The world's oldest manufacturer trucks(since 1896) and diesel cars (since 1924) Daimler-Chrysler AG has existed in its current form since 1998. Then the German concern Daimler-Benz AG (since 1926) took over the third largest American manufacturer Chrysler Motors (since 1924), creating the world's fourth largest transnational concern. DC is the third largest truck manufacturer in the world. The largest German automotive division produces all types of trucks and commercial vehicles with a gross weight of 2.7 to 33 tons.
The first half of the 90s was marked by the struggle to reduce the toxicity of exhaust gases and the preparation of fundamentally new trucks. Models of the light series "T2" ("609/814") and the new medium range "LK" ("711/1517"), having received "clean" diesel engines with a capacity of 105-170 "horses", became known as "Ekoven" (Ecovan) and "Ecoliner" (Ecoliner), respectively. Heavy series "MK" and "SK" (models "1417/3553") were produced in 55 basic versions (4 × 2 / 8 × 8 with engines with a capacity of 165-530 "horses", with six types of cabs. Since 1992, on saddle tractors "SK1844 / 1944LS" installed a more spacious and comfortable cabin "Eurocab" with an internal height of 2110 millimeters.
Since the mid-90s, Mercedes-Benz began a complete replacement of its entire European program. In early 1996, the MB100 series was replaced by the Vito front-wheel drive range with a gross weight of 2.6 tons (108D / 114 models) with transverse engines of 79-143 horses. In January 1995, at the Brussels Motor Show, the Sprinter delivery vehicles of the new light TIN range were presented, awarded the Van of the Year title. By 2001, it consisted of several dozen options from "208D" to "616CDJ" (79-156 hp) with bodies with a capacity of 7-13.4 m3.
The T2 series in 1997 was replaced by the Vario range with a gross weight of up to 7.5 tons (512D / 815D models) with low-toxic diesel engines of 115-136 horsepower, disc brakes and ABS. The title "Truck of 1997" was given to the new heavy range "SKN" or "Aktros", consisting of targets "1831/4157" with a V6 and V8 engine (313-571 hp) with electronic control, air suspension, disc brakes, ABS and ASR, three types of cabins with an internal height of up to 1960 millimeters. In 1999, the title "Truck of the Year" was given to the Atego car of a new medium range (models "712/2628") with engines of 122-280 "horses" and 14 wheelbase sizes.
In 1998, the NAV plant began manufacturing Ekonik low-frame chassis with a 4-seater cab, diesel or gas engines, automatic transmission and electronically controlled air suspension. At the end of the 20th century, Mercedes-Benz remained the world's largest truck manufacturer. It owns 14 factories in Germany and 25 enterprises worldwide. The volume of annual production exceeds 420 thousand cars. On May 7, 1998, Daimler-Benz strengthened its position by merging with the American Chrysler Corporation and creating a new transnational concern Daimler-Chrysler (Daimler Chrysler).
(Western Star). In the 21st century, its staff reached 273,216 people (as of December 31, 2008), and the total income was 1.4 billion Euros (2008).
©. Photos taken from publicly available sources.
Mercedes-Benz trademark cars premium class, trucks, buses and other vehicles of the German automaker Daimler AG. Is one of the most recognizable automotive brands worldwide. The headquarters of Mercedes-Benz is located in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
The history of this brand is made up of the stories of two well-known automobile brands - Mercedes, produced by the German company Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, and Benz, which were built by the company of the same name. Both companies developed quite successfully independently, and in 1926 they merged into the new Daimler-Benz concern.
benz
In 1886, a three-wheeled self-propelled cart with a gasoline engine was created. In the same year, on January 29, its creator, Karl Benz, received a patent for this invention (No. 37435). The world's first three-wheeled car is put into mass production.
Seven years later, having lost the championship to Daimler, Karl Benz creates his four-wheeled car, and next year an even more advanced design under the strange name "Bicycle" goes into series.
In 1901, shortly after the release of the new Mercedes-35PS by Daimler, it becomes clear how far Benz is lagging behind progress. To catch up, the shareholders invite French engineer Marius Barbara to join the company. Due to technical disagreements, Karl Benz leaves the company he founded. It soon becomes clear that the Frenchman did not live up to his expectations. Following the logic that German cars should be made by German hands, Fritz Erle was invited to the company for the position of chief engineer. This idea also fails. Only with the arrival of the talented engineer Hans Nibel to the company, things gradually begin to go uphill. In 1909, having created a number of excellent passenger cars, the company built the most famous racing car of that time "Blitzen Benz" with a 200 horsepower engine and a volume of 21,594 cm3.
In the post-war years, many new models were created, most of which were successfully produced until the mid-twenties. In total, from the start of production in 1886 until the merger with Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft in 1926, Benz produced 47,555 vehicles, including cars, trucks and omnibuses.
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft
In 1890, Gottlieb Daimler founded the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft company in the Bad Cannstatt (Stuttgart) region, deciding to produce a four-wheeled car created four years earlier by himself and, who took an active part, Wilhelm Maybach. After a series of not very successful attempts, which nevertheless found their enthusiastic customers, the designer V. Maybach managed to create a successful model in 1901. At the insistence of the consul of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Nice and part-time head of the Daimler representative office in France, Emil Jellinek, the car was named after the Virgin Mary of Mercy (fr. Maria de las Mercedes (from the Latin "merces" - "gifts")), in honor of which all his children are also named, including the notorious daughter of the consul Mercedes, and property (yachts, houses, a hotel and a casino).
The first Mercedes-35PS had a four-cylinder engine with a working volume of 5913 cm3, a classic arrangement of the main units and a beautiful (at that time) appearance. A year later, the world saw a more advanced design called the Mercedes-Simplex. In addition, the range has expanded. The most famous representatives of this series bore the proud names of Mercedes-40 / 45PS and Mercedes-65PS, having engines of 6785 cm3 and, accordingly, 9235 cm3, which allowed speeds up to 90 km / h.
Prior to the First World War, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft managed to produce a wide range of its cars with different engines (from 1568 cm3 to 9575 cm3), designed for different consumers, including luxurious, almost silent cars, using valveless gas distribution engines manufactured according to patented by the American company Knight.
Immediately after the war, Paul Daimler begins to experiment with a compressor that allows one and a half times to increase engine power. Ferdinand Porsche, who came to the post of chief engineer in 1923, brought the experiments to their logical conclusion, creating in 1924 one of the most outstanding cars world - "Mercedes-24/100/140PS" with a magnificent chassis and a six-cylinder compressor engine with a volume of 6240 cm3 and a power of 100-140 horsepower.
By 1926, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft had produced a total of 147,961 vehicles in all of its factories, with peak production being reached in 1918. Despite all the difficulties of this last war year, 24,690 cars were produced.
Competitors united
After the merger in 1926 firms Daimler And Benz new the Daimler-Benz concern was able to effectively use the experience and knowledge of the designers of both companies, which were led by Ferdinand Porsche. He completely updated the production program, taking as a basis the latest Daimler models, now produced under by Mercedes-Benz. First new development Porsche in 1926 became a compressor series, which included the model 24/100/140 with a six-cylinder engine with a working volume of 6240 cm3. For its great power and speed (up to 145 km / h), it was nicknamed the "death trap". It became the basis for the more famous S series, which consisted of the S (Sport), SS (Supersport), SSK (Supersport Kurz - supersport short) and SSKL (Supersport Kurz leicht - supersport short light) models.
In 1928, Porsche left Daimler-Benz and Hans Nibel took his place. Under his leadership, Mannheim 370 cars with a six-cylinder engine with a working volume of 3.7 liters were produced. and Nürburg 500 with an eight-cylinder 4.9-liter unit, based on the latest Porsche developments.
In 1930 appeared " Big Mercedes"(German Großer Mercedes) or Mercedes-Benz 770 (W07) with an eight-cylinder 200-horsepower engine, displacement of 7655 cm3 with a supercharger. In 1931, the company made its debut in the sector small cars, where it was represented by the very successful Mercedes 170 with a six-cylinder engine, a working volume of 1692 cm³ and independent front wheel suspension.
In 1933, the passenger Mercedes-Benz 200 and the sports Mercedes-Benz 380 appeared with 2.0- and 3.8-liter engines. The last of them was equipped with a supercharger and had a capacity of 140 horsepower. On the base sports model in 1934 they created the Mercedes-Benz 500K with a 5-liter engine, which two years later became the basis for the more famous large compressor car Mercedes-Benz 540K. In 1934-1936, the company released a light Mercedes-Benz 130 with a four-cylinder 26-horsepower engine. rear location, with a displacement of only 1308 cm3, followed by the 150 roadster and the 170H sedan.
