-year-old TV star is going to be charged early next week with felony menacing and misdemeanor assault for allegedly putting a knife to his wife’s throat several weeks ago.

Meet the new E-Class convertible, Used Mercedes models in New Jersey could benefit

Mercedes-Benz recently unveiled the all-new 2011 E-Class convertible, which might help generate more interest in used Mercedes models in New Jersey.

The German automaker’s new vehicle is the talk of the industry due to its unique drop-top technology designed to keep passengers safe from swirling winds, according to U.S. News and World Report.

The 2011 E-Class convertible comes standard with the Aircap system, which is a tiny spoiler that sits on the windshield’s frame so that wind is deflected over the cabin.

Autoblog.com said that the system “limits the amount of wind intrusion into the passenger compartment up to speeds of 100 mph, keeping your perfectly coifed hair in check and making conversations easier when storming the autobahn.”

The only drawback of the Aircap technology is that it raises the convertibles drag, which might affect fuel economy.

Meanwhile, the 2003 E-Class Mercedes-Benz models are some of the more powerful luxury sedans in their class.

The E-320 has a 224-horsepower 3.2-liter V6 engine and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. Contrastingly, the E500 has a 5.0-liter V8 engine and can go from 0 to 60 in less than 6 seconds.

That kind of power should generate more attention for used Mercedes-Benz models in New Jersey.

iPhone app helps buyers find used C230s in New York

Mercedes-Benz (MB) and Apple have come together to develop an iPhone application that could make finding used C230s in New York easier.

MB recently announced mbrace, a new system that connects drivers to their Mercs using their iPhones, according the New York Times. The system will include all sorts of features, like an application that will allow owners to unlock their cars using their mobiles.

Another application included in the system will help MB enthusiasts find their local dealerships, reports the new source. C230 lovers, for example, can receive directions to the closest MB locations on their iPhones and go check out the sales floor or have their vehicle serviced.

The 2005 C230 Kompressor features a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine equipped with a supercharger compressor, according to Automotive.com. This Merc’s motor gets about 23 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city, 32 MPG on the highway and produces nearly 190 horsepower.

The mbrace system could both improve the driving experience for existing MB owners and help interested parties find used C230s in New York and elsewhere.

Cindy Crawford fans might now be interested in used S-Classes in New York

Used Mercedes in New York might start attracting more attention after former model Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber were recently photographed getting out of their S-Class.

Crawford, her husband and their two children were spotted exiting their Benz just a few days ago, according to CelebrityCarsBlog.com. The family rides in an S-Class, a model that dates back all the way to the 1950s.

Because cars made by Mercedes-Benz (MB) retain their value, a pre-owned Merc is still relatively expensive. A base model 2007 S-Class will generally sell for about $53,000, according to Edmunds.com.

Although the $50,000 price range might seem high for a car that’s two-years-old, the S-Class offers some attractive features. This MB’s 5.5-liter V8 produces over 380 horsepower. But perhaps a more impressive piece of equipment is this car’s Brake Assist Plus system that senses impending collisions and will automatically increase stopping power when needed.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles are some of the most beautiful examples of German engineering and with Cindy Crawford at the wheel they only look better. Used S-Classes in New York might enjoy a boost in sales thanks to Crawford’s family outing.

Recent London auction could boost popularity of used CLKs in New York

Interest in used CLKs in New York could grow thanks to an auto auction that recently took place in London.

The third annual Automobiles of London was on October 28 and its top sale was a 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster, which went for £616,000 (about $1,013,000), according to RMAuctions.com. The CLK could enjoy some positive exposure as a result of the event.

The CLK has been around for almost 13 years now, and since its release in 1996, this Benz has only been redesigned once. The second version was first manufactured in 2003 and came in both a coupe and cabriolet body type, according to Automotive.com.

The midrange model CLK is powered by a massive 5-liter V8 that produces over 300 horsepower, says the auto website. A smaller V6 is also available, as is 5.4-liter 8-cylinder if you get the top-of-the-line CLK AMG cabriolet, which cost $87,000 brand new.

Buyers who feel an automatic transmission spoils the driving experience might be disappointed to hear the CLK only came with a manual gearbox in Europe, but if it’s any consolation, a touch shift system can be found in certain models. These basically work like a manual transmission, but there is no clutch pedal.

Thanks to the London auction, German car enthusiasts might start looking for used CLKs in New York instead of other models. This Benz could be great for anyone who likes the roar of a V8 and the convenience of an automatic.