The name Citan combines the words “city” and “titan,” thus making it clear that the vehicle is a first-rate specialist for city logistics — one that was specifically developed to meet the tough challenges faced in day-to-day operations.

New van series to boost sales
With the introduction of the new urban delivery vehicle, Mercedes-Benz is adding another production series to its family of vans. The Citan is supplementing the Vario (6.0 to 8.2 tons), Sprinter (3.0 to 5.0 tons), and Vito (2.77 to 3.2 tons) to broaden the range of products in the lower weight classes of the van market, where it will significantly boost sales.

Whereas the small vans segment was still a niche market in the mid-1990s, it has now grown to around 700,000 units in Europe. Mercedes-Benz Vans plans to gain a market share of four to five percent in this segment. Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, is convinced that the Citan will be a big success. “We will take advantage of the trend toward city vans, which our brand will be able to exploit thanks to its attractively priced vehicles and the high quality of our products and services,” says Mornhinweg. “Our typical Mercedes-Benz reliability, 24/7 service, and, last but not least, our great brand image are key selling points as far as our commercial customers are concerned.”

Due to its large number of variants, the new urban delivery van with the star is suited for a broad range of commercial applications. Not only will the Citan be offered as a panel van, a crewbus, and a mixed-use vehicle; it will also be available in a variety of lengths and weights.

The Citan will be launched on the market in fall 2012. The vehicle will be unveiled to the general public for the first time at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover in September.

The Citan — the ideal partner in city traffic
The Citan was developed and tested in line with Mercedes-Benz’ demanding quality standards. The vehicle is correspondingly durable and robust. At the same time, it meets the requirements of customers from the service, sales, and trade sectors, offering them a large cargo space despite the vehicle’s compact dimensions. In addition, the van boasts attributes typical of the brand, such as great quality, economy, safety, excellent handling, as well as high fuel efficiency and correspondingly low CO2 emissions. The drive concept encompasses a broad range of low-emission, fuel-efficient diesel and gasoline engines and includes a BlueEFFICIENCY package. An electric drive version is also being planned.

The Citan’s operation, interior, materials, and workmanship are of the same high quality as in other Mercedes-Benz vans. The new urban delivery van can therefore be justly called the “little brother” of the Sprinter and Vito, to which it is in no way inferior. As is the case with every Mercedes-Benz vehicle, safety plays a big role in the new van, all variants of which come with ESP as standard.

New markets for Mercedes-Benz vans
Mercedes-Benz has greatly expanded its vans business in recent years. In line with the slogan of “Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global,” the brand is not only manufacturing vans in Düsseldorf (Sprinters), Ludwigsfelde (Sprinters and Varios), and Vitoria, Spain (Vitos), but also in the U.S., Argentina, and China.

It is also planning to strengthen its presence in the Russian market through a partnership with GAZ, the leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles in Russia. Over the medium-term, the GAZ factory near Nizhny Novgorod will produce 25,000 Sprinters each year, and do so strictly according to Mercedes-Benz’ quality standards.

Mercedes-Benz already is the undisputed market leader for mid-size and large vans in Western Europe.

Source: Daimler AG

At least, this is what the renowned “Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung” (AAZ or “General Automotive Magazine”) felt upon the presentation of the new 3.2-litre motor car. With this model Mercedes-Benz broke new ground in this particular vehicle class, which in those days was characterised by extreme competitiveness. Its traditional strong rivals were Horch with its 930 V and 830 BL models, Opel with the newly presented Admiral model and Ford with its 3.6-litre V8.

Initially, Mercedes-Benz offered two wheelbases. For the short-wheelbase versions – 2880 millimetres – the following bodies were available:
Chassis 6,500.00 RM
Cabriolet A 11,800.00 RM
Combination coupé with removable roof 12,300.00 RM

However, the version with a regular chassis and a wheelbase of 3300 millimetres was the one that found the greater acceptance with customers. The following bodies were available for this variant:
Saloon with 4 doors & 4 windows 8,950.00 RM
Cabriolet B with 2 doors & 4 windows 9,800.00 RM
Cabriolet D with 4 doors & 4 windows 10,400.00 RM
Pullman saloon with 4 doors & 6 windows 9,800.00 RM
Cabriolet F with 4 doors & 6 windows 12,500.00 RM
Open touring car with 4 doors & 6 windows 9,900.00 RM
Cabriolet A with 2 doors & 2 windows 13,500.00 RM
Roadster with 2 doors & 2 windows (only 1937) 13,500.00 RM
Streamline saloon (until 1938) 14,500.00 RM
Chassis 6,800.00 RM

The Mercedes-Benz 320 was a further development of the 290 model (W 18), which was offered from 1933 to 1936. Its M 18 engine delivered a modest output of 68 bhp (50 kW), which only permitted a moderate driving performance. When the engine was re-worked for the car’s successor, the focus was on achieving a high level of handling comfort and a significantly greater engine output, without however abandoning the concept of the vertical valve, 6-cylinder pushrod engine.

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In order to boost the engine’s output, the Untertürkheim engine designers under the direction of Albert Heeß made use of well-known methods. By increasing the cylinder bore from 78 to 82.5 millimetres, the engine’s displacement was increased from 2.9 to 3.2 litres. Its smooth running characteristics were further enhanced by adding 12 counterweights to the crankshaft – a measure that was resoundingly successful. Another step taken towards increasing output was the change from a simple updraught carburettor to a dual downdraught carburettor. Thanks to all these modifications, the engine’s output was raised to 78 bhp (57 kW). The downdraught carburettor additionally led to a more spontaneous throttle response when accelerating.

With the transition from model series W 18 to model series W 142 the four-speed transmissions used until then were also abandoned. These were in actual fact three-speed transmission systems with overdrive, and were replaced by fully-synchronised four-speed transmission systems with a direct-ratio fourth gear – a transmission that found general acceptance and praise in contemporary opinion because of its gearshifting comfort.

The suspension was taken from the W 18 and re-adapted. The front axle featured special independent wheel suspension, with a transversal leaf spring underneath. At top the wheel was attached to a suspension arm that rested on a helical spring on the inside. The rear dual-joint swing axle had two helical springs on each side, one behind the other. The two compensating springs under the differential in model 290 were no longer featured by the 320 model. Dual-action hydraulic lever-type shock absorbers were installed on both front and rear axles. Both the driving comfort and the handling safety were highly praised by contemporary testers, at a time when many competitors were still using rigid front and rear axles. The box-type frame with cross-beams was in line with the standard designs of the time.

Mercedes-Benz offered a great variety of vehicle bodies on the occasion of the premiere of model 320, whose short-wheelbase version was designated Type 320 n. One particularity was the so-called combination coupé that could be built up on it: a cabriolet with an early example of a removable hardtop. However, only one roof version could be used at a time, while the other had to remain in the garage. Type 320 n was designed as a short, sporty-elegant variant of the model series, in a similar manner to the Mannheim 370 S six years before. In spite of its very handsome bodies, the 320 N did not fulfil the expectations set in it, for between 1937 and 1938 only 19 units were built in the Untertürkheim factory. On the price list of February 1939 it no longer appeared. A strengthened chassis with the same dimensions was used as the basis to build 202 “Kuebelwagen” jeeps for the German Army in 1938.

The long-wheelbase version, on the other hand, did meet with success. The four-door saloon and the “B” and “D” cabriolets had boots accessible from the outside, whereas in the Cabriolet A, the combination coupé and the roadster the luggage spaces could be accessed from inside. The Pullman saloon, the Cabriolet F and the open touring car had no boot at all. Luggage was carried on a folding luggage rack. Special containers for luggage, available as optional extras, could be mounted on the luggage rack.

The response to the Type 320 was overwhelmingly positive. It was deemed a comfortable, convenient and safe touring car enabling long-distance travel without fatigue. A particularly interesting assessment came from the strongest competitor, Horch, whose sales management had acquired a Mercedes-Benz Type 320 and a Maybach SW 38 for study purposes in late 1937. The sales management reached the following verdict concerning the model 320: “Advantages of the 3.2 DB Sport Cabriolet over our 930 V sports cabriolet: the engine of the 3.2 l DB acquires a remarkable smoothness after only a few kilometres. Apart from this, the gear changes when accelerating are very elastic and energetic in every gear, so that the general impression is created that the DB unit will be superior to our 3.5-litre machine up to a speed of around 60 km/h. We reckon that the top output of both engines is the same. When running in idle, the DB engine is considerably better than ours, for it runs absolutely silently. Furthermore, the clutch pedal is significantly easier to operate. As for the body, the main advantage compared with our sports cabriolet is that the Daimler-Benz motor car allows all the windows to be pulled down completely. Sealing of the two rear front panes appears to be more rustic, but is better than ours. The upholstery on both the front and rear seats has been solved extremely skilfully, so that one sits perfectly firmly. Disadvantages: the cabriolet has small, badly fashioned trunks and no luggage rack. Mudguards are cheap. Nor is the paint finish of the same quality as ours. Moreover, the front seats are narrower than ours. The petrol tank cover beneath the mudguard is impractical. There is no oil thermometer. The metal upright between the two panes in the divided windscreen is too wide.”

The Mercedes-Benz 320 (W 142 series) with a 3.4-litre engine
At the IAMA in February 1939, Mercedes-Benz presented a revised version of the 320 model. Although no particular emphasis had been placed on the fact, the car was already available with the larger engine from the autumn of 1938. The background was the increasingly inferior fuel quality with lower octane numbers, something that began to be felt in 1938. Other manufacturers, such as Maybach and Horch, were also forced to take similar measures in order to maintain engine output levels.

The cylinder bore was increased to 85 millimetres, so that a displacement of 3405 cubic centimetres was now available. Output and torque values remained unchanged.

The innovation this engine presented consisted in an additional high-speed gearbox from ZF (Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen), called the “ZF high speed box”. This gearbox, which could be connected by means of a separate lever to any of the gears, reduced the rev speed by 26 per cent and was mainly intended for long motorway journeys in order to reduce the rev speed and consequently fuel consumption.
Apart from streamline saloon and the roadster, no longer offered, the most conspicuous innovation in the new model was the integrated boot in the Pullman Saloon – something that was not only an objective improvement but an advance in terms of design as well.

The last Mercedes-Benz Type 320s were built in 1942 at the Untertürkheim and Mannheim plants. Between 1937 and 1942 a total of 6861 vehicles were made, 1764 of which were bucket seat vehicles for the German Army

Source: Daimler AG

Powered by Hughes Telematics, Inc., mbrace2 was developed to work seamlessly inside and outside the vehicle, and offers a revamped control module with two all-new categories of services: Internet and remote access capabilities. It also includes a solution to remotely update all software modules via cloud networks so mbrace2 users always have the latest technology in their vehicles and at their fingertips. With mbrace2, new services are added to the mbrace Mobile Application, which is compatible with both iPhone and Android smartphones. It launches in 2012 with the MY13 SL-Class in the spring and will be standard in most MY13 passenger vehicles.

“The connected services included in mbrace2 will enhance both the driving experience and the ownership experience for Mercedes-Benz customers” said Steve Cannon, president and CEO, MBUSA. “Traditionally, in-vehicle technology is finalized more than a year before a vehicle comes to market and is difficult to upgrade. The mbrace2 system solves the vehicle electronics lifecycle conundrum in a unique way, creating a truly networked vehicle that is always online, always upgradeable.”

Specifically, mbrace2 features 3G network connectivity and enhanced integration with other vehicle networks. The new Internet-based service called “Mercedes-Benz Apps” includes features such as Facebook, Google, open browsing, stocks, Yelp! and news headlines. New remote access capabilities include Travel Zones/geo-fences, remote vehicle health diagnostics, Curfew Minder, Driving Journal, Speed Alerts, Valet Protect, and Remote Horns & Lights. As aforementioned, all software can be remotely updated “over the air” for a continual stream of in-vehicle innovation throughout the life of a vehicle’s ownership.

“Our holistic approach builds on the pioneering work we’ve done over the past 12 years” added Cannon. “We were the first to bring the mobile app for the car to market and now we’re going to lead the way in liberating the vehicle from traditional constraints by bringing the most comprehensive connected services platform into the automobile.”

mbrace2 builds upon the current generation’s reputation as the “gold standard” for safety and concierge services, offering more than 60 features aggregated in the categories of safety & security, navigation & destination planning and convenience. The services can be accessed quickly and easily from within the vehicle, smartphone (iPhone or Android) or from any computer through a personalized web portal.

