NeVer SaY neVeR: 2011

Going Crazy: More Doubt Cast on Chronic Fatigue's Link to Virus...: The idea that chronic fatigue syndrome may be caused by the virus named XMRV — a widely debated theory proposed a few years ago — received ...

2013 Mercedes-Benz CLC sedan to debut at 2012 New York Auto Show

At the 2012 New York Auto Show in April, Mercedes-Benz will hold the world debut to the new CLC sedan. Think of the new Mercedes-Benz CLC as a baby version of the larger CLS sedan currently on sale.While the Mercedes-Benz CLC will definitely open up the market for younger buyers as a higher-volume seller but it won’t be stripped down of all the ‘Benzness.’ “This will be a real Mercedes-Benz,” one executive stressedThe Mercedes-Benz CLC will expand on the C-Class sedan and C-Class Coupe

Mercedes GL V12 expensive engine swap

The fact that Mercedes-Benz makes one of the hottest SUVs out there is not a surprise but what comes as something new is that the tuner specialists at MKB are offering a V12 engine swap package for the GL 500 that comes with an expensive price.“This transplantation of hearts in the GL 500 is not easy to achieve. Even if the V12 fits the engine bay perfectly well. The outstanding knowledge and creativity of modern tuning companies such as MKB shows not in simply pressing a bigger engine into a chassis which was never thought to be equipped that way it shows clearly in the fact that such a conversation cannot be recognized as such by the naked eye. But of course everyone will feel the bigger driving pleasure later on”, as a company statement reads. the aftermarket V12 engine is delivering a total output of 662 horsepower nad a peak torque of 1.200 Nm or 885 lb-ft, the GL being able to hit 100 km/h from standstill in just 4.4 seconds, with a top speed of 270 km/h or 168 mph. In order to stop more efficiently, the GL was fitted with 380 mm ceramic discs with six-piston calipers for the front axle.All this power doesn’t come cheap, in fact it’s quite expensive for 217.568 euros or $294.028 which doesn’t even include the price of the base car, the GL 500. So the obvious question would be: Why not a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S?

AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine signals arrival of new Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series in Middle East

The C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series 6.3-litre V8 engine's howl will strike fear into the hearts of all that dare oppose it. With its maelstrom of hefty torque delivering tremendous pulling power and responsiveness, the raging AMG beast catapults to the edge of the abyss, from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.2 secondsThe Black Series flaring snout delivers air to the large cooling modules through intakes in the striking front apron, whilst spitting engine heat from two openings in the aluminium bonnet. Broad, low, brawny and bulging rear haunches mean the C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series is poised for attack, while front struts emphasise the fierce vehicle's width.Adjustable AMG coil-over sports suspension, functional standard equipment and an AMG high-performance compound braking system help keep those that command such ferocity from oblivion.For those that wish to tempt fate, the AMG Track Package is available as an option to enhance the insane power and driving dynamics even further. It boasts sports tyres and active rear-axle transmission cooling, plus the AMG Aerodynamics package including flics, a functionally tuned front splitter and an adjustable carbon-fibre rear aerofoil. From the first glance it is clear that the C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series is made for ambitious laps on a closed race track. In visual terms the new high-performance vehicle is reminiscent of the SLS AMG GT3 customer sports car and symbolises the transfer of technology from the sphere of motorsport, which has been part of the corporate philosophy of Mercedes-AMG GmbH for 44 years. With its new C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series, AMG is presenting an exciting sports car for enthusiasts that crave horsepower, and this marks the impressive continuation of the Black Series strategy, which began back in 2006. AMG, the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz Cars, is once again demonstrating its expertise when it comes to designing and developing emotionally appealing high-performance cars."AMG has its roots in international The new C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series is the best proof there is for the permanent transfer of technology from the race track to the road. The numerous successes in the DTM, the customer sports range featuring the SLS AMG GT3 and our commitment to Formula 1, where we have been providing the Official F1 Safety Car and the Official F1 Medical Car for the past 15 years, continuously spur on our engineers and technicians. The C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series embodies the new AMG brand claim, Driving Performance, like no other AMG model,Bernthaler, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars,

