Mercedes-Benz revealed its hydrogen-powered gullwing F 125! luxury car concept, offering a glimpse at what the company’s vehicles will look like in the year 2025.

The F 125! – named for Mercedes-Benz’s 125th anniversary – illustrates the company’s styling direction for the next decade and beyond while also highlighting Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to developing hydrogen-powered technology. Mercedes foresees a range of 1,000 km (621 miles) for the F 125! thanks to the combination of the car’s fuel cell drive system and plug-in technology. Helping to increase the range is a new hydrogen storage unit which integrates the hydrogen tank with the floor assembly. In addition to the hydrogen storage unit, the F 125! uses a 10 kWh lithium-sulfur battery stored behind the rear seats. The battery can provide enough power for a range of 50 km (31 miles).

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Insiders have revealed that Mercedes-Benz is testing banana wood as a trim on the next S-Class and that all wood veneers are 100 percent real. Exotic materials such as silk and cashmere are also being considered.

The current S-Class is becoming somewhat long-in-the-tooth, compared to the recently released Audi A8 and BMW 7-Series. Mercedes-Benz has prepared to launch the next-gen S-Class vehicle, to combat the rivals, sometime next year as a 2013 model. The designers and engineers are working to make the materials more durable for everyday use, which is a smartl idea considering what buyers expect from a $100,000 car.

[Souce: egm Car Tech]

To celebrate the 60 years that have passed since Mercedes first introduced the S-Class to the market, AMG has helped develop the 2012 S-Class Grand Edition.

The S-Class Grand Edition package will be available on the S250 CDI, S350 BlueTEC and the S350 BlueEFFICIENCY models in Europe. Each model will retain its stock power, with 204-hp from the S250 CDI, 258-hp from the S350 BlueTEC and 306-hp from the S350 BlueEFFICIENCY.

The exterior of the Grand Edition features a new front spoiler with LED daytime running lights and a new lower air intake. Side skirts and a new rear bumper with a rear apron round off the aesthetic modifications. The Grand Edition will also come with 19-inch AMG wheels while braking will feature 8-piston calipers in the front and 6-piston calipers in the rear.

For the inside, the steering wheel features leather, while the pedals have been swapped out for stainless steel pieces. Wood styling inserts are also used throughout the interior.

GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz 2012 S-Class Grand Edition

One of the new technologies set to debut in the 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is called Magic Body Control.

As good as current high-tech suspension systems are, reacting in milliseconds and predicting what’s ahead based on driver inputs, Magic Body Control will actually see the road. Utilizing two cameras to scan the road it can compensate surface irregularities milliseconds before the car encounters them. The cameras scan the area 15 to 45 feet in front of the car, and can detect and measure imperfections as small as 0.4 to 0.8 inches at speed of up to 80 mph.

Another technology set to debut on the new S-Class (complete with it’s own trademark three part Mercedes name) is Magic Light Control, which adds full LED headlamps with light levels that vary with speed, weather and steering angle.

The 2012 S-Class is reported to be offered in four body styles, including both a coupe and a convertible.

[Source: Car Magazine]

While the majority of Americans are cutting back and looking for cars that save money while delivering maximum mpgs, the affluent in China continue to ignore price tags on vehicles they really, really want.

Lorinser, a premium Mercedes-Benz tuner, decided to get their feet wet in the Chinese market by taking their new S-Class-based S70 flagship to Auto Shanghai in China. They also decided to attach a $740,000 price tag to the 810-hp S-Class and of course, it sold.

Even though many have wondered how aftermarket manufacturers will do in China, it’s clear that it shouldn’t be that big of a concern. What will be even more interesting to see is whether more aftermarket tuners follow Lorinser’s path by reaching out to Chinese consumers directly with fully built automobiles complete extravagant price tags.

[Source: China Car Times]

Continuing to expand their already impressive portfolio of tuning Mercedes-Benz vehicles, Brabus has now introduced an engine tuning program for the new V8 biturbo powerplants from Mercedes, which includes the newest S550 and CL550, S63 and CL63 AMG. Power output from the new performance kits can reach 620-hp and 737 ft-lbs of torque and comes backed with a 62,000 mile warranty.

There are several different stages to Brabus’ PowerXtra CGI performance kits with pricing varying from $7,200 to $8,700. Your choice of kit depends on which V8 biturbo powerplant you’re sporting and is essentially an ECU reflash. In addition, enthusiasts can purchase a Brabus sport exhaust system with exhaust control. With a push of a button, your Mercedes can go from “Coming Home” mode to “Sport” mode.

In addition, further performance can be had with Brabus’ limited-slip differential upgrade. Exterior modifications can also be added to your package with carbon fiber aerodynamic accessories. And of course you can choose to outfit your Mercedes with any of Brabus’ 19- to 21-inch wheels.

GALLERY: Brabus PowerXtra CGI Performance Kits

We knew it was just a matter of time once Apple introduced its next-generation of products (most noticeably the iPad 2) that Brabus would be updating their iBusiness package on Mercedes-Benz‘s S-Class luxury sedan. Geared towards becoming the world’s fastest mobile office, Brabus stepped up their game some more on their Brabus 800 iBusiness 2.0 demo car, pushing out 800-hp and 1,047 ft-lbs of torque, giving it a top speed of 219-mph.

