Archive for March, 2011
Mercedes unveils 2012 C63 AMG Coupe
Mar 20th
Mercedes-Benz just released some photos of its 2012 C63 AMG Coupe. The coupe is based on the recently introduced 2012 C-Class Coupe, which is essentially a C-Class sedan with two door lopped off and a slightly lower roofline. AMG’s smallest model is scheduled to be introduced at the New York Auto Show later this month and should hit showrooms by September.
Key specs are nearly identical to the 2012 C63 AMG sedan– the rear-wheel-drive coupe sports AMG’s 6.2L V8 engine producing 451 HP (or 481 with the optional AMG Development Pack) and a 7-speed Speedshift MCT transmission. 0-60 mph should come in 4.4 seconds, with an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph. The AMG Development version boosts those numbers to 4.3 seconds and 174 mph, respectively.
Compared to its non-AMG siblings, the C63 Coupe gains a stiffer suspension, wider tracked, sharper steering, larger wheels, and more powerful brakes, along with an aggressive AMG body kit.
Press release after the break.
AT&T agrees to buy T-Mobile USA for $39 billion
Mar 20th
AT&T and Deutsche Telekom just announced the sale of T-Mobile USA for $39 billion — $25 billion cash and $14 billion in AT&T stock, giving Deutsche Telekom an 8% stake in the U.S. telecom giant. If the deal passes regulatory approval, which the companies estimate will take up to 12 months to complete, the combined subscriber base would exceed 130 million, making AT&T by far the largest mobile operator in America (followed by Verizon and Sprint). Moreover, since AT&T and T-Mobile are the country’s only major GSM operators, AT&T would gain a monopoly on GSM cell service in the U.S.
AT&T says the deal will bring “straightforward synergies” due to ”complementary network technologies, spectrum positions and operations.” The company also claims the deal will expand the footprint of its LTE 4G service by 46.5 million people, to 294 million, or 95% of the U.S. population. T-Mobile USA itself had no clear plans to migrate to LTE, however, suggesting that AT&T intends to use T-Mobile’s AWS spectrum (1700/2100 MHz) for LTE, alongside its own 700 MHz bands.
If the deal does not receive regulatory approval, AT&T will have to pay T-Mobile a $3 billion “breakup fee,” transfer AWS spectrum it is currently not using for LTE deployment to T-Mobile, and sign a roaming agreement to give T-Mobile access to its network.
Read on for more about the deal.
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