Even the mighty Mercedes-Bezn SL63 AMG can’t escape from the horsepower-possessed German tuning firms. Thanks to a series of modifications that include a new sport exhaust system, Kicherer has managed to boost the SL63 AMG’s naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine output by 35 HP to a total of 560 HP while torque is also increased to 670Nm (494lb-ft). The 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint now comes in 4.3 seconds or 0.4 sec faster than the standard SL63 AMG, while the roadster’s top speed is electronically limited to 320 km/h or 199 mph.

To match the SL63 AMG’s performance, Kicherer has developed a new bodykit with carbon fiber accessories than include a front apron, a rear diffuser that houses a new set of exhaust tailpipes and mirror caps. To complete the looks the German tuning firm offers a set of 20-inch RS-1 aluminium wheels. See photos after the jump Continued

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Bang & Olufsen, the worldwide provider of exclusive, high quality audio and video products, has signed an agreement with Germany’s Mercedes-AMG, the performance division of Mercedes-Benz Cars, for a unique sound system.”Our new partnership with Mercedes-AMG is hugely important to us,” says Karl Kristian Hvidt Nielsen, Bang & Olufsen President & CEO.

”The agreement enables Bang & Olufsen to further utilize the expertise and processes we have built up in order to meet the requirements of the automotive industry,” says Karl Kristian Hvidt Nielsen. ”And, of course, Mercedes-AMG is also an interesting partner for Bang & Olufsen because the cars are sold across the world.”

”Mercedes-AMG represents high performance and exclusivity. The same is true of Bang & Olufsen’s in-car sound systems. Jointly, we are therefore able to meet Mercedes-AMG customers’ expectations to sound systems,” says Volker Mornhinweg, Chairman of the Management Board at Mercedes-AMG.

The agreement with Mercedes-AMG does not affect Bang & Olufsen’s expectations for the current financial year.

Bang & Olufsen’s sound systems have gained a considerable reputation within a short time. Earlier this year, the respected German magazine ”auto motor und sport” named Bang & Olufsen the number one brand in the Car-HiFi category in its readership survey ”Best Brand 2008.”

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We’re not sure what Lorinser is trying to tell us with the color of choice for the GLK teaser sketches, but fact is the German firm will be one of the first tuners to get their hands on Mercedes-Benz’ all-new compact SUV that’s set to arrive in European dealerships this October with the U.S following in early 2009. Other than the teaser sketches, there’s no official information on what Lorinser is preparing for the GLK but we gather that apart from the full bodykit and new alloy wheels, the tuning firm will also present a sport suspension set-up along with a series of upgrades for the SUV’s engine line-up

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Batteries are an integral part of any hybrid automobile. No batteries means no electric assist, which means no point in lugging around all that extra hardware. So Mercedes-Benz is in a world of hurt as it alleges that Cobasys, the chosen battery supplier for the upcoming ML 450 hybrid SUV, has decided not to fulfill its obligation to the German automaker. You might recall that General Motors had problems with leaky batteries from Cobasys, reportedly leading the automaker to consider purchasing the supplier outright from its current parents, Chevron and Energy Conversion Devices.

For its part, Mercedes-Benz has sued Cobasys and petitioned the court to order Cobasys to supply the batteries in had committed to. Cobasys CEO Thomas Neslage has denied that his company ever agreed to supply the batteries in the first place. If this situation isn’t resolved in a timely manner, Mercedes-Benz may be forced to delay the introduction of its first-ever hybrid vehicle.

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An attentive Autoblog reader spotted what appears to be a prototype Mercedes S400 Hybrid in a Houston Texas parking lot the other day. The test car’s badges were all taped over, but the S400 and hybrid badging on the trunk lid seems to match the show concept. The S400 was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show last fall and will launch into production in mid-2009 at about the same time as the ML450 Hybrid. While the SUV will use the Two-Mode hybrid system developed with GM, Chrysler, and BMW, the S400 will use the mild hybrid system created with BMW. The mild hybrid uses a 15kW motor sandwiched between the transmission and 3.5L V6. The Mercedes mild hybrid system is likely to be the first mass production hybrid with a lithium ion battery. At the auto show introduction, Mercedes claimed that the full-size hybrid luxury sedan will achieve nearly 30 mpg.

