Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz

Type

Division of Daimler AG

Industry

Manufacturing

Predecessor

Benz & Cie. Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft

Founded

Mannheim (1881)

Founder(s)

Karl Benz Gottlieb Daimler

Headquarters Stuttgart, Germany

Area served

in select contries in the middle east, northern Asia, and the United States.

Key people

Dieter Zetsche (Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars

Division)

Automobiles Products Trucks Buses Internal combustion engines

Services

Financial services

Parent

Daimler AG

Website

mercedes-benz.com

Mercedes-Benz (German pronunciation: [mtseds bnts]) is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG. Mercedes-Benz traces its origins to Karl Benz's creation of the first petrol-powered car, the Benz Patent Motorwagen, patented in January 1886[1] and Gottlieb Daimler and engineer Wilhelm Maybach's conversion of a stagecoach by the addition of a petrol engine later that year. The Mercedes automobile was first marketed in 1901 by Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft. The first Mercedes-Benz brand name vehicles were produced in 1926, following the merger of Karl Benz's and Gottlieb Daimler's companies into the Daimler-Benz company.[1] Mercedes-Benz has introduced many technological and safety innovations that later became common in other vehicles.[2] Mercedes-Benz is one of the most well-known and established automotive brands in the world, and is also the world's oldest automotive brand still in existence today.

[edit] History

Mercedes-Benz S-class

[edit] Business alliances

[edit] Studebaker-Packard

In 1958, Mercedes-Benz entered into a distribution agreement with the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana (USA), makers of Studebaker and Packard brand automobiles.[3] Under the deal, Studebaker would allow Mercedes-Benz access to its dealer network in the U.S., handle shipments of vehicles to the dealers, and in return, receive compensation for each car sold. Studebaker also was permitted to use the German automaker's name in its advertisements, which stressed Studebaker's quality over quantity.[citation needed] When Studebaker entered into informal discussions with Franco-American automaker Facel Vega about offering Facel Vega Excellence model in the United States, Mercedes-Benz objected to the proposal. Studebaker, which needed Mercedes-Benz distribution payments to help stem heavy losses, dropped further action on the plan.[citation needed] Mercedes-Benz maintained an office within the Studebaker works in South Bend from 1958 to 1963, when Studebaker's U.S. operations ceased. Many U.S Studebaker dealers converted to Mercedes-Benz dealerships at that time. When Studebaker closed its Canadian operation and left the automobile business in 1966, remaining Studebaker dealers had the option to convert their dealerships to Mercedes-Benz dealership agreements.[citation needed] [edit] Subsidiaries Mercedes-Benz AMG became a majority owned division of Mercedes-Benz in 1998.[4] The company was integrated into DaimlerChrysler in 1999,[5] and became Mercedes-Benz AMG beginning on 1 January 1999.[6]

[edit] Quality rankings

Since its inception, Mercedes-Benz had maintained a reputation for its quality and durability. Objective measures looking at passenger vehicles - such as J. D. Power surveys, demonstrated a downturn in reputation in this criteria in the late 1990s and early 2000s. By mid-2005, Mercedes temporarily returned to the industry average for initial quality, a measure of problems after the first 90 days of ownership, according to J.D. Power.[7] In J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study for the first quarter of 2007, Mercedes showed dramatic improvement by climbing from 25th to 5th place, surpassing quality leader Toyota, and earning several awards for its models.[8] For 2008, Mercedes-Benz's initial quality rating improved by yet another mark, now in fourth place.[9] On top of this accolade, it also received the Platinum Plant Quality Award for its Mercedes Sindelfingen, Germany assembly plant.[9] As of 2009, Consumer Reports of the United States has changed their reliability ratings for several Mercedes-Benz vehicles to "average", and are recommending the E-Class and the S-Class.[10]

