Autoblog UK

The latest E-Class range is gaining an additional model in the shape of the traditional T model estate. This vehicle is popular mainly in Germany, and the home market continues to take around half of all the E-Class Estates produced. But the numbers sold will probably never overtake those of the saloon. Whereas with other manufacturers, estate cars often outsell saloons of similar construction, the E-Class Estate is a vehicle for discerning individuals. In some respects, the estate car is a more exclusive version of an E-Class, just like the coupé. That's shown rather impressively in that 50% of buyers are self-employed and 25% are managers, and by the fact that the T version is mainly for leisure and family use.

It appears that there's always a big demand for supercars. At least, that's what you would think looking at the many newcomers in this expensive section. In the Golden Steering Wheel awards, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG beat off its ten competitors in the supercar class. The darling of the Frankfurt Motor Show garnered almost a third of the votes in a poll of readers in Europe.

Amongst the hopefuls were: the Alfa 8C Spider available in a limited production run of 500 units, the beautiful Aston Martin One-77, the hottest 911 ever, the Porsche 911 GT3, the sweet-sounding Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, the mighty 1,001bhp Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport convertible, the new Ferrari California and the Audi R8 Spyder. Other cars in search of an award were: the Japanese cult car, the Nissan GT-R, the new iconic Mercedes SLS, plus the ZR1, which heralds the start of a new era for Chevrolet and the LF-A from Toyota subsidiary, Lexus.

If you've ever been a passenger on a car journey trying to surf the internet on your mobile, you'll know just how far removed the information highway is from the Queen's Highway. Now the automotive industry are trying to get a grip on the problem. Mercedes-Benz are claiming some degree of success with their web-based infotainment system myCommand. The concept behind the infostation currently being tested in the E-Class is the updating and maintenance of all data and functions via the internet.

In order to increase transmission speeds, the boffins in Stuttgart have got together with their opposite numbers at Nokia to develop fourth-generation radio technology referred to as LTE (Long Term Evolution) and capable of bandwidths of between 5 and 25 Mbps. This would be sufficient for the high-quality streaming of video material. Following extensive trials, the Daimler engineers have now reported excellent progress. At least as far as their remit is concerned: navigation, radio, telephony and additional services all functioned very smoothly. The missing component is Europe-wide availability of LTE, and that could take several years to put in place.

Mercedes have given the boys and girls at AMG a free hand and just look what they have come up with: one of the most exciting cars available today. Sporty through and through, possessing luxury aplenty and with an historical pedigree - that's how to build a supercar and show that German engineering is still in the premier league. One perfect technology package consisting of, aluminium space-frame body shell with gull-wing doors, AMG 6.3L, front-mounted V8 engine having dry sump lubrication, rated at 571bhp and 650 Nm, transaxle-mounted seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and sport's chassis with twin aluminium wishbones, guarantees superior driving dynamics and fun of the highest order The bad news, as always, is the price. At around 178,000 euros (£164,000), it's not exactly peanuts. But we can all have our dreams, more so than ever, given the present climate.

Mercedes-Benz UK chief Dermot Kelly has added his name to the list calling for a scrap extension... but there's a twist!

Not only would the UK managing director like to see the scrappage scheme continued but he'd also like to see it revised to be fairer on all manufacturers.

'Our preference would be for it to be on a sliding scale compared to price,' he told AutoBlog at the Frankfurt Motor Show. 'VAT increases as the price of cars increase and that's the way I'd like to see the scheme run – so that there's more contribution the larger the car's price.'

Effectively what he's saying is as the price of the car bought under the scheme goes up, the contribution from the government and carmaker goes up too.

'At Mercedes we did not anticipate we'd do a high level of volume under the scrappage scheme, but we've even sold an SL63 on the scrappage scheme,' he added. 'But there is a tendency for it to benefit smaller cars, from Kia and Hyundai for example, and less so for brands like us. A sliding scale would help.'

No fewer than 53 press conferences were held on the first day of the Frankfurt Motor Show, one of which proved so popular that they almost had to lock the doors of the Frankfurt Festival Hall. Fifty camera teams were on hand at the Mercedes-Benz press gathering to record the moment when the latest supercar from Affalterbach would be driven onto the stage – the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. For AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg, it was an emotional moment which left him struggling for words: "The whole team has been working really hard on this project for the past three years, so it's just a fantastic feeling to be presenting the vehicle to a worldwide audience here at the Frankfurt Motor Show. I won't try to hide just how proud we are of what we have achieved."

Since 11am on Tuesday, the red SLS AMG has been the centre of attention in the Mercedes hall. Camera crews have been queuing up to film the car from inside and outside, while photographers have been prostrating themselves to capture the full visual effect of the distinctive front end or chunky rear. The SLS is a real beauty. So much so that even Daimler CEO Dieter got a little carried away when the supercar rolled onto the stage shrouded in mist and illuminated by flashing cameras: "For someone like me who has petrol flowing in their veins, the fascination of a vehicle such as this is quite irresistible. It's a fantastic new product that obviously fills me with immense pleasure and pride: I also think it has been attractively presented." If you're one of those people for whom the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is a must-have, you're in for a long wait: the first SLS isn't due for delivery until 27th March 2010.

After exactly 55 years, the legendary Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing has been reborn. Without doubt, it's going to be the star of this year's IAA in Frankfurt. More photos of the Mercedes SLS AMG have now been released and they're delicious.

The problem of an ageing clientele is a familiar one for Mercedes-Benz. Slowly but surely, they are introducing more sporty elements across virtually their whole range in a bid to attract younger purchasers. And this is most noticeable in the C-Class. The steering is firm and direct in a way that we would not have expected from a Mercedes limousine until quite recently. But have they really done enough to compete with the sports models from Audi and BMW. And in any case, does Mercedes really convince as a sports marque or is it just an affectation aimed at sprucing up the image? In other words, is there the requisite consistency to woo the younger, dynamic type of purchaser away from the rival manufacturers in Ingolstadt and Munich?

With the SLK, Mercedes revived the retractable steel roof. This is a feat of hydraulic engineering that's perfect for showing off at the traffic lights or outside the ice cream parlour. 12 years ago, the SL gave way to the compact SLK. You can reckon on a two-year wait before taking delivery of your brand new SLK.

TOP 10 roadsters: Cadillac XLR, Opel GT, Mercedes SL, Porsche Boxster, Tesla Roadster, Lotus Elise, Chevrolet Corvette

The Mercedes estate car returns in its fifth reincarnation. The T-Model has been in production since 1978, offering owners plenty of luggage space in a typical Mercedes environment. From the first pictures, it is clear that the styling is based on the E-Class. The vehicle has been lengthened by a mere centimetre but has broadened out by 3cm and been lowered by the same amount. The loading capacity is now 1,950 litres.

The new T-Model can be ordered from your Mercedes dealer today for delivery from November 2009 onwards. There is a choice of five engines ranging from 170 to 388 horsepower, all of which meet the Euro 5 standard. From the first quarter of 2010, five more will be added to the catalogue. There is a long-term plan to bring out a powerful AMG version.