According to Automobile Mag, at the Geneva Motor Show next month, Mercedes Benz will unveil a sport accessory line for the 2010 E Class sedan, coupe and cabriolet.   The automotive blog featured the following information regarding the exterior elements of the sport accessory line:

“Buyers can opt for the new MercedesSport body kit, which includes an aggressive front fascia and matching side skirts. Rear trunk- and roof-mounted spoilers are also available, as is a diffuser insert for the rear valence panel. Two-tone 18-inch aluminum wheels, complete with the “Sport” logo on their center caps, are optional, and can be matched with a new suspension package that lowers the ride height by a half-inch. An upgraded brake system with cross-drilled rotors is also available.”

To find out more information about the 2010 E Class Sport Accessory line, including the interior elements, click here.

According to the Benz Insider blog, it looks like the new Mercedes Benz E-Class is making big waves in 2010! Already an award winner in the UK for its noted Attention Assist system, the new Mercedes Benz E-Class appears to now also be in the running for 2010 World Car of the Year, which will be announced at the Geneva Motor Show next month.  The new Mercedes Benz E-Class was also nominated in the 2010 World Performance Car of the Year category.  It’s already starting to feel like a great year for Mercedes Benz.  What are your predictions for the rest of 2010? Leave your thoughts and comments below!

Things are looking up for Mercedes Benz this year!  According to Business Week, sales for January 2010 are soaring (up 43.5%) thanks to a stronger economic forecast, and we couldn’t be happier! It looks like sales for the Mercedes Benz C-Class and the Mercedes Benz E-Class show the most marked improvements. Check out the January stats, and stop into Ray Catena Mercedes of Edison or Ray Catena Mercedes of Union to test drive a new Mercedes Benz car.

In continuation of our current obsession with Mercedes Benz commercials, we’ve stumbled upon this television ad for the Mercedes Benz E-Class Cabriolet.  Let’s just say if the catchy tune playing in this commercial doesn’t have you boppin’ along in your seat, the adorable dog will surely capture your attention.  Sitting in the back seat, with the wind whipping through his coat, this dog had all of us in the dealership thinking of our own pups and how much they LOVE riding in our Mercedes Benz cars!

Check out the commercial below!

Source: German Car Scene

The Ray Catena Mercedes dealerships in NJ have finally made it to the social media space, including two fantastic YouTube accounts (Edison and Union).  Our favorite thing to do now is search through Mercedes Benz videos, and we’ve happened to stumble upon a slew of really awesome older Mercedes Benz TV commercials.  Our recent favorite is a hilariously simple and short commercial for the Mercedes Benz E Class.  It’s an older commercial, but revisiting it had all of us in the dealership in stitches.  Check it out below.

And don’t forget to check out our other social media profiles:

Edison: Twitter, Facebook
Union: Twitter, Facebook

Looks like Mercedes Benz is taking the step to be the leader of the pack in the development of green technology.  It appears as though the Detroit Auto Show brought about Daimler AG’s competitive spirit when it comes to paving the way for a greener automotive future.

Daimler AG, the world’s second- largest maker of luxury vehicles, plans to challenge Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG’s leadership by rolling out new technology and models that reduce carbon-dioxide emissions.

“We will attack this year definitely,” Thomas Weber, Daimler’s development chief, said in an interview at the Detroit auto show. “There is no reason why we should look to others. They have to look to us; we’re setting the benchmark.”

Daimler plans to use half of this year’s 4.4 billion euros ($6.4 billion) in research-and-development spending on green technology, Weber said. Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz trails only Munich-based BMW in deliveries and also competes with Volkswagen AG’s Audi division, which said it will decide this year whether to build cars at a new U.S. factory.

Mercedes-Benz aims to outpace global growth of 3 percent to 4 percent in 2010 to take market share from competitors. BMW is targeting “single-digit” gains in deliveries, the carmaker’s sales chief, Ian Robertson, said.

Daimler introduced a convertible version of the E-Class at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The open- top car, which includes a panel that deflects wind over the heads of back-seat passengers, rounds out the model line, which is one of Mercedes’ most profitable.

E-Class Competition

The carmaker is confident that the Mercedes Benz E-Class, which reached showrooms last March, can hold up against the new version of BMW’s 5-Series sedan because it has wagon and coupe versions available, Weber said. Daimler is also starting deliveries of the gull-wing SLS sports car this year.

