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The case of the convertible SUVs is a curious one. Back when this style of vehicle was new – the days of the original Jeep and Land Rover, that is – the open-top utility vehicles were cooler and more, ...ادامه مطلب

People keep telling us the horsepower war between German automakers is a thing of the past. How, then, will they explain the new 2019 Mercedes-AMG G63, which is more powerful than ever? This mighty offroader now packs an insane 585 horsepower from a 4.0 liter V8.  Based on the new generation of the G-Wagen with its cute new lights and fancy interior, the 2019 Mercedes-AMG G63 is also the most capable iteration of this car ever built. Zero to 100 km/h takes only 4.5 seconds. That alone is mind-boggling in a car this size. The limited maximum speed of 220 km/h, or 240 km/h with the AMG Driver‘s package, is the other astonishing figure, no less than the titanic 850 Nm of torque the engine generates. Not that anyone cares, but the combined fuel consumption is 13.2 l/100 km, and the combined CO2 emissions 299 g/km,mainly thanks to cylinder deactivation system. [embedded content] The running gear in the 2019 Mercedes-AMG G63 consists of AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive and a 95 SPEEDSHIFT transmission. Add to that the AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension and adaptive adjustable damping, AMG speed-sensitive steering, and AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes, and you have a speed machine that, ...ادامه مطلب

In an effort to keep the disceing customers of their Maybach series happy, Mercedes has come up with a number of visual upgrades for the 2018 version of the luxury saloon. In this treatment the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class gets even more exquisite interior color combos, optional two-tone paint jobs, and a new radiator grille.  If we cut to the chase, the two-tone paint works available for the 2018 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class include armagnac brown/black and savanna beige/black. There will be nine color combinations available in total, complete with double clear coat which creates a brilliant surface finish with a piano lacquer effect that gives the paint job a special depth. These should improve the aesthetics of the Maybach, especially when teamed up with new luxury 20-inch multi-spoke wheels. on the whole three exclusive 20-inch wheels are available for the Maybach, including a 20-hole design from the Mercedes-Maybach S-Cabriolet. As for the interior, black Maybach Exclusive nappa leather upholstery appointments can also be ordered with a choice of copper-, gold- or platinum-coloured contrasting topstitching. There is also trim inserts in designo flowing lines Magnolia for those w, ...ادامه مطلب

Since the introduction of computers in vehicles in the early 70’s, there have been major improvements in their use for car diagnostics. Code readers and scan tools are some of the most relevant developments achieved with the use of computers. However, they differ in a series of functions which will be carefully distinguished in this publication for your perusal. Code Reader As the name implies, code reader connects to the OBD II port to translate what the error codes mean. When a code reader runs, the error code generated tells the mechanic there is a problem with a vehicle, however, this code requires translation and that is precisely what the code reader does. The mechanic can then choose to clear the error code generated, but apart from that, there’s nothing else the code reader can do. Scan Tool Scan tools on the other hand were manufactured for use in auto shops as they provide a rich set of tools for diagnostics and testing. Using scan tools, mechanics can access other parts apart from the ECU. They can also gain access to codes as well as information on problems in the ABS system and other supplemental systems. They are cost effective because they cover more ground when , ...ادامه مطلب

No, really. Whatever your trade is, chances are there is a version of the new 2019 Mercedes Sprinter that fits your needs. The Mercedes of vans was unveiled minutes ago with three main body styles of panel van, tourer, and construction truck, and more than 1700 different configurations!  It is fairly pointless to talk about the deign of a new van, even though the 2019 Mercedes Sprinter does look quite good and fancy. So let’s begin with the technology and see what makes the new Sprinter special. The new model comes with Mercedes PRO connect combined with the  MBUX multimedia systems. This makes managing a fleet a lot more convenient as you can connect the vehicles and use services such as Vehicle Supervision, Vehicle Operations, Fleet Communication, Maintenance Management and a digital Driver’s Logbook. [embedded content] As for the practicality, the new model has a lower load sill and 50 kg more load capacity (up to17 m3 with tonnages up to 5.5 tonnes). There is also new front setup for the all-wheel-drive system, two newly developed transmissions for front-wheel drive including a 6-speed manual and a nine-speed automatic. Other highlights of the 2019 Mercedes Sprinter equipme, ...ادامه مطلب

Though I resent the connotations the word ‘millennial’ has come to evoke these days, there is no getting away from the fact that I am one. Us ‘millenis’ grew up watching the computers take over the world, keeping track of it all mostly through the evolution of video games. Those of us with an automotive fixation know history mostly by association with car games of a given era, and likely with which Need For Speed was all the rage back then.  Now, as computers become more and more sophisticated and take the whole gaming experience to higher levels, developers try to utilize that enormous power to create ever more realistic games. And while that is technologically brilliant and quite marvelous engineering-wise, one has to ask oneself are these new breed of realistic simulations as fun as the old, crude versions? This permeates to all genres, but with car games in particular the issue is more glaring. If you think about it, the most enjoyable parts of driving has to do with the noise and acceleration and how easy it is to go through a bend quickly, preferably with a bit of an oversteer to spice things up. You don’t think about the brake bias or the steering ratio or the exact perc, ...ادامه مطلب

