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Friday, December 30, 2011

Happy New Year from Mercedes-Benz-Blog!

Mercedes-Benz-Blog is reaching the fourth year of its online existence. On this occassion, we would like to express our feelings of gratitude and respect towards all our fans and partners who helped us grow this weblog through time and assure them we will do our best to prove Mercedes-Benz-Blog continues to be a trustful, powerful and competent Mercedes-Benz news source in 2012 as well. This year has been tough and challenging - may the next year be better and fruitful in every aspect for everybody. Happy New Year! May all your wishes come true!

P.S.: We'll be back with updates at the beginning of January. See you soon!



Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Revealed: MP4-27 launches in February!

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has recently issued an official press statement on the reveal of the new single-seater which the team competes with in the 2012 Formula 1 season. The MP4-27 will be revealed during a launch event taking place at a special location to be announced after we enter the new year. The Britons will test their new F1 car during the first pre-season winter testing session at Jerez (7th to 10th February 2012).



Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

SPY: The 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG snagged in a car park in Sweden

We've previously showed you several spy shots featuring the updated G-Class for 2012. Along with the standard model, the AMG variant is also programmed to undergo a makeover. The revamped offroader lineup is tipped to make the official premiere either at the upcoming Detroit Motor Show or later in March, at the Geneva Auto Salon.


The revision process includes minor changes to certain exterior styling elements. The design of the radiator grille will become slightly prominent and beefy and new LED daytime running lamps will be added to the front fascia. The bumper will receive a revised styling to keep it attractive as well as aggressive and dynamic for the high-end sport models. The side and back end could should retain their present aspect, but we expect the tail lights to receive LED technology, at least. The major novelties are destined to happen inside, where the dashboard features a new, 3-spoke steering wheel, a new instrument cluster, an updated center console and the latest communication and assistance systems premiered by Mercedes-Benz on its latest models.

Reports suggest that the G 55 AMG will be renamed to G 63 AMG and receive company's newest twin-turbo, boasting a displacement of 5.5 litres and a total output of 525 hp (557 hp if one opts for the performance pack). Time will tell whether the first rumor is true or false, but the engine shift is more than certain to happen as the rugged 4x4 is the last Mercedes-Benz to house the old 5.5-litre KOMPRESSOR V8 under its massive bonnet. Furthermore, AMG is also set to reveal an exclusive, limited series G 65 AMG, manufactured in less than 500 units, that is expected to deliver hardcore driving sensations thanks to the 6.0-litre V12 powerplant with up to 630 hp and the extensive chassis tweaks carried out by the engineers from Affalterbach.


Related articles:

- SPY: The 2012 Mercedes-Benz G 65 AMG snagged in a garage in Dubai
- Potent G 65 AMG in the cards?
- SPY: Unknown G-Class AMG prototype scooped in the U.S.
- SPY: The Mercedes-Benz G 55 AMG is in for a makeover in 2012










Credits: Autoblog

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

“AUTO TEST WINNERS in GREEN!”: Mercedes-Benz M-Class and S-Class are the most environment-friendly

The “ÖkoTrend” institute has declared the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and the ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC to be the most environmentally friendly cars in their class. This is what lay behind the professional journal AUTO TEST’s decision to present its “Winners in Green” awards to both Mercedes-Benz models.


Since 1997 the ÖkoTrend institute has been publishing an environmental ranking for cars on an annual basis. In order to reach a conclusion the institute evaluates the environmental compatibility of several tens of thousands of data relating to around a thousand car models in twelve categories. This stringent assessment includes information on consumption, pollutant emissions, manufacturing, logistics, recycling and the manufacturers’ environmental systems.

This year two models from Mercedes-Benz celebrated victories – the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY in the luxury class and the ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC in the “SUV” category. This led to their “AUTO TEST WINNERS in GREEN!” awards from the specialist publication AUTO TEST.

Both of the winning models are driven by the same base engine: a four-cylinder diesel unit with direct injection and turbocharging. It has a displacement of 2143 cubic centimetres, from which it delivers an output of 150 kW (204 hp), placing a powerful torque of 500 newton metres at the motorist’s disposal. The S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY uses it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds, whilst the ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC takes 9.0 seconds to complete this sprint.

