New Paint Choices – Will the New Matt-Paint Finish Be All the Rage?
High-gloss paint is no longer the only option for your AMG Mercedes-Benz. Both Mercedes-Benz and BMW are working hard on matt-finish paint options. BMW hopes to have a matt finish with a coarse stealth-fighter look, but is struggling to seal the surface. Paul Gover of Cars Guide has a brief article on the developments:
Benz has already developed a two-pack system available as a special order on its AMG performance cars.
The companies believe that going matt could accelerate development of cars that need less washing and body maintenance, as well as using fewer toxic chemicals when they are being painted. A low-gloss surface is also less likely to show minor dents and blemishes.
The BMW system is some way from production, though it was displayed last year at the press preview of the Z4 M coupe in Spain. But Mercedes will sell a matt-finish AMG car to anyone with the desire and the cash. "It is something that we offer. But we don't promote it, so we have not done many cars,” AMG-Mercedes marketing chief Mario Spitzner says. "Paint and colour is the perfect opportunity to make some differentiation for our cars. It is something exclusive.”
The AMG-Mercedes system is called Alu-beam and it was announced earlier this year for the CL65 AMG coupe. More at Cars Guide here.
SL63 AMG Black Series? An SLC? Spy Shots
A completely new SL Mercedes is on the horizon and several spy shots are surfacing as Mercedes' continues to test their handwork at the Nurburgring. A collection of spy shots are available here at Auto Gespot (German site). An exclusive spy video from the Nürburgring along with more speculation about an SL63 AMG Black Series can be found here at Inside Line.
Forum user "Jakpro1" at MBWorld analyzed the audio from a spy video using his recording equipment; he's an audio engineer. He analyzed the SL's engine sounds and compared them to the E63 AMG. He concludes there is a significant difference between the two and a distinct turbo whine can be heard in the SL video (more details here at MBWorld).
2007 DTM in Hockenheim
Bruno Spengler Runner-up in the 2007 DTMA Overall
A record crowd of 152,000 watched Jamie Green (2007 Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) win the 10th and final round of the 2007 DTM in Hockenheim. It was the 300th race for Mercedes-Benz in the DTM and in the ITC since the brand has officially returned to touring car racing in 1988. Overall, there were seven victories for the C-Class in the season's ten races. After 37 laps, Green came home 3.6 seconds ahead of Timo Scheider (Audi).
Bruno Spengler (2007 DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home fourth and ended the season runner-up like last year. The Canadian missed the championship by three points; the new Champion Mattias Ekstrom has now 50 points, Bruno is second with 47.
Bernd Schneider (2007 Genuine Parts AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home fifth, Alexandros Margaritis (2006 stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) was seventh ahead of Paul di Resta (2005 JAWA4U.de AMG Mercedes C-Class).
The results of the other C-Class drivers: Daniel la Rosa (2006 TrekStor AMG Mercedes C-Class) tenth ahead of Mathias Lauda (2006 Trilux AMG Mercedes C-Class); Susie Stoddart (2005 TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) 14th; Mika Hakkinen (2007 AMG Mercedes C-Class) 17th. Gary Paffett (2006 Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired with a damaged undertray following a spin. More info and a lap by lap review here at Motorsport.com
The AMG CL63
For those interested in the AMG CL63, Camilo Alfara has a nice piece at the Sun Times titled, "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: CL63" that you might enjoy.
A quick glance with an untrained-eye at the new 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL63 and you might think it was a CL550. A closer look shows that this is no regular CL. The CL63 is a road-hungry Autobahn killer destined to greatness by its AMG builder. More from the Sun Times here.
Miscellaneous News
Mercedes-Benz Brings Diesel to California
October 15, 2007 – On the runway at this week’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) unveiled a version of its E320 BLUETEC, a diesel sedan that will immediately be available in limited numbers to California customers through a special two-year/24,000-mile lease.
Mercedes-Benz debuted two new AMG cars to the world today, along with the North American debut of the 2008 C-Class. First to debut was the 2008 CL65 AMG, powered by a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 engine that produces 604 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. On display, the limited edition 40th Anniversary CL65 AMG comes with special Alubeam paint to celebrate the 40th year of AMG high performance cars. 
