Mercedes Benz

Mercedes-Benz is determined to improve the image of the Smart brand and, as a consequence, a new lineup of models is already in works. Among the usual Fortwo versions, the future Smart portfolio will also include a more spacious and versatile Fortwo+2. The car will mark the premiere of a new design philosophy for the Daimler-owned carmaker;the shape of the new Fortwo+2 will be basically that of a van - an interesting 4-seat proposal sitting on an extended wheelbase. This experiment might or might not work, as it's far from being a conservative and elegant one, but rather controversial and bulky, if you ask us, at least for now. The car features rear-hinged doors for ease of access in the cabin or at least it will if we believe in the looks of the 1:4 scale model that has been recently photographed in a R&D lab of the Sindelfingen factory. To power the new model, Smart will use engines and transmissions co-developed by Daimler and Renault. The launch of the Smart Fortwo+2 is scheduled for 2012.

Source of the photo >> Auto Express


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

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

- Mobile access to information on the Zetros now possible
- Interesting, broad-ranging information via the iPhone app
- Free download available from the App Store

Stuttgart/Wörth, Germany, Jan 28, 2011 – The Mercedes-Benz Zetros is the versatile off-road truck for the most diverse applications. The Zetros fits the bill for the construction industry, exploration, fire-fighting and disaster control, combine outstanding off-road capabilities with high load capacity. Zetros incorporates a wealth of innovative technology and decades of off-road expertise from Mercedes-Benz. With its chassis concept offering exceptional off-road performance, the Zetros is well equipped to cope with even the most difficult off-road operations.


All important information on the vehicle can now be called up directly wherever it is needed on an iPhone. With the iPhone/iPad app, a broad range of news and background knowledge on the Mercedes-Benz Zetros is just a few simple clicks away. The Mercedes-Benz Zetros app also features many photographs presenting the Zetros in operation with diverse attachments and add-on items, plus a vivid film trailer.

The Mercedes-Benz Zetros app is available free of charge directly from the App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/de/app/mercedes-benz-zetros/id404586835?mt=8.

Further information about the Zetros is available online at www.mercedes-benz.de/zetros.

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

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

- Special bonus of 125 million euros for the Group’s worldwide workforce
- Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management: “Daimler’s success depends above all on its employees, who have the motivation and ability to deliver top performance every day. This special bonus is intended as recognition of that outstanding commitment – not least for the efforts and achievements of the recent past.”
- Performance participation bonus for 2010 of 3,150 euros for each entitled employee of Daimler AG who is paid according to collective bargaining agreements
- Dr. Zetsche: “Our employees made an important contribution to Daimler’s strong comeback last year, and fully deserve this performance participation bonus.”
- Erich Klemm, Chairman of the Group’s Employee Council: “125 years of the automobile would not have been possible without 125 years of people’s ideas, efforts and commitment to the development and construction of motor vehicles. So of course we are delighted with the anniversary bonus that honors many years of hard work by the employees. Daimler’s excellent performance last year is also due to the persistence and great efforts of our workforce. With the performance participation bonus for 2010, we have been able to agree on appropriate recognition.”

Stuttgart, Germany, Jan 28, 2011 – On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz registered a patent for his “vehicle with gas-engine drive” with the Berlin Patent Office – marking the birth of the modern automobile. 125 years later, the Daimler Group is celebrating this anniversary with the motto “125! years inventor of the automobile.” On the occasion of the anniversary, the Group is rewarding the special efforts made by the workforce in recent years and is paying out a total of 125 million euros as a special bonus to its employees all over the world. In addition, Daimler’s Management and Employee Council have decided on a performance participation bonus of 3,150 euros for each entitled employee of Daimler AG who is paid according to collective bargaining agreements.


Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “The invention of Daimler and Benz has changed the world for the better – and it will continue to do so. As the inventor of the automobile, we will be at the forefront of shaping future mobility: with inspiring products, strong brands, green technologies and innovations. Daimler’s success depends above all on its employees, who have the motivation and ability to deliver top performance every day. This special bonus is intended as recognition of that outstanding commitment – not least for the efforts and achievements of the recent past.”

Erich Klemm, Chairman of the Daimler Group’s Employee Council and World Employee Committee, stated: “125 years of the automobile would not have been possible without 125 years of people’s ideas, efforts and commitment to the development and construction of motor vehicles. So of course we are delighted with the special anniversary bonus that honors many years of hard work by the employees. In our view, it is especially positive that for the first time, a bonus is to be paid out to all of the Group’s employees all over the world. Daimler’s excellent performance last year is also due to the persistence and great efforts of our workforce. With the performance participation bonus for 2010, we have been able to agree on appropriate recognition.”

Up to 1,000 euros per employee

With the special anniversary bonus, each employee will receive a payment of up to 1,000 euros depending on his or her length of time at the Group. By grading the bonus, Daimler deliberately wants to show special recognition for the contributions made towards the Group’s success by those employees who have been at the Group for a long time. All employees who have been at Daimler for more than one year are eligible for a bonus, which will be paid out at the end of February. The Daimler Group employs a total workforce of approximately 260,000 people, approximately 165,000 of whom work in Germany.

Decision on performance participation bonus for 2010

The special efforts made by the workforce last year will be rewarded with a performance participation bonus of 3,150 euros per person to be paid out together with the special anniversary bonus. This has been agreed upon by the Management and the Employee Council for the year 2010.

Dr. Zetsche: “Our employees made an important contribution to Daimler’s strong comeback last year, and fully deserve this performance participation bonus.”

As in the past, the performance participation bonus is to be distributed to all entitled employees of Daimler AG in Germany who are paid according to collective bargaining agreements, and for the first time, also to apprentices and trainees, university students on dual courses, and doctoral students. As usual, the performance participation bonus will be paid out at the end of April.

