1991 Mercedes Benz 300sl Roadster Convertible With Removable Hardtop on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Mercedes GLE to debut in NY, will get plug-in variant

On the eve of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG, said that 2015 will be the "Year of the SUV" at Mercedes-Benz. This means a host of new and updated sport-utility and crossover models, kicked off with the debut of the GLE-Class Coupe (pictured above) – in 450 AMG Sport and Mercedes-AMG GLE63 variants – here in the Motor City. But there's far more in store throughout the year. First, Mercedes has confirmed it will debut the non-coupe GLE-Class – the M-Class replacement – at the New York Auto Show in April. It will share most of its architecture with the GLE Coupe revealed here in Detroit, but will also come with a plug-in hybrid option. Mercedes-Benz debuted an S-Class Plug-In Hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November, and will expand this technology to other core models in its range. First, we will see the C350 Plug-In Hybrid, which also makes its debut here in Detroit. Beyond that, Mercedes has confirmed that the GLE-Class will benefit from a plug-in option, as will the upcoming GLC-Class crossover – the renamed replacement for the GLK. No official timing has been given for the GLC, but Mercedes confirms that both it and its largest utility vehicle – the GLS-Class (currently known as the GL-Class) – will debut "later this year." Year of the SUV, indeed. Featured Gallery 2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 Coupe View 9 Photos Green Detroit Auto Show New York Auto Show Mercedes-Benz Crossover SUV Hybrid Luxury PHEV 2015 Detroit Auto Show mercedes glk-class mercedes gl-class mercedes gle-class mercedes glc-class mercedes gls-class

Mercedes-Benz intros long-wheelbase E-Class for China

Long-wheelbase sedans are a pretty hot commodity in China, and to keep up with the competition, Mercedes-Benz has introduced an extended version of the 2014 E-Class sedan at the Shanghai Motor Show. Audi, BMW, Volvo and even Cadillac offer extended versions of sedans specific to the Chinese market, and now the E-Class L, shown off in E400L guise, will give luxury sedan buyers in China yet another option.
Compared to the standard 2014 E-Class sedan, the new China-spec E-Class L has been stretched by 5.5 inches - all of which goes to the rear-seat passengers. According to an article on China View from earlier in the year, the market for chauffeur-driven cars is growing in the Asian nation, so automakers need long-wheelbase models like the E-Class L in order to fully compete. As for what powers this stretched E-Class, it's available in three models: the diesel E260L, the V6-powered E300L and the E400 Hybrid.
The redesigned E-Class and the all-new A-Class are just the first of 20 new Mercedes-Benz products that will be introduced into the Chinese auto market by 2015. Scroll down for the full press release on long-wheelbase E.

2014 Mercedes SL and SLK add small expansion to Takata airbag recall

Mercedes-Benz is the latest automaker to be affected by Takata's massive airbag recall. The company has announced a voluntary recall campaign on a small number of model-year 2014 SLK- and SL-Class roadsters.
In Mercedes' case, 300 vehicles are affected, 200 of which are in the hands of customers. According to spokesperson Donna Boland, the affected roadsters were built between March and April of this year.
The issue, which is apparently the fault of one of Takata's subcontractors, rests with some improperly installed fasteners, which could keep the airbag from performing the way it's supposed to. According to Boland, Mercedes isn't sure what, if any, injuries the recalled airbags could cause, but simply claims there's an increased risk in these particular vehicles. There's been no reported instances of the faulty airbags deploying on a customer and the original issue was found in a production test.