“Hughes Telematics is excited to be working with Mercedes-Benz as we introduce mbrace2 – setting a new high-bar for the custom integration of Internet and remote access features,” said Erik Goldman, president, Hughes Telematics. “Mercedes-Benz drivers can now experience a digital lifestyle in and out of their vehicles, with the most comprehensive capabilities available in the market today.”

Source: MBUSA

These applications significantly accelerate time-to-market in Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. The existing services, which include the Google Maps and Places APIs, will create an enhanced motoring experience for Mercedes-Benz drivers across the world.

The collaboration will enable Daimler to use Google Maps for their in-car map displays, and significantly improve their ability to quickly and seamlessly integrate useful Google services into Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles. By making innovative Google products available directly within its cars, Mercedes-Benz is able to accelerate the adoption of cutting edge technologies.

Daimler has a strong history of bringing innovative solutions to market. After demonstrating their technological leadership with AMG Performance Media, an in-car telemetry system powered by AndroidTM in autumn 2011 at the launch of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster, Daimler was named “International CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree”.

Ongoing successful long-term cooperation
Google and Daimler have been working in close partnership for many years. In 2007 Daimler was the first automotive manufacturer in the United States to launch the Google “Send-to-Car” functionality in a vehicle. This gave Mercedes-Benz customers the opportunity to easily send destinations from Google Maps to their in-vehicle navigation systems. As of 2011, Mercedes-Benz offers COMAND Online, a telematics system with cloud-based Mercedes-Benz apps that brings Google Street View, Panoramio and local search technologies to most Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. Mercedes-Benz customers also have the opportunity to send individualized routes from Google Maps to their vehicles, as Daimler is first-to-market with the implementation of this Google service. In the second quarter of 2012 all these services will also be available with mbrace2 to Mercedes-Benz customers in the USA.

Source: Daimler AG

They are made of robust, washable plastic designed for heavy-duty use, and with their deep sections and raised edges reliably protect fine foot well carpets. The mats are available in various colours and secured against slipping by the original fastening system.

The same protection, for example against the snow melting off ski boots, is offered by boot tubs made of impact-resistant polypropylene. They are also available for many model series from Mercedes-Benz and feature a honeycomb structure for locating the separately available stowage box. Some of the tubs also enable the practical Velcro-type fastening of the concertina load-sill guard. The guard protects the sill area from scratching during loading – and keeps dirt on the vehicle off one’s clothing.

To make sure nothing gets out of place and order prevails in your luggage compartment on the way to your winter holiday destination, Mercedes-Benz offers different storage organising systems. New in the M-Class is a plug-in module with telescopic rod for flexibly dividing the boot to prevent cargo sliding around. Depending on model series and intended as a complement to the shallow boot tub there is the stowage box. It securely holds objects which might otherwise tip over or slide and can be divided into maximum four sections with adjustable partitioning elements.

For the Easy-Pack load-securing kit practical concertina bags are available. The folding, removable bags made of robust, washable nylon provide a secure hold for purchases or winter sports accessories. The bags simply are attached by clips to the side mounting rails of the load-securing system. The concertina bags can also be attached to the plug-in module with an extension.

Entertainment systems: arrive relaxed
A winter holiday trip sometimes can take time, testing the patience of children seated in the rear, which of course puts a strain on the nerves of parents. For aftermarket installation Mercedes-Benz offers various entertainment systems that will help make the time fly.

The very latest in mobile entertainment is the iPad Rear Seat Integration Plus: passengers in the back can very easily use the Apple iPad as an entertainment centre in a great many models; internet access also is possible in vehicles with an InCar Hotspot. Watch films, while away the time with games or surf in the World Wide Web: a crash-proof mount for the Apple iPad 1 or the Apple iPad 2, fitted behind the front head restraints, makes this possible. The iPad Rear Seat Integration Plus can be tilted and turned 90 degrees to each side. This comfortable docking station brings the Apple iPad with all its usual functions into any Mercedes-Benz in an ergonomic way. All connections are accessible. Moreover, thanks to the connection to the on-board power supply the battery can be charged using the separate Apple data cable via integrated USB interface.

The alternative is the Rear Seat Entertainment System. The elegant DVD system puts DVD videos, your favourite pictures and video games on two brilliant 17.8 cm colour monitors without distracting the driver or restricting the view to the rear. Other storage media can be used via AV-IN port, USB interface and SD card interface. The monitors can be removed from their mounts with a click and can be used outside the vehicle too with the 230 V/12 V power supply unit delivered with them. The Rear Seat Entertainment System is delivered with two infrared headsets and radio remote control; it is also available as a single-monitor set. A separately available video cable enables the playback of video and image files from external sources. In the M-Class an individual program makes separate video playback (optional) on the two monitors possible – thanks to a separate DVD player.

Source: Daimler AG

The “450″ roof box is available in black metallic and matt silver. However, on request the customer can have his roof box painted in any available Mercedes vehicle colour by his Mercedes-Benz partner.

As an alternative to the “450″ roof box, Mercedes-Benz offers the more compact “330″ box. Depending on vehicle it leaves room on the roof for another ski and snowboard carrier, a bicycle rack or a second “330″ box. This roof box is available in matt silver or titanium metallic. Here a brief description of the two Mercedes-Benz roof boxes

The Mercedes-Benz “330″ roof box offers 330 litres of stowage space. With a length of 220 centimetres, the 60 centimetres wide and 41 centimetres deep container is tailor-made for skiing gear. For even better protection for winter sports equipment, a ski rack insert for up to three pairs of skis for this sport box can be ordered. As an alternative Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH offers a luggage set perfectly matched to the dimensions of the 14-kilogram container. It consists of four bags made from hardwearing, water-repellent polyester. Capable of carrying up to 50 kilograms, the transport box also is suited for heavy loads.

The Mercedes-Benz “450″ roof box has a capacity of 450 litres. Specially developed accessories make for optimum space utilisation and very secure loading. There is a ski rack insert for up to five pairs of skis or the practical made-to-measure luggage set with four travelling bags and two ski bags, each accommodating two pairs of skis. The roof box has a length of 220 centimetres, a width of 80 centimetres wide and a depth of 40 centimetres. Despite these dimensions it weighs only 19 kilograms. The maximum load capacity is 75 kilograms.

Simple fitting and practical details
The Alustyle basic carrier bar systems perfectly tailored to the bodies of most Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and the specific system for the SL and SLK Roadsters are the basis for fastening the luggage boxes. All new are the Alustyle Quickfix basic carrier bars for the new B-Class and the Alustyle Easy-Fix II carrier bars for roof rails for the new M-Class. They can be fitted in a jiffy without tools thanks to an innovative quick-clamping system.

Intelligent detail: the Mercedes-Benz roof box can be opened from either side, allowing the vehicle to be loaded from the kerbside instead of the road, or from the driver’s side when the vehicle is parked with the front-passenger side close to a wall, as in a garage. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz roof boxes feature two straps with metal buckles to tie down all objects safely.

Another advantage: the three-latch system of the lockable transport containers affords effective protection against thieves. All roof boxes afford a high degree of safety also in accidents. They are German TÜV-tested and “city crash”-tested and additionally meet Mercedes-Benz requirements that go far beyond what is required by the law. For example, the tilting/sliding sunroof must open and close easily even when the roof box is mounted.

Space for up to six pairs of skis: New Alustyle ski and snowboard rack
An alternative for winter sports enthusiasts is the New Alustyle ski and snowboard rack, now also available for the new-generation B and M-Class. Mounted on the basic carrier bars or the carrier bars for roof rails, the rack has room for up to six pairs of skis or four snowboards, depending on the bindings, or four pairs of skis or two snowboards.

Source: Daimler AG

Maintaining ecological stability with growing tourism using innovative mobility concepts is an interesting job and here in GreenSight City we convey the benefits of a sustainable urban development in a playful manner. Follow the call: “Build your own city using innovative technology and make it your own GreenSight City! Be the winner in the race against time and use this chance to make a difference. Do you have it in you?”

Joe Greensight, a self-made billionaire, has taken up the challenge of transforming the wasteland and the environmentally hazardous traffic in cities, and turn them into attractive metropolises through the use of innovative environment friendly mobility solutions. The GreenSight-Foundation supports the city planners in fulfilling this task. Your goal: Achieve technological advancement and optimal mobility for your city without harming its environment. Be a city planner to build a flourishing metropolis with spectacular attractions.

GreenSight City is publicly available for playing on Facebook from now (15/12/2011). The game revolves around urban mobility and inspires the people to think and discuss these challenges of the modern day society. The social aspect of interaction with friends and neighbours on Facebook enables the player to support each other in achieving their respective goals and thereby providing the opportunity to exchange their views on these issues. Become part of the movement and make your contribution to a green future for the blue planet.

Let us usher in a new era! Introducing innovative mobility concepts, erecting stunning attractions and building infrastructure that fulfils the needs of a growing metropolis needs someone who has the zeal to do it – Joe Greensight is waiting for you. Become a part of GreenSight City today!

For further information visit www.greensightcity.de or Facebook.

Source: Daimler AG

Instead, in open-top cars, the music flies away with the wind; it frays and breaks up in all directions without its acoustic base – passengers generally have to be satisfied with a woolly “sound carpet”, or close the roof. Open-air pleasure and musical enjoyment could hardly be expected in a roadster. A great part of the blame for this lies with the location of the bass loudspeakers in the doors or under a seat. Mercedes-Benz now presents a solution to this conflict: the unique FrontBass system, which at last creates the conditions for a concert hall ambience in a roadster too. In the future new SL, the FrontBass system celebrates its world premiere.

Crisp bass sound from the footwell
The principle sounds simple: Instead of being placed in the doors in the usual way, in the new SL generation the bass loudspeakers are installed in the footwell in front of the driver and front seat passenger. This is not possible with traditional vehicle shell structures, but the two front longitudinal members in the front aluminium skeleton of the new SL provide the space needed for this arrangement. The loudspeakers are fitted directly in two openings in the firewall on either side of the footwell. Cavities in the longitudinal members behind the speakers act as resonating chambers. The outstanding inherent rigidity of these structural components results in ultra-precise low notes with extremely little distortion, right up to very high signal levels. In order words, the new SL features clear, crisp bass sounds with a high dynamic range as part of its standard equipment.

The position of these two independent closed bass boxes in the footwell permits the creation of ideal acoustic conditions. Because the firewall, the vehicle floor and the underside of the dashboard form a sort of funnel that focuses and concentrates the sound – a better sound performance is the result. The acoustic effectiveness improves significantly. The formula: low energy, lots of sound volume, saves energy of top of it all. This way, the FrontBass system also contributes towards a CO2 reduction.

Precise, brilliant sound
With the new FrontBass system, Mercedes-Benz not only revolutionises in-car bass sound reproduction – and in particular aboard an open-top roadster – it also creates the conditions for exceptional listening enjoyment. Since the bass loudspeakers now do not need to be installed in the doors, the disruptive acoustic vibrations typical of this configuration no longer occur. In addition to this, the sound experts have placed the mid-range and high-tone loudspeakers in the doors, the dashboard and in the vehicle rear optimally close to the waistline and thus almost at the same height as the SL occupants’ ears. This way they display a precise, brilliant sound quality. The experts speak of an exact stage reproduction with precise instrument representation and an equally precise spatial graduation.

Even the standard entry level FrontBass system creates a pronounced encircling sound feeling and an emotive sound experience, aided by the perceptible pressure wave from the footwell, independently of whether the vehicle roof is open or closed. Norbert Niemczyk, responsible for the new FrontBass system at Mercedes-Benz: “Our objective was not mere sound volume – although in this respect, too, the system performs amazingly – but a clear sound instead, one that never becomes “mushy”. We have achieved this. All those who experienced the sound with the FrontBass system for the first time got out of the car with a big smile on their face – in-house we call that the FrontBass smile.”

Friendly to the surroundings: focused sound
Acoustic enjoyment of the highest level is part of the programme in the new SL both with closed and with open top. As the FrontBass system focuses the sound, the powerful sound is concentrated on the vehicle occupants – the surroundings are significantly less disturbed than is the case with conventional sound systems. Apart from this, the amplifier automatically controls the loudspeakers in a different manner depending on whether the passenger compartment is closed or open, according to the acoustic conditions, in order to create the best possible sound.