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Tuned

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is a great car on its own, delivering superior performance and driving experience even without any aftermarket modifications. But the folks overandhave a slightly different opinion on this matter. They think the SLS AMG can do better with some more power.The SLS AMG comes standard with a hand-built 6.2-liter DOHC 32-valve AMG V8 engine. This front mid-mounted engine is capable of producing 571 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of peak torqueat 4,750 rpm. Such figures establish this engine as one of the world’s most powerful naturally aspirated V8. The power is channeled to the wheels via AMG’s transaxle-mounted dual-clutch seven-speed transmission system.Such power should be enough for most of the owners. But owners who want to have an edge onothers and are looking for more power can take in collaboration withmcchip-dk, here. The tuner has boosted the power output of the V8 by 54 horsepower and torque output by 30 Nm. Now, the beast produces 625 bhp and 680 Nm of torque. This has been achieved by a software optimization the tuner has not revealed any data regarding the improvement of performance due to the increased power.Surely the extra horses and torque is appealing and impressive. But these do not come cheap. Thetuner is charging slightly above 8000 euros for the power boost. Again, for someone who has the resources to own a SLS AMG, the price should hardly matter.

Manchester selected to debut the stunning new Mercedes-Benz Concept A-CLASS

Concept A-CLASS will make its UK public debut in an eye-catching and engaging interactive display at the Arndale Centre on 8-9 October 2011.The dynamic, sporty styling of Concept A-CLASS provides an exciting insight into the potential future of the Mercedes-Benz compact car range. Its distinctive features include wing-shaped headlights and side mirrors, a panoramic roof and aviation-inspired interior design.Visitors to the Arndale Centre willencounter a mirrored box surrounded by interactive LED lights, which change colour and pattern in response to sound and movement.At regular intervals, the lights will pulsate in accompaniment to attention-grabbing music, which builds up to a full reveal of the car.Concept A-CLASS will be travelling to the Arndale Centre in a purpose-built transparent container, allowing motorists to view it en route.The ConceptA-CLASS National Tour is a unique experience and we're delighted that Manchester has been chosen as one of the debut cities," commented Ian Digger, General Manager at Mercedes-Benz Manchester Central. "Both visually and technologically, Concept A-CLASS offers a tantalising glimpse of the potential future of Mercedes-Benz."

Mercedes Adds Coupe to U.S. C-Class Line in Bid to Top BMW

Mercedes-Benz, seeking to become the top-selling luxury brand in the U.S., added a two- door compact C-Class to its lineup to attract younger buyers from Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s BMW.The C-Class coupe, which arrived at dealerships this month, may boost sales of the nameplate by as much as 20 percent going forward, Ernst Lieb, head of U.S. operations for Mercedesan interview at his office in Montvale, New Jersey. Starting now may help win orders before BMW, which sells its 3- Series in the U.S. as a sedan, coupe, convertible and wagon, introduces an all-new compact line to the market in April.BMW is leading in the U.S. luxury market this year, followed by Mercedes. Both are poised to dethrone Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus, which has been the top luxury brand in the U.S. for 11 years, after the Japanese earthquake in March. At $37,220, the new coupe plugs the biggest hole in Mercedes’s offerings.“It’s a dogfight,” Bernhard Glaser, general manager of U.S. marketing and product management, said in an interview in Kennebunkport, Maine, where the new C-Class was demonstrated. “Some months we outsell them, some months they outsell us. What we’re lacking is we don’t have a coupe.The sporty two-door model with standard race-inspired sport seats and a panoramic sunroof comes as the C-Class sedan gets a refreshed interior before a full redesign in 2014. The 2012 four-door starts at $34,800 excluding destination charges, according to Mercedes, up $800 from the previous model.The C-Class is “critical for the luxury race because it creates the most amount of volume for Benz,that tracks automotive sales. “It also opens the Benz brand to potential future buyers by catching them while they’re young with the hopes that they upgrade as they get more affluent and older.”The median age of BMW’s customers is 53 while Mercedes is at 57, according to J.D. Power & Associates studies.BMW “certainly has a younger perception as does Audi and those are the two big companies that Mercedes has lost out to in the last decade“It’s thought of as a more staid, older, established brand. There isn’t anything hip and young about it.”Audi is the high-volume luxury brandThe sporty coupe should appeal to customers in their mid- 30s to early 40s, Steve Cannon, Mercedes vice president of U.S. marketing.

