We stumbled upon this video on the Mercedes-Benz Blog, and couldn’t wait to share it with you guys!  It’s an interesting look at how Mercedes Benz designers view the idea of the green automobile.  Follow the concept of Mercedes Benz environmentally efficient automobiles, which, according to the video does not come in place of, but in addition to the already amazing features each Mercedes Benz car has to offer.  Check out the video below, or head over to the Mercedes-Benz Blog for more information.

According to The New York Times, Jon Hamm, who plays Don Draper on AMC’s “Mad Men”, will become the new voice of Mercedes Benz USA commercials.  The actor, famous for his role as the 1960’s adman, will be featured on Mercedes Benz USA commercials set to air on ABC during this years Academy Awards.  After the awards ceremony, the commercial will air during shows like “CSI: Miami” and “American Idol” as well as on cable channels like Bravo, Discovery and HGTV.  We’ve been fans of “Mad Men” for quite some time now, and Jon Hamm is the perfect choice for this role! We’re really looking forward to seeing this commercial AND the Academy Awards this Sunday, March 7th, on ABC.

Fresh off the press this morning at 4wheelsnews is an announcement that Mercedes-Benz has  revealed today its latest version of the classic G-Class off-roader, now in its 31st year, features state-of-the-art BlueTEC technology.

For those who don’t know BlueTEC is a technology developed by the German manufacturer in order to reduce diesel vehicle emissions, especially nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The new G 350 BlueTEC uses AdBlue, an aqueous urea solution which is injected into the exhaust-gas stream. This process releases ammonia, which means that 80 percent of the nitrogen oxides are converted into harmless nitrogen and water by a process of reduction in the downstream SCR catalytic converter.

All of you know that the G-Class is used in remote areas of the world, this is one of its main purposes, and due to this the German engineers integrated an AdBlue filler cap in the vehicle’s outside tank recess. With this filter cap, the manufacturer says that one full tank of AdBlue is enough for around 12,000 kilometres.

Regarding the engine, the car uses a V6 diesel capable to deliver 155 kW (210 hp) at 3400 rpm and a torque of 540 Nm between 1600 and 2400 rpm. The engine delivers substantially fewer emissions than the previous G 350 CDI model and reduces NOx emissions by around 50 %. The Mercedes-Benz G 350 BlueTEC can be ordered in three body variants: a short-wheelbase Station Wagon, long-wheelbase Station Wagon and Convertible.

For those who don’t want a green car, they can always switch to the powerful powerful 5.5 litre V8 petrol engine developing 285 kW (388 hp) with a torque of 530 Nm or chose the powerful G55 AMG with its V8 supercharged engine developing 373 kW (507 hp) with an impressive peak torque of 700 Nm.

The standard specification of the G 350 BlueTEC includes includes the electronically controlled traction system 4ETS, the Electronic Stability Program ESP and three differential locks selectable at the push of a button, alongside the permanent all-wheel drive with off-road ratio and the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission.

I’m sure all of the other Mercedes Benz dealers in NJ will agree with this statement! Here at Ray Catena Mercedes Benz, we’re proud to be members of the Mercedes Benz USA team! That’s why it came as no shock when we read this press release on PR Newswire, which states that Mercedes Benz USA was named the best place to work in New Jersey! The article went on to feature this excellent quote from MBUSA CEO, Ernst Lieb, about his pride for MBUSA workers during the difficult economic climate.

“MBUSA has a long tradition of doing business in the Garden State and we thank our associates for their commitment and dedication that has led to continued success — both here at our headquarters in Bergen County and our regional offices in Parsippany and Robbinsville,” stated Ernst Lieb, President and CEO, MBUSA. “To achieve this accolade during one of the most challenging times in automotive history is a true statement of how unified we are, working together to inspire our entire organization and deliver the dream that customers associate with the Mercedes-Benz brand.”

We couldn’t agree more! Each and every day, we’re proud to be a part of MBUSA!

We’re constantly getting some great information from a number if different Mercedes Benz blogs out there, so we figured we’d do the honors of presenting our readers with a short little roundup of some of our favorites.  Check out these guys below for the latest in Mercedes Benz news and the most up-to-date information on Mercedes Benz cars.

BenzInsider: This blog has a team of writers who love all things associated with the Mercedes Benz Car Group (Mercedes, Smart and Maybach).  Daily posts keep this blog’s readers constantly coming back for more.

Mercedes-Benz-Blog: Here, we’ve found a great source for Mercedes Benz reviews, Mercedes Benz spy shots, and brief glances at the history of Mercedes Benz vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz TV: Whenever we want to watch some incredible videos about Mercedes Benz, this is our go-to source! Check it our for the incredible layout and impeccable video quality.

Check out each of these sites and we guarantee  you won’t regret it!

Popular Mechanics featured this awesome article in its March 2010 issue.  Jay Leno, famous for his love of everything cars, recently restored his 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing.  The car, which had been kept by its previous owners in a storage container for over thirty years, is a real beauty, thanks to Leno’s updates.  It also turns out, he’s only the third owner! Check out the article and see some great pictures of the restoration!

Mercedes Benz has officially gone green with its commercial vehicles, and introduced the Mercedes Benz BlueEfficiency Sprinter Vans! According to Autoblog Green, the vans come with two different engine options, a 2.2-liter four cylinder common rail diesel engine that is available in 95, 129 and 163 hp variants and a 156 hp natural gas fueled four cylinder engine.  You can read more about the engine specifics on Autoblog Green.

Mercedes Benz of Union is proud to be selling these incredible commercial vehicles, as well as offering service options for those who already own one.  Our friends over at Ray Catena Mercedes of Edison will also be offering service for the Sprinter Vans.

Head over to our site to set up a visit with one of our sales experts and test drive one of these amazing Mercedes Benz BlueEfficiency Sprinter Vans today!

Ray Catena Motor Car is proud to be participating in fundraising for The American Heart Association. All month long, we will be offering you, our valued customers, the opportunity to save on your next service visit when you write a check for this worthy cause. Take a look at how you can help them and help yourself:

Donate and Save:
$10 – $19  (get 7% Off your entire bill)*
$20 – $29 (get 10% Off your entire bill)*
$30 or more (get 15% Off your entire bill)*

The American Heart Association is committed to fighting heart disease and stroke and raising awareness of these diseases. As part of their mission, they focus on specific causes designed to help people achieve a heart-healthy lifestyle. Each of their cause initiatives reaches out to the public with resources and information to help them take positive action.

On behalf of everyone at Ray Catena, we thank you for your participation.

*Offer expires February 28, 2010. Excludes all sublet repairs and cannot be combined with any other offers.

Today, we found this article on Benz Insider about the next generation S Class.  According to the post, the current S Class has been around for close FOUR years! The new version of the Mercedes Benz S Class is set to hit Mercedes Benz dealerships in 2012 or 2013.  We won’t quite know what the next generation Mercedes Benz S Class will look like until up to a year before its launch, but speculation is circulating that the new model with rely on turbocharging and direct injection for power and efficiency.  Read more about the next generation S Class here, and post your thoughts below!

Just off the press! Mercedes Benz is reportedly working on rolling out different classes of trucks that are EEV (Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicles).  Rumored to be issued as EEV vehicles are the Actros, Axor and Atego.  Read more about the Mercedes Benz Blue Tec EEV trucks here.

On a different note, we had an awesome time at the Philly Auto Show this week! Naturally, the Mercedes Benz section was the hottest one there! We especially liked the look of the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG with it’s fine Gullwing doors, and slick red interior. Check back next week for some amazing pictures and videos from the event!