Firmly rooted in the luxury, 40+ market, Mercedes-Benz has been working hard to evolve its brand image and become more appealing to younger customers. The all-new 2014 CLA sedan, which was first unveiled during the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, is a strong step in that direction offering style and…
by Teymur Madjderey As general automotive enthusiasts we’re always on the lookout for the latest innovations and opportunities to experience them firsthand, whether it be speaking with the design team at Bentley or testing Mini’s new sport utility coupe in the Caribbean. So when Mercedes-Benz gave us a call to…
After years of producing video behind the wheel of everything from a 15-passenger van to a cube truck, and shooting out the windows of innumerable Caravan and Town & Country minivans, we thought it might be interesting to see how some of the luxury-brand vehicles we often feature in…
The scoring stage at Skywalker Sound can showcase a single performer or a 125-piece orchestra, but for several months it was home to one of the first 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 pre-production cars, often hidden under cover and behind sound baffles when other recording sessions were taking place. Though…
Mercedes-Benz reimagines the wagon-coupé with five doors
On a recent trip to Florence with Mercedes-Benz I had a chance to drive their all-new CLS Shooting Brake. A five-door reinterpretation of the classic wagon-coupé, this eclectic design shows just how exciting a station wagon can be. The “SB” will begin shipping in Europe later this Fall and…
The new all wheel drive compact from Mercedes-Benz with precision performance
Announced today and spotted outside Stuttgart, the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG marks several new achievements for the performance brand. Following up on the recently launched A-Class, the elegant new compact features all wheel drive, an efficient 2.0-litre engine and marks the first time the precision performance of AMG has been offered in a compact car in its 45-year history. This firm step for Mercedes-Benz introduces the brand to a new demographic of urban dwellers targeted by the accessibly priced A-Class.
While the 2.0-litre four cylinder engine may not win every impromptu drag-race, the AMG Speedshift DCT 7-speed transmission ensures the A45 AMG still behaves with the expected performance synonymous with those three iconic letters. To further enhance peak handling the compact car’s weight has been kept to a minimum and its wheel base reduced to the shortest in the overall compact A-class lineup. “Weight combined with wheel base, with the attraction of the all wheel drive system…in the end it will be the most agile AMG car,” says Mercedes-Benz Senior Manager of Product Management and Product Strategy Thomas Rappel. “In terms of handling and autocross, I think this car could set the benchmark in the whole portfolio.”
Expected to make its worldwide debut in Spring 2013, the agile A45 AMG will shine as the top-of-the-range A-Class model and is expected to be followed closely by additional AMG compact cars currently in development. As part of the new A-Class the A45 AMG will list at an accessible price point while still performing on par with the higher priced AMG branded cars.
Bespoke detailing, matte paint jobs and cute cabriolets from across the industry
This year’s International Auto Show in Geneva brought about design innovations and curious concepts hitting all different market segments. From customizable supercars to cute cabriolets, the following themes prevailed at the show.
Bespoke Autos
Customers shopping for the latest supercar have more options than ever on factory paint and interiors. But for the truly discerning and unique individual, more and more companies are offering a genuinely bespoke design service where customers can take part in every step of the process. Much like getting a suit made, this time intensive approach requires picking from an extensive selection of some of the most beautiful materials in the world.
Ferrari unveiled its personalization service, called Ferrari Tailor-Made, which actually draws its roots from the custom coachbuiding that occurred in Maranello in the 1950s. The lucky few that qualify will be teamed with an expert Ferrari designer who will guide them through each step of the process, much like a tailor might explain the various options for tuxedo lapels.
Aston Martin also debuted their version of this deep customization program in Geneva. Called “Q” (you’ll forgive them the 007 references), the service offers to elevate customization beyond paint and leather selection, giving a customer the ability to alter the external and internal styling of the cars themselves. Since almost every car in Aston’s lineup is based on a common underpinning, the ability to manufacture a one-off masterpiece to a customer’s specification is within reach.
Alternative Finishes
A predominant theme at the show came centered on the use of non-traditional paint finishes on new models. Once seen only in rap videos and aftermarket customization, matte and satin paint have hit the mainstream. From Aston Martin and Audi down to Hyundai, nearly every major manufacturer had a model on display done up in a dull finish. Of particular note were the Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG (having its world premiere at Geneva), the new Ferrari F12berlinetta in a stunning satin aluminum, and the Aston Martin Virage in a dark blue satin with yellow accents. Of course these finishes tend to work better in the showroom than in day-to-day practicality, but this was a show after all.