The heart of the iBusiness 2.0 is essentially in the excess use of Apple technology throughout the cabin. A Mac Mini is installed in a leather-lined tray in the trunk, connected to a 15.2-inch TFT display that is revealed from the alcantara headliner. The display is also hooked up to be an auxiliary display to the two iPad 2s that can be found on the adjustable custom tables found behind each front seat. Along with each tablet is an Apple bluetooth keyboard, giving its passengers full control to work on the road.

An Internet connection is always ready on the go also thanks to Brabus outfitting the S-Class with UMTS and HDSPA networking. Brabus has even developed their own app, allowing the iPad 2s in the backseat to control Mercedes’ COMAND system that’s normally taken care of by the front driver and passenger. Oh yeah, a 64GB iPod Touch can be found in the rear center console to adjust what tunes are being blasted through the S-Class or Sennheiser’s Noise Gard headphones.

The iBusiness 2.0 conversion is available for any S-Class model, from the S 350 to the S 65. Obviously the gaudy 800-hp is only available for the twin-turbo V12, but hey, some people might rather get to their destination a little slower with all the gadgets available to them. Angry Birds anyone?

Official press release available after the break.

GALLERY: Brabus iBusiness 2.0 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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Those looking to modify Mercedes-Benz‘s S-Class should do so with caution. A luxury sedan with the prestige of Mercedes’ S-Class shouldn’t sport any extreme modifications and it looks like Inden Design has taken notes. Designed by Joachim Inden, the S500 sedan received a facelift from an S65 AMG with some very detailed modifications, making it a very clean and complete package.

Along with the S65 AMG front end, Inden Design further modified the front end, side skirts and rear diffuser to reflect their style. Daytime running lights were also installed while the taillights and mirrors were refinished. Accent the entire package with a charcoal-gray matte wrap and you’ve got one clean luxury sedan.

Not surprisingly, Inden Design also went to work underneath the hood, giving their S-Class the power to back up its good looks. Horsepower is now 420-hp, up from 306-hp. No real details were released on how the power gain was achieved, but Inden Design does disclose that the vehicle sports a new stainless steel exhaust system featuring AMG tailpipes.

Brakes were swapped in from an S600 model while a set of 20-inch wheels adorn each corner. The vehicle was then lowered just shy of 2-inches to complete the aesthetics.

Inside, the S-Class receives more luxury refinement with the A, B and C Pillars, headliner, dashboard and door panels reupholstered in two-tone leather and black Alcantara. The wood accents have been replaced with black carbon counterparts.

No pricing was announced.

Official press release available after the break.

GALLERY: Inden Design Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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Apparently the adage of “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” stuck with some Brabus engineers. The famed Mercedes-Benz tuner is apparently a huge fan of Cupertino’s prized child stuffing a modified 750-hp Mercedes-Benz S-Class with every Apple product they possibly could.

We won’t get into much details on the actual engine and aesthetic modifications since it’s run-of-the-mill Brabus and is actually old news for the S-Class, but rather the nerd in us can’t even count how many Apple components are in the vehicle. The headliner has been integrated with a 15.2-inch TFT display with screens in the back of each front headrest. USB ports are integrated into the rear compartment to allow hook-up of any other devices while UMTS and HSDPA provides wireless Internet. We’re not quite sure how that will translate over to America since T-Mobile is just now launching HSDPA+, but we’re guessing you lucky Sprint 4G users can just WiMAX your phone and provide all the passengers with fast Internet.

A paid of iPads can control the entire Brabus multimedia system along with the car’s Command system, tying-in full functionality with the factory radio, navigation and phone. And possibly taking a note out of Rolls-Royce’s design handbook, Brabus outfits the S-Class with two tablet computers with Bluetooth keyboards that fit comfortably in the Brabus rear tables. There’s plenty of space in these infinitely adjustable tables, giving room for documents, a mouse and/or keyboard.

And best of all, special compartments were designed to hide all of these Apple components from plain sight when you leave your vehicle. Brabus says that the multimedia system can be offered in any S-Class from the S350 to the S65.

GALLERY: Brabus Mercedes-Benz iBusiness S-Class

Official press release available after the break:

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Following in the foot steps of the CL63 uber-coupe, Mercedes-Benz‘s S63 AMG, aka God’s own chariot, is back for 2011 with a downsized engine that makes more power and consumes less fuel.

Packing the all new 5.5L twin turbo V8, the S63 will put out between 544 horsepower and 571 horsepower with the optional AMG performance pack. M0st incredible is the combined 22 mpg Mercedes-Benz claims will be achieved with the new motor and their new AMG Speedshift 7-speed automatic, which uses a clutch pack rather than a traditional torque converter to put the power to the ground.

Fun new technology includes a system called Torque Vector Braking which works to reduce understeer and “automatic crosswind stabilization”, for those times when the wind will blow around a 2.5 ton Teutonic brute on the highway. A 1200 watt Bang & Olfusen stereo will help you play Wagner as you pass traffic in the right lane.

For those who enjoy collecting endangered animal pelts and consider offshore banking a hobby, the S65 AMG returns again with a 6.5L twin turbo V12 making a belligerent 630 horsepower and 737 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes-Benz didn’t state whether the S65 will come with Torque Vector Braking, but if it does, the top 1% should be able to enjoy some tail-out shennaigans when the car goes on sale later this year.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG