autoMedia Auto News Blog : Mercedes-Benz

autoMedia CARnival 11-20-09: This week in Auto Blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:06:00 GMT

It's the week ending November 20, and we've browsed our favorite automotive ...(read more)

LA Preview: 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:19:00 GMT

Los Angeles kicks off the North American new-car auto show circuit on December 2nd when the LA Convention Center opens its doors to the media, ahead of the public days later that week. Among the unveilings being teased is an array of high-tech models from Mercedes-Benz, including the SLS AMG supercar, the fuel-sipping E350 BlueTec and the fuel-cell-powered F-Cell. Mercedes will also show its first hybrid SUV, the ML 450 Hybrid, and its SplitView dual-content viewing technology that allows the driver and passenger to see something different on the LCD screen. The model expected to insight the most salivation is the SLS AMG, the modern reinvention of the classic mid-1950s 300SL. This new version features a lightweight aluminum space-frame body with gullwing doors and a 563-horsepower dry-sump V8 engine. With its front-mid engine and dual-clutch seven-speed, the SLS AMG has a balance weight distribution and track-honed dynamics. See our highlights from the 2008 LA Auto Show ....(read more)

Automakers Support Texting Ban

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:12:00 GMT

The days for lawful texting while driving are numbered, with several government and academic studies exposing the extreme dangers of this popular distraction. Ahead of a Department of Transportation-led safety conference in Washington, D.C., next week, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM) has announced its support for banning text messaging using a hand-held device or calling using a hand-held device while driving a motor vehicle. The AAM is an 11-member industry group consisting of BMW Group, Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota, and Volkswagen.

Several AAM members are developing solutions to facilitate text-based communication, all offer Bluetooth connectivity to allow hands-free phone operation. There is general consensus on the problem and the risks, with some studies equating texting to drunk driving, or worse. However, the debate continues on how to reduce those risks, through legislation and/or technology. (Read “Cell Phones Quadruple Chance of Crash.”)

AAM has come forward with the strong statement: …"texting on a hand-held device while driving is challenging the ability of most drivers to perform the function safely and should be banned."

If and how remains to be seen, and we expect it will be discussed at length next week in the nation's capital.

Also read:
Driving While InTEXTicated: Put Down Your Device & Drive!
AAA Study Shows More Than a Third of Drivers Feel Less Safe

autoMedia CARnival 9-18-09: This week in the auto blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:01:00 GMT

It's the week ending September 18, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. The Frankfurt Motor Show was the main focus online this week, with exotic alternative fuel concept vehicles such as the the Audi e-tron, Peugeot Globule shapeshifting electric car, Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS, and the Volkswagen E-Up and L1 arnering a fair amount of attention. More traditional vehicles, such as the Ford C-Max compact crossover,
Lexus 600h, Mini Cooper Coupe Concept, next-gen Toyota LandCruiser, 2010 Aston Martin Rapide,
2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, and even an 800-hp Brabus E V12, also gathered headlines. Take your pick, the smorgasbord of vehicles at Frankfurt truly offered something for every automotive taste.

We can always count on Jalopnik for the most unusual tidbit each week. Yes, we can. So, how about a gallery demonstrating the types of the automobiles found parked at everyone's favorite world's largest retailer. No, these are not art cars: they are the cars of WalMart.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety celebrated its 50th anniversary by crashing a modern Chevy Malibu into 1959 Bel Air. The intent of the crash was intended to demonstrate how the leaps and bounds taken in automotive design contribute to passenger safety. Autoblog has an interesting assessment of the video, and while it's sad to see the demise of a perfectly lovely classic car, it's even sadder to see what happened to its crash-test-dummy driver. And as usual, the readers' comments are quite interesting as well.

The Holden Commodore enjoyed a brief run as the Pontiac G8 in the United States, but that came to an end with the demise of Pontiac this summer. Although GM has denied plans to sell a rebadged Commodore as a Chevrolet to U.S. consumers, the automaker might have a new set of customers: American police departments. Apparently, according to LeftLaneNews, General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson recently confirmed in an Australian media interview, rumors saying a Commodore police cruiser could be destined for America.

Jay Leno should be nicknamed "The Regurgitator," because you just can't keep that man down! After leaving "The Tonight Show," Leno has recently reappeared in a new primetime talkshow format, and with him he brings his interest in specialty automobiles. AutoBlogGreen has info on Jay's Green Car Challenge, which puts celebrities behind the wheel of an electric Ford Focus competing for best possible lap times.

