Edmunds Daily
Mercedes-Benz
October 8, 2009
Rivalries have always been good for improving the breed. Whether it is Mac vs PC, Red Sox vs Yankees or Alien vs Predator, competition brings out the best and demands change in the worst. Automotive rivalries are no different, especially the rivalry between luxury leaning Mercedes-Benz and sport leaning BMW. When Mercedes-Benz introduced the 2nd generation SLK four years ago, they realized that if they wanted to make convertible that could compete with the BMW Z-series, they would need to improve its sporting characteristics.
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- Lee Scott October 8, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- Deal of the Week, Mercedes-Benz
- Technorati Tags:
- Deal of the Week, Incentvies and Rebates, Lease Cash, Lease Rates, Mercedes-Benz SLK
October 6, 2009
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
IL News: Ram Brand Is Born, as Chrysler Purges Ranks and Elevates Designer Gilles
As part of its new brand focused strategy, Chrysler has announced that the Ram brand will break off from Dodge and become its own truck and SUV label. Meanwhile, a similar change in direction is occurring in the corporate ranks, with new executives being hired and others resigning.
Green Car Advisor: Nissan Leaf Video Campaign Launches to Promote New Electric Car
Nissan kicked off the first in a series of informative videos that promote its new electric vehicle. This minute-long video establishes the history that Nissan has in producing electric vehicles powered by lithium Ion batteries. The Nissan Leaf is expected to launch in selected U.S. cities next year.
Auto Observer: Make Mercedes Payment through iPhone App
Need to a way to make your car payment over the phone? Like the commercial says, "There's an app for that." With this new application, you can check your loan balance, make a payment, or locate your nearest Mercedes dealership. The application is free to download, and will work on iPhones and the iPod Touch.
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- Ron Montoya October 6, 2009, 2:00 AM
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Chrysler, Dodge, Edmunds Roundup, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan
September 2, 2009
Remember when Mercedes-Benz thought it would be a good idea to take Chrysler under its wing? Didn't exactly pan out, did it. However, one pleasant legacy for Chrysler has been the Dodge Sprinter van, a rebadged version of Benz's Euro-market hauler of the same name.
Until now, that is.
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- Josh Sadlier September 2, 2009, 11:45 AM
- Categories:
- Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz
August 13, 2009
Americans don't like wagons. Never mind about the killer combination of versatility and drivability; coolness counts in this country, and the old-fashioned station wagon hasn't been hip since the mullet went out of style. But now traditional body-on-frame SUVs have fallen from grace as well, victims of volatile gas prices, inherent packaging inefficiencies and a burgeoning sense that bigger isn't always better. That's where so-called crossovers come in: car-like underneath but SUV-like in appearance and elevation, they're the latest in wagons for those who wouldn't be caught dead in one.
Our quarry in this Edmunds Comparison Test is the best new entrant in the rapidly expanding Compact Luxury Crossover segment. The field consists of four notables that have joined the ranks within the past year: the 2009 Audi Q5, 2010 Cadillac SRX, 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 and 2010 Volvo XC60. Since we limited ourselves to rookies, respected veterans like the Acura RDX, BMW X3 and Infiniti EX35 went uninvited. As for the redesigned 2010 Lexus RX350, we determined that its midsize interior dimensions and doughy ride would clash with this crew's intimate cabins and capable suspenders.
Shoppers in this segment want more than just typical crossover virtues like good visibility, secure handling and stout styling. They're also after an upscale cabin, premium features and confident power. Practicality counts, too, and that includes price, as these "CUVs" start at less than $40,000 -- well shy of cost-no-object territory. Details below on our winner by a hair, our loser in a landslide, and the wholly respectable tie for second place.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor
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- Josh Sadlier August 13, 2009, 12:00 AM
- Categories:
- Audi, Cadillac, Comparison Road Tests, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo
July 9, 2009
There is an all-new Mercedes Benz E-Class coming for the 2010 model year. It will no doubt be a "more-better" luxury car than its predecessor in every measureable way. Of course, the current 2009 E350 is no slouch either. Though the current model has been around since the 2003 model year, Mercedes continued to make incremental improvements to its mid-sized luxury car, and it remains a vehicle that almost any car owner would be proud to park in their driveway.
In an effort to help dealers make room for the redesigned E-Class, Mercedes is offering some enticing incentives on the current 2009 E350. Read about them after the jump.
