The first example of the new SL series has been recently delivered to its owner at the Mercedes-Benz Customer Center in Bremen. Klaus Hahn, a furniture store owner from Solingen, Germany, came along with his wife to pick up the roadster. "I've been owning SL roadsters for 20 years, because I like the combination of comfort and sportiness. I find the technology of the new model particularly fascinating.", said Hahn. He opted for an SL 350 version in metallic Cavansit Blue paint job.Andreas Keller, head of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen: "For the new edition of this automotive icon, we have designed our body shop from scratch. The new SL is produced almost entirely from aluminum and this site has now become an excellence center for lightweight construction technology. We are very proud that Bremen continues the success story of this cult sports car. "
In 1952, the forefather of the SL was taking part in international grands prix as racing car. In 1954, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the first street-legal model: the legendary 300 SL Gullwing. In 1963, 1971, 1989 and 2001 further generations of the sports roadster followed, which were first produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen and, since 1989, at the Bremen facility too. Over 650,000 SLs were manufactured after serial production started in 1954.
The new-generation Mercedes-Benz SL takes the meaning of the famous letters "SL" – super, lightweight – literally. For the first time Mercedes-Benz has implemented an all-aluminium bodyshell in a series-production model. Only very few components consist of other materials. The designers use the even lighter magnesium for the cover behind the tank. High-strength steel tubing is integrated in the A-pillars for safety reasons. The aluminium structure is not only lighter but also proves superior to the predecessor's steel construction in terms of rigidity, safety and comfort. Compared to the previous model, the new SL 350 is 140 kilograms lighter, whereas the new SL 500 weighs 125 kilograms less.
Mercedes-Benz offers the new SL in two distinct versions: SL 350 with a V6 engine and SL 500 with a V8 biturbo unit. The new BlueDIRECT engines deliver 225 kw (306 hp) in the SL 350 and, respectively, 320 kW (435 hp) in the SL 500.
The new SL features two world premieres: the FrontBass system provides a concert hall atmosphere even in an open car. It uses the free space in the hollow aluminum structures in front of the footwell as a resonating chamber for the woofer. MAGIC VISION CONTROL is a new and highly efficient wiper/washer system. The innovative wiper blade concept always applies the washer fluid just in front of the wiper blade lip via the channels integrated into the blade – in both directions of wipe. For the first time, a fully heated wiper blade is available as an option that prevents snow or ice from forming on the blade in winter.
The HANDS-FREE ACCESS system is another Mercedes-Benz innovation which provides hands-free, contactless operation of the boot lid. The driver simply moves their foot in the vicinity of the rear bumper. Mercedes-Benz is the only car maker to offer a system which not only automatically opens the boot lid but closes it as well.
About the Mercedes-Benz Bremen Plant
With more than 12,800 employees, the Bremen plant is the largest private employer in the region. Currently, eight models are produced at the site: the C-Class sedan, the C-Class station wagon and the C-Coupe (together with the Black Series version of the C 63 AMG Coupe), the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, the GLK and both SLK and SL roadsters. In 2011, the plant has produced over 313 000 vehicles, which is more than ever before. The market research firm J.D. Power and Associates has awarded the factory last year for its production quality as the best passenger car production plant in Europe. In the future, the facility will play an important role in the Mercedes-Benz production network: it is bound to become a competence center for high-volume series cars with the launch of the next generation C-Class.Credits: Daimler AGCopyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
On 23.03.2012 the first Travego Edition 1 was delivered to the customer during the Swedish International Travel & Tourism Trade Fair in Gothenburg. Gunnar Jörs, a salesman at Mercedes-Benz Buses EvoBus Sverige AB, handed the vehicle over to Lennart Brunosson, General Manager of Lidbergs Buss AB. The Travego Edition 1 with a Euro VI drive system celebrated its world premiere at the Busworld show in Kortrijk in October 2011.Travego Edition 1 is the first touring coach to meet the Euro VI emission standard
The Travego Edition 1 is the first touring coach to meet the future Euro VI emission standard, which comes into force from 2014. The vehicle features the new range of BlueEfficiency Power engines, a new transmission with new gearshift, a further upgraded, ergonomically optimised cockpit and new safety features. Customers with an eye to the future who opt for the Mercedes-Benz flagship can thus become trailblazers in terms of environmental friendliness.
