I had been hoping that the 2014 S-Class would show up at the LA Auto Show this week but we will have to settle for the SLS AMG Black Series and the Ener-G Force concept vehicle. It’s hard to call that settling! Look at those wild cars!
It seems the all work and no play adage has influenced mighty Daimler AG too. Recognizing that a balance between work and an employee's life beyond the work impacts on productivity as a whole, Daimler commissioned a study from the department of Occupational and Organizational Psychology at the University of Heidelberg to assess and take advantage of work-life balance opportunities for the company.
According to Wilfried Porth, Management Board Member for Human Resources and Labor Relations Director: “Our world of work is facing fundamental changes. More and more employees, both men and women, want fulfillment in their careers while also being able to take care of their children or other dependents. Daimler aims to actively respond to and manage these challenges at our company.”
To this end, Erich Klemm, Chairman of Daimler AG’s General Works Council says that “We have already opened up good work-life balance opportunities for employees through trailblazing company agreements. We want to continue in this direction with a view to the inclusion of all employee groups. Moreover, the leadership culture must be further developed on a sustained basis in order to ensure that employees can make use of the available possibilities with the active support of management."
This undertaking by the company is not the result of some sudden revelation from the head honchos of Daimler. Back in 2009, management had realized the fundamental importance of Life Balance for the performance of the workforce, and Daimler decided then to align its HR strategy with the latest scientific findings, agreeing to a long-term collaboration with the University of Heidelberg.
Seen at the recently concluded SEMA show was this wild-looking Mercedes-AMG G55, as interpreted by Japanese tuner Wald International. Featuring a ventilated hood, a new front grille, revised headlights, LED daytime running lights, a larger front bumper, and wider wheel arches, the brawny G55 was then given a purple-hued exterior. Thankfully, it's only a wrap, so more conservative aficionados won't have to moan about Wald destroying the car's OEM finish. Predictably, a new set of alloy wheels was installed by Wald.
The result is a weirdly aggressive-looking G-Class that looks just about ready to transform into an ally of Optimus Prime. As a show vehicle, it certainly is eye-catching and it will appeal to certain segments of the buying public. But the G-Class's decades-old staying power comes from its rugged dependability and Old World looks. However, seeing new interpretations is always refreshing, and radical looks are needed if one is to be noticed in an extravaganza like SEMA.
Operators and contractors in the construction sector can look forward to the launch of the Mercedes-Benz Arocs, a new line of trucks and tractors that should meet a wide array of needs. With 16 different output variants—from 238 horsepower all the way through to 625 horsepower—and configurations of 2 to 4 axles, the Arocs range is designed to diversify.
Aside from providing a range suitable for different applications, the Arocs are also designed to meet Euro VI emissions standards, thanks in part to the BlueTec 6 engines. The trucks also come with PowerShift 3 as a standard feature—a first for Mercedes-Benz for its construction vehicles.
The Arocs will come with two new product groups. There’s the Loader, which features reduced kerb weight for tractor units that are payload-optimized and also for concrete mixers. It’s perfect for weight-sensitive operations. Then there’s the Grounder, which are meant to handle extreme conditions. With uncompromising performance even under the toughest tasks, the Grounder is sure to be a hit on construction sites all over the world.
The Mercedes-Benz Arocs is set to debut at the Bauma trade fair in April next year.
Mercedes-Benz has always been a pioneer in introducing vehicle safety systems on passenger cars, with the marriage of active and passive systems occurring about 10 years ago with what Mercedes called the PRE-SAFE system.
As everyone is aware, the march of technology has been very rapid, and the upcoming systems in the replacement S-Class will seem like the stuff of science fiction if a person from the 1960s were reading about it. With the S-Class’ premiere next year, Mercedes-Benz will be introducing technologies like DISTRONIC PLUS, BAS PLUS, Cross-Traffic Assist, PRE-SAFE PLUS, Night View Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST and PRE-SAFE PLUS.
As Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, the Daimler Board Member for Group Research and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Development explains, “The intelligent assistance systems of the future will be able to analyse complex situations and recognise potential dangers out on the road with the aid of improved environment sensor systems even more accurately than today. Figuratively speaking, the next S-Class won’t just have eyes at the front; it will have 360-degree all-round vision.”
