Mercedes-Benz Vehicles, Concept Cars, and the Mercedes Lifestyle

If you’re like me, you want to know everything your can about Mercedes and the AMG performance. That’s why the AMG Performance Tour exists – for people like you and me. Here are some things you can expect from the AMG Performance Tour when it comes to your area:

• The AMG Performance Tour is an awesome opportunity to “learn more about Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicles, the brand, and the precision engineering that is the underpinning of each performance vehicle.”
• The tour includes a variety of events including a multimedia presentation, test drives, interactive galleries and an acceleration simulator exercise.
• Have you ever taken an AMG performance vehicle for a test drive? You can here! The tour offers virtual and real test drives with a product specialist so you can get a feel for the power of these vehicles.
• Be sure to bring your valid driver’s license and confirmation email that states you are eligible for the tour. Each tour lasts about one to two hours. Also, be sure to bring sunglasses since you will be driving in the daytime. A liability waiver is provided at the event.
• If you feel it’s appropriate, you can bring your kids or a friend to the event with you. However, only guests over the age of 21 will be eligible to test drive the cars and there are no child seats provided either.

This story just goes to show that you can’t trust anybody. Clive Davison, a resident of Moorgate, Rotherham in the UK, was selling his Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG performance car. He did what any good businessman would do: He went on a test drive with a man who was “interested” in buying the car.

The test drive was fine. The man who took the MB for a test drive the vehicle even showed up in a brand new BMW. Even the most savvy businessman wouldn’t have suspected the worst from someone like this. When they returned back to the seller’s home, however, that’s when things got interesting.

Both men got out of the car. Davison walked towards the garage so he could open the door. When he did that, the “buyer” jumped back in the car and took off. “I was just left stood there thinking, ‘Did that really happen?’” said Davison in an interview with a local newspaper. “He must have been doing 50 mph before he even reached the end of the street.”

Unfortunately, a police chase was called off before they could catch the man due to safety issues. This particular AMG car has a top speed of about 150 mph.

In an effort to be more eco-friendly and appeal to the “green” sense of even performance car enthusiast, the Mercedes AMG division is making plans to cut emissions on future models. And those plans may take effect sooner than you think.

According to Car Magazine Online, Mercedes AMG is creating a “mild-hybrid petrol-electric model with start-stop technology, energy recuperation and on-demand functionality” that it plans to unveil by the end of the decade. The new technology in the Mercedes AMG vehicles will preserve AMG performance while reducing emissions by about 30 percent. The new engines also borrow ideas and technology from the new S400 BlueHybrid model which has created a buzz in the automotive industry.

A spokesperson for Mercedes AMG had this to say about the new hybrid performance vehicles: “Although hybrids normally mean more weight, we’ll use our knowledge of lightweight material to offset this increase. And don’t forget, AMG is all about torque, and electric engines develop their torque at standstill.”

The engineers and designers at Mercedes AMG have also tossed around the idea of creating diesel AMG vehicles and other types. However, they need to do more research to see if it’s economically feasible before creating any plans.

On Wednesday, we began discussing the Mercedes SL63, one of the more popular AMG cars manufactured in recent years. But one blog post wasn’t enough to cover this magnificent machine. We left off talking about the interior from the driver’s seat. Here are some more highlights from the review about the AMG performance vehicle.

• The SL63 has a retractable hardtop roof, but you can get a glass sunroof for an extra $2,000.
• A sophisticated voice-activated navigation system is standard with the 2009 SL63.
• Climate-controlled seats are optional with this year’s model. However, the new Airscarf system is a great addition to the seats because it blows warm air on your neck to help keep you comfortable while driving in the cold with your top down.
• Both seats have an optional massage function. Does it get much better than this?
• This sounds like one of the best parts: An automated clutch with the transmission that allows you to rev the engine and launch the SL63 like a rocket.

We still haven’t scratched the surface of the features on this car. You can bet we’ll be writing more about this and other AMG cars in the days and weeks to come.

When talking about the Mercedes AMG performance and design, it doesn’t get much better than the 2009 SL63. One reviewer took this awesome car for a test drive recently. Here are some of the highlights from that review.

• The 2009 SL63 has been updated since the previous model year. It has “revised styling” and it encompasses the idea behind AMG performance with nearly 520 horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 engine under the hood.
• This AMG performance model starts out at a price of about $133,000 and tops out at more than $153,000 with all the bells and whistles.
• On the highway, the SL63 gets about 19 miles to the gallon and about 12 mpg in the city.
• In the reviewer’s words, the SL63 is “stupid,” but, as he explains, it’s in “a good way, as in stuid powerful.”
• This model can go from zero to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds.
• For the 2009 model, the Mercedes crew revised the interior with more stylish features than previous models. A new steering wheel, better controls for the climate and impressive stereo system and dashboard gauges make the inside spectacular.

There’s so much more to this AMG performance vehicle than what I’ve listed here. Come back on Friday for more!

In case you haven’t noticed, AMG Mercedes is always concerned with safety over anything else. The new AMG Mercedes Driving Academy is just another example of this.

The AMG Mercedes Driving Academy’s title is this: “AMG Driving Academy 2008/2009: Maximum driving safety and pleasure.” Here are some more highlights pulled from the press release for this important event.

• The Driving Academy gives “keen drivers the opportunity to hone their sporty driving skills under professional guidance.”
• In addition to driving lessons, there are also a wide variety of other events that help drivers improve their control and help them become safer drivers.
• There are five different programs in the AMG Mercedes Driving Academy, including the Emotion, Basic, Pro, Advanced and Masters programs. Each program has different courses and training methods to correlate with each driver’s individual experience and goals.

From experiencing AMG performance to learning a variety of new driving skills, this sophisticated driving school is sure to be an exciting and adrenaline-pumping event. If you have the opportunity, take advantage of it. Chances like this do not come around very often so it’s important to jump on them when they do. You won’t regret it.

You’ve seen AMG performance in the race cars and on the tracks. But did you know those emergency vehicles you see at the races also have AMG performance features?

The Formula 1 engineers take safety seriously. That’s why they include AMG performance in their medical and safety cars at the F1 races. Even though their main job is to sit at the back of the starting area and simply wait for an accident to happen, they still have to be ready and able to reach the collision as fast as possible.

Most of the time, these cars have one foot on the gas and they “chase after the field.” That ensures that they can reach a collision on the track before the other cars collide with it and make it worse.

Officially, the F1 Safety Car is “immediately on hand whenever the safety of a race is threatened by accidents, adverse weather conditions or other hazardous situations.” To do this, the F1 Safety Car must have a fast lap time and be able to handle the stresses that the speed puts on the engine and other components of the car.

The only question is: Where can I get my hands on one of these?

The 2009 AMG Mercedes S63 is one of the most luxurious and popular models available from the German automaker. Here are some of the things you can expect from the 2009 AMG Mercedes S63 if you ever want to check one out or take one for a test drive.

Gas Mileage – The 2009 AMG Mercedes S63 gets between 11 and 17 miles to the gallon, depending on city or highway driving.

Price – This sporty and luxurious sedan sells for a price starting at about $128,000. Of course, the price varies according to the “bells and whistles” you decide to get on your particular unit.

Engine – The S63 has a 6.2-liter V8 engine with nearly 520 horsepower. With that kind of engine, you know you’re getting pure power and typical AMG performance. The engine is also “assembled by hand by AMG technicians.” As such, you know you’re getting quality as well as power.

Wheels – The 2009 S63 typically comes with 20-inch wheels along with a sport suspension system. In relation to the wheels, the upgraded brakes come standard with parking assistance for better maneuverability.