Mercedes-Benz

McLaren cars

A silver SLR McLaren on display at the 2006 European Motor Show in Brussels.
Mercedes-Benz has also produced a sports car with McLaren Cars, an extension of the collaboration by which Mercedes engines are used by the Team McLaren-Mercedes Formula One racing team, which is part owned by Mercedes. The 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren has a carbon fiber/fibre body with a 5.4l V8 supercharged engine. This is the same block as featured in SL55 AMG and the CLS55 AMG, though modified to give 460 kW (630 PS; 620 hp) and 780 N·m (575 ft·lb) of torque. The SLR has a maximum speed of 337 kilometres per hour (209 mph) and costs approximately US$500,000. Due to European pedestrian-protection regulations, McLaren has decided to cease production of the SLR in 2009.

The most recent new joint-venture model, expected to reach production, is the mid-engine P8 sports car. Based around a unique carbon fiber/fibre monocoque, manufactured by McLaren, the P8 was originally predicted to receive the new naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 from Mercedes-AMG, but insiders now say that the engine will be modified for the car and will probably be twin- turbocharged to produce in excess of 600 bhp (450 kW). The car is still in development, but likely to reach production to go on sale in early 2008, and have a price tag less than that of the SLR.

Car nomenclature

In 1994 (starting with the 1994 models), the traditional nomenclature of Mercedes-Benz vehicles changed. Since the early days of the company the name would be in the form of 500E where the engine displacement made up the first three numbers and the last letter(s) represented the type of engine and/or chassis; for example: "E" for fuel injection ("Einspritzung" in German), "D" for Diesel, "L" for long wheelbase etc.

In 1994, this was altered so that the prefix reflected the model ("class", German "Klasse", in Mercedes-Benz terminology) and a number the displacement. The suffix was retained in some cases, for example "L" for long wheelbase, and "CDI" for Diesel (CDI = Common rail Direct Injection). Thus, the 500E in the example above became the E500 ("E-Klasse", 5 liters displacement). It should also be noted that while in the past the model number generally accurately reflected the actual engine displacement, this is currently not always the case - for example the E200 CDI and E220 CDI actually both have a 2.2 liter/litre displacement, and the C240 actually has a 2.6 liter/litre engine.

Electric vehicles

At the 2007 Frankfurt motor show, Mercedes-Benz showed seven hybrid models, including the F700 concept car which combined hybrid drive with the innovative DiesOtto engine. In 2009, the S400 hybrid sedan is scheduled to go on sale.

On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz says it will have a demonstration fleet of practical, if small, electric vehicles on the road in two to three years, from 2008.

Mercedes-Benz S 400 BlueHYBRID will be launched in calendar 2009 and will be the first production automotive hybrid in the world to use a lithium ion battery.Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO cars were introduzed in the 2009 North American International Auto Show.

Concept models

Interior of the Ocean Drive Concept.

Mercedes-Benz C111 - sports car and test vehicle for different high performance engines (wankelengine and later diesel engines)
Mercedes-Benz Auto 2000 - 4-door sedan
Mercedes-Benz NAFA - microcar
Mercedes-Benz C112 - sports car and mule
Mercedes-Benz F 100 - car introduced in 1991
Mercedes-Benz F 200 Imagination - 2-door coupe introduced in 1996 Paris Motor Show
Mercedes-Benz F 300 Life Jet - 3-wheel car/motorcycle unveiled in 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show
Vario Research Car - one car, four vehicles
Mercedes-Benz Vision SLR - Prototype of Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, unveiled in 1999 North American International Auto Show
Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA - convertible with details of the SLR, but based on the A-Class platform, unveiled in 2000 North American International Auto Show
Mercedes-Benz F 400 Carving - A 2-seat roadster unveiled in 2002 Tokyo Motor Show
Mercedes Benz F 500 Mind - 4-door fastback sedan unveiled in 2003 Tokyo Motor Show
Mercedes-Benz F 600 HYGENIUS - compact fuel cell car, unveiled in 2005 Tokyo Motor Show
Mercedes-Benz Bionic - Car unveiled in 2005 DaimlerChrysler Innovation Symposium in Washington, modeled after boxfish
Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive - a 4-door convertible based on the S600
Mercedes-Benz F700 - Large luxury saloon featuring the small capacity / high output DiesOtto engine, unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Mercedes-Benz ConceptFASCINATION - Shooting-brake giving a preview of the W212, unveiled at 2008 Paris Motor Show Mercedes-Benz S 400 BlueHYBRID