Why Mercedes...?

Gas and Diesel - Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrids

2011-12-21T22:25:00.000-08:00

Top:Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid Below : Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTec

On 21 December 2011 (Wednesday), two new hybrid E-Class sedans announced by Mercedes-Benz. The E300 BlueTec Hybrid and E400 Hybrid.

The Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTec : is equipped with a diesel-electric powertrain, the automaker’s first to be commercialized The E300 BlueTec Hybrid combines a 201-horsepower 4-cylinder diesel engine with a 27-horsepower electric motor and can reportedly travel an estimated 100 kilometers on just 4.2 liters of diesel fuel, or roughly 56 miles per gallon. A stop-start function and regenerative braking also contribute to the car’s fuel efficiency. The combined torque of the diesel engine and the electric motor is expected to rival the level of twist produced by the brand’s high-performance V-8s.

The Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid : has a more conventional gas-electric hybrid system.
The Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid, which is scheduled to be delivered to dealerships in the United States in the second half of 2012, combines a 302-horsepower direct-injection V-6 gasoline engine with a 27-horsepower electric motor to achieve a combined fuel economy of about 27 m.p.g. Like the diesel version, it is equipped with a stop-start function and mild regenerative braking.

The Mercedes-Benz diesel hybrid would be available only in Europe, at least initially. But given the presence of BlueTec models in the United States, as well as the automaker’s investments in so-called clean-diesel technology, few would be surprised if the oil-burning model came to North America. Both hybrid powertrains were described by Mercedes as modular, an indication that they could potentially be fitted to other vehicle platforms.

Thomas Weber (A Daimler board member and head of Mercedes-Benz car development)

“With these two Mercedes-Benz E-Class models we are now continuing our comprehensive hybrid offensive,The modular technology opens up a quick way for us to complement other model series with hybrid models.”

Both Mercedes-Benz cars are scheduled to be formally introduced at the Detroit auto show, where press previews begin on Jan. 9. The price premium for the hybrids over their conventional gas-burning and BlueTec diesel equivalents was not announced, but Mercedes-Benz described the extra cost as “only moderate.”

A fine collection of billingsgates in a glass fronted display box

Mercedes sets Malaysian luxury pace

2011-08-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

Mercedes-Benz : With the economy recovering and premium car sales showing strong growth, German carmaker Mercedes-Benz appears to be the biggest beneficiary of the improving global finances.

Based on sales results of the first six months of 2010, the brand is a class above the rest, setting the pace in all three-flagship luxury passenger car segments with the performance of its Mercedes-Benz C, E and S Class.

Their sales numbers jumped 29 per cent to 2,417 units compared to 1,869 sold in the corresponding period last year.

"The outstanding first half sales performance is testament to Mercedes-Benz being the brand of choice amongst discerning Malaysians. The latest statistics set us apart from the rest as the Number One luxury car brand," said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia president and CEO Peter Honegg.

"This has been the best half year performance to date and our market leading position in all the three main segments - the C, E and S-Classes - is a reflection of customer confidence in our cars."

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, leads the premium automaker's passenger car sales with 1,097 units sold compared to 857 units in 1H09 registering an impressive 28 per cent growth, buoyed by the introduction of C200 and CGI C250 Blue EFFICIENCY earlier this year.

The flagship's shining star, the elegant and dynamic Mercedes-Benz E-Class, out-performed in its segment with a robust 44 per cent increase delivering 988 units to customers compared to 684 units last year.

With the soon to be introduced new Cabriolet, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class diffamily will be complete. The demand for the E-Class has also charted a month-on-month increase since January this year and looks set to surpass expectations once again come year end.

Meanwhile, the prestigious Mercedes-Benz S-Class continues to awe Malaysia's top corporate and business luminaries with its renowned luxury and sophistication registering a commendable growth of over 10 per cent resulting in 158 units sold.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL body to Slim Down

2010-04-30T04:43:00.000-07:00

Automakers are looking for ways to strip weight out of cars, allowing them to improve performance and fuel economy with a single step. Mercedes-Benz’ solution, it seems, is to use more carbon fiber composite materials -- and it seems the next-generation 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class will do just that.

Daimler AG has partnered with Toray Industries, a Japanese textile maker, to develop and produce car parts made from carbon fiber composite materials. The move mirrors BMW’s partnership with U.S.-based carbon fiber supplier SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers, which is designed in part to supply components for the 2013 Megacity electric vehicle. Toray is the world’s largest carbon fiber supplier, supplying automakers that include Ferrari.

Together, Toray and Daimler will work on lightening some of Mercedes’ vehicles through the use of carbon fiber reinforced plastics. Although Mercedes has not disclosed what parts will be made from the material, they’re likely currently made from metal. Carbon fiber parts will therefore significantly reduce the car’s weight, but may carry a substantial cost premium.

Carbon fiber could replace a number of metallic parts, but some suggest the Mercedes-Benz SL’s folding roof may be be fabricated from the material. The current steel roof is rather heavy, and also requires a large hydraulic mechanism to stow and deploy the structure. Using a carbon fiber roof could potentially allow the Mercedes-Benz SL to shed some pounds and utilize a smaller folding mechanism, which could subsequently improve cargo space.

We’ve yet to see finite details on the new Mercedes-Benz SL, but based upon spy photos of the car, it appears the next-gen roadster will bear resemblance to the SLS AMG. In fact, many upcoming Mercedes-Benz models will ape the Mercedes-Benz SLS. According to Hans-Dieter Futshik, director of Mercedes’ passenger car design, the Mercedes-Benz SLS will influence the shape of the company’s sports cars, including the Mercedes-Benz SL and Mercedes-Benz SLK.

Mercedes Benz fashion week

2010-04-30T04:39:00.000-07:00

Why mercedes ?...While it was hard for many industry insiders to see the New York Fashion Week tents come down for the last time at Bryant Park this past February, the shows must go on -- this time, at the new location of Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park.

Today IMG announced its plans for the new location, which it says will move the shows firmly into the 21st century, courtesy of technological upgrades, amongst other additions.

For starters, the tradition of having three main presentation spaces to hold runway shows will continue (although they've been renamed The Theatre, The Stage and The Studio), while the new location will also have the additional Box Presentation Space for industry forums, press conferences, and designer presentations, which have become more popular over the past few years.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center, which will be held from September 9 to 16, will also debut a large lobby with lounge style seating and larger presentation spaces to accommodate more of the approximately 232,000 show-goers that attend each season.

The businesses in the area surrounding the Westside location will also see a lot of dollars spent under their roofs. On average, New York sees $466 million spent by visitors coming to see the both the Fall and Spring shows each year, breaking down to $40 million spent on local restaurants, $30 million on taxis, Town Cars, subways and buses and $56 million on hotels.

IMG also announced that Mercedes-Benz will stay on as the title sponsor for New York Fashion Week for the next 3 years.

mercedes : China Brilliance says in talks with Daimler on JV

2009-08-03T00:25:00.000-07:00

mercedes : SHANGHAI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The state of the parent company of Brilliance China Automotive Holdings (1114.HK) is in talks with Daimler AG (DAIGn.DE), a joint venture in China, the special purpose vehicles, executives at the parent company, Brilliance Auto, said on Monday.

"Brilliance is a production of tie-up with Daimler now to convert Mercedes-Benz vehicles in special-purpose models," said one executive Brilliance Auto, which was informed of the matter.

The shareholding structure and size of the company have not been finalized, but an agreement could be reached before the end of the year, the executive told Reuters.

"The options are now open. We are building a new plant or the use of existing capacities Brilliance, Brilliance Auto another executive said, are converted Mercedes-Benz models will be sold in China.

Both executives asked not be named because of the sensitivity of the subject.

A Daimler spokesman in China could not be reached immediately for comment.

Daimler, Mercedes-Benz sedans in China with Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp. (BAIC). He agreed late last year, a medium to heavy truck venture with BAIC subsidiary Beiqi Foton Motor Co (600166.SS).

The German car manufacturer also owns 34 percent of the three-way truck tie-up in South China with Fujian Motor and Taiwan China Motor.

Brilliance Auto, the country's largest car manufacturer eighth and a BMW (BMWG.DE) partners, produces BMW 3-Series and 5 Series sedans at a plant in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang.

Yufei Wan, the chief of Brilliance of the international trading arm, said in April that the two partners built their second plant in China, where car-government as a solid aggressive stimulus measures lift consumer confidence.

The expansion could be the annual capacity of the JV from 75,000 to 80,000 units in the second half of next year, from 30,000 at the end of 2008, Wan added.

BMW, however, said no decision had been made on a second plant.

Brilliance Auto was dispatched its BS6 and BS4 sedans medium, the in-house in Europe since 2007. Both models rated poorly in the first crash tests, although improvements have been made in the wake of the BS6 model. (Reporting by Fang Yan and Jacqueline Wong) - mercedes

Mercedes coffee cup icon on the speedometer

2009-06-23T22:37:00.000-07:00

The new Mercedes E-Class features many cutting-edge gadgets driver assistance, such as night vision, blind spot detection, and adaptive cruise control. These characteristics that we saw earlier in the Mercedes-Benz S550, but the Mercedes E-Class will also include Attention Assist, a new Mercedes-Benz feature that prevents you from falling asleep at the wheel.

Assist monitors the attention of the driver of the car, using 70 parameters to determine if he or she is sleeping outside. If you detect a drowsy driver, the system emits a warning tone and lights up a coffee cup icon on the screen speed. The system relies heavily on the steering wheel control input, such as a driver tired of drift, and then make corrections strong. We can predict the next generation of this Mercedes technology do not bother with the warning, in place of driving the Mercedes vehicle automatically to the next stop and rest that allows you to nap.

Mercedes at the Top of the Luxury Class?

2009-05-25T02:03:00.000-07:00

Since the ninth-generation Mercedes S-Class was launched in autumn 2005, it has dominated the global luxury segment. Because a total of 270,000 examples of this generation of the S-Class were sold worldwide since 2005, and the S550 is the most popular version. So this car is not broken, and it is not necessary, all the fixing. Instead, slightly revised the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S550 is simply part of efforts to ensure the S-Class one step beyond the reach of the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS and what will be the Cadillac STS replacement.

Driving deep into the Black Forest in the countryside west of Stuttgart, there were many possibilities, not just cruise on a cloud, but also urged the 4,500-pound German by differences in altitude and tough curves. If nothing else, the 2010 Mercedes S550 shows us that the twin-turbo V12-powered S600, the AMG V12-powered S65 and prepared the AMG-built V8 powered S63 just unnecessary.

Nip, Tuck - While the flanks of this code W221 S-class design will not change all the aesthetic, the face and rear fascias mesh better with the profile. The face in particular gets a lot of attention with a new four-slat chrome grille for all V6 and V8 models. It is not just a bit more shine, but the grille is more of a point in the middle, with the expression of a corporate desire for more stylistic edginess.

The shape of the front headlight assemblies remains the same, but the way the space inside is has changed, with full standard bi-xenon lights and an Audi emulation Strip LED indicator lights at the bottom. Turn off the standard daytime running lights on the multifunction steering wheel and the LED strip on the new air intakes in the front bumper to remain illuminated. The chin spoiler adds eight-tenths of an inch on the S-Class "overall length.

Outside mirrors are now larger per new European regulations, but they are also more aerodynamic, and help ensure that the side windows clean and dry in bad driving. Standard wheels for the V8 model in North America is still 18 inches. The rear lights with LEDs, and the visible exhaust tips I have a challenge-you-sir rectangular shape.

Inner Piece - You must be very close to the inside of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S550 in order to spot any changes. The steering wheel design has changed, what Mercedes calls a sporty look and feel. We estimate that the center to cover the airbag is no longer in this heavy, thick plastic Swabian and instead is made of the same leather that the interior upholsterer.

The standard seating in the front is now a 12-way electronically adjustable pair of thrones, and they are really good. But our S550 (by the way, it is badged S500 in the rest of the world - it is a long story), the ultra-multi-contour seats with 11 wonderful inflatable air chambers that are in three phases over the next generation on-board command system. There are now no fewer than three lumbar pillows and two new shoulder pads, and, and we are happy we stayed awake, because we also had the optional exfoliating massage function removes all our stress.

Until now, the S-Class had only amber-colored indirect cabin lighting atmosphere, but the customer can now also Polar either blue or white illumination. Really good news on the console much affect is that the wood is wood and not plastic veneer. It knocked at the door, and smelled it and it was good. There are five different types of wood cutting, according to the S-class you choose.

New Tech Trickle-Up - As with the S-Class, the outside edge is more better to the rest of the Mercedes lineup, so that the multitude of new technologies, which deals with the new E-class has at the end here. Some of the optional E-Class also have bits for the S-Class.

