Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Lorinser previews the tuning package for the new generation SL-Class (R 231)
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Friday, January 13, 2012
REPORT: New AMG-branded SLV supercar to bow later this year
You might also want to check out >> PREVIEW - More information on the future mini-SLS supercar
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Daimler and Google deepen strategic partnership
The collaboration will enable Daimler to use Google Maps for their in-car map displays, and significantly improve their ability to quickly and seamlessly integrate useful Google services into Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles. By making innovative Google products available directly within its cars, Mercedes-Benz is able to accelerate the adoption of cutting edge technologies.
Daimler has a strong history of bringing innovative solutions to market. After demonstrating their technological leadership with AMG Performance Media, an in-car telemetry system powered by AndroidTM in autumn 2011 at the launch of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster, Daimler was named “International CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree”.
Ongoing successful long-term cooperation
Google and Daimler have been working in close partnership for many years. In 2007 Daimler was the first automotive manufacturer in the United States to launch the Google “Send-to-Car” functionality in a vehicle. This gave Mercedes-Benz customers the opportunity to easily send destinations from Google Maps to their in-vehicle navigation systems. As of 2011, Mercedes-Benz offers COMAND Online, a telematics system with cloud-based Mercedes-Benz apps that brings Google Street View, Panoramio and local search technologies to most Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. Mercedes-Benz customers also have the opportunity to send individualized routes from Google Maps to their vehicles, as Daimler is first-to-market with the implementation of this Google service. In the second quarter of 2012 all these services will also be available with mbrace2 to Mercedes-Benz customers in the USA.
Android is a trademark of Google, Inc.
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Mercedes-Benz at the 2012 International CES in Las Vegas
Networked access to information everywhere and at all times has become an indispensable part of daily life. That also goes for the time one spends in the car. And so consumer electronics and the automobile have become more and more tightly interlinked in recent years, because the objective of the two respective industries was and is the same: independence for the customer. Mercedes-Benz realizes this independence not only through the automobile itself. Rather, innovative telematics and infotainment systems in the vehicle and new mobility concepts afford still greater flexibility and freedom. Mercedes-Benz provides a visionary perspective with the "DICE" (Dynamic & Intuitive Control Experience) sculpture.
"Here at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas there are some people who view the automobile as an accessory to consumer electronics. Conversely, at the auto show in Detroit there are many people who view consumer electronics as mere trimmings for the car. Both points of view miss the point: as much as a smartphone can be far more than just a tool for communication, a smart car can be more than just a means of transportation. Precisely at the interfaces between communication and mobility, vast potential for innovation lies dormant, and we intend to tap it," says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
Mercedes-Benz satisfies the growing customer need for independence with its telematics strategy @yourCOMAND: the car becomes a mobile communications center that enables driver and passengers to access all modern media and services at any time. Uncoupling from the conventional vehicle development cycles is achieved on the one hand through secure and comfortable integration of the smartphone in the vehicle, and on the other hand through the use of a consistently Cloud-based solution. This ensures that one is always in close touch with the rapid developments in the smartphone and computer world. Mercedes-Benz customers consequently always have access to the latest applications for comprehensive connectivity in their automobiles.
@yourCOMAND builds on four strategic pillars:
- holistic experience,
- natural interaction,
- sensory perfection and
- convenient remote control.
Digital Premium through Augmented Reality
With the DICE (Dynamic & Intuitive Control Experience) sculpture, at the CES Mercedes-Benz provides a vision of the interactive, intuitive and simultaneously safe operating experience in premium automobiles of the future. DICE impressively demonstrates how the vehicle becomes an intelligent mobility partner through bidirectional interaction.
"The intelligent car communicates not only with the driver, but also with other transportation modes and its entire environment in order to be able to assess all relevant information for a trip and make practical use of it immediately," says Zetsche.
The complete windshield becomes a brilliant head-up display; the dashboard, a display band. Digital information about the actual vehicle surroundings, points of interest, friends, pedestrians and other vehicles is presented there and a natural interaction by means of gestures is made possible. For this Mercedes-Benz uses a combination of Augmented Reality and natural gesture control to realize a completely new, exciting form of communication between people and their environment.
The interactive logic of the novel control concept is very imitative of intuitive human behavior. Along with functional aspects it now also involves emotional and social aspects and so creates a unique operating and driving experience. For example, when one drives past a club, by a simple movement of the hand one can transmit the music playing there by live stream into one's car. In the same way, local news from social networks, about points of interest, buildings or localities can be retrieved, or news can be left for others.