Lively entry points to the brand are really important,The more people you can bring in at bottom end, the likelihood of keeping them in the family, because of our brand, is great.”Mercedes will probably overtake BMW in the first part of next year before the new 3-Series head of BMW’s North America operations, said in an August interview in Monterey, California.“In the first quarter of next year will be No. 1, “Mercedes going into 2012 in the first quarter will be in a strong position. Over the course of the year, we still should be ahead of Mercedes.”It will get very competitive Mercedes’s U.S. chief. “The competitiveness will be clearly increasing in the fourth quarter.”While Lexus finished No. 1 last year, its lead narrowed to 9,216 over BMW. Mercedes finished third. Record recalls and an aging product lineup restricted Lexus sales in 2010. This year, it ran short of inventory after the 9-magnitude earthquake in March restricted production. Full output didn’t resume for Toyota City, Japan-based Toyota until this month.BMW’s U.S. sales helped by new 5-Series sedan and X3 sport-utility vehicle, rose 12 percentthrough August to 155,929, giving it the lead for the year. Deliveries of Mercedes vehicles rose 6.1 percent to 148,409 in the U.S. while Lexus’s fell 17 percent to 120,652.Mercedes aims to regain the title of world’s largest luxury automaker from Munich-based BMW by 2020, and the U.S. market is pivotal to that effort, Chief Financial Officer Bodo Uebber told reporters in New York last week. Daimler announced plans in July to invest more than $2 billion in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as it adds capacity to begin building the next generation C-Class starting in 2014.

Mercedes-Benz AMG 6.2 M156 V8 engine facing lawsuit over possible defect

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Mercedes-Benz and AMG over an alleged defect involving the M156 6.2-litre AMG V8 engine. The lawsuit claims the defect leads to premature engine wear, and potential engine failure. Mercedes-Benz has previously filed a report about the potential problem but has not issued a recall or stated how many vehicles could possibly be affected.The AMG 6.2-litre engine is found in various Mercedes-Benz AMG models, including the C 63 AMG and E 63 AMG, as well as other models in various tunes. The lawsuit

a previous owner of a Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG who claims that the engine wore prematurely due to problems with the valvetrain.

According to the lawsuit, the engine’s camshafts, made from cast nodular iron, and the associating valve lifters, made from 9310 grade steel, are either not installed properly from the factory, or are not heat treated correctly which causes early wear. The plaintiff
that his now-sold second-hand E 63 suffered engine failure due to considerable wear on the left bank camshaft. The issue was not covered under warranty so he paid US$4594.26 to have the problem fixed.Three months later, the right cylinder bank camshaft suffered the same problem. He then had to sell the car, which put him at a loss of $25,000. All this happened in 2008Mercedes-Benz has been aware of the potential engine problem since 2007, as cited in service bulletin S-B 05.20/20b.Mercedes-Benz is aware of the lawsuit but isn’t allowed to talk about further details prior to the court action.

