Mercedes-Benz has just informed us that there will be no model year 2010 SL550, SL600, SL63 AMG, or SL65 AMG. We will sell the remaining 2009s until the end of the year and then the 2011 SL-Class will be launched in the 1st quarter of 2010. The 2011 will not be a body style change – that is expected for model year 2013. More details should be available soon.

They are here! Our first shipment of 2010 E-Classes arrived this afternoon. We received a variety of E350 and E550 coupes and sedans. They should be cleaned up and ready for sale within a few hours. Please come take a look at the latest and greatest from Mercedes-Benz! Be sure to ask for me when you come in.

Special financing at 4.9% and excellent lease offers are now available as well

The Mercedes-Benz E550 takes first place!

“They’re the right size, and when equipped with V8s, they’ve got the right amount of effortless performance. In relative terms, they provide a value commensurate with the asking price. Driving any one of these three announces that you know the price of quality and can justify paying for it. And clearly you’re smart enough to resist overpaying for more than you require.”

“We’re glad the 2009 BMW 550i, 2010 Jaguar XF Premium and 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 Sport exist. This ideal trio goes 90 percent of the way to the M5, E63 AMG and XFR super sedans, yet they’re 100 percent easier to live with and rewarding in ways the thoroughbreds are not.”

“The Mercedes-Benz E550 is the quickest to 60 mph with a run of 5.3 seconds and its quarter-mile run of 13.6 seconds at 103.5 mph is also the best of the group… the E550 returns the best observed fuel economy in this comparison with 19.3 mpg, compared to the BMW’s 16.9 mpg and the Jaguar’s 16 mpg.”

“… we’re not sold on the BMW’s steering effort, which we found to be too heavy, especially compared to the lightly weighted Jaguar and buttery Mercedes-Benz system. So syrupy and out of character does the 550i’s steering seem that more than a couple drivers thought there might be something wrong with the car.”

“The E550 Sport is by far the most adaptable, rewarding and confident car on the widest variety of surfaces despite not being the outright best-handling car.”

“It is the only car here that is universally regarded as comfortable and intuitive to operate from the moment you get behind the wheel. It manages to be warm and rich, well-equipped and well-planned, and high-tech and high-quality all at the same time.”

“The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 Sport amounts to more than the sum of its parts. It’s hard to describe, but there’s an overall sense of satisfaction, competence and experience that’s somehow baked into the fiber of this car. It drives like it knows where it’s going. It looks like it knows where it’s been. And it’s priced as if it knows where we’re all headed.”

To read the full review visit Edmunds.com

I was able to visit the Fuel Cell Development center when I visited Germany last year. I saw all of the vehicles that they show in this video and went for a ride in one of the fuel cell equipped B-Classes. It was seamless, impressive and entirely believable as a daily driver. Mercedes has also put fuel cells into commercial busses and delivery vehicles all over Europe. As this technology gains recognition and passes all of these tests it may become the most viable of the alternative fuel sources available now.

I thought that these pictures spoke volumes about the safety of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The crumple zones, high strength steel frame, airbags and careful design save lives everyday. Luckily, we don’t get to see it in action often!

A customer of Atlanta Classic Cars went off the side of the road, overcorrected, crossed the road and hit a tree head-on at about 50 miles per hour. She had some surgery on her hand and her leg but will make a full recovery. The fireman told her husband that the tree tried to kill her and the car saved her life.

Notice in the pictures how some of the engine moved up and some moved down but nothing entered the passenger cabin. The most amazing thing to me is that all four doors open smoothly. With the entire front end crumpled, the passenger compartment was not compromised. Except for the mud, the inside of the car looks almost new!

And the story has a happy ending…She bought a brand new C300 over the weekend!

Last month Mercedes released the pricing for the 2010 E-Class coupe and sedan.

2010 E350 Sedan $48,600 and Coupe $48,050
2010 E550 Sedan $56,300 and Coupe $54,650

We now have the pricing for the popular Premium Packages for these vehicles.

Premium 1 Package (P01) – E350 Sedan and Coupe — $3,950
-COMAND with 40GB hard drive navigation
-SIRIUS real-time traffic
-Enhanced voice control for audio, telephone and navigation
-Gracenote Media Database
-SIRIUS Satellite Radio
-HD Digital Radio
-Zagat Survey Guide (Restaurants, Golf Courses, Hotels)
-6GB Music Register for download of music files
-harman / kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system with Dolby Digital 5.1
-iPod / MP3 Media Interface
-Heated Front Seats
-Rear View Camera
-Power Rear Sunshade

Premium 2 Package (P02) – E350 Sedan and Coupe — $6,350
-All contents of the Premium 1 Package, plus
-Bi-Xenon Headlamps with Active Curve Illumination
-Adaptive Highbeam Assist and LED Daytime Running Lamps
-KEYLESS-GO
-Electronic Trunk Closer (Sedan)
-Heated/Active Ventilated Seats (Coupe)

When compared to typically equipped 2009 E-Classes, the 2010 E350 offers an almost 10% improvement in value! This is a great time to order to get an early vehicle equipped just like you want it!