The 4th of July is right around the corner and summer is in full swing here in New Jersey. While others are cruising to the beach or relaxing by the pool, the employees at this NJ Mercedes-Benz dealership are selling cars and bringing you up-to-date Mercedes-Benz news! While you’re enjoying the summer sun, take a look at these spy shots of the 2014 BLS-Class! Mercedes-Benz is developing a whole group of compact cars, all of which will hit the U.S. market at some point. Stay tuned to our blog, website and social media for all the latest updates!

Source: Motor Authority

Expected to launch toward the end of 2013, an early version of the new Mercedes-Benz BLS-Class was recently spied testing. This new sedan is expected to be called  the BLS because of its striking resemblance to its older sibling, the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Like the CLS, the BLS is expected to be a 4-door coupe-style Mercedes-Benz.

Aside from the BLS, the new B-Class family is set to include a van-style model, much like a model that is currently being sold in England. Rumor has it that this B-Class family will also include a “BLK” compact crossover, perhaps similar in concept to the current GLK-Class.

According to the pictures below, the new BLS-Class boasts a new front-wheel drive system which is supposedly codenamed, “MFA (Mercedes Frontwheel Architecture).” As per usual, we’re suspecting all-wheel drive will also be an option for this new Mercedes-Benz. We can also expect to see a high-performance AMG version of the BLS as well.

For the full article, click here.

Spring can only mean one thing…Summer is right around the corner. Many of us here at Ray Catena of Union have a bit of Spring fever. We’re sick of the rainy weather and we just can’t wait to take our Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, E-Class and CLK-Class convertibles out for a drive! In the meantime, we’re just going to have to stick to staying indoors, reading Mercedes-Benz news. The latest: Mercedes-Benz is planning to give the GLK-Class a facelift and we’ve got some spy shots for you, courtesy of AutoBlog.com!

Although it’s still in the beginning stages of preparation for a refresh, the new Mercedes-Benz GLK was spotted with minimal camouflage. The new GLK will sport new headlights, and newly reshaped bumpers in the front and the rear. There are currently no details regarding powertrain updates, but rumor has it the new direct-injected 3.5 liter V6 from the Mercedes-Benz C350 could be making an appearance under the hood of this refreshed GLK.

For the full article, click here.

Enjoy these photos while you patiently wait for Summer to arrive…hopefully it won’t take too long! However, in the event you run out of things to do on these rainy Spring days, why not head over to the Ray Catena of Union dealership to check out some of our new Mercedes-Benz models? Test drive a new Mercedes-Benz or schedule service for your current vehicle!

The hills and canyons above Malibu are a well-known playground for automotive enthusiasts. Warm weather and spectacular views make for a wonderful Sunday afternoon cruise, while winding roads and sparse traffic create a driver’s playground. Expensive sports cars are routinely seen here testing their limits, but soon visitors may well spot the new Mercedes-Benz GLK350 compact SUV attacking the turns with them.
Last year, Motor Trend garnered an exclusive first drive of the all-new GLK350 in the mountains of Spain, followed by another drive across Germany’s autobahn. Both experiences impressed, but we couldn’t help but wonder where this new cute ute will slot into the luxury SUV market. Now that we’ve conducted a thorough instrumented test, though, we have an answer.

Few Mercedes-Benz owners in the U.S. ever take their vehicles off-road, a reality the German automaker not only realizes but embraces. Thus, the GLK is targeted at affluent women — and it appears Mercedes has hit its mark. This baby Benz has clearly been refined for the on-road market.
Consider the evidence: The off-road package that Mercedes-Benz claims will allow the GLK to rival the Land Rover LR2 in off-road capability will not be available in the U.S. Neither will the two Euro-market diesel engines, despite their efficiency advantages. As if to drive the point home, our tester arrived wearing 20-inch wheels wrapped with Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires. While the sidewalls may have revealed a mud and snow rating, the tread hardly looked trail-ready. Clearly, the GLK350 is not meant to tackle much more than the occasional snowy drive to a condo in the mountains.
We’re okay with that, because while the GLK might not keep up with a Jeep Wrangler on the soft stuff, it will be far more pleasant to live with during the work week. Heated leather seats, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, and a superb stereo will make the office commute and jaunts to the mall and supermarket more than bearable. The fully adjustable seats keep your backside happy on long drives, and the COMAND infotainment system is easy to learn and provides quick access to stereo, phone, and navigation. While the COMAND control knob operates much like BMW’s iDrive, the system is more user-friendly. Unfortunately, Mercedes has placed the knob at an odd angle behind the gear select lever, requiring an uncomfortable reach. Moving it just an inch farther forward, away from the edge of the armrest, would help immensely.
While the satellite radio and iPod interface will keep you entertained in traffic, the superb drivetrain will put a smile on your face when you finally get out of town. In the hills above Malibu, the 268-horsepower V-6, seven-speed automatic transmission, and 4Matic all-wheel drive system make the GLK350 a surprisingly sporty ride. While the steering is, in typical SUV fashion, rather slow (2.75 turns lock-to-lock,), it’s accurate. The big Pirelli meats offer impressive grip, and even when they began to let go, stability and traction control quickly reeled in the errant wheels. At the track, all that grip, plus surprisingly flat cornering, translated to an impressive 0.80 g of lateral acceleration and an equally impressive 28.1-second lap time around the Motor Trend Figure Eight.
The transmission rocks. While the GLK’s seven-speed auto allows for manual shifting by rocking the shift lever left to right, driver input really isn’t necessary. Switch the vehicle from Comfort Mode to Sport mode and the seven-speed will hold gears longer, allowing quick bursts between turns without ever changing cogs.
On the track, the 3.5-liter V-6 hustled the Benz to 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds. Stops were equally impressive: 60 to 0 mph in just 124 feet. Brake-pedal feel left much to be desired, though. The first half of travel is mushy and provides little stopping power. Then, forces suddenly firm up considerably and the brakes bite hard. The GLK needs a more gradual, linear braking response.
To their credit, the brakes have a tough job. Despite its smallish size, the GLK tips the scales at 4214 pounds. Still, the GLK never feels like a porker. Merging and passing on the freeway are effortless, and the GLK can pull off a 15.0-second quarter-mile at 92.9 mph. The real penalty is fuel economy: The GLK carries an estimated EPA city/highway rating of just 16/22 mpg. And it only drinks premium.
Though it’s ten inches shorter than the ML and rides on a 6.2-inch shorter wheelbase, the GLK still offers plenty of cargo space behind the rear seats. It’s wide enough to place golf bags sideways in the rear and roomy enough to accommodate lots of large luggage pieces. Surprisingly, up front the GLK is short on storage cubbies and shelves for stashing your cell phone and other small cargo; they’re relegated to the center console cup holders, which your passengers may not appreciate.
There’s plenty of space everywhere else. At 74.3 inches wide, the GLK delivers lots of elbow and shoulder room. Rear-seat passengers have abundant space to stretch out, even with tall riders up front. The width might make it tough to sneak into tight parking spaces, though.
The GLK350 may have the potential to be a capable off-roader, but it clearly prefers the pavement. On the asphalt, it’s sure to please luxury-loving drivers with its compliant ride and tight handling, as well as its spacious interior and high-tech features. Stick to the road, and the GLK provides much to like-including a low $33,900 starting price. It’ll be even more likable if gas stays cheap.

Full review by Motor Trend. View the article and gallery.