SAN DIEGO Coasting along: California’s most attractive city

FINAL FLIGHTSuper sporty SLS AMG bids farewell

WORLD CLASSHugging the curves with

the S 500 Coupé

mercedes-benz.com ISSN 1617-6677

3·2014

SUN, SAND, SURFFew cities in the U.S. can match San Diego's laid-back cool

INSIGHTSIn Formula 1, set-up work begins several days before the race

A FOND FAREWELLWith the last gullwing rolling out of the factory this summer, we reveal the secrets behind its appeal

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E M O T I O N

34 LIFE ’S A BEACH San Diego, California’s metropolis by the sea, has emerged

from the shadows of LA and San Francisco

S P O R T S

22 KEEP ON TRUCKING Dropping by on the (almost) invisible helpers

of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton

26 TAKING WING As the SLS AMG bids a final farewell, we find out

what made the super sports car so special

S T A N D A R D S

20 DIGITAL From art to automotive, take a late-summer stroll

through the Mercedes galaxy

12 MERCEDES ME “Mercedes connect me” ensures drivers

stay in contact with their vehicle by smartphone

40 MOMENTS

45 PUBLICATION DETAILS

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NOT TO BE MISSED Mercedes-Benz fashion week and other important

autumn dates

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R ACE TECHFOR THE ROADYOU CAN HEAR IT AS WELL AS FEEL IT: the new AMG 178 4-liter V-8 twin-turbo engine developed exclusively for the soon-to-be-released Mercedes-AMG GT sports car is bristling with motorsports technology, including flow-optimized zircon-alloy cylinder heads, lightweight forged pistons and two overhead camshafts with variable adjustment on the input and output side. Engineered for high performance, the Blue Direct is an extremely efficient power unit generating an impressive 375 kW. M E R C E D E S - A M G . C O M/ W E B S P E C I A L /A M G G T

I N T E L L I G E N C E

The best of technology, mobility and research

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DIGITAL OR ANALO GThis Race Pilot watch from Halda

calculates speed and g-forces and provides information on 150 different

race tracks. It can convert in an instant from a digital timer to a luxury analog watch with a Zenith movement.

H A L D A S W E D E N . C O M

“Any individual can improve the world – and I hope that one day I will be living proof of this. If a teenager can do it, why can’t you too?” B O YA N S L AT, A C T I V I S T

RUST Y GE MSJournalist Tom Cotter is always on

the lookout for automotive treasures that are gathering dust in sheds

or rusting in the corner of some yard. Over the years, he has located

hundreds of rare vehicles. His best finds, including a Mercedes

190 SL, are presented in an illustrated book entitled 50 Shades of Rust

(Motorbooks).

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AT THE AGE OF 16, Boyan Slat launched an environmental protection project called “The Ocean Cleanup” when he found that the masses of plastic garbage circulating in the oceans were spoiling his scuba diving. His idea is that ocean currents will sweep the rubbish into huge collecting areas confined to the surface, allowing free passage to the living creatures below. The now 20-year-old Dutchman has recruited some 70 experts as supporters and has also launched a crowdfunding campaign that will run until mid-September. T H E O C E A N C L E A N U P. C O M

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Together with colleagues at the University of Twente in the Netherlands,

the 59-year-old electrical engineer has developed a tiny motor. Now all he

has to do is find out why it works.

How small is your new motor? You can hardly see it: 110 x 110 micro-meters and five micrometers high. In other words, it measures just 0.1 x 0.1 x 0.005 millimeters.

Are we talking about a miniaturized car engine? No. Our motor – which we call an actuator – consists of just one cylinder within a flexible membrane. It contains water which we split into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. The gases form nanobub-bles and exert pressure, which deforms the membrane so that it can carry out mechanical tasks. Up to now, the problem with nanomotors was that it took a long time to reduce the pressure. What we have achieved is a motor in which the gas disappears again extremely fast. We don’t actually know yet why it does this.

Is that particularly important? We have to find out how the mechanism functions so that we can improve the motor. At present it is inefficient – it would be better if we needed no electricity and were able to inject the gases directly.

What do you need something so small for? The actuator could be used in tiny test tubes to move liquids that have to be medically analyzed. It is even con-ceivable that they could be used in the human body. If the chemical energy could be generated directly, not using electricity, then you could even operate your cell phone with hydrogen.

VI T

A LY S V E T O V OY

L IGHT WORKThe multi-beam LED headlights of the new CLS (p.14) are state-of-the-art,

with 24 high-performance LEDs in each module. These can be dimmed in

255 stages and instantly respond to other road users. The result is perfect,

dazzle-free illumination of the road ahead.

TRIUMPHAL ARCH 120 YEARS OF MOTORSPORTS – an anniversary that prompted Mercedes-Benz to commission a rather special sculpture for the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England this June. Gerry Judah, 51, clearly had the measure of things when he designed this monumental work: 90 meters (295 ft) long and 26 meters (85 ft) high, it bears a 1934 Silver Arrow passing the Formula 1 car with which Lewis Hamilton contested last year’s championship title. Breaking with motorsports convention, the Calcutta-born artist did not stint on weight: the steel sculpture weighs in at 160 metric tons (176 tons).

I N T E L L I G E N C E

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AUTOMOTIVE DICTIONARY

ROBOT FARMING refers to the direct interaction of man and machine in automotive production. Light-duty robots can assist assembly workers with their superior precision and stamina.

E D GY INVE NTIONIn the future, LCD screens will no longer have to be rectangular. Sharp has developed displays that have virtually no edge at all and can be given almost any shape. The developers are predicting a host of new possibilities for this technology – such as for automobile instruments.

HIGH P OWE R These inflatable wind turbines are designed to hover up to 300 meters (almost 1,000 ft) above the ground and will be able to bring energy to the remotest parts of the world. Tethered with cables, they will benefit from much higher wind speeds at such heights. The first 18-meter (60-ft) diameter turbines are due to be deployed in Alaska, where even diesel supplies run scarce in winter. A LTA E R O S E N E R G I E S . C O M

SMAR T DRINKING VESSYL IS A ST YLISH, HIGH -TECH drinking beaker

designed by Justin Lee to improve our health. It carries out a molecular analysis of the liquid it contains and automa-

tically calculates calories, sugar and caffeine content to help users optimize their drinking habits. M Y V E S S Y L . C O M

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FROM BATTERY PACK

to hovering wind turbines or the NASA suspension railway: you can find more information online using the QR code. M B - Q R . C O M/ 0 K L

INNOZ TRACKS / Android + iOSHow far do I travel by rail? How much time do I spend

in my car or on my bicycle? This tracker helps analyze your patterns of travel – including CO2 emissions.

GAIA GPS / Android + iOS This starts where your satnav stops. It guides walkers along trails all over the world – whatever the quality of

smartphone reception. The maps are pre-saved.

WORD LENS / Android + iOSGoodbye dictionary! In foreign countries, you simply

point your smartphone at signs, menus or other foreign-language texts and this app translates them.

COUNTRY HOUSEBY BLUR

In terms of the melody, this Britpop classic from 1995 is an ideal accompaniment for any relaxed trip

through the countryside – not just cruising through English villages in the new CLS Shooting Brake (see p.14).

And if you listen to the sarcastic lyrics, you can also look forward to returning to the city afterwards.

ON THE ROAD BY JACK KEROUAC

This classic describing the journey of two young outlaws across North America and Mexico in the 1950s is

more than a manifesto of the Beat generation, it is the father of all road trip novels. Kerouac’s book continues

to influence musicians, filmmakers and other artists to this day – and makes for great listening on the road.

ON TOURThe best apps,

audiobooks and songs for travelers

THEN AND NOW

THE SE AT SWITCH “Over the years, we have continuously improved this detail and brought out its iconic character,” explains Hartmut Sinkwitz, Head of Interior Design at Mercedes-Benz. The seat adjuster switch is a classic example of evolution in action. In the 1980 S-Class, the seat-shaped switch caused a sensation. In 1984, it came with a memory function (above left). And in its contemporary guise it continues to set benchmarks with its ergonomic simplicity. The position of the switch in the front door panel has remained virtually unchanged over the years, although chunky plastic has long since given way to a classy galvanized finish. The adjustment options have multiplied – and the seat cooling that is optionally available for the current C-Class was a pipe dream back then.

