MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS links up with Tata Communications

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MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS is pleased to confirm a new partnership with Tata Communications which will see the delivery of world-class trackside connectivity for the team at all Formula One race locations using the Tata Communications global network. With the new partnership, Tata Communications becomes the ´Official Managed Connectivity Supplier´ to the team.

Tata Communications, a leading global provider of ´a new world of communications´, will work closely with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS to deliver high-speed, high quality and secure trackside connectivity, enabling the team to transfer vital real-time data from the Silver Arrow cars at any Grand Prix location to its headquarters in the UK, three times faster than at present. The improved trackside connectivity will enable the team to react more quickly to developments at the track and help to increase car performance.

Part of the worldwide Tata group, Tata Communications owns and maintains a complete ring of cables around the world including the world´s first wholly-owned subsea fibre ring to circle the globe. The Tata Communications global network comprises over 500,000 km of subsea cable and over 200,000 km of terrestrial network fibre, allowing a data transfer capacity of one terabit per second, high bandwidth availability and seamless scalability. In February 2012, Tata Communications announced a multi-year technology service and marketing agreement with Formula One Management to deliver world-class connectivity to all Formula One race locations over its world-first wholly-owned subsea fibre ring. It also provides global hosting and content delivery services to the official Formula One website Formula1.com

Ross Brawn, Team Principal at MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS commented: "We are delighted to have agreed our new team partnership with Tata Communications. Formula One relies on data and the ability to transfer our data from the track back to our factories in Brackley and Brixworth quickly and securely. The Tata Communications global network will play a key role in the team´s performance and our ability to react over the race weekends. That we will now be able to achieve our data transfer requirements three times faster is fantastic. Having Tata Communications on-site at the race track to work with the team will be a big asset in our demanding and fast-paced environment, and we look forward to developing a close working relationship with them as we strive to achieve our ambitions in Formula One."

Mehul Kapadia, Managing Director, F1 Business, Tata Communications said: "The modification and improvement of car set-up and handling is a constant during the race season, and being able to share richer data and to report issues back from trackside to the factory in real-time provides a competitive edge in car performance, both in speed and also in handling and stability. Providing three times faster connectivity for MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS via Tata Communications´ global network means that the team has access to secure and agile trackside connectivity regardless of race location - it showcases our expertise and speed to lead when it comes to global connectivity, and reinforces our ongoing commitment to technology innovation within Formula One."

About Tata Communications

Tata Communications Limited along with its subsidiaries (Tata Communications) is a leading global provider of a new world of communications. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.

The Tata Global Network includes one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks, a Tier-1 IP network, with connectivity to more than 200 countries and territories across 400 PoPs, and nearly 1 million square feet of data center and collocation space worldwide.

Tata Communications´ depth and breadth of reach in emerging markets includes leadership in Indian enterprise data services, leadership in global international voice, and strategic investments in South Africa (Neotel), Sri Lanka (Tata Communications Lanka Limited) and Nepal (United Telecom Limited). Tata Communications Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India and its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TCL).

www.tatacommunications.com

~ Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Focus on safety: Mercedes-Benz and Michael Schumacher - Facing the future together

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Mercedes-Benz and Michael Schumacher today announced a long-term partnership which will extend far beyond motorsport and Formula 1. Michael Schumacher will mainly be involved with topics relating to the future, in particular the further development of the Mercedes-Benz safety and comfort systems “Intelligent Drive”, and represent them as an ambassador. For many years now the seven-times Formula 1 World Champion has been working on road safety; as a partner he will from now on be supporting Mercedes-Benz's involvement in this field.

As a racing driver Schumacher’s motto was “If you don't go forwards, you go backwards”. Again and again he motivated himself and his team throughout his incomparable career to achieve new developments and top performances. Now he is actively placing his expertise at the service of road users by searching for the best solutions for safety on the roads together with Mercedes-Benz.

“The future interests me much more than the present and past. During my Formula 1 time I always believed that you must not allow yourself to rest on your laurels, but that you must continuously try to improve. In so doing I was very often able to rely on the help of all the technologies available to me in the car and use them to my advantage. That is why I am a declared supporter of driving assistance systems both in the racing car and in the road-going car”, said Schumacher of the new partnership.

Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Mercedes-Benz Cars, Sales and Marketing, added: “We are proud that Michael Schumacher, the most successful and best-known racing driver in the world, is again joining us as our partner. Right from the time when he was a Mercedes-Benz junior and of course in the last three years as a driver in our Formula 1 team, Michael Schumacher has always been committed to our company’s projects. This is why it is only logical for both sides to pool their expertise and know-how and to use them, for instance, for enhancing driver assistance systems and thus improve safety on the roads within a partnership.”

Michael Schumacher will be making his first appearance as a partner of Mercedes-Benz together with Dr. Dieter Zetsche on 1 May 2013 at ‚Handelsblatt PATHFINDER – The future starts today.’. “I wanted to have a clearly defined remit within the new partnership and I find it very exciting to be able to contribute towards further developments and the optimisation of safety together with the inventor of the car”, said the record Formula 1 World Champion of this future working relationship.