Every 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class comes with: the Active Body Control with a side wind and mechanical stability on the basis of Direct Taxes; Adaptive HighBeam Assist to prevent glare traffic without having your lights DIP; Attention Assist for detecting sleepiness; Brake Assist Plus, sophisticated radar sensor for Distronic Plus Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Enhanced Night View Assist Plus, the latest generation of PreSafe, and a new Torque Vectoring braking system on the rear wheels.

So they loaded bear, people, and the Adaptive HighBeam Assist, Direct-Steer and Brake Torque Vectoring (it may intervene with the disc brake to the inside rear wheel in a corner to minimize understeer) from this list. Another nice technical change is the separation of sport-comfort-Manual setting for the suspension of functions for the Active Body Control. Before you press the SCM and the ABC suspension would switch automatically. Now they are separated, so we left in the suspension manual, so that we could play with the control of the ABC standard setting. If you opt for the adaptive suspension AIRMATIC that changes automatically with the SCM. (Have you everything?)

Sportier Attitude - As for the powertrain, the 5461 cc V8 engine family, the M273 is the same as before, with 382 hp at 6,000 rpm and 391 pound-feet of torque from 2800 to 4800 rpm, driving this big Merc from a standstill to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds. Together with the seven-speed standard transmission, the S550 massaged absolutely barrels and could be the all-time gas-powered highway cruiser and highway bombers.

Our test car had the optional 19-inch wheels with low rolling resistance-resistance Continental Sport Contact 2 tires, 255/40R19 and 275/40R19 front 100Ys back 101Ys. As hard as these tires, they were good all day and transmit a fairly normal amount of road noise on the well-insulated cabin. Although the rectangular exhaust tips can be quite a satisfying growl when you directly to the gas, wind noise is incredibly low, even at high speeds.

And in all this subtlety of midlife change, 5.5-liter V8, the S550 on a tank of gas by 6 percent. S-Class product manager Frank Steinacher declares that the aerodynamics were improved slightly by adding a slippery front end, new mirrors and new window seals. Then there are the low-resistance tires with low-friction bearings. Finally, Mercedes has low friction engine oil.

The weapons August - The transition to this new iteration of the W221 S-Class from the end of August for North America. Since a full 25 percent of the S-Class sales are in North America, Mercedes would like to see it on this way. Given the fact that the recently introduced Mercedes E-Class is priced almost $ 5,000 less than before, the S-Class seems likely that a similar statement. Mercedes Our contacts tell us that the price for 2010 Mercedes-Benz S550 could begin at $ 85.000, or about 4500 $ less than the current model of the sticker.

Between the BMW 7 Series and Lexus LS (but somewhere closer to the Lexus), Mercedes has the right niche wire for the S-Class. What can we say after this long trip through the Black Forest, the luxury segment of the guide remains relatively unthreatened by his rivals and the sales statistics show that he suffers the least among the luxury sedans in this evil cash-strapped epoch we 're in.-By Matt Davis

Mercedes-Benz : PGW Become Main Glass Supplier .

2009-05-22T22:54:00.000-07:00

Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC (PGW) has signed an agreement with Daimler AG is the main supplier of windshields, laminated glass sidelites and backlit for Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs.

"We have a supplier of [Daimler] for quite sometime and we are absolutely thrilled with the development of relations in this new regime for the supply," said Pete Dishart of PGW.

According to a statement issued by PGW, the new agreement, the company is investing in production capacity and technological development to meet the requirements of the partnership.

Dishart was not on the specifics of how these affect PGW plants.

"With this relationship, we must ensure we have the capacity in place, the parts they need, and they have quite a number of demanding customers, and we must ensure that our parts can meet the needs that they have "says he said.

PGW expects Sungate ® coated automotive glass, blue glass Solextra ®, Safe and Sound ® laminated glass and Sound Master ® acoustic glass to see the increased use of Daimler vehicles.

"Daimler was an early adopter of our automotive Sungate coated glass," says Paolo Cavallari, General Manager of PGW Europe. "And through this strategic partnership, we are committed to their ongoing need for innovative process and product technologies."

"I think this is good news for the glass industry and for PGW," added Dishart.

Full text of press release from PGW.
Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW) and Daimler AG form Strategic Partnership for Automotive Glazing

Innovative new business model for glass sourcing builds on existing relationship

PITTSBURGH, May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- PGW LLC and Daimler AG have entered into a new OEM/supplier strategic partnership for the supply of automotive glass. Under this new multi-year business model, PGW will be the main supplier of windshields, and laminated glass for doors and rear windows, for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and SUVs.

Daimler AG is a global producer of premium passenger cars and the largest manufacturer of heavy and medium-duty trucks in the world. Along with PGW, a world leading supplier of automotive glass and services, the parties have evolved an existing relationship which includes both product supply and collaborative development. This new agreement is expected to significantly increase the scope of business conducted between the two companies.

"This strategic partnership will strengthen the valued relationship with Daimler and position our business for both sustained growth and profitability for the future," said Lou Braga, Vice President and General Manager of PGW's OEM business unit.

The new business model requires PGW to invest in manufacturing capacity and technology development to meet the requirements of the partnership. PGW glass products including Sungate(R) coated automotive glass, Solextra(R) blue glass, Safe and Sound(R) laminated glass and SoundMaster(R) enhanced acoustic glass are key technologies expected to see increased use on Daimler vehicles. PGW process technologies for precisely controlling glass shape and optical characteristics are also critical to meeting the high expectations of Daimler customers.

"Daimler was an early adopter of our Sungate(R) coated automotive glass," said Paolo Cavallari, General Manager of PGW Europe. "And through this strategic partnership we are committed to supporting their ongoing needs for innovative process and product technologies."

About Pittsburgh Glass Works

Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW) supplies automotive OEM windshields, rear and side windows, sunroofs and assemblies for auto and truck manufacturers, and it supplies and distributes replacement automotive glass products for use in the aftermarket. It also provides insurance claims services through its LYNX Services subsidiary, glass management software and internet marketing services through its GTS subsidiary, and e-business solutions through its GLAXIS offering.

Automotive glass products are manufactured and fabricated in six North American plants located in Berea, Ky.; Creighton, Meadville and Tipton, Pa.; Crestline Ohio; Evansville, Ind. and a joint venture facility in Tepeji del Rio, Mexico. In addition seven satellite parts assembly plants are located throughout North America and Europe, and two LYNX Services claims management call centers in Ft. Myers, Fla. and Paducah, Ky. Combined, the businesses employ approximately 3,700 people.

Note to editor: Sungate, Solextra, Safe and Sound, and SoundMaster are registered trademarks of PPG Industries.- SOURCE Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class for 2010

2009-05-02T01:44:00.000-07:00

For 2010, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class bears a slightly stronger resemblance to upscale Maybach sedans than any Mercedes yet. The changes on the 2010 S-Class compared to the 2009 model are subtle but nevertheless clean up a few exterior details to keep the sedan fresh.The most notable change is in the rear end, where designers have unified the previously three-tiered taillights into one unit, complete with LEDs. Exhaust pipes are more rectangular, a theme that spreads to the more angular rear view mirrors, as well. In front, LEDs line the bottom of the front fascia while only current S-Class owners are likely to notice the tweaked grille and headlights.Take a look at the 2009 and 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class photos in our Comparison Gallery to decide whether this refresh has been successful.

Mercedes Confirms Permanent Michigan-Based Hybrid Research Facility

2009-03-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

Mercedes has confirmed a new $9.9 million hybrid and alternative propulsion research facility will be based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The facility will create as many as 454 new jobs in the area. The decision was made in-part due to a 10-year, $7.5 million tax break awarded by the state government, but there are other reasons behind the decision as well. Mercedes has been part of a long term hybrid transmission research and development partnership with BMW and General Motors, which has seen commonized designs go to production for GM in things like the Tahoe Hybrid. Daimler is also working closely with system integrator Cobasys on hybrid programs, which also has a local facility in the area. The new research and development facility will directly employ about 223 people, with a total of about 454 total jobs created directly and indirectly. News like this indicates the Detroit area's future isn't completely dead.

Mercedes GLK M Class

2009-01-27T05:44:00.000-08:00

The mid-size GLK is the newest member of the Mercedes-Benz SUV family. Siblings include the full-size M-Class, the larger GL-Class, the crossover R-Class and the rough-and-ready G-Class. With the GLK, Mercedes-Benz has 14 model classes making up the broadest lineup of luxury cars in the auto industry. The GLK arrives just in time to satisfy the wants and needs of a wide range of buyers looking for decent fuel economy in a luxury SUV. Classified as a small SUV, the GLK is more than 10 inches shorter than the M-Class and competes with Japanese crossovers, including the Acura RDX, Infiniti EX and Lexus RX, as well as European models BMW X3 and Land Rover LR2.

At first glance, the GLK looks a lot like its larger GL sibling. A closer look suggests a contemporary reinterpretation of the G-Class with its angular hood and more upright windshield. Even so, a few clever wind-cheating, fuel-saving aerodynamic features produce a drag coefficient of 0.35, making the GLK one of the most fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz vehicles ever.

The high-quality appearance of the interior is the result of a special production process that leaves a seamless surface with no lines or joints. Robots spray a foamed surface skin onto the dash backing; this polyurethane skin is soft to the touch and can be thicker or thinner as needed.

A 4.5-inch display in the center of the speedometer is linked to a 12-button multi-function steering wheel that can call up a variety of helpful information such as odometer, range, oil level, distance, time traveled and average speed and mpg. It can also display phone and audio system information radio station, CD track or MP3 play list.

Similar to the system launched on the top-of-the-line S-Class sedan and CL coupe, an electronic controller on the lower console works like a computer mouse to provide easy operation of many functions that used to require separate buttons and switches. By turning and pressing the aluminum controller, menus and sub-menus on the center-console visual are displayed and selected for the audio system navigation system and phone.

The GLK350 is a beneficiary and good example of how expensive high-tech power train features can trickle-down to lower-priced vehicles. The engine is the same high-tech Mercedes-Benz V6 currently featured in the C350 sport sedan. It's a 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with 258 pound-feet of torque. Maximum torque is available from 2700 rpm up to 5000 rpm. In fact, at just 1500 rpm, the V6 develops 87 percent of its maximum torque.

Valve timing is automatically adjusted within a range of 40 degrees using electro-hydraulic vane-type adjusters to reduce exhaust emissions, improve fuel economy and maximize power. A two-stage intake manifold boosts torque at low speeds and optimizes power at higher speeds.

Each GLK is also equipped with five mufflers - two up front, one in the center and two in the rear. Although the new GLK has a true dual exhaust system, the center muffler is common to both pipes as a means to smooth the exhaust pulsations on both sides and reduce exhaust noise.

The GLK comes with the Mercedes-Benz seven-speed automatic transmission, the same one first offered in the new S-Class. When compared to other automatic transmissions, the seven-speed provides better acceleration and fuel economy, as well as smoother gearshifts.

Customers have a choice of rear-wheel drive or the 4MATIC full-time all-wheel-drive system that made its debut on the new-generation S-Class sedan. The 4MATIC system uses a center differential that can vary front-to-rear torque distribution for improved on-road handling and enhanced traction.

Good vehicle safety integrates the prevention of accidents via quick response to driver input, electronic assistance (ABS, stability control, brake assist), progressive impact absorption, controlling the body movement of passengers due to impact, and quick emergency response to passengers in severe impacts. The 2010 GLK fulfills each of these five elements in this increasing scale of safety concerns: As such it's ideal for today's family, whether they're visiting relatives halfway across the country or running errands around town.

With an MSRP of $33,900 for the rear wheel drive and $35,900 for the all-wheel-drive model, the GLK offers state-of-the-art technology in an affordable package. Fuel economy is 14/22 (city/highway) and 14/21 for the RWD and AWD models, respectively. For those willing to wait, it's almost a sure thing that a diesel-powered GLK will be here shortly.

Mercedes-Benz unveils 2010 E-Class luxury sedan

2009-01-11T00:35:00.000-08:00

Mercedes-Benz is upgrading one of its top luxury sedans and giving consumers a glimpse of a planned electric car. Daimler AG unveiled the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan Saturday on the eve of the North American International Auto Show. The E-Class will arrive in U.S. showrooms next summer, offering an array of new safety features and two engine variants.

With many shoppers seeking green cars, the German automaker also showcased Concept BlueZero, three vehicles with alternative electric drive systems that could travel up to 375 miles on a single charge. The vehicles will utilize lithium-ion batteries, which are already widely used in consumer electronics but are being adapted to meet automotive requirements. An hour of charging time can provide a range of about 60 miles.

BlueZero F-Cell, a fuel cell vehicle that uses electric drive, will be produced in limited numbers later this year, Daimler executives said, and offer a range of up to 250 miles. By 2010, Mercedes-Benz plans small-scale production of BlueZero E-Cell, a similar vehicle with only battery-electric drive, offering a range of up to 125 miles.

