Mercedes-Benz European Delivery is always a popular option for taking delivery of a new vehicle! There are so many benefits!

The European Delivery Program Spring Special Promotion has begun. For a limited time customers who take delivery between May 1 and June 30, 2010 will receive a 2nd night hotel accommodation, courtesy of Mercedes-Benz. There is also available 2-for-1 airfare from Lufthansa through the Mercedes-Benz travel department.

Model Year 2011 European Delivery Launch Dates:*

E350 & E550 Cabriolet   May 17, 2010

CLS and SLK-Class   June 21, 2010

C, GLK and E-Class   July 19, 2010

SL550, SL63 AMG   February 22, 2010

S-Class   November 15, 2010

*Launch dates are subject to change should there be a delay in the US retail release dates.

The European Delivery Program would like 90-120 days notice but there are ways to speed up the process! Please get in touch if you are interested in the program. You should also read my European Delivery customer testimonial to get another take on the benefits of this program.

Here is the information from the preliminary Dealer Ordering Guide for the 2010 E-Class Coupe. This is a preliminary version and is subject to change at any point. Pricing has not been announced.

New Model Highlights:
Styling shared with 2010 E sedan
2-Door pillarless coupe
LED tail lamps
V6 and V8 engines optimized for fuel economy
Standard panoramic sunroof!
Agility control suspension
HOLD convenience braking function
Attention Assist – driver drowsiness monitor standard
Available Back-up Camera (P1)
Standard split-folding rear seats
Standard heated seats
Standard COMAND PLUS with central controller includes:
7″ LCD screen
6 CD/DVD changer
Bluetooth

Colors:
040 – Black (non-metallic)
590 – Mars Red (non-metallic)
650 – Arctic White (non-metallic)
197 – Obsidian Black
230 – Quartz Blue (new)
359 – Capri Blue
723 – Pewter
755 – Steel Grey
775 – Iridium Silver
792 – Palladium Silver
963 – Indium Grey

Interiors:
E350 and E550:
Standard Leather: Black, Almond Beige, Ash
Premium Leather: Black, Almond Beige, Ash

Premium 1 Package:
(standard on E550 coupe)
COMAND system with hard-drive Navigation
Sirius Satellite Radio
HD Digital Radio
harman/kardon surround sound
iPod/MP3 Media Interface
6 GB hard-drive with Music Register
Enhanced Voice Control
Heated Front Seats
Rear-View Camera (new)
Power rear sunshade

Premium 2 Package:
All components of Premium 1
Bi-Xenon Headlamps with active curve illumination
Keyless-Go
Heated and Active Ventilated front seats

Sport Package:
18″ AMG twin 6-spoke
Sport Bodystyling – spoiler, exhaust tips, front air dam, side skits and rear apron
Sport steering wheel with gearshift paddles

Distronic Plus Package:
Distronic Plus
Advanced parking guidance

Stand Alone Options:
Wood/Leather Steering Wheel
COMAND with HDD navigation
Heated Seats

Atlanta Classic Cars should receive a demonstration E-Class Coupe & E-Class Sedan around Memorial Day.

E350 and E550 Coupe will be available at launch in June
E550 Coupe will have “aggressive Sport body styling”

E350 and E550 Sedan will be available at launch in July
There will be Sport and Luxury versions

4MATIC and AMG Sedans will come in the Fourth Quarter

Special E550 Coupe Launch Edition:
Only 375 units
Olivine Grey Paint
Natural Beige/Black Premium Leather

10 CD update set is now available from Mercedes.
Part # BQ 646 0248

C & CLK 2000 – 2004
CL & S 2000 – 2003
E Sedan 2000 – 2002
E Wagon 2000 – 2003
G 2002 – 2006
SL 2002 – 2004

– Call your local Mercedes-Benz Parts Department or if you’re in the Alanta Metro Area please call the Atlanta Classic Cars Parts Department at 678-924-4245.

These are the first official pictures of the 2010 E-Class Coupe that is due to arrive in the US this summer. It strongly resembles the 2010 E-Class sedan that is due around the same time. It has the same twin-headlamp design, “pontoon” reminiscent rear-end and received the same much needed technology upgrade to the navigation and entertainment systems. It will continue to have the stunning B-pillarless side windows that have always been my favorite part of the CLK coupe. For this new model they have taken that one step further with the addition of the panoramic roof.