Credits: Daimler AG

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MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS 'keep moving' with BlackBerry partnership

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As the new Silver Arrow, the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS F1 W04, completes its first laps this morning at the Jerez circuit in Spain, the team is delighted to announce a significant new partnership agreement with BlackBerry (NASDAQ: RIMM, TSX: RIM).

As the Official Mobile Computing Partner for the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, BlackBerry will collaborate with the team on technical and marketing opportunities. The new BlackBerry 10 platform will deliver tools and services for MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS and fan engagement will be improved through the joint development of apps. BlackBerry 10 smartphones will also be used by the team so they can ‘keep moving’ throughout the Formula One season.

The new partnership sees the iconic BlackBerry branding featured prominently on the chassis and headrest of the F1 W04 Silver Arrow, the racesuits of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and on the team’s racewear kit. As the Official Mobile Computing Partner, BlackBerry and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS will be working closely together to develop the team’s use of the BlackBerry 10 platform at the team’s headquarters and at each Grand Prix.

Ross Brawn, Team Principal at the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team commented: “On the day that our new Silver Arrow, the F1 W04, is launched, we are very pleased to announce our partnership with BlackBerry. We are looking forward to embracing the new BlackBerry 10 platform at both a technical and operational level, as well as collaborating with the team at BlackBerry to bring new mobile innovation to MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS. It is especially pleasing to be able to launch this exciting partnership today as our latest Silver Arrow takes to the track with BlackBerry branding.”

Frank Boulben, Chief Marketing Officer at BlackBerry, said: “Formula One is all about precision engineering, design and innovation – three values that mirror the approach that’s gone into creating BlackBerry 10. It is a natural fit for BlackBerry to partner with the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team to deliver value through technical and marketing collaboration. We have built BlackBerry 10 to keep people moving, and we believe the essence of this will be delivered at many levels through our partnership.” 

About BlackBerry
A global leader in wireless innovation, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. Research In Motion announced that effective January 30, 2013, the Company would operate around the world under the iconic name BlackBerry. The legal name of the company has not changed, but the Company will do business as BlackBerry until shareholders vote for the official change at the Company's Annual General Meeting later in 2013. Effective Monday, February 4, 2013, the Company commenced trading under its new ticker symbols "BB" on the Toronto Stock Exchange and "BBRY" on the NASDAQ.

www.blackberry.com

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used herein, words such as "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend," "believe", and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause RIM's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of RIM's Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM's forward-looking statements. RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

BlackBerry, RIM, Research In Motion and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of Research In Motion Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. All other brands, names and marks are the property of their respective owners. RIM is not responsible for any third party products or services.

~ Official photos and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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The strategic cooperation between Daimler AG and Renault-Nissan Alliance forms agreement with Ford Motor Company to accelerate commercialization of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Technology

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Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., have signed a unique three-way agreement to accelerate the commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) technology.
The goal of the collaboration is to jointly develop a common fuel cell electric vehicle system while reducing investment costs associated with the engineering of the technology. Each company will invest equally towards the project. The strategy to maximize design commonality, leverage volume and derive efficiencies through economies of scale will help to launch the world’s first affordable, mass-market FCEVs as early as 2017.

Together, Daimler, Ford and Nissan have more than 60 years of cumulative experience developing FCEVs. Their FCEVs have logged more than 10 million km in test drives around the world in customers’ hands and as part of demonstration projects in diverse conditions. The partners plan to develop a common fuel cell stack and fuel cell system that can be used by each company in the launch of highly differentiated, separately branded FCEVs, which produce no CO2 emissions while driving.

The collaboration sends a clear signal to suppliers, policymakers and the industry to encourage further development of hydrogen refueling stations and other infrastructure necessary to allow the vehicles to be mass-marketed.

Powered by electricity generated from hydrogen and oxygen, FCEVs emit only water while driving. FCEVs are considered complementary to today’s battery-electric vehicles and will help expand the range of zero-emission transportation options available to consumers.

“Fuel cell electric vehicles are the obvious next step to complement today's battery electric vehicles as our industry embraces more sustainable transportation,” said Mitsuhiko Yamashita, Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Vice President of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., supervising Research and Development. “We look forward to a future where we can answer many customer needs by adding FCEVs on top of battery EVs within the zero-emission lineup.”

“We are convinced that fuel cell vehicles will play a central role for zero-emission mobility in the future. Thanks to the high commitment of all three partners we can put fuel cell
e-mobility on a broader basis. This means with this cooperation we will make this technology available for many customers around the globe”, said Prof. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

“Working together will significantly help speed this technology to market at a more affordable cost to our customers,” said Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company. “We will all benefit from this relationship as the resulting solution will be better than any one company working alone.”

Engineering work on both the fuel cell stack and the fuel cell system will be done jointly by the three companies at several locations around the world. The partners are also studying the joint development of other FCEV components to generate even further synergies.

The unique collaboration across three continents and three companies will help define global specifications and component standards, an important prerequisite for achieving higher economies of scale.

How a fuel cell electric vehicle works

Like today’s battery-electric vehicles, FCEVs are more efficient than conventional cars and diversify energy sources beyond petroleum.