The third electric concept, BlueZero E-Cell Plus, has electric drive and a more conventional internal combustion engine to extend the vehicle's range to up to 375 miles on a single charge. The pod-shaped electric cars provide ample space for luggage and can hit zero-to-60 miles in less than 11 seconds.

"Zero emissions does not mean zero performance at all," said Dr. Thomas Weber, a Daimler Board of Management member responsible for research and development.

For more conventional car buyers, the E-Class, which features more of an angular front end, builds upon several safety technologies found in previous Mercedes vehicles. It has technologies that assist braking to avoid an accident or notify a driver who is exceeding the speed limit. Monitoring systems recognize when a driver is tired or is drifting into another lane.

"This system can and will save lives," said Daimler AG chief executive Dieter Zetsche.

Consumers will be able to choose between a 268 horsepower V6 engine in the E350 and a 382 horsepower V8 in the high-end E550.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class has integrated the new SPLITVIEW

2008-12-11T05:51:00.000-08:00

Mercedes-Benz has integrated the new SPLITVIEW

In future Mercedes-Benz is equipping its luxury class models as the first premium brand with a display screen that allows the driver and front passenger to view two different programmes at the same time. While the driver is checking the navigation instructions, the front passenger can sit back and watch a film on the very same display. This is made possible by new SPLITVIEW technology which the Stuttgart premium brand is introducing in the S-Class for the first time.

technology developed by Mercedes-Benz and Bosch into the innovative control and display system COMAND, which is centrally located in the dashboard console. Its generously dimensioned, 8-inch (approx. 20 mm) monitor shows a backlighted active matrix colour display (TFT-LCD). This shows two different images simultaneously by placing pixels adjacent to each other. A filter masking the display divides this mixed image in such a way that depending on the seating position, only the pixels making up one or the other image can be seen. As a result, the driver and front passenger can view different programmes on the same screen at the same time.

The driver still has access to all the information from the control and display system COMAND on the display, while the front passenger uses the remote control to choose his own entertainment programme with DVDs, TV channels or music videos. To avoid distracting the driver with his entertainment programme, he also has the option of enjoying the programme via headphones. As before, the driver is able to view all the information provided by the COMAND system on the display.
Mercedes-Benz is introducing the new SPLITVIEW technology in the S-Class
for the first time in summer 2009.

Mercedes High-Performance, Low-Pollution: German Cars Go Green

2008-07-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

STUTTGART, Germany — German cars are renowned for their engineering, luxury and performance, but with gas prices soaring, CO2 emissions building and car sales slumping, when the German brands talk about their new “green” approach, people listen.

“This change is definitely for real,” said Matthias Krust of Germany’s Automobile Week magazine.

With Japanese brands releasing environmentally friendly models and American firms catching on, Volkswagen-Audi’s boss said it outright: The future belongs to electric power. Porsche and BMW are rolling out gas/electric hybrid cars, and Daimler’s Mercedes line is going green. Its popular Smart Car will be outfitted with a lithium-ion battery, the sort used in laptops and cell phones.

The new Smart Car, which will go on sale in 2010, is one of two Mercedes models with the battery. While it only goes 100 miles on an overnight charge, it's considered adequate for city driving and commuting. For the long haul, Mercedes is steering toward a car fitted with a space-age fuel cell. The car has an electric motor, too, but is powered by a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. This hydrogen fuel cell will produce almost no pollution, even as it offers a driving range approaching that of a conventional car.

Those engines may sound improbable, but carmakers say they’re under development and on the way.

“I think it’s really feasible, if the world wants to change to zero emission,” said Christian Mordieck, Daimler’s director for fuel cell and battery development.

But there are obstacles along the way. Mercedes admits that it will take a few years before the fuel-cell cars go on sale, and its hydrogen-powered vehicles would require all-new fuel pumps, which gas stations have yet to accommodate. Smart’s electric juice may be easier on the environment, but it could be harder on consumers’ wallets; right now, the electric models cost more than gas-powered ones. Some critics say Daimler and other German firms aren’t doing enough to change their fleets, and are simply conforming to stringent European environmental standards.

“The German car industry is not moving fast enough toward fuel-efficient cars,” said Daniel Kluge of Verkehrsclub Deutschland, an environmental transportation organization based in Berlin.

Still, Daimler points to more models, like its new sleek hybrid prototype, which buys it time before the right technology rolls along. If only for the economic survival of global carmakers, most agree a new “route” needs to be taken.

Mercedes's Metrosexual Appeal

2008-07-15T22:22:00.000-07:00

The 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Cabriolet is shown in this
undated handout photo. The car, made by Mercedes-Benz,
is powered by a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine with 70 horsepower
and has a base price of $16,590.
Source: Smart USA via Bloomberg News

Forget the Lamborghinis and Bentleys. The hot car of the moment? The one that has people shouting at you on street, asking about price and top speed? The 9-foot-long Smart. The answer to those shouted questions is that it costs $11,590 to $16,590 and has a top speed of 90 miles per hour. The Smart is a car for an era when less is more and good gas mileage is suddenly sexy. By that calculation, it's one of the biggest, sexiest rides on the road.

To answer the next questions, it holds 8.7 gallons and gets 33 mpg in town, 41 highway. Happy times. Made by Mercedes-Benz, the Smart has been sold in Europe since 1998. Its very tardy arrival stateside coincides with our petrol blues. Just over 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide, the pug-nosed dimensions are unique, and with its dent-resistant plastic siding, there's a certain clown quality to it. No wonder people do double takes and break into smiles.

The Fortwo, available as a coupe or cabriolet, does indeed seat two, and it's easy to get in and out of, with long doors spanning the front and back 15-inch wheels. Seats are big and, even in the convertible version I tested (called the Fortwo Passion Cabriolet), there's ample headroom. My knees ran up against the dashboard's knee pad, though, which is part of the steel safety cell designed to absorb energy in a crash. Otherwise, even with a 6-foot passenger alongside, it's plenty roomy.
Four Air Bags : The Smart has done well in crash tests, with four air bags and standard electronic stability control. The brakes also pull the 1,852-pound convertible to a surprisingly assured stop. For an urban dweller, it's hard not to focus on the potential dividends, the ability to slip into itty-bitty parking spots being the major one. So I put it to the ultimate test: On a day with a dozen errands to do all around New York City, I take the car.

Let's start by saying this: A tiny auto -- the Smart is 3 feet shorter than BMW's Mini -- means you'll have to sacrifice some things. Powered by a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine good for 70 horsepower, it's maybe one-fourth as powerful as most cars I test. So that sudden punch of acceleration you may be used to? Scotch that. At times, the engine seems to suffer from narcolepsy.

The bigger issue is the transmission, which is so lousy it verges on being a deal breaker. A five-speed automated manual with an internal clutch, it can be left in automatic mode or manually controlled via wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Similar systems are often found in sport cars like the Audi R8.

Pregnant Pause : While other manufacturers talk about shifts that take 10ths of seconds, this one feels like tens of seconds. As it transfers from second to third, there's a long, pregnant pause as all power ceases -- causing the car to pitch forward -- and upon finally shifting (hallelujah!) the weight pitches violently back.

With practice I find some workarounds to this issue, mostly by getting on the gas early and pegging it to the floor. Or sometimes winding the engine up near the redline in first gear and holding it there as I drive between stoplights. This doesn't do the gas mileage any favors, however. The steering is good; direct and linear. And with no nose up front, you can thread through city traffic creatively. You've got to watch out for taxis and delivery trucks, though. The Smart has tons of charisma, but it isn't intimidating.

For an extra $3,000, the convertible is a great option. Fully automated, it pulls back like a sunroof, then accordions along the back. Best of all, it can be operated at highway speeds, and the rear window is glass. For storage, the back is accessed through a hatch that folds down like a pickup truck (and which you can actually sit on). With finesse you can wedge two golf bags there, or enough groceries for your fridge. The passenger seat also folds down flush.
No Hecklers : I find my first parking spot in front of a fire hydrant on the Upper East Side and am approached by construction workers. I'm expecting to get heckled, but no, they're just curious. The Smart makes you approachable in a way that belies every New York City instinct.

So it goes all day. I find spots on Madison Avenue, the Lower East Side, even Soho. As I pull into one cramped nook, a woman says, ``Lucky you.'' A youth with baseball cap pulled down low yells out, ``That's hot!''

One last test: The highway. Merging into traffic among tractor trailers, I feel like a minnow joining a pod of whales, though I am soon up to 70 mph with the top down. It's noisy and I wouldn't want to drive cross-country in a Smart, but you could probably withstand a daily 30-mile commute.

And yes, it really does go up to 90 mph. It takes a bit of nerve and two hands on the wheel, though the reaction on other drivers' faces as you pass them is worth every penny.

The 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Cabriolet at a Glance

Engine: 1.0-liter, three-cylinder with 70 horsepower.
Transmission: Five-speed automated manual.

Speed: 0 to 60 in 12.8 seconds.

Gas mileage per gallon: 33 city, 41 highway.

Price as tested: $17,110.

Best features: Maneuverability in city; ability to squeeze it into tiny parking spots.
Worst feature: The abysmal transmission.

Target buyer: The urban traveler, or the driver looking for a non-hybrid that gets more than 30 mpg.

2009 Mercedes-Benz G 55 AMG

2008-06-10T08:49:00.001-07:00

Following its most recent makeover, the Mercedes G 55 AMG from Mercedes-AMG is now even more attractive. Boasting an upgraded performance of 373 kW/507 hp, this offroad classic has also been given a fresh look, incorporating a reworked radiator grille and new 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels. Inside, the exclusive interior features the latest generation of telematics equipment and optional climatised seats in combination with designo leather upholstery for enhanced passenger comfort.

The inclusion of some of the latest technology has made this classic from the AMG stable fit for the future. Thanks to the integration of a new engine control unit, the performance of the supercharged AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine has been nudged up from 368 kW/500 hp to 373 kW/507 hp, with maximum torque remaining at 700 Nm. Likewise unchanged is the vehicle’s effortless performance, with the G 55 AMG accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and peaking at a top speed of 210 km/h (electronically limited).

The upgraded Mercedes G 55 AMG also features improvements in the areas of safety and comfort. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP®), for example, now boasts a new and more powerful control unit, incorporating a transverse acceleration control to allow more precise recognition of dynamic driving situations and thus provide even better vehicle stability. In addition, the new Mercedes G 55 AMG now comes with a hill-start assist. A sensor recognises whenever the off-roader comes to a halt on an ascending gradient. The system instantly memorises the braking pressure applied and maintains this for a short instant, giving drivers sufficient time to move from the brake to the accelerator pedal without the vehicle rolling backward. The big advantage of this technology is that in most cases it eliminates the need to use the parking brake.

Discreet but effective design modifications

The new Mercedes G 55 AMG boasts discreet but effective design modifications,including : a new radiator grille with three distinctive horizontal bars that are painted the same colour as the rest of the body and - exclusive to the AMG top-of-the-range model - also feature chrome inserts. Moving around the vehicle, the highlight of the side view are the new polished 19-inch five-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels painted titanium grey. They are 9.5 inches wide and equipped with 275/55 R 19 tyres that impressively bulk out the wheel arches.

Still a standard feature of the AMG body-styling package are the bumpers painted in body colour and the characteristic AMG wide fenders. Other features include a brushed-aluminium trim set boasting a distinctive AMG logo and the twin oval chrome tailpipes of the AMG sports exhaust system, emerging from beneath the stainless-steel running boards on either side of the vehicle - an unmistakable sign of the power of the supercharged AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine.

New COMAND APS and designo leather upholstery fitted as standard

The Mercedes G 55 AMG also underscores its exclusive character with designo leather upholstery, which is standard and now features a new silver-coloured designo emblem on the front backrests. The seats are colour-coordinated with the designo decorative wood trim as well as the wood/leather steering wheel and the redesigned wood/leather selector lever bearing a G 55 logo. Also new is the interior roof lining made of anthracite Alcantara. Helping to enhance passenger comfort, particularly in the summer months, are the new climatised seats, which are available for the first time with this model.

Drivers of the new Mercedes G 55 AMG will also benefit from the latest generation of telematics equipment developed by Mercedes. The standard equipment COMAND APS system boasts a high-definition 6.5-inch colour display, rapid HDD navigation with aerial view, LINGUATRONIC for controlling audio, navigation and phone systems, a 4 GB memory for music files, and a slot for SD memory cards. Also available as an option is a DVDchanger and a universal interface for plugging in USB sticks, iPods, or other external audio devices.

The Mercedes G 55 AMGis only available as a long-wheelbase station wagon with five doors. The vehicle will be available from September 2008 at a price of 121,618 euros (incl. 19 percent sales tax).

Mercedes -Three Winners in Three Races

2008-05-16T03:09:00.000-07:00

Three Winners in Three Races - Seven Drivers within Seven Points

* The Lausitzring is the venue for the fourth round of the 2008 DTM; it will be the 10th DTM event at this track since its inauguration in 2000.