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

In the latest issue of the Auto Motor und Sport magazine, journalists reveal the amazing Mercedes-Benz Aesthetics 2025 concept, which will probably be officially introduced at the special anniversary event due on Saturday, 29th January, at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, as we anticipated in a previous article. This avantgardist design exercise delivered by Gorden Wagener's team sheds a clear light onto the future design language that shall be adopted by the German carmaker. There's still little information on the Aesthetics 2025 concept, but stay tuned to Mercedes-Benz-Blog to find out more, as details become clear in the coming hours!


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

Check out further spy shots of the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz B-Klasse after hitting the jump button!






Source of the photos >> SecretNewCars

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

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Woking, United Kingdom, Jan 27, 2011

Trio of engineering directors announced ahead of 2011 season

Sometimes, it’s the smallest ripples that have the biggest effect. So a managerial realignment at the top of McLaren Racing won’t result in any radical change, but it’s anticipated that the reshuffle will have numerous long-term benefits. So what’s changed? For starters, Paddy Lowe graduates from his role as McLaren Racing’s engineering director to become McLaren Racing’s technical director.


Paddy will continue to lead our technical strategy in his own quietly authoritative way, but his new role will afford him even greater levels of focus as he will be spearheading new and innovative technical projects relating to our Formula 1 future.

He’ll also continue to represent the technical aspect of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes within FOTA and with the FIA.

Paddy’s broader remit means that Tim Goss, our chief engineer on MP4-25, will assume a larger role within the car development programme. As a result, Tim now becomes McLaren Racing’s director of engineering.

Underpinning them both is Neil Oatley, a McLaren veteran who joined the team in 1986, and continues in his role as director of design and development programmes. Neil will set and execute many of our top-level projects as well as working tirelessly to bring new projects and upgrades to our cars.

“It’s great for Neil and me to be joined by Tim as another director on the technical side,” explains Paddy. “With the three of us, we’ll not only be able to more efficiently spread our workload, but, through Tim & me, we’ll also share race attendance.

“It’s very important to have senior technical management at the racetrack, because that’s where you score the points, but, equally, if you spend all your time away then you risk overlooking some of the hard work that happens back at the factory.”

Tim’s new role demonstrates the huge amount of trust and respect he has earned since joining McLaren Racing back in 1990. It’s also a reflection of the way his role has steadily broadened over the past 12 months.

“I used to be jointly responsible for the direction of our cars with Pat Fry,” explains Tim. “Now I’ve taken on both roles – but there’s obviously been some shifting of responsibilities within the team as, clearly, I can’t do the work of two people.

“As director of engineering, my role will be to co-ordinate a small team of project engineers who are responsible for the specification, design and development of our cars.”

So while the surface ripples may seem minor, it’s the trio’s undercurrent of experience that will be brought to bear. Between them, they share a combined stint at McLaren totalling 62 years, and are cut from the very fabric from which the team is made.

And, despite their quiet humility and unrelenting focus on the future, between them they can lay claim to mightily impressive achievements.

“The first project I did at McLaren was the power-braking system in 1993,” remembers Paddy. “It was really exciting because we only had six races to invent it, deliver it and race it [before it was outlawed at the end of the season]. We developed it over three races, we raced it for three and won two of them – it was worth one second a lap. Very satisfying!

“Brake-steer, too. That was a great project. Steve Nichols came up with the initial idea, but I made it happen within the team, which was very rewarding. One second a lap just for having a very good idea. A great shame it was also later outlawed.

“I was also involved in the very beginnings of our simulator project. We initially didn’t have a great deal of support, some people were initially unconvinced of its benefits, but through Martin Whitmarsh’s support we developed it into a key performance tool.”

Both are also particularly proud of all the diverse systems and processes that were brought together on 2005’s MP4-20 – a race-winning monster that only just missed out on the world championship.

“MP4-20 was a very satisfying car,” says Paddy. “It was the first car with which, as a chief engineer, I felt we all really harnessed our team together. I felt real ownership of what I brought to that car. And it should have won the championship if only we’d made it more reliable because it won 10 grands prix that season!”

Tim adds: “Bringing the first seamless-shift gearbox to Formula 1 was a personal achievement. We’d spent several years working on some very innovative transmission projects – and eventually we settled on bringing a seamless-shift gearbox into Formula 1. And we were working to a particularly tight schedule to not only introduce a new type of technology and new control software, but also make sure it worked in a bulletproof way. Happily, it worked particularly well that season and gave us a big edge over the opposition.”

For Neil, his memories cross generations of the McLaren success story: “The first three McLaren cars I had responsibility for all, were fortunate enough to have won both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships [in 1989, ’90 and ’91],” he says. “Which coupled with the unprecedented success of the 1988 made it four doubles in a row for the team.

“Additionally, as we were able to operate as both chief designer and race engineer in those days, winning the drivers’ championship with Alain Prost (’89) and Ayrton Senna (’90) was an added hands-on bonus. With Ayrton, too, we won five grands prix in 1993 using an engine that perhaps wasn’t quite able to match the performance of the front-running cars; but we did it with great panache. It was a year of great technical freedom, before the regulations closed in and we were able to capitalise on that to its fullest extent. It was a very competitive year for Formula One racing.

“On a personal note, one of my highlights was to see Mika Hakkinen make a full recovery and come back faster than ever after his terrible accident in Adelaide in 1995. That gave everybody such incredible sense of purpose, and made everything so worthwhile once he was back in the cockpit again.”

"Another favourite memory was taking the year-old 17D car through the entire 2003 season, and keeping it in championship contention right down to the final race. That was a great example of making the best of a limited development resource and making sure all our efforts were transferred directly to the track."

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