Mercedes-Benz E350 News

So Mercedes-Benz has responded by trimming the entry price into its new E-Class sedan range and adding more equipment.The newest range opener is also now a 2.1-litre turbo diesel, the 220 CDI, which arrives in September with a pricetag of $80,900, about $10,000 cheaper than the outgoing 1.8-litre 200 Kompressor model. The CDI also becomes the first modern four-cylinder turbo-diesel E-Class to be sold here. The 220 CDI will be joined in two months by the $93,900 E250 CGI petrol four, $96,900 E 250 CDI diesel four and $131,900 E350 CDI V6.These engines are all part of the company's Blue Efficiency technologies designed to reduce aerodynamics, fuel consumption and emissions. The range initially kicks off with the $128,900 E350 V6 and $178,900 E500 V8. The new 3.5-litre V6 E350 costs $2965 less than the outgoing model, yet adds more than $10,000 in additional standard equipment. Of all the models, only the 5.5-litre V8 E500 sedan is more expensive, increasing by $11,232. However, it too gets an equipment lift with about $21,000 worth of extra standard equipment.Buyers can also specify the $5700 AMG sports pack which adds 18-inch AMG alloys, body kit, firmer suspension, sports seats, three-spoke steering wheel and brushed alloy pedals.Apart from a lavish level of safety, the E350 gets front and rear parking sensors with parking guidance, 7-speed G-tronic automatic, lane keeping package with blind-spot alarm, 18-inch alloys, bi-Xenon headlights, cruise control, split/fold rear seats, cupholders, cable for the iPod input, multi-contour front seats and multi-zone climate control air-conditioning.The E500 ups the ante with keyless entry and go, more luxurious front seats, alarm and sunblinds in the rear and side rear seats. The car has grown slightly in all directions except height. The wheelbase is 20mm longer at 2874mm, which has helped liberate more interior room. The sedan's boot capacity remains at 540-litres but it has been redesigned to improve its shape so it can take four golf bags. Every E-Class now also gets a split fold rear seat to increase luggage room.Visually, one look at the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan shows that the design team has taken some cues from the famous 1950s Pontoon models. The E-Class shares that car's bulging rear wheel arches, incorporated into the ninth-generation car's 21st century design. Apart from a passing nod to the Pontoon, the newest Merc gains a modern interpretation of the E-Class's quad headlight treatment.As expected, it bristles with safety and technology. Mercedes boldly describes it as the safest car in the world. Apart from the added features, service intervals have also been lifted to 25,000km.Mercedes-Benz Australia managing director, passenger cars, Horst von Sanden, says the introduction of an entry turbo-diesel reflects the growing acceptance of modern diesel technology by Australian customers. He says adding more gear into the cars was also a direct reaction to market demands.The luxury segment had become more price sensitive, he says. “We saw that with the run-out of the old car,” he says. “Even luxury buyers are expecting more.”Apart from the sedan, Mercedes-Benz also launched the E-Class coupe, which effectively replaces the CLK.Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan: E 220 CDI sedan - $80,900E 250 CGI sedan - $93,900E 250 CDI sedan - $96,900E 350 CDI sedan - $131,900E 350 sedan - $128,900E 500 sedan - $178,900Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé: E 250 CGI coupé - $94,500E 250 CDI coupé - $97,500E 350 coupé - $127,500E 500 coupé - $174,500

Surrounded by hybrid and fuel cell cars of every type and size the stars of the annual Big Apple motorfest remain the muscle cars.

