Mercedes-Benz at the 2006 Paris Motor Show
28 Septembre 2006 - 2:28PM
PR Newswire (US)
Premium Brand on Course for Success PARIS, September 28
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Picture is available via EPA (European
Pressphoto Agency) and can be downloaded free of charge at:
http://www.presseportal.de/story.htx?firmaid=8233&keygroup=bild
Top-class new products and technical innovations are predominant on
the Mercedes-Benz stand at this year's Paris Motor Show. Highlights
include the new-generation CL-Class and the new, high-performance
models CL 63 AMG and S 63 AMG, as well as the new SLR McLaren 722
Edition, which celebrate their world debut in the French capital.
During the press conference Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of
DaimlerChrysler AG and Head of Mercedes Car Group since one year
ago, expressed his satisfaction with the development of the
globally successful premium brand. "We have worked hard and
achieved a great deal - and now we are reaping the benefits," Dr.
Zetsche told the international media representatives. "Both
efficiency and quality have improved in equal measure, as our
customers are acknowledging. From January to August 2006 our
worldwide unit sales increased by around eleven percent compared to
the same period last year. Mercedes Car Group generated an
operating profit of more than 800 million Euro during the first
half of the year." All in all, an increase over the 2005 unit sales
level was to be expected for 2006. Major contributors to this
success include the new S-Class introduced one year ago, more than
77,000 examples of which have been sold since its market launch in
September 2005. As the bestselling series in the worldwide luxury
segment, the S-Class is well ahead of its competitors in all
regions of the world. In Paris the S-Class celebrates its debut
with the newly developed 4MATIC permanent four-wheel drive system.
With the S 320 CDI 4MATIC, Mercedes-Benz is offering a combination
of diesel power and four-wheel drive for the first time in the
S-Class. The other Mercedes-Benz model series are also producing
outstanding results. The SUV family comprising the R-, M-, GL- and
G-Class was able to double its sales to more than 103,000 units in
the first eight months of this year, and since June the E-Class has
regained its worldwide market leadership in the luxury business
segment. Dr. Zetsche: "The new-generation E-Class represents the
pinnacle in every respect. We will shortly be demonstrating this
with an extraordinary long-distance rally which starts here in
Paris on October 21 and ends in Peking, covering a distance of
almost 14,000 kilometres." This feat will be performed by 33
E-Class models featuring the latest diesel technology, including
standard examples equipped with our ultra-clean BLUETEC technology,
which will be introduced in the USA in the E 320 BLUETEC on October
15. The rally cars will reach Peking on November 17, after just 28
days, in time for the most important Chinese motor show -
"AutoChina 2006". CL-Class: public debut of the masterpiece among
luxury coupes With the new CL-Class, which is celebrating its
public debut at the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz is
re-emphasising its leading position in the luxury coupe segment.
With more than 47,000 units sold worldwide, the preceding model has
been the bestselling car in its class. The new luxury coupe is
equipped with the most powerful engines in the Mercedes lineup: the
V8 unit of the CL 500 has an output of 285 kW/388 hp, while the
state-of-the-art biturbo V12 of the new CL 600 develops 380 kW/517
hp. World debut of the SLR McLaren 722 Edition, CL 63 AMG and S 63
AMG The new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition displays
thoroughbred motor-racing attributes. With this new model variant,
Mercedes-Benz evokes memories of the unforgettable victory achieved
by Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR with
the start number 722 (indicating a starting time of 07.22 hours )
in the classic Mille Miglia endurance race of 1955. At the heart of
this super-sportscar, a limited edition of only 150 examples is a
supercharged 5.5-litre V8-engine developing 478 kW/650 hp. With a
top speed of 337 km/h the "722 Edition" even betters the SLR, which
remains in the model range. With the CL 63 AMG, Mercedes-AMG is
presenting the flagship model of the new CL-Class in Paris. Its
wholly independently developed AMG 6.3-litre V8-engine develops an
output of 386 kW/525 hp and 630 Nm of torque. The high-tech
appointments of this luxury coupe include an AMG sports suspension
based on Active Body Control. The CL 63 AMG is the current
highlight of the 2006 strategic model initiative by Mercedes-AMG -
with ten brand-new cars to date. The S-Class is now also
represented by the S 63 AMG and equipped with the 386 kW/525 hp
high-tech engine. Both AMG models accelerate from zero to 100 km/h
in 4.6 seconds, and the maximum speed is electronically limited to
250 km/h. SLK "Edition 10": Showcar to mark the tenth anniversary
of the Roadster Ten years of the SLK-Class - a cause for
celebration at Mercedes-Benz. At the "Mondial de l'automobile" fair
in Paris, the company is presenting the "Edition 10" showcar, which
has numerous distinguishing design features and gives the roadster
a sporty and exclusive aura. With its matt-grey metallic paint
finish, the anniversary showcar is immediately distinguishable from
a standard SLK sports car and illustrates a trend in the future
colour styling of automobiles. The exterior also features dark-grey
painted, high-sheen light-alloy wheels in a ten-spoke design, shod
with wide-base tyres in size 225/45 R 17 (front) and 245/40 R 17
(rear). The wheels are also embellished with black-and-silver
emblems bearing the Mercedes star. Dark-tinted rear light clusters
also contribute to the exclusive appearance of the "Edition 10"
showcar. In the interior the driver and passenger are treated to a
selection of fine materials. The seats and the armrest in the
centre console are covered with black leather. Silver-coloured
underlays beneath the centre panels of the seat cushions and
backrests discreetly yet effectively accentuate the perforations in
the leather. This sporty and elegant black-silver contrast is
heightened further by the silver thread used for the decorative
seams of the SLK sports seats. The liner of the vario-roof and the
rear window surround are painted in black. Contact; Johannes
Reifenrath, Tel.: +49-711-17-75834 Internet site More news from
DaimlerChrysler is available at:
http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/ With the E-Class from Paris
to Peking More about the extraordinary long-distance journey from
Paris to Peking is available at: http://www.e-class-experience.com/
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paris-beijing DATASOURCE: DaimlerChrysler AG CONTACT: Johannes
Reifenrath, Tel.: +49-711-17-75834, ; or journalistic research
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