Mercedes-Benz

Penske Automotive Group, Inc. announced today the acquisition of a Land Rover dealership in Darien, Connecticut. The company estimates the dealership will generate approximately $50 million of revenue annually.

Penske Automotive Group President Robert H. Kurnick, Jr., said, “We are pleased to add the Land Rover brand to our existing automotive dealership operations in Connecticut. For almost 30 years, this dealership has been serving customers in Darien, Greenwich, Westport and Stamford with a dedication to customer service. This brand complements our existing presence with Audi, BMW, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche in the Connecticut market and connects our business from Fairfield, through Darien and into Greenwich, allowing us to continue scaling our operations.”

[Source: PenskeAutomotive.com]

The Penske Automotive Group social team was on hand in New York City as Mercedes-Benz unveiled its latest AMG model.

The new S63 AMG 4MATIC Coupe made its world premiere at the 2014 New York International Auto Show and is set to hit your nearest Penske Mercedes-Benz dealership showroom in the fall.

The Breathtaking S63 AMG 4MATIC Coupe is equal parts presence and performance thanks to a sleek, athletic design and a power-packed drivetrain. With AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive standard; the S63 Coupe boasts an AMG 5.5-liter V8 Biturbo engine, with an output of 577 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. This engine, assembled by hand at the AMG engine shop in Affalterbach, allows the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in an estimated 3.9 seconds.

The S63 Coupe will also come standard with the advanced AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sport transmission, which allows drivers to select from one of three modes that best fits their driving style: “C” (Controlled Efficiency), “S” (Sport) and “M” (Manual). Also customizable are the sounds made by the vehicle. Thanks to the AMG sport exhaust system the automatic exhaust flaps in both rear silencers adjust to each driving mode to emit the most fitting engine sound.

The S63 AMG Coupe 4MATIC features the full air-suspension system AIRMATIC with the adaptive damping system ADS PLUS. Specific front axle kinematics – including higher camber, a larger anti-roll bar and a stiffer subframe carrier on the rear axle – have been developed exclusively for the S63 AMG 4MATIC Coupe. These measures enhance the vehicle’s agility for performance driving.

Inside the cabin, you’ll find uniquely sporty, luxurious accommodations that set the AMG apart from other models. The distinct interior features include the AMG sport seats with power adjustment, memory function and seat heating/ventilation; AMG design Nappa leather with piping together; AMG badges on all four seat backrests; and an embossed AMG emblem on the armrest of the front center console. There is also a new three-spoke AMG sport steering wheel and an AMG logo in the lower metal insert.

Additionally, the high-resolution TFT color AMG instrument cluster features two animated round dials for speed and RPM. The new, standard touchpad allows for seamless operation of the radio, telephone and navigation system.

Stay tuned to Penske Social for more photos, video and information about the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4MATIC Coupe.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

The slate of six finalists for AOL Autos’ Technology of the Year Award have been named, each embodying the latest and greatest developments in automotive fuel economy, connectivity, telematics and active safety. Readers will now be charged with casting votes that will help determine which entrant takes the top honor.

Following a careful review of over 40 entries submitted by industry professionals, editorial staffers and readers alike, the judging panel has declared the finalists to be (in no particular order):

• Infiniti Backup Collision Intervention
• Volvo Pedestrian and Cyclist Detention w/Full Auto Brake
• Chevrolet MyLink Valet Mode
• Tesla Supercharger Network
• Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive
• Mopar In-Vehicle Wireless Charging for Portable Devices

From midnight on November 19 onward, readers will be given the chance to vote for one of the six innovative technologies to take the top prize. The announcement and presentation of the honor to the victor will occur in Las Vegas at January’s 2014 Consumer Electronics Show.

Though it is certainly true that most readers of AOL Autos will not have had a personal opportunity to test the technologies in the running for the honor, they do have access to reviews written by site staffers, all of which are accompanied by videos explaining the finer points of each innovation. These summaries also include specific articulation of the reasons each finalist was selected by the judging panel. Once the readers’ choice is determined after voting closes, that selection will have the equal weight to the vote of one of the judges on the 14-judge panel.

AOL Autos editor David Kiley believes that the readership will have sufficient information to fairly judge the merits of each new technology offering, thanks to the detail provided in the site’s presentations. Those assessments, combined with the hands-on experience AOL Autos staffers enjoyed with each finalist, make for a thorough, accurate judging process.

In its inaugural technology contest last year, AOL Autos tapped the updated UConnect system from Chrysler as the top technological innovation, surging ahead of laudable submissions from Cadillac, Honda, Nissan and Ford.

The fuel economy category was a new addition to this year’s contest, largely because it is an arena that is seeing a major influx of technological development within the auto industry. Kiley asserted that since fuel economy innovations are so thoroughly intertwined with electronics, the decision to include this sector in an event affiliated with the Consumer Electronics Show is entirely fitting.

