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This German wonder car is already confirmed with the soaring pricetag beyond half-million US dollar and now Mercedes SLS has been revealed to be road-ready.

The obvious highlight is the upward-opening ‘gullwing’ doors that – like the front-end styling – take their inspiration from the classic Mercedes SL coupe of the 1950s. But the 21st century gullwing is a very popular modern machine with an aluminum space-frame body, a 420 kilowatts V8 engine set just in front of the 2-seater cabin, 19-inch front, and 20-inch rear alloys, and AMG’s first seven-speed dual clutch semi-automatic transmission.

Most of the early news and gossip about the gullwing-no one really expected it to be called the SLS – is about the design, from the all new and sleek gullwing doors to the 50’s inspired air intakes and the muscular body is wrapped around the wheels. However the GLS is an AMG road rocket that has a top speed which has to

be held back to 317km/h and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds. In some ways the Mercedes SLS AMG is a successor to the Mercedes-McLaren SLR, but it is around one third of the price and is a full-on Benz manufacturing, not a collaboration with its F1 partner.

Clients are already lined up in Australia for their first glance at the gullwings, which are expected to land in the first quarter of 2010 and to be featured at the exclusive AMG drive day held at the Albert Park on the Australian Grand Prix circuit. “Yes, we are holding sizeable deposits on the car. We have several orders for five cars this early and we perceive that the huge problem will have to be the allocation will be big enough,”McCarthy says. “We do not have the final price yet but it will be competitive in the class. Companies like Ferrari and others make supercars, but we’re talking a production run of around 1200 cars and that’s pretty serious numbers.”

Mercedes SLS spent a lot of time ensuring the gullwing is both fast and refined, a major criticism of the track-tuned SLR. It still weighs 1620 kilograms and the seats are only 369mm above the road, but the seat backs are made from magnesium, there is a useable glovebox and a Bang&Olufsen surround sound system. It is definitely a Mercedes. There is a great distinction of 300SL in the make and design, but it is definitely not a copy. It is a homage for Mercedes, but it moves the entire history along.

“When we specified that the cars were two items we have made standard – the fitted car cover and the trickle charger. It means the car can definitely sit in the garage and be ready for instant and any action.”

The Mercedes SLS Gullwing is ready for its maiden flight! A handful of images were leaked onto the web yesterday, but now Mercedes has released all the details and a full set of images of its all-new supercar, before its world premiere in Frankfurt.

Designed to evoke memories of the iconic 300SL Gullwing from the fifties, the Mercedes SLS AMG also fills a gap in Merc’s range left by the outgoing McLaren SLR. And judging by these detailed photos its styling promises to be every bit as dramatic as its forebearers.

The gullwing-style doors, hinged at the roof, will definitely no doubt be the best marketing feature, and wait until you see the interior which is ten times impressive. Packing in a whooping 555bhp AMG 6.3-litre dry-sumped V8 with 650Nm of torque, it’s capable of covering the 0-60mph sprint in 3.7 seconds and continuing on to a top speed of 197mph. Fortunately carbon-ceramaic brake discs will be offered as an option to scrub off the speed with ease.The obvious highlight is the upward-opening ‘gullwing’ doors that – like the front-end styling – take their inspiration from the classic Mercedes SL coupe of the 1950s. But the 21st century gullwing is a thoroughly modern machine with an aluminium space-frame body, a 420 kiloWatt V8 engine set just ahead of the two-seater cabin, 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloys, and AMG’s first seven-speed dual-clutch manu-matic transmission.

The German supercar is already confirmed with a soaring pricetag beyond 0,000 and now Benz has revealed the road-ready car and its full technical specification.

An aluminium space-frame body helps to keep weight down to a manageable 1.620kg. Combine this with the latest seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a near-perfect 47:53 front-rear weight distribution and the front-engined Merc should be as good to drive as it’s on-paper figures suggest.

Prices are likely to start from around £130,000 when it goes on sale in summer 2010 – less than half the price of the Mercedes McLaren SLR.

