Mercedes-Benz Snags “Best of What’s New” Award for Transmission

By colin November 17th, 2008

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2009 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG Enlarge Photo

Popular Science awards Mercedes AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission with "Best of What's New" title. In testing for the award, Popular Science gave the transmission as fitted in the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG Roadster first place in the Automotive category. A total of 100 products were in the running for the final selection.

Employed exclusively in the SL 63 AMG Roadster, the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission claims to combine the sporting, direct nature of a manual transmission with the convenience of an automatic. Like Audi/VW's DSG transmission, this AMG transmission uses wet-plate clutches as opposed to a torque-robbing torque converter to allow the SL 63 to break static friction from launch. Unlike the Audi/VW unit, Mercedes' unit employs just one row of gears. Once under way, gearchanges are managed with alacrity and computer-controlled finesse, and rev-matched downshifts don't disturb the chassis even in extreme driving and cornering.

The transmission offers four modes: C, S, S+, and M. In C (comfort), gearchanges are optimized for smoothness and a luxurious experience. S (sport) mode offers quicker responses and faster downshifts, and it pushes the 6.3-liter AMG V-8 to higher rpm in each gear. S+ shortens shift times even further (20 percent quicker than S mode), and finally the M mode yields shifts that occur in just 100 milliseconds.

Last but definitely not least is the Race Start function on the new transmission. Race Start deftly balances maximum traction with maximum acceleration, taking these duties out of the hands of the driver and handing them off to vehicle microprocessors. The end result? 0-62 mph in a fleet 4.6 seconds.--Colin Mathews
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Posted in : 2009, Advertising/Marketing, Car Publications, Cars We Love, Enthusiasts, Industry News, Luxury Cars, Mercedes-Benz, New Products, Technology

Fisker Poised to Build Karma Plug-In Next Year

By colin November 13th, 2008

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2010 Fisker Karma Enlarge Photo

Move over, Tesla--Fisker Automotive just announced the signing of final assembly contracts with Valmet Automotive of Finland. Valmet will serve as engineering and manufacturing supplier for Fisker, who plan to begin building their four-door plug-in hybrid sports car, the Fisker Karma, in the last quarter of 2009. Delivery will begin at that time, and annual production is claimed to be 15,000.

Valmet will be instituting a new welding line at its production facility and is said to be adding some 500 blue-collar workers to its force to assemble the Fisker Karma. Both companies are said to benefit from this cooperation, and Valmet emphasizes that the challenges of a complex hybrid drivetrain, battery technology, and a lightweight body of a new design aren't small. But they claim to be up to the task, and promise to meet Fisker's start-of-production date.

Fisker announces this good news as fellow Irvine, Calif., electric car maker Tesla struggles under recent layoffs and a changing of the CEO guard. Tesla was also set to come out with a sedan, but it looks as though Fisker will beat them to the punch.

Valmet is an engineer and manufacturer of premium vehicles in Finland. The company has been in operation for 40 years, and has produced more than 1 million vehicles to date. Currently, Valmet produces the Porsche Boxster and Cayman in cooperation with Porsche AG. That definitely ain't bad company, Fisker.--Colin Mathews

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Posted in : 2009, Electric Cars, Enthusiasts, Green Machines, Industry News, New Products, Sedans

Mercedes Launches New AMG ML- and SL- Models

By colin November 6th, 2008

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Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG Enlarge Photo

Forget gas prices, economic woes, and the new era of fuel conservation--if only for one blissful Sunday drive a week. Today Mercedes-Benz presents its latest AMG high-cube monsters, the 2009 ML63 AMG 10th Anniversary, the 2009 ML 63 AMG Performance Studio, and the 2009 SL 65 Black Series at California's famed Laguna Seca raceway.

The AMG-tuned ML SUVs feature AMG's latest hand-built masterpiece, the 6.3-liter (actually, 6.2-liter) V-8 featuring Mercedes' new four-valve-per-cylinder head and yielding both insane high-rpm horsepower (510, to be exact) and shove-in-the-back low-rpm torque. The second-gen ML platform is a great home for the new AMG V-8, being lighter on its feet than the first-gen ML that used a heavy truck-inspired ladder frame. The former vehicle was great for off-roading, but overkill for the suburban duty the vehicle most often sees.