The electricity for an FCEV is produced on board the vehicle in the fuel cell stack where it is generated following an electro-chemical reaction between hydrogen - stored in a purpose-designed, high-pressure tank in the car - and oxygen from the air. The only by-products are water vapor and heat.

Credits: Daimler AG

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Daimler Trucks and Kamaz Intensify Partnership by Signing Contract Covering the Supply of Commercial Vehicle Components

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As part of their strategic partnership, Daimler’s commercial vehicle division and Russian truck manufacturer Kamaz have signed a contract covering the supply of engines and axles for the Russian company’s trucks and buses. As a result, Kamaz will now receive OM 457 truck diesel engines and M 906 bus natural gas engines. The contract also encompasses the delivery of front and rear axles for trucks and buses to the Russian manufacturer, whose headquarters are located in Naberezhnye Chelny in the Russian Republic of Tartastan. The completely assembled components will be supplied to Russia by the Mercedes-Benz plants in Mannheim (engines), Kassel, and Gaggenau (axles).

The partners expect the delivery volume to exceed in a first step 7,000 engines and 15,000 axles per year.

Emphasizing the advantages of the latest partnership project, Stefan E. Buchner, who is responsible for global powertrain, procurement and manufacturing engineering at Daimler Trucks, said: “Our modular component system provides the right solutions for our partner. Through our technological expertise and skill, we are helping Kamaz to expand its strong position on the Russian market.”

Sergey A. Kogogin, General Director of Kamaz OJSC, also spoke highly of the importance of this project. “The signing of the agreement for axles and engines with Daimler opens up great opportunities for our company”, said Kogogin. “Kamaz will be able to offer its customers the products that would meet the world quality standards and set new benchmarks for the Russian truck industry. Time has shown that many years of our cooperation with Daimler as our strategic partner pays off and is yielding to positive results.”

The EEV (Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle) compliant natural gas engines with an output of 170 kW (231 hp) to 205 kW (279 hp) and the Euro V compliant diesel engines with a performance of 260 kW (354 hp) to 335 kW (456 hp) will from now on complement the Kamaz engine lineup.

In regard to providing axles to Daimler’s Russian cooperation partner, today’s supply contract is an intermediate step. In the future, the two companies plan to manufacture axles in Russia through a joint venture. This way, Daimler’s commercial vehicle division plans to set up and expand a component network in the country.

The two companies are steadily intensifying their already close cooperation. Last June, Daimler and Kamaz announced the signing of a licensing agreement covering the supply of Mercedes-Benz Axor cabs, whereby production will be gradually localized. The cabs will be used in a new Kamaz truck generation, which is to be launched on the Russian market next year.

The strategic partnership between Daimler Trucks and Kamaz was established in 2008. The joint ventures Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok (MBTV) and Fuso Kamaz Trucks Rus. (FKTR) commenced operations a little less than two years later. The partnership has since grown and prospered on several levels. Since its inauguration in 2011, the MBTV plant in Chelny has manufactured Mercedes-Benz Actros, Axor, Atego and Unimog trucks in series production. FKTR produces the Fuso Canter light-duty truck on site. Since increasing their stake in the Russian company in June 2010, Daimler AG and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development now jointly hold 15 percent of the shares in Kamaz.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz World and Continental Tyres: Partnering Excellence

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Mercedes-Benz World, the pioneering brand experience centre located at the historic Brooklands motor racing circuit in Weybridge, has appointed Continental Tyres as “Partner in Excellence”. This will see Continental supply its high performance tyres for all Mercedes-Benz vehicles used in the driving experiences both on the circuits and challenging 4x4 off-road terrain.

Since opening in 2006, the brand centre has offered an interactive world full of Mercedes-Benz passion, heritage, values and innovation. Visitors can explore every model in the range, discover iconic classics and with attractions throughout its three storeys capture the fascination of Mercedes-Benz – the company that invented the car in 1886 and continues to be at the forefront of automotive performance.

An adrenaline fuelled line-up of driving experiences and gift vouchers is available. Experiences include the power-driven thrill of lapping a V8-engined Mercedes-AMG on the Handling Circuits and power-sliding on the Wet Skid Circle’s low friction surface, whilst 10 acres of challenging terrain offers a breath-taking off-road adventure in the latest 4x4 cars. True to the claim that Mercedes-Benz World is for the whole family, driving is not just for the adults. Kids over 1.5m can also drive – something made even more special by their first time being behind the wheel of a brand new Mercedes.

Tyres from Continental will ensure optimum performance to give dynamism and precision handling with the highest safety reserves throughout every driving experience. As the lead tyre development partner for Mercedes-AMG division, Continental is well placed to serve the many and varied demands of the entire Mercedes-Benz driving experience range.

Andrew Mallery, Commercial Operations Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, commented: “Since opening Mercedes-Benz World six years ago, we have delivered a quarter of a million thrilling driving experiences. As we look to the future to deliver even more we are delighted to have Continental as our official tyre partner. Our aim is to deliver the best driving experiences. With Continental’s strong engineering heritage and recognised expertise in tyre safety we will do just that.”

