Paul Tan's Automotive News » Mercedes Benz

Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé, yours for RM781,888

Chris Ng — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:15:16 +0000

There is some serious power to be had in here. This is the just-launched Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé and it has a massive 6.3 litre V8 engine armed with the AMG Performance package that produces 487 hp and 600 Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 280 km/h.

Since it inherits the SLS AMG’s bag of tricks, the C 63 AMG’s engine has forged pistons, connecting rods and lightweight crankshafts that shave three kilograms in weight. To visually differentiate the stock 6.3 litre V8 (this standard engine has 30 hp less without the AMG Performance pack), the engine features a variable intake manifold in titanium grey.

The AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed is tasked with transmission duties. The gearbox uses a compact, wet start-off clutch rather than relying on a standard torque converter.

There are four settings for the transmission. ‘C’, for Controlled Efficiency, provides earlier upshifts, lowest possible engine speed and a softer accelerator pedal. Three other settings come after ‘C’, they are ‘S’, ‘S+’ and ‘M’. Modes ‘S+’ and ‘M’ shifts gears in just 100 milliseconds. Race Start mode lets the driver squeeze out maximum acceleration.

The C 63 AMG rides on specifically designed three-link front suspension, reinforced multi-link independent rear suspension and a wider track all around. The list continues with a stiffer elastokinematics, the autonomous axle kinematics with negative all-round camber and stabilisers with a larger cross-section for better responsiveness and greater lateral acceleration. Spring and damper rates have been modified to optimise ride comfort without culling responsive handling characteristics.

The driver can also influence handling with the three-stage ESP – ESP On, ESP Off or ESP Sport Handling Mode. Stopping power comes from an AMG high-performance braking system that consist of internally ventilated and perforated brake discs on all wheels, highlighted by red painted brake calipers all round.

The Coupé gets all of AMG’s styling cues. The front section is made visually sharper with the AMG front apron that includes lower cross-struts finished in high-gloss black and LED daytime driving lamps specially created for AMG. Also in front is the new wing-shaped grille and powerdomes on the aluminium bonnet.

As for the rear, the C 63 gets an AMG rear apron complete with a black diffuser and three diffuser fins. Flanking those are a pair of chromed twin tailpipes that make up the AMG sports exhaust system.

Inside, the Coupé shares the CLS 63 AMG’s parts such as the instrument panel with integrated screen, as well as the AMG Performance steering wheel, which features nappa leather and Alcantara grip areas. AMG sport seats can also be found inside.

Adding to the long list are things from the AMG Performance Studio catalog. They include the AMG Exterior Carbon Fibre package, AMG rear axle differential lock, AMG trim elements in carbon fibre/high-gloss black piano lacquer and AMG floor mats.

Mercedes-Benz also bestowed the C 63 with COMAND Online that enables Internet browsing when the car is stationary. COMAND also comes with sat-nav that shows four routes with one being the economical route. It also allows you to record and repeat the route that the car has travelled. These destinations can then be saved and imported via an SD card.

In terms of safety, the C 63 comes standard with seven airbags, belt tensioners and belt-force limiters for all seats. It also has Attention Assist that detects drowsiness, ABS, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, ESP, headlamp assist, Intelligent Light System ILS, Parktronic including Parking Guidance, Pre-Safe, Lane Keeping Assist, cruise control with Speedtronic variable speed limiter and blind spot assist.

It is safe to say that this coupe comes armed to the teeth with parts from the AMG catalog. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is asking RM781,888 (on-the-road without insurance) for it. You can also request for a C 63 without the AMG Performance package.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes-Benz Citan – Kangoo with a three-pointed star

Danny Tan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:16:19 +0000

This is the Mercedes-Benz Citan van that will debut at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover in September. The Citan – coined from the words ‘city’ and ‘titan’ – is an urban delivery van that succeeds the discontinued Vaneo line. In MB’s van lineup, this is the younger brother of the Vito and Sprinter.

The Citan is based on the Renault Kangoo, which makes sense. The Kangoo is one of Europe’s leading small vans, and the duo will take on usual segment suspects such as the Volkswagen Caddy, Citroën Berlingo and Fiat Doblo.

By the way, Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler has an ongoing partnership with Renault-Nissan that will also see Renault provide small car engines to Mercedes/Smart, in exchange for Merc powerplants for Nissan’s Infiniti. Both parties will co-develop the next-gen smart fortwo/Renault Twingo and are already jointly building engines in the US.

The Citan will be available in three different lengths: 3.94 m, 4.32 m and 4.71 m. There will also be a five-seat Citan Mixto with folding rear seat bench, wire mesh partition separating the load compartment, and two sliding doors. The Mixto is based on the longest body. The third basic design is the Citan crewbus, also a five-seater based on the long wheelbase van.

There are also three different weights ranging up to a maximum permissible gross vehicle weight of 2,200 kg. As an alternative to the standard tail doors, is also offering a wide-opening tailgate. Optional roof rails boost flexibility as does the optional ladder hatch for the panel van to facilitate the transportation of extra-long items.

Three turbodiesels (from 75 to 110 hp) and a 115 hp supercharged petrol engine are the engine choices. All oil burners have a particulate filter as standard, while the petrol comes with a BlueEfficiency package as standard – it includes start/stop, battery and generator management and low rolling resistance tyres. Five and six-speed transmissions send power to the front wheels.

Economy is a major factor in such vehicles, and the Citan has long service intervals of up to 40,000 km or two years.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupé to debut in Beijing

Anthony Lim — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:17:55 +0000

Another Beijing debutant comes in the form of Mercedes-Benz’s Concept Style Coupé. The four-door coupé study is, as the company says, nonconformist, provocative and masculine – it features frameless side windows, and has no B-pillar.

The car, finished in an Alubeam exterior shade, is powered by a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit with direct injection, good for 211 hp. The mill is combined with a 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission and a 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.

Plenty of novel cues, aside from that of the exterior lines, and this includes a striking headlamp design featuring innovative indicators. In standby mode, the headlamps shine red, like – as MB puts it – the wary, intimidating eyes of a predatory animal. As for the indicators, individual points of light light up in succession, rather like a piano keyboard.

The Concept Style Coupé – which rides on 21-inch five-spoke turbine design wheels – seats four, with integral seats and integrated head restraints, the last already seen in the Sports version of the new A-Class. There’s an electroplated insert in the upper part of the seat, which is illuminated and adds to the impression of lightness.

The rest of the light grey and anthracite-coloured cabin features a mix of materials and lines. The instrument panel is upholstered in white nubuck leather, contrasting with the anthracite-coloured Alcantara on the upper section of the panel, and the steering wheel is wrapped with suede leather.

Neon green piping and topstitching, which appear on the instrument panel, steering wheel, seat and door centre panels, provides further contrast. The air vents, like that on the Concept A-Class, are backlit and change colour according to the temperature.

When cool, fresh air is being brought into the car, they are blue, but light up in red when the airflow is warm. At a mid-range temperature setting, the vents light up in fluorescent yellow, matching the colour of the piping perfectly.

Meanwhile, the chrome trim elements and control panels are done in a black anodised finish, as seen on top-of-the-range limited Sports Edition chronograph watches, and black anodised aluminium adorns the surfaces around the HMI control panel.

Elsewhere, there’s a carbon-fibre trim panel spanning the full width of the dashboard fascia, and the centre console flows back in a long, continuous wave from the instrument panel, with an intricately designed fan module for the two rear seats neatly embedded in it.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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F1: Nico Rosberg wins the Chinese GP, his maiden victory and Mercedes’ first triumph since 1955!

Danny Tan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 02:48:47 +0000

Nico Rosberg’s first win was always likely to be at the Chinese GP. The young German has led the race in Shanghai in recent years, only to fail to take the win. He showed that he had something extra in qualifying, where his fastest lap was half a second faster than the next man. Yesterday, he sealed the deal, and claimed his maiden win with a margin of 20.6 seconds!

Nico’s commanding Shanghai triumph is also Mercedes-Benz’ first as a works team since Fangio won the 1955 Italian GP, so it’s double joy for the team, which of course is sponsored by Petronas. Lots of screen time for the national oil company as a result.

