* 1.6 million Mercedes-Benz station wagons sold since 1946
* New Mercedes-Benz C-Class station wagon to be presented in September 2007 at International Motor Show in Frankfurt

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class station wagon, which received an extensive upgrade in mid-2006, is enjoying tremendous popularity with Mercedes-Benz customers. Deliveries of the upper-range station wagon have increased by 14 percent to 16,700 units since the beginning of this year. Approximately 185,000 customers have opted for the E-Class station wagon since the model's market launch in March 2003. The primary selling points of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class station wagon are its elegance, comfort, and cargo volume of up to 1,950 liters.

Moreover, it offers innovative safety technologies such as PRE-SAFE® and the optional Intelligent Light System. Around three quarters of all Mercedes-Benz E-Class station wagon customers drive one of the four diesel variants. The most popular engine version for the upper-range Mercedes-Benz station wagon is the E 220 CDI, which is chosen by approximately 30 percent of customers.



The Mercedes-Benz C-Class station wagon has also been well received by customers since its market debut in March 2001. The brand with the star has delivered some 365,000 units of the spacious C-Class station wagon to customers all over the world. The diesel variants are extremely popular for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class station wagon as well, with more than two thirds of all customers worldwide choosing this option. Approximately 40 percent of customers have opted for the C 220 CDI engine.

Ever since the premiere of the first Mercedes-Benz station wagon in 1946, a total of 1.6 million Mercedes-Benz station wagons have been sold throughout the world. A total of 550,000 units of the current Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Mercedes-Benz E-Class station wagons have been delivered to customers since their market launch. In 2007, more than half of the C- and E-Class station wagons delivered by Mercedes-Benz went to customers in Germany. The second most important market for the Mercedes-Benz station wagons is the UK, followed by Japan.

In September 2007, Mercedes-Benz will present the successor model of the current Mercedes-Benz C-Class station wagon at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt. At the end of the year the model will be available at car dealerships in western Europe.

Source: DaimlerChrysler

The new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster combines high-tech from motor racing and the power of a top high-performance sports car with the long-distance attributes and sophisticated atmosphere of a classic Gran Tourismo car. In common with Formula 1 vehicles of today, it too is made of carbon fibre, a material that endows the vehicle with a very high degree of safety as well as extreme torsional stiffness at the same high level as the coupé. In combination with the racing-type chassis this gives rise to outstanding ride characteristics.

The maximum speed of the new high-performance sports car, which is powered by an AMG V8 compressor engine delivering 460 kW/626 hp, is 332 km/h and therefore at the same high level as the Coupé. Although the Roadster offers undiluted open-top driving pleasure in the highest performance class thanks to its fully retractable top, the occupants in no way lose out in terms of comfort or the vehicle's suitability for everyday use. Consequently, the new Roadster opens up a new dimension in refinement for open-top super sports cars.

Like the coupé version, the new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster once again unites the legend of the successful SLR racing models from the 1950s with the innovative technology of modern Formula 1 vehicles from the Vodafone-McLaren-Mercedes team. Typical stylistic elements, such as the arrow-shaped tip of the Formula 1 Silver Arrow, establish a visual link with the racing cars. The SLR legend of the 50s lives on stylistically in the distinctive lateral louvers, side pipes behind the front wheels and the wide-opening gullwing doors.

The new Roadster benefits technically from the many years of experience of Mercedes-Benz and its Formula 1 partner McLaren. Apart from two aluminium engine frames, its body is made entirely of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) materials, making the vehicle an exception among high-performance sports cars. Especially for the Roadster, complex carbon-fibre technology has been intelligently further developed for the monocoque chassis. The result is low weight, exemplary energy absorption and, therefore, extremely high occupant safety as well as a degree of torsional stiffness hitherto unattained in open-top vehicles. This leads to outstanding ride characteristics of the kind otherwise found only in closed-top super sports cars.

Puristic soft top is designed for high speeds
The exceptional qualities of the Roadster are attributable also to the fully retractable top, which blends harmoniously into the flowing lines of the SLR McLaren. Its newly developed roof material, which has an interesting new look, not only guarantees complete suitability for everyday use in all weathers, but also endows the high-performance sports car with characteristics that are highly unusual in a roadster. For example, the top speed of 332 km/h with the roof up matches the extraordinary figure set by the Coupé.

The roof opens and closes semi-automatically in less than ten seconds, thereby combining the desire for convenience with the purist character of the roadster. To open, the roof merely needs to be disengaged from the windscreen frame and briefly raised, after which it folds away electro-hydraulically. The aluminium bow integrated into the front section of the roof forms a stylish cover for the soft top when it is folded down. A high level of safety is assured by steel-reinforced A-pillars and two fixed rollover bars.

Sophisticated aerodynamics and racing-type chassis
In the wind tunnel, the Roadster has been optimised for high speeds with regard to handling, aero-acoustics and aerodynamics. It likewise employs the aerodynamic concept already known from the coupé version, featuring an airbrake integrated into the access lid and a diffuser in the rear bumper to provide increased downforce on the rear axle. In order to provide the best possible weight distribution, and therefore perfect handling dynamics and a high level of braking stability, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster was designed as a sports car with a front-mid engine behind the front axle.

Thanks to its low installed position, its AMG V8 compressor engine with air-to-water intercooling, three-valve technology, dry sump lubrication and four metal catalytic converters ensures a favourably low centre of gravity. With 460 kW/626 hp and a maximum torque of 780 Nm, the AMG V8 compressor engine, which is coupled to an AMG Speedshift R five-speed automatic transmission, catapults the Roadster from zero to 100 km/h in a mere 3.8 seconds.The open-top two-seater is equipped with a suspension that was bred on the race track, an electrohydraulic brake system, as well as high-endurance carbon-fibre/ceramic brake discs which offer optimum braking performance, thermal resistance and durability.

Unrivalled safety and exclusive appointments
A high standard of safety is ensured by unique carbon-fibre crash structures, steel-reinforced A-pillars and two fixed rollover bars. Other safety features include adaptive airbags, knee and sidebags, Seat belt pre-tensioners and a tyre pressure monitoring system.The exclusive standard equipment includes semi-aniline-leather-upholstered carbon-fibre bucket seats which can be individually adapted to the driver and front passenger by means of differently sized Seat pads; dual-zone automatic air-conditioning; a high-quality BOSE premium sound system; a multifunction sport steering wheel with gear-change paddles, and a navigation system with integral radio and CD-changer.The new Mercedes-Benz SLR Roadster, like the Coupé, is produced at McLaren's Formula 1 factory in , in accordance with stringent Mercedes-Benz quality criteria, and will be available from September 2007.

Mercedes-Benz is celebrating the 10th birthday of its successful M-Class, the top-selling premium SUV with 850,000 units to its name. To mark the occasion, Mercedes-Benz is bringing out the attractive special “Edition 10” model. The specification includes 20-inch wheels, bi‑xenon headlamps and special bodywork highlights in titanium-look as well as dark-tinted tail lights. The sporty, refined interior features two-tone all-leather appointments, sports instruments and stainless steel sports pedals. The “Edition 10” can be ordered from autumn 2007.

The “Edition 10” is a fitting tribute to mark the tenth anniversary of the most successful Mercedes-Benz premium SUV. It recalls the market launch of the M‑Class a decade ago, a vehicle now regarded as the pioneer of the premium SUV. Compared with the series-production models, the anniversary edition sporting the special “Edition 10” logos on the wings features even higher-grade appointments and is instantly recognisable from the exterior, courtesy of its eye-catching design and engineering details. Highlights include the 20-inch light-alloy wheels shod with 265/45 R 20 V tyres.

Depending on the customer’s preference, the light-alloy wheels in gleaming silver provide an interesting contrast to the “Edition 10” design ‑ or blend in harmoniously with if the darkened “chrome shadow” finish is specified. The darkened housings for the bi-xenon headlamps with Active Light System and identically styled fog lamps with integral cornering light function lend the vehicle’s front end an even more striking appearance. The package of measures at the front end is rounded off with a special radiator grille and simulated stainless steel underride guard, both in titanium-look.

