DENZA unveiled its new all-electric vehicle show car at Auto China 2012 in Beijing. The battery-driven vehicle that defines a new level of sophistication in the Chinese New Energy Vehicle (NEV) segment is the result of the partnership between BYD and Daimler. Auto China 2012 marks the first appearance of the DENZA brand at a motor show. It is also the first landmark event since the official launch of the brand, which took place in Shenzhen in March this year. The arrival of DENZA marked the first strictly NEV brand in the Chinese market. “Even before the birth of DENZA, Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. (BDNT) has created a very special ‘first’: When Daimler and BYD made their partnership official in the spring of 2010, they founded the first joint venture in China dedicated solely to New Energy Vehicle. The Joint Venture is making extremely positive progress with the first prototypes of the future production model already out on the streets,” said Ulrich Walker, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BDNT and Chairman and CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia. “We are very much on track with the plans for our DENZA vehicle.” Over 200 engineers and experts from both companies have gathered and combined their strengths at BDNT’s base in Shenzhen. BYD is providing its expertise in battery technology and e-drive systems, as well as their experience in bringing electric vehicles onto the roads of China. Daimler is contributing more than 125 years of excellence in automotive design and know-how in vehicle architecture, safety and quality. The concept car unveiled today, a full electric battery-driven model, was designed, and will be built and sold in China. “We are reaching out to those who believe that state-of-the-art technologies and beautiful concepts can blend together into the perfect mobility solution without compromising on safety and comfort, to provide both a modern and green urban lifestyle,” remarked BDNT COO Arno Roehringer while introducing the car at Auto China 2012. “We are creating DENZA not only for the people of today, but also for inspiring our next generations.” “We brought traditional Chinese elements forward into the next generation with a priority on ergonomic design and some futuristic innovations,” said CEO Lian Yubo, on hand to point out some of the features of the car to the gathering of auto media and various dignitaries. “The rear seating area was designed to feel as much as possible like a lounge area. The lounge character really comes out through the reclining rear seats integrated into the design.” He went on to describe the chrome inside and out, the wood and copper features in the interior, and the ambient light system that runs all throughout the cabin making night driving more pleasant without compromising safety. The exterior chrome can be illuminated to provide perfected visibility and safety. It is visually integrated with the battery storage area, which succeeds better than most EVs at keeping the batteries out of passengers’ way. Combined with the rear-hinged rear doors, the DENZA concept car is easily accessible, with no awkward battery-related steps to clear while entering or exiting the vehicle. The DENZA booth at Auto China is carefully designed to reflect the strengths of the car, as well as the values of the company. The main feature is a large white ribbon which flows all around the booth, defining its dimensions and the character of the interior. The sense of movement – like a car on the road - is reinforced by the actual movement of the light in the LED strip along its rocker panel. The LED light is the identical blue found in DENZA logo and in the body paint of the car. This “DENZA blue” color represents the company’s twin conceptual foundations of environmental responsibility and cutting-edge technology. On DENZA China is the home of DENZA because of its potential as an NEV market. With its expanding middle class, increasing urbanization, open-minded consumers, and a supportive government determined to reduce their reliance on crude oil, central government expects the number of NEVs in China to rise from its current level of 10,000 to 5,000,000 by 2020 according to the latest NEV industrialization plan. With the launch of its new concept car, and a production model slated for release in 2013, DENZA is “on track”.
2012 marks the 60th anniversary of the legendary SL range from Mercedes-Benz. A new generation of the sports roadster series has already been unveiled, whereas last year an important number of classic models built in the early and mid 1950s were brought to light after many years during which they were forgotten in dark barns and garages across the world. Just lately, a new crown jewel was discovered in the United Kingdom. We're talking about a rusty 300 SL version of 1957, that needs a complete and expensive restoration process in order to regain most of its past motoring glory. Apart from the original 6-cylinder 215 hp engine, left dismantled in a corner of the garage, this particular Gullwing looks to be a in rather decent state, even though the long decades of inactivity put some serious marks over the car. We pray this 300 SL finds a dedicated owner as soon as possible, to make sure one day, after great efforts, it will shine on roads again as it did once upon a time.