FrontBass is always on board
The FrontBass concept is the standard basis in every version of the new Mercedes-Benz SL. In the entry-level variant it is coupled with an amplifier that is integrated in the COMAND head unit with an output of 4×25 Watts, two FrontBass loudspeakers with a diameter of 217 mm, two two-way systems for high and mid-range tones in the doors and two more mid-range speakers in the rear.

The optionally available Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system in conjunction with the FrontBass system are a further enhancement and a musical delicacy of concert hall quality. The heart of the matter is a Class D amplifier with a total output of 600 Watts and digital signal processor (DSP) for ten audio channels. The two FrontBass loudspeakers and six two-way systems provide an even more precise and better defined sound reproduction quality.

And finally, the absolute summit is the also optionally available Bang&Olufsen sound system. Its two Class-D ICE power amplifiers with a combined output of 940 Watts deliver exclusive audiophile high-end sound to the vehicle via their integrated digital signal processor and its 12 high-end loudspeakers.

Bodyshell tuned to FrontBass
In order to realize the FrontBass concept, the sound specialists worked in close cooperation with the bodyshell designers right from the very first planning stage. A small welcome side effect: since the FrontBass concept made the loudspeakers in the doors superfluous, the designers were able to use the space made free in the doors for additional stowage compartments.

Source: Daimler AG

The “Best of Best” award went to the study presented this summer on the off-road special-purpose vehicle. The jury recognised that good ideas need to be combined with a good design to make a model successful on the market. As a top professional design competition, this award enjoys a high international reputation. Companies, institutions, research centres and design studios all take part. The winners in the different categories are selected from a total of over 3,000 project submissions. On 25 November, Kai Sieber, Head of Design Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles, accepted the award in Singapore.

A glimpse of the design idiom of the future
The design study caused quite a stir at the celebrations this summer to mark the 60th anniversary of the Unimog. It gives a glimpse of the design idiom of the future for commercial vehicle design at Mercedes-Benz, which will have a close connection with the legendary Unimog’s design features. The study thus links the past and the future, emphasising the standard, familiar unique selling propositions of the Unimog, such as high ground clearance, coiled springs (these are retained all in red) and the frame design, while at the same time incorporating some design elements of the future. In this instance, the chunky bonnet reflects the typical Mercedes-Benz lines. The mudguards are just a few sparsely drawn lines, and the overall look of the concept creates its own individual dynamics. The colour selection is also no accident. The first Unimog was green, and this has remained a very popular colour with Unimog owners right up to the present day.

However, the shade of green of the design study takes its inspiration from the arrow poison frog, a rare amphibian species which, like the Unimog, can be found both on land and in water. The wheels, which in line with the Unimog design are all of equal size, feature striking and movable five-star aluminium rims, and the headlights bundle the light rather like stage lighting, giving the Unimog an all-round striking appearance.
The design concept is not intended as the prototype for a future Unimog generation, although certain details could certainly be incorporated in future. The design study continues the development history of the Unimog, displaying a highly innovative character and an exceptional degree of flexibility, just like the series production Unimog in its many applications around the world.

60 years of Mercedes-Benz Unimog – the success of an idea
Over the last twelve months, the Unimog has celebrated two important anniversaries: 60 years ago, on 3 June 1951, the first Mercedes-Benz Unimog was built in Gaggenau, and in December 2010, the 10,000th unit of the U 300/U 400/U 500 series rolled off the production line at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth. A unique vehicle design was born, with a high level of cross-country capability, thanks to its all-wheel drive system, and a high speed capability on the roads. Since then, apart from winter and maintenance operations, and also municipal applications, the Unimog has proved its worth in many other areas, such as forest fire-fighting, road/rail uses, disaster management and rescue services.

Over 380,000 units of the Unimog (the name comes from the German for “Universally Applicable Motorized Implement”) have been built over the last 60 years; the model was manufactured at the Gaggenau plant until 2002, after which production was relocated to the truck plant in Wörth.

Source: Daimler AG

Mercedes drivers are well prepared thanks to state-of-the-art driving assistance systems and the 4MATIC all-wheel drive available in many model series. New products from Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH suitable for the recently launched new generations of the B and M-Class, and the programme of Mercedes-Benz Driving Events also are fully adapted to the requirements of car drivers during the cold season.

For instance, together with the new M-Class the “450″ roof box is coming on the market with a revised design. It can hold as many as four pairs of skis. The “dropping line” of the roof box takes up the current Mercedes-Benz design idiom. An alternative for winter sports enthusiasts is the New Alustyle ski and snowboard rack, now also available for the new-generation B and M-Class.

Traction under the most adverse conditions is ensured by the two snow chains which Mercedes-Benz carries in its accessories range. For the B-Class, for example, there is the easy2go model from chain world market leader RUD. Its patented fitting device makes manual retensioning of the chain unnecessary now. And with winter tyres and snow chains on board, skiing holidaymakers don’t have to worry about the compulsory winter equipment rules existing in many European countries.

The winter training courses of Mercedes-Benz Driving Events train the participants to react intuitively and skilfully at the wheel specifically so that they can handle difficult road conditions. With the confidence that comes from being in the hands of experienced instructors, the participants explore their personal limits in the breathtaking winter scenery of Austria or Sweden with various vehicles from the Mercedes-Benz model range.
And finally, the winter products of the Mercedes-Benz Collection bring warmth to the cold season. For example, the insulated Thermo Mug and a stainless steel thermos flask in brown/silver. The latter has a capacity of 750 ml and a button-off leather cover, embossed with vintage Mercedes-Benz star logo. Icy temperatures are no match for the AMG windcheater and the AMG fleece jacket that combines with it (both for men).

Source: Daimler AG

Nico completed one run in Q1 on prime tyres, two runs on the same set of options in Q2, and one option run in Q3. Michael completed a prime and option run in Q1, two option runs in Q2 and one option run in Q3. Nico and Michael both have one set of new options and two sets of new prime tyres available for the race tomorrow.

1. S. Vettel Red Bull 1:38.481
2. L. Hamilton McLaren 1:38.622
3. J. Button McLaren 1:38.631
4. M. Webber Red Bull 1:38.858
5. F. Alonso Ferrari 1:39.058
6. F. Massa Ferrari 1:39.695
7. N. Rosberg Mercedes 1:39.773
8. M. Schumacher Mercedes 1:40.662
9. A. Sutil Force India 1:40.768
10. P. di Resta Force India
11. S. Perez Sauber 1:40.874
12. W. Petrow Renault 1:40.919
13. S. Buemi Toro Rosso 1:41.009
14. B. Senna Renault 1:41.079
15. J. Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1:41.162
16. K. Kobayashi Sauber 1:41.240
17. P. Maldonado Williams 1:41.760
18. H. Kovalainen Lotus 1:42.979
19. J. Trulli Lotus 1:43.884
20. T. Glock Marussia-Virgin 1:44.515
21. D. Ricciardo HRT 1:44.641
22. J. D’Ambrosio Marussia-Virgin 1:44.699
23. V. Liuzzi HRT 1:45.159
24. R. Barrichello Williams

Nico Rosberg
“We didn’t quite get the maximum from our qualifying session today which was a shame. The track temperatures dropped during the session and it became more difficult to get the tyres working. On my second run in Q3, I had too much traffic in front of me to warm the tyres up sufficiently and that hurt me on the quick lap, otherwise I think we could have been further ahead. However I’m on the good side of the grid and it should be a fun race tomorrow.”

Michael Schumacher
“It was quite a tight qualifying today. I aborted my last lap in Q1 to save tyres, and having some fresh tyres left is the good news from Q3 as well. Overall it was a normal qualifying where we would probably not have much more in the pocket. I also expect a straightforward race and we will try to make the most out of opportunities that arise. The tyres should not be a big issue here, and we tested their behaviour in P2 yesterday which took place at the same time as the race. The fact that the track temperatures will drop during the race might be good for us as we struggle a bit with the tyre temperatures here.”

Ross Brawn
“It was a reasonably straightforward qualifying session for us today with both drivers and the team doing a very good job. There was a little difference in straightline speed on Michael’s car which hampered his pace in relation to Nico so we need to have a look at that and understand why. Otherwise we are in good shape for the race and looking forward to tomorrow.”

Norbert Haug
“The best possible job from our team, Nico and Michael today. We have again been mindful of our strategy in order to save tyres for the race tomorrow, and we hope this approach will be to our benefit as has been the case in recent races. We would like to take the opportunity of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to express the whole team’s appreciation for our partner and co-owner Aabar which is, for our home race, also visible in increased branding on our cars. Today six Mercedes-powered cars made it into the top ten on the grid, the second time in the last five races.”

Source: Mercedes GP

The task set the players is to transform a small town into a flourishing “green” metropolis and thus attract as many tourists as possible. For this to happen, different tasks and missions have to be accomplished successfully. From game level to game level the city grows, and thus the amount of tourists and traffic as well, making it necessary to find environmentally-friendly, sustainable solutions using the different mobility concepts made available to the players. At the same time, the players have to be careful not to allow their city to become unattractive due to increasing environmental pollution.

Simple, yet realistic: the particularities of the game
In the forefront of “GreenSight City” stand diverse mobility concepts with which the players – either individually or together with friends – have to try to meet the increasing traffic requirements of the growing city. In addition, they have to develop the city’s infrastructure further in order to be able to cope with the swelling tourist influx. They have several possibilities to do this, such as car-sharing, the use of eBikes, electric vehicles and public means of transport such as bus, rail and plane. The players have to organise the tourists’ arrival and departure optimally using the mobility concepts available; these can be further optimised as the game progresses.

In order to increase the attractivity of the city for tourists, the players can also participate in excavations: at predefined locations historical treasures and buildings are to be found. The excavation sites can be visited by the tourists; this has a positive effect on the attractivity of the city, bringing about a greater tourist influx.

Getting to know current issues playfully
The objective is to sensitise young target groups with affinity with the Internet towards issues such as urban mobility, innovative technologies and renewable energy sources and thus encourage a continuing discussion on these topics using the platform provided by Facebook. Interactive and social games like “GreenSight City” offer excellent possibilities to communicate these contents in a playful manner and reach those interested in the issues of urban mobility and innovative technologies.

Taking an active part in the shaping of the game
Even before the game is officially started, all interested users can participate actively to give it its final structure. Under the motto “From the sketch to the finished building: become a part of GreenSight City” a so-called scribble competition begins on 7 November. Under the “Scribble Action” tab, each participant can submit as many sketches (or scribbles) of buildings or variations they wish to see integrated in the game to http://www.facebook.com/greensightcity – and also evaluate the other participants – until 9 December 2011. The three drawings with the greatest number of positive appraisals will be integrated in the game. The winners will be announced on 10 December 2011.

Source: Daimler AG

Innovative and unique, it is the first men’s fragrance from Mercedes-Benz and it combines woody notes with floral freshness. The cool top note features Calabrian bergamot, lemon essence and Italian mandarin. The middle note is a warm, spicy mix of bourbon pepper, nutmeg, violet and galbanum resin. The base note provides a spicy finish to the perfume and includes American cedar wood, vetyver grass and patchouli. The bottle design is masculine, modern and elegant. This distinctive perfume fits in with Mercedes-Benz’s systematic expansion of its range of high-end accessories, which includes watches and eye wear.

‘Mercedes Benz Perfume. The first fragrance for men’ has been created in partnership with the INCC Group and it will be available from selected specialist retailers from the first quarter of 2012, as an eau de toilette, after shave, deodorant and shower and body gel.

The world of fragrance is not new to Mercedes-Benz: the company already offers exclusively developed perfumes for the atomisers in its Maybach models and in the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Pullman.

Source: Daimler AG

This future is already becoming reality: on 19 September, a ceremony was held to mark the delivery of the Citaro to a customer, Lücke-Reisen. Konstantinos Tsiknas, head of sales for Mercedes-Benz Buses and Coaches in Germany, handed over a symbolic key to managing directors Anne and Uwe Lücke. Lücke-Reisen, based in Nordkirchen, Germany, is the first private bus and coach firm to choose the new-generation Citaro.