[edit] Corporate average fuel economy

In the United States, Mercedes-Benz was assessed a record US$30.66 million for their decision to not meet the federal corporate average fuel economy standard in 2009.[11] Certain MercedesBenz cars including the S550, and all AMG models sold in the United States also face an additional gas guzzler tax.[12]

In 2008, Mercedes had the worst CO2 average of all major European manufacturers, ranking 14th out of 14 manufacturers.[13] Mercedes was also the worst manufacturer in 2007 and 2006 in terms of average CO2 levels, with 181 g and 188 g of CO2 emitted per km, respectively.[14]

[edit] Production
Besides its native Germany, Mercedes-Benz vehicles are also manufactured or assembled in:

Argentina (buses, trucks and the Sprinter van. The first MercedesBenz factory outside of Germany)[15] Austria (G-Class)[16] Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazil[17] Manufacture the trucks, buses, C-Class, GL-Class, CLSClass. Established in 1956. The AClass (W168) was produced from 1999 to 2005 as well. Canada Egypt via Egyptian German Automotive Company Hungary (construction of a new plant in the country announced on 18 June 2008, for the next generation A- and B-Class)[18][19] India[20] Indonesia[21] Iran (Not since 2010[22]) Malaysia[23]

Mexico - Mercedes Benz de Mexico is Mercedes's largest foreign branch by revenue, number of sales, vehicles manufactured and total employees and covers most of the Latin American and North American market. Nigeria[24] (buses, trucks, utility motors and the Sprinter van) Philippines Spain (Vitoria) South Africa[25] South Korea (Mercedes-Benz Musso and MB100 models manufactured by SsangYong Motor Company) Thailand (assembly of C, E and S class vehicles by the Thonburi Group)[26] Turkey[27] United Kingdom (The SLR sports car is built at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking).Brackley, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom Mercedes Grand Prix Factory United States The Mercedes-Benz M-Class Sport Utility, the R-Class Sport Tourer, and the full-sized GL-Class Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle are all built at the Mercedes-Benz production facility near Tuscaloosa, Alabama.[28] Vietnam Passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Established in 1995.[29]

[edit] Models
[edit] Current model range

Mercedes-Benz has a full range of passenger, light commercial and heavy commercial equipment. Production is on a global basis. The Smart marque of city cars has also been part of the Mercedes-Benz Group since 1994. [edit] Passenger cars See also: List of Mercedes-Benz cars

Pope Benedict XVI in a Mercedes-Benz Popemobile in So Paulo, Brazil The following passenger vehicles were in production in 2010:

A-Class - subcompact B-Class - people carrier C-Class - sedan (saloon), sports coup (CLC), and estate CL-Class - coup CLK-Class - coup, convertible CLS-Class - 4 door coup E-Class - sedan (saloon), coup, convertible , and estate G-Class - 4WD cross-country vehicle GL-Class - SUV GLK-Class - SUV M-Class - SUV R-Class - crossover minivan S-Class - sedan (saloon) SL-Class - roadster SLK-Class - roadster SLR McLaren - hardtop grand tourer SLS AMG - luxury grand tourer

[edit] Trucks See also: List of Mercedes-Benz trucks Mercedes-Benz is one of the world's largest manufacturers of trucks.[citation needed] [edit] Buses and vans

Main article: Mercedes-Benz buses

Hitler's Mercedes Benz 770 Grosser Limousine in the Canadian War Museum

Mercedes-Benz Vario Mercedes-Benz also produces buses, mainly for Europe and Asia. Mercedes-Benz produces a range of vans. The first factory to be built outside Germany after WWII was in Argentina. It originally built trucks, many of which were modified independently to buses, popularly named Colectivo. Today, it builds buses, trucks and the Sprinter van.

