2012 Mercedes A-Class leaked!

Yet again, the European Patent office has sprung a leak. Detailed drawings of the production-ready Mercedes A-Class have surfaced on the web, via French website automobile-magazine.fr. And they show every curve and crease of the premium hatch.

This comes only three weeks after the Concept A, a radically-styled concept that previewed the production A-Class, made its global debut simultaneously at the Shanghai and New York Motor Shows. And elements of the Concept A's styling can be clearly seen in the showroom-ready model.

While the concept was in sleek three-door form, the drawings depict a more practical five-door hatch, suggesting that both bodystyles will be offered. Predictably, the show car's psychedelic front grille and lower air intake have been substituted for a less-dramatic upright two-bar opening with a trio of air intakes underneath. The bulkier headlights appear to feature LED 'eyebrows'.

In profile, a truncated rear, long bonnet and roof spoiler give it a dynamic stance and a look reminiscent of its biggest rival, the BMW 1-Series - a model that's due to be replaced later this year. The inticate surfacing on the side of the car is neatly reinterpreted for production, while tt the rear the light clusters wrap around the corners of the car, but are deeper than on the concept and omit the horizontal linking bar.

Under the skin, the A-Class will feature an all-new front-wheel drive platform with McPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear axle, while power will come from the latest C-Class engines with a line-up of four-cylinder petrol and diesel units. There will also be a new 2.0-litre turbocharged and direct-injection petrol motor, which the Concept A previewed in 204bhp hot hatch form, hooked up to a dual-clutch gearbox.

Mercedes 2012 Four New Cars

Four new models touchdown for Mercedes! The German manufacturer debuted a slew of new models in a £62,000-a-second advert during the 2011 Superbowl.

Among the newcomers were two new cars not yet officially unveiled, including the SLS AMG Roadster and C-Class Coupé. Also shown was the CLS 63 AMG and new SLK.

Taking the gullwing SLS supercar as a base, the new SLS Roadster is fitted with a storming 6.2-litre V8 and twin-clutch gearbox but ditches the famous doors in favour of more traditional units.

Instead of using a heavy and complex folding metal arrangement for the roof, as seen on the SL, Mercedes has elected to fit a revised version of the canvas top which used on the previous SLR roadster.

The C-Class Coupé features the same front-end styling as the facelifted C-Class range, including LED daytime running lights and a curvier bumper. From the front wings back, it’s all new with the two-door layout, swooping roof and creased shoulderline all adding a little extra flair to the C-Class’s profile. A new bumper and LED taillights mark out the rear.

Mercedes wows with Biome concept

Meet Mercedes’ new green machine. This is the Biome concept, the German firm's entry to the LA Show’s annual design challenge competition, and Auto Express was there live for the unveil at Mercedes advanced design studio in LA.

The Biome is a pure flight of fantasy and isn’t intended to influence any future model. However, the technology used to create the car is intriguing as it’s straight from the pages of a sci-fi novel.

The Biome is built to the 2010 Los Angeles Design Challenge rules, which are to build a safe and comfortable two-plus-two compact car that weighs no more than 1000lb (454kg). However, it tips the scales at just 394kg as its chassis, body and fuel storage is made from a material called BioFibre.

BioFibre is an organic material which can be genetically manipulated. Like something from The Matrix, a Mercedes three-pointed star, which is impregnated with DNA which contains the spec of the car, is planted in a Mercedes nursery in a nutrient-rich substance called Bionectar, which is harvested from trees.

The Biome’s body then grows from the seed, taking just one day to mature into a finished body. The mature material is called BioFibre, which Mercedes’ claims is lighter than metal or synthetic composites, but stronger than steel.

The Biome measures 4020mm-long and 2500mm-wide and features a four-seat cockpit laid out in a diamond shape, with the driver up front, flanked by two passengers in the middle further back and a single seat in the rear.

Mercedes SLS Roadster

Mercedes' SLS supercar has blown its top! These are the best pictures yet of the SLS Roadster, which will be hoping to continue the success of its hard-top brother.

The open topped two-seater goes on sale in early 2011, and will be officially unveiled later this year.

As you can see from these pictures, the convertible version keeps the coupe’s long bonnet and short tail. Unfortunately, the gullwing doors will have to make way for more traditional units.

