It’s a real car-nerd’s delight with the B-Class F-Cell, fresh from its round the world tour and the gull-winged SLS AMG representing current and future models, but it’s the alphabet soup of E-Class taxis that had me reaching for my I-Spy Guide. You’ll find a W 124 (built from 1984 to 1997), W 210 (built from 1995 to 2002), W 211 (built from 2002 to 2009) and the W 212 (built since 2009).

Kudos to the first person who shouts that list out in the middle of the cinema on a busy Friday showing..

The film was made by director Jaume Collet-Serra and producer Joel Silver in Berlin, Brandenburg, Leipzig and the Babelsberg studios in Potsdam. The story goes along the lines: a nightmare begins when biologist Dr. Martin Harris (Liam Neeson) awakes from a coma following a serious car accident in Berlin. His wife (January Jones) does not recognise him and another man has taken on his identity.

To compound matters, a killer (Stipe Erceg) is also on Harris’s heels. In order to win back his wife and his former life, he seeks out taxi driver Gina (Diane Kruger), who rescued him in the accident. Together with her and former Stasi agent Jürgen (Bruno Ganz) he takes up the fight for his identity and the truth against an all-powerful adversary – including high-speed chases in Mercedes taxis.

I’m a sucker for a good high-speed car chase (watching rather than taking part!), and there’s the added bonus with Unknown Identity of being able to congratulate yourself for spotting all 6 of the starring Mercedes cars.

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You’re entitled to be a tadge confused over where the C-Class Coupé fits within the current Mercedes range – okay, the clue is in the prefix (C-Class) but up until 2009 Mercedes offered the CLK, which was a coupé/convertible version of the C-Class. But when the CLK ceased production in 2009, along came the 2-door E-Class Coupé which like the CLK before it was based on the contemporary C-Class platform. See where I’m going with this?

So if both the new C-Class Coupé and E-Class Coupé are based on the same platform and appear roughly the same size, what’s the difference?

For the time being we know that this new C-Class Coupé uses a front-end based on the recently facelifted C-Class saloon, but adopts a more steeply raked windscreen and offers just two bucket seats in the rear – the backrests which can then be folded down to increase boot space. In the UK the new Coupé adopts a distinctive sporting profile within the C-Class range, being fitted as standard with the AMG Sports Package including AMG bodystyling and 18” AMG alloys.

Mercedes are targeting customers aged 35 to 45 for whom professional success, love of life and a strong sense of responsibility are all important – that might sound like a mature segment, but it’s almost 20 years younger than the average Mercedes-Benz buyer, so this is very much a car aimed at the loyal BMW 3-Series customer. “By extending the C-Class portfolio, we are consciously targeting new customers,” says Dr Joachim Schmidt, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars. “The new model is youthful, stylish and dynamic. What we are offering is an exceptionally sporty way to enter the world of the Mercedes-Benz coupé.”

Engines will be as per the C-Class saloon, starting with the 168 bhp 2,143 cc C 220 CDI BlueEfficiency, good for 64.2mpg and 117g/km of CO2 climbing up to the range-topping 302 bhp C 350 powered by a 3,498 cc V6 petrol engine. All cars receive Mercedes new ECO start/stop function and revised 7G-TRONIC PLUS seven-speed automatic transmission. The E-Class Coupé by contrast is already available with a 383 bhp 5,461 cc V8 engine in the E 500, so perhaps that’s where the dividing line will lie between both Coupé models.

The new C-Class Coupé will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in early March with first customer deliveries beginning in June

At a Glance

The range of engines for the C-Class Coupé at a glance:¹

BE = BlueEFFICIENCY, * figures for automatic transmission, manual transmission in brackets

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According to a report in this week’s Autocar, Mercedes-Benz is planning to enter the hot hatch market in 2012 with a 320bhp AMG-badged A-class, meanwhile workers at the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant in Germany came up with the idea of squeezing the 5.5-litre 382 bhp V8 from an E550 into a diminutive B-Class.

