Our first facelifted 2013 GLK350 arrived today! This particular model is wearing the standard 19″ triple spoke wheel and a new paint for 2013, Graphite Grey (code 986). This new color is a lot like the Indium Grey that is available on the sedans. The interior looks wonderful! The vents are eye catching, there is more wood and new center console is very nice. The GLK350 is available in 2 wheel drive and 4matic for 2013 with the GLK250 Bluetec due in early 2013.

Our first Polar White (color code 149) C250 arrived today! To my eye the Polar White is a little brighter and a little more WHITE than the Arctic White. I would say that the Arctic White is a little creamier or has a little yellow in it. Of course, until I parked them right next to each other I would have said they were exactly the same color! I have included the side-by-side pictures for reference. Can you guess which one is which? 

The Polar White car is the luxury model in spot #34. The car in spot #35 is a 2012 C250 in Arctic White.

Mercedes-Benz has released a number of 2013 models over the last few days:

• C250, C300 4matic, C350, C63 AMG
• CL550 4matic, CL600, CL63 AMG, CL65 AMG
• CLS550, CLS550 4Matic, CLS63 AMG
• E350, E350 4matic, E550 4matic, E65 AMG
• G550, G63 AMG
• GLK350 2WD, GLK350 4matic
• ML350 2WD, ML350 4matic, ML550, ML63 AMG
• S400 Hybrid, S600, S63 AMG, S65 AMG
• SLK250 manual transmission

These vehicles have started to ship to dealership and should be arriving right now!

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class was at the dealership yesterday for our pre-launch training. This was my first look at the redesigned GL-Class and it was everything I expected it to be! The GL-Class looks sleeker, sportier and a lot more luxurious. There are strong similarities to the all-new ML-Class and I love everything about that vehicle!

This particular vehicle is a 2013 GL350 Bluetec in Arctic White with Grey MB Tex Interior. It has the Premium 2 Package, Driver Assistance Package, Lighting Pacakge, 3-Zone Climate Control, Rear entertainment system and the optional two-tone 20″ Wheels.

The running boards are now slightly narrower so you won’t dirty your pants as you exit the vehicle when you step over them.

This is the new MB-Tex with perforations. It looks very much like leather.

You can see the controls in for the 3-zone climate control on this vehicle. This is the factory rear-seat entertainment system that allows for DVDs to be played from the front or the rear of the vehicle.

Both sides of the second row seat now fold and tumble. The handles for this operation are much larger and there is an option for this to be power.

The cargo area for the new GL-Class is now a little wider to accommodate golf clubs! This is enough cargo space for all of the training materials needed for the whole state of Georgia!

The Panoramic roof is now optional for the 2013 GL-Class.

This vehicle has the Lighting Package. You can pick it out based on the upper ribbon of LEDs and the headlamp washing doors below the lights.

These tail lights are beautiful! They are also LED so they are faster than  conventionaltail lights, giving the person behind you as much as an extra .1 seconds to stop!

The 2013 GL-Class is scheduled to arrive Spetember with the GL450 and GL550. The GL350 Bleutec will follow in October and the all-new GL63 AMG in the first quarter of 2013!

This 2013 C250 coupe just arrived at the dealership and it is something special!

2013 C250 coupe

Black with Black Dinamica Interior and Aluminum Trim

MSRP $48890

Premium 1 Package

• iPod/MP3 Interface
• SiriusXM Radio
• harman/kardon LOGIC7 Surround sound
• Heated Front Seats

Leather Seating Package

• Leather upholstery on all seating surfaces
• 3-position memory for front passenger

Multimedia Package

• Navigation with 80 GB hard drive
• 10 GB Music Register
• Sirius XM Traffic and Weather
• Rear View Camera
• Voice Control

Sport Package Plus

• 18-inch AMG twin 7-spoke wheels
• Rear lip spoiler
• Exclusive-design front sport seats
• Black MB-Tex upholstery with DINAMICA inserts on seats and shift knob
• Red top-stitching throughout cabin
• Black floor mats with Red leather borders
• Red seat belts (Black seat belts optional for no charge)
• Flat-bottom performance steering wheel with Silver paddle shifters
• Racing-inspired suspension with constant-ratio Direct-steer system
• Larger, perforated 13.5″ front and 11.8″ rear brake discs
• Performance-tuned exhaust and transmission (with downshift rev-matching)

Lane Tracking Package

• Lane Keep Assist
• Blind Sport Monitor

This vehicle has just about all of the options available and is a great example of how custom the C250 can be! This car has the look of a designo package or AMG vehicle for just $2800 in the Sport Package Plus! These wheels are beautiful! We also received a Diamond Silver C250 coupe with these wheels and it was even more obvious that they were two-tone.

