SPY: The 2013 Mercedes-Benz A 25 AMG 'glides gently' on the slippery Nürburgring

Mercedes-Benz is about to introduce the new A 25 AMG shortly after the market launch of the new generation A-Class in September. The compact sportscar promises to be the ultimate leader of the segment thanks to a series of special features that speak about the dynamic character of the car: the new supercharged gasoline unit, the integral traction system, the adaptive suspension and the multitude of ride management systems developed by AMG for a safe experience even at high speeds.

The 2013 A 25 AMG will sport a newly engineered powerplant at the High Performance Powertrains department in Brixworth, UK: experts and technicians used F1 know-how to tweak the engine for maximum performance. While the total displacement of just two litres might not sound very moving, then prepare to hear the rumored value for the peak output: 350 hp. The impressive amount of power is achieved through high-pressure supercharging and intelligent cylinder management. Handling the situation will be easier for the compact A 25 AMG as the car is set to premiere a new 4x4 platform enhanced to deliver an optimal ride and added grip under any condition. The 350 ponnies will reach the four wheels with the help of a double-clutch, 7-speed automatic transmission similar to those found on the C 63 AMG or SLS AMG.

Image Credits: Autoevolution

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

DTM Hockenheim 2012: Qualifying - Jamie Green on front row as new DTM era begins

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) is the best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver in qualifying for tomorrow’s race at the Hockenheimring. (Start: 14.00 CEST with live coverage from 13.40 on ARD) 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.“

* Official photos and details courtesy of Mercedes-AMG GmbH *

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Mercedes-Benz Collection miniatures in 1:87, 1:43 and 1:18: The new SL - the legendary sports car now in miniature for collectors' display cabinets

Car enthusiasts have been dreaming of owning their own Mercedes-Benz SL for 60 years. But it is not just the genuine article in the garage that provokes covetous looks. 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.

This is an overview of the three SL miniatures:

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Supervisory Board of Daimler AG extends contract with Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard

In its meeting today, the Supervisory Board of Daimler AG extended the contract of Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, a member of the Board of Management of Daimler, until February 28, 2018.

Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard has been a member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG since February 18, 2010. In that function, he is responsible for Manufacturing and Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars and for the entire Mercedes-Benz Vans division.

“We look forward to continuing the excellent cooperation with Wolfgang Bernhard in the Board of Management of Daimler AG and as a member of the Mercedes-Benz Cars team. This management continuity is important for the ongoing consistent implementation of the division’s strategy and for the achievement of our corporate goals,” stated Dr. Manfred Bischoff, Chairman of Daimler’s Supervisory Board.

Wolfgang Bernhard’s contract of service would have expired in February 2013. Pursuant to Section 84 Subsection 1 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG), the Supervisory Board decides on reappointment after the beginning of the last year of a Board of Management member’s current period of office.

Dr. Bernhard was born in Böhen (in Germany’s Allgäu region) on September 3, 1960. After completing high school in Bavaria, he studied at the Technical University of Darmstadt from 1980 until 1986, graduating as an industrial engineer with the special subject of electrical engineering. From 1987 until 1988, he studied at Columbia University in New York, where he gained an MBA (Master of Business Administration). After that, he studied at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt from 1988 until 1990, obtaining a doctorate on the subject of international exchange-rate risks. 

Previous positions at the company:
- Head of the Mercedes-Benz Vans division, 2009

- Member of the Board of Management, COO Chrysler Group, DaimlerChrysler AG, 2002 – 2004

- Deputy Member of the Board of Management, COO Chrysler Group, DaimlerChrysler AG, 2000

- Chairman of the Management, Mercedes-AMG GmbH, 1999

- Center Manager for S-Class Assembly at the Sindelfingen plant and responsible for the start of the new S-Class, 1994

- Project Manager for reducing material costs and increasing productivity at the assembly plants of Mercedes-Benz AG, 1992 – 1993

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Strong first quarter: Daimler increases Group EBIT to €2.1 billion

Daimler AG (stock-market symbol DAI) achieved EBIT of €2,130 million in the first quarter of 2012, which is slightly higher than the high prior-year level (Q1 2011: €2,031 million). Net profit increased by 20% to €1,416 million (Q1 2011: €1,180 million) and earnings per share rose to €1.25 from €0.99 in the first quarter of 2011.

“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.

The special items affecting EBIT in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011 are shown in the table at the botton of this page. 

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 alsoincludes 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%.

The special items shown in the following table affected EBIT in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011:

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.