Classic: 50 years ago - “Pagoda” premiere in Geneva

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The launch of the Mercedes-Benz 230 SL at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1963 caused quite a sensation: nine years after the introduction of the 300 SL (W 198) and 190 SL (W 121) sports cars in 1954, Mercedes-Benz presented the motoring world with a single successor to both these extremely successful early SL models. Known internally as the W 113, the two-seater Roadster was characterised by its exceptional comfort, excellent performance, and exemplary handling safety.

The team under Chief Designer Friedrich Geiger had produced a vehicle with a distinctly contemporary flair, which also set a new benchmark in terms of handling safety. For indeed, the 230 SL was the first sports car in the world to feature a safety body made up of a rigid passenger compartment with crumple zones both front and rear. The engineering designers’ work on the W 113 thus reflected the ideas developed by Béla Barényi with respect to the passive safety of automotive body shells.

The characteristic inward curvature of the removable Coupé roof improved the vehicle’s passive safety still further: the concave shape improved stability, while at the same time keeping the weight low. The curve of the Coupé roof, designed by Paul Bracq, was somehow reminiscent of the sweep of an oriental temple roof, so the W 113 model series soon acquired the nickname “Pagoda”.

Sports car with luxury-class genes

The technical basis of the Roadster was provided by the Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111) luxury-class Saloon: the shortened and reinforced frame floor assembly of the sports car, including its front and rear-wheel suspension, stemmed from this predecessor of today’s S‑Class. The engine in the 220 SE also formed the basis for the development of the 150 hp (110 kW) M 127 six-cylinder in-line engine (with a displacement of 2306 cc), with which the new SL model series was launched onto the market in 1963. For the first time in an SL, a four-speed automatic transmission was available as an option.

Towards the end of 1966 the 230 SL was succeeded by the 250 SL model. Its six-cylinder in-line engine (M 129) also had an output of 150 hp (110 kW), but generated 10 per cent more torque. This meant that the vehicle could accelerate from a standing start to 100 km/h in 10 seconds, and thus 1.1 seconds faster than the version introduced in 1963. The top speed of both the 230 SL and the 250 SL was 200 km/h.

Finally, in 1968, the 280 SL with M 130 engine became the third and last version of the W 113 model series to enter the market. Its 2778 cc six-cylinder in-line engine developed 170 hp (125 kW) and could accelerate the sports car from a standstill to 100 km/h in 9 seconds. As before the top speed was 200 km/h, a very respectable figure for this era.

The three SL models that made up the W 113 model series were each available as a Roadster with folding soft top, as a sports car with a removable Coupé roof, and in a further variant that combined the removable Coupé roof with a Roadster soft top. As an optional extra, Mercedes-Benz would fit an additional transverse seat into the rear of the sports car.

Production of the W 113 ended in March 1971 with 48,912 units to its credit. The completely redesigned successor of model series R 107 took over from the technically and stylistically trailblazing “Pagoda” – and went on to set new benchmarks in its turn, for example in the form of the first eight-cylinder engine for the SL-Class.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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The new Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG and A 45 AMG in new Driveclub™ racing game for PlayStation 4

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On 21st February, in New York, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) presented Driveclub a brand new racing franchise developed exclusively for Playstation 4 by Evolution Studios. The car line-up in this pioneering game, which conveys better than ever before the heart and soul of motor racing and the passion it inspires, includes several exceptional sports cars from Mercedes-Benz – first and foremost among them the new CLA 45 AMG and the new A 45 AMG. Both these high-performance vehicles will be celebrating their real-world premiere in March 2013. Driveclub and the new Playstation 4 console will be launching this holiday season.

Playstation 4 is SCEI’s next generation computer entertainment system that redefines rich and immersive gameplay with powerful graphics and speed, intelligent personalisation, deeply integrated social capabilities, and innovative second-screen features. Driveclub is the perfect fit for the lifestyle of the next generation of PlayStation gamers: an exhilarating, visceral and highly socially connected racing experience that showcases the immense capabilities of Playstation 4. Driveclub is a networked game to be played in real clubs, encouraging players to team up and to collaborate and compete with one another while experiencing the thrill of driving the best cars in the world, on the best roads in the world. The audiovisual quality of the cars and the tracks is staggering, and the view from the cockpit is absolutely true to life, immersing the player in every race and recreating the power and the drama that they would feel if they were actually sitting in the driver’s seat.

As well as the CLA 45 AMG and the A 45 AMG, further vehicles with the three-pointed star will join Driveclub.

