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2015 INFINITI QX60 Buyers Guide – Pricing, Specs and Features – AWD Hybrid Highly Recommended

There was a time when the Hybrid models in many car ranges were much more of a style and eco-conscience type of choice. The biggest example of this paradox of the Hybrid actually being a far worse machine, but much more successful with consumers, is the Lexus RX350 versus the RX450h. The RX Hybrid is so ubiquitous that it is easy to forget the standard model still exists! But is it a better car? That is very open to debate – as the Lexus system of AWD with electric power to the back axle is less-than-helpful in many slick road …

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5.2s to 60mph, 148MPG Plug-in Hybrid AWD! Audi TT Offroad Concept – A Sure Thing As Future Q2 (or Q4?)

The big three German luxury brands are infamous in charting each-others new models rigorously. When the Mercedes-Benz R-Class emerged to shocked faces across the globe, BMW was not far behind with the 5 series GT in a slight tweak on the theme. Once one of the big players has established a market, it is widely seen as almost a sure-fire new segment that all must either join or be left out of completely. The rationale is often more than a little flawed – as the R-Class seven-seater and five-seater minivan/wagon trend failed to spark much interest. But one clear segment …

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Mercedes-Benz Concept Coupe SUV – Beijing 2014 – Sets New Design Direction for ~2016 MLC550

The MLC is a truck that would greatly assist Mercedes-Benz in fending off the latest Range Rover Sport, as well as even sleeker machines like the Infiniti QX70 and BMW X6. Its formula is pretty standard for the brand: avant-garde future style that previews both this expected MLC production model’s silhouette, as well as the nose and tail graphic of the next ML-Class and perhaps even the next GL-Class. While the current ML and GL are still relatively fresh, they are highly likely to adopt this next-gen style when up for revision in calendar 2016 as 2017 models. Overall style …

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Nissan GT-R Dakar Rally Prototype…! Most Absurd Renderings Ever?

I was just going to share these with the Faceplace, but here goes nothing! No, I do not know why I spent so long doing this. But then again, the Porsche 959 won Paris-Dakar outright in 1984. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has won it numerous times as well. So perhaps not too insane? No. Completely insane. But fun to observe, hopefully =]

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Annotated Design Analysis — Peugeot EXALT — How To Make the 2016 Peogeot 509 Sexy — Mazda6 vs Ford Fusion Examples

Ed’s Note: This article is feeling condescending as I review and ready it for publishing, and I regret that tone. Nobody likes being spoken down to. That is not my intention. Just to explain it all, as best I can, to someone for whom car design might not a passion area. How to make a front-drive car sexy and stylish — while keeping it primarily front-drive? Not an easy task, and one that has taken many years to get anywhere near resultion. The clearest example of the ideas and design analyses explored below is the latest Mazda6, which is far …

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Wealth Dreams: Powered by the Evergreen Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster

Orig Published on: Dec 30, 2013 @ 9:08 There are some cars whose optional engines and trim levels are really ‘make-or-break’ items, but the evergreen Mercedes-Benz SL roadster is not one of them. Put simply: there is no bad option, only excellent and beyond excellent. The SL550 is a real dream-boat of a machine. A three-season athlete of a cabrio – one that even looks chic and fast with its hard-top up. That is not something that can be said of many other hardtop convertibles. Enjoy this exterior love-fest, featuring the gorgeous SL550, SL63 AMG and the scary-fast SL65 AMG. …

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Introducing Special Contributor Andy Stella — How to Trade Up from a 1995 Buick Skylark to a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic

Ed’s Intro: Please welcome Andy Stella! A car-minded guy with some hilarious insights to share in this two-pack of intro articles. Coming up next is his Top 5 Cars to Street-Park in Chicago — but his personal car history had me rolling on the floor with lulz. Enjoy. By: Special Contributor Andy Stella       From Car Hell to Car Bliss… in Only Six Easy Steps!   My first car was a 1995 Buick Skylark that I bought from my mom. That poor thing endured driver’s ED for my older brother and I, many trips into/out of the snowbanks …

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Op_Ed: Ferrari Formula One 2014 Whine-a-Thon — Actually Just Poor Engineering? But Surplus of Arrogance, Entitlement and Cronyism