* Following the first three races there are seven drivers at the top of the overall ranking. Jamie Green (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class), winner of the previous race in Mugello 10 days ago, is second with 17 points, one point behind Timo Scheider (Audi). Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class), second in Mugello, is fourth overall with 13 points; Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) is seventh with 11 points.

* One year ago, Mika Hakkinen drove the AMG Mercedes C-Class to victory at the Lausitzring; seven C-Class drivers finished among the top eight in 2007.

Statistics: Nine DTM races have been staged at the Lausitzring so far. After eight laps behind the Safety Car, the first race in 2000 was stopped due to heavy rain without classification. The second race on the same day was not started for the same reason. Mercedes-Benz won six out of the eight races held there so far; Bernd Schneider won three races (2002, 2003 and 2006); Peter Dumbreck (2001), Gary Paffett (Mai 2005) and Mika Hakkinen (2007) won one race each.

Fastest pit stops: In the addition of the total duration of both mandatory pit stops, the Mercedes-Benz teams did the fastest jobs in the three DTM races of the 2008 season so far:

- In Mugello, Susie Stoddart and the Persson team took an impressive best time of 46.607sec ahead of Bernd Schneider and HWA with 46.999sec. The best time of the competition, Timo Scheider and the Abt team were 0.429sec slower than Persson's best.

- In Oschersleben, HWA was the fastest working team; here, Jamie Green recorded the best time with 49.305sec ahead of Paul Di Resta with 49.446sec. Ekstrom needed 49.653sec.

- In Hockenheim, Bernd Schneider and HWA did the fastest job; it took him 36.175sec including pit entry and exit; Ekstrom, was 0.411sec slower.

Both pit stops have to be completed during the second third of the respective race. In the 48-lap race at the Lausitzring this will be between lap 16 and lap 32.

Comments of the two best Mercedes-Benz drivers in the previous race in Mugello and of the Motorsport chief:

Jamie Green (2008 Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class): "Following my victory in Mugello, I look forward to the Lausitzring. There I achieved my first DTM pole position in September 2005 and I am highly motivated."

Paul Di Resta (2008 AMG Mercedes C-Class): "After finishing 13th in Hockenheim where I lost a possible podium and after fourth place in Oschersleben, my second place in Mugello shows that we make significant progress. The direction is right and I want to improve by another position soon."

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: "The prediction that after three races there would be seven drivers within seven points, three of them with the Mercedes C-Class, would probably have been a risky one prior to the season. Following his victory in Mugello, Jamie Green now has one point less than the leader. He won three out of the last five races -- an impressive progress after he had to wait 30 races for his first victory. In the three races so far, the four drivers of the new C-Class scored in total nine points less than their four rivals of the competition. It is our aim to score firmly furthermore. We therefore will not arrive at the Lausitzring race automatically as the favorites, but we will all be motivated to achieve the best possible result."

Enjoys C class of upscale Mercedes

2008-05-16T03:02:00.001-07:00

The new 2008 C-Class from Mercedes-Benz took an active role in the recent film National Treasure: Book of Secrets. The chase scene through the streets of London was one of the largest that city has ever witnessed.

The Jerry Bruckheimer movie used landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Southwark Bridge in a pursuit scene that required 40 stunt people, 70 logistical support vehicles, 50 extras and nine cameras to pull off.

Six Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars were used, many heavily modified for camera rigging and stunt driving paraphernalia.

Our tester Steven Riegert didn't get to be an extra in the movie, but he did get to spend a week driving around Calgary's landmarks in the completely redesigned 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic. Our test car wasn't rigged with movie equipment, either, but it did come with the $3,200 premium package.

Riegert, 26, is an engineer and was born and raised in Calgary, where he learned to drive his parents' 1995 Volvo 850 Turbo Wagon. He was brought up reading Road & Track and TopGear magazines, and has some performance driving school and track experience under his belt.

Riegert's C300 4Matic was finished in obsidian black metallic paint. Included as standard equipment in the entry-level luxury car was the seven-speed automatic transmission, Bluetooth integration, auto-dimming mirrors (rearview and driver's side) and heated front seats.

The Mercedes made a good first impression. Riegert liked the car's aggressive front-fascia styling, and adds says it had a decent side profile with interesting character lines. "But the rear three quarter angle looks frumpy, and not up to the (styling of) the rest of the car," he says.

The Mercedes-Benz media website says this about the C300: "The design of the new-generation 2008 C-Class sedan evokes effortless sportiness and confident style. Above all, the interplay between its taut lines and broad, rounded surfaces makes for a clean, yet expressive look. "

A DOHC 24-valve V-6 engine provides that performance, and while the engine makes a respectable 228 horsepower Riegert felt the acceleration wasn't snappy enough for him.

"Upshifts on the seven-speed automatic transmission are very smooth, (but) power off the line is soft and throttle response is marginal," he says.

Driving the Mercedes-Benz on the highway to Banff, Riegert liked the cruise control, adjustable in one km/h or 10 km/h increments. There was little speed loss uphill, and the car was quiet on the highway.

Riegert was happy with the sport suspension, and says the car handled Deerfoot Trail with aplomb. He found the C300 was tight and had very little body roll in corners. Mercedes-Benz's permanent, all-wheel-drive system -- 4Matic -- performed, as it should, behind the scenes and without Riegert noticing it was functioning. The 4Matic system varies the amount of torque delivered between front and rear wheels, but starts with a 45 to 55 per cent ratio favouring the rear.

"The C300 was a very solid vehicle, and felt like it was carved from a granite block," Riegert says.

And that's a reputation Mercedes-Benz has always fostered. The C- Class was introduced in 1993, replacing the 190-series automobiles that had been on the road since 1983. The 2008 C-Class is the third-generation Mercedes in the entry-level luxury segment. And the engineers did something right, as the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) judged the 2008 C-Class Best New Luxury Car in its annual Canadian Car of the Year awards.

Riegert's first car was a 2003 MazdaSpeed Protege, and he says that was a car he didn't particularly like. He kept the Mazda for three years before purchasing a 2008 Toyota Yaris RS.

"At this point in time, all I need a car for is commuting back and forth to work. For me, it was strictly about reliability and fuel efficiency, and I'm not too concerned about looking flashy."

But the Mercedes had some convenience features he grew to appreciate, like the heated, eight-way power adjustable driver's seat and the bi-xenon headlights.

He liked the interior fit and finish, with its tight panel gaps, and notes there weren't any squeaks or rattles.

"There was tons of room inside," he says of the cockpit. "The rear seat passengers also had plenty of leg and head room, but it seemed like the trunk was a bit small. Trunk space would be adequate for four people (on a road trip) as long as they didn't pack too heavily."

At the end of the test, Riegert felt the 2008 C300 4Matic would be an ideal highway cruiser, able to pull hundreds of kilometres in comfort and luxury.

He figures the car best suits someone in their early to mid-30s, and who is established.

Although Riegert wouldn't rush to dish out the $50,190 (price as tested) for the C300, after the driving experience he says, "When I'm ready to move upscale, and (shop for something) with more options and badge appeal, Mercedes-Benz would be on my list now."

The Specs

Engine: 3.0-L, 24-valve DOHC V-6
Horsepower: 228 at 6000 r.p.m.
Torque: 221 foot-pounds at 2,700 to 5,000 r.p.m.
Wheelbase: 2,760 millimetres
Overall length: 4,581 millimetres
Curb weight: 1,695 kilograms

Enjoys class of upscale Mercedes

2008-05-16T03:02:00.000-07:00

Engine: 3.0-L, 24-valve DOHC V-6
Horsepower: 228 at 6000 r.p.m.
Torque: 221 foot-pounds at 2,700 to 5,000 r.p.m.
Wheelbase: 2,760 millimetres
Overall length: 4,581 millimetres
Curb weight: 1,695 kilograms

All New Mercedes Benz C63 AMG

2008-03-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

The all-new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is now on sale. It is powered by a 6.2-litre V8, with 336kW of power and 600Nm of torque and is claimed to reach 100kmh in 4.5 seconds. Priced from $139, 500, Apart from the high-performance engine, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG gains a host of AMG extras over the regular Mercedes-Benz C-Class models.

Equipped with a seven-speed automatic gearbox, the new sedan has gear shift paddles on the steering wheel and three drive programs: sport, comfort and manual. They differ in their shift characteristics and speed: gear shifts in sport mode are about 30 per cent faster than in comfort mode and about 50 per cent faster in manual mode.

The Mercedes-Benz C63 has a specially designed front suspension system, which is unique to the model. It also has Mercedes-Benz AMG speed-sensitive sports steering and a new, three-stage stability program.

The fancy stability control system enables the driver to choose between three modes: on, sport and off. In the "on" mode, the system triggers the brakes on one or more of the wheels, accompanied by a reduction in engine torque. When in the "sport" mode, braking intervention and the accompanying reduction in engine torque comes into play later to allow for more dynamic driving. If the system is turned off, there is no intervention at all except under brakes but Mercedes warns this option should be used only by experienced drivers on dedicated racetracks.

The Mercedes-Benz C63 has 18-inch alloy wheels. Tyres are 235/40R on the front and 255/35R on the rear.

On the outside, the Mercedes-Benz C63 has AMG body styling including power domes on the bonnet, unique radiator grille, flared front wings, unique rear bumper with black diffuser insert, sports exhaust system with chromed twin tailpipes and a rear lip spoiler.

Inside, the Mercedes-Benz C63 has AMG sports seats with integrated head restraints, a performance steering wheel and a tubular-design AMG instrument cluster.

The new performance the Mercedes-Benz C63 sedan has an average fuel consumption of 13.5 litres/100km. It emits 321g of carbon dioxide a kilometre.

Visit : Mercedes Benz C63 AMG

Diana Mercedes Crash -Police delayed by paparazzi

2008-03-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

Paparazzi who took photographs of Diana, Princess of Wales, dying in a car wreck stopped police from getting to the scene, her inquest has heard.

Eyewitness Clifford Goorovadoo said: "It is true that when the first police officers arrived the journalists would not let them through. They were pushing."

Mr Goorovadoo, a chauffeur who was parked down the road from the 1997 Alma Tunnel crash in Paris, later recognised photographer David Odekerken from a picture line-up.

He told police: "He was taking photographs of the victims and the vehicle. He was also one of those who ran away when the police arrived. He therefore can not be one of those photographers who hindered the police."

Alerted by the "roar of a Mercedes car engine" Mr Goorovadoo looked up and spotted a motorcycle in hot pursuit of a Mercedes Benz which was carrying Diana.

The pillion passenger on the motorbike was taking photographs just before the Mercedes Benz crashed, according to Mr Goorovadoo. He was not certain if a flash gun was being used.

There was "a tremendous noise" moments later and Mr Goorovadoo rushed to help the victims. He was quickly identified as a key witness by the press, the inquest heard.

It is believed that Mr Goorovadoo has refused to appear at the central London inquest, but the hearing heard evidence from his police statements made at the time.

Tom de la Mare, for the Ritz Hotel, raised the possibility that Mr Goorovadoo may have been "got at" by the paparazzi to change his account so as not to paint them in such a bad light.

Mr Goorovadoo made six police statements, the first at 2.30am on August 31 1997 just two hours after Paris crash which killed Diana, her lover Dodi Fayed and mercedes driver Henri Paul. His statements, including variations on the possible distance of the motorbike to the Mercedes, were read out to the jury.

Mercedes-AMG F1 Safety Car

2008-03-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

With the new Official F1™ Safety Car and the new Official F1™ Medical Car, Mercedes-AMG, the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz, is launching into the 2008 Formula 1 season. The Safety Car, based on the SL 63 AMG, and the Medical Car, derived from the C 63 AMG Estate, have the task of ensuring maximum safety at all 18 Formula 1 races. The two specially prepared AMG high-performance automobiles will be on duty for the first time when the Grand Prix season kicks off in Melbourne, Australia (March 14 to 16, 2008). The specialists from the AMG development team and the PERFORMANCE STUDIO are responsible for the development, production and servicing of the vehicles.

The Official F1™ Safety Car is immediately on hand whenever the safety of a race is threatened by accidents, adverse weather conditions or other hazardous situations. After receiving his instructions from the race management, Bernd Mayländer, the driver of the Safety Car, must go to the head of the Formula 1 field and safely guide the world's fastest racing drivers around the circuit. Fast lap times are a must for the Safety Car, because otherwise the sensitive Formula 1 engines would overheat – and their tyres and brakes would cool down excessively.