[edit] Significant models produced

1928: SSK racing car 1930: 770 "Groer Mercedes" state and ceremonial car 1934: 500 K 1936: 260 D World's first diesel production car 1936: 170 1938: W195 Speed Record-breaker 1951: Mercedes-Benz 300, knownly as "Adenauer Mercedes" 1953: "Ponton" models 1954: 300SL "Gullwing" 1959: "Fintail" models 1960: 220SE Cabriolet 1963: 600 "Grand Mercedes" 1963: 230SL "Pagoda" 1965: Mercedes-Benz S-Class 1966: 300SEL 6.3

1968: W114 "new generation" compact cars 1969: C111 experimental vehicle 1972: Mercedes-Benz W107 350SL 1974: 450SEL 6.9 1974: 240D 1976: 300D 1979: 500SEL and G-Class 1983: 190E 2.3-16 1986: First 'E-Class' 1991: 600SEL 1993: First 'C-Class' 1995: First 'Joint Mercedes-Benz & AMG' (C43 AMG) 1995: Mercedes-Benz SL73 AMG, 7.3 V12 (biggest engine ever put in a Mercedes-Benz) 1996: Mercedes-Benz Renntech E7.4RS 1996: Mercedes-Benz CLK 1997: Mercedes-Benz SLK 1997: Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2004: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 2004: Mercedes-Benz CLS 2007: E320, GL320 Bluetec, ML320 Bluetec, R320 Bluetec 2010: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

[edit] McLaren cars

A silver SLR McLaren on display at the 2006 European Motor Show in Brussels Mercedes-Benz has also produced a limited-production sports car with McLaren Cars, an extension of the collaboration by which Mercedes engines are used by the Team McLarenMercedes Formula One racing team, which is part owned by Mercedes. The 2003 MercedesBenz SLR McLaren has a carbon fibre body with a 5.4 litre V8 supercharged engine. This is the same cylinder block as featured in SL55 AMG and the CLS55 AMG, though modified to give 460 kilowatts (625 PS; 617 bhp) and 780 newton metres (575 ftlbf) of torque. The SLR has a maximum speed of 337 kilometres per hour (209.4 mph) and costs approximately US$500,000. Due to European pedestrian-protection regulation, McLaren decided to cease production of the SLR in 2009.[30]

[edit] Car nomenclature

Mercedes-Benz used the numerical representation of motor displacement with the letters placed thereafter to denote the type of motor, fuel delivery (in petrol motors), and body. The last number is always zero. "E" denoted the fuel injection system (Einspritzung) in the petrol motors while "D" signified for diesel motors. Note: the letters described below are used prior to 1994 changes.

"C" had been used for the two-door models on W114/W115, W123, and W124 as well as S-Class (W126 and W140) chassis. When combined with SL to create the SLC, the longwheelbase, four-seat closed coup version of SL. "K" was for the supercharged models in the 1920s and 1930s ("Kompressor") with exception of SSK, which meant "Kurz" (or short wheelbase). "L" meant "Leicht" (light): the first one to appear on SSKL in 1931. Beginning with the W108 in 1965, "L" means the long wheelbase version. "R" is for the "Rennen" version as in 300SLR from 1955 (and SLR from 2003). "S" originally meant "Sport" as in SSK from 1928 and 300SL from 1953. However, the "S" designates the flagship four-door model, starting in the late 1950s. Eventually, "SE" and "SEL" were added to describe the fuel-injected model or long-wheelbase model. Initially for the US market, "SD" and "SDL" were the diesel version of S-Class (W116 and W126). "T" was for the estate (or station wagon) using the word, "Touring", rather than German word, "Kombi". This appeared on S123 and S124.

