Auto car sports

After a two year absence from the Australian International Motor Show , Mercedes-Benz is returning to this year's edition of the event that takes place in Sydney from October 15th to 24th with a [supposedly] special C63 AMG. Called the Concept 358, the show car was co designed by Mercedes-Benz Australia and built by AMG. The Stuttgart-based marque claims it's the only C63 AMG in the world to be painted in designo Pearl Orange paint from the AMG factory in Affalterbach. Bright orange paintwork aside, the Concept 358 features an AMG Performance Package Plus which lifts the 6.2-liter V8 engine's output from 336 kW (457-hp) to 358 kW (480-hp). Other parts included in the Performance Package Plus are unique 19-inch multi spoke alloy wheels in black, KEYLESS-GO and extended designo leather appointments in the cabin. _______________________________ GALLERY _______________________________

Last time we showed you spy photos of Mercedes-Benz's forthcoming 2012 M-Class and ML63 AMG SUVs [confusingly, Merc uses the 'M-Class' title for the series and the 'ML' prefix for the model designation], both models were covered in heavy plastic cladding. In these latest scoop pics of the flagship ML63 AMG, the plastic armor is gone and replaced by black tape, providing us with a more revealing look at the car's styling. The new M-Class features a 'boxier' shape and is evidently more heavily sculpted than the current model. It also gets the more angular grille up front, found on all the latest Mercedes cars. The AMG-prepped model seen here, features some unique styling details such as the specific bumper designs, side skirts, spoilers and larger alloy wheels. Underneath the sheetmetal, the new M-Class' chassis is shared with the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango models as one of the last legacies from the former Daimler-Chrysler partnership...

U.S. boat builder Cigarette Racing has released some new images and details of its new 46 foot Rider speedboat, inspired by Mercedes-Benz's SLS AMG Gullwing supercar. Though the SLS influence is debatable, the numbers certainly aren't. Fitted with two 552-cubic inch (that's a little over 9.0-liters) twin-turbo Mercury Racing engines that are good for 1350 hp (1007 kw) each, the Rider has more than five times the power of its road-going inspiration and a top speed of over 130 mph (209 km/h). It also comes with two-tone silver and white paint, AMG decals and marine-grade upholstery which emulates the Nappa leather available on the road-going SLS AMG. At least the pews are suitably SLS-like. The price has yet to be announced, though it is likely to make the cost of its road-going counterpart look like chump change. By Tristan Hankins

Wimmer RS has turned its attention to the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG to create the Dunlop Performance show car. The performance is there, so don't worry about the looks for now; this is just a rolling ad. What's under the vinyl and stickers is what Wimmer can do for the C63. The car's electronically-limited speed has been elevated to 308 km/h (190 mph) thanks to reprogramming the ECU; with the addition of a flurry of intake and exhaust mods, the car puts down 540-horsepower (+53 hp over stock hi-po V8). Torque figures have not been released. The speedometer hits the 100km/h (62mph) mark after 4.4 seconds (traction control issues, perhaps?) and then the next 100km/h goes by in another 8.2 seconds (0-200km/h or 124mph: 12.6 sec). Keeping the car planted on the ground is a KW3 coilover setup hidden behind 19-inch rims and possibly unmodified brakes (Wimmer didn't mention anything in the press release). Now, for the real shocker: the 19s are wrapped in...drum roll please...Dun...