AMG customer sports teams successful at Sepang and Moscow: SLS AMG GT3 with a 1-2 in Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (MMER)

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For the second time, an SLS AMG GT3 wins the Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (MMER). Like in 2011, the PETRONAS Syntium Team’s gullwing with Nobuteru Taniguchi (JPN), Masataka Yanagida (JPN) and Dominic Ang (MAS) came out as the winner with a dominant performance in the twelve-hour race of Sepang / Malaysia. The sister car with Tatsuya Kataoka (JPN), Farique Hairuman (MAS) and Melvin Moh (MAS) completed the success of the Malaysian team in its home race by finishing second.

In qualifying for the 13th running of the Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race, the two SLS AMG GT3 already convinced with the second and third fastest time at the 5.543 kilometres long Sepang International Circuit. In the race, the good performance seamlessly continued: both Nobuteru Taniguchi with the number 1 gullwing and Tatsuya Kataoka with the number 28 sister car were able to defend their starting grid positions. The race turned into a high-class endurance affair with a thrilling battle for the lead in the 30-car field. On lap 90, Masataka Yanagida moved up into the lead for the first time with his SLS AMG GT3, but he lost it again during the subsequent pit stop. Back in the hunt, the two gullwing crews proved that they had strong nerves. Eventually, their stamina was rewarded at the end of the ninth racing hour: both PETRONAS Syntium cars benefited from an unscheduled pit stop of the race leader to take the lead. During the three final hours of the race, the pair of Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 cars continued their trouble-free ride and held on to their undisputed double race lead until the finish. After twelve hours, the double success for the PETRONAS Syntium Team was perfect: with a total of 319 laps, the crew of final driver Taniguchi claimed victory like last year. The sister car with number 28, which had finished third in 2011, came home in second place this time, two laps down.

David Wong, team principal of the PETRONAS Syntium Team: “For us as a Malaysian team, the MMER at Sepang is a kind of home race and, of course, a highlight on the racing calendar. Our consistency throughout the twelve hours’ duration was the key to today’s success. This 1-2 is a dream coming true. My thanks to the entire team that has worked so hard to achieve this.”

FIA GT3 European Championship: The HEICO Gravity Charouz team was one of the dominating teams in the fifth round of the FIA GT3 European Championship that took place at Moscow / Russia. In both qualifying sessions on Saturday, the driver pairing of Maximilian Buhk (GER) and Dominik Baumann (AUT) set the fastest time with their Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. In the first race on Sunday, the German-Austrian gullwing pairing turned their pole position into a dominant race win, their fourth victory during the 2012 European Championship season. In the second race, which followed only a few hours later, heavy rain prevented a repeat of this success: in the turbulent race, Buhk / Baumann secured fifth place and scored more points in the battle for the drivers’ title. With only one round remaining (Nürburgring, September 22nd and 23rd), they are leading the European Championship standings with an advantage of 26 points. Driving the sister car of the German-Czech AMG customer team, Max Nilsson (SWE) and Mika Vähämäki (FIN) retired from the first race and weren’t classified. In the second race, they finished seventh and thus added valuable points for the teams’ standings, in which the HEICO Gravity Charouz team remains in a promising second place.

Norbert Brückner, team manager HEICO Gravity Charouz team: “The weekend here at Moscow got off to a very good start for us. In the first race, Maximilian and Dominik were able to convert their pole-position into a great victory. Too bad that it didn’t work out in the second race as well. However, our position prior to the Nürburgring finale is still very good. We are able to win the drivers’ title and with a little bit of luck, we are also able to defend our teams’ title.”

FIA GT1 World Championship: ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport has used the sixth round of the FIA GT1 World Championship to remain on course towards the title: with two rounds remaining, the AMG customer team maintains its lead in the World Championship teams’ standings with an advantage of 34 points. At the newly-opened, 3.931 kilometres long Moscow Raceway, where the GT1 World Championship and the European GT3 Championship had their races together, Marc Basseng (GER) and Markus Winkelhock (GER) scored the team’s best results: in the qualification race, the duo finished second and in the subsequent championship race, they ended up fifth in extremely challenging track conditions. With the sister car, Nicky Pastorelli (ITA) and Thomas Jäger (GER) finished fifth in the qualification race. In the championship race, they were in a promising third place until they dropped back after they innocently had become involved in a collision and eventually were classified eighth. In the drivers’ standings, Basseng / Winkelhock remain in second place, Jäger / Pastorelli are fifth.

* Official photos and details courtesy of Mercedes-AMG GmbH *

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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The new GL 63 AMG: The perfect blend of style and performance - World premiere at the Moscow International Automobile Salon

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The Mercedes-Benz official press conference opened the press day at the Moscow International Automobile Salon 2012: The brand new Mercedes-Benz GL 63 AMG luxury off-roader, which celebrates its world premiere in Moscow, was presented to numerous press representatives. The new high-performance SUV combines compelling technologies with an extensive range of standard equipment and pure ride comfort for up to seven passengers. Effortless superiority comes courtesy of the AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine, which develops a peak output of 410 kW (557 hp) and maximum torque of 760 Nm. The AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM roll stabilisation provides high-level driving dynamics and the comfort one would expect from the Mercedes-Benz brand.