This year’s Geneva Motor Show will see the debut of something rather special from Land Rover, something we haven’t seen since the 70s. It’s called the Range Rover SV Coupe, and it’s a two-door version of the full-size luxury SUV featuring a “seductive” design and an ultra-refined interior.  They have only released a photo of the interior so far, but that is enough to make us long for this Range Rover SV Coupe. The original Range Rover launched in the 1970 as a two-door model, but that form kind of went away, featured only on a version of the Evoque. The SV, though, it’s not a downsized Range Rover or anything pathetic. It’s full-size, they say, and it’s going to blow you way with its sexiness, luxuriousness, and overall coolness. Range Rover SV Coupe will not appeal to those who buy a SUV because they need the practicality… because it’s just not going to be as practical as the four-door variant. That’s just a fact. It also has four seats instead of the usual five.This car will be the SUV of choice for those who buy a Rolls-Royce Wraith instead of a Phantom, and an AMG S65 Coupe instead of a Maybach. It’l become like a must-have accessory for the rich and famous. So you can expe, ...ادامه مطلب

Good news for the fans of big, luxurious, over-the-top coupes. The all-new BMW 8 Series Coupe is very close to production now as the Bavarian company dispatches prototypes to race tracks for dynamic testing. This thing, by the looks of things, is going to give the AMG 63 and Bentley Continental GT a good run for their money.   We only get to see the overall shape of the BMW 8 Series Coupe in this teaser, but they have included a good deal of pure exhaust noise. The 8 Coupe, as they call it, sounds a lot dirtier than most M cars of recent years, and that’s great. And as for the looks, it’s not like we don’t know what the 8er is going to be like. After all, we have seen this big boy with the Concept 8 Series already. [embedded content] The 2019 BMW 8 Series Coupe has been developed in parallel with the BMW M8 and M8 GTE race car. In fact, as engineers are Europe are putting the standard 8er to test, motorsport experts at Daytona track in America are working on the racing version. That means the M8 will have a strong racing flavor about it, which could manifest itself in lighter weight and more agile handling than the rivals. Weight and lazy drive are pretty much the only flaws of, ...ادامه مطلب

German tuner IMSA is known to those who have know a thing or two about the world of high-end tuning as the firm with some of the craziest body kits ever. With their latest project, however, they have gone sensible and focused mainly on performance. The result is this IMSA Mercedes-AMG S63 which they have re-badged the S720.  And there’s a clue as to the kind of power you can expect from this luxurious and classy monster. Don’t get us wrong. IMSA Mercedes-AMG S63 does come with a number of new body components. But these are very subtle and understated compared what we usually expect from this tuner, and their main purpose it to enhance the performance and make the car faster. They do so through a combination of weight saving and aerodynamic efficiency. The carbon parts tailored for the S720 include a pair of side sills, special air intakes, and rear diffuser with new tailpipes. The aero components are complemented with a set of CR2 alloy wheels based on the customer’s request, shod with 9×21 with tires in 255-35/21 on the front axle and 10,5×21 with 295-30/21 at the rear axle. Again the wheels are mainly there for performance reasons and the cool look they result in is an added, ...ادامه مطلب

The trendiest trend in the auto world in 2018 seems to be artificial intelligent. Car makers are scrambling to get ahead in this field, and Mercedes-Benz just made a huge leap with their new infotainment system. Unveiled at CES in Las Vegas, the new Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) is an infotainment system infused with AI.  You still get all the traditional features of a good in-car entertainment and connectivity system, only with the MBUX they are better. You get high-resolution Widescreen Cockpit with touchscreen operation, navigation and voice recognition. But these in the Mercedes-Benz User Experience are complemented with augmented reality technology plus intelligent voice control with natural speech recognition. Think of this system as a big in-car smartphone. “Hey Mercedes” is the phrase that activates the thing. [embedded content] But the coolest feature of Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) is its artificial intelligent. You have to be an advanced AI yourself to figure out how it works, but basically this AI can be individualised and adapts to suit the user. Mercedes says it creates an “emotional” connection between the car and the users, which sounds like hyper, ...ادامه مطلب

