Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[Wolfgang]

Nvidia and Mercedes-Benz to bring an AI car to market within a year

Nvidia already announced a partnership at CES to bring a AI self-driving car to production, and now Mercedes-Benz is also teaming up with the GPU-maker on a vehicle with AI on board. Nvidia and Mercedes-Benz are also setting an ambitious timeline for their goal; the two will field this new vehicle within the next 12 months, Nvidia confirmed to TechCrunch.

The news came out on stage at a talk between Mercedes-Benz VP of Digital Vehicle and Mobility Sajjad Khan, and Nvidia CEO and co-founder Jen-Hsun Huang on Friday at CES. It’s the result of a project the two began together three years ago, which helps explain why the car will be ready to get to customers by 2018.

Mercedes and Nvidia have been working together with a specific focus on deep learning and AI. Nvidia announced additional AI features powered by its in-car computing at its keynote earlier in the week at CES. These include Co-Pilot, which is a system that combines facial recognition, gaze tracking and more to help assist human drivers as a way to increase safety ahead of the advent of true autonomous driving on the roads.

Co-Pilot also uses voice recognition, and a vehicle’s external sensors to track objects outside the car including other vehicles and pedestrians, and can give the driver a head’s up if it also detects they might not be aware of potential road danger.

It’s not yet clear how the AI integration will work in the Mercedes-Benz vehicle, and whether it will be a version of Co-Pilot or something else, but Nvidia tells TechCrunch it will provide more details leading up to the launch.

https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/06/n...z-to-bring-an-ai-car-to-market-within-a-year/

 

[Wolfgang]

NAIAS 2017: Compacts on track for success, stylish coupés and updates for the AMG GT family

With an extended range of engines, enhanced interior and exterior design as well as updated equipment lines, the GLA rounds off the current family of compacts. The new E-Class Coupé combines expressive coupé-esque proportions with trendsetting sensual design. It also comes with the intelligence of the E-Class family.

The Mercedes-AMG GT family, too, continues to grow. The AMG GT and AMG GT S benefit from visual and technical enhancements. With the AMG GT C Edition 50, Mercedes-AMG is also launching into its anniversary year to mark the company's 50th anniversary with the theme "50 Years of Driving Performance". Source: MB Passion & Daimler

 

[hannaz]

Mercedes-Benz climbs to the top of the premium segment in 2016

Mercedes-Benz once again grew at a double-digit rate in 2016 and for the first time sold more than two million vehicles with the three-pointed star in one year worldwide (+11.3%). In 2016, Mercedes-Benz was the premium brand with the most new-car registrations in many countries, such as in Germany and in the USA. Mercedes-AMG set a new record last year with sales of approximately 100,000 vehicles (+44.1%). 2016, the smart brand sold more cars than ever before in one year (144,479 units, +21%). Mercedes-Benz was more successful than ever in the year 2016: The Stuttgart-based premium brand with the three-pointed star increased its unit sales by 11.3% and delivered 2,083,888 vehicles to customers all over the world. This means not only that Mercedes-Benz grew worldwide faster than its German competitors, but also that it delivered the most cars in the premium segment.

The model portfolio of Mercedes-Benz with the sub-brands Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Maybach is bigger and more diverse than ever before. And the plug-in-hybrid initiative is in full swing: with eight models, Mercedes-Benz offers the widest range in the premium segment. The year 2016 ended for Mercedes-Benz with the highest-ever unit sales in a December, which was also the 46th consecutive record month (190,269 units, +6.8%), and with the best quarter of all time (545,967 units, +10.2%). In full-year 2016, Mercedes-Benz was the best-selling premium brand for example in Germany, Italy, Portugal, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, the USA and Canada.

Europe was the biggest sales region of Mercedes-Benz once again in 2016. With growth of 12.4%, primarily due to strong sales of the E-Class and the SUVs, best-ever volumes were achieved; nearly 900,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles were sold to customers in Europe in the past twelve months. In Germany, a total of 293,209 customers decided in favour of a new car with the three-pointed star, an increase of 7.2% compared with the previous year. Mercedes-Benz achieved strong double-digit growth in 2016 in the major markets of Great Britain (+16.6%), France (+16.7%), Italy (+16.6%), Spain (+18.2%) and Belgium (+17.5%).