SLS AMG Black Series of Mercedes Benz to Be Released Soon

Three new halo projects for the halo SLS AMG of Mercedes Benz subsidiary, AMG, was reportedly in the works. According to Tobias Moers, the vehicle development head of AMG has indicated that it has become necessary for the company to offer a black series. The upcoming SLS Black Series will be offered in the United States although it has remained to be seen.However the report also revealed that the two other halo projects may not be offered by Mercedes Benz in the US market. The street version of the SLS AMG GT3 car was confirmed by the company to be able to comply with regulatory requirements and with the focus ofmotorsports in Europe, the Mercedes Benz does not intend to offer the vehicle elsewhereThe SLS E-Cell vehicle is the third project of AMG which the company aims to offer into the market by 2012. The SLS E-Cell vehiclehave an electric motor along with a battery cell instead of a hand-built V8 engine. Due to this, the weight of this upcoming vehicle from Mercedes Benz will increaseA number of measures were made to make the SLS lighter to be able to make the weight around 200 pounds instead of the weight of the typical model of this Mercedes Benz vehicle. The disadvantages that resulted from the additional weight of this Mercedes Benz vehicle will be lessened by the low center of gravity of the vehicle due to the battery according to Moers.The electric motor of this upcoming Mercedes Benz vehicle will also provide around 525 HP as well as 650 of torque. However the possibility of this electric sports car of becoming available in the US market remains uncertain since the company is apprehensive of the expenses it will incur in having it certified in the US especially with the low production volume of the SLS E-Cell vehicle from Mercedes Benz.

Mercedes Adds Coupe to U.S. C-Class Line in Bid to Top BMW

“It also opens the Benz brand to potential future buyers by catching them while they're young with the hopes that they upgrade as they get more affluent and older.”

The median age of BMW's customers is 53 while Mercedes is at 57, according to J.D. Power & Associates studies.

BMW “certainly has a younger perception as does Audi and those are the two big companies that Mercedes has lost out to in the last
decadeConnecticut. “It's thought of as a more staid, older, established brand. There isn't anything hip and young about it.”

Audi is the high-volume luxury brand owned by Volkswagen AG, based in Wolfsburg, Germany.

The sporty coupe should appeal to customers in their mid- 30s to early 40s,
Cannon, Mercedes vice president of U.S. marketingLively entry points to the brand are really important,“The more people you can bring in at bottom end, the likelihood of keeping them in the family, because of our brand, is great.”Mercedes will probably overtake BMW in the first part of next year before the new 3-Series reaches full production,head of BMW's North America operations“In the first quarter of next year, I would say Mercedes” will be No. 1,Mercedes going into 2012 in the first quarter will be in a strong position. Over the course of the year, we still should be ahead of Mercedes.”O'Donnell is retiring this year and Ludwig Willisch replaces him Oct. 1 as the new head of BMW's North America operations.It will get very competitiveMercedes's U.S. chief. “The competitiveness will be clearly increasing in the fourth quarter.”While Lexus finished No. 1 last year, its leadnarrowed to 9,216 over BMW. Mercedes finished third. Record recalls and an agingrestricted Lxus sales in 2010. This year, it ran short of inventory after the 9-magnitude earthquake in March restricted production. Full output didn't resume for Toyota City, Japan-based Toyota until this month.BMW's U.S. sales, helped by new 5-Series sedan and X3 sport-utility vehicle, rose 12 percent through August to 155,929, giving it the lead for the year. Deliveries of Mercedes vehicles rose 6.1 percent to 148,409 in the U.S. while Lexus's fell 17 percent to 120,652.The results excludevans and Smart cars and BMW's Mini brand, which aren't luxury vehicles.Mercedes aims to regain the title of world's largest luxury automakerfrom Munich-based BMW by 2020, and the U.S. market is pivotal to that effort, Chief Financial Officer plans in July to invest more than $2 billion in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as it adds capacity to begin building the next generation C-Class starting in 2014. to the C-Class sedan include 2,000 new parts For the first time, a four-cylinder engine is available along with a new V6. Changes to the interior include a new dashboard with soft-touch material.