Matured efficiency
Last year at Geneva was the year of the hybrid, but with GM stalling production of the Volt due to slow sales, Tesla dealing with customer backlash from a technical issue gone viral, and general tepid interest across the industry in hybrids and electric cars, automakers were less enthusiastic this year. While the penchant for gas-free vehicles may have cooled in the general market, fuel efficiency is here to stay. Manufacturers from Mercedes to Ferrari were quick to point out their gas efficiency improvements and plans for even leaner engines to come, whether they be hybrid, diesel or just evolved gas technologies.
Cabrios
Geneva debuted several new convertible models, ranging from accessible to the “if you have to ask” variety. The first one to note is the VW GTI Cabriolet, a topless version of Volkswagen’s excellent compact car, slated only for the European market. Other droptops include the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL63, a 1200 horsepower Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, and the one-off, completely insane Lamborghini Aventador J, which does away with a windshield as well.
The most unexpected topless rendition was the Range Rover Evoque, introduced as a concept to gauge customer interest. A convertible SUV may seem like a gamble—especially after the unfortunate Nissan Murano still fresh in memory—but luckily the Evoque maintains the character that makes it appealing as a coupe. The addition of a roll-bar on a production version would go a long way to balancing out the rugged looks with the top down.
The German auto maker brings its “A Game” to the popular premium compact segment
“A is for Attack.” So said Daimler AG chairman Dieter Zetsche as he took to the stage to introduce the new A Class, a car that Mercedes Benz has designed from the ground up as an entry point for aspirational consumers eager to experience the quality Mercedes offers. No longer a tall compact—Mercedes is shifting that focus to their B Class—the new A is designed as a premium compact to appeal to the newest car buyers. Mercedes sees the 1992 190 as the spiritual predecessor to the A, and while the term “Baby Benz” used to be derogatory, this new A is intended to be less a car you settle for and more an entrance into a lifetime of Mercedes Benz ownership.
The philosophy of the A Class originates in the concept of a young driver’s always-on connectivity, with Mercedes believing that a car is meant not only transport you, but to share and experience those journeys as they happen.
Having spent the previous few days with Mercedes, we were already becoming familiar with the thinking behind this new car, and how they intended to reach this aspirational audience. We participated in what MB called “Hunting the New A Class”, a two-day mission through Switzerland which culminated in the world premiere of the new A. Having first arrived in Zurich, we were tasked with using the Mercedes’ in-car COMAND system and its integration with Google maps to find our first waypoint—a lecture on the telemetry and design of the A Class. The A represents the biggest design challenge Mercedes has undertaken as of late: how to you invent a completely new product that both honors your heritage while appealing to an energetic, less stodgy market? Fortunately the design and production of the A drew much of its cues (externally, at least) from the Concept A Class, which envisioned the Mercedes style through a near-futuristic lens inspired, in part, by the work of Zaha Hadid.
Our next waypoint utilized COMAND’s Facebook integration to navigate us. We “friended” a Mercedes employee who then checked in on Facebook. By asking our test car (an SLK 200) to find our friends, we were able to map a route automatically to where he was waiting.
These types of integrated social tools, while novel and useful, are far from unique to Mercedes. Even the reading of status updates via text-to-speech is available on most mid-level Ford vehicles. The real ace in the hole for the A Class is the close integration with Apple’s iPhone, and SIRI in particular. The 2013 A Class is the first vehicle to offer built-in SIRI integration as part of the car, through a free iOS app called DriveStyle.
The Achilles heel of software development for automotive integration is that it is often bound to the development cycle of the car, meaning innovations and upgrades would happen every few years, not months. Mercedes has solved this by decoupling the A’s app development from the car itself: the social, navigational and entertainment systems are tied to the iPhone app that is mirrored on the car’s display when the phone is docked. Drivers can start their car in the morning to find new functionality already added, without a trip to the dealer. Mercedes also has plans to have an “app store” of sorts for DriveStyle in the future, allowing users to decide which functions they would like to add.
In creating an independent system, the app’s evolution and refinement can happen at a much more rapid pace, adapting to the ever-shifting connectivity requirements of its user. Mercedes-Benz recognizes the need for this seperate development cycle, and has invested in the strategy by starting an 80+ person office in Palo Alto assigned specifically to keep up with progress (and stay close to Apple). They call them their “in-house geeks”. With that many people working with a full-time focus on digital experiences, don’t expect DriveStyle to stay exclusive to the A for long.