“With the new GL 63 AMG, our all-wheel drive lineup is now complete. In addition to the ML 63 AMG all-rounder and the recently unveiled, characterful G 63 AMG and G 65 AMG models, the GL 63 AMG places particular emphasis on dynamism and style. Combining the first-rate comfort of the S-Class with the performance of an AMG sports saloon, the GL 63 AMG is unique in its segment”, according to Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, who came to Moscow to celebrate the world premiere of the GL 63 AMG. For AMG, the Mercedes-Benz performance brand, the Russian market is very important. With its growth potential, it is a major element in the ambitious future strategy entitled "AMG Performance 50", leading up to the 50th anniversary of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Ola Källenius: “AMG has made a fantastic start to this year. We racked up growth of 30 percent for the first half of this year. It was the best six months in our company history. And Russia was a major driver of that sustainable growth.”

The new GL 63 AMG: Luxury and refinement, striking design, maximum safety and dynamism

Creating the perfect basis for characteristic AMG performance and a superior driving experience: the AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine. A look at the technical data provides some powerful arguments. Peak output of 410 kW (557 hp) and maximum torque of 760 Nm result in first-class performance. The GL 63 AMG manages the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds and its top speed is 250 km/h (electronically limited). NEDC fuel consumption comes in at 12.3 litres per 100 kilometres (288 g CO2/km).

The AMG M 157 eight-cylinder engine features an innovative, high-tech power package including spray-guided direct petrol injection, piezo injectors, biturbo charging, air/water intercooling, all-aluminium crankcase, a four-valve-per-cylinder design with variable camshaft adjustment, plus alternator management and the ECO start/stop system.

The key data at a glance:

Power is transmitted to all four permanently driven wheels by the AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC. Featuring three modes and an automatic double-declutching function for downshifting, this seven-speed automatic transmission offers a fascinatingly broad scope of variability. In "Controlled Efficiency" (C) mode the ECO start/stop function is active, shutting down the eight-cylinder engine as soon as the vehicle comes to a standstill. "C" also stands for a gentle accelerator and transmission characteristic with early gear changes; start-up generally takes place in second gear here. A green "ECO" symbol in the AMG instrument cluster indicates to the driver that the ECO start/stop function is active.

In the Sport (S) and Manual (M) driving programmes the ECO start/stop function is inactive and the engine-transmission combination displays far greater agility with more spontaneous responses. A brief and exactly defined retardation of ignition and injection during upshifting at full load additionally provides for shorter shift times and an acoustic experience.

Enhanced efficiency and driving dynamics

To enhance efficiency, the AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission incorporates a fuel-economy converter with centrifugal pendulum, bearings designed for reduced friction loss and a transmission-oil thermal management system. Friction loss-minimised axle gears, electromechanical AMG speed-sensitive sports steering, an optimised belt drive, and demand-responsive control of all ancillary units and pumps also help to reduce fuel consumption.

Mercedes-AMG deploys a specially designed transfer case for the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive, which distributes the drive power to the front and rear axle at a ratio of 40:60 in the interests of dynamic handling. As if that were not enough, the AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with AIRMATIC package – consisting of air suspension, special damper struts, automatic level control and Adaptive Damping System (ADS) – is combined with the ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM for active roll stabilisation. This system, which comes as standard and is specific to AMG, employs active anti-roll bars on the front and rear axles to reduce the body's roll angle during cornering. Apart from enhanced agility and driving pleasure, the ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM has the additional effect of increasing handling stability and therefore safety, particularly at higher speeds.

Roll stabilisation, damping and suspension adapt automatically to the prevailing driving situation, offering both optimum ride comfort and maximum stability. The GL 63 AMG driver is able to choose at the push of a button between the three suspension modes "Comfort", "Sport" and "Sport plus". The fully load-bearing air suspension system is speed-sensitive, lowering the body at higher speeds in order to minimise drag while increasing driving stability.

The AMG-specific elastokinematics at the front axle and the more robustly designed rear axle stabiliser bar are responsible for improved steering precision. The enhanced drive train delivers the best possible power transmission and hallmark Mercedes reliability. The 4ETS electronic traction control system which features as standard provides for optimised grip when friction coefficients vary.

AMG speed-sensitive sports steering, AMG high-performance braking system

Electromechanical AMG speed-sensitive sports steering features variable power assistance which responds in accordance with the chosen suspension mode. It also helps to save fuel, as the steering assist function only requires energy when the driver actually moves the steering wheel. The GL 63 AMG comes as standard with 5-spoke light-alloy wheels in format 10 x 21, painted titanium grey and with a high-sheen finish, fitted with tyres in size 295/40 R 21. The AMG high-performance braking system provides for the shortest possible braking distances and high fade resistance with ventilated and perforated brake discs all-round in size 390 x 36 millimetres (front) and 345 x 26 millimetres (rear).

