From what we can see in these newest effigies, the new S Class Coupe is a bit more sporty and trim at the back end as compared to its existing CL Class.

As per reports, the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S Class Coupe will come with a slightly more projected framework region, swept-back headlamps, and a vaulted, sculptured covering.

Blending the CL Class together with the S Class, the company is going in the contradictory way from BMW that has recently determined to break its 2-door cars into separate series from its 4-and-extra-door versions.

Pinning the S Class name on the car and cabriolet could also open the door to more superior placement.

An innovative modular stage, codenamed “MRA”, will strengthen the complete S Class array, permitting the construction of these options while retaining the widespread styling and automatic constituents.

The MRA platform is likely to provide amended suspension design for enhanced journey and usage, whilst also throwing away pounds via greater utilization of high-tensile aluminum, steels, as well as compounds.

Under the cover, we anticipate a few of the identical engines shared with other next-gen S Class vehicles, to comprise a double turbocharged, 429-HP V-8 for the stylish S550 car, and probably a double turbo V-12 graded at 510+ HP for an S600 model.

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Sporting the figures of 26,157 units in April 2013, it had surged by 4.4% against the last year’s sales of same period. The overall year to date total of Mercedes Benz USA stood frugal at 92,822.

MBUSA had given in a year to date total of 101,371, grossing the increment by 10.2% over the first four months of 2012, being complemented with Sprinter Vans at 1,855 and smart at 667.

In spite of the many cost effective sedans in line, C Class had performed very well and had yielded sales of 7,338, up by 14.2%.

Commenting on the performance, Steve Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA said, “A record first quarter gave us a great start. With our completely redesigned E-Class now in showrooms, I fully expect to see continued momentum in the months ahead.”

Refreshed L Class SUV and E Class had made a good amount of stir in the showrooms.

“We’ve entered the second quarter of 2013 at an incredible pace,” concluded Mr. Cannon.

The slightly tweaked exterior design has taken many cues revealed in the sedan, but the coupe boasts of the pontoon like rear haunches from the previous E-Class. The rest of the design will allow you to overlook this awkward element. The front end features eye catchy concept like styling with the new single unit head lights and exciting fascia. Trying to keep the quad-headlight look that comes back from 1990s, the headlights contain LED running light that visually splits the headlight into two part giving it a distinctive and recognizable appearance. The LED tail lights and redesigned rear fascia gives an overall visual improvement to the car.

Interiors have received some quality changes, like design of the steering wheel and direct select rather than featuring the console mounted shift lever. Mercedes Benz has already made this update on many of its existing models, and is quite surprising to note that how just moving the gear panel could bring so much difference to the interior. The Cabriolet ensures of the quite interior with the acoustic soft top up and a front and rear wind deflector whose main aim is to keep the cabin noise under the minimum possible limit when top is down. Some new features have also been added to the E-Class like active parking assistance, stereo multi-purpose camera and a 360 degree camera for the total view of the surrounding while parking.

While the sedan is ought to feature a 4 cylinder engine, a new hybrid model and an AMG model. The coupe and cabriolet will be carrying over their previous powertrains and models from the 2013 that will include E350 and E550, the E350 coupe is also available with the 4 matic all-wheel drive system.

The 2012 BMW M3 has now been pitted against a powerful V8 6.2L engine that the latest C63 AMG has been fitted with. This powerful engine has been mated to its seven-speed auto transmission gearbox and the car is now available as a two-door model with its interiors improved significantly. The engine power has been significantly increased achieving a maximum power of 481Bhp (against the 451Bhp that the erstwhile model achieved). This gives it an advantage of 67Bhp over the M3, which has a peak power of 414Bhp.

It was decided to carry out the comparison to see whether these enhancements provided to the Mercedes Benz C63 AMG would be sufficient to displace the BMW M3 from its top slot.

The Power Factor:

Performance of the cars did not have much to separate them from each other, although the fact is undisputable that these two cars are completely dissimilar to each other. The only factors that link these two cars are that they are both German made V8s and are both rear-drive cars. However, both the cars differ completely in their respective spirit.