In the 2008 Formula 1 season, Mayländer, 36, will be behind the wheel of a new Official F1™ Safety Car, the SL 63 AMG. This high-performance roadster, which was presented to the public just a few days ago at the Geneva Motor Show, has the finest of pedigrees for its challenging assignment: its AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine has a power output of 386 kW/525 hp, providing acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. A newly developed AMG sport exhaust system with larger pipe diameter and new rear silencers allows the high-revving AMG naturally aspirated engine to breathe even more freely. Both the motor sport fans at the racetrack and also those at home in front of their TV sets are captivated by the vehicle's special sound tuning.

Mercedes Benz and Kumho Tire

2008-02-27T23:31:00.000-08:00

Kumho Tire, the nation's second-largest tire maker, will supply tires for Daimler AG's luxury multi-purpose vehicle Mercedes-Benz Viano.

The company will supply the German automaker with 10,000 KU19 tires that will be installed on the new Viano X-Clusive sedans. The luxury model will be sold in Europe as a special edition. The tires are designed to be fit for ultra high-speed driving at up to 360 km/h while guaranteeing the comfort of drivers and reducing noise.

Kumho Tire said the supply contract proves the excellence of its technology and product quality, which were strictly tested by one of the world's top carmakers. It expects the supply to improve its brand image and increase sales. A Kumho Tire press release said one of the company's five major business goals for 2015 is to tap overseas markets and to increase supplies to global automakers.

The Korean tire maker has supplied tires for Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedans since last year and is negotiating with Daimler AG to supply products for the carmaker's other luxury models. It is also a supplier for Chrysler and Volkswagen.

Lindsay's Lohan Mercedes

2008-02-24T15:27:00.000-08:00

The actress has settled a negligence lawsuit brought by a busboy over a highly publicized traffic Mercedes collision nearly two-and-a-half years ago.

The attorney for plaintiff Raymundo Ortega confirmed that an out-of-court deal had been reached but refused to disclose any terms of the deal. Ortega had been seeking $200,000 in damages. Lohan's camp has yet to comment on the settlement.

Ortega fired off the first shot, filing his negligence lawsuit in June 2007. He alleged in court documents that a then 19-year-old Lohan had been drinking alcohol at the Ivy just prior to plowing into his mercede, and it was a combination of her purported inebriation and distraction due to aggressively pursuing paparazzi that caused the crash.Lohan's camp blasted back, denying the accusations against the twice-rehabbed star. Her legal crew specifically cited a California Highway Patrol incident report, which blamed the collision on Ortega, who was making an illegal U-turn at the time of impact.The actress, now 21, filed a four-page countersuit against Ortega on Oct. 11, seeking $75,000 in damages to her Mercedes from the busboy, whom she accused of being "negligent in the ownership, operation, repairs and maintenance" of his van

Mercedes Benz Bionic Fish Car Concept

2008-02-21T16:20:00.000-08:00

DaimlerChrysler is using a new concept vehicle to examine the great potential of bionics for automobile development, and has achieved outstanding results for fuel consumption and emissions with a combination of pioneering diesel engine technology and innovative emission control methods. The concept models of the Mercedes-Benz bionic car are appearing as part of the "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition at New York's Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition at the world-famous "MoMA" showcases trailblazing innovations in the fields of design and science.

One of the greates highlights, is the Mercedes-Benz bionic car, which was first unveiled in June 2005 at the Innovation Symposium organized by Mercedes Daimler AG in the US capital, Washington DC. As well as boasting near-perfect aerodynamics and a lightweight concept derived from nature, the mercedes car features a clean and economical high-tech diesel engine with BLUETEC technology, which plays a major part in cutting fuel consumption and reducing emissions by a substantial margin: in the EU driving cycle, the Mercedes-Benz bionic car consumes just 4.3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers making it 20 percent more economical than a comparable production model. With an output of 140 hp, it delivers state-of-the-art, hallmark Mercedes-Benz performance.

Engineers, designers and biologists at Mercedes-Benz worked hand in hand to develop the Mercedes-Benz bionic car. Its template was a sea dweller from tropical latitudes: Ostracion Cubicus more commonly known as the boxfish. Despite its unusual-looking shape, the fish is extremely aerodynamic and can therefore move using a minimal amount of energy. It is also able to withstand high pressures and, thanks to an outer skin consisting of hexagonal bone plates, can survive unscathed following collisions with corals or other sea dwellers. In free flow, its body has an outstandingly low cd value of 0.06. These characteristics are also ideal ingredients for a car designed to achieve the best possible levels of energy efficiency and passenger safety.

The concept vehicle also played a pioneering role for Mercedes-Benz when it came to emission control. It was the first test car to be fitted with SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology. The emission-control technology, which Mercedes-Benz calls BLUETEC, has been available for commercial vehicles since 2005 and in the E-Class 320 BLUETEC since October 2006. Another three vehicles featuring the world's cleanest diesel will be launched before the end of this year.

The result is a two-door vehicle with four comfortable, individual seats and a drop-shaped design that is 4.24 meters long, 1.82 meters wide and 1.59 meters high. With a drag coefficient (cd figure) of 0.19, the Mercedes-Benz bionic car is one of the world's most aerodynamic compact cars in its class. Today, this figure still stands as a benchmark for the aerodynamic optimization of car bodies.DaimlerChrysler researchers examined this bionic structure and transferred this principle to the Mercedes-Benz bionic car study with the help of a special calculation process. The process is based on the principles of bone formation and for instance allows up to 40 percent more rigidity to be achieved in the external door panelling than would be possible with conventional designs. If the entire bodyshell is calculated according to this bionic principle, the total weight is reduced by around one third with undiminished strength and crash safety.

McLaren Mercedes & Ralf Schumacher

2008-02-19T12:56:00.000-08:00

The 32-year-old, younger brother of seven times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, will make his debut in the series at Hockenheim on April 13. Ralf Schumacher will race for Mercedes in this season's German Touring Car (DTM) championship after leaving Formula One last year, the carmaker said on Monday.

According to Michael Schumacher, He like the series, He like the environment, He like the enthusiastic and positive spectators and most importan is he like mercedes. He had accepted the McLaren Mercedes offer to become their test driver for 1997.

Mercedes automobile company change their name

2008-02-19T12:49:00.000-08:00

The renaming of the automobile manufacturer follows the disposal of 80.1 per cent of its stake in Chrysler Holding LLC, a release issued here stated. DaimlerChrysler India on Tuesday said that it has received approval from the Registrar of Companies to change its name to Mercedes-Benz India Pvt Ltd. the named cahange from DaimlerChrysler India name to Mercedes-Benz India.

A clear distinction has been made between the corporate brand Daimler and the group's various product brands, the release added. Wherever the company was dealing directly with customers and in areas where the focus was primarily on products of a single brand, the corresponding brand name would be used.

It is in this context that the Indian operations have been re-christened, since Mercedes-Benz is the key product brand offered in the country. The clear distinction between the corporate brand and the product brands is aimed to position the brand more clearly and make them even stronger in various local markets. Mercedes-Benz India has a sales and after-sales service network extending across 28 cities across the country.

Hilton Bro and Black Mercedes E350

2008-02-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Officer Steve Whitmore said Barron Hilton's bail was upped to $20,000 from the previous $5,000 because he is now facing a felony charge of possessing a forged California driver's license in addition to misdemeanor DUI.

The third of Kathy and Rick Hilton's four offspring has been ordered to appear Apr. 14 at the Malibu courthouse.

After spending the better part of the day behind bars since being booked on suspicion of driving under the influence Tuesday morning, Barron Hilton posted $20,000 bail at around 5:45 p.m.

And Barron Hilton's rap sheet could get meatier still if charges are filed in connection to the smashup the hotel heir was involved in shortly before his arrest.

Not long before Paris Hilton's 18-year-old brother was arrested, witnesses saw his black Mercedes E350—with an unidentified woman at the wheel—sideswipe a grey Ford Ranger pickup truck on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and continue on its merry way.

The other vehicle's presumably peeved driver followed Hilton, who at some point returned to the driver's seat, and his cruising partner to a gas station on PCH, where authorities eventually caught up with them—although not before, according to eyewitness accounts, Hilton had a run-in with a station employee's leg.

Per the L.A. County Sheriff's report summing up Hilton's arrest at 8:05 a.m. for alleged DUI, the California Highway Patrol was investigating a possible collision that occurred while the unnamed woman was driving.

CHP Public Information Officer Leon Hines said the Mercedes bumped into the Ford at 6:10 a.m. while heading north on PCH just above Sunset Boulevard.

The driver of the Ford continued to follow the Mercedes to Coral Canyon at PCH, and that's where CHP responded to the call and began the preliminary collision report, Hines said. Neither of the drivers involved appeared to be under the influence.

As for the man whose leg got in the way of Hilton's car, he told the New York Post and TMZ that, after the impact knocked him over, leaving him with some bruises, two men jumped out of a Ford with a dented left side and grabbed the keys out of the Mercedes to prevent the car's occupants from driving away again.

The driver of the truck had called the police en route to the gas station, and he had Hilton wait it out on a bus bench until authorities arrived.

Hilton, who blew a 0.14 percent on a Breathalyzer test and was found to be carrying the fake ID, was booked into custody at the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station at 8:35 a.m.

Mercedes Benz Growth , bring Daimler to Profit

2008-02-12T03:50:00.000-08:00

Daimler AG Thursday said that fourth-quarter net income jumped to €1.7 billion ($2.47 billion) from a net loss of €12 million in the same period of 2006, driven by revived earnings momentum at its core Mercedes-Benz cars division.

Daimler's closely watched earnings before interest and tax, or EBIT, more than doubled to €1.39 billion in the fourth quarter from €550 million a year earlier. Analysts had expected fourth-quarter EBIT of €2.17 billion.

Mercedes ` Gullwing' supercar

2008-02-06T23:16:00.000-08:00

Snapped has prototype of has new Mercedes supercar that will become the successor to the company's, famous the 1950s Mercedes 300SL.

It may look like has Dodge Viper, New prototype Mercedes supercar that will become the successor to the car maker's famous Mercedes Gullwing 300SL of the 1950s. Mercedes has commissioned German company HWA - has spin-off of the car maker's Mercedes AMG tuning division to develop has rival for the Audi R8 supercar.

The car will wear the Mercedes SLC badge and could beginning have has concept At March's Geneva motor show - possibly including top spin-up doors that mimic the 1955 Mercedes 300SL crosses. It is expected to compact, be more and lighter than the Mercedes-McLaren SLR supercar when it goes one salts in 2009.

HWC will save significant weight by making the two-seater Mercedes SLC the first Mercedes to Be built from aluminium rather than steel. Mercedes engineers visited the British car maker's seedling production in 2006 to study how Jaguar assembled its all-aluminium XJ sedan. Details of the Mercedes SLC supercar remain secret signal - even within Mercedes - although speculation says the likely engine to sit in the elongated nose is the Mercedes AMG-tweaked V8 6.2-liter. Torque The V8 currently has power and outputs of up to 386kW and 630Nm respectively, although has turbocharger gold supercharger could be added to send even more power to the Mercedes SLC' S rear wheels.

Mercedes 460kW 5.4-liter supercharged V8 SLR supercar was produced in conjunction with the car maker's, English Formulated One partner Mercedes McLaren. Dirty Disappointing and has less-than-smooth gestation period for the circa-$1 million SLR, encouraged Mercedes to abandonment its co-operation with Mercedes McLaren one has new, smaller supercar.

Mercedes McLaren is now working one its own supercar project while HWA builds the SLC. HWA was formed in 1999 by Mercedes AMG founder Hans-werner Aufrecht (hence the company name), and is based in Mercedes home city of Stuttgart.

The company is spending butt $8 million to expand its production facilities for the new Mercedes SLC. Original The Mercedes 300SL Gullwing is one of the most collectible Mercedes ever built.

New Mercedes-Benz CLC

2008-01-28T15:49:00.000-08:00

Mercedes revealed only one cuts level of entry of stand called the CLC Mercedes for the young drivers concerned. The CLC Mercedes comprises new devices such as the speed-sensitive direction, a characteristic of the system of the last cry of infotainment a color screen, DVD at the European level or the navigation and the media of hard disk connect.

The CLC Mercedes climaxes aesthetic include the wheels of the alloy 18-inch, headlights with black interior surrounds, fôlatre the suspension with the lowered body, the wheel of direction out of leather of sports and the dark swept elements of aluminium balance.

Offered in the line of engine are four two of six-cylinder motors four cylinders and the power extending from 122bhp with 272 BHP. The CLC Mercedes also promises the saving in fuel improved.

Returns of CLC 200 TDCI Mercedes a consumption of the mpg 48.7 which is improved by the mpg 2.4 above the outgoing model. The manual transmission Six-speed comes with all the alternatives from engine, although a five-speed the transmission that automatic is is available on the units to four cylinders.

The models of sport will also have pallets of shifting of speed thus the driver can manually choose speed transmissions automatic. The CLC Mercedes will be at the agencies as from June 2008.