Tesla Roadster price slashed to $1,658

There’s small type, too: the leasing customer needs to provide $12,453 due at signing, which includes a $9,900 down payment and $895 acquisition fee but not taxes, title, license, registration, and “locally applied” fees.

The Tesla Roadster has two seats, 248 horsepower and powers from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds.

Such performance, of course, likely means expensive insurance premiums. They’re not included in the monthly lease payment.

Like other leases, those leasing the Tesla Roadster can purchase the car after the contract expires or turn the car back in with a fee.

Tesla’s less expensive vehicle, with an approximate price of $50,000, is expected to be available in 2011.

9.25.2011

Chevrolet Camaro, 2010

More than 40 years after it debuted as a muscle car competitor to the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro re-emerged in the spring of 2009 as a 2010 model after a several-year hiatus from the manufacturer’s lineup.

The Camaro is available with V6 or V8 engines and in five trims, all of which attract immediate attention. The rejuvenated, fifth-generation Camaro resembles the Mustang in design. But it simultaneously brings the long-standing coupe a new, modern identity and retains the good and bad traits from its now middle-aged history and reputation
East Coast laugh at us whenwinter weather’s arrived.” In Sacramento, that usually means mid-30s, rain and sometimes fog. But there was snow and temperatures in the high 20s with during my week the 2010 Camaro. It’s nice to have a heavy muscle car during inclement weather. In the instance of the Camaro, that only meant it furthered controlled the road.

When it was clear and crisp and visibility was good, the Camaro was even more of a star. People gave a “thumb’s up” to the guy who delivered the car. A guy in a grocery story parking lot was all over the car . . . in a good sort of way. The young woman in the coffee-to-go kiosk I frequent might have left her husband for me — as long as she could drive the car.The car turned heads everywhere I drove it.The retro squared gauge dials on the instrumental panel and lower console are masculine and perfectly fit the car’s image. At night, the combination red and teal-blue colors are complementary.The Camaro coupe may be the longest car I’ve ever driven that has four-person seating but in reality only room for two passengers since there’s little leg room behind the front seats.

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011

Porsche is among few automakers that can successfully charge more for a model with fewer features than a less-expensive model with more features.

One of the classic Porsches is the 1950s Speedster, which was a bare-bones soft-top. It was fairly inexpensive (for a Porsche) to attract more American buyers. And its lighter weight helped it win races.

The 1950s Porsche 550 Spyder was even more bare-bones, but was a successful competition car not really designed for comfortable road driving. Actor James Dean raced a Speedster and later got killed on a rural California road while driving his new 550 Spyder to a race in which he was to compete.
Now we have the 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder, a throwback to the 1950s Speedster although it’s the most costly Boxster) than that decade’s 550 Spyder.The new two-seat Spyder is designed to save weight and thus increase speed and enhance handling. For instance, there are no inside door handles, just fabric pull straps, to save a few pounds. And a power convertible top has been sacrificed for a lighter, rather cumbersome manual two-piece soft top.The mid-engine Spyder also has aluminum, not heavier steel, doors and an aluminum top cover with two sexy looking fairings behind each seat — like those put on classic racing Porsches. Side windows are shorter, and unique spoked alloy wheels are lighter. Light thin-shell sport bucket seats provide good grip, but are manually operated and only slide fore and aft.It doesn’t stop there.automatic climate control system? They’re optional. Power windows and door locks remain, but a navigation system costs extraAddition of weight-adding options, however, seems to rather defeat the purpose of the Spyder. To Porsche, every pound lost with this car means a performance gain.Options also add to the cost, and Porsche isn’t shy about charging a lot for some of them. The base Spyder price is $61,200, but options and a $950 destination charge raised my test Spyder’s price to $70,930. You don’t even want to know the cost of the optional carbon-ceramic brakes, which weren’t on my test car.No wonder an unoptioned Boxster Spyder is the lightest car in Porsche’s line, at 2,810 pounds. It’s about 176 pounds lighter than a Boxster S, the next most expensive, and better-equipped, model. There’s also a base Boxster. Both are more comfortable than the Spyder, but not as much fun—at least to hard-core driving enthusiasts.Horsepower from the Spyder’s 3.4-liter “flat” six-cylinder jumps to 320 from 310 for the Boxster S, allowing a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds.Estimated fuel economy is 19 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway with the standard six-speed manual gearbox. It has delightful short throws and works with a moderate-effort, but long-throw, clutch. Also offered is a 7-speed automated manual transmissionThe Spyder has shorter, stiffer springs, harder shock absorber settings and uprated anti-sway bars. All this helps lower the car’s height and center of gravity The Spyder is a blast to drive. Handling is terrific, as are the quick, nicely weighed, steering and strong, easily modulated brakes. The extra-wide tires also help out. the solidly built car’s ride is stiffer, compared to other Boxster models, and wasn’t comfortable on poorly paved suburban streets in my neighborhood.Despite large outside door handles, getting in and out can be a hassle. It’s one of those “drop-in” and “climb-out” cars. Once inside,though, the gauges are easy to quickly read in the functional, no-nonsense interior—like that of the 1950s Speedster.

