Shelby GT500 Super Snake Prudhomme Edition

Carol Shelby personally took the wraps off one of the most bad-ass street legal Mustangs ever built: the Shelby GT500 Super Snake Prudhomme Edition. This boss Mustang proves 750 HP is always a fitting tribute to end a current model.

Named for the Top Fuel drag racer, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, who drove for Shelby in 1968, the Shelby GT500 Super Snake Prudhomme Edition features a lengthy listed of custom modifications. Aside from the 750 horsepower (800hp on race fuel) Kenne Bell-supercharged 5.4-liter V8, the car features a fiberglass full-tilt front end, Shelby rear drag wing, eight-point roll cage, six-piston front brakes, rear seat delete, coilover springs and Bogart wheels all in a street legal package you can purchase for $149,995. Now if $150K seems a bit high for you, Shelby will allow you to bring your own, previously purchased, GT500 in and they’ll do the retrofit for the low low price of $99,995. Production will be set at a very limited 100 examples…oh and if you didn’t catch it before, it’s STREET LEGAL.

Shelby Press Release:

Shelby Automobiles, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI.PK) has returned to drag racing with a limited edition Prudhomme Edition Super Snake package for the Shelby GT500 Mustang. Carroll Shelby and Don “The Snake” Prudhomme unveiled the program during a private reception at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, Calif. The drag racing inspired 800 horsepower post title package was a collaboration between Shelby Autos and Don Prudhomme, who successfully drove a top fuel car for Carroll Shelby in the 1968 NHRA season.

Each year, the Automobile Club of Southern California holds a dinner to support the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum on the first night of the Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals. In honor of the fortieth anniversary of the first race that Mr. Prudhomme drove for Carroll Shelby, the Shelby Autos team unveiled the new drag racing package that they developed together over the past year.

“Don is an exceptional drag racer and I’m proud that he drove my first Top Fuel car in 1968,” noted Carroll Shelby. “By leveraging Don’s experience, we turned a really good car into a great drag racer that will beat up on the MOPAR and bow tie brigade right out of the box.”

The program is a post-title package for 2007-2010 Ford Shelby GT500 cars already in the hands of owners. To create the Prudhomme Edition Super Snake, Shelby Autos pumps up the 5.4L supercharged engine to produce 800 hp on race fuel or 750 hp on 93 octane pump gas. The Shelby includes a Kenne Belle modified air intake sticking out of the hood in the tilt front end, a five-point Impact safety harness and a Borla side exhaust system. A front and rear adjustable BMR racing suspension and drag tires are included to improve traction during launches; optional street tires are available. For a more aggressive stance and improved aerodynamics, side lower rockers are incorporated. Only 100 total packages at $100,000 (not including car) will be offered.

“Working with Don on this project was a great experience for our design team,” noted Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. “Carroll and Don earned their stripes in competition over the years, so we had to build a car that would continue their racing domination. Our Prudhomme Edition GT500 Super Snake builds on that legacy and gives Shelby enthusiasts today a way to rule the quarter mile in their town.”

By the mid-1960s, Carroll Shelby and Don Prudhomme were both at the top of their respective games. Prudhomme was one of the winningest Top Fuel drag racers in the country. Shelby was a racer-turned-builder of Cobras, GT40s and Mustangs who won endurance and road racing championships worldwide. His company even offered drag racing packages for privateers to compete in their Cobra or Shelby Mustang on the strip.

“The Snake” and the Cobra’s creator teamed in 1968 for an NHRA ride. Prudhomme’s Ford Cammer-powered rail made its debut as “Shelby’s Super Snake at the 1968 Winternationals. He won the race and drove the rest of the season under the Shelby banner.

Don “The Snake” Prudhomme’s successful racing career included winning the NHRA funny car championship four times. He was the first funny car driver to exceed 250 mph. In 1994, he began managing his own racing team, which won the Top Fuel championship in 2002 and 2003. Prudhomme was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1991 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2000.

