Luxury cars are in demand more than ever, according to statistics released this week by some of Germany’s top automakers.

Mercedes-Benz, one of the world’s best known luxury auto brands, has sold more vehicles around the world in the first half of 2011 than in any previous year, with 610,531 drivers splashing out on a car between January and June.

It says that by the end of this year, it has its sights on selling 1.3 million Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, setting an all-time sales record.

High functionality, fine materials and impressive style characterise the new AMG Selection 2011 of first-class accessories.

The products are available in a business line for the office and commercial environment and a casual range for sport and leisure.

The collection includes items such as a functional laptop trolley suitcase in leather/nylon with variable interior compartments for clothes, a laptop and cable compartment plus wheels with AMG styling.

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its latest SUV, the M-Class ML 350, a fuel-efficient model designed to help it overtake rival BMW.

The new Mercedes-Benz M-Class promises to cut fuel consumption by 25 percent compared to the previous model, and is described as a “quantum leap”.

It could enable Mercedes to gain a lead on BMW‘s rival, the X5 SUV, with analysts predicting that there could be a sales difference of as little as 1,000 by 2013.

We’ve seen Maserati, Audi, McLaren, Range Rover, Lexus, and even Shelby come out with their own bicycles in the past few months.

And now German automaker Mercedes is getting ready to jump on the bandwagon. In its Bike Selection 2011, Mercedes-Benz combines uniquely attractive and innovative frames with dedicated, up-to-date components.

For those racing on the road, Benz has a carbon fiber bike weighing 6.8 kgs. And for those doing terrain biking, Mercedes-Benz has a mountain bike that is powered with Fox Racing F32 RL suspension fork with a DT suspension strut on the rear.

Eurocopter’s EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style helicopter made its world debut at the 2011 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva.

Conceived in a styling project led by the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy, the interior of the EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style is inspired by the automaker’s range of high-end vehicles.

It features deluxe materials, elegant woods and ambient cabin lighting, along with multi-function boxes.

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that it is to launch a roadster version of its SLS AMG performance car, releasing initial — disguised — images of the vehicle.

The SLS AMG Roadster, a non-identical twin of the ‘Gullwing’ SLS AMG Coupé which made its debut in late 2009, will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, and testing is already underway ahead of the market launch.

Mercedes-Benz says that the new model was designed in parallel with the SLS AMG Coupé and therefore shares many of its features, including the performance engine.