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Revealing its Gullwing doors for the first time on camera, the SLC is Mercedes-Benz’ new supercar that will be officially revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009 with sales set to start the following year. The SLC, which is designed to revoke memories of Mercedes’ iconic 300 SL, will be powered by a front mounted 6.2-liter V8 engine from AMG delivering around 580 HP. Expected to weigh in at about 1,650 kg, the SLC is said to achieve a zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) time of around 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 315 km/h or 196 mph.

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Following the Roadster and 722 variants, Mercedes McLaren are giving it one more try with the SLR Speedster to hopefully stimulate SLR sales which never met expectation.

Based on recent spy photos and video, artist Jon Sibal helps us visualize the Speedster past its zebra stripe camouflage with an illustration he has created. It’s easy to see that the Speedster version is lacking a windshield and roof, however, during Sibal’s analysis he discovered only the headlights are shared between the normal SLR and Speedster.

“Practically all body panels have been redesigned,” according to Sibal. “The whole side panel, fenders and doors are all different. The hood was also redesigned to tame the slope leading to the high beams which was originally connected to the A pillar. The side exit exhaust is now placed in the side fender vents as how it appeared in the original 1955 300 SLR instead of the rocker panels found in the current McLaren model.”

Head over to Sibal’s site for an animated transition from camouflaged prototype to rendering.

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Looking for a way to kill a few hours at the office or at home? Mercedes-Benz might have the answer as the German automaker is offering online browsers a chance to race its new CLC-Class coupe around the streets of a virtual London with a new downloadable game called “CLC Dream Test Drive”. The game was developed in conjunction with specialist agencies Team6 and Weapon7. Once you download the file –it’s a 105 MB zip file- and set it up, you can then customize a CLC 350 Sport and hit the road aiming to set the fastest time. And if you’re fast enough, the top time recorded over the three summer months will be entered into a prize draw, with the overall winner receiving a real driving experience at Mercedes-Benz World, at Brooklands, Surrey. You can download the game from Mercedes-Benz’ site by clicking here - www.CLCdreamtestdrive.com

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The compact SUV market is proving to be highly competitive these days, there are new models entering the market all the time as consumers scale down from the full size SUVs as oil prices increase. These facts mean Mercedes cannot afford to rest on their laurels, the all new GLK was unveiled in full production form at Auto China in April and this followed a long running PR campaign which included two pre-production GLK concepts – the Freeside and Townside.

Much of the latest Mercedes technology is incorporated into the new generation model including 4MATIC all-wheel-drive, Agility Control suspension, Intelligent Light System, PRE-SAFE and 7G-TRONIC transmission. The model range starts with the GLK 220 CDI 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY powered by a new entry level four-cylinder diesel engine producing 170 horsepower, for those looking for a bit more power and torque for your SUV the range is topped off by the GLK 350 featuring a 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine producing 272hp and 350Nm of torque.

Sales of the compact SUV commenced at the end of June with the launch of the Edition 1 model which features 20 inch wheels, EASY-PACK tailgate, privacy glass, interior sports package with black-white nappa leather from the disigno range, AMG leather steering wheel, black roof lining, aluminum trim and COMAND APS system.

Read over the following 7 pages for full details about the GLK then you can head over to the photo album consisting of more than 150 photos.

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In it latest issue, German car magazine Autozeitung supports that one of the four distinct models that will replace the current A and B-Class in Mercedes-Benz’ compact car line-up (read more here) will be a four-door coupe named CLA. As you can see in the scanned picture above, Autozeitung’s artists came up with a CGI (computer generated image) to give us an idea of how a “baby” CLS model could look like.

While it is certain that Mercedes-Benz will abandon the costly sandwich structure of the A and B-Class in all four derivatives of its new compact car line-up, it remains unclear whether the German luxury carmaker will continue to use a front-wheel-drive set up or if it will opt for a rear-wheel-drive platform.

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