With the launch of the new A-Class, Mercedes-Benz is getting serious about the premium hatchback segment – much more than it was with the previous A-Class, B-Class and the old, C-Class Sport Coupe. And with the premium hatchback territory comes the high-end hot hatch market. Audi is already playing that game with the RS3 and BMW is heading in with the new M135i, so Mercedes is going to need an entry of its own. And this is the latest on its development.

According to British weekly Autocar, Benz is preparing to launch a new A45 AMG early next year with a transverse 2.0-liter turbo four producing as much as 330 horsepower and over 300 pound-feet of torque. That’s about par with the competition, but produced from less displacement thanks to input from AMG High-Performance Engines that provides the power for the company’s Formula One racing team (not to mentionMcLaren and Force India).

The power is tipped to be put down to all four wheels by a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, tuned to mimic rear-drive handling characteristics. Suspension and rolling stock are anticipated to be greatly enhanced, as will the aero kit over the A250 Sport “engineered by AMG” pictured above. Stop/start and regenerative braking will reportedly help make the A45 AMG more economical than its rivals while matching their five-second 0-60 times.

(Source: Autoblog.com)

Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield has been awarded for the third consecutive year with the prestigious “Best of the Best” Dealer Recognition Award from Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA). Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield earned the award based on its outstanding performance in 2011 and as a tribute to its success as a dealership that routinely exceeds the expectations of Mercedes-Benz owners.

Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield is the only dealer in the Southern Connecticut Coastal region to achieve the MBUSA honor. This award marks sixth time under Penske Automotive Group ownership that Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield has been named among the “Best of the Best.” The dealership also won the honor in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2010.

The MBUSA program recognizes the top 15% of its retail network with the “Best of the Best” recognition. The award, which is present annually, goes to top performing Mercedes-Benz dealerships for demonstrating superior performance in various areas of their business, including customer satisfaction, new vehicle sales, certified pre-owned sales, leadership and management, parts operations and market penetration.

“These dealers represent the essence of the Mercedes-Benz brand: an enduring commitment to excellence combined with an entrepreneurial spirit and the absolute dedication to customer satisfaction,” said Steve Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA. “These are dealers who believe, as we do, that the ultimate measure of success is not only business acumen but also meeting the expectations of each and every customer every time – no exceptions.”

Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield features state-of-the-art sales and service facilities, with a team of experienced trained professionals who achieved a record-year in customer satisfaction scores for 2011.

General Manager of Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield, Eric Ferits, attributes the consistency of the dealership to his experienced and dedicated staff, combined with a superior product and a loyal client base.

“We are extremely proud to be honored by MBUSA with the ‘Best of the Best’ again and want to thank our team as well as loyal customers who make it all possible,” Ferits says.

Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield is owned and operated by Penske Automotive Group, Inc. The dealership is conveniently located at 165 Commerce Drive at exit 25 off of I-95. MBUSA has designated Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield as the only authorized AMG Performance Center in CT, and the only designated Sprinter and smart car dealer in Fairfield County. The dealership features a 30-bay service center, new 35-car sales showroom with ample parking, and an extraordinary inventory of new and Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz. For more information, visit MercedesBenzofFairfield.com.

Mercedes-Benz, like any other manufacturer, has come a long way over the decades in technological enhancements. Once upon a time, drivers had to use paper maps to find their way; now they can access navigation programs with the simple touch of a button.

To demonstrate the new technology being developed by Mercedes-Benz, reporter Christian Maier sat down with Johann Jungwirth, the president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, and discussed the capabilities of the COMAND online multimedia system at the company’s “TecDay Telematics.”

The COMAND system, which comes in the C- and E-Class, SLK-Class, and CLS-Class vehicles currently, will be available in the new B-Class and M-Class. To connect with the system, drivers would use their Bluetooth connection on their mobile device – no SIM cards are necessary.

An advantage of the COMAND system is that apps are constantly updated. It comes with apps like Facebook, Google Street View and Panoramio by Google. Some examples of its capabilities include: the ability to send Google maps routes from your computer to the navigation system in the car, the ability to know where your Facebook friends are and let them know where you are, and the ability to plan events, invite your friends to said event, and then navigate to that event.

Mercedes-Benz knows the importance of staying up-to-date with technology. That’s why they were the first automotive manufacturer to open an office in Silicon Valley, surrounding themselves with companies like Google and Facebook. In the next few years, Mercedes-Benz plans on implementing a new infotainment option for iPhone users that sends information from the phone to the console display, and are developing their “MirrorLink” system which will allow seamless integration for smartphones by other manufacturers.

Despite being ahead in technology development, Mercedes-Benz still faces competition from other manufacturers, which are right on its heels in developing their own smartphone integration. Manufacturers know users want to be connected. It will be interesting to see how this competition fuels manufacturers’ production process and where they will take their concepts in the coming decade. We’ve come a long way since paper maps, and surely we’ll continue to see ground-breaking innovations as the 21^st century progresses.