Firing up the world's most powerful four-cylinder production engine

In March the A 45 AMG will be presented at the Geneva auto show. With this new family member Mercedes-AMG will for the first time be offering a high-performance vehicle in the compact class segment. The AMG-Version of the new four-door Coupé, the CLA, is celebrating its world premiere in New York. With a peak output of 265 kW (360 hp) and a maximum torque of 450 newton metres, their turbocharged AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is the world's most powerful four-cylinder power unit in series production. The power density of 133 kW (181 hp) surpasses even that of the most powerful super sports cars. At the same time they excel with outstanding efficiency, while also meeting the EU6 emissions standard. The A 45 AMG and the CLA 45 AMG are equipped as standard with the fully variable, performance-oriented AMG 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system.

Credits: Daimler AG

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Supervisory Board of Daimler AG extends contracts of Dr. Dieter Zetsche and Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber

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In its meeting today, the Supervisory Board of Daimler AG passed a unanimous resolution to extend the contract of service of Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, until December 31, 2016. The contract of service of Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Board of Management Member for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, was also extended until December 31, 2016.

As of April 1, 2013, Andreas Renschler will assume Board of Management responsibility for production and purchasing of Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars & Mercedes-Benz Vans. At the same time, Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard will assume Board of Management responsibility for Daimler Trucks.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche has been a member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG since December 16, 1998 and its Chairman since January 1, 2006. He is also Head of the Mercedes-Benz Cars division.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber has been a member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG since January 1, 2004 and is responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

Andreas Renschler has been a member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Daimler Trucks since October 1, 2004. Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard has been a member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Operations Mercedes-Benz Cars since February 18, 2010.

Dr. Manfred Bischoff: “The long-term orientation of the Group’s leadership is an essential factor for Daimler’s sustained success. With today’s extensions of the contracts of Dieter Zetsche and Thomas Weber, we are maintaining the important continuity at the top executive level.”

“Dieter Zetsche and the Board of Management have a clear plan how to further enhance Daimler’s overall performance together with their team. Dieter Zetsche is distinguished of course by his great experience, but also by his ability to combine a feeling for cars with sound engineering knowledge and an entrepreneurial approach,” continued Dr. Bischoff.

“Research and development are two key areas in the automobile industry. I am therefore delighted that we will continue the successful collaboration with Thomas Weber. He will steadily continue to maintain Daimler’s claim to technological leadership,” stated Dr. Bischoff.

“Wolfgang Bernhard and Andreas Renschler are two highly experienced members of Daimler’s Board of Management. With this change, they will both be able to utilize their management know-how from their previous responsibilities within in their new functions, thus expanding their own expertise in all automobile areas,” explained Dr. Bischoff.

The contracts of service of Dr. Zetsche and Prof. Dr. Weber would otherwise have expired in December 2013. In accordance with Section 84 Subsection 1 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) and with the Rules of Procedure of the Supervisory Board of Daimler AG, the Supervisory Board passes a resolution on reappointments to the Board of Management at the beginning of the last year of a member’s current period of office.

Credits: Daimler AG

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Mercedes-Benz Bank continues to grow

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Mercedes-Benz Bank AG achieved once again solid business results in 2012. The total volume of the bank’s leasing and financing contracts for Daimler vehicles rose by five percent to €17.8 billion at the end of last year. Compared to 2011, new business increased by one percent to the record figure of €9.1 billion. As a result, the Stuttgart-based automotive bank also increased the share of Daimler vehicles it finances or leases in Germany to an all-time high. In fact, Mercedes-Benz Bank put more than half of the new Daimler vehicles on the road last year with a leasing or financing agreement.

“Mercedes-Benz Bank is performing well. We continued to profitably grow in 2012, we have our credit risks firmly under control, and our direct banking business provides us with a strong basis for refinancing our activities. In addition, our profitability is higher than our return on equity target of 17 percent,” stated Franz Reiner, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Bank. The bank, which is a subsidiary of Daimler Financial Services AG, made a significant contribution to its parent company’s operating profit of nearly €1.3 billion in 2012.

Mercedes-Benz Bank did particularly well last year in the insurance business, where the number of policies (motor insurance, payment protection insurance, purchase price protection, and traffic-related legal expenses insurance) increased by six percent to nearly 260,000. Mercedes-Benz Bank also combines individual components such as leasing, insurance, servicing, and maintenance into complete packages, which it offers at a single monthly rate. The total volume of these complete packages increased by seven percent last year to nearly 160,000. The bank’s fleet management business also experienced strong growth last year, with the number of contracts rising by six percent to nearly 280,000.

Outlook: Growth in the fleet management sector and in Europe

Reiner expects Mercedes-Benz Bank to continue to grow this year through the systematic expansion of its product range. “We are expanding our business model by adding mobility-related services to the products of a purely automotive bank — namely, leasing, financing, and direct banking,” Reiner said. Among other things, the company will get involved in the rental car business and offer more financial services products for pre-owned vehicles.

