Mercedes Builds A Car To Protect Us

Mercedes-Benz has been on a relentless quest to achieve hyper-safe accident-free driving since 1959, when it introduced the first car to feature energy-absorbing crumple zones. At long last, it’s getting pretty close to reaching its goal.

The Experimental Safety Vehicle concept car essentially turns the entire vehicle into an airbag using novel metal panels that inflate moments before impact. The company’s first all-out attempt at building a perfectly safe car since the original ESF in 1974 is packed with technology designed to save us from ourselves. Mercedes recently opened the doors to its North American headquarters to tell us more about the car.

Mercedes isn’t alone on its quest. Volvo, to name one example, wants to offer an almost injury-proof car by 2020, and Sweden’s head of traffic safety says it will be the biggest revolution in the auto industry since the seatbelt. Automakers are pouring colossal amounts of money into the campaign to increase safety, something Mercedes says is imperative.

Read More http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/03/mercedes-esf-2009-safety-concept/#ixzz0i2lSeQgR

Mercedes-Benz Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is Mercedes-Benz's "second home," according to Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Daimler and head of Mercedes Cars.

The super-rich oil state on the Persian Gulf is now the second-largest shareholder in the company Zetsche leads.

Abu Dhabi sits on about 8 per cent of the world's oil. It pumps nearly three million barrels a day while collecting an estimated $65-billion (U.S.) in revenue a year. As a result, Abu Dhabi has the world's largest state-owned investment fund with assets estimated as high as $875-billion.

Aabar Investments, the Abu Dhabi state-controlled fund, paid $2.7-billion for a 9.1-per-cent stake in Daimler in March, 2009, and aims to increase the holding to 15 per cent.

As the biggest shareholder in Daimler, it will take a seat on the company's supervisory board in 2010. The second-largest Daimler shareholder, by the way, is the Kuwait Investment Authority, which holds a 6.9-per-cent stake.

Abu Dhabi is investing its oil money in interesting and controversial ways. In 2007, it paid $5-billon (Canadian) to take over Calgary-based PrimeWest Energy Trust. This month, it put up $280-million (U.S.) for 32 per cent of Richard Branson's commercial space project Virgin Galactic. Aabar Investments says this will eventually enable flying from Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles in two hours.

Back on the ground, Daimler went back to profitability in the third quarter and Zetsche says each quarter in the coming year will be better than the one before.

That gives him a little breathing room, which he will use as he manages major new shareholders and tries to find new partners to reduce expenses. He spoke about the twin challenges in a year-end, one-on-one interview.

Mercedes-Benz sets 4,000-unit target

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd expects the improving market landscape and launch of new car models to drive sales of its passenger cars to over 4,000 units next year.

President and chief executive officer Peter Honegg said next year’s passenger car market was projected by the Malaysian Automotive Association to be better than this year.

“We were very fearful at the beginning of the year and would have been happy to do what we did in 2007, which was selling 3,600 passenger cars,” he said during the media launch of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class yesterday.

Florian Mueller (left) and Peter Honegg with a Mercedes-Benz EClass.

He said the company sold 4,200 passenger cars last year and planned to sell between 200 and 300 units more than its initial target of 3,600 units this year.

Honegg said Mercedes-Benz currently held about 43% in the luxury car segment and it aimed to improve its position “a little” next year.

“There are more competitors coming in but we try to maintain the leading position in this segment,” he said.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class to officially launched today would be available in three variants, with the starting retail price of RM455,888 (on-the-road without insurance).

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia vice-president of sales and marketing for passenger cars Florian Mueller said the company aimed to sell more than 1,500 units of the newly-launched E-Class sedan cars next year.

The company has received over 600 bookings for the new cars.

Mercedes-Benz E550 Coupe

The 2010 E550 Coupe also has brains to go with its muscular good looks.

(Credit: CNET)

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 Coupe makes a good first impression with its athletic good looks and eager, sporty V-8 engine. Even its seven-speed automatic transmission doesn't disappoint. The coupe possess a dual nature, made possible by a sport button that sharpens up its performance when necessary.

While a sculpted body is great, the E550 Coupe follows up with brains to go with its brawn in the form of a smart COMAND-based tech package featuring Bluetooth hands free with a smart voice command system, a hard-drive-based navigation system that actually utilizes its traffic data, and an audiophile-quality premium Harmon Kardon sound system.

Mercedes-Benz, BMW fight it out for top slot

After a gap of five months, Mercedes-Benz India Pvt. Ltd overtook BMW India Pvt. Ltd in July, selling 297 units against BMW’s 261, according to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam).

Although a month’s numbers are not quite indicative of a trend reversal, it’s a breather for the Indian arm of German car maker Daimler AG, which had been losing ground to its younger rival BMW India in the Indian market.

Mercedes-Benz and BMW are the market leaders in the foreign luxury car segment. Although the segment is small and accounts for just 2.5% of total cars sold every year in India, it has not deterred new firms from entering the market at regular intervals.

Fast lane: BMW India president Peter Kronschnabl says he expects the luxury car segment to register a 20% growth in the Indian market and that new model launches will help expand sales to 8,500-9,000 units. Ramesh Pathania / Mint

Mercedes-Benz India, which in 1994 became the first foreign car maker to enter the Indian luxury car market when it set up a plant in Chikhali-Pimpri near Pune in Maharashtra, had a headstart over Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Audi AG, which entered in 2006 and 2007, respectively. The latest entrants are Jaguar and Land Rover, now part of Tata Motors Ltd.