Full-year sales by Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz Cars division, which includes the Smart minicar brand, fell 10 percent to 1.13 million cars and sport-utility vehicles. Sales at BMW, also including Mini and Rolls-Royce models, dropped 10 percent to 1.29 million vehicles.

Daimler’s financial results were better in the fourth quarter than in the third, “as we predicted,” Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche said in a Bloomberg Television interview yesterday. Third-quarter net income totaled 41 million euros, an 80 percent drop from a year earlier, as revenue declined 19 percent to 19.3 billion euros.

New Transmission

Mercedes-Benz is targeting BMW’s lead in reducing fuel emissions. The carmaker will introduce a new transmission this year that improves efficiency and will help it roll out so- called start-stop technology that turns off the engine at traffic lights to save fuel. Weber said start-stop will become standard in Mercedes-Benz models starting this year.

To boost its green credentials, Stuttgart, Germany-based Daimler will add an electric-powered version of the Mercedes A-Class compact in 2010. The carmaker is already producing a limited number of two electric models: a fuel cell-powered B-Class compact and a battery-driven Smart.

For 2011, Daimler intends to introduce a version of the Mercedes E- Class that combines a diesel engine with electric motors to raise fuel economy to more than 40 miles per gallon, compared with 26 miles per gallon on the highway of the current gasoline- fueled model. Mercedes-Benz currently offers hybrid versions of the S-Class sedan and ML-Class SUVs.

“It pays off that we invested so much in green technologies,” said Weber. “That’s part of our attack strategy.”

Source: (Bloomberg)

It was only a matter of time before Hollywood gave us the sequel, so this is definitely not a surprise. What might be surprising is that Mercedes-Benz has chosen the E-Class Convertible (Cabrio) as the official car this time. It seems that they are going after the right audience, as most of the former CLK convertible drivers were in fact women (no offense to any male drivers). Men, if you do get dragged in to watch the movie with your wife/girlfriend, go with it, at least you’ll enjoy looking at the latest Mercedes-Benz creation.

The movies scheduled release date is on May 28th 2010, which means that we can expect the cabrio to hit showrooms during summer of 2010.

Source: BenzInsider

The following post comes courtesy of Automobile Magazine.

Snow. Ice. Frigid temperatures. January in Detroit can hardly be described as a climate conducive to convertibles. Still, in order to help underline the year-round usability of the car, Mercedes-Benz will unveil its new 2011 E-class Cabriolet at the 2010 North American International Auto Show.

As the fourth body style in the revised E-class range, the Cabriolet — along with the 2010 E-class Coupe — effectively replaces the CLK. Styling up front is carried over from its other E-class siblings, but sheetmetal aft of the A-pillars is largely cribbed from the two-door model. Indeed, when the top is up, the E-class Cabriolet does a good job of emulating the Coupe’s racy roofline.

Unlike the convertible tops used on the SL and SLK roadsters, the E-class Cabriolet – like the CLK before it — makes use of a traditional soft top instead. Mercedes-Benz claims the top, at 0.9 inches thick, is extensively insulated to help keep the cabin warm in wintry months, and to prevent noise. We’re told it’s entirely possible to have a hands-free cell phone conversation with the top up at speeds “in excess” of 125 mph — but we wouldn’t recommend such a task.

A pair of technologies also helps keep passengers warm and comfortable during open-air driving. Airscarf, already offered on the SL and SLK roadsters, directs warm air towards passengers’ neck and shoulders. AirCap – a diffuser deployed above the windshield to direct airflow out of the faces of rear seat passengers – is a new innovation and, for the time being, is exclusive to the E-class.

Like the Coupe, the E-class Cabriolet is available in E350 and E550 forms, with a 268-hp 3.5-liter V-6 or a 382-hp, 5.5-liter V-8, respectively. Look for both models to arrive at dealers stateside in the spring of 2011.

Sure-footed four-corner traction: Standard. Height-adjustable rear AirMatic suspension for deep-snow ground clearance: Standard. Luggage-rack rails ready to accept your Thule ski-rack: Standard (and low enough to show off your Dynastar Ferrari sticks at a comfortable viewing height). Seating for seven (okay, five and two-halves): Standard. Iconic style and a hood ornament that commands respect from the apres-ski club valets: Standard. Could there be a more perfect vehicle than the new Mercedes E-Class wagon for driving up to Deer Valley, Whistler, or Hochgurgl, Austria?