Mercedes-Benz will soon add a new model in its already expanding compact segment portfolio. Based on the new A-Class and B-Class, the CLC-Class is a chic alternative for the bigger CLS and will be marketed as a niche variant. The C 117 (internal designation) is a crucial player, because it will be the first exponent of the new generation of compact Mercedes-Benz cars to be sold in the United States, before the other two siblings. With no contenders on the market whatsoever, the first 4-door compact coupe in the world is programmed for reveal while we approach the end of 2012. To help us imagine how the real car could look like, the Stuttgart-based constructor will be flashing the stage of next month's New York Motor Show with a preview concept car. The recipe is the same as in the case of the A-Class, so we shouldn't worry about anything. Just by looking at the successful story of the CLS-Class, excitement is really building up for the new CLC. No doubt this attractive automobile will be a hit, just like its "older" brother.
Highly exclusive and equally dynamic limited-edition city sports cars have a long, successful history at BRABUS. Reason enough for BRABUS to celebrate yet another world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show: based on the latest evolution of the smart fortwo cabrio there is now a successor to the sold-out limited-edition models ULTIMATE 101, ULTIMATE 112, ULTIMATE R and ULTIMATE style – the BRABUS ULTIMATE 120. As the name indicates, this drop-top two-seater car is a supercar with 120 hp (118 bhp) / 88.3 kW and a top speed of 170 km/h (112 mph), which will be built in a small-series production run limited to just 120 consecutively numbered cars. The exclusive appointments range from a special paint finish as per customer specification to the WIDESTAR wide-body version with forged BRABUS Monoblock F 18-inch wheels and an all-leather interior. MSRP for a BRABUS ULTIMATE 120 starts at EUR 45,900.
In addition to the special paint finish, which on the car at the Geneva Motor Show is an intense metallic red, the ULTIMATE 120 immediately catches the eye with its muscular BRABUS WIDESTAR body kit with front spoiler, side sills and BRABUS WIDESTAR fender flares front and back.
The large wheel wells offers space for a tire/wheel combination that is highly unusual in this vehicle class and design: the new BRABUS Monoblock F "Platinum Edition" forged wheels are mounted on the front axle in size 7Jx18 with size 205/35 R 18 high-performance tires. Size 8.5Jx18 wheels with size 235/30 R 18 tires in the rear provide plenty of grip for transferring the power of 120 horses to the asphalt with no slip.
The height-adjustable BRABUS coilover suspension is custom-calibrated to the ultra-low-profile tires and the wider track. It combines direct and safe handling with excellent ride comfort. A BRABUS high-performance brake system with cross-drilled discs and four-piston fixed calipers painted in body color on the front axle provides enormous stopping power and maximum durability.
This makes the ULTIMATE 120 perfectly suited for the installation of the powerful BRABUS three-cylinder turbocharged engine. In keeping with its name, the ultimate city sports car keeps a maximum power output of 120 hp (118 bhp) / 88.3 kW at 6,000 rpm on tap for its driver. However, even more important in day-to-day operation is the peak torque of 160 Nm (118 lb-ft), available between 2,250 and 3,750 rpm, and unparalleled in this vehicle class.
Gears in the BRABUS ULTIMATE 120 are shifted either automatically or similar to Formula 1 racing manually with shift paddles on the ergonomically shaped BRABUS steering wheel that has a diameter of just 34 centimeters (13.4 inches).
With a sprint time of 8.9 seconds for 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) and an electronically limited top speed of 170 km/h (106 mph) the convertible also sets new class standards in these disciplines.
This performance is accompanied acoustically by the BRABUS stainless-steel sport exhaust system with two chrome-plated tailpipes.
The ULTIMATE 120 also features a number of exquisite interior highlights: the entire interior is clad in especially soft and breathable black BRABUS Mastik leather with red contrasting seams that match the outer skin. For perfect lateral support during fast cornering the city sports car is equipped with Recaro Sportster seats. These also are wrapped in the finest BRABUS leather and their seat shells are painted in the same color as the car’s exterior.
Numerous other details such as the speedometer, tach and clock including the instrument bezels, dashboard molding, turn signal stalks and door handles were also painted in body color. BRABUS stainless-steel pedals as well as an aluminum shifter and emergency-brake lever create pure motor sports ambiance.