Mercedes SLS

In today’s luxury car world, the Mercedes has been the most coveted car of all time. You will notice the Mercedes sashaying its way along the roads and is the most fashionable car ever. Mercedes has indeed proved itself to be the king of the road. The Mercedes SLS was unveiled at the 2009’s Frankfurt Auto Show and seems to have what it takes to become one of Germany’s finest sport cars. This new and very promising grand tourer was developed by Mercedez-Benz AMG as a replacement for the old SLR McLaren. The German manufacturer describes it as a spiritual successor to the 1954’s 300 SL Gullwing, which was one of the most exciting sport cars of the 50’s.

With its 6.2L V8-engine, the Mercedes SLS has nothing to envy to its recent predecessor and clearly presents itself as one of the most breathtaking launches of 2010. Sales are set to start mid-2010 in Europe and mid-2011 in the United States. There will be 4 different versions of the Mercedes SLS – including a roadster version – that will all be released between 2010 and 2013. To acquire this beauty, no less than €177,000 (including taxes) are necessary in Europe and a little less than 0,000 (including taxes) in the United States.

As previously mentioned, the Mercedes SLS is inspired by the 300 SL Gullwing. This becomes very obvious if you compare them next to each other. The proportions of the Mercedes SLS are rather classic but exhibit modern styling themes and contemporary surface treatment. The revival of the classic features such as the gullwing doors brings about class, style, and charisma. The classic Mercedes is well blended into the features of the modern and refurbished Mercedes SLS.

The Mercedes SLS features a spacious frame and a body made of aluminum powered by a 6.3-liter front mid-mounted engine that generates 650NM and 571HP of torque, that’s a lot of power to boot. Add to that a 7-speed dual clutch transmission in a transaxle layout configuration for a total capacity of only 1620Kg. This is quite an achievement and it’s now time for you to watch the official presentation video!

Saturn cars on sale

People shopping around for cars and auto loans should take notice: You might have an opportunity to get a brand new Saturn car for a used-car price. The same thing goes for Pontiacs.

General Motors is discontinuing both brands, so Pontiac and Saturn cars are basically going into fire sale mode now. I am still trying to understand exactly how this sale works, so perhaps someone out there who is more business savvy could leave a comment to fill in the missing information.

Incentives plus price slashing

First of all, GM says it will pay dealers “$ 7,000 for every new Saturn or Pontiac on their lot that is moved to rental-vehicle or service-vehicle fleets operated by the dealers,” says the Wall Street Journal. Essentially GM is paying dealers to take ownership of these cars. So that’s weird and backward. Right?

Then, dealers must label these cars as “used” because technically the dealers are the first owner, not the customer. Obviously, most of them won’t be used, and they’ll have either zero or test drive mileage on the odometer.

A little help?

What’s missing here? This strategy really makes no sense to me. Why doesn’t GM simply give a bonus for Pontiacs or Saturns sold? Why not just slash prices instead of going through the process of justifying and slapping a “used” label on there?

I’m still waiting for this to click. The brands have gotten the big ugly axe, so obviously there isn’t much, if any, value left in either Saturn or Pontiac brands. I don’t know what to say. Let me know what you think.

The bottom line

Anyway, regardless of exactly what GM and its dealers are doing and why they are doing it, you could be able to buy Pontiac and Saturn cars for super cheap, so if you’re thinking about getting a new car sometime soon, you might want to set your plan in motion sooner rather than later.

Cars are becoming much more cleverer then ever before. One thing that shows this leap more than ever is the cars driving schools are now using for driving lessons and one week intensive driving courses; this has changed dramatically over years with cars having so much more gadegets. We now have satellite navigation systems, which can track exactly where we are, entertainment systems throughout the vehicles and cruise control.

But cars are developing at enormous speeds and experts have predicted that within the next decade cars could actually drive themselves. Now you are probably thinking to yourself what a stupid statement to make we are so far away from that happening, but if you take the time to look at the technology behind it you will know that we are very close.

As mentioned above we already have satellite navigation systems which are able to locate precisley where you are and the speed that you are going at. With the expansion of the internet hitting new heights, there is really not long left until vehicle devices start communicating online.