High-torque Mercedes-Benz engine from the new BlueEfficiency Power engine generation
The Travego Edition 1 is powered by a vertically installed in-line six-cylinder engine from the new OM 471 series. From a displacement of 12.8 l it develops 350 kW (476 hp) at 1800 rpm. The high maximum torque is 2300 Nm at 1100 rpm. The engine features a unique common-rail injection system with pressure booster (X-PULSE). This delivers extremely precise fuel injection with cylinder-selective control, high injection pressures of up to 2100 bar and freely modulated injection – the prerequisites for low fuel consumption, low exhaust emissions and smooth engine operation.
Additional advantages result from the highly effective three-stage exhaust brake and the asymmetric turbocharger. Despite exhaust gas recirculation, this ensures rapid response to accelerator movements for an agile driving performance. The torque characteristics of the new engine permit unusually low, fuel-saving engine speeds.
Conflict between emissions and fuel consumption resolved
The particularly stringent requirements of the future Euro VI emission standard for nitrogen oxide emissions (NOX) generally stand in contradiction to the demands for further reduced particulate emissions and low fuel consumption. Mercedes‑Benz resolves these conflicting objectives with its unique new X-Pulse injection technology, in conjunction with a complex emission control system. This involves BlueTec engine technology with SCR and AdBlue injection, which has already proved its worth in more than 100,000 units, combined with exhaust gas recirculation and a particulate filter.
All in all, Euro VI in the Travego Edition I leads to a further dramatic reduction in pollutant emissions - without the increase in fuel consumption that was initially feared. At the same time AdBlue consumption is reduced by around 40 percent.
Ergonomically optimised driver's cockpit redesigned down to the last detail
The steering-column lever used to operate the gearshift is one of the most conspicuous modifications to the cockpit. This lever replaces the previous joystick on the dashboard. It is used to control all functions and yet, because of the intuitive nature of its operation, remains extremely user-friendly.
But the developers have also realised many more new ideas to optimise the ergonomics for the driver, for example a redesigned display concept. The use of pictograms, along with structured menu navigation via the new multifunction steering wheel, makes it appreciably simpler to access the various functions and displays.
The ignition and the engine start/stop system are controlled by a two-stage pushbutton switch. The switches in the cockpit have been rearranged according to function, and their number noticeably reduced by assigning them multiple purposes. In the Travego Edition 1 the place of the previous joystick shift lever is taken by an open stowage tray.
New safety system Attention Assist warns of drowsiness
The Travego Edition I is the first coach for which Attention Assist is available as a special equipment item. This is a system that registers parameters such as steering angle, speed, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, travelling time, control signals and driver changes. By correlating the data, Attention Assist draws inferences about the driver's alertness. If the data indicate a lack of concentration and drowsiness, a coffee cup symbol appears in the display to indicate that it is time to take a break.
Lidbergs Buss AB
The Swedish bus operator Lidbergs Buss AB is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. In addition to coach tours with its own travel agency, the company operates regular service and school buses. With the addition of the new Travego Edition 1, the company's Daimler-only fleet will total eight Mercedes-Benz coaches and one Setra coach. Lidbergs Buss AB is represented throughout Sweden, and also operates tours to other European countries such as Denmark and Germany.Credits: Daimler AGCopyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
The Ulm-based bus and coach brand Setra has delivered its 100th new vehicle since 1999 to Latvia. The Setra S 415 UL was handed over to the bus operator "Talsu Autotransports" together with a second S 415 UL from the MultiClass 400 series. The two buses from the current generation of Setra inter-urban vehicles are equipped with 49 seats. With integrated service sets, double-glazing, adjustable backrests on the "Route" seats, air conditioning, a destination display and a pushchair space opposite the centre entry, they meet all the requirements of the Latvian transport ministry.
Setra MultiClass buses connect Talsi with Riga
In future the two vehicles will be in regular inter-urban service around the city of Talsi, where the company is based, and on the roughly 120-kilometre long route to the Latvian capital Riga.
The bus operator Talsu Autotransports has been a partner of Daimler's Ulm-based bus and coach brand for ten years, and has vehicles from all three Setra product families - TopClass 400, ComfortClass 400 and MultiClass 400 – in its fleet. The company not only services the local and regional inter-urban routes, but also uses its vehicles for tours throughout Europe on behalf of travel agencies.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
An economical all-rounder
The Tourismo owes its success to a consistent focus on producing a particularly economical and safe coach. Its contemporary styling, typical of the brand, and especially the Mercedes-Benz quality is appreciated by customers such as Hauser-Reisen. For Hauser, the Tourismo fully reflects the typical Mercedes-Benz brand values. "We can fit out the Tourismo to suit our individual requirements and operating needs. Whether it's as an all-round coach for excursions and short trips or as a luxuriously equipped 5-star coach for demanding long-distance travel, our Tourismo is always professionally and smartly turned out. Drivers, tour guides and passengers are all of the same opinion", said Hans Keller, touching on Hauser's own concept for the interior equipment of its Tourismo fleet.
