Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart, Germany, Feb 01, 2010

115 years ago – 18 March 1895: The world’s first motorised bus, ordered from Benz & Co. in Mannheim on 19 December 1894, went into scheduled service on the Siegen – Netphen – Deuz route. However, the bus line was abandoned in December 1895 on account of adverse weather and technical problems.(more about the Mercedes-Benz Bus History)


110 years ago – 26 - 30 March 1900: Several new Daimler-built 23 hp “Phoenix” racing cars took part in Nice Race Week. Emil Jellinek entered two vehicles. Wilhelm Bauer, works driver for Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), suffered a tragic accident at the Nice – La Turbie hillclimb. The tragic outcome of the race led Jellinek to propose the design of a lighter vehicle with a longer wheelbase and lower centre of gravity; this was completed in November 1900 and presented for the first time under the new brand name Mercedes – the 35 hp Mercedes.

100 years ago – 17 March 1910: Barney Oldfield set a new world record at Daytona Beach, Florida, US, driving the 200 hp Benz, nicknamed the “Lightning Benz”, at an average speed of 211.4 km/h over one mile.

40 years ago – 12 - 22 March 1970: The revised Mercedes-Benz C 111 experimental vehicle, featuring modified body and a 4-disc Wankel engine was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show. The engine developed 257 kW, accelerated the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and gave it a top speed of 300 km/h.

20 years ago – 8 - 18 March 1990: The Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evo II had its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show.

15 years ago – 9 - 19 March 1995: The Vario Research Car (VRC) with variable body concept was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show.

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