Mercedes-Benz Archives

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Achieves Record Sales In 2017

2017 was the fourth consecutive record year for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM), achieving an all-time high sales record of 12,045 vehicles sold in 2017. This translates into an overall 2.3 per cent growth compared to 2016. The three-pointed star is well ahead of the pack in the premium segment, maintaining a 2.3 per cent market share*.

“Mercedes-Benz Malaysia enjoyed a remarkable year in 2017 as a result of our customer centric strategy. We’re very proud of our achievements in 2017. It is the result of great teamwork from everyone in the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia team including our dealer partners. We understand our customers’ requirements and target to fulfill their expectations. To deliver the Best Products, we launched 17 new models…” (cont’d)

“To offer the Best Customer Experience, we launched nine new and upgraded dealerships, including a brand new dealer group, Auto Commerz Sdn Bhd. As a result, we successfully achieved a record-breaking year, our best ever performance in the history of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia. Moving into 2018, we are confident of the growth potential in the Malaysian automotive market and will continue to invest substantially in developing key areas including talent, technology, production and service. This is the strategy behind maintaining our position as the No. 1 premium brand in Malaysia,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner (above, second from right).

“We are delighted to have delivered a record-breaking 12,045 Mercedes-Benz Cars to customers in Malaysia and by this confirming our position as the leading premium brand. Our locally produced vehicles, especially the new E-Class and the GLC have been our growth drivers. We are thankful that our customers have put their confidence in our premium products. With our innovative mobility solutions, digitalisation initiatives as well as upcoming product highlights, we are confident of continuing on this success path,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Sales & Marketing, Vice President, Mark Raine (above).

For FY2017, MBM’s sales was driven by the locally produced limousines which recorded 7,041 units sold. This was followed closely by the Mercedes-Benz SUVs with 2,599 units sold, spurred by the introduction of the locally produced Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 and GLC 250. Growth within this segment is expected to continue. The Mercedes-Benz compact cars recorded a total of 2,031 units sold, while the aspirational Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars, also known as the brand shapers, recorded a total of 374 units sold.

MBM marked the the year by launching six new 43 series models namely, the Mercedes-Benz E 43 4MATIC (above), SLC 43, C 43 4MATIC (below), C 43 4MATIC Coupe, GLC 43 4MATIC, GLC 43 4MATIC Coupe and later, the AMG GT R.
Complementing its line-up of Best Products, MBM invested in initiatives that demonstrated its signature Best Customer Experience by organising various customer engagement activities focusing on the different interests of its target audience. These included the Ultra Singapore 2017, Urban Hunting movement, and Hungry for Adventure in East Malaysia.

In addition, MBM also launched a Mercedes-Benz branded charging station in Bangsar Shopping Centre (BSC) and hosted the Mike Horn X Hungry for Adventure event, featuring the greatest explorer of all time who is currently on a two-year journey – Pole2Pole mission.

Moving even closer to its fans and customers, MBM continued to innovate exciting platforms to enhance customer touch points in 2017. These included mobile roadshows, the Mercedes-Benz Gallery, Customer Care Centre, and Test Drive Booking System. MBM also introduced experiencing cars in Virtual Reality, Digital Signage, Product Experts, Online Service Booking, Mercedes-Benz Financial Calculator and also a one-stop integrated state-of-the-art web platform which facilitates the needs of both new and existing customers known as OneWeb.

In regards to its dealer network, MBM introduced SalesTouch, a mobile sales tool which enables product experts and sales consultants to provide customers with real time information. The feature complements its existing features which are the Service Differentiation and Product Experts.

Always in touch with customers’ needs, MBM launched a new campaign in late 2017 in partnership with its sister company, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia (MBSM). The campaign, in anticipation for the Chinese New Year celebration in 2018, offers personalised and flexible financing packages to give Mercedes-Benz fans total peace of mind to finance their dream Mercedes-Benz cars based on their respective financing commitments.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has 33 dedicated dealerships nationwide delivering the Best Products and Best Customer Service throughout the entire customer journey. To date, Mercedes-Benz has the largest premium dealer network in the country.

In FY2017, Mercedes-Benz achieved a total investment of over RM 1 billion in the Malaysian market. One-third of this investment was made in its Pekan Production Plant and MBM Training Academy in Puchong, Selangor. This strategy demonstrates the leading premium German marque’s commitment in supporting the nation’s ambition of becoming an EEV hub.

*As of YTD November 2017
NB: The numbers for 2017 are unaudited and subject to change.