McLaren’s two ex-world champs Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton completed the podium, while Red Bull drivers Mark Webber and Seb Vettel had to settle for fourth and fifth. The other team with two cars in the points were Williams – Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado finished seventh and eight, respectively. Lotus’ Romain Grosjean will be extremely happy with his sixth place, since he had completed all of five race laps before Shanghai.

The final two points paying positions were taken by Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari and Kamui Kobayashi in the Ferrari-powered Sauber. The kamikaze Japanese driver made a brave late move on teammate and Sepang hero Sergio Perez for the final point.

Mercedes AMG Petronas’ other driver didn’t have a good race. Living legend Michael Schumacher started alongside Rosberg on the front row after Hamilton took a grid penalty, but the team botched Schumi’s first pit stop. His rear wheel was incorrectly fitted, and he was the only man to DNF in China. The team were also fined €5,000 for the unsafe release.

It was a race dominated by tyre strategy, but Rosberg proved that Mercedes has resolved its rubber eating issues – a simple two-stop strategy and good pace kept him way ahead of the crazy battles behind.

Further back, Caterham’s Vitaly Petrov finished ahead of the rookie team drivers in 18th. Heikki Kovalainen was classified as last. Looks like Caterham is still nowhere near the midfield as targeted – while they’ve improved, so have others.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG: 650 hp and 1,000 Nm

Chris Ng — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:10:55 +0000

The power of the new Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG is quite overwhelming. It originates from a 6.0 litre V12 biturbo (or twin turbo if you prefer), which is not exactly new. It is a heavily revised version of the M 275, earning the new name of M 279.

Or simply put, this engine has added fastness – lots of it. New to the engine are the exhaust gas turbochargers with an increased spiral cross-section, manifolds and wastegate ducts. Multi-spark ignition with 12 double ignition coils makes the feel of the engine smooth. The exhaust escapes the car through optimised catalytic converters and the new AMG sports exhaust that weighs 3.2 kg lighter than the old one.

Partnering the engine is the AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-tronic, a first for AMG. Wider gear ratios, a new fuel economy torque convertor, reduced friction bearings and transmission-oil thermal management improves the gearbox’s efficiency.

The numbers? 630 hp with 1,000 Nm of twist, 0-100 km/h is done in 4.0 seconds and an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h. Environmentalists will be happy to know that the SL 65 AMG expels a small 270g/km of CO2 and has a fuel consumption of 24.4 mpg, or about 9.6 litre/100km.

There’s also less fat in the new SL 65 AMG. Intelligent lightweight construction, all-aluminium bodyshell and plenty of carbon fibre brings the weight down to just 1950 kg, which is 170 kg lighter if you’re comparing the new with the old.

The suspension system also makes use if its lightness. Steering knuckles, spring links of the 4-link front suspension and nearly all of the multi-link independent rear suspension is made of aluminium. To really give the car more handling, there is more negative camber on both axles with a revised elastokinematics. The SL 65 AMG also comes standard with AMG’s Active Body Control, or ABC for short.

There are only two suspension settings to choose from, Sport and Comfort. I think you can take a guess on what those two modes do to the driving dynamics of the car.

In spite of the powerful figures and the aggressive styling of the car, it is still a Mercedes-Benz and it still comes with a host of uber luxury features.

Like the vario-roof for example. Not only does it change from roadster to coupe in under 20 seconds, the buyer also have the option to get the vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL that switches from light to dark at a push of a button.

As for the interior, the car comes with AMG sport seats in single or two-tone nappa leather with the AMG pattern. AMG emblems are embossed on the seat’s backrests as well. Also making its way from the SLS AMG are the four jet engine- styled air vents, E-SELECT LEVER and AMG DRIVE UNIT.

The standard equipment list is long: Bang & Olufsen BeoSound, AIRSCARF, COMAND Online, MAGIC VISION CONTROL, auto pop-up roll-over bars for driver and front passenger and the list goes on.

The options’ list comes from the AMG Performance Studio, which means you can expect plenty more AMG anagrams that can be placed all over the car. AMG Exterior Carbon package, AMG Performance steering wheel and the AMG Performance Media are just some of the highlights.

Price for the SL 65 AMG starts at around 236,334 euros and by the time it makes it way here will push the numbers past a RM1,000,000. Out of reach for a good majority of Malaysians; at least drooling over the pictures is free.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team visits MBM’s Pekan plant

Chris Ng — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:00:24 +0000

It has only been two days since the race in Melbourne ended and already the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team has hit the road to visit the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s Pekan Plant in Pahang, where they also met-and-greeted 40 orang asli children from Kampung Meranti and Kampung Landai who were visiting the plant at the same time. Nice.

This effort was made possible by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Petronas. The visit was part of the team’s annual programme before the race. This visit also tightened the partnership between the German car manufacturer and Malaysia’s lube company, since Petronas does supply fuels, lubricants and functional fluids to the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team as well as the Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains.

The visit also underlines Mercedes-Benz’s market strength in the country. According to Roland Folger, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, the Pekan plant has already put together 21,000 premium vehicles, more than any other premium passenger brand in Malaysia. The plant is also the only one in the country that assembles a car with a price tag of more than RM1 million – the S500L BlueEFFICIENCY.

Of course, it was not all business. Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and Sam Bird demonstrated what they and the SLS AMG, E 63 AMG and the CLS 350 are capable of in the hands of a professional. Plus, they probably gave a few of the VIP Guests an experience of a lifetime with a taxi ride in one of those uber cars.

If you want to catch Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg for their autographs, then they’ll be at the Showcase that is happening at the concourse of Suria KLCC tomorrow, March 21 at 5 pm.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix Showcase now at KLCC

Chris Ng — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:00:46 +0000

Some say that Formula 1 cars, at full speed, can drive upside down on the ceiling. No one has ever done it yet; so far the feat only happens within complex mathematics and computer simulations. It is very possible of course, when the conditions are perfect.

What is very possible in the real world is this: anchoring two Formula 1 cars, with engines deleted, on a steel frame. While it would seem that Petronas has managed to balance the cars on a pinhead, architects will see the principles of cantilevering in action. How did they do it? We got the footage of its construction right here.

It is eye-catching, especially when you walk into KLCC via the Dewan Philharmonic Petronas lobby. Keen eyes will notice that both cars are different. The one on the left is the team’s 2010 contender and the right has raced in the 2011 season.

The fact that it is being suspended gives you a different view of the Formula 1 car. While most exhibitions show the shell of the car, this one gives you a view of the underside of the car, also known as the undertray where some of the car’s aerodynamic secrets are held. No, the view is not what you would call exciting but you can see, in finer detail, the guts rather than the glory of the race machine. See if you can spot the little fins that smoothens the airflow into the side pods.

You can also see the skid block here. In case you didn’t know, the skid block is a wood plank that measures 10 mm. This one is painted in the team’s silver. It is FIA’s low-tech solution to a very high-tech problem. You see, Formula 1 cars used to run very close to the track to enhance handling which enables drivers to take corners at break-neck speeds. It is also very dangerous; it caused Ayrton Senna’s death.

Today’s regulations require the skid block to be measured before and after the race. Cars with skid blocks that are found to be less than 9mm post-race will be disqualified.

It is not often you get to see the undertray. The only time you get to catch it is usually during a race incident when the car flips over during a race. Even then, unless you can pause the telly, views of the undertray is always too brief.

Of course, this is not all. The installation is part of the 2012 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Showcase. A mouthful, I know.

Plenty to see and do… there’s the Formula 1 car on display together with the CLS 350 and the SLS AMG Roadster. Fans of the team should really get over here because the latest line of team merchandise is here to make you part with your money.

Highlight of the showcase has got to the Speed of Sound AR Game. Is it hard? Extremely. You race by matching the pitch of your voice to the pitch that is shown on screen. Hit the mark and you get seconds taken off your time. Miss the mark and you’ll notice the seconds can really add up. To win, you need a near perfect pitch and a very quiet room. Still, our Harvinder managed a time of 10.40 seconds in this noisy concourse and is on the top ten leaderboard. See if you can knock him off his lofty perch.

The showcase has already begun and will come to a close on March 25. I’ll leave you with one last thing to nibble on – Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg will be meeting fans and signing autographs on March 21 from 5.00pm onwards. Fan or not, it is worthwhile to visit this showcase.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class – third-gen takes over the mantle

Chris Ng — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 02:00:00 +0000

Remember the cutesy MPV-looking vehicle from Mercedes-Benz? Well, it looks like the baby Mercedes is all grown up and ready to face the world – the new-generation A-Class, or the W176 if you will, has arrived.