Dark-tinted tail light clusters, a simulated stainless steel underride guard in titanium-look and twin-pipe exhaust system with separate chrome tailpipes adorn the rear of the M-Class “Edition 10”. Blue-tinted glass and special chrome trim elements on the door handles, rub strips, radiator grille and rear bumper add the finishing touches to the striking appearance. The special model is available in obsidian black, iridium silver or calcite white.The two-tone all-leather appointments in cashmere beige and black create an interesting contrast in the interior. The black roof lining, the sports instrument cluster and wood trim elements either in “anthracite poplar” or “pale birch” further enhance the interior refinement.

Velour floor mats with an embroidered “Edition 10” logo welcome occupants, while the driver can enjoy the special touch of brushed stainless steel sports pedals. Power-adjustable front seats and the interior lighting package round off the specification.The standard equipment of the powerful trendsetter includes the seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC with DIRECT SELECT, ESP®, 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive and the 4ETS traction system with additional functions including Downhill Speed Regulation, hill-start assist and off-road ABS. Difficult terrain is easier to negotiate with the optional Off-Road Pro engineering package, which includes a low-range ratio, electronically controlled multi-disc differential locks for the centre and rear differentials and increased ground clearance.

Optional extras include the AIRMATIC air suspension system with the Adaptive Damping System ADS, the COMAND APS telematics system or KEYLESS-GO, all of which add extra comfort and convenience.

A choice of five “Edition 10” models
In addition to the powerful V8 diesel engine with its 700 Nm of torque in the ML 420 CDI 4MATIC, two superlative V6 diesel units are available. The V6 entry-level unit in the ML 280 CDI produces 140 kW / 190 hp, the ML 320 CDI develops 165 kW/224 hp from the same displacement. The ML 350 and the ML 500 with the new 5.5-litre V8 unit bring two petrol versions to the line-up with outputs of 200 kW/272 hp and 285 kW/388 hp respectively.

Ten years in Tuscaloosa – a German-American success story
The first generation of the M-Class (W 163) was launched in 1997, paving the way for today’s premium SUVs. Fitted with all-wheel drive as standard, it combined the comfort and handling safety of a passenger car with the ruggedness of an off-road vehicle. The Sports Utility Vehicle also offered ample room and optimum adaptability, virtually assuring its success from the off: some 600,000 units of the first-generation M-Class were sold worldwide before it was replaced by the all-new model generation in 2005.

The W 164 series consummately perpetuates this success story; around 250,000 Mercedes-Benz customers have already purchased this model.Like the first generation, the current M-Class is manufactured at the DaimlerChrysler Tuscaloosa plant in the U.S. state of Alabama. The production facility was opened on May 21, 1997, two years after construction began, and was the first Mercedes-Benz passenger car plant outside Germany. Shortly after production started, worldwide M-Class demand easily outstripped forecasts. In addition to the initial 300 million U.S. dollars, the company invested another 100 million U.S. dollars to increase capacity from 60,000 to 80,000 vehicles a year. In 2002, more than 88,000 M-Class vehicles were produced in Tuscaloosa, setting a new record. Between 1999 and 2002, the M-Class was also produced at Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, where the legendary G-Class is built.

The Mercedes-Benz all-wheel-drive story began a hundred years ago
In addition to marking the 10th anniversary of the model series, the launch of the M-Class “Edition 10” in 2007 also recalls another significant event. In 1907 – exactly a hundred years ago – the Berlin-Marienfelde plant rolled out the world’s first all-terrain all-wheel-drive passenger car. This one-off vehicle, painstakingly designed by Paul Daimler, was used by the German Imperial Colonial Office in German Southwest Africa, now Namibia. The technology used in the 3.6-tonne vehicle with its touring car body and six seats was ahead of its time. In addition to the permanent all-wheel drive, the large vehicle even had all-wheel steering for better manoeuvrability.

The entire powertrain was encapsulated, making it perfectly suited to the ubiquitous dusty desert tracks of German Southwest Africa. A sturdy underride guard protected the transmission. The “Dernburg Wagen”, named after Bernhard Dernburg, the head of the German Imperial Colonial Office, was used successfully for several years, mainly in the area around Windhoek and Swakopmund, and clocked up no less than 10,000 kilometres. The trail of this unique vehicle went cold in the post-colonial era – its whereabouts are now a mystery.

Mercedes-Benz is celebrating the 10th birthday of its successful M-Class, the top-selling premium SUV with 850,000 units to its name. To mark the occasion, Mercedes-Benz is bringing out the attractive special “Edition 10” model. The specification includes 20-inch wheels, bi‑xenon headlamps and special bodywork highlights in titanium-look as well as dark-tinted tail lights. The sporty, refined interior features two-tone all-leather appointments, sports instruments and stainless steel sports pedals. The “Edition 10” can be ordered from autumn 2007.

The “Edition 10” is a fitting tribute to mark the tenth anniversary of the most successful Mercedes-Benz premium SUV. It recalls the market launch of the M‑Class a decade ago, a vehicle now regarded as the pioneer of the premium SUV. Compared with the series-production models, the anniversary edition sporting the special “Edition 10” logos on the wings features even higher-grade appointments and is instantly recognisable from the exterior, courtesy of its eye-catching design and engineering details. Highlights include the 20-inch light-alloy wheels shod with 265/45 R 20 V tyres.

Depending on the customer’s preference, the light-alloy wheels in gleaming silver provide an interesting contrast to the “Edition 10” design ‑ or blend in harmoniously with if the darkened “chrome shadow” finish is specified. The darkened housings for the bi-xenon headlamps with Active Light System and identically styled fog lamps with integral cornering light function lend the vehicle’s front end an even more striking appearance. The package of measures at the front end is rounded off with a special radiator grille and simulated stainless steel underride guard, both in titanium-look.

Dark-tinted tail light clusters, a simulated stainless steel underride guard in titanium-look and twin-pipe exhaust system with separate chrome tailpipes adorn the rear of the M-Class “Edition 10”. Blue-tinted glass and special chrome trim elements on the door handles, rub strips, radiator grille and rear bumper add the finishing touches to the striking appearance. The special model is available in obsidian black, iridium silver or calcite white.The two-tone all-leather appointments in cashmere beige and black create an interesting contrast in the interior. The black roof lining, the sports instrument cluster and wood trim elements either in “anthracite poplar” or “pale birch” further enhance the interior refinement.

Velour floor mats with an embroidered “Edition 10” logo welcome occupants, while the driver can enjoy the special touch of brushed stainless steel sports pedals. Power-adjustable front seats and the interior lighting package round off the specification.The standard equipment of the powerful trendsetter includes the seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC with DIRECT SELECT, ESP®, 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive and the 4ETS traction system with additional functions including Downhill Speed Regulation, hill-start assist and off-road ABS. Difficult terrain is easier to negotiate with the optional Off-Road Pro engineering package, which includes a low-range ratio, electronically controlled multi-disc differential locks for the centre and rear differentials and increased ground clearance.

Optional extras include the AIRMATIC air suspension system with the Adaptive Damping System ADS, the COMAND APS telematics system or KEYLESS-GO, all of which add extra comfort and convenience.

A choice of five “Edition 10” models
In addition to the powerful V8 diesel engine with its 700 Nm of torque in the ML 420 CDI 4MATIC, two superlative V6 diesel units are available. The V6 entry-level unit in the ML 280 CDI produces 140 kW / 190 hp, the ML 320 CDI develops 165 kW/224 hp from the same displacement. The ML 350 and the ML 500 with the new 5.5-litre V8 unit bring two petrol versions to the line-up with outputs of 200 kW/272 hp and 285 kW/388 hp respectively.

Ten years in Tuscaloosa – a German-American success story
The first generation of the M-Class (W 163) was launched in 1997, paving the way for today’s premium SUVs. Fitted with all-wheel drive as standard, it combined the comfort and handling safety of a passenger car with the ruggedness of an off-road vehicle. The Sports Utility Vehicle also offered ample room and optimum adaptability, virtually assuring its success from the off: some 600,000 units of the first-generation M-Class were sold worldwide before it was replaced by the all-new model generation in 2005.