Peter Robb, Brand Manager, Continental Tyre Group, said: “Continental is delighted to be partnering with Mercedes-Benz World, offering our expertise to not only one of the most prestigious brands in the world, but also one of the most technologically advanced brand experience centres in the UK. By combining the excellence of both Continental and Mercedes-Benz World, we can offer the ultimate combination of products which incorporate high performance and a shared passion for ultimate safety.”

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS teams up with BHARTI AIRTEL for the 2012 Airtel Indian F1 Grand Prix

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The MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team is pleased to confirm a race partnership agreement with Bharti Airtel for the 2012 Airtel Indian Grand Prix. The leading integrated telecommunications company was title sponsor of the inaugural race at the Buddh International Circuit in New Delhi in October 2011, and will continue the role this year.

Airtel branding will feature on the airbox and headrest of the Mercedes AMG F1 W03 car, and on the racesuits and helmets of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, for the duration of the 2012 Airtel Indian Grand Prix weekend.

Bharti Airtel will use the association with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS to further promote Formula One within India, with a host of innovative content and experiences planned both before and during the 2012 Airtel Indian Grand Prix. Michael and Nico will also feature in a television campaign in India to promote the race and Bharti Airtel’s involvement.

Ross Brawn, Team Principal of the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team commented: “The 2011 Airtel Indian Grand Prix was a very successful new adventure for Formula One and we are delighted to now be partnering with Bharti Airtel, who have supported the sport in India from the outset. Taking our sport to new audiences is vital for our future and we are very much looking forward to working with Bharti Airtel in the run-up to this year’s race, in order to bring our fantastic sport closer to the Indian fans.”

Bharat Bambawale, Global Brand Director at Bharti Airtel said: “As title sponsors, we at Bharti Airtel are proud to have been an integral part of India’s first Formula One race last year. We are today delighted to enter a new lap of our brand’s Formula One journey with an exciting alliance with the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. In 2011, Bharti Airtel took the lead in bringing India’s Formula One dreams alive and became ‘Title Sponsor’ of the sport’s debut in the country. Bharti Airtel and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS are associated with traits of speed, performance and fast-paced growth, thus making this partnership a perfect match between two like-minded brands. By building on the unique motorsport heritage and strong track record of Mercedes-Benz, we will strengthen Bharti Airtel’s youthful positioning and appeal to Formula One fans across India.”

~ Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Daimler and carpooling.com forge strategic partnership

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Daimler AG is investing in the world’s leading ridesharing network, carpooling.com GmbH. The main shareholders will continue to be the company’s three founders, as well as venture capital firm Earlybird. The capital investment will serve primarily the development and expansion of carpooling.com’s mobility solutions.

carpooling.com is the world‘s leading ridesharing network with 4 million registered users, transporting 1 million people a month across Europe. The platform is available on the Internet, on smartphone apps and Facebook. The company possesses the most profound experience globally in bringing together ride-sharers for both medium- and long-distance trips, as well as for commuting. By reviewing profiles and ratings users know exactly who they are traveling with. In addition to rides, the company’s platform also offers bus, rail and airline tickets.

This strategic partnership bundles the know-how of two leading players in the mobility sector. In addition to its 126 years of expertise in automotive engineering and automotive systems applications, Daimler is also the market leader in fully flexible short-term car rental models with car2go which has over 130,000 customers and holds a share in MyTaxi since early 2012. In July 2012 Daimler launched the mobility platform moovel. Moreover, Daimler has gathered experience in the ride-sharing market in two pilot projects in Ulm and Aachen with its car2gether ad-hoc riding-sharing system.

The goal of the partnership is to further expand carpooling.com’s platforms and intelligently integrate the offerings within Daimler’s mobility solutions. The partners will be benefiting from each other’s experience in connection with customer needs, technical systems development, as well as in international rollouts of successful mobility concepts.

“We view ridesharing as an important element of intelligently networked mobility. Our engagement in carpooling.com is a logical step in offering our customers an even wider range for getting from Point A to Point B,” notes Wilfried Steffen, who heads up Business Innovation at Daimler AG. “We are pleased that this strategic partnership will enable us to support carpooling.com’s growth and further development.”

“We are very pleased that we were able to attract Daimler as an investor. As a leading automotive player Daimler will serve as a strong partner in further establishing the role of modern carpooling in Europe and overseas. We will be utilizing the new capital to further improve our offerings, broaden our customer service and make carpooling available to even more users worldwide,” is the way carpooling.com CEO Markus Barnikel explains the reasoning behind Daimler AG’s investment in the company.

In mid July 2012, both companies announced a technical cooperation for the pilot project moovel. The moovel mobility platform allows users to choose the best way to get from A to B in urban areas.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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smart and BRABUS celebrate ten years of cooperation with a special edition: 50,000 customised city cars brought to the streets

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Sporty smarts are called BRABUS – and have been for ten years already. In 2002 smart and the tuning specialist BRABUS founded a joint company. As early as 2003 the first premium models developed by the joint venture smart-BRABUS GmbH –the smart fortwo BRABUS coupé and cabrio – were introduced on the market. Now the companies are celebrating their anniversary with the unique and exclusively equipped "10th anniversary" special model.

smart boss Dr Annette Winkler says: "10 years of smart-BRABUS stands for more than 50,000 customised vehicles and lots of delighted customers. The fact that we already produced more than 10,000 smarts together last year shows that we still have lots of potential for further growth and high profitability with this creative and efficient team." Bodo Buschmann, CEO of the BRABUS Group, adds: "The cooperation with smart has developed extremely well in the past ten years. This means that BRABUS is not only a synonym for fast, but also highly exclusive sports cars. And we still have lots of ideas how smart and BRABUS can continue to grow together."

