The smart fortwo is a car’s length ahead of its time and lends a new, modern dimension to urban mobility. The smart’s clever vehicle concept remains unrivaled in its second generation as well, a fact also reflected by the new ‘Accessories for the smart 2007.’ The extensive range of features, which are based on intelligent ideas and sophisticated detailed solutions, include everything from practical storage elements to functional foot mats, effective navigation systems, and outstanding sound systems. The new bicycle, ski, and snowboard racks impressively demonstrate how large equipment items can be stored in the smallest possible space — it’s truly intelligent cargo management à la smart.

At Mercedes-Benz it is not just the cars that benefit from the companyÂ’s involvement in the field of motor racing – motorsport know-how is also used to optimise various top-class technological Collection products. The latest example is the new ‘Racing Bike 2007’: thanks to an innovative frame made from carbon fibre – a high-tech material used in Formula 1 – this competition-standard cycle weighs just seven kilograms. With its consistently lightweight construction and exclusive equipment, this is a cycle that will appeal to professional cyclists and serious amateurs.

With a daring, unconventional design, the ‘Collection for the smart 2007’ captures the attitude to life that is unique to smart enthusiasts and individualists. The cult bags, fashionable clothing and attractively designed utensils are just the thing for picnics, parties or any other occasion. The ‘smart fortwo edition 2007’ products were created specially for the new fortwo. smart drivers are smart by nature and have a weakness for unusual design. And they wonÂ’t be disappointed by the current ‘Collection for the smart 2007’, now available from smart partners. The ‘digital’ and ‘analogue’ watches not only boast a modern design but also precision – either square with a striking LCD display or round with luminous hands and date window. Made from brushed stainless steel, the solid casing forms a striking contrast with the cheerful green or vivid red textile strap. The watches come in a round neoprene case and a unique feature is that the bag has compartments inside and can later be used as a CD case.

I ran across this story last week but unfortunately due to limited time constraints I wasn’t able to publish it, so if you’ve already seen it, I apologize for my tardiness. For everyone who hasn’t heard (or seen) the news, spy photographers recently captured new shots of a wagon variant of the Mercedes C63 AMG. As you’ll see in the photos, the model retains the same handsome styling found on the rest of the 2008 C-Class lineup, with the added addition of more storage space to allow the obsessive-compulsive among us to stuff even more crap into the back of their vehicle (or, for the Tony Sopranos among us, a few more bodies). Power for the model is rumored to come from a de-tuned version of Mercedes’ 6.2-Liter V8 outputting somehwere between 420 and 450 horsepower, while other highlights of the model likely include enhanced AMG styling, brakes, suspension… basically the same feature set found of the rest of the AMG variants.

It’s been a relatively slow week for Mercedes reviews, with by our count no more than three publications weighing on a Merc model. As it turns out, this week’s manufacturer-sponsored event gave testers the opportunity to strap themselves in behind the wheel of the roughly $200,000 CL65 AMG, meaning we have three looks at what’s undoubtedly one of the most covetable new Mercedes models currently available.

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen; I hope you all had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend. To kick things off this bright May morning we have a recap of the F1 race that transpired in Monte Carlo over the weekend. As usual, if you have it TIVO’d and plan on catching it later, read no further; otherwise, keep reading for the full press release.

While we’re on the topic of spy photos, The Car Connection recently published another batch of pictures depicting what they’re calling the 2009 SL testing in various climates. Not content with merely providing disguised SL photos however, they also published the watermark-laden rendering you see above – a rendering which attempts to show what an SL with CLS headlights and a new grille would look like. I have to be honest: I’m not diggin’ it. I hope for the sake of SL owners the final product looks better than the photo; typically, however, renderings emanating from the Lehmann camp aren’t too far off base, so we’ll see.

Another story making the rounds yesterday was a new batch of spy photos depicting upcoming small SUV, the GLK-Class, testing on the Nurburgring alongside the BMW X3. As you’ll see in the photo, the GLK matches up pretty closely in terms of size with the BMW, and in likelihood will match pretty closely in terms of performance as well. Aside from the photos, there’s really nothing more to reveal that you haven’t already heard. It’s based on the same platform as the new C-Class; it’s expected to use the same 3.5-Liter V6 paired with Mercedes’ seven-speed transmission featured in the C; and of course, it features 4MATIC four-wheel drive technology.

As luck would have it, yesterday, the one day I couldn’t make it into the office due to what turned out to be a four hour dental appointment, was one of the busiest days for Mercedes news that we’ve had the past couple of weeks. So to those of you who sent us tips yesterday: a huge thanks; don’t worry, we see ’em, and I’m doing my best to cover them all as quickly as possible. First up comes a story that’s already been published on what appears to be every other automotive blog in existence: the news that Mercedes tuner KICHERER has released the SL K 60 Evo Black tuning package for the SL600. Boasting an enhanced V12 outputting 605hp/445kW, the SL K 60 Evo is capable of accelerating from 0-62 mph in 4.3 seconds, 0-124 mph in 14.2 seconds, and attaining an electronically-limited top speed of 186 mph…

In military news, the Canadian Defence Ministry has just ordered 82 armored Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks, with the option to purchase another 26 units of the model. The Actros, which feature a four-axle all-wheel-drive chassis, are fitted with a specially armored cab, and provide an exceptionally high level of protection for the Canadian soldiers from mines, hostile fire and roadside bombs during their various UN peacekeeping missions. A few features of the model include the ability to cope with uphill gradients up to 70 percent and a lateral incline of up to 30 percent; the ability to traverse water courses with a depth of 750mm (up to 1200mm with special equipment); and of course, state-of-the-art protection from both ballistic and blast threats.

DaimlerChrysler has announced today that they will unveil the first prototype of the company’s diesel-electric hybrid Mercedes-Benz Citaro bus to the general public during the second half of 2007. The prototype power source, which Daimler says ’embodies highly sophisticated diesel-electric series hybrid technology,’ will allow emission-free operation in battery-only mode, and will be installed in a Citaro G articulated bus. As for when we’ll see the hybrid Citaro introduced to the market, series production is scheduled for 2009.

There’s no denying the raw sexiness of the Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series. It’s a sensuous creature – a Mercedes stripped down… transformed… into a vehicle designed purely for performance. But for some of you, the question of whether such a vehicle is needed – wanted even – still lingers. It is for this group that today’s batch of reviews exists, a collection of reviews dedicated solely to describing what’s now the second Black Series to be produced by AMG. So how did the CLK63 AMG Black Series perform? Read on for the full collection of reviews.