INTRO: No kid says, “I want to be one of the angry and out-of-touch old men in charge, long after my prime and causing damage to my sport, or my team.” They say, “I want to be a racecar driver.” Formula One is bringing a bit more drama to all the backstage maneuvers this year — which is at least half the fun of the sport lately. Bogged down by a tome of a rulebook, Bernie Ecclestone’s forced hiatus from running every lockstep in the sport brings with it significant pitfalls for the most legendary team on the grid: Scuderia …

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Best Wind Tunnels – Mercedes-Benz Opens New 165MPH AeroAcoustics Test Center

Orig Published on: Jan 3, 2014 @ 15:33 Welcome to part one of the CarRevsDaily Wind Tunnel series. What is the mystery X factor for anything moving at high speeds? Air. Always changing density, direction, humidity and speed: defeating wind is a real black art. How do I know this? Indoor skydiving: seems easy – jump from platform into the chamber, whose floor is 60-feet below. Flex your body to control your lift and position.   Sounds easy, is actually incredibly difficult and chaotic. Wind tunnels are nothing new: they go back more than 100 years and are critical for …

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INFINITI Q50 Upping Pressure on BMW With Aggressive New Turbo Engines — 2.0L Turbo for Europe … or 560HP GT-R V6 for US!

Okay, that is not super fair. The European market is also a sure thing for the Q50 Eau Rouge, which runs a 560-horsepower twin turbocharged engine that is closely related, if not the exact same, as what powers the upgraded 2014 Nissan GT-R. But the bigger news may be down at the lower end of the range: Europe is the first market to benefit from a new sharing deal with Mercedes-Benz. Infiniti will borrow the brand-new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that is seeing duty, or will soon see action, in everything from the CLA250 to the E250. So, the Infiniti Q50 …

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1928 BMW Dixi Roadster – Zentrum Museum

Okay!  Final roadster article from the BMW Zentrum Museum and delivery center in Spartanburg. The Z3, Z8 and Z4 Alpina and many others are featured in this mini museum, but these three are stand-outs for me in how the each speak to their respective decades so effectively. What do I mean? Well, the 1928 Dixi is far ahead of its time versus the heavy and getting-heavier American cars of the period, which were anything but sporty in corners. Or the slow-coaches of England, for that matter, where 5-mph was generally “too fast.” for urban areas or rural routes.   The …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet + Specs, Pricing and Options

2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet Review Here are some road testing videos I took near Autobahn Country Club in Illinois last September. This car is surprisingly-awesome Some full-throttle sprints are included in the last two videos. Part One: Leaving the Gates Part Two: Spotting a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. Look Closely Near Middle of Video…! Part Three: Quick Sprint Demonstration Optional LED Star 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Exterior Gallery 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Interior Gallery 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Details from MBusa.com

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Amelia Island Time Capsules: $903k 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Roadster — Leaves Me Cold — Find Out Why?

Plowing through my gigantic Amelia Island photo folders. =] Not only do I rarely meet a Bugatti I do not like — I think the Amelia Island 2014 event was the first time I have ever touched any Bugatti, whatsoever! Therefore, you can imagine my internal surprise at my blase feelings toward this magnificent 1939 57C — which were less than positive. I just didn’t like it. The color seemed off, the coachwork overwrought, and certainly not nearly as stunning, genuine and authentically-desirable as the racecars across the room. I blamed poor lighting on day one due to the car …

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Evolution of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class from 1904 to Present

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Evolution When Mercedes-Benz launches a new S-Class, the lead-up coverage is remarkably similar each time. Safety innovations, luxury, tech, style to make Lexus and Jaguar weep. But there is more to the story than just the 1960s forward. In fact, the first in this bloodline dates to 1904 in a hilarious red jalopy of a stagecoach. Hilarious in retrospect only! This was no joke at the time – the peak height of class and luxury travel. This red magic stagecoach did not require horses out front to move its occupants along in comfort and manure-free bliss. And so, …

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Cosmetic Car Mods Part 5 – White LED Emblem Baseplate

Cosmetic Car Mods Part 5 – White LED Emblem Baseplate LED emblem base-plate. (Sticks under badge, wired into low-beams) This one is self-explanatory. Can be fun, and also comes in various styles for the rear ends of many brand logo’s as well — making the white outline flip to red under braking. But these are just the single white baseplate I had on my Subaru (briefly). Quality is dismal, and this one was never the exact same oval shape as my OEM Subaru badge — but for $12 or so, you definitely get some up-close curb appeal. Who else has …

