Southwest Star Magazine 2018 1st Edition

COVERING YOUR CARS & YOUR EVENTS VOLUME 6, NUMBER 1

G-Wagen, Porsche GT3 Touring, Benz There in a GLE, What’s new for 2018, 600 HP in a non-AMG E. The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 2

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 4

10 The 2019 G-Wagen 20 911 GT3 Touring 28 Benz there, done that in a GLE 36 W212 E (the W is for WICKED) 46 The F1 wrap up and three questions for Toto Wolff 52 Changes for 2018 62 Head Unit Swap 72 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 78 MV Augusta 82 Mercedes-Benz and Porsche subscription plans 86 IONITY 89 Remembering Dan Gurney 94 Upcoming Events

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Covering your cars & your events January 2018 The Southwest Star Magazine is published four (or five) times per year by Fitzhugh Media Santa Clarita, California, USA www.thesouthweststar.com info@thesouthweststar.com www.fitzhughmedia.com

Special Thanks to

Editorial

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport

Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz USA Mercedes-AMG Daimler AG

Editor in Chief Marcus Blair Fitzhugh

Porsche

Creative Director Karcy Bowles

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Motorsports Editor Kevin Ehrlich

Mercedes-Benz of Valencia

Features editor Mary Fischer East Coast Bureau Chief Wendy Fitzhugh Creative Consultant Sean Fitzhugh Contributors To This Issue J Pattt Jay Pill Kenny Pi Liz El Tony Brown

Distribution The Southwest Star is available worldwide via the web at thesouthweststar.com, the 8 MBCA Southwest Section websites, Issuu, and Fitzhugh Media

Queries info@thesouthweststar.com

Hollis and 217th Street

Legalese The Southwest Star Magazine is published quarterly by Fitzhugh Media and we welcome all contributions. Any and all items submitted to The Southwest Star Magazine will become the sole property of The Southwest Star Magazine and are subject, but not limited to editing, comments, and titles.

The Southwest Star Magazine is a trademark of Fitzhugh Media. All rights reserved. This magazine may not be reproduced in part or in full – in print, by digital media, broadcast, or in any other manner without the express written permission of Fitzhugh Media. That said, permission is regularly given, so please, just ask first.

The publishers of The Southwest Star Magazine believe the content of the magazine to be reliable and correct at the time of publication. We do our best but no representation is made as to the accuracy hereof as this magazine is subject to errors and omissions. With that in mind, neither the publishers nor contributors can be held responsible for any effects arising from the content of The Southwest Star Magazine. This may include but is not limited to excessive time spent tinkering with, admiring, discussing, or dolling out money on Mercedes-Benz and/or Porsche vehicles. The views expressed in The Southwest Star Magazine are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the publisher. Advertising is accepted with the understanding that it is accurate and does not contravene the Trade Practices Act. Inclusion of an advertisement should not be construed as an endorsement by The Southwest Star Magazine, the publishers or contributors.

The Southwest Star Magazine is independent of Mercedes-Benz, Daimler AG, its subsidiaries, Porsche, all car clubs and their associated sections.

Neither Fitzhugh Media nor The Southwest Star Magazine is responsible for any claims made by its advertisers or partners.

In addition, neither Fitzhugh Media nor The Southwest Star Magazine is responsible for injuries, losses, or damages, to property or self.

All that said, feel free to contact The Southwest Star at Info@TheSouthwestStar.com Š 2005 Fitzhugh Media

Subscribe Subscriptions are free of charge. We ask that you support our advertisers as they keep us afloat. To receive an email notification when new issues are released drop us a note at me2@fitzhughmedia.com We will not share your email address or send you spam. We will send you one email notification each time a new issue is released.

Page | 6

Fashion is what you buy.

Style is what you do with it.

Based on the successful sports sedan, the new Panamera Sport Turismo makes a profound statement in the luxury segment with its unmistakable design. With a large tailgate, low loading edge, increased luggage compartment volume, and a 4+1 seating concept, the new Panamera Sport Turismo offers the perfect combination of everyday usability and maximum flexibility.

Porsche. There is no substitute.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

From the editor’s desk

he readership numbers are in and we’re ecstatic. Two million, four hundred forty thousand, five hundred seventy-nine of you took the time to read The Southwest Star last year. Now I know why Oprah gave away cars on her show. Appreciation.

We’d like to give away cars too, but we don’t have Oprah money. The best we can do is say “thank you” repeatedly and continue delivering the best content we can, across the best platform available.

And regardless as to what anyone thinks, digital IS the best platform. Some disagree.

They feel the amount of time we spend on our cell phones and tablets is ludicrous. Some believe those who sit on the train and stare at their phone every day during their 45minute commute, are wasting their time. Oddly enough, if that same person is reading a book, they’re considered “bettering themselves”.

This is despite the fact that in both

cases, they’re reading.

I’ve heard the arguments about “attention pollution” and the web causing people to “lose focus”, but I don’t agree. I’m biased, but I still don’t agree. Are billboards attention pollution? While driving down the street, a bus goes by. On the side of the bus is an ad.

The ad catches your attention and you lose focus.

Whatever you were previously

pondering is no longer at the forefront of your thoughts. To me that means the ad did its job. It was interesting, captivating, and pulled you in. What about this - women in short skirts. Is that attention pollution? If you buy the item advertised on the bus or end up dating Miss Miniskirt, either could wind up being the best thing you’ve ever done. Or the worst. The point is, things that cause someone to lose attention aren’t necessarily bad.

Page | 8

I’ve heard about “too many things pulling us in a thousand directions”, but that argument falls on deaf ears. I’ve got cable TV. I’ll get pulled in a thousand directions every time I hit the “on” button. “You” own your attention. You’re free to ignore anything you want.

Unless someone screams or shots go off, you’ll probably make a conscious decision as to who wins the battle between what you’re doing and the fear of missing out.

Short attention spans are not a byproduct of Internet access. There have always been people who can’t concentrate. Ask your grandparents if there were any dull people who couldn’t seem to read a book when they went to school. Back then, were windows in homes considered the leading cause of attention deficit disorder?

Keep reading.

Don’t put your digital appliances down.

When you finish reading The

Southwest Star magazine, read something else. Reading has been known to stimulate ideas.

Ideas spur invention.

Inventions create cashflow, which can pay for a new

Mercedes or Porsche.

Marcus Blair Fitzhugh

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

ome manufacturers would have retired the G long ago.

The G-Wagen project

began in 1972, with the first models rolling off the assembly line in 1979. It was love at first sight, but after forty years, the love affair was getting a bit stale. There was a plan in place to make 2015 the final year, but what could possibly replace the G? We’re not throwing shade on the GLS, GLE, GLC, or GLA, but we all know, there’s only one G. Page | 10

Story by Kenny Pi | Photos by Mercedes-Benz

In the end, we won. Mercedes reworked the body, improved the drivetrain, upgraded the suspension, tossed in an all-new interior, and did it all while retaining the boxy angles we’ve loved from day one. Somehow, despite a complete redesign, the G looks just like the old one. Sort of.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

When you see the new G, you know exactly what’s in front of you, it’s just that everything is slightly off. But it’s off in a good way. Although it may appear the same from the photos, the 2019 G is larger. It’s over 2 inches longer and almost 5 inches wider. If you look closely, you’ll notice the new design does a better job of integrating the bumpers and wheel arches. The new panels are so tight, Mercedes says the 2019 G appears to be cast from a single block of metal.

The new G took a lot of detail work. Little things, like keeping the sound the G makes when a door is shut. That sound is unique to the G, and we’re glad it’s still here. Mercedes also kept the exposed hood and door hinges, exterior moldings, indicator lamps, and hung the spare wheel on the rear door, right where it belongs. The new G is different, but you’d have to park one next to the old model to take it all in. From a distance, what really stands out are the new LED headlights.

That’s

because the big changes are found inside.

Page | 12

In the past, people have assumed there’s a lot more room in the G-Wagen. It’s an optical illusion that’s based on the exterior. For 2019, we are getting more room. Up front we’re getting an additional inch and a half of leg and shoulder room. The front row passengers are also getting 2.7 inches more elbow room. The rear passengers are getting larger doors, more shoulder room, more elbow space, and 5.9 inches of additional legroom. The rear seats also recline in nine different positions and those out back are getting their own climate control zone.

