Stuttgart/Bucharest – On December 11, EvoBus Romania S.R.L handed over a further consignment of Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban buses to the Romanian transport operator Regia Autonomă de Transport Bucureşti (R.A.T.B.). These are the first vehicles from a follow-up order for 500 urban buses. Some 500 Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses have already gone into service in the Romanian capital during the course of the past two years.

By the end of 2009, R.A.T.B. will have a total of 1000 Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban buses on the road in Bucharest. "Bucharest already set new Western European-style standards in Romania when it took delivery of these sophisticated Mercedes-Benz low-floor buses in 2006. By introducing state-of-the-art vehicle engineering, the Romanian capital is leading the way for the entire Eastern European region", said Michael Göpfarth, head of EvoBus GmbH, at the vehicle hand-over in Bucharest. The Romanian capital aims to use the new Mercedes-Benz Citaro to make local public transport even more attractive and efficient. This move is seen as an important pillar in the economic development of the entire region, according to Lord Mayor Adriean Videanu.
Transport operator R.A.T.B. has a fleet of around 1500 buses and coaches, which it runs alongside trams and trolley buses. By opting for the Mercedes Benz Citaro, the Romanian capital is investing in state-of-the-art vehicle engineering of proven long-term quality. Each of the new urban buses will be able to carry a total of 103 passengers – 27 of them seated, including four spaces for people with restricted mobility and room for one wheelchair – on regular-service routes in Bucharest. Three doors and a kneeling function make it easy to get on and off the bus as well as ensuring a swift flow of passengers. Air conditioning and sliding upper windows allow the interior temperature and ventilation to be adjusted to suit the season. Drivers reach the fully enclosed cab via a separate entrance at the front and have a total of five video cameras for monitoring the interior, the entrance area and the rear of the vehicle. Passengers receive information via sophisticated IBIS (integrated on-board information system) units with on-board computer, while a GPS, a radio communications unit and a W-LAN connection are used for traffic and fleet management and for transferring vehicle data to the schedulers at the depot. Power comes courtesy of six-cylinder in-line engines that develop 210 kW (286 hp) and are equipped with extremely fuel-efficient BlueTec 4 diesel technology. These powerplants are paired with four-speed automatic transmissions, including pushbuttons for selecting the transmission modes. A high degree of driving safety is assured by technology such as an electronic braking system, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and acceleration skid control (ASR). Further aspects of the Citaro passengers appreciate include the passenger-friendly low-floor design as well as the bright and welcoming interior offering ample headroom. The Mercedes-Benz urban buses delivered during the course of the past two years have been praised above all for their pleasant interior climate, ramps for wheelchair users or prams and kneeling function.
The Mercedes-Benz Citaro goes from strength to strength and is already one of the best-selling regular-service buses of all time. Unit sales of this highly successful urban bus – first unveiled in 1997 and further enhanced in several key areas since then – are approaching the 20,000 mark. The vehicle has already become a familiar sight in the major cities of Western Europe. And now the capitals of Eastern Europe are also showing a keen interest, Romanian transport operator R.A.T.B. being a case in point. Furthermore, an international jury comprising bus and coach journalists from 17 European countries crowned the Mercedes-Benz Citaro "Bus of the Year".
Today the Mercedes-Benz Citaro bus family includes a wide range of bus variants, covering local public transport requirements across the board on urban and rural regular-service routes. Drive systems which meet the Euro 4 and Euro 5 emission standards as well as voluntary standards such as EEV (Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicle) make the Mercedes-Benz Citaro a futureproof investment, particularly since ecological aspects are becoming increasingly crucial. This urban bus also forms the basis for a test fleet of 36 fuel-cell buses and for the recently unveiled Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid bus. Plus the longest Mercedes-Benz urban bus produced in series to date, the Capa-City for up to 193 passengers, was developed based on the Citaro.

Stuttgart/Bucharest – On December 11, EvoBus Romania S.R.L handed over a further consignment of Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban buses to the Romanian transport operator Regia Autonomă de Transport Bucureşti (R.A.T.B.). These are the first vehicles from a follow-up order for 500 urban buses. Some 500 Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses have already gone into service in the Romanian capital during the course of the past two years.

