Special exhibition at the Mercedes-Benz Museum: Mercedes-Benz S-Class – always ahead of the times

In 2013, the spotlight is on the new S-Class from Mercedes-Benz: the latest generation had its world premiere some weeks ago. The special exhibition “Mercedes-Benz S-Class – always ahead of its time” at the Mercedes-Benz Museum presents the history of this very superior model series in all its glory. The exhibition is to run from 18 June to 3 November 2013.

“Throughout the world, the S-Class from Mercedes-Benz is a byword for luxury, comfort and safety. This model series has always set standards for overall passenger car development,” says Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic and Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Museum GmbH. “The special exhibition presents the course of development over the past 110 years and demonstrates in impressive style why the S-Class is considered to be the quintessential automobile. Visitors to the Museum will be able to embark on a fascinating time trip extending from 1904 to the new S-Class of 2013.”

The unparalleled diversity of the luxury series from Mercedes-Benz becomes apparent in Collection room 5, where eleven impressive vehicles, a 1:1 clay model and realistic interior exhibits and wall graphics form the core of the special exhibition. The early years of the exclusive line's family tree are represented by the model 770 “Grand Mercedes” (W 07) from 1931 and the model 320 “Motorway Courier” (W 142) from 1939. The somewhat younger forebears are lined up in chronological order next to these venerable old specimens: a model 300 “Adenauer” (W 189) from 1959, a 300 SE (W 112) from 1964, a 280 SE (W 108) from 1970, a 450 SEL 6.9 (model series 116) from 1977, a 500 SEL (model series 126) from 1983, a long-wheelbase S 320 (model series 140) from 1998, an S 400 CDI (model series 220) from 2000 and an S 400 HYBRID (model series 221) from 2008.

Encounters with the S-Class are not limited to Collection room 5, however. For the first time, exhibits from the permanent exhibition have been integrated into the special exhibition. Nine representatives of the “S-Class” family line the way through the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Interactive info steles in the various Legend rooms establish the respective links to the special exhibition. One such exhibit to be found en route through the Museum is the Mercedes Simplex 60 hp in Legend room 2, which goes right back to 1904. The comfortable “touring saloon” was once owned by businessman Emil Jellinek - father of Mercedes Jellinek, from whom the “Mercedes” brand took its name. The “S” was not actually incorporated into the designation for the luxury saloons from Mercedes-Benz until 1972, when model series 116, setting new standards in design, comfort and safety, was officially referred to as the “S-Class” for the first time. The last S-Class of the current model series rolled of the production line at the Sindelfingen plant on 3 June 2013 and proceeded directly to the Museum: the S 500 4-MATIC is on show in the entrance area.

The special exhibition is accompanied by a special guided tour (at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesdays, approx. 75 minutes, 4 euros plus admission). A poster featuring a gallery depicting the history of the S-Class and a comprehensive brochure with additional video material which is available to smartphone users via an augmented reality app enable visitors to take a piece of automobile history home with them.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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Sir Stirling Moss backs ‘fellow Mercedes driver’ Lewis Hamilton ahead of the British Grand Prix

British Grand Prix winners past (1955 & 1957) and present (2008) join forces to preview the FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX.

Racing legend Sir Stirling Moss OBE - the last Mercedes-Benz driver to win the British Grand Prix, in 1955 - has backed 2008 Formula 1™ World Champion, British Grand Prix winner and current MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS driver Lewis Hamilton MBE for success at this year’s FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX. With just four weeks until the British Grand Prix Sir Stirling and Hamilton joined forces at Silverstone today to voice their support for the UK’s flagship motorsport event, taking place on 28-30 June.

The two British Grand Prix winners were accompanied by a replica of the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One car which, in just six races in the 2013 season, has secured four pole positions and three podium finishes, including the recent victory for Nico Rosberg at the Monaco Grand Prix. The Brackley-based team is showing its strongest form since its return to Formula 1™ as a manufacturer in 2010, and is aiming to take the fight to its championship rivals in their home race at Silverstone.

Also on display at Silverstone was the stunning Mercedes-Benz W 196; the revered Mercedes-Benz factory team’s contender, tailor-made to contest the Formula 1™ World Championship in 1954. It is the very car that won Grands Prix in Germany and Switzerland at the hands of five-time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio in 1954, and the same model as the car raced by Sir Stirling Moss at the British Grand Prix in 1955 – his first ever F1™ World Championship victory. The spectacular 2.5-litre Mercedes-Benz historic racing car is set to go under the hammer at a public auction, held by Bonhams, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 12 July.

