Top Luxury Cars - 1954-2009 Mercedes Benz S Class Models

The Mercedes Benz S-Class model hit the market for the first time in the year 1954 and is still under production till date. It has been marketed in various generations and several models. The Mercedes Benz S550 was launched in the year 2007 for the first time. It falls under the category of full sized luxury class sedans.

The S-Class vehicles are the largest selling luxury flagship sedan vehicles in the world, which have been production for nearly 55 years. The name S-Class is derived from the German language word Sonderklasse, meant for the "Special Class". The designation S-Class was applied officially in the year 1973 with the model line W116. Since then, five generations of S-Class sedan models have been produced so far.

When the Mercedes Benz released the model for the 2007 - the S550, the vehicle created a big buzz with the latest features with use of cutting edge technologies, including night vision system and the cruise control system based on the radar that could bring the vehicle to a full stop.

The vehicle released with further modifications in the year 2009 includes a few features common to that of 2007 model. The main other features included in the latest edition are the live traffic reports and the integration of iPod to keep the S550 model competitive. However, The iPod fitted in the vehicle does not show the music files on the LCD and the iPod integration in the vehicle was already provided in the model vehicle 2008 ML550, before the launch of the revamped S550 cabriolet.

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Top Luxury Cars - The Mercedes-Benz S550

The uber-cool Mercedes Benz S550 comes loaded with plenty of luxurious features. For instance, the spot warning system in the vehicle (released in the year 2009), warns when the lanes to the side of the vehicle are occupied by the other vehicles and advises the driver to do the needful. The night vision system and the adaptive cruise control system in the vehicle are the two high tech features included. The massage seats in the vehicle provide the passengers as well as the driver a great comfort, while the aerodynamic suspension helps it in running wild on the roads at the maximum speed.

Using the features like the steering wheel button and the speedometer display one can browse the music files and can select them. The Mercedes Benz S550 comes along with a few means of music, the most being the PC Card slot, designed for the MP3 songs loaded in flash memory. The 6-disc changer in the vehicle reads both the DVDs and the MP3 CDs. The stereo system mounted in the vehicle receives both the HD radio and the Sirius satellite.

The night vision system provided in the vehicle makes it easier to view what is located ahead of the vehicle during the dark. The night vision system can be activated only during the dark times, and it replaces the display of the speedometer with an enlarged white and black view out the front side. The S550 comes with the 5.5 liter V8 engine and is offered with the 7-speed automatic transmission. It gives the fuel economy of 14 miles per gallon in the city, and 22 miles per gallon on highway roads.

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Top Luxury Cars - The 2009 Mercedes E-Class

Last year, Mercedes introduced a new C-class Which is the nearest it has come to making a MW 3- series. The C-class has the spirit and driving dynamics that its predecessors lacked and even introduced different front-end styling to distinguish the most popular Sport versions. Surely, its bigger brother, the new model E-class, would follow the same pattern?

The answer is no. The new E class has many virtues, but sportiness isn't one of them. At least not for the first versions to go on sale; we can expect the E63 AMG, announced at the New York Auto Show in April and due to go on sale at the end of the year, to be the exception.

Mercedes bosses say that as the heart of the range, the E-class is too important to change fundamentally. They point out that in this market sector, Mercedes is dominant; it easily out-sells the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6. So the ninth generation would develop by evolution, not revolution. It had to be a comfortable familiarity but below the surface incorporate a myriad of detail improvements and all the latest technology.

So W212 is lower, wider and more prominently wedge-shaped than its predecessor. That allows it to have the best aerodynamics in its class: a drag coefficient of 0.25 (most of its rivals are 0.28 or above) The imposing grille is still there - and the star still rises above it - but the four headlamps are angular rather than oval.

To meet European regulations for pedestrian safety, that low, wind-cheating bonnet has to be able to pop up 50mm in an accident; while others use complex pyrotechnics, Mercedes has an elegantly simple solution with steel springs.

The emphasis on aerodynamics is part of a program to improve fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions dictated by other EC regulations. For some reason, in Germany environmental measures that elsewhere are called 'green', turn blue.

Mercedes calls its eco-pack age BlueEfficiency. It includes more efficient engines, low rolling resistance tyres and energy-saving alternators, and fuel, air conditioning and power steering pumps that switch off when not required.

The four-cylinder petrol engines are downsized to 1.8 litres, have direct fuel injection and are turbocharged. The three four-cylinder CDI diesels - E200, E220 and E250 - all use the new 2.1-litre engine in different states of tune. The E350 CDI and E350 CGI have developments of the previous six-cylinder engines; the petrol CGI also has direct injection. The 5.5-litre V8 engine for the top model, the E500, is carried over from the old E-class; this is the only version not to have the additional BlueEfficiency features.