The W 164 series consummately perpetuates this success story; around 250,000 Mercedes-Benz customers have already purchased this model.Like the first generation, the current M-Class is manufactured at the DaimlerChrysler Tuscaloosa plant in the U.S. state of Alabama. The production facility was opened on May 21, 1997, two years after construction began, and was the first Mercedes-Benz passenger car plant outside Germany. Shortly after production started, worldwide M-Class demand easily outstripped forecasts. In addition to the initial 300 million U.S. dollars, the company invested another 100 million U.S. dollars to increase capacity from 60,000 to 80,000 vehicles a year. In 2002, more than 88,000 M-Class vehicles were produced in Tuscaloosa, setting a new record. Between 1999 and 2002, the M-Class was also produced at Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, where the legendary G-Class is built.

The Mercedes-Benz all-wheel-drive story began a hundred years ago
In addition to marking the 10th anniversary of the model series, the launch of the M-Class “Edition 10” in 2007 also recalls another significant event. In 1907 – exactly a hundred years ago – the Berlin-Marienfelde plant rolled out the world’s first all-terrain all-wheel-drive passenger car. This one-off vehicle, painstakingly designed by Paul Daimler, was used by the German Imperial Colonial Office in German Southwest Africa, now Namibia. The technology used in the 3.6-tonne vehicle with its touring car body and six seats was ahead of its time. In addition to the permanent all-wheel drive, the large vehicle even had all-wheel steering for better manoeuvrability.
The entire powertrain was encapsulated, making it perfectly suited to the ubiquitous dusty desert tracks of German Southwest Africa. A sturdy underride guard protected the transmission. The “Dernburg Wagen”, named after Bernhard Dernburg, the head of the German Imperial Colonial Office, was used successfully for several years, mainly in the area around Windhoek and Swakopmund, and clocked up no less than 10,000 kilometres. The trail of this unique vehicle went cold in the post-colonial era – its whereabouts are now a mystery.

* Mercedes-Benz Brand TV will set new standards for Internet television
* Programming to be launched during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin on July 12, 2007
* Weekly news magazine plus five channels for lifestyle, cars, engines & sports, history & legends, and innovation

Mercedes-Benz will launch its own Internet television broadcasting service on July 12 with a live report from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin. “Mercedes-Benz TV” will broadcast in German and English and set new standards for online brand communication. The Internet TV service will feature a weekly news magazine hosted by Tanja Bülter, a society reporter from the RTL television network. The program will be about 20 minutes long and will offer news, facts, and background information from the world of Mercedes. Internet viewers will also be able to watch programs 24 hours a day on the service’s five Web channels for lifestyle, cars, engines & sports, history & legends, and innovation. Mercedes-Benz events at auto shows and the brand’s world premieres will be broadcast live on Mercedes-Benz TV in the future as well.

“Mercedes-Benz TV opens up a new and very emotional communication channel for our customers and anyone interested in the brand,” says Dr. Olaf Goettgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars. “Our Internet television service sets new standards in terms of content and design, while using video images to convey the fascination and legends that surround the brand with the star.”

The launch of the weekly news magazine will be accompanied at 8:00 p.m. on July 12 by a special primetime presentation of “Power Meets Fashion” - live from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin. The big highlight here will have race car drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Klaus Ludwig, as well as other celebrities, taking both vintage and brand-new Mercedes-Benz vehicles for a spin on a special course set up between Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column.

The cars driven here will range from an Uhlenhaut coupe to the current luxury convertible concept known as “Ocean Drive.” In addition to featuring interviews with celebrities like Oliver Bierhoff and top model Eva Padberg, the live broadcast also will present exclusive background information on Fashion Week.

As the first Internet TV offering, Mercedes-Benz TV combines the broadcasting features of regular television with the new digital possibilities offered by the Internet. Anchorwoman Tanja Bülter, for example, presents her weekly news magazine in the traditional manner. At the same time, onsite reporters present individual features for the magazine when appropriate. These reports can also be called up from any of the five channels at any given time on demand. Mercedes-Benz TV features an intuitive system and is therefore very easy to use. Approximately 60 minutes of programming will be available on each channel when broadcast operations are launched.

www.mercedes-benz.tv

Source: DaimlerChrysler

* Mercedes Car Group sells 617,700 vehicles in first half of 2007
* Very positive customer response to the new C-Class sedan
* smart fortwo posts sales increase of 39 percent to 9,800 units

The Mercedes Car Group sold 117,200 Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brand passenger vehicles in June 2007, compared to 118,800 units in the same month last year. A total of 617,700 units were sold in the first half of the year (January-June 2006: 627,300). The Mercedes-Benz brand set a new record for the month of June by delivering 107,300 vehicles to customers (June 2006: 106,200). The brand with the star also posted record sales of 575,700 units over the first six months of the year (January-June 2006: 565,300).

The new-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class performed extremely well during the period of January to June 2007. Sales of the upper-range model series totaled 120,100 units in the first half of the year, up ten percent from the same period last year.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan met with a tremendous response from customers in the first three months after its market launch. A total of 22,800 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans were sold in June, which represents a 41 percent increase from June 2006. The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan will be successively introduced to the U.S., Japan , and right-hand drive markets over the next few months. Mercedes-Benz will also begin offering three additional engine variants for the model in August: the Mercedes-Benz C 180, Mercedes-Benz C 230, and Mercedes-Benz C 200 cdi.

Sales of Mercedes-Benz SUVs also continue to rise strongly. In the first six months of 2007, deliveries of the brand’s SUVs worldwide rose 13 percent to the record level of 86,500 units. Mercedes-Benz continues to be the best-selling premium brand in the SUV segment in Western Europe. Sales of Mercedes-Benz diesel SUVs in the U.S. have developed particularly well. Through June, they accounted for 18 percent of all Mercedes-Benz SUVs sold in the 45 states in which the brand began offering diesel SUVs at the end of 2006.

Mercedes-Benz set a new sales record for the first half of the year in the U.S., delivering 118,200 passenger vehicles (January-June 2006: 114,900), up three percent from the same period last year.

After focusing on the smart fortwo, the smart brand delivered 9,900 vehicles last month (June 2006: 12,600). Sales of smart fortwo vehicles alone rose to 9,800 units, an increase of 39 percent.


Overview of Mercedes Car Group Sales

June 2007
Change in %
Jan.-June 2007
Change in %
Mercedes-Benz
107,300
+1.0
575,700
+1.8
smart
9,900
-20.9
42,000
-32.2





Mercedes Car Group
117,200
-1.3
617,700
-1.5
Western Europe
75,800
-1.2
379,300
-4.5
- of which Germany
32,800
-1.1
160,400
-3.5
NAFTA
22,000
-3.9
130,700
+3.1
- of which U.S.*
19,600
-5.8
118,200
+2.9
Asia/Pacific
11,900
-7.9
66,700
-1.0
- of which Japan
4,400
-25.9
21,500
-20.1
* Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles




Source: DaimlerChrysler

* More than 100,000 orders for Blue-Tec trucks
* Andreas Renschler, DaimlerChrysler Board of Management member responsible for the Truck Group: “Our Mercedes-Benz trucks make us a pioneer in this field as well as the most successful supplier of this innovative diesel technology”

The DaimlerChrysler Truck Group has posted an outstanding number of orders for Mercedes-Benz Blue-Tec trucks. Customers from all over Europe have placed more than 100,000 orders for the vehicles since Mercedes-Benz became the world’s first supplier to introduce the innovative diesel system in early 2005. A total of 80,000 Blue-Tec trucks are currently on the road, with more than 95 percent of them already meeting the Euro 5 emissions limits that will take effect from October 2009.

“Our Mercedes-Benz trucks make us a pioneer in this field as well as the most successful supplier of this innovative diesel technology,” said Andreas Renschler, DaimlerChrysler Board of Management member responsible for the Truck Group. “Mercedes-Benz was the first truck brand to systematically switch to Euro 4- and Euro 5-compatible engines. We began this process with the Actros, and followed it up with the Axor, the Atego, the Econic, and the Unimog. The more than 100,000 orders we have received to date demonstrate that early introduction of Blue-Tec has created considerable added value for our customers.” Since early 2005, Mercedes-Benz has been gradually incorporating Blue-Tec into its product range, beginning with long-haul trucks. The technology was available to customers long before the new emissions limits became binding. Since then, most other European truck manufacturers have adopted the Blue-Tec technology featuring SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) exhaust treatment with the use of the additive AdBlue. And with an eye to the coming implementation of Euro 5, all manufacturers are now using SCR.