Mercedes-Benz invited us to the latter (if you can say it without dislodging any phlegm, you get a night free) to sample its new E350 4Matic Wagon’s suitability to wintry driving. The visit started with a tech briefing held in an igloo and concluded with a driving session on some of the most nicely groomed parking lots and most gorgeous snow-covered mountain roads on planet earth.

First, you should know that the new E-Class wagon will only be available with the 3.5-liter V-6 and all-wheel-drive. The wicked E63 AMG wagon is finished, at least for the time being. Please observe a moment of silence for its passing. Thank you. Next, you may be encouraged to hear that the latest iteration of 4Matic is lighter (adding just 100 pounds), more compact, and–teamed with the new seven-speed automatic–more efficient (improving by as much as 2.3 mpg on the EPA driving cycle). Its planetary center differential still provides a natural 45:55 front:rear torque split, with slippage at either axle causing friction in the pre-loaded center differential clutch to send as much as 70 percent of the torque to the axle with the best grip.

Mercedes still relies on individual wheel braking to equalize torque side to side or front to rear as needed beyond what the center diff can do. We find this to be a perfectly acceptable solution for on-road vehicles coping with momentary traction losses due to rain, snow or ice (using the brakes to go forward in a hill-climbing off-roader is nowhere near as effective or desirable as proper torque-directing differentials).

And indeed in a series of exercises on a large groomed-snow-covered parking lot, the fourth-generation 4Matic system and its coterie of backup electronic assistants functioned exactly as planned. With all systems on, the car faithfully cleaves to the driver’s intended driving line — at least to the extent that physics can allow (which is impressively high when the various electromechanical traction assistants are abetted by a set of Continental ContiWinterContact footwear). Switch ASR off and deep prods at the accelerator are rewarded with satisfying countersteerworthy slides at 30 or 40 degrees of slip angle (after which the systems step back in to reign in the fun)

Read more.

BEIJING, Aug. 31 — German car maker Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd officially began the domestic sales of its new generation of S-Class luxury sedans in Beijing on Friday.

The company is counting on the iconic model to keep its leading position in the luxury car segment and continue its success in China.  The full array of the new S-Class luxury sedans, the ninth generation, includes nine models with engine capacities ranging from 3.0 liters to 6.0 liters and will sell for between 930,000 yuan ($136,144 U.S. dollars) and 2.59 million yuan in China.

In order to meet the growing demand for energy-saving and eco-friendly vehicles, the new S-Class family has also added the S400 Hybrid, the world’s first series-production vehicle to feature a hybrid drive with a lithium-ion battery. 

“Currently, China has become the largest S-Class market in the world, and the flagship model continued to reign in the top luxury segment with 7,300 units delivered to Chinese customers in the past seven months,” said Klaus Maier, president and chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd.

 ”With such success, we are confident that the new generation models will extend the S-Class leadership position, and attract even more of China’s top-echelon customers.” As the flagship model of Mercedes-Benz, the S-Class is designed to set the benchmark in the luxury saloon segment. Worldwide sales of the legendary models reached 3.3 million units for the previous generations.

The product line-up made a great contribution to Mercedes-Benz’s overall sales in China and became strategically important for the German car maker to reinforce a leading position in the world’s fastest-growing market.

Maier said the S-Class’s market share in the top luxury car market came to 44 percent for the first seven months, leading against rivals the BMW 7 Series and the Audi A8.

 ”The S-Class is so popular because the Mercedes-Benz brand is the most recognized nameplate in China’s top luxury vehicle segment, whose customers are most brand-sensitive,” said Lang Xuehong, director of the automotive division from auto consulting research and consulting firm Sinotrust.

 Mercedes-Benz said its vehicle sales on China’s mainland posted a 49 percent increase for the first seven months of this year, totaling 31,711 cars.

 Sales growth in July reached 45 percent.

Industry analysts said the remarkable sales increase was a result of its low comparable bases a year earlier. But the diverse product strategy also works effectively to catch with the current market leader in China, Audi. 

 Despite the global financial crisis depressing demand in other markets, Mercedes-Benz expected the growing momentum in China would continue in the second half of this year given the positive economic growth and low market penetration of the premier cars, said Bjoern Hauber, general manager of sales and marketing of Mercedes-Benz (China).

Mercedes-Benz has introduced about 10 new models, such as the B-Class, the new E-Class and the Smart, in China so far this year. Some entry-level models expand its customer base with appeals to younger consumers.

In the upcoming months, Mercedes-Benz also plans to launch more than 10 new models as it remained upbeat about China’s luxury car market, Maier told Shanghai Daily.

(Source: Shanghai Daily)