Tag Archives: Mercedes

Range Rover Sport SVR And Mercedes-AMG G63 Get Summoned For A Series Of Tests

The Range Rover Sport SVR and Mercedes-AMG G63 got together again, this time in the Middle East, to show what they’re made of under the scorching sun.

Deemed as one of the most versatile vehicles out there due to its impressive straight-line performance and rock-crawling ability, the new generation G63 was driven flat out on a long straight against its challenger, the Range Rover Sport SVR, which is no slouch either.

Watch Also: Range Rover Sport SVR Has No Chance Against Mercedes-AMG G63 – Or Does It?

The 2020 model year SVR example tested by ArabGT packs a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 that produces 567 HP (575 PS / 423 kW) and 516 pound-feet (700 Nm) of torque. From nought to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) it needs 4.5 seconds, and with the throttle floored, it will eventually run out of breath at 174 mph (280 km/h).

Equally fast to 62 mph (100 km/h), but with a lower top speed of “only” 149 mph (240 km/h) with the optional AMG Driver’s Package, the range-topping variant of the new-gen G-Wagen uses a twin turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. In terms of power, we are looking at 577 HP (585 PS / 430 kW) and 627 lb-ft (849 Nm).

The balance does tilt in favor of the G63, but power figures alone don’t always tell the whole story. That said, let’s see which of the two is quicker in a straight line acceleration in the following video, which is in Arabic, but it does speak the international language of speed and fun on four wheels. The action begins at the 2:10 mark, so you know the drill.

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2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Transformed From Luxury Sedan To Sumptuous Family Hauler

You didn’t really think the new generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class would escape the rendering frenzy, did you?

Truth be told it’s not a frenzy, not yet at least, as what we have here is a single illustration that depicts the uncrowned luxury car king in a new body style.

With a reshaped back end, an elongated roof complete with thin rails and two more side windows, the 2021 S-Class has been turned into an elegant estate by XTomi. Despite that, it is safe to say that Mercedes would never make such a thing.

See Also: All-New Mercedes S-Class Promo Campaign To Feature Alicia Keys And Lewis Hamilton

What they will do is start selling their new flagship sedan in a few months, with the first batch of cars expected to hit the U.S. shores sometime in Q1 next year.

Boasting an evolutionary design that brings it closer to the smaller E- and C-Class, as well as taillights inspired by the latest CLS, the all-new S-Class will launch with an engine family comprising of electrified six- and eight-cylinder engines, while a plug-in hybrid will follow shortly.

In Europe, Merc’s latest range topper will feature a selection of petrol and diesel engines, in the S450, S500, S350d, S350d 4Matic and S400d 4Matic, with the first two packing a 3.0-liter mild-hybrid with 362 and 429 HP respectively. In the US, the 2021 S-Class will be available in S500 4Matic and S580 4Matic guises, with the latter being powered by a mild-hybrid 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that puts out 496 HP.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class EstateBemutatkozott az új S Osztályos Mercedes, elsőként kombivá alakítottam.#xtomidesign #mercedesbenz #sklasse #virtualtuninghungary

Posted by X-Tomi Design on Thursday, September 3, 2020

Next Nissan Frontier / Navara May Use Mercedes X-Class Parts

The next-generation Nissan Navara that’s sold in some parts of the world as the Frontier, including Mexico, Argentina and Brazil (though, not to be confused with the unrelated U.S. and Canadian-spec Frontier) could receive some parts from the outgoing Mercedes-Benz X-Class, at least according to a new report.

It’s no secret that the X-Class was underpinned by the same platform as the Navara. However, not everyone knows that Mercedes-Benz did make some alterations to the platform, adding some structural reinforcement to add to its strength and improving the driving dynamics.

Now, Autoblog.com.ar is reporting that when the new Navara hit the market, they will do so with the strengthened platform of the X-Class, including its new cross members. The report adds the Nissan will receive the same supplementary crossbar as the X-Class.

Read More: All-New Nissan Frontier Makes Spy Debut, Looks Like A Baby Titan

Nissan will apparently start manufacturing the first prototypes of this chassis before the end of the year at a factory in Argentina.

What about America’s Frontier?

It was only in February that Nissan updated the Navara’s distant American and Canadian cousin, the current Frontier (which is related to the second generation Navara, not the third gen NP300 sold globally) for the 2020 model year. While it largely retained the same looks as the previous model, it did land with a new 3.8-liter V6 using 93 per cent new or re-designed parts, allowing it to deliver an impressive 310 hp and 281 lb-ft (381 Nm) of torque. This engine will come standard with the next-gen Frontier and be paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission that replaces the five-speed auto and five-speed manual that have been offered in previous years.

Not to be confused with the Frontier sold outside the U.S. and Canada

From what we’ve heard from Nissan sources, America and Canada’s next-generation Frontier will not use the global Navara platform mentioned above but a heavily revised version of the current model’s older truck architecture, the F-Alpha. Confusingly, Nissan markets the global Navara as the Frontier in several other markets.

Sources tell CarScoops that rear-wheel drive will be standard and an all-wheel drive system with an electronically controlled transfer case will be optional.

Nissan had been expected to unveil the new North American Frontier pickup truck before the end of the year, but it seems increasingly likely we won’t see it until 2021.

