Slathering a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG in a goldish-chrome finish is one way of telling the world that a- you do have a lot of petrol spending money, and b- your taste buds are as dead as a dodo bird. Of course, it does not take a rocket scientist to guess the origin of this one-of-a-kind Merc – and yes, it’s 
German tuning firm Carlsson and luxury leather brand Etienne Aigner have joined forces for the third time to create a special edition version of the Mercedes-Benz GL500. Called Carlsson Aigner CK55 RS Rascasse - talk about awkward names, the modified GL500 that makes its world premiere at the Geneva Auto Salon will be produced in a limited edition of 20 cars.
Finished in the typical two-tone burgundy-back paintwork of the Carlsson Aigner range, the CK55 RS Rascasse features a full body styling kit consisting of wider wheel arches, a new bonnet carrying larger power domes, a new larger front grill and sub-grilles, front and rear aprons, side skirts and massive 23-inch alloy wheels shod in 305/30ZR23 tires.
Though Carlsson has yet to release pictures of the interior, the company said that the SUV's cabin has been dressed in high-quality red leather and alcantara which covers the seats, dashtop, door panels and centre console. Furthermore, Carlsson and Aigner decided that the GL500's seven-seater configuration should be ditched in favor of just two individual rear seats.
In terms of mechanical upgrades, the GL's 5.5-liter, 48-valve, V8 motor which in factory trim delivers 388-horsepower and 530Nm has been modified to produce an output of 45-horsepower with 640Nm of torque. Thus endowed, the Carlsson Aigner CK55 RS Rascasse accelerates from 0 to 100km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds compared to the standard model's 6.5 sec.
Other mods include the Carlsson electronic lowering kit, C-Tronic Suspension that drops the ride height of the Airmatic suspension by 40mm.
The Carlsson Aigner CK55 RS Rascasse is offered at a basic price of €228,500 which comes to around $287,700 U.S. with the current exchange rates.
McLaren-Mercedes have unveiled their new MP4-24 car for the 2009 F1 season just a few days after arch rivals Ferrari and Toyota unveiled their own versions. Ron Dennis also used the occasion to announce he will step down as team principal as of March 1st with the reigns set to be handed over to his long time deputy Martin Whitmarsh.
Dennis has insisted the decision is 100% his own. He is stopping short of full retirement to remain as executive chairman, focusing his attention on the production models the company has under development.
Moving back to the main subject, the 2009 MP4-24 launch.
Due to the new rules and regulations that will come into force when the new season kicks off at the Australian Grand Prix, the MP4-24 is a far cry from last year's championship winning challenger.
The front wing is much wider whilst the rear wing is more compact. It gives the MP4-24 a weight distribution that is more biased towards the front enhancing the possibilities of overtaking when following another car. Other aerodynamic modifications include the banning of ancillary appendages, the addition of driver-adjustable front-wing flaps and a heavily revised diffuser.
In a collaboration with engine partner Mercedes, the new McLaren also features the new KERS (Kinetic Enrgy Recovery System) device which harnesses the energy generated from the braking system and stores it in super-capacitor batteries. This generates an additional 80bhp (60kW) of power and will help reduce lap times by up to 0.6 seconds.
A firm believer of the phrase "better late than never", Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist BRABUS, has introduced a new Widestar package for the facelifted M-Class that was revealed at last year's New York Auto Show. The exterior of the M-Class is enhanced with a wide bodykit that includes new fender flares on front and rear axle that add five centimeters (two inches) to the width of the SUV as well as massive 23-inch alloy wheels fitted with high-performance tires in size 315/25 R 23 front and back.
Inside, BRABUS' appointments for the Mercedes M-Class interior include stainless-steel scuff plates with illuminated BRABUS logo, a sport steering wheel, and leather-covered door elements for upgrading the factory interior. Also available are a fully leather interior made from a combination of Mastik and Alcantara leather and seven-inch LCD screen with 16:9 aspect ratio and integrated DVD player integrated on the rear end of the front hearests.
The M-Class' handling is improved with the BRABUS control module for the standard AIRMATIC air suspension that lowers the ride height by some 30 millimeters (1.2 inches). To further optimize active safety the BRABUS WIDESTAR is optionally equipped with a high-performance brake system that consists of 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers grip front discs measuring 360 x 28 mm (14.2 x 1.1 inches). The rear axle features six-piston fixed calipers.
For the gasoline-powered models, BRABUS' engine tuning program starts with the B7 power kit which increases power output of the ML 350 to 287 HP while the ML 500 is available with the BRABUS 6.1 displacement engine generating 462HP. For the most powerful variant of the M-Class, the M 63 AMG, there's the B63 S kit that boosts output to 550HP. With this kit, the tuned top-of-the-line M-Class model sprints from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds and achieves a new top speed of 275 km/h (172 mph).
Those who prefer diesel engines can equip the ML 280 CDI with the BRABUS ECO PowerXtra D5 (III) kit that produces an extra 52HP. For the ML 320 CDI BRABUS has designed the D6 (III) power kit which bumps maximum power output to 272HP and produces a peak torque of 590 Nm (435 lb-ft) at just 1,600 rpm.
In the top-of-the-line diesel model, ML 420 CDI, the BRABUS ECO PowerXtra D8 (III) power kit boosts power from 306HP to 350HP while peak torque grows from 700 Nm to 800 Nm (516 to 590 lb-ft). The tuned ML 420 CDI sprints from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.0 seconds, half a second less than the production car while top speed increases from 235 to 245 km/h (147 to 153 mph).
The additional exterior equipment for the CLSGrand Edition includes Bi-xenon headlamps with dark headlamp casings, new high-sheen AMG18-inch 5-spoke light-alloy wheels shod with 245/40 R 18 (front) and 275/35 R 18 (rear) tires and a "Grand Edition" insignia on the front wings.
The CLS Grand Edition's interior is distinguished by "designo" leather upholstery in "marron" – with the option of substituting this shade for sand, black, mystic red, porcelain or chablis, roof lining in anthracite Alcantara, together with the standard-fit tilting/sliding glass roof and trim elements in high-quality laurel wood that can be ordered with either a matt or a high-gloss finish.
The special edition CLS is available with four engine variants, including the V6 unit for the entry-level CLS280 and the 292HP CGI direct-injection power plant for the CLS 350 CGI model.
The Mercedes-Benz CLSGrand Edition can be ordered from January 2, 2009, with prices in Europe starting at 67,294.50 Euros incl. VAT for the CLS280 Grand Edition. Customer deliveries will commence in March 2009.