C&C Becomes Largest “Centre of Competence” for Daimler AG In Malaysia

It has been announced that Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad (Cycle & Carriage Bintang) now has the largest network for certified body and paint collision repair facilities in Malaysia, following Daimler AG’s certification of the Cycle & Carriage Johor Bahru, Bukit Tengah and Batu Caves facilities as official Mercedes-Benz Body and Paint Centres. Cycle & Carriage Bintang’s customers in the Northern and Southern region, as well as the Klang Valley, can now enjoy peace of mind and confidence when restoring their Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

“In everything we do, we have our customers in mind at all times. The ‘Centre of Competence’ certification is an assurance that all Cycle & Carriage body and paint repairs are carried out according to the stringent global specifications set by Mercedes-Benz. Having three of our body and paint facilities awarded the certification is an impressive achievement. It reflects the quality of our after-sales teams who deliver our signature first class service to customers every step of the way,” said Cycle & Carriage Bintang CEO, Wilfrid Foo.

In early 2017, Cycle & Carriage’s Johor Bahru and Bukit Tengah service centres underwent an extensive facility and equipment upgrading process. In tandem with this, employees received specialised technical training and service process enhancement. Following which, both outlets were audited in the same year as part of the certification process, and were awarded the ‘Centre of Competence’ certification by Daimler AG. The Johor Bahru service centre spans over 32,000 sq ft and is equipped with 14 body and paint work bays, while Bukit Tengah is over 14,000 sq ft with five body and paint work bays.

Cycle & Carriage Bintang Batu Caves, the centralised body and paint collision repair centre for the Klang Valley, was first awarded the certification by Daimler AG in 2012. As part of the certification process, a re-audit was scheduled in November 2017. The Batu Caves Service Centre achieved the perfect score of 100 percent and is now recognised by Daimler AG as one of the highest-ranking centres for collision repairs in the world. Spanning over 45,000 sq ft with 22 body and paint work bays, the facility has the capacity to service 130 vehicles every month.

Cycle & Carriage Bintang’s network comprises 12 Autohauses nationwide which includes 10 After-Sales Autohauses across Malaysia. In 2016, Cycle & Carriage Bintang was awarded all top three spots in the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Service Excellence Award in South East Asia for demonstrating strong aftersales standards. More recently, Cycle & Carriage Bintang received the highest Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) rating for after sales for the second half of 2017 in Malaysia, with Cycle & Carriage Bintang (Northern) Sdn Bhd Bukit Tengah announced as the Champion in the competitor benchmark study.

Top 10 list of most searched cars by Auto Trader

Auto Trader, one of the UK’s biggest online marketplaces for new and used cars, has published a list of the top 10 most searched vehicles of this past year. The results were based on users who searched through Auto Trader’s online portal for their desired vehicles in 2017.

The results portray a very interesting story, and despite the unstable economic situation, Brexit and the dieselgate saga, premium vehicles are still in high demand. At the top of the list is the BMW 3 Series, thanks to youthful styling, peppy turbocharged engines and a slew of tech features, it was the most desired car of the year.

Finishing second, was the Volkswagen Golf. The Mack Daddy of family hatchbacks was very popular among visitors but not enough to be crowned king of the hill. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class came in a respectable third place, just edging out another stalwart, the Ford Focus.

Following is the top ten list of most searched vehicles:

1. BMW 3 SERIES

2. VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

3. MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS

4. FORD FOCUS

5. BMW 1 SERIES

6. BMW 5 SERIES

7. FORD FIESTA

8. AUDI A3

9. MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS

10. VAUXHALL ASTRA

Ivan Aistrop, Road Test Editor at Auto Trader, said, “In fact, if you look at the list of most searched-for diesel cars, you’ll see it contains more premium products than for any other fuel type, suggesting that diesel cars are still desirable for buyers despite recent negative press coverage.”

Apart from this, Auto Trader also came out with a list of the most searched for electric cars. Dominating the list was Nissan’s Leaf due in part to its sensible styling, conventional knobs and switchgear as well as its ‘down to earth’ method of operation. Tesla’s Model S was placed much lower than expected, finishing in 9th place, just ahead of the Vauxhall Ampera.

The influx of efficient and advanced electric cars in the next few years, could mean that an EV, not a petrol or diesel car, will take the No.1 spot for next year’s Top 10. Overwhelming demand for vehicles like the newly launched Tesla Model 3 may relegate today’s most wanted petrol cars to the bottom section of the 2018 list.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class tames King of the Jungle

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has for decades, been regarded as the most technologically advanced production vehicle on the planet. Features and systems that are common place in regular econoboxes today, were first introduced on the S-Class years earlier. The car represents Merc’s never-ending pursuit of automotive perfection.