A win for Hamilton would be the first for Mercedes-Benz at the British Grand Prix since Moss in 1955. While his MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team will be hoping to emulate the success of the W 196 in front of a passionate crowd on 30 June, Hamilton would love to follow Sir Stirling and achieve his second British Grand Prix win.

Speaking at the British Grand Prix preview, Hamilton said: “Winning the British Grand Prix in 2008 was an incredible moment for me. I’ve been aiming to repeat it every year since and I’d love to achieve what Sir Stirling did and win my second race at Silverstone. We have a good car this year so I hope we can do it and it would be great to make the team proud at my home race. Silverstone is so special for the British drivers and the weekend is made by the amazing support from our home fans. The atmosphere, the flags flying around the circuit and just seeing everyone supporting us really does lift you. I hope we can put on a good show for them and we’ll be pushing as hard as possible to give them a great weekend.”

Predicting success for Lewis Hamilton at this year’s British Grand Prix preview, Sir Stirling said: “I think Lewis has a very good chance of winning the British Grand Prix this year. It’s not going to be easy and there are a lot of other good drivers out there trying to stop him, but he’s a very fast driver, exciting to watch, and the car he’s got is as good as any of them. He’s in with a good chance.

“Winning the British Grand Prix meant a lot to me. I won in this Mercedes-Benz W 196 in 1955, just before the very last corner. It really was a very special day. I remember it quite well; I’d caught up with Fangio and overtaken him in traffic; as we went round the last corner I put my foot flat on the floor and took the chequered flag. I finished literally half a car length in front.

“Taking a look at Lewis’ car today, there’s no way would I get in it; but then he said the same thing about mine! He asked where the seatbelts were – we didn’t wear seatbelts!

“The atmosphere at the British Grand Prix will be fantastic. There’ll be some great racing at Silverstone; the public that come here always have a great time. It will also be the last chance to come and listen to the 2.4 litre V8s screaming around this wonderful circuit. The fans really have got to come and see it.”

~ Official photos and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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24h Race at Nürburgring: Special test comparison between a Formula 1 Silver Arrow and Mercedes-AMG cars

As part of the programme for the 24-hour race on 19th May 2013, Mercedes-Benz will put on a special event highlight for fans at the Nürburgring: during a high-performance demonstration, four Mercedes-AMG vehicles will go up against Michael Schumacher in a Formula 1 Silver Arrow. The vehicles will start at different times in front of the Mercedes-Benz grandstand but will cross the finish line simultaneously. The Mercedes-AMGs will be driven by: Formula 1 star Nico Rosberg, DTM record-breaking champion Bernd Schneider, ex-Formula 1 and DTM driver Karl Wendlinger and by the official driver of the Formula 1 Safety Car Bernd Mayländer.

The first vehicle to go out on track will be an A 45 AMG driven by Bernd Mayländer, followed by: Karl Wendlinger in the E 63 AMG S, Nico Rosberg in the SLS AMG Black Series, and Bernd Schneider in an SLS AMG GT3.

Finally, Michael Schumacher will set off in a Formula 1 Silver Arrow on the 20.832km lap around the Nordschleife (excluding grand prix circuit). On this special occasion, the Formula 1 record world champion will be the first driver to cover the Nordschleife in a state-of-the-art Silver Arrow since Juan Manuel Fangio in 1954.

Michael Schumacher: “This Mercedes AMG Performance Drive will be simply great, affording spectators at the 24-hour race a really top-class spectacle. Driving around the Nordschleife in a Formula 1 car will be an unforgettable experience both for me and for the motor racing fans. The legendary Nordschleife, famous throughout the world, is the perfect place for this demo, and the Mercedes-Benz vehicles taking part are all fascinating, powerful cars, a unique parade for all the spectators and car enthusiasts gathered there as they hurtle past.”

Nico Rosberg: “The Nürburgring will play host to two super motor racing events with the 24-hour race and this year’s Formula 1 Grand Prix. Our Mercedes-AMG Performance Drive on the Nordschleife with five Mercedes-Benz cars makes a fantastic warm-up for both events. It will be interesting to see how long Michael can delay starting before catching up with us at the finish. As for me personally, I am, of course, really looking forward to the German Formula 1 race in the Eifel (5th-7th July, but this too is going to be a fantastic weekend and I hope that many of the fans present for the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring will be on hand to cheer us in our Silver Arrows.”

