0 Mercedes-Benz kicks off fourth quarter with record sales and 15.3% growth

This October, Mercedes-Benz shipped 126,421 vehicles to customers (+15.3%), more than in any previous October. Since the beginning of this year, Mercedes-Benz has also achieved another record by selling a total of 1,189,059 passenger cars (+10.7%). Growth was particularly strong in the NAFTA region, Turkey and Japan. In Europe, Mercedes-Benz recorded a 6.9% rise in October, increasing its market share in almost every market. In Germany, Japan and the United States, Mercedes-Benz remains the most-registered premium brand. There was particularly high demand for the new E-Class models in October, but the new Mercedes-Benz compacts and SUVs also showed another significant increase.

“Our record sales in October have provided us with a strong start to the fourth quarter, and we have further increased our market share,” said Ola Källenius, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars responsible for Marketing & Sales. “In October we increased our sales in every key region. Since our goal is to achieve a new record for 2013 overall, we will continue to rigorously pursue our path of growth as we head towards the end of the year.”

In Europe, Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 55,235 vehicles in October (+6.9%), increasing its unit sales in almost every European market. The Stuttgart based premium brand showed particularly strong growth in the UK (+28.2%), Turkey (+63.1%) and Russia (+14.8%). In the German market Mercedes-Benz was able to almost match the previous year’s level with 22,758 units sold (py. 23,270 units). With a market share of 9.5% per October, the brand with the star remains the market leader among premium brands in its home market.

In the United States, Mercedes-Benz handed over 30,069 vehicles to customers (+25.4%) last month. With these record sales the company was once again the leading premium brand. In the growth market of Brazil Mercedes-Benz has recorded increases of over 40% since the start of the year. Daimler AG is investing in a first step around €170 million in a new Mercedes-Benz assembly plant, which will start production of passenger cars for the local market in 2016.

In the Asia/Pacific region the growth of Mercedes-Benz sales was driven primarily by new records in Japan. Since the beginning of the year, the brand has handed over 42,580 vehicles to customers there, about a third more than in the same period of the previous year. On the Indian market Mercedes-Benz has also increased its sales by a third. Also in China (incl. Hong Kong) the positive trend of the previous months continues: In October, Mercedes-Benz has raised the number of units sold in China by 9.1% to 17,348 vehicles. The most recent proof of Mercedes-Benz’ positive development in China is the result of J.D. Power Asia Pacific’s recently released Initial Quality Study 2013, which ranks Mercedes-Benz as the brand with the highest initial quality among 65 international and domestic automakers in China. The locally produced long-wheelbase E-Class and C-Class as well as the imported S-Class come out top in their respective segment.

The new Mercedes-Benz compacts are still selling very strongly: 36,132 customers bought an A-Class, B-Class or CLA-Class model last month, raising the brand’s compact vehicle sales by 72.7%.

Sales of the new E-Class model segment rose strongly in October. A total of 21,996 customers opted for the sedan and estate models in October (+21.5%), while sales of the new coupe and cabrio increased by a third.

There continues to be strong demand for Mercedes-Benz SUVs. Since January more than a quarter of a million SUVs have been delivered, an increase of 16.1% on the same period of the previous year. The GLK alone has already sold more than 100,000 units this year (+18%) and the M-Class, also totalling 100,000 units since the start of the year, is the top-selling vehicle in its segment worldwide.

Last month, 5,240 S-Class sedans were delivered to customers worldwide (+6.1%). Since mid-October the new S-Class has been available in all key markets. In Europe and in the United States it is already topping registration lists in the premium segment. Mercedes-Benz has introduced its flagship model into the top three S-Class markets in less than twelve weeks.

Since the beginning of 2013, customers have taken delivery of 82,449 units of the compact two-seater smart (p.y. 87,961 units). Last month, the smart fortwo was extremely popular in China (+9.7%). car2go had a special cause for celebration in October: It was the fifth anniversary of the successful car-sharing scheme which also achieved two significant milestones: 500,000 customers around the world are using the more than 9,000 blue and white smart fortwos, which had been rented more than a million times until now.

