Mercedes-Benz: What's New for 2010?

2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: The smallest Mercedes sedan is largely unchanged for 2010. The C300, C350 and C63 AMG models all continue for the 2010 model year. The biggest new offering is a new optional Dynamic Handling package, which is available on rear-wheel-drive C300 and C350 models and includes active damping suspension, speed-sensitive steering ratio, 18-inch wheels and steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. Other new options include a rearview camera, keyless starting system, four-way power lumbar support and tilting parking mirror. The hot little C63 AMG looks to be getting a bit of a bump in horsepower thanks to the new SLS supercar. Or at least the C63 with the optional Performance package will get an additional 29 horsepower (up to 480 hp) thanks to lightweight internal engine parts and an ECU retuning.

2010 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class: Mercedes' big coupe also enters the 2010 model year with only detail changes. The two V8 models (CL550 and CL63 AMG) and the two V12 offerings (CL600 and CL65 AMG) continue into the new model year. All receive larger outside rearview mirrors, modified interior switches and multicolor ambient lighting. Further, they all get a new head unit with Bluetooth, USB and SD car sockets, 7.2-gig music memory, HD radio and Zagat hotel and golf ratings. The company will offer a limited "100th Anniversary of Mercedes-Benz Edition" CL550 4Matic. Why? We don't know.

2010 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class: R.I.P.

2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class: The vehicle that started the current "four-door coupe" craze continues into 2010 with no significant changes. Both the CLS550 and the CLS63 AMG receive premium leather steering wheels and an improved tire-pressure monitoring system along with available Palladium Silver paint.

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: The all-new E-Class is the ninth in the company's history. The newly squared-off sedan went on sale in June 2009 (in E350 and E550 forms). All-wheel drive arrives for the V6-powered E350 and V8-powered E550 sedans in September. The 518-hp high-performance E63 AMG (which nabs the SL63 AMG's engine and seven-speed automatic transmission) arrives in November. And, in early 2010, Mercedes will begin selling the E350 Bluetec version, powered by a turbodiesel V6 engine. The new E comes with a host of high-tech gadgets and doodads such as Nightview Assist with pedestrian detection (which is a bit of a gimmick), Adaptive High-Beam Assist (which is genuinely useful) and Lane Keeping Assist, blind-spot monitoring and Distronic Cruise Control with PreSafe Brake (which we have no particular feelings about). And beginning in June of 2010 Mercedes will begin selling the station wagon version of the new E-Class. It'll be available only in V6-powered E350 4Matic (read: all-wheel-drive) guise, at least at launch.

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe: Mercedes replaces the CLK-Class coupe with the E-Class coupe for 2010. Like the CLK, the E-Class coupe is based not on the new E-Class platform, but on the smaller C-Class platform. Although it is a modified C-Class platform with...oh, do you really care? The E-Class coupe, available for now in V6-powered E350 and V8-powered E550 forms, is a fine coupe regardless of which hard-points and floor pan pieces it shares with what other model. We expect a convertible version and possibly an AMG version in the not-too-distant future.

2010 Mercedes-Benz G-Class: The old warhorse is back for another year, again in G550 and G55 AMG versions. On the outside no one will notice that the 2010 now has body-colored door handles, new side molding, spare wheel cover, chrome accents and a sport-tuned exhaust. Inside, the 2010 version includes standard ambient lighting, a 115-volt power receptacle, leather dashboard and an updated key. Always wanted your G-Class in Palladium Silver? For 2010, you finally can. And like many Mercedes models for 2010, the G-Class gets an updated tire-pressure monitoring system.

2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: Mercedes-Benz has changed the name of the 50-state-legal turbodiesel model from GL320 Bluetec to GL350 Bluetec. In honor of the change, the diesel-powered model gets new 20-inch wheels. The GL350 Bluetec and gasoline V8-powered GL450 feature new headlamps and LED taillamps, front and rear bumpers, chrome skid plates and dual foglights or optional LED daytime running lights. The interior gets a couple of upgrades for 2010, too, such as ambient lighting and standard walnut trim. The GL450 gets new 19-inch wheels and the big-engine GL550 continues with new 21-inch wheels, ambient lighting, standard heated and ventilated front seats, trapezoidal tailpipes and standard LED daytime running lights. The GL also sees the debut of Mercedes' PostSafe system, which automatically unlocks doors and shuts down engine and fuel systems after an accident. Palladium Silver and Steel Grey are the two new colors for 2010.

