[VIDEO]: Mercedes-Benz TV: Amelia Island

The stunning classic cars auctioned at Florida's Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance are a true attraction for collectors. During the auction, rarities and classics change hands -- among them a 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster. Take a look behind the scenes of the thrilling auction.

Video courtesy of Mercedes-Benz's YouTube channel.

Introducing, Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield's new Savings Card program!

We cordially invite you to join the Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield Savings Card Member Club. As a preferred service customer, you will be given a savings card pre-loaded with $1,000 in value that can be redeemed at Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield for service on your Mercedes-Benz or Sprinter vehicle. To learn if you qualify for membership, please complete the form to the right and someone will be in contact with you promptly. Your savings card can be on its way to you sooner than you expect!

[ NEW APPLICANTS CLICK HERE ]-------------------------------[ CURRENT MEMBERS LOG-IN ]

General Terms and Conditions:

• Your card will be pre-loaded with $1,000 in savings.
• For Service, Parts and Accessories:  Present your card before your purchase or repair write-up and we will deduct 10% of the total retail value on service, parts and accessory purchases up to a maximum value of $1,000.
• All discounts will be deducted from the balance of your card until there is no remaining balance. You may use your card as often as you wish until your balance reaches $0 or your card expires. 
• Your card is transferable to family and friends.
• Discounts for service are only valid for purchases or repairs from Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield.
• Your card is not valid with other offers, advertised specials or prior purchases or repairs.
• Your card excludes state and local taxes, sublet services, wholesale and fleet purchases, warranty and insurance deductibles, environmental fees and tires.

Why wait. Start saving on your service bills now. If you would like more information or to speak with someone about this great program, please contact our Service Department at (888) 452-7133.

Check out these leaked spy shots of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet:

Mercedes-Benz is working on a convertible version of the next-generation C-Class, this confirmed by the latest spy photos that made their way onto the web this morning. Look for the 2014 C-Class cabriolet to go on sale in 2015.

Photos courtesy of eMercedes-Benz.

2013 Motor Trend SUV of the Year: Mercedes-Benz GL

Higher and Mightier: Stuttgart’s Biggest Bruiser Recaptures Our SUV Gold

SUVs have changed. For the first time ever, we didn't have a single body-on-frame example in our annual SUV of the Year competition. Remember, when Bob Lutz and Stephen Ross cooked up the Ford Explorer -- the vehicle most responsible for cupiding America's still-raging love affair with the SUV -- it was little more than an enclosed, four-door Ranger. For our 2013 competition, the overwhelming majority of the competitors were car-based. However, there was one vehicle that wasn't, and in the words of Frank Markus, "did more of what we expect an SUV to do." That vehicle is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL. The flavor didn't matter. From the fuel-sipping, diesel-powered GL350 to the "how can this be the weaker of the two V-8s?" GL450 to the "3-ton objects should not move this quickly" 429-hp GL550, Mercedes has built an SUV that's better than the rest. Not just in its competitive class: The new, second-generation GL is the best new SUV on the market period, and the winner of our prize.

Going into our weeklong test, some of us (hi, Mom!) suspected that the massive Mercedes would be the one to beat. After all, the very closely related ML finished second to the Range Rover Evoque last year, and we've always liked the three-row GL more than its two-row sibling. Little did we realize just how badly the GL would bully the other 10 competitors. At the end of our testing, we'd narrowed the field down to three potential winners: the GL, the Ford Escape, and the Nissan Pathfinder. But in truth, it was no contest.

Now, of course, there's a 900-pound gorilla (or, with the GL, a 5700-pound elephant) in the room: price. The GL never has been cheap. In December 2006, when we handed the first-gen GL our SUV of the Year calipers, the base price was $55,675. Five years later, the kitty has gone up: $63,305 is the price of admission to the "entry-level" GL350 Bluetec. Of course, the one we drove costs $87,500, a very pretty penny. Should you opt for gasoline propulsion, you'll need $64,805 at minimum. I say minimum because our GL450 showed up with an as-tested price tag of $94,265. Ahem. From there, things go stratospheric, with the GL550 starting at $88,485; the white monster we drove stickers for $108,310. Gulp. Oh, yeah, there's a GL63 AMG on the way. The price for that decadent, unnecessary luxury item? If you have to ask...