While the new A is only available in Europe to start, we can’t imagine it being kept from the U.S. for long—with Audi’s new A3, BMW’s 1 series and a new Volvo V40 all available here, the A can’t be far behind. While it’s only available as a five-door to start, we were promised that Mercedes sees this as the start of a family—one we hope includes a three-door like the original Concept A.
The new A Class represents a sort of critical moment for Mercedes: can a car company so rooted in history and tradition bend toward a very non-traditional emerging consumer while still staying true to their brand’s image and promise? Will the new A cost Mercedes some exclusivity, or will it extend their brand’s reach to the very beginning of car ownership? While only driving the A Class will answer this question definitively, we expect this represents a bankable future.
While augmented reality interfaces have had their moment on smartphones, the automobile windshield is a potentially more useful place to overlay contextual information. Mercedes’ Dynamic and Intuitive Control Experience (DICE) offers a look at how the manufacturer envisions getting everything from traffic data to information about passing landmarks. The concept ditches buttons and touch screens in favor of gesture-based controls that communicate information while driving. At CES, convention-goers were able to get a feel for the system in a virtual reality cube set up by Mercedes. While the concept might seem far off, in another hall at CES display manufacturers were showing their first prototypes of clear glass screens capable of full LED display—the missing link to making a concept like this real.
In an apparent nod to science fiction, pointing to a passing building brings up a short description along with the option to save the location to your favorite places. Mercedes is quick to push the social media angle, demonstrating how friend updates can be displayed for quick reference while driving. This being an in-car system, media playback takes a large part with browsing and song selection enabled.
While making a system like this real clearly requires balancing the need to avoid driver distraction, DICE shows the awesome potential of augmented reality in the years to come. Check out the newly released video to see DICE in action.
Smart wipers, a magic roof and bass-in-your face all housed in a lightweight aluminum frame
On a recent California tour with Mercedes-Benz I stopped by their Design Center in Carlsbad to preview the all new 2012 SL. At first glance the the completely redeveloped SL’s aesthetic is both pleasing to the eye and the touch. The superlative 500 sports a new V8 with 435 hp, 22 percent reduced fuel consumption and increased torque, but aside from the seductive power and sleek design the real story lies in the innovative details. From an all-aluminum bodyshell to fluid dispensing windshield wipers, the 2012 SL boasts improved vision, increased sound and reduced weight.
Interestingly enough the car’s least important piece of glass for driving—the sunroof—is the target of the new “Magic Sky Control.” The “vario-roof” switches from light to dark with the press of a button. The idea is the virtually transparent roof offers a top-down type of experience even in unfavorable weather conditions, while the dark state shades passengers and prevents the car’s interior from overheating in the sun (Magic Sky Control is pictured here on the SLK 55 AMG which also features this innovation). As a plus the magnesium roof frame has been upgraded to open or close in less than 20 seconds.
To achieve a more authentic sound experience, the new SL’s bass loudspeakers have been strategically integrated into the front footwells, rather than the doors. This innovation—what Mercades calls “bass in your face”—provides a clean, clear and less distorted bass unseen or heard in any open-top roadster before it. Not only does it provide an improved experience for the passengers but by minimizing sound leakage pedestrians outside won’t hear you coming from blocks away.
One of my favorites from the slew of innovations has to be the washer fluid dispensing windshield wipers. The intuitive design allows for windshield cleaning with the top down without getting a face full of washer fluid—solving one of the most annoying parts of driving a convertible. As the world’s first wipe/wash system of this sort, it works seamlessly as to never allow either a water jet nor fluid film to be seen during the process, thus leaving a clean surface without any distractions to the driver. To up the ante the blade—which has channels for both fluid and electricity—automatically adapts the season at hand, warming the water in the winter and delivering a greater amount of water in the season.
Taking the “SL”—sporty, lightweight—moniker seriously the total weight of the 2012 has been cut down by 110 kilograms by casting it entirely in aluminum. This solution not only reduces weight but improves strength due to fewer welded joints. What this means for the driving experience? More dynamism, agility, less fuel consumption and an all around smoother ride. The rigid aluminum frame is vacuum die-cast to improve strength and therefore achieves higher safety levels.
For more information on the late-release 2012 Mercedes Benz SL keep your eye online or at your local dealership who we anticipate will begin taking delivery in April of this year.
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