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In This Issue:
2008 Mercedes-Benz CLC Environmentaly Efficient Review
My MileOne
Top 10 Collector Cars of the Future
Maryland Trivia
Car Doctor
Plus Much Much More!
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2008 Mercedes-Benz CLC Environmentaly Efficient Review
CLC: new Sports Coupé with CDI engines in the low fuel consumption class
With the new CLC, Mercedes-Benz is presenting a distinctive model series at the Geneva Motor Show which provides an attractive entry into the Coupé family of the Stuttgart brand. Compared to the previous Sports Coupé, Mercedes engineers have newly developed or improved more than 1100 components.
Compact body dimensions and powerful proportions underline the sporty appearance of the new CLC. The front and rear ends have been completely newly designed. With its striking coupé radiator grille, which has a large Mercedes star at its centre, as well as the new projection-beam headlamps, the Sports Coupé follows the modern Mercedes design idiom. The large, newly designed boot lid conceals a variable luggage compartment with a capacity of up to 1100 litres. The new tail lights, the long row of LEDs forming the third brake light and the rear bumper subdivide the rear end and accentuate its width.
The interior of the new Mercedes-Benz CLC is akin to a modern bespoke suit – precisely fitting and comfortable. Sports seats with further improved lateral support, a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control and brushed aluminium trim are standard equipment.
Mercedes-Benz has put together a sports package for drivers with particularly sporty leanings. This includes exclusive technical innovations and extras such as 18-inch light-alloy wheels, wide-base tyres, headlamps with a black-tinted interior frame, a lowered sports suspension, a leather sports steering wheel and tinted aluminium trim. Another special feature of the CLC that has been adopted from racing sports cars is the instrument cluster, which has red needles in the speedometer and rev counter. When the ignition is switched on, both needles spin right around the scale once then return to their starting position.
Another standard feature of the sports package is the new direct-steer system, which further enhances the agile handling of the CLC and represents a major safety benefit. This new development is based on the speed-sensitive steering system, and also has an additional, variable rack ratio which responds to the steering angle.
The new CLC is available with a choice of four four-cylinder and two six-cylinder engines developing outputs from 122 hp to 272 hp. With its up-to-date turbodiesel engines, the Sports Coupé has excellent fuel consumption: the CLC 200 CDI is happy with 46.3 to 48.7 mpg, i.e. up to 10.8 percent less than the preceding model. The CDI models are capable of a range exceeding 600 miles with one tankful (62 litres). The 184 hp power unit of the CLC 200 KOMPRESSOR now has 20 hp more output, and consumes only 34.4 – 36.2 mpg – up to 1.2 mpg better than before.
CLS: new six-cylinder engine and fine-tuning to the last detail
The unique, four-door CLS Coupé – which pioneered a new automotive segment – has also been made more attractive than ever by specific fine-tuning. The front aspect is dominated by a modified radiator grille, which now has two rather than the previous four louvres. The exterior mirrors also have a new shape, with integrated, arrow-shaped LED indicator repeaters and more than 30 per cent larger lenses. The tail lights are now also in LED technology: the brake lights, rear lights and indicators feature particularly fast-responding light-emitting diodes.
Great attention to detail has also been lavished on the updated interior: a newly designed leather steering wheel with three spokes and multifunction buttons is part of the package, as is a new-look instrument cluster, whose white dial faces form an attractive contrast to the structured surface of the backplate. New chestnut wood inserts replace the previous trim.
Like the SL, SLK and CLC, the CLS benefits from new-generation infotainment systems. These high-performance units combine ease of operation and intuitive menus with perfect entertainment. Features include speed-sensitive volume control, a keypad for entering telephone numbers and radio frequencies, an MP3-capable CD and DVD player and a Bluetooth interface which wirelessly connects a mobile phone with the onboard hands-free system. Audio 20, Audio 20 CD with CD changer, Audio 50 and Audio 50 APS with DVD changer and the LINGUATRONIC voice-control system now feature a 5-inch colour monitor. COMAND APS has a high-resolution 6.5-inch colour display, LINGUATRONIC for audio, navigation and telephony, a music register for storing audio files and an SD memory card slot.