Blue-Tec diesel technology offers a variety of benefits. In addition to satisfying the Euro 4 emissions standards and the future Euro 5 limits, it also boosts profitability. “Blue-Tec enables our customers to benefit from government-sponsored incentives,” said Hubertus Troska, head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks (Europe/Latin America). “And when Blue-Tec is used in combination with advanced engine technology, it ensures that all fuel is optimally utilized. Depending on the actual engine variant, this results not only in increased power but also reduced fuel consumption.” Another benefit of Blue-Tec is that it can increase a truck’s resale value, which means customers using this technology can operate more economically overall.

The DaimlerChrysler Truck Group is a division of DaimlerChrysler AG and the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles. The Truck Group and its five leading brands - Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star and Fuso - have more than 50 locations in Western Europe, Asia, the NAFTA region, and Latin America. The Truck Group sold 537,000 trucks worldwide last year.

Source: DaimlerChrysler

* The ten most popular songs from free music download series available from July 3
* 27 million downloads by 2.4 million users later, Mercedes-Benz looks back on its successful run
* New enhanced offering to start in Autumn 2007

After a total of 17 compilations featuring 257 songs from 251 artists representing more than 30 countries, the Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape is saying thanks to its loyal fans by issuing a “Best Of” edition. Ten of the most popular songs will be available again for free download at www.mercedes-benz.com/ mixedtape from July 3, 2007. The 18th edition will present the usual popular mix of soul, Latin, pop, rhythm & blues, nu jazz and hip hop. In accordance with the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in , Eva Padberg, top model and new brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, will grace the cover of the last album with a Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Coupé.

“Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape made an international name for itself very quickly amongst artists and avid music fans as an independent entertainment format“, reported Dr. Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars. “After three years, we are very proud of this successful and innovative brand promotion and are excited about introducing a new enhanced platform to our loyal customers in the autumn”.



Since it’s beginning in June 2004, 2.4 million users worldwide have downloaded some 27 million songs to date. This has made the Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape one of the most successful legal download platforms. The German market alone accounted for around six million free downloads of the Mixed Tape in 2006. If you add the 27 million subscription downloads in (source: German Federation of the Phonographic Industry, 2006), some 18 percent of all songs legally downloaded in were from the Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape. One of the most successful editions was Mixed Tape 17, which had a total of 1.8 million downloads.

Furthermore, some 600,000 website entries and 3,700 blog entries around the world have links to this free download offer from Mercedes-Benz. The website for the 18th edition will have a forum where Mixed Tape fans can interact and discuss with one another.

Involvement with Mixed Tape has also paid off for up-and-coming musicians. They were able to submit their songs online for review. Every artist whose song made it into the final selection was given a write-up with pictures. After getting a song released on the Mixed Tape, one artist per album on average ended up with a record deal or a greater involvement.

Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape 18, the “Best Of” edition of the free downloads, is showcasing a high-class international mix once again to end this project, with artists from Norway, Great Britain, Brazil, Germany and the Ivory Coast - the warm clear tones of Menoosha Susungi and Kristin Hild, British hip-hop from Simon Hectic with John Biggs and nu jazz rhythms from the German/Brazilian band Berlin-Bahia.

The audio podcast which started in December 2005 will remain an important platform for up-and-coming artists. It will continue to introduce interesting musicians and songs every two weeks at www.mercedes-benz.com/podcast.

Source: DaimlerChrysler

* Production milestone in Wörth
* Hubertus Troska, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks: "Half-a-million vehicles manufactured underscores the outstanding success of the Actros, which combines reliability, economy, and comfort"
* French customer Star’s Service takes delivery of milestone vehicle

The 500,000th Mercedes-Benz Actros truck rolled off the assembly line at the production plant in Wörth on Friday. The arctic-white 1841 LS semitrailer tractor was handed over to Hervé Street, president of the French shipping company Star’s Service, by Hubertus Troska, head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks (Europe/Latin America), and Ulrich Bastert, head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Sales and Marketing. The Actros is the Mercedes-Benz Trucks flagship model and the most widely-produced heavy-duty truck in Europe. It was presented for the first time by Mercedes-Benz 11 years ago, and the second generation of the model series has been on the market since 2003.

“With a 22 percent market share in Western Europe in 2006, and customers in more than 100 countries, the Actros is a truly global truck that reliably performs its services from the arctic cold of Siberia to the sub-tropic climate of central Africa,” said Troska at the ceremony in which the milestone vehicle was handed over to the customer. “Half-a-million vehicles manufactured underscores the outstanding success of our flagship model as a technology leader, which combines reliability, economy, and comfort at the highest levels.”

In 1996, the Actros revolutionized the truck world with the introduction of the first-ever electronically controlled braking system in combination with all-round disc brakes. Soon after, it was equipped with further safety and assistance systems, and its cab underwent a major overhaul in 2003. Two years ago, the Actros was used for the advance launch of a series of clean and economical diesel engines featuring BlueTec technology. Today, the Actros is setting standards again as the world's safest truck with the Active Brake Assist emergency braking system.

The customer for the 500,000th Actros, Star’s Service, is the market leader in the French regional freight-forwarding sector. The company operates a fleet of 1,700 commercial vehicles, including 420 Mercedes-Benz Actros, Axor and Atego trucks, and 1,000 Sprinter and Vito vans. Founded in 1987, Star’s Service posted revenues of €100 million in 2006.

The DaimlerChrysler Truck Group is a division of DaimlerChrysler AG and the world's largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles. The Truck Group and its five leading brands – Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star and Fuso – have more than 50 locations in Western Europe, Asia, the NAFTA region, and Latin America. The Truck Group sold 537,000 trucks worldwide last year.

Source: DaimlerChrysler

-- Two organizations with a tradition of entrepreneurial support reach out to small businesses to ensure innovation, economic growth and job creation
-- Accelerator Program's quarterly modules focus on People, Money, Sales & Revenue and Strategy
-- Chicago joins New York, Boston, Los Angeles and St. Louis as the major EO chapters participating in the Accelerator Program 2007 kickoff

WHAT: Mercedes-Benz Financial and the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) are teaming up to help first-stage entrepreneurs in Chicago by providing the Accelerator Program, a quarterly seminar program aimed at helping start-up entrepreneurs drive their growth to $1 million in annual sales and beyond. The Accelerator Program was developed by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, to help them survive and grow in the start-up phase of their businesses.

To qualify for acceptance in the Chicago Accelerator program, entrepreneurs must meet the following criteria: be 36 years old or younger: own and run their business; and have annual revenues of at least $250,000 (and less than $1 million).

The EO Accelerator Program will deliver quarterly one-day learning sessions, presented by an EO-certified facilitator, to a class of up to 30 local entrepreneurs. In addition there will be opportunities for participants to engage with the local EO Chapter members. Annual tuition is $1000.

WHO: Members of EO Chicago's leadership team including:

Richard Levy, Salad Spinners (restaurant). Website: www.saladspinners.com

Dan Heuertz, The Preferred Group. Website: www.prslp.com

Adam Robinson, illuma, LLC. Website: www.illumallc.com

WHEN: Wednesday evening, June 27, 6:30- 8:30 p.m. Reception, networking with Chicago's leading entrepreneurs, media interview opportunities throughout the evening; 7 p.m. opening remarks.

WHERE: Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, 60604,

OTHER:

For more information on Mercedes-Benz Financial visit: www.mercedesbenzfinancial.com

For more information on the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) visit: www.eonetwork.org

For more information on the Accelerator Program visit: www.accelerator.eonetwork.org

Source: Mercedes-Benz Financial

* 400,000 units of current convertible and roadster models delivered to customers worldwide
* Global market leadership for Mercedes-Benz roadster models
* More than 100,000 second-generation Mercedes-Benz CLK convertibles sold

Sales for convertibles and roadster models from Mercedes-Benz are posting impressive results: A total of 400,000 units of the current Mercedes-Benz SL and Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster models and the Mercedes-Benz CLK convertible have been sold to date. In the roadster segment, Mercedes-Benz is the worldwide market leader with the Mercedes-Benz SL and the Mercedes-Benz SLK.

The compact second-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class roadster alone has been sold to about 162,000 customers all over the world since its market launch in March 2004. With a total of 480,000 deliveries, the Mercedes-Benz SLK is the best-selling premium roadster ever. The open two-seater is especially popular in Germany, where the Mercedes-Benz SLK has a market share of around 55 percent in the roadster segment. More than half of the SLK customers throughout the world chose an SLK 200 Kompressor.