In Europe, more than half the market for this type of car is diesel, so I concentrated on the E250 CDI and E350 CDI. These engines develop respectively 204 and 231bhp. The 250 comes equipped with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission while the six-cylinder 350 has Mercedes' latest seven-speed automatic.

The four-cylinder diesel has a curious combination of characteristics. It is unusually smooth and quiet at idle but noisy when pushed hard. Although the 250 has two turbochargers in sequence to even out the power delivery, the performance is far from startling, and the automatic transmission does it no favours. In this respect, the seven-speed E350 CDI is much lively but our experience with the new Jaguar AJ-V6D (and the BMW 335d) suggests it is not the best of the latest crop of high performance diesels.

As before, the F-class is better to travel in than to drive. All models have adaptive shock absorbers that react to the driving situation and adjust to provide maximum ride comfort or cornering stability as required. The seats are improved, the air conditioning allows the choice of three different air volume and distribution modes and is arranged in three independent zones driver, front passenger and rear passengers - and there is more space inside thanks to the 2cm longer wheelbase and 3.5cm extra width. Mercedes aimed to make this car the most comfortable car in its class. I think it may have succeeded.

Mercedes has been in the fore front with most of the active safety systems that we now take for granted: ABS anti-lock braking, ASR traction control, ESP stability control. The new F-class moves this to a new level with a raft of 'assist' systems, all electronic and very clever and designed to see and react to the motoring hazards and mitigate their consequences. This car doesn't quite drive itself but you get the impression that it could... Where to start? Attention Assist is a good example of Mercedes-knows- best. This drowsiness detector is standard equipment on all E-class models. Sensors monitor 70 different parameters to pick up irregularities in driving behavior. If it detects a series of steering errors or other inconsistencies it concludes that the driver is sleepy and sounds a warning and a symbol representing a cup of tea appears on the instrument display to suggest that you take a break.

Brake Assist Plus is a radar- based system linked to the optional Distronic cruise control which provides the driver with optimum braking pressure when a collision is imminent and if no action is taken will apply the brakes automatically. Lane Keeping Assist uses a camera on the windscreen to follow lines in the road and when the car has moved out of a lane with out indicating, an electric motor in the steering wheel vibrates its rim as a warning. Blind Spot Assist provides a light warning of the presence of a car in the blind spot of the side mirror. Speed Limit Assist, recently available on a number of other cars, recognizes speed limit signs and displays the prevailing limit at the center of the speedometer.

Nightview Assist Plus uses an infrared camera to give a greyscale image on the dashboard screen to show hazards beyond the light range and highlight pedestrians. The new E-class takes vehicle lighting further forward, liter ally and technologically. Others have active headlamps that turn with steering or illuminate corners but Mercedes' optional Adaptive Highbeam Assist uses a windscreen camera to recognize oncoming traffic and adjust the headlamp beams accordingly. This is much more than automatic dip ping; it changes the shape of the dipped light beam to give the best possible road illumination from 65 to as much as 300 meters. It works beautifully.

Mercedes talks of all these systems making the car your 'intelligent partner'. My first reaction was 'too much stuff' but there is no doubt that they represent further advances in safety technology and of course you don't have to tick all the options boxes.

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The Mercedes GLK

The days of the huge, ponderous SUV are over. Not so much because people don't want a sport/utility vehicle, but the one that they are interested in purchasing offers many of the same capabilities in a smaller package.

The compact Mercedes GLK is the newest in a family of sport/utility vehicles that have changed the way people think about Mercedes-Benz. Sure, the safari-like GL remains popular with some buyers while the large ML continues to hold sway in a category where every luxury make has a presence. But the five passenger GLK shows that the same suspension, agility and design afforded to its larger brethren works quite well on a smaller scale.

Smaller Scale, Big Cabin

Although from the outside the Mercedes GLK looks much smaller than it actually is, it is on the inside where buyers learn just how much room is available to them. Head, shoulder and foot room is more than ample and, with two sunroofs, the interior seems even larger.

As expected, the seating in the GLK is at the top of its game. That shouldn't be a surprise to Mercedes devotees, but it is a refreshing change for a vehicle in this segment. Too often a compact SUV sacrifices some comfort in order to keep its price down, but the Mercedes GLK flies against that trend by delivering full luxury without compromise.