The V8 6.2L engine is the biggest attribute of the C63. This engine has been hand-built specifically by AMG at its plant in Affalterbach, Germany. This V8 engine of the Mercedes is larger by more than 50% compared to the 4.0L engine of the BMW M3. The result is that the Mercedes Benz C63 AMG has an astounding torque of 443lb-ft compared to 295lb-ft of the M3. This means that you need not go full throttle on the C63 to achieve a speed that will scare the wits out of a fellow passenger or for that matter, attract a cop towards your car. Good for the race tracks, but how good will it be compared to the M3 on the public roads for which the vehicle has been designed?

On the city roads too, the Mercedes Benz car engine works with more persistency and pushes the vehicle harder compared to the M3. The liveliness of the engine gets reflected continuously. It announces its presence with its loud engine whereas its exhaust leaves in its path a blaze of combustion. You just need to ensure that the engine of your C63 AMG is running to get access to its capabilities. Comparatively, the driver of the M3 has to put in harder work accompanied with frequent downshifts in order to ensure that the vehicle finds its voice and power.

Though the C63 cannot be termed as a huge car, it actually packs in a lot of weight. Its kerb weight of 3996lb gives it a 444lb added weight compared to the M3. Surprisingly, this added weight does not have much of a bearing in slowing down the vehicle given the significant advantage of power and torque than it has over its competitor. A rise to 60mph from a position of rest is achieved in 3.7 seconds flat, a considerable advantage over the M3, which achieves the same in 4.3 seconds. Its power packed torque can take you into a different world in your thought process, as you drive this car. Although a closely fought power race, the C63 edges slightly forward compared to the M3 in this perspective.

The Handling:

The C63 cannot be termed as a one-dimensional car that solely banks on the power of its engine. Although the engine, undoubtedly, is the leader among all features the car has been provided with, all other parts in the C63 have been commendably improved. Handling of the coupe gets significantly improved thanks to the wider tracks provided both at the rear and the front. The flat-bottom wheel provided also is better communicating as it responds effectively to corner loads much better than what the wheel of the M3 does. Stability-wise, it can be said that the C63 performs remarkably till it touches its adhesion limit. However at this point; it tends to break away faster than the BMW M3. Hence, it is not advisable to go full throttle with the C63 as it can let go without much warning. Handling of the C63 does merit appreciation but the BMW M3 still offers a better performance in this aspect.

Performance of the gearbox:

When it comes to comparing the transmission, there is hardly anything to separate the two cars. The seven-speed transmission in the Mercedes Benz hardly attracts any of your attention as it efficiently goes about performing its task of quick up-shifting (in case of the manual mode) as well as down-shifting whenever you desire the same. However, the gearbox of the C63 is not effectively matched with revs on downshifting (in the auto transmission), hence when you break the car, the vehicle slams into its lower gear. Brakes are effective enough in the C63 as it takes 161ft to stop from a speed of 70mph but the consistency of performance of the brakes could wish you to desire a bit more. In comparison, the brake pedal of the M3 responds better with a shorter distance of 153ft required by it to stop from a speed of 70mph.

The Interior Designs and Features:

The latest C63 from Mercedes Benz has come with much improved styling to the interiors and the maker also needs to be commended on the ergonomics of the vehicle. The controls are comparatively easier to use in the C63 as compared to the BMW M3.  The interior of the C63 has been refreshed to give it an elegant and contemporary look. The BMW looks a more formal car and a feeling starts to creep in that the looks are getting a bit older, hence it is no surprise that the next upgraded 3-series is on its way soon. Both the cars are loaded with amenities and features, but the vote is secured by the BMW based on its lower price. Furthermore, it looks like the Mercedes has lost out on the exclusivity factor as far as its looks are concerned as it looks quite similar to the Honda Accord. Though, it has come very close to displacing the M3 from its top position in this parameter, the BMW M3 retains its position here by just a miniscule difference.

The Exterior:

A key differentiation factor between the two cars can be best illustrated by their respective roofs. The M3 has provided carbon fiber to its roof panel to bring down its weight as well as lower its center of gravity. But the C63 coupe has been provided with a huge glass sunroof, which adds up to its high weight. Being light in weight by around 400 pounds and lesser centre of gravity by 1.5-inch has enabled the BMW to enjoy better handling compared to the C63. The M3 is capable of changing directions faster and in a simpler manner. Its tires also progressively lose the grip thereby enhancing the handling aspect of the M3 even further. The BMW M3 will keep you more involved in the driving aspect, thanks to its manual gearbox mated to its high rpm engine.