In spite of this sporty performance, both of the models are frugal with fuel. The S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY consumes 5.7 l/100 km combined (which corresponds to CO2 emissions of 149 g/km combined). The ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC consumes 6.0 litres over 100 kilometres, with CO2 emissions of 158 g/km (both figures combined).

The “Öko-Trend Institute for Environmental Research” was founded by the Bergisch University of Wuppertal (www.oeko-trend.de).
Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Daimler Trucks Improves Profitability, Productivity, and Capabilities for Innovation

Indications are good that the global truck sector will continue to grow in the future.The current level of incoming orders at Daimler AG confirm this view: The orders for 420,000 units that Daimler Trucks received between January and November 2011 represent a 26 percent increase from the prior year (334,200 units), as well as the best new order figure since 2007. Sales at Daimler Trucks were also up 15 percent to 371,400 units during the same period. This result is mainly due to positive developments in the NAFTA region, where Daimler Trucks received orders for 124,400 units between January and November 2011 - its best result since 2006 and an increase of 81 percent from the same period in the previous year. At 102,400 units, sales in the NAFTA region through November were up 47 percent from the period January-November 2010 (69,700 units). Daimler Trucks sold 53,500 units in Western Europe between January and November 2011, or 11 percent more than during the same period in the previous year (48,100). Despite the triple disaster in Japan, Daimler was able to sell 111,500 units from January to November, more or less the same number as during the same period last year (112,100).


Production at Daimler Trucks plants around the world will remain at full capacity into the first quarter of 2012. The medium and heavy-duty segments are developing positively in the NAFTA region in particular. We expect the truck market in the region to have grown by 35 percent by the time 2011 comes to a close. The European truck market is expected to expand by the same percentage and Japan is headed for growth once again. The high demand for transportation services in the latter market will enable us to return to pre-earthquake levels. Daimler expects the truck market to expand by roughly 10 percent in Brazil, and Mercedes-Benz do Brasil is currently headed toward a new production record.

Daimler Trucks remains optimistic despite some general economic risks. “The truck business is a capital goods business and therefore subject to cyclical fluctuations,” says Andreas Renschler, Member of the Daimler AG Board of Management with responsibility for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses. “We’re prepared for these cyclical ups and downs, and the exceptionally difficult year we had in 2008 demonstrated that our business model is effective. Our strategic approach enables us to flexibly adapt our global production systems to any and all sales and market situations, and we also offer the right product range and technologies for every market. In other words, our global sales are evenly balanced.”

Andreas Renschler about the outlook for 2012: “We’re keeping a close eye on the overall economic situation. To date, we expect Daimler Trucks to post another global sales increase in 2012. Things will continue to pick up in the NAFTA region and in Japan. Although the general economic situation creates uncertainties for the truck business in Europe, we’re nevertheless prepared for all types of cyclical developments and can react flexibly as needed.”

Global market growth in the coming years

In view of the anticipated expansion of global truck markets, Daimler Trucks expects to be able to increase annual sales to more than 500,000 units by 2013. The division also plans to be selling 700,000 trucks per year worldwide by the end of the decade. “Because we seek to achieve not only growth but also profitable growth, we have set ourselves the clear objective of reaching an average return on sales of eight percent beginning in 2013 and plan to maintain this level of profitability across the entire business cycle. We’re definitely headed in the right direction”, says Andreas Renschler.

Demand continues to increase rapidly in the new markets. Daimler Trucks is therefore expanding its capacity in emerging markets in particular. Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) will open its truck production plant in April 2012. BharatBenz’s initial production capacity will be 36,000 units per year, which can later be ramped up to 70,000 units. The trucks will be manufactured with a localization rate of 85 percent, which means DICV will take advantage of the Indian supplier industry’s potential from the very start. Daimler Trucks will also further expand its partnership with Kamaz in Russia. The two joint ventures between Kamaz and Mercedes-Benz Trucks, on the one hand, and Kamaz and Fuso on the other, are already up and running and sold a total of 3,400 trucks between January and November 2011 (2010: 1,100 trucks). Kamaz presented the first jointly manufactured truck at the Comtrans show in Moscow. The featured vehicle was a Kamaz truck with Daimler components tailored to the needs of Russia - the largest truck market in Europe.

