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Illustration: Autobild's Larson digitally imagines the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W 205)

By | Published Monday, 28 May 2012

Larson, the famous designer collaborating with Germany's Autobild magazine, is known worldwide for providing the most accurate computer rendering for future cars, at least in what Mercedes-Benz' forthcoming models are concerned. The latest CGI offers an insight into the exterior design of the next generation C-Class (205 series), bound to arrive during spring 2014.

The current styling language of the Stuttgart house will evolve in a remarkable way with the advent of the new C-Class lineup of mid-size premium vehicles. The inspirational image from above shows the W 205 will boast spectacular proportions and a confident stance, moving away from the current, toned-down wedge shape. Instead, the new Star in the Mercedes-Benz garage will feature a dynamic design, described by an imposing front end sporting an upright grille and a set of angry-looking headlights with LED technology creating intricate inner graphics.

The attributes defining the sides of the 2014 C-Class are "muscular, yet impressively clean and elegant". Gone are the fussy creases - we should now get a proper Benz with an evident, strong shoulder line making the most of the profile. The car will also receive new door handles and a pair of new, aerodynamically-adapted, blinker-equipped exterior mirrors, that reduce the drag coefficient (Cd) and improve the rear view thanks to the greater reflective surface.

In the absence of a rendition showcasing the back end of the C-Class, we can only speculate the final result will indeed help finish the entire design in a round and cohesive way. Expect some astonishing lamps with a cool effect courtesy of LEDs.

Now, please take your time to surf through the newest spy shots of the C-Class captured in Germany. Enjoy!





Image Credits: Autobild,Autowereld

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz Bike Selection 2012 - New fitness bike: upscale cycling with Mercedes

By | Published Sunday, 27 May 2012

Big wheels are all the rage in the world of bikes. Mercedes-Benz is now kicking off the new season with a "Twentyniner": the new fitness bike sports wheels with a diameter of 29 inches (including tyres). Greater traction, smoother running and enhanced riding stability are the merits of this upscale fitness bike. The high-end 2012 Mercedes-Benz Bike Selection additionally includes a full-suspension mountainbike, a comfortable trekking bike suitable for everyday use and a high-end carbon-fibre racing bike. For children, Mercedes-Benz offers a particularly variable kids' bike which can be converted into a straddler in next to no time.

Cutting-edge, innovative technology and hallmark Mercedes-Benz quality are defining features of all the products of the Bike Selection, which are developed and produced in cooperation with Hesse-based premium bicycle manufacturer ADP Rotwild.

Wheeling along big-time: so called "Twentyniners", such as the new Fitness Bike from the Mercedes-Benz Bike Selection are enjoying growing popularity. Their geometry offers a host of benefits for novices and experienced cyclists alike: Twentyniners roll over obstacles with greater ease, retain their momentum more effectively, offer better traction and are accommodating towards taller people. The new Fitness Bike adopts its predecessor's striking frame design and features high-quality components in the form of a lockable Suntour NRX-D LO suspension fork with 63 mm spring travel, Shimano Deore gears and hydraulic Shimano disc brakes. Ergon handlebar grips, a stem offering angle adjustment and the high-quality Allay saddle ensure ample comfort even on longer trips. The white/silver colour combination underscores the sporty character of this bicycle model. The fitness bike is available in three frame sizes (49 cm, 52 cm, 55 cm).

Another star of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Bike Selection is the All Mountain mountainbike, which comes into its own in off-road terrain. A Fox Racing F32 RL suspension fork and a DT M 210 Swiss fork leg, each with spring travel of 120 mm, provide for efficient and safe handling. This model features a 30-speed SRAM X.7/X.9 gear shifter and an Elixir 5 hydraulic disc brake system with 185 mm discs. DT Swiss X1900 wheels round off the functional package. The Mercedes-Benz All Mountain mountainbike weighs 12.8 kg, comes in frame heights of 47 cm, 50 cm and 53 cm.

The Trekking Bike with mudguards, luggage rack and a Busch&Müller light system including Shimano hub dynamo is a trusty companion both for day-to-day needs and on more extensive leisure outings. The attractively designed Trekking Bike is available in frame heights of 51 cm and 54 cm.