The Final Verdict:

If you are not applying full throttle on the 2012 BMW M3, you will be surprised at the silent and competent manner it performs. However, whenever you want to extract performance from it, it will wake up to provide feedback and sensitivity levels, akin to sports cars. The stunning controls through which it performs its entire operational range has been a key factor that has made it remain unchallenged till date. In this comparison, the M3 again comes out a winner over the Mercedes Benz C63 AMG, but the margins have definitely reduced. The factors in which the BMW outscored the Mercedes Benz are on its superior grip and braking performance along with its clear cut victory on subjective handling. The reign of the BMW M3 still continues!

Indeed, the first thing that strikes you about this latest power driver from Mercedes-Benz is its name, 2012 SLK55 AMG. The machine is loud enough to wake you up from the deepest of slumbers. Getting its power packed into a 4.5 Liter V-8, 415-Hp, the vehicle is indeed smooth and has good torque levels too. This engine has been termed M152 and distinguishes itself from other V-8 of Mercedes.

Thanks to the 2012 SLK55 AMG engines provided, this vehicle too has high specialty in torque. With a peak power of 415Hp achieved in 7200rpm, the vehicle also has a maximum torque of 398 lb ft; a figure when even quoted would raise some exclamations. All this is enough to ensure that the vehicle cruises to 60mph from a standing position in just about four seconds. Efficiency has been primarily aimed for in this V-8 and to achieve the same, the vehicle has been provided with a cylinder-deactivation system along with other standard features like the stop-start system, direct injection as well as variable valve timings. The cylinder deactivating system makes its debut in AMG, and has the power to disable four specific cylinders (Nos. 2, 3, 5, and 8 ) by cutting off fuel and spark and having the cylinder valves parked. One can only notice this transition through a minor change in the exhaust note – it’s rumbling tones down a less booming effect – along with an indication on the dashboard. Despite having just 4 active cylinders at that point of time, an impressive torque of 170 lb ft is generated. The system starts functioning only when efficiency mode of transmission is set; hence power lovers do not have to worry that the same would set in, when they are trying to rev up the vehicles.

The SLK is a hulk at 3550 pounds outweighing the Porsche Boxster and the BMW Z4 by hundreds of pounds. Mercedes is not really known for its expertise in building smaller sports cars, their vehicles have always been in bigger lines. The 2012 SLK55 AMG has been given the usual share of top features for better handling, which includes stiffer dampers and springs, hydraulic steering gears, 18” sized aluminium wheels an a pseudo-torque vectoring functionality given to the brakes that makes use of rear-caliper pressure for turning the car in. The car has been provided with seven-speed automatic transmission that shifts very quickly and smoothly, however its existence is often forgotten about because of the flexibility of the engine. The gripes have been limited to a barely noticeable part of the nose weight, hence making the vehicle feel bigger than what it actually is. The rear suspension however makes you hop around when the vehicle passes over rough terrain.

The SLK cannot be dubbed as a sports car, the segmentation the manufacturers wanted it to fit into, it can however be termed as a well balanced and fast touring vehicle. However, a presumed sale price of $69,000 makes this vehicle anything but cheap; however the noise this vehicle creates could make it prove its worth.

The S400 Hybrid might be the least priced S-Class one gets to purchase; however competitors operating on gas, namely the Panamera or the Audi A8, which have been rated similarly by the Environmental Protection Agency, are available at considerably lower base prices. So, one often wonders why consumers go for the S-400, is it only for it being the cheapest in S-Class segment or they think that a ‘hybrid’ tag is sufficient to ensure that the vehicle conforms to environmental needs.

The skepticism has increased more with the news that of introduction of the Mercedes S350 Bluetec, which is going to be powered by diesel. The S350 Bluetec’s base pricing has been set at $92,550; thus making it just $700 dearer than the S-400. However the S350 Bluetec is expected to give you a much better fuel economy, and it also comes to the consumers in a standard all-wheel drive.

