Two of the new apps – the B-Class Guide, a useful online supplement to the printed manual, and the SL Bodywork App personal trainer – are now available free of charge. Both come in two versions, for downloading to Android smart phones and iPhones, respectively. The third newcomer, the Advantages App, is exclusively for the use of sales staff, as a customer relations resource in the showroom or out in the field.

The B-Class Guide App offers customers an interactive overview of their new B-Class and instructions on its operation ahead of the delivery of the new vehicle. Animations and short films supplement the information in the user manual, with extra detail on how particular features work and the operation of innovations such as the COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST. The app developers were determined to provide a user-friendly product, including a QuickStart menu item for instant access to summary overviews on specific topics. And the customary alphabetical search functionality is supplemented with a visual search option using 3D images. The Troubleshooting section provides valuable tips on such matters as changing the light bulbs. The B-Class guide is now available free of charge from App Store (for iPhones) and Google Play (for Android smart phones).

The outstanding sports performance of the SL is reflected in the new SL Bodywork App, the ideal personal trainer for people on the move. Users can put together a personalised programme of strength, stamina and balance exercises anytime, anywhere, simply by entering a few personal details such as age, height, weight, training focus and training level. They can monitor their progress using the integrated training history function. To boost motivation, achievements are rewarded with personal badges, similar to those awarded by national sports federations. These can be shared with friends on social networks. Some of these badges also qualify the user for access to exclusive video content. This app is available free of charge at www.mercedes-benz.com/sl, from App Store (for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad as from iOS 4.3) and Android Market.

Source: Daimler AG

On Sunday, Button will meet up with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team-mate and current DTM championship leader Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé). The winner of the first race of the new DTM era will then show him around the new DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, focusing particularly on the features that distinguish it from an F1 car. Once Button has familiarised himself with the controls, he will be offering his services as a ‘race taxi’ driver, to take the current DTM championship leader around the legendary English circuit.

The winner of the opening race of the 2012 Formula 1 season in Melbourne last competed at Brands Hatch in 1999 when he was contesting the British Formula 3 Championship, finishing each of the three races in the points.

On Sunday 20th May at 11:10 in front of the Mercedes-Benz hospitality suite, there will be an autograph session for fans followed by a question and answer session chaired by Mercedes-Benz DTM driver David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) who is the expert analyst on the BBC live coverage of Formula 1 racing.

Jenson Button: “Brands Hatch is one of the circuits where I cut my teeth in junior single-seaters and I have many fond memories of the place – in Formula Ford, the Formula Ford Festival, and in British Formula 3. It’s one of the greatest tracks in the world, and a place with an awful lot of motorsport history.

“It’s going to be a fantastic experience to head back to Brands Hatch to watch the DTM race there on May 20. I think the new DTM rules are going to provide the British fans with some really close, tense and exciting racing – and I’ll be hoping that Gary Paffett, my Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team-mate and our test and development driver, will be able to hold onto his lead in the championship with another win. “Gary’s also given me the chance to drive the DTM ‘race taxi’ with him – it’ll be the first time I’ve driven Brands since doing F3 there back in 1999. It’s going to be very cool.

“I think the DTM weekend will be a great event – it’s a fantastic series with some excellent, close racing and some of the best drivers in the world. For me, it’s going to be a great personal experience and a fantastic opportunity to get up-close and personal with all the British fans who have been supporting me over the years.”

Norbert Haug, Mercedes-Benz Motorsportchef: “Like most of the current crop of Formula 1 drivers, Jenson takes an interest in the DTM, so he was pleased to accept our invitation to the Brands Hatch weekend. I am sure he will have a lot of fun driving one of our DTM ‘race taxis’ and watching the race itself.”

Source: Mercedes AMG

This electric vehicle with fuel cells from Mercedes-Benz generates electricity on board in a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. With a range of around 400 km and short refuelling times, the B-Class F‑CELL combines locally emissions-free mobility with suitability for long journeys and impressive performance. The vehicle produces no emissions, but only pure water.

“I’m excited to be driving the F-CELL. It’s environmentally conscious, fun to drive and gets lots of attention on the streets”, says Diane Kruger. “I can travel around 400 kilometres on a full tank and it’s easy to refuel.” The B-Class F-CELL fuel tank can be filled in just three minutes. It develops 100 kW (136 hp), with fuel consumption equivalent to just 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres.

As well as the B-Class F-CELL, Mercedes-Benz has a selection of other vehicles with alternative drive systems, ranging from clean BlueTEC diesel models to hybrid vehicles such as the S 400 HYBRID, the vehicle of choice for Hollywood’s film makers and acting community. The S 400 HYBRID features a convenient start/stop function, which switches off the petrol engine if the car slows to below 15 km/h, for example when stopping at traffic lights. Furthermore, in 2012, Mercedes-Benz will launch the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID on the European market, and the E 400 HYBRID on the American market.

Other Hollywood stars who have chosen Mercedes-Benz vehicles for eco‑friendly mobility include Golden Globe winner Michelle Williams, Sofia Vergara, Bryan Cranston, 2011 Oscar winner Natalie Portman, Courteney Cox, Renée Zellweger, Katharine McPhee, Serena Williams and Nick Swisher.

Source: Daimler AG

This marks the 8th time that SLR. CLUB members are taking part in the traditional Italian race. The exclusive field comprised five SLR Coupés, seven Roadsters, three Roadster 722 S models and ten SLR Stirling Moss models. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, was on hand to wave off the main field of vehicles.

This year’s Mille Miglia is taking place from 17 to 20 May over a route from Brescia to Rome and back again. The participants in the race will be passing through some of the most beautiful cities in Italy, such as Verona, Florence and Bologna.

Mercedes-Benz is once again acting as a sponsor of the traditional Italian race. The Stuttgart works team is taking part with a Mercedes-Benz SS, an SSK, and a 300 SLR (W 196 S) racing car, evoking memories of Mercedes-Benz’s great victory in the famous 1000-mile race: in 1955, Stirling Moss and his co-driver Denis Jenkinson won the Mille Miglia at the wheel of a 300 SLR in the fastest time ever achieved – their record still stands to this day.

Source: Daimler AG

To commemorate the motorsport successes of the period and to keep the tradition of the brand’s exceptional racing history alive while also making historic motorsport even more attractive for private drivers, Mercedes-Benz Classic reconstructed a type 220 SE “fintail” saloon (series W 111) in 2011, for use in historic motorsport events.

The car meets the regulations of the FIA International Sporting Code, Appendix K (FIA – Féderation Internationale de l’Automobile). The vehicle is used in particular for the Dunlop FHR long-distance cup held by the Fahrergemeinschaft Historischer Rennsport e. V. (FHR) – the world’s biggest historical long-distance racing series as per Appendix K.

In the 1960s, competition vehicles typically bore close resemblance to production models in terms of technology. The usual modifications included stiffer suspension elements and body components, a larger fuel tank and an engine performance tuned specifically for the intended use.

When building the 220 SE, Mercedes-Benz Classic also followed the requirement to design a powerful competition vehicle using near-standard technology. The Classic Centre specialists made the following detailed modifications to the production vehicle, amongst others: the interior now has a roll cage with quick-connect safety coupling for side-impact fasteners such as door crossbars and side impact protectors (Fix Opening and Closure Security System, FO-CS for short).

The fintail has also been equipped with a fire extinguishing system and a 100-litre FT3 safety tank. The car will soon feature 5½ x 15 rims with 6.00 x 15 racing tyres. And of course, the W 111 has also been painted in the classic DB 140 light-grey livery which adorned the competition vehicles from 1961 to 1964.

Vehicle data for Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111)
Engine: six-cylinder (in-line)
Bore x stoke: 80 x 72.8 millimetres
Displacement: 2195 cc
Performance: 120 hp (88 kW) at 4800 rpm
Max. torque: 19.3 mkg (189 newton metres) at 3900 rpm
Front axle: double wishbones, coil springs, torsion bar stabiliser, telescopic shock absorbers
Power transmission: via propeller shaft to the rear axle
Rear axle: single-joint swing axle with compensating spring, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers
Brake system: hydraulic brake system with brake booster
Front brakes: disc brakes, 253 millimetres in diameter
Rear brakes: duplex drum brakes with turbo-cooled Alfin drums, 230 millimetres in diameter
Transmission: 4-speed floor shift transmission
Clutch: dry single-disc clutch
Maximum speed: approx. 170 km/h

Source: Daimler AG

The world-first CAMTRONIC, an innovative valve lift adjustment feature, makes a major contribution to this. There is a choice of 1.6 or 2-litre variants of the new four-cylinder engine family for the A-Class, covering a power range from 90 kW (122 hp) and 200 Nm to 155 kW (211 hp) and 350 Nm.

Thanks to BlueDIRECT and highly precise piezo-injection, the new engines are already expected to meet the Euro-6 emission standard for petrol engines coming into force from 2015. Even the much more stringent diesel particulate limit in the Euro-6 standard is already bettered with no additional exhaust aftertreatment. This was a major motivation for introducing BlueDIRECT into this segment as well. This means that the completely newly developed generation of four-cylinder petrol engines is ideally prepared for the future.

Extremely versatile
The basis for all three petrol engine variants in the new A-Class is the all-aluminium M 270 engine with two chain-driven overhead camshafts and four-valve technology. This power unit is extremely versatile, and will also be gradually introduced into larger model series. In this way it also contributes to a sustained reduction in production costs. The four-cylinder can be installed transversely (M 270) or longitudinally (M 274), and combined with front, rear or 4MATIC all-wheel drive, and also with a manual, automatic torque converter or dual clutch transmission.

The BlueDIRECT family has grown: three new petrol engines
The M270 engine is available in three power classes in the new A-Class. As the A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY with a displacement of 1595 cc it develops 90 kW (122 hp) and a maximum torque of 200 newton metres over a wide engine speed range from 1250 to 4000 rpm. With the basic engine and the 6-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch transmission (figures in brackets) the A-Class accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds (9.1 seconds), and has a top speed of up to 202 km/h (202 km/h). The fuel consumption and CO2 emission figures of 5.5 l/100 km (5.4 l/100 km, both NEDC combined) resp. 128 g/km (127 g/km) are so low that they possibly set a new record.

The A 200 BlueEFFICIENCY with the same displacement of 1595 cc develops 115 kW (156 hp) and a maximum torque of 250 Nm, which is likewise available from 1250 to 4000 rpm. It sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds (8.3 seconds) and has a top speed of 224 km/h (224 km/h), but is happy with an average 5.5 l/100 km of fuel (5.4 l/100 km), corresponding to CO2 emissions of 129 g/km (127 g/km).

The new, top engine variant with 1991 cc is available as the A 250 BlueEFFICIENCY or A 250 Sport. In both cases the engine develops 155 kW (211 hp) and a maximum torque of 350 Nm from 1200 to 4000 rpm. Performance is at sports car level, with acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 240 km/h. Nonetheless it has the best fuel consumption in this class at 6.1 l/100 km, and CO2 emissions of 143 g/km (A 250 BlueEFFICIENCY).

All engine variants are designed for customer-friendly operation with E10 premium petrol (95 RON).

Engine technology from the S-Class for the A-Class
The technology package in the new four-cylinder petrol engines includes a number of new developments which were introduced in 2010 with the ultra-modern BlueDIRECT V6 and V8 engines for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and are now available in the compact class for the first time.

The combustion process is based on third-generation Mercedes-Benz direct injection with highly precise, multiple piezo injection technology. In 2006 Mercedes-Benz was the first car manufacturer to introduce direct injection with spray-guided combustion into series production.

Piezo injectors for very low particulate emissions below the Euro-6 limits
Newly developed piezo injectors allow up to five injections per power stroke. In the warm-up phase this enables particulate emissions to be reduced by more than 90 percent. The overall result is that all emission figures including particulates are now already below the limits set by the Euro-6 emission standard, which only comes into force from 2015.

Compared with conventional multi-hole solenoid valves, piezo injectors have numerous advantages in petrol engines. The fuel vaporises up to four times as fast, the jet of fuel penetrates less deeply into the combustion chamber and the injectors are able to deliver minute quantities of fuel extremely precisely. All this prevents fuel from being deposited on the combustion chamber walls, resulting in significantly reduced particulate emissions. Moreover, multiple injections allow operating strategies for maximum fuel efficiency while improving cold-start characteristics.

The crystalline structure of the piezo-ceramic changes in microseconds under an electric voltage, and with a precision of just a few thousandths of a millimetre. The central component of a piezo-electric injector is the piezo-stack, which directly controls the metering needle. With a response time of just 0.1 milliseconds, the fuel injection can be very sensitively and precisely adjusted to the current load and engine speed, with a beneficial effect on emissions, fuel consumption and combustion noise.

