Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Fernando Alonso achieved the fastest time in the most recent practise for the Italian race.

The double world champion gained the quickest speed of one minute 23.155 seconds on Wednesday as the racers prepared for their next big event in Monza. Team-mate Lewis Hamilton had previously been top of the timesheets.

During the day’s sessions, both Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers shared the MP4-22 model, with Hamilton getting his practise in first and Alonso climbing behind the wheel in the afternoon.

Hamilton achieved second place on the timesheets, with a speed of one minute 23.454 seconds.

When testing got underway on Tuesday, the racer achieved the best time at one minute 24.112 seconds.

Further testing was set for Thursday but rain meant that the racers were kept off the track. It is now expected that practise will be extended over Friday to make up for the lost day ahead of the race next month.

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The release of financial data for the second quarter of 2007 has prompted Mercedes-Benz to forecast stable car sales for the remainder of the year.

Improvements are expected to be made to efficiency processes during the rest of 2007 as the firm continues to implement its growth programme, while a return on sales of substantially more than seven per cent is projected to be achieved by the company’s car division.

Mercedes-Benz is also increasing its expenditure to plough resources back into the business and make it more proficient with the aim of generating a ten per cent return on sales by the year 2010.

The business continues to move forward with the launch of the new C-Class sedan, while a station wagon version of the C-Class will be showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month before going on sale by the end of the year.

Mercedes-Benz recently launched its Black Series – a variant on the SLK 55 AMG Roadster.

Mercedes-Benz has developed a new device which can help eco-conscious Sprinter drivers reduce their impact upon the environment.

The Eco-Start device has been created to switch off the van’s engine if it is stationary for more than three seconds, saving fuel and consequently reducing CO2 output.

In fact, tests conducted by the automotive expert have shown that some drivers could save as much as 20 per cent in fuel consumption with the new product, which performs best in urban settings.

The engine starts up again when the driver depresses the clutch pedal and the function can be manually deactivated if the motorist so should so choose.

In some situations, the feature is disabled automatically, such as when the outside temperature drops below freezing point or if the battery voltage is particularly low.

Mercedes-Benz’s latest range of Sprinter vans features extra wheelbase and roof height options, as well as a powerful line-up of engines.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes racers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have been preparing for their Italian test over the last couple of days in Monza.

The three-day preparatory course allows the drivers to give their vehicles a workout and pick up on any problems which need correcting before the official race takes place in less than two weeks’ time.

Because of poor weather, the track could not be tested on Thursday, but Wednesday saw both drivers complete 49 laps each, with Hamilton also focusing on aerodynamic work during his morning session.

The young racer paid specific attention to tyre comparisons following his earlier misfortune when one of his wheels popped during the race in Istanbul.

Alonso meanwhile took to the track in the afternoon, also concentrating on aero testing as well as mechanical issues.

Events in Italy will be held from September 7th to 9th.

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The recent launch of the Mercedes-Benz Black Series marks the firm’s 121st year of expertise in the motoring field since the development of the first automobile.

Founders of the Mercedes-Benz company, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, grew up in Germany in the 1800s and both turned to the engineering industry as their profession. Little did they know that they would become the creators of the first car in 1886.

Daimler created the first high-speed four-stoke gasoline engine with the aim of powering all sorts of machinery from coaches to boats and his first motor carriage was on the road by 1886.

Benz, who was ten years Daimler’s junior, also designed an engine, which he used inside a three-wheeled chassis which no longer looked like a carriage and so the first automobile was born.

The Benz Patent Motor Car, patent number 37435, is considered to be the world’s first automobile.

Mercedes-Benz’s latest offering - the Black Series - is a variant on the SLK 55 AMG Roadster and showcases more than a century’s worth of experience in motoring.

The new Black Series from Mercedes-Benz is an even more driver-focused variant of the V8-powered SLK 55 AMG Roadster, using motorsport-inspired technology to deliver scintillating performance and enhanced driving dynamics. 

Output from the 5.5-litre AMG engine is boosted from 360 hp to 400 hp and
45 kg has been shaved off the kerbweight through the use of lightweight components including a new fixed hard top.  As a result, the 0 to 62 mph dash drops from 4.9 to 4.5 seconds, while 125 mph is, where permitted, clocked up in just 15.5 seconds – a full two seconds quicker. Top speed is no longer restricted to 155 mph, and the car can reach 173 mph.

The exclusive nature of the SLK 55 AMG Black Series is signalled by even more muscular front wings made from ultra-light carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CRP) and a restyled AMG front skirt with carbon fibre inlays.  Large air intakes and side air outlets ensure a sufficient flow of air to the enlarged engine oil cooler and new transmission and steering oil coolers. 

The SLK’s standard vario roof with its hydraulic closing mechanism has been replaced with a purposeful fixed hard top which has a central section in black carbon-fibre CRP.  It means that not only is the car’s centre of gravity lower, there is also a significant weight loss – it now tips the scales over seven stones lighter than the standard car, at 1,495 kg, and the power/weight ratio improves from 234 hp/tonne to 268 hp/tonne.

The motorsport theme continues inside: two specially developed AMG sports bucket seats without side airbags offer superb lateral support and are trimmed in a black pearl velour complete with silver AMG logos.  They are complemented by a leather and Alcantara trimmed steering wheel derived from that used in the FIA Formula One World Championship Official Safety Car, and lightweight AMG carbon fibre internal door centre panels.