To ensure no one thinks the king of off-road luxury is getting soft, there’s still a passenger grab handle, chromed switchgear for the differential locks, and standard tube-look analogue gauges. Optionally, fans of the E and S-Class instrumentation can order a digital wide screen that shows virtual instruments. The new G has two 12.3-inch displays that

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

are visually blended into a single cockpit beneath a shared glass cover. The digital dash is customizable, offering three different styles "Classic", "Sport" and "Progressive".

The multifunction steering wheel is also upgraded, allowing drivers to control the infotainment system without taking their hands off the wheel. Similar to the E and S Class, the steering wheel’s Touch Controls respond to swiping motions like a smartphone. In addition, it has a touchpad that responds to haptic impulses. Apple fans have no idea what I’m talking about because neither iPhones nor iPads have haptic feedback. “Haptic feedback” is when a screen is touched, and it vibrates as an acknowledgement. Those who have used a Mercedes touchpad find it a lot less distracting than other automotive touch controls. The touchpad recognizes one and two-finger gestures, swipes, and writing – just like a smartphone.

The writing

feature allows you to draw with your finger and write words for the navigation system without having to look down. You can also write numbers and symbols. The touchpad recognizes every language available in COMAND.

Alternatively, the driver can speak and Voice

Control will help operate the radio, telephone and navigation system.

Bird’s-eye visibility is possible thanks to the 360° camera, the reversing camera, and three other cameras. This ensures obstacles that are located below the window line or in front of the G, such as a hill crest, don’t remain hidden. The information is presented in full HD and there’s a choice of different views on the multimedia system's display. Dynamic guide lines show the road and the width of the G. In addition, the off-road screen displays data such as height, gradient, angle, compass, steering angle and activated differential locks.

The G is loaded with new electronics, but it isn’t morphing into a digital simulator. This is a real off-road vehicle. As part of the product development, Mercedes-Benz requires the Page | 14

G to conquer the Schöckl. At the L.A. Auto Show, Mecerdes constructed a metal Schöckl, but the actual test track is quite a bit different. The G-Wagen development course is on a mountain near the Austrian city of Graz, and it's 4,740 feet high.

The three-and-a-half-mile test route has 60 percent inclines and parts of it cause the G to lean laterally up to 40 percent. This isn’t a one-time pass. The G had to put over 2,000 kilometers on this route.

Even though the new G allows the driver to handle the Schöckl with more skill, reassurance, and comfort, it’s still a G. It’s got a ladder style frame connecting a double-wishbone front with a rigid rear axle.

In between are three 100-percent locking diffs and a LOW RANGE off-road ratio. Its suspension is the result of a collaborative effort amongst several groups within Mercedes-Benz.

The double-wishbone front axle is directly attached to the ladder-type frame, without a suspension subframe. The lower wishbone’s attachment points are positioned as high as possible on the frame, ensuring good offroad drivability. This new front axle design has

better

off-road

performance

and

capabilities than the previous generation.

The new rigid rear axle is guided with four longitudinal control arms on each side, and a Panhard rod.

This allows the G to track

better, while remaining agile, with less effort in off-road situations.

As with the previous generation G-Wagen, high ground clearance and long suspension travel form the basis for the improved off-road characteristics.

The improved figures

speak for themselves: •

The G has slope climbing capabilities up to 100% on suitable surfaces.

•

The ground clearance between the axles has been improved by 6 millimeters to 241.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

•

Maximum fording depth has been increased 70 centimeters in water and mud; a 10centimeter improvement.

•

The new G has driving stability at angles of 35°; a +7° improvement.

•

The angle of departure is now 30°, the angle of approach is 31° (a 1° improvement), and the breakover angle is 26° (a 1° improvement).

•

The front axle spring/rebound travel is 85/100 millimeters and the rear axle spring/rebound travel is 82/142 millimeters.

#1 is the Approach Angle , #2 is the Breakaway Angle, and #3 is the Departure Angle. They’re all measured in degrees

For power delivery, the 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission was specifically modified to meet the G’s off-road needs. Improved software has reduced both shift and response times in the G’s nine-speed.

It has wide ratios that make driving quieter and more

comfortable, especially at low engine speeds. In addition, this reduces fuel consumption.

Despite its off-road capabilities, most G’s are used in the city.

Knowing the target

audience, the heated, cooled and massaging front leather seats are available with active air bolsters that adjust based on driving conditions. contrasts the leather lined cabin.

Standard open-pore wood trim

Alternatively, metal and carbon fiber are optionally

available. Also, for the first time in the G-Class, Mercedes will offer a moonroof.

Designers also focused on improving storage space, so they moved the transmission gear shifter from the center console to the steering column and added an electric parking brake.

This freed valuable real estate for a large center armrest storage compartment and cup Page | 16

holders. In addition, there's a more spacious glove box and bottle holders have been integrated into the rear door panels.

The 2019 G arrives in dealers this summer. For those who can’t wait, the 2018 model is available now. The 2018 doesn’t have all the upgrades, but the G is like a Patek Philippe watch. It doesn’t matter if it’s an older style or if it’s brand new, it’s still a Patek Philippe.

And that a Geländewagen; timeless.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 18

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

here may be a cure for those still jonesing for a 911R. Yes, we know what the ad says – “There is no substitute”, but a hit of something else might take the edge off. Besides, it’s been two years since Porsche built nine hundred and ninety-one R’s. If you weren’t invited to the party when they were new, paying extra to get in at this late date is going to be pricey. If you must have an R, Porsche of South Shore in New York has two. One with 80 miles for $400K and one with 91 miles for $430K. At less than half, a GT3 Touring might serve as a practical stand-in.

The Touring is kind of like an R. Sort of. If you squint and imagine the stripes. Truth be told, it’s a GT3 without the visuals. It doesn’t have the panache of an R, but it does have an updated 500 HP 4-liter and a transmission that requires three pedals. Before you start writing, we know there’s more to the R. The R has carbon fenders, a carbon hood, the Page | 20

Story by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh | Photos by Porsche

magnesium roof, and other bits that aren’t on the new Touring. However, since I don’t have an FIA Super License, the 100 pounds in weight savings are lost on me. That’s not to say the 100 pounds aren’t beneficial to someone, just not me. What the Touring also has are the 991.2 chassis mods, which includes rear wheel steering.

Like the GT3, the Touring’s engine updates were added after the R was released. Those upgrades are spectacular, and they include a new crankshaft with larger main and rod bearings. The new crank is stiffer and has better main bearing wear characteristics. On the downside, it requires a heavier dual-mass flywheel. I can see your eyes rolling from here, but we’ve been promised this is the “new and improved” dual-mass flywheel.

Besides, it’s a marketing opportunity for lightweight flywheels that allegedly won’t cause you to spin a main or bust a crank. As a heads up, if something pricey goes out, the flywheel manufacturer will swear it wasn’t their fault. They always do.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

The Touring also has a redesigned valvetrain with finger followers and no hydraulic lifters.

No, we’re not going back to the 964 days where the lifters had to be adjusted every 15K. During the LA Auto Show, we were told the new valvetrain uses shims and “might” need an adjustment once every 150,000 miles. In addition, there are other benefits to ditching the hydraulic lifter system. Getting rid the hydraulic lifters cleared the way for softer valve springs, lower oil pressure, and reduced oil volume – those all reduce internal drag. Along with the new low pressure pump, there are seven scavenge pumps to ensure the oil tank doesn’t run dry.

Page | 22

The last engine upgrade we were told about is the redesigned intake manifold. It has an additional flap that’s used to boost low and midrange torque. The new bottom end, new top end, and new intake with its sports exhaust wailing at 9K RPM might be the 911R rehab you need.

The real question for those needing to scratch that itch may be whether to check the Touring package option or take the GT3 as-is.

The same 500 horsepower howl is

available in either cabin, but the Touring has some select interior features. The first thing we noted was, only one

transmission is available; a sixspeed manual.

PDK is not an option. Second, there’s no Alcantara. The seats are leather with cloth inserts.

Clockwise from the top left – The GT3 Touring, the GT3 Touring interior, and the GT3 interior.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

The last thing we noticed was the black aluminum trim. Both the GT3 and the Touring have the 918 Spyder’s 360 mm steering wheel, but the Touring has a leather wheel.

In

both cars the rear seat pans are covered. The standard GT3 is a bit more vivid inside.

Bright aluminum work, PDK is available, and leather with Alcantara.

The Touring has the same massive front air intakes, rear fascia, wheels, brakes, flares, and ride height (0.9” lower than a Carrera S), but it doesn’t

Page | 24

have the big rear wing. So as not to be completely left out, it does have an aero edge (Gurney flap) and a bespoke rear grille with the GT3 Touring logo.

