Mercedes-Benz dealers now using iPads to sell cars

Mercedes-Benz Financial announced today it has become the first automotive finance company to give dealers mobile access to its point-of-sale dealer system. The company has decided to make the Apple iPad available to its US dealer network.

Mercedes will implement its Proprietary MB Advantage dealer system which will become available through the Apple iPad interface. They hope this will bring their business extra flexibility, information on the showroom floor.

Moreno said he started using his own iPad on a limited basis to handle leased vehicles, and is now among the dealers in the company's official iPad pilot program. When the customer arrives, Moreno carries his iPad with him outside to do returns on the spot.




Press Release

Mercedes-Benz Financial, which has received more than $5 million in lease and loan payments from customers via their mobile phone devices since becoming the first auto finance company to establish that payment channel late last year, is now taking its mobile strategy to the showroom floor to benefit dealers and customers.

Mercedes-Benz Financial today announced that it is putting the Apple iPad(TM) into the hands of its dealers, becoming the first automotive finance company to give dealers mobile access to its proprietary point-of-sale dealer system called MB Advantage. In doing so, Mercedes-Benz Financial is one of the first companies to adapt the consumer-oriented iPad as a mobile business tool.

MB Advantage on the iPad will give dealership sales personnel instant access to marketing programs for specific models, quicker turn time on the credit application process, and increase speed and efficiency on the return of lease vehicles.

"We see the iPad providing wireless mobility, information and flexibility on the showroom floor," said Andreas Hinrichs, Vice President of Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Financial. "The iPad will provide a competitive advantage to our dealers by increasing their service levels through a more flexible financing process."

Hinrichs said the size and versatility of the iPad makes it compatible to access MB Advantage via the mobile device and to take the dealer system from the finance & leasing office to the showroom floor.

Mercedes-Benz Financial will distribute iPads to 40 selected dealers throughout the United States to test iPad as a business tool. The company will monitor iPad usage and collect feedback from dealers and field sales staff over the summer.

Improvements to MB Advantage on iPad, based on dealer feedback, will be incorporated before potentially making the mobile device available to all Mercedes-Benz dealerships later this year.

"With the exciting, new products coming out from Mercedes-Benz, the iPad with MB Advantage gives us tremendous credibility with our clients," said Bernie Moreno, President of Mercedes-Benz of North Olmsted, Ohio, near Cleveland.

Since launching its iPhone app last October, which allows Mercedes-Benz Financial customers to make payments on their vehicle lease or loan from their iPhone, Mercedes-Benz Financial has had more than 13,000 downloads, approximately 5,000 payments and $3.6 million in payments received.

That launch was followed in March by giving customers who use smart phones the same capability to manage their Mercedes-Benz Financial accounts from their mobile devices. That has resulted in over 15,000 visitors, more than 2,000 payments and $1.5 million received in payments.

Mercedes Benz Unimog U4000 Expedition Camper

The Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 4000 will be on display at the 2010 Abenteuer & Allrad, Europe's largest off-road vehicle show, from June 3. a custom expedition camper based on the Mercedes Unimog will be revealed which is literally the ultimate ride for every explorer! The U4000 is a bit pricey at 248,300 Euro, but no for going anywhere in style and comfort no other vehicle comes even close to this thing.

Power comes from a 4.2 four-cylinder diesel engine producing 160 kW (215 bhp / 218 PS). It is fed by a 290 litre (76.6 US gallons) diesel tank and carries two 20 litre (5 gallon) reserve canisters. Part of the vehicle's excellent off-road capability is ensured by a suspension with torque tube, transverse links and coil springs, portal axles for great ground clearance, as well as short frame overhangs.

The team has installed a camper module which is 4.35 m long, 2.2 m wide and 1.95 m high. The module uses 50 mm thermal bridge-free fiberglass-reinforced plastic for the walls and a 60 mm floor.

A lockable passage allows occupants to climb from the cab to the camper. A washroom, consisting of a compact toilet, washbasin, and shower, is placed behind the driver’s seat, directly across the aisle from a wardrobe. A small kitchen and fridge are packed inside, along with Alcantara-trimmed benches. An elevated double bed is placed at the very back of the camper body.

The modified Unimog utilizes a hot air interior heater powered by diesel, a 200 Ah battery, 260W solar panels, LED spots, TFT TV, Sattelite dish and a DVD player. The total size of the Camper Unimog measure 6.85 m long, 2.35 m wide and 3.5 m high and has a pricetag of EUR 248,000.




