The merger between DMG and Benz & Cie. was completed on June 28/29, 1926. To mark the occasion, publicity material highlighted the combined power of the new brand that had been forged out of the two historic firms: “Germany’s two oldest and largest automotive companies have merged with a view to pooling over 40 years of experience in automotive design, the purchase of raw materials and production equipment and an extensive field organization, and to offering customers all over the world an unbeatable range of passenger cars and commercial vehicles.”

Keep Reading "Celebrating 100 Years At The Mercedes-Benz Manheim Plant: From The Merger To The Second World War"

Once the economic circumstances had stabilized, the company was at last able to consider the construction of a new plant. In 1906, Benz & Cie. bought a plot of land on the slopes of the Luzenberg in Mannheim-Waldhof measuring 311,180 square meters. Here building work on the new Benz plant got under way in 1907 based on plans by the architect Albert Speer. At this time Benz was turning out an average of 520 engines and 400 cars annually, with a workforce of around 1,000 employees. The new premises were adjacent to the Mannheim-Luzenberg railway station, so it was conveniently situated for links to the rail network. The railway not only helped with material logistics, it also brought in workers living in more outlying communities...

Keep Reading "Celebrating 100 Years At The Mercedes-Benz Manheim Plant: The Mercedes-Benz Plant In Manheim-Waldorf"

Born the son of a locomotive driver in Karlsruhe in 1844, Carl Benz began studying at the city’s polytechnic in 1860 and made his first visit to Mannheim in 1866. Here, he was employed as a draftsman and designer by a scales manufacturer, before moving in 1868 to the firm of Gebrüder Benckiser in Pforzheim. If Benz was already forming ideas about the automobile during this period, they were unlikely to have been inspired by his work, for “Benckiser, Eisenwerke und Maschinenfabrik” was involved above all in bridge construction. But Benz had shown great interest in the bicycle even during his time in Mannheim. He bought his first “velocipede” – as the two-wheeler was known at the time – in 1867, and this precursor to individual mobility on the road would later shape many of the design details of his patent motor car. After two years at Benckiser, Benz moved from Pforzheim, where he had met his future wife Bertha Ringer, back to Mannheim. Here, in 1871, the young engineer teamed up with a talented mechanic, August Ritter, and established the small company “Carl Benz und August Ritter, Mechanische Werkstätte” on a plot of land known as T 6, 11.

Keep Reading "Celebrating 100 Years At The Mercedes-Benz Manheim Plant: Carl Benz In Manheim"

This year marks a historic milestone for Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz Manheim plant, for it was 100 years ago that this location kicked off production under the joint stock company Benz & Cie., Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik.  To celebrate the milestone, Mercedes today has published a fantastic look back at the history of the plant, detailing both its origins and its evolution over the past century.  For those of you unfamiliar with the plant or the history of Mercedes in general, I think you'll find both intriguing and informative...

Keep Reading "Celebrating 100 Years At The Mercedes-Benz Manheim Plant: Introduction"

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen; I hope you all had a fantastic weekend.  Kicking things off this morning we have a quick recap of the F1 race that transpired in Istanbul over the weekend.  If you have the race TIVO'd and plan on catching it later, then read no further. Otherwise, click through for the full details of what transpired...

Keep Reading "Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 Race Recap:  Istanbul"

To celebrate the European launch of the new GLK this fall, Mercedes has announced today they'll be holding a special design competition centered around the SUV's groundbreaking styling.  Titled "The design:project", the rules are simple.  Six universities located in six European design capitals have been asked to put together an interdisciplinary team, who then have until the end of July to create various objects in different design areas, such as furniture, everyday objects and technical equipment. The designs must all be in line with an overarching theme, and they can be submitted in any form, including sketches, graphics, animations and models.  The condition is that all objects and creations must be presentable in a surface area measuring 10 x 15 meters...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz Marks The Launch Of The New GLK With A European Design Competition"

A little more than a week ago we brought you the first details and images of the new BRABUS tuning package for the updated Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.  Today, the company has released a more complete list of specs and additional high resolution photos of what tuning products are available for the forthcoming models, starting with the BRABUS 4.0 displacement package for the SL280 and 350 models (332hp / 244kW and 420Nm torque) all the way up to the awe-inspiring SV12 S Biturbo package for the SL600 (730hp / 537kW and 1,320Nm torque)...

Keep Reading "Another Look At The BRABUS SL: The Exclusive BRABUS Sport Program For The New SL-Class"

As if the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG isn't desirable enough, Mercedes today has unveiled the latest in their long line of limited-edition models:  the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG Edition IWC.  Limited to a mere 200 units, the SL63 Edition IWC boasts the full plethora of features found in the standard SL63 AMG, and in addition, also features an all-new exterior paint color; an AMG Performance package and a number of exclusive interior appointments...

Keep Reading "Mercedes Introduces New Limited Edition Model:  The Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG Edition IWC"

For those of you gearing up for Germany's first Euro 2008 game on June 8th, Mercedes-Benz Accessories has unveiled the Mercedes-Benz European Championship Collection 2008 to help you celebrate your favorite team in style.  Based closely on the actual team shirts, the Mercedes collection features a white and black or silver gray main color scheme accented by the black, red and gold of the German flag in a "Mexican Wave" design...