Multi-spark ignition for optimal efficiency
The third-generation direct injection system also features “rapid multi-spark ignition” (MSI). Following the first spark discharge and a brief combustion period, the coil is recharged rapidly and a further spark is discharged. The MSI system enables up to four sparks to be discharged in rapid succession within one millisecond, creating a plasma with a larger spatial expansion than conventional ignition.
The rapid multi-spark ignition can be actuated to vary both the timing of the sparks and the combustion period to suit the relevant operating point. This provides scope for the best possible centre of combustion and improved residual gas compatibility. This in turn reduces fuel consumption.

Fuel savings of up to 4 percent are possible alone by the use of piezo-electric injection technology in combination with multi-spark ignition, depending on the driving cycle.

CAMTRONIC: up to ten percent lower fuel consumption
A trailblazing innovation known as CAMTRONIC is celebrating its debut in the 1.6-litre engine. For the first time in a turbocharged direct-injection engine, a load management system with an earlier intake cut-off and intake valve lift adjustment has been realised. This reduces the throttle losses under partial load, lowering fuel consumption. In the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), fuel consumption is reduced by three to four percent compared to the M 270 without CAMTRONIC. In day-to-day driving, which typically has a high proportion of partial load operation, the potential saving is even greater, with fuel savings of up to ten percent in certain operating ranges. This world first was developed completely in-house by the Mercedes-Benz Technology Center in Stuttgart and the Daimler engine plant in Berlin.

No turbo-lag thanks to scavenging
Above all, Mercedes-Benz engineers were able to obtain a high output from a small displacement by the use of a turbocharger. This forces the intake air into the combustion chambers at a pressure of up to 1.9 bar, with the turbine vanes rotating at up to 230,000 rpm. The charger has been designed to deliver high torque even at low engine speeds. A newly developed manifold turbocharger module is integrated and positioned in front of the engine for the best possible cooling. Separate exhaust ducting from the cylinders to the turbocharger and the high exhaust temperature of up to 1050 degrees Celsius make optimal use of the exhaust gas energy, producing a high output and outstanding responsiveness.

By using a combination of direct injection and variable adjustment of the intake and exhaust camshafts, the developers were also able to exploit the advantages of so-called scavenging: partly overlapping the opening times of the intake and exhaust valves causes some of the cold intake air to flush the hot exhaust gas from the cylinder into the exhaust manifold, which considerably improves charging compared to conventional operation.

Especially at low engine speeds, and thanks to the increased mass flow in the exhaust tract, the turbocharger also responds much more rapidly – this completely avoids any “turbo-lag” or delay when moving off. The direct injection system ensures that the fresh gas is not yet mixed with fuel when it enters the cylinder, as would be the case in engines with manifold injection. There are therefore no undesirable scavenging losses, i.e. unburned fuel flushed into the exhaust manifold.

Torque levels like a diesel
As a result the new 1.6-litre four-cylinder in the A-Class already delivers its maximum torque at 1250 rpm, maintaining it to 4000 rpm. The 2.0-litre even does a little better: its maximum torque of 350 Nm is already available from 1200 rpm, which means that for low-end torque it leads the field for four-cylinder engines.

In combination with the new 7G-DCT transmission, whose control unit
communicates with the engine management system, the new four-cylinder responds to the accelerator very readily. At cruising speed a higher ratio can be chosen, which further improves fuel consumption and noise level. The turbocharged engines also maintain their exemplary fuel consumption under high loads, as the outstanding cooling system only makes a richer mixture necessary at speeds above 200 km/h. A two-piece water jacket with optimised cross-flow cooling and fine, only three-millimetre wide cooling ducts between the spark plugs and injectors bring the coolant to the right places.

Thermal management shortens the warm-up phase
A new thermal management system has also been developed: in cold state, a switchable water pump with flow-optimised ball valve ensures that no coolant flows through the engine, providing for swift heating-up of the combustion chambers after starting up the engine. The thermostat is electronically controlled and the coolant temperatures are adjusted according to driving style and ambient conditions. The thermostat itself is also a flow-optimised ball valve. In the interest of high efficiency, the volumetric flow of the oil pump is also controlled as in the V engines.

Controlled oil pump with two pressure stages
The variable vane-type oil pump operates with two pressure stages, depending on the characteristic map. At low engine speeds and loads the pump runs at a low pressure of two bar. At this time the oil-spray nozzles for piston cooling are switched off. The high-pressure stage is activated at the upper load and engine speed levels. Thanks to this control concept, depending on engine load and engine speed the lubrication and cooling points of the engine can be supplied with significantly lower drive energy than would be possible with an uncontrolled pump.

New coolant ducting and 3-phase thermal management
The coolant ducting in the cylinder head is also completely new. The water mantle is of two-piece construction to improve flow. This leads to specific increases in flow speeds and heat dissipation at certain points, accompanied by a rigorous reduction in pressure losses throughout the coolant circuit. This has made it possible to reduce the power output of the water pump despite an increased engine output.

As it warms up, the flow of coolant is regulated by a 3-phase thermal management system so that it rapidly reaches normal operating temperature. Initially the coolant remains at rest in the engine. It then circulates in the engine circuit, but without the radiator. When a temperature of 105 degrees Celsius has been reached in normal operation (87 degrees Celsius under high load), the vehicle’s radiator is included in the circuit.

ECO start/stop function with direct-start
The start/stop system included as standard in all models operates with starter-supported direct-start. This means that when the engine is switched off, the attitude of the crankshaft is registered by a new crankshaft sensor so that the engine control unit knows the positions of the individual cylinders. On restarting, it can then select the cylinder that is in the most suitable position for first ignition. After the starter has briefly turned over the engine, reliable injection, ignition and combustion is immediately possible in the ideally positioned cylinder.

First use of Lanchester balancer shifts with antifriction bearings in a petrol engine
The secondary inertia forces inherently occurring in a four-cylinder in-line engine are compensated by two Lanchester balancer shafts in the bottom of the engine block. Mercedes-Benz is the first automobile manufacturer to use antifriction bearings to balance masses: imbalances are compensated by cylinder roller bearings, with axial forces from the gearing taken up by a ball bearing. This arrangement not only improves driving comfort, but also helps to lower fuel consumption thanks to considerably less friction. In view of the more favourable connecting rod configuration, the 1.6-litre version requires no Lanchester dynamic balancing.

Minimised friction
Particular attention was also paid to reduced friction. This was primarily achieved by a reduction in flow through the oil and water pumps, low-friction pistons, piston rings and cylinder walls, plus the new thermal management system and chain drive.

The engine and transmission are mounted at four points by an engine mounting, a transmission mounting and two pendulum supports. These are specially configured for the needs of the high-torque engine variants with a view to maximum noise comfort. The hydraulic damping integrated into the transmission mounting also contributes decisively to the excellent driving comfort.

Overview of technical data for the A-Class with petrol engine

Source: Daimler AG

Because the system is familiar with the topography of the road ahead, it is able to respond in a way that will deliver the most fuel-efficient performance. This new driver assistance system really comes into its own when negotiating up- or downhill gradients. As the first GPS-based cruise control system, Predictive Powertrain Control not only intervenes to control speed and braking, but can now also regulate the transmission. The system thus extends use of the fuel-saving EcoRoll function, which is fitted as standard on the Actros, and will furthermore insert a carefully judged single or double downshift of gear at an early stage, where appropriate.

A first stage of development saw Daimler Trucks introduce a GPS speed regulator, without gearshift intervention, some three years ago as an option for its Freightliner branded trucks in the USA. When it was launched onto the market in 2009 this system, which was available in overseas markets under the name “Predictive Cruise Control” was the first cruise control system to be so “farsighted”. Combining geodetic data with the ability to pinpoint the vehicle’s position through the Global Positioning System (GPS) makes “predictive” driving in cruise control mode possible.

The new development from Mercedes-Benz builds on this basis, using its knowledge of the road ahead when driving up or downhill. In doing so, Predictive Powertrain Control turns the classic and inherent disadvantage of a non-regulated cruise control system into clearly measurable advantages: fully laden long-distance haulage trucks such as the new Actros 1845 BlueTec 6 can achieve fuel savings of around three percent in long-distance operations over moderately difficult topography compared with “non-regulated” examples fitted with a classic cruise control system.

Predictive Powertrain Control relies on data fusion
Predictive Powertrain Control is representative of a new type of technology that brings together the technology that is already in the vehicle with external data from its surroundings. As a result, and thanks to its profound understanding of both the vehicle and the route, this intelligent cruise control system with transmission intervention delivers a driving performance that could only be matched by an extremely motivated truck driver with an exceptional level of concentration. To put it another way: Predictive Powertrain Control exploits the fuel-saving potential of the new Actros right to the very last drop.

Operating a vehicle with Predictive Powertrain Control is just as easy as you would expect with any Mercedes-Benz truck. In essence, all the driver has to do is to operate the speed regulator. Over and above the parameters that could previously already be set, just one further critical value needs to be defined. Alternatively, the driver can simply rely on the parameters as pre-set at the start of each journey. Over the course of the trip, the most important variables can then be very easily fine-tuned via the menu of the on-board computer.

Source: Daimler AG

for the first time – with the A 180 CDI – a Mercedes-Benz will emit just 98 g of CO2 per kilometre. As a further highlight, the A 220 CDI already meets the Euro-6 emission standard only coming into effect from 2015.

The diesel engines also boast extreme efficiency and environmental friendliness, thanks to state-of-the-art injection technology and turbocharging. The A 180 CDI kicks off at 80 kW (109 hp) and offers maximum torque of up to 250 Nm (dual clutch transmission) or 260 Nm (6-speed manual transmission). In the A 200 CDI the maximum power output stands at 100 kW (136 hp), accompanied by maximum torque of 300 Nm. The A 220 CDI has a displacement of 2.2 litres and generates 125 kW (170 hp) with 350 Nm of torque, giving the performance of the A-Class a decidedly sporty touch.

From the S-Class to the A-Class: the diesel engines of the OM 651 series
Since its world premiere in 2008 the direct-injection diesel engine known as the OM 651 has been setting standards in terms of performance and torque characteristics, economy, emissions and smooth running. It is in more widespread use than any other Mercedes-Benz diesel engine and serves as a model of efficiency and power right up to the S-Class. For transverse installation the belt drive for the ancillary units, the installed position of the turbocharger and the air ducting have been modified.

Replete with Mercedes-Benz know-how: the OM 607
For the A 180 CDI with manual transmission Mercedes-Benz has had recourse to its cooperation with Renault to achieve fuel economy advantages from a compact, lightweight, low-friction engine which has been rigorously downsized. The common-rail four-cylinder with a rail pressure of 1600 bar is currently in its sixth generation, with more than 1.3 million units produced each year. This 1.5-litre engine with low-pressure EGR generates 80 kW (109 hp). With 98 g of CO2 per kilometre, it is among the most environmentally friendly diesels in the compact car segment. The turbocharger features variable turbine geometry (VTG).

This engine with the in-house designation OM 607 weighs around 30 kilograms less than an OM 651. Numerous components are specific to Mercedes-Benz, for example the OM 607 has the engine mountings of the M 270 petrol engine, as well as a special two-mass flywheel. The starter flanged onto the transmission, the alternator and the refrigerant compressor also come from the Mercedes modular system, and are driven by a belt with six grooves.

Like all Mercedes engines, the OM 607 was required to absolve the extensive engine test programme involving bench-testing and endurance runs. The application effort devoted to the OM 607 by Mercedes-Benz was very considerable. In a joint project team of Mercedes and Renault personnel the engine was especially improved with respect to NVH and driveability. Coordination work also went into the ECO start/stop function included as standard. This Mercedes-specific feature also operates at temperatures down to minus 10 degrees Celsius, for example, and can therefore make a more
frequent contribution to fuel economy.

No less than three versions are used in the new A-Class:
- Dynamic to drive, extremely efficient and outstandingly clean, the A 220 CDI is only available in combination with the 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission. The 125 kW (170 hp) top diesel is equipped with a weight-optimised crankshaft with individual bearing covers bolted from below and four counterweights, enabling it to tip the scales at around six kilograms less than a longitudinally installed OM 651 of the same displacement. The single-stage turbocharger has larger dimensions than that in the 80 and 100 kW variants. The A 200 CDI has multiple exhaust gas recirculation (see “Under the microscope”) to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. It already meets the Euro-6 emission standard coming into force from 2015. ith 112 g of CO2 per kilometre (provisional figure) the A 220 CDI sets new standards in its segment. With a displacement of 2.2 litres the engine is comparatively large, and therefore already agile at low rpm. “Downspeeding” is the term used by the engine specialists at Mercedes-Benz to describe this combination of a large displacement and low engine speeds. As a result it has been possible to make the ECONOMY mode of the 7G-DCT transmission decidedly economical and comfortable. If the driver selects “S”, gearshifts are performed much faster and the ratio spread uses the rpm reserves of the engine for dynamic performance.The performance of the A 220 CDI – which is available in BlueEFFICIENCY and Sport versions – is at sports car level with 7.8 seconds from zero to 100 km/h and a top speed of 227 km/h.

