Mercedes-Benz

For years customization and tuning was something that the major automakers relegated to the aftermarket, in their opinion a growing but insignificant niche that until recently didn't warrant their participation. But in the last couple of years everyone has jumped into this space with both feet. Volvo released R-Design, Lexus dropped F-Sports and so for and so on... Mercedes has always had a foot in the game with their AMG division, which takes their standard models and transforms them into Autobahn monsters. Now, Mercedes is introducing MercedesSports to bridge the gap between their standard models and those from their testosterone-laden brethren.

To start with, front aprons, spoiler edges and side skirts will be offered along with optional rear and roof spoilers, a diffuser-look rear apron insert and fog lamp louvers. Traditional tuning upgrades like perforated brakes and stiffer, lower suspension systems will be available as well. Inside, a sports steering wheel and an aluminum pedal cluster will join stainless steel door entry panels back-lit with the white MercedesSport logo and black velour floor mats.

For whatever reason, manufacturers of high-performance cars and makers of go-fast boats have been cozying up more and more lately. The latest match concerns Mercedes-Benz and Cigarette Racing who announced their love affair at the 2010 Miami International Boat Show last week. The result of that union is a 46 foot custom race boat inspired by the SLS AMG Gullwing Supercar.

The Cigarette 46' Rider sports a pair of twin-turbocharged 552 cubic-inch Mercury Racing engines cranking out 1,350 horsepower each. Top speed is believed to be north of 130 mph, which is pretty insane for a seafaring vessel. This boat features AMG ALUBEAM silver paint, which was hand applied to cover the body like a "metallic skin." And the AMG logo was added using contrasting AMG Designo Mystic White metallic paint.

Jay Leno has been making a lot of waves in the television world lately. Watching him toy with and tease Conan O'Brien has left a sour taste in my mouth, yet the constant stream of videos of Jay behind the wheel of the newest sports cars is something I can't turn away from. This video is no different. On an early December morning, Jay met up with Motor Trend, who handed him the keys to the new and oh-so-sweet Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Jay mosies the car up into the Los Angeles mountains, and takes us on a tour of what he refers to as Los Angeles' hidden race-track.

Many of the world's top brands have their own dedicated museums which run the gamut from glorified gift shops to self-aggrandizing expos halls, making most of them a must-miss for all but the most die-hard enthusiast. It really takes a special mix of a storied history, compelling product evolution and visually stunning space to pull off a museum which appeals to not only strong followers but also the general public. The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany is definitely the later.

The Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG (W212) is a car that delivers across the board from performance to fit and finish. But that doesn't mean that there isn't room for some augmentation. German tuner VATH has taken a pass at giving Stuttgart's latest fire-breathing sedan a bit more attitude.

Starting with the AMG-tuned 6.3-liter V8 engine, VATH milled the cylinder head channels, added new pistons, valves and sport cam shafts as well as introduced a bigger intake and larger exhaust valves for better breathability. The company also updated the engine management software.

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week kicked off this week in Berlin and as always was an action packed affair. But being a car company and all, Mercedes couldn't miss a golden opportunity to promote their new 2011 SLS AMG by teaming up with photographer phenom Nick Knight and fashion designer Gareth Pugh to create a 'visual campaign'. Just a refresher, this new supercar has a 6.3-liter V8 engine producing 571 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, good for sprints from 0 to 62 mph in 3.7 second and a top speed of 197 mph.

The first time we saw a car do a corkscrew was when Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear pulled some G's in a Renault Twingo in a tunnel in Belfast. Now, the folks at Mercedes-Benz have performed the same feat using their new supercar, the SLS AMG Gullwing. Whether or not this video is real is debatable. The SLS seems to maintain some pretty excessive hangtime upside down. We'll have an update if there is ever confirmation, but for now just enjoy the footage after the jump.

Along with the Desert Gold Edition SLS AMG, the Mercedes-Benz G 55 AMG Kompressor "Edition 79" was also introduced at the Dubai Motor Show. Since the Gulf region represents its biggest market for the top-end SUV, it only made sense for Mercedes to do something special for this event.

This limited edition model will be finished in "designo mango alanite grey", a paint color seen exclusively on SLS AMG. It features a front-mounted crash bar, carbon side strips and chrome protective grills all around. Inside, two-tone leather seats in black/sand and lots of carbon-fiber trim adorn the cabin. As the name indicates, only 79 examples of this special G-Wagen will be available, each with its own number designation emblazoned on the front of the selector lever.