Read it Like the Black Ops Group on ‘Scandal’

Sep 16 2015

Waka waka.

(COMAND is the name of Mercedes’ infotainment system)

The World’s Most Powerful 4-Cylinder Engine

Mar 30 2015

That title goes to Mercedes-Benz and their 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine found inside the CLA 45 AMG.

355 hp
332 lb.ft of torque
0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds
Top speed – 250 km/h
Engine is hand-built, start to finish, by one technician

Starting at $50,600
Sold out in Canada

(pictured above is a CLA 250, but the AMG looks similar enough, with the main difference being the badge on the back)

(non car nerds: AMG is Mercedes’ line of high-performance vehicles, see this chart)

(to be clear – the post title refers to a “production engine found in a consumer vehicle”)

(I did not mean for this post to have so many brackets)

The 37 Models of Mercedes in Chart Form

Feb 16 2015

(click to enlarge)

Left to right = least to most expensive

Anything with AMG = their performance line – as in – good as it gets

All 37 vehicles are now available with optional 4MATIC – All-wheel drive – get it.

Drive, Write, Drive, Delayed Flight, and Home

Feb 4 2015

Me last night at the cocktail reception that was held… outdoors (aside – think my camera is degrading, again.)

I lasted as long as it takes to inhale a coffee, and take one photo.

A few hundred kilometres today through Quebec ski towns and little villages.

Our tour included a stop at 1 of 3 Canadian Benedictine monasteries.

Neat eh. Of course I loved how quiet it was inside #LoveSilence. Should’ve told them my theory – put a monk in a race car.

They’re master cheese makers, that’s how they make money WAIT – they sell cheese to make cheese! Guys I’m tired.

Back on the road, drive drive drive.

My review will be online at Autonet very soon.

I will be recommending to spend the extra $2,200 for Mercedes’ 4MATIC All-wheel drive system, it makes a massive difference in handling.

That works out to another 7% of the total price. Exactly.

Then my flight was delayed, and delayed again, then those green loops are the plane circling for more delays.

Won’t go on, because travel stories are so very boring.

Picked up this week’s car at the airport – 2015 Infiniti Q70 – and now it’s 11pm and I’m home, the end.

In Montreal with Mercedes for a Minute

Feb 3 2015

Flew out at 8am, here till late tomorrow night.

This is my first Mercedes anything, both trip and test car.

Hi hi from the Olympic Basin, where we tested the car’s 4MATIC All-wheel Drive system on the ice.

New 2015 CLA 250s.

My drive partner (who requested anonymity) was so kind, he’s done this 500 times so let me do all the driving, which I did with a huge grin permantley.

Favourite moment was when I made a rooster tail, coating the passenger side with snow, I look to my right and my partner is covered, his window had been down.

1 – all hard buttons and dials, no touch nonsense; Mercedes isn’t into it either
2 – sharp looking vertical quilting on the seats eh
3 – what we’re testing – 4MATIC and ESP

Filmed a quick bit for Motoring TV (I’m back there now, just haven’t told you about it yet.) You know these guys – that’s cameraman Paul Reid in the back, and Russ Bond in the front.

My ending line was my best line:

Motoring – what about winter tires, Keri?
Me – If you don’t know by now you need them, you are beyond my help.

When departing the basin, we drove through the finish line of Canada’s only F1 racetrack.

Above is me crossing the finish line.

Got asked so many times about my skirt & tights, “aren’t you cold?”

I’m always cold regardless, so there’s that. But tights are surprisingly warm, that’s why soldiers wear them beneath their fatigues in the field, and why any good Canadian girl owns at least 5 black pairs.