- The 1.8-litre engine variant is used in the A 180 CDI with the 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission and the A 200 CDI. The displacement was reduced by shortening the stroke (83 mm instead of 99 mm). The significantly longer connecting rods ensure lower transverse friction, and the two Lanchester balancer shafts are also of low-friction design. The single-stage turbocharger was optimised for efficiency and features adjustable vanes. With a distance between cylinders of 94 millimetres and cylindrical gears driving the camshafts, transverse installation and the necessary length restriction were part of the design specification from the very start.

To realise the start/stop function, the belt drive is decoupled from the crankshaft in all three engines.

Other common features include:
– Common rail technology with a rail pressure increased to 1800 bar. The maximum ignition pressure of 180 bar also contributes to the high power output and a muscular torque curve.
– The oil injection nozzles and the water pump are activated only when required, in order to save energy and fuel. The controlled oil pump additionally reduces oil flow and thus fuel consumption.
– The engine block is made of cast iron, the cylinder head of aluminium.
– A two-piece water jacket in the cylinder head provides for optimum cooling in the area of the combustion chamber plate. This enables an ignition pressure of 200 bar and a high specific power output.
– The cast iron barrels have undergone considerably finer honing than on the predecessor, also contributing to the reduction in fuel consumption.
– To compensate for the second-order forces which are inherent to four-cylinder in-line engines there are two Lanchester balancer shafts at the bottom of the engine block running in low-friction roller bearings rather than conventional plain bearings.
– The two-mass flywheel has been specifically designed for high engine torque at low engine speeds in order to isolate the crankshaft’s vibration stimuli, thereby contributing to the engine’s excellent smooth running.

Overview of technical data for the A-Class with diesel engine

Source: Daimler AG

With the start of series production, Mercedes-Benz once more takes the lead in the field of eco-friendly buses. Based on pioneering diesel technology, they reduce CO2 emissions and ensure a clean environment for our towns and cities. “In anticipation of Euro VI, we are launching a clean urban bus which provides an affordable means of promoting widespread environmental practice among transport operators,” says Hartmut Schick, head of Daimler Buses. The company has already supplied its first touring coaches with Euro VI in the form of the Travego Edition 1.

A true feat of engineering: technology saves 1 000 litres of diesel per year
One of the inherent features of Euro VI emissions technology is that it increases fuel consumption. And yet the Mercedes-Benz Citaro manages to use even less than ever. To achieve this, the engineers have really put their innovative thinking caps on. As just one example: during braking or coasting down a slope, the alternators generate “free” electricity that is then stored on board the truck in a series of super-condensers.

A second example: the rear door entrances are now lower. When “kneeling” or lifting again at a bus stop, the bus therefore requires less energy. All in all, the Citaro with Euro VI saves around three to five percent fuel. With normal service mileage, it will therefore use around 1 000 litres less diesel and emit around 2.6 tonnes less CO2 each year.

New engines with great technical features
Working away at the back of this best-selling regular-service bus are some new engines. The six-cylinder in-line units with a displacement of either 7.7 or 10.7 litres deliver output ranging from 220 to 290 kW (299 to 394 hp). The tried and tested Mercedes-Benz SCR emission control system with AdBlue injection and closed-loop particulate filter is combined here with an exhaust gas recirculation system.
The engines are characterised by a number of special technical highlights. The smaller power unit, for example, is the first diesel engine in the world to feature an adjustable exhaust camshaft. It injects fuel at a pressure of up to 2 400 bar – which is around a thousand times the pressure in a passenger car tyre. The larger six-cylinder engine features the unique X-PULSE injection system with pressure booster.

Citaro: the cleanest regular-service bus with diesel engine
The new Citaro with Euro VI is the cleanest diesel-powered regular service bus. Optimised combustion processes and a complex emission control system reduce the emission of soot particles to just three percent of what was possible 20 years ago with Euro I. Emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen to five percent.

To accommodate the new engines and the complexities of the emission control system, the Citaro now features a new tail end design. The potential extra weight of Euro VI is compensated for here by a number of measures, ranging from a lightweight glass-fibre-reinforced plastic roof to a weight-optimised rear axle. As a result the payload, and thus the number of passengers who can be accommodated in the Citaro, remains unchanged.

The new Citaro is rolling off the production line at the Mannheim plant. EvoBus GmbH produces urban buses, inter-city buses and touring coaches here with a workforce of around 3 500.

Source: Daimler AG

Nico followed a three-stop tyre strategy, pitting on laps 9, 22 and 40. Nico’s tyre usage was soft (9 laps), soft (13 laps), hard (18 laps), hard (26 laps). Michael retired in turn one at the start of lap 13 following a collision with Bruno Senna’s Williams. The 2012 season has now seen five winners from five races, something that last occurred in 1983.

Nico Rosberg
“That was a difficult day for us and a very strange race. We didn’t manage to find the right tyre management so I lost two positions towards the end of the race on my last stint which was 26 very long laps. The one positive thing is that I was able to defend my position against Lewis and keep seventh place, rather than eighth. Once again today we saw a surprising and well deserved win which is good for Formula One. Congratulations to Pastor and Frank at my old team Williams! Now I’m looking forward to my home race in Monaco in two weeks with some updates on the car.”

Michael Schumacher
“Obviously I am not happy with the outcome of the race as I think we could have achieved some nice points today. But then this is sometimes what you have to go through in racing. It is not easy to see from the TV replays but what happened from my viewpoint was that he went to the right to defend the inside line, and then suddenly, shortly before the braking point, went to the left. When you are so tight together in the braking zone, you have no other choice than to try to react and avoid hitting but it was too late. It is a shame, as I said, but then what I will do now is to look ahead to the next race and try to attack there.”

Bob Bell
“We spent our afternoon racing hard with Red Bull and McLaren – but it was only for places in the bottom half of the top ten today. We didn’t have the basic pace we needed this afternoon, and we were hampered further with an issue on Nico’s car. There was a clear loss of downforce measurable on the data, which made it even more difficult for Nico to look after the tyres properly, but whether this was down to damage or another factor is something we will have to investigate this evening. Naturally, it was a disappointment to lose Michael early in the race, after his pace had looked reasonable in the opening stint. The team did a good job on the stops and I believe we made the right tactical decisions to protect Nico’s position at critical moments of the race, even though he ultimately ran out of grip in the closing laps on a long final stint. The basic fact is that we needed more pace today, which is what we must bring over the coming races. And we will.”

Norbert Haug
“A difficult race for us, and Nico went from fifth to seventh place in the last laps because our car could not use the tyres during such a long stint, so he could not repeat the lap times he had done before. Michael had an accident with a slower car which he attempted to overtake. After five races, there are five different winners from five different teams, and I am told this last happened 30 years ago. Congratulations to the Williams team and to Pastor Maldonado today – well done and great for them to win on such a demanding circuit. After five races and a quarter of the season, Nico is 20 points behind the leader. We have to raise our game in the next races and during the remainder of the season and I am sure that all our team members will work very hard to make the next steps and to achieve a better level of performance than we had today.”

Source: Mercedes AMG Petronas

For many years, a Grand Prix in Barcelona was synonymous with almost no overtaking – there were an average of just two overtaking moves per race between 2008 and 2010. That all changed last year: not only did ‘normal’ (i.e. non-DRS assisted) overtakes increase by a factor of ten – with a total of 22 – but DRS enabled a further 29 overtakes, for a race total of 51; in other words, 25 times more than in the previous three years.

With much discussion about the most unpredictable start to a Formula One season for nearly 30 years, with four winners from as many races, and eight different drivers from six teams on the podium so far this season, has the composition of the racing changed materially compared to 2011?

How much overtaking have we seen in the first four races of the 2012 season?
The raw total for the number of passes the first four races of 2012 is remarkably similar to that from 2011 – 327 compared to 326 in 2011. This figure includes passes made because of damage, and those on cars from the three slowest teams, but does not include position changes on lap one.

How does the data compare when you drill down into more detail?
In 2011, there were a total of 220 normal and DRS overtakes in the first four races (NB: this figure does not include passes on the slowest three teams by faster cars); in 2012, there have been 215. However, in 2011, these were split 50:50 between normal and DRS overtakes in the first four races. In 2012, this split has been 68:32 in favour of normal overtaking. This compares to a season average from 2011 of 55:45 between normal and DRS overtaking, suggesting that the amount of normal overtaking has seen a significant proportional increase relative to last year.

Is DRS becoming less influential than it was last year?
In the first four races of 2011, there were two (China, Turkey) in which the number of DRS overtakes exceeded the total normal overtakes. Overall, there were eight of 19 races in 2011 at which DRS overtaking exceeded normal. So far in 2012, this has not occurred – in other words, there has been more normal overtaking than DRS overtaking at every race this year. However, it does not necessarily follow that DRS is becoming less influential; for example, even if a following driver does not pass in the DRS zone, the lap time advantage the DRS provides can help with conserving tyres, or allow the strategic deployment of KERS elsewhere on the circuit to pass outside the DRS zone.

Has the overall amount of overtaking increased in 2012?
It is hard to say at this early stage. In 2011, the average number of normal and DRS overtakes per race was 43. So far, there have been on average 54 moves per race in 2012 – a clear increase on 2011. However, by way of direct comparison, the first four races of 2011 saw an average of 55 moves.

Can any direct comparisons be made from circuit to circuit?
The most meaningful comparisons so far can be drawn from the races in Australia and China, which were run on the same circuits and in similar conditions both years. The 2011 season opener (the first race at which DRS was ever used) featured a total of 17 normal and DRS passes; in 2012, there was exactly twice as much passing – 34 overtakes in total. What’s more, although the 2012 race featured two DRS passing zones, this did not see a large relative increase in DRS assisted overtaking: DRS accounted for 30% of passing in 2011 and 35% of passing in 2012.

In China last year, there were 67 normal and DRS overtakes – with normal overtakes accounting for 30 of them (45%). This year saw 69 passes, but 41 of them were normal overtakes (59%). The DRS zone remained identical to last year, but the race saw a significantly larger proportion of normal overtaking.

What should be expected in Barcelona?
Last year’s race saw a total of 51 normal and DRS overtakes – above the season average of 43 moves. However, DRS overtakes accounted for 57% of these. It will be interesting to see if this is repeated, or whether the 2012 trend for a greater proportion of normal overtakes is maintained.

Source: Mercedes AMG

Today’s qualifying was dominated by a strategic use of tyre sets with a view to tomorrow’s race. Just three teams got both their cars into the top ten shoot-out this afternoon, including MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS. Tomorrow’s grid will see four different teams starting from the top four positions. P2 to P6 on the grid were covered by less than two and a half tenths of a second.

Nico Rosberg
“That was a tricky Qualifying session this afternoon, and seventh position was about the most that we could have achieved. It was a challenge to find the right set-up for the tyres and some of the others did that better than we did today. However with a good strategy tomorrow, we can hopefully gain some places. This has been a mixed up season so far and it’s interesting to see that there are some new guys on the front row tomorrow.”

Michael Schumacher
“We wanted to save tyres this afternoon, which dictated how we managed Q3. I did not complete a timed lap, and now I still have the choice of what tyres to start on tomorrow. Equally, I thought it was better to start from ninth on the grid than eighth, and be on the clean side. It’s clear that some teams have taken a step forward after the three-week break. And I would also say that the field is now even closer together. It’s going to be a tight race tomorrow, although the forecast says it should be cooler, and it will be interesting to see if our choices today pay off at the end of the race.”

Bob Bell
“We completed useful race preparation work this morning, showed some improvement and went into qualifying expecting an interesting session due to the desire to save tyres for the race. The story of qualifying indeed turned out to be one of managing tyre use, and it certainly delivered a unique session. From a team perspective, we got two cars into the top ten and both drivers will start from the cleaner side of the grid, while our positions were probably as good as we could have achieved with the way we chose to use the tyres. Tomorrow’s forecast is still for cooler temperatures, and with what we have seen both this weekend and this season so far, we know that a difference of several degrees in track temperature can make a huge difference to how different cars perform. We can expect a very interesting race.”

Norbert Haug
“A qualifying dominated by tyre saving which most of the teams did and we were no exception. Some sessions are tight, like Q2 when 0.048s separated P5 from P10, others are not, as Lewis’ impressive qualifying time more than half a second ahead of P2 proved. Having said that, it is most likely that we will see changes in the top ten order from today at the end of the race tomorrow. Our target will be to score points with both cars posting consistent lap times as Nico did during his long run at the end of the final practice session this morning.”