Since the launch of the first smart fortwo BRABUS more than 50,000 customers worldwide have opted for a smart model customised by the joint venture. The customisation programme "smart BRABUS tailor made" that was launched two years ago and has now become established throughout Europe is also very successful. In 2012 it will also be extended to customers in the USA and China. According to the current forecast, more than 1000 customers will choose the smart-BRABUS tailor made offering this year. tailor made underlines one of the great strengths of smart-BRABUS – individualisation of the vehicle interior and exterior. In Germany, for example, prices start at €2999 incl. VAT for an exterior colour of the customer's choice or exclusive leather appointments in the interior.

Here is an overview of the most important models from smart BRABUS:

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the co-operation, smart-BRABUS has developed a very special treat for its customers. In addition to the familiar sportiness of smart-BRABUS models, this special edition, which is limited to 100 units, offers numerous exclusive highlights.

The anniversary model, which is being produced in a limited edition of 100 vehicles, is based on the current smart fortwo BRABUS production model with 75 kW (102 hp) and maximum torque of 147 Nm. It has a top speed of 155 km/h, sprints to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and offers driving pleasure as a standard feature.

The tridion safety cell, bodypanels including front grille and the door mirrors of the "10th anniversary" edition are painted in liquid silver, as are the front spoiler and side skirts in the styling package. Further exterior features include titanium-coloured headlamps and red BRABUS logos at the front and rear.

The interior of the "10th anniversary" edition is characterised by a black leather interior with high-quality hand stitching. The trim parts are painted in an exclusive red and the contrast components and seat console come in black. Cruise control is regulated via the BRABUS sports steering wheel, and the starter button is integrated in the gear shift lever knob. A badge with the serial number (xx/100) draws attention to the fact that this is a limited edition.

The equipment of the "10th anniversary" edition is orientated to the smart fortwo BRABUS and standard features include the comfort and light package, heated seats, electric power steering, LED daytime driving lights, audio and navigation system and BRABUS Monoblock VII alloy wheels in matt grey.

Ten years of smart BRABUS: customisation - a success story

Flexible small-scale manufacturer for discerning customers

smart BRABUS GmbH is a joint venture between smart and BRABUS and stands for premium automotive enhancement. In the past ten years more than 50,000 customers have opted for products that were developed or produced in cooperation with the engineers from BRABUS. 2011 was the most successful year to date with more than 10,000 smart fortwos customised by BRABUS.

Today smart offers two model lines in cooperation with BRABUS: the smart BRABUS and the smart BRABUS Xclusive. The smart BRABUS engineers and designers place a particular focus on two areas. Firstly, enhancing the performance. The 75 kW (102 hp) turbo engine accelerates the coupé and cabrio from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds. The sporty transmission configuration, suspension components developed specially for smart and a number of aerodynamic elements also ensure all-round sporty driving dynamics. The second focus is on enhancing the appearance of the whole vehicle with exclusive design elements in high-quality materials such as leather, brushed aluminium and bright stainless steel.

Sporty: the smart BRABUS

As well as a 75 kW (102 hp) turbo engine with sporty transmission configuration, the smart BRABUS has "Monoblock VII" alloy wheels with front tyres: 175/50 R 16; rear tyres: 225/35 R 17, a sports suspension lowering the vehicle by 10 mm, front fog lamps, a sports exhaust with rear apron in black, BRABUS logo at the front, rear and in the mirror triangle, and a panoramic roof (coupé; incl. sunblind). The tridion safety cell comes in black, or is alternatively available in silver or white. Among other things the interior is upgraded by BRABUS dashboard instruments (cockpit clock & rev counter), a gear knob in leather/aluminium, an aluminium hand brake lever and sports pedals in stainless steel with rubber nubs. There is also a 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel with steering wheel gearshift, air conditioning with automatic temperature control (incl. dust and pollen filter) and electric windows. The fabric upholstery comes in design black and the interior contrast components in pearl black. Fabric elements on the instrument panel, door trim and knee pad, colour-coordinated with the upholstery, round off the stylish look of the smart BRABUS.

Uncompromising: smart BRABUS Xclusive

Fine materials, exclusive styling and plenty of power: from the dynamic exterior to the high-quality interior equipment, the smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive leaves virtually nothing to be desired. In addition to the equipment of the smart BRABUS, the Xclusive also has a front spoiler and side skirts in the bodypanel colour and headlamps with titanium-coloured surrounds. In the interior the BRABUS Xclusive features heated leather seats, silver stitching and the BRABUS logo embossed in the headrests. The air conditioning has automatic temperature control (incl. dust and pollen filter). The contrast components come in aluminium look, and the instrument panel and door trim in leather optic.