By the end of 2009, R.A.T.B. will have a total of 1000 Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban buses on the road in Bucharest. "Bucharest already set new Western European-style standards in Romania when it took delivery of these sophisticated Mercedes-Benz low-floor buses in 2006. By introducing state-of-the-art vehicle engineering, the Romanian capital is leading the way for the entire Eastern European region", said Michael Göpfarth, head of EvoBus GmbH, at the vehicle hand-over in Bucharest. The Romanian capital aims to use the new Mercedes-Benz Citaro to make local public transport even more attractive and efficient. This move is seen as an important pillar in the economic development of the entire region, according to Lord Mayor Adriean Videanu.
Transport operator R.A.T.B. has a fleet of around 1500 buses and coaches, which it runs alongside trams and trolley buses. By opting for the Mercedes Benz Citaro, the Romanian capital is investing in state-of-the-art vehicle engineering of proven long-term quality. Each of the new urban buses will be able to carry a total of 103 passengers – 27 of them seated, including four spaces for people with restricted mobility and room for one wheelchair – on regular-service routes in Bucharest. Three doors and a kneeling function make it easy to get on and off the bus as well as ensuring a swift flow of passengers. Air conditioning and sliding upper windows allow the interior temperature and ventilation to be adjusted to suit the season. Drivers reach the fully enclosed cab via a separate entrance at the front and have a total of five video cameras for monitoring the interior, the entrance area and the rear of the vehicle. Passengers receive information via sophisticated IBIS (integrated on-board information system) units with on-board computer, while a GPS, a radio communications unit and a W-LAN connection are used for traffic and fleet management and for transferring vehicle data to the schedulers at the depot. Power comes courtesy of six-cylinder in-line engines that develop 210 kW (286 hp) and are equipped with extremely fuel-efficient BlueTec 4 diesel technology. These powerplants are paired with four-speed automatic transmissions, including pushbuttons for selecting the transmission modes. A high degree of driving safety is assured by technology such as an electronic braking system, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and acceleration skid control (ASR). Further aspects of the Citaro passengers appreciate include the passenger-friendly low-floor design as well as the bright and welcoming interior offering ample headroom. The Mercedes-Benz urban buses delivered during the course of the past two years have been praised above all for their pleasant interior climate, ramps for wheelchair users or prams and kneeling function.
The Mercedes-Benz Citaro goes from strength to strength and is already one of the best-selling regular-service buses of all time. Unit sales of this highly successful urban bus – first unveiled in 1997 and further enhanced in several key areas since then – are approaching the 20,000 mark. The vehicle has already become a familiar sight in the major cities of Western Europe. And now the capitals of Eastern Europe are also showing a keen interest, Romanian transport operator R.A.T.B. being a case in point. Furthermore, an international jury comprising bus and coach journalists from 17 European countries crowned the Mercedes-Benz Citaro "Bus of the Year".
Today the Mercedes-Benz Citaro bus family includes a wide range of bus variants, covering local public transport requirements across the board on urban and rural regular-service routes. Drive systems which meet the Euro 4 and Euro 5 emission standards as well as voluntary standards such as EEV (Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicle) make the Mercedes-Benz Citaro a futureproof investment, particularly since ecological aspects are becoming increasingly crucial. This urban bus also forms the basis for a test fleet of 36 fuel-cell buses and for the recently unveiled Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid bus. Plus the longest Mercedes-Benz urban bus produced in series to date, the Capa-City for up to 193 passengers, was developed based on the Citaro.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Tiredness as a cause of accidents: new Mercedes system warns the driver

Stuttgart – A new type of assistance system, designed by Mercedes-Benz to warn the driver of tiredness and the dreaded phenomenon of nodding off at the wheel is now undergoing a final test phase. The system uses various sensors to analyse driving behaviour and recognises tiredness-related changes in the driver’s personal driving style. In this event the driver is prompted to take a break. Once all of the tests have been completed, the system will go into series production at Mercedes-Benz in 2009.

Official statistics cite tiredness as the reason behind around one percent of all serious traffic accidents. However, experts believe that the number of unattributed cases of this type of accident is significantly higher, as tiredness is often a factor which is impossible to ascertain or prove when reconstructing the accident. According to the latest European studies, 24 to 33 percent of all fatal traffic accidents involve overtired drivers. This means that tiredness is probably responsible for a higher proportion of serious traffic accidents than alcohol.