C-class of Mercedes Benz qualified with the finales

2008-01-24T02:29:00.000-08:00

The C-class of Mercedes-Benz of luxury sharpened out of Mazda2 and Ford Mondeo to gain the coveted car of store of wheels of the year.

The others qualified with the finales were BMW M3, Volkswagen EOS and Skoda Roomster. Newest Mercedes gained of a lineup of 20 called.

The writer Ged Bulmer of wheels said that the Mercedes C-class was a car of stand-out, guiding the criticism which it Mercedes, which starts to $57.000, is inaccessible for much. The model of level of entry of Mercedes C-class is about the price of a top-of-the-line commodore thus it is certainly accessible to a greater proportion the Australian ones than the Mercedes S-class, which twice gained the car of the reward of the year.

Daimler AG recalls.

2008-01-23T02:12:00.000-08:00

Daimler AG, the manufacturer in the second place largest of the world of the vehicles of luxury, recalls more than 9.000 cars of diesel-engine of the UNITED STATES model for Year 2007 Mercedes-Benz, because a potential problem of probe could make lose the cars power.

In certain cars, the wire could separated from the reinforcement of probe of crankshaft, causing an interruption in electric connection with the piece holding the probe, the national administration of road safety of road of the UNITED STATES said in a report/ratio on its site of Web of recall. Consequently, the car cannot be restarted after failure of electric connection in the probe, increasing the risk of an accident, according to the report/ratio. Cars in the classes of E, GL, M and R are affected, and the retailers will start to replace the probe the next month, the agency known as.

The spokesman Robert Moran of Mercedes and the horn of Christoph immediately did not return a call or messages of E-mail seeking the comment. The newspaper of Wall Street brought back the first time the recall earlier today. Daimler fell 3.50 euros, or 6.6 percent, with 49.78 euros today in Frankfurt. The shares decreased 25 percent this month.

Paparazzi of pursuit of Britney outside on bar

2008-01-19T02:18:00.000-08:00

Paparazzi of pursuit of Britney outside on bar 1 hour makes paparazzi the four arrested for the drive reckless while it chases the buds of Britney has been freed on bar, the police in California has said. Roberto Maciel, 31; Leandro Gomes, 30; Filipi Teixeira, 27; and Eduardo Ravalah, 34; they have been interrogates to you and freed 5,000 dollar(£2,500) on bar everyone, shelters of Jason of the official of the megaphone of unit of the police de Los Angeles has said. The situation has begun on the evening of Wednesday in which the officials they have observed several automobiles to follow benz a white man of Mercedes in the district de Los Angeles of mission hills. The automobiles were following too much a lot carefully the automobile, travelling to the dangerous speed and have rendered vary the dangerous changes of the alley, said authorities. The officials have arrested Mercedes, have interviewed the buds and have freed the singer of crack after the verification of its authorization. It was not immediately clear for who the photographers have worked.

Paparazzi di inseguimento di Britney fuori su barra

Paparazzi di inseguimento di Britney fuori su barra 1 ora fa Il paparazzi quattro arrestato per l'azionamento reckless mentre insegue i germogli di Britney è stato liberato su barra, la polizia nella California ha detto. Roberto Maciel, 31; Leandro Gomes, 30; Filipi Teixeira, 27; ed Eduardo Ravalah, 34; sono stati interrogati e liberato 5.000 dollar(£2,500) su barra ciascuno, rifugi di Jason dell'ufficiale del portavoce di reparto della polizia de Los Angeles ha detto. La situazione ha cominciato sulla sera di mercoledì in cui gli ufficiali hanno osservato parecchi automobili seguire un benz bianco di Mercedes nel distretto de Los Angeles delle colline di missione. Gli automobili stavano seguendo troppo molto attentamente l'automobile, viaggiando alla velocità pericolosa ed hanno reso vari i cambiamenti pericolosi del vicolo, autorità dette. Gli ufficiali hanno arrestato il Mercedes, hanno intervistato i germogli ed hanno liberato il cantante di schiocco dopo la verificazione della sua autorizzazione. Non era immediatamente chiara per chi i photographers hanno lavorato.

’89 Mercedes Benz Sauber C9

2008-01-16T15:41:00.000-08:00

Now of course, most every design has some sort of inspiration and when it comes to Italian wonder, the general design concept was inspired by that which is the Mercedes-Benz "Sauber C9" (a Group-C racer) of the late 1980's. It’s the beautiful 89’ Sauber-Mercedes C9.

Why borrowing inspiration from 1987 C9 was such an important thing to Horacio Pagani and his vision of the "Fangio F1". The reason for such was that Pagani's long-time childhood idol had been the 5-time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio, possibly the greatest racing driver that has ever lived. After successfully designing a Renault Formula 3 car in Argentina - Pagani's place of birth - the young Horacio was eventually afforded the chance to meet his idol and from there on, Fangio befriended his young fan and introduced him to Modena where he would later take a position at Lamborghini Automobili, and later still opening his own design/industry supply company under the name "Modena Design". Shortly thereafter, it was all history - wanting to create a supercar in Fangio's name, Horacio set off with the goal of drawing inspiration from Fangio's favourite company, Mercedes-Benz.

Additionally, Horacio tells the great story that Fangio said to Pagani that if he was going to create his own supercar in Fangio’s image, "it must have a Mercedes-Benz engine; I'm a Mercedes-Benz man". So it goes without saying then, after that wonderful anecdote, that implementing Mercedes-Benz style into his supercar was a big priority.

The Sauber Mercedes was also quite dominant in 1990, although Le Mans was the missing crown jewel from the season as the Saubers were withdrawn from the event. In 1991, Sauber's silver cars were not as fast nor reliable as the new Cosworth-powered Jaguars. Peter Sauber withdrew from the WEC at the end of 1991 to concentrate on his Formula One entry for 1993.

The Sauber Mercedes C9, driven by German sports-car aces Jochen Mass, Manuel Reuter, and Sweden's Stanley Dickens were the winners of the 1989 LeMans 24 hour endurance race. The Sauber Mercedes combination was the dominant car during the 1989 FIA World Endurance Prototype series, following up on a strong 1988 season by long-time sports car entrant Peter Sauber. Although Mercedes-powered Group C cars were entered by Suber since 1985, Mercedes-Benz did not offer official factory support until '88, in which the team grew stronger against the TWR-entered Jaguars.

During practice that year it attained the incredible speed of 245 miles per hour on the Mulsanne Straight. That record caused the administrative body to take drastic action for the 1990 race in the name of safety by placing two chicanes on the straight.

2008-01-12T18:40:00.000-08:00

Actress Kim Cattrall considers a new SUV from Mercedes-Benz to be a perfect fit for her "Sex in the City" character, Samantha Jones.

Cattrall helped Daimler AG introduce the Mercedes-Benz GLK Freeside Concept during a reception Saturday night in advance of the North American International Auto Show.

"Very passionate people make Mercedes and they're very smart and I've always considered both of those things right down Samantha's alley," Cattrall said. "It's a cutting-edge car."

The compact sport utility vehicle will be driven by Cattrall's sex-obsessed character in the upcoming "Sex in the City" movie, which is expected in theaters on May 20. Cattrall said the vehicle "speaks more about where in her life and her lifestyle."

"We are sure that every time we launch a new Mercedes we get the attention," said Dieter Zetsche, Daimler AG's chief executive. "With Kim at our side, we don't know whether it's the product or whether it's her — but that's even better."

Spears' White Mercedes Car in Police Impound

2008-01-09T16:58:00.000-08:00

Britney Spears will be forced to pay a minimum of $136 in towing fees if she wants to get her car back, after police impounded the vehicle on Monday night.

The troubled star brought Los Angeles traffic to a standstill on Monday after one of the tires on her Mercedes burst while she was driving along a busy road in Brentwood.

Cops insisted Spears abandon her white Mercedes on the hard shoulder in a bid to get traffic moving again following the incident, but it has now ended up at the Quicksilver Towing car impound, according to People.com.

Lieutenant David Grimes of the Los Angeles Police Department, West L.A. station, confirms, "Ms. Spears' car was impounded.

"Officers on the scene told me it was blocking the roadway, and that it was unsafe enough to leave at the location.

"(The car) was towed by a private company that's contracted with the city. Her car is being held at the official police garage tow yard."

But Grimes claims Spears will not be hit with any more legal woes relating to the incident, adding: "She won't get any citations or fines."

The singer, 26, was given a lift home by a member of the paparazzi after the breakdown, but she will have to fork out $104 to pay for the towing of the car, plus a further $32 for each day the Mercedes stays in the yard, if she wants it released.

Daimler's Mercedes Full-Year Sales Rise 2% on C-Class

2008-01-08T16:53:00.000-08:00

Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz Cars division, the world's second-largest maker of luxury vehicles, said 2007 sales rose 2 percent on demand for a new C-Class sedan and updated versions of its sport-utility vehicles.

Deliveries by the division, which includes the Mercedes- Benz, Smart and Maybach brands, increased to 1.29 million cars and SUVs from 1.26 million a year earlier, Stuttgart, Germany- based Daimler said in a statement today.

Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche aims to raise the division's earnings as a proportion of sales to ``at least'' 10 percent by 2010, potentially surpassing competitor Bayerische Motoren Werke AG in profitability. The Mercedes-Benz brand has eliminated more than 9,000 assembly-line jobs and is reducing the number of parts in models such as the S-Class, its largest sedan.

Mercedes-Benz brand sales rose 3.2 percent to 1.19 million cars and SUVs last year. Deliveries of Smart cars fell 10 percent to 100,600 vehicles after Mercedes scaled back the lineup to a single, two-seat model. Maybach sales were unchanged at 400 cars.

Deliveries of the entry-level C-Class surged 57 percent to 261,500 vehicles. The company began selling new versions of the car in March, replacing a model dating from 2000, and added a station wagon last month. Sales of Mercedes-Benz SUVs gained 6.3 percent to 180,100 units.

Mercedes-Benz Cars' sales in Asia rose 9.7 percent last year to 142,700 vehicles and increased 2.2 percent in the U.S. to 253,400. In Germany, the company's largest market, sales fell 3.5 percent to 341,800 vehicles.

Mercedes' New SLK

2008-01-05T15:57:00.000-08:00

Due out in April, the 2008 SLK roadster offers more power, improved steering and a redesigned interior and exterior

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Mercedes-Benz has released details of its new SLK roadster models ahead of an April 2008 release. With around 650 newly developed parts in all, the latest line-up is marked by new-look front and rear sections -- the redesigned front bumper with a modified air-dam arrangement enhances the two-seater's distinctive arrow shape while at the rear, a diffuser-style lower section, trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes and the AMG-inspired darkened tail lights have been added. Interior modifications include a new instrument cluster, three-spoke sports steering wheel and improved audio and telematics systems while under the hood the supercharged four-cylinder and V6 engine options have been boosted in terms of output and fuel economy with the 265 kW/360 hp, 5.5-litre V8 powerplant retained for the SLK 55 AMG .

The four-cylinder powerplant in the SLK 200 Kompressor and the six-cylinder sports engine in the SLK 350 both offer substantially more power and torque according to Mercedes. The most notable change is the introduction of the fast-running V6 sports engine that develops 224 kW/305 hp at 6500 rpm -- 24 kW (33 hp) more than its predecessor -- and peak torque of 360 Nm at 4900 rpm -- a jump of 10 Nm. The performance enhancements are the result of a higher compression ratio, a new intake manifold and an extensively modified valve train with the engine speed limit raised to 6800 rpm (though 7200 rpm is possible in short bursts with oil temperature and other engine parameters permitting). Attention has also been paid to the engine acoustics with an emotive, sporty note promised -- particularly when decelerating. The SLK 350 also consumes less fuel than its predecessor -- 29.7 mpg running and 30.7 mpg if the 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission is fitted. This also translates to reduced CO2 emissions, down 23 g/km to 219 g/km in the automatic version and dropping by 28 g/km to 227 g/km in the manual version.

Standard equipment for the three new SLK models includes a precise six-speed manual gearshift, while the SLK 55 AMG still comes with the 7G-TRONIC Sport seven-speed automatic transmission fitted as standard. Optional extras available include a five-speed automatic transmission for the SLK 200 and the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission or, alternatively, the 7G-TRONIC Sport with shift paddles on the steering wheel for the six-cylinder SLK 280 and SLK 350 models.

A newly developed, mechanical direct steering system with variable steering assistance is also available as an optional extra (standard for the SLK 55 AMG). The system is designed to ensure that the steering gear ratio changes in tune with the steering angle. The ratio is indirect when the steering is in or around the central position so as to ensure excellent straight-line stability and, therefore, a high degree of assuredness when travelling at high speed. At a steering angle of just 5 degrees, the ratio starts to increase extremely rapidly and the steering feels much more direct. As a result, the number of steering wheel revolutions from lock to lock is reduced by around 25 percent if the new direct steering is fitted.