The challenge

After finding a B200 CDI that had been sacrificed to training, Plant manager Peter Wesp and his team set about the replacing the oil-burner with one of Stuttgart’s finest propulsion sources.

The idea came from the Rastatt plant manager, Peter Wesp. He gave some of his staff the task of creating a very special vehicle using the B-Class as its base – leaving it to their creativity to decide what and how. Andreas Würz, a foreman in the technical vocational training department, immediately took up the challenge.

Foreman, Andreas Würz, thought that it should be possible to fit a V8 into the engine compartment.

He took a close look at this large compact model, enlisted the aid of a tape-measure and came up with an idea that not only surprised and delighted his boss and colleagues, but also the trainees: “Actually it should be possible to fit a V8 into the engine compartment.” Together with his fellow-foreman Matthias Rieger from the electrics/electronics installation section, he assembled a team of twelve second-year and third-year trainees specialising in production mechanics and automotive mechatronics.

A technical specification was created and a build plan was formulated based on the following assumptions; the B-Class was to remain a recognisable B-Class, on the inside and outside. The interior was to be upgraded in line with the more premium class being aspired to and the resulting car was to be suitable for day-to-day driving.

The build process

HR manager Martin Spicale promised financial support, which made the project a feasible proposition in the first place. And a “victim” (Würz) for the conversion was also soon found: a B 200 CDI which had been donated to the workshop for training purposes.

While the trainees completely disassembled the B 200 CDI, Würz went in search of a suitable engine and found what he was looking for. The 5.5-litre V8 developing 285 kW (382 bhp) and 530 newton metres of torque was transplanted into the B-Class together with a seven-speed automatic transmission and the engine control unit. The latter proved to be quite a headache later on, as it had to be reprogrammed only to process signals from the driven rear axle.

Würz: “The V8 power unit fitted amazingly well, and we were even able to use the original engine mounts.” There were serious problems with the steering, but here too, harmony was restored with a number of modifications.

The exhaust system was a clever combination of various replacement parts and took the form of a twin-pipe system emerging at the centre of the rear valance. This is where the one-off B 55 gets its typical V8 burbling sound – once the ignition key has been turned, all heads in the vicinity are guaranteed to turn in the direction of this very special B-Class.

The B 55 could be described as a subtle conversion, that is until the ignition is turned and the engine started.

Intensive perusal of Mercedes parts catalogues solved the second major transplant challenge, namely the rear driven axle. It emerged that the rear axle of an older W 210 series E-Class would be a very good geometrical fit. Plant manager Wesp gave the go-ahead to obtain one, and Würz and his colleagues designed a subframe, which with extensive forming and welding work enabled it to be integrated into the B-Class bodyshell. Elegantly concealed within the sandwich floor, the propshaft of the E-Class also fitted into the B-Class with no further modifications. Neat eh?

For the brakes the team also struck gold within the replacement parts catalogue, this time donated from the C32 AMG listing. Perforated and internally ventilated disc brakes in 345 x 34 mm dimensions were fitted at the front, with perforated and internally ventilated disc brakes in size 300 x 30 mm at the rear.

The system was combined with striking 8.5 x 18 AMG sports wheels in a five-spoke design shod with 235/40 ZR 18 Y tyres at the front and 9 x 18 wheels with 255/35 ZR 18 Y tyres at the rear. The maximum steering angle at the front axle was mechanically restricted to avoid fouling the wheel arches. The team stepped outside of Mercedes parts catalogue for the suspension, turning to coil-over suspension specialists K&W.

Finishing touches

Where the interior was concerned, friends from the training workshop in Sindelfingen were able to help, providing Alcantara linings for the A, B and C-pillars as well as a roof liner in the same luxurious material. The seats in a leather/Alcantara combination were provided by the specialists at Johnson Controls, who are also located on-site in Rastatt.

