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Here's what we found surfing the web for you this week:

• RENNTECH's Package 2, 63 Series AMG (Press Release)
• MB Customer Satisfaction is on the Rise (JD Powers Study)
• Britney Spears Rolls in an AMG SL65 (Video)
• Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow is Robocar 2057 (Design Challenge)

AMG Market News Summary

Lake Park, FL, Oct. 30, 2007: RENNtech has developed a new line of aftermarket performance products aimed at getting more power out of the 63 series AMG Mercedes-Benz. RENNtech, generally regarded as the nation's foremost authority on Mercedes-Benz performance tuning, took something of an "old school" approach towards building its new high-tech products.

"The new AMG motor isn't like the last generation of turbo or kompressor cars," explains Hartmut Feyhl, president of RENNtech and former technical director of AMG North America. "This new engine is naturally aspirated, like a more traditional race motor, and the way to get more power out of an engine like the 63 is to improve the engine's breathing."To that end, Feyhl and his crew at RENNtech have built new exhaust headers and high-flow sport mufflers, from 304 TiG welded stainless-steel, and developed new engine control software to further boost the engine's efficiency - and, while "bigger pipes" might seem like a no-brainer, in this case, bigger wasn't better. (RENNTECH's Package 2, 63 Series AMG press release here).

MONTVALE, N.J., Nov. 14, 2007, AMG Market News – Customer satisfaction is on the rise for Mercedes-Benz according to J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI). The brand is once again among the five top-ranked nameplates.

The study rates nameplates on five unique aspects of the retail experience: dealership facilities, salespeople, paperwork/finance processes, delivery processes and vehicle pricing. Ernst Lieb, president of Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) commented,

“Over the past year, we have undertaken a comprehensive analysis of every aspect of our customer interface – from our corporate headquarters to dealership service bays.  In partnership with our dealers, we’ve committed ourselves to ensuring that we have the best tools and the best processes in place to meet the needs of our customers.  These study results are a gratifying validation from Mercedes-Benz owners.” 

Britney Spears rolls out of Keyes Mercedes-Benz on Van Nuys Boulevard (Sherman Oaks, CA) with a new AMG SL65. She test drove the G-Wagon but settled on the AMG; she may actually be smarter than she looks.

In other news:

Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow is Robocar 2057
AMG Market/PR News, Los Angeles, Nov. 16, 2007: A car with extended, elegant lines which can change its form at the touch of a button and adapt to the requirements of its owners at any time – this is the automotive vision that Mercedes-Benz is presenting at the Los Angeles Design Challenge taking place at the 2007 L.A. Auto Show. When required, this Mercedes of the future can take on the form of a fast highway cruiser, quickly metamorphose into a compact city car, or become a roomy one-seater or economical two-seater, depending on the transport capacity needed. This is made possible by the magnetic control elements of the SilverFlow, a futuristic study by Mercedes-Benz, which take just seconds to configure the car required from tiny metallic particles.

Read more

OK, this isn't a very scientific challenge but it would be fun if you or I were driving. In this video Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear compares a Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG with a Porsche Boxster S while getting shot at with fake bullets.

NOTE: I have no idea why the idiot Clarkson isn't wearing a helmet - he appears to be as dump as he looks in this video:

Is Mercedes-Benz next? An article published in AdAge earlier this month indicates auto magazine publishers are turning to new digital tools - "Virtual Test Drives" - to boost ad revenues. Car and Driver and Road & Track have jumped on the band-wagon in a big way; Ford and Chevrolet have already signed up.

Beware of this new form of "advertorial." Let's hope unbiased auto reviews and other valued editorial content are not a thing of the past. Hat-tip to MarketingVOX for alerting us to the story.

[Note: the original article is available to paid subscribers only so we are unable to provide a direct link to the source of this story.]

Take a ride in the Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG with Tiff Needell of Fifth Gear. The CL65 AMG includes a twin-turbocharged, V12 engine - 612 hp at 4800 rpm and 738 ft-lb torque at 2000-4000 rpm.

Considered the fastest sedan in the world, the Brabus Rocket (Mercedes-Benz CLS V12) is from the Tuner GP in Hockenheim, Germany. Some people don’t even consider this a Mercedes-Benz CLS anymore because it is so heavily modified by Brabus. It is also referred to as the “Brabus CLS V12 S Rocket.”

You can view pictures at:

Brabus Rocket - Wikimedia Commons

and a police car version at automotive news.

Here’s a YouTube video (in German) for those interested:

Our friends over at Cellounge Automobiles have a comprehensive review of the Mercedes-Benz E Class, which includes pics and a few YouTube videos. Read their full review at:

Cellounge Automobiles - 2007 MB E Class Review

There are several spy video’s available for the 2008 C-63. Here’s one of the better clips:

Althought the SLK is significantly lighter than the SL55, 50,000 lbs vs. 96,000 lbs respectively, it is hard to compare the two. The SL55 weighs in at twice the price as well. Both start with the same 5.4 liter, V-8 engine, but with a supercharger on the SL55 you would expect it to out perform the SLK. This video is worth watching if you're in the market for either car although the extent of the comparison is more qualitative than quantitative.