Fittings to satisfy sophisticated demands
Hauser has adapted the Tourismo M bearing the serial number 5,000 to suit the range of tours it offers. The vehicle's interior is dominated by the high-quality seating with 5-star space between seats. 42 Travel Star Xtra (TSX), Luxline upholstered seats create a luxurious and generously-proportioned ambience, re-affirmed by the fully-integrated, high-grade galley occupying the entire rear area. In addition to overhead and floor-level cupboards and two refrigerators, each of 120 litre capacity, the galley also contains a fan oven for ready meals, pretzels and rolls, a microwave, a hot water boiler, a sink, an instant hot water geyser, a hotplate and an espresso and large coffee machine. Velour carpeting covers the entire floor area including below the passenger seats.
On-board entertainment is provided by a radio and video system, including CD/DVD player, plus a selectable navigation display and iPod interface. This allows passengers to receive up-to-date news from faraway Germany on two 19-inch TFT screens. A powerful 39 kW roof-mounted air-conditioning system plus additional driver's station air-conditioning make the Tourismo the ideal vehicle for travel in southern climes. The on-board toilet is optionally available as either a water-flushed or chemically-flushed version proving that Hauser's Tourismo can even operate in minus temperatures when the summer season is over.
Powerful, environmentally-friendly drive system
Hauser-Reisen has opted for the powerful OM 457 LA series 12 litre six-cylinder in-line turbodiesel engine capable of generating 315 kW (428 bhp). Producing maximum torque of 2,100 Nm, the engine meets the environmentally-friendly EEV exhaust emissions standard without particulate filter.
Power is transmitted to the familiar, well-proven Mercedes Benz HO6 hypoid drive axle via the Mercedes GO 240-8 PowerShift automated eight-speed transmission. It is the only specially designed coach transmission in its power category and contributes significantly to reducing fuel consumption. The transmission's eight graduated gears easily cope with different load requirements, from the varied topography experienced on intercity routes to even-surfaced, long-distance motorway journeys. The transmission ensures consistently precise, smooth and rapid gearshifting.
Hauser-Reisen
Based in the South German town of Rottweil, Hauser-Reisen is focused entirely on travel and transport. What began as a bus company pure and simple in 1948 has now grown into a group of companies including a travel agency, an advertising agency and a classic local public transport company. However, the coach side of the business remains particularly important. Hauser-Reisen operates 29 Mercedes-Benz coaches: 13 Tourismos and 16 Citaros. Quality, more than anything else, underpins the coach operation's business strategy. Passengers are looked after by escorts who accompany every coach tour. Drivers receive excellent training and are justifiably referred to as coach chauffeurs. Every season, over 20,000 passengers take up one of the tours on offer. In addition to coach tours to Morocco, Turkey, Greece and northern Spain, Hauser also operates tours to more northerly destinations such as Ireland, England, Scotland, Leningrad and the North Cape. The Mercedes-Benz Tourismo's design has proven to be the ideal match for Hauser-Reisen's varied tour program. As such, this 5,000th coach will be seen on the road throughout the length and breadth of Europe.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Mercedes-Benz has handed over more than a million A-Class models of the current generation to customers worldwide since the market launch in autumn 2004. Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales & Marketing: "With the A-Class, 15 years ago Mercedes-Benz established the premium compact car segment. We already sold over one million vehicles of the second generation and with the new A-Class we will again set new standards in the segment and will fascinate our customers once again." At the Geneva Motor Show in March Mercedes-Benz will show the entirely redesigned A-Class for the first time. Market launch will be later this year.
Dr. Schmidt also said: "The new A-Class is the pulse of a new generation of sporty-emotional vehicles with which we seek to open up our brand increasingly to younger customer groups, and develop further market regions. This new model is an essential component of our product offensive in the compact car segment, which we launched with the introduction of the new B-Class very successful last year. "
The first model of the new premium compact cars, the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class, has been delivered since mid-November 2011. It has been received outstandingly well by customers and clearly exceeds the expectations.