Ambassador for an eye-catching form of public transport
The design of the Citaro leaves no doubt that this is a fundamental, new development. The designers at Mercedes-Benz have given the urban bus a completely new look, from the headlights to the tail lights. Its friendly ‘face’ really does appear be smiling, thanks to large headlights and a curved windscreen. The low-reaching side windows convey transparency, while the striking profiles of the wheel arches embody dynamism and finesse. The rear of the new Citaro features soft lines, giving it a friendly appearance despite the modern touches.

The new Citaro’s redesigned passenger compartment has an even more spacious feel than before. Light colours and an uncluttered ceiling design create an airy and inviting interior. InterStar Eco seats have been fitted. While the grab rail suspended from the ceiling is cobalt blue, the grab poles are painted in white aluminium. The new lighting concept features well-lit entrance and exit areas plus indirect lighting of the outer ceiling flaps as a result of installing multidimensional scattering lenses in the ceiling lights.

Fit for everyday use: safe, comfortable and economical
The new Citaro’s safety concept sets the standard. Its protection in the event of head-on collisions is unique among urban buses and is based on the ECE R 29 standard. It has increased passive safety thanks to an even more rigid yet lighter frame structure. These features mean the new Citaro already fulfils the requirements of the stricter ECE R 66/01 regulation on survival space in the event of the bus rolling over, due to come into force in 2017. The new inward folding doors are lighter, making the bus more robust. Integrated LED daytime running lights also come as standard. Another new feature is the pivot-and-slide door at the front entrance. The raised driver area ensures an even better all-round view and, by putting the driver at eye level with passengers, creates a heightened sense of safety. The driver’s cockpit has been completely redesigned for the new Citaro. Its door is now hinged at the rear, enabling it to open at the front. The instrument panel meets the requirements of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) yet is more airy, has more knee room, features optimised ergonomics and provides far more information thanks to the colour display. Buttons on the new steering wheel offer extra convenience.

The new Citaro has inherited its predecessor’s tried-and-trusted economical and environmentally-friendly engines with BlueTec diesel technology. Lücke-Reisen’s Citaro is powered by a compact six-cylinder turbo diesel OM 906 hLA with a cubic capacity of 6.37 litres, 210 kW (286 bhp) output and 1120 Nm torque. The engine meets the Euro V emissions standard.

Lücke-Reisen
Bus and coach operator Lücke-Reisen was founded in 1966 by Otto Lücke and is now managed by the second generation of the family, Uwe and Anne Lücke. The firm’s fleet comprises around 60 Mercedes-Benz vehicles, including coaches. Lücke-Reisen’s services range from school trips and club outings to coach tours throughout Germany and Europe. The family business also runs scheduled bus services for public transport companies Regionalverkehr Münsterland (RVM) and Verkehrsgesellschaft Kreis Unna (VKU) as well as for the charity Caritasverband Kreis Coesfeld. The new Citaro will operate alongside nine Citaro buses of the first and second generation.

Source: Daimler AG

The new approach will enable customers to experience at first hand the After-Sales brand values of individuality and appreciation. “We work continually to improve our program, and want to offer our customers the kind of service that meets their individual needs,” says Frank Reintjes, Head of Global Service & Parts Mercedes-Benz and smart. “Our new brand appearance underscores this claim.”

The new program’s name itself highlights the connection between individual requirements and the appropriate Mercedes-Benz-service offering. “Service quality and customer satisfaction are a top priority at Mercedes-Benz,” says Reintjes. “That’s why we want to set the tone as a trailblazer when it comes to service performance as well. The products and services we’ll be presenting at this year’s IAA will further improve the quality of the services we offer our customers.”
Mercedes-Benz Service & Parts’ IAA presentation will take the form of an exhibition platform that will feature the portfolio of products and processes associated with its service and parts business. An innovative stand design will use multimedia display cabinets to highlight the main business segments: Mercedes-Benz genuine parts, Mercedes-Benz Repair™ (favorably priced repairs and care for minor damage to vehicle bodies and paint), the brand’s service packages, and mobility concepts. Interactive touchpoints will provide detailed information on all aspects of “My Service” and make this information available for visitors to download. The Service stand will be located on Level 1 in the “Festhalle”.

Top marks for service quality and customer satisfaction
Numerous awards confirm the high service quality at Mercedes-Benz. For example, Mercedes-Benz finished first in service satisfaction ahead of all other premium manufacturers in Germany in the latest J.D. Power Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study (VOSSSM). The brand achieved the same result in 2009 and 2010 with its outstanding service portfolio. The VOSSSM survey also placed Mercedes-Benz among the top three premium automakers in nine of the 12 countries examined. In addition, Mercedes-Benz finished first in the “Automobilwoche Award Autohandel” (AAA) dealership satisfaction survey for best sales-partner service quality, marking the fifth consecutive year the brand has taken top honors in this category. Mercedes-Benz service centers also received top marks in the Germany-wide test conducted by the “ADAC automobile association” and the “Stiftung Warentest” consumer organization. This result marked the continuation of a string of successes since 2006 that has seen the brand with the star receiving a grade of “excellent” in all ADAC tests and finishing first each time.

Mercedes-Benz Service & Parts
Outstanding service quality and customer satisfaction are also reflected in Mercedes-Benz Service & Parts’ business development. Last year was an outstanding one for the service and parts business, and the developments to date this year have also been extremely positive. High rates of growth were recorded in the first half of the year especially in Latin America, China, and Turkey, and business also continues to develop positively in Germany and the U.S.

In conjunction with dealers, company-owned retail outlets, and national subsidiaries, the Mercedes-Benz Service & Parts unit is responsible for the entire global service and parts business for Mercedes-Benz Cars, Vans, and Trucks. The service business includes a service network of more than 5,000 facilities worldwide, as well as a central service center in Maastricht for handling customer inquiries. The parts business encompasses parts marketing and the development of innovative parts products and parts logistics systems.

Source: Daimler AG

After some exciting action, Karsten Krüger of DOEGO Fruchthandel in Germany was able to defend his title as the ‘Winner of the Drivers’ League’. The winning company has used FleetBoard since 2006 and sees continuous improvement in the driving style of its drivers. Hot on his heels was Dawied Walczak of Smeets Beheer B.V. from the Netherlands, who took second place after a thrilling final round. Jürgen Breginski of DOEGO Fruchthandel from Germany narrowly managed to secure a well-deserved third place. For the first time in the history of the Drivers’ League, a female driver made it through to the final. Patrizia Kofler of Tanzer Handels- und Speditions­gesell­schaft mbH from Austria was a good match for her fellow competitors and finished in 22nd place.

One of the challenges involved a 30km drive on public roads, which included highways, country lanes and roads in built-up areas. During this test, the competitors were judged on their economical driving style using FleetBoard Performance Analysis. Operating the truck in everyday conditions with optimal fuel consumption and minimal wear and tear was what counted here. The drivers skilfully demonstrated an efficient use of resources in handling their vehicles and achieved top scores between 8.1 and 9.9 (on a scale of 1 to 10).

Another exercise involved estimating speed with an obscured speedometer. Here, the finalists demonstrated their feel for their vehicle by driving a section of road as closely to 30km/h as possible.
The task on the off-road course in a laden Actros tipper with a weight of 32 tonnes provided plenty of entertaining driving. On those sections of the course with a 20 percent gradient, the weight of the tipper had a particularly noticeable effect and the full concentration of the drivers was required to keep fuel consumption to a minimum. Twist humps and wading ponds recreated off-road conditions perfectly and posed a real challenge for the drivers.

The drivers from Great Britain and South Africa, who were used to right-hand vehicles, also demonstrated their proficiency at the highest level. All of the finalists showed great competitive spirit and delivered exceptional performances. It was a close run race.

Those who made it through to the final had already qualified from an original field of 9,000 drivers in their home countries of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, South Africa and also in the Middle East. Drivers from France, Spain and the Middle East were taking part for the first time.

This year, to coincide with ‘FleetBoard inside’ – which sees FleetBoard as standard in the new Actros – the drivers faced a new challenge: they competed in the new Mercedes-Benz truck. If their companions held a truck driver’s licence, they too were able to have a go at driving the new Actros. For all the drivers, so-called ‘trucker maniacs’, it was an exciting weekend of thrilling driving experiences and a fantastic event to be part of. They also took the opportunity to talk shop about the best use of retarder brake systems, cruise control and environmentally-friendly driving, and enjoyed their time together as winners of the 2011 Drivers’ League.

The Drivers’ League also represented a triumph for the environment: the competition provided motivation for all 9,000 participants to reduce their CO2 emissions by an additional 1 percent, which roughly equates to a tonne of CO2 per year and per truck.

Karsten Krüger was overwhelmed at his victory: “It was a challenging competition with a lot of fun, excitement and action. I am very happy to be taking the trophy home with me again.” As his prize, FleetBoard will be sending him and a companion to Madrid for a week. As well as enjoying the lively atmosphere of the Spanish capital, the two-time winner of the Drivers’ League will get to experience the European Championship Truck Race on 2 October 2011.

Markus Lipinsky, Managing Director of Daimler FleetBoard GmbH, shared in the excitement of the live final: “The finalists of the Drivers’ League are the best Mercedes-Benz truck drivers in the world. The driver is often the final link in the chain and as such they earn great respect for their day-to-day work on the road. FleetBoard enables them to clearly show how efficiently they drive, how well they anticipate traffic conditions and how they can minimize wear and tear on their vehicles. They form the basis for the company’s success and play an active part in protecting the environment. My thanks go to all 9,000 competitors.”

Source. Daimler AG

The new Cards combine the best of both brands: the Membership Rewards program from American Express and exclusive annual benefits from Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz Credit Card from American Express

• 5X Membership Rewards points at Mercedes-Benz dealerships
• 3X points for gas purchases
• 2X points at restaurants
• 1 point for everything else
• $500 certificate toward the purchase or lease of a new Mercedes-Benz after spending $5,000
• 1,000 excess miles waived at lease-end
• $50 annual reward certificate for Genuine Mercedes-Benz Accessories
• Annual fee of $95

Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Mercedes-Benz

• 5X Membership Rewards points at Mercedes-Benz dealerships
• 1 point for everything else
• Access to Airport Clubs, The Fine Hotels & Resorts Program and Platinum Card Concierge
• $200 Airline Credit, no foreign exchange fees
• $1,000 certificate toward the purchase or lease of a new Mercedes-Benz after spending $5,000
• 2,000 miles waived at lease-end
• $100 annual reward certificate for Genuine Mercedes-Benz Accessories
• Annual fee of $475

“Partnerships are an important part of our Consumer Card strategy and we are excited to welcome Mercedes-Benz to our growing family of co-branded cards and to our Membership Rewards program,” said Gunther Bright, senior vice president and general manager, co-brand partnerships, American Express. “This truly is a world-class collaboration. We’re offering Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts what they value most – premium rewards that benefit their lifestyle and their vehicle.”

“The Cards we have created with American Express are a result of driver feedback focusing on benefits geared toward the Mercedes-Benz enthusiast and lifestyle rewards,” said Geoff Robinson, vice president, marketing, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. “Becoming a Cardmember will expand the ownership experience for our current drivers and encourage aspiring owners to consider Mercedes-Benz for their next vehicle.”

Mercedes-Benz Joins Membership Rewards Program
Mercedes-Benz also joins the Membership Rewards program from American Express. All Cardmembers eligible to earn Membership Rewards points can redeem points for Mercedes-Benz service packages as well as $1,000 certificates that can be used for the purchase or lease of a new Mercedes-Benz vehicle.

While most co-branded Cards in the automotive space offer benefits at the dealership for products and services related to the cardholder’s vehicle, the Membership Rewards program from American Express sets these new Mercedes-Benz co-brand Cards apart from the competition. Cardmembers can earn and redeem points for premium rewards that they can use to travel, shop and now service or purchase a Mercedes-Benz vehicle.

Cardmembers are automatically enrolled in the Membership Rewards program and can redeem points for a breadth of rewards including: vacations, tickets to concerts, the latest gadgets and gift cards to many of their favorite stores. Cardmembers have the option to transfer points directly into many airline frequent-flier programs for award seats or use the Pay with Points feature to book any seat, anytime, on any airline with no blackout dates or other restrictions. Points have no expiration date, and there is no limit on the number of points a Cardmember can earn.