The vehicles and their drivers

Car: Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG (360bhp, 0-100km/h: 4.6secs), Driver: Bernd Mayländer.
Car: Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S (585bhp, 0-100 km/h: 3.6secs), Driver: Karl Wendlinger.
Car: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 (more than 500bhp), Driver: Bernd Schneider.
Car: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series (631bhp, 0-100 km/h: 3.6secs), Driver: Nico Rosberg.
Vehicle: MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS F1 W02 (approx. 750bhp, 0-100 km/h: 2.7secs), Driver: Michael Schumacher.

~ Official photos and details courtesy of Mercedes-AMG GmbH and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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The new Mercedes-Benz Econic: Innovative, efficient, ergonomic and environmentally acceptable

That the new Econic has quite a number of important other innovations apart from the environmentally acceptable high performance Euro VI engines can be seen at first glance by the modern design of the low entry cab – the heart of the Econic concept. The spacious cab with its ergonomic entry and exit has been rigorously upgraded with a much more advanced design to make working a great deal more efficient. There are also innovations on the chassis – the wide range of chassis versions allow the Econic to be used for a very wide variety of applications. The new arrangement of the power units behind the cab as well as other alterations to the frame makes mounting bodies easier. Despite the increased weight or additional Euro VI components it has been possible to retain the payload as it was up to now by weight-saving measures on chassis and frame. A great number of components have been taken from the volume manufacturing of the large-scale truck production such as the electronic systems, chassis components, new drivetrain and operating controls. Altogether the Econic is a completely new vehicle with the exception of the time-tried bodyshell of the cab.

The cab with a modern design, ergonomic and designed for the job

At the very first glance it is quite clear that the new Econic is a member of the new Mercedes-Benz truck family. The new radiator grille, the stronger bumpers and standard LED daytime running lamps identify the modern design of the Econic cab.

The new arrangement immediately catches the eye when getting into the low entry cab, which could be retained despite the required additional vehicle components needed to comply with the new Euro VI emission standards.

Econic drivers and crew will really appreciate the new cab with its time-tried low entry and the unusually spacious working area it provides. The completely revised cockpit with its new multifunction steering wheel allowing the instrument cluster display and the radio to be reached even more easily, as well as the switches which can be individually assigned and placed, give the driver the best working conditions.

The relocation of the parking brake and transmission controls at the same height as the steering wheel makes them easier to use, safer and more ergonomic. There is more stowage space with the lockable stowage compartments over the passenger seats and the cup holder integrated in the central console. Behind the passenger seats there is also more space for storing up to three bottles.

Other highlights in the cab are the new arrangement of the air vents and the electric sunblind which give the cab a much better working atmosphere in combination with the better insulation of the cab and engine tunnel, and of course, obviously, the low entry with the fully-glazed bi fold door on the side away from the traffic.

Reduction of emissions and particulate matter about 90 percent in comparison with Euro V

The European emission standards Euro VI really mean no less than a reduction of emissions and particulate matter by a total of 90 percent in comparison with Euro V. An important role on the way there has been played by the design of the greatly improved cooling system which deals efficiently with the additional cooling needed by the exhaust gas recirculation. In addition to the exhaust gas recirculation within the engine, the exhaust gas is cleaned by the closed particulate matter filter, AdBlue injection and the SCR catalytic converter. The BlueTec 6 filter systems are integrated in an exhaust gas aftertreatment unit with automatic electronic controls which regulate the cleaning of the exhaust gas with a multitude of engine and work parameters as required.

Up to four percent savings in fuel consumption

Just as with its volume-manufactured opposite numbers from Atego to Actros, Mercedes-Benz has also succeeded with the technological feat of using less fuel despite the greater energy and costs needed for cleaning the exhaust gas. Up to four percent fuel savings and up to 40 percent less AdBlue is the result. With its greater reliability and longer service intervals the repair and maintenance costs are also reduced, making the Econic more cost-effective than ever.