Press Release

• Out into the big wide world with the Unimog
• Based on the Unimog U 4000 with its impressive chassis concept
• Unimog copes with arduous, long expeditions thanks to the Bocklet body
• On display at the off-road vehicle show in Bad Kissingen from
  3 to 6 June 2010

Stuttgart - An expedition camper based on the Mercedes-Benz Unimog – the dream of every bona fide globetrotter. At this year's "Abenteuer & Allrad", Europe's largest off-road vehicle show, the expedition camper will be on display in Bad Kissingen from 3 to 6 June 2010.

Michael Bocklet from Koblenz and his team have built a fully fledged go-anywhere vehicle based on the UniversalMotorGerät (Universal Motorized Unit), to give the Unimog its full name. The distinctive Unimog U 4000 with its Bocklet body is the archetypal expedition vehicle – the consummate solution for even the most ardent adventurer.

The U 4000 is the perfect expedition vehicle thanks to its absolutely unique chassis concept. Portal axles deliver excellent ground clearance and ensure constant road contact of all four wheels. The suspension with torque tube, transverse links and coil springs allows long spring travel and superb axle articulation – supporting diagonal axle articulation of up to 30 degrees. In conjunction with the short frame overhangs, the Unimog also effortlessly takes difficult obstacles, hilltops, slopes or embankments in its stride. Waterproof major assemblies and an air intake pipe level with the cabin roof ensure a fording capability of 1.20 metres. The Unimog comes with single tyres (as opposed to the twin tyres on an all-wheel-drive truck), thus offering high traction with low rolling resistance. The tirecontrol tyre pressure monitoring system can be used to reduce the tyre pressure conveniently from the driver's seat while on the move and so ensure the wheels do not get bogged down on soft ground. This technical feature improves traction and power delivery.

Trouble-free driving with the go-anywhere vehicle

The 4249-cc four-cylinder diesel unit produces 160 kW (218 hp). The permissible gross vehicle weight of the all-wheel-drive vehicle (wheelbase 3850 mm) is 7490 or 8500 kilograms respectively. In conjunction with the all-wheel drive and differential locks on the front and rear axle, the Unimog is the ideal solution for a superlative off-road expedition vehicle. Should it – in the very unlikely event – get stuck, the Unimog can use its hydraulic seven-tonne front winch to pull itself out of the quagmire with its "own hair" à la Baron Munchausen. However, you are much more likely to find it using the winch to pull out other vehicles from difficult situations. A diesel tank with a capacity of 290 litres (plus two 20-litre reserve canisters) also makes longer journeys less nerve-racking where refuelling is not an option. The comfort seats in the cab provide an ideal fatigue-free solution for these arduous stages.

The rear of the Bocklet accommodation module is tapered at an angle to retain the Unimog's full off-road capabilities. The inside of the module measures 4.35 metres long and 2.20 metres wide (standing height 1.95 metres). The roof and walls of the three-point mounted, thermal bridge-free fibreglass-reinforced plastic box are 50 mm thick, standing on a 60-mm-thick floor. All the walls are finished with a 2-mm-thick fabric-reinforced outer layer. The hatches and doors all come with hollow rubber seals and multi-point locks, which help protect the stowage compartments against the ingress of dust or water.

Behind the driver's seat is the accommodation module washroom, fitted out with a cassette toilet, wash basin and shower. Hot water is provided by a combined Truma gas/electric boiler with a capacity of 10 litres. The corner kitchen is fitted towards the rear and comes with a two-burner gas stove, sink and drainer.

A (lockable) passage leads to the cab, with a wardrobe fitted on the right behind the co-passenger seat. The 110-litre compressor fridge occupies the space up to the entrance door.

Benches arranged longitudinally to the direction of travel provide two seats with exquisite Alcantara® upholstery. Tanks and additional stowage space are housed under the dinette in the false floor. The Unimog carries around 300 litres of fresh water on-board, along with a waste tank holding 200 litres. The entire rear area is home to a 200 x 135-cm double bed. Additional stowage space, which can be accessed from outside, is provided under the bed.