Anything is possible: smart BRABUS tailor made

With the almost unlimited options available from smart BRABUS tailor made smart buyers can contribute creative ideas to the design of their two-seater and give their vehicle their own personal touch. smart's customisation programme meets the needs of all those customers who want to drive a smart fortwo tailored to their own ideas in line with the principle "anything is possible". For example, customers can choose the exterior colour, types of leather and cabrio soft top colour from a wide range. There are barely any limits. The following are available:

- Exterior finishes in thousands of different colours
- Leather in 30 basic colours and exclusive design variants
- Six cabrio soft top colours
- The whole smart-BRABUS range of accessories

To help smart customers to find their own style, a number of attractive tailor-made packages are available. The tailor-made models are made-to-measure in the truest sense of the word. This means that they are individually customised at the factory with masterly craftsmanship using top quality materials and parts tested by the manufacturer – with a full manufacturer's guarantee.

Dynamic and powerful acceleration: the smart BRABUS electric drive

Zero local emissions but maximum driving fun: the smart BRABUS electric drive proves that cutting-edge urban mobility can be combined with lively agility and a sporty look. The electric motor is based on the state-of-the-art drive technology of the new smart fortwo electric drive and has an output of 60 kW. It delivers maximum torque of 135 Nm which means that the smart BRABUS electric drive almost always wins when pulling away at the traffic lights. The new BRABUS sports suspension makes a decisive contribution to driving fun by bringing the vehicle approximately ten millimetres closer to the asphalt. The sporty character is accompanied by a special BRABUS sound to match, generated by a sound module. The smart BRABUS electric drive comes with a BRABUS sports steering wheel with steering wheel gearshift as a standard feature. Recuperation can be regulated with the help of the shift paddles.

The smart BRABUS electric drive has a dynamic look that also signals environmental friendliness: the tridion safety cell and mirror covers are painted in electric green whilst black dominates on all other body parts – even the front grille. Dark BRABUS headlamps, BRABUS "Monoblock VII" alloy wheels measuring 16" at the front and 17" at the rear, and BRABUS Xclusive aerodynamic body styling parts (a front spoiler and a special rear apron insert with double reflectors) round off the sporty look.

In the interior, accent trim parts and contrast components also come in electric green. Numerous BRABUS Xclusive components, including the instrument panel and interior door trim in leather look, leather seats, stainless steel sports pedals with rubber nubs, BRABUS hand brake lever and BRABUS dashboard instruments (cockpit clock and rev counter) lend the interior a dynamic and exclusive look.

The smart BRABUS electric drive will be available from smart centers in 12 countries from the end of this year.

Max. speed up to 45 km/h: the smart BRABUS ebike

The smart BRABUS ebike has the features typical of BRABUS – more style, more power and more exclusiveness. It has a dynamic look with the frame and fork in matt black and components such as quick release skewers, pedals and brake callipers in anodised green providing a striking contrast. Saddle and grips come in green leather. A four-piston brake system is fitted on the front wheel. The matt black four-spoke wheels are made of carbon. Further components that distinguish the smart BRABUS ebike from the smart ebike are Sport Contact tyres, weight-optimised cranks and pedals and the carbon seatpost.

With 500 watts the electric motor is twice as powerful as that of the smart ebike. At the same time BRABUS has managed to reduce the weight of the ebike by more than ten percent. This makes for particularly agile performance: the two-wheeler, which requires a license plate, has a top speed of 45 km/h. The rider decides how much assistance to their muscle power they would like from the electric motor using the throttle grip. There is a choice of four power levels with the fourth and highest level providing maximum pushing power.

The production version of the smart BRABUS ebike is expected to be available from dealers from the end of 2012.

Milestones in the cooperation between smart and BRABUS
March 2002: the 50:50 joint venture between smart and BRABUS is founded. BRABUS founder Bodo Buschmann is the Managing Director of smart BRABUS GmbH. The smart BRABUS 1st edition is presented at the Geneva Motor Show – initially as a study.


June 2002: the first jointly produced model, the smart BRABUS 1st edition, goes on sale as a coupé and a cabrio. It is characterised by a 52 kW (70 hp) uprated engine, a sporty body kit and exclusive interior appointments with leather and carbon. It is produced in a limited edition of 500 vehicles.

May 2003: the smart city coupé BRABUS and smart cabrio BRABUS, soon to be renamed smart fortwo BRABUS, are launched in 2003 and now represent the top of the model range. They meet the highest customer demands as regards exclusiveness, individuality, innovation and dynamics. Both top versions are fitted with a powerful 55 kW (75 hp) engine enabling a top speed of 150 km/h.

July 2003: with the smart roadster-coupé Brabus V6 biturbo, in cooperation with smart and Mercedes-Benz (engine development) BRABUS shows what is possible. Two standard production engines, each with capacity of 698 cc, three cylinders and their turbochargers are connected with a newly constructed crankcase and installed at the rear of the coupé. The über-smart has power output of 125 kW (170 hp) and sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in less than six seconds. Ten prototypes are built.