SWO OP THROUGH THE C IT YWith Skytran, NASA intends to revolutionize local public transportation. It enables pairs of passengers in capsules suspended from magnetic rails to travel at up to 240 km/h (150 mph).

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KEEPING IN TOUCH with your vehicle has become easier: with “Mercedes connect me” you can stay in contact via smartphone – wherever you happen to be.

WELL IN

HAND

A GLANCE at your smartphone instantly tells you how much fuel is in the tank.

B R E A K D O W N M A N A G E M E N T

If a fault develops, the car transmits its condition

and position to the Mercedes-Benz 24-hour

service – and help is immediately at hand.

A U X I L I A R Y H E AT I N G

When things get chilly outside, the car’s

heating system can easily be turned

on by smartphone.

R E M O T E L O C K I N G If you forget to lock your car,

you can open or lock it remotely by smartphone (expected

availability from mid-2015). ILLU

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M E R C E D E S M E

R E M O T E A C C E S S T O V E H I C L E I N F O R M AT I O NImportant information such as fuel levels, range etc. can easily be checked via the Internet – from your computer or smartphone.

M A I N T E N A N C E M A N A G E M E N TThe system knows when the vehicle requires servicing and sends the data to the workshop, which then draws up an estimate.

V E H I C L E L O C AT I O N

Parked somewhere in an unfamiliar city

and forgotten where? No problem – the

smartphone app will show you where

your car is.

n this networked world of ours, we have become used to virtually all the informa-tion we need being available at the click of a mouse. Now, with the new online service “Mercedes connect me”, your car is also close at hand, no matter how far away it is.

All you have to do is take a look on your computer or smartphone to find out important information: How much fuel is in the tank? Where exactly is it parked? Does the windshield wiper fluid need topping up? Did I really lock it properly? And much more besides. “Mercedes connect me” enables motorists to con-nect with their vehicle via the remote online ser-vice – and, if necessary, the car can also connect automatically with Mercedes-Benz. For example, in the case of an accident it immediately calls up the Mercedes-Benz emergency hotline and informs the emergency service of its position and condition. In the case of a breakdown, it will also contact the Mercedes-Benz Service 24-hour road-side assistance. The car also knows exactly when it needs a service and can identify worn parts that need replacing. If necessary, it can even call up the workshop so that you can arrange a date and time to bring it in. “Mercedes connect me” is part of the new “Mercedes me” service platform set up by the company in order to gather all its service of-fers under one umbrella. With their personal Mercedes ID, owners can in future use mercedes.me to access a range of customized services covering mobility, connectivity, servicing and financing – as well as keeping in touch with and comparing notes with the Mercedes community.

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FIND OUT MORE

about the possibilities offered by “Mercedes connect me” – simply scan this QR code with your smartphone. M B - Q R . C O M/ 0 i R

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S T R E E T S A H E A D The S-Class continues the tradition of the grand coupe.

Luxury linerSPECTACULAR DESIGN, impressive power, intelligent technology: a test drive

in this top-of-the-range coupe introduces you to new levels of perfection.

D R I V E

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WORDS JAKOB SCHRENK PHOTOS STEFFEN JAHN15

D R I V E

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W O R L D F I R S TMagic Body Control enables the coupe to tilt up to 2.65 degrees, reducing lateral acceleration and maximizing ride enjoyment.

our head begins to fill with im-portant questions even before you drive off in the S-Class Coupe. It starts as soon as you open the door, sink into the driver’s seat and close it behind you – a fa-

miliar routine you have carried out thousands of times before, but one that in the S-Class Coupe becomes a celebration of engineering brilliance: with just a few millimeters to go, the door is gen-tly pulled shut by the onboard electronics. Click – a pleasing sound, and a pleasant feeling. In fact, it makes you want to open and shut the door all over again. Hence the questions that spring to mind: Why is it so rare to feel that everything is func-tioning in perfect harmony, that everything is just as it should be? And another question: Could it be that perfection in life does exist after all?

Winning fans before you set offThe S-Class Coupe draws the eye from afar, long before you reach for the door handle. Perhaps it has something to do with the silhouette, which is both spectacular and straightforward. The design looks deceptively simple for a process that must have been both time-consuming and expensive. The elongated hood runs seamlessly into the el-egant curve of the roofline – undisturbed by any B-pillar – and then gently subsides into the rear, creating a harmonious profile that intuitively strikes you as being just right. The interior displays a similar clarity of lines. You don’t feel you’re in some futuristic spaceship – you feel, quite simply, that you’re at home. Much of this is due to the seats, which provide firm support yet are still as comfortable as armchairs. They will even offer a massage if required. The dashboard is dominated by two large screens. The left-hand one displays the rev counter and speedometer; the one on the right shows, amongst other things, satnav information or pictures from the 360-degree cam-era, which generates a bird’s-eye view of the vehi-cle’s surroundings to facilitate parking. Nowadays we tend to be rather spoiled and de-manding; we are never quite satisfied and always find something to complain about. The new com-puter freezes at work, or a newly purchased jack-et starts to develop a crease at the back. These are, of course, trivial problems, but they stoke up our desire for everything to be OK, just once. Perhaps it makes sense that this wish has been fulfilled by an automobile – a product born of the marriage of high-tech and craftsmanship, a vehicle that is both fast and stylish, that triggers emotions and bristles with technical innovations. A vehicle that is, quite simply, a thing of beauty. So it is hardly surprising that the S-Class Coupe starts attracting attention even before you em-bark on your test drive. Passers-by crowd round, peering into the interior, asking questions

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ves like a slalom champion.

D R I V E

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S 500 4Matic Coupe

Engine / Output4.7 liter 8-cylinder, 335 kW at 5,250 to 5,500 rpm; max. torque 700 Nm at 1,800 to 3,500 rpm

Transmission7G-Tronic Plus 7-speed automatic

Starry nightsAs if by magic, the opaque panoramic glass roof becomes transparent at the touch of a button. The Magic Sky Control function conjures up an open-air experience.

Rich soundsTwo flaps in the rear silencer of the twin-pipe exhaust system are opened and closed pneumatically, depending on engine speed and preselected drive program. When open, they produce a rich, throaty roar.

Further technical data and fuel consumption figures can be found on page 74.

iabout performance and price. Real perfection is something people find it hard to tear them-selves away from. And even as the driver, you catch yourself stroking this vehicle absent-mindedly: the elegant curve of the dashboard and its fluid transition into the door cladding; the soft materials lining the glovebox and arm-rest compartment; the gleaming inlay on the steering wheel. Of course you could always busy yourself switching on the “fragrancing” function or putting a bottle of mineral water in the generous 8.5-liter (0.3 cu. ft) refrigerated compartment in the rear to chill. But we’re not in a high-tech home, we’re in an automobile. So it’s hands on the wheel, finger on the starter button, foot on the accelerator – and off. You cruise gently through the city streets to-wards the autobahn and then put your foot down. At 120 km/h (75 mph) the vehicle runs so smoothly that with closed eyes you wouldn’t know how fast you are traveling. At 140 km/h (87 mph) the landscape begins to blur; at 180 km/h (112 mph) the engine starts to emit a throaty roar. The twin-turbocharged V-8 gen-erates 335 kW and has a limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

Clinging to the road like a limpetOn the autobahn everyone is equal – at least according to the road traffic regulations. But somehow on this test drive you can’t help feel-ing special. It’s not that you can ignore the speed limit, it’s simply that everything is just right – from the carefully calculated resistance of the indicator lever to the way this all-wheel-drive car clings to the road like a limpet. The rear-wheel-drive version, available from July,

F O R M A L P E R F E C T I O NElongated hood, low roofline, powerful rear end: the silhouette of the S-Class Coupe is intuitively just right.

R A I S E D E Y E B R O W SWith full LED headlights as standard, the S-Class Coupe exudes a self-assured air.