Keep Reading "The Mercedes-Benz European Championship Collection 2008 For Euro 2008"

Daimler is reporting today that for the month of April, combined sales of the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands have reached a total of 119,000 units, up 22 percent over April of 2007.  This figure brings Mercedes-Benz Cars year-to-date total to 437,700 vehicles, a 14 percent increase over 2006's four month ytd total of 384,600 new units.

Individually, sales of Mercedes-Benz were up 16 percent in April to 105,400 units (compared to 90,600 units in April 2007). This in turn has helped the Mercedes brand note a total of 395,100 vehicles delivered through the first four months of the year, an impressive eight percent increase over the same period last year (365,000 new units)...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz Cars Note 22 Percent Sales Increase In April"

Mercedes has announced today that since its launch in 1996, 500,000 units of the SLK-Class have been delivered to customers.  Breaking this figure down by generation, roughly 310,000 first generation vehicles were sold, while its successor has sold some 190,000 units since its market launch in March 2004.

According to Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President Mercedes-Benz Cars and the man responsible for sales and marketing: "With the launch of the SLK in 1996, Mercedes-Benz successfully established the premium segment for compact roadsters. Thanks to innovative technology such as the vario-roof and the neck-level heating system AIRSCARF, the SLK has long been recognized as a cult car of modern times.  The new-generation SLK models, which we are delivering to customers since April 2008, are sportier than ever. I’m confident that the dynamic looks and performance of the new SLK will again set pulses racing among sports cars enthusiasts around the world...”

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz Delivers 500,000th SLK To Customer"

In our second and final Review Roundup of the day, we have a total of five articles analyzing the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG, C63 AMG and SLK200 Kompressor for your reading entertainment.  As always, you can find excerpts from the first article below as well as the full collection of reviews immediately after the jump.


Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG (via evo)
Reviewer's rating:

"Moving off, the SL63 feels more like an automated manual than a torque-converter auto, the bite of the clutch varying with the throttle input. However, once you’ve shifted into second there’s little to suggest that there’s anything but a regular auto ’box shuffling the gears. Meanwhile the steering is meatily weighted and the ABC suspension, firmed up over the cooking versions, feels less absorbent than the SL55’s, no question, but there’s an edge, a directness, that suggests a quite different experience to the out-going model..."

Keep Reading "Review Roundup:  Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG, C63 AMG And SLK200 Kompressor"

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen; I hope you all had a fantastic weekend.  Kicking things off this balmy Monday afternoon comes the first of two Mercedes Review Roundup installments, starting with one that looks at the Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG, the S450 4MATIC, the CLC 200K and the Maybach 62 S.  As is the case with all our Review Roundups, you can find a portion of the first review below as well the complete collection of articles immediately after the jump.


Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG (via Automobile)
Reviewer's rating:  Unspecified

"Delivery of the car to our office was delayed as a previous loan put in 'bad fuel'. I'm not sure if this meant bad quality or low octane but all was sorted and it showed up at our office. During the first 200 miles or so, the S65 didn't feel as crazy fast or powerful as I remembered. Sure, it is blistering on the highway but it didn't feel much faster than the S63. I ran the car until the reserve light came on and then filled it up at a Sunoco station with 94 octane. Wow, did it make a difference. The freight train pull was back and I felt the full power of that mega V-12. It looks like the S65 wants to drink the good stuff. And does it drink. On a lengthy highway journey running just over 80 mph, it averaged 17 mpg. I guess that's better than many full size SUVs..."

Keep Reading "Review Roundup:  Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG, S450 4MATIC, CLC 200K And Maybach 62"

On August 5, 1888, Bertha Benz made automotive history, taking the world's first long-distance journey in the patent motor car designed by her husband, Carl Benz.  Bertha completed the trip with her two sons, traveling 106 kilometers from Manheim to Pforzheim, the town of her birth, and returning a few days later.  With the exception of a few minor incidents, the patent motor car functioned perfectly.

To commemorate the 120th anniversary of this remarkable journey, the town of Pforzheim will unveil a monument in honor of Bertha Benz, designed by local artist René Dantes.  In recognition of Bertha's birthday, May 3, 1849, the monument will be also be unveiled May 3rd, with the celebrations to be attended by her great-granddaughter Jutta Benz...

Keep Reading "New Monument Commemorating The Long-Distance Trip Of Bertha Benz To Be Unveiled In Pforzheim"

Mercedes-Benz USA is reporting today that for the month of April, sales at the company dropped three percent to 20,271 new units (compared to 20,895 units in 2007).  Despite the decrease, sales at the division remained positive for the first four months of the year, with MBUSA's YTD total up 1.4 percent over 2007 (77,918 vs. 76,880).

As for the models making headlines, the new C-Class was once again the company's volume leader, with sales of the sedan up 33.5 percent in April to 6,850 new units (compared to 5,131 units in April 2007).  This figure brings YTD sales of the C up to 23,991 units, a 37.8 percent increase over 2007.  Two members of Mercedes' SUV family also managed to stay in the black, with sales of the M-Class increasing 8.4 percent in April to 2,582 new units and sales of the GL jumping 3.9 percent to 1,938 units...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz USA's Sales Drop Three Percent In April"