For starters, the A-Class is 4,292 mm long, 1,780 wide and 1,433 mm tall. It also crouches 180 mm closer to the road when compared to its predecessor, no doubt to match its exciting exterior that tears away the stigma of the brand for boring and balding. And if that is not enough, the A-Class retains the diamond grille that was first seen on the Concept A-Class. Refresh your memory here.

If the tight design of the sheet metal isn’t enough, the daylight running lamps and indicators have been organised to give out a distinctive ‘flare effect’. It only highlights the company’s desire to appeal to a younger (or young at heart) audience.

As for the rear, the taillights, which consists of fibre-optic cables and LED modules, continues the muscular lines and the A-Class’ stocky width.

The interior injects that youthful feel as well, with a high-quality feel of course. It comes with trim surfaces that feature an electroplated finish in ‘silver chrome’ for a ‘cool touch’ effect and the option to pair the car via an iPhone app (more smartphones to be added to the list soon). And then there are the ‘little’ details that pull your attention, such as the air vents that are said to stand out like ‘sparkling jewels’.

The A-Class comes in petrol and diesel powerplants. Mercedes-Benz claims that this is the first time it has produced a vehicle that emits just 99g of CO2 per kilometer. All engines also come standard with an ECO start/stop function.

There are three permutations for the petrol engine. The A 180 has a 1.6 litre that produces 115 hp, while the A 200’s 2.0 litre is good for 156 hp and the A250 is powered by a 2.0 litre 211 hp engine. All the engines will feature direct injection and exhaust gas turbocharging.

Specific to the 1.6 litre engine – a first for Mercedes-Benz – is something called CAMTRONIC, which restricting the amount of fresh mixture via the adjustments of valves on the intake side. What this means in English is that the system further reduces fuel consumption.

There are three choices for the diesels as well. The A 180 CDI outputs 109 hp and 250 Nm, the A 200 CDI is rated at 136 hp and 300 Nm, and the A 220 CDI (with its 2.2 litre engine) offers 170 hp and 350 Nm. All engines can be partnered with either the new six-speed manual transmission or the 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Ride and handling duties of the new A-Class will be taken care of by a new four-link rear axle, which together with its lower centre of gravity gives the A-Class the credentials to slip on the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. There’s also the option for customers to tweak suspension settings. The electromechanical steering has also been completely redesigned and repositioned to make usage of the Dual Pinion EPS possible.

As for safety features, well Mercedes-Benz says that the A-Class is the only one in its class to feature the radar-based Collision Prevention Assist as standard. The A-Class also comes with a wide menu of safety tools like the Pre-safe, Brake Hold function, Hill-Start Assist, Distronic Plus, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Active Parking Assist and Speed Limit Assist, to name a few.

The question is, will we see a Malaysia-bound A-Class? If it does arrive it should be sometime next year.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG joins the roadster range

Anthony Lim — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:14:08 +0000

Mercedes-Benz has announced another introduction to its roadster range, and the SL 63 AMG rolls in to join the SLS AMG Roadster and SLK 55 AMG in the company’s top tier topless range.

The car is available with two power outputs for the first time – the M157 5.5 litre V8 twin-turbo AMG mill offers 537 hp and 800 Nm of torque in its base guise, while with the AMG Performance package strapped on, the figures rise to 564 hp and 900 Nm. And going the all-aluminium bodyshell route means that this one is 125 kg lighter than the car it replaces.

The base output is good enough to get the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, and it’s just a shade faster at 4.2 seconds for the AMG Performance spec. Meanwhile, top speed is an electronically-limited 250 km/h, but the AMG Performance package takes this to 300 km/h, again electronically-limited.

Kit incudes an enhanced AMG sports suspension based on Active Body Control (ABC), a new AMG speed-sensitive sports steering, the AMG high-performance compound brake system and the AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed sports transmission. An automatic double-declutching function for downshifting and the Racestart function are also included as standard with the transmission.

The car comes fitted with five-twin-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels painted titanium grey, with a high-sheen finish, shod with 255/35 front and 285/30 rear tyres. A multi-spoke AMG forged wheel from the AMG Performance Studio is available as an option, and this one is in matte black with a rim flange done in a high-sheen finish.

The sixth-generation SL retains the space-saving, electrohydraulically retractable vario-roof, enabling the SL to be transformed into a roadster or a coupé in under 20 seconds. In contrast to the outgoing model, however, there are three versions to choose from for the new SL, these being painted roof, glass roof or the unique panoramic vario-roof with Magic Sky Control.

Inside, the SL 63 AMG’s cabin gets cues inspired by the SLS AMG – the four jet engine-styled air vents, the E-SELECT lever and the AMG Drive Unit are all reminiscent of the super sports car.

Standard equipment includes AMG sports seats in single-tone or two-tone nappa leather, with a unique V8 seat upholstery layout and AMG badges in the seat backrests, AMG carbon-fibre trim and AMG illuminated door sill panels as well as IWC-design analogue clock.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes-Benz Citan small city van to launch this year

Paul Tan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:42:44 +0000

The trend now is to go for smaller vehicles with smaller more fuel efficient engines wherever possible, and a prime candidate for these downsized vehicles are the packed cities that can be found in nearly every economy. The commercial vehicle business looks to be doing the same, as these sketches preview Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles’ first small van designed for urban use.

Called the Mercedes-Benz Citan – an amalgamation of City and Titan, the new “urban delivery van” will slot in a new segment under the Vito, Sprinter and Vario models, and will be available as a standard panel van as well as a crew bus and other configurations in various lengths and weights. A Mixto passenger variant will also be on sale. Once a “niche” market in the 90s, the small delivery van segment currently accounts for 700,000 units a year in Europe alone, and Mercedes-Benz expects to claim a 4% to 5% market share with the new Citan.

Both petrol and diesel engines will be available for the Citan, and given the intended city usage, I wouldn’t be surprised if eventually you could see some kind of electric Citan in the future.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes-Benz’s turn to do the triple play – C-Class Coupé, SLK and CLS introduced in Malaysia

Anthony Lim — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:25:20 +0000

Earlier this week, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia introduced the new CLS, SLK and C-Class Coupe in the country. The company is looking at the models to effectively widen and deepen the brand’s offerings of niche models, and complement MBM’s portfolio of CBU models already available in Malaysia.

The C-Class Coupé, which made its international market debut in June last year, is available in three petrol engine guises here, these being the 156 hp C 180 and 204 hp C 250, with the 306 hp C 350 available as special order. All three models wear a BlueEFFICIENCY tag.

The C 180 Coupé, which comes wearing an AMG Sports package, is priced at RM305,888, while the C 250 Coupé goes for RM388,888.

Meanwhile, there are three variants available for the third-generation SLK, which made its market debut last March, and these are the SLK 200, SLK 250 and SLK 350, all with a BlueEFFICIENCY suffix again.

Power outputs are 184 hp and 204 hp for the SLK 200 and SLK 250 respectively, while the 3.5 litre V6 mill in the SLK 350 offers 306 hp.

Features include the Benz Airguide draught-stop system, and the SLK 200 gets the Dynamic Handling package thrown in. In terms of pricing, only that for the SLK 200 was mentioned at the launch, and this one goes for RM460,888.

Lastly, the second-generation CLS, which arrives in its 306 hp CLS 350 BlueEFFICIENCY form, with the 408 hp V8-equipped CLS 500 BlueEFFICIENCY available only through special order. The CLS 350 rolls in at RM760,888.

We’ve driven the three cars – MBM hosted a media drive up to Penang this week, so stay tuned for the first drive impressions of all three models next week.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Daimler-Nissan joint engine production in US begins 2014

Anthony Lim — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:21:40 +0000

Nissan and Daimler are to begin production of Mercedes-Benz four-cylinder petrol engines in the US from 2014, according to reports. The engines will be built at the Japanese automaker’s powertrain factory in Decherd, Tennessee.

The companies are planning for a production capacity of 250,000 engines per year at the plant, with the mills set to be used in Mercedes-Benz cars as well as in Nissan’s Infiniti vehicles.