During the 1950s, some models carried the smaller letters: b, c, d as to differentiate between the model trim level. In the 1960s, the numerical nomenclature sometimes didn't correctly reflect the motor displacement in the S-Class but the position on the price range or specifications. Thus, 280SE 3.5 in the late 1960s. 190 (W201 model built from 1982 to 1993) is unique to have same nameplate regardless of motor displacement or price range: 190E 2.3, 190D 2.2, and so forth. This was necessary to separate itself from W123 and W124, which didn't have its own class letter until 1994. Beginning with the 1994 model cycle, Mercedes-Benz rearranged the alphanumeric nomenclatures as to reflect the model classes better. The letters are placed before the motor displacement and can be one to three letters, depending on model classes and types. No longer is it required to denote the fuel injection system as the carburettors have been "retired" due to the increasingly strict emission control regulations. Some of the letters represent two or three different model types: "S" for both four-door saloon W140 and two-door coup C140. This was further differentiated with new "CL" designation introduced in 1997 for the C140. The E-Class saloon and coup were not assigned the different letters until the 1996 introduction of CLK-Class (C208 and A208).

The body types ("C", "L", and "T") are no longer assigned. If "K" is added to the class letters at the end, they denote the "smaller" version of the flagship models: SLK, CLK, and GLK. CLS is the unique four-door coup version that doesn't even resemble the larger CL at all and even though it is based on E-Class chassis. CLC is the threedoor hatchback version of C-Class. Beginning with the W212 E-Class, the "CLK" designation has been moved down to "C" level while "E-Class Coup" is added as to better reflect its position in the price range between E-Class and S-Class. "ML" rather than "M" was chosen due to the objection by BMW M-Motorsport as to avoid the confusion between the BMW "M" models and Mercedes-Benz "M". However, Infiniti has assigned "M" to its intermediate four-door saloon (M45) for the US market. SLR and SLS are only one without numbers. When the letters are placed after the numerical designation, they denote the type of fuel delivery system or forced induction.

"K" is the "Kompressor" or supercharger. "T" is the "Turbo", mostly found on smaller petrol A-Class and B-Class models (A200T and B200T).

The designation on the right-hand side is usually for the specific options such as "4Matic" and "AMG". "CDI" is affixed on the right-hand side unless "4Matic" option is chosen: it moves to the left and joins the alphanumeric designation. For instance, "R320CDI 4Matic" or "E320 CDI".

"4Matic" is the four-wheel-drive system. "BLUETEC" denotes the diesel motor with exhaust treatment using urea solution. "CDI" is the "Common-Rail Direct Injection" system for the diesel motors. "CGI" is the petrol equivalent of CDI on some models. "HYBRID" designates the hybrid technology. "NGT" is the "Natural Gas Technology".

When Mercedes-Benz established the high performance model range following the purchase of AMG in 1994, it drops the last number as to denote the AMG version: C36 AMG, E55 AMG, S63 AMG, and so forth. The AMG versions of supercharged 5.4-litre V8 and 5.5-litre (and later 6.0) V12 motors have "Kompressor" or "V12 Biturbo" respectively affixed to the front wings behind the front wheels. Some of C-Class models in the United States and elsewhere in the world have 1.8T (1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder motor). On some models, "BlueEFFICIENCY" label are affixed. The type of trim levels are displayed, too, on certain models: Classic, Elegance, Sport, Avantgarde, Elite, etc. As of the past several years, Mercedes-Benz no longer assigns the numerical designation accurately on some of the motors.

Note: some of selected "inaccurate" combination of nomenclature and motor displacement are listed below. The current 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel motor is often assigned as 180, 200, 220, and 250 while 3.0-litre V6 diesel motor is given the 280, 300, and 320. Even though the displacement remains the same, the power and torque figures are tuned accordingly. To exaberate the confusion further, C180 and C200 have either naturally aspirated 2.0-litre or turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder motors in various tuning level. 350 used to have 3.7-litre V6, but the newer version of 350 has 3.5-litre V6. S400 Hybrid (W221) has 3.5-litre V6 motor even though S400 (W220) has been fitted with 4.0-litre diesel V8. The 4.0-litre V8 diesel is given 400, 420, and 450 designation as to reflect the technical improvements to the diesel motor. The 450 had 4.7-litre V8 (S450 and GL450). The 500 in Europe and elsewhere in the world has 5.5-litre (later a 4.7-litre direct-injected twinturbocharged version) V8 motor. 600 (S600, SL600, and CL600) has 5.8-litre (and later turbocharged 5.5-litre from Maybach) V12 motor while 65 AMG (S65, SL65, and CL65) has 6.0-litre V12. 63 AMG (C63, E63, CLS63, S63, SL63, and CL63) has the 6.2-litre displacement but is called 63 AMG for the sake of nostalgia of famous 6.3-litre V8 motor from the 1960s. For 2011, the 6.2-litre V8 in 63 AMG is replaced by 5.5-litre direct-injected twin-turbocharged V8, which still carries 63 designation. The European customers can opt out the nomenclatures when ordering their Mercedes-Benz vehicles as they wish.