 

So, yes, the GL in all its forms ain't cheap. Until you start considering its segment. After all, the full-size, seven-passenger luxury SUV goes up against rivals like the Cadillac Escalade and the Infiniti QX56, both of which start -- like the Mercedes -- at just over $60,000. Then you've got big-money vehicles such as the Lexus LX, which begins life at more than $80,000. The Audi Q7 can be had for a lot less money (around $47,000 to start), but throw in an engine that competes with any of the three offered on the GL and tick a few option boxes, and you're in the same tax bracket as the much bigger Benz. The real point, however, is how totally and completely the new GL dominates this segment. Calling it best in class is the definition of an understatement. It's the best the class has ever seen.

Let's start with the interior. Both the GL450 and GL550 showed up with designo interiors -- Mercedes-speak for "up yours, Audi" -- and we were all wowed. Our very Midwestern Frank Markus says of the GL450's Porcelain Leather, "More than $4000 almost seems reasonable for the Bentley-grade white designo interior in the 450. I want!" Then, of course, there was the Auburn Brown interior in the GL550, and it, my friends, was even nicer. As a few manufacturers have started doing recently, Mercedes now has the option of non-glossy, open-pore wood. And the grainy stuff in the GL550 is the best I've ever seen -- in any car. Oh, and the non-designo interior in the GL350 is nothing to sneeze at. Says Markus, "This is an S-Class wagon, from a cockpit opulence standpoint."

As for interior dislikes, there weren't many. Our whole team agreed that COMAND, Mercedes-Benz's version of iDrive, is in serious need of a major rethink. That said, the 360-degree camera parking system (very similar to Infiniti's Around View) drew nothing but praise as the best the industry currently offers. The tallest member of our staff -- Scott Mortara -- did have an interesting complaint, "My only interior gripe is the seatbelt tensioner. It always pulls at my neck -- really annoying." There was also some concern about the speed at which the middle-row seats electronically fold. While not very fast compared with the other contenders' pull-levers, if your arms are full of stuff, the auto-seats are quite convenient. Especially as the front seats automatically slide forward to make room.

As far as the driving experience goes, consider us impressed. The 5774-pound GL350 and its potent yet thrifty diesel engine returned the second-best observed mpg of the competition, behind the 3038-pound Subaru XV -- 18.5 mpg compared with 22.4. (The 1.6-liter Ford Escape averaged 17.7 mpg over the same roads and conditions.) Remember, the GL is the largest passenger vehicle Mercedes makes, weighing over 100 pounds more than the big boxy G550. The gasoline-powered GLs returned the worst and second-worst fuel economy of the group, but they were 1200 pounds heavier than the next beefiest contender, the Infiniti JX. And the oil-burning, 455 lb-ft of torque wonder is the entry-level engine. The breadth and quality of the GL range also impressed us. The Ford Escape also has three engine options, but they only sent us the two EcoBoosted examples, leaving us to wonder if the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four (the Escape's base engine) isn't very good. Still, Mercedes has absolutely nothing to hide.

 

But it does have much to be proud of. "An absolutely amazing piece of machinery," crows Mortara. "An ueber-smooth ride, even in sport mode. You just float down the highway on a cloud and in silence." Floyd adds, "Over the entire two-and-a-half-day stretch, far and away the most fun I had behind the wheel was in the GL450, on both the road and off-road loops. It just shrank around me out on the winery roads. I honestly felt like I was in a sport sedan in spots." The one disappointment was the high-powered GL550. Yes, it was by quite a margin the fastest SUV here (0-60 in 5.1 seconds!), but its on-road manners left many of us wanting. Says Loh, "Ride is overcaffeinated: jittery and skittish, possibly due to the larger tires and more weight in the nose.."