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- Lee Scott July 9, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- Deal of the Week, Mercedes-Benz
- Technorati Tags:
- APR, Deal of the Week, Dealer Cash, Incentives & Rebates, Mercedes E350
July 2, 2009
The thought of owning an AMG version of a given Mercedes-Benz would appear to be senseless fantasy for most car nuts. But if you don't mind the boutique roadster (or "secretary's car" as some colleagues are fond of saying) reputation of the first-generation SLK, there's some serious performance to be had for less than new Miata money...
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- John DiPietro July 2, 2009, 11:05 AM
- Categories:
- Car Buying, Mercedes-Benz, Used Car Corner, Used Cars
- Technorati Tags:
- 2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK32 AMG
May 26, 2009
Older car buyers are a diverse bunch. Still, there are certain themes that reveal themselves when analyzing their needs. These themes tend to be dictated by the physical challenges that many face in their golden years.
The choices listed in our top 10 vehicles for seniors stand out for the skill with which they address these themes.
Our mix of vehicles covers all the bases. There's a minivan for seniors who need extra passenger capacity, and there are compact cars for those who appreciate the parking convenience that smaller vehicles provide. Our list also includes technology-laden luxury cars, a couple of spacious full-size sedans and an innovative SUV.
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- Warren Clarke May 26, 2009, 11:00 AM
- Categories:
- Audi, Automotive Technology, BMW, Car Buying, Car Safety, Honda, Hybrids and Alternative Fuels, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Tuesday's Top 10 List, Volvo
- Technorati Tags:
- car buying advice, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Seniors, Toyota
May 13, 2009
Cars are always changing -- its the essence of why you read this Web site and why I write for it. If every car lasted as long as the original Volkswagen Beetle or the Saab 9-5, we'd all get very bored and start to think about automobiles on the same plain as a toilet. The old John hasn't really changed in more than half a century -- you've got a bowl, a tank, a seat and a handle (usually in the same place). It's only in Japan where they add heated seats, water sprayers and a Karaoke machine.
What was I saying? Oh yeah, cars are always changing, but it seems that the rate of change is rapidly increasing to other areas beyond styling. While the functionality of something may have been improved from one generation to the next, the basics remained fairly constant. You turned the key on with a metal key. A radio had preset buttons, volume and tuning knobs, and tone control. The shifter was mounted on the floor in a straight line labeled with PRND (perhaps with 3,2,1 following), or the odd column-mounted shifter. The emergency brake was a pull lever or a push pedal.
Not any more.
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- James Riswick May 13, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Thoughts from the Curb
April 7, 2009
We live in an age in which car gadgets allow us to do more than ever behind the wheel: make hands-free phone calls, receive and send text messages, search for the best gas prices and restaurants, listen to our entire music library and more. But of all the cool car technology available, the most significant advances are the ones that could save your life. Or at least a trip to the hospital or the body shop.
In a recent Edmunds feature, we highlight the latest safety technology from BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo that you'll see in showrooms soon. From cameras and sensors that help a driver see what's around a vehicle to Volvo's City Safety (shown above) that provides automatic braking in stop-and-go traffic, these innovative features represent the cutting-edge of available auto safety technology.
And could someday become as common as seatbelts and airbags.
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- Doug Newcomb April 7, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- Automotive Technology, BMW, Car Safety, Car Tech Tuesdays, Chrysler, Ford, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo
- Technorati Tags:
- BMW, Car Safety, Chrysler, Ford, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo
March 16, 2009
There's this silly myth out there that all car media types think alike, but they've obviously never been around for Sadlier-Riswick 135i fisticuffs
. These disagreements can get lively and it's about time we busted that myth.
In Face-Off, we will pit cars against each other, but instead of the full-blown, highly scrutinized, professional comparison test, this will be something different. One editor will defend the honor of one car, and make the case for why they would buy it -- and why the other guy is wrong. In the end, you can decide who wins.
Today: $100,000 super sport utility vehicles. In this corner, yours truly Automotive Editor James Riswick and the 2009 Range Rover Supercharged Autobiography. In that corner, Vehicle Testing Assistant Mike Magrath and the 2009 Mercedes-Benz G550. A coin toss determined who will present their opening arguments first.
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- James Riswick March 16, 2009, 12:02 PM
- Categories:
- Face-Off, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz