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Black Swan SLS AMG GT3 In Detail — Incredibly Fascinating Aerodynamic Solutions Under Disguise Mirror Wraps

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has long been the oversteer king of Deutschland. We all recall Clarkson cooking many, many sets of tires in his — and even trying to locate a replacement in rural North Carolina a few years ago. So how would this car do on the track with that handling attitude and tail-first handling mantra? Well, of course. But only once it spent countless hours in the wind tunnels of Mercedes-Benz. For racecars, the engineers’ brief on aerodynamics is much easier overall than road-going supercars. Yes, tons of downforce and Yes: zero lift whatsoever, no matter what it …

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Engineering Student Envisions Future W154 Silver Arrow Racer (Open-Wheel, Closed-Cockpit!)

Renderings done by students are sometimes the most exciting new ideas out there. Phil Berger is one such visionary first-year mechanical engineering student. He is an active participant in the Local Motors Forge project, which is a co-creation community and a bit of a gathering place for dreamers. Mechanical dreamers! The tricky part of student, or any renderings, for that matter: brand names and logos. All this company IP is fiercely protected, especially in a bold new age of shameless counterfeiting. But there are other concerns besides factories running mystery “ghost shifts,” or the adage of a complete twin factory …

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Amelia Island 2014 – 1914 Mercedes-Benz GP Car

1914 Mercedes-Benz GP Car This car does not photograph with quite the same intensity and impact of seeing it up close. There are numerous elements that truly reminded me more of a racehorse than a racecar — including the specially-made leather bonnets for much of its suspension and braking gear. Why? To keep the grime out while putting its 105-horsepower to use hitting nearly 67MPH. In 1914, those were death-defying speeds. The Dunlop Cord tires are filled harder than horseshoe steel: 80-plus PSI to maintain shape, versus about a 35PSI max in modern cars. But the real racehorse impression? This …

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White Knights of the Star Table? 585HP S63 AMG Coupe Latest Mercedes-Benz To Lance Old Perceptions

The S63 AMG Coupe builds on the hottest new Mercedes-Benz strategies of supercar pace/luxury-car comfort — and keeps building, and building, and building! A true skyscraper of a car is the end result: the S63 AMG Coupe promises 664 pound-feet of torque and a perhaps even rear-drive. This would mark a change versus the E63 AMG, which is coming to America exclusively as the playful 4Matic all-wheel-drive model. With AWD, the S63 AMG is estimated by MB to hit the 60-mph sprint in 3.9-seconds with a Vmax of 186MPH. This is huge news for such a large and posh C-suite …

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East Coast West Coast Benz Battle: CLS550 4Matic versus CLS550

So you need a Mercedes-Benz with a giant V8, about 5.0-seconds to 60-mph or less, and perhaps four doors — perhaps only two. Options will lead you to the CLS, the original “foupe” and inspiring act for the very fashionable new CLA250 and CLA45 AMG. This is not really a Tupac vs Biggie-style rap battle. Just noting that the CLS550 is available both in rear-drive and AWD setups. They are both very tail-happy and will play along when you are in the mood. But once the CLS trigger is pulled, you might be compelled to only consider the CLS63 AMG. …

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The Sold-Out 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG — Design Walkaround + Exhaust Note Videos

From afar, the CLA45 AMG never seemed to live up to the hype since launching in mid-2013 as the A45 AMG in Europe. Under auto show glare, it can be easy to miss altogether why this car is so special or groundbreaking for Mercedes. But up close, even between to its big E63 and S63 siblings, the CLA45’s case starts improving dramatically. These are not only new styling themes for the ever-traditional Star brand. Not just a transition to a transverse, front-drive basis for a next-gen of luxury compacts. This car really lays the future template for making Mercedes-Benz to …

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Amelia Concours — Marque Showcases — Mercedes-Benz 219 Peking-to-Paris, 220SE (Coupe), 250SL Pagoda and Even 500E HAMMER!