Under the technical guidance of chief designer Max Sailer, who replaced Nibel in 1935, the popular inexpensive model 170V with a four-cylinder engine with a working volume of 1697 cm³, the world's first mass-produced passenger car with a diesel engine Mercedes-Benz 260 D (1936), as well as the new "Big" Mercedes-Benz 770 (W150) (1938) with an oval beam frame section and rear spring suspension who served Nazi leaders.
During the war, Daimler-Benz produced both trucks and cars. various classes. However, a two-week aerial bombardment by the Anglo-American Air Force in September 1944 reduced the Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft to rubble. The destruction of a large concern was estimated differently, the main workshop in Stuttgart was destroyed by 70%, the engine and body shops in Sindelfingen - 85%, the truck workshop in Gaggenau was completely destroyed. The former Benz und Cie factory in Mannheim was the luckiest with only 20% destruction, and the Berlin-Marienfeld diesel engine factory, bought by Daimler in 1902, is completely razed to the ground. When damage estimates were ready by January 1945, the board of directors ruled that "Daimler-Benz physically no longer exists."
The post-war reconstruction of the destroyed factories took time, so automobile production was only started in June 1946. There was no technical base or funds for the development of new cars, so the W136 sedan - “170V” became the first post-war car. Although the design was developed back in the mid-1930s, a small car with an engine of only 38 horsepower was the beginning of a new history for the brand. Since May 1949, a major modernization has been carried out. The engine was increased by 70 cm³ (up to 52 hp; model “170S”), there were options in cabriolet and station wagon bodies (the so-called “A” and “B” cabriolets) and, most importantly, models with diesel engines “170D ".
By the early 1950s, Daimler had major ambitions for the future, but the launch of a new generation of vehicles required further development of the production base. Therefore, in the early 1950s, despite the appearance of the new luxurious 300 series (see below), the production of models with obsolete designs continued. Constant modernization and launch of new models continued. So in January 1952, a model with an enlarged body appeared, which received the number W191. But even before that, in March 1951, a six-cylinder engine with a power of 80 hp was installed on the car. instead of 4-cylinder. Along with a new exterior design (for example, the location of the front lights in the fenders), the W187 received a new name "220" and occupied the middle segment between the "170" and "300" mi. It was offered in three body styles (sedan and convertibles "A" and "B").
In just nine years (the release ended in September 1955), 151,042 and 18,514 cars "170" and "220" were built, respectively. Thanks to these vehicles, Mercedes-Benz was able to create a solid foundation on which the company would become the leading automotive manufacturer in Western Europe.
After successfully rebuilding its factories and manufacturing its small cars, by the late 1940s Mercedes-Benz was once again rebuilding its pre-war luxury car brand. Given modern breakthroughs in automotive fashion, in November 1951, a new executive limousine W186 "300" appeared at the Paris Motor Show. The car, although it was built in a classic layout (a separate frame and body), was equipped with a powerful 6-cylinder engine of 2996 cm³ with an overhead camshaft.
The car was produced in two bodies - a sedan and a four-door convertible "D" and was a huge success among big businessmen, celebrities and politicians. It was the latter category that gave the car an unofficial name in honor of the first Federal Chancellor of Germany, Konrad Adenauer, who had a personal car and highly appreciated it. Since the assembly of the car was carried out by hand, the interiors were made for the buyers and were equipped with a radio, telephone and many other innovations.
Manual assembly of cars allowed for continuous upgrades, as a result, at the end of 1954, the W186 “300b” series appeared, which received new brake drums and front windows. A year later, it was replaced by the "300c", equipped with an automatic transmission from Borg-Warner. But the biggest step forward was made in the mid-1950s, when the invention of the fuel injection system was made by Bosch. She was equipped with the W188 "300Sc" series from the end of 1955.
In January 1952, another series of executive class W188 appeared - "300S", which was produced as a coupe, convertible "A" and a two-seater roadster. The compression ratio of the engine was increased to 7.8:1, and the power was 150 hp. If the assembly of large "Adenauers" was relatively fast (about a thousand a year, given the total capacity of the factories of the brand), then the average production of 300S cars was no more than a hundred pieces a year.
However, if the demand for large Adenauers continued, then the production of small-scale "300S" became impractical after the introduction of SL roadsters and similar two-door pontoon models in the mid-1950s (see below). Further assembly of obsolete cars turned out to be a big burden for the company, so in 1958 the release of all three bodies W188 discontinued after only 760 cars produced.
As for the flagship sedans and convertibles "D", in August 1957, a thorough modernization of the car was carried out, which became known as the W189 - "300d". The main external difference was in the tail section of the body, which took the form of a pontoon sedan (see below). similarly changed the shape and rear end roofs with enlarged tail glass. The side glazing also received the opportunity to remove the central pillar, which is very convenient for summer time. To successfully penetrate the US market, cars could be equipped with air conditioning and power steering, and their tires were painted white. Under the hood of the new Adenauer, there was now a fuel injection system, and the engine could produce 180 hp. With. and disperse heavy vehicle up to 165 km/h.
The assembly of "Adenauers" continued until March 1962, a total of 8288 W186s and 3142 W189s were built. With this series, Mercedes-Benz fully restored its pre-war reputation as a manufacturer of luxury cars.
In the early 1950s Mercedes-Benz finally has the resources and staff to fulfill its ambitions. As already noted, the 170 and 200 models were already completely outdated by the beginning of the 1950s, and only the elite of that time could afford the 300s. The brand needed a unified series of cars that would be modern, reliable, but at the same time relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain.
The way out was obvious - a monocoque body, but here Mercedes-Benz retained the classic lines of the wheel arches and thus introduced the design of a pontoon body into automotive terminology. That was new car W120 "180", first shown in July 1953. Production continued until the early 1960s. and many models and upgrades were developed. So, in February 1954, the diesel version "180D" appeared, and in March 1956 the more powerful and comfortable W121 "190", to which the diesel modification "190D" also appeared in August 1958. But the most significant model was the sports roadster "190SL", built on common body with W121, despite significant external differences(see description below).
The first six-cylinder, so-called. "large pontoons" appeared in June 1954, with the W180 "220a" with an 89 hp engine. With. Like their younger brothers, the cars underwent a number of modifications, since March 1956, the flagship 220S series, similar to the 190th, appeared, which, in addition to the sedan, was produced in the bodies of a two-door coupe and convertible with an engine power of 105 hp. With. The old "220a" was now referred to as "219" under the new body number W105. The final touch in the history of large pontoons occurred in October 1958, when models with the fuel injection system "220SE" (E - Einspritzmotor) appeared for sedans, coupes and convertibles, which were now referred to as W128.
The production of large pontoons of the 220th series continued until September 1959 (sedans) and November 1960 (coupes and convertibles). In total, 111,035 and 5,371 such vehicles were built, respectively. The younger pontoons were produced longer, until October 1962. A total of 442,963 W120 and W121 sedans were built, as well as 25,881 190SL roadsters. A total of 585,250 cars, a scale that made it possible to glorify the brand throughout the world, since they were only officially exported to 136 countries. During the release, a solid base was created for the production of future models, already in 1960, according to Daimlera's analysis, the assembly of one car in Sindelfingen took only 25 hours. But the automotive world in the late 1950s and early 1960s. experienced rapid changes, and in order to remain competitive in an unequal battle with American manufacturers required new generations of vehicles.
Simultaneously with the production of passenger cars, the company paid a lot of attention to restoring its racing reputation. A whole bureau was engaged in the creation of lightweight aerodynamic bodies. A particular success was the Mercedes-Benz W196, in which the Argentine driver Juan Manuel Fangio won the Formula 1 championships in 1954 and 1955 (see the Mercedes team in Formula 1). The car itself was built on the basis of the experience of the former Messerschmitt Bf.109 aircraft engine designers and had a fuel injection system and a desmodromic valve drive.
In 1955, an improved version of the car - the Mercedes-Benz W196S (300SLR) numbered 722, driven by the famous English racer Stirling Moss, set the Mille Miglia race record, which has not been beaten to this day. Despite the tragic outcome of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which killed Pierre Levegh and 82 spectators, Mercedes-Benz won the World Championship in 1955. However, after that, the brand left the racing world for many years.
But success could not remain without consequences. Back in 1952, the Mercedes-Benz W194 racing model appeared, the predecessor of the SLR, which was able to finish in second and fourth places in the Mille Miglia of the same year, and also participated in the Carrera Panamericana and Targa Florio races. The body of the car consisted of a tubular frame covered with sheets made of lightweight patented aluminum alloy and had a lightweight and redesigned version of the Adenauer six-cylinder engine. The most interesting design elements were the shape of the cab and the doors, which opened upwards for strength and weight savings and gave the car the nickname "gullwing".