Demand for Mercedes-Benz models in the Asia-Pacific region was higher than ever in the year 2016. 734,169 vehicles were delivered to their new owners, an increase of 19.3%. China was once again the biggest individual market for Mercedes-Benz, in terms of both absolute unit sales and growth: Full-year sales there increased by more than a quarter to the new record of 472,844 units (+26.6%). The Stuttgart-based company with the three-pointed star posted new best-ever unit sales last year also in Japan (+3.5%), South Korea (+25%), Australia (+14.8%), Taiwan (+17.4%) and Malaysia (+8.6%).

Mercedes-AMG grew strongly once again in the year 2016 and significantly surpassed the record year of 2015 with 44.1% growth. With 99,235 cars delivered, the sports-car and high-performance brand from Mercedes-Benz, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2017, continued along its successful path. This means that the Mercedes-AMG unit sales have more than tripled in the past three years. The biggest model offensive in the history of AMG took place in 2016: the product portfolio was expanded with more than ten new models. Customers worldwide were particularly attracted by the “43” models and the compact models. The strongest-selling markets for AMG automobiles were once again the USA, Germany and China in 2016.

The smart brand increased its sales by 21% to 144,479 units in the past twelve months. This means that more smart fortwo and forfour cars were sold than ever before in one year. Germany and Italy were once again the biggest markets for the urban microcar. In its third-largest market, China, unit sales of the smart models increased by 60% in 2016. Since March 2016, the new smart cabrio has been available as a supplement to the current smart generation. With the launch of the electric versions of the smart models this spring, smart will be the only car manufacturer to offer its model range with both combustion engines and with pure battery-electric drive.

fly-wheel

 

[Merc1]

Mercedes is "the" German luxury brand at the moment. Once you see a S550 Cabrio on the highway with the top down, you'll see why. Audi and BMW just can't compete at all levels.

M

 

[hannaz]

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[hannaz]

Can this be real???

 

[Amat46]

oh god please no. Looks ugly AF!

 

[Matski]

Can this be real???

Nope, for two reasons, that's an unofficial render based on a press shot of the GLS63 (Mercedes-Benz GLS Class).. and secondly, because the Maybach SUV will likely just be a GLS with some extra chrome, custom wheels, and whopping price increase.. GLS 650 anybody?

 

[Adr5]

 

[hannaz]

Is this the old one or a new 'Aesthetic A'?

 

[Wolfgang]

^ Was shown at the "Design TecDay" in Sindelfingen this week.

http://www.germancarforum.com/threa...spy-shots-and-rumors.51411/page-5#post-822960

 

[hannaz]

True, this one doesnt hav the dropping line which was the highlight of the previous one. As per Gorden Wagner on one of the recent interview the upcoming Merc will hav a cleaner body surface and will not hav the dropping line.

^ Was shown at the "Design TecDay" in Sindelfingen this week.

http://www.germancarforum.com/threa...spy-shots-and-rumors.51411/page-5#post-822960

 

[hannaz]

Sculpture “Aesthetics A” : Preview of new Mercedes Design Direction

Creases have had their day. The Design team’s “ Aesthetics A” sculpture presents the vision of a saloon car in the compact car segment which has been radically stripped down to the essential body. It also provides a clear indication of how the design philosophy of Sensual Purity will be manifested in the not too distant future. In applying the design philosophy of Sensual Purity, with the current A-Class Mercedes‑Benz initiated a design shift whose formative influence was to extend beyond the brand itself.

The “Aesthetics A” sculpture embodies the advancement of the Mercedes‑Benz design idiom. It focuses on stripping everything down to the essentials, underscoring this with emotional highlights. “ Form and body are what remain when creases and lines are reduced to the extreme. We have the courage to apply this purism”, says Design head Gorden Wagener. “In combination with perfect proportions and sensual surface design, the upcoming generation of the compact class has the potential to herald a new design era”.

Instead of modifying the basic form with lines, the Mercedes‑B enz designers use dynamic surfaces positioned at an angle to one another to contour the body through the use of light and shade and to emphasize the proportions. This makes the essence of a body visible and communicates it in a credible way. The expressive and confident red as a new signature Mercedes‑Benz colour underscores the sensuality and emotion of the sculpture.

