Mercedes-Benz has updated their R171 second generation Mercedes Benz SLK, the car that pioneered the modern hard top convertible (there were already hard top convertibles a long time ago in the past), what Mercedes calls a vario-roof.

Major changes on the interior are the usual ones that are associated with a mid-life facelift - an updated front and rear, while the interior gets a new instrument clusters and a three-spoke sports steering wheel.

The new front bumper is much more aggressive than the pre-facelift version, divided into two prominent large gaping intakes split in the middle. The rear end now has a diffuser-style lower section that enhances the SLK’s look from the rear. Tail lights are now slightly darkened, and exhaust tips are trapezoidal in shape.

The facelifted R171 SLK gets a new NTG 2.5 audio and telematics system, making the radio, Bluetooth handsfree system and media interface easy to operate. There is also an option for the LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control system. The harman kardon Logic7 sound system has been tuned to offer a good listening experience whether the roof is up or down.

The baseline SLK200K’s 1.8 liter supercharged engine now makes more power and torque. It is now 184 horsepower, up by 21 horsepower and torque goes up from 240Nm to 250Nm.

The SLK350’s 3.5 liter V6 revs higher now, up to 6800, with an optional 7200rpm extended redline if engine parameters like oil temperature are favorable. Other enhancements to the V6 include a higher compression ratio, a new intake manifold and an improved valvetrain design. The result is 305 horsepower at 6,500rpm and 360Nm of torque at 4,900rpm - an improvement of 33 horsepower and 10Nm. The 7G-Tronic blips the throttles on downshifts.

An optional direct steer system is optional on all models and standard on the SLK55 AMG. It operates by mechanical means instead of being an electrical-based system - no actuators or complex sensors.

Technorati Tags: mercedes benz, mercedes benz slk, sports car

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Is it possible to make a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster even more exclusive and individual? BRABUS (www.brabus.com) proves that the topless Mercedes supercar can be made even sportier and more exciting with its sophisticated customization program.

To give the two-seater even more striking looks while at the same time minimizing lift on the front axle, the BRABUS designers have developed a front spoiler that attaches to the production bumper. The spoiler is made from exposed carbon fiber and its shape was fine-tuned in the wind tunnel. It is especially lightweight and extremely tough. A corresponding BRABUS rear diffuser made from exposed carbon fiber can replace its production counterpart.

The sporty BRABUS outfit for the SLR Roadster is dominated by BRABUS Monoblock VI 20-inch wheels that fill the wheel houses perfectly. The fully polished multi-piece wheels feature six double spokes and are mounted on the sports car in size 9.5Jx20 in front and size 11.5Jx20 on the rear axle. High-performance tires in sizes 255/30 ZR 20 and 305/25 ZR 20 are supplied by BRABUS technology partners Pirelli and YOKOMAMA. This low-profile tire/wheel combination is custom-tailored for the SLR coupe and roadster and benefits not only the car’s appearance but also its handling.

Thus equipped the topless SLR is ready for some additional power provided by BRABUS engine tuning. The power tuning for the supercharged 5.5-liter (335.5 cu. in.) engine consists of special camshafts, a fuel cooling system and a high-performance exhaust. With BRABUS tuning, power output of the V8 compressor engine increases by 24 hp (23 hp SAE net) / 18 kW to 650 hp (641 hp SAE net) / 478 kW at 6,500 rpm.

BRABUS also offers a special clutch-type limited-slip differential with a locking rate of 40 percent. It further optimizes traction and improves acceleration performance of the super sports car. The tuned roadster sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 337 km/h (209 mph).

Precision handwork down to the last detail characterizes the exclusive BRABUS interior design for the two-seater. The company-own upholstery shop specializes in fulfilling just about any request from discriminating SLR owners when it comes to customizing the interior. That includes a multitude of leather types and colors as well as custom upholstery designs.

An unusual BRABUS specialty is the waffle-patterned leather carpeting in the SLR’s footwells. Some 7,800 meters (25,600 feet) of the finest thread are sewn with utmost precision for it alone.

A sporty and functional BRABUS option is the ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel that is flattened on the bottom for markedly easier entering and exiting of the vehicle. The steering wheel features integrated buttons for manual shifting of the SLR’s automatic transmission.

Sporty BRABUS carbon-fiber applications for dashboard, center console and door trim transfer the racing look of the BRABUS body components into the interior. The exposed carbon-fiber trim can be color-coordinated with the leather color of the interior.

Technorati Tags: mercedes benz, 2008 Brabus Mercedes-Benz SLR Roadster McLaren

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Unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, the high-tech F 700 previews a full range of new technology from Mercedes-Benz, including a green-friendly powertrain, a laser-equipped suspension that looks ahead at road conditions, and even an interactive voice-recognition system that incorporates the best features of a video game.

The big four-door sedan is said to provide solid clues to the sort of features that are likely to appear on the next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class that is due to be introduced in 2012.

Stretched but Not Big
From tip to tail, the Mercedes-Benz F 700 Research Car measures 203.9 inches, making it just a fraction shorter than the current Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan, yet its wheelbase measures an astounding 135.8 inches, some 11.2 inches longer than the current S-Class.
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Over the past three decades Brabus has perfected the art of transplanting large and extremely powerful engines into the bodies of small cars. That path led to numerous world records and entries into the Guinness Book of World Records. The Brabus Bullit, built in small-series production based on the new Mercedes C-Class sedan, celebrates its world debut at the IAA 2007 as the ultimate wolf in sheep’s clothing.

At the heart of this supercar Brabus placed the Brabus SV12 S Biturbo displacement engine. It was originally designed for the world’s fastest sedan, the Brabus Rocket. The implantation of the 6.3-liter engine into the confines of the W 204 series body is yet more proof for the superiority of Brabus know-how.

The Brabus engine specialists developed an entirely new turbocharging system with two larger chargers and more efficient intercoolers. The Brabus SV12 S Biturbo displacement engine also breathes more feely thanks to metal catalysts with low back pressure and a stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system custom-tailored for the C-Class body.

New engine electronics ensure the perfect combination of maximum power yield and running smoothness. The use of custom mapping and the on-board diagnostics system result in low exhaust emissions that meet stringent Euro IV limits. The Brabus Bullit features state-of-the-art traction and stability control systems such as ABS, ASR and ESP.

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