Vital in this regard will be the networking of all systems, not just in the car itself but with others cars as well. Eventually, embedded systems in road networks will also form part of the sensor suite that will enhance the capabilities of connected cars. By then, Mercedes-Benz will already be researching even newer technologies to improve vehicle and road safety.
We all know the adage, if you have to ask, you can't afford it. It's something that the majority of Mercedes owners may not really worry about. But Mercedes-AMG fans do know that the in-house tuner's products have a hefty premium. So, if the base GL-Class costs around $60,000 dollars, well, computing twice that amount is a no brainer.
That's a hefty chunk of money, and a few would-be buyers would probably think twice about shelling out that amount. But the AMG badge doesn't go on a Mercedes product without some solid engineering behind it. In the GL's case, it's primarily the 550 horsepower powertrain coupled to a seven-speed DCT and all-wheel drive. Mercedes though still has to finalize details like rated towing capacity, mileage, trim level and other U.S.-specific details before finalizing the price. But with an idea of what this svelte-looking brute will cost, you can start making arrangements with your banker.
What an exciting end to a fantastic season! Congratulations to Button for taking the race! Vettel and Red Bull for taking the championships! Mercedes for signing up exciting new drivers! CBS for aquiring the TV rights for next year!Michael Schumacher for a second retirement! Next year would be a great time to start watching Formula 1 if you are not already a fan.
Here are some pictures from the race in Austin. Thanks for sharing Claude!
The latest news coming out of Mercedes is that the B-Class Electric Drive will be made available to the North American market before its sees dealer showrooms in Europe. Slated to be released in 2014, this variant will be classified as the W242, as opposed to W246 from which it was originally derived. The latest prototypes have been observed with revised front spoilers and side skirts, compared to what was presented at the 2012 Paris launch.
The W242 B-Class Electric Drive will be using the battery off the Tesla S, which will be mounted in the floor space in front of the rear axle. Producing 135 horsepower, the electric motor also offers almost 230 lb ft. of torque. Although it may seem paltry, remember that electric motors offer their full torque output virtually from 0 rpm, so this should give the driver perky enough performance for the urban commute. Actually, since Mercedes claims a 200 km range, the B-Class Electric Drive can even range further than what we've seen from other electrics so far.
Anybody who owns a Mercedes sedan can relate with the sense of luxury that ensconces you as soon as you settle yourself in the interior. For those who can't get enough of Mercedes design, there is of course the Mercedes and Formitalia partnership which has been offering Mercedes-designed chairs, lounges and tables.
Apparently though, this is not enough for some individuals, as Mercedes has collaborated with South African designer Katie Thompson in coming up with an SL-themed furniture collection. Having established herself as an artist who recycles different objects to be repurposed into furniture, Thompson set her sights on turning a Mercedes SL's interior into office-worthy furnishings. For example, the SL's dashboard was turned into a desk, where the gauge cluster has been made into a magnetized pad and world clock, the air vents becoming business card holders, while the ignition module now houses a USB charger.
Perhaps one of the most appealing conversions has been the use of the SL's seat into an office chair. The form-fitting seat of the SL has basically been given a stand, with all the individual adjustments seemingly intact. And with the plush Nappa leather holding you in place, the hard-working executive is reminded of the rewards of his, or her, labor.
The perfect presents for the Mercedes-Benz enthusiast in your life are just a click away! Visit the Mercedes-Benz Accessories site for hundreds of gifts from keychains to cashmere! Free Shipping today!
In case you are shopping for me, I have had my eye on this cute tote bag and t-shirt!
If you've still got any doubt that the Mercedes SLS AMG is a supercar, if not an exotic, then take a look at this video of Mercedes-AMG's hellion matched up against a Ferrari 458. On paper, the engines of the two cars are pretty much even, both being highly-tuned V8s, and being a couple of horsepower shy of 565 stallions. However, the stats will show that the Ferrari is about 250 pounds lighter than the SLS AMG. That's the equivalent of one or two passengers.
