Mercedes To Make Its Xenon Headlights Even Brighter
Xenon headlights are the brightest thing on the road at night, and Mercedes-Benz is making them even brighter.
Starting in December 2010, production of E-Class and S-Class models will use of new, higher intensity xenon burners from Osram, the company that used to be called Sylvania. Mercedes says the new xenon headlights are 20% brighter and closer to daylight, with a technical rating of 5000 Kelvin.
According to Mercedes, the brighter lights will reduce eye strain on the driver and improve safety. This is a good thing, since 20 percent of car travel is at night, yet night is when 40 percent of fatal accidents occur. But, it's also a bad thing -- unless your car is equipped with autmatically dimming rearview and sideview mirrors, these new super-bright xenon headlights can be a dangerous distraction. I have driven more than once in a vehicle without that self-dimming feature holding one hand to block an annoying headlight flaring in my view.
After the E-Class and the S-Class, Mercedes-Benz will introduce the brighter headlights to other models, and older cars can be retrofitted with the new, higher intensity lights.model series will be gradually fitted with the new xenon burners in 2011. All previous Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with xenon headlamps can also be fitted with this additional safety feature, as the new xenon burners will be available from branches and dealers as Mercedes-Benz original parts.
Hopefully, more manufacturers will be adding self-dimming rearview and sideview mirrors as Mercedes and other manufacturers switch to these super-bright headlights.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2011 Hyundai Equus Preview
What is it: The new luxury four-door from Hyundai, bigger than the Genesis sedan
Key facts: As long as an S-Class; shares its V-8 with the Hyundai Genesis
On sale: July 2010
Price: $50,000 - $60,000
With the 2009 Hyundai Genesis successfully launched, the Korean automaker is planning for the arrival of an even bigger, more luxurious sedan--the 2011 Hyundai Equus, now slated to arrive in the U.S. late next year.
The Genesis took home the 2009 North American Car of the Year award and Hyundai is hoping to further capitalize on this success, since the Equus is based on a lengthened version of the RWD platform underpinning the award-winning Genesis. A potential rival for the Lexus LS 460, the new Equus will be priced from between $50,000 and $60,000, undercutting the targeted competitors from Lexus and Mercedes, and overlapping those shoppers interested in the nifty new 2011 Infiniti M56.
In size and performance, the Equus might be a competitor for the Lexus LS, but would also stack up against the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series. The current Equus is only marginally shorter than the German duo, while it could be priced $30,000 beneath them.
The new Equus has been on sale in South Korea since March, with some versions exceeding $80,000. It will share the 4.6-liter V-8 with the Genesis, tuned in the Equus to make 385 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy's rated at 16/24 mpg--and acceleration times to 60 mph are pegged at 6.4 seconds. The performance benchmarks are pointedly exceeded: both the Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class V-8 sedans have slightly lower horsepower and gas mileage numbers. An air suspension is standard on U.S. cars, as is electric power steering and the usual host of safety bits--nine airbags including curtain airbags, stability control and active headrests.
Inside, the five-passenger Equus will have an option for a four-seat interior--a pair of bucket seats replacing the rear bench. Some of the possible options include tilting rear seats, massagers and TV screens in the rear seats.
Luxury touches include LED lighting, wood trim, navigation, a Lexicon audio system with XM and HD radio, and Bluetooth connectivity. Adaptive cruise control is offered, and a front camera can be paired with the rearview safety camera and parking sensors.
We'll be driving the final U.S. version of the Equus soon--until then, take a look at our first drive in a Korean-spec Equus.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
In Georgia, Keep To The Right Or You’ll Have To Pay?
When you learned to drive, were you taught to keep to the right unless passing?
The answer is probably yes, but it's not likely that you've ever seen it enforced. In Georgia, though, they're taking it seriously: drivers who slow down traffic in the left lane might soon face a fine of $75 or more.
The bill, which breezed through committee this week and looks headed for a vote, builds on a rarely enforced state law requiring a vehicle in the left lane to either speed up to the legal limit or move over to the right.
Lawmakers stated, in comments to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that safety might be improved when motorists use the lane according to their respective speed, and that it might help soothe traffic congestion. The new fine would also help reduce the frequency of people using the middle lane for passing, causing dangerous close calls or accidents with slower-moving vehicles.
It also helps vehicles keep a more even speed, which can result in better fuel economy. So when you're smoking up that grade in your Mercedes-Benz 220D—biodiesel stickers and all—perhaps you could think of pulling to the right for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG that's wafting up from behind at the speed limit, we'll just say.