The canvas roof follows a similar profile as the coupe – though is expected to be a little shorter overall. The all electric roof arrangement will include a glass rear screen, and fold neatly under the rear deck.

Performance, meanwhile, will be identical to the hard top. Developing around 570bhp at 6800rpm, Mercedes claims the 6.3-litre V8 SLS will sprint from 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds while top speed is electronically limited to 196mph. Drivers will get a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission as standard.

Sales start next summer with models costing from £150,000.

Mercedes G-Class AMG

It's the oldest model in Mercedes' line-up, but G-Class is returning to British roads with a bang later this year!

And for the first time in a decade, UK customers will be able to get their hands on right-hand drive versions of the old-school luxury off roader, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2009.

Despite being the longest serving passenger model in the history of Mercedes, the brand will still be hailing it as a ‘new model’ when it arrives in October. Customers will be able to choose either the G350 CDI with 218bhp or the full blown G 55 AMG, which comes with a whopping 493bhp supercharged V8, and sprints from 0-62 in just 5.5 seconds.

There will also be a rough-and-tumble commercial only base model, dubbed the G 300 CDI Professional, propping up the bottom of the range. All of them are long wheelbase editions, so the G-Class will be equally comfortable whether wafting along like a luxury limo or up to its arches in a muddy Welsh field.

Both versions will come with tonnes of standard kit, including bi-xenon headlamps, a heavy duty Harmon Kardon Logic 7stereo, heated memory seats and a full leather interior.

Although it’s unlikely that many owners will drive it too far off the beaten track, the G-class still comes with fully locking differentials, an off road electronic stability programme and low-range ratios in the automatic box.

The cost of all this versatility and equipment is a steep one though, with prices for the G350 CDI starting from £79,975 OTR, and the range topping AMG will be from £114,975. The G wagons will be exclusively available from the Specialist Products division at Mercedes-Benz world in Woking.

Mercedes SL350 Night Edition

The SL has lost its shine! Mercedes is exploring the dark side of its popular roadster with a new limited-run Night Edition, featuring optional Magno matt black paintwork.

It’s not often that a new model arrives at our offices with a notice warning us not to wash it, but that’s exactly what happened here. According to Mercedes’ ‘expert paint colleagues’ in Germany, polishing the vehicle with wax, getting greasy or oily substances on the paint or going anywhere near an automatic car wash is forbidden. The special effect is created using a silky matt clearcoat which is applied as the final layer of paint on the car. This has to be mixed and developed individually for each model and colour it’s applied to.

The process is far more difficult and time consuming than that for glossy paint, but the results speak for themselves. With a rash of companies now offering aftermarket matt film wraps, this look is becoming increasingly popular. The finish on the Night Edition is a cut above that of competitors, though, and causes quite a stir on the high street. However, at £3,636 it is a very pricey option, and when tallied with the other fitted extras it pushed the cost of our test car to more than £80,000.

Further night-inspired updates include dark headlamp surrounds plus tinted tail-lamps and a bootlid brake light cover. Night Edition badges on the front flanks, 19-inch five-spoke AMG alloy wheels and silver brake calipers emblazoned with the three-pointed star logo finish off the exterior changes. On the inside of the cabin, black is once again the predominant colour. Specially designed Nappa leather seats feature Night Edition badging and silver arrow-shaped stitching.

Aluminium trim on the centre console and door panels lifts the ambience tastefully, while Mercedes’ Airscarf system with silver fans visible through the back of the headrest means there’s no excuse for not dropping the metal folding roof.

Night Edition specification can be ordered on both the 350SL and the 500SL. We drove the less powerful version, but with 311bhp from its 3.5-litre V6, performance is not to be sniffed at. On full throttle the powerplant produces strong acceleration and a tuneful note. The ride is superb, making this an ideal machine for eating up motorway miles, while in sport setting it is sharp enough to enjoy a B-road blast.

The 7G Tronic seven-speed auto transmission gels perfectly with this character, too. In self-shifting comfort mode it’s relaxing and a doddle to drive. Slot it into the sport setting, take control via the wheel-mounted paddles and the car comes alive in your hands. With the standard SL350 costing £66,560, it’s debatable whether the Night Edition is worth the extra outlay. It certainly looks the part, though – and if you opt for the V8-engined SL500, it will have the pace to match its stunning paintjob. Beware, though: that unusual finish requires careful attention to maintain.

