Here are some of the changes that are coming to the 2011 models.

C-Class

• Sport sedans now feature LED Daytime Running Lamps and black headlamp inlays
• Enhanced P1 package includes split folding rear seat and rear sunshade
• Heated Seats removed from Premium 1 Package
• New Lighting Package with Bi-Xenons and active curve illumination
• New standard 17” wheel for C350 sport

CL-Class

• Refresh! New bumpers, hood, fenders, grille, headlamps, and taillights
• LED daytime running lights standard
• Driver Assist Package updated with Active Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist
• New standard 18” wheel
• Magnetite Black exterior color added (black base with metallic flake)
• Sahara Beige/Black interior color added

CLS-Class

• Sport body styling, sport steering wheel and 18” AMG wheels now standard

E-Class

• Bluetec arrives in late summer with 17” run-flats, sport or luxury
• Active Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist added to Driver Assist Package in E350/E550 sedans
• E63 gets alcantara headliner and stitched dash as standard
• Diamond White available starting in October production
• Wagon is standard with rear view camera and power liftgate
• Coupe gets new 18” AMG wheel in Appearance Package
• Cabriolet introduced with AIRCAP, AIRSCARF and trunk pass through

SUV Family

• New Mirror Design
• Blind Spot Assist Available (not on GLK)
• New Rear View Monitor reduces fish-eye effect
• Compass in rear view mirror – M/GL/R
• Diamond White paint available in October (not GLK)
• Barolo Red and Sand Beige discontinued (M/GL/R)

GL-Class

• GL550 gets a facelift
• New head restraints in 2^nd and 3^rd row
• Passenger seat memory added to P1

GLK-Class

• Driver Knee and front passenger airbags added as standard (9 total)
• LED daytime running lamps in lighting package
• Eco mode replaces Comfort mode
• Pearl Beige paint replaces Sand Beige paint

G-Class

• New wheel design
• Night Black paint added (matte)
• Tail lamp covers and turn signal covers deleted

M-Class

• LED daytime running lamps with bi-xenon headlamps
• ML63 gets new hood and headlights

R-Class

• Refresh!
• New from the A-pillar forward – fenders, grille, hood, bumpers, LEDs
• New 19” wheel
• New LED tail lamps
• New Rear bumper
• New seat design

S-Class

• S63 gets all-new 5.5 litre direct injection bi-turbo V8
• Contrast stitching with Premium and Exclusive upholstery
• Active Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist added to Driver Assist Package
• Optional Bang & Olufsen BeoSound surround-souns system with 15 speakers, 1200 watts and 16-channel digital signal processing
• Magnetite Black exterior color added (black base with metallic flake)
• Sahara Beige/Black interior color added

SLK-Class

• Sport Body Cladding added as standard
• Quartz Blue paint added
• No SLK55 AMG

Mercedes-Benz has launched a new accessory for the GL-Class – The Illumination Kit for Side Running Boards (Code 267). This kit has 4 LEDs on each side that illuminate the running board for both style and safety. The price for this option is $650 and it is installed at the Vehicle Preparation Center before being shipped to the dealership. To order this option the vehicle must also be ordered with the Side Running Boards (Code 846).

It is an exciting time here at the dealership…the 2010 models are arriving! There is nothing I enjoy more than parking a 2009 next to a 2010 and looking for the differences. Some models have only tiny changes this year and some have the “refresh” – which is usually new bumpers, lights, a few buttons and new wheels. I have included a few pictures of the changes that jumped out at me.

2010 ML550

2010 GL550 – New Bumpers, New Wheels, New Lighting

2010 GL450 – New Bumpers, New Wheels, New Fog Lights

2010 C300 – New Laurel Wreath Center Cap in Optional 18″ wheels

2010 S550 – Full Refresh – New Lights, Bumpers, New Wood Steering Wheel

2010 E-Class – New Color – Quartz Blue

The 2010 GLK, E sedan and E coupe are already here and the rest of the 2010 models will be arriving soon. Mercedes-Benz has just given us the official pricing and release dates.