The V8’s power output of 400 hp at 5,750 rpm compares with the standard AMG model’s 360 hp, produced at the same engine speed.  It develops an even more muscular 520 Nm of torque at 3,750 rpm, up from 510 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Key enhancements include a modified air intake, an AMG sports air filter and a newly-developed exhaust system. Power continues to be fed through an AMG Speedshift 7G-TRONIC transmission with a manual drive programme and steering wheel-mounted aluminium shift paddles.

Naturally the chassis has been modified to match the increased performance capability of this special series SLK 55 AMG.  Racetrack-optimised, AMG height-adjustable torsion suspension, including adjustable dampers permits even more impressive cornering ability. 19 inch ultra-light AMG forged alloy wheels with 235/35 ZR 19 (front) and 265/30 ZR 19 (rear) Pirelli P Zero Nero tyres replace the 18 inch items of the standard car.  Greater body rigidity is provided by a brace across the engine bay, and for those looking for even sportier handling, there’s a limited slip differential available, priced €at 3,475 euros.

There is stopping power to match the performance and the front wheels continue to feature composite technology to minimise braking distances, optimise sensitivity and ensure high resistance to fading. The composite brake discs are now 360 mm in diameter, up from 340 mm. The 330 mm internally ventilated and perforated brake discs at the rear are retained.

The SLK 55 AMG Black Series may possess a level of driving dynamics orientated towards track use, but it is also a car eminently suited to everyday driving and provides the safety, durability and quality that come as standard across the Mercedes-Benz range.  The Black Series is also offered with three additional AMG packages for even greater exclusivity: an AMG Leather package includes leather seats, dash, centre console, centre armrest, door panels and doorbags, and anti-roll bars for €6,310 euros.  An AMG Interior Carbon Fibre package includes carbon fibre instrument cluster covers, steering wheel multi-function button covers, gearshift lever and door sill panels for €2,630 euros.  An AMG Exterior Carbon Fibre package has carbon fibre front grille inserts, external mirror covers and rear boot spoiler trim, for €4,325 euros.

The SLK 55 AMG Black Series is priced at €92,500 euros and is available by special order from Mercedes-Benz Retailers now.  The euro price is converted to Sterling at the point of ordering.

An exclusive variant on the SLK 55 AMG Roadster has been developed by Mercedes-Benz under the moniker Black Series.

The new model, which takes inspiration from motorsport to offer the best performance, can now reach, where laws allow, 173 miles per hour (mph), up from the previous limit of 155 mph as achieved by the original V8 Roadster.

A fixed carbon fibre hard top is fitted to the model to replace the standard SLK’s vario roof, meaning that the car’s centre of gravity is lower and the model itself is lighter.

Racing bucket seats, a lightweight interior and an ergonomic F1 Safety Car-inspired steering wheel are among the luxuriously sporty features offered by the Black Series, complemented by a modified chassis to deal with the extra power provided by the model.

Lighter components mean that the car has shed 45 kilogrammes and can now achieve 400 horsepower compared with the previous limit of 360.

The model is available from €92,500 and can be requested from Mercedes-Benz retailers now.

Mercedes-Benz has returned as a sponsor of the golfing profession’s European Tour International Schedule to mark the 20th anniversary of German golfer Bernhard Langer’s success at the Masters Tournament.

The Mercedes-Benz Championship is to comprise 78 players who have either won a European Tour Order of Merit event this year or are classed within the Official World Golf Ranking, in addition to five invitations.

Langer has won the German Masters four times previously and is set to host the Mercedes-Benz Championship two weeks after his 50th birthday.

"It is great to see Mercedes-Benz back," the golfer told EuropeanTour.com.

"They were title sponsors and sponsors in the early years and it proves we have a good product and we look forward to working with them as partners for the next few years," he added.

Langer called for the sport to become more accepted among the general public, admitting that golf was once an exclusive sport for the minority.

"There is a still a lot of room to improve," he concluded.

Despite the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One team not making first place in last weekend’s race in Turkey, drivers Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have failed to let their spirits be dampened as they prepare for their next big event in Italy.

Reigning World Champion Alonso took third place in the race in Istanbul, which he considered to be "a good result" after he struggled to overtake German racer Nick Heidfeld.

Meanwhile, Hamilton stated that it was unfortunate that the team did not take first place after their efforts to overcome unforeseeable problems, such as the racer’s own tyre bursting on the ninth turn of lap 43.

"A little bit unfortunate but still we did a good job and the team was fantastic all weekend," stated the driver, who took fifth place.

"We still got some good points and I remain in the lead of the championship by five points, so it is not all bad," he added.

The next race is set to take place in the province of Monza in the Italian region of Lombardy.

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Vodafone McLaren Mercedes racing driver Fernando Alonso has expressed his excitement ahead of this weekend’s impending motoring action in Turkey.

The young sportsman, who will be marking his 100th Grand Prix in Istanbul, has said he cannot wait to get back in the driving seat following a break which he describes as "too long".

Quoted on the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes website, the former World Driving Championship winner said that the event in Turkey should be "a very exciting race", while he expected the entire weekend to be "positive".

"I have never won here; I have two second places from the last two years so I really want to have a victory here. Hopefully, this weekend will be my chance but it could be difficult," he stated adding that he felt four drivers were capable of winning the event.

The Spaniard said that he would always remember his 100th Grand Prix if he secures a win; if not, he added amiably that he would try to forget the event with haste.

In the past Alsonso has broken Emerson Fittipaldi’s record of being the youngest Formula One champion and he is currently the youngest double champion.

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