The German-born Lieb began his career with Mercedes-Benz in Canada in 1985 and became CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada in 1995, succeeding Halata. He ran Mercedes-Benz Canada until 2003 and is credited with building sales momentum. In 2003, he took over as CEO of DaimlerChrysler Australia/Pacific in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. He not only ran Mercedes-Benz sales and distribution in the region but also sales of the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands and DaimlerChrysler's trucks. Like Halata, Lieb will be responsible for the sales, marketing and service of Mercedes-Benz and Maybach vehicles in the United States, and also parts and accessories. Halata, 55, renewed his contract with Mercedes-Benz a year ago and was to have stayed through 2009. The Czech-born executive began his career with Mercedes-Benz Canada in 1972. In 1989, he was promoted to the top Canadian job, which he held until 1995. In 1995, Halata was named senior vice president of sales and marketing for the commercial van division in Europe. In 1997 he was appointed president of Mercedes-Benz UK, a job he held for two years. Mercedes-Benz sales in the United States rose from 189,437 vehicles in 1999 to 224,269 vehicles in 2005. But in 2001, archrival BMW passed Mercedes in U.S. sales. BMW has remained the top-selling German brand.

Richard Hammond from Top Gear reviews the G55 AMG, and has many good things to say about it.

Technology Index Leaders:

1. BMW, 100 points

2. Mercedes-Benz, 96

3. Cadillac, 91

4. Lexus, 88

5. Infiniti, 86

6. Jaguar, 80

7. Acura, 77

8. Land-Rover, 73

9. Audi, 72

10. Chevrolet, 69

11. Lincoln, 53

11. Nissan, 53

13. Toyota, 52

14. Dodge, 46

15. Chrysler, 43

16. Honda, 42

16. Volkswagen, 42

16. Volvo, 42

19. Jeep, 40

20. Ford, 36

21. Hyundai, 22

FRANKFURT, July 17 (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler's luxury brand Mercedes-Benz will shift all production of its C-Class Sports coupe to its Brazilian plant in Juiz de Fora where it already builds the saloon version, the company said on Monday. Assembly will begin in the first quarter of next year. The model will mainly be exported to its core European market, according to the company. German media had speculated in the past whether Daimler would have to close the plant after its A-Class car proved unsuccessful in the local market and plans were scrapped to build the Smart ForMore compact offroader there. Juiz de Fora ceased production of the A-Class compact last year and now only assembles C-Class saloons for export to the United States. Global sales of the C-Class Sports coupe sank 29 percent to 33,000 cars last year, representing only about 3 percent of total brand vehicle sales worldwide. Volkswagen also builds its Fox subcompact in Brazil but exports to Europe generate losses due mainly to the appreciation of the Real.

A generously sized panoramic glass roof with a manually operated roller-type sunblind, cruise control, fog lamps, stowage boxes beneath the driver and front passenger seats and an Aux-In socket (Audio 20 upwards) for connecting external devices such as an Apple iPod® or MP3 player. Further features available as part of the Active package include the Light and Sight package with rain sensor and automatically activated headlamps.

"A disappointing race as the car was handling really well. We were lacking the speed to win, but I lost a few tenths in the second pit-stop which cost me fourth place today, so we definitely could have done better today. The car is steadily improving and we have further developments at the next test so we now look forward to the next race at Hockenheim in two weeks time, where hopefully we will score better in front of the Mercedes-Benz home crowd."

"The car had the speed today and felt really good to drive. I feel I really could have scored more points if I had not lost position to Mark Webber at the start of the race. This meant that I lost a lot of time in the opening stint trying to pass him and when I eventually got passed during the pit stop I was behind a lot of traffic on different strategies. As a result following the first round of stops I was over 20 seconds behind Ralf Schumacher, so it was very difficult for me to improve on my position. I really enjoyed the race and I am pleased to have scored some points for the team and be one of the fastest of the Michelin runners."

The latest car to emerge from the German arms race is the Mercedes E550. Part of the revised E-class family that goes on sale this fall and in the U.S. consists of the E350 (same 268-hp engine as last year), the diesel E320 BlueTec, and the E55-replacement 507-hp E63 AMG, the 2007 E550 replaces the E500. So say farewell to the E500’s 302-hp, 5.0-liter 24-valve V-8 and hello to a 5.5-liter version of the engine with new 32-valve heads that bump up output to 382 horses and 391 pound-feet of torque. That’s more power than the first, nonsupercharged 349-hp E55 AMG could muster. More important perhaps, at least to Mercedes-Benz, is that the E550 makes 22 more horsepower than its BMW challenger, the juggernaut 550i. Coupled to Mercedes’ seven-speed automatic, the E550 hurtles forward rapidly and gracefully. Upshifts, even at full throttle, are fast and smooth and barely drop engine revs. With 391 pound-feet of torque available from 2800 to 4800 rpm, seven speeds seem like wretched excess, but then again, the opposition’s gearbox had six, so, clearly, it had to be done. At slower speeds the E550 feels much like the E500. It’s only when triple-digit speeds are reached that the extra punch can really be felt. Mercedes’ Airmatic DC adjustable suspension is standard and does an admirable job of absorbing impacts, although we did notice more squat under acceleration than we remember in the E500. The optional Sport package with 18-inch wheels did little to dissuade the E550’s nose from jerking upward under hard acceleration.