In 1953, businessman Max Hoffman suggested that the company create a road version of the W194 for the emerging American market. The result was the Mercedes-Benz W198 (300SL). Since its premiere in 1954, its futuristic features, and of course the unusual doors, have guaranteed a complete success. The US elite, where more than 80% of all cars were supplied, bought them up at auctions. Initially, the cars had an engine with a system of three Weber-type carburetors that developed 115 hp, but soon a Bosch fuel injection system was installed, which increased power to 215 hp. and allowed to disperse a light car up to 250 km / h.
The success of the 300SL shocked the firm itself. However, with all its advantages, the complex design and long assembly made its cost inaccessible to the old world. Feeling the potential of the market that opened up for the brand, Mercedes-Benz engineers immediately began to develop a mass model based on the standard Mercedes-Benz 190 (W121) pontoon. At the same time, the car retained much of the 300SL - an independent front suspension and a rear suspension with oscillating axle shafts. In April 1954, the premiere of " younger brother» 190SL. The car was produced as a roadster, either with a removable hardtop or with a folding canvas. Priced almost half as much as the 300SL, the car proved to be very successful, especially among female buyers.
In 1957, the 300SL underwent a major redesign, during which it lost its unique wing-door design. There are several reasons for this: firstly, the car was more of a racing car than the Gran Turismo class, into which it unexpectedly moved. Consequently, in terms of convenience, it had big drawbacks, such as the lack of a trunk, poor ventilation (only due to the rear triangular vents that could open slightly) and the entry and exit of passengers into the cabin, which was very inconvenient, especially for women. Another reason was the high death rate in accidents, due to the fact that it is difficult for passengers to get out of the car, especially when it is overturned. Therefore, in 1957, a new 300SL appeared, which turned into a roadster, similar to the 190SL and was produced both with canvas and with a removable hardtop. At the same time, the car received a new, more comfortable rear suspension, disc brakes (since 1961) and, for the first time for Mercedes-Benz, they put on it new type vertical headlights, which would soon become a feature of all subsequent models of the brand until the early 1970s.
In 1963, the production of both cars was completed. A total of 1,400 first-generation 300SLs and 1,858 second-generation 300SLs were produced. "Pontoon" 190SL built 25,881 units. Both cars opened up a completely new class of cars for the brand, which from now on had the ending SL - Sport Leicht - sports-light.
In the 1950s, Western Europe was emerging from the devastation and poverty that followed World War II. Back in September 1956, when Pontoons had just begun to be produced, Daimler-Benz management began developing a new generation of cars. The main requirements were higher than ever: the safety and comfort of passengers inside, the outside of the car had to be in the form of Italian-style cars, while the front end should be inherited from Mercedes-Benz. Development began in 1957, at a time when America was the undisputed leader in the automotive industry. American external design The car experienced a revolution that was caused by the era of jet air and space flight (hence the characteristic "wings" that adorned the rear of the body). At the last moment, the lead design engineer added this detail to the new design. Although the fenders themselves were much smaller and more modest than their American counterparts, their shape gave the characteristic nickname for the entire generation of Heckflosse cars - "fins".
Production began in early 1959. In autumn, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the W111 was shown to the public. Despite the fact that the chassis was the same as the pontoons, outwardly the “fin” looked completely different, having an elegant body, a vertical headlight unit, and of course, the fins themselves. In addition, Mercedes-Benz has gone ahead of the world by patenting front and rear crumple zones that absorb the kinetic energy of a collision, and seat belts. Inside, the cabin was much more spacious, and at the same time, the entire instrument panel and even the steering wheel were lined with soft material. The glazing area has increased by 35%, thereby improving visibility for the driver and passengers. Comfort was also improved by the independent rear suspension.
The W111 replaced the W128 and W180 sedans, with the "220b", "220Sb", and "220SEb" models (b - never externally mentioned, but introduced to avoid confusion with earlier models). The models differed, in addition to different engine capacities (from 95 to 120 hp), in their layout, and the 220SE was considered a kind of flagship of the line. The release continued until the summer of 1965, when the successor W108 appeared (see below). However, due to its popularity, the production of the 220S model continued, the car received an increased cylinder diameter (power increased by 20 hp) and a pneumatic, self-leveling rear axle. Due to the larger engine size, the car was renamed the "230S" and production continued until January 1968. A total of 337,803 cars of this type were produced.
Following the W111, development began to replace the rest of the pontoon cars, in particular two-door coupes and convertibles. When developing the appearance, Mercedes-Benz tried to give the car a more sporty character with the same front and rear design from the future SL "Pagoda" (see below), however, only the rear part of the design reached the coupe and convertible, due to which their "fins" lost chrome underline. In March 1961, rackless two-door cars The 220SEb made a splash at the Geneva Motor Show.
Simultaneously with the work on replacing the pontoon two-door 220s with finned ones, work was underway to create a mass budget version fins that would replace the W120 and W121 four-cylinder sedans. In the summer of 1961, the W110 car appeared in two models: "190c" and "190Dc". As before, the cars were almost the same as the W111, but had a more modest front design (14.5 cm shorter). The W110 was more economical, especially the diesel "190D", which became the favorite car for many taxi drivers. Station wagons, ambulances, etc. were built on the basis of the W110. expensive units flagship sedan on the W110, for example, seat back adjustment, ventilation, external chrome decor, but most importantly, engines. In 1965, with the launch of a new generation of engines, the 190s became the 220 and 220D. But the main model was the "230", which arose by installing a six-cylinder engine from the W111 "230S" in the body of the W110. In January 1968, Mercedes-Benz stopped its production, having produced 628.282 cars by that time.
The final touch on the history of fins was made in the same 1961. As noted above, Mercedes-Benz completed the production of not only pontoons, but also the top league of hand-built cars W189 Adenauer "300". Work on replacing the high-end limousine has just begun, and the completion of the outdated frame limousine has created a niche in the lineup. Mercedes-Benz solved the problem in the simplest way by putting a large three-liter engine in a regular W111 sedan. The result was a car with much improved dynamic performance. By adding air suspension, automatic transmission, luxurious interior and doubling the amount of chrome exterior trim, Mercedes has recreated the luxury of a limousine in a conventional sedan. However, knowing that many of the upper echelons of buyers may not accept this "hack", Mercedes-Benz decided to further tear the flagship "300SE" model from the main line, and even allocated a separate factory index W112. And in 1963, a model with an extended wheelbase "300SEL" appeared. As expected, not everyone reacted positively to the replacement of a hand-built car with a mass-produced luxury car. However, in the short period of its release (until 1965), 5.202 "300SE" and 1.546 "300SEL" were produced. Breaking the taboo of succession, in March 1962 Mercedes-Benz took the next logical step and put the same engine on two-door fins. This W112 "300SE" differed from the W111 "220SE" in similar ways to the sedans (more exterior chrome, walnut panel trim, etc.). A total of 3.12 were released through 1968
By the early 1960s, the fashion for fins had already gone out of fashion. automotive design, but the renewal of the car fleet continued, and in the summer of 1963 it was the turn to replace the sports SL series. Until the end of 1962, the mass production of four-cylinder W121 "190SL" roadsters and the manual assembly of luxury W198 "300SL" Gran Turismo cars continued simultaneously. Just as the W111 and W112 combined the different 220 and 300 series sedans, the new W113 combined both SL classes. The development of the car followed the same path, a deep modernization of the pontoon body. But at the same time, it already had not a four-, but a six-cylinder engine. With a simple compact body, independent suspension and of course the option to remove either the hard or canvas roof, the new 230SL roadster quickly became a popular car, especially among women. It was the unusual shape of the roof that gave it the nickname "Pagoda" during its premiere. Subsequently, the car was upgraded twice with rear disc brakes and more powerful engines "250SL" (1967) and "280SL" (1968-71). A total of 48.912 such cars were produced
The following year, 1964, finally solved the problem of replacing the Adenauers. As already noted, the W112 "300SE", although it was equipped with an order of magnitude better than standard fins, it still remained a mass car, and was a temporary solution to replace the W189. A real successor to Adenauer, the W100 limousine was almost 5.5 meters long, had air suspension, a boxy body and inside could be equipped with any comfort details, up to a TV. But its engine became the main one: the old three-liter engine was no longer suitable for a car weighing three tons, and after the W112 series it had already managed to go down from exclusivity to the masses, and Mercedes-Benz returned the first V-shaped eight-cylinder engine to its range. The M100 engine with a volume of 6.3 liters, having 250 hp, could accelerate a huge car to 205 km / h, thereby making it the second fastest car in Germany (after the Porsche 911). Model "600" could be produced, in addition to the standard limousine, in the configuration of an elongated (by 74 cm) "Pulman" or semi-cabriolet "Landole", which were purchased by the heads of state for ceremonial purposes, as well as by the Vatican as the Popemobile. In general, the car became so successful that its assembly continued until 1981 (2.677 cars were produced).
