It has been confirmed: there will be no Mercedes-Fiat tie-up to expect in the near future. The German-established maker of luxury cars has ended their talks with the Italian Fiat. The two carmakers were supposed to establish a union to create a new fleet of small cars. But according to a report by Edmunds and Inside Line, Mercedes Benz saw that the cost advantages for their tie-up with Fiat were too slim. This decision came after Mercedes Benz studied what the Mercedes A and B-Class models would look like when fused with the future models of Fiat Punto and Bravo.

“The Italians produce small cars at a greater cost than we do,” a senior Mercedes Benz manager commented in the said article. Just as well, it has been surmised that Mercedes Benz and Fiat differ greatly in their carmaking techniques and philosophies in quality. This could also be a major reason as to why the partnership never saw its beginning.

According to Edmund’s, the move was a part of the cost-cutting CORE program that was instigated by Chairman Dieter Zetsche. For some time now, the German carmaker is openly looking for a partner to share the costs of developing a successor to its entry-level A-Class line. The company has had its hopes for Fiat’s expertise in the small-car segment to bring a major boost in efficiency, but as the news states today, they failed to do so.

Hence, the automotive industry is quite on the egde of its seat as there is a possibility for Mercedes Benz to talk with its long-time nemesis BMW, for a possible cooperation. This hypothesis is all the more hyped up since both BMW and Mercedes have been looking for partners to help reduce the cost in making small cars. Will this tie-up be happening anytime soon? We shall see.

Source:  Edmunds.com

As carmakers continue to develop cars, emission is one problem that they have been trying to solve along with their progression. But, with varied types of cars and varied type of emission standards, it is not surprising that carmakers would soon want solid, harmonized emissions standards. Mercedes Benz is one of them. The world-class German automaker is now calling upon the authorities to make global emissions standards harmonized, as well as test cycles and fuel quality.

According to a report done by roadtransport.com, Mercedes Benz head of the truck division Andreas Renschler explained the painful tasks that their trucks go through in order to be sold. Since Mercedes Benz creates trucks and then sells them in a global automotive market, this means that they would have to comply with different sets of emissions standards. “The current system doesn’t make engine development easy,” Renschler was quoted saying in the report. ”We need uniform standards to allow us to use economies of scale.”

At the same time, Renschler is also calling out to European governments for a European-wide tax breaks for firms that were prepared to invest in Hybrid trucks, just like in Japan. “It would be a medium-term signal to our customers, and society as a whole would benefit,” Renschler said.

But these sentiments do not go for the truck division alone. They are also shared by Mercedes Benz UK commercial vehicles MD Ian Jones. For him, governments need to “give us a clear steer on where to invest”. He said this, meaning he wants to clarify the situation in terms of what the fuel of the future will be. “Everybody is nervous about spending zillions on a fuel that could be wiped out with the scratch of a pen,” he said in the same interview. “Why aren’t governments prepared to help reduce CO2?”

Source: roadtransport.com 

Car manufacturers are always coming up with the newest and most technologically advanced vehicle, often competing on what the future of cars will be. In the Los Angeles Design Challenge, held for the fourth time in the 2007 L.A. Auto Show, Mercedes Benz presented another impressive automotive vision. According to reports, this vehicle can “take on the form of a fast highway cruiser, quickly metamorphose into a compact city car, or become a roomy one-seater or economical two-seater.”

It is the SilverFlow’s magnetic control elements which makes this happen. SilverFlow is a futuristic study by Mercedes-Benz that requires only seconds to configure the car.

The Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow is one of the participants of the Los Angeles
Design Challenge to create the “Robocar 2057″, which says to combine vehicle technology and artificial intelligence. A total of eight car design studios were present. It took the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center of North America in Irvine, California, headed by Gorden Wagener to envision 50 years into the future before getting the idea for the silver and gold Vision SilverFlow car.

Reminiscent of racing cars of the 1930s, the SilverFlow is composed of billions of microscopically tiny metallic particles, formed into variable but stable configurations by magnetic fields. This will make it easier for the driver to adapt the vehicle in various forms. Its “one-seater highway configuration is aerodynamic, while the city version is short and spacious.”

With just a press of a button, the car can easily change forms. Parking is no longer a worry for motorists, for the intelligent control system will disassemble the vehicle’s structure as the ferro-magnetic particles are turned into a small, space-saving configuration. Motorists also don’t have to worry about dents and paint damages thanks to the flexible metallic particles.

