Category: Mercedes

Mercedes moves into its new design studio
Mercedes has strong ambition on the American market and its recent acquisition of the Chrysler Pacifica Advanced Product Design Center proves that carmaker isn’t ready to leave the market to Lexus, Audi or even Hyundai.
The former Chrysler design center will enable the carmaker to increase its current design capacity in the US With three times the space of its current facility. Located in Carlsbad, California, the new facility offers 35,000 square feet of space which will be more than enough for the current team of 25 people. The new company’s head of design Gorden Wagener manged this design studio which created the latest F700 concept car.
The new facility will join the two other facilities located in Tokyo and Sindelfingen. The new facility will likely boost the carmaker’s efforts to develop a global design operation. However, the three design centers are located in developed countries. Will Mercedes join other carmakers in building future design centers in China or India, future largest markets in the world?
June 3, 2008
Mercedes-Benz sells 300,000th new C-Class
The 300,000th C-Class has rolled off the production line since it has been launched on the market.
More than 300,000 people have acquired a new C-Class Mercedes. Internally known as 204 Series, the family saloon and estate are a major success for the German carmaker which suffered from the comparison with the inevitable rival BMW 3-Series. The company has delivered 290,000 saloons and 25,000 estates.
The most important market for the C-Class is Germany which accounts for 25 percent of total sales, followed by the U.S., UK, Italy, and South Africa. Despite a wide engine range including six four-cylinder and seven six-cylinder engine variants for the C-Class, as well as the C 63 AMG, about one-third of the saloon model’s customers worldwide have opted for the C 220 CDI, while 20 percent have purchased a C 200 Kompressor. The C 220 CDI is also the vehicle of choice for around half of the estate model’s customers. 75 percent of all C-Class station wagons sold around the world are diesel engine versions.
The C-Class is available with three trim levels, Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde. One out of every two C-Class customers in Germany chose the Avantgarde line and in other core markets the share of total sales sometimes is even higher according to the carmaker. This result proves that Mercedes succeeded in building a sportier brand image appealing to younger people despite selling mainly diesel-powered C-Class models.
With the estate released in last December, the sales will likely rise. However the awaited facelifted 3-Series will also be a tough competitor.
June 3, 2008
Spyshots: next-generation Mercedes-Benz CLK
The next-generation Mercedes-Benz CLK has been spotted during testing showing the latest visual details.
Due to be unveiled at the Paris motor show, the next CLK will feature the new company’s styling DAN with sharper lines and will be sold as a small CL-Class. On the inside, the future coupé will borrow equipments from the C-Class and will also borrow some equipments reserved to the flagships: Presafe brake assist system, night vision technologies and new Command System will be available on the options list.
The engine will be similar to that of the C-Class. The 268bhp V6 3.5-litre unit will be on offer and the topping-engine will be the 5.5-litre V8 unit on the CLK500. For the first time, the CLK will be offered with a 4Matic transmission.
May 30, 2008
Mercedes updates the G-Class
Mercedes has unveiled an upgraded G-Class. On the menu, there are a more powerful engine and updated equipments.
Probably for the last time, Mercedes has upgraded the G-Class which has been in the lineup for the last 30 years. Like the previous iterations, the G-Class’ styling evolves slightly, just enough to keep up with the latest design trends. This revamped G-Class gets a new grille featuring three louvres replacing the former model’s seven louvres and new wheels.
On the inside, only the equipments is upgraded and adopts a new Telematics system and various options such as a Harman Kardon sound system.
Under the bonnet, the G500 gets a power boost. The power output jumps to 383bhp. The impressive G55 AMG also sees its power increased to 500bhp.
May 28, 2008
Mercedes unveils interactive micro-site for the GLK
Mercedes has launched an innovative micro-site dedicated to the new Mercedes GLK which enables the user to design scenery and music, and ask questions to the engineers.
Forget the creative side of the website to focus on the ability to talk with designers and engineers who participated in the GLK’s development. The visitor has to register to be able to ask a question. Each week the five most interesting questions will be selected and then answered via video by one of the engineers and designers.
Along with this interactivity with the engineers and designers, you can also customize your own GLK with various colors, rim designs and equipment packages. But let’s be honest, the customization is very poor.

Click here to see the website
May 19, 2008
spyshots: facelifted Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Here are some spyshots of the facelifted S-Class due to be launched next year.
