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Stuttgart, Germany, Apr 01, 2011Event: Mercedes-Benz Classic at the Mille Miglia Storica, 12 to 15 May 2011.
75 years ago – on 17 May 1936: Rudolf Caracciola won the Tunis Grand Prix at an average speed of 160.3 km/h. This was the final victory for the Silver Arrows from Mercedes-Benz in the 1936 racing season.
5 years ago – on 19 and 20 May 2006: the new Mercedes-Benz Museum was opened. Situated directly outside the Untertürkheim plant, it presents Mercedes-Benz's unique traditions through a diverse range of exhibits. It is the largest automobile museum in the world, with its own very special architectural stamp.
Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
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Stuttgart, Germany, Apr 01, 2011 – In good time for the switch from winter to summer tyres at the beginning of spring, Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH is offering new wheels designed to lend Mercedes vehicles an even more impressive appearance. In line with customers' wishes, the accessories specialists are broadening the range of popular bichromatic wheels. Apart from their visual merits, these wheels also boast an outstanding standard of quality. Wheels from Mercedes-Benz Accessories are required to meet the same high specifications as standard production wheels. Neither certification nor registration with the TÜV technical inspection authority are required when fitting these wheels, as they all form part of the vehicle homologation.
Alongside the wheels sporting an impressive single-tone paint finish, the high-sheen bichromatic light-alloy wheels derive their additional appeal from the interesting contrast between the apparently bare metal surface and the painted surfaces. These wheels lend the vehicle a yet more exclusive appearance and are considered by the designers at Mercedes-Benz to be more than just a passing fad. "Both the studies by our colleagues at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design studios throughout the world and intensive market research reveal one and the same picture. Bichromatic wheels are becoming ever more popular," notes Klaus Frenzel, who oversees design development for new wheel models at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Center.
For spring 2011, Mercedes-Benz Accessories is offering new light-alloy wheels amongst others for the following model series (as per March 2011):
SLK-Class 43.2 cm (17") Incenio 10-spoke wheel
Surface finish: Bichromatic palladium silver / high-sheen
Wheel size 7.5J x 17 ET 42 / tyre size 225/45 R17
€ 289.-*
Optional for the rear axle: Wheel size 8.5J x 17 ET 36 / tyre size 245/40 R17
€ 295.-*
SLK-Class 45.7 cm (18") Incenio 5-twin-spoke wheel
Surface finish: Bichromatic palladium silver / high-sheen
Wheel size 7.5J x 18 ET 42 / tyre size 225/40 R18
€ 315.-*
Optional for the rear axle:
Wheel size: 8.5J x 18 ET 36 / tyre size 245/35 R18
€ 325.-*
CLS-Class 48.3 cm (19") Incenio 10-spoke wheel
Surface finish: Bichromatic black / high-sheen
Wheel size 8.5J x 19 ET 34.5 / tyre size 255/35 R19
€ 399.-*
Optional for the rear axle:
Wheel size 9.5J x 19 ET 48 / tyre size 285/30 R19
€ 405.-*
Finish: Bichromatic titanium silver / high-sheenWheel size 8.5J x 19 ET 34.5 / tyre size 255/35 R19
€ 405.-*
Optional for the rear axle:
Wheel size 9.5J x 19 ET 48 / tyre size 285/30 R19
€ 411.-*
* recommended retail price incl. 19% VAT
Wheel design as a leitmotif
As with the standard and optional light-alloy wheels, the design of the accessory wheels focuses above all on emphasizing the vehicle design in the respective model lines. To this end, the designers resort primarily to sculptural, modelled surfaces featuring powerful flowing lines. Totally contrasting design approaches are perfectly possible within a model series. Most S-Class customers expect elegant wheels, for example, which may give rise to a delicate, multi-spoke look or equally to an essentially flat-featured, less structured design, for example. In contrast, SUV models and all-terrain vehicles always call for striking, powerful, almost muscular wheels. In the case of roadsters and coupés, the prime emphasis is on sportiness.
