I have been asked to help find AMG Mercedes-Benz owners interested in participating in a photo shoot in Paradise Valley, AZ. Mercedes-Benz USA is commemorating AMG's 41st Anniversary in 2008.

The event will take place in late February 2008. MBUSA is looking for AMG models from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. This is a great way to meet AMG enthusiasts and increase the long-term value of your car. Your car may be included in MBUSA marketing materials.

Please send me your AMG model info and your contact info if you are interested. Thanks!

While Mercedes' ultra-exclusive SLR McLaren 722 GT track car has been making rounds in the motoring press for several weeks now, a few key questions remained unanswered – including "How much?" and "Where can I get one?"

We can answer the "How much?" question rather easily (795,000 €, or about 1.2 million USD), it's the "Where can I get one?" question that's more interesting.

As of Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT will be made available to the North American market exclusively through RENNtech, the Florida-based MB tuning house owned and operated by super-tuner Hartmut Feyhl, who also lists "technical director, AMG North America" on his resume.

"It's been a very exciting project to be involved in," explains Feyhl.

You can read the full RENNtech press release here. 

AMG Market/PR News, Los Angeles, Nov. 16, 2007: A car with extended, elegant lines which can change its form at the touch of a button and adapt to the requirements of its owners at any time – this is the automotive vision that Mercedes-Benz is presenting at the Los Angeles Design Challenge taking place at the 2007 L.A. Auto Show. When required, this Mercedes of the future can take on the form of a fast highway cruiser, quickly metamorphose into a compact city car, or become a roomy one-seater or economical two-seater, depending on the transport capacity needed. This is made possible by the magnetic control elements of the SilverFlow, a futuristic study by Mercedes-Benz, which take just seconds to configure the car required from tiny metallic particles.

Design Challenge is a competition where eight car design studios in southern California are challenged to create the “Robocar 2057″ as a combination of vehicle technology and artificial intelligence. The Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center of North America (Irvine, CA) looked 50 years into the future and came up with the shimmering silver and gold Vision SilverFlow car. With its long, flowing lines and narrow, exposed wheels, this vision of the future is highly reminiscent of the golden years in motor racing during the 1930s.

In fact the physical characteristics of the SilverFlow are even more exciting than its shape. It consists of billions of microscopically tiny metallic particles which are formed into variable but stable configurations by magnetic fields. This means that the driver can theoretically adapt the vehicle to its intended purpose. The one-seater highway configuration is aerodynamic, while the city version is short and spacious. The pre-programmed vehicle variants can be selected at any time at the touch of a button, whereupon the assembler electronics reshape the car from one form to another within a few seconds – specialists refer to this as morphing. Any desired shape is conceivable in principle. As a particularly convenient feature when parking, the intelligent control system completely disassembles the vehicle structure and compacts the ferro-magnetic particles into a small, space-saving configuration. And thanks to these flexible metallic particles, dents and paint damage are also a thing of the past.

The disadvantage of the Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow is that so far, it only exists as a two-dimensional graphic design.The SilverFlow study, which – if at all – will only be realizable decades into the future, clearly shows that while car designers certainly live in the present, their working environment is the future.

AMG Market/PR News: The C63 AMG and S400 BLUETEC HYBRID are now making their North American debut at the Los Angeles Automobile Show (Nov. 16–25, 2007).

The new C63 AMG sedan is powered by a 6.3-liter normally aspirated V8 that produces 451 horsepower and 443 lb. ft. of torque.  << MORE C63 AMG here >>

Offering a glimpse of the future power train offerings from Mercedes-Benz, the S400 BLUETEC HYBRID combines a 20 horsepower hybrid module with a V-6 engine for a combined output of 265 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque.

The SLR Roadster drives into Los Angeles topless and in style. Powered by a supercharged 5.5-liter AMG V8 engine with 617 horsepower and 575 lb.-ft of torque, the SLR McLaren Roadster boasts 0-60 mph acceleration of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 206 mph.  Thanks to its fully retractable top, the SLR Roadster offers open-air driving pleasure that’s practical for everyday use. Even with the top down, conversation is still possible at speeds well over 120 mph, thanks to its superior aeroacoustics.

Planning to travel this holiday season? If so, now is a good time to get a head start on the masses that will surely descend on your local service center soon. Change the oil, slap on a new air filter and check the tires. Here are a few rebates we found that will make auto maintenance less painful on your wallet:

Tire Rebates

Dunlop: Stop in your participating Dunlop retailer before November 15 and get your choice of a $50 Mail-In Rebate when you buy a set of four selected Dunlop tires or a $25 Mail-In Rebate when you buy a set of four Dunlop Graspic DS-2™ tires. Click on the image for details.

Costco: Get $60 off instantly at check out when you buy a set of 4 Michelin or select BF Goodrich tires between 10/08/07 – 11/04/07. Offer expires this weekend << Details Here >>

Tire Rack: When you buy a set of four (4) passenger or light truck Continental tires you may be eligible to receive a free digital picture frame via mail. Offer valid on tires purchased from in-stock inventory before January 17, 2008. << Details Here >>

Wiper Blades

Tire Rack is also offering buy one get one free Valeo ULTIMATE Wiper Blades; offer valid while supplies last. << Details Here >>

In other news, Goodyear's new Eagle F1 Asymmetric ultra-high performance tire is considered the best by many:

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has just introduced its latest ultra-high performance tire, yet the new Eagle F1 Asymmetric has already begun capturing rave reviews and product awards from respected independent sources.

This week, at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric received the Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Award for New Products. The tire is becoming available this month at many retail tire outlets.

Popular Mechanics editors selected the Eagle F1 tire from more than 4,000 displays and too many new products to count at the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week here.

"It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of Goodyear and the engineers who invented this tire for the demanding enthusiasts in this segment," said Bob Toth, marketing manager for Goodyear auto tires. "Goodyear's Eagle brand of tires have long been known for ultimate performance, and this recognition again helps to provide further credibility."
<< Full story here at CNNMoney >>