Mercedes: a 'Slumdog's' Dream Car?

And.....The Oscar for the Best Car Picture goes to Slumdog Millionaire because the movie cast several Mercedes Benz in the much overlooked, but never-the-less best supporting car roles.

There were several Mercedes featured in the movie including a white and silver one that belonged to a Mumbai slum gangster, and one blue one that is stripped as a crucial part of the plot.
However, as director Danny Boyle points out (and viewers might notice), one of the Benzes in the film is devoid of the famous Tri-Star logo. The white Benz driven by a then formative slum gangster is 'left bare' because Mercedes somehow fewlt association with a Mumbai slum was bad for its image.

Mercedes-Benz apparently gave permission for its logo to appear on the gangster's new (second silver) Mercedes when it was parked outside his mansion and on a car hired by wealthy American tourists (the one that was stripped). They however did not want Mercedes star seen on the first white gangster's Merc because they did not want to be associated with a Mumbai slum.

So there you have it. The Best Car Picture of the year has to go to Slumdog because neither Frost nor Nixon, Milk, or Button drove anything as beautiful and scandalous as a naked Merc.

New TTs on view

The Internet is far from watertight, so we’re not too surprised photos of the new 2009 Audi TT RS leaked onto the World Wide Web ahead of the car’s debut. In light of the embargo breach, Audi went forth and officially released these three images, although it’s still holding the technical data close to its heart.
We expect to know more on the Audi TT RS by March 3, when it will officially be unveiled at the 2009 Geneva motor show. Stay with Automobile Magazine for the latest on the TT RS and other happenings from the Geneva show.

My next Bimmer

for some reason, I've been evisioning myself driving the 330 CI convertible from the 2002/03 model year. Not sure exactly why but something about it just strikes as the car I should have.
Waht's your ideal German auto? Post and let me know

Bimmer goes 'GT'

The folks in Munich just seem to be busy, busy, busy. Here's the latest product extension (any news on the X1 guys?) The following on their 5-series GT (which we've been following in the media since mid-2008

With the future still offering sufficient room for an exciting new
drivingexperience, BMW has once again defined a brand-new vehicle
segment:The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo is the series-based
adaptationof the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS) in the upper midrange
segment,offering an impressive outlook on the extension of the BMW 5 Series
by anew, additional concept.

'Allroad' A4 from Audi

Audi has announced an ‘allroad’ version of the A4 Avant that will debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Like the Audi A6 allroad, the Audi A4 allroad features mildly-raised suspension, quattro four-wheel drive, and a toughened, off-road appearance. It is not a true SUV, but does offer greater off-road capability than a conventional saloon or estate.

This includes allroad-specific stability control, complete with Offroad Detection (ORD) system. This monitors the terrain the A4 allroad is driving over, and adjusts the stability control systems accordingly – allowing more wheelspin if this is what’s best to maintain momentum, for example.

Based on the regular Audi A4's SE specification, the allroad’s equipment levels are generous – including three-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, and 10-speaker stereo. The allroad also features unique 18-inch alloys with allroad-specific car tyres, bespoke interior trim and additional interior storage compartments.

Available options include Audi 'drive select' – which allows fine-tuning of chassis settings and other parameters – plus 'side assist', a blind spot monitor that vibrates the steering wheel if drivers attempt a dangerous lane change

VW of America makes the Beetle 'Blush'

Volkswagen of America has announced the addition of a new special-edition model to its lineup - the New Beetle Convertible “Blush”.

The Blush, which will be built in limited numbers, comes with no mechanical improvements over the regular model, although it does get the same 112kW (150hp), 230Nm (170lb/ft) 2.5-litre engine that’s standard fitment to US-market Beetles - a good deal more powerful than the 75kW (101hp) unit we get here in Oz.

What sets it apart from the cooking model Beetle, however, is a unique White Gold metallic paint scheme and luscious red leather interior, as well as a red soft-top. Fun fact: the Blush is the only model in the Beetle range that comes with a genuine leather interior. All the others make do with a synthetic “Leatherette” substitute.

Rumour has it that an all-new Beetle is on the way, and this may be the folks at Volks attempt to clear the lot before the new model debuts.

BM-Benz?

Germany's two prestige car brands, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, are stepping up plans to share research and manufacturing as they seek ways to cut costs during the economic downturn, a German newspaper reported Sunday.

All cooperation was conceivable provided it was not noticeable to customers or detrimental to the two unique brands, senior executives were quoted as saying by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

BMW, based in Munich, and Daimler, the Mercedes-Benz maker based in Stuttgart, have been in talks for years on pooling resources, but such moves have been obstructed by engineers opposed to using the arch-rival's technologies, the newspaper said.

Day by day, the pressure of costs was overcoming that resistance, the newspaper added. It said the first contracts were ready to sign, but the two companies were not planning any cross-shareholding in one another.

Premium cars have suffered a sharp downturn in world sales.

A Daimler spokesman responded Sunday that the company would not comment and everything that had to be said would be announced on Tuesday by senior executives at an annual financial-results news conference.

At BMW, a spokesman said the talks were public knowledge and 'not new,' but he denied there had been any new concrete outcome to the talks. He said the two groups were already jointly developing hybrid power units and conducting joint purchasing of components.

Those components were out-of-sight items under the skin of the cars such as air-conditioner parts or seat-belt-tension springs.

Audi readies nex gen A8

recession? what recession. With BMW premiering the new 7-series, and Benz working on an updated S (as well as AMG version) it seems the German carmakers are polishing up their flagship sedans for a hard push come next model year. Shown is the Next generation Audi A8, which of course will go head-to-head with the aforementioned brands.

Benz Spruces Uo the 'S'

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.