Overview of sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars

Credits: Daimler AG

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

Detail: Mercedes-Benz kicks off fourth quarter with record sales and 15.3% growth

0 Mercedes-Benz UK records best-ever October results as passenger car registrations hit an all-time high

October 2013 was a record month for all Mercedes-Benz UK divisions.

- Best October results for new car registrations – 8,275 new cars, up 28 per cent
- Best-ever UK YTD results for new cars, beating all previous year-end results
- Best October for van registrations – 2,849 units, up 86.7 per cent
- Best October results for truck registrations – 924 units, up 60.7 per cent
- Best October results for Fuso Canter registrations – 96 units, up 92 per cent

Mercedes-Benz has achieved record-breaking registration performances across the board in October 2013, according to figures released by SMMT. Best-ever results were recorded in new car, new van, new truck and new Fuso Canter ranges, further reinforcing the company’s year to date (YTD) records.

Mercedes-Benz remains the UK’s fastest-growing premium car brand, with YTD registrations up 19 per cent to 94,231 new cars. With two months left in the year, the company has already passed last years’ total results of 91,006 cars, and has beaten 2003’s previous year-end record performance of 93,634 car registrations. October’s growth was 28 per cent, with 8,275 new Mercedes-Benz cars taking to Britain’s roads.

High-performance AMG models continue to power ahead in the sales charts, up 58 per cent YTD with 2,767 cars registered. Over 300 A 45 AMG and CLA 45 AMGs have already been registered so far this year.

The New E-Class Saloon retains its position as the UK’s favourite executive saloon, with 13,538 registrations YTD; the CLS four-door coupé heads its sector with 3,779 new cars; and despite deliveries of the new S-Class only just beginning, it still leads the luxury saloon segment – 1,200 new cars.

Commercial vehicles

Registrations of new vans were at record levels in October 2013, with Vito reporting a monthly increase of 22.3 per cent (423 vans) and New Sprinter boosting Sprinter’s performance by 112.1 per cent (2,206 vans).

Strong performances from Atego (up 56 per cent) and Actros (up 81 per cent) for the month contributed to the Trucks division’s best October. Two axle rigid registrations increased 42.6 per cent (378 new trucks) and 60.1 per cent more tractor units were registered in October 2013 compared with the same month last year.

Topping off the divisions’ success was Fuso Canter, up 92 per cent on October 2012’s performance to 96 new trucks. This all contributes to YTD growth of 7.6 per cent (725 units).

Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO Mercedes-Benz UK, commented: “Last month, Mercedes-Benz UK broke 24 records for best-ever performance across its divisions, and I didn’t doubt for a minute that we’d follow that extraordinary record with a record-breaking October.

“We’ve broken another record in some style, too, with our UK passenger cars business beating a sales record that has stood for almost a decade. It’s a really significant milestone and a fantastic moment for everyone in the company.

“The fact that every division reported its best-ever October results is another perfect home run of records. It’s a great reward for the hard-working teams in our showrooms around the country who take enormous pride in serving more new and returning customers than ever before.

“We’re now set for an exciting November and December, and we look forward to rounding off our record-breaking year with a fast finish… Watch this space!”

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

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

Detail: Mercedes-Benz UK records best-ever October results as passenger car registrations hit an all-time high

0 New Mercedes-Benz Compacts Continue Course of Success: Mercedes-Benz Kecskemét Plant Runs at Full Steam

Production of the new generation of Mercedes-Benz compact cars with the A-Class, B-Class and CLA model series is running at full steam in the production network of the two plants in Rastatt, Germany, and Kecskemét, Hungary. The Hungarian plant, opened in March 2012, plays an important role in this: Together with the Rastatt plant, it produces the B-Class. In addition, it is the sole production location of the compact four-door coupe CLA.

Andreas Renschler, Member of the Daimler Board of Management responsible for Manufacturing and Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars & Mercedes-Benz Vans, stroke a first balance after about 18 months of production on the occasion of a visit to the plant: "Here in Kecskemét, we broke new ground with the construction of the first European Mercedes-Benz plant outside of Germany. It is obvious that you have mastered the construction of a new plant in a new country with a new team very well. Our investment of 800 million euros for a new compact car plant here in Hungary has founded another success story for Daimler and the Mercedes-Benz brand in every respect."

