At the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Mercedes has unveiled the F 125! concept.
Seen as the future S-class of 2025, the luxury car is a plug-in hybrid fuel-cell electric vehicle which has a 10 kWh lithium-sulphur battery, a hydrogen fuel tank and four electric motors with a peak output of 313 PS (230 kW / 308 hp). This enables the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph). Additionally, the F 125! can travel 50 km (31 miles) on electricity alone, before the fuel-cell activates to extend the range up to 1,000 km (621 miles).
While the exterior is not particularly aesthetically appealing, the cabin is a technological playground. Highlights include a 3D instrument cluster, a retractable 17-inch display and a new @yourCOMAND infotainment system which is controlled by speech, touch and hand-gestures. The latter system is highly customizable and offers internet connectivity, cloud-based computing and a Social Community Assistant which lets the driver select who can communicate with them.
Lorinser has created a package for Mercedes-Benz ML customers, to accentuate the sportiness of the M-class luxury SUV through the use of an aggressive body kit that extends from front to back.
Starting on the front end a new massive Lorinser four-fin grille was fitted. Then there are Lorinser-branded side skirts and wide wheel arches. Wheels pictured here are by no means the standard; customers will be given an extensive menu of light alloys to choose from in either black or silver.
The rear features an integrated spoiler with four tailpipes. Lorinser says a “startling whistle” is heard when the driver steps on the accelerator, regardless of whether it’s a petrol or a diesel.
Lorinser has not made any performance figures available but a 2008 Lorinser package for the ML 320 CDI upped power to 192kW (261hp) and torque went up to 580Nm.
New details have been released for both the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and S65 AMG facelifts. With a starting price of €115,700 before tax, the S63 AMG short-wheelbase brings a 525 horsepower, 6.3-liter V8 engine producing up to 630 Nm of torque. A long wheelbase model is available for an additional €6,000.
At €185,900 the S65 AMG is hardly cheap, but the 612 horsepower delivered by the 6.0-liter biturbo V12 may be enough to convince new customers. The V12 delivers a massive 1000 Nm of torque, guaranteeing a 0-100 km/h time of 4.4 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the S63. Both cars are electronically limited to 250 km/h. On the S63 the driver controls the AMGSPEEDSHIFT 7G-Tronic transmission, while the S65 utilizes a five-speed automatic.
Impressively, Mercedes did not have to degrade the performance of these two vehicles to improve fuel economy. Both “consumption and CO2 emissions” were reduced “by up to 3 percent.”
From the looks of these two cars, it seems many of the 8,000 current S-Class AMG customers may get a little jealous. A new arrow-shaped radiator grille - with twin chrome louvres on the S65 - is an effective status symbol on a car that commands respect. AMG-spec LED daytime lights are mounted just above the air outlets on either side of the front apron.
You can read more details, including information about the Split-View COMAND system, in the press release below. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG go on sale at the end of the month.