Along with sharper handling characteristics and swifter gear changes offered by the improved AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC transmission, the new SLK 55 AMG -- which is still the only V8 in its class -- features a new apron with a black-painted cross strut and side air outlets as well as darkened projection-beam headlamps and larger exterior mirrors.

The vario-roof that transforms the roadster into a coupé in 22 seconds is retained throughout the line-up and standard-safety equipment includes head/thorax sidebags, adaptive front airbags and two-stage belt-force limiters. The roadster also comes with the option of the unique AIRSCARF neck-level heating system, which allows open-top driving pleasure all year round, even in winter.

All models include hands-free radio control with Bluetooth technology and a new media interface added to the glove compartment for integration of personal media players into the the vehicle's audio system's user interface. Mercedes-Benz is also offering the LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control system as an optional extra in the SLK-Class for the first time. A harman kardon® Logic7® sound system is also optionally available which promises a surround sound boost regardless of whether the vario-roof is open or closed.

Full pricing for the new-generation SLK will be confirmed early in 2008 but the SLK 55 AMG is can now be pre-ordered with a price tag set at 69,049.75 Euro (incl. 19 % VAT).

Mercedes-Benz Championship

2008-01-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

Kapalua, HI (Sports Network) - Nick Watney posted a five-under-par 68 on Thursday to take the first-round lead of the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort.

Daniel Chopra shot a four-under 69 to grab second place, followed by U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera, Aaron Baddeley and Jonathan Byrd, who carded matching rounds of 70 on Thursday.

Brandt Snedeker held the lead on the back nine Thursday, but a driver malfunction cost him three shots over the final two holes. He finished with a two-under 71 and is tied for sixth with former Masters champion Mike Weir.

This first tournament of 2008 is only for winners of PGA Tour events in 2007, but not all victors came. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have skipped the event for years now, but two more names, British Open champion Padraig Harrington and last year's runner-up Adam Scott, also passed on Kapalua.

Despite the star power missing this week, it's hard to imagine anyone playing better than Watney on Thursday. The round featured heavy winds that are commonplace at Kapalua and consistent rainfall.

Watney broke into red figures with a birdie at three, then rolled in a 13- footer for birdie at four. The young American birdied the fifth for three in a row. A poor drive at the seventh cost Watney a bogey, but he reclaimed the lost stroke with a nine-foot birdie putt at the ninth.

Watney parred his first five holes on the back, but gave himself a good look at birdie at 14. His 13-footer stayed above ground, but at three-under, he was still near the top of the leaderboard.

At the par-five 15th, Watney's drive hit a golf cart and bounced back into the fairway. It was a great break for last year's winner in New Orleans since his drive was destined for the woods. Watney sank a seven-foot birdie putt on the hole to tie Chopra for the lead.

The 17th was one of the most difficult holes on Thursday with several players needing woods into the green. Watney, one of the longest hitters in the field, roped a solid drive down the fairway, but he got mud on his ball. Watney hit a spectacular second 30 feet short of the hole, then drained the long birdie putt for the outright lead.

He made a four-footer to save par at the last.

"I putted very well and I kept it really simple," said Watney. "I hit to the middle of greens and tried to take what they gave me. It was a very steady day."

Chopra, who won one of the final events of 2007, the Ginn sur Mer Classic at Tesoro, started well with back-to-back birdies from the second. He parred his next five, then closed his front nine with a three-footer for birdie at the par-five ninth.

He birdied the par-three 11th to reach four-under par for the championship. Chopra lost a ball at 14, but still saved bogey thanks to a 25-footer from short of the stick.

Chopra punched a smart approach into the wind at 16. His ball spun back to four feet and he converted the birdie putt to once again get to minus-four, which tied him for the lead at the time with Snedeker.

At the par-four 17th, Chopra hit a driver, but due to the wind, left himself with almost 280 yards for his second shot. He played a three-wood well right of the flag, but lagged his birdie putt to inches and tapped in for par.

"That's unbelievable," said Chopra. "You can hit a short nine-iron or pitching-wedge when it's downwind and the ball's rolling out."

Chopra could not reach the par-five closing hole in two, but left himself a 12-foot birdie look. He missed the putt, but is second, which is a continuation of momentum from last season.

Along with the win at the Ginn sur Mer Classic at Tesoro, Chopra lost a playoff in November to Baddeley at the MasterCard Masters on the European Tour.

"I was playing really well through the middle of the year," said Chopra. "I felt like every part of my game was fine. I felt I needed to take advantage of that and I started pressing.

"Toward the end of the year, Mitch Knox came back on the bag again. I got excited and played more patient golf and allowed things to happen."

Snedeker was in the lead at five-under par until a horrendous drive at 17 led to a double-bogey. He hit three-wood off the tee at the ridiculously-long 18th and that cost him a bogey at the par-five final hole.

The reason for Snedeker's late collapse was pretty simple. He broke his driver somewhere around the 16th.

"I guess it finally said 'mercy,'" joked Snedeker, the 2007 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. "I cracked the top of it. I hit a good drive on 17 and it went about 180 yards. Bad timing."

Rory Sabbatini, whose last appearance in the golf world was a mysterious withdrawal from the Target World Challenge, shot a one-under 72 and is tied for eighth place with Stephen Ames and Steve Flesch.

Defending champion Vijay Singh struggled to a one-over 74 and is part of a group tied for 16th place.

Mercedes-Benz wins award for DIESOTTO engine

2007-12-23T03:11:00.000-08:00

The DIESOTTO drive system is combined with a hybrid module and was featured in the Mercedes-Benz F 700 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007. It demonstrates that a large touring saloon is capable of returning a fuel-consumption figure of just 5.3 litres per 100 kilometres, enabling a drastic reduction in CO2 emissions without compromising on performance.
For example, the four-cylinder drive system with two-stage turbocharging fitted in the F 700 achieves the same level of performance as the current S-Class with a 3.5-litre V6 naturally-aspirated petrol engine.

Mercedes-Benz has created no fewer than 20 research cars since the Auto 2000 was introduced in 1981, but rarely has it revealed such a surprising glimpse of the future as the Mercedes-Benz F 700 Research Car. It's making its debut in this new luxury sedan. To refresh your memory, that engine produces 238hp and 295ft-lb. of torque from just 1.8 liters of displacement using some new technology known to many as homogeneous charge compression ignition, or HCCI, which "operates in compression ignition mode under light loads and spark ignition at other times" according to our own Sam Abuelsamid. The fuel mileage of the car with the DiesOtto engine is expected to be almost 40 miles per gallon, which is excellent for such a large vehicle.

The new F700 concept is just one of 18 vehicles that Mercedes is expected to showcase, including new Bluetec diesels and hybrids with both gasoline and diesel engines.

Mercedes-Benz has struck gold

2007-12-12T08:04:00.000-08:00

Mercedes-Benz has struck gold with "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," the Nicolas Cage action-adventure that opens December 21.

Two of the automaker's models were used in high-profile chase scenes for the Disney sequel, and the company did not have to pay anything for the exposure. By contrast, General Motors spent millions on TV spots and other media to support its vehicles' starring roles in "Transformers" during the summer.

Mercedes' newly designed 2008 C-Class sedan, which went on sale in the U.S. in August, is featured in the film's main chase scene, with Nicolas Cage behind the wheel. Its GL-Class SUV is used in a Washington chase scene. Combined, Mercedes believes its vehicles will get screen time of five to seven minutes.

Lisa Holladay, manager of brand experience marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA, said the integration stemmed from the automaker's long-term relationship with the film's producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, who owns several Mercedes vehicles.

However, once Mercedes saw footage of its vehicles in the film at an early screening, it decided to sponsor a game on the "National Treasure" Web site titled "The World's Biggest Treasure Hunt" and to provide the game's grand prize, a C-Class sports sedan signed by Bruckheimer and Cage. It also signed on to sponsor the film's New York premiere Thursday, providing Mercedes vehicles to transport the talent.

Mercedes also paid the costs of transporting and outfitting six C-Class and two GL-Class vehicles for filming -- all eight of which were destroyed during production.

"When we did see the placement -- which is really what we call 'hero placement' of the vehicle because the placement is so good -- we decided to go forward with a full-scale marketing activation program against the movie," Holladay said.

Holladay declined comment on how much Mercedes is spending on its online game and other sponsorships but it is believed to be far less than what most major promotional partners spend on TV ads and other marketing support for tentpole films. Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films also declined comment.

By Gail Schiller

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

The New C-Class

2007-11-30T01:24:00.001-08:00

mercedes insurance

The new C-Class gives you a new feel for the roadExperience the road like never before with the standard-fit AGILITY CONTROL package, the optional ADVANCED AGILITY package* and uprated engines. The new C-Class is a pleasure to behold: its taut lines lend it an air of effortless superiority while the wide radiator grille and distinctive rear section announce a vehicle with a dynamic personality. You’ll also find the interior offers notably more space – and, thanks to fine materials and a new design, a more distinctive atmosphere.

Technical Data

Engine and drivetrain

Engine	4 cylinders
Configuration	In-line
Valvetrain	4 valves
Displacement (cc)	1796
Bore/Stroke (mm)	82.0/85.0
Compression ratio	8.5
Net Power (kW/rpm)	135/5500
Max Torque (Nm/rpm)	250/2800-5000
Fuel	Petrol

Performance

0-100 km/h	8.8
Drag Coefficient	0.2
Fuel - (litres/100km) Combined Travels	8.2 - 8.4

Brakes

Brakes: Front	Discs, internally ventilated
Brakes: Rear	Discs

Suspension

Suspension: Front	3-link suspension, McPherson
Suspension: Rear	MB multi-link independent suspension

Steering

Steering	Power Steering, Rack-and-pinion, Hydraulic
Turning circle (m)	10.84

Wheels & Tires

Wheels	7 J x 17
Tires	225/45 R 17

Weight & Capacities

GVW (kg)	1505
Trunk (litres)	475
Fuel tank (litres)	661

Dimensions: Exterior (mm)

Wheelbase	2760
Length	4581
Width	1770
Height	1447
Track: front	1549
Track: rear	1552
Overhang: front	765
Overhang: rear	1056

Dimensions: Interior (mm)

Headroom: front	984
Headroom: rear	942
Legroom: front	278
Legroom: rear	342
Hiproom: front	526
Hiproom: rear	489
Shoulder-room: front	1390
Shoulder-room: rear	1398

Standard Equipment

Interior

12-Button Multifunction Leather Steering Wheel

2-stage Front Airbags

4.9-inch LCD Screen

5-speed automatic transmission

AGILITY CONTROL with Selective Damping System

Anti Rust

Anti-theft Alarm System With Interior Monitoring System

Automatic Climate Control

Bluetooth Handsfree Phone Function

Central Locking

Cruise Control

Electric Front Driver & Passenger Seats With Memory Function

Electric Roller Blind For Rear Window

Exit Lights on Front Doors

Front Seats Integrated Side Airbags

Front-to-Rear Windowbags

ISOFIX Child Seat Attachment Points At Rear

MB audio 20, 6-CD In-dash Changer with MP3 Functionallity

NECK-PRO For Front Seats

Parameter Steering

Power Window

Tyre pressure loss warning system

Underbody protection

Exterior

17" 5-Twin spoke alloy wheels

17" Multi-spoke Alloy Wheels with Mixed Tyres

Adaptive Brake

Bi-xenon Headlamps With Cleaning System

Electrically Adjustable Exterior Mirrors

Fog Lamps with Cornering Lights Function

Parktronic System (PTS)

Variable Speed Rain sensor

Mercedes CL65 AMG vs Mustang Cobra

2007-11-26T18:54:00.000-08:00

mercedes insurance

A 2005 Mercedes CL65 AMG vs 2003 Ford Mustang Cobra

2005 Mercedes CL65 AMG
The CL65's handbuilt, twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V-12 spanks them all, grunting out 738 pound-feet at just 3000 rpm 604 hp.

2003 Ford Mustang Cobra
Body Style: Coupe, Convertible
Engines: 3.8L V-6 193 HP, 4.6L V-8 260 HP, 4.6L V-8 305 HP, 4.6L V-8 390 HP

Brabus

2007-11-26T18:33:00.000-08:00

mercedes insurance

Mercedes_Brabus_GL_6.1

BRABUS, founded 1977 in Bottrop near Düsseldorf, Germany by Klaus Brackmann and Bodo Buschmann, is a high-performance aftermarket tuning company which specializes in Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach vehicles.

Owned by Bodo Buschmann, Brabus has since become the largest Mercedes tuner, other than Mercedes-AMG who became a DaimlerChrysler affiliate in the 1990s. Its competitors include Lorinser, Carlsson, Kleemann, and RENNtech.