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also offers Magic Body Control: a camera that scans the road ahead to identify any unevenness in the surface and in a split second adjusts the air suspension to compensate for it. And it will be ac-companied by a world first – the new curve tilt-ing function that enables the vehicle to lean into curves at an angle of up to 2.65 degrees, reducing the lateral acceleration acting on the occupants and making for a more comfortable ride while in-creasing the fun of negotiating winding roads. But rest assured, this function isn’t just a toy for engi-neers – it really does improve the ride experience. With or without this innovation, the S-Class Coupe by nature responds calmly and instanta-neously to the driver’s wishes, shutting the door when you were about to do so yourself and react-ing with alacrity to the slightest movement of the steering wheel. The fact that it also leans intuitively into curves just like you do brings driver and automobile that bit closer together.

EYE - CATCHINGThe two generously proportioned displays dominate the cockpit and set the tone for the interior. <

W E B WA L KFROM ART to automotive thrills: five stop-offs in the Mercedes-Benz galaxy for a late-summer stroll through the Web.

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BEFORE NICO ROSBERG AND LEWIS HAMILTON climb into their Silver Arrows for the first time on a grand

prix weekend, their team of truckies already have a week’s work under their belts. We drop by on those men

in the shadows without whom no races would be won.

KEEP ONTRUCKING

W O R D S D A V I D M AY E R P H O T O S T H O R S T E N R O T H E R

S P O R T S

22

W A R M - U P There’s not a

soul in sight when the truckies

begin their garage set-up work several days

before the race.

pits force the teams to store parts in tents. And in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, the heat and humidity necessitate a sophisticated cooling system using separate fans for the IT equipment.As the runner-up in the 2013 constructors’ championship, the Mercedes AMG Petronas team occupies the second garage along the pit lane at each circuit this season. The Spielberg track offers the crew a 385-square-meter (4,144-sq.-ft) area in which to work, bordered at either side by a privacy screen between them and the next team along.It’s now the afternoon, and a handful of truckies are busy connecting click-in panels into partition walls. Paul Harris keeps a close watch on every detail. If the panels are being assembled into a corridor, the opposite bases all have to be at the same height. One of the crew members requires several attempts before his panel clicks into place, and a colleague duly steps in to help. Each truckie has his own set of tasks but also keeps an eye on what’s going on around him so he can respond if anyone needs assistance. Enthusiastic and never short of a word, the men work together with im-pressive – but not grim-faced – focus.The truckies are on the road for up to 250 days a year. “During some periods we spend more time with each other than with our families,” says Harris. Only two of the men have kids, but they all miss their nearest and dearest at one time or another during the season. “It can be tough when another family celebration passes by,” admits Har-ris. Which is why he is particularly careful when selecting new members of the crew: “A guy’s skills are less important than what makes him tick,” he says. Some truckies joined up with the F1

t’s shortly before nine o’clock on Tuesday morning, and there is so little noise at the Spielberg circuit that you can hear the hum of an electric hang-glider circling above the venue for the Austrian Grand Prix. Paul Harris and his colleagues look up briefly,

then the roller shutter rattles up to reveal their workplace for the next six days. The men make their way, still a little bleary-eyed, through the meandering hall between the paddock and pit lane. The floor gleams as if polished just moments before. Cables dangle from the ceiling, but other-wise it’s an empty scene. It’s hard to imagine that, from tomorrow afternoon, this will be home to the Mercedes AMG Petronas team garage. And that is why the seven men have gathered here. They drop their rucksacks, slip on fingerless gloves and get to work. Paul Harris and his crew are the truckies for the Formula 1 team powering Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. Their work takes place largely beyond the eyes of the viewing public, but it is central to the team’s success.Regardless of where the next GP is taking place, the truckies fly out from England at the latest on the Tuesday morning before the race weekend, set up the garage and ensure that everything is as their colleagues elsewhere in the team require. “Creating the best possible environment for our team is not just a job for us, it’s a matter of pride,” says head truckie Harris.Here in Spielberg, the tousle-haired 35-year-old is pitching in with his team. The men haul the crates and cases out of the first team truck into the hall. Burly characters with tattooed arms are as much in evidence as small, wiry types. 25-year-old Alex is the baby of the crew, while the elder statesman is Del, at 50. All of them are kitted out in the team gear: polo shirt in Petronas colors, black shorts and black sneakers.In the corner is an open laptop which the truck-ies consult frequently. A sketch on the screen reminds them how the garage should be looking by tomorrow afternoon. It resembles the floorplan for an apartment, complete with corridors, rooms and an open-plan area at the front. “The garage has to meet the functional needs of the team but also be presentable,” Harris tells us. It’s no easy task. The respective specialists for the gearbox, hybrid drive system and engine all require a small workshop of their own. At the same time, they have to remain out of sight of VIP guests sitting in the pits during the race weekend. The VIPs are led through corridors to their seats – just in front of where the racing cars are parked. And because every garage is different, Harris has to draw up new sketches for each circuit. “I start the planning process for a race around four weeks in advance,” he explains. Certain ven-ues present him with particular challenges. At Monaco, for instance, the cramped confines of the

ICREATING the best possible environment for our team to work in is not just a job for us, it’s a matter of pride.PA U L H A R R I S

L A N D I N G S T R I P A truckie marks out

the pit stop area for the Silver Arrows.

S P O R T S

24

team straight from school, others have previously worked in very different jobs – as electricians, for example. New recruits are shown the ropes by the more experienced hands. The most important les-son is that everybody has to be able to do every job. Harris is a qualified car mechanic and applied for a job at the team while still training. “I got one rejection after another, but I never gave up,” he recalls. His determination paid off, and in 1999 the team took him on. He’s been with the crew for nine years now, including a period away, and took over as chief truckie in 2012.Race Truck Four is due to arrive on Wednesday morning, with the most important cargo of all on board: the two Silver Arrows. However, the trans-porter has been delayed in heavy traffic. Harris is unperturbed: “It’s not a problem for us,” he confirms, having – as always – factored in extra time, just in case.In the garage, meanwhile, his colleague Bryan Hart is beavering away with cloth and cleaning

fluids to ensure every inch is gleaming. He cleans and polishes the garage again and again in the lead-up to the race as if it were the clean room in a computer chip factory. Bryan laughs when we ask how often he wipes the floor over a race weekend: “I’ve stopped counting,” he says. “But once the mechanics have arrived, it’s every half-hour.”The truckies’ work doesn’t stop once the cars are racing. Eagle-eyed observers may even see one or two of them busying around. Harris, for example, can be found kneeling down in helmet and protective suit during pit stops to remove one of the tires, and one of his colleagues jacks the car up from the rear. They do jobs which don’t require a mechanic, but they’re specialists all the same. Back at HQ in Brackley they practice every movement, over and over, for hour after hour. “An outsider would be amazed at how quietly the pit crew works during stops,” says Harris.Finally, Race Truck Four arrives. Harris and four colleagues are raised up on a liftgate to the un-loading point. They take the covers off Rosberg’s car and slide it out carefully into the light. Back on ground level, they secure it on a pair of dollies and nudge it into its slot in the garage. Barely has Hamilton’s Silver Arrow made it onto its stand and the mechanics are streaming into the garage. They wear the same team shirts as the truckies, and soon Paul Harris and his guys are swallowed up in the throng. If you didn’t know them, you’d have little idea what their jobs were. And that, without them, the team’s one-two victory four days later would not have been possible. <

S I G N L A N G U A G E The truckies are a well-oiled team. Hand signals often suffice to get the message across.

K E E P I N G O R D E RMaterials are transported in special boxes.

25

A LEGEND bids farewell: the last gullwing left the factory this summer. Six experts and enthusiasts describe the fascination of this super sports car.