Similarly to vehicle designers, wheel designers are also required to look into the future, as the complex development process entails a time lag before their designs are launched on the market. Future developments and trends are identified with the support of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios around the globe, by means of extensive customer surveys, contact with dealerships and market research and with recourse to specialised agencies. These investigations reveal a clear picture. The trend towards larger wheels fitted flush with the outer body contours is continuing in all categories of vehicle. This design style signals power, dynamism and driving stability. Equally, Mercedes-Benz customers will wish for even higher-quality wheels in future, featuring sophisticated surface finishes, stylish colour design and a broader choice of individual options. Against this background, Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-Benz Accessories will further expand their current range of around 130 wheel models, so as to offer their customers even greater scope for individualisation.
Highest quality standards
The same high safety standards apply to all the light-alloy wheels on offer – there are no differences in quality between the models belonging to the standard and optional equipment and the versions available from Mercedes-Benz Accessories. The customer always receives a product which is tailored perfectly to Mercedes-Benz vehicles: it supports their exemplary ride comfort and high driving dynamics and fulfils the high requirements of the design idiom, additionally combining high performance with an outstanding service life. These merits result on the one hand from close collaboration between the vehicle development staff and the wheel development specialists. In order to win their Mercedes stars, wheels additionally have to pass a comprehensive test programme which goes well beyond the statutory licensing requirements for use in road traffic. This includes effective testing procedures geared towards the toughest service conditions encountered in real driving conditions, even extending to tests in cutting-edge x-ray systems and computer tomographs.
Care and handling tips
Even the best development programme, the most innovative production technology and a perfectly coordinated test programme are unable to influence how customers treat their vehicles, including the valuable light-alloy wheels. The manner in which wheels are handled continues to have a major influence on their value retention and the safety of the vehicle. Useful tips:
- Clean the winter/summer wheels thoroughly after changing in the spring/autumn, regardless of whether steel or light-alloy wheels are fitted
- Do not use aggressive cleaners. Products recommended by Mercedes-Benz are gentle agents which will clean the wheels effectively
- Do not clean with sharp or rough sponges
- Observe the specified wheel tightening torques. Wheel bolts which are too tight or too loose will damage the wheel in the long term
- Do not oil or grease wheel bolts, as at the specified tightening torque this will result in excessive pre-stressing, which may cause damage to both wheels and bolts
- Use only genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts
- Check the wheels after they have taken heavy knocks, e.g. when driving through deep potholes. If deformation is visible, be sure to have the damage checked at a dealership
- Fit only the size of tyre approved for the wheel
- When carrying high payloads and/or towing a trailer, adjust the tyre pressure accordingly and be sure to observe the permissible wheel loads
The success story of light-alloy wheels began in the 1970s
Mercedes-Benz introduced light-alloy wheels into large-scale production at the beginning of the 1970s, with forged aluminium wheels from renowned manufacturer Fuchs. The first wheel was initially optionally available for the 280 S to 300 SEL 6.3 saloons of model series W 108, its ornate design earning it the nickname of the "baroque wheel". Following this premiere, the light-alloy wheel became available in ever broader-ranging variants. Its success was ultimately sealed in the same decade with the introduction of the aerodynamically optimised flat Fuchs forged wheel, which went on to attain legendary status. Apart from a small number of exceptions, virtually all standard production vehicles from Mercedes-Benz are fitted with light-alloy wheels today. The extent of their success is demonstrated by the following comparison: the "baroque" model attained annual sales in the order of 4600. Today, the majority of new Mercedes-Benz vehicles are fitted with light-alloy wheels. Together with the sales notched up by Mercedes-Benz Accessories, annual production of these wheels has risen to around 4 million.
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Stuttgart/Brackley, Germany/United Kingdom, Apr 01, 2011
- The 2011 F1 PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix will be the 13th edition of the race since 1999
- 2011 marks the third time that the race has been scheduled for a late afternoon start
- Sepang has one of the lowest Safety Car probabilities with just two deployments in the past 10 years
- MERCEDES GP PETRONAS scored its first podium at Sepang in 2010, with Nico Rosberg finishing third
- The Malaysian Grand Prix is the home race for the team’s title partner PETRONAS
Michael Schumacher
What do you enjoy, and what are the unique challenges, of the Sepang International Circuit?
“Let’s put it like this: we consider Malaysia as one of our home Grands Prix, so it obviously gives us a big boost to go there and have the support of PETRONAS and the Malaysian people. The track itself is great as it gives you a wide variety of possibilities during every lap. You can take multiple lines through some of the corners, which is something you can do hardly anywhere else. I have always liked driving there, and I look forward to doing it again.”
