Mercedes-Benz Shows New C-Class Coupe and SLS AMG Roadster in Super Bowl Spots

In an exclusive pre-game release and following a behind-the-scenes version that we showed you on Friday, Mercedes-Benz has published an extended cut edition of its Super Bowl XLV commercial called 'Welcome'. With this ad, the German automaker 'welcomes' four new additions to its range including the next generation SLK roadster and CLS 63 AMG, as well as two never before seen (at least not officially) models, the SLS AMG Roadster and the C-Class Coupe. The quartet of new Mercedes-Benz cars can be seen towards the end of the video, which is posted for your viewing pleasure after the break.

Mercedes Rolls Out New Four-Cylinder Engines for 2010 E-Class Sedan

Two new four-cylinder powerplants, a diesel and a gasoline with direct injection will be added to the engine-line-up of the 2010 E-Class, Mercedes-Benz announced today. The E200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY features a 2.2-liter turbo diesel with an output of 136HP enabling the executive sedan to accelerate from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 10.2 sec and reach a top speed of 210 km/h or 131mph while returning an average fuel consumption of 5.2lt per 100km or 45.2mpg US.

The 1.8-liter turbocharged petrol engine in the new E200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY delivers an output of 185HP. The sedan hits the 100km/h mark from standstill takes 8.5 seconds and has a top speed of 232km/h or 144mph US. When equipped with the standard six-speed manual gearbox, the E200 CGI consumes 7.2 liters of premium unleaded petrol per 100 kilometres (32.7mpg US).

Mercedes said that both models will be launched across Europe in September with prices in Germany starting at €38,734.50 for the diesel-powered E200 CDI and at €39,508 for the petrol E200 CGI.

Mercedes-Benz Releases Official Details on All Electric SLS AMG Gullwing

In spite of the fact that we're still a couple of months away from the public unveiling the conventionally-powered SLS AMG Gullwing, Mercedes-Benz came out with an official release today confirming the development of an all-electric version of its forthcoming supercar. Mercedes did not say when the SLS AMG with electric-drive will enter production, but various reports citing inside sources suggest that sales could start as early as 2015.

Whereas the 'standard' SLS AMG comes with a front-mounted 6.3-litre V8 engine developing 571HP (420kW) and 650Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque with power being delivered to the rear wheels through a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the zero-emissions Gullwing model is equipped with four electric motors that are positioned near the wheels and produced a combined output of 526HP (392kW) and a peak torque of 880Nm (649 lb-ft).

Mercedes says that one transmission per axle transmits the power with the intelligent all-wheel-drive system allowing the specifically targeted acceleration of individual wheels.

In terms of performance, the Stuttgart automaker claims that the all-electric SLS AMG is in par with its conventionally-powered sibling accelerating from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in around 4 seconds. This compares with the standard SLS AMG's 3.8 seconds and 315 km/h or 196 mph maximum speed.

During the first development phase, the pure-electric SLS AMG is equipped with a 400-volt liquid-cooled high-voltage lithium-ion battery that is charged by means of targeted recuperation during braking whils the car is being driven. The battery modules are located in front of the firewall, in the centre tunnel and behind the seats, a solution that is said to have advantages in the vehicle's low centre of gravity and the balanced weight distribution.

According to the German firm, the transformation of the SLS AMG into a pure-electric model required no changes whatsoever to the aluminium spaceframe body while the company also claims that there were very few constraints in concern of passive safety and long-distance comfort.

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

VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz's First Ever Super Bowl Ads Teased

Continuing our online stream of the automotive-related ads of the Super Bowl XLV, we now have a trio of teaser spots from Mercedes-Benz, which will be making its first advertising appearance at the game. According to the German automaker, four new models will be featured in the ads, with two of them making their world debut in the 60-second-long spot called 'Welcome'. You can watch the two teaser spots plus the making of the 'Welcome' commercial right after the break.

Brabus: New Hot Wheels for 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS Sports Sedan

As sure as the sun rises tomorrow, Brabus will present some horsepower crazy version of the new Mercedes-Benz CLS in the likes of the insane, first-generation CLS-based Rocket V12 that packed 730 twin-turbocharged horses under its bonnet. But for now, the German tuning firm is taking it easy simply releasing its alloy wheel and tire options for Merc's banana-shaped luxury sports sedan. You can check the available designs in sizes 19- and 20-inches in our gallery after the jump.