The standard Touring

model has silver trim around the windows, giving the car more of a sensual suburban look.

If someone is trying to fly under the radar AND drive a GT3, this may be for them.

Alternatively, there’s no blending in with the base GT3. Like the Touring, the base GT3 has the wide hips of the Carrera 4, but with that carbon rear wing, it’s perfectly clear the owner isn’t looking for trouble in some understated way. When the owner gets on it, and make no mistake, they’re going to get on it, there will be no explaining to the constable.

This is one of those cars where you simply sign the paperwork and pay the court.

For those desiring an R, we’re not saying the Touring is better. We’re just saying that if the R is over $400K and a new GT3 Touring is $145K, some may opt for door number two.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

911 Carrera S in Miami Blue. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and the observance of traffic laws at all times.

Page | 26

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Story by Karcy Bowles

ou know that moment of panic when you suddenly realize you’re going a bit over the speed limit, but the ride is so smooth that you had no idea?

Of course not. Me neither. Speeding is against the law and we don’t break laws.

Welcome to the GLE 350. It’ll give you plenty of those panicked moments resulting in a slight tap of the brakes and a quick scan for highway patrol and was perfect for the second edition of “Benz There Done That.” If you haven’t guessed by now, it served us well as an all-weather weekend office.

I’ve been contemplating upgrading to a larger vehicle for a while and figured the next “Benz There Done That” article would be the perfect chance to answer some of my burning Page | 28

questions I had three key items of interest to explore while the GLE was within my grasp. First, I wanted to understand the cargo capacity in a more meaningful way than cubic feet. Next up, decide if the touchpad screen control was worth the hype. Lastly, experience how it handled on a dark and windy road. There were other things too, like how quite the interior rides (it’s quiet alright), engine pick-up and ease of handling (effortless), and sample the lane assist/backup camera/blind spot sensors (that about a cool set of cameras

Check out these views

and sensors!), but those were secondary to my personal points of interest and since it was on loan for the weekend, courtesy of Mercedes-Benz of Valencia, I made sure to tackle my top priorities.

Let’s start with my top priority: cargo space. Cubic feet is an easy way to compare vehicles and simple enough to research, but I care more about how my emergency

One bike in, one to go

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

supplies, camping gear, camera equipment, cooler, bikes, and luggage fit more than the actual measurement. This meant real life tests and first up was a trip to the beach for a coastal bike ride. We lowered the back row (it folds completely flat) and threw two bikes, helmets, and backpacks in. Carefully placed with protective coverings for both the GLE and the bikes would be a more accurate description of the process. If you want the flexibility of taking a bike out occasionally and don’t want to invest in a rack, the GLE will do the trick.

Once packed, it was time to hit the road on our way to Ventura Beach. The drive was quiet and smooth but also required attention to speed as we drove the CA-126 West through notorious speed traps. The bike path in Ventura was an easy/moderate 14-mile ride along the coast and through a small beachside neighborhood. If the idea of riding is intimidating, rest assured that this could be broken up into smaller sections and done at your own pace to enjoy the scenery. It had been years since I rode at the beach and after this trip I’ll make sure it’s repeated with more frequency.

After the bike test, I transferred my standard trunk supplies into the GLE and then added basic camping and weekend adventure gear. My standard supplies include two first aid Page | 30

packs, a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) backpack, a box of individual bags of emergency water, a gallon of water to refill wiper fluid and water bottles, clothes, fire extinguisher, emergency rations, and various other emergency odds and end.

This equipment stays in my car at all times, so I added some

Gear for one, room for more

standard weekend getaway gear for one person and there was still plenty of space for 2-3 more people to pile their belongings in, granted they are reasonable packers of course. You might also be interested to know that with the back row down, there’s enough room to put a sleeping bag down and stretch out. But since many of you are probably taller than me (a mere 5’4”) you’ll want to test this for yourselves.

If you need a fire extinguisher, you'll need it fast, so keep it in the front

Now for the touchpad. I’d hyped it up in my mind quite a bit as a solution to the incessant clicking noise from the center console knob. (It bears mentioning that I have radio ADHD and that while the non-stop scanning might drive my passengers crazy, what I find irritating is the clicking noise that the knob in my car makes. That’s right, my much loved C300 has a feature I can’t stand.) The touchpad was the solution…once I figured out how to turn it on. For most of the day, despite checking every menu multiple times and searching for instructions online, I sat dumbfounded. While the knob in the GLE is more refined and quieter than the one in my 2009 C300, I was relieved when I finally got the The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

touchpad on. Did you know it can understand your handwriting when entering addresses or that you can swipe from radio station to radio station until your heart’s content without making a sound?! It was wonderful.

For the last major point of interest, a pitchblack night drive up a winding road was in order. One of my recent road trips had me driving a lot of tight turns on narrow pitchblack roads and there was a point at which I decided it was important to find a vehicle with curve assist headlights. Although the GLE I was driving didn’t have curve assist headlights, what it did have was a set of lights that were noticeably brighter and

Shooting the night sky along a two-lane backroad

further in range than that of my C300, possibly to the point that curve assist headlights might not be a deal breaker after all. It rode smoothly, handled tight turns with ease and balance, and provided ample bright lighting in front and to the sides

The GLE look right at home in the snow

of the vehicle.

There were a few times the headlights forward reach became unexpectedly short, usually in a dip, but overall the LED lights were great on a night drive.

Page | 32

With the major questions answered, the second day was for play and being January that meant searching the mountains for low lying snow. Head north on I-5, and in the The GLE, our office for the weekend

right

conditions you’ll start to see snow on the hills through the grapevine. We took the Frazier Park exit and followed the road west until we got to a snow -covered turnout away from the crowds. After crunching around in the snow, appreciating the scent of fresh air, taking some photos, and feeling successful as snow hunters, it was time to hop in and head for home.

From cresting waves to crunching snow, adventure is what brings me to life and the ride there should be just as fun. .........

Share your #BenzThereDoneThat stories with us!

If you have photos of your Benz in unique or beautiful places or stories of adventure that involve your Merecedes-Benz tag @TheSouthWestStarMagazine on Instagram and use the #BenzThereDoneThat. Or, email your information to karcybowles@fitzhughmedia.com. .........

A special thanks to James Kleinman, Tom Swire, and Mercedes-Benz of Valencia for providing a great weekend office.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 34

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

he W212 E-Class is a timeless execution of the traditional Mercedes. The 212 E stands out because it offered the last of the "standard" V8s. The W213 based E63 is still available, but that’s an AMG, where nothing is “standard”. As of today, the conventional, non-AMG, V8 powered E-Class appears to be a thing of the past.

The W212 was introduced as a 2010 model. It was the first all-new E after the Chrysler split in 2007, and Mercedes vowed this car would mark the E's return to “Best in Class”.

Page | 36

Story by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh | Photos by Mercedes-Benz & MB Fitzhugh

For many of us, the W211 E was already the best sedan available, but with the W212, the goal was to remove all doubt.

The base W212 is a solid, high-end German-engineered vehicle. It came equipped with technology that left the other manufacturers scratching their heads. Just about the time the other guys started figuring out older Mercedes-Benz safety features, the W212 rolled out blind spot monitoring, Lane Keeping Assist, Pre-safe with Attention Assist, Night View The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Assist Plus, adaptive headlights with traffic sign recognition technology, and adaptive brake lights.

The W212 also came with improved adaptive suspension, a redesigned

interior, and an expanded list of base features. Each improvement was designed to be a “world’s best” enhancement.

As an example, although larger than the outgoing W211, the W212 E was more aerodynamic. In fact, the W212 was the world’s most aerodynamic standard-production sedan in its market segment. How did Mercedes-Benz pull this off? Computer simulations were used very early on in the development phase. This was long before the first real prototypes of the new E-Class had been produced. That approach enabled Mercedes to use flow simulations to detect potential improvements before anyone was locked into “must have” styling cues. The 212 had exceptional aerodynamic characteristics before the subsequent wind tunnel tests began. Once the wind tunnel tests started, hundreds of hours were spent fine tuning the details.

Wind tunnel testing the early W212

The M273 equipped, early W212

That was one phase of the design, but there were many more. Despite the costs incurred developing several advancements, Mercedes priced the W212 at $4500 less than the outgoing W211.

At the higher end of the W212 spectrum was the E550. The early W212 E550 was a ballistic freight train powered by a 5.5-liter 32-valve all-aluminum V-8. This engine was the M273, and it produced 382 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque.

