The 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG will be making its public debut later this week at the 2011 LA Auto Show but the Stuttgart automaker has just released all the images and details of the new SUV.

“Like its predecessors, the 2012 ML63 AMG sets new standards in terms of performance, exclusivity and an outstanding driving experience – plus the efficiency factor, which is acquiring ever greater emphasis at Mercedes-AMG,” said Ola Kallenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “As the inventor of the high-performance SUV, we remain true to the philosophy which we introduced in 1999 with the 2000MY ML55 AMG and continued with the 2007MY ML63 AMG.”

So let’s get right down to the fun stuff. Power for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG comes from a 5.5 liter V8 biturbo engine making 518-hp at 5,250 rpm with a maximum torque of 516 lb-ft between 1,750 – 5,000 rpm. That allows 0 to 60 mph to come in 4.7 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. Buyers can add the AMG Performance Package, which increases output to 550-hp at 5,750 rpm and 560 lb-ft between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm. The package allows a 0 to 60 mph of 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 174 mph. The AMG Performance Package also adds an engine cover genuine carbon fiber, calipers painted in red and the AMG Performance steering wheel in Premium leather/DINAMICA.

The engine is mated to a AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission with engine deactivation through one of the three driving programs. In ‘Controlled Efficiency mode (C) the ECO stop/start function activates and shuts down the big V8 when the vehicle is at a stand still. Other driver programs include Sport (S) and Manual (M).

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, which is 99 pounds lighter than its predecessor, also gets something called the ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM for active roll stabilization. The system is standard and features active stabilizers on the front and rear axles to make-up for body roll during rough cornering.

On the inside, the new ML63 AMG comes standard with basically everything including AMG exclusive illuminated door sills, AMG sports pedals in brushed stainless steel with rubber studs, COMAND system with hard-drive navigation & SIRIUS real-time traffic & weather, 10-way power front seats w/door-mounted controls plus driver and passenger memory with 4-way lumbar support, Harman/Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system, HD radio, Bluetooth audio streaming, 7 inch display with central COMAND controller, 4.5″ color instrument cluster display, power lift gate, power sunroof and heated & active ventilated front seats

The 2012 Mercedes ML63 AMG will hit U.S. showrooms in the first quarter of 2012.

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG Data:

Source: egmCarTech

Joining the B-Class F-CELL fuel-cell vehicle, Mercedes-Benz announced today that it will expand its study into alternative energy sources with the A-Class E-CELL. The model, which will debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, is based on the five-door version of the current A-Class and features two high-efficiency lithium-ion batteries that provide a range of over 124 miles.

What about performance? The electric-motor in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class E-CELL makes a total of 95-hp and 213 lb-ft of torque. That allows the A-Class E-CELL to go from 0-62 mph in 14 seconds with a top speed of 93 mph. In terms of electric-car performance the A-Class E-CELL can go form 0-37 mph in blistering 5.5 seconds.

Will it be produced for the masses? Well, according to Daimier: “With the electrified A-Class, Daimler aims to gain experience concerning the integration of battery-electric drives into four-seated vehicles and the use by customers in order to consistently apply this technology to other models in the future. A total of 500 locally emission-free vehicles based on the current A-Class will be manufactured at the Rastatt site.”

Source: egmCarTech

After all the wait, spy shots, leaked images and details, Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the covers off of the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS prior to its debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

“Customers all over the world benefited from our bold move to launch a completely new vehicle concept onto the market”, explains a delighted Dr. Joachim Schmidt, member of the board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Sales & Marketing. “And with its exciting de-sign, the new edition of the CLS also benefits from the fact that we are a whole generation ahead of the competition with our four-door Coupé.”

The new 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS carries a very striking appearance right at the front with a style that reminds us of the Mercedes-Benz SLS and the F800 Style Concept. Standing right out at your face is a grille that is dominated by the large central star. You’ll also notice full LED headlamps that are made up of 71 LEDs with the upper later containing an LED indicator. Moving onto the side, the 2012 CLS-Class features a slopping roofline towards the rear with sporty tail lights that also feature LED technology. The shape is emphasized by an aggressive shoulder line, which is clearly apparent from behind and supports the flat roof.

