The following videos have been released by the U.S. division of Mercedes-Benz. There are four clips in which the carmaker of Stuttgart displays the Driving Assistance package present on the next-generation Mercedes ML SUVs. The package includes Active Lane Keeping Assist, the famous Attention Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Pre-Safe Brakes and Distronic Plus.

The first video introduces the Active Lane Keeping Assist a technology that monitors road markings and detect off-course drifting, alerting the driver by a vibration system of the steering wheel. It also helps to detect oncoming traffic from behind. If the driver ignores the warnings, the active technology is able to steer the car back into the right direction.

The second video is about the innovative Attention Assist, the best known and exclusive Mercedes-Benz system. Attention Assist monitors parameters of driving behaviour to establish a pattern, detecting signs of tiredness and drowsiness, which are major hazards for drivers. The system alert the driver with visual and audible warnings.

The Blind Spot Assist, as the name suggests, is a device that assists the driver to detect vehicles in the blind spot area, reducing the danger of collision when turning or changing lanes.

Last but not least are the Pre-Safe and Distronic Plus, systems designed to prevent the risk of impact with vehicles ahead. If the car ahead slows down or stops suddenly, the sensors alert the passengers and apply 40% of braking power to prevent collision. It also tightens the seat belts and automatically close the windows and sunroof to better prepare the occupants before a collision.

Mercedes-Benz is currently working on a facelifted version of its own E-Class that is supposed to enter the market next year, and here are a few sneaky pics of its estate variant that our photographers managed to take a few days ago. We can see that the split headlights will actually turn into a single sleeker unit, implying that Mercedes is going to move away from the four-eyes look that was started on the W210 E-Class back in 1995. The LED Day driving lights will be integrated in the headlight unit while both front and rear bumpers will obviously get a restyling too. The rear lights will get new graphics but will still remain in the same shape.

View the Mercedes E-Class facelift spy shots gallery

Mercedes-Benz releases a new official video starring their frightening C63 AMG Coupe Black Series, third model of the ‘Black Series’ line and - in the comparison with the standard model - it boasts a special aerodynamic package (inclusive of includes front splitter, fixed rear spoiler with adjustable blade and the so called ‘flics’ on the front bumper), a set of 19″ alloy wheels fitted with 255/35 tyres at the front and 285/30 at the back, a track widened by 40 mm at the front and 75 mm at the rear and lager fenders too, more specifically by 56 mm at the front and 84 mm at the rear.

The C63 AMG Coupe Black Series is pushed by a 6.3-litre V8 (M156) credited with an output of 517 hp at 6,800 rpm with 620 Nm of torque. This unit weighs 196 kg and provides for excellent performance figures: 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph).

Other highlights of this model include its AMG Speedshift 7-speed dual clutch transmission, fully adjustable AMG coil-over sports suspension, the AMG high-performance composite braking system (with red-painted 6-piston calipers at the front and 4-piston calipers at the rear), a 3-mode ESP (ON, OFF e Sport+). The professional video above indulges on many of the car’s outstanding features, but we bet its massive roar at the beginning of the clip will have you jumping on your seat. Give it a go.

We just received a new set of spy shots starring the upcoming Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake, a station wagon variant of the famous coupe from the house of the three-pointed star, and from what we can see the model is clearly into its final stage of testing. The very light camouflage worn by the pictured mule allows us to appreciate what we would expect to be the definitive design of the model, which retains the aggressive styling we had seen with the Shooting Brake Concept, a concept-car which anticipated this model and was firstly introfuced at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show.

The new model has been developed on the same platform that generated the Mercedes CLS, and will have the same engine range too: on the petrol side there will be a 3.5-litre V6 developing 306 hp, and a 4.7-litre twin-turbo V8 developing 408 hp, whereas on the diesel side we will have a 2.1-litre biturbo producing 204 hp with 500 Nm of peak torque as well as the recent 3.0-litre V6 delivering 265 hp and 620 Nm of torque. AMG and AMG Performance variants equipped with the well-known 5.5 litre twin turbo V8 engine are obviously also in the cards: the former will use a power configuration of 525 hp and 700 Nm, the latter will count on an output of 557 hp with 800 Nm of peak torque.