The Renault-Nissan alliance collectively holds a 3.1% stake in Daimler, and the German luxury car maker has an equivalent stake in each of its two alliance partners. The cooperation agreement signed last year between the three companies will see the development of small vehicles and engines, which will bring about cost synergy benefits.

In September last year, Nissan and Daimler had announced that Infiniti is to start production of a new compact car based on Mercedes-Benz technology in 2014; Renault is also looking into using Mercedes-Benz modules as well as it goes along.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid introduced, in both saloon and estate form – E400 Hybrid also debuts

Anthony Lim — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 04:46:44 +0000

Mercedes-Benz has announced the introduction of the E300 BlueTEC Hybrid, available in both saloon and estate form, as well as the E400 Hybrid. Both vehicles will make their official debut at the upcoming NAIAS in Detroit in January.

The E300 BlueTEC Hybrid is powered by a four-cylinder diesel offering 204 hp and 500 Nm, working in tandem with an electric motor that produces 20 kW and 250 Nm – Merc says that the vehicle is the most economical luxury-class vehicle in the world.

The company adds that there’s no compromise in space, safety and comfort brought about by utilisation of the intelligent modular hybrid concept – no changes to the body of the base vehicle were necessary.

The car is part of the intelligent downsizing strategy of Mercedes-Benz – the E300 BlueTEC Hybrid is positioned at the same level as the E300 CDI, but offers fuel savings of around 15% compared with the E250 CDI, even in actual road traffic conditions.

Meanwhile, the V6 petrol unit in the E400 Hybrid cranks out 306 hp and 370 Nm, and the mill is also supplemented by the same electric motor’s 20 kW and 250 Nm.

The E300 BlueTEC Hybrid is initially planned to be launched on the European market, while the E400 Hybrid will be made available on the American market first, followed by other countries such as Japan and China later. Right-hand drive variants are scheduled.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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All-new sixth-gen Mercedes-Benz SL officially revealed

Danny Tan — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 07:41:00 +0000

We know how it looks like already, thanks to previously leaked B&W brochure shots, but here’s the sixth-generation Mercedes-Benz SL in its full glory, from every angle. Making its world debut at NAIAS 2012, the new SL is an all-new chapter in a lineage that dates back 60 years.

“There are around 900 million cars in the world and thousands of models. But there are only a handful of automotive icons. Our SL is one of them: it has class, it has style, it is the ultimate in comfort and luxury. But it combines all that with incredible sportiness and dynamism,” summarises Dr Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the Daimler AG Board of Management and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

“You would struggle to find a car that embodies Gottlieb Daimler’s aspiration more perfectly than our new SL: the best or nothing,” he adds. Want one already?

The new SL, which is longer (+50 mm) and wider (+57 mm), has been produced almost entirely from aluminium and weighs up to 140 kg less than its predecessor. The all aluminium body is also credited for the claimed “agile, sporty handling that has been taken to an entirely new level, coupled with exemplary roll characteristics and ride comfort”.

In addition, the steering knuckles and spring links on the front axle are also made out of aluminium to reduce unsprung mass. The same also applies to virtually all the wheel location components on the rear axle. The standard suspension is a semi-active adjustable damping system, with ABC (Active Body Control) is an option. There’s also a new electromechanical Direct-Steer system featuring speed-sensitivity and variable ratio.

The new 4,663 cc V8 in the SL500 develops 435 hp, around 12% more than its predecessor despite being 800 cc smaller. Fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 22%. At the same time, torque is up from 530 Nm to 700 Nm – a 32% gain. The SL500 does 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, eight tenths faster than the old car.

Similar improvements are seen in the “entry” SL350. The new 3,499 cc V6 makes 306 hp and 370 Nm of torque. It uses just 6.8 litres of petrol per 100 km, making it almost 30% more economical than before. This one does the century sprint in 5.9 seconds (0.3 sec faster than before), enough to see off those pesky hot hatches.

Both engine variants come with a standard-fit ECO start/stop function and Merc’s 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission. Lovely gear knob, too.

New features include the FrontBass system, which “turns the SL into a concert hall” regardless of whether the top is open or closed, and the adaptive windscreen wipe/wash system called Magic Vision Control. The latter supplies water from the wiper blade as required and depending on the direction of wipe.

Unlike its predecessor, three roof versions are available: painted, with glass roof or with the unique panoramic vario-roof with Magic Sky Control. In the latter, the transparent roof switches to “light” or “dark” at the push of a button. When “light” it is virtually transparent, offering an open-air experience. In “dark” the roof provides shade and prevents the cabin from heating up.

The frame is made of magnesium, making the roofs around six kg lighter than before. The operating mechanism for the roof and boot lid has been refined and it now takes less than 20 seconds to open or close.

The COMAND system now comes with web browsing along with access to a Mercedes-Benz online service, offering anything from weather reports to location search. There is also the option of sending destinations and routes via Google Maps to the SL. Merc is also offering new apps for the SL for Facebook, news, share prices and a car park finder, among other things.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Next gen Mercedes-Benz SL leaked ahead of Detroit debut

Danny Tan — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:29:21 +0000

Mercedes-Benz will be giving its next generation SL a world debut at next year’s Detroit show, but what seems like official brochure images have already leaked out.

These black and white scans show the three pointed star’s big roadster wearing the brand’s new face, featuring the wide grille as seen on the new CLS. In fact, the front end of the new SL is very similar to that of the latest SLK, but with bigger headlamps.

The sleeker and longer body of the SL also has larger and more prominent side vents that become the main feature of the profile. Compared to today’s car, the new SL has longer wrap around rear lamps and a more sculpted rear end, but the shape remains familiar.

It has been reported that the new SL uses aluminium lightweight construction, saving 140 kg over the current steel bodied car. Engines will include a new naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 and a twin-turbo 4.6-litre V8.

The dashboard layout also mimics very closely the style set by today’s SLK. Retro look air vents flank a central screen, with the standard Mercedes stereo and A/C clusters sitting below.

The only difference I can spot is the different arrangement of the gear lever/Comand controls compared to the SLK. The SL’s plush looking chairs have Airscarf vents, too.

Do you prefer the looks of the current SL or this?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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BYD-Daimler set to roll out electric concept at Beijing show

Danny Tan — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:33:17 +0000

Last year, Daimler and China’s BYD started a 50:50 research and technology joint venture called “Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co Ltd” (BDNT) that will develop an electric vehicle in and for China. BDNT is now ready with its first concept, which will be shown at next year’s Beijing show in April.

The Beijing show will see BDNT showcase its green vision, the new brand’s identity, including brand name, logo and positioning as well as the Concept Car’s exterior and interior design. The production fully electric vehicle is scheduled to be launched a year later in 2013.

In fact, work on the production model has started. The Shenzhen-based JV is said to be making good progress, and work on building the first prototypes has started with the target to have them running by spring next year. The JV will use BYD’s battery tech and e-drive systems plus Daimler’s know-how in EV architecture and safety. BDNT says that Daimler’s quality philosophy has been incorporated from a very early stage.

Production of the new generation of compact to mid-size electric vehicles will be done with Daimler’s quality management experts and will “to a large extent” follow Daimler’s standardised production system for passenger cars. Supplier sourcing for the new vehicle is nearly completed.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Silver Arrows rebranded, now officially called ‘Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team’

Danny Tan — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:52:07 +0000

The Mercedes-Benz works F1 team has been rebranded, and will now compete under the name ‘Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team’ from the 2012 season. This is a move from the current ‘Mercedes GP Petronas’ name, introducing MB’s performance AMG division into the mix.

The Mercedes AMG brand is no stranger to motorsports. It is the most successful name in the history of DTM, winning 165 races from 342 since 1988 and securing a total of 32 driver, manufacturer and team titles. AMG has also supplied F1 with the official Safety Car and Medical Car since 1996. It’s therefore a “logical step to strengthen the links between AMG and the Formula 1 activities of Mercedes-Benz,” says the company.

The Mercedes-Benz F1 powertrain facility at Brixworth, UK has worked closely with AMG for several years. This wholly owned Daimler subsidiary will now be renamed ‘Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains’.