Vehicles approaching intersections will be virtually superimposed on the windshield to help avoid possibly hazardous situations. To simplify the search for a parking space, mobility concepts like car2go or network information, can be used to proactively identify spaces which will become vacant soon. These are virtually displayed on the windshield, showing the actual environment.
A world first is the context-dependent, place-related presentation of the menu contents "Media", "Social" and "Places" of the infotainment system as information swarm. Under "Social", for example, friends from one's social networks are shown in the 3-D city arranged underneath. The same goes for "Places", where the personal points of interest like restaurants or movie theaters can be stored. 3-D gestures and the swarm permit dynamic and intuitive control.
"Always on" with COMAND Online
Secure and comfortable internet access in the car already is offered by Mercedes-Benz today in numerous models: the multimedia system COMAND Online was introduced last year in Europe. It offers new functions like the innovative Mercedes-Benz Apps, for example Google Local Search including Google Street View and Panoramio, or Facebook. With mbrace2 in future they are available in the USA as well.
And for a sound experience on the highest level, Mercedes-Benz has introduced the new FrontBass system. The automaker thus revolutionizes the reproduction of bass sounds in the automobile – specifically in open roadsters. The unique FrontBass system which is premiering in the new SL and is being presented at the CES uses cavities in the aluminum bodyshell structures in front of the footwell as resonance volume for the bass loudspeakers. The result: crisp basses make a concert hall atmosphere possible even in an open-top car.
Independent, flexible and spontaneous with car2go
Tremendous technological advances and the stronger interlinkage of consumer electronics and the automobile have also made new mobility concepts possible. In particular, the introduction of mobile internet access exploits independence in the area of mobile services for new mobility concepts like car2go, which meet with correspondingly high demand and extend the urban transportation spectrum.
Thanks to the smartphone, not only is constant access to information of all kinds a reality, but also the possibility of communicating at any time, be it through speech input, email or in social networks. Accordingly, car2go allows customers to get hold of a vehicle at any time, whenever they need it.
The vehicles can be located through the internet, can be rented on the spur of the moment, used as long as one likes, and afterwards simply parked again in any public parking space within the city limits. Urban mobility couldn't be more spontaneous and flexible today.
car2go already is operating in seven cities worldwide and is scheduled to start in further cities. In North America car2go has taken up service in Austin, the capital of the State of Texas, in Vancouver, Canada, and in San Diego, California – in San Diego with a pure electric fleet consisting of 300 smart fortwo electric drive, making this America's first and biggest purely electrically operated car sharing fleet.
Always up to date
To make optimum use of consumer electronics' innovative power and fast time to market for the automobile industry, the company has been cooperating closely with this innovative sector for many years. This is because the market for infotainment and telematics systems is decisively influenced by developments in consumer electronics and the mobile telephony market. In 1995 Mercedes-Benz was thus the first carmaker to set up a research and development facility of its own in Palo Alto, California, and since then has a presence in Silicon Valley in the immediate vicinity of Apple, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Pandora, Yelp, Wikipedia and other important players. The collaboration with these companies is based on short communication channels and distinguished by close cooperation and joint product innovations with big customer benefits. The result, achieved in close cooperation with the Development units in Germany, is custom-tailored infotainment and telematics solutions which are optimally integrated into the overall vehicle design and enable customers to continue their digital lifestyle in the vehicle without interruption.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Mercedes-Benz at the 2012 NAIAS in Detroit: Strong impetus for the new year
The world premiere of the new SL and two all-new hybrid models took centre stage on the Mercedes-Benz stand at the opening of the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The new models from Mercedes-Benz delivered a strong impetus for the new automotive year and for the future of the brand as a whole – directly in the wake of the best sales year in company history. For the first time, the all-new SL Roadster is made almost entirely from aluminium and weighs up to 140 kg less than its predecessor thanks to intelligent lightweight design. The result is more agility and dynamic character combined with improved comfort and increased crash safety. The new BlueDIRECT engines are more powerful, yet up to 29 percent more fuel efficient than the engines in the outgoing model. More driving fun with even lower fuel consumption is also on offer from the two new E-Class hybrid models – the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID is the world’s most fuel-efficient full-size car, consuming just 4.2 litres of diesel per 100 km (109 g CO2/km). The gasoline-powered E 400 HYBRID, which will be launched first in the USA, delivers fuel economy of 27 mpg (combined).