With the forthcoming E-Class and SLC supercar, one does forget that the S-Class will be four years old next year, a good age to be facelifted in a car lifecycle. The revamped flagship will likely be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The facelifted S-Class will feature a modified fascia with a more sculpted front bumper and new fog lamps which features LED lights. The spyshots reveal that the mirrors will also be redesigned, while the rear end will feature minor changes, mainly a revised bumper.
Secrecy surrounds the technical changes at this early stage.
Click here to see the pictures
May 14, 2008
Daimler to increase component sharing
Mercedes-Benz wants to increase the component sharing between its models.
In an interview with Automotive News, Thomas Weber, board member of R&D for Mercedes’ parent company, Daimler, said that the carmaker wants share as many components as possible between models in an attempt to reduce costs. Current new models already shares components such as powertrains and electronic devices.
Sharing components enables the carmaker to cut cost, but also to increase reliability. However, it also put constraints on designers and designers which can’t create unique designs any more.
The E-Class and C-Class already shares 50% of components, while the GLK and the C-Class are built on the same assembly lines despite featuring radically different designs. The future SLC will share its electric components with the next-generation E-Class. Thomas Weber even revealed that the S-Class flagship and the Smart ForTwo share 5% of their components.
May 13, 2008
More details about the mercedes-Benz SLC
After the McLaren P11 and P12, here are more information about the upcoming Mercedes SLC due to be launched in 2010.
Codenamed C197, the future supercar will be available as a coupé and a roadster. Unlike the SLR, the future SLC will adopt a retro-design that will feature gullwing doors, an ‘Arrow’ profile and rear-engined spoiler. Despite taking its styling cues from the past, the C197 won’t be sold as a Mercedes model, but under the AMG moniker. The German carmaker has learnt from its mistakes and engineers focus on weight reduction. At 4,650 mm long, 1,950 mm wide and 1,250 mm high, the C197 will be lighter than a SLR. However, a Mercedes-Benz remains a luxury vehicle and the C197 is rumoured to weigh around 3,200 lbs.
As predicted, the future supercar will be a rear-wheel drive which will use a transaxle architecture with the engine at the front and the gearbox at the bag enabling a better weight distribution of 48/52. The C197 will be powered by the 6.2-litre V8 engine which will deliver 550bhp. The SLR will likely be faster than the SLR thanks to its reduced weight. The SLR is said to reach a top speed above 190mph and to shuttle from 0 to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds.
The supercar will sit on 19in wheels which can be upgraded to 20in wheels. Surprisingly, it will share its electric equipment with the E-Class. Maybe Mercedes-Benz is readying a new generation of electric equipments for the next E-Class which will be launched next year.
Expected to hit the showrooms in 2010, the SLC will have a lifecycle limited to three years. Mercedes-Benz plans to build 6,000 units.
May 12, 2008
Spyshots: next-generation E63 AMG
Here are some spyshots of the next-generation high-performance E63 AMG due to be unveiled next year.
Like the current model, the E63 AMG will be the only E-Class version to feature four tailpipes. The spotted E63 AMG also featured large perforated brake discs with heavy-duty callipers. The super-saloon is expected to come with aggressive front and rear bumpers and forged alloy wheels like the C63 AMG.
Recently, AMG had announced the horsepower war was over, but this future iteration of the AMG family will still get a power boost. While the current model offers 500bhp, the next E63’s powertrain will likely deliver 550bhp. However, for the first time, the German carmaker won’t try to take the lead and the power output will be below that of the Audi RS6.
Instead of following Audi in the power race, company’s engineers have focused on improving handling and chassis strength.They will try to accomplish again what they did with the C63 AMG. The E63 AMG is reported to come with sit on a widened front track, while the steering will feature a unique ratio, different from the normal E-Class models.
The E63 AMG is rumoured to be unveiled at the same as the full range, at the next year Geneva Motor Show.
Click here to see the pictures
May 9, 2008
550bhp for the future McLaren
Autocar has revealed a bit more details about the upcoming McLaren supercar that will take on the established rivals such as Lamborghini Gallardo and Ferrari F430.
Codenamed P11, the future supercar will be powered by a 550bhp V8 engine outsourced from the former company’s partner Mercedes-Benz in a heavily revised version and built by Mahle in the Cosworth factory, located in Northamptonshire.
The McLaren supercar will be launched as coupé at first sometime in 2009. Rumours mention a launch a the Frankfurt Motor Show before a sales launch in 2010. Later, McLaren will add a spider variant. The British carmaker also plans to launch in 2011 a topping version codenamed P12 and powered by a V10 engine with a power output rumoured to be around 600bhp. The P12 is expected to cost about £250,000.
May 9, 2008