"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?" That's the opening line of "Mercedes-Benz," a song most famously recorded by singer Janis Joplin in the early 1970s. The tune gently poked fun at materialism and our desire for the finer things in life. It's fitting that the renowned German marque figures prominently in the lyric. Mercedes-Benz has long been known for crafting vehicles that emphasize luxury and refinement. For many, its vehicles are sleek symbols of status, success and achievement.
In January of 1886, Karl Benz unveiled the world's first automobile, a three-wheeled vehicle dubbed the Benz Patent Motor Car. A few months later, Gottlieb Daimler and his chief engineer Wilhelm Maybach rolled out a four-wheeled vehicle powered by his Daimler engine. The first Mercedes was crafted in 1901, shortly after Daimler's death. Built by Maybach, the car was commissioned by Emil Jellinek, one of Daimler's primary distributors, and was ultimately named after Jellinek's daughter, Mercedes.
In 1926, the companies founded by Daimler and Benz merged to form Daimler-Benz AG, and the Mercedes-Benz brand was born. The company's insignia was a three-pointed star wreathed in a laurel; the star was dreamed up by Daimler years earlier, and its three points signified the fact that his engines were for use in vehicles that traveled land, air and sea.
Right from the start, the Mercedes-Benz name was synonymous with automotive excellence. One of the automaker's earliest vehicles, the 1931 Mercedes-Benz 170, distinguished itself as the world's first production car to offer a technology that was nothing short of extraordinary for the day: four-wheel independent suspension. The '30s and '40s saw Mercedes establishing itself as the brand of choice for car buyers seeking the ultimate in luxury, thanks to coveted cruisers like the 380 and 540K.
The 1950s witnessed the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing," a sports car that has been described as being the world's first supercar. With its dramatic styling and race-bred technology, the 300 SL reigns today as a classic coveted by collectors worldwide. The decade also saw Daimler-Benz making strides in the area of safety technology. The company's Mercedes-Benz 220 sedans were the first vehicles to incorporate its patented "crumple zone" body design, created to absorb impact in the event of a crash.
In 1963, the company cemented its reputation as the home of automotive luxury with the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 600. The elegant, luxurious sedan was also available as a limousine and featured an ahead-of-its-time air suspension system and a V8 engine that boasted 300 horsepower. The decade also saw the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. This full-size sedan went from zero to 60 in under seven seconds, distinguishing itself as the quickest luxury car is its day.
The 1970s saw the birth of the brand's storied S-Class line of vehicles, opulent sedans and coupes that coddled passengers with powerful engines and a long list of luxury features. The decade also saw Mercedes continuing on the cutting edge of safety technology, by being the first to offer antilock brakes in its vehicles.
Daimler-Benz's safety advancements continued in the 1980s. Its cars were the first to offer airbags and traction control. The manufacturer also raised the bar in terms of ride comfort and handling when it introduced multilink rear suspension. The technology debuted on the compact Mercedes-Benz 190 E, and it remains a vital component of the company's chassis engineering to this day.
Mercedes-Benz vehicles got an extra dose of power and performance in the 1990s, thanks to the manufacturer's partnership with AMG, a performance and tuning shop that was eventually purchased by the company to help produce high-performance versions of some of its vehicles. The first AMG model offered in the U.S. was the sporty C36 AMG in 1995; since then, Mercedes has gone on to offer an AMG-tuned version of almost all of its vehicles.
The company's current lineup is the most comprehensive in its history. With a variety of sedans, coupes, SUVs and roadsters filling Mercedes showrooms, it seems like the only thing missing is a pickup truck. Surely, the fact that Janis Joplin's song holds as much relevance today as it did more than three decades ago is a strong indicator that the brand's premier status is still very much intact.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
NEW MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS TO START AT $31,975
Mercedes-Benz announced today that the bold new 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class lineup will begin at $31,975 for the new C300 Sport Sedan (228 hp, 221 lb-ft. of torque). The all-new C300 Luxury Sedan (228 hp, 221 lb-ft. of torque) will be priced at $33,675, followed by the C350 Sport Sedan (268 hp, 258 lb-ft. of torque) at $37,275. All prices include a $775 destination fee.
Set to arrive in U.S. Mercedes-Benz dealerships on August 7, the next-generation 2008 C-Class sedan is larger than its highly successful predecessor, with a greater emphasis on driving dynamics, comfort and safety. The C300 Sport and Luxury models will be available with an all new 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission starting in September. An impressive list of standard equipment includes a power sunroof, eight-way power front seats with lumbar support, two-zone automatic climate control, 17-inch wheels, Bluetooth connectivity, a central controller, and an LCD display screen.
Set to arrive in U.S. Mercedes-Benz dealerships on August 7, the next-generation 2008 C-Class sedan is larger than its highly successful predecessor, with a greater emphasis on driving dynamics, comfort and safety. The C300 Sport and Luxury models will be available with an all new 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission starting in September. An impressive list of standard equipment includes a power sunroof, eight-way power front seats with lumbar support, two-zone automatic climate control, 17-inch wheels, Bluetooth connectivity, a central controller, and an LCD display screen.
MERCEDES-BENZ AT THE NORTH AMERICAN AUTO SHOW 2007
At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mercedes-Benz presented its broad range of all-wheel drive cars and SUVs on a 7,250 sq. ft. (570 sq. meter ice rink). This year's show celebrates two important centennials: the 100th anniversary of the Detroit Auto Show, as well as the 100th anniversary of the first all-wheel drive Mercedes automobile. Other highlights of the Mercedes-Benz press conference included the S-Class with the latest 4MATIC all-wheel drive technology and the V8-powered "Vision GL 420 BLUETEC" SUV concept vehicle, with which the luxury brand continues its initiative for clean diesels in the USA. As a high-point, the red carpet was rolled out for the striking Concept Ocean Drive – a convertible that revives the tradition of four dour luxury cars with an open top.