Bored of these concours articles yet?! With 3,000 photos snapped in three days — I was even a bit tired of all this out-of-reach metal myself my the end of the weekend. But there really were some stunning machines in attendance. Best part? Their owners were typically nearby — more than happy to extol the benefits of their cherished cars. And more often, the great care and passion they have put into getting these machines up to show-quality. Yes, in theory, anyone with a cool car could apply for a lawn badge. But be prepared for light interrogation by fellow …

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1909 (Mercedes) “Blitzen” Benz — World Land (or Water or Air) Speed Record Holder 1914-1919 — 141.7MPH on Daytona Beach

Not just Land Speed Record. Any speed! This included air and water, where this exact car’s 141.7MPH run on Daytona Beach was, literally, the fastest man-made object on Planet Earth until 1919. The start-up process in the below video is handled by Mercedes-Benz Classic experts — and even they took at least six minutes to breathe 21st-century life into this beautiful behemoth. MOMENTS BEFORE START-UP — Cued Video Link http://youtu.be/xMa3_tT5mKA?t=6m17s FULL STARTUP VIDEO 2012 Pebble Beach  — Ignition occurs at 6-minutes, 17-seconds Stunning features all around, including the aero-pointed radiator and the chain-drive traction system from a locomotive. No differentials …

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2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG COLORS, Options + Leathers Guide

2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG COLORS So, which 2014 S-Class is for you? The S550 starts things off with a 4.8s sprint to 60-mph for just $90,000, while the S63 AMG lops that time down to just 3.9s for an extra $50 Large. For real-life Kings and Queens? Still the rear-drive S65 AMG for now — but stay tuned for the extra-long-doors version and perhaps even a six-door Pullman S700 (?) in the next few years. The all-new AMG 4Matic is heavily rear-biased, with last fall’s E63 4Matic drive proving these are still exceptionally-balanced and great-steering vehicles.       S63 …

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2014 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG and S63 AMG – Jaw-Droppingly Posh in 40 Real-Life Photos

2014 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG and S63 AMG The 2015 S-Class is set to be a giant leap over the uncomfortably-compromised BMW 750iL and the ungainly 2014 (and 2015) Audi A8 models. Sidebar: What is up with the 7 series and A8 these days? The old kings are both fuddy-duddy specials lately, one might say. — The BMW drives like an Avalon Hybrid with roid-rage, while the A8 is simply tiny in the back seat and trunk by most real-world measures. — I do not have the stats at hand, but know for a fact the Chevrolet Impala’s legroom, headroom, shoulder …

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VIDEO + Renders of 8 Future Hot-Rods From German Special Customs — Which Is Your Favorite?

GSC is broadening their scope. They are now applying their trademark upgrade style to brands beyond the Mercedes-Benz star. The latest future projects from German Special Customs work in a hot-to-trot new Range Rover and even an Aventador-from-Hell called the Estatura GXX. Using the names of brands by GSC is a bit touchy, so GSC has these future mock-ups under simplified working titles. Estatura GXX   McLaren P1 Night Glow by German Special Customs   Which do you like best? My choice is probably the E-Class, but I am open to debate! Hey, if you’re not having fun on the …

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German Special Customs Turns Mercedes-Benz ML into Autobahn Cruise Missile

This overhaul looks seriously awesome, and completely reinvigorates the Mercedes-Benz ML from the outside – its weakest current point. This W166 generation of ML-Class is actually far better than ever before under skin and inside, where this versatile family car now equals the cabin quality of the E-Class.   The latest Mercedes-Benz ML Widebody kit from German Special Customs dramatically increases the road presence of this mid-size SUV. From well below the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the styling stakes — to flexing and eating Cayenne Turbo’s for breakfast. The Mercedes-Benz ML is a relatively unloved member of the range, albeit …

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Update1 — 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman SWB for $75,000 In Charleston, South Carolina

 No words to describe this immaculate 1970 Pullman? I am never short of words! Yes, a tech thing prevented description of this car yesterday. But I will say these things now: — cars in this quality are very rare — price just 10% of a the total earned by drop-top six-door 1971 600 Pullman earlier this month in Paris by RM Auctions — for history fans or the inherently curious: the eagle in the front grille is the German Imperial flag — and nothing to do with some other eagle iconography that is perhaps better-known from Deutschland. https://www.deutschland.de/en This car …