President Obama made the headlines at Consumer Reports in a blog about his recent visit to a General Motors factory in Ohio. While there, the POTUS unveiled new regulations for fuel economy: By 2012 new cars and trucks must average 29.2 mpg, but those targets will increase to average 35.5 mpg by 2016. Apparently, according to research at CR, "more than 80 percent of Americans said fuel economy was the most important factor in choosing a new car."

Have you ever taken a good close look at the collection of automotive gadgets found in those onboard airline product catalogs? Just because most of us really CAN live without animated hitch critters doesn't mean we can't still secretly wish for them! AskPatty reviews the Delta Airlines "Skymiles" catalog, and discovers some practical devices meant to make life in and with your car more convenient.

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

Frankfurt: Mercedes-Benz Demos EREV BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS

Brandy Schaffels — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:36:00 GMT

Mercedes-Benz released its own Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motorshow this week. The five-seat, four-door BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS hatchback promises a total range of about 370 miles, of which about 60 can be traveled solely using electricity.

The E-CELL PLUS is part of a trio of BlueZERO concept vehicles, each with its own drive system. Mercedes-Benz feels it won't be just one technology that paves the way to sustainable mobility in the future, so the company is presenting several alternatives.

The first in the trio -- the BlueZERO E-CELL -- was released in Detroit at the beginning of the year. Propelled exclusively by a battery-powered electric drive, this pure electric vehicle is projected to be able to travel more than 120 miles on a single battery charge and will be completely free of tailpipe emissions. The third vehicle will be the Hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered BlueZERO F-CELL, promising a range of nearly 250 miles on electric power and also without creating tailpipe emissions.

The E-CELL PLUS revealed at Frankfurt operates in a similar fashion to the highly anticipated Chevy Volt EREV: The liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery is stored in the subfloor, and can hold an energy content of up to 17.50 kWh. The compact 100-kW electric motor of the BlueZERO E-CELL is powered solely by the battery, which receives range-extending energy from an additional three-cylinder, turbocharged gasoline engine. Installed near the rear axle, this compact engine can produce 50 kW of power to charge the battery while the car is being driven.

During rapid charging with a high-capacity 20 kW connection, Mercedes-Benz claims the high-performance lithium-ion battery of the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS can store enough power in 30 minutes to provide a 30-mile cruising range. The complete electric range of 62 miles requires a rapid-charge time of somewhat more than an hour. Charging time with a standard charge cycle at a conventional household outlet with 3.3 kW is approximately six hours.

Like its two sister models, the BlueZERO E-CELL and the BlueZERO F-CELL, the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in less than 11 seconds. To ensure optimum range and energy efficiency, its top speed is electronically limited to about 90 mph. The five-seat compact cars measure about 13.5 feet long, but are spacious enough to carry 17 cubic feet of cargo, or haul 1000 pounds of gear.

Mercedes anticipates producing the first fuel-cell-powered vehicles later this year, and hopes to produce the electric/battery-powered models in 2010. Read more reviews of Mercedes-Benz vehicles here at autoMedia.com.

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com contributing editor

Fashion Week Connects Haute Couture and Cars

Editor — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:29:00 GMT

Planning for SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) 2009 is in the works for its November 3rd opening in Las Vegas. Ford will be the featured automaker, but accessories for nearly every make and model of car, truck and SUV will be on display for those who covet anything having to do with automotive customization. Mercedes-Benz kicked off its sponsorship of Fashion Week in New York September 10th with a super model that some may consider the ultimate fashion accessory: the 2010 Limited SL63 AMG Edition IWC.

The IWC reference comes from Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhauser, who has created a limited edition "Grosser Ingenieur" (Great Engineer) watch that will be featured at Fashion Week in connection to the car and delivered as a gift with purchase to the few and lucky buyers. Two hundred SL63 AMG Edition IWC roadsters will be built, with only 63 available to U.S. customers. The matte-finish Magno Cashmere White paint is the first of its kind on a Mercedes-Benz model. The roadster's interior features Tobago Brown Nappa leather and carbon fiber touches on the center console and door panels.