“In 2011 we sold more than 1.36 million cars worldwide – more than ever before. 2012 will see us push forward with our product offensive and repeat two things that worked extremely well last year – we will launch another six new models and we will set the bar even higher by making green cars cooler and cool cars greener,” said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, at the NAIAS press conference. To back this up, Mercedes-Benz presented the sixth generation SL. Compared with its highly successful predecessor, the new model offers a considerable boost in sporting character and comfort and sets new benchmarks in the luxury roadster class. Plus, it comes with a full serving of everyday usability.
Classic proportions and outstanding aerodynamics
The stylish luxury sports car has classic proportions with a long hood and a compact cockpit set well back. Finely honed details and air vents with chromed fins from the dynamic tradition of Mercedes-Benz Design add visual emphasis to the SL legend.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche: “There are around 900 million cars on this earth and thousands of models. But there is but a handful of automotive icons. Our SL is one of them – it has class, it has style, it is the embodiment of comfort and luxury. But it combines all of that with an unbelievably sporty and dynamic character.”
Moreover, the new SL boasts outstanding aerodynamics. Alongside the lowest drag coefficient (cd = 0.27 in the SL 350), it also offers the lowest level of wind noise – almost on par with a closed saloon – as well as the very best airflow and noise characteristics with the top down.
“The new SL offers everything that defines an absolutely top-class premium roadster,” said Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Mercedes-Benz Cars, Sales and Marketing. “It is two things rolled into one – a dynamic sports roadster and a luxurious coupé. Or, as we say, it is both athlete and connoisseur.”
Mercedes-Benz hybrid offensive with the E-Class
With its two new E-Class hybrid models, Mercedes-Benz is turning a new chapter in the brand’s core segment and thereby setting new benchmarks for full-size business saloons. The E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID, which is available as both a saloon and estate, sets new records with its efficiency. The world’s most fuel-efficient full-size model boasts exceptional fuel consumption figures (4.2 l/100 km) and outstanding performance. The four-cylinder diesel in the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID delivers 150 kW (204 hp) and generates 500 Nm of torque. The electric motor develops 20 kW and 250 Nm.
The V6 spark-ignition engine in the E 400 HYBRID delivers 225 kW (306 hp) and generates 370 Nm of torque, plus a further 20 kW and 250 Nm from the electric motor. The fuel economy in accordance with American CAFE standards stands at 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined.
“This modular hybrid technology opens the way for us to add hybrid models to other model ranges in the near future,” said Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.“With a clear focus on the varying needs of the global markets, we can offer precisely those models that our customers are demanding. Alongside a considerable reduction in fuel consumption, the E‑Class hybrids are very impressive to drive – this is hybrid driving on a premium level.”
The E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID is initially planned for the European market, while the E 400 HYBRID will be launched first on the American market and later offered in further countries such as Japan and China.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Daimler AG and Nissan to produce engines together in North America
“This is the newest milestone in our pragmatic collaboration and our most significant project outside of Europe so far,” said Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. “Localized capacity reduces exposure to foreign exchange rates while rapidly enabling a good business development in North America – a win-win for the Alliance and Daimler.”
The collaboration marks the first production of Mercedes-Benz engines in the North America Free Trade region. The Tennessee plant’s strategic location and logistics links ensure a direct supply of engines starting in 2014 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, built at Daimler’s vehicle plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
“In the context of our Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy, we have decided that we will expand the production capacities required for this close to the customers. Through the strategic extension of our cooperation with Renault-Nissan we can realize near-market engine production in the NAFTA region on attractive economic terms and make optimum use of synergies arising from the cooperation.” Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Daimler Board of Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said. “Thus we are systematically broadening our manufacturing footprint in this important growth market.”
Nissan began powertrain assembly in Decherd in 1997. Today it manufactures 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines for the complete lineup of U.S.-produced Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. The plant also houses crankshaft forging and cylinder block casting operations. In 2011, Decherd produced more than 580,000 engines on a covered area of more than 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square meters).
Project portfolio expands
Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance launched their strategic collaboration in April 2010, including an equity exchange that gives the Renault-Nissan Alliance a 3.1 percent stake in Daimler and Daimler a combined 3.1 percent interest in Renault and Nissan.
The collaboration began with three project pillars:
- Joint smart/Twingo architecture: The project is on track for launch in the early first quarter of 2014. Two-seater smart vehicles will be produced at Daimler’s plant in Hambach, France, and four-seater smart and Renault production are slated for Renault’s plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.