The V6 petrol model in the CLS 350 CGI is an advanced six-cylinder engine with piezo-electric direct injection and a spray-guided combustion system develops an output of 292 hp and has a convincingly low NEDC fuel consumption of 31 mpg.
The CLS 500 is powered by a V8 engine with a displacement of 5.5 litres and a peak output of 388 hp. The CLS 320 CDI with its 224 hp V6 diesel engine above all excels with its high torque of 540 Nm, accompanied by a low diesel fuel consumption of 37.2 mpg. All CLS models are equipped with the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission as standard.
Click here to build your Mercedes.
My MileOne
Welcome to MileOne.com’s newest interactive section, My MileOne. My MileOne was created to highlight some of the fun “extras” that have been developed to enhance MileOne.com.
Many new features are located in this section of MileOne.com including games, a Download Center as well as access to MileOne’s customer loyalty program. The first section on My MileOne is MileOne TV. Here, you have access to watch video on any vehicle you are interested in. Choose your make and model then see the vehicle in action. In the Games section of My MileOne there are several challenges waiting. Take the Everything Automotive quiz to test you car knowledge, beat the clock and match vehicle pairs as quickly as possible or hit the streets of Baltimore as you cruise through a maze across the city.
In the Download Center you can deck out your computer or PDA with one of our wallpapers. In Get A New Ride, you can search inventory and save your last 5 searches in a “virtual garage”. Learn more about our mobile website in the MileOne Mobi section, and lastly you will be able to sign up to join our Ambassador Program, the loyalty program offered by MileOne.
All of these elements were added to the site to make the research and purchasing process even more exciting at MileOne.com. We want our customers to get the most that they can out of our website. In addition to providing the best all-around site to search and research vehicles we want to include fun features that keep people coming back and fully enjoying their time on MileOne.com.
Top 10 Collector Cars of the Future
Collecting cars is an expensive hobby. Here's a twist: Buy a new car today that will be worth a fortune as a collectible years from now. Best of all, you don't need to break the bank to buy a hot and value-appreciating ride. But you do have to be patient, since waiting is key.
"Many consumers could be driving a future collector car right now," McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty, a specialty insurer of collector cars in the United States, and himself a respected collector car valuation expert. "Our goal was to find cars that are currently on the road but may be considered nostalgic in 15 to 20 years. Each car on Hagerty's Hot List possesses a 'buzz,' a wow factor that resonates with consumers of all ages, many cars being daily drivers that turn heads already."
Why do some vehicles become tomorrow's collector car? Hagerty says it's a combination of pop culture popularity, limited production numbers and the style of the next generation of collectors.
Hagerty's Hot List, the top 10 collector cars of the future:
1. Cadillac XLR-V Roadster
Under the hood sits a hand-built 4.4-liter V8 that's been supercharged and puts out 443 horsepower. This is a serious domestic roadster that competes with the Mercedes SL-Class, Porsche 911 Cabriolet and Jaguar XKR, as well as the four-seat BMW M6 convertible.
2. Lotus Exige S
Most practical people will find the Lotus Exige is a miserable little car -- that is if you are shopping for a grocery getter! Research uncovered one anonymous review stating "Bottom Line ... my heart beats faster when I think about this car ... it is that rewarding."
3. Audi S5
A slick coupe with solid credentials. It provides good looks, impressive all-wheel-drive handling and an affordable price tag for this segment.
4. Mustang Shelby GT 500 KR
The new GT500 KR (King of the Road) takes the bare bones of a GT500 and turns it into a 540 horsepower muscle car that pays tribute to the legendary Carroll Shelby. Production is expected to be around 1,000.
5. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
The ferocious Z06 is a fixed-roof coupe with a 7.0-liter V8 that produces 505 horsepower. The last 50 years have proven that most Corvettes eventually become collectible.
6. Smart
At first look, the Smart seems too small to be practical. It's not. Rather, it is a marvel of packaging efficiency. This is the first year they will be available en masse in the United States.
7. Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Some Subaru enthusiasts may not like the idea of being spotted in a hatchback, but this will make it more collectible down the road.
8. Honda S2000 CR
Less than 2,000 of the CR editions will be built. This is a high-performance version of the stock S2000 that is regarded as Honda's only true sports car.
9. Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky
This pair of roadsters from GM have all the necessary ingredients: rear-wheel drive, a powerful engine, independent suspension and an impressive weight balance.
10. Dodge Charger Super Bee
It has a 6.1 liter HEMI V8 with 425 horsepower and 420 ft.-lbs. of torque. Need we say more for a family sedan?
Ask the Car Doctor
How can I find out the proper tire pressure?
I am not sure what air pressure my tires should have in them. I do not see anything marked on the tires themselves, and I do not have my owners manual. How can I find out the proper tire pressure?
Checking Tire Inflation Pressure
When vehicle manufacturers select a tire size for a vehicle, they evaluate the vehicle's gross axle weights, the anticipated use of the tire, and the tire diameter and width. Adjustments to these factors give the manufacturer a way to improve handling and appearance. This is especially true for performance tire sizes. The size selected is rarely limited to only one capability (i.e. carrying the vehicle's weight).
The tire usually needs to have additional load capacity as well. This extra capacity is important because without it all of the tire's performance would be used up just carrying the weight of the vehicle and little would be left for durability at high speeds or responsive handling. For all vehicles produced since 1968, the original tires sizes and inflation pressures (including the spare) are listed on a vehicle placard. This placard can be located on:
The driver-side door or door jamb (Ford vehicles on the rear passenger door jamb)
Glove box or counsel door
Fuel filler door
The engine compartment
Additionally, some manufacturers also list the original tire pressure in the vehicle's owner's manual. If a car's inflation pressure has varied from that which was recommended by the manufacturer, it's likely that the tire's wear and performance characteristics have also changed.
Under-inflation
If your vehicle's tires are under inflated by only 6 psi it could lead to tire failure. Additionally, the tire's tread life could be reduced by as much as 25%. Lower inflation pressure will allow the tire to deflect (bend) more as it rolls. This will build up internal heat, increase rolling resistance and cause a reduction in fuel economy of up to 5%. You would find a significant loss of steering precision and cornering stability. While 6 psi doesn't seem excessively low, remember, it usually represents about 20% of the tire's recommended pressure.
Over-inflation
If your tires are over inflated by 6 psi, they could be damaged more easily when running over pot holes or debris in the road. Higher inflated tires cannot isolate road irregularities well causing them to ride harsher. However, higher inflation pressures usually provide an improvement in steering response and cornering stability up to a point. This is why participants who use street tires in autocrosses, track events and road races, run higher than normal inflation pressures.
Effects of Time and Temperature
Tire inflation pressures change due to time and temperature. Tires lose about 1 psi per month due to air escaping through the rubber as it stretches. If you were to check your tires only every six months, it would not be uncommon to find them under inflated by as much as 6 psi. Tire inflation pressures also fluctuate with changes in the outside air temperature. This occurs at a rate of about 1 psi for every 10°F (plus or minus). So the tires you set correctly with an 80°F ambient temperature will be under inflated by 6 psi at 20°F.
If you add the variations of time and temperature together, it is easy to understand why a tire's inflation pressure should be checked frequently. Improper inflation can cause tires to wear irregularly and can void manufacturer's warranty.
Another advantage of checking tire pressure frequently is that it allows a slow leak to be found and repaired before it permanently damages a tire. Tire pressures should be checked once a week, preferably before the vehicle has been driven. Spending about two minutes a week will help you get the optimum performance your tires can offer!
Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule.
Click Here to schedule a service appointment at your nearest Mile One Service Center.
Assateague Island
In the summertime, the main roadways of Assateague Island National Seashore can get pretty crowded with people coming to see the legendary wild ponies, but there are less-traveled paths in both this National Park and the Assateague State Park from which to fully experience this harsh, ever-changing island. Be prepared, however, to combat clouds of mosquitoes, which may be the reason people have left this mystical place to the ponies.
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