Mercedes-Benz Escaping Dreaded Gas Guzzler Tax

Fοr the 2012 model year, Mercedes-Benz will have at least twο fewer vehicles οn the gas-guzzler tax list published by the U.S. Department οf Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. This will cοntinue a pοsitive trend for the company. Iin 2011, 12 M-B mοdels are subject tο the dreaded gas-guzzler tax, οne less than in 2010 and 10 fewer than in 2006.

Instituted back in 1978, the gas-guzzler tax is applied at the pοint οf purchase against vehicles with exceptionally lοw fuel economy. The οne-time fee ranges frοm $1,200 tο $7,700.

In addition tο eliminating vehicles frοm the list, M-B says five 2011 models – S600, S65 AMG, CL600, CL65 AMG and CL63 AMG – are subject tο reduced taxes compared tο the prior year's amοunt. Vehicles expected tο escape the dreaded gas guzzler tax fοr 2012 include the CLS550 and CLS63 AMG. Both are cοmpletely redesigned fοr the new year and have improved fuel econοmy ratings.

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VÄTH’s Tune Lifts Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe to 615HP

The star of the Mercedes-Benz range, the SLS AMG Coupe, has only a year under its belt but the V8-powered supercar has gained a lot of love from the tuning industry in the past 12 months. The newest performance and styling package for the ‘Gullwing door’ supercar to hit the tuning stage comes from Germany’s VÄTH with the introduction of the V63S kit.
The company’s first priority was to squeeze some more juice from the SLS AMG Coupe’s 6.3-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine through the use of a software upgrade and an in-house high-performance exhaust system that also allows drivers to adjust the tone of the eight-cylinder unit.
The result is an increase in output from 571-horsepower and 650Nm (479 lb-ft) at 4,750 rpm to 615HP and 680Nm (502 lb-ft) at 5,800 rpm, which in turn slashed 0-100km/h (62mph) acceleration from 3.8 seconds to 3.6 seconds and boosted top speed from 317km/h to 330km/h (205 mph).
VÄTH’s tune continues with a high-performance brake system and a 25mm lowering kit, while the German supercar rides on new 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels shod in 265/30ZR20 tires at the front and 315/25ZR20 at the rear.
In addition to the performance upgrades, VÄTH added an aerodynamic package with a front lip spoiler, side skirt add-ons and a boot lid spoiler, all made from carbon fiber composite materials. Interior updates include an optional leather sport steering wheels, a new speedometer and black floor mats.
The complete package is priced in Germany from €32,670 or about US$46,600 at today’s exchange rates.
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2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

Little by little, Mercedes-Benz is releasing more photos and information on its 2012 SLS AMG Roadster ahead of the supercar’s world premiere at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Following the release of a barely disguised car earlier this month, the German company’s PR tease continues today with the first official photos of the roadster version of the SLS AMG without any kind of camouflage.
We also get to learn that the three-layered fabric soft top will not eat in the roadster model’s trunk area as its capacity remains at 6.1 cubic feet with the roof either open or closed, and is roughly the same to that of the SLS AMG Coupe, which stands at 6.2 cubic feet. The fully automatic top is available in three colors – black, beige and a classic red. It opens and closes in eleven seconds, and can be operated on the move at speeds up to 31 mph or 50km/h.
Like other open-top Mercedes models, the SLS AMG Roadster is equipped with the firm’s AIRSCARF system that warms the head and neck areas of the driver and passenger by blowing hot air from vents integrated in the head restraints. Other standard features include a black designo leather treatment, heated AMG sports seats, a detachable glass windstop, COMAND with Navigation and DVD player, anti-theft alarm system with tow-away protection and interior monitoring, dual-zone automatic climate control and the KEYLESSGO starting function.
There are no surprises under the hood with the roadster sharing the coupe model’s AMG 6.3-liter V8 mounted just behind the front axle and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the rear wheels. In North American specification, the naturally aspirated eight-cylinder engine delivers 563 hp and 479 pound-feet of torque, while the European model is rated at 571 horsepower and 650 Nm (480 lb-ft) of torque.
Sales of the SLS AMG Roadster will begin this fall.

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2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Grand Edition

A year after Mercedes introduced a ’Grand Edition’ model for the ML-ClassSUV, the German automaker is welcoming their second SUV that has been given the same ’Grand Edition’ badge.

This, of course, is the new Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Grand Edition, an intimidating special edition SUV that has been given plenty of new exterior and interior features that emphatically promotes its exclusivity or, in Merc parlance, it’s "Grand Edition-ness".

Similar to the ML-Class Grand Edition, the GL-Class version packs plenty of wonderful new features on both its exterior and interior. All these additions should make up for the fact that despite its designation, the German automaker still opted to keep the powertrains untouched.

That’s a bit of a bummer, if you ask us. But if you’re prepared to let that slide, then all the aesthetic improvements given to the SUV should prove to be enough for this particular special edition GL-Class to warrant some serious attention.

The “Grand Edition” GL-Class comes with a number of engine options, namely a V6 and V8 version. For the entry level GL 350 BlueTec 4MATIC, the engine is a V6 diesel version with 211 horsepower and 398 lb/ft of torque at 1,600 RPM. For the GL 350 CDI 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY, the V6 engine produces a more powerful output of 265 horsepower and 620 lb/ft of torque.

The two more powerful versions comes with gas V8 models, including a 4.6-liter V8 engine for the GL 450 that produces 340 horsepower and 340 lb/ft of torque with a 0-62 mph time of 7.2 seconds. Rounding out the engine options is a 5.5-liter V8 engine for the top-of-the-line GL 500, which comes with 388 horsepower and 390 lb/ft of torque with a 0-62 mph time of 6.5 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class "Grand Edition" will come in four special models each with its own price tag. Check out the list in the table below:

Model	Price
GL 350 CDI 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY	€80,206 ($112,335)
GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC	€81,396 ($114,000)
GL 450 4MATIC	€91,868 ($128,675)
GL 500 4MATIC	€99,127 ($138,852)

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