Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?
- Thread starter Merc1
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Design FIRST
Cornering Connoisseur
The rolling footage benefits the GLC EQ's visual.
SKY
Kraftwagen König
Looks really good here.
My only concern is the damn chrome MB keeps insisting on inserting on every part of the bumpers.
Mr. Mercedes
Premium
leylandi
Nürburgring Navigator
Mercedes-Benz inaugurates the most advanced light testing centre of the automotive industry
Ten years ago, Mercedes-Benz started building a unique development environment in Immendingen in Baden-Württemberg – designed to be reproducible, efficient and sustainable. Since then, around 30,000 test vehicles have accumulated more than 100 million kilometres – the equivalent of circling the Earth 2,500 times.
Covering an area of 520 hectares, the proving ground Immendingen combines more than 30 test modules with a total of 86 kilometres of road-simulating tracks and 286 junctions. The grounds depict the real-world traffic environment in many ways: from complex urban intersections to mountain passes with nearly 180 metres of altitude change, from rough roads and cobblestones to motorways and off-road tracks. There are routes that replicate the road conditions and road markings in European countries, as well as copies of roads and road markings from the USA, China or Japan. A total of up to 400 vehicles can be on the roads at the same time in the various test programmes. There are also special tracks with gradients ranging from 30 to 100 per cent.
To test how vehicle sensors behave under low sun or particularly bright light sources, even on overcast days or at dusk, Immendingen features a so-called artificial sun. These high-performance mobile lights are otherwise used on Arctic ships for iceberg detection. In addition, heavy rain and spray can also be simulated using special systems.
Around 80 per cent of the test drives previously carried out on public roads have now been relocated to the site. International testing activities have also been significantly reduced without compromising testing quality – an important measure to shorten development times, accelerate vehicle maturity and reduce the carbon footprint in development.
During peak weeks, a further 2,100 Mercedes‑Benz employees from other plants are on site for testing along with the 250 permanent employees.
Sheep are largely responsible for maintaining the landscape on the test site. As grazing animals, they prevent shrubs and trees from growing on the so-called rough pasture and displacing the species-rich meadow landscape. Several llamas also live on the test site. They serve as protection for the sheep herd against foxes.
Mercedes-Benz has invested 200 million euros in the construction of the site on a former military base since the ground-breaking ceremony ten years ago. Since its opening, an additional 200 million euros have been invested in the expansion of the site.
media.mercedes-benz.com
- Just opened: Most advanced light testing centre with a realistic country road replica
- Robots at the wheel: Fully automated endurance testing on a demanding rough-road track
- ‘Digital twin’: All test modules can also be used digitally for preliminary simulations
- A world of testing in Immendingen: Over 30 modules across 86 kilometres of road-simulating track
- Animal helpers: Sheep prevent scrub encroachment, llamas protect the herd
- Anniversary: Ten years ago, the ground-breaking ceremony for this unique development environment took place
Ten years ago, Mercedes-Benz started building a unique development environment in Immendingen in Baden-Württemberg – designed to be reproducible, efficient and sustainable. Since then, around 30,000 test vehicles have accumulated more than 100 million kilometres – the equivalent of circling the Earth 2,500 times.
Covering an area of 520 hectares, the proving ground Immendingen combines more than 30 test modules with a total of 86 kilometres of road-simulating tracks and 286 junctions. The grounds depict the real-world traffic environment in many ways: from complex urban intersections to mountain passes with nearly 180 metres of altitude change, from rough roads and cobblestones to motorways and off-road tracks. There are routes that replicate the road conditions and road markings in European countries, as well as copies of roads and road markings from the USA, China or Japan. A total of up to 400 vehicles can be on the roads at the same time in the various test programmes. There are also special tracks with gradients ranging from 30 to 100 per cent.
To test how vehicle sensors behave under low sun or particularly bright light sources, even on overcast days or at dusk, Immendingen features a so-called artificial sun. These high-performance mobile lights are otherwise used on Arctic ships for iceberg detection. In addition, heavy rain and spray can also be simulated using special systems.
Around 80 per cent of the test drives previously carried out on public roads have now been relocated to the site. International testing activities have also been significantly reduced without compromising testing quality – an important measure to shorten development times, accelerate vehicle maturity and reduce the carbon footprint in development.
During peak weeks, a further 2,100 Mercedes‑Benz employees from other plants are on site for testing along with the 250 permanent employees.
Sheep are largely responsible for maintaining the landscape on the test site. As grazing animals, they prevent shrubs and trees from growing on the so-called rough pasture and displacing the species-rich meadow landscape. Several llamas also live on the test site. They serve as protection for the sheep herd against foxes.
Mercedes-Benz has invested 200 million euros in the construction of the site on a former military base since the ground-breaking ceremony ten years ago. Since its opening, an additional 200 million euros have been invested in the expansion of the site.
Mercedes-Benz Media
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klier
Premium
That 4000 squared meters of black wall for darkness testing with the lights has me very curious. How does that work? It seems to be a giant blacked out indoor area
Definitely ! Very impressive indeed.
Definitely ! Very impressive indeed.
Merc1
Premium
That testing facility is one of those things that created the Mercedes lure. At one time you knew you were getting the best engineered car possible. At the very least you thought it after seeing test facilities like that and Mercedes testing videos. That was the magic that was for the most part backed up by their products. Cars like W126, R129, W124 and countless others from the 50s into the 90s. Sigh…..Mercedes-Benz. Is is possible to bring that sheer substance back?
M
M
Design FIRST
Cornering Connoisseur
As things currently stand, it appears that BMW AG is doing the best job of navigating the extremely treacherous currents that are haunting Germany's automotive industry.
