Detroit News spotted the 2012 Mercedes Benz SL a full two years before it’s set to his the 2012 Paris Motor Show, and we’re lucky they did! This exclusive sneak peak at the 2012 Mercedes Benz SL has us really excited for it’s lease.  The 2012 SL maintains the car’s legendary classic layout, along with the retractable metal roof and long front and rear overhangs that have long been key features of this model. New to the 2012 Mercedes Benz SL is the upright grille, which came about due to pedestrian safety regulations in the European Union.  Also different to this model is it’s location.  Formerly production on Mercedes Benz SL models took place in Bremen, Germany, but the 2012 SL will be produced in Stuttgart.

What do you guys think of the 2012 Mercedes Benz SL?

Imagine this: You’re driving down the road in your brand new Mercedes-Benz, when all of the sudden a dog runs out in front of your car.  You immediately panic: there’s not enough time to slow down and you’re guaranteed to hit man’s best friend, right? Think again.

This just in from Autospies:

“Mercedes-Benz is working on a new safety system than can automatically steer around pedestrians to avoid accidents.

Ulrich Mellinghoff, head of safety development at Mercedes, says it’s likely to appear within the next five years.

Talking to What Car? at the Detroit Motor Show, Mellinghoff told us that in 80% of accidents with people, just 20% of a car’s frontal area hits the pedestrian.

This means it would take only 40-50cm of movement for a Mercedes to automatically swerve around a pedestrian that had been detected by the car.”

We know this new swerve technology applies to accidents involving pedestrians, but who says man’s best friend can’t be included in that list? Either way, it’s exciting for us to see the considerations Mercedes Benz is taking when thinking about safety, not just for cars and their drivers, but others on the road, as well.  This is just further proof that Mercedes-Benz is always ahead of the curve.

What do you guys think of this new swerve technology?

Buying green is a good step to reducing the environmental impacts of automobile use.  But it doesn’t end there.  How you drive your vehicle, whether it’s a brand new luxury sedan, or a certified pre-owned car,  how you maintain your vehicle  makes a big difference.  Here are a few government tips for maintenance (provided by Eco Driving) to help you drive greener.

Keep your tires properly inflated.  Tires should be inflated to the pressure recommended for your vehicle; this information is often printed inside the door frame or in your owner’s manual.  For every three pounds below recommended pressure, fuel economy goes down by about one percent.  Tires can lose about one pound of pressure in a month, so check the air pressure regularly and always before going on a long trip carrying heavy loads.  Underinflated tires can also detract from handling, safety, and how long the tires will last.

Buy low-rolling resistance (LRR) replacement tires.  Switching to a typical set of replacement tires lowers a vehicle’s fuel economy as much as four percent.  LRR tires, on the other hand, are specially designed to improve a vehicle’s fuel economy.  Most major tire manufacturers now produce LR models, so when it comes time to replace your tires, seek out a set of LRRs.

Check your own fuel economy every few weeks.  If you notice it slipping, it could mean you have a minor problem with the engine or your brakes. Have your vehicle taken in for service .   Using this advanced warning, you can fix problems before you have a breakdown on the road.

Get a tune-up.  Whether you do it yourself schedule your car to be serviced, a tune-up can increase your fuel economy.  Follow owner’s manual guidelines.  Be sure to check for warn spark plugs, dragging brakes, and low transmission fluid; have your wheels aligned and tires rotated and replace the air filter if needed.  Make sure all used vehicle fluids are recycled or disposed of safely.

Change the oil. In addition to making your car or truck last longer, replacing the oil and oil filter regularly will also help fuel economy.  Check your owner’s manual for specific recommendations about how often to change.  Ask the service station if they recycle used oil; or if you do it yourself, take your old oil to someplace that does recycle.  Ask for recycled oil as a replacement.

Have your vehicle’s emission control system checked periodically.  Take it in for service if an instrument panel warning light comes on.

Continue to check the Ray Catena Mercedes-Benz blog  frequently for more tips about driving green as well as everything Mercedes-Benz.

Along with the advancements made in the automobile, safety requirements have also intensified. Dummies have been used in crash tests since the 1950’s. They give important information as to how certain accident scenarios affect the occupants of the vehicle. Mercedes-Benz.tv reveals the impacts to which dummies are exposed, the advanced development in dummy technology and the areas of the body which are in the focus of engineers. And like Mercedes-Benz engineers, Ray Catena Mercedes-Benz of Edison wants the safest Mercedes’ for its clients.