Ever since the world-famous Mercedes-Benz 300 SL gull-wing coupe made its debut more than 50 years ago, Mercedes-Benz SL-Class sports cars have been among the world’s most fascinating and sought-after automobiles. The current Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is the fifth generation to continue this tradition. About 133,000 enthusiastic customers have been delighted by its sophisticated design, pioneering technology, outstanding comfort and all-around driving pleasure. The most important market for the Mercedes-Benz roadster in the luxury segment is the U.S. The Mercedes-Benz SL 500, which is chosen by approximately two thirds of SL customers, is by far the most popular model in the series.

Sales of the Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class convertible already reached the 105,000 mark. Like the coupe, the open version of the current Mercedes-Benz CLK series continues to be very popular. Demand for the Mercedes-Benz CLK convertible is especially high in Germany and the U.S. First place on the list of best-selling variants goes to the Mercedes-Benz CLK 350 with seven-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment, which accounts for about 40 percent of sales in the series.

Source: DaimlerChrysler

*A bridge to Europe and a bridgehead in the Middle East
* Economic miracle and upturn in Turkey
* Semitrailer tractors, cargo and construction vehicles from Aksaray in high demand
* Stable market share and great confidence

Aksaray is increasingly proving to be a real jewel in the worldwide production network of DaimlerChrysler AG. The assembly plant in central is a bridge to and a bridgehead in the . Its customers hail from western and eastern Europe, White Russia, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, North Africa or Saudi Arabia. The plant produces light and heavy trucks in the Mercedes-Benz Atego and Axor series, semitrailer tractors, construction vehicles and the Unimog U 4000, as well as commercial vehicle components.

Aksaray, which lies roughly 250 km to the south of , is the gateway to Cappadokia. With a present-day population of just under 200,000 inhabitants, the city was once one of the most important trading centres on the historic . Its history as a melting pot of different cultures and civilisations goes back to 8000 BC. Today manufacturing industry is the most important economic factor in Aksaray, with vehicle production the most prominent.

The Aksaray plant was planned by Mercedes-Benz in 1984, for the production of trucks and Unimog as well as engine and axle assembly. Series production of trucks commenced in 1986. To loud cheers from the workforce, the 10,000th truck left the production line on May 1, 1995 - a three-axle MB 2521 with a driven rear axle, a 155 kW (210 hp) engine and a gross vehicle weight of 25 tonnes. On the 75,000 mark was reached with an Axor 3240 C, and it was not long after this that the 100,000th truck left the plant. Originally designed for an annual capacity of 7000 units, the plant currently produces 12,300 trucks and Unimog, and is constantly expanding.

Aksaray is a very modern plant covering a total area of 558,117 sq. m., of which 80,000 are built on. In 1999 and 2003 DaimlerChrysler invested more than 75 million Euro in the plant, including the installation of cathodic dip painting systems which use state-of-the-art processes. The production facilities are to the same high standard as the German plants. In 2005 and 2006 a new customer centre was constructed, the warehouses were expanded and a new finishing shop was built.

Social facilities and vocational training

Social facilities were also constructed. The modern works canteen, health centre, fitness centre, swimming pool and football pitch, plus table-tennis and billiard rooms, are just a few of the facilities that provide the workforce with attractive working and recreational conditions. Wherever possible, employees are also provided with company housing.

The Aksaray plant takes training very seriously, as training is seen as an invest­ment in the future. All employees are offered seminars and training courses as part of annual development plans, 60 trainees attend an intensive vocational training course and 80 students and trainees each year are given an opportunity to do an internship. To this end the training centre in Aksaray was expanded in 2006.

Economic miracle in Asia Minor

With its high volume of exports to many other countries, the plant is not only important for Aksaray, but also for the Turkish economy. has experienced an astonishing economic upturn in the last seven years. Having been close to national bankruptcy around the turn of the millennium, the country’s annual growth according to the IMF (International Monetary Fund) was around 10 per­cent in 2004. As was recently announced at the Hanover Fair, the current figure is a robust 6 percent. The booming economy is attracting foreign investors. The powerhouses of this burgeoning business scene are Istanbul and Ankara. Germany is Turkey’s largest trading partner. Roads need to be built, buildings erected, irrigation systems and dams constructed, and pipelines for oil and natural gas need to be routed. Just the job for the Axor and Unimog.

Semitrailer tractors, cargo and construction vehicles in high demand
As the "smaller brother" of the Actros, the Axor is in many respects unrivalled as a construction vehicle. With its high payload, great economy and robust construc­tion, it only has to admit to second place after the Actros itself when really heavy loads need to be shifted. And with the Mercedes-Benz Powershift, the new, auto­mated 12-speed constant-mesh transmission, which is now also installed in Aksaray, it drives like a car with an automatic transmission. The heavy Unimog U 4000, which is produced in Aksaray, goes through thick and thin on any terrain. Its off-road capabilities are legendary.

Aksaray does not assemble the full range of DaimlerChrysler products - the portfolio comprises two Atego models, the 12 and 15-tonner, six Axor models from the semitrailer tractor to the heavy all-wheel drive tipper, concrete mixers and the U 4000. The highly manoeuvrable Atego for inner-city distribution operations, with a wide range of different bodies including provision for refrigeration units, has been assembled in Aksaray since 2000. The Axor has been produced there since 2002, mainly as a semitrailer tractor, cargo and construction vehicle.

Stable market share and great confidence

Trucks and Unimog from Aksaray enjoy a very high reputation amongst customers. Last year, Mercedes-Benz trucks were once again able to confirm their number one position in with a stable market share of 24.3 %. The busi­ness unit also expects 2007 to show a positive development in this respect.

Purely in terms of area, Aksaray is roughly one quarter the size of the Wörth plant. Nonetheless the facilities in Aksaray are certainly impressive, including the social provisions. With respect to architectural style and interior design, this modern plant hardly differs from the plant facilities in Wörth, and works with the same quality and precision. Incidentally, Aksaray was the first automotive plant in to be certificated according to ISO 9000 f in 1994 - by the German technical inspection authority TÜV South West, which has a branch office in Turkey.

Moreover, this equal standard of product and production quality between the Aksaray and Wörth plants also makes it possible for suppliers of Mercedes-Benz Türk to supply parts and components to the German truck plants.

Source: DaimlerChrysler

Tailor-made solutions for the discerning customer: Fascinating world of Mercedes-Benz SUVs

The most varied range of SUVs in the premium segment comes from Mercedes-Benz. A close look at the model range in the Mercedes-Benz R, Mercedes-Benz M, Mercedes-Benz GL and Mercedes-Benz G-Class quickly shows that one of the 30 basic models available is bound to match up to the relevant individual requirements. With many detailed improvements, the Mercedes-Benz R-Class is the model series with the widest range of variants and particularly excels with its outstanding long-distance comfort, as well as the most spacious and variable interior with up to seven seats. The Mercedes-Benz M-Class is the best-seller of all the Mercedes-Benz Sports Utility Vehicles, and is particularly popular by virtue of its well-balanced characteristics. This series celebrated its much reported debut ten years ago, and is seen as the precursor to all modern premium SUVs. The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class occupies the peak position in the entire SUV world, and its occupants enjoy first-class travel under any conditions, both on and off the road. The solid and dependable "G" best displays its strengths off the beaten track, and is acknowledged as one of the world’s best cross-country vehicles. Mercedes-Benz demonstrates the potential of the diesel engine with the innovative Vision BLUETEC models in the R, M- and GL-Class, where fuel economy and very low exhaust emissions are at the centre of ongoing development work.

Even greater interior adaptability, two wheelbase lengths, rear-wheel drive or 4MATIC all-wheel drive, new engine variants and new, even more striking styling – the Mercedes-Benz R-Class now opens up even more possibilities. With a total of 13 basic versions, this model series offers the most extensive range within the Mercedes-Benz SUV family. Moreover, the interior now allows scope for new seating arrangements. For the first time, the R‑Class features a second row of seats for three people, providing scope for completely new seating arrangements: this touring SUV now provides seating for five occupants, however two, three, four, six or seven seats are also possible. In addition the owner of an R-Class has the benefit of an unbeatably large and versatile load compartment: the short-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz R‑Class can carry a maximum of 2001 litres, while the figure for the long-wheelbase version is a massive 2436 litres. This makes the R-Class the most variable and spacious model in the entire Mercedes-Benz passenger car range.