We all agreed the middle child 362-hp GL450 was the Goldilocks of the bunch. Especially off-road. Harwood smartly points out, "As manufacturers flock to crossovers, the capability is what suffers." Not so with the Mercedes. All three of them absolutely aced our (admittedly mild) dirt section. Markus notes, "Incredible off-road, too. No tricks, no low-range or lock, but it's sure-footed enough to billygoat right up at idle. DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) works perfectly and allows you to set your speed from 1 to 11 mph. The GL450, with low range and the terrain-response-type dial, is even better. At the highest suspension setting, when the diagonal wheels lost traction, it seemed to lower the suspension to find grip. Even the 550 managed to idle up at 1 mph without spitting a single grain of dust."

 

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL truly is the complete package. As Mortara attests, "There is nothing more you could want or need in an SUV." Our editor-in-chief Loh puts it more colorfully: "Imagine a gigantic Swiss Army knife, with 50-some tools (one of the tools is a Leatherman, which itself has 50 tools). Now imagine all the blades are gold-plated platinum, and the inlaid mother-of-pearl handle is wrapped in leather from a Himalayan bald eagle. That's basically the GL."

At first glance against our six criteria -- Performance of Intended Function, Design Advancement, Engineering Excellence, Efficiency, Safety, and Value -- the Mercedes nails five of them. Value is, of course, the sticky wicket. But as stated earlier, when you start comparing apples to apples, the GL is no more expensive than the vehicles it directly competes against. And when you consider just how ahead of its class the big Benz is, you realize that the GL is indeed six for six. Impressively well done again, Mercedes.

Article and image courtesy of MotorTrend.

[VIDEO]: Mercedes-Benz TV: Out of love for the "Pagoda"

In 1963, the star designer, Paul Bracq, changed the direction of automotive design with the Mercedes 230 SL. Also known as the "Pagoda", its clear lines and timeless elegance continue to fascinate automotive enthusiasts as well as those who have made their passion the profession.

Video courtesy of Mercedes' YouTube channel.

Receive $50 off off any repair over $400 when you present this eCoupon at Mercedes Fairfield this month!

Click here and "like" us on Facebook to print this month's eCoupon! Just navigate to the Coupon tab on the top of the page for access to our monthly eCoupons and more!

Mercedes G63 AMG Six-Wheeler Tears Up the Desert

For the 6×6 G63 AMG, rocky terrain is negotiated with ease & fording a river is child’s play thanks to the one meter fording capability



Earlier this month we brought you the first photos of the new Mercedes G63 AMG 6×6 and now we have a complete look at the massive off-roader with over 50 photos and specs.  Stay tuned as this is part 1. Superior 6×6 all-wheel drive technology, AMG V8 biturbo power and looks that leave no room for any doubt: the Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG 6×6 near-series show vehicle is an off-roader which represents the last word in forward-thrusting power far from the beaten track. 400 kW (544 hp), a 6×6 drive, low-range ratio, five differential locks, portal axles, tyre pressure control system and a special chassis allow this pickup to make good progress in environments where the concept of individual mobility normally bites the dust as soon as the road ends. But anyone who imagines that this is a Dakar-Rally-style vehicle is on the wrong track. Thanks to the wealth of interior enhancements from the AMG stable, the occupants can enjoy the highest possible degree of comfort, even when negotiating the worst that the combined forces of topography and meteorology can throw at them. The exclusive touches even extend to the load area which is finished in solid bamboo.
The Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG 6×6 near-series show vehicle brings together the best of three worlds. The latest, revised G-Class series-production models lend the superior off-roader the effortless superiority and refinement of a vehicle which has dominated the off-road scene for 34 years. They are also the source of the up-to-date interior concept with the contemporary dashboard featuring impressive new instruments and a large, central colour display. Unreserved robustness as well as practicality and a can-do attitude to off-road driving are the traits inherited from the military and the commercial G-Class models. Finally, the renowned Mercedes-AMG luxury and performance division contributes the superior engine technology and the interior which is as luxurious as it is comfortable.

