2012 B-Class breaks cover in Germany; Is it on MBIL’s 2012 Business Plan?

Mercedes has showcased the 2012 B-Class at the ongoing Frankfurt Motor show. The new design language on sheet metal is finally seen on the B-Class. This gives the car the ability to be more sculpted as well as efficient both in terms of overall weight and aerodynamics setting a ‘new benchmark in its segment.’



Direct injection technology has also made it to the B-Class for the first time. The gasoline engine options include B180 with 122 hp and B200 with 156 hp. The common-rail diesel will produce 109 hp and 136 hp in two different states of tune. Transmission options are either a 7G-DCT dual clutch automatic or a six speed manual.



Other firsts on the features list include Pre-Safe, Blind Spot, Lane Keeping Assist and Distronic Plus.
Will Mercedes Benz India drive the B-Class to India late next year?

First Look: Mercedes CLS 350 BlueEFFICIENCY

If you are a fan of the charismatic Ari Gold (a popular character from the HBO series Entourage), then it was a momentous day for you. Mercedes India has launched Ari Gold’s car – 2012 Mercedes CLS in India at a price of 67.67 lakhs (ex showroom Mumbai).

Of course, the old CLS Clss was popular because it was the first 4 door sedan designed to look like a 2 door coupe. The idea was to blend practicality and space with sporty design and a powerful engine.

In 2005, when Mercedes launched the CLS, its disproportionate angles, drastically sloping roofline and unbelievable practicality sent the rivals back to their drawing boards.

Audi followed Mercedes’ philosophy by bringing the A7 to the market while BMW is said to be working on a 4-door coupe model on the 6 Series platform. 5 years later Mercedes is trying to redefine that magic of CLS.

So have they succeeded?

Introduced in Paris Motor show 2010, the new 2012 CLS continues to be a 4 door sedan dressed in a 2 door coupe’s outfit. If you are successfully selling a concept for 5 years, you don’t change the recipe entirely. But the similarities stop right there.

The front fascia of new CLS is inspired by Mercedes F800 concept. The new CLS ditches the small angular headlamps in favor of large rectangular ones. If you thought that the Germans are too obsessed with LEDs, the new CLS packs 71 LED lights making up front headlamps, running lamps, turn signals, and side lamps.

Compared to the previous model, the new CLS gets a very aggressive and dominating stance. The bulbously sculpted wheel arches give it a very muscular presence. The preposterously long and wide bonnet is sure sign that the SLS AMG designer did his bit in the new design.

The side profile of the car is the most definitive aspect of the design and that has not been touched much. The roofline still continues its dramatic descent towards the rear. Two sharp lines on the side profile further enhance the muscular appearance

Things go a bit downhill when we see the rear of the new CLS. The old one had concave tail lamps which used to gell well with the overall design. The new tail lamps bulge out of the overall design like a baboon’s butt.

Just when you think things are going downhill, you step into the car and its sweeps you off your feet. The CLS greets you with a blend of high quality leather, premium wood finish and soft touch plastic all wrapped up as one package. The newly design steering wheel has an aluminum base and paddle shifters to add a bit of modernity. The gear stick is replaced with a small dial just like in the new Jags

The center console has a lot of buttons to comprehend and at the same time a small analog watch add a touch of old school luxury. An 7 inch screen displays the relevant driver information as well as caters to your media demands. Music buffs will be happy with surround sound Harman Kardon music system. Mercedes COMMAND APS gives you a full control of the car’s mechanics.

The back seats curve very deep to mitigate the sloping roofline so that you get adequate shoulder and legroom. Nonetheless, they haven’t managed to completely solve the problem.

For the tech savvy rich mortals, the CLS is loaded with features that will exceed your expectations. Some features that managed to capture our attention were the Airmatic suspension, COMMAND APS, THERMOTRONIC climate control, electromechanical direct steer, active parking assist with PARKTRONIC.

Don’t worry safety savvy guys, the CLS comes standard with attention assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, ADAPTIVE BRAKE to the PRE-SAFE Brake, Active Lane Keeping Assist and 9 airbags. It is like a balloon shop in there!

Now we come to the really juicy (and my favorite part) POWER! The CLS is only available in a V6 petrol that pokes 225 KW/306 horsepower @ 6500 and stirs 370 Nm of torque at 3500-5250 rpm. The engine is mated to a 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Sorry dieselheads look somewhere else.

Mercedes has managed to keep the DNA of the old CLS alive in the new one. But at the same time brought the CLS up to speed with today’s technologies. The new looks (apart from the rear) suit the CLS very well and interiors are the icing on the cake.