Two six-cylinder, 7.7 l OM 936 LA engines are used in the Econic with a basic output of 220 kW (299 hp) and a peak performance of 260 kW (354 hp). The new in-line engines deserve best marks in their class straightaway for all aspects. Construction features such as the cam shaft with shrunk on cam, forged and bolted conrod as well as a crankshaft designed for the greatest rigidity make it quite clear: these engines have been designed for a long, successful and efficient working life.

More output with lower rpm

The engine has been tuned exactly for the demanding work done by the Econic with top rpm of 1200 Nm or 1400 Nm. To sum up: the engines supply greater output with lower rpm. The modern Econic Euro VI engines also achieve very good results for their braking performance with the engine brake. 235 kW/2500 min braking power is available thanks to a double paced decompression engine brake. When the new standard engine brake is used, there will be less wear on the brake linings of the disc brakes installed on all axles and the temperature will also be clearly reduced.

Automatic transmission with new Eco-software

One great challenge to engine and transmission during the day-to-day work of the Econic is the stop-and-go traffic encountered in inner cities. That is why the Econic drivetrain also includes the six-gear automatic Allison transmission used up to now – and there could hardly be a more pleasant way of winding one’s way through dense city traffic. The automatic transmission also proves its ability for instance during the frequent stops and starts, e.g. for waste collection. The new generation Econic has been given the transmission fitted with Eco-software which saves fuel and gives a more comfortable ride.

The new Econic with gas-driven engine

Mercedes-Benz regards sustainability and conservation of resources as having a firm place in the company philosophy. Since 2002 and with more than a thousand vehicles, the Econic NGT has been operating successfully in many different countries. Whether it is fuelled with natural fossil gas or regenerative biogas, the Econic complies with the required emission standards on all counts and helps to make congested inner cities cleaner and more environmentally friendly. This is why Mercedes‑Benz is working on more advanced designs for the gas engine based on the new state-of-the-art generation of engine to comply with Euro VI emission standards.

Successful model with a great variety of versions

Initially the Econic will be supplied with 4x2, 6x4 and 6x2/4 axle configurations, with electro hydraulically progressive steered leading and trailed axles in the permitted gross vehicle weights 18 and 26 tonnes. As an option, it is possible to order specially customised vehicles tailored to the customer’s requirements. The two and three-axle versions are also available with various wheelbases – from compact and manoeuvrable with a length of 3450 mm up to 5700 mm. The cab is also available with two different heights: high (1745 mm interior height) and low (1295 mm). The heart of the Econic concept – since its introduction in 1998 more than 12,500 units have been produced – is the ergonomic low entry and very spacious cab with a one-step entry. This is a great improvement in working conditions, and also health wise, for any job where driver and crew have to leave the cab frequently. The Econic concept is long since a synonym for vehicles used for collection and delivery services.

Econic chassis: Versatile and with good body-mounting features

As the Econic can provide very different individual solutions for a wide number of different sectors, the current alterations to the chassis are of great importance for the body building industry. For instance, the Econic is used by Local Authorities for waste collection or sweeping vehicles, by delivery companies for food and drinks, as well as by fire services with a turntable ladder or as an auxiliary fire-extinguishing vehicle. In addition, the Econic is also used successfully as a tank or catering vehicle at airports. Uninterrupted hole-patterns in the side supports allow the position of the rear cross member of the chassis to be adjusted, and together with the new arrangement for the power units behind the cab makes mounting bodies easier and provides more space. And on top of that, the allowed weight for the front axle has been increased to eight tonnes.

Safety is very important for the new Econic

Time-tried and central parts of the Econic safety concept such as the low and easy entry and exit, the air suspension (which helps to keep the crew healthy), the large panoramic windscreen with its mirror system as well as the fully-glazed electro pneumatically operated bi-fold door on the passenger side away from the traffic all help to contribute both to the safety of the crew as well of other traffic and passers-by. The stability control system (ESP), introduced at an earlier date than legally required, makes the new Econic safer just like the electro pneumatic brake. These systems now supplement the existing anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the acceleration skid control (ASR) which play a central role in the Econic safety concept.

The Econic is also looked after perfectly as far as servicing, trouble diagnosis or repairs are concerned as Mercedes-Benz has over 1800 service stations in more than 130 countries to make sure that if need be the vehicles will be taken care of and kept in top condition. Special service packages and financial services round off the customer care.

To sum up, it is clear that the new Econic is setting new standards as far as economic efficiency, environmental acceptability, ergonomics and safety are concerned.

Credits: Daimler AG

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