What I am really trying to state is that cars will use the sat nav system to check where you are on the road and the speed that you are travelling at, it will then transmit the information over the internet which will communicate with other vehicles around you. By knowing the speed you are driving at, the vehicles themselves will be able to avoid collisions and they can take us to our destination without getting lost because they know exactly where they are going.

So for lorry driving jobs it could actually be a dream come true, because when you usually stop on a lay by to take a rest you can now sleep in the vehicle while it drives itself to your destination. In other ways it works a bit like an autopilot.

Taking your car to a nearby race track and thrashing it about a bit without risking the lives of other road users is becoming very popular. A leading experience-day operator has recently stated that more than 25% of the population have bought a track day for friends or family, and around 30% of people have been on one themselves. They are also becoming increasingly popular as corporate events. Because they are a relatively new trend however, there is still a lack of understanding about how they work. Take a look at these golden nuggets of advice.

Insurance. The large majority of professionally run race tracks have comprehensive insurance that covers all guests. This is one less thing to worry about, but you should always double check before you go as some race tracks don’t cover guests.

Driver. It could be that you’re in the driving seat for your whole track day, but often a professional takes you for a spin for part of the day. As the experts know the tracks like the back of their hands, they will know the perfect racing lines and breaking points, so its worth listening up.

Licence. You are very rarely required by law to have a full driving licence for track days as they take place on private land. Having said this, it is rare for a track to except people that do not have a license as it put the other drivers on the track at more risk.

Tires. Unless you are on a team building day and are not paying for any wear and tear, you might want to take care of your tyres. They can cost you a small fortune if you buy new, and whilst they might last years driving normally, just half an hour fast driving on a track can wear them right out.

Caution. Just because you are not on the public roads, it doesn’t mean that you suddenly become immortal. Track days are a great deal more dangerous than Henley Regatta for example, so make sure you’ve woken up before you get in the car.

The first step in debt management is understanding the real value of your disposable assets as these could go some way to eliminate liabilities. Make a list and include:

• Property investments
• Stocks & Shares
• Antiquities & collectables
• Savings accounts
• Premium Bonds
• Leisure equipments – cameras, bikes, snowboards etc.
• Cars, motorbikes, boats

Car owners can unknowingly have large amounts of equity locked up in their vehicle, even if was bought with finance or hire purchase. The cash you will receive will be the valuation less the total settlement figure on the finance. If there is not much time left to repay the loan the more you will have in equity. If you car was leased the chances are that non of this will apply to you. Lenders will give a settlement figure on your loan if you ask them. If you are behind in repayments selling the car and repaying the whole blalnce from the proceeds is preferable to repossession.

Selling a car for cash, particularly if it needs to be done quickly, often means taking less than the car is really worth. Franchised car dealers do not really want you used car unless you are buying a new one. Advertising your car for sale privately brings all kinds of hassle and success is far from guranteed.

Websites such as Sellmycar4cash buy used cars to use as stock for main dealers and offer to value and buy your car quickly without any fees or risk. Cars need to be under 100k and no more than seven years of age. The website contains a form into which you can add some basic information before receiving a phone call with the car valuation. The valuation is not agreement to sell and you can think it over before deciding. Accept the offer and you will be called to set a date and time for a final in spection and cash hand-over.

You might think your car is working perfectly, but problems can become apparent at any time. Heading off to the relative’s house 150 miles away isn’t a pretty prospect if your car has something wrong with it. It may be that you need a new gearbox, and car gearboxes aren’t cheap.

Xmas On The Cheap

Of course, if you get the gearbox checked over and find nothing is wrong with it then you can pat yourself on the back and think about spending those pennies on something else! There are some people that will get bad news about their gearbox though, and they will need to find a specialist repair centre urgently. Don’t worry though – there are some gearbox repair centres out there that won’t charge the earth for a new gearbox fitting in your car. If costs are mounting up already this Christmas, see if the repair centre offers the option of a reconditioned gearbox, which is a great cost-effective solution.