Have you started working hard to treat yourself with the CLS yet?

Mercedes Benz CLS Class Image Gallery

New Jaguar C-X16 Concept Hints at a Porsche Cayman and 911 Rival

Jaguar is bringing a new sleek concept car named the C-X16 to the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, which opens its gates on September 13.

Following the release of a single teaser rendering, the British carmaker unloaded a slew of photos and information on the concept that is believed to lead to a production model sitting under the XK and aiming at the likes of both the Porsche Cayman and 911.

Billed as a true driver's sports car, the strictly two-seat C-X16 is the smallest Jaguar in terms of length since the 1954 XK120. The concept is built around a shortened version of the next generation XK's aluminium chassis structure and it measures 4,445 mm (175-in.) in length, 2,048 mm (80.6-in.) in width and 1,297 mm (51-in.) in height and has a wheelbase measuring 2,622 mm (103.2-in.).

Lurking under its long hood is hybrid powertrain that includes a next-generation 3.0-liter supercharged V6 petrol engine delivering 380-horses (280kW) and 332 lb ft (450 Nm) of torque and an electric motor generator integrated into the eight-speed automatic gearbox that transfers power to the rear wheels.

The electric motor draws power from a 1.6kWh battery pack mounted behind the seats that is charged through a brake energy regeneration system. The motor provides and additional 95-horsepower (70 kW) and 173 lb ft (235 Nm) of torque.

A Formula 1 Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)-inspired hybrid boost system with a steering-wheel mounted button allows for on-demand acceleration using the electric motor.

Jaguar says the C-X16 tips the scales at 1,600kg (3,527 lbs) and has a perfect 50-50 weight distribution. According to the company, it is capable of accelerating from 0 to 62 mph (100km/h) in 4.4 seconds and from 50 to 75 mph (80-120km/h) in 2.1 seconds, while reaching a top speed of 186 mph (299km/h).

In addition, the British firm reveals that the C-X16 is able to travel at speeds of up to 50 mph (80km/h) using electric power alone and has CO2 emissions of 165 g/km.

The styling of the C-X16 is the work of Ian Callum. The exterior design mixes styling cues from both the XK (up front) and Jaguar's well received C-X75 hypercar study (at the back) from last year's Paris Auto Show, in a more compact form.

“This car has been designed from first principles," says Callum. "It is an evolution of the design ethos of past Jaguar cars and defines the agenda for a future of dramatic, innovative sports cars. Purity of line and intent is what Jaguar does best.”

Like the exterior, the interior of the concept looks very close to production sans the trim and dramatic color choices. According to the British automaker, the inspiration for elements of its layout come from aeronautical ergonomics, such as the joystick-style gearlever and banks of toggle switches, which also refer to classic racing Jaguar cars.

American Idol: U.S. Market Toyota Camry to be Built Exclusively in the Land of the Free

The Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car in the US for nine straight years. Yet, in its home market, it is virtually non-existent: even though it sold 82,000 cars in 1990, last year Toyota couldn’t shift more than 1,100 units! That’s because Japanese buyers prefer either the more sporty Mark X or the more luxurious Crown.

Therefore, for its seventh generation, which was only recently unveiled, Toyota decided to phase out imported Camrys from Japan and instead manufacture all cars earmarked for the North American market at its own plant in Georgetown and Subaru’s factory in Indiana.

“North America will be self-sufficient. The current US production capacity is sufficient to produce the vehicles we plan to sell” says Yukihiro Okane, chief engineer for the new Camry which goes on sale later this month.

This doesn’t mean that the mid-sized sedan won’t be manufactured in Japan anymore. It will still be produced at the Tsutsumi plant in Toyota City, albeit at a much reduced rate. Toyota aims to manufacture and sell 360,000 units annually in the US, while in Japan it will build 30,000 units, only 6,000 of which are destined for the local market.

Okane explains one of the reasons: “This Camry was developed in Japan, which means that production and design engineering originated here. So, at the moment, it’s most effective to manufacture it in Japan and, starting with Tsutsumi, deploy manufacturing globally.”

The second reason is the Camry’s hybrid version. Toyota aims to sell 50,000 hybrid Camry sedans per year in the US. They may be locally built, but all the hybrid components including batteries and electric motors, are manufactured in Japan. So it makes perfect sense, and is much more cost effective, to keep the domestic production line open.