Underscoring the plant's importance for the further market success of the new compacts, Renschler said: "Especially with the CLA, for which this site has global production responsibility, the Kecskemét plant is making a decisive contribution to our growth with new customers and in new markets along the Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy. Every single vehicle from this plant proves what we mean when we talk about Mercedes-Benz quality."

Renschler continued on the outlook for the employees: "Many of you are still rather young members of our global Mercedes-Benz production team. I am even more impressed to see you work in all areas of the plant with the highest commitment to learn and a great level of dedication. That's why the Kecskemét plant today is already on a par with other Mercedes-Benz plants, and is globally recognized as a natural part of our global production network. Thank you – keep up the great work!"

Frank Klein, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Kecskemét plant: "We will not rest on past achievements, but will continue to forge ahead for future success as well. That's why we are fully concentrated on our core task: to get the B-Class and the CLA on the road in top quality."

A success story: The new generation of Mercedes-Benz compact cars

Mercedes-Benz' attack in the premium compact segment continues: The Frankfurt Motor Show in September saw the presentation of the GLA compact SUV, which will roll to customers beginning in spring 2014. The GLA is the fourth of five new models that mark a significant expansion of the brand's product portfolio and appeal to new customer groups. As an example, the conquest rate of the new A-Class in Europe is at about 50 percent, the average age of the customers is 10 years lower compared to the predecessor model. Already introduced were the new B-Class, the new A-Class and the four-door compact coupe CLA. The new compacts have been a sales revelation over the past nine months: Worldwide, 267,467 customers bought an A-Class, B-Class or CLA-Class model (+68.3%). Further momentum is expected with continuously rising availability in further markets.

About the Mercedes-Benz Kecskemét plant and the production locations of the new compacts

The Kecskemét plant and the Rastatt plant together form the production network for the new generation of Mercedes-Benz compact cars. That network significantly contributes to the overall economies of compact car production and allows the flexible and optimum management of both plants' capacity utilization. The Kecskemét plant was opened in March 2012, less than four years after the initial decision for the location, and has since produced the B-Class, which is also built in Rastatt. State-of-the-art, environmentally sound technology is used at the plant. In January 2013, the new four-door compact coupé CLA was added as a second model, which the plant produces for all customers worldwide. With more than 3,000 staff in the meantime, the plant is the most attractive employer in the region, not least to due to the high attention given to the qualification of its employees. The pioneering efforts of the plant and its Hungarian partners to establish dual vocational and university education based on the German model further contribute to this. Daimler AG and the Hungarian Government in 2012 also signed a joint partnership agreement to establish and reinforce the region of Kecskemét as a center of the Hungarian automobile industry on a long-term basis.

Credits: Daimler AG

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

Detail: New Mercedes-Benz Compacts Continue Course of Success: Mercedes-Benz Kecskemét Plant Runs at Full Steam

0 REPORT: Mercedes-Benz plans a Sportcoupe version for the future C-Class

The German constructor is growing faster than ever these days. With the impressive momentum brought by the new compact car lineup and the forthcoming portfolio on luxury models based on the recently unveiled S-Class, Mercedes-Benz will further build a solid advantage when the future C-Class generation gets revealed in 2014. Rumors already suggest plans to add a fifth variant for the 205 model series - the Sportcoupe.

This title has already been used in the past as well, when the 203 generation of the C-Class also comprised a hatchback version which, unfortunately, was far from being a sales success. In fact, the car was notorious for its construction faults and the lack of premium feel. But this a closed chapter from a dark period for Mercedes-Benz.

The future C-Class Sportcoupe (V 205 ??) is anything but a flop. Built as a combination between a sedan, a wagon and a coupe (sounds pretty familiar to the CLS Shooting Brake), the new addition to the C-Class family will sport dynamical proportions, a long roofline extending towards the back and general fastback shape with five doors for increased practicality.