“It’s been a great opportunity to work with Carroll and the Shelby Autos team on this amazing program,” added Prudhomme. “I’m honored that Carroll gave me this honor to build a car that’s true to his legacy and my efforts to move them across the finish line first. The car can be tuned to deliver over 800 horsepower on race gas, which should pretty fast. It’s a well sorted out package that is capable of dusting the competition in the Shelby way.”

The Prudhomme Edition Shelby GT500 Super Snake is intended to be truly a road and track car.

“The thing I really think is cool about this car is that you can drive it both on the track and on the street,” added Prudhomme. “It reminds me of how drag racing used to be back in the day when we would drive our cars to the drag strip, race them, and drive them home at the end of the day. That’s maybe the neatest thing about this car.”

2010 Mercedes Benz E-Class

Planning a 2010 trip to Stuttgart? This will most likely be the taxi that’ll pick you up. Without a doubt, it’ll be a nicer taxi than you’ve ridden in before.

From the looks of all the pics we’ve seen so far, Gone are any signs of the early 2000s, channeling the rolling granite-like Mercedes of the 1980’s, from a quality so peerless that it felt like they would last a lifetime.

The beauty of the exterior is still up for questions, at least in these brochure scans. No denying that it looks tough from the front, classy from the sides and, different from the rear.

But the fares at the airport won’t just be impressed by the new focus on quality and the bold teutonic looks, they’ll appreciate the larger interior, achieved by expanding the E-class a centimeter in nearly every direction except height, which is a smidge lower than before.

For the European market at least, there’s a range of 10 available engines, 5 diesels and 5 gasoline units. Those range from a distinctly taxi-like 2.10-liter, 136 HP diesel to the Miami Dentist special that is the 388 HP 5.5-liter V8.

Look for a 2010 Mercedes E-Class wagon and a 2010 Mercedes E-Class coupe to arrive later in the year, shortly followed by a 2011 Mercedes E-Class Hybrid and a 2011 Mercedes E63 AMG.

2010 Mercedes Benz E Class Brochure

At the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Audi unveiled the much anticipated V10 variant of their R8 Supercar. And what a huge veil it had to be in order to contain the new 517HP V10 shoehorned into the Porsche 911 killer. Specs on the Audi R8 5.2 FSI are a 0-60 time in 3.9 seconds, and nearly 200 MPH and she looks damn good in black red to boot.

As the big daddy to the 4.2-liter V8 R8, the V10 makes 105 more Hp, uses a different set of air intakes and different rear features. And for those who are aware that there’s more to life than horsepower, don’t worry, the new Audi V10 R8 also develops 395 Lb-Ft of torque, 78 more than the v8.

Hit the jump for more pictures and the full press release

Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI at the Detroit Auto Show

The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro: Breathtaking Performance
– The new 5.2-liter, ten-cylinder engine puts out 525 hp
– Sprint to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, top speed 316 km/h
– High-performance sports car with striking design

INGOLSTADT, Germany, Dec 8, 2008 – Audi is launching the next variant of its top-of-the-line model. With the R8, the brand has established itself at the forefront of high-end sports cars from the very start – and now comes the R8 V10. Its 5.2-liter, ten-cylinder engine churns out 386 kW (525 hp) and 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque, which makes for breathtaking performance. With superior Audi technologies such as quattro all-wheel drive, the lightweight aluminum body, the innovative all-LED headlights, and its striking design, the R8 V10 takes pole position against the competition.

The R8 V10 is the result of cumulative know-how from Audi’s string of Le Mans victories. Its naturally aspirated engine combines racing technology such as dry sump lubrication with FSI gasoline direct injection. The ten-cylinder design is the perfect synthesis for impressive top performance, mighty pulling power, and low weight. Starting in 2009, this engine will also prove its potential on the world’s racetracks – in the new R8 racing car Audi is developing for customer teams in conformance with the GT3 rules.

The V10 engine in the production sports car will be almost identical in construction to the one in the racing version. Its displacement is 5,204 cc, at 6,500 rpm it delivers 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque, at 8,000 rpm its power tops out at 386 kW (525 hp).

The specific power output is 100.9 hp per liter of displacement – and each hp has to propel only 3.09 kilograms (6.91 lb) of weight, because the Audi R8 V10 in the version with the six-speed manual gearshift weighs only 1,620 kilograms (3571 lb). The engine accounts for 258 of these kilograms (569 lb) – that’s only 31 kilos (68 lb) more than the V8.