This notion can be proven by looking at the spec sheet of the latest car. Not only does it come with the a slew of advanced active and passive safety systems, but can also alter interior lighting, ambiance and fragrance, depending on one’s mood. This allows for an even more relaxing driving experience then that offered by its predecessors.

In a promotional video advert released by the company recently, these very features have been highlighted. It depicts the day in the life of a top level exec, as he goes through the motions of running a company. The lighthearted nature of the video portrays the stresses that ‘alpha male’ top level management execs are put under on a day-to-day basis.

The video reaches its climax toward the end of the clip where the boss, heading out in his S-Class, gets stuck in a traffic jam. As he is about to implode into manic rage of biblical proportions, the car’s interior system activates its various ‘mood changer’ features that help him calm down, and enjoy the moment.

This amusing yet relatable video is one of many that have been published by the automaker on its official Youtube channel. Check it out and let us know what you think of the car and its advanced tech features.

New Mercedes-Benz CLS is marked improvement over old one

The new Mercedes-Benz CLS, is the follow up model to the original that broke convention. Merc’s CLS combines the silhouette of a sleek coupe with the practicality of a four door sedan. This new car retains the original’s recipe but forgoes the older sloped-style front end for a contemporary one with elongated teardrop shaped headlights and a large gaping front grille.

At the back, it’s design is similar to that seen on several of the automaker’s sports series models, which is fitting, considering who the car is aimed at enticing. Underpinning the aggressive body, are four-link front suspension and a five-link rear one. Buyers can also opt for the Air Body Control air suspension that offers improved, adjustable and adaptive damping.

For now, the new CLS will only offered with a choice of petrol and diesel V6 engines. Output of the diesel engine ranges from 286bhp and 600Nm of torque to 340bhp and 700Nm of torque. It benefits from CAMTRONIC variable valve-lift control and two-stage turbocharging. The petrol one, coupled with the electric motor develops 367bhp and 500Nm of torque.

Merc has taken the best tech of the S-Class and crammed it into the interior of this CLS. It has a fully digital display system that can be configured to suit different needs, a 64-colour ambient lighting system that changes colour when the climate control system is adjusted. Adding to that, the car is able to alter interior fragrance, lighting and temperature to suit different moods.

Available as standard are the usual range of driving assistance and safety systems that include the Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST, Speed Limit Assist and the occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®. Strangely enough, Pre-SAFE sound builds upon the others, by preparing ones’ hearing when it senses an impending collision.

If that isn’t enough, you can opt for the optional Driving Assistance Plus Package. It consists of Active Distance Control DISTRONIC, Active Steering Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and PRE‑SAFE® PLUS. Active Distance Control DISTRONIC and Active Steering Assist.

Apart from this, the regular bells and whistles that include headlight beam adjustment and fuel efficient systems come as standard with the car. As of now, there only three variants that are available, which are the CLS 350d 4MATIC, CLS 400 4MATIC and CLS 450 4MATIC. We expect to see a number of other variants being added to the range in the near future.

New Aston Martin Vantage breaks convention

Aston Martin has finally revealed the newest member of its family, the latest Vantage. This sleek two seater picks up where its predecessor left off, offering a sleek silhouette and a healthy helping of power. Its design however, is a major departure from the automaker’s current design language. At 4465mm, the Vantage is 284mm shorter than the DB11, and is 34mm shorter than a Porsche 911.

The signature front grille receives far more real estate than before, it’s placed lower and has been integrated with the lower lip assembly. Gone are the familiar headlights and in its place, narrower ones that blend with the lines of the front fascia. Most prominent of the lot has to be the large swooping bonnet that looks like it stretches for miles.

From the side however, the shape isn’t that dissimilar from its predecessor, but the lower roof line and angular contours do add to the design’s depth. As far as the rear is concerned, you would be forgiven for mistaking the new Vantage for a Porsche, at first glance. The rear haunches, wedged shaped upper section and elongated LED taillights bear more than a passing resemblance to the 911.

On the inside, there’s a whole new interior, which is a breath of fresh air considering Aston rarely likes change. The car’s switchgear consoles are huddled together under the twin chrome-outlined air vents.The 8-inch LCD screen is responsible for controlling the audio, phone mirroring and navigation. A nice addition is the body-colour matching lower centre console, it and the leather inner door handle housing add to the car’s exclusive feel.

Under the bonnet is a 4.0-litre V8 twin turbo engine that develops close to 510bhp and 685Nm of torque. It’s a Mercedes-AMG unit that has been reworked by Aston Martin engineers to ensure that it delivers the same character and feel of engines that preceded it. Both its induction and exhaust systems have been reworked to produce the same visceral feel of the normally aspirated V8 in its predecessor.

