In a quote published today, DaimlerChrysler's CEO Dieter Zetsche has confirmed our previous story that a decision as to whether or not the smart brand will be imported to the United States will be made this June.
At a company event celebrating the 25th anniversary of DaimlerChrysler's Freightliner acquisition, Zetsche was quoted as saying: "We'll make a decision on the issue in June." He added that he still believes the smart unit, despite declining sales, will see profitability in 2007...
Have you ever imagined that one day, your kids would complete their driving exam in a pollution-free fuel cell-powered vehicle? If so, you're not alone. In a recent statement made by President Bush: "I believe that today's children will one day take a driver's test in a hydrogen-powered, pollution-free car. That's the goal of the United States."
In yet another sign we live in the future, a select group of Californian residents have made that goal a reality, completing their driver's test in a fuel-cell powered Mercedes F-Cell...
Top Khodro, the company in charge of producing Mercedes in Iran, has announced today the company's production schedule for the Mercedes-Benz E350.
After beginning assembly of the new model on May 9th, the company is reporting that this year's target production is set at 1,000 units. From then on, the company plans to produce 2,500 Mercedes E350's per year, a number that Top Khodro has predicted will allocate three percent of the Iranian car market to itself...
If you thought the Mercedes-Benz brand was only associated with luxury automobiles, then you, my friend, do not live in Valencia. That's because the Mediterranean city in Southern Spain recently purchased a total of 94 new Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles, all of which are being used for refuse collection.
Of the vehicles purchased, 35 include the Mercedes-Benz Econic models, with 12 of the 35 equipped with a gas drive system. These vehicles were chosen in particular for their extremely low emissions, a key environmental factor in inner-city congestion...
While DaimlerChrysler deliberates whether or not bringing the smart car to the United States is really in the company's best interest, ZAP, purveyor of a wide array of electric vehicles, has been hard at work, recently shipping the 200th U.S.-ready smart car to the American public.
For those of you unfamiliar with ZAP, they're a publicly-owned company based out of Northern California that specializes in selling a varied assortment of electric cars and scooters. To help meet consumer's demand for fuel-efficient automobiles, the company has developed an Americanized version of DaimlerChrysler's smart car, a vehicle that has received both DOT Approval VCP-27 as well as an EPA letter of conformity...
In football-related news (or soccer for my American readers), Mercedes has announced today that they have provided the German Football Association (DFB) with a new team bus to transport the German national team.
Mercedes, who is a general sponsor of the DFB, handed over the keys to a new Mercedes-Benz Travego before a friendly match that took place between the German national team and FSV 63 Luckenwalde. In addition to a 428 hp power plant, the Travego features a number of technical innovations, including Electronic Stability Control, an anti-lock braking system, acceleration skid control, Brake Assist, and a reversing aid with a reversing camera, as well as a custom interior designed specifically to meet the needs of the German national team...
While checking our inbox this afternoon, we received an email from a perspicacious reader by the name of BSadighi pointing us to several new Top Gear Mercedes S-Class videos recently posted on YouTube.
The first two videos take a humorous look at what happens when the interior of an S-Class is converted to match the decor of an English flat, while the third video offers a tremendous look at the 2007 Mercedes S-Class being put through its paces.
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen; I hope you're all enjoying your extended Memorial Day weekend. To kick things off this sultry Monday morning,
we have a recap of the F1 race that transpired over the weekend. As usual, if you don't want to know the outcome, read no further; otherwise, the full details follow after the jump...
If you're in the market to add some aftermarket aerodynamic goodness to your 2007 Mercedes S-Class, ART Tuning has just sent us info on the latest addition to their tuning family.
Titled the Sportline Design, ART Tuning's new S-Class tuning program includes new front and rear aprons, side skirts, and your choice of 18" or 19" ART wheels. In addition, ART offers a number of performance enhancements for Mercedes' flagship sedan, including supercharger kits for the Mercedes S350 and S500 as well as an ECU upgrade for the Mercedes S600...
MBUSA has announced today the full list of 2007 Mercedes model updates we can expect to see hitting U.S. shores in the coming months.
While I could restate all of next year's model changes myself, the list is rather extensive, so instead I think it's best if I let the press release take it from here.
You can find the full 2007 Mercedes model update list after the jump...
Audi of America is reporting today that they have appointed MBUSA's Scott Keogh as the company's Chief Marketing Officer, a newly formed position designed to oversee all marketing strategy and department responsibilities as well as lead the company's marketing effort to further expand Audi's position in the U.S.
According to Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president in charge of Audi of America: "Audi is experiencing strong growth in this market, and the strengthening of our Management Team is an important element in continuing this success. Scott will guide our marketing organization to focus on building our brand image across multiple customer touch points..."
Team McLaren Mercedes kicked off the Monaco race weekend today, and the first day of practice turned out to be an eventful one.
At the end of his first practice session, Kimi Raikkonen and his MP4-21 were forced to retire early due to what was initially thought to be a blown engine. However, the actual cause for Kimi's retirement was a fire, which caused a small amount of repairable damage to the vehicle's wiring...
In keeping with this month's apparent Mercedes and diamonds theme, Team McLaren Mercedes and world-renowned diamond cutter Steimetz have unveiled their latest collaboration today, an F1 steering wheel featuring a diamond-encrusted Mercedes-star in the center.
The steering wheel, which was built in preparation for the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix, has been "emblazoned with round, brilliant cut, white, natural diamonds, expertly cut by Steinmetz, creating a visual impact inside the cockpit never seen before," and will be used in the next race by both Kimi Raikkonen as well as his teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya...
Mercedes-Benz has announced today that they will be one of eight partners supporting the FEI World Equestrian Games 2006 in Aachen, Germany. The highlight of this year's games will undoubtedly be the Mercedes-Benz Team Show Jumping event, in which the world's elite show jumpers will be competing for the highest team score. In total, the Mercedes-Benz prize is worth approximately $350,000.
For those of you unfamiliar with the FEI World Equestrian Games, the festivities are held once every four years. Between the 20th of August and the 3rd of September, the world's top show jumpers compete in show jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, riding over a distance, vaulting exercises on horseback and reining...
It's been over three months since the official details of the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG were released, and finally the first reviews of Mercedes' latest beast are starting to trickle in. First up, we have an article titled "First Drive: 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG," courtesy of our friends over at Inside Line.
Although those of you who have had the pleasure of driving a CLS 55 AMG already know in large part the traits found in the CLS 63 AMG, for those of you that have never experienced a CLS AMG, the reviewer described the latest model as "impossibly sexy," "rock steady," "taught and precise," and "firm yet supple..."