Each Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG roadster is powered by a 6.3-liter, 518-horsepower, AMG-autonomous V8, with 465 lb.-ft. of torque. Electronically-regulated top speed has been increased from 155 to 186 mph. A seven-speed MCT (multi-clutch technology) transmission features four shift modes and a double-clutch function, and eliminates the need to remove a left-foot stiletto. Finishing touches include 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels, beefy AMG body moldings, and chrome double-twice pipes to finish the look.

~ Deborah Neal, Editorial Director, autoMedia.com

autoMedia CARnival 9-11-09: This week in the auto blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:29:00 GMT

It's the week ending September 11, 2009 and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. Big news is General Motors' announcement of a 60-day money-back guarantee, that will allow eligible buyers of new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles that will allow customers to return their vehicle to their dealer between 31 and 60 days of purchase and receive a refund of the purchase price for the vehicle.

Sneak Peeks from the upcoming Frankfurt Auto show are everywhere to be found! AutoBlogGreen has news and photos of the Mercedes-Benz S 500 plug-in electric Hybrid set to Debut in Frankfurt next week. The luxury PHEV features a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and a 44 kW/60 hp electric motor that promise the S 500 Hybrid races from 0 to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds, while also offering more than 70 miles per gallon. Race on, Treehuggers!

MotorTrend's Frankfurt preview is live now, with first looks at more than a dozen of the cars set to be revealed next week. They've got everything from the Audi R8 Spyder, Lamborghini Reventon Roadster, Lexus LF-Ch and BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concepts. The content here will just keep growing, so check back again next week to see what else has been added.

This announcement from Jalopnik is worth running just because the photo is so entertaining! During a marketing call to promote GM's GM's new marketing campaign: "May The Best Car Win," Bob "Maximum Marketing" Lutz challenged any comers in an unmodified production sedan to a duel against a Cadillac CTS-V. So, Jalopnik challenged Lutz to race against Wes Siler in a Mercedes-Benz AMG C63. Regardless, Lutz told the assembled reporters "You're running into a trap because if you beat me by a second on the lap time, we'll just advertise the price difference." Can't wait to see the outcome of this event!

Ahead of its official debut at the State Fair of Texas later this month, images of Toyota's next-generation 4Runner SUV have been leaked at LeftLaneNews. You'll have to wait until September 24 for more official news, until then, this is all you get.

Next week is National Child Passenger Safety Week, and to launch the event, Inspection stations across the United States are standing by on Saturday, September 12 so that car seat installations can be explained and demonstrated in person. AskPatty.com suggests that if you've got babies or young children, this would be a good reason to take the grandparents and caregivers for a refresher course on child seat safety

Moving up from child safety to Teen Driving Safety, Liberty Mutual Insurance has just released an analysis that claims to show that moms and dads are not exactly setting good examples as the drive. According to the article at TheDetroitBureau, 69% of parents of teen drivers report they practice at least two dangerous or distracting behaviors while driving, and nearly half do at least three. Blame the dads (not the moms) for these bad examples, as the survey finds dads are less likely than moms to encourage their teens to practice safe driving in general. While 85% of moms discuss safe driving often with their teen drivers, only 73% of dads have had the same conversation.

Before we end for the week, let's take a moment to enjoy a funny car commercial, brought to us by those wacky humorists at AutoBlog. Ever wonder what goes into the design of the cars we see on the road? Well, here's an inside look at what goes into styling a sexy German-designed automobile. It'll take your breath away...

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

Big Versus Small Cars - Looking Beyond the Crunched Sheetmetal

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 01:35:00 GMT

The latest study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that bigger is better for safety, with new crash tests showing that small cars take the brunt of the impact when struck by larger vehicles. This laboratory scenario plays out in the real world, as well.

IIHS cites the death rate per million 1-3-year-old minis in single-vehicle crashes during 2007 was 35 compared with 11 per million for very large cars. Even in midsize cars, the death rate in single-vehicle crashes was 17 percent lower than in minicars. The lower death rate is because many objects that vehicles hit aren't solid, and vehicles that are big and heavy have a better chance of moving or deforming the objects they strike. This dissipates some of the energy of the impact.

Some proponents of mini and small cars claim they're as safe as bigger, heavier cars. But the claims don't hold up. For example, there's a claim that the addition of safety features to the smallest cars in recent years reduces injury risk, and this is true as far as it goes. Airbags, advanced belts, electronic stability control, and other features are helping. They've been added to cars of all sizes, though, so the smallest cars still don't match the bigger cars in terms of occupant protection.