The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro rockets from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.9 seconds. In the version with the sequentially shifting R tronic it reaches 200 km/h (124.27 mph) in another 8.1 seconds. Even then its propulsive power hardly lessens: it’s sufficient to reach a top speed of 316 km/h (196.35 mph). The immense force, the spontaneity and the thrust of the acceleration, plus the sound of the engine – all these impressions coalesce into a breathtaking sports car experience. The V10 plays a concert with growling bass tones and powerful high notes, which grows into a grandiose fortissimo as the engine revs up. This sonorous acceleration doesn’t reach its limit until 8,700 rpm.

The 5.2-liter powerplant uses direct injection according to the FSI principle developed by Audi. A common rail system injects the fuel into the combustion chambers with up to 120 bar of pressure. Direct injection reduces the susceptibility to knocking and provides a certain amount of cooling through the evaporation of the fuel, which in turn supports a high compression ratio of 12.5:1. This in turn contributes to superior performance and improves fuel economy. The R8 V10 with R tronic gets by on an average of 13.7 liters per 100 km (17.17 US mpg).

For maximum dynamics: low center of gravity engine

The technical refinements of the long-stroke ten-cylinder engine include dry sump lubrication, which allows the engine to be mounted low within the chassis. The wide cylinder angle of 90 degrees also makes for a low center of gravity. The crankcase is a high-strength aluminum-alloy casting produced in a complex process. The connecting rods are made of forged steel, the pistons of aluminum. The four camshafts are chain-driven and each is adjustable through 42 degrees. This provides great latitude in controlling the valve timing. In combination with the straight, flow-optimized ducts of the intake manifold, this improves the charge throughout the entire speed range.

The R8 5.2 FSI quattro has a six-speed transmission. A precise and smooth-shifting manual transmission comes as standard equipment. The sequential R tronic is available as an option. The high-tech gearshift conveys an authentic racing feel – with the rocker switches at the steering wheel and the short shifting times of usually less than one-tenth of a second. When the driver actuates the Launch Control program by pressing a button, the R8 V10 takes off in a vehement quick-start with electronically controlled tire slip – both with the R tronic and with the manual transmission.

A contributing factor to the wide lead in traction and driving safety of the Audi R8 V10 over the competition is quattro all-wheel drive – it’s the superior technology especially for a high-performance sports car. Four powered wheels get more grip than two. They enable the driver to step on the gas sooner when coming out of a curve. It’s not only the traction that benefits, but also the transverse dynamics and the stability.

44 to 56 percent – the ideal axle load distribution

The Audi R8 chassis offers both dynamic performance and astonishing levels of comfort on long distances. This high-performance sports car from Audi eagerly responds to any steering action with instant ease, achieves lateral acceleration of up to 1.2 g, and handles any situation with superb driving safety. Its mid-engine design provides an ideal axle load distribution of 44 to 56 percent.

The wheel suspensions on dual aluminum wishbones front and rear – a classic racing technology – are optimized for neutral self-steering characteristics. Even more than in the eight-cylinder R8, this setup is designed for maximum performance. 19-inch wheels equipped with tire pressure monitoring display are standard equipment. Their 10-spoke Y design is exclusive to the R8 V10. Tire sizes are 235/35 front and 295/30 rear.

The car features a high-end damper technology as standard: Audi magnetic ride adapts the characteristics of the suspension in milliseconds to the nature of the road surface and to the driving style. Suspended in the oil of the shock absorbers are tiny magnetic particles which, when a voltage is applied, rearrange themselves so as to slow down the flow of oil through the valves.

In the R8 V10, deceleration is provided by an extremely muscular braking system – eight brake pistons at the front and four at the rear grasp the brake disks, which are ventilated and perforated to ensure unimpeded heat transfer. The brake disks on the front axle have a diameter of 380 millimeters (15 in); the rear discs span 356 millimeters (14 in).