The interior has also been completely redesigned. No powertrain details are available right now but you can expect the 2012 CL350 to be powered by a 3.5L V6 while the 2012 CL550 will most likely get a 430-hp 4.6L V8. We’ll have more details as the Paris Motor Show gets closer.

Source: egmCarTech

These are the pictures Mercedes didn’t want us to see! Months ahead of its official unveiling at the Paris Motor Show in October, the all-new CLS has been snared by our team of spy photographers completely undisguised during an official shoot in Germany.

This isn’t the first time that the four-dour coupé has been caught unaware on a press shoot. Until now, though, it has always been obscured by a cover, a nearby building or a Merc employee.

In profile, you can see the car retains the swooping roofline of the pioneering original, but with the addition of chrome on the rubbing strips, window trim and bootlid, as well as glitzy LED running lights, the newcomer’s design is less understated and more in-your-face.

The same goes for the larger, more upright grille, with its bold horizontal bars. This is designed to match up with the recently revealed CL, and sets out the template for new Mercs. It also gives the car a more imposing presence on the road.

To create a sculpted look, a strong crease runs from the angular headlights all the way to the back of the CLS, where it meets the muscular
rear wheelarch – a cue borrowed from the E-Class Coupé.

Under the bonnet, a pair of petrol engines – also available in the CL – will take pride of place alongside the six-cylinder 350 CDI diesel. The new twin-turbo 4.7-litre V8 (dubbed 4.6 by Mercedes, despite a capacity closer to 4.7) produces 429bhp and 700Nm of torque – that’s
12 and 32 per cent more than the outgoing CLS 500 respectively. Fuel economy is improved by 22 per cent to 30mpg, too.
Source: AutoExpress

A new Mercedes has been revealed. The NEW A-Class is breathtaking and said to compete with Audi’s A3, BMW’s 1-Series, and VW’s Golf. This new smaller car is part of the industry’s attempt to steal the younger generations attention.

Based on a new front-wheel drive platform, the compact hatchback will take its design cues from the F800 concept, which was revealed at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

Our exclusive illustrations give you the best idea of how the Golf-sized machine will look. And with a prominent grille, neat LED headlights, plus bold creases in its flanks and pert tail, it’s every inch the desirable, upmarket small car. Expect both three and five-door models to be available, along with a range of super-efficient petrol and diesel engines with stop-start.

As well as its stylish shape, the newcomer will boast a better-quality cabin than the Golf, plus increased comfort and safety. Prices will be higher, too, with sales beginning in 2012. The model is likely to wear the A-Class badge, and will be one of four key vehicles to come from Mercedes’ new front-wheel-drive architecture.

“In the next couple of years, we will launch additional cars where we don’t currently have predecessors,” global sales and marketing boss Dr Joachim Schmidt said. “Our current A-Class and B-Class will be replaced by a new platform for four totally different cars defining new segments for Mercedes.”

Schmidt confirmed these models would not resemble the current A-Class and B-Class. Their MPV practicality has appealed more to older drivers. The new Golf-rivalling A-Class is due in two years’ time, while a compact high-roofed five-door B-Class with hybrid and electric options is slated for late 2011.

In 2013, the quartet will be completed by a small 4×4 or 2×4 ‘crossover’ to take on BMW’s X1. Following the Geneva unveiling of the F800 (see panel, opposite), there are also plans for a small four-door coupe, possibly badged BLS, which will aim to replicate the success of the larger CLS.

“If you want young customers, you need to have a brand that is sexy and sporty,” explained Schmidt. “The reason we didn’t get this customer before was, in my opinion, not a brand issue, but a product issue.”

And it doesn’t stop there. Mercedes is planning a further youth-focused model to rival the forthcoming Audi A1 and BMW supermini. But this car is more likely to be badged as a Smart to replace the critically panned and unsuccessful four-door, four-seater ForFour.

It will be built on the same rear-wheel-drive platform as Renault’s groundbreaking Twizy electric model, as part of the recent small vehicle tie-up announced between the two car giants. The new range aims to lower the average age of Mercedes’ customer profile – 45 years old in the US and 55 in Germany – without alienating older customers.

Brabus will show its Black Baron E V12, based on the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show next week.

Visually, Brabus’ Black Baron E V12 gets a new engine ventilation system, new front quarter panels, an upgraded front bumper, new side skirts, a trunk mounted spoiler, new front quarter panels and awkward looking rear-wheel covers.

