mercedes-benz

A study by ISO Quality Planning identified the 10 most ticketed vehicles and the 10 least ticketed. The study puts the Hummer H2 and H3 at the top of the list, followed closely by the Scion tC. Actually, two other Scion models, the xB and xA, also make the top 10 list. A couple of Mercedes-Benz AMG models, the CLK63 and CLS63 also make the list, which shouldn't come as a surprise. The 10 least ticketed cars include a healthy dose of minivans and trucks.

We occasionally run across online postings and get questions about whether radar-based cruise control and collision prevention systems being rolled out in new cars will set off radar detectors. Car radar systems work just like police radar guns, sending out a radio signal and detecting how that signal gets bounced back. Both radar systems use Doppler shift to figure out the speed of the vehicles in the path of the radio signal. Car radar systems use the data to match your speed to the car in front, while the police radar can get you a ticket. Because of this similarity, … Read more

Mercedes-Benz restyled its E-class sedan and updated the electronics, following up on last year's updated C-class. The new E-class borrows a lot of equipment from more upscale Mercedes-Benz models, including massage seats and adaptive cruise control, but also gets the new cabin tech package from the C-class, which features superior iPod control and Bluetooth integration. New features for Mercedes-Benz include lane-departure warning, a driver alert system, and a new adaptive suspension.

Alpine announced partnerships with GM, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. The maker of car audio equipment will be supplying technology to the three OEMs in three very different ways.

Starting with the most robust system, Alpine Electronics of America announced it is supplying head units to a global Mercedes-Benz program. Alpine head units are now available as standard, midlevel and premium equipment on the Mercedes-Benz SLK, SL, E-Class, CLS, A-Class, B-Class, M-Class, R-Class, GL, and G-Class vehicles in North America, Europe, Japan, China, Russia, Southeast Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

The premium system, on display at the 2009 … Read more

The green momentum in the automotive industry is undeniable, with every automaker developing towards the electrification of the car. A surprising number of electric concepts were on display at the 2009 Detroit auto show, including cars from GM, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, and Smart. Some of these concepts are far-flung, but some are currently on the road, being tested for eventual mass production.

See the new breed of electric cars from the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

More 2009 Detroit auto show coverage.

There may be a lot of new green cars on the floor at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but powerful cars still have a strong presence. We take a look at the new Ford Shelby, Jaguar R series, Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro, the last SLR, and a new supercar from Revenge. These cars show there is still a place for highly tuned engines with performance-oriented suspensions.

See photos of the fastest new cars from the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

More 2009 Detroit Auto Show coverage.

McLaren ends its SLR line with a special model named after a British racing legend. The SLR Stirling Moss features supercar performance and looks that, except for the carbon fiber, are right at home on a 1950s racetrack. When the limited production run starts on the SLR Stirling Moss, McLaren will stop building the current SLR line, and currently has no plans to bring it back. But the model is going out on a fine note, as this carbon fiber body has an extremely seductive side line and incredible power under the hood. Think less than 3.5 seconds to … Read more

DETROIT -- If Chrysler LLC can survive its financial crisis, it will emerge as a boutique enterprise along the lines of Germany's premium carmakers, co-President Jim Press said in an interview last week.

He suggested that Chrysler could show the way to a sustainable model for a smaller U.S. auto industry.

"If there's one company in America that can build high-craftsmanship, innovative vehicles, it's Chrysler," Press said.

Chrysler will build vehicles that have premium features but are affordable to consumers. Press said the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup signals the company's direction.

"… Read more

A dash-mounted LCD is the perfect spot for viewing a movie during a long road trip if you're a front-seat passenger, but a movie playing right there in the driver's periphery could prove too much of a distraction for the driver. Mercedes may have come up with a solution to this problem with its SplitView technology.

Essentially, the SplitView tech is a special screen in the dash that allows the driver and front passenger to view two different programs at the same time. While the driver is checking the navigation instructions, the front passenger can sit back and … Read more