Take a good look at Car Online’s scoop pictures of the next-gen Sports Coupe. Looks far too similar with the current C-Class Sport Coupe doesn’t it? Of course it does since Mercedes-Benz decided to save heap loads of money by adding the front end of the new C-Class (see here) in order to support the latest engines and dashboard to the “old” Sports Coupe chassis. We were never fans of the Sports Coupe’s appearance and we doubt if the new front end will make us change our mind.

Good news is that the new (or maybe shall we call it, facelifted?) Sports Coupe will get the 2008 C-Class’ engine range from the supercharged 156 Hp 1.8-litre up to the 272 Hp 3.5-litre V6 while Merc’s diesel line-up will start with a 136 Hp 2.2-litre unit and rise to a 224 Hp 3.0-litre engine. The 2008 Sports Coupe will most probably make its first appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008 with sales starting shortly after.

A new version of the Mercedes-McLaren has been developed by British motorsports company RML Group for a handful of privateer teams who hope to compete in a new club racing series. The car was solely designed for the track and has no approval for on-road use but that hasn’t stopped 21 individuals paying the estimated €1 million price tag for the privilege of owning one of the hottest race cars on the planet.

The Mercedes McLaren SLR 722 GT has a top speed of 315 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds. Compared to the series-production version, the SLR 722 GT has been uniquely and comprehensively re-engineered by RML, especially with respect to the suspension, braking system, aerodynamics, interior and exhaust system. More than 400 components were redesigned. The key data of this edition limited to 21 two-seaters – kerb weight 1390 kilograms, maximum output 500 kW/680 ps at 1.75 bar boost,and maximum torque of 830 Newton metres to guarantee maximum racetrack performance.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Fernando Alonso finished the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai in second place. Whilst his team mate Lewis Hamilton retired, when he went off and got stuck in the gravel with worn wet tyres on a drying track. Kimi Räikkönen took victory, so the championship will now be decided among those three at the final race in Sao Paulo in two weeks’ time. After 56 laps in changeable conditions, 305.066 km and a total race time of 1:37:58.395 hrs, Fernando came home 9.8sec behind Räikkönen’s Ferrari. Despite his first retirement in 16 Grands Prix, Lewis maintained his lead in the Drivers’ Championship after 16 out of 17 races with 107 points followed by Fernando in second position with 103 points; Räikkönen is third on 100 points with 10 points available in the remaining race. For the first time since 1986, there are three drivers to fight for the title in the final race. (more…)

German tuners have just unveiled their BRABUS D3 S POWER XTRA upgrade for the new 2008 Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI. The plug-in kit produces an additional 50 PS (49HP)/36.8 kW more power and an extra 80 Nm of torque combined with maximum environmental friendliness in harmony with the euro-IV emission limits. (more…)

Mercedes-Benz tuning specialists Carlsson have joined forces with international leather-lifestyle brand Etienne Aigner to develop the Carlsson Aigner CK65 Eau Rouge model. Made in an exclusive small series, the luxury coupe based on the Mercedes-Benz CL produces over 700 bhp (522 kw) and 1,100 Nm after being reworked by Carlsson.

Carlsson/ Mercedes Press Release

Technical masterpiece

The engine conversion by Carlsson includes a special electronic control unit with special maps for injection and ignition. On the intake side, sports air filters ensure optimum aspiration. On the outlet side, a stainless-steel sports exhaust system with high-performance metal catalytic converters and sports silencers cut back-pressure to a minimum. Another measure to boost engine performance is improved intercooling, which reduces charge-air temperature. Thus, the V12 is always raring to go and the driver can rely on having more than adequate power on hand regardless of the situation. (more…)

Following the nine hour hearing at the FIA headquarters in Paris, the World Motor Sport Council have changed their original verdict and now find McLaren guilty of the charges of industrial espionage. The Working-based team have had their points stripped away and excluded from the 2007 campaign, and they have also been fined an unprecedented $100m (the largest ever imposed in motor sport history). The news comes as a shock to Formula One fans the world over, and of course also means that Ferrari have just about become the 2007 constructors champions, even though four races are still to run.

The WMSC has stripped Vodafone McLaren Mercedes of all constructor points in the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship and the team can score no points for the remainder of the season.

Furthermore, the team will pay a fine equal to $100m, less the FOM income lost as a result of the points deduction.

However, due to the exceptional circumstances in which the FIA gave the team’s drivers an immunity in return for providing evidence, there is no penalty in regard to drivers’ points.

Over the past three decades Brabus has perfected the art of transplanting large and extremely powerful engines into the bodies of small cars. That path led to numerous world records and entries into the Guinness Book of World Records. The Brabus Bullit, built in small-series production based on the new Mercedes C-Class sedan, celebrates its world debut at the IAA 2007 as the ultimate wolf in sheep’s clothing.

At the heart of this supercar Brabus placed the Brabus SV12 S Biturbo engine. The implantation of the 6.3-liter engine into the confines of the W 204 series body is yet more proof for the superiority of Brabus know-how. The turbocharged twelve-cylinder engine delivers 720 bhp of superlative power and 974 lb-ft of superlative peak torque.

The performance figures for the Brabus Bullit place it into pole position in its class: The car sprints from 0 – 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, reaches 124 mph after just 10.49 seconds and shatters the 186-mph (300 km/h) barrier after a mere 24.5 seconds. Top speed is more than 224 mph. There are only a very few super sports cars in the world that can hope to match these numbers.

All-in-all, this is one serious motorcar. Massive engine, massive brakes, massive power… any way you look at it, this thing is fast…

Mercedes-Benz has launched series production of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan in its plant in East London, South Africa. Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa, visited the plant on Thursday to celebrate the production start and investments into the new facility. Together with the President, Rainer Schmückle, Chief Operating Officer of the Mercedes Car Group, Dr. Hansgeorg Niefer, Chairman of the Management Board of DaimlerChrysler South , Joachim Follmann, East London Plant Manager and numerous stakeholders gathered at the plant to commemorate the occasion.