"A hundred years after introducing our first automobile with four-wheel drive, we offer one of the largest ranges of four-wheel drive passenger cars and SUVs on the market: 48 models in seven model series," explained Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of DaimlerChrysler AG and head of the Mercedes Car Group, at the kick-off of the Mercedes-Benz press conference. The new star of the four-wheel drive line-up from Stuttgart is the S-Class 4MATIC, the first model to be equipped with the high-tech fourth generation of the Mercedes-Benz four-wheel drive system. The new 4MATIC combines agility, comfort and enhanced traction with considerably reduced fuel consumption which is roughly (0.1 gallons / 0.4 liters) more than that of a comparable model with rear-wheel drive. This is partly due to a significant reduction of the model's additional weight, which ranges between merely 145 to 154 lbs. (66-70 kg.), depending on the type of engine. That's approximately 77 lbs. (35 kg.) less than its predecessor or competing systems.
Mercedes-Benz four-wheel drive models also include the GL-Class, which was introduced last year and has established itself in the USA as one of the three best-sellers in the luxury full-size SUV segment. The leading U.S. automobile magazine, "Motor Trend," named it the "SUV of the Year 2007."
"A hundred years after introducing our first automobile with four-wheel drive, we offer one of the largest ranges of four-wheel drive passenger cars and SUVs on the market: 48 models in seven model series," explained Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of DaimlerChrysler AG and head of the Mercedes Car Group, at the kick-off of the Mercedes-Benz press conference. The new star of the four-wheel drive line-up from Stuttgart is the S-Class 4MATIC, the first model to be equipped with the high-tech fourth generation of the Mercedes-Benz four-wheel drive system. The new 4MATIC combines agility, comfort and enhanced traction with considerably reduced fuel consumption which is roughly (0.1 gallons / 0.4 liters) more than that of a comparable model with rear-wheel drive. This is partly due to a significant reduction of the model's additional weight, which ranges between merely 145 to 154 lbs. (66-70 kg.), depending on the type of engine. That's approximately 77 lbs. (35 kg.) less than its predecessor or competing systems.
Mercedes-Benz four-wheel drive models also include the GL-Class, which was introduced last year and has established itself in the USA as one of the three best-sellers in the luxury full-size SUV segment. The leading U.S. automobile magazine, "Motor Trend," named it the "SUV of the Year 2007."
MERCEDES-BENZ RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR WITH RECORD SALES
Sales of 28,115 boosted Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) to its 13th year of sales increases and the highest annual volume in its history. MBUSA sold 248,080 vehicles in 2006, a 10.5 percent increase over the 224,421 units sold in 2005.
The company introduced six new SUV models in 2006, including the highly acclaimed GL-Class - the first European seven-passenger SUV which was recently voted Motor Trend's SUV of the Year - and diesel versions of its ML-Class, R-Class and GL-Class, offering higher gas mileage to luxury SUV buyers. The Mercedes-Benz SUVs were so well received that the company saw a 67.7 percent jump in sales of its light trucks as a group (ML-, R-, G-, and GL-Classes) compared to 2005 (69,163 vs. 41,252).
Sales at the high-end were equally impressive. As a group, the S-, SL- and CL-Classes rose by 48.2 percent compared to last year (40,660 vs. 27,436), boosted by the introduction of the flagship S-Class in February. Sales of the S-Class model line nearly doubled in 2006 with a 92.6 percent increase.
Sales of vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz diesel portfolio – both CDI and BLUETEC models - grew from 4,299 units in 2005 to 6,941 units in 2006, posting a 61.5 percent increase. Known for being a leader in diesel innovation and engineering, Mercedes-Benz expanded its diesel offerings in the fourth quarter of 2006 to include SUVs (ML-Class CDI, R-Class CDI, and GL-Class CDI), and also introduced the cleanest diesel technology available in a passenger car through the E320 BLUETEC. The company plans to expand its BLUETEC range to bring 50-state diesels to the U.S. market in 2008.
The company introduced six new SUV models in 2006, including the highly acclaimed GL-Class - the first European seven-passenger SUV which was recently voted Motor Trend's SUV of the Year - and diesel versions of its ML-Class, R-Class and GL-Class, offering higher gas mileage to luxury SUV buyers. The Mercedes-Benz SUVs were so well received that the company saw a 67.7 percent jump in sales of its light trucks as a group (ML-, R-, G-, and GL-Classes) compared to 2005 (69,163 vs. 41,252).
Sales at the high-end were equally impressive. As a group, the S-, SL- and CL-Classes rose by 48.2 percent compared to last year (40,660 vs. 27,436), boosted by the introduction of the flagship S-Class in February. Sales of the S-Class model line nearly doubled in 2006 with a 92.6 percent increase.
Sales of vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz diesel portfolio – both CDI and BLUETEC models - grew from 4,299 units in 2005 to 6,941 units in 2006, posting a 61.5 percent increase. Known for being a leader in diesel innovation and engineering, Mercedes-Benz expanded its diesel offerings in the fourth quarter of 2006 to include SUVs (ML-Class CDI, R-Class CDI, and GL-Class CDI), and also introduced the cleanest diesel technology available in a passenger car through the E320 BLUETEC. The company plans to expand its BLUETEC range to bring 50-state diesels to the U.S. market in 2008.
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