Off Road Award: Mercedes-Benz Unimog is off-road vehicle of the year 2013

For the ninth time running the readers of the "Off Road" trade magazine have voted the Mercedes‑Benz Unimog best off-road vehicle of the year in the "Special vehicles" category. The vote for the "Off-road vehicle of the year 2013" covered thirteen categories with off-road vehicles from 53 manufacturers. Over 74,000 votes were submitted for 125 vehicles. The Unimog came took first place in the special vehicles category with an outstanding 31.1 % of readers' votes.

Unimog model series completely redesigned in 2013

After a ten-year production period, the Unimog model series were presented in 2013 with a completely redesigned interior and exterior. The implement carriers with the model designations U 216 to U 423 and U 530, as well as the Unimog extreme off-roaders U 4023 and U 5023 are equipped with modern Euro VI engines featuring outputs of up to 220 kW (299 hp) on the U 530 and 170 kW (231 hp) on the U 5023. The first figure of the model designation indicates the size (for example 4 corresponds to the earlier Unimog U 400) whilst the following two figures indicate the first two digits of the output in hp, i.e. 23 for 230 hp.

Unimog extreme off-roader – the classic

The cab of the Unimog extreme off-roader is a classic – it has defined the appearance of the Unimog since 1974. The development engineers were tasked with fitting the Euro VI technology beneath this cab. Their success lay in fitting the engine one metre further back below the cab. The length of the new cab was increased by 120 millimetres and slightly raised in comparison to its predecessor. The "Tirecontrol Plus" tyre pressure control system has been completely re-designed. A pre-set tyre pressure suitable for any operation can now be selected simply and conveniently in the display with the help of the "Road", "Sand" and "Rough road" programs. On the exterior, the dynamically designed radiator grille and the new bumper with modern lights show at first glance that the new generation of Unimog is at work.

The frame drop is now also further back because of this new central engine position and as a result the vehicle's centre of gravity is lower whilst retaining high ground clearance which, amongst other things, improves driving characteristics during off-road operation.

The implement carriers with their large windscreen for a clear view of the snow plough in winter and the mower in summer have received, amongst other things, a redesigned clear-view cab with a completely new instrument panel, new systems for the working and power hydraulics as well as the synergetic traction drive which allows the driver to switch between manual transmission and hydrostatic drive whilst driving.

Off Road magazine has been holding a reader's vote for off-road vehicle of the year since 1982.

Credits: Daimler AG

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

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Daimler at re:publica 2013: What moves us tomorrow?

Where will the increasing connectivity of the automobile lead on to? Will there still be traffic accidents in the future? And will the car possibly even take the wheel? These and other exciting questions Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, is asked at the re:publica, one of the biggest conferences of the European digital society. Among others, topics such as communication between vehicles or autonomous driving are in the center of the discussion. In addition, new mobility services like car2go and moovel are looked at from various angles.

The two founders of the re:publica, Andreas Gebhard and Johnny Haeusler, confirm: “Mobility is changing, that is beyond question. But how and what that means for all of us leaves definitely room for speculation. The more we look forward to the insights and perspectives of our partner Daimler what will be possible in the future. And maybe the future is closer than we assume.”

Under the motto IN/SIDE/OUT the Internet-oriented audience of the re:publica immerses from 6-8 May in Berlin into a world of curious questions and creative answers about the issues of politics and science, business and society. More than 350 national and international speakers offer the expected 5,000 visitors a varied program on seven stages and four workshop areas.

For the second time Business Innovation - the Daimler Lab for innovative business models – supports the re:publica as partner. As last year, the dialogue with the participants has priority at the Daimler booth. Under the motto “What moves us tomorrow?” the talks and discussions are recorded live with the help of Visual Recording techniques. Another element of the booth is an installation of www.moovel.com . The platform combines the services of different mobility providers for the optimal way from A to B - the user-friendly app links individual and public transport. Moovel started in July 2012 in Stuttgart and in October 2012 in Berlin. Since end of April 2013 moovel can be used in the area of Rhine and Ruhr as well.

In addition, Alexander Mankowsky from Research Society and Technology of Daimler AG deals in one of the workshops on May 7 with the question: “Does the digital conquer the analog worlds? From coexistence to disruption”. Together with Prof. Erich Schöls of the Steinbeis Research Center Design and Systems the futurologist discusses about the opportunities that may arise from disruptive innovations.

Credits: Daimler AG

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

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