Even the Silver Arrow isn’t immune to the global recession.
Despite being widely recognized as the top car manufacturers in the world, Mercedes Benz is still not as invincible as some people might think, and the proof, as some people would like to say, is in the pudding.
It was recently reported that Mercedes-Benz USA experienced an eye-catching drop of 22.6% in sales in June of this year as compared to the same month last year, confirming the fears of the folks from Stuttgart that Benz has also been bitten by economic flu. Benz USA’s first half total for 2009 (85,088 cars sold) also plummeted 28.7% from its 2008 figures (119,379 cars) during the same time frame.
We understand that the economic nosedive is the key culprit in this whole mess and the entire global auto industry has been dealt – in varying degrees, of course - with the same fate of mounting losses and plunging car sales. But we didn’t think that a company as esteemed and highly-regarded as Mercedes Benz could be affected this badly.
Continued after the jump.
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In their tradition of being larger than life, the German automaker Mercedes Benz has just released a Grand Edition of their R-Class SUV. This upscale model includes some fine touches that take luxury to the next level. Although the grand R-Class’s appears similar to the standard model, changes to the interior and exterior set it apart from the rest of the Mercedes lineup vehicles.
The Grand Edition is upgraded with bi-xenon headlamps, chrome-framed LED daytime driving lamps, 20 inch AMG designed light-weight two tone alloy wheels, an AMG ergonomic steering wheel with gearshift paddles and a set of classy sports pedals for the driver. Mercedes will make the Grand Edition available to the public in autumn for the small sum of €3,300, a small price to pay to set yourself apart from the crowd.
Press release after the jump.
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The R-Class has never been a very successful model, but Mercedes is trying one more time to change the design of the car, just maybe some miracle will happen!
The design of the 2009 R-Class will be inspired by the newly launched B-Class featuring tweaked new bumpers, additional chrome detailing, new alloys and LED lights.
The facelift R-Class will go on sale in 2009 keeping the same engine line-up: the R280 CDI, R320 CDI and R500 petrol in SE and Sport trim levels, with the R320 available as a seven-seater.
In October 2006, Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer to commence a BlueTEC initiative in the passenger car segment which was timed to coincide with the introduction of low-sulphur fuel in the United States of America. The E 320 BlueTEC proved a great success from the outset, and was voted "World Green Car of the Year 2007". As a next step, Mercedes-Benz is now due to offer the R, ML and GL 320 BlueTEC in the USA, the world’s first three diesel cars which not only meet the particularly demanding criteria of the American Bin 5 standard, but also have the potential to fulfil the stringent EU6 standard due in the future - and which therefore considerably better all the current, worldwide exhaust emission standards for diesel passenger cars.
The muscular V6 diesel engine powering the new BlueTEC models in the GL, M and R-Class shows that a low fuel consumption and very low emissions are also possible for large SUVs. It has an output of 155 kW/211 hp and develops a torque of 540 Nm. Fuel economy is outstanding: the GL 320 BlueTEC, for example, consumes just 9.5 litres of diesel fuel per 100 kilometres (25 mpg). This represents an advantage of around 20 to 40 percent versus a comparable petrol model, and easily makes the Mercedes-Benz GL 320 BlueTEC the most economical full-size SUV in the USA.
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The
Mercedes R-Class was introduced back in 2006, a time where minivan sales where plummeting and crossovers were coming out of every design studio. It was no surprise that
Mercedes wanted a part of the action, made strong from their alliance with Chrysler, a leader in the minivan market. What was more surprising was the product. The R-Class was a self proclaimed ’Sport Cruiser’. The R-class was touted as a vehicle half way between the comfortable minivan and the smaller and more stylish crossover
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That the R-Class is not quite a success, everyone knows already. And now Mercedes had the force to admit that model indeed needs a new look. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche admitted that the Mercedes’ SUV/minivan crossover has failed to meet expectations.
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or the third year running, readers of the magazine "Auto Zeitung" have voted the Mercedes-Benz R-Class the best van and once again awarded it the coveted "Auto Trophy". First place as best car in the luxury class was also taken by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Yesterday the awards were received in Berlin by Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars, and the Executive Board member for Research and Development, Dr. Thomas Weber, in the presence of major personalities from the media, society, politics and business.
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Even greater interior adaptability, two wheelbase lengths, rear-wheel drive or 4MATIC all-wheel drive and new engine variants – the Mercedes-Benz R-Class now opens up even more possibilities, especially when it comes to seating arrangements. The line-up, which includes the familiar configurations with up to six individual seats, has been augmented to include a five-seat version and a seven-seat variant. Plus new, distinctive bodystyling at the front and rear end lends the SUV Tourer added appeal.
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Mercedes is working on a RWD R-Class, that is going to be assembled in Benz’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant.
Auto Telegraaf reports that base versions R-Class will soon offer RWD (in the States, that’s the six-cylinder R350, which currently starts just shy of $44,000), and that the vehicle will also get refreshed styling and a model with a 5.5-liter V-8 engine.
The Mercedes-Benz R-Class is as spectacular as it is versatile. Combining room for six adults, four-wheel drive and luxury saloon comfort the R-Class represents a niche of its very own. Now KLEEMANN adds another fundamental dimension to this special vehicles set of skills: Performance.
The well known and highly efficient KLEEMANN Kompressor system boosts power output of the R500 to 455 Hp and 585 Nm of torque. A Kompressor system for the 3.5 litre V6 of the R350 is undergoing its final (...)
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