The Limited racing bike weighs only 6.9 kg, thanks to its carbon-fibre frame which is produced according to the tube-to-tube principle. The exclusive design further includes SRAM Red gear-shifting and brake components and lightweight DT Swiss RR 1450 wheels with an emphasis on plenty of drive. The racing bike is available in frame heights 49 cm, 53 cm, 56 cm, 58 cm and 61 cm in a limited edition of 100.

The Kids' Bike provides a particularly snazzy means of introducing youngsters to the joys of bike riding. Its 2-in-1 concept enables swift and simple conversion from a 16" children's bicycle into a straddler. As a straddler it makes toddlers' first attempts at riding a bicycle a particularly easy and fun experience, trains their sense of balance and makes the eventual switch to riding with pedals substantially less daunting. The Kids' Bike comes in white, red metallic and pink metallic, is suitable for children of between 3 and around 6 years of age.

The Mercedes-Benz Bike Selection also offers high-quality bike clothing and practical accessories for cyclists. These products have been developed in cooperation with renowned companies such as deuter sport, uvex, Topeak and Sigma Sport.

Further information about the Mercedes-Benz Bike Selection is available online at http://shop.mercedes-benz.de and www.mercedes-benz-accessories.com.
















Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz and AMG at the Cannes Film Festival: Golden fleet for the 65th Palme d'Or

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Star quality befitting the anniversary of the Cannes International Film Festival: to celebrate the awarding of the 65th Palme d'Or (Golden Palm), Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG are providing a fleet of shuttle vehicles in gold. Mercedes-Benz and its performance-brand AMG will also be creating a unique automotive experience by supplying other shuttle services, showcasing vehicles and offering exclusive test drives to guests and visitors to this year’s film festival from 16 to 27 May 2012.

As a tribute to the 65th anniversary of the Palme d'Or, the golden Mercedes-Benz fleet will be driving through Cannes offering VIP guests of the film festival an outstanding shuttle service. A very special star will also be shining at the legendary Cinema Against AIDS Gala being organised by the amfAR foundation at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on 24 May: a gold Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG "45th Anniversary". The iconic SL sports car celebrates its 60th birthday this year, while the AMG performance brand turns 45. Mercedes-Benz is co-sponsor of this top-class gala, which is one of the most prestigious events held during the film festival. Shuttle vehicles provided by Mercedes-Benz will ensure attendees make a spectacular entrance when they arrive on the red carpet.

High-performance AMG brand offering individual test drives

AMG, the high-performance division of Mercedes-Benz, is sponsoring the legendary "Le Club by Albane" at the J.W. Marriott hotel and the “IWC Filmmakers Dinner” at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on 21 May 2012. For both events, the brand will be providing an exclusive shuttle service featuring various vehicles to ferry guests to the red carpet. The new Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG "45th Anniversary" will likewise be on show at the “IWC Filmmakers Dinner”.

Every day throughout the festival, Mercedes-AMG invites guests and visitors to experience true "Driving Performance" on individual test drives along the French Riviera in various current AMG models. Interested parties are welcome to register for a test drive between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily at the AMG desk in the lobby of the Hotel InterContinental Carlton Cannes from 16 to 27 May 2012. Throughout the festival, a Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG will be on display outside the hotel – in keeping with the festival, the vehicle will be staged on a film set.


















Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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eCar Award 2012: Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL secures victory with zero emissions

By | Published Saturday, 26 May 2012

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL is the best electric car with fuel cell - this is the result of an online survey completed by 18,324 readers of specialist magazines "Auto Bild" and "Auto Test".

The B-Class F-CELL is the first passenger car with fuel cell drive to be produced by Mercedes-Benz under series conditions. Production of the model has already been under way since 2009. The vehicle generates the power for its electric drive itself on-board from the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Its tank can be filled with hydrogen in three minutes, providing a range of some 400 kilometres. And thanks to its powerful 100 kW (136 hp) electric motor, it provides driving pleasure and dynamism on a par with a 2.0-litre petrol engine. The vehicle's NEDC consumption amounts to just 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres (diesel equivalent). At the same time it produces no emissions whatsoever: the only thing to come out of its exhaust is pure water.

This zero-emission principle, paired with impressive performance characteristics, convinced the readers of the specialist German magazines "Auto Bild" and "Auto Test" to vote the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL into first place in the category "Best electric vehicle with fuel cell", thus enabling it to secure the eCar Award 2012.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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Best commercial vehicles and best brands 2012 poll: Seven victories for Daimler

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Daimler won seven awards at the ceremony honouring the best commercial vehicles and best brands 2012 in Stuttgart last night. More than 8000 readers participated in the poll and bestowed victories on five Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles and two Mercedes-Benz service solutions.

