mercedes-benz

Bentley takes the top off its Continental Supersports, and adds a rear seat. Rinspeed makes an electric car/train hybrid. EnerDel tests plan to have utilities pay for part of electric car batteries. And we take a drive in one of the most luxurious hybrids available.

• Bentley Continental Supersports convertible previewed pre-Geneva

• Rinspeed UC electric car

• GM tests closing grille to boost truck mpg

• First Chevy Volt cars will not be E85 ready

• Hyundai Elantra now available with navigation

The S-class is a tech-lover's dream, loaded with seats that massage, radar that keeps set distances from other cars, mirrors that warn about cars to either side, and a speedometer that turns into a night vision camera. We were in seventh heaven riding around on its plush seats, listening to music from an iPod over its sweet-sounding Harman Kardan audio system.

And while previous S-classes left us with a little green guilt, or at least range anxiety, as the engine gulped down the gas, the S400 Hybrid has a more reasonable appetite. It is far from Prius territory, but … Read more

Five years ago, you knew what a luxury vehicle was.

It might have been a Mercedes-Benz S600 with a V-12 under the hood, or a Porsche Carrera S boasting 355 horsepower, or a massive, bling-dripping Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum.

Different as they were, those vehicles all displayed look-at-me styling, maximum horsepower, and a sense of self-reward. Fuel economy was an afterthought. The overall rating on the Escalade, for instance, was 13 mpg.

But a deflated economy and rising green consciousness are changing the definition of luxury. In the new era of inconspicuous consumption, rational factors play a greater role in purchasing decisions, brand executives say.

Luxury brands need new selling points to bring hesitant buyers into showrooms--and social correctness is a big factor. Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi of America, says sales of high-end luxury cars such as the Audi A8, BMW 7 series, and Mercedes-Benz S class have been hit especially hard.

For example, sales of the Lexus LS fell 44 percent in 2009. The Mercedes S class dropped 37 percent. BMW's 7 series and Audi's A8/S8 also posted big declines. "Those customers are the very people who are heading up corporations and small businesses, who are having to make tough decisions," de Nysschen says. "They might have the means, but it's just socially not the right time." … Read more

We've seen them at auto shows and special events, the 12 hottest tech cars to debut in 2010. Each of these cars represents automakers' efforts to push the technology envelope, whether through cabin or power-train tech.

Don't expect to find another tired update of an economy model amongst this group. Some are radical attempts to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, others institute new technologies in the cabin, and a few we've selected are pinnacles of engineering.

These cars will become available to the public throughout the year, and it looks like a good year indeed.

Check out the 12 hottest tech cars for 2010. … Read more

DETROIT -- With federal mileage standards rising, automakers next week will show a fresh group of fuel-efficient vehicles at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Ford will unveil the redesigned production Focus, and Honda will show the production version of the CR-Z hybrid hatchback. Toyota and Volkswagen will roll out hybrid concepts; Audi, BMW and Fiat will display electric concepts.

Show organizers are arranging various electric cars, including one from China's BYD Auto, in a space on the show floor called Electric Avenue.

But high performance will get its due. Judging by vehicles at the show, performance … Read more

We usually enjoy test driving the various Mercedes-Benz cars we get in at CNET headquarters, but the 2010 C350 that recently arrived was the exception. Although the C-class can be a comfortable cruiser and highly competent in the corners, this one was minimally optioned, making us long for the smaller-engine C300 we had tested previously. Lacking a navigation system, the included iPod integration kit had a horrible interface. And without that Harmon Kardon audio upgrade, the sound quality was mediocre. Our car did sport good-looking AMG wheels, but we would much rather have had decent cabin tech.

Read our review of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C350. … Read more

I've focused this week's blogs on the newest hybrid vehicles on the market for the 2010 automotive year, and today is no exception. Today's Web clip features the 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML 450 Hybrid; but fear not, as there are no boring narrators or bad techno music on this video to pull attention away from the car. In fact, the only sounds you'll hear are those of the vehicle against the wind.

The M-class rocks a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 335 horsepower and starts about $55,000. The 450 ML gets about 22.5 miles … Read more

Instead of big, new vehicle launches at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz focused heavily on technology. The company brought out its next generation fuel cell vehicle, a car that lets passenger and driver view different content on the same screen, and an iPhone app that works with the company's new telematics service, Mbrace.

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz F-Cell is a fuel cell research vehicle, continuing the company's look into using hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity to drive a car. The new model is based on the Mercedes-Benz B-class, a small vehicle with practical interior space. The fuel … Read more

It won't ship until late 2010, but the 2011 Audi A8 looks really good. The all-new fourth-generation A8 full-size luxury sedan has a 372 hp 4.2-liter V-8 with eight-speed transmission under the hood, and all-wheel drive.

This 8-minute video includes driving scenes and exterior shots, plus close-up detail shots.

The $75,000 car will compete with the Mercedes-Benz S-class, Maserati Quattroporte, Lexus LS460, Jaguar XJ/XJL, BMW 7-series.