Mercedes-Benz taps Valmet to build new A-Class

"Is that a Uusikaupunki A-Class?" It sounds like an awfully personal question, but it's something you might be asking soon, since Mercedes-Benz is partnering with Finland's Valmet Automotive to boost production of the new A-Class. There are already more than 40,000 orders in for the new hatchback, and Daimler plants in Germany and Hungary are running at full tilt to keep up.

Since Mercedes plans to start selling the A-Class in North America in 2014, and Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche anticipates a compact vehicle boom, Daimler wants to make sure it has cars available for buyers. The contract with Valmet runs for three years from 2013 until 2016 and will add another 100,000 A-Class vehicles to the mix, important as Mercedes tries to roll out five compact models including a coupe and SUV. For its part, Valmet is happy to have something more to do other than tinker around with low-volume cars like the Fisker Karma and Marussia B2.

*Courtesy of Autoblog

Mercedes-Benz S/S 2013: Form follows perfection

 

This season’s fashion collaboration for Spring/Summer 2013 is here, hot from the studio for your viewing pleasure.

Created by legendary fashion photographer Mario Testino – ‘Form follows perfection’ stars supermodel Joan Smalls, sporting a Mohawk and tight vintage catsuit, alongside the object of her desire, the CLS Shooting Brake, in a visual that is both futuristic and arresting.

Testino described the inspiration behind his campaign saying: “I decided to create a picture that tells a story of the most sought after objects and design that stay in history and are preserved forever; with Joan Smalls – for this campaign made up to be like some character from the future – taking the CLS Shooting Brake with her into the unknown and leaving everything else behind.”

In addition to captivating photographic images, Testino has also created a fashion film in which Smalls unveils the car, a modern masterpiece hidden among the world’s most precious gems, and drives away, laughing audaciously.

Watch the Behind The Scenes film below:

The S/S 13 ‘Form follows perfection’ campaign is the latest in a dazzling series of exceptional visuals celebrating the inimitable combination of design and style that is Mercedes-Benz. It follows the likes of Julia Stegner with the SLS AMG shot by Nick Knight; Milla Jovovich in the Mercedes E-Class Convertible by Miles Aldridge; Terry Richardson’s images of Jessica Stam poised on the roof of the Concept A-Class, and last season’s Lara Stone with the SL Roadster presented by Alex Prager.

Heralding a new era in Mercedes-Benz design language, the radical CLS Shooting Brake is renowned for its elegant masculinity and sportiness. Together with the lithe, athletic stance of Joan Smalls, this avant-garde visual represents the essence of perfection.

*Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Newsroom

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Features -- Hardtop Convertible Sports Car

Just in time for the family summer trips where everything will not quite fit into the trunk. Mercedes-Benz offers roof racks, bicycle carriers, and cargo containers for most current models. To take advantage of this Genuine Mercedes-Benz Accessories Speci

Click on this link to claim this coupon

Mercedes aims to oust BMW as top luxury brand

It’s one of the most bitter battles in the American automotive marketplace, and it pits two of Germany’s luxury automakers in a grab for the brass ring.  But this year, Mercedes-Benz is betting it can topple rival BMW to become the best-selling luxury automotive brand in the world’s largest high-end market.

But volume alone isn’t the measure of success, said Mercedes’ top American executive. The maker is looking at significant future growth that it hopes will also position it as the industry leader in terms of gross margins.

And key to that growth, said Mercedes-Benz U.S. Chief Executive Steve Cannon, is a wave of new products that will not only cover existing market segments but also some “white space” areas where the luxury maker currently doesn’t participate.

“The breadth and depth of our lineup is one of our strategic advantages,” Cannon explained.

The executive has been spending much of the week in Santa Fe, where Mercedes is giving automotive journalists their first drive in the second-generation GL sport-utility vehicle. It joins an array of newly upgraded models such as the bigger G-Wagen, smaller GLK and the brand’s top-selling truck, the ML.

When the latter model was introduced a little more than a decade ago, skeptics scoffed. But it wasn’t the first time Mercedes had defied conventional wisdom when entering a new segment. It took a several-year-long debate before it launched the compact C-Class back in the 1980s. That model is now one of the German maker’s strongest offerings. 