View the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake spy shots gallery

Mercedes-Benz showed up at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show with two world premieres: the Concept Style Coupe and the new G-Class. During the press conference that introduced these new models - that was graced by a short gig from renowned English artist Jessie J - Mercedes CEO, Mr. Dieter Zetsche, stated that in order to achieve its goal of becoming the world’s leading car manufacturer by 2020, the house of the three-pointed star considers China as a key-market, and for this reason the German carmaker is working to improve even further its own distribution and services network in the country.

Making its first appearance ever in a motor show, the new Concept Style Coupe is a compact 4-door coupe developed on the same platform that generated the recent B-Class and is supposed to anticipate a future model that should end up adopting the CLA moniker. Measuring 4,639 mm in length, 1,398 in height and 1,891 in width, this concept car uses a well-thought mix of tight and rounded lines that conveys a sort of ’speed’ and ‘movement’ vibe: its front end looks especially sporty and aggressive, adding up to the overall sleek and elegant aesthetics of the car. Its exclusive 20″ alloy rims and the very concept-oriented wing mirrors will not be used for the final production version of the car, whose most sporty variants will be equipped with a set of 19″ alloys courtesy of AMG. Under the bonnet pulses a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine delivering 211 hp, mated to a 7G-DCT ‘dual clutch’ automatic gearbox and to the 4matic all-wheel drive system. Definitely worth mentioning is also its brand new Comand Online infotainment system, which exploits the ‘cloud computing’ to improve its own efficiency and make the ride more pleasant for the passengers.

The other important new Merc on display in Beijing is the new G-Class. The model retains the iconic design of the first Gelandewagen - simple, squared off and extremely functional - but its mechanical and electronic contents have been updated to live up to nowadays standards. Having won the ‘Offroader Of The Year” prize more than 20 times since its debut in 1979, the re-styled G-Class now comes with modern day LED technology at the front, revised wing mirrors and a pair of newly designed bumpers. However, the most dramatic change affected its cabin, where we find once again the Comand Online system as well as the Distronic Plus and the Blind Spot Assist (all of which are becoming standard features on all the new Mercs). The ‘500′ version of the revamped G-Class line-up will come with a 5.4-litre V8 delivering 388 hp and 530 Nm of peak torque, while the ‘350 BlueTec’ will be powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine producing 211 hp and 540 Nm. Moreover, two muscular AMG variants of the model will also be a part of the new range, namely the G63 AMG - equipped with a 5.4-litre twin turbo V8 delivering 544 hp and 760 Nm - and the outstanding G65 AMG, pushed by a frightening 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 credited with an output of 612 hp and no less than 1,000 Nm of maximum torque.

View the full Mercedes-Benz @ the 2012 Beijing Motor Show photo gallery

Even though the aforementioned two new models are the undisputed stars at the Mercedes-Benz’s stall in Beijing, they are definitely not alone. Almost all the models of the current range are being showcased at the event, but a special mention goes to the Viano Vision Diamond, the latest Vision variant of the popular MPV. The exterior of this model is characterized by an exclusive color scheme that plays with the contrast between black and diamond white and is enriched by a few golden accents such as the diamond drawings that emphasize its exclusivity. The same white/black/gold theme continues in the cabin, which uses black leather upholstery with contrasting white stitching on the front and white leather upholstery for the rear bench. Comfortable seats aside, the passengers can also enjoy the ride while sipping some fresh Champagne that can be stored in mini refrigerator placed in the rear section and capable of holding up to 5 champagne bottles. And in case you are wondering: yes, there are a few flute holders too. If that’s not enough, behind the front seats there’s a massive 40″ TV screen that allows the passengers at the back to watch the telly, a DVD, surf the internet or even play some videogames. The exclusive Bang & Olufsen BeoLiving Viano sound system provides for the perfect acoustic experience and can be controlled - just like the blackening of the windows - through an iPhone or an iPad.