The report has created some online buzz, with columnists such as John McElroy, pointing out that Europe has a good safety track record, despite most passenger cars being small. Likewise, there are criticisms levied at the IIHS for being supported by the insurance industry—a fact that is quite public.

The results from the IIHS report put numbers behind a basic truth: Big cars crush little ones. While the IIHS may ultimately have the insurance industries interests at heart, the reality is, their efforts support making cars safer. It is true that injuries can lead to expensive medical bills and potential lawsuits, avoiding them all together would seem to help everyone. Ultimately, the economy and fear of fluctuating fuel prices will encourage the American fleet to downsize over time. Meanwhile, safety structures and availability of advanced safety features will improve over time.

Bottom line, car buyers are wise to consider the full safety implications of their choices. Seek models that perform well in crash tests and remember the basic laws of physics. Ultimately, a more comfortable (and therefore more luxurious) model is often slightly larger, and perhaps, that is not such a bad thing.

Research new cars and check their safety ratings in the new car buyer’s guide.

IIHS Study Shows Bigger is Better for Safety

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:05:00 GMT

In its latest physics experiment, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested the impact of size on vehicle crashworthiness in a frontal collision. By analyzing the results from midsized cars careening into mini and micro cars, the IIHS has confirmed what Cosmopolitan readers have long known: size matters.

The Honda Fit, Smart ForTwo, and Toyota Yaris are good performers in the Institute's frontal offset barrier test, but all three are poor performers in the frontal collisions with midsize cars.

The structure of the Honda Accord held up well in the crash test into the Fit, and all except one measure of injury likelihood recorded on the driver dummy's head, neck, chest, and both legs were good. In contrast, a number of injury measures on the dummy in the Fit were less than good. Further, intrusion into the Fit's occupant compartment was extensive. Overall, the Fit was rated poor in the front-to-front crash, despite its good crashworthiness rating based on the Institute's frontal offset test into a deformable barrier—representing a head-on with a same-sized vehicle. On the other hand, the Accord earns good ratings for performance in both tests.

The ForTwo faced off against the Mercedes-Benz C-Class with predictable results. The smallest car the IIHS has tested, the Smart went airborne and turned around 450 degrees upon collision. This contributed to excessive movement of the dummy during rebound — a dramatic indication of the Smart's poor performance but not the only one. Multiple measures of injury likelihood, including those on the dummy's head, were poor, as were measures on both legs. In contrast, the C-Class held up well, with little to no intrusion into the occupant compartment. Nearly all measures of injury likelihood were in the good range.

With the Toyota pair, there was far more intrusion into the occupant compartment of the Yaris than the Camry. The minicar's door was largely torn away. The driver seats in both cars tipped forward, but only in the Yaris did the steering wheel move excessively. Similar contrasts characterize the measures of injury likelihood recorded on the dummies. The heads of both struck the cars' steering wheels through the airbags, but only the head injury measure on the dummy in the Yaris rated poor. Like the Smart and Fit, the Yaris earns an overall rating of poor in the car-to-car test. The Camry is acceptable.

The IIHS does acknowledge that smaller vehicles tend to use less fuel, though there is a clear trade off in crash protection. (It is worth noting the diminishing returns with an SUV, which introduces an increased rollover risk.)

At time when car-buying budgets are strained in many households, it is still worthwhile keeping safety a key concern. Often that may mean buying a midsized car rather than a subcompact. In addition to gaining extra protective sheetmetal, a midsized car is more likely to include stability control and side-curtain airbags – two essential safety features. Addressing budget concerns, remember the latest family sedans offer thrifty four-cylinder powerplants and money can often be saved by buying used, though in today’s market, a great price can often be had on a new model with a low finance rate to boot.

Safety ratings can be found on all models in our new car buyer’s guide. Learn more about car safety in our DriveSmart section.

Foreign Auto Plants Received $3.6 Billion in Aid

admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:42:00 GMT

With all the muckraking surround federal aid to the Detroit 3, the media hasn’t dug deep into how foreign transplant factories have been subsidized with state funds. Good Jobs First reports that $3.6 billion in aid has been provided since 1980 through property and sales tax exemptions, income tax credits, infrastructure aid, land discounts, and training grants.