Mercedes-Benz swamped the Frankfurt Motor Show with a range of eco-friendly cars, including seven hybrid cars, eight ultra-clean diesel Bluetec models and several new engines that meet Euro 5 emissions targets due in 2009.However, show goers were stunned by the striking F700 concept sedan, which uses an innovative DiesOtto and hybrid drive system that uses just 5.3 litres per 100km and delivers 127g/km CO2 emissions.The DiesOtto engine, housed in a sleek luxury body called the F700 research vehicle, is claimed to provide the best elements of both diesel and petrol engines. The engine is mated to a new hybrid starter/generator and seven-speed automatic transmission. It is a four-cylinder, 1.8-litre two-stage charging petrol engine that Mercedes says combines the frugal virtues of a diesel with the low emissions of a petrol engine.It can deliver 175kW with the electric motor producing an extra 15kW while torque is 400Nm.Mercedes executives say the car will accelerate to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds and has a top speed of 200km/h. Apart from the engine and powertrain, the F700 has a sophisticated suspension that uses two laser scanners to view the road ahead and adjust the suspension.The luxury Mercedes also uses a new “human machine interface” with a virtual operating assistant called the avatar which can assist the driver with specific functions, such as adjusting the airconditioning or dialling a phone number.Visually, the F700 is based on the S-Class sedan but has an extra 285mm built into the wheelbase. The rear doors are rear hinged to allow for easy access to the roomy cabin.The big Merc is one of the varied ways carmakers at the show are attempting to create greener machines. Car industry green expert Ted Grozier says the show illustrates how the industry is faring in its efforts to reduce its reliance on gas-guzzling larger vehicles.“The conventional wisdom is that the US will go hybrid and in Europe the diesel is being challenged,” says Grozier, of Green Order, a New York-based advisory group that counts General Motors, among others, as clients for its advice on how to make cars cleaner. “This may be a pivotal year for the industry in the battle for greener cars and the gloves have come off.”Indeed, BMW, Porsche, Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler are among those showing cars with low-emission diesel engines and hybrids, featuring electricity to augment traditional fuel motors, as well as hydrogen fuel cell concepts that BMW is researching. It is all part of the effort to make high-mileage, cleaner cars that also meet drivers' expectations for performance.Nissan showed its Mixim concept car, an electric car powered by lithium ion batteries, with the driver's seat in the middle and steering controls inspired by video-game controllers.Unsurprisingly, it is geared toward younger drivers who spend a lot of time behind a computer keyboard. Ford showed off the current models under its ECOnetic label that produces a lower level of emissions.France's PSA Peugeot-Citroen has its 308 BioFlex compact at the show. The car uses biofuels, or fuel obtained from crops. GM goes a step further with a car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The show is also a chance for carmakers to explore new concepts and designs that may or may not take shape on the assembly line. Ford is eager to pique consumer interest in its new subcompact concept car, the Verve.If successful, it could be the basis of a new small car for global sales. It would come to Australia as the next generation Fiesta.Designed in Europe, the Verve concept has a rounded design and is demonstrably smaller than most cars on US roads.The president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry Matthias Wissmann says 1081 companies are at the Frankfurt Motor Show.In total, 88 new models are debuting at the biennial event which runs until September 23.

That's when you find the changes run way deeper than bumpers and lamps, drilling deep into the body and including engines, transmissions and suspension ...Luxury buyers looking at the latest mid-sized E-Class Mercedes should like what they see, but still deserve some answers.Let's not forget how owners of the previous E-Class cars — without the substantial upgrading, which was done in September — will feel about their cars, particularly when it comes to trade-in time.The update is so substantial, and was so essential, that some carmakers would probably have moved to identify the model shift. To be fair to Benz, the update this year came at a time when the company was ready with new running gear to give the mid-sizer a performance boost on several fronts.It also brought out the E280 and the sledgehammer E63 AMG.The latest E-Class picks up everything from cosmetic changes at both ends and in the cabin to revised steering, improved suspension, power boosts in several engines, and more safety, including the Pre-Safe system — which detects a coming impact and primes the car's safety systems — and Neck-Pro head restraints.Tiny changes include repositioning the GPS antenna and redesigned mirrors. There is much more than can be listed here or that Benz could provide in the press pack, but Mercedes says engine output in the basic E200 is up by 15kW and 10Nm while the E500 is better by 60kW and 70Nm.And the flagship E63 AMG? It has 378kW, up by 28kW over the previous E55, although the torque