In the wake of the exclusive presentation that took place in L.A. last week, we had the chance to meet the wonderful Mercedes Concept Style Coupe again at the ongoing 2012 Beijing Motor Show. The latest creation of the design team led by Gorden Wagener is a compact 4-door coupe that measures just 4,637 mm in length and has the same wheel base of the latest B-Class. The model is also an anticipation of a future model from the German manufacturer which should end up being called CLA.

The front end of the Concept Style Coupe looks pretty modern and aggressive, and adopts the same style of the most recent Mercs. This prototype is equipped with a flashy set of 20″ alloys that boasts a very interesting turbine-like design, but the production-version of the car will roll on smaller wheels, with the AMG variant using 19″ rims. The Concept Style Coupe comes with the 4Matic all-wheel drive system and a 7-speed dual clutch 7G-DCT transmission, a combination that we will see again for the most pushy models of the new model. Under the bonnet of the car on display in Beijing there is a 2.0-litre credited with an output of 211 hp.

The car can accommodate up to 4 people on the same integral seats that we have seen on the A-Class. The interior uses Alcantara finishing as well as other premium materials, and has been designed at the Mercedes Style Centre in Como, Italy. The dashboard is enriched by some carbon inserts and uses some quite fancy and futuristic solution, such as the air vents that get illuminated in different colors according to temperature selected by the driver. The Comand Online sat-nav works alongside the cloud computing, while the whole infotainment system can be updated using the internet connection of a smartphone.

View the full Mercedes Concept Style Coupe @ the 2012 Beijing Motor Show photo gallery

The 2012 Beijing Motor Show is about to see the unveiling of two brand new models from Mercedes: the revamped G-Class and the new G63 AMG. Our colleagues from parent-site Autoblog.it already got the chance to see them both ‘in the metal’, and here are a few pictures showing us the two new born-creatures from the house of the three-pointed star in all of their majesty.

Just for the record, the details we have anticipated a few days ago are confirmed. The renewed G-Class - a.k.a. G-wagon - maintains its classic, timeless styling while adopting a decidedly more modern approach: the main lines of its design are basically the same as the first generation of this iconic offroader - which debuted in 1979 - but a few cosmetic upgrades make it clear that the new model is now perfectly aligned to nowadays standards. From this point of view, at a first glance, LED daytime running lights, newly designed wing mirrors and bigger air-inlets on the sides are its most distinguishing features. On the contrary, the passenger compartment has been completely re-designed: right in the middle of the dashboard there is a screen that allows the driver to control the Comand Online infotainment system that include DVD-Changer and Controller, while Active Cruise Control with Distronic Plus (a system that monitors the safety distance), Blind Spot Assist and Parktronic are available as optional extras. Besides there’s also an updated version of the ESP, which provides for a better handling of the most challenging situations.

As for the engine range, there are three version of the G-Class: the G 350 BlueTEC, the G 500 - both of which will come in a station-wagon configuration, with a longer wheel base - and the G 500 Cabrio, with a shorter wheel base. The G 350 BlueTEC is powered by a 2,987 cc V6 diesel engine producing 155 kW (211 hp) at 3,400 rpm and a peak torque of 540 Nm between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm. The G 500 is equipped with a5.5-litre V8 credited with an output of 285 kW (387 hp) and 530 Nm of peak torque, which is the same unit that pulses under the bonnet of the G 500 Cabrio. Both the G 350 and the G 500 come with the by now well-know 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic gearbox.