Americans love their SUVs plush, and so Mercedes announced the launch of a more ‘Grand’ version of their GLS for the US market. The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS Grand Edition comes with exclusive interior and exterior elements that set it apart from the standard version. The cost of this extra luxuriousness will be announced after the debut of Mercedes-Benz GLS Grand Edition at the Detroit Auto Show and before it reaches the dealerships in mid-2018. It will be available on both GLS450 4MATIC and GLS550 4MATIC, so if you only want to look top-of-the-line but don’t big power to go with it you can get the smaller, cheaper one and still enjoy the looks and amenities. As for what makes the Mercedes-Benz GLS Grand Edition special, on the outside we have exclusive badges and fancy new wheels. But here is a giveaway as to which version of the Grand you are driving. The GLS450 4MATIC features 20-inch 10-spoke two-tone wheels and an advanced LED Intelligent Light System. The GLS550 4MATIC is as standard equipped with 21-inch wheels and Active LED headlamps. So keep that in mind. The interior of the Grand GLS is more lavishly equipped, with the highlights including Porcelain / Espresso Brown , ...ادامه مطلب

After giving us a taste of the new 2019 Mercedes G-Class interior, Daimler has now released the first photos of the legendary SUV flexing its muscles on an offroad course. Granted, it’s a heavily camo’d prototype, but it does reveal pretty much all that is new about this model. Nobody, of course, expects the 2019 Mercedes G-Class to come with a radical new design. It is going to maintain the iconic boxy shape of its predecessor. The new stuff are mainly trivial details such as rounder headlights, slimmer taillights, new bumper design, and a more prominent grille. And that’s alright. We don’t our beloved G-Wagen to look any different. The interior changes have been more substantial, giving the big G a more refined and luxurious feel inside the cabin. As for the technical specs, while the performance figures of the 2019 Mercedes G-Class are yet to be released, we have some initial details to drool over. The characteristic features of the G-Wgen, i.e. ladder- type frame, three 100-percent differential locks and LOW RANGE off-road ratio are still there. These are complemented with independent suspension with double-wishbone front axle and rigid rear axle. So you can expect not jus, ...ادامه مطلب

Japanese tuner Wald Inteational has finally released a preview of their latest Black Bison package, tailored for the BMW’s flagship sedan. The new Wald BMW 7 Series styling package fits both G11 and G12 variants of the 7er which are the short and long wheelbase models respectively.  This generation of the 7er has a unique and angry kind of design which seems to respond well to subtle improvements. But that is just what Wald BMW 7 Series is not, at least in its upcoming version. The tuner has done a diet version of this car which we will get to in a minute. What they are previewing here is a full body kit with completely revised bumpers and skirts and some old-fashioned wheels which make the car look like it’s been customized by a teenager in a video game. Still, this kind of look might appeal to some people. They may find the Japanese design of the front bumper with its unusual vents and grilles intriguing, and the slammed suspension just the thing to make the car sportier. We have to while we are not a huge fan of the face on Wald BMW 7 Series, we find the design of the rear bumper with its massive diffuser and exquisite lines right on the money. It complements the tai, ...ادامه مطلب

Before you get too excited about the prospect of driving the all-new BMW X7 Sports Activity Vehicle in teh coming year, we have to point out the first batch is, as the title says, pre-production models. These are basically production cars produced for real-world tests. Thefinal version will be released some time close to the end of 2018.  So there is still about a year to go before you can have this ginormous BMW with its massive grilles and narrow eyes which gives it the look of a mutant sea creature. Mind you, the pre-production BMW X7 is still not final final in terms of design, which is why the test units will be heavily camouflaged as they travel around the world, putting the vehicle’s driving dynamics as well as features and equipment to rigorous test. BMW says they have put together an especially trained team for the testing and production of their full-size SUV. [embedded content] BMW X7 is an strategic product for the German company, not just because it competes in a lucrative, though highly competitive, market. The X7 is going to be the lifeline of the BMW Group Spartanburg plant where they produce the BMW X models for the USA and the global market. The plant hit, ...ادامه مطلب

The new Lamborghini Urus SUV has not received, at least so far, the warm welcome the company was hoping it would. Some don’t like the way it looks. Some aren’t happy with the specs. And to some it is just not extreme enough. If you belong to the latter group, this custom BMW X6M gaished with all sorts of extra goodies may just be what you are after.  Prepared by BMW Abu Dhabi’s tuning arm, this X6M features a full assortment of very high-end aftermarket parts. The way they are put together, too, is something to savour, since the parts match each other nicely and create a whole that does not really look aftermarket. It almost fulls you into thinking it’s come out of the factory wearing all those jewelry and cool clothes. And then, of course, there is the unique shape of the X6M itself which adds to the visual drama brought on by the carbon parts. As for the ingredients used to make this delicious custom BMW X6M, the body kit comes from 3D Design, a renowned Japanese specialist, and it comprises front spoiler, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear tailgate spoiler. These carbon parts are complemented with a Manhart carbon fiber vented bonnet, M Performance carbon mirror cap, ...ادامه مطلب