TAKING

WING

S P O R T S

26

hen the SLS AMG was un-veiled to the public for the first time in 2009, it caused an immediate sensation. The super sports car, with its aluminum spaceframe

body, 6.3-liter front-mid V-8 engine and double-wishbone sports suspension, was capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds and cut a figure as elegant as it was sporty. The first car developed independently by Mercedes-AMG wasted no time in racking up countless major awards and came out on top in numerous comparison tests. The car was duly launched in a variety of guises: Coupe, open-top Roadster, GT, Black Series, Final Edition (techni-cal specifications and fuel consumption figures on page 74), as well as the GT3 racing version and SLS AMG Electric Drive – the latter the world’s most powerful production car with an electric drive system. After more than four years in production, the final gullwing rolled off the assembly line in the middle of this year. But a new super sports car is already in the starting blocks at AMG in Affalterbach. The Mercedes-AMG GT, the second sports car designed from nose to tail in Affalterbach, is due to be present-ed this fall. “We’ve clearly benefited from our experience with the development of the SLS,” ex-plains AMG head Tobias Moers. “The bar’s been set high, but we’re looking at the Mercedes-AMG GT as a standalone car, not a successor to the SLS.” Before the new model hits the road, we’ve asked six experts to put words to the mystique and allure of the SLS AMG, a car that already has what it takes to be a collector’s item.

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“A new era began for us with the unveiling of the SLS AMG in 2009. It was the first car we had developed entirely in-house. For me as part of the development team, it was a very special experience to bring a super sports car of this kind from drawing board to road. Its innovative technology and design have earned the SLS AMG iconic status – and its many variants and triumphs in motorsports have won it fans around the world. The new Mercedes-AMG GT, which we will unveil in the autumn, will give us the opportunity to position AMG even more aggressively as a dynamic sports car maker. A pure-bred sports car with AMG DNA is evi-dence of our ability to convert our high standards of driving dynamics, agility and sports performance into reality.”

THE BO S STobias Moers , Chief E xecutive of Mercedes -AMG

THE V IS IONARYLutz Fügener, professor of vehic le

design, P forzheim Univers i ty

“The gullwing doors are clearly the defining feature of the SLS – they make it what it is. But its proportions are also very successful. The front end doesn’t look over-the-top aggressive

and, while the rear is surprising, everything fits together very well. It’s like the car has been cut from a single mold. But the

SLS AMG doesn’t only look like a sports car, it drives like one.It delivers on the promise made by its design. And it

references Mercedes history – clearly a good idea when you’ve got that kind of history to draw on. This kind of retro concept is one thing, but I think it’s more interesting to explore how the sports car of the future will look. That’s why I can’t wait for the Mercedes-AMG GT.”

“The SLS AMG GT3 racing car represents AMG’s entry into the world of customer motorsports. The aim was to lay down a new benchmark for the GT3 race series in terms of safety, drivability and running costs. The biggest difference between the race-spec machine and the standard road car is that all the comfort-related equipment has been stripped out to reduce weight. The car also rides very low. The suspension minimizes tire wear, which allows the car to continue setting very strong lap times over longer distances. That gives it a major advantage over its rivals on the track. However, to win races you don’t just need speed, you need reliability as well – and the SLS AMG GT3 has proved it has that with an impressive number of victories in endurance racing.”

THE GT3 E XPE R TThomas Jäger, AMG Customer Spor ts Dr iver

S P O R T S

28

“I was handed my first Safety Car in 2000, a CL 55 AMG with a 5.5-liter V-8 engine developing 360 hp. Nowadays I drive an SLS AMG GT, which also has a V-8 but comes with a whole lot more power – 591 hp, to be precise. So the SLS AMG GT is not that far from the standard output of a Formula 1 car, when their turbo and energy recovery systems aren’t in play. It’s a good thing I can count on a powerful engine; at the grand prix in Monza, for exam-ple, I’m hitting between 275 and 280 km/h (171–174 mph) during a Safety Car phase. When it’s raining, in particular, the SLS can

hold its own very respectably among the F1 cars – even though they carry half the weight. The SLS AMG is a very direct car, i.e. it responds quickly at the front axle, which allows you to maintain a very tight line. With every evolutionary stage the car has become more modern, more comfortable, faster and more direct. The Safety Car is fitted with two monitors, a radio, GPS, a camera sys-tem – and, I’m pleased to say, air conditioning. When I’m out for a long time in the Safety Car I sometimes miss a good sound system (smiles). But that’s been taken out for good reason, of course.”

THE R AC ING DRIVE RBernd Mayländer, dr iver of the Mercedes - Benz SLS AMG GT Of f ic ia l F1 Safety Car

“Of course, the SLS AMG is one of the cars you can drive in our Gran Turismo racing game. As a motor racing fan, I’ve already driven the road-spec version as well as the GT3 racing car on the Nordschleife myself. Its wide track, long wheelbase and optimum weight distribution for a rear-wheel-drive car show that the Mercedes engineers have focused their attention not only on speed but also on good drivability. The SLS is extremely fast, but also sympathetic to drive. This type of car allows you to focus your mind 100 percent on the business of driving when you’re behind the wheel; you’re not fighting the car, so you can concentrate fully on improving your lap times. Plus, I’ve felt very safe in the SLS – and that’s not a sensation you get in many super sports cars.”

THE FANKazunor i Yamauchi , developer of v ideo game Gran Tur ismo and amateur racing dr iver

“I was one of the first people to buy an SLS AMG. When I picked it up that winter, there was 15 centimeters

[6 in] of snow on the ground. But I didn’t care, I couldn’t wait any longer. I’ve been collecting cars for 40 years –

to drive them, not watch them gathering dust in a garage. I’m always on the lookout for special cars. That explains

why I also own an old SL 300. Clearly, there’s a world of difference between the classic SL and the modern SLS,

but the gullwing doors make them both a magnet for attention. My favorite aspects of the SLS AMG are its

dynamic repertoire and the sound it makes. Once I was even flagged down by a group of youngsters who

just wanted me to rev the engine a few times.”

THE OWNE RGuido Hommel ,

businessman and car col lector

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THE SUNHIGHWAY TO

A DREAM is taking to the road: solar paving could one day power electric cars, signage, de-icing systems – and even homes.

THE MATERIAL can withstand a weight of 113 metric tons (125 tons) – far more than the legal limit for trucks.S C O T T B R U S A W

F I R S T S T E P SJulie and Scott Brusaw from Sandpoint, Idaho, on a prototype solar panel parking area. So far all their prototypes have been built by hand. P

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On his website, Scott Brusaw demonstrates how solar roads could work. M B - Q R . C O M/ O K W

T airport and rail station. For now, the Brusaws are putting actual roads to one side and gathering experience with non-critical areas like parking lots and driveways. From there, they can move on to residential roads and eventually highways. Brusaw envisages the solar panels having mul-tiple benefits. At parking lots, they could power nearby buildings and EV charging points. Solar roads would also be fitted with LED road mark-ings and signage, while heating elements would keep them snow- and ice-free. The Brusaws will first need to get a manufacturing process up and running before they can make any realistic cost estimates. So far they have built all their proto-types by hand with the help of friends. They hope that one day there will be “solar roadway” facto-ries all over the world. To supplement federal re-search grants, they also launched a crowdfund-ing campaign this year – the most successful to date on the Indie gogo platform, raising $2.2 mil-lion in donations from 50,000 people. Not bad for a childhood dream!

he idea is almost as old as its in-ventor. Growing up in the early sixties, Scott Brusaw was obsessed with slot car racing. As he told his childhood friend Julie, his dream was one day to develop a re-

al-world “electric road” of his own. About ten years ago, the two of them – long since married – were chatting about global warming, and Julie reminded Scott of that electric road he’d dreamed of. Wouldn’t it be possible to make an electric road out of solar panels, she asked. Brusaw, now 56, responded that solar panels are so fragile “you can’t even step on them, let alone drive on them”. But the idea had been planted in his mind and the electrical engineer began to do some re-search. Initially he thought the panels would have to be made of plastic, but then he had the idea of using special glass. Brusaw admits that everyone imagines that on glass, cars would soon be sliding all over the place if it rained. But that problem has already been fixed. A surface pattern has been developed with enough grip for vehicles to be able to stop even at speeds up to 130 km/h (80 mph). And Brusaw’s own origi-nal worry about robustness has likewise proved groundless: “Tests showed that the material can withstand a weight of 125 tons [113 metric tons] – more than three times the USA’s legal weight limit for trucks.”