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class: The smallest of Mercedes' fleet of SUV-like vehicles arrived as an early 2010 model in January of 2009. There are a few midyear changes to catalog here, though. Like many other Mercedes models for 2010, the GLK350 gets a premium leather steering wheel, a new tire-pressure monitoring system and Palladium Silver paint. New options include a tilting parking mirror, parking assist added to the optional rearview camera, Sirius Traffic and keyless start.

2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class: The ML450 hybrid debuts for 2010 with a full-hybrid system, estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg city and 24 mpg highway and 19-inch wheels. The ML450 is the result of Mercedes' parent Daimler hooking up with GM and BMW to develop two-mode hybrid technology. It is therefore similar to the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid and the upcoming BMW X6 Active Hybrid. It goes on sale in December of 2009. But Mercedes hasn't gone all hybrid on us. The company still offers a diesel-powered ML which, like other M-B diesels, has been renamed ML350 Bluetec from ML320 Bluetec. The conventional V8-powered ML550 and the gas-hungry high-performance MK63 AMG model continue unchanged. All models get a premium leather steering wheel, upgraded tire-pressure monitoring system, PostSafe system (which unlocks doors and shuts down fuel and engine systems after an accident), and standard burl walnut interior trim.

2010 Mercedes-Benz R-Class: This unloved crossover/minivan mash-up continues into 2010 with the same changes as many other 2010 Mercedes models. For example, the diesel-powered R320 Bluetec has been renamed the R350 Bluetec. The diesel also gets standard chrome trim, blue-tinted glass and darkened taillight lenses. The gas-powered R350 gets larger 19-inch wheels, privacy glass and darkened taillight lenses. Also new for 2010: premium leather steering; a new tire-pressure monitoring system; PostSafe system, which unlocks doors and shuts down engine and fuel systems after an accident; and, of course, Palladium Silver and Grey Steel paint.

2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class: The biggest news for the venerable S-Class large sedan lineup is the addition of the S400 mild hybrid model. Mercedes estimates that, thanks to the use of the world's first lithium-ion battery designed exclusively for automotive use, the 295-hp S400 Hybrid should achieve an estimated 29 mpg. The whole S-Class lineup gets an almost imperceptible face-lift for 2010 that includes subtle changes to the grille, bumpers, headlights, taillights and larger side mirrors. Like the CL-Class, the S-Class gets a new head unit with integrated Bluetooth, HD radio, USB and SD card sockets, a 7.2-gigabyte hard drive and Zagat hotel and golf rating information. All S-Classes get a new tire-pressure monitoring system, variable-ratio Direct Steer system and standard wood-and-napa-leather steering wheel. The interior gets new multicolor ambient lighting, new seat design and wood trim and an optional rear-seat entertainment system. New colors are Diamond White and Palladium Silver.

2010 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: Both V8-powered SL roadster/coupe models (SL550 and SL63 AMG) and both V12-powered SL models (SL600 and SL65 AMG) continue into 2010 unchanged.

2010 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class: The little roadster/coupe is largely unchanged for 2010, still available in SLK300, SLK350 and SLK55 AMG versions. All of them get a premium leather steering wheel, an improved tire-pressure monitoring system and a Steel Grey paint option for 2010. The company will offer a limited-edition SLK300 Diamond White Edition, which may sound like perfume once hawked by Elizabeth Taylor but is, in fact an SLK300 painted white, with a two-tone interior, sport suspension, 18-inch wheels, steering-wheel shift paddles, black headlamp inlays, a wind blocker and various other standard features.

2010 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren: R.I.P.

2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: Mercedes reached back to its roots to bring forth its new sports car. The front-engine two-seat rear-drive sports car might be called the SLS AMG, but it will forever be known as the Gullwing. That's, of course, because of its two roof-hinged doors that call to mind the 300SL "Gullwing" of the '50s. The 571-hp dry-sump 6.2-liter V8 motor should be able to motivate the aluminum-intensive Gullwing with more than adequate force. The SLS's engine is mated to a rear-mounted dual-clutch gearbox by an aluminum torque tube and a carbon-fiber driveshaft. The best part? The SLS doesn't look like the now-dead SLR, the Las Vegas of supercars. It's technically a 2011 model, but the SLS goes on sale in April of 2010.