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Mercedes-Benz add All-Terrain and Cabriolet to E-Class line-up

Mercedes-Benz has expanded its E-Class portfolio with the addition of the All-Terrain Edition and Cabriolet variants. The former will be of interest to those who have a more active lifestyle and prefer something with more cargo space and better ground clearance than a traditional estate vehicle will allow. As such, it is 92mm taller than the E350d AMG Line Estate and when cranked up to the highest suspension setting, offers a maximum ground clearance of 156mm.

The car is similar in appearance to the standard Estate variant safe for the matte plastic panels that line the fenders and a number of other trim panel. It also comes with electrically folding tow bar with a 13-pin adapter and 4MATIC permanent four-wheel-drive, making it fit for mild off-road use.

Merc’s All-Terrain comes a 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged diesel engine that develops 258bhp and 620Nm of torque. As such, it can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 6.2 seconds, which is a respectable feat considering the vehicle’s size and weight.

The All-Terrain Edition comes equipped with a Burmester surround sound system, Air Body Control air suspension, panoramic electric sunroof, Comand Online with a 12.3-inch infotainment display and 12.3-inch cockpit display, electrically operated front seats, LED Intelligent Light System, Keyless-Go Comfort package, privacy glass, split folding rear seats, 20-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels and a towing capacity of up to 2,100 kg.

It’s driving behaviour can be altered through the use of the Dynamic Select system, which allows the driver to tailor steering, suspension and accelerator settings. And when the All-Terrain mode is chosen, the car’s ride height is raised by 20 mm.

The Cabriolet version however is based on the E-Class Coupe and features an electronically controlled fabric roof than can go up or down in just 20 seconds at speeds of up to 50km/h. And the roof can be selected in three different colours as a no-cost option, which are black, dark blue and dark brown.

As for engine options, there are four, which are a 2.0-litre diesel (194bhp) in the E220 d, 2.0-litre petrol (245bhp) in the E300, a 3.0-litre V6 (258bhp) in the E350 d 4Matic and a 2.0-litre biturbo V6 (333bhp) in the range topping E400 4MATIC.

Additional features include the Airscarf neck-level heating system and Aircap (redirects the air flow over the cabin), Agility Control suspension, Magic Vision Control wiper system, LED high performance headlights, reverse camera, heated front seats, and ambient lighting with a choice of 64 colours. Available as optional extras are the Air Body Control air suspension, Command Online and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen.

There’s no word yet whether the All-Terrain will ever make it to our shores but if the demand is high enough to warrant such a move, Mercedes-Benz will probably do so.

New VW Polo is bigger and more grown-up than before

The sixth generation Polo has finally been revealed and its the largest ever made in the nameplate’s history. Measuring 4,053mm long, 1,751mm wide and 1,446mm high, its slightly longer and wider than the Mk5 car, which gives rise to a wheelbase that is 92mm wider. This means that cabin space has increased as well and the boot space is 25 per cent more at 351 litres.

Built on the MQB platform, the reason for the increase in size was to achieve a more grown up look, something that previous generation cars lacked. It’s design borrows heavily from that of the Golf. The headlights, front grille and the curvature of the front bonnet seem very much like that of the Mk7 Golf, which isn’t bad thing. From the rear however, not much has changed with the exception of the rear LED taillights being a bit larger and blends better with the curvature of the bodywork.

Speaking of this, Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Brand, said, “The much better proportions create the framework for a grown-up, confident appearance of the sixth generation Polo – charismatic, progressive, contemporary and friendly. We have systematically capitalized on this realignment of dimensions to build a compelling compact car. A Polo with an expressive design which makes the compact – now as a four-door only – sportier, cleaner and unique within the brand range. This is a car that fits in perfectly with our times.”

The new Polo comes with a range of engines which include a two turbocharged and two non-turbocharged 1.0-litre engines, a turbocharged 1.5-litre and the range topping 2.0-litre TSI that will power the new Polo GTI. Some of them are able to run on natural gas, which is a first for the Polo. Transmission options range from a 5-speed gearbox to a 7-speed DSG one. There are also two turbo diesel engines that will be made available for the Polo, however, since it isn’t relevant for our market, we will leave it out.