Although the Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow remains in the drawing board, it proves that the future is the way to go for car manufacturers. Peter Pfeiffer, Senior Vice President Mercedes-Benz Design: “The Los Angeles Design Challenge is certainly a creative challenge with this futuristic concept. The SilverFlow reflects our successful motor sports history, while boldly suggesting innovative solutions for the individual mobility of coming generations.”

Source: http://www.duemotori.com/news/auto_news/20362_Los_Angeles_Design_Challenge_The_Mercedes-Benz_SilverFlow_can_take_on_a_wide_variety_of_forms.php

Mercedes-Benz has created an integrated marketing campaign for the launch of the new C-Class station wagon in the market on December 1, 2007. According to Due Motori, the campaign will include various communication activities across all media channels. It is also structured to help in the sales launch of the new Mercedes-Benz station wagon.

The report also said that the new station wagon will be shown on a stage, as the “star” of a modern opera in all forms of media. In order to highlight the great presence and agility of the new model, an opera theme was chosen.

“In a manner similar to the approach used with the launch of the new C-Class sedan, Mercedes-Benz is seeking to motivate existing and potential customers to experience the station wagon’s outstanding features for themselves,” says Dr. Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Along with proven traditional communication instruments, we will once again also be focusing strongly on various forms of hands-on experience with the vehicle and online communication. Measures here include exclusive driving events, a Mobile Marketing Special, and communication via innovative platforms such as Mercedes-Benz TV and FLOADED.”

The print campaign started in November 14, 2007, featuring three different ads and will be shown in high-circulation magazines and later on, in daily newspapers. The ad will show the C-Class station wagon at the center of the stage, flanked by a curtain and background scenery. An example of the message featured in an ad design is, “Act 2: A grandiose driving experience in every curve.”

The theme for the 30 or 45 seconds TV commercial will be “The Battle Against the Wind.” In the commercial, the C-Class station wagon will be depicted as battling the wind and later on becomes victorious. A storm will then rage into it, sending bolts of lightning. The C-Class will then swerve to avoid the lightning and impressively shows its agility.

For more information, visit: http://www.duemotori.com/news/auto_news/20273_Mercedes-Benz_Launches_Marketing_Campaign_for_New_C-Class_Station_Wagon.php

Channel News Asia recently reported that the design team of Mercedes-Benz has come to Singapore to showcase its past, present and future designs.

Dubbed as “Design With A Heritage,” the presentation will give attendants a look on the work that makes Mercedes-Benz what it is today.

The presentation will also displays the evolution of the vehicle and will take a sneak peek on future concepts and design as the open house keep the philosophy of “A Mercedes-Benz always looks like a Mercedes-Benz.”

Some lucky Nanyang Academy Fine Arts (NAFA) design students were able to participate in the Mercedes-Benz branding competition.

The open house will be on November 17 and 18 held at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Gallery 1 and 2. Meanwhile, the seminars are open to the public as well as viewing design materials. They are also welcome to participate in think-tank concepts application, computer-aided design tools and clay modeling demonstration.

News from: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/311701/1/.html

World car fans recently reported and showed a picture of the new Mercedes-Benz CLS. The four door CLS coupe got its very first restyling after four years. The CLS was first introduced in 2004 and the new model is set to come out in the spring of 2008. World car fans was lucky to spot the new Mercedes-Benz CLS on the streets of Stuttgart.

It was reported that the new CLS had some distinguishable exterior modifications such as new front and rear bumpers as well as a “two-chrome bar” front grille, along with new tail lights.

CLS is one of Mercedes-Benz’s successful vehicles; for it has sold roughly 60,000 units annually.

News from: http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071112.011/spied-cls-facelift-undisguised

Market watch recently reported that Daimler AG will be spreading its green invasion globally by focusing on hybrid technology ‘reducing the emissions and fuel consumption of commercial vehicles.’
“Hybrid technology plays a key role in these vehicles, as it can reduce diesel consumption by up to 30%,” Daimler said in a statement.
Hybrids generate its power from an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. According to the report, Daimler is the world’s biggest producer of commercial vehicles by sales. It is also said that Daimler’s initiative will include all of its networked research and development activities particularly its alternative drives and fuels for all of the brands at Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses.
In a press conference in Stuttgart, head of Daimler Trucks Andreas Renschler announced that due to the growing demand in Brazil, Russia, India and China, the global market for commercial vehicles is expected to rise by 50% over the next ten years. Renschler also said that he is confident that the overall truck market in 2008 will be good.
According to Daimler, by 2008, its customers will get a chance to will test the Mercedes-Benz Atego BlueTec Hybrid and Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid. Meanwhile, 10 Canter Eco Hybrids will be test by European customers from 2008 onwards.
“Daimler plans to employ alternative drive systems in additional vehicle models and regions, focusing primarily on hybrids. In North America, Freightliner will manufacture 1,500 M2 hybrid trucks over the next three years and also produce a hybrid version of a Thomas Built school bus,” the company said in the statement.