“We are delighted about the seven awards and want to thank all the readers. This once more proves that our product line-up puts us in a perfect position”, Andreas Renschler, on the Board of Management responsible for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses, expressed his thanks.
The readers voted the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter the winner in the category “vans up to 3.5 t” for the 17th consecutive time. Since this spring the Sprinter has been the first van to be optionally equipped with the “7G-Tronic” seven-speed automatic transmission. The Sprinter has been highly successful in its segment for many years.

The category “long-haul truck” was won by the new Mercedes-Benz Actros. The all-new truck celebrated its world debut in summer of last year. The new flagship of the Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles division is economical, safe and very eco-friendly thanks to its Euro VI engine technology.

The proven Actros wins in the category “dump trucks up to 32 t”. More than 700,000 vehicles sold since its market launch in 1996 make the Actros the most successful heavy-duty truck worldwide.
In the category “urban regular-service buses” the Mercedes-Benz Citaro finished atop the winner’s podium. More than 30,000 units sold during 14 years of production mean that the Citaro is the most successful regular-service bus of all time. In early May it rolled off the assembly line as Europe’s first Euro VI urban bus. The early introduction of Euro VI gives transport operators the option of quickly spreading environmental protection on a broad basis with affordable investments.

The Mercedes-Benz Tourino offers operators a multitude of available options that permit a wide variety of uses – from inter-city operations to VIP shuttle services anything is possible for the customer. The readers of the ETM magazines vote the handy coach the winner in the “midibuses” category. With up to 38 seats the Tourino has been successful particularly for smaller tourist parties for years.

Mercedes-Benz was also able to win over the voters in the poll on the best brands. Mercedes-Benz CharterWay wins the “rental/leasing” award for the sixth consecutive time. The service brand celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. CharterWay has been selling services and mobility centred on the procurement, service and management of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles since 1992.

The readers equally value good service in the “truck/trailer service” category. They vote the TruckWorks service solution from Mercedes-Benz the winner. TruckWorks is the point of contact for comprehensive services related to commercial vehicles. Under the TruckWorks service brand the company works together with renowned manufacturers of trailers, bodywork, axles, brake systems, tail lifts and refrigeration units.

The reader poll is conducted annually by ETM publishing company and its trade magazines ‘Fernfahrer’, ‘lastauto omnibus’ and ‘trans aktuell’. “The best commercial vehicles 2012” and “the best brands 2012” are determined in cooperation with engineers from Dekra. This year the 8000 readers were able to choose the winners in 22 categories from more than 180 model series.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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New driving safety training courses from Mercedes-Benz and AMG: Helping to ensure a safe, confident and enjoyable driving experience

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Mercedes-Benz is starting the 2012/2013 season with a new wide-ranging programme of driving safety training events designed to appeal to all types of drivers. Courses for young people, beginners, advanced and even expert drivers are being offered at 14 locations throughout Germany using vehicles generally provided by Mercedes-Benz – whether saloons, coupés, roadsters or off-road vehicles. The goal of the events is to help drivers to handle their vehicles in a safer and more confident manner, even in emergency situations – and of course to ensure that they enjoy the experience of driving.

One fact confirmed by the accident statistics is that Mercedes drivers are involved in fewer accidents than drivers of cars made by other manufacturers. And this is an area in which the diverse range of driving safety training events offered by Mercedes-Benz can make a contribution. It is all part of the comprehensive safety philosophy of the brand with the star – which in addition comprises accident research and the development of trend-setting assistance and safety systems based on this research and which other automotive brands have also adopted.

Taking place at 14 on and off-road locations throughout Germany, the driving safety training events enable participants to learn how to be more aware of typical danger situations and to practise appropriate responses. By providing courses almost nationwide and at reasonable prices – the half-day basic compact training event for 18 to 25-year olds, for example, costs just 95 euros – Mercedes-Benz is aiming at as many car drivers as possible. Ultimately all road users are able to benefit from the confident car control practised during the training, not just Mercedes drivers. Any accident is one accident too many.