The finishing touches were added to the B 55 in the paint shop. In trendy white with dark-painted radiator louvres and smoked headlamp lenses, the B-Class cuts an imposing figure but only gives a discreet indication of the power plant concealed beneath its bonnet, assuming of course you’re not within earshot of its burbling V8.

The project team headed by foreman Würz are particularly proud that at 1620 kg, the weight of the B 55 is only around 180 kg greater than that of the original car. Which means that impressive performance figures can be expected…

Würz: “We have not made any measurements yet, but we should manage a sprint to 62 mph in under six seconds. “Plant manager Wesp is equally proud of the result: “The team of trainees has done a superb job, and placed a spotlight on the sporty genes of the B-Class that nobody could have imagined.”

Training manageress Manuela Rascher is likewise very pleased: “The B 55 shows what our training workshop can do. It clearly demonstrates that we not only offer young people high-quality professional training, but also highly unusual and exciting project work.” Could it be that further projects of this nature are planned for the future?

Rascher: “We may have some surprises in store…”

Video

And the great thing about reading this online is that you can also listen to it. It’s cars like this which show why V8′s are the most charismatic of powerplants to fit in a car.

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The system will not only alert the driver of the need to stop for food but will also navigate the car to the nearest restaurant that suit’s the driver’s taste and pocket. To be called Gastronomi, it could become an option on the all new Infiniti M performance luxury saloon which goes on sale across Europe from September.

Gastronomi employs three of Infiniti’s current technologies: Connectiviti, Active Noise Control and Forest Air climate control. Active Noise Control donates one of its sensors mounted in the interior headlining and otherwise employed in monitoring road noise to detect the sounds of borborygmi –tummy rumbles. If a pre-determined volume of rumbling is heard, a knife and fork symbol flashes up on the Connectiviti information screen and the driver is asked whether they wish to divert for a pit-stop.

A selection of nearby restaurants can then be accessed from the Michelin Red Guide, already an integral part of Infiniti’s Connectiviti infotainment system. Once a choice is selected, the HDD navigation system selects the quickest route and if a reservation is required, a telephone number is also given for the driver to connect to via Infiniti’s standard Bluetooth telephone integration.

At this point, the Forest Air climate control system changes mode. The tropical borneol scent that is usually gently wafted throughout the cabin is replaced with the fragrance of truffle oil to ready the palette as the driver is navigated to their meal.

Gastronomi can be tailored further. There is a Fitness option which if selected first calculates the driver’s ideal weight based on the memorised driving position. The driver is then asked to input their real weight and if it is higher than the theoretical weight, Gastronomi allows for louder tummy rumbles before suggesting a pit-stop. It also works in reverse if it considers the driver needs feeding up.

Another, ahem, menu asks the driver to input their favoured cuisine and amount they want to pay for a meal and suggests restaurants accordingly from the Michelin Red Guide. Categories include Bistro, Gastropub, Flushed and On Expenses.

Infiniti’s engineers have developed the technology after several years of research, and periods of starvation, in conjunction with the Narita Office for Subsistence and Health (NOSH) in Japan. The research showed the dangers of driving while hungry included reduced concentration brought on by daydreams about noodles as well as the risk of neck-strain, not to mention a frontal impact, while the driver looks into passing restaurants.

The director of NOSH, I. Likecake-san, stopped between mouthfuls to say: “Gastronomi could be the most important development in [pauses to swallow] motoring since the cup holder [burps]. Is there any more rice?”

Infiniti’s programme director for Gastronomi, Yumi Teppenyaki, was unfortunately out to lunch when asked for a comment.

But for Infiniti, M doesn’t stand for Motorsport – although some might argue the same could be said for BMW these days.

Infiniti is a relatively new brand in Europe, although it has competed successfully against the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Lexus in the US for many years. 2009 was scheduled to be a big year for the brand, with new dedicated centres being opened in Paris, Rome, Zurich and…. Reading in Berkshire, but the economic downturn forced Infiniti management to curtail some of their plans as they prepare for an upturn in the market during 2010.