Now that the final approval has been given for the cooperation with Foton in China, the new joint venture will be able to begin operations in just a few weeks. “The final approval of the joint venture between Daimler Trucks and Foton marks another important step in Daimler Trucks’ Global Excellence Strategy, one that will allow the division to thoroughly participate in the growth of the Chinese truck market over the long term,” says Renschler. Market volume for the medium and heavy-duty segment in China was 1.2 million units in 2010, and forecasts indicate that about 1.5 million trucks over six tons GVW will be sold in China each year by 2020.

Product offensive in Europe, North America, and Asia

Daimler Trucks consistently expanded and modernized its product range in all market regions in 2011. The Freightliner and Western Star brands opened the year with the introduction of state-of-the-art trucks in the vocational segment. Fuso presented a new generation of its high-volume Canter model and the new Actros has given Mercedes-Benz a benchmark truck for the European road freight sector. The new Mercedes-Benz Actros is the result of a substantial investment of more than 10 years of work, over 20 million test driving kilometers, and more than €2 billion spent on development and production technology. The vehicle is in fact the first long-distance haulage truck developed consistently to meet the Euro VI emission requirements. Fuel consumption has been cut by more than 7 percent in the Euro V version of the truck, and even the Euro VI version consumes over four percent less fuel than the predecessor model.

Daimler Trucks’ unparalleled product offensive marks a major step in the implementation of a global modular strategy, the most important example of which is the worldwide introduction of the new heavy-duty engine generation.

The new generation of engines has streamlined the previous range of four engine families from four plants down to just one family of engines manufactured at only two locations. The new generation of engines has already been successfully introduced by Fuso in Japan and by Freightliner and Western Star in the U.S. It also began powering the new Actros this year. The launch of the new engine generation means that Daimler Trucks is now using shared components in markets around the world.
Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Daimler Sends Two Unimogs to Help Flood Victims in Thailand

Mercedes-Benz Thailand is helping the Thai government combat the effects of the flood by providing two all-terrain Unimog all-wheel-drive vehicles. Now that the floodwaters are receding, crews have begun to clean up Bangkok — a task that might take weeks or even months to complete. This is a task for which Mercedes-Benz-Unimogs are ideally suited. They will help to transport debris from areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.


Mercedes-Benz Thailand will officially hand the vehicles over to the Thai Red Cross Society on December 23. The ceremony will be attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand. She is also known as the Princess of Technology, due to her interest in and knowledge of new technologies and how they can benefit her country.

Vehicles are able to ford depths of up to 1,200 mm

Mercedes-Benz Thailand selected two Unimogs for the cleanup task because the vehicle has special characteristics, in particular the ability to ford unusually deep waters of up to 1,200 mm. Says Gerald Buechler, the manager in charge of the project at Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, “As a result of a concerted action by all of the relevant units at Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, it took us only ten working days to complete all of the preparations for transporting the two UNIMOG U4000 trucks by air.” In cooperation with DHL and Thai Cargo, the two vehicles were loaded onto planes in Frankfurt on December 1.
Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Icons of Style: Mercedes-Benz Features New SL Roadster and Supermodel Lara Stone in Calvin Klein Collection

Mercedes-Benz USA announces today the 2012 Fashion Collaboration starring the new SL Roadster with Lara Stone in Calvin Klein Collection, captured by Alex Prager. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz Icons of Style images by Alex Prager can be described as: A beautiful woman stands alone in the desert, suitcases in hand. Yet in this 21st century update on classic Film Noir, the blonde is her own getaway driver, outpacing a tornado in a sleek SL Roadster by Mercedes-Benz.


The American photographer and filmmaker, Alex Prager, is known for creating surreal and enigmatic movie moments inspired by Frederico Fellini and David Lynch. Yet in her versions - heady with mystery, lust and desire - the woman is in control. Of her enigmatic images for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Icons of Style, Alex Prager said she chose cinematic greats as her Icons of Style. "I constantly reference Fellini characters and Hitchcock as well," said Prager.

Dutch supermodel, Lara Stone plays the update on the Hitchcock blonde, a strong protagonist who overcomes loneliness and fear. This inner strength is underscored by a timeless and elegant dress worn by Lara Stone and designed by Calvin Klein Collection's Women's Creative Director, Francisco Costa.

The SL Roadster featured in the latest Mercedes-Benz Icon of Style campaign, combines technical innovation with sleek sportiness and classic luxury and reinterprets the legendary Mercedes-Benz classic of the 1950s for today.