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AMG Miami Boat Shows Long Dongs — Mercedes-Benz Extenzzzes Vision GranTurismo Ethos to New 50-ft Racing Boat

Whip ’em out! Just kidding. Please do not. There is something inherently phallic about cigarette boats, named for their extreme length but thin berth on the water. These are the vessels you need to outrun any other sea-faring vessel that might give chase. In fact, with the big AMG engines rumbling at peak power levels — this AMG Vision GT boat is likely to outrun most helicopters as well. How would it look in Coast Guard orange? Or air-force white? The U.S. Navy has a new squid-like camo sheath that literally makes anything in water disappear from physical and sonar …

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1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 ‘Six-Door’ Pullman Landaulet — *Just* $731,000 at RM Auctions Paris 2014

Just $731,000? That is still a huge sum of money, right? In today’s world, for a six-door Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet, this is an absolute bargain. First off: most of these cars have never left the banana republics they originally called home. Many are still in active service all over the world. Secondly, this car might look rough cosmetically, but let me assure you: the Mercedes-Benz 600 (and all their pre-1989 cars, for that matter) are unbelievably strong automobiles.     I know this for a fact because I spent three weeks a few years ago dis-assembling the interior of …

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WOW! 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 4MATIC Coupe — High-Speed, High-Fashion 2-Door Glam Shuttle

The S-Class Coupe debuted this morning to rapturous praise from thisguy! It looks stunning and will hit showrooms virtually unaltered from the shockingly-attractive S-Class Coupe Concept from Frankfurt. Today may indeed mark the start of the Bentley Continental GT’s long, slow decline. As the market-makers tire of that bloated and understeering hog of a machine: both the Rolls-Royce Wraith and this new S550 4Matic Coupe are eager for their attention. Please enjoy these official images and debut details from Mercedes-Benz ahead of the S550 4Matic Coupe’s arrival to U.S. showrooms in Fall 2014. Exteriors   Interiors Official Details below from …

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#ZeroCompetition True for 2014 Nissan GT-R: Bentley GT Too Big, Porsche 911 Turbo Too $$, But Lambo Huracan Gunning for R35

In terms of #ZeroCompetition – The GT-R’s performance really does stack up amazingly well versus almost any other hypercar. To have an Audi R8 that can really compete takes the V10 Plus S-tronic AWD – and a $180k price. Similar story with the Porsche 911 Turbo – which bases for around $150,000, but is easy to spec up to $180k once all is said and done. The only surprise listing? The Jaguar F-Type V8 S – which is quoted by ChromeData as delivering a cool 495-horsepower in U.S. spec. This bodes well for a 600HP R-S eventually from Jag! Amazing. …

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Concept Flashback: 2012 Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force Is Potential 2015 Paris-Dakar Hybrid?

The Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-force concept from the 2012 Los Angeles deserves a fresh look. As part of the annual LA design challenge, the Ener-G truck seemed a bit too whimsical to ever see production. But could times be changing? The Galendewagen must be made until 2017 (I believe) based on a supply agreement with the German government. While keeping production lines open, the luxury G63 AMG is a consistent superstar for the brand. Even if only a few hundred are sold per year – the margins on a $150,000 SUV offer plenty of leverage to keep G-wagon fans happy. So how …

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Toyota FT-1 Concept – GT6 Action Teases Ducted Aero Fans and 184MPH?

The GranTurismo6 platform is getting seriously newsworthy — even for non-gamers. While some might have fantasy football, this is like fantasy supercars. We are only on perhaps number two or three of the official reveals — among perhaps 30 manufacturers with concept racers in the game. It looks like the rights arguments or all that can take a GoPro to the bumper in GT6. Similarly, the over-wrought Citroen GT5 Concept is suddenly looking quite dated. While all the cars in the game, at least in this OEM showcase, just want the best possible performance — there is more reality in …

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Audi Q3 Looking Classy + Packing Standard 200HP Turbo for U.S. Sales From August 2014

The Audi Q3 looks so much better in the flesh than it did in Audi’s teaser sketches from last month – what a relief! While the car does show a bit less aggression in its proportions versus the long-hood Q7, there is enough family similarity for the Q3 to rub shoulders with BMW and Mercedes-Benz SUVs costing much, much more. The Q3 is part of a broad new 2015 Audi A3 family of models coming to the U.S. in the next six to eight months: — A3 four-door sedan — S3 four-door sedan — A3 Cabriolet — 2015 A3 e-tron …