2010 Mercedes CLS

Get a load of this! Mercedes is pulling the wraps off this stunning new Shooting Break at the Beijing Motor Show this week. The dramatic-looking machine follows in the footsteps of the two-door Concept Fascination and bold F800 – signalling a new dawn for the firm’s design.

From the B-pillar forwards, the Shooting Break reveals Mercedes’ next CLS – due to make its debut at this October’s Paris Motor Show. The ornate LED headlights, which contain 71 individual diodes, will be toned down for production. But the elegantly sculpted bumper and striking creases, which run down each flank, are all likely to be included on the final car. Also making the cut is the stylish ‘soft nose’, which not only looks great, but also conforms to the latest pedestrian impact crash test regulations.

From the B-pillar back, the show car reveals an altogether different insight into Mercedes’ plan for the CLS – with the model line-up’s first estate. The concept is the work of the brand’s president of design, Gorden Wagener. Since moving from his post as head of Mercedes Advanced Design in America in 2008, the German has made his presence felt. The new SLS AMG and E-Class set the tone for his work, which is focused on creating streamlined and aerodynamic cars.

The Shooting Break follows this format, particularly with the tailgate, which has an integrated spoiler to cut drag. However, while the side glass features a smooth coupé-style curve, the roofline is more similar to that of an estate than a car like rival BMW’s 5-Series GT – so rear luggage room is less compromised.

Wagener says that his favourite period in design is Art Deco, and that is evident from the newcomer’s retro interior. In particular, the front and rear air vent grilles, which are overlaid with aluminium, and the ornate Mercedes script on the door sills, make functional parts of the cabin decorative.

Luxury is paramount – the concept is a strict four-seater, with a large panoramic roof helping to bathe the interior with light. Everywhere you look is lavish chocolate brown and cream leather. There are some clever details, too, especiallyin the load space, which incorporates secure storage for items ranging in size from laptops to golf balls.

Mercedes hasn’t shied away from the striking design themes which were so well received in the original CLS. The pronounced curve that runs around the dash top and blends into the front doors is retained. But the car is being taken upmarket, as the quality of the switchgear on the centre console is very similar to that in the latest S-Class – even the analogue clock is carried over.

Under the bonnet, the concept previews Mercedes’ new family of direct-injection V6 engines, which will debut in the facelifted CL in the summer. Called V-generation, the 3.5-litre unit produces 302bhp and 370Nm, and features Mercedes’ fuel-saving BlueEfficiency technology.

The rear end may be more concept than reality, but company bosses are eager to build it. As BMW has done with the 5-Series GT, Mercedes is keen to increase the number of niche models it spins off each platform.

Confusingly, the E-Class Coupé and Cabrio are based on the underpinnings from the latest C-Class. The new CLS saloon will use mechanicals from the E-Class, and the Shooting Break version would extend the reach of the platform – and aim to offer the same experience as the 5 GT.

Mercedes R-Class

Merc's controversial crossover MPV gets a toned-down look and revised interior

Meet the new face of high-class family motoring! A revised Mercedes R-Class will be among the stars of the New York Motor Show, which kicks off in the Big Apple this week.

The exclusive crossover boasts a redesigned and less controversial front end, dominated by a bold three-bar chrome grille. The newly sculpted front bumper features

LED daytime running lights as standard, while the bulbous oval headlights have been ditched in favour of sleeker xenon units.

The model also gets new wheels, revised wing mirrors and fresh front wings, while at the rear there’s a restyled bumper, new tailpipes and tweaked tail-lights.

The seven-seater interior has been improved, too, with updated heated front seats, and higher quality materials used throughout.

Two engines will be available, both 3.0-litre V6 diesels. The 187bhp R300 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY comes with the standard wheelbase and rear-wheel drive, and returns 37.2mpg, while the top-spec 261bhp R350 CDI L has a lengthened chassis, four-wheel drive and 33.2mpg fuel economy.

Mercedes F800

Futuristic is the F word for Mercedes, if this head-turning new concept car is anything to go by! Called the F800 Style, it’s the latest in a long line of ‘F’ series research studies from the firm, stretching back to 1991. But as Auto Express exclusively lifts the lid on this stunning newcomer, we reveal just how bang up to date this show car is; hiding a whole host of clever gadgets up its sleeve.