- All-new entry-level city van project for Mercedes-Benz: The project is on schedule with expected launch in late 2012.
- Powertrain cross-supply: The Alliance is supplying Daimler with compact three-cylinder gasoline engines to be used in smart and Twingo vehicles and four-cylinder diesel engines to be used in the jointly developed light commercial vehicle and in Mercedes-Benz’s next generation of premium compact cars. Daimler will supply Nissan and Infiniti with four- and six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines from the current and future engine portfolio as well as with automatic transmissions.
Since its founding in April 2010, the collaboration has been gradually expanded. In addition to the announcement this week about North American engine production, the companies had decided earlier to partner on:
- Platform sharing: Infiniti plans to base a premium compact vehicle on the Mercedes compact-car architecture, starting in 2014.
- Zero-emission vehicles: Daimler will provide batteries from its production facility in Kamenz, Germany, and Renault-Nissan will provide electric motors for the use in electric vehicles (smart and Twingo ZE). First releases will occur in 2014.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
smart for-us: The Rule-Breaker - World premiere at the Detroit Auto Show 2012
smart CEO Dr. Annette Winkler says "We at smart love pick-ups – if they are small on the outside, large on the inside, very safe and extremely comfortable. With the smart for-us a petrol station is no longer required!”
smart is turning the automotive world upside down once again and challenging ideas about what an urban pickup should look like. In a tongue-in-cheek manner the for-us signals that this is the right car for the young and young-at-heart with active lives who attach importance to low emissions and taking up minimum road space. The smart for-us translates the practical loading concept of a pickup to the reality of 21st century urban traffic for the first time. Thanks to the state-of-the-art electric drive with a 55 kW magneto-electric motor the zero-emission smart for-us is agile and lively to drive.
Like car2go, the globally successful car sharing initiative from smart for more flexibility in city traffic, the smart for-us is a mobility concept. Just like the smart fortwo, which has enjoyed success around the world, it has ample room for two people, but it also has space behind for two smart ebikes, which can charge their batteries on the cargo area during the journey. From a trip into town to an outing to nearby nature reserve – the smart for-us safely transports two people and two electric bikes without producing any emissions. The ebikes on the cargo area become range extenders in two respects: thanks to the docking station on the cargo area of the smart for-us their batteries are always charged, and smart for-us drivers can also reach destinations that are out of bounds for cars – for example traffic-calmed zones in the city or isolated park trails.
The exterior: sassy and robust with extremely short overhangs
Even the first glance at the study shows that this smart can do more – yet it remains true to itself. It has a surprising, sassy and robust appearance – but thanks to the visible tridion safety cell and a number of other features it is typically smart. Furthermore, both the interior and the exterior feature a number of charming details which show that the smart designers devoted themselves to the project with the joie de vivre typical of the brand.
Compared with the series-produced fortwo the smart for-us makes a powerful statement and its appearance plays with the martial image of conventional mega-pickups. Nevertheless, it greets the viewer with a friendly yet assertive face. It features convex and sensuously shaped body surfaces. The large brand emblem is proudly sported on the grille, and the front has a pronounced three-dimensional design with an underride guard finishing off the lower part of the front end.
The for-us is raised by 50 millimetres as against the standard smart, and demonstrates that it is perfectly suited to off-road driving, for example to reach mountain bike terrain. In a later development stage the electric drive could be extended in the direction of a 4x4 with two front wheel hub motors.
The longer wheelbase (2480 mm/plus 613 mm) and the track that has been widened by 50 mm on each side also emphasise the robust look of the study. At the same time the extremely short overhangs at the front and rear make it exceedingly compact and provoke supporters of conventional pickups: small is beautiful – even as a pickup.
The smart for-us rolls on Michelin off-road tyres measuring 235/55 R 18. The wing nuts of the central mounts of the three-spoke wheels are an attractive detail: they fold out and then serve as a lever to release the wheel nuts.
The design of the rhombic front and tail lights is very striking and is reminiscent of the design of the smart forvision, which caused a stir at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The outer rings illuminate the indicators and daytime running lamps with a large number of rod-shaped LEDs. The lamps seem to push outwards like arrows – like drops on the cockpit window of an aeroplane as it takes off. The tail lights can even be opened and provide stowage space, for example for the charging cable or drinks cans for sporty bikers.
