Mercedes Benz

The British Grand Prix, the first of two home races for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS, takes place at Silverstone on Sunday 10 July. Located just eight miles from the team’s factory in Brackley, and 20 miles from Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines in Brixworth, Silverstone will be Round Nine of the 2011 Formula One World Championship.


• At 5.891 km, Silverstone is the second longest circuit on the current Formula One calendar.
• The current Silverstone layout is 1.24 km and 27% longer than the original first used for Formula One in 1950.
• DRS can be used for 3.35 km around the lap in qualifying, equivalent to 57% of the lap distance.
• The race has been won from pole position just three times in the last ten years.

Michael Schumacher
“Silverstone is one of our home races where we will be backed by everybody from the factories in Brackley and Brixworth, and therefore we would love to do well and thank them for their hard work. However, with all the changes we have this season, it is difficult for me to judge how the track will suit our car. As always, we will probably only know more after the Friday practice sessions. We are in the process of developing further upgrades and new solutions which I am confident will help us to make a step forward again. The message for all of us is to put our heads down and work our way through, and as we are all sharing this attitude, I am sure we will get there.”

Nico Rosberg
"Silverstone is a very cool track. I’m really looking forward to all the fast corners, especially from Copse through Becketts to Stowe. I finished third last year and I hope to have another good result, especially because so many of the people working at Brackley and Brixworth will be there with their families. This is the first of our two home Grands Prix in July, so I want to give a good performance in front of our people. We will have a few new updates, and I’m curious to see how this will affect my car. Hopefully we can close the gap to the top a little bit.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal
“Silverstone is always a special weekend for our team, with the home of the British Grand Prix being located so close to our factory in Brackley and to Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines in Brixworth. It’s a great opportunity for our staff and their families to see the cars in action so close to home. Having visited the new pit and paddock complex earlier this year, combined with the layout changes implemented in 2010, I believe Silverstone is now really a venue to be proud of. We are very much looking forward to competing there next weekend. We have been working very hard on developments for the car to improve our competitive position, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank the team for the commitment they have shown. We look forward to having a positive weekend at one of our home races.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“As one of the original rounds of the Formula One calendar since 1950, the British Grand Prix is a true classic race. The circuit at Silverstone has moved with the times and, after a new layout last year, 2011 will see the start-finish line move to its third location in the circuit’s history, as well as the introduction of a modern pits complex. In spite of these changes, though, the circuit has retained its essential high-speed character and the drivers universally love it. In dry conditions, 11 corners are taken above 200 kph while during the impressive sequence between Copse and Stowe, the cars never drop below 195 kph. It is a circuit that rewards efficient aerodynamic performance, while slow speed grip is also important through the new section of the circuit, making this a wide-ranging challenge for the car. Looking to our team’s performance, we know that we are currently not in a position to challenge the top three teams in Valencia and we cannot expect that situation to turn around at Silverstone. However, a lot of hard work is being done to improve our technical package and we all will focus on achieving a decent result.”

* Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS *

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

High functionality, fine materials and impressive style characterise the new AMG Selection 2011, which transfers the major core values of the Mercedes-Benz Cars performance brand to exclusive items of clothing and first-class accessories, some of which are hand-made in Germany. The products are available in a business line for the office and commercial environment and a casual range for sport and leisure.


The visual style of the business line is distinguished by a striking diamond-look – this diamond embroidery also lends the interior of the AMG twelve-cylinder models S 65 AMG and CL 65 AMG a fine, sporty ambience. Further characteristic features of the AMG Selection 2011’s business line include high-quality materials, sound handcraftsmanship and elegant, high-calibre chic. With a successful day at the office in mind there are items such as a functional laptop trolley suitcase in leather/nylon with variable interior compartments for clothes, a laptop and cable compartment plus wheels with AMG styling, a business bag made of cotton and calfskin, also with practical interior partitioning and further clever details or a non-crease business shirt with a tone-in-tone AMG logo embroidered on the breast pocket.

Further stylish business accessories, some of which are hand-made in Germany, such as a lavishly styled documents case with credit card and organiser compartments – offering room for an iPhone®/Blackberry® and a pen holder – a matt-finished aluminium retractable ball-point pen, a wallet, a key case plus a credit card holder round off the range for everyday business life.
Carbon is the distinctive, high-quality theme running through the casual range. Items of clothing and accessories boast either a chic and trendy carbon-look or in some cases they have even been trimmed with this high-tech material.

Bacteria-inhibiting carbon fibres, for example, have been woven into the fabric of the functional T-shirts. The sports and leisure items in the AMG Selection 2011’s casual range also include practical windcheaters, polo shirts and caps for women, men and children. This assortment of stylish products includes the compact or full-size umbrella with a leather handle, Teflon® coating, fibre-glass ribs and an embossed AMG logo, plus a leather sports bag, a key case and ring in carbon fibre/leather (hand-made in Germany) plus a matching lanyard in a sophisticated AMG-look.

