It wasn't easy, but we've finally managed to catch up on the rather sizable amount of Daimler press releases we missed during our server troubles earlier in the week.  This means we can now turn our attention to the other third-party Mercedes making their debut at the International Motor Show in Geneva, starting with the above-pictured Mansory Renovatio SLR in all its golden glory.

Based of course on the Mercedes SLR McLaren, the Renovatio is the product of the design philosophy "evolution instead of revolution."  As a result, the model features a number of aerodynamic enhancements, including a carbon fiber front apron, side skirts and rear apron - all of which, while subtle, aim to add character to the already sporting lines of the standard SLR...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz At The 78th International Motor Show In Geneva: The Mansory Renovatio SLR McLaren"

The Mercedes-Benz SLR Roadster has won the cabriolet and roadster category of the prestigious "Auto 1 von Europa" ["Europe's No. 1 Car"] awards organised by leading car magazine AUTO BILD. Readers of the 26 European editions of AUTO BILD as well as an international jury of experts selected the super sports car from Stuttgart for its exceptional qualities. The award honouring the SLR Roadster as the most sought-after open-top car was presented at the Geneva International Motor Show yesterday...

Keep Reading "'AUTO 1' award for the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster: Mercedes-Benz builds Europe's best roadster"

With the opening of the “Classical : Modern II” exhibition on March 7, the Daimler Art Collection starts into the 2008 season. It is the first of four exhibitions which will be shown at the Daimler Contemporary in Haus Huth on Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz this year.

Exhibitions in 2008

The “Classical : Modern II” exhibition shows 80 works of 35 artists, most of them from southern Germany, who represent German post-war trends. Art history allocates the artists from Ackermann through to Zang to domains such as “Lyrical Abstraction”, “Informal”, “Tachism”, “Stuttgart School” and “Karlsruhe School”, “Zero” and “Zen 49”. Over and beyond this, contemporary works with references to these forerunners are displayed. The show opening tomorrow is to be seen as a sequel of the “Classical : Modern I” exhibition of 2006, which first and foremost presented Concrete and Constructivist Art, from Classical Modern through to post-war art, from the Daimler Art Collection...

Keep Reading "Daimler Art Collection: Exhibition program for 2008"

The smart fortwo’s savvy concept is designed for the city. Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH is now offering a new guide for the nimble two-seater that enables smart fortwo drivers to find their way through the urban maze of an unfamiliar city. The "portable smart navigation system II" is as extraordinary as the smart principle itself: with its optimum integration into the car, clear voice output and high-resolution TFT colour monitor, it makes mobile navigation a joy. With its state-of-the-art design it not only boasts shameless good looks, but also fits perfectly into the interior of the smart fortwo...

Keep Reading "Portable smart navigation system II for the smart fortwo: Smart guide through the concrete jungle"

To match the new look of the smart fortwo, Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH is presenting the multi-faceted Collection 2008, which underlines the urban lifestyle of the smart community with four product lines. The products featuring the brand logo and pictograms of the smart fortwo or the smart fortwo cabrio stand for innovation, functionality and joie de vivre. With their two-tone design and versatility they carry typical characteristics of the brand to the world of fashion.

The Collection 2008 for the smart fortwo comprises the four product lines "pure", "pulse", "passion" and "cabrio". Whilst "pure" puts the emphasis on the smart brand as a whole, "pulse" and "passion" feature lifestyle-oriented and sporty fashion for men and women respectively. The "cabrio" line boasts a varied range of high-quality and trendy items for the summer...

Keep Reading "The new Collection 2008 for the smart fortwo: Varied and versatile"

Daimler AG has achieved a crucial breakthrough in battery technology. The Stuttgart-based automaker is the world’s first manufacturer to have succeeded in adapting lithium-ion technology to the demanding requirements of automotive applications. Until now, the technology has been used primarily in consumer electronics. The new battery will be used in the series-production S 400 BlueHYBRID beginning next year. This important technology was possible thanks to 25 patents held by Daimler.

Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Daimler AG Board of Management and responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, says: “What we have here is a groundbreaking key technology that is going to be a decisive factor for the future success of the automotive industry. That is a tribute to our intensive research efforts, which we have been conducting in this area since 1992...”

Keep Reading "Breakthrough in battery technolgy by Daimler to debut in production S 400 BlueHYBRID beginning next year"

The automotive premium brand is crowning its golf activities with its commitment to the world’s most famous tournament, the Masters in Augusta, Georgia. Communication focuses on the new SL and its ancestor, the 300 SL Gullwing.

"We see this partnership not only as an outstanding platform for our brand but also as a great honor," says Dr. Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars. “The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club have a legendary aura - which is why we equally focus on a legend in communication: the Mercedes-Benz SL.“ What the two have in common is not only a storied history and the principle of always seeing a long-standing tradition as a stimulus for new top-class achievements, but also the goal of promoting golf and its worldwide popularity. Mercedes-Benz will be associated with the Masters new international initiative that utilizes the Tournament's positive brand recognition to grow the game of golf...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz - International partner of the Augusta Masters"

Unit sales at Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz Cars division totaled 96,600 vehicles in February 2008, an increase of 18 percent from the figure recorded for the same month last year (82,000 units) setting a new benchmark. In addition, deliveries of Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach brand vehicles over the first two months of the year rose 17 percent to the record level of 187,000 units (Jan./Feb. 2007: 159,700).

The Mercedes-Benz brand also set a record in February by posting a sales increase of 13 percent to 87,800 units worldwide (February 2007: 78,000). A total of 170,100 customers worldwide opted for a vehicle of the brand with the star over the first two months of the year (Jan./Feb. 2007: 151,500), an increase of 12 percent from the same period last year, and also the best performance ever for that calendar period...

Keep Reading "Sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars up 18 Percent in February"

On Monday, Mercedes-Benz USA reported its highest sales volume for any February in the company’s history with sales of 18,564 new vehicles, an increase of 7.3 percent over last February. This brings MBUSA’s year-to-date total to 36,839 new vehicles sold, an increase of 7.2 percent over the same period in 2007.

Sales for Mercedes-Benz luxury light truck models continued strongly as a group with a 12 percent increase over February 2007 (6,061 vs. 5,414 units) and a 17.3 percent increase for the year-to-date (12,228 vs. 10,425 units). Sales of M-Class models made an impressive leap by 26.7 percent for the month (3,081 vs. 2,431 units) and 32.1 percent for the year-to-date (6,318 vs. 4,782 units). R-Class sales rose by 6.1 percent for the month and 12.8 percent for the year-to-date...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz USA reports best February on record with 18,564 new vehicle sales"

The airy, spacious feel of an MPV coupled with the exclusive appointments of a luxury saloon and the technical and visual attributes of a sports car – the new Viano X-CLUSIVE conjures up this exceptional combination. The name says it all: the Viano special model appeals to all the senses without compromising the Viano's basic values of spaciousness and supreme variability.

The unmistakable look of the Viano X-CLUSIVE is an expression of dynamism and sporty flair. The top-class Viano demonstrates its individuality with a silver-look radiator grille, specially developed front and rear designer bumpers with integral spoilers, designer side skirts, a chromed tailpipe and striking 18-inch light-alloy wheels shod with 245/45 tyres...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz at the 78th International Motor Show in Geneva:  The Viano X-CLUSIVE"

From summer 2008, Mercedes-Benz will also be offering all-wheel drive for its luxury CL-Class coupé for the first time. The new CL 500 4MATIC offers even greater traction and handling stability in the wet, in snow or on ice. Mercedes-Benz is equipping the CL 500 4MATIC with the same latest-generation all-wheel drive system which is also proving its merit in the S-Class. 4MATIC is permanently active and therefore requires no response time to come to the driver's aid in unfavourable weather and driving conditions. As a result, critical situations can be mastered with greater ease...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz at the 78th International Motor Show in Geneva:  The CL 4MATIC"