The 600th completed the renewal of the entire model range. The years of production of these cars just coincided with the heyday of Germany as a new economic force in Western Europe, which speaks both of the scale of production and the export success of cars. By the mid-1960s, Mercedes-Benz had established itself as a leader in the German automotive industry. Of course, the fin era did not end with the launch of the 600, but the ability to unify the model range made it possible to save a huge amount of material and human resources.
Pontoons and SL Mercedes managed in 10 years to turn from a company that was in 170th place in the production of cars before the war, into a manufacturer of the best European cars. Models were exported to many countries of the world and purchased by both celebrities and politicians. But by the end of the 1950s modern cars, like Western society, changed dramatically, and Mercedes became the avant-garde in this era. In 1959, the new family of the executive class W111 went into production, which received elegant load-bearing bodies with vertical headlights, a huge luggage compartment and independent suspension of all wheels (models 220, 220S, 220SE, 230S, 250SE, 280SE and 280SE 3.5). They demonstrated the highest technical level of cars of this brand. The main symbol of the new era was a square body, but with a clear American influence in the form of "fins" on the rear fenders. The car also had coupe and convertible versions. Flippers also made their way to the mid-range W110 in 1961. In 1961 Mercedes releases a luxury version based on the 111 300SE W112, also available in coupe and convertible versions.
But the fin trend was gone as quickly as it came, and Mercedes continued to introduce new and more luxurious models. In 1963, two new models appeared. The first was the SL "Pagoda" with a unique roof (its middle part was below the sidewalls). The car was produced in three series: 230SL, 250SL and 280SL. And at the end of 1963 appeared Mercedes-Benz limousine W100 600. The car had a 6.3-liter V8 engine with 250 hp, an automatic 4-speed gearbox, and air suspension wheels. The main thing is that the car had almost no competitors, and not only in prestige - despite its huge size, it could reach a maximum speed of up to 205 km / h. There were also extended versions of the Pullman (including six-door versions) and semi-convertibles - landole.
At the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1965, a range of models of the so-called S-class (W108) was shown for the first time - the most prestigious (after the 600 limousine) cars of the company. It included models 250S and 250SE with 6-cylinder engines of 150 and 170 hp, according to their technical parameters superior to competitors. Over time, they received engines of 2.8 liters, and since 1968: 3.5- and 4.5-liter V8 engines. The most powerful and comfortable model of this series was the extended W109 300SEL, including the flagship 300SEL 6.3 with a 6.3-liter engine from the 600th, with a top speed of 220 km/h. Since then, the S series has become a symbol of technical excellence. Mercedes-Benz.
In 1968, new models of the middle class W114 and W115 appeared, differing in a set of engines. The latter (230, 250 and 280) had six-cylinder engines, the first (200, 220 and 240) had four-cylinder ones. Diesel versions of these models have also gained wide popularity. The car was produced in coupe, station wagon and extended sedan versions. A feature of the series was the fact that its body was completely developed from scratch, unlike the previous ones, which in one form or another were borrowed from previous models.
If the brand was able to occupy a niche in post-war Europe by the end of the 1950s, then by the end of the 1960s the whole world knew about it, both in terms of the scale of production and the quality of cars. In the early 1970s, Mercedes adopted a new car classification system, where the prefix W was added to R (roadster), C (coupe), S (station wagon) and V (long wheelbase). There was also a new styling standard that became more masculine and charismatic, giving the new cars a more elegant yet austere and sporty profile.
The first novelty of the decade was the new SL R107, which replaced Pagoda in 1971. The success of the car can be characterized by the fact that it was produced for 18 years (until 1989). Although there were models entry level with six-cylinder engines (280SL and 300SL), but mainly the R107 was equipped with an eight (V8), which successfully conquered the American market on the 350SL, 380SL, 420SL, 450SL, 500SL and 560SL models. The latest model was not available for Europe at all.
In 1972, the 108th was replaced by a new generation of the S-class W116, which received the world's first anti-lock braking system (ABS), as well as hydropneumatic suspension and a three-speed automatic transmission. Like its predecessor, the car had two bases, short and long (V116). The lineup also mainly consisted of the "eights" 350SE / SEL and 450SE / SEL. But, in addition to the "six" 280S and 280SE / SEL, there was also a diesel model 300SD with short base(for the North American market), and the flagship was the 450SEL 6.9 with a huge 6.9-liter V8 engine.
If all S-classes had coupes, then the W116 was an exception, and to replace the already obsolete C111 in 1972, the new C107 SLC model came, which was developed on the basis of the R107. Unlike the roadster, the coupe had a hardtop and an enlarged interior with rear seats.
1973 was a severe test for the company - the beginning of the oil crisis seriously reduced the sale of cars, especially with large engines. But thanks to the W114 / W115 series and the efforts that the concern has made in the framework of quality improvement and in the development of more economical engines since the mid-1970s, in 1975, Mercedes introduced new mass-produced car models - W114 / W115.
The new car W123 turned out to be one of the most reliable in the history of the brand. There was also a station wagon version (since 1976), a coupe and a limousine (since 1977). The car was simple and economical. In many countries, W123s are still in service today.
In 1979, Mercedes launched its new S-Class W126, whose success can be compared to the huge number of innovations it brought to the automotive world. In an instant, his predecessor was obsolete by a whole generation. The new car had a revolutionary design: thanks to the famous Italian designer Brunno Sacco, for the first time, the emphasis was on aerodynamics. In total, about 840 thousand cars were produced - a record not broken by any S-Class since then, as well as a production duration record of 12 years. The new flagship models of the S-class 500SEL and 560SEL finally made it possible to complete the production of the heavy W100 limousine.
Unlike the W116, the W126 expanded its lineup from 1981 with the new C126 coupes, which replaced the C107 SLC. But the era sports coupe still affected the appearance of the new car. The postless car proved to be just as successful as the sedan, especially the powerful 500SEC and 560SEC versions.
But the success of the new S-class was not enough for the company, and in the early 1980s it opened up two completely new markets. The first of these is the 460 series SUV, known as the Geländewagen. The all-wheel drive car was born thanks to the order of the Iranian Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who was a shareholder of Daimler-Benz. The revolution in Iran in 1977, after which the shah lost power, made its own adjustments: left without a customer, Damler-Benz turned a military vehicle into a civilian SUV, which became famous for its high cross-country ability and reliability.
The Mercedes-Benz brand in the late 1970s received a powerful challenge from its chief BMW competitor and his success with the 3 Series, which quickly took over the mainstream car's pendulum. Daimler-Benz had the only way out, and in 1982 the premiere of the W201 190 compact sedan took place. The car, despite its modest size, had excellent sports design, thanks to the same Brunno Sacco, a wide range of engines (1.8-2, 6 with a power of 75-185 hp) and, most importantly, the price was available to a wider range of customers. The success of the car is evidenced by the numbers: in just 11 years, 1.8 million cars were produced. The car, nicknamed "Baby Benz", completely returned the competitiveness of the brand.
The main models of Mercedes-Benz, sedans and wagons of the W123 series, became obsolete by the mid-1980s, and in 1984 the W124 appeared. The car once again showed the ability of the brand to create stylish and modern cars, but at the same time make them durable and reliable. The new range was produced in four versions: sedan, station wagon (S124), coupe (C124) and convertible (A124). If the 123 was a work machine, the 124 added elegance to that quality. Also in the late 1980s, many tuning companies appeared, such as Brabus, AMG, Carlsson and others, so for the sake of experiment in 1989, Mercedes, together with Porsche, creates a sports special series 500E with a 5-liter V8 engine. In total, over 2.7 million W124 cars were produced, including about 10,000 500Es.
In 1989, on the eve of a new decade, a period begins to replace the legendary R107 SL. It is being replaced by the new Mercedes-Benz R129. The car, which had to make up the gap in a whole generation, coped with its task. Having a modern racing look The R129 quickly brought the company back into the sports car market.
In the period 1990-91, Mercedes updates its Geländewagen with models 461 and 463. The first model actually remained all-wheel drive SUV, which was produced in a small series, but the latest model has already become an urban off-road vehicle, which, on order, could be supplemented with various options, up to an armored body. The production of this car continues to this day.
In 1991, Mercedes showcases the new S-Class W140, a huge car that ushered the brand into the computer age. But the main thing is that it was the first where the V12 engine was installed. The flagship was named 600SEL in honor of the legendary limousine, which was already inferior to the new W140 in many dimensions. The V12 engine was also installed in the R129 (600SL) and the new C140 600SEC coupe in 1992.