Inside, the car will offer more room for its passengers and their luggage as well as an extra dose of uniqueness. Mercedes-Benz intends to market this new model as a lifestyle automobile that offers both comfort, luxury and agility. The overall length will exceed that of the limousine (W 205), whereas the height will be lower than that of its direct competitors - the BMW 3er GT and the Audi A5 Sportback.

Expect the C-Class Sportcoupe to be released sometime in 2016, as it still waits for an imminent production approval from the Daimler Board of Management. The technical package, with all the major novelties, will come from the 205 series. Alongside the standard RWD traction, the 4MATIC system will be offered on the high-end variants as an option, like the new 9G-TRONIC automatic gearbox. The standard engine variants will start with the 184 hp C 200 and go straight to the 333 hp C 400 range-topping model. An AMG-powered variant is also possibile from 2017 - in this case, power will come from the new twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 unit rated at 462 hp. The starting price should be around 5,000 euros above the W 205 C-Class.

Illustration: Autobild

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

Detail: REPORT: Mercedes-Benz plans a Sportcoupe version for the future C-Class

0 ProProduction Record: Mercedes-Benz builds more cars than ever before

In the first half of 2013, over 700,000 passenger cars rolled off the production lines at Mercedes-Benz plants – more than ever before in the same period. For 2012 as a whole, Mercedes-Benz had already reached a production record of more than 1.34 million vehicles. "We are planning for further growth. With an attractive offering of models and higher flexibility in production, we managed to build more vehicles in the first half of the year than ever before. We are also very optimistic for the year as a whole", said Andreas Renschler, Management Board Member of Daimler AG responsible for Manufacturing and Procurement, Mercedes-Benz Cars & Mercedes-Benz Vans. In the first half of 2013, Mercedes-Benz posted yet another new record with sales of 694,433 vehicles (+6.4%). The brand with the star plans to sell over 1.4 million vehicles by the end of the year.

The Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy has arrived at the plants. This year has already seen launches of numerous new vehicles: in January, the Kecskemét plant began production of the new CLA coupé, the new E-Class sedan and estate have been rolling off the lines in Sindelfingen since March, and the team in Bremen has brought the new coupé and convertible of this model series on the road. In mid-June, the production start of the new S-Class in the Sindelfingen Plant achieved yet another milestone in the product campaign of Mercedes-Benz.

To accommodate customer demand, this year 21 special shifts have been agreed for the production of the A- and B-Class at the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant, among others. The Tuscaloosa plant worked on 10 Saturdays and thus increased the production of SUVs. The powertrain plants are also running at full speed: workers of the Untertürkheim plant have been working special shifts every weekend this year to enable the construction plants to be supplied with engines, transmissions, axles and components.

Production has been running non-stop at most locations during the summer months. Around 4500 vacation workers were hired as additional manpower for the vacation months, and the preparations for further launches are running at full speed, for example at the Rastatt plant, where the first GLA will be rolling off the production line later this year. In September, the compact SUV will celebrate its world premiere at the IAA International Motor Show. The plants in Bremen, Tuscaloosa, USA, East London, South Africa and Beijing, China are making intensive preparations for the new C-Class, which will be on the roads in 2014.

Credits: Daimler AG

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

Detail: ProProduction Record: Mercedes-Benz builds more cars than ever before

0 Successful premium customer support: Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center in Maastricht celebrates 15th anniversary

Customer satisfaction and brand loyalty are major factors that contribute to Daimler AG’s sustainable success in the passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors. Since its establishment in 1998, the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center (CAC) in Maastricht (Netherlands) has been a key precondition for customer satisfaction.

At the beginning the CAC offered Mercedes-Benz customers services such as roadside assistance and complaint and enquiry management for 11 countries in six languages. Over the years the center’s service portfolio has continued to expand with an increasing number of brands, languages and countries. Today, 600 employees of more than 25 nationalities provide service to customers in 15 European countries in 12 languages. The CAC is integrated into Global Service & Parts, the division responsible for service and parts operations of all Daimler brands worldwide.

“Our Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center in Maastricht strongly contributes to the improvement of customer satisfaction with our products and services,” says Wolf-Dieter Kurz, Head of Global Service and Parts. “The international workforce provides expert assistance and advice to existing and potential customers as well as to the retail network with a range of services that are unique in the automotive industry.”