These E’s

reached 60 MPH in 4.8 seconds and 100 MPH in 12 flat. This normally aspirated engine was replaced in 2012, but we’ll circle back to that.

In 2014, the mid-model refresh arrived. This was the most expensive mid-cycle refresh in Mercedes-Benz history. Daimler is rumored to have spent over a billion Euros on the update.

Page | 38

Visually, the front was completely restyled. The quad headlamps were updated to single LED units on each side. The bumper cover was redesigned, and a new grille was fabricated. The lower bumper has much larger air intakes, and this style marked the beginning of the current Mercedes-Benz design theme.

The front fenders, doors, and rear quarters were all re-shaped. This was especially noticeable in the rear quarters where the Ponton style fenders were replaced with a more conventional character line. The rear has LED taillights, new bumper skins, and the Sport models have a small diffuser with dual exhaust tips. The interior was also upated. The dash pad remained the same, but the gauge cluster was redesigned, a

The facelifted W212 nose above and the M278 below.

new CLS style clock was placed between the enhanced center dash vents, and the center console was tidied up.

Transmission updates were ushered in and an upgraded V8, the M278, from the 2012 model year was kept in production through the remainder of the W212 production run.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

The updated M278 hit’s like vintage Tyson.

It’s the most powerful non-AMG engine

Mercedes-Benz has ever offered in an E. This engine is an all-aluminum direct injected bi-turbo V8. We could go on about advancements in variable valve timing, MSD, reduced internal drag, and the improved flow numbers for the stock heads, but the power specs have what you’re waiting to hear; this 4.7-liter V8 produces 402 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. In many turbocharged engines with 400+ horses, there’s a lull while the turbos spool. Not here. This engine’s 443 pound-feet of torque are available at 1800 RPM. The new engine dropped a half-second from the zero to sixty time and allows 100 MPH to arrive in 10.7 seconds. There was so much power, the facelifted E550 was only available with 4MATIC. 4MATIC did away with traction issues, and 12.8 quarter mile passes at 112 MPH are easily repeatable; just stand on it and hold the wheel straight.

From a roll, it’s just as lethal.

When the accelerator hits the carpet, the 7G-TRONIC

downshifts and the E550 disappears into the horizon.

Of course, those are all stock numbers for stock cars. For something a bit more modified, we tracked down Josh; j_pattt on Instagram. Josh has a facelifted W212 550 and his car is “arrest me now” fast.

Just so we’re on the same page, W212’s are not autocross

champs. E’s are grand tourers. They’re still very high on power, braking, and handling, but luxury is paramount. Autocross is geared more toward sportscars; vehicles whose manufacturers are willing to make sacrifices in luxury, in favor of performance. Many sportscars can show their supremacy in the areas of handling and braking, but if they catch Josh’s E on a straightaway, most will get smoked like a Cuban after the NBA finals.

When I first saw Josh’s 550. It was stock. And by stock, I mean loaded. It’s as if Josh rolled into the dealer and said, “I’m looking for an E with everything in this color scheme.”

The only option this E doesn’t have is AIRMATIC. I’m guessing Josh didn’t want AIRMATIC, because when he bought the car, his dealer had to ship it to Southern California from another state. That should give you an idea of how particular Josh is when it comes to cars. There aren’t enough Mercedes in SoCal. Josh is having them flown in like live Maine lobster.

The next time I saw Josh’s E, there were new wheels. The time after that, another set of wheels. The next time, yet a third set of wheels. There were other upgrades, but that’s when I stopped counting wheels. Josh is finicky. If the wheels don’t look good at a certain Page | 40

angle, they’re out.

Especially if that angle includes being seen on someone else’s car.

That’s why we’re not going to print the brand he’s currently running.

If we print it, someone will buy a set. If Josh sees them on another car, he’ll buy a different set of wheels – and we’d like Josh’s car to match the photos in this article until the next edition comes out. We’ll just say the wheels are five spoke, bronze in color, 20x9 up front, 20x10.5 out back, and he got them from Sal at Salinas Tires in La Habra.

If that sounds like we’re going over the top, consider this; we had to do multiple photo shoots of his car. It’s not uncommon for us to go back and photograph a new part, but we had to reshoot the entire car. That’s because Josh’s car was black when we started this article. He was perfectly happy with black, and then he saw gloss gray. We like black because when clean, the photos can be extraordinary, but this gloss gray is unbelievable.

We’re picky when it comes to finishes, and this wrap is staggeringly good. It’s so good, we didn’t mind doing the reshoot. Luiis350z_ on IG, did the work, and if you’re looking for a superior wrap, something fitting a high dollar car, give him a call.

If it’s not obvious, Josh is a hands-on kind of guy. In between changing wheels, swapping colors, and tailorThe Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

making his own custom lip spoiler, Josh was upgrading his sound system.

The factory

speakers were upgraded to Focal mids and highs, powered by a 1,200-watt TMA amp.

The low end is handled by two 12” JL audio W3s in a custom box, which are powered by a 3,000-watt Hifonics Brutus amp. The hi-fi gear came from AVS Motoring (Audio Video Specialist) in Montclair. But that’s not the only sound coming from Josh’s E.

This car’s

exhaust has a distinctively non-stock rumble.

We’ve run articles on turbos, but as a refresher,

engines

can

be

simplistically

viewed as air pumps. The more air that flows through one, the more power the engine makes, and turbos allow engines to flow more air. Like most devices, turbos can be made more efficient. How much more efficient? I don’t want to make it sound effortless, but increasing boost on a turbocharged car isn’t brain surgery. The trick is to turn up the boost without transforming it into a rolling grenade. That’s something best left to those with expertise in the area. Fortunately, there are several qualified tuners.

A tuner in Germany called Posaidon offers a kit for the late model E550. Josh didn’t use any parts from Posaidon, but we chose them as a sample because their full kit included the additional work Josh had performed. On the next page is Posaidon’s before and after dyno chart for one of their fully kitted E550s.

The run was taken on an engine dyno and the readings are in kilowatts and newton meters.

450 kilowatts is over 600 horsepower and 930 Nm is over 685 pound-feet of torque. The power increase came from reducing the pressure drop both before and after the turbos, increasing the exhaust efficiency, and remapping the ECU to electronically increase the boost and keep the air-fuel ratios in check. Even without the exhaust and intake work, Posaidon’s ECU tune increases horsepower from 403 to 525.

Page | 42

We’re not cherry-picking numbers, Weistec offers an M278 ECU tune and their upgrade increases the output on an M278 to over 540 horsepower

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

and 715 pound-feet of torque. That’s on a stock car with no other mods, running on California’s 91 octane premium fuel. The Weistec tune is California smog legal and comes with a CARB EO number.

RENNtech offers an M278 ECU tune too. The RENNtech tune produces 540 horsepower and 705 pound-feet of torque.

That too is on an otherwise stock car.

But Josh’s car didn’t just have a tune. In addition to a Eurocharged stage 2 tune, his E has UPD intake spacers from Ultimate Performance, high flow filters, and some exhaust work.

Josh’s car hasn’t been dyno’d because that would require an all-wheel drive

dynamometer, but there’s a video of him pulling away from a car that was dyno’d. The car he outran makes over 400 horsepower to the wheels.

We asked Josh what’s next. He’s already got H&R springs, Ultra Racing’s strut bar, carbon fiber side Mirrors, a carbon rear wing, a blacked-out grill, and the limo tint, but he’s also checking out upgraded turbos. That’s because although his car has over 600 horsepower, kits for AMG M157 biturbo bump the horsepower over 850.

Upgrading Josh’s turbo’s may increase the horsepower level to somewhere in the mid-700’s. With that much power, if you see a rearview mirror full of fast approaching W212, you can keep your dignity intact by just sliding to the right and letting it through. If it’s a gloss gray 212, definitely, move to the right.

Page | 44

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

ewis Hamilton is the 2017 Formula 1 World Champion. Lewis won the title with two races to go, making him a four-time World Champion. Lewis’ three previous campaigns came in 2008, 2014 and 2015. With his forth championship, he is now tied with Alain Prost (1985, 1986, 1989, 1993) and Sebastian Vettel (2010-2013) as having won the third most championships in Formula 1. Only the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, 1954-1957) and record championship winner Michael Schumacher (1994, 1995, 2000-2004) have won more titles. This is also the 17th drivers’ title for a British racer and the sixth for the Mercedes Silver Arrows (1954, 1955, 2014-2017).