A quick poll of a few High Gear Media colleagues underlines that lane discipline seems to vary greatly within our country. Motor Authority editor Nelson Ireson says that keeping right, in Little Rock, is "rarely observed and even more rarely enforced." Green Car Reports editor John Voelcker laughed, and noted that on the New York State Thruway "plenty of people park solidly in the left lane—especially those from New Jersey!"
This writer would have failed driver's ed with anything less than perfect lane discipline and notes that in most of Michigan, drivers move to the right for higher-speed vehicles. We've seen excellent lane adherence in the vast plains states, yet in West Coast cities it's a dangerous free-for-all, and up and down the I-5 corridor the use of the flash-to-pass features is socially forbidden or met with blank stares.
What's your experience with lanes on U.S. expressways? Does keeping right matter, and does it help keep things smoother and safer, or does it result in people going even faster in the left lane? Let us know what you think.
[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Preview: 2011 Audi A8
The 2011 Audi A8 is out, and we have official photos and details on the brand new flagship sedan. Even with a welter of technology and advanced design principles at work, the question of beauty wasn't lost in the presentation of the A8, nestled as it was among the art at the "Art of Progress" exhibition in Miami this evening. But does it come across in the final product?
The new look is all high-tech and sleekness, with bright full-LED head lights giving a dramatic accent to the car's front end and LED tail lights at the rear end. The flowing lines and smooth surfaces reflect the car's mechanical goals as much as its aesthetic.
Powered by a pair of diesel and gasoline V-8 and V-6 engines--one each--the new Audi A8 promises to be the sportiest of the large luxury sedans while also delivering on efficiency. With a coefficient of drag of just 0.26, the car seems prepared to do both, but we'll withhold final judgment until Audi puts us behind the wheel.
With a 372-horsepower V-8 4.2 FSI engine in the U.S.-market normal wheelbase launch vehicle, there's no shortage of power, however. That power is sent to the front two wheels in base configuration, with the quattro all-wheel-drive system an optional upgrade. Whichever drive system you choose, however, the standard transmission is an 8-speed tiptronic unit that should prove smooth and efficient.
A long wheelbase version is due to debut next year, but Audi is already targeting the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series with its new car, calling the Jaguar XJ and Lexus LS "secondary competitors."
Lightness is a mission and a theme throughout the new 2011 A8, and accordingly, Audi says the car is about 50-200 pounds lighter than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and 200-400 pounds lighter than the BMW 7-Series, depending on whether the cars are fitted with two-wheel- or all-wheel-drive systems. Unmentioned is the largely aluminum Jaguar XJ, however, which presumably comes in as light as or lighter than the A8.
An adjustable air suspension system, updated MMI infotainment, high-tech radar-adaptive safety systems, night-vision pedestrian detection and more optional upgrades are available. The car is expected to go on sale some time next year, and though pricing hasn't yet been released, we'd expect it to fall somewhere around the current model's $74,550 starting price and go up from there as you pile on the options.
[Audi]
<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=c190487c99" >2011 Audi A8: World Premiere</a>
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Rumor: 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe
We've shown you the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe and driven it for you, too--but what about the potential for a smaller two-door Mercedes for the future?
Motor Authority reports today that Mercedes may already be working on a new C-Class coupe and cabrio dubbed the CLR, which would bring a new niche vehicle to the brand without complicating the lineup too much. They've tried before--the last C-Class Coupe was a hatchback that sold poorly in the U.S.--and aside from the current SLK two-seat roadster, a new C-Class Coupe and Convertible (a more likely name in production than CLR) would give Benz another four-seater to tackle the likes of the Volvo C70, BMW 3-Series Convertible and the 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible. Powertrains could be shared with the existing C-Class lineup, which could expedite the new model.
Motor Authority posits that the new Coupe and Convertible could appear in 2010 or 2011, and might spawn an AMG variant. We're not holding our breath--but we're not writing it off entirely, either.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid In the Works
Mercedes-Benz is new to the hybrid gas-electric movement, but it's going full-bore in the 2010 model year with hybrid versions of its ML450 sport-utility vehicle and its S-Class sedan.
The two vehicles use different hybrid systems--the ML450 a version of the two-mode system shared with GM's big SUVs and the former Chrysler SUV hybrids.
It's the S-Class Hybrid coming next year that's becoming more interesting--and, Mercedes executives say, will likely lead to a Hybrid version of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class being unveiled to the press this week in Las Vegas.
The new E-Class hybrid, which is being studied now, could be available "in a couple of years," says Bernhard Glaser, general manager of product management for Mercedes-Benz USA.
Glaser says the main hurdles to adding a new E-Class Hybrid aren't in cost, though some reports estimate the same technology in the S-Class Hybrid could raise that car's price by up to $10,000. It's model management; Mercedes would have to figure out if the E-Class Hybrid would displace another model in its lineup, which the brand is keen to keep at a certain size to avoid marketing and service complexity.