From spring 2008, Mercedes-Benz will be adding three extra-economical BlueEFFICIENCY saloons to the C-Class range. A raft of intelligent measures and technologies has enabled the fuel consumption of the high-volume C 180 KOMPRESSOR and C 200 CDI models to be reduced by up to twelve per cent, while retaining the high levels of comfort and safety typical of a Mercedes. The BlueEFFICIENCY version of the 100 kW/136 hp C 200 CDI consumes only 5.1 litres per 100 kilometres, while the C 180 KOMPRESSOR BlueEFFICIENCY with 115 kW/156 hp covers 100 kilometres with 6.5 litres of premium petrol. This corresponds to 135 and 156 grams of carbon dioxide, respectively, per kilometre. The third BlueEFFICIENCY C-Class model on show in Geneva is the C 350 CGI with direct petrol injection. The six-cylinder unit burns around ten per cent less fuel than the saloon with the current V6 engine...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz at the 78th International Motor Show in Geneva:  BlueEFFICIENCY in the C-Class"

Mercedes-Benz is continuing its long-standing tradition of producing legendary sports cars with the new-generation SL-Class, which is celebrating its public premiere in Geneva. No other sports car in this market segment offers such a perfect balance of sportiness, safety and comfort. These three qualities are the cornerstones of thrilling, active motoring that provides a profound sense of well-being – for hallmark Mercedes refinement at the highest, sportiest level. The world's most successful premium roadster in its class now features a new look which gives the car a distinct air of sportiness and effortless assurance...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz at the 78th International Motor Show in Geneva:  The new-generation SL-Class"

Mercedes-Benz is injecting the CLS with yet greater appeal and unveiling the new generation of this one-of-a-kind four-door coupé – the pioneer of a whole new automotive segment – for the very first time in Geneva. ‘Understated but masterly’ neatly sums up the result of the restyling programme for the CLS. At the front, it is the modified radiator grille that stands out, with two fins now instead of the previous four. The diamond-shaped, three-dimensional grilles painted in atlas grey that cover the air intakes project an even greater air of self-assurance as well as adding further emphasis to the vehicle's width. The exterior mirrors have also been given a new look. The LED side indicator lamps that are built into them are arranged in the form of an arrow to produce a most eye-catching effect, especially in the dark. The mirror surface has furthermore been enlarged by 32 per cent to afford a clearer view of the traffic behind and thereby boost active safety...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz at the 78th International Motor Show in Geneva:  The new-generation CLS-Class"

At the 78th International Motor Show in Geneva a further special edition of the successful smart fortwo is celebrating its world premiere. The "edition limited two" will be produced as a limited series of 2000 vehicles and is characterised by exclusive colouring and a high quality mix of materials - on both the outside and the inside. In addition, smart is presenting three further current variants of the unique two-seater: thanks to an innovative start/stop function, the smart fortwo micro hybrid drive (mhd) consumes 8 percent less fuel on average (NEDC), greatly reducing CO2 emissions. The smart fortwo cdi uses state-of-the-art common rail direct injection to achieve exemplary consumption figures. With average consumption of 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres (NEDC) and CO2 emissions of just 88 grams per kilometre it has the lowest standard consumption worldwide, earning it the title "CO2 champion" amongst series production cars. The smart fortwo BRABUS is a particularly powerful and sporty model and is also available as the further upgraded BRABUS Xclusive...

Keep Reading "New smart edition at the Geneva Motor Show: The edition limited two - stylish, individual and limited"

Under the motto "The Culture of Driving", Mercedes-Benz is presenting attractive new products in five model series at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. These range from the new generation of the iconic SL Roadster, which celebrates its world premiere in Geneva, right up to the new, particularly economical BlueEFFICIENCY models in the C-Class, which return a fuel consumption up to 1.5 litres per 100 kilometres lower than that of the corresponding standard versions. In this way Mercedes-Benz is demonstrating its continued commitment to further reductions in fuel consumption and exhaust emissions on a wide front: the new roadsters and coupés also consume up to ten percent less fuel than their predecessors...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show: Innovative technology for a new level of refinement"