Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart, Germany, Feb 18, 2009

Completely new series for new customers

* 1992: The new 408/418 series

* 1993: Funmog – going to the disco by Unimog

* 1996: UX 100, the little one for municipal authorities

* 2000: New U 300 – U 500 Unimog generation

Shortly after the renewal of the Unimog range between 1985 and 1988, Daimler-Benz started a new innovation drive in 1992. New lightweight and medium-duty series, the 408 (U 90) and 418 (U 110, U 140), replaced their still rather youthful predecessors. Their most conspicuous feature was the completely redesigned cab, with a front section set at a very steep angle to provide the driver with an excellent view of the area ahead of the vehicle. On request, the bonnet even featured an asymmetrical cutaway section on the driver's side, permitting the best possible view of connections and mounted implements. The Unimog's handling and ride were improved by a new frame and progressively acting coil springs.


The tried-and-tested ladder-type frame was retained, with tubular cross members welded into the longitudinal members. This design of frame allowed for extreme torsion, yet the ensemble as a whole was remarkably rigid. In conjunction with the suspension, therefore, it offered excellent offroad wheel-load distribution. At the same time, whether laden or unladen, the progressively acting coil springs provided constant and optimally adjusted suspension quality. In addition, the rear telescopic shock absorbers operated using a load- and path-dependent characteristic curve, resulting in reduced damping of the vehicle when empty.

Clearly more space, comfort and practicality

The completely redesigned cab with its raised roof provided substantially more space than before, clearly laid out controls and, not least, an appealing working environment. The new Mercedes-Benz Unimog's special technical features included a tyre pressure control system that could be operated on the move, the anti-lock braking system, new engines from the car range for the lightweight U 90 as well as Servolock, a unit for hydraulically locking working implements. The new Unimog generation not only expressed individuality and great practicality in its looks, with its diversified range of applications, it also recommended itself for an ever more important group of buyers: municipal authorities.

Pulling up outside the disco in the Funmog

A very different group of customers emerged temporarily: the Mercedes-Benz Unimog had been discovered as a disco-mobile in Japan – the old battlehorse with its advanced engineering, a died-in-the-wool commercial vehicle, was all of a sudden a big hit among youngsters. Daimler-Benz reacted by launching Funmogs, an impressive, pitch-black Unimog from the heavy-duty series and a red-metallic one from the new medium-duty series. Both featured plenty of chrome trim. The attractive Funmogs promptly won the "Offroader of the Year" award in the spring of 1994. The indestructible nature of the evergreen from Gaggenau was also reflected by the production figures: in the same year, Unimog production exceeded the 300,000 mark – a very high figure for a special-purpose vehicle.

UX100 – the little one for municipal authorities

Two years later, in 1996, Daimler-Benz 1996 expanded the range by the addition of an implement carrier for municipal authorities, the UX100. This small Unimog was a slim and easily manoeuvrable vehicle, suitable for work on walkways and in parks. However, the Unimog's little brother did not generate big business. Within the framework of its concentration on core competencies, Daimler-Benz transferred the smart UX100 to Hako, a company specialising on vehicles of this type and size. Nevertheless, the Unimog engineers adopted quite a few ideas from the UX100 project for future vehicles.

Spectacular: Unimog U 300, U 400 and U 500

The company had meanwhile been preparing for another renewal of the Mercedes-Benz Unimog range. In the spring of the spectacular year 2000, the company presented new, equally spectacular Unimog models: the U 300, U 400 and, a little later, the U 500 (408/418 series) replaced the previous medium-duty and heavy-duty series. With this model replacement, the Unimog received more advanced technology in one go than ever before in its long career. A particularly conspicuous feature is the highly advanced, practical and at the same time extremely appealing cab made of fibre composites. The huge windscreen extends far down, permitting a perfect view of all connections and implements – the latter can now be mounted effortlessly in one-man operation.

Engine fitted between the axles

The bonnet is extremely short because the engine has been moved backwards to a location between the axles. You could say that this Unimog incorporates an idea of its inventor, Albert Friedrich, who had sketched in the engine in a similar position in one of his first drawings in 1946.

VarioPilot: moving the driver's place to the other side

The all-new cab incorporates not only plenty of space and highly comfortable appointments but also an idea the engineers adopted from the UX100 project and refined it: the driver's workplace, complete with steering wheel, gauges and pedals can be moved from the left to the right-hand side and back in next to no time. What sells under the name VarioPilot proves to be an extremely practical feature for the different applications in municipal work. A broad range with wheelbase lengths between 3080 and 3900 millimetres and permissible gross weights from 7.5 to 15.5 tonnes underlines the Unimog's flexibility and performance more than ever before. For special applications, for instance tractor operation, the Mercedes-Benz Unimog is available with special equipment, including a torque converter and clutch unit or remote control with cable.

New emphasis: implement carrier for municipal work

Both the design of the new Mercedes-Benz Unimog and its features underline that it is clearly oriented to the spectrum of the 408/418 series. It is still a near-perfect offroader, but its emphasis is on implement carrier work. Other features of the new Unimog: permanent all-wheel drive, electro-pneumatic Telligent gearshift, the new VarioPower high-performance hydraulic system and new, extremely powerful engines with output ratings between 110 kW (150 hp) and 205 kW (280 hp) and complying with the EURO 3 emission standards. And those still looking for a classic Mercedes-Benz Unimog with a focus on extreme off-road capabilities will continue to be served for the time being by current model series.