Hasta La Gadget!

Mercedes-Benz likes to keep this high-tech and modern with their vehicles, so naturally it makes sense that the company’s latest concept — the GLA — has laser projection headlights capable of beaming videos. The CUV is set to make an appearance at the Shanghai Motor Show next week, but it seems the company wanted to tease it first before its official unveiling.

The laser projection headlights are something of amazement it seems, and thanks to some pretty nifty technology that’s built right into the headlights, drivers can project any image or video onto a screen. The images or video can come from a phone, tablet, flash drive, or even the internet using the GLA’s in-dash COMAND system.

However, Mercedes didn’t add projection to the GLA just for kicks and giggles — there is a logical purpose behind this, and the company says the projection system can be used as a real-time GPS navigation overlay.  It’s certainly something different then just looking at a small GPS screen during the whole trip.

The headlights feature a cooling system composed of a series of fans, so you won’t have to worry about the inevitable overheating of most projectors. Plus, there’s even a pair of HD video cameras mounted to the roof of the vehicle, and they’re detachable so you can take them with you when you’re not driving around. As for the engine specs, you’re looking at a turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder motor pushing out 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission and 4Matic all-wheel drive.

[via Engadget]

Mercedes-Benz GLA concept sports laser video projector headlights is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Mercedes Benz Japan will roll-out a special edition of its G class four-wheel-drive vehicle model. It’s called “G 550 Night Edition” and 100 cars will be sold, only in Japan.

The “G 550 Night Edition” is based on the existing model G 550. AMG is added over the fender and it features 18-inch twin 5-spoke alloy wheels.

The color of the interior can be chosen from 2 colors: porcelain and classic red. Outside color is obsidian black.

The price is 13,900,000 yen (including tax).

They are planning to display the “G 550 Night Edition” in Mercedes Benz Connection in Roppongi starting April 22.

It looks like Garmin has managed to lock down a very solid deal following its automotive group’s compelling demo at CES. The company’s in-dash GPS software is now set to roll out with future Mercedes-Benz models — Garmin’s navigation system is scheduled to be fully integrated within the next four years, and will begin appearing with select 2014 models. The solution sounds similar to the version we saw on display during CES, and includes a primary panel in the center console, along with a secondary display located behind the steering wheel, tasked with providing key driver stats, along with next turn info, for example.

Mercedes will share more details once specific launch vehicles are announced, but Garmin said to expect features like Advanced Driver Assistance (ADAS), to help out with vehicle positioning, while the car manufacturer will bring tools like a rotary controller and voice commands to the table. What remains to be seen is how TomTom will fit into the mix — last month, the company announced plans of its own to provide HD Traffic service to certain Mercedes vehicles, though it’s unclear if the two GPS giants will be working together on this latest venture.

Update: Garmin reached out to clarify that the company will be providing the GPS software for Mercedes-Benz’s own infotainment solution. So it’s not all Garmin under the hood.

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

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The eponymous “Smart car” has been buzzing around city streets in the US for over five years now. It’s actually called the Fortwo, thanks to its limited seating capacity, and while it didn’t prove to be an immediate hit, sales have been steadily increasing. An electric version of the car has been available in limited numbers overseas for years now, but finally this year it’s coming to the US. And this is it. We got a chance to drive a green vinyl-wrapped Smart Electric Drive around some city streets ahead of the opening of the New York International Auto Show and came away reasonably impressed by this $25,000 EV — the cheapest on the market. Join us after the break for our impressions.

Filed under: Transportation

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Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will be unveiling five new vehicles at the New York International Auto Show. Among those five vehicles will be two cars making their world debut and three vehicles making their US debuts. Mercedes says that these new vehicles represent five out of 30 models that will be launching within the United States over the next seven years.

Mercedes plans to launch a new vehicle on average of once per quarter. The two vehicles making their world debuts at the New York show include the 2014 CLA45 AMG and the 2014 B-Class Electric Drive. We don’t have the full details on either of those vehicles yet, but the embargo on everything there is to know will expire today.

What we do know so far is that the CLA45 AMG will feature the most powerful four-cylinder engine in series production in the world producing 355 hp and 332 pound-feet of torque. The vehicle will have all wheel drive as well. The other world debut is the 2014 B-Class Electric Drive featuring a 134 hp electric motor and a driving range of 115 miles.

Making the US debut at the show will be the 2014 E63 AMG S-Model 4MATIC Wagon and the 2014 CLS63 AMG S-Model 4MATIC. The last of the vehicles making its US debut is the 2014 C63 AMG sedan and coupe. Mercedes says by the end of 2013 there will be 21 AMG models available in the United States. The smart fortwo BoConcept signature style car will also be debuting in the US for the first time.

[via Mercedes-Benz (sub required)]

Mercedes shows off five new vehicles at New York International Auto Show is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.