[edit] Electric vehicles

At the 2007 Frankfurt motor show, Mercedes-Benz showed seven hybrid models, including the F700 concept car, which combined hybrid drive with the innovative DiesOtto engine.[31][32] On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz says it will have a demonstration fleet of practical, if small, electric vehicles on the road in two to three years, from 2008.[33] Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHYBRID[34] will be launched in 2009, and will be the first production automotive hybrid in the world to use a lithium-ion battery.[35][36] In 2009, the S400 hybrid saloon is scheduled to go on sale.[37] Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO cars were introduced in the 2009 North American International Auto Show.[38][39] Mercedes has showed in 2009 the Vision S500 PHEV petrol concept vehicle with a 19 miles (31 km) all-electric range and CO2 emissions of 74 grams/km in the New European Driving Cycle.[40] Mercedes-Benz and Smart are preparing for the widespread uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK by beginning the installation of recharging points across their dealer networks. So far 20 Elektrobay recharging units, produced in the UK by Brighton-based Elektromotive, have been installed at seven locations as part of a pilot project, and further expansion of the initiative is planned later 2010.[41]

In mid-2010, production commenced on the Vito E-Cell all-electric van. Mercedes expects 100 vehicles to be produced by the end of 2010 and a further 2000 by the end of 2011.[42]

[edit] Bicycles
Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH introduced 3 new bicycles in 2005, named Automatic Bike from upwards of USD$2699, Fitness Bike from upwards of USD$3999, Mountain Bike from upwards of USD$5399 (As were the Retail Prices recorded from immediate release date).[43] The bikes are sold in Australia,[44] Germany, and Russia.[45] List of bicycles:

Mercedes-Benz Automatic Bike Mercedes-Benz Carbon Bike Mercedes-Benz Fitness Bike Mercedes-Benz Hybrid Bike Mercedes-Benz Mountain Bike Mercedes-Benz Street Bike

[edit] Motorsport
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Main article: Mercedes-Benz in motorsport

A DMG Mercedes Simplex 1906 in the Deutsches Museum

1957 Mercedes-Benz 300Sc Cabriolet

The two companies which were merged to form the Mercedes-Benz brand in 1926 had both already enjoyed success in the new sport of motor racing throughout their separate histories - both had entries in the very first automobile race Paris to Rouen 1894. This has continued, and throughout its long history, the company has been 1959 Mercedes-Benz W120 Model 180 involved in a range of motorsport activities, including sports car racing and rallying. On several occasions Mercedes-Benz has withdrawn completely from motorsport for a significant period, notably in the late 1930s, and after the 1955 Le Mans disaster, where a Mercedes-Benz 300SLR collided with another car and killed more than 80 spectators. Although there was some activity in the intervening years, it was not until 1987 that Mercedes-Benz returned to front line competition, returning to Le Mans, Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM), and Formula One with Sauber. The 1990s saw Mercedes-Benz purchase British engine builder Ilmor (now Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines), and campaign IndyCars under the USAC/CART rules, eventually winning the 1994 Indianapolis 500 and 1994 CART IndyCar World Series Championship with Al Unser, Jr. at the wheel. The 1990s also saw the return of Mercedes-Benz to GT racing, and the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, both of which took the company to new heights by dominating the FIA's GT1 class. Mercedes-Benz is currently active in three forms of motorsport, Formula Three, DTM and Formula One.