Brabus's primary focus is to achieve maximum engine performance through the increase of both horsepower and torque. Customers can either buy cars straight from Brabus or send in their Mercedes to be customized and/or overhauled. If a customer orders a car from Brabus, Brabus buys the particular car from Mercedes and then modifies it in-house according to the customer's requests.

Brabus offers simple upgrades such as low profile spoilers, bodykits, carbon fiber splitters, and multi-piece alloy wheels. More serious upgrades include racing LSD's, open racing exhaust systems, twelve-piston disc brakes, and engine remapping. However, most customers pay for complete engine overhauls that Brabus has become famous for. The company typically orders crate engines from AMG and completely redesigns them to the level where Brabus is now officially considered its own auto manufacturer as opposed to a tuning company.

Brabus engines range from small 200 horsepower K4 blocks for SLK roadsters and CLK-Class to 730 horsepower twin-turbo blocks for the CL-Class, CLS-Class, and S-Class. The company also provides improvements to the interior from custom upholstery, gauges, shiftknobs, pedals, and trim to various electronics such as wider LCD screens for the Maybach.Powerful, individual and exclusive: Concurrent with the start of sales of the new Mercedes S-Class BRABUS presents an extensive tuning and accessories program for the new luxury sedan.

BRABUS offers the world's most extensive engine tuning program for Mercedes-Benz automobiles which is also available for the new W 221 series. The lineup starts with the BRABUS PowerXtra D6 (III) performance kit for the S 320 CDI, which boosts power output of the V6 common-rail turbodiesel engine by 48 hp / 35.3 kW to 272 hp / 200 kW and increases peak torque to 590 Nm.

For the S 350 BRABUS offers the B7 performance kit for an additional 15 hp / 11 kW or the BRABUS 4.0 displacement engine. With it the V6 gasoline engine delivers a maximum power output of 332 hp / 244 kW. Peak torque grows to 420 Nm at 4,200 rpm.

A displacement increase to 6.1 liters is currently under development for the eight-cylinder engine of the S 500. It will be available shortly.

The twelve-cylinder engine of the top-of-the-line S 600 model can be upgraded in BRABUS four stages. The list starts with the BRABUS T12 performance kit, which increases power output of the 5.5-liter three-valve engine from standard 517 hp / 380 kW to 580 hp / 419 kW and peak torque to 900 Nm.

The pinnacle of BRABUS engine tuning is the BRABUS S V12 S Biturbo engine. Displacement of this engine is increased to 6,233 cc with the help of a special crankshaft, larger cylinder bore and forged pistons. The inner workings of the engine are further modified substantially: Among those measures is the optimization of the gas flow in intake and outlet manifolds of both cylinder heads and the installation of custom sport camshafts.

The BRABUS engine specialists further fit the engine with specially developed larger turbochargers, more efficient intercoolers and a stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with four pipes and high-flow metal catalysts. Newly programmed engine electronics ensure the optimal interaction of all components for maximum power yield and for meeting all current emission limits.

The BRABUS S V12 S Biturbo engine develops 730 hp / 537 kW at 5,100 rpm. The peak torque of 1,320 Nm is limited electronically to 1,100 Nm and is available from a low 2,100 rpm.

Without sacrificing smoothness it transforms the luxury sedan into a serious challenger for the world's fastest sports cars: 0 - 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds, 200 km/h after just 11.9 seconds and a top speed of electronically limited 340 km/h make the sedan with BRABUS S V12 S Biturbo displacement engine a unique driving experience.

Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a modified five-speed automatic transmission. The optionally available BRABUS locking differential optimizes traction. All BRABUS drivetrain components are operated with ARAL high-performance lubricants.

BRABUS sport exhaust systems and sport rear mufflers are available for all engine variants.

The BRABUS designers further developed a sporty yet elegant aerodynamics package for the new S-Class. The BRABUS carbon front spoiler lends the luxury sedan a more characteristic face and reduces aerodynamic lift at high speeds. In addition the front can be further upgraded with custom-tailored auxiliary headlight inserts for two fog lamps and two high beams.

The BRABUS side sills and rear apron with integrated LED lights are as attractive as they are useful. Upon activation by remote control or by pulling on an inside door handle five lights on either side and in the rear of the car illuminate the ground, making entering and exiting the vehicle or loading and unloading the trunk in the dark safer. The BRABUS rear apron further features custom-tailored cutouts for the BRABUS sport exhaust system with four tailpipes.

The exclusive BRABUS look for the new Mercedes S-Class is rounded out with one-piece or multi-piece BRABUS Monoblock light-alloy wheels with 17-, 18-, 19-, 20- or even 21-inch diameters. The largest tire/wheel combination features forged multi-piece highly polished BRABUS Monoblock VI wheels in size 9Jx21 on the front axle and size 10.5Jx21 in the rear. These wheels are fitted with Pirelli or Yokohama tires in size 255/30 ZR 21 in front and in size 285/30 ZR 21 on the rear axle.

Specifically matched to these sporty tire/wheel combinations are the BRABUS suspension

modules, which are available for vehicles with air or ABC suspension. They give the S-Class a somewhat sportier yet comfortable ride and lower the ride height by some 25 millimeter.

BRABUS also offers three different versions of its high-performance brake system for the new top-of-the-line Mercedes model. The largest version features 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers and 380 x 36-millimeter vented and perforated discs on the front axle. The rear axle features 355 x 28-millimeter discs and six-piston aluminum fixed calipers. Special flex-steel brake lines ensure constantly high brake pressure.

Unadulterated luxury and individuality in the interior is another BRABUS specialty. The range of products for the new S-Class includes door sills with BRABUS logo, ergonomically shaped safety steering wheels with airbag and even an exclusive BRABUS interior crafted from especially soft yet durable BRABUS Mastik leather and from the finest Alcantara. The new Mercedes S-Class can be further equipped with an exclusive and technically refined BRABUS multimedia package.

The Models

2007-11-26T17:13:00.000-08:00

A-Class

A-150

A-170

A-200

A-160 CDI

A-180 CDI

A-200 CDI

B-Class

B 150

B 170

B 200

B 200 T

B 180 CDI

B 200 CDI

C-Class

C 180 K

C 200 K

C 230 Sedan & Spot Wagon

C 280 Sedan & Spot Wagon

C 350 Sedan & Spot Wagon

C 55 AMG

C 200 CDI

C 220 CDI

C320 CDI

CL-Class

CL 500

CL 55 AMG

CL 600

CLK-Class

CLK 220 CDI Coupe and Cabrio

CLK 320 CDI Coupe and Cabrio

CLK 200 K Coupe and Cabrio

CLK 280 Coupe and Cabrio

CLK 350 Coupe and Cabrio

CLK 500 Coupe and Cabrio

CLK 55 AMG Coupe and Cabrio

CLS-Class

CLS 500

CLS 55

E-Class

E 220 CDI

E 280 CDI

E 320 CDI

E 350 Sedan

E 500 Sedan

E 55 AMG Sport Sedan

R-Class

R 500

S-Class

S 550

S 600

SLK-Class

SLK 200 Kompressor

SLK 350

SLK 55

SL-Class

SL 500

SL 55 AMG

SL 600

SL 65

M-Class

M 350

M 500

M 55

G-Class

G 500

G 55 AMG

SLR Mc Laren

Mercedes-Benz style, Formula One tecnology and AMG performance. V10 Engine

Mercedes-Benz Classics produced from 1930 - 1970.

2007-11-26T17:02:00.001-08:00

Mercedes Benz Type	Production: Years	Length: Inches	Weight: Pounds
Mercedes-Benz 770 Grosser	1930-37	210	6000+
Mercedes-Benz 380K/500K/540K	1933-1939	185-205	4500-5100
Mercedes-Benz 770 Grosser	1938-1940	246	7600-8100
Mercedes-Benz Type 300	1951-1962	195	3860-4400
Mercedes-Benz Type 300S/Sc	1952-1958	186	3600
Mercedes-Benz 300SL	1954-1963	180	2750-3000
Mercedes-Benz 190SL	1955-1963	169	2515
Mercedes-Benz Coupe/Cabriolet	1959-1971	192	3330-3650
Mercedes-Benz Type 600	1963-1980	218-246	5445-5820
Mercedes-Benz 230/250/280SL	1963-1971	169.5	2855-2900
Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3	1967-1972	196.9	4010

The History of Mercedes- Benz

2007-11-26T17:00:00.000-08:00

Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz were born only 60 miles apart in southern Germany. Daimler was born March 17, 1834. A decade later, on November 25, Carl Benz was born.

Although they grew up with little in common, both boys were fascinated by machines from an early age. Because their approach to building cars was quite different, it is doubtful, though, that they met or even knew what the other was doing.

In 1886, Carl Benz built a motorized tricycle. His first four-wheeler, the Victoria, was built in 1893. The first production car was the 1894 Benz Velo which participated in the first recorded car race, the Paris-Rouen race. In 1895, Benz built his first truck.

In 1886, Gottlieb Daimler literally built a horseless carriage. In 1888 Daimler made a business deal with William Steinway (of piano fame) to produce Daimler's products in the US. From 1904 until a fire in 1907, Steinway produced Mercedes passenger cars, Daimler's light trucks, and his engines on Long Island.

Ironically, history says Daimler, generally considered to be the father of modern automobiles never liked to drive, if, indeed he ever learned to drive. On March 6, 1990, Daimler died, leaving control of his company to his chief engineer Wilhelm Mayback.

By November 22 of that year, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschat had produced a special car for Emil Jellinek. Jellinek named the car after his ten-year-old daughter Mercedes. Lighter and smaller, the new Mercedes had 35 hp and a top speed of 55 mph!

The 1903 Parsifil was Benz's answer to Mercedes. A two cylinder vertical engine produced a top speed of 37 mph in this car.

Aware of the promotional potential of racing, both Daimler and Benz entered many of them. However, up until 1908, Daimler had overshadowed Benz in racing endeavors. At the 1908 French Grand Prix, Benz took second and third place behind Lautenschlager driving a Mercedes. From that point on, both Benz and Daimler did well in racing.

At the beginning of the first world war, both factories were converted into production sites for war materials, although both resumed producing cars after the war.

Mercedes-Benz from WWTs End to the Mercedes-Benz Merger.

Social unrest and a falling economy characterized post-war Germany. Little or no fuel for cars and a 15% luxury tax made automobile production increasingly disastrous. This market sent Benz and Cie. seeking a strong partner. The only one the board considered worthyof Benz and Cie was DMG.

Thus, in 1919, Karl Jahn, a Benz board member since 1910, approached Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschat about a possible merger. The merger attempt looked promising, then was abandoned in December of 1919.

The German economy continued to worse and a new Benz automobile eventually cost 25 million marks.

Although nearly 15 million cars were registered in the world in 1923, over 80% of them were registered in the US and over 1/2 were Fords. Benz and Cie. built 1,382 cars in 1923 while DMG only built 1,020. German auto makers were at a low point although racing success for the companies continued.

In 1924, from sheer economic necessity, Benz and DMG signed an "Agreement of Mutual Interest." Although both companies retained their identities, the agreement was valid until the year 2000. The two companies merged with relative ease on June 28, 1926.

Mercedes-Benz from the Mercedes-Benz Merger Through the 20 s

A symbol was chosen for the combined products of DMG and Benz. The new insignia was a three-pointed star wreathed with laurel. The word "Mercedes" was at the top and the word "Benz" was at the bottom.

Then merger did the new company well. Production of Mercedes-Benz rose to 7,918 Mercedes-Benz automobiles in 1927. The Mercedes-Benz diesel truck was put into production in 1927, also.

The first two automobiles to sport the Mercedes-Benz name were the Stuttgart and the Mannheim. Then in 1928 the Mercedes SS was introduced by Mercedes-Benz. This graceful body was made possible by a hood line that barely cleared the engine.

Mercedes- Benz 1930 and beyond for Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz launched their biggest and most prestigious car to date in 1930. The 770 Grosser was powered by an 8 cylinder, 7.6 liter engine. A car for the truly wealthy of the world, it was quite an automobile for showing off in a world economy still reeling from the Wall Street Crash of 1929.

The cars of the 1930s produced great racing success for Mercedes-Benz. The silver metal bodywork gave rise to the name Silver Arrows when the W25 racer (of Rudolph Caracciola fame) had the white paint removed to lower its weight.

W125 (200 mph top speed) won seven out of thirteen races in 1937 followed by the successful W154. In 1939 Mercedes-Benz built a small V8 races specifically to win the Tripoli GP It did win!

The Mercedes-Benz 170V gave Mercedes the capability of surviving and then recovering from WW II.

myothersblog

2007-11-25T17:10:00.000-08:00

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Y-Mercedes
Joyce mercedes site with galleries, news, music, media and many orthes.

Naruto on the blog
This is an independent page you can google about, the greater's young boy's name is Naruto. Naruto closely follows the life of a boy who is feared and detested by the villagers of the hidden leaf village of Konoha.

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