In 1993, a radical change in the nominal system of cars takes place. The classification, which was based mainly on engine size, including one or two models, had already exhausted itself by the beginning of the 1980s, when up to ten engines were offered on the same body. A striking example of this is the W201, called the 190, although it was equipped with the same two-liter M102 engine as the Mercedes-Benz 200 of the 123 family. To avoid such intersections with other engines, the concern had to give the W201 cars with 2.5-liter engines a different name - 190E 2.5. It was also with the flagship S-classes, for example, the V116 car with a 6.9-liter M100 engine was 450SEL 6.9, so as not to mix it with the W100 600 limousine. This system was used in the American market, where all models of the 124 series were designated as Mercedes- Benz 300 with engine size. 1993 put an end to the confusion: Mercedes now divided its cars into classes, each with its own body. In general, the system has developed over the years, since most models had their own letters in the designations. So, Sonderklasse (special class) became the S-class, Sport Leicht (light sports) became the SL-class, Geländewagen (SUV) became the G-class. Difficulty arose with the W124 and W201 cars. While the rest of the cars already had one or another classification, the 124 series, like its predecessors, remained "basic" and letter indexes was not intended for her. The letters referred to the type of engine: E (Einspritzmotor) meant fuel injection instead of a carburetor, and D corresponded to diesel. However, after 1989, carburetor engines were no longer installed on the 124 series, and most of these sedans had the designation E. During the reform, instead of fuel injection, this letter received the value Exekutivklasse. In connection with the advent of the W201, more solid representatives of the 124 series have become less massive. The assignment of the new designation "E-class" also coincided with a significant modernization of the car.
At this time, the successor to the W201 - W202 appeared. It was no longer a cheap alternative to the middle class, but a car designed for the mass (for the Mercedes-Benz brand) market. Mercedes-Benz relies on quality and variety. The series receives the designation Comfortklasse. Unlike the W201, the wagon version appears here - S202. In addition to a large selection of engines, the model was offered in different performance lines, differing in external and internal details.
In 1995, Mercedes demonstrates new E-class W210. The car was the first on which the brand applied a new styling standard in the form of four headlights. Diesel engines with the new Common Rail technology were used as the main engine design. The car, like the C-class, had a station wagon version (S210) and different performance lines.
In the mid-90s, the brand radically changes its policy regarding new cars. The determining factors were economy and availability, which directly affected the quality of cars. The concern introduced three new classes in 1996-97.
First class: SLK-class (model R170). SLK - Sport-Leicht-Kurz, or "sport-light-short", was a lighter version of the "heavy" SL. compact roadster had the first all-metal top in the history of Mercedes, which automatically retracts into the trunk in 25 seconds.
The second innovation was new SUV M-class W163, which was partly produced in the USA as part of the concern's globalization program.
The third novelty was the new compact A-class W168, designed for middle-class consumers. The car had excellent fuel economy data, and despite the small external dimensions, it was quite roomy inside. However, the reputation of the car was severely undermined when elk dough at a speed of 37 km/h the car overturned. In order not to undermine its prestige, the concern had to withdraw more than 130,000 vehicles in order to put ESP on them. In 2001, a long wheelbase variant of the V168 was launched. In total, 1.8 million of these cars were produced.
Simultaneously, in 1996, Mercedes decided to further rationalize its classification system. The first "victim" was the S-class coupe - CL-class (Comfort Leicht - "light comfort"), which just coincided with the C140 cosmetic update. But then, in 1996, to replace the E-class coupe and convertible (C124 and A124), the CLK-class (Comfort Leicht Kurz - “light comfort shortened”) appears, and with it the W208 model. And although outwardly the new coupe and convertible were stylized as the W210 E-class, in fact both cars had the body of the W202 C-class as the basis.
In 1999, another historic event happens for Mercedes, he buys the tuning company AMG, which has been the official tuner since 1992, and during this time has released a number of sports cars, including the 190E 3.5 AMG (92-93 ), C36 AMG (1993-1996), E60 AMG (1993-1995), E36 AMG (1993-1997), SL60 AMG (1993-1995) and others. Since then, many classes have had AMG versions as expensive alternatives for those who wanted a sharper sporty ride. At the same time, AMG is helping to create the first version of Gran Turismo based on the C208 CLK coupe. The result is a racing car Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, (which was available only to very wealthy customers), which had a 6.9-liter V12 with 612 hp. and developed a maximum speed of more than 320 km / h.
Mercedes is ending the decade with the launch of two new S- and CL-class cars, separated in 1998. The W220 was able to fully embody the new concept of compactness combined with economy. The car was almost 300 kg lighter and 120 mm shorter than its predecessor, but at the same time, the internal volume was increased through the use of more compact devices and further rationalization of their location. The engine range was also generally weaker than the W140, especially the flagship S600, featuring lower fuel consumption and much more environmental friendliness. The profile of the new CL-class C215 was similar to that of a sedan. However, externally, on the example of the coupe, a number of details were used in order to distinguish the cars (in particular, the four-headlight layout in front of the car). Both cars demonstrated another standard for future models of the 21st century brand - saturation with electronics.
The latest novelty of the 1990s was the new W203 C-Class, which borrowed a lot from the W220 S-Class in terms of styling. In particular, this applies to the concept of compact design (externally reduced, internally enlarged). In addition to the station wagon, the car also had a 3-door liftback version (CL203). Like its predecessor, several different performance lines were available with a wide choice of engines from the most economical diesels Common Rail to AMG sports eights.
In ten years, Mercedes-Benz has doubled its model range (if in 1993 there were only five classes of cars, then in 1999 there were already ten). But at the same time, the constant search for cheap funds was reflected in the fundamental feature of the brand - quality. Sophisticated devices used on cars of the second half of the 90s often broke down, and by the beginning of the new millennium, the brand's reputation had fallen sharply.
The first model of the new millennium was the long-awaited replacement of the SL-class R230 in 2001. This car, like the SLK, had a top that folded into the trunk. The most successful model was the SL55 AMG version with a 5.5-liter V8 engine with a power supercharger of almost 500 hp, which provided the car with good performance: acceleration to 100 km / h in 4.5 s, maximum speed (when the limiter was removed ) - 300 km / h. The car held the record as the fastest car with automatic transmission for several years, and this despite the fact that the SL55 was inferior to the SL65 AMG with a V12. In 2008, the car receives a major update of the design of the front end ( a new version AMG SL63). On the basis of the Formula 1 safety car, a so-called. "black series" - SL65 AMG.
Released in mid-2002 new E-class W211. Unlike the W210, the car is bigger on the outside and inside (especially considering it's built in the same compact layout as the W220 and W203) and much more upscale, fitting in perfectly with the business class definition. For example, luxury details such as leather upholstery and wood interior trim (formerly an expensive option) were "standard" on the W211. Like its predecessor, the car was produced in the form of a sedan or wagon, the last largest in the history of the brand.
In May 2002, the premiere of the new CLK-class W209 took place. The appearance of the car combines the heritage of a sports coupe (as well as a convertible) and the younger brother of the CL (for example, the star has moved to the center of the grille). Like its predecessor, the bodywork was borrowed from the W203 C-Class but styled after the W211 E-Class. If the W208 became famous for its special CLK-GTR series, then the W209 had two of them. AMG launched a special edition of 100 CLK-DTMs in 2003, which was based on the DTM racing version. In 2007, the so-called. the black CLK63 AMG series, based on the Formula 1 safety car.
In the mid-2000s, Mercedes releases about ten new models, including replacements for those introduced in the mid-1990s. In 2004, a new A-class W169 appears. In 2004, the premiere of the "ladies" roadster R171 SLK-class, which was slightly larger than its predecessor, also took place. And in 2005, the M-class was updated with the new W164 model.
In 2005, it is time for the launch of new models of S and CL classes - cars W221 and C216. Cars demonstrated A New Look on the appearance of the brand. The exterior is distinguished by retro elements (wide wheel arches and larger volumes), and the interior has become larger. The car is equipped with the latest technology and equipment. The flagships of the series are the S65 and CL65 AMG with powerful V12 engines.
After updating the S-class, it was the turn of the C-class and at the beginning of 2007 the premiere of the new W204 took place. The car has traditionally been styled as a small version of the S-Class, but even here the build quality excels. As with previous generations, sedan and station wagon versions were offered. But three lines of execution, the differences between which were previously only noticeable to an experienced eye, began to differ greatly in the taste of the buyer. Standard Classic, luxurious Elegance (featuring more luxurious leather interior and technology) and sporty Avantgarde, which can be easily identified by the star located at the center of the grille. In 2008, the range was replenished with a new CLC-class (CLC - Comfort-Leicht-Coupe or light comfortable coupe). Despite the fact that the body remained the same - CL203, the appearance was updated to the standard of the 204's.