The E-Class Hybrid wouldn't be much more complex than the S-Class Hybrid coming for 2010. Unlike the ML450 Hybrid, the S-Class Hybrid doesn't require large battery packs and substantial re-engineering of the vehicle. The lithium-ion battery pack simply replaces the car's standard 12-volt battery, with a loop of the air conditioning system routed through it to keep the cells cool.
In the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid, the combination of a thin 15-kilowatt electric motor sandwiched between a 275-horsepower V-6 engine and the company's seven-speed automatic transmission results in nearly 30 miles per gallon in the European test cycle. The two-mode ML450 Hybrid gets a boost, too, though its highway fuel economy tops out at 24 mpg.
While the joint-venture, two-mode hybrid program with GM and BMW has given Mercedes a leg up into the world of hybrids, it's clear that the technological advantages of lithium-ion batteries and mild hybrids offer more advantages for the automaker. In general, though the two-mode helped Mercedes learn the benefits of hybrids, Mercedes is clearly moving to favoring a "mild hybrid" approach that only works in parallel with the engine, a la Honda, Glaser says.
Full hybrids, like the Toyota Prius, allow the vehicle to operate in electric-only mode. Further, serial hybrids like the planned 2011 Chevrolet Volt allow the vehicle to operate completely on electric power, with an internal-combustion engine recharging the batteries.
TheCarConnection.com is driving the new E-Class sedan and coupe this week, and we'll be filing our driving impressions along with other news shortly. Click over to our 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class page for more photos and information.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Link Love From The Car Connection: Mercedes Sneak Peak, Rally For Rentals, And What Is Up With All These Pod Things?
- Looking for something fun to do this summer? How's about signing up for the annual Rental Car Rally, which will run this June from San Francisco to Yuma, Arizona. Clearly a race of a different sort, points are awarded for low odometer readings, team style, and "random tomfoolery" (e.g. getting arrested for public indecency). Schwag bags include energy drinks and condoms, so be sure to bring the kids. [PSFK via Piers & JV]
- Like the GM/Segway PUMA? Then you're probably going to love Varun Niti Singh's Concept DOT. The pod-like vehicles--obviously intended for navigating city streets and habitrails--run on three wheels and and electromagnetic motors. Weirdest feature? The doors can be removed so that vehicles can be attached to one another, creating a "toilet paper tube" effect. Which sounds just...awesome. [AutoMotto]
- Good news: Standard & Poor has upgraded Ford's credit rating. Bad news: S&P has a low opinion of the company's future. Sometimes maybe it's better to say nothing at all. [DetNews]
- How's your Monday? Good? We bet we can make it better--with a little autopr0nography featuring the stars of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S Class, some innocuous European scenery, and some John Williams-inspired Musak. Trust us. [Carscoop]
- Watching Elon Musk whine about the New York Times is funny. Seeing Hitler whine about Tesla is even funnier. [Autobloggreen]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Geneva Motor Show: Aston Martin Drops A Brick With Lagonda SUV Concept
Much of the auto world has forgotten about Lagonda--mostly because the brand hasn't cranked out anything on four wheels in nearly as many decades. But like Elvis and Valerie Bertinelli, Lagonda walks among us again--if you happen to be in Switzerland, that is.
Aston Martin Lagonda (yes, that's the official company name) has unveiled a Lagonda SUV concept at the Geneva Motor Show, and...well, for anyone who's ever wanted to spend $210,000 on a very angry cinderblock: your time has come.
Under the hood is where the Lagonda concept is most interesting. The SUV boasts a V12 engine and is built on a Mercedes-Benz GL platform, the product of some pleasant chit-chat between Daimler and Aston Martin. Between Aston Martin's high style, and Daimler's high performance, the two automakers could have some very beautiful children together.
That, unfortunately, is where the interesting part ends.
We hate to bash vehicles that designers and other craftspeople have worked long hours to construct, but who, exactly, thought this was a great idea? In profile, the vehicle looks simultaneously understyled and overstyled--no easy feat. The grill is huge and very mad about something, like a big-boned song-stylist cut from the American Idol auditions. The rear seems abrupt, as if some manically depressed designer said, "Wow, this really isn't working. I should just end it now." And someone in the TCC secretarial pool commented that the whole package is about as attractive as a rhino's testicular appendages. Others think rhinos have enough self-image problems, thankyouverymuch.
Luckily, there aren't any plans to produce this very fat baby until 2012 or later, so Aston Martin has time to come to its senses. Please, Aston Martin, for the sake of humanity and its tender, tender eyeballs: come to your senses.
[source: Autoweek]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