The Merc sourced powerplant is mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission that is rear mounted to help with weight distribution. It has specially developed software that allows for shorter and crispier gear changes as well as the refinement and practicality, which is beyond that of dual clutch gearboxes. As such, the Vantage is able to sprint from 0-100km/h in about 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 314km/h.

Aston Martin’s Chief Technical Officer, Max Szwaj, said, “As an automotive engineer the challenge is always the same: to achieve greater efficiency in every area of the car. With an unashamed sports car such as an all-new Aston Martin Vantage you have another challenge – the relentless pursuit of greater emotion and excitement. Not only have we massively improved the hardware of this new Vantage, we’ve invested it with true heart and soul.”

The suspension features a forged double wishbone arrangement at the front and a multi-link one at the rear. Thanks to adaptive damping, the car is able to understand and compensate for the driving conditions and driver needs through the use of several sensors. Four driver modes, Sport, Sport Plus and Track, alter the powertrain, transmission, suspension and steering systems to deliver the required output.

And for the first time on an Aston Martin, the Vantage is fitted with an electronic differential or E-Diff. Linked with the car’s electronic stability control, it is able to understand the car’s behaviour and shift power to the wheel that needs it most. Unlike conventional Limited Slip Differentials or LSDs, it can react in a matter of milliseconds. This improves the car’s cornering and handling capabilities.

Stopping power comes courtesy of ventilated two-piece 400mm cast-iron discs at the front, with ventilated 360mm discs at the rear, gripped by 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers. They offer decent stopping power for the 20-inch lightweight rims that are wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tyres.

The new Vantage is on sale now in the UK, Germany and the USA. Deliveries are scheduled to begin during the second quarter of 2018. The car comes equipped with the latest tech and is bound to be a top seller.

Aston Martin DB11 wins Golden Steering Wheel Award

Aston Martin’s DB11 has just been crowned ‘Most Beautiful car 2017’ by winning the prestigious Golden Steering Wheel award from Axel Springer. The car features cutting edge technology that has been wrapped into a silhouette that is worthy of praise. It’s smooth and elegantly designed contours make it look aggressive yet classy.

The jury of the Golden Steering award was made up of designers, engineers, racers, celebrities and journalists from across Europe. There were 20 entrants for the competition, all of which entered the car market this year. And the DB11 managed to standout enough to take home the prize.

Aston Martin President and CEO, Dr. Andy Palmer, received the award from Marion Horn (Editor in Chief BILD am Sonntag) and Tom Drechsler (Editor in Chief AUTO BILD) at the awards ceremony held at the Axel Springer SE headquarters in Berlin.

Speaking of the award, the delighted CEO of Aston Martin, said, “We aspire to make the most beautiful cars in the world and are incredibly proud of the Aston Martin DB11, a car that spearheads our Second Century plan. Exceptional design runs through the bloodline of the DB models and every part of the DB11 is crafted to create the most beautiful DB to date.”

Designed by Marek Richman, the DB11 is grand tourer that was built since last year and has effectively replaced the ever popular DB9. Available as either a 2-door Coupe or Convertible, the DB11 is offered with either a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 or a Mercedes-AMG 4.0-litre V8 engine.

Both powerplants are mated with an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox, which allow them to achieve their respective speeds. The V12 powered car has 600bhp and 700Nm of torque, which allow it to sprint from 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds. The V8 powered (503bhp and 675Nm of torque) car accomplishes the same feat in 4.0 seconds.

Aston Martin recently forged a partnership with Mercedes-Benz, allowing it access to a plethora of engine options and cutting edge technology. Utilizing these new tools, the British automaker might be able to reduce R&D costs but produce the same beautiful cars.

Hamilton crowned 2017 F1 world champion

After an eventful race at the recent Mexico grand prix, Lewis Hamilton has won the 2017 Formula 1 world championship. The race was anything but ordinary for Mercedes-Benz after the British driver was involved with an accident with Sebastian Vettel early in the race.

This shunt forced both drivers to scramble to the pits for repairs and to change tyres, which effectively left them in second last and last place. They were well behind the charging pack once they rejoined the race. What matters worse was that Hamilton was eventually lapped, which placed him in an unfamiliar situation.

Though many wrote off Hamilton’s chances of sealing the championship title in Mexico, the Briton proved his tenacity and unwillingness to accept defeat by clawing back up the order. He eventually finished in 9th place while closest title rival, Vettel, managed a more successful 4th place.

Despite finishing well ahead of Hamilton, it wasn’t enough to stave off his pursuit of a fourth world title. The race was eventually won by Max Vestappen with Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen completing the top 3.