Teammate Valtteri Bottas finished third in the 2017 Driver’s Championship.

Valtteri

finished the season with 305 points, a mere 12 points behind second place Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel. Bottas was Mercedes’ first choice to replace outgoing world champion Nico Rosberg, who retired at the end of last season

Page | 46

Story by Kenny Pi | Photos by Mercedes-Benz

In addition to having won the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship the last four years, this is also the fourth consecutive year Mercedes has won the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship. In the 20 races Formula 1 races this season, Mercedes amassed 12 wins, 14 pole positions, and 26 podiums. Mercedes finished with 668 points for first, with Ferrari at 522 for second and Red Bull at 368 for third.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

These are the glory years for Mercedes-AMG. It’s their 50th Anniversary and the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team is dominating the pinnacle of motorsports. Who could ask for more? Fortunately, we’ve got a little more. Mercedes-Benz has given us three questions for Toto Wolff. For those who don’t know, Toto Wolff is an Austrian investor and former race driver. He currently owns a 30% stake in the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team where he serves as executive director. But wait, there’s more, Toto is married to Susie Wolff.

Susie is the official brand ambassador for She’s Mercedes. She was awarded this position after a successful career as a motorsports driver. Susie started in karting, where she won the British Woman Kart Racing Driver of the Year award at age 14. From there she moved to Formula Renault, then Formula Three, and eventually DTM for Mercedes-Benz. After leaving Mercedes, she was signed by the Williams Formula One team where she worked as a test driver. In 2015 Susie Wolff retired from F1 and joined She’s Mercedes six months later.

Sébastien Ogier with wife Andrea Kaiser, Lewis Hamilton Susie and Toto and Suzie Wolff at the 2017 FIA Prize Giving Gala in Versailles, France Toto and Susie may be the most successful couple in motorsports.

Page | 48

Three questions for Toto Wolff

Q:

The Silver Arrows have now won the Constructors’ and the Drivers’ World Championships for the fourth year in succession. How would you rate each of these successes individually?

T

oto Wolff: This year was quite definitely the most difficult to manage. That was because Ferrari raised the bar, and then Red Bull came into the game as well. As a team, you are always in a more comfortable situation when you know that it is one of your two drivers who is going to win the championship. Obviously, it is not

always easy keeping the rivalry within the team in check, but it was far removed from the struggles of this year. I’m very proud of the first one in 2014, because we were so keen to win it. But this one was the most hard fought of all.

Q:

In Mexico, Lewis became World Champion for the fourth time in his career,

which puts him on level pegging with Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel. Is Lewis in the form of his life at the moment?

T

oto Wolff: I’ve been working with him for five years now, and I’ve never seen him operate at such a high level. The raw pace is spectacular. He understands the tires and the ability of the car which, at times, hasn’t been easy to drive. I haven’t seen such a sustained performance on that level before. After a difficult moment

in Abu Dhabi last year, we had a long evening in my kitchen, during the course of which we aired all the frustrations and issues that had grown over the years and got them out of the way. I think that we both felt a sense of relief, and that was when the relationship went to the next level. He went off into the winter break, and he came back with a great mindset. He has grown stronger over the year. The relationship with Valtteri is also an important factor. We have a great spirit within the team. That was an important piece of the jigsaw.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Q:

You have described the W08 as a ‘diva’ at various points in the campaign. Yet despite that, the team has won both championships, registered the most victories and secured the most pole positions. So, what’s next for the ‘diva’?

T

oto Wolff: We plan to keep the characteristics of our diva that we like but to get rid of the ones that have caused us difficulties. Many of the teams have struggled to understand the new cars and tires, why they function one day and not the other. If we look at the qualifying statistics and the race statistics, the W08 was

the quickest car with the quickest driver. But we had some oscillations along the way, and we had some races where we struggled. We understand pretty well why that was the case.

Now we just have to come up with a way of optimizing it for next year. In the process, we will be leaving no stone unturned.

Page | 50

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

unning an annual new car issue can be a challenge.

The timing is interesting

because some 2018 models were rolled out last spring, while others won’t be here for a few months. We talk about what’s new literally years before we can show Page | 52

Story by Tony Brown and MB Fitzhugh | Photos by Porsche and Mercedes-Benz

you anything, so reading about 2018 in this issue will be a refresher with details for our regular readers. Our two favorite manufacturers have big plans for 2018 so dive in, but just remember, we’re only covering the new stuff.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Panamera Sport Turismo For 2018, Porsche is bringing the long roof Panamera stateside. The Panamera Sport Turismo has a unique rear section with a large tailgate, low loading edge, increased luggage compartment capacity and a 4+1 seating concept. Four plus one is Porsche speak for a pair of sport seats up front and a rear bench seat. The Panamera Sport Turismo is available with six and eight-cylinder turbocharged engines, and a six cylinder plug in hybrid. The four versions available stateside have performance ranging from 330 to 550 horsepower.

The Federal government has manufacturers terrified to

import diesels, so the U.S. is limited to the gasoline versions. All Panamera Sport Turismo models have all-wheel drive Porsche Traction Management (PTM) and the eight-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK).

Panamera 4 Sport Turismo 3-liter V6 Turbo 330 horsepower 332 lb-ft torque

Panamera 4S Sport Turismo 2.9-liter V6 bi-turbo 440 horsepower 406 lb-ft torque

Panamera 4 EHybrid Sport Turismo 2.9-liter V6+hybrid 462 horsepower 516 lb-ft torque

Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo 4-liter bi-turbo V8 550 horsepower 568 lb-ft torque

Some may be wondering about the Porsche bi-turbo’d V-8 coupled with an electric motor, producing a combined output of 680 horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque.

Unfortunately, that’s not available in this body style. That drivetrain is only offered in the regular Panamera.

GT2 RS We know you saw the GT3 Touring article earlier, but the GT2 RS is the fastest, most powerful 911 DMV will issue license plates for. The GT2 RS has 700-horsepower, rearwheel-drive, and weighs 3241 pounds. It comes with an exotic materials list that includes a magnesium roof, carbon-fiber hood, and carbon-ceramic brake rotors. The optional Weissach package adds carbon-fiber roll bars and magnesium wheels. It’s too fast for mortals to shift, so a seven-speed PDK is the only transmission available. This car is so Page | 54

fast, the Clubsport package is standard. The Clubsport includes a bolt-in roll cage, driver’s side six-point seatbelt, a fire extinguisher in a mounting bracket (not that it’ll burst into flames, but this is a race car), and the car is wired for a battery kill switch. In case we forgot to mention it, this one is fast.

718 GTS After a one-year break, the refreshed 718 GTS returns to the 2018 Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman lineup.

The GTS visuals include a bespoke Sport Design front end with tinted front light modules and bi-Xenon headlamps. The rear has tinted taillights, black logos, a black rear apron, and black center-exit exhaust tips. Black GTS logos on the doors and 20-inch black wheels finish the side view.

The interior has standard Sport Seats Plus with Alcantara center sections and GTS logos in the headrests. Alcantara is also used for the steering wheel, center console, and arm rests. The Sport Chrono Package is standard, and the stopwatch is integrated into the dashboard. It also has the Porsche Track Precision App (PTPA), which allows the driver to record, display, and analyze driving data on their smartphone.

The 718's power has been increased to 365 horsepower thanks to a newly developed intake duct and an improved turbocharger. With these improvements, the 2.5-liter, fourcylinder boxer delivers 15 horsepower more power than the 718 S and 35 horsepower more power than the prior generation GTS. The new 718 GTS models are available with either the manual six-speed transmission or the optional PDK. The GTS’ are also equipped with Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), a mechanical rear locking diff and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) all as standard equipment.

The 718 GTS’ go on sale in March. The 718 Cayman GTS will start at $79,800, with a $1,050 destination charge. The 718 Boxster GTS is $2,100 more.

911T With the new 911T, Porsche is reviving the purist concept behind the 1968 911T; less weight, shorter transmission ratios from the manual gearbox, and rear-wheel drive with The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

a mechanical locking diff. The new model is based on the 911 Carrera and its engine makes 370 horsepower. The “T” stands for Touring, and it boasts features that are not available in the 911 Carrera, including the standard PASM sports chassis (which lowers the car my 20 mm), the weight-optimized Sport Chrono Package, a shortened shift lever with red shift pattern, and Sport-Tex seat centers. The rear-axle steering, which is not available for the 911 Carrera, is available as an option for the 911 Carrera T. Porsche’s efforts to optimize sportiness with a lightweight construction led them to employ lightweight glass for the rear and rear side windows, use door trims featuring opening loops, reduce the amount of sound deadening material, and remove the rear seats. The rear seats and the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) are available on 911T as no cost options. At an unladen weight of 3142 pounds, the new T is 44 pounds lighter than a 911 Carrera with comparable equipment. Although, if someone adds rear seats and PCM, it’s going to move the scale.