Its multi-drive platform - a world’s first in a large saloon – can be fitted with a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid powertrain. This combines a 300bhp V6 with a 109bhp electric motor to produce impressive performance and only 68g/km of CO2.

But it’s also suitable for even cleaner hydrogen fuel cell set-up, which uses the electricity produced to drive a 136bhp electric motor – a technology that will be on sale by 2015.

Mercedes has also brought autonomous driving a step closer with its new Distronic Plus Traffic Jam Assistant – which allows the car to follow the vehicle in front, and steer automatically up to speeds of 25mph.

To learn about all the technology packed into this future-proof Mercedes, take a look at the sections below.

HMI (Human Machine Interface) touch screen

Imagine a touch screen that doesn’t require any physical contact from you! Run your fingers over a pad that falls easily to hand on the centre console and a camera films your fingers and projects a ghostly image of them onto the main central display. This allows you to click on applications and zoom in to maps without having to reach forwards or leave dirty fingerprints on the screen. Another useful innovation is the range on map function, which shows the maximum possible distance you can still travel on electric power alone, as a 360-degree outline on the map.

Sliding rear doors

If the Rolls-Royce Phantom, MINI Clubman and Vauxhall Meriva are anything to go by, suicide doors are all the rage. But Mercedes has found an alternative solution. While the front door is entirely conventional, the rear door slides back on an interior swivel arm revealing a huge gap to climb in and out. Despite the lack of B-pillar, the body shell is both robust and lightweight and meets all modern crash safety criteria.

Interior

Light-coloured wood and leather are designed to create a modern look and a feel of lightness to the cabin. In the interests of saving weight, the seats consist of a magnesium shell with a carbon-fibre laminate on the back. The wood veneer, which appears on the seat backs, the centre console and the doors, was created using a special technique that produces the finish in 3-D shapes. A translucent roof, meanwhile, divided into several segments, floods the cabin with light.

Family face

If the F800’s upright grille seems familiar, that’s because it’s already made an appearance on the SLS AMG. Taking its lead from the 300SL Gullwing from the fifties, the retro-inspired front end along with the sculptural bodywork is a sneak preview of a new Mercedes design language. Despite sitting somewhere between the C-Class and E-Class in terms of size, the F800’s more emotional look will make its way onto the much larger CLS, due to debut in Paris later this year, followed by other sporty models in the range.

Mercedes G63 AMG 6X6

Mercedes have unveiled a monstrous new rugged off-roader with six wheels - their first since a similar model was produced for the Nazis in 1930s Germany.

The outrageous Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6 is a limited edition model based on the iconic G-Wagon.

It has been designed to have the off-road capabilities of a tank, accelerate like a hot hatch and provide the luxury feel of a limousine.

To give it brutal acceleration, Mercedes has replaced the standard G Wagon's 3-litre diesel engine with a twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8.

The result is a 536bhp behemoth which is capable of 0-62mph in less than six seconds - despite measuring 19ft in length, weighing 3.85 tons.

Mercedes claims the 6x6 - which has 37 inch wheels - can negotiate rocky terrain with 'all the agility of a mountain goat', while fording a river is 'almost child's play'.

They add: 'Anyone exploring the on-road performance is certain to be impressed by the catapult-like acceleration of this 3.85-tonne pickup.'

However, the 6x6 comes with a massive £350,000 price-tag - making it the most expensive model in the Mercedes range and three-times as pricey as a typical G Wagon.

The off-roader, which is likely to be most popular in the Middle-East, will be limited to around 30 sales per year.

The new model is not the first six-wheel off-roader from the German firm, with Hitler owning eight during the Third Reich. 

The G4 was a heavy-duty off-road car Mercedes produced for the German army between 1934 and 1939. 

Mercedes built 57 G4s during this period with heads of state and top military brass regarding them as a 'prestige all-terrain vehicle'.

Rare: It is understood there are just three G4 models in existence which are absolutely authentic although other models have been rebuilt

Hitler was a huge fan and had eight of the six-wheeled cars, with a number located at his various castles around Germany. 

However, unlike the new Mercedes G63 AMG, the G4 wasn't six-wheel drive with power only sent to the rear four wheels. 

It is understood there are just three models in existence which are absolutely authentic although other models have been rebuilt. One of these models is owned by the Spanish royal family after Hitler gave it to General Franco in 1939.