Model	Release Date	Base Price
C300 Sport/Luxury	July	$33,600/$35,300
C300 Sport/Luxury – 4MATIC	July	$37,100/$37,300
C350 Sport	August	$39,750
C63 AMG	August	$57,350
CL550 4MATIC	August	$110,400
CL600	August	$154,400
CL63AMG	August	$145,200
CL65 AMG	August	$207,170
CLS550	September	$72,400
CLS63 AMG	September	$97,950
E350 BlueTEC	March 2010	TBA
E350 4MATIC Sport/Luxury	Late August	$51,100
E550 4MATIC Sport/Luxury	Late August	$58,800
GL350 BlueTEC	September	$59,950
GL450 4MATIC	July	$60,950
GL550 4MATIC	August	$82,850
ML350 BlueTEC	September	$49,700
ML350 4MATIC	July	$48,200
ML350 2WD	July	$45,700
ML450 HYBRID	December	TBA
ML550 4MATIC	August	$56,750
ML63 AMG 4MATIC	August	$91,050
R350 BlueTEC	September	$50,800
R350 4MATIC	September	$49,300
S400 HYBRID	August	$87,950
S550	August	$91,600
S550 4MATIC	August	$94,600
S600	August	$149,700
S63AMG	August	$133,550
S65 AMG	August	$201,150
SLK300	October	$46,900
SLK350	October	$51,900
SLK55 AMG	October	$66,650

For those of you who have been trying to decide between a 2009 and a 2010 this should help.

The Dealer Ordering Guide for the 2010 GL-Class was recently updated with some good pictures of the new bumpers and details on the packages and pricing. We expect Mercedes to release the GL350 BlueTEC and GL450 in September and the GL550 in August.

New in the GL:
Facelifted front and rear bumpers
LED taillamps and daytime running lamps
Chrome roofline and windowsill molding
Chrome loadsill for scratch protection
Ambient lighting
3D instrument cluster (?)
Ventilated seats available for the GL350 BlueTEC/GL450 – standard on GL550
Parking support passenger mirror returns in Premium 1 Package
Burl Walnust wood replaces Birdseye Maple as standard
Palladium Silver and Steel Grey paint available
Light Burl Birch wood available

Packages:
Premium 1 Package: GL350 BlueTEC/GL450: $3,950 – GL550: Standard
Auto Dimming Mirrors
COMAND with Hard-Drive Navigation
Voice Control
Gracenote Media Database
HD Digital Radio
iPod/MP3 Media Interface
Memory Driver Seat
Power Folding Mirrors
Power Tailgate
Power Steering Column
Rear View Camera
Sirius and Sirius Traffic
115V AC Power Outlet
4GB Hard-drive for Music Register

Premium 2 Package: GL350 BlueTEC/GL450: $5,950, GL550: Standard
All of Premium 1
harman/kardon Logic 7 Surround Sound
Keyless-Go

Full Leather Package: GL350 BlueTEC/GL450: $1,900 – GL550: Standard
Ambient Lighting
Confort Headrests
Premium Interior Lighting
Leather Upholstery

Lighting Package: GL350 BlueTEC/GL450: $970 – GL550: N/A
Bi-Xenon Headlamps with active curve illumination
Headlamp Washing System
LED daytime running lamps

GL Appearance Package: $1410 GL450, GL350 BlueTEC/GL550: N/A
Brushed aluminum running boards with rubber studs
20″ twin 5-spoke alloy wheels with all-season run flats

Stand alone options:
Parktronic – $790
Wood Steering Wheel – $580
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats – $560
Heated Steering Wheel – $220
Trailer Hitch (7500 lbs) – $540
3-Zone Climate Control – $1430
Crossbars in Chrome – $310
Running Boards – $660
Rear Seat Entertainment System – $1880
Heated Rear Seats – $610

Most of these models have had some major upgrades in the last few years so they will only receive relatively minor changes for 2010.