The R8 5.2 FSI quattro is optionally available with a ceramic brake system whose disks are made of a composite material containing high-strength carbon fibers and abrasion-resistant silicon carbide. These are especially light: their combined weight is nine kilograms (19.84 lb) less than the weight of equivalent steel disks. The ceramic brakes can easily cope with the harsher requirements of racing, won’t corrode, and have a typical service life of 300,000 kilometers (186,400 miles). Their calipers are painted charcoal gray and emblazoned with the inscription “Audi ceramic”.

Typically Audi: Sharp lines and an elegantly curved roof

The wide, full shape of the R8 5.2 FSI quattro seems to hug the road. The brawny proportions and prominent wheel wells underscore its potential. The high-precision styling of the lines and the elegant curve of the roof are typical Audi features. A continuous contour optically connects the front, the wheel wells, the sides and the rear. Located well forward, the cab visually expresses the mid-engine design. The vertical air scoops (sideblades) on the sides are also indicative of the engine location. The massive aluminum gas cap is mounted flush within the right sideblade.

The design of the Audi R8 has already impressed experts, as evidenced by the double victory in the “World Car of the Year Awards 2008″. In the ten-cylinder model, the styling has been sharpened up even more.

The front air inlets, which feed air to the coolers, and the lip of the front apron are painted in high-gloss black. The number of cross-braces has been reduced from four to two. The vanes of the single-frame grille have a striking chrome finish.

A very distinctive highlight of the R8 V10 are the all-LED headlights as standard equipment. Audi is the world’s first automaker to use LEDs for the high beam, low beam, daytime running lights, and turn signals. Each headlight integrates 54 of these high-tech light sources. With a color temperature of 6,000 Kelvin the LED light closely resembles daylight, which is less tiring to the eyes in night driving. Further advantages of the LEDs include brilliant illumination, low energy consumption, and a virtually unlimited service life.

Special details also distinguish the body of the R8 V10. Its sideblades are more accentuated than in the eight-cylinder version. The side sills are more striking and wider; the exhaust grilles at the rear windows have a matt aluminum look. Through the large rear window, the ten-cylinder engine is clearly visible in its consummate technical beauty.

When in motion, this Audi high-performance sports car creates a downforce that keeps it in firm contact with the road – thanks to a rear spoiler which deploys automatically at 100 km/h and the fully enclosed underbody, which terminates in a sharply upward-curved diffuser. The dominant color at the rear end is high-gloss black, including the settings of the LED tail lights. The air outlets at the rear end also have only two cross-braces, and the exhaust system terminates in two large oval tailpipes.

Audi sets the example – in body weight and rigidity

The body of a sports car must be especially lightweight and rigid. Audi meets these requirements with the technology of the Audi Space Frame (ASF) and its high-tech aluminum construction. The body-in-white of the R8 V10, which includes an engine frame made of ultra-light magnesium, weighs only 210 kilograms (463 lb), and the quality of its lightweight design – the relation of weight to torsional rigidity – is the best in the sports car segment. The body is composed of profile extrusions, sheet aluminum and very complex gusset castings, all held together by 99 meters (325 ft) of welding seams, 782 rivets, and 308 special screws.

The interior of the R8 V10 provides a unique racing ambience at the luxury level. Its dominant element is the so-called monoposto – a wide arc that contains the steering wheel and the cockpit. As always in an Audi, the workmanship is of the highest quality. The surfaces of the dashboard and doors are lined with fine materials and adorned with precisely stitched decorative seams. Many customizing solutions are available: Audi supplies leather in a wide range of colors, packages with a carbon and piano-lacquer finish, or a made-to-measure luggage set. quattro GmbH, which has developed and is producing the R8 V10, also provides solutions for unconventional requirements.

The great everyday utility of the Audi R8 V10 is based in part on its spacious interior made possible by the long wheelbase of 2.65 meters (8.69 ft). Drivers and passengers of any size will always find a perfect sitting position. Visibility too is surprisingly good. Slender hinge pillars optimize the obliquely forward field of view. Another advantage for convenient everyday use is the luggage space: 100 liters (3.53 cu ft) fit under the front hood, another 90 liters (3.18 cu ft) can be stowed behind the seats. There is also room for two golf bags.