Correction: We’ve clarified that there are in fact two different Nissan Frontier models available for sale in the world, one for numerous global markets that is the same as the European Navara (NP300), and one based on the older F-Alpha platform for the U.S. and Canada

Photo credits: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien for CarScoops

Can A Mercedes SLR Keep Up With An Aston DBS Superleggera And Ferrari GTC4Lusso?

The market for luxurious, high-performance Grand Tourers has never been more hotly contested and CarWow recently brought together three particularly fine GT’s for a series of performance tests.

The real star of this comparison test is the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. Sure, it is almost 20 years since production of the German icon commenced but when it hit the market, it offered up similar performance to the Porsche Carrera GT but in a much more approachable, comfortable, and refined package. There wasn’t anything quite like it in the early 2000s.

Fast forward to today and there are heaps of exotic Grand Tourers to choose from and in this test, we are presented with an Aston Martin DBS Superleggera and a Ferrari GTC4Lusso.

Watch Also: Is The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante As Awesome As It Looks?

In terms of grunt, the SLR is slightly down on its modern-day rivals. Whereas its 5.4-liter supercharged V8 churns out 617 hp and 575 lb-ft (780 Nm) of torque, the 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V12 of the GTC4Lusso has 681 hp and 514 lb-ft (697 Nm). The DBS Superleggera is the most powerful of the bunch with 715 hp and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) from its 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12.

Despite its power deficit, the SLR McLaren performs surprisingly well. A handful of drag races were staged and in the first, the Ferrari took the win over the Aston Martin with the Mercedes finishing last. In the third drag race, however, the SLR actually got off the line much quicker than the Aston and only trailed behind the Ferrari.

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BMW M8 Competition Takes On Mercedes-AMG GT R And Audi R8 On The Track

The M8 Competition is BMW’s most powerful production vehicle ever, but despite bearing this bold title, it’s by no means a supercar. Nevertheless, it’s got supercar-like performance and can put a really big smile on the face of its driver.

So, the most powerful Bimmer ever can smoke a lot of big names in a straight line, with the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) taking 3.1 seconds in the Competition Convertible. In this spec, the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 pumps out 617 HP (625 PS / 460 kW) and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque, and the car has an MSRP of $155,500 in the U.S.

Watch Also: New BMW M8 Competition Is A 616 HP Super GT Ready To Crush Continents

We know what it can do on paper, but how does it translate into the real world, when its rivals are two open-top supercars and the battle ground is the Lausitzring circuit? AutoBildSportsCars had the M8 Competition Convertible pitted against the Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster and Audi R8 Performance Spyder, to see which one is faster around the German track.

Before checking out the video below, let’s talk specs – and more specifically, those of the other two competitors. The GT R Roadster is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that puts out 577 HP (585 PS / 430 kW) and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm). The 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint takes 3.5 seconds in this model, which starts at $189,750.

The 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10 in the R8 Performance Spyder, on the other hand, develops 611 HP (620 PS / 456 kW) and 427 lb-ft (579 Nm) in the Euro-spec version, which was the one put to the test, for a 0-60 mph of 3.1 seconds. The U.S. model comes with 602 HP (610 PS / 449 kW) and 413 lb-ft (560 Nm), and adds two tenths of a second to the sprint time, while pricing starts at $208,100.

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Mercedes-Benz EQV Electric Luxury MPV Can Be Yours For $78,300 In Europe

There isn’t a market for all-electric luxury MPVs to speak of, but Mercedes-Benz wants to create one with the EQV.

Unveiled last year, the fully-electric variant of the V-Class has just gone on sale in Germany and the rest of Europe. The second member of the EQ family of Mercedes-Benz after the EQC SUV, the EQV starts from €71,388 ($78,315) in Germany, including VAT.

Is that a lot? It’s hard to say as the market for such vehicles is only just beginning. Obviously, sales numbers will decide that, but until then let’s see what the EQV brings to the table.

See Also: Mercedes EQV Completes Winter Testing, Will Launch This Summer

For the market launch, the electric van is available in the long-wheelbase version badged EQV 300 (a standard-wheelbase model will launch later on). That means it features a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery which provides it with a maximum range of 418 km (260 miles).

The battery feeds electricity to an electric drive train (eATS) on the front axle integrating the electric motor, fixed transmission, cooling system and power electronics in a compact unit. The motor delivers 150 kW (204 PS / 201 HP) and 362 Nm (267 lb-ft) of torque, enabling a top speed 140 km/h (87 mph) – optionally extendable to 160 km/h (99 mph).

The EQV is equipped with an AC water-cooled on-board charger (OBL) with an output of 11 kW which enables AC charging at home or at public charging stations. Using a fast charging station at a capacity of 110 kW, the EQV can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in around 45 minutes.

By placing the battery in the underbody, the EQV remains as spacious and versatile as the regular V-Class. Thanks to the flexible installation of individual seats, it can offer diverse seating configurations for six, seven or eight passengers. Mercedes-Benz says the EQV offers a permissible total weight of 3,500 kilograms (7,716 lbs).

As with the V-Class and Vito, the EQV is built at the plant in Vitoria in northern Spain.

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