The model features a 6.3L biturbo V12 making 800-hp with a maximum torque of 1,407 lb-ft. That allows the Black Baron E V12 to go from 0 to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds and 0 to 124 mph in 9.9 seconds. Top speed comes in at more than 230 mph. Estimated fuel-economy is rated at 15 mpg. Brabus also added a fully adjustable sports suspension, a high-performance braking system, new stabilizers and black 19-inch alloy-wheels.

Pricing will start at €600,000 ($874,253 USD). Only ten units will be made.

Source Egmcartech

At the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz showed us the BlueZERO E-Cell concept, which it said gets around 124 miles on batter-power alone. The concept was part of a three part study including the Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO F-Cell and the BlueZERO E-Cell Plus. Today, Mercedes-Benz released more details on the BlueZERO E-Cell PLUS along with a bunch of new high-res photos.

Unlike the BlueZERO E-Cell, which is purely battery-powered, the BlueZERO E-Cell PLUS gets a 3-cylinder tubrocharged petrol engine allowing for a total range of 373 miles, 62 miles of which come from pure electric-power alone. Mercedes-Benz says that the BlueZERO E-Cell PLUS requires about half an hour of charge for a 30 mile range.

Throughout the press release, Mercedes-Benz refers to the BlueZERO E-Cell and the E-Cell PLUS as a “near-series” concept. Don’t be surprised if you see at least one of these on the roads by next year in form of the next-generation A-Class or B-Class.

Source Egmcartech

The all-new Mercedes Benz E-Class has now reached showrooms in most parts of the globe, and now we are just a couple of months away from the launch of the ‘Estate’ wagon version. A number of prototypes for the Estate have been spotted near the Mercedes’ headquarters in Germany, revealing the final shape of the car with only the finer details being masked by black camouflage material.

Mercedes has now confirmed that the wagon will make its world debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show before going on sale in Europe by the end of the year. A North American launch is expected shortly after.

Looking back at the spy shots and computer generated preview renderings, we can clearly see the design of the grille and some details on the tail-lights.

Like the sedan, the range of engines available for the new wagon will comprise four, six and eight-cylinder units with outputs from 100 kW/136 hp to 386 kW/525 hp – the top end model being the E63 from AMG. The four-cylinder engines are newly developed direct-injection units, which develop a higher output and torque than the comparable V6-engines of the preceding series despite a smaller displacement.

The top model in the new E-Class diesel range is the six-cylinder E350 CDI with an output of 170 kW/231 hp, which uses 0.5L per 100km less than the previous E320 CDI.

Source Motorauthority

According to Germany’s Manager-Magazin, Mercedes-Benz has approached Renault about cooperating in the development of a new small car. Although conversations have just started, it seems that Smart could once again have a four-seat car in its lineup.

This would be the second attempt to develop such a model, after the original sales flop of the ForFour. That model, shown above, was c-odeveloped with Mitsubishi and shared the Colt’s underpinnings. Rumors about such new model are not new, but the German publication points that the company’s strategy relies on selling more subcompact premium cars. Developing the new A and B Class models can be pursued as an in-house development, but the family Smart would apparently require a partner.

Source Autoblog

Is Mercedes downsizing? These latest pictures from our spy snappers seem to show that the 2012 ML SUV is looking a little smaller than before.

At first glance the new ML doesn’t look like a departure from the old, but look a bit closer and you’ll see shorter overhangs and a more conservatively proportioned body.

What’s more, the door handles are higher, the wing mirrors, rear door and roof rack have all had a slight facelift and the rear window appears higher and smaller.

It’s speculated that the ML’s engine line up isn’t in for too much of a change. The V6 and V8 power plants that we’re used to will all make appearances in more powerful and economic forms. However there is a rumour of a plug-in hybrid featuring an 18-mile electric range. This has already been seen on 2007’s ML450 Hybrid concept.

There are also rumours of a 570bhp, twin-turbo V8 for the AMG version.

Source Autoexpress

Electricity is held by many in the industry to be the true way of the future, but so far only a tiny handful of companies have made serious attempts at a highway-capable production electric vehicle and aside from the electric Smart, Daimler and Mercedes-Benz haven’t been among them. But now the brand’s AMG division is skipping straight over the mundane family tourer, today officially announcing development of an all-electric supercar built on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG platform.