Air conditioning system, radio and navigation system are of course also part of the two-seat drop-top’s standard equipment.
* Official photos and details courtesy of BRABUS GmbH *
Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg arrive in style at the launch site of their new cars for the upcoming season: the new F1 W03 single-seater meets the new SL 63 AMG sports roadster during the special premiere event organized at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. Both drivers together with Norbert Haug and Ross Brawn express their feelings on the new MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS title contender for this year, which is aimed to bring the Brackley-based team at the forefront of Formula 1. Hit play and enjoy the video!
125 years of the automobile was a momentous anniversary – and celebrations of this milestone represented the main focus of our activities in 2011. “Over the year, Mercedes-Benz Classic was able to demonstrate the fascination of the Mercedes-Benz brand on a world-wide basis. We were able to move both people and vehicles,” commented Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic and Managing Director of the Mercedes-Benz Museum GmbH. “Vehicles from our own collection alone played a part in 1,400 events – almost twice as many as would be normal in a year without such an anniversary. A truly extraordinary achievement and a great result for the year.”
Just a few key data to show just how much was achieved in 2011: the three-wheeler patented by Carl Benz in 1886, for example, and which is considered to be the world’s first automobile, made 160 appearances at events all over the world. What is more, in spring 2011 the patent for the first vehicle to be powered by an internal combustion engine was made a UNESCO World Heritage Document. The company’s own collection of vehicles includes several replicas of this first Patent Motor Car.
The first long-distance journey with an automobile, undertaken in 1888 by Bertha Benz from Mannheim to Pforzheim in an improved version of the Patent Motor Car, was re-enacted over a distance of some 180 kilometres in the summer of 2011 by Germany’s South-West Broadcasting (“Südwestfunk”) radio station SWR 1, with support from Mercedes-Benz Classic. This was automotive history brought to life, and was extremely well received, both by people encountered along the way and as a response to the daily broadcast reports. The original route was in fact extended for the rerun as far as Stuttgart and the Mercedes-Benz Museum.
A review of the year reveals some impressive figures: in 2011, more than 1,400 vehicles were made available for appearances at nearly 470 events around the world. Altogether, the collection these days comprises more than 900 vehicles that represent the long history of Mercedes-Benz – passenger cars, commercial vehicles and racing cars. In fact the collection would be quite justified in describing itself as one gigantic museum on wheels. In 2011 alone 35 new vehicles joined the collection. One of these was the final car to leave the production line of the R 230-series SL: the last vehicle to be built went straight into the collection, ahead of the launch of the new SL in January 2012.
Mercedes-Benz Classic also took part with selected vehicles in numerous events in the international classic car calendar. These included, for example, participation in the Mille Miglia with a total of 18 vehicles; at the Goodwood Revival in honour of racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio, who would have been 100 years old in 2011; and in the “London to Brighton” veteran car run. A new participant in this year’s activities was a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE, which has been rebuilt by the Mercedes-Benz Classic engineers as a track vehicle for historical motor racing events and competed during the 2011 season in various events promoted by the historic racing vehicle series “Fahrergemeinschaft Historischer Rennsport e. V.” (FHR).
The Mercedes-Benz Classic Archive is considered one of the most extensive corporate archives in the whole of Europe, and probably the most comprehensive in the automotive industry. The figures make the scope of the archives very clear: if all the material in the archives were to be lined up a row, it would cover a distance of 15 kilometres. Adding to this are more than 3 million photos and 2,500 film media. The Mercedes-Benz Classic Archive and Collection themselves celebrated a round anniversary in 2011, having been officially established 75 years ago, in December 1936.
About 701,000 visitors from more than 175 countries visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum during 2011. 4000 guided tours in ten languages were given. This was due not only to the anniversary celebrations marking “125 years of the automobile”, but also to the attractive programme of events that has become a regular feature of the museum's activities. Since it opened five years ago, in May 2006, the new museum has welcomed 4.2 million visitors through its doors – around a third of them from outside Germany. The majority of visitors come from Germany, followed by China, the US, France and Switzerland.
Mercedes-Benz maintains various heritage sites as reminders of the inventors of the automobile. As just one example, in 2011 over 20,000 visitors from countries all over the world came to visit the birthplace of Gottlieb Daimler in Schorndorf, while well over 10,000 also visited his former workshop, the so-called “greenhouse”, in Cannstatt.