The E-Class Coupe will have the lowest drag coefficient of any production vehicle at just .24. This low drag will help the E-Class coupe to be more fuel efficient. We are expecting to receive the 3.5 liter V6 and the 5.5 liter V8 in the US, although several other diesel engines will be available in Europe.

While a coupe isn’t practical for everyone, this is going to be a gorgeous vehicle that deserves strong consideration if 2 doors are enough for you! Look for the official debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March and then the New York Auto Show in April.

The slideshow below contains the first official pictures of the 2010 E-Class Coupe. Please contact me if you want to secure your spot on Atlanta Classic Cars’ waiting list for this new vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz is making things simpler by renaming the CLK coupe and cabriolet into the E-Class coupe and cabriolet. The Coupe will arrive in the US as a 2010 model in mid 2009. The Cabriolet will follow in about a year. Until the cabriolet is released the current CLK cabriolet will continue to be built. I look forward to having an E-Class sedan, coupe and cabriolet in our line-up! I think it will help to stabilize residual values for the coupe and cabriolet and will ensure that they have the same technology upgrades that the E-Class sedan gets regularly. In the past, the CLK has been a little neglected in the technology department.

These spy pictures of the coupe look fantastic. The hood and front headlights really look like the CL and the side view of our coupes is always stunning!

For Model Year 2009 Mercedes-Benz has announced the CLK Grand Edition for both the Coupe and Cabriolet. We have seen Grand Editions in the last year of a body style before as a way for Mercedes to raise the value of the outgoing model. With unique color combinations and options, the Grand Edition is usually a stunning vehicle at a very attractive price. Each dealership will only be allocated one of these vehicles automatically and must qualify to receive more. Please do let me know if you are interested.

The CLK Grand Edition is equipped with a unique interior including:

• Tobacco brown leather with contrast stitching on seats, headrests, and door inserts
• Black floormats with Grand Edition badging
• Sport Steering Wheel with Gearshift Paddles
• Rubber-studded aluminum pedals
• Exterior enhancements for the CLK Grand Edition include:
• 18″ AMG 5-spoke light alloy wheels
• Sport bodystyling
• Perforated brake discs with “Mercedes-Benz” calipers
• Engraved aluminum Grand Edition badges mounted on each flank

The Premium 1 Package (P01), DVD Navigation (530), and Bluetooth Hands Free Communication Kit (050) are included to provide the most popular options including SIRIUS satellite radio and iPod integration.

While all CLK Grand Editions incorporate the above equipment, the Coupe and Cabriolet are distinguished from each other:

CLK350 Grand Edition Coupe:

• Palladium Silver Metallic paint
• Brushed Aluminum interior trim
• 400 units production
• $57,950 MSRP (including destination and delivery charge of $875)

CLK350 Grand Edition Cabriolet:

• Diamond White Metallic paint
• Dark Ash Wood interior trim
• 600 units production
• $66,950 MSRP (including destination and delivery charge of $875)

Owners of 2008 and newer Mercedes can now add “The Best of XM” to their existing account. However, some vehicles will require a trip to the shop for updated software.

If you have a 2008 or 2009 S/CL-Class or a 2009 SL/SLK/E/CLS/M/R/GL-Class with a Command head unit your software update should be available mid-October.

If you have a 2008 E/CLS/SLK-Class with a Command head unit the software update is currently being tested and they are hoping to have it available by the beginning of November.

All other 2008 and 2009 vehicles should receive “The Best of XM” without a software update.

This concept car, the Mercedes-Benz ConceptFASCINATION, is set to debut in Paris in October. It looks like a coupe/R-Class hybrid to me. More important than what this car is, is what it might show us about the 2010 E-Class and CLK Coupe.

We know that the E-Class is expected to maintain the 4-headlight look but become more angular like the new S, C and SL. This concept car is using a very SL style grille along with the 4-headlight look. I like this depiction of the 4 headlights much better than some of the renderings I have seen.

Our next new vehicle debut will be the BlueTEC diesel SUV’s in October, the GLK small SUV in January and then 2010 E and CLK Coupe next summer.