Consequently, the CAC provides services for the entire European range of Daimler products: passenger cars, buses, vans and commercial vehicles, including the Mercedes-Benz, smart, Maybach, Setra and Fuso brands. Since 1998, some 11 million customers and interested parties have taken advantage of the services. Last year the CAC employees addressed about 800,000 inquiries. Customers can choose from vehicle telematics, email, letter, fax or phone to contact the CAC. Cost- free access to services is available to customers through a so-called Universal International Free Phone number: 00800 1 777 7777 for the Mercedes-Benz brand (passenger cars and commercial vehicles), and 00800 2 777 7777 for the smart brand.

Vehicle telematics allow a more effective analysis of vehicles' problems and solutions. Mercedes-Benz Contact has been standard equipment in passenger cars since 2009, enabling customers to contact a Mercedes-Benz service employee from their vehicle. The Mercedes-Benz service fleet that provides roadside assistance also uses telematics. 15 years ago, data related to the request for assistance was forwarded to the repairer by fax, today data is transmitted directly to the service technician’s smartphone, subject to due authorization by the customer.

In recent years, the CAC has expanded its support for the Daimler retail network. For example, the Dealer User Helpdesk provides support for vehicle diagnostics systems such as the Star Diagnosis used in workshops. Data that is collected from vehicles, customers and dealers is also used to develop and improve Daimler products and services. 

For 15 years, the CAC responds with its service offers individually to customer inquiries. Thus, it is making a major contribution to the growth strategy in marketing and sales "Mercedes-Benz 2020 - Best Customer Experience", which is aimed at reconfiguring the brand's sales organization to bring it in line with customers’ changing preferences. The goal is to retain the loyalty of existing customers to the brand while becoming even more appealing to new, modern target groups.

Credits: Daimler AG

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

Detail: Successful premium customer support: Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center in Maastricht celebrates 15th anniversary

0 REPORT: The new S 65 AMG scheduled for unveiling in spring 2014

It came to our attention that Mercedes-Benz will add the S 65 AMG high-performance limousine to the new S-Class portfolio beginning with the spring of next year.

The outrageous S-Class sports saloon will be powered by a thoroughly revised M279 12-cylinder twin-turbo engine with a maximum displacement of 6.0 litres. This unit is already known from the new SL 65 AMG where it develops a staggering peak output of 630 hp and an impressive torque of 1000 Nm. However, we expect some increased performance for the new S 65 AMG, so the new numbers should sound like this: 650 hp and around 1200 - 1250 Nm.

Most of the innovations that debuted on the S-Class will be standard equipment on the S 65 AMG, including the exquisite MAGIC BODY CONTROL. The car will be offered solely in RWD configuration, with the great amount of torque being handled out with the help of the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT gearbox. Consumption values don't matter for such a car, but it appears it will do 100 km using 11.6 litres of petrol. If you intend to have the new S 65 AMG in your personal garage, then you will have prepare 200,000 euros to purchase one.

Note: The new S 63 AMG pictured.

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

Detail: REPORT: The new S 65 AMG scheduled for unveiling in spring 2014

0 PREVIEW: Early illustrations reveal what could have been the W 213 E-Class

The 213 series E-Class is expected to touch ground by the end of 2015. Recently, a set of images showing some initial sketches (dated 29th July 2011) of the future E-Class have reached the internet, signaled by the W 213 lettering found on one of the drawings.

Signed by former Mercedes-Benz designer Hussein Alattar (currently working for BMW), the drawings reveal a fascinating, quite retro-style design for the executive class limousine. The current design philosophy is evolved into the next step, becoming even more progressive. The headlights resemble an arch and the radiator grille, although rounded, is pointing ahead. When seen from profile, the front section looks like the fascia of a shark.

The roofline looks dramatically arched, with the side windows being completely modified compared to the traditional design of the current days. The C-pillar is triangular and continues fairly close to the bottom end of the car. The third volume, the trunk, is shorter than expected and looks like it has been integrated into the whole architecture - fairly similar to a fastback sedan.