As hinted at last week, the car will bear the same name as its V8-engined counterpart, the standard SLS AMG, but instead of pumping 571hp out of a single engine<, the electric drive SLS AMG will generate a total of 525hp from its four corner-mounted motors. Torque of the electric model tops out at a heady 650lb-ft.

By using four motors, the SLS AMG’s all wheel drive system can modulate power to each individual wheel far more precisely and efficiently than any torque vectoring solution. Two transmissions – one for each axle – help to distribute power. Mercedes intentionally skipped mounting the motors in the wheels to reduce unsprung weight.

“With the SLS AMG with electric drive, we wanted to redefine the super car. For us, it is not just about responsibility. We attach just as much importance to excitement and classic AMG performance,” said Volker Mornhinweg, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Performance of the car will be very close to the combustion-engine version, with 0-62mph slipping by in just 4.0 seconds – 0.2 seconds off the V8 pace.

Of course, the electric SLS AMG will have a good deal of weight to deal with in the form of its 400V, 48kWh total battery pack, which will be located where the transmission tunnel is in the V8 model, while the engine bay will also be used for some of the electronics. Despite the addition of all the new drivetrain equipment, the Gullwing’s body required no structural modifications, and due to the modularity of the electric drive system, it can all be positioned very low in the chassis to improve the center of gravity.

Unfortunately, no clear time frame for the car’s development and release was announced, so we’ll likely have to wait several years before it hits the streets. Also undisclosed is the electric SLS AMG’s range on a single charge.

Source Motorauthority

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren spun off more variants than you could shake a carbon-ceramic stick at, and and although its successor hasn’t even reached the market, spy shots are already suggesting that the upcoming SLS could follow down the same path.

What we have here are the first shots of what is being billed once again as the Mercedes-Benz SLC. The name was previously entertained as the tentative nameplate for Merc’s upcoming gullwing supercar until it was replaced by the SLS nameplate. But if these shots from Auto Express are any indication, a roadster version is likely in the works as well.

Rather than a folding hard-top like the SL, the droptop SLS looks like it will follow the path of the SLR McLaren (not to mention the original 300SL) with a canvas roof, and presumably it will offer full automatic operation and a glass rear window. Aside from the roof, the mechanics are anticipated to carry over unchanged from the specs that just hit the web earlier today, while minimal weight gain should mean that performance will closely mirror that of its fixed-roof counterpart.

Source Autoblog

Early next year, Mercedes-Benz will unveil the most extreme Benz they have ever built – the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Power will come from a 6.2L V8 unit making 563-hp with a maximum torque of 479 lb-ft. That should allow a 0 to 62 mph time of 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 196 mph.

AutoCar now reports that AMG engineers are also working on an advanced plug-in version of the car. The plug-in electric version of the SLS is being planned for limited production in 2015 and will be offered with the same lightweight aluminum body and the signature gullwing as the production model.

Known as the SLS eDrive, the plug-in electric version will use a heavily modified version of the standard SLS’s rear-wheel-drive platform. Power comes from two 133-hp electric-motors on the front and two on the back. Engineers plan on using the space behind the seats, which is usually used by the fuel-tank, to house the battery.The standard rear double wishbones have been retained without modification.

All that will help the SLS eDrive will produce 523-hp with a peak torque of 649 lb-ft. 0 to 62 mph comes in 4 seconds with a top speed above 120 mph.

We’ll bring you more details as we get them.

Source Egmcartech

Revealed at the Detroit Auto Show last month, the all new 2010 E-Class bears a brand-new face and updated platform along with many other variants in the works including a long-wheelbase (LWB) version releasing at the end of the year.

LWB models are increasingly becoming popular in emerging markets such as China were it’s not uncommon for regular models like the E-Class to be available in stretched form.

This computer generated rendering gives us a preview of the LWB E-Class, revealing that the car will essentially be the same as the standard sedan but with stretched rear doors. The extra length will provide additional legroom for rear-seat passengers, mostly chauffeur driven executives.

Expect engine options to mirror those found in the standard sedan except for the high-performance 6.2L V8 from the E63. This means the engine lineup should comprise four, six and eight-cylinder units with outputs from 134hp (100kW) to 350hp (260kW) – the top end model being the E500/550.