The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center is the main centre of expertise for all the technical aspects of classic vehicles dating back through the history of Mercedes-Benz. Again and again the Center sets new standards for the quality and authenticity of restoration work undertaken. Over the course of the year, for example, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL that had been restored there to its original condition was sold to a customer – a superb example of a top-class collectors’ piece of this model. The determination to maintain authenticity is supported by an excellent replacement parts service for the brand: the warehouse inventory currently comprises some 35,000 active line items, and any part can be delivered to a customer in Germany within 24 hours. In 2011, replacement parts provision for the 124 model series was transferred to the Classic Center, adding a further 12,000 items to the inventory. Total revenues for the year from the sale of replacement parts for classic and “young classic” vehicles amounted to 126 million euros.
As always, Mercedes-Benz Classic continues to work closely with officially recognised brand clubs, which provide an important link between the classic vehicle scene and Daimler AG. The latest figures reveal that altogether the clubs currently have around 80,000 members, in all corners of the world, and held more than 200 events of their own in 2011. The German clubs alone saw almost 1,400 new members joining. Some of the clubs had anniversaries of their own to celebrate, in Germany for instance the Mercedes-Benz SL Club Pagoda (30 years), the Mercedes-Benz Veteran Car Club of Germany (30 years), the Mercedes-Benz Model Car Club (25 years), and the Mercedes-Benz R 129 SL Club (10 years). But Mercedes-Benz Classic also held its own events: in the spring of 2011 a group under the heading “Mercedes-Benz & Friends” travelled to the Côte d’Azur, where they were able to retrace the early history of the brand. August then saw some 2,000 vehicles and 1,800 club members from more than 30 countries, along with 200,000 visitors, gather at the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin to mark the anniversary of “125 years of the automobile” in what was the biggest celebration of the Mercedes-Benz brand ever to have taken place.
The division’s activities in the area of new media have also proved extremely successful. Over 21,000 fans follow what the world’s oldest automotive brand is up to on Facebook. The new Mercedes-Benz Classic app for iPhone® and iPad® has also already been downloaded more than 200,000 times. The app provides a state-of-the-art way to find out more about the heritage and the legend of Mercedes-Benz.
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).
Charging electric cars without an electric cable – how does that work? Daimler AG is about to test inductive charging for the first time on a vehicle in everyday use in the form of a technically modified Mercedes-Benz A-Class E-CELL. With the inductive charging principle, an electric car fitted with a special charging coil merely has to be positioned over a charging coil in the ground to start the charging process fully automatically, with no need for cable contact. "We are keen to find out how the inductive charging process proves in daily use," says Herbert Kohler, head of e-drive & future mobility in the Research and Advance Development department at Daimler AG. "We have already demonstrated the essential feasibility of the technology. The experience in day-to-day use will now provide important pointers for the further course of development. A number of technical and financial issues also need to be resolved before we can really assess the marketability of this technology."
The electric car will be deployed from March 2012 in the project "Effizienzhaus-Plus mit Elektromobilität", which was inaugurated in Berlin today by Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel and Dr. Peter Ramsauer, Member of the Bundestag and Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs. Through the application of cutting-edge technologies, the energy-efficient house in this pilot project is intended to generate more electricity than it consumes. This surplus electricity can be used to recharge battery-powered electric vehicles, for example – the home as a personal filling station. The entire building has been designed along energy-efficient lines, seamlessly incorporating the area of electric mobility. Both the inductive and the cable-based charging devices are harmonically integrated in the house's architecture, for example. A family of four will live at the house on an experimental basis for 15 months, beginning in March 2012. During their stay at the house they will use various electric vehicles to explore and demonstrate how a new generation of buildings and electric mobility interact in daily life. Apart from the Mercedes-Benz A-Class E-CELL with inductive charging option, Daimler AG will be providing the "Effizienzhaus-Plus mit Elektromobilität" project from the start in March 2012 with two other battery-powered electric vehicles for around three months: the second-generation smart fortwo electric drive and the smart ebike. The family will thus have a broad spectrum of battery-powered local emission-free electric vehicles from Daimler at its disposal to cover the most diverse uses. From the two-seater tailored perfectly to urban needs through the 5-seater family car to the electric bike which opens the door to electric mobility without any need for a driving licence. Daimler will also attend to installation of the necessary charging infrastructure at the house, providing a wallbox for conductive charging with a cable and a charging coil for inductive charging in the carport. Alternatively, the family will also be able to charge all the vehicles at public charging stations or by plugging them into a standard domestic power outlet.