Customers interested in applying for or learning more about Mercedes-Benz Credit and Charge Cards from American Express may visit www.mbfs.com/MBCard. The Platinum Card Exclusively for Mercedes-Benz is issued by American Express Centurion Bank and the Mercedes-Benz Credit Card from American Express is issued by American Express Bank, FSB.

Source: MBUSA

Mercedes-Benz designers created the interior, which is notable for its outstanding versatility and exquisite materials. The EC145 “Mercedes-Benz Style” is tailor-made for luxury-class business and private travel.

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“We are very pleased to have realized the first product of ‘Mercedes-Benz Style’ with Eurocopter,” said Prof. h.c. Dr. Gorden Wagener, head of design at Mercedes-Benz. “The interior design of the EC145 ‘Mercedes-Benz Style’ helicopter represents the classic passion of the Mercedes-Benz design language and fulfils the very highest expectations in terms of elegance, luxury and comfort.”

The luxurious interior design was created in the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in the Italian city of Como and is inspired by the luxury-class saloons created by the brand with the three-pointed star. The EC145 “Mercedes-Benz Style” offers deluxe materials, elegant woods, and ambient lighting familiar from the S and E-Class that can be adjusted to a number of different colour and brightness settings, as well as spacious multi-function boxes with various equipment options.

Moreover, the designers have placed a great deal of emphasis on variability. The passenger cabin is incredibly versatile, making the EC145 “Mercedes-Benz Style” ideal for a diverse range of travel needs – from business or family travel, to leisure and sporting trips. All seats are fixed to rails and can be rearranged very easily in a number of different arrangements for four to eight passengers, or removed altogether in order to create space for luggage. The spacious load area also offers a high degree of flexibility with an extensive range of anchoring options on the floor and walls.

“Only one year after Eurocopter presented the EC145 ‘Mercedes-Benz Style’ concept at EBACE 2010, we now are unveiling the first aircraft and can already announce the initial sale to a European corporate operator,” said Olivier Lambert, Eurocopter’s Senior Vice President Sales and Customer Relations. “These achievements confirm Eurocopter’s successful approach in developing products that meet the demanding expectations of executive and private customers worldwide.”

About “Mercedes-Benz Style”
In addition to styling iconic automobiles, the designers at Mercedes-Benz also work on product design in other fields. The portfolio of “Mercedes-Benz Style” division comprises not only transport-related products, but also furniture and lifestyle products, as well as industrial design. The business model for “Mercedes-Benz Style” incorporates contract work – whereby the design rights are sold to the product manufacturer – and the granting of design licences.

Source: Daimler AG

Both companies aim, by bundling their competencies, to accelerate development advances in electric motors as well as to make accordant synergies accessible. According to their letter of intent, joint production should start in 2012. It is envisioned that the electric motors developed will be used in Mercedes-Benz and smart electric vehicles from 2012. Subsequent sales to other automakers are to be handled by Bosch. The joint activites will be located in the greater Stuttgart area and in Hildesheim.

The Bosch Group is a leading supplier of technology and services to the automotive sector. It has a high level of competence in developing and producing electric motors, which it is already manufacturing in series in Hildesheim.

The automotive manufacturer Daimler has built up 20 years of experience in the area of electric vehicles as well as their key components electric motor and battery, giving it a comprehensive understanding of how results can be best achieved in this field.

Source: Daimler AG

The initial area of operation will cover the 65 square kilometres within “Ring 2″. Hamburg residents have been able to register for the mobility concept since the beginning of March and more than 1,000 of them have already done so – enabling them to get in and drive off anywhere and any time from now on. The vehicles can be spontaneously rented for a price of 29 Cents per minute, used for any length of time and then simply left again at any free public parking space within the area of operation. The vehicles used are the “car2go edition” of the two-seater smart equipped with state-of-the-art car sharing telematics and an innovative solar roof.

Following the successful launch of car2go in Ulm in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and in the Texan capital of Austin, Hamburg is the first city to see the roll out of car2go in the course of the international market launch. 300 “car2go edition” smart fortwo will initially take to the streets. Further expansion of the fleet is possible depending on the development of demand. The same applies to the operating area which will initially be limited to an enlarged approximately 65 square kilometres inner city area of the central Hamburg metropolitan area. This roughly corresponds to Hamburg’s “Ring 2″ and comprises the popular residential districts around the Alster such as Eppendorf, Winterhude, Uhlenhorst and Rotherbaum, inner city districts including St. Pauli, Neustadt and Sternschanze and parts of Eimsbüttel and Altona. This area is particularly suitable for car2go on account of the population density and the expected demand for individual mobility. The smart fortwo deployed make optimum use of the parking space available.

Robert Henrich, Managing Director of car2go GmbH says “car2go is characterised by its unique flexibility and opportunity to use the vehicles spontaneously, making it ideal in combination with local public transport. After piloting the scheme in Ulm and Austin, Hamburg is the first city where we are launching this new environmentally friendly form of urban mobility on the market and here, too, we will demonstrate that a system like car2go can be financially successful in a large city.”
The citizens of Hamburg have already shown huge interest in the smart revolution. On 1 March the car2go shop opened at Jungfernstieg and saw a stream of interested customers right from the start.

Nastasja Hebestriet, Managing Director of the joint venture company enthusiastically reports “Even before it was possible to rent a car considerably more than 1,000 Hamburg citizens registered for car2go.” Those interested can register at either the car2go shop or at six Europcar offices in Hamburg.

Using synergies
The shareholders in the joint venture company that was founded are the Daimler subsidiary car2go GmbH and the Hamburg-based Europcar Autovermietung GmbH, which holds a majority share of 75 percent. The cooperation offers both partners numerous advantages. For example, car2go can benefit from Europcar’s extensive expertise in fleet management and logistics and can also use the partner’s wide network of offices to offer customers further points where they can register and obtain advice in addition to the dedicated car2go shop.
Roland Keppler, Chairman of the Management Board of Europcar Autovermietung GmbH says “car2go and Europcar provide the citizens of Hamburg with comprehensive mobility options for every requirement. car2go covers flexible individual urban mobility and Europcar offers vehicles for travelling longer distances with a fleet ranging from small cars to cabriolets and vans.”

The citizens of Hamburg profit from this combination as car2go customers enjoy numerous benefits at Europcar. For example, the first 15 minutes of a journey to a Europcar branch are free with car2go if the customer has booked a car there, e.g. for a longer trip. In addition, car2go customers receive substantial discounts on the rental fee.

The reinvention of inner city mobility
Independence from rental stations, simple access and the straightforward and purely time-based charging for any length of use are the main features of car2go which distinguish this mobility concept from classic car rental and car sharing and are so far unique in this form. Registered customers can access the vehicles spontaneously and without a reservation and at the end of the rental period they simply leave them in any public parking space with an unlimited parking duration, including managed parking spaces or those requiring a parking disc. Parking meters and the blue parking disc can be ignored as parking fees are included in the rental fee, determined automatically by car2go Hamburg GmbH and paid to the city. To reduce the time spent searching for a parking space, car2go is additionally providing a total of 116 exclusive specially designated parking spaces in four selected car parks (for example at the main station and Bleichenhof), and at eight Shell filling stations. Use of these parking spaces is also included in the rental fee. This means that not only driving, but also parking is really easy and worry-free for customers.

The rental fee in Hamburg will be 29 Cents per minute with a maximum of 14.90 Euro per hour; the cheaper of the two is always automatically charged. This all-inclusive price includes fuel, insurance, kilometres driven, taxes and parking charges. There is a one-off registration fee of 29 Euro. After this customers do not have to pay any kind of deposit, monthly or annual fee but only for the time that they actually use the vehicle. Customers can register at the car2go shop at Jungfernstieg 50, at six Hamburg Europcar offices or via the website www.car2go-hamburg.com. However, they must visit the shop or one of the selected Europcar offices to have the car2go seal applied to their driving licence.

As in Ulm and Austin, the new smart fortwo “car2go edition” will take to the streets of Hamburg. The world’s first series-produced car sharing car is equipped with an economical petrol engine, an automatic start/stop system, a new generation of telematics and a solar roof. At its heart is a new central control unit with a large touch-sensitive 6.5 inch screen. This also has space for the car key and chip cards – for example for refuelling. The telematic unit is linked to the vehicle electronics, which means that it also controls the immobiliser subject to the rental process.

A solar roof is also a standard feature and it supplies power of 100 watts to the telematics as well as continuously charging the car’s battery. This allows the alternator to be fully decoupled whilst driving and noticeably reduces the fuel consumption. If the vehicle is parked in the sun the smart’s ventilation system is operated by solar power. This can noticeably reduce the temperature inside the car – enhancing comfort and benefiting the environment as the air conditioning does not need to work as hard.

In Ulm the 500,000th car2go rental has just coincided with the 2-year anniversary of public operation. Ulm sees an average of between four and eight vehicle rentals every day. This figure is expected to be exceeded in Hamburg, first and foremost due to the greater customer density. To date more than 35,000 customers have used the 600 vehicles in the two car2go cities of Ulm and Austin – and due to the high customer demand expansion of the vehicle fleet there started three weeks ago. The launch of the scheme in Hamburg means that there are now 900 car2go vehicles on the roads worldwide. But that’s not a final figure for this year. Robert Henrich says “We will definitely be launching car2go in further cities in Europe and North America in 2011.” The next city will be on the American continent, followed by another European country in the second half of 2011. Further cities will follow from 2012.

Source: Daimler AG

In the cylinder of a diesel engine, fuel is mixed with appreciably more air than in a petrol-powered engine. This makes for very efficient combustion. In addition, the diesel engines require no sparkplugs since diesel fuel with its very good ignition qualities, or rather the air-fuel mixture, ignites spontaneously owing to the very high compression ratio – this is why it is also called the compression-ignition engine. Ignition is triggered off by the sharp rise in temperature during the compression stroke of the piston.

1908 – Afterchamber diesel
At the Deutz company, Prosper L’Orange develops an injection pump for diesel engines and enlarges the combustion chamber with an afterchamber to improve mixture formation. In 1908 he submits a patent application for the afterchamber diesel engine.

1909 – Prechamber diesel
In experiments which he carries out as head of engine testing at Benz & Cie., L’Orange further improves his engine. A new cylinder head shape with a hemispherical chamber now takes the place of the afterchamber. In this so-called prechamber, following injection a small portion of the diesel fuel burns, generating high pressure and propelling the remaining diesel-air mixture into the cylinder where it gets swirled. The pressure and the mixing action permit rapid combustion at high temperatures and thus higher engine speeds. On 14 March 1909, L’Orange files a patent application (DRP 230 517) for the prechamber system.

1919 – Funnel prechamber
Prosper L’Orange changes the shape of his prechamber in 1919 by using a funnel-shaped insert to set it off more clearly from the combustion chamber proper. This way he achieves reliable ignition and good combustion under different loads. He takes out a patent on it on 18 March 1919 (DRP 397 142).

1919 – Pintle-type injection nozzle
Parallel to the funnel prechamber, L’Orange designs a new injection nozzle for more reliable introduction of fuel into the cylinder.

1921 – Variable injection pump
The variable injection pump permits infinite variation of the delivered quantity of fuel, thus enabling precision control of power delivery. The injection pump introduced in 1921 is the last vital component developed by L’Orange for the first diesel engine to see use in vehicles.

1922 – Benz and Sendling introduce the S6 farm tractor
The S6 farm tractor, featuring an 18 kW (25 hp) two-cylinder prechamber diesel with a rated speed of 800 rpm, serves to launch the diesel’s career as a vehicle drive.
1923 – Benz prechamber diesel

The first of three prototypes of the OB2 truck diesel engine is running on a test bench as early as September 1922. In October Benz installs the four-cylinder into a 5 K 3 chassis, and in spring 1923 the decision is made to produce it: the world’s first diesel truck develops 33 – 37 kW (45 – 50 hp) at 1000 rpm.

1923 – Daimler air-injection diesel
In competition to L’Orange’s prechamber diesel, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) develops an air-injection diesel engine for its trucks. This unit is based on experience gained from the manufacture of submarine diesel engines employing the air injection principle.

1927 – Bosch injection pump
The injection pump introduced by Robert Bosch for diesel engines in 1927 is systematically improved as against older systems. With this injection pump, Bosch, himself one of the first buyers of a diesel truck in 1924, greatly furthers the acceptance of the diesel drive.

1928 – First Mercedes-Benz diesel tractor
A new Mercedes-Benz single-cylinder diesel engine is first used in the OE tractor.