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Production-Spec 2015 GLA45 AMG Looking Gorgeous Without Concept Stickers

When it rains, it pours! And when it pours, rear-drive sports cars must crawl along the highway at anything above 70 or 80 mph. Sure, you can go fast in the rain in your high-power, rear-drive machine — but any wheel slip can become a serious problem. That is the key reason the new generations of AMG Mercedes-Benz models will be optimized for rear-drive hoon-ability, but standard 4Matic AWD for high-speed, all-weather confidence. The GLA45 is the perfect example of this new breed of sub-Macan-Turbo sporting models from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The X1 M Sport xDrive35i is about as …

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HD Video – 1953 Gordini 24S Blasts Around Its Favorite Tracks Before RM Auctions Paris Sale

 This car defies logic. On one hand, it looks adorable and cute. So narrow and low, with the blue bodywork peeled back around the exhaust manifold and the straight-cut pipes. Watch the below… The Gordini starts to howl at about the half-way mark of this video preview. Kudos to its bold driver, who is not shy with the loud pedal. Firing up the 24S takes a prod onto an organ-stop switch – included as the fuel cutoff for racing. This very car won the Tour de France (a car race at the time…) and also traded paint with Porsche and …

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2014 CLS45 AMG

Race Start Video: 2014 CLA45 AMG Shows Impressive Launch Drama + 4.5s to 60mph

Mercedes-Benz is evolving its marketing and product positioning drastically. Executive rumblings from a few years ago indicated the brand was making serious changes to lower its perceived demographic – but it all just seemed like lip service at the time. Well, the arrival of the CLA-Class surely confirms that they were very serious. Serious… about getting playful. The CLA is launching in the American market as the front-drive CLA250 and the all-wheel-drive CLA45 AMG. Both run a highly advanced new platform, engine, transmission and electronic architecture. What perhaps previously took 0.002 milliseconds to transfer info from rear ABS sensors on …

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2013 GLK350 4MATIC

GLK250 Diesel Joins GLK350 from $37,000 – Buyers Guide to AMG Sport trims

The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 is a cool little truck. The really great thing about this package versus other crossovers is how agile and fun it is to toss around. The low proportions and general handling excellence really shame the Acura RDX and even the Range Rover Evoque. The GLK makes no apologies for its macho lines, and really looks exclusive on city streets. The GLK is rear-drive as standard, making this one of the most balanced in its segment for fast drivers. That segment is growing fast, with the GLA250 also joining the U.S. price books for 2014, and the BMW …

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G-Class Widebody Options by GSC Look Ready For Terminator 5

As if the G-Class needed any more curb appeal. This is an amazing truck – capable of far more than its most-photographed duties: grocery shopping in Brentwood. German Special Customs agrees – and has a variety of wide-body conversions of the G-Class in their fleet. Yes, taste is subjective —  but all are sure to scare just about anyone out of the fast lane in front of you. Gold – Mercedes-Benz G-Class by GSC Silver – Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG by GSC Red – Mercedes-Benz G-Class by GSC  

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Best of Awards – Spy Van – Nissan NV Cargo Van – 2500 HD High Roof in Super Black

Imagine two identical Nissan NV Cargo work vans.   One is white, with normal windows that show a hard-working, bearded and husky guy in a tan Carthartt jacket. If we had X-ray vision, we might see a cargo area loaded with miter saws, ladders, plywood, and other tools of his trade. The other Nissan NV is black. This one has a high roof, a 5.6-liter V8 engine, and a dark tint to the front windows. Two clean-shaven and physically fit young men pilot this van, with two more guys working in the back. With X-ray vision, inside the black van …

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Update1 Racing Heritage: the Silver Arrows from Mercedes-Benz (100+ Rare Photos)

Imagine a combination of all forms of racing – off-road to high-speed – done by one core chassis design.   During the 1930s, the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows were storming every type of racing one could imagine: both competitively in Formula races and for world record attempts outside the circuit. This sent the Silver Arrows up hillclimb events, on ultimate Vmax runs, and even a few winter setups that included a dually rear wheel and a closed shell cockpit at one point.   All these variants were highly ingenious engineering achievements around one core chassis design. The open-wheel profile of any …