Which makes it a bit of a surprise why the Ferrari doesn't get a big jump on the SLS on the acceleration runs. Torque and gearing would play a part. As would the supposedly better drivetrain efficiency of the SLS, which enables it to put out more rear-wheel horsepower to the driven wheels. So is Ferrari overstating the 458′s output? Or is AMG being coy about what its engine really makes?
Slowing its rise only when it reaches 260 kilometers per hour, this Carlsson-tuned CLS 63 AMG shows the potential of Mercedes’ a tuned twin turbo V8. Known as the type M157, this engine is a refinement by AMG of what was originally the M278 engine developed for the S-Class. After extensive modification by AMG, this engine got the M157 designation.
When an outside tuner like Carlsson is able to extract 640 horsepower from an engine already tuned by AMG to 560 hp, one wonders about the degree of conservatism that the factory tuners built into their work.
Seeing the into to the video of how the CK63 RS absolutely lays waste to its tires gives you an indication of how much power is on tap. Inside the car, there is almost no sense of the drama taking place outside and in the engine room, but the way the speedometer walks up the speedometer gives a pretty clear indication of the forces that occupants will undergo.
It’s the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix, the last stop of the current Formula One season. As it is the end of another exciting F1 year, this race will also likely herald the end of an era—the Michael Schumacher era, in the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team. It will be the 7-time champion's final race for the team, as Lewis Hamilton has been signed for next year to run alongside Nico Rosberg.
Calling Michael's brief, and rather uneventful, 3-year stint with the Mercedes team an 'era' might be a tad premature, but considering what he brought to the team, he still had a definite impact in the identity and visibility for Mercedes AMG Petronas.
Everyone was just delighted when Schumacher made the podium this year at the European Grand Prix, the first since he came out of retirement. The finish also made him the oldest driver to get one in F1. He was 43 years and 173 days old at the time. He was also able to achieve his 77th fastest lap for his career, back in July, and also raced in his 300th GP—becoming only the second driver to get to 300, the other being former Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello.
"Interlagos is the right place to round off my career because so much of the fascination of Formula One is rooted there," Schumacher said, adding that it's the circuit that brings back memories of Ayrton Senna.
"I have had fantastic years in Formula One and a lot of support from fans around the world, and I wish to particularly thank them for that. Of course, I would be happiest if I could say goodbye with a strong race, and I am sure we will be doing everything we can to make it happen."
Rosberg added that he hopes for a positive end to the team's season, with a good showing from practice to qualifying to the race proper. He stressed the importance of learning from the race and from the season to make next year more competitive.
Rosberg also noted the farewell race for Schumacher. "I wish him all the best for the future and it was a great experience for me to race with and against him," he said.
6D Vision, a new feature that’s set to debut on the upcoming Mercedes-Benz S-Class, has just been given the Karl Heinz Beckurts Prize, which is given to scientific and technical achievements that are deemed to be driving forces in Germany when it comes to innovation.. Specifically, the award will go to the men in Daimler’s research team who developed this safety innovation: Dr. Uwe Franke, Dr. Stefan Gehrig, and Dr. Clemens Rabe.
With the 6D Vision system that’s part of the Intelligent Drive program, road safety is enhanced because the technology can easily identify the various traffic environments as well as the hazards within them, thereby considerably helping reduce the occurrence of accidents.
“In future, all our fully networked and intelligent driver assistance systems will come under the name of Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive," said Daimler BoardMember for Management and also part of the Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, Professor Thomas Weber. "Since ’6D Vision’ can make a significant contribution towards reducing traffic accidents, we intend to make the technology accessible to other manufacturers.
"This means that there will continue to be a little piece of Mercedes-Benz in every car.”
The technology figures to be a key part of navigating through complex traffic environments, especially those wherein the driver’s visibility is limited, like in intersections. 6D Vision can pinpoint hazards and other factors easily and quickly. It can even identify moving targets like other vehicles in a short span of time and calculate the movement and trajectories of these objects, allowing the vehicle’s other safety systems to kick in and prevent any accident.
The 6D Vision system was also nominated for the German Future Prize in 2011.
The Surround View Camera is a part of the P44 Parking Assistance Package available in the 2013 GL-Class. It was delayed at launch but is now starting to arrive on the GL-Class vehicles!