A diesel-powered Eberspächer hot air heater ensures a comfortable night's sleep in colder climes or during the winter months. To ensure sufficient 'juice', Bocklet has installed 220 Ah of battery capacity, backed up by 260-W solar panels, an automatic charger (24 V / 50 A) and a 1.2-kW inverter. A control panel with an ampere-hour metre monitors the power system; minimal energy consumption comes courtesy of the low-energy lights and LED spots fitted in the interior. There is a TFT television plus satellite dish and a DVD player for entertainment and information during the expedition, no matter how far away from home you venture. The 6.85-metre-long, 2.35-metre-wide and 3.50-metre-high expedition camper based on the Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 4000 costs EUR 248,300.

Mercedes-Benz automated test driver setup

Working on autonomous vehicle systems is all the rage lately, and Mercedes-Benz is no exception. Most of the work has been going within research groups and as part of competitions like the DARPA Urban Challenge. Mercedes-Benz has moved its automated driving work over to driver-assistance test groups. It's using the automation technology to evaluate crash avoidance systems without putting test drivers and engineers at risk.

By using its autopilot systems, the test maneuvers can be reproduced much more consistently. This isn't the first time that such systems have been employed in testing. Chrysler built an Automated Durability Road (ADR) at its Chelsea Proving Ground in the mid-1990s. The ADR used robotic drivers for accelerated durability testing over extremely difficult surfaces.

In both cases, the automakers can do far more extreme testing than would be possible with human drivers. Among the things Mercedes will be testing for is unintentional airbag deployments when driving over curbs, and detection of high-speed merging traffic or sudden braking.

via:autoblog





Press Release

Autopilots at Mercedes-Benz

"Automated driving" - new proving method for state-of-the-art safety systems

With an eye on future generations of assistance systems, Mercedes-Benz is the first vehicle maker worldwide to introduce an innovative proving method into its test driving portfolio - safety-critical driving manoeuvres that cannot be precisely reproduced by people are now being handled by autopilot on closed test tracks. "Automated driving" supports the development, testing and validation of assistance systems and other safety features. Testing at the limit can now be carried out without danger and health risks to development engineers, delivering clear benefits to Mercedes-Benz customers - because the tests are carried out with the highest degree of precision, future assistance systems can be developed and validated to Mercedes-Benz's exacting quality standards despite increasing levels of complexity.

For years, Mercedes-Benz has been setting benchmarks in the development of new technologies for the continuous improvement of active and passive safety in automobiles. Innovations in passive safety such as the rigid-form passenger cell, crumple zone, airbag and three-point safety belt, plus active safety like ABS, ESP® and braking assistant all trace back to Mercedes-Benz. They have made a demonstrable contribution to improving road safety and to reducing significantly the number of injuries and deaths among road users.

The current status of active safety technology is defined by intelligent assistance systems that turn the vehicle into a "thinking partner" - one that can see and feel, and that can react and function reflexively in the event of danger. Systems like the blind spot assistant, ATTENTION ASSIST and the night view assistant are focused specifically on accident problem areas like changing lane, fatigue or poor night time visibility.

"With future assistance systems, we will be able to address even more complex traffic situations and therefore to ease the dangers of further accident hot spots - like intersections," says Prof. Bharat Balasubramanian, Head of Product Innovations & Process Technologies at Corporate Research and Advanced Engineering Daimler AG. "The new automated driving test methods help us to fulfil the ex-tremely high quality and operational safety demands placed on our safety systems even more efficiently."

Autopilots ensure greater precision and relieve development engineers

In addition to established methods, Mercedes-Benz will in future fulfil requirements for reliable functionality and operational safety in future assistance systems through the "automated driving" of test manoeuvres on dedicated proving grounds. Prototypes used for this purpose are series production vehicles equipped with "robots" for steering, acceleration and braking. An on-board computer controls the autopilot so that a pre-programmed course is followed exactly - even if several vehicles are involved in one manoeuvre.

Test engineers in the control centre monitor all events and can stop the vehicles at any time. In parallel, the vehicles perform self checks and brake automatically if they register discrepancies. Thus, the test configuration is safe yet flexible. All Mercedes-Benz models can be equipped with the technical equipment for "automated driving". Moreover, a variety of different safety systems and equipment can be tested.

Using "automated driving", engineers analyse safety innovations under real-life conditions in the vehicle, addressing two critical challenges:

* Reproducibility. In order to calibrate the systems exactly, the same tests must be varied and repeated extensively. In so doing, all parameters like vehicle distances, speeds and steering radii must be exactly to specifications and always precisely maintained in order to guarantee comparability.
* Safety. Because the systems are intended to kick in only in critical situations, such scenarios must be induced during testing. The manoeuvres demand precision timing and cannot be permitted to put anyone in danger.