Mercedes-Benz G63 & G65 AMG

The fact the new G63 AMG is being launched in Beijing is no surprise as China has now become the third bigger market worldwide for AMG products. The new model is pushed by a 5.4-litre twin-turbo V8 unit delivering 544 hp and 760 Nm of maximum torque, which make for an extra 37 hp and 60 Nm over the outgoing 5.5 Kompressor version, the G55 AMG. As for the performance figures, Mercedes claim a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 5,4 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph). For the first time the model will use a ECO system with Start-Stop that will contain the emissions of its frightening V8 to a minimum. Aesthetically, the AMG variant of the G-Class can be told apart from the other versions by its exclusive AMG gloss black “twin-blade” radiator grille, the newly designed bumpers with larger air-intakes, the wider fenders, its dedicated set of 20″ alloys, AMG side skirts, the mufflers placed in front of the rear wheels and its red-painted calipers.

Let’s be honest though, would you have expected AMG to be satiated with just a V8? Sure thing they weren’t, so here is the G65 AMG, powered by a terrifying 6.0-litre twin turbo V12 that will definitely take no prisoners. Credited with an output of 612 hp and a maximum torque of 1000 Nm, this engine sees Mercedes raising the bar for the whole segment, actually setting a new offroad standard altogether: this monster can go from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 5.3 seconds, reaching a self-imposed top speed of no less than 230 km/h (143 mph). Go figure.

A rolling stock for the clients

The presentation of the G63 AMG took place at the AMG Performance Center of Beijing, where our mates from Autoblog.it also got the chance to visit the whole facility. Besides the usual information packs - both ‘traditional’ and multimedia - the customers are also given the chacne to access a secluded parking lot where they can check out the various AMG models in many different colors, allowing them to see what they are in for in first person and, on the top of all that, go out for a test drive too. Not bad at all.

Mercedes is in the process of reorganising the denomination of its models, with the goal of making the classification a bit clearer to understand and remember. This news was reported by Automobile Magazine site, which also explains how to interpret the acronyms and how to navigate the sea of consonants and vowels. The most traditional cars will remain immune to the revolution. Mercedes will continue to offer C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, G-Class, in addition to the SLK, SL and SLS AMG. A-Class and B-Class haven’t been mentioned, possibly because they represent an innovation in the whole range of the brand. The situation changes however for the remaining models.

All coupes, convertibles and sport saloons will gain the prefix CL. Same goes for SUVs (GL) and for sports (SL). Each prefix is then followed by the letter of the family they belong to. For this reason, the Concept Style Coupe will be renamed CLA, because of his membership to the broader CL family and due to common elements shared with the A-Class. The C-Class Coupe and E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet will be called CLC and CLE, while the CL will be SLC, in order not to force the CLS to a painful change of identity. The sports car known as “baby-SLS” will be using the moniker SLR, already adopted by the V8 front-engine.

The question remains: what about the SUVs? Models based on the MFA platform will be sold as GLA, while the GLK, given its relationship with the C-Class, will be converted into GLC. The editors of Automobile Magazine, however, don’t mention the M-Class, GL and R-Class. So we’ll patiently wait and see.

Our colleagues from parent-site Autoblog.it are currently in L.A. where Mercedes-Benz is about to unveil its new Concept Style Coupe during the ‘Transmission LA: AV Club” event at the Moca, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Los Angeles. However, our mates got the chance to attend an exclusive premiere of the model that Mercedes introduced to a selected number of people, and here are the pictures that they have taken there. These images allow us to better appreciate the model, that we presented yesterday with a few official pics and a video released by the German carmaker itself.

The Mercedes Concept Style Coupe is supposed to be an anticipation of the next Mercedes CLA, a new coupe model from the house of three pointed star that is expected to make its debut in 2013, and its styling looks indeed quite promising. Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Mercedes-Benz, really did a great job with this new model as it features several interesting solutions in many areas: we just cannot wait to see how the production version of this car will look like.