Mercedes-Benz R-Class: choice of rear-wheel or 4MATIC four-wheel drive

On the outside, the SUV Tourer is now distinguishable by an even more striking bodystyling package at the front and rear, as well as 18-inch light-alloy wheels, for all V6 versions. The top-of-the-range R 500 4MATIC is fitted with 19-inch wheels. The engine line-up is augmented by the new V6 petrol powerplant in the R 280, which shines with its impressive power delivery and moderate fuel consumption. Mercedes-Benz now offers three new entry-level Mercedes-Benz R-Class models – the R 280 CDI, the R 280 and the R 350 – all of which are V6 versions with rear-wheel drive and a choice of a short or long wheelbase. Thanks to the reduction in weight and inherently lower friction losses in the powertrain, the rear-wheel drive models return even lower fuel-consumption figures. The most fuel-efficient R-Class is now the R 280 CDI which consumes just 8.9 litres of diesel per 100 km (NEDC combined).

More power, lower fuel consumption: new V8-engine for the Mercedes-Benz M-Class

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class has entered the new model year with a new engine. The 285 kW/388 hp model ML 500 4MATIC is now equipped with the 5.5-litre V8 petrol unit, which increases the output by 82 hp compared to the preceding model and boosts the maximum torque from 460 to 530 newton metres. This power increase has a considerable effect on performance: the ML 500 4MATIC now accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds, and has a maximum speed of 250 km/h. This increase in power and performance is not matched by a higher fuel consumption, however, as the NEDC combined consumption has been reduced by 0.6 litres to 12,8 litres per 100 kilometres. The range of petrol models is complemented by the 200 kW/272 hp model ML 350 with a V6-engine, as well as the high-performance ML 63 AMG with 375 kW/510 hp.

The top model in the diesel range is the ML 420 CDI 4MATIC, which develops an output of 225 kW/306 hp and a maximum torque of 700 Nm, and therefore has the highest torque of any model in the entire Mercedes-Benz M-Class series. In addition to the V8 diesel there is a choice of two other diesel units, both of them offering excellent performance with an even lower fuel consumption. The basic V6-engine in the ML 280 CDI has an output of 140 kW / 190 hp, while the ML 320 CDI with the same displacement generates 165 kW/224 hp. Both versions consume just 9.4 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres.

The first generation of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class (W 163) was launched in 1997 and is acknowledged as the precursor to all modern premium SUVs, with worldwide sales of around 600,000 units before its replacement in 2005. The present W 164-series M-Class is set to continue this success story, and 250,000 Mercedes-Benz customers have already purchased current model.

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: top model in the SUV sector

With the GL-Class, Mercedes-Benz occupies the peak position in the market segment for luxurious Sports Utility Vehicles. This premium off-roader excels with excellent driving dynamics both on and off the road, and spoils its occupants with outstanding spaciousness together with the comfort of a luxury-class saloon. With its confident and imposing external appearance, the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class visually substantiates its claim to leadership in the hotly contested, worldwide market segment, while the interior welcomes its occupants with the typical Mercedes-Benz atmosphere of luxury and comfort reminiscent of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The range of engines comprises four ultra-modern units whose harmonious torque and power characteristics decisively contribute to driving pleasure.

The V8 diesel engine of the GL 420 CDI 4MATIC develops 225 kW/306 hp and 700 newton metres of torque for superior drive characteristics, while the well-proven V6 unit of the GL 320 CDI 4MATIC guarantees effortless progress with 165 kW/224 hp and 510 newton metres. Like all diesel models in the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range, these two common-rail diesels are equipped with a maintenance-free particulate filter. A second eight-cylinder model is available in addition to the 285 kW/388 hp, 5.5-litre V8-engine in the GL 500 4MATIC – the GL 450 4MATIC with a peak output of 250 kW/340 hp.

In combination with the innovative 4MATIC four-wheel drive system, AIRMATIC air suspension as standard, precise speed-sensitive power steering and the likewise standard Adaptive Damping System ADS, the majestic GL (wheelbase 3075mm) delights its occupants with impressive handling and excellent ride comfort. And while the Mercedes-Benz GL already cuts a very good figure on the roads, it is a genuine off-roader which also excels as a cross-country vehicle. The modified AIRMATIC system allows a ground clearance of up to 307 millimetres, and the standard Offroad-Pro engineering package considerably enhances the capabilities on difficult terrain with its low-range transmission and disc-type locks at the rear and centre differentials. Other electronic control systems such as Offroad-ABS, Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) and start-off assist help to reduce the driver’s workload even further.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class – 28 years of development work for sheer perfection

Even in its 28th production year, Mercedes-Benz is rigorously continuing a model strategy for the legendary G-Class which is just as unique as the classic off-roader itself: the striking body shape and indestructible base structure have been retained since 1979, and at the same time constant evolutionary improvements still reaffirm the technical leadership of the "G". The latest model facelift mainly affects the interior, where a new instrument cluster provides a more up-to-date look. Together with a centrally located display for the driver, four analogue dial instruments with fine chrome bezels provide a clearly laid out information centre. The elegant, four-spoke multifunction steering wheel has also been redesigned, while the modified centre console improves operating safety and upgrades the cockpit in visual terms. The standard appointments in the Mercedes-Benz G 500 and Mercedes-Benz G 55 AMG petrol models include the control and display system COMAND APS with a DVD navigation system, integral radio, CD-player and telephone keypad. Bi-xenon headlamps and foglamps with cornering lights are likewise standard equipment in all versions. Externally the new model is only distinguishable by discreetly modified rear lights. The "G" continues to be available in three body variants: two station wagon versions with a short or long wheelbase, and an extravagant Convertible with an electro/hydraulically operated roof.

Now as before, the classic among Mercedes-Benz off-road vehicles offers a superior synthesis of effective drive and dynamic system. In addition to permanent four-wheel drive with a low-range, off-road gearbox, standard equipment includes the electronically controlled traction system 4ETS, the Electronic Stability Program ESP® and three differential locks which can be selected at the touch of a button. Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, has been producing the G-Class on behalf of Mercedes-Benz since 1979, with around 190,000 produced to date. And no end to this success story is yet in sight.

The "G" will continue to complement the Mercedes-Benz model range of highly capable SUVs in the coming years. Confirmation of the eternal youth enjoyed by the Mercedes-Benz G-Class recently came from the well-known off-road magazine "4wheel fun": in a vote for the "2007 Superstar" in the luxury category, this classic vehicle was declared the winner by a wide margin.

BLUETEC - the future of the diesel engine

Impressive output, high torque, a low fuel consumption and very low exhaust emissions – the Vision BLUETEC models in the GL, M and R-Class demonstrate that this innovative drive technology is particularly able to develop its potential in large, high-performance SUVs. The promising future of the BLUETEC concept is well illustrated by the Mercedes-Benz Vision GL 320 BLUETEC. This muscular SUV with a powerful V6 diesel engine has an output of 165 kW/224 hp and a torque of 510 newton metres, has an average fuel consumption of only 9.9 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres and meets the most stringent worldwide exhaust emission standards.

Mercedes-Benz has developed two versions of the modular BLUETEC emissions control system, both of them with the same purpose, namely to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. This is the only diesel exhaust gas component whose levels are inherently above those of petrol engines. In the E 320 BLUETEC saloon already launched in the USA, an oxidising catalytic converter and a particulate filter are combined with an improved, particularly durable storage-type NOx catalytic converter and an additional SCR converter. The second BLUETEC version is even more effective, and can also be used in the Vision GL 320 BLUETEC,

Mercedes-Benz Vision ML 320 BLUETEC and Mercedes-Benz Vision R 320 BLUETEC shown here. In this case AdBlue, a harmless, aqueous urea solution, is sprayed into the exhaust tract, where the downstream SCR catalytic converter reduces up to 80 percent of the nitrogen oxides to harmless nitrogen and water.