Both cases place human beings at their limits - in terms of their ability to react and the issue of reproducibility. However, for complex electronic systems and for assistance systems in particular, fully comprehensive functional validation must be carried out in a manner that is as close to reality as possible, thus making this kind of test driving indispensible.

The precise repeatability of the test methodology enables test vehicles to maintain exactly the pre-determined speed and course and to brake very precisely. For example, if a vehicle drives a pre-planned course several times, the tracks of all the runs vary from one another by less than two centimetres. Should the vehicle be brought to a complete halt at a particular location, the end points of all braking manoeuvres are within a radius of three centimetres.

Alongside the proving of assistance systems, "automated driving" will also be used in extreme tests in future. These put the vehicle under loads that are well in excess of those reached under normal use in traffic. The intention is to ascertain, for instance, that airbags are not activated unintentionally should the car be driven heavily over a ramp or against a kerb. Test drives that involve a high degree of physical stress for the driver can thus be avoided.

State-of-the-art test methods for the highest safety demands

In their development work, Mercedes-Benz engineers use the results from the company's in-house accident research, which delivers important findings. A variety of networked validation methods guarantee that the systems function reliably at the critical moment. Company philosophy insists that validation must go considerably farther than prescribed by regulatory standards. When it comes to passive safety, the internal company crash test requirements go well beyond meeting standard crash test requirements. The combination of computer simulations and real-life crash tests ensures passive safety to Mercedes-Benz standards.

Mercedes-Benz also makes use of state-of-the-art, networked test methods when it comes to active safety. Drive simulator tests combined with simulation procedures deliver a faster and more precise development process and complement test drives under real-life conditions.

"In Sindelfingen, we are currently building a new drive simulator. The state-of-the art technology of this equipment will make the future development of new safety systems even faster and more precise," confirms Balasubramanian.

Automated driving as the basis of future innovations

Mercedes-Benz is the only vehicle maker in the world to use "automated driving" as an additional element in the testing process. It will be used on dedicated proving grounds in tests that would be virtually impossible to reproduce manually, like merging at different speeds and distances; high-risk tests where, for example, a vehicle brakes heavily in front of another that swerves at the last minute; and safety-critical tests whereby, at an intersection, one vehicle crosses just in front of or behind the path of a second vehicle.

With "automated driving", Mercedes-Benz has developed a new, unique testing method for safety systems. It is yet further proof of the innovative power of Mercedes-Benz. The new test method guarantees the fast and efficient development of assistance systems to the highest levels of quality and reliability and also offers maximum safety at work for employees.

Bharat Balasubramanian sums up: "In order to be able to set trends in the field of safety in future, too, our test procedures must be able to keep pace with the wealth of ideas generated by our engineers. With automated driving, we feel we are well equipped for the development of the next generation of assistance systems."

1970s Mercedes C111 show car Damaged During Attempted Theft

A rare 1970s-era Mercedes-Benz C111 was the target for some thieves as the car waited on a transport trailer for a Channel crossing on its way to the Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands. They tried to nick it off a lorry bringing it to England. Of course, they didn't make it as the car the car is a mock-up and has no engine.

According to reports from across The Pond, the truck transporting the vintage concept car from Germany to the UK was hijacked by criminals looking to make off with the C111. The attempt was thwarted, but though now repaired, significant damage was reportedly incurred to one of the showcar's gullwing doors and to the front fender.

The C111 was a concept car by Mercedes-Benz which came in various alternative power train iterations, for which it was intended, throughout the 60s and 70s. Besides being fitted with turbocharged petrol/gasoline engines, Mercedes tried diesel and rotary engine power plants on it too. A C112 version also followed, fitted with a 6.0 liter V12. No version ever made it to production.

via: WCF

BRABUS T65 RS Tuning for Mercedes SL 65 AMG Black Series

Brabus has released today an upgrade kit for the Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series that features several styling and performance upgrades and was dubbed T65 RS. The BRABUS T65 RS Mercedes SL65 AMG Black is powered by the tuner's new T65 RS engine that develops 800 hp (788 bhp) / 588 kW at 5,500 rpm and a sun starting 1,420 Nm (1,047 lb-ft) of torque available from 2,100 rpm. However, for various reasons, the torque output of the BRABUS T65 RS Mercedes SL65 AMG Black has been electronically limited to 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft).

