Spy Shots: 2010 Mercedes E-Class

Click above for high-res gallery of the new E Class from Automotive Traveler.

Our friend Rich Truesdell over at Automotive Traveler just sent us some pics of the new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E Class that he shot in the desert. While there's still a bit of camo on it, you can clearly see a lot of the new sheetmetal. The car is rumored to be making its official debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show next September, but the final form appears to be set. It looks like the S-Class wheel arches haven't made it to the new E, which resembles M-B's C Class instead. It's handsome, but nothing revolutionary. While there were no badges or underhood shots to confirm it, Rich suspects this to be a mid-level V8 model based on the wheel/tire combo. This might end up being the car that introduces us to Mercedes' rumored diesel-electric hybrid in 2011. For now, check out our mini gallery, then click over to see the rest of the photos and to read the interesting tale of how a spy photog goes about capturing something like this new Benz in the wild.

Gallery: 2010 Mercedes E-Class

Spied-by-Side: Pagani Zonda and SL65 Black in Colorado

Eyebrows were raised when a photograph from the Rockies began circulating the interwebs. The rare shot shows a pair of delectable supercar test mules – the next-generation Pagani Zonda and the new Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series – undergoing testing side-by-side on public roads. Aside the from the rare occurrence of a non-homologated Zonda on American tarmac, speculation began to ramp up as to what the two were doing together. Conclusion: they must be sharing the same engine.

While that may be the case, it could be a simple instance of AMG doubling-up on their test time, since Pagani renewed its engine deal with the Mercedes tuning house. Previous reports suggested that the supercharged V8 from the outgoing SLR McLaren could be flipped around for duty in the next-gen Zonda, however the SL65 Black uses a much larger 600hp twin-turbo V12. Of course it's impossible to tell at this point, but we'll be keeping our eyes peeled in the meantime.

Mercedes cutting production in Alabama

As consumer demand for thirsty vehicles continues to wane, Mercedes-Benz is being forced to slow production at the Alabama plant which manufactures their GL- and ML-Class SUVs and the R-Class crossover. Sales of Mercedes domestic trucks fell to 5,090 vehicles in June, representing an 11.9 percent decline from the same period last year. The move marks the first time in more than a decade of U.S. production, that the German automaker has reduced output due to market and economic conditions. The cuts will affect more than 4,000 of the plant's employees, and unfortunately will trickle-down to hurt the countless other companies who provide just-in-time components to support Mercedes production.

In The Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mercedes SLK55 AM

It sits there, all tension and sinew, ready to pounce on lesser cars. Start it up and it barks with a clear V8 voice that thumps off the neighbor's house, setting them discreetly peeking from behind their lace curtains. This is an SLK? Oh yeah. No longer a blocky Benz with dwarfism, the SLK55 AMG ripples with muscle and delivers speed like a spin kick to the temple. A bad-ass Mercedes, indeed.

Spy photographers have captured exclusive photos of the all-new Mercedes E63 AMG - the high performance version of the as yet unrevealed Mercedes E-Class. Both cars are still at least two years away from showrooms, with the E-Class not due to make its first public appearance until the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Codenamed the W212, Mercedes will be abandoning its Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) system for the new E-Class in favour of conventional brakes.

Although it will boast other features such as wet-weather disc wiping and wheel-selective cornering brake control on all variants instead.

Optional ceramic-composite discs could be introduced from top-down, starting with the AMG model pictured here for the first time, on its way to the legendary German Nürburgring race circuit.

Driver assistance will be a major theme for the new E-Class which is likely to feature lane-departure warnings, an eye-movement monitor, traffic-sign identification, road-condition sensors, and stability control that accounts for crosswinds, camber changes, and tire wear.

The engine line-up will likely mimic that of the new C-Class with the usual V6 and V8 engine plus the 370kW-plus 6.3-litre V8 for the AMG model.