6×6 technology: to the ends of the earth – and beyond
A look at the key data of the G 63 AMG 6×6 makes it clear that this model’s off-road world begins at a point where anything less than a vehicle with caterpillar tracks would have to capitulate. Six driven wheels, an off-road low-range ratio in the transfer case, portal axles, five differential locks which can be engaged on the move and a tyre-pressure control system which allows the pressure in the huge 37-inch tyres to be adjusted in record time while the vehicle is running – all these are features which one seeks in vain in conventional cross-country vehicles. Together, they ensure that the G 63 AMG 6×6 has driving dynamics which are more than a match for the toughest terrain. As a result, the show vehicle is able to storm up the highest sand dunes with ease while sand tracks hold no fears thanks to its unshakable directional stability. Rocky terrain is negotiated with all the agility of a mountain goat; fording a river becomes almost child’s play thanks to the impressive fording capability of one metre. And anyone exploring the on-road performance is certain to be impressed by the catapult-like acceleration of this 3.85-tonne pickup.

Despite its unique drive technology, the show vehicle does not actually represent a new development in terms of technology. After 34 years of G-Class production, there is such a large array of “G” parts to draw on that the G 63 AMG 6×6 uses almost exclusively series-production components under the skin. A case in point is the drive train: the AMG V8 biturbo engine with 400 kW (544 hp) and 760 newton metres of torque, the AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission paired with the front drive system from the G 63 AMG and a rear twin drive train from the 6×6 version which has already proven its reliability in service with users such as the Australian army. Plus the ingenious portal axles, which also have military origins, here making their debut in a civilian vehicle.

Independent and neutral: the chassis
The chassis is largely based on the current production configuration, the only difference being that the helical springs and dampers have been adjusted to take account of the changed characteristics of the three-axle model. For the springs, too, the engineers were able to draw on the comprehensive array of “G” parts, which includes no less than 15 different spring rates. While the front axle takes over the reinforced springs from an armoured special-protection variant, the first rear axle has been given a significantly harder spring rate and the second rear axle a softer one. This set-up, together with the rally-proven, adjustable gas-pressure shock absorbers, results in a perfect symbiosis of sporty dynamism and composed comfort, on or off the road.

Macho outside – S-Class inside
Visually, the G 63 AMG 6×6 pickup leaves no room for any doubt as to its true calling. The large tires on the three axles, the huge ground clearance, the height of almost 2.30 metres and the width of some 2.10 metres as well as the clean-cut lines of the pickup immediately inspire respect. Like the G 63 AMG and G 65 AMG models before it, the super off-roader with its 5.87-metre-long body has the characteristic AMG brand face with the “twin blade” radiator grille. Other visual highlights include the use of elegant carbon fibre for the integrated LED light strips above the windscreen as well as for the large flared wheel arches while the rear load area section has a distinctive stainless-steel roll-over bar. The load area, which is lined with particularly tough and durable bamboo, can be accessed by means of a tailboard.

Sporty luxury, the hallmark of AMG, is the defining characteristic of the interior. The G 63 AMG 6×6 welcomes its occupants aboard with an exclusive ambience of classic red or light brown designo leather with contrasting topstitching and attractive diamond-pattern quilting. The four electrically adjustable individual seats are heated and ventilated. The rear compartment is equipped with a special centre console while the roof liner and pillars are finished in an Alcantara® covering.The rear panel is trimmed in leather.

Graz is the center of the “G” world
The two G 63 AMG 6×6 vehicles which have been built to date were developed with Mercedes-Benz at the helm. The Graz-based Mercedes-Benz G-Class development department is the centre of competence for all “G” projects and is responsible for development and series support of the legendary cross-country vehicle. Furthermore, Graz in Austria has been the production site for all civilian and commercial G-Class vehicles since 1979. The response to the near-series show vehicle will determine if and when the Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG 6×6 enters small-series production.

Article and image courtesy of eMercedes News.