A national policy resource center for grassroots groups and public officials, promoting corporate and government accountability in economic development, Good Jobs First says this estimate does not include joint ventures with U.S. companies, nor funds granted to hundreds of foreign-owned auto supply companies that have located in the same areas.

Government-supplied subsidies include:

Honda, Marysville OH, 1980, $27 million
Nissan, Smyrna, TN, 1980, $233 million
Toyota, Georgetown, KY, 1985, $147 million
Honda, Anna, OH, 1985, $27 million*
Subaru, Lafayette, IN, 1986, $94 million
Honda, East Liberty, OH, 1987, $27 million
BMW, Spartanburg, SC, 1992, $150 million
Mercedes-Benz, Vance, AL, 1993, $258 million
Toyota, Princeton, IN, 1995, $30 million
Nissan, Decherd, TN, 1995, $200 million
Toyota, Buffalo, WV, 1996, more than $15 million
Honda, Lincoln, AL, 1999, $248 million
Nissan, Canton, MS, 2000, $295 million
Toyota, Huntsville, AL, 2001, $30 million
Hyundai, Montgomery, AL, 2002, $252 million
Toyota, San Antonio, TX, 2003, $133 million
Kia, West Point, GA, 2006, $400 million
Honda, Greensburg, IN, 2006, $141 million
Toyota, Blue Springs, MS, 2007, $300 million
Volkswagen, Chattanooga, TN, 2008, $577 million

Through these subsidies, states have secured major manufacturing facilities that provide thousands of local jobs. This highlights how many so-called “imports” are actually American made.

New Incentives Enhance the Appeal of Modern Diesel Engines

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:34:00 GMT

Modern diesel engines are powerful, clean, fuel efficient, and increasingly backed by federal tax incentives. The Mercedes-Benz GL320, R320 and ML320 Bluetec qualify for the credit, according to Automotive News, which reports the credits range from $900 to $1,800. The IRS does not yet feature the Mercedes models on its Alternative Motor Credit page. (Read: Tax Credit for Volkswagen Diesels.)

While the tax credits may draw some buyers, the engines in these 2009 cars are appealing in their own right. First off, cast aside any lingering impressions that diesel engines are stinky, oil-belching rattle traps. These modern engines meet the same emissions standards as gasoline vehicles through advanced engine technologies, exhaust treatment, and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The new fuel formulation contains 97 percent less sulfur than conventional diesel, reducing sulfur content from 500 parts per million (ppm) to just 15 ppm.

Reducing particulate emissions is noble, but the key attraction for many car buyers is the improved fuel economy diesel promises with 30-35 percent greater mileage over similar-sized gasoline engines. The math isn't simple though, as diesel fuel is about 55 cents more expensive than gasoline, based on the national average reported by the Energy Information Administration.

At today's prices, a car at 21 mpg would cost 18 cents/mile to fuel with gasoline and a comparable car at 28 mpg would be 15 cents with diesel. Of course, diesel engines command a price premium, though the federal incentives will reduce the difference while they are available.

The financial benefits therefore are not a slam dunk, though a persuasive case can be made for high-mileage drivers who relish a diesel-engine's torque and want to take action to improve our nation's energy independence.

Learn more in New-Age Diesel Developments and Modern Diesel Engines.

J.D. Power Ranks Cars for Quality

admin — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:10:00 GMT

Nearly three-fourths of the 36 ranked nameplates show a quality improvement in 2008, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Study.

The top five brands in rank order are: Porsche, Infiniti, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota. At the bottom of the list, starting with the worst: Jeep, Mini, Land Rover, Saturn, and Suzuki.

The Initial Quality Study serves is a benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership, measured in problems per 100 vehicles. The study captures problems experienced by owners in two distinct categories -- quality of design and defects and malfunctions.

"Due to some strong new-vehicle launches, in addition to a continued reduction in the level of defects and malfunctions, overall quality improves by 6 percent in 2008, compared with 2007," said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. "This gain is driven not only by strong advances from many of the high-volume brands such as Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota, but also by very significant improvements by many other automakers.

Honda models capture three segment awards -- more than any other nameplate in the 2008 study -- for the Civic, CR-V, and Fit. Garnering two segment awards each are: Chevrolet (Malibu and Silverado LD); Dodge (Dakota and Durango); Infiniti (EX-Series and M-Series); Lexus (LS and RX); and Mercedes-Benz (CLK-Class and E-Class).