March 2004: world premiere of the BRABUS versions of the smart roadster and coupé at the Geneva Motor Show. Both variants are enhanced in terms of power and equipment. They now have an output of 74 kW (101 hp) and reach top speeds of 190 (roadster) and 195 km/h (roadster-coupé) respectively. The standard equipment of the agile two-seaters includes sports suspension and 17-inch alloy rims, softouch automatic transmission, black leather heated sports seats and a 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel with steering wheel gearshift.

27 April 2004: the new Bottrop headquarters of the company smart-BRABUS GmbH, founded in March 2002, are officially inaugurated with a ceremony. The state-of-the-art technology and competence centre of the joint venture between smart and the tuning specialist BRABUS has an area of almost 9,000 square metres. In addition to ultramodern vehicle workplaces, this building built with an investment of €16 million accommodates a development department with computer-controlled test benches and the administrative headquarters of the joint venture. With the decision to set up the headquarters here, smart-BRABUS GmbH created 120 new jobs in Bottrop.

November 2004: the limited special model "BRABUS ULTIMATE 101" based on the smart fortwo with a production volume of 101 vehicles is presented. It costs €39,900 and, in addition to a special finish in racing red or a colour of the customer's choice that also includes the safety cell, it has a 74 kW (101 hp) uprated engine. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.9 s and has an electronically regulated top speed of 160 km/h. The suspension and tyres are adapted to this speed.

March 2005: world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show for the new smart forfour BRABUS. A maximum speed of 221 km/h, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and even more driving pleasure mark the four-seater BRABUS as a premium vehicle for connoisseurs and enthusiasts. Leather in the interior creates a premium class atmosphere, which is underlined by leather-covered headrests and velour floor mats sporting BRABUS lettering.

March 2007: sportiness in an exclusive guise: the BRABUS models of the new smart fortwo as a coupé or a cabrio are premiered in Geneva with the market launch following in the autumn. With a reengineered 72 kW (98 hp) three-cylinder turbo engine the smart fortwo BRABUS and the smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive have 30 percent more power than their predecessors, yet still boast low fuel consumption of only 5.2 l/100 km. The sporty two-door car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 155 km/h. What's more, the two BRABUS variants boast an extremely low power-to-weight ratio: at just 7.8 kg/hp this is 24 percent lower than that of the previous BRABUS variant.

The smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive lives up to its name with additional equipment details such as H7 projection headlamps with titanium-coloured surrounds, a front spoiler with enlarged air inlets, striking side skirts and a special rear apron. All body styling parts are painted in the car's exterior colour. The seats are upholstered with fine leather, heated, and feature head/thorax side airbags as standard. The leather-effect instrument panel boasts aluminium-look trims.

October 2007: the BRABUS ULTIMATE 112 based on the new smart fortwo cabrio or coupé offers a symbiosis of extravagant equipment, sporty performance and agile handling that is unique for a city sports car. The body comes in a flaming pearl metallic orange special finish or in a colour of the customer's choice, the interior features exclusive black BRABUS leather upholstery with orange seams or a colour chosen by the customer. In addition to the special finish, the muscular body kit with front spoiler, side skirts and BRABUS WIDESTAR wheel arches at the front and rear catch the eye. As the name of the exclusive special model indicates, this model packs a powerful punch with 82.4 kW (112 hp). Needing just 3.9 seconds to reach 60 km/h and with an electronically limited top speed of 170 km/h this is one fast mover. The ULTIMATE 112 rolls on gleaming black painted Monoblock VI twin-spoke wheels measuring 7Jx18 with 205/35 R 18 tyres at the front, and 8.5Jx18 wheels with 235/30 R 18 tyres at the rear.

May 2008: to mark the tenth anniversary of the smart fortwo a new special model for German customers is introduced on the market. From September the smart fortwo edition 10 is produced in a limited edition of just 500 vehicles. The smart fortwo edition 10 is available as a coupé or a cabrio. The exterior stands out with bodypanels, mirror covers and front grille in the colour dark brown metallic in conjunction with a silver tridion safety cell. The exclusive two-tone leather interior in sand beige/chocolate with contrasting stitching harmonises with this and enhances the seats, the 2-spoke steering wheel, the door inside panels, door pockets, instrument panel, knee pad and the hand brake lever trim. Accent trim parts and contrast components painted in the exterior colour are further eye-catching highlights. The gear knob, hand brake lever and velour floor mats in an "edition 10" design, special stitching in the seat backrest and the "edition 10" label in the mirror triangle and on the tailgate round off the exclusive appearance of the limited special model.

March 2010: smart-BRABUS tailor made is launched. From now on smart increasingly fulfils unusual customer wishes.

September 2011: smart and the street fashion brand WeSC team up and present the fruits of their "golden" cooperation at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt: the "smart BRABUS tailor made by WeSC" and the "headphones for the smart by WeSC". The smart fortwo cabrio is completely painted in shades of gold, some of which are matt and some shiny, all specially created by the tuning specialist BRABUS for the Swedish label. The deep black rims and leather seats with horizontal stitching in the interior bear the clear hallmark of the street style experts. In return smart designed the 32-ohm headphones from WeSC and based the design on the look of the car with perforated black ear cushions and shiny gold accents.