Meanwhile, the ML, GL and the rest of the SUV lineup now account for nearly 45 percent of Mercedes’ total U.S. sales. And sales would be even higher, contended Cannon, were it not for capacity constraints at the automaker’s assembly plant near Tuscaloosa, Ala.  Dealers currently have a 26-day supply of the ML on hand — less than half the industry average of 60 to 65 days.

The strong demand for Mercedes’ crossover/SUV models might take some people by surprise considering the run-up in fuel prices earlier this year. As the numbers on the pump pushed past $4 a gallon in some markets — with some analysts forecasting the figures would eventually nudge $5 and even $6 — overall light truck sales briefly tumbled. But since prices peaked in early April, demand has largely bounced back.

That’s not to say Mercedes is ignoring the potential disruption another petroleum spike might have. Nor can it dismiss the impact of the tough new emissions and mileage standards being enacted in major markets such as the U.S., Europe, Japan and China.

“They will require smaller cars,” says Cannon, a West Point graduate and former Army artillery officer.

The automaker recently gave a hint of what is in store at the low end of the market where it is completely updating its smallest model, the A-Class. And, significantly, at least one version — the coupelike CLA sedan — will be earmarked for the U.S. market, the first time one of the A-Class models will come to the U.S.

Such models are intended to not just satisfy the demands of regulators but to meet the needs of a new generation of buyers who are looking for smaller — and decidedly more high-tech products.  Mercedes has traditionally positioned itself as a leader in technology, and it is investing billions to maintain that brand image. The new GL, for example, introduces such features as Collision Avoidance and Crosswind stabilization.  The former can alert a driver to a potential crash, the latter helps to keep the big crossover in its lane even in the harshest wind storm.

But what may appeal even more to first-time Gen-X and Millennial luxury buyers is the mBrace2 infotainment system that can pair up with a motorist’s smartphone to play apps like Pandora through the car’s sound system — and even use voice commands for texting.

While new products and technology will be critical to Mercedes’ growth plans, Cannon admitted that the maker must also improve the way it treats customers in the showroom and service bay. “If we look in the mirror and be honest we have to admit we’re not doing well enough,” he said.

The maker has been staging a series of meetings with dealers across the country aimed at improving customer handling. Dealers, in turn, have spent about $1.5 billion to upgrade more than 90 percent of U.S. showrooms. The results appear to be paying off.

“Mercedes sets the benchmark,” said Fran O’Hagan, whose Pied Piper Prospective survey uses thousands of so-called “mystery shoppers” to measure how manufacturers are handling the sales and service process. Mercedes bested such stalwart competitors as BMW, Lexus and Audi in results released earlier this month.

And that’s apparently helped it gain a leg up on BMW. It held a 2,000-unit lead over the Bavarian automaker for the first half of 2012 after narrowly losing the U.S. luxury sales crown in 2011. Anything can happen, especially if rivals BMW or Lexus ramp up incentives spending, Mercedes officials admit.  But it’s clear they are ready to pull out the big guns to grab the ring this time.

Ironically, Cannon admitted that being No.1 likely “won’t sell one more car” for the brand, even though Americans do like to associate with winners. The more important goal, the executive said, is to ensure maximum margins by protecting the image of the vaunted Mercedes tri-star logo.

“Profitability is definitely more important,” agreed analyst Aaron Bragman, of IHS Consulting, though he believes Mercedes “probably” will land on the top of the luxury hill this year.

And the key to maintaining that, he said, is ensuring that new products like the CLA — and updated offering like the next-generation S-Class and refreshed E-Class due next year — beat customers expectations.

*Courtesy of MSNBC.com

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG -- 2012 Geneva Auto Show

Come Taste the Difference of Reata Winery's Unique Craftsmanship

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE

I cordially invite you to join us on Friday, July 27, 2012 for an exclusive, invitation-only tasting of fine varietal wines from the Reata Winery. Since this is an invitation-only event and attendance will be limited, we ask that you please make your reservations as early as possible and prior to Thursday, July 26. Reservations can be made by email to Receptionist@MercedesFairfield.com or by phone at (707) 430-0101.

