Brabus Unleashes Tune for New Mercedes-Benz CLS

The arrival of the second generation Mercedes-Benz CLS has Brabus getting ready to present its tuning program for the sports sedan at next week's Geneva Motor Show. For the 2012 CLS, the German tuning house prepared a variety of aero-enhancements, interior goods and performance upgrades.
Aesthetically, the Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist offers a new front bumper add-on that can be further upgraded with LED daytime running lights with either dark or chrome surrounds, fender gills, side skirts, a discrete boot lid spoiler and a rear apron with custom cutouts for the for the four tailpipes of the available sport exhaust system.
There are plenty of choices for the alloy wheels as Brabus offers six different designs in sizes ranging from 8.5Jx17" to 10.5Jx20". The largest tires supplied by the company's partners Pirelli and YOKOHAMA for these wheels come in size 255/30 ZR 20 in front and in size 305/25 ZR 20 for the rear axle.
Inside, the options range from a new sports steering wheel in a variety of leather and wood designs, to custom leather or Alcantara upholsteries and aluminum and carbon fiber trim components.
For the time being, the German tuning firm's engine kits are limited to the diesel models.
The CLS 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY's 2.1-liter turbo diesel engine equipped with the performance kit delivers an additional 31 hp for a total of 235HP and a peak torque of 560 Nm (413 lb-ft). 

The Brabus-tuned CLS 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY gets a new kit which offers two different modes. In the ‘Eco’ setting, only peak torque is increased from 620 Nm to 690 Nm (457 to 509 lb-ft) between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm, with the maximum output remaining unchanged. If the driver selects the ‘Sport’ mode, both peak torque and output are increased, with power jumping from 265HP to 313HP. Using this setting, the tuned CLS sprints from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds, while top speed is limited electronically to 250 km/h (155 mph).
A sports exhaust system that promises to optimize power yield and produce a throaty exhaust note is available for all CLS engine variants.
Finally, to improve handling, the tuner offers a number of solutions ranging from new sport springs for a 30mm (1.2-in.) lower ride-height to a complete sports suspension.


 photos

BMW Vision Connected Drive Roadster Concept

We now seem to live in a world where it is more important to check Facebook updates and check who's tweeting who than it is to drive. You have seen it, you may have possibly done it and the car industry wants to introduce the fun and productivity of Mobile social networking to our daily drive.

It makes actually some sense, why leave all our best means of communication and keeping in touch at home? This is where BMW's Vision ConnectedDrive roadster steps in. BMW is keeping silent about whether the Vision CD will ever make its way onto the market as the focus of the car is simply to showcase their new take on Mobile Communication and new style language.
First off the new design is cleaner, more aggressive and features a return to the angry style, shark-esque style front end. The Vision CD is a stylized modern roadster designed under supervision of BMW's new head of design, Adrian von Hooydonk. The interior on the other hand is far more impressive. The two person cockpit incorporates a completely customizable gauge cluster, an enhanced Head-Up Display that delivers a three-dimensional display of driving and communication information. This 3D HUD apparently provides "an optical fusion of the actual view of the road ahead with virtual content." There is an information device for the passenger also.
So what does this all mean? Well simply put, the car provides a "Connected Driving Experience".
Sensors in the rear and front lights monitor traffic flow, the vehicle monitors the driving environment and can communicate to other future Vision CD vehicles. The passenger can surf the Internet and tweet how awesome their car is compared to other cars in front and behind them while the driver has his portable devices connected and read by the vehicle. It reads the drivers calendar and notes and suggests ways of efficiently getting to his or her appointments and meetings in the shortest amount of time via the satellite navigation.
So the possibility of driving home checking who liked your BMW related status and ordering some pizza for collection on your route home. Then selecting a film to watch when you get home just got a little closer to reality. The Vision ConnectedDrive roadster shows the future of linking our online world with our driving world while also previewing a new design language possibly making its way towards your future Beemer.
It's only a matter of time before you can Jailbreak your car to do anything. The possibilities are endless!
 

photos