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Common sense tells us that a 450+ horsepower 6.3L V8 is completely unnecessary in a small sedan, but our passion for cars rarely relies on sensibility. Perhaps for that same reason Carlsson is offering a tuning package for the C63 AMG that bumps horsepower to 565 and torque to more than 500. This gives the CK63 S the ability to reach 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, and the top speed has been increased to 300 km/h. Helping to put all that power down is an upgraded coilover suspension system and a new limited slip differential. Carlsson is also offering subtle body upgrades including a new front and rear spoiler, lightweight forged wheels, and interior accents. All together Carlsson has produced a package that makes the potent C63 AMG even more so, which it sorely needs if the German sedan ever hopes to catch the 556-hp Cadillac CTS-V.

Mercedes-Benz took the easy route when it comes to making its current CLC, using the previous C-Class coupe as a starting point instead of engineering a new entry-level model from the latest C-Class platform. That may be about to change, as CAR is reporting that MB will introduce a proper C-Class coupe to replace the CLC. The new model will ditch the cut-off hind-end of the current car, which isn’t quite as pretty as its competition from Audi and BMW. A soft-top convertible is expected to follow a few months after the new 2010 C-Class coupe is introduced.

Moving up the Mercedes line, a new E-Class coupe is also in the works to offer a direct competitor to the Audi A5. We wonder if a “shooting brake” style hatchback could be offered as well. In any case, the two-door will lose its CLK nomenclature in favor of being known simply as a coupe. Also dead is the CL moniker, which will be replaced with an S-Class coupe. In addition to the expected gasoline and diesel-powered models, hybrids are expected to be offered across the entire Mercedes-Benz range in an effort to lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

If Drake, the ur-vampire from Blade Trinity, were a car, this is the car he would be. Starting with a CL600, tuning firm Kicherer didn’t waste time throwing pieces at the car’s already aggressive styling. Instead, Kicherer attacked the CL’s jugular: sloppy performance due to the car’s portliness.

The biturbo V12 gets 53 extra horses to corral 570 in total, torque gets smacked up to 664 lb-ft., the engine gets a new transmission control module to better deal with the extra juice, and out back, the rear axle gets a locking rear differential. The car is lowered an inch, and firmer springs help keep things settled when it’s go time. Will all this turn the car into a cheetah? Probably not, but with the carbon goodies added throughout and the 20-inch Kircherer RS-1 wheels, it will look mighty good doing whatever it does.

If you’re Mercedes-Benz, then what you have here is a failure to keep your photo shoots under wraps. First Autobild came out with bare naked shots of the 2009 E-Class, and now German magazine Auto Zeitung has more shots of the car getting some fresh air.

With a minimal front end and a profile that rises seemingly without arc to a chunky back end, the car is reminiscent of a stretched Alfa Romeo Milano. We aren’t sure how big these wheels are, but the car’s increased upright stance makes them look exceptionally small. As usual with the launch of revolutionary E-Class designs, the car could take some time to get used to, but by the time E-Classes are clogging roads worldwide they will look perfectly natural.

There will be some excitement in the engine choices, including a 204 hp turbodiesel Bluetec, a BlueHybrid lump shared with the S400, and a 550 hp V8 in the AMG. The new E will also benefit from closer association with its spin-offs. Now that the CLK is no more, the E sedan will receive more of the spotlight that shines on its coupe and convertible siblings. If Mercedes doesn’t get tired of the clandestine attention, we’ll see the sedan for the first time at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, with the other variants to follow at Frankfurt that same year.

Short of riding around in a tank, among the highest levels of protection while motoring are provided by armored Mercedes-Benz. The German automaker has been protecting heads of state and captains of industry for 80 years now, and to mark the anniversary has officially released the new S600 Pullman Guard limousine, which was initially announced way back in February 2007.

Based on a stretched version of the standard, off-the-shelf S600, the Pullman is engineered right off the assembly line to withstand handgun fire, grenades and explosive charges to the stringent B6 and B7 ballistic protection standards. The extra weight of all that armor is pulled around by Mercedes’ top-of-the-line 517-hp 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12 and is further supported by run-flat tires, a self-sealing fuel tank and integrated fire suppression system. Of course, the stretched limousine can be specified with all manner of luxury equipment, coddling its occupants in security and opulence. All that protection and luxury surely doesn’t come cheap, but for wealthy public figures under threat, price is presumably no object. However, Mercedes also offers an armored E Guard and G Guard as well as the standard-wheelbase S600 Guard.