They’ve been busy though, with new variants of the G37 entry-level model released, plus their sports-oriented crossovers, the EX and FX.

Those of us who attended Infiniti’s stand at the Geneva show this year will have felt mixed emotions – elation at seeing the Essence Concept followed swiftly by disappointment as we heard that Infiniti had no plans to produce it. We were told that it represented the design language of future Infiniti models, which was little solace to those of us who saw the Essence as one of the most gorgeous looking Japanese cars yet to be conceived.

We’ll leave you to judge whether Infiniti are living up their promise of reflecting the Essence’s style in their mainstream models, but it’s a tough act to follow and therefore perhaps we should not judge them too harshly.

So the Infiniti M joins the range above the G37, competing against the likes of BMW’s new 5-series, Mercedes fresh new E-Class and Audi’s A6.

The M37 is powered by the same 3.7-litre VVEL V6 petrol engine found in other Infiniti models producing 316 bhp (320 PS) and 266 lb ft (360 Nm) of torque. A V6 diesel will be launched in 2010 with a petrol/electric V6 hybrid model sometime later.

On first acquaintance the M37 appears to offer nothing particularly new in this sector, however there are several technical innovations that Infiniti are hoping will tempt buyers away from their German competitors.

Blind Sport Intervention (BSI)
Infiniti describes this as a ‘world-first safety feature’, as well as giving the driver both visual and audible warnings of another vehicle in the blind-spot area which is detected using radar, BSI intervenes if the driver ignores the warnings and attempts to steer into the other vehicle’s path. The intervention is in the form of a directional adjustment, executed automatically. This is achieved by selective braking on one side of the car to create a “yaw” effect that eases the vehicle back into its original lane.

Active Noise Control (ANC)
By identifying undesirable sounds in the cabin and then playing back through the speakers sound waves of an opposite phase, the original noises are cancelled out, making the M’s interior a quieter, more restful place to be. The system is aimed at reducing undesirable low-frequency engine sounds only. M models with the 16-speaker Bose Studio Surround sound system are equipped with Bose Engine Harmonic Cancellation (EHC) which is claimed to be even more effective at controlling unwanted noises.

Infiniti Drive
The M’s throttle sensitivity and transmission mapping are fine tuned according to which of four driver-selectable modes is engaged via a switch positioned behind the gear lever: Standard, Eco, Sport and Snow. The Eco mode utilises green and yellow lights on the instrument panel to provide feedback on fuel efficiency. Eco mode also introduces a new Infiniti concept known as the Eco Pedal. If driving too aggressively, the driver will feel the accelerator pedal “push back” to indicate fuel is being wasted. Sport mode changes the automatic shift points and enhances throttle response for increased performance. It will also adjust the 4WAS for a nimbler feel and raise the ESP intervention level.

Forest Air
Infiniti believes the quality of the air within a car’s cabin has a direct bearing on the well-being of driver and passengers. Which is why it developed Forest Air – Infiniti’s most advanced climate control system that makes its debut in the M37. The system offers temperature, humidity and pollution control while re-creating the gentle breezes and subtle scents of an environment known to promote alertness and relieve stress: the forest.

The M uses a Front Mid-ship platform that positions the engine behind the front axle resulting in an optimised front-to-rear weight balance for naturally stable and rewarding handling. Suspension is double-wishbone in front and multi-link at the rear, along with front and rear anti-roll bars. The standard wheel size is 18-inches however for the sportiest models, 20-inch wheels, new double-piston shock absorbers, special suspension settings, 4-piston brakes and 4-Wheel Active Steering are all available.

Prices are still to be confirmed, but will be announced prior to the beginning of European sales in September 2010.

We brought you the video of our on-track exploits before Christmas, now tuck into the feature and read about each DR Team member’s experience of this epic….. err, contest.

Click the image below to read the magazine feature

Have a look at the video and then let’s hear your comments (about anything except Chris’ fashion sense)

The video is available to watch now and the feature will be online in the next few days.

Click the image and go to DR TV