[edit] Formula 1
Main article: Mercedes GP Mercedes-Benz took part in the world championship in 1954 and 1955, but despite being successful with two championship titles for Juan-Manuel Fangio, the company left the sport after just two seasons. Mercedes-Benz returned as an engine supplier in the 1990s and part-owned Team McLaren for some years, to which it has supplied engines engineered by Ilmor[46] since 1995. This partnership brought success, including drivers championships for Mika Hkkinen in 1998 and 1999, and for Lewis Hamilton in 2008, as well as a constructors championship in 1998. The collaboration with McLaren has been extended into the production of roadgoing cars such as the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. In 2007 McLaren and Mercedes was fined a record $100 Million for stealing confidential Ferrari technical data.[47]

In 2009, Ross Brawn's newly conceived Formula One team, Brawn GP used Mercedes engines to help win the constructor's championship, and Jenson Button to become champion in the F1 drivers' championship. At the end of the season, Mercedes-Benz sold back its 40% stake in McLaren to the McLaren Group and bought 70% of the Brawn GP team jointly with an Abu Dubai based investment consortium. Brawn GP was renamed Mercedes GP for the 2010 season and is, from this season on, a works team for Mercedes-Benz.

[edit] Tuners
Several companies have become car tuners (or modifiers) of Mercedes Benz, in order to increase performance and/or luxury to a given model.

[edit] In house
AMG is Mercedes-Benz's in-house performance-tuning division, specialising in highperformance versions of most Mercedes-Benz cars. AMG engines are all hand-built,[48] and each completed engine receives a tag with the signature of the engineer who built it. AMG has been wholly owned by Mercedes-Benz since 1999.[49] On the 2009 IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Mercedes officially introduced the SLS AMG, a revival of the 300SL Gullwing, and the first car to be entirely developed by AMG.

[edit] Aftermarket tuners

There are numerous independent tuners:

Brabus Carlsson Kicherer Kleemann Lorinser Renntech MKB Fluid MotorUnion

[edit] Noted employees

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Bla Barnyi - car safety pioneer and original designer of the Volkswagen Beetle concept Nicholas Dreystadt - Cadillac manager Juan Manuel Fangio - considered by many[50] to be the best F1 driver in history [51] Wilhelm Maybach - automotive pioneer Stirling Moss - F1 driver

Ferdinand Pich - Volkswagen and Porsche manager Ferdinand Porsche - founder of Porsche Rudolf Uhlenhaut - designer of the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Bruno Sacco - automotive designer Mika Hkkinen - F1 driver, World Champion 1998-1999 Kimi Raikkonen- F1 driver, World Champion 2007 (with other team) Lewis Hamilton - F1 driver, World Champion 2008 Jenson Button - F1 driver World Champion 2009 Michael Schumacher - F1 driver world champion (with other teams) 1994-1995, 2000 2004 Larry Hook - American Service Center employee for over 40 years

[edit] Innovations
Numerous technological innovations have been introduced on Mercedes-Benz automobiles throughout the many years of their production, including:

The internal combustion engined automobile was developed independently by Benz and Daimler & Maybach in 1886 Daimler invented the honeycomb radiator of the type still used on all water-cooled vehicles today Daimler invented the float carburetor which was used until replaced by fuel injection The "drop chassis" - the car originally designated the "Mercedes" by Daimler was also the first car with a modern configuration, having the carriage lowered and set between the front and rear wheels, with a front engine and powered rear wheels. All earlier cars were "horseless carriages", which had high centres of gravity and various engine/drive-train configurations The first passenger road car to have brakes on all four wheels (1924)[52] The "safety cage" or "safety cell" construction with front and rear crumple zones was first developed by Mercedes-Benz in 1951. This is considered by many as the most important innovation in automobile construction from a safety standpoint[53][verification needed] In 1959, Mercedes-Benz patented a device that prevents drive wheels from spinning by intervening at the engine, transmission, or brakes. In 1987, Mercedes-Benz applied its patent by introducing a traction control system that worked under both braking and acceleration Traction control and airbags in the European market, were Mercedes-Benz innovations.[citation needed] These technologies were introduced in 1986, and 1980 respectively Mercedes-Benz was the first to introduce pre-tensioners to seat belts on the 1981 S-Class. In the event of a crash, a pre-tensioner will tighten the belt instantaneously, removing any 'slack' in the belt, which prevents the occupant from jerking forward in a crash In September 2003, Mercedes-Benz introduced the world's first seven-speed automatic transmission called '7G-Tronic' Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), brake assist,[54] and many other types of safety equipment were all developed, tested, and implemented into passenger carsfirstby Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz has not made a large fuss about its innovations, and has

even licensed them for use by competitors in the name of improving automobile and passenger safety. As a result, crumple zones and anti-lock brakes (ABS) are now standard on all modern vehicles.[53][verification needed]

Mercedes M156 engine

The most powerful naturally aspirated eight cylinder engine in the world is the MercedesAMG, 6208 cc M156 V8 engine at 85 PS per litre. The V8 engine is badged '63 AMG', and replaced the '55 AMG' M113 engine in most models. The M156 engine produces up to 391 kW (532 PS; 524 bhp), and although some models using this engine do have this output (such as the S63 and CL63 AMGs), specific output varies slightly across other models in the range[55] The (W211) E320 CDI which has a variable geometry turbocharger (VTG) 2.8 litre V6 common rail diesel engine (producing 224-horsepower), set three world endurance records. It covered 100,000 miles (160,000 km) in a record time, with an average speed of 224.823 kilometres per hour (139.70 mph). Three identical cars did the endurance run (one set above record) and the other two cars set world records for time taken to cover 100,000 kilometres (62,137 mi) and 50,000 miles (80,000 km) respectively. After all three cars had completed the run, their combined distance was 300,000 miles (480,000 km) (all records were FIA approved).[56] Mercedes-Benz pioneered a system called Pre-Safe to detect an imminent crash - and prepares the car's safety systems to respond optimally. It also calculates the optimal braking force required to avoid an accident in emergency situations, and makes it immediately available for when the driver depresses the brake pedal. Occupants are also prepared by tightening the seat belt, closing the sunroof and windows, and moving the seats into the optimal position. Mercedes is the first car to be fitted with sat navigation (S Class) Mercedes is the first car to have digital TV (W221) Mercedes is the first car to use solar panels on a sunroof. First found on the W211 E55 AMG Mercedes is the first car to use aroma theropy. (Maybach 57, 62) Mercedes is the first car to use double glazing (W140) Mercedes invented the first Turbo charged Diesel Motor (1984) Found on W123 and W126.

Half a century of vehicle safety innovation helped win Mercedes-Benz the Safety Award at the 2007 What car? Awards [52]

[edit] Robot cars

Main article: Driverless car In the 1980s, Mercedes built the world's first robot car, together with the team of Professor Ernst Dickmanns at Bundeswehr Universitt Mnchen.[57] Partially encouraged by Dickmanns' success, in 1987 the European Union's EUREKA programme initiated the Prometheus Project on autonomous vehicles, funded to the tune of nearly 800 million Euros. A culmination point was achieved in 1995, when Dickmanns' re-engineered autonomous S-Class Mercedes took a long trip from Munich in Bavaria to Copenhagen in Denmark, and back. On highways, the robot achieved speeds exceeding 175 kilometres per hour (109 mph) (permissible in some areas of the German Autobahn). The car's abilities has heavily influenced robot car research and funding decisions worldwide.

[edit] References
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