The Upgradeable Car: A Software Influenced Future for the Auto Industry

As an automotive blogger that also works in the IT industry, I feel I have a somewhat unique perspective on in-car technology. Whereas a new car may have a three to five year buffer between upgrades and replacement models, for electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers it's more like six to eighteen months.

This brings up an interesting conundrum: what to do when the sat nav or Bluetooth devices in your car age more quickly than the car itself? Few people this side of Dhiaa Al-Essa can afford to replace their car every six months, so the answer - to automakers at least - is to do the same as software companies: roll out upgrades.

It could be something as simple as the dealership checking your oil and tire pressure remotely to recalibrating the transmission or updating the car's sat nav system. San Francisco based Cisco Systems has even constructed an experimental dashboard out of LCD panels that acts as a giant touch screen: driver's can drag and drop instruments, personalize the look and feel of said instruments and add new functions such as g-force meters.

The obsolescent of in-car technology is becoming more and more of a concern, especially in the light that market research firm R. L. Polk reveals that many of us are keeping our cars for up to 9 years. Advances in computing technology in our car's ECUs and other systems are also bound to cause headaches for automakers in the future.

As Dirk Schlesinger, a senior director in Cisco’s Internet business solutions group explains, "Complexity is killing the industry. We can’t change the silicon fast enough."

Software updates, a common enough occurrence when your car is taken in for a service in this day and age, may soon be rolled out automatically and via the internet or satellite, like they are for computer software.

In the words of Dave Evans, Cisco’s chief futurist: “The car is becoming the most sophisticated piece of computer equipment you own.”

That's as good as maybe, but with technology such as Ford AppLink giving its drivers access to Pandora or Twitter from behind the wheel or GM / Mercedes-Benz's OnStar and Mbrace systems allowing remote support for driver's and their vehicles, one thing is for sure: the future is closer than we think.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG: New Photos and Added Details

Last week, Mercedes-Benz accidentally dropped the ball on the refreshed C63 AMG, and even though the automaker quickly removed all photos and information, the damage was done and we got our first look at the Stuttgart firm's performance model. Today, the Germans came out with an official release and a new set of photos of both the sedan and Estate versions of the 2012MY C63 AMG.

In the styling department, the C63 AMG models receive similar exterior and interior revisions as the standard C-Class models including new headlamps and a pointier front grille, plus a new dashboard design with an integrated screen on the top part of the center console.

The AMG treatment adds a restyled bodykit, a new aluminium bonnet with modified powerdomes, and bespoke 18-inch alloys wrapped in 235/40 R 18 and 255/35 R 18 tires at front and rear respectively, along with a three-dimensional TFT display in the middle of the redesigned speedometer and a flat-bottom three-spoke AMG performance steering wheel trimmed in nappa leather and featuring a metallic trim.

Under the skin, the 6.2-liter V8 remains unchanged for the 2012MY, producing 457HP and 600Nm / 442 lb-ft of torque in standard trim and 487HP with the optional AMG Performance package.

However, the C63 AMG obtains a new 7-speed sports transmission with the "Controlled Efficiency" mode as standard along with a new speed-sensitive sports steering with a direct ratio (13.5 : 1) and a newly developed power-steering pump that help reduce the combined consumption by about ten percent to 12.0 lt/100 km or 19.6mpg US (Estate: 12.3 l/100 km).

In terms of performance, the standard 457HP C63 AMG sedan completes the 0-100km/h [62 mph] sprint in 4.5 seconds (Estate: 4.6 s), while the 487HP model in 4.4 seconds (Estate: 4.5 s). Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h.

According to Mercedes, over the past three and a half years it has sold more than 17,000 C63 AMGs worldwide, with 88 percent of buyers opting for the sedan and 12 percent for the Estate. The Performance Package has proven to be successful with more than 30 percent of all the C 63 AMG models delivered in 2010 specified with this option.

The latest iteration of the C63 AMG will have its world premiere at next month's Geneva Salon with sales set to start in July. Prices in Germany start at €71,340 for the sedan, and at €73,899 for the Estate, with the AMG Performance Package priced at €7166.20.