วันจันทร์ที่ 3 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2552

>>Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz
Parent company	Daimler AG
Production	2009-
Assembly	Bremen, Germany Mexico City, Mexico São Paulo, Brazil
Class	Compact luxury crossover SUV Compact
Body style(s)	4-door SUV
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Engine(s)	2.2L CDI I4 3.0L V6 2.8L V6 3.3L V6 3.2L CDI V6
Transmission(s)	7-speed automatic
Wheelbase	108.5 in (2756 mm)
Length	178.2 in (4526 mm)
Width	79.4 in (2017 mm)
Height	66.9 in (1699 mm)
Related	Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The Mercedes-Benz GLK (code name X204) is a compact crossover competing with the Infiniti EX, Acura RDX, BMW X3, Volkswagen Tiguan and Land Rover LR2/Freelander, as well as the upcoming Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Saab 9-4X, and Cadillac BRX. The model sits below the M-Class in the lineup. It is set for release in the United States at early 2010 and as informed by magazines, it should be wearing a price tag around $37,000, which is very close to one of its rivals, the BMW X3.

The GLK-Class was launched in 2008 and is built in Bremen (Germany), the first Mercedes SUV to be built there. Its design is heavily influenced by the GL-Class.

On 2008-01-12, actress Kim Cattrall (photos)appeared at a special unveiling ceremony at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, confirming that her Sex and the City character (Samantha Jones) would drive the SUV in the movie version of the popular TV show.

The GLK was presented for the first time in 2008 in Detroit under the form of the Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK Freeside concept.

MBUSA partnered with four tuners to develop custom designs for the newly released GLK for the 2008 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Boulevard Customs, Brabus, RENNtech, Leegendary Motorcar Company were the four tuners that had this unique opportunity to design their vision.

The GLK-Class shares the C-Class (W204) platform, and production plans continued after the demise of the similar Smart Formore.

Safety

Comprehensive restraint system for the best possible occupant protection

In combination with the front and rear deformation zones, the high-strength passenger cell of the GLK-Class provides a highly efficient foundation for the occupant protection systems. The intricate restraint system is capable of offering the greatest possible protection potential. As many as nine airbags are fitted, which are deployed selectively depending on the type of collision and its severity to reduce the forces exerted on the occupants eMercedesBenz said - The all-encompassing approach taken to achieving a high standard of safety evinces itself particularly clearly in the Integral Safety concept, that Mercedes-Benz has once again implemented in the new GLK.

Engines

2.2 L diesel I4 190 PS (187 hp/140 kW)
2996 cc V6 228 hp (171 kW)
3498 cc V6 268 hp (201 kW)
3.0 L diesel V6 224 PS (221 hp/165 kW)

Range

At launch in Germany, the car was offered in all-wheel drive only, though there has been media speculation of a possible rear-wheel drive only version.

The range at launch comprised:

GLK 220 CDI - 2.2-Litre-I4 - 190 PS (187 hp/140 kW)
GLK 280 - 3.0-Litre-V6 - 231 PS (228 hp/170 kW)
GLK 350 - 3.5-Litre-V6 - 272 PS (268 hp/200 kW)
GLK 320 CDI - 3.0-Litre-Diesel - 224 PS (221 hp/165 kW)

Gallery

GLK 350 4MATIC Front

GLK 350 4MATIC Rear

>>Mercedes-Benz MB100

Mercedes-Benz MB100

The Mercedes-Benz MB100 is a small panel truck (van) made by Mercedes-Benz in three different versions: a cargo van, a passenger van (“bus”) with more windows, and a camper-van.

The vehicle was powered by a 2.4 litre diesel making about 55 kW (73 hp), an engine also used in the Mercedes Benz 207D. Production began in 1981, at the Vitoria factory in northern Spain. In 1992 the MB100 was given a slanted radiator and an extended front end, intended among other things to enhance safety in a collision.

In Germany the MB100 was offered from 1988 to 1995 as an extension of Daimler-Benz's commercial motor vehicle range. The MB100 was eventually replaced by the Mercedes-Benz Vito.

>>Mercedes-Benz M-Class

Mercedes-Benz M-Class

Mercedes-Benz M-Class

Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz
Parent company	Daimler AG
Production	1997–present
Class	Mid-size SUV
Body style(s)	4-door SUV
Layout	Front engine, four-wheel drive

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class is a mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) with light off-road capability, first offered in 1997 as a 1998 model, and built by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz. It marked a shift at Mercedes-Benz in becoming a global player; while it had plants outside Germany before, they merely built German models. Gradually, the M-Class became a sales success in the United States and Mexico. In size, it is slotted below the GL-Class. For a short time, between the years 1999 to 2002, the M class was built by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, for the European market, until it moved to part of the U.S. market. The Mercedes-Benz ML competes with the BMW X5, Infiniti FX, Audi Q7, Cadillac SRX, Porsche Cayenne, Lexus RX, and Lincoln MKX.