The profile is extremely neat and clean and it features larger and more pronounced wheel arches. While the front overhang is short, the rear overhang is long - a perfect antithesis with the long engine bonnet and the almost seamlessly integrated trunk. All in all, if ever approved by executives, the opera of Hussein Alattar would probably have looked sensational in flesh and would have brought a revolutionary view to the classic Mercedes-Benz design philosophy.

Image Credits: Mercedes-Benz Passion Blog

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

Detail: PREVIEW: Early illustrations reveal what could have been the W 213 E-Class

0 What if: A team of young designers creates the Mercedes-Benz SL Shooting Brake

Under the watchful guidance of Steffen Köhl, the head of the Mercedes-Benz Global Advanced Design Studio, a team of six young and daring artists working for the Italian design house Studiotorino have mastered a wonderful proposal for an SL-Class Shooting Brake. This is not the first time the SL gets transformed into a fastback coupe - the first project of this kind was released in 2008 and based on the facelifted R 230 series.

Entitled "Coupetorino 2013", the concept is basically an SL roadster which gained a dynamic coupe form and lost its retractable roof. Instead, the roofline resembles the true Mercedes style and beautifully flows towards the back end. Because the car features an integrated tail gate and two volumes, besides having two access doors, it certainly can be described as a traditional shooting brake.

This outstanding Mercedes-Benz showcar was officially presented as a 1:4 scale clay model two months ago at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy. What is even more interesting is the heads behind this project have fully evaluated the costs of production and impact of a potential series production of the Coupetorino 2013.

The SL Shooting Brake deserves a big appraisal and has already received an important number of positive reactions. While the evaluation numbers remain classified, we could not help but ask if a future SL Shooting Brake would be worth the money not only producing it, but also buying it? In most cases, the answer would be plain simple: YES!

Below you can read the press statement from Studiotorino and see more pictures of the Coupetorino 2013 study! Enjoy! :)

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

COUPETORINO 2013 is a non-profit academic project conceived by Studiotorino and promoted by Alfredo and Maria Paola Stola. Its goal is to train six young students who attend Istituto di Arte Applicata e Design in Torino. The project began in September 2012 with six students: Bruno Arena, Michele Bavaro, Riccardo Luigi Cascone, Stefano Manini, Dario Pellegrino and Cristiano Zanot.

The objective of the "style research study" between STUDIOTORINO and Steffen Koehl of Global Advance Design MERCEDES BENZ was to transform the new iconic Mercedes SL spider into an exclusive Coupe. The COUPETORINO was envisioned by fantasy as a one-off special edition or limited series model and was for the students a realistic work-study project. In addition to the basic style aspects of transforming a spider into a true coupe, careful consideration was taken into account in terms of engineering feasibility and cost of production.

Steffen Koehl's didactic participation was generous and highly instructive. Over the months Mr. Koehl gave three in-person lectures and maintained a continuous dialogue with the students via email.

The students presented Step 2 of their work on November 5, 2012 in Sindelfingen at the MERCEDES-BENZ Design Center. The students presented and illustrated their 3 final style versions: Classic, Muscular and Shooting-Brake. The students were cordially welcomed and had the exclusive opportunity to present their work on a triple 1/1 screen, one of the most avant-guard in the world. Steffen Koehl graciously guided the group through the Design Center and commented on every one of the students' designs, making corrections when necessary.

Step 4 of the project was presented was the second meeting and took place in Torino on January 22, 2013 at IAAD. Italo Moriggi and colleagues of Skorpion, sponsor of the project's 1/4 scale stereolitography resin model attended the event. Mr. Koehl examined all of the designs, listened to and suggested modifications and alterations to the students' work.

Step 4 Plus of the project transpired via email. The students had modified their design according to suggestions and the Shooting-Brake design was selected for the scale model. The datas were performed at Skorpion in Milan. The students had the opportunity to interact with Matteo Gelpi and add another dimension to their experience. The 1/4 scale model was created using a large and monolithic stereolitography technique with an internal surface thickness that would allow manual modifications.