Speaking of which, one of the most striking features of this Concept Style Coupe is the way its indicators work: they are integrated in the head- and tail-lamps layout, and when they get activated they actually move around to create a well-thought movement that emphasizes the intention of the driver. Besides, the head-lights use a particular LED technology that creates a sort of evil red light in the middle of them whenever the car is stalling. The car is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre unit delivering 211 hp, which is coupled to a 7G-MDCT dual clutch automatic transmission and to the 4Matic all-wheel drive system.

Mercedes-Benz unveils in L.A. its new Concept Style Coupe, a beautiful and innovative 4-door car that will be showcased at the next Beijing Motor Show. The model is also supposed to be an anticipation of a new coupe from the three-pointed star house that should be launched in 2013. The car looks pretty aggressive and original, but it maintains the usual elegance you would expect in any Merc.

This prototype measures 4,637 mm in length, 1,398 mm in height and 1,891 mm in width, and comes with a large sunroof and frame-less doors (with no B-pillar) which provide for a very luminous and sunny interior. Its special Alu-Beam paintjob allows the onlookers to better appreciate the refined design of the model, while its original set of 20″ alloy wheels -with a peculiar vertigo-like design - adds up to the sporty attitude of the lines. The layout of the headlights looks pretty interesting too, but it will probably not make it to the final design of the production version. Inside we find many carbon details and all sorts of premium materials and top notch finishing, although we notice some resemblance with the A-Class.

The Mercedes Concept Style Coupe is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine delivering 211 hp. The model comes with the 4matic all-wheel drive system that will probably be adopted by the A-Class AMG as well, and uses a dual clutch 7G-DCT transmission that, in combination with the direct injection and advanced technology of its powertrain, allows for an average fuel consumption that is considerably lower than the other Mercedes engines. This car is equipped with many aid and safety systems such as the Comand Online, which uses many specifically developed Mercedes apps to be used and controlled while on the move, maintaining the internet connection at all time, even when the vehicle is stationary.

View the full Mercedes Concept Style Coupe photo gallery

The Mercedes Class GL X166, unveiled for the first time at the 2012 New York Auto Show, is once again starring in a video. The German SUV will be available at launch with a six-cylinder 3.0-litre 350 BlueTEC engine, with 258 hp and 620 Nm, which allows it to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and reaching a top speed of 220 km/h. Alternatively it comes with the GL500 4.6-litre Bi-turbo V8 engine with 408 hp and 600 Nm that covers the 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, reaching 250 km/h.

The wheelbase of the new GL is the same as the original (3,075 mm) but while the length increases from 5,099 to 5,120 mm, the width decreases from 2,170 to 2,141 mm. The car is also more rigid and resistant to torsion despite losing around 100 kg of weight, compared to the previous version. This reduction was made possible thanks to the extensive use of aluminum and magnesium.

The GL includes a full package of safety features: Collision Prevention Assist, that in combination with Bas Plus brake assist system and Pre-Safe Brake, determine the distance between the GL and the vehicle in front and brakes, preventing accidents or collision.

Mercedes USA releases the first official pictures and info of the new G63 AMG. The AMG-branded version of the ‘Gelandewagen’ chenges its name (it was formerly known as G55 AMG) and engine, boasting now a 5.4-litre twin-turbo V8 credited with an output of 544 hp and 760 Nm of peak torque, which makes for a +37 hp and +60 Nm over the previous 5.5 Kompressor unit.

For the first time, a G-Class AMG model will come with an ECO system with Start/Stop that reduces consumption and emissions of the vehicle. Aesthetically, this AMG variant of the G-wagen can be easily told apart from the other versions by its re-designed (and quite aggressive) pair of bumpers.

Wider fenders, a new set of alloys, side skirts, red-painted calipers and mufflers placed in front of the rear wheels emphasize its sporty attitude even further. The Mercedes G63 AMG will be soon on sale in Germany at 137,000 Euros, while the more performing and expensive G65 AMG - equipped with a twin turbo V12 delivering 612 hp and an impressive 1000 Nm of torque - will follow shortly with a price tag of 264,000 Euros.