Source: Mercedes AMG Petronas

The coveted award was presented to FleetBoard Managing Director Markus Lipinsky at the GIL 2012: European conference for Growth, Innovation & Leadership, in London. The provider of smart telematics solutions was honoured for its innovations and for recording the industry’s highest annual growth rates during the past three years.

The International business consultancy firm, Frost & Sullivan, had evaluated and compared leading suppliers of telematics services in Europe on the basis of four different criteria. In doing so it used a proprietary, certified research method and analyzed the range of standard equipment in the truck, the increase in modular product components, the expansion in new regions, and the establishment of growing partnerships. FleetBoard was the undisputed winner in this study, which guaranteed it the “2012 Growth Leadership Award”.

One of the reasons why Frost & Sullivan chose FleetBoard for the award is because the company is pursuing a new strategy of introducing telematics as standard equipment for trucks across Europe in order to strike out in new directions in a consolidating market. Frost & Sullivan also noted that FleetBoard provides a wide product range for all commercial vehicle segments, brands, and markets. Our company also offers expanded back office integration and vehicle-related logistics management solutions that greatly help boost the efficiency of commercial fleets. In addition, Frost & Sullivan pointed out that FleetBoard had penetrated markets outside Germany in order to increase its global presence in places such as Europe, Brazil, South Africa, and the Middle East. The study came to the conclusion that FleetBoard’s extensive experience, proximity to truck development units, use of Mercedes-Benz’ European sales network, and long-term partnerships with hardware and software suppliers are creating the basis for ergonomic growth in the years ahead.

“The Frost & Sullivan Award is a convincing argument to win over European transportation companies looking for a user-friendly and future-proof telematics solution,” says Markus Lipinsky, Managing Director of Daimler FleetBoard GmbH. “The trust expressed by more than 2,500 customers worldwide and the fact that 100,000 units were installed this year alone demonstrate that FleetBoard’s growth is unparalleled”.

Source: Daimler AG

“The decision in favor of the escooter has been made,” announced Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, on the sidelines of the international dealer meeting in Davos, Switzerland. “With this step, we are adding a further important component to our smart mobility concept for urban mobility in the future,” he added.

Back in 2010, smart unveiled a comprehensive portfolio of electric products for urban transport at the Paris Motor Show. In addition to the smart fortwo electric drive as a coupé and a convertible, it includes the smart ebike and the escooter. smart is now consistently turning this concept into reality: the smart fortwo electric drive will be launched on the market in summer 2012, and delivery to customers of the first ebikes is just beginning. The fully electric escooter will be premiered within the next two years. The design of the escooter study is being developed and refined further. With its many innovative and trendsetting features, the new product will be unmistakably a genuine smart. Just like the ebike, the escooter will also be available for customers who (as yet) have no driver’s license for cars as a smart on two wheels.

“Anyone who thinks of urban mobility has to think of smart,” says Dr. Annette Winkler, the head of smart. “We offer the perfect zero-emissions vehicle for every requirement, and with our products, electric travel is a lot of fun too.”

A number of external studies and the awards that the brand has recently won illustrate how much the ideas from smart are in tune with today’s demands for individual urban mobility.

“We are especially proud that the ebike received the red dot award, and that our comprehensive mobility concept won the 2012 iF product design award,” Dr. Winkler added.

The judging panel for the red dot awards gave the coveted “best of the best” predicate to the series production version of the 2012 smart ebike. This year, the iF product design award, which has been internationally recognised since 1953, singled out the smart mobility concept, consisting of the smart electric drive, the smart ebike, and the smart escooter, as an excellent overall concept for urban mobility.

Source: Daimler AG

Announced by Nick Fry and Michael Schumacher at the W Hotel in Barcelona this morning, the new partnership will allow Starwood to build business relationships within the sport and see the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team stay in Starwood hotels as they travel to various Grand Prix venues on the Formula One calendar.

Starwood will also use the opportunity presented by the global audience of Formula One to promote their Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) programme and increase consumer awareness of the benefits available to frequent travellers.

Ross Brawn, Team Principal of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS commented: “We are very pleased to have agreed a new team partnership with Starwood, and to welcome the brand to Formula One for the first time. As regular travellers will tell you, a good hotel can make a real difference to your trip, and I am delighted that our team will have the opportunity to experience some of the Starwood hotel portfolio as we travel around the world. We are very much looking forward to working with Starwood and helping to promote their Starwood Preferred Guest programme to a new audience.”

Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President, Distribution Loyalty & Partnership Marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts said: “We are extremely proud to be an official team partner of the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. The Starwood Preferred Guest programme goes beyond gaining and redeeming points, it’s about building a deeper relationship with our guests. We want to offer our members exclusive experiences that they are most passionate about – be it sports, music or arts. Through our collaboration with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS, members can connect with their passion for the entertaining world-class sport.”

Source: mercedes AMG

The vehicles are currently demonstrating their capability in camouflaged guise, but the covers will come off for the Commercial Vehicle IAA in September and the start of sales. With the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz Antos, Mercedes-Benz becomes the first manufacturer to have a truck series that has been specially developed for the very varied requirements of the short-radius distribution transport industry.

The Mercedes-Benz Antos promises both transport operators and drivers the benefits of easy and well thought-out handling as well as outstanding efficiency. The general styling and the design idiom of the Mercedes-Benz Antos reveal its relationship with the Mercedes-Benz Actros, but the very different requirements for the cab give it an unmistakable character of its own.

The 2.30-metre-wide cabs, designed specifically for the short-radius distribution transport market, are available in either short ‘S’ or medium-size ‘M’ versions. Both offer a convincing combination of easy access, optimised ergonomics and intuitive controls.

The beating heart of the new model series is provided by the latest Euro VI range of engines with “Blue Efficiency Power”, produced in Mannheim and launched in March of this year. With a total of 13 power categories, the Mercedes-Benz Antos covers a broad spectrum of engine power from 175 kW (238 hp) to 375 kW (510 hp). The new vehicles are available as either platform trucks or tractor units in a total of 67 different wheelbase lengths, with the axle spacing ranging from a minimum of 2650 mm up to a maximum of 6700 mm. The driver is helped in his everyday duties by a fully automated PowerShift transmission, amongst other features. Safety can also be further improved by the addition of optional safety systems such as Active Brake Assist, which reacts to stationary obstacles.

The new specialists
The basic range of models available with the new Mercedes-Benz Antos short-radius distribution truck and the new Mercedes-Benz Actros long-distance transport truck is extended by the addition of further specialist models that increase the efficiency of both model series still further. With an unladen weight of around six tonnes, the Loader is designed to maximise the payload, while the low coupling point and low frame height of the Volumer, together with an interior height of three metres, maximise the vehicle’s load capacity.

Heavy-duty short-radius distribution operations
Heavy-duty short-range distribution involves, above all, the regional transportation of commodities such as food, with the retail sector one of the key areas served. The platform trucks with refrigerated or box bodies that are so often used here spend more or less equal proportions of their time in urban traffic, on country roads and on the motorway.

This operating profile gives rise to very specific requirements of the optimum vehicle for heavy-duty short-radius distribution work: what is needed is a vehicle with good all-round visibility that is easy to operate and configured for single-day tours. A broad spectrum of engine power is required in order to cope with varying regional topography and different loads; many stops and the frequent need to change route make professional logistics management essential; and of course – on top of all this – the operator wants a vehicle that, as his ‘calling card’, conveys a representative image of his company.

Source: Daimler AG

SLS AMG GT3 customer teams can book Maro Engel for test or racing sessions
as part of the driver support programme from AMG Customer Sports and can therefore draw on his great know-how as a racing driver. Maro Engel will be supporting his colleagues Bernd Schneider and Thomas Jäger, who have accompanied the SLS AMG GT3 throughout its entire development and testing programme and are also available for customer team bookings.

In his new role for Mercedes-AMG, Engel will be on hand as a point of contact at press and customer events. As a new member of the AMG Driving Academy’s team of instructors, he will also be actively involved on location at race tracks. Here too, he will join forces with Bernd Schneider and Thomas Jäger, who belong to the AMG Driving Academy’s core team, along with Bernd Mayländer (driver of the official F1 Safety Car), Karl Wendlinger and Susie Wolff (DTM driver for Mercedes-Benz).

According to Maro Engel: “I am looking forward to some new and exciting roles with AMG. As a brand ambassador and instructor, I will pass on my motorsports know-how to customers of the AMG Driving Academy. And as part of the driver support team at AMG customer sports events in particular, I am also looking forward to passing on my four years of experience as a Mercedes-Benz DTM driver to AMG customer teams, as well as being able to climb into the cockpit of the SLS AMG GT3 myself.”

According to Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “With Maro Engel, Bernd Schneider, Karl Wendlinger, David Coulthard and of course Susie Wolff too, we have a core international team of active and former racing drivers to represent AMG both on and off the race track. Our AMG brand ambassadors are able to combine an appealing mix of competence and approachability. And it’s not only the AMG Driving Academy which will benefit from the know-how of Maro Engel, as the SLS AMG GT3 customer teams will benefit too.”

Four years of DTM experience with Mercedes-Benz and Formula 3 runner‑up
Like many racing drivers, Maro Engel also started his racing career in the world of karting (1996 – 2000). In 2001 he drove in his first formula racing series. After two years in Formula BMW, Munich-born Engel graduated to the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2003. In 2005 he switched to the Italian Formula 3000 Championship, finishing in seventh place overall. In 2006 and 2007, Engel competed in the fiercely contested British Formula 3 International Championship. He ended the 2007 season in second place overall, with three victories, eight podium positions and four pole positions under his belt. In the three years between 2008 and 2011, Maro Engel drove for Mercedes-Benz in the DTM.

Source: Daimler AG

The link between IWC Schaffhausen and AMG, the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz, dates back to 2004, when they reached a partnership agreement. The new relationship with Mercedes AMG Petronas continues this shared passion for pushing the boundaries of precision engineering.

IWC Schaffhausen have been producing luxury watches since 1868, and are renowned for their pursuit of perfection and technical innovation in the design and engineering of their timepieces, a perfect match for the principles of the team.

Ross Brawn, Team Principal of Mercedes AMG Petronas said: “It is widely recognised that motorsport serves as a testing ground for technologies that ultimately benefit us all. As the pinnacle of global motorsport, Formula One is at the forefront of such development, and that leading role is set to continue in the years ahead. It is a privilege to find another company that espouses the same principles as our own, with the same insistence on absolute perfection. We firmly believe that the partnership with IWC Schaffhausen will be enormously beneficial to us both.”

Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen commented: “The partnership with Mercedes AMG Petronas will enable us to share our passion for high-level engineering, our quest for ultimate perfection and our aim for top performance with a global audience through the medium of Formula One. This is a win-win situation for everyone involved. Both of our companies attach importance to craftsmanship and innovation, and are driven by a pioneering spirit that underpins all we do. We are looking forward to being part of the Mercedes AMG Petronas team and the sport of Formula One.”

Source: Mercedes AMG Petronas

A fine, shimmering gold line painted by hand separates the two body colors of black and diamond white, and a painted diamond adorns the B-pillar. The two-tone effect is repeated in the rims of the five-spoke wheels, and the brakes feature the words “Mercedes-Benz” in gold.

The interior underscores the extravagant nature of the model as well. Luxurious appointments in the rear include a special innovative multimedia unit that allows passengers to choose between a business setting or a comfortable ambience for relaxing.

Regulation of sunlight intensity in the interior
The windows of the passenger compartment, as well as the rear window and the glass partition between the chauffeur and the passenger compartment, are all equipped with the Magic Sky Control system, which enables passengers to change the interior lighting conditions with just the push of a button.

This changes the color of the windows, an effect that is made possible by a liquid in the window glass that reacts to differences in electric current. The chauffeur’s area is completely black in color, the seats and door paneling are covered in the finest nappa leather, and leather also covers the instrument panel, the steering wheel, the gearshift, and the A- and B-pillars. The passenger compartment is entirely in porcelain white, from the carpet and the seats to the safety belts and the ceiling.

Champagne glass holders and an automatic Champagne bottle cooling unit
The passenger compartment features two top-of-the-line seating accommodations equipped with heating, cooling, and massage features as well as calf benches and footrests. Between the seats are cup holders and Champagne glass holders for the model’s silver Champagne flutes, which appear at the push of a button. The side paneling has five bottle holders as well. The Champagne bottle retainer is equipped with a cooling system. Eight diamonds embedded in the interior trim refer to the lucky Chinese number eight and underscore the vehicle’s luxurious atmosphere. Additional equipment features include the Bang & Olufsen “BeoLiving Viano” high-end sound system, which can be conveniently operated via two iPad2 or iPhone4 devices. The mobile communication devices can also regulate the interior lighting and control the sound system for the model’s 40-inch screen, which can be used for everything from watching television to surfing the Internet and participating in video conferences.

