The M-Class and the SLK Bagged the 2011 Golden Steering Wheel Awards

No doubt, Mercedes-Benz cars are award-winning. And this has been proven even more when the two models, the Mercedes M-Class and Mercedes SLK got the Golden Steering Wheel Awards in their respective class. The manufacturing company actually won the most number of nominations and votes from this award-giving body, 21 times in fact.

The awards were received by Professor Dr. Thomas Weber, Daimler Board of Management member for Group Research and Mercedes Cars Development and Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler.

More than 260,000 readers of the German publications "Bild am Sonntag", "Auto Bild" and their European sister publications in 22 countries registered their votes in this year's "Golden Steering Wheel" awards. The winner of the SUV class was determined in a direct vote, so making the Mercedes-Benz M-Class the winner of the "Golden Steering Wheel" in this group. The SLK won its category after being shortlisted along with four of its competitors. In the unimpeachable judgement of a panel of experts, and after undergoing real-life testing, it too was awarded the "Golden Steering Wheel" in its category.

Readers from across Europe valued not only the M-Class's characteristic and distinctive design and its variable interior, with that all-important sense of wellbeing, but also the excellent energy efficiency and thus environmental acceptability of this premium SUV. The permanent all-wheel drive system of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class also proved a determining factor thanks to its well-balanced ride comfort along with excellent driving dynamics, both on and off road, along with the car's outstanding range and high level of safety.

What ultimately swayed the result in favour of the SLK Roadster in the "Golden Steering Wheel" competition was, above all, the way it manages to combine light-footed sportiness with stylish comfort, striking sports car design with absolute everyday practicality, and superb performance with exemplary ecological credentials. With the excellent performance it derives from its economical and yet powerful engines, along with technical innovations such as the unique panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL, which can be switched from light to dark at the touch of a button, the SLK takes driving pleasure and open air enjoyment to a whole new level.

This year's double win in the "Golden Steering Wheel" awards marks the continuation of a fine tradition: with a total of 21 victories to date, the brand with the three-pointed star now leads the field of the most successful car brands to win the competition for the "Golden Steering Wheel", a prize that has been awarded since 1976.

Source: Daimler

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Mercedes CLC Shooting Brake Received a Go Signal from Boss

Daimler Chairman and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Dr. Dieter Zetsche reportedly gave the signal to produce the Mercedes-Benz CLC. This is in 2014, after the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake is confirmed to roll-off the assembly line of the company's Sindelfingen plant in 2012.

The CLC Shooting Brake will have a smaller body and will have a reduced price than the more luxurious CLS version. Other than that, Automotive News said that it will be offered in diesel and petrol engines. The design, since it will be patterned after the Concept Shooting Brake, will have a stylish rear end and a curvy roof line.

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$2 Billion Expansion Plan for Mercedes USA's Plant

Daimler recently announced that Mercedes-Benz will invest an amount of $2 billion to its Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant. The plan is to support the production of the current and future M-Class and the GL- and C-Class as well.
This upgrade in the Mercedes-Benz manufacturing plant is also expected to help the German automaker win the tough battle with BMW to the number one spot as forecasts say that Lexus, after 11 years of dominance in the numbers game, will lose this year.

Dr.Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Daimler Board Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars stated, “Tuscaloosa was the first production location of Mercedes-Benz Cars ever outside Germany, and today it is among our best. As our ‘pioneering plant’, it is also the blueprint for our new operations in emerging markets.”

The news was announced at an event made in celebration of the 2012 M-Class' first production.

Source: Benzinsider.com

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Daimler Strengthen Its Partnership with China with a Joint Venture

Daimler signed a joint venture with Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation, the company will be named Beijing Benz Automotive Co, Ltd. (BBAC).

“With this framework agreement, we are laying the essential strategic foundations for our long-term and significant participation in the growth of the key market China. The projects agreed upon are further central elements of our China strategy for the sustainable development of our business. As early as 2020, at least one in five premium compact cars is expected to be sold in China. In the light of this enormous growth potential, we are resolutely switching to attack mode with the local production of our new compacts,” said Dieter Zetsche, the company's Chairman of the Board of Management.

The partnership will put €2 billion to be invested in the new company. Aside from that, the agreement also includes local production of the GLK SUV and three future models of Mercedes compact cars. A new plant where 4-cylinder gasoline engines will also be put up in about 2 years, this will supply the engine needs of the Mercedes-Benz cars that will be produced in China. This plant is anticipated to produce about 250,000 units.

Source: Benz Insider.

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Maybach's Fate to be Decided by Mercedes-Benz

Image via WikipediaMercedes -Benz announced that they will officially say whether the luxury vehicle, Maybach, will continue production or not on July 1st. Daimler, Mercedes’ parent company is reportedly looking to either shut it down or revive it by sealing a partnership with British automaker Aston Martin.

In a press statement Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler, said that "there is a higher likelihood to come to a positive decision" as Aston Martin expressed its interest in sharing costs and sharing their production plant in Gaydon, England in exchange of access to AMG and Mercedes-Benz’ parts and engines.

The German carmaker revived the Maybach label in 2002 after investing about $1 billion with hopes of selling around 1,500 cars a year. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen as they sold only a staggering 157 units last year.

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