Source: Mercedes-Benz
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* Sports Tourer impresses customers with its unique combination of design and generous dimensions
* The Mercedes-Benz B 200 CDI is awarded the Öko-Trend institute’s Car Environment Certificate
* Mercedes-Benz B-Class named “Company vehicle of the year 2007” in the “Vans” category

More than 250,000 Mercedes-Benz B Class units have already been sold since the model’s market launch in June 2005. “The innovative Mercedes-Benz B-Class product concept impresses our customers with its fascinating design and unique blend of spaciousness and high degree of utility. The strong demand for the Sports Tourer is yet another confirmation of our role as the market leader in the premium compact car segment,” said Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President Mercedes Car Group, responsible for Sales and Marketing.

The most important market for the Mercedes-Benz B-Class is Germany, which accounts for about one third of the model’s sales worldwide, followed by Italy, France, Japan and Spain. The vehicle is produced in three-shift operations at the Rastatt plant. The majority of Mercedes-Benz B-Class customers chose one of the diesel models: one third has purchased the Mercedes-Benz B 180 CDI, and 20 percent have selected the Mercedes-Benz B 200 CDI.

In March of this year, the Öko-Trend environmental institute awarded its Car Environmental Certificate to the Mercedes-Benz B-Class. The Sports Tourer was recognized by the institute in particular for its impressive versatility, spaciousness as well as convincing environmental credentials. The independent institute determined that in addition to its exemplary fuel efficiency and low noise and emissions, the B-Class also stands out with its environmentally friendly production processes, materials and logistics. The Öko-Trend institute had especially high praise for the Mercedes-Benz B 200 CDI’s engine, with an average fuel consumption of less than six liters per 100 kilometers.

In May of this year, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class also was named “Company vehicle of the year 2007” in the “Vans” category in Germany. This honor is awarded to vehicles in nine categories, which are evaluated by fleet managers from medium-size and large companies. The fleet experts conduct more than 1,500 test drives to rank the vehicles on the basis of their handling properties, costs, comfort, functionality and design.


Source: DaimlerChrysler

Mercedes-Benz presents a new face at first Fashion Week in Berlin


Top German model Eva Padberg is taking on a new role as brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz. The sought-after star model is to represent the Stuttgart-based premium car brand at future international fashion and lifestyle events. Eva Padberg will make her debut appearance in this role at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin which is being staged for the first time in July.

“Berlin and Eva Padberg both epitomise a modern and young lifestyle,” Dr Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars pointed out. “The Mercedes-Benz brand has always been known for its innovative approach, its timeless and emotional design and its unique allure. Which is why Eva Padberg is the ideal fashion ambassador for our brand.”

As Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador, Eva Padberg will become the face of Mercedes-Benz’s long-term commitment to top-class fashion events. The star model has a special place in today’s fashion industry. She has dazzled the world on the catwalks of Milan, Paris and New York in fashion shows for Chanel, Versace and Armani. She has featured on the cover of glamorous fashion magazines and in major advertising campaigns. She is also making a name for herself as a presenter, actress and voice-over artist and is an official ambassador for both UNICEF and SOS Children’s Villages.

Eva Padberg’s first appearance as brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz is very high-profile. The multi-talented model appears on all of the posters and official publicity materials for the first Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin.


Mercedes-Benz commissioned renowned photographer Marc Trautmann for the fashion shoot in Berlin, and the pictures feature the model with an elegant Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Coupé to emphasise the close links between the worlds of fashion and cars.

A special venue is being constructed alongside the Brandenburg Gate for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin. The four-day fashion event in Berlin is set to become one of the key dates on the international fashion calendar, which until now has revolved around London, Paris, Milan and New York –where Mercedes-Benz also has made its mark as a title sponsor. Berlin promises to be a top-quality event, with internationally renowned fashion designers poised to show their latest collections. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin also offers creative young designers a platform. The attractive, vibrant city has a reputation as an independent and inspiring creative centre for the young, unconventional figures of the fashion scene. Eva Padberg, who spends a good part of the year in Berlin, loves the atmosphere.

Eva Padberg will make her first appearance as the new face of the Mercedes-Benz brand at the inaugural Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, which will take place between July 12 and 15, 2007. From 2008 two fashion events will be staged in Berlin every year – in January and July. The top model will also represent Mercedes-Benz as brand ambassador at other important international events where emotion and experience are key factors.

For further information about Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, go to: www.mercedes-benzfashionweekberlin.com

Source: DaimlerChrysler

* A Benz Patent Motor Car from the year 1888, retained in its original condition, will be temporary exhibit in the Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz, Ladenburg
* Owned by the Science Museum in London since 1913
* A car that competed in rallies until the 1950s


The Benz Patent Motor Car is considered to be the world’s first automobile. One specimen of 1888 which is retained in its original condition now comes to Germany: The Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz in Ladenburg will host the oldest original automobile in the world. It is a loan of the Science Museum, London. The return to England is planned for November 2008.

Carl Benz introduced the Patent Motor Car in 1886 and subsequently built several units of this three-wheeler, about 25 vehicles in total. The Model I was the original Patent Motor Car. It featured wire wheels and a number of design details adopted from advanced contemporary bicycle manufacture.

The modified Model II also was a three-wheeler originally but was converted to four wheels for test purposes. The car featured axle pivot steering which was also tested on this car – another significant step towards the modern automobile. It is assumed that just one unit was built of this model.

But Model III turns out to be the first automobile, of which a small series with varying bodywork versions is sold. The customer was, for instance, able to opt for a folding roof or for an additional vis-à-vis seat bench and thus for a total of four seats. The car had wheels with wooden spokes; the two driven rear wheels (diameter: approx. 126 centimeters/49.6 inches) had steel linings while the steered front wheel (diameter: 76 centimeters/29.9 inches) was lined with solid rubber. The wheelbase was some 1.58 meters (62.2 inches) long and the track width was 1.18 meters (46.4 inches).

Benz had difficulties in marketing his cars – until Frenchman Emile Roger from Paris set up the first foreign sales office. The Patent Motor Car Model III, which is today owned by the London Science Museum, was supplied to Roger before being sold to England, as proved by a badge on the vehicle. It is assumed that it was built by Benz in 1888 and displayed at an exhibition of prime movers and working machines at the Isartor city gate in Munich in the same year. This unit is the oldest Benz Patent Motor Car that has been retained in its original condition, and it is thus the oldest original automobile. What’s more, it is most likely the first gasoline-engined vehicle that was operated in England. It is fitted with the vis-à-vis seat bench and originally also featured a folding leather roof.

The acquisition was handled by Mr. E. A. Forward from the Science Museum. In a letter written in April 1913, he advised the museum board to buy the car: “This car is a valuable historical relic, and I regard it as a great find. […] I should not have thought it possible to obtain one anywhere, and am very much surprised to find one in this country.” Forward very accurately identified the car’s position in Benz and automotive history and arrived at the following conclusion: “The work of Carl Benz, in the development of the modern motor car, was so important, equal in fact to that of Daimler himself, that we should be fully justified in acquiring an example of this first type of vehicle.”

Forward looked after the vehicle in subsequent years and retained it in ready-to-drive condition most of the time. In 1936, Forward even paraded the car outside the museum once a week to demonstrate the properties of the Patent Motor Car. To this end, the car obtained permanent registration and the number plate “A 250”.

In 1957, the car was completely overhauled – including its mechanical parts, bodywork, soft-top and finish in the original color – in the museum’s own workshop. It was subsequently run in and tested again and registered by the museum for the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run organized by the Royal Automobile Club in 1957 – a rally for which only vehicles up until production year 1905 were eligible. It had been expected that the car would have to be pushed on steep inclines but this was not the case, at least not before the incline outside Purley. There, the brakes failed in a rainstorm, and the front-wheel fork was damaged in a collision with another vehicle, with the result that the Benz had to be withdrawn. As disappointing as this may have been, the car had until then covered some 22 kilometers (13.6 miles) at an average speed of 12 km/h (7.4 mph) without a hitch. This raised hopes with respect to more successful participation in the event one year later. The damage was repaired in the museum’s workshop, and the Paten Motor Car was equipped with a band brake just for this rally.