Aston Marton Vantage S 2011 debuts

The GT4 takes advantage of the Vantage’s immensely rigid bonded aluminium chassis, providing the ideal platform for a race car. Minor racing safety modifications including an FIA approved roll cage and racing ‘bag’ petrol tank along with weight saving measures are made to the standard road car to convert it into a class winning race car.

In 2010, it won its class at the Dubai 24 Hours following this up with further endurance race wins at the
24 Hours, Silverstone 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours. It also won its first major international championship victory in the European GT4 Cup.Revisions are central to the Vantage S, with a quickened steering rack ratio of 15:1 compared to 17:1 on the standard car and a larger
diameter front brake disc with new six-piston front brake calipers

New springs and dampers, and wider rear wheels also contribute to chassis revisions. A stability control system specifically tuned to the Vantage S along with a brake module providing features such as Hydraulic Brake Assistwhich provides assistance in emergency braking situations, and Hill Start AssistBespoke tires have been developed with Bridgestone to optimise road holding enhancing dynamic feel.The Vantage S epitomises every attribute of the V8 Vantage and pushes the driver experience beyond what we have offered before,Martin. “It combines dynamic exhilaration with all the charming finesse, beauty and practicality already associated with the Vantage range.At the core of the Vantage S is the new seven speed Sportshift™ II automated manual transmission, offered as standard and delivers exceedingly rapid gear changes, twenty per cent quicker than Sportshift. The extra gear permits shorter well-spaced ratios taking advantage of the optimum torque, which combined with a shorter final drive ratio of 4.182:1 delivers quicker acceleration and an enhanced sporting feel.The inherent benefits of a single clutch system reduces complexity and significant weight over a dual clutch solution. Sportshift™ II allows the driver to take an increased level of control, modulating the throttle pedal to achieve the desired type of gear change. In addition, the Vantage S features a ‘Sport’ button which quickens the gear changes and gives the driver a more aggressive throttle response while also opening the exhaust bypass valves across most of the engine speed range perfectly characterising the ‘S’ variant.The Aston Martin Vantage S benefits from a new exhaust muffler and bypass valve creating a highly vocal exhaust

New Mercedes Benz Vehicle to Be Offered in the United States

Five versions of the latest compact A-class and B-class of Mercedes Benz will reportedly be offered in the US market according to Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Mercedes Benz. The first model for the US market will reportedly become available by 2013.

The four-door B-class, which is the first model of the series of Mercedes Benz, was introduced during the Frankfurt auto show. This model of the vehicle will reportedly be offered in the US. Although the price tag has yet to be announced for its release In the US, the price tag of the vehicle in Germany was at around $35,500.