 

 

Event Details:

 

Date: Friday, July 27

Time: 5:00 to 7:00 pm

Location: Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield

Host Vineyard: Reata Winery

 

We will be pouring Reata's wonderful 2010 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir which is intensely aromatic with notes of dark cherries and spice and their 2009 Napa Valley Estate Viognier which displays classic cool weather characteristics of honeydew and melon flavors and light citrus aromas, which all combine elegantly for a graceful finish. Hors d'oeuvres will also be provided by Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield, as well as music performed by Amanda Long.

 

And every one of our guests has a chance to win either a long weekend (3 days) use of a new Mercedes-Benz or a bottle of one of Reata's fabulous vintages, just by attending!

 

During the wine tasting, find out how to get the Mercedes-Benz of your dreams for less than you ever thought possible. Bring in your current vehicle, and we'll tell you how much your trade-in is worth and make you an offer on the spot. You may be surprised at how much your car is worth. We're also your Official Mercedes-Benz Lease Turn-in Center. So if your lease is coming due, we can conduct a pre-inspection and evaluate your vehicle's condition, regardless of what dealership your lease is with. We'll also suggest how to maximize your vehicle's value prior to turn-in.

 

Attendees of our prior events consistently comment on how much they enjoy both the wine served at our tastings and the information shared during the event. We look forward to you being a part of this highly enjoyable experience!

 

 

Very best regards,

 

David Long

General Manager

Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield

 

               

 

Mercedes-Benz Fairfield: Visit us at www.mercedesfairfield.com

2950 Auto Mall Parkway, Fairfield, CA 94533; Mon-Friday 9 AM-8 PM Sat. 9 AM-7 PM Sun. 11 AM-6 PM

Sales: 888-417-0199 |Service: 888-840-4243 | Parts: 888-308-0734

Mercedes A-Class enters production, utility variant confirmed

In the light of the motto "the pulse of a new generation", the first new Mercedes-Benz A-Class rolled off the production line today at the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant. The A-Class is the company's second new compact model, following the start of production of the new B-Class at Rastatt in September 2011 and at the new Mercedes-Benz plant in Kecskemét, Hungary at the end of March 2012.

"This start of production marks a further milestone in our Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy. The A-Class represents our offensive in the compact segment", said Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "And there is more to come: The compact SUV will be the third model we will build here in Rastatt."

Dr Wolfgang Bernhard, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Manufacturing & Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars & Mercedes-Benz Vans: "We are on a roll in manufacturing as well: Hard on the heels of the new B-Class, we are now producing the totally new A-Class for our customers. Thanks to the joint architecture, we can flexibly produce all models of our new compacts on the same production line at the respective site."

Daimler is investing a total of around €1.2 billion in the Rastatt plant for the production of the new compact models. In a first wave of expansion, €600 million were used e.g. for the construction of a new bodyshell building and for tools, and a further €600 million will follow this and next year for a second wave of expansion. These new investments are slated for modifications of the assembly and corresponding equipment installations in the bodyshell production.

Another €400 million will be invested in the powertrain plants this and next year for production of components solely used in the new compact models. A total of 900 new permanent jobs have been created at Rastatt since 2010, 500 of them in 2012 alone. The plant is thus responding to the ongoing high demand, and continues to grow with the new generation of compact cars.

Since the start of sales in mid-June more than 40.000 customers have already ordered the new A-Class. More than 70.000 vehicles of the new B-Class were delivered to customers since its market launch in November 2011, "Demand for our premium compact cars is so strong that we are going to to introduce a third assembly shift in October 2012", said Peter Wesp, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant. "Our team in Rastatt is doing a fantastic job, and we are very proud of their achievements." The number of trainee positions has been increased to 70 per year.

About the new A-Class

The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class sets new standards in the compact segment: exceptionally emotive in its visual design, dynamic with engine power ratings ranging from 80 kW (109 hp) to 155 kW (211 hp), highly efficient with emissions from 98 g CO2/km and a best-in-class drag coefficient value of 0.27. The new A-Class underlines at the same time that safety is not a matter of price at Mercedes-Benz – among others, the radar-supported COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST system comes as standard equipment. Prices in Germany start from €23,978.50 (incl. 19% VAT) for the A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY.
About the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt

The Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant was inaugurated in 1992. The first production model was the E-Class, made until 1996. Series production of the A-Class, which established the premium compact car segment, began in 1997. Unit sales of the A-Class reached 1.1 million until 2004, when the second generation was introduced.