However, both BMW and Audi, as well as others such as Volvo, Porsche, Rolls-Royce and Bentley, have been present in the Indian market through direct imports.

Despite the fewer number of cars sold in July, BMW continues to lead with overall numbers. In the seven months to July, it sold 2,008 cars against Mercedes’ 1,712. In 2008, Mercedes sold 3,625 units, while BMW sold 2,908.

In 2008, its first full year of operations, Audi, the third German car maker after Mercedes and BMW to enter India, sold 1,050 cars. Sales numbers for Jaguar and Land Rover are unavailable since they were launched in India on 28 July.

Wilfred Aulbur, managing director and chief executive officer at Mercedes-Benz India, said, “The sales are in line with our expectations. I would not like to comment on a single month’s performance.”

In 2008, despite the global economic slowdown, sales of luxury cars — defined as cars with a minimum ticket price of Rs25 lakh — continued to grow in India with an estimated 7,000-7,500 units sold, or 70% more than 2007 sales.

LG to Supply LCD Panels to Mercedes-Benz

LG Display said its display panels will be used in the car navigation systems installed in Mercedes-Benz’ S-Class sedan. / Korea Times

By Kim Yoo-chul
Staff Reporter

LG Display said Monday it has struck a panel supplemental deal worth several tens of millions of dollars with an auto parts maker Continental AG.

Under the partnership, the German tire maker will supply 30,000 sheets of LG Display's 5.8-inch and 7.3-inch LCD panels on a monthly basis to Mercedes-Benz, which will be used for new E-Class sedans, LG officials said.

Continental is a leading international supplier of automotive electronics. In 2007, it took over Siemens VDO. LG Display was also selling its panels to the Siemens unit.

An LG Display spokesman declined to comment on the exact amount of the deal but officials say the deal could be around $46 million a year.

The panels provided by LG Display are high-end products with light-emitting diode (LED) backlight bulbs. Specifically, the 5.8-inch model will be used in low-end models of the E-class, while the 7.3-inch panels will be attached to premium models, according to officials.

It will be the first time for Mercedes to use South Korean LCD panels for navigation or command systems in the German carmaker's latest luxury sedans.

Over the past few years, Mercedes used panels from South Korean manufacturers only for "low-end models."

Sources have said that LG is replacing Sharp and TMD of Japan as the major supplier for Mercedes' electronics devices.

"The partnership will pave the way for LG Display to strengthen our mobile display business. As for further pivotal steps, we will make efforts to expand our client channels," LG spokesman Park Sang-bae said.

The company has been capitalizing on the TV arena. LG Electronics is the biggest shareholder, while some leading TV and PC makers in China and the United States are other major clients. But the company is on a vigorous pitch to expand its client channels to maintain the sustainability of profits.

LG Display is the world's second-biggest LCD panel manufacturer after its rival Samsung Electronics.

The company beat Samsung in the latest quarter in terms of operating profits thanks to stabilizing panel prices and the rising shipments of small- and medium-sized panels.

An LCD panel is the key component for most consumer electronics gadgets from televisions, cars and other electronics devices.

Mercedes-Benz' new E-Class will go on sale in the South Korean market from next month.

Mercedes debuts new, efficient, four-cylinder E-Class models

Don't expect to see the new E200 CDI or it's CGI sibling on North American roads anytime soon.

(Credit: Daimler AG)

Mercedes-Benz has announced the addition of new four-cylinder E 200 CDI and CGI BlueEfficiency models to the European 2010 E-Class lineup.

The thrifty E 200 CDI is powered by a common-rail, direct-injected, 2.1-liter, diesel engine that outputs 136-horsepower and a staggering 365 pound-feet of torque. Zero to 62 mph happens in a decent 10.2 seconds, but what's most impressive is the 45.2 mpg that it averages while doing so.

Those who want a little bit more speed can hit 62 mph in 8.7 seconds in the E 200 CGI, which is powered by a turbocharged, direct-injected. 1.8-liter gasoline engine that makes 184-horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque while averaging 32.7 mpg on the EU combined-driving cycle.

Along with the new engines, the new E 200 models will also be available with driver assistance systems, such as drowsiness detection, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, and automatic emergency braking, which can help to prevent accidents.

The new E-Class four-bangers start at 38,734 euros (approximately $55,042) for the E 200 CDI BlueEfficiency and 39,508 euros (approximately $56,140) for the E 200 CGI BlueEfficiency. The models are expected to be available in Europe only, as early as September 2009.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim will take over The Raleigh July 15-19

It's every bikini lovin' babe's favorite time of year again...Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim.

Space is very limited and an RSVP doesn’t guarantee entry, but here are some fashion shows flaunting the coolest swimsuits for 2010 to check out.

InsideFashionWorld.com will present three emerging designers 10 p.m. Wednesday July 15 at Plunge Rooftop Pool Bar and Lounge at The Gansevoort South Beach Hotel, Plunge Rooftop Pool Bar and Lounge at The Gansevoort South Beach Hotel, 2377 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Keva by Keva J, a line of funky metallic suits, Liza and Tara Resort Wear, which boasts tropical print sun dresses and Tyler Rose Swimwear, a South Beach-inspired line which will be modeled by Miami Dolphins cheerleaders. RSVP: 305-864-3434 ext. 175.

Tommy Hilfiger South Beach, 616 Collins Ave.,in Miami Beach will host a cocktail party 7-10 p.m. Saturday July 18. Disco house DJ Johnny the Boy will spin and guests will score swag such as Tommy Hilfiger’s signature beach essentials.