March 2012: with the smart fortwo BRABUS electric drive a near-series show car from smart BRABUS with electric drive and a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery celebrates its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. Here, ecology and a feast for the senses go hand in hand. The light and airy design of the smart fortwo BRABUS electric drive coupled with fine natural materials demonstrate harmony with the environment and at the same time elevate the pleasure of owning and driving this vehicle to an even higher level. The sports suspension with BRABUS "Monoblock VII" alloy wheels in a five twin-spoke design and matt white exterior and interior trims convey a sporty and functional impression. The smart fortwo BRABUS electric drive is additionally equipped with a BRABUS sound generator which generates a sound specially developed for the smart fortwo electric drive via the power output.

March 2012: BRABUS Ultimate 120 – the ultimate city sports car. As the name indicates, this open two-seater is a super-smart with power output of 88.3 kW (120 hp) and a top speed of 170 km/h. It is built in a limited edition of just 120 numbered vehicles. The new BRABUS Monoblock F "Platinum Edition" forged wheels with the dimensions 7Jx18 on the front axle are fitted with 205/35 R 18 high-performance tyres. At the rear the wheels measure 8.5Jx18 with 235/30 R 18 tyres. The height-adjustable BRABUS coil-over sports suspension, which combines direct, safe and sporty handling with a high level of ride comfort, is specially configured for the ultra-flat tyres and the wider track. A high-performance braking system from BRABUS with perforated discs and 4-piston fixed-calliper brakes on the front axle painted in the body colour offers enormous deceleration and maximum fatigue strength. Needing just 8.9 seconds to sprint to 100 km/h and with an electrically limited top speed of 170 km/h the cabrio also sets a benchmark in its class in this discipline. This impressive performance also has the sound to match thanks to a BRABUS stainless steel sports exhaust system with two chrome-plated tail pipes.

The ULTIMATE 120 also features exquisite highlights in the cockpit: the whole interior is covered with particularly soft and breathable BRABUS mastic leather in black with red contrasting stitching matching the outer skin, or in a colour of the customer's choice. To guarantee optimal side support during fast cornering the city sports car is equipped with Recaro Sportster seats. These are not only covered with the finest BRABUS leather – their seat backrest shells are painted in the colour of the outer skin.

Credits: Daimler AG / BRABUS GmbH

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz partners with Electronic Arts: "SimCity Social" starts with the new A-Class

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When city-building simulation game SimCity Social is released on Facebook in the coming weeks, the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class will be there from the start. Electronic Arts Inc. and the Stuttgart-based premium automotive brand announced their partnership for all worldwide territories excluding North America. Mercedes-Benz will offer fans of SimCity Social a range of exclusive additional playing options until the end of September. They will be able to add a Mercedes-Benz factory and billboards to their cities, and have the new A-Class driving through their streets.

“The new A-Class sets new standards in efficiency and its exhilarating design – which includes features such as the world's first fully-integrated smartphone facility – is unrivalled, both inside and out. It uniquely embodies the pulse of a new generation, sidestepping conventions to explore new ground, and is thus a great fit with the challenges and sophistication of SimCity Social”, remarked Anders Sundt Jensen, Head of Brand Communications at Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Moreover, the integration of the Mercedes-Benz brand into a social game is a logical step in our communications strategy, which has embraced social media as a key tool for some time now. We have found the perfect partner for this in Electronic Arts, which – just like Mercedes-Benz – stands for technical innovation, fascinating entertainment and a love of detail.”

“SimCity Social‘s distinctive style of humor is derived from its fun, quirky and spontaneous gameplay mechanics that exude the essence of the franchise,” said Jami Laes, Vice President of Global Studios at Playfish. “With the integration of Mercedes-Benz, we’ve added a layer of fun realism that enables our fans to bring their favorite brands into their games. We evaluate every partnership to see what the added value is for our fans and the gameplay. Mercedes-Benz plays extremely well into the city building and player customization that SimCity Social embodies.”

SimCity Social is a close collaboration between two award-winning studios at Maxis and Playfish, and can be played at www.facebook.com/simcitysocial very soon. It combines the best in social gaming with the depth and creativity that embodies the SimCity franchise.

SimCity Social takes city-building on Facebook to the next level by empowering mayors to make meaningful decisions that will allow them to create, customize and evolve unique cities with soul. There are no set linear paths to follow; player-driven decisions determine how these cities evolve – unleashing the player’s creativity. Also, social interactions in SimCity Social go far beyond just visiting friends’ cities or using them as resources to complete tasks. For the first time in a social city-building game, players can choose to build mutually beneficial relationships with other cities or establish intense, deeply rooted rivalries.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz, ExxonMobil and Enkei celebrate their 300th race with McLaren at the Canadian GP

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Vodafone McLaren Mercedes prides itself on the longevity of its partnerships, and at the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix 3 of them reach a significant milestone. Mercedes-Benz, ExxonMobil and Enkei have started 300 Grands Prix with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

~ Official media and details courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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