The team at Rastatt has now made more than a million units of the successor generation. 2005 saw the arrival of another model, the B-Class, over 700,000 of which were supplied to customers all around the world over the following six years. The Rastatt plant is the company's centre of competence for Mercedes-Benz compact cars.

In September 2011 the new B-Class went into production at Rastatt as the first of the new compact car models. The new generation of compact cars comprises the A-Class, the B-Class and a further three sporty and emotive vehicles, including a coupé and an SUV. These five new compact models are built in a production network of the Mercedes-Benz plants in Rastatt and Kecskemét, Hungary, which opened at the end of March 2012. The Rastatt plant will produce three of the five models: the new A-Class, the B-Class as well as the compact SUV.

*Courtesy of Autoblog.com

Great deals going on at Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield. Come on down and take a test drive before the deals are all gone!

2012 E350 Sport Sedan

Here is a sneak peak at the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake.

Great lease specials going on at Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield. Come on down and take a test drive!

http://bit.ly/PRaxLu

 

Mercedes-Benz Museum Offers a One of a Kind Look at Automotive History

The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany is the only museum in the world that can document, in a single continuous timeline, over 125 years of automobile history from its very beginnings to the present day. On nine levels and covering a floor space of 16,500 square metres, the museum presents 160 vehicles and over 1,500 exhibits. As a place of innovation, it also demonstrates that history can point the way ahead.

The exhibition not only presents the fascinating history of the Mercedes-Benz brand, it also affords illuminating insights into the future. This dual function is also reflected in the architecture of the Mercedes-Benz Museum, designed by the UNStudio of Dutch architects van Berkel and Bos, Amsterdam, also responsible for Tribeca’s Five Franklin Place.  The museum’s interior is inspired by the double helix structure of the DNA spiral that carries the human genome. This in turn illustrates the Mercedes-Benz brand’s philosophy – to continuously create radically new products to advance the cause of human mobility.

During a two-hour tour of the exhibit, visitors experience a unique journey through automotive history. Transported by lift to the uppermost level of the museum, the visitor arrives back in the year 1886, where two museum tours gradually spiral their way down through the extensive collection and back to the museum exit.

The first of the tours consists of seven Legend rooms which narrate the chronological history of the brand. The second group tours five separate Collection rooms filled with vehicles, which thematically document the breadth and diversity of the brand portfolio and collection. Visitors may choose to switch from one tour to the other at any time as both tours finish at the banked curve entitled Silver Arrows – Races & Records. The exhibition is finished off by the Fascination of Technology display, which offers a glimpse into day-to-day work at Mercedes-Benz and also presents topics concerning the future of the automobile.

Continue reading for a more detailed look at the collections at the Mercedes-Benz Museum, or better yet, start planning your trip to Stuttgart now.

Museum Collections

The exhibition at the Mercedes-Benz Museum is divided into Legend rooms and Collection rooms. The Legend rooms narrate the history of the Mercedes-Benz brand, dividing it into themes and epochs. The rooms are ordered chronologically and the exhibition is fully through-designed. The Collection rooms are arranged thematically and document the breadth and diversity of the brand’s vehicles. The Fascination of Technology on Level 0 offers a glimpse into present-day Research & Development at Mercedes-Benz.

The seven Legend rooms, which take visitors on a chronological journey through the history of the automobile to the present day, are each linked by 80-metre ramps. With the exception of the first and last rooms, the Legend tour is designed in line with a consistent principle: along the outside of a curved, clover-leaf wall, a ramp sweeps down to the vehicles, which form the focal point of each display. While visitors can look down at the exhibits to the right-hand side, a chronological display on their left illustrates key events in corporate history as seen against their specific historical backdrop. The Legend rooms offer a striking illustration of the context in which epoch-making innovations in automotive engineering were made.

Each Legend room illustrates a particular era by developing a central theme. These include the invention of the independent, petrol-driven road vehicle, the origin of the Mercedes brand, the development of the supercharger and diesel engine, the Gullwing and semi-forward control trucks of the 1950s, the increasing importance of safety and environmental protection, the brand’s global presence, and in the final Legend room the complete history of racing and record-breaking cars.