Built-in heatingNow, following extensive testing, the first prac-tical projects are taking shape. Next year, Bru-saw’s home town of Sandpoint, Idaho, is hoping to become the first “Solar Roadway city”. The plan is to use the system to surface two parking lots plus sidewalks and various areas around the

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L O R E M M A R K E T T E

30

I N T E L L I G E N C E

luxurious rooms

a view of the Red Sea

a wonderful vacation

memories to cherish

MOVING

AHEAD 1998 was the year of new technologies: MP3 players, the Web and Google. And the first smart showed that even small cars were capable of great things

A revolutionary city car – the six main smart models: 19

98–2

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S M A R T C I T Y C O U P E The original style icon measures a mere 2.5 by 1.51 meters (8 ft 2.5 in by 4 ft 11.5 in). 20

00–2

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S M A R T C A B R I O Even more original: if the electrically- operated soft top isn’t enough, you can even remove the roof pillars. 20

02–2

003

S M A R T C R O S S B L A D E The ultimate in minimalism: no doors, no roof, no windshield – just lots of fun!

M I L E S T O N E SThe Petronas Towers soar

upwards, Google is set up and Titanic breaks box-office records.

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D R I V E

ometimes the advent of a new era is heralded in strange ways. Take 1998, for example. A teenager by the name of Britney Spears had a hit with her song “Baby one more time” and became a model for mul-

timedia pop stars the world over. Love her or hate her, the singer had been groomed for stardom from an early age, and her life was an open book for fans and the public at large. But it was not just pop music: in other areas of life, too, rapid change was the order of the day. 1998 saw the launch of a range of new technolo-gies that we now take for granted. For example, the fact that we can now listen to digital record-ings of Britney Spears is thanks to the appear-ance of the first MP3 player back then – priced at a mind-blowing 400 US dollars and with a stor-age capacity of a mere half-hour of music! That same year, Apple introduced the first iMac to the world. With its colorful, translucent plastic housing, it represented a totally new departure in design. People’s expectations of computers and consumer electronics would never be the same again. Meanwhile, in California’s Menlo Park – virtual-ly unnoticed by the rest of the world – two college students launched a small-scale start-up compa-ny. They named it Google.

A foothold in spaceHow appropriate, then, that 1998 also saw some radical developments in the area of personal mo-bility and the automobile. Just years before, a city car measuring no more than 2.5 meters (8 ft) in length would have been as unthinkable as the World Wide Web, which was just embarking on its global conquest. But in the 1990s, the time did seem ripe for a new micro-compact car, and indeed a development process now began that would culminate in the birth of a new brand: the “smart”. The first model – the smart city coupe – ap-peared on the market in the fall of 1998. With its frugal, rear-mounted three-cylinder engine, it was so compact that it could even park end-on. And its Tridion steel safety cell put it on a par with many a larger sedan.

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–200

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S M A R T R OA D S T E R Go-kart redefined: probably the world’s smallest racing car, with a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph). 20

04–2

006

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S M A R T E L E C T R I C D R I V E Silent, with zero emissions: the eco-friendly electric drive is ideal for a city car.

THE DESIGN of the first iMac, with its colorful, translucent plastic housing, was revolutionary.

H I G H P E F O R M A N C E Mika Häkkinen wins the F1 world championship, the ISS goes into orbit and cell phones burst into color.

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The smart was an ideal vehicle for our over-crowded cities and very much in tune with the changing pattern of people’s lifestyles – it was flexible and innovative without making any concessions in terms of safety, comfort and modern design. Over the years, many more smart models were introduced, and by its 15th anniversary in 2013, the youngest automobile brand in Europe had built more than 1.5 million units of the “smart fortwo” model, as the smart city coupe was named after 2003.1998 was unequivocally a year of radical change, with many existing boundaries crossed or rede-fined. The New Economy was still in full swing. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the twin spires of the Petronas Towers reached completion – at 452 me-ters (just under 1,500 ft) the world’s tallest edifice. Finally, in November, humanity’s greatest ever technology project was – literally – launched when the first module of the International Space Station went into orbit. Mankind now had a per-manent foothold in space.

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C A L I F O R N I A D R E A M I N GSan Diego boasts not only stunning architecture like the Salk Institute campus (this page) but also gorgeous beaches (right).

34

E M O T I O N

WORDS J Ü RG EN SC HMIEDER PHOTOS CHRIST IAN HOR AN

FOR YEARS, SAN DIEGO has taken a back seat to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Today, this California

beachfront city is booming, but it remains as laid-back as the multitudes of surfers who proudly call it home.

Life’s a beach

35

B O A R D B U I L D E R At Derrik Kapalla’s surf shop, Shaper

Studios, customers can build their

own surfboard.

explains. “It’s the ideal activity to do right before plunging into the insanity of the outside world.”

A whiff of Mary JaneAnyone keen to discover the essence of California would be well-advised to avoid the gold rush cities up north and head straight for San Diego. L.A. is full of crazed individuals restlessly seeking fame and fortune, San Francisco is overrun with comput-er geeks convinced that their next idea will trans-form the planet. San Diegans, by contrast, are laid back and willing to take the world as it comes.This attitude is evident on an early morning stroll northwards along Pacific Beach. Here one encoun-ters people using every sort of wheeled and board-based mode of transportation known to mankind, as well as joggers and ordinary pedestrians. Every last one of them smiles, wishes you a pleasant day and inquires about your well-being. The only ones in an obvious hurry are those trying to achieve an advanced level of physical fitness. Other than that, everything is relaxed. Odors of salt water and fish permeate the air – as does the faint scent of mar-ijuana, which is legal here for medicinal purpos-es and more or less tolerated for recreational use.A couple of miles further on and one arrives at the section of beach immortalized by Don Winslow in his novel The Dawn Patrol. This is the kingdom of the shortboard surfers. “These are the hard-boiled guys who battle for every wave and fiercely de-fend their turf, especially against newcomers,” explains Owen. Tough guys, perhaps, but with hearts of gold. Like everyone else, they don’t hes-itate to offer a friendly greeting and inquire how things are going before flexing their muscles and charging into the ocean. This is where Winslow derives inspiration for his characters: “It’s a won-

ight on!” At Pacific Beach in north-ern San Diego, these words are the first to break the early morn-ing calm. The phrase’s precise meaning is difficult to pin down: depending on the length of the “o”

it can mean anything from “don’t worry about it” to “that’s totally amazing!”. Trevor Owen’s version contains an “o” that says “relax, man, relax”, and he utters it easily before tucking his surfboard under his arm and padding towards the Pacif-ic Ocean. The young man is a Californian cliché made flesh, right down to his long blond locks and well-toned upper arms. It’s shortly before six in the morning. Owen be-longs to the “Dawn Patrol”, those select surfers who prefer to ply their trade at sunrise. About 200 devotees are already bobbing among the waves, the more ambitious weaving between the wooden pilings of the pier, the more laid-back just lying atop their boards and drifting. Owen comes here three times a week. “Here I can relax, surf, and meet people who share my passion – it’s just the right mixture of individuality and community,” he

C U LT U R A L H U B Balboa Park and

its 16 museums are reminiscent of

historic San Diego. RE M O T I O N

36

derful thing for an author to be able to immerse himself in a place like this,” he says.It’s all par for the course in this eclectic town, con-sidered the historical cradle of California. With 1.4 million residents, San Diego has steadily grown in-to the USA’s eighth most populous metropolitan ar-ea. The city is booming, young artists are working with designers and restaurateurs to transform ne-glected neighborhoods like Little Italy into sought-after destinations. A warehouse with boarded-up windows is being turned into one of the country’s trendiest wine bars, a brand-new gallery is taking shape inside an odiferous former fish market, a run-down shack is becoming a hip new restaurant. Everywhere you look in the multitudinous bars and restaurants, works by local artists are on display.