In addition to the lack of a good night’s sleep, one of the most frequent causes of the dangerous phenomenon of nodding off at the wheel is monotony. Two thirds of accidents caused by tiredness occur in the dark, half where there is little traffic around. Scientists believe that the risk of accident is particularly increased on long-distance journeys under unchanging conditions, as this causes the driver’s attention to tail off and the monotony also increases the risk of falling asleep.

Investigations by Mercedes engineers involving over 420 car drivers to date show that many people fail to recognise the signs of tiredness or do not spot them at an early enough stage. Tiredness does not generally make itself felt in sudden bursts – it gradually builds over time. The driver’s reactions and perceptual capacity gradually diminish to such an extent that, even in the early phases of tiredness, drivers are often unable to react appropriately.

The assistance system developed by Mercedes-Benz is designed to detect the early signs of tiredness and warn the driver. It will therefore make an important contribution to the prevention of accidents.

Individual driver profile based on various indicators

Unlike other methods of detecting tiredness, the Mercedes system evaluates a series of indicators in order to assess the alertness of the driver and to recognise the gradual transition between being awake and being tired. During every journey Attention Assist continuously observes the driver’s typical behaviour patterns and uses these to create an individual driver profile which serves as a basis for recognising the symptoms of tiredness. Where there is a significant deviation from the saved empirical values, the system determines whether or not there are signs of encroaching tiredness. Whether and when the driver is warned also depends on the time of day, the duration of the trip and the individual’s driving style.

Steering behaviour as the key indicator of tiredness

The values recorded by the tiredness recognition system not only include the speed and the longitudinal and lateral acceleration but also the angle of the steering wheel, the way that the indicators and pedals are used, certain driver control actions and various external influences such as a side wind or an uneven road surface. Observation of the steering behaviour has proven particularly significant: tired drivers can be spotted by a series of typical steering wheel movements which they then immediately correct.

The new Mercedes assistance system recognises signs such as these; if the driver ’s steering behaviour changes and other indicators also point towards encroaching tiredness, the system outputs a warning at an early stage. A warning signal sounds and a symbol in the instrument cluster advises the driver to take a break.

Over 500,000 kilometres covered to date in worldwide tests

The development of the unique assistance system began with a series of experiments in the driving simulator in Berlin. These were followed by daytime and night-time motorway trials. Over 420 test people have taken part in these to date and so far they have covered a total of over 500,000 kilometres. The test programme for Attention Assist will be rounded off with long-term trials in various climate zones, in city traffic, on poor roads and on long-distance trips. The Mercedes development team not only includes engineers but also cyberneticists, mathematicians, computer scientists and psychologists.

Complementing the familiar driver assistance systems
When developing driver assistance systems, Mercedes-Benz has always focused on real accident data and develops technologies which are designed to improve driving safety in critical situations. The focus to date has been on those accidents with particularly serious consequences: front-end collisions, rear-end collisions, night-time collisions and accidents involving pedestrians. Attention Assist continues Mercedes-Benz’s practice-oriented commitment to preventing accidents and complements familiar driver assistance systems such as ABS, Brake Assist, Brake Assist PLUS, PRE-SAFE® brake, the infrared nightview system and ESP®, which monitor the vehicle and its surroundings. The tiredness recognition system is the first technology to observe the driver on a continual basis too and to use typical behaviour patterns to detect the risk of an accident and provide a warning. Series production of the system is planned for 2009.

Copyright © 2007, Daimler AG

AutoBILD magazine predicts that Mercedes-Benz will build a mini-SUV to compete with future BMW X1 & Audi Q3. Probably, it will be based on the second generation of B-Klasse and it could be named BLK. Up to this moment, there is no other relevant information regarding this subject.

AutoBILD magazine predicts that Mercedes-Benz will build a mini-SUV to compete with future BMW X1 & Audi Q3. Probably, it will be based on the second generation of B-Klasse and it could be named BLK. Up to this moment, there is no other relevant information regarding this subject.

Back again with a new interior spy photo which I ran across while navigating on Germancarzone.com!Also, below you can admire a set of interesting renderings from Auto Motor und Sport!