The first Mercedes-Benz Atego BlueTec Hybrids will land in Europe, particularly, Germany, France and the Czech Republic in 2008.

Daimler is currently looking at other means of fuel to preserve fossil sources of energy. The company sees fuels from renewable resources are vegetable oil-derived hydrated fuels and BTL, or biomass to liquid, fuels as possible solutions.

Despite the benefits from hybrid vehicles, costing a third more than diesel vehicles can pose as a problem. “Although the overall cost of ownership of hybrid vehicles is improved by their fuel savings, incentives will be needed for at least a few years following the market launch,” Daimler said.

News from: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/daimler-launches-initiative-greener-trucks/story.aspx?guid=%7B352B7489-34C5-418E-B7FC-500B9C163FF0%7D

The New Zealand Herald recently reported that Mercedes-Benz is reviving the open-top “Landaulet” along with a concept version of the Maybach 62 S sedan.

Designed as a chauffeured vehicle, the Landaulet features a sliding roof that can be completely opened at the rear and a fully closed driving compartment. It will also have a partition; with the upper portion can be opaque through the help of a liquid crystal membrane embedded in the glass. Meanwhile, the basic construction and profile of the production Maybach 62 S will remain the same.

According to the report, the black soft-top of the Landaulet will be on the frame formed by the roof bows when it is closed. Once it is time to open the top, an electro-hydraulics is used to let it rests on the parcel shelf in the rear. It will only take 16 seconds to open and close the top.

On the driver’s compartment, the interior trim is based on black piano lacquer and upholstery in black leather. Meanwhile, the passenger compartment is covered in white leather with white velour as its carpeting and a roof lined with white fabric.
Taken from the Maybach 62 S is the centerpiece in the rear console, which is made for for entertainment and communications. It will house a DVD player, six CD-changer, a cooler compartment with its own electric compressor, and an intelligent system that holds glasses, goblets and champagne bottles safely in position.

A V12 engine will power up the Maybach Landaulet. This engine was developed by Maybach engineers together with Mercedes-AMG.

Equipped with twin turbochargers and water intercooling, the V12 is capable of 450kW from 6.0 litres with a maximum torque of 1000Nm.
Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/9/story.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10475509

Mercedes-Benz is not just attracting car enthusiasts, as well as police officials. Just recently, AME info reported that the 10 Mercedes-Benz E280 were acquired by the Abu Dhabi GHQ Armed Forces Military Police through Emirates Motor Company, which is the general distributor of Daimler AG in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
“Our close relationship with the GHQ Armed Forces units and EMC’s dedication to provide the best service encouraged the governmental department to trust us in supplying them with their high maintenance vehicle requirements,” said Mr. Monzer Al Rifai, General Manager for EMC.
According to the report, the cars “were repainted as police cars and properly equipped as requested by the governmental department.”

Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/137575.html

Worldcarfans.com also reported about the new Mercedes E-Class model. The report also said that the E-Class will no longer feature the Sensotronic Brake Control (brake-by-wire) system and will instead put conventional braking methods into the car. Also, wet-weather disc wiping and wheel-selective cornering brake control is likely to be seen in this vehicle as well as Ceramic-based disc brakes.

It is said that the AMG model will have a 544 horsepower, 6.3 liter eight-cylinder engine. Meanwhile, a hybrid version of the model will also be included but when it will be available has not been said.

Various stability and safety features is said to be included in the new E-Class model like lane-departure warnings, eye-movement monitors, traffic-sign identification, and road-condition sensors.

In its exterior aspects, the E-class is said to have some restyling and may somehow have significant similarities with the S-Class such as a larger wheel-arch.

The report also said that the E-Class is believed to debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.

Source: http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071107.008/spied-every-mercedes-benz-e-class-model