has dropped slightly but still remains strong at 630Nm.The Mercedes-Benz model update also includes the arrival of the latest E280 CDi.Prices have risen a little. The E200K is now priced from $84,500, a $2000 rise. The E350 starts at $126,500 (also up by $2000) and runs to the E63 AMG at $227,600.Putting a wagon tail on an E-Class car is still a $6000 job.The first impression of the updated E-Class was good. Very good. It felt more substantial, the quality seemed better and it was more inviting in the cabin.The test car was an E280 wagon that came with a sports package, which made it the sort of car we would like to drive — for a long time.The combination of the mid-sized body with the sweet V6 motor made the car enjoyable to drive, all the way from puddling speeds to a cornering thrash. It even did well at the pump — average consumption 8.9 litres for 100km. The V6 E-Class is a sweet and well-balanced package. The engine gives more than enough thrust, even with a load.We have liked the 280 in other Benzes, including the SLK drop-top, and it is best suited to the E wagon, giving more flexibility than a four and avoiding both the price and petrol hikes of a V8.The latest E actually felt more like the lovely CLS to drive, with better feel through the steering, more response from the suspension and more of the luxury stuff to match a price which comes in at a fair bit more than $100,000.Benz won't like us saying it, but the cabin quality is now more like the latest Audis.Those cars were developed very specifically to make a good showroom impression. Lots of people buy on their emotional response to the cabin. Now Mercedes has the right idea with its trim and dashboard combinations.The gearshift paddle change is good, too, and triggers a seven-speed automatic that is probably the best in the business right now.The latest E rides extremely well, even on the sports springs and low-profile tyres, and the braking is great. There is more than enough safety equipment: development included 330 crash tests.The wagon is very flexible and that's great for the families who should be looking at a car instead of a four-wheel drive, but all the basics are the same in the wagon.We enjoyed the previous E-Class but could see and feel its shortcomings, a lot like the previous generation S-Class.These are good cars, but not as good as they could or should have been. Line the latest E up against its rivals and it is back to best in the class, which is all anyone needs to know.

Watch for more orange, brown, gold and yellow cars on streets near you soon as 1970s-style earth tones make a comeback and fuel-sipping cars thrive, industry experts say.Still, neutral colours remain the first stop for risk-averse buyers worried about resale value, and the rainbow will always fade when it comes to pricey rides."The more expensive the car and the higher the value, the less colourful it is," says Sandra Krueger, an auto colours specialist in Germany for US-based chemicals company DuPont. "There are exceptions, such as Ferrari that is classically red, but you are not going to see expensive cars that are orange or bright green. Taste in autos is very conservative."DuPont's 2005 survey of car colours shows silver remained the customers' favourite, accounting for 30 per cent of vehicles in Asia, 29 per cent in Europe, 25 per cent in South America and 18 per cent in North America, although grey and black gained.Corporate fleets that buy millions of cars each year for use as company vehicles or rentals prefer neutral colours because they retain value better. Even retail buyers don't want to be stuck with a car they can't sell at a good price.That means the colour action is mainly to be found among smaller and sportier cars that strive to be cute and peppy. They tend to be second cars driven by women and young people."We see silver crossing over to new colour spaces using tints in cool blue and green or warm, light brown metallic effects. Even grey will take on more hues in red, blue and purple," says DuPont's forecasts for colours through to 2009. Light, medium and dark blues are becoming more popular across vehicle segments, while warmer reds will cross with orange to create new colour trends."And while deep brown has been periodically picked as a luxury fashion colour, new colour highlights and greyed-off effects may finally push the colours' attractiveness for more vehicle models," DuPont says.Bright yellow and orange are also gaining acceptance, which means colours are getting bolder just as smaller fuel-efficient cars are in the ascendancy because of high fuel prices.Effects that make the colour seem to change depending on how light hits them are also the rage.The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class executive car features 13 colours, of which nine are metallic and two have special effects, a Mercedes spokesman says. Its Indium Grey, for instance, seems to shift colour as the light changes.Car companies put a lot ofwork into picking colours. Gert Hildebrand, chief designer at Mini, says developing a new colour takes more than two years. Mini works with suppliers to come up with hues, then tests them in the desert while trying to persuade marketing and production colleagues to back them."We have to make 10 proposals to the board before we get one colour through," Hildebrand says. "It is not just picking a colour and painting it. We paint 20 cars and they pick two."