Cayenne Last summer, Porsche introduced the third generation Cayenne for 2018.

This new

generation has turbocharged engines, a new eight-speed Tiptronic S gearbox, new chassis systems, and a new display.

Currently there are two newly developed six-cylinder

engines; the 340 horsepower 3-liter turbo, which produces 40 horses more than the Page | 56

previous model, and the 2.9-liter biturbo V6 which powers the Cayenne S. The S engine produces 440 horsepower, an increase of 20 over the previous model.

This third generation has rear wheel steering, standard all-wheel drive, Porsche 4D Chassis Control, three-chamber air suspension and the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) electronic roll stabilization system.

Despite its expanded standard equipment, the

Cayenne weighs 143 pounds less than the previous model.

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT The roster is expanding to six. We now have the GT Coupe, GT Roadster, GT S Coupe, GT C Coupe, GT C Roadster, and the GT R Coupe. Basically, there are six variations on land based warp speed, with two having open roofs.

C-Class The C is getting a the 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission. It’s smoother, sportier, and the shift modes can be set using DYNAMIC SELECT. The extra two gears shave two tenths of a second from the sixty MPH sprint. If time is a serious concern, the C63 S will hit sixty in 3.9 seconds, but it doesn’t get the 9G. The SPEEDSHIFT equipped MCT seven-speed is the only transmission available with V8 equipped C’s.

In addition, the sunroof is now standard, LED Headlamps are standard on the C350e, 18” 5-spoke split wheels are standard on the C300 and C300 4MATIC, with new 19” 10-Spoke wheels optionally available for the C300 Coupe, and a heated steering wheel is available.

For C43s, the AMG Performance Studio Package is available, LED Headlamps and Burmester® Surround Sound System are available as stand-alone options, and the new AMG Track Pace App has been introduced.

E-Class THANKFULLY, the 329 horsepower V6 that was previously limited to the E400 wagon, is now available in the sedan as the rear wheel drive E400 and the all-wheel drive E400 4MATIC. Yes, the E43 was available last year, but once they start showing you the 43,

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

your eyes will wander to the 63, and the next thing you know 600+ horsepower is sitting in the garage.

The E63 S Wagon now shares the 603-horsepower with 627 poundfeet of torque version of the 4liter biturbo with the E63 S Sedan. The Wagon has a SPEEDSHIFT equipped MCT 9-speed transmission and AMG 4MATIC+.

The 2018 E400 coupe and cabrio were both available in calendar year 2017, but technically they’re new for 2018. The rearview camera is now standard for the E and a raft of options are available as stand-alone items in addition to being part of packages. Those include soft-close doors, illuminated door sills, multicontour seats with massage, 3 zone climate control and a new rear seat entertainment package.

CLS The 2018 CLS gets a standard rearview camera, but with the 2019 model having been announced, nobody is buying a 2018 without steep discounts. Dealers hate it when we write stuff like this, but it’s true. A savvy salesperson may offer to put a buyer in a 2018 on a 12-month lease and promise them a spot at the front of the line for the CLS53.

That’s a win-win.

S-Class During the 2017 calendar year, the 2018 S-Class sedan was introduced. We covered all that three issues ago, so we’re not going to rehash it here.

Simply put, the new

powertrains are more robust and more economical, making the cars faster and less thirsty Page | 58

than last year’s models. The interiors have been upgraded, more features are standard, and if you have the pre-facelift model, call your salesperson and ask them to make you happy.

GLA Late in 2017, the facelifted 2018 GLA was introduced. The exterior upgrades included a redesigned front and rear with new wheels. The new features include a new parking assist package including the Surround View System, the rearview camera is now standard, as is Active Brake Assist, LED headlamps replace the optionally available bi-xenon units, the 8” high-resolution display is now standard, there’s a new instrument cluster design, Android Auto was added to smartphone integration package, and a new AMG Performance Studio package is available.

GLC The GLC model line, which replaced the GLK in 2017, has been expanded. The GLC63 SUV, GLC63 Coupe, and GLC63 S Coupe now join the GLC43 SUV and AMG GLC43 Coupe.

The 63 is powered by the 4-liter biturbo V8, but this version is limited to 469 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.

The AMGs have SPEEDSHIFT equipped MCT 9-speed

transmissions, which are paired with AMG 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive with fully variable torque distribution, and limited-slip rear diffs. The new GLC63s have all-new AMG multichamber air suspensions adaptive / adjustable damping with three modes. The GLC63 and GLC63 S Coupes also have a "RACE" drive program, which will probably get you arrested.

GLE The GLE43 makes more power this year; 385 horsepower versus 367. Other than that, there’s nothing to see here, keep moving.

G-Wagen Like the CLS, the 2019 G has been announced and the new G is better. If you like the 2018, buy one. There should be plenty to choose from. Besides, it’s a G. Nobody goes wrong with a G.

2018 or a 2019.

If the G can’t fix what ails you, the problem is

somewhere else.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 60

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Head Unit Swap On An Older Mercedes hanging the head unit in a Mercedes can be a simple do it yourself project.

We’ve successfully tackled this on a test vehicle without any issues. We’ve heard the baseless claims that this will cause dashboard error messages, a complete rewire is required, the entire audio system is linked by fiber optic cable, Bose amps and speakers are incompatible with aftermarket devices, the multifunction steering wheel controls will be lost, and that other systems may be negatively impacted if "the system" does see the factory radio. Some of that may be true if the project isn’t well thought out, but we didn’t encounter any problems.

In our installation, •

There are no error messages.

•

The existing factory wiring harness was used without cutting any Mercedes-Benz wires.

•

There is one fiber optic cable. That cable runs to the original Equipment CD changer, which was not used.

Page | 62

Story by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh

•

The original equipment Bose amps and speakers were retained - and the amps and speakers both sound and work as Bose Corporation had intended.

•

The multifunction steering wheel controls work.

•

No other systems were impacted.

What we’re describing was a simple head unit swap. In this case, an original equipment Mercedes-Benz Becker Audio 30 was replaced with an Alpine head unit. In our test vehicle, the original entertainment system was decent when new, but times have changed and

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

it’s currently obsolete. A new head unit with a steering wheel control adapter, USB and Android Auto / Apple CarPlay will cover everything most people want.

A USB port supplies access to a very large music collection. A 64GB thumb drive costs less than $20 and can hold 600 hours of music. Android Auto / Apple CarPlay will allow the head unit to sync with your smart phone and play its music. In addition, it will allow the use of the phone’s calendar, maps, and allow you to make and receive phone calls and messages. All that’s needed is a compatible phone and head unit.

Our test vehicle was a W208 CLK and the owner wanted to retain the Bose amps and speakers. In this case, an inexpensive Bose adapter was needed. In addition to the Bose adapter, the parts list included a head unit, wiring harness adapter, antenna adapter, and a pair of steering wheel control adapters. For this car we used parts from Alpine, PAC Audio, and Crutchfield.

The following is a schematic of the finished product.

Looking at the head unit, starting with the upper left connection, and going clockwise The Alpine head unit had a female Motorola antenna jack. Mercedes-Benz used a European male plug. An antenna adapter was used to complete the connection.

Page | 64

Next is the remote-control port for the steering wheel controls. A PAC SWI-JACK plugs into the remote-control port on the head unit. The PAC SWI-CAN2 plugs into the PAC SWIJACK. The SWI-CAN2 plugs into the Mercedes-Benz CANBUS wiring harness.

There are two steering wheel interface control boxes because the PAC SWI-CAN2 receives a signal from the Mercedes-Benz CANBUS harness and converts it to a universal signal.

The PAC SWI-JACK converts the universal signal to one that can be read by JVC, Alpine, Clarion, or Kenwood head units. Other head units head units use different signal types and require a different second converter. For example, rather than an SWI-JACK, Pioneer and Sony head units use an SWI-PS. The other available converters from PAC Audio are the SWI-X and SWI-ECL/2. PAC Audio isn’t the only company that makes steering wheel control converters, but they are one of the better ones.