New on the 2010 CLS:
P15 – AMG Wheel and Sound Enhancement Package
– 19″ AMG twin 5-spoke forged light alloy wheels
– AMG high-end surround sound system with 12 studio loudspeakers, ICEpower amplifiers and 705 watt output
New paint: Palladium Silver
Pewter Paint deleted

New on the 2010 CL:
New Direct-steer system
Improved selection of Sport mode for transmission and suspension
New mirrors with arrow-shaped LED indicators
New paint: Palladium Silver
New multi-color ambient lighting
New Night View Assist PLUS with pedestrian detection
New Active Body Control (ABC) with crosswind stabilization
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring system
Rear view camera (P2 Package)
Standard Bluetooth – no adaptor required
Sport Package PLUS one
– Sport bodystyling (front and rear bumpers, side skirts)
– 20″ AMG 5-spoke wheels with all-season tires

New on the 2010 SL:
Standard Bluetooth – no adaptor required
Direct-steer system

New on the 2010 GL:
GL320 Bluetec renamed GL350 Bluetec
Palladium Silver Paint is in, Pewter is out
Ventilated front seats now available in GL450 with Appearance package
Redesigned seat materials with piping

New on the 2010 R:
R320 Bluetec renames R350 Bluetec
Palladium Silver Paint is in, Pewter is out
7-seat option removed from Premium 1 – now stand alone option

New on the 2010 SLK:
New 17″ twin 5-spoke wheels for SLK300
Diamond White Edition SLK300 gets 18″ AMG two-tone wheels
New color: 230 Indigolith blue (really Mercedes? Indigolith?)

New on the 2010 G:
Bluetooth connectivity and voice control
Rear park assist
Stainless steel grille guard in chrome
New paint: Palladium Silver

The Alternative Motor Vehicle credit (30b) that can be used to get a tax credit for purchasing one of our diesel SUVs has been improved by the stimulus bill. You can now claim the full credit amount regardless of your personal tax situation and income. This change applies to BlueTEC SUVs purchased after January 1st, 2009.

Important notes on the tax credit:
Must be purchased, not leased
The credit is claimed on your Income Tax Returns, not at time of sale
The upcoming ML450 and S400 hybrids will qualify for the same program, amounts to be determined.
Toyota/Lexus are no longer eligible for these credits
2009 ML320 BlueTEC qualifies for $900 credit
2009 GL320 BlueTEC qualifies for $1800 credit
2009 R320 BlueTEC qualifies for $1550 credit

The power liftgate has been a very popular feature on the ML, R and GL. Previously the liftgate had two settings – open fully, or the “limited” position that stopped it only a little bit open. The “limited” position did stop the liftgate from hitting cargo on the roof of the vehicle but made it difficult to access things in the cargo area.

You can now program the power liftgate to stop at any height you choose! This would be very useful for people who can’t reach the button on the liftgate itself when it is in the fully open position and for people with a lower ceiling in the garage. I know that if I have my garage door up and open the liftgate it will hit the door. This will solve that problem. All you have to do is open the liftgate to the height you like, hold down the button on the liftgate until you hear a chime and let go. From now on the liftgate will open to your custom height! To go back to the fully open setting, hold the power liftgate button down until the chime sounds twice. Very easy…and very useful!

Mercedes-Benz has sent us a 2009 ML320 BlueTEC and a 2009 GL320 BlueTEC to test drive for the next month. You might notice them on the road with their…distinctive wrapping. I went for a spin in the GL320 BlueTEC yesterday. I wanted to see how the 20″ run-flat tires impacted the ride quality. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the ride was as comfortable as it has ever been. I think Mercedes took great care to compensate for the run-flats with the suspension set up. Also, the 20″ size is not too big. It almost feels more suited to the size of the GL that the 18″ wheels did.

You can learn more at the Mercedes BlueTEC site or come in and see for yourself!