The future E-Klasse(previous renderings)


The newest rendering of the future E-Klasse

Back again with a new interior spy photo which I ran across while navigating on Germancarzone.com!Also, below you can admire a set of interesting renderings from Auto Motor und Sport!

The future E-Klasse(previous renderings)


The newest rendering of the future E-Klasse

"Boxy exterior design, why not try a boxy interior design?"That is what MB designers said when drawing GLK's dashboard.

While I am still not convinced about the wood colour, I can say that, overall, GLK's dashboard looks very nice. Another job succesfully accomplished by Mercedes-Benz!

"Boxy exterior design, why not try a boxy interior design?"That is what MB designers said when drawing GLK's dashboard.

While I am still not convinced about the wood colour, I can say that, overall, GLK's dashboard looks very nice. Another job succesfully accomplished by Mercedes-Benz!

If MB thought that GLK-Klasse will remain a mystery up to its official unveiling, they were wrong. The upcoming GLK SUV is starring, along with Sarah Jessica Parker or Kim Catrall, in the brand new 'Sex and the City Movie'. So, during movie shoots in Beverly Hills, the guys from MB had to take the wraps off the SUV, so revealing all the details spy photographers and journalists wanted. Finally, after a very long wait, everyone gets to see the cool boxy GLK-Klasse. I think that MB staff is quite affected by this event, because they planned to unveil the Vision GLK Concept at NAIAS 2008, and the production version of the GLK at Geneve, in March. Now, having seen the spy photos and also a spy movie, are there (still) any logical reasons for unveiling the concept?



Click here for more photos!

If MB thought that GLK-Klasse will remain a mystery up to its official unveiling, they were wrong. The upcoming GLK SUV is starring, along with Sarah Jessica Parker or Kim Catrall, in the brand new 'Sex and the City Movie'. So, during movie shoots in Beverly Hills, the guys from MB had to take the wraps off the SUV, so revealing all the details spy photographers and journalists wanted. Finally, after a very long wait, everyone gets to see the cool boxy GLK-Klasse. I think that MB staff is quite affected by this event, because they planned to unveil the Vision GLK Concept at NAIAS 2008, and the production version of the GLK at Geneve, in March. Now, having seen the spy photos and also a spy movie, are there (still) any logical reasons for unveiling the concept?



Click here for more photos!

AutoBild.de managed to enter in posession of 3 photos revealing the new CLS inspired front fascia of the 2008 revised SL-Klasse. This means that we are closer & closer to the moment when MB will make official the first info & images of the new SL!



Via AutoBild.de!

AutoBild.de managed to enter in posession of 3 photos revealing the new CLS inspired front fascia of the 2008 revised SL-Klasse. This means that we are closer & closer to the moment when MB will make official the first info & images of the new SL!



Via AutoBild.de!

Above you can see a photo of what might be the next gen. E-Klasse dashboard. Very elegant, classy, stylish and built with refined materials, as always, but is this a real picture or it's just a fake?Many believe this picture is not real, because of the fact that in the photo the gear stick appears on the centre tunnel of the car, and not mounted on the steering wheel column. But you never know what's real and what's fake...
Life is surprising, isn't it?

Above you can see a photo of what might be the next gen. E-Klasse dashboard. Very elegant, classy, stylish and built with refined materials, as always, but is this a real picture or it's just a fake?Many believe this picture is not real, because of the fact that in the photo the gear stick appears on the centre tunnel of the car, and not mounted on the steering wheel column. But you never know what's real and what's fake...
Life is surprising, isn't it?

E-Klasse dashboard

This is the first we get to see how will the new E & CLK look like in the interior. And they look quite very nice. The only problem is that the dashboards kinda resemble each other, which makes it hard to determine which of the cars has which dashboard. A hint is given by the steering wheel:CLK's steering wheel has 3 spokes, whereas the one of the E has 4 spokes. What is very interesting is the fact that this 2 new models, due for unveiling in 2009, will have a S-like steering column mounted gear stick.
CLK-Klasse dashboard

E-Klasse dashboard(older photo)

Via Germancarfans.com!