1932 – OM 59 in the new Lo 2000 truck
The compact OM 59 prechamber diesel powers the new Lo 2000 express truck.

1935 – 10,000th commercial vehicle with diesel engine
The 10,000th Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle with diesel engine is built in Gaggenau in 1935.

1936 – Four-cylinder diesel for passenger cars
The Mercedes-Benz 260 D is the world’s first diesel passenger car. It is equipped with the OM 138 engine, developed from a truck diesel. The unit has four cylinders, a displacement of 2.6 litres and an output of 33 kW (45 hp).

1940 – Start of development of the 300 engine series
Mercedes-Benz begins developing the new 300 engine series for commercial vehicles during the Second World War.

1949 – Premiere of the OM 312
The six-cylinder in-line OM 312 is the first representative of the new series, debuting in 1949. The 300 engine family in the commercial vehicles of Mercedes-Benz extends its career into the new millennium.
1953 – Exhaust-gas turbocharger in the commercial vehicle

In a fire engine, in 1953 Mercedes-Benz presents its first turbocharged production diesel engine. Its output is about 25 percent higher than that of a naturally aspirated engine.

1964 – First direct-injection diesel engines for commercial vehicles
The OM 352 is the first diesel engine for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles to have direct injection. The economical and performance-enhancing injection system with four-hole nozzle quickly becomes generally accepted in trucks and other commercial vehicles.

1966 – Turbocharging in the OM 352 A commercial vehicle diesel
To attain higher outputs for fuel-injected diesel engines in commercial vehicles, Mercedes-Benz offers the OM 352 A engine with exhaust-gas turbocharger for the first time in 1966.

1969 – The 100,000th commercial vehicle diesel engine
In Mannheim Mercedes-Benz build their 100,000th diesel engine for commercial vehicles in 1969.

1970 – New OM 400 engine series
Mercedes-Benz introduces the new 400 engine series for heavy-duty commercial vehicles in 1970. The first is a V10, which is joined later by V8, V6 and six-cylinder in-line units.
1974 – Five-cylinder diesel in a car

The five-cylinder in-line OM 617 with a displacement of 3005 cubic centimetres is the first five-cylinder diesel engine in the world to be used in a passenger car. The engine premieres in the Mercedes-Benz 240 D 3.0 (W 115 series).

1977 – S-Class with diesel engine and exhaust-gas turbocharger
In the 300 SD S-Class model, Mercedes-Benz presents a diesel engine with exhaust-gas turbocharger for the first time. With an output of 85 kW (115 hp) and torque of 250 Newton metres, the 300 SD is offered exclusively for the US market. The 300 T Turbodiesel as turbocharged diesel model which is also sold in Europe does not follow until 1980.

1980 – Intercooler in the OM 422 AL
In 1980, Mercedes-Benz introduces intercooling (charge air cooling) to complement the turbocharger in the new OM 422 AL engine for heavy-duty trucks. Cooling results in more oxygen in the intake air and in higher power output during combustion.

1983 – Engine encapsulation in the compact class for noise insulation
In the diesel models of the compact class launched in 1982 (W 201 series), the engine is fully encapsulated for the first time. This reduces the noise produced by the drive system by about half. Colloquially, the engine design is dubbed the “whisper diesel.”

1985 – Particulate filter
In 1985, Mercedes-Benz is the first automotive brand in the world to supply diesel saloons with a particulate filter system as an optional extra to California. The experience gained from this programme is the basis for developing new filter technologies.

1989 – “Diesel ’89” initiative
In 1989, Mercedes-Benz presents revised engines which cut particulate emissions by around 40 percent. Their features include a new prechamber with oblique fuel injection, which enables more efficient combustion. The diesel technology improvement programme under which these engines are developed is called the “Diesel ’89” initiative.

1991 – Emission control system
The exhaust gases of a diesel engine are markedly different from those of a petrol-fired engine. While the diesel engine gives off less carbon dioxide, its exhaust gas contains a higher proportion of nitrogen oxides. In 1991 Mercedes-Benz reduces these pollutants with an emission control system employing exhaust-gas recirculation and an oxidising catalytic converter. This combination lowers the temperature in the combustion chamber and reduces the formation of nitrogen oxides by about 70 percent. Initially offered as an optional extra, the emission control system becomes standard equipment in 1993.

1993 – Four-valve-per-cylinder design and Electronic Diesel Control
Four-valve technology arrives in the diesel segment in 1993 when Mercedes-Benz introduces the first car diesel engine with four valves per cylinder and electronic control. Four-valve technology gives the diesel engine higher power and better economy than the previous two-valve design. Electronic Diesel Control (EDC) sees use in production vehicles beginning in 1995 when Mercedes-Benz introduces the direct-injection diesel engine with 2.9 litres displacement.

1996 – Debut of new commercial vehicle engines
Two new engine series for commercial vehicles are introduced at once by Mercedes-Benz in 1996. The OM 500 diesel V-engines operate in the new heavy-duty Actros truck; the OM 900 in-line engine generation is used in the light-duty Atego truck.

1997 – Common rail direct injection (CDI)
The CDI age begins in 1997. The acronym stands for “Common Rail Direct Injection.” Developed by Daimler-Benz in cooperation with Bosch, this direct fuel injection system works with a common fuel line (common rail). Whereas conventional direct injection engines build up pressure for every injection operation anew, in the common rail high pressure is permanently generated, enabling the fuel to be forced to the variable and very precisely controlled injection nozzles at a pressure of up to 1350 bar. CDI makes the diesel engine a model of high performance, excellent torque already in the lower rev range, great fuel economy, minimal pollutant emissions, and generation of little noise.

1998 – Diesel-electric drive system in the Cito
The Mercedes-Benz Cito is an innovative midibus with a diesel-electric drive in which an OM 904 LA diesel engine powers a generator which supplies energy to the electric traction motor.

2002 – Second-generation CDI
The second generation of CDI technology in 2002 once again improves performance, consumption, comfort and emissions. To achieve this, among other things the Mercedes-Benz engineers raise the ignition pressure from 145 bar to 155 bar to optimise the gas cycle. The result is greater pulling power and flexibility. The injection pressure of now 1600 bar, in conjunction with the newly developed seven-hole injection nozzle, permits finer distribution of the fuel in the combustion chambers, better mixture formation, and more homogeneous combustion.

2003 – First AdBlue® filling station in Stuttgart
As first harbinger of BlueTec, an AdBlue® filling station is opened in Stuttgart in 2003. AdBlue® (“Additive Blue”) – an aqueous urea solution – is injected into the exhaust-gas flow in the SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) process. A catalytic converter then reduces the nitrogen oxides in the pretreated exhaust gas to nitrogen and water vapour. SCR is part of the BlueTec system for uncompromising reduction of diesel emissions. From 2005, step by step DaimlerChrysler changes over the entire truck and bus range so that the vehicles comply with the Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards.

2003 – Maintenance-free diesel particulate filter
In 2003 Mercedes-Benz introduces maintenance-free particulate filters for diesel engines. Initially the filters are optional equipment. In the summer of 2005, more than 30 car models of Mercedes-Benz, from the A-Class to the S-Class, are fitted with a particulate filter as standard. In autumn 2005, the manufacture of retrofit kits for vehicles produced before this breakpoint begins, initially for the C and E-Class.

2003 – Diesel hybrid
In 2003 the F 500 Mind research car presents a hybrid drive combining a V8 diesel engine with an electric motor. The diesel attains an output of 184 kW (250 hp) and maximum torque of 560 Newton metres, and the electric motor adds another 50 kW (68 hp) and 300 Newton metres maximum torque. Electronic control of the link between the two drive units lets each bring its specific advantages into play. Whereas the electric motor can move the car on its own for starting off, parking and slow-speed driving, the strong diesel engine is engaged when more power is required. The union of the two drive systems demonstrates its value particularly in urban traffic.

In the Vision Grand Sports Tourer 2 in 2004 Mercedes-Benz also shows a diesel hybrid drive. The V8 diesel with four litres displacement and 184 kW (250 hp) is again coupled with a 50-kW (68-hp) electric motor. In 2005 the S-Class HYBRID (NAIAS in Detroit) and the S-Class BlueTEC HYBRID (International Motor Show in Frankfurt am Main) follow. To further develop such combinations of internal combustion engines and electric motors, the company cooperates with General Motors and the BMW Group; the three enter into an alliance in September 2005. The objective of research is formulated in a Memorandum of Understanding on the joint development of the hybrid drive.

2004 – Introduction of BlueTec truck with OM 500 for Euro 4 and Euro 5
In 2004 Mercedes-Benz introduces trucks with OM 500 engines and BlueTec technology for emission control. These vehicles meet the especially stringent Euro 4 and Euro 5 emissions norms. As early as February 2006, delivery of the 10,000th BlueTec truck with Euro 5 engine takes place.

2005 – Third-generation CDI
A new high-tech V6 diesel engine marks the beginning of the third generation of CDI technology at Mercedes-Benz. Owing to new materials and optimisation of the entire unit, the new CDI engines attain even higher combustion pressures than before – the engineers aim at up to 200 bar and intend to boost the injection pressure too in future, to as high as 2000 bar. In addition, the complex CDI technology is further refined. The fuel is no longer injected all at once, but in as many as five portions. Special actuators (piezo crystals) take over the control of the injection nozzles: with electric pulses the atomic structure of the crystals can be expanded several hundred thousand times per second if required. With this sophisticated injection system, not only are the emissions further reduced; the working noise of the engine is also diminished once more.

2006 – BlueTEC for passenger cars
In 2006, Mercedes-Benz introduces BlueTEC for passenger cars to the market in an E-Class. The technology for the cleanest diesel in the world has been successfully used in commercial vehicles since 2005. The Mercedes-Benz E 320 BlueTEC is the first representative of a new generation of diesel cars of the Stuttgart brand on this technical basis. From autumn 2006 the E 320 BlueTEC goes to market in the USA; the market launch in Europe is scheduled for 2008.

Under development since 2002, the BlueTEC (written BlueTec for commercial vehicles) modular technology package relies on several means of reducing diesel emissions. On the one hand, these include familiar methods like the oxidising catalytic converter and particulate filter, along with optimised engines. But the heart of the system is the actual BlueTEC technology for nitrogen oxide reduction. In the first production car equipped with it, the E 320 BlueTEC, there is a complex catalytic converter system consisting of an improved nitrogen-oxide storage-type catalytic converter and an SCR catalytic converter. In normal operation the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas are collected in this catalytic circuit. Regular adjustments to the air-fuel mixture in the engine change combustion, and with it the composition of the exhaust gases, for a brief period. In the process, BlueTEC separates the stored nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and water vapour.

More complex, but more effective still is Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) by means of AdBlue® injection. When AdBlue® is injected into the pretreated exhaust gas, ammonia is released which then causes reduction of nitrogen oxides to harmless nitrogen and water in the downstream SCR catalytic converter. Spraying this aqueous urea solution into the exhaust-gas flow is currently the most efficient method of exhaust-gas aftertreatment for diesel engines. This system can reduce nitrogen oxides by as much as 80 percent. With the Vision GL 320 BlueTEC, Mercedes-Benz engineers demonstrate in 2006 that this too is a process that can find use in large-scale production. In autumn 2006, the E 320 BlueTEC production car finally appears.

BlueTec technology has been very successfully employed in Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in Europe since 2005. In the meantime this technology has performed outstandingly in more than 20,000 Actros, Axor and Atego trucks. BlueTec cuts nitrogen oxides so sharply that the emissions limits applicable to trucks from 2009 are already undercut today. This is rewarded with lower road tolls for trucks with Euro 5 technology through 2009. Whereas AdBlue® for cars might be replenished during a service stop, a comprehensive network of AdBlue® filling pumps for commercial vehicles is available in Europe.

2007 – BlueTEC passenger cars in Europe
At the end of 2007 Mercedes-Benz introduces the E 300 BlueTEC of the 211 series as first BlueTEC car for the European market. It is far and away the cleanest diesel in its class and fully complies with the EU5 emission standards.

