Nope, CLS Shooting Brake is not official name of this car, however, the whole blogging world is calling it that. Anyway, spyshots of the car doing winter testing is all over the Internet now. The car is boasting of an engine that may range from 3.5L V8 to 5.5L V8 which may produce 518HP. The design is also more handsome, with a hatch big enough to carry luggage. You will also notice the awesome colors on this one, a carmine red car rolling on the snow. This gorgeous car is expected to be presented at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March. Read the original post:  Spyshots of the 2013 Mercedes Benz CLS Shooting Brake

Depending on your perspective cars of the 1980s might seem like they were new yesterday or built sometime before the beginning of time. Regardless of your perspective, the newest vehicle to come out of the decade is now 23 years old. More » See original here:  What vehicle from the 1980s has the highest survival rate? [Question Of The Weekend] See the rest here: What vehicle from the 1980s has the highest survival rate? [Question Of The Weekend]

People will often pay through their nose to be the first to have something. In the technology industry it is called being an early-adopter – and you definitely pay to be one. With cars, Concours d’Elegance shows and auctions like Barrett Jackson in Arizona usually offer a chance to be first. Sometimes a catalog like Neiman Marcus will score an exclusive as well. Most of the time the proceeds of a much-anticipated model are donated to a charity. According to Motor Authority sixth annual Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance in Florida is aiming to secure the very first Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG. A charity doesn’t appear to be involved but we’ll have to check on that to be sure. The standard sixth-generation SL just made its debut, and the high-performance AMG model is still under wraps. So apparently you’re bidding at the show for a car that hasn’t been released yet. That’s pretty weird, but when the car debuts you will be guaranteed to have the first one. While not well-known by most, the Boca Raton show has a history of first sells. They include the first Ferrari California, FF and 458 Italia, along with the first R8 GT, R8 5.2 FSI and R8 Spyder. Mercedes-Benz isn’t a stranger to the show either, with the first North American SLS AMG sold there. On the docket this year is a Lamborghini Aventador, as well as the just-released R8 GT Spyder, which is limited to just 50 units in the United States. Most likely information will be provided to the buyer at the show via Mercedes, unless they decide to release the AMG first. The car is rumored to have 571 horsepower, powered by a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-8. The Boca Raton event takes place beginning February 25th. The price for being first will likely run at least $200,000. The previous generation SL63 AMG came in at around $140,000. Related posts: Production 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Spotted in Canary Islands The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG 60 Years of History: 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Go here to see the original:  Unreleased 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG To Be Auctioned In Florida

Followers of Mercedes news have seen plenty of reports of Mercedes-Benz cars accumulating more than a million miles over decades of use. As if these achievements in longevity and reliability were not impressive enough, a Mercedes commercial truck in Austria has now reached and surpassed this landmark mileage in just over a decade of use. Built in 2001, a Mercedes Atego 917 truck has been used since then by the BS Transport company based in Tristach, Austria. Following only the maintenance schedule recommended by its manufacturer, this Atego 917 truck has not needed any repairs and is still hauling around cargo using its original engine. In fact, the actual mileage this truck currently has is 1.33 million miles, and its owners say that they cannot consider any other vehicle to replace this truck. Except maybe another Atego. Used 16 hours a day by two drivers working in two shifts, the Atego regularly traverses mountain roads 1800 meters above sea level. Such ruggedness and durability are hallmarks of the Mercedes brand, but even this performance is something to be extra proud of. Continued here:  Mercedes-Benz Atego 917 Surpasses A Million Miles Of Service

Mercedes-Benz Citan will make its public debut at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show next September Originally posted here:  Mercedes-Benz Citan Urban Delivery Van

In the Auto Blogger Award 2012, the SLS AMG Roadster Convertible was voted as the best car in the convertible category. About 27 auto bloggers casted their vote on the Merc with the 571HP output, giving out a total score of 72 points, which also happens to be the highest point that a car has received in the awards. It was followed by the Audi R8 Spyder with 42 points, then the Porsche 911 in the third. The other categories are mini cars, small cars, compact cars, middle class, luxury, sports, convertibles, SUVs and cans. In which the Mercedes A Class won 2nd for the compact category, the Mercedes C-Class 2nd, for the middle class. The E-Class in the upper middle class, Mercedes G-Class for SUV, Mercedes Viano for vans placed 2nd too. Over-all, Mercedes-Benz brand won the 2nd place for the Manufacturer’s Championship. Source: Blogger Auto Award View original post here:  German Bloggers Voted for Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster as the Best

Those from the US who are waiting for the ever-famous Mercedes SL63 AMG must take note of this. An auction will be held on February 25, the 6th annual auction of the Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance Gala. The SL63 AMG will lead the pack of cars, that is, even if it hasn’t been presented in the public officially. There will be other cars in the auction, one of them the Lamborghini Aventador and the 2012 Audi R8 GT Spider is hot red. More: 2013 Mercedes SL63 AMG to be Auctioned in the US

A cycling team in Spain has filmed the brand-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class while either making a promo spot or shooting some picture for print material. The video was taken on Jan 26 by bike team OGOTT, as they were cycling from El Golfo to Playa Blanca when they stumbled upon the brand new Mercedes-Benz A-Class. As you can see in the video, it’s a very clear shot of A-Class, revealing all the front and side details. We are very surprised that it looks almost identical to the prototype, even the beautiful and futuristic grill was kept. Concept A-Class Go here to read the rest: Video of the Day: 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class filmed undisguised

A cycling team in Spain has filmed the brand-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class while either making a promo spot or shooting some picture for print material. The video was taken on Jan 26 by bike team OGOTT, as they were cycling from El Golfo to Playa Blanca when they stumbled upon the brand new Mercedes-Benz A-Class. As you can see in the video, it’s a very clear shot of A-Class, revealing all the front and side details. We are very surprised that it looks almost identical to the prototype, even the beautiful and futuristic grill was kept. Concept A-Class See the original post: Video of the Day: 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class filmed undisguised