Little Italy has rapidly morphed into a popular hangout for hippies and hipsters alike, all rubbing shoulders in the bars with soldiers – a ubiquitous sight in this city owing to the many military bas-es in the area. Toss in a few employees from one of more than 400 local biotech firms, and the result is very similar to surfing, where the guy bobbing next to you in the water could be a millionaire or a homeless person. Everyone’s equal in the water, and the same holds true in bars and restaurants. Instead of speaking on top of one another, people here actually converse with each other – and al-ways with a “Right on!” or two thrown in for good measure. Cultivate individualism, but not at the ex-pense of the community. Don’t take the world and above all yourself too seriously. Rejoice over every day the sun comes up. Rooted in surfing culture, this attitude towards life permeates the entire city.

The surfing lifestyleNorth Park is home to “Shaper Studios”, a surf shop where customers can design and even build their own surfboards – a unique offering among the world’s surfing community. Owner Derrik Ka-palla is just 24. “I’ve been surfing since I was two,” he says. “At some point I built my own board, and my friends asked me how I did it – so two years ago we opened this shop. People from all over the world have been coming here ever since.” It might seem logical that Kapalla would capitalize on the hype surrounding his shop and expand – to the East Coast, for instance. Plenty of offers have been on the table. “That’s not really my thing,” he says. “I want to develop a community here, hang out with my friends, and keep on doing what I like to do.” Not much of the early morning calm remains on a return visit to Pacific Beach in the afternoon. The beachfront is lively, with people tossing balls back and forth or just sunbathing. The surfers are still there, needless to say. That’s San Diego in a nut-shell – always active, always enjoying the outdoors – and always laid back. Right on!

A . M . W O R K O U T Trevor Owen heads to Pacific Beach at

6 a.m. to go surfing three times a week.

>

Anyone who truly wants to discover the essence of California should head to San Diego.

A Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG in front of the Geisel Library at the University of California at San Diego. (Further technical specifications and fuel consumption figures can be found on p. 75.)

37

Laid-back living and diningL O C AT I N G A H O T E L in San Diego that melds laid-back surfer culture with modern-day luxury might seem challenging – but all you really need do is head to lifeguard tower 23 on Pacific Beach and turn around. The Tower23 hotel offers 44 uniquely designed suites featuring attractive touches such as waterfall jacuzzis and step-in rain showers. Relax on the balcony and savor the view of the sun dipping slowly into the Pacific Ocean, or of the enchanting Zen Garden. Hot tip: get in some physical activity on the beach at sunrise, then fortify yourself afterwards with an omelet at the hotel’s excellent JRDN restaurant. Room rates are upwards of EUR 300 ($400). T 2 3 H O T E L . C O M

Stuff to see G E T P I C K L E D Everyone’s an artist in San Diego, even the humble pickle man: painter Jarod Farver uses a 100-year-old recipe to transform cucumbers, carrots and red peppers into pickled delicacies. His de-licious pickles can be increasingly seen gracing Bloody Marys at the city’s trendi-est bars. F A R V S P I C K L E S . W E E B LY. C O M

I T ’ S A G A SFamed gunslinger Wyatt Earp once owned bars and casinos in the Gaslamp Quarter in the western portion of the city. These days, instead of gun-toting outlaws, the quarter attracts people with an interest in Victorian architecture, romantic strolls and stylish bars. G A S L A M P. O R G

PA R K I T Before venturing inside one of Balboa Park’s many museums, stroll through the Japanese Garden or take a glance at the surrounding architecture, intended to recall historical San Diego. Especially captivating is the Museum of Man with artwork by prehistoric native American peoples. B A L B O A P A R K . O R G

1

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INFORMATION FOR TRAVELERS

The most important information, tips and links from this article are also available online – just scan the

QR code with your smartphone to discover San Diego. M B - Q R . C O M/ 0 K V

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, home to more than

800 research scientists, consists of two magnificent buildings

designed by Louis I. Kahn. Inside the ultra-cool campus con-

structed of exposed concrete and mahogany, scientists in

the 60s earned a reputation for throwing wild parties. No sur-

prise there: Françoise Gilot, wife of founder and famed doctor Jonas

Salk, was once Pablo Picasso’s muse.

Study in style

E M O T I O N

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! on the go !There are more than 80 golf courses in and around San Diego, many of them featuring beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. The true golf lovers’ mecca is approximately

one half-hour north in Carlsbad. The drive there alongside the Pacific Ocean leads past

numerous outlook points – ideal locations for a roadside picnic. Carlsbad itself is home to the California Surf Museum, while nearby Encinitas boasts a skateboarding halfpipe

that was used in the X Games. Bargain-hunters can browse the multitudes of golf

equipment stores in the area for deals.

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Need to know E V E N I N G S T R O L LWhen the sun goes down, downtown San Diego wakes up – and that’s the ideal time for a stroll through downtown’s historic Gaslamp Quarter. It’s a great place to hang with the locals in a trendy bar and discuss surf conditions, or just to people-watch.

G E T T I N G A R O U N DClose to the beach it’s easiest to walk or avail yourself of a bike or skateboard. For excursions to more far-flung points a rental car is best, preferably a convertible. If you want to head downtown it’s a good idea to take a taxi: planning a trip using public transportation is nearly as complicated as doing your taxes. A good alternative is the “trolley tour” – old-style buses depart every 30 minutes to the city’s most popular tourist destinations. T R O L L E Y T O U R S . C O M/ S A N - D I E G O

U N D R E S S C O D EThe local dress code is virtually non-existent – many beachside restaurants and bars observe the mantra “no shirt, no shoes – no problem”. Wearing shoes and a shirt is a good idea at the upscale locales in downtown, Little Italy or the Gaslamp Quarter, but in general dressed-up for-mality is the exception here rather than the rule.

M E R C U R I A L T E M P SIt goes without saying that it never rains in California – which is why visitors need to bring plenty of sunscreen. But it can also get cold in a hurry. Once the sun goes down, temperatures can plummet up to 15 degrees Celsius (30°F). On extended day trips, even on seemingly hot days, it’s a good idea to bring along a jacket.

B R E A K FA S T O F C H A M P I O N SAfter a morning of strenuous activity on the beach, treat yourself to some stick-to-your-ribs post-workout fare at a nearby breakfast bar like Olive’s Café or Kono’s. Typical menu items include fresh fruit, fragrant bacon and delicious omelets, not to mention the breakfast burrito, after which you won’t need to eat anything else until dinner time.

T H E R E ’ S O N E T H I N G that people in San Diego never talk about. Everyone knows that the “curse” exists, so why possibly make it worse by mentioning it? Not once in the long history of this city has a professional team won a champion-ship in one of the “big four” sports: football, baseball, basketball or ice hockey. This certainly cannot be blamed on San Diegans’ lack of affection for their teams: even Wednesday afternoon Padres baseball games at downtown San Diego’s Petco Park attract over 20,000 fans on average. “Curse? What curse?” asks Barry Levy, a season ticket holder for 25 years. Again, instead of discussing such matters, people here prefer to cheer the team on, and hope that one day the curse will be lifted. P A D R E S . C O M

Surf Museum

California

B E A C H B E A U T I E S Volleyball players meet in the

afternoons on Pacific Beach, along with a four-wheeled

athlete – the SL 63 AMG.

S H A P E R S T U D I O S , a surfer’s paradise.

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SE P TE MBE R 19 –21M O N T E R E Y J A Z Z F E S T I VA LHerbie Hancock, Gary Clark Jr. and Michael Feinstein are among the leading acts appearing at the world’s biggest jazz festival this year. The classic event in California sees more than 500 artists performing on eight stages.

NOT TO BE MISSED K E Y D I A R Y D AT E S F R O M S E P T E M B E R T O N O V E M B E R 2 014

7R E G ATA S TO R I C A D I V E N E Z I ASince the mid-13th century, this tradition-steeped regatta has been delighting Venetians and visitors to their city. A highly popular feature is the race between costumed gondoliers that takes place on the Grand Canal.

5 –13I N T E R N AT I O N A L E M O N TG O L F I A D EDozens of imaginatively designed hot-air balloons head skywards from Warstein, Germany, in Europe’s biggest event of its kind. Up to 300,000 spectators are expected.

5 –10IFA B E R L INWhat are the must-have television sets, hi-fi systems and computerized kitchen gadgets for the year 2015? The world’s leading consumer electronics fair turns the spotlight on tech objects of desire.