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Car Junk? LED Emblems Arriving from Major OEMs – not just Ebay

I love buying ridiculous things for my car. As long as it can theoretically be removed *when* it breaks, and costs less than $20: I am usually ready with a Visa in hand. What do I mean? I buy really trashy stuff. In upcoming articles, I am trying to think of a way to write about fake Brembo caliper covers ($4.00/set), and also this trippy LED stick-on banner equalizer that dances to music. Yes, it sticks on your back windshield, and matches the rythym of whatever is on your stereo. This is not some “Ha ha look at them” article. …

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2014 E250 BlueTEC

2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Style Reset Leaves BMW 528Xi Out Cold

A hard reboot? The “Microsoft recommended solution” – aka ripping the plug from the wall? Factory settings reset? The new E-Class is so hot. It is as if a paper-clip poked the Mercedes design reset brain for ten seconds consecutively,  triggering a full reboot from core system files. Of course, the most noticeable and memorable part of a pretty car is the nose. This new soft graphic is now looking beautiful from its thrummy E250 base configurations, through the rich E350 sedans, wagons and coupes, on to the E400 Hybrid and E550 4MATIC.   All the way up to the …

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Hammer Down! Full Throttle Sprint Video in 2014 E63 AMG 4MATIC

Video is so great. Long gone are the days of shoulder-mounted VHS Handi-Cams. Simply snapping a 60-second clip of something on your iPhone seems silly in the moment, but the results can be really special afterwards – for remembering the details in 1080p detail. iPhones actually take video in 4K resolution, then down-scale the .MOV files to 1080p for export. What this means is that the iPhone is now one of the best video-cameras ever made – and fits right in your pocket. What do I mean? Well, the 2014 E63 AMG is easily one of the best cars I …

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2015 SLS AMG GT FINAL EDITION

Short-Term Supercar? AMG SLS GT Final Edition Fails To Excite

The AMG SLS has been a huge hit for a number of reasons. Primarily, it created a halo supercar for the Mercedes-Benz line-up just as the messy McLaren partnership was coming to a close. Even better? The car cost a fraction of the SLR’s price – both to build and in terms of engineering pride. By engineering the SLS in-house, nearly from scratch: AMG proved itself worthy of additional product development responsibilities and able to handle a car’s creation from almost start to finish. But the SLS has always burned very, very hot. Since its arrival in 2009 as a …

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Supercar First-Drive Video: Nissan GT-R Black Edition near Autobahn CC

The Nissan GT-R was the stand-out hero in a parking lot that also included the hottest and latest machinery from BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Maserati, Audi… and many more. Autobahn Country Club is exactly what it sounds like. A private membership gives you access to the track seven days a week, with special events throughout the summers. This is the Autobahn Country Club performance fleet, continually updated with all the hottest cars.   It is a dream come true for car guys, and was where I met the GT-R for a brief spin around the block. This is the GT-R 2013 …

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Road Test Video Reviews, Photos and Buyers Guide — 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet

Published on: Nov 30, 2013 @ 12:36 Here are some quick videos I took outside Autobahn Country Club in Illinois earlier this fall. Please disregard my employer’s name at the time and enjoy this twin-turbocharged luxury drop-top. Part One: Leaving the Gates Part Two: Spotting a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. Look Closely Near Middle of Video…! Part Three: Quick Sprint Demonstration Optional LED Star 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Exterior Gallery 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Interior Gallery 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet – Details from MBusa.com

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2014 Unimog U5023 Now Packing Scary Style and Tech

2014 Unimog U5023 Now Packing Scary Style and Tech The legendary Mercedes-Benz Unimog all-terrain trucks are refreshed for 2013 with a comprehensive makeover inside the cabin, underneath that boxed ladder chassis and outside with a menacing new grille and LED lighting. The top of the new Unimog lineup in terms of off-road ability is the new U5023 model, which replaces the previous U5000 nameplates. Sharing the nose layout with its shorter sibling, the U4023, these models are the freshest outside with a dramatic new single-wing grille to house the dinner-plate-sized Mercedes star emblem. This is a unique touch for the …

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