Category: Mercedes

Mercedes-Benz has named Gorden Wagener as its new head of design to replace Peter Pfeiffer who will retire in the middle of the year.

The young designer, 39, will lead the Mercedes design after being head of the Advanced Design department. If Wagener remains unknown he led the teams which designed the Mercedes models of the past years., from the GL Class to the F700 concept car.

He began his career as Exterior Designer in 1995, and joined Mercedes-Benz in Sindelfingen two years later. In 1999, he became head of the Exterior / Interior Styling department, designing the models of the GL-, M- and R-Class with his team. In 2002, Wagener was responsible for the design of the models making up the A-, B-, C-, E-, CLK- and CLS-Class.

Mercedes has unveiled the first pictures of the facelifted A-Class due to be launched at next week’s Leipzig motor show.

The facelift is very subtle. The A-Class features new front and rear bumpers, redesigned headlights, a new grille and new tail lamps. On the inside,there are a range of newupholstery fabrics and door trim. What’s interesting about the revamped A-Class is what you can’t see: environment and safety.

The German carmaker claims the revamped A-Class is more environmentally friendly thanks to a new start/stop function featured on a new BlueEfficiency package only available on the A 150, A170 and A 160 CDI. The system automatically switches the engine off when the driver shifts to neutral at low speed whilst depressing the brake pedal. A special display in the instrument cluster informs the driver if the conditions for switching off the engine are met The moment the clutch is pressed or the brake pedal released, the engine springs back to life almost noiselessly and in a fraction of a second.

Mercedes has also enhanced safety in the A-Class by featuring adaptive brake lights. During emergency braking when travelling at more than 50 km/h, the brake lights flash at high frequency to warn drivers behind who can consequently react faster and are in a better position to prevent an accident. The revamped A-Class also sets new standards in this market segment in the area of occupant protection with two-stage front airbags, belt tensioners for the front and outer rear seats, belt force limiters, active front head restraints and head/thorax sidebags. Mercedes has added a crash-responsive emergency lighting in the interior, which comes on automatically after an accident of a defined severity to provide occupants with better orientation and make the task of the emergency services easier.

The optional equipment becomes more luxurious with reverse parking detectors and new navigation systems offering Bluetooth, colour display and Europe-wide navigation.

The facelifted A-Class will go on sale in the UK from June.

Here is a rendering of the next-generation E-Class that Mercedes will launch next year.

One did initially thought that the next E-Class would take its styling cues from the S-Class and C-Class models, but latest information suggests that the E-Class will also take its inspiration from the new GLK unveiled at Detroit. The saloon will feature straight lines as seen on the small SUV. This is the company’s attempt to spearhead a revival of its German roots. On the inside, the dashboard will also abandon curves for straight lines like the old Mercedes models.

As expected, the next E-Class will be available with a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines, from 4 cylinder units to the powerful AMG V8 engine whose power output is expected to jump from 507 to 550bhp. The diesel engines will be equipped with the Bluetec technology. A hybrid version is expected to hit the showrooms by 2010.

Click here to see the renderings

Daimler is seriously considering ending the Maybach adventure as the luxury brand doesn’t meet success. The company executives will decide within two years.

After several alternatives, such as building a hyper luxury G-Class or the Exelero coupé, Maybach has still no plan to replace the current models, the 57 and 62, both derived from the former S-Class. The company was reported to work on a new saloon, less expensive, featuring a innovative design inspired from the Mercedes CLS Class but this project seems to be put on hold. Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche has admitted that there are no future Maybach models in the works.

Maybach has sold 146 vehicles last year far from the forecasted numbers and far from Rolls Royce which delivered 1,100 models last year. Since 2001, 40 per cent of Maybach dealers have been closed.

Media attention has been focused on the V12-diesel-powered Q7 for the last two weeks. Mercedes has counter attacked by unveiling a revamped ML less than three years after its launch.

The facelift was less than expected and no spy photographers had spotted the SUV during testing. The main changes are on the outside with a new bumper as well as headlamps with a pronounced step in the lower edge. The lower-set radiator also grows in size. The new radiator grille is more aggressive with its three black louvres and its chrome highlights and can feature a silver look with chrome highlights as an option. At the rear, The bumper with integrated reflectors has also been restyled.On the inside, the main visual change will be the new four-spoke leather multifunction steering wheel. The seats are redesigned to be sportier.

The facelifted ML gets an equipment upgrade. The German SUV features hands-free system based on Bluetooth technology, and an aux-in connection for mobile audio devices such as an iPod. On request there is also a new Media Interface, which can connect an external music device with the SUV’s onboard electronics and control system, enabling music tracks to be shown in the instrument cluster and the colour display in the centre console, and conveniently accessed using the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel. At the same time, the audio device’s battery is also charged. Rear-seat passengers also have the option of a new entertainment system with two large 8-inch screens, a centrally integrated DVD player, two sets of wireless headphones for greater freedom of movement as well as two remote controls.

