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First Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive rolls off line, coming to US soon

Mercedes-Benz is about to give Americans another choice of battery-powered vehicle. Offering more all-electric range than the Nissan Leaf or BMW i3, and with a smaller price tag than the Tesla Model S, the B-Class Electric Drive is officially set to arrive in the US this summer. Indeed, the first examples have begun rolling off the production line in Rastatt, Germany. Featuring drivetrain parts from Tesla Motors, the luxury compact hits all the performance parameters mentioned during its debut at last year's New York Auto Show. For a refresher, that's a single-charge range of 200 kilometers (124 miles) along with a 0-to-100 kilometer-per-hour (62 mile-per-hour) sprint in a respectable 7.9 seconds. These achievements comes courtesy of a 28-kWh lithium battery located in the floor of the passenger compartment and a 132-kW (177-horsepower) motor powering the front wheels. Torque specs for the unit seemed to have increased somewhat and are now given as 340 Newton meters (250.77 pound-feet). It boasts an 11-kW charger and can add as much as 62 miles of range to a deleted battery in an hour and a half. Sadly, it is not Supercharger compatible. The B-Class Electric Drive, which is built on the same production line as the gasoline-powered version, is going to go on sale in Europe around the end of the year and will also come in a right-hand drive version for other markets in 2015. Although pricing has not yet been announced, Mercedes execs expect it to be quite competitive with the BMW i3. Scroll below for the press release (Google translated from German). Model offensive: Mercedes-Benz launches first major series for electric cars - the start of production at Mercedes-Benz in Rastatt: B-Class Electric Drive begins For the first time large-scale production of Mercedes-Benz models with internal combustion engine and electric drive on the same line Stefan Abraham: "With the B-Class Electric Drive we are expanding our production portfolio at the Rastatt plant is a highly innovative drive variant." In the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt today through the first B-Class Electric Drive off the line. This makes Mercedes-Benz models are produced with internal combustion engine and electric drive on the same line at the site for the first time. The B-Class Electric Drive is based on the Mercedes-Benz front-wheel drive architecture of the new Mercedes-Benz compact car generation and uses the modular component kit.

2017 Mercedes GLS brings Benz's flagship SUV up to date

Mercedes-Benz is continuing the revision of its entire crossover lineup with the introduction of the new GLS. A facelifted version of the existing GL-Class, the new GLS aims to serve as the flagship of the German automaker's SUV lineup in the same way that the S-Class does for its sedans, coupes, and convertibles. As an update (rather than a completely new model), the new GLS is physically mostly the same as the GL it replaces, but packs a comprehensive series of revisions to bring it up to date. Those revisions can be seen on the outside, with revised styling front and rear. However the real changes have been made underneath the skin. The seven-passenger interior features a new three-spoke steering wheel, instrument panel with media display, center console with touchpad control, ambient lighting, and even an available air ionization system. The interior trim has been redone as well, with available Designo Exclusive and AMG Line packages to individualize it further. The new GLS will be offered Stateside in four engine specs. The base model is the GLS450, with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Step up to the GLS550 and you get 455 hp (20 more than before) and 516 lb-ft of torque. There's a six-cylinder diesel option in the GLS350d, good for 255 hp and 455 lb-ft. And the performance flagship, of course, is the new Mercedes-AMG GLS63, with 577 horsepower and 561 lb-ft of torque. The standard versions come with 4Matic all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission with additional settings. The AMG version gets a rearward-biased traction system and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox instead. The standard models ride on an improved air suspension with enhanced damping, but the GLS63 adds a Sport+ instead of Off-Road setting on the Dynamic Select controller. There's a low-range gearbox and locking center diff available as well for those who plan to go off-road. Mercedes has fitted the GLS with all its latest electronic systems, including Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Crosswind Assist with Attention Assist, Brake Assist BAS, Pre-Safe braking, and more. The optional Driver Assistance package adds Distronic Plus with Steering Assist, pedestrian detection, cross-traffic assist, active blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and more. There's an optional intelligent LED lighting system and heated adaptive windshield wipers as well.

2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class revealed again in 1:18 scale

There is plenty to look forward to when it comes to the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but it could end up being a fairly anticlimactic reveal thanks to fully exposed spy shots, a leaked press photo and now images of a diecast version of the luxury sedan. Autoweek.nl has images showing a highly detailed 1:18 scale model of the redesigned S-Class that matches up with everything we've seen so far.
This isn't the first time a model car spoiled a new vehicle's reveal, as the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class and 2013 SRT Viper were both unceremoniously revealed in toy form first. World Car Fans is reporting that the car 2014 S-Class will be officially unveiled on May 15, but at this point, all that's left to wonder about is the official on-sale date and what will be under the hood.