The team had a difficult time in Australia. What do you expect from the second race?
“There is absolutely no doubt we want to do better than in the opening race, which was a disappointment for all of us. We clearly see that as a challenge and it is much too early to write us off. Everybody in the team remains positive and is in a fighting mood. So I expect a better weekend for us to come; a weekend we can build on.”
Nico Rosberg
How do you rate the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia?
“To be honest, Sepang is my favorite circuit on the Formula One calendar. It’s fast and challenging with a nice layout and a real variation of corners which make it an exciting track to drive.Last year I qualified second and achieved the team’s first podium of the season. I have a good feeling coming back here this year and hope to achieve a good result at the home race of our title partner PETRONAS.”
Are you expecting a better weekend in Malaysia?
“We had a tough weekend in Australia but the team has worked hard and we are confident that the car will be running reliably in Malaysia. Melbourne is a unique circuit and we know that we will have a much better understanding of our level of performance after the next races. I think we can surprise people next Sunday. We know that the car is fast from the last test in Barcelona, so now we have to work on proving that potential.”
Ross Brawn, Team Principal
“As the home race of our title partner, PETRONAS, the Malaysian Grand Prix is a very important and prestigious race for our team. The whole team enjoys our annual visit to both Kuala Lumpur and the Sepang International Circuit, and the unparalleled hospitality of our friends from PETRONAS and the Malaysian fans.
“We endured a difficult weekend at the first race of the season, despite having reasonable expectations after completing a successful testing programme in Barcelona. We suffered a number of problems which resulted in a far from optimum car for qualifying and the race, and then were unlucky to suffer a disappointing double retirement for Michael and Nico.
“Our priority since Melbourne has been to regroup back at our factories in Brackley and Brixworth, to review the weekend in detail, and to establish the best way to achieve the full potential of the car from Malaysia onwards. How we respond to the disappointment of Melbourne, and the challenges we faced, will be a true measure of our team.”
Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“The Sepang circuit presents many challenges. It has a wide variety of corners with varying radii which demand good aerodynamic stability and efficiency from a Formula 1 car. There are four major braking events during the lap, and extreme climatic conditions are the norm in Sepang, with high temperatures and humidity - which create a high likelihood of rain in the late afternoon during both qualifying and the race.
“The Malaysian Grand Prix is one of our home races, with our title partner PETRONAS headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, and Nico scored the first podium for our team last year at this circuit with a third-place finish.
“Since the first race in Australia, we have worked hard in Brackley and Brixworth to analyse the reasons behind, and to solve, the reliability and performance problems which hampered our first race weekend of the season. Our target is to be in better shape in Malaysia.”
Race Preview Feature: The Safety Car Briefing
Since its formal and permanent re-introduction to the F1 rules in 1993, the Safety Car (SC) has played an increasingly prominent and important role in the sport. Last season set a record for the total number of SC deployments in one season, with 40 per cent more than the next highest season (2008). In total, eight per cent of the season’s laps were completed behind the Safety Car in 2010.
What changes for 2011?
The rules have undergone subtle revisions for the 2011 season to further improve both fairness and safety. The SC speed limit, which represents a decrease in lap time of approximately 20%, will now be enforced over two laps instead of one, meaning all cars should be able to pit – if they wish to – prior to the SC being deployed on track. The pit-lane exit light will remain green for the duration of the SC period, while no car may enter the pits during an SC deployment unless for the purpose of changing tyres. This rule does not apply should the SC itself need to use the pit lane.
Can the Safety Car still be used to strategic advantage?
The SC can still be very much used to advantage by teams if correctly managed. It could allow you to gain track position relative to rivals with the advantage of fresher tyres, or remove a planned tyre stop from the race.
How is the SC integrated into strategy planning?
The SC is factored into race strategy as a percentage probability. This probability varies according to factors such as: the ease of clearing an incident by marshals; circuit layout and overtaking opportunities; the likelihood of wet weather. The team also holds accurate statistics on accidents and SC deployments during the last ten years, and these are categorised as random or circuit-specific to determine the likelihood of recurrence. They are then used to determine the probability of an SC occurrence during the race.
What is the SC probability for Malaysia?