Inside, the Polo features an all new interior including a new dashboard layout that feature modernized digital displays and controls as well as a whole host of connectivity options. The infotainment display comes with a 6.5-inch screen as standard, which should improve use. There’s also an Active Info Display feature that provides drivers with the relevant information as and when needed.

The car will be launched in a number of versions including Trendline, Comfortline, Highline, Beats special edition (featuring Beats sound system) and another that comes with the new Polo GTI. There are also a couple of Lifestyle packages available for the car. Most, depending on variant, will be feature packed with the latest safety tech that include Front Assist, Blind Spot Detection and Park Assist, apart from the usual ABS, EBD and the like.

Front Assist helps with emergency braking to avoid frontal collisions on highways, secondary roads and city streets. Coupled with the pedestrian monitoring system, the car is able to monitor the road ahead for obstacles and warn the driver and intervene brake assisting functions when it deems it necessary.

The blind spot detection system works in tandem with the Adaptive Cruise Control (radar guided) one to monitor the road ahead, keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, assist with rear traffic alert when reversing out of parking spaces (applies brakes when senses impending collision) and warns drivers of vehicles in their blind spot while changing lanes.

VW has made the Polo available worldwide with 14 different body colours and 13 dashpad colours to offer an array colour matching combinations. No word yet on when it will be made available in Malaysia, but it shouldn’t take very long.

3 things you didn’t know were possible when buying a second hand car

It doesn’t matter how seasoned you think are at inspecting a second hand car, because when buying one, you never truly know what you are getting yourself into. While a car maybe running well as you drive it off the dealership floor, a month or two later, it could become your worst nightmare.

With a car that has been used, you never quite know the problems you are inheriting. Whether its an overheating issue, underlying rust problem or dodgy suspension, there are definitely risks involved when going down this route. And as such, here are three things that should make you question a car’s condition even further:

#1 Tampering with the digital odometer
See, most modern cars come with digital odometers. They are electronically controlled and the memory of the vehicle’s mileage is kept by the computer system even if you remove the battery. Tampering with such a system might seem harder than the effort needed with a conventional metered odometer, but it’s possible, provided that you know what to do. All you need is a laptop, special software and a cable to connect your car’s brain to the computer. In a matter of a few clicks, your mileage read out could go from 130,000km to just 85,000km – it’s that simple

#2 Shoddy patch work
Sometimes, when owners want to get rid of thier cars in a hurry, choose to do the bear minimum with regards to repairs. This is especially true with cars that have been damaged in an accident. Instead of paying for a proper repair job, minor patch work is done to address the car’s aesthetics instead of addressing the underlying structural damage to the car. That is why you should never believe the ‘accident-free’ claim that’s constantly thrown out there during a second-hand car dealer’s sales pitch. The best way to know for sure, is to take your trusted mechanic with you for a thorough inspection.

# 3 Tyre swapping fiasco
This has happened to us. Some unscrupulous dealers will swap out a vehicle’s good tyres for worn ones just before completing a sale. Its not uncommon, but it’s a trick that some dodgy dealers have used in the past to make a profit. The correct tyres are left on the car during the viewing, but are swapped just before the keys are handed to you. As such, be sure to make a note of this and ensure you get what you paid for.

Keep these three things in mind and they should help you make an informed decision on which cars are worth the money and which ones aren’t worth a second glance.

Audi R8 Spyder V10 Plus is the most powerful convertible in company history

Audi has announced its fastest series-production convertible – the R8 Spyder V10 Plus. Like the Coupe, it will have a naturally aspirared 5.2-litre FSI V10 engine that produces nearly 610bhp and 560Nm of torque. It has nearly a 70bhp power advantage over the standard R8 Spyder V10, giving it that little bit of an edge.

A seven-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission is tasked with sending the engine’s power to the all-wheel-drive quattro drive system. This level of performance will allow the R8 Spyder to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 3.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 327km/h.

It takes just 20 seconds to open or close the hood at speeds of up to 50km/h, which is on par with that offered by competitor supercars in the same category.

The car will also be fitted with an array of equipment which include an infotainment system, Audi Drive Select, sophisticated suspension setup, ceramic brakes, R8 bucket seats, Audi virtual cockpit, exclusive micrommata green paint finish and carbon trim panels both inside and out.

Like its Coupe brethern, the Audi drive select system alters the vehicle’s accelerator pedal feel, gearchanges, steering sensitivity, flaps, exhaust sytem and mangetic ride damper control based on the individual drive mode that is selected.