Estimates on the aspects of fuel economy for the Mercedes S350 Bluetec is that it would travel 21 mpg in city roads and 31 mpg on highways, which greatly surpasases the Hybrid’s performance of 19/25 mpg on city/highway. As per estimates of the EPA, a person is likely to make savings of $358 a year with the S350 Bluetec; however cash saving would not be a prime factor for any person capable of affording an S-Class. The factor of convenience would play an important role in shaping purchase decisions, as the S350 Bluetec is expected to travel an additional 86 miles per fuel tank, in comparison to the Hybrid model.

Also, the factor of all-wheel drive being standardized in the Mercedes S350 Bluetec; would increase its appeal to consumers living in high snowfall areas. All-wheel drive is an optional availability on the S400; which makes it pricier by $550; one needs to actually shell out an additional extra $3,000 to get the same.

So, there seems to be no reason whatsoever for not recommending the new S350 Bluetec to the shoppers against the S400 Hybrid model. The S350 Bluetec is one of the best fuel-efficient cars in the super luxury segment; together with the Porsche Panamera. It indeed looks now that the stables of Mercedes has created a winner with the S350 Bluetec; time will only tell how the competition is going to react to this beauty in the super luxury segment.

Apart from the C-class, all the other cars in the Mercedes lineup adopt a 4 grille look with the three pointed star planted on the bonnet. The tear drop shaped head lamps are a new addition while the parking lamps just next to them is a Volvo borrowed styling cue. The daytime running LED lamps make a part of the fog lamps package. The 18 inch wheels shod with the choicest of rubbers is another good part and while the wing mirrors have been somewhat changed from the earlier cut type thing, they still don’t clear images of the cars touching our derriere. Overall, the E-class has been given a jacked up ground clearance which at the first glance many not seem much but over a comparison with the outgoing generation, is definitely an improvement. As for the rear portion, there is no significant change other than the all LED tail lamp configuration. For the tail lamps, there is the usual twin tail pipe configuration thing on both the ends of the tyres. If years down the line, some one actually sees the 2012 Mercedes Benz E-class, he or she would definitely not recognize it as a 2012 variant and only take heed to the fact that it’s a Mercedes after all.

As for the interiors, all the new 2012 Mercedes E-class models would feature a new touch screen system, which at first glance seems to be a rip off from the Audi models. This new touchscreen has got 3D capabilities. It has become type of the pop up module that we are so used to. The steering wheel is carried over from the older models while the interior trim color has changed. It has become lighter and somewhat pleasing to the eyes than the morose coffee brown color that the earlier model carried. However there is no thumb starter and the Mercedes still does with a crank in the case thing. Build quality as expected is brilliant and the new Mercedes retains the solid character from its earlier generation model. Space was always the E-class’ forte and this hasn’t changed either. Its electrically powered seats are both adjustable for height as also reach. Lumbar support is also available. Moreover, the steering wheel is adjustable for both reach and rake. The front seats are comfortable however the E-class always boasted of having a rear seat which was the epitome of luxury in this class. The meter dials are the same as the previous model’s whereas what has changed is the addition of more features into the cabin. A panoramic sunroof is part of the package and it makes sense that it is a standard fare. All the buttons have a tactile feel to them and the COMAND system has now being made intuitive enough. Boot space is also similar to the earlier car.

Mercedes has been trying to prove to the automotive world that their cars can handle in the same manner as a BMW can. To prove this point, Mercedes have fitted in dampers which have a hardness to them plus anti roll bars which are said to be much harder than the ones in the outgoing model however, they have a certain light construction to them. For the short drive that we had the car with us, it behaved impeccably making us forget all the metal that we were pulling behind us. Body roll has been kept to the minimum. Even though the suspension does have a hard or rough edge to it, it was never troublesome. Infact on some of the rutted roads that we drove across, the E-class stayed put in its path. Through the COMAND system, the various suspension dampings can be altered. The steering wheel though light in nature is still not a patch on the BMW 5 series one. It just doesn’t build in enough confidence to actually make a corner safely and without much concern. Another Mercedes highlight namely the presence of less noise inside the cabin has been also handled well by this new car. Even when we revved the E-class at standstill, the car displayed the least vibrations as also noise.