25 – 30M E R C E D E S T R O P H Y WO R L D F I N A LThe Mercedes Trophy World Final held in Stuttgart sees the top golfers who have qualified from among 65,000 Mercedes customers competing against one another.

15.10L O N D O N

F R I E Z E A R T FA I RMore than 150 galleries showcase

their artists’ works in Regent’s Park, turning this four-day event into

one of the most influential contemporary art fairs in the world.

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NOVE MBE R

O C TOBE R

23F1 S E A S O N F I N A L E , A B U D H A B IThis year, the winner of the final race on the spectacular Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi will receive 50 rather than the previous 25 points. After all, the 5.5-kilometer (3.4-mile) circuit is hosting the last race for the World Championship title, and the new points rule will make it all that more exciting.

2LO ND O N TO B R I G H TO N V E T E R A N C A R R U NNo car built after 1905 is eligible to take part in the world’s longest-running motoring event. The veteran car rally goes back to a run in 1896 in which participants celebrated the raising of the legal speed limit from 4 to 14 mph (6 to 23 km/h).

3 –9AT P WO R L D TO U R F I N A L SNadal, Djokovic, Federer – or who knows? London sees the eight top-ranking male tennis players vie for supremacy on the court. The winner of the last grand slam title of the season will earn more than honor alone – he can look forward to prize money in excess of 2 million dollars.

F R O M 27A N S E L M K IE F E R , LO ND O NArt blockbuster: the Royal Academy of Arts is hosting the first major retrospective of the German artist and sculptor on British soil.

1– 6I N T E R N AT I O N A L B OAT S H OWSome 1,000 boats across an exhibition space of almost two million square feet will bring waves of watersport fans to the Salone Nautico Internationale in Genoa. Last year more than 100,000 came.

6 –10T E D G LO B A L C O NF E R E N C E , R I OBright sparks from around the world will gather below Sugarloaf Mountain to exchange ideas, present innovations and trigger creativity. Videos will be streamed on the Internet for home viewing.

4 –19PA R I S AU TO S H OWThe automotive fair in the French capital is a highlight of the motoring year thanks to the many premieres and innovations it presents. The facelifted B-Class will be on display, as will the C63 AMG with its 450 hp biturbo V-8 engine.

13 –19M E R C E D E S - B E N Z FAS HI O N W E E K , TO K YOArguably Asia’s leading fashion week, the Tokyo show primarily showcases Japanese designers, but international names such as Diane von Furstenberg will also be presenting their 2015 spring and summer collections.

O L D B U T G O L DOnly cars built in 1905

or earlier can take part in the legendary

Veteran Car Run.

F R O M 6A N N O U N C E M E N T O F N O B E L P R I Z E - W INNE R SPioneering discoveries and achievements will receive the highest accolade of all in October. On consecutive days, the new laureates will be announced for the categories Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Economic Sciences, as well as for the Nobel Peace Prize.

16 –19W INE A ND F O O D F E S T I VA L , N E W YO R KVisitors to the NYCWFF can expect more than burgers and beer. International celebrity chefs and the USA’s favorite TV chefs will display their skills in seminars, at parties and at private dinners. And it’s not just a matter of culinary delights – part of the proceeds from the event will go to a charitable cause.

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ABU DHABI The Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Division of the Abu Dhabi Police, in partnership with integrated asset management company Kha-damati, has set up an offi ce in the Emirates Motor Company (EMC) showroom on Airport Road to offer licensing services to customers. Colonel Suhail Al Khaili, Chief of the Vehicles Li-censing Section at the Abu Dhabi Police Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department, says that the new offi ce will cater to EMC's customers, employ-ees and affi liates by offering the following ser-vices: the issuing and renewal of expired driv-ing licenses, replacement of lost driving licenses, and the registration, issuance and renewal of ve-

hicle registration cards. “Such a step saves time and effort, as it does not require people to go to the department building or any other branch in Abu Dhabi to get their transactions done,” adds Al Khaili.He emphasizes that the new offi ce provides high-quality services and rapid and accurate completion of all transactions. He mentions that the department intends to open similar offi ces in the future to keep up with drivers’ growing de-mand for registration services in Abu Dhabi. It is also in pursuance of the government’s vision to provide citizens and residents with accessible services wherever they are.

Abu Dhabi Police licensing division sets up shop in EMCNew offi ce aims to provide high-quality licensing services and accurate completion of all transactions

EMC welcomes CM of the Channel Island of JerseySenator Ion Gorst visits the world's largest Mercedes-Benz facility in Mussafah

ABU DHABI During an offi cial visit to the UAE, Chief Minister of the British Channel Island of Jer-sey, Senator Ian Gorst, visited the world’s largest Mercedes-Benz facility housed by the Emirates Motor Company (EMC). "I was impressed with the EMC facility," Senator Gorst said. "I was also de-lighted to support a Jersey engineering fi rm spe-cializing in the restoration of classic cars, which is hoping to build a relationship with the Al Fa-him Group. I look forward to the development of a close collaboration that will benefi t the Al Fahim Group's customers and Jersey’s specialist fi rms."“We would like take this valuable opportunity to thank Senator Gorst for gracing us with his vis-

it and touring our headquarters in Mussafah. We are proud of housing the largest Mercedes-Benz facility in the world and of being among the capi-tal’s important landmarks,” said Ian Beattie, Gen-eral Aftersales Manager at EMC.Senator Gorst was taken on a comprehensive tour of the premises in Mussafah, which includes a 250-workbay service center, the Middle East’s largest car painting booths, 550 underground parking lots for customers’ vehicles, and more. Senator Gorst was also greatly impressed by the classic car collection of the second-generation family of Al Fahim, which was displayed at the showroom in Mussafah.

EMC Express Service Center turns oneA 150 percent increase in the number of vehicles serviced recorded since launch in 2013

ABU DHABI Emirates Motor Company (EMC), Mercedes-Benz's authorized distributor in Abu Dhabi and the fl agship company of the Al Fahim Group, recently celebrated the fi rst anniversary of its Express Service Center at EMC’s Airport Road facility and an increase in the number of vehicles serviced by 150 percent in the past six months, since its launch in August 2013. Kamal Rafi h, General Manager at EMC, says: “Our Express Service customers are happy and are increasing day by day because the facility is convenient for them, in addition to the fact that

they are able to receive their vehicles after a short wait. Looking at a monthly fi gure, we now cater to, on average, 400 customers.” At the EMC Express Service Center in the Air-port Road Facility, EMC takes on regular ser-vice and small repair jobs that take less than two hours, such as refurbishing wheel rims and small scratches, oil fi lter change and quick lube, air-condition cleaning, minor and major servic-ing, brake pads, tires and wheel alignment, wheel balancing and small electrical jobs. There are 75 shaded parking spots for customers, an accesso-

ries boutique of Mercedes-Benz products and a spare parts store. While the customer waits, they can check out the boutique area, enjoy attractive Mercedes-Benz infomercials, free Wi-Fi, coffee and tea, or even visit EMC’s new- and used-car showroom next door.Iddrisu Yussif, Service Supervisor at the EMC Ex-press Service Center, adds: “We particularly see many women dropping their vehicles off for ex-press servicing and, if they don’t prefer to wait, we are pleased to drop them off in Mercedes-Benz saloons in their desired destinations.”