Simultaneously, Mercedes-Benz speeds up the expansion of its line-up of BlueTEC vehicles in 2007. In Detroit, the three models R 320 BlueTEC, ML 320 BlueTEC and GL 320 BlueTEC are introduced; they will come onto the American market in 2008. The engineers provide a glimpse of the future at the Geneva Motor Show where they present the Mercedes-Benz Vision C 220 BlueTEC. The study car is the first to feature a four-cylinder engine with BlueTEC technology.

2008 – BlueEFFICIENCY for diesel models
BlueEFFICIENCY, the comprehensive vehicle fuel consumption reduction programme, is introduced by Mercedes-Benz in 2008. The diesel engine in the CDI BlueEFFICIENCY models also profits from this innovative approach: for BlueEFFICIENCY the Mercedes-Benz engineers make use of the potential in all areas of development in order to reduce weight, wind resistance and rolling resistance further and organise the energy management of vehicles still more efficiently.

2009 – Complete BlueTEC model range for Europe
Since September 2009 Mercedes-Benz has been offering its complete BlueTEC model range also in Europe: along with the new W 212 series E-Class Saloon E 350 BlueTEC, the ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC, GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC and R 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC, which had already been on sale in the USA for a year. In spring 2010 the G 350 BlueTEC followed. And so a genuine classic – the G-Class, a success for 31 years – meets the particularly clean 21st century Mercedes-Benz diesel drive.

2009 – Four-cylinder engines with optimised fuel consumption and BlueTEC
The E 250 BlueTEC study designed for the North American market shows in spring 2009 how the BlueTEC technology of the E-Class can be combined with a four-cylinder with optimised fuel consumption. For this purpose an all-new four-cylinder diesel was combined with BlueTEC. The result is the most economical and cleanest diesel model in this vehicle category which, with its range of as much as 44 miles per gallon (equivalent to 5.3 litres per 100 kilometres), attains a fuel efficiency better than that of most hybrid vehicles in the US market.

2009 – The fourth CDI generation
The fourth generation of the common-rail direct-injection system premieres in the new generation of four-cylinder diesel engines in 2009. Its hallmark is a 400-bar increase in the maximum rail pressure, which now stands at 2000 bar. Newly developed piezo injectors are among the key components of the latest CDI engine generation. In contrast to the systems commonly used to date, this lift activates the nozzle needle directly, so that the fuel injection can be adjusted even more precisely in line with the current load and engine-speed situation – for example by means of precise multiple injections, which have a favourable effect on emissions, fuel consumption and combustion noise.

In the new diesel engines for the E 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and E 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, for the first time in series-built passenger car diesel engines Mercedes-Benz also realises two-stage turbocharging. The aim is to achieve further improvements, for example, in start-up performance and peak output, versus the single-stage turbocharger.

2010 – BlueTEC in the S-Class
In summer 2010 Mercedes-Benz includes the first BlueTEC model of the S-Class in its range, the S 350 BlueTEC. It has combined fuel consumption of just 6.8 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres (NEDC), corresponding to CO2 emissions of 177 grams per kilometre. The S 350 BlueTEC already complies with the emission levels which are planned for 2014 with the introduction of the EU6 standard.

In autumn 2010 the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY follows. This S-Class Saloon is the first 5-litre car in the luxury class and the first model with a four-cylinder in the more than 60-year success story of the S-Class. The highly efficient turbodiesel achieves fuel consumption of only 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres in the NEDC cycle, which equates to CO2 emissions of 149 grams per kilometre. This makes the new S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY the first vehicle in its class to undercut the 150 gram mark for CO2 emissions.

2011 – BlueTEC HYBRID in series production
In 2011 the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID comes onto the market. This first series-produced diesel hybrid passenger car of a European manufacturer will be available as Saloon and Estate. Presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010, the vehicle pairs a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine developing 150 kW (204 hp) with a powerful hybrid module with 15-kW electric motor. The electric motor, positioned between the internal combustion engine and the seven-speed automatic transmission, assists the diesel engine when the car is accelerating (boost effect), although it is also suitable for driving using electric power alone. It is also used for the recuperation of braking energy in alternator mode. The E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID consumes 4.1 litres of diesel fuel per 100 kilometres. This corresponds to CO2 emissions of 109 grams per kilometre.

Source: Daimler AG

Six Mercedes-Benz models feature alongside leading actors Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger, in some instances taking on major roles in the breakneck race against time: four E-Class taxis from three decades, a gull-winged SLS AMG and a fuel cell car in the guise of the B-Class F-Cell. The film was made by director Jaume Collet-Serra and producer Joel Silver in Berlin, Brandenburg, Leipzig and the Babelsberg studios in Potsdam.

“End of the 19th century the automobile and the cinema have been invented. Thanks to their fascination, Mercedes-Benz vehicles have a long tradition as heroes of the silver screen. They have written cinematic history above all in the role of taxis and attractive sports cars,” says Anders Sundt Jensen, Vice President Brand Communication Mercedes-Benz Cars. “We are delighted that our 125th anniversary is being marked with no less than six Mercedes-Benz models appearing in an international blockbuster.”

About the film “Unknown Identity”
Co-produced by Dark Castle Entertainment and Studio Babelsberg, the film opened in the USA back on 18 February, going straight to no. 1 in the cinema charts. In Germany, the hit thriller is being distributed on the cinema circuit by Kinowelt. The story: a nightmare begins when biologist Dr. Martin Harris (Liam Neeson) awakes from a coma following a serious car accident in Berlin. His wife (January Jones) does not recognise him and another man has taken on his identity. To compound matters, a killer (Stipe Erceg) is also on Harris’s heels. In order to win back his wife and his former life, he seeks out taxi driver Gina (Diane Kruger), who rescued him in the accident. Together with her and former Stasi agent Jürgen (Bruno Ganz) he takes up the fight for his identity and the truth against an all-powerful adversary – including high-speed chases in Mercedes taxis. Background reports on the film and behind-the-scenes footage can also be viewed at www.mercedes-benz.tv.

Featured Mercedes-Benz vehicles
E-Class taxis
W 124 (built from 1984 to 1997), W 210 (built from 1995 to 2002),
W 211 (built from 2002 to 2009), W 212 (built since 2009)
SLS AMG super sports car (built since 2009)
B-Class F-CELL (built in 2010)

Source: Daimler AG

This was a trailblazing innovation, as it is still seen as the fundamental feature of passive automotive safety to this day. In 1959 the safety body with its rigid passenger cell entered series production for the first time in the Mercedes-Benz W 111 series (model 220b). Together with numerous other developments, the passenger safety cell patented in 1951 is one of the technical standards that Mercedes-Benz continues to set worldwide for improvements in passive automotive safety.

With this development based on his earlier prototypes and patents, the Daimler-Benz engineer and “safety pioneer” Barényi finally parted company with a hallowed principle of vehicle construction that had been valid for decades: designers previously thought that a body that was as rigid as possible was the best way to protect the driver and passengers in an accident. In fact it means that the forces generated during the impact are transferred to the occupants with hardly any prior absorption. For this reason Barényi turned to controlled body deformation at the front and rear, so as to absorb the kinetic energy built up during a collision. At the same time a rigid passenger safety cell in the middle of the vehicle enclosed the occupants and protected them from the impact forces acting on the vehicle structure.

The overall vehicle concept therefore consisted of three cells: the safety cell in the middle and cells at the front and rear which were flexibly connected to it. The text of the patent application explains the purpose of this design as follows: “The forces generated during a collision are [...] absorbed by the [front or rear] cell section.” Later on a catchy expression was coined for these areas of controlled deformation: they entered the language as “crumple-zones”.

Born in Austria-Hungary in 1907, Barényi entered employment at Daimler-Benz as an engineer in 1939. Initially he worked under the management of Karl Wilfert, on an experimental vehicle with an innovative floor assembly known as a “platform frame”. The Second World War interrupted Barényi’s research on solutions for improved passive safety. After the war he first worked as a self-employed engineer, and it was in this time that the “Terracruiser” and “Concadoro” studies were created that predated the later cellular body principle: both studies had a structurally very strong passenger cell in the middle, to which deformable crash cells at the front and rear were flexibly connected.

In 1948 he was reemployed by Daimler-Benz AG, and in the following months he turned many of his designs into new patents. Patent No. 845 157 registered in 1951 was particularly seminal. The development of the passenger safety cell at Mercedes-Benz also increased the awareness of developers where automotive safety in general was concerned. In the W 111 series (model 220b) presented in 1959, Barényi therefore not only realised his visionary safety body, but also introduced a new safety steering wheel that featured a large impact plate and a deformable connecting piece between the plate and the end of the steering column, which was moved forward.

In 1959 Daimler-Benz AG also started to carry out systematic crash tests with Mercedes-Benz saloon cars – the first of these tests was a frontal collision by a W 111-series car against a rigid barrier on 10 September 1959. The data obtained during these tests helped to ensure that the modern automobile with the safety body invented by Barényi became increasingly safe.

All in all Barényi patented around 2500 of his developments, most of them in the field of vehicle safety. In recognition of this achievement, Barényi was adopted into the “Automotive Hall of Fame” in 1994. The principles formulated by the “father of passive safety” in the mid-20th Century are also followed by today’s developments at Mercedes-Benz. In all of these, the safety body with its rigid passenger cell perfectly complements the numerous new solutions developed for passive and active vehicle safety.

Source: Daimler AG

And now, 125 years to the day, 29th January 2011 sees the launch of the latest development from Mercedes-Benz – the new CLS. This new generation of the four-door coupé embodies to perfection the remarkable capacity for innovation in the fields of design and technology which has characterised the brand with the three-pointed star for over a century. This combination of sensuality and sense is picked up by the 360° campaign for the market launch of the new CLS.

“There has never been a new vehicle concept which has enjoyed the same degree of success as the CLS. With the launch of this model in October 2004 Mercedes-Benz established a bold, new vehicle concept and the new version builds on this with its exciting design and refined sportiness”, says Anders Sundt Jensen, Head of Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars. “On top of this, the coupé offers even greater efficiency, agility and safety than before. Every driver of the new CLS will be able to feel this perfect combination of sensuality and sense which makes this such an unique vehicle. And that is what we focus on in the campaign.”

Campaign built around print advertising, a TV advertisement, pre-roll ads and a web special
The integrated advertising campaign comprises all the communications channels – from print advertising to TV and radio advertisements, pre-roll ads, an interactive web special and an iPad app all the way up to retail and interactive marketing activities. The campaign presents the CLS in a distinctive, purple-coloured cosmopolitan setting and underlines its claim to the leadership of the four-door coupé segment assuredly and authentically.

In the twelve different print advertisements, for example, the visual charisma of the vehicle is associated with succinct messages such as “Sensuality and sense”, or “Proud to present two high-lights”. Through this approach Mercedes-Benz underlines the status of the new coupé as a perfect combination of exciting beauty, innovative safety technology and sustainable mobility. These qualities derive from features – such as Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, new high-performance LED headlamps and efficient engines which consume up to 25 percent less fuel – offering the highest standards of safety, driving dynamics and economy.

The TV advertisement concentrates on the irresistible attraction of the CLS by playing on the idea of the desire for absolute freedom to make one’s own choices. It shows a middle-aged man who has swapped his successful career for a simple life in the mountains. Suddenly, he sees the CLS on a mountain road and is completely captivated by the exciting beauty of this coupé – it is a moment which changes his life once again.

Parallel to the TV advertisement there are three different films which run on the web and in cinemas. As well as presenting the excitement of the CLS they offer an amusing take on the energy-saving and environment-friendly BlueEFFICIENCY model as well as the unique LED technology. The innovative light system of the CLS is also explained in detail in a dedicated report on www.mercedes-benz.tv.

In addition to these measures, the CLS plays a starring role along with top model Karolina Kurkova in the visual for the international Mercedes-Benz Fashion engagement. The spectacular image, which captivates the viewer with its beauty, dynamism and flamboyance, will appear for the first time on posters, print advertisements and internet at the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin from 19th – 22nd January 2011.

Web special with a short story by best-selling author Joey Goebel already online
An interactive web special at www.mercedes-benz.com/cls has been giving visitors an impression of the new CLS ever since the world premiere of the vehicle. A short story by best-selling American author Joey Goebel allows users not only to experience the unique four-door coupé but also to assume the role of the main character and play an active role in the story “Sensuality and sense”. The highlights of the CLS are presented in additional short stories by Joey Goebel in the form of videos. A version of the interactive web special optimised for the iPad will be available in the App Store in February.