There’s not much we would change about the Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series. Its 6.2-liter V8 produces gobs of power and torque, and the F1-inspired design is a beautiful combination of form and function. Danish tuner Kleemann, however, thinks that it could use some tweaking and has introduced a tuning package that it considers to be a sophisticated optimization. Horsepower has been increased from 507 to 545 via a remapped ECU and an upgraded exhaust system that includes high-flow exhaust manifolds and downpipes with sport catalytic converters. The stock 19-inch AMG wheels have been replaced with 20-inch Kleemann TS-6 3-piece wheels. Finally, the Kleemann logo replaces the standard badges on the trunk. Sophisticated, yes, but whether it’s the limited production and possible collectability or the fact that we just like the car as is, we think we’d keep a CLK63 AMG Black Series stock if we had one in the garage and leave any upgrades to the standard CLK63 AMG.

Mercedes-Benz may decide to call a coupe a coupe starting next year. If you want a CLK after 2009, you might have to settle for an E-Class Coupe or E-Class Convertible. Want a 2-door S-Class around the same time? Then you’re after the S-Class Coupe. We don’t know the reason for the potential name changes, especially since the cars have such great equity — and taking eight minutes to say E-Class Coupe Black Series doesn’t have nearly the to-the-point hotness of CLK Black Series, even though it’s the same number of “syllables”. The CL change might make more sense as the car wasn’t a huge sales success, but drop those letters in conversation and you still get a forceful point across. We can only hope that the bard was right, and that a rose by any other name…

Autoblog does a lot of posts on car-related timepieces, and that’s thanks to Noah who has an affinity for the finer automotive-inspired paraphernalia in life. Unfortunately, he’s not here right now, so I get to tell you about this new limited edition Mercedes-Benz SL 63 that’s being produced in conjunction with Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen. Only 200 will be made, and each features the first application of a new white paint finish dubbed designo magno Kashmir.

 Though my desensitized retinas see plain old white where others see shades of Pearl and Egg Shell, there’s no denying this brilliant veneer looks like a million bucks on the SL 63 AMG. Contrast that with the matte black finish of other components on the car’s exterior, and you’ve got the world’s most expensive Storm Trooper. Tobago Brown nappa leather will cradle your bum in the AMG sport seats while your feet fall on special black floormats that are one of about a dozen interior surfaces emblazoned with the AMG logo. The rest is pretty much standard SL 63 AMG fare, if you can call anything about this 525-hp convertible standard with a straight face.Oh, yeah, the watchmaker tie-in: All 200 owners of the SL 63 AMG Edition IWC will also get a limited edition example of IWC’s “Grosser Ingenieur” watch. Nothing can replace my Swatch, but I would definitely take the car.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

The terms “performance” and “diesel” used to be mutually exclusive, but times, they are a-changin’. Audi’s dominance of LeMans with its R10 TDI and the recent unveiling of the R8 V12 TDI concept might be giving Mercedes a reason to turn towards oilburners for some of its high-po offerings. AMG has made a name for itself by providing, among other things, torque-rich engines that sometimes have to be electronically limited due to their tire (and differential) decimating potential. AutoExpress supposedly has it on good authority that plans are in the works to offer diesel models with an AMG badge, but both Mercedes and AE failed to provide any details about what vehicles or engines would be used. It might be a forgone conclusion that new CAFE standards in the U.S. are causing automakers to rethink their performance offerings, but in the meantime, we’re going to throw this in the rumormill and see what comes out the other end.

[Source: AutoExpress]

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As we’ve heard before, the next generation of AMG-massaged Mercs will have to balance high output with low emissions. That means more turbos, less displacement and (gasp) hybrids.

The big and bad 6.2-liter V8 won’t be around much longer. Instead, AMG is turning its focus towards a new, twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 that will produce 570 hp and 665 lb.-ft. of torque, with output possibly reaching 700 hp and 885 lb.-ft. to replace the outgoing 612-hp V12 mill.

Forced induction is only part of the equation, as AMG is looking to a new hybrid-equipped V8, dubbed BluePower, that will either come with the X-Trac Flybrid system or a 100-hp electric motor integrated into the transmission. There’s also talk that AMG will be releasing its own plug-in hybrid by 2012 and that diesels will continue to become an important part of the brand.

The other issue with which AMG has to contend is Mercedes’ own turbocharged offerings. Future M-Bs will be sporting turbo’d V8s displacing 4.0-, 4.6- and 5.5-liters, with outputs ranging from 355 to 544 hp.

And what of the upcoming AMG supercar? Car says that the gullwing super coupe, codenamed C197, will debut in March of 2010 and be powered by the same 6.2-liter V8 (likely the last application of that engine) while sending all that energy through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

[Source: Car]