A special app was developed exclusively for this control feature; the devices are secured in a docking station in the center console.

The screen itself has a black aluminum frame and is situated behind the chauffeur area. The push of a button is all it takes to lower the screen and the partition. An intercom is available for communication between the cockpit and the passenger compartment. The vehicle is equipped with a W-LAN system that enables Web videoconferencing, among other things.

Source: Daimler AG

The British driver came 2nd in the second race of the 2012 DTM season at the Lausitzring. Bruno Spengler (BMW) won the race. After the first two races of the season, Paffett leads the drivers’ standings with 43 points from Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 30 points). The team standings are headed by the Team THOMAS SABO / Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG. Mercedes AMG are in second place with 37 points. Mercedes-Benz also leads in the DTM manufacturer championship with 96 points to BMW’s 54 points and Audi, 52 points.

Jamie Green, 2nd in the opening race of the season Hockenheim a week ago, came 4th. Green posted a time of 1:19.025 minutes, the fastest lap of the race at the Lausitzring. This is the second time he has done it at this track. In total, Mercedes has clocked eight out of thirteen fastest laps in DTM races at this track since 2001. It was also the 164th quickest lap for Mercedes-Benz since 1988.

In his 45th DTM race, Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) moved up the field from 16th place to P10 and so finished in the points. Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé) and David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) finished in P11 and P12. In his second DTM race, Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) came home in 16th place. Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) was 21st, Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) did not finish. A total of 72,000 spectators attended the DTM race weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) at the Lausitzring.

Race summary
The start: Gary Paffett moves up one position at the start into P2. Jamie Green overtakes Mike Rockenfeller on the first turn and is fifth. Vietoris moves up the field four places from 18th on the grid.
Lap 8: Green goes by Edoardo Mortara (Audi) and is in fourth place.
Lap 11: Ralf Schumacher and Christian Vietoris overtake Adrien Tambay (Audi).
Lap 13: The pit stop window is now open. Roberto Merhi, Schumacher and Vietoris come in for their first mandatory stop.
Lap 15 : First set of fresh tyres for Paffett.
Lap 18: Mehri wins through against Tambay in the scrap for 19th position.
Lap 21: Green now leads the race from Bruno Spengler (BMW) and Paffett.
Lap 25: Second pit stop for Merhi.
Lap 26: Green still in the lead but comes in now to make his first pit stop.
Lap 28: Schumacher makes his second mandatory pit stop.
Lap 30: Vietoris overtakes Rockenfeller.
Lap 31: Schumacher goes by Rahel Frey (Audi). Paffett comes in for final mandatory pit stop.
Lap 33: Green in P2 turns into the pit lane.
Lap 36: Paffett four tenths down on Spengler in second place.
Lap 48: Robert Wickens coasts to a halt at the side of the track.
Final lap: After 52 laps and a total distance of 180.856 kilometers, Gary Paffett and Jamie Green are second and fourth. Ralf Schumacher is tenth.

Comments after the race:
Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Second:
„It’s such a pity. My THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé had enough speed to win again today. I was just a bit too far behind at the pit-stop. Having said that, my car was really quick and had a brilliant set-up, a tribute to the team. I was also so close to Bruno Spengler’s car that I was losing a bit of down force. However, I did give it my all and being second on the podium within the space of a week is a great result for us, especially after the win in the opening race.“

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Fourth:
„My Mercedes-AMG C-Coupé was just terrific today. Augusto Farfus drove a fantastic race. I was behind him most of the time, but despite the great pace of my car, I couldn’t get past. Now the focus of my attention has to be on my home race at Brands Hatch where I’m hoping to get back on the podium again.“

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 10th:
„Our C-Coupé was pretty quick today. The car performed flawlessly and the same applies to the strategy and the pit stops. This enabled us to progress from 16th to 10th place. If I can get a better grid position in the next race, I’ll hopefully not get stuck in traffic and be able to compete with the front runners.“

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), 11th:
„We were not quite as quick as at the season opener in Hockenheim. There was a lot of dirt on the track which cost us more than we expected. It’s a bit annoying that we just missed a points finish, but hopefully things will go better for us in two weeks time at Brands Hatch.“

David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 12th:
„I had to be careful at the start of the race not to collide with any other cars and make sure my car wasn’t damaged. I gave it my all and got the best possible result. I just couldn’t have managed any more than that.“

Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 16th:
„I think the race went well but I would have preferred to have been further up the field. I’m hoping that things will be better for me at Brands Hatch given a bit more preparation.“

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 21st:
„I had a bit of a disappointing race. Straight after my first pit stop I realised that there was no way I could make any great progress in the race. I’ll just have to draw a line in the sand now and look to the future.“

Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired
„Unfortunately I skidded off the track on lap 48. However, I have made some progress despite this. I’ll now focus all my efforts on Brands Hatch and hopefully pick up my first DTM points there.“

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:
„Both Gary and Jamie had the speed to secure P1, but at this track it is not enough to simply go faster to be able to overtake. Gary started the race from third place, a mere 0.043 seconds adrift of pole position. He immediately moved up one position as the race began but was subsequently unable to get past the rear of Spengler’s car, which he was then forced to follow for about 50 laps.

Congratulations to BMW and Bruno Spengler on their victory and many thanks to our team for their sterling work since the beginning of the season, which has enabled us to head all three championship standings – the drivers’, the team and manufacturers’ championships.

As in Hockenheim, our C-Coupé and our drivers were highly competitive and we want to make a concerted effort to build on that.“

Source: Mercedes AMG

The winner of the opening race of the season drove a time of 1:18.820 at the end of individual qualifying. Bruno Spengler (BMW / 1:18.777) will start from Pole Position. The first three drivers in qualifying were separated by only 0.043 seconds. Last weekend at the Hockenheimring, Paffett took the THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé to victory from sixth place on the grid at the first race of the new season.

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) will start the second race of the 2012 season from sixth place on the grid. Placed second at the season opener in Hockenheim, he secured a time of 1:18.461 in Q3. Qualifying Part 1: Christian Vietoris secured the third best time of 1:18.977 minutes in the first qualifying session. Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:19.506), Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:19.557), Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:19.584) and David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:19.672) finished in positions 17 to 20 respectively. A mere seven and a half tenths of a second covered P1-P20.

Qualifying Part 2: Gary Paffett achieved the second best time in the second qualifying session with a 1:18.420 minutes. Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:18.840) and Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé / 1: 18.862) will start from position 15 and 16 respectively in the second race of the season on Sunday. The first and sixteenth places were once again only separated by seven tenths of a second.

Comments on qualifying:
Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Third (1:18.820):
„The new DTM Era is an unbelievably hard fought one. When you consider the strength of the competition and the closeness of the times, I’m quite happy with my 3rd place on the grid. If you look at which drivers have already been eliminated, I think that is quite an achievement because everyone had the necessary speed to get up the grid. This year’s challenge will be to get a great lap-time in every session and that won’t be easy. Congratulations to BMW, Bruno Spengler and Augusto Farfus. Motor racing is full of surprises! However, I am not far behind them and will be pushing them hard during the race.“

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Sixth (1:18.461):
„After our great results in the opening race, I was hoping to do well here so I am really not satisfied with sixth place. I would of course liked to have beaten Gary in the internal team duel but at least his result has shown that our DTM C-Coupé is quick here as well. Gary showed in Hockenheim that you can also win a race starting from 6th place. With that in mind, I am quite optimistic going into this race.“

Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 15th (1:18.840):
„It was a useful experience to have been in the second qualifying stage again. I am really getting to grips with the Stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé now and am hoping that I will improve even more during the next races.“

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), 16th (1:18.862):
„Qualifying did not go according to plan. The whole session was jinxed, from start to finish – maybe we left going out on track a little late? 16th place means that the charge that I began in Hockenheim must now continue at the Lausitzring.“

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 17th (1:19.506):
„My qualifying result is, of course, disappointing. The first run was okay, the second for some reason was not quite so good and I could not achieve the necessary time. But still, all is not yet lost. The race is very long and anything can happen on the first few turns. We will now carefully analyse the quali and just do our best tomorrow to move well up the field.“

Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 18th (1:19.557):
„During my quick lap one of the drivers came off the track. That incident spoiled that lap unfortunately. I am really disappointed to have only landed in 18th position on the grid. But never mind, tomorrow is another day as they say, let’s see how it goes. Anything can happen during the actual race. “

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 19th (1:19.584):
„I never thought that qualifying at the Lausitzring would turn out quite like it did. Someone hit me from behind, completely ruining my lap. Nevertheless, we all finished very tightly bunched – I was just six tenths adrift of fastest time in Q1. I’m still optimistic about Sunday’s race, though, since our race pace seems to be better than in qualifying.“

David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 20th (1:19.672):
„Of course, I had promised myself a better starting place on the grid for the second race of the season. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Now I will have to sit down with the team and take a good look at what happened and then we’ll see what still might be possible in the race itself. I would love to secure a decent result for the team – Mücke Motorsport – at their home race.“

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:
„This qualifying was certainly a thriller and could not have been any more exciting. Gary Paffett missed pole position by 0.043 seconds, or 1.80 metres at this 3.478 kilometre circuit. The winner from Hockenheim finished 0.05 seconds adrift of second place, but we can all, and that includes Gary himself, most certainly live with starting on the second row tomorrow.

Two BMWs, two Mercedes C Coupés and two Audis will occupy the first three rows of the grid tomorrow. At the first race in Hockenheim, the three brands qualified first, second, third – Audi, Mercedes and BMW.

Gary won at Hockenheim from sixth place and I think tomorrow he has as much chance of a win as Jamie Green had – but that probably also applies to a dozen other drivers on the grid in this top class field.
Congratulations to BMW and Bruno Spengler on his first pole position and to Augusto Farfus on his second place. We will do our best to alter the finish order tomorrow, but I cannot guarantee that we will succeed.“

Source: Mercedes AMG

The 30-man jury of the prestigious “Red Dot Design Award” judged more than 4500 products from 58 countries and awarded the smart ebike the “red dot: best of the best” prize for top design quality. The award ceremony will be held on 2 July 2012 in Essen. “We are delighted that the consistent and innovative design of the ebike with its unmistakable smart signature has received this prestigious award”, says smart boss Dr. Annette Winkler. “In just a few weeks time our unique smart on two wheels will start conquering cities and cycle paths around the world.”

With an unconventional design in line with the style of the brand, functions appropriate for city use and high technology standards that are demonstrated by the extremely efficient and high-performance drive package among other features, the smart ebike has an exceptional position. It will initially be available in two colour variants: in crystal white with electric green accents and in dark grey matt with flame orange accents. Prices in Germany will start at 2,849 euros (including 19% VAT).

High-quality components guarantee dynamic, safe and fun cycling. For example, hydraulic disc brakes from Magura are fitted at the front and rear. Standard features also include LED light with a daytime running light function and 26″ wheels – both in the smart ebike design. The ebike is fitted with Continental EcoContact Plus tyres. Thanks to additional strengthening they are particularly puncture-resistant. The drive is also of a very high quality with a completely maintenance- and oil-free carbon toothed belt instead of a conventional bicycle chain.

The smart ebike also features state-of-the-art infotainment: a USB port comes as standard and enables various accessories and add-on devices to be supplied with electricity. Among other things the smart ebike can be individualised with a versatile smartphone holder for mobile end devices, a comfort bar and a luggage rack with integrated net pockets. With the help of an iPhone app specially developed for the smart ebike the smartphone becomes an information centre. A trendy smart ebike collection is also available: developed in cooperation with Mercedes Benz Accessories GmbH it includes a helmet and bags featuring the smart design. The smart ebike collection is also available from smart contractual partners.

Efficient and powerful electric drive
smart’s high technological standards are also manifested in the efficient and high-performance drive package. As a pedelec (Pedal Electric Cycle) the smart ebike is strictly speaking a hybrid: the electric motor – a maintenance-free rear-wheel hub motor from BionX – switches on as soon as the rider starts pedalling, as with a normal bicycle. Muscle power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a lubricant-free, durable and quiet belt drive. An integrated three-speed gear hub enables simple gear changing.

The rider of the smart ebike decides how much power he wants the electric motor to deliver to support his muscle power by pressing a button on the handlebar. There is a choice of four power levels with the fourth level providing maximum pushing power. Depending on the power level selected and the manner of cycling a battery charge can last for up to 100 kilometres.