For the 2012 Mercedes E-class, the engine options range from the 3.5 liter V6 engine to a 5.2 liter V8 motor. The one that we drove around was the 3.5 liter model and it now makes 302 Hp of power at a lofty 6,500 rpm whereas at around 3200 rpm, the peak torque of 273 pound feet comes in. This is an improvement from the previous motor as far as power and torque are concerned however the CO2 emissions have been further lowered. Mercedes have achieved this by eliminating most of the frictional losses which caused the earlier engine to have a somewhat underwhelming performance. The transmission on offer is the same old 7 speed 7G tronic box which gets a new lockup clutch with torque converter. It produces less of a slip and hence gear changes are much more quicker both on the upside as also the downsides. The addition of paddle shifts behind the steering wheel adds to the sense of pleasure of driving this car around. Mercedes claims improved sprint times as well and we couldn’t agree more with the eagerness that this motor displayed. Figures of 5.6 seconds were quoted for the 0-60 mph dash, which means it’s a direct improvement of around 0.6 seconds from the outgoing model.

For the brakes, they are one of the best innovations or rather significant change in the new 2012 model. The world’s first SBC or Sensotronic Brake Control is present in this car and that assisted by the ABS, Braking Assist as also ESP help maintain composure across all terrains. By the way, 4 wheel drive models are off the list for US. Safety as always is top notch for a car with the Mercedes 3 pointed star on its grille and the 2012 E class is no different. It has got a roll over sensor, twin stage passenger as also driver airbags and adding upto all this is the curtain airbags stuff. Fuel efficiency has also improved by leaps and bound on this model. Estimates say that the fuel efficiency figures would hover around the 18 mpg and 27 mpg in city as also highway figures. That is really impressive for a sedan of this size.

The 2012 Mercedes E-class would be launched at around September of this year and it would have 7 variants spawned across the body. The 2012 Mercedes E-class price is estimated to start around from $50k whereas the top end model would easily kiss the base price of the Mercedes S class.

The look of this car is enough to distinguish it from the older generation one since this car seems to be highly inspired by its gull winged sibling, the SLS AMG. Though the 2012 Mercedes SLK roadster is a compact car and as usual compact cars don’t warrant enough of styling cues to be drawn into their design factor, the SLK still manages to impress with its unique styling elements. Some like the bit darkened head lamps with their LED strings warrant an AMG version in the near future. The wide gaping grille and the huge by any standards 3 pointed star logo make sure that this car retains its retro theme well. The LED strips acting as fog lamps and the side skirts do project that this car means serious business. The air dam is no longer a subtler effect thing and is equally wide and gaping as the grille. By the way, the SLK moniker stands for something in German. The S denotes sporty or Sportlich, the L stands for light or Leicht and the K is for compact or Kompact in German. As with all the cars, the SLK has grown a bit in proportions and those incremental changes add to the overall length and width of the car by 1 inch. The 19 inch high profile tires with a traditional starfish type alloy pattern looks striking while the escape from the run of the mill ORVMs with turn indicators on them is also a Merc new. The rear in the meanwhile with its all LED tail lamp configuration and the twin tail pipes looks smashing.

In the interiors, mirroring the exterior color paint scheme are the red colored seat belts. Along with those are the red detailed stitches for the seats and a certain strange type of silver cover for the aircon vents, usually the ones found on ultra rich cars such as the Bentley and Buggati. The steering wheel is a semi flat bottomed unit with the usual steering mounted controls. The usual plethora of switches on the console are also missing and replacing them is easy to understand switches which serve many purposes. The central console is finished in silver while the dashboard is a mix of light and dark gray plastic. However the co-passenger wouldn’t feel shortchanged about the driver centric cabin as even he has to deal with some of the buttons on his end. The seats hug the occupants very nicely. The roof section boasts of a new Magic Sky Control electrochromatic which has been in the offing for long. The roof has few party tricks up its glass sleeves and that is by varying the degree of darkness inside the cabin by altering the tint of the glass. There is too much technology flowing down its veins and those can hardly be explained in writing. Nano particles are used for the construction of this roof and it causes the variation in the color of the glass tints. The boot space is also limited as can be expected from roadsters.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster Photo Gallery

