Five million. By any measure, whether it be sales, currency or units produced, it’s a significant number. All the more so when you’re talking about Mercedes transmission units, which are not a mere collection of casings, forks and gears. The precision work required to produce components that need to withstand hundred of pounds of torque and yet last decades means that quality is a foremost concern.
Recognized as a competence center in the Mercedes production network, the Gaggenau plant is tasked with producing three types of manual transmissions. The first is for the A- and B-Class cars that leave the assembly line in Rastatt and Kecskemet in Hungary. The are the FSG type transmissions. Also produced in Gaggenau are the TSG type transmissions, which can be found in the Vito and Sprinter vans. Finally, type NSG transmissions are shipped from here to the assembly lines at Bremen and Sindelfingen, which produce the C- and E-Class.
Gaggenau has been producing light transmissions since 1981. Intially, it produced the G-series transmissions. This was the plant’s product until 2003, when newer design transmissions were phased in, such as the NSG and FSG. Then in 2008, TSG type transmissions destined forLudwigsfelde, Dusseldorf and Vitoria in Spain were added to the product mix.
The CLS Shooting Brake has only been recently released and already, premium Mercedes tuner Brabus has released its version. In its most powerful version, Brabus has seen to upgrade the 5.5 liter's output to almost 620 horsepower with a corresponding bump in torque to 737 foot-pounds. This was primarily done with a revised ECU and charge air cooler. Consequently, maximum velocity in this speed-delimited car is 320 km/hr or almost 200 miles per hour. To complement this performance, Brabus has partnered with Bilstein in developing a suspension kit that offers revised rates to take advantage of the higher engine output.
True to form, Brabus has equipped the CLS Shooting Brake with its 20-inch monoblock wheels to complement the Brabus body kit. Consisting of a revised front apron, side skirts and front spoiler, the kit also adds integrated daytime running lights in front and entrance lights on the skirts. At the back, distinctive Brabus tailpipes differentiate it from the stock Shooting Brake as it blasts past other cars.
Brabus though has not limited its tuning options to the top-of-the-line shooting brake. Revised ECUs are also available for the diesel models, and these are easily programmable from an authorized dealer. Of course, other Brabus appointments like Alcantara trim, revised shifters, pedal pads and even gauge clusters are available, whatever Shooting Brake you have in mind. As the leading tuner for all things Mercedes, Brabus has you covered.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.