Performance-oriented design with masculine features

Striking, masculine, unmistakeable: these attributes describe the design of the GL 63 AMG. Mercedes-AMG has enhanced the main stylistic features of the new GL – powerful dynamism and sporty elegance – using specific elements that emphasise the top V8 model's exceptional performance. The typically upright GL radiator grille with its central Mercedes star is adorned with high-gloss slats painted in black. AMG styling elements include the front apron with its large openings that ensure an effective air flow for the cooling modules. The bottom air intake takes the form of a typical AMG stylised "A" with a gap under the fine black fin through which air can flow optimally to the cooling modules – the perfect blend of design and high-tech. The trim insert in matt silver chrome installed under it creates a sense of width and coordinates optimally with the borders of the LED daytime running lamps in the side air openings.

The AMG front apron elegantly merges into the exclusive wheel-arch flaring. In order to accommodate the large 53.3 cm (21-inch) AMG light-alloy wheels with the wide-base 295 tyres, the flaring widens the vehicle by 22 millimetres on each side. From the side, observers will notice the V8 BITURBO logos on the wings and illuminated running boards with an aluminium finish. The rear wheel-arch flaring blends into the AMG rear apron which is again adorned with a striking trim insert in matt silver chrome and the suggestion of black air openings. Creating both a visual and acoustic highlight are the two chrome-plated, exposed twin tailpipes of the AMG sports exhaust system.

Exclusivity and dynamism dominate in the interior

Great attention to detail, excellent ergonomics and a generous amount of space available – exclusivity and dynamism also dominate in the interior of the GL 63 AMG. All seven seats in the high-performance SUV are covered in high-quality leather, as is the centre armrest. Electrically adjustable AMG sports seats feature double topstitching in a contrasting colour and AMG badges on the front seat backrests and outer rear seat backrests. The dashboard, armrests and door panelling come in ARTICO man-made leather with double topstitching. As part of the optional designo Exclusive package, these components can be covered in high-quality designo leather.

The AMG Performance 4-spoke steering wheel with perforated leather in the grip area, flattened bottom section on the steering wheel rim and aluminium shift paddles ensures optimal vehicle control. Four round instruments on the AMG instrument cluster provide the driver with information. The central colour TFT monitor incorporates the AMG welcome logo and AMG main menu.

Other standard equipment of the GL 63 AMG includes:

- AMG door sill panels in stainless steel
- AMG floor mats
- AMG sports pedals in brushed stainless steel with rubber studs
- Active Parking Assist
- ATTENTION ASSIST
- Bi-xenon headlamps
- Audio 20 CD radio with Bluetooth® and USB interface
- COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
- Electric EASY-ENTRY system in the rear compartment
- Electrically operated EASY-PACK tailgate
- Electric glass tilt/sliding sunroof
- Intelligent Light System (ILS) with new off-road lighting
- KEYLESS-GO
- Multicontour seats for driver and front passenger including a massage function and Memory package
- Crosswind Assist
- THERMATIC 3-zone automatic climate control

Exclusive optional extras are available from the AMG Performance Studio:

- 5-twin-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels (10 x 21 format) painted in titanium grey with a high-sheen finish, fitted with 295/40 R 21 tyres  
- AMG Performance steering wheel with DINAMICA microfibre in the grip area
- Brake callipers, painted red

The designo Exclusive package allows the exclusive feel and perceived quality to be enhanced further. This comprises:

- AMG sports seats in front and bench seats in the second and third rows
in designo leather
- Upper and lower section of the dashboard, centre console, beltlines, door panelling, door centre panels and armrests in the doors in designo leather
- designo metal badges in the backrests of the front seats and the outer rear seats
- Velour floor mats with designo metal badges and edging in designo black leather

Additional optional extras (selection):

- 360° camera 
- Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist
- Trailer coupling with electric unlocking
- Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG high-end surround sound system
- Becker® MAP PILOT
- Brake Assist BAS PLUS 
- DISTRONIC PLUS
- Electrically operated EASY PACK tailgate
- Speed Limit Assist
- PRE-SAFE® Brake

The market launch of the new Mercedes-Benz GL 63 AMG is scheduled for November 2012. The following is an overview of pricing for Germany (incl. 19% VAT):

- GL 63 AMG: 130,305.00 euros

* Official photos and details courtesy of Mercedes-AMG GmbH *

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Lewis revs up Moscow at the fifth annual Vodafone City Racing Event 2012

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The walls of the Kremlin echoed to the blast of high-revving V8 engines last weekend as Lewis Hamilton and his Vodafone McLaren Mercedes race car starred at the fifth annual Moscow City Racing event.

~ Official photos and details courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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