A V6 petrol-electric hybrid powertrain similar to the one featured in the S400 hybrid could also be employed, though that system isn’t due to hit the E-Class until after 2010. Mercedes Benz is also working on an extra-long limousine, which was spied recently testing in prototype form. This car is expected to join the LWB version towards the end of the year as well.

Source Motor Authority

After several years of being unchanged on the market, the current generation of Mercedes Benz S-Class and AMG performance models are scheduled for an update this year to keep the model competitive.

The current generation Mercedes Benz S-Class and its associated AMG performance models have been on the market since the middle of the decade and are due to receive a minor update later this year to keep them fresh for their rivalry with the recently revealed BMW 7-series and next-generation Audi A8 arriving in 2010.

Recent prototypes seen testing in Germany and the United States reveal that the only major exterior updates for the car are a set of new bumpers, new side mirrors, and a revised combination projector/LED design for the headlights.

These latest shots show an AMG version testing for the first time, revealing a new bumper design with squared-off intakes similar to those seen on the SL65 Black Series. Other clear giveaways that this is a high-performance model are the chunky cross-drilled brakes and quad exhaust pipes. New daytime running lights will also make an appearance.

Despite current concerns about global warming and a possible end to the horsepower war between Germany’s in-house tuners, the new S63 Estate will continue with the potent hand-built 6.2L V8. Power should remain around the 525hp (391kW) mark. A similar story can be told for the V12-powered S65, which should output the same 612hp (456kW) output as the current model. Expect to see engineers focusing on improving the efficiency of the cars through the use of direct-injection technology, engine stop-start systems, and more lightweight materials.

The facelifted S-Class range is expected to make its world debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. While the standard models should be on sale before the end of the year, the AMG pair are not expected to hit showrooms until early 2010.

Source Motor Authority

Is it possible that Mercedes-Benz has another E-Class embargo break on their hands or is someone doctoring photos? The folks over at Autoblog.nl (no relation to Autoblog.com) have somehow gotten hold of what looks to be a slate of images of the 2010 E500 Coupe.

We’ve seen mules of this car for some time now, but this is our first gander at what appears to be a wholly uncovered example.

The front end shots look decidedly similar to the already-unveiled 2010 E-Class sedan, but the profile has benefited from a more graceful roofline and the omission of a pair of doors and what looks to be a B-pillarless greenhouse. We like the swooping rear fender line and the short rear deck, but the large LED taillamps and the decklid itself will be something we have to see in person to truly wrap our heads around. Check out the gallery below and stay tuned for more details as they happen.

Source Autoblog

Small countries with fledgling economies are prone, upon occasion, to scrap their currency and start over again. Inflation rises, their currency is devalued, so they simply press the “reset” button.

And looking at the history of the Mercedes-Benz roadster, we wonder if they haven’t been doing the same thing. First came the original SL – “sporty” and “light weight” – which by now has swelled to massive proportions and SUV-rivaling weight. So Mercedes introduced the SLK, a smaller version with the added K for “kurtz” or “short”. But as the SLK has by now grown at least as big as the original SL, officials have been mulling over the idea of making an even smaller roadster.

Actually, they’ve been mulling it over for nearly a decade. Mercedes unveiled their Vision SLA concept way back in 2000, and they’ve been toying with the idea ever since. But new post Detroit Auto Showreports suggest that the long-rumored SLA-like droptop is alive and well, and may finally come to market as a response to growing demand for smaller, more efficient vehicles. Although the current A and B-Class platform utilizes novel sandwich underbody construction that would preclude use in a short roadster, the next generation of Mercedes front-drive compacts is expected to forgo the unusual configuration in favor of a more conventional front-engine/front-wheel-drive set-up. Even a small-displacement AMG version could be in the cards. Sources continue to suggest we could see a production SLA slot under the SLK by 2012, just in time to face off with BMW’s rumored 1 Series-based roadster.

Source Autoblog

Things look much better now for the Detroit Auto Show. Mercedes-Benz announced that they will officially unveil the 2009 McLaren SLR Stirling Moss, what will surely be one of the most attention-grabbing cars in Cobo Hall.