The tailboard at the rear of the smart for-us is electrically driven. Remote control or touching the integrated touchpad retracts the cargo floor including tailboard by 280 mm, and the tailgate then slides down in a parallel position. The cargo on the 900 mm cargo area is then extremely easy to access.
The high-gloss white metallic paintwork of the smart for-us with the tridion cell in a grey textured finish also builds a bridge to the smart forspeed presented at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and to the smart ebike. On the other hand, the honeycomb structure of the air inlets takes up an aspect of the smart forvision, which attracted lots of attention at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The subtle colour accents in a warm yellow establish a further visual link to the interior.
The interior: stylish, uncomplicated and highly functional
Sleek, taut surfaces in mother-of-pearl white combined with precisely designed technical functional elements in brushed aluminium – the interior is characterised by contrasts. The white metallised leather establishes a link to the instrument panel, which in turn is related to the body. The headrests featuring metallic leather are a reference to the matt-finish textured paint of the tridion safety cell and – in line with the clean design – they largely dispense with seams. Yellow adds highlights to the interior, for example on the seat belts and seat covers. Leather door trim provides a further high-quality contrast.
Like in the smart forvision, the whole cockpit boasts aerodynamic styling for interior ventilation. The control and display elements are oriented to the driver. Just as the cockpit module divides the instrument panel, the two-spoke steering wheel is open at the top. In place of a conventional rear-view mirror the smart for-us features a smartphone accommodated in a holder on top of the instrument panel support. The driver can see what is happening on the road behind with the help of an integrated video camera.
Stylish, uncomplicated, highly functional and easy to individualise – the two seats in the concept car are typically smart. The seat shells, which are open in the middle, are covered with a soft fabric throw giving them a hammock-like seating feel. Practical: when the seat cover on the passenger side is removed long items can be loaded through the seat of the smart for-us.
The study has yellow seat covers with a deep embossed silver hexagon pattern indicating a progression and thus emphasising the vehicle's dynamism. As the covers can be removed in no time at all, simple individualisation with other throws is conceivable. The seats could even be used as avant-garde seating at home or when spontaneous seating is needed outdoors.
The cargo space has two slits for the front wheels of the smart ebikes. A special docking station in the middle enables the ebikes to be charged whilst being transported on the smart for-us. And bicycle tools or other items can be accommodated in the stowage compartments on the right and left of the load space.
Electric drive: zero-local-emission driving fun
The electric drive of the smart for-us is based on the innovative drive concept of the smart fortwo electric drive, which will be launched from the spring of 2012.
Thanks to the 55 kW magneto-electric motor the smart for-us is agile and lively to drive. With 130 Newton metres of torque it boasts powerful, lag-free acceleration and it can overtake other vehicles with the greatest of ease. The maximum speed exceeds 120 km/h.
The lithium-ion battery has capacity of 17.6 kWh. When completely empty it takes a maximum of eight hours to fully charge the battery at a household socket or charging station on the electricity systems of most countries i.e. overnight.
smart ebike: urban electric mobility on two wheels
There are two smart ebikes on board the smart for-us – perfect for local-emission-free city driving. The colour of the two ebikes, which are based on the production bike to be launched by smart in the spring of 2012, has been matched to the smart for-us. Some of the components, for example the battery housing, therefore come in the highlight colour yellow.
With an unconventional design in line with the style of the brand, functions appropriate for city use and high technology standards that are demonstrated by the extremely efficient and high-performance drive package among other features, the smart ebike has an exceptional position.
High-quality components guarantee dynamic, safe and fun cycling. For example, MT4 disc brakes from Magura are fitted at the front and rear. The smart ebike also features state-of-the-art infotainment: a USB interface is a standard feature and enables various mobile end devices to be connected.
smart's high technological standards are manifested in the extremely efficient and high-performance drive package. As a "pedelec" (Pedal Electric Cycle) the smart ebike is strictly speaking a hybrid: the electric motor – a maintenance-free and brushless rear-wheel hub motor from BionX – switches on as soon as the rider starts pedalling as with a normal bicycle. Muscle power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a durable and quiet belt drive. An integrated three-speed gear hub provides for simple gear changing.
The strengths of the ebike include its agile performance: the rider of the smart ebike decides how much power he wants the 250 watt electric motor to deliver to support his muscle power by pressing a button on the handlebar. There is a choice of four power levels with the fourth and highest level providing maximum pushing power. Depending on the power level selected and the manner of cycling a battery charge can last for more than 100 kilometres.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
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