2010 Mercedes-Benz S550 Review
The new S-Class line up from Mercedes-Benz is an astounding display of technology and art enhanced for the love of driving. Making the Mercedes S550 the best riding and handling four-door sedan money can buy. At the front: a four-link air suspension with antilift control, gas shock absorbers, stabilizer and anti-dive system. At the rear: multilink independent air suspension and antisquat system. On the road: the German luxobarge smothers road imperfections with extreme prejudice, out-Jaguaring Jaguar by a wide margin. Even better, hurling Mercedes' 4376-pound behemoth into a corner is like riding a Maglev train; the S550 leans slightly and then glides through all but the tightest turns. The car's dynamics are virtually indefatigable.

New Features and Tech Specs.
One of the most noticeable changes across the lineup is the addition of daytime LED running lights fitted to the outer edges of the bi-xenon lamp units. This new headlight technology is has brighter light output while consuming less energy. Mercedes Benz claims that with only low beam headlights, the driver can see up to 1000 ft with out blinding other drivers using this new technology.The rear end is also accented with a total of 52 distinctively arranged LEDs in the two taillights. Gone are the body-colored strips through the taillamps. Another noticeable change at the front of the car is a more pronounced arrow-shaped grille, plus a new front bumper with a light-catching contour and a chrome strip below the cooling air intakes. Exhaust tailpipes of all S-Class variants are now visibly integrated into the rear bumper. Camera and radar-based driver assistance systems include Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and the Pre-Safe brake system linked to the proximity regulating radar, which intervenes autonomously before an impending rear-end collision. Other highlights include the Attention Assist driver drowsiness monitor and Active Body Control with automatic crosswind stabilization. Engineers also managed to improve the night-vision system with the introduction of Night View Assist PLUS, which is equipped a special pedestrian detection function. The Pre-Safe braking system has also been improved to reduce injuries in unavoidable crashes. Mercedes says the car can apply maximum braking pressure automatically around 0.6 seconds before what is recognized as an unavoidable accident. The system therefore acts as something like an electronic crumple zone, Mercedes contends. The multifunction steering wheel of the S-Class has been modified for improved aesthetics and feel. The rim and airbag module are now lined with soft premium leather as standard. The new, flatter airbag module also lends a sporty touch to the multifunction steering wheel. More fancy driving aids such as speed limit and lane change assist help make driving a more pleasurable experience. The vehicle will read street signs and display them on the command panel as well as react with them accordingly. Other highly regarded Mercedes Benz technology such as attention assist, pre-safe seat belt tensioning, brake pre-application technology, plus other surprise technologies not yet released. Next, notice the split view LCD screen in the front. This split screen offers a special driver view and passenger view. The passengers can be watching movies while the drive can see GPS and vehicle information from the same screen. Different angle of view point changes what is displayed on the LCD screen.

Summary
Some consider the new S-Class is for those who love the art of doing other things while driving due to the enormous amount of computerized automation. The sport luxury sedans are blessed with all the modern technology today offers. Speed, prestige, and luxury all wrapped into one lovely package from Mercedes Benz. Mercedes Benz always has the best technology in automobiles, and usually coin phrased "ahead of their time". This is completely true with the new S-Class vehicle series.

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2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid Review
It's probably best to call the new Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid a mild, rather than full, hybrid, because it can't propel itself on electrical power alone. In other words, the BlueHybrid is not powered by the two-mode system co-developed with GM for big SUVs, which will be an option for the M-Class next year. This is a smaller, cheaper system designed to be scaleable across all Mercedes car lines. Despite its comparative simplicity, the S400 BlueHybrid's gasoline and CO2 savings are significant: some 21% in the European test cycle, compared with the regular V-6 S350. It's also quieter at rest and more muscular in real-world acceleration. There's very little penalty over the standard V-6 in terms of weight -- just 170 lb -- and none at all in passenger or luggage accommodation or payload. 2010 Mercedes Benz S400 Bluehybrid Rear View Click to view Gallery Of course you can't buy a regular Euro-spec S350 in the U.S., so let's do the numbers against a V-8 S550. The BlueHybrid goes 47% farther on a gallon than the S550 on the Euro test cycle, but its performance figures aren't so far off -- about seven sec 0-to-60 instead of 5.4. That's why they called it S400: because it feels like a four-liter engine. The BlueHybrid's electric motor effectively does duty as the gas engine's flywheel, turning at crank speed all the time. It offers 118 lb-ft of torque at zero revs, but because its torque falls with revs, it only contributes an extra 20 hp to the total by the time the gas engine is in its stride. Compared with the standard V-6, this extra torque makes it feel slightly more like the V-8 at lower revs: a strong but lazy roll-on to the throttle without so many hectic downshifts. 2010 Mercedes Benz S400 Bluehybrid Side View Click to view Gallery The point, throughout this engineering job, was to make the hybrid feel like the regular car, except in the issue of tank range. In fact, the V-6 has new cam timing and cylinder heads. It runs, like a Prius, on the Atkinson cycle. This delays inlet valve closing, reducing effective compression. It gives the engine great efficiency but over a fairly narrow rev range. In other parts of the rpm spectrum, the electric motor fills in the torque deficit. The transmission is reprogrammed to suit, aiming to keep the engine where it's happiest. The electronics keep a constant eye on battery state of charge, and if it's near 100%, then the electric motor is deployed fully while the engine is throttled back. If you've just ascended a long steep hill and the battery is low, then more of the overall power will be coming from the engine.

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2011 BMW X5 35i

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2011 BMW X5 REVIEW As is typical for a BMW, the X5s mid-cycle styling update is so subtle as to require a side-by-side comparison for most people to tell the difference. So you dont have to open any more browser windows, here are the 2011 changes in a nutshell: The hood and grille are carry-over, but the plastic front fenders now meet a full-width and painted front bumper skin containing larger apertures and a scuff-plate-look metallic lower trim piece. New headlamps feature LED rings (a.k.a. angel eyes) and the fog lamps are set higher and more inboard. In back, the bumper cap has been reshaped to match the look of the one up front, complete with the faux scuff plate. Chrome-trimmed taillamps also now adopt the bitchin LED light banks now found on the rumps of most BMW models. Toss in new exhaust tips, and the transformation is basically complete. OPTIONS For 2011, the X5 xDrive35i will be available inwhats this?three trim levels (yes, trim levels on a BMW!). The lineup starts with the essential X5 xDrive35i, which will be available for $1800 less than last years base model, at $46,675. The X5 xDrive35i Premium brings 19-inch wheels, USB and iPod integration, privacy glass, leather seats, and a $52,475 price tag, as well as access to several options such as the Convenience package, Active Ventilated Seat package, Cold Weather package, Technology package, and third-row jump seats. At the top of the xDrive35i range sits the $54,975 X5 xDrive35i Sport Activity, which features 20-inch wheels, sport seats, and darkened trim on the headliner and around the windows. The M Sport package becomes available on this trim, adding performance tires, BMWs Adaptive Drive system, slight aero-inspired styling tweaks, and sundry M-branded interior bits. SUMMARY BMWs refreshed X5 continues in its quest for total perfection in the luxury crossover/SUV realm by incorporating engine and drivetrain improvements that continue to keep the Sport Activity Vehicle, or whatever they want to call it, relevant in an extremely competitive segment. If your bottom line is healthy, our bottom line says its definitely a ute worthy of your consideration.