The ML keeps its current engines, V6 and V8, ranging from 190 to 388bhp, but gets new alloy wheels. 19-inch alloy wheels are now standard on the V8 versions.

Sold apart in the range, the ML 63 AMG also evolves and gets the new front and rear bumpers. There is also a new AMG-specific radiator grille with high-gloss black painted louvres. The engine is the 507bhp 6.3-litre V8 unit. If you’re not happy with the 295/40 R 20 tyres, you can still choose 295/35 R 21 units with 21-inch wheels in the option list.

Mercedes has unveiled the facelifted SL seven years after its launch on the market.

Despite being launched in summer 2001, the SL roadster still offered an appealing design which was still modern nowadays. However, the German carmaker estimated that the time for a revamp had come and the SL features a deep exterior facelift.

The most obvious changes occur on the front fascia with new headlights inspired from the successful CLS model, a new grille and a new bonnet. At the rear end, the roadster gets new taillights and new bootlid that comes with an integrated spoiler. The revamped SL is certainly more aggressive with those changes, but it also loses a bit of elegance.

A G55 owner found its off-road too common in Abu Dhabi and had the idea to get the SLR engine fitted in its G-Wagon. Here is the only McLaren SLR powered G-Wagon in the world.

Technically both engines share common architecture as the SLR engine is derived from the AMG V8 engine. While the production G55 has a power output of 476bhp, this SLR-powered G-wagon offers 720bhp. As predicted, the SUV goes fast and can run the 0-60mph in 4.2 juts 4.2 seconds. However no top speed has been given. Initiallly, the G55 has its top speed limited to 131mph.

The car features McLaren monikers on the side and back of the car.

After the petrol hybrids, diesel hybrids seems to be the next hype and this time, European carmakers plan to lead the way. After Peugeot and its hybrid-diesel-powered 308, Mercedes will unveil the Vision GLK Bluetec Hybrid at Geneva.

The Vision GLK Bluetec Hybrid is powered by a mild hybrid system combining a diesel engine and an electric motor. The diesel engine is a four-cylinder CDI diesel unit with a displacement of 2.2 litres. Both engines have combined power output of 224bhp and a torque output of 413lb ft. The electric motor can’t move the car on its own but acts as both a generator and starter and backs up the internal combustion engine during the fuel-intensive acceleration phase. In addition the system features a comfortable start-stop function which switches the engine off in certain circumstances – for example when the car is stopped at traffic lights. When it comes to braking, the procedures are reversed: the electric motor acts as a generator, using a regenerative braking system.

All these technologies enable the GLK to emit only 157 grams of CO2 per kilometre despite reaching a top speed of 134mph and running the 0-62mph in juts 7.3 seconds.

The Vision GLK Bluetec Hybrid is expected to hit the showrooms in 2010.

Daimler plans to boost spending in R&D though the end of the decade to expand its lineup: more niche vehicles on the horizon.

The German carmaker has announced that it plans to invest £10 billion in R&D until 2010. The company wants to expand its current lineup but also plans substantial investment for new families of engines with low fuel consumption and emissions, as well as for the increased application of alternative drive systems. Last year the carmaker spent £3.1 billion on R&D.

Daimler has to invest a huge amount in R&D in order to comply with the future 2012 European CO2 emissions regulation. Due to be lower than 120g/km, the German carmaker is one of the worst European carmaker on the market as a result of its race to power it initiated more than ten years ago.

Mercedes will unveil a CL-class coupé with the in-house 4MATIC transmission at the Geneva Motor Show next week.

The 4MATIC will be available as an option on the 500 version and will be positioned between the two-wheel drives and the CL63 AMG in terms of price. It will be called CL 500 4MATIC and will be powered by the 388bhp V8 petrol engine.

The in-house transmission is an electronically controlled system which employs locking central and rear differentials to provide additional traction in slippery conditions. The centre differential contains an integrated multiplate clutch. Each clutch is controlled separately to allow for four modes of operation; 2WD where 100% of available torque is available to the rear axle, while the front axle is disconnected and three 4WD modes which allowed for 45% front/55% rear axle torque split or 50% front axle/50% rear axle torque split. The rear differential can also be locked if rear wheel slip is still present while in the 50/50 4WD mode. Mercedes claims that its system is the lightest all-whell drive transmission in the world, adding juts 70kg to the heavy CL-class.

The CL500 4MATIC should run from 0-62mph in about 5 seconds and still reach the top speed of 155mph.