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November 07 News |
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Name & number
For the 2009 model year, Mercedes is revising the way it names its cars. There was a time, too not long ago, when Mercedes-Benz model designations featured a number corresponding to the engine's displacement ('500' for the 5.0-litre V-8, for instance) and a letter or string of letters denoting the model series ('E' or 'S,' to name two). That changed in 1994, when Mercedes started putting the model-series letters first and a two- or three-digit number that roughly signified the displacement of the engine second. But things have gone a little awry. The company started to massage its own naming convention, presumably to make the model designations sound better, and for the cars' respective engines to seem bigger. The V-6 in the E 320 Bluetec saloon, for instance, actually displaces 3.0 litres (2987 cc), and the high-performance V-8 in all AMG '63' models (S 63, C 63, etc) actually displaces 6.2 lires (6208 cc). For the record, Mercedes isn't the only manufacturer to liberally nudge its numeric model designations in one direction or the other; the in-line six-cylinder engines in the BMW 328i and the turbocharged 335i displace, naturally, 3.0-litres (2996 cc and 2979 cc, respectively). At any rate, Mercedes no longer believes, with the looming arrival of hybrid variants to its line-up, that the old naming convention tells each car's full story. In a hybrid powertrain, after all, the internal combustion engine is only part of the system.
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Folding bike
Everybody is entitled to have a little fun and exercise with a bike, even a Mercedes CLK Cabriolet owner. Problem is, when you own a sports coupé, or a cabriolet, there’s not enough space in the boot to fit a full size bike. With that in mind, Mercedes collaborated with German cycle manufacturer ADP to create a folding bike that can be stored even in the CLK. The bike can be folded in stages: first the front and rear wheels fold together via a quick-release fastener on the seat dome then via a second quick-release fastener above the front wheel which allows the handlebars to be pivoted downwards, further reducing the bike’s folded dimensions. Fully folded, the bike measures just 800 x 800 x 280 mm, which means that it fits comfortably in, for example, the boot of an open-top CLK Cabriolet and takes up a minimal amount of space in the garage. The Folding Bike will be launched in April 2008 and will be available from Mercedes-Benz.
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Brabus Bullit
The Brabus Bullit, built in small-series production based on the new Mercedes C-Class saloon, celebrated its world debut at Frankfurt as the ultimate wolf in sheep’s clothing. At the heart of this supercar is the SV12 S Biturbo displacement engine originally designed for the world’s fastest saloon, the Brabus Rocket. The implantation of the 6.3-litre (385 cu. in.) engine into the confines of the W204 series body is testimony to the superiority of Brabus know-how. Displacement of the twelve-cylinder three-valve engine is increased with the help of a larger cylinder bore, special pistons and piston rods. The conversion includes re-machining the cylinder heads and fitting them with special camshafts.
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Estate management
The new C-Class Estate has started rolling off the production line at Mercedes in Bremen. The estate, produced in conjunction with the Series 204 saloon, is unique, in that it's produced solely for worldwide distribution in Bremen; whereas the saloon is also produced at plants in Sindelfingen and East London. Peter Schabert, head of the Bremen plant, commented: "As our employees successfully mastered the launch of the new C-Class saloon last March, they are well prepared to also bring the estate version onto the road in top quality." He added: "We’re extremely proud that Bremen is the home for all C-Class estates worldwide."
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Sparky’s new star
Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes took delivery of a new S-Class from Mercedes-Benz of Worcester. The former Manchester United and Wales star is a long-standing fan of Mercedes and will use the car for his commute between his Cheshire home and Rovers’ training ground and Ewood Park stadium. “I’ve had several Mercedes in the past and I’ve been impressed by the reliability and safety as well as the after sales support available,” said Mark. “Despite the high mileage that I do, I’ve always found that Mercedes hold their value extremely well too.” |
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