The body is made from the Multimaterial Audi Space Frame (ASF) and incorporates aluminum and CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer) in its construction. In total, the R8 Spyder body, weighs just 208kg and is said to have exceptional structural rigidity. It is about 25kg lighter than that of the R8 V10 thanks to the various different materials used and other weight saving measures.

This is the first time in the German automaker’s history that the Plus version has been made available as a Spyder. And as a whole, Audi says that the car will deliver exceptional levels of performance thanks to a powerful engine, lightning quick DCT gearbox and an intelligent quattro system. The car should go on sale by the end of this month in Europe.

McLaren 570S Spider to be launched at Goodwood Festival of Speed

McLaren has unveiled the open top version of its venerable 570S, called the 570S Spider. According to the automaker, it offers the same high-performance dynamic attributes and refinement as the 570S Coupe but with an open-top experience.

The Spider will join the Coupe and GT variants of the 570S line-up in McLaren’s Sports Series product family after its world debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The car will feature a retractable hardtop that incorporates the same technology used by the roofs of the 650S and 675LT Spiders. The car weighs 46kg more than the Coupe version, which is undoubtedly due to the extra structural reinforcement needed to compensate for the lack of a B and C pillar.

The roof takes just 15 seconds to open and close and will be able to do so at speeds of up to 40km/h. There’s also an electrically operated glazed rear window/wind deflector to ensure that occupants aren’t troubled by outside air flowing into the cabin. But, its extended rear spoiler is 12mm higher than that of the Coupe to compensate fro the change in body shape.

Like its Coupe brethren, the 570S Spider’s body is constructed from carbon fibre, has a mid-engine drivetrain layout and the typical McLaren dihedral doors.

Powering the car is the same 3.8-litre turbocharged V8 found in the Coupe and is mated to a seven-speed DCT gearbox. The engine produces nearly 570bhp and 600Nm of torque, which allows the 570S Spider to sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 328 km/h with the roof up (identical speed to Coupe) and 315km/h with the roof down.

The first 400 Spiders will be built as launch edition models, mimicking the same strategy used for the 720S when it was initially launched. The car is available to order now and is priced at £164,750 (RM893,769) and will also come in three new exterior colours which are Curacao Blue, Vega Blue and Sicilian Yellow. In total, there will be 20 different body colours to choose from, which McLaren say will complement the car’s complex bodywork very well.

VW Camper worth RM490,671 to go under the hammer at Goodwood

One of the most valuable Type 2 VW camper vans in existence, which is worth £90,000 or RM490,671 will leave Windrush Car Storage (UK) for Goodwood where it will go under the hammer during the Goodwood Festive of Speed event.

Windrush is known for being a luxury spa for vehicles. There, automobiles are treated with the best care and detail service. Security is tight at the state-of-the-art Cotswold facility to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to these extremely valuable vehicles that are kept in a dehumidified and climate-controlled environment to maintain an optimum condition, which best suit their preservation despite the lengthy storage duration.

This Type 2 VW Camper was subjected to the very same treatment and has been kept in pristine condition at the facility for almost five years after its owner, Steve Quinn completed the vehicle’s meticulous restoration process.

Quinn acquired the rust-free, ex-California VW Camper in 2008. Back then, it didn’t have an engine and was in dire need of a makeover. Now, the vehicle has a new 100bhp 2.0-litre engine as well as a fully reworked interior that features wood paneling for the storage areas and chrome on the bumpers and rims and extensive white and blue paintwork.

There’s also modern tech features that include an Alpine surround sound system, DVD player and an internet connection. Since the completion of the restoration work, the vehicle has only traveled 2,897km, making it an extremely low mileage classic.

Regarding the storage of his beloved VW Camper, Quinn said, “The car was always kept in the very best condition and the team at Windrush even pointed out potential faults to ensure it continued running smoothly. I do love my Camper but it’s time to pass the torch. I’ll certainly be recommending Windrush to whoever is lucky enough to win at the auction!”

The Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from 29th June to 2nd July and will play host to a number of spectacular motoring events including a vehicle display that consists of a number of vintage and modern Formula One cars. Till then, take a look at this impressive collection of pictures of Quinn’s VW Camper.