The target group for the various courses is correspondingly diverse, ranging from learner drivers to experienced professionals, and from sales training to events for professional drivers and chauffeurs. The sole requirement is that the driver must hold a class 3/class B driver's licence.
According to Wolfgang Müller, Chief Instructor for Mercedes-Benz Driving Events: "We offer training events to meet a variety of different interests, so for example not only classic driving safety training sessions which can be aimed specifically at young drivers who are still a bit inexperienced, but also pure sports driving training events for highly motivated drivers." The sports driving training sessions are not just geared towards fun but also towards driving safety. Anyone who is able to control a vehicle at its limits is more composed and considered in situations of danger. Another highlight is that the participants take part in the training using vehicles provided by Mercedes-Benz. This enables exercises to be incorporated which are considerably more dynamic. In addition, the instructors also have the opportunity to demonstrate how effective modern assistance systems can be – as a safety pioneer, Mercedes-Benz provides technologies in this area which are simply not available, or not yet available, in other vehicles. Almost the entire Mercedes-Benz model range is available for the training events.

In addition to extensive driving skills and experience, all of the instructors have the distinct ability to convey the various interconnected driving physics principles in such an easy-to-understand manner that the participants are able to apply them in practice in their everyday driving.

There are on and off-road events designed to take place both in the summer and the winter. The most important events include:

- Basic compact training: on this half-day course, participants find out how an accident can be prevented effectively. Exercises include full brake application combined with an evasive manoeuvre, and a slalom course. Compact training is also available as a reasonably-priced special training event for 18 to 25-year-olds.

- Basic training: as part of this one-day event, the participants learn how dangerous situations can be dealt with safely and confidently with support from active control systems. The demanding programme of lessons includes taking evasive action without braking from 80 km/h, emergency braking and correcting skidding vehicles.

- Advanced training: this extension course provides additional solutions for dealing with hazardous situations at higher speeds – such as emergency braking at 100 km/h or controlling a rear-end skid on a wet bend.

- Enhanced training: here exercises are conducted at high speeds. For example, participants learn how to keep their vehicle under control during an emergency lane change manoeuvre at motorway speeds of 130 km/h. In addition, challenging drift exercises on famous race tracks are also on the agenda.

- Sports training: with this new training event, racing enthusiasts enjoy the unique opportunity to experience driving from the perspective of a racing driver. For example, they learn how to find the ideal line and optimum braking point.

- Eco training: during this half-day event, attendees take part in simple practical and theoretical exercises to learn how to reduce fuel consumption by handling their car more efficiently. On average, those who complete the eco training course subsequently use 15 percent less fuel.

- Professional basic training: this event enables professional drivers to enhance their driving skills. For example, the programme includes performing an evasive manoeuvre at 100 km/h in a predefined direction through a set of traffic lights, emergency braking scenarios and correcting a tail-skidding vehicle at motorway speed, for example. Driving practice is complemented by theoretical exercises tailored to the specific profession with trainers who also instruct police taskforces.

- Mercedes-Benz Fascination Tour: this is a new addition to the range of Mercedes-Benz driving events. This one-day driving experience in vehicles provided by Mercedes-Benz features highlights focusing on the history and present status of the brand in Stuttgart and the surrounding area.

- Mercedes-Benz Fascination Experience: this event immerses participants in the world of Mercedes-Benz for two full days. A visit to the wind tunnel and test track at the plant in Untertürkheim is followed by a voyage of discovery around the Mercedes-Benz Museum and an evening meal together. On the second day, it is on to the training circuit with the opportunity to put the current model range through its paces in slaloming, braking and evasive manoeuvres.

- Off-road events: at a variety of off-road driving training events participants are able to discover what an off-road vehicle is capable of and how to keep such a vehicle under control both on and off the road. In addition to basic training, additional stages are available such as advanced training, enhanced training and extreme training. New additions include a range of winter off-road training events. In the spacious stone quarry outside Kitzbühel, participants are able to get to grips with difficult terrain at half or full-day training events using G, GL, GLK and M-Class vehicles.

- Travel Experience: discovering the world with Mercedes – this is what the participants in the Travel Experience event can expect to enjoy. There are trips to Abu Dhabi, for example, with its endless dune-covered landscape and perfect sandy beaches offering relaxation. Other trips of a lifetime include experiencing Spain from a different perspective or enjoying an off-road adventure in the wintry Arctic Circle. A particular highlight is the "Journey to the Roof of the World": lasting some 47 days, it takes participants from Lodz in Poland all the way to India, travelling via Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.

