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August 2011 News

		Climactic wind tunnels Mercedes has inaugurated two new climatic wind tunnels at its Sindelfingen site, designed to bring extreme weather conditions indoors. These two new wind tunnels can bring temperatures from minus 40 to plus 60 degrees Celsius, hurricanes, tropical rainfall and heavy snowstorms. If needs be, they can even provide a realistic simulation of a mercilessly hot sun. Each tunnel is equipped with an integrated twin-axle roller dynamometer that allows speeds of up to 165 mph, and thus with sufficient reserves for even sports cars to be tested on the rig here. A further advantage of the new tunnels: they are designed to accommodate the use of hydrogen and therefore eminently suitable for all alternative drive systems of the future. Special sensors and an effective air extraction system mean that fuel-cell powered vehicles can also be subjected to test programmes here.

		Rosberg’s hot lap Nico Rosberg, seen here in company with F1 team mate Michael Schumacher, jumped at a recent opportunity to drive Juan Manuel Fangio’s 1954 Mercedes W196. The opportunity came at the Nürburgring in a demonstration run on the daunting Nordschleife. The W196 won the 1954 German Grand Prix as well as three other grands prix that year and five more in 1955. The 1954 event at the Nordschleife was the first race the car ran with open wheels after Fangio experienced problems with the famous streamlined bodywork at the British Grand Prix. "Coming to the Nürburgring for the German Grand Prix always feels very special to me," Rosberg said. "There is so much history around this amazing track, especially for Mercedes with great drivers from the past having had such successful times on the Nürburgring and the legendary Nordschleife”.

		Leno visits AMG US comedian and TV presenter Jay Leno has paid a visit to AMG. Ola Källenius, He was given a comprehensive overview of the company and its products. During his one-day visit the American car enthusiast acquainted himself with the new SLS AMG Roadster and hand-assembled an AMG V8 engine. Mr. Leno was greeted on his arrival at Stuttgart airport and drove the new roadster on the motorway and on country roads: "A great car that gives you a fantastic feeling. This will be a real winner back home in California," he commented. "Whether the engine, transmission, handling or brakes – you feel that the engineers at AMG are serious! When I was 18 or 19 years old I worked for Mercedes in America. I knew about the test track in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim from films in which Mercedes saloons like the 220 SE or the 300 SEL 6.3 were driven round the banked curve. I have always wanted to see this for real. It took me over 40 years to do it, but now I'm here! It's fantastic to drive the latest AMG models here on the test track today."

		Kart challenge The latest round of the MBO Kart Challenge took place at Daytona Sandown Park, and with 32 racers on the grid it was always going to be hectic. Following timed qualification laps for grid positions it was visors down ready for 30 minutes of non-stop action. Situated within the horse racing complex, Sandown is a fast flowing Kart track measuring 900m. Congratulations to Justin Pollington Woods who was first past the chequered flag. The event was held in bright sunshine and the car park featured an array of products bearing the three-pointed star, including a McLaren Mercedes SLR. Watch out for details of our next event, which will probably be held at the Lakeside track in Essex.

		Best in class Rex Huntley purchased his 280 E auto in Germany in 1981, collecting it from the factory in Sindelfingen. In 1983 he brought it back to England and after a poor garage service in 1985, decided to look after the car himself. The engine bay has such easy access (vertical opening bonnet for instance) that a special spanner to adjust the tappets was all Rex needed over his normal tools. Apart from a new exhaust very little has gone wrong with the car during its 78,000 miles and reliability has been second to none, never failing to start. In June this year the 280 E was awarded best in class 4 door saloon at the Harewood Classic Vehicle Rally and Rex proudly paraded it around the spectators ring along with the new range of Mercedes cars.

		C Black Mercedes has unveiled the C 63 AMG Black Series version of its latest C-Class coupé, and with 509bhp, it is the most powerful variant yet. First deliveries of the car to customers will be early next year and while not yet announced the price is expected to be more than £100,000. The car is the fourth Black Series variant that Mercedes has produced, the changes to the standard C 63 AMG range-topper focusing on more power to the 6.3-litre V8 engine, upgrades to the chassis and motorsport-inspired styling. The engine upgrades are passed down from the Mercedes SLS AMG supercar. Included are lightweight forged pistons, con-rods and crankshaft, and a new Engine Control Unit. As well as the 59bhp power increase, torque climbs from 442lbft to 457lbft. This sends the car from 0 to 62mph in 4.2 seconds. The engine is joined to a seven-speed AMG Speedshift auto-manual transmission with a twin clutch and four driver-controlled settings. In Sport Plus or Manual it changes gear in 100 milliseconds. Changes to the chassis include a limited slip differential on the rear axle linked into the Electronic Stability Programme system. The car has a wider track, beefed-up anti-roll bars and various suspension mods, along with bigger brakes. The car is styled to give a motorsport impression, with what Mercedes dubs an ‘arrow-shaped’ front end with large engine cooling vents. Among numerous styling upgrades are wider wings to accommodate the 19-inch AMG light alloy wheels. The cabin is laid out as a two-seater, though a bench rear seat is available as an option. For complete performance fans a Track Package and an Aerodynamics Package will be offered as options. The former includes uprated tyres and active rear axle transmission cooling with a resited radiator, the latter adding carbon fibre aerodynamic upgrades.

		Ton-up Pietsch Former Silver Arrows racing driver Paul Pietsch took a short lap of honour in the seat of a 1958 Mercedes 300d Cabriolet D at the end of the Paul Pietsch Classic regularity run. Applause rang out as he crossed the finishing line, just one day before his 100th birthday. In the 1935 German Grand Prix Pietsch raced for Auto Union, and finished 3rd in the Italian Grand Prix before leaving the team with its hard-to-drive rear engines. From 1937 he entered a private Maserati. His greatest hour came in the 1939 German Grand Prix which he led from lap 2 onwards until the ignition failed, making him drop down to third, still an excellent result for a privateer against the dominant force of the Silver Arrows. At that time, Pietsch was also building a successful career as editor and publisher of motorcycle and car magazines, and his company Motor Presse Stuttgart is now the largest in the European market for technology and special interest magazines.

		Dealership app Mercedes-Benz South West has created a fresh, new customer facing publication for its members. Launched as a free App through iTunes, Points West Magazine has already generated over 2500 downloads of the first issue. The lifestyle focused magazine provides a range of interactive interviews, video, music, images and articles from across the South West as well as the latest product news from Mercedes. Mercedes-Benz South West is currently in the process of producing the second edition of Points West after excellent download figures and fantastic feedback. Download the App on iTunes: Search for MBSW http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/mbsw/id417424972?mt=8