Sorry, Spocks; Mercedes-Benz CLS550 Handles Golf Clubs Just Fine

By now you, and 1.8 million other people, have seen the humorous Audi S7 commercial on YouTube featuring past and present "Star Trek" Spock actors Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto.

It's a great ad that cleverly shows the rivalry between automakers. But we've got a problem with the depiction of poor Leonard Nimoy not being able to fit his clubs in the CLS' trunk.

Why?

Well, because we fit a set of clubs in there just fine. Actually, it was two sets and an overnight bag.

Super Bowl Ad Announces Price of 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

According to a Mercedes-Benz ad running Sunday during Super Bowl XLVII, you won't have to make a deal with the devil to own a luxury vehicle and enjoy all of the "seductive" side effects that come with it. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class — the automaker's first front-wheel-drive compact sedan — will start at $29,900 when it hits dealerships in September (no word yet on the destination charge), according to the TV spot. The CLA-Class starts higher than many competitors, including the 2013 Audi A3 ($28,165), 2013 Acura ILX ($26,795) and 2013 Buick Verano ($23,965). All competitor prices include destination.

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Adds Power, All-Wheel Drive

Mercedes-Benz’s CLS63 AMG not only looks like a spaceship but feels rocket-powered, and for 2014, the sleek sedan receives even more power plus standard all-wheel drive. The CLS63 AMG now makes 557 horsepower in the base model and 585 hp with the optional S-Model Package, according to initial European specs. Power numbers may change a bit upon U.S. translation.
 
The CLS63 AMG’s twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8 is dialed up with more boost from the turbochargers to increase power over the 2013’s base 518 hp and available 550-hp engine. The all-wheel-drive system, called 4Matic, is brand new to the CLS63 AMG, and Mercedes says it’s geared for driving dynamics with a power split of 33% to the front wheels and 67% to the rear. With power digging at all four wheels, Mercedes estimates zero to 62 mph (100 kmph) times at a staggering 3.6 seconds for the S-Model.
 
Expect the 2014 CLS63 AMG and CLS63 AMG S-Model to hit U.S. dealerships this fall. Mercedes’ E63 AMG receives similar changes for 2014, which you can read about here.

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2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show
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2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS Review

Recall Alert: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 23 model-year 2012 CLS550 and CLS550 4Matic vehicles because of a problem with the hood-latching mechanism, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, which were built between Dec. 1 and Dec. 13, 2011, the bolts that hold the hood's secondary latch striker may have been insufficiently tightened and could loosen. If two of the four bolts become loose, the secondary hood-latch function would be ineffective, and the hood could open while the vehicle is moving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Mercedes will begin notifying owners in December, and dealers will check and retighten the bolts as necessary. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 800-367-6372 or call NHTSA's vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

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Cars.com Family Reviews the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
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Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake: Photo Gallery

Apparently the stunning second-generation CLS coupe is popular enough that Mercedes-Benz has decided to build a wagon variant of the model, dubbed the CLS Shooting Brake. It was first seen as a concept in 2010, and it looks relatively unchanged, stylistically. The Shooting Brake will be powered by a diesel V-6 or V-8 and can be equipped with Mercedes' 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. The model features a standard power liftgate, rear air suspension and optional trailer hitch. There's no word yet if the model will be sold in the U.S., but it's unlikely. Continue below for more photos.

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Mercedes Greenlights CLS Shooting Brake for Production 
Mercedes Debuts Wild Wagon Concept

Daily News Briefs: July 2, 2012

Mercedes-Benz will introduce a wagon version of the coupe-like CLS-Class sedan dubbed the CLS Shooting Brake, but it won't come stateside. A shooting brake — an old term for wagon — hasn't been offered in the CLS' eight-year history. In back, the car gets hand-stitched sidings in the cargo area and porcelain trimmings, like in Mercedes' flagship S-Class, elsewhere. Aluminum cargo rails will be optional, as will a wooden cargo floor complete with contrasting inlays. Measuring less than an inch longer than the CLS sedan, the Shooting Brake boasts a 54.7 cubic feet of cargo room, Mercedes says. That's comparable to the E-Class wagon's 57.4 cubic feet, which is what Benz wagon fans in the U.S. will have to live with. Spokesman Dan Barile says there are "no immediate plans" for the CLS wagon to come here. Stay tuned for a photo gallery later today.

In other news:

Cars.com Family Reviews the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Some might question the family friendliness of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, but Cars.com Family contributor Carrie Kim says this four-seater is a bona fide family car. With a spacious interior and a “four-door coupe” design, the CLS550 fits passengers big and small. This car makes a convincing case as a way to transport your family while integrating parents’ desires for power, safety and style in one stunning package.

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Review

Naughty or Nice: Steering Wheels

The steering wheel is an important piece of a car’s success or failure. It is, after all, what drivers interact with the most, whether commuting to work or sawing away on a racetrack. A great steering wheel combines a natural-feeling grip with a stylish layout and technology functions to complete the overall experience. It's not as easy to design one as you might think.
 
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2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Video

The second-generation 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class fixes many of the problems of the last generation, according to Cars.com Managing Editor David Thomas. The interior is surprisingly livable, and the trunk is nearly identical to the one found on the E-Class, which the CLS-Class is derived from. Besides the sexy styling, there are a lot of similarities to the E-Class sedan, with the noticeable exception of the CLS' higher asking price.

Cars.com Reviews the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Now in its second generation, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class looks terrific in its new skin, according to Cars.com Managing Editor David Thomas. It doesn’t feel as cramped as the previous version, and its ride is surprisingly livable this time around. Unfortunately, those improvements come at a substantial cost.

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Review