“The Mercedes AMG brand promises ‘Driving Performance’ – and what better embodies this philosophy than the intense competitive arena of F1? It is an historic first for the AMG name to be associated to the works Silver Arrows team, and offers fantastic opportunities: first, to further build the sporting identity of the Mercedes AMG brand through one of the world’s most-watched and most successful sports; second, to explore and deliver technology transfer between road and track,” said Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

“This is already being practised with the SLS AMG E-Cell project, whose electric powertrain will be developed as a joint venture between Mercedes AMG and our F1 engine specialists in Brixworth,” he added.

The Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team will compete the 2012 season with the F1 W03 machine, which is currently under development at the team’s Brackley HQ. The car will make its official track debut at the second winter test of 2012, in February at Barcelona.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Nico Rosberg extends contract with Mercedes GP Petronas

Danny Tan — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:53:04 +0000

Nico Rosberg has extended his contract with the Mercedes GP Petronas Formula 1 team. This new deal will “include the 2013 season and beyond”, which means the German will be with the Silver Arrows till at least 2013. Next season, he will once again line up alongside seven-time world champ and compatriot Michael Schumacher.

“I am very excited to have extended my contract with the Mercedes GP Petronas team. To win in a Silver Arrow will be one of the highlights of my life so far, and I greatly enjoy helping to lead our team in our quest to become the best in F1. I have every confidence that the team will provide me with a winning car, and that we will be able to contribute to the fantastic racing heritage of the Silver Arrows. I look forward to great times in the years ahead with the Mercedes-Benz family,” Rosberg said.

The son of 1982 champ Keke also said that Mercedes GP’s latest appointments such as technical director Bob Bell and technology director Geoff Willis, plus the impending arrival of Ferrari’s Aldo Costa as engineering director, were major influences in his decision to stay. “It was, definitely. I saw this summer that this team means business and is doing what it takes to become the best. I know I’ve got to be patient, but great times lie ahead, I’m sure.”

“We are delighted to have extended our contract with Nico as we know that he is a driver who can win races and championships. Nico has performed exceptionally well for us over the past two seasons, achieving results at the very limit of the technical capabilities of our current car.

“He has an excellent work ethic and, together with Michael, this gives us a driver pairing who consistently push the team to improve and progress. As we continue to strengthen our team for the future, we look forward to providing Nico with a car which will enable him to compete right at the front of the field and achieve his deserved first win in F1,” said team principal Ross Brawn.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Schumi on Singapore crash: It was a misunderstanding

Danny Tan — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:14:35 +0000

Yesterday’s Singapore GP wasn’t the most exciting race we’ve had this season, and I was nodding off in my Esplanade Waterfront seat. As an event, Singapore is unbeatable – the sights, organisation and buzz are all amazing, it’s almost like a big party that happens to have an F1 race running around it – but track action could do with more spice.

There were some “oooh aaah” moments though, and Michael Schumacher going airborne was one. The seven-time champ tried to pass Sauber’s Sergio Perez on lap 28, but clipped the Mexican’s rear tyre and flew straight into the barriers. He was out, but Perez continued racing and picked up points for his efforts. Schumi is shrugging the incident off as a misunderstanding.

“It was a very unfortunate ending to my race in Singapore tonight and obviously I am a bit disappointed. What happened was what I would call a misunderstanding between Sergio Perez and myself,” the Mercedes GP Petronas driver said.

“He was about to go inside and lifted, and I was not expecting him to do that so early, and therefore hit him. It’s probably one of those race incidents which look more impressive from outside than from inside, as I am totally OK and my impact in the end was not too heavy. It was a pity because my car and the tyres worked well, and therefore the pace was very good. I will look ahead to the next races and hope to have better endings there,” he added.

Like he said, pace was good. Perhaps we’ll get to see more of the rejuvenated Schumi in Japan!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Petronas Syntium Team’s Merc SLS tops MMER qualifying

Danny Tan — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:24:14 +0000

Happy Malaysia Day, everyone! Even as this year’s national Merdeka day celebrations was combined with Malaysia Day celebrations this morning, the 2011 edition of the Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (MMER, formerly known as Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race), normally held in end August, started today.

And with the end of qualifying, Petronas Syntium Team’s Mercedes SLS driven by Fariqe Hairuman, Tatsuya Kataoka and Bernd Scheider ended up at the top of the charts. Lining up alongside it tomorrow is the sister Gullwing driven by Nobuteru Taniguchi, Masataka Yanagida and Dominic Ang. The latter replaces Imran Zaharias from last year. This is the first time Petronas Syntium Team is fielding the SLS, after previously competing in BMW Z4M Coupes.

“Oh no, no rain! I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow (today). We have prepared our strategy for tomorrow (today). If it rains tomorrow, we just have to think about a new strategy for our tyres and set-up. Hopefully this time we will go a step further and win the MMER as a present for our beloved country this Malaysia Day,” said Hairuman.

Hot at the tail of the two Gullwings is the Le Mans champ trio of Marcel Fassler, Frank Biela and Marco Werner in the Audi R8 LMS. Belgian Fassler is the current Le Mans champion with Audi and Biela was last year’s MMER runner up with Audi Race Experience Team Joest.

“The race starts at lunch time and it’s unbelievably hot. For this reason, we have fitted in air conditioners. No matter what, it’s still hot with the temperatures around 35-40 degrees Celsius,” said Biela, referring to tomorrow noon start time. The 12-hour race ends at midnight. Here are the top ten qualifiers:

1. Tatsuya Kataoka / Fariqe Hairuman / Bernd Schneider (Mercedes SLS) 6:16.346s
2. Nobuteru Taniguchi / Masataka Yanagida / Dominic Ang (Mercedes SLS) 6:17.231s
3. Frank Biela / Marcel Fassler / Marco Werner (Audi R8) 6:18.421s
4. Mok Weng Sun / Gianmaria Bruni / Matthew Griffin (Ferrari F458) 6:18.829s
5. Siu Yuk Lung / Keita Sawa / Dominik Schwager (Lamborghini LP560) 6:19.413
6. Darryl O’Young / Seiji Ara / Alex Yoong (Audi R8) 6:19.753s
7. Frank Yu / Alain Jacques Gilbert Li / Stefan Johansson (Ford GT3) 6:22.946s
8. Jeffrey Lee / Alexandre Imperatori / Aaron Lim (Audi R8) 6:24.476s
9. Billy Fung / Christian Jones / Akihiro Asai (Lamboghini LP560) 6:24.662
10. Franz Engstler / Dominik Kraihamer / Andrei Romanov (BMW Z4) 6:31.997s

No need to pay for tickets – the MMER is free for the public, so head down to Sepang for a different kind of weekend activity!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Frankfurt: Mercedes-Benz F 125! fuel-cell plug-in hybrid

Anthony Lim — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:47:34 +0000

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its F 125! research vehicle, which the company says is a concept showcasing what a large, luxurious automobile will look like in 2025.

The F-CELL plug-in hybrid has a range of 1,000 km, and features, among other things, the use of a revolutionary hydrogen storage technology, a lithium-sulphur high-voltage, high-energy battery as well as e4MATIC-all-wheel drive with four wheel electric motors and individual torque control at each wheel. The car also pioneers battery charging by induction.

The four-seater concept has a bodyshell of innovative, lightweight hybrid construction with a high proportion of fibre-reinforced plastics and a mix of carbon-fibre, aluminium and high-strength steels. A high-strength construction with crash-responsive protective systems within the doors allows the omission of B-pillars, and the car utilises wide gull-wing doors to offer easy access to the four seats.

The F 125!’s hydrogen tank is integrated into the floor assembly, and has a capacity of around 7.5 kg of hydrogen. Compared to the high-pressure tanks in use today, the tank here requires less installation space as opposed to current tanks, which need to be cylindrical in shape.

Meanwhile, the advanced lithium-sulphur battery envisaged for the F 125! has a storage capacity of 10 kWh and is installed behind the rear seats. Combining the fuel cell drive system with the innovative lithium-sulphur battery offers up to 1,000 km of travel, of which up to 50 km can be under battery-electric power alone. The battery can be inductively charged at “intelligent” charging stations, and the convenient charging process can be monitored by smartphone.

The fuel cell stack in the car provides the power for four powerful electric motors installed near the wheels – the modular e4MATIC system, which also uses improved drive components from the SLS AMG E-CELL, generates a continuous output of 231 hp and a peak output of 313 hp. It’s all good enough to propel the F 125! to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 220 km/h.