As the fleet management business will be an important strategic growth segment in the coming years, the subsidiary Daimler Fleet Management will expand its business model in this area. “At Daimler Fleet Management we mainly focused on the German market, but we will now intensify our efforts to gain internationally operating customers from Europe,” Reiner said.

The stronger focus on business opportunities outside Germany is also evidenced by Mercedes-Benz Bank’s new service center in Berlin. In addition to serving commercial vehicle customers in Germany, the center now offers services to customers in Spain. In a few months from now, the Berlin center will also begin serving customers in Italy.

Mercedes-Benz Bank also plans to increase the number of branches it operates in Europe. The company currently has branches in the UK and Spain, where it offers dealer financing. Another branch will be opened in France this year, and preparations to expand into additional countries are under way. “Mercedes-Benz Bank is becoming more European in scope. We can invest in such growth projects, because of our financial strength and strong position in our home market,” says Reiner.

Growth to result from Daimler’s model offensive

In the years ahead, Reiner also expects the bank to get a boost from the many new vehicle models that Mercedes-Benz will be launching in the coming months. “The Mercedes-Benz model offensive will provide us with outstanding growth opportunities in 2013 and beyond, as it encompasses a range of new commercial vehicles as well as new cars such as the new E-Class, the new S-Class, and the new CLA,” stated Reiner. In particular, Mercedes-Benz Bank will support the launch of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class models this spring with complete packages for private and commercial customers.

Savings accounts from the direct banking business help secure growth and the provision of loans

In 2012, Mercedes-Benz Bank’s deposit banking business grew by ten percent to €12.1 billion. This puts the bank in a good position to continue to give customers and dealers affordable loans and thus to support Daimler sales. “Because of our good refinancing situation, we can always finance our planned growth without having to depend on the financial markets,” said Reiner. Mercedes-Benz Bank expects to continue to increase its contract volume and new business this year.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Daimler strengthens international research and development network with new site in India

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Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) formally opened its new site in Bangalore today. With 1,200 employees, MBRDI is the largest Daimler research and development centre outside Germany, and it also is the largest and ultramodern centre run by any German car manufacturer in India.

The company's Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development unit is strengthening its international knowledge network as part of the Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy. Already today, research and development staff is working at 22 sites in eight countries in order to meet the challenges of the future. Around 21,000 people work in research and development within the Daimler AG, including 4,300 outside Germany, creating a vast pool of knowledge covering a wide range of disciplines.

"Our new centre of competence in Bangalore gives us direct access to a highly qualified workforce and excellent networking with the locally based international and national supply industry," states Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. "With enormous growth potential, India is one of the core markets within our global strategy Mercedes-Benz 2020. With our new research site MBRDI we are further expanding our presence on the market, in order to be closer to the customer also in terms of research and development."

MBRDI started off with just ten employees in 1996 and has since transformed itself from a purely research-based site for IT and vehicle electrics/electronics into a centre of competence with know-how in the fields of design (Computer Aided Design), simulation (Computer Aided Engineering), electrics/electronics (EE) and information technology (IT) for all divisions across the Daimler AG. The Indian site MBRDI filed 50 patent applications in 2012 alone.

"Our international research and development sites are the perfect complement to the R&D activities in Germany, helping to ensure the long-term success and the competitiveness of our traditional research and development sites," adds Professor Weber.

One project that exemplifies the cooperation between the world-wide sites is the "Human Body Modelling" (HBM) simulation tool, which was developed in close collaboration with the German research and development sites. In accident simulations, HBM enables a wide range of parameters to be taken into account, such as biomechanics, physical properties of the human body and many different crash situations. This globally unique system therefore allows evaluation of very complex accident situations and thus helps to make vehicle designs even safer by considering numerous different factors.

Wilfried Porth, Management Board Member for Human Resources, Labor Relations Director and responsible for IT at Daimler AG: “The close cooperation between our global R&D sites is of major strategic importance. It is only possible with a strong and integrated IT structure. Bangalore is a crucial part of our global IT landscape, both in engineering and non-engineering. We will use this IT know-how of the Indian “Silicon Valley” for the whole Daimler Group in order to support our profitability and growth.“

Global knowledge network

The company has representation wherever the centres of competence for relevant fields of knowledge are based – with highly qualified researchers and the appropriate "scientific community". Other local focal points of development are situated near the key production plants. These international activities focus on creating direct benefit for the customer through greater innovative pace and strength as well as shorter development times. This enables tailored solutions for particular growth markets.

The global knowledge network and the high level of investment in research and technology are essential investments in the future of the automobile and, therefore, in the competitiveness of the entire Daimler AG. In 2012, as in the prior year, Daimler invested €5.6 billion in research and development, with further investment totalling €10.8 billion planned for the period 2013 to 2014.

Credits: Daimler AG

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