With 423 Wh the lithium-ion battery is one of the most powerful batteries in the competitive environment. It has been attractively integrated in the frame of the smart ebike. The portable battery can be charged either at a normal socket or whilst riding, with the latter offering advantages in terms of cost and the environment. The wheel hub motor becomes as a generator when the rider brakes. The braking energy is recuperated, i.e. it is converted into electrical energy and stored in the smart ebike’s lithium-ion battery.

Simple operation and highly functional
Straightforward operation, a low weight, excellent ergonomics and a practical stowage space concept all contribute to making the smart ebike fun to ride. As a pedelec the smart ebike combines the comfort of a motorised two-wheeler with the easy handling of a bicycle.

In EU countries neither a driving licence nor a licence plate are required as the electric motor of a pedelec only assists propulsion up to a speed of 25 km/h.

Expert partner from the two-wheeler industry
The smart ebike was designed and developed by smart and it is being produced in close cooperation with the e-bike manufacturer Grace. This ensures that the smart ebike is produced in premium quality. The smart ebike will be sold by smart dealers in the respective markets. The ebike can then also be serviced by any smart dealer or bicycle specialist.

Source: Daimler AG

The Mercedes-Benz Cars division has also registered a new sales record since the beginning of the year. Between January and April, 454,778 vehicles (+9.4%) of Mercedes-Benz, smart and Maybach have been sold; 113,901 units (+3.5%) of these were in April.

Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars: “We are continuing on the road to success as the second quarter begins, and have again increased our sales compared to last year. This is mainly due to the ongoing high demand for our new products. Sales of the new B-Class and the new M-Class are already performing excellently and will continue to develop dynamically due to the gradual introduction to other markets. In the months to come, the next generation GLK, the new G-Class and the E300 BlueTec Hybrid, the most efficient sedan in the premium segment, are celebrating their market launch. This will provide additional sales momentum.”

Demand for the brand with the star remains especially high throughout the NAFTA region. In the USA, Canada, and Mexico, sales have been at a record high since the start of the year. In April alone, 22,336 vehicles (+23.8%) have been handed over to customers in the United States. From January to April, 83,849 Mercedes-Benz cars (+17.5%) were sold. This makes Mercedes-Benz in April and year-to-date the best-selling premium brand in the U.S. In Canada, sales were up15.8% year-on-year in the same period. In Mexico sales even rose by 29.9% compared to the previous year.

Mercedes-Benz sales also developed very dynamically in Russia. New sales records were reached in April and year-to-date. Sales growth was 25.9% in April. Sales were also robust in the Middle East region in April, growing by 20.3%.

Mercedes-Benz also continued to perform very well in Germany. Since January, 78,957 vehicles have been sold in the home market, which corresponds to a growth of 10.2%. Deliveries increased slightly year-on-year to 22,405 units (+0.6%). Thus, Mercedes-Benz had the strongest sales of any premium brands in Germany, not just in April but also year-to-date. Regarding registrations, Mercedes-Benz in April once again outperformed the total market and gained market shares. In addition, the S-Class followed by the CLS, the B-Class, and the SLK followed by the E-Class coupe, lead the registration figures of their respective segments of Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA).

Unlike the total Western European market, Mercedes-Benz sales in Western Europe (without Germany) continued to develop well since the start of the year growing by 3.8%. Particularly in the UK and Switzerland Mercedes-Benz generated strong sales figures in April and the year-to-date. In the UK April deliveries were up 13.9% year-on-year; in Switzerland Mercedes-Benz even generated a 35.8% sales growth.

Due to the run-out of the high-volume B-Class, as well as the recent launch of the M-Class and the start of the locally manufactured GLK, these very popular models only had a limited availability in China (incl. Hong Kong) last month. Overall, sales amounted to 14,677 units (-11.2%). Since the beginning of the year, 66,005 cars have been delivered to customers in China – more than ever before during this period. Thus, Mercedes-Benz is well on track to achieve its goal of record double-digit growth in China in 2012.

Japan also developed very well, where the company delivered 12,392 vehicles between January and April, increasing sales by 38.5%.
In terms of products, the B-Class continues to enjoy strong demand. Since its market introduction far more than 45,000 units of the new model have been sold.

The other Mercedes-Benz series are also very popular among customers. Since the start of the year, the C-Class segment has grown by 22.5%; in April the growth rate was 10.5%. The sedan and estate of the E-Class passed significant sales milestones last month. Since market launch 2009, 500,000 sedans and 100,000 estates of the current generation have been delivered to customers.

The S-Class sedan generated 14.1% sales growth between January and April. Thus, the brand’s flagship remains the leader in its segment. In addition to this outstanding sales development S-Class made additional good news in April. The S250 CDI BlueEfficiency won the award “World Green Car of the Year 2012.” Besides the S-Class sedan, numerous other models of the Mercedes-Benz brand took top honors in their category.

Demand for SUVs remains particularly high. In April and year-to-date, sales records were achieved once again. In April, 21,437 models (+9.1%) were sold in the SUV segment; in the first four months of 2012 sales accounted to 80,553 units (+8.0%).

Especially the new M‑Class is developing very dynamically. In April, one third more vehicles (32.3%) of this series were sold than in April 2011. The sales of the GL and the G-Class also performed very well, increasing in April by 54.6% and 20.4% respectively.

The smart fortwo continued its positive development in the month of its facelift. With 9,557 vehicles sold, sales grew by 2.3%. Since the start of the year, sales totaled by 6.4% (36,532 units). In April, the demand for the innovative two-seater was particularly strong in the U.S. with growth of 63.6% as well as in China (incl. Hong Kong) at 41.5%, and Germany at 14.6%.

Source: Daimler AG

From all-weather mats to ten-spoke alloy wheels, the Mercedes-Benz original accessories for the new SL offer a multitude of ways for owners to tailor the roadster even more closely to their own needs. The stars of the extensive initial range are eleven stylish alloy wheels – perfect for giving the SL that additional individual touch – and a total of 16 charging cradles and docks for various smartphones. Other upgrade options include the COMAND Online multimedia system, boasting a DVD changer, and the media interface, which can be integrated via cable with a host of mobile end devices.

The high quality is also apparent in the elegant door sill made from brushed stainless steel and featuring illuminated lettering, or the key ring, a replica of the SL symbol on the boot lid.

The SL can be made to look even more sporty thanks to genuine accessories from AMG. One option is the AMG bodystyling package, comprising front and rear aprons and side skirts, and a choice of three 19″ five-spoke wheels.

Source: Daimler AG

The Art Directors Club (ADC) is a professional association of art directors from the advertising sector, founded in New York in 1920 with the aim of promoting the highest standards in advertising and mentoring the next generation. As a big international prize the ADC Award is one of the most important awards in the advertising industry.

smart eball is an interactive game event that shows off the dynamism and agility of the electrically driven smart fortwo. Ping pong-like, digital bats that knock the ball to-and-fro on the LED screen are driven by two actual smart fortwo electric drives with the aid of sophisticated laser measuring and transmission technology. The players engage in a gripping duel demanding quick reactions by driving the cars forwards and back.

“We wanted participants to experience the incredible driving fun of the electric smart and smart eball achieved that perfectly,” says Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart. “The aim of the game was understood immediately and anyone can just dive straight in – it’s just as intuitive and straightforward as our smart electric drive.”

The game event that was used on the occasion of the world premiere of the smart fortwo electric drive at the 2011 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt was received enthusiastically by visitors. More than 1,500 games and wide press reporting in all types of media documented the great success of the promotion.

smart eball is an idea by BBDO Proximity Berlin. BBDO Live handled the implementation at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt.

Source: Daimler AG

High-grade miniatures of this luxury sports car have also long been sought after. Following the market launch of the new SL, the Mercedes-Benz Collection now includes the roadster – faithfully reproduced in every detail, down to the original paintwork – as 1:87, 1:43 and 1:18 scale models.

The miniatures boast the classic SL proportions and an incredible attention to detail covering everything from the air outlets to the lovingly recreated interior. Developed using the original CAD data, the hand-assembled precision models are extraordinarily faithful to the original and comprise up to 104 component parts. The roadster roof is enclosed separately.

These collectors’ models, produced in partnership with the well-known manufacturers Herpa and Norev, are available from Mercedes-Benz sales and service outlets, Mercedes-Benz dealerships, the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the online shop (shop.mercedes-benz.com).

All model cars in the Mercedes-Benz Collection come in Mercedes-Benz designer packaging. A screwdriver is enclosed with the 1:18 scale models, allowing the model to be removed from its screw-fastened packaging with the minimum of fuss. The cars also come with a glove to protect the miniature from fingerprints.

Source: Daimler AG

“We have started the year with a strong first quarter. Despite higher investment in future growth and a challenging market environment, we succeeded in surpassing the very good prior-year results in terms of unit sales, revenue, EBIT and net profit,” stated Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “We are on schedule to meet our targets for this year as well as our medium-term targets.”

The development of earnings is primarily a reflection of the ongoing growth of unit sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars and Daimler Trucks. There were opposing, negative effects on earnings mainly in connection with the expansion of the product portfolio, including the current product offensive at Daimler Trucks. Exchange-rate movements had a positive effect on earnings.

The decision to reposition the European business of Daimler Buses resulted in charges of €36 million.

First-quarter unit sales up by 9%
In the first quarter of 2012, the Daimler Group sold a total of 502,100 cars and commercial vehicles worldwide, surpassing the prior-year number by 9%.

Daimler’s first-quarter revenue increased by 9% to €27.0 billion. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, revenue grew by 7%.

The free cash flow of the industrial business decreased compared with the first quarter of 2011 to minus €2.0 billion, due to the normal seasonal development of working capital and in particular to increased inventories. Higher levels of stocks are related to the start of the peak selling season in spring at Mercedes-Benz Cars and the market launch of new products such as the B-Class, the SL and the SUVs. At Daimler Trucks, inventories increased towards the end of the first quarter in anticipation of stronger demand in the NAFTA region and in Asia. Additional factors reducing the free cash flow were the higher level of investment in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets as well as capital contributions in connection with the transfer of the Bergen business to Engine Holding (a joint venture of Daimler and Rolls-Royce relating to Tognum) and the joint venture between Daimler Trucks and Foton in China.

Compared with December 31, 2011, the net liquidity of the industrial business decreased by €1.9 billion to €10.1 billion. This was primarily due to the negative free cash flow.

At the end of the first quarter of 2012, Daimler employed 274,127 people worldwide (end of Q1 2011: 261,718). Of that total, 168,017 were employed in Germany (end of Q1 2011: 164,131).

Details of the divisions
Mercedes-Benz Cars achieved a new record for unit sales in the first quarter of 2012. Total sales by the car division rose by 9% to 338,300 units (Q1 2011: 310,700). First-quarter revenue increased by 8% to €14.9 billion.

With EBIT of €1,252 million, Mercedes-Benz Cars achieved earnings close to the level of the prior-year period (Q1 2011: €1,288 million). The division’s return on sales was 8.4% (Q1 2011: 9.3%).

The development of earnings was primarily driven by ongoing growth in unit sales, especially in Europe and the United States. Mercedes-Benz Cars achieved particularly high growth rates in the C-Class segment and with SUVs. Positive exchange-rate effects also boosted earnings. One of the reasons for the reduction in earnings was the temporarily weaker pricing in China. In addition, there were expenses in connection with the expansion of production capacities as well as higher advance expenditures for new vehicles and technologies.

Daimler Trucks increased its unit sales by 21% to 107,700 vehicles. Revenue rose by 18% to €7.4 billion (Q1 2011: €6.2 billion).

The division’s EBIT of €383 million was lower than in the prior-year period (Q1 2011: €413 million). Return on sales was 5.2% (Q1 2011: 6.6%).

Earnings were affected on the one hand by the positive development of unit sales and revenue in the NAFTA region and Asia. On the other hand, there were expenses relating to the current product offensive. There was another negative impact on earnings from falling unit sales in a difficult market environment in Latin America.

Unit sales by Mercedes-Benz Vans decreased in the first quarter of this year to 51,200 vehicles, primarily due to the market weakness in Western Europe (Q1 2011: 54,000). Revenue of €2.1 billion was above the prior-year level (Q1 2011: €2.0 billion).

The division achieved an operating profit of €168 million (Q1 2011: €173 million). Return on sales amounted to 8.0%, compared with 8.8% in the first quarter of last year.

Despite the lower unit sales, an unfavorable model mix and higher expenditure for research and development, Mercedes-Benz Vans was able to maintain a high level of earnings. This was due in particular to lower warranty costs.

Worldwide unit sales of 4,900 buses and bus chassis by Daimler Buses were below the prior-year number of 7,700 units. The decrease was primarily due to weaker demand for bus chassis in Latin America. The business with complete buses in Europe and the United States remained at a low level. In line with the development of unit sales, revenue of €730 million was lower than in the prior-year period (Q1 2011: €831 million).