If 510 horses don't impress you, step up to the SL 65 AMG Black Series. Its 6.0-liter twin-turbo V-12 offers...brace yourself...670 horsepower and enough torque (738 pound-feet) to tow an airstream or two up the nearest mountain range. The Black series focuses on lighter weight materials and high performance, and its new AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS five-speed automatic gearbox employs double-clutch technology for lightning-speed shifts and no torque converter to sap power delivery. A new coilover suspension and revised steering gear promise lively handling and quick response as well as managing a thrill ride of 3.8 seconds to 62 mph.

Neither of these cars will get you very much mpg at all. And prepare for a stiff gas guzzler tax to go along with an even steeper purchase price. But with sybaritic interiors and unbelievable performance, their fpg (fun per gallon) is likely unparalleled. Buy a Prius and a scooter for weekly duty, and perhaps the environmentalists won't torch your house after you blast past them in a terrific roar of angry V-8, or the jet-engine whoosh of AMG's twin-turbo 12. Hey, I can dream, right?--Colin Mathews

Mercedes SL65 Black Series

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Posted in : 2009, Advertising/Marketing, Aftermarket/Tuning, Cars We Love, Coupes, Enthusiasts, Luxury Cars, Mercedes-Benz, New Products, Sport-Utility Vehicles, Technology

Infiniti Launches Winter Sales Event Early

By colin November 6th, 2008

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2008 Infiniti EX35 Enlarge Photo

Infiniti launched its annual Limited Engagement Winter Event sales event yesterday, a month earlier than usual. Despite reduced availability of credit to many consumers, Infiniti assures that "financing is readily available at Infiniti retailers."

To help spur sales in a down market, Nissan's premium brand is offering zero percent financing for 36 months on all 2008 models. Longer-term financing is also available, and "attractive lease deals" remain an option, significant in a market where certain automakers' finance arms (like Chrysler) have completely eliminated leasing from their sales portfolio as they are stuck with off-lease vehicles that have lost most of their market value.

“We know there is still a demand for the luxury and performance of Infiniti automobiles, but with the negative consumer news of late, consumer perception is there’s no financing available,” said Ben Poore, vice president of marketing for Infiniti. Poore wants you to know that despite reduced access to credit, Infiniti is pushing forward with, for example, a $349-per-month lease on a 2008 Infiniti G35 Sedan, a $399-per-month lease on a 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe, or a $399-per-month lease on an Infiniti EX35 Crossover. Wait, they're still trying to move '08 models in November? Wow, tough sales year, indeed.

It definitely helps that Infiniti cars keep their value far better than, say, antediluvian full-frame SUVs, making these leases a much less risky option for Infiniti. Wonder if they're offering leases on the behemoth QX56?

With Nissan North America reporting a sales decline of 33 percent for October of 2008 versus that month one year ago, the company is pulling out the stops to try and spur sales as owners across the country hold off on new car purchases in an uncertain economy.--Colin Mathews
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Posted in : 2008, Advertising/Marketing, Crossover Vehicles, Enthusiasts, Industry News, Infiniti, Luxury Cars, North America, Sedans, Shoppers

Automotive Tchotchkes from Delta SkyMall

By colin November 6th, 2008

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Enlarge Photo

How about a little octane for your Christmas tree? Delta's popular SkyMall gift/gadget emporium has some holiday tchotchkes they'd love to sell you, and in addition to those bubbling chemistry experiments and the kids' arts-and-crafts numbers from kindergarten, they should provide a welcome automotive sparkle to your tree.

Rather than the traditional white lights or multicolored bulbs, how about draping your tree in a garland of Ford Oval, Chevy Bowtie, or Chevrolet C5 Corvette emblem lights? A great way to stimulate the budding car enthusiast in your clan or start fights over too much eggnog with the neighbors.

Mechanical gurus will be charmed with the musclecar engine ornaments. You can select between a Chevy 350 smallblock, the Chevy 427 big-block, Chrysler 426 HEMI, or Ford 427 with relatively impressive amounts of detail.

Oh, and perfect for the garage is the Gear Shift Coat Rack, which features five different gear selectors poking from their shift boots and/or numbers. I wonder if they'll come out with a giant-size iDrive controller, or perhaps a Prius three-position drive selector to keep up with the times?--Colin Mathews

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Posted in : 2008, Advertising/Marketing, Chrysler, Enthusiasts, Ford, GM, Gadgets/Products, Just for Fun, Shoppers