- Enhanced Experience Sweden: a winter adventure without compromise comprising four days in Sweden, 22 hours on a frozen lake located 150 km south of the Arctic Circle, individual coaching sessions, a rally competition and much more.

Additional information on the training events is available from the following sources:

- On-road events: www.mercedes-benz.de/driving-events - hotline: +49 (0)89 950 60 51; Off-road events: www.offroad.mercedes-benz.de - hotline: +49 (0)7732 970147
- To order a catalogue for 2012/2013 (German/English), please send an email to: info@mercedes-benz.driving-events.de
- The RoadSense road safety awareness programme: a chance for 13-year-olds to get behind the wheel

The aim of the RoadSense road safety awareness initiative is to minimise the risks to which young road users are prone. As part of the RoadSense road safety awareness initiative developed by the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy, Year 8 pupils are allowed to get behind the wheel of a car under professional supervision and on handling circuits away from traffic. The 13 to 15-year-old students are not taught how to drive – it is about experiencing what it is like behind the wheel. The main emphasis is on typical conflict situations that may be encountered as a passenger and learning how to deal with these responsibly.

All types of schools can register with the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy for their Year 8 classes to take part in the RoadSense road safety awareness programme. Further information is available from Mercedes-Benz by emailing roadsense-stuttgart@daimler.com , or online from www.mbdrivingacademy.com.

AMG Driving Academy: from the first experience of driving at the limit to intensive race circuit training

The AMG Driving Academy also provides a wide-ranging programme of events which not only meet the most diverse requirements but also represent the very embodiment of pure excitement. Events on offer include enjoyment-oriented EMOTION tours, special winter driving training sessions in Swedish Lapland and exciting events on legendary racing circuits such as the North Loop of the Nürburgring, the Hockenheimring or Zandvoort. A particular highlight is the MASTERS programme, at which participants are able to drive the SLS AMG GT3, the racing version of the gullwing model. A typical element of all AMG Driving Academy events is the unique, passionate performance experience which the participants are able to enjoy first hand in line with the AMG brand claim of "driving performance". 

As a world first and a unique offering not available from other providers, the AMG Driving Academy, which was established in 2007, is also able to offer climate-neutral dynamic driving events – thus proving that driving pleasure and concern for the environment can be combined perfectly.

The new programme from the AMG Driving Academy comprises professionally designed training measures which will enable ambitious sports car enthusiasts to improve their individual control of their vehicles and enhance their active driving safety. All events staged by the AMG Driving Academy feature advanced training methods which guarantee a swift grounding in the basics of driving dynamics. Acquainting drivers with both their own limitations and their vehicles' limits in a totally safe manner is also on the agenda. Another key focus is on thrilling driving experiences with exciting high-performance vehicles such as the SLS AMG, C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series or SLK 55 AMG.

Erstwhile Formula 1 driver Karl Wendlinger becomes new instructor

Karl Wendlinger (Austria) is a new addition to the team of professional instructors. From 1990 to 1991 the 43-year-old racing driver was a member of the Mercedes junior team competing in the World Sportscar Championship along with Michael Schumacher and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. In 1991 he switched to Formula 1. The AMG Driving Academy's core team also includes DTM driver Susie Wolff, DTM championship record holder Bernd Schneider, and also Bernd Mayländer, the driver of the Official F1™ Safety Car. Racing driver Reinhold Renger remains in the post of chief instructor. In all, the AMG Driving Academy has 30 instructors on its roster.

The AMG Driving Academy is not only active in Europe. Training events have also been held in America since 2009, and in China since 2010 – at the Laguna Seca Raceway (California) or the Shanghai International Circuit, for example. A totally new development is the AMG Driving Academy's involvement in India: a kick-off event took place at the Buddh International Circuit against the backdrop of the Auto Expo in New Delhi in January 2012. Three further BASIC training courses will follow this year. Four BASIC training events and four ADVANCED training events will also be taking place in Italy for the first time this year. Events are also in the pipeline for AMG customers in Japan and Russia.

Details of event dates and other information may be found at www.mercedes-amg.com/driving-academy, or by calling the AMG Driving Academy on +49 (0)7144 302 575.










Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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