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The steering wheel of the new Merc is a delight to use. It entertains thoroughly with its engaging involvement. This is a rear wheel drive Merc and the chassis is more than capable of handling the 273 pound feet of torque and 302 Hp that the 1.8 liter engined direct injection motor makes. The handling is sublime and the Merc uses ESP to reign in all the power in a proper manner. Unfortunately tail out actions are strictly restricted as the ESP cannot be turned off completely. However it does allow for some leeway before things seem to go out of control. The power delivery by this engine is linear and also very smooth. It gives the impression of reserve power in stock. The 7 speed automatic also does its work well and impresses with its smoothness in the upshifts as also the downshifts. Brakes are also uprated from other Mercedes models however they do suffer from brake fade, which was experienced on the test car. EPA estimates say that this gasoline engine would return 23 mpg in city and 31 mpg on the highway. Those are good figures for a roadster after all.

As of now, the 2012 Mercedes SLK roadster is yet to be launched and prices are yet to be announced. We would keep you updated as more news trickles in about its pricing.

Oh ya, it looks very much like how a Merc should look like. Stately to the core and with those 4 horizontal grilles for the front fascia and the 3 pointed star on the hood, the C would be mistaken for its more swankier E-class model. Those running strips of LEDs masquerading as fog lamps are an Audi copy whereas the very much Volkswagen like head lamps look slightly misty instead of the clear lens which they are supposed to have. The bonnet is now a slightly curving and bulging unit. 17 inch rims are typical Mercedes units and actually a carry over from the previous gen car. Mercedes Benz should actually now change the design of the wing mirrors as they have been the same since time immemorial. Nothing much has changed on the dimensions front and the car is overall of the same length and width as the outgoing model. Only LED tail lamps distinguish the old model from the new one.

About the interiors, it is similar fare to the earlier model with a sort of Volvo like instrument cluster. Wonder which company took the inspiration from the other. There is a piece of oak wood running across the length of the dash. A mix of beige and gray signified the upholstery combination but for the US models, it would mostly be charcoal gray or the muddy brown that Mercedes usually offers. The 2012 Mercedes C-class now gets Bluetooth pairing as standard plus the 6 CD music system with USB and Aux input. The one that I had for the test drive was the C350. There is high-resolution (800×400 pixel) seven-inch screen as also an integrated navigation system. However the smoothness which is prevalent in other German entry level luxury models though is missing from the baby Merc. The COMAND system required several filterings before one could arrive at the object of one’s attention. The front seats in the meanwhile are comfortable and the particular version that I had with me had some S class type side bolsterings. The rear is as good or cramped, whichever way you look at it, in this segment. Seating three abreast wouldn’t be a problem however leg room or the lack of it for taller passengers would definitely create problem. Dual zone climate control would however ensure that they maintain their cool in such situations. Boot space is the same as the previous model and no significant increment was noted on this count.

What Mercedes have done is, to get the handling of this car near BMW like. BMW have always been the benchmark as far as handling is concerned. The new stiffened suspension bushes and their overall dynamics extend a general dose of toughness while the 2012 Mercedes C-class goes around a corner. Pushing my luck and that of the rear wheel driven car revealed that there is a slight under steer however the madly flashing ESP unit of the car reins things back in. However due to the new found tautness in the handling stakes, the new cars loses some of its fun to drive character from the earlier model. Some amount of wind noise is present at around higher speeds. Ride quality however is now better than before with the car not losing its composure on the straights or at the odd bump that I encountered.

4 Engine options are available and 3 of them use the direct injection technology. However I would be talking only about the C350 which I have with me as of now. The 3.5 liter V6 engine develops 302 Hp of power and 273 pound feet of torque. It is mated with a 7 speed auto transmission. No manuals for US though. The feel of this V6 unit via the accelerator pedal was good and it felt lively but isn’t a patch on BMW’s straight 6. The transmission now hold onto gears longer and is quick on the kickdown as well. Well couldn’t put a timer to the acceleration figures but then Mercedes quoted a 5.1 seconds figure and I have no reason to disagree. Fuel efficiency figures of 18 mpg and 24 mpg for the city/highway cycle were being floated around. As far as safety is concerned, all of Mercedes’ new safety technologies are either available as standard or as an option. Brake feel is same as that of the earlier car and can be described as wooden at the best with good braking power though.

2012 Mercedes C-class Photo Gallery

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