The precise calculations used by the team remain confidential. However, there have historically been very few SC deployments in Malaysia – just two in the past ten years. This can be expressed as a ‘rule of thumb’ probability of 20% (signifying two of ten races featuring the SC), one of the lowest values of the entire season.
How does the later race start time affect the SC probability in Malaysia?
The race has been run in the late afternoon on just two occasions. The first, in 2009, saw the SC deployed once on lap 32, immediately before the race was red-flagged and ultimately abandoned on lap 33. Last year’s race featured no SC periods at all. However, the probability of rainfall significantly increases with the later start time. Furthermore, rainfall in Sepang is unpredictable owing to its convective rather than frontal nature; this typically translates to very intense rain that begins very suddenly.
Which circuits have the highest probability of SC deployment?
The highest-probability circuits are Brazil, Melbourne, Monaco, Spa and Singapore. The race in Singapore has been a total of five SC deployments in three races, and carries a 100% SC probability based on historical data.
Which circuits are the least likely to see the SC deployed?
In addition to Malaysia based on historical data, the lowest probability circuit are Hungary and Bahrain. Both have significant run-off areas and a low probability of wet weather.
How much was the SC deployed during the 2010 season?
The 2010 season saw a total of 21 deployments. This more than doubled the total from 2009 (10 deployments) and was some 40 per cent higher than the previous highest number recorded in 2008. The 21 deployments accounted for a total of 92 laps, or eight per cent of the season’s total race laps.
What was the longest ever SC period?
The longest SC deployment came in Japan in 2007, when the cars completed 26 laps behind it at the start of the race. This figure was neared in 2010 in Korea, when the first 24 laps of the race were completed behind the SC. The most deployments in a single race came at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix, with five deployments. Last year, two races featured four deployments: Monaco, which finished behind the SC; and Korea, which started behind it.
* Official photos and details courtesy of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS *
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• The watch and jewellery brand THOMAS SABO from Lauf an der Pegnitz will become a title sponsor in the DTM
• Gary Paffett kicks off his eighth DTM season with Mercedes-Benz
• Gary Paffett has won more DTM races than any other active DTM driver
• 70 starts and 17 wins – Gary Paffett has won nearly one in every four races of his DTM career
• The new DTM season starts at Hockenheim on 1st May 2011
Stuttgart, Germany, Apr 01, 2011 - The watch and jewellery company THOMAS SABO headquartered in Lauf an der Pregnitz will become a partner of Mercedes-Benz in the DTM. 30 year-old Briton Gary Paffett, DTM champion in 2005, will enter his eighth DTM season at the wheel of the THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C-Class in 2011.
Paffett started his DTM career with Mercedes-Benz in 2003 and graduated to a new C-Class for his second season. The Englishman has scored a total of 17 DTM victories out of 70 races (more than any other active DTM driver), finished three times as runner-up in the championship (2004, 2009 and 2010) and won the title in 2005. He has also been a test driver for the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team since 2006.
Thomas Sabo founded his eponymous jewellery company in 1984. Since then, it has developed into a strong, internationally recognised brand. The lifestyle label is also a personal sponsor of the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg.
Gary Paffett: “Racing with THOMAS SABO as the new title sponsor on my AMG Mercedes C-Class is a real pleasure for me and, above all, it gives me a few brownie points with my wife before a wheel has even turned in the new DTM season! THOMAS SABO is also a fashionable brand in the UK. I think it’s a great move by the company’s management to fly the flag and compete in the DTM. The 2011 DTM season brings new challenges, most notably with a new tyre partner in Hankook. Our tests with the new tyres were promising and I am fully motivated to start the new season with our new partner. My target, if possible, is to improve by one position over last year.”
Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “We are very pleased to welcome such a renowned new title sponsor as THOMAS SABO to our team and to the DTM. The THOMAS SABO brand perfectly matches the dynamic lifestyle of motorsport and the DTM. THOMAS SABO and Mercedes-Benz Motorsport will share the DTM stage and we want to be present in an enthusiastic way on and around the racetrack. With Gary Paffett, one of the best established drivers, and the most successful of the current DTM, sits behind the wheel of the new THOMAS SABO Mercedes C-Class. The combination of Gary Paffett-THOMAS SABO-Mercedes-Benz aims to compete with the best in the DTM.”
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