In the second half of the 2000s, the company introduces two new classes of SUVs. The first model of the GL-class SUV (X164) is an extended version of the W164 M-class. The car was originally intended to replace the Geländewagen SUV, but due to the success of the latter, the idea was abandoned, and the car was further increased in size (GL - Geländewagen Lang, an elongated SUV), making it three-row (capacity from seven to nine people). And in 2008 appeared midsize SUV GLK-class (X204), developed on the basis of the S204 station wagon C-class (GLK - Geländewagen-Leicht-Kurz, that is, a shortened light SUV).
Mercedes repeatedly tried to enter the almost closed world of Gran Turismo, but until 2004 its success was limited. But when Daimler bought a 40% stake in the British company McLaren in 2000, a unique opportunity arose. McLaren, which is predominantly Formula 1, has produced successful GTs such as the McLaren F1. After the purchase of McLaren, the designers of both companies teamed up to work on a new project, for which McLaren developed powerful engine V8 supercharged 617 hp In 2004, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren supercar was ready. The C199 was named after the legendary 1955 W196 300SLR World Sports Car Championship winner. In total, by 2009 it was planned to produce 3,500 cars. The car has been constantly updated with the 722 (641 hp, named after the winning car's W196 300SLR race number) and 722 GT (671 hp). It is planned to complete the series with 75 SLR Stirling Moss cars, named after winning driver Stirling Moss, which will have gull-shaped doors (as on the 300SLR).
Mercedes ended the decade with the launch of the new W212 E-Class in early 2009. With the new sedan, the E-coupe (C207) took the place of the CLK-class as part of the E-class (which was developed on the basis of the W204 C-class). And in August of the same year, the S212 station wagon appeared. The A207 convertible will be launched in 2010. The new E-class family itself has achieved tremendous economic and environmental performance. The line-opening supercharged petrol engines have been replaced by a new type of direct injection (CGI - Stratified (Charged Gasoline Injection)) twin-turbocharged engines, and all but the flagship 8-cylinder models wear the BlueEfficiency badge.
In 2014, the brand was valued at $34.338 billion, holding second place (after Toyota) among car manufacturing companies and tenth place among all brands in the world. According to BrandZ in 2015, the brand ranks 43rd with a value of $21.786 billion.
The production of Mercedes in Germany, as well as their sales, has been breaking the company's historical records for the second year in a row. At the end of 2017, the Daimler AG group, which includes Mercedes-Benz, sold about 3.3 million vehicles worldwide, of which the share of Mercedes was 2.3 million. Such success allowed the concern to increase revenue to 164.3 billion euros, and raise net profit to a new high of 10.9 billion euros, up 23.86% year-on-year. This significantly strengthened the position of "Mercedes" as a leader in the premium class segment.
The history of the Mercedes company
The loss of Germany in World War II, the devaluation of its own currency and the strengthening of Ford Motor Company's position in the domestic market forced the leadership of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie to take drastic steps. So, in 1926, by merging two competitors, the world famous car manufacturer Daimler-Benz was born, which was later renamed Daimler AG.
The talented designer Ferdinand Porsche became the chief engineer of the new Stuttgart company. In a short period of time, he was able to completely update the production line and launched the first models of cars on the conveyor, which are now assembled under the Mercedes-Benz brand.
Factories "Mercedes"
The main production facilities of the company for the production of passenger cars are located in three German cities - Sindelfingen, Bremen and Rastatt. In Affalterbach, a subsidiary of Mercedes-AMG GmbH is based, which specializes in the assembly of independent models under the Mercedes-AMG brand and is the only official tuning studio of the manufacturer.
First and main plant Mercedes Benz has been operating in Germany since 1915 and is based in Sindelfingen.
It assembles cars of class E, S, CLS, S-coupe, GLC and GT.
The Mercedes-Benz Trucks truck plant is located in Werth. In 2013, he celebrated his 50th anniversary. For all the time of work, about 4 million trucks were assembled here. It is worth noting that this is the world's largest truck assembly plant.
The headquarters of Mercedes-Benz is located in Stuttgart.
It is part of a whole complex, which is located on the same territory. In addition to the Mercedes office, there is the central office of the Daimler AG concern, the home stadium of the local football club Mercedes-Benz Arena, a branded showroom selling retro and modern cars of this brand, and much more.
The latest models of the company
In 2019, Mercedes-Benz will please fans with several new generations of famous models. Among them, the CLS model deserves special attention, which since 2004 has been delighting owners with its stylish design and strict German practicality.
The European market will also see the CLS 450 with a 367 hp petrol engine this year. With. and CLS 350 d and CLS 400 d models with 286 hp diesel engines. With. and 340 l. With. respectively. They come with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
The most powerful in the line will be the Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 hybrid with a 3.3-liter 6-cylinder turbo engine and an electric motor.
The price of a car in the basic configuration will be 60,571 euros.
In addition, the official German website of the manufacturer offers customers a new compact A-class sedan. At the start of sales in basic modification A200 the car will be equipped with a petrol 1.4-liter engine with 163 hp. With. and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic or 6-speed manual to choose from.
The A250 model will receive a 2-liter gasoline engine with 224 hp. With. A diesel modification will also be available, model A180 d, with an engine power of 116 hp. With. Both engines come with an automatic transmission. The price of a car in the basic configuration starts from 30,231.95 euros.
Factory tours
The city of Stuttgart is the birthplace of Mercedes-Benz, so the main museum complex of the company, opened in 2006, is located here. The well-known architectural bureau UNStudio was engaged in the project. At 16,500 sq. m of the museum presents a 130-year history of the manufacturer, which includes 160 cars and more than 1,500 unique exhibits.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.00 to 18.00. The closing time of the box office is 17.00. On Mondays and holidays the entrance for visitors is closed. The ticket price for adults is 10 euros, for boys from 15 to 17 years old - 5 euros. Evening entrance ticket (after 16.00) costs 5 and 2.5 euros respectively. Children up to 14 years of age are admitted free of charge.
An audio guide, including in Russian, is included in the price. It is issued upon request at the entrance. Tickets are sold on the official website or at the museum box office. There you can also book a car tour in English or German. Ticket price - 5-15 euros depending on the chosen category.
For groups of up to 20 people, an individual tour is available at a cost of 80 euros.
There is an additional charge for admission to the museum. Reservations are made through the Mercedes-Benz Classic Contact Center.
In Bremen, where the Mercedes plant is located, there is another museum of the German manufacturer. It is interesting in that the tour passes through production facilities factory, and visitors can get an inside look at how cars are made and what makes the brand so special.
The museum is open on Fridays from 14.30. Tours are in German and English. The cost for adults is 18 euros, for children - 10 euros. Tickets are only available at tourist information offices. Booking for a tour is required in advance. For those who buy a car directly from the factory, the tour is free.
Mercedes in Russia
During 2017, about 37,000 cars from Mercedes Germany were sold in Russia. At the same time, in the segment of premium cars, Russia is one of the largest sales markets for the brand in Europe.
At the end of February 2019, the Russian government and the concern signed an agreement on the construction of a new plant in the Moscow region.
It will be located in the Esipovo industrial park. About 15 billion rubles will be allocated for the construction, and the first car should roll off the assembly line as early as 2019. The plant plans to assemble E-class models with further expansion to the production of GLC, GLE and GLS SUVs.
Other car brands made in Germany
Germany is known not only for the fact that Mercedes is produced in it, but also for the fierce competition within the country between car manufacturers for a client. Eminent rivals of Stuttgart include such companies as Volkswagen, BMW, Audi, Porsche and Opel.
Conclusion
For more than a century of history, Mercedes-Benz has produced about a hundred different models cars that became legends of their era. Thanks to powerful motors and stylish design, they have won the hearts of many generations around the world. Modern technologies and constant innovations of the concern will surely earn admiration and respect from fans of this brand more than once.
Stuttgart, Germany – Mercedes Benz Museum: Video
At the origins legendary brand Mercedes-Benz was backed by two German companies - Benz and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG). They are remarkable in that their creators, in fact, are the inventors of the car in the form in which the world recognized it.
The Founding Fathers and the Birth of a Legend
The Karl Benz company was founded in 1871 and since 1886 has been offering customers the world's first self-propelled vehicle with the Motorwagen. She did not enjoy success with buyers, and it is not known what future the car would have if it were not for the inventor's wife, Martha Benz. In 1888, without the knowledge of her husband, she made a trip in a motor carriage to a nearby town. This trip became a very successful public relations campaign for the invention. After the trip, Marta, who turned out to be not only a brave, but also a technically savvy woman, suggested making changes to the design of the car - for example, adding.