The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro combines its colossal performance with a generous complement of standard equipment. Highlights include heatable seat covers made of Fine Nappa leather, a driver information system, the navigation system plus and the Bang & Olufsen sound system along with deluxe automatic air conditioning and an alarm system. The instruments and the gearshift knob are decorated with red rings; the footrests and the rocker switches of the R tronic have an aluminum finish.

The list of options includes other highly attractive features – such as the Audi parking system advanced with its integrated rearview camera or numerous Audi exclusive customization options. Various leather packages provide a luxurious touch, while the bucket seats from the Audi exclusive program bring a highly concentrated racing atmosphere into the R8 V10.

The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro will be rolled out in Germany in the second quarter of 2009 at a basic price of EUR 142,400.

Mercedes McLaren SLR Stirling Moss Edition

The 2009 Mercedes Benz McLaren SLR Stirling Moss has just been unveiled here at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, and with only 75 copies of the $1.01 Million boutique supercar being produced, it’s a fitting start for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

The SLR Stirling Moss acts as the finale for the SLR supercar, and, of course, a tribute to one of histories greatest race car drivers. In the Stirling Moss variant, McLaren has boiled the driving experience down to its rawest form — a carbon fiber chassis, completely exposed to the elements, at one with the wind in your face, breathing in the smell of the side-exit exhaust pounding from the 650-hp supercharged 5.5-liter V8.

Say what you will about the SLR, or its styling, or its price, but the SLR Stirling Moss is an incredible example of racing’s past and present.

Enjoy these photos of the car’s exterior and further down, its interior.

Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss Exterior

Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss Interior

Press Release
Stuttgart– Mercedes-Benz and McLaren are adding the crowning glory to the model family of their highly successful SLR super sports car with a new, uncompromisingly spectacular car. There is neither a roof nor a windscreen to separate the driver and passenger from the outside world; they enjoy unadulterated high-speed excitement with all the attributes of a speedster.

The new SLR Stirling Moss is also characterised by the most sophisticated technology and a breathtaking design which reinterprets the SLR legend. With 478 kW/650 hp the SLR Stirling Moss accelerates its V8 supercharged engine from standstill to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 350 km/h – no other series-production car is at the same time so open and so fast. This extreme concept makes the new high-performance sports car a legitimate bearer of the name of the British motor racing legend and Mille Miglia record-holder Stirling Moss, who drove the legendary Mercedes-Benz SLR racing cars from victory to victory during the 1950s.

The exclusive SLR Stirling Moss rounds off the current SLR family and is limited to 75 units. It is priced at 750,000 euros. The SLR Roadster will cease to be manufactured at the end of May 2009 as planned, and production of the SLR Stirling Moss will commence in June 2009.

Three letters are all it takes to make car fans’ hearts beat faster: SLR. In the 1950s the Mercedes-Benz SLR 300 celebrated victory after victory. It won the Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio as well as the Tourist Trophy. It was driven by the stars of the time: Juan Manual Fangio and Karl Kling – and, first and foremost, by the British racing driver Stirling Moss. At ten hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds he still holds the Mille Miglia record.

This is why the modern-day version of the legendary SLR carries the additional words “Stirling Moss” in its name. As the new SLR Stirling Moss unites the character of the current SLR models with the fascination of the SLR of 1955. The core values of both the historical and the present-day SLR models include an exciting new design, innovative technology, high-class materials displaying perfect craftsmanship, and, above all: a unique driving experience for all the senses.

Whilst the 300 SLR earned its spurs on racing circuits the world over, the new member of the SLR family is not designed for the racetrack. Although it sets new standards in terms of technology, performance and excitement – just like its forebears – it is aimed at individuals who have exquisite requirements and nurture very special dreams.

Highly puristic concept without a roof or a windscreen

Remaining totally true to the specifications of the 300 SLR, the new Silver Arrow’s equipment is extremely sophisticated and yet at the same time decidedly spartan, doing without both a roof and side windows. There are just two wind deflectors a couple of centimetres in height to protect the driver and passenger from the airflow. Two air scoops integrated into the bodywork serve as roll-over bars. With this extreme concept the new SLR Stirling Moss is visually very different from all the other vehicles which belong to the elite sports car class.