Source: Daimler AG

These advantages over the predecessor models translate into superior traction and greater fuel economy. Depending on the particular model, this means that fuel consumption is a mere 0.2 to 0.6 litres or so more per hundred kilometres than on an equivalent vehicle with conventional drive. The latest-generation 4MATIC only adds 50 to 70 kilograms of extra weight (depending on model) and boasts a compact design that now takes up less space. As a result, no modifications to the bodyshell are required and it does not encroach on the front-passenger footwell. What’s more, the compact design helps to improve noise and vibration levels.

Transfer case integrated in 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission
The 4MATIC transfer case, featuring a planetary centre differential and a pair of bevel gears acting as a lateral output to the front axle, is integrated into the 7G-TRONIC PUS automatic transmission that always comes as standard on the 4MATIC models. The centre differential produces the 45:55 torque split between the front and rear axles that has the aforementioned positive impact on handling stability and traction. Further highlights of the powertrain include the lateral output to the front axle as well as the rear universal joint that is integrated into the power take-off’s output gear. This space-optimised design enables the front axle propshaft to be run very close to the transmission without having to modify the bodyshell in any way.

The higher efficiency of the 4MATIC drive system compared to the predecessor models is largely down to the omission of the gear stage for the transfer case’s power take-off as well as an improved oil supply, since the integral design means that transmission and transfer case share the same oil circuit. This sophisticated 4MATIC technology together with the weight saving result in a substantial reduction in fuel consumption.

ADAPTIVE BRAKE: state-of-the-art brake control system ensures shortest stopping distances – even in wintry road conditions
The ADAPTIVE BRAKE control system incorporates the basic anti-lock braking system (ABS), acceleration skid control (ASR) and yaw control functions. ABS and ASR record and control the driving dynamics along the vehicle’s longitudinal axis, while the yaw control looks after the lateral dynamics. If ADAPTIVE BRAKE diagnoses critical driving situations, corrective braking and control of drive torque are used to maintain or restore traction and directional stability as far as is physically possible.

New additional braking functions make the ADAPTIVE BRAKE system even safer and more convenient. Hill-Start Assist prevents the vehicle from rolling in the opposite direction to that intended by the driver. The set of functions also includes brake priming: should the driver suddenly release the accelerator, the system prepares for possible panic braking by pressing the brake pads lightly against the brake discs. If the brakes are indeed applied with full force, the instantaneous build-up of pressure when the brake pedal is pressed shortens the stopping distance by a significant amount. Thanks to ADAPTIVE BRAKE’s ability to produce even the smallest brake pressures with great precision, it is possible to remove the film of water which forms on the brake discs in wet conditions by gently applying the brakes for a brief time. This shortens the brakes’ response time when driving in the wet, thus reducing the stopping distance even further. This function is triggered automatically once a certain number of windscreen wiper cycles has been reached and the driver has not applied the brakes in the meantime.

Source: Daimler AG

Get clicking to find out more about the talents behind the tunes- and this edition`s cover artist, photographer Tina Winkhaus, who decided to spice up our colour-coded series with an unusual interpretation! So, no need to feel ble – the latest Mixed Tape is ready for download! And there is more to come on December 7th – with a new compilation and plenty of sonic surprises.

Source: Mercedes-Benz.tv

“The young ‘breeding ground for new business ideas’ has pointed out new profitable growth opportunities for the Daimler Group and has found innovative solutions for the challenges of tomorrow’s automotive markets,” explains Dr. Martin Zimmermann, Vice President Strategy, Alliances & Business Innovation at Daimler AG.

“Business Innovation is today the right partner when it’s a matter of finding and rapidly marketing new products and services outside the Group’s core activities of developing, producing and distributing vehicles,” states Dr. Jérôme Guillen, Head of Business Innovation. With the help of Business Innovation, Daimler can push forward its internal innovation processes, allowing it to make better use of the Group’s enormous know-how and improving the networking of its talented and creative workforce.

When Business Innovation started in October 2007, the Board of Management of Daimler AG gave clear instructions to the team of 15 experienced executives under the leadership of Dr. Jérôme Guillen. Business Innovation aims to identify and utilize profitable growth opportunities along the value chain at the Group. The new – or hitherto unused – business ideas must have automotive relevance and revenue potential in line with the Group’s size.

Right from the start, the Business Innovation team worked like a startup company, but with the possibility to make use of the great expertise available at the Daimler Group. The members of the project teams develop new business ideas in close cooperation with the relevant specialist departments at the Group and also with external specialists when necessary. The marketability of a business idea is generally tested in a pilot project. “In pilot projects, we learn how the market works and what customers want very quickly,” says
Dr. Guillen. Lean, efficient processes and extremely good internal and external networking are the basis for the success of the Business Innovation department.

In addition, Business Innovation has strengthened the Daimler workforce’s entrepreneurial spirit over the past three years. With the electronic Web 2.0 Portal Business Innovation Community, a platform has been opened enabling employees all over the world to contribute their ideas, discuss them or develop them further. The Business Innovation Community meanwhile comprises 20,000 employees who have submitted 1,500 business ideas, 35 of which are now being worked on.

Some examples of successful ideas from the Business Innovation department:
car2go: An innovative urban mobility concept as an answer to traffic problems in urban areas. The pilot projects were started in Ulm in 2008 and in Austin, Texas in 2009 and have meanwhile transferred to regular operations. Registered car2go customers can spontaneously rent one of 200 smart fortwo cars in each of those cities, use it as long as they like, and then leave it on a public parking lot within the area of operation. The car rentals are charged by an inexpensive per-minute rate. There are now more than 20,000 users and up to 1,000 fully automated rentals each day in Ulm, and more than 10,000 users are registered in Austin. The company car2go GmbH was founded in March 2010 and will push forward with international commercialization in 2011.

car2gether: The car2gether pilot project started in Ulm in September 2010. car2gether is a web-based car-sharing community that can mediate car-sharing possibilities. Car-sharing can be offered or requested via smart phones or conventional computers. car2gether has been available also in Aachen since the beginning of October.

Solar roof for car2go edition: Business Innovation initiated a project entitled “Solar Energy for Vehicles” in 2009. At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the car2go edition was presented with a solar roof developed especially for the smart fortwo. This version of the smart will be used for car2go as of 2011.

Mercedes-Benz Young Classics: The first Young Classics Store was opened as a pilot at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart in 2009. The store sells so-called “youngtimers” – cars from the years of 1970 through 1990. With Young Classics, Daimler is closing the gap between new car sales and the highly specialized classic-car business of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Centers in Germany and the United States.
Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy: In the United Kingdom, the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy started as a pilot project in mid 2009, offering traffic-education programs for young people. The Driving Academy’s RoadSense product was offered in a pilot project by the Mercedes-Benz sales-and-service center in Stuttgart in June 2010. 36 school classes of young people between 13 and 15 years of age were able to participate in this traffic-education project.

Ex-factory driving aids: Since the beginning of 2010, ex-factory driving aids have been offered by the Mercedes-Benz sales-and-service centers in Freiburg, Stuttgart, Cologne and Hamburg. Customers with restricted mobility can order individually adapted vehicles. A total of fifteen different kinds of driving aids are on offer as well as a selection of seat modifications. Following a successful test phase, ex-factory driving aids have now been offered by all Mercedes-Benz outlets in Germany since the beginning of October. The idea for ex-factory driving aids came from the Business Innovation Community.

Style your smart: The worldwide “Style your smart” design competition has implemented the open-innovation approach in the automotive industry. In 2009, more than 8,000 smart and design fans from over 100 countries took part in a creative competition lasting about six weeks and placed more than 50,000 designs for the exterior of the smart fortwo on the website. The idea for the design competition came from the Business Innovation Community.

Source: Daimler AG

The prototype of the docking station is being presented at the Paris Motor Show in an S-Class, and the plan is to launch the integration solution for the iPad onto the market for a variety of Mercedes models after development for series production. Mounted on the back of the front seats at head restraint height, the holder significantly extends the usability of the iPad: the battery of the tablet PC begins to charge as soon as the device is placed in the holder.

Once at the destination, it can be simply removed without having to be switched off, and during the journey all of the entertainment products stored on the iPad can continue to be used. The docking station can be turned and tilted to achieve the best viewing angle, and if the vehicle is fitted with the Mercedes-Benz InCar Hotspot then even an iPad without UMTS functionality can enjoy the benefit of a full connection to the Internet.

The frame of the docking station, along with the attachment to the seat structure, have also been designed and verified in line with the high safety standards applied at Mercedes-Benz. A significant safety benefit is provided by the fact that the iPad is anchored in the docking station – unlike a device held in the hand or placed on a seat – and in the event of an accident cannot fly uncontrolled through the vehicle, potentially causing injury.

Installation of the docking station takes approximately 1.5 hours, and the vehicle does not require any preinstallation. All in all, the docking station is the perfect match for Mercedes-Benz in terms of its design, look and functionality, and at the same time also highlights the high quality feel of the vehicle interior.

Source: Daimler AG

Making of TV Spot BlueEFFICIENCY
An intersection in New York in two different areas: two worlds meet in the new Mercedes-Benz commercial. 50 protagonists, a lot of equipment and a great deal of creative minds were involved making an intersection look like it did over 100 years ago. What problems did people have to deal with back then? Watch now!

Source: Mercedes-Benz.tv

1 F. Alonso Ferrari 1:21.962
2 J. Button McLaren 1:22.084 +0:00.122
3 F. Massa Ferrari 1:22.293 +0:00.331
4 M. Webber Red Bull 1:22.433 +0:00.471
5 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:22.623 +0:00.661
6 S. Vettel Red Bull 1:22.675 +0:00.713
7 N. Rosberg Mercedes 1:23.027 +0:01.065
8 N. Hülkenberg Williams 1:23.037 +0:01.075
9 R. Kubica Renault 1:23.039 +0:01.077
10 R. Barrichello Williams 1:23.328 +0:01.366
11 A. Sutil Force India 1:23.199
12 M. Schumacher Mercedes 1:23.388 +0:00.189
13 K. Kobayashi Sauber 1:23.659 +0:00.460
14 S. Buemi Toro Rosso 1:23.681 +0:00.482
15 V. Petrov Renault 1:23.819 +0:00.620
16 J. Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1:23.919 +0:00.720
17 P. de la Rosa Sauber 1:24.044 +0:00.845
18 J. Trulli Lotus 1:25.540
19 H. Kovalainen Lotus 1:25.742 +0:00.202
20 V. Liuzzi Force India 1:25.774 +0:00.234
21 T. Glock Virgin 1:25.934 +0:00.394
22 L. di Grassi Virgin 1:25.974 +0:00.434
23 B. Senna HRT 1:26.847 +0:01.307 +0:00.873
24 S. Yamamoto HRT 1:27.020 +0:01.480

NICO ROSBERG
“Seventh place is definitely the best performance that was possible for us today so both I and the team can be pleased with that. However we obviously want to be further up the grid so we shouldn’t get too used to being happy with such results. In race trim, we are probably a little stronger than in qualifying, so I can hopefully gain a place or two tomorrow if something happens amongst the top six guys, and look to achieve some good points.”

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
“I am obviously not very happy with our qualifying today but my position is probably what my car was giving me. We did not have a perfect balance, especially in some corners where the car was a bit loose, but then we did not come here expecting to achieve a great performance. However the race will be long tomorrow and having been welcomed so nicely by all of my Italian fans, I obviously wish to at least grab some points for them.”

ROSS BRAWN
“The team and drivers have done a good job so far this weekend to get the most out of the car. It was a particularly good effort from Nico today to achieve seventh position with a strong run in Q3. We have a good high fuel set-up so we have done the work required for the race and can hope to pick up a place or two with both cars. Whilst we are not pushing the guys right at the front, we are maintaining our position just behind, and with our focus on 2011, that is our aim for the rest of this year.”

NORBERT HAUG
“Nico extracted the performance that was possible from the car today and it was a good job from him and the team to put the car in seventh place behind the Ferrari, McLaren Mercedes and Red Bull cars. Michael was close to making Q3 and he will start from the sixth row and hopefully be in a position to make up places and finish in the points. It looks like it is going to be an interesting race as the top three qualifiers are not the three drivers currently leading the World Championship so I am sure there will be a big fight between the top six drivers and that may help Nico to gain position.”

Source: Mercedes GP