AUDIThe much-anticipated second generation of the Audi TT Coupe made its public debut at this week's New York International Auto show. Audi Australia spokeswoman Anna Burgdorf says the new TT will be in showrooms here before the end of the year.The new TT features Audi's new magnetic ride-damper system, which uses metal particles suspended in the damper oil and electric current to provide variable damping. The car is also longer and wider than its predecessor while retaining the sleek lines pioneered in the original TT Coupe.DAIMLER CHRYSLERChrysler will unveil the stretched version of its popular 300C sedan. The extended wheelbase adds 150mm to the length while the rear seat environment has been enhanced with illuminated writing tables, more power outlets, footrests and custom-paint colours. Chrysler expects the 300C long wheelbase to attract interest from the limousine industry, as well as retail customers. Its arrival date in Australia is still uncertain.DaimlerChrysler has also showcased the new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, claimed by Jeep to be the most spacious ever offered. Also on the stand is the compact Jeep Patriot.The Dodge Caliber will bring the Dodge badge back to Australia and will provide a second passenger stream for Chrysler. It will arrive in Australia for sale mid year. Dodge plans to release a new vehicle in Australia approximately every six months for the next three years.MERCEDESThe mildly face-lifted E-Class with engine revamps will make its way to Australia in September or October. Other vehicles on display include the R-Class, which had its Sydney launch this week and G-Class, due in Australia in November.HONDAThe next generation of the Honda MDX large four-wheel-drive, sold as Acura in the US, is on show as a concept car. It is expected to be a pointer to the production model that will go on sale in the US later this year.Honda is not giving away much about the second-generation MDX model, which it says is designed, developed and will be built in North America. The current MDX started as a left-hand-drive-only model, but after sufficient lobbying, Honda agreed to build right-hand-drive models for Japan and Australia. Honda Australia says it doesn't know if the second-generation MDX will be made in right-hand-drive but hopes it will be.It is keen to keep the prestige MDX in its line-up because the big crossover wagon, which is about the same size as a Ford Territory, added 829 sales to its tally last year.SUZUKIThe Suzuki SX-4 – a joint Suzuki-Fiat enterprise – is set to be released to markets outside Europe in the coming months. Suzuki Australia will not officially commit the car to Australia but privately is understood to be anxious to add it to the marque's limited garage.The latest generation of the large XL-7 will not make it to Australia with a decision having been taken last year to phase the model out of local sales.FERRARILaunched at the Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari's 599 GTB has embarked on its world tour. Described as the company's most powerful V12 production car, the innovative and technologically advanced performance star is expected to make its first appearance in Australia at the Sydney motor show in October.MAZDAMazda has unveiled the CX-9, a seven-seat crossover sport-utility vehicle. Its arrival in Australia is still uncertain, with Mazda assessing the possibility of making the vehicle available in right-hand drive and getting it to market at a competitive price. Also on the stand – and confirmed for Australia – are the mid-sized crossover CX-7 and MazdaSpeed3 (badged as the Mazda3 MPS for Australia).LEXUSThe LS600h, which Lexus claims will be the world's first vehicle to feature a full hybrid V8 engine, has been unveiled in New York.This new version of its flagship will be available in Australia only in long wheelbase, and is due to be launched in the first half of 2007. Lexus claims the car will be economical for such a large body, averaging 14 litres/100km.PONTIACOne highlight of the New York showcars not destined for Australia is the G6 GXP concept car. It features Pontiac's distinctive nose also seen on the US-version of the now-defunct Holden Monaro. This concept car has 19-inch wheels and boasts a 200kW, 3.9-litre V6 engine.Which of these cars excites you?