The interior features a control and display concept based on touch, speech and hand-gestures, making for a car which the driver is able to interact with – the gull-wing doors can also be opened and closed by hand-gestures.

Elsewhere, attractive displays using 3D and projector-beam technology are to be found, as are next-generation, substantially networked telematics that allow internet-based voice control, integration into social media and extensive remote control of vehicle settings and entertainment functions. Occupants will always be online and connected through an @yourCOMAND cloud-based infotainment system.

The car also features innovative assistance systems such as Advanced Driving Assist, which allows lane-changes on multi-lane, one-way roads, and in a further development stage will even offer automatic overtaking manoeuvres.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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All-new Mercedes-Benz B-Class officially revealed!

Danny Tan — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:52:20 +0000

After a leak earlier in the week, which we carried here, Mercedes-Benz has decided to reveal everything about their all new B-Class ahead of its world debut at Frankfurt next month. To sum it up, Stuttgart says that their new ‘Compact Sports Tourer’ is ‘substantially more agile and efficient, but as comfortable and spacious as ever’.

As expected, the new B-Class has a substantially bigger footprint that the car it replaces. At 4,359 mm long and 1,786 mm wide, it’s 89 mm longer and 9 mm wider, although the new car sits 46 mm lower than before. Accordingly, the seat height in relation to the road has also been reduced by 86 mm, for easier vehicle entry, says Merc. They add that in response to customer requests, the sitting position is now more upright.

For those at the back, which is important for this model, a lowering of the vehicle’s floor at the rear produces segment-leading rear legroom (976 mm) that even surpasses that of the E and S-Class! And despite the lower roofline, headroom has been further improved over the old car.

Additionally, there’s an Easy-Vario-Plus system that includes fore/aft adjustment of the rear seats by up to 140 mm (increasing boot volume from 488 to 666 litres) and a front passenger seat which backrest can be folded forward onto the seat cushion.

Now, the B’s new looks might not be agreeable to all, it’s hard to argue with its slippery drag coefficient of 0.26. This is helped by areas such as air flow around the front wheels, underbody design and the cooling air flow. Patents are pending for details such as the serrated wheel arch spoiler. An upcoming optional Eco Technology package will bring the Cd figure down to 0.24, which is on par with the E-Class Coupé and impressive for a hatchback shape.

The new M270 engines feature Merc’s third-generation direct injection system that first surfaced in last year’s BlueDirect V6 and V8 engines. Both are 1.6-litre turbocharged units with max torque available from 1,250 rpm. The one in the B 180 is rated at 122 hp and 200 Nm, while the B 200 has 156 hp and 250 Nm.

The diesels are based on the OM651 family used from the C to the S-Class, but with displacement scaled down to 1.8 litres and mounted transversely for the first time. The B 180 CDI generates 109 hp and 250 Nm from 1,400 rpm, while the B 200 CDI packs in 136 hp and 300 Nm from 1,600 rpm. All engines can be paired to a new 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission or a new six-speed manual, which Merc says is closely related to the DCT.

Mercedes promises improved agility, thanks to the new B’s lowered centre of gravity, a new four-link rear axle and the upgraded ESP. A sports suspension is optionally available. This one further lowers the ride height by 20 mm and features sports dampers with amplitude-selective damping and Direct-Steer (faster, sharper response) for the electromechanical steering.

The new B is build with a modular ‘Energy Space’ concept that’s designed to accommodate versions with an alternative drive. There are interfaces in the body shell that enables the floor panel to be easily modified, plus an underfloor compartment covering part of the area under the rear bench seat for ‘alternative energy accumulators’. So it looks like we can expect some sort of hybrid B-Class in the future, too.

Full gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes B-Class image leaked ahead of Frankfurt debut

Danny Tan — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:43:19 +0000

This is the first official image of the all new Mercedes-Benz B-Class, leaked ahead of its world debut at the Frankfurt show. Aspects that have been improved over the current “Compact Sports Tourer”, which was launched back in 2005, include space, refinement, economy and safety.

Autocar UK reports that at launch, the B-Class will be powered by all-new 1.6-litre turbocharged units, transversely mounted, one with 121 bhp and 200 Nm, and another packing 154 bhp and 250 Nm, with max torque in both available from just 1,250 rpm. There will be two 1.8 diesels as well – 107 bhp/256 Nm and 134 bhp/300 Nm.

In an earlier exclusive, the mag revealed that Mercedes has dropped the expensive sandwich construction of the current A and B-Class. So the B sits on a new FWD platform that will be shared with the next A-Class and the F800 compact saloon. The suspension consists of front McPherson struts and a four-link item for the rear.

Hybrid versions are planned.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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LEGO TECHNIC Unimog U400 – playfully plastic, this one

Anthony Lim — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 05:07:29 +0000

Yes, it’s a Mercedes-Benz Universal Motor Gerät (better known as the Unimog) multi-purpose 4WD medium truck you see in the photos, going for cheap, but you can’t drive – or for that matter, get into – it, though you can assemble the vehicle.

It’s the biggest TECHNIC model that LEGO has come up with – created with M-B, it’s a 2,048 piece, 1:12-scale Unimog. A functioning one at that. The LEGO Unimog U400 includes a pneumatically operated crane, with working gripper arm, as well as a front winch, optional snowplough.

Other features include full suspension, differentials, a four-wheel drive chassis, a gear block for extreme ground clearance, and a detailed reproduction of the engine, accurate right down to the moving pistons.

The LEGO TECHNIC Unimog, when built, measures an impressive 38.6 cm from bumper to bumper and is finished in bright orange with blue bucket seats. In the UK, it retails for £155 (RM760). I know what I want for Christmas this year!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 CDI – diesel for the first time

Anthony Lim — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 04:46:30 +0000

Not as exciting as the recently revealed AMG version, but potent enough for most, and frugal at that. Diesel has finally found its way on to the Mercedes-Benz SLK, and the first oil burner form of the roadster is the SLK 250 CDI.

The two-seater is equipped with a 2,143 cc four-cylinder turbo mill, offering 204 hp and 500 Nm. Performance specs include a 0-100 kph sprint time of 6.7 seconds and a 241 kph top speed. The lump is partnered with a 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission as standard, with a six-speed manual transmission to come about in the second quarter of next year.

Like all SLK models, the SLK 250 CDI features a start/stop system as standard. Externally, the diesel is no different in appearance from the petrol models, retaining even the twin exhaust system.

The car is available with a choice of three versions of the famous vario-roof, one of them the panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL. There are also three suspension versions available: a conventional steel suspension, a sports suspension with a stiffer spring and damper setup or a suspension with an electronically controlled, fully automatic damping system.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG revealed – NA V8 with 415 hp

Danny Tan — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 03:23:19 +0000

UPDATE: Hi res gallery of beauty and actions shots added

Mercedes-Benz has revealed its most powerful SLK to date, the latest SLK55 AMG, ahead of its Frankfurt world debut. As the range topping performance flagship of the third-generation SLK that was launched in June, the SLK55 AMG gets a new AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine with 415 hp and 540 Nm of torque, good for a 0-100 km/h dash in 4.6 seconds. Top speed is, as usual, restricted to 250 km/h.

No downsized twin-turbo V6 here, the SLK55 gets a naturally aspirated V8 with a “typical exhaust growl which only a large-displacement eight-cylinder engine can produce,” says Merc. This new M152 unit is based on the AMG M157 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine that debut last year, and seeing service in the AMG versions of the E, CLS, S and CL.

Identical design features include the displacement, bore/stroke, distance between cylinders, ECO stop/start system and direct injection technology. Things unique to the M152 are the new intake air ducting, new cylinder heads, the modified valve drive, an adapted oil supply system and an optimised crankcase.

AMG boasts that no other petrol engine features direct injection at 2,900 psi pressure, spray-guided combustion and piezo injectors, all in conjunction with map-controlled cylinder shut-off, an all-aluminum crankcase with “spectacle” honing, four-valve technology with continuous camshaft adjustment, a high compression ratio of 12.6:1, stop/start and generator management – while revving to a maximum speed of over 7,000 rpm.

Did you notice ‘cylinder shut off’ from the list? That’s a new feature developed completely by Mercedes-AMG where cylinders two, three, five and eight are cut off under partial load, which lowers fuel consumption considerably.

