AMG V8 Biturbo Highlights

The most important highlights of the new AMG V8 biturbo engine and the new AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission

• Direct petrol injection with piezo-electric injectors and spray-guided
  combustion
• Twin turbochargers with air/water intercooling
• Sophisticated engine electronics with Controlled Efficiency start/stop function and generator management
• Aluminum crankcase with ventilation holes to reduce friction
• Continuous camshaft adjustment on the intake and exhaust sides
• Demand-controlled engine oil pump
• AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission with a wet start-up clutch and three driving modes

Powerful and efficient: an eight-cylinder developing up to 420 kW (571 hp): Aim: Best in class – top performance in all respects by virtue of a comprehensively efficient powertrain

AMG V8 biturbo engine photos:

AMG Mercedes Press Release

Affalterbach – AMG is writing another chapter in its “AMG Performance 2015″ drive system strategy: a completely newly developed AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine with a Continue reading » »

Ever wonder how the SLS AMG or the E-Class Coupé is created? Where is the future of Mercedes-Benz design headed?

This year at the 2009 International Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz is allowing auto enthusiasts to take a behind-the-scenes look at how professional Mercedes-Benz designers create new cars.  From the first design sketch to the finished model, spectators can witness the design process first hand.

It is a great opportunity for show visitors to learn about auto design. The official press release from Daimler is below: Continue reading » »

Updated technology as well as active and passive safety is creating more appeal for the Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG and S 65 AMG. Both top-of-the-line S-Class models from Mercedes-AMG embody state-of-the-art technology. The S 63 AMG, with its 386 kW/525 hp AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The S 65 AMG, meanwhile, with the AMG 6.0-liter biturbo V12 engine delivers more power; 450 kW/612 hp, 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds.

[More Info & Photos of the AMG S65 here]

Exterior Features

Contributing to the status of both models is the new, more pronounced arrow-shaped radiator grille, now featuring twin chrome-plated louvers in the case of the S 65 AMG. The new front apron incorporates AMG-specific LED daytime driving lights and two transverse air outlets on each side. In addition, the lettering on the front wings and redesigned exterior mirrors includes the “6.3 AMG” or “V12 Biturbo.” The new rear apron is now highlighted as well: the centre section of the diffuser insert is painted in the same color as the vehicle body. New rear lamps with 52 LED’s in the form of a double “C” also give the S-Class an instantly recognizable appearance from behind.

Continue reading » »

Back in February, Daimler released the details of the new 2010 Mercedes E Class Coupe AMG that features both performance and styling upgrades. The 2010 Mercedes E Class Coupe AMG has a new front apron with large air intakes, as expected, and new side skirts, rear apron, 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels, etc. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe AMG also comes with the AGILITY CONTROL sports suspension – stiffer springs and shocks.

The 2010 AMG Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe will hit the European showrooms this May. It will be sold Internationally by the third-quarter of 2009.

Our new friend, Shrawan Raja, put together a nice collection of 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe pictures on his site, which you can check out here at Indian Auto Blogs.

Affalterbach – AMG Mercedes is establishing 175 new AMG Performance Centers worldwide by the end of next year thus offering a more personalized service to customers. A commitment to first-class service quality at every stage in the customer relationship is one of the key elements of the AMG brand promise of “Performance”.

This focus on developing an even closer relationship with customers extends to a total of 15 countries.

A very special brand experience is also delivered by the AMG Performance Roadshow.

The redesigned sales showrooms of the AMG Performance Centers are characterized by a consistently applied and unique AMG brand identity. High-quality materials, exclusive furnishings and a palette of colours that is repre-sentative of AMG create an exclusive atmosphere for sales discussions. An oversized AMG engine badge serves to remind visitors of the company’s philosophy of “One Man – One Engine”: The assembly of each powerful AMG engine by just one engineer. The individualization options available through the designo programme are also reflected at the AMG Performance Centers in the form of paintwork and leather samples. Continue reading » »

EDITOR’S NOTE: The AMG Challenge events have been discontinued for 2009! Hold on – the AMG Driving Academy has replaced the program – details here.

2008 AMG CHALLENGE EVENTS
(Discontinued for 2009)

Thunderhill Raceway Park

November 12 & 13, 2008 – AMG Challenge;The standard AMG Challenge program includes on-track driving clinics, line theory and vehicle dynamics training, hot laps and a follow-up awards ceremony.