Lara Stone commented: "It's an honor to work with Mercedes-Benz on a project like this. Both Mercedes-Benz and Calvin Klein Collection brands represent great luxury and timeless elegance and it was a really unique experience."

The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Collaboration, Icons of Style, is making its US debut at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2012 from February 9-15, 2012.

The 2012 Icons of Style key visual is the latest in a stunning series of outstanding visuals celebrating the unique combination of design and style that is Mercedes-Benz. Nick Knight has posed Julia Stegner in Gareth Pugh with the SLS AMG; Miles Aldridge photographed Milla Jovovich wearing a spectacular hat from Philip Treacy next to the Mercedes E-Class Convertible; Craig McDean and David James staged Karolina Kurkova next to the new CLS and last season, Terry Richardson captured Jessica Stam on the roof of the A-Class concept car.

The protagonists:

Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster
The designers have presented the most recent generation of SL icons in an unmistakeable way, by combining a deep sense tradition with new perspectives and visions. The result is a stylish, sporty and elegant luxury sport's car with the classic, SL-typical well-balanced proportions: the long bonnet is followed by a compact passenger compartment and the wide, sleek rear perfects the look. Understated, artistically designed lines define the powerfully modelled yet smooth surfaces ofits silhouette. Finely engineered details from the dynamic, traditional form repertoire of Mercedes-Benz visually underline the legend of the SL. From a technological perspective, the SL presents itself as a spectacular trendsetter. Manufactured almost completely from aluminium, it weighs a lot less than its predecessor. Innovations like the unique FrontBass system, which turns the SL into a concert hall, whether open or closed, or the adaptive MAGIC VISION CONTROL System are all pioneering developments with an eye to the future.

Alex Prager
Self-taught Alex Prager from Los Angeles is a rising star in the photographer sky. On a visit to a William Egglestone exhibition, Alex Prager made the decision to start taking photos herself. Since then, the 32-year-old photographic artist and filmmaker has impressed with her unconventional photography at several solo and group exhibitions. Her productions are inspired by the style of the sixties, as well as by the films by great directors like Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch and Frederico Fellini. Alex Prager describes her photography as a documentation of a world that at the same time exists and yet does not exist. In addition to her well-received trilogy with the series "Polyester", "The Big Valley" and "Week-end", Alex Prager has also made a name for herself as a fashion photographer. Her "Lofty Ambitions" editorial featured in the September issue of US Vogue and she also shot the spring/summer 2011 campaign by Bottega Veneta with Karolina Kurkova.

Lara Stone
The native Dutch model is currently top of the worldwide rankings on Models.com. Since her breakthrough in 2006 she has been the campaign face for top labels like Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, Max Mara and Versace, has worked with star photographers including Mario Testino, Steven Meisel, Craig McDean, Mario Sorrenti and Terry Richardson and has modelled on the catwalk for all major, international fashion houses. The gap between her two front teeth has become one of her trademark featuresShe is currently the face of Calvin Klein and has been linked to the brand for quite some time. French Vogue dedicated a whole issue to Lara Stone in February 2009, and fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld shot a short film with her.

Calvin Klein Collection's Francisco Costa
Francisco Costa is the critically acclaimed Women's Creative Director of Calvin Klein Collection. Mr. Costa assumed this role in 2003 after working directly with Calvin Klein and other top design houses of Gucci, Balmain Couture, and Oscar de la Renta. Mr. Costa's first collection for Calvin Klein Collection debuted for Spring 2004. Known for his timeless, elegant designs, Mr. Costa has received numerous awards for his work, including being twice named the Womenswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and is a recipient of the Cooper-Hewitt National Fashion Design Award. A graduate of F.I.T., Mr. Costa was born into a family with deep roots in fashion, and grew up in the small Brazilian town of Guarani near Rio de Janiero, where his mother and father owned a successful apparel business.

Credits: Mercedes-Benz USA

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

New Mercedes-Benz Collection miniatures in 1:87, 1:43 and 1:18 scales

Small is beautiful: the new Mercedes-Benz M-Class and B-Class in model form

Following the market launch of their full-size counterparts, detailed miniatures of the new Mercedes M-Class and B-Class have become the latest additions to the Mercedes-Benz Collection. The efficient off-roader and the compact sports tourer are available with immediate effect as high-grade miniatures in scale 1:87, 1:43 and 1:18. Developed in collaboration with renowned manufacturers Busch, Herpa, Minichamps and Norev, these collectors' models are being sold through Mercedes-Benz outlets, Mercedes-Benz dealerships, the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the online shop.