The concentration on proportions and form also requires special work methods. “At the beginning of the process our work is comparable to that of sculptors”, explains Wagener. “The classic techniques still form the core of our creative work. The clay model plays a central role here: one can’t carry out a final assessment of a design on a computer, because a screen is two-dimensional, while a car is three-dimensional”. “Aesthetics A” has a 3-box design, marking a departure in the direction of new markets for the compact class. Outside of Germany and Europe, classic saloons are still much in demand in this segment. The “Aesthetics A” sculpture is a continuation of a series of sculptures from Mercedes‑Benz which to date comprises the “ Aesthetics No. 1” (2010), “Aesthetics No. 2”, “Aesthetics 125” (both 2011) and “Aesthetics S” (2012).

Flywheel

 

[hannaz]

“Sensual Purity” - new design direction of Mercedes

Design is one of the key success factors for Mercedes‑Benz. It is cited ever more frequently as a key consideration in buying decisions - particularly among new customers. This is attributable in part to the Mercedes shift from a traditional to a modern interpretation of luxury. The designers apply the design philosophy of Sensual Purity, which lends expression to the bipolarity of intelligence and emotion, to create products which are at once hot and cool. The creation of the post of Chief Design Officer highlighted the importance which Daimler AG attaches to the area of design. Gorden Wagener was appointed to this post on 1 November 2016. Under the leadership of Gorden Wagener, Mercedes Benz is among the best in the industry. The global success of Mercedes product is ultimately also due to their outstanding design.

The designers at Mercedes‑Benz are reconciling tradition and modernity in designing the cars for the future. Their work centres on “Sensual Purity” as an expression of modern luxury. The new Sensual Purity design ditches the aggressive lines of the past and instead we have cleaner body with musculine feel. The overarching design philosophy of Sensual Purity is defined by six guidelines of the Design Code. This unique design philosophy is interpreted and developed accordingly for each model, ensuring that each model series acquires its own distinct character while nevertheless always remaining recognisably Mercedes‑Benz.

The “ Aesthetics A” sculpture presents the vision of a saloon car in the compact car segment which has been radically stripped down to the essential body. It also provides a clear indication of how the design philosophy of Sensual Purity will be manifested in the not too distant future. In applying the design philosophy of Sensual Purity, with the current A-Class Mercedes‑Benz initiated a design shift whose formative influence was to extend beyond the brand itself.

Some of the concept like Vision Gran Turismo, Future Truck 2025, F 015 Luxury in Motion, Concept IAA and Maybach 6 Concept have been the biggest example of the future design language. These concept have brought a new dimension to each body forms.

Mercedes Benz teased several images of design concepts. One of them is a futuristic sports sedan which could be positioned under Maybach brand. The design is sporty and aggressive which appears to be similar to Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept debuted last year.

We can also see a new form of Vision Gran Turismo Concept. This could be a preview of successor of SLS or SLR. This will be a powerful front engined supercar and it will be positioned above Mercedes AMG models.

Among the images, a scale model of rear mid engined hyper car concept also seen which may not be exactly the project one design as it missed the unique gull wing door and rear end design is different to the teased images. But these scale model gives hints of what we can expect from Mercedes in the coming years. The first model to launch with new design will be next generation A Class in 2018.

fly-wheel

 

[fortuner]

Some Stunning Designs

Would love something like the Red one to sit above the S class..

Seems a two door SUV is on the way...

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

What is this? It looks fantastic?

 

[SKY]

The G-Code Concept.

 

[Wolfgang]

Yes, it's the Vision G-Code by MB's Beijing studio. Might be related to the EQA?

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[Merc1]

It's getting hard to keep up. New E Coupe, now the E Cabrio and E63 Wagon are both on deck for Geneva. S-Class facelift in April at Shanghai. Then a bunch of new cars at Frankfurt in Sept along with some facelifts. New GLE, CLS/CLE, C facelift, E55 Coupe/Cabrio, the list goes on.

M

 

[HUTSUTAo]

It's getting hard to keep up. New E Coupe, now the E Cabrio and E63 Wagon are both on deck for Geneva. S-Class facelift in April at Shanghai. Then a bunch of new cars at Frankfurt in Sept along with some facelifts. New GLE, CLS/CLE, C facelift, E55 Coupe/Cabrio, the list goes on.

M

New GLE? The GLE has been quietly contributing significantly to Mercedes sales but when is the new GLE coming?