November 14, 2008 – AMG Challenge Graduate; The Graduate Program builds on the skills acquired in the original AMG Challenge program. You’ll learn advanced techniques that are taught in a faster-paced, more aggressive track experience.

If you have any questions about the AMG Challenge event, call MBUSA at 800-526-3822 (9:00AM-6:00PM EST, M-F).

2007 Mercedes-Benz AMG Challenge at Pocono- Autocross 1 from G.J. Dixon on Vimeo.

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The “AMG Driving Academy” has replaced the AMG Challenge events; the “AMG Challenge” has been discontinued FYI.

More info: AMG Driving Academy

During the past few years, we have rec'd numerous questions pertaining to Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN). No, we don't have all of the answers but we can tell you what we have learned.

The system used for today's Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) is based on standards originally set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) back in 1979 and 1980. Slightly different implementations of the ISO standards have been adopted by the European Union and the United States. Today's VINs consist of 17 characters and do not include the letters I, O or Q. Before the standard was established in 1980, vehicle manufacturers used different VIN formats.

Q: Do AMG Mercedes-Benz cars have a specific VIN designation?   Continue reading » »

Rarely does Mercedes-Benz AMG get mentioned when you're talking about having the most fun with a car priced at $25,000 or less. But in this Car & Driver video, the 1999 E55 makes the cut. Here's an excerpt of what they say on the video, which can be viewed below:

One hundred and eighty-three thousand. That’s how many miles have been rolled up on the odometer of the 1999 E55 AMG currently owned by Bryan English. English has driven the hell out of the big Benz, accruing all but 16,000 of those miles since purchasing the car in 2003. His E55 feels extremely tight and is in exceptional condition despite the high mileage, a testament to how well English takes care of his ride as well as to the Germans who built it. Squeaks and rattles are nonexistent, and the Mercedes dealers and independent specialists we’ve spoken with characterize the W210 E55 as bulletproof.

The AMG Mercedes-Benz E55 is the fifth car in the video:

You can read about the E55 AMG Mercedes-Benz from the video at Car & Driver here.

How do you get an extra 100 horsepower out of a standard Mercedes-Benz AMG C63? One name should immediately come to mind, Hartmut Feyhl; the former technical director at AMG North America before forming his own company, RENNtech, in 1989. During the past two decades, Feyhl has built a reputation as one of the world's premier tuners and America's foremost authority on Mercedes-Benz high performance.

The AMG C63 is a return to the concept of bigger engine in a smaller car. What does Feyhl think of the AMG C63? Feyhl says,

"It is a very special car, as the C class has grown to about the same size as the 6.3 and the W124 Hammer, but with much more power. We want to see how far we can go with this car."

How far is RENNtech taking the AMG C63? The best writeup on this topic is from the tuners themselves and you can read it at, RENNtech for C63. RENNtech has posted a set of AMG C63 photos on flickr here.

Our friends over at Jalopnik also have a nice article that covers the mods performed by RENNtech on the Mercedes-Benz AMG C63, which you can read here.

For those tracking price trends for Mercedes-Benz vehicles, consider the results of a recent Silver Auctions event. Silver Auctions has organized auctions for over 24 years and the Silver Collector Car Auction focuses on in demand cars, instead of the high-priced or celebrity owned automobiles. Basically, Silver has aimed for the affordable section of the collectible car market. Their annual Hot August Nights auction held in Reno, Nevada is widely recognized as one of the nation's premier collector car auctions.

The following auction results are for Hot August Nights event held in Reno, Nevada on August 7–10, 2008. Two AMG Mercedes-Benz were auctioned but didn't sell; the "high bids" are provided:

2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG Convertible $72,000

2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG Convertible $48,000

Mercedes-Benz vehicles that SOLD:

1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible $58,320

1965 Mercedes-Benz 220S Sedan $5,400

1965 Mercedes-Benz 220S Sedan $3,780

1973 Mercedes-Benz 450SL Convertible $7,668

1974 Mercedes-Benz 450SL Convertible $3,780

1975 Mercedes-Benz 450SL Convertible $4,968

1976 Mercedes-Benz 450SL Convertible $4,320

1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SL Convertible $8,640

1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SL Convertible $4,536

2000 Mercedes-Benz 500SL Convertible $22,572

1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Convertible $17,820

1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Convertible $11,610

1994 Mercedes-Benz 600SL Convertible $21,600

All of the auction results, including a "condition" ranking for the vehicles that sold, can be found at Silver Auctions here.