The project "Effizienzhaus-Plus mit Elektromobilität" will show that sustainable living and driving is possible without compromising on one's quality of life. Scientific evaluation of the data on usage of the vehicle which are collected in the course of the project may additionally provide important insights into customers' wishes – and show how electric cars can become yet more sustainable and at the same time more comfortable and convenient in the future.
Charging without a cable
In addition to charging with a cable, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class E-CELL to be deployed in this project can also be charged inductively. This involves non-contact transmission of the charging current by means of an electromagnetic field. For this purpose, both the vehicle and the parking space at the energy-efficient house are fitted with corresponding coils. A special display system helps the driver to manoeuvre the vehicle into the ideal position over the charging coil.
In cooperation with Conductix-Wampfler and Röchling Automotive KG, Daimler has already developed a prototype version of this technology and demonstrated its functional effectiveness in a project sponsored by the Federal Ministry of the Environment. The technology's suitability for everyday use is now to be sounded out thoroughly in the course of the practical trial.
A perfect match: energy-efficient house and electric vehicle in coordinated design
In order to highlight the close functional relationship between house and vehicle, a special edition has been developed for the "Effizienzhaus-Plus" project in close consultation between the Mercedes-Benz Design department and "Effizienzhaus-Plus" architect Prof. Werner Sobek. In keeping with the design and colour concept for the house, white and natural tones are predominant in the exterior and interior design of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class E-CELL and the second-generation smart fortwo electric drive. A specially developed pearl coat in platinum white metallic lends the vehicles a strong presence and reflects heat, thereby helping to keep the interior cool. The combined use of natural textiles such as wool, linen and nappa leather provides for an attractive contrast.
The coordinated design means that the family will feel totally at home in the cars, thus communicating the concept of integrated sustainable home living and motoring on a visual and an emotional level.
The 50:50 R&D Joint Venture between Daimler AG and BYD Company Limited, Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd. (BDNT), is going to show a Design Concept of the future joint venture electric vehicle to the public for the first time during next year’s Auto China in Beijing.
In April 2012, BDNT will be present at the motor show with an own appearance, showcasing BDNT’s green vision, the new brand’s identity, including brand name, logo and positioning as well as the Concept Car’s exterior and interior design. The Concept Car is going to give a first outlook on BDNT’s fully electric vehicle that is scheduled to be launched in 2013.
In the meantime, the Shenzhen-based joint venture is making good progress on the production model of the car. Recently, work on building up the electric vehicle’s first prototypes has started with the target to have them running by springtime next year. The joint venture will use BYD’s excellence in battery technology and e-drive systems and Daimler’s know-how in electric vehicle architecture and safety.
Furthermore Daimler’s quality philosophy has been incorporated from a very early stage – not only to safeguard the vehicle’s quality but also to contribute the company’s long-standing expertise with quality management along the supply chain and production processes.
Production of the new generation of compact to mid-size electric vehicles in Shenzhen is going to be closely accompanied by Daimler’s quality management experts and will to a large extent follow Daimler’s standardised production system for passenger cars.
The supplier sourcing for the new vehicle is nearly completed. Both partners have decided to sign a number of China-based international as well as local suppliers.
On BDNT
In 2010, Daimler and BYD signed the contract for a 50:50 research and technology joint venture called “Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd,” (BDNT) that will develop an electric vehicle in and for China. End of February 2011 BDNT has received its business license from Chinese authorities - just a few months after signing the JV contract. The vehicle will be marketed under a new brand jointly created and owned by the joint venture company BDNT.
Electric vehicles are especially well-suited for urban driving. With its many metropolitan areas, China has the potential to be among the world’s largest markets for zero-emission vehicles. Daimler and BYD are determined not only to participate in this growth of electric mobility in China but to accelerate it even further.
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