Check out the video for more information, and see Christian Maier feeling nostalgic while wearing Mercedes-Benz funky-looking driving goggles.

 

Source: Mercedes-Benz Reporter

Here’s a treat for Mercedes-Benz fans: a rendering of the SLS AMG Black Series. Illustrator Jon Sibal put together this rendering based on spy shots from Nürburgring and the announcement. Note that this is just a rendering to demonstrate what the Black Series might look like, and not an official picture.

The Black Series was announced at the end of September, but little information was provided. Speculation says it will come with a 6.2L V8 engine with 650hp, with an acceleration of 0 to 60mph in about 3 seconds. However, Mercedes-Benz hasn’t released any official specs.

Typically Black Series modifications mean more power and less weight, so fans expect a similar case for the SLS AMG. Price estimates have ranged from $300,000 to $500,000, and it’s expected to compete with the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo and the Audi R8.

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG first debuted at the 2009 IAA. At least four different versions have already been announced, including the SLS AMG GT3, SLG AMG “Blackbird,” SLS AMG E-Cell, and SLS AMG Roadster. Specs include a M159, liquid-cooled V8 Four-stroke engine, a dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission, and a 563hp.

Penske Automotive Group recently celebrated the Grand Opening of its new Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield’s Showroom, located on 165 Commerce Drive. Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, trucks and coaches. It is currently a division of its parent company, Daimler AG, (formerly DaimlerChrysler AG), after previously being owned by Daimler Benz.  Mercedes Benz has its origins in Karl Benz’s creation of the first petrol-powered car, the Benz patent motorwagen, patented in January 1886, and by Gottlieb Daimler and engineer Wilhelm Maybachs conversion of a stagecoach by the addition of a petrol engine, later that year.

The Mercedes Automobile was first marketed in 1901 and the first brand named vehicles were produced in 1926. Mercedes-Benz is one of the most well-known and established automotive brands in the world and is also one of the world’s oldest automotive brands, still in existence today.  MBUSA, LLC, a Daimler Company founded in 1965, is responsible for the distribution and marketing of Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States.

The Penske Automotive Group bought the Mercedes dealership on Commerce Drive ten years ago (October 16th). This location has recently been completely renovated, specific to and compliant with, Mercedes Benz Auto Haus Design. The new showroom boasts nearly 16,000 square feet with high ceilings and a bright open feeling, and is able to accommodate thirty vehicles within.  In addition, the Group has doubled its land footprint, from one acre to two full acres, giving them one hundred and twenty additional parking spaces. One hundred and fifty cars will be on display outdoors, including both new and pre-owned vehicles.  Nearly three hundred people attended this Grand Opening celebration, enjoying caviar delectables along with champagne and live music.

Roger Penske the Chairman of the Penske Automotive Group brought two Mercedes from his own personal collection into the showroom, to be enjoyed by all.  A red 1955 Gullwing 300 SL, the iconic Mercedes (adorned with ivory embellishments) topped the A-list, along with his black 2010 Gullwing. “It was a phenomenal event, celebrating with our customers, our team (employees) and Mercedes Senior Management, it was a great time,” said Randall Seymore, Area Vice President for the Penske Automotive Group. “Mercedes Benz speaks for itself. They continually come out with the best quality and best performing vehicle out there.  Business has been good; we’re up 29 percent  year to date.  We realize how we are treating our client is going to be #1, and from a management side, how we’re treating our employees transfers through to how we are treating our clients.  We’ve put a lot of focus on that.”  In addition to the new showroom, MB renovated their repair shop (450 Scofield Avenue) in July 2005, increasing its size to an impressive 100,000 square feet. The Smart Dealership is also owned by the Daimler Company. Amongst the cars displayed in the opening celebration, was a fully electric (smart car) vehicle, a full production car that has a 90 mile range. “We’ve made quite an investment here on Commerce Drive (we own the Porsche – Audi dealerships on Commerce Drive as well). We’re excited about this end of town and about the new train station opening. The town has been wonderful, Mark Barnhart’s been a great partner from the Economic Development side, the P & Z boards have been great, the town’s been a huge supporter, it’s mutually beneficial to clean up Commerce Drive.

At the end of the day, however, this is a by product of our team, our employees and customers who have been loyal to us, so those are the big winners,” continued Seymore. Subsequent to this grand opening celebration, Mercedes Benz is conducting a month long sale throughout the month of October. A portion of sales will benefit the Bridgeport Rescue Mission.

The full line of new and certified pre-owned Mercedes-Benz automobiles is on display for viewing Monday – Saturday. For more information please visit www.fairfieldmercedes.com or call 203-368-6725.

[Source: minutemannewscenter.com]