2008 IQS Ranking
Problems Per 100 Vehicles

    Porsche - 87
    Infiniti - 98
    Lexus - 99
    Mercedes-Benz - 104
    Toyota - 104
    Mercury - 109
    Honda - 110
    Ford - 112
    Jaguar - 112
    Audi - 113
    Cadillac - 113
    Chevrolet - 113
    Hyundai - 114
    Pontiac - 114
    Lincoln - 115
    Buick - 118
    Industry Average - 118
    Acura - 119
    Kia - 119
    Nissan - 124
    Volvo - 124
    BMW - 126
    GMC - 127
    Mazda - 127
    Volkswagen - 128
    Hummer - 132
    Subaru - 133
    Scion - 138
    Dodge - 141
    Chrysler - 142
    Mitsubishi - 149
    Saab - 149
    Suzuki - 152
    Saturn - 157
    Land Rover - 161
    Mini - 163
    Jeep - 167

The J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey results only reflects the customer observations of mechanical and design quality during the first three months, when realistically any modern machine should present itself well. Ultimately, any surveyed data provides interesting insights, but make sure you have the full story before basing a purchase on it, unless you plan to own a car for only three months.

Mercedes-Benz unveils diesel SUVs

admin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:54:00 GMT

At the upcoming 2008 New York International Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz will showcase its growing range of SUVs and three-row people movers. Freshened styling on the M-Class may stand out in pictures, but it is what’s under the hood that makes the 2009 M-, G-, and R-Class models worth a closer look.

We all knew it was coming, but the clean-diesel BlueTec engine arrives in the Big Apple ready to meet 50-state emissions limits, thanks to a new AdBlue exhaust treatment system. The BlueTec engine promises 20-30 percent better fuel economy than equivalent gasoline engines, surprisingly good performance, and low exhaust emissions. With the added fuel economy, the BlueTec equipped models have up to 600 miles cruising range.

The BlueTec diesels use an NOx storage catalytic converter in combination with an SCR catalytic converter and AdBlue injection to lower NOx emissions. The AdBlue system injects an aqueous urea solution into the exhaust flow, which releases ammonia (NH3), reducing nitrogen oxides to harmless nitrogen and water in the downstream SCR catalytic converter. The AdBlue tank needs to be refilled every 10,000 miles during routine maintenance intervals.

At a time when consumers are clamoring for improved fuel economy, yet unwilling to sacrifice performance, modern diesel engines promise a desirable balance. However, elevated diesel fuel prices cast an unfortunate shadow. (National average this week is $3.82 for diesel fuel, according to the Energy Information Administration.) Combine the price premium over gasoline with the additional cost for diesel engines, and they may be a hard sell in the United States.

2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
The M-Class is treated to a midlife freshening, with its toughened visage keeping it in line with the G-Class and new GLK-Class SUVs. Front bumpers are new, with updated headlamps. Likewise, the rear bumper is redesigned and dressed with stainless steel.

Inside, door panels now have an upholstered center section, and the seats boast a sportier design and a four-stage power lumber support for the driver’s seat. A new four-spoke steering wheel features built-in multi-function buttons and shift paddles. New advanced-technology features include an in-dash 6-disc DVD changer, hands-free Bluetooth phone system, telematics system, and a port for connecting audio devices such as an iPod.

The standard audio system comes with a color display, a double radio tuner, speed-dependent volume control and a keypad for phone numbers and radio frequencies. Optional equipment includes a voice recognition system, a 610-watt digital harmon kardon Logic7 audio system and a rear-seat entertainment system with two eight-inch screens, wireless headphones and an integrated DVD player with dual-source capability.

The Pre-Safe safety system is made standard. Just as on the S-Class flagship, the Pre-Safe can react to an impending collision before it happens and take measures to protect occupants during those valuable seconds before impact. It can tighten the front seat belts before a possible impact, and the front passenger seat moves to a position that can provide better protection. Side windows also close to provide better support for the window curtain air bags. If the system senses an impending rollover, the sunroof also closes.

For those in the area, the New York show is open to the public March 21-30. Look for other highlights from the last show of the season here in the autoMedia blog.

Research Mercedes-Benz in the buyer’s guide.