DaimlerChrysler today announced that an all-electric version of the Smart Fortwo will be available in the near future. The automaker will first run a market trial for the car over in Britain. Initially, it will be leased to select corporate customers. If all goes well, we may see the car offered in other markets, including here in North America. The Fortwo EV offers even better in-town performance than its gasoline powered stablemate, with 0-30 mph in 6.5 seconds. The Smart EV also sets a new benchmark in the electric vehicle sector; it has 30kW output and a top speed of 70 mph. Smart will begin selling its cars in the United States in 2008. It's not known if the 'EV' model will be ready for mass sale by that time, though it remains a distinct possibility.

We reported some time ago that McLaren was already brainstorming its next vehicle that will replace the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR. The SLR is surely awe-inspiring, but it hasn't made a name for itself in the current crowd of supercars like the McLaren F1 that will go down in history as one of the finest road cars ever built. As it turns out, McLaren has enlisted the help of students attending the European Institute of Design in Turin, Italy by way of a thesis project called "One Sport from 320 km/h" (rough translation) that charged 39 students with designing a super sports car for street use. From what the translation indicates, McLaren went so far as to bring the students to McLaren Technology Center in Woking, England to get to know the brand better and learn more about its accomplishments in F1 racing that could be incorporated into the vehicle's design. Fourteen groups of students produced three concepts each, of which one per group was selected to be developed further. Those resulting fourteen concepts were then further refined and built into 1:4 scale models that were judged by the people at McLaren. The design featured above called "M eleven B" by Alexander Belosio, Vito Possidente and Massimo Terranova was chosen as the best overall design of the 14 produced. If we've misread the translation, please tell us in the comments and we'll update the post with the correct information. Our Italian translator is still celebrating his country's World Cup victory and likely won't be back, at least not for another four years.

Produced to honor Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson's 1955 Mille Miglia victory, the "722" name is a hat tip to their 300 SLR's start number 722 (which corresponded with its 7:22 AM start time). The SLR's power has been boosted to a thundering 650 horsepower, and a re-tuned suspension lends the car an even more sporting character. Visually, the front air dam, and rear diffuser get revisions to improve aero performance. Black wheels and red "722" badging clue passers-by in to the fact that this is no garden-variety SLR. Inside, copious amounts of carbon fiber, leather/alcantara seating and a new race-type wheel complete the package. The Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 Edition goes on sale July 11.

You would think a sport cabriolet fitted with a 5.4-liter V-8 making 362 horsepower would be enough. But no. In these wonderfully hedonistic, power-crazed days, we’re witnessing a horsepower race that makes the muscle-car battles of the 1960s look as tame as waging war with bows and arrows rather than Hellfire missiles. So, the Mercedes-Benz CLK has now emerged with a mighty 6.2-liter V-8 that makes 475 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. The rival BMW M3 musters a mere 333 horsepower. As well as the new V-8, the CLK receives a freshening that includes a more aggressive body kit with new front and rear fascias, as well as stylish 18-inch wheels. The suspension has been recalibrated, and the new cross-drilled and vented Brembo brake discs have six-piston calipers at the front and four pistons at the rear. The main news, though, lies underhood. This is AMG’s first in-house engine design and features lots of sexy, race-derived features such as bucket tappets and a bedplate construction, wherein the crankcase is split at the crankshaft center line. Although Mercedes refers to the engine as a 6.3, in fact the capacity is 6208cc. It’s mated to the now ubiquitous seven-speed Mercedes automatic transmission that features manual shifting via either the gear lever or paddles fixed to the steering wheel, in place of buttons on the backside of the wheel.

What makes the E63 so special is the blend of its abilities. For a start, it's a particularly emotional machine-mean-looking, acoustically overwhelming, and very fast, yet it can be either velvety smooth or bondage brutal, whichever you wish. True, the stability-control warning light may flash in the wet at 125 mph, but you won't feel more than a tug or a kick, and then it's full urge again all the way to the 7200-rpm redline. Unlike the supercharged E55, which was so pumped up with hormones it could hardly accelerate in a straight line, the follow-up model is a lot more relaxed, more sure-footed, and quite a bit quicker. By a wafer-thin margin, the Benz has the most compelling engine. It wins the torque trophy and the acceleration medal, it sounds awesome, it's mated to a transmission that confines itself to only three shift programs, and its relentless push extends into the triple-digit speed zone. What this car needs to move even closer to perfection are brakes with extra staying power and steering that can do more than change direction.

Brushed finish. Edge engraved with Mercedes-Benz logo. Appliquéd Mercedes-Benz star. (.950 Platinum)