The remaining head unit connections all go to the PAC OEM2. The PAC OEM2 converter box is the middleman between the head unit and the wiring harness adapter. The PAC OEM2 was used to retain the Bose sound quality. The OEM2 was used because Bose uses a balanced, differential signal interconnection. Most aftermarket audio systems use an unbalanced connection. The PAC converter box reads the unbalanced input and produces balanced output. The ground, constant power, switched power, speakers, and illumination lead are attached to the head unit on one side of the OEM2, and the wiring harness adapter on the other side. If Bose isn’t an issue, the head unit is simply wired to the wiring harness adapter.

Before touching the car, some pre-assembly was need. For those who have previously installed a car radio, this is all straightforward.

A crimping tool and blade connectors were used to attach the Alpine head unit wiring

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

to the input side of the PAC OEM2.

The output side of the PAC OEM2 is then connected to the wiring harness adapter.

After making those connections, the wiring harness adapter is ready to be plugged into the Mercedes-Benz wiring harness. The PAC SWI Jack and SWI-CAN2 can now be set up.

Page | 66

The jack for the SWI Jack plugs into the head unit's remote-control port.

PAC supplies a wiring harness that connects the PAC SWI Jack and SWI-CAN2.

The wiring harness from the SWI-CAN should be connected. The SWI-CAN instructions specify wire colors for the ground, switched power, and constant power. The wires for the CANBUS connection are very important. On the unit that was used in this installation •

White/Red is CANBUS positive

•

White/Black is CANBUS negative

There are at least six different CANBUS plugs used on Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The W208 CLK plug used in this installation looks like this.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Simple blade connectors can be used to plug into the CANBUS slots. The connectors were attached to the SWI-CAN wires. This allowed the individual positive and negative CANBUS SWI-CAN wires to plug into the Mercedes-Benz wiring harness.

The SWI-CAN documents will have a connection schematic with 13 different CANBUS plugs. If you are working with a CANBUS plug that differs from the one on this page, one on the schematic will probably match.

The PAC SWI-CAN instructions made this a simple installation. Crutchfield also supplied their own vehicle-specific CANBUS installation docs.

At this point, work on the car can begin.

Before removing the factory head unit, the storage compartment below the radio was slipped out. The radio removal tools were then inserted until they locked into place. At that point, the radio removal tools were used to pull the radio out of its slot.

There is plenty of room to slip the radio out, and then unplug the cables.

Page | 68

The rear of the radio that was replaced is shown below. This radio has five ports.

•

Port 1 is the CANBUS connection. It's used for the steering wheel controls.

•

Port 2 is used for the power and speakers.

•

Port 3 is used for speakers.

•

Port 4 is a fiber optic port for the CD changer.

•

Port 5 is for the antenna.

The new head unit simply replaces the old one. The new sleeve is installed. The USB cable is attached to the USB port on the new head unit. The USB cable was then run to a convenient location. On this particular head unit, the USB connection was used to read The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

iPods, iPhones, and solid-state drives. The OEM2, SWI-CAN, and SWI Jack are stacked in the spot below and behind the head unit.

The vehicle cables that used to plug into ports 2 and 3 were plugged into the wiring harness adapter. The cable that was plugged into port 2, was plugged into the top half of the wiring harness adapter. The cable that was plugged into port 3 was plugged into the lower half of the wiring harness adapter.

The individual positive and negative SWI-CAN CANBUS wires to plug into the positive and negative CANBUS slots on Mercedes-Benz wiring harness. The antenna plugs into the Motorola-to-European adapter. The fiber cable for the CD changer is left unplugged - with SSD, who needs CD's?

The only things remaining are some minor programming for the steering wheel controls.

Instructions are included with both the SWI Jack and the SWI-CAN. The programming instructions are very simple; setting two rotary dials, pushing some buttons, and turning the ignition off and on.

The SWI programming instructions have been intentionally omitted from this article because they may differ from one SWI kit to another, and/or PAC may change the instructions.

Page | 70

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Story by Liz El

Page | 72

I

n her native Austria, designer Martina Mueller-Callisti stopped being an unknown long ago. For the past ten years the Callisti label has stood for puristic, extravagant, and urban fashion. This designer’s gaze is continually focused on a self-assured look. One

that combines charisma with elegance and sensuality. Although originally a dedicated women’s collection, she added a men’s fashion line five years ago.

Earlier this month at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (MBFW), Mercedes-Benz and ELLE presented Callisti in Berlin for the first time as part of their joint campaign to promote young talent. The 2018 autumn/winter collection was dominated by futuristic looks in muted colors with an attention to detail.

"I'm in the process of taking a virtual stroll back through the last decade of my life and creative work in order to let it all flow into the new collection, something that has especially moved and impressed me.

My aim is to create a “best-of” that does not miss out on the present, with a zeitgeist that already incorporates the tomorrow".

- Martina Mueller-Callisti Also at MBFW, ten other designers showcased their Autumn/Winter 2018 collections at the ewerk in Berlin Mitte - the new MBFW location in the heart of Berlin. This former electricity substation has two large halls with a raw industrial look. It offered an ideal Opposite page – Martina Mueller-Callisti ewerk to the right

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

setting for highcaliber fashion shows by Dawid Tomaszewski, Ivanman, Ewa Herzog, Cashmere Victim, Riani, Sportalm KitzbĂźhel, Irene Luft, MaisonnoĂŠe, Bogner and of course, the Austrian label Callisti. These shows were all presented by invitation from Mercedes-Benz and ELLE. At the heart of the renovated concept was a renewed focus on exclusive fashion that offered the individual labels more room for attention-grabbing presentations.

In addition, Mercedes-Benz collaborated with the Fashion Council Germany (FCG) to present FASHION HAB at the "Halle am Berghain" and provided a mobility service that linked the major Fashion Week platforms with one another.

Along with the traditional show format, the designers also presented their fashion designs to the audience in special areas around the catwalk.

Page | 74

Clockwise top left: Callisti fashion show, Dawid Tomaszewski-Fashion layout, MBFW spectators, part of the Tomaszewski team, models walking, and Stefanie Giesinger

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Mercedes-Benz also used this setting to unveil the new G-Class in Europe, just a few days after the world premiere in Detroit.

"Berlin is by far the biggest and most important location for fashion in the German-speaking world and we believe firmly in its relevance and potential.

Complementing our involvement at the PREMIUM and

Panorama shows, MBFW allowed us to relaunch the successful format within a very short space of time. We will continue to hone this format right up until the second iteration this coming July, ensuring that our support extends to all the various aspects of the Berlin fashion scene."

- Katja Ohly-Nauber Head of Marketing Communications for Mercedes-Benz Cars Germany

The MBFW live stream outside a building

Page | 76

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

nce upon a time you could by a two wheeled AMG, but not anymore.

That’s

because Mercedes has sold their stake in the Italian motorcycle manufacturer, MV Agusta.

Page | 78

Story by Marcus Blair Fitzhugh

A few years ago, Mercedes-AMG acquired a 25% minority interest in MV Agusta. The purchase provided a sound financial backing, but it didn’t last.

MV Agusta found

themselves in familiar territory – fending off creditors. The company is now fully owned The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

by MV Agusta Holding Company, which is predominantly backed by Russian investment dollars. Just to be clear, we’re referring to MV Agusta – the motorcycle manufacturer.

The MV Agusto Reparto Corse race team is a completely separate legal entity.

Publicly, MV Agusta says the change will allow them to concentrate their efforts in developing new and exciting products. A cynic might wonder if they feel having MercedesAMG bankroll their operation somehow hampered “new and exciting”. Not being cynical, we’ll just say “I’m pretty sure we’ve seen this story.”

Count Giovanni Agusta started Agusta Aviation in the 1920’s. His sons, Vincenzo and Domenico started MV Agusta after World War II ended. The MV stands for Meccanica, which is mechanics, and Verghera is the town where the early motorcycles were made, but this was primarily a way to continue employing the aviation plant workers. Vincenzo died in 1958 and Domenico died in 1971. The rest of the 70’s were ruinous and MV Agusta sold their last bike in 1980 before going out of business.

Cagiva bought the name in 1991 and sold the first all-new MV Agusta in 1997. MV Agusta was a different type of manufacturer.

They built limited production, high end,

performance motorcycles. The bikes were fantastic, but the marketing strategy may have been a contributor their financial issues. Due to debt, Cagiva restructured in 1999. That was a short-lived fix and Proton (who owns Lotus Cars) bought MV Agusta in 2005. A year later they were sold to GEVI SpA. The following year, 2007, MV Agusta sold the Husqvarna division to BMW. In 2008 Harley-Davidson bought MV Agusta.

Fourteen

months later (2010) Harley sold them to Claudio Castiglioni. Claudio Castiglioni is famous for having resurrected Ducati in the mid-80’s, but he died a year after the MV Agusta purchase, in 2011. Four years later Mercedes bought a 25% stake, which they recently sold, and that brings us to today.

Mercedes is out of the picture, but MV Agusta is still viable and they still sell the gorgeous F4 RC. The new F4 RC is an upgraded version of the street driven race bike we reported on a few years back, just without the AMG graphics. Everything is still done the old way; by hand. The frame is still hand welded, the bikes are hand painted, and like AMG, the engines are assembled by hand.

The results are a 385-pound sportbike with 205

horsepower that can handle entries, apexes, and exits like few others.

Page | 80

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Story by Kenny Pi

his past October, Porsche Cars North America introduced Porsche Passport. This is an automotive subscription program, which provides members with flexible access to Porsche vehicles via a mobile app.

This month-to-month subscription program encourages members to drive up to 22 different Porsches per month without mileage restrictions. There’s no commitment and the single monthly fee covers taxes, insurance, registration, and maintenance. Porsche’s delivery service will pick up and drop off the cars, which will arrive completely detailed and with a full tank of gas.

There are two plans; Launch and Accelerate. Launch costs $2000 and Accelerate is $3000.

Launch allows to customers drive eight different models, such as the Boxster, Cayman, Macan, and/or Cayenne in various equipment levels. For an additional $1000, Accelerate adds the Carrera coupe and cabriolet in the base, S, and 4S equipment levels, the Panamera and Cayenne in various equipment levels, and the Macan GTS.

All told,

Accelerate allows up to 22 different vehicles. The 911 Turbo, 911 Turbo S, Targa, Targa S, GTS, GT3, and GT2 RS are not available with either plan.

Page | 82

"Our Strategy 2025 vision is to be the most aspirational brand in a new era of mobility and consumer expectations. Catering to customers' desire to experience our sports cars in new ways is a part of our core strategy.

With Porsche Passport, we now offer our customers a

simple and flexible driving solution at their fingertips."

- Klaus Zellmer President and CEO PCNA Porsche is introducing this plan in Atlanta. Atlanta residents can download the Porsche Passport app on their Apple and Android devices to apply for membership. Both plans require a one-time activation fee of $500, and membership approval is dependent on a background and credit check. Once approved, the vehicle will be delivered wherever the member requests, as long as it’s in the metro Atlanta area. Users can schedule same day or future vehicle exchanges through the Porsche Passport app.

Mercedes-Benz appears to be constructing their own automotive subscription model, but their plan differs substantially. No, you’re not getting an AMG GT in the morning and a Maybach in the afternoon. Mercedes is looking into a plan that covers all the fees required for car ownership or leasing under one payment.

The Mercedes subscription service is expected to cover the car payment, maintenance, and insurance. Mercedes had a similar program in place about a dozen years ago. Back then, all maintenance, with the exception of tires, brakes, and windshield wipers was covered for the first 3 years or 50,000 miles. Everything else fell under the 3 year / 50,0000-mile new car warranty.

The new Mercedes-Benz plan would differ in that it

includes insurance and offer customers the flexibility to swap to a newer car sooner than a traditional lease or finance plan.

Volvo may have started this trend with the new Volvo XC40 subscription service they’re rolling out this spring.

Starting at $600/month, Volvo includes the car payment,

insurance, and maintenance. This plan also offers the ability to get a new car after 12 months. Volvo believes customers don’t want to own a car, they just want to be able to use it. I agree. I personally don’t want to own a Porsche GT3, I just want to be able to use it.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 84

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

story by Jay Pill

Page | 86

aimler AG, BMW Group, Ford Motor Company and the Volkswagen Group with Audi and Porsche announced the joint venture IONITY.

IONITY will develop and

implement a High-Power Charging (HPC) network for electric vehicles across Europe.

The goal is to launch about 400 HPC stations by 2020. IONITY will make long-distance travel easier and marks an important step for electric vehicles.

Based in Munich,

Germany, the joint venture is led by Chief Executive Officer Michael Hajesch and Chief Operating Officer Marcus Groll.

“The first pan-European HPC network plays an essential role in establishing a market for electric vehicles. IONITY will deliver our common goal of providing customers with fast charging and digital payment capability, to facilitate long-distance travel,” Michael Hajesch IONITY Chief Executive Officer 20 stations will be opened to the public this year. They will be spaced at intervals of 120 km, and located on major roads in Germany, Norway and Austria. Throughout the year, the network will expand to more than 100 stations, each one enabling multiple customers, driving different manufacturer cars, to charge their vehicles simultaneously.

With a capacity of up to 350 kW per charging point, the network will use the European charging standard’s Combined Charging System to significantly reduce charging times compared to existing systems. The brand-agnostic approach and Europe-wide distribution is expected to help make electrified vehicles more appealing.

Choosing the best locations takes into account potential integration with existing charging technologies and IONITY is negotiating with existing infrastructure initiatives, including those supported by the participating companies as well as political institutions. The investment underlines the commitment that the participating manufacturers are making in electric vehicles and relies on international cooperation across the industry.

The founding partners, BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and the Volkswagen Group, have equal shares in the joint venture, while other automotive manufacturers are invited to help expand the network.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 88

Porsche mourns the death of Dan Gurney r. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG mourns the death of Daniel Sexton Gurney. The racing driver and Formula 1 pilot died on January 14, 2018 at the age of 86. Porsche owes its only success as a vehicle manufacturer in the Formula 1 World Championship to Gurney, who won the 1962 French Grand Prix in Rouen, in an eightcylinder Porsche 804. Just a week later Gurney led from start to finish to triumph at the Solitude racetrack near Stuttgart; his teammate Joakim Bonnier took second place to secure a one-two for the air-cooled Porsche Type 804 in front of its home crowd.

Driving appearances for the Swabian sports car manufacturer in 1961 and 1962 would leave lasting memories; as Gurney once reflected, “It was with Porsche that I really learned how to drive–because they gave me cars that didn’t constantly break down and I could lay down the kilometers faster than ever before.” Gurney was considered to be an all-round talent in the field of motorsport: The American enjoyed plenty of success throughout his career and was the first driver to win races in Formula 1, NASCAR and the IndyCar Series, as well as sports car races, including with his own team. With the invention of the “Gurney flap”, he improved aerodynamic efficiency by adding a spoiler to the rear wing. He was also the first driver to spray champagne on the podium, inadvertently starting a tradition that is now imitated all around the world.

Porsche also helped him to find lifelong happiness in his private life in the 1960s when he married his wife Evi, the former German motor sports journalist and secretary to the Porsche Racing Manager Huschke von Hansteinn.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 90

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 92

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 94

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

A Mercedes-Benz EXKLUSIV Event Saturday, February 10th from 8 AM until 12 PM

Those who have never been to an event at the VPC do not want to miss this. To those who have attended an event at the Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Pep Center, we’ll see you there.

Page | 96

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 98

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 100

Luftgekühlt 5

Sunday April 29th

Luftgekühlt embodies all the air-cooled Porsches in the manufacturer’s history, from the Pre-A 356 through the 993 model line. Luftgekühlt was created by two-time Le Mans class winner Patrick Long and noted Southern California creative director Howie Idelson. This is a true Porsche happening, and you don’t want to miss it.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

AutoCon Los Angeles Sunday April 29th Since 2010, AutoCon Events has been recognized as one of the most innovative automotive events in the nation spanning from cities in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami and New Jersey/New York. From the exclusive vehicles on display to the one-of-a-kind ‘drive up’ main stage, the goal of AutoCon is to create a positive environment where attendees of the event can converge, learn and share common interests with one another. With its core focus on the automotive industry, AutoCon is a place where extraordinary vehicle builds are debuted, product launches happen, news is announced, and the future is introduced.

Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015Los Angeles California

Page | 102

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

NORCAL meets SOCAL has returned. The original event was hosted 14 years ago, and it put SOCALEURO on the map as one of the must attend events. They have partnered with the San Diego BMW CCA to host a two-part event; One part Euro Car Gathering. One part Page | 104

Driving Experience.

This allows the option for meeting European car enthusiasts and

showing off your lovely car, or registering for the Driving Experience with instructors. If you qualify, you can also participate in A-Solo or Time Trials.

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 106

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 108

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 110

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 112

The Southwest Star Magazine – your cars & your events

Page | 114