For model car enthusiasts the AMG Selection 2011 also offers the gull-wing SLS AMG as high-quality 1:87, 1:43 and 1:18 scale models.

Programmed Events:

- Mercedes-Benz Classic at the Schloss Dyck Classic Days, 5 to 7 August 2011.
- Mercedes-Benz Classic at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, 21 August 2011.

125 years ago – in August 1886: Gottlieb Daimler undertook initial trial trips on the Neckar near Cannstatt with a motorboat powered by his high-speed single-cylinder engine. The same engine was also installed in his first four-wheel automobile in 1886. With this drive assembly and its successors, Daimler kept his sights firmly set on developing engines for land-bound, water- and air-borne transport.

Source: Daimler AG


Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Mercedes-Benz do Brasil will create over 1,250 new jobs at Latin America’s largest manufacturer of trucks and buses - the facility located at São Bernardo do Campo, near São Paulo. Production of trucks and auxiliary equipment at the site will further be expanded to include a third shift. In addition to Brazil, the Mercedes-Benz plant in Argentina will be adding 300 new employees to increase commercial vehicle production.


Mercedes-Benz do Brasil has been operating in Brazil for 55 years, and now it is hiring over 1,250 new employees for the assembly plants in Brazil and Argentina. Hubertus Troska, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Europe/Latin America: “We are currently recording high growth rates in Brazil and Latin America. Our sales numbers are developing superbly, and our commercial vehicles production is running at full capacity.

Last year we sold 162,000 trucks over six tons GVW in Brazil, and the sales figure for this year will be even higher. We expect our market volume there to exceed 200,000 units by 2020. We want to have a full share in this positive market development, and the hiring of the new employees will help us to do so.”

The need for transport in Brazil and Latin America is growing every day due to the strong economic development in the agricultural sector, in mining, and in the construction industry thanks to infrastructure contracts for government programs. And that is also boosting demand for trucks. Mercedes-Benz do Brasil is therefore adjusting its production capacities in Brazil in line with these developments. Most of the new employees will be assigned to the production of trucks and auxiliary equipment at São Bernardo do Campo (São Paulo).

“As the biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in Latin America, Mercedes-Benz is aiming to further increase its competitiveness in the region. The company has therefore decided, for the first time in its history, to institute an entire third shift for manufacturing trucks in Brazil, which has resulted in more than 540 new hires to be dedicated solely to this new shift,” reports Jürgen Ziegler, President of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil and CEO for Latin America. “These new hires are helping us to exploit the technical capacity to produce 75,000 commercial vehicles in Brazil in 2011. With this step we are responding to the growing demand for commercial vehicles in our region. Our goal is to further strengthen the market-leading role of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in Latin America,” adds Ziegler.

With the new hires Mercedes-Benz do Brasil is increasing its workforce at the São Bernardo do Campo (São Paulo) location and in Juiz de Fora (Minas Gerais) to a combined total of more than 14,500 employees, thus confirming its position as the biggest employer among the commercial vehicles companies in Latin America.

Mercedes-Benz is also boosting its competitiveness in the Argentinean market and reacting to the increased demand by expanding commercial vehicle production at the plant in Argentina and adding 300 jobs. A total of about 1,800 people will then be working at Mercedes-Benz’ Juan Manuel Fangio plant in Gonzalez Catan. Mercedes-Benz Argentina is manufacturing the Sprinter in a second shift as of August this year and has also began producing trucks in May this year. This higher capacity is a result of the National Program for Renewal, which was introduced this year by the government in Argentina. The program ensures that transport companies have access to credit at attractive rates for purchases of new commercial vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz is Latin America’s biggest manufacturer of trucks and buses

Mercedes-Benz do Brasil is the biggest truck and bus manufacturer in Latin America. Its São Bernardo do Campo plant is Daimler’s biggest outside of Germany and the only one where trucks, bus chassis, auxiliary equipment — including engines, transmissions and axles — and truck cabs are produced at a single location.

The Mercedes-Benz Technology Center at the location, which is the largest, most modern research and development center for trucks and buses in Brazil, is enabling Mercedes-Benz do Brasil to further expand and improve the future line-up of products for Brazil and Latin America.

Investments in commercial vehicles

Last year Mercedes-Benz do Brasil announced an investment of approximately R$1.5 billion (about €650 million) in the plants in São Bernardo do Campo and Juiz de Fora, as well as in the development units of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil for the period between 2010 and 2013, with the purpose of significantly increasing production capacity.

The capacity at the largest, most advanced production facility in Brazil will thus be increased to 75,000 units per year, which corresponds to an increase of about 15 percent.

In addition, the Mercedes-Benz location in Juiz de Fora (Minas Gerais) became part of the worldwide Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles production network. And, starting in early 2012, Mercedes-Benz trucks in the Actros MP3 production series and the Accelo will be produced at the plant for the Latin American market in order to fully exploit future growth potential.

Source: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

L.E.A.D.E.R. stands for Leaders in European Automotive Development, Excellence and Research. The award recognises innovation excellence in product development and environmental technology. The award was presented by Automotive News Europe.