As is customary for the Mercedes-Benz Collection, a huge amount of emphasis was placed on authenticity. It's why the model cars are available in many of the original paintwork colours and with popular special equipment features such as ILS headlamps and panoramic roofs. The miniatures in scale 1:43 and 1:18 even have the same interior trims as their full-size equivalents. Brown burr walnut or the honeycomb and matrix looks are the trim options for the B-Class, while aluminium, poplar anthracite or brown ash are used in the M-Class, depending on its paintwork colour.

The front doors and tailgate and the bonnet and boot lid of the 1:18 models can be opened. Their interiors and boots are flocked, and the rear seat bench can be folded forward in the B-Class model.

All model cars in the Mercedes-Benz Collection come in Mercedes-Benz designer packaging. A screwdriver is even enclosed with the 1:18 scale models, allowing the model to be removed from its screw-fastened packaging with the minimum of fuss.
The following table offers an overview of the six new miniatures:
Collectors' items: Mercedes miniatures down to the last detail

Since the invention of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz has built its vehicles out of conviction and passion. Such is the extent of this passion that even the miniature vehicles bearing the three-pointed star are produced with enormous attention to detail – so much so that they even stand up to comparison with their full-size counterparts. As soon as you see a new Mercedes-Benz on the road, you can be sure that a miniature version – available in a range of colours and scales – will be waiting for enthusiasts at Mercedes-Benz outlets.

But before that stage is reached, much work has to be done. After all, behind every miniature is a story of engineering excellence, creativity and precision craftsmanship – just as for the real thing. Before any actual work on the miniature begins, the developers first turn their attention to the original, using state-of-the-art CAD technology to precisely map the basic shape and size. This digitalised design data constitutes the DNA of a genuine Mercedes-Benz. Modelling specialists then modify and process this information for use on a smaller scale. Only then can the exact configuration of the model car begin. Certain special equipment features are also replicated from the real-life originals – from the engine and the interior trim to the choice of alloy wheels.

Shot after shot: 800 photos for maximum authenticity

A detailed photo of the door hinge is just as important in the overall scheme as one of the cockpit controls and the texture of the leather-upholstered seats. In a painstaking process, the modelling experts integrate the countless individual photos of the genuine article into the CAD data and use them for a final comparison with the original. It can take up to three months to go through this development process and to achieve the aim of getting as close to the original as possible. Extremely ambitious considering that a finished model car in scale 1:18 is made up of up 120 individual parts.

Benchmark brand design: the first working model

Design plays a key role at Mercedes-Benz. And it's no different for its miniature masterpieces. The model should be more than simply a 'dinky' version of the original. It should reflect the emotional appeal of the brand. At the Sindelfingen design studios, product managers and specialists work hand in hand to bring the same appeal to the first working model. Meticulous checks are made to key elements for the overall look such as the light-catching contours. The proportions of the individual components, right down to the windscreen wipers and exterior mirrors, must correspond exactly to the size of the vehicle.

Once the design is perfect, work begins on the moving parts. The boot lid, bonnet and doors all have to open and close in the same way as the original. Even the tiniest discrepancy is picked up on and corrected at this stage. Meticulous hand-craftsmanship is called for. The modellers smooth, file and cut away until the new working prototype made out of synthetic resin meets the demanding Mercedes-Benz standards, ready for the sample to be approved by the vehicle designers.

It can take up to four months to develop the first working model – another three to four months is invested in the 'first shot', the initial, unpainted metal model. Only now is the miniature ready for series production.

The best or nothing – no compromises in colour

The paintwork of the models should be virtually a 100 per cent match to the original. This is achieved in a number of stages. First, a colour chart corresponding to the exact shade of the production vehicle is analysed and the paint remixed. Several complex comparisons are carried out to verify how close it comes to the original. The miniature vehicle body then enters the firing chamber, just as its full-size counterpart would. At the end, the model is covered by three coats of paint. The light-catching contours gleam with perfection – and the Mercedes miniature is ready to step out from the shadows of its real-life counterpart.










Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Run Forrest Run: The C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series completes the Ring in under 8 mins

Brilliant news for Mercedes-AMG: their new C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series is a seriously fast machine that stands out of the crowd following the successful test lap carried out (by individuals, not officials) on the Nurburgring circuit in Germany. The coupe managed to complete the entire track in precisely 7 minutes and 46 seconds, which puts it between the Porsche 911 Carrera S that posted a time of 7:44 and the BMW M3 GTS which was two seconds slower, scoring 7:48. Compared to the standard C 63 AMG Coupe, which nearly missed the 8:00 barrier by just a second, the Black Series version is from another league.


Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Mercedes-Benz launches hybrid offensive: The world's most economical luxury-class model

Mercedes-Benz is opening a new chapter in its brand's core segment and at the same time setting new standards for luxury-class business vehicles: the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID, available as a Saloon and Estate, impresses with new record values when it comes to efficiency. It boasts exemplary consumption levels (4.2 l/100 km[1]) as well as impressive performance: the 4-cylinder diesel engine of the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID has 150 kW (204 hp) and 500 Nm. Combined with an electric motor producing 20 kW and 250 Nm, this results in a coherent overall concept. The E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID is the most economical luxury-class vehicle in the world. The V6-cylinder petrol engine in the E 400 HYBRID produces 225 kW (306 hp) and 370 Nm, and is also supplemented by a further 20 kW and 250 Nm from the electric motor. The consumption figures based on the American CAFE standard are: City 24 mpg, Highway 31 mpg, Combined 27 mpg.


"With these two E-Class models we are now continuing our comprehensive hybrid offensive. The modular technology opens up a quick way for us to complement other model series with hybrid models", explains Professor Dr. Thomas Weber, Daimler Board Member for Group Research and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. "With a clear focus on the different requirements of global markets, we are able to offer precisely the models which our customers want. The E-Class hybrids provide a clear reduction in consumption as well as a very impressive driving experience: they represent hybrid motoring at the premium level."

The new models do not require their passengers to have to compromise when it comes to space, however, whether in terms of the interior or the luggage compartment. And there are also additional benefits to the intelligent modular hybrid concept, which represents a comprehensive enhancement of the Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID which has advanced to the position of clear market leader since 2009: no changes to the vehicle body are required, the hybrid module is both flexible and modular, thus allowing its use in other model series, and in addition to diesel and petrol variants there will also be right-hand drive variants. Meanwhile, the extra cost involved here is only moderate. The new hybrid models will be celebrating their world premiere at the Detroit Motor Show (14 to 22 January 2012) and will appear on the market over the course of the year. The E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID is initially planned to be launched on the European market, while the E 400 HYBRID will be made available on the American market first, followed by other countries such as Japan and China later.

Highlights of the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID at a glance:

- Compact, intelligent and modular hybrid concept: no changes to the body of the base vehicle are necessary

- Also available as an Estate

- Space, safety and comfort remain unchanged

- No compromises in terms of space, safety and comfort

- Significant increase in comfort with start/stop operation; noiseless start, complete climatic comfort

- Top marks for consumption in the luxury-class business vehicle segment: 4.2 litres/100 km, 109 g CO2/km

- Part of the intelligent downsizing strategy of Mercedes-Benz: increase in the engine output of the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID with 150 kW + 20 kW electric motor/500 Nm + 250 Nm, compared with the E 250 CDI (150 kW/500 Nm), positioning it at the same level as the E 300 CDI (170 kW/540 Nm)

- Fuel savings of around 15 percent compared with the E 250 CDI – even in actual road traffic conditions

- Impressive hybrid driving experience (start/stop function, regenerative braking, boost effect, purely electric motoring and "sailing" function)


Highlights of the E 400 HYBRID at a glance:

- Compact, intelligent and modular hybrid concept: no changes to the body of the base vehicle are necessary

- No compromises in terms of space, safety and comfort

- Significant increase in comfort with start/stop operation; noiseless start, complete climatic comfort

- Consumption combined (CAFE): 27 mpg

- Part of the intelligent downsizing strategy of Mercedes-Benz: increase in the engine output of the E 400 HYBRID by some 20 kW and 250 Nm thanks to the electric motor

- Impressive hybrid driving experience (start/stop function, regenerative braking, boost effect, purely electric motoring and "sailing" function)


[1] All consumption and performance figures are preliminary figures based on the Saloon model, as at December 2011




















Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.