The increased performance for the SL 65 AMG Black Series comes from the company’s T65 RS package. Brabus added a ECU modification, two special exhaust manifolds with integrated turbine housings, two turbochargers, four intercoolers under the carbon fiber scoop and a special Brabus stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system.

The custom interior boasts a special soft, breathable black leather and Alcantara combination, power comfort seats, precision-sewn red seams on some elements and stainless steel scuff plates with an illuminated logo.

Brabus claims that their version of the SL65 AMG Black Series is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and it could reach 200 km/h from standstill in just 9.8 seconds. The car’s top speed is 330 km/h but Brabus decided 320 km/h is just enough and they limited it electronically to this number.





Press release

Is it possible to make the most powerful production Mercedes of all time, the SL 65 AMG Black Series, even more powerful, faster, more spectacular and exclusive? BRABUS can! Equipped with T65 RS tuning the high-performance model delivers even more power and becomes even more elite. T65 RS tuning bumps power output to 800 hp (788 bhp) / 588 kW. With it the two-seater accelerates from rest to 200 km/h (124 mph) in just 9.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of more than 330 km/h (206 mph). In the upholstery shop at BRABUS the interior can be clad in a sporty yet elegant combination of the finest leather and Alcantara, giving it an even more striking ambiance. Further BRABUS options are special paintjobs such as the matte black shown here or the customization to customers‘ individual specifications that’ll make it a true BRABUS one-off with custom-designed personalized logos on the illuminated scuff plates and the speedometer.

BRABUS T65 RS tuning unleashes the inherent power reserves of the Black Series engine. It includes the BRABUS high-tech twin turbo system that includes two special exhaust manifolds with integrated turbine housings and high-performance turbochargers. Four generously dimensioned intercoolers are placed beneath the space created by the BRABUS carbon-fiber hood scoop. The special BRABUS stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with free-flow metal catalysts was specifically designed for the Black Series power upgrade.

Newly programmed engine electronics with special mapping for injection and ignition coordinate the perfect interaction of all high-performance components and at the same time ensure that the engine meets strict EURO IV emission limits. The high-tech lubricants for the entire powertrain are supplied by technology partner ARAL.

The T65 RS engine delivers 800 hp (788 bhp) / 588 kW at 5,500 rpm and an even more impressive peak torque of 1,420 Nm (1,047 lb-ft), available already at a low 2,100 rpm. Peak torque is limited electronically to 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft).

Powered by this engine, the Black Series coupe delivers truly superlative performance: From rest the sports car, weighing in at a mere 1,795 kilograms (3,957 lbs.) sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.6 seconds, and reaches 200 km/h (124 mph) after just 9.8 seconds. The car could reach a top speed of more than 330 km/h (206 mph) but for tire safety reasons top speed is limited electronically to 320 km/h (200 mph).

The BRABUS upholstery shop creates a special sporty and luxurious interior to customers’ exact specifications, down to the last detail. The power comfort seats offer excellent lateral support without constricting the occupants. In this true BRABUS one-off car, made to the specifications of a longtime customer, they are upholstered in an exclusive combination of especially soft and breathable black leather and Alcantara. The same materials are found on door panels, headliner and dashboard. Precision-sewn red seams add striking highlights to all interior elements.

Stainless-steel scuff plates with illuminated logo and the speedometer that sports the car’s name were also custom-made for this car’s owner.

All components are available for any Mercedes SL 65 AMG Black Series.

2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Sports Car Concept

At the Beijing Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz just unveiled a CLS Shooting Break concept that looks to us like a frontal attack on BMW’s 5-Series GT. The moniker, which is usually spelled “shooting brake”, does not refer to the braking system but originated with custom built two-door luxury estate cars altered for use by hunters and other sportsmen such as golfers, equestrians, and polo players requiring easy access to larger storage areas than offered by the typical automobile trunk. Of course, in true German fashion Mercedes insists its spelling is in fact the correct one.

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break concept

The original way of spelling it is break, and its origin comes from back to the horse-drawn carriage days, being the name given to carriages used to “break” in wild horses and also to restrict (or “brake”) their urge to move, so that they could be put to use as work horses.

There is no doubt one of the most iconic and important introductions of the last decade has been the Mercedes-Benz CLS “four-door coupe.”