Most Expensive Cars In The World: Top 10 List 2011-2012

World's Most Expensive Cars

What is the most expensive car in the world? The 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe was sold for $8,700,000 in 1987. However, that car and many alike will not be included in this list because it is not available on the market today. It is hard to imagine someone would actually spend 8 million dollars on a car instead of using it for something more productive. However, if you had the money and opportunity, you would probably spend a small fraction of it on a collection of supercars for your private garage.

Here are the 10 most expensive production cars on the market; we will not include concept cars.

1. Bugatti Veyron Super Sports $2,400,000. This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today (the base Veyron costs $1,700,000). It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. It is also the fastest street legal car when tested again on July 10, 2010 with the 2010 Super Sport Version reaching a top speed of 267 mph. When competing against the Bugatti Veyron, you better be prepared!

2. Pagani Zonda Clinque Roadster $1,850,000. One of the most exotic cars out there is one of the most expensive. It can go from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 217 mph.

We have a tie for 3rd place:

3. Lamborghini Reventon $1,600,000. The most powerful and the most expensive Lamborghini ever built is the third on the list. It takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph and it has a top speed of 211 mph. Its rarity (limited to 20) and slick design are the reasons why it is so expensive and costly to own.

3. Koenigsegg Agera R $1,600,000. The Agera R can burn 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, reaching a maximum speed of 260 mph. It has the parts to reach 270 mph, but the supercar is electronically capped at 235 mph. With the completion of certain paperwork, the company will unlock the speed limit for one occasion.

4. McLaren F1 $970,000. In 1994, the McLaren F1 was the fastest and most expensive car. Even though it was built 15 years ago, it has an unbelievable  top speed of 240 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Even today, the McLaren F1 is still top on the list and outperforms many other supercars.

5. Ferrari Enzo $670,000. The most popular supercar ever built. The Enzo has a top speed of 217 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Only 400 units were produced and it is currently being sold for over $1,000,000 at auctions.

6. Pagani Zonda C12 F $667,321. Produced by a small independent company in Italy, the Pagani Zonda C12 F is the 6th most expensive car in the world. It promises to delivery a top speed of 215 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.

7. SSC Ultimate Aero $654,400. Don't let the price tag fool you, the 7th most expensive car is actually the 3rd fastest street legal car in the world with a top speed of 257 mph+ and reaching 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. This baby cost less than half as much as the Bugatti Veyron, yet has enough power to compete against the most expensive car. It is estimated that only 25 of this exact model will ever be produced.

8. Ascari A10 $650,000. This badboy can reach a tested top speed of 215 mph, zooming 0-60 in 2.8 seconds. The British car company plans to assemple 50 of these supercars in their factory in Banbury, England.

9. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo $555,000. The first true American production certified supercar, this cowboy is also rank 4th for the fastest car in the world. It has a top speed of 248 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. If you are a true American patriot, you can be proud to show off this car.

10. Koenigsegg CCX $545,568. Swedish made, the Koenigsegg is fighting hard to become the fastest car in the world. Currently, it is the 5th fastest car in the world with a top speed of 245 mph+, the car manufacture Koenigsegg has just released the Koenigsegg Agera R to compete against the Bugatti Veyron. The company is a tough contender and will continue to try and produce the fastest car in the world. Good luck with that!

VW Nils Electric Concept Car

Volkswagen has designed a new concept electric pod car that will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show taking place in just under two weeks. The Nils, ideal for a single commuter, is a possible solution for crowded urban roads. Developed with the German Transport Ministry and designed to be environmentally sustainable is capable of travelling up to approximately 137km an hour with a range between charges of about 65km and weighs just 19kg. The single seater is just 3040mm long – half a metre shorter than an Up – and sits lower than a Porsche 911.

The battery has a capacity of 5.3kWh and is fully charged after two hours with a three point plug.


The design, based around a light but sturdy aluminum spaceframe, features gullwing style doors and free-standing wheels which makes it both fun to drive and friendly on the environment.

R&D chief Ulrich Hackenberg said: “Nils is anything but a dry-run exercise and is very realistic. Despite its compact dimensions, the concept fulfils all safety requirements for contemporary vehicles.”

German Tuner Breathes New Colors to Ford Mustang 5.0 GT

While the Mustang has many fans in Europe, Ford's pony car never really caught up with buyers across the Atlantic for a great number of reasons, one being that it is available only with large displacement engines that negatively affect pricing as well as other costs associated with ownership.

Nevertheless, Europe's tuning industry does offer owners some options for customization. This here package is for the latest Mustang 5.0 GT and it comes from a German company called Design World.

