Last week, the workers at the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen facility proudly celebrated the advent of the 100,000th C-Class Limousine since the production of the new-generation model started in March this year. The milestone vehicle is a C 250 BlueEFFICIENCY in AVANTGARDE trim and Silvermetallic exterior paint finish. For an added touch of dynamism, the model is equipped with the popular AMG Sports Package and the exquisite panorama retractable all-glass roof. The 100,000th C-Class Limousine assembled at Sindelfingen has also been on display at the Mercedes-Benz stand at the IAA Frankfurt 2011.


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The new Citaro created a sensation when it was presented to the general public just a few weeks ago. The best-selling urban bus from Mercedes-Benz has been completely revamped, and experts were quick to predict a great future for the bus. This future is already becoming reality: on 19 September, a ceremony was held to mark the delivery of the Citaro to a customer, Lücke-Reisen. Konstantinos Tsiknas, head of sales for Mercedes-Benz Buses and Coaches in Germany, handed over a symbolic key to managing directors Anne and Uwe Lücke. Lücke-Reisen, based in Nordkirchen, Germany, is the first private bus and coach firm to choose the new-generation Citaro.


Ambassador for an eye-catching form of public transport

The design of the Citaro leaves no doubt that this is a fundamental, new development. The designers at Mercedes-Benz have given the urban bus a completely new look, from the headlights to the tail lights. Its friendly ‘face’ really does appear be smiling, thanks to large headlights and a curved windscreen. The low-reaching side windows convey transparency, while the striking profiles of the wheel arches embody dynamism and finesse. The rear of the new Citaro features soft lines, giving it a friendly appearance despite the modern touches.

The new Citaro’s redesigned passenger compartment has an even more spacious feel than before. Light colours and an uncluttered ceiling design create an airy and inviting interior. InterStar Eco seats have been fitted. While the grab rail suspended from the ceiling is cobalt blue, the grab poles are painted in white aluminium. The new lighting concept features well-lit entrance and exit areas plus indirect lighting of the outer ceiling flaps as a result of installing multidimensional scattering lenses in the ceiling lights.

Fit for everyday use: safe, comfortable and economical

The new Citaro’s safety concept sets the standard. Its protection in the event of head-on collisions is unique among urban buses and is based on the ECE R 29 standard. It has increased passive safety thanks to an even more rigid yet lighter frame structure. These features mean the new Citaro already fulfils the requirements of the stricter ECE R 66/01 regulation on survival space in the event of the bus rolling over, due to come into force in 2017. The new inward folding doors are lighter, making the bus more robust. Integrated LED daytime running lights also come as standard. Another new feature is the pivot-and-slide door at the front entrance. The raised driver area ensures an even better all-round view and, by putting the driver at eye level with passengers, creates a heightened sense of safety. The driver’s cockpit has been completely redesigned for the new Citaro. Its door is now hinged at the rear, enabling it to open at the front. The instrument panel meets the requirements of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) yet is more airy, has more knee room, features optimised ergonomics and provides far more information thanks to the colour display. Buttons on the new steering wheel offer extra convenience.

The new Citaro has inherited its predecessor’s tried-and-trusted economical and environmentally-friendly engines with BlueTec diesel technology. Lücke-Reisen’s Citaro is powered by a compact six-cylinder turbo diesel OM 906 hLA with a cubic capacity of 6.37 litres, 210 kW (286 bhp) output and 1120 Nm torque. The engine meets the Euro V emissions standard.

Lücke-Reisen

Bus and coach operator Lücke-Reisen was founded in 1966 by Otto Lücke and is now managed by the second generation of the family, Uwe and Anne Lücke. The firm’s fleet comprises around 60 Mercedes-Benz vehicles, including coaches. Lücke-Reisen’s services range from school trips and club outings to coach tours throughout Germany and Europe. The family business also runs scheduled bus services for public transport companies Regionalverkehr Münsterland (RVM) and Verkehrsgesellschaft Kreis Unna (VKU) as well as for the charity Caritasverband Kreis Coesfeld. The new Citaro will operate alongside nine Citaro buses of the first and second generation.

Source: Daimler AG

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OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Anniversary Event Marked by 125 Scholarship Donations for Children to Attend SF Rec and Park's Summer Camp

Montvale (NJ), USA, Jun 16, 2011 - The Gull Wing Group reaches its golden anniversary and is marking the 50 year milestone with Mercedes-Benz USA by recreating one of the group's most famous photos taken in 1961 at Fort Point Park overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.


In honor of the Gull Wing Group's milestone, Mercedes-Benz USA is donating 125 scholarships to provide children with the opportunity to participate in the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department's unique summer educational programs designed to accentuate personal responsibility and initiative, and encourage children to pursue preservation in the future of America's national parks.

"The Gull Wing vehicle represents Mercedes-Benz leadership in style, design and performance and this anniversary allows us a moment to celebrate the history of that legacy created over fifty years ago." said Steve Cannon, Vice President of Marketing, Mercedes-Benz USA. "As we look back, we also have to look to the future and that was our intention with the donation to provide San Francisco kids with the opportunity to attend summer camp through the Recreation and Parks Department program."

Founded in San Francisco, California on June 16, 1961 The Gull Wing Group, led by Ernie Spitzer, was comprised of eighteen 300 SL Coupe owners. Currently over 600 driving enthusiasts dedicated to sharing their knowledge and enjoyment of the 300 SL belong to the Group. On June 10, 2011 - almost 50 years after an original photo was taken to mark the beginning of the Gull Wing Group's existence - close to 100 members comprised of 24 Gull Wings and 14 Roadsters, are recreating the image by revisiting the very same spot in Fort Point Park, a National Historic Site run by the U.S. National Park Service.

"Donation such as this one helps San Francisco Recreation and Parks to fulfill its mission of providing enriching recreational activities to all San Franciscans." said Phil Ginsburg, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department's General Manager. "Our scholarships serve more than 2, 000 San Francisco children and families every year."

With only 1400 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gull Wings" produced from 1954-1957, it is one of the most sought after collectible vehicles around the world. Known for its iconic "Gull Wing" doors and fascinating design, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was technologically years ahead of its time with components such as a direction injection system. In 2011, Mercedes-Benz introduced the SLS AMG, a car inspired by the 1954 300 SL and in the same vein as the orginal, ushered in a new era of supercar leadership.

The history of Mercedes-Benz stretches beyond the Gull Wing Group and this year it is celebrating 125 years of innovation and the anniversary of Carl Benz 1886 patent three-wheel motorwagen with rear-mounted engine, which laid the foundation for motorized transportation that changed the world as we know it today.

Editor's Note:

Fort Point was built by U.S. Army Engineers during the peak of the Gold Rush between 1853 and 1861, as a defense system to protect San Francisco against naval attack. The fort stands at the base of the 4,200 foot long Golden Gate Bridge, towering 746 feet high. Though Fort Point never faced battle, the structure signifies close to 150 years of military history and architecture.

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