Hamilton, who is now part of an elite club of five drivers who have won four or more world titles, was unhappy with how he won the title. Based on an article published by F1.com, he stated that felt it was a horrible way to win the title considering the drama that unfolded shortly after the race began.

There are only four other F1 drivers in history that have won four or more world titles, which are Juan Manuel Fanio, Alain Prost, Micheal Schumacher and Sebatian Vettel. It’s a proud moment for the Briton, but we are sure he will be gunning for a fifth title next year.

Source: F1.com

Mercedes-Benz release entertaining ad of upcoming X-Class

Mercedes-Benz has released a new TV ad to build more hype for its soon to be launched X-Class. The short video clip illustrates the versatility of Merc’s new pick-up truck as it tackles the toughest terrain while being docile enough to be used as an ‘elegant’ daily driver.

The vehicle is driven on some challenging terrain while being pursued by a heard of bison and rhinos, a team of hockey and rugby players, a weird looking monster, as well as a number of others. It’s a pretty entertaining 1 minute and 16 seconds, within which Mercedes-Benz tries to strongly drive home the notion that, though its a pick-up truck, it’s still a classy Merc.

https://youtu.be/Be6FLU1ny9E

Despite the fact that it is a pick-up truck, the German automaker believes that the vehicle will still appeal to a wide variety of drivers. Like the TV advert, the automaker says that the X-Class will be adored by adventure seekers, sports enthusiasts as well as those only needing utilitarian functionality.

Based on the Nissan Navara, the X-Class should reach global markets sometime next year. It shares quite a bit with its Japanese counterpart such as its wheelbase and dimensions. That said, the vehicle is more than just a Navara in a fancier suit.

https://youtu.be/MXIg3GFRNzg

https://youtu.be/7aGK4xW2jFM

The X-Class gets a Mercedes-Benz engine and transmission, typical All-Wheel-Drive capabilities and a slew of driver aids that include Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Traffic Sign Assist, Trailer Stability Assist, as well as broadcasting live traffic information.

For the full scoop on the Mercedes-Benz X Class, Click Here.

Mercedes-Benz’s finest to star alongside Justice League superheros

Mercedes-Benz’s cars will be well represented in the soon to be released Warner Bros. movie, Justice League. The highly anticipated release, which is based on DC comics’ comic book characters is slated to hit theaters around the world starting on the 17th of November.

It will feature many beloved characters from the DC universe that include Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash as they race to save the planet from an alien assault of catastrophic proportions.

Three Merc vehicles will enjoy the limelight in the Justice League film and serve as the primary mode of transportation of the movie’s protagonists. The new E-Class Cabriolet will be driven by the character, Wonder Woman played by Gal Gadot. The car is featured in a scene where Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman, drives on a mission to speak with Victor Stone, aka Cyborg.

Apart from this, a G-Class 4×4^2 will also make an appearance alongside Diana’s E-Class, but the star of the show will undoubtedly be the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo. This futuristic masterpiece oozes class and sophistication like no other vehicle. This is why, fittingly, it will be the vehicle of choice for Bruce Wayne aka Batman.

During the movie, the car can be seen piloted by Bruce Wayne, played by Ben Affleck, when he drops in on Barry Allen, aka The Flash, to recruit him into the League. Revealed to the world in 2013, the AMG Vision Gran Turismo was Mercedes-Benz’s ultimate creation for the PlayStation virtual world.

The car was specially modified for this movie by Merc’s own design team by developing a fully fleshed-out interior with illuminated elements, racing seats and a virtual dashboard section. Compared to the original concept car, the one featured in Justice League was scaled to 110% in order to accommodate seating the film’s rather tall, 6ft. 3 ½ inch tall Ben Affleck.

“With Justice League, we found the perfect partner to highlight our current vehicles as well as communicate the fascination of our brand. The E-Class Cabriolet is a natural fit for Wonder Woman,” says Dr. Jens Thiemer, Vice President Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars.

https://youtu.be/OVCjhR7ltJM

We are therefore very excited to partner with Warner Bros. Pictures on this much-anticipated movie as we reach out to as many people as possible with a creative and innovative campaign,” he added.

Mercedes-Benz will be setting up an impressive marketing campaign to build more interest for the film’s release by introducing a 30-second TV commercial, print, online and OOH advertising. It will also launch six exclusive digital comic stories for Mercedes-Benz’ Instagram channels, developed in cooperation with DC’s Custom Creative Studio.

Check out the image galley below and let us know what you think of these vehicles and whether they truly fit the personality of the characters in the movie.