Available over a wide range from 800 to 3,600 rpm if the driver has selected transmission mode C (for Controlled Efficiency), there’s still 230 Nm available in four-pot mode (enough for regular driving), and the reactivation process at 3,600 rpm takes no more than 30 milliseconds. By the way, this tech is also used in the 750 hp V8 engines in Formula 1.

Another new tech is the AMG sports exhaust system featuring a flap on each side. This resolves the trade off between an emotional exhaust note during spirited driving and a more discreet engine sound in the partial load range.

At engine speeds below 2,000 rpm the flaps remain closed. When the driver accelerates, the flaps open at an angle of 15, then 30 and up to 50 degrees. Under full load, the flaps are fully opened so one can hear the full AMG rumble.

Power is transferred to the rear wheels by the AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic auto ‘box with three transmission modes: Controlled Efficiency (C), Sport (S) and Manual (M). The automatic rev-matching function when downshifting shortens shift times, while a double turbine torsional damper with centrifugal pendulum adapts to engine speed and helps minimise vibrations in four-cylinder mode.

To improve handling, the SLK55 comes with AMG sports suspension with Torque Vectoring Brakes and AMG Direct-Steer system, the latter with a parameter function adapted to match the suspension.

There’s also an AMG-exclusive 3-stage ESP that gives individual control choices at the touch of a button: “ESP ON”, “SPORT Handling Mode” and “ESP OFF” for the very brave or very good.

After all the meat, here’s the garnish. The SLK55 is set apart by AMG light-alloy wheels, exclusive AMG body styling with AMG spoiler lip and two chrome-plated twin tailpipes at the rear.

Inside, the highlights are the AMG-specific analog clock featuring an IWC design, the AMG Performance steering wheel, with its flattened top and bottom sections (also has aluminum shift paddles), and the AMG instrument cluster plus main menu.

A hi res gallery of beauty and action shots is after the jump. Good wallpaper material!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Dashboard Teaser Pix

Paul Tan — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 07:15:18 +0000

Mercedes-Benz has teased the next generation Mercedes-Benz B-Class interior, shown here with covered with the optional stitched ARTICO man-made leather.

There’s a TFT LCD screen to display the COMAND interface, but the technology is complemented by retro styled components such as the circular air conditioning vents that pay homage to the Mercedes-Benz cars of the yesteryears.

What do you think? I think it’s definitely a class above the model it replaces, but professional studio photography can be deceiving so we reserve our comments until we get to see a real car.

The new B-Class will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid September 2011. Look after the jump for the rest of the teaser pix.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Mercedes-Benz C-Class W204 facelift arrives in Malaysia – C200 CGI and C250 CGI BlueEfficiency driven

Anthony Lim — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:10:14 +0000

How time does fly. It has been four years since the third-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class was introduced, and the compact executive car has certainly done very well for itself, with more than a million units sold worldwide. The announcement of the mid-life facelift came in December last year, a little more than halfway through the typical seven-year life cycle for a model like it.

In Malaysia, since arriving in the second half of 2007, more than 6,000 examples have found owners, not a staggering figure, but impressive nonetheless. The C200 K and C230 that paved the way were replaced by the C200 CGI and C250 CGI, with the primary changes being in terms of powertrain.

Seven months on after the facelift’s announcement, the car has arrived on these shores. For its introduction here, the lineup retains the similar feel to the outgoing pre-facelift version in terms of model variants – the locally-assembled C200 CGI and C250 CGI BlueEfficiency roll in, at RM258,888 and RM290,888 respectively, looking to continue the successful run their predecessors had. There’s quite a fair bit of new in the car, even if it isn’t noticeable at first glance.

Full story after the jump.

The W204 was a dramatic step up in styling and design compared to the W203, almost a blitz in how it changed perception of the car. If the latter was a bit boring and dowdy, the W204 was most certainly not. For the facelift, Merc has seen fit not to alter the exterior too much, even if it has made no less than 2,000 component changes to the car, thereby retaining the shape’s poise and character.

The front is where it’s most noticeable. For starters, there’s a redesigned bumper, which has a more expressive and dynamic contour, the front section being brought closer to the brand’s new design idiom. As a central element at the front, the shape of the radiator grille is more prominently supported by the bumper, and the central air intake opens out upwards in a V-shape, forming a visual base unit for the radiator grille.

Meanwhile, pronounced side sections on the bumper extend from the sporty V-shape at the centre; these sections – beneath the headlamps – blend into the feature lines along the vehicle flanks, creating a better link with the sides. Lastly, the side air inlets in the bumper are positioned low down, to give the car a more road-hugging appearance.

There’s also a new aluminium bonnet, chosen for its lightweight properties and contoured around the headlamps and radiator grille in such a manner that it emphasises the V-shape of the front section more prominently than before. Aluminium as material also features on the front wings and the door modules.

Elsewhere, the headlamps have also been redesigned, and the new shape creates a more dynamic and resolute impression, so Merc says, aiding the rest of the front’s new cast to get the V-shape going further. The bi-xenons – which now feature the Intelligent Light System (ILS) as standard – has some rather subtle design cues, including a position light with a distinctive C-shape.

As is now the standard, LEDs feature prominently – the lower section of the headlamp is formed by a horizontal broadband LED indicator unit, and on the bumper sits LED daytime running lamps.

Not much change in the rear, with just the tail lamps and rear bumper being reworked. For the latter, the light-catching contours and dividing lines have been modified to emphasise the width of the car even more. As for the tail lights, a continuous covering lens helps neaten their integration into the tail end, and the use of LEDs again feature prominently, offering a high recognition factor in the dark.

As before, the radiator grille helps differentiate the models, the C250 wearing one with a sizeable tristar slapped on it, while the C200 makes do with a more civil looking one, its Merc logo sitting on top of the bonnet.

Wheels also help signify the difference – both wear 17-inchers, the C250 being a 5-twinspoke design (with staggered 225/45 front and 245/40 rear rubbers) while the C200′s is a 7-twinspoke pattern, wrapped in 225/45 series tyres.

Still, the exterior work doesn’t change things much from an overall perspective, at least not to those who don’t know what they’re looking at. Aside from the front, the side profile and rear view offer very little to the uninitiated that this is the facelift. During the media drive up to Ipoh last week, hardly anyone took notice of the car, though on the return trip, I did catch one person checking the car out whilst on the move, and it happened to be a pre-facelift owner, chugging along in his W204 C200 CGI.

Inside though, there’s no mistaking what exactly this one is. It’s where everything’s happening, so much so, what’s been slapped on makes the pre-facelift model’s interior look a bit shabby when you explore it now. The new dashboard leads the way, and its more angular lines that offers a more focused presentation. Styling-wise, the fascia follows on that found on the W212 E-Class.

Gone is the central pop-up lid in the pre-facelift model, which hid the COMAND LCD screen – I always thought it was a bit gimmicky and plasticky, and the open configuration sitting underneath the stepped extension to the instrument cluster now offers a far more pleasant view, and not just from a legibility point of view.

The trim and choice of material have also been significantly improved. If there was one major thing to pick about the old car’s interior, aside from the aspects of design and layout, it would be that things felt a bit cheap (not tacky), and not truly befitting of the car.

Now, texture to both sight and touch have taken a big jump – the surfaces of the control elements are more finely detailed and galvanised, the upper dashboard section wears a new surface grain, and there’s more decorative trim to be found on the dash (specifically, into the passenger side area), among other things.

Some of the changes are imperceptible, especially if you’re not familiar with that on the old – the rotary volume control knob’s weighing as you turn the dial is now heavier and offers a better tactile feel, for one. Others are easier to spot – there’s a new instrument cluster, with its three tube-style surrounds dressed in a galvanised surface, featuring an integral colour display in conjunction with a completely redesigned multi-function 12-button steering wheel.

Speaking of the steering wheel, the C200 CGI gets a four-spoke one, replete with a chromed trim panels for the controls, while the C250 CGI has a new generation three-spoke steering wheel, first seen in the new CLS. The three-spoker is a delight to the eye and hand, offering good ergonomics and fit at its 3-9 contact point area.