The Mercedes-Benz brand was born so long ago that gasoline was sold in Germany in those days ... in pharmacies
The merger of the two companies into the Daimler-Benz AG concern took place in 1926. Since some of the legal restrictions in a number of European countries, it was decided to sell cars under name Mercedes-Benz. Its first chief designer was the legendary. Chosen as an emblem trademark DMG is a three-pointed star symbolizing the sky, earth and water. The sign was chosen due to the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century, the Daimler company, in addition to cars, produced engines for boats and aircraft.
Key milestones in the history of Mercedes-Benz
During the Second World War Mercedes-Benz produced trucks and cars, as well as aircraft engines for Messerschmitt aircraft. In September 1944, during a two-week bombing raid by the US and British Air Forces, the company's factories were almost completely destroyed, after which the board of directors of Mercedes-Benz announced that the company no longer actually existed.
Stirlitz in "Seventeen Moments of Spring" drives a 1938 Mercedes MB-230
1946 - the revival of the company. At first, they were produced under the Mercedes-Benz brand, which were very necessary for the restoration of Germany. Only in 1949 the company produced the first post-war model of a passenger car.
In 1993, the company's models receive a modern marking, in which the letters indicate the class (A, C, E, S, etc.), and the numbers indicate the engine size.
In 1997, the Daimler-Benz concern acquired an American corporation, forming the Daimler-Chrysler AG concern.
In 2007, the concern was renamed Daimler AG. Mercedes-Benz is currently a division of Daimler AG. The company's headquarters is located in Stuttgart, Germany.
Key models in the history of Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz S (1927). The car, designed by F. Porsche, combined speed, comfort and reliability. Set many speed records. Next iconic model emerged a quarter of a century later. She became the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gull Wing" (1954). The first post-war Mercedes sports car and one of the most legendary. In 2009, she became the prototype of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG supercar.
Vladimir Vysotsky, who traveled very fast, once rolled over in his Mercedes-Benz car 17 times in a row. The fact that he survived says a lot about the level of safety of the German car.
In 1963, the Mercedes-Benz 600 saw the light. The first "six hundredth" Mercedes, which became one of the most prestigious sedans of the 20th century. It was owned by movie stars, major businessmen and heads of state.
In 1976, sales of the Mercedes-Benz W123 began. It became one of the most reliable and successful Mercedes cars. In total, more than 2.7 million cars were produced, many of which continue to drive on the roads of the former USSR and other countries.
In 1979, the first "civilian" versions of the Army SUV appeared. A long-lived model that has gone from utilitarian " workhorse to a luxury SUV. The car has been produced for over 33 years.
In 1991, he appeared. He became iconic car for the post-Soviet space of the 90s of the last century. V. Zhirinovsky became its first owner in Russia.
History of Mercedes-Benz in Russia
Products Daimler appeared in tsarist Russia in 1901 - then trucks were purchased for the Russian army. After the Second World War, Mercedes-Benz products were actively imported into the USSR - from 1946 to 1969. more than 600 cars, trucks and buses were imported. In the 70s, Mercedes actively participated in exhibitions on the territory Soviet Union- mainly representing trucks. In the 80s, only Leonid Brezhnev and Vladimir Vysotsky had modern cars of this brand. In 1978, the company became the official supplier of the Moscow Olympics-80. In 1980, the first representative office of Mercedes-Benz opens in Moscow. After the collapse of the USSR in 1992, the first official dealer Daimler-Benz in Russia - "LogoVAZ-Belyayevo". In 1994 appears official representative concern - CJSC "Mercedes-Benz Automobiles" (later - CJSC "Mercedes-Benz RUS"). In 2010, on the basis of the KamAZ plant in Naberezhnye Chelny, the production of Mercedes-Benz trucks. Since 2013 in Nizhny Novgorod a joint project "" and Mercedes-Benz was launched to produce Mercedes Sprinter commercial vans. In the autumn of 2013, the issue of starting the production of Mercedes-Benz cars in Russia was positively resolved.
Mercedes-Benz Gelandewagen is an SUV officially in service with the Swiss Army
In the 90s of the last century, the Mercedes-Benz W123 and W124 models, as well as the prestigious W140 (“six hundredth” Mercedes) and Mercedes G-class(Gelendvagen). It is Mercedes cars today that are among the most popular cars in Russia, including among the country's leadership. Currently, the company's passenger car range includes 16 classes (A, B, C, CL, CLA, CLS, E, G, GL, GLK, M, S, SL, SLK, SLS, Viano).
Official sales statistics for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars from 1995 to 2012:
According to the statistics of thefts in Russia, Mercedes-Benz is in 12th place among car brands, and recently there has been a downward trend in thefts of Mercedes.
Interesting facts, technology and motorsport
The inventors of the automobile and Karl Benz lived 100 km apart but never met.
According to one version, before choosing a three-pointed star as an emblem, the owners of Daimler wanted to depict an orange or an elephant on it.
Mercedes 300 SL (1954) with gullwing doors was the favorite car of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. In 1999, this model was recognized as the best sports car of the twentieth century.
Since 2007, Mercedes-Benz has launched its own Internet TV broadcast.
Mercedes-Benz is the only one car company, which allows you to use your developments in the field of safety on cars of other companies.
"Mercedes of the socialist camp" was called the most prestigious car of the classic VAZ family - model 2106
Founder of Apple Steve Jobs regularly bought a new Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMG in order to drive without license plates. Under California law, a new vehicle may not be registered for six months after purchase.
Mercedes-Benz was the first to start production of mass-produced passenger cars with (1931) and with a diesel engine (1936).
On Mercedes-Benz vehicles were first installed (1978), the successful design of the airbag (1981), the ESP stabilization system (1995).
In 1955, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR set a speed record in the Mille Miglia endurance race (159.65 km/h), which has never been broken. That same year, the same Mercedes model caused the biggest disaster in motorsport history. More than 80 spectators and Mercedes pilot Pierre Levegh became victims.
The history of Mercedes, one of the most popular and largest automotive companies, is full of interesting facts. It is very rich and dates back to the end of the 19th century. Well, it’s worth briefly talking about the most interesting moments and telling how the brand appeared, which today is synonymous with the words “taste”, “style” and “luxury”.
How it all began
The history of the creation of Mercedes-Benz is full of many interesting facts. And one is certainly known to most motorists. And it lies in the fact that the brand arose due to the merger of two brands. The first was called "Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft", and the second - simply "Benz". In 1926, a single firm was formed. The concern became known as Daimler-Benz.
It all started with the appearance in 1886 of a three-wheeled self-propelled cart equipped with a gasoline engine. Its creator was He received a patent for the invention and began mass production. In 1891, he created a 4-wheeled car. In parallel, Daimler releases the Mercedes-35PS model, which is also becoming popular. But Karl Benz decides to keep up and, together with his team, presents a racing car, which they called "Blitzen Benz". Its engine produced as much as 200 horsepower. It is not surprising that the car became the most famous racing model at that time. But how did the merger of the two strongest competitors happen?
Further developments
After 1926, the history of the Mercedes brand began to develop in a new way. A merger took place, and the new concern was able to effectively use the knowledge, experience and skills of the designers of both companies. And the leader was a man named Ferdinand Porsche. Thanks to him manufacturing program has been completely renovated. As a basis for future cars, he took the latest Daimler models. And the first development was the so-called compressor series. Cars with 6-cylinder engines with a volume of 6240 cm 3 could not but become popular. This car was even given the name "death trap". And all thanks to the huge (at that time) power and speed. After all, the models could accelerate to 145 km / h.
But in 1928 Ferdinand left the company. He was replaced by Hans Niebel. Under his leadership, cars with a 6-cylinder 3.7-liter engine were invented, after which they developed engines with 8 cylinders. Their volume was already 4.9 liters.
And in 1930, the history of "Mercedes" received a new round. After all, a model that is legendary today has been released! And this is a “Big Mercedes”, equipped with a 200 hp 8-cylinder engine, the volume of which was 7655 cm 3. This model also had independent suspension and a supercharger. So there have been successes.
Emblem and name
This is also a rather interesting and important topic, which should definitely be noted when talking about the Mercedes concern. The history of the name is simple and uncomplicated. Mercedes-Benz - that's what its full version sounds like. Mercedes is the name of the daughter of one of the founders of the concern. Actually, even before the merger, cars were produced under this name. And Benz is the surname of the second founder, Karl. This is the history of the name of "Mercedes".
