SPY: Unknown G-Class AMG prototype scooped in the U.S.

The mighty G-Class offroader has been around 1979 and is scheduled for a definitive farewell in a few years, more exactly up to 2015, the year when the duration of the contract with Magna-Steyr for producing the car at Graz, Austria, expires. Recently, Mercedes-Benz announced two new special edition models to sweeten the situation: the BA3 Final Edition and the Edition Select. Moreover, the SWB version is due to be phased out beginning with 2012, but that's not all: three months ago, we found out Mercedes-Benz was planning a hardcore, limited-run G-Class AMG model to celebrate the end of the career for this automotive masterpiece. If true, the special variant could make use of the 630 hp, 6.0-litre V12 AMG engine together with further chassis tweaks for an unbelievable dynamic experience. If not, the potent G-Class should pack at least 571 ponnies delivered by the naturally-aspirated 6.3-litre V8 unit. Either way, till things get clear, you decide how to baptise the unknown Gelandewagen test car spotted days ago on U.S. soil: G 63 AMG or G 65 AMG.



Check out more interesting spy shots after the break!



















Photos: Motor Authority



Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

SPY: Photographers ran across a 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class prototype

It was only a week or so ago that we saw the first spy photos showcasing a heavily-camouflaged 2012 A-Class prototype. Recently, spy photographers met the car in Stuttgart, near the Mercedes-Benz R&D Centre. The test car reveals mere clues on the looks of the hatchback, but that's hardly a surprise now after everybody saw a set of leaked patent sketches in May. Designers were in charge to create a crisp and youthful theme for the new model, as this is company's first 5-door vehicle attempt. The boring MPV shape is gone forever now that it was solely reserved for the new B-Class, which, as earlier stated, is indeed more elegant and stylish than in the past.


The new A-Class will closely follow the aesthetic footsteps of the concept car presented in April at Shanghai. That means we'll see the intricately-pampered LED headlights and the arched side windows panel make it onto the serial production model. The dashboard, although different from that of the B-Class, won't feature many of the futuristic materials found on the Concept A-Class, but will preserve some the airplane wing visual effect - mind those aircon vents that look like jet engines, because there's a chance they will be kept for the series car.

Other than that, the underpinnings and the entire technologycal package will be shared with the new B-Class, scheduled for the official reveal at the IAA Frankfurt. So, expect the same level of efficiency and almost the same equipments (depending on the variants). Rumors claim a hardcore, 350-hp version AMG version for the A-Class is also said to be under secret development by the Affalterbach-based tuner and it should hit streets in 2013 if the project gets fully greenlighted.

I expect the new A-Class to be slightly more expensive than its fellow brother - the base price should start at around 23,000-24,000 euros for the most countries in Europe. Mercedes-Benz announced that it will also start selling the car state-side, where it is prone to arrive by early 2013.






Photo source: Motor Authority

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Spiess TC 522 prototype supercar twin-turbo V8

Spiess TC 522 prototype supercar twin-turbo V8

The Spiess TC 522 was a supercar prototype from 1992. It was created by a Spiess, a German company better known for creating industrial electrical transformers.

The TC 522 was powered by a mid-mounted 5.7 litre, twin-turbo V8. The transmission was handled by a 6 speed manual driving the rear wheels. The Spiess TC 522 had a carbon-fibre composite body. Due to its high price, and a worldwide economic slow down, the TC 522 never left the prototype stage.

The AMX-3 links

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/10/27/amx3-pushmobile-found-replicas-forthcoming/

AMX -3's may soon be made, ( http://www.amx390.com/0.html ) for a great look at how innovative AMC could have been, see these links
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2007/01/heres-background-story-on-amx3-love.html#links

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/12/dick-teague-concept-cars-for-amc.html#links

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/11/beautiful-amx-3.html#links

Here's the background story on the AMX3... love this car.

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/11/beautiful-amx-3.html#links for many more pictures far better than this one... but with a car this rare (only 1 of 5 AMX3's, and the only one in a magazine, and the only one that was painted yellow... I'll post all the pics I ever see of this, for me, for you, for posterity)