As for M-B, the future remains difficult to predict. Should the new MB.EA generation vehicles attract nothing more than a lame response by consumers, the chances of a most significant upheaval of management and corporate structures would seem inevitable. Will this future equate to a restoration of genuine substance reflected in it's products ? Will this future leave M-B staring at a rearview mirror, something that Porsche AG appears to be doing, rather than moving boldly forwards in a rapidly transforming industry ?
We shall see.
Nope Porsche doesn’t stare at the rearview mirror, they see, that there’s no market for sporty and expensive EVs.
The Taycan is a very good car, but brand new, it’s way to expensive.
Porsche needs to build desirable cars, same goes for Mercedes Benz.
Mercedes Benz should get rid of the stiff suspensions, which they still built in some cars.
The EQC400 was for example way to stiff for a Mercedes Benz.
The Taycan is a very good car, but brand new, it’s way to expensive.
Porsche needs to build desirable cars, same goes for Mercedes Benz.
Mercedes Benz should get rid of the stiff suspensions, which they still built in some cars.
The EQC400 was for example way to stiff for a Mercedes Benz.
Merc1
Premium
But Porsche is still forging ahead with cancelling the Boxster/Cayman for an EV sports car. A huge mistake IMO. Why not keep the current cars around until the next ICE versions are ready while you try to sell the EV versions also? I would guess it would be a big hit to cancel the EV versions now.
M
M
Design FIRST
Cornering Connoisseur
Would you dismiss the possibility that this strategy will turn out to be recklessly shortsighted ? Quite frankly, neither you nor I can predict what awaits the industry, or the world in general, in 4 or 5 years time. Simply my opinion-but I feel that this jubilation regarding the backtracking towards ICE/ICEH powertrains is a frantic attempt to introduce a hasty short-term fix. Something shortsighted and inevitably unsustainable. I see electric mobility as being VERY FAR from dead and the BEV/REEV powertrain as being far more future proof. As said, my personal 2 Euro cents that has NOTHING to do with ideological environmental narratives.
The question is what’s the plan, what do they want to be.
If they want to produce sporty EVs in huge numbers they need to lower the price, to be competitive with the Chinese.
Luxury EVs are especially in China way cheaper than traditional luxury cars.
Or are they going on the small but luxury ICE Sportscars road.
That’s the question.
My personal opinion, the EU is currently very successful destroying their car industry with their stupid EV mandates. Congratulations.
If they want to produce sporty EVs in huge numbers they need to lower the price, to be competitive with the Chinese.
Luxury EVs are especially in China way cheaper than traditional luxury cars.
Or are they going on the small but luxury ICE Sportscars road.
That’s the question.
My personal opinion, the EU is currently very successful destroying their car industry with their stupid EV mandates. Congratulations.
I personally think out of all the European car brands Porsche is facing the most difficult strategy plan for their future.
They are in the upper end of the price scale for their cars and seem to be aiming for more sales in this area when it's a market that is not just competing with other elite expensive sports car brands (like Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lotus etc.) but the new Chinese manufacturers, which are bringing out similar and even better products on the EV sector that makes the Porsche EV models look terribly overpriced.
Porsche originally wasn't a mass market brand but more a producer of high-end sports cars that were exclusive and competing with similar brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini but at a slightly lower price bracket.
Nowadays I think they expanded too much and lost that exclusive lure they once had. In my opinion they have too many products/model lines. If they want to move forward they need to integrate some of them (like Taycan and Panamera) into a combined ICE/EV platform and also the other models like Macan, Cayenne, Boxster, Cayman and then eventually 911.
These split ICE/EV models would be suitable for the EU and other markets with a gradual phasing out of ICE models over time once those markets have expanded their infrastructure to adapt to EVs, but for Chinese market they have to substantially reduce their prices and make their EV models stand out with more advanced EV powertrains, infotainment, suspensions and higher quality to make a credible alternative to the Chinese brands.
If they dont make this move with reducing prices in China, they can kiss that market goodbye, but for EU and other markets they still have a chance to get things right without getting rid of ICE models.
They are in the upper end of the price scale for their cars and seem to be aiming for more sales in this area when it's a market that is not just competing with other elite expensive sports car brands (like Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lotus etc.) but the new Chinese manufacturers, which are bringing out similar and even better products on the EV sector that makes the Porsche EV models look terribly overpriced.
Porsche originally wasn't a mass market brand but more a producer of high-end sports cars that were exclusive and competing with similar brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini but at a slightly lower price bracket.
Nowadays I think they expanded too much and lost that exclusive lure they once had. In my opinion they have too many products/model lines. If they want to move forward they need to integrate some of them (like Taycan and Panamera) into a combined ICE/EV platform and also the other models like Macan, Cayenne, Boxster, Cayman and then eventually 911.
These split ICE/EV models would be suitable for the EU and other markets with a gradual phasing out of ICE models over time once those markets have expanded their infrastructure to adapt to EVs, but for Chinese market they have to substantially reduce their prices and make their EV models stand out with more advanced EV powertrains, infotainment, suspensions and higher quality to make a credible alternative to the Chinese brands.
If they dont make this move with reducing prices in China, they can kiss that market goodbye, but for EU and other markets they still have a chance to get things right without getting rid of ICE models.
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Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz Group AG is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.
Established in 1926, Mercedes-Benz Group produces consumer luxury
vehicles and light commercial vehicles badged as Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG,
and Mercedes-Maybach.
Its origin lies in Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft's 1901 Mercedes
and Carl Benz's 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, which is widely regarded
as the first internal combustion engine in a self-propelled automobile.
The slogan for the brand is "the best or nothing".
Official website: Mercedes-Benz (Global), Mercedes-Benz (USA)
Official website: Mercedes-Benz (Global), Mercedes-Benz (USA)
