Looking to go green in style and luxury?  If yes, then you better start saving your money now for the in development S-Class hybrid, which will reportedly achieve up to 81 miles per gallon.  It will be a plug-in style hybrid and utilize an SLS AMG e-drive to achieve efficiency greatness.

Amazingly, the S-Class plug-in will reportedly be capable of speeds of up to 68 miles per hour in all electric mode.  However, drivers will be limited to a 20 mile radius in all electric mode.  If your commute only requires you to travel less than 20 miles to and from then it's possible to get infinite miles per gallon, provided you remember to plug the damn thing in at night.

Which brings me to my next point, the Mercedes plug-in hybrid is already being plagued by a low density battery, which translates into looonnnggg charge times.  Who would want to buy a hybrid that takes 2 days to charge?  One of a handful of hurdles keeping the S-Class in development and not being rolled out the manufacturers door.

Everyone is capitalizing on looking green, going green, or at the very least just trying not to dump their oil change down the drain.  Manufacturers know that consumers are taking into consideration their environmental impact when purchasing a car, so they intend to exploit desire.  Some just like throwing a green hue on their logo until they can come up with a nice fuel efficient car, Mercedes is going all out with an environmental awareness ad campaign.  Soon enough it'll be in your face, Mercedes is committed to the green movement, with an ad premiere during the upcoming Academy Awards.

The Green advertisement will focus on the all new S400 Hybrid.  Hoping to attract familiar viewers, the ad will be voiced by Jon Hamm, a Golden Globe winner from the TV series Mad Men.  It's called the 'Tree of Innovation' and it's designed to instill a sense of guilt in fat wallet consumers.

On a positive note, it does highlight the fact that Mercedes has been committed to testing and developing energy efficient vehicles.  You don't have to look far till you see the advancements they've made in clean diesel technology and now uber efficient hybrids.  "Engineering for a greener future", is the hook, which most consumer will bite.

Mercedes has debuted a likeness of what their next generation CLS model will look like and it's a beautiful work of art.  It's abstract, but resembles a Mercedes shrink wrapped with cellophane.  This is a very different approach from Mercedes in the past or other manufacturers that like showing off clay sculptures or scale models.

The new Mercedes concept art is an attention getter for sure, even for those who aren't into art.  This art debut at Detroit will become the all new 2012 Mercedes CLS, when finally put into production and not just hidden under cover.

2012 Mercedes CLS Pics

Mercedes has been in the SUV business since 1997 and now 12 years later they are introducing the GLK350, the 5th Mercedes SUV/Crossover.  This all new SUV is a slightly tuned down version of the GL SUV and priced respectably at $35,000.  I'm surprised any Mercedes vehicle, let alone a large SUV, can drop below $40k, so color me impressed.

Green drivers will be pleased to hear that the large SUV is capable of 21 miles per gallon on the highway.  That figure becomes even more impressive when you consider that the GLK350 is pushing close to 270 horsepower.  It goes to show that Mercedes has a long running commitment to efficiency and engineering to produce that kind of power in an SUV out of 3.5 small liters and 6 cylinders.

My concern is that bringing an albeit well priced Mercedes SUV this late to the market may not be a smart move.  It's happening all over the US, families are trading in a Mercedes in the drive way for a paid off house.  We'll see how sales place the GLK350 in the SUV market and whether or not Mercedes plans on trimming back some of it's oversized line ups.

Mercedes GLK350

The Black Series Mercedes Benz SL65 has officially been tested by the boys at Motor Trend, whom as the question, what recession?  Basically jetting around in a $300,000 blown V12 makes you wonder who could afford such awesome toys, but apparently Mercedes feels at least 350 people can.  As of this posting Mercedes plans to produce only 350 2010 Mercedes Benz SL65-AMG Black Series.

Check out the pictures of this throbbing race car wrapped in domesticated sex appeal.

RennTech, a popular Mercedes tuning company, is in the process of putting the finishing touches on a hybrid rally car to be displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.   The worlds most potent green machine will function with the same hybrid technology found in Chevrolet and Saturn hybrid vehicles.  However, RennTech is utilizing electric motors in the GLK to help PUSH the light weight rally car out of turns.

Obviously there are a number of other changes to the rally car that are typical with rally race cars.  For example you will find the obligatory fascia modifications and humongous spoiler to aid in high speed stability.

“With the Rally Racer, we have really increased the car’s performance,” continues Feyhl. “Together with the more aggressive, sporting look, we have created a powerful and exciting package.”

RennTech is hoping to prove that high performance nad efficiency can coexist.  Furthermore then note that advancements in the automotive industry were done by enthusiasts that pushed the envelope and demanded higher performance at a lower cost.  The RennTech GLK hybrid rally car will definitely be a site to see at the Auto Show.  Viva La Revolucion!

Admittedly I'm a long time fan of Mercedes cars, even though they are out of my price range I've always had an attachment to their sleek stylings, especially any Mercedes Convertible.  In a word 'sexy' and in a description 'I'd like to find a moist spot on the car somewhere'.  But I'm not just talking about new Mercedes convertibles, I'm talking about aged classics with the drop top.

Below are some of my favorite Mercedes convertible pictures and what I aspire to purchase one day.

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Mercedes has decided to take a break from pushing their diesel technology on green buyers and released an all new BlueHybrid series car.  The Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid is a radically engineered 'green' car capable of close to 300 horsepower and still get 29 miles per gallong.  Thanks to the use of their 'Blue' technology, Mercedes is able to mount a battery in the engine bay only slightly larger than it's regular 12v battery, instead of a heavy lithium under carriage mount unit.

Mercedes BlueHybrid

Mercedes has released information on a new concept car they are working on, the Mercedes F700.  The idea is to create a car with limousine power, refinement, and luxury with super low fuel consumption.  Basically it's a new toy to make the rich feel better about using Mexicans to mow their enormous yards.  But hey, that's just me and it does look awfully pretty and futuristic.

The engine is a 1.8-litre four cylinder, with twin overhead camshafts with variable timing and two turbochargers acting independently according to a series of valves in the intake system. The fuel is injected directly into the cylinders and the air enters the combustion chambers via either of the two different-sized turbochargers and an inlet-charge cooler. There is also a swirl plate to induce the fuel to spread evenly throughout the combustion charge.

The design is described by Dr Günter Karl as a different approach to the problem.  Sounds 007ish.

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According to popular news media it looks like Daimler is being sued over a navigation patent in their 07-09 model Mercedes vehicles.  WorldLogic Corp sued Mercedes for an 8.6% royalty per unit and a bonus for 'willful' infrintement.  According to WorldLogic Mercedes has been aware of the infringement since 2005.

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