The division’s EBIT was minus €103 million (Q1 2011: minus €33 million), primarily due to the decline in unit sales of 37%. Shipments decreased compared with the high levels of the prior-year quarter especially in Latin America. Furthermore, the repositioning of the European business decided upon in the first quarter of 2012 led to charges of €36 million.

As a major element of its strategy, Daimler Buses has started its “GLOBE 2013” growth-and-efficiency offensive. The program is designed to achieve the targeted 6% return on sales in the coming years, and is being rolled out over the entire value chain and at all of the division’s sites. One goal is the more intensive networking of all the plants in the European production network. Within the context of “GLOBE 2013,” Daimler Buses will also utilize existing growth potential in its traditional markets while further expanding its business in new markets.

Daimler Financial Services’ business continued to develop positively in the first quarter. Worldwide, approximately 234,000 new leasing and financing contracts worth a total of €8.3 billion were concluded, representing growth of 20% compared with the prior-year period. Contract volume amounted to €71.6 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2012, remaining stable compared with the end of 2011. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, there was an increase of 1%.

The division achieved earnings of €344 million, thus surpassing the prior-year figure of €321 million. The main reason for this positive development was the increased contract volume compared with the first quarter of last year. There was an opposing effect from lower interest margins.

The reconciliation of the divisions’ EBIT to Group EBIT primarily reflects the proportionate share of the results of Daimler’s equity-method investment in EADS, as well as other gains and losses at the corporate level.

Daimler’s proportionate share of the net profit of EADS in the first quarter of 2012 amounted to €133 million (Q1 2011: €74 million). The reconciliation also includes an expense at the corporate level of €35 million (Q1 2011: expense of €189 million).

Outlook
On the basis of the divisions’ planning, Daimler expects its total unit sales in the year 2012 to be higher than the figure of 2.1 million vehicles sold in the year 2011.

Mercedes-Benz Cars assumes that it will further increase its unit sales this year and will grow faster than the market as a whole. The division expects its unit sales in each of the remaining quarters of 2012 to be higher than in the respective prior-year period. Mercedes-Benz Cars will profit from the continuation of strong demand for its cars in the C-Class segment. At the end of March, it launched a new model of the SL, the icon in the sports-car sector. The division anticipates further growth for its SUVs, primarily due to the full availability of the new M-Class and as of September 2012 also of the new GL. In addition, the new generations of the GLK compact SUV and of the G-Class will be launched in June 2012. The new models in the high-volume compact-car segment will also contribute towards growth in unit sales; the new B-Class was launched in November 2011 with the new A-Class to follow this September. And a completely new automobile concept will come onto the market in September: the CLS Shooting Brake.

In regional terms, further growth opportunities are seen for 2012 above all in North America, as well as in China, India and Russia. For the smart brand, an ongoing stable level of unit sales is expected.
Daimler Trucks anticipates another rise in unit sales this year. In Europe, the division intends to develop better than the market as a whole, thus further extending its market leadership. The most important model in this respect is the new Actros. Market effects connected with the introduction of stricter emission regulations in Brazil mean that the sales situation there will be difficult, but Daimler Trucks expects to maintain its good market position. Because the average age of trucks is still very high in the NAFTA region, there is a high demand for replacement vehicles and a renewed increase in unit sales is therefore expected in that market. Growth in unit sales is also anticipated in Japan – driven by the reconstruction work following the natural disaster.

Daimler Trucks is about to take another major step in the development of new sales markets: In India, the division will start production of trucks under the BharatBenz brand in the third quarter. In the world’s biggest truck market, China, Daimler Trucks is pursuing a dual strategy: the sale of high-value Mercedes-Benz trucks for the premium segment in parallel with the sale of trucks in the lower-priced volume market through its cooperation with Foton. The joint venture will begin producing trucks to be sold under the Auman brand in the third quarter. Together with the strategic partner Kamaz, Daimler Trucks is developing the growing Russian market through two joint ventures and is thus further expanding its global presence.

Mercedes-Benz Vans assumes that it will further increase its unit sales in 2012. The launch of the new Citan in the small-van segment will help to revive unit sales in Europe. Overall, the division expects to maintain the level of unit sales in Europe that it achieved in the year 2011. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz Vans expects to sell more vehicles than in the prior year in the United States. And it should be able to participate in the positive development of the Latin American markets due to the launch there of the current model generation of the Sprinter.

Daimler Buses anticipates a decrease in unit sales in the year 2012, whereby complete buses should account for a larger proportion of total unit sales. Weaker demand is expected this year above all in Latin America due to the introduction of the Euro V emission regulations, which led to purchases being brought forward in 2011. A slight recovery of the business with complete buses in Europe is anticipated.
Daimler Financial Services expects to achieve renewed growth in contract volume and new business in 2012. A normalization of credit risks is to be expected – and thus a moderate increase compared with the unusually low level of the year 2011.

Following the significant growth of the year 2011, the Daimler Group assumes that its revenue will increase again in the year 2012. In regional terms, above-average growth rates are expected in the emerging markets and in North America.

On the basis of current market expectations and the planning of the divisions, Daimler aims to achieve Group EBIT from the ongoing business in 2012 that is in the magnitude of the prior year. This target is based on the assumption of currency exchange rates close to their present levels.

The following EBIT targets from the ongoing business have been set for the individual divisions:

Mercedes-Benz Cars: at the prior-year level
Daimler Trucks: at least at the prior-year level
Mercedes-Benz Vans: at least at the prior-year level
Daimler Buses: below the prior-year level
Daimler Financial Services: slightly below the prior-year level

Later this year, Daimler Buses anticipates expenses of up to €50 million from the repositioning of the European bus business and of approximately €60 million from the repositioning of the North American bus business.

Due to strong demand for its products, Daimler assumes that its worldwide workforce will expand compared with the end of 2011.

For the automotive business, Daimler aims to achieve an annual average return on sales of 9% across market and product cycles. This is based on targeted returns on sales for the individual divisions, to be achieved on a sustained basis as of the year 2013, of 10% for Mercedes-Benz Cars, 8% for Daimler Trucks and 9% for Mercedes-Benz Vans. Daimler Buses has the target of 6% to be reached in the coming years. The target for the Daimler Financial Services division is a return on equity of 17%

Source: Daimler AG

The new fleet’s 1,000 smart fortwo models will be available to Berlin residents around the clock over an area of approximately 250 km². A one-time registration is all it takes to pick up a smart, which can then be returned to any public parking space when the customer has finished using the vehicle. The new system is already in great demand in Berlin, as evidenced by the roughly 2,000 pre-registrations that have been submitted for car2go in Berlin to date. The launch of car2go in Berlin is being accompanied by the release of the first official car2go App for smartphones and the introduction of an “Eco Score” feature for all car2go vehicles worldwide. The Eco Score provides drivers with information on the environmental compatibility of their driving style via an onboard touchscreen display.

“We’re the number one company for innovative mobility services – a fact that’s underscored by the launch of car2go in Berlin,” says Klaus Entenmann, Chairman of Daimler Financial Services AG, which is responsible for car2go within the Daimler Group. “We also plan to link car2go more extensively with other modes of transport in the future, which means our customers will soon be able to quickly, simply, and flexibly draw up their own personal mobility plans using different transport modes.”

car2go is initially being launched in Berlin with 1,000 smart fortwo “car2go edition” models with conventional drive systems. The vehicles, which are equipped with a stop-start feature, air conditioning, and a navigation system, can be rented by registered customers within an area of approximately 250 km². Customers can drive the cars for as long as they want and then park them in any public parking space within the operating area. The car2go operating area includes the commuter rail ring around Berlin, the city’s nearby suburbs, the centers of Spandau and Köpenick, and the highly-populated areas Marzahn, Hellersdorf, Lichtenrade and Märkisches Viertel.

Customers pay a one-time registration fee of 9.90 euros; each time they rent a vehicle, they are charged a rate of 29 cents per minute that includes applicable taxes, insurance, fuel and parking costs, and the first 20 kilometers traveled. Whenever the car2go is left parked in between, the rate decreases to nine cents per parked minute. Discounted rates are available for hourly and daily use: A one-hour car2go rental costs 12.90 euros; the daily rental fee (24 hours) is 39 euros. Customers can also take advantage of free early car2go registration until the end of April at the car2go shop at Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße 2 in Berlin’s Mitte district. All new customers are also eligible for a free 30-minute initial test drive.

The car2go program in Berlin is being operated in a tried and tested manner by a partnership involving car2go and Europcar – the car2go Deutschland GmbH joint venture. Europcar, the leading car rental company in Europe, is contributing its extensive fleet-management and logistics expertise to the joint venture and will also make part of its rental station network available for car2go consulting and registration services, beginning in mid-May. Customers who register for car2go will also receive a free Europcar partner card that allows them to rent vehicles from the entire Europcar fleet at very good rates (15 percent off the least expensive daily rate).

“Our successful partnership with car2go is now being extended to the German capital,” says Europcar Group Chairman Roland Keppler. “We’re very pleased to be part of the biggest car2go rollout to date and to be able to supplement its system for flexible urban personal transport with our fleet of vehicles for longer journeys and more extensive transport requirements. All of this ensures customers will be able to take advantage of a seamless range of options for their mobility needs.”

Intelligent networking
“The varied mobility patterns of Berlin residents and the great demand in the city for continually available and flexible personal mobility options make the capital an ideal market for new mobility services and programs like car2go,” says Michael Müller, member of the Berlin Senate responsible for Urban Development and the Environment. “Our plans to link car2go with the conventional public transport system will make the program an outstanding addition to traditional scheduled modes of public transport. We’re therefore very happy that car2go has finally arrived in Berlin and we look forward to the great experience we will all share with the system.”

The integration of car2go into a multimode overall concept will be implemented in cooperation with the Verkehrsverbund Berlin Brandenburg (VBB) and Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) transport companies and other partners shortly after the launch of the program. The cooperation possibilities here will range from joint information and sales campaigns (e.g. car2go registration at selected BVG customer centers) to special discounts for BVG customers and the establishment of intelligently networked information and billing systems.

“Buses and subways are the backbone of the local public transport system,” says BVG Chairwoman Dr. Sigrid Nikutta. “An intelligent link with supplementary services enables us to offer our customers the opportunity to choose and combine additional convenient options from the city’s various means of transport in line with their needs. Our goal here must be to set up a system that combines the entire product range in the form of a ticket or entry into a standardized information system. This will make it possible for Berliners and their guests to move through the city on buses and trains, by bike, or with a taxi or electric vehicle as needed. In this sense, car2go is an important partner for us as we move to transform our mobility vision into reality.”

car2go isn’t just forward-looking in terms of its multimode networking, however: As Berlin continues setting up its electric vehicle recharging infrastructure, the 1,000 conventional car2go models will be gradually supplemented/replaced by electric vehicles in the coming years. Current plans also call for initial electric car2go models to be integrated into the fleet this year for trial operations. The first 300 smart fortwo electric drive models will then begin normal car2go operations in 2013. The rate per minute for an electric car2go vehicle won’t be any higher than that for a gasoline engine model,which means car2go will make a major contribution toward ensuring electric mobility can be enjoyed by all.

Gernot Lobenberg, Director of the Berlin Agency for Electromobility eMO, is pleased with the developments to date and the prospects for the future: “We have set ourselves the goal of making Berlin a leading city for electric mobility in Europe, which is why it’s important for us to see that car2go is relying on electric vehicles as well from the very beginning.”

car2go customers will “grow trees”
The launch in Berlin is being accompanied by the release of a new car2go App for initial use with Apple smartphones. Up until now, car2go has made vehicle data available at an open interface in order to make it possible for independent developers to integrate the information into their programs. However, a special car2go program will offer many additional possibilities for further development in the future and links with other services.

The car2go launch in Berlin will also feature another world premiere in the form of an onboard touchscreen display that will enable users to view assessments of their driving style: The Eco Score monitors acceleration, braking-acceleration behavior, and coasting, and uses the data to calculate the effect of the driving style in question on fuel consumption and emissions. This calculation yields an environmental compatibility score of between 0 and 100, and depending on this score, three trees on the display will either grow or shrink, whereby the bigger the tree and the higher the Eco Score, the more favorable the impact on the environment. The first stage of the Eco Score program is purely for informational purposes, but it’s also possible that drivers with a driving style that is particularly environmentally friendly could be rewarded in the future by being issued free car2go rental minutes, for example.

car2go GmbH Chairman Robert Henrichs sums up the launch in Berlin and the availability of the new features as follows: “1,000 car2go vehicles for Germany’s capital and the clear signal being sent regarding the future of electric mobility are important milestones for us that also point the way forward for our company. car2go will definitely establish itself in the coming years as a leading and innovative program for on-demand mobility concepts. It’s also important for us that our mobility services continue to meet the most stringent demands and remain affordable, regardless of the drive system technology used in the vehicles. The Eco Score and the new App are important features that will enable us to integrate additional services into the network in the future and develop environmentally compatible mobility concepts that take the requirements of our customers into consideration.”