As for the logo, things are a little different. There's more interesting story. Mercedes-Benz is known for its three-pointed star. How did she appear? There are several versions. The first says that each ray is a symbol of air, water and earth. After all, concerns produced not only cars, but also engines for balloons and motor boats. That is, the emblem, as it were, explained that manufacturers succeeded almost everywhere, in all areas.
The second version is more romantic. Allegedly, the founders of the company, who were Gottlieb Daimler and Emil Ellinek, could not come up with an emblem. Everyone had their own proposals, but a compromise still could not be reached. And at one point they began to swear, and it almost came to a fight. The daughter of one of the founders did not like this, and she said that it was time to end the argument, and as a reconciliation, cross the canes. They did it. And suddenly everyone noticed that the picture looks very good. And so the famous three-beam star was born. Quite about the badge "Mercedes". The history of the brand, by the way, does not have an unambiguous hypothesis which version is correct. No one will ever know for sure.
War years
The history of Mercedes in the 1940s developed a little differently. The company has not stopped producing vehicles, but on the contrary, specialists began to produce, in addition to car models and also trucks. And everything was fine until September 1944. Then a 2-week aerial bombardment, which was carried out by the Anglo-American Air Force, destroyed the concern almost completely. In the place where the factory was, only ruins remained.
The main workshop, which was based in Stuttgart, was destroyed by 70 percent. And the body and engine shops, located in Sindelfingen, suffered even more. They destroyed 85% of everything available. What can we say about the truck workshop, located in Gaggenau: there was nothing left of it at all. It was destroyed, as was the factory for the production of diesel engines. The factory called Benz und Cie (Mannheim) suffered the least: it was destroyed by 20%. The results were disappointing. The Board of Directors announced that the Daimler-Benz concern physically no longer exists. This is how the history of Mercedes turned.
After the war
But it didn't end there. The history of Mercedes cars began to develop in a new way. The first step was to restore all the destroyed factories. It took some time, namely two years. And production was resumed only at the beginning of the summer of 1946. But there was nothing for the design of new models: neither a good technical base, nor finances. So they began to act, as they say, in line with the budget. The first model released after the war was a sedan, known as the W136 - a 38 horsepower, small car. It started a new story.
In 1949, a major modernization was carried out. The motor was improved (power was 52 hp), they began to produce not only sedans, but also convertibles, as well as station wagons. Even versions with diesel engines appeared.
And by the beginning of the 1950s, they planned to launch a new, modern generation, but this required a good industrial base. Therefore, the planned had to be postponed and continue to produce somewhat outdated cars. But the history of the Mercedes company would not have been so interesting if the concern had not experienced so many difficulties. Still, in 1951, a novelty appeared with an 80-horsepower 6-cylinder unit.
The 1940s and 50s were not easy for manufacturers. But in nine years, we managed to create a good, solid foundation. And thanks to this, the company subsequently became the leading concern for the production of machines throughout Western Europe.
What happened next?
There is much more to be said about the Mercedes. All models, the history of which is very interesting, left a certain mark in technical progress companies. Special attention should be paid to the so-called "Adenauers". Flagship models that were assembled by hand. And even the outdated design did not make them less popular.
W186 (a luxurious limousine for those times) was presented to the public in 1951, in November. Its features were a classic layout, a 6-cylinder 3-liter engine and an overhead camshaft. This model was produced both in the sedan and in the form of a limousine. This car has become incredibly popular among celebrities, politicians and businessmen. And why "Adenauers"? Because this car was very fond of the first chancellor of Germany. By the way, the car was completed with a radio, telephone and other little things that the owner only wanted to see. The interior was made individually, by order of buyers. It was a very popular Mercedes.
The history of the creation of the model says that the car was constantly upgraded (after all, it was assembled by hand, it was much easier to make changes). And in the end the car turned into a model called the W186 300b. More precisely, this is the name of the new series. With front vents brake drums and other changes. And in the mid-50s, fuel injection appeared - one of the most ambitious inventions of that time. It was installed on the W188 300Sc model.
Sports models
The Mercedes-Benz concern, even in the 50s, was engaged in the production of not only passenger cars, but also racing ones. The cars of that time, like modern cars of the 21st century, were famous for their aerodynamic body. The W196 was especially popular. It was on it that a racer from Argentina named Juan Manuel Fangio won the Formula 1 championships in 1954 and 1955. bright distinctive features the machines had desmodromic valve actuation as well as fuel injection.
In 1952, the W 194 model was released, which became famous. This is the predecessor of the famous SLR. She also participated in many races. Its body is made of a tubular frame, which experts covered with light aluminum sheets. Also, the car was distinguished by doors opening upwards (the same “gull wings”) and the shape of the cabin.
In 1953, they created a road version of this model. Thus was born the W198. Due to its performance and futuristic features, the car became very popular, especially among the US elite. A 215-horsepower engine, a maximum speed of 250 km / h and an interesting appearance could not leave anyone indifferent. Although initially the power was only 115 hp. However, modernization has done its job.
70s
In the fifties, the brand was able, as they say, to stand firmly on its feet. In the early sixties gained popularity, and then became known throughout the world. In the 70s, the brand went to new level. The leaders of the concern adopted a new classification system. Now the prefix W has ceased to be the only one. Roadsters (R), coupes (C), station wagons (S) and long wheelbase (V) models appeared. Also, some styling standards began to appear.
And the first model of the seventies was the SL R107. It was published for 18 years, until 1989. The cars were equipped with both 6- and 8-cylinder engines. Basically, of course, V8s were popular. In America, these cars were snapped up like hot cakes. And the 560SL version was not sold in Europe.
The history of the Mercedes S-class began around the same years. In 1972, the 108th model was replaced by the W116 - a representative of the S-class with the first in the world anti-lock braking system and hydropneumatic suspension. And of course, another innovation - automatic transmission gears 3-band. Then came the flagship, which became very popular - 450SEL. It was equipped with a 6.9-liter V8 engine.
In 1973, a new test fell upon the concern - the oil crisis. Because of him, Mercedes sales have plummeted. However, due to the W114 / W115 models, which were in demand even then, the concern did not go bankrupt. And then came the budget and legendary W123. One of the most budgetary, strong and reliable Mercedes cars. The history of creation says that this car is one of the best among all that Mercedes has produced. And indeed it is. The 123rd can still give odds to some modern innovations from other manufacturers.
End of XX century
The 80s and 90s also brought a lot of popular Mercedes models. The history of creation, as well as modern reality, shows that many cars produced at that time are still popular today. Take, for example, the famous “five hundredth” in the back of the W124 or the back of the W201. These cars to this day are the dream of some connoisseurs of the old
But it's worth going back to history. In the 80s, the W126, V126, V126 Pullman (limousine) and C126 models were released. All listed cars were produced before 1991.
In 1982, the premiere of the W201 190 sedan took place. Compact, attractive, stylish, with a comfortable and convenient interior, it quickly became popular. The range of engines, by the way, was also very wide (from 1.8 to 2.6 liters, power varied from 75 to 185 horsepower). In just 11 years, about 1,800,000 cars were produced. It was an incredible score.
In the early 90s, new Geländewagen came out. They became known as the 463 and 461. The R129 SL also premiered. This car was published until 2001. In 1991, a new S-class appeared - the W140. The car was very large. And it was she who introduced the brand into the computer era. And this model was the first to be equipped with a V12 engine. In general, the 90s were very progressive.
Modernity
Nowadays, the Mercedes-Benz concern produces a simply unrealistically huge number of different cars. The history of Mercedes-Benz continues to be written. There is an A-class - small and compact machines. G-class - large and powerful SUVs. E and S-classes are reliable, presentable, expensive cars. Minivans, trucks, tractors, convertibles, supercars - what is not in the assortment of the largest German manufacturer. And many models are great, like the Brabus Rocket 900. Great design from best tuning studio world Brabus, 900-horsepower engine, top speed of 350 km / h - these are just a few of its features.
And the GT S AMG with a 4-liter 510-horsepower engine? Its cost is about 135,000 euros. The Mercedes S65 AMG (W222) is very popular now. It has a 5.5-liter 585-horsepower engine under the hood. And another feature is the 4MATIC system. True, now it can be found on many Mercedes.
SL roadsters are also in demand. Budget CLA (if the cost of 2 million rubles can be called such) find their customers. The peculiarity of Mercedes cars is that each of them is able to please almost everyone. Some like the S-class, others like models from the C series. But the bottom line is that the developers of the Stuttgart concern produce cars that win the hearts of everyone. Not without reason, after all, Mercedes-Benz ranks second in popularity, quality and reliability among all manufacturing companies in the world. The first is Toyota. But, most likely, because in Asian countries the population is simply larger, which is why such a coefficient.