The latest platform that was used for the Mercedes Benz four-door B-class is reportedly comparable to the CLS. According to the Joerg Prigl, the five-door A-class, SUV, and station wagon will be using the same platform.

who is also the VP for Mercedes-Benz and Smart vehicles, four cylinder diesel and gasoline engines, with sizes from 1.6L up to 2L will be featured on all compact cars.

Although the US market may see the availability of the 1.6L engine, the diesel engines vehicles will not be offered by the company according to Prigl.
The upcoming E-Cell Plus, which is the concept form of the hybrid variant of the Mercedes B-class will not be released into the US market. This upcoming vehicle from Mercedes Benz will reportedly feature both an electric motor and its own three-cylinder engine.However the indicated that a four-wheel drive model from Mercedes Benz may be offered including the bigger 2L engines according to Prigl, who also indicated that the power of the Mercedes Benz vehicle may be increased to over 300HP which would make it pointless to have the six cylinder engine.Some of the technology from the C-class and the E-class Mercedes Benz vehicles may be used on the A-class and the B-class vehicles. These technologies would include the warning system which would be useful each time the vehicles go to other lanes.

Mercedes Benz luxury car sales dwindle in China three months in a row

Uncertainties in the auto sector are not the nightmare of India alone. A number of other countries too are experiencing the same conditions and are rather concerned about their auto sales. There are a few reasons to contribute to these dismal sales figures. This apprehension is now being felt by Mercedes Benz Daimler AG as their luxury car sales gains are slow in the in the fast growing Chinese market.A Mercedes senior execsales were challenging in China. Mercedes Benz has recorded a slowdown hese past 3 months as compared to the previous previous years. The luxury car makers are now finding their sales in China to be rather testing and not as easy as expected. This puts into perspective India, Brazil and other emerging markets that stood steadfast in the face of recession only recently, but will the tide pass this time around or not is yet to be seen.Recent months have seen rising prices, slowdown in economic growth and increasing fuel prices, not to mention increased rates of interest in India. This seems to have affected the auto sector in a rather negative way. A number of auto manufacturers are recording decreased sales and dwindling demand. Car sales have taken a hit and this has got manufacturers concerned about future prospects

Mazda MX-5, 2011

Since its debut in 1989, The Mazda MX-5, still often known to purists as the Miata, has maintained a strong reputation as among the leading small two-seat convertible sports cars in the United States.

Substantially refreshed for 2009 and updated for 2010, the Mazda MX-5 is unchanged for 2011, keeping its same fun factor and value pricing from previous years.

Change isn’t always a good anyway, and it must present a dilemma for Mazda. With the Mazda MX-5, appropriate updates have been warranted through the years. Then again, since 850,000 Mazda MX-5/Miatas have sold (the most of any sports car in history) why mess too much with a good thing?

My test vehicle for the week was the four-cylinder, 167-horsepower grand touring model (lots of option packages) with a retractable hardtop, one of two hardtop trims added in 2007.

Like I have with many other weekly driver test vehicles through the years, I drove the Mazda MX-5 round-trip from Sacramento to the Monterey Peninsula, about a 400-mile trek.

The forecast was for rain throughout the duration of the four-day trip. It rained, yes. But it sure seemed like the meteorologists were doing a lot guesswork. Which was a good thing for my time with the Mazda MX-5.

I had the top down everyday, mostly on cool, crisp, blue sky mornings and while negotiating a short stretch on Highway 1 and then the twists and turns of the famed 17-Mile Drive to Pebble Beach.

Still, about 400 of my week’s 550 total miles with the Mazda MX-5 were on a high-speed stretch of Interstate 5 or secondary state routes with the hard top up.

As it would be in any small vehicle, with trucks or large SUVs in the vicinity, driving confidence wasn’t ideal. Nonetheless, the Mazda MX-5 found its way without issue.