W163 (1998-2005)

W163

Model year(s)	1998–2005
Assembly	Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States Graz, Austria (1999-2002)
Class	Mid-size Luxury SUV
Platform	Mercedes-Benz W163
Engine(s)	2.3 L I4 (150 hp only manual) 2.7 L I5 (Diesel) 3.2 L V6 3.7 L V6 4.3 L V8 5.0 L V8 5.5 L V8
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual 5-speed automatic
Wheelbase	111.0 in (2819 mm)
Length	1998-2002: 180.6 in (4587 mm) AMG: 182.5 in (4636 mm) 2003-05: 182.6 in (4638 mm)
Width	1998-2002: 72.2 in (1834 mm) AMG: 74.6 in (1895 mm) 2003-05: 72.4 in (1839 mm)
Height	1998-2002: 69.9 in (1775 mm) AMG: 69.3 in (1760 mm) 2003-05: 71.7 in (1821 mm)
Curb weight	4,614 lb (2,093 kg)
Fuel capacity	22 US gal (83 L; 18 imp gal)

The M-Class was the first luxury SUV to feature stability control, a system designed to detect loss of control and instantaneously intervene with selective braking to bring the vehicle back on its intended course. This system is now hailed by safety experts, and studies have shown stability control and systems like it are capable of reducing single vehicle crashes by up to 30 percent. Furthermore, the M-Class boasted front- and side-impact airbags with advanced occupant detection for the front passenger seat, which, combined with Mercedes' legendary safety structure, earned the M-Class the highest marks in insurance industry crash tests.

A road test on the BBC programme Top Gear revealed that the presenter, Jeremy Clarkson, could put his fingers into the gap below the rear lights and above the rear bumper. This improved over the years, especially after a mild facelift for 2002. However, owners are often unhappy with the car's quality — for example, the car was placed last out of 142 cars in the Top Gear Motoring Survey 2004. DaimlerChrysler spent US$600 million on improvements at the Alabama factory before launching the second-generation ML in 2005.

The modified W163 that appears in Steven Spielberg's movie The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997).

Before the vehicle was launched, Mercedes-Benz allowed the producers to use two pre-production M-Class SUVs in the film The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and used the vehicle's appearance in the film as a way to advertise it when it was launched. As a result, a Mercedes-Benz ad appears before the film on original VHS copies of the film.

Major model variants have included the ML320, ML350, ML430, ML500, ML550 and ML55, along with the 4-cylinder ML230 and the turbodiesel ML270 CDI and ML400 CDI in Europe. The ML55, or ML55 AMG, featured a V8 engine made by AMG, modified body-work, and other performance features. The ML350 replaced the ML320 as the base model in the United States in 2004, although the ML320 CDI is sold in states where emissions regulations allow.

The M-Class was Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year for 1998. The ML320 was voted the 1998 North American Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, in January 1998.

Pope Benedict XVI in his 2002 ML430 Popemobile

The current Popemobile is based on a W163 ML430 and has been in service since July 2002.VW had offered to build a new vehicle based on the Touareg, but Pope Benedict XVI opted to continue using his predecessor's Mercedes-Benz-manufactured vehicle.

W164 (2006-present)

W164

Model year(s)	2006–present
Assembly	Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Class	Mid-size crossover SUV
Platform	Mercedes-Benz W164
Engine(s)	3.5 L V6 5.0 L V8 4.6 L V8 5.5 L V8 6.2 L V8 3.0 L V6 diesel 4.0 L V8 diesel
Transmission(s)	7-speed automatic
Wheelbase	114.7 in (2913 mm)
Length	4788 mm (188.5 in) AMG: 189.8 in (4821 mm)
Width	1910 mm (75.2 in) AMG: 76.8 in (1951 mm)
Height	1815 mm (71.5 in) AMG: 73.3 in (1862 mm)
Curb weight	2150 kg (4740 lb)
Fuel capacity	25.1 US gal (95 L; 21 imp gal)
Related	Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

The redesigned M-class (chassis name W164) was introduced to the public in April 2005 as a 2006 model after showing at the North American International Auto Show in January. It is almost entirely new, with a more sporting, aerodynamic look—the coefficient of drag is down to 0.34. Mercedes-Benz has also made the new M-class larger, measuring 150 mm longer than the first model. The M-Class was named "Best New Sport Utility Vehicle" in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year awards. The back was commonly referred as a shoebox so DaimlerChrysler spent most of their $600 million dollars on redesigning that part.

Mercedes-Benz extensively publicized the US$600 million that was spent to update their factory and add additional manufacturing space for the new R-Class. According to early automotive press reports, the 2006 M-Class vehicles demonstrate vast improvements in build quality.

The W164 platform used for the new M-Class is shared with the new GL-Class and is a unibody type rather than the former (W163) body-on-frame used by the M-Class vehicles produced from 1998-2005. The X164 GL-CLass, a longer 7-seater version of the W164 platform, is also available.

New features in the 2006 M-Class include the 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission, optional Active Curve-Illuminating Bi-Xenon headlights which "steer" in the path of the vehicle, and an adjustable-height air suspension. The manual transmission has been dropped.