The updated C-Class continues with two lines. Going the Elegance route with the C200 bags you dark brown burr walnut wood trim as well as an instrument cluster with a cream backplate, and there seems to be a choice of interior colour combinations to be had – the two C200 examples I hopped into had different ones, one in black and the other, cream. The seam outlines are also in a contrasting light grey, less noticeable on the cream-based interior. Meanwhile, the darkened interior of the C250 gets brushed aluminium trim, a silver backplate for the cluster and horizontally stitching for its seat rests and backs.

With the different routes also comes different outputs. While both variants wear the M271 DEH four-cylinder 1.8 litre, direct injection, turbocharged engine, the state of output tunes naturally differ. For the C200, this is 184 hp at 5,250 rpm and 270 Nm at 1,800-2,500 rpm, while the C250 has 204 hp at 5,500 rpm and 310 Nm at 2,000-4,300 rpm.

Performance specs include a 0-100 kph time of 7.8 seconds and a 235 kph top speed for the C200, while the C250 is a shade quicker at 7.2 seconds and 240 kph. In essence, the engines remain unchanged for the makeover.

New though is the inclusion of a 7G-Tronic Plus seven-speed auto transmission to replace the five-speed in the pre-facelift, and both versions get it (the C230, incidentally, featured a seven-speeder). With wider gear ratios, an improved Sport/Eco shift programme and greater mechanical damper insulation, the improved NAG II FE+ box – with an overall ratio optimised for fuel economy – promises improved drive feel. In terms of fuel economy, MB says that the facelifted C-Class variants offer a 13% improvement over their pre-facelift siblings.

Other items on the equipment list include new driving assistance systems from Adaptive Highbeam Assist and Attention Assist to Parking Guidance for the Parktronic system, as well as a new telematics generation offering new features such as phone book transfer, display of SMS messages, wireless music reproduction via Bluetooth and a USB interface that is now accommodated in the centre armrest.

Besides a Dynamic Handling Package, the C250 also comes with built-in navigation and a COMAND Online multimedia system; as its name suggests, internet access – via your mobile phone connection – is provided in the C-Class for the first time, though surfing is limited to only when the car is stationary.

All that out of the way, it’s time to find out how it all fared in use, even if a short media drive isn’t going to be all too all-encompassing. Having jumped into the drive directly off a long-haul flight in the same morning, there was little to suggest that anything had radically changed performance-wise upon first measure – the outward bound journey was made in a C250, and it felt very much like the pre-facelift in its dynamic qualities and character behaviour.

The car felt brisk enough on the highway, pretty much what I remembered the previous CGI version to be in terms of zip, a bit on the raw side when pushed, but efficient nonetheless. The steering remains lightweight in feel and feedback – it’s fast enough (a bit skittish at speed, even), but there’s none of the directness and information coming off it you’d find on a Munich equivalent, and we’re not talking merely about weight here.

Now, one can argue that for most C-Class drivers, this is hardly going to be anything they’d fuss about. I do think the new three-spoke steering wheel is the bee’s knees though; sure, the grip isn’t as meaty as a Veedub’s, but it’s an absolute gem to hold.

Switching on the Sport mode out on the open road proved to be a quick affair, in that switching it back off came very quickly after – going in a straight line is hardly the terrain to try out firming up the suspension. We’ll get to that when the car comes in for a more complete test session.

In the end, there was only one corner that offered the chance to push, a hairpin that the car aced comfortably (pardon the term) with Sport mode on. Still, you always get the feeling that prodding the C into corners isn’t exactly what it’s all about and why you’d buy one in the first place.

The return journey the next day, in the C200, proved how much of a cruiser this one is – I drove back alone, my driving partner having hightailed out earlier in another car. With the effects of jet lag still plenty in evidence, the drive home – at mixed speeds – turned out to be effortless, and that I came out of it no more worse for wear than I already was at that stage is testament to the car’s ability to soak it all up. Of note is the seat comfort levels, which are high. Granted, Ipoh isn’t exactly Mars, but a couple of hundred clicks when you’re tired feels a bit like it.

If there’s an area where performance has improved, then it has to be with the seven-speeder, which smoothens things out considerably and adds further to the C’s refinement levels. In terms of response, it’s far more rapid than the old five-speed box, for sure.

Having spent a fair amount of time in it, the new interior is, simply put, fetching. The switchgear feels good to the touch, and the new instrument cluster and LCD screen is well easy on the eye. In all, the entire bag of tricks really does make the reworked C a far plusher offering than before.

In 2007, when the C-Class first arrived here, I decided to pit it against the BMW E90 3 Series in a two-way comparo for the publication I worked for then (to kick-start shootouts there; it had never been done in the newspaper, and it’s not something that will be done now), and with three different drivers providing their opinions, the C200 K ended up ahead of the 320i as the preferred choice for all three reviewers, which was a revelation to us.

Yes, the 3er ran rings around the C in drive dynamics and left it trailing doing all the ham-fisted stuff – feedback to input, progression, steering, traction, linearity, the BMW simply ticked off all the boxes ahead of the Merc. But it was also less forgiving in its character, less compliant on the whole and certainly less comfortable in an urban environment on a day-to-day basis.

As much as the E90 had eminent drivability (if lacking in power) and appealed to the driver in me, the balanced – and arguably, better – temperament of the W204 was hard to ignore. Certainly, given that most owners don’t drive their cars like they stole it, you can see where we all ended up, the cruiser winning the vote over the bruiser.

Nearly four years on, I’d like to believe that things haven’t really changed all that much. Undoubtedly, the arrival of the F30 will bring about another change in the landscape and perspective, but for now, the status quo remains. One where the choice is made with the heart, and one made with the head, as before. And you can call me soft, but if done once more, I’d know which one I would pick. Again.

C200 CGI

C250 CGI

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Rosberg to drive Fangio’s 1954 Mercedes at Nurburgring

Danny Tan — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:04:10 +0000

Fangio en route to victory at the Argentinean GP in January 1955. Click to enlarge

Mercedes GP Petronas driver Nico Rosberg will have the honour of driving Juan Manuel Fangio’s 1954 Mercedes on the Nurburging’s old Nordschleife layout this weekend at the German GP.

It will be a great moment for the crowd and the young driver. 57 years ago, Fangio won the German GP at the wheel of his Mercedes W196 race car, the second of his four triumphs that year for Mercedes, en route to the title.

Back in 1954, the Argentinean won the race in a time of just over 3 hours 45 minutes around the famous 22.8 km track. Throughout his racing career, Fangio won five F1 world titles in cars from four different manufacturers, and is one of the sport’s greats. He passed away in 1995, and would have turned 100 this year.

“Coming to the Nurburgring for the German Grand Prix always feels very special to me. There is so much history around this amazing track, especially for Mercedes-Benz with great drivers from the past having had such successful times on the Nurburgring and the legendary Nordschleife,” Rosberg said.

Will stepping into the legend’s car around the legendary track give Nico a boost in the race? The magic worked at the previous race for Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who got to sample the 375 F1 which Jose Froilan Gonzalez drove to the Scuderia’s first championship victory in the 1951 British GP. He then went on to win at Silverstone. Rosberg’s best showing so far at his home race was a fourth place for Williams in 2009.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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Daimler and Bosch form JV to manufacture electric motors

Danny Tan — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:09:37 +0000

Daimler AG and Robert Bosch GmbH have agreed to join forces to develop and manufacture electric motors for Mercedes-Benz and Smart cars. The 50:50 joint venture company will be called EM-motive GmbH, with headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Hildesheim plus an engineering site located close to the parent companies in the Stuttgart area.

Some 100 employees are expected to start working for EM-motive from the fourth quarter of this year. Production is scheduled to begin in 2012 and the motor will debut in the full electric version of the new-generation Smart ForTwo, which goes on sale early next year. The electric motor will also be sold to interested parties, something Bosch will handle.

“Like lithium-ion batteries, electric motors are key components for our electric vehicles. It is extremely important that competence in this field is maintained in Germany. In joining forces with Bosch, we have now teamed up with a long-standing partner, and are confident that this move will lead to outstanding results,” said Prof. Dr. Herbert Kohler, VP of e-drive & Future Mobility in Group Research & Advanced Engineering and Chief Environmental Officer of Daimler.

This JV is expected to churn out more than 1 million electric motors by 2020.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:55:33 +0000.

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