Preparations for the startup of the new A-Class are in full swing. Due to the model changeover of the compact cars, production has already been reorganized in large parts. Nevertheless, 97,808 vehicles of the current generation were delivered to customers worldwide last year. In the year before Mercedes-Benz sold 112,586 units of the A-Class. The cars were most popular in the European market, especially in the home market, Germany, where almost half of all A-Class models were sold. The second biggest market is Italy, followed by France and the U.K. The A-Class was introduced at the end of 2010 in China with great success. In 2011, the first year of full availability, Mercedes-Benz delivered 5,100 units to customers there.
Throughout the years the Mercedes engineers have developed numerous innovations specifically for the compact models. The A-Class thus quickly gained a reputation for being a trendsetter and innovation leader. For instance, it was the world's first compact car to get an internationally valid environmental certificate in 2007.
The new compact cars from Mercedes-Benz include, apart from the A- and B-Class, three other sporty, emotional variants, among them a coupé and an SUV. All of the five new compact models are produced in a production network by the Rastatt plant and the new plant in Kecskemét, Hungary. From 2013 on, step by step three of the new models will also be manufactured in China.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Mercedes-Benz’s SUV models are celebrating another milestone. Since the launch of Mercedes-Benz’s first sports utility vehicle – the G-Class – over 30 years ago, more than two million G-Class, M-Class, R-Class, GL-Class and GLK-Class models have been delivered to customers. Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars: “Our entire SUV family is extremely popular among our customers, particularly in the USA and in its second-largest market China. With the launch of our first sports utility vehicle – the G‑Class – more than 30 years ago, we entered a segment in which we are now very successful with a total of five models. The SUVs today are an important pillar of Mercedes-Benz’s growth and have achieved a new sales record in every month since July 2010. The new Mercedes-Benz M-Class, which has enjoyed fantastic customer response to date, will give sales a further boost.”
In November 2011, Mercedes-Benz SUVs achieved another monthly sales record with deliveries of 25,552 models (+23.4%). From January through November, a total of 221,518 sports utility vehicles have been delivered worldwide (+24.3%), more than ever before in this period. The successful run-out of the M-Class was particularly noteworthy, as was the excellent start of its new models in the U.S. A new peak was set by the GLK, whose deliveries are at a record high since the beginning of the year (+25.6%). To meet the strong demand on the Chinese market, the small SUV is being produced locally in China since early December. The other model series have also developed positively in the year to date with significant increases in sales. R-Class sales jumped by 50.3 per cent, the G-Class recorded growth of 30.9 per cent, GL sales climbed by 28.9 per cent, and deliveries of the M-Class were up 15.8% despite the model change. In the coming year, the new GL and the new generations of the GLK and the G-Class will generate additional demand in the SUV segment.
The SUV models account for around one-fifth of global Mercedes-Benz sales. By far the largest market for the SUV family as well as the M-, GLK-, and GL-Class are the United States. The second largest market for the SUVs is China, followed by Germany. The classic sports utility vehicle, the G-Class, is most popular in its domestic market Germany, while the R-Class is most in demand in China.
The latest star of the Mercedes-Benz SUV family is the third generation of the M-Class, which was launched last November. One of its strongest features is its outstanding energy efficiency. As the most fuel-efficient SUV in its segment, the M-Class became the first vehicle in its class to receive the prestigious TÜV (Technical Control Board) environmental certificate – just in time for its launch. The strengths of the permanent 4-wheel-drive premium SUV also include excellent safety features and well-balanced driving comfort with strong driving dynamics both on- and off-road. Thanks to its outstanding safety systems, the M-Class was recognized as the best vehicle in its segment and awarded the top five star rating under the European NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) for excellent occupant protection.
The new M-Class is the top model in its segment when it comes to value retention. Just recently it was recognized by “Focus Online” and “Bähr & Fess Forecast” as one of the best performers in terms of residual values in 2015. The ML 250 BlueTEC can still yield 55 per cent of its new value as a four-year-old used car. The Mercedes-Benz M-Class was also awarded the “Golden Steering Wheel 2011” by readers of German “Bild am Sonntag” and “Auto Bild”. The other SUV models are also extremely popular among customers. This year, the longest-standing Mercedes-Benz model series, the G-Class, was crowned “SUV of the Year” for the eighth time. This major award is voted by the readers of the German “Off Road” magazine. Meanwhile, the readers of “AutoBild Allrad” gave the G-Class the victory in the “Off-road vehicles and SUVs over €60,000” category, followed by the GL-Class.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