4-valve engines are replacing the previous 3-valve SOHC V6 and current 3-valve V8:

ML350 - 3.5 L 4-valve V6, 272Hp(258 ft·lbf)
ML500 - 5.0 L 4-valve V8, 302HP
ML550 - 5.5 L 4-valve V8, 382HP(550 N·m)(North America)
ML63 AMG - 6.2 L 4-valve V8, 510HP (347 kW)
ML280 CDI - 3.0 L V6 Turbo Diesel, 190.4HP (325 ft·lbf)
ML320 CDI - 3.0 L V6 Turbo Diesel, 224HP (376 ft·lbf)
ML420 CDI - 4.0 L V8 Diesel, 306HP (700 N·m)

Models using Bluetec Diesel engine with urea injection will be introduced for the 2009 model year.

ML63 AMG

The AMG version of the W164, the ML63 AMG, was introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show as a limited edition 2007 model. It features a 6.2 L M156 V8 engine producing 510 hp (380 kW) and 465 lb·ft (630 N·m) that is handcrafted in Germany, which makes the vehicle extremely rare. The engine is mated to an AMG Speedshift 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission. The ML63 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 4.8 seconds.

Facelift

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class got a minor face-lift as it debuts at the 2008 New York International Auto Show.

This face-lift includes new front headlights, redesigned front and rear bumpers, new exterior mirrors, a deeper front grille, restyled interior, and a new ML 420 CDI engine choice.

ML 280 CDI	ML 280 CDI
	ML Lorinser style	ML 63 AMG	ML 63 AMG

>>Mercedes-Benz L-series truck

Mercedes-Benz L-series truck

Mercedes-Benz L-series 4x2 pulling containers in Saudi Arabia

The Mercedes-Benz L-series is a conventional layout, cab-after-engine truck manufactured from 1958 to 1995. (L series) (L serie)

The L-series was first produced in Germany in 1958 and was in production for export until 1995. The L-series was a big export success for Mercedes-Benz and became very popular in the Middle-East, South America and Africa. In Arabia, the L-series in 6x6 sleeper cab configuration (Model 'LS') handled heavy road traction almost exclusively.

Just as the Dodge Power Wagon became synonymous with oil exploration throughout Arabia in the 1950s, the L-series, together with the Kenworth 953 became the two trucks which were synonymous with the oil exploration boom in Arabia throughout the 1960s. Many roads throughout Arabia were not surfaced until the early Eighties and there were no weight or length limitations on road haulage. This meant that the trucks carried heavier loads than for which they were designed, in some instances three times the maximum weight, and in carrying these loads, the L-series gained a reputation for toughness and reliability. Nearly all L-series shipped to Arabia were orange in color, but all L-series shipped to North Africa were green in color.

After 1995 production in Germany ceased but was continued at Mercedes-Benz factories in South America. The L-series remains in service throughout all of the regions to which it was exported.

>>Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz
Parent company	DaimlerChrysler (2007) Daimler AG (2008-present)
Production	2006–present
Assembly	Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA Juarez Mexico
Class	Full-size SUV
Body style(s)	5-door SUV
Layout	Front engine, four-wheel drive
Engine(s)	3.0 L V6 (diesel) 4.0 L V8 (diesel) 4.7 L V8 5.5 L V8
Transmission(s)	7-speed 7G-Tronic automatic
Wheelbase	3075 mm (121.1 in)
Length	5085 mm (200.2 in)
Width	1920 mm (75.6 in)
Height	1840 mm (72.4 in)
Related	Mercedes-Benz M-Class

The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (code name X164) is a Daimler AG full-size SUV built by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz since 2006. The GL-Class debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. The car was designed for the American market, which is shown by its large size, making it the only similarly-sized rival up against Audi's Q7, along with the redesigned BMW X5, as well as a facelifted Volvo XC90 by that time. It is the seven-passenger counterpart of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Although the car was designed for the US market, it is also sold in Europe, albeit in far fewer numbers. The Mercedes GL competes with the Cadillac Escalade, however people are beginning to believe that the Escalade is more upscale (because of its standard leather upholstery, remote engine start, and 68 more horsepower). However, others believe that the GL-class has higher ride quality and deserves the $60,000 price tag that it has (as of December 2008).

It lacks the boxy styling and body-on-frame construction of the G-Class in favor of a modified version of the M-Class' unibody architecture. Many motorists consider it the "Elongated and Wider" version of the recently redesigned M-Class. It is a three-row, seven-passenger crossover SUV with much more luxurious equipment than previous civilian G-Class vehicles. All future GL-Class vehicles will be assembled at either Daimler AG's Alabama factory or Mercedes-Benz's Juarez, Mexico factory. The GL class was originally intended to replace the 25-year old G-Class model, however due to public and fan outcries, Mercedes Benz had decided to keep the G-Class in production for the foreseeable future and decided to update it for 2006.

Mercedes-Benz introduced its BlueTec diesel system to the GL-Class at the 2006 North American International Auto Show as the GL 320 Bluetec. This system uses urea to clean Diesel emissions, making the GL 320 50-state legal in the United States. It went on sale in July 2006, but models with urea injection will only be introduced in 2008.