The Collection rooms: thematic layout

The generously designed Collection rooms accommodate a large number of exhibits providing broad coverage of the background to each themed room.

The themes range from travel by bus, taxi or passenger car, goods transportation and distribution, the Gallery of Helpers documenting firefighting, the emergency services and municipal operations, celebrity cars, the Gallery of Heroes, with exhibits from everyday situations and changing special exhibitions.

Discreet floor graphics reminiscent of road markings indicate the topic of each Collection room and the direction to be taken through the vehicle layout. The vehicles in the Gallery of Helpers, for example, are all oriented towards a focal point in the centre of the space, while the Gallery of Celebrities is displayed on high-quality wooden plinths.

Alongside the ramp linking each Legend tour to one of the Collection rooms is a glass showcase, viewable from both sides. On the outside it displays model vehicles, on the inside smaller exhibits such as vehicle parts, accessories and promotional articles. A “micro-cinema” also shows films illustrating the topic of each Collection room.

Emotional finale at the banked curve

Both the Legend and Collection tours end up at the “Silver Arrows – Races & Records” display, where a steep banked curve sweeps around the entire exhibition space, gradually becoming a vertical, cylindrical wall studded with famous record-breaking cars.

Legend 7 is an emotional finale to the museum tour. On entering this area, visitors are able to take a seat on a grandstand opposite the banked curve, either to savour the impressive overall image for a while or view film footage of historic motor races shown on six different monitors. The grandstand is connected to a passageway behind the banked curve, which opens out into a “racing tunnel” leading to the Legend room devoted to “Races & Records”. Original memorabilia from famous racing drivers and two racing simulators offer visitors a further opportunity to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of motorsport.

The banked curve gradually becomes a vertical wall on which famous record-breaking cars are mounted – from the record-breaking W 125 of 1938 to the solar-powered Solarmobile, which won the Tour de Sol from Lake Constance to Lake Geneva in the mid 1980s. At the centre of this cylindrical display, five platforms rise from the lower level of the connecting building, displaying experimental vehicles past and present. These exhibits link the museum tour with the Fascination of Technology display area, which covers an area of 800 square metres and showcases the current state of development and gives a prospect of the future.

*Courtesy of eMercedesBenz

Great service offer from Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield!

Mercedes 2013 GL-Class Action Film HD

Come into Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield and get into the car of your American Dreams! Happy 4th of July

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake gets official

We've been anxiously waiting for the wraps to officially come off the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake, and by golly, the wait is finally over. Our excitement, though, is tempered by Mercedes-Benz Manager of Product & Technology Public Relations Christian Bokich, who tells us, "Currently, there are no plans to bring the CLS Shooting Brake to the United States." To which we reply, "Boo!"

While we may take a bit of issue with Mercedes-Benz's assertion that "The proportions of the CLS Shooting Brake are surprising but clearly those of a coupé... but with five doors and a roof which continues through to the rear," we're still pretty keen on the exterior look. "In essence it represents an unprecedented version of a sports car with five seats and a large tailgate," adds M-B, and that much we can mostly agree with.

In reality, this is a low-slung station wagon, similar in execution to the Cadillac CTS Wagon, and it looks great. Based on our observations about the CLS four-door coupe sedan that the Shooting Brake is based on, we expect it to be a great car to drive, as well. Europeans will get two gasoline engines – a 3.5-liter V6 making 306 horsepower in the CLS350 and a 408-hp twin-turbo 4.6-liter V8 in the CLS500 – as well as two diesels – a 2.1-liter four cylinder in the CLS250 CDI and a 3.0-liter V6 in the CLS350 CDI.

All but the four-cylinder are available with either rear- or 4Matic all-wheel drive, the smallest engine making use of the rear wheels only. Acceleration comes in at 7.8 seconds to 62 miles per hour for the CLS250 CDI, 6.7 seconds for the CLS350 and 5.3 for the CLS500. Top speed is limited to 155 mph.

Emphasizing the increased utility over its four-door sibling, Mercedes has fitted the CLS Shooting Brake with optional aluminum loading rails and a wooden load compartment floor. Up to 1,550 liters (54.7 cubic feet) are available behind the standard power liftgate, and an automatically adjustable air suspension ensures proper ride and handling even with a load in place. There's even an optional towing kit.

*Courtesy of Autoblog.com