Text: car2go / Pictures: MB Passion

It was the British driver’s 26th podium in the 82nd DTM race of his career and his seventh in a DTM race at Hockenheim. With 18 wins and a winning rate of 22%, Paffett has achieved the greatest number of victories among those drivers currently contesting the DTM. Paffett and Green secured the 100th one-two victory for Mercedes-Benz in the DTM since 1988.

It was the sixth consecutive Mercedes victory at their home race in Hockenheim (opener and finale), and their third win in a row at a DTM season opener (Paffett 2010 and 2012, and Bruno Spengler, 2011). Overall since 1988, Mercedes-Benz has won 32 of 65 DTM races at the Hockenheimring. During the same period, Mercedes-Benz drivers were victorious 166 times in 343 DTM races.

Paffett’s victory was the first success in the new DTM era in the three-way battle between the three premium brands Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz and the first victory for the new DTM Mercedes AMG C Coupé, the successor to the AMG Mercedes C-Class, which is the most successful vehicle in the history of the DTM with 85 victories in 159 races.

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé) advanced from 15th on the grid to finish fourth. Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) were also amongst the points, finishing seventh and eighth respectively. Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) ended the day in twelfth and 14th positions. DTM rookie Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) was forced to retire from the race.

Jamie Green set the fastest lap with a time of 1:34.901 minutes – the sixth time he has done so at Hockenheim. It is also the 36th time in 65 DTM races at this venue that a Mercedes-Benz driver has posted the fastest lap time. Nine of the last ten fastest laps here were set by a Mercedes-Benz driver.
A total of 142,000 fans attended the DTM opener at Hockenheim this weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun). Some 71,000 spectators were at the track for Sunday’s first race of the new DTM era.

Race summary
The start: Jamie Green defends his P2 off the line. Gary Paffett moves up two places to fourth. Ralf Schumacher goes up from eleventh on the grid to eighth place.
Lap 2: Paffett overtakes Edoardo Mortara (Audi) in front of the Mercedes-Benz grandstand.
Lap 4: Green overtakes lead driver, Mattias Ekström (Audi), to move into P1. Paffett quickly follows him and is now in second place.
Lap 6: Drive-through penalty for Ralf Schumacher. Christian Vietoris moves up to eighth position.
Lap 8: Green and Paffett in the lead with a half-second gap between them.
Lap 9: Vietoris overtakes Filipe Albuquerque (Audi) and is seventh.
Lap 10: The pit stop window is now open. First mandatory stop for Vietoris. Green extends his lead on Paffett to 0.7 seconds and 4.5 seconds on Ekström.
Lap 12: Schumacher pits for fresh tyres.
Lap 13: Green and Coulthard come into the pits. Paffett now leads.
Lap 14: First mandatory stop for Paffett. He retains his lead on Green.
Lap 15: Fresh tyres for Susie Wolff and DTM rookie Robert Wickens.
Lap 16: Mandatory pit stop for Roberto Merhi.
Lap 18: Paffett has built up a lead of 1.2 seconds on Green and 8.7 seconds on Ekström.
Lap 19 : Drive-through penalty for Wickens.
Lap 20: At the half-way stage, three DTM AMG Mercedes C- Coupés are in the top 5: Paffett and Green in P1 and 2, Vietoris in fifth place.
Lap 21: Second pit stop for Coulthard.
Lap 22: Final mandatory pit stop for Schumacher and Wolff.
Lap 24: Merhi and Wickens come in for second pit stop.
Lap 26: Vietoris pits from fourth position.
Lap 27: Lead driver Paffett pits for second time.
Lap 28: Last pit stop for Green. Paffett defends lead from team-mate. Vietoris in fifth place.
Lap 32: Schumacher overtakes Miguel Molina (Audi) to secure eighth place.
Lap 34: Vietoris overtakes Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) to move into fourth place.
Lap 35: Schumacher goes up into P7, in front of Coulthard.
Lap 38: Merhi retires in the pits.
Final lap (Lap 40): After 40 laps and a total distance of 182.96 kilometres, Gary Paffett wins the 2012 DTM season opener at Hockenheim from Jamie Green. Christian Vietoris, Ralf Schumacher and David Coulthard finish in P4, P7 and P8 respectively.

Comments after the race:
Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Winner:
„What a fantastic start to the new DTM era. Many thanks to the team for their hard work – my THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé was tuned perfectly. After a difficult season in 2011, I am pleased to have found the way back to the podium top spot. I’ve always believed in the team and my speed and that’s now paid off. The scrap with Jamie was really exciting and always very fair, which is exactly how racing should be, simply terrific!“

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Second:
„Second place on the podium – what a great way to start the 2012 season! The setup of my Mercedes AMG C-Coupé was perfect for today’s race, so a big ‘thank you’ to my team. I got off to a great start and was able to overtake Mattias Ekström early on to take the lead. The contest with Gary was exciting and always very fair. His first pit stop was even faster than mine, so he came out of the pit lane ahead of me. Even so, I’m well satisfied with my second place and am delighted with the one-two win for Mercedes-Benz in the first race of the season.“

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), Fourth:
„I had a terrific race at the season opener. After qualifying, I would never have dreamt that I could move up from 15th position to fourth, but my C-Coupé was really well prepared and very fast. The pit crew too did their work brilliantly. Overall, it was a great team effort and I’m also very pleased for Gary and Jamie and their one-two victory.“

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Seventh:
„This was a thrilling and exciting start to the new DTM era. I think that the race made exciting entertainment for the many fans in the stands and at home watching on TV. My result could have been better, but I made a mistake and got a penalty, which I have to accept. My pace was good, so I’m really looking forward to the race next weekend at the Lausitzring.“

David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Eighth:
„A P8 finish and three points in the first race of the season is a good result for me. After all the uncertainty in the winter, it was good to actually drive the car under race conditions and to find out where we are relative to the opposition. The one-two victory for Gary und Jamie shows that our C-Coupé is very fast. However, this competition is very tight and there is still everything to play for.“

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Twelfth:
„What a great start to the season for Mercedes-Benz! I’m very happy for Gary and Jamie, and our team result – five C-Coupés in the Top 8 – was just fantastic. My race was predetermined to some extent since I couldn’t do much from my position on the grid, but a twelfth place from the last row is not a bad result. At the next race in Lausitz, I want to secure a better grid position and improve my placing.“

Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 14th:
„I didn’t manage to finish in the points today, unfortunately. But personally, I think 14th place at the start of the season is quite an achievement for a rookie, especially in such a hard-fought competition as this. I have learned a lot from this first race and I’m sure it will put me in good stead for the rest of the season. I’m pretty sure that with the superb support of the Mercedes team, I will continue to improve as the year progresses.“

Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired:
„Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the best of starts in my first DTM race. To add to that, after just five laps, I had a collision with two other cars – my car was damaged and so I was no longer able to match the pace.“

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:
“Our new C-Coupé was really on song today. This one-two finish for Gary Paffett and Jamie Green is the best possible reward for everyone who has worked so hard on the design and construction of our new DTM C-Coupé. My thanks to everyone – that was some of the best motor racing ever. It just does not get any better, especially Jamie’s and Gary’s overtaking. Super! This represents our 100th one-two victory in the DTM. Five Mercedes AMG C-Coupés finished in the Top 8, and 65% of all the available points went to our drivers and teams. We’ve made a solid start to the new DTM.

We will now focus on the race at the Lausitzring next weekend, but first, we have a little celebrating to do with everyone who has worked so hard.”

Text: Daimler AG / Pictures: MB Passion

The winner of the 2011 grand finale at Hockenheim starts from second on tomorrow’s grid at the same race venue. Green posted a time of 1:34.895 minutes to qualify alongside pole-sitter Mattias Ekström (Audi / 1:34.680). The opening race of the 2012 season sees a Mercedes-Benz driver claim a place on the front row of the grid for the 215th time since 1988.

The new DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé has also booked a place on Row 1 in its very first race. The C-Coupé is the successor to the AMG Mercedes C-Class which, with 85 victories from 159 races, is the most successful car in DTM history.

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) secured sixth fastest time – 1:34.287 minutes – in the first qualifying session of the new DTM season. He starts the season opener from row three on Sunday.

Qualifying 1: Ralf Schumacher secured the best time of the eight Mercedes-Benz drivers in the first qualifying session – 1:34.550 minutes. Just a single second covered positions one to twenty in Q1. Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:34.932), DTM rookie Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:35.167) and Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:35.776) will be in positions 18, 20 and 21 respectively on the grid for the first race of the season.

Qualifying 2: Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:34.390) will start the opening race of the new DTM-era on Sunday from position eleven on the grid. Canadian DTM rookie Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:34.538) and Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé / 1:34.783) will be in positions 13 and 15 respectively for the start of the race. Just eight-tenths of a second separated P1 and P15 in Q2.

Comments on qualifying:
Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Second (1:34,895):
„A respectable start to the new season. Obviously, I would prefer to be going into the new DTM era in pole position, but I’m also very satisfied with a place on the front row. Qualifying was a close-fought encounter and I was hard pushed to get into Q4. My Mercedes AMG C-Coupé handles like a dream, and it’s great fun taking the development one step further with every outing. Today, we showed that the car is fast, and I’m sure that we are in with a good chance in tomorrow’s race. I’ve been a part of the Mercedes-Benz DTM family for quite a few years now, and it’s fascinating to watch this race series carry on growing and developing.“

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Sixth (1:34,287):
„Sixth on the grid isn’t too bad, but obviously I would rather be starting from nearer the front. Our THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé is performing very well on this first race weekend of the season. It looks very tight, with all three constructors apparently well matched, so it promises to be a very interesting season. We are in for an exciting race tomorrow, and I’m really up for it. Our car is fast and I’m aiming to do even better tomorrow.“

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Eleventh (1:34,390):
„We will see for the first time this weekend how the teams compare in the new DTM-era. In the free practice sessions, things didn’t go brilliantly for me, but I’m pleased that we improved from session to session. It should certainly be an exciting season opener on Sunday. Overtaking in the new car will be even easier this year than was the case in the past – so there’s still everything to play for.“

Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 13th (1:34,538):
„P13 is a decent start position for me in the DTM, but I always set myself high goals and I know that there is still a lot of potential for improvement. The team has prepared my stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé very well and I’m looking forward to my first DTM race on Sunday. Hopefully, I can then do even better.“

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), 15th (1:34,783):
„For the whole of the weekend, I’ve had good speed in my C-Coupé, but I wasn’t able to get the full benefit it qualifying. Unfortunately, I made an error that probably cost me a place in the Top Ten. Now I have to wait and see how my closest rivals line up in the race and then go flat out on Sunday to get a decent result at the start of the new season.“

David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 18th (1:34,932):
„We have a brand new car and so I didn’t have any great expectations for this opening weekend here in Hockenheim. Of course, I’m not satisfied with my qualifying result, but we’ve learned a lot about the new vehicle and now want to improve our performance bit by bit. Hopefully, we can put on a good show for the spectators in the race.“

Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 20th (1:35,167):
„Temperatures were very different in qualifying just now, compared to Friday’s practice sessions. I didn’t find it all that easy to quickly adapt to the change, nor was I totally satisfied with the car’s setup. We’re still working on it. Now I’m hoping for a decent result in my first DTM race.“

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 21st (1:35,776):
„Of course, I’m not satisfied with 21st place on the grid. I was hoping for a much better result in the first qualifying session of the new DTM season. The car has a lot of potential that we must tease out. It won’t be easy in the race to move up to the front of the field, but I will do my best.“

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:
„What a fantastic start to the 2012 DTM season. Pole position was there for the taking, as Jamie Green showed by posting the best time in Q3. After a braking error in Sector 1, he retook the lead once again in the middle sector by the smallest margin possible, just one thousandth of a second, but then, at the Motodrom, things didn’t quite work out. So it just remains for me to offer my congratulations to Mattias Ekström and to Abt-Audi on claiming pole.
There’s not much separating the three manufacturers. It’s a wonderful thing for the fans that the new generation of DTM coupés from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are so very closely matched. I want to express our thanks to everyone from ITR, Audi and BMW for their cooperation in building such strong foundations on which to base a brilliant future for the DTM.

On the first day of competition for the new generation of DTM cars, I would also like to thank in particular all our team members, who have worked so hard to get the new cars up and running. We have put in a lot of hard work and effort to get this far and now’s the time to reap the rewards. Hopefully, we will do exactly that tomorrow.“

Text: Mercedes AMG / Pictures: MBPassion