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Known as a Gelandewagen (or cross-country vehicle) at home, the Mercedes-Benz G Class was originally built as a military vehicle. Offered for many years to European customers, Mercedes finally brought the vehicle to North America in 2002, and named it the G Class. Appropriate to its military heritage, the G Class continues to be built with heavy-duty truck-style suspension and axles for 2008. The ..... |
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The Mercedes-Benz CL Class is offered in four different versions. The CL550 is powered by a 388-horsepower, 5.5L V8 and seven-speed automatic transmission; next up is the CL600, which gets a 6.0L V12 engine that makes 510 horsepower and a noteworthy 612 lb-ft of torque. At the top of the line, at least for those interested in performance and exclusivity, are the two AMG versions; the CL63 AMG mode..... |
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The new, redesigned 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has a more rakish appearance yet also has a roomy interior; overall, it's about four inches longer and two inches wider than the model it replaces. It's now offered with two engines-designated C300 and C350-and in two quite different models. The Sport model is geared more towards sharp handling and a contemporary appearance, while the Luxury model is ..... |
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The 2008 Mercedes-Benz SL is offered in four variants: the V8-powered SL550 and V12-powered SL600, and the SL55 AMG and SL65 AMG, both high-performance-tuned, exclusive versions of the SL550 and SL600 respectively.
The high-performance SL550 luxury roadster gets the same large, high-power V8 that's also offered in the big S-Class sedan. This engine churns out 382 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of t..... |
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The 2008 S550 has a 382-horsepower 5.5L V8 engine, while the S600 gets a 5.5L twin-turbo V12 engine that makes 510 horsepower and 612 lb-ft of torque. The S550's V8 is matched to a seven-speed automatic transmission, while the S600's V12 runs through a five-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is available on the S550.
Both the 550 and the 600 come extremely well equipped with both traditional luxury ..... |
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For 2007, Mercedes-Benz rounded out their family-oriented array by introducing the seven-seat GL Class, and for 2008 the manufacturer adds the higher-performance GL550 to the lineup, with its 5.5L V8 and 21-inch wheels.
The 4.7L V8 found in the GL450 is a derivative of the four-valve-per-cylinder engine that first appeared in the S550. In the GL, it makes 335 horsepower and 339 ft-lbs. of torque. ..... |
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Four different models of the E-Class are now offered in the U.S. The E350 has a 268-horsepower, 3.5L V6; the E550 has a 382-horsepower, 5.5L V8; the high-performance E63 AMG has a 507-horsepower, 6.3L V8; and the E320 Bluetec comes with a 3.0L turbodiesel V6 that makes 208 horsepower and 388 lb-ft of torque.
The E350 and E63 are also available in a wagon body style in addition to the four-door se..... |
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Nobody executes the combination of performance and luxury like Mercedes-Benz, and the 2008 CLS Class represents Mercedes' take on those two attributes in a mid-size sedan. The interior dimensions are on the small size-particularly in the rear seat-so Mercedes has elected to call it a "four-door coupe."
Both CLS coupes are motivated by impressive engines. The 5.5L V8 in the CLS550 generates a more-..... |
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Three different variants of the Mercedes SLK roadster are again offered for 2008, each with progressively more powerful engines: there's the SLK280, with a 228-horsepower, 3.0L V6; the SLK350, with a 268-horsepower, 3.5L V6; and the high-performance SLK55 AMG, with a 355-horsepower V8.
Both of the V6 models have all-aluminum engines with variable valve timing, so there's plenty of torque available..... |
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