E-Klasse dashboard

This is the first we get to see how will the new E & CLK look like in the interior. And they look quite very nice. The only problem is that the dashboards kinda resemble each other, which makes it hard to determine which of the cars has which dashboard. A hint is given by the steering wheel:CLK's steering wheel has 3 spokes, whereas the one of the E has 4 spokes. What is very interesting is the fact that this 2 new models, due for unveiling in 2009, will have a S-like steering column mounted gear stick.
CLK-Klasse dashboard

E-Klasse dashboard(older photo)

Via Germancarfans.com!

Well, MB Deutschland website seems to be quite a big surprise for all of us. After the SL 63/SL 65 AMG teaser, we are now delighting our eyes with the curvy and sexy lines of the 2008 updated CLS 63 AMG model. I can say that the overall changes are minore and very hard to observ by an untrained eye, but all in all, the car remains beautiful and full of sex-appeal. One said that the facelift on such an impressive looking car is a tricky operation, because unconciously you can ruin it. It is already beautiful, and if you try to make it more beautiful, well, you could be disappointed by the result. And the customers too.

Technically sepaking, CLS 63 AMG facelift will be powered by the same 514 BHP V8 unit.


Visit MB Deutschland website in order to find out more about the upcoming CLS 63 AMG!

Well, MB Deutschland website seems to be quite a big surprise for all of us. After the SL 63/SL 65 AMG teaser, we are now delighting our eyes with the curvy and sexy lines of the 2008 updated CLS 63 AMG model. I can say that the overall changes are minore and very hard to observ by an untrained eye, but all in all, the car remains beautiful and full of sex-appeal. One said that the facelift on such an impressive looking car is a tricky operation, because unconciously you can ruin it. It is already beautiful, and if you try to make it more beautiful, well, you could be disappointed by the result. And the customers too.

Technically sepaking, CLS 63 AMG facelift will be powered by the same 514 BHP V8 unit.


Visit MB Deutschland website in order to find out more about the upcoming CLS 63 AMG!

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Mercedes-Benz Blog.
Today we begin our journey through the MB world with a breaking news. On Sunday, that is yesterday, MB Deutschland website made all Mercedes-Benz fans happy by revealing the first official photo of the SL 63 AMG(photo above). As you can see, the intention of MB is obvious:showing only the back of the car shall determine the rise of interest in this car, as the front end is still an engima. So, I think we will have to wait a couple of days until we will be delighted by the first official photos and information about this magnificient new car.

And not only about this car, the SL 63 AMG, but also about the SL 65 AMG & the SL-Klasse itself. Talking about the 63 version, it boasts with the naturally-aspirated V8 engine, with 6,208 cc displacement, producing 525 BHP. This ensures a top speed of 250 km/h(electronically governed) and a 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.7 sec(0.2 sec slower than the SL 55 AMG, though...). As for the SL 65 AMG, there are no major changes. The big surprise is called AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT. And I shall remain quiet for the moment, as I cannot say for sure what kind of transmission this MCT really is.

Be sure to come back for more interesting facts & news about the upcoming SL-Klasse facelift!

Visit MB Deutschland website to learn more about the new SL 63/SL 65 AMG versions!

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Mercedes-Benz Blog.
Today we begin our journey through the MB world with a breaking news. On Sunday, that is yesterday, MB Deutschland website made all Mercedes-Benz fans happy by revealing the first official photo of the SL 63 AMG(photo above). As you can see, the intention of MB is obvious:showing only the back of the car shall determine the rise of interest in this car, as the front end is still an engima. So, I think we will have to wait a couple of days until we will be delighted by the first official photos and information about this magnificient new car.

And not only about this car, the SL 63 AMG, but also about the SL 65 AMG & the SL-Klasse itself. Talking about the 63 version, it boasts with the naturally-aspirated V8 engine, with 6,208 cc displacement, producing 525 BHP. This ensures a top speed of 250 km/h(electronically governed) and a 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.7 sec(0.2 sec slower than the SL 55 AMG, though...). As for the SL 65 AMG, there are no major changes. The big surprise is called AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT. And I shall remain quiet for the moment, as I cannot say for sure what kind of transmission this MCT really is.

Be sure to come back for more interesting facts & news about the upcoming SL-Klasse facelift!

Visit MB Deutschland website to learn more about the new SL 63/SL 65 AMG versions!