That’s a penalty for not leaving the steering wheel with the car…

While manufacturers like BMW, Honda, Jaguar, and Toyota have abandoned Formula One, Mercedes has increased their efforts in the world’s most popular form of racing by purchasing the 2009 World Championship Team, Brawn GP, to create Mercedes GP Petronas. With the McLaren team keeping Lewis Hamilton and adding 2009 World Champion Jenson Button it looked like it was going to be an easy decision who to cheer for in March. Now it has been announced that 7 time World Champion Michael Schumacher is coming out of retirement and has signed a 3 year contract to drive for Mercedes GP. Between this and the debut of the new US F1 Team, 2010 is shaping up to be a very interesting season.

These are the official photos of the 2011 E-Class Cabriolet. It is expected to be available for sale in May of 2010 as the E350 and E550. The specifications, options and pricing are not yet available but I am taking deposits to be on the Atlanta Classic Cars order list. In 2003, when the last cabriolet was launched, there was a significant waiting list. So far the list is short, but now that the pictures are out there more and more people will be ready to order.

Plenty of great SLS exhaust sounds and a quick demo of AMG Race Start

The AIRCAP system on the 2011 E-Class Cabriolet will continue to increase the amount of time you can enjoy your Mercedes with the top down. Building on the AIRSCARF system currently available on the SLK and SL, AIRCAP will create a calm air zone in the passenger compartment making it both more comfortable at higher speeds and easier to heat or cool. A front deflector raises up from the top of the windshield to both redirect air higher over the passenger cabin and allow air slowed down by its screen to enter the cabin and maintain a pocket of calmer air.

Current CLK Cabriolet owners will enjoy not having to install and uninstall a wind deflector anymore. Additionally, you will be able to raise and lower the top at speeds below 25mph.

JD Power has announced that Mercedes-Benz topped the charts for customer retention in 2009! This study measures the percentage of vehicle owners and lessees who replace a previously purchased new vehicle with another from the same brand.

Our loyalty increased 8% over last year to 67% overall! In these tough economic times it speaks to the value of the brand that 2/3rds of our owners come back time after time!

The study says “Mercedes-Benz has steadily improved its customer retention rates during the past five years, and in 2009, has achieved the highest rate ever attained by a manufacturer since the inception of the study,” said Festekjian. “In particular, customers cite the resale value and appearance and styling of Mercedes-Benz models as primary reasons to remain loyal to the brand.”

You can read the full J.D. Power report here.

A 740hp twin-turbo V12 in your GLK for only $580,000