The boldly styled Merc will be the last vehicle built under the partnership with McLaren, and even at a cost of €750,000 Mercedes should have no trouble finding buyers for the 75-car allotment. Each will feature full carbon fiber bodywork wrapped over the standard version, a 650-hp supercharged 5.5-liter V8 and the five-speed automatic transplanted from the SLR 722. Despite lacking any sort of roof or proper windscreen, the Stirling Moss can still achieve a top speed of 217 mph and can reach 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. Other unique features include swing-wing” doors, a retractable air brake that can be operated manually and a two-piece tonneau cover (stored in the trunk) that can cover the entire cockpit or just the passenger seat. Check out the gallery below for high-resolution images, and expect plenty more when we see the car live in Detroit.

Source Autoblog

Mercedes-Benz will unveil the next-generation B-Class at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, featuring the BlueZero E-Cell, will be powered by a lithium-ion battery pack that will allow for a maximum range of 124 miles on battery power alone.

Here is your first look at the next-generation B-Class (in concept form of course) from Mercedes-Benz that will make its way to the U.S. in 2011. Next month at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz will reveal three new concepts under a new badge called ‘BlueZero’.

The first, known as the BlueZero E-Cell, will be powered by a lithium-ion battery pack that will allow for a maximum range of 124 miles on battery power alone. The BlueZero F-Cell will be the second concept featured in Detroit and will be powered by a tank full of hydrogen that allows it to go for a total of 400 miles with power coming from the car’s 120-hp electric-motor.

The third concept, and probably the one that will most likely see production, will be the BlueZero E-Cell Plus. Like the the BlueZero E-Cell Plus is an E-REV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle). It is powered by a 67-hp 3-cylinder turbo engine from the Smart ForTwo that will charge an onboard lithium-ion battery pack allowing for a total of 373 miles. It is capable of traveling 62 miles on battery power alone.

Mercedes-Benz says that all three concepts will go from 0 to 62 mph in less than 11 seconds with a top speed electronically limited to 93 mph.

Source eGMCarTech

Mercedes-Benz is preparing its new splitview monitor for the S-Class. It, on one screen will show GPS to the driver and movies to the passenger. The new feature will be launched in 2009.

If you’ve ever sat in the passenger seat of a vehicle with navigation and wished you could watch movies on it, your time is coming soon. Mercedes-Benz and Bosch are working on a Splitview navigation screen for the S-Class that features an eight-inch screen that displays two images at once courtesy of new adjacent pixel technology. The system only allows the driver to see navigation and COMAND controls, while the passenger sits back in S-Class luxury watching the movie of his or her choosing. The front passenger can also choose to listen to the movie with high-end headphones, or the soundtrack can be played through the car’s speakers.

Mercedes new Splitview monitor is no far-off concept either. It will be featured in the S-Class beginning in the summer of 2009. We’ve seen similar technology from from other OEMs and suppliers in the past, but Mercedes is the first luxury automaker to officially announce the technology in one of its production vehicles.

PRESS RELEASE

In future Mercedes-Benz is equipping its luxury class models as the first premium brand with a display screen that allows the driver and front passenger to view two different programmes at the same time. While the driver is checking the navigation instructions, the front passenger can sit back and watch a film on the very same display. This is made possible by new SPLITVIEW technology which the Stuttgart premium brand is introducing in the S-Class for the first time. Mercedes-Benz has integrated the new SPLITVIEW technology developed by Mercedes-Benz and Bosch into the innovative control and display system COMAND, which is centrally located in the dashboard console. Its generously dimensioned, 8-inch (approx. 20 mm) monitor shows a backlighted active matrix colour display (TFT-LCD). This shows two different images simultaneously by placing pixels adjacent to each other. A filter masking the display divides this mixed image in such a way that depending on the seating position, only the pixels making up one or the other image can be seen. As a result, the driver and front passenger can view different programmes on the same screen at the same time.The driver still has access to all the information from the control and display system COMAND on the display, while the front passenger uses the remote control to choose his own entertainment programme with DVDs, TV channels or music videos. To avoid distracting the driver with his entertainment programme, he also has the option of enjoying the programme via headphones. As before, the driver is able to view all the information provided by the COMAND system on the display. Mercedes-Benz is introducing the new SPLITVIEW technology in the S-Class for the first time in summer 2009.

Source Autoblog