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

On Wednesday, we left of discussing the reviews of the AMG performance vehicles by the writers at Edmunds.com. The event occurred awhile ago, but it is still relevant today. In addition to the Edmunds reviewers, there were about 75 total attendees at the event and they were divided into five groups. Each group went through 10 exercises in the AMG performance cars to give them a taste of everything these specialty vehicles had to offer. The exercises included:

1. The Oval Track – Turns at 100 mph and speeds of 100 mph on the straightaway at 8 AM. It doesn’t get much better than that.
2. Basic Car Control
3. Skid Pad – This area of wet surface allowed the tester to spin their wheels, fishtail and slide. Sounds like a typical winter day in Michigan, but this was even better because it was in AMG performance cars.
4. Classroom Session
5. Open Lapping
6. Individual Autocross – Reviewers were timed as to how long it took them to maneuver an AMG SL55 on a coned course. This requires speed, timing and precision to get a decent score.
7. Team Autocross
8. Open Lapping – This was like the previous session of open lapping, but much faster the second time around.
9. Oval Track – Again, much like the previous exercise but much faster.
10. Advanced Car Control – Reviewers enjoyed doing things like shutting off the ESP during this exercise.

All in all, this was an exciting event that the reviewers and testers will likely remember for a lifetime.

A recent article in a Sydney, Australian newspaper reviewed the power of a Mercedes AMG car. Here are some of the highlights of that article.

• Mercedes-Benz took over the AMG engine manufacturing nearly a decade ago. At the time, the automaker wanted to “sharpen up its image” with more power and better handling by combining Mercedes and AMG into one vehicle.
• Before it was Mercedes AMG, these cars were “subtle on the outside and wild on the inside.” As such, the drivers of these cars wouldn’t get any “undue attention” from other drivers.
• Recent Mercedes AMG vehicles have a “bad boy” appearance.
• The SL63 and the SL65 are the two latest Mercedes AMG vehicles.
• The V12 power in a Mercedes AMG tops out at about 5000 rpm. The peak for the V8 model is 6800 rpm.
• Without any throttle, the engine turns at around 3500 to 4000 rpm. According to the article, this “gives you a start the first few times. Later, when you are used to it, it still gives you a tingle right down your back.”

There is so much more to these AMG performance vehicles. We’ll revisit this article in the days and weeks to come. Be sure to come back for more!

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.

The entire Mercedes-Benz CLS class recently received a mid-cycle upgrade, which by all accounts keeps the vehicles firmly positioned ahead of their competition. However, it is the luxurious CLS 63 AMG that is truly at the head of the class. England’s Channel 4 recently took the AMG for a test drive. Here is what they had to say.

The Power
Strictly speaking, the new CLS 63 AMG has not had any changes made to its basic power. Not that it needs an upgrade, as the Channel 4 reviewer claims that the power and velocity are easy to feel. At 507 hp and 464 pound feet of torque, the engine is capable of achieving speeds up to 155 mph. Yet the vehicle remains easily manageable. At no time does it feel unsafe or out of control.

The Exterior
Cosmetic changes for this mid-cycle enhancement have been relatively minor across the board. The latest AMG features a grille with only two louvers rather than the previous three. The grille has also been painted a sleek black. The tires are an inch bigger as well, up to 19” from 18” on last year’s model.

The Handling
The trademark AMG 7G-Tronic transmission has been fine tuned and is even more responsive than ever. Combined with the optional air suspension system, known as the Airmatic DC, the vehicle provides a luxurious and finely tuned ride experience, even at high speeds. The standard steel suspension is speed-sensitive, making the vehicle easier to handle at low speeds as well.

The Bottom Line
Although mid-cycle enhancements are generally minor, the latest version of the CLS 63 AMG is loaded with plusses that make an already excellent experience even better. If you would like to check out the new Mercedes-Benz vehicles for yourself, why not drop by our convenient local dealership, at Mercedes of Fort Washington, your Philadelphia Mercedes dealers, or Wilmington Delaware Mercedes?