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R E G I O N A L N E W S

ABU DHABI Emirates Motor Company (EMC), the general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Abu Dhabi and the flagship company of the Al Fahim Group, launched the all-new Mercedes-Benz 2015 C-Class at a gala iftar on July 5 at its Airport Road show-room in the capital. In the presence of the newly appointed CEO Au-tomotive of the Al Fahim Group, Frank Bernthal-er, the commemorative evening continued with a press conference, where EMC hosts Kamal Rafih, General Manager; Jordan Duckett, General Sales Manager; and, Rabih Eid, Operations Manager; were head-table spokespersons. “We are delighted to be revealing the admirable all-new Mercedes-Benz 2015 C-Class during a blessed and festive month, as well as announce the great achievements we’ve accomplished so far this year,” said Rafih in his speech to the media. “As we con-clude the first half of the year, we also celebrate a well-earned increase in our sales performance of 42 percent, when compared with the same period last year.” Among the most popular models in 2014, which witnessed an exponential rise, were the legendary Mercedes-Benz S-Class by an impressive 347 per-cent, the sporty A-Class by 156 percent, the luxu-rious E-Class by 46 percent, and the entire sports utility vehicle (SUV) range by 22 percent, which

includes the G-Class, GL-Class, GLK Class and the M-Class. During the memorable occasion, media represen-tatives and guests were also invited to explore the latest innovation by Mercedes-Benz and register for the driving experience. The all-new C-Class sets new standards in the pre-mium medium-size category in terms of striking appearance, cutting-edge technology, spacious comfort and refined sportiness. A host of new as-sistance systems offers safety of the highest stan-

dard, while a new optional air-sprung suspension provides for exemplary ride and driving comfort, as well as nimble and agile handling. Thanks to the intelligent and innovative light-weight construction, the aluminum hybrid body is approximately 70 kilograms lighter than a con-ventional steel body. When compared with the suc-cessful predecessor, the aluminum content has in-creased from less than ten percent to nearly 50 per-cent. As a result, the vehicle's overall weight is re-duced by up to 100 kilograms.

EMC unveils all-new Mercedes-Benz 2015 C-Class Company announces a 42 percent increase in sales in H1 2014

First look at the all-new C-Class in Dubai New model heralds a new chapter in the Mercedes-Benz success story

DUBAI – Gargash Enterprises unveiled the all-new C-Class on July 13 at its Sheikh Zayed Road showroom. A modern, enhanced vehicle with class-leading advanced technology, the all-new C-Class is set to continue its legacy as one of the leading luxury sedans in its segment. Displaying a refined, premium style, it showcases a sporty interior with a high-class appeal, lightweight construction and a generous sense of space. The media and other esteemed guests caught a glimpse of the new design and technology of the C 200 and C 250 models on display. Dubbed the mini S-Class, the all-new C-Class, has already created a buzz and enticed the pub-lic with its modernly equipped lines through the Avantgarde, Exclusive and AMG models. Mark-ing the key launch of the C-Class, Wassim Der-bi, Marketing Manager at Gargash Enterprises, said: “The all new C-Class incorporates many as-sistance systems with a range of enhanced func-

tions. With its innovative design, safety and tech-nology features, it stands alone as a vibrant char-acter fulfilling every need of the modern custom-er. Personifying the contemporary automotive luxury by the Mercedes-Benz brand, the C-Class has all of the prerequisites to be a huge success.” The all-new C-Class heralds a new chapter in

the Mercedes-Benz success story and sets new standards in the premium medium-size catego-ry. With its outstanding features and a progres-sive approach, the high-class appeal of the new C-Class feels like an “upgrade to a higher class of vehicle”. It is, thus, a step into the future, under-lining the Mercedes-Benz brand entity.

43

Down Syndrome Awareness Parade a success Event organized by Gargash Enterprises as part of its continuous commitment toward children's well-being

DUBAI Gargash Enterprises, in association with the Dubai Police, Group 32 and Sixt Car Rental, organized a Down syndrome awareness parade on June 14, presenting children from the UAE Down Syndrome Association with a five-star experience in Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The event started at the Gargash Enterprises' headquarters in Deira, where the children were given an opportunity to touch and feel the lux-ury and comfort of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Following this, Gargash Enterprises arranged a grand lunch for them and their guardians at a five-star venue. Adding to the air of excitement was a chauf-feur-driven tour for the children and their guardians around major attractions in Dubai in ten luxurious Mercedes-Benz GL-Class and M-Class vehicles. More joy was added to their fun day when they were taken to Baskin-Rob-bins to relish various ice cream flavors by the Group 32 team. As the official silver sponsor of the UAE Down Syndrome Association, Gargash Enterprises or-ganized this event as part of its continuous com-mitment towards the well-being of the children, as well as to nurture positive sentiments in their hearts. Gargash Enterprises recognizes the need to en-courage people to see beyond the limitations of Down syndrome and is determined to magnify its social corporate responsibility in this direc-tion. The UAE Down Syndrome Association, of-

ficialized by the Ministry of Social Affairs, is in-valuable to people affected by Down syndrome. It offers support and guidance, initiates rehabil-itation programs, provides job training and as-sists those living with Down syndrome to main-tain a healthy and active lifestyle.

Down syndrome is a condition where a baby is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21, which affects one in 800 births. These children grow up with (severe) physical and/or mental disabilities, and, thus, need their community’s care and support.

BrightCastle Motors opens showroom in ErbilTrained staff will assist customers every step of the way

ERBIL-IRAQ Despite recent turmoil in many countries within the Middle East, BrightCastle Motors – the exclusive dealer of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in Iraq – opened its first dedi-cated showroom in Q3 2014 in Erbil.The newly opened showroom reflects Bright-Castle Motors' dedication to provide the best to its partners. Customers will feel the atten-tion to detail given to high-quality products and services in the innovative environment of the showroom.The company offers a rich variety of passenger cars, in addition to a unique selection of gift items and car accessories. Its team is driven by passion and commitment to the brand, aim-ing to become the benchmark of the automo-

tive sector in the region. BrightCastle Motors' trained staff will assist customers from the mo-ment they step into the showroom to the time

when their car will be serviced with the latest Mercedes-Benz tools, equipment and authentic spare parts.

44

R E G I O N A L N E W S

All-new C-Class unveiled in KSA

All-New C-Class arrives in Kuwait

Launch event attended by more than 400 guests

Albisher & Alkazemi Co unveils new model in The Avenues Mall

JEDDAH The fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class was launched by Juffali Automotive Co. Ltd. (JACO) in Saudi Arabia – the general distribu-tor of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the kingdom.The three-day well-attended launch event, which took place at JACO's showroom in the Automall Center in Jeddah, received great feedback from customers; all of whom were impressed with the vehicle's leading features, sophisticated specs and high-end safety equipment. The all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class was then launched in JACO's Urouba branch in Riyadh and its showroom in Dammam, which also boasted a great customer turn out. All three launch events invited customers to an open house, where the new C-Class was displayed for three days in each location. With more than 400 guests attending, the event was a success. Launching the highly anticipated C-Class was defi nitely a hit in Saudi Arabia, but the highlight of the event and certainly a pleasant surprise to JA-CO guests was the availability of on-the-spot test drives of the C-Class.

More than 350 customers were able take either a C180, C200 or a C250 for a ride; the positive vibe that was generated from the activity was fi lling the showrooms. “We are proud to be the fi rst GCC general dis-tributor of Mercedes-Benz to introduce the new C-Class in the region, especially the fi rst market to offer the fourth generation of the C-Class to Mer-cedes-Benz fans and loyal customers,” said Safi Al Kobeissi, General Manager at JACO.

P U B L I C A T I O N D E T A I L S

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Editor Elizabeth McGlynn

Sub-editors Hassan Soukar, Joe Dagher,

Gitanjali Bose, Nour Tahkakha

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Design Manager Aziz Kamel

Creative Designer Sheela Jeevan

Contributors Sandy Farah

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59th year of publicationKUWAIT Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alka-zemi Co, the general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Kuwait, offi cially launched the all-new C-Class in The Avenues Mall on September 10, in the pres-ence of the company’s directors, senior manage-ment, representatives from Daimler Middle East and Levant, and members of the media. Much anticipated and well received globally, the new model defi nes new benchmarks in the premi-um medium-size category with its clear, yet emo-tional, design, high-class interiors and superior

driving comfort. Its refi ned sportiness and ener-gizing comfort are underscored by a number of in-novations and equipment features that include a new optional air-sprung suspension for exempla-ry ride and driving comfort, with nimble and agile handling. The C-Class has grown to take account of people's increasing average height. With an 80-millimeter increase in the wheelbase, it is 95 millimeters longer and 40 millimeters wider. The result is a more spacious interior. At 480 liters, it surpasses its predecessor in terms of boot capacity.

45