I included the two pictures of the COMAND screen because it seems to have changed colors. In the past it has been a retro looking yellow color. Now it appears to be black and white for a sleeker look. (This one is set to Italian. English is also an option, I checked.) Keep an eye out! These 2013 models are coming and there are some exciting new features!

Richard, a blog reader of of New York, just sent me these pictures of Mac II, his brand new C63 Black Series! What a looker! He replaced a 2010 C63 with the P31 Development Package and says that the Black Series is even louder! He also says the C63 Black Series is a great value for the performance you get…I hope his local dealer appreciates him!

The new iPad docking stations have been very successful lately and Mercedes-Benz has just released another option.

These docks simply clip-on to the headrest supports! No labor, no wiring, easy to move from car to car! They are available for most current models and there are two designs – one for iPad 1 and one for iPad 2/3. In my experience the iPad 1 dock will accomate the 2/3, just not as snugly.

The difference between these clip-on docking stations and the wired-in system is power. These are not wired into the car so the iPads would have to be charged outside of the vehicle or with a 12 volt charging cable. So, for $500 you can have two docks that do not charge or for $1200 you can have two that do. Choices!

• iPad 1 Docking Station: A218 820 0476 – $249
• iPad 2/3 Docking Station: A 218 820 0576 – $249

Several 2013 Mercedes-Benz models were released for sale this week!

• C250 coupe
• C350 coupe
• C350 4matic coupe
• C63 AMG coupe
• E350 4matic wagon
• E63 wagon
• E350 coupe
• E350 4matic coupe
• E550 coupe
• E350 cabriolet
• E550 cabriolet
• S550
• S550 4matic
• SL63 AMG
• SLK250 auto only
• SLK350

These models join the already released 2013 SL550. More models are scheduled for release next week!

Mercedes-Benz has announced the base pricing for most of our 2013 models! These numbers are before options and Destination & Delivery.

2013 C-Class:

• C250 sport sedan: $35,350
• C250 luxury sedan: $35,770
• C300 4matic sport sedan: $38,950
• C300 4matic luxury sedan: $39,360
• C350 sedan: $41,400
• C63 AMG sedan: $59,800
• C250 coupe: $37,800
• C350 coupe: $43,200
• C350 4Matic coupe: $45,200
• C63 AMG coupe: $62,330

2013 CL-Class:

• CL550: $115,300
• CL600: $160,300
• CL63 AMG: $153,000
• CL65 AMG: $213,200

2013 CLS-Class:

• CLS550: $72,000
• CLS550 4matic: $74,500
• CLS63 AMG: $95,900

2013 E-Class:

• E350 Bluetec sedan: $52,200
• E350 sedan: $51,000
• E350 4matic sedan: $53,500
• E400 Hybrid sedan: $55,800
• E550 4matic sedan: $60,400
• E63 AMG sedan: $89,800
• E350 4matic wagon: $57,700
• E63 AMG wagon: $92,400
• E350 cabriolet: $59,070
• E550 cabriolet: $66,220
• E350 coupe: $51,120
• E350 4matic coupe: $53,620
• E550 coupe: $57,960

2013 G-Class:

• G550: $113,000
• G63 AMG: $134,300

2013 GL-Class:

• GL350 Bluetec: $62,400
• GL450: $63,900
• GL550: $86,900
• GL63 AMG: TBD

2013 GLK-Class:

• GLK350 2WD: $37,090
• GLK350 4matic: $39,090
• GLK250 4matic Bluetec: TBD

2013 ML-Class:

• ML350 Bluetec 4matic: $51,270
• ML350 2WD: $47,270
• ML350 4matic: $49,770
• ML550 4matic: $58,800
• ML63 AMG: $96,100

2013 S-Class:

• S400 Hybrid: $92,350
• S350 Bluetec 4matic: $93,000
• S550: $95,000
• S550 4matic: $95,000
• S600: $160,300
• S63 AMG: $140,000
• S65 AMG: $212,000

2013 SL-Class:

• SL550: $105,500
• SL63 AMG: $145,800
• SL65 AMG: TBD

2013 SLK-Class

• SLK250: $42,900
• SLK350: $55,400
• SLK55 AMG: $67,990

This is a great little video by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reviewing how certain new safety systems have decreased insurance claims.

Video Wording translated to Mercedes-Benz Language:

• Forward Collision Avoidance Systems = Distronic PLUS with PRE SAFE Brake
• Adaptive headlights = Adaptive High Beam Assist
• Lane Departure Warning Systems = Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Departure Warning Systems that steer the car back = Active Lane Keep Assist