Mercedes-Benz is a winner for its 125 years of innovation within the automotive industry, which started in 1886 when Carl Benz invented the motor car. The company was also chosen for its work towards boosting efficiency and reducing emissions by way of the many measures that come under the BlueEFFICIENCY banner. One recent example of these activities was the Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive. A trio of B-Class F-CELL vehicles covered more than 30,000 kilometres around the globe in 125 days. The hydrogen-powered B-Class cars and their support vehicles started their journey in Stuttgart at the end of January to coincide with the official 125th anniversary of the motor car, taking in 14 countries on four continents.

Source: Daimler Media

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

It was only a week or so ago that we saw the first spy photos showcasing a heavily-camouflaged 2012 A-Class prototype. Recently, spy photographers met the car in Stuttgart, near the Mercedes-Benz R&D Centre. The test car reveals mere clues on the looks of the hatchback, but that's hardly a surprise now after everybody saw a set of leaked patent sketches in May. Designers were in charge to create a crisp and youthful theme for the new model, as this is company's first 5-door vehicle attempt. The boring MPV shape is gone forever now that it was solely reserved for the new B-Class, which, as earlier stated, is indeed more elegant and stylish than in the past.


The new A-Class will closely follow the aesthetic footsteps of the concept car presented in April at Shanghai. That means we'll see the intricately-pampered LED headlights and the arched side windows panel make it onto the serial production model. The dashboard, although different from that of the B-Class, won't feature many of the futuristic materials found on the Concept A-Class, but will preserve some the airplane wing visual effect - mind those aircon vents that look like jet engines, because there's a chance they will be kept for the series car.

Other than that, the underpinnings and the entire technologycal package will be shared with the new B-Class, scheduled for the official reveal at the IAA Frankfurt. So, expect the same level of efficiency and almost the same equipments (depending on the variants). Rumors claim a hardcore, 350-hp version AMG version for the A-Class is also said to be under secret development by the Affalterbach-based tuner and it should hit streets in 2013 if the project gets fully greenlighted.

I expect the new A-Class to be slightly more expensive than its fellow brother - the base price should start at around 23,000-24,000 euros for the most countries in Europe. Mercedes-Benz announced that it will also start selling the car state-side, where it is prone to arrive by early 2013.

The new B-Class arrives this September and it will mark a definitive turnover in the Mercedes-Benz lineup. While the current model managed to attract a positive number of customers according to recent statistics, it was never perceived as a true Mercedes-Benz: the roomy interior and the elegant design didn't manage to counteract the obvious issues related to driving dynamics, overall efficiency and build quality. Having born in the cloudy Schrempp era, the first generation B-Class really had to resist some serious arguments against it to live up to these days and eventually surpass the little A-Class in what sales numbers are concerned. As for the forthcoming W 246, the minds that developed it had to deliver a tough work to fix the problems and create a whole new car both visually and technically.


I think they accomplished the task pretty well, if we have a look at the silhouette hidden under the minor FEP camouflage. The exterior styling has been clearly influenced by the nonconformist Concept BlueZERO if you look at the shape of the headlights, extensively fitted with colourful LEDs, and those weird seen on the side profile. To create a more aggressive stance, the roof line is lower compared to the outgoing model and slopes beautifully towards the back end of the car. Inside, the new B-Class will welcome the passengers with an attractive dashboard and quality materials, that are said to be even more premium than those found in the C-Class, according to Prof. Gorden Wagener, head of Mercedes-Benz design department. The spacious interior offers more storage places, more travelling comfort, more high-tech gimmicks such as the COMAND Online with multiple media and infotainment devices, as well as a revised luggage compartment boasting a greater capacity.

The MPV sits on a brand new modular platform called MFA - this will enable more powering solutions to be easily accommodated without changing the entire chassis or the basic architecture of the underpinnings. For the beginning, conventional internal combustion engines will be offered: Renault will supply the low displacement units up to 1.6 litres, whereas Mercedes-Benz will provide the high-end powerplants, such as the 2.1 litres 4-cylinder diesel engine with 204 hp and the 1.8 litres 4-cylinder petrol motor with the same peak output. To ensure a smooth and efficient run, each and every engine in the range will undergo the BlueEFFICIENCY treatment.

Some of the new assistance technologies which the Stuttgart-based constructor has premiered along with the latest models will make their way onto the upcoming B-Class. Moreover, an upgraded version of the Brake Assist system, which helps reduce the number of rear-end collisions, will also be available. The safety package will further include a high number of airbags for an ultimate passenger protection, pretensioned 3-point seat belts for all the five occupants, PRE-SAFE crash anticipation system, DISTRONIC PLUS, ABS, ESP and certainly many other.

When the new B-Class is launched for sale in Europe by the end of 2011, the standard price tag should reach around 22,000-23,000 euros. There are plans to market the MPV in the USA for the first time in history beginning with the second part of 2012.