Just like the legendary racing vehicles of yesteryear, the SLR Stirling Moss dazzles with its superlative performance. Accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds and with a top speed of 350 km/h this puristic high-performance sports car denotes completely new dimensions in open-top driving. And not just because of the impressive performance figures; every time drivers take to the wheel of the SLR Stirling Moss their senses are addressed with a previously unheard of intensity, conveying a driving experience in its purest and most sensual form. This automotive thoroughbred thus facilitates the kind of open-air feeling that is utterly unique for a road-going vehicle.

Exciting design reminiscent of the SLR racing cars

The SLR Stirling Moss, its entire bodywork made of fine lightweight carbon fibre, represents a stand-alone design concept. Whilst the Mercedes-Benz designers were working on the body of the new SLR Stirling Moss, they were fully aware every single moment that they were creating a vehicle with a top speed of 350 km/h. At the same time this supreme athlete is highly reminiscent of the SLR racing cars from the 1950s, whose design idiom still never fails to impress to this day.

The SLR Stirling Moss sports an exciting, pronounced arrow-shaped form and is characterised by an elongated bonnet and a compact, muscular rear. As there is no windscreen, the exterior and interior flow smoothly into one. The bonnet also stretches from its striking tip right down into the interior, giving the vehicle body a distinctly sleek air. Even when standing still, the sports car radiates such dynamism that the observer immediately falls under its spell.

Further eye-catching features include two air scoops behind the driver and passenger. They carry additional roll-over bars, also uniting the traditional and the modern. The wings are powerfully contoured. Black-painted ventilation “gills” sitting facet-like on the sides and on the bonnet also cite the legend. A thrilling interplay of light and shadow ensues through the expressive lines, underlining the dynamic overall impression. Exactly as they were on the shining historical example, the side skirts on the new SLR Stirling Moss are also very high. This prompted the designers’ decision in favour of folding swing-wing doors which open forwards.

The vehicle can be closed by two tonneau covers which are carried in the boot. When both tonneau covers and the doors are closed the SLR Stirling Moss resembles a sculpture.

In keeping with the puristic exterior of the vehicle, the interior is also reduced to the bare essentials. Surfaces penetrating each other in the instrument panel and doors make for an exciting atmosphere and resonate perfectionism. A mixture of high-class authentic materials such as carbon fibre, aluminium and fine-quality leather sets the style here. An aluminium plate carries the engraved signature of Stirling Moss and covers the area around the shift lever.

Innovative technology and polished aerodynamic concept

Developers working on the Stirling Moss were able to fall back on a wealth of experience gathered when producing the SLR Coupé and Roadster, in particular where the technical base was concerned, with its extravagant carbon-fibre design, high-performance suspension and throaty V8 engine. The common denominator uniting the Stirling Moss with the other members of the SLR family is the aerodynamic concept with a closed underbody and a diffuser in the rear bumper for maximum possible downforce at the rear axle – with one difference: the diffuser here is considerably larger than that on the coupé and roadster.

Thanks to the high-precision work carried out in the wind tunnel, the SLR Stirling Moss always generates sufficient downforce for extremely safe handling. But the driver can also manually operate the AIRBRAKE in order to increase the contact pressure further, during particularly sporty driving, for example. The AIRBRAKE is also raised during powerful braking at speeds above 120 km/h, so as to stabilise the vehicle even more in such situations, thus facilitating maximum possible deceleration.

Limited to 75 units – the SLR models’ crowning glory

The new SLR Stirling Moss is the kind of high-calibre speedster coveted by the sporting gentry and enthusiasts alike. At the same time it is a collector’s item which marks the pinnacle of an era and, for the foreseeable future, at least, the final curtain for the SLR. In May 2009 production of the SLR models will cease; only a total of 75 units of the Stirling Moss will be manufactured between June and December 2009, bearing chassis numbers from 1 to 75. Not only does this exclusive vehicle represent the conclusion of the current SLR family; it also serves as a very special thank you to the most loyal of SLR customers, for they are the only ones able to acquire a Stirling Moss.