The exterior design is typical of German tuners, who love using vibrant colors on their projects. For the Mustang, Design World finished Ford's pony car in a two-tone black and orange color scheme enhanced with white stripes and carbon foil, which makes its appearance on the roof, the hood dome, the bumpers and the rear spoiler.

As for the interior, the upgrades are limited to orange trim bits on the steering wheel and the dashboard.

The American coupe rides on a sport suspension from H&R and 20-inch alloy wheels finished in black with orange-colored outer rims shod in 255/35 ZR20 tires up front and 285/30 ZR20 at the back.

Under the hood, a subtle ECU mod and a sport air filter bump the 5.0-liter V8's output from 412-ponies to 435-horsepower.

The cost for the package is set at €12,150, which comes to around US$17,320 at the current exchange rates.

Citroën Unloads First Official Photos of Tubik Concept Van [Updated]

Figures...just as we hit the post button on our previous article regarding Citroën's Frankfurt Motor Show surprise, the French carmaker dropped off the first official photos of its new concept model named Tubik.

As previously noted, the Tubik pays homage to the 1939 Tub van and its replacement, the 1948 Type H that was produced up until the beginning of the 1980s.

The Tubik serves as both a commercial van and a people carrier with the 4.8 meter long, 2.08m wide and 2.05m tall model providing comfortable space for nine passengers in three lounge-style seats, with the driver cocooned in a separated compartment.

Citroën says passengers can arrange the three rows of seats as they wish, since each seat is independent for maximum comfort. The first row of seats allows two people to sit facing either the road or the other passengers.

The middle row can seat up to three people or, alternatively, can be converted into a small table, be folded onto the last row to free up an area close to 2 square meters, or be folded out completely to create a meridienne-style seat.

Motivation is provided from the PSA Peugeot-Citroën group's new Hybrid4 full-hybrid diesel drivetrain.

We'll have more on the Tubik soon, but for now, scroll down to check out the official photos.

Nissan to halt Teana production in Japan

According to media reports Nissan will end production of the Teana in Japan this year due to low demand in the Japanese market. Due to the stronger Yen, margins on export models have also dropped. Nissan will move production of the D-Segment sedan out of Japan into the US while continuing sales in the domestic market through imported vehicles.

Instead of the Teana, Nissan will produce the Note, a compact MPV that enjoys strong demand in Japan. The next generation Teana is a couple of years away while a cosmetically revamped Teana is rumored to reach Indian shores shortly.

T-98 Kombat

Having blogged about many performance cars which are beautiful, costly and fast, i have decided to blog on something else for a change. And this time round, it'll be on the topic of safety and off-road.

I have always wanted to be in a safe car. Who doesn't? But some cars, are taken to the extreme. There are many safety tests a car has to go through, for example, having a head on collision into an object, being side swiped by a large trunk, being struck by lightning, going up a 33.3% slope hill which is very steep and even wind tests to ensure that nothing breaks and flies off during a journey.

However, the T-98 takes it to a whole new level. Not only is it a 4 wheel drive off road car, it is also an armoured car. Mainly used to protect VIPs, celebrities, etc.

Although this car is an off-roader, and is rather fast for such a heavy car at almost 5 tonnes, it's interior is not compromised. It has electrical outputs and large comfortable seats. It even contains a satellite navigation which not really many cars have at the moment. The more extreme feature would be that it even includes a flat-screen television which can play DVD and also as a climate control interior containing leather seats and polished wood.

Despite having all these luxurious functions which sports cars such as the Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini would seldom or never have, it has an incredible safety feature. Not the normal kind where cars are rammed into walls, but instead, this car is being tested by firing rounds of ammunition at its windows and doors.

Its price however, isn't that cheap. It starts at around US$138,000 and rises as the features you request for. For example, at US$138,000, it is bullet proof against a 357 magnum, and at $168,000, it is bullet proof against a 7.62mm Kalashnikov.

At the moment, i have never seen this car anywhere is Singapore, neither do i think anyone owns it. Even if someone does own it, i doubt it will be allowed on the roads of Singapore. Having such a car in Singapore would also unnecessary. But still, its is such a cool car. I wouldn't mind having one. It would definitely come in handy in times of emergency and it would make me feel so safe to be in one of these... ...though no one is allowed to even own a gun in Singapore. Therefore, maybe having such a car in areas such as America or Russia would be more sensible, therefore, it is usually being sold in those areas. In Singapore, if you still want to have a bullet proof car, maybe a more sensible choice would be a Mercedes custom made car. The ride would definitely be better and it wouldn't catch so much attention.