Robust Engine, Off Road Capability

Under the hood, the 3.5L V6 engine is paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, offering the right amount of power and delivering a combined 18 mpg whether you choose the front wheel drive or all wheel drive model. Most customers seem to prefer the latter, giving them the best ride under all sorts of road conditions. And, a pair of off road packages allows drivers to take the Mercedes GLK where its bigger brethren roam, just the sort of option needed to win the mud season wars.

The brake system is yet another area where Mercedes shines, which means that the GLK has a wonderfully short braking distance. Traction control, brake assist and anti-lock brakes work to bring the GLK to a full stop while the SUV's independent front and rear suspension help to keep the Mercedes under the driver's complete control at all times.

Let's Take Out The Boat

In the GLK, Mercedes has also solved a problem that sportsmen have with most compact SUVs - they simply aren't designed with a large towing capacity. But Mercedes configured the GLK to not only perform well on and off road, but to do so while pulling as much as 4400 lbs of boat or camper behind it. Try to find that much towing capability in most compact luxury SUVs and you'll be hard pressed to come up with a comparable package without paying extra for it.

And as expected the Mercedes GLK comes fully equipped with all of the technological gizmos you expect from surround sound audio system, navigation unit, active front head restraints, antitheft alarm system and more - offering perhaps the best blend of safety, security, technology and drivability of any compact luxury sport/utility vehicle on the market.

Max Rossi writes for FCPgroton.com http://www.fcpgroton.com/ a worldwide foreign auto parts distributor. Get European car parts at affordable prices.

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3 Things Mercedes Benz Need to Think About

The Mercedes Benz line of automobiles has been hailed as one of the top rated in terms of longevity. The German engineering might have something to do with it, but typically it has a lot to do with Mercedes owners caring for their cars.

Eventually, the inevitable will happen; you'll have to give your Mercedes repair. Indianapolis or Berlin, it doesn't matter where you're from. These tips to maintain and care for your car are above borders and can drive you to 155,000 miles and beyond.

Think coolant.

The proper antifreeze mixture will lower the freezing point of water and raise its boiling point. You can pick up antifreeze in either pre-diluted bottles or straight antifreeze to mix yourself. Green is fine, but not for your Mercedes. It's best recommended to use the pale orange solution.

Mercedes manufactures a special mix containing additives that neutralize the pH in the coolant. This wards off engine block, radiator, and engine head corrosion. Although a brand of antifreeze claims to be formulated for Mercedes, only the Mercedes official coolant contains all the necessary buffers. The cost for the Mercedes antifreeze may be double per gallon over the cost of the cheaper green antifreeze.

It's also recommended to drain and change the coolant every twenty four months.

Think lubricant.

The debate looms on over standard oil versus synthetic oil, but if yours is a Mercedes built after 1998 and has the Flexible Service System, the decision has been made for you: synthetic oil only.

Which is probably fine, if the increased cost of synthetic over standard isn't enough to ruin your day. There are a few advantages of the synthetic to consider, but mainly, synthetic oil remains a liquid down to 60 below zero Fahrenheit and remains thick and filmy at extreme high temperatures, something to help you avoid major repairs. Extreme climates, whether hot or cold, make synthetic oil the only real option.

The synthetic oil reduces wear on the mechanical parts greatly as well. Depending on a variety of internal computer factors, your Mercedes may not require oil changes at a frequent interval, whereby saving you even though the cost per quart is nearly triple that of standard oil.

Think power.

Especially important in the late fall, you must be sure to prepare your Mercedes for the winter, and that definitely includes the battery and vehicle lighting. If your battery needs charging from time to time in the warmer days, you can expect it to fail you on the colder days.

The reasons aren't clear, but original factory batteries tend to last longer than replacements. Some basic checks will help you avoid a dark night of being stranded. Make sure the terminals are free, tight, and clean. Make sure the acid levels are at the mark. If not, be sure to have it tested to find out what's lacking.

As for lighting, too often vehicles are running with burned out bulbs and non-functioning signals. You shouldn't trust any kind of warning mechanism. Instead, routinely check the outside lights and interior lights for missing bulbs. You can find a list of what should be lit inside and out at the different ignition stages and under various circumstances at your Mercedes dealer's website.

When it comes to keeping your Mercedes in the long-life lane, it's important to think: about the coolant, about the lubricant, and about the power. Knowing the right antifreeze is protecting your engine, the right oil is performing for you, and the right charge is in the battery, is most of the battle. Rely on these steps to ensure you won't need a major repair anytime soon.

Douglas Scott loves his car and finds auto service in Indianapolis to be the best in the world. For more information on fine European cars visit EuroMotorworks.com

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