mercedes

Oligarchs no longer have to choose between safety and the environment: the world's first bulletproof Mercedes S400 Hybrid went on sale early this year.

Texas Armoring's custom Mercedes S400 Hybrid retails for $255,000 to start; it's capable of withstanding multiple high-power assault rifle rounds at close range from weapons like the AK-47 and M-16. Customers are free to enhance security with options such as electric-shock door handles and hidden ballistic steel bumpers, but that costs extra.

Why, might you ask, would anyone want a bulletproof hybrid?

The answer has less to do with the environment and … Read more

The 2011 North American International Auto Show is still a few days away, but Mercedes became the latest manufacturer to release early photos of its 2012 S350 BlueTEC 4MATIC diesel sedan before its official debut.

The 2012 S350 BlueTEC is already on sale in Europe and this year becomes the latest clean diesel to make it to the U.S. market. It will be outfitted with the same 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 engine that's in the E350, ML350, GL350, and R350 BlueTEC diesels already on the market. Although specs for the AWD diesel sedan, in the ML350, the same … Read more

Mercedes released photos of its updated 2012 C-Class, which adds to the entry vehicle lineup a generous handful of technology upgrades and improved fuel economy.

The C-Class vehicles are set to receive Attention Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Parking Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Blind Spot Assist for added safety. The next-generation infotainment and navigation system will get new features, including the ability to display text messages. And it may also add Nokia Terminal mode, according to an article in Telematics News.

Citing Automobilwoche.de, Telematics News reports that the 2012 C-Class will feature COMAND Online, which brings in Internet access … Read more

Mercedes-Benz does not shy away from tech for its top-tier cars; these vehicles have every new electronic feature the company can conceive. For the CL550, that means adaptive cruise control that can bring the car to a complete stop when traffic ahead halts, a split-view front LCD letting the passenger watch a movie while the driver views the navigation system, and night vision, which uses infrared projectors and a camera to show the driver the road on dark nights.

Although we've seen some of these features before in other Mercedes-Benz cars, the CL550 also debuts a new engine, a … Read more

While Nissan and GM were racing to deliver their first electric and extended range electric vehicles to customers this week, Mercedes-Benz quietly handed over the keys of an F-Cell hydrogen car to its new owner in California.

Mercedes-Benz posted photos of the delivery on its Facebook page, marking the first of 70 or so hydrogen vehicles that California drivers can lease from the luxury carmaker over the next few years. The compact F-Cell uses hydrogen to power the 134-horsepower electric motor and achieves a 240-mile zero-emissions range.

Drivers can lease the vehicle from Mercedes-Benz for $850 per month--a steep price … Read more

As 2010 rolls to a close, we look back at the cars we've reviewed over the last year to see which one should earn our Tech Car of the Year Award. From our survey of the cars we've reviewed, we're pleased to see that the adoption of cabin tech by automakers is becoming more prevalent and ever-more sophisticated, with features such as hard-drive-based navigation with traffic reporting becoming common.

Among the cars we've seen, we picked out five that show the most innovative technology. These cars use technology to enhance the cabin and driving experience, and … Read more

Throughout 2010, CNET Car Tech editors drove thousands of miles reviewing more than 80 cars. We punched addresses into the navigation systems, talked to the cars through voice command, listened to music from a variety of audio sources, and even made calls to see how well Bluetooth phone systems worked. We took the cars onto twisty roads, bumpy roads, up steep hills, into stop-and-go traffic, and sped long distances on freeways to get a sense of fuel economy, handling, ride quality, and acceleration. We tested lane departure systems, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control, and automated braking.

Now, at the end … Read more

So maybe you can't actually buy the pint-sized Volkswagen Gol concept featured last week (and with a top speed of 17 mph, who'd want to?) but what would you say to a half-scale Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, Porsche Speedster, or Jaguar E-Type?

These tiny Pocket Classics roadsters feature working lights, turn signals, horn, and, most importantly, a 110cc gasoline engine with a three-speed automatic transmission. On models that don't come with the optional speed limiter, top speed is 46 mph. Of course, there's no word on how long it would take to reach that speed or how … Read more

Teaser videos and pictures of the 2012 Audi A6 have been swirling around the Internet for the past couple of days, but here is the real thing.

Worldcarfans.com this morning posted this video on YouTube. It shows the 2012 Audio A6 sporting a delightful, if not conservative, design.

The 15-minute video highlights the LED headlights, taillights and 16-inch alloy wheels, an integrated trunk-lid spoiler, and a dual exhaust system. The wheelbase has been stretched out a bit longer than the 2011 as well.

Although Audi didn't release specs on its Web site or any press release I could … Read more