From the Mercedes Simplex to the E Series, Mercedes vehicles are, and have always been, sought-after vehicles. Mercedes has been known for their cars since 1871, when the company was founded in Stuttgart, Germany.

The company crafted its first car in 1886, and in 1901 the original Mercedes was released for public consumption.

The Mercedes Simplex, technically the third vehicle they ever created, was first produced in 1902 and again in 1909 by Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft. Wilhelm Maybach was the designer of the Mercedes Simplex, which offered more engine performance and more stability than previous vehicles.

The Mercedes 35hp, that was created the year before the Mercedes Simplex, broke with several standards of automobiles of their time. To keep up with the tradition Maybach and Daimler knew they needed the Simplex to be even more of what consumers were considering a “standard” car. They decided to added comfort by means of simplicity, hence the name “Simplex.”

As you can imagine, cars like the Simplex are highly sought after because of rarity. With the 1902 vehicle improving the horse power of the engine, the Mercedes Simplex had to prove its worthiness on the race track. The first race track to see the Simplex in action was at Nice, France.

That same year, in the United States, the Simplex raced in Detroit offering another win. William Vanderbilt Jr. was a high-profile fan of the Simplex, boosting the profile of Mercedes in the United States.

In 1903, the Mercedes Simplex gained another fan in Kaiser Wilhelm II. He expressed such admiration for the car in stating that it was a truly magnificent engine, but not as simple as its name implies.

Currently, antique vehicles like the Mercedes Simplex can only be seen at the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart. They still have 13 original Simplex units on display. These vehicles still take part in competitions each year as some of the best cars ever made.

Whether you are interested in new, antique, or used Mercedes cars performance and dedication to luxury are marked factors. The modern line of Mercedes vehicles includes SUV’s, trucks, and compacts. They recently began offering Smart cars for city driving. The reputation of Mercedes Benz will continue to be on the top of the quality car list for performance, endurance, and comfort for quality vehicles.

Author: by Fabian Toulouse

What luxury car we drive often tells the world more about us than we think. Do you sit behind the wheel of a fast, sporty vehicle or ride in comfort in a timeless classic car? As 2008 begins zooming forward, let’s take a look at what are the top 10 luxury cars from ForbesAutos.com.

As people shopped for luxury cars on ForbesAutos.com during 2007, they looked into the future for a taste of what they desire. During the fourth quarter, three vehicles not even on sale yet were among the top 10 most researched luxury vehicles on the site.

Two of the future models, the 2009 BMW M3 and 2009 Jaguar XF , were ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively. The third ’09 model, Audi’s upcoming remake of its best-selling A4 Sedan, earned sixth place in the popularity contest for October, November, and December, despite not going on sale until the fall.

The remaining entries on the Forbes’ latest list of vehicles most researched on ForbesAutos.com were consistent with those choices from prior periods.  Full article

As the new CTS sport sedan earns accolades and new owners, Cadillac takes the next leap forward by premiering the 2009 CTS-V, the brand’s ultimate expression of performance and luxury.

Launching in the fourth quarter of 2008, the all-new CTS-V intends to combine the serious performance of an elite sports car with the poise and elegance of a prestigious luxury sedan.

“The CTS-V represents the full extension of our design, technology and performance capabilities,” says Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. “The V-Series takes the award-winning CTS sport sedan and elevates it to a position within the club of the world’s most exclusive and capable cars.”

Full article

When we sampled Rolls-Royce’s delectable Phantom Drophead Coupé (the perfect complement to warm Tuscan sun), the Goodwood-based manufacturer was already putting the finishing touches to the final piece in the Phantom fleet. Joining the Drophead, and sitting alongside the hugely accomplished saloon and extended wheelbase versions, is this new Drophead Coupé, a peerless four-seater based on the 2006 101EX concept.

While the Drophead had more than a hint of nautical elegance, with its teak rear deck and sisal floor mats, the Coupé is a more elegant, sporting affair, if something with the inherent grace and presence of a Rolls-Royce could be defined as sporting. Ample power is provided by the company’s vast 6.75-litre V12 (kiss goodbye to your congestion charge discount), giving the car performance that belies its hefty proportions.

The company’s designers have done well to soften the bulk, creating flowing lines that accommodate rear-hinged doors (with push-button closing, naturally), and a drop down picnic boot for two. Forward vision at tricky junctions is provided by a bumper-mounted camera, while there’s the option of having a ’starlight headlining’, a fibre-optic light show embedded in the roof lining.