Although the 2008 Paris Motor Show doesn’t kick off until October 4th, Mercedes has released details and concept sketches of a new design study they’re calling the Mercedes-Benz ConceptFASCINATION. Built to provide a “high level of practical usability” and a coupé that “appeals to the heart with fast, thrilling lines,” the Mercedes designers decided to make use of the “shooting brake” body style, and combine “sporty and elegant design with stylish practicality.”

This fancy looking two door wagon is a wild way of previewing the lines of the 2010 W212 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and teasing hatch fans everywhere. Powered by the same small diesel mill found in the Mercedes C250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime, the concept features everything you’d come to expect from a Mercedes.

Full Pictures and the official press release after the jump.Mercedes Benz ConceptFascination

Mercedes-Benz ConceptFASCINATION study showcases new design idiom

The ConceptFASCINATION study was not created merely to arouse interest in a new and unusual design concept. It is much more a matter of giving designers the opportunity to play around with unconventional topics, to look at things in a new way and to explore new ideas. Design studies also serve to stimulate a closer dialogue with customers and to gauge the public reaction to new ideas for cars. They help Mercedes-Benz designers to get a feel for future styling trends and to develop new design idioms.

First off, Yes you’re reading that right, there actually is an Auto Show in Moscow. And yes, you’re reading that right again, there now is an Audi RS6 Sedan. So now we’re torn… RS6 Avant or RS6 sedan? Both are beating with the same twin-turbocharged, direct-injected 5.0-liter V10 putting out 580 hp and 479 lb.-ft. of torque. Both send power to all 4 wheels through a 6 speed tiptronic transmission, and both can be equipped with absolutely massive 420mm (front) and 356mm (rear) ceramic brakes. While it’s hard to deny the practicality of the wagon, but doesn’t the sedan comes across as more elegant – in a brutal, Teutonic way? The voting will commence in the comments and check the gallery below for a plenty of high-res images from the show floor.
We find that our eyes can’t quite look away, even if the styling is a little boring. Perhaps its the huge fender flares, or the larger air intakes up front…

Whatever it is, the new Audi RS6 Sedan is quite a beast. Outside of the Mercedes 65 AMGs, what else will take 5 people up to 160mph in front of a Ferrari or Lamborghini?

Audi RS6 Sedan

The problem with exotic supercars is, well, they’re just too darn rare. We really haven’t seen anything more of the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series except for its press photos. It seems like no one has actually seen the car in person outside of Mercedes-Benz, let alone photographed it. So imagine our surprise when the SL65 AMG Black was spotted Monterey this week.

The best part was, unlike the invitation only North American Ferrari Debut of the Ferrari California, Mercedes-Benz had no problem with people taking as many photographs of the car as we wanted. Enjoy the high resolution gallery below and we’ll be back later with more from Monterey!

Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG Black Series at Monterey 2008

12►

The renowned design team Pininfarina unveiled its Sintesi concept – a car supposedly combining “sportiness and functionality.” We saw the world debuts of the 2008 BMW M3 Convertible to the Maserati Granturismo S. The updated and refreshed Mercedes Benz SL also made a world debut, along with Rolls-Royce’s Phantom coupe. A new Lancer inspired Mitsubishi Prototype S peered out from behind the curtains, as well as the spectacular Audi R8 V12 TDI LeMans.

We are here to let you go behind the scenes, from behind your keyboard, so take a peek at our photos, news, video and blog posts.

The 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show was witness to legendary car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz as they take off the wraps of their brand new F700 concept vehicle featuring a DiesOtto engine and PRE-SCAN Suspension. Mercedes-Benz points the way toward future designs of its flagship S-Class luxury sedan—and showed off a completely new kind of internal combustion engine—with a concept it calls the F700.