Regardless of what you decide to call it, there's little doubt that this concept leaves the stuffy ‘old world’ shooting brake neatly in the dust, replacing it with what is essentially a sneak peek of what a wagon version of the next CLS sedan could look like. 

Of course many of the oft-emulated CLS “four-door coupe” elements are there – the slippery arched profile; the swooping character line that runs seamlessly from front to rear; the long, taut body lines. But Mercedes has borrowed plenty of new elements to keep things fresh.

Those wide DTM-inspired rear fender haunches are pulled off the new E-Class sedan and coupe, and were also visible on the 2009 Concept FASCINATION that debuted in Paris. That concept also lends its wagon rear to the Shooting Brake – though curiously, no mention of that term was made two years ago. The nose incorporates the pronounced ‘classic style’ grille design of the new SLS AMG supercar, also seen in Mercedes’ F800 Style concept from the 2010 Geneva Motor Show – a car also said to give an advanced look at the next-generation CLS.

More elements from that concept also carry over, but in a more production-friendly way. The LED headlamps retain their sharp profile, but are made slightly larger; the aggressive lower front fascia is carried over nearly intact, with gaping air intakes flanking the center grille. Even the scalloped sides aft of the front wheel wells are present. Recessed door handles are said to emerge at the touch of a hand, yet sadly, the reverse-hinged rear passenger doors have been dropped from the package. Twenty-inch wheels fill out the Shooting Brake’s fender arches.

The Shooting Break concept car is driven by the forerunner to the forthcoming new V-engine generation from Mercedes-Benz. The special features of the spray-guided direct injection engine include the latest generation of piezo-electric injection valves which enable multiple injections. 

Better lean operation is possible thanks to load monitoring of the pressure information. Even the operation of the ancillary components has been made efficient and there is also a start/stop function. The V6 with a 60° cylinder angle and displacement of 3.5 litres produces 225 kW (306 hp) with a maximum torque of 370 Nm.

Unlike the F800 Style concept, there is no fuel cell or hybrid technology lurking under the Shooting Brake concept’s hood. Instead, there sits what is said to be a forerunner to the next-generation of V-configuration Mercedes engines. 

Featuring spray-guided direct-injection, piezo-electric injection valves, and start-stop technology, Mercedes says its next 60-degree-angle 3.5-liter V-6 will produce 306 horsepower with 273 pound-feet of torque.

2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Sports Car Concept

At the Beijing Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz just unveiled a CLS Shooting Break concept that looks to us like a frontal attack on BMW’s 5-Series GT. The moniker, which is usually spelled “shooting brake”, does not refer to the braking system but originated with custom built two-door luxury estate cars altered for use by hunters and other sportsmen such as golfers, equestrians, and polo players requiring easy access to larger storage areas than offered by the typical automobile trunk. Of course, in true German fashion Mercedes insists its spelling is in fact the correct one.

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break concept

The original way of spelling it is break, and its origin comes from back to the horse-drawn carriage days, being the name given to carriages used to “break” in wild horses and also to restrict (or “brake”) their urge to move, so that they could be put to use as work horses.

There is no doubt one of the most iconic and important introductions of the last decade has been the Mercedes-Benz CLS “four-door coupe.”

Regardless of what you decide to call it, there's little doubt that this concept leaves the stuffy ‘old world’ shooting brake neatly in the dust, replacing it with what is essentially a sneak peek of what a wagon version of the next CLS sedan could look like. 

Of course many of the oft-emulated CLS “four-door coupe” elements are there – the slippery arched profile; the swooping character line that runs seamlessly from front to rear; the long, taut body lines. But Mercedes has borrowed plenty of new elements to keep things fresh.

Those wide DTM-inspired rear fender haunches are pulled off the new E-Class sedan and coupe, and were also visible on the 2009 Concept FASCINATION that debuted in Paris. That concept also lends its wagon rear to the Shooting Brake – though curiously, no mention of that term was made two years ago. The nose incorporates the pronounced ‘classic style’ grille design of the new SLS AMG supercar, also seen in Mercedes’ F800 Style concept from the 2010 Geneva Motor Show – a car also said to give an advanced look at the next-generation CLS.