The brand-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class was spotted by the OGOTT bike team while cycling from El Golfo to Playa Blanca Read more from the original source:  Mercedes-Benz A-Class First Photo and Video Undisguised

Considering how much it costs, is it a surprise that the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has one of the highest insurance premiums in the U.S.? As anyone who has delved into the premium costs of car insurance knows, computing a car’s insurance is derived from a host of factors, a large part of which is the age group of the driver. But another significant factor in the cost of your insurance is the historical data compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Most of us know that the IIHS does crash tests. But over the years, they have also compiled data on the loss insurance companies incur on all the vehicles available on the market. The resulting vehicle loss list has now become part of the formula for computing a car owner’s insurance premium. In the case of the S-Class, one assumes that the cost of the car is the reason for the high insurance cost. Actually, the reason why the S-Class costs so much to insure is because it places 2nd on the vehicle loss list, slotting in between the Scion tC and the Mitsubishi Lancer, which placed 1st and 3rd respectively. How and why the LWB S-Class came to be second is for the IIHS to explain. At the other end of the spectrum however, is the smart ForTwo. This car is at the top of the list for the lowest loss vehicle as far as the insurance companies are concerned. So, if you’re a family man and decide to buy a ForTwo as a commuter car, expect to pay one of the lowest premiums around. If you’re Benz is not on the list, but you’re still paying a lot of your insurnace, then it might be a good idea to get some auto insurance quotes and compare. See the original post:  Mercedes-Benz S-Class is on the highest insurance loss list

The long-time rumored BMW 1 Series GT is scheduled to appear at the Paris Motor Show in October. According to a source, the 1 Series Gran Turismo will be powered by three and four-cylinder turbo engines and will sport the new front-wheel drive platform architecture. Hybrid and xDrive versions will be offered as well. Same source says the design of the 1 Series GT is quite appealing and the car will compete directly with the Mercedes-Benz B-Class. The 1 Series Gran Turismo, also known internally as Compact Activity Tourer, will be the first of many front-wheel drive vehicles to come from BMW. To reflect the Gran Turismo design, the 1 GT will have an elevated driving position, as seen in the 5 Gran Turismo. The car will hit the dealerships in 2014. The rest is here: Exclusive: BMW 1 Series GT to launch at Paris Motor Show

Standing out on the Mercedes SL63 AMG are the larger air intakes, cross-drilled and larger brake rotors, upgraded calipers… Excerpt from:  2013 Mercedes SL63 AMG Latest Spy Photos

Filed under: Latest News What would you say if we told you that a ten-year-old Vauxhall Zafira is likely to be more reliable than the newest model? Well, it sounds inconceivable but automotive specialist Warranty Direct has found that a number of older model cars are actually more reliable than their newer counterparts, saving you money on repairs and list price. Figures on Warranty Direct’s reliability index show that newer cars are up to 10% more likely to break down than older cars. This is done by analysing the chances of failure for nearly new cars compared to those that are up to 17 years old. So what second-hand cars should you choose? Well, a Vauxhall Zafira between 7-13 years old could be a bargain, with average repair bills coming in over £100 cheaper. Starting from £18,650 new, a 2005 model can be had for as little as £2,495. Commuter favourite, the BMW 3-Series can cost up to £140 more in repairs if you choose an ‘05 model or newer. The table below shows which models could save you money in the classifieds. Top 10 age-defying cars Make Model Chance of failure* Difference Jaguar XJ Series (’97-’03) 35% Jaguar XJ Series (’03-) 56% 21% Renault Espace (’93-’03) 51% Renault Espace (’02-) 62% 11% Vauxhall Zafira (’99-’05) 27% Vauxhall Zafira (’05-) 38% 11% Porsche Boxster (’96-’04) 28% Porsche Boxster (’04-) 38% 10% Audi A4 (’00-’05) 26% Audi A4 (’05-’09) 34% 8% Ford Fiesta (’95-’02) 11% Ford Fiesta (’02-’08) 17% 6% Volkswagen Golf (’97-’06) 30% Volkswagen Golf (’04-’09) 36% 6% Jeep Grand Cherokee (’99-’05) 49% Jeep Grand Cherokee (’05-) 54% 5% Mercedes CLK (’97-’03) 28% Mercedes CLK (’02-) 33% 5% BMW 3 Series (’98-’06) 27% BMW 3 Series (’05-’11) 30% 3% Despite advances in technology between models, the tendency to cut costs can have a detrimental effect on the quality of parts used, with the electrical system highlighted as a weak point on new motors. Warranty Direct managing director, Duncan McClure Fisher, said: “Buying new may be the most desirable option when it comes to purchasing a car but it isn’t always...

Filed under: Motorsport As the song goes: the weather outside is frightful. It’s flippin’ freezing at the moment and the conditions could be getting rather dicey for driving. Alfa Romeo wants to assuage any fears that its cars will fall off the road at the first sign of ice. Like all good creative types, the company decided to show off its Giulietta tackling the most extreme conditions – by making it play ice hockey. On an ice rink. Against ice hockeyists. To show off its prowess on the slippery stuff, a Giulietta was taken to the Coventry Skydome ice rink and pitted against the fearsome (in name, at least) Team Blaze. Using the Alfa’s D.N.A. Vehicle Dynamic Control switch the car manages to stay pretty planted on the ice – we were impressed in the office. We were more impressed with the stunt driver behind the wheel, mind.   Read the original: Video: Can a car play ice hockey? Go here to see the original:  Video: Can a car play ice hockey?