The ultra-low, wavy and sleek body of the F700 concept falls in behind an enormous horizontal grille reminiscent of the one on Mercedes’s Ocean Drive concept, but the rest of the body is a completely new, 21st-Century rendering of the S-Class, called Aqua Dynamic. It’s shorter in overall length than the current S-Class, but it has a much longer wheelbase and a roomier interior because the seats are so different. The headlamps are comprised of three rows of white LEDs, and the rear doors are rear-hinged (a.k.a suicide doors)

The DIESOTTO engine is a combination HCCI/spark ignition design with an added turbocharger to the mix to provide a a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine that yields performance in this large sedan that’s comparable to the 3.5L V-6 in the current S-Class with average fuel economy of 44.3 mpg. On top of that, the carbon dioxide emissions of the F700 are only 127 g/km which would put it nicely below the next round of proposed EU limit of 130 g/km.

This new engine technology is wrapped in a full-sized luxury sedan that takes an evolutionary path from the current S-Class to a whole new level. Short overhangs are combined with a low nose that seamlessly blends in the bumper. The body is supported on an electro-hydraulic active suspension system that uses front mounted lasers to continually scan the road surface and make adjustments pro-actively. The full press release is below.

123►

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]
Mercedes-Benz F 700: Mercedes-Benz shows the future of the superior touring sedan

Stuttgart – With its F 700 research car, Mercedes-Benz redefines the idea of effortless, superior refinement: this concept for a future luxurious touring sedan shows how outstanding riding quality can be combined with high levels of environmental friendliness, and good performance with exceptionally low fuel consumption. Thus, the 5.17 meter long F 700 with its innovative and very spacious interior design enables an entirely new and exceedingly comfortable mode of travel. The F 700 is the world’s first car that can anticipatively recognize the condition of the road and level out the uneven spots with its active PRE-SCAN suspension, further improving suspension comfort substantially. The forward-pointing DIESOTTO drive system introduced in the F 700, a four-cylinder with a displacement of only 1.8 liters, combines the strong points of the low-emission gasoline engine with the consumption benefits of the diesel drive. Its CO2 emissions of a mere 127 grams per kilometer correspond to consumption of only 5.3 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers (44.3 mpg), extremely low for a vehicle of this class.
This is made possible by a forward-looking drive concept, the heart of which is the “DIESOTTO” technology – an advancement of the internal combustion engine thought up by Mercedes-Benz. With its novel controlled auto ignition (CAI), direct fuel injection and turbocharging, it combines the high power of the spark-ignition engine with the exemplary torque and great fuel economy of a diesel. The drive system in the F 700, as four-cylinder featuring two-stage charging, attains the performance level of a current S-Class car with a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 gasoline engine or the 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel.

“Our goal is to make the gasoline-powered car just as economical in consumption as the diesel. The new DIESOTTO concept is a major step in that direction, combining the best properties of the spark-ignition engine and the diesel engine,” says Dr. Thomas Weber, Board member of DaimlerChrysler AG responsible for Group Research & Mercedes Car Group Development.

The F 700 also sets standards in regard to road roar, tire vibration and suspension comfort. With two laser scanners the active PRE-SCAN suspension scans the roadway in front of the car. The hydraulically controlled active suspension proactively compensates for detected hindrances, enabling entirely new comfort characteristics –a “flying carpet” feeling.

Equally innovative is the operating concept “SERVO-HMI”. The display is not only particularly gentle on the eyes; the number of controls also has been appreciably reduced and the menu structure has been made strikingly simple and self-explanatory. The driver can “discuss” more complex inputs, such as a destination for navigation purposes, in dialogue with an avatar, a virtual operating assistant.

The exterior design of the F 700 shows that with this concept an extraordinary amount of space has been created for the passengers. The very silhouette, characterized by the long wheelbase, is a clear indication of this. The design harmoniously joins together inspirations provided by nature with technical innovation. All the futuristic styling devices notwithstanding, the F 700 is perfectly compliant with the brand identity of Mercedes-Benz.

The interior concept interprets comfortable travel and well-being in a completely new way. With its REVERSE seat the F 700 breaks up the firmly established seat arrangement of conventional sedans and offers individual seating positions facing, or with one’s back to, the direction of travel, always affording maximum spaciousness and supreme comfort.

The F 700 provides inspiring ideas for the technological future of Mercedes-Benz once again – like each of the research cars which preceded it.