More elements from that concept also carry over, but in a more production-friendly way. The LED headlamps retain their sharp profile, but are made slightly larger; the aggressive lower front fascia is carried over nearly intact, with gaping air intakes flanking the center grille. Even the scalloped sides aft of the front wheel wells are present. Recessed door handles are said to emerge at the touch of a hand, yet sadly, the reverse-hinged rear passenger doors have been dropped from the package. Twenty-inch wheels fill out the Shooting Brake’s fender arches.

The Shooting Break concept car is driven by the forerunner to the forthcoming new V-engine generation from Mercedes-Benz. The special features of the spray-guided direct injection engine include the latest generation of piezo-electric injection valves which enable multiple injections. 

Better lean operation is possible thanks to load monitoring of the pressure information. Even the operation of the ancillary components has been made efficient and there is also a start/stop function. The V6 with a 60° cylinder angle and displacement of 3.5 litres produces 225 kW (306 hp) with a maximum torque of 370 Nm.

Unlike the F800 Style concept, there is no fuel cell or hybrid technology lurking under the Shooting Brake concept’s hood. Instead, there sits what is said to be a forerunner to the next-generation of V-configuration Mercedes engines. 

Featuring spray-guided direct-injection, piezo-electric injection valves, and start-stop technology, Mercedes says its next 60-degree-angle 3.5-liter V-6 will produce 306 horsepower with 273 pound-feet of torque.

2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Sports Car Concept

At the Beijing Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz just unveiled a CLS Shooting Break concept that looks to us like a frontal attack on BMW’s 5-Series GT. The moniker, which is usually spelled “shooting brake”, does not refer to the braking system but originated with custom built two-door luxury estate cars altered for use by hunters and other sportsmen such as golfers, equestrians, and polo players requiring easy access to larger storage areas than offered by the typical automobile trunk. Of course, in true German fashion Mercedes insists its spelling is in fact the correct one.

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break concept

The original way of spelling it is break, and its origin comes from back to the horse-drawn carriage days, being the name given to carriages used to “break” in wild horses and also to restrict (or “brake”) their urge to move, so that they could be put to use as work horses.

There is no doubt one of the most iconic and important introductions of the last decade has been the Mercedes-Benz CLS “four-door coupe.”

Regardless of what you decide to call it, there's little doubt that this concept leaves the stuffy ‘old world’ shooting brake neatly in the dust, replacing it with what is essentially a sneak peek of what a wagon version of the next CLS sedan could look like. 

Of course many of the oft-emulated CLS “four-door coupe” elements are there – the slippery arched profile; the swooping character line that runs seamlessly from front to rear; the long, taut body lines. But Mercedes has borrowed plenty of new elements to keep things fresh.

Those wide DTM-inspired rear fender haunches are pulled off the new E-Class sedan and coupe, and were also visible on the 2009 Concept FASCINATION that debuted in Paris. That concept also lends its wagon rear to the Shooting Brake – though curiously, no mention of that term was made two years ago. The nose incorporates the pronounced ‘classic style’ grille design of the new SLS AMG supercar, also seen in Mercedes’ F800 Style concept from the 2010 Geneva Motor Show – a car also said to give an advanced look at the next-generation CLS.

More elements from that concept also carry over, but in a more production-friendly way. The LED headlamps retain their sharp profile, but are made slightly larger; the aggressive lower front fascia is carried over nearly intact, with gaping air intakes flanking the center grille. Even the scalloped sides aft of the front wheel wells are present. Recessed door handles are said to emerge at the touch of a hand, yet sadly, the reverse-hinged rear passenger doors have been dropped from the package. Twenty-inch wheels fill out the Shooting Brake’s fender arches.

The Shooting Break concept car is driven by the forerunner to the forthcoming new V-engine generation from Mercedes-Benz. The special features of the spray-guided direct injection engine include the latest generation of piezo-electric injection valves which enable multiple injections. 

Better lean operation is possible thanks to load monitoring of the pressure information. Even the operation of the ancillary components has been made efficient and there is also a start/stop function. The V6 with a 60° cylinder angle and displacement of 3.5 litres produces 225 kW (306 hp) with a maximum torque of 370 Nm.

Unlike the F800 Style concept, there is no fuel cell or hybrid technology lurking under the Shooting Brake concept’s hood. Instead, there sits what is said to be a forerunner to the next-generation of V-configuration Mercedes engines. 

Featuring spray-guided direct-injection, piezo-electric injection valves, and start-stop technology, Mercedes says its next 60-degree-angle 3.5-liter V-6 will produce 306 horsepower with 273 pound-feet of torque.