From the Mercedes-Benz website: This innovative driver-assistance system uses four cameras whose live images are automatically combined into a single “overhead” view that’s displayed on the in-dash screen during low-speed maneuvers. To help you better negotiate tight spaces, the system shows an area approximately 3 feet in all four directions around your GL-Class, with the image automatically adapted to the selected gear. Active parking guidelines on the screen help you back into a parking space, while a special rear view zoom mode helps you line up the optional trailer hitch of your GL-Class with your trailer. You can also select the images of each camera individually through the COMAND system controller.
I was able to drive a GL450 with this option for the first time this week. It would certainly be useful in tight spots and in areas with hazards such as kids and pets! I would need a little more time with it really appreciate everything that it can do!
The usual rearview camera is used along with three additional cameras. One under the star in the grill and one under each sideview mirror.
Here are some images from the screen as I cruised around the lot and parked in a few spots. The cameras stay active up to 20 miles per hour!
We've all seen the photos and read the specs about how the SLS Black Series uses its 630 horsepower V8 to good effect. Such as launching from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds, or hitting a top speed of 315 kilometers per hour. As you and I well know, most of us can only dream of riding in such a car, much less own one. So, we just have to content ourselves with what we can grab online.
Mercedes released a video of the SLS Black Series a couple of days ago, showing it in its element. Being the longish car that it is, the SLS is supremely suited to the roads shown in the video, which have wide sweeping corners and long straights. All the better test the fierce acceleration coming out of the turns. And of course, the wide open road and absence of traffic leaves little to the imagination of what one can do with such a beast and a foot to the floor. Sigh.
The many readers of Germany’s "Auto Zeitung" (which translates to Automobile Newspaper) magazine must love Mercedes-Benz, as they voted the SLS AMG Roadster as the best cabriolet and the SLS AMG Coupe as the best super sports car in the magazine’s polls. With those two citations in the bag, Mercedes-Benz was also awarded the Quality Trophy 2012 by the magazine.
Over 110,000 readers voted on the poll, which was being held for the 25th year. The poll’s aim is to rank the year’s top cars. Last year, the two aforementioned cars also took home the victories in their respective categories.
Auto Zeitung partners with the Association for Technical Inspection (Gesellschaft für Technische berwachung or GTU) to present the Quality Trophy award, which recognizes the best in terms of quality as well as dependability. It is based on technical inspections conducted by the GTU and on reader responses sent to the Cologne-based magazine’s quality and service report.
Around the second half of next year, Mercedes-Benz will be launching the replacement for its flagship line, the type W222 S-Class. As we have come to expect, this premiere vehicle will feature a slew of new technologies, like LED lighting for the headlights (as well as all other lights), a night vision system, pedestrian awareness systems and a stereo camera that provides, among other things, input for control of the active suspension system.
All nice and welcome, but the heart of any car is the powerplant, and once again, Mercedes engineers don't disappoint. As expected, we will have an S600, with S63 and S65 AMG versions. And at the other end of the scale, there is the 4-cylinder M274 that will power the S300 BlueEFFICIENCY with its 250 horsepower output.
Executives will appreciate the quietness and efficiency of the new S-Class hybrids, which, in S500 HYBRID guise, will feature a V6 with plug-in capability. So apart from regenerative braking technology, the hybrid S-Class can also be charged from an ordinary charging outlet. On its electric motor alone, the S500 HYBRID will have a range of 50 kilometers. As a result, urban dwellers can take comfort in contributing negligible emissions from their decidedly ostentatious luxury rides.
Powering the A220 CDI Sport is a tuned version of the Type OM651 engine. With its modified exhaust and 2.1 liter displacement, this diesel puts out 170 horsepower, with a corresponding 260 ft-lbs. of torque. Coupled to the engine is a 7-speed DCT.Complementing this perky diesel are finishing touches that set the CDI Sport apart, like 18-inch AMG wheels, red-painted calipers, AMG-tuned suspension and a distinctive perforated. Inside, you’ll find sport seats (with contrasting stitching), a distinctive gauge cluster, sporty red harnesses and carbon fiber trim.
Frugal yet sporty. Sounds like an enticing combination. But not until you learn that the price of admission for this A-Class is 37,000 Euros.