The final presentation of the 9-month academic project took place on May 27 at the MERCEDES-BENZ Design Center in Como. Steffen Koehl and Michele Paganetti cordially welcomed the students, Studiotorino, IAAD and Skorpion. The students: Arena, Bavaro, Cascone, Manini, Pellegrino and Zanot presented their design project as if presenting a thesis. They explained in detail every step that led their study from an idea to a model. Teamwork was an integral and deliberate part of the learning experience and the students did all of their work as one.

On this their last and most important day the students also expressed their individuality with a surprise. The students presented the Mercedes Design Center with six illustrations of the COUPETORINO finely printed on paper as a memento of their unforgettable experience.

Credits: Studiotorino

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

Detail: What if: A team of young designers creates the Mercedes-Benz SL Shooting Brake

0 REPORT: Future E-Class Coupe and Cabrio to receive the AMG treatment

Mercedes-Benz officials have recently admitted not offering an AMG variant for the E-Class Coupe and Cabrio was a major management mistake that shall not be repeated in the future.

The main reason for not building such models was the existence of the CLS 63 AMG, which can hardly be called a coupe even though the roofline might tell a different story. Latest market studies have shown to executives the real desire of the market, which is looking to buy a proper high-performance coupe in the business class.

Already late to correct this unfateful happening, Mercedes-Benz reassures now that the next generation of the E-Class Coupe & Cabrio (C 213/A 213), which is to be developed on a 100% 213 series E-Class technical platform, will be available as AMG models. From 2016 onwards, the moment we expect them to launch, the new E 63 AMG (or E 55 AMG) models will be powered by the new 4.0-litre V8 BITURBO tweaked to deliver over 550 hp. Depending on sales of the current generation, the Performance AMG 4MATIC and the subsequent S-Model shall also be retained in the lineup for all the body variants.

Above, you can see a digitally generated image by artist Khalil Bouguerra showing how the E 63 AMG Coupe could have looked if ever produced on the current model generation.

Image Credits: Virtuel-Car

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

Detail: REPORT: Future E-Class Coupe and Cabrio to receive the AMG treatment

0 Coupe impression: Artist gets imaginative with the new CLA 45 AMG

The CLA-Class is the coupe of the new Mercedes-Benz compact range. The fact it is still not a proper 2-door model, but only a four-door wannabe, fueled the imagination of an online artist. He came up with a computer rendering of the CLA 45 AMG transformed into a true coupe model.

The profile loses the extra door, the dropping lines becomes more evident and the lower window line meets the upper one in a kink, just like in the case of the C-Class Coupe. If the Germans do not come up with a 3-door A-Class in the end, then at least they should consider building a two-door version on the MFA platform. It could be a hit.

Image Credits: XTOMI

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

Detail: Coupe impression: Artist gets imaginative with the new CLA 45 AMG

0 Early Reveal: The new S 500 Plug-In Hybrid previewed in leaked patent sketches

It became a custom to reveal a car through leaked patent filings, as every respectful carmaker must legally protect a new model it releases long time before the car makes it into production. This is how we saw the SLS AMG Roadster and the A-Class earlier than planned by Mercedes-Benz. Now, the S 500 Plug-In Hybrid gets previewed after some drawings from the European Patents' Bureau have reached the media.

This variant of the new S-Class is distinguished through the modified radiator grille with revised horizontal bars, the half-splitted exhaust pipes and the charging port located inside the rear bumper under the right tail light.

Reports indicate the definitive name of the eco-friendly S-Class will be S 500 Hybrid Plus. The luxury limousine uses a 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine with direct injection and biturbocharging rated at 306 hp and an electric powerplant capable of releasing 109 hp (80 kW), thus the combined output reaching 415 hp.

The S 500 Hybrid Plus can also be run all-electric mode and, when needed, charged from a dock station. The constructor is said to be announcing a top consumption level of just 3 litres per 100 km, which really sounds like science fiction.

The official reveal will take place in September, at the IAA Frankfurt. Available as V 222 (long wheelbase) and W 222 (short wheelbase) models, the upcoming Mercedes-Benz S 500 Hybrid Plus should display an entry purchase price below 100,000 euros.

Image Credits: Worldcarfans

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

Detail: Early Reveal: The new S 500 Plug-In Hybrid previewed in leaked patent sketches