“At 7 a.m. on 2nd November, 1958, the Benz set out from Hyde Park for Brighton in traditionally filthy weather. By 8.20 a.m. the top of Purley Hill was reached without pause; this initial 13.5 miles was thus covered at an average speed of 10 mph.” The Benz mastered other inclines without problem – on several occasions, the passenger had to alight before uphill stretches; on others, the car had to be pushed carefully on downhill stretches. The car had to stop four times for refueling and topping up water, and once for replacing the main drive belt. A report by a Mr. Caunter had this to say: “The finish at Madeira Drive [in Brighton] was reached at 2.40 p.m.” – without a single problem. The Benz Patent Motor Car had covered the distance of some 90 kilometers (56 miles) in a driving time of six hours and 25 minutes, at an average speed of 14 km/h (8.6 mph) – the remaining time had been taken up by service stops. In his report, Mr. Caunter complained about the steering and the brakes, especially on downhill stretches. By contrast, he assessed the clutch and the two-speed gearbox as highly effective and considered the car to be reliable overall. After this rally, the Patent Motor Car became an exhibit in the Science Museum’s permanent exhibition.

Incidentally, in September 1958, shortly before the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, the car returned to Munich at the invitation of the German Museum, where it formed part of the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of Daimler-Benz AG, which included a parade of veteran and vintage cars through the city. A Carl Benz Memorial was unveiled on Oskar-von-Miller-Ring, and the German Museum admitted Carl Benz to its Hall of Fame. After the celebrations, the Science Museum’s Patent Motor Car was displayed in the German Museum for two weeks. The German Museum itself owns the very first Patent Motor Car from Carl Benz. However, this car was reconstructed from original parts by Benz & Cie around 1900. After testing, the car, built in 1886, had partly been disassembled, and the engine had been used for driving a machine for several years. In 1906, the restored motor car arrived in Munich to become the first automobile to be displayed in the first German engineering museum.

Ready-to-drive replica

A replica of the Benz Patent Motor Car Model III in original size and ready to drive is currently being set up at the DaimlerChrysler trainees’ workshop at the Mannheim plant. It serves the young people as an object for training their thinking in engineering terms: there are no original blueprints, so important correlations have to be established anew, and the manufacture of the individual components has to be newly organized. Replica-building is a long-term project which was started in 1993 and has since provided several generations of trainees with practical object lessons. In the trainees’ workshop, several replicas of the different versions of the Benz Patent Motor Car have already been completed.

The engineering of the Benz Patent Motor Car Model III

The single-cylinder four-stroke engine is fitted in a horizontal position above the rear axle (displacement: 1.7 liters, bore x stroke: 116 x 160 millimeters). In its original specification, it developed an output of 2 hp (1.5 kW) at 250 rpm. On the Science Museum’s vehicle, slightly different values were measured. At the time of its restoration in 1957, the experts found out that the engine’s compression ratio was 3:1, and engine speed was as high as 450 rpm. This suggested an engine output of some 3 hp (2.2 kW).

The crankshaft is installed vertically because in designing the car, Carl Benz had assumed that the rotary movement of a vertically arranged flywheel would adversely affect the vehicle’s steerability – a design that was abandoned in 1890. The flywheel is fitted at the lower end of the crankshaft and mounted on a transverse chassis member.

At the upper end of the crankshaft, a helically geared pinion drives a shaft via an identical, vertically arranged pinion. This shaft is fitted with a belt pulley at its end, which in turn is connected to the gear selection mechanism. The car has two gears which are engaged by means of chains and permit speeds of 8 and 16 km/h (5 and 10 mph), respectively. From the same shaft, the camshaft operating the valves and the ignition is driven via a parallel mechanism at half the speed. A surface carburetor produces the explosive gas/air mixture, and the fuel tank is located under the rear seat bench. A spark plug generates the ignition spark which derives its electric energy from an ignition coil and a battery. The single-cylinder engine is water-cooled: the water is channeled from a reservoir (equally located under the rear seat bench) into the cylinder housing where it evaporates – a conventional principle before the advent of recirculation cooling in automotive engineering.

The single front wheel is steered by means of a vertically mounted rotary crank. Two steel tubes connect the control head with the rear axle and thus form a sub-frame on which three fully elliptic leaf springs (the front spring being mounted transversely to the direction of travel) decouple the wooden bodywork from the wheels. The chassis is made of iron tubing, and on cars with a vis-à-vis seat bench it is drawn upwards at the front end. The engine is mounted on a transverse T-type beam. The brakes act on the rear wheels and are lined with wood; they are activated via a crank mechanism whose linkage runs parallel to the gearshift lever. The car is steered from the rear seat bench.

For additional information on the Dr. Carl Benz Automotive Museum visit: http://www.automuseum-ladenburg.de

* Rainer Genes to succeed Simon Boag as head of Production Planning Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars, effective June 1, 2007
* Simon Boag to return to Chrysler Group, effective June 1, 2007
* Peter Schabert new manager of the Bremen production plan, effective June 1, 2007
* Thomas Uhr to take over responsibility for Berlin production plant, effective June 1, 2007

The DaimlerChrysler Board of Management has appointed Rainer Genes, manager of the Bremen production plant, as the new head of Production Planning Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars, effective June 1, 2007. Rainer Genes will succeed Simon Boag, who will be returning to Detroit, effective June 1, 2007.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Simon Boag for his hard work and commitment over the past 15 months, particularly in the ar-eas of standard inspections and efficiency boosting”, says Rainer Schmückle, COO of the Mercedes Car Group.

Also on June 1, Peter Schabert, currently the director of the Berlin pro-duction plant, will take over the responsibility for the Bremen plant.

Thomas Uhr, at present head of the Production and Technology Center “Casting and Metal Forming” (PTU), will become the head of the Berlin plant on June 1.


Source: DaimlerChrysler

DaimlerChrysler Agility Control System Based on Tenneco's CES Technology

Tenneco Inc. (NYSE:TEN) announced that its Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension (CES) system is featured on the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class launched in Stuttgart earlier this year.

"We are very pleased to supply the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class with our electronic suspension technology," said Gregg Sherrill, chairman and CEO, Tenneco. "Our commitment to customer collaboration -- from development through systems integration, ride tuning, program management and launch -- helps ensure that each vehicle equipped with our advanced suspension technology has unique ride and handling characteristics."

The electronically controlled suspension system continuously adjusts to road conditions and driver actions, resulting in enhanced ride comfort and improved stability. The system enables Tenneco to tune vehicles to adapt to different driving factors such as braking, accelerating, steering and vehicle load, which increases the range of ride comfort and handling capability.

According to DaimlerChrysler, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class uses innovative high-performance technologies to provide new levels of safety, comfort and agility. Technical innovations cited include the company's Agility Control System, based on the Tenneco Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension system. "The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sets new standards when it comes to providing the most sophisticated driving experience in its segment," said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management for DaimlerChrysler AG, at the press conference to launch the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Tenneco's CES system continuously adjusts damping levels according to road conditions and vehicle dynamics. At the heart of the system is an electronic control unit (ECU) that processes driver inputs and data from sensors placed at key locations on the vehicle. The sensors include three accelerometers mounted on the vehicle body and four suspension position sensors, which provide data on steering wheel angle, vehicle speed, brake pressure and other chassis control factors. The ECU utilizes control software that processes the sensor information in real time and sends signals that adjust independently the damping level of each shock absorber valve. Electronic dampers allow a large range between maximum and minimum damping levels and adjust instantaneously to ensure ride comfort and firm vehicle control.

Tenneco's electronic shock absorbers for this system are manufactured at the company's facility in Ermua, Spain.

Tenneco is a $4.7 billion manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 19,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of the world's largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of emission control and ride control products and systems for the automotive original equipment market and the aftermarket. Tenneco markets its products principally under the Monroe(R), Walker(R), Gillet(TM) and Clevite(R)Elastomer brand names. Among its products are Sensa-Trac and Monroe Reflex(R) shocks and struts, Rancho shock absorbers, Walker Quiet-Flow(R) mufflers, Dynomax performance exhaust products, and Clevite(R)Elastomer noise, vibration and harshness control components.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward- looking statements are based on the current expectations of the company (including its subsidiaries). Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, the company's plans, actions and actual results could differ materially. Among the factors that could cause these plans, actions and results to differ materially from current expectations are: (i) changes in automobile manufacturers' production rates and their actual and forecasted requirements for the company's products; (ii) the overall highly competitive nature of the automobile parts industry; (iii) the cyclical nature of automobile production and sales of commercial vehicles; and (iv) the company's ability to develop and profitably commercialize new products and technologies, and the acceptance of such new products and technologies by the company's customers. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release


Source: Tenneco Inc.