Craftsmanship, engineering, materials and finish are all first rate. Although Rolls-Royce are readying a more mass-market saloon to tap into the sub £200,000 market, the Phantom Coupé demonstrates more than ever that their core customer base has no need to fret.

Photo courtesy of: Jeff Voth – CarNews Media

Aston Martin could co-operate with Daimler AG’s Mercedes on ventures ranging from engines to new models, the British luxury carmaker’s majority shareholder, Kuwait’s Investment Dar, said on Tuesday.

Adham Charanoglu, business development manager for Investment Dar, which bought Aston Martin from Ford Motor Co last March, said it had held talks with Mercedes and with LVMH’s Louis Vuitton and PPR’s Gucci on branded merchandising.

Any brand development would need to be at the top end of the luxury market, with opportunities stretching from apparel, owners’ events and track racing to real estate, Charanoglu said, adding Aston Martin’s merchandising revenue would rise from $100 million in 2006 to more than $300 million by 2009. But Charanoglu said production would continue in the UK.  Full article

Daimler AG recently reporting that they will be adding a fifth Maybach model to its impressive line-up – the Maybach Landaulet. This masterpiece of automotive engineering will not just shower its owner with luxury, with features such as smooth black leather and trim elements in glossy piano lacquer, but it will also cost about a staggering $1.35 million. The first customer vehicles are due to leave Maybach production in the fall of 2008.

The Maybach Landaulet thus offers a majestic open-air experience currently unrivalled by any other automobile. Boasting a certain romantic quality and allowing its passengers the opportunity to savour a closeness to nature, this exceptional vehicle also features the ultimate in comfort and technological sophistication and as such sets the new standard for the world’s most exclusive luxury vehicles.

In November 2007, Maybach revived the aura of the grand carriages of days gone by with its Landaulet study. The response from the public to this masterpiece was overwhelming, so much so that Maybach decided to offer the hand-built Landaulet based exclusively on the customer’s own specifications. A limited number of vehicles will be built in the Manufaktur workshops in Sindelfingenover a restricted period.

In technical terms the Maybach Landaulet is based on the Maybach 62 S – which can claim to be the world’s most powerful series-produced chauffeured saloon. Maybach technicians have removed the rear roof module in order to afford passengers an unobstructed view of the sky above.

Maybach has adapted the luxurious rear compartment to the requirements of open-top motoring. For instance, the rear head restraints are slightly larger than on the saloon and effectively help reduce wind turbulence. Another slim wind deflector is automatically raised at speeds above 70 km/h to further reduce the risk of any uncomfortable draughts.

The deflector, which measures around five centimetres, can be activated manually at any time. The switch is conveniently positioned for rear passengers in the centre console.

Acura’s entry-level TSX as been a hit for Honda’s luxury brand. When it first debuted as a 2004 model, Acura said the new sedan was like a four-door version of the RSX coupe, even though it was really rooted in the sporty European Accord. No matter the platform, however, the TSX was a fantastic ride—and it still is. With a 2.4-liter, 200-hp i-VTEC four-cylinder and a super-slick five-speed manual, it was always a very rewarding car to hustle.

Well the 2009 model promises to provide even more smiles. The all-new TSX will make its world debut at the New York auto show on March 19, and Acura says it will come loaded with “numerous advancements in performance, styling, technology and safety.”

That’s all they’re officially letting out right now, but we hear the new sedan might have quite a bit of fun up its sleeve for the enthusiast driver as well as those looking to get a few more MPGs at the pump.

We’ve heard rumors on two engines, both of which we hope become available:

First off, the new TSX might get a version of the RDX corssover’s turbocharged engine. That would provide the sedan with a frisky, 240-hp four-cylinder to battle the stout six-cylinder engines in Acura’s German and Japanese competitors.

And we’ve heard this juicy tip from a few folks close to Honda: Later in the year, the TSX could get a clean diesel. That engine would likely be the 2.2-liter i-DTEC that we saw last year at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Once again, the TSX will be based on the all-new European Accord, which is set to debut in early March at the Geneva Motor Show. We’ll have much more information then.

Article by Ben Stewart – Popular Mechanics

What a CEO drives often reflects the type of person he or she really is.  Take conservative Warren Buffett for example.  He’s worth about $42 billion, but for years he drove a silver 2001 Lincoln Town Car with Nebraska license plates, titled: THRIFTY.

CEO’s obviously have high profile positions and what they drive likely communicates a lot about the person. A recent survey of 3,000 people, found that only about 10% did not know what vehicle their chief drove.

“Of all the products in the world, cars are the most reliable representation of an individual’s personality,” says Golden Gate University psychology chair Kit Yarrow.  Full article