If you’re planning on getting away this Christmas, it is wise to make sure your car is in good working order and something as integral as the gearbox isn’t going to suddenly fail on you half way down the motorway. There are people out there that neglect their annual service on their car and then find their holiday plans are ruined because the car has a fault and there isn’t time to get it fixed over the Xmas period.

New And Old Can Suffer

Also remember that new cars often need gearbox problems and the like sorting out. There are cars that might have only done 10,000 miles and yet they start with gearbox problems. Of course, if you have a nearly new car then this isn’t what you want to happen, but some people are just unlucky. This year, have a happy Christmas by making sure you don’t have to pay for any car gearbox repairs!

New drivers that have just passed their tests are often looking for that perfect car, and yet the prospect of being able to head out in a car alone can fill people with different emotions. Once the driving instructor isn’t in the passenger seat next to you, its up to you to make the decisions. In most cases though, the majority of drivers are just relieved that they finally have some independence!

Do You Know The Inner Workings Of Your Car?

Of course, when you’re caught up in all the excitement of becoming a new driver, it is easy to overlook some of the important things like the car you’re going to have. It could be that your parents have bought you a vehicle and it is verging on being an old banger. With the recession still biting at the heels of drivers, not everyone can pay for a new car and an older car is the only option, but then you have to take into consideration all the extra problems you may encounter. Some new drivers find that gearbox problems are common in their old motors, so they have to do something about it.

Find The Info Yourself

Any understanding parent should point a new driver in the direction of where they need to be for getting their gearbox problems sorted. Actually, you don’t have to do a lot of digging, because there are some specialist gearbox repair centres in the UK that are capable of dealing with a whole host of nasty gearbox problems. Reputable companies will get your car as good as new.

The next thing you’re probably going to be concerned about is the cost. Gearbox problems aren’t cheap to fix – especially if you go to a main dealer – but there are some cost-effective options out there. Plus, some specialist garages will be able to offer you the reconditioned gearbox option will save a lot of money.

“The slowest car we have ever built”.

The advert was the first thing that caught my eye about the R8, when the whole world was still talking about it. I remember sitting on the sofa when the ad came on, and being grabbed by the slow beauty of it. Within a second of watching that was it – I was hooked.

It turns out that it wasn’t just me who fell in love with Audi’s first ever supercar, the R8. It isn’t often I see something like that – people all over the world, on television, on the web, in the media, writing or saying exactly the same things – that no matter how much they resisted, they really loved the R8. The sleek lines and good looks of the R8 seem to ensure that everyone likes it, without fail.

Audi make bulky cars into stunners. They used to be a dull brand, until they started advertising themselves like a bull running to the front of the TV screen, and from then on I have alwasy visualised them as powerful and bold. The TT was their prettiest car, and then they went and upgraded it to make the look even closer to beauty. It seemed a simple step up to create this astounding car.

The Audi R8 looks stunning. With a low to the ground build and aerodynamic grooves running down the sides, this just looks like it should go incredibly fast. Not only that, but the car is so undeniably Audi that you would know it at a glance – the grille especially has that incredibly distinctive Audi shape. In my opinion, the shape of this car is nigh on perfect, and seeing one drive past me never seems to get old. As the R8 has been so popular, it is no surpsie that Audi are relasing a supercar sister, the R8 Spyder.

Don’t worry, the R8 doesn’t just have good looks – there is actually an impressive V10 enigne waiting to give you the power and speed you need. I can read for weeks to find out every stat about the R8, but only the car, engine and damn good looks in real life can convince me – and watching Iron Man with it in was actually enough to convince me.

Impressively, if you want to own a used Audi R8 rather than an expensive new one, the cost is quite dramatically reduced. I know people who have bought them at dealerships, and many of them haven’t paid much more that a tiny (relatively) £65k. That first cost is lower than many people imagined, meaning that the R8 is starting to tempt whole new areas of the market. Of course for those of you for whom that is still out of your price range, a normal used Audi will do the trick, and you can build your way up from there!